SSP 103: Kelsey Edwards: Finding Purpose Through Your Challenges

Yo, what's going on, my friend?

Welcome back to the State Shifters podcast. Really honored to have you with me. Actually, it's been a little while between the last episode, but I'm really, really excited to be back on here sharing interviews with amazing people. And my commitment this year in 2022 is to bring some more consistency back to the podcast because I actually realized in doing a lot of self reflection and slowing down and looking at or asking why, why am I doing things? Why do I create content? Why am I looking to put content.

Out into the world?

And what I came to the conclusion was having conversations like, I love people, I love connecting with people. And if you're listening to podcasts like.

This as well, I'm sure you're on that boat too.

But connecting with people is the thing that really lights me up the most. And my podcast is a way for me to just share epic conversations with people who I align with and resonate with and put it out to the.

World and hopefully impact the lives of.

Others in, in that process. And I've allocated a lot of my energy over the last few weeks to making space in my schedule to do more consistent podcasts. So if you're enjoying the podcast or you have enjoyed my podcast in the past, let me know just so I can get that extra bit of fuel to know that this is actually having an impact. Regardless, I'm still going to be doing it, but it's good to know that this content is being received well on the other end. And today's guest, Kelsey Edwards, is an amazing actor, songwriter, very talented, very talented woman. And we connected through Instagram and she's actually personal development coach for teen girls. So we have a resonance in her energy in terms of the content that we share online. But she has a big purpose as well, and I wanted to bring her on here and share her story and compare and talk about, like, life as an actor, an aspiring actor, right. And share the insight, the challenges, the breakthroughs that come along with that. And I know there's been some good information that you can take from this and apply in your own life. So it's really, again, I'm really grateful to have you on here on this podcast and again, expect to see more of this to come. And if you enjoy the podcast, leave it a rating or just drop me a DM on Instagram. Say, yo, Jordan. I heard the podcast. I loved it. And that tells me to keep, keep.

This going, keep pumping it out so that further ado.

Enjoy this podcast with Kelsey Edwards.

All right, we're back here. State Shifters podcast. I've got Kelsey Edwards on the line with me. I'm super excited to dive into this conversation today. Kelsey is an amazing actor, musician, and she's doing such amazing work in the field of personal development as well. So, Kelsey, it's an honor to have you on here. How are you, my friend?

I am so excited to be here. Thank you for having me today. I'm an avid listener of the podcast, so it's an honor to be a guest here as well.

Hell, yes. And so, Kelsey, you're out in la, Los Angeles. You've been on quite an amazing journey in your life, right? Any. Any journey where you are stepping into the field of being in the public eye, being expressive, being creative, It's a scary path to walk. I'm actually just in the process right now of listening to Will Smith's autobiography, and I've almost finished it, and I've took so many big insights from his journey becoming an actor. But tell me, I'm curious to know a little bit more about your path up to this point and standing out and choosing to expose yourself, really, and be vulnerable as an actor. How's that path been for you and what I guess has been some of the main lessons that you've taken from this journey so far?

Oh, gosh, so many lessons. I'm like, where do I start? I started acting. I had the privilege of starting my acting career when I was really young. I was seven years old when I did my first movie. I fell in love with it, like, super young. And I was like, this is my passion. This is the thing I want to do for the rest of my life. But, you know, as you grow up, and I kind of grew up acting and grew up in the film industry and working in these different things. And then at some point, the messages from the world come and you're like, oh, this isn't really a job. Like, this isn't really reliable. Like, you can't make a living chasing your dreams or, you know, all the things that people say. You know, I feel like they have your best interest at heart, but kind of like, you know, diverts your attention a little. So I fell into that trap for a little while. You know, I was acting consistently for most of my life and then kind of took a break around, like, the end of high school and beginning of college and didn't really do much all throughout college. Went to school for, like, five or six years and realized, wait a second, like, that was the thing that I was so passionate about. Like, that was the thing that I woke up every single day and I never wanting to do it, I never got tired of it. Like, it didn't matter what role, it didn't matter how many auditions or like, what character I was playing. It was like, I don't know, it just like, lit a fire in me. So that realization came after I spent like five weeks traveling around Europe and I was like, listen, I don't want to work. I had been working in a desk job. I'd been like, doing PR and marketing, which is what I went to school for. And I was like, I need to do the thing I'm unbelievably passionate about. And so whatever it takes to get there is what I'll do. So that was kind of where a big shift happened for me. I returned back to, like, my home, if you will, like, my passion, my love, and have been pursuing acting full time and entrepreneurship and been working for myself for about four years now. I've been in LA for three and have just been. Yeah, just been loving the journey. Being an artist, like you said, being a creative or an entrepreneur or whatever, it's always a difficult journey. There's challenges to putting yourself out there. But I think I've learned that there is no more fulfilling thing I could be doing than that. And that that's worth whatever sacrifice or whatever challenges present themselves along the way. Because I'm doing the thing that I felt I was born to do.

Oh, yes. Yes. Honestly, like. And you already know, like, a bit of my story, working in the corporate world as well and having that contrast between working in a job or working in a field that, you know is not your fullest calling, you know, it's not your purpose, you know, it's not what your soul is here to do. And then being. Going from that into your fullest expression is, once you experience that, there's no going back. Right. As I'm sure you can relate to. Did you grow up in LA or did you grow up somewhere else?

So actually I was born and raised in Texas, in San Antonio, Texas, and lived there until I was 17. I moved to Utah, like my senior year of high school. My parents got divorced and I lived in Utah for a while. And then I moved to LA about three years ago. So I've been all over the place.

