The Unfiltered Health Podcast

76 - The Art of Letting Go and Learning to Trust

Raquel Ramirez / Stephanie Abu Awad Season 1 Episode 76

Send us a text

Winning the Myotherapist of the Year Award was not just a personal triumph for Steph but a beacon of innovation and dedication in myotherapy. Join us as she shares how this recognition has fueled her passion for promoting holistic approaches that transcend traditional methods. Meanwhile, Raquel recounts her journey of transforming a toxic work environment into a nurturing space for growth and positivity, underscoring how bold decisions can pivot our paths toward success.

Running a business is a rollercoaster of emotions, and we lay bare the struggle of separating personal identity from professional endeavors. From hiring our first team member to the anticipated stress of the "silly season," our conversation meanders through the challenges of letting go and learning to trust. The season's social events are a reminder of the importance of viewing the business as a separate entity, fostering personal growth and balance.

The end of the year is a time for reflection and setting intentions, and we explore how choosing a "word for the year" can guide personal goals and motivation. As work priorities clash with health routines during the festive season, we discuss the importance of self-compassion and realistic expectations. By sharing practical tips and personal anecdotes, we aim to inspire a balanced approach to maintaining health goals amidst life's busy moments.

Contact The Unfiltered Health Podcast

  • DM us on Instagram or Tag us @theunfilteredhealthpodcast on Instagram
  • Please give the show a 5 review if you are a regular listener on Spotify or iTunes
Speaker 1:

We have recorded this episode already like three times, so welcome to episode 76 with Raquel and Steph. Today we're talking about reflection and the importance of looking back to see how far you've come. Today we're going to start talking about what we have achieved this year. It could be personal, it could be business, it could be anything that you feel comfortable sharing today, steph. So let's start there. What have we achieved this year that I think would be good to reflect on? What have we achieved this year?

Speaker 2:

that I think would be good to reflect on. I think one of the probably biggest achievements this year, as of recent, is probably winning the Myotherapist of the Year Award.

Speaker 1:

Yes, congratulations again, can you please? Yes, congratulations to Steph, because she won the Myotherapist of the Year Award.

Speaker 2:

I think this is. It was a big achievement for me, especially because so it's a second year um of the award and I had a look at it last year when one the other biotherapist last year was named and I kind of thought to myself, oh, like that would be really cool, kind of you know, yeah, and I thought, okay, I'm just going to give it a go for this year, I'm going to give it a shot, put it out there like let's see what happens. And I think for me it's like you know, it's not just oh, look at me, I won my therapist the year. Like this award for me means obviously recognition in the industry, which is amazing.

Speaker 2:

But also I'm really trying hard to change the way people view treatments, in particular for me, obviously, because I'm a myotherapist change the way people view my myotherapy treatments and change the style of treatment from when you first walk in to when you leave, and for me it's, you know, breaking away from the standardized treatment of what you're taught at school at uni and creating a consult treatment style that is more holistic, that goes above and beyond what we're taught in order to properly get results, and that's kind of like going a bit rogue in the sense of you know the exercise prescription that I um, that I promote and um factoring in external factors like looking at stress levels, mental power, all the things, and doing so much more than just massage work on the table.

Speaker 1:

It's amazing what you're doing.

Speaker 2:

I guess for me that's kind of what you know having that recognition is about. So now I can voice.

Speaker 1:

You know what I do in a broader amount of people and you know in the industry and and everything like that about time, it's something really powerful when you do win an award like that, an accolade of some sort, and you do feel like, oh wow, like I actually do have more of a say. It's almost like it's a permission slip that you can, yeah, do what you're doing and keep on keeping on, but almost to another degree. Yeah, absolutely Well done. You really are like the Joan of Arc of my therapy for the 21st century. So I think this is good, yeah, so that's me.

Speaker 2:

That was my big one. What?

Speaker 1:

about you. That's huge. When I think about what I've achieved this year, I really come back to the beginning of the year and changing my environment like to me, this was an achievement in itself because that was the beginning, truly, of the best year that I've had in business for such a long time and changing my environment, moving out from a toxic environment.

