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You have more freedom and are more empowered than you think. If you’re sprinting, overwhelmed, or over-committed, there is always some small choice we can make.  You are the CEO of your life. Hoping these small shifts and personal questions, bring you more space and gratitude this holiday season and beyond: If there wasn’t scarcity of time, would I be doing this right now? This was my idea. This was my choice. What if I made a different choice? What if you can only choose one? What am I grateful for? For more clarifying thought-provoking Qs to ask yourself, head to ElegantExcellence.com to get your copy of the new Elegant Excellence Goals Journal for a more intentional 2020. What are you grateful for this holiday season? Tell me over on Instagram @HilaryRushford.  Is there a topic you want to chat about as 2019 comes to a close? Leave me a voice memo at HilaryRushford.com/podvip.

When it comes to deciding, declaring, and doing — dreaming can be a challenge. Today we walk through 5 types of dreamers to better understand the lens we come to dreaming with. How and why are you resisting, defending, fearing, explaining, rationalizing? There is so much power in saying and writing our dreams. I walk you through 16 insightful prompts to uncover what lights up head and heart, has in your past and will in the future. Pour a cup, grab a pen if you can, and enjoy this special episode. Then be sure to PRE-ORDER YOUR Elegant Excellence Goals Journal TODAY!  Many have written already to ask what my favorite pens to use with it are (I love a fellow paper products nerd!) so here they are: Pilot V Razor Black Pilot V Razor Color TUL Retractable Gel Pens Paper Mate Flair I’d love to hear what you’re dreaming about! Leave me a voice memo with follow-up Q’s at HilaryRushford.com/podvip or share over on Instagram  @HilaryRushford

Afraid of making the wrong decision? We’ve all been there, heck are there, sometimes on a daily basis. Social plans to go out or stay in, this business idea or that. Today we talk about the cure to FOMO of 1 part Enough + 1 part Essentialism. Fighting back against both scarcity and overwhelm, as we get more clear on what we really want to make more confident decisions. Know what you want and believe you have enough.ELEGANT EXCELLENCE GOALS JOURNAL PRE-ORDER:  ElegantExcellence.comHalf the covers are sold out already. Get yours while supplies last! They ship in early December, with a live kickoff workshop with Hilary to get started. Also, visit ElegantExcellence.com and scroll to the bottom to optin for our email list to get invited to that workshop.Other episodes + tools referenced:Ep 5: My Own Path to Making Closer FriendshipsEp 18: Three personalities for your dream itinerary Essentialism by Greg McKeown. Come say hello on Instagram @HilaryRushford or leave a voice memo at HilaryRushford.com/podvip with a

Ever struggle with too many goals, too much to do, more dreams than you have daily room to move forward? Feel behind no matter how hard you’re working; or feel one puzzle piece short of organized? Friend, you are in the right place. Today I take you inside the method I’ve been crafting for seven years, and finally brought it all together in the Elegant Excellence Goals Journal and the 4-part teaching series.  For three days only, Wednesday through Friday, you can choose from either collection -- handwriting or typography -- in any of the six gorgeous colorways. After this we’ll just be ordering a limited stock and only of certain styles. Some covers already sold out during our first few days of pre-order!Choose your favorite now at ElegantExcellence.com! What color way did you choose? Tell me over on Instagram  @HilaryRushford. Is there a topic you want to discuss to have a more inspired 2020? Leave a voice memo at HilaryRushford.com/podvip.

Want to make a dream happen in 2020? Every January I hear people don’t have the money to make the choices they want in their life. This year, let’s prep ourselves to not overspend this holiday season, but actually save, to say yes to what we want most in the new year. Here’s our list of ideas, and we’d love to hear yours if you’ll chime in on this post @HilaryRushford! Ways to Save Money CLOTHING + STYLE Repurpose clothes Confidence to rewear Borrow/swap Identify the true holes for buying Shopping freeze  HOLIDAYS Use gift certificates Set a dollar amount on holiday gifts or draw names Don’t purchase any new holiday decor Avoid Black Friday Invite friends over instead of going out Simplify your holiday party Credit card points that can be redeemed Go in on a gift with another friend Electronic holiday card instead of printed ones Shop your home RECURRING CHARGES Reconcile your budget for recurring charges you aren’t using Swap gym membership for free YouTube videos Cancel landline, cable TV, only use ce

What if you could get out of a horrible mood? Without having to deny or downplay what had you hurt or upset in the first place? The story of 24 hours in my life, and the rainbow tool I discovered that day that helped get me from fearful and depressed, to joyful and optimistic, without simply putting on a happy face. Today we explore how these small choices can ultimately amount to big changes. Thanks to Gabrille Bernstein for introducing this scale in her book Super Attractor, and Brooke Castillo in her life coaching work.  For a visual of the Emotional Guidance Scale check out my IG Stories @HilaryRushford or visit HilaryRushford.com/podvip. While there you can also leave a voice memo with Q’s or topics for future episodes! PS things I’m loving lately: Back Sleeping Pillow Silicone Chest Patch Have any other beauty tricks? Come share them over on Instagram!

