The Kintsugi Podcast - Stories of Connection Michael OBrien

If I have a favorite story within Pause Breathe Reflect, it's the Tortoise and the Hare. In this week's Story of Connection on The Kintsugi Podcast we revisit this story with Laura Linn Knight, a mindfulness coach, parenting expert, and author. Laura shares her journey from being an overwhelmed parent to discovering non-reactive parenting, mindfulness techniques, and her take on the classic story with her new book, 'The Boasting Hare Learns to Let Go.' 

Key Takeaways:

Non-Reactive Parenting: Laura Linn Knight emphasizes the importance of taking time to connect one-on-one with your child, especially during calm moments, to prepare for challenging situations.
Mindfulness Practice: Practicing mindfulness regularly, rather than only in moments of high anxiety, can help maintain a sense of calm and effectively handle stressful situations.
Understanding Child's Perspective: Laura highlights the importance of acknowledging and validating your child’s feelings, helping them feel heard and supported.
Role of Prefrontal Cortex: Recognizing that children's prefrontal cortex, responsible for rational thinking, isn’t fully developed until their early twenties can help parents approach situations with more patience and understanding.
Preventative Measures: Implementing mindful practices during non-stressful times creates a foundation that helps manage reactions during more intense moments.
Quotes from Laura: 

"What's really important is that we do a lot of this kind of work together in times when they're not overwhelmed." 

"I’m not just going to meditate on the day when my anxiety level is like a 99 out of 100... I’m going to meditate in all those calm moments, and then it really works." 
"We need to act like a prefrontal cortex for our kids, providing scaffolding so they can learn the tools they need to succeed." Actionable Tips:

Slow Down and Connect: Make time to listen to your children’s concerns and validate their feelings.
Practice Regularly: Incorporate mindfulness and meditation into daily routines, not just during crises.
Teach Through Play: Use role-playing and interactive activities to teach children how to handle stressful situations.
Acknowledge Imperfection: Embrace and communicate the idea that making mistakes is a natural part of learning and growing.About Laura Linn Knight:
Laura Linn Knight is a mindfulness coach, parenting expert, and author dedicated to helping families cultivate mindful, non-reactive parenting techniques. Her work focuses on providing parents with the tools to foster a loving and supportive family environment.

Connect with Laura Linn Knight:

Website: LauraLinnKnight.com
Instagram: @LauraLinnKnight
Book: Break Free from Reactive Parenting and The Boastful Hare Learns to Let Go

In this heartfelt episode of the Kintsugi Podcast, host Michael O'Brien sits down with Lindsaya VanDusen, a wellness warrior, mom, and advocate for self-love and authenticity. Lindsaya shares her inspiring journey from struggling with self-acceptance to embracing her true self. She discusses her transformative experience with breast implant removal, the challenges of loving her body, and the profound impact of community and self-love practices.

Key Quotes from Lindsaya: 

"I live in a place of such deep empowerment because I am more than my body."
"For so long, I've abused my body. I've treated it like something that had let me down rather than realizing it has always carried me, it has always forgiven me, it has always kept me safe."
"My love for my body, the soul that's contained within this meat suit, is so much admiration for what she has done for me."
Highlights:

Self-Love and Empowerment: Lindsaya discusses the pivotal moment when she decided to embrace self-love and empowerment, despite societal pressures and personal struggles.
Breast Implant Journey: A candid recount of Lindsaya’s decision to get breast implants, the subsequent health challenges, and the courageous decision to have them removed.
Community and Support: The importance of community in Lindsaya’s healing process and how she created a supportive space for others on similar journeys.
Body Positivity: Lindsaya's journey to appreciate and love her body, highlighting the importance of body positivity and self-acceptance.
Resources:

Pause, Breathe, Reflect App: A mindfulness app designed to help bring mindfulness to everyday moments.
Wellness Warriors Community: Lindsaya's supportive community for individuals on a wellness journey.
Connect with Lindsaya:

Instagram
Facebook
Website
Next Steps:
Reflect on what resonated the most with you from Lindsaya’s story. How can you weave these insights into your own life to enhance your journey of self-love and authenticity?

Perspective matters and we generally go where our eyes go. This week's Friday Meditation is inspired by my TEDx talk and it's all about what we are paying attention to and where are we looking. 

Join us as we explore the power of mindset and learn how it can change our relationship with stress, improve our sleep, and infuse mindfulness into our everyday moments. And remember, our invitation extends beyond this episode – our app, Pause, Breathe, Reflect, offers additional practices like the one shared today, and you can always join our live practices throughout the week.

Now, you can “Pay What You Can” for your first year. Yes, for as little as $1, you can become a member of our like-hearted community. You can find the Pause Breathe Reflect app in Apple’s App Store or over at Google Play.

Take a moment to pause, breathe, and reflect with us as we embark on this journey of self-discovery and mindful living. And as we prepare for the weekend ahead, may we all create ripples of positivity and meaning in the world. Stay tuned for another inspiring story of connection on Tuesday’s episode of the Kintsugi Podcast.

And be sure to check out our Pause Breathe Reflect gear at www.pausebreathereflect.com - Everything is 90% off through May 31 in celebration of Peloton Executive Coaching's 10 Year Anniversary. 

Welcome back to another episode of the Kintsugi Podcast! Today, Michael O'Brien sits down with Stephanie Harrison, the visionary behind "New Happy." Stephanie shares her journey from adhering to society's flawed definitions of happiness to developing a new, more fulfilling philosophy. Together, they explore the myths of old happiness and the steps toward embracing a happier, more connected life.

