Jump Start Your Joy®

I'm delighted to have guest Tami Hackbarth back for a second interview on Jump Start Your Joy. Tami is the host of a hundred percent guilt-free self-care podcast, and she runs a very successful coaching business where she works with women to help them define and follow up with self care. In this conversation, we're talking about taking the best care of yourself by addressing "deferred maintenance."

In this episode, Tami and I talk about:

• how to approach deferred maintenance.
• what happens when you leave things unattended in your life, and how they can cause problems when they are not addressed. These can include getting the right amount of sleep, or getting basic checkups for your health.
• that taking care of the basics honors our future senior citizen selves, as it allows us to remain healthy and independent as we age.
• how our bodies change as we enter our 30s and beyond, and how it's important to intentionally make time and space for our own daily care
• the decline in muscle mass that all women experience after age 30
• what's brought us joy in the last year: unexpected laughing, spending time outside, and swimming. I share that I have been enjoying Cobra Kai and Ted Lasso.

Resources

Tami's Deferred Maintenance program (sign up here)

Tami Hackbarth's website 100% Guilt Free Self Care Podcast on Apple Podcasts Tami on Instagram

Tami's first interview on JSYJ

Subscribe to JSYJ on YouTube

Signe Myers Hovem is a spiritual counselor, an energy worker, and the author of The Space in Between: An Empaths Field Guide. In this interview on Jump Start Your Joy podcast, we are talking about empaths and highly sensitive people (HSPs).

If you are a highly sensitive person, or if you have a sense that you may be an empath, then I think you're going to get a lot out of this conversation (which ties so closely to this season's theme of intentional comfort on the podcast). HSPs and empaths notice the energy around people and places and things, and this can be overwhelming to them. The Empath's Field Guide, and this conversation, offers a lot of insight on how to manage your energy, hold space, and work with your gifts.

In this episode, Signe Myers Hovem talk about:

• What it means to be a functional empath.
• The difference between empathy versus being an empath.
• Exploring what it means to identify as a highly sensitive person.
• The power of our words and what we choose to call things.
• Minding your energy, and holding space without having your own energy drained.
• How to set up strong boundaries with people, places, or things if you feel an energetic drain and decide if you want to get involved further.
• How do we navigate through the space of being an empath or an HSP in everyday life?

Resources

Signe Myers Hovem's website

The Space in Between: An Empaths Field Guide by Signe Myers Hovem

Sign up for the January 14, 2022 Podcaster meetup (online) and Ask Me Anything

Sign up for the January 21, 2022 Podcasting Quarterly Content Planning Session

I truly enjoyed getting to speak with Jonni, and felt myself sinking into the conversation in a deep way. One of the most inspirational parts of the discussion for me was when we walked through the Four Golden Insights, which are the pillars for the work Jonni does.

1. Life is Sacred
2. Love is our Nature – we serve, nature, and find connection
3. Wisdom is our Power – Jonni talks about finding the intelligence of love, and reconciling the appearance of resistance and opposites.

• We also talked about "embodied leadership power, which equals the ability to influence the environment around us."
• Wisdom can enliven and awaken the truth of who we are

4. Fulfillment is our Purpose – we find our purpose by fully understanding who we are

Resources

Jonni Pollard's website

The Golden Sequence by Jonni Pollard on Amazon

Jonni Pollard and I talk about:

• His earliest sparks of joy as a child – playing with other kids, playing games, and any kind of games where he could evolve and find excitement
• Being a multipassionate, where he reflected that he felt that the many different things he enjoys in his life are all just different ways that his soul and purpose is revealing itself
• The filters that we use from the outside looking in, and how it changes the way we see ourselves
• The desire of creative beings to become expressive
• Our conditioning as children and the pervasive ideology that we learn as young people
• How adopting and conforming to social ideals causes immense suffering
• The four golden insights that set the pillars for the Golden Sequence
• What happens when energy does not flow naturally
• The dissonance that fear creates
• Why we need to connect to our purpose and our humanity
• Jonni's thoughts How to Jump Start Your Joy: wake up and connect to the world around you, meditate for success and to affirm your humanity, and to show your best connected self to whomever you first have contact with in the morning

Intentional Comfort is the theme of this season, and in this episode I'm taking inspiration from Priya Parker's Art of Gathering, and using her 3 rules of gathering to consider new ways to reconnect with what nourishes, fortifies, and supports you. While her Ted Talk is about how to interact in groups and gatherings in new ways, I find that her rules and thoughts offer insights on how to connect with yourself, and how to determine what is meaningful to you when looking for intentional comfort.

Here are the basics of what I'm covering:

Don't leave it to chance

This is the intentional part of things. If we leave the relationship and connection we have to and with ourselves to chance, it's far too easy to focus on the basics and logistics of life, and ignore time for self care. If you're longing for more time for yourself, or time to do thoughtful, comforting things, schedule that time in.

