[LISA LEWIS] The Am I Ok? Podcast is part of the Practice of the Practice network, a network of podcasts seeking to help you market and grow your business and yourself. To hear other podcasts like Faith Fringes, the Holistic Counseling Podcast, and Beta Male Revolution, go to the website, www.practiceofthepractice.com/network. Welcome to the Am I Ok? Podcast, where you will discover that being highly sensitive is something to embrace and it’s actually a gift you bring to the world. We will learn together how to take ownership of your high sensitivity, so you can make positive changes in your life, in the lives of others, and it’s totally okay to feel this way. I’m your host, Lisa Lewis. I’m so glad you’re here for the journey. I am Lisa Lewis, your host, and welcome to the Am I Ok? Podcast. Thank you so much for tuning in. Today is my last episode for this year and as we say goodbye to the year 2021, I have a very special guest who will be helping me finish out my last episode of the year with a guided journey to put to bed 2021 and to welcome in 2022. So please stay tuned. As part of the welcoming in of a brand new year, I want to let my listeners know that I will be hosting a live interactive webinar on Tuesday, January 18th at 4:00 PM Pacific time, 7:00 PM Eastern on how to feel comfortable in your own skin as a highly sensitive person so you can live a life you came to live. What a way to start the new year? To register please go to my website at amiokpodcast.com. Today’s guest has been a very influential person in my professional and personal life. As I got to know her first as my supervisor at one of my training sites as I was gaining hours for my licensure as a marriage and family therapist, then I studied with her to become certified as a Reiki level one and two practitioner. I’ve attended her workshops in equine therapy as well as individual Reiki healing. So it’s my great pleasure to have Janet Lucas on the show today as we end 2021. I’m going to give you a little bit of a background about Janet before we start talking with her. Janet is a clinical social worker who has practiced in a medical setting for more than 35 years. Her focus has been on end of life, as well as training new physicians and mental health interns to develop a deeper awareness of the interplay between the physical, emotional, and social influences of illness and healing. In 2001, Janet has apprentices with Dr. B. Raven Lee, deepening, her practice to include Reiki, meditation and mystic shamanism. Welcome to the show, Janet. [JANET LUCAS] Well, thank you so much, Lisa. This your introduction almost brings tears to my eyes. That’s so sweet and so generous, and it brings me back to our time together and the deep connection that we had when you were an intern. Then it’s an honor to stay connected with you as you’ve just blossomed and just followed your own journey professionally and what a gift that’s been to watch and to share. [LISA] Thank you for that. As you, as my supervisor, and now I am supervising supervisees, that experience with you really has led me to supervise the way that I do and really personalizing how I supervise my supervisees and the experience that I want them to experience. [JANET] I’m so pleased. That feels really. Thank you. [LISA] So I like ask all my guests when I have them on, if you consider yourself a highly sensitive person and if you do, or you don’t, if you don’t mind sharing a story about that. [JANET] Yes, I absolutely consider myself a highly sensitive person. As I was, when I was growing up I definitely felt a lot of anxiety. I was always very aware of the energies and dynamics going on in my classrooms to the point where when I was in third grade, my mom had to switch my class because Janet just couldn’t do the chaos in Mrs. Green’s class. So I was very lucky because my parents always honored that and my father is very sensitive too. So how I pretty much manifested that was kind of with anxiety and feeling that in my body, I was never one to leave or kind of detach from that. It always was very much a visceral experiential experience in my body. And now I’ve come to appreciate how I could be with that and now learning to look at the sensitivity and how it manifests in my body is simply energy that is continuing to flow through me and how I don’t have to attach to those sensations; yet their beautiful messages that I can pay attention to and use as guides. So what’s been lovely is to really learn to honor and appreciate and embrace that sensitivity as a gift, not as a hindrance that we hear, “You’re so sensitive or we need to fix the anxiety.” It’s just simply who I am and learning to appreciate and live with it and use it as a very special gift. [LISA] It’s good to have a tastes of that gift of yours when you share your guided journey with us later on in the show. [JANET] Okay. So I wanted to say a little bit really quickly about, I know we’re coming up or this is the last show of the of the year of 2021 but one of the ways that my sensitivity very much, when it was very activated and almost on high alert was always during the holidays. I’m just looking back