Ripples & Reflections from Heartbeats' Harbor™ - The Podcast

Simplifying is foundational in everything I do, from business coaching, to leadership mentoring… even in energy work.

So this isn’t just some side hustle or random tangent for me. The Simplified Year is the result of almost a decade of learning, implementing, and simplifying my stuff, my calendar, my business, and more.

Simplifying my life actually saved my life when I was so depressed I was ready to give up. So it’s serious. I take it seriously. It matters so, so much.

I went from something so seemingly simple as the bathroom breaking my mornings, and subsequently me…

…to: my bathroom counters are always clear, under my sink and in my cupboards is organized and easy to maintain, and my bathroom is tidy, clean, and not SO bad smelling usually.

All of this consistently, without me having to overwork or exhaust myself to keep it that way, even after downsizing to a smaller home when I left my husband a few years ago, even as a single mom with three kids and pets, even while being CEO of a solopreneur style business online, and even as a multi-passionate, highly distractible ADHD woman.

So I hope, if you are in that cycle of overwhelming clutter in any way shape or form, at any level, that what I share here in the Simplified Year helps you to break free.

This month, in May, we are focused on bathrooms, toiletries, and cleaning supplies. We’re decluttering to simplify our bathroom experiences, to begin using the products we love, to make our mornings smoother, our homes happier and cleaner, and to align with the natural rhythm of a joyful life, faster.

May Rhythm Posts:

You can start wherever you need to, or follow these in order. Each month we have a ‘Focus Post’; an overview of the month:

May Focus - Bathrooms/Toiletries/Cleaning Supplies

Then there are four weekly/part breakdowns of that monthly focus, which include why for the focus, some mindset shifts, habits to build that change everything, stories as medicine from my own journey, as well as the steps to take - i.e. what to declutter!

May Part/Week One - What’s Actually IN Your Bathroom?

May Part/Week Two - Time to Tackle the Toiletries

May Part/Week Three - Cleaning Supplies, Overload, and Letting Go

May Part/Week Four - Easy Maintenance Forever, Energy

To round it out and so you aren’t alone on your journey, share your wins and your struggles in our private community chat threads for each monthly focus:

May’s private chat thread

Remember, whether you’re doing this in rhythm with us, or whether you hopped in at this point because something just recently (or not so recently) stopped functioning the way you need it to, and it was your ‘straw that broke the camel’s back’ - you are right where you need to be!

X

Bri

P.S. Let me know how this monthly episode landed in the comments, and don’t forget to give me some love and click that heart so I can help more people like you to simplify their lives!

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit brihosack.substack.com/subscribe

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit brihosack.substack.com/subscribe

Hello, hello!

Welcome to the second round of Suspending Disbelief, a challenge I took in April of 2024 to suspend disbelief for 365 days and share my raw journey of it for the entire year EVERY DAY.

I didn’t maintain the EVERY DAY part all the way through, although I DID for a really good chunk of it. You can go binge those at any time, on any podcasting platform.

In prepping for this episode, I of course decided to listen to the ORIGINAL episode that sparked my entire first year challenge of suspending disbelief. Link to that:

I wanted to re-glean some of the affirmations, etc. which I gleaned originally from this episode, because at the beginning I was REALLY using them a lot and it was really powerful. I talked all about them in this episode and dove in deeper, but I will also list them here for you!

I will also list some of the ones I created or picked up throughout the last year outside of that episode, as well as some that I never mentioned in the original year but which I have been using consistently more recently, to align my life and business.

The ones I got from her/the episode:

* Where you currently are is your worst case scenario.

* What if I lived my life as if my prayers had already been answered or my dreams had already come true? What if I lived my life as if my success was inevitable? What would happen if I suspended all my doubts for just 1 year of my life? What if I lived my life as if the law of attraction were absolutely real and I had no doubts about it at all?

* “My Success is Inevitable and I am ALWAYS on the Right Path”

* The universe works in the 11th hour

* She started her original round of this in May as well - spring is definitely the time for new goals and new seeds to plant, not the new year! And the first evidence she saw - major evidence - that it was working… was not until new years eve. So like 8 months!

* You have to keep going until you hit the tipping point. HOLD THE FAITH UNTIL YOU DIE😂.

* Important question: Are you willing to go 6 months or more in suspending disbelief without results in exchange for your dream life?

* This is not a quick fix, there is a lot of inner work to be done. This process is SIMPLE but not easy. Remember that!

The ones I came up with or discovered in the in between,

* As I heal myself I heal the collective

* Hold space for the world to keep spinning on it’s own

* Electrons - Jess’s explanation of how manifestation works through the lens of an atom.

* My success is already here - living in the gratitude rampage mentality. Appreciating contrast for the perspective it gives

* My before bed manifestation process, asking for the specific things I am manifesting, in writing, and to be opened to receive them in the most aligned way, giving them to my guides as a task to support with.

