The Art of Living Consciously

Episode #021: Today we dive deep into the transformative journey of change. In this intimate and motivational conversation, we explore the fascinating reasons behind the often tumultuous process of change and why breakdowns frequently precede breakthroughs. May you listen in and walk away motivated to continue changing and evolving.

You'll learn:

• Why it is important to understand the resistance and challenges that often arise when attempting to make meaningful changes in life.
• How your unconscious mind works and why it plays a pivotal role in your behaviors, habits, and responses.
• How beliefs, especially those rooted in childhood, shape your reality, thoughts, and actions, even when they no longer serve you
• Why your mind resists change and unfamiliar territory.
• How spot resistance and how building a bank of experiences through trial and error can help you listen to your inner knowing/intuition in the face of resistance.

Resources mentioned in this episode are:

• Breaking The Habit of Being Yourself: How to Lose Your Mind and Create a New One by Dr Joe Dispenza.

Episode #020: If you are reading this, chances are you are probably human and therefore have most likely experienced some form of trauma at some point in your life. Trauma isn't merely an event—it's an experience that shapes how you respond to and perceive your current circumstances. That's why understanding its wisdom can greatly improve your health and wellbeing. In other words, you don't want to miss out on this episode where I take you on a journey to help you understand what trauma is, how it can affect you, and, most importantly, how it can empower and evolve you when you listen to its cues.

You'll learn:

• Why trauma is not what happens to you, but how you experience what happens to you
• Why perception is key to healing trauma
• How your brain recreates similar situations so you can process your emotions and change your response
• Why your triggers are not random and are a way your inner child communicates its pain to you
• How Bioneuremotion can help you tend to that pain and help regulate your autonomic nervous system.

Resources mentioned in this episode are:

Episode #019: Do you struggle to understand the men or women in your life and maintain a healthy relationship? Do you often feel out of balance and not sure about what foot to dance on? Or, maybe you are generally interested in deepening your understanding of masculine and feminine energies? If so, please listen in, as I have a long due and exciting episode in store for you. Together, we will take a deeper look at the dynamic interplay between masculine and feminine energies, and what happens when they are out of balance. I will share insights and tools that will help you to embrace your own core energy, so you can lead or lean into the polarity dance more authentically. 

You'll learn:

• Why deepening your understanding of masculine and feminine energies is essential to leading a balanced life. 
• How we all have a predominant core energy and what that looks like.
• Characteristics of a balanced masculine core person. 
• Characteristics of a balanced feminine core person. 
• Challenges faced by feminine core individuals who develop a masculine shield.
• Challenges faced by masculine core individuals who are uncomfortable with their masculinity and become hyper feminised.
• The impact of generational imbalances and abuse of power on how individuals perceive and embrace masculine and feminine energies.
• Why there is currently a crisis in masculinity in contemporary society and how it affects individuals and families. 
• The importance of awareness and self-work in unlearning patterns and better managing our relationship with both energies

Resources mentioned in this episode are:

Episode #018: Do you feel stuck in certain areas of your life? Maybe you have ticked all the external boxes of success, but a part of you feels unfulfilled and unmotivated. Perhaps you are struggling to make changes that you know deep down you need to make. Maybe you just need an extra pep talk on ways that you can reflect on your life and improve or up-level certain aspects that are deeply meaningful to you. If so, please listen in as we delve deeper into ways to break the comfort zone barrier, tap into your inner wisdom to add meaning and depth to your own game of life.

You'll learn:

• What the comfort zone looks and feels like
• Meaningful journaling questions that can help you assess your own comfort zone
• Why radical honesty is the only way to change direction and up-level your life
• The consequences of playing safe
• Why taking small steps in the right direction is better than not taking any

Resources mentioned in this episode are:

Episode #017:  In this episode we delve into the transformative process of fully feeling and expressing difficult emotions, in order to process grief and heal pain. As Arthur Janov wisely said: "Feeling is the antithesis of pain. The more pain one feels, the less pain one suffers." Today I unpack what that means and give you insights and tools to help you with your own process.

You'll learn:

• Why feeling and emoting are feminine and masculine processes that complement each other.
• Why you need to integrate both to fully heal.
• Tools and strategies to help you to sit with your feelings and repressed emotions.
• Tools and strategies to help you ease into the emoting process.

Resources mentioned in this episode are:

Episode #016: If you are listening to this podcast you are likely to be someone who is looking to keep evolving into the best version of yourself. You also know that books have the power to touch you, move you, inspire you and transform you. They are a gift to this world! A book can spark something in you, but what really matters is how you decide to apply that wisdom to your own life. So today, as a tribute to World Book Day, I shall share my personal takeaways and insights from two books that had a meaningful impact on my own life.

