Episode 14 -Financial Empowerment for Women: Build Confidence, Master Your Money Mindset & Redefine Wealth with Irina Helm

By Jessica Garrison

Earlier this year, we had Angela Iacobellis on The FEEL Podcast. We now have the wonderful opportunity to feature her business partner, Irina Helm, who describes herself as rich, authentic, chronically creative, and empathetic. 

When Irina says she is rich, she doesn’t necessarily mean in the sense of money, which we tend to think of when we hear that word. She is rich in culture, rich with the experiences and feelings shared by those around her. She has lived all around the world, including the Soviet Union, Germany, and Israel, which are very male-dominated, controlled environments. She had to find a way to be herself, live out of her own expectations, and create the life she wanted for herself in a world that has already made a decision for her. For Irina, it’s about being happy with the woman she sees in the mirror, and that is honestly the most important thing. Being happy with yourself doesn’t mean thinking you’re perfect, because nobody is. But Irina knows her strengths and weaknesses, always striving to make progress. We are always growing and evolving, and we are allowed to change or to work towards our goals, however, you can still be happy with who you are and authentically, genuinely love yourself. 

With her background, Irina didn’t know about the specifics of money growing up. It’s something not to be discussed or asked for, and yet we cannot live without money. Many women are not taught about finances, usually relying on a man or husband to take care of the bills. Especially for the older generation, that wasn’t just expected, but it was enforced. Now, women get lost in the world of finances only because they’ve never been introduced to it properly. Irina works to support women in living unapologetically, utilizing their finances to be able to do that. Business was another area where she had to gain knowledge on herself, feeling ashamed or guilty to ask people for the money that she was owed. She quickly realized that there is a false expectation on “The American Dream.” She says, “Retirement is not an age; it’s a lifestyle.” We have this idea in our heads that we will work until a specific age and then retire, without thinking about the future itself. It’s just a stereotype that we work, retire, and then get to do whatever we want with the rest of our lives. However, things are not always set in stone, and Irina supports women in dealing with whatever unexpected speedbumps that may come their way. 

Irina provides not only practical ways to save money in this one hour episode, but she also provides confidence and reassurance. It’s heartening to see and hear about women who are working to change the narrative we have always been told. So many women do it every day without even realizing, and that is what makes the community so rich. 

Ways to Engage: What are some ways you can become more educated with finances? Take a class, reach out to an advisor, or listen to some of our past episodes that feature financial experts, coaches, or advisors. Where are some ways you can save? Start small. Take back your finances and your power. Reach out to us at https://www.embracinglayers.com/contact if you need help finding resources.

Episode 13 - Find Your Why: How to Align Your Life with Your Core Values & Purpose with Melissa Crook

By Jessica Garrison

An essential part of who we are is our why, our purpose, our reasoning. This week, Melissa Crook discusses Coming Back to Your Why & Values to Guide Your Choices and asks the hard hitting, necessary question: “What are your values?” 

We are given a script from a young age of how we should act or what we should strive for. “Success” meant checking off certain things on a list instead of living through your values and your passions. When you look at certain areas of your life, ask “Is this actually what I care about? Does it include what I’m aligned with? Or what I’m passionate about?” If you have no idea how to answer the question, revisit your boundaries. Why did you set them? What were you protecting? What’s important to you and your time? This can help you identify where you need to make shifts or changes, because it’s only natural for your why to change over time. That’s why it’s so important we visit this regularly to ensure that how we are living out our life is truly aligned with us in that moment of time. Life teaches us lessons, we unlearn and relearn things, and we gain new experiences that can affect our why. 

Your why and values gives you a compass, a foundation to operate from. If what you’re doing isn’t in alignment with your why, reassess the situation. We tend to push the uncomfortable feelings down, but we are feeling that way for a reason. Never ignore your feelings, and sit down with yourself to find out what is happening internally. Refer to questions that we ask through the FEEL framework, such as, “What nourishes me? How do I want to FEEL in the next 6 months?” 

