I Can Do This Show Me How!

When was the last time you stopped and asked yourself: am I reacting, or am I actually choosing? There is a difference, and it matters more than most of us realize. And yet, so many of us move through life on autopilot, responding to pain, fear, and circumstance without ever pausing to recognize that we have a choice.In today's episode, I take you into the heart of my personal journey, from a childhood shaped by trauma that quietly stole my sense of choice to an adulthood spent learning through therapy, teaching, books, and trusting relationships how to reclaim it. I introduce a metaphor that has been on my mind lately: we do not just create our lives out of thin air. We fabricate them using the raw materials we gather along the way. I reflect honestly on how isolation once felt like safety, why reacting rather than responding led to consequences I had to untangle later, and how crossing what I call the "choice threshold" became the turning point at every stage of my journey.Tune in and listen to the fiftieth episode of I Can Do This, Show Me How! to discover how understanding the power of choice can become the most transformative tool you carry.In this episode, you'll learn:Dr. Linda Rose opens with a declaration: you are not your pain, your fear, your trauma, or your self-doubt. She shares what it actually took for her to live that truth. (0:14)There is a difference between creating a life and fabricating one. Learn why identifying your raw materials changes how you approach personal growth. (5:05)Childhood sexual abuse quietly shaped Dr. Linda Rose's relationship with choice. Her easy acceptance was not a personality trait. It was a survival response. (8:00)Isolation can feel safe. But it is really just quiet in a way that lets the pain grow louder. Discover how teaching helped her transform solitude into something contemplative and purposeful. (10:30)There is a critical difference between reacting and responding. Dr. Linda Rose uses the story of her first marriage at 18 to show what it looks like to react to escape rather than choose with intention. (14:30)Every journey includes a choice threshold. It is the moment you stop reacting and start choosing. Dr. Linda Rose closes with one question to help you find yours today. (17:30)Let's Connect!My Email: ldroseconsulting@gmail.comMentor International: www.mentorfoundationusa.orgMentor: www.mentoring.orgAshoka Changemakers: www.ashoka.org

Have you ever looked back at a moment of crisis and realized it became the exact catalyst you needed? What if the hardest parts of your journey aren't detours but essential waypoints? The hero's journey isn't just found in mythology; it's the framework of your own life, and understanding it can shift everything about how you navigate change, challenge, and transformation.In today's episode, I'm honored to be joined by Jennifer Ally Kern, a transformational inner alignment coach, keynote speaker, and national award-winning author. Jennifer and I explore her own hero's journey from being kicked out of her home at 16 to discovering her calling through mentors and guides, to developing powerful methodologies for coaching and transformation. We discuss the practice of asking constructive rather than destructive questions, the importance of learning and presence, and how trusting yourself opens doors you never knew existed.Tune in and listen to the forty-ninth episode of I Can Do This, Show Me How! to discover how your own challenges might be pointing you toward your greatest gifts.In this episode, you'll learn:How a moment at age 13 revealed Jennifer's gifts for speaking and exploring the human mind (05:26)What happened when Jennifer was 16 and how that catalyzed her journey of transformation (08:33)About the mentors and guides who showed up for Jennifer at critical moments (09:40)How Jennifer shifted from pathology-focused work to coaching high-functioning people (13:30)The difference between constructive questions and destructive ones, and how to rewire your mind (33:00)Jennifer's daily practices for building alignment, including writing constructive questions and tracking miracles (43:48)Connect with Jennifer Ally:WebsiteInstagramLet's connect!My Email: ldroseconsulting@gmail.comMentor International: www.mentorfoundationusa.orgMentor: www.mentoring.orgAshoka Changemakers: www.ashoka.org

When things fall apart, the last thing you want to hear is "just be grateful." It feels dismissive. It feels fake. But what if gratitude isn't about ignoring your pain or pretending everything is fine? What if it's actually a fierce psychological survival strategy that humans have used across cultures for centuries to reclaim their power?In today's solo episode, I reflect on gratitude not as a polite thank you or toxic positivity, but as a tool for coexistence. I share how holding two truths at once (this situation is difficult AND I'm grateful for what sustains me) expands your capacity to handle hardship. I also explore Ubuntu, a philosophy from South Africa and other African communities, that teaches us "I am because we are." This episode challenges you to see gratitude as a choice of focus that anchors you to your community and reminds you that you are tougher than your circumstances.Tune in and listen to the forty-eighth episode of I Can Do This, Show Me How! to understand how gratitude becomes your personal power.In this episode, you'll learn:Why gratitude feels insulting when you're drowning in real problems (3:45)The difference between toxic positivity and genuine gratitude (5:20)How I used gratitude as my superpower during my last divorce (8:15)What Ubuntu means and how it shifts your focus from "what do I have" to "who helped me get here" (13:30)A 60-second challenge to practice gratitude in your own community (15:45)Let's connect!My Email: ldroseconsulting@gmail.comMentor International: www.mentorfoundationusa.orgMentor: www.mentoring.orgAshoka Changemakers: www.ashoka.org

