That Green Dress Podcast

Loss of a relationship? A job? A friend? A significant other? An important event or achievement? Each of these can be experienced as a significant loss. Sometimes, though, we judge or criticize others for the way they experience a major event. We may minimize the impact of the experience or the gravity of the loss. Here’s the deal. We get to choose. We define the event or moment for which we are grieving AND we get grieve in the way that works and makes sense for us. Sometimes the difference in our perceptions and styles create challenges in our relationships and interactions. We grieve one way and others do it a different way. Guess what, both are correct! Cheers to honoring each other’s experiences.

Description:

Anyone else get frustrated, discouraged, confused by recurring feelings of anxiety, panic, grief and loss? While these may seem like distinctly different feelings, they can hit similarly and at the most inconvenient and random times. Like in the shoe aisle of my favorite store. While on vacation. Often, our reaction is to run away from the emotion, minimize it, and hope it doesn't return. Well, that may work for a minute, and I can assure you that you will be super disappointed if this is your only solution. Tune in to learn about how I handle these moments (something that has taken years of practice, I might add) and how I did today when I experienced panic the size of a Mack semi truck.

Episode Short Description:

Do you make decisions or choices based on others? Decisions based on their needs, beliefs, values, desires, goals, and dreams? I did, especially professionally. Actually, if I’m being real, it happens in various areas of my life. I liked people to see me as successful, high achieving, and doing the right things. And, it’s not that I don’t still enjoy this. I do. Recently, though, I had the opportunity to reflect on my growth in this specific area. Tune in to learn how I’ve shed some of the old narratives and ways of making decisions that weren’t serving me well. Cheers to having agency and making choices to increase joy!

We live in a social world that is filtered and constructed to highlight the “good stuff.” And while I am SUPER into recognizing and lifting the good (as you know), sometimes it keeps us from truly understanding or realizing what another might be experiencing. This can keep us from being known and makes it difficult to establish meaningful connections with others. It also perpetuates an inaccurate narrative of each other. This week I talk with Rachel DeAlto, relationship expert, about presenting more authentically in life and re-entering and establishing connections post COVID-19. Let’s do this!

Guest Bio:

Rachel has been a relationship expert on Seasons 4 & 5 of Lifetime’s Married at First Sight and TLC’s Kate+Date. She has represented Match, Comfort Suites, and TD Bank as a national spokesperson, and currently works with Match as its Chief Dating Expert. She has shared her expertise with audiences on The TODAY Show, Good Morning America, CNN/HLN, Access Hollywood Live, The Steve Harvey Show, and Fox News. Rachel has also presented three TEDx talks, her most recent: Being Authentic in A Filtered World which is presently featured on TED.com. Rachel is a graduate of Seton Hall School of Law and is completing her Master’s in Psychology at Arizona State University. She is a certified coach and trained in hypnotherapy and meditation. She’s truly a powerhouse and a lot of fun!

IG, Clubhouse: @racheldealto

Now that things are beginning to reopen and vaccines are being rolled out, are you struggling in a way you didn’t expect? Like on one hand, you prayed and hoped and wished things would reopen over the course of the least year, and yet here you are reluctant, scared, nervous, or uncomfortable with actually getting out and into life? Me, too. The idea of “strolling” around Target and browsing every detail of the new home decor line increases my stress. This is new. I love Target! What happened? Well, the pandemic happened and required us to hunker down, isolate, and adjust to the parameters. As we emerge from the pandemic, it is normal for us to feel a bit reluctant, stressed, and apprehensive. We have to relearn how to do this...how to be in community...how to be with others. I know. Bananas. What we also know, though, is the longer we avoid things that are scary, hairy, and hard is that we actually make them scarier, hairier, and harder to overcome! Leaning into the discomfort takes concerted effort, and I encourage you to try. Along the way, remember to give yourself loads of grace and patience. You will get there. We will get there. I have hope!

This week, Angela Schutz, publicity and development guru, sociometric star and ultimate hype girl, joins the show to share her lived experience in embracing new seasons in life. From a divorce to going all in on one business and starting another, she shares the importance of self-healing, accepting love and support of others around you, and giving voice to your gifts and talents! While sometimes, “messy,” Angela shares the successes and goodness that emerged in the midst of the global pandemic. You’ll want to experience her joy and presence. Join us!

IG: come.meet.with.me

Connection...we are all missing it to some degree (even those of who identify as introverts). We are fortunate to have different kinds of access to others via social networks, media, and other forms of technology. Sometimes, though, in an effort to find connection on these platforms, we find ourselves creeping into comparison - who’s having more fun than you, connecting with others more than you, eating better than you, having newer/better/cooler/more things than you, celebrating different moments than you, having more hydrated and plump skin than you, etc. This comparison is truly JOY-SUCKING. In this episode I talk about Dunbar’s number and the way in which we can leverage our social groups to increase our joy rather than feel stuck in comparison. Let’s do this!

Love. Seems easy enough. Who knew it’d be so hard? After 20+ years and many failed attempts, I feel like my husband and I have finally figured out how to give and receive love in the way we need. You have likely heard of Dr. Gary Chapman’s 5 Love Languages. I had but never gave much thought or frankly credence to them until I received a pair of scissors for Valentine’s Day, lost my shaz, and realized I needed to figure this out. In the process, I learned how I give and receive love AND how misaligned this is with how my husband gives and receives love. It was truly a lightbulb moment! Tune in to learn more about our journey and hopefully take something that will help you have greater alignment in love and really in all relationships!

Resources:

https://www.5lovelanguages.com/

Dr. Gary Chapman

Do you still have that teal taffeta dress in your closet from your high school prom because you can’t let it go? Do you have a habit of clicking “buy it now” on your shopping accounts hoping that shiny item will bring joy and then feel nervous or guilty (or embarrassed) when the boxes begin to arrive at your door? Do you take advantage of clearance sales and purchase things you “might wear some day” only to have them still in your closet with tags? Now, do you ever stop to think about where your clothing and beauty products originated? Do you wonder who made them and how that person is treated as an employee? Do you scour the ingredients lists to understand what you are wearing and how it might impact your body and functioning? And finally, do you feel overwhelmed about this whole subject and feel like it is one more thing… If you are anything like me, you answered a mix of “yes” and “no” throughout, but a resounding “yes” to the last question. And, it is ok. We are here to learn. On this episode, we learn more about sustainable fashion and beauty with the one and only, Stella Abril! Let’s learn about living more joyfully with a sustainable lifestyle!

Stella is a “eco-preneur” focused on sustainable fashion and beauty. She is the President and Chairperson of the Arizona Sustainable Apparel Association and the host of the podcast Change is Now! Stella is a community leader, wife, and mama to 3 beautiful girls! Stella’s efforts promote ethics, change, and sustainability living from the inception of an idea to production, and consumption.

Connect with Stella:

IG: stella_abril_

IG: life_and_lemons

IG: azsaa

Continuing the conversation about quitting and shedding, this week I talk about knowing when something is truly out of alignment or something we just don’t want to do or are afraid to do because it is hard, stretches us, or feels uncomfortable. Ooooooh! I say this because if the latter applies to you, know that I hear and see you. Knowing whether or not something is in alignment takes time and work. Tune in to learn 5 steps to making value-centered decisions that fans your goals and dreams, contributes to joy, and cultivates an aligned life!