The Lighten Up Podcast with Lauren Polly

What if there was a way to stop judgment from hijacking your mind? We’ve all been there… We’ve left a situation only to find our mind spinning with what could have gone better. The right and wrong of what we chose to say and do replay over and over again like an annoying picture show. The desire to hit the mark when we engage with others –professionally or personally – is founded by many sweet intentions. The sharing of a new idea, opening possibilities for others, speaking to what is true for us… However, we are frequently met with walls of judgment when we do. Whether that’s judgment from others around what you said or did or judgement of yourself around how you did or didn’t do it. We get stuck and lost in it. Judgment contracts your space, sticks you in your mind story and takes you out of presence with what is. It’s fuel for that hamster in your head to just keep spinning around and around while hijacking your ability to let it go and move forward with ease. There is a way to kick that hamster off the wheel and reclaim your clarity and peace. To see things for what is – not what you think they should be – and to glean awareness for the future from it. And, most importantly, to stop seeing yourself and what you choose as wrong and less then. Join me for this special podcast episode exploring: How judgment hijacks your presence of the moment Questions to ask to stop your mind spin How to speak to what can be heard - not what you want to say What you may be aware of when the communication breaks down Perfection, comparison and result-oriented traps & pitfalls

What if you could start anew in the new year? And with way more ease and forward momentum than ever before? Happy New Year! And Cheers to an amazing 2019! If you are like anyone else on the planet then you are currently taking stock of your life and setting targets for the new year. It’s always funny to see how the turn of the calendar year sets the masses into change mode… We all set our intentions for the things we would like to be different and many of us take the first steps along that path.  Unfortunately, very few of us see it through to fruition. Eventually we lose interest, get distracted, get frustrated at slow progress, doubt ourselves or float off to fantasy land – it’s easy to change it in there you know?!  Well, what if this year could be different? What if you could find a sweet spot for enjoying the path to change? Combining a large enough target to be continually enthused about and the practice of celebrating small wins along the way, you’ll find yourself moving faster and with more ease then you thought possible. Whether you are looking at paying off debt, building investments, changing jobs, creating a business or cultivating relationships what more is possible then you have yet to create? Is this the year you build the muscle of patient tenacity (one of my fav’s!) to see it through to fruition?    Enjoy this podcast for tips on: Setting targets that continually peak your interest Staying motivated through slower than desired change Pitfalls of overnight success and the “do-over!” phenomenon Patient Tenacity – the key mindset to enjoying the change path as you more forward

‘Tis the season for… WONDER What if this holiday season you could re-connect to the WONDER, MYSTERY and MAGIC that lay at the base of it all? What I love so much about this time of year is the invitation to look beyond the ego, logical mind and day to day life grind. The possibility to claim your connection to something bigger, vaster and more beautiful is an amazing gift.   Whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, Winter Solstice or your own personal beliefs let’s look at what is common among us. All the stories, beliefs and practices during this time of year are beyond this reality. They are beyond the logical mind and what is supposed to be possible.   They are full of magic and mystery and make you wonder. No answer.  No logic.    Just open exploration, deep connection and the WOW factor we had as children.    Is it time to reclaim that gift for yourself?  Enjoy this special holiday podcast exploring: The commonality we all share – beyond the right and wrong version of religion The wonder that is possible during this time of year Invitation to relax, enjoy and open to the vastness and magic of the universe – while celebrating however and whatever you choose Happy Holidays!  

When old patterns resurface – what do you do? I had an interesting week last week… I found myself in a very stressful situation.  I was not unfamiliar with the situation but it had been YEARS since I had to deal with it. I got a bit activated; buttons pushed, high alert and oh the stress! A busy mind that WOULD NOT SHUT UP and a very tired body… I started to notice that old patterns I had on how to deal with the stress had resurfaced. And that those patterns had a sneaky way of sucking me back to the past. The me from 5 years-ago resurfaced; along with all my old ways of dealing, being and doing. When we visit old circumstances or environments (Going home for the holidays?  This will totally apply!) we tend to go back to the past.  We reference what was to figure out how to deal with what is and to see what can be. And our behaviors, mind-sets and reaction patterns regress to that same past point.     You time-warp and before you know it all the space, strength and forward progress you have made is gone in the blink of an eye. We all go through this from time to time as stressors hit and familiar but rare situations re-visit us. Luckily there is an easy trick to flip out of these reaction patterns, come back to the present moment and reclaim yourself. I put it to use this week and invite you to do the same! Enjoy this podcast where we’ll explore: Regression triggers and how the “old us” comes back to bite us How referencing the past to figure out the present doesn’t work How to un-do the internal battle of the old you and the new you A simple question to pull you out of this pattern instantly A way to use the past, present and future to be more of you in every moment

