The JOY Factor

Today’s Show

Welcome to episode 33 of the JOY Factor Podcast.

Today’s Guest is Jeff Harry 

Jeff Harry shows individuals and companies how to tap into their true selves, to feel their happiest and most fulfilled — all by playing. Jeff has worked with Google, Microsoft, Southwest Airlines, Adobe, the NFL, Amazon, and Facebook, helping their staff to infuse more play into the day-to-day.   While we spend most of our time pretending to be important, serious grownups, it's when we let go of that facade and just play, that the real magic happens. Fully embracing your own nerdy genius — whatever that is — gives you the power to make a difference and change lives.  Jeff believes that we already have many of the answers we seek, and by simply unleashing our inner child, we can find our purpose and, in turn, help to create a better world.   Thank you to Prose Hair for sponsoring this episode. I love their products because they make my hair look, feel and smell great! TWITTER: @prosehair FACEBOOK: @prosehair INSTAGRAM: @prose HASHTAG: #prosehair, #prosepraise

What We’ll Learn

• It's ok to play.
• It's a skill we all have but need to remember.
• You deserve to have some play in your day.
• A playful attitude is contagious.
• Just for today...remember to play!

Reach out to Jeff

SOCIAL MEDIA HANDLES: Website: RediscoverYourPlay.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/jeffharryplays Instagram: @jeffharryplays TikTok: @jeffharryplays Medium: @jeffharryplays Twitter: @jeffharryplays LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeff-harry-6991a94/

Your Joy Factor

It is a true honor to bring this podcast to you and I am so grateful that you took the time to listen. Did you learn anything that can help you with your own joy factor? If so, pass it on to your friends and family and give us a positive review at  The JOY Factor Podcast.

Do you have a second to complete this brief listener survey? It helps our show track who is listening so we can create topics of interest to you!  http://survey.libsyn.com/thejoyfactorpodcast

 

Welcome to Episode #32 of The JOY Factor. Today we're talking about art therapy with our guest Meg Mcmurdy.

Art therapy is a powerful healing modality for all ages and interests. Listen is as Meg shares her own journey and busts a few myths about what art therapy is and isn't. 

Meg McMurdy (she/her)

"As a trauma informed therapist, I have witnessed the power of art therapy to assist my clients in deepening their path to healing. Combined with cognitive behavioral therapy and mindfulness approaches, creative expression through art can support the whole person and be truly transformative. Making art isn’t required or expected but I offer it and will customize an approach best suited to your needs. Our work together will be guided by choice and you will have my undivided attention and support. I love working with adolescents and adults along with neurodiverse individuals and am skilled at treating anxiety, depression and ADHD symptoms. Being a life-long learner is something that I hold dearly and strive to make that passion come through in my work as a therapist. I believe that we can all heal, learn and grow best when we have time, support and tools to find relief from painful symptoms and stress patterns. It is a true honor to align with my client’s needs and help them imagine a better future. I am a graduate of The George Washington University where I received my Master’s in Art Therapy. I am an LGPC (Licensed Graduate Professional Counselor) and LGPAT (Licensed Graduate Professional Art Therapist)."

Meg’s Contact Information:

www.inner-evolution.com

Additional Resources 

• If you need help, please text SHARE to 741741 to reach a crisis counselor with Crisis Text Line. You can also call The Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 to be connected to free and confidential support and crisis resources for you or your loved ones.
• Check out the Quarantine Family Toolkit by Kristin Ramsey, ATR-BC, LPC, which offers suggestions and resources on how to talk with children about COVID-19, a sample daily schedule for working/learning at home, online apps, podcasts and other resources for daily activities, mindfulness activities and short guided muscle relaxation script, as well as many art activities instructions and examples.
•  Resources for addressing COVID-19 — The National Council for Behavioral Health offers resources to help manage coronavirus-related anxiety and to communicate with your kids about this crisis among other topics. Behavioral health care workers will also find resources including telehealth best-practices and implications for certain vulnerable client groups.
• Affirmations for Coping during Coronavirus Times — AATA Blog, March 30, 2020

https://www.expressiveartworkshops.com/expressive-art-resources/100-art-therapy-exercises/

Thank you for Listening

It is a true honor to bring this podcast to you and I am so grateful that you took the time to listen. If you enjoyed the show, please share it with your friends and family. The JOY Factor Podcast

Do you have a second to complete this brief listener survey? It helps our show track who is listening so we can create topics of interest to you!  http://survey.libsyn.com/thejoyfactorpodcast

Today’s Show

Hello, and welcome to The JOY Factor. It’s good to be back here and I’m thrilled to have Sue Nesler joining me. She is a blended family maven and owner and CEO of Yoga East Healing Arts Studio and Counseling. So take a break and settle in to nourish your spirit and find a little joy.