Speaker 1:

Moving out from a toxic environment, moving out from a place that wasn't serving me anymore, moving out from a place that was the energy was not right for ladies at lift to grow, and the respect aspect of in some shape or another was kind of missing for ladies at lift. So going out into equilibrium has been a fantastic thing. And not only have I got, you know, kiara with me, I've got a team of three, four, including myself. So it's been a big year of business. And if we are specifically talking about business, like, I'm so happy and excited for what's to come, which we'll share.

Speaker 2:

I guess in the next episode. Yes, absolutely, Big change, big growth and the environment that you're in can really make or break your business in terms of just you know, if you're stuck in an environment where you do feel like it's a bit energy sucking, it's not really aligning with what you want out of business and your values, you can actually feel very stagnant because it's not an environment where you can just like thrive freely freely and effortlessly I had to catch myself there and effortlessly and you kind of just get a little bit bogged down and it's amazing what happens when you take yourself out of that environment and put yourself in one that's positive, that allows you to grow and thrive and move in a space that you want to and a direction that you want to.

Speaker 2:

And it's incredible what it does just for your mind and the direction. You no longer become like tunnel vision and you now kind of open Into the problem. Into the problem yeah, and you now become like. You have an open lens in terms of all the endless possibilities and your mind. Just this gets this like creative flow and it just allows you to continue growing and expanding and it's yeah, I can't believe I cannot believe it and I was so scared.

Speaker 1:

I was so scared I was going to make the wrong decision and leaving was a bad idea. I've always been there, all these things of why, but I was dreading it me and kiara were both dreading it like we hated going to work because of the environment. We finally did, and it was like this is the best decision of our entire, like my entire career. I don't know why I've done this earlier.

Speaker 2:

Yes, I was gonna say it's always afterwards. It's always like oh, why didn't I do it sooner? Yeah, like scared for nothing.

Speaker 1:

So anyone who is feeling like you need to change your environment, pull the trigger, go and try it. I was very lucky in my situation where I reached out to someone and I was like, listen, like this is what's happening, like I need to get out of, like this environment. I'd like to move, um, what can we do? And he was so kind and like offering us to just come in, come and trial, see what you see, what you like see if your mind's like it and it was like instant.

Speaker 1:

It was just like, yep, magnetic, we're here, we're done like I want to be here, this is where I'm meant to be.

Speaker 2:

Like you could just feel it I don't know, it was so amazing. Yeah, yeah. So, and I think when you're making a big decision, or when there is big change or big growth coming your way, it does come with fear or some form of fear. And I think if you do have that fear, that's normal. That's definitely normal. Fear is not a bad thing.

Speaker 1:

That's important to highlight, I think, anyone who's feeling like you're going through a growth patch and I think this time of the year this is why I want to talk about this today because this time of year for me personally, it is like a really good time to reflect, like daylight savings happens. I typically sit outside a bit longer with my journal and I'm like I can't believe this has been the year it's been so amazing and looking forward to another year, yeah. So it's like important that you realize that, yes, the fear is going to come, the doubt is going to be there, but don't get sucked into it. Try not to get sucked into it for too long.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, and doubt always happens when you're pushing and when you're stepping out of your comfort zone, and that just comes with that next step of growth in you know your phase of your life and wherever you're at.

Speaker 1:

So like what would you tell someone if they are looking to change, there's something that they want to achieve, and they are experiencing that fear or doubt. What's some advice that besides, you know, don't worry about it because it's easy for us to say, but what's something that you would say or advise someone on?

Speaker 2:

Sometimes you've just got to. I mean, outweighing the pros and cons is definitely a good one in that sense, because it's kind of like you know well you, you know what's the pro of stepping into that change, what's the con? And most of the time, the con is where you're going to be stuck, where you are still and you're not happy with where you are and you want to change, which is why you're here in the first place.

Speaker 2:

So, exactly right, you know, if you don't create that change, or if you don't push, or you don't make that move, well then your um, what do you call it?

Speaker 1:

I'm lost for words today your end result is you being stuck yeah, you are and not moving and like are you?

Speaker 2:

happy enough with that, with that exactly. Are you willing to settle for that? And if you're not, we'll call that's your push.

