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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

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Hope doesn’t disappear all at once.

Sometimes it just goes quiet after being disappointed too many times.

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 for slowing down, leading from steadiness instead of urgency, and growing without hustle. Here, we explore real-life change rather than perfection, weaving together identity, leadership, faith, and body-based wisdom. It’s a place to pause, reflect, and rise from clarity rather than pressure, feeling grounded and connected to yourself and others.

Episode Highlights

This episode centers on the idea that belief often fades not because people stop caring, but because caring has hurt too much. After repeated disappointment, the nervous system learns to associate hope with risk. Instead of pushing forward, it flattens emotion as a form of protection.

Rather than forcing belief back into place, the conversation invites a slower return. Hope is framed as something quiet, something rebuilt through trustworthy moments, consistency, and kindness. Growth doesn’t need intensity to be real. Sometimes it needs safety first.

Episode Outline

• Creating space for reflection instead of pressure-driven growth
• Introducing the Rise Experience as a place to grow honestly and gently.
• Revisiting the idea of a quiet reset as groundwork for clarity.
• Understanding why hope feels dangerous after repeated letdowns.
• How the brain protects by avoiding pain rather than pursuing potential
• Why forcing belief often backfires
• Rebuilding trust through small, reliable experiences
• Choosing consistency over intensity as a leadership practice
• Distinguishing hope from optimism
• How returning hope softens leadership, clears vision, and shifts energy
• Guided reflection around safety, belief, and self-kindness
• Closing with prayer and encouragement for gentle restoration
  
  
  

Episode Chapters

00:00 Intro

00:07 Creating Space for Reflection and Growth

01:09 The Role of Hope in Rebuilding Belief

03:13 Rebuilding Trust Through Experience

04:26 Practicing Gentleness and Consistency

05:28 Reflecting on Personal Experiences of Hope and Belief

Action Taken

Sit with these three reflective questions during the week, without pressure to fix or act:

• Where has hope felt unsafe?
• What would belief look like if it didn’t ask for more than could be given?
• What is one way to be kinder right now?

Make a simple note of what surfaces during reflection to revisit later

• Practice gentleness and consistency over intensity
• Choose not quitting after a hard day
• Use kinder self-talk as a way to rebuild belief slowly
  
  
  

Conclusion

Hope doesn’t need to be loud to be real. It doesn’t need grand plans or bold declarations to return. When belief is rebuilt gently, leadership shifts. Decisions soften. Vision becomes clearer. Growth becomes something that feels possible again, not because of force, but because trust is slowly restored.

CTA

Take time this week to sit with the reflection questions shared in the episode. Let the answers rise naturally, without urgency or expectation, and notice what begins to shift.

Supporting Information

• Instagram: @risewithshannon
• Facebook:

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What if belief didn’t have to feel heavy or forced?

What if growth didn’t mean sprinting from one goal to the next or pushing yourself into exhaustion?

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 for slowing down, leading from steadiness instead of urgency, and growing without hustle. Here, we explore real-life change rather than perfection, weaving together identity, leadership, faith, and body-based wisdom. It’s a place to pause, reflect, and rise from clarity rather than pressure, feeling grounded and connected to yourself and others.

Episode Highlights

January can feel heavy, and motivation often feels fragile. This episode explores how to rebuild belief from where you are, rather than chasing unrealistic goals. Belief is emotional, physiological, and mental, and repeated disappointment or pressure can quietly erode it. A “quiet reset” focused on safety and small, consistent actions can help restore trust and clarity. Steadiness, rather than urgency, shapes how we grow, lead, and show up. The episode closes with a prayer for gentleness, trust, and steady progress.

Episode Outline

• Why belief can feel fragile and what happens when the nervous system is protecting itself.
• Recognizing signals of belief retreat: hesitation, overthinking, numbness, or “I don’t really care” energy.
• The impact of repeated disappointment, cycles of starting and stopping, and pressure to perform.
• How to rebuild belief from your current state, not by pushing harder or demanding motivation.
• The role of small, consistent actions in restoring trust in yourself: keeping promises, choosing steadiness over intensity, letting progress be imperfect, and pausing before burnout.
• How steadiness in personal belief influences leadership, relationships, and daily life.
  
