Mental Defense

Nurse Practitioner Millie Carlson is a special guest on The Mental Defense Podcast. Having worked in the NICU for the last eight years, Millie offers insights into the parallels between the regulation of an infant's well-being and regulation of the self in adulthood. By meeting people where they are, Millie has found a deeper sense of love for her patients. She teaches us to meet ourselves wherever we are in our journey towards mindfulness and well-being. Reference: https://www.happiestbaby.com/blogs/baby/the-5-s-s-for-soothing-babies

A fear of the dark is rooted in the fear of the unknown. The cycle of darkness and light in nature exist with purpose and intention. Are our lives meant to be any different? The Summer Solstice reminds us of the cyclical patterns in our lives and the beauty in expansion and contraction. Celebrate your own internal light and make peace with the unknown. In this episode we explore removing limiting labels from out experiences because light and dark are not synonymous with good and bad.

What does yoga and martial arts have to teach us about forgiveness? This episode explores finding peace with the past through the eyes of Warrior II pose and elbow position. We find purpose for our pain through forgiveness. Strength and stability in the present comes from the support and engagement of our past. When we practice self-forgiveness it clears room for new growth. Forgiveness does not happen all at once, but take a step forward with this guided imagery meditation.

Differentiating what you feel from who you are is a self-care technique commonly used for those experiencing chronic anxiety. It is the difference between saying 'I am anxious' and 'I feel anxious'. Although an effective technique, it can do the disservice of treating anxiety as an enemy that must be overcome. As a martial artist, I learned that I would never win a fight by treating my opponent as an enemy. The fight is not won with toughness, it is won with humility and the ability to learn from and respect our opponent. We do so by observing our opponent. In this episode we will put observation into practice as we explore negative feelings with empathy.

The human mind is structured such that we can experience emotional reactions in the present from thoughts about the past and future. We break this cycle and find peace through the act of surrender, or letting go. Surrender is a form of acceptance. It takes great humility which is the greatest of strengths. Explore letting go of what does not serve you through guided imagery meditation to manifest greater peace, happiness, success, joy, gratitude, and love.

Amidst the COVID-19 outbreak and social isolation, it is natural to feel overwhelmed and disconnected. At times like these, it is important to root deeply into our empathy and practice loving-kindness towards ourselves and all living beings. This podcast and meditation can help alleviate feelings of loneliness as we navigate connection across physical barriers.