Podcasts about why struggle

All the links: LINKTR.EE/BARBARAFAISONThis is a podcast about practicing gratitude.If you are new to the podcast, welcome and if you listen regularly, thank you!It's still  May and Nay ⁠CHECK OUT THE NATIONAL MEDITATION PLAYLIST ON YOUTUBE⁠I say “thank you, God” all day long. I feel so blessed and grateful for my life and the people in my life. Even when things are not as great as I would like them to be, I'm still grateful for I know I have the ability to move forward.Do you have all five senses? BE GRATEFUL.Can you walk? BE GRATEFUL.Are you able to eat? BE GRATEFUL.Do you have shelter? BE GRATEFUL.Do you have clothing for your body? BE GRATEFUL.Can you read? BE GRATEFUL.Can you think and express yourself? BE GRATEFUL.Being grateful has now been scientifically proven to be a stress buster. Grateful people are more optimistic and reap the health benefits of the practice. Cultivate the practice of appreciation and look for what you are learning from your experiences. Simply say out loud throughout the day, “thank you.”Practice: Do you have clothing, food, and shelter? What about sight, touch, smell, taste, hearing? Be grateful if you do. The next time you begin to feel ungrateful, think of all the basic things in life you have to give thanks for.Affirmation: I am grateful and appreciate my life.That was an excerpt from my book, audiobook/e-book, Why Struggle?life is too short to wear tight shoes.Practicing gratitude for me is often saying thank you all day long, silently and aloud. I can feel my body surging with such warm feelings when I do this simple practice. It's time to practice.Well, guess what time it is? It's time to PRACTICE… Let's do it!I hope you enjoy this Gratitude Practice that reminds me that gratitude is an attitude and a practice. https://youtu.be/4M9xd90BiTo?si=P0XRBZkTybLimyOH

ALL LINKS: LINKTR.EE/BARBARAFAISON2025 - Week 10 - A TributeThis podcast is a tribute to my favorite poet, Nikki Giovanni and my English teacher, Mrs. Maureen DeLoach from Albany High school in Albany, GA.If you're new to the podcast, welcome, and if you listen regularly, thank you.In this episode, I'm doing something different, offering a tribute to my favorite poet, Nikki Giovanni and my English teacher Maureen DeLoach who really introduced me to poetry.I believe it was in the 10th grade when my English teacher at Albany High School, Maureen DeLoach, had us write poetry. I believe she listens to my podcast, I know she follows me online. That class in English opened me up to a world of writing. So it really is a tribute to Mrs. DeLoach and to Nikki Giovanni.My father, Moses Faison, was a librarian at the local branch on Lee Street in Albany, Georgia and also at Monroe High School. He was an avid reader. He mostly read non-fiction and I remember when he came home with a book of poetry called Cotton Candy On A Rainy Day, it was by Nikki Giovanni. I don't remember exactly when, I suspect it was when I got the assignment from Mrs. DeLoach to write a poem. And boy did I write. Poetry became my jam. I moved from poetry to short stories and then eventually I wrote my personal development book, Why Struggle? Life is too short to wear tight shoes years later in 1999.I fell in love with poetry and read her works and so many others. That book sparked something inside me. Nikki Giovanni passed in December 2024 and when I asked for my divine download about the podcast this week, she was heavy on my mind for some reason.In this tribute, I will share a few of my favorite poems from Cotton Candy On A Rainy Day.Sharing this tribute to Mrs. DeLoach and Nikki, Giovanni was actually also a tool. Reading poetry can be calming and a stress reliever.Thank you again, Mrs. DeLoach and Nikki, Giovanni for both of you, sharing your gifts with the world. Who are some of your favorite poets?If you'd like to share your thoughts - barbarafaisonllc@gmail.com is the best way to reach me. If social media is better for you, LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram, are best.The card I pulled for us today from my Relax, Listen and Trust Your Inner Guidance Card Deck#8 QUESTION - What is one thing that will make me smile?One thing that will make me smile is the life I get to live. I feel so grateful for my family, friends, the people that listen to this podcast and my other offerings. I am deeply grateful.If you would like to order a card deck, you can go to barbarafaison.com/store and look for the cards.Our Breathe with Barbara LIVE sessions for March are on the 12th and the 19th, from 8 - 9 pm eastern. You can find out more by going to barbarafaison.com/store and look for live sessions. All the products in my store have a 10% discount and free US shipping, including live meditation sessions.

This is an episode about embracing change. And embracing change I'm giving myself a break this week from tools and a brand new podcast. And that does include the card pull I'd love to hear your thoughts. It's amazing how things come back around. Week 9 - Embrace ChangeYou probably got up this morning and got dressed. You may have showered, brushed your teeth, eaten breakfast, driven to work, read the newspaper, and had a cup of coffee or tea. You have already been through at least six changes. Every moment is a new change, every second is different from the last one.Change is a natural part of the life cycle. Learning to embrace change is a major step toward peace of mind. Imagine seeing an old friend whom you loved dearly and giving him/her a loving hug. Think of this image the next time you have to handle a major change in your life.Picture yourself opening your arms and welcoming the opportunity to grow. Change will show up at your door regardless of how you feel about it. Learn to open the door and welcome your new friend, CHANGE, with a warm embrace.Practice: Think of all the things that change in one hour. If you are having difficulty accepting change, repeat the affirmation, “I am open and willing to accept change in my life.”Affirmation: I trust the process of life and I easily flow with change.End of excerpt.I hope you enjoyed the Embrace Change excerpt from my book/eBook/audiobook, Why Struggle? Life is too short to wear tight shoes.I changed the flow of this newsletter/podcast for this episode to remind myself to mix things up.

All the links: LINKTR.EE/BARBARAFAISON 2024 - Week 39 - Slow Down and Breathe You can listen to this on my podcast - 8:32 mins or or click the link here for the YouTube Channel version (audio only)      I love this quote - “Autumn is about to show us how beautiful it is to let things go.” - Anonymous In the northern hemisphere, Autumn or fall is the time to start slowing down. In some places the temperatures are dropping, we aren't quite there yet in metro Atlanta. It's coming though. Do you feel the change in yourself, moving from the energy and excitement of summer to wanting to slow down? Autumn is the time to start slowing down, releasing and letting go of whatever you need to release.  Nature shows us now to do it. The trees are letting go of the leaves to prepare for the winter. What about you? What are you preparing for by releasing and letting go? I've learned that around this time I want to DO LESS… so guess what? I'm doing less. I am giving myself permission and in case you need someone to give you permission, PERMISSION GRANTED. I hope you enjoy this excerpt from my book/audio/ebook, Why Struggle? Life is too short to wear tight shoes SLOW DOWN When was the last time you did anything without rushing? We can reach out and touch people in numerous ways including the phone, email, and social media. Technology offers our society such wonderful enhancements to daily living that we sometimes forget to slow down. We get up with our smartphones, cuddle with them and go to bed with them and sometimes we allow them to dictate all of our daily activities. Technology is not human and has no discretion or judgment. Remember to disconnect from technology to fully engage in life and with people. Set personal boundaries around the time you spend on the phone, computer or tablet. Be sure to schedule or factor in time for relaxation and down time. Commit to turning off the phone and enjoying the beauty around you. If you are with someone, enjoy time with a human; the technology will be there after you are done. Practice: Choose a time to spend alone in nature. Take a walk and slow down, breathe the air and feel the sun against your skin. Slow down and give every moment your undivided attention. Affirmation: I allow my mind, body, and spirit to slow down and be at peace. End of excerpt. Learning to slow down or STOP and know when I have done enough is something I have to practice. Guess what? I get to reset, give myself grace and choose peace. Just taking a few deep breaths can calm your body down. Let's do that now. Enjoy this audio called 10 Conscious Breaths.  --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barbara-faison/support

All the LINKS: LINKTR.EE/BARBARAFAISON 2024 - Week 34- My Practices - Part 4 - My M.A.P. You can listen to this on my podcast - 8:47 mins or click the link here for the YouTube Channel version (audio only)2024 - Week 32 - My Practices - Part 2 - My MAP This is an episode about the P in my M.A.P. My M.A.P. How are you doing? How's it crackalackalacking? Mom use say that and it always makes me smile. With so much going on personally and around the world, it's great to have moments of laughter and also prayer. In the last two episodes, week 32 & week 33, I shared my meditations and affirmations as part of My M.A.P. practices. Today I'm sharing P, the prayers. Enjoy this excerpt from my book/audio/ebook, Why Struggle? Life is too short to wear tight shoes is My M.A.P. - Prayers. My M.A.P. – PRAYERS When I wake up and before I open my eyes, I pray. I take a deep breath and say out loud, “Thank you, God.” TD and I each say a prayer out loud before we begin the day. I pray all day, every day. My standard prayer throughout the day is, “Thank you, God.” Saying thank you during the day (even in what appears to be troubling times) keeps me in the present moment and allows me to remember that in another moment, I'll feel another emotion. Sometimes I will say my prayers silently or aloud as I am walking the dog and I also say them while I'm getting dressed. I go with how I feel and below is an example of what I may say. Dear God, Thank you for waking me up this morning with my sight, taste, touch, smell, hearing, and intuition. I am grateful for another day on this earth to be an ambassador of your love. Keep me tuned in for the places I can best serve all. I am grateful for my amazing husband and wonderful family and friends who love, accept, and support me. Thank you for my ancestors who paved the way for me to go the places I go, do the things I do and be the person I am. Thank you for the many blessings in my life. Thanks for all the experiences I have and the presence of mind to remember that all is in divine order. I know my path is for me and the right people and circumstances will present themselves at the right time. Please bless the countries, leaders, and families in need of help and continue to lead and guide me in all my endeavors. Please bless the families that need your love and support at this time. (I will list specific names I have at this time.) End of Excerpt. Since publishing my book in 2017, TD and I have a morning practice of hugging each other as we say our individual prayers. Then we both say this declaration from Catherine Ponder: Dear God, what positive, creative, constructive thought, word, attitude or action is the next step to improve our lives? Here are a few of my morning practices for setting the intention for my day. This audio track includes my intention setting along with the five Reiki principles and four questions from A Course In Miracles. This combination resonates with me and helps me connect with my Personal Guidance System (PGS). Dear Source Move me in the direction of my Highest Good this day. Move my mind, move my body, move my thoughts, move my emotions and my feelings so that I may: Be my best Do my best Experience my best Feel my best Serve my best And share my best I am grateful for another day here on Planet Earth. I also say the 5 Reiki Principles: Just for today, I will not worry Just for today, I will not be angry Just for today, I will be grateful Just for today, I will do my work honestly And just for today, I will be kind to every living thing I ask these questions from A Course in Miracle to relax and be open for guidance: Where would you have me go? What would you have me do? What would you have me say, and to whom?" I will often repeat the questions from A Course in Miracles later in the day for more clarity. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barbara-faison/support

All the links: LINKTR.EE/BARBARAFAISON 2024 - Week 33 - My Practices - Part 3 - My M.A.P. This is an episode about the A in my M.A.P. In last week's episode, week 32, I talked about the M - meditations from my M.A.P. I shared a grounding practice that is a short meditation to stay grounded when my life may feel busy. Pressing my feet down on the ground and saying “I am on solid ground” is an example of a powerful practice and affirmation to stay connected and rooted to where I am in the world and it reminds me that I am safe and all is well. In today's podcast I am sharing affirmations! On my life's journey I have been saying, writing and creating affirmations for almost 30 years. I hope you gain insight from the A in my M.A.P. - Affirmations. Here is the excerpt from my book/audio/eBook, Why Struggle? Life is too short to wear tight shoes, My M.A.P. - Affirmations. My M.A.P. – AFFIRMATIONS An affirmation is a statement you believe or assert to be true. I believe every thought is an affirmation and every thought is a prayer. Since I am blessed to be able to think, why not think and be as positive as possible? It is human nature to remember negative things, so affirmations can be a way to practice moving past what you don't want in your life. More scientific research is showing that choosing positive affirmative thoughts is beneficial to your overall well-being. If I desire something, I focus my feelings and thoughts on what I desire through thinking, writing, and speaking about it. It is important to, “Train your brain. Mind your mind. Pay attention to what you think about.” Using affirmations are a great way to train your brain. Affirmations allow me to auto correct myself whenever I am not focusing on the best and what I truly want. My current daily affirmation is: I have strength, stamina, endurance, and flexibility. I manage my life well. I trust that the right people and resources present themselves at the right time and I recognize them immediately. I take time during my day to be still so I can get clear and make the best choices for me at all times. No matter how I feel or how things appear, I know that all things are working out for my highest and greatest good. And I am grateful. Here are some of the standard affirmations I use or have used. I also use various sources for reference when I am looking for a specific area to focus my thoughts. Louise Hay, Iylana Vanzant, Catherine Ponder, Edwene Gaines and Joyce Rennolds are some of my favorite authors for affirmations as well as other life-affirming practices. All is well. I am divinely protected at all times. I trust the process of life. All I need is taken care of. I am safe. I am calm. I am safe. All is well. I let go of the past, I move forward with love in my heart. I handle all of my experiences with wisdom, with love, and with ease. I am filled with excellent health, energy, and vitality. The Universe loves me and supports all my endeavors. Affirmations are portable, personal, positive and present tense. Affirmations may be written, spoken and/or thought during your day at any time. No one has to know what you are thinking, just think your affirmations, especially if you are beating yourself up over something or over nothing. I say many of my affirmations as I'm walking the dog in the morning. I also use affirmations to keep my thoughts and feelings on what I want in my life. I think it is human nature to think about what is not right so anything I can do to focus on what I desire is helpful. Affirmations are a great way to practice thinking about what you want. It's one way to reprogram your thinking. End of excerpt --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barbara-faison/support