Yeah. So it sounds like your kind of creative endeavors began or you took them seriously once you moved out to la, is that right?

Yeah, I mean, they started in Texas, like, for sure. The, like, groundwork was laid in Texas during My childhood. And I have my mother to thank for that. Like, she got me started in acting at a really young age. I was doing plays at like five years old, you know, and, like, I'm always grateful to my mother for that because I. That's how I discovered that love. But yeah, I think I returned to it in Utah and then I feel like I'm fully living it out now as an adult in la, which is pretty cool.

Yeah. I'm curious to know more about, like, how that transition was for you, given the fact that you've moved now to a few different states, a few different homes. How was the transition out to la? And then now, obviously the competition out there is fierce, right? Everyone's trying to make it. How did you find that and how have you been able to navigate that so far?

Yeah, I mean, you know, it's interesting. Like, I think whenever you move to a big city, especially when you move to something as, like, difficult stereotypically as LA or like New York or one of these big cities or something, it comes with, like, a bunch of stories, it comes with a bunch of opinions, it comes with a bunch of fear because you are making, like, this really big leap. And, you know, I definitely had those fears, but I feel like also I just felt so called to being here. We did come out here as a kid when I was 10 years old. My mom would bring us out here for, like, pilot seasons, which is when, like, the period of time when all the pilots are being made, the beginning of the year. So we came out here as a kid and I knew that I loved LA then, and I just felt like, so called to come back here. I feel like I had reached a point in my career, my acting career in Utah, where I kind of like, I was ready for growing, I was ready for growth. Like, I was ready to know nobody and I was ready to, like, be the tiniest fish in the most massive pond, you know, and I was just ready for that challenge. So I'd been working in the Utah film industry for, like, eight years, and I was like, okay, it's time to go elsewhere and start over, basically. So, yeah, I mean, of course, like, it came. It came with challenges coming out here, but took me a while to get, like, my footing as far as, like, having a safe landing place, having good roommates, having, like, a safe place to call home. I went through some interesting challenges in that area. But, yeah, I decided when I came here that everyone else's fears and everyone else's doubts and stories about LA would not be My story, I had this woman tell me, like, my first week I moved to la, I went to this party that someone invited me to. I was like, yeah, I just moved here. Like, this is my first week. And she's like, oh, that's really cute. Like, good luck, sweetie. The city's gonna eat you alive. I was like, what? Unfortunately, I've never run that. Yeah. But it was also like, really great fuel for me to be. Mmm, we'll see about that. Like, and I actually wrote a whole song about it. My song Salt is about that. It's about that experience of being like, people are jaded by the city. I understand, but, like, their story is not my story. And this is my opportunity to create my own reality and my own story in this city. And so, yeah, it's competitive and there's a lot of people doing what I'm doing, but I'm so in love with this journey and the opportunity. And also, I truly believe that, like, what is for me is never going to pass me and the opportunities that are for me aren't going to miss me. And I'm certainly putting in the work and doing the things I need to do to be available and ready for those opportunities when they come. So I don't have to stress about the competition or how many other blonde hair, blue eyed girls there are out here because, like, what's for me is going to be mine. And that's, that's, you know, I love that.

Yeah, I have a lot of admiration for anyone who decides to walk their path and go after their dreams. Because you kind of have to face a lot of your darkest fears in that process. Right. You kind of have to face the things that are blocking you from having them. And I'm curious to know, for you, as you've gone about this process of discovering the highest expression of you, what have been some of the main things that you've had to overcome to be able to embody a level of confidence and creativity to be doing what you're doing right now. What have been those main things, those main hurdles that you've had to leap over?

Yeah, that's a good question. I mean, it's funny because I feel like I'm always learning something new that I need to work through. You know, it's like, I'm sure you relate to that too. It's like as soon as I feel like I've mastered one area of my life, it's like, oh, there's this one. I'm like, dang it, like, I thought I did that already I'm always learning, I'm always like, growing. So I wouldn't say by any means that I've like, achieved this, like, elevated state yet. But, like, as I learn new things, I am more aware of new things I need to learn. But I think some of the biggest things I have learned in this journey and thus far in my life is the, like, first off, the. The power of, like, limiting beliefs from keeping you locked into certain stories that you tell yourself. Like, a lot of people's story when they come out to LA is like, I don't have money. I don't have money. I can't afford it. I can't afford it. Like, it's so expensive. And it's like, if you tell yourself that story, that is going to be your story. What you speak into existence becomes existence. It becomes your reality. That was one of my biggest lessons. I remember when I first moved to la, I was still trying to figure out, like, how am I going to pay for this? Like, I had quite a bit of savings, you know, and I had been working for myself for years before. But I also was going through a transition of being like, okay, well, all of my expenses are now doubling or tripling, so how do I, you know, make that work within the parameters of what I'm doing right now? And there was, like, stories I had about money and, like, fear that I had about money and noticing that in myself and being like, okay, I'm noticing that and I choose not to identify with it. And I'm also choosing to release it. And it was a really long journey of, like, I would listen to these, like, YouTube subliminals at night, every night before I go to bed. I don't know if you've ever done that. I'm like a huge subliminal person. Yeah. Okay, good. Like, sometimes I feel weird when I tell people that I'm like, yeah, I listen to things. Really?

That's powerful. That's how you reprogram the subconscious mind. It's a powerful time to be listening to audios. But, yeah, continue. I have done that.

