#118 - Slowing down & Putting Joy at the top of your to-do list ft. Ashley Looker
Summary
For the first time in 2020, I’m interviewing on the Take Back Your Damn Life podcast and I’m grateful to be interviewing a new friend (and neighbor), Ashley Looker!
Ashley has many of the monikers that so many of us achievers do - recovering perfectionist, productivity junkie, likes to be busy, etc. She gets that—like so many of us do—we get caught up in the rat race of our lives and tying our worthiness to our productivity. Today she tells her story and shares her experiences of how slowing down and making joy a priority can be absolute game-changers.
I’m so excited to share this interview with you, the first of 2020!
For show notes, head to coachellyn.com/podcast and, of course, if you have any questions or want to connect, head on over to @coachellyn on Instagram.
Resources & Tips in this episode:
The Cutesy Shit Isn’t Helping Podcast - here
Practical Mindfulness Tips Podcast - here
Tip: Set a timer on your phone for the same time each day to do a Mindfulness Check-in. At that time, pause and ask yourself how things are going, how you’re feeling, and have a mindful moment…
“Our minds and our bodies are giving us so much information…our intuition is constantly trying to talk to us. But if we don’t slow down enough to listen, we never notice it and never see it…” // Ashley Looker
What’s the external source that you consume and gobble up? The two examples that were given in the episode were social media and reading books. How can you find a way to cut down on that content? That’s how we start to quiet the intuition.
Ideas:
Take a day off each week off of social media.
Take a hiatus from reading and consuming personal growth and focus on reading/journaling more.
It might be difficult to build up your intuition. But there’s a big difference between discomfort and pain. Don’t think that all of this is code for “easy”. It’s going to stretch you.
What’s the truth of what I’m feeling right now? Am I scared because this is challenging me…? Or is this my intuition telling me that this is wrong for me?
I’ll be happy when or I’ll be happy because…It’s temporary and wears off eventually. There’s a deeper level of happiness that we need to be going for.
Tip: Practice gratitude
“I can feel people roll their eyes when I say this, but…gratitude. It is scientifically proven that gratitude increases our joy.”
Tip: Find joy in the moment.
“Joy does not exist outside of the present moment. Joy is now.”
Ex: The cozy sweatshirt or blanket. The hot cup of coffee that warms your entire soul.
AHA: Joy takes practice and effort.
The 3 Things Most Common Things that Stand in the Way of Us Living Our Best Life…
Not putting joy on our list & not making time for it. Not the things that you find fun but that the only reason you’re doing this thing on your schedule is because it brings you joy. Joy doesn’t need a reason…
Unhook your life from the chase & from thinking that happiness will come from any place outside of you. Turn it back on yourself and “step into your power. Take back your power and trust yourself…”
Not being authentic. When we put on the mask to please others or put things on our calendar because we feel we should, it’s nearly impossible to be happy. Ask yourself: who am I and what do I want?
about today’s guest…
Ashley Looker is a Women’s Wellness + Empowerment Coach who teaches ambitious, over-achievers how to detach from the productivity = worthy cycle and start centering their lives around their joy. She believes that when we actually make time for joy and fun we achieve our goals quicker and with more ease. She is the creator of the 108 Day Happy As Fuck Habit Journal and the accompanying journal prompt card deck.
Where to Find Ashley: Her Website | Instagram
RESOURCE RECOMMENDATIONS from Ashley: