Imagine when you feel the coziest!? Is it cuddled in a blanket? Is it sitting by a warm fire with a blanket? Or is it just cuddling up with someone you love? Now let's hold that cozy feeling while we start talking about cozing up to CONNECTION!

In this episode, we will talk about how our brilliant brains have a special circuit that lights up when you feel connected. It helps us find calm, focus, and feel cared for. When we talk, listen, or share feelings with a trusted adult or friend, our connection circuit gets stronger!

Our ADHD beautiful, colorful brains also feel big feelings, which means we can connect in big, beautiful ways too! You will hear a story about my friend Mason who comes up against conflict with a friend, but finds connection when he resolves the conflict with an apology and forgiveness! Every blanket that is used a lot, needs some stitches sometimes, just like we need to stitch up our connections too!

We touch on 3 simple "cozy up" tools to help us stay connected to others:

1. Ask for help kindly: "I'm having a hard time staying focused, can you please help me with this?"
2. Practice being an active listener: "Use your eyes, ears and heart to engage in conversations. Repeat back what someone says to show you are listening, "oh , you're saying you felt left out!?" Others love to feel heard too.
3. Apologize, show kindness and forgive others: "I'm sorry I interupped, I got excited." "I forgive you. We all make mistakes sometimes!"

We will revisit green light, yellow light, and red light friendships to get clear on how to BE a green light friend to connect with.

Let's practice breathing together and repeat after me:

• "I can ask for help. I can listen."
• "I can reconnect!"
• "Cozy hearts connect the best!"

Thank you for listening and I would love for you to reach out at www.katelynmabry.com or email directly at [email protected] to share how you cozy up to connection in your different environments!? I look forward to hearing from you!

Remember to check out our November sponsor, Sara Lewis Hartley, who is a neurodivergent coach, who helps families nurture emotional awareness, self-acceptance, and connection- all while celebrating uniqueness in every child. she is the author of "The Purposefully Me" Series- A social-emotional series of books that speak straight to the heart and mind of your child! Sara is also the creator of the incredible ALIGN Parenting Method, which is a powerful 5-step framework that helps parents find calm in the choas through awareness, listening & labeling, identifying triggers, using grounding techniques, and nurture practices. Visit www.saralewishartley.com to start your journey toward mindful, heart-centered parenting today!

Intro music credit:

http://uppbeat.io/t/andrey-rossi/seize-the-day