Creating Midlife Calm: Coping Skills for Stress & Anxiety in Family, Work & Relationships

In this episode MJ is excited to share her conversation with Hedy Schleifer, an internally renowned relationship builder and motivational speaker. Hedy discusses her work on Encountered Centered Transformation (ECT), emphasizing that peace begins with family and strong partnerships. She explains her distinctions between the individual and relational paradigms of mental wellness and shares insightful stories about overcoming survival patterns to achieve deep connections. The episode addresses the importance of tending to one’s own relationships, establishing meaningful connections, and transforming communication patterns within partnerships. Hedy’s joyful energy  and wisdom provide a practical guide for creating a space of love and understanding in any relationship. This is a must-listen-to episode!Website: https://hedyschleifer.com/Ted Talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HEaERAnIqsYCreating Midlife Calm is a podcast designed to guide you through the challenges of midlife, tackling issues like anxiety, low self-esteem, feeling unworthy, procrastination, and isolation, while offering strategies for improving relationships, family support, emotional wellbeing, mental wellness, and parenting, with a focus on mindfulness, stress management, coping skills, and personal growth to stop rumination, overthinking, and increase confidence through self-care, emotional healing, and mental health support.Send us Fan Mail****About the Host:MJ Murray Vachon LCSW is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with more than 48,000 hours of therapy sessions and 31 years of experience teaching her Mental Wellness curriculum, Inner Challenge. Four years ago she overcame her fear of technology to create a podcast that integrated her vast clinical experience and  practical wisdom of cultivating mental wellness using the latest information from neuroscience. MJ was Social Worker of the Year in 2011 for Region 2/IN.Creating Midlife Calm is a podcast designed to guide you through the challenges of midlife, tackling issues like anxiety, low self-esteem, feeling unworthy, procrastination, and isolation, while offering strategies for improving relationships, family support, emotional wellbeing, mental wellness, and parenting, with a focus on mindfulness, stress management, coping skills, and personal growth to stop rumination, overthinking, and increase confidence through self-care, emotional healing, and mental health support. 

It isn't hard to hear about bad news, but in many neighborhoods, there is good news to share! In this podcast episode, MJ presents inspiring everyday wins that uplift our mental wellness and add unexpected but fulfilling fun to life. From a broken window incident that demonstrates amazing problem-solving and accountability, to new parents navigating the anxieties of early parenthood, and handling the emotional first day of daycare—these stories showcase the power of community, patience, and a positive mindset when problems arise. Listen as guests Kathy, a grandmother, and a new parent couple share their heartfelt experiences and insights on parenting wins, emphasizing the importance of being gentle, connecting, and learning from life's challenges.Creating Midlife Calm is a podcast designed to guide you through the challenges of midlife, tackling issues like anxiety, low self-esteem, feeling unworthy, procrastination, and isolation, while offering strategies for improving relationships, family support, emotional wellbeing, mental wellness, and parenting, with a focus on mindfulness, stress management, coping skills, and personal growth to stop rumination, overthinking, and increase confidence through self-care, emotional healing, and mental health support.4oSend us Fan Mail****About the Host:MJ Murray Vachon LCSW is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with more than 48,000 hours of therapy sessions and 31 years of experience teaching her Mental Wellness curriculum, Inner Challenge. Four years ago she overcame her fear of technology to create a podcast that integrated her vast clinical experience and  practical wisdom of cultivating mental wellness using the latest information from neuroscience. MJ was Social Worker of the Year in 2011 for Region 2/IN.Creating Midlife Calm is a podcast designed to guide you through the challenges of midlife, tackling issues like anxiety, low self-esteem, feeling unworthy, procrastination, and isolation, while offering strategies for improving relationships, family support, emotional wellbeing, mental wellness, and parenting, with a focus on mindfulness, stress management, coping skills, and personal growth to stop rumination, overthinking, and increase confidence through self-care, emotional healing, and mental health support. 