now at this moment. I didn’t think about this earlier, but that was when my father would tend to have kind of moments of depression during the holidays. I remember being very sensitive to his emotions and his sadness, and I would feel that deeply. So the holidays in that way were always a bit stressful, but also it was a time of, as I got older and I had children and to manage as a working mother to manage all of the expectations and things that we put on ourselves to make the holidays Merry and bright. I used to really, really make myself pretty stressed with trying to do the cards, decorate the house, make the kids happy, participate in things at work. And I would always think, but I’m so off. I’m so overwhelmed. I have to do all this and my work and being a mother, all those things remain. Yet I have to do all these things on top of it. I wasn’t feeling merry and bright. I was feeling stressed and overwhelmed and anxious. At the time I was really developing my connection to the cycles of nature and how the seasons and times of darkness and the times of death and rebirth and how they’re reflected and beginning to realize how we are a part that. And one day I was driving, I was going up to the freeway in Glendale and I went, oh my God, I’m deciduous. I realized I lose my leaves. I’m like the trees. This is my time actually, when it starts to get colder and darker, just as the animals begin to hibernate or slow down when the trees lose their leaves and the darkness is greater than the light. Well, that’s just what my body and my psyche are tuning to. And just that idea really allowed me, there was this sense of, oh, I’m not off. There’s not something wrong with me. I’m just connected to these cycles and I’m part of these cycles. While that didn’t change the expectations that were coming at me, it allowed me not to feel am I capable? Am I doing enough? Am I doing as much as my good friends who seem to have it all together? That’s what shifted, is I stopped asking myself those questions and stopped comparing because this sensitivity to the natural cycles of nature just allowed me to flow with this time of year. Also it gave me permission to take care of myself, that I did need to rest and be, that I did start to maybe take a day off of work here and there and sit by the fire. My favorite thing to do was, there were two stories that I liked to read that I could read in the day and I would sit and read those and just be quiet and recharge and integrate and just let myself not be, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, be happy, be bright, make sure it’s all perfect. That all began to shift for me. So that was a lovely realization. I wanted to share that with those that are listening, if that resonates that your sensitivity may be simply you’re very connected as the animals and the plants are to these natural energies that are all around us that tell us it’s time to rest and be, it’s time to allow and settle. And when the light comes again, we’ll be ready for a rebirthing, but at this moment it’s okay and very important that you take time, like the seeds under the ground to just be. So I wanted to offer that up to those listening. [LISA] Oh, that was beautiful, Janet. I mean, as you’re describing that, I just pictured myself on my couch with a love leaf, a nice flee blanket and a favorite book, and just really enjoying that day, that moment and allowing everything else kind of just to let it go and not worry about all the things that I feel like I have to achieve. [JANET] There’s so much I have that, there’s so much that that we can put on ourselves if I must or I have to, or I should. I think it’s extra hard in this time of social media when you can look at everybody’s Instagram pages, which I do not do, but everybody could be sharing about the fabulous things they’re doing around this time and we can get lost in that comparison. That’s always a trap that can be very hard when we do that comparison, just knowing that as sensitive people we are, we just are who we are and to appreciate that and to know that just to really honor what we can do and not what we can’t do and appreciating, wow, I did accomplish this today. I did get this done and it was a wow. Even if it’s something small, I did do that and not look at always and focus on what we don’t do or what is lacking, but really honoring and appreciating ourselves for the things that we do. With that, I always think, too, is really honoring what we enjoy, like really reflecting on what are our favorite parts about the holidays? What do we love about them? What nourishes us? What is around this time that’s so beautiful and really amplifying and focusing on that and allowing that versus the things that maybe feel overwhelming or like should. [LISA] Do you have an example of that? [JANET] Well, for what we did in our family a while ago, and this was also driven by my two children who were in college or had apartments at the time and they just said, “We don’t need anything. So how about mom,” and I was, gift giving could be overwhelming for me, because it feels sometimes a bit contrived. As a sensitive person I like