Why Struggle? Podcast W Barbara J. Faison

This is an episode about using gratitude as a tool and a practice.If you're new to the podcast, welcome, and if you listen regularly, thank you.I'm doing a series on tools for living and last week I talked about the first tool in the tool kit, breathing. Were you able to take 10 deep breaths at some point in time during the day? If not, maybe give it a try this week. Set a reminder on your phone to stop and take 10 deep breaths, your mind and body will love you for it.Practicing gratitude is the second tool. Gratitude is a simple practice that helps you feel better, stress less and can improve your overall health. Yep, that’s from studies on the power of gratitude and I love that we now have tangible proof of the benefits.Last year I talked about the science behind gratitude. You can find out more in 2024, episode 38. One of the biggest things I have discovered about gratitude is how I feel when I come from a place of appreciation. Physically I feel my body shift from frustration to a more relaxed sta

All Links: LINKTR.EE/BARBARAFAISON 2025 - Week 6 - Tools Part 1 You can listen to this on my podcast - 6:36 mins or click the link here for the YouTube Channel version (audio only) This is an episode about a simple tool you can use to stay grounded and focused. If you're new to the podcast, welcome, and if you listen regularly, thank you. Are you feeling it? What's it? All of the energy that is swirling around the world right now. I mean between the weather and politics, and don't forget the stuff we have going on in our own personal lives, there's a lot going on. I don’t know anyone who doesn’t have something going on personally. One thing I have learned in over 30 years of having strategies & practices for managing my life is that having and using my tools is important. One of my dear friends, Kym Kennedy, reminds me of this often. Whenever I have a conversation with her and I start complaining or expressing my frustration, she will ask me a simple question. If you have listened to me, y

2025 - Week 5 - MORE SNOW! You can listen to this on my podcast - 11:48 mins or click the link here for the YouTube Channel version (audio only) 2025 - Week 5 - MORE SNOW! This is an episode about MORE snow and things working out! If you're new to the podcast, welcome, and if you listen regularly, thank you. A few weeks ago we had snow in the metro Atlanta area. I talked about this in episode three, Snow. One reason I like it when it snows is that it shuts much of the city down. For the most part, Atlanta is not really equipped for major snow, although we have upped our game a little bit in that area. Lol We tend to get snow, which turns to black ice so it's dangerous for people to be on the roads. The news and weather specialists recommended that you stay home unless you had to be out on the roads. You don't have to tell me but one time. Lol. I mentioned before that my gentle reminder from winter is: Winter requires rest. Winter is about taking in stillness. Winter is time for introspec

All Links: LINKTR.EE/BARBARAFAISON 2025 - Week 4 - FUN! You can listen to this on my podcast - 7:24 mins or click the link here for the YouTube Channel version (audio only) This is an episode about FUN! If you're new to the podcast, welcome, and if you listen regularly, thank you.My great nephew, Aiden, turned 6 years old on January 3rd this year. My brother, Tony, his wife, Pat and his daughter, April and I drove down to the birthday party in Tampa, FL that was at the Sky Zone.The glee and awe children exuded while playing was a great reminder not to take life too seriously. I need as many reminders to have more fun as I can get.This weekend I got to hang with 10 beautiful ladies at our gathering called Kym’s Coffee and Conversations. We reflected on 2024 and what was important to us about the year. A few things I shared were my voiceover projects that offered accessibility for the visually impaired along with enjoying teaching crochet and a senior computer class at my job at the library. As I was sha

All the LINKS: LINKTR.EE/BARBARAFAISON 2025 - Week 3 - Winter Snow You can listen to this on my podcast - 7:24 mins or click the link here for the YouTube Channel version (audio only) This is an episode about snow. If you're new to the podcast, welcome, and if you listen regularly, thank you.When I went to work on Thursday. The first thing my coworkers told me when I arrived at the library was, "you know we're closed on Friday and Saturday for snow.'The meteorologist had been updating their predictions of snow all week. It started out with 30% chance at the beginning of the week and then moved up to about 70% chance by the end of the week.I laughed and said, I'll take it. I've been sharing with my meditation group for years that I would love to have a few good snow days. We don't get snow often in the metro Atlanta area.What I observed about myself, is having a few shut down days really forced me to be more still. I know, I do get still, however I still could use more stillness in my life.  Having the shu

