August 11, 2025 • 27 mins
Professional helpers pour their energy outward daily, leaving many depleted, disconnected, and at risk for burnout. But what if the key to sustainable practice lies in tapping into your deepest wisdom?
Your higher self—that wisest, most authentic, compassionate part of you—serves as an essential internal compass in our challenging field. This isn't about mysticism; it's about practical resilience and effectiveness. When your crown chakra is balanced, you access enhanced intuition, sustainable compassion, clearer ethical decision-making, authentic professional presence, and remarkable resilience in the face of setbacks.
The barriers blocking this vital connection are substantial. Constant outward focus, emotional overload from absorbing others' pain, professional burnout, societal expectations, and that relentless inner critic all disconnect us from our wisest selves. Yet reconnection doesn't require expensive retreats or complicated protocols—it needs only intentional commitment to accessible practices.
From five-minute daily mindfulness meditations to nature immersion, reflective journaling, somatic awareness, purpose reconnection, and radical self-compassion, these free strategies create transformative shifts in your professional approach. What emerges isn't just burnout prevention but an elevated quality of both care and life as you become your own inner North Star.
The greatest gift you can offer those you help is your most authentic, well-resourced self. This episode provides both the rationale and practical roadmap to strengthen your higher self connection, including a guided "Inner North Star Compass" activity designed for immediate implementation. Your wisest self is waiting—and your clients, colleagues, and loved ones will benefit when you answer that call.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hey y'all, I'm Dr Julie Merriman and welcome to
SoulJoy.
Today we're embarking on ajourney inward, exploring a
concept that might soundesoteric but holds profound
practical implications forhelping professionals connecting
to your higher self, aka yourcrown chakra, because y'all this
(00:25):
is a very necessary componentof holistic, sustainable
self-care.
All right, hello, hello, hello.
Thank you so much for droppingby and hanging out with me for
just a hot minute.
Oh, let's see Home talk.
I want to start with home talk.
(00:46):
Y'all it's, it's.
I mean, as we are, you justnever think you're going to get
there.
I know I've said this severaltimes on podcasts recently, but
man, this retirement stuff.
I looked into my I'm fullyvested in teacher retirement
system here in Texas and Ilooked into that today and, yeah
, that's going to be happeningnow, but I'm not going to leave
(01:08):
my job.
I have an Iowa as a professorbecause I love doing that.
But anyway, all that's to say,kelly and I've really been
talking about my new book thatI'm working on and it's called
Are we Going to have Sex or what, 35 years later and still going
strong, because that well, youhave to read the book to find
(01:29):
out just exactly what thatsaying means.
But it's gotten me writing thebook, has really gotten me to
think about the couples I'veworked with over the years
who've struggled in an unhappybedroom, and I think it's just
as important to have soul joy inyour bedroom as it is anywhere
else.
So I'm thinking about firing upa second podcast really
(01:50):
focusing on helping couples inthe bedroom.
So, anyway, that's what'shappening here at the Merriman
House.
We're talking about stuff likethat.
So, okay, on to our podcastProfessional Helpers.
This podcast is dedicated topreventing and overcoming the
occupational hazards of thiscareer that we've chosen, and,
(02:12):
specifically, we're working onovercoming and preventing
burnout, compassion, fatigue andvicarious trauma.
So, y'all, as helpers, ourenergy and attention are
constantly directed outwards.
Right, we're attuned to theneeds of our clients, the
dynamics of our teams, thepressure of our systems.
(02:35):
This outward focus, whileessential for our roles, can
sometimes lead to a subtle yetsignificant disconnection from
ourselves, you know, from ourown inner wisdom, our core
values and that deepest sense ofpurpose that first drew us to
(02:58):
this work.
When this happens, we mightfind ourselves operating on
autopilot, feeling depleted oreven grappling with persistent
self-doubt.
So what do we mean by higherself in this context?
It's not necessarily a mysticalor religious entity, though
(03:21):
those who resonate withspiritual traditions, you know
y'all, it certainly can be,especially when we're looking at
balancing that crown chakra.
Certainly there's spiritualityin that, and I think it's
essentially important we explorethat for ourselves as we help
our clients explore that,because that gives us our soul,
(03:43):
and how can we be doing this ifour soul isn't balanced For our
purposes?
Today, though, I want you tothink of your higher self as
your wisest, most authentic,compassionate and resourceful
self Y'all.
It's the part of you that knowswhat's right, even when
(04:04):
external pressures are intenseor your inner critic is loud.
It's that wellspring of yourinnate wisdom, that gut wisdom,
your clearest intuition, yourunwavering integrity and your
true professional purpose.
Connecting to it allows you tolead from a place of deep
(04:28):
alignment rather than justreacting to external demands,
which is exhausting.
This wellspring is a richnessthat's going to help you stay
grounded and know just.
There's this wisdom that youknow you're operating out of a
place that's going to help yourclients, that's going to serve
(04:49):
your husband, that's going to begood to your children, wherever
you might be serving.
