Happy Me Happy Earth

Did November creep up on anyone else?! There are just two months left in 2023, so it’s time to end the year strong and intentional! In this episode, I share a year-end review process that you can use to celebrate your past accomplishments, identify life lessons, build self-trust, and make the most of the next two months!

Year-end review questions:

1. What intentions/goals/resolutions (if any) did you set last year?

2. Did you stick to your resolution or intention? Did you reach your goal?

3. What worked last year? Challenge yourself to think of 10 – 15 accomplishments and other things you can celebrate from the past year.

4. What didn’t work? Why didn’t these things work? What thoughts or beliefs led you to this outcome?

5. What life lessons did you learn?

We all do it. We repeat the same ol' habits and the same ol' problems show up in our lives again and again. But you can change the way you show up in your relationships, work, health journey, etc. by understanding the ways that your past experiences are influencing your current life. In this episode, I share how to recognize when you’re living in the past and what to do to overcome this and move forward. It’s time to switch off autopilot and start intentionally creating the life you want!

Reflection questions mentioned in the episode:

1. What types of situations do I typically overreact or underreact to?

2. What unhealthy patterns do I keep repeating?

3. What coping mechanisms do I typically reach for?

Have you constantly been told that comparing yourself to others is a bad thing? I disagree. We human beings are wired for comparison, so trying to banish it from our lives is a losing battle. It’s natural, neutral, and not a problem unless we use comparison to put ourselves down or inflate our egos. In this episode, I share how we can instead use our brain's tendency to compare for good and as fuel for our personal growth. If you often compare yourself to others and feel bad about it this episode is for you!

Reflection Questions:

1. What, exactly am I comparing here? In what ways, specifically, do I feel like I don’t measure up? What does this person have or achieved that I want?

2. What actions did they take to achieve this or get this?

3. What thoughts caused them to take those actions?

If you struggle with low self-worth you’re not alone! We often think that the next promotion, publication, certification, award, or relationship will finally make us feel worthy. But once the initial good feelings wear off, we’re back where we started… searching for the next thing to boost our self-worth. This endless, depleting cycle of trying to validate our worth inevitably leads to burnout and resentment. Luckily, your worth isn’t based on external achievements. You can develop unshakable self-worth right now - just as you are. Tune in for today’s self-worth pep talk!

After 6.5 years of full-time travel and digital nomad life, I have finally settled in Germany! In this episode, I share my favorite Ayurvedic travel tips from how to keep your mind and body in balance while flying to preventing jet lag. I also share the plant allies (herbs) that I use to prepare for and recover from traveling.

Dr. Lad’s “Jet Lag Tea” - Put 1/3 teaspoon each of the ayurvedic herbs jatamansi, tagara, and ashwagandha in a cup of hot water, steep for 10 minutes, and enjoy!

Let’s dive deeper into the four phases of the moon and our menstrual cycle! Today I chat about how our energy levels, mood, creativity, and cognitive powers change and flow during each phase of our cycle so that we can work WITH our cycle and thrive! Learn how to plan your work, workouts, and social calendar to take advantage of the gifts of each phase.

Phase time stamps:

Bleeding Phase - 8:30 & 11:12

Follicular Phase - 9:18 & 13: 41

Ovulatory Phase - 9:44 & 15:44

Leutial Phase - 10:25 & 18: 32

Full show notes link coming soon!

For so long I fought against my period. I wanted to be “on” and super productive all the time. But a woman’s hormones ebb and flow in a predictable way over the course of her monthly cycle. These hormones affect our energy levels, skin, nutritional needs, mood, mindset, motivation, sex drive… everything!

So in this episode, I share how we can work WITH our menstrual cycles and align our lives with the moon cycle. The moon cycle orchestrates the tides of the ocean and the tides of our minds and bodies. By the end of this two-part series, you’ll more deeply understand your body and you’ll know how to tap into the powers of each phase of your cycle (and the moon cycle) to plan your life and thrive!

Full show notes link coming soon!

Sunlight exposure regulates our hormones, strengthens our bones, and improves our skin. So it’s not a surprise that the sun is revered in Ayurveda and other ancient health systems. Every aspect of our health and well-being is influenced by the rhythms of the sun, and yet most of us spend the majority of our time indoors. Today I help you tap into the benefits of sunlight and teach you how to practice Ayurvedic sun bath therapy, Surya Snan.

Today I’m joined by my dear friend Natalie Small - founder of the Groundswell Community Project. Natalie and I first met back in early 2019 in the small surf town of Huanchaco, Peru. In this episode, we talk about our shared love of surfing, the ancient, matriarchal cultures of Peru, lessons learned from Mother Nature, reclaiming our body wisdom, understanding our feminine power, and much more.

