Today’s topic: Authenticity

Today’s grounding meditation: 
“I am!” Imagine that you are the whole universe, and the whole universe is you. Envision living fully in your dream life now, in a state of ecstatic bliss. Create something that expresses this state, in any medium. (Meditation from Creative Alchemy by Marlo Johnson)

Today’s tarot reading:
Nine of Wands: Upright. Wisdom, Perseverance, Last Stretch. Almost there! You can see the finish line, and at the last minute, you are faced with another obstacle. This challenge can be seen as a setback or a test of your character. Expect the worst and protect yourself against any foreseeable attacks. Better to be prepared than to be sorry later! Throughout this journey, you have accumulated experience and gained enough wisdom to handle anything that is thrown your way. You’ve gained tools to deal with your inner struggles and you now have the confidence in your abilities to overcome and persevere. Trust in your strength and power to make it to the end. Learn from your mistakes so that you can navigate setbacks easily in the future. Challenges are difficult, but believe in your abilities to make it through.You can do it! (Deck: Mystic Mondays Tarot: A Deck for the Modern Mystic)

Authentic people (via Psychology Today):
Have realistic perceptions of reality
Are accepting of themselves and of other people
Are thoughtful
Have a non-hostile sense of humor
Are able to express their emotions freely and clearly
Are open to learning from their mistakes
Understand their motivations

Inauthentic people (via Psychology Today):
Are self-deceptive and unrealistic in their perceptions of reality
Look to others for approval and to feel valued
Are judgmental of other people
Do not think things through clearly
Have a hostile sense of humor
Are unable to express their emotions freely and clearly
Are not open to learning from their mistakes
Do not understand their motivations

Other random shit we talk about:
How we feel about starting a podcast (with zero experience)
Over-functioning vs. under-functioning during quarantine
Netflix’s hot new show Never Have I Ever, the Parks and Recreation quarantine reunion, Ingrid Goes West, Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist, and authentic characters we’ve seen in TV/movies
Why we hate horror movies
Guided meditations that help us connect to our authentic selves
When we feel most authentic and how we connect to our authentic voices
How we’re recovering from people pleasing
Our journeys through therapy and our relationships with our therapists
Family dynamics and childhood trauma
What happens when we trust someone to hold our authenticity
Gut feelings and impulse vs. planning, structure, and overthinking

Thanks so much for listening! 😍

WTF is authenticity, and why is it so hard?

Please rate, review, subscribe, and follow us on Instagram at @messythepodcast: https://www.instagram.com/messythepodcast/ so we can keep the momentum of this creative project going. 🤩🙌

Episode 2    --   Today’s Topic: Joy

What’s been grounding us this week?
Animal Crossing (duh)
Activating Qi Flow of Heart Chakra Meditation (Fourth Chakra) from PowerThoughts Meditation Club: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vKysaFQBOzE&app=desktop (Thanks, Jada!)

Today’s grounding meditation:
“I am joyful!” 

Ritual: Relax, and take some deep breaths. Picture a rainbow of magical inspiration and joy flowing in through the top of your head. Visualize the rainbow filling your whole body until you overflow. 

Experiment: Create the most exciting thing that comes to mind right now! 

Meditation from Creative Alchemy by Marlo Johnson: https://www.amazon.com/Creative-Alchemy-Meditations-Rituals-Experiments/dp/1452158770
  

Let’s talk about joy:

Learn your spirit animal based on your zodiac sign: https://www.primalastrology.com/animal-spirit-chart.html

What is joy? (Definition)
Merriam Webster: The emotion evoked by well-being, success, or good fortune or by the prospect of possessing what one desires.

What’s the difference between joy and happiness?
Happiness is externally triggered, joy is cultivated internally
Happiness is future oriented, joy is presence
Feelings versus spirituality
Joy is closer to enlightenment

Things that ground us and help us reconnect to ourselves:
Nature, Art (music, stories, film), Travel, Love/Connection
^ If I reconnect to one of these on my list, I’ll usually feel more joyful
What about these things makes me reconnect to joy? - Purpose, meaning, feeling, aliveness, newness, spontaneity, spirituality, context (where I fit in the world)

Practicing joy is both a choice and a habit:
How you show up in the world
Daily gratitude list (wake up and start your day right)
In the moment - Feeling anxious? Run through 5 things you’re grateful for in the moment (like running through the 5 senses when you’re having a panic attack)
Reframing: I have to do this thing —> I get to do this thing. I’m stuck at home —> I’m safe at home.

Questions:
What did you enjoy as a kid (before other people’s opinions started getting in the way)? What does your inner child need right now?
What’s been bringing you joy during quarantine? - Crowdsourced questions

Homework
Wake up and start your day with a list of things you’re grateful for.
Make your list of things that ground you and help you reconnect to yourself. Put them in a place where you can see it every day.
What can you celebrate this week? Text someone your small wins every day.
Remember: living on autopilot will steal your joy.


Tarot Card of the Day
“What do our listeners really need to know about joy this week?”

Card: Four of Swords Reversed

This card is all about depletion, burnout, and exhaustion.

An Overloaded Mind
Attempting to do everything at once is actually inhibiting you from making any progress. The lack of focus is scattering your energy so nothing is solidified. Take one step at a time and focus on the task at hand. Your mind is racing and your body is trying its best to keep up with it! You may be ignoring your physical needs, which will inevitably lead to burnout and exhaustion. 

The Physical & Spiritual Body
Reconnect to your body and spiritual desires. The body is a vessel that carries the soul, so do due diligence to take care of it! Your mental state will suffer if you don’t. 

Staying Busy to Avoid Silence
Be careful of overthinking as that can lead to creating problems that aren’t even there. There is comfort in staying busy, as you’re afraid of what the silence will bring. Lean in and listen--it’s often what we need to hear the most.

Deck: Mystic Mondays Tarot: A Deck for the Modern Mystic: https://www.amazon.com/Mystic-Mondays-Tarot-Deck-Modern/dp/1452176388

WTF is joy, and where do you find it?

Welcome to Messy, a podcast about fucking up and letting go to fulfill your potential. Meet your hosts: Jada Cadena and Brittany Leaning. We’re musicians, mental health junkies, and spiritual adventurers living with our cats in Austin, Texas. We’re gonna give you ideas and inspiration for ways you can fail and learn every day to become the best, most enlightened version of yourself. Please rate, review, subscribe, and follow us on Instagram at @messythepodcast so we can keep the momentum of this creative project going. 🤩🙌

MESSY The Podcast