Happy Growing

Recently, I went back home to Germany to visit my family. While I was there, I had quite a lot of thoughts coming up. What if I was to live here again? What would I do? How would I spend my time? What would be different?

In this week’s episode, I do a lot of reflecting on my move to the UK almost five years ago, differences between London and my hometown, some of my life choices and future plans.

Ultimately, I remind you and myself of how free our choices can really be, how we flow and grow in this life, and how quickly you can change your whole life… for example, when you move to another country.

Topics:
Where I come from and my first year in London
Differences between London and Germany
Overwhelm, overwhelm, overwhelm
Opportunities and diversities
Slow living
Finding back to your core
My decisions and future plans

Instagram: @happygrowingpodcast
Artwork: @fempowerart

Instagram: @happygrowingpodcast
Photography & Design: @eva_poglajen
Verena's Instagram: @verenaberndt_

In this week’s episode, I am joined by Katherine from Holistically Here . Katherine’s work and journey is deeply authentic, raw and spiritual and I am so grateful to have had this conversation with her, and to be able to share it with you. I truly know that Katherine’s words and this interview are meant to be shared, and how much you will be taking away from this episode.

Katherine’s amazing online and support space, Holistically Here, helps others on their health and spiritual journey. Through sessions, but also through social media, does Katherine bring a way of life into this world that heals, grounds and really shows people how to come back to who they are. She does this with professionalism, but most importantly by embodying everything she believes in.

Katherine began Holistically Here at the start of the year but has spent much of her life exploring and delving into the holistic space. She specialises in emotional empowerment and bridging the gap between health, authenticity and creation but is also an expert in physical nutrition and performance as well as helping people meet their health goals. She has studied with a wide range of teachers, as well as receiving her certificate from the world leading IIN in New York.

Topics:
Who is Katherine?
Katherine’s health & spiritual journey
Connection between physical & mental health
First steps to changing your health & life
Noticing changes through your health journey
Going through & moving out of challenges at a young age
Inner success > external validation
Meditation, meditation, meditation!
The energetics of food
Feminine energy & hormones in a hustle society
Embodying your beliefs

Connect with Katherine!
Instagram: @holisticallyhere
Website: http://holisticallyhere.com/

Instagram: @happygrowingpodcast
Artwork: @fempowerart

Instagram: @happygrowingpodcast
Photography & Design: @eva_poglajen
Verena's Instagram: @verenaberndt_

The 100th episode of Happy Growing! Can you believe that for the past 100 weeks, there’s been a new episode very single week? I am so happy, proud and grateful for this podcast and for everyone listening and reaching out. Thank you!

For me, this podcast is a great example of why consistency is everything and so much more important than motivation. It’s about setting yourself a goal, sticking to something, following through with it, doing something for yourself - and for yourself only.

It can be difficult to stick to something when you are ‘only’ doing it for yourself. We are so used to doing something because we ‘have to’ or because of outside validation, such as grades in school or praise at work. But there is nothing better than creating something for yourself, sticking to it, and being able to look back at it and seeing what you have created just for yourself.

Topics:
Doing something whether or not you feel like it
Consistency = creating habits
How to build new habits
How I managed to publish weekly episodes for 100 weeks
A call to overthink the habits you have already

Instagram: @happygrowingpodcast
Artwork: @fempowerart

Instagram: @happygrowingpodcast
Photography & Design: @eva_poglajen
Verena's Instagram: @verenaberndt_

Over the past year, I have changed a lot internally and externally. My appearance has changed, my body has changed and my mind and my body are working a lot more hand in hand, and supportive of each other.

But what has happened? Why have I lost so much weight? How do I feel about my body changing? Am I healthy?

This week’s episode is probably one of the most personal episode I have ever recorded and publicly shared. I discuss my mental and physical health, and answer some of your questions that have come through on Social Media over the past few weeks.

I can only share episodes like this because of you - because of this amazing community, who support me so much and send me nothing but positive feedback, encouragement, you share your own thoughts and experience with me and you give this podcast so so much. Thank you!

Triggerwarning: Please note that this episode discusses weight loss, eating, body sizes and health issues. Please look after yourself.