Today, we'll explore whycultivating this connection is
especially vital for usprofessional helpers.
Connection is especially vitalfor us professional helpers,
(05:09):
what often pulls us away from it, and practical strategies to
tune into your inner North Starfor greater clarity, resilience
and impact.
So why is this connection socritical for us as professional
helpers?
Is this connection so criticalfor us as professional helpers?
Well, I've got several thingsI've come up with through my
research, so I'm going to startwith the first.
(05:31):
Number one it helps withenhanced intuition and clarity
when you're connected to yourhigher self.
Your professional intuitionisn't just a gut feeling
although that gut feeling isimportant, I'm not going to
negate that but it's even morethan that.
It's an informed, integratedwisdom that arises from deep
(05:54):
listening.
We're hearing ourselves, we'redeeply attuned, decisions become
clearer and you can cut throughthat external noise or
emotional reactivity to find themost aligned path forward,
Sustainable well.
(06:15):
And number two would besustainable compassion and
burnout prevention, which iseminently important in our work.
Our well of compassion, y'allit can run dry and if we're
constantly giving from ourfinite personal resources, we're
in trouble.
So see, connecting to yourhigher self allows you to tap
(06:38):
into a deeper, more infinitesource of empathy and wisdom,
and this helps to prevent thecompassion fatigue and it helps
to foster a sustainable approachto caring, because that is what
we do.
Third, it helps with ethicaldecision-making and integrity
(07:00):
around that.
In our complex work, ethicaldilemmas are common.
They're daily, if not hourly.
Your higher self is yourinternal compass of integrity
and this guides you towardschoices that align with your
deepest values and professionalethics, even when or if the path
(07:26):
is difficult or unpopular.
And we could have a wholepodcast on making unpopular
decisions, but we have to do itdaily.
That's what we do.
Four authentic professionalpresence.
When you operate from a placeof genuine inner connection,
(07:47):
your presence becomes moregrounded.
Y'all you're centered, you'reauthentic.
Clients and colleagues feelthat genuine presence and this
helps to foster deeper trust andmore effective collaboration.
And number five we are able tohave resilience in the face of
(08:15):
challenge when our crown chakrais balanced and we are operating
from our higher self.
The helping professions areinherently challenging.
Helping professions areinherently challenging.
Connecting to your higher selfbuilds an inner sanctuary y'all
of strength and perspective.
This helps you navigatesetbacks, it helps you to absorb
(08:36):
difficult emotions and it helpsyou rebound from professional
disappointments without losingyour core sense of purpose.
And those disappointments aregoing to happen and we just best
be prepared for them and have abalanced crown chakra.
That's going to help us stayattuned to that sense of purpose
(08:57):
, not get disgruntled andresentful or just I don't know
disappointed, where you lose thelove of what you're doing.
So if the benefits of thisbalanced crown chakra and
attunement to higher self are soclear, why do we so often find
(09:19):
ourselves disconnected?
Why and I know it can't be justme why do we do this to
ourselves?
Well, again, as I researchedgetting ready for the podcast, I
found some bullet points I wantto share and also, just from
personal experience, 30 years inthe field helped me.
(09:41):
It's kind of my meter if I feltthis was true or not.
So here's what I came up with.
I'd love your feedback if youwere going yep, I think that's
true or nope, jules is nothitting it today.
Up with.
I'd love your feedback if youwere going yep, I think that's
true or nope, jules is nothitting it today, okay.
So first bullet point constantoutward focus.
Okay, so we're looking at howwe become so disconnected from
(10:03):
our higher self, how our crownchakra becomes so unbalanced.
So, first, there's a constantoutward focus.
Right, our training and rolesoften demand we prioritize
others' needs, making it easy toforget to check in with
ourselves.
Next, emotional overload.
(10:24):
Y'all, we're absorbing the painand complexity of others daily,
moment, I mean hourly right,and this can leave us feeling
heavy and this can obscure ourinner light.
Then there's burnout anddepletion.
Yeah, when we're exhausted, ourdefault mode becomes survival
(10:48):
mode and making deep connectionsfeels like an impossible luxury
.
Our bandwidth is full and thethought of going deep it just
feels perhaps overwhelming attimes, perhaps like who has the
time to do that?
I wish that is a definite signof your crown chakra not being
(11:13):
balanced.
Next there's societal andprofessional expectations.
Pressure to conform, perform orfit into a specific mold can
silence our inner authenticvoice, inner authentic voice.
(11:38):
And then that inner critic andego noise, our fear-based mind
with its endless doubts andjudgments can easily drown out
the calm, wise voice of ourhigher self.
You know the board rules.
Was that an ethic violation?
Oh, what should I do about thatdual relationship?
Oh, was that?
Did I accidentally let someonesee my computer screen where
(12:00):
notes were up?
I mean, it's just, it'sconstant all day long.
Inner critic, ego noise, okay,but the good news is that
connecting to your higher selfisn't a mystical journey
reserved for just a select few.
