A conversation with Jessica Harrington, MPH, a stress less health educator. Through her career and education, Jessica realized that we all have a common issue. Everyone, at some point or another, struggles with handling stress.
Jessica Harrington, MPH is a public health educator and the founder of “Journey to Yourself.”Jessica is a speaker and a leader, aiding people to tackle stress, form self-care habits, and develop effective communication.
From running a small community business to juggling jobs to earn a Master’s in Public Health, Jessica’s passionate journey started with a demanding career in the social work sector, specializing in drug and alcohol counseling, honing her capabilities in stress management and personal development.
However, her path to becoming the person she is and an entrepreneur she’s become was shaped by moments of realization. In particular, Jessica had a car accident after falling asleep at the wheel. The incident was a wake-up call for her to reassess her life and to realize the importance of self-care and well being.
Today, Jessica is respected for her expertise in building healthier relationships and communities, positive communication, self-awareness, and creating a happier and more balanced life. Her story offers a poignant reminder to appreciate the small moments that life presents, rather than constantly chasing the next big achievement.
"It's all about the small steps. A lot of times we try to make these big strides in our life, and that's where we get a lot of stress. My job and what I do now, what I preach on and educate on is very much taking the little thing, a little thing every single day and more focused on consistency in your life than trying to reach that big milestone." - Jessica Harrington
Key takeaways:
- Make time for yourself. After Jessica experienced burnout, she learned about making time for herself. Over time, she built the habit of sitting outside in the morning with a cup of coffee. She started small, building consistency, and it has become her foundation habit, that she can always fall back upon.
- Take things out of your life that aren’t important. Once Jessica started making time for herself, she came to understand what she needed and wanted, and was able to see things differently. As a result, she took things out of her life that weren’t important.
- Drink the coffee while it’s hot. If you’ve committed to making time for yourself by having a cup of coffee outside, then commit to drinking the coffee while it’s hot, even if that means standing over the sink. Do not check your email, or doom scroll first.
- Think about the words you're using in conversation with others, as well as words you’re using with yourself. Find that one story you’ve been telling yourself on a daily basis and change the narrative.
About the guest:
Jessica Harrington, MPH is an in demand speaker on the topics of stress management and burnout for customer services based and blue collar companies. She offers workshops for employers as well as 1:1 coaching to assist individuals and corporations in their personal growth and self-discovery journey.
Website: https://www.journeytoyourself.net/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessica-harrington-journeytoyourself/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/journeytoyourself101/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JourneyToYourself101
Email: Jessica@JourneyToYourself.net
Free resource: Time Management Guide
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Disclaimer: Please remember that the information shared on this podcast does not constitute accounting, legal, tax, investment or financial advice. It’s for informational purposes only. You should seek appropriate professional advice for your specific information.
Jessica Harrington
It's all about the small steps. A lot of times we try to make these big strides in our life, and that's where we get a lot of stress. My job and what I do now, what I preach on. And educate on is very much taking the little thing, a little thing every single day and more focused on consistency in your life than trying to reach that big milestone.
Narrator
Welcome to making change with your money, a podcast that highlights the stories and strategies of women who experienced a big life transition and overcame challenges as they redefined financial success for themselves. Now, here's your host, Certified Financial Planner,
Laura Rotter
I am so excited to have as my guest today, Jessica Harrington.
Jessica is a stress less health educator. Through her career in education, she realized that we all have a common issue. Everyone at some point or another struggles with handling stress through her own life journey. Jessica came to create journey to yourself, a business through which she's a speaker and stress management health educator.
So welcome Jessica to the making change with your money podcast.
Jessica Harrington
Thanks for having me.
Laura Rotter
I always start these interviews with the same question, Jessica, which is. What was money like in your family growing up?
Jessica Harrington
Oh, okay. So growing up, I wouldn't say that it was, it wasn't a lot. There wasn't much we had to, you know, you know, make men's means we had to figure a few things out for sure.
Yeah.
Laura Rotter
Interesting. So The way you've said that made it sound like the family shared responsibility. I mean, how has that communicated to you?
Jessica Harrington
Oh, for sure. We definitely had to do our own parts when we wanted something. We all had to do our own parts to help bring money in. We all had to do our own parts. So it definitely was a shared thing for sure.
Laura Rotter
Uh, so it sounds like you, is it true? Should I assume that you were working from a young age?
