In this Mastering Life's Adventures episode, we're honored to have Lyvita Brooks as our special guest. Lyvita delves deep into her journey of "Forging a Life Through Competition and Inspiration," reflecting on her unique experiences as an only child. She opens up about the complex dynamics of viewing her mother as a competitor and a source of inspiration. Lyvita's mother, a strong role model, unknowingly pushed her to excel by setting high expectations, leading Lyvita to realize that she had been competing against the wrong person all along.Throughout her career, from being a teacher to becoming a middle school principal, Lyvita shares the valuable lessons she learned about the significance of taking risks, understanding the difference between core and peripheral living, and the power of choices. She emphasizes the importance of persistence and how transforming the mindset of "I can't" into "I can" is crucial—especially when grounded in faith, as she firmly believes that all things are possible with God.Dr. Judith also contributes to the discussion by exploring the concept of soul advancement, adding a spiritual dimension to Lyvita's story. Together, they offer listeners a compelling narrative of growth, resilience, and the profound impact of inspiration and competition on personal and professional development.Our GuestLyvita Brooks enjoys hanging out with Jesus, and the name of her podcast is Hanging Out With Jesus Podcast. She is the author of a book that contains her mother's poems and reflections left to inspire you to consider carefully your choices entitled Nuggets for Thought: a Mother and Daughter's Collection of Poems, Reflections, and Flash Fiction About the Life They See, which is that book.