Breaking Free

Happy New year and welcome to season 3 of Breaking Free. It feels amazing to be starting a new season after reaching 50 episodes and I want to thank you for joining me on this podcast journey by listening and sharing the episodes with friends and family. It gives me a lot of joy when I know an episode has resonated with you or inspired you to make a positive change in your life. Season 2 was all about ways you can increase your confidence through sharing helpful steps you can take towards doing that and changing your mindset. I had great chats with experts and with people who had experienced a positive shift themselves and shared their personal stories.So for this episode, I thought I would revisit some of them and give you a summary of the topics and discoveries that were made that could be super helpful to start your year with new energy that gets you motivated to create the 2023 for yourself.Topics discussed in this episode:How we can all develop confidence by trying new things from episode 28 (1.53)Speaking with confidence by defining what you want first with coach Jon Torrens in episode 30 (3:27)How feeling comfortable with our sexuality is linked to how confident we feel with sexual educator Zina Malas in episode 31 (8:35)Aesthetics director Laura Marshall shares how the use of filters on social media is creating insecurities in young girls in episode 29 entitled Cosmetic confidence (11:25)Money Doctor Nikki Ramskill gives great advice on how to become confident with money by learning how to invest in episode 37 (15:32)How to stop people- pleasing and feel more confident in episode 49 starts with awareness and making small changes (17:45)How Mostafa Salameh followed his heart from being a refugee as a child to climbing mount Everest and becoming an author on episode 46 (21:40)Finding out what a teenager thinks confidence is and how she would describe herself in episode 33 (23:52)How trust in yourself helps your confidence is explained in episode 40 (27:10)How my guest Rania Khoury discovered her true strength was in her ability to be playful and became a medical clown. Episode 35 (32:20)Award winning composer Suad Bushnaq finds her confidence through her skill in music 34 (36:36)Let’s connect!FacebookInstagramTwitterLinkedInWebsite

This is a juicy episode where I had the chance to ask Gillian Harper about her book 'Feed the Tiger,Free the Dragon' which looks at an energy-fueled system that assists you in creating and maintaining a more powerful, passionate, and fulfilling existence with your partner.Gillian is an author, speaker, coach, and entrepreneur. Gillian helped build Australia’s number one franchise, served as an executive for a US Inc. 500 business, and has practiced as a finance attorney with an Australian top three firm.She shares how her own foundation crumbled in her marriage where she almost lost everything because of the blurred boundaries that divide our careers and our home life. The little-known Law of Polarity brought her life back from the brink and she shares all the valuable insights she gained that is now helping others with their own relationships.Discussed in this episode:Explaining the natural law of polarity where opposite sexual energy creates a powerful force between people (1:30)Dragons and Tigers are the masculine and feminine energies without the confusion of using gendered terms (3:16)Being aware of what you are feeling so that you can articulate your needs clearly and choose who is best to share with according to the situation (8:25)Examples of how the dragon energy craves freedom and the tiger craves to be seen and loved (13:15)How creating solid foundations in your relationship can save a marriage (15:05)After having children, Gillian craved a different energetic space and the masculine dragon energy no longer served her (18:35)We are brainwashed to think that tiger energy and surrendering is ‘less than’ when in fact it has a different beautiful power versus the doer dragon energy which is encouraged more in society (23:30)How understanding these energies can help in your business to know which one you feel more dominant and confident in. (26:55)Ways you can switch your energy (31.05)How we need to focus on the primary role with our partner which is intimacy (40.07)Connect with Gillian:https://www.gillianharper.cohttps://www.linkedin.com/in/gillian-harper-5811b142/https://twitter.com/_gillian_harperhttps://www.instagram.com/_gillian_harper/Let’s connect!FacebookInstagramTwitterLinkedInWebsite

Today’s episode is about an issue that so many people struggle with on a daily basis PEOPLE-PLEASING . I will discuss how you can know if you do it ? how it effects your confidence and holds you back, and most importantly ….what you can do about it ?The good news is that you can change and the advantages of changing will definitely outweigh the disadvantages of staying stuck in a cycle where you constantly ignore your own needs and desires in order to please others.Discussed in this episode:Why I used to be a people-pleaser and almost donated my kidney to someone I hardly knew (1.05)Signs you are people-pleasing (1.57)How doing things with the intention of getting approval can lead to you feeling resentful (4:30)The negative outcomes of people-pleasing (5:03)Why do so many of us people-please? (6:10)People-pleasing Arabs versus People-pleasing Brits (7:05)from polite to passive aggressive (9:10)How requests are often phrased as attacks (10:15)We are taught to lie about our feelings from a young age (12:18)Reconnect with your desires and inner signals (13:25)Things you can try in order to break the pattern (16:30)How ADHD can ignite something called Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria RSD (19:00)References:https://ahoy-stage.healthline.com/health/people-pleaser https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/51205436-unboundhttps://www.additudemag.com/rejection-sensitive-dysphoria-and-adhd/Let’s connect!FacebookInstagramTwitterLinkedInWebsite