Okay, good. Well, that's good to know. Yeah. Because I still do that. I do that every single night. I listen to subliminals every night because it is. You're reprogramming the subconscious. And so much of how we operate is from the subconscious. We don't even realize it. That was the start of, like, reprogramming. That belief within myself was that I've only ever reached, you know, a certain level of income. I've only ever had X amount of money. That's all. Ever have. And realizing that I needed to remove that belief, that limiting belief from my story. And so, you know, I did, and I figured out, like, a situation with money. And I was very grateful that that has not been my story out here. I have. I have not struggled. And that is, like, I'm so grateful for that because I recognize that not everyone has that experience. And so it really took some, like, really conscious effort to create that reality. But then I did it, and, like, that's really cool. So that was one of them. And then, yeah, like, we kind of talked about before, like, the competitive thing or, like, even, like, the imposter syndrome, feeling, like, am I really good enough to be here? Like, do I have the skills to, like, be at the same playing field with these other actors? Like, I remember when I first moved here, going to a class and sitting in, like, a room full of, like, actors and being like, oh, my gosh, like, these are LA actors. Like, these are, you know, they're like, so above me or whatever. And then realizing that that, too, is just a story. I'm putting these people on a pedestal and, like, really, we're in the exact same place. And maybe they got here a couple years before I did, but, like, we have the exact same opportunities. There's enough opportunities for everybody. And not falling prey to that whole fear about, like, oh, maybe I'm not worthy, or maybe somebody else is better. You know what I mean? Like, there's a lot of stories that you tell yourself. That that's been a big one, is changing stories that I have about that were blocking my success and changing the stories that were inhibiting me from really, like, stepping into my fullest potential, I think. And then it's not. We've talked about this a little bit, too, but, like, it's an ongoing process to, like, work through, through trauma, like, childhood trauma things. My parents were divorced when I was 15, and that was really traumatic. It was a really difficult, like, time of my life that I had to step up at a young age and fill a lot of roles that I maybe wouldn't have normally filled and releasing that from my story, even, and doing, like, the therapy that was needed to heal from that. And, yeah, I mean, there's a lot. It's like. It's like I healed from eating disorders as a teenager. I healed from, you know, this time of my life as a teenager when my parents got divorced and we moved to Utah. And, like, all of this, and it's been Quite a long journey, and I'm learning new stuff every single day. But I am grateful for the progress and the changes that have happened in my life.

Yeah, beautiful. Thank you for sharing that. One of the things that I'm always curious about in people, especially the creators and the entrepreneurs and the high achievers of the world, because it seems as though there is an inner drive that these types of people have, like us. There's this inner drive to always want to be better, always wanting to access a, you know, a higher version of ourselves. And I honestly feel like the ability to tap into that inner drive is really what determines how much pain you're willing to face. Because that's the essence of life. Right. The behind the pain is the next lesson for you to evolve. And it's almost inevitable as a human experience that we're going to feel pain. So it's the relationship to pain is what determines the speed of your growth or evolution. And I'm curious to know what is or has been your driver. What has been driving you to want to continue to get uncomfortable and try to go to that next level or face that fear? What's keeping you motivated? I guess.

Yeah, that's a great question. First off, like, I totally agree with that. I think what you're saying, your relationship to pain is a huge determining factor, I think, of where you're gonna end up. Because you can either allow these things to, like, slow you down and be excuses, or you can allow them to. Yeah. See what's on the other side of it. And like, okay, well, I'm choosing that I'm so uncomfortable with this current situation that I'm going to make a change and figure out a way around it. So I will say that I think my mom, you know, helped me have that belief at a young age. She used to tell me, we don't let, like, our circumstances determine who we are. Like, we don't let them be an excuse for bad behavior. Like, yeah, you've gone through a lot, but that doesn't mean that, like, you have an excuse to do X, Y and Z. And so I think she helped me understand that at a young age. And I guess I just. I have this desire to help people, for one. I have this desire to help people and especially young girls. Like, I feel really called to, like, helping young girls. That's why my online brand is your Internet big sis. I try to be that big sister and that role model for teen girls that maybe they don't have, because I didn't necessarily have it either. My Mom's amazing, and I have a lot of wonderful friends, but I. I never had a big sister. And so I feel really called to do that. That motivates me. And I also just, like, I think I have really focused on stepping into my own potential and realizing that I truly am capable of whatever I want to accomplish in this life. And I have big dreams, I have big goals, and I believe that I'm 100% capable of reaching them. So it's like, so why not? You know, I think that's part of what pushes me is, like, knowing that I'm capable of what I seek, and then also, first and foremost, like, wanting to be able to help and to serve and to really make a difference in this world with my time here on this earth. So, yeah, that sounds really dramatic, but that's how I feel.

Yeah, you've got to have a why that really drives you. Because like you said, if that purpose or the reason why you're doing things isn't strong enough, then when you face the discomfort, you crumble. Honestly. Why? The purpose is the fuel that gives you the courage to face the fears. So I. Yeah, I was just curious to know, like, what your fuel, what your purpose was back then. It's really clear, like, you have this willingness to want to help young women, especially navigate difficult periods in your life because you've overcome certain challenges that have given you that awareness. I'm curious to get your perspective on if someone's listening and wants to be able to step up and have a bigger impact or access, you know, a level of creativity and expression that they see in you. Where did they start? How would you suggest that? Like, how do they uncover, unlock their inner purpose or their inner drive? Where would you suggest they start?