to connect to someone and purchase something or make something that’s very inspired to them. Sometimes that inspiration didn’t always come before the date of unwrapping. So they said, “Let’s not do that. Let’s really just focus on the food and being together.” So one of the things we let go of in our immediate family, not always with the extended family, but in our immediate family, we’ve chosen not to give gifts unless we give ourselves permission that if something’s very inspired and we want to we can do that. But that’s really created a beautiful space for all of us to enjoy. That’s one of the things that just took a lot of pressure off. And I’m thinking now, right now, it’s so interesting the way the external world is giving us permission to do a bit less. It’s I had some friends just texting the other day about supply chain issues and how literally there won’t be as much to purchase. It’s almost a call to, wait a minute, something in the external is saying it’s okay to slow down and things won’t arrive on time, or we don’t have to run out and buy things that might not be available. I also had a friend today who’s quarantining because of Covid, and just again, like there’s this, maybe even outside influences that say wait a minute, maybe again rest, hibernate, be. We might not be able to get out and do all the things we need because of these just external forces, but how they can be used as kind of wake up calls or messages to say, ah, look, this is an opportunity to shift that or embrace that and maybe even change and alter some traditions. Does that make sense? [LISA] That does make sense. And I hear like it’s ok to do less instead of doing more. [JANET] Ah, that makes me just rest, just hearing that sentence. It’s okay to do less. And really the thing that I wrote today was because maybe less is the new more, it’s maybe timing and all that’s been happening is asking us to just do less and maybe spend time in the being. And again, for sensitive people like us, that can feel like an opportunity to be and integrate and not have as much coming at us and allowing our nervous systems to settle and rest and enjoy. [LISA] We can also be the teachers of that for the the people, our family, our friends, the people that we spend most of our time with. [JANET] I love that because you’re so right. I do like to share when people, you know they’ll talk about that and I’ll share how for the past, I think it’s been about five or six years that we haven’t done gifts or we haven’t mandated them. We do, if I find something I will buy for my family, but I’ll share that with people. At first they’re a little surprised, and it’s just, again, just kind of when we share our own experience or what truly works for us that does invite people to look at things differently and offers a different option and maybe gives, for many people that wouldn’t work, but maybe for someone else and gives them permission to try something like that. So you’re so right. When we just simply live that way and share that and it comes from a space that really feels good, it can be a lesson for others as well, or simply an opportunity or an option. [LISA] Ok, well, let’s go into your guided journey, Janet. [JANET] Beautiful. Well, thank you. So what we’re going to do to really honor coming out of 2021, coming out these past 12 months, and then beginning to move into what awaits us, I was called to create this journey that we will, it’s like a guided meditation. So what I want to start with is just opening you up right now just if you can all take a moment and find a place that’s very comfortable that really again, where you feel that you can rest and be peaceful. So whether you’re sitting or you are lying down, whatever calls to you. [LISA] And don’t let it interfere if you’re driving. [JANET] Do not. Yes, thank you. If you’re driving, do not do this. Wait till you get home and find a place that’s safe to shut your eyes and be. Thank you for that reminder. So taking a moment to settle in, to allow your body to relax to release any tensions, noticing you hold stress or tension in your body, and allowing that to be, feeling the support of the bed or the sofa, your chair, just feeling how your body is held by whatever you’re sitting or lying on. Feeling this gentle push of gravity, allowing your shoulders to relax, your pelvis to open, expand and feeling the release of tension from body. Taking that big deep cleansing breath and inhalation fills your body and allowing a deep sigh out. That’s a beautiful way to continue to release tension, to settle. Taking a moment now to open up to whatever you consider sacred or divine. Maybe it’s simply feeling a beautiful universal life force energy. Maybe it is connection with source or God or teachers such as Jesus, connection to your ancestors. Any ways that you connect to the divine and realms and energies, allowing them to be present knowing as you inhale, you’re inhaling from that sacred space that’s all around you. Gently bringing your awareness to your body. Again, noticing if there’s any tension and also noticing where you feel at ease and relaxed and taking a moment to