Dear Midlife...

It is sooo hard managing our weight in midlife. I mean...nothing that used to work...minimizing calories and being a slave to cardio seems to be working anymore. We don't know about you, but we're at our wit's end! Further, society does not make it any easier by creating impossible to achieve ideals! Our guest today, Kathy Mead Fronheiser calls this "comparanoia" because we are constantly comparing ourselves to other women and the societal standards projected in the media. But, the reality is that trying to live up to those standards may be the exact thing that is preventing us from being our healthiest selves.

Kathy is a health coach who focuses on helping high-achieving women over 40 (i.e. in perimenopause and menopause) achieve their health goals. She has an MS in exercise science and has over 15 years of experience as a health coach. She coaches women to lift heavy shit, not eat like toddlers, have fun and find a supportive community when working towards new levels of fitness in this age and stage of life. And...Don't forget the sleep! Getting enough rest helps our bodies to recover so that we can have more strength and energy to reclaim our future and prioritize our selves and our health.

Kathy teaches us that fitness in midlife (while different for each individual) can be a simple formula of working out LESS, resting MORE, enjoying food, and losing inches. That's a win-win-win our book! And girl, if you're a woman in the middle and find you have a tire in the middle (I mean...who doesn't at this age?!) you MUST listen to this episode! As a matter of fact, we want you to join us each and every week as we meet right here in the middle to discuss all the ways in which you can let go of past negative narratives and start the next chapter of your life with purpose and intention. 

In this episode, Kathy teaches us:

1. The way we used to diet and exercise in the past no longer work in middle age and even puts stress on our bodies. This has a detrimental impact on our bodies by increasing our cortisol levels, which makes it more difficult to lose fat.
2. If there were a hierarchy of health priorities, sleep should be at the top.
3. High intensity and high impact are not the same. There are ways to do high intensity without high impact. We should be striving for high intensity to get our heart rate up while building muscle.
4. Work with a personal trainer just a few times, as necessary, until you have established a routine and understand what exercises work for you.
5. Make sure you are prioritizing fiber and protein in your diet at you age. As we age, we need more protein. If necessary, front load your protein by eating a breakfast that is high in protein so you don't reach the end of a day and not had enough. Strive to eat 1 gram of protein for each pound of your body weight in a day. i.e. if you weigh 150, eat 150 grams of protein.

To find more of Kathy:

Website | www.kathymeadfronheiser.com

Instagram | @kathy_mead_fronheiser/

New year, new you, baby girl. What will you do to change your life!? It starts with knowing you're worth it. We're bringing you some exciting new tools this year and can't wait to share them with you. Join our Facebook Group and follow us on Instagram so you don't miss out on the excitement!

Some of you may know that Trinity's son was diagnosed with an autoimmune condition last year that made him very sick for a very long time. The ultimate diagnosis was Ulcerative Colitis, which prevented him from really keeping anything in his stomach and kept her family up all night for weeks and months on end making them desperate and exhausted. Thankfully, they have been able to find a remedy to maintain his health. But, this experience took a toll on both Trinity and her son's nervous systems and they both always feel a bit on edge whenever he eats something or needs to go to the bathroom.  The challenge is now is that they are not really sure how to let go of this trauma. 

Which is where our guest today, Janis Isaman, comes in. Janis is the founder of My Body Couture, and helps people feel physically, emotionally and mentally better in their body. She is an experienced clinician who combines restorative movement and trauma-informed therapeutic modalities in a one-on-one setting to support people, who experience pain and trauma in their bodies, resolve their trauma and regulate their nervous systems to achieve their therapeutic goals.

We discuss the variety of modalities Janis uses in our episode today and which approach to take to down-regulate our nervous systems and which to use to heal trauma that remains stuck in our bodies. Janis walks us through the ways in which she works with her clients to get to know their lifestyle challenges and provide reasonable solutions, underlying education and life-changing approaches that have gained her recognition as a lifestyle expert in Reader's Digest and invited as a guest on over 250 podcasts!

