I’m joined by two friends I met at the Vibrant Happy Women retreat, Jen Mernick, and Bernadette O’Grady. Jen and Bernadette both have kids, jobs, and busy lives, but they learned the importance of taking time for themselves when they attended the retreat. They join me this week to share where they are on life’s journey, why it was essential for them to have this space to get the clarity they wanted, and the benefits of having space for ourselves to let go of the stress, overwhelm, and confusion of daily life.   Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.jenriday.com/341

341: Women's Retreats: Taking Time for Yourself (with Jen Mernick & Bernadette O'Grady)

The Vibrant Happy Women Podcast is for women who want to expand their capacity for joy.  If you crave a more authentic, heart-centered, and balanced life, you’ll love learning with Happiness Expert Dr. Jen Riday as she interviews vibrant women and shares proven tools that will help you “get your SPARKLE back” in all areas of your life. You’ll be inspired by discussions of authenticity, healthy boundaries, emotional healing, time management, confidence, adventure, spirituality, conscious parenting, marriage, friendship, identity, self love, and more! And if you enjoy this podcast, you’d love Vibrant Soul, the place to heal, transform and expand your soul with likeminded friends. Join us at JenRiday.com/vibrantsoul.

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 If you're feeling frustrated and stuck because your visualizations and affirmations aren't leading to the manifestation you desire, then you are not alone! You may already be taking action by repeating positive statements or creating vision boards, only to find that nothing is changing in your life. Instead of experiencing the success and abundance you're seeking, you may be feeling disheartened and doubtful about your ability to manifest your desires. Flowdreaming, a dynamic technique developed by Summer McStravick, provides a distinct approach to manifesting dreams and desires. Unlike typical manifestation strategies that might involve rituals or repeated intentions, Flow Dreaming stresses the importance of emotions. By harnessing the power of our feelings and the experiences we wish to cultivate, we can communicate more effectively with the universe and manifest our ideal outcomes.     In This Episode, You'll Discover How To...    Master manifesting with the powerful Flowdreaming practice. Embrace healing and learn valuable lessons from life's struggles Shift from reacting to responding and take control of your responses. Rebuild trust in yourself, others, and God/the Universe for a brighter future.      "Practice feeling the way you want to feel so that you can graduate from those life majors you're ready to let go of." - Dr. Jen Riday    Key Moments:   00:04:01 - Understanding Flow Dreaming  00:10:17 - Practicing Flow Dreaming  00:13:54 - Life Majors and Changing Patterns  00:16:19 - Healing and Embracing Life  00:20:05 - Letting Go of Life Majors  00:21:49 - Emotional Blueprint and Nonphysical Action  00:27:23 - Chasing Feelings  00:29:15 - Building Trust in Life  00:30:12 - Creating Debris and Wreckage  00:34:23 - Practicing Feelings on Demand  00:39:16 - Flow Dreaming Practice      "We want to be focused on having the capacity, the energy, and the emotions to graduate from the patterns we're ready to let go of and move on to what we do want." - Summer McStravick    Resources and Next Steps:  Visit flowdreaming.com to access free flow dreams and a free tutorial to start practicing feeling the way you want to feel. Download the Flowdreaming app to access over 300 flow dreams and get started on your practice of feeling the way you want to feel. Check out the Flowdreaming podcast and the Flowdreaming book to dive deeper into the concepts and practices of Flowdreaming and learn how to graduate from life majors and move towards what you do want. Explore Vibrant Soul, a community to heal, transform, and expand your soul with like-minded friends at jenriday.com/vibrantsoul. Learn about Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, the father of flow. 

