Meet Merritt Onsa | Dream Coach & Podcast Host

We had the good fortune of connecting with Merritt Onsa and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Merritt, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
Taking risks is all about stepping outside of your comfort zone and choosing to relinquish the perceived comfort or security of the status quo.

I believe risk taking is incredibly important in helping a person grow and learn from new opportunities. It’s also how we get outside of what can become “the daily grind” or a funk when we’re doing the same things over and over again because we’ve always done it this way.

Although I might not have described myself as a risk taker early in my career, I can look back now and see all the different risks I took when I encountered an opportunity that was new and intriguing to me. Each one of those experiences has shaped my journey and who I am today. They make up the winding, twisting road map to my current role as a dream coach for other women who are in search of their purpose. And each of those destinations I visited when I made the choice to take a risk or think outside the box taught me incredibly valuable lessons that impact me still today.

Most risks come with some level of fear or perceived danger (otherwise we would call them something else, right?) but the reality is that facing fear and walking right into the scary thing actually grows our willingness and ability to do that again, because we get a chance to realize that the actual outcome is far better (and less scary) than what we feared at the beginning.

That’s why I believe risk taking is such an important skill to pursue and practice. It always makes us stronger in the end.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
As host of the Devoted Dreamers Podcast I am a dream coach and mentor for Christian women who have a God-shaped dream they feel called to pursue. My passion is helping women discover and feel confident in their identity and worth so they can be set free to pursue their dreams, unhindered by doubts and fears.

I started out years ago trying my hand at a lot of different things before I understood this was what I wanted to do. Even after I launched my podcast in 2016, it was still years before I could say out loud that I wanted to launch a business for this purpose.

I have fought back my own fears, doubts and questions. I’ve battled imposter syndrome. And I teach my clients and students how to do the same. None of it has been easy. Stepping out of your comfort zone and acknowledging your own ambition and desire to create something from scratch takes an incredible amount of fortitude and perseverance. You have to be willing to be imperfect, to fail, to get it wrong sometimes and then come back again to try new things.

For me, overcoming those challenges has been all about my faith in Jesus and the community of support around me. When I trying to go it alone I usually flounder in overthinking and fear. When I trust the God who made me and gave me purpose on this earth, I am reminded to turn to him when I am fearful and then include others who can provide guidance, feedback and reminders of why I’m doing what I’m doing and why it’s worth the painful seasons.

I have learned that everyone struggles with fear to some extent when they step out to do something bigger than themselves. I think it helps to know that I’m not crazy when fear threatens to halt my dreams. It’s a real battle that we only get past by walking through it, with others at our side.

I want every human to know that they are loved and were made with a purpose. There are no accidents when it comes to your existence. You were given gifts, passions, desires and dreams, and you were uniquely made to step into them in a way that no one else can. If you’re feeling stuck by fear or who-knows-what there is a way out. The first step is to tell someone about it. The next step is to find someone who can walk through it with you

If you need to know that others struggle like you, check out my podcast, Devoted Dreamers, for story after story of women who have been where you are and made progress toward their dream despite their fears.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?

Some of my favorite spots in and around Denver are:

* The Dairy Block for browsing/window shopping, checking out the scene, delicious food options and a fun vibe!

* Tattered Cover Book Store for a leisurely afternoon with a coffee drink and a good read.

* Check out Union Station, which is a great place for a tasty meal and some people watching, but if you get tired of that you can hop on a bus and head into Boulder for hiking at El Dorado Canyon or hanging out at The Rayback.

* I’m not a whisky connoisseur by any means but I loved Stranahan’s distillery tour. I learned so much and the tasting experience at the end of the tour was fabulous.

* Favorite taco chain: Torchy’s Tacos

* Favorite unique/celebratory meal location: Root Down

* I’m also a big fan of The Kitchen

* We’d close out our week with a live music event at the Denver Arboretum. Summer is the best time to go for live music, in a smallish venue where you can be outside enjoying the beautiful Colorado weather.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I want to give a huge shoutout to my first mastermind group! The four of us found each other years ago as participants in an online course. We were all looking for other women of faith to walk with through the early years of figuring out what to do with our creative passions. These women were constant encouragers, sharing so much of themselves and their dreams. I am indebted to Alysa, Trina, and Michaela! They are faithful friends and amazing cheerleaders with beautiful and creative hearts. I owe so much of what I’m doing now to the years we spend together walking through difficult seasons and supporting one another. What a gift!!

Website: https://www.merrittonsa.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/merrittjo/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/merrittonsa/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/merritto

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/devoteddreamerspodcast

Image Credits
Jasmine Reischling