Jessica Harrington
Oh yeah. My brother and I, we started a dog. Poop picker upper company. I was probably second or third grade. And so he would walk the, and then it kind of grew into, he started walking the dogs and I would pick up the poop in the yard.
And then it grew into him mowing the lawns. And then I did the dog stuff and yeah, it actually kind of grew a little bit.
Laura Rotter
You have an older brother?
Jessica Harrington
I sure do. Yeah.
Laura Rotter
He brought you along on the, uh, I had to do the fun stuff. I guess.
Jessica Harrington
Yeah.
Laura Rotter
That's, that's, you know, I hear people babysitting. I hear people, I've never heard picking up dog poop, but sounds sort of creative.
Jessica Harrington
Well, I guess people needed it. And then in the winter we did snow shoveling. Wow.
Laura Rotter
So very physical work.
Jessica Harrington
I never thought of it that way, but yeah, it sure was.
Laura Rotter
And Jessica, were you able to use the money as your own spending money? Or were you expected to buy your clothes or school supplies or something?
Jessica Harrington
Yeah, for sure. It was expected to be shared with the family, but it also, if we wanted like our own cell phone as we got older, it was things like that. If we wanted to do certain things, you know, we had to contribute in some way for sure.
Laura Rotter
So it sounds like your entrepreneurial journey started when you were 7 or 8 years old.
Jessica Harrington
I didn't even realize it until now. Thanks for bringing that up.
Laura Rotter
So then I always wonder, were you expected to go to college? I mean, clearly. It was communicated that funds weren't plentiful. So what was the expectation with higher education?
Jessica Harrington
I would say that it was more of work hard more than anything, right?
You know, that kind of mindset to get where you want it. But you know, education was going to be a help to get you there. I went to college. I got my master's. My brother, he went to, oh, what's it called? I just lost the whole name, but he went to a tech school basically. And so he got a degree in that. Yeah, so he went to school, I went to school, and yeah, we did our thing.
Laura Rotter
And I do have in my notes here that you received your Master's in Public Health at Westchester University. Now, so let's begin talking about your journey. Now, what was your interest in Master's of Public Health? Where did that come from?
Jessica Harrington
Yeah, so my super nutshell story is I started my career in the drug and alcohol field.
So, um, my parents, he also had an addiction issue. So we went to that field thinking I was going to help prevent it in that way. And then when I was working, my job at the rehab was working with men reducing their sentence from jail. Never a boring day for sure. But when I was there, I decided I wanted to be on the prevention side of things.
So I went back to school and that's when I got my master's in public health. And to your point, I technically learned about entrepreneurship growing up, but what I think when it really sank in is when I got my master's and I really said, Oh, I can do my own thing. Well, this is really cool. So,
yeah.
Laura Rotter
So what I'm hearing is that. Your interest in public health began, frankly, because of what was happening in your own family. Is that is that correct?
Jessica Harrington
I would say I actually didn't know what public health was until I wanted to go back to school because I reached my undergrads in social work. So that's how I was focused on drug and alcohol.
But then when I said I wanted to be on the prevention side of things, I started calling colleges and they said, Oh, get your master's in public health. And I didn't never heard of it at that point. But. Now I do.
Laura Rotter
So was social work then a reaction to?
Jessica Harrington
I would say so. I would say so because I was thinking nursing, but I wanted to be in a different kind of support system for people. So I went to social work.
Laura Rotter
Interesting. And so then. I'm just curious, right? Again, I'm assuming you needed to come up with funds to pay for your master's. I mean, what, what was the impetus to go on and get, you know, more education?
Jessica Harrington
I think it was a lot for me in the sense of proving to myself that I could.
They didn't have to. So I think it was more of a me going, Oh, you can do this. You succeed because not a lot of people know, but for grad school, you have to keep A's and B's. You can't just like pass by, you know, you have to get the higher level grades. So, you know, just proving to myself that I was that person that could get that grade.
So that was pretty cool.
Laura Rotter
Interesting. So you're a person. I'm just trying to get a sense of who you are, Jessica. So would you say that you're a competitive person? It sounds like you're at least competitive with yourself.
Jessica Harrington
I would say probably more towards myself, proving myself that I can get to the next level.
I think again, that kind of goes with the entrepreneurship, you know, going, okay, well, what else can I do? What else can I do?
Laura Rotter
So as we're talking about entrepreneurship, when you then were you working while you got your master's? Was it something that you did? You work?
