December 1, 2024 • 27 mins
Key Topics Explored:
- Birgit’s journey of discovering her introversion and learning to embrace it
- The layers of introversion and how it manifests differently for each person
- Understanding energy management as an introvert
- The concept of "music mindfulness" and its impact on emotional well-being
- How music has supported Birgit’s personal and professional growth
- Living on the "B side" of life: finding hidden strengths and unexpected treasures
- How music can be used to help with stress relief, productivity, and emotional balance
- The importance of gradually stepping into the spotlight as an introvert
Memorable Quotes:
- "Introversion is all about energy—how quickly we are depleted and how we recharge."
- "Music is like my red line, my best friend. It helps me process my emotions and find balance."
- "Introverts have hidden strengths, like the B side of a record—full of surprises waiting to be discovered."
Guest Bio:
Birgit Livesey is a mindfulness guide and host of the podcast Living on the B Side, where she combines her love of music with her passion for helping introverts find harmony in their lives. Through music mindfulness, Birgit teaches others how to use music intentionally to enhance emotional and mental well-being, manage stress, and boost productivity. She believes that by tuning into the power of music, we can create more balance and joy in our daily lives.
Connect with Birgit Livesey:
- Podcast: Living on the B Side
- Facebook Group: Join the Community
- Ebook: 5 Little Known Music Strategies for Harmony
Call to Action:
If you enjoyed this episode, remember to subscribe, rate, and review The Quiet Warrior Podcast.
Share this episode with friends who might resonate with the idea of using music as a tool for emotional well-being and embracing their introversion.
Stay tuned for more insights about the quiet strengths of introverts HERE.
This episode was edited by Aura House Productions
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
Hi, I'm Serena Loh.
If you're used to hearing thatintroverts are shy, anxious,
antisocial and lack goodcommunication and leadership
skills, then this podcast is foryou.
You're about to fall in lovewith the calm, introspective and
profound person that you are.
Discover what's fun, unique andpowerful about being an
(00:22):
introvert, and how to make theelegant transition from quiet
achiever to quiet warrior inyour life and work anytime you
want, in more ways than youimagined possible Welcome.
Welcome to another episode ofthe Quiet Warrior podcast.
Today I have got BirgitLiversyy.
(00:44):
She's a mindfulness guide andpodcast host at Living on the
B-Side and we met on LinkedIn.
Welcome, birgit.
Speaker 2 (00:53):
Oh, hello Serena.
I'm very excited for today.
Speaker 1 (00:57):
So, birgit, I want to ask first about your story and
background.
How did you especially come toknow that you're an introvert?
When did you discover that?
Speaker 2 (01:07):
Oh, we've got to rewind to my teenage years,
which sort of sets the scene forthe discovery of being an
introvert.
I always kind of knew there wassomething wrong in quotes
obviously with me, because Ididn't quite fit in with the
expectations of society and howpeople treated me and how I
(01:29):
walked through the world.
And that became especiallyclear when my parents divorced
when I was 12.
And that opened up a wholenother can of worms with how I
got treated and it made me pullback even more into myself and
I've always liked being alone,so I didn't have a problem with
(01:51):
that.
But yeah, that's sort of wherethis whole thinking came in,
like what's wrong with me?
Why don't I have that manyfriends?
Why do people treat medifferently?
Why can't I be like others whoare just on the go and have this
energy all the time?
And I just could not figure thatout for a very, very long time,
(02:11):
Probably until let me backtrackhere I think it might be five
or six years now.
So most of my life really, I'vewalked through it not knowing
what's going on.
And about five or six years agoI've heard the term introvert
for the first time and afterdoing a little bit more research
(02:33):
and meeting one particularperson who was having a space
basically for women in businesswho are introverts.
That's when it all clicked forme.
Everything that she was talkingabout, everything that she was
sharing and the other ladieswere sharing, it was like my
mind was blown and I'm like,okay, I'm home, I know now who I
(02:58):
am, why I'm the way I am, andthen discovering how I tick as
well.
So that's kind of, in anutshell, the background of,
yeah, how I came to that pointand then discovering how I find
out I'm an introvert.
Speaker 1 (03:18):
I love your story.
I can resonate with everysingle part of that the idea of
feeling like you are the odd oneout or there's something wrong
with me the way I am.
Speaker 2 (03:29):
And then, when the relief, the sheer relief of
finding your people, finding mytribe, finding people that, oh,
they're just like me, there'snothing wrong with me, there's
other people like me and it'sokay and we're just different,
oh, that was, yeah, it's hard toput into words and, in a way,
(03:51):
after that first aha moment isalso a gradual journey of
peeling back the layers andfinding out more and more about
what type of introvert I am andyou know how others are.
Like.
I mean, that was just so, yeah,incredible and mind-blowing to
see the different layers ofintroverts as well.
So it's you go like in a rabbithole, almost finding out you
(04:16):
know how do I tick and how can Ishow up in the world without
feeling weird and out of placeand exhausted and everything
that comes with being anintrovert, obviously, so, yeah,
when you talk about layers ofintroversion and types of
introversion, could you explaina little bit more for those of
(04:38):
our listeners who may notunderstand that there are
different kinds of introverts?
Yes, I'm still learning a lotabout that to this day.
I mean, you never stop learninganyway.
But the best thing I canprobably describe it is when I
was in the circle of women andwe all were talking about our
struggles and how we perceivethe world and how it exhausts us
(05:03):
.
That's the first thing Inoticed was energy.
The energy and how much we canput out and how much we can take
is so different for for so manyintroverts and I always say
that I'm probably not a veryintense or extreme introvert, I
(05:24):
can probably come across as anextrovert and but I do need my
recharge type for me, the energyis the core thing.
I need to be very, very awareof that.
And I think for others you havedifferent variations of the
whole energy piece.
