Episode 158: How to Honour Your Unique Inner Beauty With Steffi Sonqo Llimpiq

https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-q5uz7-15cc39f

Steffi is a Holistic Psychologist (with a Master degree in clinical psychology) and is an intuitive artist. She was born in Belgium and emigrated to Peru in April 2021.

She lives close to nature and has a deep connection with herself. She has been on a journey to heal herself and is working with others through group sessions and workshops to sense, see, honour and embody their unique inner beauty.

As always, this podcast is based on experiences and should not be construed as medical or professional advice. Please speak with your own medical professional.

Connect with Steffi:

IG: @inessence.art

www.inessenceyouarebeautiful.com

#innerbeauty #podcast #psychology #intuitiveart #wellness #mentalhealth #selfcare #selflove #youarebeautiful

Do you have ideas for podcast episodes? Reach out at: reallifeprojectco@gmail.com 

­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­_____________________________________________

Contact me for speaking engagements in schools, libraries and community events (reallifeproject@gmail.com).

Please subscribe, review & share this Podcast!

KO-FI

You can support the Learning to Slay the Beasts podcast through Ko-Fi:

https://ko-fi.com/learningtoslaythebeasts

Connect with me

IG: @saraladygluten 

Visit my Amazon Storefront for recommendations:

 https://www.amazon.com/shop/saraladygluten

Sign up for the email list and receive a free Self-Care Calendar!

Blog: www.theallergybeast.wordpress.com

This post contains affiliate links.

Episode 128: How to Start Over with Elle Hart

https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-5vb49-1323e3a

Imagine your whole life changed and you are completely starting over. You were recently divorced after 25 years and empty-nesting. You’ve also just moved across the country where you don’t know anyone. What would you do? How would you approach starting over?

Today we are speaking with Elle Hart who had that exact experience. She’s going to tell us how she made it through and is now thriving. Elle is an Emotional Intelligence Practitioner, CliftonStrengths Specialist and Empowerment Mentor. She is passionate about providing support to enable others to overcome their feelings of powerlessness.

Contact Elle:

https://www.feelempoweredeveryday.com/

IG: @feelempoweredeveryday

Podcast: https://www.feelempoweredeveryday.com/podcast

#anxious #selfintelligence #parenting #divorce #startingover #teens #mentalhealth #parentingadvice #consciousparent #mother #divorcee #family #parentcoach #coaching #coach #Empowerment #mentor #parentingchildren #emptynest #emptynester

As always, this podcast is based on experiences and should not be construed as medical or professional advice. Please speak with your own medical professional.

­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­_____________________________________________

ADs:

Pendulum by S.E. German

My middle-grade fiction novel Pendulum by S.E. German is available on FriesenPress, Barnes and Noble, Amazon Worldwide (Amazon.com,  Amazon.ca) and more!

Ben struggles with his mental health following an infection. He visits countless doctors and endures endless treatments all while trying to manage middle grade trials like his family moving, his first crush and playing competitive sports. This heartwarming story will build empathy and give you a glimpse into how Ben creates hope for the future.  

Contact me for speaking engagements in schools, libraries and community events (reallifeproject@gmail.com).

Please subscribe, review & share this Podcast!

KO-FI

You can support the Learning to Slay the Beasts podcast through Ko-Fi:

https://ko-fi.com/learningtoslaythebeasts

Connect with me

IG: @saraladygluten , TikTok @saraladygluten

Episode 124: How to Master Change with Steven Twohig

https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-hga2u-12e472a

Change and transitions are a big part of our life and can be challenging. On a previous episode, Episode 92 How to Master Transitions with Rachel Shumway we heard her perspectives.

Let’s dig into a new perspective. Steven Twohig, founder of Mastering Change, will talk about his background with change, and how he uses shadow work as part of his life.

I am looking forward to learning more about shadow work in particular and how we can benefit from it.

