Grateful, No Matter What

Finding similarities with other people helps us live happy and healthy lives. Your life may feel ordinary to you, but it might seem extraordinary to someone else. Every story shared is a chance to make someone feel less alone. Sharing your story with others invites others to connect with you. Whether the experiences you talk about are positive or negative — it doesn’t matter. The fact that you are share anything with others in a society that is either all-or-nothing is impactful in itself. It causes everyone who is listening to reflect on our words. Telling your story will enhance your personal growth and maturity. Being confronted with the unfortunate realities that come with having difficult conversations or sharing negative or triggering experiences can be worth the growth. Growing not only for yourself but also for those who choose to be actively engaged in this journey of learning alongside you

Nothing is stronger than habit. Simply put, a habit is a behavior that starts as a choice, and then becomes a nearly unconscious pattern. Every habit, no matter how simple or complex, has the same structure, which we call the "habit loop." There is a cue or a trigger that tells your brain to go into automatic mode. Then there is the routine, which can be physical or mental or emotional behavior. Finally, there is a reward. Once you understand how habit loops work, you can start changing them.

A century ago, Albert Einstein taught us: everything is relative.  The way you see the world depends on your point of view and context. What is hot for you might be mild for me, what is a success for me might be a failure to you. There’s no black and white, there’s only the perspective you choose to look at things. Everything can change in a snap when you provide context. So, is everything relative? It depends on how you look at things and you must always seek a new perspective on life. You can have anything you can imagine if you are willing to pay the price. But you'll never be satisfied with life if you just mindlessly try to control everything. Life is like a river, you can’t control it fully, it flows where it wants, it was flowing before you and will flow long after you. Choosing the right perspective on life matters more than you think and only you can choose one that makes your life meaningful, happy and complete.

“No” is a word most of us use too infrequently. And, what’s worse, when we say “No” we usually add on all sorts of lengthly and unecessary explanations. But “No” can be a complete sentence, and to be honest, "No" is a complete sentence. Often, no is a difficult thing to say. This resistance to the word is directly linked to the need and desire to seek approval from other people. This need has rooted itself deep into todays society of instant gratification and impatience. But, don't worry! Practice makes perfect. More and more you will become comfortable with the idea that no is not negative and hopefully begin to see how it impacts your life, your relationships, and your overall mindset.

You have the power to attract. To attract positive energy from the Universe means changing the way you think and act. Your thoughts betray the person you really are and if they are negative then you cannot hope to ever embrace positivity. For many, it is incredibly difficult to make that transition and for those wanting positivity then it really does mean going back to basics. It is not as tough as it sounds! All it needs is for you to write down a road map of the kind of person you wish to become. The strategy, a key part of powerful positive thinking, is the action that will help you deliver the person that is already there. It means rejecting irrational fears and anxieties; no longer dwelling in the past, being open minded, tolerant and slow to anger. For positive energy to radiate from you then you have to learn to like yourself. You are a unique individual and very special in your own way. You need to accept that, and when you do, others will see and appreciate your qualities.

I’ll admit I’m a creature of habit in many ways. I tend to settle into routines that feel good, and I get pretty invested in them at times. A routine is a series of habits. If you've got a good routine set up, say a morning routine of breakfast-exercise-shower-dress-commute, you've freed yourself from a lot of small decisions that could slow you down or capture valuable brain-space that you'd prefer to use for something else. You can now go on autopilot and still accomplish your. In this way, paradoxically, a good routine can be freeing. No need for constant decision-making about what's coming next or what you should do. You're gonna brush your teeth before you leave the house, and that's that! Routine can create positive habits, but too much routine creates some inflexibility, as well as other challenges that can do more harm than good for you and your overall growth and evolution. Is there a healthy balance? 

The external, as well as the internal are forever changing, no matter what we do, say, or try to actively control on a daily basis. Nothing is static, everything is in constant motion, fluctuating, growing, evolving, dying; turning into something that it was not just months, weeks, days, seconds, or even moments before. This constant change, that nothing lasts forever, is the law of impermanence, which is defined as the state or fact of lasting for only a limited period of time. Even if you’ve never heard of this concept, I’m sure the word “impermanence” seems somewhat familiar. If you take a closer look at it, you should see the root word permanent, which comes from the Latin permanere, "endure, continue, or stay to the end." This means that nothing every changes, it always stays the same, no matter what. Think of a permanent marker. If you write on a wall or someone’s clothing, there’s no way of washing it off; it’s there forever, you can’t change it or erase it. On the other hand, you have impermanence, which is the exact opposite of permanent. It means nothing lasts forever, nothing stays exactly the same, and to understand the impermanent nature of everything in life is to understand the inevitability of change.

On this episode of the Grateful, No Matter What Podcast, I had the pleasure to sit down with Eugene Thalmann, owner of Sprouting Dreams Farm in Liberty, NY. This episode was taped back in September of 2020, but everything we spoke about is still quite relevant several months later.  Eugene is very passionate about farming, food, and connecting to the land. We discussed all of these topics and so much more. Enjoy! If you want to connect with Eugene, feel free to reach out to him: Sprouting Dreams Farm (Facebook) & @sproutingdreamsfarm (Instagram).

