Transforming Lives Through Gratitude: A Journey with HiLU Founder Emily Montgomery

In this episode, Shannon Missimer interviews Emily Montgomery, the founder of HiLU, a pro-social app dedicated to spreading words of affirmation and fostering a community of gratitude. Emily shares her personal journey of transformation, from being a lawyer and prosecutor to following her passion for gratitude and kindness. The idea for HiLU came to Emily during her pilgrimage on the Camino del Santiago, where she received voice recordings of affirmations from her mentors. She realized the importance of affirming others and creating a space for meaningful connection. Emily emphasizes the need for social connection and the impact of loneliness on our well-being. This conversation explores the feeling of loneliness and the impact of social media on human connection. It highlights the importance of voice communication and optimizing well-being through thoughtful communication. The power of gratitude and meaningful communication is discussed, along with the barriers to communication and the methodology of expressing genuine appreciation. The conversation also introduces HiLU, a pro-social app that facilitates meaningful communication. It emphasizes the significance of emotional and social well-being and the long-lasting impact of meaningful words. 

Takeaways

• Transformation can happen when we listen to our inner voice and make choices that align with our true selves.
• Creating spaces for affirming others and fostering meaningful connections is essential for combating loneliness and improving well-being.
• Words of affirmation and gratitude have the power to uplift and inspire both the sender and the recipient.
• Building a community centered around kindness and gratitude can have a profound impact on individuals and society as a whole. Loneliness is a prevalent feeling that many people experience but may struggle to identify or articulate.
• The younger generation, despite being surrounded by people and social media networks, often experiences high rates of loneliness.
• Social media can contribute to feelings of disconnection and superficial social connections.
• Voice communication is more impactful than text messages or videos in fostering genuine connection.
• Expressing gratitude and meaningful words can have a profound and long-lasting impact on both the sender and the recipient.

Chapters

00:00
Introduction and Connection

01:17
Emily's Journey and Transformation

08:09
The Camino del Santiago and Mentors

11:06
The Challenges and Beginnings of the Journey

13:30
The Need for Affirmation and Connection

16:08
Creating a Space for Other Affirmation

2

I say it over and over again during The Motion of Gratitude podcast: we believe there’s more to life than just going through the motions. Are you ready to transform your life through the power of gratitude? Introducing ‘The Experience’—our 28-day combined physical product and digital gratitude practice designed to help you cultivate a deeper sense of gratitude and presence in your daily life.  With ‘The Experience,’ you’ll embark on a journey of self-discovery, learning to be present, an

Stay Connected:

• Subscribe to our podcast to stay updated on future episodes.
• Follow us on social media @TheMotionofGratitude for more content related to holistic well-being.

Ready to step into your life and stop going through The Motions? Let our 28 Day Gratitude Initiative be your new starting point! If you are ready to:
- find the good already in your life that you are missing
- find presence in your life so you don't let life pass you by
- start a consistent daily rhythm to set the tone in your life

Then join us! Purchase Your Experience today and get started! www.TheMotionofGratitude.com


Looking forward to connecting with you!