The Honor You Podcast | Practical Tools for High Performance in Life, Careers, & Relationships Without Self-Abandonment

Listener Favorite: Outsourcing Your Life Leads To An Unrecognizable You

Episode Description
As we close out the year, I’m bringing back one of the most-listened-to episodes of The Honor You Podcast, one that feels especially resonant in this end-of-year, in-between space.
Are you living a life that feels like it’s not entirely yours?Have you ever wondered how you got here and who you really are beneath all the expectations?
In this episode, I dive into the idea of “outsourcing your life,”and how, little by little, it can lead you away from your authentic self. I explore how external pressures from parents, society, work, and even technology can quietly shape our choices without us realizing it.
I share personal stories from my own career transition, coaching sessions, and everyday conversations that reveal how disconnection often happens slowly… and unintentionally.
This episode is an invitation to pause, reflect, and begin insourcing your life again, especially as the year comes to a close and the urge to evaluate, reset, or reinvent starts to surface.
You’ll learn how to:
Reconnect with yourself and honor your soul’s desires
Notice emotions as valuable information, not obstacles
Take aligned action, even when your mind resists change
Use natural seasons (winter included) as guides,without pressure or expectation
Whether this is your first listen or a return to a listener favorite, I invite you to notice what lands now, at this point in your life.
Resources Mentioned in This Episode:
Take my Quiz: Where Are You Abandoning Yourself? and receive a free 7-day targeted action plan to get started
My free 3-part “Introduction to Honoring Yourself” email series - get it here
In This Episode, We Talk About:
How outsourcing your choices can lead to feeling unrecognizable
Why our 30s and 40s often bring deep identity questions
Stories from my corporate transition and coaching work
Emotions as an access point to your soul
Practical tools for insourcing: listening, feeling, and taking action
How the mind reacts to change, and how to work with that resistance
Honoring natural cycles (spring, summer, fall, winter) without forcing growth
Reclaiming agency in career, relationships, and life choices
STAY CONNECTED
Instagram: @melissa_coloton
Facebook: Melissa Coloton
TikTok: @melissacoloton
LinkedIn: Melissa Coloton, Coach
Website: melissacoloton.com
Podcast: The Honor You Podcast
YouTube: The Melissa Coloton Show
 
ABOUT THE HONOR YOU PODCASTHosted by Melissa Coloton, The Honor You Podcast invites you to pause, reflect, and embrace practices that let you honor your true self. Each week Melissa shares conversations and insights to help you reconnect with yourself and finally become the person you were meant to be. If you’re looking for insightful stories, practical strategies, and inspiration to honor yourself and live authentically, this podcast is your guide.
Don’t forget to subscribe for more conversations about purpose, fulfillment, and self-honor.

What's the Best Way to Deal with Emotions in "Polite Society"?

On this week’s episode of The Honor You Podcast, Melissa is talking about emotions, the big, uncomfortable ones we often feel but are taught to manage quietly. Inspired by a real conversation with a group of women, this episode explores what happens when you start honoring yourself and suddenly feel more emotional, more reactive, or even a little childlike. 
Melissa shares why this is not a problem, but a natural part of reconnecting with yourself after years of pushing feelings down. She walks through why suppressing emotions does not work, why letting them come out sideways can create more damage, and how to create space for emotional release in a way that feels supportive rather than destructive. 
This conversation offers an honest, compassionate look at how to care for your emotions while still showing up in relationships, work, and everyday life.
This Episode Is For
High-performing women who feel emotionally overwhelmed but don’t feel “allowed” to show it
Anyone learning how to set boundaries without guilt, shame, or emotional blowups
Listeners who want to honor their full emotional experience while still functioning in everyday life
Show Notes and Resources
Take the Quiz: Where Are You Abandoning Yourself?
The Honor You Lab – join the priority waitlist for my next cohort
My Free 3-part “Introduction to Honoring Yourself” email series - get it here
Jessica Graham's Your Stories In Action free monthly online event for growth-minded professionals, leaders, business owners, expats, and shift-seekers
In This Episode, We Talk About
How to honor your emotions without letting them come out sideways
Why your feelings are actually your soul speaking to you
Practical strategies to recognize, respect, and respond to emotions
How to set boundaries and care for yourself in polite society
Why reconnecting with your inner child is part of living authentically
 
