The Power of Ordinary (#101)

Tony Kolank, a professor and author, interviews Laura Rowland, a Catholic motivational coach, about finding holiness in everyday life. Laura shares her journey from an ordinary mom to a motivational speaker, emphasizing the beauty and sanctity in daily tasks and relationships. She highlights how ordinary moments, like caring for children or assisting elderly parents, hold profound spiritual significance. Laura discusses the importance of recognizing one's unique purpose and the power inherent in seemingly mundane activities. She also talks about her coaching work, which helps individuals understand their motivations and live fulfilling lives.

• Laura Rowland emphasizes the significance of living out ordinary, everyday lives as Catholics.
• The concept of finding holiness in daily routines and recognizing the grace in mundane tasks.
• The transformative effect of understanding ordinary actions as being the hands and feet of Christ.

"There are really beautiful graces that come when we live out that calling that we have."

• Recognizes the spiritual value in everyday life and tasks.

"She had never thought about her ordinary, everyday things that she did as being the hands and feet of Christ."

• Highlights the realization of holiness in daily actions, transforming one's perspective on life.

• Laura's unexpected path to becoming a motivational speaker, starting from a simple conversation.
• The role of the Holy Spirit in guiding her journey and the invitation to speak at a National Catholic Women's Conference.
• The impact of her speech on the audience, particularly one woman who experienced a transformative realization.

"It was really just an ordinary conversation that I had with a woman that we were colleagues."

• Illustrates how a simple conversation can lead to significant life changes and opportunities.

"As our hearts got shared and Holy Spirit entered into the conversation, she invited me to speak at her National Catholic women's conference."

• Demonstrates the role of divine intervention and heartfelt connections in opening new paths.

• Laura's experience of raising three children in three and a half years.
• The exhaustion and questioning of purpose during the early years of motherhood.
• The realization of the importance of seasons in life and embracing the current season with faith and patience.

"We were super busy at the time. And I remember, you know, as all, you know, moms and dads are in the throes of just the toddlerhood and babyhood."

• Describes the intense demands and busyness of early parenthood.

"I just looked around and I thought, really, Lord? Really? This is it. This is all you've created me for."

• Reflects the common struggle of finding meaning and purpose in the repetitive tasks of parenting.

• The importance of appreciating the ordinary and finding purpose in small, everyday actions.
• The contrast between worldly expectations of success and the spiritual fulfillment found in simple acts of love and service.
• The role of prayer and support from loved ones in navigating challenging seasons.

"You just love that person in front of you. That's what you're called to do in this season."

• Emphasizes the significance of focusing on the immediate tasks and people in one's life.

"Maybe by the world standards, it's not something. But I think God's pretty pleased."

• Highlights the difference between worldly measures of success and spiritual fulfillment.

• The lasting impact of Laura's message on the women who heard her speak.
• The ongoing connections and conversations that continue to inspire and transform lives.
• The idea that ordinary actions can have extraordinary effects on others.

"I still have women that come up to me. So that ordinary. Yes, and ordinary, momentous just played out, and it's still playing out today."

• Shows the enduring influence of her message and the continuous ripple effect of positive change.

"There was this one woman that I just. I thought, you know what, Lord? She's the one I need to talk to."

• Demonstrates the power of intuition and divine guidance in making meaningful connections.

• The speaker emphasizes the significance of ordinary moments in life, highlighting that these are the moments where one can truly live out their unique call to holiness.
• Ordinary moments are opportunities to serve others and to be the hands and feet of God in everyday situations.
• The speaker reflects on personal experiences where they felt fulfilled by ministering to others during difficult times.

"In those moments, those difficult moments, I did what he called me to do, and that was to be his hands and feet. That was to minister to that person, to love that person right in front of me."

• This quote exemplifies the speaker's belief in the importance of serving others during challenging times as a way to live out one's faith.

• As people age and their life circumstances change, their perception of what constitutes an ordinary life evolves.
• The speaker shares insights from older women who find fulfillment in simple acts of service, such as taking care of grandchildren or helping neighbors.
• These acts, though ordinary to them, are seen as extraordinary by others.

"For them, they're what they call just doing life has been things like they take an elderly parent to the doctor, they take up their grandchildren and take them, and they fill in the gaps when parents have to work."

• This quote illustrates how older individuals find purpose and fulfillment in everyday acts of service.

"At the end of my life, if people say I loved them, well, I've done what the Lord's called me to do."

• This quote reflects the speaker's aspiration to be remembered for their love and service to others.

• The speaker discusses the profound impact that ordinary actions can have over a lifetime.
• They share stories of individuals who have made significant differences in the lives of others through consistent, everyday actions.
• The concept of loving the person in front of you is emphasized as a powerful way to live out one's purpose.

"She impacted so many people, just one by one, kids. She ran a daycare, actually, her name was Ruth Brown, and she ran a daycare, a nursery school."

