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Beyond Surviving with Rachel Grant
S8 Ep. 7: Jen-How Art Transformed Pain Into Purpose
Jen and I talk about the deep healing work she did in Beyond Surviving that helped her tap back into empowered choice. This was critical when her Dad sent her a hurtful letter, but rather than feel victimized, she activated choice and turned it into a work of art. This led her to further explore art expression, which has become a significant part of her healing. She shares with us some pro tips on how to get started with art expression and use it in your day to day to support your own healing journey!
EXERCISE:
Take a moment to close your eyes and imagine a calm, safe place. This could be a place that you have in your life now, a place that you have been in the past, a place you hope to go one day, or a place that you can only imagine in your mind. Create your relaxing and peaceful place with any art medium you choose. Come back to this feeling any time you need to by visualizing this safe, peaceful place again. Writing prompt: I want to live in a world where…
Connect with Jen at artandwellnesstogether@gmail.com
Jen is an ongoing advocate for survivors of abuse and trauma, and values people being seen and heard. She has found deep healing in her own journey as a Beyond Surviving graduate, and is reclaiming her life through writing and the creative arts. She now shares her process with others in several community based creative self-care programs, including ones for survivors.
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It's a wrap - final episode!
03:53|Hey listeners, it has been a great joy to connect with you for 11 seasons of Beyond Surviving. Life is calling me to invest time and energy into other programs and ways of providing resources. It is with deep love and gratitude that I am signing off and hanging up my podcaster hat! Please come join us in the Facebook group for further conversation, connection, and resources: https://www.facebook.com/groups/realtalkwithrachelUntil we meet again, take care of you!My life is over! Or...
15:20|When we are going through something hurtful, distressing, disappointing, we exacerbate the pain by falling into the trap of believing that the distress will continue indefinitely and that this one experience will have a detrimental impact on our lives.But studies have shown that we are actually poor at predicting how present events will affect our future emotional states and tend to overestimate the future impact of present negative events.This practice will help you connect with your future self and gain perspective about your current situation.#beyondsurviving #futureself #evaluatingimpact #gainingperspective #dealingwithdisappointment #meditation #sexualabusesurvivor #nervoussystemregulation #bodyawareness #mindfulness #meditation #incestsurvivor #healingsexualtrauma #foryou #viral #coachrachelsays #coaching #toolsthatwork #healing #ptsd #stressmanagement #anxiety #integration #orienting #mindbodyspirit #sensations #selfawarenessGratitude meditation
09:16|Tapping into gratitude is a great way to boost your serotonin and oxytocin levels, which is calming, grounding, and enlivening! It is also a way to expand your connection with others and even bring love in for your not so favorite people (Jedi level!).#beyondsurviving #gratitude #meditation #sexualabusesurvivor #nervoussystemregulation #bodyawareness #mindfulness #meditation #incestsurvivor #healingsexualtrauma #foryou #viral #coachrachelsays #coaching #toolsthatwork #healing #ptsd #stressmanagement #anxiety #integration #orienting #mindbodyspirit #sensations #selfawarenessSelf-Compassion Meditation for Releasing Pain in the Body
09:44|Today's practice is all about bringing self-compassion, love, and gratitude to areas in the body that are experienced as unsafe, painful, distressed, or upsetting. When we tap into self-compassion, it can help us to relax, feel more safe, and improve our relationship with our body.A huge bonus of this practice is that it helps kick self-criticism in the butt!#beyondsurviving #selfcompassion #safety #interoception #gratitude #reducedistressinthebody #sexualabusesurvivor #nervoussystemregulation #bodyawareness #mindfulness #meditation #incestsurvivor #healingsexualtrauma #foryou #viral #coachrachelsays #coaching #toolsthatwork #healing #ptsd #stressmanagement #anxiety #integration #orienting #mindbodyspirit #sensations #selfawarenessBreak free of rumination & spiral thinking
09:54|In this focused meditation, we are going to tap into the power of mantra and focus in order to counter stress and divert the mind from repetitive negative thoughts (ruminations). Added bonus, this mindfulness practice can also help improve concentration and improve well-being overall.#beyondsurviving #stoprumintation #breakfreeofspiraling #grounded #focusedmeditation #sexualabusesurvivor #nervoussystemregulation #bodyawareness #mindfulness #meditation #incestsurvivor #healingsexualtrauma #foryou #viral #coachrachelsays #coaching #toolsthatwork #healing #ptsd #stressmanagement #anxiety #integration #orienting #mindbodyspirit #sensations #selfawarenessAre your head, heart, and body connected?
12:43|Are you able to notice a thought, but not connect into the sensations in your body? Maybe you’re often overwhelmed with somatic sensations, but can’t seem to identify or track the origin? Do you struggle to connect to or name your feelings?Yeah – that’s pretty common for survivors of abuse!The good news is … practices like this one can absolutely help you connect your head, heart, and body so you will feel more attuned to yourself and better able to stay regulated.#beyondsurviving #mindbodyconnection #bodysensations #feelings #sexualabusesurvivor #nervoussystemregulation #bodyawareness #mindfulness #meditation #incestsurvivor #healingsexualtrauma #foryou #viral #coachrachelsays #coaching #toolsthatwork #healing #ptsd #stressmanagement #anxiety #integration #orienting #mindbodyspirit #sensations #selfawarenessGet Off the Negative Thought Train
06:55|Do you ever get so absorbed in anxious or negative thoughts that you feel like you’re on a runaway train that you can’t get off?In today’s practice, we explore cognitive diffusion, which allows us to observe our thoughts and allow them to flow through and exit the mind so that we don’t fuse to the thought, which is what can lead to rumination, anxiety, dysregulation and suffering.#beyondsurviving #sexualabusesurvivor #nervoussystemregulation #bodyawareness #cognitivefusion #cognitivediffusion #neutralobserver #mindfulness #meditation #incestsurvivor #healingsexualtrauma #foryou #viral #coachrachelsays #coaching #toolsthatwork #healing #ptsd #stressmanagement #anxiety #integration #orienting #mindbodyspirit #sensations #selfawarenessMicro Movements for Improving Balance
07:10|Cultivating moment to moment awareness of the body, reducing autonomic arousal (freeze, flight, fight), and improving proprioceptive awareness (which is our sense of balance) is the name of the game in this training.It’s all about breaking things down into micro movements.Clear some space (or better yet get outside!) and get ready!#beyondsurviving #sexualabusesurvivor #nervoussystemregulation #bodyawareness #micromovement #balance #propioception #selfresourcing #movement #comfortableinyourbody #selfconnection #incestsurvivor #healingsexualtrauma #foryou #viral #coachrachelsays #coaching #toolsthatwork #healing #ptsd #stressmanagement #anxiety #integration #orienting #mindbodyspirit #sensations #selfawarenessFolding Into Oneself: Generating Safety
07:53|In today's practice, we explore a gentle pose that promotes a sense of safety and protection. Enjoy exploring your body as a safe haven!#beyondsurviving #sexualabusesurvivor #nervoussystemregulation #bodyawareness #forwardbend #safety #safehaven #relaxation #selfresourcing #movement #comfortableinyourbody #selfconnection #incestsurvivor #healingsexualtrauma #foryou #viral #coachrachelsays #coaching #toolsthatwork #healing #ptsd #stressmanagement #anxiety #integration #feelings #mindbodyspirit #feelings #sensations #selfawareness