We’re our hardest critic and sometimes no matter how hard we work, how productive we are, it’s still not good enough. We could have done more. We should have been doing something else.  Today we discuss a topic sparked by something said in my Elegant Excellence Mastermind around self judgement. Mom guilt, beauty/weightloss, relationships, or business, many of us go down this shame and guilt spiral.  Choosing to change starts internally with our thoughts, then externally with our actions. Here’s a reminder of those tiny shifts we can start doing today: AFFIRMATIONS THE WAND NEXT RIGHT CHOICE PRIDE You have more power than you realize. What tiny shifts are you choosing to make today?  Leave a voice memo at HilaryRushford.com/podvip. Or over on Instagram under my most recent post @HilaryRushford.

How do you navigate an awkward convo? Especially with well meaning people we love (so we wish they’d know how to love us better)?  Listen in for our 3 primary choices. Sample conversations included. (wink) What question or topic would you love to discuss? Leave a voice memo or email at HilaryRushford.com/podvip. *** ICYMI, we just got back the breathtaking video of our elopement to the South of France. We received almost a thousand comments just over the weekend, and I can’t say how much each one means! @HilaryRushford *** Today is the last day of our week long of giveaways in celebration of our 25th episode! I have been selecting two winners each day - one who leaves a review on iTunes and one who shares an episode on IG Stories. Do a quick post to enter and we’ll announce double winners today!

Interviewing 5 friends who had walked through miscarriage, divorce, loss of a child, called off wedding, loss of a parent – it was heartbreaking the theme that emerged. One in which we as friends, panicked. Got awkward. Didn’t know what to do, so we did nothing. Thanks to their stories though, now we know what to do. We’re empowered and emboldened to love well. Everyone said “people disappeared”. No one said “people did it wrong”. So now we know simply to show up.  Here’s 6 ways how: BE PRESENT: Just be there, physically, quietly, simply a shoulder to cry on and someone to hug. LET THERE BE GRIEF: Don’t try to coach them out of it, fix it, let it be as uncomfortable as it is. STAY PRESENT: Keep checking in. Days, weeks, months, years. Card, text, flowers, call. TAKE ACTION: Clean their house, get the bills paid, delivery groceries, book a massage. KEEP STAYING PRESENT: Still invite them to things, even when they decline, they’re thought of + can ease in when ready. ALWAYS STAY SENSITIVE: Translation, don’t b

We want to be liked. But none of us like everyone one else. So it makes sense we aren’t going to be the exception. Yet most of us still wish we were! This is why it’s so hard to get negative criticism.  Today we talked about why haters hate. One thing I’ve discovered is that it’s a defense mechanism because hurt people hurt. It’s a way to make sure people don’t get too close. And they continue to self-sabotage because changing is a whole new discomfort like we talked about in Ep 3: Your #1 Issue and the 3 stages of ish.   In this episode I share 7 steps to be less affected by negativity: Notice criticism of others to see how ridiculous it is. Share when it happens to you, so others know they aren’t alone. Delete. Or reply calmly + confidently. Eventually block. Give 10x the love. Give even more of exactly what you were criticized for. Grow in confidence by growing in experience. Focus on people who are sharing love. Let’s continue the convo on Instagram @HilaryRushford.What would you ask me if we were out

If I was in your shoes I would do it different, better, “right”. Parenting, miscarriage, wedding planning, divorce, quitting a job, running a business, down to the photo someone posts on Instagram. We all have these thoughts and lately I’ve been thinking: Before I get frustrated with others… how can I do this better myself? I’m owning this very human side and sharing 3 things I’ve been reminding myself whenever I catch myself thinking these judgey thoughts.  Stay HUMBLE because you don’t know until you’re in their shoes. HONOR the story that you don’t know. Have HOPE for your fellow human that we’re all doing the best we can with what we have. What are YOU thinking about these days? Would love to chat about it on a future episode if you’ll leave me a voice memo at HilaryRushford.com/podvip. Have more thoughts/Qs on today’s topic? Come chat below my latest Instagram post, whatever it is, at @HilaryRushford. Judgement free (wink).

The secret word I try to say more often in my marriage. (One of the best pieces of relationship advice I got years ago when I was single.) It applies to parenting, friendship, and work. This is a different kind of 80/20 rule, y’all.  To more joy and less overwhelm… P.S. Join the conversation after any episode! Either in the comments of my latest post, whatever it is, @HilaryRushford (I read them all). Or submitting a topic or Q with an email or voice memo I might play on the air at HilaryRushford.com/podvip.