There are specific core values that will always be a part of us, but the way that we show them might shift or change. Melissa shares examples of travel, loyalty, and her passion for women. Relationships, family dynamics, knowledge, education, or your work environment are just a few things that may affect your why or how you showcase them over time. Around New Year’s, Melissa says that she will evaluate her why and values, along with other subjects of the FEEL framework. She will check in with herself and make sure she is still living through her passions, and that she feels good about her actions. Spring is another great time to start since we are in the Spring Cleaning mood. We can air out our homes and clean our mind, body, and calendars. Check in with yourself this week and see if you are aligned the way you want to be. Be honest with yourself and live through your values. 

Ways To Engage: If you’re having trouble identifying your why, revisit what activities and causes nourish you, fill your cup, and make you feel alive. Think about those 5 words that describe how you want to FEEL the next 6 months. Where are your values in relation to those? Use those answers to help narrow this down, retire what is no longer true, and usher in what’s healthiest for you. 

✨ Free Download: Embracing a FEEL Fueled Life Sample Freebie

✨ Ready for deeper support? Visit our website to schedule to schedule a complimentary 30 minute session or learn more about Coming Back to Your Why & Your Values with Melissa 

Episode 12 -Self-Leadership for Women: Let Go of Control, Set Boundaries & Heal Without Guilt with Kate Lenihan

By Jessica Garrison

Podmatch has become such an amazing source connecting us with our guests, and we were able to meet Kate Lenihan, our guest this week, through that very medium. She is curious, rounded, empathetic, and known for bringing humor and clarity to deeply emotional conversations. She told Melissa this before being asked for her character traits, so we know this is Kate at her very core. 

Another way we phrase self care is self leadership or self preservation, and Kate sees delegation as a form of self care. Women tend to take on all the projects themselves without asking for help. We’ve heard the phrase if you want something done right, then you need to do it yourself. However, we have to release this mindset that we’re the only ones who can do it or that there’s only one right way of having it done. By releasing some of your responsibilities, you release the load you’re constantly carrying. It is not a weakness to ask for help, but rather it is brave. We cannot always be certain of what the outcome may be, and it is “not your responsibility to control it,” so it’s important to let go of some of those expectations as well. 

In her journey of supporting herself and other women in living unapologetically, Kate worked towards helping women relinquish some of their responsibilities without all of the guilt. She saw so many women struggle with delegating because they felt bad for asking for help or felt they were being bossy by putting someone else in charge of an assignment. Their reasoning was like we just discussed: they didn’t think it would be done right, so if it wasn’t in their hands, then they were even more stressed out about it. Women can be resistant to giving up control, but Kate says that is all part of the boundaries journey. If it isn’t a full body yes, then it’s a full body no. If there is one thing you take from this episode, let it be if it isn’t a full body yes, then it’s a full body no. 

Another part of the episode I feel is important to share is Kate’s discussion of grief and how she lived in it for a long time. She wasn’t properly processing her grief, but rather she was pushing it down and ignoring it each day. This kept bubbling up for Kate, and grief tends to do that at the most inconvenient times. No matter what, it will show itself whether you want it to or not. Eventually your body won’t be able to hold it in anymore and will react however it needs to in order to feel a release. Kate also said that grief is not exclusive to death. You can feel grief in many different areas of your life; it is all encompassing and should not be ignored or compared to others. Your feelings are valid, so don’t dismiss them just because you think someone else may have it worse. We are experiencing the world together and deserve to express our feelings honestly. 

Kate’s episode serves as a great reminder for our talking points and how they can be interpreted in many different ways, showcasing how they have their own sets of layers. I have hardly scratched the surface of this conversation, so I look forward to everyone listening to Kate’s story from her own voice and perspective. 

Ways to Engage: Take inventory of what you do in a day, from the time you wake up to the time you go to sleep. What do you do for yourself and what do you do for others? Where are some areas you can ask for help? Delegate some of what you do in a day, even starting small if that’s helpful. Don’t try to carry the world on your own; you are brave when you ask for help. 

Episode 11 - Unapologetic Living: How Women Can Build Confidence, Stop Apologizing & Support Each Other with Melissa Crook

By Jessica Garrison

We continue our empowerment episodes through the talking points with Supporting Yourself & Other Women Unapologetically with host Melissa Crook. Women are constantly apologizing for things that aren’t their fault or for taking up space in a room where they belong, but we need to stop shrinking ourselves into what we think others want us to be and just be ourselves. 