 

Find out more on IG: @StevenTwohig

Website: www.masteringchange.com

Linked In: Steven Twohig

App: 30 Day Mental Cleanse (transformation program) – download in your device’s app store or on masteringchange.com

#transitions #mindset #healthandwellness  #authenticity #vulnerability #emotionalhealth #boundaries #triggers #coach #coaching #mindsetcoach #podcaster #podcast #comparison #change #shadowwork #plantmedicine #trauma #unconsiousprogramming #breathe

As always, this podcast is based on experiences and should not be construed as medical or professional advice. Please speak with your own medical professional.

­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­_____________________________________________

ADs:

Pendulum by S.E. German

My middle-grade fiction novel Pendulum by S.E. German is available on FriesenPress, Barnes and Noble, Amazon Worldwide (Amazon.com,  Amazon.ca) and more!

Ben struggles with his mental health following an infection. He visits countless doctors and endures endless treatments all while trying to manage middle grade trials like his family moving, his first crush and playing competitive sports. This heartwarming story will build empathy and give you a glimpse into how Ben creates hope for the future.  

Contact me for speaking engagements in schools, libraries and community events (reallifeproject@gmail.com).

Please subscribe, review & share this Podcast!

KO-FI

You can support the Learning to Slay the Beasts podcast through Ko-Fi:

https://ko-fi.com/learningtoslaythebeasts

Connect with me

IG: @saraladygluten , TikTok @saraladygluten and visit My Author/Podcaster Website: www.se-german.com 

Visit my Amazon Storefront for recommendations:

 https://www.amazon.com/shop/saraladygluten

Sign up for the email list and receive a free Self-Care Calendar!

Blog: www.theallergybeast.wordpress.com

This post contains affiliate links.

Summer is still a busy time!

I can’t believe how quickly summer is flashing before my eyes this year!

I am working from home, with kids at home and also continuing to grow my podcast and author network in my spare time.

On the Learning to Slay the Beasts podcast, I have been able to speak with many exceptional guests over the last few months! This week we learn about Womb Wisdom, Ancestral Healing + Meditation from Healer and Guide Catherine Hull. Last week I dove into a personal episode about what I need right now. And, two weeks ago we learned Everything You Need To Know About Allergies with Dr. Karen Kaufman.

Please rate and review the podcast wherever you listen! It really helps to get the word out about the show!

I am continuing to promote my middle-grade novel Pendulum by S.E. German. Pendulum is a heartwarming first-person narrative of a young boy that experiences mental health challenges (anxiety, OCD, depression), ADHD and tics following an infection, a disorder called PANDAS (Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated With Streptococcal Infections). If you haven’t yet, please review and rate Pendulum wherever you bought it or send feedback straight to me!

I have had the opportunity to appear on a number of podcasts to talk about my experiences with anxiety, being a PANDAS/PANS and food allergy mom, podcasting and writing. Check out the recent episode of the Average Anxiety Podcast, Sara the Superhero! I enjoyed the conversation with Lemon. I have also done interviews for the Open Up and Speak and Dear Creativity: Let’s Write podcasts and those should be available soon!

Enjoy the rest of the summer!

Episode 72: Finding Alignment with Career Coach Penelope Layzell

https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-sq2f2-1066ee3

In this week’s episode, we speak with Intuitive Career Coach and Soul Healer Penelope Layzell to dive further into finding our purpose and the right path for our career and ultimately, our life.

After 30 years in the corporate environment, conforming to restrictions which caused burn out, mental health challenges, and eventually severe illness, she made changes to change the way she worked and received amazing results in her life. She works with clients to empower them in their careers and create more freedom.

#careercoach #lifepurpose #meditation #essentialoils #journalling #selfcare #intuitivecareercoach #soulhealer

As always, this podcast is based on experiences and should not be construed as medical or professional advice. Please speak with a medical professional.

My new middle-grade fiction novel Pendulum by S.E. German is available on FriesenPress, Barnes and Noble, Amazon Worldwide (Amazon.com,  Amazon.ca) and more!

