BACK TO LIFE PODCAST - WHY ME SERIES

SHOW NOTES

Episode #: 7 Series: WHY ME? Host: Nicole Green, LPCC Series Guest Host: Angela Barela, LPCC Special Guest: Elizabeth Ross, Compassus Representative

Grief is often associated with death, but loss comes in many forms—losing a job, watching friendships fade, saying goodbye to a beloved pet, moving away from home, or even grieving the version of yourself you once were. In this episode, we’re breaking down the different types of grief, how they affect us mentally, emotionally, and physically, and how to navigate them with hope.

I’m joined by my guest co-host for this series, Angela Barela, LPCC, to discuss the mental health aspects of grief. We’re also honored to welcome Elizabeth Ross from Compassus, a leader in compassionate hospice care, to share insights on grief, loss, and healing.

If you’ve ever felt like grief was more than just tears—if it’s made you feel tired, disconnected, or even guilty—this episode is for you. You’re not alone, and your grief is valid.

✔️ The many forms of grief beyond death (job loss, moving, aging, changing friendships, etc.) ✔️ How grief affects you physically, emotionally, and mentally ✔️ The importance of acknowledging and naming your grief ✔️ Coping strategies to process loss in a healthy way ✔️ How faith can play a role in grieving and healing

📌 Compassus – Compassionate Hospice & Palliative Care 📌 Book Recommendation: It’s OK That You’re Not OK by Megan Devine 📌 Grief Support: GriefShare

At the end of this episode, take a moment to reflect: What loss in your life needs your attention right now? What do you need in this season of grief?

Grief isn’t just about loss—it can also show up in chronic illness, injury, and pain. In our next episode, we’ll explore how to cope with these silent struggles and find hope in the midst of them. Don’t miss it!

Guest Host: Angela of Blue Phoenix Therapy @BluePhoenixTherapy on IG

💬 Let’s Connect! 👉 Follow us on Instagram: @BeWellwithNicoleG 👉 Subscribe & leave a review 👉 Share this episode with someone who might need it

This podcast provides general information and discussion about personal growth and related subjects. The content is for informational purposes only and should not be viewed as professional advice. Consult appropriate experts for advice specific to your situation.

🎤 Episode Title: MIC DROP – Look Who’s Talking Now: Understanding & Owning Your Voice 🎙 Guest: Shannon Spilsbury, LMFT

Have you ever felt like your voice is being drowned out? Maybe you’re speaking, but no one seems to hear you—or worse, they hear you but don’t really listen.

In this final episode of our Look Who’s Talking series, we’re dropping the mic on speaking up with clarity, confidence, and conviction. Whether it’s in relationships, at work, or in your faith journey, your voice matters. But here’s the real question: Are you using it effectively?

💡 In This Episode, We Discuss:

• Understanding your communication style

• The VOICE Method for authentic expression

• Handling difficult conversations

• Building communication confidence

🎧 If you’ve ever struggled to make your voice count, this episode is for you.

Huge thank you to Shannon Spilsbury, LMFT, a marriage and family therapist and the owner of Strengthened Foundations! Her insights in this episode have inspired us to reflect on how we show up in the world as well as how we use our voice and strengthen our communication skills with discernment.

Connect with her at www.strengthenedfoundations.com or on Instagram and Facebook: @strengthened_foundations

Resources & Tools:

Try out the VOICE method to help you express yourself with confidence and clarity. Shannon mentioned in the podcast:

• Validate your feelings
• Own your truth
• Identify your needs
• Communicate clearly
• Establish boundaries

• Instagram: @BeWellwithNicoleG
• Facebook: @BeWellwithNicoleG
• Website: www.bewellwithnicole.com

🎶 Enjoyed this series? Tag us and share your biggest takeaway! Let’s keep the conversation going.

This podcast provides general information and discussion about personal growth and related subjects. The content is for informational purposes only and should not be viewed as professional advice. Consult appropriate experts for advice specific to your situation.

Season 3 -LOOK WHO'S TALKING SERIES

Episode 5 – Sound Check: Who Told You That?

Episode Description:

In this second episode of our LOOK WHO'S TALKING series, we’re diving into the powerful topic of the stories we believe and the voices that shaped them. Have you ever stopped to ask yourself, Who told me that?

From childhood experiences to societal expectations, the narratives we live by often come from sources we’ve never questioned. Today, we’re giving those stories a much-needed sound check.

Key Topics:

• Origins of our core beliefs
• Impact of childhood and cultural messages
• Fact-checking inherited beliefs
• Creating new, healthy internal dialogues

We’re thrilled to welcome back Shannon Spilsbury, LMFT, a marriage and family therapist and the owner of Strengthened Foundations. Her insights in this episode will inspire you to reflect on the narratives shaping your life and take steps toward rewriting your story.