In this episode, Janis mentions that our nervous system is meant to adjust up and down all day. However, most of us never find a way to down regulate and live in a space of stress. If you know what we're talking about.... please tune in to this episode! 

It is our goal to bring you practical advice so that you can live the next chapter of your life to the fullest. And, we hate to break it to you sister, but we know you pride yourself on the amount of stress you can shoulder, but you're on your way to burn out. So, ladies...if this is you, let's listen to Janis, let's learn to slow down and savor every moment because life is just too short. 

Today, Janis teaches us: 

1. We databank our experience with trauma and use it at a reference point for what might happen in the future. In these instances, we sometimes need to move the trauma through our bodies through movement. We need connection with people who are regulated, we need validation and to be shown we are safe through a new set of experiences.
2. Not only have we been taught to ignore our body signals, we've never been taught about our bodies. This makes it difficult to even identify where in our bodies we are actually experiencing pain. Sometimes it takes a 3rd party to help individuals "see" where their body and nervous system is reacting to trauma.
3. When we say trauma "lives in our body" we often picture that trauma sitting somewhere within us (picture butterflies in your stomach), and that we can easily just work on a part of the body to release the trauma. But, what is actually happening is a physiological response to outside triggers that may manifest in various places in your body to remedy this, we need to tackle the root of the trauma to minimize the trauma response.
4. Our nervous system is meant to adjust up and down all day, but most of us put our bodies through so much stress, that our nervous system isn't functioning optimally and is stuck on high alert, which takes its toll over time.
5. Different approaches may be taken in order to down regulate your nervous system versus heal trauma. To down regulate your nervous, you can use restorative practices. To heal trauma, you may need to turn to trauma informed practices to help you heal.

To find more of Janis:

Website | mybodycouture.com

Facebook | @mybodycouture

Instagram | @mybodycouture

Elephant Journal |@janis-isaman/

LinkedIn | @jisaman

YouTube | @janisisaman

If you love this show, make sure you follow us so you don't miss an episode or share this episode with a friend. We've got some exciting new things to share with you in 2024 that you're not going to want to miss. So, we encourage you to find us on Facebook and Instagram so you can make the most of your next chapter in life!

We were shocked when our guest today shared the statistic that 63% of Americans don't have enough money in savings to cover a $500 emergency without going into debt. AND, while many people are blaming the current inflation as the culprit, the number was the same 5 years ago, but people were putting the blame elsewhere. The reality is that many of us are living paycheck to paycheck and are simply not good at saving money. 

Baby girl, if this is you, it is time for a reality check. Today our guest, Brad Nelson, helps to provide an eye-opening outlook on debt and money that challenge today's popular thinking. This man has dedicated his life to helping people with their personal finances and his program "Roots of Personal Finance" has supported so many by helping them pay off tens-of-millions of dollars in debt and, then, to start SAVING money!

It is the goal of the Dear Midlife Podcast to help women reinvent and reinvigorate the second half of their life. But, the reality is that (as we've seen by our statistic) so many people struggle with money and debt. Brad teaches a simple process to help people develop a healthier financial mindset, allowing them to take control of their finances so they can do more of what they love. 

Brad's message comes from the heart and from his own personal experiences. He and his wife decided to become debt free early in their marriage. In 2018, his wife Sarah gave birth to their daughter Avery. Avery was born with a brain injury (due to lack of blood flow and oxygen to the brain) and Cerebral Palsy. Being debt-free allowed him and his wife to put all of their efforts into getting the care that Avery needed and being there to support her daily therapy session. Thankfully, today, Avery is thriving and living a normal life, and Brad attributes her progress to the time they were able to spend on Avery's care at an early age.

