In Your Right Mind with Monique Rhodes

When we are trying to shift a habit, there is a question that we can ask ourselves that can make a huge difference as to whether or not we are successful in creating that new habit.

If you hope to be more efficient in your work life or personal life, there is an easy way to get much faster results.

When we begin to investigate our negative emotions, there is a powerful question that we can ask ourselves. What do I want? It is a key to helping us heal.

Energy always feels as though it is in short supply. However, there is an easy way for us to have more energy in our day.

We all get triggered. It's uncomfortable when we do because the emotions are usually not the fun ones. At the same time, getting triggered is a powerful sign.

There is a lot of research showing us how vital friendships are to our lives. But how many do we need to be well and happy?

When emotions overpower us, one of the things we can do is write about them. But as one of my students asked, how on earth can we write about our emotions? Here's an answer.

This podcast is about coping with negative emotions and thoughts. However, it also discusses depression. It is in response to a question. I hope it is helpful.

Many years ago, I wrote a song called Dear Michael. It was about a man I have been supporting for over 20 years.

Mother's Day can be tricky for many of us, and our relationships with our mothers are as different as each of us is different. Self-mothering is a way to take care of yourself. Some people never really outgrow their relationship with their mothers. If you feel like your mother has been controlling and critical, or even abusive in some way, it's normal to have trouble taking care of yourself. This can manifest as not setting boundaries, having trouble saying no, and feeling anxious about making decisions. Self-mothering is a self-nurturing practice that helps us heal by identifying our wounds and letting go of negative emotions that we've been holding onto for years. It's also about learning how to treat yourself as an adult who deserves love, attention, and care just as everyone else does! In today's podcast, I share a special and powerful piece of writing about our relationships with our mothers and encourage you to join me in a unique habit-changing process that I am embarking on.

It's been another big week, and there is a lot of noise on the world stage, especially in the USA. It might be time to look again at how you are showing up amongst the noise.

Most of us are imprisoned by our beliefs, unaware of them. In today's podcast, I explain why they can be such a problem.

Last night a tiny bird found its way into my house. It reminded me how meaningful these interactions are for our hearts.

Nothing can stand in your way when you know where you're going. But change also takes a shift in mindset. Sometimes we need to set things up in our minds so that we can change quickly.

Emotions are an integral part of being human. We all experience them, and we all want to be able to understand and express them—not just to others but also within ourselves. And while emotions can be difficult to understand, they can also be a source of great joy and healing. They aren't always logical or rational, which makes them hard to explain to others. Understanding your emotions is a skill that can be learned with practice and attention. You can learn to recognize your own emotions and understand them better, which will help you manage them more effectively. Emotions are an integral part of being human; they're what make us feel alive! But sometimes, we get caught up in difficult feelings that don't serve us well--and learning how to work through those feelings can feel like an impossible task. In today's episode, we will discuss facing your emotions.

No matter how down we feel, there is a source of happiness available to us. It gifts us in 2 crucial ways.

I've been contemplating a lot over this past week about happiness. It made me want to sing Hallelujah at the thought of how we can have it.

This week I am taking a much needed rest. So, I wanted to give you the 7 most listened to podcasts over the last 2 years. Today's podcast is one of those 7. I hope you enjoy it. When we dive deeper into our emotions, we can find a deeper understanding of ourselves and our past. They help us move beyond our thought patterns and get a better sense of what's going on in our lives. To move beyond these patterns, we need to dive deeper into our emotions and feelings. We can't move on from our past if we don't understand it. And this requires a certain level of vulnerability: being willing to feel uncomfortable in the present moment so that we can better understand why we feel the way we do and how those feelings affect us. This isn't easy; it takes time, patience, and practice. But by diving deeper into your emotions--the good ones as well as the bad ones--you'll be able to see yourself more clearly than ever before! When we are upset, or someone is upset with us, there is a quick way to get to the source of what is going on. In today's episode, this is what I am going to teach you. We will discuss the importance of looking beyond the surface and exploring your emotions. It's not always easy, but it can make a big difference in how you feel about yourself and the others around you. Diving deep into your emotions and feelings is an important part of healing from the past. You can't move on if you don't understand how the patterns in your life were formed, and why they continue to affect the way that you act now.

This week I am taking a much needed rest. So, I wanted to give you the 7 most listened to podcasts over the last 2 years. Today's podcast is one of those 7. I hope you enjoy it. One of my students wrote with a great question. She seems to do well with her self-care when everything is going OK. However, when a crisis hits, it all falls apart. She needs help in stopping this cycle.

Do your evening habits set you up for a better morning? In this episode, I explore the power of nighttime rituals and how what we do before bed impacts how we feel when we wake. I'll share simple, mindful practices to calm your mind, improve your sleep, and begin each day with more clarity and energy.