Yeah, yeah, I was just about to make a video about this, actually. So this is a great, great topic. I think one of the first places to start is to ask yourself, like, what do people come to you for, like, for help? What role do you typically see yourself filling in people's lives? And I think that's kind of how I identified, like, my role is. I noticed that I had a lot of girls coming to me for questions about these things, like, certain topics and stuff like that. And I noticed, I was like, oh, I think that's something that I can offer. Like, I think that's something that I can help people with. So they always say, like, the way to, like, finding your purpose in life is, like, I can't remember the exact way to this phrase, but something along the lines of like what makes you excited and then what also like fulfills a purpose within the world. Like what makes you excited and what helps people. And I think like the bridge between those two is how you discover your purpose. What's the thing you want to wake up and do every day and then how does it benefit somebody else's life? How does it serve somebody? So yeah, and I would ask yourself, what things are you drawn to naturally? Because that's the other thing is that you could try to create a platform or be creative or whatever about anything. But at some point, like, like you said, if your why isn't strong enough, if the fuel that's burning, that's keeping that is not strong enough, it's gonna go out. Which is like I've gone through phases that, with that with myself too. Like with the Internet big sis brand. A few years ago I was doing more like kind of surface level stuff. Like I was like, oh, let's go thrift shopping and see what we can find at the thrift store. Or like let's talk about, you know, I mean puberty and things are important things for teenagers to talk about. But like other people have videos about that stuff too. I don't have to be the go to source for like, but you know, that stuff was like important, but it just wasn't like fueling me the way that I felt called to talk about some of this other stuff that we're talking about, like overcoming trauma, changing stories, becoming truly stepping into the best version of yourself. So to your question, I would just say like, find the thing that moves you, that you're drawn to, that lights you up, that also helps other people and hopefully you can find something long lasting. And then if you need to like confirm it with your audience, even if it's small right now, just ask them like, hey, this is something that I feel called to or would like to talk about, would like to create content about, would like to teach about, would like to serve with. Do you find this valuable? And you can get feedback from your audience and ask them. And then you know, that's the cool thing about the Internet now and social media is like you don't need anyone's approval or like to start doing stuff. You don't need to be hired into a role. You know what I mean? It's like you don't need to be asked to do something. Like if you want to do it, just do it, start doing it, start making videos, start making TikTok, start making reels and you're going to refine it, it's probably not going to be perfect at first. Definitely wasn't for me either. Still isn't. I like, still am trying to find like what's the most thing that resonates with people when I tell a story this way or when I create content this way. Like, I'm still learning that all the time. So my advice is like, it's hard for us perfectionists and us overachievers because we want to have everything figured out and perfect right away. But like, I've learned that you can't do that. You learn by going and doing and making mistakes. So find the thing you're passionate about, find the thing that serves people, start making content about it, Find ways you can serve people. Ask who would be interested. If you're interested in starting to turn it into a business, I would say start collecting emails, start offering free, valuable content and really find a way to start monetizing this information and this stuff that you'd like to share and like. So the Internet makes it really doable. There's YouTube videos, there's Google, there's a thousand courses on whatever you want to learn about. So if you want to do it, you can do it. You're completely capable of creating the reality you want. So that's awesome. That's exciting.

Great advice. Yeah, that's great advice. And I've noticed recently in the space that I'm operating in, because, you know, it's only recently, Kelsey, I started like creating TikToks and built this following. You know, I've got like a decent following, but before this, you know, I was under 10,000 followers on Instagram and I didn't really see myself as a creator, as an influencer, so to speak. And the minute I started creating TikToks and discovering a different outlet for self expression, because that's what I see social media as is. It's a form of self expression, it's a form of creativity. I then noticed that a new skill set was being born in my repertoire and I've noticed a lot of people wanting to step into that space as well. Like seeing, you know, the growth that a lot of people are having on social media right now because of TikToks and reels. Like you can grow very quickly, but a lot of people face this fear. Yeah, this, this is perfectionism. It's procrastination, maybe the fear of being judged and it blocks them from putting their truth, their expression, their creativity out to the world. Now I'm curious to know for you because as an actor I feel like that's the ultimate form of, like, putting yourself out to the world. It's like your heart is fully on the line, you know, playing a character or role. Judgment that you get is sometimes really harsh. Have you faced any? I'm sure you have. But, like, what have been some of those main standout moments for you where you had to learn a big lesson around getting judged or critiqued for your creativity? And what did it teach you?

Life is full of people's opinions. Not everyone's really gonna resonate with what you do or what you say. And for all I know, like, there's a handful of people or maybe a lot of people that see what I'm doing or watch my content, and they're like, oh, stop. You know what I mean? Like, I don't know. But it doesn't really matter because, you know, it's like the people who are designed to find you or meant to find you are gonna find you. And the ones that, like, don't resonate with what you're doing or saying, they're gonna fall away. And that's fine, because I think that's part of, like, being aligned in your journey. And, like, the people that are gonna fall away, like, you're welcome to go, because I would like to continue on this path of the people who are meant to be here. So there's been moments, I mean, for sure, like, when you do a movie, everyone has an opinion about something, or, you know, when you're in a commercial, everyone has an opinion about something or, like, what you've done. I can't say that too many people have, like, come outright to me and been like, wow, you really stuck in that movie. But, like, I'm sure people have thought that, like, I had a movie that I did when I was 14. It's like. It's called Minor Details, and it was pretty well known at the time. But it's also like, I watch it back now. Like, I'm 27 now. I was 14 when I made that. And it's very cringey. Like, it's a cringy movie. But, you know, people loved it. And people probably have plenty of opinions about that film and whatever, but it's like, it doesn't really. It doesn't define me. And I think that the moment that you can, like, start to let go of what people think about you is the moment that you, like, achieve true freedom. And I can't even say, like, again, I'm not perfect in any of this. Like, I'm working on it every day. But there's definitely moments when I get bugged. Like someone says something on TikTok or Instagram, I'm like, ooh, I. But then that's just like the ego talking and it's like, okay, but truly that person's not aligned with me, where I'm going, and that's okay. Like, I can let go of it, not worry about that.

