FindingME Podcast
overcoming feeling stuck
Books/Resource Mentions:
Dr. Joe Dispenza YouTube channel - self-help
Untethered Soul, Michael Singer
PART 1 (1st half of conversation)
Leith: [00:03:56] So just to get us started. This is a question that I'd love to ask all of my Sarahs. Tell me about the community where you grew up and what you remember most about it.
Sarah: [00:04:10] So I grew up in Des Moines, Iowa, so Middle America, very modest upbringing a lot of blue-collar workers. Had a happy childhood, you know, I zoned in on my immediate household more so than my community. I guess I grew up with two parents as artists. So I think that was a bit unique. Our home was filled with art and creativity. And so I think that really influenced me. And yet, I'll say that you know, thinking about my town that I grew up in, in Middle America, I felt like something was lacking. So I felt a bit out of place from when I was really, really young. Now I'm in California, and I feel like I'm home. And I claim California as my home. But I felt like something was missing there. Even though my childhood was great, it just felt like I needed more, like I needed a big city. I needed adventure, I needed the ocean, I needed sunshine, and I needed palm trees. So I guess that's, you know, kind of where my brain goes when I think back to my community and my upbringing in the Midwest. Also, you know, I can't help but talk about race, you know, where I grew up, because it was a city. And it was it's a pretty progressive democratic city, even though it was in Iowa, which most people I think, wouldn't assume as such. You know, there was some diversity at my school, and so diversity within my friendships, which was really great. I feel very grateful that I was exposed to that. But then when I came to the Bay Area, of course, I said, Oh, I had no idea what culture was, you know, I thought I did, but I didn't. So it was kind of an awakening when I came out west about like, 20 years ago now.
Leith: [00:06:02] Wow. And what brought you at West?
Sarah: [00:06:05] I knew and my husband knew, my husband and I both went to college together in Nebraska. And we knew we were going to get out and go somewhere, you know, a big city or somewhere other than the Midwest once we graduated. And so I had my feelers out, I had a degree in fashion design. And he was just finishing up his degree in physical education as a teacher. And he just happened to get a job in San Francisco. And so that was kind of our ticket. And we're like, yes, that's it. Just pack up the car and go. So didn't even look back. Very scary leap but quite the adventure, and easy to do when you're young and don't have kids, you know?
Leith: [00:06:45] Yeah, it feels easier. I think also reflecting back even though maybe at the time felt like a big step. But, yeah, so if you can jump forward a little bit, tell me about I mean, even just, I'm trying to think even where to start. You want to start where you are, maybe even just start with one place in this pandemic, where you felt really stuck. And, you know, what steps if any have you had to take to move forward?
Sarah: [00:07:21] Yeah, I feel like the pandemic has forced us all to face every single part of ourselves that we didn't want to face and those within our household because we're in such tight quarters. And so I feel really grateful that I had tools that I had built and kind of equip myself with years before. I feel like I could call upon those, like, I was really into spirituality, and I got into the law of attraction when The Secret came out in 2006, something like that. So I had all these books under my belt and spiritual practices, and really good habits that I had created, that I found myself really falling back on when the pandemic hit. And because I'm an essential worker, I'm an elementary teacher. And that's like, my day job, I say because I have other jobs too. So because of that, I feel really grateful that my husband and my jobs weren't affected, you know, so our money stayed pretty much the same. So I feel like, you know, on one hand, I was very just filled with gratitude for the things that stayed stable in my life, when I saw elsewhere, there were a lot of changes happening for other people that were very drastic. But just having to face my own habits and shortcomings. I think is a challenge and definitely was a challenge when the pandemic first started, you know, it's now that we're talking today, it was almost, I think, a year ago, right? To the date that I'm really things shut down. And so when I think back to then, I thought things were going fine. You know, we didn't know how long we're going to be in it. So it's kind of a bit of a denial. But I mean, just being able to tap into my own intuition. And just remember that I have all the power and not to give my power away. I feel like a lot of us, myself included, tend to group especially if we're listening to the news, too much. get full of fear. And so the fear kind of takes over. And so it's really important to shut that all down and just tap into your own body and mind and remember that you get to control the outcome within you know, your own little world, no matter what's happening outside. And so, there were these things that I just had practiced and practiced that I really relied on that helped me get through those kinds of just wacky times and still oh my gosh. I've you know still things that I'm working through I'm teaching from home full time now literally from my bedroom, which is so weird, yet the new norm. So I have moments of just what are we doing and you know, when can I see my family again but then I just remember, hey, I'm blessed, I'm so grateful I'm healthy, my people around me are healthy. You know so there are these practices I put into place that I just feel like I can rely on those.
Leith: [00:10:39] Can you elaborate on some of those practices?
