Stay True To You...and Laugh!

Today’s episode is a fun Laughter Experiment where we laugh and chat with our guest Jeni.

I loved talking with Jeni about the importance of being in the present moment and staying true to yourself. Join us as we laugh the "dirt" (or limiting beliefs) off our shoulders.

Jeni is the host of The Cheetah Print Chats Podcast. She started her podcast to share life lessons with her nieces from her own personal life experience. Life lessons that will never go out of style, much like…in Jeni’s opinion …CHEETAH PRINT! 

Jeni hopes her podcast can inspire her nieces of course, and as many women as possible, at any age. She also wants this to be a safe space for younger women to find advice and encouragement that they may not feel they have in their own life.  

Jeni's podcast covers a wide range of topics, including setting boundaries, travel, fitness, body image, self care, money tips, grief, and more. 

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Listen to Jeni's Podcast: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2147711/share
Follow Jeni on IG: https://www.instagram.com/jeni302/

Transcript

0:10

Welcome back to the Law of Happy Podcast. I'm your host, Lauren Ner. I'm an attorney and I teach laughter as an exercise. When we laugh, we feel good, and we raise our energy. This allows more good fun things to flow into our experience. This is the law of happy, so let's laugh, have fun, and practice the law of happy together. Today's episode is a fun laughter experiment, where we laugh and chat with our guests, Jenny. Jenny is the host of the podcast called the cheetah print chats. She started this podcast to share life lessons with her nieces, from her own personal life experience. Life lessons that will never go out of style much like in jenny's opinion cheetah print And i happen to agree Jenny hopes her podcasts can inspire her nieces of course And as many women as possible at any age She also wants this to be a safe space for younger women to find advice And encouragement that they may not feel they have in their own life Jenny's podcast covers a wide range of topics including setting boundaries travel fitness body image self care, money tips grief and more. without further ado let's meet and laugh with jenny

Lauren 1:21

Jenny, welcome. I'm so happy and excited that you're our special guest today on the Law of Happy Podcast, so thank you for being here.

Jeni 1:29

You're welcome. Thanks for having me.

Lauren 1:30

I'm excited. Yeah, me too. Listen, how I like to to start is to jump right in with a, fun, interactive laughter exercise game just as a warmup for us and and for our listeners, how do you How do you feel about this? And I'll explain once I get your consent.

Jeni 1:52

Let's do it. I've never done it before. Let's

Lauren 1:54

try it. Okay. Sounds good. Thank you for being open and open-minded, and that's all one has to be in this in this type of situation. So basically we're gonna use laughter as an exercise. It's, I'm not gonna tell a joke, so we're not, it's not gonna be like a comedy. Based, but we can do that at another time. But anyway, so we're gonna choose, we're gonna laugh as an exercise because they say laughter's the best medicine. So many benefits to to laughing. It's really Unbelievable. I get excited every time I think about it and experience it. Because the body can't tell the difference whether we're laughing because a joke made us laugh. If we're laughing spontaneously in that case, or if we're simulating laughters and exercise, we get all of the same incredible health benefits. So I just find that. A lot of fun. We'll jump right in. I will do a laughter intro game, so I'm gonna say my name. Then I'm going to tell you my favorite flower and then I'm gonna start laughing. And then when I start laughing, join me and laugh with me and viewers and listeners do the same thing. You'll laugh with us then. We'll, stop laughing, and then Jenny, it'll be your turn to introduce yourself and say your favorite flower, and we'll laugh with you after that. Okay? Okay. Yeah. Oh and, everybody. A great tip for this is before you start laughing with us, like before you start to simulate your laughter as an exercise, just take in a gentle breath in so that you can then laugh as you exhale. Just so you have air in your lungs to to allow the laughter to flow out, it helps. Okay, any questions? Before we start. Okay. Okay. We'll try it out. This is all experiential. Okay. Okay hi, my name is Lauren Ner and my favorite, or one of my favorite flowers is the sunflower. Oh, thank you.

Jeni 3:58

Okay. That was better. That was easy. Okay.

Lauren 4:00

Yeah. Okay. I'm glad you felt that way because you can feel funny at first and that's normal too okay. So whenever you're ready, Jenny. You can introduce yourself by saying your name and then you can let us know one of your favorite flowers and then we'll laugh with you.

Jeni 4:15

Okay. Hi, my name is Jenny and one of my favorite flowers is the Tulip. Hi.

Lauren 4:34

Tulip smell or, have a scent did you say? Does it? Yeah I'm, trying to remember.

Jeni 4:42

I I don't, I just love them cause my mom loves them and especially the yellow ones. I love all yellow flowers. Oh,

Lauren 4:59

and I didn't mean to put you on the spot with whether or not it's was just trying to remember. Yeah. But they are beautiful. They are beautiful. Yes. And thank you, thank listeners for joining us was that your first time practicing or laughter as an exercise or trying something like that? Yes. I'm just wondering. Oh yeah. Yes. That was the

Jeni 5:24

very first time.