Then, tragedy struck again earlier this year in March 2023 when Brad suddenly lost his wife, Sarah, to a battle with mental illness and suicide. Again, Brad and his financial life were tested, but because of the work they put in on their finances leading up to this tragic event, he has remained debt-free while allowing him and his children to have the time and space to grieve the loss and rebuild their lives.

In this episode, Brad teaches us: 

1. Start planning your financial future as soon as possible. If you didn't start when you were young, start now.
2. The best first step is to evaluate the last 6-12 months of spending and determine opportunities to shift your spending habits.
3. After reviewing where you're spending your money, imagine what you want to feel like when you think about your finances and then consider what you're willing to sacrifice to get there.
4. The word "budget" has gotten a bad rap over the years. But, the reality is you need to have a plan every month to cover your expenses. But, when building your budget, include some discretionary spending for having fun and enjoying life.
5. After you've gotten visibility into your spending habits, it's time to then start saving money. 63% of people can't afford a $500 emergency expense without going into debt. Ideally you can have a minimum of $1,000 and up to $5,000 (if possible) in savings for emergencies.

To find more about Brad and to tap into his programs go to: 

Website | www.debtfreedad.com

Debt Free Dad Podcast

Girl....what kind of life are YOU living? Are you living paycheck to paycheck? Are you part of that 63% who cannot pay for a $500 emergency? Don't be ashamed to raise your hand. We are here to support you and to provide you the tools and resources to elevate your life. This is why we need you to follow our show, find us on Instagram and join our Facebook Community. We want you to know you are NOT alone. We are here to take this journey with you every step of the way. We have exciting new adventures to bring you in 2024. Stay tuned for the excitement!

I'd like for us to pause a moment and reflect on and CELEBRATE a major milestone! Today, we are releasing out 100th Episode! We started Dear Midlife on Valentines day of 2022 and we've consistently released 1 episode every week for almost 2 full years!  And today we celebrate and honor the women we were when we started this endeavor, and the women that we have become. It is fun to reflect on the growth we've both experienced since beginning our show. Each guest has touched us in unique and special ways and we've taken the tips and tools offered by each to heart and have both evolved a great deal individually and together this past couple of years.

One special guest who has made an impact on us is our dear friend Heather Hope Wyszinski. 4 Years ago, after celebrating her 40th birthday, she looked in the mirror and noticed how her body had changed after years of pregnancy, corporate stress, nursing and sleep deprivation. She said she noticed she had bags under her eyes and had decided to attempt a DIY closet makeover to refresh her life when the House of Colour found her. As a franchise owner of The House of Colour, she now gets the opportunity as an image consultant to empower and inspire women, daily, to see themselves in a new light.

She helps clients cultivate confidence through a color and style analysis. You see, ladies, we can control the message we convey through our non-verbal communication and the way we show up. When you look good...you feel good. Heather helps her clients develop their own authentic style and elevate their personal brand with intention by helping them understand their personal color palette and the styles that suit them.

The thing we love most about Heather and her process is that she helps you to rediscover your own personal beauty. Every one of us is beautiful in our own special and unique way. Heather helps uncover your natural beauty and appearance and step into your light with confidence and authenticity. You don't need to hide behind a lot of makeup, fade into invisible with age, blend in, or get stuck in what's no longer serving you. You simply need the tools to stand out as your most unique and be-YOU-tiful self.

Today we speak with Heather about her own midlife entrepreneurial journey and how she's evolved personally and professionally. Heather stepped into a new life chapter after 40 and has changed thousands of people's lives in doing so. 

In this episode, Heather teaches us: 

1. Sometimes we have to start new chapters messy. If we wait for perfection, we'll never get started. We provide freedom to those around us to fail, but avoid failure ourselves. Let's show ourselves the same grace we show others.
2. It's time to operate in your zone of genius. Take stock of what you are passionate about and what you do well and do more of those things. Find opportunity to delegate or outsource tasks and activities that you are not effective or efficient at doing.
3. Social narratives have told women time and time again that we are not enough. But, you ARE enough...and sometimes it just takes someone to show you how to lean into your most authentic self. Call her a sherpa of sass
4. Embrace who you are and where you are now and celebrate!
5. Reflect on what compliments that you've received over the years. They are indicators of how others see you. Gravitate towards replicating the looks and styles in which you've received the most compliments in the past.