• This quote highlights the long-lasting impact of consistent, loving actions over a lifetime.

• The speaker addresses the challenge of reconciling personal dreams and aspirations with the demands of everyday life.
• They emphasize that each person has a unique plan and purpose that unfolds over time.
• The importance of staying close to one's faith and trusting in God's plan is highlighted.

"There's something that only you can bring to the world in your own unique way. There's something that only I can bring to the world in our own unique way."

• This quote underscores the belief that everyone has a unique contribution to make in the world.

"I had to stay close to him. I had to stay close to that promise, psalm 139. Anybody that is really wondering if they have, they've lost that sense of themselves."

• This quote emphasizes the importance of faith and trusting in God's plan during times of uncertainty.

• The speaker discusses the concept of different seasons in life, each with its own purpose and opportunities for growth.
• They talk about the importance of being present and serving others in each season, whether it involves raising children or other responsibilities.
• The idea of finding purpose and fulfillment in each season is emphasized.

"We'll go through seasons of discovery and we'll go through seasons of where we're content, and we go through seasons of just this, this growth in ourselves."

• This quote highlights the different phases of life and the opportunities they bring for personal growth and service.

"Whether you're on the floor with me or you're with a 90 year old, right, you always have a purpose and a plan."

• This quote reinforces the idea that every stage of life has its own unique purpose and opportunities for serving others.

• Anna's Story: A woman named Anna shared how she resonated with the idea of being an ordinary mom, feeling seen and appreciated for her everyday efforts.
• Impact of Ordinary Work: The speaker emphasizes that ordinary tasks, like making dinner or doing laundry, are significant and meaningful.
• Holy and Hard Work: Caring for family members, such as elderly parents or children, is described as holy and hard work, essential and valuable.
• Perspective on Ordinary Life: The importance of viewing everyday tasks as fulfilling a divine purpose, rather than seeking validation from the world.

"I don't know how you knew what my life was like, but you told my story. I'm an ordinary mom who does ordinary things, who has felt like she's never enough by the world's standards."

• Anna felt understood and validated in her role as an ordinary mom, which changed her perspective on her daily efforts.

"What I often think about is that it depends on what we think is important. It depends on how we view what we do."

• The significance of ordinary tasks is determined by our perception and values.

"There is no more important work. There isn't. It's what we're called to do."

• The speaker stresses that everyday tasks are crucial and divinely ordained.

"When you're rocking those babies in the middle at night, when you're driving that carpool, when you are stretching that food budget until you don't even know if you're going to make it till Friday, till payday, and you figure out a way to do it..."

• Examples of ordinary yet significant tasks that many people perform daily.

• Definition of Power: The term "power" is used to highlight the strength and impact of ordinary tasks.
• Self-Perception: The speaker discusses how people often diminish their roles by using phrases like "I'm just a mom."
• Affirmation of Identity: Encourages people to affirm their roles without diminishing their importance.
• Divine Calling: Each person's unique role and tasks are seen as part of a divine plan.

"We take that affirming 'I am' statement, and then we add that limit-setting word 'justa.' And so what we do is we negate the very being. We negate who we are, what we are created to do."

• Using "just" diminishes the significance of one's identity and role.

"I am a mom. I am a teacher. I am filling the blank."

• Affirming one's role without diminishing its importance.

"The world would have us. And again, that phrase of we're called to be, you know, in the world, but..."

• Emphasizes the importance of fulfilling one's role despite societal pressures.

• Holy and Hard Work: The speaker reiterates the sanctity and difficulty of everyday tasks.
• Purpose and Plan: Each person's role is part of a divine plan, and their efforts are meaningful.
• Encouragement: The speaker encourages people to find value and purpose in their everyday tasks.

"What they're doing in that season is holy and hard work. And that's what I mean when I say this power of ordinary."

• Ordinary tasks are described as holy and challenging, emphasizing their importance.

"It's coming from a pure place of love. And he's left that heavy lifting to us."

• Everyday tasks are seen as acts of love, entrusted to individuals by a higher power.

"There is beauty and there is sanctity in that because it's coming from a pure place of love."

• The beauty and sanctity of ordinary tasks are highlighted as expressions of love.

• Ignoring Worldly Opinions: The speaker advises against worrying about societal judgments.
• Focus on Divine Calling: Emphasizes the importance of focusing on one's divine calling and the people in front of them.
• No Greater Work: Reiterates that there is no greater work than fulfilling one's role with love and dedication.

"We don't have time to waste worrying about what the world thinks about this."

• Advises against being concerned with societal judgments.

"It's what the Lord's called you to do in this moment. And there is no greater work, there's no greater mission than you can have."

• Emphasizes the importance and value of fulfilling one's divine calling.

