Let's Talk About Life Purpose, Baby! Find Your Purpose & Stay Committed w/ Brad Walsh Empowerography

I am your host, Rebecca Silence, creator of Healing is Possible. And what we do in the hot seat is we get hot, we get sticky, and we talk about what's in the way of healing and what do we do about that to get through whatever's in the way? This hot seat is sponsored by rebeccasilence.com and by me and my amazing team, where you can visit rebeccasilence.com to see the services beyond the hot seat that can take your healing and your life to the next level. With all of that being said, I am super honored and excited to have a very special guest, Brad Walsh, with us in the hot seat today. And ironically, Brad is a man that specializes in the empowerment and in supporting women, specifically in living into their life purpose and letting their light and their story shine. So, Brad, welcome to the hot seat. It's so great to have you.

Hi, Rebecca, how are you? It's an absolute honor to be here today. Thank you so much for inviting me to be part of your incredible platform. I'm happy to be here.

I'm excited to have you and I'm really eager to get our audience to hear more about you and who you are and what, I guess what I would love to start with is just in your words, what is healing?

Healing is going within and digging deep and finding out what's troubling you and working through that in your own way, whether that be with a support system, therapist, whatever it is, just working through that healing and helping to heal yourself. But most importantly is doing the self work, going deep inside and discovering what it is that's. That's troubling you and working on those issues.

Yeah, I love what you said because it really isn't cookie cutter and it really is about going inside and seeing, okay, what is it that I can do to start to shift my reality and my experience? And you correct me if I'm off, but my understanding is that you had a healing with your career and your life purpose work, and you did the work. You know, Brendan Burchard is one of my teachers and he talks about don't be afraid to start small. What he says is a lot of people know what their life purpose is actually, but they don't want to be seen starting small. And your trajectory has been one of putting yourself out there, starting small. And you've got quite a following and quite a platform with your Empowerography podcast. So tell us a little bit about what is life purpose and what has been your healing journey when it comes to life purpose?

Yeah, it's Been one heck of a journey, I have to say. I am a photographer. That's my full time business. I'm a boudoir photographer. So I'm already well entrenched in women's empowerment and helping women deal with confidence issues, embody positivity and things like that. And of course, as last year, we all know how last year played out with the pandemic and whatnot. It left me in a place where I couldn't conduct my business because of the pandemic. So I had to go within and think, okay, what else can I do here? What can I add? What can I continue to do? Because I needed to keep doing something creative. And not being able to shoot my sessions was incredibly frustrating and it was hard. And you know, all of the negativity that was around us, around everybody dealing with the pandemic and going through that, I mean, it looked different for everybody. Everybody had different hurdles to overcome through the pandemic. But I just, I got tired of hearing the negativity all around me from everybody that was dealing with what was going on in the world. And I just, I, I thought, I can't, I have to take the situation and flip it on its ear, do something good or do something positive with this situation instead of sitting around bitching and complaining about it, because that's not going to serve anybody. Least of all, it's not going to serve me. So therein came the, the thought and the reinvention of the podcast. I thought, this is a perfect opportunity to take advantage of this time that we've all been given and do something positive with it. So there in the podcast was reignited and reborn, shall we say. And I just began reaching out to women on Instagram and explaining what I wanted to do with the platform and how I wanted to help women, help elevate them, help amplify their voices through the platform of the podcast. And the response was incredibly overwhelming. Women were so happy to hear that a man had created a platform such as this to help elevate them and share their stories and amplify their voices. And it's just grown into this incredible community through this experience. I mean, don't get me wrong, Covid and the whole pandemic, it's been a horrible situation for a lot of people. There's been a lot of loss, job loss, personal loss, life loss.

And it's more than just a silver lining, right? Like anybody that's listening, that's like, screw positivity. Like, what is there to be positive about right now? You Know, there is opportunities for growth, and what is required if we're going to grow is healing. I don't care who you are or what it is. There's some emotional, mental, spiritual, financial, sexual, whatever type of healing is right here. If you want to grow. The second you say, I want to grow, the next question should be, well, then what healing needs to happen? Yes, because if there was no healing needed, you'd already be there. And. And so, Brad, you really have taken on healing on a profound level in career that also gives women an opportunity to heal as they share their stories. So, again, like, let's back up. So how did you know that you wanted to work with women and what your life purpose was? Because what you just shared with us just sounds like an evolution of your life purpose. You already had it.

