413 Love, Connection, Belonging, and Comfort Zones
It’s easy to forget to take care of the many facets of our health in a world obsessed with value and progress. We forget to care for our mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual health in ways that dramatically affect us in the long run, which is why it is vital for us to sit down and take stock of our health and to take the time to tend to our own needs.
In today’s episode Sarah Elkins and Kevin Strauss discuss the importance of connection, comfort zones, boundaries, love, and how important it is to ourselves as humans.
413 Love, Connection, Belonging, and Comfort Zones
Title card for episode 413 featuring Kevin Strauss, the title reads Love, Connection, Belonging, and Comfort Zones
It’s easy to forget to take care of the many facets of our health in a world obsessed with value and progress. We forget to care for our mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual health in ways that dramatically affect us in the long run, which is why it is vital for us to sit down and take stock of our health and to take the time to tend to our own needs.
In today’s episode Sarah Elkins and Kevin Strauss discuss the importance of connection, comfort zones, boundaries, love, and how important it is to ourselves as humans.
Highlights
Emotional, physical, and spiritual health and what the differences are.
How we learn and how it shapes us into who we are.
Identifying your comfort zone so you feel safe stepping into your stretch zone.
Taking care of every aspect of your health so that you can operate perfectly.
Quit trying to distract, soothe, or numb yourself to your needs. Take the time to properly address them so that you can be a truly healthy and functional person.
What is your reference for comfort?
Quotes
“There is no right or wrong or better or worse way, it’s just that this is how we are operating in the world and this is how we learn.”
“Value in our brain translates to love, and that’s really an emotional health need. So we’re try to feel more valuable, because value equals love in our brain.”
“We try to show our value, that we are worthy of love, but it’s never enough. It never soothes, we always need more, more, more, because we aren’t addressing the real problem. And the real problem is we don’t feel love just for who we are.”
“How many people on the planet are actively, intentionally, daily, practicing love and connection?”
Dear Listeners it is now your turn,
I’m going to ask you to define your comfort zone. Consider a moment in time when you felt truly comfortable, loved, safe, supported, just like when I stood in my doorway and saw my children in the room, and thought “If that’s not nice, then what is?”
Find a handful of moments like that in your life, define what it felt like, because once you have that foundation, you can step out of it.
And, as always, thank you for listening.
Mentioned in this episode
The Curious Incident of The Dog in the Nighttime by Mark Haddon
The Comfort Crisis by Michael Easter
About Kevin
Quote card featuring a photo of Kevin, smiling. The quote reads “How many people on the planet are actively, intentionally, daily, practicing love and connection?”
Kevin R. Strauss is the CEO of Uchi, a platform built on one simple truth — everything feels possible when you know someone has your back, every day. With 30 years in human behavior, innovation, and wellness, Kevin focuses on solving long-standing problems with simple solutions.
His career began in biomedical engineering, earning more than 75 patents and multiple publications, but his deeper passion has always been understanding people and why we behave the way we do. Through Uchi, Kevin helps families, schools, workplaces, and communities create stronger relationships so people can do better together.
He’s also the author of Innovate The 1% and host of the Question It podcast. Outside of work, Kevin is a 24-year, injury-free Ironman Triathlete, expedition backpacker, and award-winning ballroom dancer.
Be sure to check out Kevin’s LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook! As well as his website, Kevin R Strauss, his Youtube, and Uchi Connections!
About Sarah
"Uncovering the right stories for the right audiences so executives, leaders, public speakers, and job seekers can clearly and actively demonstrate their character, values, and vision."
In my work with coaching clients, I guide people to improve their communication using storytelling as the foundation of our work together. What I’ve realized over years of coaching and podcasting is that the majority of people don’t realize the impact of the stories they share - on their internal messages, and on the people they’re sharing them with.
My work with leaders and people who aspire to be leaders follows a similar path to the interviews on my podcast, uncovering pivotal moments in their lives and learning how to share them to connect more authentically with others, to make their presentations and speaking more engaging, to reveal patterns that have kept them stuck or moved them forward, and to improve their relationships at work and at home.
The audiobook, Your Stories Don’t Define You, How You Tell Them Will is now available!
