Simply Middspired Life

Today I'm doing my best to give a brief rundown of the Hogan Personality Assessments.

Today we're talking about...Burnt Toast! Stick with me...there's a message here.

Guess who's back?! Today I talk about MOMENTUM and IMPACT. MY 2024 goal is to take action that makes an impact on my goals, and that ain't happening if I keep procrastinating on getting this content out there. So here we are. Here's to consistency and building momentum to take IMPACTFUL ACTION. I LOVE YOU GUYS! Ashley

Welcome back to Figuring It Out Friday! Today we'er talking about Positivity.

Welcome back to Figuring It Out Friday! Today Im sharing my experience with The Abundance Book.

Welcome back to Figuring It Out Friday! Today we're talking about TRIGGERS!

Welcome back to Figuring It Out Friday...Life has been busy, but I wanted to keep my commitment to myself and publish an episode. This rewind episode feels perfect for where I am right now. I hope this resonates with someone struggling to trust themselves or have discipline as we move into the end of the year.

Welcome back to Figuring It Out Friday. Today I'm sharing the excerpt from Chapter 2 in Three Magic Words by U.S. Andersen. This helped me take a more objective approach when thinking about good/bad and right/wrong. I know it's radical, so if it doesn't resonate with you, thats ok. We can disagree and I still love you.

Welcome back to Figuring It Out Friday! Today I'm sharing some of my experience with perfection. You may want to listen to this one on 1.25 or 1.5 speed lol. Love ya, Ashley

Welcome back to Figuring It Out Friday! Today we're talking about the power of setting intentions!

Welcome back to Figuring It Out Friday! Today i'm sharing some life updates with you.

Welcome back to Figuring It Out Friday! Today, we're talking about the CliftonStrengths assessment formerly known as the Gallup StrengthsFinder.

Welcome back to Figuring It Out Friday. This week I'm fired up after hearing some discord on TikTok around Monoracial VS Biracial. Below are a number of articles and papers I reference in this episode. I wish there was more time to really have more of a conversation around this. So I'm fully open to any commentary outside of the podcast world and even the possibility to have more of a conversation on the podcast with others. Ok, love you. Bye! Ashley Resources: https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/beyond-blackness-and-whiteness-activists-of-mixed-race-speak-out/ https://scholarworks.gvsu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1577&context=mcnair https://www.nbcnews.com/news/nbcblk/editorial-biracial-time-black-lives-matter-n466801 https://academic.oup.com/book/4756/chapter/147006958

Welcome back to Figuring It Out Friday! Today im sharing a bit of my experience with friendships and sharing four of my takeaways for this topic. Takeaways: Be understanding that people are going through things and give grace Check in when you can Release expectations Allow your friends to be who they are, not who you want them to be Love you! Ash

Welcome back to Figuring It Out Friday! Today I'm feeling really nostalgic after my 20 year high school reunion and I got some thangs to say! Love you, Bye! Ashley

Welcome back to Figuring It Out Friday! Today I'm sharing with you some recent events that had me questioning what I want for my future. Im still in the process of deconstructing from corporate indoctrination lol.

Welcome back to Figuring It Out Friday! This was an unplanned, random stream of consciousness in the wake of a lot of self-reflection and excavation...stick with me here lol. Love you, bye! Ashley

Welcome back to Figuring It Out Friday. Today we're talking about finding our own version of activism in a world of social issues. Below are the links to articles I referred to in the episode as well as information about the best organization in Buffalo...Buffalo Prep. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/why-we-rally-around-some-social-issues-and-not-others/ https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/21565503.2021.1906285?scroll=top&needAccess=true&role=tab https://www.pewresearch.org/social-trends/2023/06/14/support-for-the-black-lives-matter-movement-has-dropped-considerably-from-its-peak-in-2020/ https://helpfulprofessor.com/social-issues-examples/#:~:text=Social%20issues%20refer%20to%20those,What%20is%20this%3F https://www.BuffaloPrep.com Love you, Bye! Ashley

