S3 E10 Stress Free Sleeping and Ideas to Make Life Easy

Doze of to some kindness, and ideas for dropping some stress, or maybe even a bad habit.....so you can sleep easier!

Check out the new website! www.ComfortingVoice.com

Transcript

SPEAKER_01 0:10

Good evening and welcome to the Comforting Voice podcast. I'm your host, Shasta Ray, and it's just you and me in the studio tonight. Just us. The birds are all upstairs watching TV. I had the neediest little Minnie Macaw completely glued to me obsessively. So I thought it was time for her to go have a snack, hang out for a little bit, chill, and I'll go continue her obsession later. So anyway, how are you? How is your weekend? Oh my gosh, things have been so busy, sometimes it's like, oh, it's Tuesday, it's time to record again. Time is passing so fast and you keep busy and it passes faster. Anyway, really, really fast here. Why don't you get situated, get comfortable, get your pillow all mushed up in that position that's perfect for you, whether you're sleeping on your back or your side. Some people are tummy sleepers. Make sure you've got everything you need at your fingertips, as always. You know, bottle of water, extra blanket, listening device set at the perfect volume to fall asleep to, all of that good stuff. Then when you're ready, make sure you stretch really, really good. Get some productive stress relief into that stretch. All the way to the fingers and toes, wiggle your fingers and toes, and then release that stretch. Do you know what most people don't know about that? Just something that simple. Stretch all the way to your fingers, all the way to your toes, wiggle your fingers and toes. You can do that when you're having a moment of high stress, of anxiety, and it'll help turn that around in the moment. It may not be a perfect cure, it'll help kind of de-escalate that energy. It redirects everything that's going on in the moment. And it feels good. It's relaxing, it helps relieve tension. So follow that up. As always, you double whammy this, you do your stretch, you're feeling better. Follow it up with a couple really good productive deep breaths. And you want to do it slowly. Inhale to about the count of four, hold it to about the count of four, and exhale to about the count of six. And you can tailor that to your needs. But that's a really good formula for letting out stress, letting out anxiety, and redirecting some of that energy in the moment, or helping you relax to fall asleep faster. Wow. Instant and free. Best things in life are free. Before we get any further into this episode, before you doze off, I want to remind everyone to go take a look see at the new website. I've got the Thrive Shop there. You can pick yourself up some Thrive Gear. I've got the Coloring Book Empire link, and I've got the Buy Me a Coffee where you can go get a digital gratitude journal. Awesome stuff. All of it supports the show. Thanks in advance. And a shout out to those who purchased coloring books the past couple of days. Unsure if they got there through the website or found it through Amazon. Either way, take a look. And that website, very easy, comfortingvoice.com. That's it, just comfortingvoice.com. I'm going to continue to add links and content there. It is still in its early stages of development, but I did get some of the major podcast links finally all hooked up to the follow. So if you haven't hooked up to a favorite podcast app yet, you can use that. Pick one out of the list. They're all very popular, doesn't cost you a dime. And once you're listening in through the app, make sure you hit the subscribe or the follow button or whatever that app has so you get notifications every week. Don't forget, very important. Love hanging out with you. Okay. The really nice thing about not having a tiny little T-Rex, a tiny little pickle chicken, a little tiny green terrorist on my desk is that I can dig in the cigar box and get your tea tag and your fortune cookie slip without worry of injury or damage. Okay, so that said, let's just dive right in. Okay, so your tea tag. Mental happiness is total relaxation. And your fortune cookie slip. One must dare to be himself, however frightening or strange that self may prove to be. Now there's some interesting food for thought. I like that. Good words to think upon. Okay, the lucky numbers off of the back of the fortune cookie slip for all of you that play number games, the lottery, that sort of thing. Fifty-one, forty, sixteen, six, nine, and thirty-seven. Good luck if you play number games. I hope you win big. All right, so if you've got a minute, I got a minute, I have yet to hear what Lon sent in for this week's episode. Let's take a listen. Lon, what do you got for us this week?

SPEAKER_00 5:48

There are many things good and many things lacking about our current world. Chaos, of course, is everywhere, and that kind of goes without saying, really, because even in the mildest of times, chaos is that tornado that appears out of nowhere. So in all things, we have an opportunity to exercise kindness. Seneca even said, wherever there is a human being, there's an opportunity for kindness. The smallest act of kindness is worth more than the grandest of intentions. That's Oscar Wilde. So this is not a subject that should be treated lightly. We should be kind whenever we can, whenever it is possible, and according to the Dalai Lama, it is always possible. Kindness is always much better than pontification. Pontification, for example, is that standing up on a stool and telling those under us how to do things. That's not all that helpful, is it? Kindness, actually feeling what they are going through and taking a moment to offer our perspective, our caring, our empathy, is always going to be far more powerful. Whatever we do, we should do it with kindness. Whatever we say, say it with kindness. Wherever we go, we should radiate light and kindness. Thrive.

