Alissa Jameson

It was so inspiring to interview fellow adoptee Michelle McManus for Episode 17 of the Adopt Yourself Podcast! She shares her courageous story of how she went from thinking the rape of her birthmother was her fault to accepting it as it is while choosing to turn her pain into inspiration to help others Michelle explains how she navigated her emotions learning she was adopted at 8 years old which led to childhood bullying for being adopted resulting self-bullying. As she became more curious about her origins she hired a private investigator to find her biological families when she was only in high school. She was then challenged with depression after learning she is the product of rape + that her birthmother did not desire to grow a relationship with her, yet through all of these circumstances she’s been able to find closure + love for herself through accepting it all just as it is As many adoptees can relate, even though Michelle comes from a family that made her feel loved she still faced the feelings of not belonging, codependency, + people pleasing We connected through social media earlier this year + bonded about our adoptee healing journeys. She is a passionate, determined, + courageous woman who I know will inspire so many fellow adoptees to find closure by learning to accept their circumstances + choose to find love for themselves just as they are Her piece of advice for adoptees: “It is absolutely ok to have mixed feelings about your adoption. You can be happy, sad, you can feel disconnected from your family but that doesn’t mean that you don’t love them. You have the right to search for your family without feeling like you’re betraying your adoptive family. There is no right or wrong way to feel. There are others around you, you have the right to answers + if you get answers that you don’t want you have to accept it + move on. Closure for me wasn’t finding love from my birthparents it was finding love for myself.” And my favorite quote of hers on this episode: “I thought me finding my birth family was going to be my closure but it wasn’t. My closure was me accepting what it was and finally loving myself and that’s when I found my true closure” ACTIVATION WARNING: On this episode we discuss her birthmother’s rape + our experiences of suicidal thoughts Connect with Michelle on Instagram @babybebrave_24 If you’re an adoptee, birthparent, or adoptive parent + you desire to share your story on the podcast about how adoption has impacted your life or how you’ve chosen to Adopt Yourself then fill out this form www.alijameson.com/podcast or contact Ali at adoptyourself@gmail.com. Our Adoptee Healing + Support Group is open to any adoptee anywhere in the world, we meet via zoom every Tuesday at 5:30 pm PST, link to register is here https://www.alijameson.com/adopteecommunity. I'll be adding another time slot soon for European residents! Thank you for listening + sharing with anyone you think will resonate! Sending Mother Earth Blessings + All my love, Ali --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/adoptyourself/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/adoptyourself/support

This week’s share is themed Release To Receive, where I transparently shine a light on the continuous process I’ve been moving through of releasing control + letting go of who I thought I was or “should be” in order to step into being more of who I incarnated here to be I started this podcast to explain the process of learning to fully embrace all aspects of one’s life. Initially it was going to have a large focus on the impact + trauma of adoption, + as I adopt more of myself, my role in this world shifts, I evolve, this podcast evolves, + my upcoming book Adopt Yourself evolves. (Note: Adoption specific episodes are airing in November in honor of Adoption Awareness month) The intention of this podcast is to bring more self-healing tools + guidance to our world, as a healed world manifests by more individuals healing our inner worlds. Adopting Yourself means taking full responsibility for all aspects of your life, seen + unseen, conscious + unconscious, intentional + unintentional, healed + unhealed, wounded + scared, all parts of you… past you, present you, + future you. We first adopt ourselves by taking full responsibility for the self, we then adopt ourselves in our relationships, + we then adopt ourselves as stewards of our Earth Bringing more conscious awareness of the self-blockages that have inhibited me from receiving what I desire to experience has guided me to shed more layers of who I am not in order to see, trust, + be more of who I truly am Currently I’m being called to focus on + share more stories of the healing power of the earth through spirit’s eyes + as I may not entirely see or innerstand what that looks like yet I choose to surrender to the guidance of spirit as my calling. Our lives are made up of mere moments, the more we’re able to live each moment for being sacred the richer our lives will become. Finding stillness to pray before consuming, taking a moment to stop + smell a flower, being fully present to experience the birds flying by, each of these moments is sacred so how can we embrace + enjoy the in-between moments of life more? Remember… You are supported You are supported by our earth You are supported by your fellow humans You are supported by your ancestors Be open to receive love + support from us Suggested earthing/grounding practices: A daily non-negotiable to walk barefoot on the earth Hugging trees for 5 or more full breaths, mentally envisioning releasing of any heavy emotions or mental chatter with the phrase “I release this _back to creator to receive more love + stability from Mother Earth + source”, then thank the tree for existing + supporting the energetic shift Suggested contemplations/journal prompts: Where can you release more mentally/emotionally/physically? What is something you’ve neglected to face, what can you receive by facing + releasing it? Where can you release so you receive more of you? What can you release to receive more love? Where have you been self-sabotaging without labeling it as that? What are you consuming or engaging with that’s distracting you from reaching your North Star or ‘goal’ What limits are you putting on loving yourself +/or loving others? Much love to each of you, thank you for being part of my journey + thank you for being you! I love you! Resources mentioned on this episode: Ceremonial Cacao Astrology reading from my friend + Kundalini yoga instructor Kjord Merchant Mermaid Immersion with Jilly, The Water Priestess Reiki Attunement with Sarah --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/adoptyourself/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/adoptyourself/support

