Standing in Your Truth With Yanni
The podcast "Standing in Your Truth" will feature Yanni and a group of friends engaging in profound and intimate discussions on subjects such as mental health, finances, faith, and strategies for finding motivation during difficult periods. In this space, guests will be invited to share their life journeys, including the challenges they've faced and the obstacles they've overcome. This podcast aims to provide a platform for individuals to share their stories, ensuring that everyone's experiences are acknowledged, valued, and celebrated.
Standing in Your Truth With Yanni
Progress Over Perfection: How Shifting Your Mindset Changes Everything
Reagan Saffel from Odessa College joins host Yanni for a heartfelt conversation about navigating life's disappointments and finding unexpected blessings along the way. What begins as a casual chat quickly evolves into a profound exploration of purpose, perspective, and personal growth.
When rejection hit Reagan hard—missing out on promotions and failing to get into physical therapy school—she found herself in a mental health struggle that many listeners will recognize. The turning point came unexpectedly during a supervisor meeting when her college president shared three simple words that would become her life motto: "Trust the process." This wisdom transformed her approach to setbacks, helping her recognize that closed doors often protect us from paths not meant for us.
The conversation delves into how mental health intertwines with our daily choices—from establishing consistent gym routines to carefully selecting who we allow into our inner circle. Reagan's secondary motto, "Progress, not perfection," reveals her journey away from crippling perfectionism toward a healthier perspective that embraces growth over flawlessness.
What makes this episode particularly powerful is Reagan's vulnerability about her struggles and the practical wisdom she offers. Whether discussing the impact of positive music on mindset, the importance of self-reflection, or the courage to share our stories, her insights feel both accessible and profound. The discussion about setting boundaries while maintaining a servant's heart will resonate deeply with anyone who finds themselves constantly pouring into others while neglecting their own wellbeing.
Reagan's commitment to "walking the walk" in all areas of life offers an inspiring example of authentic leadership and genuine relationships. By the end of this conversation, listeners will find themselves equipped with practical strategies for navigating disappointment, protecting their mental health, and embracing their unique purpose.
Don't miss the beautiful reminder that there's only one you—that's your superpower—and someone needs to hear your story. Subscribe and join the conversation about standing in your truth through life's most challenging moments.
Standing In Your Truth Podcast with Yanni Thomas
Hello everyone, welcome to Standing In your Truth podcast with your host, yanni. On this podcast you'll hear Yanni, family and friends having open-ended discussions on anything from faith, finances, relationships and how to stay motivated during life's trying times. Make sure to follow on all social media platforms. The social media link is in the bio. Sit back and get ready to enjoy.
Speaker 2:Hello everyone, Welcome to another episode of Standing your Truth podcast. I am your host, Yanni. How is everyone doing? I do believe by the time this episode comes out we should be through spring break, so hopefully you guys enjoyed that. Took some time for some self-care and some family time and vacation. I am going to allow my next guest to introduce herself.
Speaker 3:Hi everybody. I'm Regan Saffel. I know Yanni from being in Young Professionals of Odessa. I work at Odessa College and I'm just excited to be a part of this.
Speaker 2:Yes, I'm excited, Reagan, literally I don't know. I met her and I feel like, as crazy as it is, a lot of times I feel like we're kind of at the same stage of life. Yeah, so the friendship is just genuine and easy, which is nice for nowadays. So, Freya, my first question for you is what motivates you.
Speaker 3:So what motivates me? I am very family driven. Coming from a single mom, I always want to make her proud. I always wanted to make my grandpa proud. So everything I do is with the intent to make my family proud and have a better life for my family, have a good life for myself. I never want to have to worry about can I help them if something comes up, or anything like that. So I would say that I am very family driven. And then, when it comes to the community, I just like to give back to help. I like came to Odessa College when I was in college and I loved it so much, and now that I work here, I like to give back because it really poured into me at that time in my life and so, work wise, I would say that's what motivates me as well.
Speaker 2:Yeah, well, I can tell you do a great job and I tell you all the time Thanks. You are changing generations. Thank you, by the time, that you invest in your students at the level you invest, because you're not surface level, you're kind of hands-on, dive in. We're getting through this type of thing. So, yes, kudos to you on that, thank you. How do you protect your mental health?