"As hard as it is and as mundane as you might think it is, there's no greater work that you can be doing than loving that person in front of you."

• Reiterates that loving and caring for others is the most important work one can do.

• The world often undervalues ordinary roles, such as being a mom, considering them less impactful.
• Recognizing the power in ordinary roles can lead to reclaiming and naming their significance.
• Embracing ordinary roles can change perspectives and reveal where God is at work in one's life.

"There's no power in being a mom. Like, you don't have. You don't get to make huge decisions for the world. You don't have to, you know, you don't, you don't really have an impact on the greater, the greater world. Or so the world would have a say."

• Society often views roles like motherhood as insignificant or powerless.

"But this idea of the power of ordinary is, is that I, when we realize just how powerful what we're doing is, we can reclaim that. We can claim it, we can name it."

• Realizing the power in ordinary tasks allows individuals to reclaim and acknowledge their importance.

"There's something really powerful about being able to stand up and say and declare, I am this and I'm living it out."

• Declaring and embracing one's role can be empowering and transformative.

"They start to see themselves differently, and they start to see where God's at work in their life and where they're strongest and where they're making a difference."

• Reframing ordinary roles can lead to a new understanding of self and recognizing divine influence.

• Ordinary actions can have long-term and widespread impacts, influencing others in ways that may not be immediately visible.
• The hope is to see both the good and bad impacts of one's life on Judgment Day.

"I think sometimes we probably also need to widen our vision, because maybe while we're going to do is ordinary stuff and love these people in front of us, and that's all we do. But what are they going to do? And people that they touch, what are they going to do?"

• The ripple effect of ordinary actions can extend far beyond immediate interactions.

"I kind of always hope. I know that on Judgment Day, God will show me all the bad impacts that I've had on the world, but you kind of also hope that you could see some of those good impacts, too, from just ordinary life."

• There is a hope to see the positive outcomes of one's ordinary actions in the afterlife.

• Laura Rowland is a certified Catholic motivation code coach, using the motivation code assessment to identify individual motivators.
• The assessment is narrative-based, focusing on personal stories of fulfillment to understand core motivators.
• The coaching aligns with the power of ordinary, emphasizing unique and unrepeatable design.

"I am a certified catholic motivation code coach, and so I use the motivation code assessment, which looks at your 32 motivators by virtue of the fact that we are human, we have 32 motivators, and the motivation code looks at all of the motivators in a ranked order."

• The motivation code assessment identifies 32 human motivators in a ranked order.

"What's very unique about the motivation code that I use is that we start with your story, and so it's a narrative based assessment, and so it is your stories of fulfillment, and then you are asked questions about your experience with that story."

• The assessment is unique in its narrative approach, focusing on personal fulfillment stories.

"It all fits in with my overall message of this power of ordinary, but it's also this idea of your unique and unrepeatable design."

• The coaching emphasizes the individual's unique and unrepeatable design, aligning with the power of ordinary.

• The coaching aims to help individuals understand their unique design and live out their personal vocation with satisfaction and joy.
• There is an urgency for people to step out and bring forth what God has put on their hearts.

"How the words created you to show up in the world, to live out this personal vocation with this deep sense of satisfaction and fulfillment and joy."

• Understanding one's design leads to living out a personal vocation with satisfaction and joy.

"I just feel like there's this sense of urgency that people need to start stepping out into the world to do, to bring, to co create with the Lord, to really bring forth what he's put on our hearts and not stay in the shadows anymore."

• There is an urgent need for individuals to step out and co-create with the Lord, bringing forth their God-given purposes.

• Laura also works with individuals on productivity and procrastination, helping them tap into their motivational code.
• The goal is to bring out what the Lord has put on their hearts, whether it be writing a book, starting a business, or other endeavors.

"I also work with people around the idea of productivity and procrastination and what it is, what it isn't. Some things that they can think about in terms of how to tap into their motivational code, to really pull that out and to bring, like I said, to bring forth what it is that the Lord's put on their hearts."

• Coaching includes addressing productivity and procrastination to help individuals realize their God-given goals.

"I work with a lot of women who are working in what I call the margins of their motherhood. And so they have some sort of a business that they want to bring to, but they want their family as their first priority."

• Many clients are women balancing business aspirations with their primary role as mothers.

• Laura Rowland's website and Instagram are primary platforms for connecting with her and learning about her coaching services.
• Her blog, "This Woman's Journey," is another resource for insights and information.

"So the first place is my website, which is laurarolandcoaching.com. and then I also hang out a lot on instagram. That is Laurarolland thiswoman's journey."

• Laura's website and Instagram are key platforms for engagement and information.

"This woman's journey is also the name of my blog. So they can find me there too, but I can just go back and forth between Instagram or find me on my website and you can contact me there for sure."

• The blog "This Woman's Journey" offers additional resources and insights related to her coaching.