Recognize the opportunity that change brings and use it as a catalyst to propel you forward.
Michelle Arguello hosts the Style Your Life Podcast with her long time friend Erin Moody. This creative outlet was designed from their years of personal development, research, and avid reading. Michelle has a passion for merging all she has learned with her own personal life experience to inspire true and lasting positive change in her audience. She is on a mission to share insights, discoveries, and revelations that will help move you forward.
I grew up the daughter of a Methodist Minister who became a Navy Chaplain when I was in 8th grade. This meant that throughout my youth I moved to a new city every two to three years. As a child, this was a difficult lifestyle and something I viewed as a challenge. I was always starting over.
I had an opportunity that many people never have to travel, to be exposed to different cultures and regions, and to develop a broader view of the world. The necessity of constant change has molded my character and given me the ability to easily connect with people.
Adulthood brought a new set of challenges, including a divorce after 15 years of marriage and adjusting to being a single mom. Again, I had to decide whether circumstances were going to break me or make me stronger. Admittedly, I had many moments of breaking, but ultimately decided that circumstances would not dictate my overall well being and peace.
I have learned that my perspective is a choice that makes all the difference. Now, I have a passion to share this knowledge with others so that they can avoid the same mistakes I made. My desire is to be a guide, coach, and friend through the messy navigation of life.
I strongly believe that our greatest strengths can be developed through our greatest challenges. This belief led me and my best friend to start the Style Your Life Podcast as a platform to inspire positive change through building confidence, embracing challenges, and practicing mindfulness. When you style your life, you make intentional choices about who you want to be and what you want to do.
Style Your Life Podcast
With Erin Moody & Michelle Arguello
Erin Moody & Michelle Arguello
Style Your Life Podcast
A Conversation with Michelle
Michelle what do you think are the most important qualities a person should have to become an influencer?
- Authenticity – Be real! Have a unique and genuine voice that people trust.
- Purpose – Be driven! Have a clear and powerful “Why” that is centered around serving others.
- Confidence – Be bold! Have a strong presence that communicates your expertise.
- Passion – Be inspiring! Have a contagious enthusiasm that excites and motivates your audience.
- Humility – Be humble! Have a teachable mindset that is open to feedback and respectful of others
Could you share what is your greatest realization in life and why?
My greatest realization in life is that I AM enough.
As many women do, I grew up believing the lie that I wasn’t pretty enough, smart enough, or talented enough to have or achieve what I wanted. I fed this toxic belief by comparing myself to unrealistic standards I saw in magazines or on TV. I allowed myself to be treated poorly in romantic relationships because I subconsciously believed I didn’t deserve more or couldn’t get more. This mindset had deep roots and permeated every facet of my being.
It wasn’t until my 30s that I started having a shift in my self perception. Ironically, my greatest realization came through my greatest heartache and challenge. I went through an ugly divorce after 15 years of marriage. It was devastating, but it also showed me how strong, resilient, and capable I was and had actually been all those years without realizing it.
Throughout my divorce process and onward, I have been on a self discovery and personal development journey. I have learned to love myself and to recognize that, flaws and all, I AM enough. I have a passion to share this realization with others so that they too can break free from the negative self perception that they aren’t enough.
Where does your passion come from and When are you most fully yourself?
- My passion comes from my sincere desire to inspire others to build confidence and embrace change. I took the long hard road to develop into who I am. I want to use that experience to impact the lives and perspectives of my audience.
- I am most fully myself when I am serving others. I feel most fulfilled and alive when I am positively impacting others, whether it’s through coaching, teaching, or recording podcast episodes.
What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced and how did you overcome it?
The biggest challenge that I have faced was standing on the other side of my divorce and realizing that there was no one coming to rescue me. All my childhood fantasies of knights on white horses or happily ever afters were destroyed. Everything I had known was gone in what seemed like an instant and I was left to pick up the pieces. This was a heavy burden to bear, especially with two young children counting on me.
I questioned my competence and my ability to provide everything we needed. I battled my belief of not being enough. I feared the future and everything felt uncertain. But, in this dark time, I discovered that fear is a liar and I had more strength than I knew.
I decided that the story of my life would not be written by fear. The first step to overcoming was accepting things as they were and making a determined decision that I was not going to settle, give up, or let fear dictate my future. I spent countless hours reading personal development books, learning to meditate, and setting goals. I was on a mission to change my mindset and learn from my mistakes. That’s right, I said MY mistakes. An important part of this journey was taking responsibility for my part. That is a humbling experience, but a necessary one.
One of my favorite quotes was said by Eleanor Roosevelt, “A woman is like a tea bag – you can’t tell how strong she is until you put her in hot water.” Through my challenges I have learned my strength. Positive transformation is a process that I am still undergoing today and will continue. Change is constant and I now choose to let go of resistance and embrace my journey as it is, not how I wish it could be.
As a Podcast host, what do you want your audience to do differently after listening to your episode?
After listening to my podcast, I want my audience to take action. So often people consume knowledge and feel motivated, but never actually take any real action. Our goal for each episode is to give our listeners tangible tips that can be applied immediately. These tips are throughout the episodes along with personal stories and insightful interviews.
The last segment of every episode is called Champagne for Change. We take this time to raise a glass and toast to the small changes that can be made that week based on the episode topic and discussion. We believe that making small consistent changes will add up to big impacts over time. Even if you just change by 1% a day or a week, over time that action will have a compounding effect on your life. We encourage our audience to not just listen, but to apply what they hear and celebrate the small wins that bring them closer to their goals.
What do you fear most about hosting a podcast?
My biggest fear is that there is someone who needs to hear the message of the podcast, but hasn’t heard it. It breaks my heart to imagine someone needing encouragement or needing advice and feeling like they are facing giants alone. I have such a deep desire to reach as many people as I can with practical hope and I fear not reaching someone who needs it.
What does it mean to you to speak from the heart?
Speaking from the heart is being vulnerable and honest. It is speaking your truth and telling your story directly and with sincerity. This kind of open communication is difficult and can feel weak, but it is strong and brave. It builds true and lasting connections between people. It has the power to change lives.
Any final thought?
I have experienced my share of challenges in life and have come to realize that there is little about that I can control. However, I do have the power to control my thoughts, my emotions, and my attitudes. I decide whether a circumstance breaks me or builds me. I am building a woman who doesn’t give up and who is enough.
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