All the links: LINKTR.EE/BARBARAFAISON My M.A.P. In last week's episode, week 31, I mentioned that we make around 35,000 decisions a day. Listen, that's a lot of picking and choosing. lol. We may decide what to eat, what to wear, how to spend our day, and more. Any way you look at it, a lot of decisions are being made…ALL DAY LONG. If I don't have certain things I do to manage my mind, I can easily begin to feel overwhelmed. Managing my mind is essential to staying grounded in my life. And I am so grateful that I started these practices a long time ago. Another one of my practices I call my M.A.P.: Includes meditations, affirmations and prayers. This excerpt from my book/audio/ebook, Why Struggle? Life is too short to wear tight shoes is My M.A.P. - Meditations. My Spiritual Practices Slowing down and paying attention to what is right in front of me has truly opened me up to more opportunities and grace. Silence, meditation, listening to music, walking, and forgiveness are some of my spiritual practices that help me stay grounded. It's called a practice because it is doing something regularly or constantly as an ordinary part of your life. When I stray from my daily meditation, affirmation, and prayers, I immediately feel it. That's why it is called a “daily” spiritual practice, not a “whenever I feel like doing it” practice. Can you imagine your favorite sports team just showing up for the game without practicing first, and expecting to play well and win? Not at all, practice is part of the process. Over the years my spiritual practice has evolved based on what I have going on in my life. The key thing is to find what works for you as a practice and to PRACTICE. My current practices are Meditations, Affirmations, and Prayers and whatever moves me at the time. My M.A.P. – MEDITATIONS Years of living alone conditioned me to enjoy quiet in the morning. I rarely turned on the television when I was getting dressed for the day. My meditations vary now based on what is happening in my world. There are times I sit and focus on specific areas of my life and visualize, sometimes I sit and enjoy the quiet of nature. I go with whatever flow I feel like that day. There are so many resources for meditation, these are some of my favorites. Walking is one of my favorite types of meditations now. As Lacee and I walk, I am drawn to the beauty all around me from the trees, flowers, butterflies to the sun shining down on my skin. Lacee has become one of my daily teachers. Some days as we walk the neighborhood, she will slow down and sniff the grass or flowers she sees every day as if it is her first time seeing them. I listen to the birds as we walk the neighborhood and I feel the gentle touch of the wind on a crisp fall morning. When I see butterflies in my area I smile and say, “hi mom.” Witnessing God through birds, butterflies and other amazing creatures is its own meditation. End of excerpt. One of my favorite types of meditation is using a grounding practice. Enjoy this brief grounding practice I created earlier this year. It uses a combination of sound, breath, and visualization. https://youtu.be/1DWXLQgyvXo?si=9KISExzXS5DMQKiV --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barbara-faison/support

All links: http://LINKTR.EE/barbarafaison 2024 - Week 30 - My Practices - LEGging (LEGging) This is an episode about my Learning Evolving & Growing My Practices Part 1 - LEGging Life is sooo much about what we focus our energy on. Dr. Wayne Dyer's quote is one I remind myself of, “When given the choice between being right or being kind, choose kind.”  Yep, it's also one of my guiding principles. In episode 2024 - Week 24 I talked about my beliefs and life philosophies. One of them I call -  Learning... Evolving... Growing (LEGging baby!) = PRACTICE. I hope you enjoy this excerpt from my book/audio/ebook, Why Struggle? Life is too short to wear tight shoes called Learning... Evolving... Growing (LEGging baby!) = PRACTICE.   When I initially wrote Why Struggle? I was convinced that life was about discovering yourself. I even named my publishing company In Search Of Publications based on that belief. The longer I live, the more I believe that we are here to discover, create and accept ourselves at each stage of life. Aren't humans lucky? We can make a different choice anytime we decide. We don't have to have a “bad day;” we can choose to have a “bad moment.” Again, even a bad moment is a conscious choice. Notice the use of the words: choose, conscious, decide. I believe words are powerful, and I choose mine carefully. I have always been very curious. I have always been a creative thinker. I have always enjoyed sharing information with others. My curious nature has propelled me down very interesting roads and for that, I am truly grateful. One of my traveled paths has been the road of meditation and creative visualization. For years I dabbled with quiet time and struggled with making it a part of my daily practice until 1995. I was so desperate for peace of mind that I pledged to spend at least 10 minutes in silence in the morning. In a few weeks, I was more relaxed and able to accept things I could not change. I tried many forms of meditation and began using visualization exercises to add more focus. I usually sense things or hear thoughts versus seeing images. The daily practice has helped me become calmer and more confident. Meditating daily greatly changed my life. Simply put, meditation makes me a better person for me and for the people around me. Taking a few minutes to sit and be still allows me to gain clarity and make better choices. It is not during meditation that I receive my ideas; it is because of the daily practice of meditation that I am more open to sense, hear or feel something that may be helpful. The practice of meditating regularly opens you up to opportunities you might not see otherwise. When I wake up in the morning, I usually have tons of ideas running around in my head. I know it is because I plant seeds at night before retiring and simply by doing meditation or deep breathing, I have a garden of ideas waiting for me to share them with the world. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barbara-faison/support

All the Links: LINKTR.EE/BARBARAFAISON 2024 - Week 29 - Life's Simple Pleasures! This is another episode about life's simple pleasures! Life's Simple Pleasures! Life is a journey. A trip. A deck of cards. Life defies a single definition because moment by moment, life changes. Life is different for each person every moment. Just as life changes, we change and grow based on our experiences. Treat yourself to something because you met a goal – celebrate! Life simply is. Being alive is cause for celebration! Take a moment to think of a reason to celebrate. Treat yourself to something because you met a goal – celebrate! Perhaps you didn't use your cell phone when you were having a meal. CELEBRATE! Every day find reasons to be grateful for life and celebrate! Sometimes it's just as simple as not beating yourself up about something you did. Now that is cause for a major celebration. Practice: Think about the music you've listened to, the movies you've seen, the friends in your life and how they may have changed over the years. Treat yourself to something you enjoy. You deserve it. Affirmation: I celebrate life and I am grateful for all my life experiences. End of excerpt. I hope you enjoyed the Embrace Change excerpt from my book/eBook/audiobook, Why Struggle? Life is too short to wear tight shoes. In my mid-year review episode, week 26, I mentioned M.E.E.T. - Money. Energy. Effort. Time.  It's one of the ways I decide what I am willing to commit to. How much money, energy, effort and/or time will ____ take? It really helps me prioritize at this time in my life. In my mind, I love to think I'm going to become fluent in Spanish… Am I willing to commit the time, energy, & effort it takes? Nope. I can play around and understand Spanish better than I speak it.  How bout taking a guitar class, since I was gifted a guitar over 20 years ago from a friend who was moving? Again, what money, energy, effort and time will I devote to learning to play? Maybe another time, right now, not so much. Feeling grateful to find my missing wallet behind my seat pad on the passenger seat in my car, receiving ole' fashioned tea cakes from one of my senior computer students and enjoying a meal at the Flying Biscuit with one of my dear friends are lovely memories to celebrate! TD, my hubby, had a birthday over the weekend so we enjoyed a lovely meal at a restaurant in Fayetteville and the waiter sang happy birthday in Lebanese. On Sunday, our youngest son, Dewayne, who is 20,  treated us to a birthday breakfast. As we waited on the food, he and his dad talked “shop” - they were looking over pictures from a job site - they both are doing electrical work, at different places. I enjoyed watching them and truly felt joy and appreciation at such a simple pleasure. Indeed,  I celebrate life and I am grateful for all my life experiences. What's something you are grateful for right now? You can leave a comment wherever you are listening to this podcast. If you'd like to share your thoughts with me - barbarafaisonllc@gmail.com is the best way to reach me. And if social media is better for you, LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram, are best. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barbara-faison/support

This is another episode about how CHANGE…the only constant in life. lol The only constant is change. Everything must change. Man plans and God laughs. These quotes remind me of how important it is to learn to go with the flow of life.  Have you ever made a plan, and just watched it completely fall apart? Yep, that's what happened to me over the long weekend last week. My hubby, TD and I were planning to visit his family in Tennessee over the 4th of July weekend. I packed everything and we were on the way. We stopped at Bucc-ee's, yep, again. Lol. TD hadn't been able to reach his father, so I reached out to his aunt, Del in the parking lot of Love's, which is across the street from Buccee's. We went there because, well Buccee's didn't have hot chocolate, TD likes to mix hot chocolate with coffee. Interesting. We sat the parking lot talking to both his aunt and his father and we made the decision to turn around and go back home. Covid-19 was increasing in the area so we headed back south. Luckily, we were only about an hour and a half away when we stopped. Let the adventure begin, I thought to myself with slight irritation. I mean I had packed and we were turning around and going back home. That meant I would have to unpack. Welcome to change. On the road. I had been texting with two of my oldest friends, Suzanne and Gina, I mentioned them in episode 2024 - Week 3 - Know the Stages of Grief. We've known each other since I was about five. Suzanne has been in the area helping with her husband's mother and I randomly asked where she was. Well, she was in Kennesaw. And we were in Acworth, not too far away. Hmmm. I texted. Where in Kennesaw? She told me she was getting a pedicure and the name of the shop. Sounds like a stop to me. Thanks to technology we found the shop and I was able to stop by and have a random chat and get some hugs. On our drive back towards home we were trying to find a place to eat lunch. All of the places we stopped by were closed for the Fourth of July. I suspect because many people cook out and those restaurants were not barbecue places. About 30 minutes closer to our home we stopped by a barbecue place that was open. We got something to eat, and I noticed a young woman who was leaving and called out her name. It was an intern that I knew from when I worked at PriceWaterhousecoopers, Pwc, over seven years ago. We hugged and agreed to reconnect via LinkedIn. We finally made it home about six hours later. I thought about the emotions I felt throughout the day. Traveling can make me feel a little antsy, and it was hot. In the span of a day, we have so many feelings and emotions. Here I just a few I experienced: • Agitation - last minute packing/unpacking. • Sadness - I no longer have parents, grandparents, aunts, or uncles • Joy - seeing my oldest friend, Suzanne • Hangry - hungry and angry • Grateful - to be home and sleep in my own bed Did I do some deep breathing throughout the day? I sure did. When I find myself getting agitated, my go to breathing practice is to breathe in for a count of four and out through my mouth for a count of seven or eight. Change will happen. Do you stop planning? I don't think so.  Life continues to be a practice in adaptability and flexibility. I believe everything that happens is purposeful. I have not seen my friend Suzanne since the funeral we attended in January for Gina's mother. It was great to see her and laugh and get a few hugs. Life is full of change. We can be mad or create adventures. Embrace change. Be kind. And much more. My book, Why Struggle? Life is too short to wear tight shoes is filled with 25 practices and five meditations and affirmations to help you manage this unpredictable journey called life. I am learning to laugh more and be less serious when change happens… because it will.  What about you? How do you manage lives on predictable changes? --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barbara-faison/support

