Building Psychological Strength

Isn't it funny how we don't think twice about helping someone else, but we so frequently put our needs on the back-burner? Whenever you fly to go somewhere, they always tell you to put your own oxygen mask on before assisting others, yet so few of us actually put that idea into practice in our lives.

This week, you're going to meet a woman who learned to heal herself while she was trying to help heal her sister. 

Alyssa Labrecque is a Nutritionist and owner of Soul Food Nutritionista. With a strong family history of irritable bowel disease and years of thinking her constipation, fatigue and extra weight were "normal", Alyssa went on a mission to stop dragging herself through the day and to transform her body by learning how to love and trust her guts!

After healing herself from an abusive relationship, she intimately experienced the close link between our emotions and our physiological symptoms. This link is an important part of the work she does today. 

Today, she is helping people to banish the gas, and ending the diarrhea and constipation so they can fit in their clothes, feel normal and start living their life again.

Sign up at www.aprilseifert.com to get instant access to April's Life Blueprinting tool! Gain clarity on the areas of your life that are most in need of improvement and start to make changes to design your best, most joyous life!

Leave me a rating or a review on iTunes by clicking here!

We have all experienced adversity and struggle in our lives. It's unavoidable. However, what we do when we move past that adversity in our own lives can vary.

Do you simply move on?

Or, do you try to pave the way for others who might come after you?

In this episode, you're going to meet Shala Nicely, a woman who turned an incredibly adverse, difficult struggle into passion that fuels her purposeful work. 

From the age of 5, Shala struggled with the symptoms of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD). Because of these symptoms, her day-to-day life was incredibly scary and difficult, and because of the hold that OCD had over her, she felt like she had to keep it all a secret. That's a big job for a 5-year-old.

After suffering for decades, Shala sought out treatment to get her OCD under control. And she didn't stop there.

Shala is now an OCD survivor, author, advocate and cognitive behavioral therapist specializing in the treatment of OCD and related disorders in Atlanta. She is author of "Is Fred in the Refrigerator? Taming OCD and Reclaiming My Life." 

She is co-founder with Jeff Bell of BeyondtheDoubt.com, an initiative dedicated to helping people learn to thrive through uncertainty. Shala is an advocate for The Adversity 2 Advocacy Alliance and blogs for Psychology Today, offering an inside perspective on life with OCD.

1. Pave the way for others. One of the most fundamental ways we can help other people is to help smooth out the path for them when we have gone before them. Some of my most difficult journeys have been made a bit easier because a generous person took me by the hand and helped me move down a path they went down in the past. 
2. Building your uncertainty muscle. We all have a comfort zone....but we all know that real growth and advancement happens outside of it. One way to help you move outside of your comfort zone is to do it gradually. Build that uncertainty muscle, one "exercise" at a time. Over time, you'll make more progress than you can imagine. 
3. Assume positive intent. We've all been hurt by the words of others. People can be insensitive and uninformed, and they can say things that truly hurt our feelings, without even realizing it. One way to help yourself minimize the hurt that you might feel, and as an added bonus, preserve or even strengthen the relationship you have with that person, is to assume positive intent. Assume they didn't intentionally try to hurt you. That 1 small assumption can help open your mind to understanding their perspective and having a better conversation about whatever the topic may be.
4. Get help. If you even suspect that you might be in a situation that could benefit from therapy, please go. Call today. It might seem like an indulgence, but it really isn't. It might seem like something to be ashamed of, but it really isn't. Taking care of your mind is arguably more important than taking care of your physical body. Your clarity, focus, emotional regulation, motivation, drive, calmness, and so much more come from your mind. Be good to it. Get help if you even suspect you might need it.

Sign up at www.aprilseifert.com to get instant access to April's Life Blueprinting tool! Gain clarity on the areas of your life that are most in need of improvement and start to make changes to design your best, most joyous life!

Leave me a rating or a review on iTunes by clicking here!

Your mind can be your best, most powerful asset, or if left unchecked, it can be your worst enemy. 

In this mini-episode of the Women Inspired podcast, I'm diving into something I'm calling the Negativity Addiction. Our tendency to to automatically and more easily perceive negative events and details in the world around us. 

We fall prey to the negativity addiction in our own lives when we focus on the small negative events that happen to us on a daily basis. And, by doing that, we train our brain to form a habit to seek out more negativity in our everyday lives.

We also fall prey to the negativity addiction when we bring negativity into other people's lives through our interactions with them. 

In this episode, I challenge you to take on a new mindset practice. I challenge you to focus on the positive. Carve a new habit in your brain, and tell your mind that you have a new goal for it to seek out. The more you intentionally focus on the positive, the more it will become habitual and automatic. And that, my friends, is when your life changes. 

