Mindfulness Mode

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Increase your calm, focus and happiness so you can be more relaxed, contented and satisfied with your life. For business, entrepreneurs, educators, parents. Hosted by Bruce Langford.

Episodes

Thursday Jun 01, 2023

Psychedelics to Heal Trauma; Shannon Duncan

Thursday Jun 01, 2023

Shannon Duncan is an entrepreneur and author known for his book, Present Moment Awareness. In his newest work, Coming Full Circle, Shannon candidly shares the lessons he learned during his own extensive journey of using psychedelics to heal trauma. With a heartfelt desire to support others in their healing process, Shannon hopes that his experiences will provide valuable guidance to those in need. Along his path, Shannon has discovered the importance of embracing his authentic self, particularly his sense of humor, which has been a source of great reward in his own healing journey. Additionally, Shannon has developed “The Focus Tool,” a mobile app that complements his book and is available for both Apple and Android users.

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Most Influential Person

My Therapist, Taffy

Effect on Emotions

Shannon Duncan expressed his insight about emotions as follows: “Through my experience with mindfulness and working with my therapist, Taffy, I gained a valuable lesson in pulling myself back and simply observing my emotions. Previously, my emotions had solely defined me, as if whatever I was feeling represented an absolute truth. I hadn't considered that these emotions might arise from deeper insecurities, sadness, or a lack of feeling safe.
However, through the practice of mindfulness, self-awareness, and self-honesty, I have been able to expand my inner world. I now understand that I can contain and observe my emotions without identifying myself solely with them. I have come to realize that I am not defined by my emotions alone.”

Thoughts on Breathing

Shannon Duncan emphasizes the significance of breathing, which plays a pivotal role in mindfulness. He stresses that the way we breathe is a direct reflection of our internal state. If our breath is shallow and confined to the chest, it indicates a heightened sense of panic or being in a primal, reactive state.
To counter this, it is essential to cultivate abdominal breathing, where the breath originates from the belly. This intentional practice helps to calm the body and mind, allowing a sense of stability to emerge.
In Shannon's personal experiences, both in psychedelic journeys and overwhelming emotional moments, conscious breathing has served as a lifeline. When faced with intense emotions that could easily lead to panic, Shannon's guide has consistently reminded him to focus on deep belly breaths. This simple act has the power to settle everything, making the overwhelming emotions more bearable and facilitating their release.

Suggested Resources

Bullying Story

Shannon Duncan shared a poignant story with me that delves into his personal encounter with bullying and its profound connection to the practice of mindfulness. In this moving account, Shannon reveals he once endured the painful experience of being bullied, which left enduring emotional imprints. However, it was through the transformative power of mindfulness that he discovered solace and inner strength. By cultivating a state of present moment awareness, Shannon was able to observe his thoughts and emotions without judgment, allowing him to respond to the bullying with compassion and unwavering resilience. This profound journey illuminated the remarkable capacity of mindfulness in navigating challenging situations, empowering Shannon to transcend the pain and embrace their authentic self. Through the practice of mindfulness, Shannon found the ability to rise above adversity, cultivating a deep sense of self-acceptance and fostering a compassionate perspective. His story serves as a testament to the transformative potential of mindfulness, offering hope and inspiration to others facing similar struggles.

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Psychedelics To Heal Trauma

As time goes by, an increasing body of credible studies and research groups continue to unveil the profound therapeutic possibilities offered by psychedelics in treating conditions such as anxiety, depression, addiction, and PTSD. However, alongside the growing excitement, there is also a surge of perilous misinformation propagated by individuals seeking personal gain and self-proclaimed authorities. Shannon Duncan stands as a staunch advocate and protector for those who embark on the path of emotional healing through psychedelic substances. Having experienced the journey firsthand, Shannon understands the immense courage, unwavering determination, and profound vulnerability it takes to pursue this specialized approach to healing deep emotional wounds and trauma.

Special Offer

Are you experiencing anxiety & stress? Peace is within your grasp. I’m Bruce Langford, a practicing coach, and hypnotist helping fast-track people just like you to shed their inner bully and move forward with confidence. Book a Free Coaching Session to get you on the road to a more satisfying life, feeling grounded and focused. Send me an email at bruce@mindfulnessmode.com with ‘Coaching Session' in the subject line. We'll set up a zoom call and talk about how you can move forward to a better life.