Jessica Harrington
Yes. And a full time job and a part time job.
Laura Rotter
Wow. Doing what?
Jessica Harrington
So my full time job, I was working in the inner city. It's a place called Kids Smiles as a dentist, a nonprofit dentist office. So I would go to hospitals and go to schools and educate children on how to take care of their teeth. And then I was a bartender.
Laura Rotter
so all people oriented positions, which, of course, I suppose going into social work, though, masters of public health is a little bit of a detour because it tends to be and actually, please correct me if I'm wrong, can be more policy oriented. Correct. As opposed to 1 on 1.
Jessica Harrington
It's definitely a stem for more policy oriented. For me, I looked at as more of an education piece. I think sometimes when we look at social work and therapy and human services and things like that, it's more of what you're saying that 1 to 1 work. And I think a lot of times we overlook the importance of community and educating the entire community.
So I think that's where that comes from, too.
Laura Rotter
And so please share what through line there is, perhaps, as you talk more about your individual journey of community, which you just mentioned. Was there a through line and what was it?
Jessica Harrington
Oh, for sure. You know, even just growing up, you know, thinking about just my brother and I's like dog business, right?
People didn't have to hire a 2nd and 3rd grader, 3rd and 4th grader, 4th, like they didn't have to hire these kids to pick up their dog poop. They're like, all right, fine. Let me help you out. And, you know, they gave us jobs. They gave us support. They looked out for us. Right. So, and those relationships continue with us today.
And so I think that speaks highly about your community. And just even with my business, my business wouldn't be a business if I didn't have the people in my community. I would just be speaking to the wall, you know, I guess.
Laura Rotter
And thank you for sharing that. I was thinking more of your intention to serve a community when you went for your master's or when you started your business.So when did you start your business in relationship to when you graduated and what was your intention?
Jessica Harrington
So when I graduated, I wanted to work specifically with moms. I thought, you know, helping them. Reduce their stress, be their support system. I started kind of playing around with that arena when I was in my day job.
But also when I kind of just started learning more about my business, I would go to libraries and just do mom groups and they just have such a strong community. The way that they support each other, the way they uplift each other, the way that I would walk into their room and I can say 3 words and the rest of them would just support me.
Take on. They just say, Oh, my gosh, new mom, college mom. It didn't matter. They just wanted to be there for each other with no judgment. The one woman would walk in and say. I didn't get the shower today and there's like, great, but you got out of the house and there was just this, this cheer in this moment that I don't think you can recreate on purpose.
It's just there. And that's kind of where it was my other aha moment about community and about supporting others and. As I started growing, learning more about my business, you learn a lot about yourself. And so it was more of what other communities are out there. And I just got to learn that there's a lot.
Laura Rotter
Were you a mom yourself, Jessica? No, not a mom. Just an adult.
Laura Rotter
Not a mom. It's interesting that you say that about moms being supportive. I have found that as someone who had a previous quite a long career in a very male dominated field on Wall Street, and when, I mean, I first discovered it when I did a yoga teacher training, that women can be very supportive of each other.
That there was a way that, you know, we each had to teach yoga to the, to each other and to the instructor. And on Wall Street, if I had to make, if I had to speak publicly. You know, I had to just suck it up and have no fear and speak publicly, whereas teaching in front of each other, everyone was vulnerable and talked about their hesitation and their fear.
And it was to me, the most empowering thing. So it's interesting that you singled out moms. I'm wondering what you found about. You know, communities of women.
Jessica Harrington
Yeah. So that was when I started, I don't guess communities, so I haven't specifically grown to that piece. I guess where I'm at now, my business actually started taking over in the blue collar industry.
So I have a lot of my corporation work is in the blue collar industry. But I do do a lot my, I guess my 1 group that has a lot of women is my realtor group. So I'm in a group where I go into them on a quarterly basis. And so a bunch of realtors and they're, it's all women in there. And it's very much the same thing.
I feel like they're also all moms to me. That's why I see a lot of the same thing, which is nice.
Laura Rotter
Jessica, you talked about the community that supported you when you were younger. Are you still in that same community?
Jessica Harrington
I am. I am. I still see them quite often. They, I was just at my brother's wedding this summer and a lot of them had attended.
So it's, it's really cool to see that they're still there rooting for us.
Laura Rotter
Uh, I guess I meant geographically, have you relocated or are you still in the same area?
