Soul Cravings: The Path to Joy and Fulfillment

Pay attention to your soul cravings and align with your core values, strengths, and passions for deep fulfillment. In the podcast episode, Tonya Leigh emphasizes the importance of listening to your soul's cravings, which originate from the deepest part of you and are in harmony with your core values, strengths, and passions. These cravings differ from societal cravings influenced by external expectations and norms. By paying attention to your soul cravings, you can experience a profound sense of purpose, joy, and alignment in your life.

Tonya shares her personal journey of discovering her soul cravings, such as a desire to learn about the world, feel at home in different cultures, and explore various cuisines. By following these cravings, she was able to align with her true self and move towards her North Star. She highlights the contrast between societal cravings, which may offer temporary approval or success but lack deep fulfillment, and soul cravings, which lead to a sense of purpose and joy.

She encourages listeners to pay attention to their own cravings and explore what their soul truly longs for in life.

Talking Points:

00:39 - Tanya's New York City Experience
01:55 - Identifying Your Cravings
02:36 - Personal Development Journey
03:08 - Essential Self vs. Social Self
04:12 - Excavating Your True Self
05:06 - Following Soul Cravings
06:08 - Discovering Worldly Cravings
07:00 - Societal vs. Soul Cravings
10:03 - Discomfort in Following Cravings
12:12 - Recognizing Soul Cravings
13:05 - Creating Space for Soul Cravings
14:10 - Developing Self-Trust
15:37 - Paying Attention to Intuition and Body
21:02 - Practical Exercise: Mood Boards
24:04 - Energy from Soul Cravings

Quotes:

"By listening to my soul's cravings, not my societal cravings, but my soul's cravings, has led me towards my North Star."

"I believe in honoring your soul cravings."

"You will know a soul craving because it will bring you joy. Even if it's hard, it'll bring you so much joy and satisfaction."

"You have to be the one that puts up a red velvet rope around your mind, around your soul, so that you can hear you again, so that you can listen and pay attention to what you're being nudged towards and what you're being nudged away from."

"That's not it. I just moved away from my sweet spot."

Overcoming Overwhelm: What to Do When You're Drowning in Your To-Do's

One of the key insights from the podcast episode is the understanding that overwhelm is an emotion created by the thoughts in our heads. Host and Master Self-Image Coach Tonya Leigh explains that when we feel overwhelmed, we are often in a state of fight or flight, where our sympathetic nervous system is activated. This heightened state of stress and panic can make it challenging to think clearly and find solutions to our overwhelming to-do lists.

To manage overwhelm effectively, Tonya suggests accessing the parasympathetic nervous system. This system is responsible for rest and digest functions, promoting a state of calm and relaxation. By engaging the parasympathetic nervous system, we can counteract the fight or flight response and regain clarity of thought. She reflects on her own journey through overwhelm and provides tools to help listeners manage and conquer their to-do lists effectively.

Life's Highs and Lows: Discovering Your Path to Alignment

Being outside of your comfort zone and navigating through that phase successfullly requires curiosity and self-reflection. This episode delves into the concept of embracing life's lows as much as you yearn for the highs. Tonya Leigh stresses that straying from your comfort zone is a natural part of the journey and should not be seen as a setback. Being outside of your comfort zone and navigating through that phase successfullly requires curiosity and self-reflection.

Tonya underscores the importance of not being too hard on yourself when you're not in your comfort zone. Instead, she urges listeners to embrace it, stay curious about themselves, and extract the lessons that being out of the comfort zone can offer. By embracing the lows, one can savor the highs even more when they arrive.

The analogy of trying on different outfits is used to illustrate the process of finding what suits you best in life. Just like trying on clothes to find the perfect fit, life is about experimenting and trying new things to discover what resonates with your values and essence. T

This mindset fosters growth, self-discovery, and the chance to correct course when necessary. Tonya's message inspires listeners to value the contrast between highs and lows, understanding that both experiences contribute to personal growth and a deeper self-awareness.

Talking Points:

01:24 Finding your sweet spot.

04:58 Embracing Life's Ups and Downs.

