The Good Life with Michele Lamoureux

Do you have goals that are important to you but you keep putting them off? If you would like to learn easy to implement tips on how to overcome procrastination, then this conversation is for you. You’ll learn the main reasons why we procrastinate and ways to work around those barriers to get closer to achieving your goals and living the life you desire. We use getting in shape and writing a book as specific examples to make it really tactical. Our guest is Paula Rizzo, an Emmy Award-winning television producer, a media trainer, speaker, and best-selling author of Listful Thinking and Listful Living. The show notes for today can be found at https://thegoodlifecoach.com/219 KEY TAKEAWAYS: Fear is one of the major reasons someone will procrastinate. Break down goals into manageable tasks. Don’t put on your calendar “write book” – narrow it down to micro-goals. For example, write 200 words from 1pm-2pm on Tuesdays. Set yourself up for success by managing your day based on when you are more productive. Find an accountability partner. Ex, If you want to get into shape, find a friend or someone with the same goal and set up a regular day/time you’ll meet at the gym. Discipline is a key.  Establish habits and repetition.  Focus on one priority for the day.  Don’t over schedule yourself. Remove as many obstacles as you can. For example, sleep in your workout clothes so you are dressed and ready to go in the morning. Resources + Books Mentioned: Website: http://listproducer.com  Paula’s Books: Listful Thinking: by Paula Rizzo Listful Living: A List-Making Journey to a Less Stressed You by Paula Rizzo – comes out September 15, 2019, you can pre-order now Michele’s Freebie Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, or on your favorite podcast player — and be sure to follow us on Instagram! Thank you so much for listening! Please share today’s show with a friend. I’d love to hear from you, if you have questions or comments, visit me here. If you’d like to advertise or sponsor the show, you can reach out here. This episode was sponsored by Design a Life You Love, A Woman’s Guide to Living a Happier and More Fulfilled Life. My book includes 52 inspirations, one for every week of the year, each with practical tips to guide you to self-love and success on your terms. It makes a great gift for yourself or a friend!

Have you ever experienced a miracle? Do you believe in miracles? Do you think that in order to recognize one when it happens to you or someone else you have to be open to it? These are some of the questions I address. I also share a personal story of the miraculous.   I’d love to read your experience of a miracle, which you can email to hello@thegoodlifecoach.com. Show notes for today are at https://thegoodlifecoach.com/218

Do you sense that you are here for more but aren’t sure how to unlock your purpose and potential? Our guest, Traci Mitchell, is an author, speaker, and Emmy Award-Winning journalist who inspires us to find our life’s purpose. Her book, Stirring the Pot, “is about understanding how today’s most successful women recognize the meaning and value of their lives and the future right in front of them” and how you can apply that knowledge to live a more fulfilled life. Visit the detailed show notes with the links mentioned at https://thegoodlifecoach.com/217 WE DISCUSS: What it means to stir the pot and why it’s important to shake things up to move towards what lights you up. How purpose is something we all have planted within us and that we can uncover our own and it can even change during the course of our lifetimes. The advice Oprah gave Traci and how we can learn from this wisdom. Especially how knowing our gifts is the magic that allows us to get aligned with our path. The importance of focus and not allowing other people’s opinions to guide our life. How being courageous and taking risks can open up new opportunities and growth. Why it’s important to listen to your inner voice and why taking care of mind, body, and spirit helps you hear your own, and much more! Resources Mentioned Website: Traci’s Website Book: Traci Mitchell – Stirring the Pot Traci on IG Michele on IG Michele’s Freebie – join the newsletter GUEST BIO: Emmy award-winning journalist, entrepreneur, motivational speaker, host and author, Traci Mitchell is an inspirational powerhouse who uses her voice and storytelling to engage audiences for major global corporations. She is passionate, authentic and energetic. Traci excels at getting to the root of situations utilizing creative ways to tackle seemingly impossible tasks. Traci worked at television stations from coast to coast reporting on international, national and local news for more than two decades. She covered Presidents George H. W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, Barack Obama and many world leaders. She conducted one on one interviews with presidential hopefuls, lawmakers and corporate executives. Traci conducted celebrity and lifestyle interviews with nationally known experts for the Emmy nominated daytime show, My Generation. She also appeared as a principal actor on House of Cards. Traci loves hearing a good story, especially stories portraying the power and strength of other successful women. She believes women are capable of making what may seem impossible possible. Her book, Stirring the Pot, takes a closer look at successful accomplished women who are living their lives on purpose and what it takes to uncover your own purpose, fall in love with your life and live bigger. Thank you so much for listening! Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, or on your favorite podcast player — and be sure to follow us Instagram! If you’d like to advertise or sponsor the show, you can reach out here. This episode was sponsored by Design a Life You Love, A Woman’s Guide to Living a Happier and More Fulfilled Life. My book includes 52 inspirations, one for every week of the year, each with practical tips to guide you to self-love and success on your own terms. It makes a great gift for yourself or a friend!