One of the greatest ways you can support other women in living unapologetically is by treating yourself that way first. When you become more connected with yourself and more authentic, it radiates through your interactions with others. You hear the word “vibe” thrown around a lot, and I think someone with good vibes is someone who lives out unapologetic living and supports others in doing that, too. 

Women tend to see other women as competition because social and societal norms have taught us to be against each other. If we’re too busy fighting with each other, then we can’t look at the real issues that affect us in a patriarchal society. Melissa says that we have to get rid of the scarcity mindset because there are enough seats at the table for us. We shouldn’t have to fight to be the one woman in the room—why can’t there be more than one woman in the room at once? This is how we should continue, working together rather than working against one another. A Ruth Bader Ginsberg quote I think of often really puts things into perspective with this conversation: “I’m sometimes asked when there will be enough [women on the Supreme Court], and I say when there are nine. People are shocked. But there’d been nine men, and nobody’s ever raised a question about that.”

Even if you are a man, Melissa shares ways you can support yourself and women in living unapologetically. One example is when you’re in an environment where a woman is speaking and someone interrupts her, stop that person. “I don’t think X wasn’t done speaking yet. Let’s let her finish and then we’ll come back to you.” It doesn’t have to be harsh or rude, but just a reminder that women deserve the same respect as any man who may be in the same room. Help others feel seen and heard, fully listening to them when they’re talking rather than rehearsing in your head what you may say next. It takes time to practice, but it’s your path towards creating deeper connections and making people feel seen. 

In all areas of life, communication is kindness. When we clearly communicate our thoughts, desires, and frustrations, our expectations are more likely to be met. It’s time to start expressing yourself unapologetically and along the way, help others do the same.

If you struggle with this, Melissa is available for extra support to help you connect the dots of your health. 

Ways To Engage: Track how many times this week you say “I’m Sorry” for something that is not actually yours to apologize for? When this happens, consider other language you can use in the place of that.

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✨ Ready for deeper support? Visit our website to schedule a complimentary 30 minute session to learn more about Supporting Yourself & Other Women Unapologetically

Episode 10 -From Burnout to Purpose: Walt Thiessen on Self-Discovery, Mindset Shifts & Personal Growth

By Jessica Garrison

We have another crossover with our guest this week, the creator and host of LOA Today Podcast, Walt Thiessen. He describes himself as kind, curious, and as someone who wants to gather perspectives. Melissa was on LOA Today in May of 2025 in the episode, “Melissa Crook’s Journey to Emotional and Physical Healing.” We don’t typically have men as guests on The FEEL Podcast, but Walt’s story is beneficial to everyone, no matter how you may identify. 

Walt says that he hadn’t set out to do a podcast, but after the 2008 financial crisis affected his life, he was looking elsewhere to put his time and efforts. It was in 2012 that he started doing an interview-based podcast, before the tools were even readily available. He worked in IT previously, so he was able to tap his phone in order to record the conversations between him and his guest. There weren’t podcasts being held on Zoom or Streamyard like we do now; Skype didn’t even have a recording option while on a call, but he didn’t let this dissuade him. Walt is a trailblazer in the podcast world, finding it through his search of life. He was burnt out from tech work and asked himself, “What is my passion?” But he didn’t have an answer. 

The podcast was a major path towards discovering these passions, acting as an energy boost for him. It aligned with his values as someone who is interested in gaining other perspectives and it supported his self care, continuing to refuel him. He has become a more curious person through this experience, getting to speak with different people and their differing opinions. If you agree on every little thing, then the conversation is easy and you’re just nodding along with each other. However, when someone has an opinion that is different from yours, then the conversation creates a deeper connection. What has brought us together? What’s our common point? It’s healthy to be exposed to something you hadn’t thought about before or to hear a new perspective. It’s what helps us grow. 

Walt describes an exercise he did with a mirror for his nonstop mind, and it helped his self-esteem in the long run. He did this exercise consistently for 50 days, realizing just how hard he was on himself around day 20. It takes time, energy, and persistence, but you will see results eventually. The kinder you are to yourself, the kinder you are to others. Show yourself the same patience, grace, and forgiveness that you would show others because you deserve it just as much. 

