Wake Your Dream

87 - Feelings Tool: Interview Your Feelings

Annaliese and Alan explore a practical way to know you're processing your feelings better by “interviewing” your feelings so you can understand what they’re telling you. Being with your feelings this way helps you engage without as much overwhelm or avoidance. Annaliese talks you through how you can approach your feelings with curiosity and intentional steps, making it easier to process them in a healthy, constructive way.
You’ll Hear About:
How to process feelings as an action step – Get to the root message behind your emotions instead of reacting or shutting them down.
Noticing your personal experience with emotions – What makes it hard to fully hear what your feelings are telling you? Learn to trust that there’s more information beneath the surface by asking Why? or What? questions instead of rushing to conclusions.
Approaching emotions with curiosity – If your emotions were the expert, how would you listen to them differently? Notice any obstacles (impatience, defensiveness, avoidance) and remind yourself that feeling your emotions isn’t a threat—it’s information.
Your Free Coaching Call:
Curious how life coaching can help you make the changes you want in your normal? Bring your situation and your questions or desires to your own FREE 1-hour Discovery Chat with Annaliese at www.linktree.com/coachannaliese.
How to Practice Interviewing Your Feelings:
Name the feeling you’re in.
Ask it, “What are you showing me/telling me?” (Pause for 1-3 minutes to listen—resist the urge to analyze or evaluate yet.)
Identify 1-2 root reasons that stand out and start asking “Why?”
Why do I think that makes me angry?
What about that would make me angry?
No judging, just receiving. You’re simply gathering information about what you’re experiencing.
Your emotions hold valuable insight— Tune in to this episode to learn how to truly listen to them.

86 - How To Collect Joy

Annaliese and Alan share how to enjoy life more by shifting your focus from collecting negative evidence to intentionally collecting joy in your moments. Your brain won't naturally try to create more positive emotional experiences—it’s wired to keep life feeling familiar and safe. But true joy is what happens when you’re being fully yourself. Listen to learn how to train your brain to let go of negativity and gather more joy-filled moments instead.
You’ll Hear About:
Joy as Your Most Authentic Feeling – When was the last time you truly felt joy? What small ways could you bring more joy into your daily life?
Getting Out of Autopilot – If you feel blocked from joy, what’s your brain trying to protect you from? What thought could help you allow joy more often?
Joy in the Doing, Not Just the Outcome – Every time you act as your true self, you’re collecting joy. Small, authentic steps matter!
Your Free Coaching Call:
Experience coaching with Annaliese! Book your FREE 1-hour Discovery Chat at www.linktree.com/coachannaliese.
Ways to Collect More Joy:
Notice negative evidence, but don’t collect it—focus on joy instead.
Pour love into yourself, not just tasks.
Track joy moments in a journal, list, phone app, or Post-It notes, and keep them where you can see and revisit them. 
Start collecting joy today!

85 - The Comparison Trap

Annaliese and Alan piece apart why we compare ourselves to others, what we’re really seeking when we do it, and how to break free from the comparison trap to build a more fulfilling and grounded life. Annaliese unpacks how comparison often feels like it’ll help us get what we need—but instead leaves us feeling dissatisfied. The good news? You can shift that energy into investing in your own life in a way that truly supports you.
You’ll Hear About:
Comparing “up” vs. comparing “down” – How we measure ourselves against others in different ways and what it reveals about our deeper needs.
The energy drain of comparison – How you can redirect that mental energy back toward your own decisions, growth, and present experiences.
The illusion of comparison – How it distorts reality by making you focus on your own struggles while assuming others have it all together.
Tips to Build Satisfaction in Your Life:
Notice when you compare and turn that focus inward: What is it you truly want and need in this moment? How can you respond to that need with something you already have?
Ask yourself for advice first—reflect before looking outside for validation.
How to Compare Yourself Less:
Recognize how comparing pulls you away from your own life and self-worth, and practice leaning into your own strengths and resilience in times you question yourself.
Identify what you’re really seeking (confidence, validation, security) and meet that need with what you have.
Practice using comparison for inspiration and encouragement—not judgment.
Celebrate your own progress to strengthen confidence and fulfillment.
By shifting your focus back to your own growth, you’ll find greater satisfaction and stability—without needing to measure up to anyone else.
Your Free Coaching Call:
Want real support for personal growth? Experience your own personalized coaching session with Annaliese over Zoom or phone for free! No pressure or strings. Book your 1-hour Discovery Chat at www.linktree.com/coachannaliese.