Well, you know, yeah, I guess you could say that. I think my life purpose started out with the photography and helping women, but I think it was all based around the fact that I was basically raised by two women, my mom and my grandmother. Um, my mom left my biological father when I was 10. He was running around on her having an affair. And at that time, and in those years, women were usually the ones who stayed home with and raised the children while the husband went out to work to make the money to support the family. So looking back when I had my. My transformation, or whatever you want to call it, and thinking about that situation when I was a kid, the incredible strength and courage and resilience, my mom had to actually pick my brother and I up and leave with nothing. We left with nothing but the clothes on our back. We moved into a one bedroom apartment. My mom slept on a couch, My brother and I shared bunk beds. And she had to reintegrate back into the working world after being out of work for over 10 years because she had no options. She had to support her kids. So when she was at work, my grandmother would step in and help raise us and look after us. So for me, these two women have been constant pillars of strength in my life. Teaching me and showing me what it is to be courageous and strong and resilient as women, showing me and teaching me how to value and respect women. So that's where the basis started. And then of course, my wife and my daughters, they are a huge part of all of this as well. So basically, these five women in my life, I mean, I've been surrounded by women my whole life. So these five women are why I do what I do. It's my way of, shall we say, giving back or Saying thank you to all the women out there because of what these five women have brought to my life and done for me and shown me and taught me. And that's where it all started, is with these five women. Of course, my grandmother, my mother is going way back is where it actually started.

But, yeah, yeah. And our. Our. Is your mother still alive?

Yes, she is.

And what are her thoughts about this trajectory that you've been on, sharing your life with women and spreading the light of the women that you meet out there into the world?

She loves it. She's very proud. She thinks it's an amazing bit of work that I'm doing. She thinks it's incredible that I'm giving back to women because of what was brought to my life by her and my grandmother and again, my daughters and my wife. It's. She's very, very proud of the work I'm doing.

I love it, and I think this is such a beautiful story. What now I would love to hear more about is what was it that had you stay in your purpose when the way you thought that was going to go arrived at a dead end? What had you stay in the game? Because I think you've got to know how to stay in the game before you can pivot and reinvent.

I think it's just my resilience to keep going, my drive to keep going. Not succeeding or failing was not an option. I mean, sorry, that's the wrong way to put it, because failing is how we learn and we all fail and we all pick ourselves up. We should all pick ourselves up and dust ourselves off and get back on the horse again. So it was just my drive to keep going. I mean, I couldn't do what I really love to do. So I thought, I've got to shift. I've got to figure out something to keep me busy, to keep me creative and keep me going and keep the process of healing and learning going. So, I mean, when I started podcasting, I had no idea what I was doing. I just jumped in and figured it out. So it's just my drive to keep going and succeed and push forward and want to continue this mission of women's empowerment, because I think it's important that we have and hold space as men for women, because they've been kept down for so long by men. It's time that we start lifting them up and standing beside our women and elevating them and amplifying their voices through whatever means we can. And for me, it just so happened to be photography, which was then Put on hold. So now it's kind of evolved into.

The podcast and tell us about the magic of women sharing their stories. Why is it so important for women to share their story?

Oh, you know, honestly, that. That whole process of when I'm on a podcast with one of my guests, and it's like I'm being taken along with them on their journey as they tell their story, it is transformational for me. I pull inspiration from every single one of these women's stories. It is such an honor and an absolute pleasure for me to be involved in the story, because that's exactly what it is. They're involving me. They're bringing me into their world and sharing their story. And I think that's important because we need to help other women who may be struggling through similar or whatever. It's similar or different ways, but to help them, if we can. If we can, as a community, create this space where they're learning from other women's experiences and not having to go through the same adversity or same struggles that they have, then why wouldn't we share that information to help one another and help lift everybody up? It's an amazing feeling when you have community. You cannot lose with community. You just can't. It's a beautiful thing. And that's exactly what we've managed to create. I mean, this podcast doesn't even belong to me anymore. It's ours as a community. And that's what I love about it.

That's how I feel about healing is possible. And I'm hearing that maybe that mission, but also that drive to build community maybe is a big piece of what kept you going. It did become bigger than you. And I think for everyone watching today, there is so much about you that's unique, and there's a life purpose in you that only you can create, as cliche as that sounds. And until it's bigger than you, all kinds of obstacles will feel more, maybe powerful than the purpose. But it's. It's so clear to me anyway, in living my own purpose, that there's nothing better than living your purpose. And it is bigger than all of us. And until. And unless we embrace that. Yes, it won't get wings.