All the links- LINKTR.EE/BARBARAFAISON 2024 - Week 25 - What I Believe (Replay) NOTE: IF YOU NOTICED THE BLOOPER, EMAIL ME WITH WHAT I DID AND I'll send you a CARD DECK FOR YOU OR AS A GIFT. (FOR THE 1st three people) This episode is a replay of Week 51 from 2023, What I BelieveAround this time I start to review my year and check in with what is important to me. I'm thinking about how I have been spending my time and how I want to spend my time in the future. Asking questions helps me stay focused. Am I sharing my T.A.G.S. - Talents, Abilities, Gifts, Skills, to the best of my abilities? An important question is - have my beliefs and philosophies changed? The excerpt that I'm sharing this week from my book/ebook/audiobook, Why Struggle? Life is too short to wear tight shoes, is part of the about this book section. In this part of the book I share my life philosophies. I hope you enjoy it! About this Book It's been about 23 years since Why Struggle? The book was published. The initial book was a very important part of my personal and spiritual growth, just as this new endeavor for the e-book and audio book continues to allow me to Learn, Evolve, and Grow (LEG). My personal beliefs and life philosophies are the same, and I've added a few more since I've lived a lot more life. My beliefs and life philosophies are: • Be Loving. Love is the most powerful, healing, transformative power.  Being loving is the answer to most situations. • Be Truthful. I must find my personal truth and what brings me joyand peace. • Move forward. Everything happens for a reason. Many times I willnever know why specific things happen, I must move forwardanyway. • Be Forgiving. Learn to forgive myself and others, quickly. There areno mistakes – only learning experiences. • Be Open. I am a student and teacher in the school of life. Teachersare everywhere, and I must be an open and willing student at alltimes. Usually, when I am the “teacher” I learn way more than Icould ever teach. • Order is a natural law. Everything happens in divine order. • Be Calm. Calm and chaos are both mental choices, I can choose  differently at any time. • Be Easy. Life is about timing and FLOW  (Feeling Loving Open Willing). I am learning to get out of the way    more. • Be One. We are all interconnected because we are one. • LEG. My main purpose is to Learn, Evolve, and Grow (LEG) as much  as I can. Everything else will fall into place. • Be Still. Time in silence and having spiritual practices such as  meditation, radical forgiveness, journaling and tapping (Emotional  Freedom Technique) are essential for my overall well-being. • Trust my PGS. My Personal Guidance System (PGS) will lead, guide   and direct me when I relax and get still enough to hear its   directions. Who knew in 1999 I would be teaching meditation classes and be that lady that might say to you...“I have a message for you.” There is no way on earth I would have had that insight back then. It all started with questions and wanting answers. It all started with wanting to live a better life. It all started with simply not wanting to struggle. Struggling is a choice. Life is what you decide it will be regardless of the emotions you experience. I have learned that taking time to be still helps me get clear and make better choices. I've learned to ask important questions to help me continue to move forward in life. How do I feel right now? Am I struggling right now, if so why? If I am struggling, I remember that struggling is a choice and I ask myself if I really want to take that emotional rollercoaster ride that might be the next step. I've learned to BREATHE deeply and often in order to come back to right now. What can I do right now to feel better? Breathe. Maybe listening to a song or playlist or taking a walk can help me have a different feeling. Do I really need to call someone or can I figure things out myself? --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barbara-faison/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barbara-faison/support

All the links - LINKTR.EE/BARBARAFAISON 2024 - Week 16 - Take a Breath You can listen to this on my podcast - 8:13 mins or click the link above for the YouTube Channel version (audio only) Wouldn't it be nice to have people do what we want them to do all day long? Good luck with that. We live in a society of free will. Every day we make choices. Each person takes a path that will be filled with learning experiences for that individual. You can't make anyone do anything they don't want to do. The only behavior you can control is your own. A reminder of this is watching a two-year-old or any child have a tantrum. The child will stop when ready, no matter what anyone tries to say or do to him or her We can't control anyone as much as we may think we can learn to accept people for who they are, not who you want them to be. Learn to manage your ability to respond to others and check in with yourself. Learn to step back and check your expectations. Practice: before you ask anyone to change his or her behavior, think about your expectations. Is this change for your benefit because it would make you more comfortable? How would you feel if someone wanted you to change your behavior? Affirmation: I accept people for who they are in my life. That was an excerpt from my book/e-book/audiobook Why Struggle? life is too tight to wear tight shoes is the Deep Breathing Practice. Suzanne is my oldest friend and we usually chat a few times a week. Whenever I get annoyed because "someone didn't do something I thought they should do," she reminds me that people have their own priorities that take up space in their head. And that is a very valid point. lolWhen I woke up this morning I had things on my mind that I wanted to do. I bet you did as well.  What I plan or need to do, where I want to go, who I plan to reach out to and so on. Unless you are working on something together, people may not be thinking about what you have on your mind. I know what's wrong with them right? Don't they know my priorities? Expecting someone to make your thoughts a priority is futile. They are not in your head thinking your thoughts. I've gotten better about stopping my mind from creating stories which may or may not be true. What helps me is to take a few breaths. Hmmm, sounds like a great time to practice taking a breath. Let's do it. What we'll do is take four breaths in through the nose and eight breaths out through the mouth. It's simple and easy and takes just over a minute. You can do a few rounds of this breathing while driving or walking, too.  It's a great way to relax your mind and your body. You can practice this a few times during the day as well. I'll do the counting and you do the breathing. Are you ready? Let's begin. Breathe in 234 out 7654321 In 234 out 7654321 In 234 out 7654321 In 234 out 7654321 In 234 out 7654321 In 234 out 7654321 In 234 out 754321 Take a moment to notice how you feel right now in this present moment. This breathing technique is very powerful. Whenever we breathe out longer than in, we're sending a signal to our brain to calm our body down. Maybe the next time you find yourself moving into a state of annoyance because someone isn't reading your mind, try breathing out longer than you breathe in to keep yourself in a calm place. This was 4 in and out 8, you can do any number that works for you. As long as the exhale is longer than the inhale, you will feel the benefits of the breathing practice. So how do you feel after taking a few intentional breaths? Let me know by leaving a comment wherever you are listening to this podcast. You can also email me at barbarafaisonllc@gmail.com. And if social media is better for you, LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram, are best. All the links - ⁠LINKTR.EE/BARBARAFAISON --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barbara-faison/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barbara-faison/support

LINKTR.EE/BARBARAFAISON 2024 - Week 13 - Deep Breathing We are officially in spring. Yay! And there's still a lot going on in the world. I don't know about you, but I'm starting to really have to remind myself to stop and take deep breaths during the day even more. One of my practices is to have my phone alarm at different times during the day. I change the word alarm to an affirmation or something I want to be reminded of, like take 5 deep breaths. I call this my Affirmation Alarm Practice. My alarm at 1:11 PM is All is Well with high-fives emojis and hearts. At 4:44pm the alarm prompts me to Take. Deep. Breaths. The 10:30 PM alarm is Thank You for This Day with emojis as well. Emojis remind me to be less serious… Yes, I have to be reminded of this often. lol After over 25 years meditating daily, practice is what it's all about. It's also the little things like connecting with your breath and your body and finding moments of beauty and presence.  Did you know that taking a few deep breaths during the day regularly helps reduce stress and overwhelm? You probably know what's next. Lol. Yep, it's time to practice. The excerpt from my book/e-book/audiobook Why Struggle? life is too tight to wear tight shoes is the Deep Breathing Practice. Deep Breathing Practice Sit comfortably with your back straight if possible. Gently close your eyes and begin to become aware of your breath. Simply breathe in and breathe out. Pay attention to your breath as you breathe in and out and allow your body to settle into this practice. Just breathe in and breathe out. Place your hands on your stomach as you continue to breathe. On your next in breath take a deep breath in while pressing your belly out as if you are trying to push your belly button out as far as you can. On your next exhale, press your belly button back into place. Continue pressing out your belly button on your exhale and pressing your belly button back into place on the inhale. Once you are comfortable with this belly breathing begin counting to 3 on the in breath as you expand your stomach. Hold your breath for a count of 3, then contract your stomach for the count of 3. You should feel more air moving through your body. Continue breathing deeply for up to ten minutes. When you are ready to return to the present moment, open your eyes and allow your breath to return to normal.Continue using this deep breathing technique during your day or whenever you want a reminder to be in the present moment. This deep breathing is also very helpful to reduce stress or anxiety. Purpose: Reminder to be present. End of excerpt --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barbara-faison/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barbara-faison/support

All the links - linktr.ee/barbarafaison Week 9 - Embrace Change You probably got up this morning and got dressed. You may have showered, brushed your teeth, eaten breakfast, driven to work, read the newspaper, and had a cup of coffee or tea. You have already been through at least six changes. Every moment is a new change, every second is different from the last one. Change is a natural part of the life cycle. Learning to embrace change is a major step toward peace of mind. Imagine seeing an old friend whom you loved dearly and giving him/her a loving hug. Think of this image the next time you have to handle a major change in your life.Picture yourself opening your arms and welcoming the opportunity to grow. Change will show up at your door regardless of how you feel about it. Learn to open the door and welcome your new friend, CHANGE, with a warm embrace. Practice: Think of all the things that change in one hour. If you are having difficulty accepting change, repeat the affirmation, “I am open and willing to accept change in my life.” Affirmation: I trust the process of life and I easily flow with change. End of excerpt. I hope you enjoyed the Embrace Change excerpt from my book/eBook/audiobook, Why Struggle? Life is too short to wear tight shoes. I changed the flow of this newsletter/podcast for this episode to remind myself to mix things up. Another change I made at the beginning of the year that is working really well for me is reading before bed. Instead of having television be the last thing I do before bed, I have been reading a book, something light and fluffy or journaling. I can feel a difference when I go to sleep. Trying new things is change. Doing something new opens you up for new possibilities and resources. Can you think of a change that would benefit you? Or what have you recently tried that has been helpful? You can leave a comment wherever you are listening to this podcast. If you'd like to share your thoughts with me barbarafaisonllc@gmail.com is the best way to reach me. And if social media is better for you, LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram, are best. The spirit of trying something new, I'm hosting a Celebrate You gathering this Wednesday, 2/28, from 8-9 eastern for us to connect as a community, share our experiences and practices that are helping us live life better. If you'd like to join us, you can use the zoom link provided or email me at barbarafaisonllc@gmail.com --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barbara-faison/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barbara-faison/support

All links - linktr.ee/barbarafaison Week 8 - Be Grateful This is an episode about how I believe being grateful is an attitude and a practice. A few weeks ago I talked about the The 40 day plan my friend, Regenna London created over 16 years ago. It's a journal with questions, reminders and encouragement to focus on what you desire for 40 days. One thing I love about this plan is it gets the momentum going for me and I usually continue beyond the 40 days.  It is day 52 of 2024 and I'm still reading, writing & journaling, doing qigong daily and really grateful that I am. Sometimes we need a little boost or encouragement to get started and to keep going. Regenna and I chatted earlier this week and we are both still doing what we started on day 1 of the Forty Day Plan. Yay, us! Please remember to patch yourself on the back! Mom taught me that. I believe gratitude is an attitude and a practice.  Most days I wake up with immense gratitude. Grateful for another day to be here. Grateful for good health, my family and loving relationships and much more. This week I restarted a few other practices that I haven't done in a while. Morning pages and EFT- Emotional Freedom Technique also known as tapping. I used to do morning pages back in the last century, lol when I was writing more regularly over 30 years ago. I learned about this practice from Julia Cameron's book, The Artist's Way. My version of morning pages is to set a timer to write for a specific period of time and write out what comes up. I set my timer for five minutes and today what came up was immense gratitude. It was a stream of conscious flow of the things that I am so grateful for in my life. In addition to what I mentioned earlier, a few other things I feel grateful for in this moment: Drinking a hot tonic from my mom‘s china cup  Listening to the birds as I journaled at my kitchen table  Having practices that sustain me  My beautiful home  Friends I've known for over three decades  An interesting life  Breathing through both of my nostrils lol Recognizing that the word evolve has the word love in it Dear friends that keep me smiling and laughing Doing daily writing or journaling feels great right now. I'm telling you, for me, discipline and commitment beat motivation and inspiration every day. I talked about that and the 40 Day Plan in episode six, Be Yourself. I hope you enjoy the Be Grateful excerpt from my book/eBook/audiobook, Why Struggle? Life is too short to wear tight shoes. Practicing gratitude for me is often just saying thank you all day long, silently and aloud. I can feel my body surging with such warm feelings when I do this simple practice. Writing down these gratitude gems was an additional surge of energy that started my day off just right. What do you feel grateful for right now? You can leave a comment wherever you are listening to this podcast. If you'd like to share your thoughts with me - barbarafaisonllc@gmail.com is the best way to reach me. And if social media is better for you, LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram, are best. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barbara-faison/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barbara-faison/support