 Join MJ and her guest, a mother of two, as they delve into the challenges of parenting amidst anxiety, emphasizing the development of emotional intelligence. The differing experiences of anxiety in this mother's two children illustrate the diverse emotional landscapes parents must traverse. MJ shares her model of emotional regulation, which encourages using an Internal Mindset to Tend and Befriend our emotional reactions. This practical strategy is easy to comprehend for both children and parents. The episode also draws on the genius of Elaine Aron and Dr. Becky Kennedy’s work, which focuses on Highly Sensitive People (HSP) and Deeply Feeling Kids (DFK). You'll love this conversation, which focuses on real-life dilemmas such as coping with technology-induced frustration and school-related anxiety, offering insights into identifying, regulating, and directing emotions towards constructive outcomes, fostering mental wellness within families. The episode culminates in emphasizing the pivotal role of emotional intelligence in parenting, presenting a holistic approach to nurturing resilience and empathy in the face of life's challenges. Check out the links for great resources!Tend & Befriend Visual One Pager: https://mjmurrayvachon.com/podcast-7/Elaine Aron:  https://hsperson.com/Dr, Becky Kennedy: https://www.goodinside.com/about/Creating Midlife Calm is a podcast designed to guide you through the challenges of midlife, tackling issues like anxiety, low self-esteem, feeling unworthy, procrastination, and isolation, while offering strategies for improving relationships, family support, emotional wellbeing, mental wellness, and parenting, with a focus on mindfulness, stress management, coping skills, and personal growth to stop rumination, overthinking, and increase confidence through self-care, emotional healing, and mental health support.Send us Fan Mail****About the Host:MJ Murray Vachon LCSW is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with more than 48,000 hours of therapy sessions and 31 years of experience teaching her Mental Wellness curriculum, Inner Challenge. Four years ago she overcame her fear of technology to create a podcast that integrated her vast clinical experience and  practical wisdom of cultivating mental wellness using the latest information from neuroscience. MJ was Social Worker of the Year in 2011 for Region 2/IN.Creating Midlife Calm is a podcast designed to guide you through the challenges of midlife, tackling issues like anxiety, low self-esteem, feeling unworthy, procrastination, and isolation, while offering strategies for improving relationships, family support, emotional wellbeing, mental wellness, and parenting, with a focus on mindfulness, stress management, coping skills, and personal growth to stop rumination, overthinking, and increase confidence through self-care, emotional healing, and mental health support. 

Join MJ as she pays tribute to Jay Caponigro, an ordinary guy who did some extraordinary things with his one life. In this encore, Jay and his wife Lyn share their journey through cancer. In their humble yet very honest way, they discuss the complex emotional, psychological, and spiritual journey through the lens of mental wellness. They emphasize the importance of community support and their approach to "dancing" with cancer instead of fighting it. Throughout the episode, they share personal insights on dealing with fear, holding terror and joy at the same time, and finding doses of gratitude amidst the challenges. This episode serves as a reminder of Jay’s impact on his community and family and acts as a masterclass on life, urging listeners to connect with their desire to grow, give, and embrace their one life.Creating Midlife Calm is a podcast designed to guide you through the challenges of midlife, tackling issues like anxiety, low self-esteem, feeling unworthy, procrastination, and isolation, while offering strategies for improving relationships, family support, emotional wellbeing, mental wellness, and parenting, with a focus on mindfulness, stress management, coping skills, and personal growth to stop rumination, overthinking, and increase confidence through self-care, emotional healing, and mental health support.Send us Fan Mail****About the Host:MJ Murray Vachon LCSW is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with more than 48,000 hours of therapy sessions and 31 years of experience teaching her Mental Wellness curriculum, Inner Challenge. Four years ago she overcame her fear of technology to create a podcast that integrated her vast clinical experience and  practical wisdom of cultivating mental wellness using the latest information from neuroscience. MJ was Social Worker of the Year in 2011 for Region 2/IN.Creating Midlife Calm is a podcast designed to guide you through the challenges of midlife, tackling issues like anxiety, low self-esteem, feeling unworthy, procrastination, and isolation, while offering strategies for improving relationships, family support, emotional wellbeing, mental wellness, and parenting, with a focus on mindfulness, stress management, coping skills, and personal growth to stop rumination, overthinking, and increase confidence through self-care, emotional healing, and mental health support. 

