Episode 184
Transforming Pain into Joy: The Healing Heroes Journey w/Chandler Stroud
Chandler Stroud joins us to delve into the profound subject of healing, illuminating the transformative journey toward holistic well-being. Stroud articulates her personal experiences, revealing the often-hidden struggles that accompany outward success, such as anxiety and the quest for self-worth. Through her Healing Heroes podcast, she emphasizes the importance of reconnecting with one’s inner self, fostering a sense of presence, and nurturing the mind, body, and spirit. This conversation underscores the necessity of community and shared experiences in the healing process, as well as the empowerment that arises when women support one another on their respective journeys. We invite you to reflect upon your own path and consider how healing not only enhances individual lives but also radiates positively into the broader community.
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The dialogue between Tamala Shaw and Chandler Stroud unfolds as a profound exploration of healing, particularly through the lens of women’s experiences in contemporary society. Stroud recounts her personal journey, marked by anxiety and a relentless pursuit of validation stemming from childhood traumas. This candid reflection serves as a reminder that many individuals, despite external successes, grapple with internal struggles that often go unacknowledged. The conversation highlights the importance of addressing these emotional challenges, asserting that true healing requires a commitment to introspection and self-discovery, beyond mere accomplishments.
Moreover, the episode delves into the societal pressures that hinder genuine presence and connection, particularly in an age dominated by technology and constant multitasking. Shaw and Stroud emphasize the necessity of fostering emotional awareness and resilience, advocating for a return to authenticity in relationships. The dialogue resonates with listeners who may feel overwhelmed by the demands of modern life, prompting reflections on the significance of nurturing one’s mental health amidst external distractions. The speakers’ insights into the healing process serve as a clarion call for individuals to prioritize their emotional well-being, recognizing that healing is not only a personal journey but also a communal endeavor.
In the latter part of the episode, Stroud introduces the Healing Heroes Happiness Academy, a community initiative designed to provide support for women embarking on their healing journeys. This initiative embodies the essence of shared experiences, fostering a sense of belonging among participants. Stroud’s vision underscores the power of community in facilitating personal growth and healing, encouraging women to connect with one another as they navigate their paths. The episode concludes with an uplifting message, inspiring listeners to engage in their healing processes, thereby initiating transformative changes not only in their own lives but also within their families and communities.
Links referenced in this episode:
- codependentme.org
- codependentme@outlook.com
Transcript
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Speaker B:Welcome to the Codependent Me podcast. I am your host, Tamala Shaw, a recovering codependent, the co author of God Turn Mommy's Wine into Water, and I'm a certified life coach.
On this podcast, we discuss a lot of relevant topics. But the podcast was created to increase the awareness of codependency and to give information on how to live a more holistic life.
Welcome to the Codependent Me podcast. I am your host, Tamela Shaw. Today we have yet another podcaster, which I love. It is Chandler Stroud.
She's going to talk to us today about healing, healing, healing, healing. Welcome to the show, Chandler.
Speaker A:Thank you so much for having me, Tamla. I'm so excited to be here.
Speaker B:Yes, thank you. Thank you. We. I was. We were talking a little bit before the show. You have this beautiful community that you. You speak to on a weekly basis.
Speaker A:Absolutely, yeah. New episodes every Wednesday morning.
Speaker B:I love it. It's called Healing Heroes Podcast.
Speaker A:That's correct. The Healing Heroes podcast.
Speaker B:Yes. So before we get into the healing, let us know. Chandler.
Speaker A:Oh, man. Where to start? I think, you know, it's so interesting.
I love to begin by saying that I am someone who all my life has been trying to prove her worth, honestly. And it started as a young girl facing a number of challenges, childhood traumas, all the things that so many of us have been through. Right?
And you try to prove that you're enough, prove that you're lovable, prove that you're productive. And you do, and you do, and you do all day long. And that worked for me for a really long time. I was successful. I have advanced degrees.
I worked at a Fortune 500 company as a marketing executive. And I built this life that I always wanted for myself. I'm a mom of two beautiful children. I have an amazing, supportive husband.
I'm living in a community that I adore. I have the job that I always dreamed of. Everything seemed perfect on the outside, but on the inside, I was struggling with anxiety.
I was stressed out. I felt I had always navigated and coped with digestive challenges. And I had felt, even in my happiest moments, like something was missing.