It's an accessible practicethat involves intentional
self-awareness and consistentcommitment.
(12:23):
So I've come up with a fewstrategies for you and then I
will wrap up the podcast with anactivity for you, but here are
some practical strategies thatyou can integrate into your life
this moment as you're listeningto this podcast.
So okay, first, you want tocultivate stillness through
(12:46):
mindfulness.
So there's a practice, right?
You dedicate five minutes a dayto quiet meditation where you
focus on your breathing oryou're just simply sitting in
silence.
It isn't about emptying yourmind, it's about observing your
thoughts without judgment,creating mental white space.
(13:07):
Why?
Well, the benefit is that itquiets the chatter of the ego
and inner critic and it allowsthe gentle wisdom of your higher
self to be heard and itsharpens your cognitive clarity.
And y'all know you're in thisprofession.
There's all kinds of researchthat backs up the benefits of
(13:29):
this.
Why don't we do it forourselves more?
Second, you want to connect withnature, and I've got several
podcasts on that, even goingoutside and getting grounded.
You know, going barefoot andrubbing in the grass, but the
practice would be to spendintentional time outdoors Y'all,
even if it's just a few minutesin the park observing a tree.
(13:53):
I love to lay on the ground andlook up through an oak tree or
whatever kind of tree you haveavailable, and watch the wind
blow the leaves and just getlost in that.
It's just beautiful and it's sogrounding.
Getting outside, observing,feeling the sun on your skin is
(14:15):
absolutely essential in our work.
Here's the benefit Nature has aprofound grounding effect, as I
mentioned a moment ago, helpingto shift perspective and
connect you to something largerthan your immediate stressor.
It fosters a sense of awe andspaciousness.
(14:37):
Third, you want to engage inreflective journaling.
That seems to be a theme for me.
The practice would look likeusing a journal as a dialogue
with your inner wisdom and youask yourself questions like what
would my wisest self advise meto do in this situation?
What message does my heart havefor me today?
(14:58):
You free write without any kindof censoring, and here's the
benefit.
This allows you to accessdeeper insights and process
emotions, which uncoversintuitive guidance that might
otherwise remain hidden.
(15:19):
Have anything I mentioned sofar cost you a penny?
No, these are free.
You can start it right thismoment.
Number four embrace somaticpractices and mindful movement.
So the practice would look likeperhaps engage in activities
that connect to your body Gentle, stretching, mindful walking,
(15:42):
yoga, conscious dancing.
I love a full body scan.
You focus on the sensations ofyour body and your breath and
the benefit your body holds.
Wisdom, releasing storedtension and grounding yourself
physically can open channels forintuitive knowing and emotional
(16:06):
release, and y'all this createsclarity.
How cool is that?
And y'all this creates clarity.
How cool is that?
Fifth, regularly revisit yourvalues and purpose.
This has been a big one for melately.
I don't know if it's becauseI've hit my 60s and the purpose
is just different and I'm tryingto replug into it and find it.
(16:29):
I mean, I know I'm not the only60-year who's in another, maybe
crisis that we hit, I don'tknow, when you hit 30, maybe it
happens every 30 years, I don'tknow.
But you want to revisit yourvalues and your purpose and the
practice would look likeperiodically reviewing why you
chose the profession you chose,what values truly drive you and
(16:55):
what kind of helper you aspireto be.
Here's the benefit you arerealigned with your deepest
motivations and this helps youdistinguish fleeting desires or
external pressures, perhaps fromyour core purpose.
This helps you be guided byyour higher self, which that's a
(17:19):
great place to lead.
And then, number six practical,radical self-compassion.
So here's what the practicelooks like.
Make a mistake, because we'regoing to.
When you feel overwhelmed, whenyou doubt yourself, you
(17:42):
consciously offer yourself thesame kindness, understanding and
patience you would offer astruggling client the benefit
this creates a really safeinternal environment where your
higher self feels safe to emergewithout fear of judgment.
It builds a foundation ofunconditional acceptance within
(18:09):
yourself and that's a greatplace to lead from.
All six of those things areabsolutely free to do.
You have nothing but timeinvested and you're the one that
benefits from this.
So I highly, highly, highlyinvite you to adopt one of those
concepts, one of thosepractices, as you're trying to
(18:35):
balance that crown chakra andconnect to your higher self.
Because connecting to yourhigher self y'all it's an
ongoing practice.
It is not a one and done kindof thing.
It's about consistently showingup for yourself, turning inward
, listening and trusting thewisdom that resides within you.
This isn't about adding anothertask to your plate, but it's
(19:00):
about fundamentally transforminghow you experience your
demanding role.
When you show up from thisplace of deep connection, y'all
you're bringing a level ofgrounded presence, authentic
compassion and really clearinsight that not only prevents
burnout, but y'all.
(19:21):
It's going to elevate yourquality of life.
You become your own inner NorthStar.
How cool is that?
