Hello, and welcome back to another episode of the Genius Podcast.

My name is Karen Doyle, your host and founder of The Genius Project,

an initiative for Catholic women designed to support and resource them

towards growth in all areas of life, spiritual, personal, and professional.

We seek to do this through the Catholic Women's Masterclass, our Catholic

coaching programs for women, as well as our online resources and products.

If you are interested in finding out about any of these initiatives, please

visit our website@www.geniusproject.co or come and follow us on Instagram Genius

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Now, we haven't had an episode for the last two weeks because

unfortunately we got hacked here at the Genius Project, which was

a great big pain in the backside.

Maybe it's a sign we're doing something right, but it's meant that

the whole Genius project, YouTube channel was taken down and I think a

cryptocurrency man appeared in my place.

Very random.

But that is all up and running and we are just in a process

at the moment of reloading.

All of those videos.

So if you choose to listen to the Genius Podcast through YouTube,

those will be up very shortly.

Otherwise, they're still on the Apple and the Spotify playlists.

On this week's episode of the Genius Podcast, I'm joined by

the very wonderful Renee Doyle.

We are not sisters, but we are sisters in the Lord, and we do

share a kindred heart for all things relating to women, to leadership, to

mindset coaching, and to women to.

Discovering their gifts, purpose, and mission, and that is what our

conversation will revolve around today.

If you are a woman who is in a season of overwhelm, you might feel that you don't

know what you are called to contribute or what your unique gifts purpose and

mission are at this moment in your life.

Can I invite you to take a look at the Catholic Women's Mask?

To class in this masterclass, we go through a four month journey of

transformation where we really start to build in some rhythms of life that

help us go from surviving our life to really thriving in our life as Catholic

women Outdoors will be opening in just a couple of weeks for a new intake

of the Catholic Women's Masterclass.

So I really would love to encourage you to head on over to our webs.

Site, www.geniusproject.co.

And check out the masterclass page.

In today's podcast episode, Renee and I are going to dive deep into how we can

discover our gifts in whatever season we find ourself in, and what actually

happens when women are not living their gifts and not connecting with the desires

and the purpose that is in their heart.

Ladies, this episode is pure gold.

So wherever you are, listen up, relax, and enjoy this conversation with Renee Doyle.

Well, Renee, welcome back to the Genius Podcast.

It's so wonderful to have you joining me again.

I think you were one of our first guests about three years ago when we launched,

but lovely to have you joining us again.

Yeah.

Oh, Karen, it's always a pleasure when I get time to chat with you

and yeah, it's been beautiful.

I, I think I was one of the first guests and I've been following since

then with some amazing conversations, so it's a joy to be back here.

Oh, well thank you so much.

Recently, you presented at the Sisterhood conference and you presented a beautiful

workshop and then a beautiful keynote talk around this area of women discovering

their purpose and their unique gifts.

And so that's where we're going to spend a little bit of time talking today.

But before we jump in, I'm wondering if you can bring us up to speed on your life,

cuz so much has been happening over the last few years and I would love to just.

I guess fill our listeners in on where you are now.

Yeah, sure.

Um, so I am, well first and for foremost, I'm still, I'm still

my husband and my four children.

That has not changed.

Um, that's good thing.

No, it's great.

It keeps me very busy, uh, very lively children, um, all growing up now and, um,

in, in workspace I work, uh, part-time with Net Ministries, so I am the

leadership development director there.

So, um, it's a beautiful joy of journeying alongside our young volunteers there.

Um, yeah, doing leadership development and I also on the side, um, Run a business

as well, working with teams and leaders across the country, all different spheres.

Um, you know, in, in corporate, in church and ministries, all different

places, but basically with the heart of helping people discover their gifts,

their unique talents, and, um, yeah, how they can put that to work and

make an impact in the world and how can they can work together in teams.

So, um, that's kind of a, a quick snapshot.

Yes.

Life at the moment for me.

And, and you do so well at that, Renee, like you just,

it's what you are born to do.

Often think, when I see you speaking, I'm like, yes.

Oh, when I see my husband speaking to her, I'm like, this is what you're born to do

and living in, I guess we talk about the eye of a storm, but I like to talk about

it living in the heart of your gift.

And when we see someone, I think when we witness someone actually living and, and

living out their gift in such a beautiful way, it brings others joy and it sort

of elevates their gaze towards heaven.

I, I think, That experience for me, I have that when I watch you speak and

Jonathan and people who sing like Alyssa or Gary Pinto, you know, I just, ah,

it just makes my heart sore when you watch people living in their gifts.

But our gifts as women are so different, aren't they?

And there's different seasons of life where those gifts are more prominent.

Um, but we have to remember that we're all called to this life, I

guess, of contribution and service with who we are, what we've been

given regardless of our season.

So this is sort of the direction I'd love to.

Jump into.

I love it.

Yeah, because I, I think there's so many women who are listening who often

I, I find in my masterclass that have become a little bit stuck in their life.

Mm.

Yeah.

Yeah, I can understand that a lot.

I think it's, I think because there's a natural desire in each one of

us, I think to live with purpose.

We all, I think we know inside we've, we've been gifted, you

know, that God has a plan.

We're not called into just exist, you know, and just go

through the motions of life.

I think all of us long for that more and long to feel like, you know, my, my

life matters and I wanna make an impact.

So, um, it can be really challenging when we feel like.

We're not in tune with that or we're not living that, you know?

Um, yeah.

And there's that sort of, we're out of alignment, aren't we?

Like there's that sense, like you said, there's something that doesn't

sit right and, and I think for so many women, I dunno whether this is your

experience as well, working across all the different areas that you serve a

minister in, but there's that sense that something's not quite right as you put it.

Mm-hmm.

And I think that's a clue, isn't it?

To delve deeper.

Definitely a clue and one that I almost feel like these clues are so insightful.

If we're paying attention sometimes in the busyness of life, you know,

we kind of feel that disconnect or feel like, oh, there's gotta be more.