STAY CONNECTED
Instagram: @melissa_coloton
Facebook: Melissa Coloton
TikTok: @melissacoloton
LinkedIn: Melissa Coloton, Coach
Website: melissacoloton.com
YouTube: The Melissa Coloton Show
About the Podcast:
Hosted by Melissa Coloton, former corporate executive turned private advisor, The Honor You Podcast is a space for high-performing individuals who want to live and lead in alignment. Each episode explores what it truly means to honor yourself, emotionally, mentally, physically, and spiritually, so you can create success on your own terms.

Are You Stuck on the Wrong Path?

In this week’s episode of The Honor You Podcast, Melissa dives into the uncomfortable but necessary question, Am I on the wrong path in life? She recounts her own journey through years of taking jobs solely for the paycheck, ignoring the inner knowing that something wasn’t right. When anxiety and physical symptoms finally forced her to pay attention, she realized she was living out of alignment with her soul and something had to change.
Melissa invites listeners to reflect on their own journeys, especially those who have built lives, careers, or identities that look “successful” on the outside but feel disconnected on the inside. She also shares practical insight on recognizing your soul’s desires, how emotions serve as internal guidance, and why nothing in life, even painful chapters, is ever truly wasted. This episode offers both compassion and clarity for anyone feeling stuck, misaligned, or afraid to admit they want more out of life.
This Episode Is For
People who:
Have achieved stability or success but still feel unsatisfied or disconnected
Sense that they are moving in the wrong direction even if everything looks fine from the outside
Are considering a shift but feel nervous about letting go of what feels safe
Want to reconnect with clarity, self-awareness, and a direction that feels more honest and grounded
Show Notes and Resources
Take the Quiz: Where Are You Abandoning Yourself?
The Honor You Lab – join the priority waitlist for my next cohort
My Free 3-part “Introduction to Honoring Yourself” email series - get it here
In This Episode, We Talk About
Why traditional markers of success such as money, titles, and stability do not always create fulfillment
How to start recognizing when following a path does not align with your soul or inner truth
How physical symptoms and anxiety may be indicators you are on the wrong path
Emotional signals like restlessness, detachment, and an inner sense that something is missing
The difference between living from the mind or ego and living from your soul 
Why fulfillment is a process of continually checking in with yourself, not a final destination
 
STAY CONNECTED
Instagram: @melissa_coloton
Facebook: Melissa Coloton
TikTok: @melissacoloton
LinkedIn: Melissa Coloton, Coach
Website: melissacoloton.com
YouTube: The Melissa Coloton Show
About the Podcast:
The Honor You Podcast with Melissa Coloton will help you discover your path to personal growth, self-discovery, and living a soul-filled, purpose-filled life. Each episode dives into topics like finding your life purpose, building a growth mindset, navigating career and life transitions, and creating habits that support meaningful change. Through honest stories, actionable insights, and thoughtful reflections, listeners gain practical advice to live a more purposeful and balanced life. Perfect for anyone seeking personal development, career or life transitions, or inspiration to make positive changes, this podcast provides guidance, encouragement, and clarity for those ready to embrace growth and live intentionally.

