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Are You Ready to Find Meaning in Your Life. Cultivate this Skill to Find Your Happy.

I have spent countless hours with people who are looking to find meaning in their lives.

For some, life has thrown a curve ball. Something they did not expect or want. For others they’ve reached the goal they’ve been after and suddenly realize they have nothing to focus on now.

Many think they’ll be happy when they finally reach their goal. Others when they have enough money, or maybe it’s when people say I’m good enough.

But these aren’t it.

Photo by Simon Berger from Pexels

Clients show up in my office feeling lost and lackluster even thought they have many things to be happy and grateful about. If you follow the prescribed path laid out by your guru leader, culture, society you will eventually fall flat. 

You cannot find meaning following someone else’s formula. The only way to find that effervescent joy you see others achieving is to open to the truth inside you. 

This is hard and many feel overwhelmed focusing on what brings them meaning in their lives. So many of us were shamed for our deepest essence of who we are. We were told, “your a girl” “you want too much” “your different from us” “you can’t do those things” “boy’s aren’t sensitive”. We were told our value was getting a good job, into that school, getting married to the right person, having children, which meant the meaning of our life was what our community saw as valuable and available to “people like us”.

We learned early to turn off our internal barometer in favor of other people’s opinions. We found accolades and acceptance, when we did as we were told. 

In my experience when we follow our personal truth toward meaning, we create, deeply from that violet light inside ourselves, a sense of belonging, being lovable, and enough. We will never have these if we aren’t looking internal for our sense of true north. 

Each of our true north coordinates are different. Each of us has value, each of us has worth. Your first task is to learn to recognize your experience of openness and expansion. 

These are your signals to finding your own inner peace, and establishing a sense of what is good for you. Flexibility, openness and expansion are signs of health and wellbeing. We are looking for these when we want to create lives full of meaning. 

To get started think of a time you were doing something you truly loved, just because you love doing it. It could be cooking, hiking, watching TV, anything you truly love doing. 

Just make sure it is not something you love because you are “supposed to do it, like it, or want it”. Make sure it is not something you love just for secondary rewards, like compliments or having someone else approve of you. Make sure it’s not something that just feels good because you are numbing out. 

When you have memory of those things you did because you loved them and they created a sense of openness and expansion within you, notice how it feels in your body. Take a moment right now to feel the lightness, the ease, the fun. This activity is about noticing how you experience these feelings. 

I know learning to pay attention to your somatic experience can be difficult. If this is hard for you check out some of the other articles or guided videos on my YouTube channel to learn more about how to experience embodiment.

This embodied experience of openness and expansion, is the experience of purpose and meaning. Following these feelings when you are participating in your life will bring you a life full of purpose and meaning. 

This is your road map to living a life you want with intention. It is about what is good and wanted in your life. And doing things that bring your unique gifts into the world. These feelings of openness and expansion are your marker for following your own path. It is the lantern that shows you your way. Following this light is how you build the life you want. And live your life on purpose. …

If you are interested in learning more about finding purpose and meaning in your life, bookmark this page or click the social media links to stay connected and learn more about mind over matter and how our physiology and psychology are inextricably linked. 

If you are ready to get started making changes in your life. Then visit our clinic website to check out our amazing professionals and book your 1st appointment. www.studiob.life – we have a variety of programs to help you create your best life using psychology, physiology, and food. 

5 Ways to Manifest Better Balance in Your Life.

Many of us work on trying to find balance by equally dividing our days and tasks. The problem with this is that not everything fits into equal parts. Instead look for congruence between your goals and actions to know you are living a balanced life.

Photo by Shiva Smyth from Pexels

Balance is not having a neat orderly life where everything fits just perfectly into each segment of your day. It’s about finding congruence in your thoughts, actions, and emotions. Then enjoying each of them to the max. 

“Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony”.

Mahatma Gandhi

Congruence creates a sense of alignment. Balance has many layers and alignment is one of them. Ultimately our goal is to find purposeful activities in our everyday life and get rid of those that are not serving us. This helps us feel alignment in our actions and beliefs. Which leads to a life full of joyful and inspired wellness.

Have you thought about how being out of balance might be effecting your efforts to be more physically healthy? 

For example: Does feeling imbalance, stress, overwhelm, collapse, or lethargic impact your food choices, your exercise habits, or your motivation and confidence levels?