* Universal breadcrumbs

* The Big Leap book (Find it on Amazon here)

* Einstein time (I always have enough time to do everything I need and want to do)

* Manifesting past the deadline - Amanda Francis

The questions I’ve been using lately that have been really impactful:

* What am I currently automating, systematizing, or aligning with my big vision?

* Is what I’m working on today moving me closer to the business model I want, or is it just keeping things running and maintaining the past version of my business that I am supposed to be moving away from?

* How am I making today stand out? How is it special? Is it going to be worth remembering?

As I said in the last episode of the first year, I am getting way more focused and specific in The Next Chapter!

I’ve decided on 3 specific things to focus on calling in to my life through the next 365 days instead of the big long laundry list I created last time.

* I am going to publish my first book. By May 1 of 2026 I will have conceptualized, outlined, written, edited, and published the damn thing. The end, no ifs ands or buts.

* I am going to create a business model that supports my life and my dreams so that I am enjoying the TIME and FINANCIAL freedom I truly desire, now.

This business model looks like:

* I am recreating the programs I run that demand my presence and time, to be run without me there, almost, if not entirely.

* I get to create and function on my natural schedule and rhythm and support my children in doing the same, while making plenty of money.

* I am going to specifically build up my passive, evergreen income, stacking all the layers, automating all that I possibly can, and trusting that I can get by financially as I do so, until the point where…

* I am going to pay off all my debt and have a savings account with 3-month’s worth of my expenses set aside in case of emergency.

Wrap up:

This podcast is going to stay REAL and raw, but as I mentioned last time I will only be doing a MONTHLY live update and reflection as an audio/written combo episode, and then I will also do 3-4 written posts per month.

I changed the name of the podcast from “Suspending Disbelief - A Challenge - 365 Days of My Raw Journey” to “Suspending Disbelief: The Next Chapter” to reflect the shift into the next part of my life and also because my next chapter has so much to do with writing my book, so I thought it was extra poetic😂.

So that’s it! This is Day One and the kickoff for The Next Chapter.

Comment what your takeaways are, and definitely let me know if you are on the Suspending Disbelief train!

🎶WOO WOOOOO ALL ABOARD🎶! Here we go again!

The podcast and the written posts will remain part of the free subscription. (If you want to be notified of all new episodes and posts, make sure you’re subscribed!)

BUT: I will be opening up the paid subscription for just $5/month for anyone who wants to be a part of the chat and share their stories privately with others who are on the train, actively suspending disbelief.

Pick a free or paid subscription today!

You can let us all know in the chat - what are the parameters of your experiment in Suspending Disbelief this year?

Declare it, mark it on your calendar. Don’t forget your commitment. Don’t forget your ego is going to rear its head up into your path and test it. But we are suspending disbelief and doing the damn thing anyway, electrons and all!

Lastly… I am also thinking about doing a couple of interviews of other women who are participating, whether from the first year on or those just starting this year, so if you are interested in being interviewed for that, definitely make sure you are part of the paid chat so I know about your journey, and can ‘discover’ you in that sense.

I am not adding coaching per se although you all know I love to talk to you so if you are chatting, you know I will be there sometimes!

So I will talk to you all again next month! I can’t wait to update on my progress and reflect in more consistent, longer chunks! Bye!

Get full access to Suspending Disbelief: The Next Chapter at suspendingdisbelief.substack.com/subscribe

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit brihosack.substack.com/subscribe

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit brihosack.substack.com/subscribe

Welcome back to The Simplified Year, where we weave intentional living, seasonal flow, and grounded, sacred simplifying into the rhythm of your everyday life.

This is the first quarterly episode! (Yes, a little late into the quarter, but since this Substack just got started, I know you’ll cut me some slack!)

It’s time to clear it out, let it go, make space for what's next, and plant your new intentions.

Let's talk about why spring is the soul's season for simplifying.

Spring cleaning isn't new. But most of us grew up hearing the phrase without even questioning why.

Spring isn't just for dusting baseboards and shaking out rugs.

It's the season of rebirth, of emergence, and of reclaiming energy that's been hibernating beneath the surface.

In direct relation to the seasonal rhythm of the simplified year, especially on this first go round, let's do a spring quarter breakdown:

Here's how we walk through it...

In April, we cover offices and storage spaces.

April is for planting the new, but before we do that we clear out the dead growth, the unused supplies, the mental clutter… the stagnant energy lingering in our creative spaces.

If you run a business or hold any kind of vision for your work in the world, your office is your garden.

What you clear out now creates fertile ground for new ideas, new launches, and new flow.

In May, we cover bathrooms, toiletries, and cleaning supplies.

May is such a perfect time to do this kind of work. I mean, first of all, we are decluttering cleaning supplies in the season of spring cleaning.

This month is about simplifying your daily routines, releasing the just-in-case stash and limiting beliefs that are actually holding you back from your next level of abundance, and cleaning out the places that clean you.

Because that's the true medicine here.

