Live Out Loud: How Living Intentionally Fuels Passion and Purpose

I was recently speaking with a client and couldn’t help but notice her amazing, contagious laugh. Every time she laughed, I found myself laughing along too. When I mentioned it, she covered her mouth and said she usually tries to suppress her laughter because someone once told her she was too loud and sounded “weird.” I couldn’t believe it. I told her, “Girl, the world needs that laugh!”

It got me thinking: What if we lived intentionally, pursued our passions, and celebrated our individuality?

What if, instead of wearing burnout as a badge of honor or apologizing when we set boundaries, we let people know what we needed?

What if we truly lived out loud?

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This article is sponsored by Neely Coaching & Training

Forget Quiet Quitting

In her Fast Company article, “Forget Quiet Quitting”, Alli Kushner shared that living out loud in the workplace looked like telling colleagues when she was logging off, and then actually logging off. She pushed back on timelines and offered alternatives to protect both the quality of her work and her sanity. She was clear that living out loud isn’t about doing less. “It’s about showing up better, with focus and clarity. It isn’t about less ambition, but ambition that doesn’t cost you everything else.”

She redefined success for herself (think did she get her important work done AND get home for story time), was transparent with how she was spending her time, clearly communicated personal non-negotiables, and normalized having honest conversations around personal priorities and boundaries.

She redefined what it meant to be a great professional. What is your definition for success?

Think Big, Dream Big

I was listening to the Reclaiming podcast, and the guest, Savannah Guthrie, shared a powerful story that resonated with me. She recounted a time when she stood at a crossroads—accepted into law school while also working in television. While debating her options with an adjunct professor, he leaned in and simply told her to “think big.”

That moment encouraged her to consider what it would truly mean to pursue her biggest dreams instead of limiting herself with doubts or self-imposed boundaries. She completed law school, passed the bar, and continued to build a successful career in television.

It’s a great reminder to challenge our own “what if’s” and dare to dream bigger.

In the article How to Think Bigger, best-selling author Michael Bungay Stier shares:

Right now, there’s a present you and a future you, and you’re always learning and growing as you converge on your future self. Thinking big means considering the person you’re becoming and the person you want to be beyond who you are today. It calls you to challenge the status quo, disrupt your comfortable sense of self, and imagine what’s possible so you can live a brilliant, fulfilling, and rewarding life.

Start by identifying where you are and where you want to be. Then, determine one small step that moves you in the direction of closing that gap.

Take Time to Ground Yourself

I believe that having both time to dream and time to reconnect to the present moment is essential. Grounding has helped me manage stress, foster tolerance, and enhance my capacity for innovation.

It’s a unique experience for everyone. Some ground through deep breathing or meditation. Others find it in nature, through gratitude, spontaneity, or by simply being mindful of their surroundings. When you’re grounded, you tend to act with more intention and are better able to keep negativity from taking hold.

How do you ground yourself?

The Art of Self-Compassion

I saw a social media post that emphasized the importance of making ourselves our first priority—our life, ambitions, health, and happiness. It was a good reminder. What really caught my attention, though, were all the comments from people saying how much they needed to hear it.

It made me wonder: could we actually put ourselves first—or at least not last—on our priority list? One helpful tip I’ve found is to do one small thing for yourself each day. Maybe it’s taking a walk, enjoying a cup of tea in your favorite mug, or finally making that doctor’s appointment.

When you do something for yourself, you often feel less resentful of the other demands on your time. And with consistency, it can snowball into more self-care activities.

Find Your Joy On Purpose

How often have you made progress on a goal, checked the box, and immediately moved on to the next task? When was the last time you truly acknowledged something that brought you joy or the good in your life?

You can celebrate your successes in many ways. You might throw a party, share good news over coffee with a friend, or simply take a moment to say, “Yay me!” to yourself. The way you choose to celebrate is entirely up to you.

Make the choice to be joyful—whatever that means for you. For me, it’s singing and dancing in my kitchen while making dinner, cuddling up in my comfy chair with my dog, playing Wordle on my phone, and sending texts or cards to friends and family to let them know I’m thinking of them.

To fully embrace life and experience every moment, it’s important to live out loud and acknowledge all that life brings your way.

How do you find your joy?

Do Not Be Afraid to Be Seen

Being an entrepreneur is hard. Every day brings a challenge in being visible, often pushing me out of my comfort zone. This means actively seeking new business opportunities, recognizing my strengths, and asking for help in areas where I’m not as strong. It also means staying open to both positive feedback and constructive criticism. I’m learning to reframe my fears of judgment and failure by asking, “What if things turn out better than I expect?”

I was recently watching a TV show where the main character admitted to being scared. Another character responded with a powerful reframe for fear: “That’s a good thing. We’re at our best when we’re scared. Your instincts are hiking, your adrenaline’s right beneath the surface, everything is crystal clear, and your focus becomes like a laser. You just know what comes next. You know what to do. You know the answers. And you just act.”

How have you stepped out and let others truly see you?

Remember, the goal is personal integrity and doing your best to be your best self as you live out loud. It’s okay if you do things differently or want different things. It’s okay to do it loudly or quietly. It’s more than okay not to judge others and to inspire and support them to live out loud. It’s okay if your efforts look clunky and okay if they look effortless. Ultimately, it’s about consciously choosing to live a life true to yourself, filled with passion and purpose.

One of my favorite songs is Steven Curtis Chapman’s “Live Out Loud.” I think I’ll go dance to it in my kitchen now.

Debby Neely is a Professional Certified Coach through the International Coach Federation who specializes in leadership coaching and facilitation. Her business, Neely Coaching & Training, supports both formal and informal leaders in realizing their potential and in getting results. Their mission is to help you be the best you can be.