Meditation isn’t about becoming a different person, a new person, or even a better person. It’s about training yourself to become more self-aware while getting a healthy sense of perspective. If you think about it, it's truly a journey from the outer world into the inner one. With each passing moment allow yourself to become closer and more intimate with your breath. You have the choice and ultimate authority to come back to your breath, especially when your mind starts to race towards the past or the future. Remember, you’re not trying to turn off your thoughts or feelings. You’re learning to observe them without judgment. And eventually, you may start to better understand them as well. It is up to you, the individual to take back these moments as your own and cherish them as if it was your last one. Be here now. It’s where your most authentic life is happening.

On this episode of the Grateful, No Matter What Podcast, I had the pleasure to sit down with Dr. Steven K. Finch, who is the Owner/Founder of Lifestyle Evolution, along with his wife Jeanna. He created a bio-individualized and transformative prevention based on clinical weight loss & complete lifestyle change interventions, for overweight to super-super obese (BMI 60+) individuals with coexisting chronic diseases. Through an innovative, sustainable, and viable health coaching and integrative/functional medicine and nutrition model, he utilizes virtual communication technologies (i.e., text, phone, zoom) to help client achieve their health goals. We discussed many facets of his journey into the Health & Wellness field, how he approaches his clients, and so much more. Enjoy! If you want to connect with Steven, feel free to reach out to him: www.lifestyle-evolution.com (Website), @lifestyleevolutioncoaching (Instagram), Lifestyle Evolution (Facebook), or steve@lifestyle-evolution.com (E-mail).

I was recently asked the question, "What makes a man a man?", and I honestly didn't know how to answer it. In my head, certain qualities came up to describe a man, but before I spoke those words into existence, I realized that those same qualities could be attributed to a woman as well. And that's why I couldn't answer the question and felt somewhat confused and taken aback. Not because of my impulsive or knee-jerk thought, rather the fact that in that moment I truly recognized that there is no line of demarkation between what makes a man a man and a woman a woman.  I understand there are certain physical attributes that can make someone a male or female, but that's their sex, not their gender. And gender isn't black and white at all, which means that gender roles, gender identity, and gender-based qualities aren't either.

On this episode of the Grateful, No Matter What Podcast, I had the pleasure to sit down with Amy Kaufman, who is an amazing soul that is heavily involved in Energy Healing. During a Tarot Card reading in 2009, she was invited to consider becoming a Reiki Practitioner and it rang true for her. This lead her down a path in becoming a certified Reiki Master. In addition, she leads people through Cacao Ceremonies, guided meditations, and provides them the time and space to go within and embark on their own journey of self-discovery. She is giver of love, support and a giver of herself.  Following her path in becoming a Reiki Master has allowed her to continue to give love and support to many in need of healing. Reiki is a method of bringing to light your inner joy, a way to calm and relax you and a way to alleviate physical pain. We discussed this and so many other interesting topics. Enjoy!  If you want to connect with Amy, feel free to reach out to her: https://amykaufman.co (Website), amy@amykaufman.co (E-mail), @reiki_withamy (Instagram), & Amy Axelrod Kaufman (Facebook).

Pain is part of life. It does not have to rule your life. Suffering, is not part of life. We do it to ourselves. When it comes to how we respond to physical and emotional pain, we have a choice Life happens, right? We lose jobs, we may lose a home, we get sick, we break bones, and unfortunately people die on us. This is all a part of life, no mater how hard we try to avoid it. And guess what, it hurts. I'm not going to try to convince you of otherwise. When we feel this type of pain, it is what we call an appropriate emotion, which is an appropriate response to life events that hurt. If you stand back from it and cast a critical eye over your life, you will find that these events, thankfully, do not occur that often (hopefully). We can’t choose whether or not we’re going to experience pain. But we can choose to let go and not to fight against it or become overly attached to it and wallow. Is this easy? Of course not. However, it is absolutely possible. By adjusting our thinking, and how we think about our thinking, we can change our emotional responses, the extent to which we suffer (or not), our level of tension and stress, and in turn, our experience of pain.

On this episode of the Grateful, No Matter What Podcast, I had the pleasure to sit down with Stephanie Morgan, who I met during my time in Grad School to be a Clinical Nutrition Specialist. First of all, Stephanie is a Wife, a Mama, Nutritionist, Personal Trainer and TRX instructor. She grew up in Central New York, spent 10 years in Massachusetts after college, and decided to move back to NY in 2014 with her husband and 2 young daughters to be closer to family. She became a Licensed Massage Therapist where I was honored to do body work that resolved my clients pain and put a smile on their face. After becoming a mother she realized that she needed to prioritize self-care and dove into her local fitness community. This fostered her desire to bring wellness and positive mindset to other Mama’s so that they can live their best life. A life that reduces mental and physical clutter. That focuses on sustainable whole body wellness and living with intention.  If you want connect with Stephanie, feel free to reach out to her: @cultivated_nutrition on Instagram and Stephanie Morgan on Facebook.