Like I should be happier. Everyone else around me looks so happy. Why am I not feeling this way?
And that led me on this journey, this incredible adventure to heal my mind, body, and spirit unexpectedly. And it's changed my life.
I have achieved new levels of happiness, joy, joy, health, presence that have allowed me to connect with my kids, my friends, my family in new ways. And now my passion is sharing that with the world and trying to help other women change their lives and access this kind of joy.
Speaker B:Oh, I love that. I know. There are so many people on listening right now that can identify with at least 90% of what you say.
We are so busy in today's world that we are multitasking. We are not being present.
Anxiety is skyrocketing right now, and we're not truly present with the family because, you know, even if it could be the kids on the phone and, you know, are there tablets and social media, all these different, you know, these different things that are pulling us away from us, and we're trying to be so many things that we don't even take the time to authentically know who and what we are. Right.
Speaker A:I totally agree.
And I talk about the work I do on the show as helping women come home to themselves again, reuniting heart and mind, being present and operating from a completely different space.
Because while I would love to go out and change the world and, you know, figure out boundaries with technology and all of the things, it starts with you, you know, a lot of those external challenges aren't going anywhere. So the thing that we have control of that we can change is our response to. To them. And it's so empowering to know you can heal yourself in that way.
It is possible to not be triggered and to find peace and less conflict within.
Speaker B:I love that. So Healing the Healing Heroes podcast. Yes, it's your podcast as well as you have a website, but let's get into the.
Let's get into the Place podcast right now. What are they going to hear?
Speaker A:Well, we talk about healing and specifically helping women come home to themselves again, as I said. And what that means is really tapping into that inner knowing, hearing their intuition again.
And my podcast is very different from a lot of other podcasts out there because. Well, first off, these are my very own healers, as I like to call my board of advisors, who.
Who took me from point A to wherever I am in that journey right now, but hopefully nearing the end, I like to think our whole life is a journey to heal, and you don't really reach that destination. You just continue shattering new ceilings of joy as you work through this lifetime. Right. And so these healers are my very, very own practitioners.
There's 12 of them on the show, and we're really unique in that. I don't really invite guests on the show.
Speaker B:You don't have a reason to. It's these 12.
Speaker A:Well, I. There's so many.
Speaker B:Right.
Speaker A:Yeah, it's it is. It's a community I'm building.
And while there's so many amazing practices out there and so many experts and healers that I would love to interview, I have such authentic bonds and relationships with these 12 individuals who have helped me heal my own pains and traumas. And I want to bring their expertise and their knowledge to the world. And making those connections is really important to me.
And I think as our listeners know more about the heroes, they become familiar voices, and they help them feel less alone in doing this work.
Speaker B:Love that. So your 12 healers, like, do they have specific specialties?
Speaker A:Yes, they do. I'm so glad you asked that question.
Their specialties range from what you would expect, traditional mainstream healing modalities like mindset coaching or psychotherapy and emdr, all the way through the more mystical and surprising practices you can do to start healing your mind, body, spirit, like human design, tarot reading, astrology, psychic mediumship. We talk about yoga, breath work, meditation, myofat.
And we also do a lot of work in somatic practices, because I'm a very big believer that you have to focus on your body, your physical being as well.
And so we talk about Rolfing, acupuncture, myofascial release, and all the different ways you can release trauma and emotion that is stored in your physical tissue from your body.
And so they all practice a variety of different healing modalities, but it's been so exciting to learn about them, their personal journeys, and then share their knowledge with the world so that women everywhere have these tools that they can access to come home to themselves again and feel more present in their bodies.
Speaker B:That's wonderful. It's all, like, when you're talking, I see almost like I want to say a retreat or I don't want to say clinic, because I know it's. It's not a.
It's not a building. However, you have everything you need. It's like the Walmart of healing, right? It's like every. The Amazon of healing.
Speaker A:The Amazon of healing is right there.
Speaker B:You have no reason to go outside of there. I mean, I don't need any harm and would have loved to have been on there myself. However. However, you have.
You have no reason that is so wonderful that you have so many specialties to pull from. Right?
Speaker A:The idea is, I don't think healing's prescriptive, right? Everybody's so different. So where acupuncture might speak to one person, another person might be like, I'm terrified of needles.
