The Highest Self Project

The Highest Self Project

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The Highest Self Project episodes

  • 09. Finding Purpose and Resilience Through Life's Ups and Downs

    Hey everyone! In this episode, I'm diving into a topic close to my heart—synchronicities and how I connect with my highest self. Now, I know this might seem a bit "woo-woo" to some, but I believe in sharing my authentic journey, even if it goes against the grain. So, if you're curious or if any of this resonates, stick around. And if it doesn't, that's totally okay too. We all have our own paths to explore.


    1. Challenging Old Beliefs: I've learned that it's okay to go against the grain and challenge old beliefs. This journey is about finding what resonates with you and letting go of what doesn't.

    2. Religion and Spirituality: I shared my views on religion, acknowledging the common thread among different beliefs—a higher power or ultimate reality beyond our material world. Whether you connect with Jesus, Buddha, Muhammad, or any other divine figure, we're all seeking a connection with something greater.

    3. The Illusion of Material Fulfillment: My spiritual awakening began when I realized that material possessions and external validation couldn't bring true fulfillment. It's a journey of coming home to yourself and finding a deeper connection within.

    4. Synchronicities and Guidance: I talked about how synchronicities guide me. Whether it's through astrology, the seasons, or divine timing, I believe we're always presented with the right people and experiences at the perfect time.

    5. Law of Divine Oneness: I touched on the first of the 12 Universal Laws—the Law of Divine Oneness. It's the idea that we're all interconnected, and our actions, thoughts, and energies ripple out and affect the world around us.

    6. Being in the World but Not of It: Inspired by the book The Science of Self-Realization, I shared the concept of being in this world but not consumed by it. It's about finding a balance between our human experiences and our spiritual essence.

    7. If you've made it this far, thank you for listening!

      I would love to connect with you and hear your thoughts. What resonated with you?

      How do you connect with your highest self?

      Let's be friends and continue this conversation. You can find me on Instagram @Fernanda.Bertrand, on YouTube at The Highest Self Project, or visit my website fernandabertrand.com.


      19 min
    8. 08. How Motherhood Highlights the Deepest Parts of my Being

      In this episode I talk about how motherhood brings those deep-seated parts of my being that I sometimes wish I didn't have to see and how triggering it can be to watch my worst traits being played in front of me like a play in my children's behavior and reflection of me.


      Takeaways:

      Authenticity Through Challenges:

      Embracing our authentic self involves facing both strengths and vulnerabilities, not just the parts we want the world to see.

      Motherhood’s Reflection:

      My experiences as a mother have mirrored my inner struggles, revealing my wounded inner child and highlighting the need for self-compassion and growth.

      Relationships as Mirrors:

      Every relationship has the potential to reflect unresolved issues. These reflections are crucial for understanding and evolving our true self.

      Understanding and Transforming Anger:

      Anger, when understood, can reveal deep-seated fears and unresolved traumas. By examining our anger, we can shift from intolerance to compassion and self-awareness.


      Journal Prompt: Exploring and Transforming Anger

      Reflect on a recent experience where you felt anger. In your journal, answer the following questions:

      1. Describe the Situation: What happened that triggered your anger? Be as detailed as possible.
      2. Identify the Underlying Fear or Pain: According to Richard Rudd, anger often masks deeper emotions like fear or pain. What fear or pain might be hiding beneath your anger in this situation? (e.g., fear of being disrespected, pain of feeling powerless, etc.)
      3. Contemplate the Gift: How can this experience of anger lead to greater understanding or compassion for yourself and others? What positive qualities or insights can emerge if you transcend the anger?
      4. Embrace Forgiveness: What would it look like to forgive yourself or others involved in this situation? How might this forgiveness transform your feelings and actions?

      5. Connect with Me:

        • Follow me on Instagram or visit my website to connect more! I would love to hear from you and what's resonating in your heart!

        • 25 min
        • 07. Breaking Free from People Pleasing

          In this episode, I dive deep into the topic of people pleasing, a behavior many of us, especially women, can relate to. We’ll explore what people pleasing is, why it’s so common, and most importantly, how to reframe our approach to serving others by prioritizing self-care and setting healthy boundaries.


          Main Takeaways:

          Understanding People Pleasing: People pleasing is prioritizing others' needs, desires, and expectations over your own, often at the expense of your well-being.

          Cultural and Societal Conditioning: Women are often conditioned from a young age to be nurturing, selfless, and accommodating.

