Stories of Inspiring Joy

Eden Busani is the founder of Meraki, a lifestyle brand founded to empower other women around the world! They pride themselves with "becoming" your modern guide to a better lifestyle. As a growing community, they help guide you on how to find your purpose, attract positive energy to your life and live with inner peace.

In today’s episode, Eden shares her journey of transformation to freedom, after hitting rock bottom, with the power of writing. She shares how a family friend helped her see the light in the darkness through the power of writing. She was told to take out a piece of paper and write down everything that’s holding her back. Eden had nothing to lose, and she took out a notebook and wrote out all of her shame, negative self-talk, and poured her vulnerability out on the paper. Eden knew there was a purpose to her pain, and she was determined to see this exercise through to the end. As she stood over the fire pit and watched the words in that notebook burn, she knew she was reborn in that moment. As Eden so beautifully shares, you can’t move forward if you don’t let go of the past, and the key to your healing is in letting go, and allowing yourself to live.

To learn more about Eden visit her website www.edenbusani.com and on Instagram @eden_busani @merakiofficalteam Facebook @merakiofficialteam and you can check out her Self help book: The Pathway To Freedom here and you can check out her podcast Mending Broken Beliefs here

Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, click here.

Andy Chaleff is a mentor and advisor to business leaders, entertainers, and non-profit organizations that are changing the future of education and parenting. He’s also an author who recently released his second novel, The Wounded Healer, giving readers real-life tools to combat negative thoughts that wreak havoc on their physical and emotional well-being. Published by Koehler Books, The Wounded Healer is available now at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Target, and Audible.

In today’s episode, Andy shares an excerpt from his new book, The Wounded Healer. Andy’s words carry a powerful message of radical self-love. Andy shares his journey to self-love and self-acceptance, and it all started with pushing beyond his comfort zone. He would no longer allow vulnerability to close him off. It all began the day after his wedding in 2017. He decided to write a book, and little did he know that his reflections would turn into hundreds of pages of notes on his iPhone. He relieved every meaningful moment, and paid special attention to the moments filled with shame, guilt and pain. The writing turned into its own healing process. Andy exposed and ultimately accepted, the parts of him that were hiding in the shadows. Through his writing, cross-country journey, and reflections, Andy shares how radical self-love radically changed his experience in the world.

To learn more about Andy and his work visit his website www.andychaleff.com and on Facebook @joinawonderfulchaos and you can find his Facebook group here and on YouTube here

Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, click here.

Nataleen Henry is the creator of Butterflies - Broken Wings can Fly Again, a support group and resource that brings awareness to other women and men who have gone through rape, sexual abuse, or domestic violence. In this week’s new episode, Nataleen shares her story of transformation from ashes to beauty. She candidly shares her story of being raped at age 16, and how the pain, blame and shame took a toll on her self-confidence and self-esteem. Two years later, at the age of 18, she found herself in a toxic and abusive relationship that altered the direction of her life, and ultimately brought her back to a space of self-love and self-compassion.

Nataleen’s reflections on domestic violence will remind you that age, gender, level of education, and social background don’t matter when it comes to sexual abuse and domestic violence, and that it can happen to anyone. Her words on her own experience will remind you to approach others with compassion and understanding, rather than judgment and criticism. Her courage to take a leap of faith and bravely trust her instincts to leave that relationship will remind you that we’re so much stronger than we think. Nataleen’s choice to move away from that abusive relationship wasn’t easy, and during this week’s episode she shares with us that at one point she had to take out a restraining order. Her decision to no longer stay in a negative and abusive space allowed her to reclaim her life, and begin to build it step by step. Her words on how there is a light out of every dark tunnel will remind you that when we take the steps to begin to empower ourselves, anything is possible if we hold on to faith, trust, and hope.

To learn more about Nataleen and connect with her visit Butterflies - Broken Wings can Fly Again

Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, click here.

Kate Farrell believes in the power of story. A graduate of the School of Library and Information Studies, UC Berkeley. She has been a language arts classroom teacher (pre-school and grades kindergarten through 12th), author, librarian, university lecturer, and storyteller in Northern California since 1966.

In today’s episode, Kate shares an adaptation from her latest book, Story Power: Secrets to Creating, Crafting, and Telling Memorable Stories. Kate has always learned from challenges in her life, many of them continue to inspire her. As Kate shares, though trials make life difficult, they make the best stories. We can learn from one another’s stories, be encouraged, and take heart.

To connect with Kate visit her website https://katefarrell.net/ on Facebook Kate Farrell Storyteller and on Twitter @katestoryteller and check out her new book Story Power: Secrets to Creating, Crafting, and Telling Memorable Stories and subscribe to her blog: https://storytellingforeveryone.net/

Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, click here.

Sade Cutler has possessed a heart to empower people in many areas of life. After a long journey to find a career helping and empowering others she eventually stumbled upon Social Work “the helping profession for empowerment”. As a child, Sade attended Baltimore City Public Schools in Baltimore, Maryland -where she was born and raised. She later graduated from Coppin State University with a Bachelor's Degree in Social Work and an elective cluster in social and biological courses. Shortly after graduating from undergraduate school, Sade went on to receive her Master’s degree in Clinical Social Work from the University of Maryland, Baltimore School of Social Work advance standing program.

Sade joins us to share her story from struggling with infertility, to having her son, and the life threatening complications that almost took her life, and that of her child. Sade’s story is one of overcoming great obstacles and adversity, and a reminder of the power of the human spirit and hope.

To connect with Sade and her practice, My Empowering Impact, visit her website https://www.myempoweringimpact.org/ and on Facebook @myempoweringimpact Instagram @M.E.Impact Twitter @MEImpactLLC

Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, click here.