Where some people they can onlymaybe, as an example, go out
(05:45):
for five minutes and thenthey're exhausted and it's like
no, I can't deal with peopleanymore not that I don't want to
, but it's just exhausting mewhere other people can go for a
whole day and then any two daysoff.
So for me, when I talk aboutintroversion, it's about energy
and how quickly we are depletedof that and how we recharge.
(06:07):
I think that's probably theeasiest way I explain to someone
what introversion is and thedifferent layers of it.
Speaker 1 (06:15):
I think I agree with you.
That's also the definition thatI borrow from Susan Cain,
because I find that most peopleunderstand exactly what that
means, and I think Simon Sinekhas also explained it in another
way when he talked about theintrovert starting off the day
with five coins, and every timeyou have an interaction with
another human you lose one coin,and so by the end of the day
(06:35):
you've used up all your fivecoins and that's why you're
exhausted, whereas the extrovertgains coins as they go the more
people they talk to.
Speaker 2 (06:44):
Yes, that's a very good way of putting it.
Or you can probably think aboutit as a mobile phone battery.
You know, you charge it upovernight and then you go about
your day and the battery drains,and that's probably a similar
way of explaining it too.
Speaker 1 (07:01):
Yes, I like that one too.
That's very powerful, veryrelatable.
Yeah, so on your LinkedInprofile, you call yourself a
music mindfulness guide and youtalk about living on the B side.
Tell me more about this musicmindfulness.
What does that mean?
Speaker 2 (07:18):
This has come after all the work that I did myself,
after all the discovery work andrealising how important and
crucial music is in my own lifeand how it is helping me with,
especially, my emotionalwellbeing.
So I'm really passionate aboutusing music to help with your
(07:41):
emotional wellbeing, obviously,and how to become aware of the
great power music holds in ourdaily life.
A lot of people probably justuse it as background music or
when they go to the gym orthere's certain settings we use
music.
But music mindfulness literally, is that Become more mindful
(08:04):
about the music you're listeningto and how you consume it,
because that can have an impacton you and your emotions and
also your mental well-being, andI'm really passionate about
that.
I think there's so not talkedabout enough.
Um in the greater world.
So yeah, and living on theb-s-side basically it's a play
(08:25):
on music, like the B-side of avinyl showing my age here, and
it also means how I used to live.
I lived on the B-side of lifeand B is like a nickname for
myself, birgit, so I just thinkit fits perfectly for who I am,
what I want to do and hope to,you know, achieve in my life.
Speaker 1 (08:51):
I like that.
I like also that B may consider, may contain the hidden
surprises, because everybodyfocuses on the A side the one.
You know, that's the one wegravitate to, to, that's the one
that maybe could be a charttopper, but sometimes it's the
b-side that contains somethingthat might surprise you and you
might really like it yes, and Ithink for an introvert that's
(09:14):
actually also a very gooddescription, because as
introverts we can be surprisebooks.
Speaker 2 (09:19):
you know there's a lot of hidden things that people
don't see, but they're positiveand exciting and amazing and
you know people should probablypay a bit more attention to that
.
Speaker 1 (09:32):
So, as an introvert living on the B side of life,
how has music helped you tosurvive and thrive?
Speaker 2 (09:41):
Oh, we're going back to when I was 12, because that's
kind of sort of a realmilestone or important part of
my growing up and digging intoall of this.
But ever since I remember musichas just been there.
Thankfully, my mom hasencouraged me a lot over the
years.
She, you know, got me to dolike music classes and I got
(10:02):
into dancing.
I had vocal training, so I dida lot of extra work in music.
But just away from that I'vealways just loved music.
The radio was always on, myhi-fi was always on, I had a
walkman constantly in my ear, soit's always there.
And over time, over time,subconsciously, I started using
(10:23):
that to help me digest what Iwas feeling, the situations I
was going through, and maybeeven helped me make certain
decisions.
I did that subconsciously.
I wasn't aware of myself doingthis until I discovered I'm an
introvert and then I started tothink about, well, how do I tick
(10:46):
, what do I use and how could Iuse that better?
And music always came up.
It was just always there.
And now I say it's like my redline, it's my best friend.
I can rely on music for anything.
It can make me happy, it canhelp me when I'm sad, but also I
can sit down and listen to somesongs and I go okay, I need to
(11:10):
sit with this.
There's something I need tofigure out or something I need
to know, and I know music canhelp me get that out of myself
and help me with those emotionsand then feel a little bit more
um, what's the word I'm lookingfor here?
Balanced, maybe, I'm more inharmony with myself.
So this is kind of where themusic piece comes in and I just
(11:32):
can't imagine not having that.
It's like piece of me will bemissing.
Speaker 1 (11:38):
I know exactly what you mean.
Now I'm going to be quitecheeky and ask you when you need
more confidence and energy, whodo you go to for your playlist?
Like what's on your playlist tomake you feel happy, make you
feel more energetic, moremotivated, more energetic, more
motivated.
Speaker 2 (11:54):
Mm-hmm.
Speaker 1 (11:55):
Oh.
Speaker 2 (11:56):
God, I love so many different styles of music.
I could go if I really want toramp myself up like really go,
let's go, let's go.
I could go into a little bit ofeither heavy metal there's like
a Swiss rock band I really lovecalled Gotthard.
They're really great.
I don't know if you've heard ofArmstein.
They've got some really goodsongs.
(12:22):
But then there's also likereally good dance music from
like the 80s and 90s that reallyget me like ramped up and
dancing and, you know, just getthat positive emotions coming
out.
But then these days I'm alsointo k-pop, so there's a lot of
happy songs so you're smiling.
Then that that really um, eventhough I don't understand all
the lyrics, obviously so I don'tspeak Korean yet it's just yeah
(12:42):
, it's, I can tell by.