Lisa Genova, the New York Times Bestselling Author of Still Alice, is today’s guest.  When I learned of Lisa’s work and life mission I knew I had to have her on the show.  She epitomizes what is possible when you listen to your internal voice and have the courage to pursue what’s in your heart.  Lisa will tell you that she is doing her “soul’s work” and living a life of purpose by bringing empathy and understanding to neurological disorders people don’t like to think about.  Her book “Still Alice” became a New York Times best-seller and was turned into a major motion picture.  However, before finding her purpose, Lisa was on a very different path.  A Harvard trained Ph.D. in neuroscience, Lisa found herself at a crossroads when her first marriage ended in divorce.  It was in this moment of uncertainty that she found the courage to leave the familiar for a life as a writer.  If you are a writer or want to be one, would like to find your purpose, and/or enjoy stories of how dreams become reality, then you will love today’s episode. KEY TAKEAWAYS: Why Lisa left her life as a Harvard trained PhD in Neuroscience to become a fiction writer, with no prior writing experience Why her grandmother having alzheimer’s triggered her desire to write How & why she became an “empathy warrior” for people with neurological disorders How acting classes helped her become a better writer We dig into her creative process – how she crafts her books Why all of her books cover a neurological disorder and how they connect to life themes How she kept up her motivation when her future was uncertain.  Her book was originally rejected by 100 agents yet she was determined to get her book out in the world and it paid off. How her self-published book eventually secured her an agent and ended up on the New York Times Best-sellers list for 59 weeks! How she trusted that fiction was the way to tell her stories to create empathy with the reader. Why she loves the concept of duality and how our decisions create the reality we are living today vs the path not taken. How her book “Still Alice” became a major motion picture starring Julianne Moore and Alec Baldwin.   We go into how it felt to be at the Oscar’s and seeing her work on the big screen. Why her latest book, “Every Note Played” deals with ALS. Lisa shares the questions we need to ask ourselves to discover our own life purpose Why you should never make decisions out of fear The books she used to learn the craft of writing 3 key tips for all women out there who want to pursue their dreams….and so much more… Show Notes & Resources: Free Giveaway when you Join our Newsletter & Community Michele’s New Book, Design A Life You Love: A Woman’s Guide to Living a Happier and More Fulfilled Life Find Michele on Instagram for More Inspiration Lisa Genova’s Bestselling Books: Still Alice  Inside the O’Briens: A Novel Left Neglected Love Anthony Every Note Played Other books referenced: On Pluto by Greg O’Brien  Writing Down The Bones by Natalie Goldberg Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott On Writing by Stephen King The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron Ted Talks: What You Can Do To Prevent Alzheimer’s Inbound Talk: “If You Could Do Anything You Wanted” Thank you for listening to the show. I hope you enjoyed it and would love to hear what your key takeaway was from this episode.  Please be sure to share it with your friends who would benefit from this information.  Also be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss an episode. Rate + Review: If you enjoyed this episode, would you take a minute to review it on iTunes?  Your review helps me better understand what topics you most enjoyed.  It also helps others find this podcast so that they too can learn this helpful information.  This community is all about women supporting women! 1. Click on this link 2. Click “Listen on Apple Podcasts” button 3. Click “Follow” button 4. Select “Ratings and Reviews” 5. Click to rate and leave short review and you’re done!

