Healthy Mind, Healthy Life

There is a moment some people reach where the life they planned quietly falls away, and what is left is just this day, this breath, this one ordinary morning. In this episode of Healthy Mind, Healthy Life, host Sana sits down with Michael J. Riso, author of Finding Joy in Daily Living, to talk about what it means to keep finding joy and meaning when life does not go the way you wanted it to.
Michael, a longtime golf professional, shares his story openly: caring for his wife Nancy through a rapidly progressing illness that was eventually diagnosed as ALS, facing a serious health diagnosis of his own at the same time, and losing Nancy. Out of that chapter came a deepening intuition and a book of 72 short chapters. He talks about responding instead of reacting, finding joy in the smallest things, limiting the noise of media, and getting clarity about what you truly want. This is a personal, heartfelt conversation about grief, caregiving, and choosing to be an uplifting presence.
Editorial note: Michael also shares his personal experience and opinions about health, food, and alternative approaches to illness. These are his individual views and are not medical advice or an endorsement of any treatment or product. Please consult a qualified medical professional about any health condition.
About the Guest:
Michael J. Riso is the author of Finding Joy in Daily Living, a book he began writing after the death of his wife, Nancy, and which grew from an A-to-Z idea into 72 short chapters on themes such as acceptance, bravery, compassion, encouragement, patience, and perseverance. A longtime golf professional, he continues to teach and describes himself as a long-time meditator who lives by intuition and aims to be a source of calm and encouragement for others. His book is expected to be available on Amazon in the coming months.
Key Takeaways:
Joy is something you create wherever you are. It often lives in small moments, not big events.
Responding instead of reacting, even with a smile when the cat misbehaves, can change how a hard day feels.
Caregiving can be physically and emotionally overwhelming. Accepting help and building a support system matters.
Sudden loss and uncertainty can push us toward our intuition and a deeper sense of purpose.
Do your own research, ask questions, and make health decisions that feel right for you, while working with qualified professionals.
Clarity starts with introspection. Ask what you truly want, and be willing to seek guidance if you cannot find the answer alone.
Limit the noise. Cut back on media and gossip, and surround yourself with people who reflect the life you want.
Make room for fear instead of fighting it, and try to meet frustrated people with compassion rather than anger.
Connect With Michael J. Riso:
Website: Finding Joy in Daily Living Book: Finding Joy in Daily Living (expected on Amazon in a couple of months)
Episode Chapters:
00:00 Finding Joy in the Unremarkable Middle00:48 Welcome and Meet Michael J. Riso01:54 What It Really Means to Find Joy02:56 Joy You Create: Nancy's Illness and a Caregiver's Story10:12 Taking In a Hard Diagnosis11:02 Making His Own Choices Through Illness and Loss21:16 Navigating Health Information and Trust32:25 Food, Sugar, and Everyday Choices35:19 Writing the Book: 72 Chapters After Loss38:41 Making Room for Fear40:00 Clarity, Less Media, and Who You Surround Yourself With43:09 Where to Find Michael and His Book44:43 Closing Reflections
Want to be a guest on Healthy Mind, Healthy Life? DM on PM - Send me a message on PodMatchDM Me Here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/avik
Disclaimer: This episode is produced for educational and informational purposes only. All views expressed by the guest are their personal opinions alone and do not represent the views of the host or Healthy Mind by Avik™. The Network does not verify, endorse, or assume responsibility for any guest statements. Nothing in this episode constitutes medical, legal, financial, or professional advice, please consult a qualified professional before making any decisions. Listeners are encouraged to engage critically and independently with all content do not consume blindly. Use this content as a starting point for your own reflection and research, not as a substitute for professional guidance. Third-party content is referenced under fair use for informational purposes only. Guest speakers are solely responsible for their own statements.
If you have concerns about any content, please contact us here
By listening, you acknowledge and accept this disclaimer in full. Read detailed disclaimer here.
Healthy Mind By Avik™️ is a global platform redefining mental health as a necessity, not a luxury. Born during the pandemic, it's become a sanctuary for healing, growth, and mindful living. Hosted by Avik Chakraborty, storyteller, survivor, and wellness advocate.
With over 6500+ episodes and 200K+ global listeners, we unite voices, break stigma, and build a world where every story matters.👉 Subscribe and be part of this healing journey.
Contact:💼 Brand: Healthy Mind By Avik™📧 Email: https://www.podhub.club/contact🌐 Website: https://www.podhub.club📍 Based in: India & USA
🎧 Listen to all podcast shows: https://www.podhub.club/podcastnetwork🤝 Be a guest: https://www.podhub.club/beaguest📩 Newsletter: https://healthymindbyavik.substack.com/
 
