Blogs to Inspire and Encourage

Learnings, teachings, and experiences learned in life for anyone to reference during difficult times, stressful workdays and moments when manifesting your true self. See more blogs at Convene Communities

Jodi Watkins Jodi Watkins

Breaking Free from Self-Sabotage: Why We Block Ourselves from True Success

Success isn’t about shortcuts or quick fixes—it’s about consistent action, mindset shifts, and embracing what actually works. Yet, so many of us stay stuck in self-sabotage, resisting the very strategies that lead to growth. Why? Because we crave instant results and avoid the effort real change requires.

In this powerful read, I uncover the biggest mindset traps holding us back, the truth about sustainable success in health, business, and life, and the steps you can take today to break the cycle. If you’re ready to stop getting in your own way, this blog is your wake-up call.

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Jodi Watkins Jodi Watkins

Be the Thermostat, Not the Thermometer: Embracing God’s Strength in the Pressures of Life

Are you setting the tone in your life, or are you merely reacting to the world around you? Be the Thermostat, Not the Thermometer explores how to lead with faith, influence your environment, and overcome self-doubt. Through personal experiences and biblical truths, Jodi Watkins reveals how God’s strength empowers us to step into our calling. If you've ever felt the pressure of leadership or struggled with self-sabotage, this message will inspire you to stand firm, heal, and embrace your purpose. Stop shrinking—start leading.

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Jodi Watkins Jodi Watkins

Step Into Your Greatness: Breaking Free and Embracing Your Best Life

Life is full of choices—some big, some small, but each one shapes the direction of our lives. Yet, how often do we make decisions out of habit, convenience, or a desire for quick relief, only to find ourselves stuck in the same cycles?

I know this struggle all too well. I’ve fallen into patterns of overcommitting, overindulging, and overthinking—looking for solutions in all the wrong places. But what I’ve learned is this: transformation isn’t about perfection; it’s about progress.

That’s where the S.T.E.P. and S.H.I.N.E. frameworks come in. They’re not just acronyms; they’re tools for intentional living. When we S.T.E.P. forward, we acknowledge that we can’t do this alone. Seeking help, trusting the process, and evaluating the impact of our choices allows us to make real progress. And as we S.H.I.N.E. brightly, setting boundaries and healing from within, we release the lies that have kept us bound and step into a new journey of freedom and purpose.

The hardest part is starting—admitting that something needs to change. But here’s the beauty: we don’t have to do it on our own. God meets us in our brokenness, offering grace and strength to move forward.

So, let’s pause today and ask: What is one choice I can make differently? It doesn’t have to be a grand gesture. Sometimes, the smallest intentional shift creates the biggest ripple effect.

Remember, you’re not alone. Together, as we reflect, pray, and act, we’ll step into the greatness we were created for—one choice at a time.

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Jodi Watkins Jodi Watkins

The Silent Struggles of Being Everything to Everyone: Learning to Let Go and Value Ourselves

As women and moms, we often take on the weight of the world—careers, children, relationships, and endless expectations. Somewhere along the way, we lose sight of the one person who holds it all together: ourselves.

Over the past year, I’ve faced challenges that have tested me in unimaginable ways. Strained relationships, especially with my daughter, left me questioning everything I thought I was doing right. But through the heartbreak came the lessons I needed most—the importance of stepping back, letting go, and prioritizing my well-being.

In this blog, I’ll share the dangers of trying to do it all, the toll it takes on our minds and bodies, and the steps I’ve taken to reclaim my peace. From learning to say no without guilt to embracing imperfection, I’ve found that letting go doesn’t mean giving up—it means creating space for growth, healing, and rediscovering ourselves.

If you’re overwhelmed, misunderstood, or simply feeling stuck, know that you’re not alone. Let’s walk this journey together toward valuing ourselves and thriving—not for everyone else, but for us.

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Jodi Watkins Jodi Watkins

Introduction: A New Year, A New You

The start of a new year brings an opportunity to reflect and reset. As we step into this season, it’s time to embrace the greatness within us by releasing fear, setting boundaries, and walking boldly in faith. Stepping into God’s purpose for our lives isn’t always easy—it may feel lonely, challenging, or even isolating—but the journey is worth it.