This mini-episode has the power to alter and improve the way you experience your day to day life. I hope you'll dive in with me!

Sign up at www.aprilseifert.com to get instant access to April's Life Blueprinting tool! Gain clarity on the areas of your life that are most in need of improvement and start to make changes to design your best, most joyous life!

Leave me a rating or a review on iTunes by clicking here!

What are your personal values? What are your non-negotiables? Said another way, what are the things you absolutely need or absolutely refuse to put up with in your job / relationships / life?

Have you thought about it? I mean, have you really thought about it?

In this episode of the Women Inspired podcast, you're going to meet Kristi Piehl, former investigative journalist and founder and CEO of the company Media Minefield. Kristi's personal values and non-negotiables were so strong and clear that they helped her make the transition from her life-long dream job to launching and growing her own company into a massive success. All without compromising her #1 priority: being there for her family. 

In this episode, we hit on 3 powerful points:

1. Your job is not your identity. You are so much more than the job you go to each day. You are a living, breathing person with passions, strengths, skills, and value to bring to the world. It's critical that you get to know that person on a deeper level.
2. What are your non-negotiables? What are the personal policies or values that you are not willing to compromise on? Getting clear on these items will become your compass when you find yourself in times of turmoil and ambiguity in your life.
3. Just start. Time and time again, I hear from incredibly successful guests who began massive projects, simply by taking one step at a time. Small movement. Small progress. Small steps taken day by day lead to incredible progress. You can do it!

Sign up at www.aprilseifert.com to get instant access to April's Life Blueprinting tool! Gain clarity on the areas of your life that are most in need of improvement and start to make changes to design your best, most joyous life!

Leave me a rating or a review on iTunes by clicking here!

On Monday I released a podcast episode urging you to take immediate action on your big goals, even if you don't feel ready, and even if you don't know what you're doing.

Did you take my advice? Have you started? Want another example to inspire you?

In today's episode, you'll meet Lee Hersh, a woman who did just that. In fact, Lee began her blog, Fit Foodie Finds as a passion project 8 years ago, without the slightest idea of how to create blog. Not only did her passion project help her recognize and heal from her own eating disorder, but it grew into a massively successful, full-time business! 

Today, Fit Foodie Finds is a lifestyle content blog featuring healthy recipes, travel tips, and exercise programs, all with an eye toward helping people cultivate an enjoyable, balanced, healthy lifestyle. And, Lee herself has grown into a true social media influencer. Her Instagram account boasts over 134,000 followers!

We had an amazingly fun conversation! I feel like we hit all the bases, including:

• How she started her passion project before she was ready and before she knew exactly what to do, and why you should too!
• Why she doesn't plan too far into the future, and what she does instead.
• What it means to be open, authentic, and vulnerable on social media...instead of curating our best moments (#nofilter).
• The fact that you only live once, and finding a career that you enjoy is so critically important!

There is so much value in this episode, and I know you are going to love to get to know Lee Hersh!

Sign up at www.aprilseifert.com to get instant access to April's Life Blueprinting tool! Gain clarity on the areas of your life that are most in need of improvement and start to make changes to design your best, most joyous life!

Leave me a rating or a review on iTunes by clicking here!

By this point, I have interviewed dozens of inspiring women for the Women Inspired podcast, and one of the common themes I've uncovered is that they have all started big projects way before they felt ready.

Funny thing, that's exactly what I did with this podcast, and this week, we're going to recap that journey.

• I'm going to get real and honest about how little I knew in the beginning. (SPOILER ALERT: I knew nothing. Like NOTHING!).
• I'll also tell you about a few mistakes I made in the beginning.
• Finally, I'll fill you in on a few changes you'll see coming in the next few weeks / months.

Ultimately, this podcast has a much broader and deeper soul than I ever anticipated in the beginning. The changes I'm making are to align the outward face of the podcast with that deep soul. As regular listeners, I wanted to openly share them with you.

Last, I'm taking the opportunity to try to express the incredible amount of gratitude I have for each of you who have listened and supported this podcast along the way. I will never be able to fully convey how much your support means to me. Thank you so much.

I hope this episode inspires you to take the first step toward that goal that is on your mind. You are so much more capable and powerful than you give yourself credit for. Just start. Start TODAY!

Sign up at www.aprilseifert.com to get instant access to April's Life Blueprinting tool! Gain clarity on the areas of your life that are most in need of improvement and start to make changes to design your best, most joyous life!

Leave me a rating or a review on iTunes by clicking here!

Why is it that everything that's healthy for us is portrayed as a "punishment" (exercise) or as some form of deprivation (healthy food)? Think about it! In this model, if you're "doing it right" you're walking around as a deprived, punished person. Who wants that?!

That being said, we all know how important it is to live a healthy lifestyle. 

The answer: balance.