Pendulum is a first-person narrative about a young boy whose personality and behaviour changes overnight from happy, funny, energetic and silly to anxious, obsessive, emotional, angry and depressed. After visiting over 20 doctors, the boy is finally diagnosed with a little-known and understood disorder without a cure called Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorder Associated with Streptococcal Infections (PANDAS). The heartwarming story follows the boy as he enters middle grade and continues to cope with mental health issues like anxiety, OCD and depression. 

Please subscribe, review & share the Podcast!

Follow me on IG: @saraladygluten and visit the Learning to Slay the Beasts

Website: www.se-german.com  Sign up for the email list and receive a free Self-Care Calendar!

Blog: www.theallergybeast.wordpress.com

Creativity and Social Responsibility during COVID-19

https://learningtoslaythebeasts.podbean.com/e/episode-32-creativity-and-social-responsibility-during-covid-19/

In this episode, I ask questions and give thoughts about the impacts of the COVID 19 pandemic on creativity (e.g. impacts of increased stress on creativity) and whether creatives are should be promoting social responsibility (wearing masks, social distancing etc.) in their work during the pandemic. 

I would love to hear your thoughts below…should sitcoms/movies etc. be demonstrating social responsibility during the pandemic? (limiting gathering numbers, distancing, wearing masks…)? Does it look jarring to you ‘not’ to see that demonstrated during this time? Are you a creative that is having a hard time creating due to the stress of the pandemic?

As always, this podcast is based on experiences and should not be construed as medical or professional advice. Please speak with a medical professional.

Please subscribe, review & share the Podcast!

Follow me on IG: @saraladygluten and visit the Learning to Slay the Beasts 

Is “Transformation Tuesday” just fat-shaming?

After scrolling through my IG feed and seeing one too many before and after photos, captioned with “look how horrible I used to look?”, I am calling it what it is – “fat-shaming”. Transformation Tuesday photos celebrate our “new self”, but at the cost of saying that our “old self” was lacking, unworthy, stupid, lazy, unmotivated etc.

I am tired of the negative narrative around health and fitness. It denotes that our “old self” was “bad” somehow, just because we didn’t have the motivation or knowledge that our “new self” has. Maybe we were struggling with anxiety or depression, maybe we didn’t have a great health coach or family support, maybe we couldn’t afford healthy foods, maybe our hormones were out of whack. There can be a million reasons why someone is struggling with “weight”!

I think we should move to celebrating where we are at in our health journey and finding positive forms of motivation (like wanting to reduce inflammation, increase mobility and strength etc.). The focus on putting our “old self” down is not body positive, it is fat-shaming.

Here are a few ways that I am reaching to be more body positive:

1. Removing or “unfollowing” accounts from my feed that focus on a negative body narrative. The non-stop shots of abs and before and after photos is not helping me to feel good. And, in order to accomplish my health and fitness goals, I need to feel good about myself and positive about where I am at and where I am going;
2. Showing my progress in a positive way – posting photos of me “walking the walk” by being active or putting together a healthy meal or snack that keep myself motivated (while not triggering myself or others).
3. Being kind to myself if/when I slip. Just focus on getting back to the healthy routine of fitness and eating well for energy and health.

If you want to hear more on this topic – check out Episode 30 of the Learning to Slay the Beasts Podcast on Apple, Google, Spotify, TuneIn and Podbean.

Staycation during COVID 19

Summer vacation during COVID 19 is definitely tough. I had a week off from work last week and totally felt the pressure to make memories, plan fun times for my children, make headway in my side hustle, exercise, get in nature. I felt like I accomplished a lot and even got to relax a little. My highlights were: working on my book, starting my Friends LEGO set, going to 3 beaches, baking, home canning, visiting a wonderful gluten/dairy/nut free bakery, getting dairy free ice cream, working on my side hustle, going to parks, buying a trailer for future camping and having an outdoor fire (with marshmallows, yum!). Check out my podcast where I talk about all that I got up to – Learning to Slay the Beasts Podcast on Apple, Google, Podbean. What have you gotten up to on your staycation?