  
  

Reflection questions to carry:

• Where has belief felt unsafe?
• What lingering expectations are affecting how I move forward?
• What would belief look like without pressure?
  
  
  

Episode Chapters

00:00 Intro

00:07 Rebuilding Belief in January

03:36 The Role of Safety in Belief

06:58 Quiet Reset and Internal Belief

09:23 Leadership and Belief

12:28 Practical Steps for Rebuilding Belief

13:01 Closing Prayer and Encouragement

Action Steps

• Notice where belief feels fragile without judgment.
• Take small, consistent actions that restore confidence and trust in yourself.
• Lead from steadiness and presence, not urgency, in both personal life and leadership.
• Give yourself space to pause, rest, and rebuild without forcing progress.
  
  
  

Conclusion

Belief doesn’t return through force or hype — it returns through safety, presence, and consistent, trustworthy steps. When belief is restored, growth feels steady, trust in yourself deepens, and the energy you bring to leadership, relationships, and everyday life shifts.

Supporting Information

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

Thank you for s

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Momentum doesn’t usually disappear after a big failure.

It slips away quietly through rushed mornings, skipped routines, self-doubt, and the belief that starting again requires more energy than it actually does.

Welcome to The Rise Experience Podcast.

I’m Shannon Denniston, and this is a space to slow down, reflect honestly, and reconnect with the inner life that shapes how we lead, decide, and live. Here, faith-centered wisdom meets practical guidance, helping growth happen from the inside out, with clarity, courage, and purpose.

Episode Highlights

In this episode, I explore why momentum matters more than motivation—and why it’s often lost in subtle, everyday ways rather than major setbacks. We talk about how the brain actually creates momentum, why perfection and pressure shut it down, and how small, aligned actions restore forward movement. I also connect momentum to faith, leadership, health, and relationships, showing how consistent, faithful steps can create real breakthroughs over time.

Episode Outline

Momentum and Its Importance

• Momentum is introduced as sustainable direction, not hustle or adrenaline.
• Most momentum loss happens quietly through self-doubt, rushed rhythms, and skipped routines.
• Loss of momentum often comes from emotional, mental, and spiritual fatigue, not laziness
  
  
  

Understanding Momentum and Its Fragility

• Momentum feels fragile because it’s easy to forget how simple it is to rebuild.
• The brain conserves energy when tired, which can feel like being “stuck”.
• Anxiety and coping behaviors are often attempts to escape discomfort, not failures of willpower.
• Momentum is created through consistent behavior, not emotion.

The Science and Spirituality of Momentum

• The mesolimbic dopamine pathway rewards progress and movement—not perfection.
• Small actions trigger motivation by signaling safety and success to the brain.
• Momentum can begin without waiting to feel ready.
• Faith mirrors this pattern: movement activates breakthroughs.
  
  
  

Real-Life Examples of Momentum

• Health: One aligned action restores momentum after emotional or schedule disruptions.
• Leadership: Momentum returns through clarity, boundaries, and intentional decisions.
• Belief and Calling: One message or reconnection to purpose can reignite direction.
• Relationships: Presence and honesty rebuild momentum faster than avoidance.

The Role of the Nervous System

• Overwhelm and shame push the nervous system into freeze mode.
• Rebuilding momentum requires slowing down and choosing the smallest possible step.
• Small wins restore a sense of capability and emotional safety.

Reflecting on December and the New Year

• December as a reflective and transitional season.
• Momentum as an identity shift before a behavioral shift.
• Introduction of the RISE lens: Reset, Implement, Strengthen, Elevate

Practical Steps to Rebuild Momentum

• Reset untrue stories rooted in shame or self-doubt.
• Implement micro-habits that work with the nervous system.
• Strengthen momentum through community and shared intention.
• Elevate leadership by grounding internally and leading with steady presence.
  
