The Life Designer

5: The Importance of Knowing Your Season

Episode Summary Hey friends, it's been a minute! After a full season of moving and transitioning into a new rhythm with my husband’s job, I’m slowly making my way back behind the mic. Right now, my recording capacity is limited, so this episode was created with minimal edits and a whole lot of grace. But I didn’t want to wait for perfect conditions to share what’s been sitting on my heart. In this episode of The Life Designer Podcast, we're talking about knowing your season—not just identifying it, but honoring it. Whether you're in a season of rebuilding, resting, planting, or waiting, I hope this conversation meets you with the gentleness and clarity your heart needs. In this episode, we’ll explore: * My own experience of navigating a slow and quiet season * The pressures that come from social media and comparison * The biblical reminder from Ecclesiastes 3:1 that there’s a time for everything * Gentle ways to discern your current season with God’s help * Encouragement to stop hustling out of the now and start stewarding what is 🌿 You are not behind. You are not buried. You are being planted. Mentioned in this episode: * The Seasons of God: How the Shifting Patterns of Your Life Reveal His Purposes for You [https://amzn.to/44E8Gnz] by Richard Blackaby * Now and Not Yet [https://amzn.to/4jpAC3k] by Ruth Chou Simons * Journaling Through Your Season Prompts [https://open.substack.com/pub/janelleaking/p/journaling-through-your-season?r=22h3u1&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true] For paid subscribers, I’ve created a companion reflection titled “Journaling Through Your Season”—a gentle space to help you process what season you’re in, what God might be doing in it, and how you can partner with that work. You’ll find the journaling prompts in the post below. If this episode encouraged you, would you consider sharing it with a friend who might need it too? And as always, thank you for being here. In this season, grace is making room for me to show up differently. I’m so grateful I get to walk with you through it. The Life Designer is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Loving the Life Designer? Share the love and earn rewards by referring a friend! 💖 This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit janelleaking.substack.com/subscribe [https://janelleaking.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]

4: Living Into Our Limitations

Episode Summary How do you view your weaknesses and limitations? Do you wish you had more of the willpower to muscle through them? So often, we think of willpower as a strength or character trait, but willpower will only take you so far. If you're in a low-capacity season or are experiencing the weight of your weaknesses and limitations, this episode is for you. In this episode, I discuss the psychology and the misconceptions surrounding willpower and practical strategies for how we can lean into our limitations and weaknesses with the help of Christ's strength. Mentioned in this episode: * He is Strong: Devotionals for When You Feel Weak [https://amzn.to/48buncU] * Life Designer Community Discussion Board [https://janelleaking.substack.com/t/community-discussion-board] * Life Designer Community Chat [https://janelleaking.substack.com/chat] ⭐️ Enjoyed this episode? Sharing, rating, and reviewing help to get other people's eyes and ears on this podcast. For more on purposeful and intentional living, make sure you subscribe to my newsletter at janelleaking.substack.com [http://janelleaking.substack.com/], follow me on Instagram at janelleaking [https://www.instagram.com/janelleaking/], or visit my personal website at janelleaking.com [http://janelleaking.substack.com/]. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit janelleaking.substack.com/subscribe [https://janelleaking.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]

3: Numbering Our Days Through Our Habits & Routines

Episode Summary We know that we should number our days, but what does that look like practically? Over the last few posts, we’ve been discussing what it looks like to make the most of the days we’ve been given. One of those ways is through goal setting, which we discussed in the previous episode, and today I want to talk about how we can number our days through our habits and routines. Habits are the daily decisions we make and the behaviors we perform every day. Routines, on the other hand, provide us with structure and discipline, helping us form the habits necessary to carry out our calling and achieve our goals. In this episode, I discuss how we can practically number our days through our habits and routines, sharing the habits and routines that I will be cultivating in 2024, and how habit stacking can help you create habits and routines that last. Mentioned in this episode: * Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones [https://www.amazon.com/Atomic-Habits-Proven-Build-Break/dp/0735211299/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1706555433&sr=1-1]by James Clear * Notion [https://www.notion.so/] ⭐️ Enjoyed this episode? Sharing, rating, and reviewing helps to get other people's eyes and ears on this podcast. Click the button below to share this episode. ICYMI If you’re in the process of reevaluating and redesigning your rhythms and routines, this month paid subscribers received access to a guided coaching exercise that walked them through creating life-giving rhythms and routines. To receive this exercise, make sure you upgrade your subscription [https://janelleaking.substack.com/publish/post/%%checkout_url%%] and download the exercise in the post below. Become a Life Designer Insider 💫 Want to access more thoughtfully curated recommendations, expertly designed resources and transformative coaching exercises, and a community of like-minded women as you design a more meaningful, purposeful, and intentional life? Consider upgrading to a paid subscription today. Can’t afford a monthly subscription to The Life Designer but still want to support my work? Buy me a coffee [https://www.buymeacoffee.com/janelleaking] to receive a one-time one-month comp. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit janelleaking.substack.com/subscribe [https://janelleaking.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]

