The Aware Show The Aware Show with Lisa Garr

 Would you like to communicate better with your loved ones? Would you like to be more compassionate and caring? Lisa continues the conversation with our guest today, Corey Lyon Folsom, a highly regarded love and relationship coach and author of the new book, “Soul Statements: A Love Coach's Guide to Successful Communication.” As a certified NLP practitioner and relationship coach, Corey is passionate about helping people expand their empathy and communication skills.
Corey teaches how to listen to our inner voice as a way to develop our own Soul Statements. He shares about his vision quest when he was young and how he found solace in nature. He explains that self-care is “soul care.” We can listen to what our soul has to say and hear message from our inner self. This is your own personal signature.
We can use Soul Statements to remember who we are. Our inner alignment is always available. We can carry these into any situation. You can have a specific Soul Statement such as “My body is healing itself,” or you can have a more general Soul Statement like, “There’s a wealth of knowledge inside of me.” Corey offers tips and ideas to spur your own personal Soul Statements and develop self-knowledge. State how you feel, especially when you want to feel supported. He suggests substituting requests instead of stating complaints.
For several decades, Corey has been a professional tracker, aboriginal skills instructor, wilderness guide, and vision quest leader. He talks about journaling and his wilderness travels. When he leads groups out into nature, he asks them to take an hour or so and write at least one page in their journals.
Corey also shares ideas about how to put the spark back into romantic relationships that may have fizzled. One way to start is to look for things to praise the person for doing. It starts with clear communication. Model emotional intelligence. Model caring and serenity. He also talks about his background in Tantra and how it influences his work. After a spiritual soul-awakening in 2009, Corey participated in Ipsalu, Source School of Tantra Yoga, Love Coach Academy, Tony Robbins, and other programs. He explains how his Tantra practice involves being present and paying close attention to the moment. Corey believes if we look for the wonder in life, we can experience true joy! Info: CoreRelationship.com.

How do you explain the concept of God to children? What about other serious subjects such as Death?  Best-selling children’s book author Etan Boritzer is our guest today talking about his series “WHAT IS”? His books focus on character education and social issues. His trademark style of opening questions and dialogue for children, parents, and educators allow for critical thinking skills to develop in the child.
Etan writes books which focus on diversity and multi-culturalism, while addressing complex topics, but are written specifically for a younger audience. Four of them are: “What is Love?” “What is Death?” “What is Beautiful?” and “What is God?” Interactive, and meant for discussion,  he helps to fulfill the real mission of discovery in learning. 
Info: VeronicaLaneBooks.com

Do you sometimes not know how to communicate with a loved one? Do you argue with your partner or feel like they are not listening to you? Whether in family and friend relationships, or in romantic relationships, there is a way to respond with more compassion and care. Our guest today is Corey Lyon Folsom, a highly regarded love and relationship coach and the author of his new book, “Soul Statements: A Love Coach's Guide to Successful Communication.” As a certified NLP practitioner and relationship coach, Corey is passionate about helping people expand their empathy and communication skills. After a spiritual soul-awakening in 2009, Corey participated in Ipsalu, Source School of Tantra Yoga, Love Coach Academy, Tony Robbins, and other programs. He has also been a professional tracker, wilderness guide, and vision quest leader. Corey offers tips and ideas to have much smoother, clearer communication in all of our relationships.
When someone is complaining or expressing having a hard time, he suggests really listening to what they have to say. Make the other person’s pain valid and try to not react immediately. This will help them feel heard.
In order to do this, it’s important to listen to yourself first. Corey talks about “filling your own emotional well.” You can do this by spending quiet time alone, having a strong workout, or visiting nature. It’s important to take time to listen to your own heart. This will help us feel calm and find strength in our center.
He also describes “Soul Statements,” what they mean, and how to develop your own. This will help with compassionate communication.  
Sometimes partners argue and money and finances can be especially challenging. He suggests people go back to their own values, as this gets below the outer circumstances. You can relate more easily when someone is not pointing the finger. Get to the emotions of what’s being felt. We can try to understand our impact on other people. Tell them how you feel, rather than placing blame on them. He talks about non-violent communication and the range of feelings.
Corey also touches upon caregiver fatigue and how it’s very common. He asks us to ask, “How can I bring more compassion?”
He also talks about the idea of giving and receiving. He suggests pausing before going into an event and spending a few minutes beforehand to ask what you can bring to the conversation. Then, afterward, you can do the same and ask yourself what worked and what didn’t in your communications.
He talks about writing Soul Statements and making them personal. How can you move beyond tension? How can you meet someone new and not have the same challenges as you do with others?
Corey also suggests going on a “complaint fast”  and taking a week or longer and not expressing complaints out loud. If you feel them, be mindful.
To be a better communicator, it’s important to be clear. Be authentic in your communications. Don’t share all of your concerns at once but be concise. Soul Statements are present time reminders. Traditional affirmations express a desired state. This calls in a future version of ourselves. A Soul Statement reminds you of what is true and good. When you have unhelpful thoughts like, “I’m not sure,” or “I don’t think I can,” you can do a Soul Statement like “My heart is a trusted guide,” or “There is strength in my center.” When you feel it, it’s so powerful. You feel the truth of it, and you remind yourself of your own strength. “Wisdom is at my center,” and “In my center, I am held in love,” are great ways to start using Soul Statements.  
They also talk about an owl feather that Lisa found on her recent bike ride and the profound wisdom of nature. They discuss the importance of silence, so that you can hear your soul. Bringing that to the relationship will further deepen communication.
This is Part 1 of the interview. Info: CoreRelationship.com