All the Links - https://linktr.ee/barbarafaison This is an episode about how I believe discipline and commitment trump inspiration and motivation. I've known Regenna London since 1995 and in those years we have experienced a lot of life together. As a fellow creative (she's a Gemini, so you know some creating is going on there) we have been each others talk it out partners for projects and life. I think it has been about 16 years since she created her Forty Day Plan, which is a journal with questions, reminders and encouragement to focus on something for forty days to help you live life better. Regenna and I have been using this plan since its inception, between 2 - 4 times a year. It's a great way to create structure for me and to have discipline to complete projects or goals. I also realize that it is winter, so I choose things that are not as challenging to do and I still feel like I'm moving forward in life. We are on Day 38 - Be Proud - Courage has its rewards is the encouragement for today. Indeed, it takes courage to do something for 40 days. Only two more days left! I know myself, so I chose three things to focus on: Read something daily. Journal or write my affirmations. Practice Qigong. I know me…I also chose to start cleaning out my pictures on my phone and tablet, so I've been doing that, just not every day. And sometimes I pull a card from my card deck. Lol. How am I doing with the plan? I finished a book called Illusions: The Adventures of a Reluctant Messiah by Richard Bach and I'm reading a few other books as well. I also gave myself permission to not finish a some books I started reading. I get to decide how I want to spend my time. Why spend precious hours reading a book that I will most likely not remember days after I finish it?  I'm sharing the Be Yourself excerpt from my book/eBook/audiobook, Why Struggle? Life is too short to wear tight shoes, today. Be Yourself  I am very fortunate to have a great circle of friends. When you love yourself and understand who you are and what you bring to the world, you only want to be you. I am a great Barbara but not a good Suzanne or any other friend. Suzanne is my oldest friend, we've been friends over 50 years. I love her dearly for who she is. How many times have you thought, “If they really knew me, they probably wouldn't like me?” How long have you pretended to be someone else simply to please other people? Pretending to be someone you aren't takes a toll on us mentally, physically and spiritually. If I depended on being motivated or being inspired to do any of these things, it wouldn't happen. The Forty Day Plan gives me structure, accountability and encouragement. I'm grateful for Regenna who created The Forty Plan journal…it keep me committed and accountable. What keeps you committed? Feel free to reach out if you'd like to share your thoughts with me - barbarafaisonllc@gmail.com is the best way to reach me. And if social media is better for you, LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram, our best. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barbara-faison/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barbara-faison/support

All the links 2024 - Week 5 - Be Adventurous This is an episode about how the mind creates ideas and stories. And how it's important to decide what's important to you and not let your mind get carried away. My birthday was January 22, which fell on a Monday and my intention was to do a trip to a cabin with my husband, it's a vacation we've not done together before. I like doing new things and not necessarily traveling to places I've been before, unless it's going to Destin Florida, which I absolutely adore. I digress. In my mind, I found a place, and we would go there and be nice and cozy. I also created this lovely weekend of snuggling up somewhere, and staying warm and just relaxing. Well, my mind creates all kinds of interesting stories and adventures. As it came closer to the time to book something, I didn't want to do that. A part of me wanted to stay home. Another part of me wanted to go away. I was back and forth for a few weeks. I just couldn't decide. See how the mind does! Guess what I did... I let go. I just said things would work out. And they did. The weekend of my birthday it was cold… I know I'm from the south so cold is relative. lol it was hovering in the 14° range, so I think that is cold just about anywhere. The idea of packing and checking in and out of somewhere and driving a few hours (in the cold) to get home did not sound appealing. TD and I enjoyed an adventurous weekend around town. One definition of adventurous is willing to take risks or to try new methods, ideas or experiences. We created our own birthday weekend adventure. On Friday night we went to watch our son, Tyriel, coach as one of the assistant coaches for Woodland High School girls basketball. On Saturday evening we discovered a new restaurant in Peachtree City, about 45 mins away, called The Yacht Club. The food was delicious and our server was very attentive. The weekend was filled with trying new restaurants in cities nearby, watching the movie American Fiction, which was entertaining, and just spending time together. It was a delightful adventure. One of my requests was that I didn't cook all weekend… and I didn't. On Monday, I also got to have brunch with Yvette Lee, a dear friend and the composer of the music you hear on this podcast and other meditations. We enjoyed breakfast at one my favorite restaurants, The Flying Biscuit, the original one in Atlanta. Yummy. While the idea of being at a cabin sounded nice, being home and waking up when we wanted to was even nicer. I live in the south for a reason, I was so glad to be able to sleep in and get up when I wanted to. I was so glad we were home in our OWN bed… with our flannel sheets. TD gets a special thanks for just going with the flow of whatever I decided to do. MUAH! So… there mind stories. The weekend was just right! And you know what? It was just the adventure we needed.Learning to navigate all the stories my mind can make up is PRACTICE. Be Adventurous is the excerpt from my book/eBook/audiobook, Why Struggle? Life is too short to wear tight shoes, I'm sharing today. What new experience/adventure have you had lately?  I'd love to hear from you. You may reply to this newsletter/blog post or you can reach me at barbarafaisonllc@gmail.com. If social media is easier for you to reach out, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn are best. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barbara-faison/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barbara-faison/support

All the links This week I intended to do a different book excerpt. After my morning meditation, this is the one that presented itself for today. Here we go. I have one brother. Tony has two children, Byron and April, and one grandchild, Aiden. I married TD and gained two bonus sons, Tyriel and Dewayne. My mother used to say we are a small family, but we are mighty. My parents instilled in us a bond that continues to this day. My brother has been my protector, my agitator, my friend, and my confidant my entire life. Growing up, I was involved in theater, band, oratorical contests and more. Growing up, he was there, (like it or not) at all of the dance recitals, music recitals, graduations, theater productions, and whatever ever else I had going on. I can still hear my parents saying, “you support and protect your sister.” And to this day, he still does. He has been to book signings, salsa birthday parties and most recently my meditation hike. I am so grateful to have him in my life. I am a person who has to talk things out. And while talking things out, I usually find the direction I need to go. Tony is one of my talking partners. He knows just the right questions to ask and offers encouragement along the way. A few of his signature statements include, “You'll figure it out” and “It seemed like a good idea at the time.” Both are very true for me. This weekend I celebrated another birthday and I give thanks that while my parents are no longer here, my brother is. I used to call my parents on my birthday to thank them for having me. When my mother was alive, I would share how grateful I was for my brother and she told me, your brother doesn't like acknowledgement, he never has. And he still doesn't. Hmm. Interesting, he has a nickname for me I don't like, and he still calls me that anyway. lol I think we are even now. Oh well, so much for the little sister behaving. lol So for those people who think the good guys don't win, I disagree. My brother Tony Faison is a good guy. And I'm grateful to have this good guy in my life. So here's to my brother, who I love, appreciate, and adore. And I'm so grateful to have him on this journey with me. The excerpt from my book/eBook/audiobook, Why Struggle? Life is too short to wear tight shoes, You Are Not Alone. You are Not Alone Life is challenging. How often have you thought you were the only person going through something difficult? You are not alone. We are afraid to share our fears and stories because we don't want to be judged by others. People are not as strong, confident, and wise as they seem. Other people are afraid, lonely, and going through tough times, too. You may think you are the only person experiencing whatever you are feeling. Trust me, there is someone else experiencing the same fear, anxiety, pain, hurt or joy you are feeling. Remember, no matter what is happening, you are NOT alone. My mom used to remind me to have a “talking partner.” She said it was important to have someone you could be vulnerable with to express your fears or concerns. You will instinctively know who you can share your thoughts with at these times. Trust your intuition and find a talking partner. Practice: Think of something you feel self-conscious about. Share this feeling with someone you trust and respect. As you become more comfortable, share more of your feelings with other people. Affirmation: Life is joyous. I am surrounded by love. End of excerpt. I am grateful to have my brother around to call me nicknames I don't like and to laugh and share memories. He is one of the best talking partners I could have because we have such a deeply personal history together. I definitely feel supported and grateful to have him in my life. Who are your talking partners? Feel free to reach out if you'd like to share your thoughts  barbarafaison llc@gmail.com is the best way to reach me. And if social media is better for you, LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram, our best. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barbara-faison/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barbara-faison/support

All the links - linktr.ee/barbarafaison 2024 - Week 1 - Your Belief System In the 80's  AT&T had a marketing campaign called Reach out and Touch Someone.  It was all about the power of your voice. The power of your voice to offer comfort. The power of your voice to offer healing. The power of your voice to offer just what is needed at that time.  Over the weekend, we celebrated the life of Mary A Hopson. Mrs. Hopson was the mother of a dear friend of mine, Gina. Mrs. Hopson was a fashionista, and a beautician, and a part of my village growing up in Albany, Georgia. Earlier in the week before the service on Saturday, I reached out to Gina just to say hello. We talked for over an hour, laughing, and reminiscing about a deep and rich history we've had for over 40 years.  It reminded me of the power of your voice and the power of having a rich history with someone.   As we celebrated, Mrs. Hopson's life, I was reminded of my own mother and father and what an amazing community and support I had growing up. Reid comes in waves. At least it does for me.  My childhood in Albany, Ga was filled with community and two of my oldest dearest friends, Suzanne and Gina are part of a rich history. In 2022 we said goodbye to Suzanne's parents and  Mrs. Hopson was the final parent of ours to join the others in our village wherever they are.  Grief comes in waves, at least it does for me. I found myself reliving the grief of losing my own mother through the experience of being there for Gina as we celebrated a life well lived. I took time to be with my feelings and emotions on my solo drive back from Albany, stopping in familiar places and enjoying the mixture of sunshine and cold… I mean it is winter, right?  The excerpt that I'm sharing this week from my book/ebook/audiobook, Why Struggle? Life is too short to wear tight shoes, is Know the Stages of Grief.  Know the Stages of Grief Life is a cycle. We are born. We live. We die. Death is as natural as living. Recognizing and accepting the laws of nature can help us live more in the present moment. As we learn to accept our lives and live without struggling over the inevitable, we can truly appreciate the gift of life. Denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance are the stages of grief. The time for each stage is as unique as your fingerprint. Experience the emotions as they arise and be gentle with yourself at this time. Remember we may also experience grief when we make changes in our lives such as a change in a relationship, moving to a new city or a change in your work environment. A loss is a loss, give yourself permission to grieve as you feel necessary. Practice: Remember when someone you loved died and how you felt. Think about the emotions you felt. Were they denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance? Affirmation: I accept the flow of life. Peace of mind is mine.  Winter is also known as a time for grief to be an emotion that comes up for people. What are your thoughts about grief? You can connect with me at barbarafaison llc@gmail.com is the best way to reach me. And if social media is better for you, LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram, our best.  The card I pulled for us for this moment is:  #2 - RELAX - The TURN OFF my devices for 15 MINUTES This is a great practice I do often. It allows me to be more present to what is happening in my life.  I hope you check out my YouTube channel, Barbara Faison, where I share ideas, insights and reminders to be in the present moment called Breath Breaks and more. If you'd like to take a breath break, you can find over 50 on the Breath Break Playlist. Be sure to subscribe, follow, share and leave a comment if you joined! Feel free to share your thoughts, ask a question or just say hello to me - via email at barbarafaisonllc@gmail.com. Thank you for your support and being on this journey with me. Until next time, keep breathing and do something new. Be well and be kind to YOU. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barbara-faison/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barbara-faison/support

All the links - Linktr.ee/barbarafaison There was a time we were told that when you drank alcoholic beverages you lost brain cells and that was that. The cells were gone. Wait… what? Once you lost brain cells, they were gone? Yep! I grew up in that time. I grew up, thinking that if I drank, I would lose brain cells, and that was just not an option for me. It's OK. Don't be sad. lol Being the nerd I was and still continue to be…that worked out well for me, because I don't like the way I feel after I drink. So I don't really drink. I might have an alcoholic beverage once every two or three years. And when I mean beverage, I mean a few sips. In fact, I don't remember the last time I had anything alcoholic to drink. Nerd Alert! Good news…that is not true. And we have lots of science that now proves that the brain can change and adapt to experiences - it's called neuroplasticity. It's your brain's ability to absorb information and evolve to manage new challenges. The brain evolves as we do, as long as we engage with activities that keep us mentally active and alive; physical activity, memorizing names, using your non-dominant hand to eat are just a few ways to keep that brain active and engaged. I believe we all have a PGS - Personal Guidance System - that is our own GPS that helps us navigate this experience called life, when we pay enough attention to it and decide to act on it.  I believe that every moment is a new opportunity. And while we have started a new year, I believe every day is a new day and we have 86,400 seconds a day to start anew when we desire. Yep, that's the number of seconds in a 24 hour day. I told you, I was a nerd. Lol. So I hope you will enjoy this excerpt from my book/eBook/audiobook, Why Struggle? Life is too short to wear tight shoes, it's about beliefs. I talked about some of the things I believed in Episode 51 from 2023, it goes into more depth if you're interested in hearing more. So, will you take a look at your beliefs and review them?  I enjoy hearing from you so don't hesitate to share your thoughts with me at barbarafaisonllc@gmail.com. If social media is easier for you to reach out, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn are best. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barbara-faison/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barbara-faison/support