For more than two decades, esteemed veterinary oncologist Dr. Renée Alsarraf treated cancer in canine patients. Then at age fifty-one, she was diagnosed with cancer herself. The disease Dr. Renée had dedicated her professional life to fighting, suddenly left her scared and unsure. But it was only in receiving her own cancer diagnosis that Dr. Renée realized the empathy she had for animals went both ways. It was her patients—those furry, four-legged, slobbering animals— who seemed to uniquely understand the jumbled language of her own difficult journey and who showed her the true power of positivity and unconditional love. Dr. Renée shares what we can learn from dogs in her beautiful memoir Sit, Stay, Heal: What Dogs Can Teach Us About Living Well” All of the show notes can be found at https://thegoodlifecoach.com/215/ WE DISCUSS Why Dr. Renee wrote this book and what she hopes people will walk away with after reading it. How dogs can be an incredible guide when we suffer from any issue.  They are so present and the human-animal bond is so profound. She speaks to the power of women and to the moms out their navigating everything. Facing our own mortality. How her book helps people navigate end of life decisions with their dogs. The insights into vet and human medicine and some of the specific differences between how humans and animals are treated when they have cancer, and more. RESOURCES MENTIONED Dr. Alsarraf’s book: “Sit, Stay, Heal: What Dogs Can Teach Us About Living Well” Website: www.sitstayhealbook.com Renee on Instagram Michele on Instagram MORE ABOUT DR. RENEE: DR. RENEE ALSARRAF has created four different veterinary oncology practices and led three veterinary radiation facilities. She has performed numerous veterinary clinical trials, co-authored peer-reviewed journal articles, and has lectured both locally and on the national level. She completed a medical oncology residency in New York City at The Animal Medical Center. She lives in Montclair, New Jersey, and is married to a veterinary ophthalmologist. They have one son, whom she cherishes, as well as Dusty, her beloved, bossy, six-year-old female boxer. Thank you for listening to the show!

Do you work from home (“WFH”)? Do you have limited space and multiple people also working from home? Would you benefit from some WFH organizing tips to help streamline your processes so you feel more in control and create a professional environment? This episode will cover the challenges of WFH and provide organizational solutions. Our guest, Geralin Thomas, is a naturally gifted professional organizer. For 19 years, she’s helped people around the world get organized and become more productive so they can pursue their passions. You may have seen Geralin on the Emmy nominated television show, Hoarders, where she worked in some of America’s most cluttered homes. She is the author of Decluttering Your Home: Tips, Techniques and Trade Secrets, and is a wealth of information. Visit the detailed show notes with the links mentioned at https://thegoodlifecoach.com/213 WE DISCUSS: Work From Home office setup and motivationOffice furniture/supplies Desk, chair, wastebasket, shredder, Diva ring light, camera, microphone, headphonesGlass floor mat for easy-glide chair Laptop stand Motivation Tips Fragrances: Grapefruit, lemon, lime, mint Temperature: cooler rather than warmer  Stand rather than sit.  Brush your teeth  Determine if you’re an early bird or night owl and work with your natural rhythm  Music For a “chill” playlist —background music good for focus try searching “lofi beats” on Spotify — it’s sort of like soft nightclub music  This article has good suggestions for people who want to experiment and try different types of music https://www.themuse.com/advice/10-playlists-thatll-power-you-through-your-day-better-than-coffee Resources Mentioned Website:  MetropolitanOrganizing.com First Interview with Geralin Thomas on How to Organize Your Closet Book: Decluttering Your Home: Tips, Techniques and Trade Secrets Michele’s Freebie – join the newsletter Ring Light for your desk Laptop Stand Kathy Vines Organizing Interview on my podcast Here’s the woman on YouTube that shows how to organize digital files in Google Drive. Pocketful of Primary: Digital Organization for Teachers  https://youtu.be/8ApGLGzTT4k Jacki Hollywood Brown from Productively Organized says “It’s easier to put all old emails into a “pre-[date]” folder and sort at your leisure than to bulk delete them. Some emails may be records or have attached records that you need to keep” for legal reasons. GUEST BIO: Geralin Thomas from Metropolitan Organizing is a naturally gifted professional organizer. For 19 years, she’s helped people around the world get organized and become more productive so they can pursue their passions. Geralin especially enjoys transforming chaotic closets into color-coded, curated collections.  You may have seen Geralin on the Emmy nominated television show, Hoarders, where she worked in some of America’s most cluttered homes. She’s been featured on TV commercials and interviewed in national publications. Her book Decluttering Your Home: Tips, Techniques and Trade Secrets has been translated into [x] different languages and is sold worldwide. In addition to coaching professional organizers, Geralin’s Ask Me Anything YouTube videos provide answers to frequently asked questions about their business challenges. Her website has free articles, quizzes, and checklists to help people get organized – whether that be by decluttering their homes or standardizing processes in their small businesses.   Thank you so much for listening! Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, or on your favorite podcast player — and be sure to follow us Instagram! If you’d like to advertise or sponsor the show, you can reach out here. This episode was sponsored by Design a Life You Love, A Woman’s Guide to Living a Happier and More Fulfilled Life. My book includes 52 inspirations, one for every week of the year, each with practical tips to guide you to self-love and success on your own terms. It makes a great gift for yourself or a friend!

