Needy and Normal Podcast

EP 18 Self discovery and your intuition

Are you living an authentic life? Do you ever wonder, am I in the right career or with the right partner? Your authenticity, passion, intuition, and core values are your North Star.
You deserve to thrive in your own life. If you continue to lean into making choices based on what feels "safe" and or following what outside influence tells you to do or feel, this is your episode.
I share stories and examples from my own life and client experiences, to demonstrate how important it is (and not too late), to be led by your own intuition.
Listen for ways to truly become open to what you actually want and need; by discovering or rediscovering yourself, and what matters most to you.
This may be the wake up call you've been needing; to make a change in your life, or finally take action towards that dream or that passion that makes you tick.
Tell me what you connect to most at Ashley@abllifecoaching.com. Or at Instagram @abllifecoaching. To learn about coaching together, visit www.abllifecoaching.com. This is what I love to do. Coaching is my calling, and I can teach you how to find yours, too.
Thanks for listening to the Needy and Normal Podcast. Please leave me a rating and a review! It would mean the world to me.
"Your needs matter, because you matter." -ABL

EP 17 The need to belong, mistakes were made...

Join me in a personal episode of my two greatest mistakes when I was a new mom, that have now taught me two of my greatest lessons in life.
We all NEED to feel connected, to have a feeling of belongingness. If you find yourself feeling disconnected or on the outside, listen to this. You belong here.
In this episode, I share how as a new mom I felt isolated, and how I believe I battled a level of postpartum depression.
Listen for how I was feeling alone because I feared connecting with other moms. I was in a time where I was reluctant to take initiative.
Living in a new location, had quit my job, no family nearby, a new baby, no friends yet, and with my sports broadcaster husband traveling, I allowed all the changes to block me from connecting and thriving. It was tough to be vulnerable. I clung to the belief that I was meant to be doing it all by myself and was afraid to ask for help.
Listen for how I had to intentionally seek out connections and become consistent about showing up. Staying out of isolation helped stabilize the connections I so needed.
Listen for how these "mistakes" turned into lessons, essential for my personal development. I always say to my kids, "the best thing to do with a mistake is learn from it." You can, too...in anything.
I share how I went from doubting authentic offers to help, to trusting vs assuming people are not being genuine.
I share my pain points from childhood that caused some people pleasing tendencies, which also led to survival mode and the "do it all myself" mentality. Can you relate?
I share how I had to change my belief system to "my life requires help, and that's okay." Acceptance is huge and needs an episode of its own.
Without that belief now, I would be causing my life to be so much harder. You may relate to that, too!
Tending to the need for connection and help, did wonders for my life and it can for you too!
Find some relatable mom logistics in this episode with the kids and their activities!
Think about how you can be creating your own support system, however it looks, because it is so important.
Listen until the end for your call to action.
We can build a supportive community right here with Needy and Normal. Please reach out anytime!
Your needs matter because you matter. Thanks for listening!
For information about coaching together, visit abllifecoaching.com and follow me on instagram @abllifecoaching for mindset tips, encouragement and support…and some fun things, too! Send me a message anytime! I mean it.
Take care,
Ashley

EP 16 Life after loss, with guest Carly Ritt.

