Breaking Cycles ft. Dr Nicole LePera (The Holistic Psychologist)
Jan 10, 2024
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Dr. Nicole LePera, a trailblazer in holistic psychology, joins Louise to discuss the importance of integrating the body and nervous system awareness for change. They explore the difference between the conscious and subconscious mind, the power of ego stories, and the universal belief of feeling unworthy. They also discuss trauma-based attractions, self-love struggles, and the biggest changes they've seen since doing this work.
Holistic psychology emphasizes the integration of mind and body for true transformation and recognizes the importance of embodied practices and somatic awareness.
Early childhood experiences shape our beliefs and patterns, understanding our conditioning is crucial for healthy relationships and self-love.
Cultivating self-awareness through conscious practices like consciousness check-ins and intentional breathing can rewire our neurobiology for personal growth and empowered choices.
Deep dives
The Importance of a Holistic Approach to Mental Health
Holistic psychology is a paradigm shift that emphasizes the integration of mind and body in addressing psychological and emotional well-being. Traditional approaches primarily focus on cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and changing thoughts and behaviors. However, holistic psychology recognizes the interconnectedness of the mind and body and highlights the impact of the body, nervous system, and emotions on overall mental health. This approach acknowledges that insight alone is not enough to create lasting change and emphasizes embodied practices, somatic awareness, and nervous system regulation as essential for true transformation.
The Impact of Early Childhood Experiences on Mental Health
Early childhood experiences play a significant role in shaping our belief systems, self-perception, and ways of relating to others. The availability of consistent care, emotional attunement, and safety during childhood impact our relationship with ourselves and how we show up in the world. Unresolved traumas and unmet needs can create deep-rooted beliefs of unworthiness, leading to dysfunctional patterns and self-sabotaging behaviors. The subconscious mind, shaped by early experiences, influences our choices and the relationships we form. Understanding our conditioning and healing past wounds is crucial for creating healthy, fulfilling relationships and developing self-love.
Practices for Cultivating Self-Awareness and Embodied Transformation
Cultivating self-awareness and a deeper connection with oneself is essential for personal transformation. Engaging in conscious practices on a regular basis, such as consciousness check-ins, helps break free from autopilot and habitual patterns. By consciously redirecting our attention to our body and the present moment, we can build new neural pathways and regulate our nervous system. Embodied practices like intentional breathing, grounding exercises, tapping, cold water therapy, and stretching can assist in reestablishing the mind-body connection and supporting overall well-being. These practices require commitment and consistency, gradually rewiring our neurobiology and empowering us to make conscious choices aligned with self-love and growth.
Importance of Being Present and Tuning into Heart-based Emotions
One of the main ideas explored in the podcast is the significance of being present in relationships and tuning into heart-based emotions. The speaker explains that many people are drawn to intense and chaotic connections because they are familiar with that pattern from their past caregiving experiences. However, the speaker suggests that true connection and love can be found in calm and grounded relationships. By dropping into the present moment and being aware of one's own body and feelings, individuals can determine if they are genuinely interested in the other person, rather than fixating on whether the other person is interested in them. The concept of 'baby butterflies' is introduced, which refers to tuning into small moments and aligning with shared values to foster meaningful connections.
Heart-Brain Coherence and the Importance of Being in Tune with the Heart
Another main idea discussed in the podcast is the concept of heart-brain coherence and the significance of connecting with one's own heart. The speaker highlights the role of the heart in synchronizing brain and organ functions, and emphasizes the importance of being consciously connected to the heart for overall well-being. Practices such as heart consciousness and heart-based meditations are mentioned as ways to develop heart-brain coherence. By attuning attention to the heart and generating heart-based emotions such as compassion and love, individuals can create a more rhythmic pattern in their heartbeat, which can positively impact their overall physiological functioning and ability to handle stressful emotions. The speaker also touches upon the idea that being present and connected to the heart can help access intuition and deeper signals from the body, leading to more authentic and fulfilling relationships.
It's a bucket list episode, baby! Louise welcomes The Holistic Psychologist to the studio to delve into the art of genuinely loving and liking yourself this year. This is the stuff that no one ever teaches us about but that we should all be learning about at school. Louise & Dr. Nicole LePera, a trailblazer in holistic psychology, get into:
The importance of integrating the body, somatic practices, and nervous system awareness for ACTUAL change.
What the time between our heart beats can tell us about our ability to regulate our emotions in relationships (+ HRV, heart-brain coherence)
How you can’t break cycles without using your biology
Understanding the differentiation between The Conscious vs. Subconscious Mind: Why affirmations alone fall short and post-its on the wall aren’t enough
The power and danger of ego stories
Exploring the core universal belief of feeling unworthy
Understanding trauma-based attractions versus grounded, healthy connections.
Why so many of us struggle with self-love and compassion, thriving instead in stress-based chaos
Louise & Dr. Nicole finish the episode by asking each other what the biggest change they have each seen, personally, since doing this work. Their answers might surprise you!
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