Speaker 3:this is a hard one, um, mental health. So I have struggled with, for I would say, since beginning of college. Um, I went through some things that I really got me depressed. I started getting anxious things like that, and it may have been sooner than that, but that's when I started noticing it the most. Um, but I feel like when I'm in a routine and I I've made it a routine to go to the gym every day or at least, and I've made it a routine to go to the gym every day or at least five times a week, I can't say I do it on the weekends, but I go at lunch because I'm not going to wake up early, I'm not going to stay late, so I make it a point to go at lunch every day and I truly believe that that has helped with my anxiety and my stressing out and I am an overthinker. But that gives me a time to like watch a show or listen to music while I'm working out and it kind of lets me decompress okay yeah, I literally just told Erin yesterday I was like I do so much better with the routine yes, me too taking
Speaker 2:me off of my routine, every good habit that I started.
Speaker 3:I'm probably not going to continue and I I am like a I live off of my calendar, so routine is really big for me. So having that structure and that was something I learned, like the older I got I mean I didn't have that in high school, I didn't live off of a calendar, but now I literally have lunch on my calendar, I have everything on my calendar and I feel like that takes a whole weight off of my shoulders too, because I know what's coming up, I know what to prepare for um you know what's going on.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah, nothing's wrong with that at all. What advice would you give your younger self?
Speaker 3:it's all gonna be okay. Um, this kind of ties back into one of my life mottos that we'll probably talk about sooner, but it's my secondary one, so I'm going to bring it up. My secondary one would be progress, not perfection. That has been something that I've struggled with my whole life.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 3:And I think it's like not wanting to let my family down, not wanting to let anybody down, not wanting to let my coaches down. In high school I strive to be perfect and you can never be perfect. And so when I didn't win the game, or if I didn't get the job or anything like that, it kind of hurt my mental health, it hurt my everything, and so I would tell my younger self it's going to be okay. You don't have to win every game, you don't have to get an A in every class. It is going to be okay. Just keep having progress and working towards perfection, still have high standards, but if something doesn't go your way, it's okay.
Speaker 2:Yeah, the idea of being kind of flexible, in a sense, with your standards, that's a good one. Okay, peek into the life model. I caught that. What is your mindset when you're told no or a door shuts?
Speaker 3:So this kind of like what I mentioned is really hard for me, I would say, and it also ties to my life motto.
Speaker 2:But I would say recently I've gotten better at this and that's speaking a lot because I'm old, um, but uh, you're not that old, because that means I'm old.
Speaker 3:So I'm just saying uh, I was not good with being told no, because I have such a competitive spirit and because I have that want to be better and all that. Um, it was hard. So one of the hardest moments, I'll say, was when I went to school to be a physical therapist and I didn't get accepted into PT school. That's when I really started struggling with my mental health because they told me no and so I was like, well, what do I do now? Like that's what I've been planning for my whole life, like I'm a failure, I suck, like all this stuff hit me all at once and I really struggled. But I learned it just opens up another door. That door was not my door and other doors had been opened, and those are the paths that I've taken. So it's been hard. I don't like I still don't like to be told no. However, I know now that it's for a reason.
Speaker 2:I don't know, I said this on the last episode, but I just really love asking people this question Because I feel like it really does give an insight into the person you're speaking to, where they're at, like mentally, and I also think, like maturity wise. Yeah, because I think. For me, when I first started this at this, recording this podcast, and I asked myself that question, I'm like, well, I'm gonna be told no. Well, I'm gonna find another way to do the same thing and it's like, well, sometimes that's not where you're supposed to be, you're wasting your energy and I still may be a little immature at first and throw a little fit to myself.
Speaker 3:No for sure, but that's just because I mean, if you have a drive and you want it so bad it's hard to be told no. Yeah, and you're the same way.
Speaker 2:Yeah, no, it's like sometimes it does like it stings and I'm like, what do you mean? I'm like what do you mean? I'm going to find a way. But sometimes I'm realizing I'm like, okay, if I'm told no, where am I supposed to be, what am I supposed to be focusing on? And kind of shift. Nowadays, for the most part, I shift my energy in that way, which sometimes I figure out, and sometimes I'm like, okay, well, leave that alone for right now, if I can just figure it out later.