You couldn't pay me to go do that. Right. That's okay. We have a whole other array of options for you that feel authentic to you, the individual.
And so what I really wanted to do was curate a selection of different ways to feel present in your body, to shift your energy and your mindset, and then also believe in something bigger than yourself. So spirituality is a really big pillar of the show. And the Reverend Lizzie McManus Dale is such a core tenant of the healers. It's, it's so great.
I love my conversations with her because whether you believe in God, the universe, or a multitude of other things, the point is, is that you're not alone. You're never alone. And I really want listeners to internalize that and realize that they have the support if they want to believe in it.
And it's so powerful.
Speaker B:I love that. And you are on all podcast platforms, correct?
Speaker A:Yes, yes. Anywhere you podcast, you can download our audio files and we even have a YouTube page.
So if you want to search Healing Heroes podcast on YouTube, you can watch every episode as well.
Speaker B:That's awesome. That's fantastic. I complete. I love that. It's, it's different. It's, you know, it's what's needed in today's world.
Speaker A:Yes.
Speaker B:Because like you said, everything is not for everyone. So that's good stuff. Congratulations on that.
Speaker A:Thank you so much. Thank you.
Speaker B:Absolutely. So will you tell the audience you've got this new, this new situation that you're starting with your community.
Can you let the audience know about it?
Speaker A:Yeah, absolutely.
d the show last July, July of:And I would love to do one on one coaching, but there's just not enough time in the day for me to do that and make the mark that I want to leave on the world.
So I am creating a membership, an online community where I am curating a healing journey Jumpstart for, for all of our listeners who want to do this work for themselves and they'll get access to my heroes. I will lead weekly calls.
But more than anything else, I think they'll be in community with other like minded women looking to do this work for themselves so they have the support. They really will feel that love, that embrace and they know they won't be on their own.
And I think, you know, what's better than having, you know, a step by step approach, a roadmap to heal.
And so I really want to offer that and really just allow people to do this work and have fun with it, because a lot of the modalities we talk about on the show are effective, but they're also fun. It's not all hard, and I think healing is. It really can be fun. And I want to teach that to anyone who's ready to. To dive in. But the.
The only final thing I will say is, like, the goal is to empower these women to do the healing on their own. It is truly a jump start.
We want to get you started, make sure that you're walking the course, and then we're there to support you for a full year, even though you will be off doing the work on your own. So that is. That is the concept behind. We're calling it the Healing Heroes Happiness Academy, and it should launch at some point this summer.
So follow us on Instagram and stay tuned because we will absolutely be. We will absolutely be accepting members very soon.
Speaker B:I think that's phenomenal.
It's a beautiful community because when people come together and they've gone through something, how wonderful is it that you have someone, you can feel connected? Not only do you have the heroes. Right. But you have the people. And sometimes people don't have people. Especially.
There's a lot of us who don't feel as if they belong or they don't feel as though they want to burden other people with what's going on, or they may be ashamed of certain things going on in their household or within them, and they don't want to talk about it with people who they know don't under or who they feel as though don't understand. So what a beautiful community that you'll put together, where people come together and really feel like this is a sisterhood.
Where's the goal this person had? They understand what I'm going through, and they may, you know, oh, my gosh, it gives me chills just thinking about it.
Because truly, truly, in a community, you will thrive. Yeah, they will thrive not only with one another, but you have the heroes right there at your hands. Right.
So, yes, they can do the work on their own, but when they need someone to lean on, they'll have that.
Speaker A:Yeah. I mean, imagine going into a forum and saying, I thought I was healing, but I snapped at my kids this morning trying to get out the door for school.
Like, I would love to Weigh in on that and say, guess what? I did too. But here's what I did right after that to bring back the energy to a place I could be proud of, you know, or have you tried this before?
You're getting them out the door just to like center yourself. I mean, there's so many tips, tricks, or just even hearing, hey, I did it too. It's okay. We're not perfect, but we're trying and we're aware.
And truly, if you are on a healing journey, get curious. And the awareness is such an important first step.
If you are aware of where you're getting triggered and where you want to make changes in your life, like you're ahead of 90% of the population. Truly, truly, awareness is so, so key.
And so I just, I think it's such an important first step and we don't give ourselves enough credit for those smaller that step. You're right. Right?