Jessica Harrington
Yeah
Laura Rotter
Really? That's so interesting. I guess it's a nice area to be in, which you said is outside of Philadelphia.
Jessica Harrington
Correct. Yes. I'm outside of Philadelphia.
Laura Rotter
Very, very nice. So could you please share, I guess you talked about when you first started out, you would go into libraries and talking to moms, I guess, about stress. For sure. Yes. And so can you speak to what you were doing and how it evolved?
Jessica Harrington
Yeah, of course. So when I first started, it was just going to libraries.
I just more wanted to see what the program looked like. I wanted to get the survey. I wanted to see the public health side of things, right? What do you want? What am I giving you? Where do you need it? What time works the best for you? What kind of tools are you looking for? And that's what I really started learning more about that, making time for them piece.
And when I was learning about making time for yourself. I also learned that I wasn't making time for my own self because I was working full time. I was working part time volunteer on the weekends, trying to grow a business, finishing grad school. Right? And so everything kind of snowballed after that.
After I got into a car accidents, I fell asleep at the wheel. Everybody was fine. I was to start that like everybody was fine, but I did get in the car accident and that was kind of my. Aha, wake up moment again. I feel like I had a lot of these story my business and I learned at 24 25 years old that even something that has no kids that's not a mom that you can still burn out and it takes over your life physically, emotionally, everything in between.
And so that's what I had to start to learn about myself. And for me. Where it transitioned into where my business is today is learning that it's just all about consistency. It's all about the small steps. A lot of times we try to make these big strides in our life and that's where we get a lot of stress.
My job and what I do now when I preach on. And educate on is very much taking the little thing, a little thing every single day and more focused on consistency in your life than trying to reach that big milestone.
Laura Rotter
And it sounds like you work primarily with different business owners. Is that correct?
Jessica Harrington
So I have my one on one client work, work with different individuals when it comes to working with stress, creating habits, making that me time.
Looking at things in a different perspective. And then I do, yes, I go into corporations as well. And I have a couple educational workshops that I do for them as well.
Laura Rotter
Cause you mentioned that you're dealing with a lot of people in blue collar industry. So is that one on one or through their employers?
Jessica Harrington
That's through their employers. Yes. Yes. That's through their employers. And I provide that, that there's a part of my monthly workshops.
Laura Rotter
Oh, that's wonderful. So, I guess you said a number of tactics or tools we can use, you said them very quickly. And, and they're often easier said than actually experienced.
So I'm, I'm sure our listeners who, as, as I said in the intro, everybody has stress would really benefit from getting sort of an understanding of if you could walk us through some of the tools and sort of how you teach them.
Jessica Harrington
Yeah, of course. So the one tool that I really focused on is making time for yourself.And what does that look like. So kind of you asked me about my story earlier, too, where it said, well, what did I learn about me, my burnout, everything in between? And so 1 of the things that I learned about was making my time for myself. And what I did was every morning, I would sit outside with a cup of coffee.
Did I drink the entire coffee? No. Did I read a book? Did I journal? Did it last maybe 5 minutes? For sure. But what I did over time was just build that habit of just sitting outside. And what happens then is I started drinking the coffee. After that, the day I brought the book out with me, did I read the book right away?
No. But I would, after a while I started going, okay, let's just read one page today. Next day was just one page. And so it's really focusing on that piece of just building the small consistency. Cause like you said earlier, too, you agreed with is that we all experienced stress and life is going to happen.
So when I create that, that's my habit of just sitting outside with a cup of coffee every day, I'm still even at the worst, whoa, time of my life. I can at least fall back on that 1st habit because it's very easy to fall back on habits, but what's my foundation habit? And so, for me, that's what I really work on with what works the best for Laura.
What works the best for Brittany? What works the best for John? Because you might not be a coffee person. You might not like sitting outside. That's but how do you learn what you know what you need? By making time for yourself, and that's kind of like that bigger picture of when I sit with myself, I get to learn what I need and want, then I'm able to create communication with that.
And I'm able to keep boundaries with that. And that leads into the, the stress less piece, because once I start making time for myself and learning about that, I'm then able to see things differently and also maybe take some things out of my life that are not important.
Laura Rotter
I love that. And as I listened to Jessica, a couple of things come up for me, which is, I think about when, you know, I'm a meditator.
