Evoke Greatness Podcast
Do you have an insatiable hunger for growth and knowledge?
Are you interested in hearing the stories of how successful people have navigated their journey towards greatness…all while stumbling through valuable lessons along the way?
My name is Sonnie and I am the host of Evoke Greatness, the weekly podcast driven by my curious nature and fascination with the champion mindset. I am a HUGE book nerd and a wee bit of a "control enthusiast" with an obsession for motivational coffee cups.
On this podcast, we share the ups and the downs, the highs and lows and all the lessons learned in between. It's my most sincere hope you hear something in one or maybe many of these episodes that resonates with you and reminds you that you’re not in this alone.
I believe that a rising tide raises all ships and I invite you along in this journey to Evoke Greatness!
Evoke Greatness Podcast
The Power of Saying Yes: Unexpected Blessings
🎧 Episode 139: The Power of Saying Yes: Unexpected Blessings
In this episode of Evoke Greatness, I share a transformative experience from a recent "More Joy" retreat put on by Cindi Cohn in the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee, exploring the power of stepping out of your comfort zone and the unexpected blessings that come from embracing new opportunities.
I share insights on:
- The profound impact of saying "yes" to experiences outside your comfort zone
- Building deep connections with strangers and forming a sisterhood
- The power of faith and community in personal growth
- How following divine inspiration can create ripple effects in many lives
- The importance of pouring into others as you would want them to pour into you
🔑 Key takeaways:
- The greatest blessings often come wrapped in packages of uncertainty
- Stepping out of your comfort zone can lead to unexpected personal growth and self-discovery
- When we open ourselves to new experiences and connections, we create ripples that can change the world
- Faith and community can be powerful catalysts for personal transformation
- Pouring into others can be as fulfilling as receiving support yourself
- Your greatness might be waiting just outside your comfort zone
💡 Quotes to remember: "Sometimes the greatest blessings come wrapped in packages of uncertainty."
"Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. A simple scripture, but a profound impact in this world."
"Your greatness might be waiting just outside your comfort zone."
📚 Resources:
- Bible verse: Luke 6:31
- Cindi Cohn Retreats: https://www.cindicohn.com/mj-retreats
If you're hesitating to step out of your comfort zone, feeling stuck or in need of something more, or looking for ways to deepen your connections and faith, this episode offers inspiring insights and a powerful call to action. Remember, it's never too late to say "yes" to new experiences that could transform your life.
A rising tide raises all ships, and I invite you along on this journey to Evoke Greatness!
Check out my website: www.evokegreatness.com
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Welcome to Evoke Greatness. We are officially entering year three of this podcast and I am filled with so much gratitude for each and every one of you who've joined me on this incredible journey of growth and self-discovery. I'm Sunny, your host and fellow traveler on this path of personal evolution. This podcast is a sanctuary for the curious, the ambitious and the introspective. It's for those of you who, like me, are captivated by the champion mindset and driven by an insatiable hunger for growth and knowledge. Whether you're just beginning your journey or you're well along your path, you're going to find stories here that resonate with your experiences and aspirations. Over the last two years, we've shared countless stories of triumph and challenge, of resilience and transformation. We've laughed, we've reflected and we've grown together. And as we've evolved, so too has this podcast. Remember, no matter what chapter you're on in your own story, you belong here. This community we've built together is a place of support, inspiration and shared growth. Where intention goes, energy flows, and the energy you bring to this space elevates us all. So, whether you're listening while commuting, working out or enjoying your morning coffee, perhaps from one of those motivational mugs I'm so fond of, know that you're a part of something special. Thank you for being here. Thank you for your curiosity, your openness and your commitment to personal growth. As we embark on year three, I invite you to lean in, to listen deeply and to let these stories resonate with your soul. I believe that a rising tide raises all ships, and I invite you along in this journey to evoke greatness.
Speaker 1:Welcome back to another episode of Evoke Greatness. You guys know I am all about sharing perspective and insights that come out of experiences, and I wanted to share something with you that I experienced on a trip recently that unexpectedly added so much value to my faith and my sense of connection and community, and I hope this story inspires you to take some sort of action on something that you might have been hesitating on. Think about the time that you have stood at the edge of your comfort zone, right, heart racing, wondering like, oh, should I really step into this uncomfortable space? Well, that was me. Recently, I had received an invitation that had me both excited and nervous. It was a retreat in the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee with 11 women. I had never met in person these people. Well, some of them were only LinkedIn connections, right, but there's still that sense of apprehension and that sense of nervousness.