SPEAKER_01 7:42

Oh, that is so true. Absolutely true. That's one of the easiest rules in life to follow, but sometimes we just don't stop to think. So one thing you can always stop to think before you interact with anyone, how would I like to be treated in this situation? And I think the answer is at the very very core, non reactively. Like you don't have to be a little Miss Susie ray of sunshine every minute of the day, but at least be pleasant, at least be kind. Don't be mean. If you're having a horrible day, you would be surprised at how quickly your mood will turn around if you're nice to somebody. If you're just kind. It spreads back at you. It's literally one of those things that you can infect yourself with it. So just start practicing it. You'll be happier, and it unloads stress. It's just another awesome way to unload stress. Next, our listener base has been growing, so let's take a look at you guys really quick, see where you're at and what you're doing. Oh my gosh. This is a segment I came up with called Join the Fun, just to see where everyone in the listener base is from and give everyone a country by country salute. And we're doing three every week. So we get to learn about each other, some little known facts about the countries where we all reside. So let's lift each other up and focus on all the good stuff, right? So the first country this week on our listener base salute for Join the Fun is Poland. Poland is home to one of the oldest libraries in the world, with a long tradition of preserving knowledge and learning. Poland has a rich musical heritage, including famous composers whose works are celebrated internationally. Poland is known for its beautiful landscapes from mountains to lakes, offering peaceful retreats and scenic beauty. So if you're joining the fun from Poland, you represent a deep love of learning, a vibrant musical tradition, and a strong connection to nature. Next on our list is Ireland. Ireland is famous for its storytelling traditions where myths, legends, and folklore have been passed down for generations. Ireland is known for its lush green landscapes, earning it the nickname Emerald Isle. Ireland has made lasting contributions to literature, producing many world-renowned authors and poets. So if you're joining the fun from Ireland, you represent rich storytelling, breathtaking landscapes, and a literary legacy that continues to inspire today. And last but certainly not least on our list this week is Switzerland. Switzerland is renowned for its precision engineering and craftsmanship, including watches and other high quality products. Switzerland has some of the cleanest air and water in the world, reflecting a strong commitment to environmental care. And Switzerland is famous for its beautiful mountains and lakes, making it a top destination for outdoor adventures and peaceful retreats. So if you're joining the fun from Switzerland, you represent careful craftsmanship, environmental stewardship, and a lifestyle connected to nature's beauty. It's always so good to see where everyone is and know a little bit about you, generally speaking, that is. So thanks for joining the fun. And of course, we've got plenty more of you on the list. We're gonna learn about three more listener-based countries next Tuesday. Okay, so here we are, the first Tuesday of April, and I told you guys I was gonna try to check in every month regarding the ongoing, what did I decide to call it? I changed my mind a couple times over time, the you do you project or the the anti-New Year's Resolution Project or something. Instead of just stressing yourself out in January, putting yourself through it, and then failing at it, we're just picking a couple things to improve on. And it can be real tiny, just a little habit you want to change, something you've gotten kind of lax on, something big, whatever you're really ready to take on. Make sure you do it right so you're just ready to do the change. Don't force yourself into something that you're gonna be miserable with. Not fun, not fun. So let me tell you about a few of the things that I've been doing. Maybe they'll inspire someone out there, and it's always just good to talk about it, right? So I've been trying to eat healthier. I've had a ton of inflammation, and it's food related, so I don't really know what sets it off. I can eat certain things and then I'm just puffed up like crazy. It's crazy. And it's not really a food allergy, it's a sensitivity, like a reaction. Your body's just inflamed all over because it's got artificial stuff in it or something that your body's not dealing with in some capacity. And that's what's really weird about being a person, essentially. We're all different and we can all react radically different to the same types of foods and stuff. So I'm just trying to clean up my diet, eliminate the bad stuff, take in more of the good stuff, and make slow changes. And the past month or so in particular, and I didn't even bring the cookbook down here, so I'll have to do a cookbook review, but I bought a slow cooker crock pot cookbook, and it's not just a crock pot cookbook, but it's for inflammation and eating healthier. So the nice thing about a crock pot or a slow cooker is that you can prep everything, put it in there, turn it on, and then it's going to be done in about eight to ten hours, depending on what you're doing. Sometimes sooner, find your recipe, follow it to the letter. But you can make so many different kinds of things, and then you don't have to stand there over the stove worrying about burning stuff, anything like that, and it just cooks on its own, and you don't have to do a whole lot. So I cooked something that if I was to put it in the oven and cook it, I would have had to been babysitting that for two hours solid at least, and I would have had more prep time, I would have had more to do and dirtied up more dishes. It just would have been more drama, and I just I'm not my heart's not in it. I like do it and go and be done with it. Crock pot, done. Put it in late at night before bed, I turn it on, go to bed, get up in the morning, gosh, I have brunch right there, depending on what I'm making. It's a beautiful thing, and way less dishes to do. So if that's an option for anyone out there and you're looking for a time saver, you're looking for someone to cook for you, but you don't have anyone to cook for you, get yourself a crock pot, practice on the weekends when you're home if you're worried about it. A lot of