Our world is fast. Our world is heavy. How can we find ways to slow it all down, live here in the present, and release some of the burden? Living Light podcast is about finding ways to tangibly lighten our load--mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.
Today on the podcast, I review the year of podcasting - the ups and the downs, the expected and unexpected - and share what's ahead for Living Light. I'm very thankful for this year and for all of those that have been following along! For questions/comments, email livinglightpodcast@gmail.com
In this episode, i walk through 10 questions that can be used to review this past year, 2022, and help prepare one's heart and mind for the next--2023. I share examples from my own personal process of reflection. What were the highlights of this 2022 for you? What did you learn? What are you grateful for that took place in 2022? What do you want to leave behind in 2022? Are there any unprocessed emotions from the year that you need to process? If so, how can you address it? Is there any other unfinished business that you need to attend to? A relationship conversation or boundary? What do you want to take with you into 2023? What do you want to feel in 2023? What can you do to feel more of those things? How can you make those goals SMART - specific, measurable, attainable, realistic and timely (to get clarity to on how to make them happen)? For thoughts, questions, and feedback, email livinglightpodcast@gmail.com.
The holidays are upon us, and with that comes various expectations, hopes, and often layered emotions. In this episode, I share practical ways to mentally and emotionally prepare for a healthy (or hopefully, at least a healthier) holiday season! For comments, questions, or feedback, email livinglightpodcast@gmail.com
In today's episode, I share personally about my struggles with Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (CPTSD) and specifically, how it's played into my life over the last few months. For comments/questions, email livinglightpodcast@gmail.com.
Negative thinking can quickly dominate our lives. In this episode, I talk about practical ways to move past it. For questions/comments email livinglightpodcast@gmail.com
In today's episode, I talk about forgiveness using the REACH model, originally developed by Dr. Everett Worthington (R = Recall the hurt, E = Empathize, A = Altruistic Gift, C = Commit, H = Hold onto Forgiveness). Then, I share from my own story, what I feel is missing in the model, and how I've personally walked through the ups and downs of actively choosing forgiveness. For thoughts or questions, email livinglightpodcast@gmail.com.
Today is the last and final episode in the five-part series on the top five regrets of the dying, each coming from the book, "The Top Five Regrets of the Dying: A Life Transformed by the Dearly Departing" by Bonnie Ware. In this episode, I talk about the common dying regret: "I wish I would have let myself be happy," and how we can get to the point of allowing ourselves to truly enjoy our lives. For comments or questions, reach out to livinglightpodcast@gmail.com
In this episode, I continue with the series on the top five regrets of the dying, talking through the regret of "I wish I had stayed in better touch with my friends." For questions or comments, email livinglightpodcast@gmail.com
Today, I am continuing the five-part series on the top five regrets of the dying, with each one coming from, "The Top Five Regrets of the Dying: A Life Transformed by the Dearly Departing" by Bonnie Ware. In this episode, I talk about feelings - how to recognize them, how to feel them, and express them to those we love. Though not the most wild of topics, being able to know, feel, and express our feelings is one of the most powerful tools we can develop. For comments or questions, reach out to livinglightpodcast@gmail.com
On the podcast, I am continuing the five-part series on the top five regrets of the dying, with each one coming from Bonnie Ware's book of the same name, "The Top Five Regrets of the Dying: A Life Transformed by the Dearly Departing." In each episode, I walk through a regret and provide practical ways to bypass that regret ourselves at the end of life. Today, I talk through how to work less and play more. Though it sounds easy, I think this one is tough for many of us (me included) - learning how to put down our work, let go, and tap into the freedom of childlike play. I hope you enjoy it and thanks so much for listening! For comments or questions, reach out to livinglightpodcast@gmail.com
If you listened to my last episode, you know that I took a pause last month and I'm so happy to be back! For the next five weeks, I will be talking through the top five regrets of the dying as outlined in Bonny Ware's book, "The Top Five Regrets of the Dying." I thought it could be practical way to glean from those that have gone before us, and find a way to live a life with no regrets. For questions or comments, email livinglightpodcast@gmail.com.
This week on the podcast, I share what I've found to be true - the importance of allowing our "outer" purpose to flow directly from our being, from our truest selves--from our "inner" purpose. For the sake of further aligning with my own, I have decided to take a brief pause on the podcast to be more centered within myself. I'm looking forward to returning with more confirmation and clarity. I'll be sure to update you when I return! For thoughts or questions, send me an email at livinglightpodcast@gmail.com.