11:09 Core values and connection.

17:12 Living in your sweet spot.

22:23 Making tough decisions about change.

30:44 Joyful reinvention and self-image.

35:08 Embracing life's contrasts.

39:27 Feeling stuck and stagnant.

Quotes:

"I'm feeling so at peace. I'm feeling so excited about the future. I'm feeling healthier. I'm feeling vibrant. I feel like I'm in my sweet spot."

"But unfortunately, what a lot of people do is they just continuously focus on what they don't want."

"You're more motivated. You're more excited about your life. You feel more aligned."

"Every moment is a chance to turn back to you."

"Clarity comes through action."

"What if you learn to embrace the lows as much as you crave the highs?"

Useful Resources:

FREE Training: https://schoolofselfimage.com/powerfully-ever-after/

FREE Download: https://schoolofselfimage.com/self-image-manifesto/

Sign up for the weekly Edit: http://schoolofselfimage.com/edit

Connect with Self-Image Coach, Tonya Leigh:

Website: https://schoolofselfimage.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tonyaleigh

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TonyaLeighOfficial

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thetonyaleigh

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TonyaLeighOfficial

Creating Intentional Self-Image Events for Personal Growth

Self-image events play a crucial role in shaping our identities, as discussed in the podcast episode. These events can be intentional or unexpected, and reflecting on both types from our past is essential for personal growth and self-awareness.

Intentional self-image events are experiences or activities that we consciously choose with the purpose of changing our self-image and identity. By setting extraordinary goals and immersing ourselves in new environments, we challenge our existing beliefs, push beyond personal boundaries, and facilitate the development of new skills and perspectives. These intentional events are designed to push us out of our comfort zones and help us evolve into a new way of being in the world. Embracing intentional self-image events can be a catalyst for personal development and lead to a more empowered and fulfilling life.

Join in to explore how moments, both intentional and unexpected, shape our identities and help us evolve personally.

Talking Points:

02:58 - Understanding Self-Image Events

04:03 - Childhood and Self-Image Formation

06:09 - Conflicting Identities: Pageants and Church

07:03 - Overcoming Negative Self-Image from Bullying

08:05 - Gaining Power Through Understanding Self-Image

10:02 - Adult Unexpected Self-Image Event

12:10 - Cognitive Dissonance and Self-Imag

14:08 - Adapting Self-Image to New Realities

17:13 - Negative Self-Image Events and Recover

19:00 - Compassion in the Face of Self-Image Challenges

20:05 - Creating Intentional Self-Image Events

27:45 - Intentional Self-Image Events for Future Growth

Quotes:

"Life is about all of it. And I've just come to the understanding that embracing that is the secret to true fulfillment."

"I always felt like I was sinning and I was going to go straight to hell."

"The scared little girl in me trying to protect herself from the world. But as the adult me, I've got me."

"This is too good to be true. This surely isn't going to work out. This isn't as good as it seems to be."

You Are Enough: Celebrating the Uniqueness of Motherhood

Drawing from her personal journey as a mother, Tonya highlights moments of doubt, frustration, and guilt she has faced. Despite these challenges, she stresses the importance of recognizing and celebrating the love and effort that mothers put into raising their children. By acknowledging the sacrifices, hard work, and dedication that mothers invest in their children, they can begin to appreciate and love themselves more.

The episode also addresses the common feelings of guilt experienced by mothers. Tonya suggests that instead of dwelling on guilt, mothers should embrace innocence - recognizing that their intentions are always rooted in love and care for their children. By letting go of guilt and accepting that they are doing their best, mothers can start showing themselves the same grace and understanding they offer to their children.

Tune in for a touching tribute to the strength and beauty of motherhood.

Talking Points:

02:26 The journey of motherhood.

05:17 Motherhood and astrology signs.

12:31 Guilt and Innocence as Options.

16:18 Your needs matter as a mom.

20:01 Embracing imperfection as a mom.

Quotes:

"This is the most hard and beautiful and awful and amazing journey any person could go on. That of being a mother."

