by Jessie-Lynn MacDonald | Jul 12, 2019 | Deep Listening, Love, Self-Love, state of mind, The CPR of Life Podcast, Wellbeing
You not only are loved, you ARE love.
What do you think of when you hear self-love? I have been having a lot of beautiful conversations with my clients about this. Like my clients, it’s also a journey I spent a lot of my life in search of. For many years I like so many people thought of self-love as a state to get to. What if you have been looking in the wrong direction? What if your journey is futile? I invite you to consider that YOU ARE LOVE. What if there is no journey to go on nor a place to get to?
In this conversation, my guest Phil Goddard and I are taking a deep dive into the topic of love. Phil is a romantic at heart who has written a couple of books about love. I was intrigued to hear more about his journey, why love and how he brings this into his coaching practice.
In this episode we talk about:
- Why Phil embarked on a journey to understand love;
- What self-love is and what it is not;
- Why life is more enjoyable and fun when we stop searching; and
- The innate wisdom within every human being.
This timing of this conversation was serendipitous as it echoed the conversations I’d been having with my clients. I have seen a change in Phil’s dance with the concept of love over the past few years. It was fun to have the opportunity to connect with him.
Here are a few thought bomb takeaways:
- What would love do? It is a great question when you are stuck, struggling or unsure of something, reflecting on this question can bring more clarity about the situation. It’s the type of inquiry that brings out the best in us;
- Love is something we define through our own personal lens. That lens changes from moment to moment. Knowing that love is an idea allows us to approach it in a lighthearted and fun way;
- When we are feeling stuck, heartbroken, depressed, etc., it is a gift to share that this moment and more so the feelings are transient and will pass; and
- I loved our discussion around the concept of self-love. When you are searching or embarking on a journey of self-love it is really a denial of accepting or embracing the love that is innate and lies within.
To listen to this episode on Podbean:
https://thecproflife.podbean.com/e/self-love-a-discovery-or-a-journey/
To listen to this episode on iTunes:
https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/self-love-a-discovery-or-a-journey/id1438553484?i=1000444273429
Until next time: Be well. Be inspired. Be You.
Much love,
Jessie-Lynn
To get in touch with Phil:
Facebook: Fbphil.com
Website: philg.com
by Jessie-Lynn MacDonald | Jun 27, 2019 | Deep Listening, The CPR of Life Podcast, Wellbeing, Wisdom
“The practice of deep listening is the practice of open inquiry, without assumption or judgement.”
― Sharon Weil
I’m excited to share this beautiful conversation with you. In this episode, I chat with the wise and wonderful Declan Stout, a caring human being with a big heart who is on a journey to transform many lives. We are talking about something near and dear to my heart – deep listening.
Declan is the heart and soul behind Listen With Love – a beautiful space for people to donate their time to listen, and on the flip side, a free space for people to be listened to.
In this conversation we talk about:
- Deep listening: what it is and why it’s so powerful;
- How to listen deeply;
- The power of being present in a conversation; and
- The innate wisdom within every human being.
Have you ever wondered what kind of listener you are? I always thought of myself as a good listener until I learned about deep listening. When I did it completely changed everything in my business and personal relationships. It is a game changer. I used to want to solve people’s problems for them. I listened to point them to how strong, courageous and amazing they were. Sounds good right? WRONG!! Listen to understand, listen to give the person you are talking to space to find their OWN wisdom, listen with love. Thank you Declan for this beautiful conversation.
Here are a few thought bomb takeaways:
- Deep listening is an incredibly powerful thing. It is not about listening to respond, affirm, negate it is about being fully present.
- What makes deep listening so impactful is the connection and showing up as an empty vessel;
- There is power in the pause, when we don’t respond right after someone has finished speaking, we are giving them the space to find their own wisdom; and
- Wisdom comes from both sides in a conversation. Let your wisdom guide you either as a speaker and a listener;
To listen to this episode on Podbean:
https://thecproflife.podbean.com/e/the-power-of-deep-listening/
To listen to this episode on ITunes:
https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-power-of-deep-listening/id1438553484?i=1000442993263
Until next time: Be well. Be inspired. Be You.
Much love,
Jessie-Lynn
To reach Declan:
Website: WISDOM GUIDES: Home
FB Page: Listening with Love – A Safe Space to Talk @safespacetotalk
https://www.facebook.com/safespacetotalk/
by Jessie-Lynn MacDonald | May 24, 2019 | Mental Health, state of mind, The CPR of Life Podcast, Wellbeing
It’s so good to be back. I took a break from the podcast to take care of some unexpected family medical issues and to dedicate my time to mental health awareness week. I have to say I have really missed the conversations and connections I have with my guests.
