Talking Joy Podcast

Retired from congregational ministry with the United Church of Canada, the Rev. Dr. Glen Stoudt serves as a spiritual director in his ongoing ministry in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. On this podcast episode he shares with Pam what it means to live “a lifestyle of sharing God’s goodness." www.talkingjoy.org

Anything that is fed energy will grow! The Talking Joy Team explores 5 exercises from the book, How To Train A Wild Elephant. "A growing body of research is showing that mindfulness can reduce stress, improve physical health, and improve one’s overall quality of life. Jan Chozen Bays, MD—physician and Zen teacher—has developed a series of simple practices to help us cultivate mindfulness as we go about our ordinary, daily lives. Exercises include: taking three deep breaths before answering the phone, noticing and adjusting your posture throughout the day, eating mindfully, and leaving no trace of yourself after using the kitchen or bathroom. Each exercise is presented with tips on how to remind yourself and a short life lesson connected with it." www.talkingjoy.org

YOUR INNER TRANQUILITY with Carol Schoffmann! Carol is a certified reiki master, healing sound practitioner and meditation teacher. She is joining us to talk about her reiki, what to expect in a session, how reiki can help and when you might need a session. An added bonus! Carol offers a five minute sound bath mediation. You will leave this podcast feeing refreshed and energized for the day ahead. Carol first encountered Himalayan singing bowls in 1990 while on my first trip to Nepal. Ever since then, she has had them in her life.

Over the years, Carol has played hundreds of singing bowls around the world, testing them for quality and sound, sending the ones that resonated with her back to the U.S. to sell. She kept a few for herself and taught many people how to use them. She became trained in ancient healing protocols using Himalayan singing bowls and shares this experience with the talking joy listeners. www.talkingjoy.com

Talking Joy with Gabrielle Newkirk, stylist, collector and owner of designer consignment boutique The Collective—a place where everything old is new again! The Collective is a designer consignment boutique offering a curated collection of sought-after clothing, bags, shoes and accessories. Gabrielle builds community while styling others in your treasures. She is always looking for the hottest items and the merchandise is always changing.  Located right off the main drag in Summit, NJ at 101 Summit Avenue. www.talkingjoy.org

Join Pam and Dr. Lisa Abeshaus for a conversation about women's health and get the answer to the most frequently asked questions. Dr. Lisa frequently sees patients for Annual Pap Smear/GYN Exam, Birth Control / Contraception, Infertility Consultation, OB-GYN Consultation. She provides caring and compassionate health care for women in every stage of life. She connects to her patients personally. She’s been through all these stages of life and can relate to what her patients are going through. She's here to share her knowledge and encouragement no matter what stage of life you are in. www.talkingjoy.org

JOURNALING AS A SPIRITUAL PRACTICE

with the Talking Joy Team! Pam sent a journaling prompt every morning for 7 days to the Talking Joy Podcast team before they met for this recording. On this episode we gathered the graces of this meaningful spiritual practice. Here are some suggestions: Jo-Ellen Darling in her book, Journaling as a Spiritual Path says, “make a commitment to try to journal every day even if you only have a couple of minutes, and even if you can only muster a sentence or two. Record the date and anything you notice upon waking, or from your previous day, or what lies ahead today.” To learn more visit: www.talkingjoy.org

Journaling as a Spiritual Path. A new book by Jo-Ellen A. Darling who joins Pam to talk about the benefits and many reasons for journaling. One is to have a ritual that provides us with grounding and stability. Another is to create a place to confide our thoughts, and feelings, our hopes and joys, our struggles, fears, and disappointments. Maybe we journal to have a time to dream, confess without judgment, and contemplate all things….Yet another aspect of journaling is to show us our growth and the lessons we’re learning in any number of these areas of our lives.

Here are some suggestions from the book: make a commitment to try to journal every day even if you only have a couple of minutes, and even if you can only muster a sentence or two. Record the date and anything you notice upon waking, or from your previous day, or what lies ahead today.

If you are new to journaling, or if you have attempted journaling before but it never stuck, you may want to simply write about the happenings of your day or previous day, both significant and insignificant, in chronological order.

Afterward: Go back and read the entry—notice what stands out and what draws your attention.

Remember that it’s not about how well you write but the nuggets of truth in what you have written that is of value.

www.talkingjoy.org

Heather Ruce joins Pam to talk about having "Conscious Relationships" with the people in our lives. She says being conscious is a spiritual practice that we must tend to with intentionality, attention and awareness. Heather works with individuals in Wisdom Spiritual Direction and facilitates wisdom practice circles, groups, retreats, and wisdom schools. She offers teaching and guidance in various wisdom and mindfulness practices including Centering Prayer, Christian meditation, sacred chanting, lectio divina, conscious work and embodiment. She has a M.A. Marital and Family Therapy from Bethel University. Find more information about Talking Joy and/or connect with Heather www.talkingjoy.org

Anne Sussman founded Mindfulness Meeting Place to lead mindfulness training for individuals and organizations motivated to find a better way of being. The scientific research is now undeniable, the benefits of mindfulness and meditation are proven to change your brain, your emotional wellbeing and provide tangible tools to manage stress. Take a listen to Pam and Anne talk about this life changing practice. www.talkingjoy.com

Paula D'Arcy, noted author and spiritual leader shares how we might bring a powerful source of compassion into our personal relationships and the broader context of the world by getting around our original mindset to a place where we can see things a little differently than before. Some of ways are letting nature be our teacher, encounters with other traditions and looking for signs to feel God's presence in your life. For more information about our conversation visit www.talkingjoy.org