#FindingJoy #Caregiving #Grief #HealthyMindHealthyLife #MentalHealthMatters #Resilience #DailyJoy #Intuition #CaregiverSupport #LossAndHealing #Compassion #Meditation #SimpleJoys #MichaelJRusso #FindingJoyInDailyLiving

Most of us are almost never here. We are a few minutes ahead, rehearsing a conversation that has not happened yet, or a few years back, replaying something we cannot change. In this episode of Healthy Mind, Healthy Life, host Sana gets honest about what it really means to live in the present moment, not as a nice idea, but as a daily practice we can return to on the days our minds refuse to slow down.
Author, speaker, and musician Billy Mandarino explains why awareness is the first step out of what he calls the inertia of daily life, and why simply hearing "be present" rarely changes anything. He shares the story behind his book The Now-ist, a simple three-step approach to interrupting old habits, a gratitude-and-breath morning ritual, and a bedtime imagination practice using all five senses. The conversation closes with a small, practical doorway back into the now: one conscious breath.
About the Guest:
Billy Mandarino is an author, speaker, and self-described "Now-ist" who teaches people to become more aware of the gifts in the present moment. He is the author of The Now-ist: Finding the Signs to Your Ultimate Desires in No Time, a spiritual memoir and teaching that he says came through him over nine months at his kitchen table. A lifelong musician, singer, and songwriter, Billy has led a band for around forty years, runs a real estate business, and is developing a feature-length film called For Now, about helping people emerge from trauma. He has given hundreds of talks to audiences ranging from schools to live events and also offers one-on-one coaching.
Key Takeaways:
Awareness is the first step. Many people live in a stressful inertia, like a car rolling downhill, without noticing the tension in their body, sleep, and stomach.
Hearing "be present" is not the same as practicing it. Inspiration from a podcast or video fades unless you interrupt old habits and build new ones.
Billy's three steps are: become aware, interrupt the pattern with new habits, and receive by staying with the change instead of returning to the comfortable old way.
Habits take time. Billy cites about 66 days of consistent repetition to build a new one, and Sana adds that perfection is not the goal.
Start the day with gratitude before your feet hit the floor: hand on your heart, a few breaths, then water and a short meditation, instead of reaching for the phone or the news.
Be mindful of how you end the day too. What we ruminate on at bedtime can affect how restful our sleep feels.
Imagination and a childlike sense of whimsy can help loosen the grip of the serious, physical-time grind. Reconnecting with your inner child can be a gentle place to start.
In Billy's bedtime practice, you imagine something you want, such as playing guitar, using all five senses. He shares this as a personal practice and belief, not a guaranteed result.
Billy's view of manifestation is that we do not attract what we want, we attract what we are. Sana notes the mindset and psychology involved, and that action still matters.
A simple doorway back into the present: N-O-W spelled backward is W-O-N. Take one conscious breath in one moment to interrupt stress and win your presence back.
Connect With Billy Mandarino:
Website: https://www.billymandarino.com/ Book: The Now-ist: Finding the Signs to Your Ultimate Desires in No TimeFilm: For Now (in development; details on his website)
Episode Chapters:
00:00 Why We Are Almost Never Here01:07 Welcome and Meet Billy Mandarino03:43 Why Our Minds Run on Inertia07:09 The Story Behind The Now-ist09:40 When Presence Becomes a Wellness Cliche11:16 Interrupting Habits With Morning and Evening Rituals16:11 Imagination, Whimsy, and Your Inner Child20:25 The Guitar Practice: Imagining With All Five Senses25:45 Rethinking Manifestation: You Attract What You Are28:37 A Simple Doorway Into the Present Moment32:26 Where to Find Billy and His Film33:39 Closing Reflections
 