Links: LINKTR.EE/BARBARAFAISON 2025 - Week 2 - Introspection click the link here for the YouTube Channel version (audio only) This is an episode about the power of introspection. If you're new to the podcast, welcome, and if you listen regularly, thank you. It’s the first full week of 2025. People may be starting January with resolutions, goals and plans. Yay for them! I am grateful I started my 40 day plan in mid December so I have a few things I’m “doing”. I talked about that in week 1 of the podcast called Accountability. And I just realized I didn’t send out the newsletter… apologies for the delay. It’s winter y’all. I mean, it’s cold… okay I know I live in Atlanta and cold is relative. The high today will be 42 degrees…that is cold for me. Lol. I want to rest, relax, and be cozy. I am doing things. I am reading, crocheting and doing jigsaw puzzles. And I did schedule myself for an in person Improv class.  So I’m not completely stagnant. Winter as a season is all about rest, restoration, and introspectio

ALL LINKS - LINKTR.EE/BARBARAFAISON  2025 - Week 1 - Accountability! This is an episode about accountability.   If you're new to the podcast, welcome, and if you listen regularly, thank you.  Who are you accountable to? What do you want to be held accountable for? Decades ago, I started holding myself accountable for what I wanted to be, do or have in life. Whenever I wanted to complete something I would have “accountability partners” that would check in with me so I would finish whatever it was I started. Were there things I didn’t finish, sure. Were there things I did finish? Yep!   These accountability partners helped me create my book, my audio programs, my meditations, my card deck,as well as kept me on track for reducing my sweets and walking and so much more.. And I am grateful for having accountability partners that I checked in with, and continue to check in with even today.   On December 16 I started something called the 40 Day Plan. It's a practice I've been doing now for over five years with the

ALL THE LINKS - LINKTR.EE/BARBARAFAISON This is an episode about checking in with your body and being grateful. Greetings and welcome to 2024 - Week 52 - Thank You Body! If you're new to the podcast, welcome, and if you listen regularly, thank you. Over this year I have had many episodes on the power of gratitude. Episodes 38, 43 and 45 are a few of them. I had a download the other morning about creating a body scan meditation including gratitude. The typical body scan is a way to connect with your body for you to become more aware of how you are feeling physically and emotionally. Enjoy this body scan with gratitude practice. It is a new release today! You can listen here - https://youtu.be/a6KZrUbV6js --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barbara-faison/support

ALL THE LINKS: LINKTR.EE/BARBARAFAISON If you're new to the podcast, welcome, and if you listen regularly, thank you.This is an episode about how using movement can be a mindfulness practice.Welcome to the fifth M in the five mindful practices, Movement. So far I have shared Music, Mouth, Meditation/Mindfulness and Memories as ways to struggle and stress less through life.You can check out the beginning of the series starting with episode 47.So how are you moving these days? Are you using movement in your life mindfully? I encourage you to listen to this excerpt from Five Mindful Ways to Struggle Less and Enjoy Life More.The final M of the Five Mindful Ways to Struggle Less and Enjoy Life More is MOVEMENT! How are you moving these days? Are you consciously standing up and moving around? Our body is naturally designed to move: walk, run, jump, play and more. Movement can be as simple as getting up every 30 minutes and walking around, walk around when you are on the phone, or doing squats a few times a day.Mo

All the links: LINKTR.EE/BARBARAFAISON 2024 - Week 50 - Memories and Mindfulness If you're new to the podcast, welcome, and if you listen regularly, thank you. This is an episode about how using your memories can be a mindfulness practice. Over the past three weeks I have shared how to use 3 M’s: Music, your Mouth, Meditation and Mindfulness to stress less. The fourth M is Memories. It’s time to learn more about how connecting with your memories can be helpful for managing your emotions and stress. Enjoy this excerpt from Five Mindful Ways to Struggle Less and Enjoy Life More.  A few years ago when I was working in corporate America and got stuck in Boston for a few days due to bad weather. I took the train to CT to visit my niece, April who was working there. When I returned home, my husband, TD, had planted rose bushes and other plants we had talked about a few weeks earlier. I had a whole flower garden to view and take in as soon as I arrived at the house. In addition to seeing him after being gone for s