Included with your purchase are two bonus tracks, songs recorded by Sarah's band, Spare Change, in her living room in Montana.
Be sure to check out the Storytelling For Professionals Course as well to make sure you nail that next interview!
343 Incremental Improvements
Our environments influence how we function and how we are able to deal with the things in our life mentally and emotionally so that we can choose to rearrange or shed the stories or things that no longer serve us.
In today’s episode Sarah Elkins and Mark Ainley discuss the importance of giving everything our own style, facing the parts of ourselves we hold onto that need to be reframed or allowed to rest, and finally how we all collect little trophies of our adventures and that these “imperfections” should be treasured.
343 Incremental Improvements
Our environments influence how we function and how we are able to deal with the things in our life mentally and emotionally so that we can choose to rearrange or shed the stories or things that no longer serve us.
In today’s episode Sarah Elkins and Mark Ainley discuss the importance of giving everything our own style, facing the parts of ourselves we hold onto that need to be reframed or allowed to rest, and finally how we all collect little trophies of our adventures and that these “imperfections” should be treasured.
Highlights
Give your own style to whatever you do. Make it unique, make it You.
What part of your story that you aren’t dealing with needs to be reframed so that you can move on?
How your environment shifts your roles.
What are your adventure dimples?
Quotes
“When we have that resistant, usually there’s something behind that resistance. There’s a reason for that, And if we cannot push but follow through with shall we say gentle persistence, we can get to the root and that expression can change.”
“We’re so busy trying to change behavior, trying to change the face of things, rather than the root.”
“Clutter is the sign of a nonintegrated relationship of how something expresses.”
Dear Listeners it is now your turn,
What will you do, which room will you start in, where you stand there for 60 seconds. Close your eyes for a moment, sense what you’re feeling or hearing in that room. Are there any noises? Is there a hum, do you have wind chimes outside? What are you hearing? Are these sounds that are agreeable, do they light you up, do they inspire? Then open your eyes, look around you, does that room make you feel good or does it make you feel dizzy and heavy? What can you change today, in that room, something small, that will inspire you to make more changes. Incremental improvements.
And, as always, thank you for listening.
About Mark
A professional Feng Shui consultant since 2001, Mark Ainley of Sense of Space has consulted and taught all over the world, particularly in Japan, where since 2003 he has had an active practice both in person and on Zoom. Well-known and respected for his practical, easy-to-grasp approach to Feng Shui principles (which he refers to as Contemporary Feng Shui), he writes, teaches, and consults internationally, bridging the ancient wisdom of Feng Shui with common sense and aligned insights from the latest environmental psychology research.
Be sure to check out Sense of Space! As well as Mark’s Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn!
About Sarah
"Uncovering the right stories for the right audiences so executives, leaders, public speakers, and job seekers can clearly and actively demonstrate their character, values, and vision."
In my work with coaching clients, I guide people to improve their communication using storytelling as the foundation of our work together. What I’ve realized over years of coaching and podcasting is that the majority of people don’t realize the impact of the stories they share - on their internal messages, and on the people they’re sharing them with.
My work with leaders and people who aspire to be leaders follows a similar path to the interviews on my podcast, uncovering pivotal moments in their lives and learning how to share them to connect more authentically with others, to make their presentations and speaking more engaging, to reveal patterns that have kept them stuck or moved them forward, and to improve their relationships at work and at home.
The audiobook, Your Stories Don’t Define You, How You Tell Them Will is now available!
Included with your purchase are two bonus tracks, songs recorded by Sarah's band, Spare Change, in her living room in Montana.
Be sure to check out the Storytelling For Professionals Course as well to make sure you nail that next interview!
256 The Marathon of Life
In life we are rarely if ever handed our dreams and aspirations, oftentimes we must work our fingers to the bones and burn the midnight oil just to be able to stand at the starting line. In the end or maybe even halfway through we realize that all our perseverance and determination was worth it.
In this episode Sarah Elkins and the venerable Pauline Joseph discuss the importance of staying true to one’s self despite all trials, because we know we can offer the world something amazing.
