Motivation Question: Who do You Want to Be in this Life?

·32 min·3 clips

Host Machel Shull asks one of the most important questions you'll ever ask yourself: who do you want to be in this world?

The episode is a solo motivational talk by host Machel Shull. She opens by asking listeners to ponder the fundamental question of who they want to be in the world, emphasizing it's about how one wants to live, not just accomplishments. Shull addresses her primary audience, whom she identifies as being between 35 and 55, and encourages them that change is possible at any point. She shares a poignant personal story about a therapist in Hollywood who used a hand-flipping analogy to illustrate that the second half of life doesn't have to reflect the first. Shull then introduces the core answer to her question: confidence. She cites Reese Witherspoon's statement that 'confidence is everything' as support. To build this confidence, Shull offers a series of actionable strategies. She discusses the importance of repetition and practice, noting that three times a week is a 'magic number' for building new habits. She recommends deep breathing to calm the nervous system and boost confidence, drawing on her experience as a yoga teacher. Shull advises selecting a trusted inner circle to share goals with, as their support can help maintain momentum. She warns against 'naysayers' who plant seeds of doubt and suggests shielding oneself from such negativity. Shull shares a personal example of her friend who became a therapist midlife after various careers. She references several quotes on confidence from figures like Norman Vincent Peale, Joe Namath, E.E. Cummings, and Arthur Ashe. Shull also emphasizes the power of 'many achievements'—small, consistent wins that build toward larger goals. In a vulnerable moment, she reveals she started pole dancing classes at age 54, describing it as a personal breakthrough that was initially beyond her reach. She concludes by stressing self-love as foundational, encouraging listeners to love themselves where they are while chiseling away at their dreams through consistent actions and rituals.

As heard by us

A spiritual pep talk that turns self-definition into practice, breath, and Hollywood-sized confidence.

"Who do you want to be in this world?" gives Inspired Mind a clear organizing question, and Michelle Shaw follows it from self-image into everyday behavior.

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Why you'd press play

Press play when you need to ask who you want to be in this world, then turn the answer into a small practice you can actually repeat.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

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