To find more of Heather:

Facebook | HouseofColourHeatherHope

Instagram | @houseofcolour_heatherhope

What is your next chapter? You see, here at the Dear Midlife podcast, we want to give you the tools to grow and evolve, because baby girl...THIS is our time! The second half of your life is just beginning! How will you live it? If you want to do more and be more...join us! Follow our show so you never miss an episode, follow us on Instagram and join our Facebook Community! Exciting things are coming in the new year and you won't want to miss a thing!

We are both single and out there playing the dating game and we both know how difficult it is to get a man to even engage in conversation! So!! to our 2 guys listening out there....conversation is a 2-way street! That means I ask you a question, you respond (hopefully with more than 3 words) then YOU ask ME a question. I don't know if we've lost the fine art of conversation due to the social norms of communicating via texted acronyms LOL, WTF, OMW! etc. But, it is getting harder and harder to strike up conversation.  And we're talking like, everyday average conversation! Right?! We're not even talking about deep or intimate conversations about topics that are central to the foundation of any relationship we are forging.

Our guest today, Daniela Stevens, helps us to understand how to better have these conversations with an intimate partner (or let's be real, someone we WANT to have an intimate partnership with) in a way that is considerate, authentic and SAFE. For over 20 years, Daniela has worked with thousands of people 1:1, in college classrooms, and in yoga studios using somatic attachment therapy. She leverages neuroscience, holistic healing, trauma resolution and modern coaching blended with ancient tantric and taoist wisdom to support couples and individuals to experience deep sexual connection with themselves and their partner(s). Sometimes it's about removing pressure, guilt, shame, and blame. Sometimes it's about bolstering trust to foster vulnerability and emotional connection. Each person or relationship is unique and the private coaching experience is curated to their journey. She was named one of the best sex & intimacy coaches in 2023 by www.datingadvice.com

In this episode, Daniela teaches us:  

1. The first step to better sex in midlife is defining what that looks like for you and to learn to articulate what you're looking for. We can start to identify what is the speed, the flavor, the pace, the feeling, the level of intimacy, what are desires and how and where do they come into partnered sex and self-pleasure.
2. A vibrator isn't the only solution to finding your orgasm. It can help, but you have to be in touch and in tune with you body to figure out what works for you.
3. There is opportunity to make an intimate and safe experience when we talk about our needs. We can do this before sex, during sex, and after sex. To do this we have to be radically honest and willing to SAY what it is we're thinking.
4. When trying to understand our needs and our partners intimate needs ask 1. How's the speed?, 2 .How is the pressure? 3. How is the location? 4. How is the style or stroke?
5. Don't be afraid to initiate these conversations! They are a necessary and important part to a healthy sexual partnership.

You can find more of Daniela at:

Website | danielastevens.com

Instagram | @danielastevensnow

Daniela is our girl. If you are in the same place as us...in the middle, single, longing for a relationship with true, mind-blowing intimacy and just having a damn hard time finding it. You are in the right place! And if all of these topics are resonating with you, please follow our podcast so you don't miss an episode. And please join our FB Community and follow us on Instagram for more fun engagement and connection!

We waste no time in jumping directly into our conversation with Dr. Marcia Martin and dive deep into dialogue before we even get a chance to properly welcome her to the show! Perhaps, it is because Dr. Marcia Martin has SOO much rich information to share with us. 

Dr. Marcia goes by many titles: Heart Healer, a spiritual empowerment counselor, metaphysical minister, bestselling author, public speaker, and clairaudient angel communicator. She specializes in helping people heal their relationship with themselves. Dr. Marcia operates under the premise that, by healing the heart of all your past pain and trauma, you will then be able to establish and maintain healthy relationships with yourself and others so you can live a successful life.

