Conversations with Carman

Welcome to Conversations with Carman Murray - A podcast for Educators

I'm Carman Murray.  I am an everyday mom who lives on our ranch with my husband and two children. I'm also a former teacher.

I help teachers and educators fuel their minds, body, and spirit so they can live life unapologetically, both in and out of the classroom.

In honour of Read a Book day, I’d like to read you the story Maybe by Kobi Yamada. It is a story about the endless potential in all of us.

Excerpts:  "There will be struggles, there will be fears...you may fall down...you already have everything it takes to do big things."

We're here for a reason.  So surround yourself with people who see your endless potential.  

How will you use this book and its message with your class?  What kind of projects does this inspire?  I would love to know!  Reach out to me at carman@sphericalhealing.ca.

**Make sure to subscribe and follow this show on your favourite platform.**

My website for more information about me and my programs:

Welcome to Conversations with Carman Murray - A podcast for Educators

I'm Carman Murray.  I am an everyday mom who lives on our ranch with my husband and two children. I'm also a former teacher.

I help teachers and educators fuel their minds, body, and spirit so they can live life unapologetically, both in and out of the classroom.

How can you create an amazing space in your classroom and maintain it throughout the year? Check out this 5-word exercise to use as a guide for yourself and your students to co-create a great classroom space.

Feel free to reach out to me if you would like more support in your own journey.

**Make sure to subscribe and follow this show on your favourite platform.**

My website for more information about me and my programs:

Welcome to Conversations with Carman Murray - A podcast for Educators

I'm Carman Murray, and today I'll be sharing about navigating migraines and headaches

I’m an everyday mom who lives on our ranch with my husband and two children, I”m also a former school teacher.

I help teachers and educators fuel their minds, body, and spirit so they can live life unapologetically, both in and out of the classroom.

Migraines are something I have lived with since I was 13!  If you have them, you know they can be debilitating.

And I had one yesterday afternoon - it was there when I woke up from my nap.

These tools help navigate it:

• Breath
• Awareness of where I’m holding stress.
• Meditations
• Laying down - standing
• Understanding that I'm burning off old beliefs and conditioning is part of stepping out of hiding and sharing what I’m up to and accomplishing with more than those who are closest to me.

Part of my process of stepping out of hiding was to write and self-publish a mini e-book Live Beyond Headaches and Migraines. It is available on my website https://www.sphericalhealing.ca/lbhm-ebook.  Check it out if you want to learn how to navigate migraines.  

Thank you for joining me on Conversations with Carman - A podcast for Educators

Make sure to subscribe and follow this show on your favourite platform.

My Website is www.sphericalhealing.ca for more information about me and my programs.

Email me at carman@sphericalhealing.ca

Welcome to Conversations with Carman Murray - A podcast for Educators

I'm Carman Murray.  I am an everyday mom who lives on our ranch with my husband and two children. I'm also a former teacher.

I help teachers and educators fuel their minds, body, and spirit so they can live life unapologetically, both in and out of the classroom.

I came across this amazing book I wanted to share. And I love story time. 

Kobi Yamada writes this amazing story of the journey of an idea. This is amazing for adults and well as children. 

I give you ideas and tips on how you can use it in your classroom

Feel free to reach out to me if you would like more support in your own journey.

**Make sure to subscribe and follow this show on your favourite platform.**

My website for more information about me and my programs:

I help teachers and educators fuel their minds, body, and spirit so they can live life unapologetically, both in and out of the classroom.

Get curious about meditation and how it can enhance your energy, clarity and focus.

Here is a short meditation just for you.

Thank you for joining me on Conversations with Carman - A podcast for Educators

Make sure to subscribe and follow this show on your favourite platform.

Welcome to Conversations with Carman Murray - A podcast for Educators

I'm Carman Murray, and in this episode,  I'll share about resistance and moving through fear, starting with awareness.

I’m an everyday mom who lives on our ranch with my husband and two children, I’m also a former schoolteacher.

I help teachers and educators fuel their minds, body, and spirit so they can live life unapologetically, both in and out of the classroom.

Consistency is something I have often struggled with. I add something amazing into my life, and then somewhere along the way, it falls away.

Where do you resist and then hide?

In my journey of stepping out of teaching and into coaching and now writing, I'm becoming more and more aware of what my resistance looks like. I'm noticing when fear steps in and tries to take over. I can be consumed with what ifs, and the not knowing is the hardest part.