Yeah, that, I guess, was the question that I was somewhat asking, which was, how do you not care as much about what people think? How do you let go of. Yeah, really. The judgments of other people and how. I know what's been your process around that? What's allowed you to get this to this point where you're so detached and so free to just be you online?

I think just recognizing that somebody else's perspective of me, first off, isn't really my business, and second off doesn't define me. There's this quote. I can't remember who says it, but it's like, yeah, someone else's opinion of me is not my business. And I was like, oh, that's cool. I like that because really all that matters is your own view of yourself. And I think one of the true, like, lessons I have, I've really been on like a. I don't want to say a self love journey, but that's kind of what it's been. I've really been focusing in the last few years on like, strengthening my relationship with myself and like deepening the connection with myself. Like, I used to. I don't know, I used to really struggle with being alone and all of this stuff. Over the last few years, I have really improved in that area of like, being really confident and really set in who I am as a person. And I think deepening that relationship with myself and knowing truly who I am and loving who I am has helped me. When people have negative comments or when people have negative feedback or trolls or they say mean things, it's like, it doesn't really affect me as much because I feel like I'm more centered in who I am. And when you're centered in who you are and you have that strong connection to self and that strong love for self, like, a lot of things could come your way. A lot of people could say stuff, a lot of people could do stuff, people can hurt you, they could leave your life, they can be a jerk. But it's like, it hopefully doesn't rattle you as much because you're more centered in the knowing who you are, you know?

Definitely. Yeah. You Know that. And that's exactly was going to be my response to answering my own question, which is, yeah, that relationship that you have with yourself is really setting the foundation for every other relationship you're having in your life. And in this case, the relationship that you have with social media or other people's opinions is really measured by how connected are you to who you really are. Because when you know who you are underneath the surface, that's when you're unshakable. Right. Because, like, you know, nothing can really touch the depth of who you are if you're connected to that. And I feel it's a daily practice or it's a daily commitment to make time to be with yourself on that deep, intimate level. Because that's when that relationship gets solidified and strengthened. So that when you go out into the world and someone doesn't approve of you or someone, you know, makes a comment on your post and, you know, says something that you don't align with, it can like, bounce off. Never really hits you that deep. And I know, I feel it's almost inevitable that like, we're going to get triggered or upset in life. It's a part of being human. What I guess is in our control, I'm realizing is in our control is, is how long we stay upset for, how long we stay triggered for. And that refractory period is almost defined by the connection with ourself. You know, how good are you at just like going into that discomfort, feeling it going, hey, this is temporary. This is not who I am. This is an opinion and then letting it go. So on that note, I would be curious to know more about. I'm sure the listeners are as well, around what is your daily practices and your routines? What do you do for yourself that helps you maintain that self connection?

That's really great. No, I totally agree. I think that like, maintaining that connection to self is the most powerful thing. And I know we were talking about the other day about like meditation and like, you meditate a lot and like how powerful that is, you know, just like to like, clear your head, clear all the space and really tune into self. Yeah, so that's definitely part of my practice. Every morning I go to the gym. That's just like a habit that I've created because I learned at some point, like, wow, I'm much. I'm not as productive, frankly, when I am not like up first thing in the morning at the gym, getting things moving and pumping and burning calories and, you know, strength, getting stronger and stuff like that. Like, there's a complete shift in my day. And so that's the very first thing I do when I wake up is I go to the gym and I take my dog out to go potty. That's. That's the first thing, too. But, yeah, then I spend usually, like, the first hour after I come home from the gym. It's kind of, like my personal development hour. So it might be. I might be, like, meditating or. And I try to do that often as well. I might be meditating or I might be, like, journaling. I might be kind of, like, goal setting and goal planning and, like, kind of checking in with myself and being like, hey, this was your goal, Right? This is the thing. I have all my goals, like, written over here on my, like, whiteboard. And, like, this is what I have written down. So where am I at with this one? Like, where am I at with this one? It might be, like, listening to affirmations. Like, it's kind of whatever I'm feeling called to do that day. I'm usually spending the first hour. I was telling you earlier, I've been doing a Tony Robbins challenge the last few days, and before that, I was doing a challenge with Aaron Dowdy, who's another person I really listen to and respect. That's been an important thing, too, is, like, listening to those lectures and things like that. So, yeah, kind of like that personal development hour, figuring out, like, my focus for what's going on. And then I really just spend the rest of the day working, focusing on those goals. But I think for me, the most critical part of my morning is the gym, and then that hour where I'm focusing on myself, I'm meditating, I'm really checking in with myself and figuring out, like, where am I? What do I need to be doing, and what am I focusing on, like, today and right now?

So, yeah, bottom line is having that time to be with yourself. You know, it doesn't necessarily matter what you do. Exactly. Right. It's just once you have uninterrupted time to be in your own energy, to be in your own space, it's where you rejuvenate, and it's where you accumulate energy. I do feel that's the underlying thing we're trying to protect is our energy. And the energy is the currency. The energy is the asset. And the more energy that you have, the more that you have to give and the more that you can channel into certain areas. And one of the things that I've been channeling a lot of energy into recently is creativity is like, how can I access a higher level of creativity? Or how can I pull information down into my mind that allows me to think and create in a brand new way? Because it's very easy right now to emulate and copy other people. And I think that's a common thing on social media, especially when you move into the space of creating content is you see everyone creating content in a specific way. You can very easily just like copy and be a copy of someone else. So one of my intentions these days is like, how can I find my unique expression? And I want to know what your creative process is. Like, how do you drop into that? How do you discover your, you know, this unique thing that's Kelsey that gets put out into the world and. Yeah, what's your process like around that?

