February 24, 2025 • 50 mins
In this episode of Keep Hope Alive, we welcome the remarkable Stacey Johnson, a women empowerment coach whose profound insights on resilience and self-care will transform the way you view life's challenges. Stacey shares her personal journey, a path marked by her transition from a clinical therapy background into empowering women through coaching. Following the unexpected loss of her husband, she found her calling in helping others navigate their own storms with grace and strength.
Stacey discusses the importance of self-care, dispelling common myths and providing practical tips that can easily fit into everyday life. She emphasizes that self-care is not merely indulgence, but a crucial strategy for mental well-being. Throughout our conversation, Stacey highlights the profound impact of modeling resilience for children, encouraging mothers to equip their kids with the tools for navigating life's uncertainties.
Listeners will also learn about the Illumination Toolkit, a valuable resource designed to help women recognize and address overwhelm through guided meditations and journaling exercises. As Stacey shares her passion for empowering others, she inspires us to take actionable steps towards embracing our inner strength and creating supportive communities for one another.
Join us in this empowering discussion that not only brings hope but also practical knowledge to help you thrive. Don't forget to subscribe, share, and engage with us on social media as we continue to spread positivity and resilience!
Brice Harney
Life On Record
Miles of Smiles Entertainment
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CEO of Ogden Ventures LLC
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Love & Light - Keep Hope Alive
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:02):
Hello and welcome to Keep Hope Alive podcast.
My name is Nadine.
I'm so excited.
Today we have a wonderful guest.
Her name is Stacey Johnson andshe's a women empowerment coach
and we're going to dive into herstory today.
Welcome to Keep Hope Alive.
I'm so excited to have you on.
Thank you, I'm glad to be heretoday.
(00:23):
Yay, Well, before we getstarted, I have a question for
you.
Sure, Out of the past year, howmany weddings have you been to?
One One, Okay.
Well, say, you got invited to awedding and you're going into
like the ceremony part andyou're walking in and there's a
little table there withsomething for you to sign to let
(00:47):
the couple know you were there.
What are you signing?
Guest book?
Yes, yes, so you'd be signingthat guest book.
Now, one of our biggest sponsorsthat keep up alive is Life on
Record, and instead of thatguest book, what they do is they
have a vintage rotary phonethat your guests can come up to,
and it's usually placed on abeautiful wooden desk or
(01:10):
something with the greenery, andthey pick up the phone and can
leave a message Congratulationson your big day.
We're so excited for you.
Many years of happiness.
Now, right next to the phone.
They have a little sign with aQR code.
In case the line gets too busy,you can take out your mobile
(01:31):
device and scan that QR code andleave a message by your phone.
Now, after all these messagesare brought into the system,
they will burn it on a 10-inchvinyl record or they'll put it
on a keepsake little speaker boxfor you.
I call it the boom box.
So years from now you canlisten to all these messages and
(01:54):
be like oh, I remember thatit's so good to hear them again.
So I call it the gift of voice.
Not only weddings.
You can use this for specialevents like birthdays or
corporate gatherings, familyreunions.
I know I used it when there wasan accident on the field for my
son playing football.
(02:16):
One of his friends got knockeddown and, you know, the whole
leg got broke.
So the kids were calling inwishing him to get well and that
got sent over to him as well.
So there's many uses for them.
Check out their website.
Their plans start at $99.
You get to keep the phonenumber not the phone, but the
(02:37):
phone number for one year.
There's a wwwlifeonrecordcom.
All right, let's get this partystarted.
So who is Stacey Johnson?
Speaker 2 (02:52):
I am.
I well, I've been a clinicaltherapist for 25 years and now,
about a year and a half ago, Idecided that I did not want to
be a therapist in a specialeducational school anymore.
I wanted to get away from the.
(03:17):
I just wanted to get away fromthe requirements of the time
that I had to be in an officeand I wanted to branch off.
So I started working for myself.
I do some private practice as aclinical therapist, but then I'm
(03:38):
also a woman empowerment coach,and I decided to do that
because when I started theprivate practice of therapy,
everybody that was coming to mewere these women that were
overwhelmed and burned out, andI could totally relate to them.
And so I wanted to be intowomen.
I wanted to go into womenempowerment coaching to help
women like that because of whatyou know I had experienced you
(04:04):
know being burnt out and justhelp more women than I could in
clinical therapy.
Because clinical therapy I amforced to stay within the state
limits that I live in.
I live in Ohio and so I wasforced to kind of stay in these
limits of Ohio when I do therapy.
So that's why, you know, sothat I branched off to being a
(04:26):
woman empowerment coach.
I'm a mom.
I have two beautiful daughtersthat are ages 23 and 20.
They still live with me becausethey're going into.
You know, they're both incollege and so I guess that's
who I am.
Speaker 1 (04:44):
Gotcha, I understand about the 23-year-old daughter.
I have one, but yeah, she mademe a grandma this year.
So, I'm spending time with mygranddaughter, making her laugh
and smile, and I'll put on mymakeup and I was like, alice, do
(05:07):
you want some makeup?
She just giggles at me and I'mlike, oh, I love it Every moment
of it, but definitely so well,that is so cool.
So, um, tell us back back likewhen you were younger, and I
guess the structure of likegetting to where you got to
(05:29):
today.
What was that journey like?
Speaker 2 (05:34):
Interesting question really.
When I was growing up, you knowmy parents both my parents, my
parents divorced when I was likenine.
But we had a very loving, closerelationship, even though there
was two homes that I was goingback and forth to and my dad
(05:58):
owned his own business, my momowned her own business and
pretty much from a young agethey were always like you're
going to college, like that'sjust what you're expected to do,
and so and I was a good studentand I liked school.
But when I graduated from highschool I really didn't know what
I wanted to do.
I thought I wanted to be ateacher, because most young
(06:20):
girls want to be a teacher, youknow.
So teaching kind of thought.
I thought that's kind of what Iwanted to do.
And when I went to college, soI went in as undecided and I
thought I was going to go intoteaching and the school that I
went to was a teaching college,like they had an elementary
(06:41):
school on the campus.
So everybody that I met was insome form of education and I
thought I'm never going to finda job if I'm graduating with
this many education majors.
So I started researching howelse I could help people and
that's when I decided I wouldget a, I would go into
(07:04):
psychology and I would minor inspecial ed.
And so you know, my parentswere like whatever, I'm not sure
what you're doing with thatdegree, but whatever suits you
and makes you happy.
So graduated and got a job in apsych hospital as like a
(07:26):
therapist that was not like theycalled me a milieu therapist
and it was a kind of like anassistant or you know, I kind of
ran the adolescent unit.
So I was in charge of likecoming up with activities for
the adolescents, just being in apart of their unit, just being
in a part of their unit.
And as I was working there Istarted talking to, you know
(07:49):
more of the professionalsbecause I was like you know the
social worker, counseling, andthen maybe all I like I like
being again that educationalfield.
So I was like maybe school,school psychologist, someone's
like all you're going to do istest kids.
You're never going to reallywork with them as a school
(08:10):
psychologist, you're just goingto kind of test them and then
you really don't work with them.
You know, maybe you should lookinto counseling.
So I did and I got accepted to alocal college not too far from
my house so I could commute, andI got into their master's
(08:34):
program and I started mymaster's program there and
started working for a differentagency and that was more for
drug and alcohol as, like youknow, just an under you know,
under the therapist there, kindof again helping with activities
.
And I got my master's andstarted working for a agency
(08:56):
that was for children andadolescents.
So I was a children andadolescents therapist and I was
there for about a year and theyasked me to start working.
I was still working for thembut they placed me in a local
elementary school because thatlocal elementary school had a
(09:18):
special ed unit that wasstruggling and so that school
district wanted to bring inextra resources to try to see if
they could, you know, help thechildren in that unit because
their mental health needs weregetting in the way of them even
(09:39):
accessing the curriculum thebest way.
And this was going to be apilot program where they were
going to put a counselor andlike a case manager attached to
a classroom and I.
So that's, I did that and I wasthere and one it was like in
May I did a full year and thenin the following year I did a
(10:07):
full year and then in thefollowing year I was working
there.
So I started the second yearthere and then I was in the
lunchroom one morning or one dayand another, like a supervisor
of another program, asked me,like they were all talking about
summer breaks.
I'm like, yeah, I don't get one.
Like I'm counselor, I I'mactually hired by, you know,
this agency, so I don't getsummers off.
(10:27):
And they're like, would youwant to?
I'm like, well, that's a dumbquestion.
I have a one-year-old baby.
Of course I would love to beable to have the summers off.
So she's like, well, I knowsomebody that's opening up an
alternative school and theymight want to, you know, hire a
therapist as well.
So I applied there and heaccepted my application and I
(10:54):
started with him and he wasfairly new.
So I took that faith that youknow we would grow.
And it grew.
You know, we start off withfour students and by the end of
the year we were full.
And you know, two years laterwe had to open up a bigger
building and then a separatebuilding.
(11:16):
So we, we continued to grow andI was there for 20 years.
And yeah, I mean so it was kindof a combination with my special
ed because it was a specialeducational school, so I had the
background of my minor, but Iwas able to.
I wasn't necessarily doing asmuch therapy as, like my license
(11:38):
would say.
