Jenn Oglesbee is a certified life coach and licensed clinical social worker, and the discussions that she and I had last summer on Instagram Live are what me to choose the “Intentional Comfort” for season seven on Jump Start Your Joy. We had a series called “What the Hell?,” and in it we discussed the events of the past couple of years, and how they impacted our lives. Jenn and I share a love of talking about joy, and have both woven it into our work.

It’s an honor to have Jenn come back a year later, and share more about her own journey. In December of 2021, Jenn lost her sister to a rare form of brain cancer. She has been open in sharing about how the grief has shown up in her life, and how losing someone as close as a sibling has felt. She and I had had an interview on the books at the end of last year, and she asked to reschedule our discussion until after she felt ready to talk about things. And, she offered to dive into how finding and making space for intentional comfort in the midst of grief has looked for her over the past few months.

Resources

Jenn Oglesbee’s website: https://www.jennoglesbee.com/

Our three Instagram lives from last summer: Part One Part Two Part Three

The mashup of the three Instagram Lives, as heard on Jump Start Your Joy

In this episode, Jenn Oglesbee and I talk about:

• her joy as a child, doing dance parties, writing, and playing
• the uncertainty involved around her sister’s illness and diagnosis, and navigating supporting her during the COVID pandemic
• the difference between coaching and therapy
• looking for the little joys in life during hard times, even when joy feels like it is hard to grasp
• the grief and uncertainty that many of us felt during the pandemic
• surrendering to grief
• giving yourself permission to take a break for emotions other than grief during mourning
• how writing can help you process big emotions
• sharing what feels right, to the right people, when you are ready
• reconnecting with joy
• how she jump starts her joy: with downtime, making time for creativity, giving yourself permission to look weird and feel foolish

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Mindfulness is a great way to find more joy and center yourself. In this time of transition, when things feel difficult, it's great to have a few easy, go-to mindfulness tools. 

The five are:

1. Notice your emotions, and share them with someone else.

2. Breathe, as taught by Thich Nhat Hanh. I share his practice of inhaling, exhaling, and smiling.

3. Observe (or spend time in) Nature. As discussed in my previous episode with Emma Loewe, author of Return to Nature, nature has restorative properties for humans. When you feel stressed, take a moment to look out your window or take a break for a walk if you have the time.

4. Meditate, using a visual or guided meditation.

5. Spend time walking a labyrinth, either by physically walking a labyrinth or using a hand labyrinth.

Resources:

Emma Loewe on Jump Start Your Joy

Insight Timer (Sarah Blondin) - for guided meditations

Insight Timer (my channel: Paula Jenkins) - for guided meditations

World Labyrinth Locator to walk a labyrinth

Veriditas, a non profit that offers courses on about labyrinths

Kennolyn Camp

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Love the show, and what to show your support?

Buy me a cup of coffee, and I'll give you a shout out on the next episode.