Enlightened Empaths

Welcome to our monthly episode where we share the stories, questions and comments from listeners in our Enlightened Empaths community! If you would like to share something from your own life or have a question you’d like us to try and address, please send us an email: enlightenedempaths@gmail.com You can also find us on Facebook: Enlightened Empaths. Samantha’s website is http://samanthafey.com She is also on Instagram @samanthaofey. Denise can be found at http://thegratefulmessenger.com and on Instagram @gratefulmessenger.

In this episode we are so thrilled and honored to welcome Bonita Tompkins from the Center for Entrepreneurial Studies! Bonita is the Founder and Interim Executive Director of The Center for Entrepreneurial Studies. She is passionate about business being used as a force for good and believes in many learning styles, loving what you learn, becoming credentialed and raising the bar in all you do in your life and community. Bonita completed her Entrepreneurial training at UMass, Lowell. She obtained her teaching certificate through Eastern Maine Community College while teaching Business at the high school level. Prior to teaching, Bonita was president of Williams Maritime, a family owned company that contracted over 30 international shipping lines and the Massachusetts Port Authority. Bonita’s other work experiences include being elected Treasurer for the town of New Sharon, ME., work for International Greetings, Corporate Designs and Polo Ralph Lauren. Her volunteer experience includes working with Make-A-Wish Foundation, POW-MIA League of Families and the Marine Corps Toys for Tots Program. For more information or to contact Bonita, please visit: http://www.cesmaine.com

In this episode, we’re discussing a bit of the brain chemistry that explains neuroplasticity but we also give some tips and techniques on how to rebuild those neural pathway for a higher quality of life. Neuroplasticity is the brain’s ability to change and adapt due to experience. As empaths, many of us have had situations that may have left long term residual impact from trauma, being extremely sensitive, and also with needing to learn how to navigate a world that can feel very harsh at times. The importance of neuroplasticity can’t be overstated: It means that it is possible to change dysfunctional patterns of thinking and behaving and to develop new mindsets, new memories, new skills, and new abilities. Neurogenesis is the creation of new brain cells and certain parts of the brain are capable of generating new cells throughout adult life. Neurogenesis pretty much says that as new cells are created, they build stronger connections and have a higher likelihood of developing new neural pathways compared to older neurons.  The ability of the brain to change and grow in response to experience helps people recover and overcome from severe stress and adversity–to be resilient; to bend without breaking.  Depression, anxiety, and post traumatic stress disorder are often characteristic of disrupted neuroplasticity. This leads to getting stuck in neural ruts of negative thinking/feeling/behaving or fear-based memories.  We hope this information is helpful and you find some time this week to bring in some novelty or new experiences to rebuild some of your own neural pathways!

Have you ever wondered why you keep repeating patterns in relationships or maybe why you react a certain way without really knowing why? Please join us today as we discuss the five attachment styles in relationships. This attachment theory was developed by psychologists John Bowlby and Mary Ainsworth more than 50 years ago and their findings still hold up today. Simplistically the theory shows that how your parents or caregivers loved you in your first 5 years played a critical role in your emotional development and continues to effect the way you relate to others on a personal level. Mary Ainsworth the sensitivity hypothesis which basically says the more responsive your mom was to you as an infant, the more secure you’ll be in your future relationships. The five types are: Secure Attachment Anxious-Preoccupied Dismissive/Avoidant Fearful/Avoidant Disorganized Attachment Style Join us as we explore each type and discuss how this may be impacting you and your relationships! If you would like to contact us with a story, dream or question, please reach out to us @: enlightenedempaths@gmail.com To contact Samantha or to see her upcoming classes, events and available products: samanthafey.com and you can find Denise at www.thegratefulmessenger.com

Please join us in welcoming back Suzanne Falter! Suzanne hosts the Self-Care for Extremely Busy Women podcast where she brings better self-care to thousands of busy people each week in 98 countries around the globe. She also keynotes and leads corporate workshops and online programs on self-care. She is the author of The Extremely Busy Woman’s Guide to Self-Care (Sourcebooks) and a memoir about her daughter’s death and her subsequent healing, Free Spirited. This is a poignant discussion of healing, grief, and learning to let go after the unexpected passing of Teal, Suzanne’s vibrant and beautiful daughter. In her book, Free Spirited, Suzanne shares stories and messages of hope and healing that she channels in collaboration with her daughter in spirit. The insights and genuineness of the exchange between mother and daughter is profound and inspiring as in Teal’s description of tapping into the “unified field of love”. For more information about Suzanne and her work, please visit: https://suzannefalter.com/