Would you like to learn more about foods that heal? Our guest today, author and speaker Don Tolman, is a wealth of nutritional information!
Don is a public speaker, trainer, educator, entertainer, experimental nutritional-eating researcher, and author of the bestselling book “The Farmacist Desk Reference.” He has written multiple books on a variety of skill-specific mental functions and self-improvement topics. Don's teaching involves the 7 Principles of Health – Clean Air, Clean Water, Sunshine, Whole foods, Walking, Non-toxic Relationships, and Passion. He has been a coach and mentor for key personnel with Xerox, General Motors, and Pitney Bowes corporations.  
Today he talks about when the FDA took over the organic food movement and lowered the standards. He talks about ancient wisdom in foods and how various foods relate and heal parts of our bodies. These foods nutritionally target various systems of the body to heal. Plants all have patterns, and these patterns can affect change. For example, walnuts relate to the brain, as the shells and nuts look like the brain. When you cut a carrot, the rings look like a pupil, so they can help with eye health. The kidney bean looks just like our kidneys. The cells receive messages from the foods. An avocado specifically helps in shedding unwanted fat, as it balances hormones.
He also talks about “pulse” and how it is a sacred meal that ancients developed made of certain fruits, nuts, and flowers. It offers a sense of wellness and a clear state of mind. He also discusses the dangers of processed sugar, soy products, and genetically modified foods, as well as how fluoride is a chemical. Today he shares his formula for health and success involving whole foods and simple lifestyle changes. Info: TolmanSelfCare.com

Do you enjoy spending a lot of time alone? Are you more of an introvert? Are you sensitive and empathic to others’ needs? All of these traits may make it challenging to navigate our busy, noise-filled lives. Would you like to learn to be a more empowered empath? Lisa continues the conversation today with guest Judith Orloff, MD. Dr. Orloff is a psychiatrist, an empath, and author of the new book, “The Genius of Empathy,” which offers powerful skills to tap into empathy as a daily healing practice in your life and relationships.
She talks about how mirror neurons in our brains activate empathy and how empathy then activates the parasympathetic nervous system. This tones the vagus nerve and relaxation can happen more easily. It changes the fight-or-flight reaction. Your immunity increases if you watch an act of empathy. For example, when you see loving, compassionate mothers with their children, it will help you relax. There is empathy in the world, even though all we seem to see on the news are wars and violence.
We can affect one another. If you are empathic, for example, and waiting in a long line, you may pick up the feelings of those around you.  Being compassionate can change the energy.
She also talks about relationships for empaths, including work situations. She suggests keeping a light schedule before an event or planning to stay there just an hour or so. Setting boundaries is very important. She further discusses how empathic people may think things are their fault, but she teaches how to let go and go into forgiveness.
She advises us to not think about the past all the time. You can forgive people who hurt you by accepting that they can’t change. If someone is mistreating you, minimize the contact with them or don’t have contact at all if possible. Enforce healthy boundaries. Meditation helps.
She also talks about social activists and how retreats and time away can be very healing. It is necessary for them to replenish their energy and develop empathy for themselves. Meditation and mindfulness practices can be very beneficial.
She believes all people, no matter their situation, are looking for empathy. When you are around challenging people, she suggests practicing a “sacred pause.” Take a pause, breathe, re-center, and resume the conversation from a healthier place.
You can also practice empathic listening, which is a way to hold a support space for someone. She offers practical tools and steps which are included in her latest book, “The Genius of Empathy.” She also hosts Dr. Orloff’s Empath Support Community on social media. It’s free and everyone is welcome.
Dr. Orloff has written many books, including “The Empath’s Survival Guide” and “Thriving as an Empath.” She is a New York Times bestselling author and a UCLA clinical faculty member. She synthesizes conventional medicine with cutting-edge knowledge of intuition, energy, and spirituality. Dr. Orloff specializes in treating highly sensitive people in her private practice. She has been featured on The Today Show, CNN, Oprah Magazine, and the New York Times. This is Part 2 of the interview.
Info: DrJudithOrloff.com

 Dr. Deepak Chopra is the best-selling author of more than 90 books translated into 43 languages. For the last thirty years, Chopra has been at the forefront of the meditation movement and today he discusses his recent version of his best-selling book “Seven Spiritual Laws of Success.” This simple book can be opened anytime you feel stress to learn more about joyful living. Chopra discusses how the topic of consciousness is moving into the mainstream and more people are discovering the benefits of meditation and using consciousness to heal the body. He reminds us that it IS possible to change, and we can all reach a place of undisturbed peace. For info, www.deepakchopra.com.