84 - What You Think About Yourself

Annaliese and Alan explore how your thoughts and beliefs about yourself shape your choices, habits, and overall life experience. Annaliese shares why becoming aware of these internal beliefs is the first step to changing them for the better, which will change your life!
You’ll Hear About:
Your thoughts shape your life! What you believe about yourself directly influences your motivations, decisions, experiences, and how you show up in the world. Are you aware of the story about you running in your mind?
Your inner script is often hidden. The beliefs you hold about yourself can be hard to face, but once you recognize them, you gain the powerful information you need to rewrite them. Approaching this process with self-compassion and patience will help you practice this more daily.
Action strengthens belief. The more you act as if a new, healthier belief about yourself is true, the more that belief becomes real for you.
Your Free Coaching Call:
Get your own personalized coaching with Annaliese! Schedule your FREE 1-hour Discovery Chat at www.linktree.com/coachannaliese. You'll be able to talk about your issue or hope in a non-judgmental and creative space, and get some great tips on how to make change exactly where you are. 
Ways to Build Better Beliefs About Yourself:
Thinking different thoughts about yourself takes time, presence and daily practice. This isn’t about “arriving” somewhere—it’s about growing your relationship with you - building awareness of what you believe you’re worth, what you think you’re capable of, and what options you see for your life.
Notice and identify where you are. Pay attention to the thoughts and messages running through your mind. What do you tell yourself daily?
Be “with” yourself in a self-aware way. Spend time with your thoughts in an empowered, constructive way instead of getting stuck in negativity or avoidance.
Decide what new beliefs you want to build. Start small—picture how you want to feel about your worth, your capability, and your options in life, then take small, consistent steps to reinforce those beliefs.

83 - How To Spend Time Alone

In this episode, Annaliese and Alan dive into the discomfort of being alone with your thoughts and why learning to sit with yourself—without distraction—can help you feel more connected and present in your own life. Annaliese shares how constantly filling quiet moments with tasks or distractions can actually leave you feeling more disconnected and not enough. Instead, noticing and practicing presence with your thoughts, even when it feels uncomfortable, is a game-changer for your self-trust and purpose.
You’ll Hear About:
Owning when you avoid or distract yourself from feeling the discomfort of being present with your own thoughts—and how this helps you understand why you might feel disconnected from yourself or your life.
What makes stillness uncomfortable is that when you slow down, you start noticing negative or limiting beliefs about yourself and your life. But this discomfort isn’t bad—it’s actually showing you where you can begin thinking more supportive thoughts and handling yourself in better-feeling ways.
When you’re willing to notice what’s really going on underneath, you’ll experience feeling seen, understood, and supported by yourself.
Ways to Spend Time Alone:
Sit alone with yourself more regularly without multitasking. This helps you exercise the muscle of connecting with your own experience instead of dismissing it.
Realize you’re practicing being with yourself in a brand new way—so try different approaches! By treating yourself with more acceptance and support, you’re going to feel stronger because you’re choosing connection over avoidance.
Remember, you’re just trying to cultivate more calmness and normalcy as you do this. Picture holding any urgent thoughts in your hand rather than rushing to fix them. Your brain might feel messy, scattered, or harsh at first, but that’s okay. Let yourself write it down and experience the relief of not having to do anything about it right away. Simply being with yourself differently is already a win!
Your Free Coaching Call:
Experience coaching with Annaliese for yourself with no strings or pressure to buy anything. Book your FREE, 1-hour Discovery Chat at www.linktree.com/coachannaliese to gain insights and real strategies for the changes you're trying to make in your own life.

82 - How To Fail

Annaliese and Alan explore the hidden benefits of failure, how it affects us emotionally, and how to shift from seeing failure as defeat to using it as an opportunity to learn. Annaliese shares how to recognize the story failure is telling you, notice what you're believing about yourself, and how to practice perspective shifts that help you accept failure as a normal—and even valuable—part of life.
You’ll Hear About:
The hidden benefits of failure—how it helps you understand more about how life works, what’s important to you, and how you want to show up in the world.
How failure brings pain and discomfort and triggers deep emotions, making it important to see the messages you’re telling yourself about what failure means about you.
How recognizing your usual self-talk when you fail can help you see what you want to let go of that's not helpful, and what new, empowering message you can practice instead.
Ways to Fail Better:
Acknowledge honestly when you’ve experienced a failure, and let yourself feel that hurt and sadness fully. Don’t skip this part! What you need is comfort, validation, and self-compassion.
Practice a more self-compassionate response while you’re failing. Instead of letting your inner critic beat you up, remind yourself that you admire yourself for trying. You are capable of changing your mind, letting go, and learning how to do things in better ways as you go.
Failure is a normal part of life. You get to create a new message for yourself about failure. What are the messages about yourself that you usually believe when you fail? What would you like to let go of? What would you like to believe instead?
The most important thing in life isn’t avoiding discomfort. It’s about supporting yourself in what you need to keep learning what you care about and showing up more authentically as yourself.
Your Free Coaching Call:Experience coaching with Annaliese for yourself! Visit www.linktree.com/coachannaliese to schedule your own FREE, 1-hour Discovery Chat. Share your situation with Annaliese, and she’ll help you gain helpful insights and practical tools to make real changes in your life.