I don't know, I can just tellthat they're uplifting, they're
positive and bring joy.
So that's where I like to go tothese days as well.
So it's really hard to pinpointjust one.
Speaker 1 (12:56):
Yes, I can think of a couple of songs already from a
particular K-pop group.
Let's not go down that rabbithole.
No, let's not.
So, birgit, how do you usemusic to help your clients?
Speaker 2 (13:10):
Well, I'm very chilled in that and I'm very
like everyone's individual and Ican't I have certain sort of a
little bit of a framework, butgenerally it's sitting down
talking about how they use musicalready and then it's a bit
like brainstorming already, seewhat they like, what they don't
(13:32):
like, and then looking forstrategies and options that they
can use in their everyday lifeto achieve what they want, what
they don't like, and thenlooking for strategies and
options that they can use intheir everyday life to achieve
what they want to achieve.
So some people might strugglewith unwinding and we look for
options there.
I mean, there's so manydifferent ways you can do that
after a busy day at work.
Other people might strugglewith being productive, so
(13:53):
there's ways we can do it there.
So it's really it's very, verycustom, it's very individual, um
, and we just do that in an hourto start off with.
So it's not overwhelming, it's.
It's not too much, but it stillprovides a lot of good starting
points to look into that,because a lot of people probably
never really thought of thatangle in their life.
(14:16):
So it's just enough.
An hour is just enough because,especially if you're a quiet,
introverted person and off anhour your brain switches off, so
no overwhelm here.
So this is basically how Iapproach it and so far what I've
done.
Yeah, my clients loved, lovedit, so I'm really chuffed about
(14:38):
that.
Speaker 1 (14:39):
I think it's just so unique what you do using music
to help your clients eitherunlock their productivity or
reduce stress or just find morebalance and more harmony in life
, and don't we all need more ofthat nowadays?
Speaker 2 (14:54):
yes, oh, oh, my God.
Yes, I mean I don't know aboutyou, serena, but if you look at
the world, everyone to me feelslike it's just overwhelmed and
completely stressed out, andthen the mental health starts to
suffer.
Emotionally you might becompletely in the dumps.
I mean, we can really use maybewhat people call unusual ways
(15:17):
to help ourselves, and music issuch an untapped and underused
way of doing that.
Speaker 1 (15:27):
How has music helped you step into the spotlight as
an introvert and create your ownpodcast?
Speaker 2 (15:37):
like as an introvert and create your own podcast.
Oh, the joys of being anintrovert and hesitating, and
hesitating and pushing it backand I'm not ready yet and I
don't know if this is for me andwhat will people say.
I remember way, way back when Iused to be a VA.
I did this training and it wasright in the early days where
video became really popular andthe lady I did the training with
(16:00):
she said you know what,sometimes you just gotta rip the
band-aid off, and that kind ofstuck with me, even though I
didn't do it for a long time.
But it was a process.
It just didn't happen overnightthat I took this step to have
my own podcast, be on camera andthen do what I do now.
(16:21):
Thankfully, I had the help of awonderful business coach who
also is an introverted woman, soshe really could relate to me.
But she was also calling me outon my own BS, which you can
probably relate to because youknow we do have a lot of excuses
going on.
(16:41):
But I did it gradually, to befairly honest.
I started off with just writingblog posts, putting them out
there, maybe recording a shortone minute video, putting that
out there, and then I starteddoing the podcast, which you
might think is crazy because I'min the spotlight, but no, I'm
not, because I'm the host andsomeone else is in the spotlight
(17:04):
.
I just ask the question.
So the spotlight literally ison someone else, not on me as
such.
I'm just there to provide thespace.
Yeah, so it was really agradual process, but, yeah, I'm
so glad I did it.
It was so worth it to gentlypush yourself, but keep going
and don't let the introversion,you know, hold you back.
(17:27):
It's a superpower at the end ofthe day.
Speaker 1 (17:29):
Yes, you are so right , and how long has it been since
you started your podcast,birgit?
Four years now.
Speaker 2 (17:35):
Oh wow, four years.
Yeah it's, I love it.
It's actually one of my kind ofteenage dreams come true.
I've always wanted to work in aradio studio back in the days,
and this is kind of my ownlittle dream come true.
So, yeah, it's possible.
Speaker 1 (17:56):
Dreams do come true.
So yeah, it's possible.
Dreams do come true.
They just don't always take theshape that we expect them to.
But I think this is even betterbecause this is on your terms.
You got to create this the wayyou want, in a way that works
for you.
Speaker 2 (18:12):
Yes and that's an interesting observation I just
had not so long ago that, yes,it is actually a dream come true
.
Yes, it's not in the way that Ithought it would be.
It can actually be better, youknow.
So it's very exciting.
I'm very, very excited wherethings are heading and very
grateful too.
Speaker 1 (18:33):
Yes, and your podcast is called Living on the B-Side
are heading and very gratefultoo.
Speaker 2 (18:36):
Yes, and your podcast is called Living on the B-Side.
It is yes, yeah, it is so musicintroversion combined in one,
which is great.
Speaker 1 (18:47):
Yes, fantastic.
I will make sure to put thelink for your podcast in the
show notes as well, so listenerscan check it out and subscribe.
Thank you very much.
So I picked up two things fromwhat you just shared there.
Number one was about it being agradual process and taking all
those little micro actions outof the feeling stuck or feeling
I'm not good enough or I'm notready for this, but just taking
(19:09):
one step each time.
You said you started with a blogpost and that was how you
worked your way out into beingmore visible, because it is
actually pretty intimidating foran introvert to put themselves
out there and feel exposed andfeel vulnerable and worry all
the time about you know what arepeople going to think?
You know, is anyone going tosubscribe?
