Most of us don’t think we complain very much — until we actually pay attention.

In today’s episode, I share what I discovered when I started noticing my own complaints, and why these seemingly small moments matter more than we realize. Complaining isn’t just a habit — it creates a subtle contraction in the body that makes it harder for joy to land and stay.

You’ll hear:

• why we rarely notice when we’re complaining
• how complaining tightens the body and shifts our emotional state
• the surprising things my students discovered during a “no complaining” experiment
• why stopping the cycle isn’t about being positive — it’s about giving the body room to feel something new

If you'd like to learn how to connect to more joy - consider joining my 90 minute workshop this Thursday, January 15th at 4pmET, called Connecting to Joy. It's $27. Everyone who signs up - whether you attend live or not - gets access to the 30 day replay. You can learn more here. I'd love to have you join us!

Questions or comments, please reach out to me on IG, here

The information presented on this podcast is for educational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose or prescribe for any medical or psychological condition, nor to prevent, treat, mitigate or cure any such conditions.

In October, I said goodbye to a very special part of my life—the foundation I created in honor of my little boy, Christopher.

This episode is different. I recorded our closing celebration on my phone that night, not knowing exactly why—only that it mattered. What you’ll hear is the magic of that evening: voices, laughter, reflection, and what becomes possible when we honor an ending instead of rushing past it.

There are so many takeaways in this episode. Just a few:

• What can unfold when we say yes
• When there’s will and passion, what once felt impossible becomes possible

Most of all, this episode is a reminder that something deeply beautiful and meaningful can come from something devastating and traumatic.

I’m so grateful I pressed record.

The information presented on this podcast is for educational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose or prescribe for any medical or psychological condition, nor to prevent, treat, mitigate or cure any such conditions.

Our habits often consume us more than our wants do. We stay up late, scroll, tell ourselves "just a few more minutes"—even when we'd rather go to bed. It sounds simple to just stop, but our habits feel like they have a mind of their own.

That's because many of our habits once helped us. They soothed our nervous systems, which is why they're so hard to break. For me, staying up late gave me "me time" when my boys were young. After Christopher passed, it helped me avoid harder mornings.

"What do you want?" is a pattern interrupter that helps me get to the core of what's important. Try asking yourself this when you're feeling stuck or when transitions feel hard—not just at New Year's, but anytime. You can soften it to: "Is this what I want to keep doing? Or is there something else?"

Cultivating Joy Workshop | January 8, 90 minutes Learn how we unconsciously cut ourselves off from joy and what to do about it. You can learn more here

Questions, or if you'd like to let me know you'd like me to add another time to this workshop, you can message me on IG here.

The information presented on this podcast is for educational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose or prescribe for any medical or psychological condition, nor to prevent, treat, mitigate or cure any such conditions.