Episode Highlights:

Community Check-Ins and Realizations

Stephanie's Journey: Stephanie discusses how her community check-ins over the years have revealed a common struggle: feelings of inadequacy and unworthiness.
Shared Struggles: Realizing these feelings were universal helped Stephanie shift from self-blame to curiosity, eventually leading to her new philosophy on happiness.

Old Happy vs. New Happy

The Three Lies of Old Happy: Stephanie breaks down the societal myths about happiness:

You're not enough.
You must achieve to be happy.
You're separate from others.
The New Happy Philosophy: Real happiness stems from understanding your worth, sharing your unique gifts, and helping others.

Stephanie's New Book: The New Happy

A Comprehensive Guide: Stephanie's book condenses ten years of research into a practical guide for finding true happiness.
Transformational Tools: The book provides tools to help readers identify their unique gifts and use them to improve their lives and the lives of others.

Key Quotes from Stephanie:

"The best way to be happy is to help other people to be happy."
"Old happy is society's definition or conceptualization of happiness that we're conditioned into from a very early age."
"You don't have to trade off your happiness with the happiness of other people. Real happiness is a win-win."

Three Action Steps:

Connect with Stephanie: Follow Stephanie on Instagram and LinkedIn for daily insights and updates. Visit The New Happy to learn more about her book and philosophy.

Join the Pause Breathe Reflect Community: Available on App Store and Google Play.

Download the Better Life Workbook: Enhance your journey with foundational exercises designed to improve well-being via www.michaelobrienshift.com

This week my wife and I celebrated 30 years of marriage. So this week's Friday Meditation is above true impeccable love. One of my favorite movie is The Princess Bride and one of my favorite lines from it is, "Have Fun Storming The Castle." To me, it's about pursuing true impeccable love despite the odds. 

As you head into the weekend, I encourage you to pursue true love. And you can listen to a longer version of this meditation on our Pause Breathe Reflect app. 

Join us as we explore the power of mindset and learn how it can change our relationship with stress, improve our sleep, and infuse mindfulness into our everyday moments. And remember, our invitation extends beyond this episode – our app, Pause, Breathe, Reflect, offers additional practices like the one shared today, and you can always join our live practices throughout the week.

Now, you can “Pay What You Can” for your first year. Yes, for as little as $1, you can become a member of our like-hearted community. You can find the Pause Breathe Reflect app in Apple’s App Store or over at Google Play.

Take a moment to pause, breathe, and reflect with us as we embark on this journey of self-discovery and mindful living. And as we prepare for the weekend ahead, may we all create ripples of positivity and meaning in the world. Stay tuned for another inspiring story of connection on Tuesday’s episode of the Kintsugi Podcast.

And be sure to check out our Pause Breathe Reflect gear at www.pausebreathereflect.com

Welcome to this week's story of connection on the Kintsugi Podcast. Today, Emily Halnon, an author, ultra-runner, and FKT badass, shares her emotional journey of grief and the healing power of running.

Conversation Highlights:

Emily opens up about why she turned her experiences of loss and grief into a book, emphasizing the vastness of grief and how a long-distance run across Oregon helped her process these emotions.
Michael and Emily discuss the depths of "To the Gorge," which, while seemingly about running, is more of a narrative about how to live through grief and loss and embrace life's full spectrum.
Emily describes her intrinsic traits, experiences that have shaped her, and deep connection with her dog, Dilly.
Emily recounts her and her mother's battle with devastating diagnoses, reflecting on the unfathomable losses of her family members in a short span, illustrating the harsh, indiscriminate reality of disease.
Transitioning to her running journey, Emily shares how her mother's transformation into an avid runner inspired her path in endurance sports, reflecting on their shared experiences and the profound connection they cultivated through running.
As Emily discusses her decision to run across Oregon, she explains the motivations behind her run, linking it to the need for a bold, affirming life approach, mirroring how her mother faced life with courage and positivity.
With the community's support, Emily delves into the details of her record-setting run, highlighting the crucial role of companionship and moral support in tackling such an extreme physical and emotional challenge.
Emily emphasizes the importance of community and sharing moments of joy and struggle, illustrating how relationships and shared experiences can provide strength during challenging times.
Michael and Emily reflect on the profound impact of having supportive figures like Danielle during tough times , discussing the importance of presence and empathy in healing.
The conversation wraps up with Emily expressing gratitude for the communal support that bolstered her during the run, sharing how this experience underscored the value of connection and resilience.
Key Quotes from Emily:

"Grief is a really big experience, and it felt clear that I wanted to say more than I could in a 1500 word essay."
On community support: "The thing I'm going to get most out of you is just seeing you, is just coming into an aid station, seeing you, high fiving you, hugging you."
Reflecting on living fully: "I wanted to be living and running with a more open, vulnerable place. That did open me up to more possibilities of disappointment and failure and devastation, but that also invited things like touching the welcome to Washington sign on the bridge of the gods and realizing I could run across Oregon and have the most special, meaningful run of my life."
The Last Mile: Emily's story is a powerful testament to the human spirit's ability to find strength and healing through physical endurance and emotional openness. Her journey encourages us to embrace life fully, even in the face of pain and loss and highlights the indispensable role of community in our lives.




Connect with Emily:

Website , Instagram and her book, To The Gorge