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Episode 12: “How Our Thoughts Shape Reality" with Life Coach Michelle Reeves (#ThisIsMyEra the Podcast)

What do you do when a major life experience shatters your sense of self? When this happened to Michelle Reeves, she faced the difficult task of rebuilding her life from the ground up – and realized that she wasn’t alone in tackling this life challenge. Today, Michelle has found her passion as a certified life and mindset coach, working with women to achieve the best version of their true selves.
In this episode, Michelle chats with Kuda Biza and Alexander Star all the way from her home in the UK. She explains how our thoughts shape our reality, and how developing mindset shifts can help create massive change in our lives. Michelle’s advice is powerful because it addresses both the personal and professional at the same time, revealing how our inner selves and personal happiness can reflect directly upon our professional achievement.
In order to create change, shift your mindset:
At the core of Michelle’s life philosophy is that every situation we experience is neutral, neither inherently good or bad. It’s our minds and thoughts that create a narrative around these moments. In this way, our minds build our reality. If we can shift our mindset, then we can shift our reality.
Michelle reports that many of her clients come to her feeling frustrated, because they have made changes in their actions and haven’t seen any results. The reason is simple, according to Michelle: if you don’t change your mindset first, changing your actions won’t have an impact. Change starts within our mindset.
For example, it’s easy to approach challenges with anticipation of failure, rather than success. (Michelle calls this being a “defensive pessimist.”) With this mindset, it’s easy for failure to become a self-fulfilling prophecy. Conversely, approaching situations as opportunities for success will help manifest success.
Build “happiness habits.”
Michelle has cultivated eight “happiness habits” that help her to keep herself energized and motivated to achieve her goals. These habits include:
  • Awareness - of thoughts and surroundings.
  • Movement - daily exercise, even just a walk around the block.
  • Inspiration - read a book, listen to a podcast (like this one!)
  • Gratitude - taking time to reflect daily on what you’re thankful for.
  • Clarity - understanding goals and the pathways to them.
  • Celebrating - what good thing happened today?
For more on Michelle’s happiness habits, stay tuned for her forthcoming book that will delve deep into each of these practices. You can keep updated on her new book at
Approach new things with curiosity.
One practice that Michelle recommends in this podcast is meditation, which is a powerful tool for becoming more aware of our thoughts. She also gives some hugely valuable advice for starting to meditate: as you begin something new, approach your new habit with an attitude of curiosity.
It’s easy to put huge expectations on ourselves when we try something new, and if we’re not perfect at it the first time, we call it a failure and give up. Instead, try new things without any expectations, and without any parameters for what constitutes success or failure. Just be curious, and see what happens. Keep at it with this attitude of experimentation and the habit will be easier to build.

TAKE MASSIVE ACTION NOW

1) "Listen to your thoughts."
As Michelle advises in this podcast, take a few minutes to sit quietly and pay attention to your thoughts. Don’t try to quiet or control your thoughts, but listen to them.
Recognize how they flow past. Try downloading a meditation app (Michelle likes Headspace) to help you. Start to make this a daily practice. Once you become aware of you thoughts, it will be easier to shift your mindset.
2) Cultivate one of Michelle’s “happiness habits.”
Think about the “happiness habits” that Michelle discusses in this podcast, and start with one that you can add into your daily routine. This could be as simple as taking a short walk every day or ending the day by reflecting on a daily win or celebration. As the habit becomes a natural part of your day, check in with yourself and see how it’s improved your life.
Michelle’s happiness habits are highly compatible with the #TIME
90 Day Planner. If you’re already using the planner, use it to jot down your gratitudes or schedule in time for your habits. If you haven’t tried it yet, go check it out!
Episode Outline:
2:00: Introduction
3:15: How Michelle discovered her purpose after her life crumbled to pieces. (Her story is incredibly powerful and relatable - you’ll definitely want to listen to this.)
8:00: Why shifting your mindset is key to success.
10:00: Michelle’s “happiness habits.”
11:20: How to recover from being figuratively “punched in the face.”
13:00 How happiness habits resonate with the ethos of #ThisIsMyEra.
14:00: Ways that Michelle’s clients have seen life transformation.
15:45: How to give ourselves credit for successes and battle imposter syndrome.
17:50: The importance of meditation and being aware of our thoughts.
24:20: How Michelle is inspired by her kids, and how they keep her grounded.
28:30: Michelle’s tips for staying productive throughout the whole day.
31:47: Michelle’s favorite quote.
32:27: Details about Michelle’s forthcoming book.
33:27: Her signature coaching program: Spring Clean Your Life.
35:17: How Michelle is making THIS her era.
Episode Links:
Connect with Michelle Reeves:
More about her Spring Clean Your Life program (Starts September 10!)
Connect on social media:
Connect with #ThisIsMyEra on Facebook  (@thisismyeraofficial)
Connect with #ThisIsMyEra on Instagram (@thisismyeraofficial)
Join the conversation across all platforms with the hashtag #ThisIsMyEra
Pull quotes:
“Not every day is a good day, but there is going to be some good in every day.”
“Your thoughts are aligned with your reality.”
Michelle’s favorite quote: “Everything you do and say shows the world who you are, so let it be the truth.” - Oprah