Emotions are a messenger from our body to our brain; designed to keep us safe. And if we ignore these signals when they are a whisper, they will get louder and more pronounced; ultimately resulting in illness and injury. So, how do we create the conditions to support the healthy processing and discharge of emotions? This podcast explores 4 steps to validating and releasing our own emotions (and providing the gift of validation to others) so that we can respond, rather than ignore or react, to th...
Sep 19, 2019•18 min•Season 1Ep. 25
Often the more stressful, overwhelming and out of control things feel, we hold on too tightly. And in doing so, we separate ourselves from other people and from a larger power in the world that both have our best interest and well-being at heart. When I was brought to my knees by mental illness, I lost my financial independence and my ability to rely only on myself for survival. And still, I was held and provided for in ways I would have never imagined. And in the midst of the struggle was a bea...
Sep 05, 2019•15 min•Season 1Ep. 24
The truth is, our energy levels are rarely, if ever, constant. Our energy fluctuates throughout the day, week, months, and seasons; subject to circumstances both in and out of our control. The lyrics from Mary Chapin song come to mind . . . "Some days you're the windshield. Some days you're the bug." Life can leave us feeling energized or battered from day to day and sometimes even minute to minute. So how to we align our energy with our tasks and goals to maintain maximum productivity with less...
Aug 22, 2019•15 min•Season 1Ep. 23
Five years ago, I had no idea that there was any such thing as operating from heartspace (as compared to headspace). Now I know that when I am feeling lost, overwhelmed, anxious or untethered, my heartspace is where I will find grounding and guidance. Learn more about the difference between headspace and heartspace, and how to cultivate your connection to your heartspace. Resources: https://kajalpandey.com/the-difference-between-living-from-your-heart-space-and-your-head-space/ https://www.mindb...
Aug 08, 2019•21 min•Season 1Ep. 22
As they say, the only constant, is change. All change, whether perceived as "good" or "bad" requires us to move through the grief cycle. And there is a direct correlation between our movement through the stages of the grief cycle and our real-time productivity and performance at work. By being aware of the emotions we all share as we navigate the stages of the Change Cycle, and the impact of these emotions on work performance, we can better support ourselves and our teams through change. Intenti...
Jul 25, 2019•20 min•Season 1Ep. 21
Sometimes we hold on so tight to what we think should be that we lose the magic in accepting things as they are. When we release into and accept what is, we can find it easier to move through the world with ease and grace. We also have the opportunity to see that the Universe is sending us information, guiding us along our path, and opening our way before us, before we even realize what is happening. This episode explores the gift of ceding our "shoulds" to something greater than ourselves....
Jul 11, 2019•24 min•Season 1Ep. 20
There is a bit of a debate around whether or not self-care IS or ISN'T selfish. This episode explores the potentially devastating consequences of waiting until we hit our very wits' end before we say, "No." If we aren't selfish sometimes, then we might erupt or throw a grenade when we hit our breaking point. When we throw a grenade into the middle of relationships, teams or organizations, we cannot control the damage it may cause.
Jun 27, 2019•16 min•Season 1Ep. 19
This episode is the fifth and final installment in a 5-part series exploring some of the signs that stress is starting to wear away at your effectiveness, health and overall well-being. Based on my own experience, the symptoms I explore in this episode would indicate prolonged exposure to stress without adequate recovery. If the indicators I review in this episode havve become frequent or constant companions in your life, I would suggest that you are reaching a critical juncture.
Jun 15, 2019•11 min•Season 1Ep. 18
This episode is the fourth in a five-part series exploring signs that stress is starting to wear away at your effectiveness, health and overall well-being as reflected in different areas of life and health. Each episode also presents one, research-based recovery practice that can help you start to restore your equilibrium. Consider that your body and its symptoms may be indicative of the health of your "root system." Speaking of roots, time in nature or even exposure to nature has been proven to...
May 31, 2019•14 min•Season 1Ep. 17
This episode is the third in a series exploring signs that stress is starting to wear away at your effectiveness, health and overall well-being as reflected in different areas of life and health. Each episode also presents one, research-based recovery practice that can help you start to restore your equilibrium. This episode explores life circumstances that can shift the balance of well-being toward running from empty, along with signs and symptoms that you are running on empty in your personal ...
May 16, 2019•16 min•Season 1Ep. 16
The episode is the second in a series exploring signs that stress is starting to wear away at your effectiveness, health and overall well-being as reflected in different areas of life and health. Each episode also presents one, research-based recovery practice that can help you start to restore your equilibrium. In this episode, I explore running on empty in relationship to work. I also discuss the proven benefits of meditation and some the ways I have made meditation feel more accessible in my ...
May 02, 2019•13 min•Season 1Ep. 15
This episode launches a 5-part series in which we will explore signs and symptoms of Running on Empty in five different areas of life and work. In each episode I also share one research-based healing and coping strategy to improve effectiveness, resilience and well-being. This first episode describes some of the ways leaders begin to struggle when they are running on empty. You may recognize some of these symptoms or signs in your own work, either as a leader or a follower. This episode also mak...
Apr 19, 2019•14 min•Season 1Ep. 14
While it is true that there may not be an “Easy Button” for life as a whole, that doesn’t mean that there aren’t easy buttons available throughout each day or each week or each year. And sometimes, I think we forget to press the easy button. This podcast explores learning to find and press the easy buttons that are available to us so that we can reserve our energy for the things that really matter in our lives.
