EP 92: Affirmations that Actually Work - And Why Others Fail

EP 92: Affirmations that Actually Work - And Why Others Fail

In this episode, Elex dives deep into the transformative power of daily affirmations and positive self-talk . Sharing a vulnerable, real-time look at a tough week in her staffing agency, she explains how she shifts her mindset from a "negative Nancy" to her own inner coach . Learn the history, the science, and the practical way to build realistic, impactful affirmations that reshape your brain . Episode Key Takeaways: * Realism vs. Pessimism: Being a realist means seeing things exactly as they are . Pessimism assumes things will stay terrible . Re-evaluating pessimism to become a realist is vastly better for your long-term mental health . * The "Inner Coach" Mindset: You can look directly at a bad situation and choose to talk to yourself like a supportive coach rather than an angry internet commenter . Since we are adults, we have to be our own coaches and keep ourselves accountable . * Affirmations Aren't Magic: An affirmation is simply conscious self-talk . You are likely already doing daily affirmations—they just might be negative ones (like calling yourself a "dummy" when you mess up) . * Consistency Reshapes the Brain: Reshaping a negative mindset takes time . Think of it like paving a new path over worn down grass; it takes conscious effort over an extended period before your brain automatically gravitates toward the positive path . * Avoid Toxic Positivity: Your brain is a lie detector . If you tell yourself far-fetched lies (like "I am completely fearless"), your brain will reject it . Use "bridge phrases" that allow you to work on getting 1% better every day . * The 19th Century (The Father of Affirmations): French pharmacist Émile Coué noticed patients healed faster when given sugar pills alongside a repeated phrase . He had them chant 20 times a day: "Every day and every way, I am getting better and better." * The 1980s (The Mirror Work Explosion): Author Louise Hay popularized "mirror work"—looking at yourself in the mirror and practicing positive self-talk . This pop-culture explosion famously inspired the classic SNL skit ("I'm good enough, I'm smart enough...") .

EP 91: The Blueprint of Resilience - Building a Life, a Business, and a Mindset | Al Simon CEO of APS Solutions

June is Men’s Health Awareness Month, and we cannot talk about men's health without talking about men’s mental health. To kick off the month, Elex sits down with a very special guest co-host—the CEO of APS Solutions (and her dad!), Al Simon. Al shares his incredible journey of resilience, detailing how he went from living in poverty to owning his own multi-million dollar business. From navigating "working scared" early in his career to balancing a 26-year corporate climb with family life, Al opens up about what mental toughness actually means, the lessons hidden within failure, and how he keeps his mind quiet amid the noise of being a CEO. Whether you are looking to scale your career or optimize your personal accountability, this episode is packed with raw, actionable wisdom. * Redefining Mental Toughness: The shift from the old-school "rub some dirt on it" mentality to acknowledging when things hurt, allowing for true emotional regulation. * The "Hustle Game": How Al used the motivation of "working scared" early in his career to out-hustle his competition and master the staffing industry. * Reversing the Education Mindset: Why saying "yes" to new responsibilities at work—even before a pay increase—is actually a bountiful opportunity to gain invaluable personal assets. * The Law of Averages in Failure: Accepting that you won't always be 100% perfect. Moving fast at 80% right is often better than being paralyzed by the fear of failure. * Slowing Down a CEO's Mind: Al shares his personal "sanctuaries" for turning off the mental noise, including golf, family time, and a daily commitment to Bible study. * The 1% Kaizen Mindset: Why big resolutions fail and how focusing on controlling the controllables by just 1% each day creates lasting lifestyle changes. * Over 6 million men struggle with depression each year. * Men die by suicide at a rate more than 4 times that of women. * Alcohol dependency impacts 1 in 5 men. If you are a man listening, or if you have men in your life you care about, the biggest thing you can do this month is raise awareness by simply starting a conversation. If you or a loved one are seeking guidance, support, or tools for mental health, please utilize the trusted resources below: * Movember: A leading global organization focusing on men's mental health, suicide prevention, prostate cancer, and testicular cancer. * Link: movember.com [https://www.movember.com/] * HeadsUpGuys: A visual, practical resource resource hub specifically designed for men battling depression and mental health struggles. * Link: headsupguys.org [https://headsupguys.org/] * 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Free, confidential, 24/7 support for anyone experiencing a mental health crisis. You can call or text this number at any time. * Phone/Text: 988 * Link: 988lifeline.org [https://988lifeline.org/] * Visit the Mental Mixology Resource Page directly via our website bio for easy access to these links and more episode content.

