The Discovering Your Soul Podcast

Have you ever had the thought in your life of, "If I just change this job, situation, relationship, location, etc, then [insert problem here] will go away?" 

We can all get trapped into thinking that our problems will go away the moment we move to a different location or change our external characteristics in some way. Unfortunately, this doesn't solve our problems because our inner work travels with us wherever we go. We are the common denominator in our life, no matter where we live or what we do for our job.

By doing the shadow work and facing our problems, we can then move beyond the limitations of our past wounds, core beliefs, unhealthy behaviors, and make decisions in our lives that represent the values important to our most authentic selves.

Wherever we go, our inner work and healing journey travels with us.❤️

In this episode, I discuss:

• my own example(s) of how I can tend to "escape" and "run away" from the healing I need to do
• how we can get trapped into the idea that "changing" our external environment can make our problems go away
• how escapism and staying busy is a form of avoiding the healing work that we need to do
• how learning to sit with our challenges and difficult emotions can help us overcome their power over us

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TRIGGER WARNING: contains explicit language and sensitive topics related to trauma.

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TRIGGER WARNING: contains a sensitive topic of abortion.

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"Yoga has actually helped me realize that I would dissociate or intellectualize my feelings, because I didn't want to process it. And that was literally the first step to being vulnerable--you actually have real human feelings that you need to process and that you need to experience. And then it's okay to be in that." - Frances Belleza.

TRIGGER WARNING: contains explicit language and heavier themes regarding mental health.

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"Sometimes things have to fall apart in order to be rebuilt into something stronger." - Nina Lotus.

Hi there, friend, and Happy Pisces season! It's been a bit since I've recorded a solo episode and I wanted to update you on what has been going on in my life. In the last month or so, I've entered into what many may call "A Dark Night of the Soul" or a "spiritual crisis/emergency". It has felt like a journey into my inner darkness where my shadows, wounded Inner Child, and deepest fears live. I've never had to face my fears head-on like I have been pushed into doing right now. While it has been incredibly uncomfortable, challenging, and downright f****** terrifying at times, I feel like I am not the same person I was before (and in a good way). 

Topics include:

• what a Dark Night of the Soul can feel like and how this is an incredibly transformative experience to have on your spiritual journey
• the importance of enDARKenment (in addition to enLIGHTenment) as a way of meeting your soul in a deep and vulnerable way
• how I have had to develop stronger self-trust to stay grounded during this turbulent time in addition to cultivating deeper trust with the Universe/my Higher Power
• my recent study of Joseph Campbell and "the hero/heroine's journey" and how this has brought me so much comfort & validation that what I am experiencing is a necessary part of my evolution

...and more. There is a lot packed in this episode! I go into what lessons I have learned and what I feel like this means for my life moving forward.

If you are also experiencing something similar in your own life right now, I want to remind you that you are not alone. This pain and this suffering that you are experiencing right now will not last forever. You are not crazy. You will be okay. Everything is aligning for your betterment. You are not alone in this.

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

Welcome to The Discovering Your Soul Podcast with me, Nina! I'm here to remind you that you are not alone in your healing and self-discovery journey.  There is light in even the darkest seasons of life and by sharing our stories and listening to the stories of others, we collectively heal our planet and one another. Thank you for being here, my friend, and for including me in your journey of discovering your soul.

Themes: Dating, Relationships, Romance, Attachment, Core Values, Healing, Inner Work, Self-Awareness, Self-Discovery

In this episode, I am joined by Emyli Lovz, the Head Coach and Co-Founder of EmLovz, a coaching program for men that helps them find a loving, healthy, and happy relationship that lasts. In this conversation, Emyli and I go into the importance of building relational self-awareness while dating and how valuable it is to become aware of what attachment style you may have developed from childhood. *It's important to note that attachment styles are fluid and dynamic as we move through life!* Emyli shares the method that helped her personally heal her avoidant attachment style and shares with listeners how to identify when you meet potential partners for a healthy long-term relationship. Emyli and I then talk about what our attraction to either a a 'slow burner vs firecracker' can tell us about any unresolved healing we may need to do. I enjoyed this conversation with Emyli and hope you will too!

This episode invites you to explore the following questions:

• Am I aware of any relational patterns or habits that get in my way of finding or keeping the kind of relationship I want?
• What is my attachment style in platonic friendships, romantic relationships, and family connections?
• Am I in partnership with the type of person that embodies the core values that are most important to me?
• If I am single, do I know what my core values are?
• If I am single and/or dating, do I focus more on physical attributes or am I paying attention how I feel around someone?

You can connect to Emyli by going to her:

Themes: Spirituality, Healing, Values, Science, Empathy, Collective, Community, Trauma, Individualism, Pandemic, Self-Compassion, Reflection, Self-Discovery

In this solo episode, I am processing (literally on the spot with you) how my spiritual path has evolved over the years. As someone that lives at the intersection between spirituality and science, I reflect on how both of these worlds are, at the end of the day, about a sense of community, protecting others, and working together to help heal the planet. I reflect on when I needed to focus the most on my individual healing on my spiritual journey and when I felt I wanted to share my energy to help others in the world (like I feel in this current moment). I ask listeners to reflect on what values are most important to them on their spiritual journeys and to explore where their values are most embodied and in which areas their values could be incorporated more. I think it's a wonderful time, with the end of 2022 approaching, to practice self-compassion as we reflect on what energy and what values we want to bring into 2023. Thank you for listening and I hope you enjoy the episode!