Her unique, heart-centered, energetic, healing approach, the Angel Heart Healing Technique, enables you to build the perfect relationship with yourself and helps you answer the questions, “Who am I? Why am I here? and Where am I going?” Dr. Marcia will help you release your greatest fear so you can achieve your biggest dreams as you heal your heart and transform your life.

So many women in midlife struggle with feeling bound by societal norms and limiting beliefs that prevent us from making choices that allow us to live in alignment with who we are and share our gifts with the world. Dr. Marcia helps us to learn the difference between selfish and selfless, we can lead you to be able to make proactive choices for yourself, while still meeting the needs of others.

It is her mission to teach others how to honor those who are important in their lives without putting themselves in last place. Dr. Marcia demonstrates over and over again that, when we learn to heal our relationship with ourselves and give ourselves permission to choose a path that is inclusive rather than exclusive of Self, anything is possible. 

In this episode, Dr. Marcia teaches us:

1. Go for the usual. It is normal for you to feel strong and to feel accomplished but the UNusual (i.e. feelings of anxiety or fear) catches our attention and disrupts our feelings. YOU get to decide where you stay.
2. Stop doing whatever you're doing when you hit the point of saying I should do more. Take a break and then come back to the task. don't over extend yourself. 
3. Show yourself empathy by connecting to your heart and telling yourself "I love you." You can also enhance your relationship to Self and show yourself compassion by apologizing TO YOU when necessary.
4. Give yourself permission to live in alignment with your own energetic heartspace and values vs. what society deems you should be. You will not be perfect in the beginning, but you will experience greater joy than you've ever known when you share your gifts with the world.
5. As you give, you must allow yourself to give and RECEIVE. The difference between selfishness and selflessness is that selfishness is that you give and give until you have created dependency until you have nothing left to give...leaving everyone without. Selflessness is when you allow yourself to be filled until you are overflowing and then give from your overflow.

To find more of Dr. Marcia go to:

Website | mmhearthealer.com

Instagram | @mmhearthealer

YouTube | @DrMarciaMartintheHeartHealer

Facebook | @marciamartinthehearthealer

TikTok | @mmhearthealer

Are you wanting to learn how to heal the relationship with yourself? Are you wanting permission to live the life of your dreams, but don't quite know how to get there? Well, honey, you're in the right place. We are HERE FOR YOU! We've been there and are still on this same journey for ourselves. We struggle to know who we are and what we want to become. But, we know we can't do it alone. So, join us. We're your tribe of support as we all work to figure out what this life has in store for us and to answer Dr. Marcia's questions, Who am I, why am I here? Where am I going? Follow this podcast for more great content that will support you on your journey to freedom and join our FB group and follow us on Instagram for ongoing support! We've got your back!

So, this is a very timely episode for Shelby, specifically. Our consistent listeners have gotten to know that Shelby's been divorced for 7 years and that her ex-husband very much fits the definition of a narcissist. What has been surprising since she decided to walk away from her abusive situation, was that her 2 daughters forever keep she and her ex tethered together. And, even though she left her abusive situation...she can never really walk away completely. But, she has grown so strong since she left. And for those of us who find ourselves co-parenting with a narcissist, we have to adopt new skills so that we can make different choices in the way we respond to the continued abuse. This weekend, Shelby's ex sent 29 harassing and threatening texts message and 1 foul rambling voice mail message in <24 hours. Just one after another after another. So, today we question how can someone co-parent with someone who behaves this way? 

In this situation, Shelby just didn't respond. Because THAT is exactly what the narcissist wants. They want you to react! So...simply put, you can't. And the other thing to note is that the narcissist is NOT rational. There is simply no way to reason with them. Which, of course, makes co-parenting super difficult. We all want to do what is right for the children, but the narcissist is only doing what is right for themselves.

