Stillness Matters

S2E19 - Step into your Personal Power with Cheya Thousand

“Stress is part of the human experience. You're going to be under stress.If you're breathing, you're under stress.” In this episode, we engage in a powerful conversation with Cheya Thousand, a Corporate Wellness Consultant, Host of the WellFit Lab Podcast, and Author, who shares her journey from burnout in New York to a life of balance and wellness in Miami. As a corporate wellness consultant, Cheya specializes in emotional intelligence, stress management, and self-care. She provides insights into recognizing and mitigating burnout and stresses the importance of differentiating between reactions and responses to stress. In this episode, you will learn: 1. Recognizing Burnout:    - Key signs: chronic fatigue, lack of enthusiasm, increased anxiety.    - Burnout analogy: A candle burning at different rates. 2. Managing Stress:    - Differentiating reactions vs. responses.    - Completing the "stress cycle" for personal growth. 3. Three A's of Personal Power:    - Accept, Acknowledge, Ascend.    - Framework for navigating emotional experiences and fostering healing. 4. Community and Well-being:    - Importance of community as illustrated by Blue Zones.    - Advocacy for intentional, supportive connections. 5. Modern-Day Challenges:    - Culture of busyness and reclaiming time for meaningful engagements.    - Conducting a time audit for improved self-care practices. 6. Cheya's Book:    - A workbook on enhancing self-care routines through exercises and affirmations.    - Invitation to join her text community for daily emotional intelligence prompts. Connect with Cheya: Email: cheya@cheyathousand.com Socials: @cheyathousand  Website: www.cheyathousand.com www.ctwellnessco.com  Publications: My books, Holding Space for Self and I Am More Than A Conquror. Podcast: The WellFit Lab  Freebie/Offer: 30 days of mindfulness text series  81010 ,  curated mindful dinner events - Kairos Kitchens  81010 https://drive.google.com/file/d/1zt764CRLCMufoUObW3uGHci9cbnIE3SY/view?usp=share_link  Connect with me: Stay up to date on Instagram @stillnessmatters: https://www.instagram.com/stillnessmatters/  Watch quick bits and entertainment on TikTok @stillnessmatters:  https://www.tiktok.com/@stillnessmatters Connect with me, ask questions, and hear more Stillness Matters content on Wisdom @stillnessmatters Send me an email at info@stillnessmatters.com --- If you enjoyed this episode, leave a review and tell me so! It helps the show grow (plus, I'll love you forever as one of my first listeners). Questions? Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/stillnessmatters/message

S2E18 - The Path to Resilience with Shannen Bryant

“I'm with my husband now 15 years. But for the first five or six years, it was really rough until I got a handle on my jealousy. So I wanted to be able to give back to other people.” - Shannen Bryant Ever wondered how some people seem to transform their emotional turmoil into inner peace and self-confidence? Dive into our latest episode where we unravel the journey from insecurity to empowerment with Shanenn Bryant, CEO of Top Self.  Discover how overcoming jealousy and building trust can unlock a life of inner stillness and authentic relationships. Your paths to emotional resilience starts here—don’t miss it! In this episode you will learn: Emotional Complexity: Understand how jealousy and insecurity can disrupt inner peace and how they're often rooted in past fears. Transformative Steps: Learn to navigate jealousy by focusing on introspection rather than external blame, leading to better self-awareness. Mindfulness and Regulation: Practice techniques like box breathing to stay calm and communicate constructively in relationships. Building Trust: Foster mutual trust through open dialogues that support both partners’ growth and healing. Personal Growth Methods: Explore self-regulation strategies, such as nature therapy and physical activities, to encourage personal growth. Journey to Stillness: Hear Shanenn's personal story of achieving inner peace, emphasizing the value of simple, fearless moments. Let us know which part of her journey resonates with you by sharing your thoughts on our Instagram page @stillnessmatters! Connect with Shanenn: Email: sbryant@topself.com Instagram: @topselfcoach Website: https://www.topself.com/ Connect with me: Stay up to date on Instagram @stillnessmatters: https://www.instagram.com/stillnessmatters/  Watch quick bits and entertainment on TikTok @stillnessmatters:  https://www.tiktok.com/@stillnessmatters Connect with me, ask questions, and hear more Stillness Matters content on Wisdom @stillnessmatters Send me an email at info@stillnessmatters.com --- If you enjoyed this episode, leave a review and tell me so! It helps the show grow (plus, I'll love you forever as one of my first listeners). Questions? Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/stillnessmatters/message