I think these are some of the lines I hear like, oh, it's gotta be more.

I'm just, don't feel like you said that lack of alignment and exactly what you're

saying to, to kind of create space in our life to follow those clues, to listen to.

I like to think, you know, they're like promptings of the Holy Spirit of,

um, Maybe you should follow that clue and, and, and dig deeper a little bit

there of, um, what, what's missing, what, what's the lack of alignment

that you are experiencing, you know?

Yeah, yeah.

And you and I really share this heart, don't we?

We say we share a surname, Renee and Karen Doyle, and, and

today we're both wearing green.

So Doyle girls are in alignment today.

It's great, but I, I think.

I really, I don't know.

There's something about sharing with you when we catch up on the phone

that just brings my heart alive to someone who shares, I guess, a similar

kind of language around this, and I'd love you to flesh this out from

another perspective for the listeners, just around, I guess, passion and

purpose and why it's important.

For us as human beings, but particularly women.

Mm.

Oh, I mean, it's, yes, you're right.

I feel I love it too, Karen.

And I think it's because often when I'm talking to you and we often have

conversations around passion and purpose and, and where is God leading

you and, and what's the biggest story that's happening right now?

And as I was saying before, sometimes when we lose.

Side of that bigger story, we can kind of feel like life just gets limits

to going through the daily motions.

You know, I remember I've, you know, spending time, obviously I'm

a mom and I spend time with a lot of other moms, and sometimes people

can just feel like, I just feel like my life is drop off, pick up.

Take to sport, come home, repeat, you know, and it's, of course we're

gonna be left with this feeling of, but, but surely there's more.

And, and I think for me that's true too.

And I think it's important to start from, my passion for this area was

really born out of a lot of pain.

It was, it was.

Season.

Yeah.

It was a season in my life that I just felt like exactly

that it was just existing.

Yeah.

Didn't, like, I was really living, nothing was bad, you

know, nothing was e externally.

I had an amazing husband, beautiful son at the time, and everything

was good, so to speak in life.

But I just felt that emptiness and it was just feeling that lack

of, what, what am I here for?

You know?

And, and what's, what's my purpose?

And, um, And in the daily, I was missing that sense of, of a

greater story of purpose as well.

Um, and so it was quite a dark season for me that had me kind of, by the

end of it, it was, it was a long time.

It was, I'd say it was about two years.

I was just kind of in that space.

And by the end I was like, enough's enough, and I got hungry.

I just, it was actually through prayer, you know, I just got hungry.

I'm like, I, I want more.

Lord, I know that there's more, you know?

Um, And, and through that experience I just started, you know, I was actually

reading the Purpose-Driven Life.

I think I've shared that with you, um, last time.

Yeah.

Purpose Driven Life at the time of just, um, one of the first lines

is it's not about you, you know?

And I think I was so focused on how do I fill up my own life that

it was almost all consuming of me and I had lost sight of how I can.

Be a gift to the people around me.

And in that strange, what I like to think of the great paradox of

the gospel, that as we give our life away, we find life and it.

Flipped my view on purpose, you know, of we've each been

gifted, you know, God has you.

He didn't just kind of create us and say, good luck, like we've been gifted with

the purpose that he's created us for.

And so it makes sense to come back to him and to start with prayer, you know, and

go how, how can I, sometimes the question.

What is my purpose can, can be a bit too much.

You know, it can yes.

Be almost paralyzing cuz it's like it's, it's as if to say there's some

random thing out there that is not, not connected to the life you're

living today and you've gotta find it somewhere out there as opposed to, I

think one of the best questions for me is how can I live my purpose today?

How, how can I use my gifts today?

And, and you start, that's good to find new ways of, of pouring into, you

know, how can I use my gifts today?

And even if you find little moments, it just starts to

fuel little bits of purpose.

And, um, you know, I a, a random story, it's coming to mind.

So this says a long, it's good.

So good.

Keep going.

I remember being, um, in, for a minor surgery a couple of years

ago and I was, I was feeling.

Pretty, I mean, expectedly, I was not feeling good.

I was in pain.

I was feeling pretty sorry for myself.

I was desperately missing my kids.

Um, and I was waiting for the surgery.

They kept moving it, and I'm in that moment and just at the height

of my frustration, just, just, just like, oh, what am I doing?

And I just had that little prompt of where could I find purpose in this moment?

And I, I know this random guy walked in, he was, A volunteer, and I just thought,

I'm just, I'm just gonna, you know, I love hearing what people's gifts are.

I love hearing what they're doing.

I'm just gonna ask him.

He was so random.

Um, what did you ask him in?

Well, he, I said, what, you know, he was trying to look for a conversation.

I said, what, what do you do here?

And he's like, I'm a volunteer.

It's my first day.

To be honest, I feel kind of awkward.

I'm not really sure what to ask people.

And so we just started talking about, well, how do you strike up conversation?

What are your gifts?

What do you feel comfortable talking about 'em?

And it was just, it took, it just made me feel alive again.

I was like, okay, life's bigger than just this moment where I'm at.

You know?

And I think that's what purpose does.

It kind of transcends the every day of, yes, we still have things we gotta do.

Not every moment's gonna be incredible, but if we've got that

mind of purpose and the biggest story.

Behind us, then we look for these little moments where we can a, add our gifts.

We look for these moments where we can see something that's very normal.

Um, but it transcends when you put purpose behind it.

Of my, my purpose in this moment is to be present with this person

to help them feel like they've got the courage to do the next thing.

What a gift.

It just, it changes things.

And I think that's what, that's what our knowledge of our, our passions

and our purpose and, and where we're going, kind of fuel that fire to life.

You know, it's, for me, it was.

The scripture that kind of ended that season for me was, was John 10.

10 was life through the fall.

Ah.

And it was kind of this deep, it really resonated deeply of oh, so that's not what

ge, Jesus doesn't want us to just survive.

He doesn't want us to just go through the motions.

He wants life and life abundant for us, you know?

So, um, that's beautiful.

I think that that knowledge and tapping into, um, what is my purpose today?