256 The Marathon of Life
In life we are rarely if ever handed our dreams and aspirations, oftentimes we must work our fingers to the bones and burn the midnight oil just to be able to stand at the starting line. In the end or maybe even halfway through we realize that all our perseverance and determination was worth it.
In this episode Sarah Elkins and the venerable Pauline Joseph discuss the importance of staying true to one’s self despite all trials, because we know we can offer the world something amazing.
Highlights
Finding the perfect moment for You.
It’s okay to take pride in your hard work.
Leading the way for others.
Quotes
“With that one decision came other little decisions but I definitely made the right decision.”
“Chances are if I was a different shade and a different gender you’d have a different conversation.”
“I need to be happy and I have to be okay with that.”
About Pauline
I’m passionate about telling compelling stories that meaningfully connect brands with their
audiences. Stories that ignite the imagination to make people think, laugh, click and engage.
My business has a global mindset and outreach, but with a Caribbean heart and soul. As the
founder of AC Marketing Caribbean, I manage and motivate a team that creates lead-
generating content for international companies in emerging Caribbean markets.
Whether it’s getting our videos on primetime local news or tapping into the networking
power of LinkedIn, my imaginative strategies work.
Harnessing my tech experience at Microsoft, I built a digital infrastructure for my remote
working team that fosters productivity for my clients. My data-driven approach means that I
create powerful, cost-effective solutions for my clients.
I’m obsessed with live streaming.
When I bought my first camera three years ago, little did I know how my rookie exploration
into the video universe would unfold.
Today, I’m the host of the LinkedIn Local Caribbean, which allows LinkedIn users to network
via free events, and the ACMLive show, which has its finger on the pulse of digital marketing
in the Caribbean.
From creating a live show for the Bankers Association of Trinidad and Tobago, to giving a
platform to local entrepreneurs on my shows, by embracing video, I’ve been able to
transform and elevate the profiles of my clients in the Caribbean.
Connect with Pauline on her Instagram, YouTube, and LinkedIn!
About Sarah
"Uncovering the right stories for the right audiences so executives, leaders, public speakers, and job seekers can clearly and actively demonstrate their character, values, and vision."
In my work with coaching clients, I guide people to improve their communication using storytelling as the foundation of our work together. What I’ve realized over years of coaching and podcasting is that the majority of people don’t realize the impact of the stories they share - on their internal messages, and on the people they’re sharing them with.
My work with leaders and people who aspire to be leaders follows a similar path to the interviews on my podcast, uncovering pivotal moments in their lives and learning how to share them to connect more authentically with others, to make their presentations and speaking more engaging, to reveal patterns that have kept them stuck or moved them forward, and to improve their relationships at work and at home.
The audiobook, Your Stories Don’t Define You, How You Tell Them Will is now available!
Included with your purchase are two bonus tracks, songs recorded by Sarah's band, Spare Change, in her living room in Montana.
Interested in NLV? Sign up here!
Be sure to check out the videos and links mentioned in this episode!
Show Notes by Chinook Bromlie
242: The Stories We Start Are Not Always The Stories We Complete
How does everything we’ve done and gone through lead us to who we are today?
Join in as Sarah Elkins and the very talented, Claudia Noriega-Bernstein engage in a conversation about the power of stories within our family dynamics, our self-reflection in our own lives, and the effectiveness of coaching.
Featuring Claudia Noriega-Bernstein
How does everything we’ve done and gone through lead us to who we are today?
Join in as Sarah Elkins and the very talented, Claudia Noriega-Bernstein engage in a conversation about the power of stories within our family dynamics, our self-reflection in our own lives, and the effectiveness of coaching.
Check it out today!
“We often times try to fit into what we think everybody else wants from us, or what everyone else thinks we should do.” -Claudia Noriega-Bernstein
Discovering Clarity One Bite at a Time course is now available!
*podcast show notes contributed by Tracy Ackeret
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About Claudia Noriega-Bernstein:
Claudia is an artist, writer, TV director, philanthropist, abundance coach, mentor, mother, and wife. During her career as a journalist, she has worked for magazines and television in South America and the US, touching subjects from parenting, forgiveness, and growth to political issues. "Helping others achieve self-confidence, good relationships, their life purpose and becoming authentic leaders, brings so much joy to my life; especially when I help them stand in their own power and have clarity about who they are and where they want to be, so they can ultimately become the best version of themselves." She has dedicated the last twelve years of her life to empowering people, especially children, and women. As a life/abundance coach, she has helped people from different backgrounds to discover and implement the full potential of their own.