About Sue

I am Sue Nesler MS, MA, E-RYT 500, C-IAYT, NCC. A Blended family maven who exercises, gardens, and enjoys learning and cooking. I am the owner and CEO of Yoga East Healing Arts Studio which houses a yoga and meditation practice studio offering classes and yoga therapy, retail lounge, Registered yoga school at the 200 and 300 hour levels, an accredited meditation teacher training, and is the YTT educational hub in the Teri-State area in Cape Girardeau, MO. Also, a newly launched branch of the business-Healing Arts Counseling. A person-centered, holistic, and existential counseling service helping people find wellness and joy.

What We’ll Learn

• How awareness can transform our experience.
• What can shift when we take the time to take care our ourselves.
• How support from others can lay the groundwork for mind, body and spiritual healing.

Connect with Sue Nesler:

Sue’s Website

Facebook

Instagram

Thank you for Listening

It is a true honor to bring this podcast to you and I am so grateful that you took the time to listen. If you enjoyed the show, please share it with your friends and family. The JOY Factor Podcast

Do you have a second to complete this brief listener survey? It helps our show track who is listening so we can create topics of interest to you!  http://survey.libsyn.com/thejoyfactorpodcast

Brought to You by: 

Today’s Show

Welcome to episode 30 of the JOY Factor Podcast.

Today’s Guest is Bethany Perry, CAN, AAEC, IAHC, E-RYT

Bethany is an emerging thought leader on combining the power of neuroscience and intuition. She transforms the lives of women and men who are challenged with emotional and physical traumas.  Dedicating over 30 years of her life’s work to helping people heal and grow by creating a non-judgmental space where each individual can discover freedom from the past to live the life they desire. 

What We’ll Learn

• Brainspotting can help everyone find more freedom.
• Freedom means less space for  judgment and more for love
• Where we look affects how we feel.
• When we’re looking for something we tend to find it so why not make it joy?
• Focused reflection and practice leads to transformation and joy.

Resources Mentioned

Visit  http://www.bethanyperry.com for

two Guided Meditations on moving from fear to love. 

Reach out to Bethany:

http://www.bethanyperry.com

Amen Clinic

Your Joy Factor

It is a true honor to bring this podcast to you and I am so grateful that you took the time to listen. Did you learn anything that can help you with your own joy factor? If so, pass it on to your friends and family and give us a positive review at  The JOY Factor Podcast.

Do you have a second to complete this brief listener survey? It helps our show track who is listening so we can create topics of interest to you!  http://survey.libsyn.com/thejoyfactorpodcast

 

Welcome to Episode 29 of The JOY Factor.

Our guest today is Jana Glass:

Jana started her career working with children and families struggling with mental health issues. She has experience in a variety of settings including in-home therapy, outpatient therapy, day treatment, and residential care. She founded Supportive Solutions twelve years ago to support people managing depression, anxiety, substance abuse, trauma and abuse, infertility, and grief.

Although she works with a wide spectrum of clients, her special interests include Healing Trauma, Substance Abuse, and Maternal Mental Health. Prioritizing this population including infertility, miscarriage, difficult births, pre and post-partum depression, anxiety, and obsessive-compulsive disorders.

Jana is acutely aware of the challenges that can accompany individuals and couples on their journey to become parent(s). She struggled with infertility for over three years that included painful experiences of multiple miscarriages, surgeries and invasive reproductive assistance interventions, hospital bedrest, a difficult birth, NICU stay, as well as post-partum mood challenges. Jana was able to find healing through family and community support along with Brainspotting therapy. From these obstacles and challenges, Jana gained a unique ability to understand and empathize with clients still building their desired family. She works with families of all compositions including blended families, LGBTQ Families, and Individuals building their own family. Jana is passionate about helping to foster hope when faced with situations that appear hopeless.