Steps to Navigating Your Personal Purpose Journey

Episode Description
In this episode, Melissa discusses how we are overcomplicating the idea of “finding our purpose.” She breaks down why so many of us get stuck, whether we’re in the camp that desperately wants to live a purposeful life or the camp that feels like purpose is some unrealistic luxury.
Melissa explores the generational shift happening right now, how old expectations collide with new freedoms, and why so many people feel torn between wanting a meaningful life and feeling like they don’t have permission to pursue it. She talks about the real reasons people end up confused, bitter, or frozen, and provides actionable steps if you’ve spent years saying, “I don’t know what I want.”
You’ll hear her simple definition of purpose (and why it’s way simpler than you think), along with the three steps she believes are essential for a purposeful life. Melissa also shares a personal example that shows what it looks like to follow the small stirrings of your soul..
This episode is an invitation to take the pressure off, reconnect with yourself, and remember that purpose isn’t a job title, it’s listening to and honoring what your soul wants, one action at a time.
Who This Episode Is For
This episode is for:
Anyone who feels a quiet tug toward something they haven’t acted on yet
People who worry they’ll look back someday wishing they’d done things differently
High achievers who follow expectations but feel disconnected from what they actually want
Anyone afraid of disappointing others or being judged for honoring themselves
Those curious about what their soul is nudging them toward, what’s getting in the way, and how to move forward
Additional Free Resources:
The Honor You Lab – join the waitlist to access the next cohort
Quiz: Where Are You Abandoning Yourself?
My Free 3-part “Introduction to Honoring Yourself” email series - get it here
In This Episode, We Talk About
Different reasons people may get stuck in “finding” their purpose
How to notice what truly matters to you
Ways to take meaningful action in your life
How to reflect, learn, and adjust as you go
STAY CONNECTED
Instagram: @melissa_coloton
Facebook: Melissa Coloton
TikTok: @melissacoloton
LinkedIn: Melissa Coloton, Coach
Website: melissacoloton.com
YouTube: The Melissa Coloton Show
About the Podcast:The Honor You Podcast is all about helping you live your purpose with intention, honor your own path, and create a life that feels meaningful. Melissa Coloton shares honest conversations, practical insights, and thoughtful reflections to guide you in listening to yourself, taking action, and growing along the way.

Are You Living on the Verge of Regret? 5 Questions to Ask Yourself to Avoid Regret

In this episode of The Honor You Podcast, Melissa invites you into an honest conversation about a question many people don’t face until it’s too late: Are you living on the verge of regret? Melissa explores how regret often comes not from what we tried and didn’t get right, but from the dreams, desires, and callings we didn’t give ourselves permission to pursue.
Melissa breaks down why we silence our inner voice, how fear disguises itself as practicality or responsibility, and what it really means to honor your soul’s desires. You’ll be guided to look at the parts of your life where you’ve been holding back, the quiet nudges you’ve been ignoring, and the possibilities waiting on the other side of courage.
This episode is an invitation to pause, reflect, and choose a path that your future self will thank you for.
Mentioned in this episode:
Quiz: Where Are You Abandoning Yourself?
Previous Honor You episode about cycles and seasons
Who This Episode Is For
This episode is for you if:
You’ve been feeling a nudge to change something but keep talking yourself out of it
You sense there’s more for you, but you’re unsure where to start
You’re tired of living by others’ expectations and want to reconnect with your own
You’ve been sitting on a dream, desire, or idea for far too long
You want practical, compassionate guidance on living more intentionally and with fewer future regrets
Additional Free Resources:
The Honor You Lab – join the waitlist to access the next cohort
My Free 3-part “Introduction to Honoring Yourself” email series - get it here
In This Episode, We Talk About
Why regret often comes from inaction, not failure
How to recognize the difference between fear and intuition
What it means to honor your soul’s desires (and why that definition of purpose matters)
Why discomfort is part of any meaningful change
How to shift from living by default to living by intentional choice
A simple next step you can take today to move closer to what you truly want
STAY CONNECTED
Instagram: @melissa_coloton
Facebook: Melissa Coloton
TikTok: @melissacoloton
LinkedIn: Melissa Coloton, Coach
Website: melissacoloton.com
YouTube: The Melissa Coloton Show
About the Podcast:The Honor You Podcast explores what it means to live in alignment with your purpose, values, and truth. Through honest conversations and practical reflections, host Melissa Coloton invites you to honor who you are right now, and create space for your own becoming.