You guide yourself and, byextension, those you're helping,
and, by extension, those you'rehelping towards greater
well-being and genuine impactare impacted as well, just
(19:43):
because you've taken the time todo the work on you so that you
are truly connected and attunedwith your higher self.
It's good stuff.
None of that costs you a penny,okay?
So before we move to theactivity, I'm going to invite
you to please subscribe to myemail list.
I put you know when I wascreating one of my PDFs earlier
(20:06):
today.
I thought, man, I put a lot ofwork into creating these.
I wonder if anyone is lookingat them.
I really invite you to hop overto my website, sign up on my
email list so I can get you thisweekly email where I send you
the podcast and these bonus PDFsof these activities that I
create for you.
While you're there, check outsome other things I have on the
(20:29):
website.
If you think you might be readyfor coaching or counseling, hit
me up.
Hop on my appointment book andI also have Souljoy, my book,
for sale there and be on thelookout for my new book that,
and I also have Soul Joy, mybook, for sale there, and be on
the lookout for my new book thatwill be coming out before too
long.
Okay, there's the Midwaycommercial.
Now on to our activity, and itis I've named it my inner North
(20:50):
Star Compass a journey to yourhigher self and y'all.
I designed this activity tohelp you actively engage with
the concepts from this episodeThrough guided reflection and
brief experiential practice.
You're going to explore whatyour higher self means to you
(21:10):
and how to strengthen yourconnection, because we need to
strengthen that connection forenhanced professional well-being
and impact, and that's going tobleed into your private life as
well.
Okay, so we're going to startwith step one, and I would
invite you to re-listen to thisepisode.
(21:32):
So step one is to re-listen andreflect on disconnection, so
finding a quiet anduninterrupted space.
You re-listen to this podcastepisode and as you listen, you
pay attention to the moments ortypes of situations when you
(21:52):
feel the most disconnected fromyour inner wisdom or sense of
purpose, from your inner wisdomor sense of purpose, and then
you briefly describe one to twoprofessional situations or
patterns perhaps where you feelwhere you typically feel these
ways misaligned or out of syncwith your values, overwhelmed,
(22:13):
reactive or experiencingdecision fatigue, or
disconnected from your why oryour deepest sense of compassion
.
So, as you're relisting, you'retrying to find those pieces
within yourself.
And in step two, this isdefining your higher self.
So, based on the podcastdiscussion, your wisest, most
(22:38):
authentic, compassionate,resourceful self and your own
understanding, you jot down whatconnecting to your higher self
means to you.
No, two people are going tohave it exactly the same, so
this might be.
You answer these questions whatquality does this part of you
(23:01):
embody?
Would your connection embodycalmness, clarity,
insightfulness, being courageous, deeply compassionate?
You tell me love to hear whatyours is.
Then you answer what does itfeel like when I'm connected?
Are you grounded?
(23:21):
Do you feel very expansive?
Do you feel peaceful, energetic?
And then you ask yourself whatmight my higher self sound like
if it offered me advice on oneof the situations that I
described in step one?
What kind of advice would yougive yourself?
(23:43):
And once you've taken the timeto write that down and think
through that, you go on to stepthree, which is experiential
practice and observation.
So you review the strategiesfor connecting, as I discussed
in this podcast, which ismindfulness, nature, connection
journaling, somatic practices,reviewing values and purpose,
(24:07):
intentional solitude andpracticing self-compassion Then
you choose one of thosestrategies that really resonates
with you the most and youdedicate 10, 15 minutes to
actively practice this activity.
So, mindfulness you find acomfortable seated position, set
(24:31):
a timer for 10 minutes andfocus on breathing, observing
your thoughts and sensations,again without judgment.
Or, if you're doing a natureconnection, just step outside
for 10 minutes or so and justmindfully observe what's around
you, focus on the sounds and thesights and the smells and the
textures.
Or, if you choose journaling,you use one of the wisdom
(24:55):
questions from the podcast orsimply free, write about what
clarity or wisdom you seek in acurrent situation.
And if you're going to dosomatic practice the movement
you do a few moments of gentlestretching, mindful walking,
(25:16):
maybe some yoga, focusing onyour body's sensations.
Or if you chooseself-compassion, you bring to
mind a recent moment ofperceived failure or difficulty.
You place your hand on yourheart.
You offer words of kindness andunderstanding.
Offer words of kindness andunderstanding just as you would
(25:41):
a dear friend.
After your practice, I want youto note your observations and
it's really more powerful ifyou'll take the time to write it
down.
What did you experience duringthe practice?
Did you notice any shifts inyour mental or emotional state?
(26:02):
Did any insights, ideas orfeelings of clarity emerge
regarding a professionalchallenge?
So just things to note.
And then step four, and I knowstep four it's a pretty common
step that I have, but I thinkit's very important because I
believe an idea just stays anidea unless we put it into an
action plan and bring it to life.
So step four is my inner NorthStar action plan and this,
(26:25):
simply, you just choose one ofthe connection strategies from
step three or maybe another oneyou feel drawn to, but it's one
that you're willing to commit tointegrating into your regular
routine, and you create aregular, a realistic action plan
for the next seven days.