Speaker 2:Yes, all right. If I can just figure it out later, yes, all right. So I'm going to ask you this question and um, if you want then to go ahead and introduce your life model, okay, you can go ahead. Um, but what is one moment in your life that's really shaped you or made a huge impact in your life?
Speaker 3:so I don't know if there has been like one instance, but I will say there's been a lot of instances. Now that I reflect back on, and I think it was either a year ago or two years ago, dr Williams was speaking to the supervisor group and he said something and it really stuck with me and ever since that day I'm like that's my motto and like I know it's later in life. But now that I reflect back it all makes sense. And so he was talking to us and I was feeling down because I had applied for a higher position two different times and I got interviewed but then I didn't get the job and I was just feeling like a failure, like what is my purpose then? Like why am I here if I'm not going to move up? Like I just started questioning everything. But he purpose then like why, why am I here if I'm not gonna move up? Like I just started questioning everything. But he was in this meeting talking to not just me, but I felt like like you know, when they they look at you and you think it's just you in the room right, and he was just like trust the process period. He just said trust the process and I was like it was like something hit me hard and I was like, wow, like okay, I'll just trust. Like I'm getting emotional right now, yeah, like I'll just trust the process.
Speaker 3:And then I thought later on and I was like that means I gotta trust God. I mean, like it totally means like not only trust after Williams, but he's gonna take care of me at work. I gotta trust God. Trust God in my life. And so it really hit me and I was like everything I've been through, I just needed to trust the process instead of questioning and doubting.
Speaker 3:And why me? Why is this happening to me? Like those bad relationships that ended out of nowhere. And I'm like why me? I didn't do anything wrong. Trust God, because it was for a reason he was closing something that I didn't need in my life.
Speaker 3:Why didn't I get those jobs? Well, now I'm at a point in my life where I want to focus on my family. I want to focus on me and my health and my family. And if I would have had those jobs, I wouldn't have had that time. And so all of these things I've reflected on, like why didn't I get into PT school? Well, maybe that's not where I was supposed to be Like thank you God for not putting me there, because then I had the opportunity to work with students with disabilities, I had the opportunity to work in the school system and now I have the opportunity to be here back at OC helping my community. So I don't think he knows how much that hit me that day. But now every time something happens, I'm like it's okay, like it's okay, I'm just going to trust the process, I'm going to trust God and I'm just going to roll with it, because it's not my time, because that was one door closed. A better door will be open later.
Speaker 2:So how has that affected your mental health?
Speaker 3:Like, how does that help you navigate that? I think it has improved my mental health. Yeah, like so much, because I'm not worrying about like the negative, like why do I suck? Why am I not good enough? Why am I this? Why am I like, why didn't they want me or why anything like all negative thoughts to now. That's okay, I wasn't meant for that. Something else will be meant for me, something better will be meant for me, somebody else better will be meant for me. And like, now that I'm married and I found my husband, mark, and he's a perfect, I'm like everything negative I went through was worth it. Thank you, god for opening this door, because this is the door meant for me.
Speaker 2:Yeah, kind of the thing that I see sometimes, which I guess could be another life model, is God's in the details, like you don't realize how your story one day is going to affect another young lady or young man and encourage them to get through whatever season they're going through life.
Speaker 3:So that is like I'm thinking that trust the processes, but it's something that's hard it is hard and I'm telling you, it's kind of like the whole being told no thing. I'm gonna throw a little fit at first, but then I have to self-reflect, I have to pray about it. Like I have been focused more, I would say, within the past three years, more about praying, being intentional with my praying, like not only why this, why this, why is this happening to me? But more like thank you, thank you for what you're providing, thank you for giving me a roof over my head, thank you for this. Now guide me to where I need to be next, like if this is where I'm supposed to be, awesome, but if not, prepare me for my next step, even if it's not right now.
Speaker 3:And so that's why, when Dr Williams was like, trust the process, I was like, okay, I'm going to focus on my job and I'm going to be really darn good at my job. I'm gonna find like I'm gonna learn every single day. I'm gonna learn ins and outs of oc, of my job, of my life, of odessa, of texas, of education in general. I'm just gonna learn, and so when that next door opens, I'm gonna be ready. Yeah, that's crazy.