5 Ways To Honor Yourself Without Guilt or Shame

In this week’s episode of The Honor You Podcast, Melissa breaks down one of the biggest barriers to living a life aligned with your true desires: the shame and guilt that show up when you try to honor yourself. 
Melissa explores the five practical, actionable ways to honor yourself without abandoning your responsibilities—and without abandoning yourself. You will learn how communication, asking for help, getting clear on your needs, sharing on your own terms, and offering yourself genuine inner permission create the foundation for authenticity, self-trust, and purpose.
She also discusses why so many people reach their 30s and beyond feeling disconnected from who they are, how people-pleasing and over-functioning slowly erode self-alignment, and why honoring your soul’s desires is the key to living a life that actually feels like your own.
If you are craving more alignment, more clarity, and more confidence in what you want, be sure to take Melissa’s free quiz, which helps you identify where you may be abandoning yourself and provides seven days of guided next steps.
Quiz: Where Are You Abandoning Yourself?
Who This Episode is For:
If you have ever felt selfish for wanting time alone, guilty for having your own needs, or overwhelmed by responsibilities that seem to crowd out who you really are, this conversation will feel grounding and clarifying.
Additional Free Resources:
The Honor You Lab – join the waitlist to access the next cohort
My Free 3-part “Introduction to Honoring Yourself” email series - get it here
In This Episode, We Talk About:
Why shame and guilt show up when you try to take care of yourself
How responsibilities, expectations, and “I can’t just…” thinking block authenticity
The top five strategies to honor yourself without guilt
What happens when you stop communicating your needs
How inner permission supports your soul’s desires and reduces mental resistance
Why honoring yourself is the access point to purpose and alignment
STAY CONNECTED
Instagram: @melissa_coloton
Facebook: Melissa Coloton
TikTok: @melissacoloton
LinkedIn: Melissa Coloton, Coach
Website: melissacoloton.com
YouTube: The Melissa Coloton Show
About the Podcast:The Honor You Podcast explores what it means to live in alignment with your purpose, values, and truth. Through honest conversations and practical reflections, host Melissa Coloton invites you to honor who you are right now, and create space for your own becoming.

Using the seasons as a guide to life: how to get unstuck, deal with triggers, and live life peacefully with Dr. Adam Gries and Laura Gries

In this week’s episode of The Honor You Podcast, Melissa sits down with Adam and Laura Gries for a powerful and perspective-shifting conversation about using the seasons as a guide to life.
Drawing on Chinese medicine and Taoist philosophy, Adam and Laura share how the natural rhythms of birth, growth, maturity, decay, and renewal can become a framework for navigating both the calm and chaotic moments of our lives. Together, they explore what it means to honor the season you’re in, whether you’re in a period of rest, rebuilding, or full bloom, and how resisting change often leads to the feeling of being “stuck.”
This conversation unpacks how to release attachment to outcomes, let go of what no longer serves you, and reconnect with your inner rhythm so you can move through transitions with more grace and clarity.
 
Who This Episode is For:This episode is anyone who feels stuck, out of sync, or disconnected from themselves. If you’ve been pushing through life, clinging to what’s working (or avoiding what isn’t), this episode offers a grounding reminder that you are part of a larger cycle, and that every season has a purpose.
 