(26:45):
So it's going to be specificaction.
You're going to monitor thefrequency, like I'm going to
breathe mindful three times thisweek before I check emails in
the morning or maybe during mylunch break.
You know the where and when andthen you identify one potential
barrier that might prevent youfrom sticking to this commitment
(27:08):
and one strategy to overcome it.
Okay, that's all for thisepisode of Soul Joy.
Thank you for embarking on thisvery vital journey inward.
Remember the greatest gift youcan give to others is your most
(27:29):
authentic and well-resourcedself.
Subscribe wherever you listento podcasts, leave a review and,
until next time, take care ofyou.
Hey y'all, I'm Dr Julie Merriman and welcome to
SoulJoy.
Today we're embarking on ajourney inward, exploring a
concept that might soundesoteric but holds profound
practical implications forhelping professionals connecting
to your higher self, aka yourcrown chakra, because y'all this
(00:25):
is a very necessary componentof holistic, sustainable
self-care.
All right, hello, hello, hello.
Thank you so much for droppingby and hanging out with me for
just a hot minute.
Oh, let's see Home talk.
I want to start with home talk.
(00:46):
Y'all it's, it's.
I mean, as we are, you justnever think you're going to get
there.
I know I've said this severaltimes on podcasts recently, but
man, this retirement stuff.
I looked into my I'm fullyvested in teacher retirement
system here in Texas and Ilooked into that today and, yeah
, that's going to be happeningnow, but I'm not going to leave
(01:08):
my job.
I have an Iowa as a professorbecause I love doing that.
But anyway, all that's to say,kelly and I've really been
talking about my new book thatI'm working on and it's called
Are we Going to have Sex or what, 35 years later and still going
strong, because that well, youhave to read the book to find
(01:29):
out just exactly what thatsaying means.
But it's gotten me writing thebook, has really gotten me to
think about the couples I'veworked with over the years
who've struggled in an unhappybedroom, and I think it's just
as important to have soul joy inyour bedroom as it is anywhere
else.
So I'm thinking about firing upa second podcast really
(01:50):
focusing on helping couples inthe bedroom.
So, anyway, that's what'shappening here at the Merriman
House.
We're talking about stuff likethat.
So, okay, on to our podcastProfessional Helpers.
This podcast is dedicated topreventing and overcoming the
occupational hazards of thiscareer that we've chosen, and,
(02:12):
specifically, we're working onovercoming and preventing
burnout, compassion, fatigue andvicarious trauma.
So, y'all, as helpers, ourenergy and attention are
constantly directed outwards.
Right, we're attuned to theneeds of our clients, the
dynamics of our teams, thepressure of our systems.
(02:35):
This outward focus, whileessential for our roles, can
sometimes lead to a subtle yetsignificant disconnection from
ourselves, you know, from ourown inner wisdom, our core
values and that deepest sense ofpurpose that first drew us to
(02:58):
this work.
When this happens, we mightfind ourselves operating on
autopilot, feeling depleted oreven grappling with persistent
self-doubt.
So what do we mean by higherself in this context?
It's not necessarily a mysticalor religious entity, though
(03:21):
those who resonate withspiritual traditions, you know
y'all, it certainly can be,especially when we're looking at
balancing that crown chakra.
Certainly there's spiritualityin that, and I think it's
essentially important we explorethat for ourselves as we help
our clients explore that,because that gives us our soul,
(03:43):
and how can we be doing this ifour soul isn't balanced For our
purposes?
Today, though, I want you tothink of your higher self as
your wisest, most authentic,compassionate and resourceful
self Y'all.
It's the part of you that knowswhat's right, even when
(04:04):
external pressures are intenseor your inner critic is loud.
It's that wellspring of yourinnate wisdom, that gut wisdom,
your clearest intuition, yourunwavering integrity and your
true professional purpose.
Connecting to it allows you tolead from a place of deep
(04:28):
alignment rather than justreacting to external demands,
which is exhausting.
This wellspring is a richnessthat's going to help you stay
grounded and know just.
There's this wisdom that youknow you're operating out of a
place that's going to help yourclients, that's going to serve
(04:49):
your husband, that's going to begood to your children, wherever
you might be serving.
Today, we'll explore whycultivating this connection is
especially vital for usprofessional helpers.
Connection is especially vitalfor us professional helpers,
(05:09):
what often pulls us away from it, and practical strategies to
tune into your inner North Starfor greater clarity, resilience
and impact.
So why is this connection socritical for us as professional
helpers?
Is this connection so criticalfor us as professional helpers?
Well, I've got several thingsI've come up with through my
research, so I'm going to startwith the first.
(05:31):
Number one it helps withenhanced intuition and clarity
when you're connected to yourhigher self.
Your professional intuitionisn't just a gut feeling
although that gut feeling isimportant, I'm not going to
negate that but it's even morethan that.