Sarah: [00:10:42] Yeah, one of my favorites is my morning routine practice. And so I used to call this power hour. And I guess I still do, but I've kind of expanded it. So power hour is like, your time that you create in the morning, probably get up a little bit earlier, doesn't mean 5 am I think a lot of people when they hear me talk about my morning routine, assume it's going to have to be really early, it doesn't, it can just be like half an hour earlier. And so go through these six practices, 10 minutes each, and it was like, start off by reading. And that was really big for me because I never had time to read. You know, I have three kids full-time job, a husband all that. But I found that just by reading 10 minutes in the morning, every day, I would just plow through books, and it would fulfill me. So 10 minutes of reading, then I do 10 minutes of journaling, whether that's gratitude journaling, or just getting my thoughts down on paper, doing some kind of a brain dump, that kind of thing. And so I'd set my phone, my timer for 10 minutes on each of these. So I cut it off. Otherwise, it could get pretty long. Vision board or vision book, I would look through that. So I have a vision of both a vision board and a vision book. But I love my vision book because my journals attached to it. So it's small enough, I can take it with me. So in the mornings, I hide hold on to that. And I look through the pictures and the words and just start to visualize. You know, the day that I wanted to create, intentions I wanted to set, more long term life that I wanted to create. And really get into that feeling. And for me, that's been life-changing. That's probably the most impactful part of my morning routine practice is the visualizing. So that's 10 minutes, 10 minutes of meditating. If you're not meditating, you got to start meditating. What's that, there's a saying, if you don't have time to meditate, you need to double out or meditate for twice as long. If you say you don't have time to meditate, there's some famous quote.
Leith: [00:12:50] Oh, yeah. On that note then, I always find meditation hard and I know a lot of people do. What is it like that it does for you? Or what difference do you notice from meditating?
Sarah: [00:13:08] It calms down the brain, and it kind of forces you to just be present, be mindful. I've really been enjoying Dr. Joe Dispenza's work. He's been around for a while, and he's got many, many books, and you can look him up on YouTube. And he has hooked people up to electrodes while they meditate and found all these health benefits to meditation. And one of them is that it boosts your immune system. And so if you're not convinced to meditate because it's hard, you know, I know it's hard I know it is, and then just start to look up a little bit of Joe Dispenza's work and you'll be convinced.
Leith: [00:13:52] Okay, I’ll check him out after.
Sarah: [00:13:56] I really love guided meditations. So if you don't just want to fill and be present, you know, you could do a guided meditation. Those are so fun. There are some great ones, that you can just look up, you know, on your phone or YouTube.
Leith: [00:14:09] Yeah.
Sarah: [00:14:11] And then let's see the other 10 minutes, 10 minutes of a movement, some kind of movement, not necessarily exercise, but really just getting your body stretched and moving and getting the blood flowing. So I found that when I did that, and in the mornings when I wasn't doing anything before, and I would do that I would see changes in my body. And it was shocking because it was like nothing, you know, like maybe a couple jumping jacks and some stretches and 10 squats, you know, and I would see the difference on my body in just 10 minutes a day. And I think it's because it's such an intentional time that you create for yourself and those mornings, that it has a long-lasting effect. And then the other one is planning so like I get up my calendar, and plan like the top three things that I need to get done for the day, and sort of map out how I want my day to go. And so those are the six general things that I would do for what I call power hour, every morning, and that completely will pull you out of any stuckness that you were in, I mean, guarantee. And you can even cut those in half and do a few of those. I mean, I think it's more about being intentional with your morning and creating the day that you want. Expect great things to happen. Expect somebody to give you a free coffee or let you cut in line or give you a compliment. I mean, when you change your perspective, like that, immediately, you'll see the results, something will happen. And you'll say, Okay, this works, we'll do it again.
Leith: [00:15:45] Wow. So you sort of suggest that you've been doing this for a while then. And that's been really helpful during the pandemic.
Sarah: [00:15:53] Absolutely helpful during a pandemic.
Leith: [00:15:54] So what was it that got you on to this routine? Or was there anything life-changing that encouraged you to get into this power hour? How did that come about?
Sarah: [00:16:04] Yes, big time. In 2015, I guess, happily living in California, and my husband decided that he was tired of living in California and just needed a change. So he started to put his feelers out for a job in the Midwest back in Nebraska, where we had lived before and near our family. And I was like, No, no, no, no, I don't want anything to do with that. I don't want to go there. I don't belong there. I love my family back there. But no. And he was really set on it. And he ended up getting a great job offer. And I knew in my heart I didn't want to go I'm pretty good about using my intuitive senses to know if it's yes or no. And it was a no the whole way. But I just knew that if I didn't go along for the ride with him my partner in life that he would probably forever regret it and be resentful. And I didn't want to do that. I didn't want to be a dream crusher. So I went and the kids were really upset initially. But you know, of course, luckily, they weren't too old. They weren't teenagers yet. They are now but anyway, so yeah, we packed up the car, and we drove across the country and made a whole trip of it. And so we were in the Midwest, we had a great house on a lake. It's really wonderful. Initially, but it was just like, maybe a few months in, I realized, Oh no, this is not for me. And so I was in a job, a teaching job I did not like at all, it was pretty miserable. Didn't like the culture so much. Just the lack of diversity there, we were in a very rural part of Nebraska. And so I started to find myself just getting depressed and not excited for my day. And I ended up talking to my best friend Charlotte. And she suggested her life coach who had helped her you know, through lots of twists and turns in her life and so I kind of dragged my feet a little bit and eventually had the conversation with Michaela. And she kind of helped me see from a different perspective, what my life would be, like, if I stayed there, what my life would be like if I moved, and kind of just pulled me out of myself to kind of see a bigger picture vision. And so in working with her, I started to change and that's how I came up with the morning routine, that power hour.