Want to be a guest on Healthy Mind, Healthy Life? DM on PM - Send me a message on PodMatchDM Me Here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/avik
Disclaimer: This episode is produced for educational and informational purposes only. All views expressed by the guest are their personal opinions alone and do not represent the views of the host or Healthy Mind by Avik™. The Network does not verify, endorse, or assume responsibility for any guest statements. Nothing in this episode constitutes medical, legal, financial, or professional advice, please consult a qualified professional before making any decisions. Listeners are encouraged to engage critically and independently with all content do not consume blindly. Use this content as a starting point for your own reflection and research, not as a substitute for professional guidance. Third-party content is referenced under fair use for informational purposes only. Guest speakers are solely responsible for their own statements.
If you have concerns about any content, please contact us here
By listening, you acknowledge and accept this disclaimer in full. Read detailed disclaimer here.
Healthy Mind By Avik™️ is a global platform redefining mental health as a necessity, not a luxury. Born during the pandemic, it's become a sanctuary for healing, growth, and mindful living. Hosted by Avik Chakraborty, storyteller, survivor, and wellness advocate.
With over 6500+ episodes and 200K+ global listeners, we unite voices, break stigma, and build a world where every story matters.👉 Subscribe and be part of this healing journey.
Contact:💼 Brand: Healthy Mind By Avik™📧 Email: https://www.podhub.club/contact🌐 Website: https://www.podhub.club📍 Based in: India & USA
🎧 Listen to all podcast shows: https://www.podhub.club/podcastnetwork🤝 Be a guest: https://www.podhub.club/beaguest📩 Newsletter: https://healthymindbyavik.substack.com/
 
#PresentMoment #Mindfulness #Awareness #LivingInTheNow #TheNowist #HealthyMindHealthyLife #MorningRoutine #HabitChange #MentalHealthMatters #Gratitude #Breathwork #InnerChild #StressRelief #BillyMandarino #BeHere

Every new year we make the same promise. We buy the planner, set the goals, and charge forward with our eyes on the horizon, because that is what winners are supposed to do. But there is a quiet cost to running forward with your head turned away from where you have been. In this episode of Healthy Mind, Healthy Life, host Sana talks with author and former global marketing executive Jobert Abueva about why honest reflection is not the opposite of ambition, and how the past can become a compass instead of a cage.
Jobert shares the story of his own burnout and breakdown at the height of a high-flying career, and introduces step one of his Janus Plan: ponder the past. They explore simple ways to look back without getting stuck there, including writing about the year, reviewing the "artifacts" on your phone and calendar, and listing the good, the bad, and the ugly. Jobert also explains why Janus, the Roman god of thresholds who looks both backward and forward, became a symbol for a life full of beginnings and endings.
About the Guest:
Jobert E. Abueva is an author, speaker, and former global marketing executive who spent years opening new markets for products in the beauty care industry. Born in the Philippines and raised in Nepal, Thailand, and Japan, he developed an early understanding of life's beginnings and endings. He is the author of The Janus Plan: A No-Resolutions Path to Begin Your Year with Intention, a reflection-first approach to goal setting, and the memoir Boy Wander: A Coming of Age Memoir. Jobert has practiced his own year-end reflection ritual since the mid-1990s.
Key Takeaways:
Goal setting is not only forward-facing. Honest reflection on the past year helps you choose better goals before you chase them.
Success that looks good from the outside can hide misalignment on the inside. Pay attention to signals from your body, mind, and soul before burnout forces you to stop.
Step one of the Janus Plan is to ponder the past: review the luminous moments, the losses, and the lessons of the year.
Writing down what is taking up mental space helps you see it clearly before you try to solve it.
Use the artifacts you already have, like photos, social media, calendars, and diaries, to audit what mattered and what wasted your time.
Try the good, the bad, and the ugly exercise. List the wins, the disappointments, and the things you regret or cringe over, then live with them for a while.
Looking back is meant to teach, not to indict. Past experiences, even difficult ones, can uncover opportunities and perspectives you would not otherwise have found.
Threshold moments such as a new year, a new job, a new relationship, or retirement are sacred chances to honor what has passed before moving ahead.
The Janus Plan has six steps. Step one is to ponder the past and step two is to frame the future.
Connect With Jobert Abueva:
Website: https://joberteabueva.com
Book: The Janus Plan: A No-Resolutions Path to Begin Your Year with Intention
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jobertabueva
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/joberteabueva
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jobert_abueva
Episode Chapters:
00:00 Why Looking Back Matters Before Moving Forward01:17 Welcome and Meet Jobert Abueva03:48 The Misconception About Goal Setting and Progress06:17 A Burnout and Breakdown in a Hong Kong Hotel Room09:02 Sana's Own Story of Burnout After the Pandemic10:26 Write It Down: Lessons From the Past Year12:47 Why Pondering the Past Supports Your Well-Being14:34 Looking Back Without Fear of Failure16:06 The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly Exercise18:32 The Story Behind the Janus Plan22:52 Beginnings, Endings, and Sacred Threshold Moments24:23 Where to Find Jobert and His Book26:14 Closing Reflections
Want to be a guest on Healthy Mind, Healthy Life? DM on PM - Send me a message on PodMatchDM Me Here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/avik
Disclaimer: This episode is produced for educational and informational purposes only. All views expressed by the guest are their personal opinions alone and do not represent the views of the host or Healthy Mind by Avik™. The Network does not verify, endorse, or assume responsibility for any guest statements. Nothing in this episode constitutes medical, legal, financial, or professional advice, please consult a qualified professional before making any decisions. Listeners are encouraged to engage critically and independently with all content do not consume blindly. Use this content as a starting point for your own reflection and research, not as a substitute for professional guidance. Third-party content is referenced under fair use for informational purposes only. Guest speakers are solely responsible for their own statements.
If you have concerns about any content, please contact us here
By listening, you acknowledge and accept this disclaimer in full. Read detailed disclaimer here.
Healthy Mind By Avik™️ is a global platform redefining mental health as a necessity, not a luxury. Born during the pandemic, it's become a sanctuary for healing, growth, and mindful living. Hosted by Avik Chakraborty, storyteller, survivor, and wellness advocate.
With over 6500+ episodes and 200K+ global listeners, we unite voices, break stigma, and build a world where every story matters.👉 Subscribe and be part of this healing journey.
Contact:💼 Brand: Healthy Mind By Avik™📧 Email: https://www.podhub.club/contact🌐 Website: https://www.podhub.club📍 Based in: India & USA
🎧 Listen to all podcast shows: https://www.podhub.club/podcastnetwork🤝 Be a guest: https://www.podhub.club/beaguest📩 Newsletter: https://healthymindbyavik.substack.com/
 