Thank goodness for our guest today, Nasanka Wickramarachchi!  She is a Trauma Aware Life Coach and a Holistic Practitioner who helps parents, who parent with a narcissistic partner or ex, to preserve their sanity, take back their life, and support their children. Nisanka speaks from experience after having grown up in a highly narcissistic environment and later being in narcissistic relationships. And THIS led her to resolve her own trauma and Complex-PTSD by healing her inner child wounds and trauma from her narcissistic abuse to build a thriving life for her and her daughter

The tips and tools Nisanka shares with us are game changers and things Shelby says she wishes she'd known 7 years ago when she first was divorced. She comes with a wealth of knowledge and credentials. She worked in the field of education for almost 20 years before becoming a LIfe Coach, Advanced EFT and Matrix Reimprinting Practitioner. She holds a Diploma in NLP, is a practitioner of the personality assessment, DISC, and qualified to work with Narcissism and Domestic Violence.

In this episode, Nisanka teaches us:

1. The only way to navigate co-parenting with a narcissistic ex is to "parallel parent". This entails building a relationship with your child that is empathetic, self-reflective, and a space of safety to explore with the child what they are thinking in YOUR home.
2. In the beginning, children only experience love through your actions. It is a felt experience that you physically provide them. However, giving your child emotional language from a young age so they can express themselves and making it safe for them to do so can be critical to your relationship with them and their confidence.
3. Don't gaslight your children (unintentionally) by denying their feelings about the other parent or trying to paint the other parent in a positive light, when their experience is contradictory. Instead ask, "what makes you say that?"
4. It is important to establish boundaries, not only with the other parent, but also with your child.
5. You best strategy to co-parenting with a narcissist is to ensure you are doing your own work to heal your trauma and regulate your own nervous system so that you are not triggered by your child or the other parent and can remain calm.

For more of Nisanka!

Download FREE starter kit (eBook on how to communicate + PDF on how to resist baiting)

https://www.coachingwithnisanka.com/

LinkedIb | @nisanka-wickramarachchi

Facebook Support Group | Co-Parenting with a Narcissist

Facebook Business | @coachingwithnisanka

Instagram | @coparentingwithanarcisst_coach

Whether you are co-parenting with a Narcissist or. have ever experienced any kind of narcissistic relationship or narcissistic abuse, you will find this episode thought provoking. And we want to know your experiences! Share with us your struggles and how this show has revealed to you new ways of thinking. You know, Shelby and I thought we were starting this show because it would be fun...but, we have learned and grown so much from the experience and we want to know how you've been impacted as well. Please leave us a 5-star review to let us know how this show has given you inspiration or support.

And on the topic of support, we are stronger together and that is why Trinity and I have started the Dear Midlife Facebook group. Please join our mission to help women in midlife everywhere navigate this proverbial midlife "crisis" (if you will) with some fucking humor and authenticity! Follow us on Instagram! We want to see you there!

So, not that long ago, Shelby was dating a guy and just kind of knew in her gut it wasn't the right place right time. BUT! He was the first person she'd met in a really long time that she felt completely connected to. There was, literal, electricity between them in the beginning. But, over time she just got a sensation in her body that was telling her that she needed or wanted more from the relationship than he was capable of giving at the time. 

And...of course! She didn't listen to her body! Instead, she listened to her head! She rationalized the significant connection between them. Even though there were equally as many warning signs (if that's what you want to call them). Shelby was doing my usual "hustle" in the end, trying to get his attention and doing much of the work to keep the connection and flame going. She knew he had many personal hurdles to overcome before he was emotionally available for a relationship....but, she just wanted it so badly she chose to ignore her gut, and continued to rationalize in her head something that wasn't right. Of course, in the end, it sadly fell apart when HE acknowledged that it wasn't the right time or place for him.