Speaker B:You are so right. I always say if you can name a thing, you can heal a thing. Right?
Speaker A:I love that.
Speaker B:If you can name it, that is huge. It's huge. I was. You answered my question. I was just about to ask that. If anyone was listening and they just don't know what to do.
What's that first step? Having the awareness? Absolutely.
Speaker A:Awareness. Awareness. And, you know, I think that comes through a lot of different places. I think it's fun to. I've always been into astrology. I love tarot.
Obviously, these are great tools to become more aware of your tendencies with. Without any bias or, you know, you can actually, it's. It's a very like, objective way of looking at your behaviors and how you think about the world.
So that's can be a really fun place to just get inspiration and to start the process. But I do think awareness is so key. And if you find yourselves in a situation where you're saying, why am I so upset by this? Like, why am I so angry?
Or why am I so sad? Ask yourself that question, like, why? If you're bothered by your reaction, ask yourself, why? Why do I care so much about what this person did?
Or that I didn't get this done, or that my kids did this a certain way? Like, what is it that's bothering me? And just ask yourself those questions in those moments, and it becomes a muscle you strengthen over time.
And the more you ask why, the deeper you'll go and you'll start getting some answers and. And that's where the real healing begins.
Speaker B:I love that because, you know, we don't always realize that the the answers are within us.
Speaker A:They are, they are. You have everything you need inside you. Every single thing.
Speaker B:Absolutely.
Speaker A:And I know that can sound cheesy, really, but I have to tell you, as someone who's lived and breathed this work, and you have to remember I'm coming from like a very rational, logical existence, executive, you know, corporate mind into this world of. Many think of it as woo woo. But it's truly not. I mean, these practices have been around for thousands of years.
They are ancient in nature, many of them, and there's a reason we keep coming back to them. It's because they work. Right. And it, it really is so powerful to just understand yourself. And that's really what a lot of these things do.
And I would say if you want to take it a step further, commit to yourself to doing something every day. Even if it's five minutes, two minutes, is it? Deep breaths, three deep breaths.
Before my feet hit the ground, I'm going to take three deep breaths and feel it in my abdomen. No, shallow breaths into my heart space. I mean like three deep abdomen breaths. Right. Like that's so easy. We can all do that.
Or maybe it's a five minute meditation, or maybe it's taking three sips of your coffee outside with your feet, face in the sunlight, whatever it is, make a commitment to yourself to do that every day. And the more you show up for that commitment, you're again training a muscle to show up for yourself and prioritize yourself and your needs.
And that's really where it starts to snowball into other areas of your life.
Speaker B:Absolutely, I completely agree. And once you commit to that and you start doing those things and you'll get answers quickly, a lot more.
Because you know, right now you might ask yourself a question and because of everything that's going on, like you can't. I don't have the answer, I can't find the answer.
But if you take those deep breaths or you go and place yourself in nature, you take those moments, just five minutes to meditate. It clears, pours out some of that muck, right? You have a little bit more to be able to find those answers.
Speaker A:Yes. And thank you for coming full circle and bringing me back. But yeah, the point is to get quiet with yourself and take that pause.
Because the modern world, your day to day, your productivity, your go, go, go. That's why you're not hearing the answers. When you get quiet and pause, you realize that the answers are within you. And I think we are so busy.
That's what I love about A lot of the approaches that I talk about on the show is that they sort of get the answers out of you.
Right when there's a lot of other noise and you're not used to quieting your mind, these sort of gently but forcibly push you over the edge into that space of hearing yourself again, which I love because I always joke. When I was working at my old finance job, I couldn't meditate. People would say, be present, meditate. I couldn't access it.
I spent an insane amount of money to pay someone to teach me to meditate. Do you know we sat in a room together in silence for like an hour, and I paid for that.
It's crazy to think about, but I felt like I was doing it wrong.
Speaker B:They are uncomfortable in the silence.
Speaker A:Yes.
Speaker B:Part of the problem.
Speaker A:Oh, it's such a good point. Tamela. Yes.
Speaker B:I apologize. I interrupted you. I'm sorry.
Speaker A:No, you didn't. That's such a good point. I'm so glad you said that. Yeah. People are uncomfortable with silence. I always. We talk about on the show, too.