What are my gifts today?

How can I bring that to play?

It gives us hope.

It helps find, um, greater meaning I think, in the everyday.

Um, absolutely.

I love that, Renee.

That's a very beautiful story.

I think just showing up and.

Sort of walking into any room or any situation, that question

of how can I be a blessing?

Yeah.

Rather than what can I get?

Because it's that scarcity abundant mindset.

It's that difference between the outward focus and, and yes,

I do think there's a fine line.

We do need to learn how to fill our cups as women, because I think absolutely, yes.

So much of the time we're perpetually giving and pumping out for everybody,

but we're not restoring ourselves.

So we need to do that.

But what you're talking about is different.

It's like when you show up, what is my purpose?

Mm-hmm.

And I think that mindset shift from what can I gain to what can

I give is incredibly important.

So for the mum at home, in the rush of the drop offs and the cooking

and the washing, how can I show up?

How can I be a blessing to these people in my home, in my sphere of influence today?

Yeah.

I think that is so powerful.

And one other thing I'd love to pick up on is you actually encountered that shift.

When the pain became too great.

Yeah, and I think that's something it's really important to highlight because

sometimes people don't move into, I guess, transformation or I guess skilling up to

move into a different season or stepping out with the courage to pursue a dream.

Yeah.

Because they have this mindset that's gonna be too hard.

Yeah, like my life is hard.

It's too hard, but it's hard to stay where you are too.

And a question that I like to pose to women is, which

hard are you going to choose?

Like it's hard to sit on the couch and eat and get fat.

It's also hard to get up every day and exercise.

So, which hard.

Yeah.

And what you tap into here is the pain points.

Like sometimes we have to get to a point in our life where the pain and

the discomfort of how we are living or.

Who we've become, become so great that we say enough, which is what you did.

Yeah.

And I, I think it's, it's true to, and it's important to acknowledge.

It's, it's not easy.

I, I think, I think one of the best things we can do, um, you know, considering, you

know, a lot of your, um, you're talking to women, one of the best things we can do

as women is encourage other women because.

It's not easy to change and to adapt and to step out, encourage, like one

thing you were, um, just saying then I think sometimes our, our limiting

beliefs can be some of the biggest obstacles to us living our purpose.

Because often we cut the story before we even try.

It's like, yes, I'd love to, I'd love to write a book, but no one read it.

It probably wouldn't be good anyway.

And, and then the idea's gone.

You know, or I'd, I'd, I'd love to reconnect with this friend.

Maybe someone's, it can be small.

You'd love to reconnect with this friend, but ah, they probably wouldn't.

Probably wouldn't want to.

So I just, I just, you know, it's too hard.

And I think sometimes w we can hold ourselves back from stepping into greater

sense of purpose as well from those beliefs before we even get started.

So yeah, encouragement is really important to kind of help lift

each other into that, you know?

Yes.

Yeah.

So you're talking about like how we can come alongside other women mm-hmm.

And encourage them, but you've picked up on, I guess, these limiting beliefs.

So share with us, I mean, you and I do a lot in this mindset, coaching space,

but what are some of the ways in which women can start to overcome some of

those limiting beliefs that are holding them back, that are sort of, I guess,

fear keeps them captive or contained?

What are some of the other limiting beliefs and how can they.

Kind of do some work there at home.

Yeah.

You know, Karen, honestly, one of the most common experience I have, and I'm

not immune to this, like, I, I always feel the me neither when I say, when I'm having

these conversations, I'm always talking to myself first because we all need it.

No, it's not like some of us are just immune and live perfectly in our purpose.

It's, it's the challenge, but it's the challenge that brings

the joy as well, you know?

Um, But I think what's really important, a, as a a first point is,

is our narrative around our purpose.

Because I think sometimes even the story that we tell ourself is really important.

Like, you know, for example, if you are in a season where you're

home with young children, this, this was my story at that point.

Um, We can be like, oh, I'm not doing anything.

I'm just at home.

I'm not out there.

Kind of, you know, I'm not making, I'm just a, I'm just a hate

friend.

Would say that to you.

Like, can you imagine if someone said to you, you're just a mom, you're not

really doing anything, you're just sitting there, you're not really making an impact.

It's like, no.

If a friend would say that, I'd highly question your

relationship with that person.

Absolutely.

Like, um, no.

And so we have to be kind to ourselves in this as well of

going, what's the narrative?

And because it can change the way we see everything, you know, it's

like actually today, I, I am, can't really get out there and, and do all

the things that maybe I'd like to do.

It's okay to be honest, but.

This is, I am pouring into this beautiful little life today and I'm gonna, you know,

I'm going to love and feed and encourage and, and build into this little life.

And that's the way we speak about what we are doing, you know?

Um, and, and it doesn't mean that there can't be other things happening at the

same time, you know, like, absolutely.

I think one thing that's really important is thinking about, you know, who are

the people that have impacted you?

You know, and if I often, it's like this person encouraged me.

This person believed in me.

This person listened to me when I was at my lowest.

They're not hard things to do, you know?

They don't, they, they are gifts.

You know, some people are incredible at listening.

Some people have the ability to speak truth in the most beautiful way,

and some people can gift you with courage and, and you feel like you

can just take the next step, like.

These are incredible gifts unleashed in the everyday that you could be at home

and, and just send a text to someone.

You could make a phone call.

You know, these are kind of these things that even whilst you're in

seasons that um, you know, you might feel like it's really hard and, and

it's, it's a lot that they're still little things that can keep fueling

that fire of what you feel called to do.

Yeah, absolutely.

And I have to say, you are so good at that.

There's so many times you have this uncanny way of sending a

beautiful text of encouragement at precisely the right moment.

So that's the Holy Spirit.

But I, I love how you respond and you listen.

And the blessing on the other side of that is, is there's been a gift in

my life, and I know there's lots of people who've received that as well.

Renee, it's beautiful.

Yeah, and I think that's, thank you.

I mean, thank you.