Speaker 2 (19:29):
who's going to listen to me and all that isn't it yes
, and to be honest, I do stillhave moments like that.
I don't think it will never goaway um the more.
I don't know if the wordsuccessful is the right word
hopefully it is um but I thinkthe more reach we have,
especially as business owners,whatever we do, the more we kind
(19:50):
of expose ourselves, the morethat will come back.
But I try to just remember thatI have to have faith in myself,
in my mission, and one thingI'm really really mindful of is
have like a circle around youthat really has your back too,
not just saying yes all the time.
(20:10):
Obviously you want people whosay no, why are you doing this
that way?
You can do better or, you know,pull you up on the excuses, so
to speak.
But yeah, just having thatlittle circle that you can go
back to and say, oh, I can'ttoday Help, and then you still
go and do it.
Speaker 1 (20:30):
Yes, I so agree with you.
I've recently found a circlelike that as well that I've just
joined, and you're so right.
We just need that safe spacewhere we can be ourselves and
also be gently challenged, sothat we will go out of our
comfort zone and do the hardthings.
Yes, Because we can do thosethings.
Sometimes we just needencouragement.
Speaker 2 (20:52):
Absolutely, and we're really good at doing things too
.
Encouragement Absolutely, andwe're really good at doing
things too.
Just because the world is sadlystill a lot more extroverted
doesn't mean we're not needed.
I do believe we are needed nowmore than ever.
Because we're quieter, weprobably observe more, we look
(21:12):
at the world differently, and Ithink the world needs our
different now more than ever,and really do what we do best.
And every introvert has theirown superpower, and just imagine
if we would all pull togetherand really go for it.
Wow, you know goosebumps for it.
Speaker 1 (21:38):
Wow, you know goosebumps, and I love also what
you said about how your podcastmakes you feel safe because you
are not in the spotlight.
Your guest is, and that's anexample of us setting up
ourselves for success as it will, if you put it that way,
because we generally don't likebeing in the spotlight, but we
are okay standing to the sideand putting someone else in
(21:58):
there, but still showcasing ourquiet strengths and our
superpowers.
For instance, yours would beasking the right questions,
drawing the knowledge and thewisdom out of your interviewee,
sharing gems here and there andjust facilitating the whole
process, making it run smoothlyand, you know, in a way that's
valuable for your listeners, andall those are superpowers yes,
(22:23):
and also I think us introverts,uh, we do have this quality,
this really good quality aboutlistening and providing this
space where the energy justfeels comfortable, where people
will open up probably more thanthey might would with a podcast
host.
Speaker 2 (22:42):
That's an extrovert.
No disrespect to the extroverts.
We need you guys, seriously wedo, but maybe that's sort of the
slight difference that we canprovide and bring a different
angle to a conversation thatmaybe not happen or wouldn't
happen in another setting.
So, yeah, yes, definitely.
Speaker 1 (23:07):
Yes, I love that perspective Because I remember
one of my mentors recentlysaying that only people who
resonate, who feel that they areon the same frequency as you,
will listen to you anyway.
So we don't have to bend overbackwards trying to cater to
everyone and worry about the 90%that we are not catering to,
because we are speaking to the10% who really get us, who
(23:30):
understand what it's all about,understand the introvert
struggles, who have the samekinds of aspirations of wanting
to lean in more into our quietstrengths and those are the ones
who will be listening to usBeautiful.
Speaker 2 (23:43):
Yes, oh, that is so true.
I don't know about you, but Ifeel sometimes we overwhelm
ourselves with all these thingsthat we should do and shouldn't
be doing and shouldn't be doingand shouldn't be worrying about.
If we could focus more on whowe are, our strengths and how we
can use that to support othersin whatever we want to do, if
(24:04):
that's in your job, if that'swith your relationships,
whatever, can you imagine theenergy that we would, that we
actually is throwing out therein the universe?
And that's the 10% that willcome back, and the rest, you
know.
Do we really need that?
I guess not, because it willjust drain us.
So, yeah, that's beautiful.
Speaker 1 (24:23):
Yeah, the moment I heard that, I just felt a huge
sense of relief, and there is noneed to try so hard.
We're just speaking to thepeople who want to hear what you
have to say.
Yeah, agreed, absolutely so,birgit.
What is one thing you wouldlike the listeners to take away
from our conversation today?
Speaker 2 (24:47):
one thing that is really close to my heart is pay
more attention to the musicyou're listening to and why.
It's an interesting exercise todo, and I am sure that your
listeners will be surprised atthe answers that they'll come up
with.
Speaker 1 (25:06):
So it's the key is be more aware, create awareness
around it and see what comes upwow, I I'm pretty excited to
start looking at my playlist ina more intentional way and see
what that shows me.
Speaker 2 (25:21):
Yes, oh, that you can go from there to so many
different angles, but that'salways a great starting point.
Yeah, for me.
I could go on about so manydifferent ways, but that's
definitely the message I want tothrow out there today.
Speaker 1 (25:34):
Fantastic, and how can listeners connect with you
and learn more about your work?
Speaker 2 (25:39):
There's two ways really.
Obviously, the podcast that'sthe third one I just remembered
and I've got a Facebook groupthat's open to especially, you
know, quiet business owners whomight want to learn a little bit
more about how to use music intheir busy life to create a bit
more harmony.
More than welcome to join methere.
(26:01):
I've also got an e-book thattalks about five little unknown
music strategies.
Goes along the same lines tocreate a bit more harmony in
your stressful and busy life.
Speaker 1 (26:12):
So these are three ways really you can find out
more about me and what I dofantastic, and we'll make sure
to pop all those links in theshow notes so our listeners can
take their time to explore anddevelop their relationship with
music and with mindfulness andwith harmony in their lives.
