Is Your Mind Limiting Your Potential?

Core Article: Is Your Mind Limiting Your Potential?

Paragraph I’m Pondering: “Each of us is where we are by the law of our…”

Powerful Affirmations to Inspire: “The universe supports me…”

Book Review: Man’s Search For Meaning by Viktor Frankl

Cool Stuff: Proof that fake news was around BEFORE the internet…

AI Info & Resources: Companies are paying big bucks for AI experts, hmm…

Is Your Mind Limiting Your Potential?

Ever catch yourself trapped in a loop of thoughts about who you are—or who you should be?

Maybe it happens right before launching a new offer, hopping onto a big client call, or staring at a blinking cursor, thinking, “Does the world really need another blog, course, or podcast episode?”

That’s your inner critic whispering one of your fears: “Am I good enough to share this?”

Trust me—I know that voice well.

Recently, I was inspired by fascinating neuroscience insights from Mark Waldman, author of Neuro Wisdom, combined with my ongoing exploration of Michael Singer’s powerful books. You can find Michael Singer’s books here. I found myself diving deeper into the powerful question:

Who am I really—beneath all these labels that I’ve attached to myself?

Let’s explore this a bit further… hang in there with me.

Grab a notebook, open your Notes app, or mentally answer this question: “Who am I?” Pay attention to all the thoughts that go through your mind. Think about your fears, anxieties, and what you spend the most time thinking about… Write down your different identities that describe you, positive and negative.

Your answers might sound something like this:

I’m an entrepreneur who’s not as successful as I’d like to be.
I’m an introvert.
I’m a coach helping others find clarity.
I’m an artist and I feel stuck.
I’m a writer and don’t know how to market my writing.
I’m compassionate, mostly exhausted, and pessimistic.
And more….

Let those labels swirl around in your head for a moment.

Now let’s do something different:

Close your eyes. (Ohhhh, right—please read this exercise BEFORE you close your eyes. 😉

Take a gentle breath—or better yet, a mindful yawn (Yes, seriously—yawning calms your nervous system faster than breathing alone. I know – go figure.). Now, feel your body relax.

Imagine placing those labels gently beside you on a couch. Look at them clearly, like separate guests in your living room.

Then ask yourself quietly: Are these labels helping me, or are they holding me back?

When I first tried this, the impact was profound. I realized how strongly I’d clung to labels like “expert online marketer,” “learnaholic,” “afraid to be seen,” “Hiding behind client work, and even “over-achiever.”

On the surface, looking at my labels, I realized that they SHAPED MY CHOICES— influenced my conversations, and oftentimes amplified my anxiety.

The good news is, according to neuroscience and mindfulness research, your identity is fluid, creative, and ever-changing. Every conversation, every moment invites your brain to create a fresh sense of self, perfectly suited for that specific moment.

Why is this matter so important to know for you as a soulful entrepreneur?

Because labels don’t just describe who you think you are—they shape what you believe you’re capable of achieving.

If you label yourself as someone who struggles with visibility or fears rejection, guess how you’ll show up (or avoid showing up!) in your marketing or client calls?

Yeah, it’s that old adage: “You are what you think and what you spend the most time thinking about.”

Now imagine gently letting go of those labels, and those negative thoughts…

Imagine entering your next client conversation, or creative session, not as the “entrepreneur who’s not as successful” or “perfectionist.”

Instead, you show up simply as YOU—present, curious, and authentically open.

So, how can you practically shift from all those labels and feelings to the present moment quickly?

Here’s a powerful mindfulness practice you can use immediately:

The 5 Senses Method (for quick grounding):

I use this one every day when I walk the dog early in the morning. I don’t want to be on a device. I want to be present in my body and in nature.

5 Things You See:
Pause and slowly notice five things you see right now—colors, shapes, patterns, things—let yourself really take them in. (For me, it’s the dark sky, the stars, clouds, deer, the green trees, the dog trotting alongside me…)

4 Things You Feel:
Touch or become aware of four things you physically feel. Maybe it’s the warmth of your coffee mug, your feet on the ground, the fabric of your clothes, how your body feels right now, or simply the chair beneath you. (For me, it’s how my arms feel holding the leash. The softness of the leather leash in my fingers. The way my toes feel when they hit the pavement, etc.)

3 Things You Hear:
Listen gently for three sounds around you. Notice how each one emerges and then fades. (For me, it’s birds, owls, the dog panting, the sound her paws make when they hit the pavement…)

2 Things You Smell:
Bring your attention to two smells—perhaps coffee, fresh air, or an essential oil. (For me, it’s always the smell of the redwoods, the flowers, grass, etc.)

1 Thing You Taste:
Finally, become aware of one taste. Even noticing the taste in your mouth or sipping water grounds you instantly in the present moment. (For me, it’s usually toothpaste, or coffee, cuz I’m up early. 🙂

What I love the best about this exercise: In less than a few minutes, you’ve calmed and quieted your mind, returned to your body, become present, and quieted all those nagging and limiting thoughts.

Next time your labels feel heavy, or you’re anxious and want to feel present, or you want to ditch your device, take a moment and use the 5 Senses Method.

Allow yourself to simply BE—without the weight of your identity. And all the thoughts, feelings, and even baggage that can come with that and more.