Apr 04, 2019•14 min•Season 1Ep. 13
Our body processes "good" stress and "bad" stress the same way. In other words, it cannot tell the difference. And some would say that stress is neither inherently good OR bad. Toxic stress isn't actually about the source of the stress, but about the chronic and ongoing nature of the stress. When the body does not have the opportunity to adequately recover from the physiological stress response, breakdowns begin to occur--affecting our emotional, mental, and physical well-being--ultimately causi...
Mar 21, 2019•18 min•Season 1Ep. 12
When things are "too good to be true" do you start looking for the other shoe to drop? I know I do. In this episode, I share an experience with self-sabotage that started with things feeling too good to be true. Counter-intuitively, feeling good can sometimes be uncomfortable and scary. How can we develop comfort with the good and awareness of the choices we have in response to the fear that things are too good to be true? References: https://www.kateziegler.com/
Mar 07, 2019•16 min•Season 1Ep. 11
Our brains fill in gaps in information with fear and bias based on old data. We often ascribe meaning to the present based on the past. We can become consumed and overwrought by our own thoughts. And if we get too caught up in the stories in our mind, we can actually create and perpetuate interactions and outcomes that are the exact opposite of what we say we want or even what our heart and well-being truly demand. In this episode, we explore the role our thoughts have in our daily lives, and ho...
Feb 21, 2019•16 min•Season 1Ep. 10
Wake-up calls are often thought to be life-threatening and dramatic. And sometimes, they are. But, they don't have to be. Every day, we have the opportunity to consider whether the way we are living our lives is worth the price we are paying for it. We can choose to chart a new path at any moment in our lives. How do we begin? What are some of the components of the change process? What might we expect to experience along the way? And who are some of the people who have gone before us who are sha...
Feb 07, 2019•19 min•Season 1Ep. 9
According to the National Institute of Health, an estimated 26% of Americans ages 18 and older -- about 1 in 4 adults -- suffers from a diagnosable mental disorder in a given year. We tend to act as though mental health and physical health are two different things, but they are actually inextricably linked. Creating a safe space to talk about mental health is critical to breaking the stigma which often prevents people from seeking treatment. This episode is for people who are living with mental ...
Jan 27, 2019•20 min•Season 1Ep. 8
When is the last time you played? When did you last do something just for the fun of it? Has it been a while? Are you squinting quizzically at the question as if it doesn't compute? As adults, we sometimes come to think of play as a waste of time. What if I told you that play is good for your health? What if I told you that play is a critical component of a innovative, creative, resilient humans and organizations? When you set goals for yourself, do you have goals related to play? If you don’t, ...
Jan 12, 2019•18 min•Season 1Ep. 7
Many of us approach the New Year as a time to reflect and consider the changes we want to make in our lives. We set resolutions. We start strong. And then, we often lose momentum, become discouraged, and sometimes give up altogether. When we decide to make positive change in our lives, how do we set ourselves up for success? And how do we get out of our own way? In this episode I share lessons learned and tips for successfully creating sustainable new habits in support of our well-being, and ult...
Dec 28, 2018•30 min•Season 1Ep. 6
We hear a lot about listening to our teams, co-workers, and perhaps even our kids. But what about listening to ourselves? When we listen well, to the messages our body is sending to us, we have the opportunity to support ourselves in a way that builds our health, strength, resilience, and ultimately, performance. When we listen well, we build connections (as opposed to barriers and disconnect). What do missed opportunities for listening look like? And what is the cost? If we do not listen to, an...
Dec 13, 2018•33 min•Season 1Ep. 4
Our human capacity for denial is a survival mechanism that sometimes serves us well; holding unimaginable pain or seemingly unbearable things somewhere away from our hearts and minds until we are able to process them safely. And yet, unprocessed emotions also make us sick--physically and mentally ill. In a world where we are taught to fear the "other" and in fact encouraged to do so by people who seek power and influence, our inability to recognize our shared humanity--to deny the human experien...
Sep 30, 2018•19 min•Season 1Ep. 5
We may have a sneaking suspicion that something in our lives isn’t working for us, and yet we are afraid to ask ourselves what that might be. We have to give ourselves space to breathe into the question--what in our lives may no longer be serving us? If we aren’t willing to ask that question, we will be unable to identify and create the changes in our lives that will better align the way we live and work with our well-being. We might be able to address some of the symptoms, but not the root caus...
Sep 22, 2018•25 min•Season 1Ep. 3
Many of us are operating from a space of feeling like we are never enough--not good enough, or worthy enough, or that we haven’t “earned” the right to be loved and valued by others. These beliefs are often ingrained in us from a very early age. The fear of never being enough can drive us to push ourselves to the point that we are Running on Empty; trying to fill a bucket that has holes in the bottom. Taking the time to recognize and re-frame these beliefs allows us to begin to make decisions tha...
Sep 04, 2018•18 min•Season 1Ep. 2
Many of us don’t make major changes in our lives until we are faced with a “wake-up call.” Before the wake-up call, there are often red flags that we miss or we may see, but ignore (or just fail to adequately address) along the way. In this episode, I share the story of my personal crash, together with some of the red flags that I now understand were warning signs. This story fuels my passion for the work I now do with clients.
Aug 17, 2018•37 min•Season 1Ep. 1
