Get Merry

Are you stuck in a rut? How do you get out? Similar to last week's podcast episode... just reminding you all that you can change. So if you are feeling blah, flat and in a rut... tune in, it's time to get you out of that rut!

This is what we spoke about during the episode

• According to Oxford Languages, a rut is a habit or pattern of behaviour that has become dull and unproductive but is hard to change.
• Ruts aren't necessarily a long-time thing. Sometimes, ruts come in moments in your day.
• We think the best way to get out of that funky rut feeling is to move and shake up your body. Literally, jump and dance around to your fave song. 
• If you're stuck in a job that you hate, check in with what you can add or subtract to make it better.
• Change is hard and scary but it's the ultimate shake-up of ruts and can make a 180-degree life turn.
• Adding a new goal or something else to focus on helps alleviate your original rut situation. Like a 50 day Yoga Challenge.
• Talk to a friend about your rut, do something fun and creative, watch inspirational documentaries, or learn something new.

If you have been stuck in a rut but are now inspired to jump into one of these action steps, we would love to hear from you, send us an email to [email protected] or [email protected] or message us on our Facebook and Instagram accounts @themerrymakersisters.

Download our FREE Self Care Checklist and you’ll find 50 brand new ideas to practice self care.

Always merrymaking,

Emma + Carla

P.s if you ever need further help or guidance please contact Lifeline or Beyond Blue. Asking for help is pure courage.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, we chat about the magic of newness. This was inspired by the progress we've been making on our teacher training manual for our very first MerryBody Teacher Training next year. If you're feeling a little stuck and bored with everything, tune in.

This is what we spoke about during the episode

• When the day-to-day becomes monotonous, it's easy to feel bored and lose that zest for life.
• Have you started anything new lately? Have you been curious about something and then dived in deeper?
• We reference the amazing book series (again!), My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante.
• The attachment tto the ROI (return on investment). But what if the return on the investment was simply the newness of the experience?
• When you're young, you can develop these strong opinions of yourself. But you're not stuck there. You can make changes.
• Check out Irene Messias's amazing sculptures and art over here. Check out Damiano's work over here.

Check in with yourself when was the last thing you did or brought into your life. Is it time for something new?

We would love to hear from you, send us an email to [email protected] or [email protected] or message us on our Facebook and Instagram accounts @themerrymakersisters.

Download our FREE Self Care Checklist and you’ll find 50 brand new ideas to practice self care.

Always merrymaking,

Emma + Carla

P.s if you ever need further help or guidance please contact Lifeline or Beyond Blue. Asking for help is pure courage.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We just got back from a Gold Coast Business Week event where we heard an amazing speaker, Michael McQueen. One thing really stuck with us, it was along the lines of staying humble and hungry. He was talking in reference to business and trends but it also applies to life in general.

This is what we spoke about during the episode

• How being humble and hungry is the perfect combination of personality traits.
• Humility is the ability to view yourself accurately as an individual with talents, as well as flaws while being void of arrogance and low self-esteem. It's getting rid of your ego and welcoming self-acceptance.
• What it means to be hungry, is to be a driver of change. It's not the hustle culture.
• Hone in on your hunger. Do one thing at once and do it well, and then move on to the next thing.
• Don't do the same things over and over again. 
• Remember that we're all the same. No one is better than or below you. Don't be afraid to suck, be a beginner and ask for help.

We hope that these two words "humble and hungry" inspire you in some ways. We would love to hear from you, send us an email to [email protected] or [email protected] or message us on our Facebook and Instagram accounts @themerrymakersisters.

Download our FREE Self Care Checklist and you’ll find 50 brand new ideas to practice self care.

Always merrymaking,

Emma + Carla

P.s if you ever need further help or guidance please contact Lifeline or Beyond Blue. Asking for help is pure courage.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Where are you spending your time and how are you living your life? How many times have you wished to be thinner, smarter, funnier, prettier, richer?

In this episode, we chat about the practice of self-acceptance and how important it is in our everyday lives.

This is what we spoke about during the episode

• Thinking you are not good enough, not smart enough, not pretty enough, not tall enough, not thin enough or whatever not enough is a waste of your time.
• It's fine to compare and have these goals you see on social media, but you need to step towards them. Don't just stay where you are and be depressed about not having something.
• If you want to tick off a goal, do it but also check in with your reasons why you want to get to that goal.
• Check in why do you want to take the steps towards losing weight. Is it because of societal pressures or for health reasons?
• When you're less uptight and not robotic with the way you diet, you enjoy it more. Dieting sucks!
• Self-acceptance is a celebration of who we are, what we look like and what we have.
• How do you find the balance the wants and desires with contentment? 

