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Take a journey into your inner landscape with this transformative guided meditation focused on reconnecting with your authentic power. Beginning with mindful breath awareness, this practice leads you to visualize your breath as golden light energy gathering in your solar plexus – your personal power center.

Many of us unconsciously dim our light, hiding our gifts and talents from the world. Through gentle guidance, this meditation helps you identify where you might be "playing small" in your life, where self-doubt has crept in, and where anxiety might be physically stored in your body. As you direct healing breath energy to these areas, you'll experience a profound release of tension and a renewed sense of possibility.

"You are a powerful and beautiful being who came here not to dim your sweet soul," reminds the guide as you're led through a series of empowering affirmations: "I am powerful, I am connected, I am strong" and "I am ready." These words aren't just positive thinking – they're reminders of your essential nature and the gifts you were born to share.

The meditation culminates with an invitation to be your own lighthouse – a guiding beacon not just for others but for yourself. In a world that often encourages conformity, this practice gives you permission to shine your unique light unapologetically. Whether you're facing challenges, seeking direction, or simply wanting to reconnect with your authentic self, this meditation offers a sanctuary of self-discovery and empowerment. Take these ten minutes to remember who you truly are. The world needs your light – are you ready to let it shine?

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🌟✨📚 **Buy 'The Places Where There Are Spaces: Cultivating A Life of Creative Possibilities'** 📚✨🌟 
Dive into a world where spontaneity leads to creativity and discover personal essays that inspire with journal space to reflect. Click the link below to grab your copy today and embark on a journey of self-discovery and unexpected joys! 🌈👇 
🔗 Purchase Your Copy Here: https://a.co/d/2UlsmYC

🌟 **Interested in finding out more about working with Lisa Hopkins? Want to share your feedback or be considered as a guest on the show?** 
🔗 Visit Wide Open Stages https://www.wideopenstages.com

📸 **Follow Lisa on Instagram:** @wideopenstages https://www.instagram.com/wideopenstages/

💖 **SUPPORT THE SHOW:** [Buy Me a Coffee] https://www.buymeacoffee.com/STOPTIME

🎵 **STOPTIME Theme Music by Philip David Stern** 
🔗 [Listen on Spotify]
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What if the things we’ve lost aren’t really missing, but simply traveling? This tender retelling of a story attributed to Franz Kafka offers a profound perspective on change, transformation, and how we might relate differently to what we feel we’ve lost.

Through the tale of a little girl whose doll goes missing in a Berlin park, we discover a beautiful metaphor for life’s transitions. When a thin man suggests the doll isn’t lost but traveling, he begins delivering letters that chronicle her adventures around the world. With each note, we learn alongside the child how “a postcard can be a doorway, how a suitcase can be a spine, how homesickness is just love with somewhere to go.”

The story culminates in recognition and acceptance when the girl receives a new doll—embodying the way experience changes us. A short guided reflection invites you to consider your own “traveling dolls”: aspects of life that may be changing form rather than disappearing. What might they write to you today? What wisdom have they gathered on their journey?

Whether you’re navigating a transition, processing a loss, or simply curious about new ways to meet change, these six minutes offer a quiet pause to breathe, listen, and perhaps write your own postcard from whatever is moving in your life now.

Note: This is a contemporary retelling of a story often attributed to Franz Kafka; the original letters were never found.

If you are enjoying the show please subscribe, share and review! Word of mouth is incredibly impactful and your support is much appreciated!

Support the show

🌟✨📚 **Buy 'The Places Where There Are Spaces: Cultivating A Life of Creative Possibilities'** 📚✨🌟 
Dive into a world where spontaneity leads to creativity and discover personal essays that inspire with journal space to reflect. Click the link below to grab your copy today and embark on a journey of self-discovery and unexpected joys! 🌈👇 
🔗 Purchase Your Copy Here: https://a.co/d/2UlsmYC

🌟 **Interested in finding out more about working with Lisa Hopkins? Want to share your feedback or be considered as a guest on the show?** 
🔗 Visit Wide Open Stages https://www.wideopenstages.com

📸 **Follow Lisa on Instagram:** @wideopenstages https://www.instagram.com/wideopenstages/

💖 **SUPPORT THE SHOW:** [Buy Me a Coffee] https://www.buymeacoffee.com/STOPTIME

🎵 **STOPTIME Theme Music by Philip David Stern** 
🔗 [Listen on Spotify]
https://open.spotify.com/artist/57A87Um5vok0uEtM8vWpKM?si=JOx7r1iVSbqAHezG4PjiPg

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What if the key to a more fulfilling life isn't about squeezing more productivity from every minute but rather making space for unscheduled joy? Join me as I share the surprising lessons I've learned from playing impromptu badminton games with my husband on the narrow green strip between our cottage and the lake.