Speaker 1:

I think this kind of calls, like I feel driven to talk about like another personal aspect of our year that might also help like build this connection with our audience too, cause we do talk a lot about training and I think this would be something good to share. If you're willing, I would also. I'll start, cause I think this year for me personally mentally wise I'm so like leaving that environment changed my whole entire mental capacity yeah, just like being able to have fun, like I felt free to have fun and a personal. It's not, it's not an achievement, it's not an accolade, but it's like inside of me I feel free, like I felt like I could express myself how I want to express. I wasn't being judged all the time. I was able to just do my work and put my head down and focus, and whether or not that's having fun.

Speaker 1:

For some people like me, being able to have fun with clients, with staff, and doing my work has been so personally driven as well, because my work was also leading into my mental health at home. I'd come home and I'd be drained, zapped, thinking about what's going to happen tomorrow. How do I do this? Oh, my god, this, this, this and that. Um.

Speaker 2:

So it fell into my personal life with my myself, my friendships and my relationships, where I was able to just be more myself and like it's been, so, so empowering for me that's and it makes a difference when you, when you love what you do but you're then feeling stagnant so you're no longer loving what you do as much, that's when it can feel draining and debilitating. So when you step out of that and get into a space that allows you to then get back to enjoying what you do, it changes everything, because business growth is always personal growth as well, and if you're feeling flat and stagnant on a personal level, that's going to show up in your business as well, and vice versa true, so true.

Speaker 1:

I was feeling flat for such a long time and like just masking it with like a smile and like getting on with it, but inside I was battling. I was like battling, like I can't do this. I'm struggling here and then, like the conversation is also the same, the thoughts you're having are the same, and then you're thinking about how I can change, but you feel stuck to change.

Speaker 2:

But the easiest thing you can do is just leave and change, just like a constant loop, and you know the easiest thing to do is leave or change, or, you know, make that move. But for some people they don't feel or they're too worried to to take that next step.

Speaker 1:

I think, like context is important, like I didn't just wake up one day and realize that this wasn't the place for me, like multiple things, multiple problems happened and I was like this is the last straw, like I am sick, I'm unwell, my team's not thriving, my community is like we're thriving but we're also not really Like there's more to LTL that could be coming out of here, and then I'm not thriving, I'm feeling, I'm crying, I'm upset, I'm hurt, I'm just frustrated in this lag. So I think, like you know, it is not always the reason, always the answer to leave, whatever it might be that you're going through. But you know, when it happens six, seven, 10, 13, 14 times, 20 times, every week you know, you start to feel like this is enough. So for me it was leaving.

Speaker 2:

Yes, and for other people it could be just like a change. Whatever that is, you know what I mean. It's like a change needed to happen and your change was to leave and put yourself in a better environment. And you know what I mean. It's like a change needed to happen and your change was to leave and put yourself in a better environment. And you know we've been talking about this for such a long time and you you had mentioned it to me the past couple of years being kind of little things that were making you feel unhappy in the space that you were. And the minute you had, like, your first week at Eat Cribbling, it was like such an energy change you were like, but absolutely buzzing like.

Speaker 2:

I remember when you're sitting down having lunch together and you're like, oh my god, it's amazing and it's so cool and I love the space and it's just like energy up. So happy so excited and then keen to get back into things, keen to see more clients, keen to expand the business. And then look at you now look at me. You know expand in terms of staff members, fully booked staff members and clients and thriving and creating a team that just works so well together.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, it's been a long time coming, but I'm so happy that it's like this is how it's happened, because ultimately, like my mental obviously wasn't ready to move and I had to be mentally ready, like obviously you're only going to find out when you really do it and I had to just do it in my way and I did it in my way. Sometimes I think, okay, well, it is what it is, like it has happened, how it has happened yeah and that's all like. That is all it is, and it's benefited me a lot.

Speaker 1:

So oh, absolutely, I gotta look after me and I gotta look after my team, my community.

Speaker 2:

That's who I care about, so yeah, for sure, and you know, because you love what you do so much and because you've created this business on your own, it does you keep it close to your heart, and it's the same with my business as well. So if you feel like the business is not going well, or you feel like you're not pushing it in a way that or it's moving in a way that you want it to like, it does affect you mentally.

Speaker 2:

It really does bring you down. It's so hard sometimes to like disassociate your business from yourself, because we often see it as like the same thing, because we love it and we care about it.

Speaker 1:

So so much I relate to that so much. The amount of times I've cried and been emotional is mostly the time because I'm stressed with work. It's not really anything else yeah, it's like you said it before, like when you run a business you don't realize how much of yourself you give. So yeah it's, you have to learn as a business owner some at some point that you can't be the same all the time.