I share:

• Why  knowledge only becomes power when you use it.
• Oliver Burkeman's refreshing perspective on managing your time to lead a full, present, rich life.
• Simple and effective tools to manage difficult relationships from an emotionally mature perspective, thanks to Lindsay Gibson.

Resources mentioned in this episode are:

Episode #015: Do you sometimes struggle to believe in yourself? Do you often put yourself down and forget about your inner strengths, assets and qualities? Or maybe you are pretty aware of your capabilities and strengths, but are eager to strengthen that foundation? Today's episode is all about cultivating a strong sense of self and banking on your inner assets to deal with overwhelm and overcome the hurdles that come your way. A way to recognise your inner assets is to see them reflected back in the people you love and admire. That's why I take you through a powerful exercise so you can harness the qualities that you admire in others by recognising them as yours.

You'll learn:

• Why it is important to fill your cup up and periodically acknowledge your qualities
• A simple exercise to help you to see yourself through the people you love and strengthen your sense of self
• Empowering sentences and perspectives I learned from my mentors.
• A powerful exercise to harness the qualities of your own mentors to better manage feelings of overwhelms and every day hurdles.

Resources and mentors mentioned in this episode are:

• The Soul of Money – Reclaiming the Wealth of Our Inner Resources by  Lynne Twist & Teresa Barker  
• The Sufi poem mentioned is attributed to Hazrat Inayat Khan
• Marianne Williamson, writer, teacher of a course in Miracles, politician, and candidate in the 2024 United States presidential election. 
• Enric Corbera, author and founder of the BNE institute
• Rob Dial, host of the Mindset Mentor podcast.

Episode #014:  Have you ever let people or external circumstances come in the way of your deepest desires and dreams? Do you look back on some decisions you took and realise you overrode your sense of self in the face of external circumstances? Or, perhaps you are about to make a major decision, or move forward with something your heart truly desires, but you are doubtful and overly focused on external circumstances? If so, you definitely want to listen in for an extra dose of inspiration, so you can keep moving in the direction of your desires. ​In this episode we look at how doubts and external roadblocks can actually become defining moments, rooting for you to affirm your sense of self and keep walking your own Hero's journey.

You'll learn:

• How Meryl Streep defined her own acting career.
• What a defining moment is and who really defines that moment.
• How your inner doubts and insecurities show up in your outer world.
• How to spot certain mechanisms you might adopt to validate your inner critic.
• Why everything is always rooting for you and what mindset you can adopt to become your greatest cheerleader. 

Episode #013:  Do you sometimes find yourself thinking: Why me? Why is this happening to me? Do you look at people who have a seemingly easy life and wish you could swap places with them? Do you tend to avoid conflict? Let's face it, most of us have fallen into one or more of those categories at some point in our lives. That's why, this episode is here to remind you that you have much more say than you might think over the circumstances in your life and that embracing your pain to harness its lessons is, in fact, a sure way to lead a more fulfilling life.

You'll learn:

• Why paying attention to your pain is an important part of your healing process. 
• Why a life void of problems and hurdles is likely not to be a fulfilling one. 
• The difference between an internal and external locus of control.
• How a healthy internal locus of control can help you reframe your conflicts as valuable gifts. 
• Simple questions and new tools to help you grow from your conflicts and see them as beneficial. 

Resources mentioned in this episode are:

• Into the Magic Shop: A Neurosurgeon's Quest to Discover the Mysteries of the Brain and the Secrets of the Heart by M.D. Doty, James R.
• A Course in Miracles by Helen Schucman. 

Episode #012:  Do you wonder why you keep running into the same kind of relationship issues? Are you keen on improving your current relationship? Or maybe you aren't in a relationship and want to learn better ways to show up for the next one? If so, this episode is the right choice for you. We look at romantic relationships as containers for growth, and how they can help you to find your SELF and become more emotionally savvy.  Quick disclaimer: I am no relationship expert. However, what I am very good at is helping people transform their own behavioural patterns, by understanding what they project in their partners. Therefore, my aim is not to give you any relationship advice, but rather to show you how you can read your mirror image and, therefore, improve the relationship that you have with yourself, and, in turn, the way you show up in your relationships. 

You'll learn:

• What the purpose of a relationship is on a growth level.
• Why opposites attract.
• Why what attracts you to a person can potentially also end up drawing you away from them.
• How to embrace your mirror image and its lessons.
• Simple questions to help you reflect on what shadow aspects your partner is inviting you to integrate. 

Episode #011:  Are you interested in understanding yourself better to improve your relationships? Then, understanding how feminine and masculine energies operate is a must.  No matter what gender you are, you have a masculine and a feminine side, and the way you relate to those energies, greatly influences the quality of your relationships. This was a really eye-opening topic when I first came across it, and I hope it will help you as much as it helped me.

