In this episode, I discuss your commitment level to different endeavors or relationships in your life. If you’re “one toe in the water,” that means that you are hesitant, unsure and not convicted. If you are “two feet in,” that means that you have decided to be all in, to be committed and to trust that you can rise to the challenge. Life always feels better with two feet in. You don’t need to do something full-time hours to be two feet in, you need full-time conviction and belief. Whether it’s your health, your marriage, your friendship, your career or your side hustle, decide. Get in the water, or get out. Be two feet in or none at all. Being one toe in the water never feels quite right.

“What does full time honestly even mean anymore? In HR talk, full time means 35 to 40 hours a week. But in real life, I'm a full time mom, I'm a full time spouse, I'm a full time business owner, I'm a full time manager myself. I care about all of these things. They don't all get the same designated number of hours, but it's not full time hours that I care about. It's full time conviction, full time committed.” - Trina

Keypoints:

• Being “two feet in” means making a decision to go all in.
• When you go all in, you build confidence and rise to the challenge.
• When you are one toe in the water, you are hesitant and people sense it.
• Being “two feet in” doesn’t mean you do something full time, it means you’re fully convicted.
• You can apply this lesson to the different roles you have in life to see where you can improve.

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In this episode, I apply a very simple, but profound concept of doing hard things. We explore this lesson in all areas of our life. It can be hard to choose daily actions to better ourselves and our lives – from eating healthy, to paying bills, to learning new job skills. But it can be harder to NOT do those actions. It can be harder to live the result of inaction. It can be harder to live unhealthy, financially stressed, and stuck in your career.

“Living stuck doesn't feel good. It feels more mundane. It feels like you're always beating your head against the wall. It feels like you're not growing and learning and expanding. So yes, it's hard to grow in your career, it's hard to go back to school to get the advanced degree, or it's hard to learn the new skill. It's hard to work on yourself and your communication. It's hard to work on your time management, on your efficiency, on your focus. It's hard to grow in your career, but it is a heck of a lot harder to stay stuck.” - Trina Gray

Keypoints:
1. Taking daily action can be hard because no one is looking, or asking, or requiring you to grow and get better.

2. You have to want more for your own life.

3. Taking daily action can be hard because we are busy, distracted and even tired at times.
4. Ignoring or delaying the things we need to do to live a vibrant life will lead to much harder outcomes.

5. Learn the five-step process for putting the “choose your hard” mentality into your life.

Reaching episode 20 felt like a benchmark. I wanted the topic to be uplifting. At the heart of this episode is the theme of joy—how we cultivate it within ourselves, and how we pass it on to others. I share a lesson from my recent mastermind retreat in Napa Valley, where I felt joy on a deeper level when I shared something I love with others.

“What is it that you are specifically doing that brings other people joy? And can you schedule that? And can you make sure you are doing that on the regular? Because I think it deepens your well of joy. “ - Trina

Keypoints:

• I’m proud to reach episode 20—a big achievement in the podcast world—and it reminds me why I started this: to help others live calm and confident lives.
  
  
• I’ve learned that joy doesn’t just show up; I have to intentionally create it, both for myself and for others.
  
  
• My trip to Napa Valley served as a reminder that I can 10 X my own joy when I serve others with my passion or talent.
  
  
• I wrote down two lists: what brings me joy personally and what brings me joy by serving others.
  
  
• Whether I’m paddleboarding, mentoring, or podcasting, I now prioritize joy as a non-negotiable—and I want you to do the same.

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In this episode, I share on a topic that I built my entire career on— health and fitness. The Calm & Confident podcast is about living a better life overall. Embracing an active lifestyle is part of that formula. I share my own journey from being a high school athlete, to losing my way (big time) in college, and ultimately finding fitness for life. I share about the three kinds of people who start a fitness program, or join my health club — they are health-minded people looking to stay active, they lost their fitness for a season of life and are ready to get it back, or they’ve had a recent health scare, and have a more urgent need to get healthy. The latter is the hardest. Don’t wait to start until your back is up against a wall. I urge you to take care of yourself now because sometime in life, you’ll need someone else to take care of you — and at least you’ll have been carrying your fair share of the load. Fitness is prevention, it is health care, it helps you navigate the inevitable challenges that we all face. Arm yourself with a health body. You’ll never regret it.

“Once fitness is out of your routine, out of your rhythm of life, it can be easily lost or forgotten. I'm encouraging you to start fresh, to get back in the rhythm, in the routine, to find a way to take control again, to put yourself in your own driver's seat of your health and to take care of you, to do your fair share.” - Trina Gray

Key Points:

• I opened up about how fitness shaped my life—from being a high school athlete to losing my way in college, and finally making health a lifelong priority.