Speaker 1:

You have to disassociate at some point you have to disconnect a little bit, because if you're always emotional, you're jumping in the the burning boat. You're going to sink, you're going to drown. You can't get in that situation it's a um.

Speaker 2:

it's a constant juggle with that, definitely yeah.

Speaker 1:

Do you have a personal one? Because I think it also fuels you.

Speaker 2:

Pardon, what was that?

Speaker 1:

So do you have a personal one that you want to share? I was just jumping to you.

Speaker 2:

In terms of what?

Speaker 1:

Achievement, or like something that you're happy about. That's happened this year, like in yourself or anything in your life.

Speaker 2:

Um, what's been going on with what else? I hired a staff member this year. Yes, you did, that was another positive my my very first staff member, and it was something that I had been wanting to do for a while. But I've been struggling with it because I have a bit of an ego and I like to control everything.

Speaker 1:

but I've been struggling with it because I have a bit of an ego and I like to control everything.

Speaker 2:

I'll admit that's why we're business owners. And I like being hands-on with everything in my business and controlling everything in my business, and I knew that I wanted to expand my strength, performance and grow. And in order to do that, I had to bring on another staff member.

Speaker 1:

How was it to let go for you like and have someone come into your team?

Speaker 2:

It was a big challenge because part of me was like you need to let your staff member find their own path and, you know, mold into the business and grow in the business.

Speaker 2:

But then the other part of me was like you need to be behind them every single minute of the day to see what they're doing and make sure they're doing a good job and you know all the things yes so it was hard in that sense, but also really good, because it did teach me how to let go and not be so controlling all the time and step away and disassociate in that way in terms of it's not just about you and your business, it's think of the business as something separate and you are growing and expanding this business not you.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, exactly Because your business is an extension of you, like this is why we do this, we love what we do, but including someone else in your facility, in your clientele, it's a big thing. So I do understand that. What do you think, or when do you think, was when you finally, or have you finally, learned how to disassociate, disconnect the two, or is it something that you struggle with? I think I definitely have.

Speaker 2:

I think I've done quite a good job at pulling back in terms of not needing to feel like I need to be on everything all the time, so I think that's definitely a big win this year. It is. It is a good thing, I think.

Speaker 1:

So the year to come, then it's coming towards silly season. I really wanted to talk about this today too. Yes, look, we all know silly season is in the name. It's a very highly social time of the year and there's a lot of events on. It's a lot of food around, there's a lot of. Maybe priorities change how do you?

Speaker 2:

stress time of year, steph it's always um, especially with clients. I see one of two things. I see clients stress heaps on wanting to finish the end of the year and like work, work, work, get stuff done, deadlines, blah, blah, blah, and then priorities go out the window in terms of they stop their trading, they stop their moving because they just want to get to the end of the year. Or I see it go the opposite. Clients are really happy, really excited, and they want to be social so they actually train more, they want to continue moving, they're a little bit more stricter. Um, the two extremes, two extremes.

Speaker 2:

And it's hard sometimes because, you know, it is silly season and there's lots of Christmas parties and functions and whatnot. Social calendar is full, social calendar is always full, so there's always the. You know, if clients are, you know, I don't know watching what they eat or training, well, that often goes out the door because their priorities are more the social stuff. Or if they're stressed because of work and their deadlines are getting things done before the end of the year, their priorities will also go out the window because they're too stressed and they don't have time to move, they don't have time to exercise anymore, they don't have time to, you know, be consistent with their programs that's the thing, like you said it perfectly.

Speaker 1:

There's just a change of events. The calendar does change, the what you're doing changes, so you know, your mindset shifts with that as well, and I think it is that time of year where things in yourself you might just be pushing to the finish line almost exactly. You often say like you're going on holidays. People start to like just feel almost burnt out towards the holidays because they're just trying to cram everything, get it all done and prepare for the end of the year and then finally start the new year. And they're on holidays and you have to relax, they might be sick and they just keep on keeping on Right. I just think with the end of the year it's really important to just keep doing the things that make you feel good and not neglect them. If it's not in the same capacity, it's not the same hour session, or it's not four sessions a week, it might be three sessions a week, it's not an hour walk, might be a 30 minute walk, like maybe. The time reduction also is something that people need to think about. You know, if you can't meal prep, can you go to the supermarket and buy a bunch of meals that are somewhat healthy frozen meals.