Welcome to Episode 16: Life after loss with Carly Ritt. Enjoy listening to Carly's journey of finding her way and her voice after losing her mom and brother. She's a Wisconsin native living in Connecticut, mom of two, self published author, marketing and communications professional, and one of my brilliant past clients. 
This episode starts with a question we all need to ask ourselves: What do you want, what do you need?
Listen for Carly's take on processing grief and becoming a mom at the same time.
You'll hear how so much of navigating through the harder times is about prioritizing your needs and asking for what you need. 
Carly confesses that finally establishing a morning routine that works for her made a big difference. And how owning the need to show up for herself has become a great thing her kids to witness. 
Listen for Carly's take on how steering through hard feelings is about relearning to truly feel them. You can allow a bad day to be a bad day, instead of pushing challenging feelings away with work and distractions. This is how you give yourself permission to actually grieve.
Carly shares her heartache in becoming a mom without a mom, and how believing in signs of her mom still near ultimately inspired her to write her book.
Angels in the Sky is a children’s book for comfort and understanding during loss of a loved one. Carly shares how writing the book helped her process her own grief. “I had no idea what I was doing but I was determined,” she says as a mom of tiny humans at the time.
There is a difference between loss of life, and loss of the way you pictured how your life would look, Carly mentions. And you get to learn that how you grieve is personal to you.
As promised in the episode, here are Carly's tips/guidelines on how to offer support to friends or family members when they are experiencing loss:
Don’t compare losses. It’s so unique to that individual.
Help to NOT add decisions to their plate if possible. Just pick up the coffee or make that run to Target, just go. Get the mail, remove daily tasks.
Saying something is better than nothing, like a text saying “thinking of you, no need to respond!”
Ask specific questions, “want to talk about it, or want to talk about something to distract you?” Two options is better than an open ended question. OR
Ask, "how are you doing today or right now?" Make questions smaller, to make them easier to answer depending on the relationship.
Show up, no need to try and "fix" things.
Carly is proof that you can achieve, grieve, learn, and grow all at the same time. And that it’s okay to ask for help, take time off of work, and have a hard day. Carly shares her life on social in order to “normalize everyday lived experiences.”
Bio: Carly Ritt is a mom of two living in Connecticut by way of Wisconsin. She's a Midwest girl at heart but loves life on the east coast. She works in communications and shares more of her unfiltered life on social media — chatting about motherhood, work, grief, mental health and life's everyday chaos. 
Carly self-published a children's book Angels in the Sky in 2021 after welcoming her two children into the world while coping with the loss of her mom and brother. Carly hopes to inspire and connect with others who may be going through similar experiences.
Find Carly on Instagram @carlyritt and order her book, Angels in the Sky at carlyritt.com. 
Thank you for being here. Your needs matter, because you matter.
Please share this episode, rate the podcast and leave a review! It would mean the world to me. Let’s create positive impact together.
Thank you for listening! To get to know Ashley more, visit @ABLlifecoaching on Instagram and to learn about coaching together check out www.ABLlifecoaching.com. 
 

EP 15 The self-care reminder you need!

You may know all about self-care, but how is YOUR self-care going? This is your reminder that you are important, and self-care is something we all NEED!
This episode begins with a self-care game of true or false. Bet you'll ace it! Play along!
Listen for not only self-care explained, but also some TRUTHS about self-care that you can take with you today and always.
Is SELF-CARE actually SELFLESS?? (Spoiler - YESSSSS!!!!!)
Learn (or relearn) why self-care is so important.
This is your episode to help you remember that feeling guilty for self-care is NOT a “should” you need to give into. 
Listen for how society teaches us that self-care is a luxury when in fact it’s a necessity.
This is you REMINDER episode to give yourself permission to self-care, and to USE BOUNDARIES to meet your needs.
As this short episode nears the end, listen for an EXCLUSIVE mindset teaching ABL calls promise setting rather than goal setting. For a deeper explanation about how this works, contact Ashley at coachlevering@gmail.com or Ashley@ABLlifecoaching.com 
Your biggest takeaway needs to be: Take care of yourself, however that looks for you, no matter what! Your needs matter because you matter! 
Need to figure out your own self-care ingredients and needs to thrive and grow!  
Are you going through a life transition? You need self-care even more!
How can I help? Want to learn how to track your best self-care practices? Let’s talk about coaching! Visit www.ABLlifecoaching.com or find me on IG @ABLlifecoaching.
Thank you for being here and for listening to the Needy and Normal podcast. I'd truly appreciate it if you rate, review, and SHARE the pod with someone you care about today! :)
 

EP 14 Life Coaching Explained

Have you ever considered coaching? Want to know how much the personal development industry is worth? Curious about what life coaching entails? Want to know what the difference is between a coach and a therapist?
Listen (all the way to the end) for a dive into my methods and coaching beliefs, and for some overall truths about the work it takes to continue to grow and develop.
But first, we kick it off with a mindset fix for you (and me) to find happiness no matter what!
Listen for why and when people decide to seek out a coach and which typical outcomes are desired.
This episode will debunk some myths about coaching, to clarify how positive the experience is...spoiler alert: coaching is not always about saving you from rock bottom. It's more about support you NEED. We all need it. 
Learn the ABL Life Coaching theory, on how we are learning to parent ourselves or re-raise ourselves NOW, through personal development and coaching.
Listen for how emotions (even the deep ones), are not off the table in a coaching relationship, if they're blocking forward momentum. 
Rest assured that each experience working with a coach is meant to be customized, not a cookie cutter formula. It’s about what works for you!
It takes work, it’s a team effort and it often takes time, but you get to keep trying, especially with focus and the support from a coach.
Want to learn the five main pillars of personal development? I bet you KNOW THEM! Test your knowledge!
Let this episode also be a reminder that the best investment you can make is in YOURSELF.
There's a big picture at play: Personal development makes the world a better place! What do you think??
Now answer this question…do you need a life coach? Visit ABLlifecoaching.com or email me at Ashley@abllifecoaching.com. I am happy to be a resource for you OR be your coach. I love my work and I am here for you and your needs. Perhaps we're a great fit! Worth the complimentary chat!
Your needs matter, because you matter.
BONUS: Listen until the end for some little special guests! (My kids).
Thank you for listening to the Needy and Normal Podcast! You mean the world to me! Please rate, review, subscribe and SHARE! xo
 