I have a very interesting discussion with CEO ,co-founder and visionary of MUSE, Ariel Garten about the amazing brain sensing headband that tracks your brain as you meditate to aid with better sleep and lessen anxiety. We talk about how she managed to raise $18M to found MUSE from Silicon valley investors as well as actor Ashton Kutcher. And how the band is now used by MAYO clinic.Ariel is an inspiring neuroscientist, innovator and entrepreneur who has been on CNN several times and featured in magazines such as FORBES, FORTUNE, GQ, O Magazine, and she is described by Bloomberg as “an innovator who completely remakes reality”.Points discussed:How Ariel's artistic and scientific sides as a former fashion designer and psychotherapist, neuroscientist tied together to create MUSE (1:55)What MUSE does while you meditate (4:15)Raising $18M to found MUSE from Silicon valley investors even though women getting funded in technology can be a challenge (6:28)MUSE helps you understand and observe how your mind works and lessen anxiety (10:07)Creating technology with the intention to help that teaches you how to disengage with stressful technology (15:00)Muse used by Mayo clinic in studies to help women going through breast cancer, pain and burnout (16:50)How the headband can help us stay calm with our partners and children (18:00)How Ariel was raised with positive reinforcement and felt safe to fail (27:00)Why some people are effected more than others by anxiety (30:45)MUSE S (The digital sleeping pill) tracks your sleep (35:40)Connect with Ariel:https://www.linkedin.com/in/arielgarten/https://www.facebook.com/choosemusehttps://www.instagram.com/choosemuse/https://twitter.com/ChooseMusehttps://youtu.be/8rzlrItooG4Let’s connect!FacebookInstagramTwitterLinkedInWebsite

I enjoyed a powerful conversation with my guest Dawn Kohler about how even the most successful people struggle with feeling not good enough and are actually coming from a place of trying to prove themselves rather than express themselves from a more confident and authentic self.Dawn was an award-winning entrepreneur herself, when she was abruptly summoned to take a life-altering course. What followed was an extraordinary healing journey that gave her profound insights and a deep understanding of the human dynamic and how it plays out at home, work, and in our communities. Combining these insights, and her business experience, Dawn became a sought-after Executive Coach helping leaders understand and enhance their impact on others and their contribution to the world. Her clients have included many of the most influential women in entertainment, as well as senior leaders at such companies as Sony Pictures, NBCUniversal, Lionsgate, DreamWorks, Fox, Snapchat, Disney, and Amazon.I talk to Dawn about her recent memoir, The Messages, which is a prophetic journey she experienced 25 years ago and how it has become relevant today. I also ask her about her role in the Board of Step-Up, a non-profit organization to help mentor teen girls in low-income areas.Points discussed:How the self that Dawn had created was hijacked by the one she was born to be when she felt her body couldn't even get out of the car. (2.27)The messages brought up feelings of abandonment in therapy which led to memories of sexual abuse as child. (5:37)Handling the challenge of raising three young children while releasing painful repressed memories (10.46)How understanding the feelings of transference during therapy, led to Dawn's true awakening.(18:08)How an awakening allows us to feel an expansion of our true self (14.42)Even the most successful of people have the 'Not good enough' wound. (16.16)Experiencing a Kundalini awakening before Dawn's encounter with the Divine, preparing her to receive the main messages. (23:20)Dawn's clear calling to WRITE (30.00)Messages to not follow those who 'judge' and how healing the world is still possible. (33:00)'What do you need to do, to be who you already are' ? (40:10)Connect with Dawn: www.DawnKohler.com https://www.facebook.com/dawnkohlerauthorhttps://www.instagram.com/dawnkohler_/https://www.linkedin.com/in/dawn-kohler-1ab6494References:The Messages available on  AmazonLet’s connect!FacebookInstagramTwitterLinkedInWebsite

In my previous two episodes of Breaking Free, I discussed some of my favorite books and talked about how reading can increase your confidence in many areas. Well my guest this week shares how reading helped him follow his heart and find his purpose in life.Mostafa Salameh grew up in a Palestinian refugee camp in Jordan and found a way to reach England. He taught himself English by watching Sesame Street which eventually opened up a whole new world for him when he started to read inspirational books. The Alchemist, The Prophet, The Celestine Prophecy were the stepping stones to him becoming a great Explorer, Inspirational Speaker, Fundraiser and Author himself. His memoir DREAMS OF A REFUGEE is an extraordinary story of faith, bravery and perseverance with a foreword written by His Majesty King Abdullah II of Jordan.Mostafa is the only Palestinian-Jordanian and one of only 20 people to climb the Seven Summits and reach the South Pole and the North Pole - known as the ‘Explorers Grand Slam’ . He skied Greenland from north to south and his next big goal is to run 7 marathons in 7 continents in 7 days. Mostafa is the amazing proof that you can dream big and make anything happen if you open your heart with full conviction. His passion is changing people's lives and he has found it through climbingfor charity, raising awareness about causes that are close to his heart and giving others the opportunity to experience adventures alongside him.His courage to commit to climbing Everest and ask for King Abdullah of Jordan's support to do so, when he had no prior experience or the required fitness levels, is astounding to say the least !Discussed in this episode:How King Abdullah II of Jordan generously offered to write the foreword of Mostafa's memoir (4:00)How life in a Palestinian refugee camp with strong family bonds shaped his personality (5:45)Life in London starts in the basement of The Jordanian Embassy in Belgravia (8:30)Learning English from Sesame Street and The Sun newspaper while working in the restaurant kitchen (12:00)Watching Mel Gibson in Braveheart inspires Mostafa to study in Edinburgh (13:45)The dream of climbing Everest happened in 2004 and turned his life around (16:00)The steps Mostafa took to make his dream a reality even though he had a fear of heights (20:00)Inspired to help others with LOWEST to HIGHEST for CANCER after meeting a young cancer patient (35:40)Follow your heart and the 777 challenge (40:00)References:The Prophet by Gibran Khalil GibranThe Alchemist by Paulo CoelhoThe Celestine Prophecy by James RedfieldDreams of a refugee by Mostafa SalamehConnect with Mostafahttps://www.mostafasalameh.comhttps://www.instagram.com/mostafasalameh/https://www.linkedin.com/in/mostafasalameh/Connect with Rania FacebookInstagramTwitterLinkedInWebsite