"Enjoy the journey!" Oh my, isn't that overused? Sometimes I hate that because I am terrible at enjoying the process. I want to get where I want to go. But when the dust comes, I get distracted, and the process gets messy. I have to learn to shake off the dust - shaking off what might be standing in my way of shaking off what makes the process less enjoyable. Sometimes we get stuck because we want to be liked and seek approval from others. Shake that off, Supergluer!!! In this episode, we center ourselves on God so that we can shake off what does not matter!

We are going to address perfectionism so that we can get back to being kind to ourselves. In this episode, we will take a quick self-assessment to determine if perfectionism is getting in our way of thriving. 

In this episode, we will talk about our body's natural ability to regulate and self-soothe. From our conception, we learn this skill and our mother's heartbeat becomes a source of comfort.  Reconnect to your natural rhythm within in order to overcome stress and anxiety.

In this episode, we will draw on the wisdom from this book:

by Regine Galanti PhD  (Author

I will highlight some of my fav tools and tips! 

FOGO - Fear of Getting Old
As early as age 18, we begin to fear getting older. Fear not, my friends! Aging is a beautiful gift! In this episode we will talk about tips to keep your spark as you age! 

As we age, we may struggle to match what is happening on the outside and how we feel on the inside. I often look in the mirror and am surprised by how I have aged because I still feel pretty young on the inside. Instead of focusing on a youthful appearance, embrace your wisdom. As we age, we still have sparks inside of us. They just look different on the inside and out. The changes are beautiful and meant to be enjoyed. 

During a recent conversation with my daughters, I realized that I had an - embarrassing to admit  - fear of gaining weight. By digging deeper, I realized this wasn't about my body at all but rather using my body as a way to cover up a deep rooted fear. In this episode, I share how I got my spark back and realize that my fear wasn't about the thing on the surface at all. As Michael Jr. said, "Life will bring you people and circumstances to reveal where you’re not free yet." I needed to dig deep into my fear and understand where I was not free. What I really fear is losing my spark - aging and not having that spark that I used to as a young person. Now my spark is relit. Remember, "Peace does not come from changing your circumstances peace comes from changing you." Dig deep with me in this episode.

These quick tips will help you self regulate with ease. Slow down enough to rewire your stress response and do something good for yourself today!

Gently Touch Your Lips

Your lips have parasympathetic fibers spread throughout them, so touching them activates the parasympathetic nervous system. Take one or two fingers and lightly run them over your lips.

Be Mindful – Don’t Multitask

Try not to multitask and be mindful of what you are doing. Toni Bernhard in her book, How To Be Sick – A Buddhist Inspired Guide for the Chronically Ill and Their Caregivers, quotes Korean Zen master Seung Sahn who liked to tell his students, “When reading, only read. When eating, only eat. When thinking, only think.”

Use Visualization

Use visualization and imagery to stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system. Picture yourself in a peaceful place that you love. It could be the ocean at sunset, a mountain stream, a beautiful lush forest, a secluded beach, a field of wildflowers, or any place you enjoy and feel relaxed. Use all your senses as you visualize the place in this imagery. Hear the sounds of the waves, feel the breeze on your face, and smell the scent of the flowers. You’ll feel relaxed in no time at all.

Credit to: https://canyonvista.com/activating-parasympathetic-nervous-system/
Check out their work by visiting the link above!

Ever get stuck in negative thinking? We all do. It's work to re-train our brains - and it's on-going work. Listen in for a few tips and remember to slow down to see the good around you!

So...I now understand the reason for my fall. What a gift it was, actually. My fall prompted me to get my eyes checked and something scary was detected during the routine screening. We waited two dreaded weeks for further results and now I am super grateful for this wake up call. I am going to be just fine and the good Lord answered my prayers. But I hope you will consider what you are grateful for and wake up enough to see the good around you!