What is somatic experiencing? How might it be beneficial? Who might it benefit the most? In this episode, I talk with my dear friend, Amy Day. She is a Somatic Experiencing practitioner in-training and shares about somatic experiencing can benefit any and everyone. At the end of the episode, she leads us in a 5-minute experience. Feel free to skip ahead to check it out! To connect with Amy Day, email her at baaday@gmail.com or consider taking a class with her at Hippie Soul Yoga in Colorado Springs. https://www.hippiesoulyogastudio.com/ For thoughts or questions, email me at livinglightpodcast@gmail.com
Today on the podcast, I do something a bit different. I share about the importance of connecting back with the body and how in doing so, we're grounded in ourselves and in the present moment. I read a short, 5-minute meditation from the book "Practicing Mindfulness: 75 Essential Meditations to Reduce Stress, Improve Mental Health, and Find Peace in the Everyday" by Matthew Sockolov. For comments or questions, email livinglightpodcast@gmail.com
Today's episode is on a concept that has been pivotal in my journey towards emotional healing and living in lightness. It's simple in theory, and yet, truly allowing the reality of the fact - we are not our minds - to sink in, can be utterly life changing. For comments or questions, email livinglightpodcast@gmail.com
Today's conversation is a continuation of last week's episode. Beth Snyder and I talk through the personality assessment, the Enneagram, and how each number can live a bit “lighter,” practically. We talk through the numbers 6,7,8, 9 and 1. Beth holds an MA and MDiv from Fuller Seminary and received a certification for Spiritual Direction from Soul Shepherding Institute, with an emphasis in the Enneagram. She is a hospice chaplain, has over 12 years' experience in full-time church ministry including pastoral counseling, facilitating Enneagram workshops, worship leading, writing, and speaking. She's been trained in a trauma-informed approach and have a CEU certificate in group and family dynamics. Want to get in touch with Beth? Email sacredstory.sd@gmail.com or visit https://www.sacred-story.com/ Questions/Comments: Email livinglightpodcast@gmail.com
On today's episode, Beth Snyder and I talk through the personality assessment, the Enneagram, and how each number can live a bit “lighter,” practically. We talk through the numbers 2, 3, 4, and 5. Beth holds an MA and MDiv from Fuller Seminary and received a certification for Spiritual Direction from Soul Shepherding Institute, with an emphasis in the Enneagram. She is a hospice chaplain, has over 12 years experience in full-time church ministry including pastoral counseling, facilitating Enneagram workshops, worship leading, writing, and speaking. She's been trained in a trauma-informed approach and have a CEU certificate in group and family dynamics. Want to get in touch with Beth? Visit https://www.sacred-story.com/ Questions/Comments: Email livinglightpodcast@gmail.com
In this episode, I walk through some of my favorite ways to live more simply. These are different approaches I've collected and implemented over the years. I hope you're able to take one or two and adopt them for yourself.
Today on the podcast I talk with my friend, who also happens to be my brother, about ways to care less about what others think. Of course, we don't have “all the answers” on the topic, but we talk through how we've approached caring less about others opinions. For questions/comments email livinglightpodcast@gmail.com
Thoughts play a big role in life. In this episode, I outline how circumstances initiate thoughts and how those thoughts can influence our emotions, actions, and ultimately our results in life. I share a simple, but effective exercise, to see the thoughts rolling around in our brains with greater awareness and clarity. For questions/comments email livinglightpodcast@gmail.com
Today on the podcast, I share in real-time from the heart. It wasn't planned, but I felt it important to share and remind us--that no relationship, hobby, substance, or accomplishment can save us. No external “thing” will be enough to heal our wounds from the past. If we stay in that thinking, we'll throw our wounds onto other things, and in my case relationships, and they can never carry that weight. There is great hope and freedom when we recognize that we have the power to heal ourselves. For questions/comments email livinglightpodcast@gmail.com
As we're entering into Spring, I thought it would be fun to talk through 10 methods of decluttering! Hopefully, one or two will be helpful as you declutter this season. In the episode, I go over the following methods: 1. Four Box Method 2. KonMari Method 3. 30-Day Minimalist Game 4. Packing Party 5. 90/90 Rule 6. Box and Banish Method / Quarantine Method 7. Reverse Hanger Method 8. One In, One Out Rule 9. Swedish Death Cleaning 10. 20/20 Rule Questions/Comments: Email livinglightpodcast@gmail.com