Then...there was Trinity with her longstanding relationship with a married man. All kinds of signals were there that she chose to ignore...but, we as women have been taught that what our bodies are telling us are untrustworthy!! So, we've become numb to the signals and ignore them.

Thank goodness for our guest today, Courtney Edwards, who is a wellness professional, trained counselor, certified coach, and podcaster. She brings to our show 25+ years experience in helping others find “mindful wellbeing in every day life”. 

In her practice, Alchemy Coaching, Courtney blends feminist theory and cognitive behavioral practice with the Buddhist concept of mindfulness to help women identify the social conditioning that is holding them back and to challenge harmful narratives and use self-compassion as they take steps to live with more genuine authenticity and embrace the truth of who they are.

And ladies, Courtney gets YOU! She is a 48 y/o perimenopausal wife and mother who initiated a divorce at age 38, found a healthy and wonderful romance at age 40, and left full time employment within a state agency to establish my own business at age 43. George Eliot says "It is never too late to be who you might have been" and she is choosing to live her life to the fullest and want to support other women in doing the same!

If you're feeling stuck...this episode is for you! Courtney reminds us to TRUST ourselves, and follow our hearts and that "knowing" inside of us that we are meant for more!  

In this episode, Courtney teaches us:

1. "It's never too late to be who you might have been" George Eliot
2. We need to stop just hoping to "be chosen" (i.e. for the team, on the dating apps, for the job) and, instead, get in touch with our bodies and learn to lean into our own intuition about what WE want...in the job, the relationship etc.
3. Somewhere along the way we are taught not to trust our bodies. We need to learn to TRUST our bodies again.
4. You can learn to know how anxiety shows up in your body vs. intuition and to be able to distinguish between these and respond appropriately.
5. Take a piece of paper and draw onto it 5 columns and label each column with one of the senses. The write down all the things that you experience through that sense that brings you joy or calm. This is help you to get in touch with what feels good in your body.

You can find Courtney at:

Website | shineandsoar.com

Instagram | @alchemybhc

Now is the time, girl! If you need a tribe to support you...we're on this journey alongside of you. Follow this show so you don't miss an episode and join our FB group. We've got your back.

We've talked so much on this podcast about this idea of feeling stuck in midlife. and you know...I don't know what it is that puts us here...It's like we've spent our whole lives wearing all these hats and, literally, giving over ourselves to do ALL the things for other people that when the circumstances change and the kids go to college and we're no longer an unpaid damn uber driver for our littles and the PTO board is like, "you know most people on the board actually HAVE kids at this school (LOL) don't you want to find something else to do with your time?" that we're like...."well, what the hell am I supposed to do instead? I've been showing up to the damn PTO meeting for like 12 years the first Tuesday of every month!"

It's the strangest thing to wake up, without having a kid crawl into bed with you at 5 am and look in that mirror and think..."who the hell are you?!?" Sometimes, it's like I don't recognize myself anymore. I don't know who I am. I don't know what I want. I don't know what makes me happy AND I don't know what to do to figure it all out!

Thankfully, our guest today, Marcy McDonald is the author of UnStuck Yourself: Daily Practice with the Right Tools Will Change Your Life and co-author of the internationally best-selling book, Transforming Your Life Volume V: 20 Incredible Stories Showing the Strength of the Human Spirit. Marcy is a powerhouse that is changing lives daily. OR seeing people to the end of their lives in a way that releases regret and preserves the dignity of the dying as an end-of-life doula. She was a guest expert on the TV Show "4 Days to Save the World" and has been featured on numerous podcasts and spoken at multiple summits.

She has extensive experience consulting on, envisioning, strategizing, developing, writing, editing, and producing courses and speaking publicly on multiple topics from how to have an emotionally healthy mindset to overcoming negative self-talk to living intentionally and authentically. In addition, she speaks and leads workshops on improving focus to save time and boost productivity. She offers both intensive workshops and 1:1 coaching on mindset.