81 - Learning To Rest

Annaliese and Alan dive into the topic of rest—what it’s really for, why it can feel uncomfortable at first, and how to start practicing it in a way that actually works for you. Annaliese shares her personal journey of moving from a fast-paced, hustle mindset to learning how to slow down and truly recharge. Finding your own version of rest can change your perspective on life and help you better understand what you actually need.
You’ll Hear About:
Why rest can feel uncomfortable at first—and why that doesn’t mean you’re doing it wrong. Like anything new, rest takes time to feel natural. Give yourself grace as you practice.
Rest is about connection, not distraction. It’s not about zoning out—it’s about being present with yourself. Take a deep breath and allow yourself to experience stillness, even if it feels unfamiliar.
Approach rest with an experimenting mindset. Let go of expectations and just notice what feels restorative for you. It’s not about getting it “right,” it’s about learning what works.
Signs You Might Need More Rest:
Feeling scattered, frantic, or overly urgent
Struggling with over-productivity or too much or too little focus
Feeling irritable, emotionally raw, or disconnected
Ways to Practice Rest:
First, give yourself permission. Slow down and take a deep breath. Rest isn’t something you have to earn—it’s something you’re made to benefit from regularly.
Notice where and how rest could benefit you. Pay attention to the parts of your day where you feel the most drained, scattered, or overwhelmed. Those are your best starting points.
Choose a step of rest that feels right for you. Don’t get stuck in the idea that there’s a “right” way to rest. What refreshes you might look different from what works for someone else.
Let yourself experiment. Approach rest with curiosity instead of pressure. Try different ways of slowing down, being still, or creating quieter moments—then notice what actually helps you feel more relaxed and refreshed.
Ask yourself: Is my current pace serving me? Are you truly being more productive, or just staying busy? When you slow down, you create space for that clarity, focus, and a calmer, more grounded way of living that you want.
💬 Want personal support to practically build some more rest into your life? Schedule your own FREE, 1-hour Discovery Chat with Annaliese: www.linktree.com/coachannaliese.

80 - Building Confidence

In This Episode:Annaliese and Alan talk about what it actually takes to build confidence. Annaliese brings up how confidence is not about finally becoming the ideal version of yourself—it’s about taking small, consistent steps. Confidence isn’t something you achieve once and for all; it’s something you build by developing a trusting and capable sense of yourself in real life, one day at a time.
You’ll Hear About:
Confidence doesn’t mean perfection. It actually means being able to navigate life as your authentic self. Confidence feels like stability, trust, belief, and resilience—not pressure to be flawless. Does this change how you think about confidence?
Do you have a secret standard for when you “allow” yourself to feel confident? Are there times you don’t feel like you have a choice? Is there a version of yourself you think you “should” be or a performance goal you think you must hit first? Step one to real confidence is internal validation—choosing to believe in yourself as you are.
How do you interpret mistakes or failures? What meaning do they hold for you? Deciding on purpose what you want to think about setbacks—and defining what strength actually feels like—can help you build confidence that lasts. Protecting and nurturing your belief in yourself will help you navigate life’s natural highs and lows.
Simple Ways to Build Confidence:
Write your own definition of confidence. Be specific—what would you think, feel, and choose differently if you were confident?
Daily, take notice of where you’re at (thoughts, feelings) and what you need.
Decide what you want to believe about yourself. You have the authority to build beliefs and standards that truly serve you.
Remind yourself that you have a say in how you experience life. If you don’t feel confident, get curious—what hidden standard are you holding yourself to? Letting go of those unrealistic rules can help you build genuine confidence.
Your Free Coaching Call:Experience coaching with Annaliese for yourself! Click on www.linktree.com/coachannaliese to schedule your own FREE, 1-hour Discovery Chat and gain real strategies to begin to make the meaningful changes you want to see in your life.
Listen to the Core Values podcast episodes: Episodes 41 & 42