Join MJ and her guest as they discuss retirement, mental wellness, and embracing life's next chapters with openness and adaptability. In this episode MJ, shares insights about filming the Inner Challenge Masterclass and introduces a guest who has recently retired after a 50-year career. They explore the concept of 'Adulthood 2', a phase of life identified by cultural anthropologist Mary Catherine Bateson, where individuals transition away from traditional work roles and seek new identities. The episode emphasizes the importance of staying engaged, the mental preparation for retirement, and the benefits of travel and experiencing new cultures. The guest shares his personal journey of retirement, including undertaking the Camino pilgrimage and volunteering, highlighting the joy of serving others and finding happiness in spontaneity and relationships. The conversation also touches on the challenges of retirement, including health issues and financial instability, and the importance of doing inner work and seeking support. The episode concludes with insights on giving up control, embracing new opportunities, and the significance of relationships and community engagement in retirement. Creating Midlife Calm is a podcast designed to guide you through the challenges of midlife, tackling issues like anxiety, low self-esteem, feeling unworthy, procrastination, and isolation, while offering strategies for improving relationships, family support, emotional wellbeing, mental wellness, and parenting, with a focus on mindfulness, stress management, coping skills, and personal growth to stop rumination, overthinking, and increase confidence through self-care, emotional healing, and mental health support.Send us Fan Mail****About the Host:MJ Murray Vachon LCSW is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with more than 48,000 hours of therapy sessions and 31 years of experience teaching her Mental Wellness curriculum, Inner Challenge. Four years ago she overcame her fear of technology to create a podcast that integrated her vast clinical experience and  practical wisdom of cultivating mental wellness using the latest information from neuroscience. MJ was Social Worker of the Year in 2011 for Region 2/IN.Creating Midlife Calm is a podcast designed to guide you through the challenges of midlife, tackling issues like anxiety, low self-esteem, feeling unworthy, procrastination, and isolation, while offering strategies for improving relationships, family support, emotional wellbeing, mental wellness, and parenting, with a focus on mindfulness, stress management, coping skills, and personal growth to stop rumination, overthinking, and increase confidence through self-care, emotional healing, and mental health support. 

Join MJ as she announces a new partnership with Michael Joseph McDonald creating MasterClass: Mental Wellness  our Inner Challenge! While MJ is in the studio filming she revisits an encore episode on mental wellness. MJ discusses the importance of distinguishing between the brain and the mind, emphasizing that mental wellness involves both treating the brain for conditions like anxiety and depression, and tending to the mind through awareness, self-reflection and emotional regulation. Techniques for cultivating mental wellness, including mindfulness and challenging one's own thought patterns, are shared. The episode concludes with practical steps for listeners to train their brain and tend their  mind supporting overall mental wellness.Creating Midlife Calm is a podcast designed to guide you through the challenges of midlife, tackling issues like anxiety, low self-esteem, feeling unworthy, procrastination, and isolation, while offering strategies for improving relationships, family support, emotional wellbeing, mental wellness, and parenting, with a focus on mindfulness, stress management, coping skills, and personal growth to stop rumination, overthinking, and increase confidence through self-care, emotional healing, and mental health support.Send us Fan Mail****About the Host:MJ Murray Vachon LCSW is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with more than 48,000 hours of therapy sessions and 31 years of experience teaching her Mental Wellness curriculum, Inner Challenge. Four years ago she overcame her fear of technology to create a podcast that integrated her vast clinical experience and  practical wisdom of cultivating mental wellness using the latest information from neuroscience. MJ was Social Worker of the Year in 2011 for Region 2/IN.Creating Midlife Calm is a podcast designed to guide you through the challenges of midlife, tackling issues like anxiety, low self-esteem, feeling unworthy, procrastination, and isolation, while offering strategies for improving relationships, family support, emotional wellbeing, mental wellness, and parenting, with a focus on mindfulness, stress management, coping skills, and personal growth to stop rumination, overthinking, and increase confidence through self-care, emotional healing, and mental health support. 

