A Journey with Vanessa Chiu

In my last few episodes, I've been talking about the book "How to Be Sick: A Buddhist-Inspired Guide for the Chronically Ill and Their Caregivers" by Toni Bernhard and how it has helped me navigate the physical and emotional recovery process after getting into a car accident recently.   My final episode on this book is another lesson I've been relearning this year...reframing your perspective.

The healing journey continues!  The book that has been helping me through my recovery process is called "How to Be Sick: A Buddhist-Inspired Guide for the Chronically Ill and Their Caregivers" by Toni Bernhard. As I'm reading this book, I realize that I cause myself unnecessary suffering sometimes.  I share what I learned from Bernhard's journey that helps me with stressful and overwhelming thoughts.

In this episode, I talk about my progress in the physical, and emotional, healing journey I've been on since the car accident.  I share what 'wise inaction' means based on the book I'm reading called "How to be sick: A Buddhist-Inspired Guide for the Chronically Ill and Their Caregivers" by Toni Bernhard. I also talk about one of the best pieces of advice I've gotten so far this year!  

My year ended with car accident and an overwhelming number of medical appointments and treatments for the physical pain I was experiencing.  I gradually felt better and stronger, but in the new year, the pain returned.  In this episode, I share what I'm learning as I go through this physical healing process. The book I talk about in this episode is called "How to Be Sick: A Buddhist-Inspired Guide for the Chronically Ill and Their Caregivers" by Toni Bernhard.

Happy 2024!  It's a new year!  Which means, a new you…right?  Not necessarily!  I believe it's more about sticking to your values with whatever choices and decisions we are making in our lives, at any point during the year. 

This episode was inspired by my friend's son who reminds me to make time for play. I talk about the benefits of play and the 8 Play Personalities identified by Dr. Stuart Brown, the founder of the National Institute for Play. You can find out more about the Play Personalities and Institute at nifplay.org.

Sometimes I feel like I'm running out of time or running behind in life. In this episode, I share how I find happiness and contentment in this super fast-paced world we live in by practicing mindfulness.

Since it's January, let's talk about goals! I've been reflecting on my goals and if I should've set new ones for this year.  In this episode, I share why I didn't do any New Year's resolutions and what is actually important to me when setting goals.

I'm such an overthinker!  And I notice that I do so in unfamiliar situations...especially new experiences that are important to me, which is why I pour my heart and soul into the learning process. In this episode, I share some things I do consistently to manage overthinking so it doesn't get the best of me.    

Failing doesn't feel good! When you work really hard for something you want, it sucks when you don't get it the first time. But failing the first time just means I don't have the thing that I want, yet. And I know I can choose how to respond to failure. In this episode, I talk about accepting and embracing failure based on the significance of water in Taoism.         

The last few weeks have been challenging for me as I notice my inner bully/voice/critic has been relentless and very loud. I've learned so many ways to manage that bully/voice/critic, and self-compassion is a huge part of that process. And I've learned that thoughts are just thoughts and they aren't always true.

In this episode, I share my thoughts on when it's okay to give up on something, and how I reframe giving up as letting go.   

This episode wraps up my series on grief as I share what it means to me to live a full and meaningful life. These episodes on grief were inspired by the book "You Are Here: Discovering the Magic of the Present Moment" by Thich Nhat Hanh. If you feel stuck or lost, and are not sure which way to go on your journey, I'd love to support you!  Book a call with me here: https://sociatap.com/vanessachiu

The practice of letting go can be so challenging, especially when circumstances didn't go the way you thought they would. This is the fourth episode in my series about grief, inspired by the book "You Are Here: Discovering the Magic of the Present Moment" by Thich Nhat Hanh. I share how I'm learning to let go of control and expectations, and how grief and joy can coexist.

I'm learning and accepting that life is all about beginnings and endings. I'm also learning to reframe what endings mean to me. In this episode, I share more insights from the book "You Are Here: Discovering the Magic of the Present Moment" by Thich Nhat Hanh, and also from a daily mindfulness challenge I did earlier this year from Tara Brach and Jack Kornfield.

It can be hard to acknowledge emotional pain and sometimes, we have the tendency to ignore and avoid what's uncomfortable. But I'm learning that facing our pain is necessary in the healing process. The book I talk about in this episode is called "You Are Here: Discovering the Magic of the Present Moment" by Thich Nhat Hanh.  If you'd like support on your journey through grief and loss, discover how I can help you by booking a call with me here: https://sociatap.com/vanessachiu/

I'm so excited to be back with new episodes! In my last episode, I shared that I was taking a break from my podcast because I was grieving, and I wanted to focus on self-care and healing. This episode is the first in my series about grief, as I go deeper into my journey and share what I've learned and am still learning from this grieving process. The book that inspired these episodes is called "You Are Here: Discovering the Magic of the Present Moment" by Thich Nhat Hanh. 

