Plant Your Life

The ability to simplify means to eliminate the unnecessary so that the necessary may speak. This is exactly what I did over the past 5 months during my hiatus from the podcast. By clearing away that which was no longer serving me physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually ~ I was left with a "bare room". I then only allowed back in the elements of my life that I felt fully in tune with. In this episode, I discuss the benefits of creating "bare rooms" in your life. When you are clear and open to see what really matters in your life and what is worth keeping you will naturally evolve and grow into a more peaceful version of yourself. 

With the current pandemic, everyone around the world is taking a collective pause currently. It is up to each of us on how we want to use this time of pause. What does that look like for you? Some are not getting a pause, like the healthcare workers on the frontlines….and other essential workers. But for the majority of us we are getting a pause. Some are finding relief in this pause, where others are struggling as their busy life had become a buffer from really looking at their own life. Some are relishing in the pause where others are wanting to rush back to normal, But I want you to analyze what part of normal is worth rushing back to.  We are all going to globally be faced with a new normal, what is your new normal going to look like? What if you took this time and looked for the deeper lessons and decided how your new normal is going to look. What have you discovered about yourself in this time? And if you have been in consumption mode of the news...how can you now start to take this time to learn more a

Back from a podcast break, in this episode I discuss the recent world event of the Coronavirus Pandemic and how to cope with the feelings of anxiety and fear that seem to be taking over for everyone. I offer suggestions on how to navigate this time in our society and really get back to basics of what really matters in our lives. Let’s all hold the space for each other during this time and collectively do what we can to stay grounded and present, releasing our attachments to how things “should” be. 

The best relationship to work on is the one with yourself. We often focus so much on relationships with other people but neglect the true core one that counts the most. How do you truly think and feel about yourself? What determines your self worth? Is it something that occurred isn’t the past, other people’s opinions, accomplishments and failures? For this Valentines Day, shift the focus to yourself and learn what is needed to love yourself more.   

When struggling with a health condition, are you being your own health advocate? For this episode, I interview Shannan Bowers who details her journey back to health after suffering from Lyme Disease. She describes how she truly found her answers in doing her own research on how to reduce the toxic load in her life, which ultimately led her to heal and thrive.    Beautycounter https://www.beautycounter.com/shannanbowers Cleaner, Safer, Higher Performing beauty products that actually work! Feel free to reach out to Shannan at bowersshannan@gmail.com for product questions!   The best clean cleaning product Branch Basics: For $10 first order use link below http://branchbasics.refr.cc/shannanbowers Water Filter https://theberkey.com/ A great place for dry organic food is Thrive Market. I buy a ton here and save so much! The prices are so much cheaper than my local grocery store. Here is a link for 25% off your first order! Thrive Market http://thrv.me/JqTQQg  Follow Shannan for more clean living tips! https://www.

For this episode I discuss the difference between clean pain and dirty pain when faced with difficult life situations such as a death of a loved one, breakups or witnessing others close to you struggle either with mental illness or addiction.  When we allow clean pain to pass through us, it can be pure and therapeutic, but what so often happens is that we move into dirty pain where our mind spins with thoughts about what happened and therefore is the reason we really suffer when faced with certain circumstances.  What you will learn in this episode: The difference between clean and dirty pain with examples of what it looks like in relation to specific life circumstances How to lean into clean pain and to avoid moving into dirty pain The 4 step method on how to process emotional pain  How to move on from past circumstances that have left you stuck in dirty pain for years  

“If you expect life to be easy, challenges will seem difficult. If you accept that challenges may occur, life will be easier.” For this episode I wanted to time it around the time of the New Year where most people have a setback in the new goals they created for themselves which tends to be 3 weeks after New Years Day.   I discuss how one of the most important skills we can develop is our tolerance to failure or experiencing setbacks. Once we realize that this is just part of the process, we allow ourselves to learn from the setback vs beating ourselves up about it or giving up all together. We are then able to continue moving forward each day towards our goals and giving ourselves however long it takes to get there. Strengthening the mindset of curiosity of why something is not working vs shaming ourselves about it. The true magic lies in who you become along the way towards reaching your goals. 

Buffering is when we use external things to change how we feel emotionally. It’s something we do to keep from fully experiencing our lives, to hide from reality, to procrastinate, to not feel certain emotions...etc. We don’t want to face the truth of our lives because we don’t want to experience any type of negative emotion.  In this episode I describe what buffering is and describe the different type of buffers and what the consequences that tend to follow with each one.    Unacceptable Buffers Numbing Out Buffers Accepted By Society Unconscious Buffers I talk about how the first step in eliminating buffers is to just be aware of what yours are. Take a listen and then examine your life to see what your buffers are and then decided which ones you are wanting to work on eliminating or lessening.  When you stop buffering, you start living the truth of your life. You start seeing exactly what’s going on in your mind and in your emotions and your actions, it is the best way to live your most honest life. 

For this podcast I cover how important it is as you start this New Year to make the resolution to see yourself the most clear that you can. Use 2020 vision to create the year you want for yourself outside of societal expectations and the shame expectations you place on yourself.  New Year's resolutions tend to be how to make ourselves more acceptable and tend to be built out of shame for something we perceive as a shortcoming.  In this episode I  discuss the pitfalls of starting off your New Year already feeling less than. I cover how instead of creating resolutions that you think will make you a more acceptable and valued human - dive into how you are already full of valued characteristics now.  You are already an amazing individual possessing something that someone else wishes they had. You each have something that is uniquely you that is already incredibly valuable. Embrace that and then expand on it to create your resolutions from a place of love, self compassion and worth vs lack, shame and fear. 