I was more like helpingteachers understand the mental
health aspect that comes withspecial ed children and then the
trauma that children face andhelping kids when they were in
crisis and then managing thestructure of just the building.
So I was considered thebuilding supervisor as well.
(11:59):
So like calling off staffcalling off and after COVID that
seemed to get higher.
You know, staffing seemed to bemore of an issue and my husband
passed away in 2021 suddenly,and that's when my eyes opened
up that I did not want to betrapped in a building from 7.30
(12:26):
to 3.30 or have to sub on a vanbecause we were short staff and
I would have to sub on a van somy days would be longer or and
just the stress of that.
And that's when I decided thatI wanted to go into more of a
private practice and be my ownboss and start my own business.
Speaker 1 (12:51):
You answered that so good.
That was a clear journey.
That was amazing.
So I guess you had a fewchallenges through those hurdles
too and everything.
So what would you tell thelisteners when you get you know
challenges and how did you learnto handle each challenge and
(13:17):
get through that?
Speaker 2 (13:21):
Yeah, I think with my therapy background, it does
definitely help.
And every time I would listento a podcast or see other
inspiring posts on Facebook, I'mlike I know this stuff.
This is the stuff that I knowbecause as a therapist, you have
(13:43):
to attend so many continuingeducational courses a year to
keep your license, and so all ofthese things.
I'm like I've learned thesethings and I just need to put
them in practice for myself.
And so you know that's when Iwas younger and working in the
(14:12):
school and having kids in theirown sporting events and just
running.
I was like, basically, you know, I called myself the CEO of the
household.
You know like everything landedon my plate to like make sure
is organized, and that was whenI was probably burnout the most
and I started to really you knowthat's when I was like one day
(14:32):
someone's like I think I camehome and there was dishes in the
sink.
Or someone asked me like Mom, Ineed something at the store, I
have a project due tomorrow andI need.
And I'm like, and my husband'slike why are you always angry?
And I'm like I'm not angry,like I'm not an angry person.
It was my.
My responses were coming out asanger, but I was just
(14:56):
overwhelmed and burnout.
And that's when I first startedto like, tune into, like, okay,
you've attended workshops on,you know, overwhelmed, burnout,
start developing your own systemto help yourself.
And that's when I first startedlooking, you know, digging into
that stuff Self-care you know,really looking at my own
(15:21):
self-care.
You know, really looking at myown self-care, really looking at
(15:47):
my thoughts and not overthcould manage that stress so that
I could make sure that my girlswere managing stress as well
too, because they were one wasin high school when he passed
and one was had just finishedone program and was starting to
(16:11):
work full time and was thinkingabout getting back into college
for LP, you know, to be a nurse.
And so I knew that I had tomake sure that I was managing my
stress well so that I couldhelp them with the grief and the
stress of this new life that weare living.
(16:34):
So I knew I had to dig deepinto the skills that I knew, the
skills that I knew Self-carewas the huge one, but then just
the thoughts, you know, makingsure that I didn't get consumed
with these what-if thoughts, orI should have done this thought.
Speaker 1 (16:55):
That's kind of where I'm standing right now in my
life.
So you're hitting a point likeit's good to hear it from you
talking about this.
So yeah, self-care is veryimportant.
And I had another guest whatyou manifest out there and I
know a year ago, before I tookmy last job, I was like I really
(17:16):
wanted to move to Oklahomabecause, a I have my dad and the
family out there.
B I know my son plays football,he loves it out there, he
eventually wants to go to OU.
And then I was like, okay, it'scheaper to live out there, but
I do have to take a pay cut.
Will that be okay or is itgoing to be a shock?
And then, being such a citygirl, coming to country world,
(17:41):
it's going to be reallyentertaining.
And I was analyzing that part.
You know Somebody asked me well, why are you moving?
Because we love you, we don'twant you to move and I go.
Well, I'm going to find myselfall over again.
And you know, what I started tonotice is you know the people
(18:02):
who are so concerned about memoving.
I've been here the whole time.
You haven't reached out, like,why does it matter now is what
I'm like, but I had to explainit's me taking care of me and my
kiddo, and that comes first,and then being happy all the
time.
That's another thing.
Yes, well, will I have to makechanges?
(18:23):
I sure will.
But you know, other than that,I think I had a really hard pull
because I love the church I goto and I just joined their choir
and I made friends and I'm justI'm having the hardest time and
I was like stay focused, nadine, because that's like every
other week.
You know, things do change.
(18:44):
There is a brighter future onthe other end.
So, taking a look at that, butbeing there for the kids, yes,
and you put your kids' needsthere, because it is very much a
grief area of that time ofyours that you had to focus on
that too, but you had to healfrom it to move forward.
(19:05):
So, yeah, right.
Speaker 2 (19:09):
So many people I've talked to and I say self-care,
they're like, you know, theythink, oh, I don't have time for
self-care, or they think Idon't have the money.
Because there's this vision that, like, self-care is like, maybe
, massages or, you know, gettingour hair done, and I'm like, no
, you know, self-care, you know,is I can do within a couple
(19:30):
minutes of my day and it cost menothing.
You know, one was justliterally, you know, taking some
deep breath, making sure thatI'm using my deep breath to,
like, you know, release some ofthat stress that I was carrying,
you know, in my shoulders.
But then again, it had a lotfor me.
It had a lot to do with just mythoughts, you know, and not
(19:53):
thinking all the worst casescenarios, you know, and the
should have or could have, andyou know, and there's different
parts of self-care too, you know, in regards to that social
piece and making sure that I wasstill, you know, connecting
with friends or other peopleoutside of my two girls, and
(20:15):
then also my physical exercise,you know, making sure that I was
still involved in things thatmade me feel happy.
Speaker 1 (20:22):
Yeah, yeah, definitely, and that's really
important.
And you know it's weird.
I live with my mom again and Ijust turned 47.
My mom was like, why do you goout and do things?
I go, well, I'm working all thetime, I'm staying focused, but
(20:42):
I'm not taking care of what Ilove to do.
And so I would go out and singkaraoke, and this is before
church, you know, joining theirworship team and stuff.
But now I've come to realizethe karaoke has taken a step
back because it is more powerfulto sing at church and I love it
.
There is more powerful to singat church and I love it there.
(21:04):
You know, I was like, if it's aSunday, I got to be there from
like 7.30 in the morning toabout noon.
You know, I'm just like I needto save my voice.
You know I'm starting to likepay attention to those little
things and you know it's just,it's taken that me time for me.
And my son told me yesterday hegoes, well, grandma went to
(21:28):
church.
And I go, oh, she did.
I didn't even see her.
Well, she sat in a differentrow and she told me something in
the car and I was like, ohreally, what did she say?
And she says you're the mosthappy while up on that stage
singing.
And I go, you got that right.
And she got that right becauseI'm in my own world, I'm
(21:49):
connected with, actually, god,you know, and I don't think
everybody's just looking at oneperson in the choir, it's a
bunch of us, there's like 45members in the choir, so, but if
we could touch one soul outthere, that's amazing.
So that's why me time lately,right, that's very nice.
(22:12):
Yeah, you know, you'reabsolutely right.
People do think self-care islike oh, I'm going to go shop
for myself and buy a new outfit.
I'm going to go, like you said,a massage.
I'm going to go get my myselfand buy a new outfit.
I'm going to go, like you said,a massage, I'm going to go get
my nails done.
Yeah, I can see where they dothink that is self-care and it
is a little.
I call it taking care ofyourself, but not the self part,
(22:34):
because that has to come fromyour inner soul and
understanding who you are.
So, and that's something youteach, right?
Speaker 2 (22:43):
Yes, yes yes, yeah, I mean yeah, those little things
of buying yourself something ornails, that is something right
there in that moment, it doesn'tlast, you know, for the long
time.
Like you singing, you know that, again, you feel connected to
other people and God, and so youknow that feeling is lasting
(23:08):
longer into the week than youknow going and buying a new
shirt.
You know that buying that newshirt might make me feel good
right then, or maybe every oncein a while when I put it on, but
it doesn't last.
The longer period of time andthat's the idea with self-care
is that, again, it's it is it'sabout finding our joy and what
(23:29):
makes us feel good.
And so and those are the thingsthat I can tap into, you know,
when I'm, you know, on thosemoments when I am feeling
overwhelmed, I can, you know,take my deep breath and tap into
the things of self-care for me,and then that, can you know, it
lasts longer than just goingand buying a new shirt or
(23:52):
something.
Speaker 1 (23:53):
Exactly.
It's not like you're going tobuy this shirt and be like every
day, oh look what I got.
Or even like I never get mynails done.
But I did it recently andbecause it was my birthday and
that was a little bit of myselftreating myself, but I was like
man.
I think it's after week three.
(24:13):
I'm like I want them off.
They're not the happy momentthat I expected it to be.
They look good.
Then I was like do I just tearthem off?
No, that's going to hurt.
You know, it's just thoselittle things.
But, yeah, definitely.
So, being connected, I'm awakeand I don't know if a lot of
(24:35):
people know what that term means, but I remember when I truly
found myself and I was more intuned with what my purpose in
life was and stuff, and it'sjust building that foundation
around it and just seeing theworld as a light, and I choose
(25:02):
to stay away from any darkness.
Does darkness happen?
Yes, it does, but it's up toyou and your strength to make
what this world is for you.