And I was just starting to really feel a shift and a change. And you know, nothing around me was changing, like I was still out every morning, I would get up really early and go make a cold dark basement, you know, wintertime in the Midwest. And I would do this routine. And eventually, at first, I hated it, but eventually, I really crave that time because it just felt like such a magical time. And so I would do it and do it. And you know, nothing would really be showing up differently in my life. But then suddenly, I did start to notice a change and one change in my husband and he began to see things differently without me having to nag him so much. You know, it's like that's the magic of this work is he shifted, you know?
Leith: [00:19:22] He shifted you think because he saw you shifting or he just shifted in his own way, maybe?
Sarah: [00:19:26] Maybe a little bit of both. I feel like when you're so aligned with your vision for your life, and you know what you're supposed to be doing where you're supposed to be? People, things just come in line with it. They just come along or they fall away, which is fine, too, you know? Not that I was worried about that with my husband, of course, but I just knew innately he'd eventually have to come along because I was going. It wasn't it was probably about it. We were there for I almost I guess it was about a year and a half. So many months of me doing this morning routine, these six steps, you know, 10 minutes each. And then we finally both made the decision to go back to California, right where we were at Palo Alto, and quickly sold the house. I mean, I don't know how that happened. And in two weeks, I mean, everyone was saying that's unheard of just because it was such a unique community. And, you know, we got the both got the jobs that we wanted, and found a great house, to rent and like, all these things just fell into place. And I mean, my spirit was so different than when I looked back months and months prior to that. I'm stuck feeling in that depression, and just knowing that I wasn't where I was supposed to be. So those are the things that, you know, I definitely use now during the pandemic mode. When we're feeling cooped up, 100% of those are tools, and I recommend everybody.
Leith: [00:21:02] Wow. So you have this routine, which has helped to get through COVID? Is there anything else in your life that has changed dramatically or has it just been very much just that, you know, the general just trying to keep the media and all the negativity at bay and focusing on what you know, you want to do?
Sarah: [00:21:27] I feel like I've you know, pandemic or not, I just feel like, as long as I stay in tune with what I need for myself, so that's a lot of self-love stuff has to happen. In order for I think people to be in tune with what it is that they really need. And not feel like that's being selfish at all. I think women have a hard time with that because we're the caregivers to all and we're juggling so much. But over the last, I mean, I don't know if it started during the pandemic, it might have just amplified, but I do feel like it's now or never with everything. Because you see people falling ill and time, you know, what is time. I think this pandemic has made us think differently about everything. And so time is one of those, but because of that, I feel like I'm going to get what I want out of life, I'm going to be happy. And I feel like when you do that, things around, you just happen. And so I do feel like I've kind of amplified that during the pandemic. And, you know, I created I think it was, I don't know if it was during the pandemic, or it was right before that. But I was out on a walk or take walks in nature and can meditate on the walks. And I was struck with this idea, which I thought was going to be a book called Unstuck and Unstoppable, which is perfect for your podcast. This is what you're talking about getting unstuck. And so that just like landed in my brain, it wouldn't go away with unstuck and unstoppable. And so I just had all these ideas flowing and used my voice memo app on my phone, and just everything that I was, you know, getting downloaded, I feel like I was just repeating into my phone and have all these ideas and thought it was going to be a book. And then it just kind of sat there for a while. And then I realized, oh, it needs to be a course that's the best way to help and inspire others to get unstuck. And so I created a course called Unstuck and Unstoppable. And it has modules to help you get in touch with what it is that you really want in your life, take responsibility. I think that's a big one.
Leith: [00:23:41] Oh yes.
Sarah: [00:23:43] Taking responsibility for where you are right now. And there's just so much in that course and it has been an inspiration to people. So I feel like that's another good thing to come out of the pandemic.
Leith: [00:23:57] Hold on, you teach full time, you have three kids, a husband, managing a life. And you just went on a walk came up with this idea and executed it and now you have a course about being unstoppable. Right?
Sarah: [00:24:14] That is right. I don't like to waste time.
