The Aware Mind

Send a text In this episode of The Aware Mind , host Sarah Vallely reviews Jefferson Fisher's new book, "The Next Conversation: Argue Less, Talk More". Sarah covers five tips for conversations with difficult people, five more tips for beginning difficult conversations and even five more tips for communicating with narcissists. Learn how to better manage your emotions during charged...

Send a text In this episode of The Aware Mind , host Sarah Vallely and guest Nicole Handsman explore the complex dynamics of Internal Family Systems (IFS), focusing on how parts can form alliances or stand in opposition to one another. Through candid and heartfelt personal stories, both Sarah and Nicole share how their own parts have conflicted—like an overthinking part battling with a self-critic...

Send a text Listen to the complete meditation and others when you subscribe to The Aware Mind Exclusive Edition https://www.buzzsprout.com/2457574/subscribe "Simplify Your Thinking" is a guided mindfulness meditation designed to calm mental chatter and reduce overthinking. It begins by anchoring the attention on the breath, using it as a tool for single-pointed focus. This initial stage...

Send a text In this episode, Sarah is joined by licensed therapist Mike Comparetto to explore the concept of avoidance—specifically, experiential avoidance , which refers to the tendency to avoid unpleasant thoughts, emotions, and physical sensations. Together, they delve into how we often dodge discomfort by overworking, overthinking, or turning to substances and distractions like social media. W...

Send a text In this episode of The Aware Mind , Sarah explores what real vulnerability looks like in relationships—like admitting we’re scared, in pain, or unsure of ourselves. Most of us didn’t grow up in environments that encouraged emotional openness, so we developed protective behaviors to keep ourselves safe. But as adults, those same behaviors can block the deep connection we truly crave. Sa...

Send a text This is a preview. Subscribe to access the entire 14-minute meditation. In this guided mindfulness meditation for improving self-worth, you’ll explore the idea that each thought arising during your meditation is rooted in some level of feeling unworthy. As you settle into a calm, centered state, you’ll begin to notice thoughts that surface—whether they are worries, self-doubts, or judg...

Send a text In this powerful podcast episode, a mother and her 21-year-old transgender son share their journey from two deeply personal perspectives. The son opens up about his experience realizing he was transgender, the internal struggles he faced, and the mental health battles that followed—including depression, an eating disorder, substance use, and suicidal thoughts. His mother offers an emot...

Send a text This is a preview. Subscribe to access the entire 17-minute meditation. In this guided meditation, you will gently explore your inner world using Internal Family Systems (IFS), a powerful approach to self-awareness and healing. You’ll begin by grounding yourself in a state of calm and openness, allowing space for curiosity and self-compassion. As you settle in, you’ll be invited to con...

Send a text In this episode, Sarah describes in detail, Internal Family Systems (IFS). IFS is an approach some therapists use to help their clients gain better self-awareness of what stands in the way of their happiness and goals. Learn why you are a procrastinator, perfectionist or experience negative self-talk. IFS is a system within your psyche made up of three types of parts: the conscious sel...

Send a text Allow Sarah to lead you to notice a variety of stimuli, including your breath, body sensations and sounds in your environment. Rotating your attention between these different points of focus gives your mind just enough stimulation to stay alert and interested. If you're new to mindfulness meditation, the key is to start simple and be patient with yourself. Mindfulness is about pay...

Send a text In this episode, Sarah's guest, Missy Frisch, discuss the ways Mindset and Mindfulness support our mental wellbeing. These tools can make or break our emotional balance and clarity of thinking. What if an expert in mindset and an expert in mindfulness came together to talk about how these tools foster motivation, heal us emotionally and improve our relationships? Sarah and Missy s...

Send a text In this episode, Sarah's guest, Kim Thiel, and Sarah discuss the way mindfulness meditation can change the structure of your brain so you can better process your emotions, focus, and regulate your nervous system. Additionally, Kim talks about overcoming negative self-talk and finding clarity about her life's purpose. Kim is a blogger and fellow podcaster who helps women find...