We are thrilled to introduce and share time with Spring Washam! Spring Washam is a well-known teacher, author, and visionary leader based in Oakland, California. She is the author of A Fierce Heart: Finding Strength, Courage and Wisdom in Any Moment and her newest book, The Spirit of Harriet Tubman: Awakening from the Underground. Spring is considered a pioneer in bringing mindfulness-based meditation practices to diverse communities. She is one of the founding teachers at the East Bay Meditation Center, located in downtown Oakland, CA. She has practiced and studied Buddhist philosophy in both the Theravada and Tibetan schools of Buddhism since 1999. She is a member of the teacher’s council at Spirit Rock Meditation Center in northern California where she was trained for over a decade. In addition to being a teacher, she is also a shamanic practitioner and has studied indigenous healing practices since 2008. She is the founder of Lotus Vine Journeys, a one-of-a-kind organization that blends indigenous healing practices with Buddhist wisdom in South America. Her writings and dharma teachings have appeared in many online journals and publications. She currently teaches meditation retreats and leads workshops, and classes worldwide. For more information about Spring, her books and her offerings: http://springwasham.com

Welcome to our monthly episode where we share the stories, questions and comments from listeners in our Enlightened Empaths community! If you would like to share something from your own life or have a question you’d like us to try and address, please send us an email: enlightenedempaths@gmail.com  You can also find us on Facebook: Enlightened Empaths. Samantha’s website is http://samanthafey.com She is also on Instagram @samanthaofey. Denise can be found at http://thegratefulmessenger.com and on Instagram @gratefulmessenger.

In this episode, Samantha and Denise share uplifting stories of people (and some animals!) who showed kindness for others in need. With so much fear and negativity in the world, it’s uplifting and brings a beautiful wave of hope to hear of people who helped just because it was the right thing to do. As empaths, we benefit so much from hearing there still are kind, encouraging people doing acts of service with no expectation of reward or accolades. If you have an uplifting story you’d like to share, please email us: enlightenedempaths@gmail.com or post on our Facebook page: Enlightened Empaths.

Please join Samantha and Denise as they discuss Julia Cameron’s iconic book The Artist’s Way. This book has had an almost cult like following for the 30 plus years since it was originally self-published. The tips and techniques are interwoven with stories and usable information to help you reconnect with your own inner creative. There are 12 chapters to be worked through over a 12 week process. It is a wonderful journey to take as an individual, with a dear friend or in a group of people. Each week sequentially leads to the next and over the course of the program, new habits are able to emerge which support your creativity and help you learn to do what brings you joy again. As Julia states in reference to the basic principles presented in this book: “As you work with the tools in this book, as you undertake the weekly tasks, many changes will be set in motion. Chief among these changes will be the triggering of synchronicity: we change and the universe furthers and expands that change.” Maybe it’s time to gift yourself with some time to nurture your own precious seed of creativity!

In this Share Your Light episode, we are so very pleased to introduce you to Carrie Bennett! Carrie currently lives on her farm in NC with her husband and 4 children. She graduated as a medical laboratory technician in 1998 and spent the next 24 years working in a laboratory as a medical microbiologist. But now she has permanently hung up her lab coat and embraced her spiritual side. She remembers connecting with other realms as a small child, was raised on plant medicine and has always had an interest in all things metaphysical.  Carrie has completed courses in tarot, mediumship, herbalism and more. She recently completed a course in activating others with their soul light language and is attuned to several light language dialects. She is currently enrolled in the Transpersonal Crystal Healing course which dives a bit deeper into the psychological aspects of crystal healing. She also sells crystals and more through her Etsy shop Juniper Moon Holistic. You can get in touch with Carrie through her website www.junipermoonholistic.com or Jen Edwards’ Moon Lodge where she does biweekly mini light language readings.  Website: www.junipermoonholistic.com All Enlighten Empaths users can use code Empaths2023 at check out to save 23% off any service on my website Etsy: https://junipermoonholistic.etsy.com Currently running a 25% off all crystals sale, no code necessary