Welcome back to Figuring It Out Friday! Thank you for understanding my hiatus last week, but we back! Today we're talking about what I'll be focusing on in the next 6 months before the new year. Thank you for being here. Love you! Ashley

Welcome back to Figuring It Out Friday! Today we're celebrating my birthday with some of the lessons I've learned along the way. My challenge to each of you is to start a list like this of your own. I'm going to get serious about writing them down for me and plan to share these every year on my birthday. For my birthday I have one BIG ask for all of you...please share this podcast or your favorite episode on your social media. This will help me reach new listeners and grow the podcast. Ok friends...until next week. Love you, bye! Ashley

Welcome back to Figuring it Out Friday. Today I'm doing my level best to be objective when talking about what is actually considered political. Stay tuned for more on this in a later episode. Ok, love you bye! Ashley

Welcome back to figuring it out Friday. Today we're talking about how all of us are feeling the sting of COVID in our social situations. I don't know about you, but ya girl is socially awkward as it is and COVID kinda just made it worse. Linked Articles: https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/2021/04/24/awkward-social-pandemic-return/ https://www.verywellmind.com/how-to-cope-with-social-awkwardness-after-covid-19-5180279 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9407900/ Love you! Bye! Ashley

Welcome back to Figuring It Out Friday! Today Im sharing a little about my Values journey along with what values are and why they are important.

Welcome back to Figuring It Out Friday. Today we're talking about some of the unique challenges us millennials face being the new adults. Hard to believe we're the ones paving the way for the next generation, but as you'll hear in this episode...we're not doing too bad. Some topics we discuss in this episode are: The Financial Landscape for Millennials Career Pathways Technology Social and Cultural Shifts Self-Care and Personal Development Finally, from one millennial to another...I hope you can listen to this and feel proud of yourself. Proud of what you've lived and learned through as well as proud of what you've accomplished. Have grace with yourself because we got it honest. Love you, Bye! Ashley

Welcome back to Figuring It Out Friday! Today we're talking about personality type assessments. I share with you 6 popular assessments and dig deeper into the Meyers Briggs Type Indicator as well as the Enneagram - which happen to be my two favorites. Throughout the episode we discuss the benefits and drawbacks of personality type testing and I share how I was on the receiving end of one of the drawbacks. If you want to learn more about MBTI or Enneagram, check out the links below! MBTI Resources: https://www.mbtionline.com/?gclid=Cj0KCQjwjryjBhD0ARIsAMLvnF_9eT5v-6F1d3-9W0Vv7ERfHwi-2ppsoCqG5JgtQ4sRTYY2tZX5JHwaArkEEALw_wcB https://www.16personalities.com/free-personality-test Enneagram Resources: https://www.enneagraminstitute.com/type-descriptions https://www.eclecticenergies.com/enneagram/test I hope this gave you new insights to personality assessments. If you want to learn more, don't hesitate to reach out! Love you! Bye! Ashley

Welcome back to Figuring It Out Friday. Today we're talking about why we worry about what other people think about us and how we can overcome the worry. Below are the links to the articles referenced in today's episode: https://psychcentral.com/blog/mental-shifts-to-stop-caring-what-people-think-of-you https://williamsburgtherapygroup.com/blog/why-do-i-care-so-much-what-other-people-think#:~:text=Humans%20are%2C%20by%20nature%2C%20social,as%20old%20as%20humanity%20itself. Before I let you go...If you take nothing away from this episode, I hope you understand that WE GET TO DECIDE for ourselves who and what matters and people can either get on board or get off. Simple as that. Ok, Love you...Bye! Ashley

Welcome back to Figuring It Out Friday! Today we're talking about a new process I started using to discern what is supporting me in reaching my personal goals and what isn't. If you don't take away anything from today's episode, I hope you take away this: "TAKE WHAT YOU NEED, SPIT OUT THE SEEDS." - Ashley Middleton (Yea, I'm claiming that!) Love you! Ashley

Welcome back to Figuring It Out Friday! Today is a random stream of consciousness about the self-help industry and self-help books.