Beautiful thank you so thankyou so much, birgit, for coming
on the Quiet Warrior podcasttoday.
(26:33):
I appreciate you.
Speaker 2 (26:35):
Thank you and same to you.
Speaker 1 (26:36):
I appreciate you too, and that was another episode of
the Quiet Warrior podcast withBirgit Liversy.
If you have enjoyed yourlistening today and have enjoyed
this episode, do like andsubscribe and share this episode
with your friends.
See you on the next episode.
I'm so grateful that you'rehere today.
(26:57):
If you found this contentvaluable, please share it on
your social media channels andsubscribe to the show on your
favorite listening platform.
Together, we can help moreintroverts thrive.
To receive more upliftingcontent like this, connect with
me on Instagram at Serena LoQuiet Warrior Coach.
Thank you for sharing your timeand your energy with me.
(27:19):
See you on the next episode.
Hi, I'm Serena Loh.
If you're used to hearing thatintroverts are shy, anxious,
antisocial and lack goodcommunication and leadership
skills, then this podcast is foryou.
You're about to fall in lovewith the calm, introspective and
profound person that you are.
Discover what's fun, unique andpowerful about being an
(00:22):
introvert, and how to make theelegant transition from quiet
achiever to quiet warrior inyour life and work anytime you
want, in more ways than youimagined possible Welcome.
Welcome to another episode ofthe Quiet Warrior podcast.
Today I have got BirgitLiversyy.
(00:44):
She's a mindfulness guide andpodcast host at Living on the
B-Side and we met on LinkedIn.
Welcome, birgit.
Speaker 2 (00:53):
Oh, hello Serena.
I'm very excited for today.
Speaker 1 (00:57):
So, birgit, I want to ask first about your story and
background.
How did you especially come toknow that you're an introvert?
When did you discover that?
Speaker 2 (01:07):
Oh, we've got to rewind to my teenage years,
which sort of sets the scene forthe discovery of being an
introvert.
I always kind of knew there wassomething wrong in quotes
obviously with me, because Ididn't quite fit in with the
expectations of society and howpeople treated me and how I
(01:29):
walked through the world.
And that became especiallyclear when my parents divorced
when I was 12.
And that opened up a wholenother can of worms with how I
got treated and it made me pullback even more into myself and
I've always liked being alone,so I didn't have a problem with
(01:51):
that.
But yeah, that's sort of wherethis whole thinking came in,
like what's wrong with me?
Why don't I have that manyfriends?
Why do people treat medifferently?
Why can't I be like others whoare just on the go and have this
energy all the time?
And I just could not figure thatout for a very, very long time,
(02:11):
Probably until let me backtrackhere I think it might be five
or six years now.
So most of my life really, I'vewalked through it not knowing
what's going on.
And about five or six years agoI've heard the term introvert
for the first time and afterdoing a little bit more research
(02:33):
and meeting one particularperson who was having a space
basically for women in businesswho are introverts.
That's when it all clicked forme.
Everything that she was talkingabout, everything that she was
sharing and the other ladieswere sharing, it was like my
mind was blown and I'm like,okay, I'm home, I know now who I
(02:58):
am, why I'm the way I am, andthen discovering how I tick as
well.
So that's kind of, in anutshell, the background of,
yeah, how I came to that pointand then discovering how I find
out I'm an introvert.
Speaker 1 (03:18):
I love your story.
I can resonate with everysingle part of that the idea of
feeling like you are the odd oneout or there's something wrong
with me the way I am.
Speaker 2 (03:29):
And then, when the relief, the sheer relief of
finding your people, finding mytribe, finding people that, oh,
they're just like me, there'snothing wrong with me, there's
other people like me and it'sokay and we're just different,
oh, that was, yeah, it's hard toput into words and, in a way,
(03:51):
after that first aha moment isalso a gradual journey of
peeling back the layers andfinding out more and more about
what type of introvert I am andyou know how others are.
Like.
I mean, that was just so, yeah,incredible and mind-blowing to
see the different layers ofintroverts as well.
So it's you go like in a rabbithole, almost finding out you
(04:16):
know how do I tick and how can Ishow up in the world without
feeling weird and out of placeand exhausted and everything
that comes with being anintrovert, obviously, so, yeah,
when you talk about layers ofintroversion and types of
introversion, could you explaina little bit more for those of
(04:38):
our listeners who may notunderstand that there are
different kinds of introverts?
Yes, I'm still learning a lotabout that to this day.
I mean, you never stop learninganyway.
But the best thing I canprobably describe it is when I
was in the circle of women andwe all were talking about our
struggles and how we perceivethe world and how it exhausts us
(05:03):
.
That's the first thing Inoticed was energy.
The energy and how much we canput out and how much we can take
is so different for for so manyintroverts and I always say
that I'm probably not a veryintense or extreme introvert, I
(05:24):
can probably come across as anextrovert and but I do need my
recharge type for me, the energyis the core thing.
I need to be very, very awareof that.
And I think for others you havedifferent variations of the
whole energy piece.
Where some people they can onlymaybe, as an example, go out
(05:45):
for five minutes and thenthey're exhausted and it's like
no, I can't deal with peopleanymore not that I don't want to
, but it's just exhausting mewhere other people can go for a
whole day and then any two daysoff.
So for me, when I talk aboutintroversion, it's about energy
and how quickly we are depletedof that and how we recharge.
(06:07):
I think that's probably theeasiest way I explain to someone
what introversion is and thedifferent layers of it.
Speaker 1 (06:15):
I think I agree with you.
That's also the definition thatI borrow from Susan Cain,
because I find that most peopleunderstand exactly what that
means, and I think Simon Sinekhas also explained it in another
way when he talked about theintrovert starting off the day
with five coins, and every timeyou have an interaction with
another human you lose one coin,and so by the end of the day
(06:35):
you've used up all your fivecoins and that's why you're
exhausted, whereas the extrovertgains coins as they go the more
people they talk to.