It's an informed, integratedwisdom that arises from deep
(05:54):
listening.
We're hearing ourselves, we'redeeply attuned, decisions become
clearer and you can cut throughthat external noise or
emotional reactivity to find themost aligned path forward,
Sustainable well.
(06:15):
And number two would besustainable compassion and
burnout prevention, which iseminently important in our work.
Our well of compassion, y'allit can run dry and if we're
constantly giving from ourfinite personal resources, we're
in trouble.
So see, connecting to yourhigher self allows you to tap
(06:38):
into a deeper, more infinitesource of empathy and wisdom,
and this helps to prevent thecompassion fatigue and it helps
to foster a sustainable approachto caring, because that is what
we do.
Third, it helps with ethicaldecision-making and integrity
(07:00):
around that.
In our complex work, ethicaldilemmas are common.
They're daily, if not hourly.
Your higher self is yourinternal compass of integrity
and this guides you towardschoices that align with your
deepest values and professionalethics, even when or if the path
(07:26):
is difficult or unpopular.
And we could have a wholepodcast on making unpopular
decisions, but we have to do itdaily.
That's what we do.
Four authentic professionalpresence.
When you operate from a placeof genuine inner connection,
(07:47):
your presence becomes moregrounded.
Y'all you're centered, you'reauthentic.
Clients and colleagues feelthat genuine presence and this
helps to foster deeper trust andmore effective collaboration.
And number five we are able tohave resilience in the face of
(08:15):
challenge when our crown chakrais balanced and we are operating
from our higher self.
The helping professions areinherently challenging.
Helping professions areinherently challenging.
Connecting to your higher selfbuilds an inner sanctuary y'all
of strength and perspective.
This helps you navigatesetbacks, it helps you to absorb
(08:36):
difficult emotions and it helpsyou rebound from professional
disappointments without losingyour core sense of purpose.
And those disappointments aregoing to happen and we just best
be prepared for them and have abalanced crown chakra.
That's going to help us stayattuned to that sense of purpose
(08:57):
, not get disgruntled andresentful or just I don't know
disappointed, where you lose thelove of what you're doing.
So if the benefits of thisbalanced crown chakra and
attunement to higher self are soclear, why do we so often find
(09:19):
ourselves disconnected?
Why and I know it can't be justme why do we do this to
ourselves?
Well, again, as I researchedgetting ready for the podcast, I
found some bullet points I wantto share and also, just from
personal experience, 30 years inthe field helped me.
(09:41):
It's kind of my meter if I feltthis was true or not.
So here's what I came up with.
I'd love your feedback if youwere going yep, I think that's
true or nope, jules is nothitting it today.
Up with.
I'd love your feedback if youwere going yep, I think that's
true or nope, jules is nothitting it today, okay.
So first bullet point constantoutward focus.
Okay, so we're looking at howwe become so disconnected from
(10:03):
our higher self, how our crownchakra becomes so unbalanced.
So, first, there's a constantoutward focus.
Right, our training and rolesoften demand we prioritize
others' needs, making it easy toforget to check in with
ourselves.
Next, emotional overload.
(10:24):
Y'all, we're absorbing the painand complexity of others daily,
moment, I mean hourly right,and this can leave us feeling
heavy and this can obscure ourinner light.
Then there's burnout anddepletion.
Yeah, when we're exhausted, ourdefault mode becomes survival
(10:48):
mode and making deep connectionsfeels like an impossible luxury
.
Our bandwidth is full and thethought of going deep it just
feels perhaps overwhelming attimes, perhaps like who has the
time to do that?
I wish that is a definite signof your crown chakra not being
(11:13):
balanced.
Next there's societal andprofessional expectations.
Pressure to conform, perform orfit into a specific mold can
silence our inner authenticvoice, inner authentic voice.
(11:38):
And then that inner critic andego noise, our fear-based mind
with its endless doubts andjudgments can easily drown out
the calm, wise voice of ourhigher self.
You know the board rules.
Was that an ethic violation?
Oh, what should I do about thatdual relationship?
Oh, was that?
Did I accidentally let someonesee my computer screen where
(12:00):
notes were up?
I mean, it's just, it'sconstant all day long.
Inner critic, ego noise, okay,but the good news is that
connecting to your higher selfisn't a mystical journey
reserved for just a select few.
It's an accessible practicethat involves intentional
self-awareness and consistentcommitment.
(12:23):
So I've come up with a fewstrategies for you and then I
will wrap up the podcast with anactivity for you, but here are
some practical strategies thatyou can integrate into your life
this moment as you're listeningto this podcast.
So okay, first, you want tocultivate stillness through
(12:46):
mindfulness.
So there's a practice, right?
You dedicate five minutes a dayto quiet meditation where you
focus on your breathing oryou're just simply sitting in
silence.
It isn't about emptying yourmind, it's about observing your
thoughts without judgment,creating mental white space.
(13:07):
Why?
Well, the benefit is that itquiets the chatter of the ego
and inner critic and it allowsthe gentle wisdom of your higher
self to be heard and itsharpens your cognitive clarity.
