008 | The Power of Storytelling: Honoring the Highs & Lows of Life with Angie Lucas

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Human beings are natural storytellers. Some stories are written down; others are only thoughts. We use stories to interpret and make sense of the world. We also use them to teach abstract principles and connect with others.

Angie Lucas is a professional writer, former magazine editor, and voracious reader. In this interview, Angie and I explore the power of storytelling from three different angles.

Change Your Thoughts

The power of storytelling begins with our thoughts—the internal narratives we tell ourselves about who we are and how the world works. Some of these stories are less helpful than others; we call these stories “limiting beliefs.”

In part one, Angie demonstrates how to recognize, examine, and reframe limiting beliefs. She also explains how this process differs from putting on rose-colored glasses or faking optimism.

Share Your Life Story

The power of storytelling can also help you record your personal history for posterity—and no one is more qualified or capable of writing that story than you!

In part two, Angie offers three simple storytelling strategies to help you get started today. She also shares a bit of her own story, including her experience with infertility and pregnancy loss.

Learn from Others

Storytelling also has power to help us understand the human condition by making abstract ideas—like grief—more concrete.

In part three, Angie shares how her experience with loss helped her write My Big, Dumb, Invisible Dragon, a grief allegory for children. This beautiful book belongs in every family library and is a perfect gift for any child who is grieving the death of a loved one or experiencing life-changing loss (such as a divorce or cross-country move).

SHOW NOTES

Note: This list includes Amazon affiliate links to books mentioned in this episode. I receive a small commission for products purchased through these links, which helps to support free content on the podcast.

Connect with Rachel on Instagram

Connect with Angie Lucas
Instagram | Facebook | Website

My Big, Dumb, Invisible Dragon (Book)

Connect with Birgitta Sif (Illustrator)
Instagram | Website

The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle (Book)

The Gifts of Imperfection by Brene Brown (Book)

Maya Angelou

Loving What Is by Byron Katie (Book)

Chatbooks

Evernote App

Prixm App

Talking to Strangers by Malcolm Gladwell (Book)

It’s Okay That You’re Not Okay by Megan Devine (Book)

A Long Way from Chicago & A Year Down Yonder by Richard Peck (Books)

Skellig by David Almond (Book)

Ida, Always by Caron Levis & Charles Santoso (Book)

The Rabbit Listened by Cori Doerrfeld (Book)

DAPHNE’S STORY

Daphne’s Blog

About Progress: “Using Self-Love to Rebuild after Loss”

LifeBeats Project: “Keeping a Marriage Together after Loss by Grieving Separately to Give Space to Heal Together”

3 in 30: “How to Support Those Who Are Grieving”

MAY 2020 GIVEAWAY (CLOSED)

Two ways to enter:

(1) Post a review to Apple Podcasts, and send a screenshot to @rachel_rebuilt on Instagram.

(2) If you don’t use Apple Podcasts, send a direct message to @rachel_rebuilt on Instagram. List the podcasting app you use, and tell me what you like about the podcast.

Two winners will be selected on June 1, 2020. One winner will receive a $30 gift certificate to Happy Beads; the other will receive a Fawny Pack from Fawn Design.

006 | Using Creativity to Reduce Stress & Spark Joy with Lynn Muir

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We’re living in stressful times, and our options for emotional release are more limited, thanks to COVID-19. But even in these restrictive circumstances, we have the freedom to practice creativity. Creativity is a powerful coping strategy that can spark joy, reduce stress, and improve connection to self and to others.

Creative Exploration

Lynn Muir is a multi-passionate creator, who dabbles in everything from watercolor to woodworking. She is also a co-owner of The Makers Avenue, a creative studio for women and children. Lynn loves power tools, sawdust, and paint and believes creativity is “essential to a productive and happy life.” She’s not afraid to get messy or try new things.

Benefits of Creativity

In this interview, Lynn shares how she makes time to create as a busy mother of five, plus why it’s essential to her emotional well-being and how it blesses her children. She also explains how creativity has helped her through the most difficult trials of her life, including postpartum depression and her daughter’s cancer.*

Nurturing Creativity in Children

Lynn also offers tips for cultivating creativity in children—with special emphasis on how to involve boys. She also highlights some of the life lessons her children have learned through artistic exploration.

This light-hearted, laughter-filled conversation offers hope and practical tools to help you and your children through tough seasons, including the COVID-19 pandemic.

Also in this Episode

• Lynn’s most memorable craft projects, plus her biggest creative flop.