Speaker 2 (06:44):
Yes, that's a very good way of putting it.
Or you can probably think aboutit as a mobile phone battery.
You know, you charge it upovernight and then you go about
your day and the battery drains,and that's probably a similar
way of explaining it too.
Speaker 1 (07:01):
Yes, I like that one too.
That's very powerful, veryrelatable.
Yeah, so on your LinkedInprofile, you call yourself a
music mindfulness guide and youtalk about living on the B side.
Tell me more about this musicmindfulness.
What does that mean?
Speaker 2 (07:18):
This has come after all the work that I did myself,
after all the discovery work andrealising how important and
crucial music is in my own lifeand how it is helping me with,
especially, my emotionalwellbeing.
So I'm really passionate aboutusing music to help with your
(07:41):
emotional wellbeing, obviously,and how to become aware of the
great power music holds in ourdaily life.
A lot of people probably justuse it as background music or
when they go to the gym orthere's certain settings we use
music.
But music mindfulness literally, is that Become more mindful
(08:04):
about the music you're listeningto and how you consume it,
because that can have an impacton you and your emotions and
also your mental well-being, andI'm really passionate about
that.
I think there's so not talkedabout enough.
Um in the greater world.
So yeah, and living on theb-s-side basically it's a play
(08:25):
on music, like the B-side of avinyl showing my age here, and
it also means how I used to live.
I lived on the B-side of lifeand B is like a nickname for
myself, birgit, so I just thinkit fits perfectly for who I am,
what I want to do and hope to,you know, achieve in my life.
Speaker 1 (08:51):
I like that.
I like also that B may consider, may contain the hidden
surprises, because everybodyfocuses on the A side the one.
You know, that's the one wegravitate to, to, that's the one
that maybe could be a charttopper, but sometimes it's the
b-side that contains somethingthat might surprise you and you
might really like it yes, and Ithink for an introvert that's
(09:14):
actually also a very gooddescription, because as
introverts we can be surprisebooks.
Speaker 2 (09:19):
you know there's a lot of hidden things that people
don't see, but they're positiveand exciting and amazing and
you know people should probablypay a bit more attention to that
.
Speaker 1 (09:32):
So, as an introvert living on the B side of life,
how has music helped you tosurvive and thrive?
Speaker 2 (09:41):
Oh, we're going back to when I was 12, because that's
kind of sort of a realmilestone or important part of
my growing up and digging intoall of this.
But ever since I remember musichas just been there.
Thankfully, my mom hasencouraged me a lot over the
years.
She, you know, got me to dolike music classes and I got
(10:02):
into dancing.
I had vocal training, so I dida lot of extra work in music.
But just away from that I'vealways just loved music.
The radio was always on, myhi-fi was always on, I had a
walkman constantly in my ear, soit's always there.
And over time, over time,subconsciously, I started using
(10:23):
that to help me digest what Iwas feeling, the situations I
was going through, and maybeeven helped me make certain
decisions.
I did that subconsciously.
I wasn't aware of myself doingthis until I discovered I'm an
introvert and then I started tothink about, well, how do I tick
(10:46):
, what do I use and how could Iuse that better?
And music always came up.
It was just always there.
And now I say it's like my redline, it's my best friend.
I can rely on music for anything.
It can make me happy, it canhelp me when I'm sad, but also I
can sit down and listen to somesongs and I go okay, I need to
(11:10):
sit with this.
There's something I need tofigure out or something I need
to know, and I know music canhelp me get that out of myself
and help me with those emotionsand then feel a little bit more
um, what's the word I'm lookingfor here?
Balanced, maybe, I'm more inharmony with myself.
So this is kind of where themusic piece comes in and I just
(11:32):
can't imagine not having that.
It's like piece of me will bemissing.
Speaker 1 (11:38):
I know exactly what you mean.
Now I'm going to be quitecheeky and ask you when you need
more confidence and energy, whodo you go to for your playlist?
Like what's on your playlist tomake you feel happy, make you
feel more energetic, moremotivated, more energetic, more
motivated.
Speaker 2 (11:54):
Mm-hmm.
Speaker 1 (11:55):
Oh.
Speaker 2 (11:56):
God, I love so many different styles of music.
I could go if I really want toramp myself up like really go,
let's go, let's go.
I could go into a little bit ofeither heavy metal there's like
a Swiss rock band I really lovecalled Gotthard.
They're really great.
I don't know if you've heard ofArmstein.
They've got some really goodsongs.
(12:22):
But then there's also likereally good dance music from
like the 80s and 90s that reallyget me like ramped up and
dancing and, you know, just getthat positive emotions coming
out.
But then these days I'm alsointo k-pop, so there's a lot of
happy songs so you're smiling.
Then that that really um, eventhough I don't understand all
the lyrics, obviously so I don'tspeak Korean yet it's just yeah
(12:42):
, it's, I can tell by.
I don't know, I can just tellthat they're uplifting, they're
positive and bring joy.
So that's where I like to go tothese days as well.
So it's really hard to pinpointjust one.
Speaker 1 (12:56):
Yes, I can think of a couple of songs already from a
particular K-pop group.
Let's not go down that rabbithole.
No, let's not.
So, birgit, how do you usemusic to help your clients?
Speaker 2 (13:10):
Well, I'm very chilled in that and I'm very
like everyone's individual and Ican't I have certain sort of a
little bit of a framework, butgenerally it's sitting down
talking about how they use musicalready and then it's a bit
like brainstorming already, seewhat they like, what they don't
(13:32):
like, and then looking forstrategies and options that they
can use in their everyday lifeto achieve what they want, what
they don't like, and thenlooking for strategies and
options that they can use intheir everyday life to achieve
what they want to achieve.
