Finding Hope

Counselor Mandy (Eppley) Bird speaks with author and coach Chris Saade about the importance of liberating ourselves from stress. This is critical because of the proven medical research that stress is linked to many illnesses and diseases. Mandy and Chris cover three aspects of stress: Stress of Dissemination, Profound Stress, and Failure Stress. They offer practical tools for liberating ourselves from each of these types of stress. Stress of Dissemination is when we are doing too much – trying to meet everyone’s needs. Instead, we must focus on the essential needs that must to be met. Profound Stress is when we are involved in work, projects, organizations, etc. that are opposite to our authentic nature. When we are not in harmony with ourselves, the cost is very high. When we are aligned with our heart and our authenticity we have the best chance for good health. Failure Stress is when we are not accepting our humanity and are fighting against the authenticity of life itself. Creativity happens through waves of failures and successes. Thus, we must have both of these. Failures are guiding stars to our successes. The good news is that when we liberate ourselves from stress we can experience much more joy and pleasure!Chris Saâde is the co-director of The Olive Branch Center with his wife, Jessie Thompson, where he teaches courses on engaged spirituality. He has lead more than 200 psychological and spiritual retreats, and continues to serve as a personal Coach for individuals and couples. Chris worked as a licensed psychotherapist for 11 years in private practice specializing in depression and life transitions before migrating into the world of coaching, writing and teaching. He has written 2 books, 2nd Wave Spirituality: Passion for Peace, Passion for Justice and Prayers for Peace and Justice and 2 recordings with Andrew Harvey. www.theolivebranch.net

Counselor Mandy Eppley speaks with ordained minister, Rev. Rebecca Nagy, about her life journey that started out as a successful fashion designer in NYC. She loved this job, but when she had a spinal injury and surgery that left her in a leg brace, she could no longer continue in this field. This was both physically and emotionally painful for her to accept. She moved back to Charlotte to take another job that ended up not being what she thought it would be. During this same time she was also ordained as a non-denominational minster. She “jumped off the ledge” to manifest this new dream in 1998 by officiating weddings, speaking at churches and holding classes. Although this was great, it wasn’t her FULL dream. When her father died she heard him say “Do what God wants to you to do. You know what it is.” Two weeks later a church called her needing a minster. Now two years later she has grown the church, the Spiritual Light Center of Charlotte, into an active community. Mandy summarizes by saying “When we get turned on to our authentic calling we will go to any lengths to go for it.” They also discuss Step 5, Spiritual Fortitude, from the Model of Heart-Centered Grief and how important it is to know that you are never alone. Mandy and Rebecca will both be speakers at SHiFT Charlotte on March 19, 2016.Rev. Rebecca Nagy is the Spiritual Leader of Spiritual Light Center of Charlotte (formerly Unity Center for Spiritual Living).  She is a non-denominational minster, graduating from Sancta Sophia Seminary in 1996 and ordained through Light of Christ Community Church. An award-winning Wedding Officiant, Meditation Teacher, Spiritual Teacher and author of the popular CD, “Instant Calm”, Rebecca is also one of the featured speakers at SHIFT Charlotte 2016, teaching her classic, “Dream State University”. www.slcofcharlotte.org

Counselor Mandy (Eppley)Bird speaks with Jill Angelo, a business woman and author of “Sacred Space: Turning Your Home into A Sanctuary.” When Jill was in her early 30’s she and her fiancé bought a house together that they were going to refurbish, she had a great job, she was looking forward to getting married and having children – she had her life plan all mapped out…or at least she thought. Several weeks after they had bought the house her fiancé was in a fatal car accident. The “plan” that Jill had mapped out for her life was instantly changed with this traumatic loss. She says that one of the greatest gifts from this loss was cracking her heart open to develop a relationship with God. She also knew that she needed professional support and she found a caring therapist that helped her work through the grief process. From this deep work she is able to say “I am so proud of what I have become.” Her book was born out of her life experience and the process of fixing the house – she wanted to go “within” and as she rebuilt the house she asked herself “what nurtures me?” She incorporated these things into the house which helped her to heal as she created her sacred space. Mandy says this communicates to your psyche “I love you.”Jill Angelo is author of Sacred Space: Turning Your Home Into A Sanctuary. She has more than 25 years of experience in business and operations management, an education in marketing and design, and a background in psychology and the mystical arts. Her fine-tuned abilities and out-of-the-box approach to life have uniquely prepared her for creating sacred spaces for people with wide-ranging interests and budgets. She is also an animal lover and hopes one day to have an animal sanctuary. And she is active in the White Lion conservation project in Africa. www.jillangelo.com

Counselor Mandy Eppley speaks with psychotherapist, life coach and author of “Be Happy No Matter What - 5 Steps to Inner Freedom,” Ellen Seigel. When Ellen was a senior in high school she lost both her Principal, who she thought highly of, and her father, who she was very close to, within a short period of time. Both of these, especially her father, were devastating losses for Ellen. This eventually led her to get her masters in Social Work and through the process she learned to trust her heart and discover her authentic self. Ellen says “It is so important to appreciate that underneath, whatever we are faced with, there is an opportunity waiting for us to have an enduring satisfaction in our lives.” Mandy and Ellen also speak about Step 7, Celebration, of the Model of Heart-Centered Grief and how important it is to celebrate our WHOLE story. They discuss the 5 steps that Ellen describes in her book which ultimately is about trusting your own authenticity. This is what can bring us hope!Ellen Seigel, psychotherapist/hypnotherapist/consultant/life coach guides people to experience enduring satisfaction lying beneath their troubles.  Her book, “Be Happy No Matter What - 5 Steps to Inner Freedom” offers gentle self-healing, freeing the reader to discover beauty within themselves and their life. She gives uplifting ways of looking at situations many of us felt awful about when we were growing up. The outcome is seeing yourself in a positive light and feeling really good about it. She works with individuals and groups providing a path of enjoyment in life while overcoming challenges, rejection and negative influences all around us. To learn more visit her website: www.BeHappyNoMatterWhat.com.

Counselor Mandy Eppley speaks with Andrew Harvey, internationally acclaimed speaker, novelist and spiritual teacher. They discuss key world events including the COP21 United Nations climate talks that recently took place in Paris, as well as the threat of terrorism that is present in our world today. Andrew is passionate about these issues and is calling forth every individual to listen to your heart and take action on what YOU are being called to do. He also speaks about the importance of empowering and fortifying ourselves with daily spiritual practices and offers three simple forms of practice. When addressing the threat of terrorism he implores us to learn about the Muslim religion so that we understand what it is and what it is not. Andrew says the most important thing in the coming year is to get in touch with how YOU can change the world and take ACTION on it. This is what WILL bring hope in our world.Andrew Harvey is an internationally acclaimed poet, novelist, translator, mystical scholar, and spiritual teacher. Harvey has published over 20 books including The Hope a Guide to Sacred Activism (Hay House) and his newest book Radical Passion: Sacred Love and Wisdom in Action (North Atlantic Books). Harvey is a Fellow of All Souls College Oxford from (1972-1986) and has taught at Oxford University, Cornell University, The California Institute of Integral Studies, and the University of Creation Spirituality, as well as various spiritual centers throughout the United States. He was the subject of the 1993 BBC film documentary The Making of a Modern Mystic.  He is the Founder of the Institute for Sacred Activism. His website is www.andrewharvey.net.