All the links - LINKTR.EE/BARBARAFAISON If you're new to the podcast, welcome, and if you listen regularly, thank you.This is an episode about how to use mindfulness and meditation to struggle less and enjoy life more.I’ve shared how the first M, music changes your brain chemistry and the power of the words we think and speak out loud, using our mouth, the second M. The third M, is actually two, well sort of, meditation & mindfulness. What’s the difference between those two? I like this description from an article I read recently stating one of the differences is meditation is a practice, and through this practice, one can develop different qualities, including mindfulness. As a practice you can also focus on an object, thought or activity to train your awareness. Mindfulness is a type of meditation and per Jon Kabat Zinn it is “the awareness that arises through paying attention, on purpose, in the present moment, non-judgmentally.”Let’s jump into the excerpt from Five Mindful Ways to Struggle Less and E

All the Links: LINKTR.EE/BARBARAFAISON If you're new to the podcast, welcome, and if you listen regularly, thank you. This is an episode about how to use your mouth and words as a mindful practice. The words we think and speak are powerful! As we continue on our journey of my Five Mindful Ways to Struggle Less and Enjoy Life More, Mouth is the second M. Last  week I shared how music changes your brain chemistry, and next week I’ll talk about Meditation/Mindfulness. I hope you gave some thought to how to access music to shift your mind and energy and maybe even added or came up with a playlist as suggested.   Every day and in every way I use my voice to heal, educate and inspire.  Every day I grow stronger and more confident in using my voice. I am a magnet for the right people who appreciate, honor and compensate me well for sharing my voice on their projects. I am grateful to my source, God, for sharing the right thoughts, feelings, ideas and resources for my ultimate success. This is one of my daily declar

All LINKS - LINKTR.EE/BARBARAFAISON Why Struggle? Podcast - 2024 - Week 47 - Music and Mindfulness This is an episode about how to use music as a mindful practice. Last week at my job at the library we were talking about music and songs. I remembered a song by Alexandro Sanz, Quisera Ser that I shared with my co-workers. In that moment I was transported to a time in space where I first heard the song. It was on the Latin Grammys show where Alexandro Sanz was singing with Destiny’s Child. That was over 15 years ago. He was so passionate singing in the performance I decided to buy the CD. Thinking about the song that day brought up such lovely feelings and memories from that time. That got me thinking about how music is so powerful. Over the next five weeks I’ll be sharing excerpts from my audio program: Five Mindful Ways to Struggle Less and Enjoy Life More. I know that's a mouthful. Lol. Each week I will share one of the five M’s: Music, Mouth, Meditation/Mindfulness, Memories and Movement. The intention

All the links: LINKTR.EE/BARBARAFAISON 2024 - Week 46 - How Do You Hygge? You can listen to this on my podcast - 6:51 mins or click the link here for the YouTube Channel version (audio only) If you're new to the podcast, welcome, and if you listen regularly, thank you. This is an episode about Hygge. Say what now?How do you Hygge? Have you heard of the Danish practice called Hygge? Hygge is spelled H-Y-G-G-E is pronounced HOO-ga. Here’s a quick description of the informal practice, in fact, here is a replay week 45 from 2023 from my podcast where I talked about the practice.If you’ve been listening to me, you know, I love a good practice. Lol. I also call it filling my own cup! And guess what? This weekend I was with some of the same ladies gathering together like we did last year. I hope you enjoy this excerpt. I did pull a new card, so keep listening for that.“To practice hygge, surround yourself with people, activities, and things that make you feel cozy, loved, happy, or content. Go simple: spend time wi

All Links: LINKTR.EE/BARBARAFAISON This is an episode about guess what… gratitude! Greetings and welcome to 2024 - Week 45 - Still Grateful! If you're new to the podcast, welcome, and if you listen regularly, thank you. Yes, I am still grateful. Several times this year, and just as recent as a few weeks ago, I was sharing scientific proof of how gratitude impacts our lives. And I'm still talking about that. Lol. Last week I mentioned that my initial regular colonoscopy was scheduled for September 26 and it got canceled due to the hurricane's passing through the area. I completed the rescheduled procedure on Friday and everything looks good. So I am still grateful. Allowing myself to find gratitude in all things, even what may feel unpleasant really helps me maintain an even, steady state of mind. So you know what that means if you've been listening to me for any length of time, will do something to practice being in that state of mind. I'm calling this a thank you practice. If you'd like to join me, ple