And so when people, you know, when you say to people, take just five minutes and meditate, and they say, Well, I don't have five minutes, you say, Okay, if you don't have five minutes, take 10 minutes to meditate, you know. And then so that, how do you actually get people to do that? And something else that comes to mind is, you know, in the financial field, you might say to people, pay yourself first, right?
Have an automatic transfer as your paycheck goes in of a certain amount, again, could be 5 that goes into a savings account. So it's not like waiting for there to be leftover money, but pay yourself first. So I'm curious whether it's going outside or whether it's a different tactic. Do you tell people to put it in their calendar?
Do you tell people to attach it to an already existing habit? Like how do you actually make sure that the make time for yourself gets
done?
Jessica Harrington
And so that's actually a really good point. So that's kind of where that personalization comes to because if I'm already drinking the coffee every day, It's okay.
Well, then you're going to drink the coffee while it's hot by saying, so drink the coffee while it's hot. So that's not going on social media. That's not checking your emails. That's you're just take the dog outside and you just drink the coffee while it's hot. So it's that attaching to that other habit.
If you're already drinking your coffee every morning. Drink it while it's hot. If you have to stand over the sink because you don't want to sit down because you can't go over, that's fine. Take the two sips, take the one sip, drink it while it's high. Just meeting yourself where you're at. I think sometimes we beat ourselves up because we want to be the 10 minute meditator.
We want to do the 45 minute yoga. We want to go to these retreats. We want to read. We want to do journaling. Which are all amazing, but we forget that these people that are teaching these practices didn't just wake up and was able to touch their toes. They didn't just wake up and able to sit for 15 minutes or 30 minutes with meditation.
It's not a thing. They had to create that habit and we tend to beat ourselves up more with that. So yes, it's building on what you already do, but it's also kind of going. Keeping track and what works the best for you and keeping track. Some people, they like their calendar and they want to write stars on it.
Cause that's like another, like, yeah, it's amazing. I see it. There's also free apps that I educate others about that they can use. There's one that's called daily. Oh, that I recommend D a Y L I O. I only get out free apps. So that's the one of them, right? So there's always an upgrade, but there's always an upgrade, but you know, it's, it's literally meeting them where they're at and starting from there.
I think the biggest piece with that is doing that check in. So when it's that one on one client work, when I meet with you next week and they say, I hate it, writing stars on my calendar. Great. I love that. You came aware of that. That's amazing. That's a self reflection. Why did you not like write stars on your calendar?
Well, too many people kept asking me why I'm writing stars. Great. Let's not put it there. Let's also talk about why you're thinking about what they're talking about, what kind of feelings they have towards you. So it's, it's having that self reflection talk on everything that surrounds it.
Laura Rotter
That's really wonderful, Jessica.
I think, again, as a meditator, it just helps you take the step back, you know, making time for yourself similarly to actually. Listen, you know, watch, be an observer of your thoughts, what you react to, your emotional reactions to different things that, you know, we're all running around from one to do another.
There's no time for reflection. It's amazing how even a couple of minutes can make such a difference.
Jessica Harrington
Yes, a couple minutes every day.
Laura Rotter
Is there another tool you might be able to share?
Jessica Harrington
Yeah, of course. So another piece that I focus on is communication. So with communication is how you talk to yourself. So there's two pieces and how you talk to others.
So the 1st 1, I'm talking to others. A lot of times we get frustrated with external factors. My husband, this, my kids, this, my boss, this, they don't do this. Right? Very easy to get on a conversation about how other people stress you out. I'm not saying they don't. I'm just saying come back. I'm not saying that, but I'm saying, let's take a step back.
So, when it comes to communication. The one tool I use is thinking about the words we use. So avoiding the words always and never you never listen. You're always too busy doing this Right? You're, you're always busy working. You never make time for me. When I talk like that, that person now becomes defensive.
And what I really didn't say is, I miss you. Can we have date night? I miss you. Let's have lunch together. Let's drink the coffee while it's hot together. So I'm avoiding the words that I actually want to say. And what I'm doing is creating a defense around each other. And what I'm doing is now that every time he works late, every time that he has to go into work, every time that he has another meeting, he has to get off phone with me, I'm creating more attention.
Because we come to defensive and then what also happens, we start to get it because they become defensive. We now get into this battle. Let me get in this battle where I bring up things that happened 6 months ago. You remember what your mother lost at Christmas? Yeah, that sweater was way too tight on you.