• I explained the three types of people who join my health club: the consistently active, the ones returning after a break, and those facing a health scare.

• I urged listeners not to wait for a wake-up call—fitness is prevention and should be part of our routine now, not later.

• I shared how finding group fitness helped me rebuild confidence, energy, and a sense of control in my life.

• I believe taking care of myself today means less burden on others tomorrow—and that’s a responsibility I take seriously.

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In this episode, I open up about the real-life challenges and opportunities that holidays bring. I remind myself—and you—that it’s completely okay if our holidays don’t look like they used to, or like anyone else’s. The goal isn’t just to get through the season but to actually enjoy it. I share four practical tips that help me stay grounded, honor my personal values, and design holiday traditions that bring peace and joy, not pressure and comparison. Whether your family structure has changed or you’re simply craving a different rhythm this year, this episode is your permission slip to redefine what holidays look like—for you.

“Be willing to keep the good and carry it over and let go of maybe what doesn't serve you anymore, or what just doesn't fit your current family situation anymore, things can look different from before and still be right now. The other side of that equation is things can look different from others and still be right.” -Trina Gray

Keypoints:

• I embrace that holidays can look different now and still feel right.

• I set personal standards to stay true to what matters to me.

• I focus on whose opinions truly matter in my life.

• I design holidays around what brings me joy and meaning.

• I let go of traditions that no longer serve me.

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In this episode, you’ll learn how to create a powerful, 4-part vision board that brings together meaningful quotes, joyful bucket list items, bold goals, and your biggest dreams. If the first half of your year felt like a blur or didn’t quite go the way you hoped, you’re not alone — and it’s not too late to reset. Today, you’ll get clear on where you're going in the second half of the year. We’re creating a vision board with a twist — not just images cut from magazines or quotes to hang on a wall, but rather a living, breathing document to excite you, goals that guide you, and big dreams that stretch you. I dedicated this episode to my mom, who turns 84 in heaven as I’m recording today. She was a big fan of vision boards and always loved seeing mine and writing her own. Even in her late 70s, while battling cancer, she was setting goals just like the ones we will do together today. My mom and I had a complicated ending and lost years between us at the end, but this is one area where we felt connected and understood — setting goals for our lives and living intentionally.

“If your goals are about revenue in your business or clients or sales or growth or certifications you need, or benchmarks you need to hit, by all means, those can be your goals, and that's where you are in life. You just own that, and you get goals down that are really specific to what's kind of fueling your life right now.” - Trina Gray

Key Points:

• I walk you through creating a 4-part vision board: Words to Live By, Bucket List Items, Life Goals, and Bigger Dreams.

• I share how my mom inspired my love for vision boards and how we found connection even through a complicated relationship.

• I encourage you to include experiences that spark joy—like solo trips, yoga classes, or live concerts—on your bucket list.

• I outline how to set goals in different areas of your life that match your current season—career, personal growth, wellness, and more.

• I remind you to dream bigger—whether it’s launching a podcast, buying a dream home, or creating financial freedom.

Resources:

Template C&C Vision Board 2.0 2025

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Key Points:

• The messy middle is a universal part of change—messy, emotional, and necessary for growth.
• Establishing a routine creates familiarity and stability when life feels chaotic.
• Envisioning a beautiful ending keeps us hopeful and motivated during tough transitions.
• These tools apply across all life areas—work, health, relationships, and personal development.
• The goal is to help you build a calm and confident toolbox to thrive through change.

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In this episode, I reflect on what it really means to live a life by design—not by default. I walk you through an honest self-assessment exercise where I encourage you to rate key areas of your life on a scale of 1 to 5 stars: inner health, physical health, family, career, finances, social circle, and adventure. I share my own scores and the stories behind them to help you see how small, intentional steps can spark powerful change. Together, we explore how mindset, self-worth, and inner peace can shape your confidence and direction. My hope is that this episode empowers you to become more self-aware and to take actionable steps toward building a life you truly love.

“Do you feel you have a positive mindset, or are you pulled toward the negative, toward the down? Do you have a sense of self love, compassion and worth, or are you right now kind of living as your own worst critic? Do you feel this kind of foundation of inner peace in your life now, even if life is busy or chaotic, you can have this kind of glow or sense of inner peace. Do you feel that right now, or are your insides more frenetic or shaky or anxious?” - Trina

Key Points:

• Rate your life in 7 key areas to gain clarity and create a roadmap for growth.

• Focus on inner health—mindset, self-love, and peace—as the foundation of a fulfilling life.

• Physical wellness, family connections, and meaningful work are essential pillars to evaluate.

• Your social circle and sense of adventure directly influence your happiness and energy.

• Use your ratings not to judge, but to reflect, celebrate wins, and take positive action.

Connect with Trina:

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