Speaker 1:So picture this a magnificent cabin when I say that with such emphasis so you get the picture. This was an amazing, gigantic cabin, perched high in the Smoky Mountains, surrounded by mist-covered peaks, like it was next level amazing. And inside there are 11 women. All of us complete well, maybe not everybody complete strangers, but most of us strangers at first. Gathered together, we're, you know, each carrying our own things. As we come into this cabin, as we come into this experience and I remember standing on the porch that first evening, breathing in that crisp mountain air, feeling a little uncertain but completely open for what this weekend had in store for me.
Speaker 1:Over the next few days, something magical happened. We hiked together, we laughed together, we got the experience of seeing a bear out front of our cabin and being in such awe of all of these wonders that the mountains held. We played games and sang karaoke late into the night. We shared stories we'd never voiced before. But it wasn't all about the fun. There was a lot of power. In the quiet moments, in those moments where we opened our hearts to each other, I found myself sharing things that I hadn't shared before and instead of judgment, we were all met with understanding and support and compassion and kindness. We prayed together and our voices rising and falling like a symphony of hope and faith and perseverance. And one night, as we were all sitting around a fire, I realized something really profound— these women who had been strangers just days before now felt like sisters, and in their eyes I saw reflections of my own journey, my own challenges, my own joy, my own fears and worries. We all deeply resonated with one another.
Speaker 1:While we were there, we had the opportunity to attend the Women of Joy Conference and we heard some amazing speakers. We got to attend a Toby Mack concert. But let me tell you something there were 8,000 women of faith under one roof at this conference that we went to as a group. And let me tell you, when God gets that many women together praising and worshiping in His name, when God gets that many women together praising and worshiping in His name, mountains are moved and miracles happen. And at the heart of it all was our incredible host, cindy Cohn.
Speaker 1:Let me tell you about Cindy For those of you who don't know. This woman followed a nudge from God to create these retreats, and her obedience has created a ripple effect that has touched so many lives, including mine. Cindy, if you're listening, thank you for saying yes. Thank you for saying yes to that divine whisper, to that godly nudge. Now I want to speak directly to you. Yes, you, maybe you too, are at the crossroads right now. Maybe you're feeling stuck or lonely, or just in need of something, something more. I want you to know that sometimes the greatest blessings, they come wrapped in packages of uncertainty.
Speaker 1:Remember, at the beginning of this, I contemplated whether or not to even come to this retreat. I almost let fear win, but by saying yes, I found a piece of myself I didn't even know was missing. There's a verse in the Bible, and it's Luke 6, verse 31. And it says Do unto others as you would have them do unto you, and at this retreat I experienced the profound truth of these words. These women poured into me their time, their wisdom, their love in a way that absolutely filled my soul to overflowing. So the next time you are invited to do something completely out of your comfort zone, think about saying yes Again.
Speaker 1:Here I was traveling across the country to hang with a group of women I had never personally met from LinkedIn, but this opportunity came at exactly the right time. It was the exact time that my soul needed it. I am in a season of ascension in my life, and it was so refreshing and so restorative, and I can only hope that I poured into these other women in the same way that they poured into me, and I cannot wait for the next retreat that Cindy puts on. This is what life is all about, isn't it? Do unto others as you would have them do unto you A simple scripture, but a profound impact in this world. Let's start pouring into others in the same way that we want to be poured into, in the same way we need to be poured into. We each have the opportunity to make the world a better place if we act on this. So here's my challenge to you the next time an opportunity comes knocking, especially one that scares you a little, lean into it, say yes, whether it's a retreat or a new class or just reaching out to someone new. Take the step, you'll see.
Speaker 1:We're all on this journey together. When we open up ourselves to new experiences and connections, we don't just change our own lives. We create those ripples that can change other people, that can change the world. I went to those mountains as one person. I came back another, stronger, more connected, more alive, and now I'm passing that spark onto you. More connected, more alive. And now I'm passing that spark onto you. You have the choice as to whether or not you want to take it. Will you let that spark ignite something beautiful in your life? Only you can be the one to answer that. Remember your greatness might be waiting just outside your comfort zone. Question is are you ready to step out and find it? Thank you so much for listening and for being here on this journey with me. I hope you'll stick around.
Speaker 1:If you liked this episode. It would mean the world for me if you would rate and review the podcast or share it with someone you know. Many need to hear this message. I love to hear from you all and want you to know that you can leave me a voicemail directly. If you go to my website, evokegreatnesscom, and go to the contact me tab, you'll just hit the big old orange button and record your message. I love the feedback and comments that I've been getting, so please keep them coming. I'll leave you with the wise words of author Robin Sharma Greatness comes by doing a few small and smart things each and every day. It comes from taking little steps consistently. It comes from making a few small chips against everything in your professional and personal life that is ordinary, so that a day eventually arrives when all that's left is the extraordinary.