We are in the heart of the holiday season. There are sparkling lights, sweet treats and cozy comforts. There are also things to buy, meals to prep, guests to welcome, travel to undertake and a whole host of “extra” to-do’s that may be wearing you a bit thin. I’ve had some interesting conversations recently around this topic. Most people, while excited about the merriment of the season, are feeling overwhelmed.  With finances stretched, schedules packed and the inter-personal interestingness of family visits; they are in serious need of a me day! Or so they think… It got me thinking about self-care. How most use it as a band-aid – retreat when things get too much, recharge your battery then dive head first back into life. I find this to be minimally effective, not to mention way less fun. ‘Me days’ can be luxurious when they are done for the delight of the experience – not from a “I need to do this or I’m going to lose it!” perspective.  It also isn’t dealing with the heart of the matter -   What’s going on to push you to that edge in the first place?! Most wouldn’t need to withdraw if they were including themselves more in their day to day choices. Or if they acknowledged their awareness – self, relational and environmental – more. If they could have less expectations of what needs to get done and more choices of what could be enjoyed things would be very different.  In short, overwhelm is a red flag that there is something off in Denmark. What if instead of hitting that edge and retreating you could cultivate self-care in every moment? Be present with yourself and put your needs and desires as priority #1? Employ a simple trick to relax into your body, open your perspective and choose towards a lighter living whenever the stress starts to build? And – taking it a few light years ahead – what if there was a way to not only ‘handle’ life but have fun with it and create a more generative future in the process? The holidays are a great time to enjoy, acknowledge and have gratitude for the amazing life you lead.  Overwhelm can keep you from that.  Don’t let it! Enjoy this special holiday-themed podcast where we’ll explore: Awareness exercise – what is really making you so stressed this time of year? How to use overwhelm as a guidepost – not a wrongness Taking the ‘need’ of self-care away – time to luxuriate in it! Some great ‘prep work’ to do for the oncoming holiday season A simple yet powerful question that leads to momentary fun & a brighter future in one fell swoop! 

What raw materials do you have to create with?  Are you using all of them to your advantage?  I adore random a-ha’s from unexpected places… I was watching the latest episode of Top Chef – a t.v. cooking competition – and had a huge lightbulb moment. The contestants were creating high-end, fancy food and I was thinking to myself ‘what secret ingredients do they have access to in order to create that!” In the next scene they all got into the car to get supplies for their next challenge and guess where they went? WHOLE FOODS!!!! Say what?! I shop there.  So do you.  Turns out they don’t have access to secret, exclusive ingredients - they work with the same raw materials that we all do. So, what’s the difference between their ability to create 5-star cuisine and my ability to create a basic boring dish? The way they use what they’ve got… They have educated themselves. Cultivated skill sets. Practiced over and over again. Continually pushed their creative edge. Took their book learning, real-life experience and creative minds and WENT FOR IT! It popped open such a space in my mind and made me ask myself – Where am I not using all that I have access to? What excuses am I using to keep me from playing with the plethora of energies, abilities and skills I already have and others that I am one choice away from cultivating? If we all have access to the same raw materials – it’s just how we used them – I wonder what else and what more I could play with? We all get stuck in those excuses of because… That people around us are more successful and moving forward at a faster clip because they are more connected, have more money and time, have more creative ideas, have access to some little-known secret to creation that I don’t know! What if it was time to move past theses excuse and the point of view that you were missing something? And started instead to explore, cultivate and use what you’ve got to create a life and business you love?! Enjoy this podcast exploring: Questions to use to un-stick yourself How honesty with self may be the one thing you are missing Awareness gaining exercise on self-imposed stops and limitations Call to action on exploring, cultivating and using what you’ve got to create!