In this blog, I share hard truths about faith, practical tips to overcome fear, and how to create a plan for a purposeful year ahead. Let’s align with God’s vision, set faith-focused goals, and take daily steps toward the extraordinary life we are called to live.

Your greatness is already within you—now it’s time to claim it.

Read the full blog and begin your journey of faith, courage, and purpose.

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Jodi Watkins Jodi Watkins

Faith, Exercise, and Nutrition: Keys to Addressing the Mental Health Crisis

Mental health has become a global crisis, affecting people of all ages and backgrounds. As someone who has experienced trauma firsthand, I’ve learned that faith, exercise, and nutrition are essential pillars in improving mental health. These three elements not only transformed my life but also helped my loved ones, including my mother, find strength and healing.

Faith offers hope and grounding during life’s most challenging moments, serving as a spiritual anchor that reduces anxiety and stress. Exercise, beyond its physical benefits, boosts mental health by releasing endorphins and enhancing overall mood. Nutrition supports brain function, stabilizes mood, and fuels the body with the nutrients it needs for optimal performance.

When my mother was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and struggled with bipolar tendencies, traditional medications failed her. Through a holistic approach incorporating faith, gentle exercises like Tai Chi, and nutrient-dense foods, I witnessed significant improvements in her mental and physical health.

If you’re ready to take control of your well-being, this blog explores actionable steps to integrate faith, exercise, and nutrition into your daily life. From starting your day with prayer to embracing movement and tracking your nutrition, these tools can help you break free from the cycle of poor mental health and reclaim your life.

Join the Step Into Your Greatness Community and be part of a supportive network dedicated to transformation and growth. Together, we can build a lifestyle that nurtures the mind, body, and soul, creating lasting change from the inside out.

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Jodi Watkins Jodi Watkins

Taking Action Toward Your Vision for 2025

As we approach 2025, it’s natural to reflect on the past year and dream about what lies ahead. But dreaming is only the beginning. Turning your vision into reality requires intentional action, alignment with your values, and a clear strategy.

Whether you’re aiming for career advancement, stronger relationships, improved health, or personal growth, clarity is key. Define what success looks like for you, ensure your goals align with your core values, and break them into actionable steps.

Consistency, flexibility, and gratitude will be your allies as you navigate the year ahead. Small, regular actions can create big results, while staying adaptable helps you handle the unexpected with grace. And don’t underestimate the power of community—having support and accountability can make all the difference.

Start 2025 with purpose and direction, and watch as your vision transforms into a vibrant reality.

For more on creating a vision and practical tips to achieve it, read the full blog.

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Jodi Watkins Jodi Watkins

Healed vs. Unhealed: The Journey to True Greatness

The difference between being healed and unhealed is profound—transformational and deeply spiritual. I’ve walked both paths, and the contrast is life-changing. In my unhealed state, I lived in anger, blame, and negativity, projecting unresolved pain onto others. But God began a pruning process, removing the toxic parts of my life to allow new growth.

Being healed is about freedom—freedom to take accountability, encourage others, and seek validation only from God. It’s a journey that requires faith, self-awareness, and patience, but the transformation is worth every step.

Are you ready to embrace your greatness? Join the Step Into Your Greatness community and start your healing journey today.

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Jodi Watkins Jodi Watkins

Building Lasting Habits: The Power of Food Tracking for a Healthier Lifestyle

In a world of quick fixes and fleeting trends, true transformation stems from building intentional, sustainable habits. Food tracking stands out as a simple yet powerful tool to nurture a healthier relationship with food and foster long-term success. Research underscores its effectiveness—those who track their food are more likely to maintain healthier weights and make informed nutritional decisions.

Tracking food provides insight into portion sizes, calorie intake, and eating patterns, empowering us to make adjustments that align with our health goals. It’s not about perfection but progress, creating awareness and fostering habits that last a lifetime.

Curious about how to get started? Tools like the 1st Phorm food tracker simplify the process, allowing you to begin small and gradually build consistency. Remember, every step counts on your journey to a healthier, more empowered you!

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Jodi Watkins Jodi Watkins

Faith-Driven Leadership: Empowering Teams to Thrive Through Authenticity and Purpose

Leadership rooted in faith transcends traditional approaches, empowering leaders to inspire teams with authenticity, purpose, and resilience. In this blog, we explore how combining authentic, transformational, and servant leadership principles creates a foundation for trust, growth, and collaboration. Drawing from my military experience and faith journey, I share insights on leading with integrity, fostering personal and team development, and aligning actions with God’s purpose.

