Guest: Sameerah Shareef

In this special episode of the Truth Then Dare podcast, Dr. Nandi Shareef is joined by her mother, Sameerah Shareef, a certified nurse midwife and pastor, to explore the profound theme of choosing joy in the face of adversity. Sameerah shares her inspiring journey of overcoming life's hardships by grounding herself in joy, faith, and gratitude. This heartfelt conversation highlights the difference between happiness and joy, the importance of ritualizing joy, and the transformative power of a positive mindset.

The Difference Between Happiness and Joy:

• Sameerah explains that happiness is often dependent on external circumstances, while joy is a deep-seated state of being that can persist regardless of life's challenges.

The Role of Faith:

• Joy is described as being rooted in faith and trust in a higher power, which provides strength and resilience during difficult times.

Ritualizing Joy:

• Practical tips on how to incorporate joy into daily life, such as spending time in nature, enjoying simple pleasures, and maintaining a gratitude practice.

Personal Stories of Resilience:

• Sameerah shares a poignant story about choosing joy in a life-or-death situation, illustrating the power of a joyful mindset.

Mother-Daughter Bond:

• The episode also highlights the strong, supportive relationship between Dr. Nandi and Sameerah, showcasing the importance of family and love.

Time-stamped Discussion Points:

• 00:00 The importance of exploring the power of joy during challenges
• 05:01 Exercising gratitude for family and finding joy amid challenges
• 07:39 Finding solace in breathing during life's challenges
• 11:35 How faith and spiritual guidance averted a tragic decision
• 15:48 The value of emotional sensitivity, vulnerability, and choosing joy
• 17:23 Developing grounding skills to manage overwhelming empathy
• 22:16 The power of deep appreciation for simple necessities and the like
• 27:22 How embracing joy, appreciating others, and sharing it widely makes all the difference

#TTDareoftheDay:

Today, dare to find joy in a small, unexpected place. Even if life feels heavy or uncertain, pause and look for a single “joy point” — that spark of warmth or gratitude, however tiny it may be. Maybe it’s the quiet comfort of your morning coffee, a favorite song that lifts your spirits, or simply the beauty of the world around you. Let this small joy remind you of your strength, your resilience, and your capacity to find light even in the darkest moments. Embrace this joy wholeheartedly, and carry it with you today as a reminder that you are equipped for this journey, and you are meant to be here, right now, living it.

• "For me, joy was something that was consistent. There was always a joyful spot somewhere.”- Rev. Sameerah Shareef
• “I could be upset.. But the scripture says count it all joy. You make a decision to find the joy.”- Rev. Sameerah Shareef
• “God has gifted you in ways that only you are gifted...If you don’t bring forth your gifts in the way that God gave them to you...then you haven’t had an opportunity to live to the fullest that God wants you to live.”- Rev. Sameerah Shareef
• “There is no greater, more noble vocation than motherhood. It's the best job I've ever done!”- Rev. Sameerah Shareef

Join the Truth Then Dare Movement, Subscribe & Follow:

• Join our community newsletter!
• Check out the Truth Then Dare website
• Follow Dr. Nandi on Social Media
  • LinkedIn: Dr. Nandi Shareef, PCC
  • Instagram: @truththendare
  • Youtube: @truththendare

Thank you for listening! Be sure to subscribe to the podcast for more episodes focused on going deep, embracing your vulnerabilities, and starting to live an authentic life on your terms.

If you enjoyed today's episode, please rate and review the podcast. Your support and feedback helps our audience grow and improve the value of our content.

In this final solo episode of the season, Dr. Nandi Shareef delves into the powerful concept that our beliefs drive our lives. Through personal anecdotes and insightful observations, she explores how deeply ingrained beliefs shape our experiences, relationships, and life outcomes. Dr. Nandi shares her journey of recognizing and transforming these beliefs to create a more fulfilling life, offering listeners practical advice on how to do the same.

Key Topics:

• Introduction to the Topic:
  • Importance of understanding how beliefs drive life experiences.
  • Personal anecdotes of recurring challenges in relationships, career, and friendships.
• Recognizing Patterns:
  • Identifying and understanding recurring negative patterns.
  • The significance of approaching these patterns with curiosity.
• Beliefs vs. Facts:
  • Clarifying the difference between immutable facts and changeable beliefs.
  • How beliefs are formed and how they influence behavior and experiences.
• Changing Beliefs:
  • Practical steps to adopt new, empowering beliefs.
  • Examples of how changing beliefs can lead to different, more life affirming outcomes.
• Embracing Challenges:
  • Understanding that new beliefs won’t prevent challenges but will change how they are navigated.
  • The importance of having a renewed mindset to tackle new and different problems.

• “Your beliefs drive your life.”- Dr. Nandi Shareef
• "The only way out is through. And the only way to get it done is to do." - Dr. Nandi Shareef
• “Anywhere where you don't like the results in your life, there's an opportunity and an invitation to examine your beliefs and decide that different beliefs are what's needed and wanted.” - Dr. Nandi Shareef

#TTDareoftheDay:

Take a moment and reflect on an area of your life where you're not seeing the results you truly want. Is it in your relationships, your career, your health? Now, ask yourself: What belief is driving this? Get curious. What’s the story you’ve been telling yourself that’s keeping you stuck?

Now here’s the dare—choose a new belief. One that serves you. One that aligns with the life you actually want to live. Try on that new belief and act as if it’s already your truth.

The only way to shift your life is to shift your beliefs. So today, I dare you to believe something new. Watch what happens.

Time stamped discussion points:

00:00 The journey of recognizing, investigating, and understanding recurring life patterns

06:23 How formative experiences created a self limiting, victim mindset

07:15 The value of introspection and how it revealed beliefs’ role in shaping and driving life experiences.

12:33 The importance of reflecting and evaluating the impact of beliefs.

15:52 How adopting new beliefs reduced repeated suffering and diversified challenges.

Next Episode Teaser:

In this special and final episode of the Truth Then Dare podcast, Dr. Nandi Shareef is joined by her mother, Reverend Sameerah Shareef, a certified nurse midwife and pastor, to explore the profound theme of choosing joy in the face of adversity. Reverend Sameerah shares her inspiring journey of overcoming life's hardships by grounding herself in joy, faith, and gratitude. This heartfelt conversation highlights the difference between happiness and joy, the importance of ritualizing joy, and the transformative power of a positive mindset.

Join the Truth Then Dare Movement, Subscribe & Follow:

• Join our community newsletter!
• Check out the Truth Then Dare website
• Follow Dr. Nandi on Social Media
  • LinkedIn: Dr. Nandi Shareef, PCC
  • Youtube: @truththendare
  • Instagram: @truththendare

Thank you for listening! Be sure to subscribe to the podcast for more episodes focused on going deep, embracing your vulnerabilities, and starting to live an authentic life on your terms.

If you enjoyed today's episode, please rate and review the podcast. Your support and feedback helps our audience grow and improve the value of our content.