Welcome back to Figuring it Out Friday! This week i'm sharing my journey in my relationship with God, Universe, Source. I know religion can be a touchy subject. However, I understand this journey is deeply personal and I know people will disagree with what I have to say...and that's ok. We can co-exist because truth is...there is no one truth. The 3 things I chose to share today are by no means an exhaustive list. This is just 3 of many things I've figured out along the way. I plan on sharing more in future episodes. But here are some books you can check out if you feel called: 1. A Course in Miracles 2. Three Magic Words 3. Conversations with God Love you, bye! Ashley

Welcome back to Figuring it out Friday.  In the wake of 16 year old Ralph Yarl being shot by and 84 year old man for being at the wrong house to pick up his twin brothers, we're talking about the paradox of peace being Black in America.  Is Peace attainable?  Sometimes, I wonder myself. Ash

Welcome back to Figuring It Out Friday! Today I'm sharing about an experience I had hiking up Manitou Incline in Colorado and what that has to do with celebrating our 20 episode milestone! I hope this resonates with you, and if it does share it with a friend, family member or follower. Also...if you feel moved, I'd love to hear how the podcast has impacted you in a review. I'll be reading a review a week on the podcast and I'd love to read one of yours! Ok, Love you...Bye! Ashley

Welcome back to Figuring it Out Friday. Today we are talking about something I'm working through IN REAL TIME. Feelings of Unworthiness. This came up after an impromptu visit to Canada and honestly...i have no tips for this one because I'm still working through the feelings. I hope this resonates, and as soon as I figure it out...you'll be the first to know. Love you, Ashley

Welcome back to Figuring It Out Friday. Today I'm talking about my journey in figuring out both fitness and nutrition. Spoiler alert:  please do what works for you and your body.  Nutrition is so individualistic. Love you, Bye! Ashley

Welcome back to Figuring It Out Friday. Today I'm talking about what it means to be a Multipotentialite or Multi-Passionate Person. Resources: Emilie Wapnick TedTalk Tips for Students Wikipedia Page ... Because why not *shrug* Love you, Bye! Ashley

Welcome back to Figuring It Out Friday. Today I'm sharing a little sneak peak of my Interview Workshop that will be available through The Middleton Center, Inc.   Today I go through 3 topics that I share in the workshop I believe are extremely impactful.   Stay tuned for when the interview workshop webinar drops so you can stay ready so you don't have to get ready! Topics:  "Tell me about you" is more about you setting the tone for yourself and getting in the right mindset for the interview  You are taking the interviewer on a journey, not the other way around.  Take your power back.  Authenticity and Truth is Key. Love you, Bye!  Ashley

Welcome back to Figuring It Out Friday. Today I'm sharing, in real time, the lessons I'm learning while actually building a business. Run this back if you need some encouragement and a reminder that you're already qualified….your probably OVER-qualified…but…baby steps. Lessons Learned: Take Action! Have grace with yourself. Use your resources! Love you, Bye! Ashley

Welcome back to Figuring It Out Friday. Today I'm sharing with you my top 3 lessons I've learned as a leader in corporate and giving you some book recommendations you can use on your leadership journey. Lessons Learned: Everyone matters Ruinous empathy Lead by example Books to Read: Radical Candor by Kim Scott Monday Morning Leadership by David Cottrell 12 Pillars by Jim Rohn and Chris Widener The Art of Leadership by J. Donald Walters Developing the Leader Within You by John C. Maxwell Love you, Bye! Ashley

Welcome back to Figuring It Out Friday. Today we're talking about my natural hair journey! Lessons Learned: Find someone who will teach you how to do your hair or your child's hair. Less is more! Stop putting your hands (and allowing others to put their hands) in your hair! Drink your water Follow me @FiguringItOutFriday and @AshleyShontea for pictures throughout my curly hair journey! Love you, Bye! Ashley