Monday May 29, 2023

Get A Fresh Look At Mindful Marketing; Roy Furr

Monday May 29, 2023

Roy Furr is a professional marketer, serving as the Chief Marketing Officer and Copy Chief for direct response companies. With his expertise, he assists clients in obtaining a higher number of leads, customers, sales, and profits. Roy's exceptional skills can be attributed to his lifelong dedication to studying psychology and maintaining a consistent meditation practice.

In 2005, while enduring a taxing customer service call center job, Roy stumbled upon the realm of direct response marketing. Within a short period, he rose to become the leading marketing specialist at an IT Training publisher, propelling them to secure a spot on Inc. Magazine's prestigious list of America's fastest-growing businesses not just once, but three times.

Throughout his life, Roy has been driven by a quest for significance, delving into literature and psychology to gain a deeper understanding. This pursuit led him to the enlightening field of Transpersonal Psychology and the profound wisdom traditions found across the globe.
A life-altering event on Christmas Eve in 2001 truly set Roy on his transformative journey. Surviving a car accident that had the potential to claim his life, he embarked on a profound search for meaning. Through his relentless exploration of literature and psychology, he uncovered the profound insights of Transpersonal Psychology and the transformative power of meditative and wisdom traditions.

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Most Influential Person

Monty Page (Psychology Professor at University of Nebraska, Lincoln, who discovered Transpersonal Psychology)

Effect on Emotions

Roy Furr discusses the impact of mindfulness on his emotions, specifically mentioning Tara Brock's rain process. This process involves recognizing the emotion, allowing it to be present, and understanding its message. It also involves nurturing oneself while experiencing the emotion.
Roy acknowledges the power of this process, understanding that emotions are a natural part of life. He notes that emotions serve as a means of communication between our body and subconscious mind, as they lack a verbal language.
He highlights an example of experiencing emotions related to a physical threat the previous night. Roy emphasizes the importance of recognizing these emotions without becoming consumed by them. He acknowledges that he is not defined by these emotions but rather is experiencing them. He stresses the significance of accepting their presence, listening to their message, and taking care of oneself accordingly.

Thoughts on Breathing

Roy Furr acknowledges the significance of conscious breathing but also highlights some challenges associated with it. He finds that when he becomes too aware of his breath or breathes deeply, he experiences a sense of oversaturation with oxygen, which doesn't feel beneficial to him.
Instead, Roy prefers practicing mindful breathing, focusing on being present and spending slightly more time exhaling than inhaling. He mentions various breathing techniques he has explored, including box breathing (in for four, hold for four, out for eight) and the Wim Hof method. While he doesn't consider himself an avid practitioner of the Wim Hof method, he recognizes its potential effectiveness.
Roy values the ability to self-regulate through the breath, recognizing that inhaling activates and exhaling relaxes the body. By managing the breath, one can influence the nervous system. He highlights the importance of adjusting the length of the exhale and inhale to achieve desired states of relaxation or activation.
In summary, Roy Furr emphasizes the benefits of mindful breathing, preferring a balanced approach that suits his own experience and needs. He sees breathing as a means to regulate the body and influence the nervous system, allowing for increased self-awareness and control.

Suggested Resources

Bullying Story

Roy Furr shares an incident at the local fencing club where he made eye contact with a guy who became confrontational. Despite feeling activated, Roy used his mindfulness practice to remain calm and extract himself from the situation.
He recognized that the guy's behavior might have had nothing to do with him and could be attributed to personal issues or trauma.
Roy reflects on the importance of understanding others' struggles and not taking their actions personally.
He relates this perspective to his conversations with his children, advising them to show kindness while setting boundaries and recognizing that people's behavior often stems from their own challenges.

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A Fresh Look At Mindful Marketing

Roy Furr advises that mindfulness is a practice rather than a quest for perfection or attaining enlightened states. He compares it to other practices like weightlifting or strength training.
The goal is to develop an automatic response of awareness even in challenging moments.
By intentionally practicing awareness, the brain forms connections and patterns, making mindfulness a natural way of being. Ultimately, Roy emphasizes that mindfulness is about consistently practicing mindfulness itself.

