Positive thinking has its merits, but sometimes when life feels heavy and overwhelming, it is even more powerful to know how to regulate your nervous system. In this episode Jen describes:  Where she has been since November What the three main nervous system states are (and which one has been Jen's baseline state) How to release stress, overwhelm, and anxiety through somatic practices  Why we can't get out of a freeze/shutdown/depression response through stress regulation strategies (and what we need to do instead) and much more! 

344: When Things Feel Heavy and Overwhelming

The Vibrant Happy Women Podcast is for women who want to expand their capacity for joy.  If you crave a more authentic, heart-centered, and balanced life, you’ll love learning with Happiness Expert Dr. Jen Riday as she interviews vibrant women and shares proven tools that will help you “get your SPARKLE back” in all areas of your life. You’ll be inspired by discussions of authenticity, healthy boundaries, emotional healing, time management, confidence, adventure, spirituality, conscious parenting, marriage, friendship, identity, self love, and more! And if you enjoy this podcast, you’d love Vibrant Soul, the place to heal, transform and expand your soul with likeminded friends. Join us at JenRiday.com/vibrantsoul.

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  Are you ready to uncover the surprising truth about the impact of social media on women's lives? Get ready to be enlightened as we unravel the unexpected insights shared by Kara Alaimo, author of "Over the Influence: Why Social Media Is Toxic for Women and Girls." Brace yourself for a revealing journey that challenges common perceptions and offers empowering strategies. But that's not all—there's a twist in the tale that will leave you eager to explore the unanticipated revelations about the true effects of social media. Stay tuned as we dive into a world of eye-opening wisdom and meaningful connections. You won't want to miss this!   Kara Alaimo, the author of Why Social Media is Toxic for Women and Girls, offers a comprehensive analysis of the impact of social media on women's lives. Her extensive research and practical strategies provide valuable insights into the specific ways social media influences women, addressing key areas such as dating, parenting, and professional pursuits. With a focus on empowering women to navigate the challenges presented by social media, Alaimo's work delivers a compelling argument for proactive change in the digital landscape. Her expertise in this domain establishes her as a credible and authoritative voice in discussions concerning the effects of social media on women's well-being.    In This Episode, You'll Discover How To...    Understanding the Impact of Social Media on Women's Lives: Uncover the surprising ways social media affects your well-being and relationships. Embracing Healthier Social Media Habits: Discover effective strategies to cultivate a positive and balanced relationship with social media. Influencer Impact on Self-Perception: Explore how influencers shape your self-image and ways to maintain a healthy mindset. Navigating Dating Apps with Confidence: Learn empowering approaches to using dating apps to connect authentically and confidently. Cultivating Offline Friendships in the Digital Age: Unlock the secrets to building meaningful and fulfilling friendships beyond the digital realm.      "I think it's important for us to see these apps for what they are and decide to use them in ways that empower ourselves. Just to reject all the toxic content and all the toxic messages and all the trolls and all of the other really ugly things we find on these apps. Delete and block and move on." - Kara Alaimo, Ph.D.    Key Moments:   00:00:01 - The Impact of Social Media on Women and Girls  00:02:15 - The Misunderstood World of Influencers  00:09:58 - Empowering Women on Social Media  00:12:35 - Navigating Social Media for Teen Girls  00:15:16 - Teaching Teen Girls to Say No  00:16:18 - Online Predators and Sextortion  00:17:13 - Social Media and Teenagers  00:19:54 - Dating Apps and Online Dating  00:23:58 - Changing Relationship Dynamics  00:29:23 - Impact of social media on relationships and friendships  00:30:50 - Trend towards in-person interactions  00:31:54 - Importance of nurturing relationships  00:33:36 - Strategic use of social media  00:34:51 - Continuation of conversation and resources  RESOURCES AND NEXT STEPS:  Visit Kara Alaimo's website at karaalaimo.com to access a list of feminists to follow and a guide on how to handle your kids' use of social media. Follow Kara Alaimo on Instagram and Facebook to stay updated on her book tour events, virtual and in-person, and continue the conversation about social media and women's empowerment. Grab a copy of Kara Alaimo's book, Influence: Why Social Media is Toxic for Women and Girls, to gain valuable insights and strategies for navigating social media in a healthier way. Explore Vibrant Soul, a community to heal, transform, and expand your soul with like-minded friends at jenriday.com/vibrantsoul.  DON'T MISS AN EPISODE!  Follow Jen on Facebook, Instagram, or YouTube! Follow the podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or Amazon Music, and be sure to leave a rating & review! Ask a question or leave a comment at support@jenriday.com. 