I just passed the one-year mark since I started my podcast and I'm so grateful to you for listening to my show. In this episode, I share 3 important lessons that I've learned over the last year, and they are also lessons that I remind myself of when I'm going through hard days.

This week, I spoke with another awesome woman and coach I've met on my journey as an entrepreneur…Jean Atman! In this episode, we talk about why toxic relationships are a gift and being a conscious creator of our own lives. Jean is a Soul Evolution Coach and Energy Medicine Specialist. She is a leading expert on how to break free of negative life experiences - for good. She is well known in her industry as the go-to girl for helping people heal from toxic relationships and past traumas so that they can live a life filled with potential and ease. She has assisted over 20,000 people up-level their lives in her 21-year professional career and remains fiercely dedicated to that cause. Jean believes everyone can live a life of their dreams, and she thoroughly enjoys helping them tap into that potential! For more on Jean, her work, and how she can help you, her website is www.JeanAtman.com. You can also find her on Facebook (JeanAtmanEnergyAlchemist) and on YouTube (Jean Atman).  

It was my pleasure to be a guest on another virtual chat with the Stigma Free Society, that was led by Dr. Daniel To, who is the District Principal overseeing Speciality Programs and Mental Health Programming for Surrey Schools in BC. In this episode we talk about conquering fear and what that means. The video interview of our chat is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ldcVbYKEPdo If you'd like to get unstuck from your mindset, grief, and fears, book a call with me here: https://sociatap.com/vanessachiu

I used to live my life in fear and anxiety until I realized it was robbing me of so much happiness and joy.  In this episode, I chat with Rebecca Wiener McGregor about fear and how we can use fear to our advantage.  We also discuss why suffering feels safe, and how fear can keep you stuck in unhealthy relationships. Rebecca is an Amplifier of Love and catalyst for breakthroughs!  She shares her gifts as a transformational hypnotist + money mindset coach committed to helping visionary women live their Truth, step into their Divine Purpose, and create the life of their dreams.  Over the last 16 years she has helped her clients to release old blocks, traumas, loss, and hidden fears to find a deeper sense of self-worth and determination to live life on their own terms. Using that self-worth and determination as fuel to create the life they've been dreaming of with deeper connection, more joy, more impact, wealth, and more fun! Rebecca's clients include spiritual entrepreneurs, coaches, healers, executives, entertainers, and influencers--women who have a message to share with the world.  She's worked with women across the country and around the world to release limiting beliefs and rewire their subconscious mind to feel limitless, take action, and create a life filled with abundance. Rebecca lives with her husband (in a relationship she manifested) and her rescue dogs Lucy, Millie, and Professor Winston in South Dakota USA where she loves books, art, music, has the ever-so-slight Netflix infatuation, and loves spending time hosting her friends and family. To connect with Rebecca and find out more about what she does, visit rebeccawiener.com or healwithhypnosis.com, email her at rebecca@rebeccawiener.com, and follow her on social media:  www.facebook.com/iamrebeccasue and  www.instagram.com/iamrebeccasue/. 

In this episode, I wanted to share more about my experience working with money therapist, Jennifer Love, what it's been like for me since digging deep into my money beliefs, and how my life has changed from doing this inner work.

Where do our beliefs about money come from and are those beliefs helping us live wealthy?    In this episode, my special guest Jennifer Love and I will talk about challenging our beliefs about wealth, money, and success.   There have been a few badass women I've met and worked with in the last 12 months and Jennifer Love is one of them. Jennifer is an amazing woman with some kickass titles under her belt, including money therapist, wealth philosopher, she's an ally of nature and advocate for emotions, top 5% internationally-acclaimed business advisor, and last but not least, a dark chocolate enthusiast.   Award winning, 5x career entrepreneur with 20+ years under her comfy Keds (she retired her high heels years ago), Jennifer Love is a thought leader with a heart that matches her name. Her degrees, training, and research in human and organizational behavioural psychology are the foundation for her clinical work. She's currently the visionary CEO of the Living Wealthy Institute, helping world leaders develop a healthy relationship with wealth free from overwhelm and anxiety by following a regenerative money equation for a holistic and nourishing experience. Leaders who know how to raise, manage, grow and contribute money can live soulful, wealthy lives to become allies for future generations to come. She believes ANYTHING is possible while remaining grounded in science and real business practices and hard financial analytics. On a given day, Jennifer can be found diving deep with a leader in a private money therapy session, taking long contemplative walks and hikes through nature, guiding groups of leaders through workshops and retreats, serving as a guest judge for entrepreneurial events like Startup Weekend, speaking on stage as a Wealth Philosopher, in her art studio shaping her artistic magic onto canvas, preparing entrepreneurs how to land a deal on Shark Tank, working behind the scenes on shows like: Biz Fix with Marcus Lemonis, in her writing studio developing a book or paper, meeting with community leaders and government officials, negotiating with investors (she's helped raise $100M+), advising leaders of Fortune 200 companies and celebrities through her Living Wealthy Model, OR simply being at home enjoying time with her sweetheart John, her fur-baby Maggie, and her adored garden of plants. She is beloved by those around her because she gets results. As a former client once said, “With Jennifer, the only possible outcome is success.” To connect with Jennifer and find out more about what she does, visit her website https://jenniferlove.com/, follow her on Instagram @theJenniferLove, and check out her podcast The Nature of Money. 