What if you were confident your own skin? With no need to push, prove, control or dominate others? Just a quiet power, acknowledgement and trust in what you had to offer? So often we misinterpret what confidence is. Fake it ‘til you make it. Being the loudest voice in the room. Harsh control and dominance over others. Outwardly proving our worth, while on the inside doubting it. We use up TONS of energy this way and our poor bodies eek with the tension of it all.  Not to mention the strain it puts on our relationships, businesses and creations. Truth be told fake it ‘til you make it isn’t sustainable. It’s you pushing your way to be seen as something that you don’t believe you are deep down inside. What if instead you could cultivate a relaxation into your greatness? A submission to your own worth. To know that you are willing to show up, ask questions, create where required and lead the way forward? It’s not about having all the answers, figuring it out, fixing everything for everyone else or having to go it alone. It’s about owning your brilliance in a soft way and relaxing into more support then you’ve ever thought possible.  Enjoy this episode where we’ll explore: Mis-identifications of what confidence is Awareness exercise to identify where you’ve misapplied confidence Keys to relaxing and softening into your greatness How to pull support from others while not losing your power What true confident leadership is FREE telesummit on confidence and empowerment coming up!  Please join me and 20+ other experts on The Empowered Life Summit hosted by Kim Louise Morrison starting December 4th!  Go here for more details and to register:  https://theempoweredlife.kimlouisemorrison.com/lauren-polly

How many parts of yourself are you keeping hidden?  Is it time to let all of you shine? We are diverse, layered, multi-dimensional and textured beings. We have a wealth of different aspect of self. Not all of our energies, qualities and capabilities get top billing though. There are some that we play with from time to time but only in very specific circumstances. And some that we hide far away, so out of other’s sight that after awhile we become blind to them ourselves. There could be many reasons for this… Sometimes we share a new side of ourselves only to be shut down by judgment, prejudices or preferences from others. We are told that certain aspects of self don’t mesh well with our current age, circumstances or responsibilities. Life’s never ending “to-do-list” leads you into goal directed living. Autopilot takes over and before you know if you are only playing in one very specific lane. Gone is the colorful and textured tapestry of you, replaced instead by a more muted, flat and somewhat mediocre version.  Yuck… To top that off most of us were rarely given permission to un-hide, explore and foster our lesser known parts of self.  As a result, lots of our brilliances lay dormant and unfamiliar to us through most of our lives… What if you were able to enjoy the full wealth of being and diversity of self that is available?  To add more color, texture and dimension to your life’s tapestry? And to have the freedom to choose when and where what part of you got to come out to play? Enjoy this episode where we’ll explore: An awareness exercise to discover hidden parts of yourself Secretes to undoing the need to hide How to relax into your uniqueness Tips on reclaiming your hidden brilliance and wealth of being To be the first to hear when Lauren's Becoming Whole program launches - and receive a complimentary meditation - sign up here: https://mailchi.mp/laurenpolly/subscribe

  Who or what is here to support you?  Are you willing to be vulnerable enough to let them in? We all tend to guard against vulnerability… In this reality we are taught that being vulnerable means you are weak, can’t handle it, are open to attack or at risk for being caught in some way. None of this is true.  True vulnerability is something else entirely.    It is the soft, spacious power of receiving contribution, connection and support WHILE being you; warts and all. I get how it can FEEL like being vulnerable is more like option # 1 above and not like option # 2… That being vulnerable is more of a no-no then a secret sauce for success…  It can be quite confronting to let someone in. To be seen fully; every nook and cranny, every bright and dark spot of you on full display. Perhaps you have opened up before only to be judged and therefore made the choice to close up shop from here on out. The walls have gone up and you only show parts of you – those parts that seem safe and okay to share. It can be hard to ask for assistance, support or help. Strange how in doing so we FEEL like we lose our power and independence… Perhaps you have asked for assistance in the past and were controlled, disempowered or just weren’t too keen on the way that “help” was given.  And we all seek independence, self-sufficiency and dominance in our lives however we foray too much and get lost in push, force, defense and oh so much tension… Any way you break it down; our lack of vulnerability leads to isolation with the need to do it all yourself, go-it-alone, never be wholly seen, heard and appreciated.  I’d love to invite you to know a different possibility, one that may look and feel very different then you think… You can be open, seen, connected, supported WHILE you remain YOU – the independent, unique, trailblazer you were born to be. Being vulnerable is a key trick to that… Enjoy this podcast episode where we’ll explore: The difference between being alone and being lonely How to bring down the walls that keep distance in your relationships “Independent” syndrome and how it keeps out support Negotiation tips for when you let people in What true vulnerability is and what it can add to your life

