The Freedom From Empty Podcast

Running on Empty Series (Part 2)

The episode is the second in a series exploring signs that stress is starting to wear away at your effectiveness, health and overall well-being as reflected in different areas of life and health. Each episode also presents one, research-based recovery practice that can help you start to restore your equilibrium. In this episode, I explore running on empty in relationship to work. I also discuss the proven benefits of meditation and some the ways I have made meditation feel more accessible in my own life.

Resources:

https://www.amazon.com/Thrive-Redefining-Success-Creating-Well-Being/dp/0804140863

https://www.amazon.com/Power-Full-Engagement-Managing-Performance/dp/0743226755

https://www.healthline.com/health/mental-health/top-meditation-iphone-android-apps#calm

https://wa-health.kaiserpermanente.org/best-meditation-apps/

Running on Empty Series (Part 1)

This episode launches a 5-part series in which we will explore signs and symptoms of Running on Empty in five different areas of life and work. In each episode I also share one research-based healing and coping strategy to improve effectiveness, resilience and well-being.

This first episode describes some of the ways leaders begin to struggle when they are running on empty. You may recognize some of these symptoms or signs in your own work, either as a leader or a follower. 

This episode also makes the case for getting more sleep as a foundational element to maintaining effectiveness and well-being as a human, no matter what your role(s) in life.

The Easy Button

While it is true that there may not be an “Easy Button” for life as a whole, that doesn’t mean that there aren’t easy buttons available throughout each day or each week or each year. And sometimes, I think we forget to press the easy button. This podcast explores learning to find and press the easy buttons that are available to us so that we can reserve our energy for the things that really matter in our lives.

Understanding the Difference Between Stress and Toxic Stress

Our body processes "good" stress and "bad" stress the same way. In other words, it cannot tell the difference. And some would say that stress is neither inherently good OR bad. Toxic stress isn't actually about the source of the stress, but about the chronic and ongoing nature of the stress. When the body does not have the opportunity to adequately recover from the physiological stress response, breakdowns begin to occur--affecting our emotional, mental, and physical well-being--ultimately causing chronic and sometimes terminal illness. The longer we wait to change the habits and to correct the imbalances, the longer it will take to fully heal from the damage caused by toxic stress.

www.boothandrews.com

http://www.talentsmart.com/articles/article.php?title=How-Emotionally-Intelligent-People-Handle-Toxic-People&ID=1028629190

https://www.heysigmund.com/toxic-stress/

Breathing Into the Good

When things are "too good to be true" do you start looking for the other shoe to drop? I know I do. In this episode, I share an experience with self-sabotage that started with things feeling too good to be true. Counter-intuitively, feeling good can sometimes be uncomfortable and scary. How can we develop comfort with the good and awareness of the choices we have in response to the fear that things are too good to be true?

References:

https://www.kateziegler.com/

 

The Brain Connection

Our brains fill in gaps in information with fear and bias based on old data. We often ascribe meaning to the present based on the past. We can become consumed and overwrought by our own thoughts. And if we get too caught up in the stories in our mind, we can actually create and perpetuate interactions and outcomes that are the exact opposite of what we say we want or even what our heart and well-being truly demand. In this episode, we explore the role our thoughts have in our daily lives, and how we can begin to re-frame our thoughts in a way that supports our well-being.

On Wake-Up Calls and What's Next

Wake-up calls are often thought to be life-threatening and dramatic. And sometimes, they are. But, they don't have to be. Every day, we have the opportunity to consider whether the way we are living our lives is worth the price we are paying for it. We can choose to chart a new path at any moment in our lives. How do we begin? What are some of the components of the change process? What might we expect to experience along the way? And who are some of the people who have gone before us who are sharing their stories and the lessons they learned along the way?

Arianna Huffington:
http://ariannahuffington.com/thrive

Nataly Kogan:
https://www.happier.com/book/

 

 

Let's Talk About Mental Health

According to the National Institute of Health, an estimated 26% of Americans ages 18 and older -- about 1 in 4 adults -- suffers from a diagnosable mental disorder in a given year. We tend to act as though mental health and physical health are two different things, but they are actually inextricably linked. Creating a safe space to talk about mental health is critical to breaking the stigma which often prevents people from seeking treatment. This episode is for people who are living with mental illness, and for the people who lead and love them. 

https://twloha.com/

https://www.forbes.com/sites/karenhigginbottom/2018/04/20/the-price-of-presenteeism-2/#7faeabce7f9c

https://www.forbes.com/sites/amyblankson/2018/05/08/the-secret-reason-why-venture-capital-investments-often-fail/#1d0dde505ea9

https://www.mentalhelp.net/aware/physical-mental/

https://mentalhealthscreening.org/blog/the-importance-of-early-intervention-in-mentally-healthy-communities

https://mashable.com/article/how-to-talk-about-mental-health/#c2KlOOYWWmqY

 

 

Making a Case for Play

When is the last time you played? When did you last do something just for the fun of it? Has it been a while? Are you squinting quizzically at the question as if it doesn't compute? As adults, we sometimes come to think of play as a waste of time. What if I told you that play is good for your health? What if I told you that play is a critical component of a innovative, creative, resilient humans and organizations? When you set goals for yourself, do you have goals related to play? If you don’t, you should. This episode makes the case for prioritizing play in your personal and professional life.

Setting Ourselves Up for Success

Many of us approach the New Year as a time to reflect and consider the changes we want to make in our lives. We set resolutions. We start strong. And then, we often lose momentum, become discouraged, and sometimes give up altogether. When we decide to make positive change in our lives, how do we set ourselves up for success? And how do we get out of our own way? In this episode I share lessons learned and tips for successfully creating sustainable new habits in support of our well-being, and ultimately, positive change in our lives.