For thousands of years, women have been using rose and rose oil to sooth stress, balance hormones, and deepen self-love. Today I dive into all the healing benefits this luxurious flower has to offer and share some simple ways that you can incorporate it into your life. Consider this episode a big ‘ol permission slip to stop and smell the roses!

Anxiety and I are old friends, so today I share vagus nerve exercises that you can use to target your anxiety at the source and improve your ability to deal with the everyday stressors of life. I talk about what anxiety is, the role the vagus nerve plays in stress management, and how to reduce general anxiety by practicing vagus nerve exercises.

When your heart starts pounding or your mind goes blank use these quick nervous system regulation exercises to restore balance to your mind and body. Your nervous system affects every process, conscious and unconscious, that happens in your body! So I’m not exaggerating when I say that these simple practices can have a profound effect on your stress levels and every other aspect of your health. In this episode, I share three quick nervous system regulation exercises that you can use in stressful moments.

Want to reduce your overall stress and anxiety levels? Then it’s time to befriend your nervous system! Your nervous system governs numerous processes in your body - your breathing, digestion, hormones, stress response, etc. Our nervous systems have evolved not just to help us to survive, but to promote our thriving! Unfortunately, most people are walking around with a dysregulated nervous system that is causing all sorts of unnecessary stress in their lives! 

In this episode, I help you to better understand your nervous system and how it related to your stress levels. Then I share a simple practice that you can use today to start befriending your system and reduce stress.

Season two, baby! In this chatty first episode of the season, I share a quick life update and talk about emotional burnout, stress management, and breaking unhelpful life patterns.

I also talk about the decision I’ve made to narrow the focus of my work. I’ll now be focusing solely on helping ambitious women to manage stress, heal burnout, and master life balance.

If you’re feeling overextended, overwhelmed, stressed, burnout, or all of the above I want to invite you to book a FREE 60-minute coaching session with me. I’ll provide you with expert coaching to help you start managing stress better and healing burnout so that anxiety and exhaustion no longer run your life. And you’ll be helping me better understand the challenges, stressors, and desires of ambitious women. It's a win-win!

The 5 elements of nature are constantly at play in or bodies and minds. This week I talk about how the fire, water, and earth elements express themselves in our bodies, what an elemental imbalance feels like, and what you can do to rebalance yourself if you’re feeling “off.” This is Part 2 of my two-part series: The 5 Elements of Nature & You! To learn more about the ether and air elements check out last week’s episode (Ep 39).

We are each born with a unique, perfect balance of the 5 elements of nature in our bodies. Many nature-based cultures and traditions, including Ayurveda, have identified these five elements as ether, air, fire, water, and earth. As we grow up we’re exposed to different challenges, climates, relationships, seasons, etc. that cause our bodies and minds to go out of balance. These imbalances lead to physical and emotional health issues.

So in this episode, I talk about how to reconnect with your true nature and return your body, mind, and spirit back to balance. This week, I chat about the first two elements (ether and air) and next week I’ll cover fire, water, and earth.

These Ayurvedic summer self-care practices, herbs, and foods will help to keep your mind and body in balance through the hot summer months! According to Ayurvedic wisdom, a healthy lifestyle should ebb and flow with the seasons. Let’s tap into the transformative energy of the pitta season to stay cool and fuel our self-growth.

Natasha Roya Azizi is a healer, earth mama, coach, entrepreneur, and wonderful friend! She’s founded a number of social impact projects and has worked in the nonprofit space as well.

In this episode, we chat about Natasha’s Persian-American heritage, the challenges of social impact work, our evolving relationships with money and receiving, sacral leadership, the importance of community, frequency medicine, and much more.

Do you have a plan to create the change you want to see in the world? Creating a plan will bring a new level of focus, direction, and purpose to your life and work. You'll no longer have to wonder, "Am I actually making a difference in the world?" Learn what a personal Impact Plan is, why it’s so important to create one, and how to start yours today!

Want more support as you create your Impact Plan? Sign up for new my course, Create Your Personal Impact Plan: Start Making A Positive Impact On The World In 30-Days. I’ll guide you step-by-step through the process of creating a clear, actionable plan to make your contribution to the world.

Register before 11:59 pm on Monday, May 22nd, 2023 using discount code PRERELEASE to receive 65% off the course!

Let’s shine a light on the parts of ourselves that we criticize and dislike. I share a practical exercise, a quick meditation, and other advice that you can use to heal and become less self-critical.

