What does “healthy bonds” look like? •  Quality relationships •  Reliable Support Groups •  Organic connections •  Energetic Reciprocity Just to name a few…. So many of us struggle in this area and lack loving, sustainable relationships. We may know a lot of people, have large families, but our personal circles tend to run small for a reason. The quality of our bonds can be non-reflective or even irrelevant to our genuine authentic needs and inward growth. Staying in relationships due to time or history, lacking substance, makes for  fragility and unwanted stress when these relationships are tested in the  slightest way. How we bond with ourselves and the world, needs to be further evaluated. I’m  excited to share some tips on how to ensure your bonding endeavors  mirror your personal values, overall goals and your worth; in this podcast episode of Taming Dragons.

Escapism is a tool. It's a tool that helps us to regulate our emotions, in most cases. We've used these tools every since our imaginations could take flight at an early age. Challenge is that some of us are not choosing the healthiest tools as adults; we can misuse what may have worked previously. Think about which forms of escape you choose on a daily basis; and which sense are being tapped into when doing so. It is music? food? alcohol? work? Yes, I said work. (Many of us choose "busy" as a form of escape) These sensory gates represent safety and comfort even when its temporary or in some cases, are not real. What if you used your senses to navigate healthier options to escape, to remove yourself from Fight or Flight. This week's Taming Dragons will inspire you to explore what that looks like, for you.  

Not everyone knows HOW to protect. Protect themselves and or others. Believing otherwise is a flawed assumption that ignores the human condition and personal development. Why talk about Protection? Because a lot of adult trauma is experienced from a subconscious reaction of feeling unsafe as a Child. Unprotected. If this was you, at a very early stage learned a emotional condition that would sit with you for years to come. You either learned how to protect yourself to survive by closely  navigating human behavior, (which may have birthed hyper vigilance)  taking subconscious notes as you went along. Or you internalized a hold pattern of powerlessness, mentally forfeiting  the weight and pressure of protection, as a survival mechanism. This can cause you to haphazardly protect yourself and inefficiently  take on the responsibility of protecting others, as an adult. Can you be someone in between? Of course you can. So let’s unpack it. Join me on Taming Dragons, as we consider how to approach this Dragon in a far more healthier, and empowered way.

This weeks episode tackles the behavior we have all picked up in some aspect along the way. Many of us have attuned ourselves to a lifestyle of coercion.  The narrative that gives ourselves very little if any options and closes the doors to true opportunities. In this talk I explain why this even happens, why are  so many of us wired to subconsciously move about Life this way? We quietly tell yourselves; I need to stay at this job, because no other job will accept (Insert Perceived lies) about me. I have to remain in this marriage because (Insert Perceived lies) and this demonstrates how devoted I am. COERCION. No options, zero opportunities; just Do it, or Else. In order for you to walk in the full grace of your growth and expansion, you must begin to recognize when you're doing this to yourself. A liberated mind will always see options and opportunities.   When those options and opportunities are anything but obvious, a free thinker will ultimately CREATE them. How? Through the power of extending choice. I hope you will enjoy this episode and share with anyone who may be performing this kind of self sabotage on themselves. You must tame the Dragon of self imposed suffering and fear of doom, to move toward better days. Until next week, Tame your Dragons.

If you are odds with the notion of Acceptance, get in line, many of us are. This imbalance in consciousness occurs due to how we perceive Acceptance in action. Growing up, I learned that Acceptance meant admitting defeat, and giving in, in one way or another. It  was this concept of defeat that kept me wrestling with anything and  anyone who did not reflect myself, my belief system and my moral codes. To many of us, Acceptance is perceived as a personal weakness. Back  then, I viewed Acceptance as surrendering my position, and embracing  ideas, events and even people that I held deep opposition to. Acceptance felt yielding, unnatural. Can you relate??? If you are challenged in processing and practicing this as a discipline, you too must expand how you define Acceptance. This week on Taming Dragons, I’ll walk you through why this mental  stronghold even exists within you, and why it could be limiting your  overall healing and growth. Also, why it’s so important for you to redefine how you practice Acceptance, for your mental and emotional health.

I'm looking forward to growing old. For some time now, I see age as the highest compliment of a blessing. Perhaps it's the awareness that a few years back, I lost a sister two weeks after her 50th birthday to breast cancer. Or maybe it's the mindfulness that came with being a caretaker to my Mother who passed away at age 75. Whatever it is, it allows me to embrace the blessing of being alive all while noticing the narratives myself and other women around me, tell ourselves. Today, I discuss three narratives that need desperate reformation in the minds of BW everywhere. How we view Prioritization How we see ourselves in the world perceptively and How we view the aging process As you well know, stress isn't going anywhere, however our narrative around stress has to shift.   Otherwise, we will all continue to experience internal dis-ease at astounding rates, impacting our families, communities and most importantly ourselves. Share this episode with the woman in your life that needs an internal adjustment. Let's Tame this Dragon, together.