This week, you're going to meet Jaime Morocco, founder of Soul Powered Wellness. We have an amazing discussion about why Jaime is so passionate about helping people achieve a balanced state of wellbeing.

Hang out until the end of the episode for a powerful take-away about the importance of loving yourself first in order to gain the passion and motivation to cultivate a healthy lifestyle. 

I can't wait for you to meet Jaime Morocco!

Sign up at www.aprilseifert.com to get instant access to April's Life Blueprinting tool! Gain clarity on the areas of your life that are most in need of improvement and start to make changes to design your best, most joyous life!

Leave me a rating or a review on iTunes by clicking here!

How many of you know someone who constantly dates the wrong type of person? Someone who doesn't treat them well. Someone who isn't kind. Or, simply, someone who just isn't a great match. 

This week, we're talking to Dr. Diana Kirschner, psychologist and best-selling author about why this pattern happens to people and how they can break the cycle.

In our interview, Dr. Diana and I talk about how our early life experiences create mental "templates" or "scripts" that set our expectations for what love should look and feel like. These templates become our relationship comfort zones, and without even knowing it, we seek out partners who conform to these templates....even if they're bad for us. Yikes!

More importantly, Dr. Diana talks to us about how to start rewriting these scripts or templates, starting with an exercise to reveal what she calls your "Diamond Self-Identity." 

SPOILER ALERT! During her interview, Dr. Diana takes me through an exercise to identify my Diamond Self-Identity. As it turns out, my Diamond Self-Identity name is "Adventurous Goddess of the Sacred and Uplifting Hunt!" 

And, as a special gift, Dr. Diana has handpicked and trained a team of awesome Love Mentor® coaches. And you can talk with one of them for free for 40 minutes by phone or Skype! If you have any pressing dating or love questions, sign up for your free session now.

Just go to http://lovein90days.com/dating-coach/ and you will be talking to a wise helpful Love Mentor® very soon!  Just say “April sent me” for VIP treatment! 

I absolutely can't wait for you to meet Dr. Diana Kirschner!

Sign up at www.aprilseifert.com to get instant access to April's Life Blueprinting tool! Gain clarity on the areas of your life that are most in need of improvement and start to make changes to design your best, most joyous life!

Leave me a rating or a review on iTunes by clicking here!

This week, we're going after the heart of the beast. We're attacking 3 giant boulders that can get in the way of you being the person you want to be:

1. Comparison
2. Expectations
3. Nay-Sayers

If you've ever felt like you had to compete with other women or you find yourself in a situation where your life and experience isn't measuring up to another woman's, this episode is for you.

If you've ever gotten down on yourself because you didn't react or perform in a way that aligns to the person you are striving to be, this episode is for you.

If you've ever felt your emotional state or your confidence take a hit when other people voice their opinions about something you're doing or working on, this episode is for you.

This week you are going to meet AmyK Hutchins. AmyK is a dynamic, energetic catalyst for producing sustainable solutions to a leader’s most pressing challenges. Thousands of executives in 10+ countries have benefited from her keen insight and intuitive understanding of the issues leaders face.

Sign up at www.aprilseifert.com to get instant access to April's Life Blueprinting tool! Gain clarity on the areas of your life that are most in need of improvement and start to make changes to design your best, most joyous life!

Leave me a rating or a review on iTunes by clicking here!

In Episode 0051, I opened up and shared my story of dealing with postpartum depression and PTSD. The CDC indicates that 1 in 10 women experience postpartum depression, but they indicate that the numbers could be as high as 1 in 5. 

Although this condition affects a large number of women, in my opinion, we aren't doing enough to put resources in the hands of the mothers who need them. 

I felt compelled to do my part.

This week, I am thrilled to share with you the interview I recently did with Lisa Wimberger, founder of The Neurosculpting Institute, and author of the book Neurosculpting. 

Neurosculpting is a very specific meditiation-like practice that Lisa developed to help people heal mental illness, manage stress, and recover from countless other conditions that afflict the mind. 

I credit Lisa's work for breaking the hold that PTSD and PPD had on me. 

During her interview, Lisa and I discuss:

• How she developed the practice of neurosculpting and the incredible impact it had on her own health conditions.
• How the technique works to intentionally activate specific parts of the brain in a specific order.
• The role of creating psychological triggers to help induce desired mental states.
• How you can get started on your own neurosculpting practice.

To say I am thrilled about this week's episode is an understatement. Please listen to this episode and share it with others who might benefit from this powerful practice.

You are not alone. There is hope. I'm here cheering for you.

Sign up at www.aprilseifert.com to get instant access to April's Life Blueprinting tool! Gain clarity on the areas of your life that are most in need of improvement and start to make changes to design your best, most joyous life!

Leave me a rating or a review on iTunes by clicking here!