We spend years building versions of ourselves that fit the expectations around us. At work, we show up one way. With family, another. In relationships, yet another. What happens when that carefully constructed life suddenly stops feeling like protection and starts feeling like a cage?In today's solo episode, I reflect on discovering the masks I've worn and the real cost of performing rather than living. I share the difference between force (the exhausting energy of proving, protecting, and pleasing) and power (the quiet, sustainable energy that rises from within). Through exploring my own ancestry and practicing honest self-reflection, I discovered something unexpected: I have the power to become the person I want to be, even in my seventh decade. This episode is an invitation to ask yourself where you're performing instead of living in truth.Tune in and listen to the forty-seventh episode of I Can Do This, Show Me How! to recognize the masks you're wearing and what becomes possible when you finally take them off.In this episode, you'll learn:How a seminar about masks changed Dr. Linda's entire approach to teaching (0:40)What happens to our sense of self when the titles we hide behind suddenly disappear (4:45)The difference between force and power (8:30)How exploring your ancestry can open the door to honest self-reflection (12:32)The specific places in your life where you might be performing instead of living in truth (18:23)ResourcesPower vs.Force, The Hidden Determinants of Human Behavior by David R. Hawkins, M.D., PhD.Let's connect!My Email: ldroseconsulting@gmail.comMentor International: www.mentorfoundationusa.orgMentor: www.mentoring.orgAshoka Changemakers: www.ashoka.org

We all know the feeling of holding back from something we know we need. Whether it's a relationship that no longer serves us, a dream we keep deferring, or a version of ourselves we can't quite step into, resistance is something every one of us has encountered. So why do we feel so stagnant or apprehensive in these moments and how we can successfully move through them?In today's solo episode, I explore the terrain of resistance: what holds us back, what calls us forward, and what it truly costs us to stay where we are. Drawing on my own journey, from growing up in a three-bedroom home with ten people, to working in a glass factory after high school, to shrinking myself in a shared office early in my academic career, I unpack the forces that keep us stuck and offer a compassionate framework for beginning to move. I also reflect on the practice of choosing joy intentionally, and why tending to what matters most is not a luxury but a necessity. Tune in and listen to the forty-sixth episode of I Can Do This, Show Me How! to gently examine what you may be resisting — and what might become possible if you took just one honest step.In this episode, you'll learn:Why joy must be chosen and tended rather than simply waited for, and how gardening connects me to that practice (01:25)How the quality of your life is shaped by where you consistently place your attention (04:57)What fear is actually communicating and why it is often a message from the past trying to protect us in the present (08:21)Why emotional fatigue is not laziness, but a signal from a body and spirit that has been under significant stress (11:46)The hidden cost of staying the same and the quiet ways we make ourselves smaller to fit where we are (7:49)How survival shapes what we believe is possible, and the slow, quiet shift that marks the beginning of change (22:29)Two questions to carry with you this week as you reflect on your own resistance (30:11)ResourcesThe Hero with a Thousand Faces by Joseph CampbellThe Power of Myth by Joseph Campbell and Bill MoyersFreedom’s Teacher by Katherine Mellen CharronLet's connect!My Email: ldroseconsulting@gmail.comMentor International: www.mentorfoundationusa.orgMentor: www.mentoring.orgAshoka Changemakers: www.ashoka.org