Now some people will sit thereand like, oh, I'm going to just
tune in to the news station allday and they let that drain them
throughout the day.
Oh, did you hear this?
And that my mom and dad.
I love them to death, but Ichoose not to watch the news
(25:24):
because it seems more harmful tothe soul.
To take in that energy thanactually going for a walk is a
wonderful way Seeing the ducksout there and enjoying the sky
and what God has given us isright there and it's like take
advantage of it.
You know, I want to do a test.
Can you take a month off fromwatching the news and enjoy life
(25:47):
, you know, and see how manypeople do that and what changes
there is?
You know?
So Right, yeah, yeah, so yeah,I want to know a little bit more
.
So, with the coaching that youdo from your home, I guess
that's Zoom related, is thatcorrect?
Yeah, okay, yeah, yep, go ahead.
Speaker 2 (26:10):
I do group coaching through, yeah, through Zoom, and
so the women that are involvedin my program we meet group once
a week, twice a week if need be, and they, you know, bring
their concerns.
They get when they join myprogram they get 12 weeks of
(26:33):
educational materials and sothey work on those.
In between the group calls andthey can bring those questions
too, if they had questions aboutthe material, or they can just
bring a question that you know,a lot of my clients bring
questions of something thathappened during the week that
they want to like work throughand um, and I will give them
(26:58):
exercises to do in between.
And then they also get three,uh, one-on-one Zoom calls with
me during the 12 weeks thatthey're involved.
Speaker 1 (27:06):
That is so good.
I like that layout and stuff.
I mean that is something Iwould definitely sign up for and
I think that selling point thethree one-on-ones is like oh yes
, I definitely need that,because it's one thing to join a
group and then you feel a partof the group and it's great
because it's open discussion tooand you're really connecting.
But the one-on-ones can bethose times for their questions.
(27:31):
They have to redirect theirfocus on how to, you know, push
forward and everything.
So you're bringing so much goodinto the world.
I love that, but really reallyquick.
I got to take a small littlebreak with you and talk about my
next sponsor for Keep HopeAlive.
So have you ever seen snapbands on Facebook?
(27:52):
They're always advertising myPandora.
I couldn't get it over thePandora, but mine says hope on
it and that's considered amantra word for Snapvans.
So they have different mantrawords like peace, love, hope,
fearlessness.
They have a new one calledfaith.
Now I'm going to quickly say intheir code the only way you can
(28:14):
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Now they come in all differentcolors.
They have some that go withyour corporate clothes, you know
on a daily basis.
Then they have those bright,fun colors.
But what makes these veryspecial?
On the back of them they havethis elastic band that you will
(28:36):
pull out and with each mantraword like mine is hope.
You will say like a littlesaying, or I call them prayers
for me, for example.
Let me use this Because thishelps with depression, anxiety,
ptsd.
It is a scientific phenomenon,I call it the phenomenon that
(28:59):
goes through and sends thatsignal to the brain to help you
relieve those stresses.
So when I'm at the hospital,I'm the hardest person to find a
vein and I'm always like, okay,I'm going to pray over this
nurse.
She's not going to know whatI'm doing, but like, please, not
eat sticks, because thathappens all the times.
Do you drink water?
(29:19):
And I'm like I look for thosenurses that have the confidence
built in and know, oh, I gotthis.
When they say that, I'm like,okay, this is going to be a
one-time thing, great, you know.
But it's like, oh, I think Igot you the word.
Think I'm just like okay, dearGod, let them get it, you know.
(29:40):
But however, it really helps me.
Take that anxiety I have, orwhat little fear I have.
Am I going to get weak from allthe sticks.
You know what can we do, god,and I know I'll just sit there
and pump my fist and I'm like Ithink I have medical PTSD in my
head.
(30:00):
You know, I've had to gothrough some major, major
surgeries, so it's always likewith the close of the eyes and
saying the mantra word.
I just let it be.
Now, with all purchases of SnapVans, they give a proceed to
organizations and differentcharities that actually really
help with the depression side ofit, anxiety and helping people
(30:21):
out there.
So it's really good.
They're nice and sturdy, veryclassy.
Looking To visit more aboutSnap Bands?
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Speaker 2 (30:43):
Cool huh, I got that out, yeah, yeah, I mean that
kind of goes along with some ofthe things that I teach in my
program is because when you'redoing that, when you use the
snap bands, you're basicallydisrupting the thoughts that you
have, because you're becomingmore aware of this than you are
(31:07):
with your thoughts, and so andthat's what one of the things
that I teach is that sometimesour thoughts we get so consumed
with them.
That's when the overthinkingand the rumination kind of gets
kicked in, and so when we candisrupt them, then we become
more in control, and so by doingthat, you are now disrupting
(31:29):
your thoughts.
Speaker 1 (31:30):
Yes, and I love it.
I mean, I do it.
It helps me sleep for somereason, because I guess my mind
wants to work a million thingsover that I was like.
Five years ago my doctor put meon Ambien.
What a nightmare.
I just finally said after thehundredth sleepwalk I'm done, I
(31:53):
cannot do this.
So they put me on a newmedication.
That's working, but I woulddump on this at night too and I
just felt like taking that deepbreath in out.
Let's see, I mean, after a yearand a half of continuing to do
that, it has helped me so, but Ithink it's mind over matter
also, you know you're disruptingthe thoughts.
Speaker 2 (32:15):
You're not.
You're not.
You're more focused on thatthan you are with the
overthinking, you know so.
So sleep hygiene is somethingthat I talk about in my program
as well Because, again, you know, with women that are dealing
with you know, life storms andoverwhelming thoughts when we
try to rest, that's when ourmind feels that it's time to do
(32:42):
more overthinking, because youknow you're trying to rest and
it's saying, no, you're notgoing to rest.
I'm going to give you athousand things to think about.
So I do help.
I do help with the sleephygiene as well and give tips
that are about that, and that's.
You know.
What you're doing is againdisrupting the thoughts about
(33:03):
that.
Speaker 1 (33:03):
And that's.
You know, what you're doing isagain disrupting the thoughts.
Yeah, definitely, I justlearned with meditation music.
I'll go on YouTube and justplay an 11 hour peaceful video
every night and just put myAirPods in and I call it let's
block out the world and justrelax.
Deep breath in, deep breath out.
Let it go, because, yeah, ourbrains can race a mile a minute.
(33:26):
What did I do?
What am I cooking tomorrow?
What am I going to do about mymove?
What move am I going to?
You know?
For, like, all those things thatdisrupt your sleep and like it
scares me to death, because Igrew up with epilepsy, now if I
don't get a full night of sleep,I will have a seizure.
There is no question about it.
(33:46):
I hate it and I'm like, if I'mup and I'm like, okay, god, you
got the wheel, like, if I'mgoing to have a seizure and make
it safe, you know I will do mybest.
Take my medicine, try to get acat nap in somewhere out of the
day, you know, but it's a scarything.
But, yeah, definitely, now youjust mentioned you help women
(34:10):
weather the storm.
Can you give some examples ofthose storms that women will go
through?
Speaker 2 (34:18):
Sure, similar to mine .
You know a grief, some form ofloss, you know I lost my husband
suddenly, but three weeksbefore him I had lost my
stepfather, so I lost twosignificant people within like
the three and a half weeks.
But other storms that we youknow women face are divorce
(34:42):
losing, you know, heaven forbida child, loss of a child, a
parent, even though sometimes,as we age, we kind of expect our
parents to go.
But that can also bring on alot of this overwhelming feeling
(35:03):
because, even if it may havebeen expected, you may have been
in a caregiving role beforeyour parent passes, and so then
your identity changes, and sothere's just that storm, you
know.
A loss of a job, you know.
Or a change in a job, you know,even though you want to move,
that can also be, you know, astorm, you know.
(35:27):
So I describe storms as anykind of change that we go
through, you know, good or bad,you know.
Even though we might havewanted the divorce, it's still a
change in our life system.
And it brings on different,brings on a different identity.
(35:50):
You know brings on, you knowthoughts of like, even you know
so, you know loss of like,envisioning what your future
could have been or what itshould have been.
Speaker 1 (36:03):
So yeah, yeah, I mean with the storm challenge of me
wanting to move.
Like my friends that are guysand a lot of them understand why
the move I go.
Well, you know I've been tryingto find love again and you know
it would be different, like Icould afford a place with
somebody if I chose love lastyear and I go.
(36:28):
But I don't want to do that tomy son.
I go.
I want to fall in love for theright reasons, not because I
need a place to live.
That is just wrong.
And I can afford Oklahoma so Icould be on my own, be my own
person, and that's really whatit was about.
But those storms they will comethrough and it's just how well
I noticed.
I did something different.
(36:49):
I told my stepmom I am notgoing to sit here and I'm not
going to worry about this andnot stress.
I'm going to take it day by dayand I am going to breathe.
I will look for jobs.
In the meantime, I will apply,like this week, and I think I
sent six applications out.
And my son is so funny becausehe really wants to move and he's
(37:11):
only 12.
He's like did you hear anythingfrom the jobs?
I was like, honey.
It's the weekend and then Iwoke up and taken him to school.
Did anybody contact you oroffer you a job?
I go, let them wake up and gettheir coffee.
I will let you know.
You'll be the first one youknow.
