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Jump Start Your Joy

Inspired by the quote “Joy does not simply happen to us. We have to choose joy and keep choosing it every day (Henri Nouwen),” this lively show looks at the inspiration, intention, and action that you can take to have for a positive mental outlook, even in hard times and improbable situations.
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Now displaying: December, 2015
Dec 26, 2015

In this episode, I walk you through setting heart centered goals using my own "Ten in Three" method. In short, you check in with your heart, listening for what you want to do over the next few years, and then you narrow down what you hear to ten things you want to do over the next three years.

If you're feeling like you want to tackle some new things in the coming year, I encourage you to try this Heart Centered Goals method. The benefit of this method is that you aren't going to be tackling an enormous list of "resolutions," instead you'll be focused on working towards just three big things. It feels more like a choice, and less like a compromise. And, for that reason, I think you'll find that your heart centered goals stick in a way that resolutions never do.

About 18 months ago, I was looking to make a lot of changes in my life. I had just signed up for a program to become certified as a life coach, and there was something about that decision that made me feel like it was time to "put my house in order."  I came up with this methodology, and it worked. Not to glorify the art of busy (far from it!),  in the last two years I've gotten married, gotten certified as a life coach, led 3 in person retreats and set up and led a 10 speaker online retreat, started a podcast, launched a business, worked full time, and had time for my five year old son and husband.

The thing at the heart of this is what I call the "Ten in Three." It's the ten things you want to do over the next three years. It works because it's simple. It works because you start with your heart.

In this episode, I talk about:
- A different way to set goals, using a heart centered approach
- why the original "SMART" method for goal setting doesn't work for everyone
- how different people have different temperaments
- that depending on your personality, you may do better holding yourself accountable (and totally resist having the traditional "accountability buddy")
- my own way of setting and reaching goals
- why you should write your goals down
- why flexibility is important with goals
- how to set a narrow, defined list of goals over the next three years
- why fewer goals are better, even when (especially when) you want to accomplish a lot over a year

Resources:
Ten in Three Worksheet that accompanies this episode
Gretchen Rubin's Better Than Before: What I Learned About Making and Breaking Habits--to Sleep More, Quit Sugar, Procrastinate Less, and Generally Build a Happier Life on Amazon
Gretchen Rubin on Lewis Howes' School of Greatness
SMART methodology for setting goals
Kathleen Davies, Episode 1 of Jump Start Your Joy
Debbie Ford's The Dark Side of the Light Chasers on Amazon
"Relaxing" music track by Bensound used during visualization exercise

 

The post Episode 16: Setting Heart Centered Goals appeared first on Jump Start Your Joy.

Dec 15, 2015

Alison Arngrim played Nellie Oleson for seven years on the hit show, Little House on the Prairie. She is often described as the "acid tongued hellcat" of the show, the small villain with golden ringlets and lovely clothing, and the arch-enemy of Laura Ingalls. Alison and I jumped on the phone for a little over an hour, and all I can say is that it was one of the most fast paced, hilarious, and engaging hours I've ever experienced.

Alison shared a good deal about her book, "Confessions of a Prairie Bitch," and we spent time chatting about her childhood and landing the fabled role of Nellie Oleson. What really stood out in our time together is Alison's true appreciation and gratitude for the role that Nellie eventually played in her own life. As a shy child, a child that was being sexually and physically abused at home, playing Nellie instantly pushed Alison into a role that changed her, and made her more courageous. Since then, the role has given her a platform, allowed her to help charities that assist abused children and AIDS patients, and more recently, allowed her to start speaking about issues that women face in her lecture "More Than Just Surviving."

I want thank Alison for her time - speaking with her was an inspiration. I know you're going to love this episode, and if you do, I encourage you to check out her book Confessions of a Prairie Bitch on Amazon. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it before she and I spoke.

In this episode, Alison shares about:
- making people laugh as a child
- possibly "retiring" from acting at age 11 prior to getting the role of Nellie
- her realization that the role of Nellie was very different than the other hyper-sweet children she often read for
- the instant change of how people reacted to her in public after Little House on the Prairie first aired
- why she thinks Little House on the Prairie is so popular throughout the world
- Michael Landon, and how he created plot lines for the show
- Melissa Gilbert is now running for Congress in Michigan
- her amazing friendship with Melissa Gilbert
- the best way to find a good date
- how she met her husband Bob at the AIDS Project Los Angeles
- the "Pocket Nellie"
- leveraging fame and people's love of Nellie to help others
- her upcoming line of scented candles and a ceramic pony
- how to sign up for the Nellie Newsletter
- her upcoming lectures with Petersen Productions
- working with Girl Cave in Huntington Beach
- a hint about her second book!

Upcoming Events (as of 12/15/2015):
- January 30, 2016 Prairie-Oke - Karoake - a one night event
- March 19, 2016 Nite of Dreams Little House on the Prairie Tribute Dinner

References
Alison Arngrim's Bonnetheads.com website (sign up for the Nellie Newsletter here)
Nite of Dreams website (sign up for the Tribute Dinner)
The Girl Cave in Huntington Beach
Alison Arngrim's Book, Confessions of a Prairie Bitch on Amazon

I am an Amazon affiliate. Links on this page (ones to items I truly love and recommend) may earn me a commission.

