Lavender Mind

Katie Ballanco
  • 5.0 (11)
  • Mental Health
  • Updated Daily

Replace anxiety and self doubt with resilience and joy!

  1. 4d ago

    Episode 220 The Quiet Yes: What Happens When You Listen to the Nudge?

    Last week, we talked about a question: What could you create in 18 months? This week, we're taking the next step. Before we create something new, there's often a little nudge that comes first—a thought, an idea, a curiosity, or something we simply can't seem to shake. But what happens when we actually listen? In this episode of Lavender Mind, Katie explores the idea of the quiet yes—not saying yes to everything, but paying attention to the things that keep calling us and getting curious about where they might lead. Katie shares the story of her brother Kevin, who came through a coma and now will began speaking with patients at Touro. She reflects on the songs and hymns that spoke to him during his experience and how our gifts sometimes emerge from places we never would have chosen. She also shares the story of starting Lavender Mind—the feeling she couldn't shake even when life was busy and the idea didn't necessarily make sense to everyone around her. Along the way, we explore: Why we sometimes dismiss our own gifts because they seem too smallThe difference between saying yes to everything and saying yes to what feels meaningfulHow synchronicity can invite us to become curious without assuming every coincidence is a signPaying attention to the ideas and interests that keep returningWhy you don't need to know the outcome before taking the next stepHow creativity, curiosity, and listening inward can help us come back to ourselvesA question for youWhat is your quiet yes? Is there a thought, idea, dream, creative project, conversation, or possibility that keeps coming back to you? Instead of asking, “How could this possibly work?” Try asking: “What would happen if I simply got curious?” You don't need the whole path. You may only need the next step. Thank you for being here with me on Lavender Mind. Come back to center, in your own way. DM me with your nudge or your quiet yes @lavendermindstudio Join the email party! https://lavender-mind-1.kit.com

  2. Sep 9

    What Could You Create in 18 months? Episode 219

    What Could You Create in 18 Months?In this episode of the Lavender Mind Podcast, Katie explores a simple question: What could you create in 18 months? Inspired by a recent podcast conversation about what can happen when we consistently practice a skill, Katie reflects on creativity—not as something we have to monetize or master, but as something we can explore simply because we're curious. She shares her own experience returning to painting, embracing the beginner's mindset, and discovering what can happen when we give ourselves permission to practice, play, and keep showing up. In this episode, you'll hear about:Why creativity doesn't require immediate resultsThe power of consistent practice and small habitsGiving yourself permission to be a beginnerWhy comparing your beginning to someone else's journey can stop you from creatingKatie's experience rediscovering painting and developing her creative practiceHow creativity can bring us into the present momentWhat might happen if you gave yourself 18 months to explore something you're curious aboutA simple practiceAsk yourself: What am I curious about? Then ask: What might happen if I gave myself 18 months to explore it? You don't need a perfect plan. You don't need to know where it will lead. Just take the first small step. Key takeawayYou don't have to know what your creativity will become. Give yourself enough time to discover it. Reflection questionsWhat have I been curious about but haven't allowed myself to explore?Where am I expecting myself to be “good” before I've given myself time to practice?What small creative habit could I begin this week?Who might I become if I gave myself permission to keep showing up?Mentioned in this episodeCreativityConsistent practiceHabitsBeginner's mindsetPaintingMindfulnessPresent-moment awarenessCuriosityClosing thoughtSometimes we don't discover what we're capable of by thinking about it. We discover it by showing up and doing it. What could you create in the next 18 months? Come back to center. Make a little space for creativity. And begin. Thank you for listening to the Lavender Mind Podcast. If you love these podcasts, it always helps if you share or leave a review. I read all of my reviews!!!! Thank you to all the sweet ones I have recieved. I'd love to hear from you!!! info@lavendermind.com @lavendermindstudio lavendermind.com

  3. Sep 1

    Ep 218: Five Simple Ways To Come Back to Center

    Sometimes we don't need a complete life overhaul. We need a moment to pause, notice where we are, and choose one small thing that brings us back to center. In this episode of Lavender Mind, we're talking about the power of simple, positive habits-and why the smallest rituals can create meaningful shifts in how we move through our days. Inspired by ideas I've been exploring around positive habits, I'm sharing a few simple practices you can begin weaving into your own life without needing to add more pressure, perfection, or "one more thing" to your list. Because coming back to yourself doesn't have to be complicated. In this episode, we explore: -Why small habits can create big shifts over time -How preperation can create confidence -Why consistency matters more than perfection A little practice for you Today, choose one small habit that helps you feel more like yourself. Listen and Connect If this episode resonated with you, share it with someone who could use a gentle reminder that small steps count. Together, let us plant seeds of resilience and joy! Love, Katie @lavendermindstudio info@lavendermind.com lavendermind.com

  4. Aug 25

    Episode 217:The Gift of Gratitude: Would You Miss It If It Were Gone?

