Transform Your Life - Just Count Me In

Sari Stone
  • 5.0 (3)
  • Self-Improvement
  • Weekly

Just Count Me In is a podcast designed to help us navigate and flow with our lives through conscious awareness. When we live with less resistance and more receptivity it is easier to express who we came here to be and enjoy life. We are all walking each other home. 

  1. 3d ago

    #93: How to Let Go Of What No Longer Serves You

    Send us Fan Mail Just Count Me In with Sari Stone How do you know when it's time to let go—and when something simply needs to change? In this episode of Just Count Me In, Sari Stone explores the seasons of life, the relationships that shape us, and the importance of recognizing when something has served its purpose. Not every person who enters our lives is meant to stay forever. Some become lifelong friends, some guide us through a particular chapter, and others leave us with one small but meaningful lesson that stays with us long after they've gone. Sari also explores Professor Adam Grant's distinction between allies, pals, and companions—and how understanding the different roles people play can help us avoid expecting every relationship to meet every need. We'll look at the energy exchange in our lives: what our relationships, work, habits, commitments, and environments give us, and what they cost us. We'll also explore how rumination can keep us emotionally stuck, and how our emotional states can be reflected in heart-rhythm patterns. Nature offers another perspective, from trees that release their leaves in different seasons to bald eagles that can form new pair bonds after losing a mate. In this episode, you'll explore: Why letting go doesn't happen on one timelineHow to recognize when a relationship has served its purposeThe difference between allies, pals, and companionsHow to evaluate the energy exchange in your lifeWhen something difficult is still meaningful and worth doingHow repetitive thinking can keep us stuckWhat the HeartMath frustration-to-appreciation comparison illustratesHow to recognize whether it's time to release, change, or accept somethingA question to take with you: What am I holding on to right now—and is it time to release it, change it, or learn to relate to it differently? You don't have to erase what was meaningful to make room for what comes next. Sometimes the most important part of letting go isn't what we leave behind. It's what we finally make room for. If this episode resonates with you, please follow Just Count Me In, share it with someone who might need it, and join the conversation. — Sari Stone LinkedIn Facebook-Just Count Me In Thank you for joining me! If this episode resonates, please share it with a friend who needs a little inspiration today!

    #93: How to Let Go Of What No Longer Serves You

  2. Oct 24

    #92: Feeling Overwhelmed? A Simple Way To Reset with Sharron Rose

    Send us Fan Mail LinkedIn Influential Women Verified What does it take to bring a creative vision to life when the journey takes more than a decade? In this episode of Just Count Me In, I speak with Sharron Rose, an independent filmmaker, author, and Qigong practitioner whose award-winning film 'Quantum Chi" has received recognition internationally. Sharron shares the story behind creating and funding her film independently over more than ten years—a journey that speaks to persistence, conviction, and the commitment to bringing a vision into the world. We also explore a more practical question: How can we make a little space for ourselves amid the demands of everyday life? Sharon introduces Qi-gong, a practice combining gentle movement, breathing, and attention, and walks us through a simple exercise you can try yourself. No previous experience or special equipment is required. https://youtu.be/3BM30Ma8mdg?si=3wN_okh1h4ybD2iK Thank you for joining me! If this episode resonates, please share it with a friend who needs a little inspiration today!

    #92: Feeling Overwhelmed? A Simple Way To Reset with Sharron Rose

  3. Oct 17

    #91: Why Is The First Year So Hard? Change, Buyer's Remorse & Second-Guessing Yourself