"Can I return her? Because right now, I don't like her."

"I was a great mother. I decided that everything has happened the way it was supposed to."

"Guilt is always an option. But do you know what else is an option? Innocence."

"Your needs matter too."

"There are times that I wish I could pack my bags and just move away. Yeah, I'd probably come back, but sometimes I fantasize about it. And that's okay."

"You are enough. Really let that sink in. You are enough."

Useful Resources:

Join The School of Self-Image Now: https://schoolofselfimage.com/join

FREE Download: https://schoolofselfimage.com/self-image-manifesto/

Sign up for the weekly Edit: http://schoolofselfimage.com/edit

Connect with Self-Image Coach, Tonya Leigh:

Website: https://schoolofselfimage.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tonyaleigh

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TonyaLeighOfficial

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thetonyaleigh

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TonyaLeighOfficial

Transforming Your Relationship with Food and Exercise: Insights from Laura Hinton

Weight loss can be achieved by changing our eating habits and our relationship with food, rather than fixating on strict diets and clean eating. Laura Hinton shares her journey with Tonya Leigh of losing 50 pounds by shifting her mindset around food. She stressed that she didn't have to eat only "clean" or "good for you" foods to lose weight. Instead, she focused on consuming the same foods she had been eating but in moderation and with a fresh perspective.

Laura's story underscores the importance of impartial evaluation and self-acceptance when it comes to food choices. She mentioned transitioning from self-judgment to self-love, which ultimately yielded more effective results in her weight loss journey. By approaching food with love and grace, she was able to make sustainable changes without feeling deprived or restricted.

When individuals shift their focus from self-criticism to self-acceptance, they are more likely to make healthier choices, listen to their bodies, and approach weight loss from a place of empowerment rather than punishment. This shift in mindset can lead to enduring results and a more positive relationship with food, exercise, and self-image.

The 3 Big Weight Loss Myths:

Myth #1: Clean Eating for Weight Loss

Myth #2: Exercise Intensity and Weight Loss

Myth #3: Self-Criticism and Weight Loss

Unlocking Lasting Peace with Your Body

Success should be judged beyond the scale and dress size. This episode emphasizes the importance of redefining how we measure success with our bodies. Host and Master Self-Image Coach Tonya Leigh highlights that relying solely on the scale or dress size as indicators of success can be detrimental to our overall well-being. Instead, she encourages listeners to shift their focus towards how they feel emotionally and physically.

Tonya shares her personal journey of struggling with weight and body image issues, where she found herself trapped in a cycle of using external measurements to determine her worth. She explains that tying success to a number on the scale can lead to feelings of discouragement, fear, and obsession. By shifting the focus to how we feel each day and how our bodies feel, we can create a more sustainable and fulfilling approach to body success.

Join Tonya as she delves into finding beauty and joy in life, beyond the numbers on a scale.

Talking Points:

02:25 Finding peace with your body.

10:18 - Rethinking Body Success Measurement

15:28 - Creating Intrinsic Body Success

18:10 - Embracing Imperfection and Gratitude

21:01 - Choosing Definitions of Body Success

Quotes:

"If you even look at the definition of the word slim, it's to rid of the excess, to slim down."

"We have a limited amount of energy and how much of yours is going into obsessing, hating, resisting, trying so hard to lose weight?"

"I have this belief that we're successful even when we fail, if we use those failures to grow us."

Illuminating Your Path: The Decision Switch in Action

Making decisions is essential for moving forward in life and creating change. In the podcast episode, Tonya Leigh emphasizes the importance of making decisions to break free from feeling stuck and to propel oneself towards desired outcomes. She discusses how indecision can keep individuals in a state of paralysis, preventing them from progressing in life. She also highlights that decisions, whether big or small, play a crucial role in shaping the trajectory of one's life and influencing the overall experience.

This episode underscores the transformative power of making decisions and highlights how each choice, no matter how small, can have a significant impact on one's life journey. By embracing the decision-making process and being willing to step into the unknown, individuals can break free from stagnation, create positive change, and ultimately shape a more fulfilling and purposeful life.