    In this heartfelt episode of the Lavender Mind Podcast, we explore the quiet power of gratitude after a life-changing health experience. After spending ten days in the hospital, including time in the MCU recovering from sepsis, ordinary activities like eating, walking, getting out of bed, and spending time with loved ones began to feel extraordinary. This episode invites you to pause and consider: If you didn't have it tomorrow would you miss it? Gratitude does not mean pretending everything is perfect or ignoring what is difficult. It means making space to notice what is good, meaningful and present-even while we are healing, uncertain, or struggling. Practice Choose three ordinary things in your life and complete this sentnece for each: "If I didn't have this tomorrow, I would miss..." Mentioned Lavender Mind: Come Back to Center

  5. Jul 29

    The Healing Power of Laughter

    In this episode of Lavender Mind, we explore the healing gift of laughter and why it truly is a way to be present. Life can often feel heavy, but laughter brings us back to the present moment. We don't even realize that we are being present because we are busy laughing. Research suggests that positive emotions, laughter and meaningful social connection can support our overall well-being and even contribute to healthier aging. Somewhere in adulthood, we stop being as silly, we become responsible. What if we look at laughing differently, like it really is the best medicine! Today, I invite you to be silly, for your health and longevity!!! Until next time... let's take a deep breath and laugh really hard!!!! Thank you for being here with me today, for this not as serious episode. I am about to send my very first Journal to print! Be on the lookout! I am excited to share! It is a 4 week, 5 minute a day way to help anyone looking to slow down and come back to center. Take care, Katie B.

  6. Jul 22

    A Return to Love: What Portugal Taught Me About Home

    In this episode of the Lavender Mind Podcast, Katie shares reflections from a recent trip to Portugal and how a scent, a face and a song unexpectedly transported her back to memories of her grandmother Cecile. Through this personal story, she explores how sensory memories can reconnect us to love, safety, belonging, and peace. In this episode, you'll hear about: -The "important F's" of Portugal: Fatima, Family, Fado, and Football -A familiar scent that brought back memories of Grandma Ceciles's kitchen -The warmth of a home filled with food, laughter and love -A moving Fado performance that evoked the feeling of home -How mindfulness practices can help us return to center Key takeaways -A smell, song, or memory can instantly reconnect us to a sense of safety and love. -We do not need a perfect home to create a loving one. -Gratitude, mindful breathing, and visualization can help calm the nervous system. -Returning to love can help us become more grounded, patient, and peaceful. Reflection question What brings you back to love? Maybe it's the smell of fresh bread, your grandmother's garden, your cat, a morning coffee on the porch, or the sound of the ocean. Pause and notice what helps you return to center. Mentioned in this episode -Lisbon,Portugal -Fatima -Fado music -Gratitude -Mindful breathing -Visualization Closing thought When we return to love, we return to ourselves-and that peace spills into the people around us. Thank you for listening to the Lavender Mind Podcast.

  7. Jul 15

    12 Life-Changing Benefits of Meditation

    What if meditation didn't have to look a certain way? In this episode of Lavender Mind Podcast, we're breaking down one of the biggest myths about mindfulness-that there's only one "right" way to meditate. Whether you enjoy sitting quietly, walking in nature, journaling, praying, or listening to a guided meditation, mindfulness is about discovering the practice that gently brings you back to the present moment. In this episode, you'll learn: -Why meditation is about awareness-not having a perfectly quiet mind -Twelve life-changing benefits of a regular mindfulness practice -Different styles of meditation and how to choose one that fits your personality and lifestyle -How meditation can help you become less reactive, more present, and more connected to yourself -Simple ways to begin a sustainable mindfulness practice today Meditation Practices Mentioned -Breath meditation -Body scan meditation -Walking meditation -Open awareness meditation -Guided meditation -Mindful prayer -Mindful journaling -Everyday mindfulness Reflection Question Which mindfulness practice feels most natural to me-and what would happen if I committed to practicing it for just ten minutes a day this week? Recouces If you're looking for a place to begin, explore: Insight Timer Calm Headspace Remember, mindfulness isn't about becoming someone new. It's about coming back to who you've always been beneath the noise. If this episode encouraged you, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who could use a little calm in their life. Until next time.... Pause. Ponder.Practice. Come back to center.

  8. Jul 8

    Meditation for Beginners: See Life with Fresh Eyes:Beginner's Mind

    In this episode of Lavender Mind Podcast, we're exploring one of the most powerful mindfulness practices: beginner's mind. Our minds naturally make quick assumptions about people, situations, and even ourselves. But mindfulness invites us to pause, become curious, and remember that we rarely have the whole story. In this episode, you'll learn: -What beginner's mind really means -How curiosity can replace judgement -A simple question that can change your relationships -A personal story from the beach that illustrates the power of seeing a situation with fresh eyes Reflection Question When was the last time you judged a person or a situation and later discovered you were only seeing part of the story? This week, practice meeting on person, one conversation, or one ordinary moment with fresh eyes. You might be surprised by what you notice. If this episode encouraged you, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who could use a little more calm and curiosity in thier day. Until next time.... Pause. Ponder. Practice. Come back to center.

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About

Replace anxiety and self doubt with resilience and joy!

Information

  • Creator
    Katie Ballanco
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    211
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 Lavender Mind
  • Show Website
    Lavender Mind