All the links - LINKTR.EE/BARBARAFAISON Week 52- Celebrate Everything!! Listen to this on my podcast - 5:30 mins or my YouTube ChannelWe are now in the season of winter. Words associated with winter include: Rest. Introspection. Hibernation. Death. Loss. Cold. Celebration. Holiday. Hope. Festivities. Joy. Guess what, you get to decide what you want winter and your life to be. If you live long enough you will experience loss and death and you will also experience celebrations and festivities. I remind myself often that whatever I DECIDE to experience, EXPERIENCE IT FULLY. lol. When I recently enjoyed a slice of cake with Moosetracks ice cream, I really enjoyed it. I savored the taste of the chocolate, the ice cream, how it felt as I took my time and really enjoyed the experience. The excerpt that I'm sharing this week from my book/eBook/audiobook, Why Struggle? Life is too short to wear tight shoes, is Celebrate Everything! Celebrate Everything! Life is a journey. A trip. A deck of cards. Life defies a single definition because moment by moment, life changes. Life is different for each person every moment. Just as life changes, we change and grow based on our experiences. Treat yourself to something because you met a goal – celebrate! Life simply is. Being alive is cause for celebration! Take a moment to think of a reason to celebrate. Treat yourself to something because you met a goal – celebrate! Perhaps you didn't use your cell phone when you were having a meal. CELEBRATE! Every day find reasons to be grateful for life and celebrate! Sometimes it's just as simple as not beating yourself up about something you did. Now that is cause for a major celebration. Practice: Think about the music you've listened to, the movies you've seen, the friends in your life and how they may have changed over the years. Treat yourself to something you enjoy. You deserve it. Affirmation: I celebrate life and I am grateful for all my life experiences. A few things I am celebrating include health, spending time with my family over the holiday season and continuing to be kind to myself.  Thank goodness for technology and software to schedule posts. What are you celebrating in this moment? You may reply to this newsletter/blog post or you can reach me at barbarafaisonllc@gmail.com. If social media is easier for you to reach out, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn are best. Thank you so much for your support. Your support is so appreciated. I'd love your support during the holiday season. My products include - my book, e-book, audio programs, card deck, online meditation sessions and more. The Relax, Listen and Trust Your Inner Guidance Card Deck is a one of a kind deck that I won't be reproducing, so grab your deck before they are sold out. Find out more at barbarafaison.com/store. All the products in my store have a 10% discount and free US shipping, including live meditation sessions. Your support is always greatly appreciated... share a gift with a friend, family member or colleague or just get an extra copy. :) Use the discount code SHIP10 to get your discount. The card I pulled for us this moment: #1 LISTEN - I am SAFE and all is well in my world.  Be sure to stay grounded over the holiday season. Step outside and connect with nature and repeat this affirmation regularly. If you'd like to purchase my card deck for yourself or a friend,  Use PROMO CODE: Ship10 for Free US shipping & 10% off If you need a quick breath break you can take one right here. Thank you for your support and being on this journey with me. Until next time, keep breathing and do something new. Be well. Feel free to share your thoughts or ask a question - via email at barbarafaisonllc@gmail.com. Keep breathing...Barbara J. Faisonyour mindfulness & meditation ambassador RELAX, LISTEN AND TRUST YOUR INNER GUIDANCE CARD DECK --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barbara-faison/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barbara-faison/support

All the links: LINKTR.EE/Barbarafaison Week 51 - What I BelieveAround this time I start to review my year and check in with what is important to me. I'm thinking about how I have been spending my time and how I want to spend my time in the future. Asking questions helps me stay focused. Am I sharing my T.A.G.S. - Talents, Abilities, Gifts, Skills, to the best of my abilities? An important question is - have my beliefs and philosophies changed? The excerpt that I'm sharing this week from my book/ebook/audiobook, Why Struggle? Life is too short to wear tight shoes, is part of the about this book section. In this part of the book I share my life philosophies. I hope you enjoy it! About this Book It's been about 23 years since Why Struggle? The book was published. The initial book was a very important part of my personal and spiritual growth, just as this new endeavor for the e-book and audio book continues to allow me to Learn, Evolve, and Grow (LEG). My personal beliefs and life philosophies are the same, and I've added a few more since I've lived a lot more life. My beliefs and life philosophies are: • Be Loving. Love is the most powerful, healing, transformative power.  Being loving is the answer to most situations. • Be Truthful. I must find my personal truth and what brings me joyand peace. • Move forward. Everything happens for a reason. Many times I willnever know why specific things happen, I must move forwardanyway. • Be Forgiving. Learn to forgive myself and others, quickly. There areno mistakes – only learning experiences. • Be Open. I am a student and teacher in the school of life. Teachersare everywhere, and I must be an open and willing student at alltimes. Usually, when I am the “teacher” I learn way more than Icould ever teach. • Order is a natural law. Everything happens in divine order. • Be Calm. Calm and chaos are both mental choices, I can choose  differently at any time. • Be Easy. Life is about timing and FLOW  (Feeling Loving Open Willing). I am learning to get out of the way    more. • Be One. We are all interconnected because we are one. • LEG. My main purpose is to Learn, Evolve, and Grow (LEG) as much  as I can. Everything else will fall into place. • Be Still. Time in silence and having spiritual practices such as  meditation, radical forgiveness, journaling and tapping (Emotional  Freedom Technique) are essential for my overall well-being. • Trust my PGS. My Personal Guidance System (PGS) will lead, guide   and direct me when I relax and get still enough to hear its   directions. Who knew in 1999 I would be teaching meditation classes and be that lady that might say to you...“I have a message for you.” There is no way on earth I would have had that insight back then. It all started with questions and wanting answers. It all started with wanting to live a better life. It all started with simply not wanting to struggle. Struggling is a choice. Life is what you decide it will be regardless of the emotions you experience. I have learned that taking time to be still helps me get clear and make better choices. I've learned to ask important questions to help me continue to move forward in life. How do I feel right now? Am I struggling right now, if so why? If I am struggling, I remember that struggling is a choice and I ask myself if I really want to take that emotional rollercoaster ride that might be the next step. I've learned to BREATHE deeply and often in order to come back to right now. What can I do right now to feel better? Breathe. Maybe listening to a song or playlist or taking a walk can help me have a different feeling. Do I really need to call someone or can I figure things out myself? Did you notice the blooper in this one? --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barbara-faison/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barbara-faison/support

ALL LINKS - LINKTR.EE/BARBARAFAISON It feels like we are back in full swing with the constant going and doing. So much to be done, so little time. Sigh. One of my practices is to set alarms on my phone and change the word alarm to something like… take three deep breaths or stop and breathe. The excerpt that I'm sharing this week from my book/ebook/audiobook, Why Struggle? Life is too short to wear tight shoes, is SLOW DOWN. LOL. It seems appropriate with all the hustle and bustle of the holidays going one. I hope you enjoy it! Slow Down When was the last time you did anything without rushing? We can reach out and touch people in numerous ways including the phone, email, and social media. Technology offers our society such wonderful enhancements to daily living that we sometimes forget to slow down. We get up with our smartphones, cuddle with them and go to bed with them and sometimes we allow them to dictate all of our daily activities. Technology is not human and has no discretion or judgment. Remember to disconnect from technology to fully engage in life and with people. Set personal boundaries around the time you spend on the phone, computer or tablet. Be sure to schedule or factor in time for relaxation and down time. Commit to turning off the phone and enjoying the beauty around you. If you are with someone, enjoy time with a human; the technology will be there after you are done. Practice: Choose a time to spend alone in nature. Take a walk and slow down, breathe the air and feel the sun against your skin. Slow down and give every moment your undivided attention. Affirmation: I allow my mind, body, and spirit to slow down and be at peace. In the mindfulness community it is said that if you don't have 10 minutes to meditate, you probably need to meditate for 2 hours, or something like that. Lol. And this week, I'll be hosting my Breathe with Barbara LIVE session on Wednesday, from 8 - 9 pm (ET) where we will dance, move, shake, breathe and meditate. I would love for you to join us.  You can find the link here or on my website, barbarafaison.com/store.  You can also use SHIP10 for 10% off through the end of the year. The card I pulled for us today is also a reminder to take a few moments during your day to stop and be present. You can check out this 10 conscious breaths track on YouTube if you have four minutes to spare, I hope you do… or will take four minutes for yourself today. If you took the 10 conscious breaths or a moment, I'd love to know how you felt.  Or if you just want to say hello! You may reply to this newsletter/blog post or you can reach me at barbarafaisonllc@gmail.com. If social media is easier for you to reach out, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn are best. RELAX, LISTEN AND TRUST YOUR INNER GUIDANCE CARD DECK The card I pulled for us today from my Relax, Listen and Trust Your Inner Guidance Card Deck #3 RELAX - I set a REMINDER to take THREE DEEP BREATHS Please give yourself the gift of taking a moment to just stop, breathe and BE. I'd love your support during the holiday season. My products include - my book, e-book, audio programs, card deck, online meditation sessions and more. The Relax, Listen and Trust Your Inner Guidance Card Deck is a one of a kind deck that I won't be reproducing, so grab your deck before they are sold out. Find out more at barbarafaison.com/store. All the products in my store have a 10% discount and free US shipping, including live meditation sessions. The last sessions for the year are on 12/13 and 12/20 from 8 - 9 pm eastern. Your support is always greatly appreciated... share a gift with a friend, family member or colleague or just get an extra copy. :) Use the discount code SHIP10 to get your discount. Show less --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barbara-faison/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barbara-faison/support

Week 48 - Think Like a Child All the links: LINKT.REE/BARBARAFAISON You can listen to this on my podcast - 7:01 mins          In the US, the holiday season has officially started. Over the weekend my hubby, TD and I were in Columbia, TN visiting his family. TD's great niece, Leliana will be three this week and she was full of energy and brought a lot of joy to the household. If I could just get little of that energy! Lol. It's always a blast to be around young children to watch how they engage with people and the world around them. Spending time around her reminded me of one of the topics in my book, Why Struggle? life is too short to wear tight shoes, Think Like a Child. Take a listen and let me know your thoughts. Think like A Child Do you remember the last time you laughed until you cried? When was the last time you were really curious about how something worked? When was the last time you looked at something and were amazed? A young child has a unique outlook on life and can help you remember how awesome life is. Children are born with a natural curiosity about everything. Having children in your life can help you become a more creative problem solver, learn to accept the inevitable, and laugh at yourself more. Young children help you remember a sense of awe. Being around children and younger people allow you to see life through different eyes. Take time to really watch, listen and learn from the young people in your life. Wisdom is not limited to a certain age. Practice: Spend the day with a child between the ages of two and six years old. Go to a park with no specific agenda. Observe the child and notice how they are amazed at the simple things that adults have taken for granted. The next time you need to solve a problem, think like a child. Affirmation: I celebrate the spirit of the child in my heart. If you spent time around a young child lately, what did you notice? You may reply to this newsletter/blog post or you can reach me at barbarafaisonllc@gmail.com. If social media is easier for you to reach out, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn are best. The card I pulled for us today from my Relax, Listen and Trust Your Inner Guidance Card Deck #3 TRUST - My INNER GUIDANCE takes me where I need to be NEXT. Well, I find that to be very true. My guidance led me to create all the products I have, including this card deck. This is a one of a kind deck that I won't be reproducing, so grab your deck before they are sold out. See images on my blog. All the links: LINKT.REE/BARBARAFAISON --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barbara-faison/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barbara-faison/support

All the links - linktr.ee/barbarafaison Week 46 - Hygge and New Things! Listen to this on my podcast - 6:30 mins or my YouTube ChannelLast week the topic was How Do You Hygge? - about practicing hygge…in short, taking time to enjoy life's pleasures including spending time with those you love. This week it's about that and being adventurous. Trying new things has been a “practice” of mine for over three decades now. Crocheting is one of my fall activities and I tried something new over the weekend, I crocheted an autumn garland. I also tried my hand at strawberry jam, actually any jam, for the first time. It was delish with a warm croissant for breakfast on Sunday. I hope you enjoy this excerpt from my book/eBook/audiobook, Why Struggle? Life is too short to wear tight shoes. Be Adventurous! One definition of adventurous is inclined or willing to engage in a bold, usually risky undertaking. An adventure can be as simple as going to a movie alone or buying a book from an unknown author. Do something different often. Buy music from an unknown artist. Take a dance class. Say hello to a stranger. One of the ways I started being adventurous was to drive a different way home from work. I would turn down a street and find my way home based on that turn. Keep in mind, this was before GPS devices were the norm. I also started buying something new to try when I went grocery shopping. Trying different foods is a great way to increase your adventurous nature. Venture out of your comfort zone to find people who are open-minded and willing to try new things. By venturing out more, you will continue to learn and grow and become more adventurous. The more we try new things, the less we will stress when something different happens. Practice: Go to a function alone and introduce yourself to at least three people you don't know. Affirmation: I am open to new ideas and experiences. Have you done or tried something new lately? I'd love to hear about your adventure.  You may reply to this newsletter/blog post or you can reach me at barbarafaisonllc@gmail.com. If social media is easier for you to reach out, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn are best. The card I pulled for us this moment #8 LISTEN - My body TELLS ME what it NEEDS What is your body asking for right now? More relaxation, sleep, rest, hydration? Be a body detective and pay attention to the clues. If you'd like to purchase my card deck for yourself or a friend,  Use PROMO CODE: Ship10 for Free US shipping & 10% off --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barbara-faison/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barbara-faison/support