Resistance is something I hit regularly as a teacher and just didn't know it. The times when everything got to be too much...and I still had to continue. I believe these were the moments that I started to shut down and get disconnected.  Rather than reaching out, I contracted and closed off.  I would like to change the face of education – for the support of those who are heading for, or in, burnout.

Boundaries are so important as an educator. I think it's instrumental in keeping the balance between classroom and home. Having clear goals that I’m excited and passionate about have helped me create some of these boundaries. 

Goals that make us excited and passionate, as well as actionable steps and ateam of like-minded people who support us regularly, is essential. 

Journaling can be very therapeutic and help bring awareness.  Here are some questions to get you started:

-Is your body telling you to slow down and take a break?

-What is my edgy behaviour? 

-What behaviours do I engage in to deal with them?

-What would I rather do to cope?

You can receive support from me at the following:

Welcome to Conversations with Carman Murray - A podcast for Educators

I'm Carman Murray.  I am an everyday mom who lives on our ranch with my husband and two children. I'm also a former teacher.

I help teachers and educators fuel their minds, body, and spirit so they can live life unapologetically, both in and out of the classroom.

It is summertime for teachers.  You may still be feeling overstimulation and residual stress from the school year.  How can you ensure that you get proper rest and recovery time?

Today I share my personal journey to deep rest and discuss why proper rest and sleep are so vital. You can slowly shift your habits to be consistent about the rest you require.  This is a practice, not a destination.  However, it is a keystone habit that will affect how you function. You may be using coping mechanisms that can work against obtaining deep rest.  

I give you ideas and tips on how you can shift and support yourself to find the deep rest you need and desire.

Feel free to reach out to me if you would like more support in your deep rest journey. 

**Make sure to subscribe and follow this show on your favourite platform.**

My website for more information about me and my programs:

Welcome to Conversations with Carman Murray - A podcast for Educators

I'm Carman Murray, and today I share my experience with anxiety.

I am an everyday mom who lives on our ranch with my husband and two children. I'm also a former teacher.

I help teachers and educators fuel their minds, body, and spirit so they can live life unapologetically, both in and out of the classroom.

Acknowledge anxiety can be challenging, and you are not alone.

My first struggle with anxiety was after losing my daughter almost ten years ago. I confess I didn't understand it until I experienced it.

Mine showed up in simple ways that, at first, I didn't realize came from my anxiety – things like not wanting to leave the house (but doing so anyway), heightened awareness, feeling panicky, and shallow breathing. I was overwhelmed but didn't know why. I wanted contact with people but wanted at the same time to be by myself. I had physical symptoms such as shallow breathing and aching muscles. I knew something was wrong but didn't know what to do or why it was happening.

I learned Ayurveda and was educated about my nervous system. In this episode, I explain more about the nervous system and what has helped me get out of 'fight or flight' and into ease. I discuss my daily practices and how I intentionally set myself up for success. I lay out my routine and explain how I plan for balance and what I do to support myself and my nervous system.

This is what has worked for me. However, I don't believe in one-size-fits-all. So there will be other things that support you. But, I wanted to share as when I have less anxiety, life is just better!

You are not alone. Reach out to someone or to me. Let's open up a dialogue about this critical subject.

Make sure to subscribe and follow this show on your favourite platform.

My website for more information about me and my programs:

I help teachers and educators fuel their minds, body, and spirit so they can live life unapologetically, both in and out of the classroom.

Some of you may be new to meditation others will have it as a daily practice.

Here is a meditation to support you in whatever you are up to.

Thank you for joining me on Conversations with Carman - A podcast for Educators

Make sure to subscribe and follow this show on your favourite platform.

I help teachers and educators fuel their minds, body, and spirit so they can live life unapologetically, both in and out of the classroom.

We all play the balancing act, moment to moment, day to day. Unfortunately, it's too easy to visualize a scale being equal on both sides - when I think of it this way, it is unachievable.

However, if I keep in mind that more often than not, one side of that scale tips over more than the other,  I feel successful.

We all have so many things on the go…

What is your unique balance?  You need to find yours and possibly shift your mindset around what balance looks like.  Real life happens.  Take a breath and alleviate your overwhelm with these three factors that have helped me:

1. Create a flexible plan.  Plan and then follow through…kind of!  Make yourself important so you don't run on empty.
2. Compartmentalize.  Bring in mindfulness to each activity.
3. Aim for a "B-".  Have compassion for yourself when you don't get it right all of the time.  Let go of what you can.

The goal is not to be doing one thing while beating yourself up about not doing the other.  Just do the one thing and be in that moment and really enjoy it.  And if you don’t enjoy it, get focused on the details of it to make it more interesting and hold your attention.