Check out Claudia’s Website, Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.
ABOUT SARAH:
"Uncovering the right stories for the right audiences so executives, leaders, public speakers, and job seekers can clearly and actively demonstrate their character, values, and vision."
In my work with coaching clients, I guide people to improve their communication using storytelling as the foundation of our work together. What I’ve realized over years of coaching and podcasting is that the majority of people don’t realize the impact of the stories they share - on their internal messages, and on the people they’re sharing them with.
My work with leaders and people who aspire to be leaders follows a similar path to the interviews on my podcast, uncovering pivotal moments in their lives and learning how to share them to connect more authentically with others, to make their presentations and speaking more engaging, to reveal patterns that have kept them stuck or moved them forward, and to improve their relationships at work and at home.
The audiobook, Your Stories Don’t Define You, How You Tell Them Will is now available!
Included with your purchase are two bonus tracks, songs recorded by Sarah's band, Spare Change, in her living room in Montana.
241: Finding Balance: Is Your Identity Tied to Your Job?
Is your identity tied to your job? Listen in as Sarah Elkins is joined by the Director of Quetico Career and Leadership Coaching, Jeff Ikler, in a riveting discussion about internal and external identities and relevance. Jeff also shares his personal journey and the revolving identification around work life.
Featuring Jeff Ikler
Is your identity tied to your job? Listen in as Sarah Elkins is joined by the Director of Quetico Career and Leadership Coaching, Jeff Ikler, in a riveting discussion about internal and external identities and relevance. Jeff also shares his personal journey and the revolving identification around work life.
Check it out today!
“My identity has always revolvedaround work.” -Jeff Ikler
Discovering Clarity One Bite at a Time course is now available!
*podcast show notes contributed by Tracy Ackeret
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About Jeff Ikler:
Jeff Ikler is Director of Quetico Career and Leadership Coaching, a firm dedicated to helping individuals overcome career issues and develop sustained changes in their leadership practices and organizations. He received his certificate in coaching from the Coach Training Institute. He is a certified innovation facilitator using the SIT (Systematic Inventive Thinking) process. Jeff holds a Master’s in the Teaching of History along with a Bachelor’s in History from the University of Illinois. He taught high school history in Maywood and Batavia, Illinois, for seven years. He is a former Executive Vice President at Pearson Learning where he directed the development of text- and technology-based products for all disciplines. Jeff is a co-author of Shifting: How School Leaders Can Create a Culture of Change. He is the host the “Getting Unstuck – Cultivating Curiosity” podcast. Supporting the agency of others is the river that has run through his entire career.
Check out Jeff’s Website and Blog.
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ABOUT SARAH:
"Uncovering the right stories for the right audiences so executives, leaders, public speakers, and job seekers can clearly and actively demonstrate their character, values, and vision."
In my work with coaching clients, I guide people to improve their communication using storytelling as the foundation of our work together. What I’ve realized over years of coaching and podcasting is that the majority of people don’t realize the impact of the stories they share - on their internal messages, and on the people they’re sharing them with.
My work with leaders and people who aspire to be leaders follows a similar path to the interviews on my podcast, uncovering pivotal moments in their lives and learning how to share them to connect more authentically with others, to make their presentations and speaking more engaging, to reveal patterns that have kept them stuck or moved them forward, and to improve their relationships at work and at home.
The audiobook, Your Stories Don’t Define You, How You Tell Them Will is now available!
Included with your purchase are two bonus tracks, songs recorded by Sarah's band, Spare Change, in her living room in Montana.
Episode 104 Revisited: Self-Reflection for Uncovering Satisfaction
For the past few episodes of Your Stories Don’t Define You, we’ve focused on a theme of self-reflection as a tool for inspiring leadership and finding greater satisfaction at work and at home. Episode 104, published in December 2019 with Rajkumari Neogy is a perfect addition to the theme, so we thought we’d bring it back for another look. Check it out today!