Speaker 1:

I love fitness outcomes Personally. They're gluten free. They've got some really good options there in the freezer. I don't always go to those, but if I don't have a chance to prepare anything, I will grab a couple just to make my life easier. I still feel like I'm working towards the goal. You've got to be more forgiving, I think at this time of year too Like, expect a lot less of yourself, because if you expect too much, then well, you're the only one expecting anything to happen. Right, you've got these goals that you want to achieve. You want to do whatever you want to do with your training and your life and your goals and the end of the year plan, but expect less, because I think that also is what maybe gets people caught up in. I've got to do it this way or my priorities suck or I can't. I can't work towards my goal like you can.

Speaker 2:

It's just slightly different yeah, and I think you know if during this period you might be, example, like, on a calorie deficit and you're looking to lose weight, but you know you have a lot of events coming up like maybe just more need to be in a maintenance, it might not be the best time to be in a deficit if you feel like you're going to feel left out or you just can't commit to it. You know you don't have to have this all or nothing approach. You might just need to change your goal for you know that period of time, because that's also unhealthy too.

Speaker 1:

Like all or nothing is another extreme of whatever other extreme could be the opposite, whether you're not doing anything or you're doing everything, yeah yeah, I don't think that's good either, because, like, your goal will always be there If you're not achieving the goal and it's still the same goal that you've always had for the last few months, the last few weeks, and nothing's changing. You've got to either change the goalpost or you just get more serious about it and putting in some boundaries with yourself Like 100%.

Speaker 1:

Because I know there's a lot of clients who come towards the end of the year, like it's starting to happen now, where you know I want to lose four or five kilos before.

Speaker 1:

Christmas and summer and my holidays, which is awesome, but the expectations, that is like, well, it needs to happen before I leave. But I've also got a wedding, I've got a christening, I've got a birthday I actually got three birthdays and then I got Christmas, oh, and I'm going on holidays before I go on holidays in December. So it's like, okay, well, are we going to lose four kilos? We can probably try, but do you really like maybe, maybe, let's just, maybe, let's go up to two or three.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, is it realistic? And it's very much the time now where you get a lot of influencers with their like salesy slogans of like you know let's get summer ready summer shreds.

Speaker 1:

It's good marketing because people buy into bodies.

Speaker 2:

People buy into it because they're like, oh my God, it's summer and I'm going to go to the beach soon and I've got to look good, so I need to jump onto these challenges.

Speaker 1:

But I think also like people's bodies, like sex sells we know this and like people, influencers, who look hot. They're rocking the bikini, they're rocking an outfit for, I think, for women in particular too.

Speaker 1:

Oh guys, I'm sure guys also have the same feeling, but just speaking from a woman's perspective yeah you know, we also, I think I see some influences and I'm like, wow, like I wish I looked like that. I wish my body looked like this. So if I think that, I can only imagine what other people also think too. It is a tough time it is.

Speaker 2:

It is especially when you do see, especially maybe you know you haven't been training consistently, you haven't been eating healthy, and then it's coming towards a period now where the weather's getting nicer and so people you realize shit, I've done nothing.

Speaker 2:

Oh yeah, yeah and you're like, oh my god, I've put on you know all this weight. Or oh my God, I don't look as good as maybe I usually do, or don't feel as good as I usually do, and then it's like we need to go to the extremes now because we're not looking like the person on Instagram.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, I think. First off, my first advice would be one stop comparing yourself, stop judging yourself. Firstly, everyone makes mistakes and we are always going to make mistakes in life. It's part of learning. Secondly, yeah, try focus on what you can control rather, rather than what you can't control. And third, just remember that photoshop exists, ai technology exists. People can also get cosmetic work to the max. I've seen this girl share like she's had like total done. You wouldn't. You wouldn't pick it.

Speaker 1:

She looks amazing yeah she's had like 10 to 15 000 worth of cosmetic surgeries and maintenance a month is like I don't know what. It was something stupid like 400 to 600 a month for hair pt, whatever else you get and it's like okay.

