What Can a Trigger Teach Me?

What Can a Trigger Teach Me?

In this episode of No One Is Perfect, Christy and Marti talk about triggers, not as something to shame ourselves for or "get over," but as an invitation to become more aware of our relationship with ourselves in the moment. Sometimes a trigger is about what is happening now. And sometimes the present moment touches an older wound: abandonment, rejection, grief, fear, betrayal, or the feeling of being suddenly responsible for everything. The nervous system can respond as though the past is happening all over again. Together, Christy and Marti explore the SubSoma loop, the "amygdala hijack," codependency, rescuing, self-abandonment, and the importance of letting ourselves feel without getting lost in the story. This episode is not about becoming someone who never gets triggered. It is about noticing sooner, reducing the intensity and duration of the loop, and building resources that help us come back home to ourselves. In this episode, we talk about: * Why a present-day trigger can awaken an old emotional reality * How the body can respond with panic, rage, numbness, shutdown, grief, or urgency * The difference between honoring your feelings and spiraling in them * Why rescuing others can sometimes be connected to our own unmet needs * How self-judgment keeps us stuck in the loop * The questions to ask once you are regulated enough to reflect * Tapping, breath, butterfly taps, movement, and being witnessed by a safe person * Why healing is not about never being triggered, but about returning to yourself more quickly Questions to take with you: What is happening inside of me right now? What am I feeling, or not feeling? What story am I telling myself? What does this remind me of? Am I responding to this moment, or reliving an older one? What do I need so I do not abandon myself right here? You do not have to have it all together to be healing. You only have to be willing to notice, soften the judgment, and take one small step back toward yourself.

Where Inner Knowing Begins

What if the clarity you've been searching for has been within you all along? In this episode, we explore the journey into intentional living—one that began not from a desire for spirituality, but from the very real demands of life. As a competitive marathon runner chasing speed and a mother raising three young daughters, the need for both movement and stillness led to an unexpected discovery: clarity doesn't come from doing more, but from learning how to listen. Through years of yoga practice, advanced teacher training, and deep personal exploration, a powerful truth emerged—the body, mind, and spirit are not separate. They are in constant conversation. Most of us have just never been taught how to hear it. We dive into how practices like yoga, mindfulness, and even tools like crystals can serve as anchors—not as answers themselves, but as ways to quiet the noise so your own inner guidance can rise to the surface. This conversation is a reminder that you don't need to search outside yourself for direction, validation, or clarity. It's already there. You just have to come home to it.

Your Body Is the Medicine: Plant Medicine and Integration

In this episode of No One Is Perfect: Unfiltered Conversations on Life’s Messiness, we explore the deeper conversation around plant medicine, healing, embodiment, and personal sovereignty with our guest Erin Kinney [kinney.erin@gmail.com]. Plant medicine is often spoken about as something that “heals us,” but what if the medicine is not here to fix us, but to reveal what is already present within us? We talk about the importance of integration and how true healing is not just about having a powerful experience but about learning to embody what the experience showed us. Integration is the process of bringing insight back into the body, the nervous system, relationships, and daily life. This conversation also explores the importance of creating a respectful relationship with plant medicine, seeing it not as a substance, but as a living intelligence, a guide, and a sacred ally. The medicine is not the guru. It is not something that does the work for us. It opens perception, amplifies what is already within us, and invites us into deeper responsibility. We also discuss why starting with intense psychotropic medicines is not always necessary, and why, without embodiment, preparation, support, and integration, people can sometimes become overwhelmed or even re-traumatized. At the heart of this episode is a powerful reminder: Your body is the medicine. Healing is not about leaving the body. It is about learning how to listen, perceive, hold, and direct your own energy with greater awareness. Sovereignty begins when we stop giving our power away and begin returning to the wisdom already living within us. ●      The reminder that your body is already a sacred doorway Key Takeaway Plant medicine does not take your power away, and it should never replace your relationship with your own body, intuition, and inner wisdom. The deepest healing happens when we integrate the experience, stay connected to the body, and remember that the medicine is not outside of us alone. https://erin-kinney.com/ [https://erin-kinney.com/]

The Truth About AI: Beyond the Fear and Hype

In this episode, we dive headfirst into the world of artificial intelligence—cutting through the noise, the hype, and the fear. Joined by engineer Trent Foster, who works hands-on with AI in the field, we explore what AI actually is (and what it isn't), how it’s already shaping our everyday lives, and where it’s headed next. Trent brings a grounded, real-world perspective to the conversation, helping unpack some of the biggest concerns people have—from job displacement to ethical questions—and offering clarity around what's realistic versus what's been exaggerated. We also talk about how AI can be used as a tool for empowerment, creativity, and problem-solving when approached with awareness and intention. Whether you're curious, cautious, or somewhere in between, this episode offers an honest, accessible look at AI—so you can better understand it, work with it, and feel a little less overwhelmed by it.

Trading Goal for Guidance

Today, we're diving into something that might sound a little rebellious in a world that's obsessed with vision boards, five-year plans, and crushing your goals. What if constantly setting goals isn't actually the path to the life we're meant to live? What if goals might be getting in the way of your life? I love this quote: "When the Ego Plans…the Soul Laughs" What if some of the pressure, burnout, and striving so many of us feel is coming from trying to force life to follow the agenda of the ego… instead of allowing something deeper to guide us? What if we can stop chasing goals and start following guidance? WHAT????!!!!!! In this episode, we're exploring a different way of moving through life — one where you loosen your grip on rigid plans and start listening for the quieter guidance of spirit, intuition, or whatever you want to call that deeper intelligence moving through all of us. Instead of asking, "What do I need to achieve next?" we ask, "What feels alive? What feels aligned? What is trying to emerge through me?" This isn't about becoming passive or doing nothing. It's about learning the difference between pushing life… and being led by it. So today we're talking about the case against goals, the difference between ego ambition and soul direction, and what can open up when we stop trying to control the path and start trusting the unfolding.