This episode with Walt is a perfect reminder to check in with yourself, being true to who you are.  Are you living out of your own expectations? Do your values reflect what you do on a day to day basis? Gather your own perspectives on different situations within your life and surroundings, and make the connection to your path. There’s an endless line of possibilities, you just have to find what is healthiest for you. 

Ways to Engage: What are your passions? Sit with this question. What truly lights a fire in your soul? Is it what you currently do for work? Is it a hobby? Is it something that you don’t exercise in your life at all? Make this connection, and discover ways you can work your passion into everyday life or take steps towards living out your passion. 

Episode 9 - The Mind-Body Connection: How Emotional, Mental & Physical Health Shape Your Healing Journey with Melissa Crook

By Jessica Garrison

Our third talking point in The FEEL Podcast is about the interconnection between our emotional, mental, physical, spiritual, financial, and sexual health. This can be overwhelming to think about, but Melissa Crook is here with another empowerment episode to help give direction on this complicated yet necessary conversation. 

It’s so important to pay attention to your body because, convenient or not, it will send signals when in need of something. We tend to ignore the messages and power through, but there’s a reason you’re receiving them. We also tend to segment our layers of health, breaking them apart into smaller, manageable pieces to solve the problem. This may work for a time, but you have to look at your whole body to get the full picture. Melissa quotes Susan David on this subject to keep in mind: “Segmentation may begin as self-protection, but it often, eventually, becomes self-suppression.”

It takes time to unlearn and relearn things, especially when we have been raised in a society that teaches judgment over curiosity. As Melissa reminds us, there are no good or bad emotions. They are clues as to what is actually going on and what we need to address. Think about how you view emotions and how this affects your relationship with them. It’s important we name and acknowledge our emotions, understanding the connection between our systems of health.  

If you haven’t before, try utilizing a Feelings Wheel that breaks down emotions into more specifics to help nail down exactly what you may be feeling. Sometimes we think of basic emotions like happy, sad, angry, but there are more complex emotions than that, and the Feelings Wheel can help decipher those. Melissa says that she used to write her emotions out every day to see where she was at and what she needed.

Also consider these Ways To Engage: Writing your feelings down can be a great way to start finding the connection between all aspects of your health and giving yourself what you need to heal. Try writing them down as you feel them, recording them through a voice memo, or type them out on your phone notes. You don’t have to share it with anyone, so let yourself be honest and free of judgment.

If you struggle with this, Melissa is available for extra support to help you connect the dots of your health. 

✨ Free Download: Embracing a FEEL Fueled Life Sample Freebie

✨ Ready for deeper support? Visit our website to schedule a complimentary 30 minute session to learn more about Emotional, Mental, Physical, Spiritual, Financial, & Sexual Health Connections with Melissa 

Episode 8 - ​From Trauma to Empowerment: Healing, Boundaries & Finding Your True Self with Holly Hughes

By Jessica Garrison

Trigger warning: assault

Our next guest is the curious, creative, emotional, and driven Holly Hughes. There are some triggering topics during this conversation, but ones that are important to have nonetheless. Be sure to take care of yourself while listening and reference the resources if needed. 

Holly is an empath, which can make it difficult to set boundaries and prioritize self care. She recalls feeling selfish to do those things, because she thought she should be giving her all to everyone else. She would try to make it better for those around her, and I can attest from experience that it’s so exhausting trying to keep everyone happy all the time. You can’t control anyone else’s actions except your own, which we’ve discussed in the blog earlier this week, so you have to take responsibility for yourself. Whether that means walking away from people who no longer serve you or doing the work internally, no one can do it but you. And no one can do it for them except for themselves. 