Speaker 1:

so you, we are all comparing ourselves to people who have this disposable income, who are spending upwards of 10 to 15 000, plus, you know, boob jobs also cost like 20 grand. Liposuction, depending on what you get, costs three to 10 grand for sure, like we don't know what other people are getting. So just keep that in mind when you look at people, when you look at celebrities, when you look at influencers. They have cash to spend wherever they want and they will do that to keep up in this looks-based aesthetic thing, environment, whatever, whatever you want to call it. I don't have the words today, guys, it's 3 o'clock and I'm tired, but regardless, I think it's important to just keep in perspective that don't compare yourself to influencers. One and two focus on what you can control and implement something that's easy drink more water, go for a walk every day, sell our savings, if in melbourne, so you know do.

Speaker 2:

I think, like leading into the silly season, it's a good time, like rachel said, to sit and reflect. Reflect on all the good stuff that's happened to you this year, or all your achievements. I think it's also good to reflect on what do you want to achieve over the next three months or the rest of the year, and then also a good one to reflect on what you want next year to look like in terms of the goals in terms of your mindset. I always like having a word for the year.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, did you have a word for this year? This year was fortitude. I love that. I really like that word. What did that mean for you? Like what? What did that? What was the essence of that for you this year?

Speaker 2:

fortitude was basically having the strength and adversity through, you know, tough times or hardship, essentially. So it's always being able to overcome any little hurdles, obstacles that you know. Keep standing, go through in your life, keep standing, keep pushing. So that was kind of my, that was my word for the year and you know, not everyone has to have a word for the year or anything like that, but that's kind of part of my reflection and that's how I open each year, being like cool, what do I want the word to be this year?

Speaker 2:

What do I want the word to be this year, what do I want my attitude to be like this year, what I want my focus to be this year. So then, anytime I do feel like I'm in a slum, I go back to that word and I think about why I chose that word in the first place and it gives me just that little bit of like motivation.

Speaker 1:

I think I saw Ro do this and like this is why I also did the word of the year as well yeah, that's where I got it from.

Speaker 2:

She one of the um mentorships that I. I did this road. That was one of her reflection questions. Yeah, I love the year. It was what word would you choose to start starting and it stuck with me and I really liked it. So something that I that I do every year at the start of every year, I love that.

Speaker 1:

I was going to share these actually on my socials at some point because my word of the year this year was fun and, oh my god, I have had so much yes, yeah, yeah, you've definitely done that I really agree, like just constant, constant. It's been so good which is next year so next year's word?

Speaker 1:

have you thought of next year's word? Not yet? Yeah, not yet either. Not yet. We need some more time thinking about that. But we said we share some goals. Do you know what your goals are for the next year? Have you thought about them already?

Speaker 2:

I haven't thought about them as yet um, that's fine, that's normal.

Speaker 1:

We still got three months of this year I've had some.

Speaker 2:

I've had some thoughts. It's a lot. I have had some thoughts, but I don't have clear goals yet.

Speaker 1:

They're not do you write your goals down, do you like? Do like a whole like hour, like how do you write goals with meditation, music? What's your thing?

Speaker 2:

no, I'll, I'll sit down. No, I'm not. I wish people could see my face, right now she's laughing. I'm laughing so much. My goals are usually just. It's just. If I'm feeling in the mood, I'll sit there. Yeah, I've got to be in the mood for it. I'll sit there. I might be at a cafe having a coffee, or it might be sunny.

Speaker 1:

This is the second week you've shocked me.

Speaker 2:

I know, I know I think you've got me all figured out.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, shocked me I know I, I know I think you've got me all figured out yeah, you're just surprised every time.

Speaker 2:

What did you?

Speaker 1:

think my setting was for my goals.

Speaker 2:

You think I had like candles meditation. I was breathing. No, no, hippie stuff.

Speaker 1:

I was thinking more like like in the studio, like look standing up with your notepad and be like you're, like I want I think I'm gonna do like this next year. Like just like envisioning, like a visualization, like not even standing, like just being in your studio, like thinking about everything that you've done and like what do you want to embody next?

Speaker 2:

like and writing that down and spending like at least an hour or two like oh, that's hilarious yeah, no any goal or any um reflection that I do is never, ever, ever, ever in my studio. Tell me more about that and why For me? Because I spend so much time here, my thoughts can often get clouded in here, so I need to be like out in the open, in like a grounding space. So most of the time it's me like sitting in grass barefoot in a very like grounded, patting my dog.