But I think that's a beautiful example because there are often

times where I'm sending this going.

This person's probably like over my text, you know?

No, never ever you, but that again, that's can be the narrative.

The narrative that falls us back.

And it's like, I'm not sending that, that's dumb.

They're gonna be like, can she just let it do for today?

You know, like, it sounds ridiculous when we say that, but, um, I think

that's the encouragement of the narrative of like, you know what,

it's not up to us how it's received.

It's up to us that we follow those little promptings that we're talking about.

Hundred percent respond, and, and that we keep that narrative of what's my purpose

today, positive in our minds as well, or whatever the little bit I can do, then

hey, that's, that's what I do today.

And, and that's a gift.

That's beautiful.

You know?

Yeah.

Uh, it's so true and I love this conversation because I think

my experience is a lot of women seem to get lost in their season.

So whether that is the season of uni and overwhelm, whether that's

a season of early motherhood or emptiness, or then trying to go

back to work while raising children.

Like there's all these different seasons and if we're not careful,

we, we can get lost in our season and we miss those invitations.

And I think one of the ways that we respond to the invitation and, and one of

the ways we can bring that alignment back and discover our purpose is to really get

in touch with the desires of our heart.

And I think life happens and, and the older we get and the

more things we have to juggle.

I mean, inevitably we counter grief and trauma or disappointment, loss,

difficult relationships, like all of that is just part of the journey of life.

And it has a, if we're not careful, it has the capacity to

drive those desires underground.

And those desires in our heart can die off because of the

challenges and the demands of life.

But I guess we're talking about growth like our, our whole life is this evolution

of growing into and moving into the fullness of who God's created us to be.

So we really need to have this openness to what are the desires?

Where is God calling me to grow?

What is he calling me to in this season of my life?

And love to talk around this, uh, I guess this area of desire.

Because I think, I don't know, you may have experienced this too, but

many years ago, you know, we had three kids under three and life

became all of a sudden Very serious.

Yeah.

And, and those desires were just, I'm like, then it's a narrative

again, not for this season.

And I made this choice not to speak cuz I thought that's what I

should do cuz I should be at home.

And primarily I was home with my kids when they were little full-time.

Um, but there was this idea of, What I should be doing.

But really there was still this deep desire to be serving

women that never went away.

And I had to learn how to, I guess, use that desire, how the Lord was calling me

is that desire in a, in different seasons.

So can you talk into this idea of the desires of our heart?

Because think for so many women, these desires get killed off.

They die through disappointment.

Yeah.

And I think part of, I guess, discovering our purpose is

reconnecting with those desires.

Can you talk into, I guess that word desire?

It's a beautiful word.

I love it.

Love it.

Because I feel like it's the core of people.

It's so sacred, you know?

And, and that's, I have to say, it's part of.

The work that I love the most is just hearing the desires of people's heart.

I think the other thing is sometimes we're afraid of the desires.

Like we feel like, well, if I like it, maybe it's not what I should do.

And it's like, well, who do you think put those desires there?

You know, it's, um, so I think desires really important to keep cultivating.

Um, it's kind of like that little flame, like with each.

It's so unique in each person.

Um, and it's like the flame, you gotta keep it alive.

I would say You keep, keep firing it.

But like you said, Karen, it does require discernment cuz you know, we've,

we are trying to honor our seasons.

We're trying to honor, um, our vocation and the things that, uh,

you know, calling at us whilst still honoring those desires in our hearts.

So I think it does require discernment in each season as

well, or some things as well.

Sometimes I can.

I'm a dreamer naturally.

I, I'm generally a big dreamer and there's definitely been seasons where

I, I might have this big dream, but I know it's, it's not the timing.

I know it's, you know, it's not where my kids are at, it's not where

my husband, whatever it might be.

Um, and so I think some of the things I try and do when I say

stoking the fire, keeping it alive is are there bite size pieces?

Are there ways I can still honor that?

Are there still smaller ways I can maybe still live it out while not

losing, um, not losing that desire one.

Big thing that, um, I think in, in keeping that alive is

I am a big fan of journaling.

Yes.

And I often take moments like I think I shared about this at the conference,

I often take moments where I, I do what I, I just call dreaming with God.

And it's, it's almost like prayer.

It's like a prayer time.

But I'm just writing down the dreams that are on my heart and almost just

placing them before him, you know, of here's, here's what I'm experiencing.

Here are the dreams on my heart.

Um, help me to know.

How to best live these when to, that's the discernment piece, you know?

Um, because we don't wanna lose them because there are times when I

feel really disconnected from them.

Yes.

And one of the best things I love to do in those times is I come

back and I read those moments.

I read what I journaled in those moments where I, it was alive and well.

And I, I can almost feel that flame flicker.

I'm like, oh no, it's still there.

I still love that.

I still, still, yeah, that's right.

I wanna live that.

You know?

So, I think there's power in journaling because it's a way of

honoring me every day, but not losing sight of those, those big dreams.

Absolutely.

Um, absolutely keeping that desire alive, because I think that desire gives us hope.

You know, when we, you know, Karen, you were saying before,

when, when you see people step out into their gifts, I love that too.

You know, and everyone's got it.

It doesn't matter.

How big or how small?

You know, I, I was with a friend the other day and I just had to smile.

She, it doesn't matter where you go with her, she will

notice people on the peripheral.

Like she will just see them.

She has an eye for them and she'll be gone and she will be talking to

them and she will be drawing them in.

And I, I often makes me wanna cry.

Like, it's, it's so simple, you know, when you think of what's your

gift, you don't necessarily think of.

You have an ability to draw people in.

It's an incredible gift and it impacts deeply, you know, but just, just seeing

that alive in her, I was so, yeah, like just, just moved by that and going, I love

watching people do what they're called to do, what God has gifted them to do.

And it's beautiful.

When you watch them pouring it out into the world, it brings life.

So it's, our gifts bring life to other people, but they also bring us life.

Yes.