Lucy Liu is a certified life coach helping women in life transitions unstuck, beat overwhelm, see clarity, reach new goals, live a happier fulfilling life and thrive! She is an unshakable optimist, wife, mother, easy-going entrepreneur, women empowerment workshop facilitator, motivational speaker and now makes it her passion to help other women rewrite their life story.

She also inspires as the host of her weekly podcast The Lucy Liu Show and has been featured in Medium, VoyageLA, Elephant Journal and ThriveGlobal.

In today’s episode, Lucy shares her story facing her fears and limiting beliefs, shifting her mindset, and believing in herself. Growing up in a traditional Chinese family, she was living the life of her parents. They had wonderful jobs in China, and gave up everything to come to the United States with high hopes for a better education for Lucy. She excelled, and through her self-development journey she’s discovered true happiness and her why. Through breaking her limiting beliefs, Lucy launched her podcast to show others that we’re all unique, we are all important, and even if we help just one person, we’ve done our part to create an impact, and a better world.

To learn more about Lucy and her work visit her website www.lucyliucoaching.com and on Instagram @mslucyliu Twitter @mslucyliu Facebook @mslucyliu LinkedIn @mslucyliu and you can find her Podcast The Lucy Liu Show here

Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, click here.

Sheila Mac, the parent of 6 beautiful, now grown up children, is known as the Lifestyle REBOOT specialist with a passion for helping others succeed. For over 25 years Sheila has been a leader at helping people to BREAKTHROUGH using the Boots Formula© and take their lives to another level through solid lifestyle consulting, and accountability programs.

In today’s episode, Sheila shares her journey from experiencing all of life’s hardest challenge, including homelessness, abuse and losing everything in a house fire, to inspiring others through her resilience and determination to gain back control of her own life. She shares her BOOTS formula (Being, Orientation, Order of Operations, Thinking, and Stepping Up) to get through any tough situation in life, too. Today, Sheila consults individuals, teaches online courses and is a nationally recognized speaker who has made it her mission to guide others with similar life experiences back to empowerment.

To learn more about Sheila and her new book visit her website https://www.sheilamac.com/ and you can learn more about her new book here

Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, click here.

Dominique Mas is a coach for high performers, working with a variety of people including leaders, entrepreneurs, and aspiring founders.Originally from France, Dominique has lived and worked in 7 countries across Europe, Asia and the U.S. After 15 years in Educational Leadership in international schools, she decided to jump in start a personal coaching practice for professionals as well as design and facilitate private and corporate workshops. When she is not working, Dominique can be found surfing with her boyfriend in the Rockaways or walking Professor, their wonderful dog.

In today’s new episode, Dominique shares her story of realizing that something in her life was off. She no longer felt connected to herself, and she realized that she was no longer working towards something that was important to her. Her story of changing careers at 40 will remind you that it’s important to take time for introspection, to reconnect with yourself, your values, and your joy. Yes she was overwhelmed by the realization and knowing that it was time to make a shift - but she trusted her instincts to move on. She took time to explore and decide what her next steps would be. Her willingness to keep going and to go for it - will remind you that anything is possible when you allow yourself to dream and believe that there is more for you.

To connect with Dominique and to learn more about her work visit her website https://dominiquemas.com and connect with her on Instagram @dominiquemas_coaching Facebook @Dominiquemascoaching

Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, click here.

Elianor Marissa, better known as Elianor M.A., is an American-Lebanese novelist and screenwriter. Her debut novel, Transcendent is available on the Amazon Kindle Store, published on December 1, 2018. Her first screenplay, Just Like Old Times was honored at the Los Angeles Film Awards in September 2019 and the International New York Film Festival in June 2020. Her TV pilot, Halves and Quarters, made it to the Quarterfinalist round of the Screencraft Pilot Launch Competition. Her memoir Dealing with Dramedies is set to be released in December 2020.

In today’s episode, Elianor shares her journey from her diagnosis, to writing her new book, Dealing with Dramedies. Elianor felt herself drowning in the drama of her health crisis, but she didn’t want her drama to define her. Instead, she chose to define it. Elianor realized she didn’t need to wait to be the hero of her story. Instead of focusing on what was going wrong in her life, Elianor focused on what she was doing right, and following her passion for storytelling. As Elianor shares, no matter who you are, or where you come from, or how different your circumstances may be from those around you, drama will find you! But it’s up to you to use it as your driving your force, instead of your deterrent. There is no set way to deal with your dramedy.

To learn more about Elianor and her new book at [email protected] and Twitter @elianorma Instagram @elianor_ma or through her personal website elianorma.com

Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, click here.

Lacey Nagar is a confidence & visibility coach, author, and mentor who believes that women can create the business, career, and lifestyle of their dreams while doing only what they love, and enjoying the journey along the way. Her focus is on visibility - because Lacey knows first-hand just how important it is to put ourselves out there and share our message, gifts, and healing with the world.

In today's episode, Lacey shares her journey being diagnosed with a chronic, progressive muscle disorder at the age of 12. She felt like she was in a bad dream - she wasn’t comfortable with herself, or her body. She tried for years to hide that was anything was wrong with her - she didn’t want the attention that came with being “different.” She was told that over time she wouldn’t be able to walk - it was her willpower, and mindset, that kept her going. Lacey candidly shares the obstacles that her body goes through daily, and her courage in being vulnerable will remind you that we are so much more than our circumstances. Her reflections on struggling with worthiness - and how she wrapped herself so deeply in the messages she was telling herself - will remind you that you are worthy, just as you are. It will also challenge you to reflect on your journey, and just how far you’ve come with your own sense of worthiness, compassion, and love.

To connect with Lacey and learn more about working together you can schedule a complimentary connection call at: bit.ly/laceycall, you can also follow her on on Instagram @gracefulrisingcoaching or visit her website: gracefulrising.com

Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, click here.