Cheerful by Choice

Special guest Krystal Holm shares with us how to use the environment to help us choose happiness, overcome (or ignore) the idea of perfectionism, and just love life a little more.

Find Krystal on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/FengShuiKrystal/

or at her website https://www.krystalholm.com/declutteryourmindset

Find Lydia at https://www.LydiaTaggart.com

What do we have that helps us remember and recognize where we are, where we want to go?

Let's reverse engineer that with the foundation of declarations:

I am strong. I am organized. I belong.

Old stories might come up and remind you about all the pain you have been through in life.

What happens when we wrap them in gratitude?

Whose voice are you listening to?

You voice is the one that matters most. In this episode Lydia shares a story about her voice and making decisions.

Special guest Shelly Drymon shares her story of running away from home and creating who she wanted to be.  Her insights on feeling what we feel, what can be done about it, and creating new habits will inspire you as it did me. 

Find Shelly at Women Over 50 a life redesigned

Here's a fun story to illustrate being stuck and what we can do about it.

Let me know in the comments what you take away from it. 

It's not always about finding the positive in a situation. 

People would see me with all my kids at the park or grocery store or anywhere I would go and they would always ask me, "How do you DO it?!?!?!"

This one foundational piece made it possible and it will help you find more peace and happiness too. 

It has been said that to find happiness you must forgive, which often is interpreted as ignoring the situation.  That is not the solution. 

Listen in to learn what I did this weekend about how important it is to forgive and not just ignore things.

Here is more evidence that you CAN change and choose happiness.  Listen in for another way how.

Emotions are vital to human life.  I discovered that I am super passionate about this and I got SO mad!!!!

Are you feeling like a horrible person?   You might be human, and you might benefit by listening in to this episode.  Everyone should listen to this and know what happens as humans. 

Is it time for a good cry?  You know, everyone stuffs their emotions, not just the men.  It's time to end the discrimination and allow ALL humans to feel their feelings.

What's the difference in goals and resolutions?  Why do some people achieve a goal while the rest of us don't?

Today we explore and analyze making life changes that stick and become part of our identity. 

Creating happiness is about connections and relationships.  In this episode we talk about a friend's story of having smoothies on the steps. 

Where is your step set aside for connection moments?

Everyone of us as humans struggle. Every. Single. One. 

But, perspective is an amazing thing.  You are doing better than you think you are. 

Please get and use The Frame Formula book if you  have not yet.  It will change your life for the better. 

www.TheFrameFormula.com 

Using our bodies as the tool they are meant to be helps us create happiness.   

Listen in for some great ideas on how to move it. 

Ever had that conversation that felt like it was all you talking and asking for help with no response?  

Emotions might be getting in the way of finding the answers and help you are seeking.

Listen to this episode to learn more about it.  

Like, Share, Subscribe and leave me a comment. 

Thanks for being here!

Do you know what the next best thing is for creating even more happiness?  Do you have it?  

I know you do!  Tune in and find out more about what you already have. 

Then let me know in the comments, or send me an email, how long your list is and what's on it.

It's as easy as redirecting a toddler's tantrum.  Works for any age, including our self talk.

Mistakes are part of being human.  We all make mistakes but often the mistakes carry a negative emotion with them.  

We can erase them!

Did you know the eraser was invented on accident? 

Listen in for more on how to erase the negative emotions, after we feel the feelings.  It's a new way to move through the emotions.

Ever feel like you're surrounded by bullies?  There's a simple solution to end it all. It is to know who you are.

Have you ever had someone say something that brought tears to your eyes?  I had this happen the other day.

Let's talk about what happens when someone says they are praying for you. 

Expressing our emotions is important.  Feelings are meant to be felt.  Sometimes it comes out as yelling and it turns into a negative experience.  

Want to yell less?  Tune in and find out how.

Cows are a great example of why we want boundaries. 

Starting the day with a simple routine and ending the day the same will put a boundary around our day. 

Expectations can be good or bad.  Who is directing what you are expecting?  Is it helping you?  Let's explore expectations and let some of them go. 

Ever make a silly mistake?  I made a real one recently!  Listen in to find out what happened. 