    Send us Fan Mail Have you ever made a change you wanted—then wondered whether you made a mistake? Maybe you moved somewhere new, started college, changed careers, accepted a new job, launched a business, stepped into a leadership role, or made a major purchase. Even when a decision makes sense, the reality can feel very different from what you imagined. In this episode of Just Count Me In, Sari Stone explores why change can be emotionally challenging, why we sometimes experience buyer’s remorse or second-guess decisions, and what neuroscience and psychology can teach us about navigating uncertainty. Research on the first year of college shows that homesickness is common, although people's experiences vary. Research on workplace transitions highlights the importance of role clarity, confidence, and social acceptance as people adjust to new environments. And psychological research on counterfactual thinking helps explain why we can become preoccupied with the choices we didn't make. In this episode, you'll discover: Why a change you wanted can still feel uncomfortable.How uncertainty, unfamiliar routines, and new expectations can affect adjustment.Why we sometimes compare our real choices with idealized alternatives.How buyer's remorse can show up after a small purchase or a major life decision.Five practical ways to build confidence, connection, and a sense of belonging in a new chapter.How to distinguish normal adjustment discomfort from a genuine sign that something needs to change.The goal isn't to convince yourself that every decision was right. It's to learn how to evaluate your choices without automatically turning uncertainty into regret. Reflection question: Am I discovering that this choice was wrong, or am I simply experiencing the discomfort of adjusting to something new? Listen, follow Just Count Me In, and share this episode with someone navigating a new chapter. Research referenced English, T., Davis, J., Wei, M., & Gross, J. J. (2017). “Homesickness and Adjustment Across the First Year of College: A Longitudinal Study.” Emotion, 17(1), 1–5. https://doi.org/10.1037/emo0000235Bauer, T. N., Bodner, T., Erdogan, B., Truxillo, D. M., & Tucker, J. S. (2007). “Newcomer Adjustment During Organizational Socialization: A Meta-Analytic Review of Antecedents, Outcomes, and Methods.” Journal of Applied Psychology, 92(3), 707–721. https://doi.org/10.1037/0021-9010.92.3.707Byrne, R. M. J. (2016). “Counterfactual Thought.” Annual Review of Psychology, 67, 135–157. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-psych-122414-033249Chernev, A., Böckenholt, U., & Goodman, J. (2015). “When Product Assortment Leads to Choice Overload: A Conceptual Review and Meta-Analysis.” Journal of Consumer Psychology, 25(2), 333–358. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcps.2014.08.002Sterling, P., & Schulkin, J. (2019). “Allostasis: A Brain-Centered, Predictive Mode of Physiological Regulation.” Trends in Neurosciences, 42(10), 740–752. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tins.2019.07.010Research note: These studies examine adjustment, decision-making, and predictive regulation; they do not establish that every transition takes a year or that all discomfort is simply an adjustment phase. Thank you for joining me! If this episode resonates, please share it with a friend who needs a little inspiration today!

  4. Oct 10

    #90: Why Is Connecting with People So Hard? The Hidden Wall Between Us: An Interview With Gaetan Klien

    Send us Fan Mail LinkedIn Have you ever felt different from the people around you, even when you couldn't explain why? On this World Mental Health Day, join me and therapist Gaëtan Klein for a powerful conversation about what he calls the wall of glass—the invisible barrier he experienced between himself and the world. Gaëtan shares his personal journey from feeling disconnected and misunderstood to discovering a new way to understand himself and his relationships. In this episode, we explore: What it feels like to be surrounded by people yet still feel alone.Why some people mask their struggles while appearing successful on the outside.How these experiences can affect children, adults, friendships, and relationships.How sharing our stories can help others feel seen, understood, and less alone.Gaëtan's therapeutic approach and his hope for creating more connection and understanding in the world.You don't have to experience life exactly as everyone else does to deserve connection and belonging. Listen, reflect, and share this episode with someone who needs to hear that their struggle deserves a voice. Connect with Gaëtan: https://www.gaetanklein.com/ Facebook-Just Count Me In Instagram- Just Count Me In Thank you for joining me! If this episode resonates, please share it with a friend who needs a little inspiration today!