So it's just cute because hisenergy is so like he has a
(37:32):
church, he has the family, he'sgoing on camping trips, fishing
trips, he's enjoying that lifeout there and it's a good,
positive energy.
So it's like okay, I'm doingthe right thing.
Just don't look for love herein Texas, do not look for
another job in Texas, stayfocused, right.
Speaker 2 (37:49):
Right right.
Speaker 1 (37:51):
Yeah, but yeah, so also the storms.
I was reading your profile andI guess you developed something
that is like a toolkit.
Can you tell us more about that?
Speaker 2 (38:07):
Yeah, so I have.
It's currently called theillumination toolkit and it is a
freebie that I give to womenthat you know have faced these
storms or you know are justfeeling overwhelmed.
It has an overwhelmed checklistto kind of get an idea of what
are some of the triggers thatcreate this overwhelmed feeling.
(38:31):
And then I provide a guidedmeditation and some journal
prompts to get you started onreleasing or you know, yeah,
releasing or finding or dealingwith those triggers in a better
way so that you can start tofeel less overwhelmed, less
(38:56):
stressed.
Speaker 1 (38:59):
Yeah, I definitely see that.
So, and that's good because thejournaling will help you.
But I think it's funny becausewhen I was journaling, I kept
going and going and going andgoing.
I was like, why am I writingthis much?
But I remember I went back andread everything I went through
and I cried.
I felt like it was somebodyelse's story.
(39:21):
All of a sudden I was like,well, thank God I got out of
that relationship.
Like that was terrible.
That was like living oneggshells and being in excuse me
, hell, I had to get away.
Yeah, I did everything right,you know, and I would journal.
This would happen today.
This is what happened, becauseI don't think any woman out
(39:44):
there, if we're going through achallenge, we don't want to
question back to us saying arewe seeing this wrong?
Am I like going nuts?
Am I going crazy?
Because that's what we'll do.
It's like we want that you know, verification and clarity that
we're okay, we did the rightthing, we didn't do anything
(40:06):
wrong.
We got to move on.
Either we're gettingmanipulated in life and just
seeing things for the truecolors, but also it comes to a
point who can we talk to youwithout them thinking we're nuts
or crazy Like what is youroutsource there?
So yeah, I can definitely seehow being a life coach like you
(40:27):
are and helping women out thereis so beneficial.
Speaker 2 (40:31):
Yeah, and part of the illumination toolkit is that I
asked them to book aillumination session and it's a
session where we can personalizethis toolkit, because everybody
can perceive things differently, so I want to make sure that
they're getting the best benefitout of the toolkit.
You know, and that's again likewhen you're talking about the
(40:53):
negative, like self talk that wehave.
I work through that.
Some of that's in the in myprogram as well, because
overthinking comes from not evenjust you know the worrying
about you know the what ifs orthe should ofs, but we can also
overthink our own negativeself-talk, you know, and that
(41:16):
self-doubt and when we don'thave compassion for ourselves,
and so I work through that too.
That's part of the self-care isthere's a section on self-love
and you know changing themessages that we say to
ourselves as well.
Speaker 1 (41:35):
Exactly.
Yeah, that's really good thatyou put that out there and stuff
.
So I guess you stay prettybooked, don't?
You don't?
Speaker 2 (41:46):
you, yes, I am, you know, and I love what I do.
I love being able to help womenbecause, you know, like I, you
know, in my younger years I wasburnt out and overwhelmed and
luckily I had some of the skillswhen my husband passed, because
if I didn't, I don't know if Iwould have weathered that storm
(42:09):
as well as I did.
You know, I was able to havethe resilience and be able to
get through it a little bit, youknow, easier than other women
that I have seen that didn'thave some of the skills you know
.
And six months into this griefprocess that I had, or this
(42:31):
journey, you know, my daughter,one daughter said Mom, you know,
thank you, thank you for, youknow, managing this the way you
did, because I don't know if Iwould have been able to do what
I needed to do if you didn'tmanage so well, like because I
went back to work.
(42:51):
You know, I was back to work, Iworked in a school, so he passed
away right around Thanksgiving.
So we had Thanksgiving,naturally, a break at school,
then we were only back foranother couple of weeks, and
then the new year, and then theholiday break, and then the new
year, and then the holiday breakUm, so I didn't miss a lot of
(43:12):
work, but I was back to work,probably within technically I
guess it would have been sixweeks after his passing.
Um, maybe, no, yeah, maybe likesix weeks.
And and then, on top of goingback to work, I was back to
being the supervisor, and then Iwas going to my exercise class
a couple of days a week and youknow, doing all the things that
(43:35):
we always did.
You know, like, and she's like,thank you, because if you
didn't, if you wouldn't havehandled this as well, then I
don't know if I would have beenable to get through my senior
year of high school.
You know so Well.
Speaker 1 (43:52):
That is amazing to hear because you know, taking
that strength and being strongfor the kiddos, it is so great,
I'm so happy.
Like that is just the strengthoverpours and it teaches our
kids to be like you.
If that ever happened or theywill see like it could be even
(44:16):
another problem that they'refacing later in life.
So there's always going to bechallenges, there's always going
to be something, and you know,yeah.
Speaker 2 (44:25):
Right, and that's the other thing that I tell you
know, when I work with women, Isaid you're not just doing this
for you, but if you still havechildren that are in your home,
you're doing it for them becauseyou are teaching them how to be
resilient and how to managelife storms, because there are
so much noise out there, youknow, in regards to negative
ways to manage you know life, tonegative ways to manage you
(44:49):
know life.
And when you teach themresilience, then you're teaching
them that they're you know youcan get through it.
Speaker 1 (44:57):
It may be hard, but you can come on the other side,
yeah yeah, definitely, and Ithink it's, you know,
interesting to me becausesomething I noticed like Netflix
, they have some of the bestshows out, right.
You know, I've been I can't saywhich one, but I've been
watching one of them and it hitme because in the show he didn't
(45:20):
know how to take care ofproblems and so they introduced
him to drugs and alcohol andmarijuana, I guess, and I was,
like, you know, for kidswatching the same show.
That is not the answer, youknow.
I think the most interestingthing would be a podcast or like
(45:41):
somebody you know they're goingto teach not to do this stuff
and they are absolutely right.
And if they do go on that route,that's only a temporary fix.
It doesn't fix your soul.
I mean, yeah, it'll make yousleep and go, but no, it's not
helping you or your soul and youhave to fight that battle on
(46:03):
your own.
So, but definitely so, tell mesomething future plans for you
and your company for, of course,this year 25, going into 26.
What are those for you?
Speaker 2 (46:18):
Yeah, so the goal is to continue to help as many
women as I can.
And then, you know, I'd like tosee myself doing some retreats
and inviting you know doing whatI teach, but, you know, I know,
maybe a three day retreats withalso doing introducing, you
(46:40):
know, some self-care in regardsto, you know, yoga or hiking,
and then so that's what I wouldlike to see myself doing more of
in 2026 is retreats orworkshops, uh, and traveling,
you know, a little bit more withthe company outside of just
doing zoom calls and doing somemore in-person things as well in
(47:03):
person.
Speaker 1 (47:04):
Yeah, yeah, I, I've set some goals.
I'm like I mentioned before westarted airing.
I started my book, but I see mybook being a guest speaking
event too.
So I'm just like, okay, well,I'm going to get ready for that
because I know I could becoaching people who've gone
(47:25):
through the same thing too of tobuild that oh, what is the word
they got to build theirconfidence in themselves, and
sometimes we get lost in to howto do that.
So, but yeah, it's just.
I think the whole group of womenthing in the retreat would be
fun.
So I definitely want to knowwhen you have that and we're
(47:47):
going to put it on the new VIPmembership page and if you guys
have not signed up yet, you wantto do that.
It's on Facebook, so it's KeepHope Alive VIP group page for
members and you're going to getto see what all our speakers
have to offer.
And when you're doing a retreat, I'm going to be saying to you
(48:11):
make sure you put it up there sothey can see and sign up and
everything.
So but yeah, if somebody wantedto reach out to you, how would
they go about that?
Are you on different socialmedia links?
Speaker 2 (48:24):
Yes, I'm on Facebook and I'm on LinkedIn and I have
um.
The YouTube channel is.
The handle is Stacey Johnsoncoaching, but the name of the
(48:53):
YouTube channel is surviving ashock.
Speaker 1 (48:57):
Oh, surviving shock.
Okay, that's.
Yeah, that's a good one.
That's a good name tooSurviving shock and I'm going to
post that up on the Facebookpage too, so we can look at that
.
Okay, I write like a doctor.
I can never read my writinglater on.
I'm like what did I write?
It looks like chicken scratches.
(49:19):
But yeah, definitely.
So I just wanted to quickly saythank you so much for coming
and sharing your story.
Now I always ask did we covereverything you did?
Speaker 2 (49:33):
good you did, thank you good, I'm glad.
Speaker 1 (49:36):
I mean this has been wonderful, um eye-opening too,
to have you on the show.
And you know, guys, whereveryou guys find your podcast,
you'll be able to find Keep HopeAlive podcast on this show.
If you do have any questionsfor us, you can go to
wwwkeephopelivepodcastcom and tothe upper right there is a tab
(49:59):
it says leave a message.