You know, and that desire, it brings us life when we step into that, when we do

the things, when we are alive, when we do the things we do feel stirring a kind

of simmering or bubbling in our hearts and, and we kind of step into that.

There is a life.

And I think it's that, um, you know, that saying like, God is

glorified when man is fully alive.

There's something yes.

So beautiful about that.

And, and so I think it's really important not, not to lose that fire, um, Yeah.

And, and it is intentional, isn't it?

We have to work at not letting the every day just rob that from us.

Love that.

Absolutely.

I love that.

St.

Aus, you know, we're called to, um, that the glory of God

is man and woman fully alive.

And the other one, the other scripture I love is, um, from Ephesians

that we are actually called to exist for the praise of his glory.

So when you and I are talking about witnessing someone living

in a gift, like we're actually glorified, that person's glorifying

God and calling us into, I guess, An adoration of him through that gift.

And, and so we all have an obligation to really fan the flame Yeah.

Of our own gifts.

Yeah.

And, and I think what you picked up on there is really important that

even in a season say of motherhood, trying to discover what brings you

joy, what brings you hope, which, what is it that keeps you moving forward?

Um, that, you know, growth is so important.

Cause if we're not growing in life, we're dying.

So we, we want to be growing because that's what gives us that

sense of purpose, but sometimes we can't actually step out and see the

fullness of that dream in that season.

Yeah.

So one thing that came to mind was this quote, I think I've mentioned

it on the podcast before, but I.

Many years ago when we lived in Cairns, I did not like public speaking at all,

and, and I was, I was sort of an oncology palliative care nurse and then pushed

into this role of director of this student health clinic in the boarding school.

And in that season I had this real call on my heart to work with women, but I didn't

know what it was, what it looked like.

I didn't even believe that I had gifts in terms of speaking or

contributing to women's lives.

So Jonathan gave me a quote on a post-it note from Abraham Lincoln and it

said, I will study and prepare myself.

And perhaps my time will come.

So there's seasons, even though we might not be able to step

out and see that full dream.

There's the work and the discipline of preparing for, I guess, the

fulfillment of the desire and the dream.

Yeah.

That's beautiful and, and I think it's really important because.

It's that keeping that growth mindset on our gifts, you know, it's, it's, it's

very scriptural, you know, it's like we weren't given our gifts to just hold

onto it and just go, I have this gift.

You know, I, I work in, in the area of helping people discover

what their strengths are.

But one of the hardest things for me is when people like, oh, I did

that and I discovered my strengths.

I'm like, and what, what have you done?

And what did you do with them?

How, how do you use them?

You know, because it's like, it's not enough to just know.

They don't come alive until they're given away, you know?

And so I absolutely, the more that we can kind of use and study, and

not just necessarily in our gifts, but yeah, purpose and, and calling

the areas that you feel called into, like, that's beautiful.

It's, it, it is beautiful in the, in the quieter seasons of life to.

To keep, yeah.

Studying, investing, growing, you know?

Yes.

And those desires really form the seeds of personal vocation.

So we have, Edith Stein talks about the three layers of vocation.

We all have a universal vocation.

This all of us share the vocation to love as God loves.

And then there's the primary vocation, which is how we

live that universal call out.

So that's either through religious life.

Single life, married life.

And then we have this idea of personal vocation, secondary vocation,

which is every single person has a unique and an irreplaceable

role and a contribution to make.

So I think it's very important to remind women that every

single one of you has a unique.

And an unrepeatable mission and contribution in every

single season of life.

Yeah.

So I, I think that we really need to be reminded of that.

Mm-hmm.

And, and when we actually start to step into that, embrace that we feel fulfilled.

Mm-hmm.

And, and that, like you said, I love that word fuel.

It fuels more of that.

Where can I look for ways to show up and serve and contribute where I'm planted?

And my good friend January Donovan, she talks about unfulfilled women

become toxic to their community.

And I think it's so true, like when people are unfulfilled, they sort of

look for others to validate them, or they have to bring other people down

in order to justify how they're feeling or their lack of motivational action.

Mm-hmm.

And so I think this idea of fulfillment.

Is is so important.

Like what is it that fills your spirit?

What if it, what is it that fills your soul?

Like, what makes you feel alive?

And I came across this book many years ago cause I love to paint and to draw and

I haven't done that in a bazillion years.

I do graphic design now, so that's where, where that's so

well Carrie, so well, well thanks.

But it's, um, it's funny how.

Like that, just, I could just spend hours doing design work and I love

art, but I noticed that I was doing, you know, you get so locked into

productivity and work this year I made my year, my word for the year,

this year is health and and wholeness.

And so I set aside one day a month.

Where I just set aside the first three hours of the day and I have

what is called an artist date.

So it's, it's this artist said that everyone should have these artist dates

with themselves where you go away and whatever it is, whether it's walking

around the lake or going to an art gallery or cooking or something that just.

Brings you back to connect you with, I guess, your own soul so

that you can encounter the desires and the dreams in your heart.

Mm-hmm.

And I, I just, I love that idea of having a create or an artist date, because for

me that's been just such a gift this year.

It's just having, knowing that once a month, there's these three hours

on the first day of every month that I'm going to go somewhere in an

environment and atmosphere that just.

Helps reignite those passions in my soul.

Mm-hmm.

So I, I think that's a really beautiful thing to do.

Even you're not an artist.

Yeah.

I love that, Karen.

I love that.

It's so beautiful and it just strikes me again of it, it's sometimes

it's, it's almost frustrating that it doesn't just happen on its own.

That we do have to carve out these times.

We do have to be intentional about it.

Um, But but how beautiful that you've built that rhythm in your

life and I'm sure it brings you, well, you can hear it in your voice.

It brings life and joy and it's worth fighting for.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Even in the midst, cuz my life is full.

It's so busy.

So if you don't make, like, we have to make time for that, which is important.

It's like prayer.

We have to be really intentional about scheduling these times for

quality relationships and prayer and connecting with ourselves

and, and feeding into ourselves.

It's just so important.

Absolutely.

Yeah.