While mental health awareness week is over it’s so important to keep the conversation going. More so, to take the conversations forward into inspired action. In this conversation, Claire Russell and I talk about why mental health and why it is so important to include in the company culture.
We have a lovely chat about:
- The importance of acknowledging mental health in the workplace;
- Mental health affects us all, if you have a heartbeat, you experience mental health;
- #time4action is about taking the conversation about mental to the next level; and
- The wonderful work being done by the charity Samaritans.
I’m so grateful that Claire was willing to share such intimate details about her life. I’m truly inspired by her and everything she is doing to raise awareness about mental health.
Here are a few thought bomb takeaways:
- I have to say this really hit home for me. Business leaders (and leaders in general) have a responsibility to make mental health part of the business culture. There is a huge ripple effect when leaders embrace this;
- Many of us think we are immune to mental health issues. The truth is no-one is exempt from experiencing low moments that feel overwhelming. The secret is understanding that this is normal. It’s like a personal alert system that it’s time to take notice of how you are experiencing life in that moment;
- There are many organizations doing amazing things. The organization Samaritans responds to a call every 6 seconds. There are two things that stand out to me about this statistic. Firstly, there are a lot of people who feel they don’t have someone they can reach out to. This is our humanity, this should be at the forefront of the news and we are all responsible to help address this issue. The second thing that sticks out to me is that organizations such as this one make a tremendous impact on society. I’m truly grateful they exist. And finally
- For what purpose? This is such a great question, it’s wonderful to have conversations but ask yourself – for what purpose? There is always so much talk, it’s time to take action.
If you are curious to learn more about cultivating mental health and wellbeing in your business, organization or workplace please don’t hesitate to get in touch. I’d love to chat.
Until next time: Be well. Be inspired. Be You.
To listen to this episode on Podbean:
https://thecproflife.podbean.com/e/why-mental-health-in-the-workplace-matters/
Much love,
Jessie-Lynn
To reach Claire:
http://www.mhib.co.uk/
To learn more about the amazing organization Claire volunteers with – Samaritans:
https://www.samaritans.org/
by Jessie-Lynn MacDonald | Apr 18, 2019 | Life, state of mind, struggles, Wisdom
I am so blessed to connect with and have such beautiful conversations with amazing souls around the world. I never know what will unfold in my conversations and I love that. In my conversation with rebel girl and transformation coach Nicky Bartley, we talk about her journey from suicidal ideation to living a beautiful life.
We cover a lot of ground in this conversation including:
- Living a secret life with stress, depression, suicidal thoughts and attempts;
- Even at rock bottom how you are always okay; and
- When we peel back the layers of the inner critic the beauty of life unfolds.
Here are a few thought bomb takeaways:
- When we create a story of low self-worth and not-enoughness we stay behind the mask. It’s such a heavy place to live. We limit ourselves because we believe the story we have constructed. If we live in this state for long enough it starts to manifest symptomatically in our bodies. When we allow ourselves to drop the mask, we see that the potential and possibilities are limitless;
- When we are feeling off track or off-kilter there is information in that, as Nicky says, your feelings are like a personal alert system. I heard a great metaphor by Dr. Bill Pettit, he referred to our feelings as a personal bio-feedback system. Feelings are not to be avoided, changed, managed, etc. Feelings are a barometer to the quality of your thinking. Nothing more, nothing less. How powerful is that!
- Trying to control and manage our thoughts and feelings is exhausting and keeps us stuck. When we let go of the need to control we move quickly back into the flow; and
- A beautiful life is really simple, even when it’s complicated. The simplicity lies in understanding that life ebbs and flows, thoughts, feelings, experiences of life change moment to moment. There is nothing you need to do but be in the moment.
I’m grateful to know Nicky. She has a special gift and the work she does has an incredible ripple effect. I hope you enjoy this conversation.
To listen on ITUNES:
https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/from-suicide-ideation-to-living-a-spirited-life/id1438553484?i=1000435281327
To listen on Podbean:
https://thecproflife.podbean.com/e/from-suicide-ideation-to-living-a-spirited-life/
Until next time: Be well. Be inspired. Be You.