So you can leave a message forus, ask any questions.
I'll make sure she'll get themand then we'll get those
answered for you in a shortlittle video together.
So definitely, and justremember, if you would ever like
to be a guest speaker on KeepHope Well Alive, there is a
(50:19):
guest intake form that you canfill out and we just love having
you watch the show there isgoing to be, for I'm getting
booked up like crazy for thisyear 2025.
So we have great shows comingfor you different topics, wide
range and everything, and I justwant to say thank you to you
(50:42):
and thank you to the listenersfor listening to Keep Hope Alive
and until next time.
We will see you later.
Love and light.
Hello and welcome to Keep Hope Alive podcast.
My name is Nadine.
I'm so excited.
Today we have a wonderful guest.
Her name is Stacey Johnson andshe's a women empowerment coach
and we're going to dive into herstory today.
Welcome to Keep Hope Alive.
I'm so excited to have you on.
Thank you, I'm glad to be heretoday.
(00:23):
Yay, Well, before we getstarted, I have a question for
you.
Sure, Out of the past year, howmany weddings have you been to?
One One, Okay.
Well, say, you got invited to awedding and you're going into
like the ceremony part andyou're walking in and there's a
little table there withsomething for you to sign to let
(00:47):
the couple know you were there.
What are you signing?
Guest book?
Yes, yes, so you'd be signingthat guest book.
Now, one of our biggest sponsorsthat keep up alive is Life on
Record, and instead of thatguest book, what they do is they
have a vintage rotary phonethat your guests can come up to,
and it's usually placed on abeautiful wooden desk or
(01:10):
something with the greenery, andthey pick up the phone and can
leave a message Congratulationson your big day.
We're so excited for you.
Many years of happiness.
Now, right next to the phone.
They have a little sign with aQR code.
In case the line gets too busy,you can take out your mobile
(01:31):
device and scan that QR code andleave a message by your phone.
Now, after all these messagesare brought into the system,
they will burn it on a 10-inchvinyl record or they'll put it
on a keepsake little speaker boxfor you.
I call it the boom box.
So years from now you canlisten to all these messages and
(01:54):
be like oh, I remember thatit's so good to hear them again.
So I call it the gift of voice.
Not only weddings.
You can use this for specialevents like birthdays or
corporate gatherings, familyreunions.
I know I used it when there wasan accident on the field for my
son playing football.
(02:16):
One of his friends got knockeddown and, you know, the whole
leg got broke.
So the kids were calling inwishing him to get well and that
got sent over to him as well.
So there's many uses for them.
Check out their website.
Their plans start at $99.
You get to keep the phonenumber not the phone, but the
(02:37):
phone number for one year.
There's a wwwlifeonrecordcom.
All right, let's get this partystarted.
So who is Stacey Johnson?
Speaker 2 (02:52):
I am.
I well, I've been a clinicaltherapist for 25 years and now,
about a year and a half ago, Idecided that I did not want to
be a therapist in a specialeducational school anymore.
I wanted to get away from the.
(03:17):
I just wanted to get away fromthe requirements of the time
that I had to be in an officeand I wanted to branch off.
So I started working for myself.
I do some private practice as aclinical therapist, but then I'm
(03:38):
also a woman empowerment coach,and I decided to do that
because when I started theprivate practice of therapy,
everybody that was coming to mewere these women that were
overwhelmed and burned out, andI could totally relate to them.
And so I wanted to be intowomen.
I wanted to go into womenempowerment coaching to help
women like that because of whatyou know I had experienced you
(04:04):
know being burnt out and justhelp more women than I could in
clinical therapy.
Because clinical therapy I amforced to stay within the state
limits that I live in.
I live in Ohio and so I wasforced to kind of stay in these
limits of Ohio when I do therapy.
So that's why, you know, sothat I branched off to being a
(04:26):
woman empowerment coach.
I'm a mom.
I have two beautiful daughtersthat are ages 23 and 20.
They still live with me becausethey're going into.
You know, they're both incollege and so I guess that's
who I am.
Speaker 1 (04:44):
Gotcha, I understand about the 23-year-old daughter.
I have one, but yeah, she mademe a grandma this year.
So, I'm spending time with mygranddaughter, making her laugh
and smile, and I'll put on mymakeup and I was like, alice, do
(05:07):
you want some makeup?
She just giggles at me and I'mlike, oh, I love it Every moment
of it, but definitely so well,that is so cool.
So, um, tell us back back likewhen you were younger, and I
guess the structure of likegetting to where you got to
(05:29):
today.
What was that journey like?
Speaker 2 (05:34):
Interesting question really.
When I was growing up, you knowmy parents both my parents, my
parents divorced when I was likenine.
But we had a very loving, closerelationship, even though there
was two homes that I was goingback and forth to and my dad
(05:58):
owned his own business, my momowned her own business and
pretty much from a young agethey were always like you're
going to college, like that'sjust what you're expected to do,
and so and I was a good studentand I liked school.
But when I graduated from highschool I really didn't know what
I wanted to do.
I thought I wanted to be ateacher, because most young
(06:20):
girls want to be a teacher, youknow.
So teaching kind of thought.
I thought that's kind of what Iwanted to do.
And when I went to college, soI went in as undecided and I
thought I was going to go intoteaching and the school that I
went to was a teaching college,like they had an elementary
(06:41):
school on the campus.
So everybody that I met was insome form of education and I
thought I'm never going to finda job if I'm graduating with
this many education majors.
So I started researching howelse I could help people and
that's when I decided I wouldget a, I would go into
(07:04):
psychology and I would minor inspecial ed.
And so you know, my parentswere like whatever, I'm not sure
what you're doing with thatdegree, but whatever suits you
and makes you happy.
So graduated and got a job in apsych hospital as like a
(07:26):
therapist that was not like theycalled me a milieu therapist
and it was a kind of like anassistant or you know, I kind of
ran the adolescent unit.
So I was in charge of likecoming up with activities for
the adolescents, just being in apart of their unit, just being
in a part of their unit.
And as I was working there Istarted talking to, you know
(07:49):
more of the professionalsbecause I was like you know the
social worker, counseling, andthen maybe all I like I like
being again that educationalfield.
So I was like maybe school,school psychologist, someone's
like all you're going to do istest kids.
You're never going to reallywork with them as a school
(08:10):
psychologist, you're just goingto kind of test them and then
you really don't work with them.
You know, maybe you should lookinto counseling.
So I did and I got accepted to alocal college not too far from
my house so I could commute, andI got into their master's
(08:34):
program and I started mymaster's program there and
started working for a differentagency and that was more for
drug and alcohol as, like youknow, just an under you know,
under the therapist there, kindof again helping with activities
.
And I got my master's andstarted working for a agency
(08:56):
that was for children andadolescents.
So I was a children andadolescents therapist and I was
there for about a year and theyasked me to start working.
I was still working for thembut they placed me in a local
elementary school because thatlocal elementary school had a
(09:18):
special ed unit that wasstruggling and so that school
district wanted to bring inextra resources to try to see if
they could, you know, help thechildren in that unit because
their mental health needs weregetting in the way of them even
(09:39):
accessing the curriculum thebest way.
And this was going to be apilot program where they were
going to put a counselor andlike a case manager attached to
a classroom and I.
So that's, I did that and I wasthere and one it was like in
May I did a full year and thenin the following year I did a
(10:07):
full year and then in thefollowing year I was working
there.
So I started the second yearthere and then I was in the
lunchroom one morning or one dayand another, like a supervisor
of another program, asked me,like they were all talking about
summer breaks.
I'm like, yeah, I don't get one.
Like I'm counselor, I I'mactually hired by, you know,
this agency, so I don't getsummers off.
(10:27):
And they're like, would youwant to?
I'm like, well, that's a dumbquestion.
I have a one-year-old baby.
Of course I would love to beable to have the summers off.
So she's like, well, I knowsomebody that's opening up an
alternative school and theymight want to, you know, hire a
therapist as well.
So I applied there and heaccepted my application and I
(10:54):
started with him and he wasfairly new.
So I took that faith that youknow we would grow.
And it grew.
You know, we start off withfour students and by the end of
the year we were full.
And you know, two years laterwe had to open up a bigger
building and then a separatebuilding.
(11:16):
So we, we continued to grow andI was there for 20 years.
And yeah, I mean so it was kindof a combination with my special
ed because it was a specialeducational school, so I had the
background of my minor, but Iwas able to.
I wasn't necessarily doing asmuch therapy as, like my license
(11:38):
would say.
I was more like helpingteachers understand the mental
health aspect that comes withspecial ed children and then the
trauma that children face andhelping kids when they were in
crisis and then managing thestructure of just the building.
So I was considered thebuilding supervisor as well.
(11:59):
So like calling off staffcalling off and after COVID that
seemed to get higher.
You know, staffing seemed to bemore of an issue and my husband
passed away in 2021 suddenly,and that's when my eyes opened
up that I did not want to betrapped in a building from 7.30
(12:26):
to 3.30 or have to sub on a vanbecause we were short staff and
I would have to sub on a van somy days would be longer or and
just the stress of that.
And that's when I decided thatI wanted to go into more of a
private practice and be my ownboss and start my own business.
Speaker 1 (12:51):
You answered that so good.
That was a clear journey.
That was amazing.