Special Offer

Are you experiencing anxiety & stress? I’m Bruce Langford, a coach, and hypnotist helping fast-track people just like you to shed their inner bully and move forward with confidence. Book a Free Coaching Session to help you get to a more satisfying life, feeling grounded and focused. Send me an email at bruce@mindfulnessmode.com with ‘Now is the time' in the subject line. We'll set up a call and talk to see if this is the right time for you to get unstuck.

Thursday May 25, 2023

Wisdom On The Camino; Kathleen Donnelly Israel

Thursday May 25, 2023

Kathleen Donnelly Israel is an author who draws upon her extensive studies in spirituality and personal experiences to captivate readers. Wisdom On The Camino is the title of her first book. Born in 1949 in San Diego, CA, Kathleen has dedicated her life to exploring profound spiritual understanding. Alongside her husband Ron Israel, Kathleen raised their five children in Lakeside, San Diego County, CA, while actively serving as a Team Couple for Worldwide Marriage Encounter in the 70s and 80s. With a Bachelor's Degree in Art from San Diego State University, she furthered her knowledge in Expressive Arts Therapy at the European Graduate School in Switzerland. A certified Transformational Breathing Facilitator and Theta Healer, Kathleen's lifelong passion for walking, hiking, and running complements her spiritual journey. Her debut book explores the enchanting realities and spiritual wisdom encountered on her transformative pilgrimage along the Camino Santiago de Compostela, sharing her unique insights with fellow pilgrims.

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Most Influential Person

John Lennon and other singers from the 1960s and 1970s

Effect on Emotions

Kathleen Israel shares her experience of dealing with anxiety by recognizing the importance of proper breathing. She explains that anxiety often arises due to insufficient oxygen reaching the brain. By focusing on deep belly breathing and ensuring her brain receives enough oxygen, she finds relief from fear and anxiety.

Thoughts on Breathing

Proper breathing plays a crucial role in managing emotions, as Kathleen Israel explains. When experiencing anxiety, she noticed that shallow breathing deprived her brain of oxygen, intensifying fear. By consciously focusing on deep, belly breathing and inhaling for a count of eight and exhaling for the same duration, she effectively replenishes oxygen levels in her brain, alleviating anxiety and restoring a sense of calm.

Suggested Resources

Bullying Story

Kathleen Israel shared a story about her son's experience with bullying. Her son, Peter, was often targeted and made to feel miserable by his classmates. One incident involved a group of altar boys who tricked Peter into thinking he was needed for an important role, only to mock him later. Despite such mistreatment, Kathleen encouraged Peter to pray for those who bullied him. Over time, the situation changed. Kathleen confronted the ringleader, Mike, who subsequently started treating Peter with kindness. As Peter grew older, his friends stood by him and included him in their activities. Kathleen believes that responding to bullies with prayer and unconditional love can help alleviate their pain and transform relationships. She emphasizes that unconditional love is a powerful force in the face of adversity.

Wisdom On The Camino

Kathleen Israel's life experience has endowed her with valuable wisdom. She shares insights on the importance of conscious breathing, recognizing the impact of oxygen on the brain and its role in managing anxiety. Her journey emphasizes self-care and the transformative power of mindfulness.

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Monday May 22, 2023

Psychological Impacts of Sports Injury; Dr. Keagen Hadley

Monday May 22, 2023

Keagen Hadley is a Doctor of Occupational Therapy, a psychiatric and neurological clinical researcher, and an Amazon Bestselling author who specializes in using psychological treatments such as acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) with clients. He is an expert at helping people deal with the psychological impacts of sports Injury. He has a deep understanding of the interventions and knows how emotional distress can interfere with rehabilitation, daily activities, and overall quality of life. As an athlete, he tore both ACLs playing college and semi-professional football. This experience made him acutely aware of the struggles associated with ACL injuries and the various issues that can arise psychologically due to this condition.

