In this episode, I'm talking with El Edwards - who is building a community dedicated to enabling you to smile more and be more 'you' – or 'Youier'.

Brought up in a strong evangelical Christian environment, she was taught from an early age to fear God. El strived to be perfect in every way - the perfect Christian, the perfect wife, the perfect mother. Eventually, she realised that trying to be 'normal' was making her crazy and that something had to change.

El started to build new relationships with her faith and herself and recognised that love is at the heart of everything, including all the flaws and imperfections. Now she helps others to do the same.

This is a joyous discussion where we explore El's journey and beliefs – hopping from one tangent to another, but always getting back to the same message.

We don't need to know exactly where we're going, but if we trust the ripples and follow the nudges – all the time with love in our hearts – then we'll get to where we need to be.

Which actually sums up the conversation itself quite nicely.

Amongst the many things we discuss are topics such as:

• using stories to deliver your message so that people don't get hung up on specific details;
• the differences between faith, religion and organised religions; and
• the many similarities there are between supposedly opposing belief systems.

And the biggest topic of all is, of course, the importance of being you.

If you want to know more about El, check out the following links:

El's Website

El's Keep-in-Touch page

El's Book - “Youier – Fully Alive, Fully Human”

El's Podcast

El's Facebook Page

There was also a recommendation for this book as well, that you may be interested in reading if you enjoyed our conversation:

Love Wins by Rob Bell

So do check those out but for now, sit back, relax, take a moment to think about in which direction you're being nudged and, most of all, enjoy.