Send a text In this episode, Sarah shares eight vital tips for setting boundaries. Learn whether you need to discuss your boundaries with others first, how anger should or shouldn't play a role, and how to set up a four-column prep guide for your boundary setting.  Also, explore the reasons we can forgive someone and have firm boundaries with them simultaneously. Overcoming your fears of what...

Send a text In this episode, Sarah talks to you straight about when to set boundaries, why to set them, and how emotional immaturity in others can challenge your boundaries. Learn why being defensive is the opposite to healthy boundary setting and why some people confuse boundary setting with being controlling. Boundaries are often challenging to set for those of us who have experienced relationsh...

Send a text As some of you might know, I live in Asheville, North Carolina, along with most of my show guests. I invite you to listen to my update and announcements about upcoming episode. If you are interested in making any donations to support the recovery of Western North Carolins, please consider the following: https://www.heartswithhands.org/ https://www.belovedasheville.com/get-involved/ htt...

Send a text This episode was recorded in front of a live audience. Sarah and her guest, Dr. Breese Annable, discuss the kinds of stress the US Presidential election is creating and whether this stress could be causing you chronic anxiety. Chronic anxiety can have an effect on your physical health and you deserve to feel better emotionally. There are ways to break the cycle of worry and emotional t...

Send a text In this episode, Sarah covers eight signs of emotional MATURITY, as well as ways to heal from a parent (or other relationship) who is emotionally harsh or dismissive. Identifying the people in your life who are emotionally mature and making time to connect with them, is key to healing. Setting boundaries is also instrumental in regaining a safe space for you to grow and heal. Sarah wal...

Send a text In this episode, Sarah covers eight signs of emotional immaturity and shows how being in a relationship with someone who is emotionally immature can be traumatic. Understanding these eight signs of emotional immaturity will help you identify where you end and the other person begins, which is the start of any healing journey for emotional abandonment. Explosive anger, self-absorption,...

Send a text In this episode, Sarah and Mike Comparetto are back at it. Mike, a licensed therapist, and Sarah, a trauma and anxiety coach, demystify the subject of self-worth. Much of the information available on this subject is somewhat vague, however, Mike and Sarah detail exactly how lack of self-worth shows up in our lives. Some examples include putting pressure on yourself not to make a mistak...

Send a text In this episode, Sarah describes in detail the RAIN technique for disengaging from, separating yourself from and separating yourself from your own thinking.  If you learn and use this technique you won't feel as mentally drained and feel physically more energetic. You will feel as though you have taken back being in charge of your life, versus your mind and thoughts pulling you in...

Send a text In this episode, Sarah and her guest Eliza Meadows, discuss the unique techniques of somatic healing and its powerful benefits. Somatic healing involves soothing your nervous system in the midst of something uncomfortable. This discomfort can include emotional pain, fear, traumatic memory, or feelings of anxiety. Eliza is a licensed therapist and a certified Organic Intelligence Somati...

Send a text In this episode, Sarah highlights the amazing realities of our inner voice, as described by Ethan Kross in his book "Chatter: The Voice in Our Head, Why It Matters, and How to Harness It".  Learn the truth behind why, we as humans, evolved to have an inner voice and what its original use was.  And be introduced to the seven methods Kross suggests we use to distance ourselves...

Send a text In this episode, Sarah and her guest, Breese Annable, Coach and Therapist, discuss the ten most common traits of imposter syndrome. Originally associated more with women, recent research shows that just as many men have imposter Syndrome as women. Find out why your nervous system gets triggered when you publicly receive an award or praise. Find out you try to hide your accomplishments...

Send a text In this episode, Sarah and a married couple, who are clients of hers discuss how to build emotional intimacy. They share about how, although previously mystifying,  vulnerability, is something they better understand now and depend on to feel close and secure in their relationship. They say understanding their own emotions and asking questions about their spouse's emotions has help...

Send a text In this episode, Sarah and her guest, Eliza Meadows, discusses their personal experiences getting to their own mindfulness practices. Learn why meditation retreats are transformative and why learning how to meditate without recorded guidance can launch your practice to new levels. Also, learn statistics about how meditation reduces anxiety and depression, improves pain management, and...