Adventures with My Forties

Ep. 13 Bumbling My Way Toward Better Boundaries

This week, I talk about boundaries. Spoiler alert: I am not an expert in having boundaries! Instead, I am an expert in not having healthy boundaries. I share how my boundaries used to be total crap - in some cases, they were too extreme and I shut people out; in other cases, they almost didn't exist; and in still other cases, I would manage to set a boundary but then feel like a horrible being. I have been bumbling my way toward having healthier boundaries and in the past year, I have noticed that I feel much better about saying "No" and setting limits. A lot of this has to do with having a stronger sense of my own self-worth. 

 

Show notes are available at CourtneyHenningNovak.com. The music is "Carpe Diem" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

Ep. 12 The Dangerous Self-Care Myth

I love self-care. I believe it is necessary and vital to our lives. BUT: I also believe that self-care gets presented to women as the panacea to all their problems. Feeling down? Buy a scented candle. Feeling unfulfilled and dissatisfied with your life? Take a bubble bath! But as awesome as self-care is, it's not a substitute for following your inner divine call. If you are feeling miserable because your authentic self has been crushed by society, then it is going to take more than a mani-pedi to feel like your true radiant self. I think the idea that a little pampering is enough to make a woman feel good is a dangerous myth because it ignores the fact that so many of us are living in ways that seem to shred our very souls. 

Show notes are available at CourtneyHenningNovak.com. The music is "Carpe Diem" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

Ep. 11 Pandemic Parenting Jedi Mind Tricks, Part Two

Under the best of circumstances, parenting is tough. Add in a pandemic and some distance learning? Holy sh*t. At the beginning of the pandemic, I wished there was a “Guide to Parenting During A Historic Pandemic” that would help me navigate these stormy times. But the more I reflect on it, the more I realize that the parenting principles that helped me stay sane pre-pandemic also help me stay sane in 2020. In this episode, which is Part 2 of 2, I dive into the principles that are guiding my adventures with pandemic parenting. 

 

Show notes are available at CourtneyHenningNovak.com. The music is "Carpe Diem" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

Ep. 10 Pandemic Parenting Jedi Mind Tricks, Part One

Under the best of circumstances, parenting is tough. Add in a pandemic and some distance learning? Holy sh*t. At the beginning of the pandemic, I wished there was a "Guide to Parenting During A Historic Pandemic" that would help me navigate these stormy times. But the more I reflect on it, the more I realize that the parenting principles that helped me stay sane pre-pandemic also help me stay sane in 2020. In this episode, which is Part 1 of 2, I dive into the principles that are guiding my adventures with pandemic parenting. 

Show notes are available at CourtneyHenningNovak.com. The music is "Carpe Diem" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

Ep. 9 Pandemics Suck

Last weekend, I was feeling grumpy and worn out from the pandemic. I vented to some friends during a park play date, and my friend Katie said, "This is hard. It is really, really hard." I needed that reminder. It seems so obvious: of course this is hard. But it has been so hard for so long, I sometimes forget that we are living through extraordinary circumstances. In this episode, I am taking the time to acknowledge how difficult living through this pandemic is. It was very helpful for me to make this episode. I hope it helps some of you!

Show notes are available at CourtneyHenningNovak.com. The music is "Carpe Diem" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

Ep.8 Reconnecting With My Intuition

I have spent the past seven years reconnecting with my intuition. For most of my life, I ignored my intuition. I trusted the opinions of other people too much to value my own inner wisdom. But as part of my recovery from postpartum depression, I started to rebuild my relationship with my intuition. It's a bit like a muscle. The more I connect with my intuition, the easier it is for me to access that part of myself. I discuss the reasons I lost touch with my intuition and then the ways I have rebuilt and strengthened my intuitive self.

Show notes are available at CourtneyHenningNovak.com. The music is "Carpe Diem" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

Ep. 7 Embracing Radiant Health

This week, I am talking about my pursuit of radiant health. A few years ago, I decided to switch my primary physician from a traditional Western doctor to a naturopath who is helping me make lifestyle changes to take better care of my body. Show notes are available at CourtneyHenningNovak.com. The music is "Carpe Diem" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

Ep. 6 When Guilt is Bullsh*t

This week, I talk about motherhood guilt and the guilt I felt even before I became a mother. As women, we are conditioned by society to get our sense of worth for doing things for others. When we attend to our own needs and passions, we can start to feel guilty. I have been examining my feelings of guilt and discovered some beliefs in my subconscious related to my sense of worth. And you know what I am seeing? Bullshit. The guilt I feel as a mom and a woman is total, utter bullshit! 

Show notes are available at CourtneyHenningNovak.com. The music is "Carpe Diem" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

Ep. 5 Neglect the Housework

This week, I talk about why you should NEGLECT THE HOUSEWORK. I am not suggesting you let your house look like it was hit by a tornado, but I do think it is important to let yourself take time to answer your divine call and do whatever creative work fires you up, even if that means there is a little dust on the picture frames. I talk about one of my favorite books, If You Want To Write: A Book About Art, Independence and Spirit, by Brenda Ueland, especially the chapter with the fantastic name "Why Women Who Do Too Much Housework Should Neglect It For Their Writing." Amen! Also: if writing is not your jam, you might still love Why You Should Write. Just substitute your creative passion as you read along.

 

Show notes are available at CourtneyHenningNovak.com. The music is "Carpe Diem" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

 

Thank you for listening!

Ep. 4 Distance Learning and Mental Health

We are back to distance learning this fall, and we have no idea what it is going to be like. I talk about my plan to stay open minded about distance learning while keeping my family's wellbeing front and center. Show notes are available at CourtneyHenningNovak.com. The music is "Carpe Diem" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License