  
  

Episode Chapters

00:00 Intro

00:07 Momentum and Its Importance

03:10 Understanding Momentum and Its Fragility

04:48 The Science and Spirituality of Momentum

08:

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Feeling overwhelmed by goals, plans, and endless tasks as the year wraps up? Sometimes the most powerful step forward isn’t doing more — it’s pausing.

Welcome to The Rise Experience Podcast – I’m Shannon Denniston. Here, we slow down, reflect deeply, and reconnect with the inner life that shapes leadership, decision-making, and personal growth. This space blends faith-centered insight with practical guidance to help you rise with clarity, courage, and purpose.

Episode Highlights

In this episode, we talk about the power of a quiet reset, a chance to pause, step back, and reconnect before jumping into new goals. We’ll look at how just being still can help the mind move from reactive to reflective, give space to process emotions, reconnect with what really matters, and hear God’s guidance more clearly. Small, simple ways to bring this pause into everyday life can help lead with confidence and clarity, while also positively shaping teams, families, and communities.

Episode Outline

Introduction to the Quiet Reset

• Understanding the need to pause before setting new goals.
• Why reconnecting internally fuels sustainable momentum.

The Science and Faith Behind It

• How the brain’s default mode network processes lessons and emotions.
• Shifting from reactive to reflective thinking.
• Reconnecting with values, creativity, and self-awareness.

Faith Perspective

• Reflecting on Psalm 46:10: “Be still and know that I am God.
• How stillness creates space to hear God’s voice above life’s noise.
• Allowing God to steady your heart, mind, and life before the new year.

Practical Steps for a Quiet Reset

• Simple actions: moments of silence, journaling, prayer, or Bible reading.
• Body scans, grounding breaths, and mindful walking.
• Releasing burdens and trusting God to carry them.

Impact on Leadership and Relationships

• Grounded leaders create clarity and stability for teams, clients, and families.
• The ripple effect of internal clarity on workplace, home, and community.
• Leadership hygiene: leading from overflow, not depletion.

December Framework for Quiet Reset

• Reset mindset: identify what needs release before the new year.
• Build sustainable habits: daily stillness, intentional pauses, check-ins with accountability partners.
• Step into leadership steady, clear, and confident.

Closing Thoughts and Prayer

• Reflect on what your soul is carrying and what needs release.
• Invite God’s guidance to step into the year with clarity and peace.
• Encourage sharing the episode and supporting each other’s growth.

Episode Chapters

00:00 Intro

00:07 Quiet Reset: Introduction and Importance

03:21 The Science and Faith of Quiet Reset

05:51 Faith Perspective on Quiet Reset

07:44 Practical Steps for Quiet Reset

09:28 Leadership and Team Impact of Quiet Reset

10:51 December Framework for Quiet Reset

Action Taken

• Take small, intentional pauses for stillness daily.
• Practice grounding techniques like deep breathing or journaling.
• Release emotional or mental burdens through prayer or reflection.
• Share your quiet reset intentions with a trusted accountability partner.
• Step into leadership and life with clarity, confidence, and a grounded heart.
  
  
  

Conclusion

A quiet reset isn’t just a pause, it’s a strategic way to reconnect with yourself, align with your values, and create a foundation for intentio

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Some years end with momentum. Others end with quiet questions we didn’t expect to ask. If this past year left belief feeling heavy, distant, or buried under everything you carried, you’re not alone and this episode is for you.

Welcome to The Rise Experience Podcast. I’m Shannon Denniston. This space is where I slow down, check in with what’s happening beneath the surface, and reconnect with the inner life that shapes how I lead. My heart for this podcast is simple: honest reflection, faith-centered grounding, and practical guidance that helps us rise with clarity, courage, and purpose.

