The key to creating lasting empowerment lies in self-awareness, self-understanding, and self-knowledge. In this video, I share my personal experience and insights on WHY getting to know oneself deeply and intimately is such a valuable endeavor. The more I know and understand myself, the more empowered I feel. Self-awareness is my greatest tool for navigating whatever comes my way. The personal freedom gained through thorough self-reflection, exploration, and discovery can be life-altering. Knowing ourselves intimately empowers us to consciously and intentionally choose how we live our lives. But we must be willing to put in the work necessary for transformation. KEY MOMENTS 00:00 Coming Up… 0:11 Intro 0:55 Self-Awareness as a Tool for Empowerment 3:59 Making Conscious, Intentional Choices 5:34 Feeling at the Mercy of Addictions? There IS Hope 5:49 Recognizing Wanting More 6:12 Breaking Unhealthy Habits: Pt. 2 Video Clips 7:10 Understanding Root Causes 8:08 Know Yourself Inside Out 9:19 Shadow Work: Peeling Back the Layers 9:45 Self-Knowledge Determines How I Respond 10:39 Being Aware – An Example of How I Catch Myself 11:14 Invitation to Share Something You Learned About Yourself 11:21 Upcoming Videos 11:33 Outro DISCLAIMER: This channel’s content is informational only and is not medical, mental health, or life advice Guidelines - Kindness. Compassion. Inclusion. Respect. - Encourage and inspire rather than invalidate, criticize, or diminish - Heart-centered comments and engagement are encouraged - Deliberate attempts to sow discord will be invited to align with a higher vibe If you resonate with this channel, I invite you to subscribe for upcoming notifications Contact Barbara Lawrence for collaborations, shoutouts, interviews, creative projects and more: info@empoweredcoward.com Coming Soon: https://www.empoweredcoward.com (My Story, Resources Page, Free PDF downloads, Blog, Special Highlights, and more!) CONFIDENTIAL 24/7/365 CRISIS SUPPORT In the United States: Call/Text/Chat: 988 Outside the United States: https://findahelpline.com SHOUTOUT to Ren Gill who embodies the frequency of Heart-Centered Empowered Living and Learning to Thrive No Matter What Circumstances Thanks, Ren for inspiring this channel to be a resource, to celebrate others, and offer hope to those stuck in shadows @RenMakesMusic REN - ONE MILLION SUBSCRIBERS – Defining Success https://youtu.be/0GeheniEoNg?si=GfeGrFLRQIpUxAyw Ren - Hi Ren (Official Music Video) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s_nc1IVoMxc&t=0s SHOUTOUT to Wynand Fourie whose song, Love’s Healing (A Song for REN) Ft. Renegades will continue to expand heart chakras around the world! Thank you! @wynandfouriemusic Wynand Fourie (ft. Renegades) | Love's Healing (A Song for REN) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tgg2Nb7yunw Helping Me on My Journey: Mebot – @officialmebot | Second Brain and Companion AI app that not only organizes your notes but enhances memory & creativity. LOVE it! (full review soon) https://www.me.bot Christine French, Guided Insight, LLC (My Energy and Mindset Shifting Practitioner) Intuitive. Accurate. Empathic. Helping me learn to be less serious, embrace play, clear my energy field of discord, and align my frequencies for my greatest good. https://www.guidedinsightllc.com Rafi Perez and Klee Angelie (My Creative Coaches) Lovely, down-to-earth creative beings helping me cut through the noise and embrace my messy self. @rafiwashere https://rafiandklee.com @TimWelchVocalStudio - Thanks, Tim for your wonderful support and guidance! Great vocal analysis and genuine human being! https://timwelchmusic.com Dr. Linnea Passaler https://www.thenervoussystemsolution.com Read my success story in Chapter 9 of her book 'Heal Your Nervous System: The 5-Stage Plan to Reverse Nervous System Dysregulation' (I receive no compensation) https://www.amazon.com/Heal-Your-Nervous-System-Dysregulation Free Nervous System Dysregulation Assessment https://www.healyournervoussystem.com/assessment/?via=guxg4z6z Cara Dinley (Somatic-Source Practitioner) Our five one-on-one online sessions catapulted my expansion to a whole other level! Thank you, Cara! https://www.embodiedabundance.online Julie Madsen (My EMDR therapist for 3.5 yrs) Kind, compassionate, empathetic. Julie helped me reprocess my trauma experiences. Thanks, Julie! https://www.beehivecw.com/julie-madsen-lcsw MUSIC CREDITS Intro + Outro Music: Astyn Turr | Epidemic Sound: “I’ll Be Waiting (Instrumental)” (free for commercial use for Canva Pro account) PHOTO CREDITS Where I Was: christopher-campbell-Cp-LUHPRpWM-unsplash Where I Am Now: Looking for it! - unsplash It’s All Part of the Journey: Looking for it! - Canva Rocky beach: Looking for it! – Canva

