Grief and love are two of our most important emotions, and although they might seem to navigate parallel paths, they have several things in common, and they are more intertwined than we think. 

In today's episode, we go through some of those points where grief meets love; we analyze how grief can take us back to love and understand why experiencing pain and suffering is necessary to love and feel loved again. We also look at our responsibility of keeping the loved ones that transitioned alive through our words and actions and what we can do to honor them. 

In addition, we learn the difference between accepting fear's presence and giving it a vote and a voice to suggest detours and action plans. Together, we go beyond the surface-level of grief; we choose to love ourselves, praise and celebrate every single baby step in our growth journey. 

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

• Can grief be loving? (1:37)
• The best way to deal with fear in our lives (2:28)
• Grief might certainly not feel like love at the beginning (5:01)
• What would you choose, between self-love and self-suffering (9:02)
• My decision about using grief instead of being used by it (12:17)
• God can't change a thing if you don't believe in it (17:06)

Resources:

• Growing Through Grief System - Book Now

Let's Connect!

• Facebook
• Twitter
• Instagram
• LinkedIn
• Website
• Facebook Group - Growing Through Grief Together

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

We know grief can take us to several places; some are filled with pain and loneliness, others can make us grow and evolve, and some might lead us to connect with other souls walking a similar path. We recognize grief's effects but sometimes forget its practical use. We forget we can use grief as a tool; we forget it's up to us to grab it and use it to heal. 

In this episode, inspired by a conversation with a webinar colleague and friend, we explore grief's applicability, unravel grief's healing properties, and learn how it can be a catalyst for healing grief. Together, we question why we let ourselves be dragged into past traumatic or painful experiences and decide to sink and stay in that pain.

We also examine our own grief; what is it that we are really grieving? Is it a previous version of ourselves, perhaps an idealized future version that never came to fruition? Tune in, and let's find out the answers to these questions together. 

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

• About the things that we already know but might change our mindset if we look at them differently (2:19)
• What or who is it that we are really grieving for? (4:27)
• How grief can be a catalyst to heal (7:34)
• "Trauma is not what happens to you (...)" - Dr. Gabor Maté's definition of trauma (8:57)
• What kind of world is the one you want to create? (13:44)
• Life happens, and grief happens with life (16:13)

Resources:

• Growing Through Grief System - Book Now

Let's Connect!

• Facebook
• Twitter
• Instagram
• LinkedIn
• Website
• Facebook Group - Growing Through Grief Together

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

Do you have an old memory that haunts you? Perhaps you've done something to someone or yourself that makes you feel bad every time you think about it. Is there anyone in your small circle of friends constantly reminding you about that thing that automatically puts you down? If so, do you know how to deal with it? Do you know what to do when you are not okay? Let's find out.

In this episode, we talk about those moments when we struggle to feel like ourselves, when sadness takes over, and our mind insists on returning to old thoughts, hurting feelings, and sad memories. We address some of the most common responses to this feeling and explore examples of how NOT to deal with it. 

In addition, I share three simple yet powerful ways of becoming YOU again. All of them require your presence and awareness, but the third one demands a little extra work, which I'm sure you're perfectly capable of. Let's dive right into them. 

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

• The things we should avoid doing when we are not feeling okay (2:36)
• What does it mean when you are not fine with yourself (3:51)
• How to avoid getting distracted by the things happening outside of us (7:03)
• The best way to acknowledge you are not okay (7:42)
• Why it is crucial to avoid self-judgment (9:45)
• When you let go of something, you must replace it with something bigger (14:47)

Let's Connect!

• Facebook
• Twitter
• Instagram
• LinkedIn
• Website
• Facebook Group - Growing Through Grief Together

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

Especially after a couple of years of forced isolation because of the pandemic, the feeling of loneliness has expanded worldwide. Feeling lonely is not "an elder's thing" anymore; it has spread and affects people from all walks of life, regardless of their age. 

So, is loneliness necessarily a bad thing? Should we avoid it at all costs, or would it be better to sit with it and use it to heal? Let's find out!

In this episode, we take a minute to observe and analyze how the feeling of loneliness has penetrated over half of the world's population. We explore the effects of loneliness in the long term and why almost nobody likes to talk about it and struggles to accept it as a natural experience in life. I share a message from a dear friend who was experiencing loneliness and the powerful lessons that letter taught me about myself and how to deal with feeling lonely. 

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

• Some alarming statistics about the feeling of loneliness in the world (1:56)
• The letter of a dear friend that inspired today's episode (4:06)
• What can you do if you feel lonely? Lesson N°1 (5:34)
• Who should you reach out to if you feel lonely? Lesson N°2 (6:45)
• Why most people are struggling to accept loneliness as a natural part of life (9:12)
• Where should you look for support if you feel lonely? Lesson N°3 (11:15)

Resources:

• Growing Through Grief System - Book Now

Let's Connect!

• Facebook
• Twitter
• Instagram
• LinkedIn
• Website
• Facebook Group - Growing Through Grief Together

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

We know there can be rage and pain in grief and even freedom and growth, but can there be space for happiness? We are about to find out because in today's episode, the Founder and CEO of Grief and Happiness Alliance, Emily Thiroux Threatt, joins us to share how she turned her grief story into happiness. 