Thank you for joining me on Conversations with Carman - A podcast for Educators

Make sure to subscribe and follow this show on your favourite platform.

How can you be more intentional about your leadership?

Drew Dudley defines the value impact as a commitment to creating moments that cause people to feel they are better off for having interacted with you.

His action-driving questions are

How have I recognized someone else's leadership today?

What conscious act of kindness did I perform today?

What did I do today to show someone they mattered?

What I love about how Drew looks at these values is that you intentionally look for opportunities in your day.  By asking yourself one or all of the action-driving questions at the beginning of the day.  This can push your comfort zone, allow yourself to step out, and be seen more through these actions.  Making a bigger ripple effect…

As a leader, what do you want your ripple effect to be?  Whose lives do you want to impact?  And what purposeful action steps are you taking to make that happen?  You might also want to ask yourself what action steps are you avoiding?  What action steps are you not taking because you want to play it safe?  Where are you hiding?

And this process can be a bit daunting, as it may be your edge and a bit scary. You don’t have to do it all at once.  Take little steps to begin to be more purposeful about your leadership and the ripple effect it creates.

Episode Four

Welcome to Conversations with Carman Murray - A podcast for Educators

I want to start by saying thank you!  I recognize this is a crazy time of year with the winddown of this year and already looking to next year.  And you still have things to mark, grades to enter, report cards to write and a class to teach!  Not to mention a life outside of your school.

Numbing out is not something new for any of us.  However, I do feel our current devices may be a more convenient way to do it and we may not even be noticing it.

Awareness is always our first step to beginning to shift anything.

Pause and think about where are you numbing out?

Games on devices, TV, Netflix, Food, Alcohol, and Other Substances. What else???

And know you are not alone!  This is so important.  Often when we become aware of something, it can be a bit of a slap in the face and we shut down even more because we think we are the only one doing it.  You are not alone!

What can we do about it?

I recently read an article about Trade-Offs - https://fs.blog/tradeoffs-decision-making/

It got me thinking about what am I giving up to numb out?

You don’t have to make the changes all at once.

Activity to do with your students

Ask them the following questions and have them do some personal reflection.

What’s working?

What’s not working

Thank you for joining me on Conversations with Carman - A podcast for Educators

Make sure to subscribe and follow this show on your favorite platform.

My Website www.sphericalhealing.ca for more information about me and my programs.

FYI, the website is currently being updated to reflect my new programs for teachers.  Email me at carman@ sphericalhealing.ca

The Happy Healthy Teacher - a private FB page to support educators

You are your most important asset.  Just like first responders we need to put our own oxygen masks on first.

Just for your fun?

• Schedule it
• Communicate it
• Make it a sacred time

Connection with others

• Who lights you up?  And it’s okay if it isn’t your kids or your partner
• Book a coffee date, lunch, or just call them up.  They might need connection too as covid has created lots of isolation.

What did you do last week that worked?  Do it again

What did you do that didn’t work?  Don’t do that again!

Something to try with your kids.

Speaking into the space.

Thank you for joining me on Conversations with Carman - A podcast for Educators

Make sure to subscribe and follow this show on your favorite platform.

May 31st - ME First interactive workshop to boost your energy and morale to finish off the year.

As a teacher, you do so much for others, and often by the end of the year you feel exhausted and burned out.  Yes, this is the norm!  But you can choose something different.

Today's episode is about having your students work in groups. 

CARE FACTOR

What are the students' care factors when they are working on projects?  Do they need to be seen and heard in other areas of their life, so they are not monopolizing the conversations in your classroom or groups?  Skills and assets Do students know what skills and assets they bring to the group?  Time is always a factor in the classroom, how do you make time for this discovery and recognition?  Can they listen to others first?  Seek to understand before they themselves need to be understood?  What motivates them? An inspirational story.

Building projects together - increases creativity, the value they bring, and how much they put into it.  

Add options to create uniqueness - not cookie-cutter projects. 

I'm hosting a workshop this Wednesday, May 18th, at 7 PM Me First... put yourself first as you step into these last 7 weeks of school. 

As a teacher, you do so much for others, and often by the end of the year you feel exhausted and burned out.  Yes, this is the norm!  But you can choose something different. 

Begin to take baby steps in putting yourself first in the busyness of being an educator. Begin to create some space just for you, energize your self and say no to the things that you don’t enjoy.

May 31st - ME First interactive workshop to boost your energy and moral to finish off the year.

As a teacher, you do so much for others, and often by the end of the year you feel exhausted and burned out.  Yes, this is the norm!  But you can choose something different.