So I guess you had a fewchallenges through those hurdles
too and everything.
So what would you tell thelisteners when you get you know
challenges and how did you learnto handle each challenge and
(13:17):
get through that?
Speaker 2 (13:21):
Yeah, I think with my therapy background, it does
definitely help.
And every time I would listento a podcast or see other
inspiring posts on Facebook, I'mlike I know this stuff.
This is the stuff that I knowbecause as a therapist, you have
(13:43):
to attend so many continuingeducational courses a year to
keep your license, and so all ofthese things.
I'm like I've learned thesethings and I just need to put
them in practice for myself.
And so you know that's when Iwas younger and working in the
(14:12):
school and having kids in theirown sporting events and just
running.
I was like, basically, you know, I called myself the CEO of the
household.
You know like everything landedon my plate to like make sure
is organized, and that was whenI was probably burnout the most
and I started to really you knowthat's when I was like one day
(14:32):
someone's like I think I camehome and there was dishes in the
sink.
Or someone asked me like Mom, Ineed something at the store, I
have a project due tomorrow andI need.
And I'm like, and my husband'slike why are you always angry?
And I'm like I'm not angry,like I'm not an angry person.
It was my.
My responses were coming out asanger, but I was just
(14:56):
overwhelmed and burnout.
And that's when I first startedto like, tune into, like, okay,
you've attended workshops on,you know, overwhelmed, burnout,
start developing your own systemto help yourself.
And that's when I first startedlooking, you know, digging into
that stuff Self-care you know,really looking at my own
(15:21):
self-care.
You know, really looking at myown self-care, really looking at
(15:47):
my thoughts and not overthcould manage that stress so that
I could make sure that my girlswere managing stress as well
too, because they were one wasin high school when he passed
and one was had just finishedone program and was starting to
(16:11):
work full time and was thinkingabout getting back into college
for LP, you know, to be a nurse.
And so I knew that I had tomake sure that I was managing my
stress well so that I couldhelp them with the grief and the
stress of this new life that weare living.
(16:34):
So I knew I had to dig deepinto the skills that I knew, the
skills that I knew Self-carewas the huge one, but then just
the thoughts, you know, makingsure that I didn't get consumed
with these what-if thoughts, orI should have done this thought.
Speaker 1 (16:55):
That's kind of where I'm standing right now in my
life.
So you're hitting a point likeit's good to hear it from you
talking about this.
So yeah, self-care is veryimportant.
And I had another guest whatyou manifest out there and I
know a year ago, before I tookmy last job, I was like I really
(17:16):
wanted to move to Oklahomabecause, a I have my dad and the
family out there.
B I know my son plays football,he loves it out there, he
eventually wants to go to OU.
And then I was like, okay, it'scheaper to live out there, but
I do have to take a pay cut.
Will that be okay or is itgoing to be a shock?
And then, being such a citygirl, coming to country world,
(17:41):
it's going to be reallyentertaining.
And I was analyzing that part.
You know Somebody asked me well, why are you moving?
Because we love you, we don'twant you to move and I go.
Well, I'm going to find myselfall over again.
And you know, what I started tonotice is you know the people
(18:02):
who are so concerned about memoving.
I've been here the whole time.
You haven't reached out, like,why does it matter now is what
I'm like, but I had to explainit's me taking care of me and my
kiddo, and that comes first,and then being happy all the
time.
That's another thing.
Yes, well, will I have to makechanges?
(18:23):
I sure will.
But you know, other than that,I think I had a really hard pull
because I love the church I goto and I just joined their choir
and I made friends and I'm justI'm having the hardest time and
I was like stay focused, nadine, because that's like every
other week.
You know, things do change.
(18:44):
There is a brighter future onthe other end.
So, taking a look at that, butbeing there for the kids, yes,
and you put your kids' needsthere, because it is very much a
grief area of that time ofyours that you had to focus on
that too, but you had to healfrom it to move forward.
(19:05):
So, yeah, right.
Speaker 2 (19:09):
So many people I've talked to and I say self-care,
they're like, you know, theythink, oh, I don't have time for
self-care, or they think Idon't have the money.
Because there's this vision that, like, self-care is like, maybe
, massages or, you know, gettingour hair done, and I'm like, no
, you know, self-care, you know,is I can do within a couple
(19:30):
minutes of my day and it cost menothing.
You know, one was justliterally, you know, taking some
deep breath, making sure thatI'm using my deep breath to,
like, you know, release some ofthat stress that I was carrying,
you know, in my shoulders.
But then again, it had a lotfor me.
It had a lot to do with just mythoughts, you know, and not
(19:53):
thinking all the worst casescenarios, you know, and the
should have or could have, andyou know, and there's different
parts of self-care too, you know, in regards to that social
piece and making sure that I wasstill, you know, connecting
with friends or other peopleoutside of my two girls, and
(20:15):
then also my physical exercise,you know, making sure that I was
still involved in things thatmade me feel happy.
Speaker 1 (20:22):
Yeah, yeah, definitely, and that's really
important.
And you know it's weird.
I live with my mom again and Ijust turned 47.
My mom was like, why do you goout and do things?
I go, well, I'm working all thetime, I'm staying focused, but
(20:42):
I'm not taking care of what Ilove to do.
And so I would go out and singkaraoke, and this is before
church, you know, joining theirworship team and stuff.
But now I've come to realizethe karaoke has taken a step
back because it is more powerfulto sing at church and I love it
.
There is more powerful to singat church and I love it there.
(21:04):
You know, I was like, if it's aSunday, I got to be there from
like 7.30 in the morning toabout noon.
You know, I'm just like I needto save my voice.
You know I'm starting to likepay attention to those little
things and you know it's just,it's taken that me time for me.
And my son told me yesterday hegoes, well, grandma went to
(21:28):
church.
And I go, oh, she did.
I didn't even see her.
Well, she sat in a differentrow and she told me something in
the car and I was like, ohreally, what did she say?
And she says you're the mosthappy while up on that stage
singing.
And I go, you got that right.
And she got that right becauseI'm in my own world, I'm
(21:49):
connected with, actually, god,you know, and I don't think
everybody's just looking at oneperson in the choir, it's a
bunch of us, there's like 45members in the choir, so, but if
we could touch one soul outthere, that's amazing.
So that's why me time lately,right, that's very nice.
(22:12):
Yeah, you know, you'reabsolutely right.
People do think self-care islike oh, I'm going to go shop
for myself and buy a new outfit.
I'm going to go, like you said,a massage.
I'm going to go get my myselfand buy a new outfit.
I'm going to go, like you said,a massage, I'm going to go get
my nails done.
Yeah, I can see where they dothink that is self-care and it
is a little.
I call it taking care ofyourself, but not the self part,
(22:34):
because that has to come fromyour inner soul and
understanding who you are.
So, and that's something youteach, right?
Speaker 2 (22:43):
Yes, yes yes, yeah, I mean yeah, those little things
of buying yourself something ornails, that is something right
there in that moment, it doesn'tlast, you know, for the long
time.
Like you singing, you know that, again, you feel connected to
other people and God, and so youknow that feeling is lasting
(23:08):
longer into the week than youknow going and buying a new
shirt.
You know that buying that newshirt might make me feel good
right then, or maybe every oncein a while when I put it on, but
it doesn't last.
The longer period of time andthat's the idea with self-care
is that, again, it's it is it'sabout finding our joy and what
(23:29):
makes us feel good.
And so and those are the thingsthat I can tap into, you know,
when I'm, you know, on thosemoments when I am feeling
overwhelmed, I can, you know,take my deep breath and tap into
the things of self-care for me,and then that, can you know, it
lasts longer than just goingand buying a new shirt or
(23:52):
something.
Speaker 1 (23:53):
Exactly.
It's not like you're going tobuy this shirt and be like every
day, oh look what I got.
Or even like I never get mynails done.
But I did it recently andbecause it was my birthday and
that was a little bit of myselftreating myself, but I was like
man.
I think it's after week three.
(24:13):
I'm like I want them off.
They're not the happy momentthat I expected it to be.
They look good.
Then I was like do I just tearthem off?
No, that's going to hurt.
You know, it's just thoselittle things.
But, yeah, definitely.
So, being connected, I'm awakeand I don't know if a lot of
(24:35):
people know what that term means, but I remember when I truly
found myself and I was more intuned with what my purpose in
life was and stuff, and it'sjust building that foundation
around it and just seeing theworld as a light, and I choose
(25:02):
to stay away from any darkness.
Does darkness happen?
Yes, it does, but it's up toyou and your strength to make
what this world is for you.
Now some people will sit thereand like, oh, I'm going to just
tune in to the news station allday and they let that drain them
throughout the day.
Oh, did you hear this?
And that my mom and dad.
I love them to death, but Ichoose not to watch the news
(25:24):
because it seems more harmful tothe soul.
To take in that energy thanactually going for a walk is a
wonderful way Seeing the ducksout there and enjoying the sky
and what God has given us isright there and it's like take
advantage of it.
You know, I want to do a test.
Can you take a month off fromwatching the news and enjoy life
(25:47):
, you know, and see how manypeople do that and what changes
there is?
You know?
So Right, yeah, yeah, so yeah,I want to know a little bit more
.
So, with the coaching that youdo from your home, I guess
that's Zoom related, is thatcorrect?