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Website: www.KeagenHadley.com
Book: Torn: Overcoming the Psychological Challenges Post-ACL Injury by Keagen Hadley
Blog: Keagen's Blog

Most Influential Person

Dr. John Delony

Effect on Emotions

Mindfulness has changed how I deal with my emotions. Now I actually sit with them and focus on them. Mindfulness almost minimizes them. It is the same thing I do if I feel a panic attack or heavy anxiety coming on.
I found it [mindfulness] almost minimizes the strength or the power that my emotions or anxiety have over me. Dealing differently with my emotions has helped me with the psychological impacts of sports Injury.

Thoughts on Breathing

One practice that I got into as I was getting out of those difficult situations is my therapist had me take a cold shower. It's not for the reasons you might think; there's a plethora of benefits of cold showers, but actually it's very uncomfortable. But you still have to be able to practice your breathing during that experience. [Cold showers create a situation where you begin deep breathing].
I found it was [deep breathing] a very good way to prepare myself pre-game. Some people get rather anxious prior to games. Personally, I'm a very superstitious person. So before my first start I actually threw up. So then every subsequent start I had to throw up. So a lot of athletes are very much like that. So I would say that gets you in the same type of hostile environment to where you still have to really focus on your breathing, even though it's extremely uncomfortable.

Suggested Resources

Book: Rebound: Train Your Mind To Bounce Back Stronger From Sports Injuries by Carrie Jackson Cheadle and Cindy Kuzma
Book: Torn: Overcoming the Psychological Challenges Post-ACL Injury by Keagen Hadley
App: Write Daily – I tend to focus on writing for my mindfulness, actually. So I use Write Early for its daily prompts.

Bullying Story

There are lots of forms of bullying. I work with a very specific kind of torment, whether you want to call it bullying or not. So these injuries, whether it be an Achilles tear, a Tommy John injury or an overhead throwing injury, or ACL injuries, as I said, they're very long recovery periods. (Note: Tommy Johns Surgery is typically used for UCL tears that happened due to overuse rather than a single traumatic event)
And for most of that recovery period, they look fine. They're not walking around with a cast. It's internal healing.

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Thursday May 18, 2023

Experience Ecstatic Brain Orgasm; Stephen James

Thursday May 18, 2023

Stephen James is founder of Raw Attraction Magazine, the Heart Initiation Academy, and The Steve Experience. He tells about his journey towards healing his heart and aligning with his divine plan. This conversation covers topics such as the definition of mindfulness, the role of God in his life, and his experiences with psychedelics and trauma healing. Steve emphasizes the importance of being mindful of the connection to one's higher self, heart, soul, and God, and shares his experiences with body-based and somatic-based practices, stand-up comedy, and sacred sexuality. He also recommends book and music resources for mindfulness.

[show-notes-bio]

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Contact Info

Website: www.Heartinitiationacademy.com
Podcast: The Steve Experience Podcast
Book: My Ecstatic Rebirth: The 10 Keys To Unleash Your Power, Purpose, & Pleasure by Stephen James

[show-notes-contact]

What is Mindfulness?

[00:00:57] Steve James defines mindfulness as an integrated version of oneself, cultivating a deep embodied present awareness of what is going on in the body and reality, and being mindful of the connection to the higher self, heart, soul, and God.

Aligning with Divine Plan

[00:03:24] Steve James talks about how he discovered the concept of divine plan and divine self when he was around 28-29 years old, after experiencing consecutive heartbreaks and going down a broken path. He also shares how God plays a role in his divine plan.

Healing Trauma

[00:09:42] Steve James talks about how he felt the need to heal the trauma trapped inside his body, which he learned from Dr. Peter Levine's book, "Waking the Tiger". He also shares how he worked through his traumas and hasn't had any experience with substances since 2018.

Healing Journey

[00:10:45] Steve James talks about his journey towards healing his psychological and nervous system through body-based and somatic-based practices.

True Divine Self

[00:11:43] Steve James explains the concept of the True Divine Self, which involves healing the inner child, inner masculine, and inner feminine, and how it can help navigate gender issues and achieve balance.

Living in Prague

[00:17:20] Steve James shares his reasons for moving to Prague, including financial and personal reasons, and how he finds the city to be architecturally and culturally balanced.