Leith: [00:24:16] Wow. Okay, so tell me about this. Like, after you went on this walk, how did the steps go to creating this? Like, how do you get from the walk to doing?
Sarah: [00:24:28] Yeah, I know because I've learned just from being a creative ideas person, which I think a lot of us are right, you are obviously because you have this podcast you've created. I think, though that if you don't capture that idea, right when it's there, it goes away. And is it Elizabeth Gilbert? Is it her book? Yeah, we're talking about like, there are ideas swirling around the universe. And it's going to land in somebody's head and so maybe it lands in your head with and then if you don't do something with it, oh, there it goes. It's going to land in a serious head. And you know, it's just a fun way to think about ideas. And so if you don't take that inspired action, I've learned it goes away. And so when I was struck with that, I knew I had to get it down. And the only thing I had was my phone; I talked into my phone then came home. But then there was that period of just nothing. And I think it's okay to honor that. Like, it's not about hustle, hustle, hustle. It's more about being purposeful, not productive. That's a big lesson I've learned over the few, I don't know, many, many years is, don't just stay busy, but be purposeful with it. And so when it's time to just rest and not do anything with it, and just let it be. And eventually, you'll know what to do with it. So then I came back to it and realized it was a course and broke it down into six modules that I thought would be the most easily digestible by people. And that was that. And I had created courses before as I like to create things like that online. So I was familiar with the format, which I think helped.
Leith: [00:26:12] Wow. So you create the course content? And how do you advertise it? Or did you put it on a website?
Sarah: [00:26:20] I have a website. I have a couple of websites that it's on lovesarah.co. And so yeah, I put it online and talked about it on my social media and told people about it. And initially, I asked people to join for free and then give me feedback. And so that was really helpful to get people's input and tell me what works and what doesn't, and then I could tweak it a little bit. And so after that process, I mean, it didn't take long. It's just there for people to consume and enjoy. And sometimes I run promotions and stuff.
Leith: [00:26:57] Oh is it free?
Sarah: [00:26:58] No, it's not free. It's only $77 right now. It was initially a lot more than that. I kind of go up and down on the price based on whatever I feel like what people need right now? $77 bucks, they can you know, pay that, and hopefully, they can get some inspiration and start to pivot their lives. It's really about getting back into the driver's seat of your life, taking back control, and getting unstuck and becoming unstoppable.
Leith: [00:27:29] I love that so much. So did you just create a website? Your own website? You just like [cross-talking 00:27:37]
Sarah: [00:27:44] No, it wasn't like that before. Actually, Charlotte Lottie is the one that really is so tech-savvy. I don't know if you know that side of her. But we've known each other for years and years. And she was always really into websites and the tech side of things, and I wasn't and so she kind of showed me the ropes. And way back in the day, I had a website that's still up called veggiekids.com about vegan family-friendly recipes and things. So that was my first taste of creating a website. So I built it, had a little bit of outside help, but really, I learned so much. Didn't really necessarily enjoy that side of it but I just want to know how to do it. And I don't want to pay people to do it.
Leith: [00:28:35] Oh my god, I feel the same way. I took a course at Stanford to learn how to build a website, and I love doing it, and it was great. But I don't need to do that on a regular.
Sarah: [00:28:44] Yeah, exactly. I think it's good to know the basics of it though.
Leith: [00:28:49] Yeah
Sarah: [00:28:49] You know, but yeah, it's for some people and not for other people. So yeah, that's how I built lovesarah.co which has totally evolved over the years. But right now, that's kind of where it's sitting. And it's got the course on there and other goodies, just, you know, all those stuff to help inspire women.
Leith: [00:29:09] So how did you like it, was it scary putting it out there? Or is this kind of second nature to you now?
Sarah: [00:29:16] I think, yes. But I've learned to recognize that fear is just my own head. It's my own little inner critic. And so, and I wish that other people would be able to get past that. I think that so many of us are filled with ideas. But we stop ourselves; we talk ourselves out of it. And our inner critic voice is just so loud that we don't execute, you know. And so, yeah, I've done that many times. But I find now I know, it's like life is so short, that I'm just going to put it out there and if it fails, it fails like who cares? I'll put something else out there next anyway, like I'm full of ideas, as are so many people. So, yeah, the fear voice is just something that you can just quiet down. Just you know, it's like this other side of us that you just say, Okay, I'm good. I don't need you right now. Fear is good for some things, but not for that.
Leith: [00:30:13] I just finished The Untethered Soul. I don't know if you read that by Michael Singer.
Sarah: [00:30:17] No.
Leith: [00:30:18] Okay. That's a good one. Yeah. Anyway, it just made me think of it because he talks about that inner critic, like an inner roommate, and just be like, you know what, he proves that there's a subject-object relationship between that thinking, and you like that real self. So that critic is not you. It's not real. It's not that real self. So just acknowledge the inner roommate say, Hello. And just move forward. And I love thinking about it that way being like, yeah, we're here forever together. But not getting too caught up in that thinking.
