Connectedly Nicole Sharanam

Are you stuck in a bit of rut, feeling like you’ve been dealt a bad hand?
Are you struggling to move on, deal with, or let go of a challenge you might be facing in your life. Maybe it’s your health, a diagnosis or some other hurdle that just seems unfair?
Do you need a little boost of inspiration and joy to kick you in the pants and get your butt moving forward?

This episode of connectedly is a doozy! Hi I'm Nicole Sharanam. And in this profound conversation, Justine Martin, a Geelong Victoria-based dynamic entrepreneur, award-winning artist, resilience coach, keynote speaker, author and the driving force behind the Justine Martin Corporation, shares her transformative journey from a Multiple Sclerosis diagnosis in 2011 to becoming the happiest and healthiest she's ever been. Despite facing MS, three primary cancers, three heart conditions, and chronic pain as well as numerous other hurdles, Justine has not only found strength and a new purpose in life despite her hidden disabilities, but she does it with a huge smile on her face and blazing love in her heart. Justines story is a compelling testament to the human spirit's ability to bounce back and find happiness not just amidst life's challenges but because of them.

Thanks for joining us...

x Nicole.

Takeaways:

1. Finding Strength in Adversity: She teaches the importance of acceptance and finding the silver lining so you can let go of the anger and move forward with a smile on your face.

2. The Power of Asking for Help: Justine asks for help and says it’s a sign of strength, not weakness. Whether it's through professional support, community or friends, seeking assistance is crucial for building resilience and coping with life's challenges.

3. The Importance of Self-Care: Effective time management, delegating tasks, and prioritising self-care are vital for maintaining mental and physical well-being. Justine has a strict approach to managing her time, her health and energy, businesses and personal life one that allows her to maximise her time and live a happy fulfilling life.

4. Cultivating Resilience: Justine's journey illustrates that resilience is not just about bouncing back but also bouncing forward. It involves learning from experiences, embracing support systems, and continually moving towards personal growth and fulfilment. 

What We Discuss:

01:13 Justine's Journey with Multiple Sclerosis 

04:20 Embracing Disabilities and Advocating for Awareness

06:59 Exploring Resilience

11:35 Seeking Help 

13:45 Maximising Productivity: Outsourcing and Time Management

18:12 The Power of Action and Maintaining a Decluttered Mind

21:58 Reflecting on Drive, Tenacity, and Survival Mode

25:31 The Power of Positivity and Energy Conservation

32:28 Finding New Paths

43:05 The Importance of Acceptance 

44:56 Defining Happiness and Living Authentically

51:26 Quick Fire Round

Resources:


Resilience Mindset | www.resiliencemindset.com.au 
Justine Martin Keynote Speaker | www.justinemartin.com.au
Justine's Email: hello@justinemartin.com.au
Nicole on FB - https://www.facebook.com/nicolesharanam
Nicoles Website - www.Connectedly.com.au

What is authentic leadership and how can this style of leadership impact our world?
How can we find true happiness and success as female leaders all while balancing life, patting our head and running our tummies?
What’s the biggest challenge that we face as female leaders today and how can we overcome it?

Welcome to Connectedly. I'm Nicole Sharanam and I'm so pleased to bring this conversation to you today. Joining us is Megan Dalla-Camina the Founder and CEO of Women Rising and a world leading expert in women’s leadership. We discuss leadership and strategies for cultivating a meaningful and balanced life, one of empowerment and connection. Megan also provides actionable advice on practicing self-care, setting boundaries, and pursuing happiness.

Megan is a celebrated coach, influential writer, researcher and advocate for change and is known for her brave and refreshing approach to women’s empowerment, wellbeing and leadership.  Megan fuses a 20-year career as an executive and multi-billion dollar strategist for corporate heavyweights with deep academic credentials and more than a decade of researching, teaching and leading gender diversity and women’s leadership initiatives around the world.

Takeaways:

**Authentic Leadership**

Megan emphasises the importance of self-inquiry through two critical questions: "Who am I?" and "What do I want?" This introspection is key to overcoming self-doubt and societal biases, paving the way for authentic leadership. Recognising one's worth and dismantling societal shackles enables women to navigate their leadership journey with resilience and consciousness.