We are more complex than we give ourselves credit. All of us have triggers, idiosyncrasies and awww hell no's - that should be acknowledged, assessed, evaluated for relevancy and lastly owned. Doesn't mean we leave it where it is when we do this work; it can however create opportunities for us to grow and mature in any particular area. Recently I was challenged to take a good look at a major trigger for myself.  What was it, you may wonder? I have serious issues standing by silently when someone is being manipulated, bullied or grossly taken advantage of. I have a visceral response one may say.  My reaction to this behavior can be one to be remembered and also creates enormous amounts of risk based on the impulse to protect and to destroy. This would actually fit all three for me: It's a triggers, it's a pet peeve to even pick up on and it would be a deal breaker to nonchalantly participate in. Yet, part of Self Mastery is noting the complexities of our emotions, shadows, and inner dragons. When are our dragons activated? When do they come out of the shadows ready to insight justice? Know your triggers, list them even.  Take a good look at the root cause, memory, experience. Be aware of your pet peeves.  Are they petty? What happens to your mind? your body in those moments? Deal breakers help us to deploy boundaries.  Know what they are.  Take on the responsibility of articulating them and respecting them. Tame those inner dragons.  Seek assistance when necessary, but do know - it's necessary. I hope you enjoy and grow from this episode.  See you next week! Aimee, Self Mastery Coach

Do you navigate disagreements well? Or do you tend to clash and as a result, relationships fall apart? Some of us are not comfortable with having a firm stance, holding a particular position, voicing objection or presenting an opposing point of view. Other's of us may feel equipped, however the process of any argument can awaken inward agitation, anger or an overly aggressive defensive style. Matter of fact, I'd weigh that most of us feel like a disagreement is in some way doomed to be unfavorable resulting in distress. This week's episode is a reflection and share of tips discussed during a recent Men's Group interaction, which I host every Saturday morning. These days, with so many people living on edge, especially when discussing hard topics. Navigating an argument can seem impossible. If you ask me, navigating disagreements is an Art form, very few have Mastered for the benefit it can bring toward the expansion of individuals willing to listen, learn and share. It's extremely helpful to be self aware while initiating or responding to uncomfortable dialog.  There's a saying, don't raise your voice, improve your argument.  It takes a Masterful individual to remain mindful of this wisdom while being triggered for instance. So notice your personal communication style, also notice how you respond to someone else's communication choices that may be the complete opposite of yours. Pay attention to your body language and the language of the individual or audience you're speaking to. One of the most important goals of navigating an argument is to end it respectfully and tactfully without loosing one's self.   The tips that are shared will assist you toward effectively managing this and managing You. Enjoy taming the Dragon of your mind and your disciplines.  This particular Dragon has taught me so much about the complexity of myself. Depending on the subject matter, it still makes an unforgettable entrance from time to time.   Rest assure, taming some Dragons are consistent for a lifetime.

Takes courage to explore and discover the fullness of what makes you, You. Question:  Should unhealed people pursue relationships? My instinctual answer is one that I've found comfort in, due to my healing style.  Yes, we all have a healing style.  Perhaps we'll explore that in another episode. However, there are parts of ourselves that are highlights & discovered within relationships; moments of which otherwise, we'd never know.   Why? Because we all have the tendency to normalize behaviors that grant us comfort and familiarity.  Doesn't mean those behaviors are exactly functional, or healthy for that matter, just that we've normalized them. Takes a high level of bravery to pursue most relationships these days.  Not only intimate relationships, but career associates, friendships, spiritual advisors, all of it.   Takes an ability to approach each attempt to connect, with a curious and adventurous mindset.  An ability to allow our human experience to evolve as we go and to practice techniques and tools we've mindfully put in place to be successful.   Ask yourself; How do I practice setting ethical boundaries (for example), if there is no one around to apply the practical stance of instilling that boundary?  We have to be willing to stretch ourselves beyond our hermit tendencies to test what we have learned.  All while allowing ourselves the opportunity to explore, expand and learn a helluva lot more. Let's discover the unhealed parts.

I can really appreciate what growth looks like in myself, I mean TRULY appreciate it. I discuss how Growth showed up for me recently and how I was able to truly honor my energy, voice and the apology I made to myself years ago. There is something beautiful about noticing your Own growth and spirit expansion.  It's amazing when you embody the power you've had all along. This week's episode remind listeners how important it is that you check in old Self and old behaviors.  How important it is to stand in WHO you've become and not allow people or circumstances to time-warp you back into your old ways.   Self control and discipline is a wonderful tool that is energized by how deeply and sincerely we choose to honor and love our existence and how we show up in the world.   I'm hopeful this episode inspires you to transcend all things that recycles to bring you down.  Use the "test of time" to level up!  Tame that Dragon!