Speaker 2:I don't know something about the whole concept of like trust. The process God's in the details, it's always the best word I can use is amazing when you actually see some of your like life puzzle pieces begin to come together. Yes, and I know for me it does make you dive in deeper in that relationship not religion, but relationship with God and you're like okay, lord you, I feel you, I hear you, um, and it almost like increases your appetite, like I want more, like I see you, I feel you I hear you, you know I want more, so you, like you said you do dive in deeper with the bible studies.
Speaker 2:um, I know, for me last couple of weeks I would say my thing is I am 99% of the time listening to only praise and worship music, even when I work out, and it may be like what is it called? Like Christian rap or whatever, which is very interesting by the way.
Speaker 3:Don't doubt it if you haven't listened to it.
Speaker 2:It's interesting.
Speaker 3:It's a good word for it.
Speaker 2:It definitely is yeah, Because I feel like and I'm not trying to, I'm like okay well, this is a little interesting, but I like it and it works and it gets me through the gym, but I feel like it kind a certain degree um also sensitive to be able to hear from him, because it's like the gym for me, the time to um, I should kind of reset and like slow down and pour into myself. So to even have that is great, but I have no clue where I was going with that well, it also.
Speaker 3:It changes your mindset because, you're surrounding yourself more with positive music, with spiritual music, then that changes who you want to be. You're surrounding yourself more with positive music, with spiritual music, then that changes who you want to be surrounded with. That changes your daily life Like it's like a trickle effect. If you're listening to trash, you're going to act like trash, but if you're listening to positive, encouraging Caleb, did you get that Positive, encouraging Caleb?
Speaker 2:That is literally their slogan. That is funny. That is funny. I didn't get it at first, I think you get it, and I was like, uh, yeah, I got it. But that's true though. Yeah, because I think also it kind of you begin to have a different set of eyes. Yeah, um, and you realize, okay, wait, this person actually isn't you know my person, or the friend for me, or they were the friend in that life and I'm in a different season and people grow, yeah, and I don't think I'm carrying them over, right? Um, I, what did I? I was telling a friend yesterday um, I'm okay with you eating, but you can't eat at my table, amen. So it's like a wish you much success over there, but A.
Speaker 3:I think that goes back to mental health too who you surround yourself with, because if you surround yourself with the wrong people they're negative, they complain, they are gossipers or whatever then that affects your mental health completely. So I think the older I've gotten, the more selective I've been who I surround myself with, what I listen to, what I focus on, and I do believe that with trusting the process, it has changed my mindset. Yeah for sure.
Speaker 2:And I think a lot of us realize your mindset plays a key part in a lot of things in your life, like your mental health. If your mindset is shot, your mental health is going to suffer. Your life, like your mental health. If your mindset shot, your mental health is going to suffer. I think to some degree even like your physical health, um, spiritual, all of it plays up, I think your mindset connected.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I didn't realize that to be honest with you.
Speaker 2:Probably about the last, if I'm gonna be honest, I think I really didn't realize how much your mindset plays a part, and so I started actually dating aaron. That was one of his main things was like your mindset you're thinking, um, I think he had a key part in me actually changing that to be more, uh, positive, but also just more aware of it. Yeah, and how people are making me feel and situations, and you know something I can change and change it. That's my point of suffering um at all. So for a person who may hear your life model, um, and want to apply it to their life, what would you tell them is the first step in trusting the process, or is there a step.
Speaker 2:This is just a gun.
Speaker 3:It I think. I think my first step was kind of reflection, like understanding what he was saying first of all, like if you don't get it, then you're not going to be able to apply it. And then kind of reflecting, like this happened to me, but then something good happened later. This happened to me and you don't really understand, like this good happened later, until you reflect, because you may not know they're even connected and you might not ever take the time to reflect, which I think is also mental health. But, um, I would just say, reflect back on. I mean, if you want to start with everything bad that happens to you, go to that and then connect it with something good that's happened to you.