Embrace your purpose

For many of you, especially over the stretch of the pandemic, you may have developed some habits that aren't really serving you. And, while they likely did serve you for a period of time, now that we're nearly into the third year of all of this, I think the way we look at comfort and what fortifies us has likely changed. It's become super apparent that this isn't about a sprint, this is about a transition. What is the purpose, or meaning, behind setting up time for intentional comfort?

How can you craft something that supports and nourishes you, as we all work through this transition together?

What is the purpose of what you want to do, in finding comfort?

What would meet your needs?

If you're looking for an escape, what does that look like given any of your current constraints?

If you're looking for peace and quiet, why?

And if you dig a layer deeper, is there something you feel is missing?

Cause good controversy

Priya says that "human connection is as threatened by unhealthy peace as it is by unhealthy conflict." And, I'd add that this connection is true for gatherings as it is for the connection you and I have with ourselves.

For this, I'd ask yourself what do you need, right now? Drop any sort of "shoulds" or polite answers. You're answering this just for yourself.

Some of these answers might be overly simple: a walk, a shower, a drink of water, a meal

Some of these answers might be more complicated and feel harder to figure out: a feeling of connectedness, quiet time when I'm not needed by anyone else, a day to just bake cookies and connect with the holiday spirit

How can you do this? It might feel like it involves creating some good controversy, especially if it involves speaking up to divide up housework with your family, to find quiet time, to find time to pursue a hobby, or to interview for a new job. You may need help from other people to do these things. So, dive in and ask yourself what you need and then figure out what kind of help you need from other people in your family.

The other side of this good controversy could be a totally inside job. It could be that you've been sitting with something for a long time that doesn't feel so great, and in order to find comfort and joy on the other side, you need to work through it. You may need to break through a Story - or something you're assuming is true but isn't really true.

Use "pop up" rules

Priya suggests this for groups that gather that don't necessarily share the same background, or are part of the same generation, culture, or rules for etiquette. She says in those situations, you can set up pop up rules to encourage meaningful connection.

What if you changed your own rules for a bit? What rules could you set for yourself, just for a day or a week, to support yourself?

An example might be: set a bedtime for yourself for the next week if you are tired.

Make a rule for yourself that this week, you will slow down and have an afternoon snack and see how that feels.

Limit your interaction with people who stress you out, if possible.

Maybe if there's a particular person that tends to upset you but you know you'll see at a holiday event, maybe set a rule that you can leave after a certain amount of time at the event, or request that you not be seated next to them?

This might mean that you're asking for something slightly different of yourself and other people - and that could be uncomfortable. So, let it be an experiment. Try out what something new looks like.

Wrap up

These ideas are all so applicable to how we can find intentional comfort and joy in our lives. It's so easy to get into habits that don't really support you, but have addressed discomfort you may have been feeling. Intentional Comfort is all adding a layer of mindfulness to what you do every day. I have been looking for ways to intentionally add nurturing and nourishing habits to my days, and find that when I make those choices, I do find more joy, too.

Resources

Priya Parker's Ted Talk

Stasia Savasuk on Jump Start Your Joy (episode 303)

The Joy Diet by Martha Beck

The Work of Byron Katie

Loving What is by Byron Katie

Stasia Savasuk is an amazing style coach, and the super power behind Stasia's Style School, The REVEL-You-Tion, and Wear Our Word. She helps women find "inside out congruency," which is all about how you can do the inner work to define your values, and match those in the clothes that you choose to wear. I've thoroughly enjoyed her leadership over the last year, and her program encourages beautiful, authentic growth that has people shining from the inside out.

In this episode, Stasia and I talk about:

- Bell Hooks' book, "All About Love"

- Self-regulation, and how to regulate when you feel triggered

- How Stasia chooses themes for her REVEL-You-tion program

- Inside-out congruency: Who are you on the inside, and how can you reflect that on the outside?

- Becoming happy with yourself now, just as you are

- The BS of the standard cultural beliefs around what is beautiful

- Why community is important in making change

- Why self acceptance is so important and how it is life changing

- Why New Years Resolutions don't work, and how they are just part of the problem

- Wear Our Word workshop

- Her top ways to jump start your joy: get outside

Resources

Stasia's Wear Our Word workshop waitlist (click here)

Stasia Savasuk's website

Stasia Savasuk on Instagram

Stasia Savasuk on JSYJ, from Season 4: Dressing for Joy and Confidence

Stasia's TedX Talk

"All About Love" by Bell Hooks

Buy Jump Start Your Joy: Heart-Centered Ways to Find Joy in The Messy Middle on Amazon (affiliate link)

Follow Jump Start Your Joy on Apple Podcasts

Follow Jump Start Your Joy on Spotify

I am delighted to be joined for a second time by Marsha Flowers, who is the owner of Five B and Co Candles, and the newly launched Little Bee Scents. In our conversation, she shares how she has listened to her heart to expand her business in new ways. After thinking about what she likes best about candle making (the creativity, creating scents, and community), she realized that she also wanted to help other candle makers (and soap makers too!) bring their dreams to life. In the spirit of mentoring and helping others in the field she loves so much, Little Bee Scents was born.