These spontaneous matches—where he strategically positions me with the wind at my back, sends the birdie soaring into tree branches, and lunges dramatically for returns while I laugh until I cry—have become a treasured ritual. You won't find these games on our calendars or to-do lists. They serve no purpose beyond the moment itself, yet they've become invaluable to our wellbeing.

Through these playful interludes, I've discovered that while I deeply believe in hard work and dedication, success isn't defined solely by hours logged, words written, or money earned. There's diminishing value in working so relentlessly that we're too exhausted to enjoy the rewards. Paradoxically, when we return from these breaks, we find ourselves more energized and connected—not just to each other, but to whatever we're focusing on. We may put the "bad" in badminton with our lack of skill, but as I like to say, the score is always "love-love." I encourage you to find your equivalent of lakeside badminton—that activity that brings you pure, purposeless joy. Your productivity (and your heart) might just thank you for it.

If you are enjoying the show please subscribe, share and review! Word of mouth is incredibly impactful and your support is much appreciated!

Support the show

🌟✨📚 **Buy 'The Places Where There Are Spaces: Cultivating A Life of Creative Possibilities'** 📚✨🌟 
Dive into a world where spontaneity leads to creativity and discover personal essays that inspire with journal space to reflect. Click the link below to grab your copy today and embark on a journey of self-discovery and unexpected joys! 🌈👇 
🔗 Purchase Your Copy Here: https://a.co/d/2UlsmYC

🌟 **Interested in finding out more about working with Lisa Hopkins? Want to share your feedback or be considered as a guest on the show?** 
🔗 Visit Wide Open Stages https://www.wideopenstages.com

📸 **Follow Lisa on Instagram:** @wideopenstages https://www.instagram.com/wideopenstages/

💖 **SUPPORT THE SHOW:** [Buy Me a Coffee] https://www.buymeacoffee.com/STOPTIME

🎵 **STOPTIME Theme Music by Philip David Stern** 
🔗 [Listen on Spotify]
https://open.spotify.com/artist/57A87Um5vok0uEtM8vWpKM?si=JOx7r1iVSbqAHezG4PjiPg

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Doorways to clarity await in this transformative guided meditation that connects you with the wisdom of your future self. 

The journey begins in a quiet, safe room—your inner sanctuary of possibility. With each breath, you're guided to open windows, inviting fresh air that symbolizes the clearing of mental clutter and stagnant energy. As light floods in, notice how your body responds to this spaciousness, this invitation to expand beyond current limitations.

Around you stand several doors, each unique in appearance and representing different potential paths forward. Which one calls to you? Which sparks curiosity or feels alive with possibility? There's no right or wrong choice—only the wisdom of your intuition guiding you toward what resonates most deeply. As you step through your chosen doorway, you encounter perhaps the most powerful guide available: your future self.

This visualization creates a bridge between who you are now and who you're becoming. Your future self stands before you with ease in their expression and light in their eyes, offering guidance and reassurance that transcends your current challenges. The message may arrive as words, images, feelings, or simply a knowing presence—whatever form it takes, it carries exactly what you need in this moment.

The practice reminds us that clarity isn't found by adding more to our lives but by creating space for wisdom to emerge. Windows can always be opened; doors are always waiting to be chosen. What message does your future self have for you today? Take these ten minutes to discover the guidance that already exists within you.

Support the show

🌟✨📚 **Buy 'The Places Where There Are Spaces: Cultivating A Life of Creative Possibilities'** 📚✨🌟 
Dive into a world where spontaneity leads to creativity and discover personal essays that inspire with journal space to reflect. Click the link below to grab your copy today and embark on a journey of self-discovery and unexpected joys! 🌈👇 
🔗 Purchase Your Copy Here: https://a.co/d/2UlsmYC

🌟 **Interested in finding out more about working with Lisa Hopkins? Want to share your feedback or be considered as a guest on the show?** 
🔗 Visit Wide Open Stages https://www.wideopenstages.com

📸 **Follow Lisa on Instagram:** @wideopenstages https://www.instagram.com/wideopenstages/

💖 **SUPPORT THE SHOW:** [Buy Me a Coffee] https://www.buymeacoffee.com/STOPTIME

🎵 **STOPTIME Theme Music by Philip David Stern** 
🔗 [Listen on Spotify]
https://open.spotify.com/artist/57A87Um5vok0uEtM8vWpKM?si=JOx7r1iVSbqAHezG4PjiPg

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What does it really mean to honor your body’s wisdom in a high-pressure career?