Episode Highlights

Belief doesn’t vanish, it often gets buried under discouragement, emotional fatigue, and unprocessed setbacks. This episode explores why belief can feel lost after a challenging year, how self-efficacy and neural patterns influence confidence, and the role of faith, community, and small wins in restoring it. The RISE framework — reset, implement, strengthen, elevate provides a practical guide for rebuilding belief in personal goals, leadership, and relationships.

Episode Outline

• Why belief feels lost at the end of a difficult year.
• How discouragement, fatigue, and repeated responsibilities bury belief.
• Understanding self-efficacy erosion and the brain’s evidence pathways.
• Why belief is a neural pattern—not a personality trait.
• How stress chemicals disrupt access to confidence and clarity.
• The belief gap and why we fixate on what we didn’t accomplish.
• The impact of focusing on the gain instead of the gap.
• Where belief commonly breaks down: personal goals, leadership, and customer experience.
• Why losing rhythm—not weakness—causes belief to fade in personal goals.
• How small wins rebuild belief faster than big plans.
• The importance of confidence and internal clarity in leadership.
• How belief influences the way clients experience us.
• The RISE framework explained: reset → implement → strengthen → elevate.
• Why micro-habits help restore internal confidence.
• How community, coaching, and faith support belief restoration.
• Why helping others strengthens belief within ourselves.
• How restored belief shapes decision-making and leadership.
• Reflection prompts for rebuilding belief heading into a new year.
• A closing prayer for renewed strength, vision, and hope.

Episode Chapters

00:00 Intro

00:07 Rebuilding Belief After a Challenging Year

03:17 Neuroscience of Belief and Self-Efficacy

06:18 The Belief Gap and Focusing on Gains

08:05 Rebuilding Belief in Health and Personal Goals

08:49 Rebuilding Belief in Leadership and Business

10:03 The Rise Framework for Rebuilding Belief

12:03 Strengthening Belief in Community

13:04 Elevating Leadership with Restored Belief

Action Taken

• Reflect on where belief felt interrupted this year.
• Identify one small shift that would help reactivate belief.
• Choose one micro-habit that feels sustainable and start with that.
• Share your reflection with someone you trust or within your community.
• Revisit the RISE framework and choose one step to lean into this week.
  
  
  

Conclusion

Belief doesn’t disappear, it just gets covered. And the moment we begin stacking even the smallest wins, clarity and confidence sta

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Some people think attitude is a small thing, but it can change the entire direction of a life. It can lift you, limit you, steady you, or steer you off course. And the truth is, most of the time, altitude has less to do with external circumstances and more to do with what’s happening inside.

Welcome to The Rise Experience Podcast. I’m Shannon Denniston.

This space is where I slow down long enough to pay attention to the inner life that shapes how I lead. My heart for this show is simple: to explore what it looks like to lead with clarity, faith, and emotional maturity, one grounded step at a time.

Episode Highlights

This episode explores how attitude functions as more than a mood—it’s an internal posture that shapes perception, choices, and direction. The conversation breaks down how spiritual alignment, emotional patterns, and daily habits influence the “altitude” reached in leadership and personal growth. The RISE framework is introduced as a practical path for shifting unhelpful attitudes into steady, grounded ones. Only one moment of personal reflection is shared to anchor the message without overusing first-person language.

Episode Outline

• The moment the phrase “your attitude determines your altitude” stopped me in my tracks.
• Understanding attitude as an internal posture that directs outcomes.
• How the brain and nervous system respond to habitual attitudes.
• Why attitude becomes a filter for perception, energy, and decisions.
• Scriptural anchors that shape a healthy mindset (Proverbs 23:7, Romans 12:2, Colossians 3:2, Philippians 2:5).
• How attitude shows up in health, leadership, and relationships.
• The cognitive-emotional filter and its impact on resilience.
• Introducing the RISE framework: Reset, Implement, Strengthen, Elevate.
• How community reinforces or weakens internal alignment.
• How elevated attitude leads to elevated leadership, communication, and clarity.
• Closing prayer and encouragement to rise with intention.