In this episode, Marsha and I talk about:

• The launch of Little Bee Scents and becoming the candlemaker for Boulevard Brewing Company in Kansas City.
• How she is helping people get creative and produce quality products by offering custom scents for them to use in their own business, without having to buy a large minimum order
• Why Marsha wanted to change things up in her business
• The process of crafting scents that match the smell of beer, hay, and the fresh smell of the earth after the rain
• Why candles offer comfort to people and connect us to memories in a powerful way
• How Marsha let her heart lead her to the place that made her feel good about her business
• Mad, glad, sad, or ewwww: Marsha's new way of identifying her emotion over things, and following her first impulse about them.
• How to jump start your joy: through smiling and helping other people create things that they love

Resources

Marsha Flower's candle website: Five Blessings Candles

Marsha Flower's scent website: Little Bee Scents

5BandCo on Instagram

Marsha Flowers on JSYJ: Creating "Happiness in The Form of a Flicker"

Jacqualyn Jackson is the small business owner behind Investment Inspectors, LLC, who provides home inspections, home healings, and sound baths. Jacqualyn has embraced her multi-passionate personality by leaning into several of the things she loves to do: offering objective findings for people buying or selling a home, and in nourishing the more spiritual side of things in providing home healings and sound baths. I'm delighted to share how she's woven these unique offerings into a single business that integrates with her personal values.

Between 11/26/21 and 12/06/21, Jacqualyn is offering a sale on all Home Healing Services (including Sound Baths!) for virtual services in 2022.

In this episode, Jacqualyn and I talk about:

• Jacqualyn's early passions and why dance sparked joy in her as a child
• What led her to home inspections as a career and why she became so fascinated by the art of spiritual energy protection for homes
• How Jacqualyn clears negative energy from a home
• What people may notice if they have bad vibes in a house and what can they do if they feel like it's energetically not right for them
• Jacqualyn shares her interest in sound baths, what they are and how they work to help you ground yourself
• The biggest problems that Jacqualyn sees with maintenance when she is inspecting a home
• Ways that people can create intentional comfort and peace for themselves, either in their home or for themself as an individual
• Jacqualyn's commitment to self-care as an essential aspect of her brand values and how she has set up her business to support her own and her clients' comfort and joy
• How to connect with Jacqualyn to hear more about home healing or home inspection
• The three ways Jacqualyn jumpstarts joy in her life, the world, and in other people's lives — including listening to others, expressing love and gratitude, and shining your light in the world

Resources

Investment Inspectors LLC

Investment Inspectors LLC on Instagram

Email Jacqualyn at [email protected]

Buy Jump Start Your Joy: Heart-Centered Ways to Find Joy in The Messy Middle on Amazon (affiliate link)

Follow Jump Start Your Joy on Apple Podcasts

Follow Jump Start Your Joy on Spotify

It's episode 300!! I'm sharing my top 3 reflections of having a podcast (and a business) over the past 7 years. Hear stories about staying inspired, how to remain consistent, why just starting is the hardest, and all about the magic of trying new things. Thank you to YOU for tuning in, for sharing JSYJ with others, and for bringing joy into the world. I am sending you love, and wishes for comfort and joy.

Over the past 300 episodes, I've had some learnings and find myself reflecting on them. Here's what I know to be true:

1. Just start.

Whatever it is that you're longing to do, take that first baby step. The first step is always the hardest, and it's often the thing that keeps us from moving towards our purpose and our dreams. Recognize that it's likely fear that's holding you back, and that fear just wants to keep you safe. That doesn't always serve you, or your dreams.

And, if you're already doing "the thing," you might find yourself dragging your feet to take future steps. Sometimes I dread editing my own show, but once I sit down, open the editing software, and get starting I love it, just like I always do. Procrastination is a dream killer. Get your momentum going by just starting.

2. Consistency.

Consistency is about more than posting on a regular schedule. It's about the timing, about what you share, about the core of your message, it's about alignment between yourself and your business. It's also about showing up for yourself, and for your audience (or your customer, because consistency plays a role in product based businesses too), so they know when and where to find you.

When I started I took the advice of Pat Flynn about remaining consistent with my podcast. In this episode, I also share a story about meeting Lewis Howes, and how that impacted my first year of podcasting.