All the links : LINKTR.EE/BARBARAFAISON AUDIO - I'd rather listen - 11:48 mins 2024 - Week 44 -Things are Always Working Out! You can listen to this on my podcast - 11:48 mins or click the link here for the YouTube Channel version (audio only) This is an episode about things always working out for my highest good. One of my beliefs is that everything happens in divine order. I can think of so many times that I had a plan and my plan didn’t execute like I hoped it would. And when I would take the time to reflect and review, what happened was just what needed to happen. Everything is purposeful, even if I don’t get why at the time. I was scheduled for a routine colonoscopy on Friday, September 27th at 1 pm. I called Kaiser Thursday morning to confirm that everything was still set because we were expecting a hurricane to hit the area. I was told my procedure was still scheduled and to check the APP and online portal in case anything changed. Here’s the thing, the preparation for the colonoscopy requires you to

All the links: LINKTR.EE/BARBARAFAISON 2024 - Week 43 - Give Thanks   Yep, we are in the gratitude space again! Most days when I journal I write down something I’m grateful for and it can range from health, being mobile with limited pain, my hubby, TD, family and more. I spoke about some of the science behind having a gratitude practice in Episode 38, Gratitude Practice. Even without the science, I can feel the difference when I choose to be grateful. As I was preparing to post this episode, I had issues with opening up the software program I use to post my podcast… and I still give thanks. And I realized a few days ago that I mislabeled a few of my podcasts earlier this year. I give thanks that I wasn’t as bothered as I would have been in the past when the technology didn’t behave as I liked and when I made errors with labeling the podcast episodes. My mantra, “It’s not that serious or important.” I am also grateful that I have a newsletter and that I can post the podcast in other places other than just the

All the Links: LINKTR.EE/BARBARAFAISON This is an episode where we practice breathing together.  Can you take 303 seconds right now or later to breathe with me? It’s only five minutes and three seconds.  Let’s do it! Say what now? Barbara, I know how breathe. I know you do... I want us to breathe together intentionally.  --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barbara-faison/support

All the links - LINKTR.EE/BARBARAFAISON 2024 -  Week 41 - A Simple Practice This is an episode where I share a simple practice you can use to stay grounded. If you are new to my podcast, welcome! If you’ve been listening, I say thank you. I say thank you to anyone that takes the time to listen. I appreciate you! There is a grounding technique that helps with anxiety and connecting you to the present moment. It's called the 5 4 3 2 1 Technique. It’s one I know and use, so I thought I would share it with you so it may be something you can put in your practice toolkit. Here's an example how it goes.  Notice 5 things you see. • I see rosebushes, river, birch trees, a red cardinal, a lounge chair, and a white truck 4 things you touch: • My chair • My hand to my heart • My cell phone • My yoga mat 3 things you hear • Cars passing by • Someone cutting their • A plane flying overhead 2 things you smell. • The heat • My hand lotion 1 thing you taste. • A ginger mint This 5 4 3 2 1 practice can help you and I encourag

All the links: LINKTR.EE/BarbaraFaison Week 40 - Shake it Out and Breathe You can listen to this on my podcast - 7:01 mins or click the link here for the YouTube Channel version (audio only) This is an episode about breathing. Well, there is a lot going on in the world isn't there? And we know we can't control anybody else but ourselves, right? What I've learned is sometimes the best response is no response. Trust me I have learned this the hard way… talking way to much. Lol. It feels like we're able to see so much of other people's lives, because we are. Technology allows us to see what other people are doing, or at least what we think they are doing on many levels. It can be frightening. Whether it's watching someone do a live stream, a short on YouTube, or something on TikTok; we think we know what's happening in other people's lives. Do we, really? I'm reminding myself more and more to step away from so much of the busyness and noise of daily life. Even if it's stepping outside for five minutes to look