This may be MJ’s favorite episode! Join MJ as she talks with a  remarkable woman who shares her journey of leaving a manipulative and narcissistic spouse. Despite her successful career in tech and multiple talents, she faced a struggle at home that challenged her self-worth and independence. Through her story, the podcast delves into the nature of narcissistic behavior, the impact it has on relationships, and the difficult path towards recognizing, leaving, and healing from such a toxic dynamic. This amazing woman  highlights the importance of self-awareness, the role of therapy and external support, and understanding  social and relational intelligence in order to free yourself from unhealthy relationships. Her  experience and  insights delve  into recognizing one’s self-worth, the challenges of leaving a narcissist, what to be aware of to avoid entering such a  relationship.  Why Is It Always About You:  https://www.amazon.com/s?k=why+is+it+always+about+you&crid=2Y9SToo Good To Leave Too Bad To Stay:  https://www.amazon.com/s?k=too+good+to+leave+too+bad+to+stay&crid=3BLM6DLXA2TCreating Midlife Calm is a podcast designed to guide you through the challenges of midlife, tackling issues like anxiety, low self-esteem, feeling unworthy, procrastination, and isolation, while offering strategies for improving relationships, family support, emotional wellbeing, mental wellness, and parenting, with a focus on mindfulness, stress management, coping skills, and personal growth to stop rumination, overthinking, and increase confidence through self-care, emotional healing, and mental health support.Send us Fan Mail****About the Host:MJ Murray Vachon LCSW is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with more than 48,000 hours of therapy sessions and 31 years of experience teaching her Mental Wellness curriculum, Inner Challenge. Four years ago she overcame her fear of technology to create a podcast that integrated her vast clinical experience and  practical wisdom of cultivating mental wellness using the latest information from neuroscience. MJ was Social Worker of the Year in 2011 for Region 2/IN.Creating Midlife Calm is a podcast designed to guide you through the challenges of midlife, tackling issues like anxiety, low self-esteem, feeling unworthy, procrastination, and isolation, while offering strategies for improving relationships, family support, emotional wellbeing, mental wellness, and parenting, with a focus on mindfulness, stress management, coping skills, and personal growth to stop rumination, overthinking, and increase confidence through self-care, emotional healing, and mental health support. 

In this episode,  MJ shares her the theory of social and relational intelligence as well as an awesome one pager!  We all know that relationships are key to cultivating mental wellness but so often relationships can make us unhappy or even miserable. This episode explains how belonging and being known are fundamental to human mental health and outlines the progression of how relationships are formed, from sharing facts and interests to opinions, emotions, and values. It addresses the crisis of loneliness and social disconnection and offers insights into how to foster connections and intimacy rooted in mutuality. In today’s digital world this session puts words to how to make friends that are more than just a thumb up!One pager: https://mjmurrayvachon.com/podcast-11/Creating Midlife Calm is a podcast designed to guide you through the challenges of midlife, tackling issues like anxiety, low self-esteem, feeling unworthy, procrastination, and isolation, while offering strategies for improving relationships, family support, emotional wellbeing, mental wellness, and parenting, with a focus on mindfulness, stress management, coping skills, and personal growth to stop rumination, overthinking, and increase confidence through self-care, emotional healing, and mental health support.Send us Fan Mail****About the Host:MJ Murray Vachon LCSW is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with more than 48,000 hours of therapy sessions and 31 years of experience teaching her Mental Wellness curriculum, Inner Challenge. Four years ago she overcame her fear of technology to create a podcast that integrated her vast clinical experience and  practical wisdom of cultivating mental wellness using the latest information from neuroscience. MJ was Social Worker of the Year in 2011 for Region 2/IN.Creating Midlife Calm is a podcast designed to guide you through the challenges of midlife, tackling issues like anxiety, low self-esteem, feeling unworthy, procrastination, and isolation, while offering strategies for improving relationships, family support, emotional wellbeing, mental wellness, and parenting, with a focus on mindfulness, stress management, coping skills, and personal growth to stop rumination, overthinking, and increase confidence through self-care, emotional healing, and mental health support. 