Sarah: [00:30:59] Yeah, I need to read that book. I'm going to write that down. I have a long list of books to read that I'm adding on there. Yeah, I love that I love because it's not about shaming that roommate. Right? It's about acknowledging it, but saying right now, I got it. We can talk later.
Leith: [00:31:17] And that's where you find meditation helps sometimes just quieting the mind but I find it so hard.
Sarah: [00:31:25] It is at first, but you know, you work your way up to it. I mean, if you can do 10 minutes great. Don't have guilt around it just to do your 10 minutes or do five. But yeah, the meditation definitely helps with that. With that chatter, the monkey brain chatters as they've gone.
PART 2 (2nd half of conversation)
Leith: [00:31:25] Tell me more about this course that you created about getting unstuck, or what was the inspiration was it COVID itself just came to you in COVID.
Sarah: [00:31:55] I think it was about the time that I was telling you about living in the Midwest and feeling so stuck. I think it stemmed from that I was such a huge, pivotal point in my life, where I felt so stuck, and I could have just surrendered and just lived there. And my husband would have lived there, he would have been unhappy because he knew he didn't belong there. But I think again, fear, right, of like failure, you know, would have kept him there. So I do think that unstuck and unstoppable the course originally came from that time. But it's, yeah, it's just really taking you through taking responsibility, having clarity, and then tapping into your intuitive yes or no, I think that's a big, big thing. We're out of touch with our bodies, our intuitive selves, and so really getting present. And knowing from your gut when there's a yes or no to something, whatever it is. And so that's like the first part of the course. That's all module one.
Leith: [00:33:34] Wow. So just sort of stopping, I think, to like, slowing down and stopping and actually listening, because it's amazing how your body tells you things. I mean, I'm just learning this more recently, and years of ignoring myself thinking it didn't matter.
Sarah: [00:33:22] Yeah, absolutely. Yeah. I know, lots of ignoring yourself, and you're just making excuses, you know, or there's a lot of disconnection that happens. And a lot of that comes from traumas from our youth, even traumas we might not remember and that can create some disconnect in the body. And so yeah, learning the tips and the tricks to get back reconnected with your body so that you can make intuitive decisions is really key to having that clarity for your future. I also should say I became a certified life coach in I suppose during the pandemic.
Leith: [00:34:04] See, what! Sarah, we were living in the States for a year, becomes a certified life coach. Also, you know, made this course, my [inaudible 00:34:18] parenting. Is there anything you haven't done?
Sarah: [00:34:25] Yes, I still have things on my list. No, I think I started my coaching certification program right before the pandemic hit like signing up. And then it was a 10 month-long program. So I was supposed to graduate, you know, this big thing to do in San Diego, the other women that graduated and that didn't happen and so, but I'm really glad that I did that. Because taking me through that program only helped me get more in touch with myself and my own healing and my own intuitive practices. And so I mentioned that because all that stuff that I learned is also in the course. You know, the things that everyone can learn, and really help people just heal, you know, and move forward. So the other module in the course is a huge piece about gratitude. That's such a big one having an attitude of gratitude. And really, when you shift your thinking, especially when you're in a bad mood, it's hard to do when you're in a bad mood. But if you do if you can, and you shift into an attitude of gratitude, and just find one thing to be grateful for, it really does spiral into just a change in your attitude and your behaviors. And you start to look for things that you want to be grateful for, and more things will show up into your existence to be grateful for. So that's a big one. There's a quote by the Greek philosopher from way back, Epicurious, and he says, do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not. Remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for. And so it's just a reminder of like, everything that you have right now you want to hope for where you are in your life right now. You wanted it, so be grateful for it.
Leith: [00:36:21] You know, it's like a muscle I guess, also that gratitude, you know, the more you use it, the stronger it gets, I guess.
Sarah: [00:36:28] Absolutely. Yeah. And you know, Dr. Joe Dispenza, talks a lot about that, about how you train your brain to see those things, whatever you focus on expands. And so when you focus on things to be grateful for your training your brain to look for more things to be grateful for. So again, just another practice, right, another habit, muscle to build. Yeah, something that I like to use, especially in the mornings, I think it's good. A lot of people wake up in the morning, and they'll have thoughts of the past. You know what happened yesterday, or thoughts about the future? What am I worried about? And so just taking, even when your eyes are still closed, when you first wake up, just taking some deep breaths, and having a little bit of a gratitude practice, I just got my husband into this. And it's so sweet because he reminds me now where we won't get out of bed until we do our gratitude practice. And we just do it on our own. But we're just both so much more content. And he likes to watch the news in the morning. Bad news, I call it and I'm like, no, no, no. He does that before then I feel like he's kind of counterbalancing all that negativity.