362: Social Media's Toxic Impact on Women: An Honest Conversation (with Kara Alaimo)

 If you're feeling frustrated and stuck because your visualizations and affirmations aren't leading to the manifestation you desire, then you are not alone! You may already be taking action by repeating positive statements or creating vision boards, only to find that nothing is changing in your life. Instead of experiencing the success and abundance you're seeking, you may be feeling disheartened and doubtful about your ability to manifest your desires. Flowdreaming, a dynamic technique developed by Summer McStravick, provides a distinct approach to manifesting dreams and desires. Unlike typical manifestation strategies that might involve rituals or repeated intentions, Flow Dreaming stresses the importance of emotions. By harnessing the power of our feelings and the experiences we wish to cultivate, we can communicate more effectively with the universe and manifest our ideal outcomes.     In This Episode, You'll Discover How To...    Master manifesting with the powerful Flowdreaming practice. Embrace healing and learn valuable lessons from life's struggles Shift from reacting to responding and take control of your responses. Rebuild trust in yourself, others, and God/the Universe for a brighter future.      "Practice feeling the way you want to feel so that you can graduate from those life majors you're ready to let go of." - Dr. Jen Riday    Key Moments:   00:04:01 - Understanding Flow Dreaming  00:10:17 - Practicing Flow Dreaming  00:13:54 - Life Majors and Changing Patterns  00:16:19 - Healing and Embracing Life  00:20:05 - Letting Go of Life Majors  00:21:49 - Emotional Blueprint and Nonphysical Action  00:27:23 - Chasing Feelings  00:29:15 - Building Trust in Life  00:30:12 - Creating Debris and Wreckage  00:34:23 - Practicing Feelings on Demand  00:39:16 - Flow Dreaming Practice      "We want to be focused on having the capacity, the energy, and the emotions to graduate from the patterns we're ready to let go of and move on to what we do want." - Summer McStravick    Resources and Next Steps:  Visit flowdreaming.com to access free flow dreams and a free tutorial to start practicing feeling the way you want to feel. Download the Flowdreaming app to access over 300 flow dreams and get started on your practice of feeling the way you want to feel. Check out the Flowdreaming podcast and the Flowdreaming book to dive deeper into the concepts and practices of Flowdreaming and learn how to graduate from life majors and move towards what you do want. Explore Vibrant Soul, a community to heal, transform, and expand your soul with like-minded friends at jenriday.com/vibrantsoul. Learn about Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, the father of flow. 

361: Flowdreaming: The Secret to Letting Go of Stubborn Life Patterns (with Summer McStravick)

How much joy are you willing (and able) to feel? Can your emotional and nervous system baseline handle more happiness? Can you really expand your capacity? On this episode Jen shares how she reached her personal "max capacity" of joy at the recent Vibrant Happy Women Retreat and what she decided to do as a result. Learn more about the Vibrant Happy Women Retreat at jenriday.com/retreat

