This week I decided to check in with my daughter Andre-A. I think she is excellent, but the real reason I invited her to join is that we are moving from IDENTITY to DECISION-MAKING. Andre -A is preparing to graduate from college after three years. I figure all the years of fatherly advice were still pretty fresh and I wanted to see if any of my daddy-splaining had made a difference. Was I right in other words? Did the information I shared with her work?

I DECIDE. Knowing and doing are two separate acts. Even if you have a good grasp of your gifts, are you putting in the necessary work to pursue your dreams? Will you be able to overcome whatever obstacles keep you from deciding to follow your IDEAL path? To be honest, some people choose not to live their IDEAL lives. They choose the traditional path. They choose the path that gets them the most money or the most prestige. The IDEAL process is not about fame, fortune, or convenience. It is about deciding to maximize the gifts and talents you have been given and living a life with very few regrets. Our life is about the choices we make, and no self-help book or process is going to get you to any place, except for the place that you choose to go. Your determination, your hard work, and a little wisdom will carry you far in life. You have to decide.

Show Notes

01:05 Introducing Andre-A Guyton this week’s guest host

02:20 Andre-A weighs in on the racial identity discussion

06:00 Is there classism in college?

07:33 Black is back in vogue because of Black Panther

09:04 How do you decide the path you will follow?

10:24 Calculus changed the course of my life

11:25 Write down your gifts to help you decide your path

13:00 Andre-A has been keeping secrets from her dad L

14:18 Ladies and Gentlemen, she wants to be the next Shonda Rhimes

15:24 Our direct message to Shonda Rhimes if she is listening

16:30 The clue bird meet Andre-A in class, and she catches it

17:29 Bye Felicia (D. Henderson)

19:35 College helps with the decision process

20:20 Wisdom from my daughter, “You don’t have to get it right the first time.”

About this podcast and finding YOUR IDEAL life

To reach our goals, we have had to learn how to wade through all of our life experiences, all of the bits and pieces of wisdom that we have and figure out the best path for our individual lives. Avoid the pitfalls that lead to teen and young adult depression, anxiety, and general hopelessness about the future. You have extraordinary power in determining how the current circumstances of life will impact your future.

The path to your IDEAL life involves answering five questions:

• Who am I?
• Where do I want to go in life?
• How do I stay relevant in an ever-changing world?
• How can I stay sharp and honed in on my IDEAL path?
• How do I release the baggage of my past and continue to move forward in life?

Using those five questions, I have developed the IDEAL framework for helping people just like you to discover your calling in life. These will help you develop your healthy identity in our cluttered and dynamic world.

1. I AM
2. I DECIDE
3. I EVOLVE
4. I ADVANCE
5. I LET GO

If you ever find yourself in crisis, help is available: Mental Health Information

Remember you can take the STEP OUT! PODCAST with you.

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Intro and Outro Music: https://www.bensound.com/royalty-free-music