Heya, Reader

My last couple of emails have included words like releasing problems, old beliefs, identities, patterns and shifting.

Yes, I know. These are massive stereotypical buzzwords in coaching and wellness right now.

I’ve watched plenty of these words trend over the decades. I remember when mindfulness was on practically every magazine at the Whole (paycheck) Foods checkout aisle.

Be mindful. Do yoga. Think positive. 🤢

The words themselves aren’t necessarily the problem. They do help bring a concept to the surface. But after hearing them enough, they can start to mean absolutely nothing.

So … when I say we’ll be working with beliefs, identities, problems and patterns during ​The Deep Exhale: Shifting Sessions​, what do I mean?

One, we won't be trying to replace everything you believe with some shiny new “empowered” version of you. You don’t need to become a different person. In fact, I hope you don’t.

Be you. All of you.

However, let’s set down and leave behind what isn’t relevant anymore and shift your narrative that isn't doing you justice.

The Mind Shifting technique works differently from toxic positivity of affirmations and other forms of mindset work, because this is NOT mindset work. I want to make that clear.

Rather than piling a new belief or identity on top of something already creating resistance, or trying to brainwash your problem away, we work with what’s underneath the problem by finding the root. That's first. Sometimes that’s a belief. Sometimes an identity. Sometimes it's resistance around something you want. Often, it’s mental chatter that keeps chewing bubble-gum like a valley girl from the 80’s. It doesn’t stop popping.

There are six unique Mind Shifting techniques, each with its own nuanced process that support re-wiring the subconscious mind. I’ve taken that training in working with the subconscious mind and blended it with my own work to create the specific experience of Shifting Sessions, with a narrower focus on the nervous system, emotional patterns and resistance.

That’s why there isn’t a rigid itinerary telling you what you’re supposed to heal during Week 1, Week 2 or Week 3. Our bodies don’t work according to a neat little itinerary. But, I do have a plan and a method that works.

If nothing is coming to mind for you right now, that’s what the 8 weeks are for.

It can be super simple. Example,

Maybe Uncle Jack ruffles your feathers every single holiday. A month before the next gathering, you’re already devising a plan for how you can dodge Unc because you don’t want another argument. Except now you’re wasting energy plotting an exit strategy and replaying scenarios that haven’t even happened yet.

Let’s work on how you relate to Uncle Jack.

Because God knows, we probably aren’t changing Uncle Jack.

That’s the work.

Getting underneath the problem, shifting what no longer needs to be running the show, and reclaiming space for something better to arrive.

Then Uncle Jack gets to be Uncle Jack. And you get to be fully unbothered AF.

Doesn’t that sound nice?

Want to go deeper? We can do that too. Especially, in our 1:1 private session that's included.

Allow me tell you what I was exploring with this work back in January.

I was getting really frustrated with myself because I wasn’t showing up for me in all the creative ways I needed and wanted to. That way was being visible to the outside world and bringing my work forward publicly. I did a lot of thinking and excavating to figure out why year after year I wasn't getting the stuff done. At the surface was a big very old flashing FEAR sign.

But fear of what?

I could feel it deep in my diaphragm, where it always felt hard to breathe fully. My breath would get shallow, restrictive, held. I was always slightly on edge on the inside. There was this subtle feeling that my body thought the world wasn’t safe.

Pushing myself or forcing myself to show up only made it worse. I’d start to shut down. Instead, I would work on all the other things except the one thing I wanted to show up for. You.

Writing these emails. Doing my regenerative cooking show on YouTube. Growing my vidcast Talk Show I thought of 6 years ago before every person now has a Netflix show.

Going on video in other ways. Telling my stories. Being visible.

Not because I need another place to create content, but because those are the ways I can bring my regenerative health work forward and reach the people I actually want to help, and who want my help too.

Fear of being visible had been sabotaging me for decades!

When I started leaning into exploring where that fear originated, one piece of that story was bullying.

I can remember being bullied and teased as young as preschool and kindergarten. I felt tormented. It continued through grade school, high school and dance class. I was bullied severely in youth group at church, and even into early adulthood by both male and female bosses There were experiences with family too. I felt constantly picked on at every corner. Intentional or not, it was subconsciously damaging, nonetheless.

What made it confusing and hard to recognize:

None of that looked like it had held me back.

I’ve always been a proactive, organized go-getter. I make goals and make them happen. I've never been afraid to re-invent myself, switch careers, move to new cities & states, embrace new experiences, make new friends everywhere I go.

In the corporate world:
Strategy? Check.
Help build companies? Check.
Organizational development? Check.
Lead and support teams? Check.

Come up with one business idea after another that stayed an idea? Check.

I thrived as a supporting actress to the greater picture. Blending into the scene was safe.

But, running my own business? Social media? Camera in my face?

Hell fuck no.

Storytelling? Sure. I love writing. Writing is cathartic.

Until I must tell my stories to strangers.

Gasp.

The irony.

Growing up as a solo child, I had lots of time to daydream.

I dreamt BIG!! Go big or go home, right? I mean on paper all the wizardry astrological whatchamacallits that say I’m an Aries Sun Sign and Leo Rising – double fire!!! Throw in a sassy, eccentric, stubborn redhead, and … well. Get the heck out of my way world.

I wanted to be the lead singer in a band, despite having a horrible singing voice. 😂

I dreamed of being a backup dancer for major acts because dancing and moving to music made this shy kid feel alive and free. Still does.

The first female NFL coach. Sure! I can do that.
A fighter pilot. Yep.
A race car driver. All green flags here.

Subtlety was never part of the plan.

In junior high I envisioned becoming a powerful businesswoman who ran a great company and used her success to help other people. Yet somehow, as an adult, I kept playing smaller than the life I had imagined.
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It wasn’t for lack of trying.

It felt like I could run as fast as I possibly could toward my future yet somehow keep slamming into the same cement retaining wall.

That was the problem I wanted to understand.

Not, “How do I become more confident?” I have that.
Not, “What affirmation should I repeat?” That’s a band-aid.

Why did I deeply want something while another part of me kept getting in the way of it?

I started using several of the Mind Shifting techniques on myself to work with the fear, the beliefs, the resistance and the pieces underneath it, recording my results and working heavily with it to prove it didn’t work.

But something actually shifted.

The resistance wasn’t there anymore. Visibility stopped feeling so threatening. Instead, I felt this immense sense of bravery. I felt inspired, ready and excited.

I was safe.

Now I know those are sensations, knowings and feelings. So let’s make this more tangible. My diaphragm relaxed in a way I hadn’t experienced before. I went from restrictive, shallow breathing to full breath, feeling open and calm.
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A big deep exhale.
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It was no longer just an idea or feeling that something had shifted. I could literally feel the difference in my physical body. That’s one of many pieces of proof in my own life that physical and emotional health aren’t separate. Neither is our spiritual health.

Now? You’re reading this email because I’m no longer afraid to show up in those ways.

I’m no longer so concerned about being judged, shamed or ridiculed. I found my peace and centeredness around being visible. I’m still learning about my voice and language, for sure. One foot in front of the other.

That is the power of this work.

Because showing up means I get to do more of the work I’m here to do. And I’d love for it to be the same for you, whatever your thing is.

My regenerative health and wellness practice matters deeply to me in all its facets: physical, emotional, mental and spiritual. I don’t want you moving through your life feeling like crap, fighting the same thing repeatedly, when we can get to the root of what’s underneath and tackle it together.

Shifting Sessions gives us one practical doorway into the mental and emotional pieces of regenerative health.

My cement wall was visibility.

What’s yours?

Reply back and tell me.

What do you want that some part of you keeps getting in the way of?

Find Out Here