          Self-Awareness: Meditating allows you to tune into your inner state and recognize when you’re acting out of the desire to please others.


          Tips to break free from people pleasing:

          1- Practicing Saying No

          2- Setting Boundaries

          3- Reframing Your Mindset

          4- Somatic Practices


        • Resources:

          Alternate Nostril Breathing Technique

          Physiological Sigh Breathing Technique

          Book reference: The Courage to be Disliked


          Let's connect more and be friends!

          Follow me on:

          Instagram

          Youtube

          Website

          24 min
        • 06. The Imperfect Path to Purpose

          In this episode, I opened up about feeling disconnected from my highest self lately. It's been a struggle, especially after a trip threw my meditation routine out of whack. I realized I was putting a lot of pressure on myself to be "perfect" and achieve all these things – and guess what? It totally backfired!

          Here's what I learned:

          • It's okay to have off days. You won't always feel like you're firing on all cylinders, and that's totally normal.
          • Perfectionism is a sneaky little gremlin. It can hold us back from making progress because we're too busy worrying about doing things perfectly instead of just doing them.
          • Ever heard of the Dunning-Kruger effect? It explains why sometimes the most skilled people doubt themselves, while beginners might think they're rockstars (even if they're not quite there yet).
          • Progress is about tiny steps, not giant leaps. Don't get discouraged if you miss a meditation session or two. Just get back on the horse and keep moving forward.
          • Life is a rollercoaster, full of ups and downs. Embrace the whole ride, even the bumpy parts!
          • Feeling inspired? Let's connect!

            I'd love to hear what resonated with you in this episode. Share your own experiences with this wild journey we call life! You can find me on Instagram at @fernandabertrand, YouTube at The Highest Self Project, or through my website, fernandabertrand.com.

            See you on the next one!

            24 min
          • 05. If Sky Was The Limit, What Would I Do?

            In this episode, I talked about the journey of creating a business that's aligned with my true self, and how it all started with a simple question: If the sky's the limit, what would I do?

            For a whole year after leaving my previous business, I was lost. I spent so much time focusing on what I hated about that experience that I forgot to figure out what I actually wanted. I went back and forth between starting a new big business and reviving my interior design career.


            The real "aha" moment came during a visit to Brazil. Talking to family, I realized my passion was in mentoring. Initially, the goal was to build a business and then use that success to mentor others. But what if I could skip the whole "build a big business" part and just jump into coaching?


            Trusting my intuition, I took a leap of faith and rented an office in a beautiful location by the water – a place I'd dreamed of working from years ago. It felt like a sign, a confirmation that things were falling into place.

            The next step was to focus on myself. I invested heavily in healing and transformation through coaching, retreats, and alternative therapies. Understanding my human design, gene keys, and menstrual cycle all helped me chart my unique path.


            This journey of self-discovery has been instrumental in shaping my business. It's all about aligning your energy with your goals. The more I believed in something, the more it manifested in my reality – from my first year's income goal to the creation of a new program based on my core values.

            Trusting my inner guidance is key. Resistance is inevitable, but by understanding my energy and purpose, I can discern whether it's fear or a genuine misalignment.


            Here are the key takeaways:

            • Listen to your inner voice. Don't get lost in the noise of other people's advice. The answers are already within you.
            • Focus on alignment. Build a business that lights you up, not one based on someone else's definition of success.
            • Embrace your uniqueness. There's no one-size-fits-all approach. Find your own path and run with it.
            • Follow your joy. It's the key to abundance and fulfillment.
            • Feeling inspired? Let's connect! Find me on Instagram at Fernanda Bertrand, YouTube at the Highest Self Project, or my website fernandabertrand.com.

              I can't wait to hear your stories and continue this journey together!

              22 min
            • 04. Hello Shadow My Old Friend

              In this episode, I shared my own journey of launching this podcast and the fear of judgment that came up. We talked about how the idea of perfection is an illusion, and how our highest self is constantly evolving.