Gratitude means thankfulness, counting your blessings, noticing simple pleasures, and acknowledging everything that you receive. It means learning to live your life as if everything were a miracle, and being aware on a continuous basis of how much you’ve been given. Once you allow yourself to become oriented toward looking for things to be grateful for, you will start to appreciate simple pleasures and things that you may have previously took for granted.  Remember, gratitude shouldn't be just a reaction to getting what you want, but a no matter what type of gratitude. The kind where you notice the little things and where you constantly look for the good even in unpleasant situations.

On this episode of the Grateful, No Matter What Podcast, I had the pleasure to sit down with Justin Sutherland, who is composer, songwriter, organic vegetable farmer, and an all around amazing human being. He is the co-owner of Somewhere In Time Farm and farms his family's land which dates back to the early 1900s. His goal is to continue writing songs about the land he grew up on and to farm the land with his family. His song "Where The Wild Deer Roam" is now available on iTunes, Amazon, Spotify, Youtube, and Pandora. In addition, his next single will be available on April first called "Star Gazer" on these same platforms. You can find the Sutherlands vegetables at local restaurants like "Main Street Farm" and "The Kaatskeller" as well as their farm stand at Somewhere In Time Lane and pop up stand in Livingston Manor on main street every weekend during the spring, summer and fall. We discussed organic farming, all things related to music, growing up in the country, life, and so much more. Enjoy! If you want connect with Justin, feel free to reach out to him: @justinsutherlandmusic & @somewhereintimefarm on Instagram and Justin Sutherland & Somewhere In Time Farm on Facebook.

Whether it has to do with personal growth, business, romance, or finances, are you being held back by fear of your own potential? It seems counter-intuitive, doesn’t it? Each and every one of us wants to reach our goals, find fulfillment, and be successful in life…right? Now, this isn’t a question of whether or not you can execute whatever it is that needs to be done. The universe has acted in your favor, which is why you are now at this stage with endless possibilities. This is more of a case of whether or not it’s going to scare you when you finally reach your aspired level of success. Because, it’s like a glitch in the continuum of your life. Things are going along fine and you feel confident that you are hitting the markers. Everything is going great, moving smoothly towards some amazing, something you've always wanted...and then bam. You feel the fear of your own success. Once you know what it is that scares you about living to your fullest potential, how can you overcome that fear so it does not hold you back or sabotage your happiness and success?

On this episode of the Grateful, No Matter What Podcast, I had the pleasure to sit down with Terrance M. Daves, who is an all-around enthusiast and lover of building anything and everything. As a father of 4, he is passionate about building his family’s legacy by being able to instill confidence and compassion to guide the next generation. Terrance is the unofficial motivational speaker of the people closest to him as he values relationship building, staying true to yourself and just having a good time. He’s committed to living life to the fullest and enjoying what he has been blessed with at all times. We discussed how to maintain a healthy marriage, acknowledging and navigating familial cycles, his various hobbies (that mostly include wheels of some sort), and so much more. Enjoy! If you want connect with Terrance, feel free to reach out to him: @terranced_ (Instagram).

I’m sure that each and every one of us have felt slighted or wronged by someone during the course of our lives. This could have been a family member, a friend, a coworker or even a stranger that you just cross paths within that exact moment. This person may have said something or done something that genuinely hurt your feelings or that you felt was disrespectful. And as a result, you started to harbor feelings of anger, frustration, or aggravation towards this particular person. These feelings, if left unattended, can produce deep-seated resentments, which usually transform into this act of holding a grudge. When we hold onto grudges and resentment, it’s like drinking poison and expecting the other person to get sick. It causes us to carry negative, tense energy in our biology. The problem with grudges, besides the fact that they are a drag to carry around (like a bag of sedimentized toxic waste that keeps us stuck in anger) is that they don’t serve the purpose that they are there to serve. They don’t make us feel better or heal our hurt. At the end of the day, we end up as proud owners of our grudges but still without the experience of comfort that we ultimately crave, that we have craved since the original wounding. To let go of a grudge we need to move the focus off of the one who “wronged” us, off of the story of our suffering, and into the felt experience of what we actually lived.

On this episode of the Grateful, No Matter What Podcast, I had the pleasure to sit down with a really good friend of mine, Sophia Medina, who is a driven high school senior who is constantly working to make the world a better place. Climate and racial justice along with LGBT equality are just a few causes she’s currently fighting for. As an amateur yogi, Sophia is learning to get in touch with her highest self while trying to manage starting a new chapter of her life amidst the pandemic. We discussed these topics and so much more. Enjoy! If you want connect with Sophia, feel free to reach out to her: @Sophiaxmedina (Instagram) & Sophia Medina (Facebook).