Highlights and Glimmers from Today's Show

Brainspotting:

When trauma overloads our system, brainspotting helps our head and heart realign so that we are better able to make sense of what happened,  move on, and feel better. This healing approach expands our capacity to reflect on the experience and see it as just part of our story that we overcame instead of something that feels like it’s still happening in the present. We will always remember what happened but it won’t hurt anymore. 

As Jana would say,

“It takes its rightful place on the timeline of your life.”

“Creating the space for it to be different allows people to have more possibilities which breeds more hope. Having possibilities is enormous for people. “

There are many paths to healing and Brainspotting is an amazing one to include. The brain is powerful and knows how to heal.

There are many lessons to be learned along the way. 

Here are a few:

Learn how to give and receive support.

Really listen and try to understand. So many things can’t be fixed but showing you are present and attuned is more important than finding the right words.

Do what you can to stay curious. Try not to make too many assumptions about a situation. It’s ok to have ideas but try not to hold on too tightly and be open to where the day takes you.

Generate hope by making whatever safe connections you have available to you.

Work to build empathy. Be an ally by deeply listening or know your limits.

Expectations of the way things are supposed to be steals joy. Try to be more reasonable with how much you can do in a day and what you expect of others. 

Relationships are more important than anything else. So many different things that come up that don’t go the way we’d hope but we can navigate those times with more skills when we stay connected and nurture our relationships. 

Keep that love connection and relationship in the front-that’s how we tap back into the joy. 

There is a point to turn things around.  Focus on the rebound. We can fall down but we get back up. 

Be in the moment 

The small things are the big things. Every moment isn’t perfect but the times you can find a reason to smile or be silly are  beautiful. Right here right now. 

If you try one thing that didn’t work out for you keep trying. Go with the flow but stay on the path.

Jana’s Contact Information:

www.supportivesolutionsga.com

https://www.facebook.com/groups/perinatalbrainspotting/

Resources Mentioned 

Postpartum Support International

Certification in Perinatal Mental Health

Look for folks who have specialized specific training in the area of perinatal mental health. 

Learn more about Brainspotting Recognize when you could use a little outside support. Never been a time where it’s more accessible to find help online. Including brainspotting.

Thank you for Listening

It is a true honor to bring this podcast to you and I am so grateful that you took the time to listen. If you enjoyed the show, please share it with your friends and family. The JOY Factor Podcast

Do you have a second to complete this brief listener survey? It helps our show track who is listening so we can create topics of interest to you!  http://survey.libsyn.com/thejoyfactorpodcast

Hello and welcome to episode #28 of the JOY Factor Podcast. I’m glad you’re tuning in and thankful that so far, so good. My family is healthy and safe. I hope the same is true for you. The month of March seems like a blur and as we face this collective trauma of both the facts we have about COVID 19 and the uncertainty surrounding it, It’s normal to feel a mix of emotions right now. You might be angry one minute and exhausted the next. It may be tempting to deny what is happening or to compulsively check the news. All of the psychological reactions we are experiencing can be viewed through this lens of collective trauma. I’d like to also remind you that we have a beautiful invitation unfolding. There’s an opportunity to rise up together and operate out of a place of trust, faith, hope and JOY!

There’s a great meme with questions to ask yourself each day floating around the internet and when I saw it I thought- this is perfect for me to share with you all here. Not sure who made the original post but many thanks for everyone who is spreading such good reflections. As we run down this list I’m sending you a dose of compassion. This is hard. We are struggling. Some moments are easier than others. Daily life goes on but we all face significant challenges in the coming days. Take what you can use from our conversation but please go gently with yourself and those around you.

So, get comfortable and let me share a few daily questions to ask yourself while you are washing your hands, coughing into your elbow, avoiding your face, keeping a safe distance from others and….best of all! Staying home when you can. You know the drill right? LOL

1. What am I grateful for today?

The brain responds favorably to gratitude. What are you grateful for right now? What’s the smallest thing you can stop and give thanks for? Can you help other people cultivate some gratitude?

