As we head into the holidays, life can get really, really tricky. Family pressure. Cultural/societal pressure. Internal pressure. Pressure to put on a smile and be happy. And this month especially – pressure to have “an attitude of gratitude”. And yet – for so, so many of us, this can not only feel fake, but actually add to our struggles.

So today, I’ve invited an amazing human to come on the pod and share one of her favorite and most powerful tools we can use to find peace in the midst of the conflicts and contradictory circumstances we find ourselves in in life – and especially during this time of year.

Welcome you to Deconstructing Gaslighting® the podcast. I’m your host, Sarah Morales. And if you’re new here, welcome. I’m so glad you’re here. I hope that the resources I have on this podcast and website help you find clarity, empowerment, and healing. Check it out, or better yet – schedule a free consultation call with me!

My guest today is Natalie Claire - aka Sunshine Strategist!

Story Time: Sarah and Natalie discuss what the Yes/And or Both/And is, the variety of ways we can use this mindset/tool to help us move through life with so much more peace, and a few reasons people may find themselves feeling a bit resistant to embracing the both/and.

Top Take-Aways: Usually I list out the top take-aways, but this time I just felt like I couldn't do them justice. There was just so much power and rawness and beauty in the discussion to capture it here.

If you'd like to talk with Natalie about hiring her as your strategist/business coach, you can do so by sending her an email addressed to: sunshinestrategicsolutions@gmail.com. You can also follow her and her adventures on her Instagram account.

If you'd like to sign up for the "Take Back the Holidays" workshop, you can do so here.

I also wanted to invite you to follow me on your preferred social media platform where we can connect and interact… I’m on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok.

Thank you, my listener, for listening to today’s episode. If you found it helpful and want to help me get it in the hands of more people who could benefit from it, please leave a review and subscribe. Additionally, if you can think of one person in particular who could benefit, please share it with them.

And remember – you may have crashed and burned; been broke and hurt, but damn it, you’re a phoenix and you’re rising again. I think it’s time we fly.

Register for the workshop here!

The holidays bring a *special* challenge for MANY of us...

🍂Parallel parenting with a GASLIGHTING ex

🍂Toxic family gatherings where old patterns take you right back to feeling like that powerless child

🍂 Triggers and GASLIGHTING responses between intimate partners where betrayal trauma has happened

If you resonate with any of these situations, and know - far too well - the anxiety, sense of powerlessness, and dread they bring, I have something for you!

Nov. 16th I will be doing a special workshop where I will share the best strategies and tools I've used with my clients over the past decade to help them stay connected to themselves, and reduce (if not completely shift) the anxiety, and instead feel empowered and equipped - AND, quite possibly, a sense of peace - as they moved through their difficult holiday season.

November 16th, from 11am - 1 pm CST (9-11 PST; 12-2 EST)

Replay from 6 pm - 8 pm CSY (4-6 PST; 7-9 EST)

$30

Register here!

*ALSO - please share so that more people can know about this amazing resource this holiday season!

Fear. It’s a topic I revisit often on my podcast, because it can be a confusing one, especially since fear can sometimes be a helpful emotion. For example, fearing the pain that will happen if I touch fire helps alert me to the danger of fire.

While it’s an important emotion that can alert us to pay attention to what’s going on around us, it is also something that can misguide us. For example, when I was a kid, I had a BUNCH or irrational fears, and many of them centered on stories and movies that always popped up this time of year.

So, what better time to revisit this topic than the month we most commonly associate with fear – October.

Welcome to Deconstructing Gaslighting, the podcast. I’m your host, Sarah Morales. In addition to the self-paced programs I have on my website designed to help you find your answers around gaslighting, I wanted to let you know about a special workshop I’m doing next month - Take Back the Holidays. Save the date: Nov. 16th.

Story Time: Sarah discusses the difference between fear based on "real" vs. imagined threats; why we need to be able to sort through things to recognize the difference; complications with sorting out which type of fear we are experiencing; and of course, fear that intersects with gaslighting– fear that is connected with gaslighting:

Top Take-Aways:

1. Get clear about "the story I’m making up"... ask yourself if this a likely outcome? – if so, what options/choices do I have to change things and/or protect myself?
2. "Head, Heart, Gut" check – Check out podcast episode: Season 2, Epi 22, May 28th – "I should’ve listened to my gut".
3. Asking yourself: if I face this fear, is it because of an opportunity for growth? If not, ask "why am I facing it/pushing through it?"– good distinction to flesh out potential coercion
4. Remember: "Where focus goes, energy flows"

• If you have determined it's not a "real threat", ask yourself one of the following questions: What would be the opposite of fear that I would rather be feeling? If I could tap into my “higher self” in this situation, how would they feel/handle this? And then borrow those things from your higher self.

I'd love to have you follow me on your preferred social media platform… I’m on Instagram, Facebook and TikTok.

And remember – you may have crashed and burned; been broken and hurt, but damn it, you’re a phoenix and you’re rising again. I think it’s time we fly.