**The Foundation of Self-Worth**

Central to Megan's ethos is the undeniable importance of self-worth. She encourages women to honour their worthiness, allowing them to assert boundaries, engage in self-care, and make life choices that resonate deeply with their true selves. This shift not only cultivates self-confidence but also changes how women interact with the world.

**Spiritual Practice as a Pathway to Happiness**

Megan heralds meditation as a cornerstone for peace and happiness. This simple, yet profound practice fosters inner clarity, grounding, and a sense of calm, contributing to personal peace and, by extension, global harmony.

**Living Simply, Soulfully, and Sacredly**

Inspired by her own experiences and eloquently captured in her book *Simple, Soulful, Sacred*, Megan advocates for a life that cherishes simplicity, dives deep into the soul's journey, and recognises the sacredness of the everyday. This philosophy urges us to reflect and align our lives with what truly matters.

**The Ripple Effect of Conscious Living**

Megan Dalla-Camina's insights offer a compelling call to action for all women to journey towards self-discovery, embrace their intrinsic value, and lead lives of profound fulfilment and empowerment. Her wisdom illuminates the path to a life that not only nourishes the individual but also inspires collective transformation towards a more peaceful, empowered world.

What We Discuss:

00:00 A Personal Journey to Change: From Burnout to Empowerment

01:09 Introducing Megan Dalla-Camina: A Beacon of Women's Leadership

03:32 The Essence of Happiness and Connection

15:14 Navigating the Complexities of Authentic Leadership and Women's Empowerment

24:42 Unlocking Self-Worth and Authenticity

28:41 Redefining Success

29:55 The Essence of True Success: Family, Well-being, and Creativity

32:54 Embracing Money as a Tool for Good

34:46 Exploring Spiritual Practices for Daily Life

38:45 The Power of Simplicity

41:31 Challenges and Triumphs of Women in Leadership

46:09 The Journey to Self-Worth

50:41 Quick Fire Round

Resource Links:


Megans Books - https://megandallacamina.com/books/
Women Rising - https://megandallacamina.com/women-rising/
Megan on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/megandallacamina/
Nicoles Website - https://www.connectedly.com.au/
Nicole on Facebook - https://www.facebook.c

Has your relationship moved from honeymoon phase to the frustration phase where literally everything bugs you?
Curious about the secrets to maintaining a blissful relationship long-term?
And if shit hits the fan and our relationship hits stormy waters, can we come back from that?

Join me Nicole Sharanam as we chat with Melissa Ferrari who is one of Australia's most sought-after therapists. With over 25 years' experience in couples counselling and individual psychotherapy, she is regularly called upon as a relationship expert across national media.

We talk to Melissa about the dynamics of relationships, the importance of paying attention, repairing betrayals, and the need for unconditional love in a two-person system. Let’s get right into it team!

Takeaways:


 CONNECTION: Melissa sheds light on the inevitable shift from the honeymoon phase to the reality of everyday life, emphasising how the initial chemical cocktail of bonding hormones eventually fades. She highlights the importance of paying attention and presence, encouraging couples to dedicate at least five to ten minutes each day to focusing on each other
 SAFETY: Central to Melissas approach is the concept of secure functioning in relationships. By prioritising mutual safety, security, and collaboration, couples can create a strong foundation. This entails setting aside ego-driven behaviours and focusing on the collective well-being of the relationship.
 TWO PERSON SYSTEM:  Melissa discusses the importance of moving from a one person seism to a two person system, so there is less focus on just what’s in your mind, to also what your partner feels, thinks, wants and needs.  This understanding of both parties creates understanding and mutual compassion thus achieving long-lasting happiness and unity in relationships

What We Discuss:

00:00 Redefining Relationship Dynamics

00:54 Meet Melissa Ferrari: Unveiling the Secrets of Long-Lasting Relationships

02:14 The Honeymoon Phase vs. Reality: Understanding Relationship Evolution

05:50 Reviving the Spark: The Power of Paying Attention

06:26 Face-to-Face Connection: The Key to Resolving Conflict

08:58 Daily Rituals for Relationship Maintenance

10:50 Navigating Relationship Baggage with Professional Help

13:37 Recovering from Betrayal: The Path to Forgiveness and Healing

18:14 Fostering Connection: Applying Parent-Child Relationship Principles to Partnerships