honor and appreciate your body. The physical essence of you. Your body is a vessel that has carried you to this moment through this year. Honoring how your body is an expression of your sensitivity, that, that sensitivity, as it arises in your body, offers you an opportunity to be aware and to bring soothing, to bring your awareness now to your breath, to this beautiful expansion of inhaling and the contraction of exhaling, noticing your own unique rhythm of inhalation and exhalation, that your body is a perfect balance of receiving and giving. That each breath reminds you, that you are the rhythm of nature, that the cosmic pulse of the universe itself is inhalation and exhalation. That you are the rhythm of all creation. Again, experiencing how the breath moves into your body and how you let it go and rest there for moment and that rhythm. And now taking a moment to open your heart. Can you feel the warmth in the center of your chest, as you inhale, bringing warmth to either your physical heart or that energetic heart in the center of your chest? Each breath, opening your heart, bringing warmth and radiance. If you cannot feel it, that’s okay. Simply imagine a warmth moving into your body and settling in your chest. It does exist. That warmth opening up to your own inner light awakening and nurturing self-love, patience with yourself and compassion for yourself. That inner light is there, simply bringing breath into your heart space, creates a higher frequency of energy that can support the calming of your mind, that can counter and reduce the stress in your body and resting for a moment in the warmth of your heart. And now, if you can, imagine a rainbow bridge moving out from your heart directly in front of you and allowing across that rainbow bridge. And in that space where the bridge extends, you’re held by that sacred healing energy that you called upon in the beginning, any beings, ancestors, angels, how you know God or source. All there, that space filled with power, warmth and support. That as you move across this bridge, you are in a place of safety and divine protection. As you move across this bridge and find yourself to open to the challenges that you’ve experienced over the past year, to any losses, disappointments, stuck patterns, or any regrets. No need to follow the story. Just allow them to arise and allow them to be held in the light of your heart and filled with warmth and radiance and healing energy. And now opening yourself to moments of joy, to successes and accomplishments to what has felt good, joyful as well as times of rest, peace contentment, just allowing your heart and your mind to move over the peace and contentment. Enjoy the past year. Maybe there’s been a particular challenge that has come to an end that is now behind you, feeling the release of that challenge, owning that you have moved through it, allowing those moments to be again, holding them in the light of your heart. You raise your head and before you raise as a grayness, you have arrived at the veil between this year and the next. You’ve approached a threshold that separates 2021 from 2022. Taking the moment to lift the challenges and disappointments or regrets from your heart. Still surrounded in that light, that love and healing, and set them down at the threshold, seeing them bathed in light, breathe into the joy, the peace, the success, and contentment that you experienced over the past year. Rest there and be. And now it’s time to cross that threshold to step through the veil, carrying with you the light in your heart, allowing regrets, disappointments to remain behind, yet surrounded by love. As you cross the threshold, you open to the wide open space that is uncluttered, expansive, filled with all potentiality and possibilities. That which is yet to be the coming year and in your heart you hold those gifts of 2021 and allow them to expand into this space. What do they look like or feel like in extension of what is yet to come? Maybe it feels like an energy that’s just radiating out and expanding it into the space. And as you are standing in this space of possibility and potentiality and allow any intentions of the coming year to arise into your awareness. No need to push. If nothing immediately emerges trust that. If an intention surprises, you trust that. Whatever arises or doesn’t arise simply allow. And inviting that intention to rest in your heart, surrounded by light, a seed that’s held in the womb of your heart and inviting yourself to experience that intention coming alive in the coming year, inviting the warmth of your heart to expand into the space, filled with that intention. And rest in the light and the breath of your intention. As you inhale, fill your body with breath and the divine support that nourish your intention. As you exhale notice every cell is vibrating at the frequency of your intention. It’s simply a warmth. Continue to breathe, inhaling for that sacred divine space. Now as you exhale and feel that vibration into the space, moving in every direction of your heart, front and back, left and to the right, above and below you, moving diagonally as if