Podcast Summary
Embrace the unexpected journey: Stay open to new opportunities and find wisdom in unexpected places, even if they don't align with our initial plans.
Key takeaway from this conversation with Elisa Haggerty is the importance of staying open to life's unexpected turns and finding wisdom in unexpected places. Elisa shared her wisdom as a former aspiring high school English teacher and basketball coach, who found herself on a different path as a functional nutritionist and lifestyle expert. She grew up in a household where her father, a high school English teacher and basketball coach, was her role model. However, despite excelling in English and basketball, Elisa struggled with academics in other areas and felt confident only in these two subjects. She had a clear vision of her future, wanting to be a high school English teacher and coach for 35 years. However, life had other plans, and Elisa found herself teaching English as a second language in Japan, which led her to explore nutrition and health. Through her experiences, Elisa learned that it's essential to stay open to new opportunities and find wisdom in unexpected places, even if they don't align with our initial plans. She encourages us to embrace the journey and trust that each step brings us closer to our growth and learning. I hope you found Elisa's story as inspiring and educational as I did.
Overcoming Adversity through Self-Discovery: Personal experiences and self-discovery can lead to significant transformations in mental and emotional wellbeing. Holistic approaches, including meditation, diet, and lifestyle changes, can help manage symptoms of brain injuries and mental health conditions.
Personal experiences and self-discovery can lead to significant transformations in one's life. The speaker shares his story of suffering a traumatic brain injury (TBI) in a car accident, which resulted in clinical depression. He felt neglected by the medical community and sought alternative methods to improve his mental and emotional wellbeing. Through meditation, adopting a vegan diet, and making lifestyle changes, he was able to manage his symptoms and regain control of his thoughts. This experience taught him the importance of self-care and the power of the mind in overcoming adversity. It also highlighted the need for more holistic approaches to treating brain injuries and mental health conditions.
Diet and Mental Health Connection: Making intentional dietary choices can significantly improve mental health and emotional regulation. Prioritize whole foods and view meals as opportunities for self-care and connection.
The relationship between diet and mental health is significant and often overlooked. The speaker shared her personal experience of struggling with emotional regulation and mood disorders, which improved significantly after making dietary changes. She noticed a strong connection between food and mood and saw the potential for a career in nutrition coaching. The speaker also highlighted the societal trend of prioritizing convenience and quick results over intentional living and healthy eating, which can negatively impact our well-being. She emphasized the importance of being intentional about food choices and viewing meals as an opportunity to care for the body and connect with others. The speaker cautioned against the dogma and obsession with specific methods or calorie counting in the field of nutrition and encouraged a more holistic and mindful approach.
Reconnecting with food and nature for human connection: Approach food as a means for connection rather than obsession with calories or body image, valuing historical relevance and human connection over modern health trends.
Approaching food as a means for connection rather than a means for disconnection and obsession with calories or body image is a more human and historically relevant approach. Food was once a source of community and connection, and our modern obsession with health and diets has disconnected us from this. The Greek and Roman Empires valued full-bodied women as the best caretakers, and food brought tribes together. However, in the last century, we've become more disconnected from our food and nature due to our reliance on technology and corporations. We know more about corporations than we do about our own ecosystems and neighbors. It's important to reconnect with our food and nature to live a more meaningful and empathetic life. This perspective challenges the modern obsession with health and diets and encourages us to value the human connection and historical relevance of food.
Reconnecting with nature and food for a more intentional life: Disconnecting from technology and societal pressures can lead to a deeper appreciation for food, our bodies, and ourselves. Embrace the present and learn to love yourself just as you are.
Disconnecting from technology and reconnecting with the natural world and our food can lead to a more intentional and joyful experience with life. Elyse believes that people are operating through their phones for connection and food due to societal pressures, but encourages individuals to step outside, observe, and appreciate the world around them. This shift in perspective can lead to a deeper appreciation for food and our bodies, as well as a rejection of societal pressures to constantly change and improve ourselves. Elyse's approach to consulting now focuses on helping individuals question their beliefs and learn to love themselves and their existence just as they are, rather than striving for external changes. This radical shift can lead to a more fulfilling and creative life.
Shift perspective from resistance to acceptance: Embrace life's experiences with curiosity instead of suffering from them, leading to personal growth and authentic living.
Instead of viewing the world as happening to us and resisting it with "should" statements, we should shift our perspective to see that life is happening for us, for our growth and development. This mindset of acceptance and allowing leads to a state of curiosity and openness, where we can learn from our emotions and experiences rather than suffering from them. Happiness is not the opposite of sadness or depression; curiosity is. When we're curious, we're open to exploring how our emotions and experiences can benefit us and teach us valuable lessons. By focusing on curiosity, we can approach life with a sense of wonder and openness, allowing us to live more fully and authentically.