Sometimes just noticing can be powerful. Noticing how imbalance in your life affects other choices, helps illuminate the choice that change is necessary. When you have necessity change becomes easier. 

After noticing how these imbalances are effecting you can you see ways to change and stop patterns of behavior? If not you are not alone.

Other times it may be incredibly difficult to change even though it becomes obvious you are self-defeating the hard work you are doing (or have done) to live more healthy. Also very common. If change change were easy everyone would be doing it much more often and I would be out of a job.

Once you have determined areas of your life you want to change it is easy to blame why you don’t change on others:

My kids need too much

My significant other doesn’t want to eat healthy

I have too much to do

I am taking care of my parents

the list could go on …

The bottom line is change is hard, there is a reason you are caught in the patterns you are caught in, and if you really want your life to look different you will have to figure out ways to make differences happen. Small steps can make that happen.

Here are some ideas to get you started.

  1. Write down your goals. This is so important and so many skip this step. They have the image or idea of the big goal, but without getting it out of their heads and into their daily life change is not going to happen. Writing it down helps solidify and shift focus so we can determine the smalls steps that break down the big goal. 
  1. Delegate. Are there jobs you do (laundry, cleaning, cooking, errands, car pooling) that others could do. Hint: they will do it differently than you and that is ok.
  1. Create Some Boundaries. Do you need to tell people no more often – “no I can’t cook X for the upcoming pot-luck”, “no I can’t coach soccer this fall”. Get clear about what you want. This is critical to honoring yourself and others in your actions. Be kind, open, and honest when turning down offers and be ready for resistance from people who are used to hearing yes.
  1. Create a Goal Poster. Clip pictures of your life vision and set the intention to achieve them. Place it where you will see it often everyday.
  1. Commit to Live with Intention. In each moment ask yourself if this is what you want to be doing or thinking and honestly listen for the answer. When you find yourself answering no decide what you do want to be doing and make efforts to move in that direction. This is not a suggestion to shrink from life responsibilities. All of us would rather be doing something else at times but by listening to what you would rather be doing you begin to see a pattern of what is working and what is not working in your life. By visualizing what you want you are better able to recognize activities which might move you in that direction. In doing those activities more often you are more likely to get the life you want one step at a time.

And if you feel pretty balanced right now you may want to think about strategies to keep it that way. Life has a tendency to cycle and the more tools you have in your toolshed the better able you will be to handle any curve ball thrown at you.

Today make the first step by deciding it is time for a change and taking action on the 5 steps above to get started. 

The goal of Dr. Stacy Reuille-Dupont is to help you live a life of contentment and peace, excitement and energy while living an embodied life. Feel free to request an appointment today!

Time for a Change? 5 Ways to Transform Your Life

Have you been feeling stagnant and stuck lately?

Sometimes, we all need to change things up to feel motivated again – especially when we’ve spent the last year coping with a worldwide pandemic.

Guest Post by Phillip Carr, Photo Source: Unsplash

If you’re unhappy with where you are now or the direction your life is headed, you always have the opportunity to try something new. 

The idea of shifting your habits and routines can seem daunting, but if you focus on small, achievable goals, you’ll be surprised at how easily you adapt.

You may not notice a difference overnight, but with time, patience, and dedication, psychologist Stacy Reuille-Dupontbelieves that taking these steps to transform your life will pay off. 

Get in Shape

Finding a sport that suits your interests and lifestyle makes exercising feel like fun rather than a chore. After a couple of months of exercising regularly, you’ll have more endurance, you’ll sleep better, and you’ll definitely tone up. 

Starting a fitness routine doesn’t have to mean lifting weights or running miles every morning.

In addition to weights, exercise bikes, and treadmills, joining a gym typically gives you access to lots of classes, like pilates and yoga. 

If you’d prefer to work out at home or you’re simply looking to save a little money by forgoing a gym membership, you still have plenty of options when it comes to exercising.

For example, you can follow along to workout videos on your TV with a streaming device.

Find some channels and apps featuring instructors you like, and it can feel like you have a personal trainer in your living room!

To boost your motivation, you can also put together custom workout playlists to stream while you exercise.

Choose an easy-to-use streaming device so you can flip through channels and songs effortlessly while you work out.

