Permission To Be Who You Are: Paula Harris On Relationships, Grief, And Purpose

What happens when your greatest strength is caring deeply—and noticing everything? In this heartfelt conversation, Julia Waller sits down with author, TEDx speaker, financial planner, dream architect, and widow advocate Paula Harris to explore how her Unique Ability® of building relationships and sharing wisdom has shaped her work, her leadership, and her life. From handwritten notes to moments of surrender, Paula shares what it really means to inspire action without losing yourself in the process.Key TakeawaysYour Unique Ability often feels “natural” to you—but extraordinary to others.Noticing people is a powerful form of leadership.Giving yourself permission to own who you are changes everything.Helping others requires learning when to let go.Joy, wonder, and possibility are practices—not destinations.Key Timestamps[02:08] Paula shares her Unique Ability Statement[05:00] A powerful moment of realizing her work truly helps others[07:00] The challenge of giving too much emotional energy[09:50] Why handwritten notes are a form of love and leadership[12:00] Learning to manage—not mute—your Unique AbilityNotable ResourcesPaula Harris’s books: Rise Up: A Widow’s Journal & Rise Up: A Grief JournalPaula Harris, co-founder at WH Cornerstone Investments www.strategiccoach.comwww.uniqueability.comUnique Ability® 2.0: Discovery book & workbook: https://uniqueability.com/the-book/Unique Ability Book Club Guide: https://www.strategiccoach.com/resources/guides/unique-ability-20-discovery-book-club-discussion-guideKolbe Index: www.kolbe.comCliftonStrengths® 34: www.gallup.comPRINT® Survey: www.paulhertzgroup.comPaula’s Unique Ability: My Unique Ability is building relationships, sharing wisdom, and using my voice to inspire people to take action to become the best version of themselves and live with possibility, wonder, and joy.Kolbe: 8372CliftonStrengths: Input, Harmony, Deliberative, Restorative, ResponsibilityPRINT: 2-7 Medium To be needed and appreciated/To be happy and enjoy lifeYou can see Paula’s full Unique Ability Statement and Best Habits here.Ready to begin discovering your own Unique Ability? Go through the Unique Ability Discovery Process using our Unique Ability 2.0 book and accompanying workbook. Download your free Unique Ability® Beginner’s Guide at www.uniqueability.com or if you’re a successful, ambitious entrepreneur, visit www.strategiccoach.com. The Unique Ability® Podcast explores the power of living and working in your Unique Ability®—what you love to do, do best, and feel most energized by. Hosted by Julia Waller and built around the cornerstone concept developed at Strategic Coach®, each episode features real stories, practical insights, and conversations that help you align your work, relationships, and life with what’s most natural and fulfilling for you.Real Stories, Real Magic.Music CreditsThe intro and outro music for The Unique Ability® Podcast comes from “Outside In” by Paitra Walker, an independent musician, singer-songwriter, and creative collaborator Explore more of Paitra’s music on Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube. Music used with permission. All rights reserved to the original creator.