Broadway star Aisha Jackson (The Great Gatsby, Frozen, Waitress) takes us behind the curtain to reveal the delicate balance between artistic excellence and personal wellbeing. Fresh from celebrating the one-year anniversary of her vocal surgery, Aisha shares her practice of “constant check-ins” — a mindful way of gauging her physical, mental, and vocal capacity each day. She also introduces the concept of “vocal cash” — the limited energy reserves performers must budget through demanding eight-show weeks.

Our conversation explores how reframing limits as choices creates a powerful shift — one that preserves her voice, expands her artistry, and sustains her joy. Aisha speaks candidly about representation, mentorship, and her commitment to creating space for others to shine. From navigating grief to celebrating triumphs, she reveals how staying grounded in her deeper purpose allows her to transcend the pressures of performance.

Whether you’re a performer, creative professional, or navigating your own high-demand path, Aisha’s wisdom offers a blueprint for sustainable excellence — and a reminder that when we honor our capacity, reconnect to our why, and share our gifts with joy, we show up more authentically in every moment.

If you are enjoying the show please subscribe, share and review! Word of mouth is incredibly impactful and your support is much appreciated!

Support the show

🌟✨📚 **Buy 'The Places Where There Are Spaces: Cultivating A Life of Creative Possibilities'** 📚✨🌟 
Dive into a world where spontaneity leads to creativity and discover personal essays that inspire with journal space to reflect. Click the link below to grab your copy today and embark on a journey of self-discovery and unexpected joys! 🌈👇 
🔗 Purchase Your Copy Here: https://a.co/d/2UlsmYC

🌟 **Interested in finding out more about working with Lisa Hopkins? Want to share your feedback or be considered as a guest on the show?** 
🔗 Visit Wide Open Stages https://www.wideopenstages.com

📸 **Follow Lisa on Instagram:** @wideopenstages https://www.instagram.com/wideopenstages/

💖 **SUPPORT THE SHOW:** [Buy Me a Coffee] https://www.buymeacoffee.com/STOPTIME

🎵 **STOPTIME Theme Music by Philip David Stern** 
🔗 [Listen on Spotify]
https://open.spotify.com/artist/57A87Um5vok0uEtM8vWpKM?si=JOx7r1iVSbqAHezG4PjiPg

Let us know what you enjoy about the show!

Life is full of transitions—some chosen, some unexpected. Fresh starts can feel both exciting and overwhelming, and often we forget to pause long enough to honor the shift.

This guided meditation will help you release what no longer serves you, carry forward the wisdom of what’s behind you, and gently step into what lies ahead. Through mindful breathing and visualization, you’ll plant the seed of your intention and reconnect with the power of presence.

Take this time to remind yourself:
 ✨ Every ending holds a beginning.
 ✨ Every transition is an invitation to grow.
 ✨ You always have the choice to begin again.

Support the show

🌟✨📚 **Buy 'The Places Where There Are Spaces: Cultivating A Life of Creative Possibilities'** 📚✨🌟 
Dive into a world where spontaneity leads to creativity and discover personal essays that inspire with journal space to reflect. Click the link below to grab your copy today and embark on a journey of self-discovery and unexpected joys! 🌈👇 
🔗 Purchase Your Copy Here: https://a.co/d/2UlsmYC

🌟 **Interested in finding out more about working with Lisa Hopkins? Want to share your feedback or be considered as a guest on the show?** 
🔗 Visit Wide Open Stages https://www.wideopenstages.com

📸 **Follow Lisa on Instagram:** @wideopenstages https://www.instagram.com/wideopenstages/

💖 **SUPPORT THE SHOW:** [Buy Me a Coffee] https://www.buymeacoffee.com/STOPTIME

🎵 **STOPTIME Theme Music by Philip David Stern** 
🔗 [Listen on Spotify]
https://open.spotify.com/artist/57A87Um5vok0uEtM8vWpKM?si=JOx7r1iVSbqAHezG4PjiPg

Let us know what you enjoy about the show!

🍂 That unmistakable shift in the air signals more than just the turning of seasons—it touches something deeper within us. The angle of sunlight, the rustle of leaves, the crisp blue sky—all converge to create what I call that inescapable fall feeling. ✨

In this episode, I guide you through a simple mindfulness exercise to reflect on the past year—what was hard, what came easily, what surprised you, what sparked curiosity, and what amazed you. 🌟 This practice offers a new vantage point for self-reflection and reveals insights that might otherwise remain hidden.