Standup Comedy

[00:20:53] Steve James talks about his experience with standup comedy, the nerves that come with it, and his style of comedy.

Ecstatic Rebirth

[00:24:09] Steve James discusses his ongoing journey towards his ecstatic rebirth, which involves sacred sexuality, shamanism, and letting go of wounds.

Bullying and Mindfulness

[00:29:15] Steve James shares his childhood experience of being bullied and how mindfulness could have made a difference. He also talks about a collective bullying situation.

Justice and Truth

[00:30:12 - 00:34:03] Steve James talks about the importance of justice and truth from a mindful perspective, including the need to speak out against abuse and bullying, and to push for healing and justice on a societal level.

Influence and Emotions

[00:34:18 - 00:35:25] Steve James discusses the influence of his father on his mindfulness journey, and how mindfulness helps him deal with his emotions by navigating the map of consciousness and getting to neutral.

Extreme Mindfulness

[00:36:41 - 00:39:54] Steve James recommends two books related to mindfulness: "Man's Search for Meaning" by Victor Frankl and "The Gospel of Thomas," and suggests using music apps to help with mindfulness and creativity. He also emphasizes the importance of self-care, self-love, and compassion during the current "great awakening" and chaotic times.

[show-notes-influence]

Effect on Emotions

(00:34:43) - Well, when you have the mindful structure that we mentioned about the map of consciousness, and you're aware of that map of consciousness, right? Then you can navigate your emotions much easier because you are going to get to neutral and then love more quickly because you know where they are. And the scary, like, okay, I'm angry now and let's get to neutral as quickly as possible so I can at least look at the circumstance in a different way. Um, and it's fine to be angry even if we're the most enlightened being in the, the universe. I mean, Christ was still angry at the money changes and everything else that was going on on this planet. You, you still can be angry, but get to neutral and then make a decision.

[show-notes-emotions]

Thoughts on Breathing

(00:35:37) - Regarding breathing, I will mention the neurologist, Andrew Huberman. He was talking about it on a video, and this double breath in with the nose and then out. with the mouth when you are slightly stressed. He talks about it from a neurological perspective, but, it essentially decreases the stress in whatever situations. You are having a heated conversation with someone, and you want to calm down a little bit. They don't even particularly know you're doing it, or maybe they do notice, but it doesn't really matter. It deregulates your system and makes you calm, and calms the nervous system.

[show-notes-breathing]

Suggested Resources

Book: Man's Search For Meaning by Victor Frankl
Book: Bible - The Gospel of Thomas
App: Spotify / Youtube

[show-notes-resources]

Bullying Story

(00:29:15) - Well, I was thinking about this question cause you put it on the email before and it depends which situation. I'll probably give you two situations. One from my childhood and then one collective one. Uh, so the childhood, my, I think every kid at my school was bullied in, in some sense by just looking back, it seemed like even the big guys, which I was sort of probably a middle rung, had my humor. People kind of liked me quite, uh, most people were like me cuz of my humor and, and, um, my sporting abilities. But there were still a group who were so-called friends who decided to write a book of hate about me and got everyone to sign it, which was my whipping against the wall as most other, some of my other guys were thrown into trash cans and got, and like, you know, had worse dealings than me.

Words of Wisdom

(00:39:54) - Well, as we step deeper into this, I think we're, as collectively going through a great awakening at the moment in, in 2023, and this is a great thing that Bruce is doing, is this a mindfulness podcast that because we, we need to take more self-care, we need to take more self-loving actions to us as we go through this great awakening. As things unfold, the truth unfolds more and more. We have to become more self-loving and, uh, compassionate to our fellow humans. So every moment that we spend taking care of ourselves means that we are overflowing our cup to, uh, fill others. So I think that's, uh, probably the most mindful way I could end this, because there, I think I see more chaos coming on the horizon and, uh, it's gonna be a time to, uh, navigate your ship, uh, to the, the shores of calm waters, um, and calm land, uh, via self-awareness, self-love, self-responsibility, and mindfulness.