Speaker 3:And then I say, just go for it and just say you know what? I'm just going to trust the process. I mean I'm going to put my faith in God. He's going to open up another door. And then I would say pray, just pray, and I would say, lord, please help me, trust this process, please show me Like, even right now, I pray about the future and I'm like, if I'm meant to do this, please put me in a place where it can happen, put the tools in me where I can make it happen, even if it's not happening right now. I pray for the future and I'm like, if it's not meant for me, then please remove it from my life, and so I think all of that is part of trusting the process. You can trust the process and still pray about it.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:Goodness, something about removing it from my life. I feel like that prayer is always scary, because then, when stuff starts removing, you're like oh, I didn't even realize that that was like holding me back. Yeah, until you know, god shows you like.
Speaker 3:Or had an effect on you or like people. I mean people's a big one. I think people is more of a big one than people realize. Just one removal or one addition can have the biggest effect on your life and your family's I mean, that's who you're surrounded with.
Speaker 2:What did I say? Birds of a feather flock together, but a lot of times we don't realize. You know, we don't want to see that the people that we're giving our time to are actually pulling away from us Like we don't are pulling us down. So I say we don't really, ever, really want to take that moment of self-reflection, because that does require you to kind of look in the mirror and realize like, oh wait, I could be doing more, yeah, or I could be doing less, if the person is doing too much.
Speaker 3:Well, and I think it's hard for people like us, because we want to help, like we want to help, like we want to fix, we want to help, we want to be the person for them. But you also, I mean it affects you, I mean it can kill your mental health, it can kill your positivity just because you're putting so much into somebody else. So I think there's a balance of being a good person but having boundaries.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I had to realize that, like, my thing is I just want to serve, like I want to volunteer. In my head I wanted to volunteer everywhere, like, oh, I like your cause, how can I help you? And instead of actually taking a second and actually having a conversation with God before making some of those moves and you know, just say, hey, god, you know, you gave me this servant's heart. Where do you want me to serve this community? Who would you like me to pour into? Because me pouring into everyone got me to where I was burnt out.
Speaker 3:Well, and you can't pour into everybody if your cup is empty.
Speaker 2:Yeah, no, mine was like girl.
Speaker 1:No, the gas meter.
Speaker 2:I was on like negative five miles, um, and I had to take a huge step back, and I think that's one thing that I'm thankful for um OC, for the program positive OC, because it still allows me to volunteer, but at the same time, um, there's not so much of a commitment.
Speaker 3:So it's like not overdoing.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and I'm like I can do a little bit here. A little bit here, yeah, um still get introduced to different opportunities and kind of also hone in more on, um, what I like and where I actually want to volunteer at. Cause that is one thing, cause you get an array of volunteer opportunities and if you take advantage of it, it'll open new doors for you. So that is one thing that I do like. Well, um, what do you stand for?
Speaker 3:what do I stand for? So I am really big um and it's not always a popular view, I guess in being genuine and honest. Yeah. So I truly believe that everybody just needs to be themselves. Yeah, don't be fake, don't like. This is probably another life motto. But not everybody's going to like you. You're not going to be everybody's best friend, no for sure.
Speaker 3:So I'm just really big on being honest. I mean, I think there's a way to be honest and kind at the same time, but still not being fake or anything. So I'm really big on being yourself, being genuine, and I do think that trickles into being kind. It trickles into a lot of different aspects of your life. And then I'm also really big on giving back. I think if you expect things out of your community or your job or your friends, that you should also give back.
Speaker 3:I think if you should expect things out of your community or your job or your friends, that you should also give back. So I think that goes into walking the walk, like if I am a supervisor for somebody or if I'm an advisor for the scholarship program, like I'm going to be there too, I'm going to walk the walk. I'm not going to ask something of you that I wouldn't ask of myself, and so I've been really big on that. When I was an assistant principal, I was big on that when I was a teacher, I was big on that as a daughter, as a wife, like I'll be there too and we'll do it together. So I would say that's my big one is walking the walk, cause I don't want anybody to go through anything alone.
