31 - Embracing All Of Ourselves - The Good, The Bad, The Beautiful and The Shameful with Michelle garside
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Description
“On the other side of raw, authentic honesty and vulnerability is joy.” - Michelle Garside
In a world that’s always pushing us to do more and be more, it has become increasingly difficult to foster real connections with people who embrace who we truly are. But the truth is, joy and fulfillment don’t come from just ticking off achievements. They come from the people we share life with and the spaces where we feel safe to be ourselves.
When we stop pretending, real belonging starts. Sitting with the tough stuff, being open about what we’re going through, doesn’t just help us grow. It gives other people permission to show up fully. That’s why community and authenticity matter so much right now.
Today, I’m excited to be joined by my friend and the creator of Soul Camp, Michelle Garside. Michelle is passionate about creating spaces where we can show up as our full selves, without fear of being judged, because she’s seen that when we have that, it changes everything. It brings us together, reminds us we’re not alone, and gives us the kind of support that makes deep healing possible.
In this conversation, Michelle and I talk about the multifaceted nature of joy, the importance of embracing all aspects of yourself, recognizing the value of the darker parts of your life experience, the role of community in healing, navigating the awkwardness of making friends as adults, learning to embrace your true self, and more.
Let's pull joy in together!
ABOUT MICHELLE GARSIDE
Michelle Garside is a strategist, speaker, and the co-founder of Soul Camp—the transformative adult sleepaway camp for the soul—as well as the founder of the Connecticut Women’s Club. She has spoken on stages at NYU, Fairfield University, the Milken Institute, and Lincoln Center.
Her forthcoming book, NOT AWAKENED, is both a reckoning and a promise: when we embrace every part of ourselves—the messy, the broken, the shameful, the spiteful—we unlock the ability to fully experience our own worth and live the life we once believed was out of reach.
HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE EPISODE
Why embracing all aspects of yourwself is key to living authentically and joyfully
Michelle’s childhood love for acting and what brings her joy today
The power of community in navigating both dark and light times in life
The personal growth and joy that can come out of being honest and vulnerable
How you can cultivate community and find friends as an adult
The beauty of being present in silence and embracing authenticity in social interactions
Letting go of the pressure to entertain and be responsible for other people’s joy
Michelle’s journey of accepting her emotional complexity
Why we need to accept ongoing themes in our lives instead of trying to “fix” them
Michelle’s lifelong theme of belonging and creating spaces for others to feel included
Redefining belonging as authenticity rather than conformity
Modeling authentic behavior for your children
Why Michelle created Soul Camp and its mission
How Soul Camp has evolved into a community for building deeper connections
Reconnecting with joy in our busy adult lives
What you will experience at Soul Camp
CONNECT WITH MICHELLE GARSIDE
Michelle Garside’s Website | MichelleGarside.com
Michelle Garside on Instagram @themichellegarside
Learn more and register for Soul Camp
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