Episode Chapters

00:00 Intro

00:07 Attitude and Altitude: Introduction and Personal Experience

02:12 Understanding Attitude and Altitude

03:06 The Psychology of Attitude

05:37 Scriptural Perspectives on Attitude

06:43 Practical Applications of Attitude in Daily Life

10:11 The RISE Framework for Changing Attitude

12:35 Elevating Attitude into Leadership

Action Taken

• Reset by naming the attitude that keeps pulling you down.
• Implement simple habits to shift your internal posture—pause before reacting, reframe complaints, practice gratitude, speak life-giving words.
• Strengthen your mindset by staying connected to people who lift your perspective.
• Elevate your influence by letting these shifts shape your clarity, communication, and resilience.
  
  
  

Conclusion

As leaders, we often focus on the climb, but the real rise begins internally. When the posture of the heart changes, everything we touch changes with it. Even small shifts in attitude can open space for clarity, peace, and purpose to grow.

CTA

If this episode encouraged you, share it with someone who may need the reminder that a lifted attitude can reshape an entire season.

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Have you ever felt like you’re living someone else’s life? Like the person everyone knows at work, at home, or in your community, isn’t really you? That subtle shift, where your identity starts to drift under the weight of roles and responsibilities, is more common than we realize, and it can quietly steal your sense of self.

Welcome to The Rise Experience Podcast. I’m Shannon Denniston. This is a place to pause, reflect, and tend to the inner life that shapes how we lead. Leading well starts with knowing yourself, understanding your faith, your values, and your purpose. Each episode shares insights and practices that have helped me stay grounded and lead with integrity, courage, and compassion.

Episode Highlights

This episode explores identity drift, the subtle shift in how a person sees themselves when roles and responsibilities start defining them more than their true identity. It explains why this happens, including the impact of stress and chronic responsibility, and how it affects both the mind and spirit. Listeners are introduced to the RISE framework — Reset, Implement, Strengthen, Elevate as a practical guide to reclaiming authenticity through simple habits, meaningful community, and intentional reflection.

Episode Outline

• What identity drift is and how it begins in competence, where your reliability can overshadow your true self.
• The psychological and spiritual effects of drifting from your authentic identity.
• Signs that your identity is being defined by roles rather than your true self.
• The RISE framework:
  Reset: Take time to pause and reconnect with your core identity.
  Implement: Apply simple, sustainable habits that reinforce your authentic self.
  Strengthen: Seek community and accountability to support your growth.
  Elevate: Lead with clarity and purpose from a place of true self-awareness.
• Practical habits to reclaim identity, such as brief moments of stillness, intentional walks, and speaking your truths aloud.
• Reflective questions to uncover the gap between your current roles and your authentic calling.
  
  
  

Action Taken

• Ask yourself: “What role have I accidentally started using as my identity?” and “Who was I before that role?”
• Implement small, sustainable habits like:
• 60 seconds of stillness
  A 10-minute walk without distractions
  Speaking identity truths out loud
• Seek community and accountability to support identity restoration—identity heals faster in connection than isolation.
• Reflect on questions like:
  “Where have I drifted from who God called me to be, and who have I become known as instead?”
  “What’s one small shift that would pull me back towards myself this week?"

Episode Chapters

00:00 Intro

00:07 Identity Drift: Understanding the Concept

06:01 The Psychological and Spiritual Aspects of Identity Drift

08:48 Practical Examples of Identity Drift

11:35 The Rise Framework for Overcoming Identity Drift

17:12 Elevating into Leadership and Legacy

Conclusion

Identity drift doesn’t happen overnight, and it’s not a personal failure, it’s a natural response to the demands of life. But it’s also reversible. By paying attention, slowing down, and leaning into practices that nurture your authentic self, you can reclaim your identity and lead with clarity, courage, and purpose.

CTA

If this episode resonated, I encourage you to pick one habit or reflection question from today’s discussion and put it into practice this week. Small steps create real change.