361: Flowdreaming: The Secret to Letting Go of Stubborn Life Patterns (with Summer McStravick)

How much joy are you willing (and able) to feel? Can your emotional and nervous system baseline handle more happiness? Can you really expand your capacity? On this episode Jen shares how she reached her personal "max capacity" of joy at the recent Vibrant Happy Women Retreat and what she decided to do as a result. Learn more about the Vibrant Happy Women Retreat at jenriday.com/retreat

360: Expanding Your Capacity for Joy

 From the bustling streets of New York City to the serene beauty of Victoria, BC, Jill Payne's journey took unexpected turns. Her candid account of navigating single motherhood and managing her emotions and energy during the pandemic and beyond sheds light on the transformative impact of self-regulation on mood and energy. You'll love Jill's update on how to "Be a Freaking Dime" even when life is messy!  In This Episode, You'll Discover How To...    Master energy management and emotion regulation - even when life is messy. Elevate your parenting through effective mood and energy management. Use your body to shift your thoughts, feelings, and actions. Understand the relationship among personality, energy, and frequency. Handle detail-negative energy. Attract high-frequency people into your life. Embrace contrast and cultivate new desires for personal growth.      "Contrast inspires a new desire. When you have something you don't like, be grateful because it's showing you what you don't want so you can better formulate what you do want." - Jill Payne    Key Moments:  00:00:00 - Introduction to Managing Energy 00:01:11 - Challenges of Energy Management as a New Mother 00:08:27 - The Realities of Parenting and Energy Management 00:11:35 - Understanding Energy Levels and Capacity 00:13:44 - Managing Emotions and Energy 00:16:22 - Building Capacity for Better Responses 00:19:28 - The Power of Movement and Morning Routine 00:22:53 - Importance of Body in Shifting Thoughts and Actions 00:25:27 - Getting Into What's in Front of You 00:27:08 - Understanding Personality and Energy Management 00:36:24 - Handling Detail Negative Energy 00:39:25 - Establishing Boundaries 00:41:01 - The Phenomenon of Resonance 00:41:50 - Attracting Similar Energy 00:44:12 - Choosing Focus and Vision 00:47:45 - Shifting Focus and Managing Grief 00:54:58 - Embracing Change and Taking Risks 00:55:08 - Using Contrast to Inspire Desire      "What I see for you is holding up the possibility for what you think could be possible for your kids, your spouse. What I see for you is happiness and joy." - Jill Payne    Resources and Next Steps:  Get the book Be a Dime by Jill Payne to access exclusive QR code content in the back of the book and use the QR code to access an online dashboard with weekly videos, daily audios, a full workbook, and a journal, typically available only to Jill's one-on-one coaching clients. Connect with Jill Payne on her website or through Instagram. Join Vibrant Soul, a community to heal, transform, and expand your soul with like-minded friends at jenriday.com/vibrantsoul. Apply the principle "What I see for you" to create a vision for your loved ones and inspire positive change. Embrace the concept that contrast inspires a new desire, allowing you to focus on what you do want rather than what you don't want. 

359: How to Be a Freaking Dime Even When Life Gets Messy (with Jill Payne)

Dr. Laura Froyen joins me again to chat about the power of taking time for yourself. As moms and caregivers, it's easy to get caught up in taking care of everyone else's needs. But what about our own?  Laura shares her perspective on why retreats like my annual Vibrant Happy Women Retreat are so rejuvenating. Getting away allows us to get out of the deep end and stop treading water - to rest, reconnect with ourselves, broaden our views, and realign our inner compass.  In our conversation, Laura reflects on how attending retreats has helped her rediscover her own identity beyond motherhood. We also talk about why time away is healthy for partnerships, allowing spouses and kids to step up at home.  I hope Laura's wisdom inspires you to prioritize self-care, whether through travel or simple moments of solitude. As she reminds us - we need time to just be, free from others' demands. It's essential for living vibrantly and authentically.  And if you want to join us at this year's retreat in Mexico Feb 7-11th, visit JenRiday.com/retreat       In This Episode, You'll Discover...    Why traveling without a spouse can be liberating and allow for powerful personal growth and self-discovery. An unexpected twist at the retreat that brought Laura newfound happiness and energy. The social, emotional, and spiritual value of solitude and the importance of nurturing your own identity outside of motherhood.  The unique way a retreat illuminates the path ahead for you.  The power of being embraced by a community of welcoming and kind-hearted women.  The importance of remembering what it's like to be an individual human being without anyone needing anything from you. And much more!      "It's okay to remember what it's like to be a whole and independent human being where no one else needs anything from you." - Jen Riday    Key Moments:  [00:02:11] Losing ourselves in motherhood. [00:06:03] Getting out of the deep end. [00:11:30] Identity outside of parenthood. [00:14:10] Finding comfort in solitude. [00:20:42] Family dynamics and boundaries. [00:24:07] Taking time for oneself. [00:27:35] Sacred retreat for women. [00:32:07] Traveling solo and self-discovery. [00:36:47] Increasing enjoyment of parenting.      "We're more than just caregivers and wives and mothers and all the things we are. We're humans, really." - Laura Froyen    Resources:  Join the Vibrant Happy Women Retreat, which offers a transformative experience and provides a container of time to listen to your thoughts and connect with women from different walks of life. Connect with Dr. Laura Froyen on her website or through the Balanced Parent Podcast and learn from her soulful, intuitive widsom about purposeful parenting. Explore Vibrant Soul, a place to heal, transform, and expand your soul with like-minded friends by visiting JenRiday.com/vibrantsoul. Take responsibility for your own happiness and explore adding more alone time to your day-to-day life and beyond. 