Your bathroom is where you care for your body. Let it feel like a sanctuary again. Let it hold only what supports your well-being.

In June, we cover the entryways, the hallways and the closets.

June is our threshold month.

It's where we prepare for more movement. The kids are out of, or almost out of school, depending where you live. Schedules start shifting, summer plans roll in.

So we want to look at the flow of energy in our home.

Entryways invite energy and they're the first place guests will see.

Closets hold old identities and old energy if they aren't intentionally cleared out.

Hallways are like arteries in the body. If they're blocked, nothing moves smoothly.

Let this season be a reminder.

You are nature. You move in cycles. You'll bloom when the conditions are right, and you get to create those conditions.

So, some final reminders in this quarter…

You are always able to start at any part of the simplified year rhythm based on your needs and what's going on for you in your life.

But if you're following along with the main crew, these focuses will help you have the clearest, freshest outlook and energy for the spring season.

If you're following along with the rhythm of the simplified year, then you're not just decluttering your home. You're attuning your life to a deeper, wilder pace, a truer, more natural rhythm.

And if you're just jumping in, that's beautiful too.

You're right on time for you.

That deeper pace and rhythm might be for the next round in your journey. This rhythm is not linear. It's spiral shaped.

You can start anywhere and still arrive exactly where you need to be.

The Invitation:

Let this be a season of flow.

Let this be a season of ease.

Let this be a season where your life and home feel lighter because you chose to make space.

The Simplified Year’s full archive of yearly rhythm posts and podcast episodes are included in our paid subscription.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hersimplifiedheartbeat.substack.com/subscribe

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit brihosack.substack.com/subscribe

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit brihosack.substack.com/subscribe

Join me for Suspending Disbelief: The Next Chapter https://suspendingdisbelief.substack.com/ (free to sign up, free to subscribe!)

Get full access to Suspending Disbelief: The Next Chapter at suspendingdisbelief.substack.com/subscribe

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit brihosack.substack.com/subscribe

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit brihosack.substack.com/subscribe

Welcome to The Simplified Year. I’m so glad you’ve landed here. The audio above is the ‘trailer’ or ‘intro’ to The Simplified Year Podcast, including a bit about who I am. Go give it a listen!

This space is designed to support your new rhythm of remembering what matters, and releasing what doesn’t, through the sacred act of simplifying.

What Is The Simplified Year?

It’s a 12-month cycle, a rhythm that supports you in decluttering your life—not just the stuff in your closets, but the noise in your calendar, the tension in your body, the tangled energy behind your to-do list.

This podcast is here to anchor you in that rhythm.

Aside from the intro episode, this is a private podcast, for paid subscribers. Join us here!

Each month, I’ll drop in with a short voice note or episode based on the focus of the month; a gentle nudge to never give up.

Every quarter, I will do an extra episode for reflection and seasonal anchoring, to help you flow with nature.

You don’t need to binge this feed.

You can just listen once a month, or return to an episode when you feel untethered.

You can skip around, and only listen to the episodes that apply to the focus you’ve chosen, if you’re following your own path through the content here, which is more than okay. You can find all the posts specific to The Simplified Year here.

Each episode of this podcast stands alone, as does each monthly focus, and the order you listen in/work through them does not affect whether or not they make sense.

If You Want to Interact…

We have chat threads (based on the monthly focuses) inside the Substack space, a community where you can check in, share a win, name a resistance, or ask a question; connecting with your peers who are on this journey with you. I’ll be in there too occasionally!

Welcome, sister.

To the rhythm, to the return, to The Simplified Year.

X

Bri

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hersimplifiedheartbeat.substack.com/subscribe

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit brihosack.substack.com/subscribe

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit brihosack.substack.com/subscribe

Reviewing my script from April 2024 & breaking it down to clarify what has succeeded and what has not. Eye-opening!

Get full access to Suspending Disbelief: The Next Chapter at suspendingdisbelief.substack.com/subscribe

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit brihosack.substack.com/subscribe

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit brihosack.substack.com/subscribe

22 days left!

1st day of 1/2 day school.

Freaking Mercury Rx.

Get full access to Suspending Disbelief: The Next Chapter at suspendingdisbelief.substack.com/subscribe

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit brihosack.substack.com/subscribe

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit brihosack.substack.com/subscribe

weekend of relaxation gone wrong

Get full access to Suspending Disbelief: The Next Chapter at suspendingdisbelief.substack.com/subscribe

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit brihosack.substack.com/subscribe

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit brihosack.substack.com/subscribe

Break + a new discovery

Get full access to Suspending Disbelief: The Next Chapter at suspendingdisbelief.substack.com/subscribe

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit brihosack.substack.com/subscribe

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit brihosack.substack.com/subscribe

Kids gone...

Get full access to Suspending Disbelief: The Next Chapter at suspendingdisbelief.substack.com/subscribe

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit brihosack.substack.com/subscribe

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit brihosack.substack.com/subscribe