In the episode, Holly shares that she lost her virginity at 15 from an assault, a violent act no one should ever experience. She has known profound loss in her life through this, miscarriages, and housefire. Abuse was well known to her, leading her to the world of Hollywood, which is known to be an abusive place under the lights and glamor. However, this was where she was taught to have boundaries and expectations, because Harvey Weinstein was huge in the business back then. Shortly before listening to this episode, I finished reading the book She Said, written by Megan Twohey and Jodi Kantor, the two female journalists who broke the story on Harvey Weinstein and his abuse in Hollywood. It was well known that he was someone not to be left alone with, but still nothing was ever done about it until years later. Unfortunately, this kind of thing isn’t uncommon, making it more important than ever to not only use your voice, but to believe others when they bravely decide to use theirs. 

Life is about evolution and change, something that Holly has embraced to the fullest. It took time and self-acceptance for her to support herself as well as other women in living unapologetically, but practice can only make you better at it, and with her empathy and drive, she has worked to transform herself for the healthier.

She says that she has surrendered to her feminine side and her power, something that I want to encourage every woman to do. Women are such incredible beings that harness more power than we realize. Once we tap into that and stop shrinking ourselves, there’s no telling how we can change the world. 

Ways to Engage: “Who am I?” Be conscious of what you’re thinking, and question how other people would describe you. How does family describe you? Friends?  Coworkers? Is that actually you or do you work to be that way for them? Work towards being who you want to be and finding your own descriptors.

Resources: 

RAINN’s National Sexual Assault Hotline: 

• Call 800-656-HOPE

• Text HOPE to 64673

Chat Online here

Ready for deeper support? Visit our website to schedule a complimentary 30 minute session or learn more about The Essentials one-on-one empowerment program

Episode 7 - Confidently Setting Healthy Boundaries: Self-Care, Communication & Protecting Your Energy with Melissa Crook

By Jessica Garrison

Through our second talking point of the podcast, host Melissa Crook guides listeners to Confidently Setting Healthy Boundaries. In this empowerment episode, Melissa shares relatable anecdotes and tips that make setting boundaries not only doable, but also sustainable. 

Melissa presents questions you can ask yourself, and some of them might sound familiar from last week’s episode. That’s because these talking points go hand in hand with each other. Your self care practices can affect your boundaries, which can affect your mental or physical health, which can affect your why, and so on and so forth. They are all interconnected, so we have to remember that taking care of all aspects of our health is important. Without one, the rest will eventually fall. 

Ask yourself: Do you confidently set healthy boundaries? If so, what does that look like for you? Is it up to date? Does it still align with your wants and needs as a person? If not, or if you have a hard time answering some of these questions, ask yourself why or why not? What’s stopping you? What’s in your way? Reflect upon these questions when going through your boundaries journey. 

Clearly communicating your boundaries and limits to others is the best possible way forward. No one’s a mind reader, and if you’re not explicitly explaining what it is you want, then how can you expect others to know it, too? Melissa expresses the importance of using “I” statements when communicating your boundaries. This is crucial in any form of communicating, because you are in charge of your own actions. You can’t set boundaries for another person, even though we may try. However, you can control what you do in response to what they do. For example, instead of saying, “don’t invite her to the party,” you can say, “if X comes to the party, I will have to leave.” That isn’t blaming anyone else, but rather explicitly explaining what your boundary is and the actions you will take to protect them. 

We first heard from guest Valerie Rivera back in season 4 of The FEEL Podcast, but we have quoted her many times since. It ties so well together with boundaries, and never goes out of style: “Remember when you say yes to something, that means you’re saying no to something else. Make sure you’re okay with what you’re saying no to.”

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✨ Ready for deeper support? Visit our website to schedule a complimentary 30 minute session or learn more about Confidently Setting Boundaries with Melissa

Episode 6 - ​Mental Health & Motherhood: How to Support Your Child Without Losing Yourself with Jenn Robb

By Jessica Garrison

Our guest this week is someone with strength, purpose, and faith, but it doesn’t stop there. Jenn Robb is the type of person who helps others find those traits in themselves as well. Her story is full of vulnerability, strength, and overcoming adversity. 

