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Everyone’s rushing to decide what’s next. New goals. New plans. New direction. But what if clarity doesn’t come from pushing forward, but instead from stopping long enough to notice where you already are?

Welcome to The RISE Experience, a podcast for women who are rebuilding trust with themselves — in health, leadership, faith, and everyday life. I’m Shannon Denniston, and this is a space where we slow down when everything feels loud. We lead from steadiness instead of urgency, let go of hustle, and listen again. We stay connected to what’s real — identity, faith, the body, and the quiet wisdom already there. A place to pause, reflect, and rise from clarity instead of pressure.

Episode Highlights

This conversation is an invitation to slow down before deciding what’s next. It centers on noticing where the body and mind actually are, not where they’re supposed to be. Instead of rushing into plans or intentions, the focus is on orientation: understanding current identity, values, and capacity first. Clarity is treated as something that emerges from listening, not forcing. For women and leaders who’ve spent too long operating in urgency or survival mode, this episode offers permission to pause, get grounded, and let direction come from steadiness rather than pressure.

Episode Outline

• Why orientation matters more than intention.
• The cost of setting goals while feeling disoriented.
• Using the body as a signal for readiness and clarity.
• How urgency blocks self-trust and wise leadership.
• Identity is the foundation for direction and purpose.
• Why “I don’t know yet” is honest and grounded.
• The nervous system’s role in decision-making.
• A faith-centered perspective on identity before purpose.
• Allowing direction to unfold without force.
  
  
  

Episode Chapters

00:00 Intro

00:07 Orientation Before Intention

04:07 The Importance of Identity in Setting Intentions

06:01 Reconnecting with Current Identity

08:34 The Role of Integrity in Orientation

09:31 Prayers and Reflections

Action Taken

• Pause before setting new goals or commitments.
• Notice the current state of the body, breath, and energy.
• Ask the question: Who am I right now — honestly?
• Release the pressure to have answers immediately
• Share this episode with someone who might need permission to slow down.
  
  
  

Conclusion

Clarity doesn’t come from deciding faster. It comes from knowing where you’re standing. When orientation comes first, direction stops feeling heavy or forced. There’s permission here to pause, to listen, and to admit when the next step isn’t clear yet. Nothing is behind. Nothing is missing. Orientation is not delay — it’s wisdom.

CTA

If this episode resonated, share it with someone who feels rushed, unsure, or caught between what’s next and what’s true.

Supporting Information

• Instagram: @risewithshannon
• Facebook: Rise Experience
• LinkedIn: Shannon Denniston
• Business: https://msha.ke/shande
• Coaching: https://msha.ke/risewithshannon

Thank you for being here and for choosing presence over pressure. This space exists because of listeners willing to slow down, listen inward, and rise with intention