That's right. Well, I have to say that living your purpose, and there's honestly no feeling in the world like it. There isn't. Once you find your purpose in life, it is one of the most incredible things you could ever experience. But what is even more than that, or what doubles that feeling, if you will, is the fact that what your purpose is gives back and impacts other human beings. There is no better feeling. Like it's honestly like winning the lottery twice. It's amazing. I love that. I ha that I get up in the morning and this is what I. These are the kinds of things I get to do and elevate women and amplify their voices and give back, whether that be through photography or through the podcast with the platform that we've created. There's no better feeling than it than that in the world, honestly.

Yeah. And I know that your intention is to take this community to a whole new level eventually live events and retreats and, you know, again, let's not be afraid, everybody watching to start where you are and to let that be enough and then to let yourself flirt with and fantasize about the next iteration and the next iteration to kind of keep the excitement and as Brendan Burchard would say, the novelty going. It's fun. If you choose to believe, it can be fun living in your life purpose. And then it starts with believing that you have one and that you have a right to live into it. And you do. And I think at this point, I've probably helped at least 70 women open businesses along the way in the 15 years of my journey. And I've helped men with their businesses and people in general with their life purpose work. And what I know is it's right here and most likely it's hidden in plain sight. And then you just have to be brave enough to do the trust fall, to identify it, and then it will evolve and grow.

And it is scary. It is. For sure it is. How does that feel for you, knowing that you had a hand in helping these women and these men create their dreams? How does that feel for you?

I mean, that is my life purpose. Inspired results. Healing is possible. I will help you heal the thing that you think you can't heal so that you can identify and live the life of your dreams, which includes your purpose. And, you know, it's bigger than me is how it feels. And then it's such a joy. It's such a joy to be witness to the miracle of people shedding what doesn't serve them so that they can live their purpose and have their most healed and inspired lives. And it doesn't feel like work. I mean, it is scary, but it's also, for me anyway, like, what else is there to do?

I love it.

And I get to be on your podcast coming up here pretty soon. And you know, and it's so. It's so Fun to be a light in the dark. And when we're living our life purpose, we are. We're a light in the dark.

That's right. Yeah. There's, there's no feeling like it. Honestly. It's incredible to you to be able to shine that light and help others realize and reach their potential and put themselves out there. Because it is scary putting yourself out there 100%. I mean, nothing, no growth happens in comfort zones. You've got to step outside and do what scares you and reach for those goals. Because we only have one life. So why would you spend it living a mundane, boring life? Do the things you want to do. You have to try. If you fail, it's okay. Failure is great. That's how you learn, that's how you grow. So do those things you want to do. Don't let anyone stop you. I mean, I found that our biggest hurdle that we've got to overcome is ourselves and the internal noise and the self doubt that's much, much worse than the external noise of all the other doubters and haters and people who don't believe in you out there. But once you go in and do that work, this stuff all around you is much easier to deal with for sure.

Yeah. And if you've got any part of you that's thinking, well, I don't know what I want, I don't know. I mean, find someone that does know. And that I really think is what launched me. I have a mentor, Heather Steele, she owns Legacy Training International and her mission is to train the best, best life coaches in the world. And she is, and she does. And I saw her doing hers, which gave her access to mine. I mean, if you don't know yet, flirt with fail, like Brad said at figuring out, well, what do I want? I mean, it's trial and error. It's trial and error. But also find some people living in their purpose to give you evidence that you could find yours.

That's right, yes. Surround yourself with like minded people. Surround yourself with people who are successful and achieving and attaining their goals. When you surround yourself with people that are, that are doing good, it just, it automatically ups your game and it forces you to up your game. It forces you to think about what you want to do and get confident in yourself and believe in yourself. So yeah, for sure, surround yourself with like minded people.

And then there's two other things I want to say about this and then I want to ask you more about just empowerment in general for all of us. But you know, in legacy training, one of the things that we're teaching is that that blueprint of pain, your deepest suffering, those deepest traumas, and those deepest wounds can also give you access to your purpose. So I just want to plant that seed with people. You know, it is not all sunshine and rainbows, but it can be that you use the pain to create the life where you get to live and serve in helping other people through that possible trauma that you are endured or darkness or whatever it is. But you've got everything you need, and your life has been the perfect storm and the perfect trajectory to give you access to that purpose. That's what I want everyone to just consider. And again, I do believe it's hidden in plain sight. And let's talk empowerment now. So your podcast is called Empowerography.

Yep.

Right? Do I have it right?

Yep, that's right.