This episode is another virtual chat I had with Dr. Daniel To for the Stigma Free Society in February 2021. In this segment, we have a discussion about one of my favourite topics...our inner critics and how to stop the negative self-talk. We also talk about the dangers of comparing ourselves to others and the importance of accountability. The link to the video interview is here: https://youtu.be/jQUuh9ohfNk If you're feeling like your inner critic is bringing you down and you're experiencing self-doubt, or maybe your mindset isn't where you'd like it to be, I'd love to help you get unstuck!  Book a 45-minute diagnostic call with me here: https://sociatap.com/vanessachiu  

Sharing my story about being the other woman and the immense guilt and shame that came from that experience was probably the scariest, and most vulnerable, thing I've ever done.  Through self-reflection, and learning about forgiveness and compassion, I finally feel at peace about my past.

This episode is an interview I did in October 2020 with the Stigma Free Society, that was lead by Dr. Daniel To, who is a long-time friend and also the District Principal overseeing Speciality Programs and Mental Health Programming for Surrey Schools in BC.  We talked about some of the challenges I faced with my mindset and mental health when I decided to change careers, how I stay resilient, and how I embrace change. The link to the video interview is here: https://youtu.be/QP_gjedfq7E If you feel stuck in your mindset, maybe your inner critic is getting you down, you're experiencing self-doubt, or you're having trouble embracing change and you would like coaching, book a 45-minute diagnostic call with me here: https://sociatap.com/vanessachiu

I've been hearing the phrase "I can't" a lot these days and it made me realize how those words strip away our power.  In this episode, I offer 5 different phrases to use instead of "I can't."  

What is imposter syndrome? Why do we experience it? How can we overcome it? In this episode, my guest Dr. Grace Lee will answer these questions and give more insight into imposter syndrome. Dr. Grace is the founder of Mastery Insights, host of Inciting Influence and Career Revisionist podcasts, and creator of a practical, business & career channel on YouTube. She is sought after as a speaker and trainer in the areas of sales, business development, career development, public speaking, mindset, and neuroscience. Through her coaching firm, Mastery Insights, Dr. Grace is dedicated to enabling professionals to take their education, expertise, and experiences, and (1) turn it into a passion for profit online, or (2) leverage it to create greater income and impact in a meaningful career path.  She has trained hundreds of people from 10+ countries all over the world. Using her expertise from her PhD in neuroscience, Dr. Grace's methods empowers you to discover a different way of thinking to take the guesswork out of what to do next so you can grow fast. If you'd like to contact Dr. Grace and find out more about what she does, follow her on Instagram: @drgracelee, and you can check out her latest opportunity at TubeCelebrityCodex.com.  

As promised, I have 7 additional self-care activities that you can add to my list from last week.  If you haven't listened to last week's episode yet, it's called "7 Self-Care Tips."  And if you have any self-care suggestions that I haven't included, feel free to email me at hello@vanessachiu.com.

Don't skimp on self-care!  This is one of the most important things I've learned on my entrepreneurial journey so far.  Self-care is important for your mind, body, and soul.  When you take care of yourself, you're able to show up for the people who need you.  In this episode, I go through some of the most common myths I hear about self-care and I give you 7 practical suggestions for self-care.

Even though I'm learning so many new things and growing my knowledge on my entrepreneurial journey, sometimes my inner critic starts to get really loud.  When I'm going through a challenging situation, I can be very hard on myself.  In this episode, I wanted to share with you the blueprint that I follow to quiet my inner critic when I'm going through a tough time.

