Vibrant Happy Women

On this HappyBit I talk about the "death spiral" of negativity, false humility, and celebrating our strengths so we can pull out of that nosedive of negativity more quickly. 

April Boyd faced the unthinkable when her newborn daughter Nora suddenly stopped breathing at just 1 day of age. In this episode, April shares her story of going into a very dark place after her daughter died and slowly coming to the realization that she had to make a decision to claw her way out and not let her daughter’s life end as a tragedy. Instead, April chose to turn her daughter’s brief and beautiful life into a legacy. April created the Love & Loss Project to help break the isolation and silence surrounding loss. April Boyd is a private practice therapist with clients across the globe, creator of the Baby Loss Survival Guide and the founder of the Love & Loss Project, an online comfort & inspiration station for women who have experienced the loss of a baby or pregnancy. When April is not doing the work she loves to do, you might find her on the top of a paddleboard or the side of mountain with her hunky boyfriend and her six pound Yorkie Sasha. "We are here for a good time, not a long time." - song lyrics by Trooper "I think so often we get caught up in so many things that pull us so many different directions, that we really forget that ultimately, our time is in fact limited and what we do with it, matters greatly. " "The most important thing is really making the decision." "What I was afraid of is that if I just continue to self-destruct and crumble and be lost that story that would go on to be told about my daughter and for my circle of friends and for my family it would ultimately be some version that she was reason why her mother was now a complete mess. And I did not want to allow that to become her legacy. And so I really committed to the idea that I was going to force myself back to life. I was going force myself to get back to a state of being able to experience things like joy again because that is how I needed to honor her and to make sure that the tragedy of her story really became a love story." "First, know that you are going to go through this. And this is going to change you in some ways. But we still have control over which direction this is going to take us." "So often, we have that tendency to just want to outrun the pain and outrun what hurts and distract ourselves and stay busy and avoid it. But I believe in many ways, that even though that it is useful at times, if that is our main go-to strategy all the time, then what we are really doing is just prolonging that agony. That which we resist gets stronger. So instead, I think we really need to give ourselves permission to open ourselves to this, to give our own selves the care and comfort that we deserve and to make our own healing a priority." "Grief functions. It is such a magnifying glass. And it really just illuminates and brings to the surface some of our longstanding patterns, some of the longstanding pains that get in our way." "Perfectionism is just fear in really good shoes." - Elizabeth Gilbert "We need to burn off that tension and that stress." "Your body is your compass. It knows your truth. It knows what feels good to you. It knows your answer." Some of April's Favorite Things: Personal habit: Working out. Easy meal: Steamed kale and carrots. Mixed with almond-based dressing. Possession: Spiralizer. Cellphone for ordering takeout. April's Favorite Book: The Desire Map by Danielle LaPorte Best advice received: "Your body is your compass. You need to tune in to what your gut is telling you and that is your guide." April's Happiness Formula: "Be as compassionate as possible to both yourself and others because at the end of the day, we are all just doing our best and that is going to look different one day to the next. And we really do not have any idea what someone else is going through behind closed doors. And so I think if we just kind of allow ourselves to approach life with just a bit more compassion that can save us a lot of more frustration and anger and drama." "Be the guardian of your own health and happiness. Focus on the pieces that you can control and bring your attention to that." "Choose joy. I do not think that happiness is just an accident. I think that it is a choice." A Challenge from April: "Think about the one thing that you have been avoiding. What is that thing that you have been procrastinating on, that you know is calling your name? Whether that is a class that you want to take, whether that is a change that you want to make in your work day, whether that is a conversation that you have been putting off having that you know that you need to express and get out there with somebody that you care about. Do that thing that you have been putting off doing and get it done now."

In this HappyBit I discuss how we're 100% responsible for the energy we bring to our relationships. Learn 3 steps to help you stay more positive. 

Susie Parker had an OK time teaching her first child to sleep, but when baby #2 arrived, she knew her whole life was about to get harder because, as she shares in this episode, "She just stared at me with these beady little eyes and I knew this baby was not going to sleep." Get ideas on teaching any child to sleep, as well as making time to take care of yourself in the process, too. Susie's upbeat approach to things will have you laughing and feeling like sleep deprivation is survivable.

Do you know yourself? I mean, do you REALLY know yourself? The things that energize you and drain you, the things that make your heart sing and the things that deflate you? In this HappyBit I challenge you to live more authentically. 

Amiyrah Martin shares her story of attempting to leave for work one morning, only to find that her car had been repossessed. With $36,000 of debt, Amiyrah and her husband took a hard look at their lifestyle, made massive changes and paid off their debt in 2 years. Now, years later, they are paying CASH for their first home. Listen as Amiyrah shares some tips about having a frugal but love-centered lifestyle, all while being a service-minded, generous woman. Amiyrah is the owner of 4 Hats and Frugal, a website dedicated to teaching families how to have fun on a dime, be a "baller" on a budget, and live a full life on less. She's a wife, mother of 3, member of the Air National Guard, New Jersey native, and self-proclaimed Nutella addict. www.JenRiday.com/30

Does fear ever prevent you from being creative and getting outside of your comfort zone? Learn how to let fear be along for the ride... www.jenriday.com

Taya Kyle shares her story of forgiveness and moving forward after her husband Chris Kyle was murdered by someone he was trying to help. Taya Kyle is the wife of the late U.S. Navy SEAL sniper Chris Kyle and the author of the New York Times bestselling book, American Wife. In her book she opens up about the trials and triumphs of life with and without Chris Kyle, and ultimately finding her place in the midst of the journey. Since the time of the tragic death of her husband Chris Kyle - himself the author of the New York Times bestselling book and Academy Award-winning motion picture, American Sniper – Taya has served as Executive Director of the Chris Kyle Frog Foundation, which serves first responder and military marriages. Taya is a frequent speaker for various organizations. She is a proud mother and resides in Texas with her family. www.jenriday.com/29

Do you ever feel like, "Ugh! I'm crazy busy and have no time for anything I really want to do." Learn how to shift that and start feeling like you have all the time in the world.