Related Episodes

Check out this related episode ...
Grasping The Emotion of Trauma; David Richmond
Move On Using Faith and Healing; David McClam
Improve Your Sex Life With Meditation; Dr. Cheryl Fraser

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Monday May 15, 2023

Boundaries For Healthy Realtionships; Stephanie Jordan

Monday May 15, 2023

Stephanie Jordan is an author, teacher, and speaker whose focus is on boundaries for healthy relationships. She has recently published a book entitled, Believing In Boundaries, where she explains with real-life examples how boundaries can be used to improve your life. In this biblically-based book, Stephanie helps you understand and establish boundaries so you can have healthier relationship experiences. In addition to her passion for reading, writing and painting, Stephanie has also been an enthusiastic cosmetologist for 24 years.

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Contact Info

Website: www.TheStephanieJordan.com

Most Influential Person

My mentor, Betsy

Effect on Emotions

Anger is my favorite emotion. I tend to lean toward anger first. Mindfulness has made me much more aware that anger can be a great propeller. I feel anger has the most power behind it to create movement.
However, anger can also dissolve quickly. I think there has to be a balance between how you handle your anger. So being very aware of my anger getting ahead of me and harming relationships has been very important. Setting good boundaries for healthy relationships can help balance your emotions.

Thoughts on Breathing

I'm learning more and more about deep breath. I'm currently in the process of writing about my widowhood journey.
When my husband died, I couldn't breathe for months. I didn't feel I could get a deep breath. At this point, I appreciate being able to breathe in a deep breath that I can feel inside.

Suggested Resources

Book: The Bible
Book: Feelings Buried Alive Never Die by Karol Trueman
Book: Believing in Boundaries by Stephanie Jordan
Book: A Dose of Reality by Stephanie Jordan
App: Spotify

Bullying Story

One of my twins was picking on my daughter. And he had already stepped on her in the hallway and she had cried to us. A little bit later that night, there was a scuffle again between the boys. And my, my son had hurt the twin. And I was like, What is going on? And he said, Well, he hurt her again.
And so I foolishly thought that mine and my husband's relationship was solid enough that we could discuss this, like mature adults. And it all went very poorly. And so I went out to the shop that we have in our backyard.
And he was like, I'm gonna do the same thing to him. And I was like, Oh, the heck you are? And so we get into it. And so we both come inside and he takes his son off and I take my son off and I tell my son, you did exactly what I would expect you to do, which is to protect your sister. Protecting Your sister is always important.

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Special Offer

Are you experiencing anxiety & stress? Peace is within your grasp. I’m Bruce Langford, a practicing coach, and hypnotist helping fast-track people just like you to shed their inner bully and move forward with confidence. Book a Free Coaching Session to get you on the road to a more satisfying life, feeling grounded and focused. Send me an email at bruce@mindfulnessmode.com with ‘Coaching Session' in the subject line. We'll set up a call and talk about how you can move forward to a better life

Thursday May 11, 2023

Premier Performance Lifestyle; Aaron Hines

Thursday May 11, 2023

Aaron Hines is a husband, father, author, and entrepreneur. Aaron lives west of Nashville TN in the small town of Bellevue with his wife Amanda and two sons, Lincoln and Stetson. He played all 4 years of High School football and spent two years in College playing an offensive and defensive line at Lambuth University. He graduated from the University of Tennessee at Martin with an undergraduate degree in Health and Human Performance and also has an M.S. in Exercise Physiology from Florida State University.

Aaron owns and operates a fitness facility in Franklin TN, where he helps change the lives of those individuals 45+ who want to lose weight, move pain-free, and do things they didn’t think were possible.

He also spends a lot of time and energy helping young athletes reach their full potential by teaching them the fundamentals of being a great person and athlete on and off the field. He has worked with professional athletes and retired professional athletes over the years. His vast experience interning at Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Volunteering at the Vanderbilt Dayani Center, and working in the corporate setting has molded him into the person he is today.

He was voted one of the Top Personal Trainers in all of Nashville in 2020 and was featured in the Franklin Lifestyle Magazine in 2019. He can be reached at Premierperformancetrainer.com, 615-819-5186, or ahines@premierperformancetrainer.com

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Most Influential Person

His Dad.