#YearEndReflection #GoalSetting #NewYearIntentions #TheJanusPlan #NoResolutions #BurnoutRecovery #HealthyMindHealthyLife #SelfReflection #PersonalGrowth #MentalHealthMatters #Journaling #LifeTransitions #MindfulLiving #JobertAbueva #PonderThePast

What if your body has been signaling stress for years, but you've been too busy to notice?
Many of us try to manage stress, anxiety and emotional overwhelm by thinking harder, staying productive or pushing through discomfort. But what happens when those familiar strategies stop working?
In this episode of Healthy Mind, Healthy Life, host Nazish welcomes Duncan Rich, a practitioner working in somatic awareness, men's personal development and nervous system regulation, for a conversation about reconnecting with the body and understanding our responses to stress.
Duncan shares how his fast-paced life in cities including New York, Boston and Hong Kong kept him constantly moving. When he relocated to the quiet Catskill Mountains, he began confronting emotions and experiences that had previously been overshadowed by busyness.
That experience eventually led him to somatic men's work, an approach that emphasizes slowing down, noticing physical sensations, exploring emotions and developing greater awareness of habitual reactions.
Together, Nazish and Duncan explore how stress, cultural expectations and past experiences can shape the way we respond to everyday situations.
Duncan explains why men may find emotional vulnerability particularly challenging, how physical awareness can support self-understanding and why knowing something intellectually is not always the same as changing a deeply familiar response.
The conversation also examines the distinction between reacting automatically and responding with greater awareness, using practical examples of fear, stress and emotional triggers.
Duncan discusses the value of community, somatic training and developing new patterns of emotional expression that can influence relationships, families and communities.
The central message: Your body deserves your attention, not just your endurance. Learning to notice its signals may help you develop a more intentional relationship with stress, emotions and everyday life.
This episode is for anyone interested in somatic awareness, men's mental health, emotional resilience and the connection between physical sensations and psychological wellbeing.
About Duncan Rich:
Duncan Rich is a somatic practitioner and men's personal development facilitator associated with MELD Community.
Drawing on his own experience of moving from a high-pressure urban lifestyle toward deeper self-exploration, Duncan works with men to develop body awareness, emotional expression and more intentional responses to stress.
In the interview, he describes MELD's offerings as including men's groups, community programs, online and in-person training, and somatic-method training for therapists and coaches.
Connect with Duncan:
https://meld.community/ 
Key Takeaways:
Stress is not only a thinking experience. It can involve physical sensations, emotions and behavioral responses.
Constant busyness can become a way of avoiding discomfort. Slowing down may bring previously overlooked feelings into awareness.
Somatic awareness begins with noticing. Paying attention to physical sensations can help people recognize their reactions.
Men may face particular barriers to emotional expression. Cultural expectations can discourage vulnerability and help-seeking.
Understanding a reaction is not always enough to change it. Practicing new responses may be necessary.
Past experiences can influence present reactions. Familiar situations may activate fear or stress associated with earlier events.
Responding differs from reacting. Awareness can create an opportunity to consider what is happening before acting.
Discomfort may arise during self-exploration. Body-focused practices should be approached at a manageable pace.
Nervous system regulation is a practice, not simply a concept. Duncan emphasizes experiential learning.
Community can support personal development. Men's groups may offer opportunities for connection and emotional expression.
Personal growth can influence relationships. Changes in communication and emotional awareness may affect families and communities.
Reconnecting with the body can be gradual. Curiosity, patience and appropriate support are more useful than forcing an emotional breakthrough.
 