Right? And the winning, we start the name call and we start to, you know. Make them feel bad and we start to feel bad because that's someone we care and love about. So we have that. So if you, because we're all human and because we get to that habit, if you catch yourself today, you're like, okay, I'm going to do that.
And then you go home and that person says that one thing you're like, Oh, this is out the window. I just want you to have a conversation. Am I in this to win or resolve, right? I see the nods, right? The winning is pulling the stuff up from the past. Winning is the name calling resolving is going back and saying, what is the one thing I need them to hear?
Just one. Nobody likes a long list. Right. Just Santa, you know, right. So nobody likes the long list, but it's the one thing I need them to hear. That's it. I miss you. And then going back to yourself, giving yourself that grace. I'm not judging yourself. I know easier said than done, but thinking about the words that I'm using.
Right. And think of it this way. If I wrote down everything that I said about myself a day, you're ugly, you're not worth it. You're not loved. Give up. No one loves you. And I wrote at the top of that letter. Dear mom, dear best friend, dear sister. And I sent it to them. You wouldn't write something like that to someone you care, love, respect.
It's not true. It's not nice. Right. But it's not helpful. It ain't helpful. You have to be right. It's not helpful, but we do this every single day. And when we start to do this, we start to believe it. And when we start to believe it, we start to look for proof. Oh, there's another reason why I'm not loved. Oh, there's another reason why I'm worthless.
Oh, there's another reason why I should give up. So it's finding that 1 story that you're telling yourself on a daily basis. Remember just 1. Finding that one story that you're telling yourself on a daily basis, and changing the story. Change the narrative. Or,
Laura Rotter
How? Or recognize it, right?
Jessica Harrington
First recognize it, right?
But also it's where's the proof that it's wrong, right? Because of a neighbor knocked on your door and said, Laura, I give up on your podcast. You're like, who the heck you go somewhere, right? So you can also name that person. This is Laura's neighbor, Bob's mo whatever you want to do it. Goodbye. Shut the door.
However, right. That they call it intrusive thought because those are like, they're coming, they're coming for you, right? They're not like you said, they're not helpful, but we let these unhelpful thoughts and suggestions come in and I'm the one giving them. So again, it's going back to what you just said.
It starts with recognition.
Laura Rotter
Very, very powerful, Jessica. Again, so many thoughts come to mind as you spoke. First of all, this acronym that I learned a while ago before I speak, which is WAIT. Why am I talking?
And because to speak to what you said, sometimes I hear myself about to ask my husband something. And then I say, what do you, do you actually want to hear his response or are you looking for a specific response? And if you're looking for a specific response, will you be disappointed if he doesn't give it?
And so maybe it's not worth asking the question. So that's. very helpful. And then I also have on my wall here from nonviolent communication. It's a it's a kind of methodology of a list of feelings and unmet needs because we do have a tendency to blame. You never listen to me when I'm talking or something as opposed to If you can, and sometimes again, you're feeling too reactive and it's not the right time, but to name the need, you know, when you stare at your phone and I speak, I don't feel heard and I feel a need, you know, and to try to bring it back to you as opposed to again, always easy.
That's why it's taped to my wall, always easier. To think about them to actually do, but to be aware that it's actually another human being will become defensive. And then you'll start a spiral. Exactly. As, as you mentioned, words are very powerful, really need to be aware of how we speak to other people.
I'm curious if you have a success story or, you know, that you could share someone that comes to mind, we don't need to name names or even yourself. Cause often, right. We teach what we need to learn.
Jessica Harrington
Oh, I love that. So there's a couple of things. They're definitely with myself. I have learned different things in the sense of communication.
So obviously, like you're saying, someone will ask me a question about communication when I do my communication workshop or with my 1 on 1 clients. And I'm going, oh, wow, as I'm researching. I need this. I should imply this, and this is actually important in my life. But I think what the cool part with that kind of stuff is that you also kind of see your own growth because five years ago, just want to be open to that habit, want to be open to that communication level, want to be open to that.
And I think that's kind of what I see now is a different light on people that are not open to what I teach. It's very much. They're not ready and there's nothing wrong with someone not being ready or not being open. And I think for me, when I first started my business, it was kind of a private, well, I teach great stuff.
I love what I teach, but not everybody's in that boat. And there's nothing wrong with that. And there's nothing wrong with them. They're not a bad person or an evil person because they're not following behind my train, you know? And so I think there was a lot of growth for me and the prideness, but in the communication world.
