Audacious vs. Audacity

0:00Hey friend, welcome to the Art and Soul Show. I'm your host Lisa DeJaso, a mom, a photographer, and entrepreneur. Tune in here for pep talks, conversations, and advice on photography, creativity, mindset, business, life, and that messy in between. This is the place where you can go when you need a boost of encouragement, a kick in the pants, and inspiration to pick up your camera. This is the Art and Soul Show. Hey friend, welcome back. I know that when we're

0:31struggling in our photography business, sometimes you just need to hear some words that will cheer you up and know that you're on the right path. So today I want to talk to you about two words that I cannot get out of my head lately, and they look so similar on paper, but they feel so differently when you actually say them out loud. It's audacious, and it's audacity. Now audacious feels bold, brave, and empowering. It's that voice that whispers, I know I can do this, even when you're terrified, even when you've never done it before. It's the part of you that dares to dream a little

1:06bigger, to take a leap, and step into something new. Audacity though, oof, that word often comes with a sting, doesn't it? The audacity of her to think she could charge that much. The audacity of him to think he could take up space like that. Who does she think she is? You can almost hear the judgment dripping from it. But here's the thing. Most of the time, that judgment isn't actually coming from the outside. It's coming from inside our own heads. And I've noticed that the same dream,

1:37the same exact thoughts can live in two voices in my mind. One side will say, you're ready and you're capable. That's my audacious side. And then before I can even get excited, the other side pipes up and says, who are you to even try? People are going to laugh at you. You're too much. You're not enough. And that's the audacity side. And honestly, that voice is brutal. I bet you felt it too. Maybe you've wanted to raise your prices or try a new style or launch something new. And you get

2:07that spark, you know, in your bones and you know you can do it. And that's your audacious side, just lighting up. And then almost immediately, here comes that other voice, the audacity. Who do you think you are? And suddenly you're hesitating and you're shrinking back and you're talking yourself out of it. And here's what I've learned. To some people, your bold moves will look inspiring. To others, they'll look outrageous. And none of that actually has anything to do with you. It's about the lens they're looking through. Now, I think back to when I first started my business. To me,

2:43it really felt audacious. I was chasing a dream. I was doing something that lit me up, carving out a life I wanted. But I know that there were people out there who thought I was full of audacity, that I was unrealistic, that I wouldn't last. And truthfully, I believed something of that too for a long time. I let that stop me. I let that audacity voice drown out the audacious one. But here's the magic. Every single time I've chosen to quiet that audacity voice and lean into

3:15my audacious side, my life has expanded. I've grown. I've created. I've connected. And it doesn't mean it wasn't scary. It doesn't mean that people don't judge me. But it does mean I didn't abandon myself. So what does it look like to lean into your audacious side? For me, it starts with just noticing, awareness, just catching myself in the moment when the voices actually show up. Because they feel different. My audacious side feels like possibility, like fresh air. My audacity voice feels

3:50heavy, like shame. And when I catch that shift, I can pause and say, wait, is that really true? Or is that just fear dressed up in a louder costume? Then I try to soften. Because gentleness really matters. Beating myself up for downing myself does not work. Sometimes I'll even laugh at it. I'll just look at that audacity voice, thanks for showing up, that you do not get to drive today. I picture it like that ridiculous backseat driver who swears they know the road better than me. But I'm the one with my

4:21hands on the wheel. So another thing I've learned to do is just to check in with my body. My audacious ideas, even when they're scary, usually feel a little exciting, like butterflies. My audacity, though, my body feels tight, like I want to curl into myself. And that's my signal. When it's feeling constricting, it's my shame talking. When it feels expansive, it's possibility. And sometimes I realize the voice isn't even mine at all. It's an old teacher's, or my parents, or it's criticism, or a

4:51comment I overheard years ago, or just me imagining what someone else might think. And when I see that clearly, I can hand it back. I can see it doesn't belong to me. That's theirs. And finally, I move. I take the step anyways. I share the post. I raise the prices. I record the new video. I tried the new thing because the truth is the audacity voice does not disappear. It hangs around. It always hangs around. But every single time I act from my audacious side, I build proof that I can trust

5:27myself, that I'm capable, and that I don't need permission. And with every little step, that voice grows louder and steadier until it feels natural to listen to it first. So let me ask you, where in your life are you getting more airtime to the audacity side than the audacious one? Is there a dream you keep talking yourself out of? Is there something bold you secretly want to try that you're worried about what people will say? What would it look like to give your audacious side the mic or even

6:00just that small step? But here's what I know for sure. The world doesn't need fewer audacious people. It needs more of them. More people willing to try even when it's scary. More people willing to trust themselves. More people willing to take up space and say, yes, I belong here. And if someone else looks at that and calls it audacity, so be it. That's their lens. For you, it's courage. For you, it's alignment. And for you, it's freedom. So the next time you hear both voices battling it out, remember,

6:35you get to decide which one gets the microphone. I hope you choose the audacious side again and again and again until it's the only voice you trust. Thank you so much for joining me today. Hope you have enjoyed this pep talk, and I'll see you next time.

6:59Thank you.