1. Who am I checking in on or connecting with today?

Find someone to check on. If you don’t have family or friends you feel close to, now is the perfect opportunity to reach out. Is there a neighbor you sometimes see but never speak to? What about the staff at your local grocery store? Let them know you are thinking about them. Figure out a way to reach out. Another thing- maybe you’re the one who could use a hand. What do you need to loosen the grip around in order to ask for help? I highly encourage you to dig deep and put your needs on the table. What comes around goes around my friends. We’re in this together so let’s act like it.

1. What expectations of normal am I letting go of today?

Those of us working from home and trying to do some sort of homeschooling have quickly discovered the need for a new playbook. What was normal last week is now yesterday’s news. What are your expectations for yourself? Your partner? Your kids? Anyone in your life? What are you capable of? What are your limitations? Take a deep breath. Sigh it out. You are not alone. All of humanity is

1. How am I getting outside today?

It’s spring here in Maryland and I am on the hunt for new buds and blooming forsythia. I hope wherever you are It’s possible to breathe in some fresh air and experience the grounding safety of the outside world. What’s your plan for today?

1. How am I moving my body today?

Take walk, jiggle and shake your body, move any limb you can. Stretch, lift weights, jog. Figure it out and plan ahead. Ditch the uncomfortable gear and prepare by having good walking shoes nearby. Check out our resources page for more details on free ways to get movinig.

1. What beauty am I either creating, cultivating, or inviting in?

When we bring creativity on to the scene we open up a world of possibility. What can you build, grow, paint, bake, draw, shape, move design? The list goes on and on. Look around your home and consider what’s there to help activate your creativity and then set up (or dust off your workspace and give it a go!

1. When I safely arrive at the other side of this pandemic how would I like to be able to reflect on my own personal growth and healing? What tools and resources would you like to be able to recognize gaining for strengthening? I think it’s a powerful thing to reflect on how adversity can help us reach toward potential we weren’t aware of having. What would it be like to look back and recognize how this experience helped you grow?

I would love to hear your reflections on these questions! Find the thejoyfactorpodcast on Facebook and subscribe to our show on your favorite podcast platform. Your joy factor is right here with you. It’s ok to smile, it’s ok to laugh, to dance, to rest. Take good care of yourself. Compassion means noticing that you are struggling, remembering that it is human to struggle and responding with kindness and care. Take a breath in, on the exhale, let go of whatever might be needing to be released. Repeat and take care.

Today's sponsor is Feals

Today’s Show

When we empower girls and women, we empower families and communities to thrive. Join us as we learn more about just how powerful intentional nature-based rites of passage can be for girls living in today’s world and the caregivers who raise them. Whether you have a daughter or not, today’s guest will inspire you to connect with nature and perhaps create a spark of joy as a result. 

Lorene Wapotich is the Founder of Celebrating Her Rite and Feet on the Earth Programs. She has dedicated her life to connecting people with nature, self, community, and the magic of life through deep nature-connection mentoring and community-based rites of passage. Lorene is a dynamic teacher, passionate speaker, and national lecturer and workshop leader on girls coming of age ceremonies and rites of passage. She has over 25 years experience as an outdoor educator, wilderness guide, and herbalist in the Wise Woman Tradition. Lorene holds a Bachelors Degree in Wilderness Leadership and Natural History Education from Prescott College, and a Masters in Education from Lesley University with a focus on girls’ development, nature-based mentoring, and rites of passage.

What We’ll Learn

• Where the phrase “rites of passage” comes from and what it means.
• How we can empower girls and women to boost confidence, courage and grit by challenging them to overcome limitations and celebrate their accomplishments.
• How the elements (earth, air, water, fire) of the natural world can guide the process of personal growth and exploration.
• How to discover or reclaim your passion. 
• What are the many benefits of spending time in nature?