Jenn is very open as she shares how her daughter was struggling with her mental health, something that isn’t always visible on the outside, but it eats away at you internally. When children express a decline in their mental health, they’re typically ignored or shrugged off as nothing serious. However, Jenn supported her daughter through all of it without a second thought. She shares how she let herself go after discovering her daughter’s struggles, devoting all of her time and energy towards helping her. Of course her priority was her daughter, but Jenn realized that it didn’t have to be all or nothing. She recalls not even recognizing herself in the mirror, losing sight of who she was as her own person. Self care for Jenn became about being intentional. By doing something that is specific to her and refreshes her soul, Jenn is able to be at her best to take care of her daughter as well as to feel more present in each moment.  

While discussing taking care of her mental health as much as her physical health, Jenn brings up the excellent point of hormones, specifically how they can affect women in particular. Our bodies are constantly changing, and they are not the same at 16 as 36 or 66. This means we have to adjust our health plans and our self care needs to what is best for us at the given moment.

Jenn reminds us that we have the power to choose, and we need this reminder when talking about boundaries. She says that parents set boundaries all the time for their children, so why not set them for themselves? We’ve talked before about how “No,” is a full sentence, something that Jenn reiterates. Saying yes to everything zaps your energy, and a lot of times we say yes just because we don’t want to seem rude. However, you can still be a nice person and set boundaries—the two don’t have to cancel each other out. Jenn says that sometimes you have to love people from a distance, and that’s okay. It’s all about doing what is best for yourself so you can show up as your healthiest, most authentic self. 

These experiences were turned into a book, Warrior Mom Rising, as a way to help other moms who may be struggling with similar things as Jenn. She offers tools and resources for women to encourage them to advocate for themselves and their loved ones. Being a supportive person for others is one of the most powerful things you can be, but be sure you’re being just as supportive of yourself, too.   

Ways to Engage: Find space for yourself even in the smallest of moments. Whether you’re listening to your favorite music in the car, taking an extra five minutes in the shower, or doing some breathing exercises before bed, find ways to take care of and prioritize yourself.  

✨ Ready for deeper support? Visit our website to schedule a complimentary 30 minute session or learn more about The Essentials one-on-one empowerment program

Episode 5 - ​Prioritizing Self Care: Daily Habits for Mental Health, Stress Relief & Work-Life Balance with Melissa Crook

By Jessica Garrison

This week’s empowerment episode brought to you by Melissa Crook covers the first talking point in The FEEL Podcast: Prioritizing Self Care (Self Leadership, Self Preservation, and/or Self Sustaining) & what that looks like for you. Everyone’s self care practices look different, but the foundation it creates for our health is universal. 

Do you prioritize your wellness? Do you put yourself into your calendar and make time for your own needs? If not, why? Sit with these questions and the answers you give, exploring the deeper reason why you may not make time for yourself. A lot of the time we hear from women that they think self care is selfish, but it’s the complete opposite. In order for you to pour into others, you have to fill up your own cup first. 

Something I want everyone to take away from this episode is that the little things do add up. You don’t have to spend hours out of your day for self care time, because that really isn’t realistic. We live in a fast-paced society, our schedules full of responsibilities while still trying to enjoy our free time. Even taking five minutes out of your day to sit in silence or do a breathing exercise can do wonders for settling your nervous system. Even on the car ride home from work you can fit in some time to meditate, listen to some of your favorite music, or to just sit in the silence.

Try writing your emotions out at the beginning of the day, adjusting your self care needs to reflect that specific day. Meet yourself where you are because forcing yourself to do something isn’t really self care—it just becomes another item to check off the list. If you struggle with finding time for yourself, contact Melissa through our website or purchase The Calendar Cleanse to commit to your self care journey. You get to choose in life, and let this be a choice you make to take care of yourself. You deserve it.

💬 Ways To Engage/Ready to go deeper? Book a complimentary 30-minute session or explore The Calendar Cleanse (https://www.patreon.com/posts/calendar-cleanse-141122644?source=storefront) to fully commit to your self-care transformation.

Episode 4 - ​Mind-Body Connection: How Posture, Movement & Awareness Transform Your Mental & Emotional Health with Lindsay Newitter

By Jessica Garrison

If you watch our Together We FEEL panel shows on YouTube, then you might recognize our next guest from The Power of Mental, Emotional, & Physical Health Alignment episode. Lindsay Newitter is with us today, showcasing just how grounded, centered, curious, introverted, and funny she is. 