Much love,
Jessie-Lynn
To reach Nicky:
https://www.nickybartley.com/
by Jessie-Lynn MacDonald | Apr 11, 2019 | Anxiety, Life, PTSD, state of mind, The CPR of Life Podcast
This month I’m travelling the world vicariously with my guests. Today I am jet setting to Isreal to chat with author, coach and speaker Chana Studley. Chana and I met on a course on Mind, Brain and Body (fabulous course by the way). She survived three separate vicious attacks (rather mindblowing to think about the odds) which led to a period of time suffered debilitating PTSD and severe anxiety, in this episode, we talk about her journey to wellness.
In this information-packed podcast, we take a deep dive into:
- Surviving trauma not once, not twice but three times and our inbuilt resiliency;
- How our body is like a personal alarm system;
- What happens when we let go of our stories; and
- The fascinating connection between the mind and body.
Here are a few thought bomb takeaways:
- You are not your story. When severe trauma happens it is easy to embrace the story and let it define you. It can be difficult to let it go, and when you do, it opens the door to a whole new experience of life;
- We are all born with an innate system that regulates our body. It is also there as a personal alarm to tell us when we are experiencing thoughts that take us away from our wellbeing. This innate system is such a gift. For Chana this personal alarm shut things down after years of being stuck in her trauma and afraid to leave the house;
- Self-esteem is not hard-wired or even constant – it’s based on a story we tell ourselves and others. It feels true, however accepting it as truth and allowing it to define you is what keeps you stuck; and
- The connection between mind, brain and body is fascinating AND life changing. By gaining an understanding of the mind and how we operate as humans we discover a way to tap into our wellbeing from an emotional and physical healing perspective.
I hope you enjoy this conversation. It’s a deep one filled with many nuggets of wisdom.
To listen to the episode on iTunes:
https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-journey-to-mental-health-after-three-vicious-attacks/id1438553484?i=1000434722417
To listen to the episode on Podbean:
https://thecproflife.podbean.com/e/the-journey-to-mental-health-after-three-vicious-attacks/
Happy Friday you beautiful souls. Until next time: Be well. Be inspired. Be You.
Much love,
Jessie-Lynn
To reach Chana:
https://www.chanastudley.com/
To learn more about Chana’s FB group:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/understandinganxietystressandtrauma/
To purchase Chana’s book (which I highly recommend):
https://www.amazon.ca/Myth-Low-Self-Esteem-Hollywood-healing
https://www.amazon.com/Myth-Low-Self-Esteem-Hollywood-healing/
by Jessie-Lynn MacDonald | Apr 4, 2019 | Anxiety, Life, Youth
Have you ever wanted to take a deep dive into the brain of a young adult? To understand what the world looks like for them? Not what we THINK it should look like, but what is it really like? I’m always fascinated to chat with the younger generation (ha, that makes me feel so old).
I’m thrilled to share a conversation between myself and twenty-year-old Dan Arscott. Dan is a third-year physics student, currently living in Bordeaux, France. He’s a creative who has a passion for cooking, and also for helping young people embrace their own innate wellbeing.
Among other things, we talk about:
- When we embrace the self-criticism, self-doubt, and negative stories about ourselves;
- Balancing young adulthood, sharing the truth about being gay and starting university; and
- The practical aspects of the laws of physics.
Here are a few thought bomb takeaways:
- This too shall pass – an adage that reflects on the temporary nature of the human condition is a perfect reflection of our experiences in life, whether good or bad – they are temporary moments;
- Engaging in anxious thoughts, criticism, fear of failure is not just something that adults do. Children and young adults dance with these stories as well. They benefit tremendously from having conversations with them about the power of thought and how our human operating system works;
- Children and youth are trying to navigate the world as they see it. As they reach adolescence they are going through a lot of changes. Try and meet them where they are at, not where you think they should be. Give them a wide berth and create a space where they can talk through their lens with you. Doing so will have a profound impact on their world; and
- This one is for all the adults, teachers, anyone who makes blanket statements about or to young people. (For example, telling children that they aren’t academic, or smart, or athletic, or enough). You have no idea what kind of impact that statement might have on them. I wonder what Dan’s teacher who said he wasn’t really academic would think now? To know he is not only in his third year of physics at University, but it taking his third year in French! Wow!!!
I hope you enjoy this conversation. I enjoyed my conversation with Dan immensely. If he is this wise at twenty, I look forward to watching what transpires for Dan.
To listen to this episode on iTunes:
https://itunes.apple.com/ca/podcast/lifes-challenges-and-wisdom-of-a-twenty-year-old/id1438553484?i=1000434189689&mt=2
To listen to this episode on Podbean:
https://thecproflife.podbean.com/e/lifes-challenges-and-wisdom-of-a-twenty-year-old/
Until next time: Be well. Be inspired. Be You.