Join MJ and her  guest as they embark on a captivating journey into the realm of stay-at-home parenting. Witnessing a notable 10% surge from 2022 to 2023, more parents have chosen to transition from their corporate roles to become the full-time CEOs of their households. In today's enlightening discussion, our guest sheds light on her own unexpected path to this lifestyle shift, delving into the profound joys of nurturing her daughter alongside the inherent challenges of parenting in an era where much of our social interactions occur through digital mediums. This episode serves as a poignant cultural reflection for all who hold dear the cornerstone of any society: the sanctity of our families and the well-being of our children.Creating Midlife Calm is a podcast designed to guide you through the challenges of midlife, tackling issues like anxiety, low self-esteem, feeling unworthy, procrastination, and isolation, while offering strategies for improving relationships, family support, emotional wellbeing, mental wellness, and parenting, with a focus on mindfulness, stress management, coping skills, and personal growth to stop rumination, overthinking, and increase confidence through self-care, emotional healing, and mental health support.Send us Fan Mail****About the Host:MJ Murray Vachon LCSW is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with more than 48,000 hours of therapy sessions and 31 years of experience teaching her Mental Wellness curriculum, Inner Challenge. Four years ago she overcame her fear of technology to create a podcast that integrated her vast clinical experience and  practical wisdom of cultivating mental wellness using the latest information from neuroscience. MJ was Social Worker of the Year in 2011 for Region 2/IN.Creating Midlife Calm is a podcast designed to guide you through the challenges of midlife, tackling issues like anxiety, low self-esteem, feeling unworthy, procrastination, and isolation, while offering strategies for improving relationships, family support, emotional wellbeing, mental wellness, and parenting, with a focus on mindfulness, stress management, coping skills, and personal growth to stop rumination, overthinking, and increase confidence through self-care, emotional healing, and mental health support. 

Get ready to dive into a captivating conversation that goes beyond the usual chatter about Taylor, Travis, and Valentine's Day! MJ and special guest Elly Wynia LCSW, a seasoned relationship expert,(https://ellywynia.com/) are turning the spotlight on the country's buzzing atmosphere of LOVE. In this episode, they explore the intricate dynamics of relationships, urging couples to embrace growth for the deep connection we all crave but might not always know how to foster.Drawing from their wealth of knowledge, Elly and MJ share invaluable insights, including the significance of creating  'sacred space,' navigating discomfort for personal and relational growth, and the importance of prioritizing connection over being right (yes, even when it stings!). Beyond the fluff, they demystify terms like 'conscious connecting' and shed light on how delving into your past can be the key to upgrading your present and creating  a relationship  that is healthy and enjoyable. Tune in for a  journey into the heart of meaningful connections and discover practical tools to elevate your relationship game! (Go Chiefs! Go Tay & Travis!)https://ellywynia.com/Top of Form Creating Midlife Calm is a podcast designed to guide you through the challenges of midlife, tackling issues like anxiety, low self-esteem, feeling unworthy, procrastination, and isolation, while offering strategies for improving relationships, family support, emotional wellbeing, mental wellness, and parenting, with a focus on mindfulness, stress management, coping skills, and personal growth to stop rumination, overthinking, and increase confidence through self-care, emotional healing, and mental health support.Send us Fan Mail****About the Host:MJ Murray Vachon LCSW is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with more than 48,000 hours of therapy sessions and 31 years of experience teaching her Mental Wellness curriculum, Inner Challenge. Four years ago she overcame her fear of technology to create a podcast that integrated her vast clinical experience and  practical wisdom of cultivating mental wellness using the latest information from neuroscience. MJ was Social Worker of the Year in 2011 for Region 2/IN.Creating Midlife Calm is a podcast designed to guide you through the challenges of midlife, tackling issues like anxiety, low self-esteem, feeling unworthy, procrastination, and isolation, while offering strategies for improving relationships, family support, emotional wellbeing, mental wellness, and parenting, with a focus on mindfulness, stress management, coping skills, and personal growth to stop rumination, overthinking, and increase confidence through self-care, emotional healing, and mental health support.