Listening to the Little Voice: Destiny Plan Q’s

Kol Katan: Hebrew biblical term for your internal voice that urges you to realize your full potential. It is said that you must listen hard to hear it and when you do, you will find your true vocation and desires.

– From More Than Money

Who are your heroes? Why?

The typical answer, my family, applies to me. My mom is my hero because she has worked hard for everything in her career, but always put her children first. She is my rock – I can always talk to her, cry to her, and listen to her advice. My dad is my hero because he has overcome a ton of adversity from being born deaf, to being divorced, and going through bankruptcy. Despite all his hardships and little money he is always trying to help others by giving them money, taking them out to a movie, or buying them wrestling shoes. My dad became a national wrestling champion when the only person who really believed in him was his coach. At the age of 49, he won his first MMA fight. My brother is my hero because he always speaks his mind, encourages tough conversations, and stands by what he believes in.

Outside your family, what do you do that gives you joy?

I am filled with joy when I’m outside, being active, and talking with friends. When I’m outside I like to run, hike, sun bathe, picnic, and go for walks. I love exercising for fun. I think it is great to push yourself to exhaustion and lift weights regularly, but I also know when I do that too much I lose the enjoyment of exercising. That’s why I mix it up with classes like Zumba, pilates, spinning, and yoga. Of course spending time with friends always fun. I especially like unwinding with them when I have been meeting a lot of new people and networking. It’s so nice to just relax around people who already know and love you.

When do you feel authentic?

This plays exactly in to my last answer: I feel authentic around family and friends that mutually love and respect me.

Who are your voices of judgment? What do they say and how do you deal with them?

My biggest voice of judgment is my mother. She is extremely frugal with her money and it rubbed off on me. Before I buy or throw away anything I hear her asking me, “Do you need that?” I deal with it by trying to encourage her to loosen her pursestrings as well. All the kids have graduated high school and she has gotten many raises since I lived at home. She can afford to buy nice things for herself. Unintentionally, both of my parents made me feel guilty about a lot of my decisions when I really shouldn’t at all. I’m trying to let ago of those irrational feelings by telling myself I am an adult with my own life now. I can make my own big girl decisions and take care of myself.

When people ask who you are, what do you say?

I was actually really struggling with this question before reading the More Than Money book because I had just graduated without a job. For the past 20 years of my life the answer to that question was “I’m a student.” But now, who was I? I felt so lost over a very simple question. Practically, I would say I am an MBA graduate from Willamette University. On a deeper (and non-verbal) level, I am a curious, kind, loving person who wants to help people live healthy and financially secure lives. I think this is obvious for anyone following my blog now.