358: Why Women Need Time Away (with Dr. Laura Froyen)

 Breaking the stereotype of "clueless men," Anne Fraser takes a stand for men's emotional intelligence and healing, aiming to support them through a journey of understanding and love.  Raised in a dysfunctional family, Anne Fraser witnessed the toxic dynamics of her alcoholic grandfather and needy grandmother, which shaped her belief that women had to earn love through attractiveness and caretaking. Unsurprisingly, this narrative carried over into her own marriage, where she found herself married to an avoidant and controlling partner. However, a life-changing car accident in 2009 shifted Anne's perspective. Faced with the fragility of life, she embarked on a journey of self-empowerment and healing. Through therapy, coaching, and personal growth workshops, Anne discovered the importance of self-love, boundaries, and personal responsibility for her own happiness. As she focused on her own growth and encouraged her children to do the same, her husband also began his own transformative journey. Today, Anne's relationship with her husband is a testament to the power of inner healing and the possibility of creating a healthy and loving partnership. Anne's story serves as an inspiration for anyone seeking to break free from unhealthy relationship patterns and find true emotional fulfillment.   In This Episode, You'll Be Able To:    Discover the key to healing and transforming your relationship for long-lasting happiness. Unlock the power of men's emotional intelligence and find new ways to support your partner's emotional well-being. Break free from unhealthy relationship cycles and create a foundation of love, respect, and understanding. Explore how family roles can impact your relationships and gain insights to foster healthier dynamics. Prioritize personal growth and self-care to enhance your overall well-being and strengthen your relationship. And much more!      "I discovered that I am 100% responsible for my own happiness, that it is not his job, but it's also not my job to be responsible for his happiness." - Anne Fraser    Key Moments: 00:00:01 - Introduction 00:00:48 - Anne's Background and Work 00:02:45 - Anne's Childhood and Marriage 00:05:33 - Life-Changing Car Accident 00:08:52 - Impact on Anne's Marriage 00:16:21 - Healing Inner Child Wounds 00:17:13 - Husband's Healing Journey 00:18:15 - Encouraging Change 00:19:26 - From Settling to Empowerment 00:21:31 - The Power of Self-Care 00:31:23 - The Role of Men in Our Lives 00:32:28 - Healing for Men 00:33:39 - Impact on Sons 00:35:49 - Focus on Yourself     "My circumstances don't control who I am or how I show up in the world, that I don't have to look outside of myself for what I need." - Anne Fraser    Resources and Next Steps:  Connect with Anne Fraser at YourForwardFocus.com to learn how to build meaningful connections and resolve conflicts in relationships. Attend the Vibrant Happy Women Retreat, which offers a transformative experience and provides a container of time to listen to your thoughts and connect with women from different walks of life. Take responsibility for your own happiness and explore the concept of setting boundaries in relationships to create healthier dynamics. Seek additional support and therapy for yourself or your partner if needed to work on personal growth and healing within the relationship. Model healthy behaviors for your children by prioritizing self-care and personal growth.  Don't Miss An Episode!  Follow Jen on Facebook, Instagram, or YouTube! Follow the podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or Amazon Music, and be sure to leave a rating & review! Ask a question or leave a comment at support@jenriday.com.   

341: Women's Retreats: Taking Time for Yourself (with Jen Mernick & Bernadette O'Grady)

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