There’s no denying that there is a culture around women being in the “helper” position, but Lindsay felt the opposite growing up. She didn’t feel helpful at all, but a lot of this came from an internal struggle. She says that she didn’t know where her center was, and this was affecting the way she could connect with her emotions. Her journey involved figuring out what her perception of herself was and how to sense her body. A lot of people tend to only sense one small part of their bodies, which causes a barrier when trying to stay connected to all parts of yourself. Now that Lindsay has become more connected to herself, she has been able to help others in addition to taking care of herself. 

Since starting this journey, Lindsay has become a posture and movement specialist, certified in the Alexander Technique, an educational method used to help improve posture and long-standing habits. She says that she was interested in learning the Alexander Technique, and this helped her learn that she had to show herself to be able to show up for others. Your posture affects your breathing, which in turn influences the rest of your body. I personally have horrible posture from years of leaning over my phone, my computer, or a book, but I am working on fixing it every single day because I know how important it is for the rest of my health. It isn’t easy to change things you’ve been used to doing for years and years, but sometimes you have to put the effort in so you can better yourself.  

Lindsay has become more aware of how her body feels, especially in connection to her mind, and this has transformed her life. She has become more mindful and realized that health isn’t always about being distant, but it’s about having space. Having space to breathe, to feel, to act authentically, to exercise, whatever it may be. We tend to shrink ourselves and hide away from the world, but we are deserving of space. Women especially tend to linger in the background, but we are moving to the forefront and taking control of our own lives. Thanks to women like Linsday, we have the tools and resources to create any life we want. It’s just about getting started.

Ways to Engage:  Try connecting with all parts of your body. Notice what connects easiest for you and what you might struggle with. Find ways to help you move forward, whether it be physical or mental,  and connect with those more difficult parts of yourself.

✨ Ready for deeper support? Visit our website to schedule a complimentary 30 minute session or learn more about The Essentials one-on-one empowerment program

Episode 3 - ​Three Powerful Self-Discovery Questions to Reconnect With Yourself: Find Clarity, Purpose & Inner Peace with Melissa Crook

By Jessica Garrison

Our empowerment episode this week features Melissa Crook discussing the three questions that can help you reconnect to yourself: Who Am I, How Do I Want To FEEL, and What Nourishes Me? There’s no right or wrong answers to the questions, however they will be different depending on the season you are in and what is best for you at that given time. 

Melissa suggests taking time each day to connect with yourself, such as journaling or meditating. Focus on your feelings and/or your layers, paying attention to what comes up for you in those moments. Give yourself grace and patience throughout this process. It’s easy to look back and judge our past selves for their decisions, but no one is perfect and some mistakes have to be made to get you to where you need to be. 

Another way to get to know who you are better is to introduce yourself to people by your character traits, or adjectives that best describe you. Rather than sharing what you do for a living or what your personal dynamic looks like, share things you like to do in your free time. You are more than just the many hats you wear, and our roles can shift overtime, so it’s important to check in with yourself when you feel these things changing. Prioritize yourself and your needs so you’re able to take the best possible care of yourself, as well as others around you. Sometimes we need to be flexible with this, adjusting to what your needs are for that particular day. It’s between you and yourself, so make sure you’re fulfilling your own needs rather than pushing yourself to the backburner. 

Ask yourself these three questions: Who am I? How do I want to FEEL? What nourishes me? If you’re having difficulty answering them, you can visit our website to schedule one on one personalized time with Melissa to help you figure it out. If you know what nourishes you but are having a hard time fitting it into your schedule, gift yourself with  The Calendar Cleanse as a tool to free up your calendar so you can fill it with your own needs. Do not allow others to define you—define yourself.

Ways to Engage: WHO am I (how do I describe myself, NOT what do I do via titles, roles, etc.) ? How do I want to FEEL? What nourishes me? Spend some time with yourself this week on these 3 questions.

✨ Ready for deeper support? Visit our website to schedule a complimentary 30 minute session or learn more about The Essentials one-on-one empowerment program

Episode 2 - ​Creating Safe Spaces, Self-Care & Women’s Empowerment: Healing, Community & Alignment with Fanny Tristan

By Jessica Garrison

Our friends at Podmatch have helped us make another amazing connection, this time with our guest Fanny Tristan. She is an empathetic, nurturing, dedicated, and sensitive woman, whose work is creating safe spaces for women. 