All the links - Linktr.ee/barbarafaison When I wrote my book, Why Struggle? Iife is too short to wear tight shoes, I wanted it to be a reference for myself and for others. I envisioned someone picking up the book, reading one of the principles, the practice and speaking the affirmations out loud. So, let's do that. Enjoy this excerpt from my book called,  Self-Confidence is Like the Weather Some days I wake up feeling fantastic! Some days I don't feel as great when I wake up. It's okay. Life is still happening all around. Self-confidence and self-esteem are like the weather. Hot, cold, cloudy or rainy – the weather is always changing. Some days we feel great about ourselves. Other days, we want to crawl back under the covers and wait for a new day. When I'm having a particularly challenging day, I go to bed as early as I can. Oftentimes, if I can, I will take a nap. There is something about sleeping that mentally shifts my energy and helps me move forward. I am comforted by knowing that tomorrow is a new day and there's a 50/50 chance the sun will shine. Always know there are other people having stormy days just like you. Look at yourself in the mirror and be grateful to be alive. Practice: Look at yourself in the mirror daily. Look for all the lines, wrinkles, and perfections. Affirm aloud, “I love all of me - body, mind, and spirit.” Affirmation: I accept myself for the beauty I have to offer and I share myself with the world. Here's a little backstory for you. When I wrote the book in 1999, I used exercise instead of practice and I missed an error. It was supposed to be - look for all the lines, wrinkles and imperfections. When I updated the book to the new edition in 2017, I kept the word perfections because we are all just perfect as we are. What are your thoughts about self-confidence? You may reply to this newsletter/blog post or you can reach me at barbarafaisonllc@gmail.com. If social media is easier for you to reach out, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn are best. The card I pulled for us this moment #1 LISTEN - I NOTICE and APPRECIATE the sounds around me. I love hearing the sounds of the geese honking as they fly in the sky. I will listen for them this week. There are so many resources available to support a meditation practice in person and online. Our Breathe with Barbara LIVE Sessions are the 2nd and 3rd Wednesday of each month from 8 - 9 pm eastern. My live sessions include gentle movement, breathing, meditation and silence. I would love for you to join me, the sessions are only $15. If you prefer having a teacher for instruction, I offer one on one sessions as well as group sessions (min of 3 people). Feel free to reach out to me via email or on my website barbarafaison.com/contact-Barbara, pick the option that works best for scheduling a brief conversation. If you prefer using APPs, I encourage you to check out the Insight Timer app, it is the #1 app for free meditations for sleep, anxiety, and stress, and I have over 40 meditations, book excerpts, and my courses (for premium members) and more out there. The link is InsightTimer.com. I have meditations on other APPS including Aura, Meditation Station, Spotify, Pandora, YouTube, Apple Music, Amazon and more. Just search for Barbara J. Faison as the artist and you will find me there. I'd love for you to follow me and put me on your monthly playlist. You can also find upcoming events and where you can meditate with me. All the links are on linktr.ee/barbarafaison. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barbara-faison/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barbara-faison/support

Week 40 - Not One and Done All the Links - linktr.ee/barbarafaison Greetings! September was Self-Care Month and we are now in another month. While self-care month is over taking good care of yourself is not a one and done situation.  How many things can you think of that are one and DONE? You know what I mean, right? You do it once and that's it. For example, I wanted to go skydiving before I turned 40, I did a tandem skydive jump (that's when the instructor is connected to you when you jump) at age 38, that was a one and done. I don't see myself doing that again. lol Can you imagine if we could just say I forgive you once and that took care of the past, present and the future? Hah! Or if I said I was grateful for my food once and that was it? As far as I can tell, that doesn't happen. Life is lived in each moment, and our experiences and emotions are also happening in the moment. My observation is that many life experiences are mostly NOT ONE and DONE. When we are graced with another day on earth, there are new opportunities for us to be fully present with our day. Connecting with being alive, feeling grateful and being kind to myself first, helps me radiate positive energy out to others. Having regular self-care practices that keep me grounded are essential for me. Some of my practices include, qigong, kindness, forgiveness, gratitude, compassion and of course, meditation. Self-care is ongoing, not a ONE and DONE. Last week I shared a five minute gratitude meditation. Today I'm sharing a new meditation that's less than 10 minutes and perfect for starting your day, its called Morning Gratitude Practice  You may also find this practice online at the usual digital places like Amazon Music, Apple Music, Spotify and YouTube. You can check it out HERE.  Thank you so much Laura Mandelson, Pam Zicca, Kristina Armstrong and Galena White for listening to this particular track. I'm working on several new tracks for breathwork and meditation. If you are interested in testing them out, I'd love for you to share your thoughts before I publish them. You may email me at barbarafaisonllc@gmail.com to join my tester list or click here. Right now my self-care also includes relaxing with my crochet projects, putting on my pajamas early, and resting more. What does ongoing self-care look like for you this autumn season? You may reply to this newsletter/blog post or you can reach me at barbarafaisonllc@gmail.com. If social media is easier for you to reach out, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn are best.  Relax, Listen, and Trust Your Inner Guidance. The card I pulled for us this moment#2 - QUESTION - How can I take a moment for myself? Hmmm. Appropriate for self-care being ongoing.How can you take a moment for yourself today?   Relax, Listen and Trust Your Inner Guidance Card Deck - ORDER YOUR DECK HERE. Keep reading at barbarafaison.com/blog. Alt text - Middle aged African-American woman with short hair stands in front of a tree lit by the sun. A drawing of a purple circle sits by her head with gold text - The Why Struggle? Podcast. Below is an image of two gold footprints. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barbara-faison/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barbara-faison/support

Week 39 - Gratitude as a Practice is Self-Care All the Links - linktr.ee/barbarafaison Greetings! My mission is to use my voice to heal, educate and inspire by sharing tools to help people live life better. I have embraced gratitude as an attitude and a practice. I do have moments of “why me” and “what in the world is going on” - and I have learned to find the gratitude in the experience.At one time we thought the brain was fixed and couldn't be changed. Science continues to discover that we have the ability to change our brain and gratitude is one way we can reshape our brain. Enhanced optimism, better sleep and lower levels of anxiety and depression are a few of the benefits of practicing gratitude. I love having the science to back up what used be called, whoo whoo. lol. As soon as I become aware that I am alive and awake, thank you, God are my first words. A few years ago my husband, TD, and I started saying our morning prayers before he would leave for work and they always start with…thank you, God… and then we continue on with what we are grateful for in that moment. It has become a powerful practice for us as a couple and it only takes a few minutes. Take a quick moment to think of something you are grateful for right now…right now I am grateful that temperature is changing, I am grateful for having dependable transportation, and I am grateful that i enjoyed dancing and fellowshipping with friends over the weekend. Interested in practicing? I have a five minute gratitude meditation you can find online at the usual digital places like Amazon Music, Apple Music, Spotify and YouTube. You can check it out HERE. Here's a gratitude shoutout to the wonderful people who have tested my meditations over the years: Tracey Ramsey, Mike Ramsey, Yvette Lee, Laura Mandelau, Hilal Tamrat, Pam Zicca, Suzanne Schley, Regenna London, Susan Kelley-Delaine, Jennifer Davenport, Galena White, Lisa Zunzanyika, Kym Kennedy and Brittney Renee. I'm working on several new tracks for breathwork and meditation. If you are interested in testing them out, I'd love for you to share your thoughts before I publish them. You can email me at barbarafaisonllc@gmail.com to join my tester list or click here . What are you grateful for right now? You may reply to this newsletter or you can reach me at barbarafaisonllc@gmail.com. If social media is easier for you to reach out, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn are best. Relax, Listen, and Trust Your Inner Guidance. I pulled a card from all the categories this week, that's called a card pull. Do you see a theme or a story with the cards? #9 - RELAX - I ACCEPT - where I am in my life RIGHT NOW #3 - LISTEN - I RECITE LYRICS or words that UPLIFT #2 - TRUST - I am able to CREATE the life I DESIRE to live# 3 - QUESTION - How can I be more CONTENT in my life?How can I be more content in my life? When I relax and accept where I am in my life right now and allow myself to listen to words/lyrics  that uplift me I am able to trust that I am able to create the life I desire to live. SELF-CARE MONTH SPECIAL 15% off all products and FREE US shippingUSE THE PROMO CODE - SELFCARE15 Keep reading at barbarafaison.com/blog. Alt text - Middle aged African-American woman with short hair stands in front of a tree lit by the sun. A drawing of a purple circle sits by her head with gold text - The Why Struggle? Podcast. Below is an image of two gold footprints. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barbara-faison/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barbara-faison/support

All the Links - linktr.ee/barbarafaison This is the week that officially starts off the next season, autumn. And since last week, the temperatures have dropped a little bit and it is cooling off. The quote I shared last week is still with me. “Autumn is about to show us how beautiful it is to let things go.” - Anonymous Are you slowing down any? I've been writing and recording a few audio tracks and so I'm sharing one with you today. It's called Breathing Space and is five minutes long. If you take the 300 seconds to listen, I'd love for you to leave a comment on my YouTube channel. The meditation is at 5:20 if you want to listen here. Click here for the Breathing Space Practice on YouTube. I'd love to know if you took time to slow down or maybe enjoy time in nature. You may reply to this newsletter or you can reach me at barbarafaisonllc@gmail.com. If social media is easier for you to reach out, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn are best. I'd love to know your thoughts, leave a comment here or you can reach me at barbarafaisonllc@gmail.com. If social media is easier for you to reach out, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn are best. The card I pulled for us today is #7 RELAX- I ACCEPT how I  FEEL  Being able to sit with, be with and accept my feelings is practice and I am getting better, what about you? SELF-CARE MONTH SPECIAL 15% off all products and FREE US shippingUSE THE PROMO CODE - SELFCARE15 Keep reading at barbarafaison.com/blog. Alt text - Middle aged African-American woman with short hair stands in front of a tree lit by the sun. A drawing of a purple circle sits by her head with gold text - The Why Struggle? Podcast. Below is an image of two gold footprints. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barbara-faison/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barbara-faison/support

I'm Barbara J. Faison, Your Meditation Ambassador, and if you are new here, welcome! In January I started a weekly newsletter which also serves as a blog post on my website, barbarafaison.com and the audio is my podcast called the Why Struggle podcast with Barbara J. Faison. So weekly you can read or listen.  My intention is to offer ideas, insights and inspirations to help you struggle less and enjoy life more. However you might be engaging with me, I am grateful for you listening and/or reading! I found out that September is Self-Care Month, yes, I know, there is a month or day for so many things. I'm going with this one since it's about self-care. lol. In honor of Self-Care Month, I'm offering 15% off the products on my website until the end of the month. Use code SELFCARE15 for the discount Autumn or fall is the time when in the northern hemisphere we are starting to slow down, in some places the temperatures are dropping-not so much in Atlanta. It's coming though. “Autumn is about to show us how beautiful it is to let things go.” - Anonymous Seasonally we are moving from the excitement, energy and joy of summer into the slowing down, releasing and letting go of autumn. Nature shows it all. The trees are letting go of the leaves to prepare for the winter. I feel it. Do you? I'm giving myself permission to go with the feeling of wanting to DO LESS... and in case you need it... I am giving you permission to do the same. I hope you enjoy this excerpt from my book, Why Struggle? life is too short to wear tight shoes. SLOW DOWNWhen was the last time you did anything without rushing? We can reach out and touch people in numerous ways including the phone, email, and social media. Technology offers our society such wonderful enhancements to daily living that we sometimes forget to slow down. We get up with our smartphones, cuddle with them and go to bed with them and sometimes we allow them to dictate all of our daily activities. Technology is not human and has no discretion or judgment. Remember to disconnect from technology to fully engage in life and with people. Set personal boundaries around the time you spend on the phone, computer or tablet. Be sure to schedule or factor in time for relaxation and down time. Commit to turning off the phone and enjoying the beauty around you. If you are with someone, enjoy time with a human; the technology will be there after you are done. Practice: Choose a time to spend alone in nature. Take a walk and slow down, breathe the air and feel the sun against your skin. Slow down and give every moment your undivided attention. Affirmation: I allow my mind, body, and spirit to slow down and be at peace. I'd love to know your thoughts, leave a comment here or you can reach me at barbarafaisonllc@gmail.com. If social media is easier for you to reach out, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn are best. The card I pulled for us today is the  #7 LISTEN - My body REMINDS me to FORGIVE MYSELF Before I created this newsletter/blog/podcast, I watched this video on self-forgiveness using tapping also known as Emotional Freedom Technique. I use tapping in our live meditation sessions, it's a powerful tool. You can check it out here. 15% off all products and FREE US shipping USE THE PROMO CODE - SELFCARE15 Your support is always greatly appreciated... share a gift with a friend, family member or colleague. :) - Find out more at barbarafaison.com/store. The next Breathe with Barbara LIVE session for this month is on Wednesday, September 13 from 8 - 9 PM eastern via Zoom. I would love to have you join us.  All of the links are in my LINKTR.EE/BARBARAFAISON.   Keep reading at barbarafaison.com/blog. Alt text - Middle aged African-American woman with short hair stands in front of a tree lit by the sun. A drawing of a purple circle sits by her head with gold text - The Why Struggle? Podcast. Below is an image of two gold footprints. At the bottom, text: with Barbara J. Faison --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barbara-faison/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barbara-faison/support

