Clarity On Fire

Do you ever feel a little bit crazy? Like you’re alone in a crowd of people who don’t FEEL things as deeply as you do? Maybe sometimes you find yourself wondering, “Am I broken? Why is life so much easier for these people?” If so, you’re likely a Highly Sensitive Person. Being highly sensitive is an awesome gift. It means you’re probably extra creative, intuitive, and capable of being deeply moved by the small things in life. But here’s the problem—we don’t live in a world that places a high value on those things. So what do we do when the world wants to tell us we’re broken? That the very traits that make us awesome are also what people believe need fixing? On this episode we talk about: How to tell if you’re a Highly Sensitive Person (we run through a list of attributes and give you guidance on where to take a self-assessment) Why the most highly sensitive people are always the most genius artists and creatives, too Why HSPs are VERY likely to get diagnosed with anxiety, depression, and other disorders How

You know how it goes … you see someone’s incredible vacation photos on social media, while you watch the rain pour down outside your tiny office window (or, worse, as you stare at the windowless grey walls of your cube). Or you hear about an old friend who just got an amazing promotion at a company you’d kill to work at. Or your coworker gushes about how sweet her husband was for surprising her with concert tickets for their one-year anniversary, while you haven’t even been on a date in months. The envy starts to creep in, and you’re left feeling annoyed, resentful, deflated, or just plain sad. The worst part of jealousy is the self-judgment and shame that often comes along with it. Many of my clients, after embarrassedly sharing a situation where they felt envious, will say things like, “I have to plaster on a smile and fake excitement, even though I feel like the jealousy is strangling me. What’s wrong with me? Why can’t I just be happy for that person??” I’m guilty of this, too — both feeling jealous and

When Kyle Ramsvig was a teenager she found out that nearly all of the girls in the senior class of her small, private high school were either in therapy or on anti-depressants—all of them had thought they were broken, but none of them were talking about it with each other because they were ashamed. In this inaugural interview with a “normal person,” Rachel talks to Kyle (one of her clients) about why we’re so afraid of our feelings and how to live a happy, fulfilled life in a world that often makes us feel wrong for being human. We talked about: Why millennials being told that they’re “special” may have backfired How almost everything you feel is normal, and why none of it makes you a freak How you can experience all that life has to offer—the high-highs, low-lows, and the vast amounts of mediocrity in between—and be happier than you’ve ever been Why so many of us pour ourselves into trying to find an identity through our careers, why that never works, and what actually DOES work instead How to be content wi

Welcome to the inaugural episode of Dear Krachel, a monthly advice segment where we answer audience questions about life, career, relationships, and anything that helps you become a more whole, fulfilled version of yourself. On this episode we’re answering questions from: Jen, who wants to find a mentor in a field where women (and particularly women of color) are scarce. Matt, who’s taking the road less traveled and is wondering how to find life satisfaction outside of a career. Eryn, who’s questioning how important “career direction” really is, and why there’s so much pressure to be a “girl boss.” Saska, who’s been through a whirlwind year of loss and upheaval in her life, and want’s to know why we’re all so obsessed with “change for the sake of change.” Want to submit a question for our May episode of Dear Krachel? Fill out this form and you might hear us tackle your Q: http://clarityonfire.com/podcast-questions/ FREE WORKSHOP ON 4/27/18 If you enjoy any of our current episodes and decide to subscribe, ra

Making friends in college was easy. How could you NOT, when you’re in a bubble with people your own age that you have so much in common with? But eventually that bubble bursts. We enter the “real world” and find that it’s HARD to make authentic, genuine connections as an adult. We live in a world that’s as connected as we’ve ever been, while simultaneously feeling as lonely and DISCONNECTED as we’ve ever felt. Neither of us are great at making friends (introvert problems), so for our inaugural interview with an expert we brought on one of our favorite extroverts and certified coaches, Carolyn Birsky, to help us get to the root of how to find your tribe—be they friends, colleagues, or ANYONE we want to build a meaningful, fulfilling relationship with. On this episode we talk about: Why letting your guard down and being vulnerable is the prerequisite to finding your tribe How to ask someone on a “friend date” How to stay connected with friends when you start to drift apart When to “break up” with a friend, and

Women didn’t have the right to vote in America until 1920. We couldn’t apply for a credit card on our own, without the permission of a father or husband, until 1974. And in 2018, we’re STILL waiting for a guarantee of equal pay. We’ve come a long way, but there’s a lot further to go. When women entered the workforce en masse in the first half of the 20th century, the system had already been built in a way that suits people who are masculine—but not necessarily people who are wired in a feminine way. And having to fit into that system is taking a HUGE toll on us. It’s a quiet way that we’re still struggling for equality, and it’s about time we started talking about it. On this episode we talk about: Why “equality” doesn’t mean having to become masculine in order to succeed in your career What “masculine” and “feminine” actually mean (we guarantee you’ve got some misconceptions on this one) Why you might be struggling with burn-out, fatigue, and overwhelm How to go after freedom and flexibility, even if you fe

I believe that every person is actually two people: The person you really are (deep down, on the inside, where you think no one can see). And the person you think you should be in order to be liked, loved, and accepted. Glennon Doyle (who wrote one of my favorite books of 2016, and maybe my favorite memoir ever, “Love Warrior”) calls that second person “the representative.” Your representative is a version of you that’s sent into the world in your place. It’s a blander, less authentic person who stands in for you when it doesn’t feel safe to expose the REAL you. Your representative is the one who … Plasters on a fake smile, when you’d rather be anywhere else than the meeting you’re sitting in. Doesn’t speak up, even when you’ve got an opinion, for fear of being judged. Knows exactly what to say to keep being liked and praised. Keeps you jumping through hoops, constantly trying to prove your worth. Has a bunch of acquaintances, but very few real connections. Most of us have been sending out representatives f

Welcome to Clarity on Fire, a podcast for people who know what they DON’T want out of their life and career, but aren’t sure what they’d RATHER be doing. In this inaugural episode you’ll meet us, Kristen and Rachel (two best friends from college and certified life coaches), and get a taste of what we’re here to do. Namely, help you cut through the information overload, get unstuck, and focus not JUST on how you can have a career you’re passionate about, but how to create a whole LIFE that feels fulfilling.  New episodes will drop twice a week. On Tuesdays you’ll get quick 7-10 minute audio editions of our weekly blog, and on Fridays you’ll get a rotating array of interviews with experts, fireside chats with the two of us, interviews with normal people (because the wisdom of 95% of humanity is way underrated), and a listener advice column called Dear Krachel (don’t you have a celebrity couple nickname with your BFF? No? Just us?). In a world where it’s easy to exist but hard to feel alive, we want you to exper