Peace Grows Here

In this episode, I return from my podcasting nap (hi again! 👋) to talk about something near and dear to my breath-holding, stomach-clenching, thought-spiraling heart: anxiety—and why meditation can be both a healing path and a terrible idea... depending on your nervous system's current mood.

We cover:

• Why I haven’t talked much about meditation before — even though it’s been my jam for a decade
• The sneaky, spiraling cycle of anxiety and fear—and how thoughts and bodily reactions egg each other on like drama queens
• Why “regulate first, think later” might just be the tattoo your nervous system needs
• How meditation helps you stop believing every anxious thought (but only after you’ve had a snack and shaken your limbs a bit)
• Why stillness is not always the best medicine (and how to know when it is)
• Tips on getting started with a meditation practice—especially if your brain is like a squirrel on espresso

Plus, here is my Insight Timer profile that I share about in the episode that has many other meditation recommendations, and a gentle reminder that you’re not broken—you’re just a human in a human body.

🧘‍♀️✨ TL;DR: You don't have to believe everything you think. Regulate first. Then we’ll talk:)

This episode is dear to my heart because it marks a gentle goodbye — not forever, but for now. I’m taking a break from the podcast (and Instagram too) to honor a deeper call within myself: to slow down, to retreat, and to turn more intentionally toward my spiritual practice.

Here are the ways you can reach me in the meantime:

My meditations on Insight Timer (free meditation app)

My newsletter sign up

My website contact form that will put your message into my inbox

Main Talking Points

• 🌿 Why I’m taking a sacred six-month pause from podcasting and Instagram, and what’s been stirring beneath the surface.
• 🧘‍♀️ The deepening of my Buddhist and meditation practice, and how that’s reshaping how I use my energy and time.
• 🔥 The burnout I didn’t want to admit, and the slow realization that “doing it all” was no longer sustainable.
• 💌 What happened when I told my community I needed a break — and the surprising wave of support that followed.
• ⚰️ How letting go mirrors a death process, and what Buddhist teachings on dying have shown me about lightening our attachments.
• 🌙 The power of seasonal living, inner alignment, and creating space to hear the truth of your own needs.
• 🌺 An invitation to reflect on your own sacred pause — and what you might need to release or retreat from right now.

Thank you so much for walking this path with me. I’ll be back — but for now, I hope this episode can be a gentle companion as you honor your own inner seasons. 💛

In today’s episode of The Peace Grows Here Podcast, I’m sharing a personal story about the importance of slowing down and listening to your heart’s deepest desires.

Life often pulls us in many directions, and it’s easy to get caught up in the fast-paced grind. But what if the answer isn’t pushing harder but slowing down?

Join me as I explore how slowing down, creating space, and picking your battles can lead to a more fulfilling, calmer life.

This episode is for anyone feeling overwhelmed and craving a shift towards a more intentional pace.

Main Talking Points:

• The Need for Slowing Down: In a world where productivity and hustle are glorified, it's important to recognize when to slow down and recalibrate. Taking moments to breathe, eat mindfully, and even meditate can help bring peace to an anxious, overworked mind.
• Choosing Your Battles: Life is about balance. There’s wisdom in letting go of things that no longer serve you and deciding where to put your energy. The key is to pick your battles thoughtfully and avoid spreading yourself too thin.
• The Connection Between Anxiety and Pace: Anxiety often thrives in chaotic environments. By slowing down and creating a more intentional pace, we allow our nervous system to find balance and tranquility, giving us more space to breathe and heal.
• Embracing the Pause: It’s essential to make space for practices like meditation or intentional movement. These simple acts can help regulate your nervous system, restore inner calm, and bring more clarity into your life.
• The Luxury of Slow: Slowing down doesn’t have to mean sacrificing productivity, but rather learning how to align your actions with your personal well-being. This balance can help mitigate burnout and make life feel more sustainable.
• Small Shifts for Lasting Change: Slowing down is a process. Begin by making small shifts—take your time eating, rest more, meditate, and listen to your body. These tiny adjustments can lead to a life that feels more intentional and whole.
• Listening to Your Heart: The underlying message of today’s episode is to reconnect with what your heart truly craves. Whether that’s a slower morning routine or more time with loved ones, listening to your needs is vital for long-term well-being.

Remember, the world will always try to pull you in multiple directions, but you have the power to choose your pace. Take the time to slow down, listen to your body, and reclaim your peace.

In today’s episode, I am joined by the incredible Cheryl Geonanga, an intuitive art director, brand alchemist, and mentor. Cheryl shares her inspiring journey from the corporate world to entrepreneurship, weaving in her deep connection to spirituality and the miracles she has experienced along the way.