Always remember you are amazing just as you are right here right now! It's tome to stop wasting time thinking about your weight!

If you want to talk more about the practice of self-acceptance, send us an email to [email protected] or [email protected] or message us on our Facebook and Instagram accounts @themerrymakersisters.

Download our FREE Self Care Checklist and you’ll find 50 brand new ideas to practice self care.

Always merrymaking,

Emma + Carla

P.s if you ever need further help or guidance please contact Lifeline or Beyond Blue. Asking for help is pure courage.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We had a week off from podcasting, Mum and Dad were up from Canberra. We were busy wedding dress shopping, real estate shopping (well, driving around Gold Coast showing them different areas) , eating lots of great food and all the beach walks.

Time is our most precious resource, especially time with the people we love, right?

But have you ever stopped to realise that your phone is often getting in the way of real life? It really is the biggest distraction.

This is what we spoke about during the episode

• We're missing potential connections and conversations because of these devices. We're disconnecting from ourselves and people.
• People are consuming content and ideas but we're not allowing ourselves to contemplate and think our own thoughts.  
• Check in with yourself and bring awareness to every time you pick your phone up.
• Create boundaries with your devices. If you're a parent (good luck hehe), we have no idea, but we've heard it's more about being an example for the kids. 

It's a good time to self-reflect, open up the conversation and make a change. Use your devices for the good. If you are now inspired to self-reflect and decide to stop using your devices so much, send us an email to [email protected] or [email protected] or message us on our Facebook and Instagram accounts @themerrymakersisters.

Download our FREE Self Care Checklist and you’ll find 50 brand new ideas to practice self care.

Always merrymaking,

Emma + Carla

P.s if you ever need further help or guidance please contact Lifeline or Beyond Blue. Asking for help is pure courage.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A good pair of swimmers that you love will create more joy in your life because they are a tool to help you enjoy the beach (or pool, or other water activity). In this episode we chat about the dread of going swimwear shopping. This episode will inspire you to move through the situation of hating swimwear shopping, so you can have more fun!

This is what we spoke about during the episode

• Clothing can be an extension of who you are and it can make you feel different. So, what makes you feel good?
• Who are you dressing for? 
• Just because it's in fashion and on trend, doesn't mean you have to buy them. If you don't like them, there's plenty of other options.
• Bring along a supportive friend or companion who knows your history of anxiety and negative relationship with your self-image.
• You don't need to change our body to fit a certain trend or to fit a certain time. Your body isn't designed to fit jeans; jeans are designed to fit you.
• Do not look at the size of the clothes because every brand is completely different.
• Stop paying attention to fashion magazines and tabloids.
• Unfollow social media accounts that trigger you.

Self-acceptance is the most important practice.

If you are now inspired to go swimwear shopping and loved this episode, send us an email at [email protected] or [email protected] or message us on our Facebook and Instagram accounts @themerrymakersisters.

Download our FREE Self Care Checklist and you’ll find 50 brand new ideas to practice self care.

Always merrymaking,

Emma + Carla

P.s if you ever need further help or guidance please contact Lifeline or Beyond Blue. Asking for help is pure courage.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If you find yourself forever competing with your friendship group, this episode is for you.

The chat was inspired by the book, My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante, a story revolved around the friendship and rivalry between 2 girls growing up in post WWII Naples. The themes in the book are relatable, even though I grew up in Australia in the 1990s and 2000s. I remember feeling rejected with sense of competition between friends. Feeling lonely, like an outcast. The jealousy and the worry of what others think. Not only a fantastic, can’t put it down kinda read, it inspires reflection of your own life.

No wonder this book series (yes there are 3 more books to read) is so popular.

• You can be competitive with each other but still, want each other to succeed.
• Competition can create suffering. 
• Having an ally over a competitor is just a more joyful way to live. When you help each other, it’s a productive relationship.
• Reflect and check in, what’s your sense of competition like. Is it bringing good or is it bringing others and yourself down?
• Jealousy can be a big reason why friendships become toxic. What can you do about it?
• If it does not come naturally to you, being happy for someone else is a practice.
• Seek inspiration and motivation from someone else’s success. Get out of your ego. Let go of the competition.

If you loved this episode, send us an email at [email protected] or [email protected] or message us on our Facebook and Instagram accounts @themerrymakersisters.

Download our FREE Self Care Checklist and you’ll find 50 brand new ideas to practice self care.