For the past few episodes of Your Stories Don’t Define You, we’ve focused on a theme of self-reflection as a tool for inspiring leadership and finding greater satisfaction at work and at home. Episode 104, published in December 2019 with Rajkumari Neogy is a perfect addition to the theme, so we thought we’d bring it back for another look. Check it out today!
During our conversation about resilience and the impact of genetics on trauma, Rajkumari mentioned two scientists well-regarded in the field of epigenetics, Rachel Yehuda and Moshe Szyf.
From an interview with Dr. Yehuda: “Rachel Yehuda is a pioneer in understanding how the effects of stress and trauma can transmit biologically, beyond cataclysmic events, to the next generation.”
Also mentioned was a book by Sarah Peyton, Your Resonant Self, which you can find here.
“Based on our environment, based on the behavior that we experience both to ourselves and others, it directly impacts how our genes express themselves.” -Rajkumari Neogy
Discovering Clarity One Bite at a Time course is now available!
*podcast show notes contributed by Tracy Ackeret
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About Rajkumari Neogy:
‘Rajkumari Neogy, MA has spent 25 years at the intersection of technology and culture.
She is the creator of the epigenetic coaching framework and the author of The WIT FACTOR: Shifting the Workplace by Becoming Your Optimal Self.
She sits quite comfortably at the intersections of Interpersonal Neurobiology, Culture, Technology, and Empathic Language for Business.
A rare blend of techno-babble and touchy-feely invites her keen insights to transform individuals and organizations organically.’
Check out Rajkumari’s Website, LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
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ABOUT SARAH:
"Uncovering the right stories for the right audiences so executives, leaders, public speakers, and job seekers can clearly and actively demonstrate their character, values, and vision."
In my work with coaching clients, I guide people to improve their communication using storytelling as the foundation of our work together. What I’ve realized over years of coaching and podcasting is that the majority of people don’t realize the impact of the stories they share - on their internal messages, and on the people they’re sharing them with.
My work with leaders and people who aspire to be leaders follows a similar path to the interviews on my podcast, uncovering pivotal moments in their lives and learning how to share them to connect more authentically with others, to make their presentations and speaking more engaging, to reveal patterns that have kept them stuck or moved them forward, and to improve their relationships at work and at home.
The audiobook, Your Stories Don’t Define You, How You Tell Them Will is now available!
Included with your purchase are two bonus tracks, songs recorded by Sarah's band, Spare Change, in her living room in Montana.
240: How Do We Find Relevance in Life? What Happens When We Don't?
Finding Meaning in YOUR Life
Have you thought about what kind of person you are right now vs. who you were, or who you want to be in the future? Join in with Sarah Elkins as she discusses the journey of finding relevance in YOUR life and how stories can have a lasting contribution.
In this episode, Sarah references a video about the movie Spirited Away. If you’re curious, watch that video below.
Discovering Clarity One Bite at a Time course is now available!
“Maybe it feels a little morbid to think like this, and maybe, just maybe, by taking the time and making this effort at finding clarity, you’ll make adjustments to how you spend your time, the energy you put into relationships, and avoid future regret.” - Sarah Elkins
*podcast show notes contributed by Tracy Ackeret
ABOUT SARAH:
"Uncovering the right stories for the right audiences so executives, leaders, public speakers, and job seekers can clearly and actively demonstrate their character, values, and vision."
In my work with coaching clients, I guide people to improve their communication using storytelling as the foundation of our work together. What I’ve realized over years of coaching and podcasting is that the majority of people don’t realize the impact of the stories they share - on their internal messages, and on the people they’re sharing them with.
My work with leaders and people who aspire to be leaders follows a similar path to the interviews on my podcast, uncovering pivotal moments in their lives and learning how to share them to connect more authentically with others, to make their presentations and speaking more engaging, to reveal patterns that have kept them stuck or moved them forward, and to improve their relationships at work and at home.
The audiobook, Your Stories Don’t Define You, How You Tell Them Will is now available!
Included with your purchase are two bonus tracks, songs recorded by Sarah's band, Spare Change, in her living room in Montana.