This is episode 4 of 7 from our Make December Matter Planning Day. This is a guided meditation that you can come back to multiple times to feel centered and grounded, by the Shamanic healer, and FLOW365 teacher, Julie Hannon.We are also keeping the conversation going over in our new community space, so head on over to meet other women making changes to how they do December, to watch our daily Small Moves that Matter series, and to play some fun games and win prizes. Sign up for the community at www.plansimple.com/makedecembermatter.

This is episode 3 of 7 from our Make December Matter Planning Day. If you go through these episodes, in order, you should have what you need to decide how you want to feel about this season, to make a plan that reflects that, and to live your plan.We are also keeping the conversation going over in our new community space, so head on over to meet other women making changes to how they do December, to watch our daily Small Moves that Matter series, and to play some fun games and win prizes.Sign up for the community at www.plansimple.com/makedecembermatter. This is also where you get the planning sheets referenced in this episode.

This is episode 2 of 7 from our Make December Matter Planning Day. If you go through these episodes, in order, you should have what you need to decide how you want to feel about this season, to make a plan that reflects that, and to live your plan.We are also keeping the conversation going over in our new community space, so head on over to meet other women making changes to how they do December, to watch our daily Small Moves that Matter series, and to play some fun games and win prizes.Sign up for the community at www.plansimple.com/makedecembermatter. This is also where you get the planning sheets referenced in this episode.

This is episode 1 of 7 from our Make December Matter Planning Day. If you go through these episodes, in order, you should have what you need to decide how you want to feel about this season, to make a plan that reflects that, and to live your plan.We are also keeping the conversation going over in our new community space, so head on over to meet other women making changes to how they do December, to watch our daily Small Moves that Matter series, and to play some fun games and win prizes.Sign up for the community at www.plansimple.com/makedecembermatter. This is also where you get the planning sheets referenced in this episode.

How I show up in December has changed my life. In this episode, I take you behind the scenes of how this has come to be, and how every year is quite different.  I share the story of the first Thanksgiving I took a stand for my health, and the year I shattered my wrist and truly surrendered. I then share how really taking a stand for my rhythm changed what happened in my life. Tune in and join us to make your December matter.

“We had a certain way before becoming a mother that we related to our jobs, our worth, our sexuality, our bodies—and motherhood changes all of that. There's a reorientation as we come back into ourselves.” –Jessica ConnollyWhat does mothering mean when kids get older? Have you ever wanted a deeper discussion about mothering? I’m talking with MotherCircle leader Jessica Connolly about anchoring into our motherhood and power.Many of us long to go beyond the surface level conversations. We want to explore the experience and the changes we experience in work, our bodies, our sexuality, all the way down to our soul level. So how you do that?Jessica reminds us that as mothers we are already leading. We can lead with more intentionality. We can create spaces and expectations that invite the deeper conversations.We talk about: Engaging with women of different ages and experiences to create a map of the journey we go on as womenCreating a legacy for our kids of having deeper conversations and passing on wisdomMaking spaces of intentionalityThe rose, thorn, bud practiceLearning to listen from the heartSimple rituals that bring intentionality and an opening to deeper experiencesABOUT JESSICAJessica is a birthworker, holistic coach, and a circle leader committed to the practice and sharing of wisdom. She is the mother of 4 daughters ages 6-16, and has extensive experience in leadership, group worship, academic settings and the sharing and exchange of information in non-traditional ways.She leads circles, retreats and online classes at the intersection of ancient wisdom and modern science. She is the co- creator of the MotherCircle Facilitator Training along with Kimberly Ann Johnson and is currently teaching the MotherCircle anchor course.She serves women who want to discover the pathway of feminine wisdom and intentional community, for themselves and for their children. Jessica lives in a San Diego urban beach town on a property with 9 kids, 3 families, 4 adults, 3 dogs and 2 chickens.LINKSWebsite: ​​https://mothercircle.com/free-checklist/Instagram: @mother.circle @moon.daughtersDOABLE CHANGESAt the end of every episode, we share three doable changes, so you can take what you've heard and put it into action. Change comes from action. Doable changes are things that you can add into your life, one at a time to make micro shifts and really create a ripple effect that will create a big change over time. Choose one that really piques your interest and roll with it. Here are three Doable Changes from this conversation:CREATE ONE RITUAL. Rituals don’t have to be complex or time consuming. They are simply things you do consistently, usually to mark something or bring attention somewhere. For example, you could light a candle to open a conversation or group. You could turn on a certain song to indicate it’s time to wind down the day. You could pause to say a simple prayer or even thank you before a meal. Pick one and do it throughout the week.TRY ROSE–THORN–BUD PRACTICE. In Rose–Thorn–Bud, each person has a chance to share something good from their day, something hard from their day, and something they are looking forward to. It is a chance for others to listen from the heart, not to solve problems. An easy way to do this is around the dinner table.BE PART OF A CIRCLE. Being part of an intentional circle can be transformative. Find a circle to participate in or create one. See what being in an intentional group and going on a deeper journey feels like.