Ever wonder how in the world you're going to be a good parent and help your kids with what they really need?  I had to have a "specialist" remind me that I am the mom to consider that I knew how to be a mom.  He told me I knew what to do because I am the mom.  You already know what you need to know, too. 

Today we visit with Kristen Buchtel about her system for making a plan.  As the parent you already know what you need to know, this is a great way to organize it all and make it make sense with her book, Noteworthy Parenting - How to Use Your Own Ideas to Create Your Parenting Roadmap. 

Comment and share this episode to get a chance to win a copy of her book!

You can fine Kristen at www.noteworthyparenting.com and as always, find Lydia at www.CheerfulByChoice.com

Faith, fear, and being scared... We live in all of them and sometimes at the same time.  Today we discuss a tip for getting through the fears, because being scared is different than having fear. 

Do you have people around you who are sensitive to your moods?  Having a great support team is super helpful. My kids are part of my support team and can tell when I am having a bad day.  They help me get through challenges by changing my perspective. 

Have you ever had someone help you change your perspective?  Have you ever had someone hop on a plane and fly out to meet you somewhere, just to get a hug?  They would if they could. 

Listen in for more.

Welcome back to season 2! Let's jump right into the next tip from Lydia! 

A certain level of anxiety is reduced when we make decisions.  It can be easier said than done, but here are a few ideas on how to make decision making easier. 

Season 2 begins August 29, 2022. As the last episode of Season 1, we are counting our wins.

Are you aware of all the things you are winning at?  It's probably more than you realize.  Sometimes we get used to life as it is and we forget to count the things we are winning at.  Collecting successes and wins boosts our ability to choose into happiness.  In this episode Lydia shares some wins and encourages listeners to do the same. 

Connect with Lydia at www.CheerfulByChoice.com

With all the troubles in the world we often want to blame someone, or something, for all of it. It is human nature to want to blame, to find where the responsibility lies. That is one perspective. 

In this episode Lydia explores another perspective that can bring the ability to respond through the responsibilities we embrace. How can we each become more response able?

If you don't feel safe nothing else matters much.  It is near impossible to grow and build relationships without first having safety and trust. You deserve to feel safe. Here's a few things we can do to increase both safety and trust. 

I hear "be gentle with yourself" all the time, but what does it really mean?  How do you do that? Nadine Lewis is here to help us out discussing gentle self love, how to shine your light brighter than ever before because the world needs you more now than ever, and clearing the clutter to allow space for the gentle self love we all deserve. 

Some of my favorite parts of this episode are flowing forward, changing your purpose, and pulling back to the heart.  We live from the heart but try to figure it out in the head. Join us as we discuss the micro baby steps to truly honoring our space and creating that safe place of a sanctuary we seek. 

Nadine's background as an International Feng Shui, Space Clearing and Clutter Clearing Consultant shines through in the conversation, touching on a few personal experiences as well.  She was a single mum bringing up two sons, when she met the man of her dreams.  They married in the Cook Islands, all went traveling around the world .  They built a successful eco retreat in Portugal. She was living the dream!

Until her world came crashing down., No longer a mother, a wife, daughter or business owner.

Deeply unhappy, and depressed , it took years of inner reflection and being a recluse to work out her identity again, to make life happen and pick up the pieces.

As a midlife mindset coach Nadine helps women who might be going through a transition time of life and works with them to live with more passion, positivity and  purpose.

Find Nadine Lewis at www.nadine-lewis.com

Get your free gift from Nadine at nadine-lewis-sparkle-more.mailerpage.io

Find Lydia Taggart at www.cheerfulbychoice.com

Every once in a while those negative voices that were so strong during the worst of my depression come back and try to get me.  Here's one way to deal with them.  It's called the Dump and Destroy.

There is a simple joy in knowing and accepting limits, being honest with ourselves increases the joy in the journey.

Lydia Taggart and Rachel Strivelli talk about the struggles of  having a child with insomnia and how to reset the peace inside to be able to handle another day.  One of my favorite parts is about finding patterns in nature for peace, avoiding burnout, and Rachel's Gratitude/Forgiveness experience. 