EP 90: The Sole Connection - Healing from the Ground Up | Laurie Little with Sole Vibration Sedalia

Have you ever felt completely disconnected from your physical body, or noticed that your stress is wreaking total havoc on your digestion and sleep? Most of us living in today's high-stakes culture are completely patterned to chronic stress and staying in a constant loop of "fight or flight." This week, Elex sits down with Laurie Little, a certified foot zoning practitioner and sound bath therapist who is helping the Sedalia community rediscover true physiological calm. Driven by a 20-year journey as a foster and adoptive parent, Laurie became fascinated by how trauma and prolonged cortisol exposure physically alter brain development and the nervous system. Today, through her business Sole Vibration, she uses natural, science-backed modalities to help people drop out of their overstimulated minds and step into a deep state of restoration. 🧠 In this episode, we explore: The Brain on Chronic Stress: Laurie shares a pivotal concept she learned from a landmark lecture: how long-term stress can physically shrink the brain's hippocampus and steal our capacity for rational thought and mental clarity. Decoding Foot Zoning: How a complete, systematic 40-minute session targets over 220 neurological reflex points on the feet to signal balance to the entire circulatory, digestive, and endocrine systems. The Magic of Piezoelectricity: Laurie reveals the tools behind the zone—handcrafted gemstones that generate natural micro-electrical charges that resonate with the body at a cellular level. The Foot Mapping Blueprint: A breakdown of how the whole body maps to your feet—from your toes mimicking your brain and cranial nerves, to your arches mirroring the gut, and your heels connecting to the pelvic region. The Movie Trick Science: Why filmmakers are masters at using sound frequencies to trigger your amygdala into a state of panic, and how sound baths use the opposite effect to trigger your parasympathetic nervous system for deep "rest and digest" healing. Shifting Brainwaves: How a 20-to-45-minute minimum sound bath intentionally drops your overactive brain out of logical "Beta" waves and guides you into the healing space of "Alpha" and "Theta" waves. 💡 Key Quotes & Soundbites: "There are more than 220 points on the feet... that correlate with our body through the nervous system. We're going over the whole body every time because the most important part of the foot zone is that we want the body to come into a greater state of balance according to your own blueprint." — Laurie Little "We live a life of such extreme stress... and sometimes that adrenal gland feels like a rock in there. We have this overproduction of cortisol, and that is just blowing our body in a lot of ways." — Laurie Little "Almost 100% of my clients at the end say, 'I didn't even know I could feel so calm,' because we've lost the ability to feel calm and we don't even know what it feels like anymore." — Laurie Little 🔗 Connect with Sole Vibration: Ready to put down your phone for an hour, experience an immaculate aesthetic space, and give your nervous system the reset it's begging for? Laurie offers custom 60-minute sessions, standalone sound baths, double-booking date nights, or group wellness connections for up to 4 people! 👉 Click Here to Visit the Mental Mixology Missouri Resources Page https://www.mentalmixology.org/missouri-resources/ (Scroll down to find Laurie's direct website link under 'Sole Vibration Sedalia' to watch her educational videos or request a flexible booking slot!) Or book with her directly via https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61580512978456 If you or someone you know is navigating a mental health crisis, you are not alone. Help is available 24/7. Please call or text the National Crisis Lifeline at 988 for free, immediate, and confidential care. Be kind to yourselves and others—we'll see you next week!