So some people might strugglewith unwinding and we look for
options there.
I mean, there's so manydifferent ways you can do that
after a busy day at work.
Other people might strugglewith being productive, so
(13:53):
there's ways we can do it there.
So it's really it's very, verycustom, it's very individual, um
, and we just do that in an hourto start off with.
So it's not overwhelming, it's.
It's not too much, but it stillprovides a lot of good starting
points to look into that,because a lot of people probably
never really thought of thatangle in their life.
(14:16):
So it's just enough.
An hour is just enough because,especially if you're a quiet,
introverted person and off anhour your brain switches off, so
no overwhelm here.
So this is basically how Iapproach it and so far what I've
done.
Yeah, my clients loved, lovedit, so I'm really chuffed about
(14:38):
that.
Speaker 1 (14:39):
I think it's just so unique what you do using music
to help your clients eitherunlock their productivity or
reduce stress or just find morebalance and more harmony in life
, and don't we all need more ofthat nowadays?
Speaker 2 (14:54):
yes, oh, oh, my God.
Yes, I mean I don't know aboutyou, serena, but if you look at
the world, everyone to me feelslike it's just overwhelmed and
completely stressed out, andthen the mental health starts to
suffer.
Emotionally you might becompletely in the dumps.
I mean, we can really use maybewhat people call unusual ways
(15:17):
to help ourselves, and music issuch an untapped and underused
way of doing that.
Speaker 1 (15:27):
How has music helped you step into the spotlight as
an introvert and create your ownpodcast?
Speaker 2 (15:37):
like as an introvert and create your own podcast.
Oh, the joys of being anintrovert and hesitating, and
hesitating and pushing it backand I'm not ready yet and I
don't know if this is for me andwhat will people say.
I remember way, way back when Iused to be a VA.
I did this training and it wasright in the early days where
video became really popular andthe lady I did the training with
(16:00):
she said you know what,sometimes you just gotta rip the
band-aid off, and that kind ofstuck with me, even though I
didn't do it for a long time.
But it was a process.
It just didn't happen overnightthat I took this step to have
my own podcast, be on camera andthen do what I do now.
(16:21):
Thankfully, I had the help of awonderful business coach who
also is an introverted woman, soshe really could relate to me.
But she was also calling me outon my own BS, which you can
probably relate to because youknow we do have a lot of excuses
going on.
(16:41):
But I did it gradually, to befairly honest.
I started off with just writingblog posts, putting them out
there, maybe recording a shortone minute video, putting that
out there, and then I starteddoing the podcast, which you
might think is crazy because I'min the spotlight, but no, I'm
not, because I'm the host andsomeone else is in the spotlight
(17:04):
.
I just ask the question.
So the spotlight literally ison someone else, not on me as
such.
I'm just there to provide thespace.
Yeah, so it was really agradual process, but, yeah, I'm
so glad I did it.
It was so worth it to gentlypush yourself, but keep going
and don't let the introversion,you know, hold you back.
(17:27):
It's a superpower at the end ofthe day.
Speaker 1 (17:29):
Yes, you are so right , and how long has it been since
you started your podcast,birgit?
Four years now.
Speaker 2 (17:35):
Oh wow, four years.
Yeah it's, I love it.
It's actually one of my kind ofteenage dreams come true.
I've always wanted to work in aradio studio back in the days,
and this is kind of my ownlittle dream come true.
So, yeah, it's possible.
Speaker 1 (17:56):
Dreams do come true.
So yeah, it's possible.
Dreams do come true.
They just don't always take theshape that we expect them to.
But I think this is even betterbecause this is on your terms.
You got to create this the wayyou want, in a way that works
for you.
Speaker 2 (18:12):
Yes and that's an interesting observation I just
had not so long ago that, yes,it is actually a dream come true
.
Yes, it's not in the way that Ithought it would be.
It can actually be better, youknow.
So it's very exciting.
I'm very, very excited wherethings are heading and very
grateful too.
Speaker 1 (18:33):
Yes, and your podcast is called Living on the B-Side
are heading and very gratefultoo.
Speaker 2 (18:36):
Yes, and your podcast is called Living on the B-Side.
It is yes, yeah, it is so musicintroversion combined in one,
which is great.
Speaker 1 (18:47):
Yes, fantastic.
I will make sure to put thelink for your podcast in the
show notes as well, so listenerscan check it out and subscribe.
Thank you very much.
So I picked up two things fromwhat you just shared there.
Number one was about it being agradual process and taking all
those little micro actions outof the feeling stuck or feeling
I'm not good enough or I'm notready for this, but just taking
(19:09):
one step each time.
You said you started with a blogpost and that was how you
worked your way out into beingmore visible, because it is
actually pretty intimidating foran introvert to put themselves
out there and feel exposed andfeel vulnerable and worry all
the time about you know what arepeople going to think?
You know, is anyone going tosubscribe?
Speaker 2 (19:29):
who's going to listen to me and all that isn't it yes
, and to be honest, I do stillhave moments like that.
I don't think it will never goaway um the more.
I don't know if the wordsuccessful is the right word
hopefully it is um but I thinkthe more reach we have,
especially as business owners,whatever we do, the more we kind
(19:50):
of expose ourselves, the morethat will come back.
But I try to just remember thatI have to have faith in myself,
in my mission, and one thingI'm really really mindful of is
have like a circle around youthat really has your back too,
not just saying yes all the time.
(20:10):
Obviously you want people whosay no, why are you doing this
that way?
You can do better or, you know,pull you up on the excuses, so
to speak.
But yeah, just having thatlittle circle that you can go
back to and say, oh, I can'ttoday Help, and then you still
go and do it.
Speaker 1 (20:30):
Yes, I so agree with you.