Are you ready to take off your self-judgment goggles? You are brilliant, aware, sensitive, open and deeply connected to others and your environment. This may not feel so great all the time… Especially if you have never unpacked the gift it is to be aware and connected to this degree. If you have never looked at it from this angle then you may feel stressed, limited, stuck or are held captive by your spinning mind and heavy self-doubt. I get it.  I was there too for a very long time. When we struggle with our awareness we begin to judge ourselves. We make ourselves wrong and start very unhealthy patterns. Our points of view create our reality.  So, when we judge ourselves as wrong for being who and what we are naturally then guess what? We see ourselves as wrong from there on out… The longer we wear our self-judgment goggles the more our vision gets filtered. We start to see ourselves, the world and our place in it in a very disjointed light. Yes, this is bad rabbit hole to go down but have no fear! There is a simple trick for flipping this wrongness on its ear, challenging your limiting beliefs and wondering about the hidden brilliance that lies within. Please join me on this very special episode exploring: How our point of view creates our reality How unconscious patterns become grooved in over time – and how to change them! The power of wonderment The secret to dissolving self-judgment and moving past it The Other Side of Bipolar Complimentary 5-week Book Club starts soon on November 11th!  Join the exploration here:  https://laurenpolly.com/book-club/

What if you could out-create any excuse you have?  We all have that one thing. That if we had it – we could do, have and enjoy anything and everything we desire. We would start our business, write that book, foster our relationship, make investments…  on and on it goes. Let’s play a discovery game – answer the following question: If only I had ____ I would have the life of my dreams. What fits in the blank for you?  Money?  Health?  Creativity?  Support?  Approval?  Time? You name an ask for what you want and I bet you can find an “If only” that is laying on top of it – Blocking your vision to see your way through it.  Sucking up all your focus. Expending your energy by fighting it or fussing over it. Distracting you from moving forward. Or just giving up all together as that un-getable-get will never be yours…  But what if those excuses didn’t have to stop you anymore? There is a way to work with these “if onlys” in a way that creates massive – and easeful! – change.   Enjoy this episode with tips and tricks on: Discovering your “if onlys” that are holding you back Out-creating those excuses with ease for forward movement in your life How bringing “surface” excuses to light can help you uncover what’s really sticking you deep down “Starving the beast” technique to regain your power Clear steps on how to change the things you think are unchangeable in your life Added ways to play with this topic: FREE Book Club for The Other Side of Bipolar starts November 11th lead by me!  Check out the details and join us here:  https://laurenpolly.com/book-club/ Here’s the full interview on the Art of Creation Show I mention in the episode: https://youtu.be/cPteXZxvElk

What if you were capable of bouncing back from life's ups and downs with total ease? The resiliency of us humans never ceases to amaze me. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve watched someone on the brink of a downward spiral who chose to rebound instead. The numerous patient’s I’ve treated in the hospital with severe strokes whose neuroplasticity corrected almost all of the deficits within weeks to months. All the people I’ve seen bounce back from a major illness to form a new relationship with and enjoyment of their body. We are resilient.  We are made – body, soul and brain - to bounce back. Now, that being said, I get we all don’t feel that way at times. As life takes us on a seemingly out-of-our-control ride through various peaks and valleys we can feel overwhelmed, defeated and shell-shocked by our current circumstances.  “How did I wind up here and what am I supposed to do now?” are frequent inner wailings that occur during these rude awakenings.   No matter where you find yourself in these 10-seconds – on an upswing a downswing or the stagnation of no-swing – What if you could bounce back in a way that out-created where you were when you began? Just how resilient are you?  And how could you use all you’ve got to create a richer more vibrant life? To relay a favorite quote of mine: “Failure isn’t the falling down, it’s the staying down.” Buck up baby, and let’s get going! Enjoy this podcast episode where we’ll explore: How we are built to bounce back – neuroplasticity, body self-healing and tenacity of being 4 keys to resiliency that will allow you to change anything quickly and with ease How to overcome the lie of perfection and the fear of failure How preserving what was and fighting what is will stick you like nothing else Book a complimentary discovery session with me here:  https://laurenpolly.com/booking/