Yeah, I think that's so true about like the copying thing is like, I mean, I feel like that's a lot of art is like seeing what somebody else does and then changing it a little bit. I noticed that I'm feeling, I'm feeling like more uninspired. If I haven't taken the time to like focus on my own personal development, you know, if I've gone like a long period of time without reading a book or without listening to a podcast or without like really focusing on my own growth, then those are the times that I'm like, usually lacking the most because I'm like, I don't know what to talk about. Like, I don't really. There's nothing like, I don't know what I'm focusing on for myself right now. So I don't really know what to share. Like, I'm feeling a little uninspired. So I think I'm always like getting insights and ideas from my own personal journey too. Which is why I think sometimes it's. They also say that like, you are oftentimes creating help and advice and content for like a younger version of yourself. And that's how I feel about like my brand especially is I feel like I'm making videos for like 13 year old Kelsey. Like, what did 13 year old Kelsey need? And so, yeah, I guess that that's the answer is I try to look back at like the past version of myself and think about what she could have really benefited from, what things I wish I could have told her. Ways I could have would have liked to have inspired her and helped her move through some of the challenges that I went through and then really honing in on like my own personal development, my own personal growth. So that I have something in my pot or whatever to share, like, because when it's empty, it's like, I don't have anything to give. If I don't have. I haven't been filling my own. I can't remember.

Yeah, filling your own cup. Yeah, I know what you mean.

That's it. Not a pot. It's a cup. But feel the pot.

Sound good as well.

Thanks. You know what I was getting at?

Yeah, exactly. More energy. More energy to feel. I feel when it comes to this creative process element is. I've noticed it's. I'm trying to optimize to be in the flow state. And, you know. You know, that state of being where you're just like, everything's happening effortlessly and you're not in your mind and your time kind of dilates. And I sort of feel we're all trying to access flow, whether we've realized it or not. And some people access it through extreme ways, extreme sports. But, you know, really, flow is just when your mind is still and you're in your body and you're so connected with the present moment that things start to happen effortlessly. And I found that structure allows flow to happen. And there's almost this dance or balance that we're trying to create between structure and fluidity. You know, structure and, like, spontaneity or masculine and feminine. And the structure that I sometimes create around, like, my routines is what then allows flow to happen in, say, a video or a piece of content. Or sometimes you can hack flow by putting on some music and dancing and getting into a state that allows you to be a channel, to be, you know, a conduit for life to move through you. Do you have things that put you in flow? Do you have flow triggers or things that you go, hey, I need to, you know, start getting some ideas coming through me, like, what will you go to? Is it music? Is it an environment? What's something that triggers that for you?

Yeah, that's both of those, actually. Like I mentioned previously, the gym, I think, was one thing I noticed. Like, I don't know if you ever listened to, like, Atomic Habits or read that book. But, yeah, like, finding, like, small little habits, like habit stacking, these types of things. The gym for me was one of those things that was like, I know that I could put that in place, and that made a huge difference in the rest of my habits throughout the morning. So that's, like, the first thing that I find. I need to get into my flow state. And some people prefer working out later. Some people have different forms of exercise. That's okay too. It's just. That is personally what works for me, like, to get my body moving first thing in the morning is. Gets me in my flow state. I feel like the endorphins are pumping, you know, I'm like, I'm ready for the day. That's a big one. And then I'm also a musician. I'm a singer, songwriter. And a lot of times I am writing for myself, but also writing for other people, like producers who hire me to sing on their tracks or whatever. Yeah, that requires a lot of creativity. So, honestly, what you're looking at is part of my flow state. I spend a lot of time in my room. It's my office. And I realized I was like, I want something that kind of creates an energy for me, creates a vibe for me. So I just spent a lot of time, like, investing in creating a space that I felt was like, oh, yeah, this is dope. So, yeah, when I'm writing, when I have to come up with content or when I have to come up with words or lyrics or concept melody, I like to put my room like this. I do the lights. I make things, Everything vibey. I've got a light back here that says believe in yourself. It's like an LED light. And that just kind of gets me in my zone. I'm like, yeah, let's. Let's do this. I've got, like, my notebook over here, like, with, like, my goals written down. And a lot of times I'll turn on my incense or not. Sorry. My diffuser. My essential oils diffuser. So I've got, like, essential oils going. I put on my lo fi music on my speakers behind me. Like, I like to create an environment that really moves me towards creativity. That's definitely one of them. But, yeah, I feel that too. But, like, it's an interesting balance between, like, structure and flow. And, like, try not to force things, because when things come, like, you can tell when something's forced. You know what I mean? It's like, if I'm creating content because I feel like I have to, like, it's not. It doesn't feel as organic. It doesn't feel as authentic as when it just, like, flows naturally. So, yeah, those are the ways that I am trying to create flow so that things feel authentic and organic and, like, really genuinely from my heart.