20:29 Understanding Conditional vs. Unconditional Love in Adult Relationships

21:21 Navigating Relationship Challenges: Unconditional Love and Conditions

22:18 The Secure Functioning Model: A Guide to Thriving Relationships

23:47 Choosing Collaboration Over Conflict: The Power of Letting Go

26:47 The Importance of Agreements in Relationships

27:28 Addressing the One Person System: A Societal Challenge

30:23 Understanding and Healing Through Partnership

31:03 The Complex Dance of Triggers and Healing in Relationships

34:23 The Essential Shift from Self to Collective in Relationships

44:41 Reflections and Takeaways: Enhancing Connection and Safety

 

Show Links:

Melissas Website: melissaferrari.com.au

Melissa on Facebook

Melissa on Instagram

Nicole's Website https://www.connectedly.com.au/

Nicole's Instagram

Nicole's Facebook

 

Do you have irrational triggers such as an Anger or Fear over seemingly small things?
Do you suffer mental health conditions like depression or anxiety?
Have you experienced childhood trauma and are looking to heal?

In this conversation, I chat with Liz Mullinar, the founder of the Heal for Life Foundation, who discusses different aspects of trauma and its implications. She explains how the brain stores traumatic experiences and the impact it can have on individuals as they grow older. Liz proposes that acknowledging and expressing fear or anger rather than suppressing these emotions can lead to healthier mental states.

She lays emphasis on the role of parents in helping their children deal with such emotional episodes. She also talks about strategies to cope with triggers, noting how releasing the fear connected with these triggers can help in mitigating their impact.

Takeaways:


 Childhood trauma can be the perception of life threatening moments when as a baby they perceived danger, say a mother leaving the baby in a crib and the perceived danger.  Real or not.  Examples include abandonment or forced separation from a primary caregiver, divorce, neglect, bullying, death of a parent or sibling, abuse, and serious childhood illness or accidents.
 As a parent, we can support our children in releasing these fears and angers now so they don’t build up into larger more impactful triggers.  We need to allow our children to sit in the anger or fear, to realise it and to let it out of the system. 
 Based on the latest trauma recovery and neuroscience research, Liz studies shows that trauma causes involuntary emotional responses that often underpins challenging behaviour in children and teens. Simply by honouring, releasing and letting go, we can remove and release the trauma and the emotion.
 When we hold fear in our brain, in our amygdala, when we face a reminder of that fear even as adults, whether conscious or not, we relive that feeling of that moment and of that trauma.   Hence our trigger and fight or flight.
 For many children who experience emotional or behavioural difficulties, behaviours are an outward display of difficult emotions such as fear, anger and shame that are caused by the neurobiological damage of trauma on the brain. 

Thanks for tuning in.  Keep connecting. 

Lots of love, Nicole.

What We Discuss:

00:00 Understanding Trauma and Its Impact

01:26 Introduction to the Guest Speaker: Liz Mullinar

02:56 Liz Mullinar's Journey and Mission

04:53 Defining Trauma and Its Effects

06:49 Real-life Examples of Trauma and Healing

10:00 Understanding Triggers and How to Overcome Them

11:55 The Importance of Healing from Trauma

16:51 Healing Programs and Their Impact

20:08 Healing Trauma in Children

22:01 Understanding the Impact of Parenting

22:35 Addressing Childhood Fears

24:34 The Brain's Response to Fear

26:25 The Role of Trauma in Fear Response

28:33 The Importance of Acknowledging Feelings

30:26 The Impact of Suppressed Emotions

31:01 The Power of Releasing Fear

34:22 The Effects of Trauma on Prisoners

37:42 The Importance of Seeking Help

39:42 Key Takeaways and Conclusion

Resources:

Heal For Life Website: https://healforlife.com.au/

Books: https://healforlife.com.au/shop/

Connect with Nicole:  https://www.instagram.com/nicolesharanam

In this episode of Connectedly, host Nicole Sharanam recounts her journey to finding love and happiness within herself and her experiences during a spiritual workshop with Sadhguru "Soak in Ecstasy of Enlightenment". She emphasises the importance of embracing pain as a stepping stone towards a brighter future and encourages listeners to face their fears and strive for a more joyful and fulfilling life.