Like many of us, Fanny was not raised to be in tune with her body, so this was a journey she had to go on herself. She adjusted her lifestyle in a way that makes her feel good in her body, emphasizing the importance of sleep. Sticking to her sleep schedule is nonnegotiable for Fanny, and I’m hoping people realize that sleep is more important than they may think. Without proper sleep, you can’t think clearly or make the most informed decisions for yourself. We were just talking during our book club session for Gasping for Air that sleep can be used as a weapon against a person in an abusive relationship, and it definitely gives a new perspective on the subject. 

Fanny is a very driven woman, and her values show in her work as a therapist. She says that she is here to hold space for people and help them work through their needs. This work aligns with her values, which has benefited her in more ways than one. Doing work that aligns with your why can be a gamechanger for your happiness, causing you to feel more fulfilled from day to day. It simultaneously fills up your own cup while allowing you to pour into others you may be working or interacting with. 

Through these processes, Fanny says that she gradually got to know herself better. She credits her success to cultivating the right community, saying, “community was key.” This is a reason why The Embracing Layers Network is always offering resources and opportunities to hear from women—we want to provide a community for women to feel safe, empowered, and free. When you find the right community for you where you can be your most authentic self, the sky is the limit. With support, trust, and sisterhood, there isn’t anything we can’t accomplish. 

Fanny is that woman, not settling for less than what she deserves and encouraging other women to not settle either. Not only in their relationships, but within themselves. You deserve more than just the bare minimum from anyone. From prioritizing your self care to cultivating healthy relationships through FEEL, our framework and resources, such as Fanny Tristan, are available to help you to create the healthiest life possible for yourself.

Ways to Engage: How do you want to show up in your spaces? Whether it be work, at home, or with friends, what are some words that describe how you want to show up? Focus on your self care and how prioritizing it can help you be the healthiest version of yourself. Remember to keep your cup full so you can pour into others.

✨ Ready for deeper support? Visit our website to schedule a complimentary 30 minute session or learn more about The Essentials one-on-one empowerment program

Episode 1 - ​Accepting the Layered Aspects of Yourself: Self-Worth, Healing & Personal Growth with Melissa Crook

By Jessica Garrison

Welcome to Season 10 of The FEEL Podcast! I cannot believe we’ve reached the double digits for our seasons, yet here we are, back with another empowerment episode with Melissa Crook. This week she is discussing our talking point, Accepting The Layered Aspects of Yourself. Although this talking point comes towards the end of each episode, it’s always one of the best to get started with. When you meet with Melissa one on one or purchase the online course, this is where you’ll begin. We make time for what we value, so it’s crucial that we include ourselves in this list.

We are our own biggest critics, but we don’t tend to hold other people to the standards that we hold ourselves. Melissa reminds us to utilize curiosity over judgment and to be gentle with yourself. You did the best you could with the information and resources you had at that time. Slow down, take a step back, and think of how hard you’re truly being on yourself. Would you be this critical of a friend? Would you respond to a loved one the way you respond to yourself? Accepting the layered aspects of yourself can awaken what else you need or what you could be keeping from yourself. 

Melissa suggests some ways you can get started on your journey if you’re feeling a bit stuck. Ask questions about yourself, like what traits you like about yourself and those you need more help embracing. What have you learned about yourself from certain experiences or character traits? Write the responses down on paper if you’re able, so you can have that cognitive connection between the words you wrote down and how you think about them in relation to your layers. 

There’s no time frame necessarily of when you begin accepting the layered aspects of yourself and when you’re finished. We are always uncovering layers, building on them again, and sometimes we fall off the wagon with our self-worth. Let this be a sign for you to start accepting your layers and treating yourself with the respect you deserve.

✨ Free Download: Embracing a F.E.E.L Fueled Life Sample Freebie
✨ Ready for deeper support? Visit our website to schedule a complimentary 30 minute session or learn more about The Essentials one-on-one empowerment program