Podcast Summary
Exploring grief and personal growth: Through Kris Carr's new book and Dr. Mindy's Reset Academy, listeners can gain insights and support in navigating grief and personal growth, whether it's due to loss of identity or a significant life change.
The importance of addressing grief and the unique perspective offered by Kris Carr's new book, "I'm Not a Morning Person." While often associated with the loss of a loved one, grief encompasses a range of experiences, including the loss of identity or a significant life change. This book provides a fresh approach to understanding and navigating the depths of sadness that come with grief. Additionally, Dr. Mindy introduced her Reset Academy, an exclusive community designed to support individuals in their fasting and health journey, offering access to expert insights, guidance, and a supportive network. Overall, this podcast episode emphasizes the importance of addressing grief and offers resources for personal growth and well-being.
Embracing Grief for Emotional Well-being: Embrace and process emotions, including grief, for improved overall well-being. Hiding and numbing can lead to unhealthy coping mechanisms.
Our emotional well-being, including handling grief in a healthy way, is an essential aspect of overall health. The title of the book "I'm Not a Morning Person" came from the author's realization that she had been avoiding dealing with her grief and emotional trauma. Grief is another form of love, and the more we experience love, the more we will grieve. However, society often pushes us to hide and numb our emotions, leading to unhealthy coping mechanisms. Emotions are energy and information, and whatever we push down will eventually come out in other ways. The author became fascinated by grief and its connection to our emotional health. By embracing and processing our emotions, including grief, we can improve our overall well-being.
Understanding the Essence of Grief: Grief is an expression of love and a natural response to loss, which is an inevitable part of life. Acknowledging and embracing emotions associated with grief can lead to learning, healing, and growth.
Grief, which is often associated with loss, is actually an expression of love and an essential part of the human experience. We cannot escape losses in life, and they come in various forms, from personal to global. Grief is the energy we put into something or someone we love when that situation changes, leaving us feeling empty and sad. It's not about liking the feeling of sadness but acknowledging the importance of emotions as information. Just as we cannot amputate certain organs because we don't like them, we cannot ignore or suppress emotions. Instead, being curious about them can help us learn, heal, and grow. As the speaker shared, her journey to understanding grief began when she faced multiple losses in her life and realized the importance of acknowledging and embracing the emotions that came with them.
Accepting and acknowledging deep grief: Grief is a natural response to loss, acknowledging and accepting it can lead to healing and growth through therapy, communication, and physical activities like breath work, meditation, and taking a walk.
Caring for deep grief involves acknowledging and accepting the emotion as part of the healing process. Emotions, including grief, carry important information and energy that can impact our overall well-being. To release this energy and move forward, we can seek support through therapy or other forms of communication. Additionally, engaging in physical activities, such as breath work, meditation, or taking a walk, can help us reset our emotional state and come back to the present moment. It's essential to remember that grief is a natural response to loss and that allowing ourselves to feel and process these emotions can lead to growth and transformation.
Acknowledging and experiencing grief: Recognize and name emotions during grief, allow them to flow, and remember healing comes in waves
Working through emotions, particularly grief, involves accessing memories stored in the body. This process can bring up a flood of emotions, which may feel overwhelming but are also an opportunity for healing. Emotions like sadness and happiness have a trajectory, but grief can come unexpectedly and intensely. When a "grief bubble" arises, the first step is acknowledging and naming the emotion. Instead of seeking a quick fix, allow the energy to move and find a safe space to fully experience the emotion. Remember, grief comes in waves and allowing it to flow can lead to healing.
Allow emotions to move through you: Acknowledge emotions, move physically or express verbally, and create a safe space for others to do the same.
When faced with strong emotions or challenging situations, it's important to acknowledge and allow ourselves to move the energy rather than trying to hold it back. This can be through physical movement or expressing emotions to those around us. However, it's essential to be mindful of how we respond to others during their moments of grief or vulnerability. Instead of trying to relate or share our experiences, we should focus on creating a safe space for them to express themselves and offering support without hijacking the conversation. Remember, everyone processes emotions differently, and it's crucial to respect and honor that.
Being present during grief: Showing up for someone in grief can make a big difference, whether through a text, call, or tangible acts of assistance. Be authentic and aim to alleviate their burden, not add to it.
During times of grief, showing up for someone can make a significant difference. It's not about trying to fix their problems or providing unsolicited advice, but rather being present and offering support in ways that feel authentic to your relationship with them. This could be as simple as sending a text or making a phone call to check in, or more tangible acts of assistance like running errands or preparing meals. Remember, the goal is to help alleviate their burden, not add to it. So, when in doubt, just showing up and being there for them can mean the world.
Being honest about emotions during grief: Honesty about emotions during grief fosters deeper connections and combats loneliness, while fostering understanding and empathy
Being honest about our emotions, especially during times of grief, is essential for creating meaningful connections with others. Society often doesn't know how to handle grief, and we may feel pressure to hide our true feelings or fix others instead of allowing ourselves to be vulnerable. However, when we are honest and authentic, we create opportunities for deeper connections and combat the epidemic of loneliness. It's important to remember that expressing our emotions doesn't mean dwelling in them endlessly or bringing others down. Instead, it fosters understanding and empathy. I've learned this firsthand and am excited to share a new fitness program, PowerSync 60, designed with this concept in mind. Join me and Tony Horton at doctormindy.org using the code ps60pels to prioritize your emotional and physical well-being.