Overall, just self love, you know, that self confidence that when that person's ready or when they need something, they, I have built a relationship where they can come to me.
Laura Rotter
You've noted several times about the self knowledge that comes from being an entrepreneur and building a business. You know, no one tells you that it's going to be a journey, bumping up your, against your own comfort level.
Jessica Harrington
They don't put that in the books. Right.
They don't. They tell you how to send emails, they tell you how to…
Laura Rotter
Exactly and not the voices that, you know, you talked about a couple of minutes ago, which is like, you, you suck at this and no one will ever want to work with you.
Jessica Harrington
And they don't, they don't say none of that.
No, they say, they say, yeah, nope. It's really.
Laura Rotter
When you can be with what is, it's, it's so powerful. I feel like there's so much growth that comes from working for yourself and the inevitable ups and downs that come from building a business. So how long have you had your own journey to, what is it, journey to yourself?
How long have you had the journey to yourself business?
Jessica Harrington
A little over three years.
Laura Rotter
Wow. And would you say that over that time, your definition of success has shifted? I mean,
Or?
Jessica Harrington
For sure, I think, you know, for me, my definition has been a different kind of happiness, right? So a different kind of happiness for my team, for myself, for my family.
And so that has always changed because I'm growing. So what my 1st year success of happiness looks like was different than what is now. Right? So. My one or two clients or the visibility or my podcast or my workshops, they've grown. So it's definitely changed because my happiness goals have changed, right?
Laura Rotter
Well, I'm curious, how, how have your happiness goals changed?
Jessica Harrington
I think for, I think being realistic was the thing. I think when I first started out, I wanted to make X amount of money. I wanted so many clients. I wanted to do this kind of visibility. I wanted my podcast to be like, I wanted these things because As you know, when you read the books, they say, this takes 2 months.
All you have to do is follow these steps and you'll have the business of your dreams. You might have the business of your dreams after selling this book.
Laura Rotter
Exactly. Or the training or the workshop.
Jessica Harrington
Yeah, there's one every day, right? But I think for me, my definition of success has changed because that's not how it's not just about the money.
It's not just about the client. It's been about a lot of relationships and relationships have always been important to me, but in the sense of growing my business, it's not that I poo pooed on people. It was, oh, relationships fill me up differently. They fill me up in different ways where it's, you know, because as again, we just talked about the ups and downs.
You have those. And so when you have these other relationships that are there for you, and it's the coolest thing to be able to call another entrepreneur and say, today sucks. And they're going, I know, tell me about it. What you got going on. And when you can call that same entrepreneur and say, guess what deal just signed.
Right. And they're going great. Let's go grab a drink tonight. Let's go grab dinner. Let's go grab ice cream. Let me send you some flowers, whatever the case may be. And you have the same that same person is rooting for you. And I think that's just so cool. And I don't think in other businesses, when you are 9 to 5, you get to see that kind of relationship because it's a different kind of understanding.
And I think that really goes back to that community when I was talking about earlier with the mom group where. Not that I always agree that you have to go through something to completely understand it, but there's definitely a difference when someone has walked through similar shoes to have a different understanding.
And the only reason why I say is because I, you know, like I said, I was a social worker in the drug and alcohol field, never touched anything in my life, but that wasn't my addiction. My addiction was it. Working, right? And so I had a different understanding and it kind of go in with the moms. You know, I had to step up differently with my family, but I never was a mom.
Right? And so, yeah, I have some similarities and understanding, but it's definitely different when you have somebody that has literally walk through what you walk through.
Laura Rotter
Very true. So it sounds like you really do make use of support systems of other business owners.
Jessica Harrington
Oh, for sure. For sure.
Laura Rotter
And so, also, I'm going to reflect back to you that it seems that, of course, in your best moments, you, you recognize what a blessing that is that you're the kind of person that has attracted community.
And I'm sure you give back to others in the way they give back to you. You, you definitely strike me as a person who does that. And you're recognizing the benefit of that. Cause as you said, the recognizing, because we could have that all day long, but just focus on, on what we don't have. I came back. It's a couple of weeks ago.
Now I did a couple of days at a silent meditation retreat. And I've, I've shared with others coming back with this concept of, you know, when someone's saying, how am I, my answer is, I couldn't be better. And not because I'm doing spiritual bypassing and pretending life is perfect, but like in this moment, this is my life and I could.