She points out the importance of maintaining a positive attitude in everyday life, being conscious parents, and being more open and loving towards strangers. Nicole also offers inspiration and support to her listeners who may be facing difficulties or loneliness in their lives.

Thanks for joining us. And please do reach out if you want to ask a question.

Lots of love,

Nicole.

x

What We Discuss:

00:00 Introduction 01:34 The Unexpected Solo Episode02:00 Experiencing Sadhguru's Teachings in "Soak in Ecstasy of Enlightenment"03:30 The Power of Inner Engineering04:00 The Journey to the Workshop07:01 The Workshop Experience08:15 Key Takeaways from the Workshop14:41 The Impact on Personal Life16:55 Embracing the Fairy Tale18:35 Reaching Out and Conclusion

Resource Links:

Reach out to Nicole HERE: https://www.connectedly.com.au/contact

Join Nicole on IG: https://www.instagram.com/nicolesharanam

Sadhgurus Website: https://isha.sadhguru.org/au/en

 

How can you face anxiety and still find a way to move forward in this world?
As women, how do we find our voice and feel confident enough to shout it from the roof tops?
Plus…how can story telling help us to connect better?

Today on connectedly, we are talking with Jane Caro AM, a Walkley Award winning columnist, author, novelist, broadcaster, documentary maker, feminist and social commentator.

We talk about dismantling harmful hierarchies, understanding the importance of listening, and the realisation that we are all fundamentally more similar than we are different. Addressing the challenges that women face, we discuss the pressure to conform and the anxiety for constant perfection. Jane opens up about her struggles with anxiety, her perspective on happiness not being a goal but a consequence of contentment, and the critical role of storytelling in fostering connection and happiness. 

Jane appears frequently on The Drum; Today Extra. She has created and presented 5 documentary series for ABC Compass. She is in demand as a speaker, panel facilitator and MC.

Takeaways:


Embrace Vulnerability and Surrender: Overcoming anxiety involves embracing vulnerability and surrendering control. Recognise the absence that you are the most special person in the world and the futility of trying to control every aspect of life.
Challenge Societal Expectations: Women need to reject societal expectations, find self-acceptance, and resist the pursuit of perfection. We need to be comfortable with flaws and not let others dictate worth or emotional expression.
Dealing with Anticipation and Anxiety: Address the human tendency to anticipate and worry about the future, Jane advises focusing on the present and adopting a Que Sera Sera attitude, dealing with challenges as they arise instead of getting anxious about hypothetical scenarios.
Connect Through Shared Stories:  Incorporate storytelling into your life. Share and listen to stories that evoke emotions. Recognise the shared humanity in these narratives; it's a pathway to empathy and understanding, bridging gaps between people.

What We discuss:

*Warning - some language may offend. 

00:00 Introduction

01:12 The Importance of Storytelling and Self-Expression

03:37 Overcoming Anxiety and Embracing Authenticity

08:21 The Role of Humour

10:08 Understanding and Managing Anxiety

15:09 The Power of Acceptance and Letting Go

25:21 Challenging Stereotypes and Embracing Individuality

29:10 The Journey of Self-Discovery and Acceptance

31:02 The Importance of Living YOUR Life

32:02 The Power of Acceptance 

33:05 Vulnerability in Building Connections

39:27 The Art of Letting Go and Embracing Uncertainty

45:24 The Power of Storytelling in Building Connections

48:39 The Importance of Embracing Our Shared Humanity

54:00 Quick Fire Round

1:04:00 Takeaways

Show Links:


Jane's latest novel “The Mother’  https://www.booktopia.com.au/the-mother-jane-caro/book/9781760879662.html
Jane Caro on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/janecaroofficial/
Contact Nicole - https://www.connectedly.com.au/contact
Nicole on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/nicolesharanam