Do you work from home (“WFH”)? Do you have limited space and multiple people also working from home? Would you benefit from some WFH organizing tips to help streamline your processes so you feel more in control and create a professional environment? This episode will cover the challenges of WFH and provide organizational solutions. Our guest, Geralin Thomas, is a naturally gifted professional organizer. For 19 years, she’s helped people around the world get organized and become more productive so they can pursue their passions. You may have seen Geralin on the Emmy nominated television show, Hoarders, where she worked in some of America’s most cluttered homes. She is the author of Decluttering Your Home: Tips, Techniques and Trade Secrets, and is a wealth of information. Visit the detailed show notes with the links mentioned at https://thegoodlifecoach.com/213 WE DISCUSS: Work From Home office setup and motivationOffice furniture/supplies Desk, chair, wastebasket, shredder, Diva ring light, camera, microphone, headphonesGlass floor mat for easy-glide chair Laptop stand Motivation Tips Fragrances: Grapefruit, lemon, lime, mint Temperature: cooler rather than warmer  Stand rather than sit.  Brush your teeth  Determine if you’re an early bird or night owl and work with your natural rhythm  Music For a “chill” playlist —background music good for focus try searching “lofi beats” on Spotify — it’s sort of like soft nightclub music  This article has good suggestions for people who want to experiment and try different types of music https://www.themuse.com/advice/10-playlists-thatll-power-you-through-your-day-better-than-coffee Resources Mentioned Website:  MetropolitanOrganizing.com First Interview with Geralin Thomas on How to Organize Your Closet Book: Decluttering Your Home: Tips, Techniques and Trade Secrets Michele’s Freebie – join the newsletter Ring Light for your desk Laptop Stand Here’s the woman on YouTube that shows how to organize digital files in Google Drive. Pocketful of Primary: Digital Organization for Teachers  https://youtu.be/8ApGLGzTT4k GUEST BIO: Geralin Thomas from Metropolitan Organizing is a naturally gifted professional organizer. For 19 years, she’s helped people around the world get organized and become more productive so they can pursue their passions. Geralin especially enjoys transforming chaotic closets into color-coded, curated collections.  You may have seen Geralin on the Emmy nominated television show, Hoarders, where she worked in some of America’s most cluttered homes. She’s been featured on TV commercials and interviewed in national publications. Her book Decluttering Your Home: Tips, Techniques and Trade Secrets has been translated into [x] different languages and is sold worldwide. In addition to coaching professional organizers, Geralin’s Ask Me Anything YouTube videos provide answers to frequently asked questions about their business challenges. Her website has free articles, quizzes, and checklists to help people get organized – whether that be by decluttering their homes or standardizing processes in their small businesses.   Thank you so much for listening!