Yeah, the environment has a big part. Right. Like, I definitely align with you, with everything you shared there around the environment. Because I actually noticed is one thing that I see a lot of people miss the opportunity to leverage or utilize their environment. And I can't remember where I read this somewhere, but it was something. I'm kind of into feng shui. I was into feng shui for a while. Whereas, like, how do you the Chinese art of like, measuring or organizing your environment to optimize for creative luck energy. And I think it was Marie Diamond. I think she's the one who just a feng shui expert on mindvalley. And she was speaking about how there are three areas of our lives that are influencing our luck energy or creative energy, or that it's influencing, you know, the energy that we bring. And one of the areas is your habits. You know, the things that you do, your daily habits. The other thing is the health, like your health, what you put in your body and things like that. And the other area is your environment, like where you spend your time. And she said your environment takes up 33% of this luck energy, which is like a large portion. Right. If you think about it, you could be living the best, like, healthy lifestyle. You could have the best habits, reading the right books, doing all the right things. But if you're in this environment that doesn't inspire you, or if it's an environment that's messy and low vibration, you're essentially capping yourself to what you can get access to. Yeah, I found that so fascinating. And that's when I've moved house a couple of times over the last year. Now I see rent as an investment. And when I pay more for rent, I'm like, okay, this is an investment. Is this investment in my environment going to be worth it? Instead of like, oh, fuck, I gotta pay rent. Oh, man, it's way too expensive to live here. Even though it's beautiful, I can't afford this. You gotta think like, okay, what am I gonna get in return from investing in my environment? Getting nice plants, getting nice furniture, having nice artwork. Like, that's been a really big breakthrough for me, actually. With that and that, I'm back to the money mindset thing. Right. That's the, you know, if you're living in scarcity, you're not going to make those investments. You don't have the trust in that. The people that you hang out with and the people you've been around in la, because obviously the people you spend your time with have a big impact on your vibration, your energy. How have you found the people in la and how have you been able to magnetize the right people into your life since you've been out there?

That's a great question, because that's been something I've learned a lot since I moved here. It's, again, part of that story that everyone tells you is like, oh, the people in LA are so awful. Like, everyone sucks in la. Like, people are so selfish and whatever. And it's like, it's so interesting how a lot of times people, like, the judgments people make are really just, like. It's just a reflection of, like, their internal judgments, you know, and that was something I had to realize. And also, again, going back to the story thing, that was a story that I decided for myself. Like, when I moved here, I was like, that might be somebody else's story, but that's not my story. Like, my story is I'm attracting all the people into my life that I need and that need me. And, you know, I think, like, setting that intention, like, early on when I moved here made a really big difference because I have, like, honestly, like, it's. I look back, like, throughout, like, my life, like when I lived in Texas, when I lived in Utah, I had a lot of great friends, don't get me wrong. But I also struggled for a long time with, like, finding people that were really aligned with me and, like, people that really resonated with me. And that might have been a story, but for whatever reason, maybe because I've set this intention or whatever, like, I have not had that experience in la. I chose very early on that I was gonna have beautiful people in my life. I was gonna attract them to me, they were gonna attract me to them. And somehow that has just happened. I have amazing friends here. Like, seriously, like, such beautiful people that view things the way that I view them. And, you know, that doesn't mean that, like, people haven't fallen out of my life because they have people that I was friends with maybe three years ago. I. We're not on our. In the same place, on our journeys anymore. And that's okay, too. Relationships, people, friends, like, it all changes. And I think the other thing that I have learned is, like, I don't have an expectation of anyone to stick around, frankly, which sounds like. I don't know, that sounds, like, negative in a way, but I don't mean it that way. It means that, like, I'm not attached to the outcome. Like, I'm not attached to the outcome of this relationship. I'm not attached to the outcome of this friendship. And I truly believe that, like, the people that are meant to be in my life are going to come into my life and if they have to Leave. They'll leave when it's time as well. So I think for me, that's one of the ways I've been able to have really awesome people in my life is I'm not attached to their role in my life. I'm just know that I'm going to have the best people come into my life, and they do. Like, even this friend. I just had a friend over before this podcast interview, and it's funny because she and I have been friends for like, two and a half years. But, like, for whatever reason, our journeys are just now starting to align. We haven't really been that close. We've been like, oh, yeah, we're good friends. But, like, we didn't really spend much time together. And now, for whatever reason, like, we really are feeling, like, drawn to each other and we're becoming, like, a lot closer friends at this moment in our lives. And I see that happening in my life. People come, people go, and it's like, I'm not attached to it. And that's cool. I think that makes that makes it easier. So, I don't know, have you ever had that experience as well? Like, people in front of.

I lived in Toronto for two years, and when I left Australia and moved out there, it was like a similar kind of experience. It was blank canvas to see based on the vibration that I was putting out at that time, what was I going to attract back into my life.

And.

And it was the perfect little experiment for me to see, to witness, because life is just a mirror, right? Life is mirroring back what we're putting out. And same goes with the people. Like, you look at the people that you're hanging out with, they're a mirror of you. There's something that attracted them into your life. And I got to see that in Toronto, where I had all these just amazing people show up. And I was like, man, I must be doing something right because I'm, like, so blessed by the friends and the people and the connections that I have that I'm like, wow, this is something. I've always been blessed by this people in my life. And when I came back to Perth after my Toronto trip, the same thing happened. And I have, like, this amazing group of friends out here that definitely makes it the hardest when moving. And I'm sure you can relate to that when traveling and moving, you saying goodbye to friends. But there's always this, like, trust element back there to know that wherever you go, you're going to attract exactly who you need to support you. And I feel that's been the hardest part right now is like, being grounded and stuck in Perth in Western Australia for as long as that we have been. But it's allowed connections to deepen here. Just something that you said there before that I really liked, which was, like, not. You're detached. Being detached from your friends and not saying, oh, you need to be in my life, or I need. You need to be my friend, or you're not projecting any needs onto. You're not projecting your needs onto other people. And I feel like that's a really important thing in relationships, especially romantic relationships as well, because the minute you become, like, a needy person or you need someone in your life to fulfill a need that repels that energy repels or pushes people away. So, yeah, great, great suggestion. Great advice there. Hey, before we start to wind this down, Kelsey, I'm curious to know, what are some things that you're really focusing on right now? Like, how big are you thinking in terms of what you want to create and the impact that you want to have on the world and what's kind of your main intention for this year? Yeah, like, what are you trying to create this year?