Today I guide you through a meditation for grounding that you can use to sooth anxiety and reconnect to your body and the present moment. I’ve been practicing this type of grounding meditation for years and with regular use it has helped me to become a less anxious person. Use this meditation when you’re feeling anxious and scattered, when you’re going through big changes and transitions in life, and when traveling to ground your energy and reconnect to yourself.

Use these simple and effective exercises to overcome your fear of failure so you can move forward in life! In this episode, I talk about why so many of us struggle with the fear of failure, our brain’s motivational triad, and strategies that you can use to heal your fears and get unstuck.

There are so many things in life that can throw us into a groundless state. Plans falling through, the latest supreme court decision, or an unexpected medical diagnosis to name a few. We feel groundless when we realize just how little control we have over our lives. It’s uncomfortable and unsettling, to say the least! But in these moments we have a choice. We can either face reality or we can repress our emotions, distract ourselves, and indulge in things that bring us temporary relief (pass the cookies, please!). In this episode, I talk about how we can lean into groundlessness and open up to its gifts.

Grounding is, simply put, a self-soothing skill that anyone (yes you!) can learn. These techniques help you to come back into your body and into the present moment. Use these simple practices whenever you’re feeling “off,” anxious, and when traveling to create a sense of felt safety and connectedness in your body.

Get inspired by listening to these ten reasons why the world needs more imperfect changemakers like you! I also share about my personal relationship with perfectionism, how I overcome it, and how I’ve been inspired by the actions of other imperfect changemakers.

Today I’m sharing all the details about my new group coaching program - Becoming the Change: Life Coaching for Changemakers. I talk about why I created the program, who it’s for, and what to expect if you decide to join us! Enrollment is open now through Saturday, April 1st, 2023.

Today I share my personal Ayurvedic morning routine, nighttime routine, and other simple daily self-care practices. According to Ayurvedic wisdom, by establishing routine and ritual in our lives (daily, monthly, seasonally, etc.) we can keep our mind and body in balance and thriving. As environmentalists and activists, our daily routines are opportunities to align our life with our values.

In this very personal episode, I share candid reflections about my time volunteering here in Guatemala, mistakes made, lessons learned, and best practices for volunteering in your own community or abroad.

This week I help you get to the root cause of your shiny object syndrome so that you can heal it. Then, I share two powerful tools that you can use to get focused and move forward.

This week, I share eleven ways that you can build self-discipline.

I define KIND self-discipline as, “Honoring your word and showing up for the commitments that you’ve made to yourself and others.” This version of self-discipline includes honoring your whole self (mind, body, emotions) and the plans that you’ve made in a way that is considerate and kind.

I share some uncommon but oh-so-powerful advice and Ayurvedic practices that you can use to build your self-esteem. This topic comes directly from our community. In a recent survey, I asked, “What (if any) internal obstacles are holding you back from creating the change that you want to see in the world?” Many of you mentioned low self-esteem, so let’s talk about it!

This Valentine's Day I’m sharing tips that will help you improve the most important relationship in your life… your relationship with yourself! I chat about why I consider self-love activism and I share fun self-love tips, practices, and journal prompts that you can use today to love yourself more!

When an unexpected obstacle or problem occurs you have a choice. You can respond in a way that is disempowering or you can turn life challenges into opportunities. In this episode, I share a self-reflection practice that you can use to find the good in any situation, identify life lessons, and ultimately turn the challenges that you’ve faced in life into opportunities for growth.

Is imposter syndrome holding you back from speaking up, going after a promotion, or creating the change you want to see in the world? In this episode, I dive into what imposter syndrome actually is, why it exists, and how we can overcome it.

Spoiler Alert! Imposter syndrome is not a personal failing or an indication that something is wrong with you, it’s a rational and healthy response to living in a culture built on systems of oppression.

Today I share Ayurvedic winter self-care practices that you can add to your daily routine in order to keep yourself grounded and in balance this winter. These practices help us to tap into the natural energetics of the kapha season in order to create movement and growth in our lives.

Today I'm talking about something that no one wants to talk about: shame. Let’s go there, get uncomfortable, and build our shame resilience together.

By building our shame resilience we can become more effective changemakers! When we allow ourselves to feel shame without judgment we can overcome people pleasing, fear of judgment, and fear of getting canceled. Shame resilience allows us to step up and speak out courageously!

In this week’s episode, I share five incredibly effective Ayurvedic practices that you can use to increase your energy levels and heal fatigue naturally! One of the most common complaints that I hear from our community of changemakers and activist is, “I’m so exhausted and burnt out! I just don’t have the energy." But we can do change-making work while being energized and enjoying life. In fact, when we balance our energy we become more effective changemakers!