Effect on Emotions

I guess ways to kind of re-evaluate mindfulness or just try meditation or whatever I tend to choose on a daily basis. I think if I didn't have those things, I would be probably all over the place; I get pretty hot-headed.
I don't lose my cool very frequently, but if it builds up over time, it's like a pot boiling over. It's good to be more mindful and grateful for the things that I have.

Thoughts on Breathing

I wish I did it more. That's my thought. I gotta control my breathing, I get anxious about a lot of things. And so I found that closing my eyes and counting 15 to 20 is super helpful. It kind of releases those things that get me bent out of shape.
But doing a little bit more (breathing) is probably more beneficial for me. I kind of come in contact with other people's issues on a daily basis, I'm dealing with whether it's coming from a political background or religious background. You see different people and different ethnicities every day, coming to the gym.

Suggested Resources

Bullying Story

I will say that I am semi-bullied. We lived on an Indian reservation for five years. And we were kind of the minority there. So it's very, very few Caucasian people. With that, I guess if I were smarter, a little bit brighter, I was young I was in middle school so it was more of a kind of ticked-off moment.
If I would have been able to take that in and write things down that were agitating, or maybe annoying about the situation. I was kind of an overweight, middle school kid and this guy was twice my size.
So I think if I would have been in the moment and known about it more, I think yes, it would have been helpful. It probably would have dissolved, but it would have been kind of suppressed a little bit more so wouldn't happen as frequently. And I'm saying it was like bad bullying. It was just more or less, “Hey, you're the outcast. You're not from this area, we're gonna punch you, we're gonna do this sort of thing.”.
But I think from those moments I got into more working out. Like that's not going to happen again. I got to be big enough and strong enough to where I can get my mind right. So I don't have to encounter these situations as I get older

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Monday May 08, 2023

Create A Clown Presence; Don Colliver

Monday May 08, 2023

Don Colliver is a teacher, speaker, writer, and comedian with over twenty-five years of experience helping audiences utilize the power of authenticity, vulnerability, and connection. Don teaches public speaking at Google and speaks for companies including Adobe, Cisco, and Medtronic. He toured as a Clown for contemporary circus Spiegelworld, performed with the Blue Man Group, and is listed in the Cirque du Soleil performer database. Don graduated from Boston University and lives in the San Francisco Bay Area. When he’s not helping speakers engage with their audiences, he can be found hiking through the redwoods. You can reach Don at www.winktechtalks.com.

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Contact Info

Company: Colliver Communications
Website: www.winktechtalks.com
Book: Wink: Transforming Public Speaking with Clown Presence By Don Colliver

Most Influential Person

Alan Watts

Effect on Emotions

Mindfulness has helped me deal with my emotions because I can physicalize them. And I love picturing where fear sits and describing it. That is very helpful in removing some of the motivation that it puts through my body.

Thoughts on Breathing

Breathing is the most important thing when it comes to presenting. And it's not what very technical people want to hear, because it feels very esoteric and not heavy. But the fact is, it's made the biggest difference in me like deep breathing box breathing, fire to big presentations.

Suggested Resources

Bullying Story

I was bullied a little bit in elementary school. And I think if grown up, Don's brain was back there it becomes so much about the bully, I'm so much more focused on that person. And what do they want?
It's hard to just simply step back and look at it from a 10,000-foot view and be like, can I just avoid this situation, this comes into clear focus these days because, at the end of each year, I'll do an evaluation of the year rather than do goals for the next year, or commitments or anything like that.
I just look through the prior year, and find the top three negative experiences top three positive experiences. And then I try and put the top three positive experiences on my calendar, like ASAP, make a commitment, and put the deposit down. And then for the neg negative experiences, I just see like, is there a way I can minimize the opportunities even have these experiences?