And y'all know you're in thisprofession.
There's all kinds of researchthat backs up the benefits of
(13:29):
this.
Why don't we do it forourselves more?
Second, you want to connect withnature, and I've got several
podcasts on that, even goingoutside and getting grounded.
You know, going barefoot andrubbing in the grass, but the
practice would be to spendintentional time outdoors Y'all,
even if it's just a few minutesin the park observing a tree.
(13:53):
I love to lay on the ground andlook up through an oak tree or
whatever kind of tree you haveavailable, and watch the wind
blow the leaves and just getlost in that.
It's just beautiful and it's sogrounding.
Getting outside, observing,feeling the sun on your skin is
(14:15):
absolutely essential in our work.
Here's the benefit Nature has aprofound grounding effect, as I
mentioned a moment ago, helpingto shift perspective and
connect you to something largerthan your immediate stressor.
It fosters a sense of awe andspaciousness.
(14:37):
Third, you want to engage inreflective journaling.
That seems to be a theme for me.
The practice would look likeusing a journal as a dialogue
with your inner wisdom and youask yourself questions like what
would my wisest self advise meto do in this situation?
What message does my heart havefor me today?
(14:58):
You free write without any kindof censoring, and here's the
benefit.
This allows you to accessdeeper insights and process
emotions, which uncoversintuitive guidance that might
otherwise remain hidden.
(15:19):
Have anything I mentioned sofar cost you a penny?
No, these are free.
You can start it right thismoment.
Number four embrace somaticpractices and mindful movement.
So the practice would look likeperhaps engage in activities
that connect to your body Gentle, stretching, mindful walking,
(15:42):
yoga, conscious dancing.
I love a full body scan.
You focus on the sensations ofyour body and your breath and
the benefit your body holds.
Wisdom, releasing storedtension and grounding yourself
physically can open channels forintuitive knowing and emotional
(16:06):
release, and y'all this createsclarity.
How cool is that?
And y'all this creates clarity.
How cool is that?
Fifth, regularly revisit yourvalues and purpose.
This has been a big one for melately.
I don't know if it's becauseI've hit my 60s and the purpose
is just different and I'm tryingto replug into it and find it.
(16:29):
I mean, I know I'm not the only60-year who's in another, maybe
crisis that we hit, I don'tknow, when you hit 30, maybe it
happens every 30 years, I don'tknow.
But you want to revisit yourvalues and your purpose and the
practice would look likeperiodically reviewing why you
chose the profession you chose,what values truly drive you and
(16:55):
what kind of helper you aspireto be.
Here's the benefit you arerealigned with your deepest
motivations and this helps youdistinguish fleeting desires or
external pressures, perhaps fromyour core purpose.
This helps you be guided byyour higher self, which that's a
(17:19):
great place to lead.
And then, number six practical,radical self-compassion.
So here's what the practicelooks like.
Make a mistake, because we'regoing to.
When you feel overwhelmed, whenyou doubt yourself, you
(17:42):
consciously offer yourself thesame kindness, understanding and
patience you would offer astruggling client the benefit
this creates a really safeinternal environment where your
higher self feels safe to emergewithout fear of judgment.
It builds a foundation ofunconditional acceptance within
(18:09):
yourself and that's a greatplace to lead from.
All six of those things areabsolutely free to do.
You have nothing but timeinvested and you're the one that
benefits from this.
So I highly, highly, highlyinvite you to adopt one of those
concepts, one of thosepractices, as you're trying to
(18:35):
balance that crown chakra andconnect to your higher self.
Because connecting to yourhigher self y'all it's an
ongoing practice.
It is not a one and done kindof thing.
It's about consistently showingup for yourself, turning inward
, listening and trusting thewisdom that resides within you.
This isn't about adding anothertask to your plate, but it's
(19:00):
about fundamentally transforminghow you experience your
demanding role.
When you show up from thisplace of deep connection, y'all
you're bringing a level ofgrounded presence, authentic
compassion and really clearinsight that not only prevents
burnout, but y'all.
(19:21):
It's going to elevate yourquality of life.
You become your own inner NorthStar.
How cool is that?
You guide yourself and, byextension, those you're helping,
and, by extension, those you'rehelping towards greater
well-being and genuine impactare impacted as well, just
(19:43):
because you've taken the time todo the work on you so that you
are truly connected and attunedwith your higher self.
It's good stuff.
None of that costs you a penny,okay?
So before we move to theactivity, I'm going to invite
you to please subscribe to myemail list.
I put you know when I wascreating one of my PDFs earlier
(20:06):
today.
I thought, man, I put a lot ofwork into creating these.
I wonder if anyone is lookingat them.
I really invite you to hop overto my website, sign up on my
email list so I can get you thisweekly email where I send you
the podcast and these bonus PDFsof these activities that I
create for you.
While you're there, check outsome other things I have on the
(20:29):
website.
If you think you might be readyfor coaching or counseling, hit
me up.
