Meaning in the Mess with Sarah Toussaint

Why do the best moments happen when we allow ourselves to go with the flow? When we are present and say YES to the moment and how it unfolds, we can naturally experience the connection, joy, fulfillment and aliveness we crave so much. This episode is an invitation to reflect on the hamsterwheel of productivity that keeps us busy and distraced, unaware of magic waiting to find you.

This episodes invites you to come as you are, take a breather and slow down. The autumn equinox is one of the harvest festivals and in the Northern Hemisphere, it marks the transition from summer to fall. If you have been feeling stressed and exhausted lately, this episode is for you. We reflect on the strain of productivity and find a more authentic and healthy relationship with work and the need to constantly productive. Maybe, resting is an act of rebellion in a society that measures our self worth by how much money we make, how many likes we get, etc.? Maybe, giving ourselves permission to slow down and be more intentional about how we move through our days is actually what we need? What allows us to focus more on the things that are truly important in life?

I am linking the book "Regrets of the Dying" from Bonnie Ware that I mention in this episode: https://bronnieware.com/blog/regrets-of-the-dying/

Health habits - the word alone causes most of us to roll our eyes or groan in frustration. Of course we know how important healthy habits are and yet the gap between knowing and DOING is huge. This is why, in this episode, I share honest and humbling experiences of falling off the healthy-habit-wagon and how I got back on, but with more integrity and above all, from a place of self-love instead of fearful self-improvement.

I share how Yoga with Adriene on Youtube changed my life and I highly recommend you give that a try. If you would like to explore a mindful morning routine, check out my guided morning meditation here.

For most of us, change is messy and scary - but why is that? Might there be a reason for that resistance that is deeply human? And how can we learn to find the courage to befriend change? Because after all, the only constant in Life is change so it might be a good idea to learn to embrace it. I share little stories and reflections that hopefully allow you to find new meaning in the big topic of change.

In this episode, I share my personal story of starting therapy. It is a vulnerable yet conscious choice to share this journey because I believe in the power of storytelling. When we tell our own unique stories, we allow others to find inspiration and meaning for their own lives. So yes, I speak honestly about the fears I felt before starting therapy and I also share many of the benefits I am living thanks to therapy.

We dive into questions like: How to start therapy? How to choose a therapist that fits me? And why to go to therapy in the first place?

We all want to feel better - but how about getting better at feeling? What if that is the meaningful way that no one told us about? And how do we start getting better at feeling? Join me for this honest and raw episode where I share emotional intelligence insights, personal examples and practical tipps. Bonus: some fun tongue twisters.

We all heard that taking breaks is good for us, but why is it actually so hard to implement conscious breaks in the mess ans business of everyday life? Personally, I struggle with the exact same thing and so this episode is a reminder and an invitation to a new perspective on the meaning of taking breakes. Let's uncover the hidden power of becoming better at taking breaks and the wonders it can do for your life!

In this episode, we dive into an honest reflection about self-awareness and hopefully bring some meaning into the mess that often exists around big psychological buzzwords like self-awareness. Through personal examples you learn about why self-awareness can be scary and what else we need to turn it into a blessing. To close, I share some simple mindfulness practices and journaling prompts that help deepen your own self-awareness.

In the chaos of everyday life, it's hard to stop and reflect on what's actually happening and what actually matters. We're stressed, on autopilot, moving too fast to notice — and in that rush, it's easy to forget the importance of self-reflection and connection with our inner life.

Meaning in the Mess is a podcast made with the intention to feed your inner life — to invite self-reflection and new perspectives that enrich your life, right in the middle of everyday life.

I'm Sarah Toussaint, and each episode I'll be sharing stories, reflections, and real-life examples of the messy situations and challenges that come with being human — and the meaning, clarity, and growth that showed up on the other side of them.

Follow now so you don't miss what's coming.

In the spring of 2020, my work permit fell through, my life in Canada ended overnight, and the "responsible" choice was clear: fly home and move into my parents' basement. Instead, I booked a one-way ticket to Portugal.

In this first episode of Meaning in the Mess, I take you through the disorientation of watching a life you built disappear — the disappointment, the confusion, the grief of a plan that no longer existed — and the quiet, terrifying decision to trust my intuition instead of logic. Three months after landing in Lisbon with no plan, things happened that were so good, I could never have planned them.

This is a story about what happens when you stop trying to control the mess and start listening to what's underneath it. If you've ever stood at a fork in the road with no good map, this one's for you.