79 - Handling Self-Doubt

Annaliese and Alan explore how self-doubt affects the way we see ourselves and live our lives. They share practical, encouraging ways to handle doubt with self-compassion instead of guilt or wasted energy. Annaliese reminds us that self-doubt is a normal part of being human, but it doesn’t have to define us or block us from growth.
You’ll Hear About:
Self-doubt as a normal human experience. It’s part of reality to have limits, struggles, and weaknesses—and it’s freeing when you practice accepting these truths instead of resisting them.
What happens when self-doubt goes unchecked. If you don’t interrupt and handle it differently, self-doubt will keep running a “what I can’t do” script and block you from exploring better options. Remind yourself that even when self-doubt is fixating on your limits, you see other parts of you—like your strengths and capabilities—that are also true and available to you in the moment.
Reframing weaknesses as helpful. Practice seeing your weaknesses and struggles as normal and even useful to notice, and that having real limits doesn’t undermine your strengths or disqualify you. Adopting a “both/and” perspective helps you build resilience and self-acceptance.
Practical Ways to Handle Self-Doubt Better:
Notice your main area of self-doubt. Ask yourself why self-doubt might come up here and what might be making you avoid instead of engage. Explore whether you agree with that reaction and consider what you need to accept to grow resilience and confidence in this area. Ask, “What other options do I also have here?”
Practice a “both/and” perspective. Acknowledge your weaknesses, needs, and limits while also intentionally reminding yourself of your capabilities, possibilities, and strengths. This balance can shift your mindset into openness instead of feeling stuck.
Decide how you want to handle self-doubt moments. Look back at times when you’ve handled uncertainty well, and think about how you want to show up in moments that don’t go as planned. Focus on acting in ways you admire—this builds bravery and confidence.
Ready to get some practical help with your own changes? Schedule your FREE 1-hour Discovery Chat with Annaliese at www.linktree.com/coachannaliese. No strings attached for any future coaching, this call is for you to share your story, gain practical tips, and experience how coaching tips from Annaliese can help you start creating real change for your life.

78 - Feelings Tour Part 7: Emotional Maturity

In This Episode:Annaliese and Alan talk about how important even really difficult feelings are to our quality of life, and how learning to feel them , listen to them, and navigate them grows our emotional maturity. Annaliese brings up how building emotional maturity is what helps you have inner stability in what you go through in life by practicing tolerating discomfort, recognizing a bigger perspective in the highs and lows of life, and  letting that practice change how you’re handling it.  You’ll Hear About:
Emotional maturity lifts you up and grounds you. It helps you feel stable in low moments and more balanced in high ones. It’s about meeting your needs in a healthy, supportive way that you’re confident in, no matter what others think.
Creating space between you and your feelings. Strong emotions, like anger, can feel overwhelming, as if it will take over. Emotional maturity lets you pause and ask, “Why does this bother me? What did that person probably mean?” This pause and curiosity creates a healthy separation, showing you that you can respond thoughtfully instead of being controlled by the feeling.
Creating less emotional chaos. Avoiding your emotions can feel like managing a giant iceberg of chaos beneath the surface. Practicing emotional maturity is when you instead face your feelings, listen and learn from them, and act in support of what you need. Over time, this habit reduces the overwhelm and builds stability.
Your calm inspires others. Emotional maturity brings confidence and peace. Chaos and drama are contagious, and so is peace and calm. When you act more these calm, confident ways, others will also be invited to notice and respond more like this too, creating healthier, calmer interactions all the way around.
Your Free Coaching Call:-Experience coaching with Annaliese for yourself! Visit www.linktree.com/coachannaliese to schedule your FREE, 1-hour Discovery Chat. Share your story with Annaliese and she'll help you gain helpful tips to make real changes in your life.WHAT EMOTIONAL MATURITY FEELS LIKE:
Breathe and slow down. Simple, physical action is a key to building emotional maturity. Practice doing this daily and notice how it feels as you experience your day.
Pausing with purpose. When you notice emotional sensations starting in your body, step into that small gap between feeling and reacting. Take that micro-moment of awareness to remind yourself that you’re in control. Responding instead of reacting helps you handle your emotional energy wisely, helping you live with more confidence and resilience, and fewer regrets.
Shifting negative stories in your head. When uncomfortable feelings pull you into negative thoughts about you, remind yourself of the truth: You are wise, you’re the adult, and you can choose to act like your authentic self. Feel what it’s like to add this truth to what you’re experiencing.
Living from your core values. Focus more intentionally on what matters most to you and the qualities you want to be—like respectful, calm, or kind. Emotional maturity helps you act in ways that align with your values and still meet your own needs without judgement or sacrificing who you want to be.
 
WAYS TO PRACTICE EMOTIONAL MATURITY:
Emotions are here to help. Pause and listen to your emotions instead of reacting to them. Reacting isn’t the same as feeling. When a strong emotion shows up, choose to slow down and listen to the feeling until it begins to ease.
Knowing isn’t doing. Understanding emotional maturity doesn’t mean you’re acting maturely. Take a moment to breathe into an uncomfortable emotion, notice the story you’re telling yourself, and lead yourself to choose a wiser, more intentional response.
Pause when you’re unsettled. If you don’t feel calm or steady, resist rushing to judgment or being overly critical. Practice curiosity with yourself, slow down, and allow yourself to feel the emotion while noticing the story behind it.
If you've felt like you want to live more intentionally, but honestly wouldn't know where to start, I hope you'll take this invitation to listen in - emotional maturity is a huge stepping stone to being who you want to be!