Resources Mentioned

Today’s show sponsor: Feals premium CBD

Connect with Lorene Wapotich:

Lorene's Author Facebook Page

Celebrating her Rite Facebook

Feet on the Earth- Facebook Page

Instagram-

Feet on the Earth Website

 

Thank you for Listening

It is a true honor to bring this podcast to you and I am so grateful that you took the time to listen. If you enjoyed the show, please share it with your friends and family. The JOY Factor Podcast

Do you have a second to complete this brief listener survey? It helps our show track who is listening so we can create topics of interest to you!  http://survey.libsyn.com/thejoyfactorpodcast

Brought to You by: Feels 

Something for Everyone

Hello and welcome to episode #26. My guest today  is Shari Scher, an inspiring woman who, while working in the public school system of Frederick County Maryland, saw that children of incarcerated parents and their families, needed help. Her efforts led to the formation Children of Incarcerated Parents Partnership or COIPP. This non-profit is dedicated to giving children affected by incarceration a voice in the community, in the schools and in their families. 

Today’s show is brought to you by StoryWorth, a brilliant online service that helps your loved ones tell the story of their lives through thought-provoking questions about their memories and personal thoughts. Sign up today by going to www.storyworth.com/joy You’ll get $20 off your first purchase! 

They say that one of the greatest gifts you can give your children is to let them truly know you. In order to do this we have to give ourselves time to reflect, heal, give thanks and make meaning of our lives. 

 I don’t know about you but I can barely find time to make a healthy dinner let alone carve out quiet time to reflect on my life and legacy. That’s where Storyworth comes in. Each week, for a year, they send you a question about your life and at the end of the year you receive a beautiful hardbound book filled with your answers. 

My first question was “What were your favorite childhood toys”. I hadn’t thought about my giant brown suitcase full of Barbies in years so It was fun to go down memory lane and write about one of my childhood joys.   Answering the questions is as simple as hitting the reply button and I can’t wait to pass along a beautiful book to each of my children. Oh, and did I mention you can include photos in your book? Storyworth is genius and I think it should be at the top of everyone’s gift-giving list!

 Preserve and pass on memories with StoryWorth, the most meaningful gift for your family. I hope you love Storyworth as much as I do! Sign up today by going to www.storyworth.com/joy You’ll get $20 off your first purchase! 

When a child has a voice that is heard and validated they are more likely to be protected from adverse childhood experiences like the fear that accompanies having a parent arrested.  Protective factors such as safe, stable and nurturing relationships can make all the difference when it comes to children becoming resilient and healthy adults. This is one of the many reasons why it’s so important to support and nurture every parent’s ability to grow, learn and develop positive parenting skills. Another aspect of COIPP that truly tends to the needs of these children is the social connections aspect of the programming. Having the opportunity to make friends and experience social and cultural events strengthens social and emotional health. When we are emotionally strong, feel supported by our community and have people who care, we can tap into our joy factor! All children deserve to be worry free and consistently offered opportunities to experience joy in their everyday lives. I hope this episode has inspired you and that you find a little joy in your day! Thanks for listening and take care!

 What can the average person do to help children of incarcerated parents:

1. Be non-judgmental. Parents love their children. 
2. Greet children with interest and joy. Kids have better radar have better radar than many grown-ups. It takes little time to look in a child’s eyes and say, How are you?
3. Help the caregiver of that child. 
4. Respect the community from which they come and recognize that trauma impacts everyone. 

Resources mentioned on the show:

Children of Incarcerated Parents Partnership COIPP

Girl Scouts Behind Bars

The National Resource Center on Children and Families of the Incarcerated

Annie E. Casey Foundation

Child Welfare 

COIPP Community Partners

Curious Iguana

Dancing Bear Toys and Gifts

Thorpewood

Books

The Rabbit Listened by

The Dot

Welcome to Episode #25 of the JOY Factor podcast. Today’s show is brought to you by Care/Of. Everyone has a different path to personal health, and we're here to help you find yours. We believe in the power of technology, science, and human empathy to make the journey simpler. Let us help take care of you.

Whether you’re looking for glowing skin, more energy, better sleep or something to support your health and fitness routine- Care/Of helps you build and stick with a plan that’s right for you.

"For 25% off your first Care/of order, go to TakeCareOf.com and enter JOYFACTOR."

Creating a Self-Care Map

When you hear the phrase “self-care”, what’s your first thought? what comes up for you? Just for a minute, notice your comfort level when the thought of taking care of yourself comes up. How do you define being good to yourself? What does it mean to you and when was the last time you thought about it? One thing is for certain, we can’t expand our capacity for a joyful life without having a lifestyle that is rooted in self-care.