So, um, Renee, talk to me a little bit about, just very briefly, cuz I

know on one of the first podcasts we looked at, um, the Clifton strengths,

the clues to talent, but mm-hmm.

I'm wondering if you can just run through very quickly mm-hmm.

Some of those sort of ideas or insights into how women can, I guess, start

to tap into or discover their gifts for women that might think, I just

don't even know what they are anymore.

Yeah.

What are some of the questions that might kickstart this thought process for them?

Yeah.

Um, great question.

I feel like just before I start, I just wanna, you know, tap back

into what you were saying before about every person has gifts.

No one was exempt from being gifted by God.

And I think that's, that's the important starting point here is

everyone is irreplaceable and it, for me, it's also that sense of if

we don't offer the gifts around us, Then the world around us misses out.

You know, that there's, there's a, there is a responsibility

that's very scriptural too.

You know, like we're called, um, in many times in scripture, we're

exhorted, whatever you've got, use it.

Whatever the gift is, use it.

You know, um, because the world needs it.

The, the body of Christ needs it.

We need it to, to build up the kingdom.

Um, the people around you need it.

So I say that as an encouragement before you get started because, um, It's there.

Sometimes some of the, the, the worst feelings for people can be, and I've

lived that myself, is I don't feel like I've got anything, um, to give.

And, and that's why I wanna start there.

If every person is uniquely, um, and never before, and never again

will someone be gifted in the same way you are, which even, um,

it's even more of an encouragement to stand out and to use that.

So I think the first thing I always say is, obviously is prayer.

You know?

Um, I think it's a, it's a beautiful journey to go on,

Karen, like you were saying.

Um, Carving out time and, and creating space for prayer and, and

praying that, that, you know, God would reveal what, what are my gifts?

How do you want me to use that?

Um, it's always a good foundation, but asking yourself some really key questions.

I will reference, you could probably just go back to, we find out what

the first podcast, the first podcast, because we go into it in detail.

Um, but that we talk about close to talent, um, which is, is the

yearning, like what are you naturally drawn to, um, rapid learning.

What do you pick up?

You know, I say to people, what do you, you know, sometimes it used to be books.

So I, I am a big book reader, so if you looked at my bookcase, it would reflect

a lot of the work that I do, you know?

Yes.

Um, because I, it's, yeah, it's a lot about, um, you know, passion

and purpose and gifting and, um, leading and all of that kind of stuff.

But, but what we naturally wanna learn more about that curiosity.

What are you curious about where.

Or where do you pick things up naturally?

That's kind of that, um, rapid learning space flow.

This is a really key, like what are you doing when time just passes?

You know, it doesn't matter.

Don't put rules on it either.

Don't go, well, that's not a job, or, that's not a just discover.

Just, just be curious and see what comes up.

So what are you doing when time just, just passes you by?

I'd love to tell story.

Definitely not cooking for me.

Not me either, actually.

I, I have a good friends that I work with and, and she's often

like, she'll say, oh, I was up doing pottery till 2:00 AM and I was like,

oh, how do you stay up that late?

She's like, I just don't even notice the time.

I just, the hours go.

And I'm like, it's a perfect example of just she's in flow, uh, you know,

everything's, um, glimpses of excellence.

What are you good at?

You know, it, that's generally a good clue to something that, um,

what are, you know, I say on that, what do people ask for your help?

For?

What do people randomly call you for or ask your advice on?

They're usually good clues that it's something that you

are naturally interested in or have, um, talent in as well.

Um, oh, good.

Someone, um, in the us, I can't remember the author's name, but they talked about

teasing out people's achievement stories.

Mm.

And so if people dunno, it's sitting down and, and the question is, what did you

do recently where you did it really well?

And it brought your satisfaction, fulfillment, and joy.

Mm-hmm.

Yeah.

And it's great, like really teasing out people's achievement

stories and, and they started to use this model in job interviews.

Mm-hmm.

They started asking a person, a candidate, what was their achievement story,

because it was in that reflection.

They could see their face come alive when they talked about certain things.

So they knew then where to place them or where they'd be most suited in the team.

That's a fantastic way to look at this and I'm doing, working through that

process with my teen kids at the moment.

Looking at their electives, what they're going to study.

It's sort of like what brings you joy?

Like what are you really good at?

And let's do some strength assessments.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Before you hit year 10, 11, and 12, so that you've, you're sort

of going in the right direction.

Yeah.

Yeah.

I, I think it's, it's, yeah, all of it.

It's great.

And I, I think they're almost like, again, you're just gathering the little clues.

They're almost like little breadcrumbs.

I think often when people who might be aware of, of their overall kind

of like, this is my purpose in life.

I'm doing what I'm called to do.

Um, often it comes from hindsight of reflecting back of, mm-hmm.

The things that you'll been doing, the things you're drawn to, um,

rather than trying to look ahead and figure it out, you know, it's, it

kind of, you start to see patterns.

Patterns will emerge because you are gonna find a, a general area

of, um, interest in gifting.

But yes, and satisfaction.

That's another key thing.

What, what do I do when I love it?

I wanna do it again, or I'd love to spend more time there.

Your childhood can often be really yes.

Looking up to the things that you were interested in,

the things you were good at.

Um, what did you do when you were a kid?

Can you see those patterns as you look back on your own life?

Look, I can, and I, it was hard for me to find, because, you know, I had

a very unique, but my parents ran a, a youth ministry my whole life growing up.

But I would be fascinated with each individual and, and the teams, and I'd

watch them in teams and I'd be fascinated with what makes someone a leader and

what are their natural kind of qualities.

And, and I'd, I'd have all these notes actually, as a child.

As a young child.

Yes.

As a child.

Wow.

Which is bizarre.

So there you go.

You know, my mom would always be like, you'd always be there wondering.

Who was leading what?

Who was doing what?

Why did you choose them?

What was it about them?

And interesting, I've always been fascinated with, um, I guess what,

what's unique about each person?

What motivates each person?

What mm-hmm.