you’re a star. You are the star that is illuminating blessing the coming year. Allow yourself to cross back to the threshold to the rainbow bridge taking moment to give thanks to the sacred energies or beings or ancestors who appeared and offered support. Maybe send some gratitude for allowing yourself this experience and fill the bridge back into your heart space, your DNA vibrating with the gifts of this journey into 2022, and allowing yourself to return to this moment to your physical body. You can wiggle your toes or open and close your space feeling your body supported by a chair, bed, or sofa. And return to your physical space, knowing you are home. Open your eyes when you feel ready, taking as much time as you need, raking a moment to appreciate yourself for taking the time to open up to the gift of your sensitivity, to taking the time to listen to this podcast and to offering yourself the gift of new possibilities. Lisa we’ve come to the end. [LISA] Thank you Janet. That was so beautiful. I just want to stay in this quiet space and I’m going to suggest to listeners that it’s okay to pause the podcast and to stay in this space that you’re in. Also to remind everyone to go back and listen to this guided journey that Janet just offered as a gift to all of us. Go back as many times as you want through the end of the year and as we go into 2022, that you may even feel even more and have more messages or information for yourself each time that you do it. I just loved all of it. The part about each of us being our own star power. I just feel that, oh, yes, of course, we’re all our unique star in this huge, vast universe. [JANET] That was an image that came very organically. I was like, wow, we’re all a star. That was very, just a fun, beautiful image that came just wow, that had never come before. So I trust in that and trusting those images that come and just, they’re inspired to put them down. So that’s lovely that you connected to. [LISA] I had so many, just going back to the beginning, I had like a reconciliation with just myself, just with the past year 2021, like emotional, mental, physical pain, and coming to reconciliation with myself about that. Then also remembering all of the good parts of 2021 too. And the seeds from those experiences, the goods and not so good, just planted inside me that I will continue to nurture in the new year. So thank you for that. [JANET] I’m so grateful to be here and to share this, and again, just be part of this. I really just respect so much of what you do, Lisa and even how you’ve just led this and guided this. I’m very very honored and humbled to be here. So thank you. [LISA] Well, I’m just thankful for your expertise and your time and all of that you’ve taught me and mentored me. So I appreciate that, Janet. [JANET] My beautiful pleasure. [LISA] Before we sign off, I just want to, listeners may be wanting to know how to get in touch with you. How can they get in touch with you? [JANET] They can get in touch with me, I do have a website. It’s very basic, but it has my contact information. So it is, I’ll give you that, and my phone number. It’s Sacred Garden Healing. So it’s www.sacredgardenhealing.com, all one word. My phone number is, and you’re call me or text me, it’s 213-308-2491. I do workshops and classes as well as individual sessions. So anybody who’s interested could even call me just to hear more about what I do. It’d be an honor to speak to you, and I’d be happy to take the time to talk a little bit more about how I work. So please feel free to call or reach out. Thank you. [LISA] Thank you, Janet. Thank you, my listeners for tuning in today and this year. Remember to subscribe, rate, and review wherever you get your podcast. To find out more about highly sensitive persons, please visit my website at amiokpodcast.com and subscribe to my free eight-week email course to help you navigate your own sensitivities and show you that it’s okay not to take on everyone else’s problems. Feel free to email me about what topics you would like to have on the show in this upcoming year. Email me at lisa@amiokpodcast.com. This is Lisa Lewis reminding each and every one of you that you are okay. Until next year, be well. Thank you for listening today at Am I Ok? Podcast. If you are loving the show, please rate, review and subscribe to it on your favorite podcast platform. Also, if you’d like to learn how to manage situations as a highly sensitive person, discover your unique gift as a highly sensitive person, and learn how to be comfortable in your own skin, I offer a free eight-week email course called Highly Sensitive People. Just go to amiokpodcast.com to sign up. In addition, I love hearing from my listeners, drop me an email to let me know what is on your mind. You can reach me at lisa@amiokpodcast.com. This podcast is designed to provide accurate and authoritative information in regards to the subject matter covered. It is given with the understanding that neither the host, the publisher, or the guests are rendering legal, accounting, clinical, or any other professional information. If you want to professional, you should find one.