What if one of the most powerful tools for healing, longevity, and mental well-being was something you've been doing since the day you learned to stand? Walking is so woven into the fabric of daily life that most of us take it entirely for granted, moving through it without intention or presence. So what becomes possible when a simple walk becomes a practice?In today's episode, I sit down with Dr. Yun Kim and Dr. Jacques MoraMarco, co-authors of Walking Your Way to Vitality: Integrating Walking, Breathwork and Mindfulness into Your Daily Exercise. Together, they bring decades of expertise in East Asian medicine, acupuncture, Tai Chi, and mindfulness to a conversation that is as grounded in science as it is in soul. We talk about what inspired the book, from Dr. Moramarco's work with AIDS patients in the 1980s to Dr. Kim's life-changing walking meditation retreat with the great Thich Nhat Hanh, and why this moment in history makes this conversation more urgent than ever. I also share my own lifelong relationship with walking, from the streets of Compton to the breathtaking heights of Tibet.Tune in and listen to the forty-fifth episode of I Can Do This, Show Me How! and discover how putting one foot in front of the other — mindfully — can transform your health, your mind, and your life.In this episode, you'll learn:About Dr. Moramarco's 50-year journey in East Asian medicine, acupuncture, and martial arts, and how working with AIDS patients first inspired him to document the healing power of walking (4:21)How Dr. Kim's retreat with Vietnamese peace activist and monk Thich Nhat Hanh ignited her lifelong passion for mindful walking (10:23)Why walking, breathwork, and mindfulness are the right conversation for these chaotic times (13:40)The science behind the practice of walking and how it helps our brain, cortisol levels, immune system, and has even been shown to reduce the risk of some serious diseases (14:58)What retro walking is, why it engages muscles most of us neglect, and the fascinating story of a man who walked backwards from San Francisco to New York in 1915 (18:49)What writing this book taught each author about living the practices they teach, and the profound personal stories that prove these methods work (27:49)A simple one-week challenge from Dr. Moramarco, and Dr. Kim's gentle reminder to start exactly where you are (35:04)ResourcesThe Hero with a Thousand Faces by Joseph CampbellThe Power of Myth by Joseph Campbell and Bill MoyersFreedom’s Teacher by Katherine Mellen CharronLet's connect!My Email: ldroseconsulting@gmail.comMentor International: www.mentorfoundationusa.orgMentor: www.mentoring.orgAshoka Changemakers: www.ashoka.org

What if the struggles, doubts, and turning points in your life weren’t random, but instead part of a larger story that’s unfolding as it should? And what if understanding that story could help you move through life with more clarity, compassion, and joy? In a world that often feels heavy and unstable, having a framework to make sense of your experiences can be a powerful anchor. In today's solo episode, I explore the transformative power of the Hero’s Journey and use it as a lens for understanding life’s challenges. I do this by drawing from my own experiences navigating shame, searching for purpose, returning to school, and ultimately finding joy. I reflect on how each phase of my journey showed up in my life and how I was able to frame my struggles not as failure, but as necessary parts of transformation. Tune in and listen to the forty-third episode of I Can Do This, Show Me How! to gain a new perspective on your life’s path. In this episode, you’ll learn:How the Hero’s Journey provides a meaningful framework for understanding life transitions (1:44)Why feelings like shame, fear, and uncertainty may signal the beginning of transformation (3:25)Why personal development is not selfish (8:03)How to identity what stage of the journey you’re currently in and what it means for your next step (11:26)How mentors, challenges and setbacks shape personal growth (15:15)ResourcesThe Hero with a Thousand Faces by Joseph CampbellThe Power of Myth by Joseph Campbell and Bill MoyersFreedom’s Teacher by Katherine Mellen CharronLet's connect!My Email: ldroseconsulting@gmail.comMentor International: www.mentorfoundationusa.orgMentor: www.mentoring.orgAshoka Changemakers: www.ashoka.org

What happens when the life you’ve known for decades suddenly changes? How do you respond? Life transitions, whether voluntary or unexpected, often challenge our sense of identity, rhythm, and direction. In these moments, it’s important to take a beat and reflect, reconsidering how we want to move forward. In today's solo episode, I reflect on my personal journey of navigating the major life pivot of transitioning from full-time work to ‘retirement’. Using the Hero’s Journey framework, I explore the emotional and psychological impacts of change and share how big life transitions can unearth important questions about purpose, identity, and the life we’ve lived up until that point. Tune in and listen to the forty-second episode of I Can Do This, Show Me How! to reconnect with yourself and allow space for change and growth. In this episode, you’ll learn:How a life mission can guide you through major transitions (1:55)Why the Hero’s Journey is a helpful framework for navigating life pivots (7:36)Why close and ritual matter during life transitions (12:21)How the shift from productivity to purpose can challenge our identity (17:13)About a practical way to respond to guilt (18:25)ResourcesThe Hero with a Thousand Faces by Joseph CampbellThe Power of Myth by Joseph Campbell and Bill MoyersFreedom’s Teacher by Katherine Mellen CharronLet's connect!My Email: ldroseconsulting@gmail.comMentor International: www.mentorfoundationusa.orgMentor: www.mentoring.orgAshoka Changemakers: www.ashoka.org