Sharing vulnerability in professional settings deepens connections: Authenticity and vulnerability in the workplace foster deeper connections and promote healing. Embrace emotions and allow them to pass, rather than trying to suppress or hide them.
Showing vulnerability and allowing oneself to feel emotions, even in professional settings, can create deeper connections and give others permission to do the same. Mindy shared her experience of crying during a team meeting while discussing pet loss and how her team responded with understanding and appreciation. She emphasized the importance of authenticity and not trying to hide or suppress emotions, which can lead to faster healing and growth. Carl Jung's idea of orbiting through certain themes in life and passing new levels of meaning and understanding with each orbit was also discussed as a mechanism for healing from losses. The invitation is to embrace the journey of healing and consciousness evolution, rather than trying to rush or suppress emotions.
Embrace vitality and mental well-being: Health is more than the absence of disease, it's about embracing emotions and finding harmony within yourself for vitality and mental well-being
Health is not the absence of disease, but the presence of vitality. It's about having more vitality than disease, feeling good in your body, having energy, and taking care of your mental well-being. The goal is not to eliminate emotions like grief or sadness, but to make friends with them and allow them into your life. Resisting these emotions only creates more tension and blocks your energy. Instead, embracing them can lead to more peace, flow, and freedom. The journey towards wellness is not about reaching a destination, but about embracing the ups and downs and finding harmony within yourself.
Healing through love and connection: Old traumas can resurface during menopause. Anger can indicate deeper issues, and it's vital to find healthy ways to process and express emotions, promoting healing and growth.
Grief and trauma can serve as opportunities for healing and growth. The speaker shares her personal experience of healing old traumas through the love and connection she had with her father. She also discusses how women going through menopause may experience unhealed traumas resurfacing due to hormonal changes. Anger, as an emotion, can signal deeper issues that need attention, and it's essential to find healthy ways to process and express it. The speaker encourages seeing anger as clarity and a chance to identify and address underlying issues. Overall, the conversation emphasizes the importance of acknowledging and healing emotions, especially during significant life transitions.
Exploring the Complexities of Anger: Awareness, self-care, seeking support, and finding joy are effective ways to process anger and maintain holistic well-being.
Anger is a complex emotion that can protect and inspire us, but it's important to learn how to process it in a healthy way before it starts to negatively impact our relationships and overall well-being. Awareness, naming, and getting curious about what's underneath our anger are key steps in this process. Anger has the power to motivate us to make positive changes, but it can also become overwhelming if not managed responsibly. Prioritizing self-care, seeking support through therapy or community, and finding joyful moments are effective ways to process anger and maintain holistic well-being. Remember, it takes courage to embark on this journey, but the rewards are worth it for both personal growth and positive impact on those around us. As the speaker wisely noted, "helping people address what's eating them" is an essential part of overall wellness.
Maintaining healthy relationships as grief prevention: Focusing on love and compassion during challenging times can bring peace and minimize regrets, especially in relationships with aging parents or those dealing with loss.
Focusing on maintaining healthy relationships and showing up in loving ways can serve as a form of "grief prevention." This was evident in the speaker's experience with her father's four-and-a-half-year battle with pancreatic cancer. By committing to love and compassion during this time, she found peace and minimal regrets. This approach can be applied to all relationships, especially those with aging parents, as we never know when their time may come to an end. Additionally, for those dealing with fresh grief or a loved one's imminent death, the speaker suggests tending to the heart and emotions, practicing forgiveness, and considering how to move forward with the energy.
Having conversations about dying with a loved one: Discussing feelings and wishes with a dying loved one can provide comfort and closure, utilizing resources like hospice care can make the process manageable, and be gentle with oneself during the grieving process.
Having conversations about dying with a loved one, though it may be difficult, can be a helpful and healing experience for both parties. Many people approaching the end of their lives want to discuss their feelings and wishes, but families may be reluctant to bring up the topic. These conversations can provide comfort and closure for both parties, and it's essential to approach them with sensitivity and understanding. Additionally, utilizing resources such as hospice care can make the process of caring for a dying loved one more manageable and less daunting. Lastly, the grieving process after a loved one's passing can be a challenging time, and it's crucial to be gentle with oneself during this period. The world may continue to move on, but the loss of a loved one creates a unique and profound experience that requires time and attention.
Humor and Compassion: Tools for Approaching Challenges: Humor and compassion help us connect with challenges, making them more manageable and approachable, allowing us to adopt a positive and productive mindset.
Humor and compassion are powerful tools for approaching difficult situations, whether it's a personal challenge or a daunting change in lifestyle. Chris Cerrone, the author of "I'm Not a Morning Person," shares this perspective in her book and in her conversations, bringing levity and depth to often heavy topics. Her unique ability to find humor in difficult situations has helped her connect with audiences dealing with various challenges, from illness to grief. By befriending these challenges rather than avoiding them, we can approach them with a more positive and productive mindset. To learn more from Chris, check out her book and website, Kriscarr.com, where you can find her book and other resources.