Welcome back to Figuring It Out Friday. My goal with this podcast is to share so authentically that it resonates with everyone its supposed to.  But sometimes when we share so personally, we get self-conscious and question ourselves, out ability and if we should keep going.  This is me actively working through that feeling.  What I'm figuring out:  There's a different feeling when you KNOW someone is watching vs the idea of them watching.  When you show up authentically and with passion, you're message will resonate with all the right people.  "Dance like no one is watching" - Mark Twain Love you, Bye! Ashley

Welcome back to Figuring It Out Friday. Today we're jumping back into my fertility journey with Part 2.  Again…This is a triggering subject. So if you're on this journey, I hope you're doing what you can to prioritize your health and happiness first. Your joy comes first and don’t ever allow anyone to make you feel bad about being selfish. Sending you all the love along the way. Lessons Learned: There are no rules. You do you. It's ok to have medical support to compliment your natural healing. Two things can be true at the same time. Grief and Gratitude can co-exist. It's not about me. Love you, Bye! Ashley

Welcome back to Figuring It Out Friday. This week I'm sharing my thoughts in the wake of Tyre Nichols death and the release of the body cam footage. Takeaways For White People: Challenge yourself to listen to all types of black voices, even if they represent someone you wouldn’t necessarily interact with and ESPECIALLY if they're on opposites sides of the political isle than you. Just saying you Love me is not enough. One of my friends shared a quote with my back in 2020 from Glennon Doyle's book and it was something to the effect of "how will you be able to say you showed up for this civil rights movement?" Takeaways for Black People: You don’t have to take on the responsibility of educating others on the plight of Black people especially not to the detriment of your mental health. You are your own gatekeeper. You decide what information you consume & what you conversations you engage in. You do not have to subject yourself to watching Black people be assaulted, accosted or belittled in any way. “To be a Negro in this country and to be relatively conscious is to be in a state of rage almost, almost all of the time - and in one's work. And part of the rage is this: It isn't only what is happening to you. But it's what's happening all around you and all of the time in the face of the most extraordinary and criminal indifference, indifference of most white people in this country, and their ignorance. Now, since this is so, it's a great temptation to simplify the issues under the illusion that if you simplify them enough, people will recognize them. I think this illusion is very dangerous because, in fact, it isn't the way it works. A complex thing can't be made simple. You simply have to try to deal with it in all its complexity and hope to get that complexity across." - James Baldwin Love you, Ashley

Welcome back to Figuring It Out Friday. Today we're talking about Figuring Out Fertility...The Early Years. II'll be sharing what life was like when I first got my period and the signs my body was sending me that something needed to change early on.  'll also be sprinkling in some lessons that I've learned along the way. Before we get into it…I know this is a difficult subject. So if you find yourself on this journey, I hope you are doing what you can to prioritize your health and happiness first. Your joy comes first and don’t ever allow anyone to make you feel bad about being selfish. Sending you all the love along the way. Lessons Learned: Something being common, is not necessarily normal It's important for us to have healthy menstrual cycles EVEN outside of fertility On this journey, our words matter & how we speak to ourselves matter Your body will always give you signs when things need to change…It's important we listen the first time. Love you, Bye! Ashley

Welcome back to Figuring It Out Friday. Today I'm getting you caught up on my Life After Layoff now that I've had some time I figure some things out. Stay tuned for some big things to come from The Middleton Center, LLC! Love you, Bye! Ashley

Welcome back to Figuring It Out. Today we're talking about my strategy to deal with Major Life Events. My Strategy: Feel your feels Slow Down & Get Clear What's the Next Right Step? Brain Dump Create a Go To Playlist Get Up & Move Your Body Remember Everything Is Temporary Notable Quotes: "Between Stimulus and response, there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our Response lies our growth and our freedom." - Viktor Frankl "Faith is taking the first step even when you don’t see the whole staircase" - Martin Luther King, Jr. "It's ALL good, but then there is that which we prefer" - Abraham Hicks Article Links: https://belonging.berkeley.edu/most-least-segregated-cities-in-2020 https://cityobservatory.org/most_segregated/ Love you, Bye! Ashley