Self-Compassion and Acceptance when experiencing chronic pain or illness or other challenges can provide not only comfort and relief but a sense of empowerment Thanks for checking out my very first YouTube channel video! I chose 12/21/24 Winter Solstice release date because it resonates with moving away from darkness and toward the light at a slow, steady, gentle pace and aligns with the frequency of Heart-Centered Empowered Living and Learning to Thrive This video concludes with a sneak peek of my second video release: ‘CELEBRATING Ren Gill and Wynand Fourie – Thank You!’ I invite you to check it out! Key Moments 00:00 Coming Up 0:48 Intro 1:21 Setting the Scene 2:07 Listening to My Body 4:00 Move at your body’s pace 5:36 I hear Ren Gill in my head 7:32 Be kind and gentle with yourself 7:52 Message and questions for viewers 9:15 SHOUTOUT to Ren Gill 10:08 SHOUTOUT to Wynand Fourie 11:41 Bye! and Outro SHOUTOUT to Ren Gill who embodies the frequency of Heart-Centered Empowered Living and Learning to Thrive No Matter What Circumstances Thanks, Ren for inspiring this channel to be a resource, to celebrate others and offer hope to those stuck in shadows @RenMakesMusic REN - ONE MILLION SUBSCRIBERS – Defining Success https://youtu.be/0GeheniEoNg?si=GfeGrFLRQIpUxAyw Ren - Hi Ren (Official Music Video) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s_nc1IVoMxc&t=0s SHOUTOUT to Wynand Fourie whose song | ft. Renegades | 'Love’s Healing (A Song for REN)' will continue to expand heart chakras around the world! Thank you! @wynandfouriemusic Wynand Fourie (ft. Renegades) | Love's Healing (A Song for REN) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tgg2Nb7yunw Contact Barbara Lawrence for collaborations, shoutouts, interviews, creative projects and more: info@empoweredcoward.com DISCLAIMER: This channel’s content is informational only and is not medical, mental health, or life advice Guidelines - Kindness. Compassion. Inclusion. Respect. - Encourage and inspire rather than invalidate, criticize, or diminish - Heart-centered comments and engagement are encouraged - Deliberate attempts to sow discord will be invited to align with a higher vibe If you resonate with this channel, I invite you to subscribe for upcoming notifications Coming Soon: empoweredcoward.com CONFIDENTIAL 24/7/365 CRISIS SUPPORT In the United States: Call/Text/Chat: 988 Outside the United States: https://findahelpline.com Helping Me on My Journey: Mebot – @officialmebot | Second Brain and Companion AI app that not only organizes your notes but enhances memory & creativity. LOVE it! (full review soon) https://www.me.bot Christine French, Guided Insight, LLC (My Energy and Mindset Shifting Practitioner) https://www.guidedinsightllc.com Rafi Perez and Klee Angelie @Rafiwashere (My Creative Coaches) https://rafiandklee.com @TimWelchVocalStudio timwelchmusic.com Dr. Linnea Passaler https://www.thenervoussystemsolution.com Read my success story in Chapter 9 of her book Heal Your Nervous System: The 5-Stage Plan to Reverse Nervous System Dysregulation (I receive no compensation) https://www.amazon.com Free Nervous System Dysregulation Assessment healyournervoussystem.com/assessment/?via=guxg4z6z Cara Dinley (Somatic-Source Practitioner) embodiedabundance.online Julie Madsen (My EMDR therapist 3.5 yrs) beehivecw.com/julie-madsen-lcsw @DrKateTruitt - chronic pain/illness meditations and Havening Touch videos (the method I learned for nervous system regulation/flexibility) drtruitt.com @MistyTripoli | Body Groove - self-compassion, body celebration through dance, worthiness, empowerment. I’m a lifetime member! mistytripoli.com @TherapyinaNutshell (Emma McAdam, LMFT) trauma, anxiety/depression, nervous system regulation, healthy living therapyinanutshell.com @TaroIwamoto – Nervous System Movement Coach, Feldenkrais Method taroiwamoto.com @drgabormate9132 (Dr. Gabor Maté) trauma, chronic pain, addictions drgabormate.com @AshleyPaquinOffical - tools and support for true success and well-being ashleypaquin.com @EssentialSomatics – chronic pain, somatic movement essentialsomatics.com @TheBareFemale – transformative yoga, healing, sensuality thebarefemale.com ADHD/Autism/AuDHD – I’ll cover this in separate videos! MUSIC CREDITS Intro + Outro Music: Astyn Turr | Epidemic Sound: “I’ll Be Waiting (Instrumental)” (free for commercial use for Canva Pro account) PHOTO CREDITS Where I Was: christopher-campbell-Cp-LUHPRpWM-unsplash Where I Am Now: Looking for it! - unsplash It’s All Part of the Journey: Looking for it! - Canva Rocky beach: Looking for it! – Canva