times back in the day when I was working outside of the home, that's something that you could set up, literally put it in the refrigerator overnight, prep it before bed, in the morning, pull it out of the fridge, and you put the the crock part of it down into the heater unit, put the lid on it, turn it on low, let it go, you get home from work, your meal is hot and ready for you, and the house smells amazing. Wow! So my latest creation was just simply a chuck roast. A chuast. And sometimes that can be a little on the tough side. It's not always as appealing, but if you cook it right in a slow cooker, it falls apart. It's so tender and it's just it's done to perfection. Next, I know there's probably people out there that are vegetarian, you might be vegan, you can still use a crock pot for that. You have to get a specific cookbook, and there's different types of veggies you can do, soups, all sorts of stuff. You can use it to make chili, whatever you want. Really, it doesn't have to be carnivore related. And then speaking of that, for anyone out there on a budget, I'm gonna mention a YouTube channel I just recently found. I stumbled across it. Oh, and there he is right there, right in front of me. Um, the guy I don't know what the guy's name is. His YouTube channel is Beyond Food Market, and he has he tries to put out videos quite a bit for how you can feed a family of two on two dollars for a meal, how to feed one person on one dollar, how to feed a family of four on eight dollars, and he gets very creative with it, but the catch is it's gluten-free and vegan. So if you're looking for some very inexpensive and actually very healthy ideas out there, his videos are short and sweet and to the point and budget friendly, and honestly, I've seen him make a couple of things in the past few days that I've been taking notes on because I'm just gonna go buy the stuff and make it for myself. And then last on just the whole trying to improve how I eat, this is a struggle for me, guys. I am not gonna make it sound easy. It is something that I've struggled with for quite a while. And then when you live alone, you tend to just not have that meal planning. You get a little lazy with that, it's easy to just grab the instant stuff. It's not necessarily in your best interests. So one thing I really love is soda. So I've been trying to cut soda out. Not crazy about just grabbing a bottle of water all day at all. I don't mind drinking water, but it just gets it's uninteresting after a while. It's like I want something with some flavor on it. So actually, I looked and found some supplements that I wanted to try. They have a pleasing flavor, and they address some stuff that I thought, well, it might be beneficial at my age. I'm gonna try it. You put it in your water, you drink it, tastes pleasant, it has nutrients in it that I could be lacking or that could be beneficial. And you know what? In a week's time, I'm already feeling better. So maybe there's something to that. I was already cutting soda out, so I kind of feel the same from that. All in all, the overall efforts start to finish thus far, I am drinking less soda. I kind of have some days mixed in where I'm I just like, no, I'm gonna go get something that's bad for me. But it's less and less. So you start getting new habits, you start making changes, you start getting used to those changes. They're not so bad anymore. They're not so radical. So I wanted to just let you guys know, yeah, it's possible. And it's really not that hard. Sometimes the mental prep is what holds you back. You just amp up about how much you're gonna resist something, and then you do it, and it's like, oh, well, that's not so bad. So I had a little bit of that in the mix the past few months, but all in all, I'm really happy I started doing some of this stuff. I definitely feel better, my attitude's better, and I'm doing a few other small things. I'm doing small organizational changes and small just tidying up and just cleaning generally speaking, putting stuff away after I use it so it doesn't create as much clutter. And that's paying off too. Slow going, you get busy, it's easy to set stuff down, not put it away right, but all in all, I'm getting better with that, and I just don't have as much, you know, housework on the weekends that way. It's a time saver. I try to do stuff in the moment, and you know, it pays off. So you start reaping the benefits, your deep psyche, I think, starts going, aha, okay, yeah, we can embrace this. It doesn't resist as much, it gets easier over time. So whatever those habits are that you're trying to get better at, that you're trying to change, so maybe you're just trying to be more pleasant. That's an easy one to embrace. Just try to be nice every chance you get. Small action, here again, you don't have to go overboard, just try not to be cranky. Maybe that's it. Whatever the case, find your thing that you want to improve on, that thing in life that you want to do better at that's gonna make you a better version of you, and that you are starting to realize, like, hey, if I drop this habit or if I pick up this habit, life's gonna be easier, life's gonna be better. Do that, whatever that is for you. That could be different for everyone out there. You won't regret it, you're gonna be proud of yourself, and best of all, sometimes we don't like talking about this stuff, it gets kind of weird and squirmy, you know? You don't have to tell anyone. If you're self-conscious about change and what others might say, don't say anything. Chances are everyone around you is so self-absorbed in their own thing, they're not gonna notice and it'll be a non-issue. So if you're one of those that you have worries on that, and trust me, I've been there, it can be a thing. It's probably not a thing. Anyway, have fun with it, enjoy it, and then when you see changes in yourself, pat yourself on the back. Write it down in your gratitude journal. Buy yourself some Thrive gear to celebrate. Whatever it takes, take notice, make your day better because of it, enjoy that victory. You're entitled to it. That's yours. And then keep going. Keep going for the long haul. Don't stop. Make it a lifestyle change. Alright, that's all I've got for you this week. I hope you're sound asleep. I hope you have dozed off and you're snoozing and snoring and you wake up and it's just tomorrow. So let's just catch up with each other on Friday for vintage bedtime stories, and until then, sleep. Tight good night and bye bye.