Lauren 5:26

Okay. That was amazing, Jenny, because not only trying it for the first time is, I think, pretty brave. You've gotta be open because it can feel very different. We're not, I don't think, as adults, were used to just laughing for no reason like that. And, you're doing it as a podcast guest. Okay. So I just wanna thank. Extra for, all of this because it's a lot of fun to share this with with, someone else with you and then to, share this with, our listeners. So thank you so much and I hope you're feeling good. Yes, I'm feeling good. That was fun. Okay. Okay, cool. We'll, do more of that later, but I wanna get into to, to learning more about, about you. You are also a podcast host. I, love the concept of your podcast. Can you tell us the name of your podcast and and the concept, like what it's all about?

Jeni 6:20

Yeah, for sure. So the name is the Cheetah Print Chats Podcast, and the whole reason that it started was because I've got nieces and one of them is a teenager, so she can understand me when I try to give advice. But the other ones are as a, I have a toddler niece and a baby niece. So they, don't need my advice right now. They're not gonna get it. So I'm thinking, okay, I have so much to share with them. So maybe a podcast would be the best place to do it. And then I decided if I'm gonna do a podcast, I might as well share it with everyone because who knows who might need an honorary aunt or some adult woman in their life? And I'm sharing from a. My experiences, I'm not trying to come in and be an expert and replace medical advice or anything like that. And I have disclaimers in my podcast about that. But I will have guests, like if we wanna dive deeper into something, I'll have guests that are experts but the cheetah print chat's got its name because I love cheetah print and I'm actually wearing cheetah print, I feel like my life lessons are never gonna go outta style. And in my opinion, cheetah print is never gonna go outta style. So that's how the name came about.

Lauren 7:29

I love that. That's so much fun and so helpful. I love the concept and how it started your, nieces or your inspiration and they're lucky to have such a loving, warm amazing aunt like yourself. And I think that's so generous of you to share yourself and your your, love and wisdom based on your, experiences with. The world with anyone who, with everyone who's going to be fortunate to tune into your podcast. So I'm really excited about everything that you are growing and creating I wanna go more into everything, but can we start with. More about your personal or any part of your personal journey that you wanna share.

Jeni 8:14

Yes, for sure. I'm in my early forties. I don't have any kids, like I mentioned though. I have three nieces. I'm engaged to remarried. We're I, it'll be both of our second marriage. We're gonna be married in October.

Lauren 8:26

Oh, very nice. Congratulations on, your engagement. And this is, thank you. Yeah. Very exciting time. Right.

Jeni 8:33

Yeah. It's gonna be, it's gonna be, I think it's gonna be really good. We are pet parents through and through. We love animals. I love. Fitness as well, and I actually run accountability groups for some ladies, so we work out and check in and talk about it every day and keep each other going. I love hiking and being out in nature and that's something I think I've been doing six or seven, maybe longer years.

Lauren 8:58

Even if somebody's not hiking up the the biggest, tallest mountain, just being out and, walking in nature is grounding and helps. You'd be in the present moment, right? Do you notice a, change when you're outside or when you come back from the hike?

Jeni 9:18

I do. Yes. And, I, you mentioned you don't have to go climb and hike the highest mountain. We, are like day hikers, so we go to the different national parks around here, or just this little city parks, or sometimes I'm just walking around the block. Either way, even when I'm go outside, like if I'm really, stressed at work, I will go take a five minute walk around the block and it just like clears my head and helps me. Get focused and it's just, it's stress relief. I, guess it helps me feel lighter and, more

Lauren 9:53

focused. Yes, definitely. I'm always excited to hear about different practices and things that people incorporate in their own lives to feel good or feel better, or to just come back to the present moment because I find that no matter who we are, what we do, what we. No, or try to practice. It's so easy to just get caught up thinking about stuff that we've said or done in the past or, just stressing about stuff that hasn't happened yet, but that we're worried about regarding the future. And, it's really in the present moment that we can just access and find that inner peace. Or All the good feelings that we want. It's really the only moment we have is it's the present moment cuz the past is over. The, future hasn't happened yet. And it's really by being in the present and we hear this, but we don't necessarily know what we can do practically to, be, to come back or be in that present moment. So thank you. It's a great reminder that just being outside in nature is a great way to to, Come back to the present to be in the present moment. And I find even for myself, like when I go outside with my dog, I mean he's he's about 16 years old now, so he doesn't wanna go for long, walks anymore. But even just getting outside just for a bit, for as long as he wants to be outside and, just breathing just. Breathing in the air, feeling the ground beneath my feet, just being aware, okay, I'm outside now. It's, a different energy and just, being present in that moment, just for a few minutes, I find so helpful. And like you described, just feeling lighter, refreshed, and it just helps my. Energy just move, up

Jeni 11:37

you nailed it with the different energy. It's a different

Lauren 11:40

energy. Yes, yes. Yeah. I'd love to know from you if you have any tricks on how to tune out the outside noise, to just tune into what feels right for you and to follow your heart and, being true and honoring what's best for you.