360: Expanding Your Capacity for Joy

 From the bustling streets of New York City to the serene beauty of Victoria, BC, Jill Payne's journey took unexpected turns. Her candid account of navigating single motherhood and managing her emotions and energy during the pandemic and beyond sheds light on the transformative impact of self-regulation on mood and energy. You'll love Jill's update on how to "Be a Freaking Dime" even when life is messy!  In This Episode, You'll Discover How To...    Master energy management and emotion regulation - even when life is messy. Elevate your parenting through effective mood and energy management. Use your body to shift your thoughts, feelings, and actions. Understand the relationship among personality, energy, and frequency. Handle detail-negative energy. Attract high-frequency people into your life. Embrace contrast and cultivate new desires for personal growth.      "Contrast inspires a new desire. When you have something you don't like, be grateful because it's showing you what you don't want so you can better formulate what you do want." - Jill Payne    Key Moments:  00:00:00 - Introduction to Managing Energy 00:01:11 - Challenges of Energy Management as a New Mother 00:08:27 - The Realities of Parenting and Energy Management 00:11:35 - Understanding Energy Levels and Capacity 00:13:44 - Managing Emotions and Energy 00:16:22 - Building Capacity for Better Responses 00:19:28 - The Power of Movement and Morning Routine 00:22:53 - Importance of Body in Shifting Thoughts and Actions 00:25:27 - Getting Into What's in Front of You 00:27:08 - Understanding Personality and Energy Management 00:36:24 - Handling Detail Negative Energy 00:39:25 - Establishing Boundaries 00:41:01 - The Phenomenon of Resonance 00:41:50 - Attracting Similar Energy 00:44:12 - Choosing Focus and Vision 00:47:45 - Shifting Focus and Managing Grief 00:54:58 - Embracing Change and Taking Risks 00:55:08 - Using Contrast to Inspire Desire      "What I see for you is holding up the possibility for what you think could be possible for your kids, your spouse. What I see for you is happiness and joy." - Jill Payne    Resources and Next Steps:  Get the book Be a Dime by Jill Payne to access exclusive QR code content in the back of the book and use the QR code to access an online dashboard with weekly videos, daily audios, a full workbook, and a journal, typically available only to Jill's one-on-one coaching clients. Connect with Jill Payne on her website or through Instagram. Join Vibrant Soul, a community to heal, transform, and expand your soul with like-minded friends at jenriday.com/vibrantsoul. Apply the principle "What I see for you" to create a vision for your loved ones and inspire positive change. Embrace the concept that contrast inspires a new desire, allowing you to focus on what you do want rather than what you don't want. 

359: How to Be a Freaking Dime Even When Life Gets Messy (with Jill Payne)

Dr. Laura Froyen joins me again to chat about the power of taking time for yourself. As moms and caregivers, it's easy to get caught up in taking care of everyone else's needs. But what about our own?  Laura shares her perspective on why retreats like my annual Vibrant Happy Women Retreat are so rejuvenating. Getting away allows us to get out of the deep end and stop treading water - to rest, reconnect with ourselves, broaden our views, and realign our inner compass.  In our conversation, Laura reflects on how attending retreats has helped her rediscover her own identity beyond motherhood. We also talk about why time away is healthy for partnerships, allowing spouses and kids to step up at home.  I hope Laura's wisdom inspires you to prioritize self-care, whether through travel or simple moments of solitude. As she reminds us - we need time to just be, free from others' demands. It's essential for living vibrantly and authentically.  And if you want to join us at this year's retreat in Mexico Feb 7-11th, visit JenRiday.com/retreat       In This Episode, You'll Discover...    Why traveling without a spouse can be liberating and allow for powerful personal growth and self-discovery. An unexpected twist at the retreat that brought Laura newfound happiness and energy. The social, emotional, and spiritual value of solitude and the importance of nurturing your own identity outside of motherhood.  The unique way a retreat illuminates the path ahead for you.  The power of being embraced by a community of welcoming and kind-hearted women.  The importance of remembering what it's like to be an individual human being without anyone needing anything from you. And much more!      "It's okay to remember what it's like to be a whole and independent human being where no one else needs anything from you." - Jen Riday    Key Moments:  [00:02:11] Losing ourselves in motherhood. [00:06:03] Getting out of the deep end. [00:11:30] Identity outside of parenthood. [00:14:10] Finding comfort in solitude. [00:20:42] Family dynamics and boundaries. [00:24:07] Taking time for oneself. [00:27:35] Sacred retreat for women. [00:32:07] Traveling solo and self-discovery. [00:36:47] Increasing enjoyment of parenting.      "We're more than just caregivers and wives and mothers and all the things we are. We're humans, really." - Laura Froyen    Resources:  Join the Vibrant Happy Women Retreat, which offers a transformative experience and provides a container of time to listen to your thoughts and connect with women from different walks of life. Connect with Dr. Laura Froyen on her website or through the Balanced Parent Podcast and learn from her soulful, intuitive widsom about purposeful parenting. Explore Vibrant Soul, a place to heal, transform, and expand your soul with like-minded friends by visiting JenRiday.com/vibrantsoul. Take responsibility for your own happiness and explore adding more alone time to your day-to-day life and beyond. 

344: When Things Feel Heavy and Overwhelming

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