Week 36 - Sharing Your T.A.G.S. You can read AND see pictures on my blog - barbarafaison.com/blog All the links are here - LINKTR.EE/BARBARAFAISON Greetings! I'm Barbara J. Faison, Your Meditation Ambassador, and if you are new here, welcome! In January I started a weekly newsletter which also serves as a blog post on my website, barbarafaison.com and the audio is my podcast called the Why Struggle podcast with Barbara J. Faison. So weekly you can read or listen.  My intention is to offer ideas, insights and inspirations to help you struggle less and enjoy life more. However you might be engaging with me, I am grateful for you listening and/or reading! Take a moment to imagine a deck on a house on the beach; the golden sunlight is shining, the vivid turquoise water is next to white sand. The white deck of the house is overflowing with vibrant fuchsia, purple and yellow flowers and palm trees. The sky looks like a mixture of pink and blue cotton candy swirled together. I think of our world as a cosmic jigsaw puzzle and we are here to find where we fit in the puzzle. Are you a piece of the sky, the water, the flowers? Our life experiences help us discover our T.A.G.S. - Talents, Abilities, Gifts, and Skills. Each moment is purposeful. Nothing is wasted in life. Take each moment for what it is and your experiences will help you discover and uncover your T.A.G.S. Last week I saw a friend of mine I met in a writer's group back in the 1990's. I seem to be saying that a lot these days. Lol. Ade and I speak and text each other regularly so we didn't feel like it had been 11 years since we had actually seen each other in person. She was in town so we had a great time together over a few days. Wednesday evening we enjoyed a delicious meal of Indian food at Planet Bombay where we had exceptional customer service! Thursday morning we went to one of my favs, the Flying Biscuit. I love having conversations and discovering new things about my friends. Ade is an artist… an author… a writer…a creative. She creates handmade cards, repurposed jewelry and has published three books.In her own words… “I see the world through a window of words....wonderful wandering words.. I write because it is who I am; how I am. My writing is the voice of my soul.” I hope you will take a moment to see her work at peacepaperproductions.com. In my twenties and thirties, I thought life was all about self discovery. I believe we are constantly learning, evolving and growing. For me, life is all about self creation. One of my tags is doing what I'm doing here, writing and sharing my life. Where do you want to fit in the cosmic jigsaw puzzle? The water, the trees, the flowers? What are your T.A.G.S. and how are you sharing them with the world? I'd love to know, you may reply to this newsletter or you can reach me at barbarafaisonllc@gmail.com. If social media is easier for you to reach out, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn are best. Keep reading at barbarafaison.com/blog. Alt text - Middle aged African-American woman with short hair stands in front of a tree lit by the sun. A drawing of a purple circle sits by her head with gold text - The Why Struggle? Podcast. Below is an image of two gold footprints. At the bottom, text: with Barbara J. Faison --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barbara-faison/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barbara-faison/support

Week 35 - Take Three or Ten You can read AND see pictures on my blog - barbarafaison.com/blog All the links are here - LINKTR.EE/BARBARAFAISON My mission is to use my voice to heal, educate and inspire by sharing tools to help people live life better. I've mentioned before that I am an LL, a lifelong learner, and an LS, a lifelong sharer. My mother was an elementary school teacher, my father, a librarian and my paternal grandmother was also a teacher. As the saying goes, I got it honestly and the fruit doesn't fall far from the tree. One of my dear cousins, Narla, is a teacher in Pensacola, FL. Growing up our families would visit each other during the year and we would write each other letters between visits. It makes me smile to think about how writing and sharing our interests kept us connected for decades. Narla still sends lovely cards for my birthday, wedding anniversary and just to say she is thinking about me and our family. There is nothing like receiving handwritten correspondence in the mail in 2023. She has been such a great supporter of my work and meditation sessions. I truly appreciate the encouragement. I love getting notes, emails and text messages from Narla letting me that my meditation work is impactful and that she shares my information with others. What makes this so special is that Narla is NOT on any social media, so her sharing my work with others is very intentional and I am so grateful for her spreading the word about my offerings. Narla just emailed a link to an article called Why You Should Take a Minute to Meditate (Almost) Every Day by Dan Harris, Former ABC News anchor and Author/co-founder/host of @10percent Happier- book + app + podcast. Dan talks about taking one minute to meditate most days for a month. He gives examples of when you can meditate in your day to make it a habit. The article is a quick read if you want to check it out. Creating space in your day for what is important is essential to taking care of yourself. I mentioned last week on my blog post that sometimes taking a few breaths is a great way to move into meditation.  Why not try one or more of these practices? Take a moment to stop and take three conscious breaths. Breathing in through your nose and out through your mouth. Set a reminder on your phone to take three or more conscious breaths when the alarm goes off…it's a great practice to start. If you have 3:33 mins, take 10 conscious breaths. You can find a link to this practice on my YouTube artist channel, Barbara J. Faison. This track is also on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, Insight Timer and other digital platforms. I'd love for you to bookmark my page and listen wherever you get your music or meditations online. If you stopped to take any conscious breaths, let me know by replying to this newsletter or you can reach me at barbarafaisonllc@gmail.com or direct message me on social media, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn are best. Keep reading at barbarafaison.com/blog. Alt text - Middle aged African-American woman with short hair stands in front of a tree lit by the sun. A drawing of a purple circle sits by her head with gold text - The Why Struggle? Podcast. Below is an image of two gold footprints. At the bottom, text: with Barbara J. Faison --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barbara-faison/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barbara-faison/support

Week 34 - A Stress Relief Breath Practice You can read AND see pictures my blog - barbarafaison.com/blog All the links are here - LINKTR.EE/BARBARAFAISON On Saturday I had the pleasure of presenting a De-Stress with your Breath Program for Teens at the Henry County Library, in Stockbridge Georgia. I get extra excited when I am able to share simple practices that anyone can do to reduce stress! Breathing is a part of what we do anyway, we only need to remember to access our breath intentionally as we move through the day. Did you know that breathing practices can help you calm down or have more energy? After over 25 years offering personal development training and programs I have learned that whoever needs to be there, will be there. It may be one person or hundreds of people. The just right audience will be at the place when the time is just right. Ivy and Danny were the just right people on Saturday at the program. Ivy asked me how I got into breathing stuff. :) I told her that working with the breath is easier for most people than meditation, so I like to start there. She also shared that she sometimes had trouble going to sleep and staying asleep, like many people, so I shared a few tips with her including: Write down things that are on your mind before you get in bed and say out loud… that's for another day, it's time to rest. Put devices away (phones, tablets, computers) anything that emits light an hour or more before you get into bed. (I know… you can do it!) Stand up and shake your body out, breathe in and out and let  whatever sounds  come out naturally come out when you do this. You can also practice 4 - 4- 8 breathing to reduce stress and is great for calming your body and mind down before bed or while in bed if you wake up. This is an excerpt from my four minute practice that is available for free on my artist YouTube channel, Barbara J. Faison, and also on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, Insight Timer and other digital platforms. I'd love for you to listen to bookmark my page and listen on whatever digital places you use. If you tried the 4-4-8 breathing practice, reply to this newsletter or you can reach me at barbarafaisonllc@gmail.com  or direct message me on social media, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn are best. Keep reading at barbarafaison.com/blog. Alt text - Middle aged African-American woman with short hair stands in front of a tree lit by the sun. A drawing of a purple circle sits by her head with gold text - The Why Struggle? Podcast. Below is an image of two gold footprints. At the bottom, text: with Barbara J. Faison --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barbara-faison/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barbara-faison/support

Week 33 - Finding JOY! You can read AND see pictures my blog - barbarafaison.com/blog All the links are here - LINKTR.EE/BARBARAFAISON What is joy? According to the dictionary, it's a feeling of great pleasure and happiness. When was the last time you felt that feeling? I mean PURE JOY? On Friday night, my friend, Bonnie and I went out salsa dancing. On the way to the club, The Sanctuary, Bonnie and I tried to remember the last time we were “really” out dancing. We knew it was before “RONA” AKA, Covid 19, and we were pretty sure it was in 2019. Well thanks to Facebook I was able to take it back to Bonnie's birthday in April 2019. Had it really been four years? Oh my! If you are new or want to know more about my salsa journey and these awesome friends, check out Week 26 - Music and Lasting Friendships. Over 11 years ago I discovered I had osteoarthritis in my right hip and right knee, so my dancing has been a bit limited for the past few years. Physical therapy last year helped a lot even though I have pain most days. I decided I would dance and listen to my body and I'm so glad I did. I put on my dance shoes, thank goodness I could still wear them, and hit the floor. We weren't sure how many people we would know at the club, since we had been missing in action for so long. You know, what, we didn't care. We have learned that no matter what, we are GOING to have a good time. And we had a blast!  Back in the day, we used to be at that club most Friday nights and other places during the week. Bonnie and I laughed and reminisced about our memories of dancing for over 20 years in the car on the way.  When we arrived we found out that DJ Tito was the DJ. He used to be one of the main DJ's when we went out regularly. We knew the salsa music would be on fire, so we were ready for a great time. People came that we didn't know would be there, so it was like a salsa family reunion. Watching Bonnie, Terri, Jamie, Adiascar, Anana, Jazzie, Mark, Icesis and others I felt my heart swelling with pleasure and happiness! Oh, yeah, that's the definition of JOY. Dancing to the music and watching my friends and others enjoying themselves was PURE JOY! Were there moves I just can't do anymore, absolutely? Can I dance as long as I used to? Nope! I still felt the joy of dancing with partners who allowed the music to lead them. Bonnie and I left around 1 AM, wearing our salsa glow. If you want to see some of my salsa crew dancing, check out the short on my YouTube channel.  And if you haven't subscribed, I love for you to support me there. Keep reading at barbarafaison.com/blog. Alt text - Middle aged African-American woman with short hair stands in front of a tree lit by the sun. A drawing of a purple circle sits by her head with gold text - The Why Struggle? Podcast. Below is an image of two gold footprints. At the bottom, text: with Barbara J. Faison --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barbara-faison/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barbara-faison/support

Week 32 - Appreciating and Celebrating! You can read or listen on my blog - barbarafaison.com/blog Life is a journey. A trip. A deck of cards. Life defies a single definition because moment by moment, life changes. Life is different for each person every moment. Just as life changes, we change and grow based on our experiences.  Life simply is. Being alive is cause for celebration! Take a moment to think of a reason to celebrate. Treat yourself to something because you met a goal – celebrate! Perhaps you didn't use your cell phone when you were having a meal. CELEBRATE! Every day find reasons to be grateful for life and celebrate! Sometimes it's just as simple as not beating yourself up about something you did. Now that is cause for a major celebration. Think about the music you've listened to, the movies you've seen, the friends in your life and how they may have changed over the years. Treat yourself to something you enjoy. You deserve it. Affirm this: I celebrate life and I am grateful for all my life experiences. That was Celebrate Everything, an excerpt from my book, Why Struggle? Life is too short to wear tight shoes. I'm celebrating Kym Kennedy, Spiritual Teacher, Radical Forgiveness Coach and Scrabble Enthusiast. Back around 2008ish, I met Kym at the Single's Ministry at Hillside Church. Kym has introduced me to so many of my current practices, one of which is a powerful tool called radical forgiveness. A tool is only helpful when you decide to use it. Over the past 15 years I have learned so much from watching Kym truly embody using her tools and practices while offering her loving guidance to me and so many others. Kym has been a friend, mentor and supporter of my work as a meditation ambassador and I am grateful for her kind, loving encouragement. Kym said she wanted to laugh for her birthday and celebrate with friends... and that's what we did. Sunday was Kym's birthday so a beautiful gathering of friends celebrated with her birthday at a brunch at the Uptown Comedy Corner. One of our friends, Lisa Zunzanyika gave Kym, a framed gift that was the word LOVE made from Scrabble tiles that read, ”LOVE only worth 7 in the game but priceless in this house.” Gathering together with friends, enjoying the music and laughter was a lovely way to celebrate Kym. It reminds me that LOVE IS IT. LOVE IS what life is ALL about.  I am so grateful for the love of my family, friends and supporters. Today I am celebrating this unpredictable journey called life and my dear friend, Kym Kennedy for who she is and all the lives she continues to touch by just being who she is. Oh, and Kym and I won gifts as part of a raffle. Kym won a piece of jewelry and I won a delicious body scrub by Wazuri. We were having so much fun we forgot to take a group picture... you can see a video some of us singing to I Like it by Debarge here. So who or what are you celebrating? Feel free to reach out to me at Barbarafaisonllc@gmail.com or direct message me on social media, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn are best. The card I pulled for us today is the #10 LISTEN - I GIVE myself GRACE WHEW! That is truly and ongoing practice! Use PROMO CODE: Ship10 for Free US shipping & 10% off Our Breathe with Barbara LIVE session for this month start on Wednesday from 8 - 9 PM eastern via Zoom. I would love to have you join us. Alt text - Middle aged African-American woman with short hair stands in front of a tree lit by the sun. A drawing of a purple circle sits by her head with gold text - The Why Struggle? Podcast. Below is an image of two gold footprints. At the bottom, text: with Barbara J. Faison --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barbara-faison/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barbara-faison/support