EP 13 Boundaries that protect your peace and energy

Boundaries are a HOT topic! They need to be, let's be honest. Using your boundaries is not only essential, but also helpful in building your self-worth, honoring your true self, protecting your peace, and conserving your precious energy. Your needs matter, because you matter.
Listen for:
1. How to say NO, when you might (uncomfortably) say YES.
2. Recognize when your intuition is speaking to you.
3. Not allowing yourself to feel PRESSURE, guilt free.
4. Conserving your energy for things that matter to you.
5. How your to show yourself discipline, which is self-love.
6. How authenticity is IN and people pleasing is OUT.
Learn to manage unsolicited advice or judgment, and accept that using boundaries may disappoint people...and that's OKAY.
Find the encouragement you need, in this episode, to feel empowered to speak up, be yourself, and LOVE your precious self.
Thank you for listening. Don't forget to rate, review, and subscribe to the Needy and Normal Podcast! 
To learn more about Ashley, visit @abllifecoaching on IG and learn about coaching together at www.abllifecoaching.com
 
 

EP 12 Redefining success through shifting perspectives with guest, Mike Smith

How do you define success? How do you see yourself living your best life? Do you measure your success by career achievements, by what your family looks like, what house you have or what you drive?
In this episode, we look at the work-life balance from the perspective and point of view of a successful and high-achieving professional, father, husband, and an admittedly lifelong learner, Mike Smith.
Mike is the President of Scope Aviation, an personal aircraft finance leader in its industry.
He shares his perspectives on:
1. What may work for him might not work for you.
2. How accepting what success looks like to him in his home and at work is key.
3. How accepting that growth is necessary.
4. And how the ways in which to find happiness are unique to you.
Mike takes us through changes in his leadership role at work, having his first child, how things shifted in his marriage, and facing more change with another baby on the way.
Learn how even the highest of achievers have moments of reflection, and realize that shifting perspective on internal peace and overall life success can change (and often needs to change).
As a past client of mine, it has been a thrill to watch Mike create the life he wants by finding (and continuing to find) connection and balance within himself.
Mike points out how a zoomed-out view of your life is eye opening, helps you notice the wins you’ve been missing, and realize how important it is to slow down to see joy and feel calm.
Listen for challenges related to distractions…such as EMAILS and always feeling obligated to check them at any given moment.
Listen for ways we allow ourselves to fill time constantly, especially at work. While that may might make us feel productive, we're often less efficient with our time.
**Mike shares an awesome mindset trick for focusing, if you also face the email battle at work.
Listen for how the pressures to accomplish every task in a given day is a misconception of the successful professional.
Listen for how you can notice where shifts need to be made, and when to keep it simple!
You are a work in progress. You are allowed to be human. Let this help you find permission to be more human. It connects us to one another. We may need to see things differently, and slow down to see the good and real all around us. When we slow down, we can filter out the pressure we create for ourselves!
Listen for how to be a better example for your children, a new generation  who can manage success and pressures differently in order to stay focused on what’s truly important.
What's truly important to you? Perhaps your perspective on success will change once you hear this episode.
MIKE SMITH BIO:
Mike has been been in the aircraft finance industry since 2011 and in banking since 2006. Mike is a graduate of Ohio University, where he studied aviation and business, as well as obtained commercial pilot and flight instructor certificates. Mike is passionate about aviation and focuses on serving others by helping them thrive in business and in life. Mike is married with one son and a daughter on the way (Summer 2024).
Thank you for listening to the Needy and Normal Podcast! Please subscribe, rate and review the show! I appreciate it more than you know!
Find me on Instagram @abllifecoaching and to inquire about coaching with me, visit www.abllifecoaching.com

EP 11 The importance of having fun!

Have you heard yourself saying, “I don’t remember the last time I had fun” lately? In this episode, listen for why it is so important to have fun, and how science proves that it’s good for you! Having fun helps you find focus and clarity, and allows you to connect to gratitude and being present in your life.
Listen for a mindset check in how allowing yourself to have fun is a permission you get to give to yourself, no guilt needed. Fun is to be shared, a delightful distraction, and something we all need. You’ll even hear some ideas on what to do for fun! And in traditional Coach fashion, there is a takeaway at the end for you to practice in your own life. 
Thank you for listening, and please share this episode with someone who needs a a smile and a little “fun” reminder. And don’t forget to rate, review, and subscribe to the Needy and Normal Podcast. It means the world to me.
Find me on Instagram @ abllifecoaching. And to discover or rediscover lifecoaching, visit abllifecoaching.com. Initial sessions are complementary, and coaching can change your life. Sign up for the next live group coaching program, beginning in June 2024! Discounts available for listeners!
Your needs matter because you matter. Now go have some fun!

