A Journey with Vanessa Chiu

In my last few episodes, I've been talking about the book "How to Be Sick: A Buddhist-Inspired Guide for the Chronically Ill and Their Caregivers" by Toni Bernhard and how it has helped me navigate the physical and emotional recovery process after getting into a car accident recently. My final episode on this book is another lesson I've been relearning this year...reframing your perspective.

The healing journey continues! The book that has been helping me through my recovery process is called "How to Be Sick: A Buddhist-Inspired Guide for the Chronically Ill and Their Caregivers" by Toni Bernhard. As I'm reading this book, I realize that I cause myself unnecessary suffering sometimes. I share what I learned from Bernhard's journey that helps me with stressful and overwhelming thoughts.

In this episode, I talk about my progress in the physical, and emotional, healing journey I've been on since the car accident. I share what 'wise inaction' means based on the book I'm reading called "How to be sick: A Buddhist-Inspired Guide for the Chronically Ill and Their Caregivers" by Toni Bernhard. I also talk about one of the best pieces of advice I've gotten so far this year!

My year ended with car accident and an overwhelming number of medical appointments and treatments for the physical pain I was experiencing. I gradually felt better and stronger, but in the new year, the pain returned. In this episode, I share what I'm learning as I go through this physical healing process. The book I talk about in this episode is called "How to Be Sick: A Buddhist-Inspired Guide for the Chronically Ill and Their Caregivers" by Toni Bernhard.

Happy 2024! It's a new year! Which means, a new you…right? Not necessarily! I believe it's more about sticking to your values with whatever choices and decisions we are making in our lives, at any point during the year.

This episode was inspired by my friend's son who reminds me to make time for play. I talk about the benefits of play and the 8 Play Personalities identified by Dr. Stuart Brown, the founder of the National Institute for Play. You can find out more about the Play Personalities and Institute at nifplay.org.

Sometimes I feel like I'm running out of time or running behind in life. In this episode, I share how I find happiness and contentment in this super fast-paced world we live in by practicing mindfulness.

Since it's January, let's talk about goals! I've been reflecting on my goals and if I should've set new ones for this year. In this episode, I share why I didn't do any New Year's resolutions and what is actually important to me when setting goals.

I'm such an overthinker! And I notice that I do so in unfamiliar situations...especially new experiences that are important to me, which is why I pour my heart and soul into the learning process. In this episode, I share some things I do consistently to manage overthinking so it doesn't get the best of me.

Failing doesn't feel good! When you work really hard for something you want, it sucks when you don’t get it the first time. But failing the first time just means I don’t have the thing that I want, yet. And I know I can choose how to respond to failure. In this episode, I talk about accepting and embracing failure based on the significance of water in Taoism.

The last few weeks have been challenging for me as I notice my inner bully/voice/critic has been relentless and very loud. I've learned so many ways to manage that bully/voice/critic, and self-compassion is a huge part of that process. And I've learned that thoughts are just thoughts and they aren't always true.

In this episode, I share my thoughts on when it's okay to give up on something, and how I reframe giving up as letting go.

This episode wraps up my series on grief as I share what it means to me to live a full and meaningful life. These episodes on grief were inspired by the book "You Are Here: Discovering the Magic of the Present Moment" by Thich Nhat Hanh. If you feel stuck or lost, and are not sure which way to go on your journey, I'd love to support you! Book a call with me here: https://sociatap.com/vanessachiu

The practice of letting go can be so challenging, especially when circumstances didn't go the way you thought they would. This is the fourth episode in my series about grief, inspired by the book "You Are Here: Discovering the Magic of the Present Moment" by Thich Nhat Hanh. I share how I'm learning to let go of control and expectations, and how grief and joy can coexist.

I'm learning and accepting that life is all about beginnings and endings. I'm also learning to reframe what endings mean to me. In this episode, I share more insights from the book "You Are Here: Discovering the Magic of the Present Moment" by Thich Nhat Hanh, and also from a daily mindfulness challenge I did earlier this year from Tara Brach and Jack Kornfield.

It can be hard to acknowledge emotional pain and sometimes, we have the tendency to ignore and avoid what's uncomfortable. But I'm learning that facing our pain is necessary in the healing process. The book I talk about in this episode is called "You Are Here: Discovering the Magic of the Present Moment" by Thich Nhat Hanh. If you'd like support on your journey through grief and loss, discover how I can help you by booking a call with me here: https://sociatap.com/vanessachiu/

I'm so excited to be back with new episodes! In my last episode, I shared that I was taking a break from my podcast because I was grieving, and I wanted to focus on self-care and healing. This episode is the first in my series about grief, as I go deeper into my journey and share what I've learned and am still learning from this grieving process. The book that inspired these episodes is called "You Are Here: Discovering the Magic of the Present Moment" by Thich Nhat Hanh.

I just passed the one-year mark since I started my podcast and I'm so grateful to you for listening to my show. In this episode, I share 3 important lessons that I've learned over the last year, and they are also lessons that I remind myself of when I'm going through hard days.

This week, I spoke with another awesome woman and coach I've met on my journey as an entrepreneur…Jean Atman! In this episode, we talk about why toxic relationships are a gift and being a conscious creator of our own lives. Jean is a Soul Evolution Coach and Energy Medicine Specialist. She is a leading expert on how to break free of negative life experiences - for good. She is well known in her industry as the go-to girl for helping people heal from toxic relationships and past traumas so that they can live a life filled with potential and ease. She has assisted over 20,000 people up-level their lives in her 21-year professional career and remains fiercely dedicated to that cause. Jean believes everyone can live a life of their dreams, and she thoroughly enjoys helping them tap into that potential! For more on Jean, her work, and how she can help you, her website is www.JeanAtman.com. You can also find her on Facebook (JeanAtmanEnergyAlchemist) and on YouTube (Jean Atman).

It was my pleasure to be a guest on another virtual chat with the Stigma Free Society, that was led by Dr. Daniel To, who is the District Principal overseeing Speciality Programs and Mental Health Programming for Surrey Schools in BC. In this episode we talk about conquering fear and what that means. The video interview of our chat is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ldcVbYKEPdo If you'd like to get unstuck from your mindset, grief, and fears, book a call with me here: https://sociatap.com/vanessachiu