Despite her success in the corporate world, she found that her soul was yearning for something more meaningful. After a layoff, she took the opportunity to transition into entrepreneurship. What followed was a journey of self-discovery, spiritual growth, and a deeper understanding of her true purpose in both life and business. Through her experiences, Cheryl learned how to integrate her spiritual practices into her professional life, helping her create a business that aligns with her soul’s mission.

Her personal story is one of healing, especially after experiencing multiple miscarriages while building her business. Cheryl shares a powerful story about a sign from the universe that deepened her faith in the spiritual realm and changed the trajectory of her life. This experience of receiving a profound, physical sign while meditating was a turning point in her journey, reaffirming her belief in the mysteries of life.

Key Talking Points

• The Spiritual Side of Branding: Cheryl discusses her transition from traditional branding to intuitive branding, where she combines her creative expertise with spiritual insights to help clients build meaningful connections with their audience.
• Miracles and Signs: Cheryl shares a deeply personal experience involving a powerful sign during a difficult period in her life. This experience shaped her understanding of the interconnectedness of spirit and matter.
• Entrepreneurship and Personal Growth: From her early struggles with MLM to her current work as a mentor and brand alchemist, Cheryl emphasizes the importance of mindset, courage, and self-worth in the entrepreneurial journey.
• Embracing Spirituality in Business: Cheryl reflects on how she integrates spiritual practices into her business and how this has allowed her to align with her true purpose while helping other entrepreneurs do the same.
• The Role of Intuition in Branding: Cheryl explains how intuition plays a key role in her approach to branding, noting that she connects with her clients on a deeper level to understand the heart-centered intentions behind their businesses.
• Evolving Through Challenges: Cheryl’s story is an example of how challenges, both personal and professional, can be opportunities for deep personal growth and spiritual evolution.

Links and Resources

Follow Cheryl on Instagram @cheryl.geonanga

on Facebook

and here her Website

I welcome my guest Hannah Dudley, an astrologer with a deep focus on integrating shadow work and astrology. Hannah shares her personal journey of self-discovery, from a transformative time in Australia to her evolving work with astrology and helping others explore their shadow selves.

Main Topics Discussed:

• Hannah's Journey to Astrology Hannah reflects on her time in Australia, where a period of loneliness and physical injury became a wake-up call, guiding her toward her purpose of helping others through astrology and self-awareness.
• The Power of Shadow Work Hannah discusses the importance of confronting and embracing the "shadow self"—the parts of us that we often hide or ignore. This process, though challenging, is crucial for personal growth and healing.
• Astrology as a Tool for Deep Self-Discovery With a psychological lens, Hannah explains how astrology offers profound insights into one's psyche, using archetypes and symbols in the natal chart to illuminate hidden aspects of ourselves.
• The Role of the Universe in Personal Growth Hannah shares how life challenges and cosmic influences, like her own Pluto line through Sydney, have guided her path and deepened her understanding of her purpose.
• Integrating Astrology and Shadow Work Discover how combining astrology with shadow work can empower you to confront your fears, heal from past wounds, and step into your authentic self.
• Practical Tips for Exploring Shadow Work with Astrology For those interested in doing their own deep work, Hannah offers advice on how to begin using astrology as a lens to better understand their inner challenges and opportunities for growth.

Connect with Hannah Dudley

IG @hannah.marie.astrology

Youtube HeartCenteredVisionaries

1:1 Astrology Reading

Facebook

In this heartfelt episode, we explore the profound topics of existential anxiety, the quest for meaning, and how the challenges of our world—like climate change—serve as catalysts for deeper self-discovery.

Drawing on my personal experiences, spiritual practices, and reflections, we’ll dive into how inner exploration and spiritual grounding can offer solace and direction in uncertain times. Whether you’re grappling with loss, societal anxieties, or simply seeking a richer connection to life, this episode is for you.

What You'll Learn in This Episode Through a mix of personal stories, philosophical musings, and practical suggestions, I share how spirituality and mindful practices can help us navigate life’s big questions. I’ll also discuss how current global challenges can inspire us to reconnect with nature, ourselves, and our communities.

Key Talking Points

• Existential Anxiety & Spiritual Exploration: How questioning life’s purpose and dealing with uncertainty can lead to inner growth.
• Personal Reflections on Grief: My journey with loss, how it shaped my spiritual practice, and the importance of embracing life’s mysteries.
• Climate Change as a Catalyst for Awakening: Viewing global challenges as an initiation into deeper self-awareness and community connection.
• The Role of Spiritual Traditions: Insights from Buddhism, yogic practices, and other teachings that offer perspective and grounding.
• The Impact of Modern Society: How materialism and distraction hinder self-discovery and the need to carve out space for reflection.
• Practical Tools for Inner Exploration: Suggestions like meditation, connecting with nature, and seeking therapeutic support to build resilience.
• The Importance of Community: The value of shared experiences and collective healing through connection and mutual support.