Talking Body Image In the Time Of Coronavirus

Since my move to stop wearing make up to owning my body in a bikini on my winter vacation and even writing a short story on my battle with obesity, body image has been on my mind a lot.

But then the coronavirus hit and it made me question the relevance of wondering and pondering body image. It made me think everything was minor.

Pre-virus, I listened to Episode 82 of the Rise Together podcast where Rachel Hollis interviews her friend Amy Porterfield about her struggles with her weight. They talk about Amy attending Weight Watchers at age 8 and her constant quest to meet a ‘goal weight’. They talk about Amy overcompensating with her perfect hair and high heels to be a woman in spite of her weight. They talk about Amy always questing to be ‘small’.

It all hit hard for me. From the Weight Watchers experience to the quest to be ‘small’. It’s all my story as well. I attended Weight Watchers at age 13 and have always muted myself to appear ‘quiet’ and ‘small’ which I see as more feminine.

I had two significant weight loss journeys, one in high school where I lost about 80 lbs but never hit my goal weight. Another after my daughter was born where I lost 75 lbs. Though the second time I hit my size and weight goal, I never felt the surge in self esteem and still continued to fight my demons of ‘not enough’. I still struggled with my body image and truly being myself and taking up the space that I deserved.

My goal now is a strong mom bod. Allowing myself the imperfections that motherhood brings but being strong enough to play sports with my kids and inspire activity in them and others. My goal is to eat healthfully, not be constantly dieting. My goal is to raise a daughter without body image issues.

I am focussing on good habits like eating whole foods, moving my body daily, being mentally strong and drinking lots of water. I am also not weighing myself and defining myself by my clothes size.

Why is this still relevant in the time of the coronavirus? Because more than ever women need to be strong, resilient, energetic and vibrant. That is pretty hard to do if you haven’t built muscle, strengthened your cardio and your mind! It is also hard to do if you are starving in order to fit into a certain pair of jeans.

When my priorities are challenged by working at home, losing opportunities, and homeschooling my kids, my weight and size feel less relevant, including the idea of a ‘goal weight’! It is time to focus on real priorities like eating well, moving our bodies, sleeping and loving each other.

 

The Four Tendencies

I have always felt that Gretchen Rubin has my career. I remember when I heard of and read the book, The Happiness Project, I was just becoming a more serious writer and considering it as a career. I thought to myself, darn, I could have done that! Like me, Rubin doesn’t write fiction, but researches and writes non-fiction stories. Truthfully, until I read her book I didn’t realize that was a genre.

Though I feel like I could have come up with and written The Happiness Project, I don’t feel that way about her most recent book, The Four Tendencies.

In The Four Tendencies, Rubin describes four key personality profiles based on how you meet both inner and outer expectations. She then moves onto how these profiles impact and drive habits, careers, relationships and really everything in your life!

The four tendencies are:

• Upholder (21%) – meets inner and outer expectations;
• Rebel (17%) – meets neither inner nor outer expectations;
• Obliger (41%) – meets outer expectations; and
• Questioner (24%) – meets inner expectations.

Though they do overlap with each other slightly, Rubin explains that the tendencies are hardwired, they don’t change with your upbringing, gender, age, birth order, where you work/live or who your friends are.

Knowing your own tendency can help you be successful and knowing the tendency of others can help persuade, encourage, avoid conflict with and understand them.

I am a classic Upholder. I like ‘to do’ lists, challenges and calendars. I take orders well, be it from a boss, a personal trainer or a doctor. I have often struggled with why some people get the same advice as me and don’t use it. This book has helped explain my personality so much to me, and why I react differently than my family, friends, and children. It has also explained why my husband, a Rebel, does not respond the same way to calendars and ‘to-do’ lists that I do!

Intrigued? Take the quiz!

Listen to my podcast review of the book (Learning to Slay the Beasts is available on Podbean, Google Play and Apple Podcasts).