I've recently found a circlelike that as well that I've just
joined, and you're so right.
We just need that safe spacewhere we can be ourselves and
also be gently challenged, sothat we will go out of our
comfort zone and do the hardthings.
Yes, Because we can do thosethings.
Sometimes we just needencouragement.
Speaker 2 (20:52):
Absolutely, and we're really good at doing things too
.
Encouragement Absolutely, andwe're really good at doing
things too.
Just because the world is sadlystill a lot more extroverted
doesn't mean we're not needed.
I do believe we are needed nowmore than ever.
Because we're quieter, weprobably observe more, we look
(21:12):
at the world differently, and Ithink the world needs our
different now more than ever,and really do what we do best.
And every introvert has theirown superpower, and just imagine
if we would all pull togetherand really go for it.
Wow, you know goosebumps for it.
Speaker 1 (21:38):
Wow, you know goosebumps, and I love also what
you said about how your podcastmakes you feel safe because you
are not in the spotlight.
Your guest is, and that's anexample of us setting up
ourselves for success as it will, if you put it that way,
because we generally don't likebeing in the spotlight, but we
are okay standing to the sideand putting someone else in
(21:58):
there, but still showcasing ourquiet strengths and our
superpowers.
For instance, yours would beasking the right questions,
drawing the knowledge and thewisdom out of your interviewee,
sharing gems here and there andjust facilitating the whole
process, making it run smoothlyand, you know, in a way that's
valuable for your listeners, andall those are superpowers yes,
(22:23):
and also I think us introverts,uh, we do have this quality,
this really good quality aboutlistening and providing this
space where the energy justfeels comfortable, where people
will open up probably more thanthey might would with a podcast
host.
Speaker 2 (22:42):
That's an extrovert.
No disrespect to the extroverts.
We need you guys, seriously wedo, but maybe that's sort of the
slight difference that we canprovide and bring a different
angle to a conversation thatmaybe not happen or wouldn't
happen in another setting.
So, yeah, yes, definitely.
Speaker 1 (23:07):
Yes, I love that perspective Because I remember
one of my mentors recentlysaying that only people who
resonate, who feel that they areon the same frequency as you,
will listen to you anyway.
So we don't have to bend overbackwards trying to cater to
everyone and worry about the 90%that we are not catering to,
because we are speaking to the10% who really get us, who
(23:30):
understand what it's all about,understand the introvert
struggles, who have the samekinds of aspirations of wanting
to lean in more into our quietstrengths and those are the ones
who will be listening to usBeautiful.
Speaker 2 (23:43):
Yes, oh, that is so true.
I don't know about you, but Ifeel sometimes we overwhelm
ourselves with all these thingsthat we should do and shouldn't
be doing and shouldn't be doingand shouldn't be worrying about.
If we could focus more on whowe are, our strengths and how we
can use that to support othersin whatever we want to do, if
(24:04):
that's in your job, if that'swith your relationships,
whatever, can you imagine theenergy that we would, that we
actually is throwing out therein the universe?
And that's the 10% that willcome back, and the rest, you
know.
Do we really need that?
I guess not, because it willjust drain us.
So, yeah, that's beautiful.
Speaker 1 (24:23):
Yeah, the moment I heard that, I just felt a huge
sense of relief, and there is noneed to try so hard.
We're just speaking to thepeople who want to hear what you
have to say.
Yeah, agreed, absolutely so,birgit.
What is one thing you wouldlike the listeners to take away
from our conversation today?
Speaker 2 (24:47):
one thing that is really close to my heart is pay
more attention to the musicyou're listening to and why.
It's an interesting exercise todo, and I am sure that your
listeners will be surprised atthe answers that they'll come up
with.
Speaker 1 (25:06):
So it's the key is be more aware, create awareness
around it and see what comes upwow, I I'm pretty excited to
start looking at my playlist ina more intentional way and see
what that shows me.
Speaker 2 (25:21):
Yes, oh, that you can go from there to so many
different angles, but that'salways a great starting point.
Yeah, for me.
I could go on about so manydifferent ways, but that's
definitely the message I want tothrow out there today.
Speaker 1 (25:34):
Fantastic, and how can listeners connect with you
and learn more about your work?
Speaker 2 (25:39):
There's two ways really.
Obviously, the podcast that'sthe third one I just remembered
and I've got a Facebook groupthat's open to especially, you
know, quiet business owners whomight want to learn a little bit
more about how to use music intheir busy life to create a bit
more harmony.
More than welcome to join methere.
(26:01):
I've also got an e-book thattalks about five little unknown
music strategies.
Goes along the same lines tocreate a bit more harmony in
your stressful and busy life.
Speaker 1 (26:12):
So these are three ways really you can find out
more about me and what I dofantastic, and we'll make sure
to pop all those links in theshow notes so our listeners can
take their time to explore anddevelop their relationship with
music and with mindfulness andwith harmony in their lives.
Beautiful thank you so thankyou so much, birgit, for coming
on the Quiet Warrior podcasttoday.
(26:33):
I appreciate you.
Speaker 2 (26:35):
Thank you and same to you.
Speaker 1 (26:36):
I appreciate you too, and that was another episode of
the Quiet Warrior podcast withBirgit Liversy.
If you have enjoyed yourlistening today and have enjoyed
this episode, do like andsubscribe and share this episode
with your friends.
See you on the next episode.
I'm so grateful that you'rehere today.
(26:57):
If you found this contentvaluable, please share it on
your social media channels andsubscribe to the show on your
favorite listening platform.
Together, we can help moreintroverts thrive.
To receive more upliftingcontent like this, connect with
me on Instagram at Serena LoQuiet Warrior Coach.
Thank you for sharing your timeand your energy with me.
(27:19):
See you on the next episode.
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