Turning Paycheck Survival Into Purposeful Living

Have you ever wondered who you are beneath the roles, masks, and survival mode? In this episode, I take you on a journey from my own story—teaching, truck driving, and the thread of advocacy that ties it all together—into a conversation about vision, courage, and authentic purpose.

If you’ve ever felt stuck living paycheck to paycheck or wondered what life could look like beyond the trauma, this is your invitation to imagine more. We’ll talk about why a five-year plan isn’t just for students—it’s a lifeline for women who are ready to break cycles, dream beyond their circumstances, and build a future aligned with who they really are at their core.

This episode will resonate especially with women navigating the weight of starting over. If you’ve been asking yourself, “Where do I go from here?”—this conversation is for you.

Chapters

• 0:04 Introduction to One Degree to Victory
• 0:38 Exploring Your Authentic Self
• 1:52 Vision Beyond Trauma
• 3:14 Creating Your Five-Year Plan
• 4:36 Decisions That Shape Your Future
• 7:43 Final Thoughts and Encouragement

Transcript

SPEAKER_00: 0:04

You're listening to One Degree to Victory, the space where stories, strategies, and soul connect. Together we take one small step each week toward the life you know you're called to live. I'm your hostess, Nelita Hollis, and today's story and conversation just might change your life. Have you ever explored yourself without filters? Have you ever taken the time to sit in silence and truly understand the core of who you are beyond the roles you play and the masks you wear? I've known since the sixth grade I wanted to teach. Teaching for me was more than a career, it was truly a calling. I initially thought I'd become an English literature professor, immersed in the world of words and ideas, and up until about the age of 19, that dream held firm in my heart and mind until I became a teacher's aide in a special education classroom. That's when my passion was kindled in an entirely new and unexpected direction. That experience transformed my understanding of my purpose. Down to the bare bones of who I am, it is an advocate for these children, youth, and families. I discovered that beneath all the layers of identities and aspirations, this was my fundamental truth. Teaching was one avenue through which I served, one manifestation of this deeper calling to advocate for others. And do you know that even in truck driving, I felt that my job was so important as to deliver the food to the distributors intact so that it could get to somebody's plate? In every role I've held, I found that thread of advocacy running through. That's what I want you to think about today. What is the consistent thread that runs through all of your experiences? I don't want you to think about who you perform to be, but who you really are at your core. Not the version of yourself you present to others or the identity you've crafted for public consumption, your authentic self. Have you ever thought about who you could be beyond the trauma? Have you ever considered how your true self might emerge and flourish when not defined by your wounds and scars? Constant listener, in the days after my trauma, I spent most days trying to make it to the next minute. Survival was the only goal, and even that seemed ambitious. In the months that followed, as the darkness began to ebb, possibilities began to emerge. And in the years that followed, as healing took root, a plan emerged. Not just for survival, but for thriving. I followed through with that plan with determination and faith, and here we are now, standing on the cusp between the ending of one journey and the beautiful beginning of another. I am poised at the threshold of yet another transformation. Constant listener, there's a difference between holding down a job because you need money and stepping into the space where you are fulfilled. If you don't have a vision beyond the month, you will always only ever be holding down a job. Living paycheck to paycheck is financial imprisonment. And I get it, I've been there. But sister girl, you have to have the courage to pass through because while it meets the bills and the necessities, it's a limitation also on your potential, your purpose, and your future. I teach my kids to have a five-year plan because vision gives life direction. Where there is no vision, the people perish. When you can see beyond today's struggles into tomorrow's victories, you begin making decisions today that align with that future. When I was teaching high school, I asked my students where they saw themselves five years from now. Many could only imagine small incremental changes. And Lord have mercy. One student said, married, pregnant, and with kids. But the ones who dared to dream beyond their circumstances, they are the ones who I had hoped that would break the generational cycles of poverty and limitations off of their family line. And today I'm asking you the same question. There are no limits, there are no conditions. Where do you see yourself five years from now? Don't let your imagination be bound by your bank account, your past failures come on, or what others think is realistic. Remember this. Your imagination is the preview of life's coming attractions. What you can vividly envision in your mind, you can hold in your hands. Let me say that again. What you can vividly envision in your mind, you can hold in your hands. But you must first see it clearly, believe it completely, and pursue it relentlessly. If those limiting beliefs are still crowding your mind, then let me reframe the question. Where would you like to be five years from now? What mountains would you climb if fear couldn't stop you? What difference would you make if resources were unlimited? What legacy would you build if time was guaranteed? The distance between where you are and where you want to be is measured in decisions, not dreams. Your five-year vision is the compass that guides every choice. So throw off the limiting beliefs, whether internal or external. What you envision is guided by the core of who you are, that authentic self we discussed earlier, the one that exists beyond trauma, beyond expectations, beyond the roles you play in your daily life. Constant listener, the journey toward your vision requires courage. The courage to make difficult decisions that align with your true purpose, the courage to say no to opportunities that don't serve your highest calling, even when they come with financial security or social approval, the courage to invest in yourself when others question your choices. Each decision you make either brings you closer to that five-year vision or takes you further away. There is no neutral ground. Every choice, from how you spend your mornings to whom you choose to surround yourself with, either empowers or diminishes your ability to manifest that vision. And here we come full circle. Knowing who you are at your core is the foundation upon which all meaningful visions are built. Without self-knowledge, we construct futures based on others' expectations or societal definitions of success. But when you have explored yourself without filters, when you have identified that consistent thread running through all your experiences, your vision becomes an authentic expression of your deepest truth. So, Sister Girl, before you craft that five-year vision, before you map out the decisions that will take you there, make sure you've done the work of knowing yourself. I love you. One degree to victory is about progression, not perfection. And that involves choosing a life that works for you now in this season and building from there. And Sister Girl, it's going to take more than loving yourself. It's going to take vision for where you're going, hope to believe it's possible, action to make it real, and love for your family to fuel every step. Take one degree forward this week. And I'll see you in the next episode.