Week 31 - More New Things! All the LINKS - LINKTR.EE/BARBARAFAISON I'm Barbara J. Faison, Your Meditation Ambassador, and if you are new here, welcome! In January I started a weekly newsletter which also serves as a blog post on my website, barbarafaison.com and the audio is my podcast called the Why Struggle podcast with Barbara J. Faison. So weekly you can read or listen.  My intention is to offer ideas, insights and inspirations to help you struggle less and enjoy life more. However you might be engaging with me, I am grateful for you listening and/or reading! It's been many years since I “really” set goals. You know the real goals where you write down what you are planning to do by a specific date, along with an action plan. I decided back in the early 2000's I would call my version of goals… Getting On A Life System. Get it -  G.O.A.L.S. - Getting On A Life System. So I ditched the official goal setting and planning and just started moving in the direction of my desires and worked on getting out of my own way. That part is still something I have to be mindful of.   I will tell you that for a former planner, it's not the easiest way to approach life. Lol. Like most things in life, it is practice, so I continue practicing being open to new opportunities and experiences. Being grateful for all of my experiences helps a lot. I believe that gratitude is an attitude and a practice. Appreciating where I am, who I am with, and my experiences has been a huge part of being able to relax more into life's natural flow. I'm so grateful for the opportunities to be involved with the Kindred Healing Center, owned by Oriola E. The Kindred Center is an affordable one-stop shop location for integrative mind, body, and spirit healing located within the Historic Lakewood Heights Holistic Health Oasis area in the City of Atlanta. You can learn more at https://www.kindredhealingcenter.com. Oriola has been a dedicated supporter of my work as a Meditation Ambassador over the years and has offered numerous opportunities for me to share my work with individuals and organizations locally and virtually. I am eternally grateful for her! In addition to being an awesome human being, Oriola is the ultimate connector. Through her center I was a part of the Flowers and Fruit Mindfulness program where I met Daisy Mugford and through that connection I was able to offer my meditation as a part of the 5th Saturday hike at the Cascade Springs Nature Preserve.  Daisy shared the history of this 135-acre preserve in southwest Atlanta as we hiked trails to Utoy Creek which was the site of a Civil War battle and we ended our hike with a meditation at the Cascade Falls waterfall. Read MORE at ⁠barbarafaison.com/blog⁠ Alt text - Middle aged African-American woman with short hair stands in front of a tree lit by the sun. A drawing of a purple circle sits by her head with gold text - The Why Struggle? Podcast. Below is an image of two gold footprints. At the bottom, text: with Barbara J. Faison   --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barbara-faison/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barbara-faison/support

Week 29 - What do You Believe? All the LINKS - LINKTR.EE/BARBARAFAISON CHECK OUT OVER 33 SHORT MEDITATIONS ON MY YOUTUBE CHANNEL What do you believe about yourself? Your abilities? Your family? Your beliefs are like seeds planted in soil – when nourished in the proper environment, seeds grow into beautiful foliage. As children, our belief system is based on the world we live in. Once we are grown, we must get clear about what works best for us as an adult. A few things I remember hearing as a child that impacted my belief system were: Children are seen and not heard Good girls don't wear red lipstick and red fingernail polish Women don't go to clubs by themselves I know what you're thinking, are you serious? Yes, growing up in the 60s these were just some of the expressions being thrown about in that decade. Well, thank goodness change is happening regularly and I have a natural rebellious streak in me. I didn't think I took them to heart, although I'm sure they made an impression on me.  In my observation, children are definitely expressing themselves in 2023. I do love a good red lipstick and nail polish. Lol. And I don't remember how many times I went out salsa dancing by myself. When was the last time you thought about what you believe and if it is serving you now? I pulled out the second edition of my book, Why Struggle? Life is too short to wear tight shoes to look at the beliefs and philosophies I shared in 2017. I wanted to be sure I still believed what I did back then. I do still have the same beliefs and a few more. I won't list them all, here are a few. I believe: Love is the most powerful, healing, and transformative power there is. Be kind even when you can't be loving. I am a student and teacher in the school of life. Teachers are everywhere, and I must be open and willing to be a student at all times. Trusting my personal guidance system (PGS) is practice, and I have to relax to hear it. I also believe that everything in life is purposeful. There are no mistakes. I'm in the right place, at the right time, with the right people, doing the right thing. Life is practice. I continue to practice training my mind to focus on what I desire, and not on what I don't have. Planting seeds of the flowers I would love to see in my garden. That's what life is about. When was the last time you checked your belief system?  Feel free to reach out to me at Barbarafaison llc@gmail.com or direct message me on social media, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn are best. The card I pulled for us today is the #1 QUESTION - I Where do I feel GROUNDED in my life? What say you to that question? Use PROMO CODE: Ship10 for Free US shipping & 10% off Keep reading on  https://www.barbarafaison.com/blog/ to find out more. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barbara-faison/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barbara-faison/support

All the links are at https://linktr.ee/barbarafaison⁠ Week 16 - Nope. Dancing Goats. Power. What do these three things have to do with each other? Come with me to find out. Working is what We people do, right? Werk. Werk. Werk. Werk. Werk. In my best Rihanna voice. I've had some type of business since 1999 when I self-published my book, Why Struggle? life is too short to wear tight shoes. In 2017, I left my last “full-time” corporate job after a total of 33 years working and I continued on my journey of entrepreneurship with new products and services. .... Keep reading on my blog to find out more.  My Affirm Your Life audio course includes affirmations to help you feel grounded, confident and energized, you can listen to the first lesson on my website. ⁠ All the links - https://linktr.ee/barbarafaison ⁠ --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barbara-faison/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barbara-faison/support

Enjoy this Loving Myself meditation. Follow me on Social Media - all the links are here - https://linktr.ee/barbarafaison Be sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel - where you can see the video version of some of the Why Struggle? episodes SUBSCRIBE: ➡️ https://www.youtube.com/c/BarbaraFaison Let me know what you think of the book excerpt, you can email me at barbarafaisonllc@gmail.com Social Media - find me and follow me! https://linktr.ee/barbarafaison

Enjoy this excerpt from my book, Why Struggle? life is too short to wear tight shoes has been called a mini-reference manual for personal development. You can order copies at http://www.barbarafaison.com/store/ Follow me on Social Media - all the links are here - https://linktr.ee/barbarafaison Be sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel - where you can see the video version of some of the Why Struggle? episodes SUBSCRIBE: ➡️ https://www.youtube.com/c/BarbaraFaison Let me know what you think of the book excerpt, you can email me at barbarafaisonllc@gmail.com Social Media - find me and follow me! https://linktr.ee/barbarafaison

Enjoy this excerpt from my book, Why Struggle? life is too short to wear tight shoes has been called a mini-reference manual for personal development. You can order copies at http://www.barbarafaison.com/store/ Follow me on Social Media - all the links are here - https://linktr.ee/barbarafaison Be sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel - where you can see the video version of some of the Why Struggle? episodes SUBSCRIBE: ➡️ https://www.youtube.com/c/BarbaraFaison Let me know what you think of the book excerpt, you can email me at barbarafaisonllc@gmail.com Social Media - find me and follow me! https://linktr.ee/barbarafaison

Food for thought. Follow me on Social Media - all the links are here - https://linktr.ee/barbarafaison Be sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel - where you can see the video version of some of the Why Struggle? episodes SUBSCRIBE: ➡️ https://www.youtube.com/c/BarbaraFaison Let me know what you think of the book excerpt, you can email me at barbarafaisonllc@gmail.com Social Media - find me and follow me! https://linktr.ee/barbarafaison

Why Struggle? podcast with Barbara J. Faison shares ideas, insights and simple practices to live an intentional life and thrive. Enjoy meditations, affirmations, and practices along with musings from daily living. linktr.ee/barbarafaison - all the links Join 30 of the world's best meditation teachers to release the past year, ground yourself in the present and create the 2023 you envision for yourself. As part of this summit you'll get access to 30 live workshops over two days, and recordings of the ones you can't attend live. This is best value, best-in-class personal growth and empowerment training to tune into your highest potential 2023 in love, work, spirituality, self-care, courage, beauty, magic, and general awesomeness! Places on this summit are limited, so book now to avoid disappointment! - linktr.ee/barbarafaison --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/barbara-faison/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/barbara-faison/support

My book - Why Struggle? life is too short to wear tight shoes has been called a mini-reference manual for personal development. You can order copies at http://www.barbarafaison.com/store/ Follow me on Social Media - all the links are here - https://linktr.ee/barbarafaison Be sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel - where you can see the video version of some of the Why Struggle? episodes SUBSCRIBE: ➡️ https://www.youtube.com/c/BarbaraFaison Let me know what you think of the book excerpt, you can email me at barbarafaisonllc@gmail.com Social Media - find me and follow me! https://linktr.ee/barbarafaison

My book - Why Struggle? life is too short to wear tight shoes has been called a mini-reference manual for personal development. You can order copies at http://www.barbarafaison.com/store/ Follow me on Social Media - all the links are here - https://linktr.ee/barbarafaison Be sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel - where you can see the video version of some of the Why Struggle? episodes SUBSCRIBE: ➡️ https://www.youtube.com/c/BarbaraFaison Let me know what you think of the book excerpt, you can email me at barbarafaisonllc@gmail.com Social Media - find me and follow me! https://linktr.ee/barbarafaison

My book - Why Struggle? life is too short to wear tight shoes has been called a mini-reference manual for personal development. You can order copies at http://www.barbarafaison.com/store/ Follow me on Social Media - all the links are here - https://linktr.ee/barbarafaison Be sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel - where you can see the video version of some of the Why Struggle? episodes SUBSCRIBE: ➡️ https://www.youtube.com/c/BarbaraFaison Let me know what you think of the book excerpt, you can email me at barbarafaisonllc@gmail.com --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/barbara-faison/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/barbara-faison/support

My book - Why Struggle? life is too short to wear tight shoes has been called a mini-reference manual for personal development. You can order copies at http://www.barbarafaison.com/store/ Follow me on Social Media - all the links are here - https://linktr.ee/barbarafaison Be sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel - where you can see the video version of some of the Why Struggle? episodes SUBSCRIBE: ➡️ https://www.youtube.com/c/BarbaraFaison Let me know what you think of the book excerpt, you can email me at barbarafaisonllc@gmail.com --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/barbara-faison/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/barbara-faison/support

My book - Why Struggle? life is too short to wear tight shoes has been called a mini-reference manual for personal development. You can order copies at http://www.barbarafaison.com/store/ Follow me on Social Media - all the links are here - https://linktr.ee/barbarafaison Be sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel - where you can see the video version of some of the Why Struggle? episodes SUBSCRIBE: ➡️ https://www.youtube.com/c/BarbaraFaison Let me know what you think of the book excerpt, you can email me at barbarafaisonllc@gmail.com --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/barbara-faison/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/barbara-faison/support

My book - Why Struggle? life is too short to wear tight shoes has been called a mini-reference manual for personal development. You can order copies at http://www.barbarafaison.com/store/ Follow me on Social Media - all the links are here - https://linktr.ee/barbarafaison Be sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel - where you can see the video version of some of the Why Struggle? episodes SUBSCRIBE: ➡️ https://www.youtube.com/c/BarbaraFaison Let me know what you think of the book excerpt, you can email me at barbarafaisonllc@gmail.com --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/barbara-faison/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/barbara-faison/support

My book - Why Struggle? life is too short to wear tight shoes has been called a mini-reference manual for personal development. You can order copies at http://www.barbarafaison.com/store/ Follow Barbara on Social Media - all the links are here - https://linktr.ee/barbarafaison Be sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel - where you can see the video version of some of the Why Struggle? episodes SUBSCRIBE: ➡️ https://www.youtube.com/c/BarbaraFaison Let me know what you think of the book excerpt, you can email her at barbarafaisonllc@gmail.com --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/barbara-faison/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/barbara-faison/support