This episode is a very special one because I wanted to share with you the conversation I had with actor Lucas Ng and comedian Josh Yang, as I was a guest on their podcast, "Have We Made It Yet?"  On Lucas and Josh's show, they chat with other actors, performers, and artists about their journey and creative process.   I've talked about my path in radio in a few of my other episodes, but we dig a little bit deeper into my career.  I share my experiences in the industry and the challenges I faced, like moving away from home, my first radio job in Prince George, BC, and staying motivated and resilient while pursuing a career in radio, and now, as an actor.   The video link to this interview is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=juuJJWTDMKw&t=517s

Since I strive to be honest and vulnerable in my journey as an entrepreneur, I thought I would share what I've been struggling with over the last little while. In this episode, I talk about letting go of control and what I've learned about surrender from author and coach Kute Blackson.

After paying to renew my teaching certificate every year for the last decade, I finally decided to stop.  I explain why in this episode and also share some of my thoughts on formal education.

Sometimes I think it was my life's goal to get other people's approval and validation. I was a MAJOR people pleaser. And it wasn't a healthy mindset for me to have! In this episode, check out my tips on how to stop being a people pleaser. And if you'd like to know more about how to life your happiest life, get my free guide at stopthestressnow.com.

It's normal to want everyone to be happy in certain situations, but it's not realistic. Check out this episode where I share the signs of a people pleaser and I also share some personal stories of what I did to try and gain other people's approval.

Contrary to one of my previous episodes "Why Embracing Change is Good", not all change is good. I explain why, and what staying true to yourself means in this episode as I share some stories about past dating relationships. Feeling like you need more insight on staying true to yourself and how that leads to a happier life? Download my free guide at stopthestressnow.com. 

Endorphins are our body's natural pain killer and the tips I share in this episode on how to increase endorphins are some of my favourite activities to do! 

In this episode, find out ways to increase oxytocin, aka the love and bonding hormone.

This is a continuation of my mini-series on boosting your happiness chemicals.  This episode is about serotonin, aka the mood stabilizer.  For help on mindset and emotional health, visit vanessachiu.com/coaching.

Our bodies naturally produce chemicals that help regulate our mood and I wanted to share some tips on how to naturally boost those chemicals so that you can be happier.  In this episode, I'll be talking about dopamine.  To discover how I can help you with your mindset and emotional health, visit vanessachiu.com/coaching.

We all have beliefs about ourselves as a result of things that happened to us when we were kids, but maybe those beliefs aren't true.  In this episode, I share the childhood stories that I've internalized and how important it is to me now to let go of those stories and beliefs as an adult.

I address some of the messages and comments I've gotten about my series on forgiveness, and what "knowing your worth" means to me. The poem I read in this episode is called "I Am Enough" by Jennifer Williamson.

This is part 3 of my series on forgiveness.  In this episode, I talk about how being vulnerable has helped me on my journey of forgiveness and how it has helped me find purpose in my grief and loss.    The resources and books I mention in this episode are:   “Daring Greatly” by Brené Brown and her podcast “Unlocking Us”  “Ultimate Confidence: The Secrets to Feeling Great About Yourself Everyday” by Marisa Peer   “Finding Meaning: The Sixth Stage of Grief” by David Kessler   

Forgiving others who hurt you can be hard, as I shared in my previous episode “How to Forgive Someone Who Broke Your Heart.”  But forgiving yourself for something you think is unforgivable is also hard.  This is part 2 of my series on forgiveness. The resources and books I mention in this episode are:  Corrie Sirota's TedX talk “Loss and Found”  Kristin Neff and her research on compassion  “Daring Greatly” by Brené Brown  “Maybe you should talk to someone” by Lori Gottlieb, and her Ted Talk “How changing your story can change your life” 

I thought I would take this secret with me to the grave...but part of my journey as an entrepreneur and in personal development is learning to be vulnerable and move towards my discomfort because that's where I will find healing and growth.   This is the most difficult episode I've ever recorded.  But I wanted to share my story with you and be honest because sometimes, forgiveness is hard.  Here is part 1 of my series on forgiveness.

A mini announcement and update about what I've been working on lately and a special opportunity for you at vanessachiu.com/coaching. 

Acknowledging your feelings and being honest about them plays a huge part in your confidence and self-esteem.  In this episode, I share 3 things that will help you be more confident in your feelings.

If you've ever been frustrated on the path to reaching your goals, you are not alone.  In this episode, I share some useful and practical tips I've learned about how to achieve your goals, based on Marisa Peer's book Ultimate Confidence: The Secrets to Feeling Great About Yourself Every Day.

I'm learning that confidence has a lot to do with the language you use.  Phrases that I would use frequently in the past were things like, "I'm terrified" or "I'm anxious."  But those phrases only made me more stressed!  In this week's episode, I share tips on how to change your language for the better.

You are your own worst critic. No one will be harsher on you than yourself. I know this is true for me. Join me in this episode as I talk about how to silence that voice inside that says you're not good enough and you have to be perfect.