Emily is also the host of the Grief and Happiness podcast, the Author of "Loving and Living Your Way Through Grief," a Grief Transformation Expert, and a speaker. 

Throughout our conversation, we delve into Emily's grief journey, the healing attributes she found in writing, and why she fell in love with grief recovery work. Emily shares a couple of powerful resources she uses to help people grow and recover from grief, like haiku poems and writing letters to the person that transitioned.

We also explore the relationship between grief and happiness and the critical role mindfulness plays in it. In addition, we analyze the other big G – guilt – and learn from Emily the best way to address it and remove it from our system. 

Some Questions I Ask:

• You mentioned the things you like to write about. Could you share a little bit more about what that looks like? (7:19)
• Can you give us an example of a haiku poem? (10:33)
• Let's talk about happiness and grief; what does that look like? (16:07)

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

• Emily talks about the reasons that made her decide to work with grief recovery (2:53)
• How powerful and comforting can be to write letters to people who have already transitioned (09:37)
• How mindfulness can help us deal with grief (17:30)
• The importance of giving less space to fear in our lives (24:48)
• The most challenging thing Emily had to learn throughout her grief journey (38:01)

Resources:

• Grief and Happiness podcast
• Book: Emily Thiroux Threatt - Loving and Living Your Way Through Grief
• The Grief and Happiness Alliance
• Growing Through Grief System - Book Now

Connect with Emily:

• LinkedIn
• Instagram
• Pinterest

Let's Connect!

• Facebook
• Twitter
• Instagram
• LinkedIn
• Website
• Facebook Group - Growing Through Grief Together

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

We all have stories of grief, pain, regret, or shame in our past. Chances are that most – if not all – of those negative experiences, are constantly on the top of our minds, which might be confusing. If we don't address them properly, we might end up thinking those stories are who we are, which is miles away from the truth. 

Today's episode is an invitation to reconnect with our true selves. We learn to navigate through the darkness of the painful memories that act as a barrier between ourselves and our true selves.

Together, we learn to connect with the true self, the part of us that has no blemishes, the spiritual self, the intuitive self, the one at our core, the one with infinite wisdom. I share a fun Q&A exercise to help you uncover your true self and identify what is blocking you from connecting with it. We also learn to reframe our past and move forward while creating space for growth. 

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

• About the question that inspired today's episode (1:59)
• Why it is crucial to pay attention to what we focus on (5:45)
• How to live our lives based on the practical definition of the true self (7:59)
• Four questions to help us connect with our true selves (10:08)
• A real-world experience that illustrates the power of connecting with the true self (15:41)
• How to improve our lives by becoming an observer of it (20:09)

Resources:

• Growing Through Grief System - Book Now

Let's Connect!

• Facebook
• Twitter
• Instagram
• LinkedIn
• Website
• Facebook Group - Growing Through Grief Together
• Email: [email protected]

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

Very often, life gets so busy and noisy that we don't have the time to go after our desires or hear them. We think we need certain things to achieve happiness; we believe we will feel better after putting our hands on tangible material things. That works, sometimes; we feel better, but that kind of joy is not meant to last. 

In today's episode, we take a step back from our fast-paced life and remain in silence to hear the heart of our desire. We explore the importance of staying connected to ourselves and others and how to use those connections to build a better relationship with our mental and physical health. 

We also discuss the role of focus and curiosity on our life outcomes and what we attract based on what we decide to focus on. We dive deep into how to redirect that focus, and how curiosity can help us learn more about our relationship with ourselves, our traumas, and the growth we can experience. 

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

• Why it's so hard to get curious about the desires that come from the heart (2:54)
• About the time we waste chasing the wrong things (4:26)
• The three things I did to connect with the heart of my desire (5:48)
• Why we must remain curious, even about the painful things (10:28)
• About being aware of where is our focus and what are the things we attract into our lives (17:38)

Resources:

• Growing Through Grief System - Book Now

Let's Connect!

• Facebook
• Twitter
• Instagram
• LinkedIn
• Website
• Facebook Group - Growing Through Grief Together
• Email: [email protected]

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

The inspiring Dr. Naeema Olatunji is visiting us today to talk about the healing process of souls and spirits from racialized trauma. 

Dr. Naeema Olatunji is a Doctor of Chiropractic, Owner of Elevate Family Chiropractic, host of Elevate NOW! podcast, and author of "Raised as a Lie," a memoir born from a healing process that took her decades to come to terms with. Dr. Naeema was the only Brown person in a white family; her Black heritage was hidden in plain sight and never discussed. She grew up as an outsider, feeling invisible, where her presence wasn't celebrated but tolerated. 

In this episode, Dr. Naeema kindly shared her story, her upbringing, and the moment her life turned upside down at 18 when her life was threatened by a hate crime, which made her ask questions about her origin. 

