Insight and Inspiration – Connie Maday
On This Episode of Spark to Empower
Connie Maday. Educator, Mother, and Entrepreneur, shares insights and distilled research to support some big ideas around inspiration.
Learn three things you can do today to make a powerful impact on your life, so you can show up with more focus and clarity to become more creative.
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Helping students discover their spark, their passion, their why, is the reason I chose education. Throughout my teaching career, I have been privileged to learn from over 1,000 students in the K-6 grade setting.
As the world shifted through Covid, I felt called to realign my priorities of how I show up for myself and others and provide support in a new way. This is how Spark to Empower was born. The vision is to build a collaborative movement that supports parents, educators, and youth who are looking to deepen their consciousness and stay grounded with purpose. The world needs change makers who are rooted in empathy and compassion.
I build relationships and inspire mindset shifts needed to empower our youth to be innovative and successfully embrace all that life brings each day.
As a mother of three young children I’ve learned that parenting is an ever-flowing journey, there is no one-size-fits-all method, in fact there is so much information out there that it can feel overwhelming when trying to decide what to do, where to turn, and how to find answers to the challenges we all face. My hope is that the resources and inspiration shared on Spark to Empower will provide you with the knowledge you need to move through the unknown with more grace and ease. It takes a village and there is a community of inspiration awaiting you.
About the Host
Connie Maday
Founder of Spark to Empower
Listen to Other Episodes
Hello and welcome back to Spark to Empower.
I’m Connie Maday. Educator, Mother, Entrepreneur.
Here today with some Insights and distilled research to support some big ideas around inspiration.
Inspiration is all around us- when we stop and notice.
Dr. Tara Swart an MIT professor who focuses on Neuroplasticity spreads her message of self-care and transformation. Based on real science she shows how everyone has the capacity to change and reinvent themselves, no matter what patterns are already in place. She talks about how, “Letting your mind wander will actually lead to more creativity.”
So, giving yourself time to do nothing, is the key to actually allowing creativity to come. It’s the science behind being vs. doing.
Thinking about inspiration today - I am going to share three things that I do that help me to stay connected with myself, so I can be inspired. There are so many things we can do- and my routines are ever evolving, but for today- these three come to mind. Perhaps it offers you some confirmation to what you are already doing, or a new insight or idea to take into your day.
Okay- here we go- three things I do everyday:
1. Slowing down and taking deep breaths throughout the day. Try it- a few times a day - stop, take some deep breaths, notice how your body feels, thinking what can you adjust, let go of. Once you’ve had a moment with yourself and you are a bit more tuned in- then you can keep going. It’s amazing how much better a small pause in your day can make you feel.
Perhaps you’ve heard of Jay Shetty, a former Monk who talks about breathwork for the body and mind and how our body changes with our emotions. In his book, Think Like A Monk, he says, “We hold our breath when we’re concentrating, and we take shallow breaths when we’re nervous or anxious.” Pretty wild to think about how our breath actually gives us clues to how we are feeling, in case we aren’t sure. So- taking these moments throughout the day to check in with ourselves to see how we are doing really helps. It gives us the pause and internal reminder to SLOW DOWN. And-there is so much research out there about breathing as a way to calm our bodies, reduce stress, support the parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous system, and as a way to re-energize and increase our mood. Making time to pause like this where you have a longer exhale than inhale- it really helps release the emotions that can sometimes get stuck in your body, it gets you back to feeling good, grounded so you can be more present. When you are present- you are more likely to have those ideas and creativity show up. So, Taking a focused breath throughout the day helps you become more clear in your body and mind.
Okay-
2. Take time to be in nature/ notice nature. If you can - touch the earth- breath in the outside air. watch the trees move, notice the flowers, clouds, butterflies. It sounds simple, but that small act actually helps you open up your perception so you can then more clearly focus on whatever you were doing before. It helps provide you perspective that can help you step away so you can get back into your day with more focus. Maybe you’ve had that floating at your computer feeling, I know I have- where you’ve been staring at your screen for so many hours, you’re not really sure what you are looking at anymore. That’s when I know I really need a nature break. Look off in the distance- see the world outside the small frame I’m working in helps me get back on track. Nature breaks help me feel more grounded, present -so I can be more clear with my thoughts and that of course allows the inspiration to flow.
And last tip of today- Notice the things that make you laugh and smile throughout your day. See if you can recall them later, so you can share about them. Even better- share them with a friend or family member, so they will be etched in your mind and help amplify that “feel good” feeling. When we focus on the things we enjoy, we are bringing to the surface the positive - and that helps us release dopamine in our brains- which makes us want to feel that way again. Feeling joy- gets to gratitude and gratitude plays a major role in our mindset and how things go in our day. Essentially when we focus on the positive feelings and emotions, we create more of that in our lives. According to UCLA neuroscientist Alex Korb who teaches how we can tune our brain to achieve our brains optimal performance “We truly can't focus on positive and negative feelings at the same time.” So, help your brain learn to be more grateful, highlight the positive- by remembering the things that make you laugh, smile, and feel good.
Also, Dr. Swart (remember the MIT professor I mentioned earlier) with her research on neuroplasticity- which is the ability of the brain to form and reorganize synaptic connections - really it’s the study of how amazing our brain is. Well, Dr. Swart reminds us that we can override negative statements with positive ones to change our beliefs by living in a “brain first way”. She says to quote “believe it, until you are it”. Instead of saying fake it until you make it- she has reframed it to be more powerful reflecting the idea that when you believe something about yourself you can create that reality. So, helping train your brain to notice the positive, the joyful, the happy actually helps you with your brain workout - so you can build connections that allow you to take on the mindset of what is possible and that you enjoy. Make sure your mindset matches your dream! More about the brain in podcasts to come! It’s fascinating!
But for now, give your brain the credit it deserves, celebrate what’s working- because anything is possible.
Breaking it down: short and sweet- Top three things that I’m thinking of today
Take time to pause and take deep breaths
Notice nature AND
Find the joy throughout the day and put that at the forefront of your mind- help train your brain to notice the positive.
Okay friends- that’s it for today! More insights and inspiration soon and many more changemakers to share with you all! I’m so excited. Thanks for being on this journey with me.
Be kind
Be bold
Be you
Until next time, I’m Connie Maday.
Go out and make sure to make it a great day, everyday!