Yeah, I mean, I'm trying to create a lot of things at the moment. I want to make a big impact with my brand, and I want to help a lot of girls. I'm in the process of developing an online course to help teenage girls navigate different areas of their life. Physical issues, like, physical body, you know, things. Mental health, emotional health. Like, I'm developing a course to help address all of these different things to help the girls navigate some of these areas. So that's probably my biggest project right now, and the biggest goal I have for this year is to get that launched and to really be able to serve, like, in the best way possible with that. Yeah, I want to help, and I have, like, big visions for this brand for that course. I want to be doing events. I want to be doing live events, like, around the country, but especially around the world. Like, I love to travel. That's one of my biggest passions. So to be able to, like, meld the two would be really, really awesome. I have big goals with my music, and I feel like everything I do is about, like, connection, whether it's, like, acting or whether it's making videos or whether it's making music. It's about connecting and, like, serving people and hopefully inspiring them in some way or another. So that's kind of the main thing I'm focusing on. Those are, like, the three pillars of my life. Is like my online brand, my acting career and my music career and finding ways to, you know, connect the three and really amplify my brand in that way. So, yeah, the course is the biggest focus, but that's all like, the why behind it all.

So what about you again, everything you've been sharing, I feel such a connection and sense of alignment with this path that you're walking. I feel that as well. I feel that this is the year to be able to travel again, to connect on a larger scale with more people. This is one of my main focuses with the. The things that I'm creating is like, how can I increase my impact? And I truly believe, like, if you come in with a. An intention of how can I serve and how can I impact on a greater level, the support materializes, really. And I've also realized that the only way you can impact on a big scale is if you are so connected and tapped into the infinite part of who you are, you know, the infinite being that you are. If you stay connected to that place, then you have an infinite reservoir of energy, love to give to the world. And I'm no expert at staying connected to that, but I'm getting better at it. But I'm very acutely aware of the times when I'm not connected to it. When fear comes into my mind or I get triggered or I'm forcing something, it cuts the flow and then I'm not of service. For me, the focus this year is like, stay connected to that part of me that is fully infinite and expansive and expressive. And then just keep showing up more powerfully, more consistently for my community, for my family, for my friends, and try to fucking love the process. Try to, like, have so much fun in the process of creating whatever it is that we're meant to create, because I feel that's what's the point, you know, if you don't have fun, like, what's the point in it? So, yeah, I feel I would love to get out and get back to la. I love that part of the world. I really feel are yearning to be out listening as well. Are feeling that for those in Australia too. We've been kind of grounded for a little while now, but this is the year. Yeah, I feel. Feel good about this year. And this conversation has been really nourishing and I really want to thank you for just opening up and sharing your perspective and your insights and your truth. Yeah, so valuable to hear from creator and another powerful woman making big waves in the world. So I sense the sense that this isn't the end of our collaboration or our connection.

Yeah, me too. Yeah. Thank you so much. This has been really great for me too. I love, like, hearing your perspectives, and I think it's. It's cool. We have very similarly aligned visions. I feel the same about good energy. Like, I know we talked about that before. Just there's good energy this year and big changes are coming, and that's really, really exciting.

Hell, yeah.

Yeah. Thank you for this conversation. Thanks for having me.

Yeah, it's a pleasure. It's a pleasure. I feel just to leave on this note as well back to what we said about this pain being the kind of indicator for growth or the marker for growth. There's a lot of people that went through a lot of pain in the last couple of years. I really feel that we could all see that. And I sense that there is rapid shifts happening in the world because of that. So when the, when we see collective pain, it's sometimes hard to acknowledge that this is actually what we need. So the pain has been the perfect springboard for, yeah, this next. This next evolution. Right. New leaders. New leaders stepping up and influencing the world. So you're a part of that. I'm a part of that. Everyone listening to this is a part of that. So, yeah, we're in it together.

That's right. The pain is the journey. That's like a hard. A hard truth to own, but it really is. Sometimes we think we view pain as like the inhibitor or like the block, you know, but it's like, no, the pain is the way. The pain is the path. Overcoming that pain is like what you said, part of what inspires us, us to like, a greater, greater future and a greater journey. So that's. That's really exciting. We're all moving through this pain and great things are going to come from it.

So, yeah. Well, thanks again, Kelsey. Really appreciate you being on here and yeah, we'll talk soon.

Thank you. Talk to you later.

Hey, there we have it, guys. Thanks so much for listening to this episode. And yeah, look, if you made it this far, cool. Here's my voice again in your ear. And I'm going to make one more request for you is go ahead and subscribe and leave a comment on the podcast page because I'm really putting a lot of focus and attention on getting this podcast out to more people because I know what I'm putting in here can serve and value and bring value to people. And it would mean a lot if you got value from this to leave some feedback and subscribe so you stay up to date with what's coming up and as always, follow me on Instagram. And love hearing from you.

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State Shifters until the next episode. Guys, thank you so much and I appreciate you.