How do you stand out, save up, scale and more when it comes to running your own business?  Answering more of your business Q’s in today’s part-2. With BONUS WORKSHEETS to help you brainstorm your first/next business idea at HilaryRushford.com/podvip. Whether you’re just starting out or unsure how to expand, see what comes up to get clarity or closure on your ideas! Come chat at @HilaryRushford. I’m here for you in any way I can help, and proud of you for taking the next step that’s right for you today.

Want to get past fear or have the confidence to pursue a dream? Start a business or a new chapter?Answering some of your most frequently submitted Q’s today. For those who want more help brainstorming their business ideas, find BONUS WORKSHEETS for this episode at HilaryRushford.com/podvip. Or send a voice memo with your Q’s for a future episode.You can also leave comments anytime on Instagram @HilaryRushford where I do more teaching.

We’re lonely and yet want to stay home to binge Netflix? A culture racked with FOMO, yet “liking” memes about not wanting to have to talk to anyone?Let’s talk introvert, extrovert and everything in between (where most of us live) when it comes to friendship, and why we aren’t happier with our social lives.And for my fellow entrepreneurs even how you set up your business, as this lack of self-awareness depletes us in every area. How would you describe yourself? Come chat @HilaryRushford. And submit future episode Q’s and topics at HilaryRushford.com/podvip.

How to save money for and while traveling? What to pack and wear to feel effortlessly chic? How to work (or not) while traveling? Those were your 3 most common Q’s that are answered in today’s episode! If you missed part 1, you can listen in either order, but don’t miss my 3 travel personalities to avoid disappointment. A few extra style notes mentioned in the episode: The green coat I take on every trip because works with so many different pieces, casual or dressy, and is comfy enough for the plane as inspiration to consider a similar piece. Liquid Bandages Runner’s Stick Moleskin Plus my IGTV on “How to pack for travel”  And here are links to my favorite novels mentioned in the PS of the episode! Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine Where’d You Go Bernadette  Rules of Civility A Gentleman in Moscow Do This For Me How to Be Parisian Wherever You Are What do you want to chat about next? Visit HilaryRushford.com/podvip anytime to submit a topic or Q!

You submitted travel Q’s and there were so many great topics this is my first 2-part episode! Today we’ll cover where to go and what to do, how to be happy wherever you are (aka not give into FOMO), pros and cons of spontaneity, whether to solo travel, and making intentional choices about social media while traveling.  I also share my philosophy on the 3 ways to travel: Be, Do, Have. More on this topic and Paris from my “Be” perspective on this blog post: A Wanderer’s Guide to Paris. As this episode is live, I’m currently in France for the month of August. Head over to Instagram @HilaryRushford to follow along! Any more burning travel Qs? Leave me a comment on my most recent post, or head over to HilaryRushford.com/podvip and leave me a voice memo on any future topic for an episode. And as promised, here is a link to the Monkfruit sweetener I'm loving lately. 

If you love your curves but don’t eat well, are you practicing self-love? That’s the gist of today’s listener question. Which takes us in a much deeper direction about what it means to love. Do you love more if you’re pro-choice or pro-life? (Deep breath, everyone here is kind, let’s talk about hard things with love.) Want to submit your own listener Q? Would love to hear from you! Visit HilaryRushford.com/podvip. As promised, “How to organize your closet in under a minute for less than $1” is live on Instagram @HilaryRushford when you tap the IGTV icon in my profile. It teaches you 3 ways to learn about your style from your closet, to shop smarter and clear clutter. As always, you’re welcome in advance. (wink)

In this special bonus episode, I offer an apology. I trusted too swiftly and blindly someone who I brought into my company, and am just now seeing more of the ways it has affected you, as a listener or reader. Moreover, I share what I’ve learned about trusting ourselves and others in relationships. The warning signs of emotional unhealth, both ours and those we’re in relationships with. And I offer a path forward with these lessons I’ve learned and am learning:  1: Trusting people means we could get hurt 2: Don’t let that keep you from hoping in people you can trust 3: We have poorer decision making in trust when we feel weak 4: For female creative entrepreneurs, this can be in technology and finance. 5: We feel especially weak when exhausted; an area has been overwhelming us for awhile 6: We can notice warning signs of lack of trust to protect ourselves including: Do your homework, ask for references Invite other people you trust to speak up if they see something Don’t just accept words, be sure you see fru

What goals are you embarrassed to proclaim in case the dream isn’t realized? What if I say this out loud, put myself in that vulnerable place… and don’t get it? Today we talk New York Times Best Sellers, Broadway shows and more. With two specific thoughts on how to shake off fear, and get back to delighting in our dreams. As a small step towards that, come tell me what your big wish is over on Instagram @HilaryRushford. Declare it there and keep dreaming big! Have a Q for a future episode? Come visit HilaryRushford.com/podvip!