Always merrymaking,

Emma + Carla

P.s if you ever need further help or guidance please contact Lifeline or Beyond Blue. Asking for help is pure courage.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Do you suffer from low self-esteem and have a habit of running a constant self-hating monologue in your mind, this episode is for you. This chat was inspired by our previous episodes about how to stop talking about dieting and the epidemic of body image anxiety.

In this episode, we talk about HOW to overcome negative body image and self-criticism. How do we stop our constant self-criticism and this negative view of ourselves?

• Awareness is the first step. You need to acknowledge that you have a negative self-image. Having the intention that you want to make a change is step two. Then, you take action.
• How do we become self-aware? 
• Be honest with yourself and acknowledge that sometimes you do need to make changes.
• Many people think that dieting is the answer to the problem of self-hate. It's like, you hate yourself then you have this bright idea that if you go on a diet and lose weight and then you'll love yourself. It's all conditional love!
• The philosophy of Yoga teaches us to be kind to ourselves, as well as compassionate and caring.
• Journaling, meditation, yoga, and Pilates are tools that can help switch your thoughts to a more accepting mindset.
• When we are present, we can let go of the self-criticising thoughts.

If you loved this episode, send us an email at [email protected] or [email protected] or message us on our Facebook and Instagram accounts @themerrymakersisters.

Download our FREE Self Care Checklist and you’ll find 50 brand new ideas to practice self care.

Always merrymaking,

Emma + Carla

P.s if you ever need further help or guidance please contact Lifeline or Beyond Blue. Asking for help is pure courage.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Your best friend is on a new diet and they’re telling you about it, maybe they’re even trying to convince you to try it. But you’ve recently set the intention to STOP dieting.

You realise the massive impact Diet Culture has had on your life. Maybe it led to constant self-criticism or disorderly eating?

How do we deal with this better? What do you do when your friends won’t stop talking about diets?

• Diet culture allows and inspires people to put themselves in harm so they can look a certain way and it’s time to say, NO, no more!
• Step away, walk away and leave the conversation the quickest, easiest way.
• Change the subject. Have a story ready for you to interject when you’re stuck in this conversation of diet culture.
• Be open and honest to them that you’re not talking about diet anymore because of XYZ. 
• Make them aware that you’re not into diet culture but do it with kindness and not anger. Maybe send them an article about body acceptance and make them feel like they have discovered it (haha).
• Decide that you don’t want to be a part of these conversations anymore.

Step forward with a new perspective and awareness that instead of focusing on calories, diets, your weight, other people’s weight and judgment, you’re going to read a book, learn a language, learn to dance, paint, draw, go on a walk in nature, meditate, do yoga and Pilates, build an online business, and so many better things to do.

If you loved this episode, we would love to hear from you. Send us an email at [email protected] or [email protected] or message us on our Facebook and Instagram accounts @themerrymakersisters.

Download our FREE Self Care Checklist and you’ll find 50 brand new ideas to practice self care.

Always merrymaking,

Emma + Carla

P.s if you ever need further help or guidance please contact Lifeline or Beyond Blue. Asking for help is pure courage.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We took a break last week because there has been so much going on! The most exciting news is that Carla got engaged two weeks ago. Yay! In this episode, we chat all things weddings and marriage.

Weddings are beautiful celebrations of love, but are they really necessary? Are wedding's just about the big, fat diamond? Enjoy this sister chat, there was no plan, no research. We know many podcasts a beautifully produced, this one is not. Apologies for mispronunciations, faulty statistics and terrible googling.

• Weddings are great economic drivers. If you want to and have the ability to spend that much money on one day, go for it.
• Originally, the purpose of marriage was to bind men and women to produce legitimate offspring. Romantic huh!  
• What does marriage and a wedding mean to you? Is it actually something you want?
• Carla (the younger sister) got engaged before Emma (the older sister) and we do not give a damn.
• The concept of Epicureanism is finding pleasure in simple things. Having a diamond ring can have the same level as looking at a sunset or a sunrise. 
• Carla's engagement story. How Joel (her fiancé) proposed to Carla and how she knew it was happening.

We want to hear about all the weddings. Tell us about your wedding, your best friend's wedding, your sister's or your brother's. Hate them or love them?

If you loved this episode, we would love to hear from you. Send us an email at [email protected] or [email protected] or message us on our Facebook and Instagram accounts @themerrymakersisters.

Download our FREE Self Care Checklist and you’ll find 50 brand new ideas to practice self care.

Check out all the Get Merry Podcast episodes on iTunes and Overcast and Stitcher for Androids. Plus we are on Spotify over HERE!

Always merrymaking,

Emma + Carla

P.s if you ever need further help or guidance please contact Lifeline or Beyond Blue. Asking for help is pure courage.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.