Yeah, okay, yeah, yep, go ahead.
Speaker 2 (26:10):
I do group coaching through, yeah, through Zoom, and
so the women that are involvedin my program we meet group once
a week, twice a week if need be, and they, you know, bring
their concerns.
They get when they join myprogram they get 12 weeks of
(26:33):
educational materials and sothey work on those.
In between the group calls andthey can bring those questions
too, if they had questions aboutthe material, or they can just
bring a question that you know,a lot of my clients bring
questions of something thathappened during the week that
they want to like work throughand um, and I will give them
(26:58):
exercises to do in between.
And then they also get three,uh, one-on-one Zoom calls with
me during the 12 weeks thatthey're involved.
Speaker 1 (27:06):
That is so good.
I like that layout and stuff.
I mean that is something Iwould definitely sign up for and
I think that selling point thethree one-on-ones is like oh yes
, I definitely need that,because it's one thing to join a
group and then you feel a partof the group and it's great
because it's open discussion tooand you're really connecting.
But the one-on-ones can bethose times for their questions.
(27:31):
They have to redirect theirfocus on how to, you know, push
forward and everything.
So you're bringing so much goodinto the world.
I love that, but really reallyquick.
I got to take a small littlebreak with you and talk about my
next sponsor for Keep HopeAlive.
So have you ever seen snapbands on Facebook?
(27:52):
They're always advertising myPandora.
I couldn't get it over thePandora, but mine says hope on
it and that's considered amantra word for Snapvans.
So they have different mantrawords like peace, love, hope,
fearlessness.
They have a new one calledfaith.
Now I'm going to quickly say intheir code the only way you can
(28:14):
get faith is put in K-H-A forkeep hope alive.
Now they come in all differentcolors.
They have some that go withyour corporate clothes, you know
on a daily basis.
Then they have those bright,fun colors.
But what makes these veryspecial?
On the back of them they havethis elastic band that you will
(28:36):
pull out and with each mantraword like mine is hope.
You will say like a littlesaying, or I call them prayers
for me, for example.
Let me use this Because thishelps with depression, anxiety,
ptsd.
It is a scientific phenomenon,I call it the phenomenon that
(28:59):
goes through and sends thatsignal to the brain to help you
relieve those stresses.
So when I'm at the hospital,I'm the hardest person to find a
vein and I'm always like, okay,I'm going to pray over this
nurse.
She's not going to know whatI'm doing, but like, please, not
eat sticks, because thathappens all the times.
Do you drink water?
(29:19):
And I'm like I look for thosenurses that have the confidence
built in and know, oh, I gotthis.
When they say that, I'm like,okay, this is going to be a
one-time thing, great, you know.
But it's like, oh, I think Igot you the word.
Think I'm just like okay, dearGod, let them get it, you know.
(29:40):
But however, it really helps me.
Take that anxiety I have, orwhat little fear I have.
Am I going to get weak from allthe sticks.
You know what can we do, god,and I know I'll just sit there
and pump my fist and I'm like Ithink I have medical PTSD in my
head.
(30:00):
You know, I've had to gothrough some major, major
surgeries, so it's always likewith the close of the eyes and
saying the mantra word.
I just let it be.
Now, with all purchases of SnapVans, they give a proceed to
organizations and differentcharities that actually really
help with the depression side ofit, anxiety and helping people
(30:21):
out there.
So it's really good.
They're nice and sturdy, veryclassy.
Looking To visit more aboutSnap Bands?
Visit them at wwwsnapbandscom.
And Snap Bands is spelledS-N-A-P-P-B-A-N-D-Zcom.
Speaker 2 (30:43):
Cool huh, I got that out, yeah, yeah, I mean that
kind of goes along with some ofthe things that I teach in my
program is because when you'redoing that, when you use the
snap bands, you're basicallydisrupting the thoughts that you
have, because you're becomingmore aware of this than you are
(31:07):
with your thoughts, and so andthat's what one of the things
that I teach is that sometimesour thoughts we get so consumed
with them.
That's when the overthinkingand the rumination kind of gets
kicked in, and so when we candisrupt them, then we become
more in control, and so by doingthat, you are now disrupting
(31:29):
your thoughts.
Speaker 1 (31:30):
Yes, and I love it.
I mean, I do it.
It helps me sleep for somereason, because I guess my mind
wants to work a million thingsover that I was like.
Five years ago my doctor put meon Ambien.
What a nightmare.
I just finally said after thehundredth sleepwalk I'm done, I
(31:53):
cannot do this.
So they put me on a newmedication.
That's working, but I woulddump on this at night too and I
just felt like taking that deepbreath in out.
Let's see, I mean, after a yearand a half of continuing to do
that, it has helped me so, but Ithink it's mind over matter
also, you know you're disruptingthe thoughts.
Speaker 2 (32:15):
You're not.
You're not.
You're more focused on thatthan you are with the
overthinking, you know so.
So sleep hygiene is somethingthat I talk about in my program
as well Because, again, you know, with women that are dealing
with you know, life storms andoverwhelming thoughts when we
try to rest, that's when ourmind feels that it's time to do
(32:42):
more overthinking, because youknow you're trying to rest and
it's saying, no, you're notgoing to rest.
I'm going to give you athousand things to think about.
So I do help.
I do help with the sleephygiene as well and give tips
that are about that, and that's.
You know.
What you're doing is againdisrupting the thoughts about
(33:03):
that.
Speaker 1 (33:03):
And that's.
You know, what you're doing isagain disrupting the thoughts.
Yeah, definitely, I justlearned with meditation music.
I'll go on YouTube and justplay an 11 hour peaceful video
every night and just put myAirPods in and I call it let's
block out the world and justrelax.
Deep breath in, deep breath out.
Let it go, because, yeah, ourbrains can race a mile a minute.
(33:26):
What did I do?
What am I cooking tomorrow?
What am I going to do about mymove?
What move am I going to?
You know?
For, like, all those things thatdisrupt your sleep and like it
scares me to death, because Igrew up with epilepsy, now if I
don't get a full night of sleep,I will have a seizure.
There is no question about it.
(33:46):
I hate it and I'm like, if I'mup and I'm like, okay, god, you
got the wheel, like, if I'mgoing to have a seizure and make
it safe, you know I will do mybest.
Take my medicine, try to get acat nap in somewhere out of the
day, you know, but it's a scarything.
But, yeah, definitely, now youjust mentioned you help women
(34:10):
weather the storm.
Can you give some examples ofthose storms that women will go
through?
Speaker 2 (34:18):
Sure, similar to mine .
You know a grief, some form ofloss, you know I lost my husband
suddenly, but three weeksbefore him I had lost my
stepfather, so I lost twosignificant people within like
the three and a half weeks.
But other storms that we youknow women face are divorce
(34:42):
losing, you know, heaven forbida child, loss of a child, a
parent, even though sometimes,as we age, we kind of expect our
parents to go.
But that can also bring on alot of this overwhelming feeling
(35:03):
because, even if it may havebeen expected, you may have been
in a caregiving role beforeyour parent passes, and so then
your identity changes, and sothere's just that storm, you
know.
A loss of a job, you know.
Or a change in a job, you know,even though you want to move,
that can also be, you know, astorm, you know.
(35:27):
So I describe storms as anykind of change that we go
through, you know, good or bad,you know.
Even though we might havewanted the divorce, it's still a
change in our life system.
And it brings on different,brings on a different identity.
(35:50):
You know brings on, you knowthoughts of like, even you know
so, you know loss of like,envisioning what your future
could have been or what itshould have been.
Speaker 1 (36:03):
So yeah, yeah, I mean with the storm challenge of me
wanting to move.
Like my friends that are guysand a lot of them understand why
the move I go.
Well, you know I've been tryingto find love again and you know
it would be different, like Icould afford a place with
somebody if I chose love lastyear and I go.
(36:28):
But I don't want to do that tomy son.
I go.
I want to fall in love for theright reasons, not because I
need a place to live.
That is just wrong.
And I can afford Oklahoma so Icould be on my own, be my own
person, and that's really whatit was about.
But those storms they will comethrough and it's just how well
I noticed.
I did something different.
(36:49):
I told my stepmom I am notgoing to sit here and I'm not
going to worry about this andnot stress.
I'm going to take it day by dayand I am going to breathe.
I will look for jobs.
In the meantime, I will apply,like this week, and I think I
sent six applications out.
And my son is so funny becausehe really wants to move and he's
(37:11):
only 12.
He's like did you hear anythingfrom the jobs?
I was like, honey.
It's the weekend and then Iwoke up and taken him to school.
Did anybody contact you oroffer you a job?
I go, let them wake up and gettheir coffee.
I will let you know.
You'll be the first one youknow.
So it's just cute because hisenergy is so like he has a
(37:32):
church, he has the family, he'sgoing on camping trips, fishing
trips, he's enjoying that lifeout there and it's a good,
positive energy.
So it's like okay, I'm doingthe right thing.
Just don't look for love herein Texas, do not look for
another job in Texas, stayfocused, right.
Speaker 2 (37:49):
Right right.
Speaker 1 (37:51):
Yeah, but yeah, so also the storms.
I was reading your profile andI guess you developed something
that is like a toolkit.
Can you tell us more about that?
Speaker 2 (38:07):
Yeah, so I have.