Resources & Links Mentioned

• Sign up for my newsletter and download the free Nervous System Regulation Guide at MyBloomingHeart.com.
• Follow me on Instagram for updates, reflections, and community announcements.
• Join our Self-Care Group for Women Entrepreneurs & Moms (bi-weekly Tuesdays at 3 PM PST).

Looking Ahead Starting in February, I’ll be releasing two episodes a month and focusing more on solo episodes to dive deeper into topics like this one. Stay tuned, and remember: your inner world is rich and waiting for you to explore it. Let’s walk this path together.

I am thrilled to have Casey Stevens, a spiritual and holistic psychotherapist, joining me from Seattle.

Casey and I dive into a powerful conversation about personal transformation, healing, and finding one's true calling through adversity. From her personal experience of navigating a challenging marriage to her journey of becoming a therapist, Casey shares insights that can inspire anyone seeking healing or transformation.

Her journey of growth is a beautiful reminder that even in the toughest of times, we can learn, grow, and find purpose.

Main Talking Points:

• Casey’s Personal Transformation: Casey opens up about her journey through a difficult marriage, which ultimately led her to a deeper understanding of herself and her own healing path.
• The Role of Seeker in Personal Growth: Casey shares how her natural curiosity and drive to seek solutions guided her through challenging moments, particularly during her ex-husband's mental health struggles.
• Post-Traumatic Growth: Through trauma, Casey discovered her capacity for post-traumatic growth, choosing to turn her pain into purpose and healing.
• The Power of Spirituality in Therapy: Casey discusses how she integrates spirituality with psychotherapy, combining practical knowledge with a grounded spiritual approach that supports deep transformation.
• The Importance of Finding the Right Support: She emphasizes the value of finding competent practitioners who can support you through your healing journey, highlighting the role of mentorship in her own personal and professional growth.
• Empathy and Compassion as a Therapist: With 13 years of experience, Casey explains how her personal struggles have enhanced her ability to connect with and help others who are also on a journey of self-discovery.

Connect with Casey:

IG @shrinkbigger

Website Www.shrinkbigger.com

In this episode, I sit down with Kirsten McNeill, who shares her journey to becoming a confidence and writing lifestyle coach, emphasizing the importance of embracing your unique creative identity. She takes us through her early years as a writer, the evolution of her business, and her experience battling Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

We explore the lessons she learned about slowing down, prioritizing health, and finding confidence in the face of challenges. Whether you’re a writer, entrepreneur, or someone seeking inspiration, this episode offers valuable insights into balancing creativity, resilience, and self-care.

Main Talking Points

• Kirsten’s journey from aspiring writer to entrepreneur and the birth of her brand, Worthy Writers.
• How Worthy Writers empowers writers to build confidence, embrace their unique styles, and overcome comparison syndrome.
• The pivotal role of creativity in Kirsten’s identity and the tools she uses to support other writers.
• Kirsten’s battle with Hodgkin’s lymphoma and how it reshaped her approach to life and business.
• Lessons on slowing down, prioritizing self-care, and redefining productivity during challenging times.
• The emotional journey of sharing her cancer diagnosis with her community and processing its impact.
• Tips for finding balance between creative passions and personal well-being.

Resources Mentioned

• Connect with Kirsten McNeill on Instagram: @confident.kirsten

Relax deeply, release any lingering stress, and set clear intentions for the year ahead.

In this episode, I guide you through a powerful New Year’s meditation designed to help you start the year with clarity, purpose, and balance.

By reflecting on what you want to release and what you want to invite into your life, you’ll create space for growth, joy, and abundance.

Tune in to visualize your success and cultivate the momentum needed to achieve your dreams in 2024.

Lastly, this meditation will help you align your goals with your values, empowering you to take meaningful action and stay motivated throughout the year.

As we navigate the rush and pressure of modern life, it’s vital to understand how our nervous systems react to stress and how to cultivate practices that bring us back to balance.

I’ll share personal insights, actionable tips, and reflective questions to help you embrace a more intentional and regulated life.

Nervous System Regulation Workbook

• Download here

Main Talking Points

• The connection between slowing down and nervous system regulation: Why our society’s pace isn’t aligned with human well-being.
• Understanding “sacred no”: The power of letting go to create space for what truly matters.
• Intentional living: Setting goals and priorities that resonate with your values.
• The link between time management and nervous system health: Allocating time mindfully for balance.
• Questions to guide your year: Reflective prompts to set meaningful intentions.
• Practical nervous system regulation techniques to incorporate daily.
• Why creating spaciousness is key to integrating self-care into a busy schedule.

Reflective Questions for Intention-Setting

1. What is one word or phrase that captures your intention for this year?
2. What are you longing to release or let go of this year?
3. What would you like to invite into your life this year?

Recommended Reading:

• 4,000 Weeks: Time Management for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman
• Set Boundaries, Find Peace by Nedra Glover Tawwab