Connect with her at www.strengthenedfoundations.com or on Instagram and Facebook: @strengthened_foundations

Reflection Exercise:

This week, take 10 minutes to journal about a belief you hold. Ask yourself the three evaluation questions and explore what comes up. You might discover a story that’s ready for a rewrite!

• Instagram: @BeWellwithNicoleG
• Facebook: @BeWellwithNicoleG
• Website: www.bewellwithnicole.com

Let’s rewrite those limiting stories together and move Back to Life!

This podcast provides general information and discussion about personal growth and related subjects. The content is for informational purposes only and should not be viewed as professional advice. Consult appropriate experts for advice specific to your situation.

Podcast Series: LOOK WHO'S TALKING Episode Title: Listen – Who Has Your Ear?

Episode Summary: Welcome to the first episode of the Look Who's Talking series! In this thought-provoking conversation, we explore the power of influence and ask the important question: "Who has your ear?" My guest, Shannon Spilsbury, LMFT, joins me to share her expertise as a marriage and family therapist and owner of Strengthened Foundations. Together, we unpack how the voices in our lives shape our thoughts, decisions, and overall well-being.

In this episode, we’ll discuss:

• How to recognize the voices you prioritize in your life and their impact on your mindset and choices.
• Red flags that indicate unhealthy or toxic influence.
• Practical steps to choose positive and empowering voices to guide your journey.

Key Takeaways:

• The voices we listen to can shape our beliefs and actions, like seeds planted in a garden.
• Recognize signs of unhealthy influence, such as guilt-tripping, criticism, or undermining your confidence.
• Surround yourself with voices that align with your values, inspire growth, and uplift you.

Reflection Exercise: Listen & Learn Challenge Nicole and Shannon share a simple but powerful activity for listeners: Write down the top five people or sources you listen to regularly. Reflect on whether they help you grow or hold you back.

What’s Next? Join us for Episode 2, Sound Check: Who Told You That?, where we’ll uncover the stories that have shaped our beliefs and how to challenge narratives that no longer serve us.

Connect with Shannon Spilsbury:

• Website: www.strengthenedfoundations.com
• Instagram: @strengthened_foundations

• Instagram: @BeWellwithNicoleG
• Facebook: @BeWellwithNicoleG
• Website: www.bewellwithnicole.com

If you found this episode helpful, don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who might need it!

This podcast provides general information and discussion about personal growth and related subjects. The content is for informational purposes only and should not be viewed as professional advice. Consult appropriate experts for advice specific to your situation.

In this transformative final episode of our REFOCUS series, we explore the delicate balance between emotional awareness and practical action. Learn how to create sustainable change by understanding and working with your emotional patterns rather than against them. Through practical exercises and relatable examples, discover how small, intentional steps can lead to lasting transformation. Perfect for anyone ready to move forward while honoring their emotional journey.

• The connection between emotions and sustainable change
• Understanding and working with behavioral patterns
• The power of small, consistent actions
• Creating change that honors your emotional landscape
• Building bridges between current reality and desired future

1. "The Present Moment Inventory" - A grounding exercise for emotional awareness
2. "Emotional Pattern Mapping" - A tool for understanding your response patterns
3. "The Tiny Bridges Approach" - A framework for creating manageable change

"Change isn't about forcing yourself into a new shape. It's about understanding your emotional landscape and creating a path that works with who you are, not against it."

"Your patterns aren't your enemies – they're signposts helping you understand what needs care and attention."

"Instead of trying to leap across the Grand Canyon of change, we're going to build tiny bridges – actions so small that they slip right under our emotional radar."

1. Complete the Present Moment Inventory daily
2. Create your personal Emotional Pattern Map
3. Identify and implement one "tiny bridge" each day
4. Document emotional responses to changes
5. Practice working with rather than against patterns

• Instagram: @BeWellwithNicoleG
• Facebook: @BeWellwithNicoleG
• Website: www.bewellwithnicole.com

The REFOCUS series has taken listeners through three essential stages:

1. PAUSE: Understanding where you've been
2. PONDER: Clarifying where you're going and what you’re doing
3. PREPARE: Creating a sustainable path forward

Stay tuned for our next series called, Look Who’s Talking, where guest host, Shannon Spilsbury, LMFT of Strengthened Foundations and I will explore the voices influencing our lives. Subscribe to ensure you don't miss any episodes.

If you found value in the REFOCUS series, please:

• Rate and review us
• Share with friends/family who might benefit

This podcast provides general information and discussion about personal growth and related subjects. The content is for informational purposes only and should not be viewed as professional advice. Consult appropriate experts for advice specific to your situation.

