In this episode we explore how to feel cared about regardless of what other people are doing!

As we enter the fall season with less light and colder temperatures, our bodies produce less serotonin which is a good mood neurotransmitter. So we get this inevitable dip in our sense of well being.  In this episode, we explore ways to beat the summer blues.

So let’s talk about surprises, the good AND the bad ones.  Even good surprises can be tough for some people, especially people who love routines. We can change our narratives to make the bad ones good and the good ones bad.  Our brains are so powerful that way. In this episode we explore ways to approach surprises in ways that serve us.

It's tough to be authentic. It takes trust. And a willingness to be dauntlessly open. In this episode we explore how to lean into our vulnerabilities and authenticity in a way that strengthens our connections.

I learned a lot about emotional regulation by witnessing the hatching and feeding of five baby house finches who lived on my back porch. As their lives unfolded, I had to regulate my own emotions as I watched the birds rise and fall and fly away. In this episode we explore concrete ways to regulate our emotions--ways to come back to ourselves and feel grounded and calm.

Last night I went to my daughter’s graduation. My fourth child has now graduated from high school. And all of a sudden she’s preparing to go to the Dominican Republic for 18 months and I’m left with an ALMOST empty house.  I still have my youngest who isn’t quite 16 yet living here for another two years.  This is the end of an era for me. Experiencing transition is part of being human. In this episode we explore ways to deal with life changes.

The other night I woke up SUPER early with my mind racing with all the things I need to do and with thoughts on how I"ll never get it all done. Of course of these kinds of thoughts are total baloney. In this episode we explore ways to mitigate our stress, calm down and breathe easy.

I’m naturally a very high energy person. I naturally wake up early and usually wide awake and ready to face the day with optimism. But, even as someone with naturally high energy, I have my low energy days. In this episode we explore several strategies for boosting energy.

I talk about gratitude on almost every episode of this podcast. It’s such an easy and beautiful way to improve our emotional health. In this episode we explore gratitude for what we ALREADY have, and also gratitude ahead of time for goals and things we dream about. This episode discusses concrete ways to get to gratitude for things you think might be impossible. And the more gratitude we feel, the better life is!

According to the National Science Foundation, the average person has between 12,000 and 60,000 thoughts per day. Of those thousands of thoughts, 80% were negative, and 95% were exactly the same repetitive thoughts as the day before. Although most of our thoughts happen on autopilot, we CAN curate our thoughts--in this episode we explore ways to intentionally choose our thoughts so we can cultivate the emotions we want to feel.