On this episode Ali shares about the challenges she’s faced + is facing with navigating relationships with her biological families + the tools she’s used to move through tiptoeing with her actions + communications careful to not offend anyone so that she can honor her journey more instead of investing energy on worrying about how others will act/react/respond As she’s been diving deeper into family reunions she keeps reminding herself what she tells her adoptee clients: Your worth isn’t based on whether you were “kept” or “given up” Your ancestry + blood do not define who you are The actions + behaviors of your biological + adoptive families do not define you YOU DEFINE YOU YOU create your own identity YOU ARE WORTHY just by being alive For any adoptees who desire a safe space to talk about life as an adoptee, feel free to join our Adoptee Support Group, weekly zoom calls every Tuesday at 5:30 pm PST. Sign up here! If you'd like to join the podcast and. share your story about how adoption has impacted your life or how you've chosen to Adopt Yourself then fill out this form Connect with Ali on Instagram or email her at alissa@thajamesoncollective.com --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/adoptyourself/message

Ali is back after a five month hiatus + is recommitted to weekly podcasting, new episodes drop every Sunday! On this open, unedited episode Ali shares about how the practices of gratitude, grieving, + connecting to a power greater than herself that have allowed for her to stay buoyant while riding the rollercoasters of life during the last 6 months of this pandemic. She shares about how to unpack fear, offers a reframe on fear of abandonment, + shares what she does to move through fear. She also talks about the importance of mothering herself + the power of self-acceptance. Thank you for listening!! REMINDER TO YOU: YOU ARE LOVED, YOU ARE WORTHY, YOU ARE ENOUGH! For any adoptees who desire a safe space to talk about life as an adoptee, feel free to join our Adoptee Support Group, weekly zoom calls every Tuesday at 5:30 pm PST. Sign up here! If you'd like to join the podcast and. share your story about how adoption has impacted your life or how you've chosen to Adopt Yourself then fill out this form Connect with Ali on Instagram or email her at alissa@thajamesoncollective.com --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/adoptyourself/message