What is inquiry and how can you use it in your life to foster more peace and joy? How do you learn how to be in the moment and not allow your mind and thoughts to have you worrying about a future that hasn’t occurred or stuck ruminating on the past? Derek Notman, Philosopher and Martial Arts Expert is back on the show to guide us to embrace our feelings instead of run away from them. Lots to learn and think about once you tune in! This is not intended to be advice for dealing with mental health issues. This is a podcast which is for informational and entertainment purposes only. Anything dealing with your mental or physical health should be discussed with your trusted healthcare provider. Tune in now and access the show notes at https://thegoodlifecoach.com/211/   WHAT WE DISCUSS What is inquiry What we can learn from Socrates How inquiry can guide us to invite in our feelings instead of run away from them How to embrace the moment and find more peace and joy even when life is hard, and much more! ABOUT OUR GUEST For over three decades, Derek has dedicated his life to the study of physical culture and philosophy. This pursuit has led him all over the world including time living in China and South East Asia, studying with traditional masters of martial, movement and healing arts. Derek always sought to extract the essence of the traditions while connecting the common elements. Despite the uniqueness of each art and human form, there is a commonality to being in a body and so themes emerge. He has made it his life’s work, to investigate and understand these themes and share them with others in a paradigm of traditional wisdom through embodied practice. RESOURCES MENTIONED Derek Notman’s website Derek on IG The first interview with Derek on my podcast – https://thegoodlifecoach.com/143/ The second interview with Derek on Navigating Fear – https://thegoodlifecoach.com/172/ The Four Agreements Book – by Don Miguel Ruiz Michele on Instagram Thank you for listening to the show!

What is inquiry and how can you use it in your life to foster more peace and joy? How do you learn how to be in the moment and not allow your mind and thoughts to have you worrying about a future that hasn’t occurred or stuck ruminating on the past? Derek Notman, Philosopher and Martial Arts Expert is back on the show to guide us to embrace our feelings instead of run away from them. Lots to learn and think about once you tune in! This is not intended to be advice for dealing with mental health issues. This is a podcast which is for informational and entertainment purposes only. Anything dealing with your mental or physical health should be discussed with your trusted healthcare provider.   Tune in now and access the show notes at https://thegoodlifecoach.com/211/   WHAT WE DISCUSS What is inquiry What we can learn from Socrates How inquiry can guide us to invite in our feelings instead of run away from them How to embrace the moment and find more peace and joy even when life is hard, and much more! ABOUT OUR GUEST For over three decades, Derek has dedicated his life to the study of physical culture and philosophy. This pursuit has led him all over the world including time living in China and South East Asia, studying with traditional masters of martial, movement and healing arts. Derek always sought to extract the essence of the traditions while connecting the common elements. Despite the uniqueness of each art and human form, there is a commonality to being in a body and so themes emerge. He has made it his life’s work, to investigate and understand these themes and share them with others in a paradigm of traditional wisdom through embodied practice. RESOURCES MENTIONED Derek Notman’s website Derek on IG The first interview with Derek on my podcast – https://thegoodlifecoach.com/143/ The second interview with Derek on Navigating Fear – https://thegoodlifecoach.com/172/ The Four Agreements Book – by Don Miguel Ruiz Michele on Instagram Thank you for listening to the show!    

Breath expert, Jay Bradley, is back on the podcast today to discuss how breathwork can heal the body, mind, and spirit. This segment focuses on how and why breathwork is so healing. Michele shares a little of her experience doing breathwork with Jay. To listen to the entire interview, visit https://thegoodlifecoach.com/209. All of the show notes can be found at While on the show notes page, be sure to access the free resource Jay provides. Also I’d love for you to join our community. You’ll receive more inspiration and tips to love yourself and your life. You’ll get a FREE copy of Michele’s Book, Design a Life You Love. RESOURCES MENTIONED Jay’s Book Jay’s Website – head to the breathwork page to download Jay’s free guided breathwork session Jay on Instagram Michele on Instagram MORE ABOUT JAY BRADLEY: Jay has spent over 30 years trying to feel better. Suffering from depression, chronic illness, and bullying at a young age, he had a burning desire to overcome his challenges in order to thrive and find true purpose in his life.When he was invited to a small Breathwork group in 2016, he knew from that moment, that this was the miracle he had been searching for.Jay has since gone on to help thousands of people using the power of Breathwork and other healing modalities, to overcome challenges, move through resistance, and find true empowerment and joy.Jay is the founder of BreatheOnIt®, the creator of ChakraBalms® and the author of LIVE LOOK FEEL, the 12-Week Guide to Live Longer, Look Younger & Feel Better! Thank you for listening to the show!