Topics:
Why I don’t share my weight
How my body has changed over the past years
Health issues & negative doctor experience
My views on BMI & body positivity
Loving yourself & health > weight
My views & experience on complimenting someone’s weight loss/-gain
A season of experimenting with my body aka. home
Men giving me their opinion on my body (rage!)
Sharing this while it’s still new to me

Instagram: @happygrowingpodcast
Artwork: @fempowerart

Instagram: @happygrowingpodcast
Photography & Design: @eva_poglajen
Verena's Instagram: @verenaberndt_

My mind has been going wild lately, and overloading me with realisations about why I do things the way I do, about why I want and don’t want certain things in life, and bringing my awareness to the endless amount of opportunities I have in life, and the playground that life really is.

Do I want to have children? How do I see my role in a relationship? How do I see myself? I share many personal thoughts and experience in this week’s episode, really making it another journal-entry episode.

And the main takeaway from this episode is clearly: You are not who you think you are. An inspiration and motivation for you to take the leap of faith, get out of your comfort-zone, get to know yourself better and become even more excited about life itself.

Topics:
Recent realisations & new awareness
Rethinking your life
My view on gender roles in partnership
Changing your definition of yourself
Do I wanna be a mum?
Realising your freedom

Instagram: @happygrowingpodcast
Artwork: @fempowerart

Instagram: @happygrowingpodcast
Photography & Design: @eva_poglajen
Verena's Instagram: @verenaberndt_

In the past couple of months, self-care has become even more important to me. It is something that I schedule in, that I prioritise and that I crave and look for. Many things have become habits, and those support me on a day-to-day basis.

We want self-care to be a habit, and the more we do something, the easier it becomes for us to really be present and notice the benefits of the love and care we provide for ourselves. And of course, the more love and care we can give to the people around us.

This week’s episode is all about the ways I support myself and show myself love, and what this can look like realistically and practically in my own life - and how you can create this for yourself!

Topics:
Why self-care has become even more important to me
How I move my body & why
Recent Yoga experience
Insight in my self-care routine & how I establish it
Healthy living tips & tricks
Building a foundation

Instagram: @happygrowingpodcast
Artwork: @fempowerart

Instagram: @happygrowingpodcast
Photography & Design: @eva_poglajen
Verena's Instagram: @verenaberndt_

This week’s meditation supports you in bringing your focus to what you wish to create, and in taking down those protective walls surrounding your heart that you’ve built up in the past.

It helps you in opening your heart back up, in understanding why you don’t have anything to loose or to fear when you love truly, in letting go of trying to protect your heart & in attracting your dream partner into your life. 

Instagram: @happygrowingpodcast
Artwork: @fempowerart

Instagram: @happygrowingpodcast
Photography & Design: @eva_poglajen
Verena's Instagram: @verenaberndt_

Today’s episode is all about what beauty is, why it hasn’t anything to do with who we are - but at the same time, it has everything to do with who we are.

I share my own experience, my opinions, differences in times and cultures, and why your energy is so important for your appearance and for how others perceive you.

Topics:
Life update from Germany
I’m not funny lol
What I’ve had done
Altering your avatar
Separation between who you are and what you look like
How your inner world affects your appearance & vice versa
Comparison
The importance & beauty of one’s energy
Beauty trends, times & cultures

Instagram: @happygrowingpodcast
Artwork: @fempowerart

Instagram: @happygrowingpodcast
Photography & Design: @eva_poglajen
Verena's Instagram: @verenaberndt_

This meditation supports you in truly connecting with your Higher Self, in giving you strength, more awareness, confidence, trust & a stronger bond with your intuition. You will leave this meditation feeling even more sure about your path, and really (re)evaluating the next steps on your journey.

Please listen to this meditation while you are in a safe and quiet space.
Do not listen while you are driving or walking.

Instagram: @happygrowingpodcast
Artwork: @fempowerart

Instagram: @happygrowingpodcast
Photography & Design: @eva_poglajen
Verena's Instagram: @verenaberndt_

This week, I’m sharing my current thoughts and feelings about life, change, growth and many recent realisations with you.

And one of them is certainly that I am the one who had stopped myself from working towards something or trying out new things, and that there were many ideas that hadn’t even crossed my mind.

This week’s episode is about really stepping into, feeling, embodying the freedom of life and its potential. It’s about living this eternal abundance that surrounds us and is given to us, using it and owning it. It’s about life as your playground, and following joy and contentment.

Instagram: @happygrowingpodcast
Artwork: @fempowerart

Instagram: @happygrowingpodcast
Photography & Design: @eva_poglajen
Verena's Instagram: @verenaberndt_