• A simple, fool-proof exercise for people who claim: “I’m not creative.”

• How creative play reduces stress and boosts self-confidence.

• Why you don’t have to like or finish your creative projects to benefit.

SHOW NOTES

Connect with Rachel on Instagram

Connect with Lynn Muir
Instagram | Facebook | YouTube | Website

The Makers Avenue
Instagram | Website

* Lynn was diagnosed with breast cancer just a few days before we recorded this interview. I want to thank her for having the courage to share such tender memories in the midst of an emerging trial.

003 | Belonging & Boundaries: How to Really Love Yourself with Jenna Rammell

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You can spend your whole life chasing approval and acceptance from family, friends, and strangers, or you can stand still and give yourself the love, compassion, and security you’ve always wanted. You can belong with yourself. Finding this inner peace is a process of identifying your values, honoring your needs, and setting loving boundaries to protect your energy.

Secrets of Self-Love

In this interview, Jenna Rammell shares how a crumbling friendship forced her to re-examine her source of self-worth and belonging. She explains how affirmations, energy work, and a gratitude practice helped her process old pain and show up stronger in real life and in her online community. She also shares how this inner work transformed future friendships.

What is True Belonging?

Jenna emphasizes that “belonging with yourself” isn’t selfish or solitary. It’s a way of moving through the world, knowing your worth, listening to your intuition, and releasing others from unfair expectations. It allows you to show up to life with more confidence and compassion.

Why You Need Boundaries

Boundaries are a natural result of belonging with yourself. Jenna explains that boundaries are not cement walls but gentle barriers that protect you from doing things you later regret or resent. Jenna assures us that setting new personal boundaries may feel uncomfortable at first but may not be as confrontational as we expect.

Also in this episode

• Why codependent friendships leave you feeling drained, unappreciated, and unloved.

• How subconscious energy sabotages conscious efforts to be kind, loving, and abundant.

• Giving yourself permission to evolve, even when it may disappoint others.

• How to stop living like a martyr and start showing up for yourself and others.

Show Notes

Note: This list includes Amazon affiliate links to books mentioned in this episode. I receive a small commission for products purchased through these links, which helps to support free content on the podcast.

Connect with Rachel on Instagram

Connect with Jenna Rammell
Instagram | Website

The Daily Essential Co.
Instagram | Website

You Can Heal Your Life (Book)

The Emotion Code (Book)

Small Fry

Ashley Reeves

Shannon Sargent

002 | Embrace Imperfection: The Secret to Growth & Connection with Monica Packer

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Perfectionism isn’t just putting your best foot forward, having high standards, or worrying about tiny details. Perfectionism is a fear-based mindset that keeps you from trying new things, sticking to challenging goals, and sharing your talents with others. It keeps you hustling for external validation or hiding in the shadows to avoid judgment.

Progress Over Perfection

As a self-identified “recovering perfectionist,” Monica Packer is leading a movement to help women overcome fear of failure and rejection by focusing on “progress over perfection.” Her inspiring podcast, About Progress, is a product of her own courage to try something new and embrace the messy growth process.

In this interview, Monica shares her journey from paralyzed perfectionist to determined “progressor”—a term she uses to describe her community members. She speaks candidly about her eating disorder and how her “perfect” life began unravelling while she was studying in Europe, at the epicenter of everything she loved.

The Truth about Perfectionism

Monica explains that, at its core, perfectionism is driven by a desire to live above the human condition, without flaws or weaknesses. It’s a destructive force that keeps you looking side-to-side—comparing and competing—which disconnects you from others, your Higher Power, and your own intuition. Monica offers practical advice for overcoming perfectionism and embracing a growth mindset.

Also in this episode

• The dark and destructive consequences of perfectionism.

• Ditching the “idealized woman” and creating a better vision for your life.

• How to make a “Do Something Bucket List” to explore your passions.

• Two types of perfectionism: overachieving and underachieving.

Show Notes

Note: This list includes Amazon affiliate links to books mentioned in this episode. I receive a small commission for products purchased through these links, which helps to support free content on the podcast.

Connect with Rachel on Instagram

Connect with Monica Packer
Instagram | Website | Podcast

The Gifts of Imperfection (Book)

Free Class: How to Create a Life Blueprint

Rachel’s Interview on About Progress: “Using Self-Love to Rebuild after Loss”

Dr. Jennifer Finlayson-Fife

Monica’s 2019 “Do Something Bucket List”

About Progress: “Underachieving Perfectionist“

Monica’s Small Group Coaching