Have you ever struggled with starting something new? Your excitement and joy overshadowed or hijacked by fear, doubt, insecurity, perfectionism, imposter syndrome, leading to anxiety and overwhelm, frustration, procrastination, indecision, or even complete shutdown, possibly sending you into freeze mode? If you said yes to any of the above, this video might be for you. In this video, I use the example of starting my YouTube channel, but the information can be applied to any new endeavor or project that’s outside our comfort zone. I share some of my personal struggles, mistakes, and insights with starting this YouTube channel – one of my most empowering endeavors to date, particularly as a disabled woman in her 60s living with a history of trauma, Complex PTSD, ADHD, chronic pain, high sensitivity, and other challenges. I discuss how trying to “follow the rules” for a successful YouTube experience as a creator became detrimental to my well-being and mental health, leading me down a path I knew wasn’t right for me. I conclude with my empowering decision to ignore the rules and let my heart guide me, an invitation for us all to consider, and a supportive prompt for anyone struggling. Thank you for taking the time to visit my channel. I hope you find value in this video and invite you to explore the others I’ve posted. Blessings, Barbara Key Moments: 00:00 Opening Question 0:27 Channel Intro 0:47 A Bit of What’s to Come 1:20 A Rocky Start 1:54 Creating My Channel 2:50 Fighting the Formula for Success 5:32 My Trauma Gets Triggered 7:28 Following My Heart’s Calling 10:50 Sacrificing My Well-being and Mental Health 12:00 Mistake #1: Succumbing to Expert Advice 13:46 Mistake #2: The Pressure of Self-imposed Deadlines 15:23 Mistake #3: Perfectionism Prevents Welcome Video 16:15 A Bit About Fear 17:11 IGNORE the Rules! Doing It My Way 18:55 Neglecting Other Projects 19:54 Forging Our Own Path 20:51 My Invitation to You 21:46 If You’re Struggling 22:23 Outro 22:42 End Screen Videos SHOUTOUT to Ren Gill who embodies the frequency of Heart-Centered Empowered Living and Learning to Thrive No Matter What Circumstances Thanks, Ren for inspiring this channel to be a resource, to celebrate others, and offer hope to those stuck in shadows @RenMakesMusic REN - ONE MILLION SUBSCRIBERS – Defining Success https://youtu.be/0GeheniEoNg?si=GfeGrFLRQIpUxAyw Ren - Hi Ren (Official Music Video) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s_nc1IVoMxc&t=0s SHOUTOUT to Wynand Fourie whose song, Love’s Healing (A Song for REN) will continue to expand heart chakras around the world! Thank you! @wynandfouriemusic Wynand Fourie (ft. Renegades) | Love's Healing (A Song for REN) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tgg2Nb7yunw Contact Barbara Lawrence for collaborations, shoutouts, interviews, creative projects and more: info@empoweredcoward.com DISCLAIMER: This channel’s content is informational only and is not medical, mental health, or life advice Guidelines - Kindness. Compassion. Inclusion. Respect. - Encourage and inspire rather than invalidate, criticize, or diminish - Heart-centered comments and engagement are encouraged - Deliberate attempts to sow discord will be invited to align with a higher vibe If you resonate with this channel, I invite you to subscribe for upcoming notifications Coming Soon: https://www.empoweredcoward.com (My Story, Resources Page, Free PDF downloads, Blog, Special Highlights, and more!) CONFIDENTIAL 24/7/365 CRISIS SUPPORT In the United States: Call/Text/Chat: 988 Outside the United States: https://findahelpline.com Helping Me on My Journey: Mebot – @officialmebot | Second Brain and Companion AI app that not only organizes your notes but enhances memory & creativity. LOVE it! (full review soon) https://www.me.bot Christine French, Guided Insight, LLC (My Energy and Mindset Shifting Practitioner) https://www.guidedinsightllc.com Rafi Perez and Klee Angelie @RafiandKlee (My Creative Coaches) https://rafiandklee.com Julie Madsen (My EMDR therapist) https://www.beehivecw.com/julie-madsen-lcsw @TimWelchVocalStudio - Thanks for your support and guidance! https://timwelchmusic.com Dr. Linnea Passaler https://www.thenervoussystemsolution.com