Consistency becomes easier when you're aligned across the board with what you love, what you do, what you talk about, and what feels right for your and your business or show.

3. Try New Things (or, living out "Well Planned, Loosely Held")

When I started my show, and made the commitment to try it out for a whole year before making a decision on if I wanted to continue, my fried Christine Petty asked me the beautiful question of "imagine what is possible when you say yes to something for a year?" Her words have continued to inspire me, as they speak to the never ending possibilities that are out there when you say yes to your dreams.

"Going off script" is another part of trying new things, and something that Andrea Scher shared about in episode 299. In her brand new book, "Wonder Seeker," Andrea talks about the idea of trying something brand new, and out of the ordinary and seeing what happens.

In playing with my format for this show over the past 7 years, I have literally learned to go off script. I started with writing every solo episode out in its entirety. I no longer do this.

In your show, or your blog, business, or life - find ways to keep things fresh. You can always keep with the core idea, and try on new "seasons," which offer a different way to look at a topic you've stuck with for a long time.

Thank you all for tuning in! I have such deep appreciation for you, and wish you so much love, comfort, and joy.

Resources:

Pat Flynn's Smart Passive Income

Lewis Howes' School of Greatness Podcast

Matthew Wood on Jump Start Your Joy

Amy Bernhardt of Mimi's Little Loveys on Jump Start Your Joy

The Way of Integrity by Martha Beck

The Desire Map by Danielle LaPorte

Free Her Spirit Podcast by Christine Petty

Andrea Scher on Jump Start Your Joy

Wonder Seeker by Andrea Scher

Andrea Scher has thrilled and inspired others for nearly twenty years through her award-winning blog Superhero Journal, her international workshops, her Creative Superheroes podcast, and her joyful e-courses. In this episode, we discuss Andrea's new book, Wonder Seeker: 52 Ways to Wake up Your Creativity and Find Your Joy Today, and how and she describes why this is the perfect time to tune into the small things that bring you joy.

Read the full show notes on my website. Click here.

In this episode, Andrea and I talk about:

• Why Andrea was inspired to write her book to inspire others to add more wonder and magic to their lives
• What a Wonder Seeker actually is and how wonder relates to joy
• Becoming braver and more resilient as you pivot your attention towards wonder and joy
• How Wonder Seekers create comfort by being open-hearted and cultivating a spirit of kindness and love
• Some of the exercises in Wonder Seeker: 52 Ways to Wake up Your Creativity and Find Your Joy Today and why 144 is her personal favorite
• How Andrea sets intentions and the magic the practice can bring
• How to move past the rigid routines of the last 18 months and embrace the magic and wonder your world has to offer
• Andrea's e-courses, retreats, and creative workshops, and how to find out more about her
• Three ways Andrea recommends to jump-start joy in your life, in the world, or other people's lives?

Resources

Preorder Andrea Scher's book: Wonder Seeker: 52 Ways to Wake Up Your Creativity and Find Your Joy

Get your free gift from Andrea after purchasing Wonder Seeker here

Andrea Scher's Superhero Life

Andrea Scher on Instagram

Other books and resources we mention in this episode

The Practical Neuroscience of Happiness, Wisdom, and Love: Buddha's Brain by Rick Hanson

Hardwiring Happiness: The New Brain Science of Contentment, Calm, and Confidence by Rick Hanson

Camera Obscura in San Francisco

Amy started Mimi's Little Loveys after disability and chronic illness forced her to stop teaching and working with young children. She followed her heart and her own curiosity to create a business that honors her values, and allows her to take care of herself. Amy joins the show to talk about how she's found intentional comfort, and built a life that supports her, and allows her to do the things she loves.

In this episode, Amy and I talk about:

• The single thing that Amy brought with her after her marriage broke down and how it became the key to her new life
• What brought Amy sparks of joy growing up in a large family
• Amy shares how she came up with the business name and who her little loveys are
• We reflect on why it's often a more extended and quieter journey to finding our own comfort and joy and why it's vital to understand the importance of taking care of ourselves
• How getting involved with the community during in-person events made Amy feel like part of another type of supportive family
• The shifts Amy and Dan have had to make in their business since the COVID-19 pandemic hit
• Amy's advice for artisan business owners on how to get their products into the hands of potential customers
• The range of products that Mimi's Little Loveys offers — including sweet winter themes, holiday bibs, and napkins — and how to find them online
• Three ways that Amy jumpstarts the joy in her life, in the world, and other people's lives

Resources

Mimi's Little Loveys

Mimi's Little Loveys on Instagram

Mimi's Little Loveys on Facebook

uy Jump Start Your Joy: Heart-Centered Ways to Find Joy in The Messy Middle on Amazon (affiliate link)

Follow Jump Start Your Joy on Apple Podcasts

Follow Jump Start Your Joy on Spotify