Five things you need to know about a life transition.

Are you facing a change in your life right now? Do you need to make a change in your life? In this episode, I'll walk you through five things you need to know to recognize a life transition and get through it.
Learn things that may comfort you as you move through a challenging time in your life.
Find reassurance as you discover what's normal about processing and embracing change.
Discover the three stages of a life transition, and how going through it alone is not an option.
Not only do you need to know these five things, this is also your episode for finding some clarity.
The things you will learn in this episode are also what I talk about in my work as a coach. Want to dive deeper? Let's talk about working together. Initial sessions are complimentary. Listeners receive 10% off your first coaching package! Don't hesitate to reach out, life transitions are my jam! I've got you, you beautiful human. Your needs matter, because you matter.
Visit ABLlifecoaching.com or find me on IG @abllifecoaching. 
Thank you for listening, rating, and reviewing the Needy and Normal Podcast! And don't forget to subscribe! :)

I have anxiety, you too?

Anxiety is a THING most of us are aware of and probably on a personal level. This episode will be one of many where anxiety is front and center. It's more normal to have it (and admit it) nowadays than ever, so let's normalize it for you too, dear listener.
This episode was not an easy one for me to share. I get personal and vulnerable. My goal is to connect to you with my story and my struggles. And to show you that it's okay, I see you, and you're not alone.
It's hard to regulate your emotions, and it's even harder when you don't know how. Listen for how I went from an anxious mess, waiting for my dad to come out of open-heart surgery, to managing my stress and anxiety with tools and consistent practices. You can do it, too! Please send me a note if this one strikes you, and please share this with someone who may need to hear that it's okay to struggle with anxiety.
WARNING: F*bombs drop at 10:28 and 11:38
As promise in this episode, here is a full list of my tools and best practices to manage my own anxiety. To create your own menu of tools and best practices, please reach out. I can help with that.
1. To calm the nervous system - anxiety meds (if needed), THC gummies (dosed), Ashwagandha or Holy Basil for other natural alternatives.
2. Good SLEEP habits.
3. Regular exercise.
4. Accept it. "I have anxiety, it's normal, and I can manage it."
5. Noticing the anxiety, calling it out, being curious, and taking action (action = distraction).
6. Talk to someone who feels safe (get support) i.e. therapist, coach, family, husband, close friend.
7. Less alcohol, MORE water.
8.  Manage expectations of situations and of other people. Accept that things will happen or change and I can only control myself. Live in flow, not in survival mode (always working on this one).
9. Reframe an anxious or negative thought to a positive thought, or change the story I am telling myself. I pause to reflect and get real with myself.
10. Breathing - in for 5, out for 8, either with eyes closed or by looking up or out to reset my brain (learned that piece of science from my therapist, and it's great to disrupt ruminating or overthinking).
11. Meditation - I usually listen to a short one on YouTube, Balance app or Insight Timer app.
12. Read before bed INSTEAD of scrolling. And DO NOT look at the phone first thing in the morning.
13. Be present with my kids. Focus on their needs (emotional needs especially), listen with my whole body to the things they share, and say YES when they want to play and have fun with me, and especially when they want to snuggle.
14. HUGS - I need lots of hugs (and smiles).
15. Eat healthy. And for me, I cut out gluten after years of sensitivity to it. I finally had enough, and I feel better overall and more clear-minded.
16. Have fun - dance, laugh, be silly/play, be a little spontaneous!
17. Use boundaries - say "NO" if my mind and body resists, I listen to it! I speak up, if need be.
18. I got off of birth control, and it seems to have regulated my hormones back to their natural rhythm...helped with monthly mood swings.
19. Remind myself that worrying is like sitting in a rocking chair, it gives you something to do, but nowhere to go. Or my new fav from my sister, Lindsay, "don't borrow trouble." Love that. <3
20. Love myself by taking care of my needs whether I need a massage, a moment of silence, or a good cry.
DO you use any of these, too? I'd love to hear from you! Visit me on the web at www.ABLlifecoaching.com or on Instagram @abllifcoaching.
Please rate, review, & subscribe. If you're curious about coaching, feel free to book a complimentary discovery session with me.
Thanks for listening! Your needs matter, because you matter. -A
 
#mentalhealthawareness #anxiety