Jeni 11:56

Yeah, I can try. So I am a recovering people pleaser. I'm working on it, but in the past I would just go along with what everyone said and I would do what was expected and I would listen to what everyone said, and I would feel hurt if someone didn't agree with me or I would just be really upset or so I'm working through all of that. The, younger. You can figure this out, the better. But I'm, a young 40, I'm low forties, and I'm finally figuring it out. But you, nobody can do things for you. They can't make you happy. You, start to really understand you and what you want and what you need, and then you really have to. Sometimes be, bold and set boundaries and make sure that you are honoring you and what you need. Stay true to you. And, if you're on social media, that can be even harder because you've got all the internet trolls and all these things coming at you. But remember if you're upsetting someone, you're probably doing something right so you, you know what's right for you. Just keep going on that path, keep going.

Lauren 13:02

What you were saying was reminding me of a a laughter exercise that I like to do. Liliana had had taught me this one. It's called brushing off the judges or letting things go, we're gonna pretend we're, sweeping dirt or dust or, critics off of our shoulders so we just take, let's say we can take our right hand and brush our left shoulder, brush it off like what do they say? Brush the. Stir it off your shoulder. It makes me think about that. Sorry. So you just take your, right hand and, pretend your, like sweeping dust or things that you wanna just let go of off of your opposite shoulder. Take your left hand, brush your right shoulder. Then when you do this, Laugh because we're going to, we're gonna imagine that our laughed or the more we laugh and brush off our shoulders, it just releases. Oh, flicking wires. Now my headphone wires the more we laugh it, the more it it releases all of those voices and precious releases it and allows everything we want for ourselves to flow. Our lives and for us to be open to it. So let's, if we can practice that, let's try that together. So we're gonna pretend we're brushing the, outside stuff off of our shoulders and we laugh. To let go. Okay. 1, 2, 3. Go And take a deep breath before you laugh. Brushing it off. Brushing it off. Oh, that's good. And the other shoulder. I said, get off. Get off. Yeah, get off. They're off. They're flying away. Cause you are complete human and whole just as you are and, only you know what's best for you and what anyone else says. That's where they're coming from. And, oftentimes I find that if it's if it sounds. Negative or a limiting belief is because that's what, that's how they feel in their own life, and that's okay. We're not, we can't change anybody else, and I don't want to, and we can't. And just realize, okay, like I I detach myself from it. I realize, okay, whatever they're saying could be an annoying and frustrating. But I tell myself nothing to do with, it's nothing to do with me. That's where they're coming from and I'm just going to Let that go. I'm, gonna leave that with them and, just focus back in with, what feels right and good or feels better for me. Cause only I know no one else knows exactly. Yeah. So thank you for doing that exercise with me and sharing everything that you've shared. And Jenny, is there anything that You'd like to share that I didn't touch upon?

Jeni 16:01

The only other, the the only other really big thing that I do for, my mental health and my sanity is, Exercise and work workout Exercise is so much more than physical. It's so, good for your mental health and, your mindset. And so next time you wanna do a, workout with weights or dance or go walk, just remember it's, not just about physical. It's really helping your mind and your wellbeing, your happiness.

Lauren 16:33

Yes, Very important To know this, so thank you for sharing this. And yes, movement moving in any form, like in the form of, working out and just moving having our, muscles and body be active is so important. Like you said, not just physically but emotionally, mentally, for so many reasons. Jenny, how can people find you? Follow, like how can they follow you on social media? Listen to your podcast. Oh, and we're gonna have everything in the show notes, but I wanna invite you to share verbally tell us how people can different ways people can find you. Okay.

Jeni 17:09

My podcast is the Cheetah Print Chats. And then on Instagram, I am Jenny 3 0 2, but my name is j e n i 3 0 2, so it's spelled a little bit differently, but you can reach me

Lauren 17:20

there as well. Okay. Amazing. So people have different ways to connect with you. Yes. Learn more about what you do and tune into your podcast so thank you so much, Jenny, for having been a a guest and sharing everything that you've shared. And congratulations again on your podcast. And thank you for having been. Thank you. So open and, Laughing with me cuz that's that takes a lot of openness. So I appreciate that.

Jeni 17:44

Yep. I was nervous and, excited about that cuz like I said, I've never, died before. But it was good. I liked it.

Lauren 17:51

Oh, good. I'm glad. And, it goes along with what you were saying about the importance of physical exercise too. So in this case, we're using laughter as a form of exercise. There's a a cardio or an aerobic component to it. And but there are also emotional and mental benefits to it too. So everything that you said for the the importance of, Being physically active and working out, yeah. Again, it gives, it applies to laughter as an exercise. So, I'm glad we shared all that. So thank you so much again, Jenny, and you and we will, we'll speak and laugh soon. Oh, and we can do our goodbye laughter where we, wave and laugh. And say goodbye. Okay. Okay. Bye bye. Thank. Bye. Thank you. Bye.

18:47

Thank you for having tuned into this Law of Happy episode. If you smiled, laughed, or felt inspired, please subscribe, rate, review, and share the Law of Happy podcast with someone you'd love to have fun with. And if you'd like to laugh with me as a guest on the show or in a customized program, you can email me at lauren law of happy.com. I look forward to laughing with you soon.