It's currently called theillumination toolkit and it is a
freebie that I give to womenthat you know have faced these
storms or you know are justfeeling overwhelmed.
It has an overwhelmed checklistto kind of get an idea of what
are some of the triggers thatcreate this overwhelmed feeling.
(38:31):
And then I provide a guidedmeditation and some journal
prompts to get you started onreleasing or you know, yeah,
releasing or finding or dealingwith those triggers in a better
way so that you can start tofeel less overwhelmed, less
(38:56):
stressed.
Speaker 1 (38:59):
Yeah, I definitely see that.
So, and that's good because thejournaling will help you.
But I think it's funny becausewhen I was journaling, I kept
going and going and going andgoing.
I was like, why am I writingthis much?
But I remember I went back andread everything I went through
and I cried.
I felt like it was somebodyelse's story.
(39:21):
All of a sudden I was like,well, thank God I got out of
that relationship.
Like that was terrible.
That was like living oneggshells and being in excuse me
, hell, I had to get away.
Yeah, I did everything right,you know, and I would journal.
This would happen today.
This is what happened, becauseI don't think any woman out
(39:44):
there, if we're going through achallenge, we don't want to
question back to us saying arewe seeing this wrong?
Am I like going nuts?
Am I going crazy?
Because that's what we'll do.
It's like we want that you know, verification and clarity that
we're okay, we did the rightthing, we didn't do anything
(40:06):
wrong.
We got to move on.
Either we're gettingmanipulated in life and just
seeing things for the truecolors, but also it comes to a
point who can we talk to youwithout them thinking we're nuts
or crazy Like what is youroutsource there?
So yeah, I can definitely seehow being a life coach like you
(40:27):
are and helping women out thereis so beneficial.
Speaker 2 (40:31):
Yeah, and part of the illumination toolkit is that I
asked them to book aillumination session and it's a
session where we can personalizethis toolkit, because everybody
can perceive things differently, so I want to make sure that
they're getting the best benefitout of the toolkit.
You know, and that's again likewhen you're talking about the
(40:53):
negative, like self talk that wehave.
I work through that.
Some of that's in the in myprogram as well, because
overthinking comes from not evenjust you know the worrying
about you know the what ifs orthe should ofs, but we can also
overthink our own negativeself-talk, you know, and that
(41:16):
self-doubt and when we don'thave compassion for ourselves,
and so I work through that too.
That's part of the self-care isthere's a section on self-love
and you know changing themessages that we say to
ourselves as well.
Speaker 1 (41:35):
Exactly.
Yeah, that's really good thatyou put that out there and stuff
.
So I guess you stay prettybooked, don't?
You don't?
Speaker 2 (41:46):
you, yes, I am, you know, and I love what I do.
I love being able to help womenbecause, you know, like I, you
know, in my younger years I wasburnt out and overwhelmed and
luckily I had some of the skillswhen my husband passed, because
if I didn't, I don't know if Iwould have weathered that storm
(42:09):
as well as I did.
You know, I was able to havethe resilience and be able to
get through it a little bit, youknow, easier than other women
that I have seen that didn'thave some of the skills you know
.
And six months into this griefprocess that I had, or this
(42:31):
journey, you know, my daughter,one daughter said Mom, you know,
thank you, thank you for, youknow, managing this the way you
did, because I don't know if Iwould have been able to do what
I needed to do if you didn'tmanage so well, like because I
went back to work.
(42:51):
You know, I was back to work, Iworked in a school, so he passed
away right around Thanksgiving.
So we had Thanksgiving,naturally, a break at school,
then we were only back foranother couple of weeks, and
then the new year, and then theholiday break, and then the new
year, and then the holiday breakUm, so I didn't miss a lot of
(43:12):
work, but I was back to work,probably within technically I
guess it would have been sixweeks after his passing.
Um, maybe, no, yeah, maybe likesix weeks.
And and then, on top of goingback to work, I was back to
being the supervisor, and then Iwas going to my exercise class
a couple of days a week and youknow, doing all the things that
(43:35):
we always did.
You know, like, and she's like,thank you, because if you
didn't, if you wouldn't havehandled this as well, then I
don't know if I would have beenable to get through my senior
year of high school.
You know so Well.
Speaker 1 (43:52):
That is amazing to hear because you know, taking
that strength and being strongfor the kiddos, it is so great,
I'm so happy.
Like that is just the strengthoverpours and it teaches our
kids to be like you.
If that ever happened or theywill see like it could be even
(44:16):
another problem that they'refacing later in life.
So there's always going to bechallenges, there's always going
to be something, and you know,yeah.
Speaker 2 (44:25):
Right, and that's the other thing that I tell you
know, when I work with women, Isaid you're not just doing this
for you, but if you still havechildren that are in your home,
you're doing it for them becauseyou are teaching them how to be
resilient and how to managelife storms, because there are
so much noise out there, youknow, in regards to negative
ways to manage you know life, tonegative ways to manage you
(44:49):
know life.
And when you teach themresilience, then you're teaching
them that they're you know youcan get through it.
Speaker 1 (44:57):
It may be hard, but you can come on the other side,
yeah yeah, definitely, and Ithink it's, you know,
interesting to me becausesomething I noticed like Netflix
, they have some of the bestshows out, right.
You know, I've been I can't saywhich one, but I've been
watching one of them and it hitme because in the show he didn't
(45:20):
know how to take care ofproblems and so they introduced
him to drugs and alcohol andmarijuana, I guess, and I was,
like, you know, for kidswatching the same show.
That is not the answer, youknow.
I think the most interestingthing would be a podcast or like
(45:41):
somebody you know they're goingto teach not to do this stuff
and they are absolutely right.
And if they do go on that route,that's only a temporary fix.
It doesn't fix your soul.
I mean, yeah, it'll make yousleep and go, but no, it's not
helping you or your soul and youhave to fight that battle on
(46:03):
your own.
So, but definitely so, tell mesomething future plans for you
and your company for, of course,this year 25, going into 26.
What are those for you?
Speaker 2 (46:18):
Yeah, so the goal is to continue to help as many
women as I can.
And then, you know, I'd like tosee myself doing some retreats
and inviting you know doing whatI teach, but, you know, I know,
maybe a three day retreats withalso doing introducing, you
(46:40):
know, some self-care in regardsto, you know, yoga or hiking,
and then so that's what I wouldlike to see myself doing more of
in 2026 is retreats orworkshops, uh, and traveling,
you know, a little bit more withthe company outside of just
doing zoom calls and doing somemore in-person things as well in
(47:03):
person.
Speaker 1 (47:04):
Yeah, yeah, I, I've set some goals.
I'm like I mentioned before westarted airing.
I started my book, but I see mybook being a guest speaking
event too.
So I'm just like, okay, well,I'm going to get ready for that
because I know I could becoaching people who've gone
(47:25):
through the same thing too of tobuild that oh, what is the word
they got to build theirconfidence in themselves, and
sometimes we get lost in to howto do that.
So, but yeah, it's just.
I think the whole group of womenthing in the retreat would be
fun.
So I definitely want to knowwhen you have that and we're
(47:47):
going to put it on the new VIPmembership page and if you guys
have not signed up yet, you wantto do that.
It's on Facebook, so it's KeepHope Alive VIP group page for
members and you're going to getto see what all our speakers
have to offer.
And when you're doing a retreat, I'm going to be saying to you
(48:11):
make sure you put it up there sothey can see and sign up and
everything.
So but yeah, if somebody wantedto reach out to you, how would
they go about that?
Are you on different socialmedia links?
Speaker 2 (48:24):
Yes, I'm on Facebook and I'm on LinkedIn and I have
um.
The YouTube channel is.
The handle is Stacey Johnsoncoaching, but the name of the
(48:53):
YouTube channel is surviving ashock.
Speaker 1 (48:57):
Oh, surviving shock.
Okay, that's.
Yeah, that's a good one.
That's a good name tooSurviving shock and I'm going to
post that up on the Facebookpage too, so we can look at that
.
Okay, I write like a doctor.
I can never read my writinglater on.
I'm like what did I write?
It looks like chicken scratches.
(49:19):
But yeah, definitely.
So I just wanted to quickly saythank you so much for coming
and sharing your story.
Now I always ask did we covereverything you did?
Speaker 2 (49:33):
good you did, thank you good, I'm glad.
Speaker 1 (49:36):
I mean this has been wonderful, um eye-opening too,
to have you on the show.
And you know, guys, whereveryou guys find your podcast,
you'll be able to find Keep HopeAlive podcast on this show.
If you do have any questionsfor us, you can go to
wwwkeephopelivepodcastcom and tothe upper right there is a tab
(49:59):
it says leave a message.
So you can leave a message forus, ask any questions.
I'll make sure she'll get themand then we'll get those
answered for you in a shortlittle video together.
So definitely, and justremember, if you would ever like
to be a guest speaker on KeepHope Well Alive, there is a
(50:19):
guest intake form that you canfill out and we just love having
you watch the show there isgoing to be, for I'm getting
booked up like crazy for thisyear 2025.
So we have great shows comingfor you different topics, wide
range and everything, and I justwant to say thank you to you
(50:42):
and thank you to the listenersfor listening to Keep Hope Alive
and until next time.
We will see you later.
Love and light.
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