Leith: [00:37:34] Wow. That's amazing. So you've got okay, remind me what the steps are as part of your course there's the gratitude is the second one.
Sarah: [00:37:43] Gratitude and also about the second module is also about like feeling and processing your feelings. So really, like we were talking about getting back in touch with your body and the feelings and not shoving things down, but actually processing through and there are tricks like, you know, movement, which was one of the things I mentioned, in my power hour, my morning routine is when you move your body you're moving the emotions that are stuck and stagnant through your body. Some people like to get the emotions out through yelling or screaming or singing or dancing, but the emotions need to move right energy and emotions. And so that's one that I talked about in module two is just like feeling your emotions, honoring them, and then getting through them. So like if you're feeling stuck if you're feeling depressed, if you're feeling anxious, acknowledge it, don't push it away. Get curious about it, like why am I feeling anxious and then you can sometimes even feel where it is in your body like maybe you feel it in your neck, you know, in your gut, and you move it out singing, dancing, hitting the pillow, whatever it is. It's very healing so that's what we talked about in module two. As well as just getting aligned; and getting aligned is like really getting present, getting in touch with what you need. And following the curiosities and following the good feelings and not suppressing those or not feeling like you have to do something and I like to play with that a lot during the day where I can easily get into a routine of like having to do this and this. I'm done teachings and now I have to grade their work and now I have to make sure my kids have their food but ah now and okay, stop. Wait, what do I really need right now? I need a nap or I need to go take a walk. Or I need to meditate or I need to jump on I just bought a little trampoline and jump on which is very necessary during a pandemic.
Leith: [00:40:01] I'm impressed they're still in stock.
Sarah: [00:40:03] I know, same, I was thinking the same thing. It's been so fun having that thing. But just, you know, checking yourself, okay, what do I need right now. And when I just do that, even if it's four or 5, 10, 20 minutes, I'm so much better because I'm more aligned. Now I can give my kids their food or whatever without a grumpy face or, you know, an attitude. So that's module two. And there's six modules total. So the third one is all about creating a vision for your life. And getting into the feeling space of what that actually feels like. And then creating new thoughts that support that vision. And kind of working your way back so that you can create the life that you want. Also, we talk about stories that we tell a lot of times, we are focused on other people's stories, I'm guilty of this too, especially if you're watching the news or social media, scrolling social media, you get involved in other people's stories, you can take them on as my own your own, you get to get emotional about it. Or stories that are made up, that are another one, you make up stories. And so one of the tools I talked about in the module is to just recognize what stories you keep telling yourself the stories that are replaying in your head, and maybe shedding some of those and maybe creating some new stories that then support your vision for your life. And then module four is all about feeling and believing and allowing, really allowing the goodness to come into your life and allowing yourself to feel whatever the feelings are, and then learning how to create some habits and some rituals that you can really use to sustain your trajectory to the life that you want. Building habits have been really impactful during the pandemic for me because I think it was during, is probably during holiday time. And I'm thinking about the holiday time pandemic was not ideal. I'm wondering how it's going to be this year as well. But, you know, I kind of slipped up with my diet. I was drinking too much wine just did not feel good. And it took a few weeks of that before I realized, ah, wait, this is not the habit that I want to create. And it's hard to break. You know, because I fixed dinner at the same time every night. That would mean I want my red wine. And you know, and then I realized like, oh, that's a trigger. When I go into the kitchen at five o'clock to start cooking. That's a trigger for me to want my wine. So just recognizing that is really helpful. And so I'm completely out of that mode now. I feel like I'm back on track. Knock on wood, not drinking my wine. Not that wine is bad you can have your wine.
Leith: [00:42:59] I know.
Sarah: [00:43:00] Not too much.
Leith: [00:43:01] Depends on how It makes you feel.
Sarah: [00:43:04] Exactly. Yeah, and your intention behind it my intention is to swallow my emotions right now or my intending to like really enjoy the flavors. And then the next module is all about taking that inspired action. So kind of like we talked about with, you know, when you're hit with ideas, take inspired action, and then how to execute from there, and how to work with the timing of everything. And really how to get some stuff going in your life. And then the last one is all about getting out of your own way getting out of your comfort zone. To really kind of like set women off and free. You know, that's kind of how it ends. And then there's some other bonus modules and stuff on money and clearing out the clutter in your home, which I think is a big one. Definitely, something people have worked on during the pandemic right is decluttering their homes.
Leith: [00:44:00] Yeah. Wow. So when did you I mean, you didn't do this, just the 10 minutes of your power hour every morning, did you? Or how did you find the time to create this?