Speaker 2:Yeah, that's why we're friends, Cause that's literally what I tell people. I said I lead with the mindset of I'm not going to ask you to do anything. I wouldn't do so if it's you know, if I'm leading and we have to picking up trash with you, Because I always believe you know, at the end of the day, we're all humans, Our blood is somewhat the same. It may be different types of blood, but our blood is always like somewhat the same. So, yeah, I felt that for sure. I think also for me. I don't know I'm at this thing now. You know I answered this question before we started recording, but I think mine has actually changed, changed. I just feel like, to some degree, you just I mean, I did say this actually but you just can't judge a book by its cover, right? Especially without having a conversation with your neighbor you don't know what people are going through.
Speaker 2:No, you have no idea, so you can't sit there and say, like you know they're a lot, when do you know why they're a lot? Yeah, do you know what you know their life has been and, yeah, some of that is. You know their choices that they made, um, or didn't make, but at the end of the day, you don't know. I just reminded to myself say this all the time, because sometimes it's a hard one customer service in, just in general I won't say odessa, but no, just in general, um, it's a lot.
Speaker 1:Yeah, somehow you'll be tripping and I'll be like, oh, what's wrong with you?
Speaker 2:I have to remember I don't know. I don't know what it took for them to get up this morning.
Speaker 2:Yep, like they could be on their last stream, you know yeah when I say my prayers at night most times I'm sure erin thinks I'm crazy because we pray together in the mornings, at night most times, um, but I'm always usually praying for those that are um thinking of like committing suicide or dealing with mental health, or I feel like they're alone, um just because I've been there before my previous marriage, so it's always like an extra like a little something, a little bit a spot in my heart, um, for those individuals. But I don't know.
Speaker 3:You just don't ever know it's hard to remember that, though, because we're human too.
Speaker 2:Yeah, sometimes, oh for sure, emotions.
Speaker 1:I'm telling you.
Speaker 2:I'd be ready to be like uh, excuse me, where are your manager? Traffic Right, yeah, and certain fingers be flying. But uh, no, that's a good point. It's a good point, it's a good reminder.
Speaker 3:It is a reminder. It was a constant reminder because, like I said, we're human.
Speaker 2:And it's hard to not have emotions too? Yeah, another reason why I like recording these podcasts and have this conversation, because it's a reminder to myself that, like no one's perfect, like you said, everyone's figuring out life step by step, piece by piece. U-turns are okay. Yeah, like you said, you just gotta start by just first of all moving and doing something, hopefully, in the right direction hopefully I mean things happen so well.
Speaker 2:Um, my last question for you is um, if there's a listener listening and needing some encouragement, what encouragement do you have for them today?
Speaker 3:um, I would say if you're going through something hard, don't give up. You are loved. You mark tells me this every single morning and I'm telling you I need to hear it every single day you are loved, you are cherished, you are accepted, you, you can be yourself. Um, but don't give up.
Speaker 1:And my last advice would be to trust the process yeah, I mean hey that is what it is, and you know it's funny because that's how I in my pocket.
Speaker 2:So I tell them I said remember, you are loved. Um, there's only one you. That is your superpower. There's only things that can be done in this world if they're done by you, which may sound very crazy, but if you stop and think about it like god only made one of you. So there's a talent inside of you and a story inside of you that someone needs to hear.
Speaker 3:Yeah, and for every weakness you think about because we all think about the negatives about ourselves you have a positive that you're just not thinking about oh yeah, so it's just changing your mindset.
Speaker 2:Yeah, for sure. And also, I would say, when you get the chance to tell your story and I know sometimes it's hard because some people's stories are intense're intense. Yeah, um, there's a lot of hurt and pain in the story, but when you get a chance to tell your story, don't be so afraid to tell it. Yeah, like I said, someone needs to hear it and it takes courage, and I would definitely say, if you're thinking about it, stop and have a conversation with god to give you, um, the words to say and the courage to say it, for you to be bold in him, not in yourself, because, like I said, there's someone that needs to hear your story.
Speaker 2:Absolutely and for them to be able to navigate life. So that's my last thing. Just remember always to be kind, spread encouragement, go hug your neighbor. Hopefully they weren't to go to her.
Speaker 1:I'm just saying, okay, that's it all, right, bye thank you for listening to another episode of standing in your truth with Yanni. And if no one told you today, you are loved, you are beautiful, you are needed. You are beautiful, you are needed and you matter. Be sure to follow on Facebook at Standing In your Truth Podcast with Yanni. Also on Instagram Talks With Yanni.