In this episode, I’m going to take you behind the scenes and into my current thinking right now. I LOVE December for so many reasons. Our big event is called Make December Matter, because I LOVE helping women plan the last month of the year in new and surprising ways. AND, this year has been very different. I was not excited. And then, things shifted. Listen in, and hear why I believe planning now can be so powerful, where I was, and where  Iam now.

Over the next few weeks sprinkled between interviews and episodes, I‘m going to do an episode about each step of the FLOW Planning Process — center, vision, decide, schedule, and follow through. In this episode, I talk about why getting centered is the most critical first step to planning. I also share the seven ways I recommend to get centered, and what it looks like in practice.

“You have to be okay with being both happy and sad at the same time, and I don't think many people are used to doing that.” –Nick ShawHaving a child die is the unimaginable fear of any parent. How do you go on after losing a child? What can you learn and bring forward? My friend Nick Shaw wrote a book about the lessons he’s learned  about slowing down, reflecting, and being yourself, after his son, William died. This is a heavier conversation than many we have here, but worth it.Nick had dabbled in journaling and meditation before his son died, and in the aftermath, as he was trying to make meaning of something so senseless, he used both tools. He found the need, as an introvert, to go deeply inside during this experience.Before William died, Nick was on the productivity treadmill, moving from point A to point B. When William died, time stopped. Nick took a leave of absence and his busy, hectic, highly structured days became amorphous. He didn’t really know what to do with all the time, but slowly he learned how important the pause is, the time to reflect.We talk about: How loss and grief changed his experience of time and earning to live in the moment instead of always being focused on end results The lost art of reflectionGetting stuck in our own narrative of who we are and what we should be doingBeing yourself and creating an environment where others can be themselvesLearning to have a new relationship with somebody you’ve lost and to be happy and sad at the same timeA family ritual around remembering loved ones who have diedABOUT NICK Nick Shaw is an accomplished executive coach, author, and speaker known for his profound insights into personal transformation, self-discovery, and authentic leadership.Through much reflection and soul-searching, Nick has realized a need to help others find ways of living more intentional and meaningful lives. As an executive coach, Nick works with leaders to help them fully embrace the privilege of being a leader to help them create environments where their team members can thrive.Nick is the Co-founder of Mirrorbox Leadership Lab, an Executive Coaching and Leadership Development consulting firm. Utilizing an individual's real life experiences, Mirrorbox’s goal is to help senior level leaders and executive teams bring about meaningful change in service of their personal and organizational growth. With the 2023 release of his debut book, My Teacher, My Son: Lessons on Life, Loss, and Love, Nick invited readers to embark on an introspective journey of their own.Through a compelling narrative about his experience losing his son, William, at just nine years old, Nick’s book stretches the boundaries of the memoir form to teach and inspire its readers and to help them through their own complex emotions and experiences. In the pages of My Teacher, My Son, Nick offers a thought-provoking and supportive guide that urges individuals to examine their lives with honesty and self-compassion. Through poignant anecdotes, Nick encourages readers to reevaluate their choices and embrace a more fulfilling and purposeful existence.As of the publication of My Teacher, My Son, Nick lives in Carlisle, Massachusetts, with his wife, Susan, and his sons Kai (11) and Bodhi (3). His eldest son, William, is buried in Green Cemetery in Carlisle, a place where the family often spends time together and finds peace. Nick and his family enjoy spending time outdoors, hiking, biking, cross-country skiing, kayaking, and stand- up paddle boarding.LINKSWebsite: www.meetnickshaw.comInstagram: @nickshaw1975LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nick-shaw-author/DOABLE CHANGESAt the end of every episode, we share three doable changes, so you can take what you've heard and put it into action. Change comes from action. Sometimes action gets a bad rap. You can be kind to yourself. You can practice being AND doing, but for change to happen you have to take steps. The way we take care of ourselves is making the steps doable and focusing on one thing at a time. We take time to integrate the change and then move on to the next one. Pick a Doable Change that resonates with you the most to start from. Here are three Doable changes that we chose from this conversation.PAUSE. You can practice pausing throughout your day. Take a moment and go outside, get some air, or do a quick mindfulness or meditation exercise. Put your phone down. Stop and notice the moment and what’s right in front of you.BE YOURSELF. Notice if there are places where you are doing what is expected of you, not what you really want to do. Notice if there are places you are not acting as you want to. The first doable change is to notice where you aren’t truly being yourself. The next step is to make one change to be more of who you are. It could be declaring something that you like or don’t like, wearing something new, listening to music that surprises people, trying a new hobby … be yourself.CREATE A RITUAL TO REMEMBER. Nick describes how his family has adapted the Día de los Muertos tradition to remember his son. He also mentions they have tacos, WIlliam’s favorite food, on the 19th of every month. Rituals give us a place to remember and something that helps us do that. Rituals can draw on other customs or whatever feels right to you and your family. Rituals actually start with doing something once, and then again. You aren’t locked in. You can always adapt. Try one thing: lighting a candle, collecting meaning objects on an altar, choosing a significant food. Notice how it feels.