You know, it just, what are they doing when they're at their best?

Like, what, what's that?

Where's that life for them?

So in that particular area?

Yeah.

Yeah.

Fantastic.

Yeah.

How about you, Karen?

Well, I think I've told you this before.

It's so funny.

I used to organize all my cousins doing a Christmas concert, or I'd

get everyone in the neighborhood to create a newspaper or do a radio show.

And it's hilarious that I actually went into nursing because like it was so

different and I'd always be drawing and always creating and that sort of thing.

And I think I went to a private girls' school until year 10 and then

a government college for 11 and 12.

And in my first year at the government college, the art teacher, cause I'd signed

up to do art, he was a real sleaze and, and he was really inappropriate with a.

Relationships, but I was so naive I didn't quite understand the

dynamics of those relationships.

So I switched and did biology and that's where my path, that sliding doors moment.

That's amazing.

I went into nursing, which I loved because when I did Clifton's strengths,

like one of my core strengths is around that pastoral care area as well as

entrepreneurship, visionary leader.

But yeah, so it's interesting how life sort of brings you back on these.

It, it does.

And I think sometimes, like you're saying, when we've been so disconnected,

it's sometimes good to just go, what?

Yeah.

When I can remember loving something, what was that?

You know?

Um, yes.

Yes.

Yeah.

I think what you Joy as a child.

Yeah.

Yeah.

And, and just, just again, being curious, it doesn't have to equal anything.

It doesn't have to become an outcome.

It's get curious about insight.

Like often we can think when we talk about purpose, it's out there somewhere,

but often it, it's in here and we just gotta dig a bit deeper and, and go,

what, where do, what do I feel drawn to?

Sometimes this is a different to angle, sometimes purpose feels

from something you can't stand.

You know, it's an injustice or you know, you hate seeing this and you're like, I

don't like people suffering in this way.

I think of Mother Teresa.

She just, yes.

You know, it was just, she, she didn't wanna see the kids.

She just picked up one child at a time, you know, just, just picked them, you

know, it's like, it's responding to that prompting, you know, it's, it's, it

doesn't, yes, it had a massive impact.

She had a massive impact, but, It doesn't need to be that, it's just

you start responding in small ways to the things that you're like, ah,

I hate, I don't, not on my watch.

You know, I think of people, some real activists, people that I know that

are really passionate about different things and, and that's their fuel.

It's almost like a discontent that they can't stand.

Yeah.

So paying attention is, is really important.

It's, it's like you say, it's not just.

Feeling these things and kind of letting it go, but going Okay.

Get curious about it.

Um, friends and family.

So obviously assessments, like you told, I, I obviously am

trained in Clifton's strengths.

I think it's very clear, I like their language, but anything that

kind of helps you reflect back.

Um, cuz I think for me, even in times where I'm like, oh, I don't feel.

I really feel like I got much.

I can read that over.

I can read the report and it does resonate.

I'm like, okay, well how could I use that today?

You know, it can be one of those, um, you know, keeping that fire

alive kind of tools as well.

Um, but friends and family ask them.

They ask them what they see in you because they're often way more

insightful than we're aware of.

I, I find it really fascinating when people kind of reflect back and, uh, I,

on again, I'm, I love particularly women encouraging women in this area because

it's, it's not easy and I think it's so beautiful when we can champion each other.

And I have friends that I can sit down and be like, I feel a bit lost.

Speak truth to me.

Um, What do you see?

Help me.

You know, and, and it's, it's priceless.

It's, it's beautiful.

Um, so don't be afraid to ask.

And, and, and it's almost more of a process rather than, you know, discover

gifts in an instant, go give yourself a bit of time and pay attention.

Journal, you know?

Yeah.

Journaling's a great one.

And I absolutely, and I think also just that question of how

am I being called to contribute?

Mm-hmm.

Like, I think.

That's a really important question.

Slowing down just in prayer, like God speaks in silence.

He doesn't speak in the hustle.

So we need to carve out that time of space and solitude to really, I

guess, connect with the gift of the present moment and, and those small

moments are actually quite sacred.

And then the other thing I'd say is sometimes we need to, once we've

identified, I guess maybe what our gifts are, or maybe where we are feeling called,

we might need to learn a new skill.

So signing up.

So I, I, I mean, many years ago I ended up like 20 something years ago, signed

up and did a Toastmaster's course.

It was pure torture.

Like it was just awful.

John's like, well, if you're gonna need to speak, you need to do this.

Yeah, I did.

But it's like, so it might be hard, but what are the

steps that you can take today?

Do, I guess, learn some new skills because, um, when we gain confidence,

It builds our competence and when we become more competent, it builds our

confidence and so then that allows us to take then the next step, and I'm a really

big one for this active discernment.

Don't just send, people are perpetual discerners where they're waiting

for like God to drop from heaven and say, this is what you do.

He doesn't work like that.

He.

That beautiful quote St.

Augustine.

You know, he who created you without your cooperation, he won't save you

without your cooperation and St.

Ovar Act and God will act.

And we are actually called to co-create our lives with the Lord.

Like there's a mandate on us to co-create our life.

So sitting back passively on the sidelines of our own life, no wonder

people are like feeling overwhelmed and unfulfilled and lost, because that's

not what we're actually created for.

We're actually created to step into the arena of our life with all its complexity.

Mm-hmm.

And to then co-create and create something really beautiful

with our life that might be.

Building a beautiful home for your children and husband to, to nurture them.

It might be out on a stage or a public forum, but wherever we are, we are called.

To that co-creation.

Can you speak a little bit into, I guess, that narrative there?

Amen.

I, I think it's really important.

It's funny when you talk about, obviously I have, I mentioned a couple times, I have

children who are very into their sports, so I spend a lot of time on the sidelines.

So when you talk about sitting on the sidelines, it's funny that the

image that came to mind was when maybe, um, there's been a lot of

sickness and injury on both my.

Boys, uh, soccer teams lately, but it's, it's, I find out my eyes are drawn.