Okay, so talk to us about empowerment. Like, what the hell does that mean? What is it? How do we find it for all people? Not just what is it?

Yeah, I mean, I think more men need to get on board with. With this whole mission. To me, empowerment is giving people permission to live their purpose and discover who they are giving back and just helping elevate one another, creating a community. That's what empowerment is. Um, the women that are on the show are just incredible. I would say 95% of them are entrepreneurs, and they're just. They're sharing their stories. So it's important. We. Everybody has a story to share. Everybody. I don't care what anybody says. We all have a story. And why not share it? Get it out there. Because you can help other people learn from what you're going through. No one else is you. You are unique. You are worth it. You need to share your story, get it out there, and help people. So that. I mean, I'm always looking for guests on the podcast. Amazing women like yourself, Rebecca, I would love. If there's anyone out there listening that is interested in being a guest on the Empowerography podcast platform, please feel free to reach out, and I would love to set up a chat with you, and we can talk about having you as a guest on the platform. And Powerography is available on all podcast platforms. Apple, Spotify, Stitcher, Google, all of those. You can follow me on Instagram at Empowerography podcast, and that's where you can find me.

So what I'm hearing you say is that empowerment happens more in community.

Yes.

And that it gives us an opportunity to elevate ourselves with the intention of elevating everyone in the community. And I Think that's a really beautiful definition. And we always have access to elevating ourselves to be more or we have the opportunity in every moment to also basically dumb it down and adapt down. And I love what you're saying and what you're doing Brad around just sharing stories, building community and wanting people to get to experience that elevated self that lives in them. And so how do people get in touch with you to reach out and inquire about being on your show?

You can reach me through email@empowerography podcastmail.com you can follow me and DM me on Instagram at empowerography. Podcast those and then. Or you could go to my website, www.empowerographypodcast.com and send me a message there. Any of those three, you can feel free to reach out. I'm like I said, I'm always looking for incredible inspirational women like yourself, Rebecca to have on the show and get your story out there because again, I believe that every person on earth has a story to share and every there is somebody out there who can benefit from what you have gone through or what your struggles have been or what your successes are. Why not help each other out? That's what community is about. And with community, you cannot lose. You just can't.

Yeah, I could not agree more. And thank you for being a gorgeous man that supports women and models being a man that supports women. They are out there, ladies, you know, whoever you are, regardless of the gender you identify with, you have a purpose in you and we want to see you elevated and living it and experiencing it because it's right here. Brad, any final thoughts on life, purpose and or empowerment?

Just do, do the self work. Dig in and figure out what lights you up, what makes you happy. Because again, we only get one life. Do what makes you happy. Just life is too short. Just find that purpose and go after it. Don't ever let anyone tell you that you can't do it. Just keep your head down, put in the work and just go for it. That's it.

And would you give us a homework assignment? What homework assignment would you. You didn't know I was going to ask you that. What homework assignment would you give our healing as possible? Community.

Oh, start doing the self work. Start going inside because people are. People are scared to go inside. People don't like what they see. Do that work. Put in the. Start looking inside. Start figuring out what lights you up. That's the homework. Start figuring out what makes you happy. Because whatever it is that makes you happy, you can turn that into something, a business, whatever it is, and find a way to do that and give back.

Yeah, yeah, yeah. You absolutely can. I love it. So find what makes you happy to start figuring out what lights you up and then just know that can be a business.

Yes, absolutely.

Awesome. Brad, thank you so much for being with us today. Check out the Empowerography podcast. I'll be on it coming up soon. And again, the hot seat is brought to you by RebeccaSilens.com if you want more, go right to RebeccaSilens.com Start just the $27 five day challenge to get going. Five step to healing. It's a roadmap. It works. It'll launch you. We're all picking up the pieces after pandemic and hell and trying to sort out what do we want to keep and what do we want to let go of and what are we going to replace it with. And all kinds of tools and goodies are available@rebeccasilens.com and if you want to join me in the healing as possible hot seat for laser coaching, for an opportunity to share your purpose and your story, reach out again@rebeccasilens.com and we will see you next week. We are live every Every Tuesday at 10am Mountain with the hot seat like clockwork. We'll see you soon. Bye everyone. Thank you.

Rebecca, thank you so much for having me as a guest. I'm absolutely honored. It's such a pleasure to be here with you today and I'm looking forward to having you on the podcast. I can't wait.

I can't wait to Brad, I'm really excited. We're gonna have a blast.

We are.

Hi everyone.