Welcome back to Figuring It Out Friday. Today I'm getting real about trusting myself. Key Points: Definition of Discipline - The practice of training people to obey rules or a code of conduct using punishment to correct disobedience. Definition of Trust - Firm belief in the reliability, truth, ability or strength in someone/something | The state of being responsible for something/someone How am I doing this?: I'm not doing it all at once. Baby Steps! Leaning in on & celebrating my tried and true habits. I'm identifying my triggers: People/Places/Things. I'm identifying when am I most productive during the day and month. I'm Starting now. Notable Quotes: "Internet kill the library card" - Ashley Middleton hahaha "The way you do one thing is the way you do everything" - Anonymous Happy New Year! Love you, Bye! Ashley

Welcome back to Figuring It Out Friday. Today we're talking about creating sustainable change in the new year and I'll leave you with my top 3 takeaways to consider in your own journey to figuring out how to create an effective runway this last week of the year Key Points: Change the language around resolutions Determine how ready you are for change Consider getting a coach to support you in making big change Readiness Continuum: Pre-contemplation Contemplation Preparation Action Maintenance Journal Prompts: What am I ready to change in my life? What barriers will get in my way? What excuses will I make? Who is on my A-team? Who will hold me accountable? Who will be a safe space for me when I'm struggling? What existing habits can I leverage in making this change? Final Take Aways: Set SMART Goals Proper Preparation Do an Evaluation Have Grace with Yourself Resource Links: Inside Out Mastery Article      Link The Monday Campaign Link Love you, Bye! Ashley

Welcome back to Figuring It Out. Today we're talking about Figuring Out Debt Freedom and I'll leave you with my top 3 takeaways to consider in your own journey to figuring out... Spoiler Alert:  There is no one size fits all! Key Points: Im not a financial expert KNOW YOUR NUMBERS Learn the Baby Steps to Building Wealth Always be learning & consuming financial information/resources DR Baby Steps Build a Baby Emergency Fund  Pay off Debt  Build Official Emergency Fund  Invest 15% (or more) of your income  Save for Children/Dependents Future/Education Pay off Your Mortgage Build Wealth & Give Notable Quotes: "Take what you need, spit out the seeds" - Me Love you, Bye! Ashley

Welcome back to Figuring It Out Friday. Today we're talking about Life after Layoffs and I'll leave you with my top 3 final thoughts to consider in your own journey to Figuring It Out. Evaluate your: Budget Benefits Skills Social Important Documents Take Aways/Final Thoughts: This is not a reflection of YOU as a person, your skills or you as an employee Give yourself some time to rest and reflect before you make your next move Stay Ready Notable Quotes: "Evaluated Experience leads to growth" - John C Maxwell Love you, Bye! Ashley

Welcome back to Figuring It Out Friday.  Today we're talking about my journey in figuring out my career and I'll leave you with my top 3 takeaways to consider in your own journey to figuring out what you want to be when you grow up. Spoiler Alert:  We're all figuring it out.  None of us know what we're doing.   Key Points:  College  Career  Climbing the Ladder  What Changed? Defining Success Take Aways TakeAways: Attach yourself to a mission and not a job Know your numbers You don’t have to have it all figured out Notable Quotes:  "What is you decided to love yourself enough to slow down…even just a little bit more. What if you decided to love yourself enough to give up proving yourself to the world? What is success if not remembering what you already have" - Anonymous ""You can't connect the dots looking forward. You can only connect them looking backward. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. You have to trust in something -- your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever." - Steve Jobs Love you, Bye! Ashley

Welcome to #FigureItOutFridays ... We may not have all the answers or get things right the first (or second haha) time ... AND THATS OK!  Let's figure out this thing called life together one step at a time. With Love,  Ashley Shontea