You know, focus on the fact that I wish I signed more new clients this month, or, you know, I wish my revenue was higher, or I could focus on the fact that before this call, and it's 80 degrees out in the New York area. I walked my dog. I ran into some other people. I know walking the dog and. Just a couple of years ago, I, this would have been the most amazing thing to me to in the middle of my day to be able to walk around the block, I was stuck on a trading desk, you know, from 7 a.m. to 7 p. m. And not to take this life that I've created for myself for granted. And it takes a reframing that it sounds like you do for people.
Jessica Harrington
Well, reframing is definitely a huge piece, right? That different perspective is really important.
Laura Rotter
So Jessica,
can you please share with our listeners what kind of people you like to work with and if it resonates with them, the best way to get in touch with you?
Jessica Harrington
Yeah, of course. So for the one on one client work, I work a lot with. That person that is always saying, yes, that person that struggles with the work life balance, that person that is at everybody's place.
That's making the home meal pies and then has to run to this place and has to they made a lasagna for this person, that person that's showing up for everybody else and really struggles with showing up for themselves, that person that wants that next level for themselves, but might not know what that looks like.
That person that says, oh, I'm not stressed, but then is sad sometimes when they're by themselves. Right? So that person that's kind of looking for that next moment. So maybe it's stress to them. Maybe it's stress to others, but it's that person that's looking for that next level, whether it's in the work life balance mode, which obviously I work a lot with moms, but not limited to or a lot with business owners typically to.
Even college students, right? They're just trying to figure out that next step for themselves, but it's very much themself focused. And what does that look like for them?
Laura Rotter
Thank you. And to get a sense of your work, do you have anything? I do see that you mentioned that you have something on your website.
Jessica Harrington
On my website, yes, you can see events that I'm at.
I do virtual and in person events on my website. You can see my podcast that I have. You can see that one on one client work. So it's all broken down, all the finances on there, the different programs that I have along with my educational workshops as well.
Laura Rotter
So as we come to the end of our time together, is there Any other idea you might want to share?
Jessica Harrington
1 saying, thank you to you because I love going on someone else's platform and just having a great conversation.
So thanks for you to having a great conversation. It's always nice. And I guess, like, the other cheesy thing is just. There's nothing wrong with making time for yourself. There's nothing wrong with learning yourself. And that self reflection seems scary, but it's only growth, you know, and we change in your mindset.
It's, it's not to beat up on yourself. It's just a growth for yourself and giving yourself that opportunity.
Laura Rotter
Beautiful. Beautifully said, Jessica. And need, it needs to be said in this culture that denigrates taking time for yourself, makes you feel like somehow you're self centered or you're not productive.
So thank you so much, Jessica, for taking the time. I really enjoyed our conversation.
I hope you enjoyed my conversation with Jessica Harrington, a public health educator and founder of Journey to Yourself. Some of my takeaways that I'd like to share. Make time for yourself. After Jessica experienced burnout, she learned about making time for herself. She built the habit of sitting outside in the morning with a cup of coffee.
She started small, building consistency, and it has become her foundation habit. That she can always fall back upon. Another takeaway, remove things from your life that aren't important. Once Jessica started making time for herself, she came to understand what she needed and wanted. and was able to see things differently.
As a result, she began to take things out of her life that were no longer important to her. I loved her saying, drink the coffee while it's hot. In other words, if you've committed to making time for yourself by, for example, Having a cup of coffee outside, then commit to drinking the coffee while it's hot.
Even if that means you don't have the time and you're just standing over the sink. Don't check your email or begin to doom scroll before that first habit. And finally, Jessica urges us to think about the words we're using in conversation with others, as well as words you're using with yourself. Find that one story you've been telling yourself on a daily basis and change the narrative.
Are you enjoying this podcast? Don't forget to subscribe so you won't miss next week's episode. And a rating and a review not only be greatly appreciated, but it will help other women just like you find this podcast. Thank you.
Narrator
Thanks for listening to Making Change With Your Money. Certified financial planner, Laura Rotter, specializes in helping people just like you organize, clarify, and invest their money in order to support a life of purpose and meaning. Go to www. trueabundanceadvisors. com forward slash workbook for a free resource to help you on your journey.
Disclaimer, please remember that the information shared by this podcast does not constitute accounting, legal, tax, investment, or financial advice. It's for information purposes only. You should seek appropriate professional advice for your specific information.