I also share a reading from my book on fall’s unique duality—how it feels like both an ending and a beginning, holding space for nostalgia and new possibilities. 🍁 Remember how as children, fall brought excitement and uncertainty in equal measure? That wisdom is still available to us.

So, as you feel that unmistakable fall feeling, consider it an invitation to slow down, embrace your inner child, and fully inhabit the present moment—with your favorite sweater, a good book, and permission to simply be. 🧘‍♀️📖✨

If you are enjoying the show please subscribe, share and review! Word of mouth is incredibly impactful and your support is much appreciated!

Support the show

🌟✨📚 **Buy 'The Places Where There Are Spaces: Cultivating A Life of Creative Possibilities'** 📚✨🌟 
Dive into a world where spontaneity leads to creativity and discover personal essays that inspire with journal space to reflect. Click the link below to grab your copy today and embark on a journey of self-discovery and unexpected joys! 🌈👇 
🔗 Purchase Your Copy Here: https://a.co/d/2UlsmYC

🌟 **Interested in finding out more about working with Lisa Hopkins? Want to share your feedback or be considered as a guest on the show?** 
🔗 Visit Wide Open Stages https://www.wideopenstages.com

📸 **Follow Lisa on Instagram:** @wideopenstages https://www.instagram.com/wideopenstages/

💖 **SUPPORT THE SHOW:** [Buy Me a Coffee] https://www.buymeacoffee.com/STOPTIME

🎵 **STOPTIME Theme Music by Philip David Stern** 
🔗 [Listen on Spotify]
https://open.spotify.com/artist/57A87Um5vok0uEtM8vWpKM?si=JOx7r1iVSbqAHezG4PjiPg

Let us know what you enjoy about the show!

Have you ever felt guilty for resting in a world that glorifies constant productivity? This gentle, meditative episode offers a powerful antidote to our culture's obsession with perpetual action through a beautiful Buddhist parable about balance and renewal.

At the heart of this episode is the story of Kansho and Yuma – the mighty waterfall and the still pond. Their relationship reveals the profound truth that power and stillness aren't opposing forces but complementary energies that sustain each other. The waterfall's thunderous strength depends entirely on the pond's quiet ability to receive, hold, and renew. This ancient wisdom speaks directly to our modern struggle with burnout, perfectionism, and the relentless pressure to perform.

Through guided breathing and thoughtful narration, this episode creates a sanctuary for listeners to experience what it teaches – that rest isn't weakness but the source of our strength. You'll be invited to recognize yourself as both waterfall and pond, understanding that your moments of quiet reflection are just as valuable as your periods of dynamic action. The episode concludes with a powerful reminder that "by choosing to rest, you are not giving up your power, you are increasing it." Take this opportunity to pause, breathe, and rediscover the restorative power of stillness. What might change in your life if you honored both your need for achievement and your need for renewal?

Support the show

🌟✨📚 **Buy 'The Places Where There Are Spaces: Cultivating A Life of Creative Possibilities'** 📚✨🌟 
Dive into a world where spontaneity leads to creativity and discover personal essays that inspire with journal space to reflect. Click the link below to grab your copy today and embark on a journey of self-discovery and unexpected joys! 🌈👇 
🔗 Purchase Your Copy Here: https://a.co/d/2UlsmYC

🌟 **Interested in finding out more about working with Lisa Hopkins? Want to share your feedback or be considered as a guest on the show?** 
🔗 Visit Wide Open Stages https://www.wideopenstages.com

📸 **Follow Lisa on Instagram:** @wideopenstages https://www.instagram.com/wideopenstages/

💖 **SUPPORT THE SHOW:** [Buy Me a Coffee] https://www.buymeacoffee.com/STOPTIME

🎵 **STOPTIME Theme Music by Philip David Stern** 
🔗 [Listen on Spotify]
https://open.spotify.com/artist/57A87Um5vok0uEtM8vWpKM?si=JOx7r1iVSbqAHezG4PjiPg

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This intimate conversation explores the balance between craving stability and embracing uncertainty in artistic pursuits.

Our guest, an established actor, shares their strategy for navigating the feast-or-famine nature of the entertainment industry. Rather than remaining “at the beck and call of some force that might grant me a job,” they’ve discovered the power of self-created projects—work that generates passion, purpose, and forward momentum regardless of outside validation.

The discussion takes a fascinating turn when examining the language we use to describe our needs. What begins as a desire for “structure” transforms into something deeper: self-actualization and creative autonomy. Through gentle questioning, we uncover what truly lies beneath—a yearning to create something enduring in a profession defined by temporary roles.