Through transparent communication, a commitment to serving others, and an unwavering focus on personal growth, faith-driven leadership equips teams to thrive in a meaningful and impactful way. Whether you're a seasoned leader or just beginning your journey, this resource offers tools to help you lead with authenticity and empower others to step into their greatness.

Dive into actionable tips and scripture-backed insights that highlight the transformative power of faith in leadership. Together, let’s embrace a leadership approach that strengthens our teams and aligns our actions with God’s greater purpose.

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Jodi Watkins Jodi Watkins

Letting Go of Limiting Beliefs: Steps to Stepping Into Your Greatness

Thanksgiving is a time for gratitude and reflection, but it’s also an opportunity to look inward and ask: What’s holding me back from becoming the person I’m meant to be? For so many of us, the answer lies in our limiting beliefs—those quiet but powerful thoughts that tell us we’re not enough, not capable, or not deserving.

I know this struggle all too well. For years, I believed my voice didn’t matter. I let fear and doubt keep me small, even when everything in me longed for more. But here’s what I’ve learned: those beliefs aren’t truths. They’re stories we tell ourselves, and we have the power to rewrite them.

In this blog, I’m sharing the steps that helped me break free—steps like recognizing the lies we’ve believed for too long, surrounding ourselves with people who lift us higher, and trusting that we were made for more.

This Thanksgiving, as you count your blessings, remember to count yourself in. You are worthy of greatness, capable of growth, and deserving of a life that feels full and free.

Ready to step into your greatness? Let’s do it together.

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Jodi Watkins Jodi Watkins

5 Ways to Release Limiting Beliefs from Trauma and Build Long-Lasting Self-Discipline

Have you ever felt like something was holding you back, but you couldn’t quite name it? That was me for years, stuck in a loop of self-doubt and frustration. It wasn’t until I realized that the beliefs I carried—many born from trauma—were the invisible chains keeping me from the life I wanted.

These beliefs weren’t just thoughts; they were stories shaped by past pain, like echoes of experiences that left deep emotional scars. For a long time, I let them dictate how I saw myself and what I thought I could achieve. It wasn’t easy, but I learned to break free. And if I can do it, so can you.

In this blog, I share the five steps that changed everything for me: how I uncovered those hidden beliefs, reframed my thoughts, found healing, rebuilt self-discipline one small habit at a time, and leaned on spirituality to anchor me when I felt lost.

This is more than a guide—it’s a conversation, a reminder that you’re not alone in your struggles. Together, let’s release what’s been holding you back and build a life rooted in freedom, resilience, and hope.

Are you ready to take that first step? Let’s walk this journey together.

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Jodi Watkins Jodi Watkins

Breaking Free: Overcoming Addictions, Habits, and Mental Programming

Addictions can take many forms, often slipping into our lives disguised as everyday habits. While substance addictions are widely recognized, other forms—like people-pleasing or overeating—are equally impactful, undermining our physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being. To reclaim our lives, we must first recognize these patterns and then consciously break the cycles that hold us back.

In this blog, we’ll explore the S.T.E.P. and S.H.I.N.E. frameworks—two powerful tools for overcoming destructive habits. These principles guide us to recognize self-defeating behaviors, set healthy boundaries, and cultivate resilience. Embrace the journey toward freedom and lasting transformation as we discuss practical steps to realign with your potential and purpose.

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Jodi Watkins Jodi Watkins

Navigating Conflict with Compassion: A Faith-Based Approach to Resolution

For most of my life, conflict was something I tried to avoid. Growing up in a household where silence was survival and conflict was explosive, I learned early on to stay quiet and wait for storms to pass. Later, in the military, this pattern continued—stand back, stay silent, let things work themselves out. But as I grew, both personally and professionally, I began to realize how much I needed a new approach, especially if I wanted to build healthy, meaningful relationships.

In the past few years, with the help of mentors and counselors, I’ve begun learning to face conflict with compassion instead of fear. I’ve discovered that when approached with empathy, humility, and faith, conflict can actually bring people closer together. It’s not easy, and I’m still very much a work in progress, but each time I choose understanding over defensiveness or compassion over judgment, I feel a little stronger—and I want that for others, too.