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Thursday May 04, 2023

Mindset Tips For Author Success; Tonya Duncan Ellis

Thursday May 04, 2023

Tonya Duncan Ellis is the author of the bestselling SOPHIE WASHINGTON children’s chapter book series and THEY BUILT ME FOR FREEDOM. She enjoys inspiring other authors with mindset tips for author success. Tonya has spoken and taught at writing conferences at the Highlights Foundation and for SCBWI in New York City, Houston, and Austin, TX chapters. A former journalist and freelance magazine writer, she is a graduate of Centre College of Kentucky and holds an MBA degree from Washington University in St. Louis.
Tonya loves to travel and has visited 49 American states, 20 countries, and three continents, but some of her best journeys have been between the pages of a novel. She could always be found with a book in her hand, and reading is still one of her favorite hobbies. When she's not reading or writing, Tonya likes to ride her bike, swim, and spend time with her husband and three children. She lives in Houston, TX. She is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI), the Authors Guild, Black Creators in KidLit, and the Brown Bookshelf’s Highlights Foundation-sponsored, Amplify Black Stories storyteller cohort. Married with three children, Tonya lives in Houston, Texas.

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Contact Info

Website: www.tonyaduncanellis.com
Book: Sophie Washington: Treasure Beach By Tonya Duncan Ellis

Most Influential Person

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Effect on Emotions

It's been very beneficial to me, I do journaling every day. Being mindful and intentional in what I'm doing helps me stay focused because there's a lot of rejection in my business. So it just keeps me focused on my goals and moving in a positive direction.

Thoughts on Breathing

I don't do a lot of it. But I have taken Pilates and some yoga classes at times. And I find that they do a lot of breathing in the exercise. And it's like a release and helps relieve a lot of your stress and anxiety. And even when I do walking and movement I think it helps me overcome anxious feelings and be more positive.

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Bullying Story

The second book in my series, is Sophie Washington, the Snitch. It's about children being bullied by a new girl at school who's taking their lunch money and shoving them around. And I think mindfulness may have been helpful for the bully herself.
She recognized her history, it comes out later in the book that her parents have abandoned her and had some other personal issues.
If she had been able to do some mindfulness work, that would help with her anger and bad feelings that led her to be unkind to the other kids. So

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Monday May 01, 2023

Stop Feeling Overwhelmed; Michelle Gauthier

Monday May 01, 2023

Michelle Gauthier is a professional life coach who helps busy, overwhelmed people create a more calm and intentional life. Michelle is a single mom of two adopted kids and used to be an overwhelmed busy working mom herself. She quit her successful 20-year corporate career to become a life coach to help other people navigate their careers and home lives with ease. When she’s not working, Michelle spends her spare time watching her kid's sporting events, going to Burn Bootcamp, organizing things just for fun, shopping online, and reading self-improvement books.

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Website: www.michellegauthier.com
Podcast: Overwhelmed Working Woman

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Effect on Emotions

When I was really stressed and overwhelmed, I used to brag about how many years it had been since I cried. And I would say, I don't get sad; nothing upsets me. I kind of acted like I was this steel wall. And I could just handle and do anything. Give me any problem. I can handle it.
The way that mindfulness helps me deal with my emotions is by just allowing me to have them. So it's amazing. Now I went for so many years saying, oh my gosh, I never cry all the time now. And I'm kind of proud of that. Because if I feel sad, or if I feel touched by something that just hits me in the heart, that's what I want to do. And if I feel mad, I allow that as well. If I feel joyful, I allow that.
So I just allow any feeling that I have, and I teach my kids to do the same, I don't ever want to shame them and say, Don't be angry. Don't be sad. Don't be whatever just be whatever you are.

Thoughts on Breathing

Square breathing is my go-to. I teach that to all my clients. I've taught it to my kids. That's just where you breathe in for four, hold for four, breathe out for four, and then hold it at the bottom for four.
If you do that four times around, it is magic, what that can do just to calm your nervous system. If I wake up at night and can't fall back to sleep, I can just do that. I've taught my kids to do it. I think it's such a powerful tool. Stop Feeling Overwhelmed

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Bullying Story

I think as a parent, you have to have a lot of mindfulness around bullying, it just seems so prevalent right now. And I just was reading something that after COVID, there's even more bullying because kids have less social skills and less confidence and things like that.
I've had experience with both of my kids being bullied at one time or another. And I think as a parent, it's a really fine line. Because what I try to teach them is mindfulness and empathy for the person. We have no idea what's happening at their house so let's try to think the best we can about why they might be doing this. Stop Feeling Overwhelmed

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