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Cook Healthy Meals

Working out is just one aspect of living a healthier lifestyle.

Stocking your pantry with healthy staples and committing to cooking most nights rather than eating out can have a significant positive impact on your physical and mental health.

Packaged, processed food and restaurant meals are often loaded with excess sugar and sodium.

You don’t have to be a skilled chef to whip up tasty, nutritious meals – with a little practice, you’ll have the basics mastered in no time. 

Not sure where to begin? Harvard Health Publishing suggests incorporating more fruits, vegetables, nuts, and whole grains into your diet.

Next, experiment with new recipes that combine ingredients you already love and find healthier alternatives to dishes you enjoy.

You’ll have more energy on a daily basis, and you’ll save money in the process!

Make a Budget

Want to take control of your financial future? Creating a realistic budget that helps you stay on track to your savings goals is the first step.

With countless apps that help you watch your spending, sticking to a budget has never been easier. 

If you’re ready to figure out your personal budget, begin by taking stock of all of your necessary expenses, like rent, utilities, insurance, and other monthly bills.

Next, account for eating out, shopping, and getting drinks with friends.

Look for ways you can save money each month, such as:

  1. Refinance loan rates remain low, so now is the perfect time to lower your monthly payments.
  2. Reducing the number of services you subscribe to. For example, if you use Netflix and Hulu more often than you watch live TV, it might make sense to cancel or cut down your cable package.
  3. Cutting down on your grocery budget. As noted above, eating an excessive amount of packaged foods can impact your physical and mental health – and buying them can put a dent in your wallet.

Any ancillary funds you can save can be put toward a long-term savings or emergency account.

Having this financial cushion will give you peace of mind right away, not to mention in the event you need to use it.

Talk to a Therapist

If you’ve been struggling with depression or anxiety and your symptoms are holding you back from living the life you really want, it’s time to talk to a therapist.

A therapist can help you understand why you feel the way you do and teach you coping strategies that will help you manage your stress and move beyond depression. 

It may take a little while to find a therapist who is right for you.

Begin your search by looking up providers in your area, and make a few phone calls to schedule your first session.

Committing to therapy for even just a few months can dramatically transform your mindset. 

When you decide to take responsibility for your path in life and move confidently toward your goals, gradual changes are the key to lasting success.

With the right tools and support, you have the power to transform your life. 

If you are looking to optimize your life book your FREE consultation session now.

Caregivers Need to Care for Themselves, Too

Here are some tips from Dr. Stacy to help caregivers give their best while also taking care of themselves.

Guest Post by Alexis Hall, Image via Pexels

If you’re a family caregiver or informal caregiver, you know the role can be intense. You may be working, caring for a loved one, and giving attention to children and other family members. It can be hard to care for an individual with cognitive decline or whose health status may change daily. Unlike paid caregivers, your duties may include personal care, meal prep, and housekeeping. Change is constant and stressful, so self-care is vital for caregivers. 

Caregivers Often Neglect Their Own Needs

The age range for caregivers is 45 to 64 years old, so many are also working and raising children. Multiple obligations can cause caregivers to neglect personal health. They don’t have time to keep medical appointments or exercise regularly. They may have given up on socializing. Unpaid caregivers often experience poor health and are also at increased risk fordepression. As a caregiver, it’s essential you adopt behaviors to protect your health and well-being.

Make Personal Health Care a Priority

A caregiver who fails to keep health care appointments may develop conditions that endanger their health. The stress of going in many directions can lead to hypertension, a silent killer. Untreated hypertension or high blood pressure can lead to heart disease, stroke, and kidney damage. The only way caregivers can know whether they have health issues is to visit a health care provider regularly for checkups.

Choose Healthy Foods

Caregivers typically ensure those around them are well-fed, but they frequently eat hurriedly or miss meals. Eating healthy foods, such as fruits and vegetables, lean protein, and whole grains, supplies the body with the energy and nutrients needed to function and fight disease. Keeping nutritious snacks on hand, drinking lots of water, and preparing foods like soups and stews in advance can make it easier to eat well and also offer more time to enjoy food and conversation with your loved one.