EP 89: Navigating Infertility and Mental Resilience | Dr. Megan Keyes

In the United States, approximately 19% of women of reproductive age face challenges with infertility. Yet, despite how common this struggle is, it is far too often experienced as a silent epidemic —shrouded in isolation, silence, and social withdrawal. In honor of National Maternal Mental Health Awareness Month, Elex sits down for a deeply moving, transparent conversation with returning favorite Dr. Megan Keyes. As a clinical professional with 25 years of experience in trauma, grief, and loss, Megan brings a unique blend of scientific expertise and raw personal insight as she opens up about her own grueling several-year family-building journey that ultimately led to the birth of her daughter via a surrogate. We pull back the layers on the physiological reality of infertility stress, explore the difference between toxic positivity and grounded optimism, and discuss how resilience isn't a permanent trait you are born with—it is a skill set you can actively build, 1% at a time. 🧠 In this episode, we explore: * The Heart-Stopping Statistic: The landmark Harvard study revealed that the emotional distress levels of women undergoing fertility treatments directly match those facing cancer or recovering from a heart attack. * The Brain in Constant Alarm: How the repetitive nature of the monthly cycle creates a state of cumulative, chronic stress that exhausts the nervous system. * The Paradox of Hope: Learning how to titrate hope so it fuels your forward movement without becoming an emotional weapon when things don’t go as planned. * Grounded Optimism vs. Toxic Positivity: Why forcing generic "good vibes" can cause shame and isolation, and how allowing for possibility honors your objective reality. * When "Gratitude" Stops Working: A raw, pivotal moment from Megan's own therapy where a lifelong wellness tool failed, and why it is necessary to pivot your emotional coping strategies. * The 4 Pillars of Resilience: Breaking down the science-backed skills of mindfulness, gratitude, optimism, and self-compassion to navigate high-stakes uncertainty. * Expanding the Definition of Forward Movement: Megan’s emotional pivot to surrogacy and navigating the unexpected hurdles of the third-party reproduction system. 💡 Key Quotes & Soundbites: "You can genuinely feel happy for someone and be hurting at the same time. Both of those things are allowed to be true." — Dr. Megan Keyes "There is a very real difference between forcing positivity and allowing for possibility." — Dr. Megan Keyes "Resilience isn't about being stronger and pushing through. It’s about adapting, allowing yourself to recover, and being able to keep moving forward even when it’s hard." — Dr. Megan Keyes If you or someone you love is navigating the heavy road of family building, you do not have to walk it in isolation. Please utilize these incredible, vetted resources: 🔗 Infertility & Mental Health Resources: * RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association: Dedicated to providing community connection, virtual online support groups, and systemic advocacy for equitable care.👉 Visit Resolve.org [https://resolve.org/] * Return to Zero: HOPE: An invaluable organization offering clinical resources, community, and holistic support for those navigating pregnancy loss and infertility trauma. 👉 Visit RTZHope.org [https://rtzhope.org/] * Upward Behavioral Health: If you are looking for localized, objective mental health support to build your emotional resilience toolbox, explore professional therapy resources here.👉 Visit Upward Behavioral Health [https://upwardbehavioralhealth.com/] 🚨 Important Safety Note: If you or someone you know is currently experiencing a mental health crisis, please know that you are never alone. Call or text the National Crisis Lifeline at 988 for free, immediate, and confidential support. Don't forget to subscribe, leave a 5-star review, and share this episode with a friend who needs a little extra validation this week! 🧪⚖️✨🎙️🙌

EP 88: The Silent Mind - Unlocking Peace | Brittany Mullins from Healing House

Have you ever felt like your brain simply won't shut off? Whether it's the 10:00 PM "to-do list" loop or the physical toll of a never-ending mental load, many of us live in a state of constant noise. In this episode, Elex sits down with Brittany Mullins, a Reiki Master and Life Coach who is helping the Sedalia community move from "survival mode" to true mental silence. Brittany’s journey into holistic healing began through her own health crisis. After a traumatic NICU experience with her daughter led to a diagnosis of PTSD and chronic "fight or flight" anxiety, she realized that traditional medicine alone wasn't providing the full relief she needed. After discovering the transformative power of Reiki, Brittany made it her mission to bring these "groundbreaking" tools to others who feel stuck in their current health journey. In this episode, we discuss: The "Silent Mind" Experience: Elex shares her personal testimonial of walking out of a session with Brittany and experiencing true mental silence for the first time in years. The Science of Reiki: Brittany breaks down energy work in simple terms, explaining how disruptions in our lives (from childhood through adulthood) can manifest physically in the body's chakra system. The Mind-Body Map: How specific emotions like grief, anger, and lack of security "sit" in different areas of the body, and how a practitioner can identify these blocks. Reiki & Life Coaching Combo: Why Brittany decided to combine these two services to help clients not just realize their blocks, but create an actionable plan to move forward. The "Toolbox" Mentality: Why adding non-traditional routes to your wellness plan can be the missing ingredient when you feel like you've already checked every other box. 🔗 Connect with Healing House: Ready to find your own sense of peace? Brittany offers flexible scheduling for Reiki and Life Coaching sessions in Sedalia, MO. 👉 Click Here to Visit the Healing House Website & Make an Appointment https://www.healinghousereikiandlifecoaching.com/about-brittany-mullins (You can find Brittany’s direct link under our Missouri Resources page!)