This blog is inspired by both my journey and my recent research, and it’s an invitation to anyone who’s felt that same fear or dread at the thought of a tough conversation. By sharing what I’ve learned, I hope to show that conflict doesn’t have to be something we hide from. It can be a pathway to peace, forgiveness, and healing—if we’re willing to approach it with open hearts.

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Jodi Watkins Jodi Watkins

Building Discipline Through Nighttime and Morning Routines

Building discipline in our lives isn’t just about ticking off tasks; it’s about setting ourselves up to feel stronger, more grounded, and ready to face each day. In my coaching, I often talk about the power of nighttime and morning routines, not as strict lists but as acts of self-care that let us start and end our days with intention. Think of your nighttime routine as a way to tell your mind and body, “It’s okay to rest now—you’ve done enough.” Small things, like setting out tomorrow’s clothes or jotting down one good moment from the day, help us let go of stress and wake up feeling refreshed and motivated.

And when morning comes, a consistent routine—whether it’s five minutes of stretching or simply savoring a warm cup of tea—can give us a small win before the world’s demands start pulling us in different directions. Each step builds our confidence and reminds us we’re capable of showing up for ourselves. It’s not about being perfect but about finding a rhythm that strengthens our belief in our own potential, day by day.

When we make these routines a priority, we’re choosing to honor ourselves, creating a steady foundation to live with more purpose, focus, and resilience.

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Jodi Watkins Jodi Watkins

7 Tips for Grocery Shopping: Mindful Living, Mindful Shopping

Grocery shopping can feel like a chore, right? But what if it didn’t have to be that way? Here’s something we probably have in common—I used to walk into the store, unprepared, and end up grabbing things I didn’t need (hello, random snacks). Sound familiar? Now, I’ve found ways to shop with intention, and I want to share some tips that might just change how you feel about your next grocery trip!

Here’s something I wish I knew earlier: Never go grocery shopping hungry! It’s an easy fix to avoid impulse buys and unhealthy choices. Snack on something light before heading to the store, and you’ll be amazed at how focused you stay.

💡 Pro tip: Stick to the outer aisles—this is where you’ll find the freshest, most nutrient-packed foods like fruits, veggies, and lean proteins. It’s a simple change, but it makes a world of difference for your health!

What else do we have in common? Probably the desire to eat well without the overwhelm. That’s where my 2BEpic recipe packs come in—they’re designed for busy people like you, offering vegan and non-vegan options, with a full grocery list to keep you on track. But even if you don’t subscribe, these tips will help you shop smarter.

Tag someone who could use these tips and let’s all take one step closer to mindful shopping! 🍎

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Jodi Watkins Jodi Watkins

The Negative Thought Rabbit Hole

Sometimes, our negative thoughts can get the best of us. What we do at this time matters. Do we continue to go down the rabbit hole or do we choose to bring ourselves back out? The best way to do this is to begin with gratitude. What in your life can you be grateful for? Once you understand this concept, you can begin to change your life. Read the blog to learn more and gain tools to help you in life, health, and business.

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Jodi Watkins Jodi Watkins

When It All Falls Apart, Pick Up the Pieces

Maybe it's not all falling apart. Maybe this is how we are meant to begin reinventing ourselves. I will take the lead. What you see is me beginning the journey of reinvention. It's time to pick up the pieces one by one. They wronged you? That's ok? They lied to you? That's ok? They didn't value you? That's ok. God is always here and it's up to us to lean into Him so that we can begin the process of - picking up the pieces.

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Jodi Watkins Jodi Watkins

Overtasked and Completely Defeated: 3 Steps to Overcome Insanity

We often joke and say we are superwoman. We multitask thinking we are actually getting something accomplished. What we are actually doing is driving ourselves insane. 

Let’s break the cycle today. Read on for the 3 steps I have come up with to help my clients (as well as myself) stop feeling so overtasked and defeated so they can really accomplish more throughout the day without feeling overwhelmed.

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Everything I do is to help others streamline their processes, have a strategy for success, and ultimately lessen emotional overwhelm. Contact me today to see where you desire to begin. It’s not about perfection. It’s about progress.