              Here's what I learned:

              • Ditching Perfection: I used to think I had to be perfect to reach my highest self. But guess what? Perfection is an illusion! We're constantly growing and changing, and what feels perfect now might not later.
              • Embrace Your Entirety: The key is to accept your whole life experience, even the imperfections. No judgment!
              • Become Your Most Authentic Self: Your highest self is the most real, genuine you – the one who shines even without an audience.
              • How to Get There:

                • Practice Stillness: Quieting my mind helped me become aware of the negative thoughts that weren't serving me.
                • Self-Awareness is Always On: It's not just for therapy sessions! This is a practice for every moment.
                • Thoughts Play Games: Our ego might play tricks on us, using negative thoughts as a shield from external criticism.
                • Challenge Negative Thoughts: Instead of shoving them down, I get curious. What fear or insecurity is hiding underneath?
                • Rewrite the Story: Once I understand the root of these thoughts, I can rewrite the story with a more empowering narrative.
                • My Personal Story:

                  • Fear of Judgment: When I launched this podcast, I was hit with a wave of fear about what people would think.
                  • Digging Deeper: Through journaling and asking myself "Why?" and "Then what?", I uncovered a childhood memory of desperately wanting to be someone else.
                  • Healing the Inner Child: Understanding this memory is the first step to healing the part of me that feels unworthy.
                  • Let's Connect!

                    I'd love to hear from you! Share your experiences on this journey of self-discovery. You can find me on Instagram at @Fernanda.Bertrand, YouTube at The Highest Self Project, or my website fernandabertrand.com.

                    See you on the next episode!

                    30 min
                  • 03. The 6 Pillars to Become Your Highest Self Version

                    Finding Your Highest Self: A 6-Step Pyramid to Self-Actualization

                    Summary:

                    This episode explores the concept of self-actualization and a unique framework to help you achieve it. The speaker outlines a 6-level pyramid guiding you towards a more connected and fulfilling life.

                    Main takeaways:

                    • The 6 Levels of Self-Actualization:
                    • 3 Steps to Highest Self:
                    • Call to Action:

                      Consider the 6 levels and 3 steps - How can you use them to create your own path to a more fulfilling life?

                      24 min
                    • 02. Dark Night of the Soul

                      This episode gets raw and real. We're diving into the dark night of the soul, that time when your world feels like it's falling apart. I'll share my own battle with this brutal period and how it became a powerful catalyst for transformation. Let's talk about facing your fears, finding light in the darkness, and emerging stronger on the other side. This is just the beginning – stay tuned for more on the practices that helped me through!


                      In this episode, you'll learn:

                      • What the dark night of the soul is and how it feels
                      • Why it's an opportunity for growth, not just suffering
                      • How Fernanda navigated her own dark night
                      • Tips for finding the light within the darkness
                      • Resources:

                        • Loving What Is by Byron Katie
                        • The Law of Attraction by Esther Hicks
                        • FernandaBertrand.com
                        • Fernanda.Bertrand on Instagram
                        • The Highest Self Project on YouTube
                        • Call to Action:

                          Share your own experiences with the dark night of the soul – send me a dm on instagram and let's connect more!

                          28 min
                        • 01. The Highest Self Project

                          Hey there! This is my very first episode, and I'm recording it from my car – imperfections and all! Ditching the script and embracing the real me, I'm sharing my story of leaving behind a successful business to chase a life that lights me up.

                          In this episode, you'll hear about the six pillars of my Highest Self Project: health, self-love, relationships, dream chasing, legacy, and spirituality. We'll also explore the importance of living in the present moment and finding joy in the messy parts of the journey.

                          This podcast is a space for me to be real, share my experiences, and hopefully inspire you to find your own version of your highest self.


                          Show Notes

                          • Website: FernandaBertrand.com
                          • Instagram: Fernanda.Bertrand
                          • YouTube: The Highest Self Project

                          • Key Takeaways:

                            • Perfection is not required to pursue your dreams.
                            • Living a life in alignment with your highest self is a journey, not a destination.
                            • It's important to embrace the present moment and find gratitude for what you have.
                            • Anxiety can be a sign that you're not trusting the universe.
                            • Let's connect! Send me an ig dm and share what resonated with you from this episode.

                              20 min
                            • Highest Self Project- Trailer

                              In this trailer episode, I get real about how perfectionism almost stopped me from sharing my message with the world. We all know that voice in our heads telling us to wait until everything is perfect, but what if "perfect" is the enemy of "done"? Join me as I explore the power of embracing messy authenticity and using your voice, even when it's not polished. You'll hear my own story of overcoming self-consciousness and the surprising benefits of revisiting past recordings. It's time to hit publish on imperfect passion – let's do this!

                              7 min

                            About The Highest Self Project

                            From the publisher's feed

                            In this episode, I get real about how perfectionism almost stopped me from sharing my message with the world. We all know that voice in our heads telling us to wait until everything is perfect, but…