S2E17 - Birthing Ideas with Gwendolyn Kuhlmann

“My favorite part of this is helping you figure out what it even is that you're making and then helping you advocate for it” Gwendolyn Kuhlmann If you're looking to break through creative roadblocks and bring your ideas to life, this is an episode you won't want to miss! In this episode, The Idea Doula- Bringing your ideas to life, Sara talks with Gwendolyn Kuhlmann, known as the Idea Doula, about how stillness, community, and authenticity play pivotal roles in fostering creativity.  In this episode, you will: Learn how Gwendolyn transitioned from a career in opera to becoming the Idea Doula, helping individuals actualize their creative visions. Discover how stillness and introspection allowed Gwendolyn to reconnect with her authentic self and foster deeper creativity. Understand the importance of community in creative projects, especially through Gwendolyn’s work with individuals facing homelessness. Explore Gwendolyn’s structured coaching approach, including her “Tell Me Your Story” and “Next Move Intensive” programs that help clients turn ideas into action. Be inspired by Gwendolyn’s belief that ideas are living entities waiting to be realized, and how taking action on your ideas is crucial for personal growth. Gwendolyn offers a fresh perspective on creativity and personal growth, with actionable insights that can inspire you to move forward with your own ideas. Let us know which part of her journey resonates with you by sharing your thoughts on our Instagram page @stillnessmatters ! Connect with Gwendolyn: Socials: @gwendolynkuhlmann  Website: www.journal.birthingideas.com Connect with me: Stay up to date on Instagram @stillnessmatters: https://www.instagram.com/stillnessmatters/  Watch quick bits and entertainment on TikTok @stillnessmatters:  https://www.tiktok.com/@stillnessmatters Connect with me, ask questions, and hear more Stillness Matters content on Wisdom @stillnessmatters Send me an email at info@stillnessmatters.com --- If you enjoyed this episode, leave a review and tell me so! It helps the show grow (plus, I'll love you forever as one of my first listeners). Questions? Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/stillnessmatters/message

S2E16 - Just BREATHE with Ramond Phipps

“Stillness is scary. Stillness is challenging, but stillness has the greatest rewards towards our health improvement that we would never see unless we chose to practice this over and over and over again” -Ramond Phipps. In this episode of the Stillness Matters Podcast, Sara engages in a profound discussion with Ramond Phipps, a breathwork facilitator with extensive experience in mental health, addictions counseling, and crisis response. Together, they explore the transformative effects of breathwork and mindfulness on mental well-being and emotional resilience. Key Learnings: 1. Understanding Emotional Crises: Everyday Stressors: Ramond challenges the notion that only dramatic events trigger crises, emphasizing the impact of daily stress. Managing Perspectives: Discussing the importance of shifting how we perceive and manage stress for better resilience. 2.  Coping vs. Emotional Processing: Role of Breathwork: Explaining how breathwork aids both coping in the moment and deeper emotional processing. Growth and Healing: Ramond highlights the journey of understanding emotions through breathwork as a path to personal growth. 3. Practical Breathwork Techniques: Diaphragmatic Breathing: Focusing on effective breathing techniques for stress relief and mental health. Integration into Daily Life: Encouraging listeners to incorporate breathwork as a consistent practice for well-being. 4. Stillness as an Active Choice: Confronting Thoughts: Viewing stillness as a space for confronting and understanding one's thoughts. Emotional Intelligence and Resilience: How breathwork and stillness enhance mental clarity and emotional strength. This episode serves as a heartfelt reminder of the power we have to cultivate stillness and utilize breath to overcome life's challenges. It encourages listeners to explore breathwork and mindfulness as empowering tools for navigating stress and enhancing mental well-being. Connect with Ramond: Socials: @ibreatherp YouTube: @ibreatherp & ibreatherp.com  Connect with me: Stay up to date on Instagram @stillnessmatters: https://www.instagram.com/stillnessmatters/  Watch quick bits and entertainment on TikTok @stillnessmatters:  https://www.tiktok.com/@stillnessmatters Connect with me, ask questions, and hear more Stillness Matters content on Wisdom @stillnessmatters Send me an email at info@stillnessmatters.com --- If you enjoyed this episode, leave a review and tell me so! It helps the show grow (plus, I'll love you forever as one of my first listeners). Questions? Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/stillnessmatters/message