You'll learn:

• What masculine and feminine energies are and the role they play to complete you as an individual
• How to distinguish feminine and masculine traits & qualities 
• How to spot an imbalance 
• What can happen when you are too in touch with your feminine and become out of touch with your masculine.
• What can happen when are too driven by your masculine and become out of touch with your feminine.
• What you can do about it, and how you can start to regulate again. 

Additional resources mentioned in this episode are:

Episode #010: Are you an over-thinker and do you find it difficult to connect with how you feel? Or, perhaps you  get easily overwhelmed and have trouble managing your emotions? If so this episode is for you and most of us.  In a world that predominantly tends to prioritise thinking over feeling, it can be hard for us to connect with what we truly feel and need. Your body and emotions are a wonderful source of wisdom and learning to understand them will help you to make better decisions for yourself. So I am excited for you to listen in.

You'll learn:

• Why you have a feeling and a thinking brain, and why both are equally important
• Why emotions are neither good nor bad, but are purposeful by nature
• What happens when you judge and suppress them
• How to work with them instead of having them work against you
• Simple tools you can implement to start leaning into your emotions and their wisdom

Additional resources mentioned in this episode are:

Episode #009 This episode is all about understanding the difference between growing older and ageing. Why one is a natural process of life, and the other is simply cultural and not a necessary part of growing older. To debunk old ageing myths I explain what recent scientific studies say about how your beliefs can affect your biology, and introduce findings on the wellness of growing older. So if you are interested in leading a more healthy, full, vibrant life and developing a mindset that will help you do that, this episode is for you. Disclaimer: all ages are welcome and will benefit from these findings!

You'll learn:

• What science says about how your beliefs can affect your biology
• How to change your perception of the passing of time and review certain misconceptions and beliefs about getting older.
• About science-backed research on why growing older doesn't necessarily equal decline and. failing capacities
• How, with the right mindset, you can add value to society as you grow older.
• What science has to say about the wellness of growing older
• Six centenarian mindset tips for leading a joyful and fulfilling life

Additional resources mentioned in this episode are:

Episode #008 - Is there something that you really enjoyed doing as a kid? Maybe you are drawn to a new skill or project, and the idea of it lights up your soul? However, you give yourself excuses such as: "I'm too old", "I'm too young", "I don't have enough experience", "it's too late for me", etc. Are you choosing to conform to that little, albeit loud voice in your head, or to what society and the people in your life are saying? ​If so, please listen in. Today's episode is about my adult gymnastics journey and how it has helped me step into my joy and improve my mindset. So, hopefully, you walk away inspired to try new things, follow your heart, stretch your comfort zone and lead a more meaningful life.

You'll learn:

• Ways to silence your inner critic.
• People who have challenged common beliefs and made a difference by following their joy.
• Where to look for inspiration, so you can see what is possible for you.
• 7 Mindset lessons and tips I have learned through my adult gymnastics journey that you can apply to follow your own joy.

Additional resources mentioned in this episode are:

Episode #007: Perhaps you suffer from a physical condition and want to gain a better understanding of the different factors that might be influencing it. Perhaps you are generally interested in learning more about the mind-body connection and how it can help you boost your general wellbeing. If so this episode is for you. We live in exciting times and over the past decades science has come leaps and bounds with regard to studying the influence of the mind over the body and vice-versa. In this episode my objective is to help you gain a new perspective on health, helping you to look deeper into the emotional factors that can influence your health, so you can ask yourself meaningful questions that will deepen your sense of self, boost your general wellbeing and help you evolve as a person. 

You'll learn:

• What medicine and science have to say about the influence of emotions and stress on the body.
• How a physical symptom can also be a useful doorway to unconscious information that needs addressing.
• Why the shadow and the body are deeply connected.
• Why a physical condition can become a powerful self-awareness ally. 
• Simple questions you can ask yourself to gain greater awareness and boost your general wellbeing. 

Additional resources mentioned in this episode are:

Episode #006: Have you recently taken the time to reflect on where you are at in your life and the results you are getting, right now? Have you taken a long, hard albeit lovingly, look at where you might be going off track and why? As we saw in the previous episode on addictions, uncovering your blind spots is a powerful tool that can move you forward and help you to adopt healthier habits. Taking the time to self assess and recalibrate is a must for anyone who wishes to keep evolving and growing. My guess is that if you are listening to this podcast, you are one of those people. Regardless of whether you are satisfied with your current circumstances or not, there is always room for improvement. Therefore, in this episode I share a number of tools and strategies that I have personally tested, so you can keep moving in the right direction and allow the journey to evolve you.

You'll learn:

• Why taking full responsibility for your results, gives you the power to take charge of your life.
• Why the results you are getting can show you what you have truly been committed to, often unconsciously.
• A useful and practical exercise to uncover your blind spots or the areas that need more of your attention.
• Important self-assessment questions that can keep you on track and help you make better choices, especially if applied regularly.
• Tools and truths that can help you deal with resistance and setbacks.