This week I share about my change-making journey and why I am so passionate about helping changemakers and aspiring activists create the change they want to see in the world without sacrificing their health and wellbeing. I also share some of the life lessons that I’ve learned during my 37 years on the planet.

Topics include: overcoming negative experiences in childhood, activism, body acceptance, self-love, figuring out my life purpose, self-image, identity, entrepreneurship, spirituality, and climbing (then leaping off of) the academic and corporate ladders

In this chatty episode, I talk about how we can reconnect with nature and our true selves. 

There are five phases that we all go through when working towards achieving our goals. Whether you can move through each phase will determine whether or not you’ll successfully reach your goal. In this episode, I share how to identify what phase you’re in and what to focus on in order to move through it and not get stuck.

This week I share five important follow-through tips to help you stay motivated so that you can actually reach your goals! This is the second episode in a three-part goal-setting series.

Are you tired of disappointing yourself over and over by not following through on your goals? You’re not alone.

I too have struggled to accomplish my goals in the past, but ever since I learned that my follow-through problem was actually a planning problem I’ve approached goal setting in an entirely different way. I now follow through and achieve my goals with more ease than ever before.

On this week’s episode of the podcast, I’ll be sharing a step-by-step goal-setting process that you can use to create smart goals that you’ll actually follow through with. I also share why most people fail at reaching their goals, the mindset that we want to be in when goal setting, and personal examples from my life.

Whether last year was your best year yet or a total disaster, completing a year-end review can be a powerful self-development tool.

This week on the podcast I share a year-end review process that you can use to bring closure to the past year, learn from your mistakes, celebrate your accomplishments, and set yourself up to make the most of the new year! I also share two other things that you can do to finish the year off strong.

This is the first episode in a series about how to set goals, resolutions, and intentions for the new year (and beyond) that you actually follow through with!

'Tis the season for charitable giving and Giving Tuesday is right around the corner, but how can you be sure that your money is going to the right place?

In this episode, I share how you can find the best charities to donate to. I answer some of the most common questions that people tend to have about charitable giving and share how you can align your money with your values. Tune in to learn how you can do the most good with your charitable donations.

Growing our self-confidence is one of the most important things that we can do in order to create the change that we want to see in the world. But we all struggle with self-doubt…

Can I actually make a difference? Who do I think I am trying to be a leader? I’m not doing enough. I’m not (insert insecurity here) enough to make an impact.

So this week on the podcast I share five powerful questions that you can ask yourself in order to build self-confidence in any area of your life, common signs of low self-esteem, and how I personally developed self-confidence in public speaking.

We all experience negative feelings and uncomfortable emotions each and every day, yet most of us have never been taught how to deal with our emotions in a healthy way. We often try to avoid emotions such as sadness, loneliness, guilt, shame, and anger. But these feelings are a normal, natural, and essential part of our human experience.

This week on the podcast I discuss why emotional processing is especially important for us activists and advocates, the effects of suppressed emotions, how we can un-numb and regain our passion, and how to deal with negative emotions in a healthy way.

Dismantling racism within myself is a major priority in my life. And since the summer of 2020, I’ve been feeling called to talk about it more publicly. Unfortunately, I let fear keep me from speaking up. No more!

This week I share why anti-racism work is so important to me, a bit about my background, the layers of privilege that I hold (some that you may have never thought of), the mindset that I approach this work with, several of the anti-racism resources that have been most helpful to me on my journey, and more. 

Tune in for my favorite Ayurvedic fall self-care practices! I discuss the Ayurvedic approach to keeping our minds and bodies in balance with the changing weather, how to know if you’re out of balance, balancing foods for fall, fall self-care practices, and a few journal prompts to help you tap into the transformative energy of the vata season and fuel your personal growth.

In this week’s episode, I share how to stop feeling overwhelmed in seven steps! I talk about getting clear on your priorities so that you have a clear focus, planning with self-awareness so that you can follow through, being decisive, and other steps that you can take to overcome overwhelm and take action. These steps will help you to get out of your own way so that you can create the change you want to see in the world!

This is the second part of a two-part series on overwhelm, so please check out the first episode, “Why do I feel overwhelmed?” for a deeper discussion on the root causes of overwhelm.

This week I chat about a question we’ve all asked ourselves from time to time, “Why am I so overwhelmed?” I discuss the root causes of overwhelm and dissect the thoughts, feelings, beliefs, and actions that lead to our feelings of overwhelm. And I share why we environmentalists, changemakers, activists, and advocates tend to feel more overwhelmed than the average person.

This is part one of a two-part series about overwhelm. Tune in next week when I share how to stop feeling overwhelmed in 7 steps!