Sarah: [00:44:11] So well, during the Power Hour, when I would envision my day, I always make sure that I'm setting aside or creating, I like to call it creating time for these kinds of things, my outlets, my projects, you know, because I think but it's just, you're going to look up and three years have gone by and you're like, Oh, dang, I wish I would have written that book. I wish I would have submitted that article, you know, whatever it is. And so it's really just about being intentional in the morning so that you can create the time in your day and you can find the time. I mean, I'm telling you as a very busy person with multiple jobs and kids and a crazy little puppy that you can create the time. I mean, it's possible.
Leith: [00:44:63] So I mean, you're obviously with your school kids from nine-ish to three, and then, do you set really good boundaries with your own kids about your time? Or how do you do that?
Sarah: [00:45:16] Yes. And I think they just know me well enough to know that there are times when they just have to fend for themselves. They're older, though. I mean, they're, you know, I have, what are they, there's almost 17, one just turned 12 the other is 15. And so they're very capable and responsible, but still needy, right. But yeah, they know. You know, I'll give them their three meals and, you know, help them with their schoolwork or whatever. But I think it's valuable for them to see their mom fulfilling her dreams and creating things. And I think it's inspiring to them. So because I don't want them to grow up and be in their adult lives and feel like they're just having to go to their nine to five and have to stuff their own creative endeavors down and, you know, I want them to see like, this is something that you should honor. If you feel like trying this project, or, you know, reading this book, or whatever do it. Because that's really honoring yourself. And so I think it's important for kids to see their parents doing that. And they're part of it, too, you know, their creative part of it. I wrote some children's books that inspired me to write, and I'm very much a part of the process. And they, one of my kids, my 15-year-old, he's about to go off to the Mojave Desert, which is crazy, without me. Because he has this dream of creating a documentary, he wants to tell a story about the people, the creatures, the land, the culture of the Mojave. And so I kind of see him following in, you know, his parent's creative footsteps with his own endeavors, while he's still going to school and doing all these other things, you know,
Leith: [00:47:04] Wow, that's so exciting. But I totally am on board with you. I think it's so important for our kids to see this and be part of this. And, you know, although my kids are young, I mean, nine, seven, and four, but I still like to think that, you know, this is part of our conversations. And as they get older, they'll be able to reflect on it.
Sarah: [00:47:26] Yes absolutely. You know, and we're not one dimensional, right, let's just remember that we're not one dimensional, we are multidimensional. We don't need to be, you know, fitting inside of some little box that someone says, we have to fit into, like, you know, because I'm a teacher, that's all I need. I'm going to do no, no, no. I'm way more than just a teacher, you know, and I just think it's important that we recognize that in ourselves that we were allowed to explore and be curious about whatever we want, and it doesn't have to fit together. You know, you might be interested in cars and art and cooking and like, who cares? It doesn't fit together. It's just what makes them you, you know?
Leith: [00:48:07] Yeah, I love that. Well, I think that relates back to what you sort of mentioned about telling yourself these stories like that we have to be I don't know, one dimensional, you know, we can only do one thing or try to think of a good one right now. And I can't off the top of my head. But I, all the women I've interviewed have, at some point told themselves stories that have been holding them back. And they don't realize, I mean, none of us realize it, right, because it's probably a story that cultivated through culture or by socialization, like such minor things that you don't even realize you're telling yourself that
Sarah: [00:48:48] I know and a lot of the times I really learned this in my coaching certification program is that a lot of the times, there are stories that you don't even remember. And so you know, there are accounts of you know, there's regression hypnotherapy or things like that, where you can remember back to your childhood and women have had women that were in my course with me how these recalls, it's like, oh, that's why I have this issue with money. Because my dad said, you know, bla bla, bla bla bla when I was five.
Leith: [00:49:12] Can't make money off an artist or something.
Sarah: [00:49:15] Yeah, exactly.
Sarah: [00:49:16] Starving artists. Yeah, that was my dad. Yeah. And so and that's the story that you hold on to and so it's so important to just start to question those stories and ask yourself, Is it real? Is it mine? And does it serve my purpose? Is it going to take me higher where I need to go? If not, you have permission to release them?
Leith: [00:49:49] Yeah. But it's just sitting down and thinking about what there are, like I'm much better and this is going back to the muscle idea to is sitting like when I try to think I was thinking of something the other day and I'm like, do I really believe that? Is that really what I want to believe or just thinking it through to either accept a belief or let it go. But it's taken me a long time to get there.
Sarah: [00:50:17] Yeah, I think that's normal though. Its hard work, it's easier to just say, yeah, that's what I believe that's my story. It's harder to do this kind of work the inner work, but it's so worth it, you know, and I think it does get easier over time. And I love that you brought that up because now a lot of times you don't know. And one of the tools I teach in my course is asking your intuition. And so I really love journaling or scripting. And so I'll just kind of get quiet and get present. And we'll have you know, journal, a piece of a paper, pen, I like to feel it. So that's why I recommend that versus typing. You could type on a document too, though. And just start to ask yourself, your higher self, your intuitive self questions like, I'm stuck with this thing, what do I need to know about it? Or how can I change my perspective? Or what new thought can I think about this? And I found every time I do this, that what comes out, what comes out of my pen is something that I don't know where it came from. I mean, I do because I know enough to know it's my higher self speaking to me. But it's a fun practice to try, especially if you're not sure, you know, about a belief or a thought, or whatever it is a story is to just kind of do that back and forth. And then ask your intuition and then just see what comes out. You can rip up the paper when you're done if you don't want anyone to see it.
