Kids and teens have many social pressures today from social media, comparisons, idealizing others lives, body image, peer pressure, jealousy, and the list goes on. In this lesson I talk about all of these issues and how to work though them with awareness and a plan to keep healthy social boundaries.
Bright Light Music Therapy's "Light Within Me" Program for kids lesson 4 is all about anxiety. What is it? How does it feel? What does it look like? Is it me? In this episode I go through the format of the class, playing songs that will be sung, written, and listened to during the class, with an original song called, "Anxiety is Like a Watch Dog", which is a concept I came up with from my Self-Love Journals Podcast.
Building on lesson 1 of Uncovering your self-love, and lesson 2 of how to stop unwanted thoughts; Lesson 3 focuses on entering the present moment. In this music therapy session with the kids, we will practice yoga and breathing to connect with their bodies and learn about being in the now through stillness and awareness.
Welcome to the explanation of the second session of my groups kids' music therapy class, in a program called, "The Light Within Me". The first session teaches that you can uncover your self-love from within, and this next session is all about how to stop unwanted thoughts and be still. In this episode, I break down all of the musical interventions I do with the kids and how I will teach them how they can stop compulsive thinking, and where these thoughts come from in the first place! Each session builds on each other and are strategically placed for optimal tool building in emotional resiliency!
In this episode, I explain what the first session of the Light Within Me program will look like for kids. Based on the episodes from The Self-Love Journals Podcast, I break down what it means to "Uncover your self-love" and how I will show kids through music interventions, how to build awareness and tools to get rid of self-love blockers and increase self-love boosters.
This episode shares my ideas and vision for my upcoming music therapy program for kids! Inspired from my harrowing self-loathing experience as a child into adulthood. Quietly suffering, I seemed confident on the outside, but was plagued with intense anxiety, depression, and many secret self-sabotaging behaviors. Finally now, as a board certified music therapist, I have opened my own practice to create music based group and individual therapy sessions to help kids uncover their self-love, develop tools for anxiety and depression, and find the light within to lead a resilient life now forever!
After 3 attempts to pass my board examination, I finally did! I thought I would pass the first time 5 months ago, and that this would give me the confidence I needed to get through my divorce and get a job. Instead, I was forced to do it the other way around to learn this important lesson in life: You still can progress and grow without someone telling you that you've "passed" or that you are good enough. I got a job in my field and showed myself that I can create a life for myself amidst the changes and grow in self-confidence and self-trust. I guess it was worth the wait!
This week's episode focuses on how to think, feel, and behave the way you want to. Fear and anxiety may still be there, but you do not have to let them get in your way. Everything you need to manifest what you want can be created from within you. Learn to believe in yourself and manifest your wildest dreams!
Did you realize that you don't actually have to do anything you don't want to do? Really. You don't Have to get up, get dressed, go to work, to school, take care of kids etc. You are ultimately in charge of you and you Get to Decide to do these things each and every day. Now, there are consequences for not doing these thing for sure. But when you realize and Decide to do the things you do each and every day, the power and freedom comes to you and the dread and 'should' mentality goes away.
Today's journal entry comes from January 2019, at a time I was in great inner turmoil and confusion. Now in hindsight, I know my instincts were right and I am learning to trust myself first and foremost. Self-trust is an imperative self-love tool that you can learn to cultivate. Listen to this insightful episode to learn more how you can learn to trust you intuition and instincts.
I'm shifting gears with my podcast and sharing a more raw and simple perspective on life through my past journal entries. This week's entry I wrote in 2017 when I had the thought to "ask God not google". Listen in for a short and uplifting episode on how you can look deeper within yourself and a higher power to find out what's best for you.
Since beginning The Self-Love Journals Podcast I have shared many insights, daily practical applications, and models that have helped me. Today's episode focuses on applying one of my biggest models in my life right now. Now is the time for me to really practice what I preach and actually use these tools I have been sharing on these episodes.
If you find yourself playing the victim much of the time, you are only hurting yourself. Being Aware that you are victimizing yourself is the first step to undoing the false reality that something is always wrong with you and your life. There are other emotions that factor in on victimizing, but by realizing and turning around this way of thinking can prevent further self-destructing and negative thought patterns.
"Live in the moment!" "Seize the moment!", they say... but HOW? I have been searching my entire adult life for the magic "key" to unlock and live in the present moment. After decades of searching, I have discovered that living in the moment is something we all have inside of us now, and can do at any time. Listen in to learn the powerful gateways to be able to live in the present, and the mindset one must have and continually work towards. The ability to live in the moment is within you NOW!
I had the pleasure of being a guest on the Walk Fearlessly Podcast, with Sarah Matthews and Emily Mcallister. They interview people on how they are walking fearlessly through life. Although I can't say I'm not scared, I do continue to move forward as bravely as I can. Listen in for their great insight and discussion on walking fearlessly through life.
Does fear of failure keep you from really living life? I was always afraid of messing up, disappointing someone, or feeling too fatigued. When you focus on what could happen in the future, you are feeling fear. If you stay in the present, you cannot feel fear of failure but rather you are focused on what you are doing now. There's no fear of failure if you are truly present, and you are your most creative and intuitive in the present.
Do you often feel you need to please others at the expense of your own needs or desires? If so, then you may be a people pleaser. While this may sound kind and compassionate, it may be taking from your own much needed self-love. When we are always doing what others want, we are not able to be the best versions of ourselves and are often left feeling depleted. How then, can we care for others if we are constantly giving away what we truly need? Listen in to learn how I have changed my life-long habit of pleasing others to finally learn how to know what I want and need, and in turn give the very best of myself to serve others.
You can learn to root for yourself and be your own cheerleader, whenever life gets you down! I used to be my own bully, but through the years have learned to have my back and uplift myself. In this episode I remind you how to connect with your innate self-love, and the important steps to learn and practice to always cheer yourself on, and get what you need in life!
Did you know there is a difference between self-care and self-compassion? Most of my life I thought self-care was selfish, and that I wasn't worthy of self-compassion. This episode explains the difference between the two, and why we need both to thrive in our self-love!
It wasn't until I was 21 years old that I realized I was not being real and authentic in my life. I had grown up trying to please others and get validation from doing what I thought they wanted me to do. It has been a 40 year process to really uncover the real me, and each day I am discovering more of who I am meant to be.