In today's episode, I walk through Dr. Dan Siegel's Wheel of Awareness. Dr. Siegel is a Professor of Clinical Psychiatry at UCLA. The Wheel of Awareness practice is a way to open awareness and cultivate a more expansive container of consciousness. It's been wildly beneficial to me over the last few years and hence, I thought I would share. For those interested in seeing the Wheel of Awareness and/or being guided by Dan through it, follow the link: https://drdansiegel.com/wheel-of-awareness/
Today on the podcast, I start a new series of sorts, "Amongst Friends." The idea of dialoguing with close friends about a specific topic. In this episode, I talk with my dear friend Anna Brawner about maintaining healthy rhythms. It is a follow-up to Episode 10, "Creating Healthy Rhythms - 6 Steps." I thought it might be helpful to flush out the concept of healthy rhythms and the struggles that come along with maintaining them in our lives. Questions/Comments: Email livinglightpodcast@gmail.com
Today, I talk through several benefits of minimalism - namely, how subtracting the unnecessary can provide more resources (time, energy, money, etc) and open opportunities to focus on your purpose. I conclude the episode by providing questions to think on in relation to what impact you hope to make on this world. Questions/Comments: Email livinglightpodcast@gmail.com
Today's conversation is a continuation of last week's episode. Beth Snyder and I talk through the personality assessment, the Enneagram, and how each number can live a bit “lighter,” practically. We talk through the numbers 6,7,8, 9 and 1. Beth holds an MA and MDiv from Fuller Seminary and received a certification for Spiritual Direction from Soul Shepherding Institute, with an emphasis in the Enneagram. She is a hospice chaplain, has over 12 years' experience in full-time church ministry including pastoral counseling, facilitating Enneagram workshops, worship leading, writing, and speaking. She's been trained in a trauma-informed approach and have a CEU certificate in group and family dynamics. Want to get in touch with Beth? Email sacredstory.sd@gmail.com or visit https://www.sacred-story.com/ Questions/Comments: Email livinglightpodcast@gmail.com
On today's episode, Beth Snyder and I talk through the personality assessment, the Enneagram, and how each number can live a bit “lighter,” practically. We talk through the numbers 2, 3, 4, and 5. Beth holds an MA and MDiv from Fuller Seminary and received a certification for Spiritual Direction from Soul Shepherding Institute, with an emphasis in the Enneagram. She is a hospice chaplain, has over 12 years experience in full-time church ministry including pastoral counseling, facilitating Enneagram workshops, worship leading, writing, and speaking. She's been trained in a trauma-informed approach and have a CEU certificate in group and family dynamics. Want to get in touch with Beth? Visit https://www.sacred-story.com/ Questions/Comments: Email livinglightpodcast@gmail.com
Today on the podcast, I give an introduction to inner child work--what it is and how it works--then share a bit of my personal experience with the work, including an inner child dialogue I had with myself in the recent past. Questions/Comments? Email livinglightpodcast@gmail.com
Emotional intelligence (EQ) can impact everything – especially one's aim to live light. Today on the podcast, I talk to the amazing Coach and EQ Gangster, Noble Gibbens. Noble is the person you'd least expect to be talking about feelings & emotions! An uncharacteristic fight with his wife a few years ago revealed a glaring issue: he was clueless when it came to handling his emotions. This West Point grad and former Infantry Officer in the US Army is now an EQ Practitioner and teaches Emotional Intelligence on his five-star rated podcast, EQ Gangster, in his EQ Mafia Membership and through corporate coaching & consulting. Don't let the big beard & tattoos fool you - Noble is pure positive energy & passion! He brings 23 years' experience as an entrepreneur and international keynote speaker to help corporate clients, entrepreneurs, leaders & influencers get their emotions working for them, not against them. https://www.eqgangster.com/ noble@eqgangster.com https://www.instagram.com/eqgangster/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/noble-gibbens-a2748323/ https://www.facebook.com/eqgangster
I recently bought a house and moved into the space. It's been chaotic to say the least and I've been craving healthy rhythms. It motivated me to sit down and plan out how this might be possible for myself. In this podcast, I share the process I walked myself through in creating new rhythms. I hope you find it helpful too! GOLDEN NUGGETS Step 1: Commit to a planning time. Step 2: Imagine and visualize healthy rhythms. Step 3: Brain dump tasks and note the time it takes. Step 4: Write implementation Intentions. Step 5: Brain dump of things that bring you joy. Step 6: Give it a try! Questions/Comments? Email livinglightpodcast@gmail.com
Can Christianity and mindfulness coexist? If so, what does that look like? In this episode, I talk with Pastor, Professor, and Coach, David Cooke, on this thoughts on the topic. GOLDEN NUGGETS: 1) Leadership pyramid: Know yourself, lead yourself, lead others; 2) Connection between mindfulness and self-awareness; 3) "Meditation is a way we build and grow in mindfulness--meditation is the process, mindfulness is the result." 4) Opposite of mindfulness? Mindlessness; 5) Thinking, Feeling, Doing People Get in touch with David Cooke: www.leadershipcatapult.com