Ever feel like you're just going through the motions, unsure of where you're actually headed? In this episode of the Back to Life podcast, we’re diving into the power of pondering—taking a step back to reflect on where you want to go and why it matters. We explore how our values, emotions and behavioral patterns influence our life's direction. Through practical exercises and relatable stories, we discover how to recognize and work with our emotional GPS to create meaningful change. Perfect for anyone feeling off course or struggling with distractions on their personal growth journey.

Understanding how emotions guide our decisions and life choices Recognizing and working with behavioral patterns The relationship between distractions and emotional coping mechanisms Tools for staying aligned with what matters most. The importance of emotional awareness in personal growth.

1. The "Weather Report" - An emotional awareness check-in
2. Three Words Future Self Exercise - Exploring your desired direction
3. The "Pattern Interrupt" Tool - A three-question framework for managing distractions

"These patterns - whether it's productive procrastination, perfectionism, or people-pleasing - they're not character flaws. They're coping mechanisms."

"Understanding these patterns is like having a high-definition map for your journey."

"Every GPS recalculates when we take a wrong turn. Your emotional GPS is no different."

1. Complete the "Weather Report" exercise daily
2. Document your what matters most to you and read it daily
3. Keep a pattern detection journal for the week
4. Practice the "Pattern Interrupt" tool when noticing distractions

• Episode 1: PAUSE - Where Have You Been? (Previous episode in series)
• List of Common Core Values: https://www.balancingwell.com/uploads/2/2/0/6/22063438/exercise_valueslist.pdf

• Instagram: @BeWellwithNicoleG
• Facebook: @BeWellwithNicole
• Website: www.bewellwithnicole.com

Join us next week for the final episode in our REFOCUS series: PREPARE - Where Are You Now? We'll create a practical roadmap for moving forward, incorporating everything we've learned about our emotional patterns and what matters most.

If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review us wherever you listen, and share with someone who might benefit from this journey of self-discovery.

This podcast provides general information and discussion about personal growth and related subjects. The content is for informational purposes only and should not be viewed as professional advice. Consult appropriate experts for advice specific to your situation.

In this first episode of the REFOCUS series on the Back to Life Podcast, we’re exploring the power of the pause. Life’s fast pace often leaves little room for reflection, yet pausing is where growth begins. By looking back, we honor our experiences and uncover valuable lessons that shape our path forward. Together, we’ll explore why pausing matters, how it reveals the story your life has been telling, and practical ways to make reflection a part of your journey.

• Growth starts with reflection: Taking time to pause allows you to process your experiences and reconnect with what truly matters.
• Emotional and behavioral indicators to watch for: Feelings of overwhelm, lack of fulfillment, or burnout may signal it’s time to pause.
• The importance of celebrating progress: Recognize how far you’ve come and what you’ve overcome.
• Lessons are hidden in every chapter: Even the hard moments hold wisdom that can guide your next steps.

1. Look back on the last year: What experiences shaped you the most?
2. Honor the hard moments: What lessons did you learn from your challenges?
3. Celebrate small wins: What are you proud of, no matter how small?
4. Journal Prompt: What’s a chapter in your life that taught you something powerful, and how has it shaped who you are today?

Take 10 minutes this week to sit with these questions. Reflection is the first step toward clarity and intention.

In the next episode of the REFOCUS series, we’ll explore PONDER: Where Are You Going? Together, we’ll we explore how our emotions and behavioral patterns influence our life's direction. Don’t miss it!

Let’s continue the conversation!

• Website: www.BeWellWithNicole.com
• Instagram: @BeWellWithNicoleG
• TikTok: @BeingMrsGreen
• Facebook: @BeWellWithNicoleG

Thank you for pausing with me today. Let’s honor where we’ve been so we can embrace where we’re going.

This podcast provides general information and discussion about personal growth and related subjects. The content is for informational purposes only and should not be viewed as professional advice. Consult appropriate experts for advice specific to your situation.

Life can feel overwhelming when the world seems to be spinning out of control. The uncertainty, the chaos, the constant noise—it’s a lot. But here’s the truth: you don’t have to have it all figured out right now.

In those moments when life feels like too much, pause, breathe, take a step back, and reflect on where you’ve been. Acknowledge the lessons, the strength, and the resilience you’ve gained.

Then ponder. Where do you want to go from here? What truly matters to you? Clarity comes when we take the time to listen to our hearts.

Finally, prepare. Even in the middle of uncertainty, small intentional steps can help you build a life that feels aligned, grounded, and meaningful—no matter what’s happening around you.

Our 3-part REFOCUS series on the Back to Life podcast is here to help you navigate these moments. It’s not about having all the answers—it’s about finding the tools and clarity to move forward with purpose.

You’ve made it through so much already. Let’s take the next step together.