Read my success story in Chapter 9 of her book Heal Your Nervous System: The 5-Stage Plan to Reverse Nervous System Dysregulation (I receive no compensation) https://www.amazon.com/Heal-Your-Nervous-System-Dysregulation Free Nervous System Dysregulation Assessment https://www.healyournervoussystem.com/assessment/?via=guxg4z6z Cara Dinley (Somatic-Source Practitioner) https://www.embodiedabundance.online MUSIC CREDITS Intro + Outro Music: Astyn Turr | Epidemic Sound: “I’ll Be Waiting (Instrumental)” (free for commercial use for Canva Pro account) PHOTO CREDITS Where I Was: christopher-campbell-Cp-LUHPRpWM-unsplash Where I Am Now: Looking for it! - unsplash It’s All Part of the Journey: Looking for it! - Canva Rocky beach: Looking for it! – Canva

In this video, I share my revelation of how I quickly become bored with eating highly nutritious breakfast foods while being completely fine with eating foods considered less healthy. I invite exploration into why we tend to find certain foods and beverages more comforting than others and conclude with an update as to how I solved this dilemma for myself. KEY MOMENTS 00:00 Posing a Question 0:21 Coming Up… 0:42 Intro 1:10 Sharing My Dilemma 4:55 Soothing Self with Food 5:37 My “Unhealthy” Food at Home 6:03 A Mindset and Frequency Shift 7:52 Judgement-free Exploration 11:46 Gaining Control of Disordered Eating 12:47 Closing Comments 13:07 How I Solved My Dilemma 15:18 Sugar Disclaimer and Facts 16:02 Wrap-up 16:42 Outro 17:10 End Screen - Recommended Videos SHOUTOUT to Ren Gill who embodies the frequency of Heart-Centered Empowered Living and Learning to Thrive No Matter What Circumstances Thanks, Ren for inspiring this channel to be a resource, to celebrate others, and offer hope to those stuck in shadows @RenMakesMusic REN - ONE MILLION SUBSCRIBERS – Defining Success https://youtu.be/0GeheniEoNg?si=GfeGrFLRQIpUxAyw Ren - Hi Ren (Official Music Video) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s_nc1IVoMxc&t=0s SHOUTOUT to Wynand Fourie whose song, Love’s Healing (A Song for REN) will continue to expand heart chakras around the world! Thank you! @wynandfouriemusic Wynand Fourie (ft. Renegades) | Love's Healing (A Song for REN) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tgg2Nb7yunw Contact Barbara Lawrence for collaborations, shoutouts, interviews, creative projects and more: info@empoweredcoward.com DISCLAIMER: This channel’s content is informational only and is not medical, mental health, or life advice Guidelines - Kindness. Compassion. Inclusion. Respect. - Encourage and inspire rather than invalidate, criticize, or diminish - Heart-centered comments and engagement are encouraged - Deliberate attempts to sow discord will be invited to align with a higher vibe If you resonate with this channel, I invite you to subscribe for upcoming notifications Coming Soon: https://www.empoweredcoward.com (My Story, Resources Page, Free PDF downloads, Blog, Special Highlights, and more!) CONFIDENTIAL 24/7/365 CRISIS SUPPORT In the United States: Call/Text/Chat: 988 Outside the United States: https://findahelpline.com Helping Me on My Journey: Mebot – @officialmebot | Second Brain and Companion AI app that not only organizes your notes but enhances memory & creativity. LOVE it! (full review soon) https://www.me.bot Christine French, Guided Insight, LLC (My Energy and Mindset Shifting Practitioner) https://www.guidedinsightllc.com Rafi Perez and Klee Angelie @Rafiwashere (My Creative Coaches) https://rafiandklee.com @TimWelchVocalStudio - Thanks for your support and guidance! https://timwelchmusic.com Dr. Linnea Passaler https://www.thenervoussystemsolution.com Read my success story in Chapter 9 of her book 'Heal Your Nervous System: The 5-Stage Plan to Reverse Nervous System Dysregulation' (I receive no compensation) https://www.amazon.com/Heal-Your-Nervous-System-Dysregulation Free Nervous System Dysregulation Assessment https://www.healyournervoussystem.com/assessment/?via=guxg4z6z Cara Dinley (Somatic-Source Practitioner) https://www.embodiedabundance.online Julie Madsen (My EMDR therapist 3.5+ yrs) https://www.beehivecw.com/julie-madsen-lcsw MUSIC CREDITS Intro + Outro Music: Astyn Turr | Epidemic Sound: “I’ll Be Waiting (Instrumental)” (free for commercial use for Canva Pro account) PHOTO CREDITS Where I Was: christopher-campbell-Cp-LUHPRpWM-unsplash Where I Am Now: Looking for it! - unsplash It’s All Part of the Journey: Looking for it! - Canva Rocky beach: Looking for it! – Canva