We know it’s been a while since the release of a new episode. You’re probably wondering why there has been so much radio silence over the past several months. With a sad and heavy heart, your host Annemarie had to say goodbye to her mother in May of this year. After spending time caring for her mother and enjoying precious moments with her family, she’s excited to be back and looks forward to all the episodes we have in the pipeline! 

Jumping into today’s episode, which we’ve titled Fear the Frenemy, we define the term “frenemy” and look at two keywords in the definition of fear: anticipation and awareness. We then dive into a discussion on the different flavors of fear and how our bodies respond to each of these “fear-cream cones.” Our conversation steers toward how to actively manage your fear and quiet your mind, and we share five steps to move your thoughts from the negative zone to the neutral zone. This is a jam-packed episode, filled with incredible insights into how fear functions and great tips on how to manage the fear in your life. If fear reigns supreme in your life, be sure to tune in to learn how to regain control, lengthen your lifespan, and improve your health and well-being on many levels!

Key Points From This Episode:

• Why Annemarie took a break from podcasting (and a message to caregivers).
• Why she refers to fear as her frenemy and what exactly a frenemy is. 
• Two keywords in the definition of fear: anticipation versus awareness.
• A discussion on the different flavors of fear and how our bodies respond.
• Reasons we cannot eliminate fear from our lives completely. 
• The importance of learning to actively manage our fear.
• Ways that you can gain control back from fear by quieting your mind.
• Tips for how you can quiet your mind.
• A quick recap on the acronym, D-O-S-E.
• The importance of writing down your thoughts.
• Five steps to move your thoughts from the negative zone to the neutral zone.
• The importance of articulating and writing down the fear. 
• Why you should rationalize and “talk to” your fear.
• A few final thoughts on sifting through your thoughts. 

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Episode 2: What’s Happening Inside of Our Bodies When We Are Stressing Out?

Episode 9: Nature is the Ultimate Mind Spa

Annemarie Bell on Instagram

Annemarie Bell Email

Disclaimer

This podcast represents the opinions and views of Annemarie Bell and her guests. The content herein should not be taken or construed as medical advice or therapeutic services. Additionally, views and opinions expressed in the podcast are those of Annemarie Bell and/or her guests and do not represent those of her employer.

We all have bad days. We don’t always manage them in the most controlled ways, and that’s okay! It comes with the territory of being an imperfect human. However, there are some stress management techniques that you can practice to redirect a bad day and, in this episode, you’ll hear about a few of them. It’s one thing to have to endure a bad day yourself. It’s another when it starts to impact those around you. By practicing the four strategies provided, you can not only decrease the reach of your bad day but even stop it dead in its tracks. Tune in to learn how to activate your inner director, use your breath to restore parasympathetic mode, rely on music and your network to bring you back to yourself, and more. Sometimes, a bad day can get the better of the best of us, so listen out for some extra tips on what to do to unwind and create some emotional distance from the disasters of the day!

Key Points From This Episode:

• Examples of typically bad days.
• Varying reactions to mishaps.
• The repercussions of inflicting our bad day on others.
• How learning stress management techniques can minimize the impact of a bad day.
• Useful stress management techniques for redirecting your bad day.
• The benefits of activating your inner director.
• How to use your breath to transition back into parasympathetic mode.
• The importance of relying on your network when you’re struggling.
• The role of music in stress management.
• What to do if a bad day gets the better of you.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Episode 02: What’s Happening Inside Our Bodies When We Are Stressing Out?

“Psychological and Physiological Signatures of Music Listening in Different Listening Environments—An Exploratory Study”

Annemarie Bell on Instagram

Annemarie Bell Email

Disclaimer

This podcast represents the opinions and views of Annemarie Bell and her guests. The content herein should not be taken or construed as medical advice or therapeutic services. Additionally, views and opinions expressed in the podcast are those of Annemarie Bell and/or her guests and do not represent those of her employer.

Our relationship with ourselves is sacred and is the foundation of the relationships we have with everything else around us. In this episode, we tackle ways to manage our relationship with stress, or our “stresslationship”, by managing our relationship with ourselves. We look at all of the elements that characterize our stresslationship, from self-awareness, self-esteem, and self-care, to self-reflection and self-fulfillment. You’ll learn tools for self-reflection and ways to set boundaries, nurture healthy self-esteem, and shift your focus towards joy in your life. You don’t have to navigate the entire staircase in one go, you just need to take one step at a time. Tune in to discover how to set realistic stress management goals and become the CEO of your mind.

Key Points From This Episode:

• Requirements for setting a realistic stress management goal.
• Why it’s important to set only one goal, without a specific time limit.
• The complexity of setting stress management goals.
• Making time versus finding time.
• AMB defines “stress intersections” and breaks them down into categories.
• What impacts our relationship with ourselves, and what it impacts in turn.
• The agency we have over our own lives and minds!
• The importance of engaging with people who prioritize your well-being.
• How to be the CEO of your mind.
• Elements that characterize our relationship with ourselves.
• How to practice self-awareness. 
• Signs of low self-esteem and how to nurture healthy self-esteem.
• How to set boundaries and prioritize self-care.
• Tools for self-reflection and the role of self-reflection in stress management.
• The importance of striving for self-fulfillment.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Episode 08: Time to Level Up the Self Talk 

Boundary Boss by Terri Cole

Annemarie Bell on Instagram

Annemarie Bell Email

Disclaimer

This podcast represents the opinions and views of Annemarie Bell and her guests. The content herein should not be taken or construed as medical advice or therapeutic services. Additionally, views and opinions expressed in the podcast are those of Annemarie Bell and/or her guests and do not represent those of her employer.