Much love,
Jessie-Lynn
To reach Dan:
darscott98@gmail.com
The book Dan mentioned by Mara Gleason:
https://www.amazon.ca/Thought-Changes-Everything-Mara-Gleason/dp/1545323887/ref=sr_1_1?crid=33N0W8WNSLB0J&keywords=one+thought+changes+everything&qid=1554435234&s=gateway&sprefix=one+thought%2Caps%2C605&sr=8-1
by Jessie-Lynn MacDonald | Mar 28, 2019 | Conflict, Judgement, Life, Resilience, The CPR of Life Podcast, Wisdom
The judgement of self and others is something we all do. What happens when we replace judgement with curiosity? It’s fascinating and getting curious is a wonderful opportunity to dig deep within.
In this episode:
A warm welcome my guest Jonelle Simms. She is a lovely soul who as a result of a spiritual awakening, left the corporate world to focus her time and efforts on Community. She now works as a coach, delivers corporate workshops and works with those who are marginalized and suffering in the community,
In this fun chat we take a deep dive into:
- What happens when questionable people move in next door? Do you love thy neighbour or do you move?;
- When you stop searching for a fix in the self-help industry and accepting life as it is, you realize that suffering is an illusion;
- The power of unconditional and impersonal love; and
- The resilience of those who are marginalized and suffering.
Here are a few thought bomb takeaways:
- When we show up fully, and are fully present, without our own agenda or ego and we meet people where THEY are at – that is true service;
- It’s easy to judge others who are less fortunate, but when you change the lens you are looking through, or take off the judgement googles, you will see that those who are struggling are actually the epitome of resilience; and
- Thinking, specifically overthinking can be so toxic. It can feel like you are carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders. The power of thought is incredible. The fact that you think is part of being human, learning that you don’t have to engage with those thoughts is life-changing.
This is a fun and engaging conversation. I hope you enjoy it. If you have any questions about the three principles please do not hesitate to reach out. I think it’s evident from all my podcast guests who are members of the community that we LOVE to share this understanding.
Please keep the emails and feedback coming. I love hearing from you.
To listen to this episode on iTunes:
https://itunes.apple.com/ca/podcast/when-judgement-is-replaced-with-curiosity-episode-23/id1438553484?i=1000433726362&mt=2
To listen to this episode on Podbean:
https://thecproflife.podbean.com/e/when-judgement-is-replaced-with-curiosity-episode-23/
Until next time: Be well. Be inspired. Be You.
Much love,
Jessie-Lynn
To reach Jonelle:
http://www.procrastinationpublications.com/
To learn more about the upcoming event in Winnipeg:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1DLmALFXRw4qUzPv-Xr9vSQNLJhBH3SVj/view?fbclid=IwAR2fx_D-XRdOHsrftLASiOKGICWvXgv9d1mQk3YPu69XdXv0RUKNUlTPdjk
by Jessie-Lynn MacDonald | Mar 24, 2019 | Life, Menopause, The CPR of Life Podcast, Wisdom
This conversation is for all the beautiful women who are approaching the perimenopause or menopausal stage of life. Joining me in this conversation is educator and author Tania Elfersy. She is the beautiful soul behind The Wiser Woman Project. We chat about the journey leading up to and through perimenopause and menopause.
We take a deep dive into:
- The narrative around perimenopause;
- The signs of perimenopause quietly creeping into our lives way before we might expect;
- How Tania’s symptoms quickly disappeared; and
- The wisdom of our bodies.
Here are a few thought bomb takeaways:
- It’s great to have these conversations, there is nothing to dread or be ashamed of, when you change the way you look at things – the things you look at change;
- The human body is innately AMAZING. When we let ourselves be open to that wisdom it will guide us through birth, puberty, perimenopause, etc.;
- We often deny ourselves the space, time and self-care that our bodies, our innate wisdom is gently guiding us towards. When we say yes to someone else we are saying no to ourselves; and
- Your body can only and will only ever act of love and your body is always brilliant.
I hope you find some brilliant nuggets in this conversation. It’s the first of many I will be having to raise awareness and make this conversation part of the everyday dialogue. I’d love to hear your questions, comments and feedback.
To listen to this conversation on ITUNES:
https://itunes.apple.com/ca/podcast/can-perimenopause-menopause-be-part-beautiful-journey/id1438553484?i=1000433228433&mt=2
To listen to this conversation on Podbean:
https://thecproflife.podbean.com/e/can-perimenopause-and-menopause-be-part-of-a-beautiful-journey-episode-22/
Until next time: Be well. Be inspired. Be You.