Instead of rushing to create new resolutions for 2020...how can you take this space we have between Christmas and New Year’s Day to reflect on the past year. So often we will want to erase the past year in our minds in anticipation for the “fresh beginnings” of the New Year.  In this episode I encourage you to look back on 2019 and embrace the “good and bad” and to look for the lessons in all that happened and allow yourself to have full closure of the year before moving forward.  This time of the year is one of my favorites as when all the holiday rush tends to slow down, it allows the quiet space for true reflection. 

This time of year is often spent with gifting to others in your life. This episode covers the benefits and importance of gifting to YOURSELF! In this episode I talk about what this may look like for you.  Maybe the gift of self compassion or gifting yourself with time to explore new interests. How can you gift yourself this season?  

The holidays come with all types of emotions, stressors and triggers. If you are someone who struggles during the holidays to find your calm, then this episode is for you. I offer suggestions on how to take care of yourself during one of the most stressful times of the year. I cover how slowing down to the pace of nature can be the most healing for you on all levels.   

In the spirit of Thanksgiving week, this episode covers the 6 ways in which gratitude can impact your life not only on a metal and emotional level but a physical health level as well. From decreased stress levels to an increase in vitality, having a regular gratitude practice can literally re-wire your brain producing a multitude of health benefits.  Mentioned on the podcast: www.calm.com Video on how acts of kindness affect brain chemistry Insight Timer - Meditation App by Insight Network Inc        

How do you handle turbulence in your life? Do you find yourself having low tolerance when things get bumpy and end up spinning out into a downward spiral? In this episode I discuss the benefits of getting on board with turbulence. From building your tolerance to discomfort to gaining more stable emotions, this podcast will highlight the many benefits of buckling up and staying the course regardless of how bumpy it gets in life.  Benefits of getting on board with turbulence: You drop expectations of how things are supposed to be and lean into the reality of how they are.  More stable emotions  Build your tolerance EACH TIME YOU get through a turtbulent time The other side of turbulence is filled with a lot more gratitude, accomplishment and growth than would of been there had the turbulence not happened. Keeps you present minded.  You are in more of the flow of your life www.plantyourlife.com  

Inspired by the insight I gained in 2002 from listening to Pema Chodren while on strict hospital bed rest for 2 months when pregnant with my twins. In this episode I talk about the benefit of learning to stay with your emotions. Our common behaviors when we feel uncomfortable emotions are to either resist, avoid (buffer with addictions) or react. What if you were willing to stay with whatever emotion you had? We often feel like we won’t be able to survive certain emotions, but it is not the emotions that cause us harm, it’s the actions we take from emotions we are feeling or resisting.  Topics covered in this episode: Describing What Emotions Are Discuss How As A Society We Are Taught To Avoid Our Emotions Consequences Of Not Feeling Your Emotions - Buffers and Addictions Benefits Of Allowing Your Emotions Learning How to Truly Feel An Emotion In Your Body  Mentioned In The Podcast: https://pemachodronfoundation.org

What if you gave yourself the space to take all the time you needed to reach a certain goal? Having strict timelines for goals and expectations for ourselves and others can often kill our dreams in addition to blocking not only our own potential but others in our lives as well . For this episode I discuss how we often will give up on ourselves or others when expectations and goals are not met by a specific time. We can cause way more self limiting beliefs and suffering for ourselves when we postpone feeling good until we get to the finish line. I offer the mindset shift of approaching goals with more curiosity, lightness and most of all feeling good about yourself NOW vs the finish line. Topics covered in the episode: Body Image/ Weight Loss New Business/ Creative Projects  Relationships Expectations Parenting Health/Medical Issues

For this episode, I traveled up to the Pacific Northwest to interview Misha Gillingham of Evergreen Acres Farm on Bainbridge Island, WA. I had a chance to sit down with Misha and learn more about what she has personally overcome. From battling cancer to having a child who is struggling with mental health, Misha shares how she turns to nature to heal and also how by slowing down the pace of her life she has truly found the best version of herself.  I am so grateful to her for opening up so others can find themselves in her story and hopefully gain some comfort and inspiration ...I know I definitely did!  www.DreamFarmLuxe.com Also mentioned on the podcast: www.BainbridgeBoheme.com    

Part two of the cognitive distortion episodes where I discuss the remaining 10 of 20 common cognitive distortions and how they are simply ways that our mind convinces us of something that isn’t really true. I share examples of each type of distortion in addition to helpful mindset shifts to help elevate out when you catch yourself stuck in a distortion cycle.  Cognitive Distortions covered in this episode:      11. Filtering       12. Labeling       13. Control Fallacy      14. Blaming      15. Self-Serving Bias      16. Emotional Reasoning      17. Always Being “Right”      18. “Heaven’s Reward” Fallacy      19. Fallacy Of Fairness      20. Fallacy Of Change Resources: Good Therapy   

In this two part podcast I discuss 10 of the 20 common cognitive distortions and how they are simply ways that our mind convinces us of something that isn’t really true. I share examples of each type of distortion in addition to helpful mindset shifts to help elevate out when you catch yourself stuck in a distortion cycle.  Cognitive Distortions covered in this episode: Black and White Thinking Personalization ”Should” Statements Overgeneralization Catastrophizing Magnifying  Minimizing Discounting The Positive Mindreading  Fortune Telling Resources: Good Therapy   

JOMO is The antithesis to FOMO! I like to think about JOMO as being the ultimate act of self care. How many of you say yes to commitments, social gatherings and activities that at your core you really do not want to? Why do so many of us overcommit ourselves to the point of exhaustion to where we have nothing left to give to ourselves? If you need more JOMO in your life...this episode is for you!    Podcast Outro Music: https://wylds.bandcamp.com/track/a-warm-day-in-winter