In this episode, Marcy shares with us some of the tools she uses to help her clients get UNstuck and get on with living a live they love that is full of joy and authenticity. 

In this episode, Marcy teaches us:  

1. You have to learn how to notice what is going on and where you feel stuck and THEN find the right tool to navigate that situation. Most people don't even realize they feel bad. The recognition is the start.
2. The rational mind processes 64 bits of information in a second. The emotional mind processes a quadrillion. The emotional brain is "in charge" of your decisioning and to do so, it draws on your most negative memories in order to "keep you safe"
3. Do rational breathing exercises when you notice tension in your body by putting your hands on your belly and watching your hands to see them move in and out. By doing this exercise you will force yourself to breathe more deeply and focusing on your hands pulls you back into your rational mind so you're more capable of making rational choices vs. emotional choices.
4. Notice the negative beliefs about ourselves and how we "beat ourselves up" then, look at the actual facts....if the negative believe is "I'm fat." Then "build a bridge" between the negative thought and the positive fact using the phrase "I'm practicing". For example, I'm practicing eating more healthy.
5. Today may be the only day you have, so you need to live each day fully and authentically. That means you may need to work through the things that are preventing you from living in the present day with gratitude and joy.

To learn more about Marcy, check out her books or go to: 

About Marcy Video: https://vimeo.com/675579361

website | marcymcdonald.com

LinkedIn | marcymcdonald

Facebook | MarcyMcDonald

If YOU are feeling stuck and looking yourself in the mirror each morning wondering who in the hell is staring back at you, You'll love this conversation. If you love this conversation then please follow us and leave us a review. You can also find us on Facebook and Instagram! We need your continued support so that we can birth more amazing content into the world to help move you beyond your sticking points. 

Money, Money Money, must be funny in a rich man's world! 

If I were a rich man, Ya ba dibba dibba dibba dibba dibba dibba dum... 

You know....why are all these songs about rich MEN?! Our guest today, Eileen Joy, is "The Money Coach for Moms" and founder of Money School for Moms™ that teaches high achieving moms how to create wealth so they can have a healthy relationship with money and stop living paycheck to paycheck. 

Eileen created an easy system that any busy mom can follow and specializes in working creates a safe and comfortable environment to learn about one of the most avoided and taboo subjects, money. No more Shame, Guilt, or embarrassment

Today, we explore with Eileen how to get to the root of our own money stories and how to rewrite those stories to create abundance and financial freedom. Rewriting your own money story stops the subconscious generational patterns and then you get to empower your own children and help them rewrite their own money stories from a place of abundance. 

Baby ....at the end of this episode, we're all going to be singing a different tune about money...It's all about the money, money, money! If I had a million dollars, if I had a million dollars...

In this episode, Eileen teaches us:

1. To create a new money story you must first understand the money story you grew up with, plan and then...rewrite your money story so you can begin to shift your mindset about money.
2. To tune into your current money story ask, "how did your parents and family manage and/or talk about money?" "What did you take from that?" and "How do you manage your money now?"
3. Practice "values-based spending" by allocating your money to those things that are most important to you.
4. Understand that money coaching isn't about the numbers, it's about finding a way to live your dream live through your money. It is about how you spend, save and share, because the more money you have, the more good you can do with it! It's about then feeling GOOD about spending your money instead of guilty.
5. Create a portion of your budget for "guilt free" fun spending so that you DON'T beat yourself up by spending money and enjoying it!

To learn more from Eileen, visit her at:

Website | momswhomoney.com

Instagram | eileenjoymoneycoach

Facebook | eileenjoymoneycoach

and...download this FREE GIFT: Free Guide 5 easy ways to save $1000 this month.

We want you to live your healthiest life, your wealthiest life, and a life you love! Please join us in the middle as we give you all the tools you need to navigate midlife with positivity and power. Meet us at dearmidlife.com