I'm, I'm kind of watching them on the sidelines, and especially if the

game goes down, it's, they're just, they're just, everything in their

body is like, let me on that field.

It, it's so hard.

It's so hard when you know you have something to contribute to that game

and you're on the sidelines, and then they're like, not barely sitting.

They're up and God, and it's like, I think that's how we feel inside.

It's like, I know I've got something in here.

I wanna get in the game.

I'm done with the sidelines.

You know?

And there's almost that anticipation that can be frustrating if we don't

put ourselves out there and think it.

Absolutely.

And I think another, like, there's two sides of that coin.

The other side is I live in Canberra and it can be known to go down to minus eight.

And for some unknown reason on God's earth, we still do

sport in the middle of winter.

Yeah.

So we have netball and two soccer games every Saturday, eight 30

to 5:00 PM and it is freezing.

Yeah.

So my experience standing on the sidelines sometimes I love my

kids and I love watching them play sport is when will this be over?

Yeah.

Yeah.

And that's another narrative that we can have.

We are on the same.

We might be, like you said, like wanting to get into it, but then it can all

seem a bit hard and a bit uncomfortable, and we're like, when is this done?

When is this life over?

Mm-hmm.

And I think that's really, like, that attitude can really

lead to the death of our souls.

So it's, it's kind of like, how can I get on that field?

Yeah.

How can I get on that field and get in the game?

And I, I, I really like what you're saying.

I, I'm often quoted as saying just bite size pieces.

Like it's, yes.

I think sometimes if we try and do too much too soon, you know, it's like,

It, it, it can be overwhelming and it's like, just get your feet wet.

You know?

I had a friend say to me, I just dream of preaching to thousands,

and I'm like, start with a Bible study in your living room.

Yeah.

You know, just start with sharing the gospel with, well listen and

start there and, and let it grow.

Let it develop, like you're saying, like build your skills, build and, and you

may not have where you wanna be right now, but, but take that same desire

and let it have a little bit of life and just, just start in baby steps.

And, um, again, so you're not looking from afar, you're, you're, you're trying it out

a little bit, but, but in, in small ways, you know, it's like, Because as you say,

sometimes we can wanna have it all figured out before we're willing to get out there.

And often it's, it's in trying and, and you might think you're really,

there's certainly been times where I've, I've thought I've been called

to something and I try and I'm.

I'm, I don't regret it.

I'm, I'm really glad because it led to something else, you know?

That's right.

Like, oh, through doing that, or you're not really sure how you'll be led to

the next thing you know, but, but you have to take the action to find out.

You have to take the action.

Even if it's, as I say, even if it's just small.

Um, Just, just take the small steps and, and they'll kind of,

the steps kind of lead you along the way, you know, and as you take

that step, it can lead to them all.

But, um, but we don't get all the answers straight away, you know, it's like we

just kind of have to take the next step.

And so I think that's really important what you're saying of j just give, give

it a go and, and, and do that active discernment and, and try the things out

that you feel like are on your heart, that you feel like you're being called to, or.

You're like, I've always wondered that.

Give it a go in in some way.

You know, send the email, write the text, put yourself out there.

Um, have the conversation.

Take the course.

I don't know what it is, but, but do something that kind of makes you feel

like I'm just, just starting on my way.

And that's, that's a beautiful place to be.

We don't have to be, sometimes we expect ourselves to be the professional, you

know, or, or at the top of our game.

It's, it's unrealistic expectations when we're, when starting out, you know?

Yes.

And I think those unrealistic, um, demands and expectations just make us

feel more overwhelmed, which then that fuels inaction when we're overwhelmed.

Yes, yes.

So I helps us feel like I can't do this.

Yeah, because you know, it's like, oh, maybe I can't do this.

And then that we shut it down altogether, you know, rather just, so

we just gotta keep taking small steps.

So for everybody listening, whether it's in your phone or in your journal

right now, I just want women to write down maybe one thing that they

can do today to move them forward.

Because we talking business about moving the needle forward like every single day.

We need to be moving the needle forward in our lives because

we're created for growth.

We're on a journey towards heaven, and so we want to be

cooperating with God in that.

Yeah.

Amen.

Thank you so much, Renee.

It's so beautiful talking to you and I wish I was up in

Queensland cuz it's much warmer.

What's the temperature there today?

Just making sure, I actually dunno, but it, it feels quite nice today.

I, I'll be modest about it.

Feels quite nice today.

So

always a joy, always life giving, talking to you Karen.

So thanks so much, Renee.

Well, ladies, I really hope and pray that that conversation was a blessing to you.

As I said, at the end of my conversation with Renee, I want you

to take a mental note or even write down right now, just one step that

you are going to take this week to move the needle forward in your life.

Whether that's having a create date where you really reconnect with the desires

of your heart, or whether you actually pick up the phone or send an email to

sign up for a course, or to take some action to develop a new skill that would

help you move into your irreplaceable role and unique purpose and mission.

It is so important for us as women.

To be taking steps every single day that move us forward.

Sometimes we need a little bit of help or a mentor to help us on this journey.

So here at The Genius Project, we really exist to serve women in this space, to

help women discover their unique gifts, to help them overcome the negative

and the limiting mindsets that hold them back, and also to help establish

rhythms of renewal and skills and tools.

To really see you walking into the abundant life that

Christ has promised you.

So ladies, if you are interested in our Catholic Coaching Programs for Women

or the Catholic Women's Masterclass, visit our website@www.geniusproject.co.

To find out more, or you can send me an email, karen genius project.co,

and I'll be more than happy.

To jump on a short Zoom call and just talk you through what we actually do on the

ground and how these programs are creating lifelong change in the lives of women.

If you've liked what you've heard on the Genius Podcast, can I

ask you to do me a small favor?

Could you head on over to the podcast platform that you're

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This really helps to promote the work of the Genius Podcast.

And I will be so grateful for your support in this area.

Until next week, ladies, have a really blessed week.

Keep moving that needle forward and I look forward to you joining me again

on the Genius Podcast next week.