In connection to our topic last week—“22 Things to Declutter in 2022 (& Not All Are Material),” I thought I would touch on the concept and power of loving our future selves. I've found it to be so helpful for myself in reaching new goals, dreaming new dreams, and doing the “hard things” to get me there. I hope you find it helpful as well! Questions/Comments? Email livinglightpodcast@gmail.com
Today, I list out 22 things (material and non-material) that you can declutter in 2022! Let's start the year off right—surrounding ourselves with the people, influences, and items that bring us life. Questions/Comments? Email livinglightpodcast@gmail.com
I've been embracing minimalism for the past three years. It's been a process and a journey. In this podcast, I list out ten tips for those looking to give minimalism a try (or those that want a little refresher)! GOLDEN NUGGETS: 1) Review your why; 2) Find support; 3) Take is slow, minimalism is a journey; 4) Give yourself permission to let go; 5) Give yourself permission to keep what brings you joy; 6) Review the questions: Have I used it in the last year? Do I love it? Would I buy it again? 7) Create a quarantine box; 8) Try shopping your own home; 9) Establish a replacement activity 10) Establish personal guidelines. It is not just about less—it's about more through less. Questions/Comments? Email livinglightpodcast@gmail.com
Today, I talk with Sean Ross, a social media Data Scientist in the Bay Area, about digital minimalism. With his background working for social media-based companies, including Facebook on teams focused on the mental health of users, and his current endeavor of creating an app to cultivate in-person engagement, I ask him his personal perspective on how to manage our digital diets and use social media in alignment with our values. He shares some amazing thoughts and recommendations on how to navigate this growing digital world. GOLDEN NUGGETS: 1) Be intentional - pause and think about your reasoning; 2) Find alternate habits to create distance between you and the apps 3) Make a list of fun/practical activities to go to instead of media; 4) Review your values; 5) Be vulnerable - take the first move in reaching out to friends; 6) Make a list of all your connections to keep handy; 7) Create group text threads; 8) Take 10 minutes to think about your plan Want to get in touch with Sean Ross? Sean.ross237@gmail.com Questions/Comments? livinglightpodcast@gmail.com
Today on the podcast, I present the definition of digital minimalism and talk through my personal experience as a social media influencer—and more specifically—why I dropped off the platforms. This is a topic that I will be touching on in the future. With that, if you have specific thoughts or questions, don't hesitate to reach out below. GOLDEN NUGGETS: Digital minimalism: “A philosophy of technology use in which you focus your online time on small number of carefully selected and optimized activities that strongly support things you value, and then happily miss out on everything else.” References: “Digital Minimalism: Choosing a Focused Life in a Noisy World” by Cal Newport | “Good Morning, I Love You: Mindfulness + Self-Compassion Practices to Rewire Your Brain for Calm, Clarity + Joy,” by Shauna Shapiro Questions/Comments? livinglightpodcast@gmail.com
This week on the podcast I discuss the definition of mindfulness and outline the three components that make up an impactful practice. I share my personal experience with mindful meditation and a few important takeaways. GOLDEN NUGGETS: 1) Three components: intention, attention, attitude; 2) Practice, not perfection; 3) Kindness matters; 4) Happiness is based on internal, not external factors References: “Good Morning, I Love You: Mindfulness + Self-Compassion Practices to Rewire Your Brain for Calm, Clarity + Joy,” by Shauna Shapiro | “Mindfulness for Beginners, in 10 minutes a Day: Mindful Moments to Bring Clarity and Calm to Your Morning, Day, and Night,” by Lara Hocheiser | “Mindfulness: An Eight-Week Plan for Finding Peace in a Frantic World" by Mark Williams and Danny Penman Questions/Comments? livinglightpodcast@gmail.com
Today, I walk through the intersection between mindfulness and minimalism, how they are intertwined, and more specifically, how they can help us live fully alive in the present here and now. I also explain, in a bit more detail, my personal reasoning for wanting to start this podcast. I'm thankful to have you on the journey! Questions or Comments? Email livinglightpodcast@gmail.com
On today's episode, I talk through my story—from childhood trauma to influencing days—what led me to start this podcast and my desire to pursue “living light." I share why I stopped posting on social media (@jennamarie.fit), my personal experiences with mindfulness and minimalism, their profound impact on me, and my heart to journey with you in growth. I'm so thankful you're here. Questions/Comments? livinglightpodcast@gmail.com