Hop on my appointment book andI also have Souljoy, my book,
for sale there and be on thelookout for my new book that,
and I also have Soul Joy, mybook, for sale there, and be on
the lookout for my new book thatwill be coming out before too
long.
Okay, there's the Midwaycommercial.
Now on to our activity, and itis I've named it my inner North
(20:50):
Star Compass a journey to yourhigher self and y'all.
I designed this activity tohelp you actively engage with
the concepts from this episodeThrough guided reflection and
brief experiential practice.
You're going to explore whatyour higher self means to you
(21:10):
and how to strengthen yourconnection, because we need to
strengthen that connection forenhanced professional well-being
and impact, and that's going tobleed into your private life as
well.
Okay, so we're going to startwith step one, and I would
invite you to re-listen to thisepisode.
(21:32):
So step one is to re-listen andreflect on disconnection, so
finding a quiet anduninterrupted space.
You re-listen to this podcastepisode and as you listen, you
pay attention to the moments ortypes of situations when you
(21:52):
feel the most disconnected fromyour inner wisdom or sense of
purpose, from your inner wisdomor sense of purpose, and then
you briefly describe one to twoprofessional situations or
patterns perhaps where you feelwhere you typically feel these
ways misaligned or out of syncwith your values, overwhelmed,
(22:13):
reactive or experiencingdecision fatigue, or
disconnected from your why oryour deepest sense of compassion
.
So, as you're relisting, you'retrying to find those pieces
within yourself.
And in step two, this isdefining your higher self.
So, based on the podcastdiscussion, your wisest, most
(22:38):
authentic, compassionate,resourceful self and your own
understanding, you jot down whatconnecting to your higher self
means to you.
No, two people are going tohave it exactly the same, so
this might be.
You answer these questions whatquality does this part of you
(23:01):
embody?
Would your connection embodycalmness, clarity,
insightfulness, being courageous, deeply compassionate?
You tell me love to hear whatyours is.
Then you answer what does itfeel like when I'm connected?
Are you grounded?
(23:21):
Do you feel very expansive?
Do you feel peaceful, energetic?
And then you ask yourself whatmight my higher self sound like
if it offered me advice on oneof the situations that I
described in step one?
What kind of advice would yougive yourself?
(23:43):
And once you've taken the timeto write that down and think
through that, you go on to stepthree, which is experiential
practice and observation.
So you review the strategiesfor connecting, as I discussed
in this podcast, which ismindfulness, nature, connection
journaling, somatic practices,reviewing values and purpose,
(24:07):
intentional solitude andpracticing self-compassion Then
you choose one of thosestrategies that really resonates
with you the most and youdedicate 10, 15 minutes to
actively practice this activity.
So, mindfulness you find acomfortable seated position, set
(24:31):
a timer for 10 minutes andfocus on breathing, observing
your thoughts and sensations,again without judgment.
Or, if you're doing a natureconnection, just step outside
for 10 minutes or so and justmindfully observe what's around
you, focus on the sounds and thesights and the smells and the
textures.
Or, if you choose journaling,you use one of the wisdom
(24:55):
questions from the podcast orsimply free, write about what
clarity or wisdom you seek in acurrent situation.
And if you're going to dosomatic practice the movement
you do a few moments of gentlestretching, mindful walking,
(25:16):
maybe some yoga, focusing onyour body's sensations.
Or if you chooseself-compassion, you bring to
mind a recent moment ofperceived failure or difficulty.
You place your hand on yourheart.
You offer words of kindness andunderstanding.
Offer words of kindness andunderstanding just as you would
(25:41):
a dear friend.
After your practice, I want youto note your observations and
it's really more powerful ifyou'll take the time to write it
down.
What did you experience duringthe practice?
Did you notice any shifts inyour mental or emotional state?
(26:02):
Did any insights, ideas orfeelings of clarity emerge
regarding a professionalchallenge?
So just things to note.
And then step four, and I knowstep four it's a pretty common
step that I have, but I thinkit's very important because I
believe an idea just stays anidea unless we put it into an
action plan and bring it to life.
So step four is my inner NorthStar action plan and this,
(26:25):
simply, you just choose one ofthe connection strategies from
step three or maybe another oneyou feel drawn to, but it's one
that you're willing to commit tointegrating into your regular
routine, and you create aregular, a realistic action plan
for the next seven days.
(26:45):
So it's going to be specificaction.
You're going to monitor thefrequency, like I'm going to
breathe mindful three times thisweek before I check emails in
the morning or maybe during mylunch break.
You know the where and when andthen you identify one potential
barrier that might prevent youfrom sticking to this commitment
(27:08):
and one strategy to overcome it.
Okay, that's all for thisepisode of Soul Joy.
Thank you for embarking on thisvery vital journey inward.
Remember the greatest gift youcan give to others is your most
(27:29):
authentic and well-resourcedself.
Subscribe wherever you listento podcasts, leave a review and,
until next time, take care ofyou.
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