2: Grace-Based Goal-Setting & Evolving With the Seasons

Episode Summary The end of the year invites us into a time of deeper reflection as we reflect on the past year and consider the next — what we want, what really matters, and what we would like to accomplish. In this episode, I share how we can set grace-based goals for the year without slipping into a works-based or performance-based mentality. I also share how my goals have evolved over the year, as well as my process and favorite tools for setting grace-based goals that align with your purpose, values, and season. Mentioned in this episode: * Seasons of God by Richard Blackaby [https://amzn.to/3RQ7mr2] * Cultivate What Matters’ Powersheets [https://shrsl.com/4co7m] * Cultivate What Matters’ Season by Season Planner [https://shrsl.com/4co7r] * Notion [https://www.notion.so/] ⭐️ Enjoyed this episode? Sharing, rating, and reviewing helps to get other people's eyes and ears on this podcast. Click the button below to share this episode. Become a Life Designer Insider 💫 Loving the Life Designer? Becoming a paid subscriber gets you access to exclusive perks, like this month’s community discussion. Discussions are our dedicated space to dive deeper into different topics regarding our lives, faith, calling, and personal development. The first discussion prompt is all about New Year Goal Setting. We’ll be discussing our goal-setting approaches and sharing tools and techniques that are currently serving and supporting us in this season. Become a paid subscriber to access and join the discussion. Can’t afford a monthly subscription to The Life Designer but still want to support my work? Buy me a coffee [https://www.buymeacoffee.com/janelleaking] to receive a one-time one-month comp. ICYMI The Life Designer is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit janelleaking.substack.com/subscribe [https://janelleaking.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]

1: Welcome to the Life Designer Podcast

Episode Summary Welcome to the first episode of The Life Designer Podcast! Life is hard. You have your expectations, but then you have your reality. How do you hold onto hope while humbly embracing and trusting where you are? In this episode, I shed light on the perils of the prosperity gospel and self-help culture, exposing how they inform our perspective on purpose, success, and God. Plus, you will hear how I have addressed these lies within my own personal development journey and how I am encouraging women to do the same. Mentioned in this episode: * Purpose Discovery Coaching [https://www.pwinstitute.org/private-coaching] ⭐️ Enjoyed this episode? Sharing, rating, and reviewing helps to get other people's eyes and ears on this podcast. Click the button below to share this episode. Become a Life Designer Insider 💫 Loving The Life Designer? Consider becoming a paid subscriber for exclusive perks, bonus content, community discussions, coaching, and more. Can’t afford a monthly subscription to The Life Designer but still want to support my work? Buy me a coffee [https://www.buymeacoffee.com/janelleaking] to receive a one-time one-month comp. Help Shape Our Community 💞 In an effort to continue to build this community, I would love to know about how I can support you. Every year, I like to send out an annual survey to check in and get a pulse on the needs of our community. It’s a quick, 3-minute survey, and your feedback would be greatly appreciated as I continue to design and shape this space. It doesn’t matter if you’ve been here for one day, one week, one month, one year, or since day one, I would love to hear from you! Click here [https://forms.gle/qb3VSRvYNnwxMBNv7] to fill out the annual survey. The Life Designer is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit janelleaking.substack.com/subscribe [https://janelleaking.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]