Who do you trust most in this world?  Is it you? Trust is a funny thing. We give it freely to those we deem deserving. Mostly this includes gurus, authority figures, experts, the people in our lives that demand to be seen this way. Very rarely do we give that trust to ourselves. The planted feet, eyes open, strong back-bone of “I know me more then you do” and “I trust that” is an elusive thing. Even when we get more practiced at it those slivers of self-doubt can pull us of course. Before you know it, that slight wavering takes your ship and points it towards where others are telling you to go – not the true north that your internal compass points to. Yes, at times our inner knowing, gut instinct, self-awareness, intuition – whatever you want to call it – can be in opposition to what others tells us. The expectations of what’s needed, is next to come or what should be are louder and more charged then that soft inner whisper. When the two compete for your attention which do you turn to? Which guides the ship of your life? Are you free to follow what you know and trust that?   This is a sticky area and unfortunately can be a bit esoteric and conceptual. Sure – it sounds great to trust me most – but how do I do that? How do I know what I know? Well…  the good news it is easier than you think. I’m delighted to share a few “how to” tools and fun perspective flips in this week’s podcast. Is it time to take your power back and trust you most of all? In this episode we’ll explore: A key tool on how to tune into your awareness Daily perspective to open your eyes to what you know in each moment What to do when your awareness is different then everyone else’s How to become your own guru of you

What seedlings have you planted that are ready to bear fruit? We plant seeds constantly. Every interaction, choice to go left or right, ‘yes’ to something new and each renewed commitment to yourself is a seedling of possibility – a different track to take your future or a way to add to the track you are currently on. Unfortunately, we aren’t the best gardeners at times… We play with the seedlings in the ethers of fantasy land never acting to bring them to actualized form.  We under-feed them and lacking nourishment, care and the space to grow they wither up and die. We get a bit angry when the when’s and how’s of growth don’t match our expectations.  And interestingly enough we sometimes cut down the most sustainable crops…  When those seedlings out-create our original ask we get overwhelmed to receive all they desire to give to us.  We say no to the gift, turn away and stop the abundance of sustainable creation.  Growth and creation – whether it’s a creative pursuit, a business or a relationship – go through certain cycles. They require different things from you at each stage… Creating the space for new creations to take root and sprout. Pulling energy to feed and nourish them. Action to clear the path and allow them to get as big as they desire. And of course, the harvest…  That joyful time you get to pluck the crops off the vine to feed and nourish yourself… What seedlings have you planted that are ready to bear fruit? What part of the cycle are you in now and what’s required to move forward? Are you ready and willing to receive all that your creations desire to gift you? In this episode we’ll cover: The cycles of creation with tips on moving forward when you get stuck in each one The powerful combination of space, energy and action to create anything you desire Energy exercise to create space, pull energy and open up to receive... For more info and to join Lauren in the full Harvest class October 15th visit here:  https://laurenpolly.com/product/energy-pull-class-the-harvest/

Are you ready to stretch past your safety zone? New situations can feel unsafe to us at first. As we stretch to new places and spaces; relationships, jobs, experiences and skill sets it’s normal for us to get a bit safety-seeking. We miss the comfort, the ease and that known bandwidth of energy that was back in our old safety zone. We sometimes get so wigged out by this missing sense of safety that we go back to the old before we even have a chance to get used to the new. We give up on so much growth and expansion this way… We pull back and don’t move at all or we choose but only for the “safest” option or we go forward but with a lot of needless worry and upset. None of the above really creates you as the leader of your life; the one who is bold enough to just go when they are called. Yes, growth in this way is uncomfortable. And when the need for safety gets activated it takes this un-comfort up a notch and it can feel like jumping off a cliff without a parachute. But what if you were willing to go anyway? And trust that in time all will be well in time? In this episode we’ll explore: The need for safety, predictability and comfort – and how it stops your growth The willingness to be seen and heard - and how to stop playing it safe How to take your current comfort zone and continually expand it for a bigger life Questions to ask to help your move forward with ease For a personal look at this topic book a complimentary 1:1 discovery session with Lauren - mentioned on today's episode - here: https://laurenpolly.com/coaching/