Chapters:
 
00:05 Why we ignore the body's stress signals
00:44 Welcome to Healthy Mind, Healthy Life
01:32 When Duncan Rich began listening to his body
01:44 From city life to the quiet Catskills
06:55 Why somatic awareness matters for men
09:21 The difference between body awareness and overthinking
13:47 Why reconnecting with the body can feel uncomfortable
16:17 Talking about regulation versus experiencing it
18:25 Why insight alone may not change stress responses
21:54 Practicing new emotional and behavioral patterns
24:38 Where to connect with Duncan Rich
24:51 MELD Community and somatic men's work
25:58 Final reflections on reconnecting with your body
 
Want to be a guest on Healthy Mind, Healthy Life? DM on PM - Send me a message on PodMatchDM Me Here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/avik
Disclaimer: This episode is produced for educational and informational purposes only. All views expressed by the guest are their personal opinions alone and do not represent the views of the host or Healthy Mind by Avik™. The Network does not verify, endorse, or assume responsibility for any guest statements. Nothing in this episode constitutes medical, legal, financial, or professional advice, please consult a qualified professional before making any decisions. Listeners are encouraged to engage critically and independently with all content do not consume blindly. Use this content as a starting point for your own reflection and research, not as a substitute for professional guidance. Third-party content is referenced under fair use for informational purposes only. Guest speakers are solely responsible for their own statements.
If you have concerns about any content, please contact us here
By listening, you acknowledge and accept this disclaimer in full. Read detailed disclaimer here.
Healthy Mind By Avik™️ is a global platform redefining mental health as a necessity, not a luxury. Born during the pandemic, it's become a sanctuary for healing, growth, and mindful living. Hosted by Avik Chakraborty, storyteller, survivor, and wellness advocate.
With over 6500+ episodes and 200K+ global listeners, we unite voices, break stigma, and build a world where every story matters.👉 Subscribe and be part of this healing journey.
Contact:💼 Brand: Healthy Mind By Avik™📧 Email: https://www.podhub.club/contact🌐 Website: https://www.podhub.club📍 Based in: India & USA
🎧 Listen to all podcast shows: https://www.podhub.club/podcastnetwork🤝 Be a guest: https://www.podhub.club/beaguest📩 Newsletter: https://healthymindbyavik.substack.com/
 
#HealthyMindHealthyLife #DuncanRich #MELDCommunity #NervousSystemRegulation #SomaticAwareness #MensMentalHealth #MindBodyConnection #EmotionalRegulation #StressManagement #SomaticPractices #EmotionalResilience #MentalWellbeing #HealthyMindByAvik #Podhub