Watch how differently you show up in your work and life. Notice the fresh ideas, deeper connections, and new possibilities that effortlessly bloom.

Because beneath labels and fears lies something far more powerful: your authentic presence.

And that’s exactly what your clients—and the world—need most from you.

In a future email, I want to introduce you to something that will give you deeper clarity and awareness, my new P.A.U.S.E. Method. (If you want to know more about it now, hit reply and I’ll send it over.)

Next Week:
Ever feel like marketing is harder than it should be?
I’m going to share a story about a client who felt the same way—and what changed when we slowed everything down and looked at her business through a different lens. It was a simple shift that changed everything. I have a feeling it might make a difference for you, too.

Paragraph I’m Pondering

“Thought and character are one, and as character can manifest and discover itself only through environment and circumstance, the outer conditions of our life will always be found to be harmoniously related to our inner state. This does not mean that our circumstances at any given time are an indication of our entire character, but that these circumstances are so intimately connected with some vital thought element within ourselves that, for the time being, they are indispensable to our development. Each of us is where we are by the law of our being. The thoughts that we have built into our character have brought us there. In the arrangement of our life, there was no element of chance, but all is the result of the law, which cannot err. This is just as true of those who feel ‘out of harmony’ with their surroundings as of those who are connected with them.”
~ James Allen, As a Man Thinketh, published 1903

Powerful Affirmations to Inspire

I celebrate every milestone, knowing it is proof of my unstoppable momentum.”
“The universe supports me in all my endeavors, and I thrive in all I do.”
“I am creating a legacy of love, wisdom, and positive influence.”

Book Review

Man’s Search For Meaning
By Viktor Frankl

Cool Stuff

If you’re like me and wondering why someone who’s named “John” is called “Jack?” Well, here’s our answer.
Finally proof that “fake news” has been around for MANY years. 11 of the wildest rumors that were actually PRE-Internet.
I remember my grandmother would talk about her “cold cream,” and if I were spending the night, I’d definitely see her slapping it on before she went to bed. I stumbled across this article, which talks about the beginnings of “cold cream.” It turns out that it’s been around since 1618. And you wouldn’t believe how they made it.

AI Info and Resources

Well, turns out if you’ve got some AI chops, big companies will offer you the mega bucks… Hmmm, job change anyone?
I gotta be honest – this AI article about AI giants winning the copyright fight kind of scares me… Read at your peril
There’s been A LOT of buzz about ChatGPT’s version 5.0. The reason is that many of my colleagues are building bots based on the current version 4.5. And whenever a new version comes out, the older versions could be out of date, act wonky, and insert disaster here… 🙂 Check out this new article about what to expect with version 5.0. They’re hinting at doing away with all the other models. Admittedly, there are 7 models: 4o, o3, o4-mini, o4-mini high, GPT 4.5, GPT 4.1. GPT 4.1 mini – uhhhhh yeeeaaahhh that’s A LOT! Not to mention, how and when to use which one, don’t get me started… It’s not like there’s a handbook on this… yet… I’ve seen many conflicting opinions, even asked ChatGPT what the difference is between them all, THAT was an interesting answer – ha!

Weekly Photos

I don’t understand this dog sometimes. I get up to get a cup of coffee and come back to my keyboard, and this happens. How is that even comfortable? Dogs, love em and their quirky ways.
Then we have the “I just need to lie across your lap and put my head on the table, please…” photo of the back of Emma’s head.
I always marvel on my walks when I happen to look down and see a heart shape…
This is Redding’s famous Sundial Bridge. It’s an active sundial, and it’s huge. Kind of cool though. You can also see the sundial part from this angle, which looks kind of weird. The bridge is hidden, off to the right.
Love this outdoor art. The sunflower actually looks like it’s sighing from all the heat, yeah, me too… Oh, hot summers in Northern CA.
Alice took this picture on one of her really early morning walks. Looks like pink clouds of cotton candy in the morning.
On the river walks, I do think the bridges can make for some cool pictures, with the shadows and reflection in the water…

NEW: P.S. This is me being bold and giving you an invitation. 🙂 I’m going to run the Soulful Marketing Accelerator Cohort again. If you’re longing for like-minded community and ready to move through your fears to grow a purpose-driven business rooted in authenticity and aligned with your dream clients… Welllll. Go here to be first in line when I reopen the doors again. Would love to have you.

P.S.S. Whenever You’re Ready: Here are 3 Ways I can make an impact on creating greater success in your business using marketing that’s aligned with your mission and values without feeling like you’re selling your soul.

1. Make Money Now Sheet – It’s one of the bonuses in my 7-Step Soulful Marketing System. I wanted to give it to you for free to help you create more success.

2. Love Books Like I Do? – I’m always reviewing the best nonfiction books – Where Buddha Meets Business.

3. Get my proven 7-Step Soulful Marketing System. It gives you the framework you need to implement authentic and connected marketing using online customer experiences and launching your products, services, or courses. It will help you create greater success.

It’s a simple system, especially if you love to read like me. There’s no video or audio. Plus, you get my proven templates, tools, and worksheets, all with tremendous value. And I’m pricing it incredibly low so it can be more accessible to more people. 🙂

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I appreciate your sharing. Thank you!

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