Throughout our conversation, we explore the intricacies of healing from racialized trauma, the importance of being grateful for our losses, and the grief they provoke in us, pushing us to grow and become better versions of ourselves. Dr. Naeema describes her process of discovering herself as a Black woman, the pain and the rejection suffered, and how she freed herself from that prolonged grief. 

Some Questions I Ask:

Why do you feel it is so crucial for you to tell your story? (12:26)

Can you unpack the lies you talk about in your book? (21:31)

How did you come to embrace the parts you grew up hating about yourself? (32:10)

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

How becoming a Chiropractor felt like reaching an extension of Dr. Naeema's tribe (5:59)

The walls Dr. Naeema built around her heart throughout her life (15:21)

Dr. Naeema describes the feeling of hiding so much under the rug until it becomes a mountain (19:43)

Attachment vs. authenticity (29:27)

Dr. Naeema's experiences at College, embracing her Blackness (36:36)

The importance of bringing awareness towards ancestral trauma (45:41)

Resources:

Elevate Family Chiropractic website

Elevate NOW! podcast

Book: Naeema Olatunji - Raised as a Lie

Growing Through Grief System - Book Now

Connect with Dr. Naeema:

LinkedIn

Let's Connect!

Facebook

Twitter

Instagram

LinkedIn

Website

Facebook Group - Growing Through Grief Together

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

Healing from abuse, especially for women, who understand and feel their bodies as their "queendom," their sacred castle, is extraordinarily challenging and multilayered. That healing process could translate into never letting anyone touch them again or opening themselves to everyone. It could also become an eating disorder, getting a bigger and thicker shell to protect the self.

Visiting us today is Edy Nathan to talk about sexual grief or the response to a sexually traumatic event and how to dance with grief instead of rejecting it. 

Edy is an author, keynote speaker, licensed therapist, and grief expert. She is a certified sex therapist from the American Association of Sex Therapists, a hypnotherapist, and an Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) practitioner with more than 20 years of experience.

In this episode, we dive into Edy's grief stories, childhood traumas, and how she got into the grief recovery realm. We talk about the importance of creating our rituals of wisdom, using toys and games to reconnect and develop the self, and the importance of active listening when trying to help others deal with their grief. 

We also talk about generational trauma and why women must reunite and stop competing with each other. Edy kindly shared a beautiful story, full of golden nuggets of wisdom and bits of her new book, which is soon to be published. 

Some Questions I Ask:

You lived in this multicultural environment and then moved to an all-white one. And those experiences there created some grief experiences. Could you talk a bit about that? (7:47)

What things did you do to support yourself during that moment of your life when you felt you didn't belong? (13:31)

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

Edy talks about her grief experiences in life (9:45)

Edy explains how games and playing can help us rebuild ourselves and how playing with clay helped her (13:32)

Edy talks about the importance of identifying what kind of hunger we are feeling when we feel the urge to eat (19:08)

Edy describes the importance of listening to those suffering and grieving (26:26)

Edy and Diana talk about generational trauma (32:13)

Edy shares details of her new book (40:37)

Resources:

Edy Nathan's website

Book: Edy Nathan - It's Grief: The Dance of Self-Discovery Through Trauma and Loss

Growing Through Grief System - Book Now

Connect with Edy:

LinkedIn

Instagram

Twitter

Facebook

YouTube

Let's Connect!

Facebook

Twitter

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

Grief is such a complex emotion. It shows up in our lives to teach us about compassion, forgiveness, and growth, and most importantly, it is a reminder that love never dies and is the world's most powerful force. 

Today, Karla Noland joins us to share her grief story and how she learned to co-exist with this complex emotion during her mother's transition. She is an award-winning Author and Speaker, Certified Personal Development & Executive Coach, and the Founder and CEO of Reveal, Heal, Thrive, LLC. Her latest book, "The Day My Heart Turned Blue," was awarded the 2022 Eric Hoffer Award. 

In this episode, we delve into Karla's grief experiences, the day her heart turned blue, and the growing process she began when she started grieving for her mother. We discuss the importance of healing childhood traumas and giving ourselves grace for the things we couldn't build in our lives. Karla explains how she dismantled her core beliefs about not being good enough and shares actionable insights to deal with our inner critics.

Some Questions I Ask:

Could you share with us about that experience of your heart turning blue before your mother transitioned to her new life? (8:44)

What did growth look like for you during that whole process? (11:28)

Could you talk about the tools you now have to support you in creating happy, healthy relationships? (21:53)

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

Karla talks about the grueling process of realizing she had no control over what was happening to her mother (9:38)

How Karla dealt with her childhood traumas (12:12)

How Karla dismantled her inner critic (23:12)

How to deal with mothers who are alive but emotionally unavailable (29:34)

The self-imposed prison of depression and how Karla managed to get out of it (40:38)

Resources:

• Reveal, Heal, Thrive website
• Book: The Day My Heart Turned Blue: Healing After the Loss of My Mother
• Growing Through Grief System - Book Now

Connect with Karla:

• LinkedIn
• Instagram
• Twitter
• Facebook
• YouTube

Let's Connect!

• Facebook
• Twitter
• Instagram
• LinkedIn
• Website
• Facebook Group - Growing Through Grief Together

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