What happens when a man experiences abuse, harassment or sexual assault—but feels that society will never take his pain seriously?
In this episode of Healthy Mind, Healthy Life, host Rashmeet welcomes Liana Lucine, a former London Metropolitan Police officer, trainer and advocate for male survivors, for an important conversation about trauma, silence, shame and the barriers men face when seeking support.
Drawing on her experience training police recruits and specialist units, Liana describes noticing a troubling pattern: training materials frequently portrayed women as victims and men as perpetrators, despite the wider range of experiences officers encountered in real life.
She also recalls men approaching her privately to share their own experiences of abuse, assault and harassment. Some had previously been laughed at, dismissed or told they should have enjoyed what happened.
The conversation explores how cultural expectations around masculinity can make it difficult for male survivors to acknowledge their experiences, express vulnerability or ask for help.
Liana discusses the emotional consequences of silence, including shame, anxiety, depression and the fear of being judged. She also explains why anger can sometimes be an overlooked sign of depression in men.
Most importantly, she offers compassionate starting points for survivors: acknowledging what happened, releasing self-blame, learning about trauma and finding someone trustworthy who will listen without judgment.
The central message: Men can experience abuse and assault. Their experiences deserve to be taken seriously, and they should never have to earn the right to be heard.
About Liana Lucine:
Liana Lucine is an advocate for male survivors of abuse, harassment and sexual assault.
In the interview, she describes her previous career as an officer and trainer with London's Metropolitan Police, where she taught subjects including domestic abuse, sexual assault and harassment.
Her experiences highlighted gaps in how male victims were represented and discussed in professional training, inspiring her advocacy for greater awareness, recognition and compassion.
Her work emphasizes validating survivors' experiences, challenging harmful stereotypes and creating safer opportunities for men to seek support.
Key Takeaways:
Men can be victims of domestic abuse, harassment and sexual assault, regardless of the perpetrator's gender.
Cultural expectations that men must always be strong can discourage disclosure and help-seeking.
Dismissing or laughing at a survivor's experience can deepen shame and isolation.
Male survivors may fear ridicule, relationship consequences or damage to their reputation.
Survivors do not have to share their stories before they feel ready.
Acknowledging an experience privately can be a meaningful first step for some survivors.
Hearing other survivors' stories may help people feel recognized and less alone.
Anger or irritability can sometimes accompany depression, although they are not diagnostic on their own.
Partners, friends and colleagues can help by demonstrating empathy and respecting boundaries.
Survivors may experience anxiety, nightmares, flashbacks or other trauma-related difficulties.
Self-blame is common after traumatic experiences, but responsibility lies with the person who caused the harm.
Professional, trauma-informed support can be helpful when someone is ready to seek it.
Survivors deserve compassion regardless of whether they report their experience or disclose it publicly.
 
 
 
Connect with the Guest:
https://www.lucinetraining.co.uk/ 
Instagram
YouTube
Want to be a guest on Healthy Mind, Healthy Life? DM on PM - Send me a message on PodMatchDM Me Here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/avik
Disclaimer: This episode is produced for educational and informational purposes only. All views expressed by the guest are their personal opinions alone and do not represent the views of the host or Healthy Mind by Avik™. The Network does not verify, endorse, or assume responsibility for any guest statements. Nothing in this episode constitutes medical, legal, financial, or professional advice, please consult a qualified professional before making any decisions. Listeners are encouraged to engage critically and independently with all content do not consume blindly. Use this content as a starting point for your own reflection and research, not as a substitute for professional guidance. Third-party content is referenced under fair use for informational purposes only. Guest speakers are solely responsible for their own statements.
If you have concerns about any content, please contact us here
By listening, you acknowledge and accept this disclaimer in full. Read detailed disclaimer here.
Healthy Mind By Avik™️ is a global platform redefining mental health as a necessity, not a luxury. Born during the pandemic, it's become a sanctuary for healing, growth, and mindful living. Hosted by Avik Chakraborty, storyteller, survivor, and wellness advocate.
With over 6500+ episodes and 200K+ global listeners, we unite voices, break stigma, and build a world where every story matters.👉 Subscribe and be part of this healing journey.
Contact:💼 Brand: Healthy Mind By Avik™📧 Email: https://www.podhub.club/contact🌐 Website: https://www.podhub.club📍 Based in: India & USA
🎧 Listen to all podcast shows: https://www.podhub.club/podcastnetwork🤝 Be a guest: https://www.podhub.club/beaguest📩 Newsletter: https://healthymindbyavik.substack.com/
 