Resources Mentioned in This Episode:
I Choose You by Adam Gris
Awakenings Online Program by Adam and Laura Gris
Dr. & Laura Gries’s website
The Awakenings Program
Magic Seed Podcast 
Grief Coma episode mentioned
The Honor You Lab coaching program
The Honor You Lab – join the waitlist to access the next cohort
Marianne Williamson’s book Divine Compensation
 
Additional Free Resources:
My NEW Quiz: Where Are You Abandoning Yourself?
My Free 3-part “Introduction to Honoring Yourself” email series - get it here
 
In This Episode, We Talk About:
How the natural order of life mirrors our emotional and personal growth
Why we get “stuck” and how to move through it with awareness
The difference between goals and purpose—and why confusing them creates frustration
How to work with, not against, life’s seasons of stillness and change
The importance of letting go continuously to make space for what’s next
 
STAY CONNECTED
Instagram: @melissa_coloton
Facebook: Melissa Coloton
TikTok: @melissacoloton
LinkedIn: Melissa Coloton, Coach
Website: melissacoloton.com
YouTube: The Melissa Coloton Show
About the Podcast:The Honor You Podcast explores what it means to live in alignment with your purpose, values, and truth. Through honest conversations and practical reflections, host Melissa Coloton invites you to honor who you are right now, and create space for your own becoming.
 

Why Purpose is Important: 7 Main Functions of Purpose That Nobody's Talking About

In this week’s episode of The Honor You Podcast, Melissa dives deep into the true meaning of purpose and why it’s essential for living an aligned, fulfilling life. She introduces her brand-new quiz designed to help you discover where in your life you may be most out of alignment and shares practical steps to take action once you know. Melissa explores the seven key functions of purpose, from creating focus and urgency to allowing pivoting, growth, and alignment with your soul’s desires. She shares personal stories and real-life examples, offering a roadmap to clarity, self-honor, and living your fullest, most purposeful life.
This episode is perfect for anyone who has ever asked themselves, “What’s my purpose?”, whether you’re feeling stuck in your career, navigating life transitions, or simply looking for more alignment and fulfillment. Entrepreneurs, overachievers, parents, and soul seekers, this episode will empower and inspire you.
 
Resources Mentioned in This Episode:
My NEW Quiz: Where Are You Abandoning Yourself?
The Honor You Lab – join the waitlist to access the next cohort
My Free 3-part “Introduction to Honoring Yourself” email series - get it here
Previous Episode Referenced:
How To Honor Yourself As A Mother
In This Episode, We Talk About:
How purpose creates focus, urgency, and reduces distractions
The flexibility and permission purpose gives you to pivot in life
How purpose frees you from shame and guilt while honoring yourself
Unlocking your true potential and becoming different versions of yourself over time
Staying open to life’s possibilities and messages from the universe
Breaking old behaviors and patterns by living with soul-aligned purpose
 
STAY CONNECTED
Instagram: @melissa_coloton
Facebook: Melissa Coloton
TikTok: @melissacoloton
LinkedIn: Melissa Coloton, Coach
Website: melissacoloton.com
YouTube: The Melissa Coloton Show
About the Podcast:The Honor You Podcast is dedicated to helping listeners live in alignment with their authentic selves. Each episode blends insights on purpose, self-honor, and personal growth to help you stop churning through life and start living intentionally. Past guests and content provide actionable guidance for anyone ready to step into their soul’s desires and full potential.