Speaker 1:

That's meditation.

Speaker 2:

That's meditation. It is a form of form of meditation. Yeah, because you're grounded. Yeah, I'm very much. Yeah, that's my, that's my kind of.

Speaker 1:

Or it's in a cafe sitting drinking a coffee. Yeah, I, I spoke over you when you said that. Sorry, I have a bad habit of doing that.

Speaker 2:

Um, it's one of them, yeah the what's your reflection do you walk around equilibrium and envision what?

Speaker 1:

envision the space. Sometimes I walk around, eq, yeah, and I'm just like proud. I have this like feeling of proudness, so I'm like, oh, I can see what this could become. That's cute. Um, but no, I do. I do put the like a zen track on and I just like write.

Speaker 1:

It happens quite often Like it's a monthly thing where I just zen out, put the track on, like it's like an ongoing list of songs and I just write thoughts, feelings like what I want to achieve, like it just usually comes to me. It's not like okay, monday next week I'm going to sit down at 5 o'clock and write my goals, like it's just something at some point where I'll put the music on and I'll just it'll just journal out, naturally because if. I force it and be like okay, what do I want to achieve?

Speaker 2:

I'm like, oh, this is yeah yeah, 100%, 100% and I think it's. I think it's really important to sit and have those reflections, because life is so go, go, go 24, 7 that it is very rare that we sit and be still in silence, like away from phones, away from people, away from talking, and just literally be present in the moment, that that really does not happen often.

Speaker 1:

Yeah listening to music, scrolling tv on like noises, you know, I think it's so true like there's always like a, some distraction but like around.

Speaker 2:

So it's nice to have that space yeah, and I think that's the time where you best can can properly reflect and get in the zone when they. There is no distractions, it's just you being still no, I love that.

Speaker 1:

I think that's honestly perfect advice for anyone who does want to set some goals for the next year, to like feel it when the body feels ready and like the mind feels clear and you've got no distractions, you're not just scrolling. I find when I'm like scrolling that's the least creative, it's my least like I hate scrolling.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, absolutely hate scrolling. It makes me feel drained, it bogs me down.

Speaker 1:

I don't like it yeah, it's a no from steph, it's a no deal. It's a no from me do I scroll?

Speaker 2:

yes, I do. I'm guilty of scrolling. But do I like scrolling? No, and when I do scroll, I catch myself and I literally say to myself you get off that phone right now.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, I don't think anyone likes scrolling. It's just like a habit, it's a bad.

Speaker 2:

It's such a bad habit.

Speaker 1:

I'll tell you something I've been doing. I've been I play online chess I still love chess. Uh, let's have a match please. I need someone to play chess with, because I'm just whooping everyone's ass at the moment, because all I play is online chess like once a day, and I'm just like I've got a streak at the moment like on fire.

Speaker 2:

Oh my God, that's brilliant. Chess reminds me of Harry Potter.

Speaker 1:

the scene, you know the scene, oh yeah, Go on, Steph, you're going to do an accent now when I make my move. Then you'll be free to check the king.

Speaker 2:

I've just got the millions of tiktoks in my head of this acting. What is it? Yeah, what is it he's going to?

Speaker 1:

sacrifice himself. Okay, well, we turn into a scroll. What a fan. There you go. I don't like, I hate scrolling. Oh, actually it was harry potter more than scrolling I love scrolling to harry Harry Potter videos. I actually have seen oh, no, that's not it anyways, okay, moving on. So what's next for the pod, are we?

Speaker 2:

yeah, I think we've thought enough, okay that's done, then I think our reflection has been raw, authentic, unfiltered everything this podcast is about and I think our reflection has been raw, authentic, unfiltered. Yeah, I'm not going to edit this one, everything, this podcast is about and, just so you guys all know, we had to record this three times because it just was malfunctioning. I intro'd that stuff and it's not allowing us to speak. You intro'd that and I'm now sending it, outro-ing it. I'm outro-ing it.

Speaker 1:

Oh my gosh, we are DeLulu.

Speaker 2:

I think we are a bit DeLulu today, which is fine.

Speaker 1:

That's the end of the podcast. That's all we've got. Thank you for listening.

Speaker 2:

That's all, folks. See you next time, see you next week.