Ali is back podcasting after taking a break to focus on strengthening relationships with herself, her family, and clients during quarantine of COVID19 outbreak. Mother's Day can feel challenging for adoptees (and non-adoptees), even if we have strong relationships with our mothers. Over the past two weeks Ali has received a lot of texts and calls from adoptees and non-adoptees asking for her advice on whether or not to reach out to their mothers or birthmothers or those they identify as mother figures to them Ali shares her views and advice on how to handle Mother's Day and her story on how her relationship with her birthmom has taught her how to learn, practice, and embody more patience and acceptance. reminder that just because someone isn’t there to support you physically or emotionally doesn’t mean they don’t love you. Each and every one of us are just showing up the best way we can in each given moment. Part of the process and commitment to Adopt Yourself is to also mother yourself, to nurture, nourish, and love yourself for being and existing. At the end of the episode Ali shares about Green Tara, the Mother of all Buddhas who is the mother of liberation and healing. Ali says her mantra 7 times every morning, before taking actions throughout her day, and before she rests in the evening. Green Tara Mantra is 'om tare tuttare ture soha', say this while envisioning her and/or envisioning evolvement, liberation, and healing for yourself, your loved ones, and all sentient beings. If you're an adoptee and would like to join the Adoptee Support Group, we have zoom calls every Tuesday at 5:30 PM PST, link to register is here Thank you for listening friend! If you have any questions feel free to reach out to Ali via email at alissa@thejamesoncollective.com Sending you so much love! May you be happy, healthy, safe, and live with ease! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/adoptyourself/message

On this share Ali gives a brief update on her quarantine situation due to the coronavirus outbreak and mentions different offerings to provide support as we all move through this experience together Her offerings: Free content through podcast + social platforms on self-healer tools + trauma-informed practices to aid you through this quarantine experience Free Daily Drop In Playdate Call at noon PST via Zoom: receive support, guidance, love, + self-healer tools to combat fear, isolation, + anxiety. Let's connect through conversations that heal + bring some laughter + light to our lives! Discounted pricing on one-on-one coaching Adoptee Support Group Call every Tuesday at 5:30 pm PST All info and updates on additional virtual playdates + wellness retreats found at www.alijameson.com Instagram is @alissajameson where Ali has an IG Highlight of "Quarantine Support" which includes tools that will aid in self-care and food support ***If you are a healer, teacher, therapist, coach or have an offering that will aid or support others through this quarantine and the aftermath please message Ali so she can promote you through her platforms and mailing list. Email is alissa@thejamesoncollective.com Thank you for listening! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/adoptyourself/message

Part of adopting yourself is taking full responsibility for your joy and healing. With all that is going on in the world today, especially with the spread of the coronavirus and all the unknowns and uncertainties related to it, it is important to remember that although we might feel fear, we do not need to operate from fear. Each of us must take responsibility for ourselves, our actions, our reactions, and our interactions as we do so with a little bit more precaution than in the past. We either transfer something or transmute it so instead of transferring fear to one another let's shift it into a higher vibration. We are capable of transmuting our fear into love so let's give ourselves permission to fully feel the fear around uncertainties and unknowns, move through it, and transmute it into gratitude, compassion, kindness, and love We're all in this together, one human race all around the world, let's spread more love as we move through this pandemic together --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/adoptyourself/message

Our scars shape us into who we are yet sometimes we neglect honoring them in a way that's best for our growth. Ali shares her journey in learning how to honor her scars, particularly the one from her closest near death experience which happened exactly five years ago this week. Part of Ali's journey in adopting herself has been transforming into honoring and respecting her body, a practice she continues to deepen on a daily basis. In celebration of life and in honoring the progress she's had in adopting her experience, Ali shares details of her biggest physical scar, a partial peace sign scar covering her belly, that she received after an 8.5 hour surgery where half her liver and her gall bladder were removed due to a cyst the size of a softball creating a home in her liver. This experience shook her to her core and was a pivotal moment in her spiritual awakening and how she now approaches life. Learning to honor your scars and love them for what they are will transform your life. If you're an adoptee or have been directly impacted by adoption and you desire to share your story fill out this form. If you'd like to connect reach out to Ali on Instagram! May you be free from suffering, may you be happy, healthy, safe, and live with ease! Sending you loads of love, thank you for listening friend! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/adoptyourself/message

Self-compassion is one of the most important practices for us to cultivate and practice on a daily basis, especially when we’re moving through challenging times Ali shares her journey to a daily practice of self-compassion, with tools on how to acknowledge and embrace your inner critic as well as adjusting and reframing thoughts so that you stay in the present and shift into positive self-talk And remember — have patience with the process + with this beautiful journey we call life! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/adoptyourself/message