Turning adversity into opportunities for growth: Even in the face of adversity, it's possible to find wisdom and growth. View difficult situations as opportunities for learning instead of despair.
Even in the face of adversity, it's possible to find wisdom and growth. The speaker shares how her experiences with her father, as well as her own challenges like a car accident and job loss, have taught her to view difficult situations as opportunities for learning. This perspective, which she attributes in part to her father's influence, helps her to keep going and find meaning in seemingly hopeless situations. Instead of giving in to despair, she believes that she can make the best of things and turn setbacks into opportunities for improvement. This mindset, which she's practiced throughout her life, has helped her to find silver linings in even the most challenging circumstances.
Approaching difficult conversations with empathy: Empathy in difficult conversations can lead to healing and connection. Revealing feelings and ending repeating drama patterns are essential for personal growth.
Approaching difficult conversations with empathy, as if you would want to be approached in similar situations, can lead to healing and connection. The speaker shares how her father's approach to community and storytelling inspired her to express herself openly and use her words to bring people together. She emphasizes the importance of revealing what you're feeling and the negative consequences of withholding, which can lead to depression and self-addiction. In her coaching, she helps individuals recognize and end repeating drama patterns, emphasizing the importance of being ready to explore and dissolve them. Through conscious leadership and storytelling, she believes in the power of art and expression to heal and inspire.
Breaking free from limiting beliefs: Taking responsibility for mental and emotional health, cultivating curiosity, and feeling feelings to completion can help us move beyond limiting roles and live a more enlightened life.
Our perspective and the roles we adopt in our lives, such as victim, villain, or hero, can limit us and keep us stuck in negative patterns. To break free from these limiting beliefs, it's essential to take responsibility for our mental and emotional health, cultivate curiosity, and feel our feelings to completion. By doing so, we can move past victimhood, villainy, and heroism, and live a more enlightened and curious life. This concept was evident in Tony Robbins' and Mel Robbins' discussions, where they emphasized the importance of taking charge of our emotions and experiences. Even in moments of discipline or playfulness, we have the power to choose our reactions and grow from them. The conscious leadership group's 15 commitments, particularly taking responsibility for our mental emotional health and being committed to curiosity, can be valuable tools in this journey.
Learning from nature's playfulness: Recognize the benefits of playfulness, find joy in experiences, feel emotions to completion, express them, and approach situations playfully for growth and learning.
Playfulness is a skill that can lead to a more enjoyable and fulfilling life. As the speaker suggests, we can learn from nature and its creatures, who seem to effortlessly move on from negative emotions and find joy in their experiences. In conscious leadership, this means recognizing that when we're serious, we're suffering, but when we're playful, we're open and engaged with life. The speaker encourages us to feel our emotions to completion, express them, and then ask ourselves how we can playfully approach the situation. It's important to note that this doesn't mean jumping into playful mode after a traumatic experience, but rather taking responsibility for our feelings and seeking growth and learning. The speaker also emphasizes the importance of nature and animals as sources of inspiration and connection. In summary, the game of life is to have the most fun, and adopting a playful mindset can lead to greater joy, spiritual and financial success, and improved relationships.
Embrace emotional mastery and confidence: Navigate emotions with agility and acceptance, find joy in the midst, explore curiosity, and cultivate playfulness for enhanced well-being
Emotional mastery and confidence is the ability to navigate through various emotional states with agility and acceptance, rather than trying to eliminate them. Elise shared her personal experience of dealing with worries and fears, but emphasized the importance of finding joy and creativity in the midst of these emotions. She also recommended animated films like "Secret Life of Pets" and "Inside Out" for their exploration of emotions. Ultimately, Elise encouraged embracing life and exploring one's curiosity, rather than getting bogged down by worries or ruminations. She emphasized the importance of having fun and cultivating playfulness as a skill to enhance one's overall well-being.
Appreciate the present moment: Slow down, make time for meaningful conversations and experiences, and discover new perspectives and insights.
No matter how busy our lives may be, it's important to take the time to slow down and appreciate the present moment. This was a recurring theme in our conversation today. The speaker expressed gratitude for the listeners of Slo Mo, who allow her to connect with interesting people and learn new things. She encourages everyone to make time for meaningful conversations and experiences, even in the midst of a busy schedule. By slowing down and being present, we may discover new perspectives and insights that enrich our lives. So, let's strive to find balance in our daily routines and make time for the things that truly matter. As the speaker said, "I love you all for listening and I'll see you next time."