Much love,
Jessie-Lynn
To reach Tania:
https://www.thewiserwoman.com/
If you would like to read Tania’s award-winning book on motherhood:
https://www.amazon.com/Purple-Leaves-Cherries-Tania-Elfersy-ebook/dp/B00CNWG0U2/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1553127301&sr=8-1
by Jessie-Lynn MacDonald | Mar 14, 2019 | Conflict
Conflict, we all come across it at some point in our lives. Whether personally or professionally it can ruin us or if we give it the chance, it can have a profound ripple effect of transformation. In this episode, I talk with Sebastian Eck about a fresh perspective for resolving conflict. Sebastian is an amazing human being who has a curiosity and passion for resolving conflict and a heart for peace and harmony.
During this conversation, we take a deep dive into:
- Conflict with self and others;
- The power of deep listening in situations of conflict or difficult interpersonal relationships; and
- What happens when people are not open to resolving conflict.
While this was a lighthearted and fun conversation, it was filled with some golden nuggets. Often when we are dealing with personal conflict, it is the ego taking the lead. When we sit back and let our minds settle we give the opportunity for our own wisdom to shine through.
Here are a few thought bomb takeaways:
- There is immense power in meeting people where they are at, not where we think they should be but understanding how they are seeing their world at that moment. I cannot state this enough.
- When we show up to a conversation with no agenda and no attachment to the outcome it creates the space for true connection to happen. And when we have a true connection, there is power to make significant impacts; and
- When we put aside our own personal thinking and reach out to someone we have strong resistance to, it offers a point of connection. From that connection, new possibilities arise.
I really hope you enjoy this conversation. Until next time: Be well. Be inspired. Be You.
Much love,
Jessie-Lynn
To listen to this episode on Podbean: https://thecproflife.podbean.com/e/resolving-conflict-from-a-fresh-perspective/
To listen to this episode on ITUNES: https://itunes.apple.com/ca/podcast/resolving-conflict-from-a-fresh-perspective/id1438553484?i=1000431735800&mt=2
To reach Sebastian: sidolin-eck@web.de
by Jessie-Lynn MacDonald | Mar 8, 2019 | Anxiety, Life, Resilience, state of mind, The CPR of Life Podcast
Hello my beautiful community. I’m happy to be back online after a wee break to do some travelling and training. Last week I travelled to the UK to meet a client in person (amazing!) and to do some training (also amazing). I am a student of life and so enjoy learning, the focus of this training was on uncovering resilience in the next generation – what a fabulous investment. I will be implementing some upcoming workshops based on the training I took. Stay tuned.
I’m excited to release a new podcast episode today. Many of the clients I work with come to me because they are struggling with anxiety. It’s a topic near and dear to my heart and I’ve been looking forward to taking a deep dive further into this conversation. In this episode, I chat with Sarie Taylor. Sarie went through a period of severe anxiety in her twenties and was hospitalized, she then went on to train as a psychotherapist to help her better understand and manage her anxiety. Then she came across the three principles understanding and now works as a coach who specializes in anxiety.
During this conversation, we take a deep dive into:
- The journey from intense, life-crippling anxiety to wellbeing;
- What happens when we trust that we are okay;
- The power and potential of showing up with no agenda; and
- The magic that happens when we don’t attach ourselves to labels.
Here are a few thought bomb takeaways:
- The is immense power and potential when we don’t adopt the notion that we are broken and need to be fixed;
- We all have anxious thoughts because we are human. We don’t and can’t fix that fact;
- When a parent or teacher embraces the fact that the child has innate wellbeing (we all do), the child is more likely to embrace that fact as well; and
- We experience much less anxious thinking, life flows better and is much more enjoyable when we don’t engage with the vicious cycle of overthinking.
I LOVE connecting with you and reading your emails so please continue to reach out with your comments, questions and feedback.
Until next time be well, be inspired, be you.
Much love,
Jessie-Lynn
To listen to this episode:
https://itunes.apple.com/ca/podcast/a-journey-from-severe-anxiety-to-wellness-episode-20/id1438553484?i=1000431371537&mt=2
https://thecproflife.podbean.com/e/a-journey-from-severe-anxiety-to-wellness-episode-20/
To reach Sarie:
https://www.sarietaylor.com/
Healthy Minds Manual:
http://www.sarietaylor.com/myhealthymindmanual/?fbclid=IwAR2U4vN_Mi1LTskhPEpVj5rjk2smR9IEJyX8z0L-JS-kbuEBpht8z6Ep3ZE
To learn more about Resilient Young Minds:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/109101516468445/