#HealthyMindHealthyLife #LianaLucine #MaleSurvivors #MensMentalHealth #MaleAbuseSurvivors #SexualAssaultAwareness #DomesticAbuseAwareness #TraumaAwareness #BreakTheSilence #EndTheStigma #SurvivorSupport #MentalHealthAwareness #HealthyMindByAvik #Podhub

What happens when you've spent your entire life taking care of everyone else—only to realize you've forgotten how to take care of yourself?
In this episode of Healthy Mind, Healthy Life, host Rashmeet speaks with Rashi Kaur, the founder of The Joy Consultancy, known online as The Joy Consultant, about women's self-worth, guilt, motherhood, cultural expectations and the emotional cost of constantly putting yourself last.
Rashi shares how a health scare forced her to question the life she'd built around caring for her children, husband, mother and everyone else who depended on her.
Growing up in a Punjabi family, she recalls the expectations placed on girls from an early age: helping, caregiving, keeping everyone happy and learning to prioritize other people's needs.
As an adult, she realized that fulfilling those expectations had gradually distanced her from her own happiness.
The conversation explores the fear many women experience when they begin setting boundaries. Will their marriage change? Will their family understand? Will friends judge them?
For Rashi, those fears did not unfold as expected. She describes her husband becoming one of her biggest supporters and her family benefiting from the changes she made.
She also shares practical ways to begin reclaiming joy: spending five to ten minutes alone in silence, choosing one meaningful activity, returning to forgotten interests and speaking openly with loved ones about personal needs.
The central message: Taking care of yourself doesn't have to mean caring less about the people you love.
About the Guest:
Rashi Kaur is the founder of The Joy Consultancy, a business focused on helping women reconnect with joy, personal agency and the freedom to prioritize their own wellbeing.
She describes her own journey from years of caregiving and people-pleasing toward greater self-awareness, self-compassion and intentional living.
Her work encourages women to question inherited expectations, release guilt and rediscover the interests and experiences that make them feel like themselves.
She also offers a Going First Quiz through her website to help women reflect on where they are in that process.
Key Takeaways:
Putting everyone else first can gradually disconnect women from their own interests, happiness and identity.
Family and cultural expectations can teach girls to associate caregiving with their personal worth.
Being the eldest daughter may involve pressure to keep others happy and manage their emotions.
A health scare prompted Rashi to reconsider how she was prioritizing herself.
Guilt and shame can persist even after women recognize that their needs matter.
Choosing yourself doesn't necessarily mean abandoning your responsibilities.
Supportive partners and family members may respond positively when they understand the changes you're making.
The guest recommends starting with five to ten minutes of quiet time each day.
Instead of changing everything at once, choose one activity that brings you joy.
Movement, yoga, painting, singing or even an uninterrupted cup of tea can be meaningful starting points.
Working mothers may experience guilt even when their professional lives bring them fulfillment.
Communicating your needs can help loved ones understand your decisions.
Reconnecting with childhood interests may help you rediscover parts of yourself you've neglected.
Self-care is not a guarantee that relationships will improve, but it can create opportunities for healthier conversations and boundaries.
Connect with the guest:
Instagram
LinkedIn
https://www.thejoyconsultant.co/ 
 
Want to be a guest on Healthy Mind, Healthy Life? DM on PM - Send me a message on PodMatchDM Me Here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/avik
Disclaimer: This episode is produced for educational and informational purposes only. All views expressed by the guest are their personal opinions alone and do not represent the views of the host or Healthy Mind by Avik™. The Network does not verify, endorse, or assume responsibility for any guest statements. Nothing in this episode constitutes medical, legal, financial, or professional advice, please consult a qualified professional before making any decisions. Listeners are encouraged to engage critically and independently with all content do not consume blindly. Use this content as a starting point for your own reflection and research, not as a substitute for professional guidance. Third-party content is referenced under fair use for informational purposes only. Guest speakers are solely responsible for their own statements.
If you have concerns about any content, please contact us here
By listening, you acknowledge and accept this disclaimer in full. Read detailed disclaimer here.
Healthy Mind By Avik™️ is a global platform redefining mental health as a necessity, not a luxury. Born during the pandemic, it's become a sanctuary for healing, growth, and mindful living. Hosted by Avik Chakraborty, storyteller, survivor, and wellness advocate.
With over 6500+ episodes and 200K+ global listeners, we unite voices, break stigma, and build a world where every story matters.👉 Subscribe and be part of this healing journey.
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