In this episode of the Hacker Valley Studio podcast, Ron and Chris are joined by Suzanne Falter, an author, motivational speaker, and podcaster who helps busy women find happiness through self care. In 2012, she ended her relationship, shut down her business, and her 22 year old daughter, Teal unexpectedly died. In the year that followed, she says she did nothing but take exceptional care of herself. Living in a friend’s guest room, she learned to slow down and practice self care.

Years later, Suzanne met the young woman who received Teal’s organs, and her mother, Debbie. Now, Debbie and Suzanne host the Back to Happy podcast together. Suzanne explains their instant chemistry, and how meeting them allowed pieces of life to fall together. These days in addition to the podcast, Suzanne has continued slowing down her life, working as an author and podcaster. She shares that she’s done this through choosing to slow down and practice meditation. She recommends taking a break from screens and starting to do small moments of life without them. It can be difficult, she says to start mindfulness from a healthy mental state, for those with depression or other mental health concerns, she says your first priority is to get help. Help can come in many forms, and it’s okay to reach out and ask for it. 

To keep your alignment in check, and be able to sit in stillness, Suzanne says you have to have strong boundaries. This means recognizing what is encroaching on you. Once you’ve identified it and set that boundary, you can sit and do nothing which takes your brain into default mode. Default mode is where creativity and problem solving happens. In the midst of the pandemic, this can be difficult. Suzanne recommends small tasks that keep your hands busy, but allow your brain to relax as a start. She says avoid telling yourself what you “should” do, and think about what the next right thing to do is instead - one step at a time. 

As the episode ends, Suzanne gives her advice to listeners for how to get back to happy.

0:00 - Intro

1:42 - Listeners are introduced to Suzanne and the episode ahead.

3:15 - Suzanne shares her background.

5:58 - How do you get back to happy after something tragic happens?

11:43 - Suzanne gives advice for how to slow down.

14:08 - Mindfulness practices.

21:53 - Suzanne explains the default mode.

24:42 - How can folks get back to happy in a pandemic?

32:41 - Suzanne’s advice to listeners.

Links:

Learn more about Suzanne Falter and connect with her on Twitter

Learn more about Suzanne’s books.

Learn more about Hacker Valley Studio.

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Follow hosts Ron Eddings and Chris Cochran on Twitter.

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