This episode invites you to explore the following questions:

• What does my spiritual path look like right now? How has it evolved over time?
• What values are important to me in my life and in what areas in life could I embody them more?
• Am I in a phase in my healing journey where I could extend my healing energy to help others?
• Am I in a phase in my healing journey where I need to shift the focus to my own needs and growth?
• What values are coming with me into 2023 and what energy needs to be left behind?

Themes: Control, Surrender, Trust, Trauma, Self-Compassion, Self-Love, Perfectionism, Inner Child, Safety, Healing, Reflection, Self-Discovery

In this solo episode, I invite you to explore your relationship with control. I share my own experience of how hard it is, especially as a trauma survivor, to let go of the idea that there is much I can control in life. I share with you a few days that we can explore this inner narrative of control and how we can start to transform control into surrender and trust in the Universe (or whomever/whatever you believe in). It is very human of us to want to have predictability and certainty in our lives, but there can also be a lot of freedom and liberation in accepting that there isn't much that we can control. I hope you enjoy this episode!

This episode invites you to explore the following questions:

• Do I try to control everyone and everything in my life? If so, why may that be?
• What areas in my life do I have the hardest time letting go of control in?
• What feelings come up for me when I experience uncertainty in life?
• Are there examples in my life when uncertainty brought beautiful experiences, people, and lessons??
• What is something I can do today to let go of control and surrender into trust??

Themes: Self-Compassion, Cycles, Art, Creativity, Painting, Messiness, Healing, Inner Work, Self-Discovery, Self-Love, Surrender, Grief

In this episode, I am joined by Nora van den Berg  (@nora_vandenberg), an artist, mama of two boys, and an explorer in the magic and mystical of life. Her work and life are deeply rooted in celebrating the mystery of our soul's evolution by expressing it through the touch of a paintbrush. In this conversation, we go into how, even in the darkest and messiest phases in life, we can choose to walk along the path of our heart and soul. We then geek out together on how, for those of us who bleed monthly, our sacred moon cycles help us honor the seasons of our days, months, and years. Nora then goes into how art, somatics, & creativity has helped her personally move through grief & difficulties in her life. She shares how it is important for us during these tough times to connect to what is happening INSIDE our bodies instead of attaching to the stories that appear in our minds. We finish off the conversation by exploring how we can move with the currents & flow of life and use practices like painting to express what is happening in our inner worlds & help us connect to the magic that's already within all of us. We hope you enjoy this episode as much as we enjoyed recording it!! 

This episode invites you to explore the following questions:

• Do I allow myself to accept the messy & gritty parts of my life? If not, what stories come up for me when life becomes messy?
• How can I compassionately move through and honor the cycles and seasons of my life?
• What is one thing I can do today to connect to my heart & body more?
• Do I flow with the ups and downs of my life or do I find myself mostly resisting and trying to control it? How could I surrender to the flow of life more?
• How can I incorporate more creativity in my life today as a way to be present with what is?

References In The Episode:

Themes: Self-Compassion, Self-Love, Trauma, Inner Child, Safety, Healing, Reflection, Self-Discovery, Intention, Boundaries, Mindfulness, Media

In this solo episode, I share my thoughts on how we could all reflect a little more on WHAT and WHO we are allowing into our lives. With Halloween season approaching, I share my own story of how I recently crossed my own boundaries by consuming too much negative and scary content that ended up activating my nervous system in unhealthy ways. I explore how we can tune into our own bodies and notice when we are crossing our own boundaries. I finish the episode by extending this concept into reflecting on who we allow into our lives and how others can affect our nervous system and influence our mindset. I hope you enjoy this episode and are honoring your Inner Child, body, mind, and soul!

This episode invites you to explore the following questions:

• What am I allowing into my life? Is it reflective of how I want to feel?
• Am I aware of when I cross my own boundaries?
• Who am I allowing into my life? Are they reflective of the values I aspire to embody?
• Where am I feeling imbalanced in life and what is one thing I could do today to restore some balance?
• Am I nurturing my Inner Child with compassion, love, and safety with who and what I allow in?

Themes: Trauma, Self-Compassion, Inner Child, Safety, Healing, Inner Work, Self-Discovery, Creativity, Art, Slowing Down, Rest

In this episode, I am joined by Hope Carpenter (@hopehealingarts), a multi-disciplinary healing arts practitioner, mentor, writer, and survivor-turned-advocate who has been working in the fields of wellness, spirituality, and intuitive healing for over 12 years. In this conversation, we go into how self-compassion is such an important and sacred part of the journey in healing from trauma. We discuss how telling someone to "get out of their comfort zone" may be more harmful than helpful to a trauma survivor that needs to create and embody more safety. Hope then shares with us how they allow for their Inner Child's joy and creativity to be channeled through setting aside intentional time for stillness, movement, and space. I enjoyed this conversation with Hope and hope you will too!