Through this unedited, open, and briefly interrupted episode Ali shares about transformative losses, shifts, and deaths that she’s experienced along with the learnings and love that were gained from each of them. Change is inevitable, as is loss, as is death. It’s what we do when we are faced with each of these circumstances that builds character, community, and a stronger appreciation for life. Each of us experiences all of these at some point in our lives which is why it’s even more important for us to have open conversations about how they impact our lives and to ask for help when we need some extra love and support. Any change, shift, loss, or death is a reminder to be more grateful for life, to spread more love, and to live in each present moment. The nonprofit Ali volunteers with that she mentions in this episode is Lunch On Me, they provide organic food and healing to those experiencing homelessness in Los Angeles, Hawaii, and New York. Their mission is to end starvation by redirecting waste and their motto is to Love Without Reason. They opened LaRayia’s Bodega, the first organic 99cent store that also has healing items, amazing food and drinks, and a warm loving family community to welcome you. To donate click here, if you are interested in volunteering email Ali at alissa@thejamesoncollective.com Thank you for listening! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/adoptyourself/message

Ali openly shares her adoption story + her observations with the beauty + pain of adoption as seen on all sides of the adoption triad. She explains how the separation from her birthmother was the root of her fear of abandonment which also left her learning how to feel safe in chaos. Ali voices the energetic longing she feels towards being reunited with her birthmother + how finding her voice is what has brought her stability. She shares her views on abortion with a reminder of the importance of choice + free will. Adoptee Support Group Calls via Zoom every Tuesday at 5:30 PM PST, any adoptee can join from anywhere in the world, register here! Desire to be interviewed on the podcast? Sign up here! Contact Ali via Instagram here --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/adoptyourself/message

Ali's raw, unscripted, + unedited rant of the general story of how she got here today including some of the big pivots and experiences that make her who she is. On this episode Ali opens up about the most embarrassing moment of her life, her biggest transformations, + the passing of one of her soulmates that rocked her to her core. More details of each pivot along with the learnings + self-healer tools to come in upcoming episodes! Trigger warning: Ali mentions the headlines of her abusive relationship, rape, and traumas. For more information on Ali + her coaching offerings check out adoptyourself.com or direct message her on Instagram here. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/adoptyourself/message

A brief introduction to host + adoptee Ali Jameson along information on what it means to Adopt Yourself. Adopt Yourself was initially started as a coaching program she created + facilitates, yet Ali soon realized it was so much more than just that, it's what she's been actively doing her entire life as she's been learning to accept + love herself. Ali has taken her learnings, knowledge, expertise, healing modalities, + experiences into sharing them through her new platform, message, + offering to the world on how to heal, accept, + love yourself, just as you are. You don't need to be an adoptee to adopt yourself, anyone can do it! Adoption is a subject that is sometimes hidden, even to the adoptee themselves. In past generations it was uncommon to have conversations about adoption + Ali is bringing adoption awareness into everyone’s lives by sharing her stories + giving other members of the adoption triad a safe space to share their stories through conversations that heal. By listening to this podcast you’ll learn about adoption from all sides of the adoption triad + you’ll walk away with self-healer tools so that you know how to Adopt Yourself + transform your life by accepting, choosing, unconditionally loving, + prioritizing you! Adoption doesn’t happen overnight, neither does adopting yourself. As we journey through life we uncover + learn more about ourselves, who we are, what we like, + desire yet sometimes we run away from accepting the parts of us we don’t initially love. Adopting yourself is complete self-acceptance through self-compassion + learning to love all parts of yourself, just as they + you are. Invitation to any and all adoptees around the world: Ali hosts weekly Adoptee Support Group Calls via Zoom every Tuesday at 5:30 PM PST, link to register is here. If you're interested in being interviewed on the podcast, please fill out this form. Any questions, comments, or desired guidance reach out to Ali via Instagram here. Thank you for listening! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/adoptyourself/message