If you're into yoga, shavasana, the last fall, five minutes of a yoga class, you go into corpse pose, which is essentially, you lay on your back with your eyes closed, doing nothing because the pause is sacred.
How many women start rolling up their mat and leaving the room when it comes to just lying still because they are so not used to or equipped to be still? It's a real problem. But it's in that stillness that the magic happens. That's where you can hear yourself and start to make these changes, Changes.
And so I love a lot of these practices. Yoga, even acupuncture, sound healing, they really push you into this meditative state so you can understand what it feels like to be there.
And then the next time, it gets easier to access, and the next time, easier and easier, and it just unfolds from there.
Speaker B:Next thing you know, you are, you're on. You're on your healing journey.
Speaker A:You are. And it really is so fun.
Speaker B:It's so fun, so beautiful. Yeah, I love it. I love it. I wish I'd lived next door to you. I'd be at your doorstep all the time.
Speaker A:So come on over. Come on over.
Speaker B:Yes. Well, I want to thank you so much for sharing all of this beauty on the show.
And I just want the audience to know, please, if you are looking for a guide or guides to be able to find that piece so that you can access it within yourself, please check out Chandler's the Healing Heroes podcast. And Think about becoming a part of her community. Because when you have all of that goodness in one place, oh, my goodness.
I. I get tangles just thinking about it. Because I've been the person that was in corporate and it was something that was pulling me to some. To things that were more natural.
It was something that was pulling me, letting me know that all of this busyness is not natural.
Speaker A:Nope.
Speaker B:Waking up in the morning, rushing to work rather than taking those moments to meditate. I was that person. So I know how beautiful it is when you allow yourself, you give yourself permission to be with you. Oh, it's a wonderful thing.
So when you can do that in so many different aspects. Right. So many different places you have access to, that's a beautiful world. That's what you've put together. A beautiful world.
Speaker A:Thank you, Tamla. I really appreciate you saying that. That's very kind. Thank you.
And it has been just such an honor and pleasure to chat with you and work with my heroes. And I would say to anyone feeling like going on a healing journey is selfish or I don't have the time, or I'm doing too many other things.
What I will tell you is if you are willing and able to change yourself, the effects of. Of that create a halo effect that you just can't contain.
It changes your children, it changes your spouse, it changes your friends, it changes your community. One person healing changes the whole world around them. So it is one of the most selfless acts you can possibly engage in.
And I encourage you to get started if you're curious, because that is really where the magic happens.
Speaker B:Absolutely, I can concur. Well, Chandler, thank you so much for being on the show.
Speaker A:Thank you so much for having me. This was so much fun chatting with you, and I'm happy to do it anytime.
Speaker B:That works. Ah, it's wonderful. But I do ask all of my guests, even though you've dropped a lot of good nuggets.
Okay, one last nugget for the audience before you go.
Speaker A:One last nugget. I would say one thing that's often overlooked is your future. We think so much about what happened to me. How is it affecting my present here?
You know, we're so caught in the day to day. But when's the last time you took a step back and thought, how do I want to feel in one year, five years, 10 years?
And I don't mean like I want to be in this house with this car or this job? I need a feeling. How do you want to feel? Free, safe, peaceful, excited?
Because when you don't know where you're headed, you're on autopilot, you're just reacting to everything. But when you know how you want to feel, suddenly you have a destination.
And I would just pose, try that and watch if things around you start to change. Because I think it's a very powerful thing to create a vision for your future. And I think it goes overlooked or underestimated oftentimes.
Speaker B:That is so good. That's so good.
Because when you think about it, when you put that out in the atmosphere, you have to do the steps in your present to be that or to have that in your future. But if that's what you know, you. Oh, my goodness. You will start to walk that walk before you know it, right?
Speaker A:Yes. It's basic manifestation.
Speaker B:It is absolutely. That is a wonderful nugget. Thank you.
Speaker A:You're welcome.
Speaker B:Well, I want to let the audience know that I thank you for being on this podcast because there are millions out there and you chose this one, so I am grateful. And I want you to remember that you matter and your story matters. And until next time, me and Chandler are going to say goodbye.
Speaker A:Bye, everybody.
Speaker B:Have a great day. Bye. I truly understand that time is valuable, so thanks for listening. Be sure to check us out on our Facebook page.
Like us on Instagram website codependentme.org and if you need a coach, email me@codependentmeutlook.com.