    #90: Why Is Connecting with People So Hard? The Hidden Wall Between Us: An Interview With Gaetan Klien

  5. Oct 3

    #89: How To Know If You Need A Reset

    Send us Fan Mail LinkedIn Influential Women Verified We live in a world of constant stimulation. From screens in restaurants and waiting rooms to the phones we reach for every time there's a quiet moment, we've become increasingly uncomfortable with doing nothing. But what happens when we lose the ability to simply be with ourselves? In this episode, Sari shares a personal experience that changed her relationship with silence and explores the impact of constant distraction on our self-awareness, our children and our ability to appreciate ordinary life. Discover the difference between isolation and intentional solitude, why boredom isn't necessarily a problem, and how just 15 minutes of uninterrupted time can help you reconnect with yourself. What if the stillness you're avoiding is exactly where you need to go? Facebook-Just Count Me In Instagram- Just Count Me In Thank you for joining me! If this episode resonates, please share it with a friend who needs a little inspiration today!

  6. Sep 27

    #88: How One Small Word Can Change A Conversation

    Send us Fan Mail LinkedIn Influential Women Verified What if we stopped thinking of “why” as a question that puts us on the defensive—and started seeing it as an invitation? As children, we ask why constantly. We want to understand. We want to explore. We want to make sense of the world. But somewhere along the way, “why” can become associated with blame, judgment, or confrontation. In this episode, we’re reclaiming it. Because sometimes the first answer isn't the real answer. When something is frustrating you, asking why—and then why again— can take you beneath the surface reaction and toward the belief, fear, pattern, or unmet need underneath it. We'll explore: Why why can feel so confrontational—and how the energy behind the question changes everythingHow repeatedly asking “why?” can help uncover what's really driving a reactionWhy we often need to pull back from a situation before we can see our own patternsA simple hand exercise you can try to experience perspective literallyThe difference between asking why to judge and asking why to understandWhy me? Why now? Why this? and other questions that can help us find meaning in difficult experiencesHow we can help children—and ourselves—stay curious rather than simply giving them answersWhy we shouldn't always stop at the first explanationHow to move from understanding → awareness → intentional actionAnd with the fall equinox and full moon in Aries arriving, we'll use this seasonal moment as an invitation to pause, look inward, release what no longer serves us, and become intentional about what comes next. Because sometimes before we ask, “What should I do?” We need to ask: “Why?” And maybe the most important question of all: What are you ready to understand before you decide what you're ready to do? After listening, consider: What keeps bothering you that might be pointing toward something deeper? What happens when you ask yourself why—and refuse to stop at the first answer? And where in your life might you need to pull back far enough to finally see the pattern? If this episode sparks something for you, I'd love to hear what your “why” uncovered. Thank you for joining me! If this episode resonates, please share it with a friend who needs a little inspiration today!

  7. Sep 19

    #87: What Can You Let Go Of?