This episode invites you to explore the following questions:

• How can I practice more self-compassion towards myself and my Inner Child?
• How can I make time to slow down every day and just listen to what arises within?
• What does safety look and feel like for me? 
• How can I cultivate more safety within and around me while on my healing journey?
• What can I do today to connect more to my Inner Child and tap into my innate sense of joy, wonder, and creativity?

You can connect to Hope by going to their:

Themes: Trauma, Trauma-Informed, Mental Health, Yoga, Somatics, Healing, Inner Work, Self-Discovery, Slowing Down

In this episode, I am joined by Emma Stern, a mental health professional and movement teacher. In this conversation, we go into how uncomfortable change can be and how we can make the most of the "in-between" by slowing down and enjoying life. Emma shares with us what it means to be trauma-informed and how we can get more in touch with our bodies. We then conclude the conversation with discussing how we can all take more steps to create a more trauma-informed world and how, in order to move through discomfort, we need to feel what comes up--there's a reason why we hear the saying, 'You need to feel it to heal it'! 

This episode invites you to explore the following questions:

• How do I respond to major changes in life? What can I do while in the "waiting room"?
• How can I make time to slow down every day?
• How can I connect more with my body and feelings on a daily basis?
• What can I do today to contribute to a more trauma-informed world?

You can connect to Emma by going to her:

Themes: Trauma, Healing, Inner Child, Creativity, Play, Self-Awareness, Meditation, Self-Discovery

In this solo episode, I introduce WHO our Inner Child is and WHAT they represent for us: the creative, intuitive, joyful, wondrous, and adventurous part of our whole selves. When we get wounded in childhood as the result of trauma or other challenging experiences, our Inner Child may close off and stay stuck at the age at which we experienced wounding. This can involve many ages, like it does for myself! By developing and connecting to our Inner Child, we can develop a sense of self-trust and, as a result, ENJOY life and have FUN! Meeting my Inner Child and being on a journey of healing my wounded Inner Child has completely changed my life. It has been one of the most powerful practices in my healing journey from trauma to date. I hope you enjoy listening to this episode & are inspired to love, nurture, and play with your own Inner Child.

In this episode, I discuss:

• who your Inner Child is and signs that you may be carrying a wounded Inner Child
• different ways you can meet your Inner Child & start building a relationship with them
• how you can communicate to your Inner Child through journaling & start to play with your Inner Child
• A BONUS GUIDED MEDITATION at the end of the episode to meet your Inner Child

Recommended Books For Inner Child Healing

Themes: Storytelling, Creativity, Words, Connection, Spirituality, Healing, Inner Work, Self-Discovery, Self-Acceptance, Personal Storytelling

Themes: Art, Creativity, Busyness, Slowing Down, Trauma, Grief, Spirituality, Healing, Self-Discovery, Self-Acceptance

Themes: Trauma, Healing, Somatic Therapy, Mind-Body, Self-Awareness, Talk Therapy, Yoga, Meditation, Self-Discovery

In this solo episode, I go into my own journey of being in talk therapy and how I knew it wasn't helping me heal where most of my trauma was stored: in my body. Somatic therapy is a type of therapeutic practice that focuses on your body and helps to reconnect your mind and body together--this is very helpful for trauma survivors, those who have PTSD, and/or anyone who is disconnected from their body. Somatic therapy has completely changed my life and has helped me develop a more compassionate and loving relationship with my body. If we take the time to explore what stories, thoughts, sensations, and emotions are stored in our body & nervous system, we can learn to rewire our programming and liberate ourselves from what is holding us back from living our most vibrant & authentic lives. I hope you enjoy listening to this episode & are inspired to love your body even just a little more after listening to it.

In this episode, I discuss:

• when I realized in my own life that talk therapy wasn't enough for me in my healing journey
• how somatic therapy is a beautiful complement to talk therapy for many people who have experienced trauma
• what my journey of somatic therapy looked like & how it helped me connect more to my body
• different & accessible ways (that don't require a somatic therapist!) you can practice connecting to your body

Recommended Books For Somatic Healing/Trauma

Themes: Trauma, Addiction, Sobriety, EFT, Spirituality, Somatic Healing, Self-Healing, Self-Love, Self-Discovery

Themes: Aging, Acceptance, Surrender, Yin Yoga, Meditation, Spirituality, Taoism, Self-Discovery, Trust

Themes: Meditation, Spirituality, Self-Discovery, Synchronicity, Trust, Surrender

Themes: Relationships, Self-Awareness, Healing, Inner Work, Shadow Work, Self-Discovery

Relationships can serve as our greatest, mirrors, teachers, and, ultimately, our greatest containers for healing, discovery, and awareness. I go into examples in my own life where certain relationships have served as mirrors to help serve as catalysts for my growth. Not only can relationships help you become aware of your shadow side, but they can also help inspire you to embody the qualities and values that you seek in others.

In this episode, I discuss:

• how relationships of all kinds serve as our mirrors
• a family example of how I learned more about my shadow side
• a romantic example of how I learned about how I connect relationally
• how we can embody the values that which we seek from others