Additional resource mentioned in this episode are:

Episode #005: As 2023 approaches many of us are choosing to reflect on how we showed up in 2022, and how we can tweak certain  habits to get better results for ourselves in the upcoming year. Getting real about what isn't working is a way to point your compass in the right direction again and implement healthier habits. The same goes when approaching your addictions, which I am sure you are also looking to leave behind, right? Now, before you jump in and tell me that you don't have any addictions, allow me to challenge you to look at yourself deeper so you can gain some real insights and make lasting changes in your life. In this episode we look at what addictions are, why they are much more common than we think, what causes them and how you can ask yourself the right questions to start addressing them at their core.

You'll learn:

• What an addiction is and how to spot one in yourself .
• Why you need to look at what you are avoiding, rather than what you are doing. 
• How to ask yourself the right questions to figure out what is really driving your behaviour. 
• Strategies to start addressing the real issue and foster lasting changes.

Episode #004: Do you keep repeating the same patterns or bumping into the same issues over and over again? You might be struggling to be in a committed relationship, lack a sense of direction or purpose, struggle to sustain yourself financially or be prone to constant self-sabotaging, for example. Such repetitive patterns usually are the symptoms ​of a much deeper problem. And, they may be the result of the role you have unconsciously taken on to sustain your family system. Today we will take a closer look at why that can happen and how it might show up for you, so you can start implementing some real changes in your life.

In this episode you'll learn:

• What family loyalties are
• What their purpose is
• What happens when they become dysfunctional and turn into blind family loyalties
• How to spot them and how that may show up in your life
• What you can start doing to break the transgenerational vicious cycle and lead a more fulfilling, balanced life.

Episode #003: Let me guess, are there there certain people in your life, situations or behaviours that you just can't deal with? They make your blood boil and you get triggered by them every single time, right? Welcome to the human experience! However, I am here to tell you that, behind that seemingly negative experience, there is a treasure for you to uncover if you are willing to look at it from a different perspective.

In this episode you'll learn: 
How to harness your emotional triggers and judgments for exponential growth. I unpack valuable awareness tools to help you find the meaning behind your triggers. Therefore, you will learn to understand what your judgements are teaching you about the qualities you need to integrate, to become a more fulfilled person. This, in turn, will give you the means to act, rather than to react. Ultimately, we look at what the saying: "you don't see the world as it is, but as you are" really means, and how you can use it to your advantage, to grow and thrive.  The goal is for you to learn how to turn your focus inwards so you can come from a place of empowerment and be the change you want to see in others.

Resources mentioned in this episode are:

Episode #002: Do you feel like there is not enough time in your day to get everything done? Do you feel overwhelmed, taken for granted and undervalued? Chances are that the real problem comes from how you respond to other people's demands. Today, let me help you turn the spotlight on the root cause of your people pleasing tendencies, so you can choose a healthier way to behave.

In this episode you'll learn: 
What people pleasing is, how to spot it in yourself, as well as what you do it for, or the hidden benefits behind your coping mechanism. You will also learn new strategies that you can adopt when you find yourself slipping back into old habits. Being aware of the underlying causes of your people pleasing tendencies, gives you the power to start showing up more authentically and live the life you want for yourself. Ironically, this also gives the people you are trying to please, permission to do the same. Because, as you will learn in this episode, people pleasing not only disempowers you, but also disempowers the people you might believe you are being kind too.

Additional resources mentioned in this episode: 

Episode #001: Maybe you have a project you want to start, or a new skill you want to learn, but keep putting it off. Perhaps you have started something you were really excited about, and gave it up. Haven't we all at some points in our lives? If so, this episode is for you and the rest of us!

You'll learn:

• How fear can disguise itself under very sophisticated terms and excuses. How to spot when you are afraid and how to harness your fear of failure & your failures to move forward.
• Why you might default to safety and be reluctant to take risks, and how to switch from a fixed mindset to a growth mindset.
• 5 tips that personally helped me to make that mindset shift, and to keep cultivating it today.  Because, Working on your mindset is a lifelong habit. So, making a point of implementing growth and awareness tools will take you much further down your own growth path, helping you not only to improve your mental health, but also achieve better results for yourself.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Would you say that your mental health and mindset are a top priority? and do you secretly or, let's face it, proudly consider yourself to be a personal growth nerd, like me? If so, I have some juicy episodes prepared for you, my dear friend. In this trailer you will get a taste of what is to come. It is an invitation to board on a journey where you will delve into the best tools for your growth, mental health and personal wellbeing.  Episodes will be published weekly, every Wednesday starting on Wednesday Dec 14th 2022.