The post Episode 15: Alison Arngrim on Beyond Surviving: Embracing the Gifts of Nellie Oleson appeared first on Jump Start Your Joy.

Dec 8, 2015

Rachael Maddox is the recent author of the book "Secret Bad Girl" in which shares her own journey. Subtitled "How I broke my long-standing sexual trauma spell and grew vibrant, vital & free. A provocative memoir & wildly wise resolution guide," her book relays her story, and offers insights on how anyone under the trauma spell can reach full recovery. Rachael is a coach, a singer and songwriter, and a teacher, plus she's funny, real, and so genuine. While it's a tough topic, we both laugh plenty and share how joy really IS possible, even after living through a traumatic event (Rachael's past trauma being sexual trauma, mine being PTSD related to childbirth).

In this episode, Rachael outlines some of her findings in researching how to resolve sexual trauma. She shares that trauma is something stored in the body, the result of a person's fight, flight, or freeze response not being fully resolved after the initial trauma incident. In her work, which involves extensive coaching, training, and research, she's found that resolving sexual trauma is something best done through somatic (body) work. Her approach is heartfelt, genuine, and something she's lived through.

Rachael had a successful kickstarter, and her book is now available for download on Amazon starting 1/19/16.

In this episode, Rachael talks about:
- what trauma is, and how it remains in your body long after the trauma event
- the definition of a trauma spell or trauma cloud
- different kinds of trauma, such as post traumatic stress disorder and rape trauma
- Rachael's path to healing, which started at Adult Circus camp
- suggestions for addressing trauma in your own life
- Rachael's Dream Tour around the US this last summer
- her song, "live" on the podcast, "Shake"
- where I fess up about one of my core desired feelings being "enraptured" and Rachael's insights on how rapture means to "be your longing"
- the Celestine Prophecy of Everything (Rachael's take on her role in the world)

Resources:
Rachael's website at RachaelMaddox.com
Sign up for the 12/22/15 webinar episode to work on your 2016 goals
Episode 10: Molly Larkin (I reference this in the interview)
Peter Levine's book, Waking the Tiger: Healing Trauma
(on Amazon)
Danielle LaPorte's book The Desire Map: A Guide to Creating Goals with Soul (Core Desired Feelings) (on Amazon)

The post Episode 14: Secret Bad Girl: A Journey of Sexual Trauma Resolution with Rachael Maddox appeared first on Jump Start Your Joy.

Dec 1, 2015

Tabitha Marie is the amazing and loving founder of "Random Acts of Luvmail," a family run organization that provides mail and goodie bags to children who are in the hospital or need to be uplifted for any reason. Tabitha started the organization in 2007 and it has moved from New Orleans to San Antonio, Texas, where she and her sister and daughter work together to create, package, and send Luvmail to three hospitals and across the country via mail. I really loved speaking with Tabitha - her inspiring story and loving way of spreading encouragement and positivity are so welcoming. I know that you will feel rejuvenated just from hearing her explain her outlook and passion for Luvmail and the children she serves.

What I love about Tabitha's work is that it is truly heart centered, and it is simple. She provides Luvmail to children going though difficult times because she wants to encourage them, and their parents, and let them know that someone out there cares about them. She and her sister and daughter intentionally focus on sending items that are flat and can be mailed, so they can maximize the number of children they reach. The simplicity is striking: spreading joy can be as easy as sending a letter, and by taking a few extra moments to reach out to others. You can help her organization by visiting thePayPal Me site for Random Acts of Luvmail (to make a donation)

In our discussion, Tabitha also talks about how running her organization has become easier, and more focused, as she's narrowed down the mission. She's gotten closer to God, she's become clear on what she wants, and who Luvmail serves, all of which has come with time, and experience. Her insights here are especially inspiring and re-assuring to anyone starting their own business or tackling a new mission. It can take time to feel comfortable, and time to grow into the role.

I'm so grateful to Tabitha for sharing her story and her insights on the podcast. Thank you, Tabitha!

In this episode, Tabitha shares:
- who Fairie Marie and Faire JoJo are
- how Faire Marie came about as a response to someone being bullied
- where and how Luvmail started
- the decision change how Luvmail operated so they can reach more people
- how it was stressful starting a community on MySpace
- how everything fell into place once Tabitha got clearer on her mission, and closer to God
- insights on how shifting to coming from a place of love has changed everything
- the ways Tabitha takes care of herself - meditation, cooking, and relaxing
- her recent coverage on the local news
- how sometimes just asking for something can make all the difference
- that meeting one of the children in the hospital was the highlight of running Luvmail
- why Tabitha feels you should just go for your dreams (and not let other people's fears get in your way)

Resources

Tabitha's blog: Luvmail.org
Luvmail Community on Facebook
PayPal Me site for Random Acts of Luvmail (to make a donation)

Tabitha's appearance on the San Antonio news

 

The post Episode 13: Blessing Children with Random Acts of Luvmail with Tabitha Marie appeared first on Jump Start Your Joy.

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