    Send us Fan Mail LinkedIn Influential Women Verified What if the thing you’re calling care, responsibility, or high standards has quietly become control? Control can be incredibly sneaky. Sometimes it looks like anxiety or constant checking.  Sometimes it looks like being the responsible one who makes sure everything gets done.  Sometimes it looks like high standards, perfectionism, parenting, leadership, protecting the people we love—or trying to optimize our health and our lives. And sometimes, control looks a lot like love. The problem isn't that we want to have agency over our lives. Healthy agency matters. We can make choices, prepare, communicate, set boundaries, take responsibility, and influence what happens. But there is a line between doing our part and believing we have to control the outcome. In this episode, we explore that line—and what happens when we loosen our grip. We’ll look at: Why uncertainty can make us reach for controlHow control can hide inside responsibility, excellence, and high standardsThe difference between healthy agency and trying to guarantee an outcomeWhy parenting can make our own fears, expectations, and unresolved emotions surfaceHow control can show up in romantic relationships through checking, monitoring, and technologyWhy successful leaders can struggle with delegation and letting other people do things differentlyThe surprising ways control can show up in our relationship with our bodies, aging, health, and longevityWhy more information doesn't always create more peaceThe difference between letting go, surrender, and resignationHow to create the conditions for growth without trying to control the growth itselfAnd perhaps the biggest question of all: What is actually mine to do?One of the ideas I keep coming back to is this: Care creates the conditions for growth. Control tries to guarantee the outcome. We can create the conditions for a child to grow.  We can create the conditions for a healthy relationship.  We can create the conditions for a thriving business.  We can care for our bodies and make choices that support our health. But we cannot control another person's choices, guarantee a particular outcome, stop aging, eliminate uncertainty, or make life unfold exactly according to our plan. And that doesn't mean we are powerless. It may mean we're finally putting our power where it belongs. A few questions to take with you: What am I afraid will happen if I loosen my grip? Where have I confused caring with controlling? Where have I confused high standards with needing everything done my way? Where am I gathering more information when what I actually need is trust? What am I trying to control that actually belongs to someone else? And finally: What is mine to do—and what am I willing to release? Surrender isn't giving up. It can be the decision to do your part fully, with love, integrity, and intention—and then trust yourself to meet whatever comes next. Care—but don't clutch.  Guide—but don't dominate.  Lead—but don't micromanage.  Love—but don't possess.  Prepare—but don't demand certainty. Then loosen the grip. Because maybe surrender isn't losing your power. Maybe it's finally learning where your power belongs. Listen to this episode if you're ready to explore control, trust, surrender, relationships, parenting, leadership, and the freedom that comes from releasing what was never yours to control. Facebook-Just Count Me In Instagram- Just Count Me In Thank you for joining me! If this episode resonates, please share it with a friend who needs a little inspiration today!

  8. Sep 12

    #86: Can You Create Joy From Within???? The Neuroscience of Joy

    Send us Fan Mail LinkedIn Influential Women Verified What if joy isn't something we have to wait for until life gets better? What if joy can exist alongside grief, disappointment, uncertainty, and even tragedy? In this episode, Sari explores a different way of understanding joy—not as forced positivity or pretending everything is fine, but as one of the ways we reconnect with life itself. Inspired in part by the work of Stanford psychologist Dr. Kelly McGonigal and by recent experiences in her own life,  Sari explores why joy may be much more fundamental to our well-being than we realize. She shares deeply personal stories about finding joy despite the circumstance.  You'll explore: Why joy and grief can exist at the same timeWhy joy isn't the same thing as happinessHow movement and the body can become a doorway into emotional well-beingHow memories can reconnect us with moments of joyWhy beauty and attention matter when life feels overwhelmingHow to identify your own personal "doorways" into joyWhy shutdown can be a protective response rather than something to shame ourselves forHow we can prepare for difficult seasons before they arriveWhy joy is valuable in the workplace—not a distraction from productivityHow our environment can remind us who we are and what mattersWhy another person's joy can sometimes trigger envyHow envy can become information about what we valueWhy joy isn't selfishHow sharing joy can create connection and spread through families, relationships, communities, and workplacesYou don't have to pretend that everything is okay. You don't have to force yourself to be happy. You don't have to deny what hurts. You can simply learn what brings you back to yourself. Because sometimes joy is not a big feeling. Sometimes it's a split second. A memory. A laugh. A flower. A sunset. A song. A person you love. A moment of connection. A reminder: I'm still here. And maybe that's what joy is really giving us. A reason to stay connected to life. A question to take with you: What is one thing you already know gives you joy—and have you made room for it in your life? Connect with Sari Sari Stone is a holistic coach and K–12 tutor who helps children, teens, parents, adults, and leaders reconnect with themselves, find alignment, and create lives that feel authentic and expansive. Facebook-Just Count Me In Instagram- Just Count Me In Thank you for joining me! If this episode resonates, please share it with a friend who needs a little inspiration today!

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Just Count Me In is a podcast designed to help us navigate and flow with our lives through conscious awareness. When we live with less resistance and more receptivity it is easier to express who we came here to be and enjoy life. We are all walking each other home. 

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