So get comfortable and give yourself the time to listen to the show. We’re going to discuss a framework for starting a sustainable self-care practice and we’ll also be discussing 8 aspects of mind/body/spirit wellbeing. This will be more than enough information to help you create a personal map.

 Also, just a reminder that only you know what’s best for you. No one can define what that looks like but I’m hoping you will explore what you need and imagine how you might begin to implement some simple shifts in your day to day routine. So grab some paper and something to write with and we’ll take it away!

To start, let’s frame Sustainable Self-Care with 3 guiding principles.

Start Small, Stay Steady and Keep it sane.

I’m going to invite you to Just let these words sink in. Let any competing thoughts pass by and, just allow yourself to consider how you might bring these concepts alive in your life.

Start Small.

Tiny steps are better than no steps at all. There's no need for grand plans just small, consistent actions. With the right preparation, these little shifts can be woven into your daily life with just a few moments of effort on your part. What would it be like to take the smallest step possible? Small self-care steps can start anywhere or anytime. A few examples might include pausing to look at the moon, singing your favorite song out loud or breathing a little more deeply. Consider reaching out to friends you’ve lost touch with. Taking the stairs instead of the elevator.  Look around and see what else might be possible for you. Start small.

Be Steady

Having the kind of steady aim you need to move in your intended direction requires organization and commitment. The best organizational tool I have is a calendar. I still forget things but You know what is on there? Self-Care time. Non-negotiable. Not always perfect but consistent. We’re talking about a few minutes a day. So, put your name on the calendar and a reminder on your phone. Tell a friend you can trust what you’re up to. Better yet, share this episode with someone who would make a great accountability partner. Be open to whatever might represent a gentle nudge toward keeping your date with yourself a and strengthening a growing sense of commitment toward practices you can easily maintain. No self-care map is complete without time.

 

Finally, the 3rd guiding principal...Make it Sane.

Making it sane means there’s a built-in, natural blend of effort and ease from the start. Let’s unpack these two concepts of effort and ease.

Make effort means Thinking through your plan and being realistic about your goals. It also means considering what you’re willing to release from your life in order to make room for new habits. A final aspect of effort is being aware of how you support your efforts and how you sabotage yourself. 

The other aspect of making it sane is ease. You don't have to do everything all at once. Ease is all about releasing, letting go and exploring your capacity to be flexible and open.  

I think another aspect of Ease is also taking the time to enjoy the process by adding some special touches to your practice. Music, creating a nice space for self-care, having a sense of humor and anything else that allows you to show kindness to yourself are all important aspects of ease. So, when you think of effort and ease bookending the principal of making it sane, what does that look like to you?

A word from our sponsor: CARE/OF vitamins

Fall is a great time to set new goals, get back into a healthy routine, and reprioritize yourself. Care Of’s online quiz lets you know exactly what you need. I have been using Care/Of vitamins for a few months now. My 13-year-old took the quiz the other day and loved getting her own personalized quiz results. Taking care of your health should be easy and convenient-it’s great to have my vitamins shipped to my door in individualized packets. Care/of cares about the environment with their new, compostable packs that meet the same quality and safety standards, and they have a ton of information on how to compost them on their website. If you could use support building and sticking with a plan that’s right for you had on over to TakeCareOf.com and enter JOYFACTOR. For 25% off your first order."

Now that we’ve discussed these 3 guiding principals of sustainable self-care: Start Small, Stay steady and Keep it sane. Let’s talk about the different aspects of wellbeing. Pay attention to what comes up for you as each of these are described. Notice what’s already going well for you and be curious about whether you want to include any of these on your own self-care map.

Take a look at the Sustainable Self Care Wellness Inventory identify goals for your self-care map and let me know how it's going. 

1.Stress Resilience/Happiness Practices- This is all about having the tools to protect yourself from stress, creating a gratitude practice, valuing regularly celebrating good times and having a support system during bad times.