Leith: [00:51:05] Wow, I love that. I've done some work too, with Oh, my God, totally blanking on the name of it. But with Lottie, we do thinking sessions, where you similar idea, but just verbally, so sit there for 20 minutes, and I just start talking about ideas that are in my head. And you know, initially, it's all the sort of things that like, my inner roommate is sort of gabbing about. And then over time, it starts to lead to places where I would not have expected, or I make connections between ideas that I wouldn't expect. I'm always amazed at once I get going, how much more is in there that I don't even stop to access sometimes.
Sarah: [00:52:43] Yeah. Because that's the harder work to do that. I mean, that takes effort, right? It takes effort for you to do that. But it's so worth it. Because Yeah, you'll have revelations or things that you just never could think of before until you got to that point. I love that idea of thinking sessions. That's great.
Leith: So tell me, Sarah, I mean, going in the last year, you've done so much. Do you have an idea of what you're going to take on next?
Sarah: [00:53:12] Yes.
Leith: [00:53:13] You do?
Sarah: [00:53:15] I do. I'm actually working on my next project? Okay, two big things. One is it's a membership site called Morning Routine Club. And so I'm taking the whole power hour six steps that I mentioned before, and I'm turning it into a much deeper membership site to help people create the life that they want and I've thought of a couple of slogans but one of the ones that keep jumping out to me is just wake up to your life morning routine club wake up to life and so that's in the works now I've been shooting videos for it and putting the content together but the goal is to have a place where everything is all these tools that are very accessible, where people can go and start to create their own morning routine and so put together a menu so I have this menu it's like you know, desserts and signs that they like maybe they like trying the affirmations every morning, maybe they don't so they pick and choose and decide what works best for them and then it's like a community where they can support each other.
Leith: [00:53:30] Well do you research these things in advance or you just sort of go and do them because I can't imagine you have much time to do.
Sarah: [00:54:36] I just go. I'm go, go go!
Leith: [00:54:38] Right. So you don't even care like I'm not saying there's anything out there like that but you don't even care if there is it's just let's put my ideas there.
Sarah: [00:54:47] I looked for the name and there's the I didn't see the names I have the domain of course so that's you know, I do look for that kind of stuff. But I really don't think there's anything like this out there. Night Owl so if you're a night owl and you sleep in the night, you can still do it, or if you have kids and you just cannot find the time in the morning which I can understand that you can still create this routine, and start to really impact your life. So I'm really excited about that. I think it's going to help a lot of people, which is the goal. That's one thing another children's book, too.
Leith: [00:55:30] Wow Sarah that's amazing. So you really just set you a little bit of time during your day, when you're like, your students are reading, independent reading.
Sarah: [00:55:46] Like, you know, their lunch break, I, there's always time, there's always like 20 minutes here or there. After school, usually, I get out before my kids do, because they're in the upper grades or days a little bit longer. And so that's really the perfect time to create. And so you know, one thing I learned from that 10 minutes a day, Power Hour is like those 10 minutes add up. So if you think I don't have the time, you're never going to do it. But if you think, Okay, I guess I could do 10 minutes here, even 10 minutes there. Before you know it, you're going to have put in so much that you will have something by the end of it.
Leith: [00:56:21] Yeah, I totally agree. I mean, I read a lot of books too. And that same way, you know, a little bit here and a little bit there. And then before you know it, you know, it takes time. But you know, by the end of the year, I've read 10 books; ten more than I would have read. Yeah, I love that. Oh my gosh, this is so been so wonderful. Sara, thank you, my gosh, I've learned so many exciting things to explore. And I'll definitely check out your website. Remind me of the URL again?
Sarah: [00:56:54] Yeah, lovesarah.co.
Leith: [00:57:00] Okay. And so we'll be able to find all these new things coming there as well.
Sarah: [00:57:05] Yeah
Leith: [00:57:07] Oh, my God. That's so great. Well, thank you so much for just showing up today and sharing your story with us, and inspiring me.
Sarah: [00:57:19] Thank you right back at you. You inspire me as well. Thank you for what you're putting out there. I think it's so important. And I think the connections that women can make to the stories of your guests; I think are really something that you probably won't know the trickle effect of that, you know, so thank you.
Leith: [00:57:36] That's true. Thank you. All right. Well, have a wonderful afternoon and I'll be in touch.
Sarah: [00:57:37] Okay, thanks.
Leith: [00:57:38] Bye.