Would You Like Pie With That? How to Stop Slicing Yourself Up and Start Thriving

Who Are You in Terms of Food?

I know—it’s a strange question. But stick with me, because this simple exercise can give you profound insights into yourself and help you live in greater alignment, joy, and fulfillment.

After working with hundreds of people from all walks of life, leading multiple teams, and having deep conversations with those I admire, I’ve noticed something: Most people think of their lives and identities as a pie—or maybe a pizza.

They slice themselves up into different pieces to fit roles, meet expectations, or achieve goals. Sound familiar? This starts early—think of rotating stations in kindergarten, changing subjects in high school, or adapting to different professors in college.

We learn to adjust based on authority figures, creating “slices” of ourselves to fit whatever role we believe we’re supposed to play. And while this strategy may work short-term, it’s not sustainable.

Why the “Pie” Approach Fails

Let’s break it down with food (since we’re already there).

Sure, pizza and pie are delicious. But as life gets more complex—balancing relationships, careers, and personal growth—there’s more at stake. You realize:

• Maybe you’re an apple pie, but your new boss prefers coconut pie.

• Your mother-in-law loves chocolate pie but hates apple.

• So now you’re mixing pieces—5 slices apple, 2 coconut, 1 chocolate—constantly reshuffling to keep everyone happy.

And just like in real life as these foods aren’t the most nutritious, this approach drains you. It’s exhausting, unsustainable, and leads straight to burnout.

Find a Better Metaphor

Rather than constantly slicing yourself up, what if you became something whole—something fluid, adaptable, yet unchanging at its core?

For me, that’s my green juice, or as I like to call it my 26.2 juice since I am using it to help me train for my first ever full marathon!

Green juice has multiple ingredients—just like I play multiple roles in life—but it flows freely. It doesn’t change to please others. People either like it, or they don’t—and that’s okay.

My green juice:

• Kale, spinach, cucumber, celery → My foundation: truth & authenticity

• Habanero pepper, lemon, lime → My edge: boldness balanced with wisdom

• Apple, mango, pineapple → The sweetness: grace, love, and compassion

I don’t need to slice up my juice. I pour the same essence (juice) into everything I do. It’s sustainable, energizing, and healing—and I no longer try to fit where I don’t belong.

What’s Your Juice?

Are you stuck in the “pie mindset,” constantly reshuffling yourself to meet expectations? Try this simple exercise:

1️⃣ Imagine what kind of drink you’d be. Maybe you’re a strong espresso, a calming chamomile tea, or even Kool-Aid!

2️⃣ Let your mind shift. Just by doing this, you’ll start making subtle changes toward authenticity.

And if you want to go deeper, I just completely revamped my Six Human Needs Assessment to make it more user-friendly than ever on a convenient and optimized Typeform page!

📊 Take this short quiz and for a limited time, get a free roadmap that reveals your core needs and how to meet them. It also includes an optional free discovery call where I’ll personally walk you through your results and help you find your juice.

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👉 Click here to take the assessment now! It takes 10 minutes or less and is FUN!

Don’t settle for being a pie that’s constantly sliced and rearranged. Be whole. Be you.