Find Time to Move

Exercise is planned physical activities that help an individual reach a fitness goal. Physical activity includes unplanned activities that promote health and fitness. It can be challenging to get to a fitness center several days each week, but there are alternatives. Digging weeds from a garden, washing a car, and walking the dog are other ways to be active. When approached vigorously, these activities burn calories and fat while strengthening joints and muscles. Taking a walk with a friend or neighbor is an excellent way to get a workout, relieve stress, socialize, and avoid isolation.

Track Your Movement

A fitness tracker or smartwatch makes it easy to keep up your exercise or physical activity efforts. You can track your heart rate during workouts, as well as calories burned, and set goals to help you get the most of your physical activity. Maintain your smartwatch by replacing the band, and add a screen protector to keep it easy to read and unblemished.

A Healthy Caregiver Is a Better Caregiver

Becoming a healthier caregiver will benefit not only you but also your loved one. Be a better caregiver by taking care of yourself first. Remember: like your clients, you deserve to live your best life.

Dr. Stacy is a licensed psychologist, licensed addiction counselor, certified personal trainer, and certified nutrition coach. Please reach out to request an appointment at Studio B.

Try These Simple Practices to Prevent Anxiety Attacks

If you deal with anxiety attacks, you know how distressing and stressful they can be.

Guest Post by: Emma Grace Brown, Image via Rawpixel

Anxiety is your body’s way of responding to stressful situations, and a healthy amount of it can provide you with extra energy and focus on overcoming challenges.

But when your anxiety reaches unhealthy levels, and it begins to disrupt your life, it’s time to figure out how to bring it under control.

Fortunately, there are many practical methods to keep anxiety at bay and reduce stress. From therapy self-study at home workbooks to diet and exercise, try these tips from Stacy Reuille-Dupont to prevent future anxiety attacks:

Change Jobs         

Sometimes anxiety is rooted in or triggered by a career path that no longer fits your life. Whether you have changed, the job has changed, or a good thing just needs to come to an end, sometimes you need to move on. Evaluate your career path to determine if it still accommodates you. If not, be bold and make the change to find something more enjoyable. 

If you find your current career is not the right fit and is triggering anxiety, then consider going to school and getting on track for a career that will suit you better. Online schooling is more accessible and flexible than ever in the digital age. While still working your current job (keeping a steady paycheck) and managing your responsibilities, you can attend online courses. 

If you already have your bachelor’s degree, you can go back to earn a master’s in fields like education, business, or criminal justice. If you don’t have your bachelor’s degree yet, you could achieve one in anything from health care to technology.

Try Breathing Exercises

Anxiety can cause every muscle in your body to tense up. It also impacts every organ, your mood, and your energy levels. Breathing exercises are proven to lessen not only the symptoms associated with anxiety but also to alleviate or altogether eliminate anxiety attacks. 

Try different breathing exercises until you find one you like (e.g., belly breathing, box breathing, alternating nasal and mouth breathing, 4-7-8 breathing, etc.). And use the techniques whenever anxiety washes over you.

Steer Clear of Substances

While things like breathing exercises and life changes can improve anxiety, triggers make it worse. Anything that alters your brain can exacerbate anxiety. Whether we are talking sugar, alcohol, caffeine, or cigarettes. Not all bodies are the same, so not everything will affect you. Steer clear of anything you notice that worsens your anxiety and find healthy alternatives when possible.

Eat Well and Exercise     

Your body and your mind are intrinsically intertwined. When you take care of your physical health, you will naturally see improvements in your mental and emotional health. For some people, their anxiety can be kept entirely at bay by maintaining a good diet and exercise routine. For others, it can help manage or lessen the impact of anxiety. 

Eat healthy, balanced meals consisting of proteins, fruits, vegetables, and seeds. And try to move your body every day and make it a fitness routine that brings you joy. You may have to try a few different exercises until you find the right fit. 

Lean on Others

Community is essential to human nature. Resist the urge to battle the mountain of anxiety alone. Include your friends, family, and professionals like Stacy Reuille-Dupont in your journey towards overcoming this obstacle. Reach out when you need support. You’re not alone.

When anxiety controls significant portions of your life, it’s time to make some changes. Consider the tips above to keep your anxiety levels within a healthy range and prevent future attacks.

You might be surprised by how a simple modification to your daily routine can make such a lasting impact on your overall health and wellbeing!

Would you like to read more helpful content or learn about my psychology, addiction counseling, and personal training services? Visit StacyReuille.com to find out how to work with Stacy today!