For anyone in a creative field struggling with uncertainty, this episode offers a fresh perspective on building a sustainable creative life. It’s about honoring what you create that won’t vanish when external projects end, cultivating balance that isn’t disrupted by professional ups and downs, and finding fulfillment through self-directed work aligned with your deepest values.

🎧 Listen now to discover how you can build a creative foundation that remains steady—even in uncertain times.

If you are enjoying the show please subscribe, share and review! Word of mouth is incredibly impactful and your support is much appreciated!

Support the show

🌟✨📚 **Buy 'The Places Where There Are Spaces: Cultivating A Life of Creative Possibilities'** 📚✨🌟 
Dive into a world where spontaneity leads to creativity and discover personal essays that inspire with journal space to reflect. Click the link below to grab your copy today and embark on a journey of self-discovery and unexpected joys! 🌈👇 
🔗 Purchase Your Copy Here: https://a.co/d/2UlsmYC

🌟 **Interested in finding out more about working with Lisa Hopkins? Want to share your feedback or be considered as a guest on the show?** 
🔗 Visit Wide Open Stages https://www.wideopenstages.com

📸 **Follow Lisa on Instagram:** @wideopenstages https://www.instagram.com/wideopenstages/

💖 **SUPPORT THE SHOW:** [Buy Me a Coffee] https://www.buymeacoffee.com/STOPTIME

🎵 **STOPTIME Theme Music by Philip David Stern** 
🔗 [Listen on Spotify]
https://open.spotify.com/artist/57A87Um5vok0uEtM8vWpKM?si=JOx7r1iVSbqAHezG4PjiPg

Let us know what you enjoy about the show!

What happens when a 12-year-old decides to stop living a lie and pursue her true passion? For Broadway dancer Valeria Yamin, it was the moment that changed everything.

In this captivating conversation, Valeria takes us on her journey from Venezuela to Broadway, revealing the pivotal moments that shaped her remarkable career. From tearfully confessing to her father that she wanted to be a performer (not an eye doctor), to facing rejection from her dream school only to find her way there through an unexpected encounter – Valeria's story is a masterclass in resilience and authenticity.

Currently performing in the original Broadway cast of "Just In Time" after four seasons as a Radio City Rockette, Valeria speaks candidly about battling impostor syndrome, particularly when transitioning from dance to singing. "I don't have as much singing experience and training as I do with my dancing," she admits. "When I'm singing, I feel a lack of tools." Yet rather than letting this hold her back, she embraced vulnerability and gradual growth, showing how even accomplished performers continue to evolve.

The conversation takes a thoughtful turn as Valeria, now 25, reflects on gaining perspective in her career – moving from being "on the train" of non-stop performing to seeing her life from a "bird's eye view." This shift allows her to appreciate her journey while considering what colors and textures she wants to add next. Her approach to setbacks is equally enlightening: "Not now, maybe not ever, but not now, but maybe someday."

Throughout the episode, Valeria's definition of living in the moment shines through – being "out of your head and in the world." Her story reminds us that authentic living requires courage, resilience, and the willingness to embrace both successes and redirections as part of our growth.

Have you been putting your true passions on hold? Listen to this episode and find the courage to follow your heart, just as Valeria did when she decided to live her truth.

If you are enjoying the show please subscribe, share and review! Word of mouth is incredibly impactful and your support is much appreciated!

Support the show

🌟✨📚 **Buy 'The Places Where There Are Spaces: Cultivating A Life of Creative Possibilities'** 📚✨🌟 
Dive into a world where spontaneity leads to creativity and discover personal essays that inspire with journal space to reflect. Click the link below to grab your copy today and embark on a journey of self-discovery and unexpected joys! 🌈👇 
🔗 Purchase Your Copy Here: https://a.co/d/2UlsmYC

🌟 **Interested in finding out more about working with Lisa Hopkins? Want to share your feedback or be considered as a guest on the show?** 
🔗 Visit Wide Open Stages https://www.wideopenstages.com

📸 **Follow Lisa on Instagram:** @wideopenstages https://www.instagram.com/wideopenstages/

💖 **SUPPORT THE SHOW:** [Buy Me a Coffee] https://www.buymeacoffee.com/STOPTIME

🎵 **STOPTIME Theme Music by Philip David Stern** 
🔗 [Listen on Spotify]
https://open.spotify.com/artist/57A87Um5vok0uEtM8vWpKM?si=JOx7r1iVSbqAHezG4PjiPg