S2E15 - Embracing Stillness through Grief with Annie McDonald

"If you just stuff things down and numb yourself out, you're numbing yourself to joy as well as sadness.” - Annie McDonald In this episode of the Stillness Matters podcast,  Sara Penney welcomes Annie McDonell, a grief movement guide, who shares her journey and insights on how grief affects one’s sense of stillness. Annie offers valuable advice and tools to process grief and find inner peace. Key Learnings: 1. Understanding Grief: Complex Emotion: Grief is a multifaceted emotion involving various feelings and stages. Healing through Feeling: The importance of fully experiencing grief to heal. 2. Misconceptions and Emotions: Misconceptions of Grief: Debunking false beliefs about grief. Mosaic of Emotions: Recognizing the range of emotions involved in grief. 3. Suppression and Navigation: Not Suppressing Grief: The harm in suppressing grief and the need to process it. Gradual Process: Navigating grief gradually while acknowledging physical and emotional impacts. 4. Mind-Body Connection: Processing Grief: Importance of the mind-body connection. Compassionate Space: Holding space for oneself with compassion. 5. Tools for Processing Grief: Breathwork and Movement: Using breathwork and movement to process emotions. Sound Healing: Incorporating sound healing in grief processing. Curious Exploration: Exploring emotions with curiosity. 6. Seeking Support: Connections and Community: Importance of seeking support and building connections. Anticipatory Grief Resources: Resources for those experiencing anticipatory grief. 7. Stillness and Healing: Craniosacral Therapy: Experiences of stillness through craniosacral therapy. Pathways to Peace: Exploring different pathways to access inner peace through body, mind, and spirit. Annie McDonnell’s insights guide listeners through the importance of exploring grief and stillness with an open heart and compassion. Utilizing recommended tools and supporting each other in the journey to healing, listeners can find strength and peace. Join Sara Penney in future episodes of "Stillness Matters" for more profound insights and tools to navigate life's challenges with grace and stillness. Stay compassionate, and seek your inner peace. Connect with Annie: Instagram: @acupunctureannie Facebook: @joyalchemyacupunctureelvi.com Freebie/Offer: The free guide for anticipatory grief: https://griefcare.ck.page/anticipatorygriefguide and; The free monthly virtual grief circle: https://joyalchemyacupuncture.as.me/griefcircle Connect with me: Stay up to date on Instagram @stillnessmatters: https://www.instagram.com/stillnessmatters/  Watch quick bits and entertainment on TikTok @stillnessmatters:  https://www.tiktok.com/@stillnessmatters Connect with me, ask questions, and hear more Stillness Matters content on Wisdom @stillnessmatters Send me an email at info@stillnessmatters.com --- If you enjoyed this episode, leave a review and tell me so! It helps the show grow (plus, I'll love you forever as one of my first listeners). Questions? Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/stillnessmatters/message