• I respond to changes in my life with a positive attitude. 
• I believe that I deserve to enjoy my life and feel happy. 
• I have at least 5 people who support me when I’m having a hard time and help me celebrate when life is good.
• When I face a life challenge, I feel confident that I handle the accompanying stress in a healthy way. 
• I’m clear on my boundaries and say “no” when I need to. 
• I set realistic goals for myself. 
• I have a gratitude practice and regularly stop to give thanks for my life.
• I keep a journal and use it to reflect on my life and put my thoughts on paper.

2. PHYSICAL CARE & NURTURING

• I get at least 30 minutes of exercise four times each week.
• My dietary choices are healthy and good for me and I avoid eating after 8:00 p.m.
• I consume at least 8 glasses of water daily.
• I consume fewer than 5 alcoholic drinks per week.
• I have a doctor or health care provider I trust and feel comfortable with.      
• I take time to schedule a yearly physical and dental exam. 
• I tend to my body through massage, reflexology, and/or yoga, other__________
• I make a point of having a good belly laugh every day.

 

3. SPIRITUALITY & CREATIVITY

• I have a clear sense of meaning and purpose in my life.
• I am pleased with what I give back to the world.
• I practice forgiveness toward myself and others.
• I am part of a community that gives me meaning and purpose.
• I have at least one creative pursuit I engage in regularly-drawing, painting, sculpting, music, poetry etc. 
• I regularly seek out inspiration through literature, art or music.
• I feel connected to something larger than myself. 
• I have a spiritual practice that includes meditation, dream work, journaling, prayer, etc.

4. WORK & PERSONAL POTENTIAL

• I work no more than 8 hours per day and do not take work home with me.
• I have the training, background and tools to do my job well.
• I feel good about my ability to communicate with others.
• I stand up for what I believe in.
• I set realistic goals for my life and consistently work toward reaching them.
• I’m able to let go of mistakes I’ve made and know how to move on.
• I spend my time and energy on things that really matter to me. 
• I have mentors who offer me insight and guidance for my life and goals.

5. TIME, MONEY & ORGANIZATION

• I feel good about the way I budget, spend and track my money.
• I have good habits when it comes to managing my time and responsibilities.
• My desk and workspace are organized and I can easily find what I need. 
• I have little in my life that needs cleaning up or fixing.
• I regularly set limits/boundaries and can say no when necessary.
• I make time for self- reflection.
• I feel good about the amount of free time I spend in front of a screen.
• I have clarity around my vision, goals and daily tasks.
• I am aware of how much I earn and where my money goes.

6. RELATIONSHIPS & CONNECTION

• I feel that I am well attuned to the emotions and needs of my loved ones.
• I have a network of friends on whom I can — and do — depend.
• I am able to speak openly about my feelings when angry or worried.
• I give and receive affection regularly.
• The people closest to me feel seen, heard and valued by me.
• I share responsibility for household tasks in a manner that supports the relationship.
• I am...

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Hello and welcome to the JOY Factor Podcast episode number #24. My guest is Shane Birkel. Shane is a marriage and family therapist with a private practice just outside of Boston.He works primarily with couples and is a certified Relational Life Therapist with Terry Real as his mentor.

Couples Therapist Couch  https://couplestherapistcouch.com/blog/.   Shane hosts a weekly podcast called the Couples Therapist Couch  the practice of Couples Therapy. Practice website: shanebirkel.com Podcast website: couplestherapistcouch.com

Many of the couples I see are seeking deeper intimacy and improved communication. Nothing can steal joy like an unfulfilling relationship but in order to feel satisfied and connected with our partner, we have to be connected to ourselves and have a sense of wholeness. Society’s definition of manhood forces men to make unconscious choices that often leave them disconnected from their capacity to be whole.  The good news is that things can get better when men are given the opportunity to consciously learn the skills needed to engage and learn what true intimacy is. There are many ways to start but today we’re talking about strategies for helping men build healthier self-esteem and stronger relationships.

Topics Discussed:

1. What is toxic masculinity and why does it matter?

2. What is healthy masculinity?

3. Why is healthy self-esteem so important?

4. The power of the feedback wheel.

5. The power in vulnerability and connection.

Shane's motto for life: "There’s never any excuse for harshness."

Resources Mentioned:

Gillette Razor Commercial

Terry Real