“Launch into a life that you want to live. Not a life you're gonna have a midlife crisis from in 20 years.”–Dr. Crystal GiffordWhat if your kids didn’t go to college? Most of us grew up with the idea that college is the gold standard, but what if it isn’t right for your kids? I’m talking with Dr. Crystal Gifford and coach Summer Joy Deaton, founders of College Reimagined: LifeLaunch Core, about alternatives to college and what it really means to launch our kids.Ideas about college are shifting. For some that means a certificate or trade training, but my guests today are looking at another option. What if we give students an opportunity to discover what it is that they really love that is also a sellable transferable skill that's going to help them have a life that's full of satisfaction.What if young adults spent time figuring out themselves and finances? What if they figured out where what they love and how they make a living intersect—and then put time and energy there? It might mean college or entrepreneurship or many other routes, but the starting point gives them a different set of options.We talk about: Learning how to create your own economy, make money right away and avoid going so deeply into debtUsing Human Design to understand and support your childrenWhat it means to launch your kidsThe importance of mentorsPlugging into students’ inspirationForging tenacity and dealing with daily challengesABOUT SUMMERMeet Summer Joy Deaton, a third-generation entrepreneur with alifelong dedication to education and empowerment. Summer's journeyhas been one of innovation, impact, and unwavering inspiration.Impacted by her mother’s pioneering in peacemaking, at 20, Summerinitiated and implemented a restorative justice program at the BoulderCounty Sheriff's Office, a legacy that continues to thrive. Her ongoingrole as CEO of ReSolutionaries, a business inherited from her mother, andan advisory role for LCJP, another organization founded by her mother,vividly demonstrates her commitment to meaningful impact for futureGenerations.With an affinity for charting unconventional paths, Summer hasdiscovered like-minded peers within the entrepreneurial community whoappreciate her alternative ways of thinking. Her knack for businessstrategy and problem-solving has made her a sought-after strategistsand facilitator for entrepreneurs who are starting or scaling theirbusinesses. For the past 12 years, she's lent her expertise to esteemedbusiness masterminds, fueling her client's success with her wisdom,business acumen and huge heart.Today, as the co-founder of College Reimagined: LifeLaunch Core,Summer brings her extensive business background and passion tosupport the next generation of alternative thinkers to create success ontheir terms.ABOUT DR. CRYSTAL Students, Clients and Businesses alike are in love with Dr. Crystal!Dr. Crystal Gifford has achieved more than twenty years of successfulexperience in finance and economics serving thousands of studentsand hundreds of businesses to make decisions wisely. She is anenergetic and engaging speaker who understands what it takes tofeel confident and win when making Big Life Decisions. Her uniqueand fresh approach to money shifts paradigms across the globe.Dr. Crystal earned her Doctorate of Business Administration inInternational Accounting in 2008 and Master of Financial Economics from Ohio University in 2002. She now captivates audiences far &wide with her fresh twist by creating joy in making decisions about"the money. Stuff."As the co-founder of College Reimagined: LifeLaunch Core, Dr.Crystal's profound insight into effective learning strategies leads hertraining style--to create scenarios that inspire individuals to fall in lovewith learning by making it personal and putting it into actionimmediately. Her passion for understanding how students learn isfueled by the belief that our true essence can be traced back tomoments of “full expression”. Dr. Crystal's mission is centered onhelping young adults unlock their unique gifts and harness them toprosper in the world.LINKSwww.collegereimagined.comTikTokhttps://www.tiktok.com/@collegereimaginedInstagramhttps://www.instagram.com/collegereimagined/YouTubehttps://www.youtube.com/@CollegeReimaginedDOABLE CHANGESAt the end of every episode, we share three doable changes, so you can take what you've heard and put it into action. Action is how change happens.Often we feel like our actions have to be huge to match the bigness of our desires, but we have seen over and over and over again that the little things add up. By stacking up a series of Doable Changes, you will create that big change that you crave. Choose the one that really resonates with you this week and really make it part of your life. Here are Three Doable Changes from this conversation:JOURNAL ON LAUNCHING. There’s a difference between launching your kid and getting your kid into college. Do some journaling around your expectations for your child after high school. What do you want for them? Why? Dig into your assumptions.EXPLORE HUMAN DESIGN. Human design can be a really interesting tool to understand yourself and those you love. Do it for yourself, your spouse, and your kids.LOOK AT ALTERNATIVES. If you have kids heading into college age, look at alternatives for them, including college, trades, certificate programs, and the LifeLaunch program.