Rachel can be found at www.RachelStrivilli.com

Lydia can be found at www.CheerfulByChoice.com

Celebrating Passover and spring cleaning have taken on new meaning for me this year.  De-cluttering clears the way for increased happiness. 

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but sometimes we let the opinion of others dictate our behavior and ability to belong. Remember the ugly duckling?  Maybe to fit in and feel more beautiful we need to change what is around us, not who we are. 

Habits can be broken in an instant. Building new habits is the part that takes time.  Either way, we need to be in the belief that we can forgive and change. 

When we have a problem we are trying to figure out, sometimes answers come in mysterious ways.  I am sharing one of those ways today with my dream.

Play is essential for happiness, but when we get older it is often difficult to really play.  Lydia is joined by Lyssa Scott to discuss the pieces of playing on purpose with intention, how to keep it easy and fun, and a few extra surprises along the way. Like, did you know planning for a meal has a lot in common with puzzles? 

Lyssa  Scott is the host of the Maximum Potency Podcast, and owner of the  coaching  company, Maximum Potency. Lyssa's mission is to teach  entrepreneurs to rip on life by leaning into their gifts and creating a  business they love. She focuses on personal growth, lifestyle design  & business growth with her clients.
Born and raised in  PA, now traveler and nomad, temporarily in Austin TX, I am so excited to have her on the show! 

Links mentioned to connect with Lyssa:
www.instagram.com/maximumpotency
www.lifeatmaximumpotency.com/

Connect with Lydia at www.CheerfulByChoice.com 

Is it possible to choose to be cheerful during war?  The answer is YES.  Listen in for an extra portion of hope.

What if you were right 90% of the time?

I was given a new assignment at work and I want you to join me in the quest to trust yourself knowing you will be right 90% of the time.

What happens when there is a conversation you need to have but there's too much anxiety about it to actually meet with the person you need to talk to and say hi?

In this episode Lydia shares some ideas to help reduce the anxiety so there can be a safe enough feeling that there is a freedom to speak. If there is not a true feeling of being free to speak, the conversation will not happen. At least not the way you want it to. 

Have you been dreaming big enough?  Wondering why things just aren't quite what you are expecting or hoping for?  Maybe you need to get more details in your dreaming.   In this episode Lydia shares about how to add and simplify dreaming to get things happening for happiness. 

There is so much to gain from listening to this episode interviewing Debbi Migit!  

My favorite quote from this episode: What they call obsession, I call  faith.   

With all of the emotional and mental  issues that come along with  infertility challenging Debbi for over a decade, she still found a  foundation of faith to carry her through the pain to see the miracles  God had in store for her.   

Now she asks God, “What do you want to talk to me about today?” and then she listens with her heart. Her book series takes readers on the  adventures of following God.  She encourages us to jump in and see where God takes you.  

GUARD OUR JOY.   Is something stealing my joy?  No matter what  circumstances are we need to protect that.    

What are Debbi’s top tools for getting the happy back when the happy is  hard?  Stones of remembrance and laughter.   

Joshua 4:9 talks about stones of remembrance.  Debbi takes out stones of remembrance all the time and reminds herself of the things that God has done.  

“Because He has a plan and a reason for putting me where and  when I am.  I remind myself that it’s just His grace that I can live  where I live.”  We can take time to list all the negative things, but  Debbi chooses to list all the good things that God has done for her.   She rehearses them and builds up her faith and gratitude.    

Laughter is a wonderful gift that contributes to healing.  Debbi  encourages us to find things to laugh about and have a physical release through humor instead of crying.  

You can find Debbi’s books on Amazon or find her at her website and connect with her on Facebook.   

https://www.debbimigit.com/  

https://www.amazon.com/Debbi-Migit/e/B004M3HYGE%3Fref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_share  

https://www.facebook.com/authorDebbiMigit/  

Find Lydia at https:www.CheerfulByChoice.com

Here's my favorite story of all time! How I met and fell in love with my husband nearly 26 years ago and how he taught me a better way to love myself.

This week's tool is about changing patterns.  What patterns do you recognize in your life?