The Most Underrated Key to Happiness

Episode Description
Is happiness something that just happens when everything falls into place, or is it something you can actually build from within?
In this week’s episode of The Honor You Podcast, Melissa Coloton shares what she believes is one of the most underrated keys to happiness: how you talk to yourself.
She explores the subtle but powerful difference between listening to your mind and speaking to it, noticing when the mind’s chatter is rooted in fear, judgment, or old programming, and learning how to consciously shift that inner dialogue toward self-respect and compassion.
Drawing from her own experiences, coaching conversations, and real-life moments of frustration and growth, Melissa explains how your emotions act as messengers from your soul, showing you where you’re out of alignment and what your deeper truth is asking for. She reminds us that happiness isn’t about perfection or constant positivity, but about choosing presence and kindness toward yourself, especially when life feels messy or uncertain.
This episode is both a grounding and empowering invitation to recognize that happiness doesn’t come from external circumstances, but from how you relate to yourself through them.
Resources Mentioned in This Episode:
The Honor You Lab – join the waitlist to access the next cohort
My Free 3-part “Introduction to Honoring Yourself” email series - get it here
In This Episode, I Share:
Why learning to talk to yourself instead of just listening to your mind can shift your whole experience of happiness
How to notice when your thoughts are rooted in fear, habit, or comparison, and how to redirect them
What your emotions are really trying to tell you (and why you shouldn’t judge them)
Why happiness often comes from acceptance, not achievement or external praise 
Practical ways to create more inner calm, clarity, and compassion in everyday life
STAY CONNECTED
Instagram: @melissa_coloton
Facebook: Melissa Coloton
TikTok: @melissacoloton
LinkedIn: Melissa Coloton, Coach
Website: melissacoloton.com
YouTube: The Melissa Coloton Show
About The Honor You Podcast
Hosted by Melissa Coloton, The Honor You Podcast invites you to pause, reflect, and reconnect with your true self. Through honest conversations and soulful insights, Melissa helps you honor your emotions, realign with your purpose, and live from a place of authenticity. If you’re ready to release old narratives and start creating a life that feels like your own, this podcast is your guide.

How To Know If It's Your Mind or Your Soul Speaking

Episode Description 
Do you ever feel torn between what your mind thinks you should do and what your soul is trying to tell you? 
In this episode of The Honor You Podcast, Melissa Coloton explains how to listen to your soul and how that can guide you toward choices that feel authentic and aligned, rather than relying on the logic or “safety” the brain can present. Melissa shares how to pause, pay attention to emotional cues, and experiment with small steps that reveal what’s truly aligned for you.
Drawing from her own life, coaching sessions, and everyday experiences, Melissa shares how to test ideas in real life  and pay attention to how your soul responds. She explains how to notice the difference between fear, habit, or external pressure and the guidance coming from your soul. She uses the seasons to illustrate the natural rhythm of trying, growing, releasing, and reflecting, emphasizing the importance of noticing what comes up in each season without judgment can guide your next steps.
Whether you’re navigating career decisions, personal relationships, creative projects, or simply feeling stuck, this episode gives actionable guidance for understanding your inner signals, trusting your emotional responses, and taking steps that feel aligned rather than forced. Melissa emphasizes that your soul isn’t quiet or mysterious, it communicates through feelings you can notice, track, and use to make decisions that support your growth, clarity, and fulfillment.
By the end of this episode, you’ll have practical strategies to differentiate between the chatter of your mind and the guidance of your soul, helping you honor yourself, act with confidence, and live in alignment with your true desires.
Resources Mentioned in This Episode:
The Honor You Lab – join the waitlist to access the next cohort
My Free 3-part “Introduction to Honoring Yourself” email series - get it here
In This Episode, Melissa shares:
How to tell whether a feeling or thought is coming from your mind or your soul
Why your emotions are the language of your soul and how to pay attention to them
Distinguishing fear, habit, and external pressure from true inner guidance
Testing ideas in real life and noticing how your body and emotions respond
Using the metaphor of seasons to understand the natural rhythm of trying, growing, releasing, and reflecting
Practicing awareness and noticing without judgment as a way to honor yourself
STAY CONNECTED
Instagram: @melissa_coloton
Facebook: Melissa Coloton
TikTok: @melissacoloton
LinkedIn: Melissa Coloton, Coach
Website: melissacoloton.com
YouTube: The Melissa Coloton Show
ABOUT THE HONOR YOU PODCASTHosted by Melissa Coloton, The Honor You Podcast invites you to pause, reflect, and embrace practices that let you honor your true self. Each week Melissa shares conversations and insights to help you reconnect with yourself and finally become the person you were meant to be. If you’re looking for insightful stories, practical strategies, and inspiration to honor yourself and live authentically, this podcast is your guide.