Find Your Quantum Identity

The Beyond Leadership Podcast

English - April 15, 2021 09:00 - 31 minutes - 39.7 MB
Self-Improvement Education Business Entrepreneurship leadership encouragement business nonprofit development education emotional intelligence vision clarity entrepreneur Homepage Download Google Podcasts Overcast Castro Pocket Casts RSS feed

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Next Episode: Healthy Habits for Busy Mamas

Today, I’m blessed to share the show with an extraordinary leader from my Alma Mater, Jennifer Watson. I was first introduced to Jennifer through a mastermind group online and was shocked that one of the first things I saw on her Instagram page was her dancing, in a bikini, in the snow. But it’s that kind of fiery love of life that makes her and the way she leads so very special.

On this episode, we’re talking about how to find your quantum identity. I promise, it isn’t as complicated as it might sounds and I know you will fall in love with Jennifer, just like I did.

WHO IS JENNIFER WATSON?

Jennifer Watson, MPT, I.M.T.,C., owner of Jennifer Watson Leadership, is a dynamic speaker and coach with a gift for intuitive and visionary coaching. She is an expert in wellness + leadership development, identity & mental edge enhancement, post-trauma growth, movement & change adaptation, soul-aligned living mastery.

Incorporating her expertise along with her athletic gifts as a former collegiate athlete and All American, she has had the honor to share her message on the TEDx stage, NBC, Fox Radio and top Podcasts. With 20 years’ experience in business and leadership management and health + wellness advocacy, she inspires those to unleash their potential and performance in all areas of their life. Her company, Jennifer Watson Leadership, elevates high-performing, conscious business leaders to get rid of permanently their spiritual blocks keeping them stuck (TRUE WELLNESS), redefine and fan their unique gifts as leaders (TRUE IDENTITY), and reclaim their true VALUE and purpose (TRUE LEGACY). Her gift is truly to tap into the leaders “Zone of Genius” in Wellness + Leadership and create their EXTRAORDINARY LIFE.

In addition, Jennifer is the owner of Watson Wellness. She received her undergraduate degree in kinesiology and a Master of Physical Therapy from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. During her time at Wisconsin Jennifer was also a member of the University of Wisconsin-Madison track & field team in which she received All-American honors. As she began her work, her interests began to grow outside the athletic arena. She has completed over 800 hours of continuing education courses in manual therapy, functional orthopedics, and postural restoration. Her “bread & butter” is in unique and profound body work, Integrative Manual Therapy with certification from the Connecticut School of Integrative Manual Therapy.

Her areas of focus & expertise include high performance, gut health, brain health, mental health and a special interest in men & women’s health. Jennifer Watson Leadership + Watson Wellness has given rise to Jennifer’s great passion of supporting people in their journey to live their EPIC Health, their EPIC Leadership, and their EPIC Legacy that they were destined for. Jennifer’s special interests and hobbies include hiking, running/competitive racing, yoga, stand-up paddle, and anything to do with the beach or mountains! She also enjoys reading, hanging with family & friends and takes special joy in hanging with her nephews. Jennifer has a passion for organizations that support Mental Wellness as well as active & retired Military.

HOW IT STARTED

Jennifer recognizes that being an athlete has shaped her in ways as a leader that are beneficial, along with some attributes that may not be beneficial.

BENEFICIAL QUALITIES GAINED FROM BEING AN ATHLETE:

· Perseverance

· Communication

· Teamwork

· Getting up time and time again after failure

· Refining your craft

SOMETHING THAT IS NOT BENEFICIAL THAT CAME FROM BEING AN ATHLETE:

· Equating performance and success to significance and love

Jennifer emphasizes the importance of separating success and significance and that these two things do not equal each other. Your success is not your identity.

WHERE SHOULD YOUR IDENTITY COME FROM?

Jennifer realizes that many people connect their identity to something they are good at and when that thing has to stop or comes to an end on its own, it can be detrimental.

“How to separate your identity from something you’re good at is highly, highly important as leaders.”

Our success is very subjective, and Jennifer teaches leaders how to constantly be separating who they are without all the “bells and whistles.” The way we get to our true identity, is if you took all these “successful” things away and see what would be left.

“Identity is who you’re being without thinking about it.”

THE FIRST STEP: SELF-AWARENESS

Jennifer believes the first step towards finding your identity is being self-aware of what you’re made up of. Why you do the things you do, where your beliefs come from. Rattling off the things you do, is not who you are.

During this step, you may find certain beliefs or behaviors that you find yourself doing, but that really don’t feel like you. This then allows you to move into self-actualization and fanning into flames your giftings and passions in order to make a difference.

BETRAYAL OF SELF

The worst form of betrayal is not being the person you were meant to be. It doesn’t feel good when you first realize you may be living true to who you are. But no one has the same blueprint as you and no one’s path is your path.

As humans, we need connection, and we need our tribe. But we have to be careful to not allow the dopamine rushes from the praises we get for doing things well lead us down a path that we aren’t supposed to be on. Jennifer talks about how she dealt with depression after she stopped playing sports because she found herself asking, “Who am I without sports?”

We have to take time to find out who we truly are so that we can pick the right tribe.

“You shouldn’t want to be a part of a group that’s not speaking your language just to be a part of something.”

When you self-betray, you’re not only hurting yourself, but you’re also hurting the people around you. It takes courage to be yourself and find those who resonate with you. This can be hard for people because we don’t like rejection. But it’s so worth it in the end.

CREATING BOUNDARIES

As we evolve and continue to grow as we learn in this process, family and friends who knew you before may not be as easy to get along with. Jennifer discusses the importance of knowing what your yes’s are and what your no’s are.

As these people are seeing a different part of you and may not be getting you like they used to, it’s so important to know who you are and what you stand for. You can then set boundaries around these factors.

EX: You may limit the time you spend with certain people. It’s also important to recognize when someone no longer belongs in your life. It’s not that these people are bad, it just means you are in different spaces. You are responsible for your intentions, but not their response.

This also applies when leading a team. The 90-day probation period is a great time to learn boundaries and how that person will fit into your business, or not.

ACTION STEPS YOU CAN TAKE TODAY

1. CONTRAST. Write things down you want to try to find what you like and don’t like. Start with things that are polar opposites. EX: If you don’t know whether you’re truly an extrovert or introvert, go to a party and then go by yourself into the woods.

2. Just sit and create space. This allows your mind to start bringing up old beliefs and behaviors that don’t serve you anymore but may also be playing out in your current life. It then allows your brain to problem solve these issues.

“Let’s make epic-ness happen.”