This week I am taking a much needed rest. So, I wanted to give you the 7 most listened to podcasts over the last 2 years. Today's podcast is one of those 7. I hope you enjoy it. You may feel like you can't just accept the world as it is and achieve happiness at the same time. You have to change it, make a difference and stand up against things that don't align with your values. The world as it is isn't the way we want it to be. The good news is that we don't need to change the world to be happy, just ourselves. When we accept that there are things beyond our control--and accept them with grace--our lives become easier and more peaceful. In the end, it's important to remember that life is a journey. You can't control everything that happens and you shouldn't try. But at the same time, there are things in this world that are worth fighting for--and it's okay to stand up for things that do not align with your values when those things occur in front of you. In today's episode, we will discuss an important question about how we can be happy even with so much adversity in the world.

This week I am taking a much needed rest. So, I wanted to give you the 7 most listened to podcasts over the last 2 years. Today's podcast is one of those 7. I hope you enjoy it. Life is a constant state of change. You know this, and I know this. You're probably familiar with the saying, "Change is the only constant." And that is true. Life always changes, whether you want it to or not. But still, it's hard to accept that things are always changing. We must accept that life is always changing. Even though nothing stays the same forever, you can try to make things work for you if you know how to adapt. Change isn't always bad; sometimes it can be good too. Change is inevitable. So it's important for us to learn how to adapt when situations change around us. In today's episode, I get you to do an exercise to help you see the transient nature of your issues and struggles.

This week I am taking a much needed rest. So, I wanted to give you the 7 most listened to podcasts over the last 2 years. Today's podcast is one of those 7. I hope you enjoy it. It's easy to get stuck in a rut, especially when we're comfortable. But if you want different results, you have to do things differently. You have to be open-minded and willing to try new things. You need to be flexible enough that if something isn't working out the way you want it to or is taking longer than expected, then change course! we must look at the world with a new perspective where we can learn from our mistakes and be flexible enough to know when something is not working. It's easy for us to get stuck in our ways. We have our routines, which may have worked well in the past, but now they no longer serve us well If we want a different result we have to do things differently. Today's podcast is an important one to listen to.

This week I am taking a much needed rest. So, I wanted to give you the 7 most listened to podcasts over the last 2 years. Today's podcast is one of those 7. I hope you enjoy it. You can change the world with small gestures. You can be a hero. You don't have to be an artist or a musician or an athlete. You don't have to be famous or powerful—you just need to do something that matters to you and your community. All it takes is one simple gesture that shows someone else how much they mean to you and how much value your life holds for them as well and then share it with someone else. If you can't remember anything else, remember that small gestures can change lives forever (and maybe even save them), so let's show ourselves by making those gestures count! In this episode, we will discuss how you can make change the world even with the "smallest" gestures.

Today here in New Zealand, it is my birthday. And I have a little birthday gift for you.

Do friendships affect how long we live? Yes, they do! Let me tell you about The Blue Zones and how ageing there is directly affected by friendships.

Do friendships affect our health? Yes, they do. Today I share some science around this.

As you may know, stress is a constant in life. Whether it's work, family obligations, or other factors, we all experience stress from time to time. But how do friendships affect our stress levels? How does friendship affect our brains? When we're stressed, the last thing we want to do is be around other people. We just want to be left alone in our quiet rooms with a tub of ice cream, right? Wrong! Stress can make you feel overwhelmed, depressed, and anxious. Friendships are an important aspect of our lives that can help us cope with stress and make us feel good about ourselves. When we have a stressful event, our friends can provide comfort and support. They can also help us to cope with the everyday stress of life, or even just make us laugh when we're feeling down. Let's take a closer look at the science of friendship and stress.

A few hours ago, my aunt passed away. When you're young, the future seems so far away that you don't think about it. But as we get older, and as we see our friends and loved one's age, death becomes an inescapable reality. Sometimes we are too busy going through the motions of our daily lives that we do not stop to think about the "what if". What if someone I love is gone tomorrow? What if I am gone today? You never know how much time you or anyone around you have left. Is there something you would have done differently? Is there someone that you would like to make amends with or simply let know you love them? The loss of loved ones are moments that always are there to remind us of what is important.

It's important to see people in real life - not just over our devices. Let me explain why.

Do you ever think of having time apart from your relationship? Does the thought fill you with dread? It can be a healthy thing to do.

There is no intro music in today's episode, thanks to Scamp the Dog, who ate an essential cord in our podcast production kit last night. In today's podcast, I answer a question from a student struggling with her relationship.

As Easter Sunday approaches I wanted to discuss the importance of this time - even if you are not a follower of Christianity.

When we learn new things, 2 attitudes can be a powerful combination in our process. You'll see faster results if you apply these to anything new you want to master.

Boundaries are a way for you to take care of yourself. They allow you to focus on what you want and need, which can be different from the wants and needs of those around us. Setting healthy personal boundaries helps keep our lives running smoothly by ensuring that everyone knows where they stand with one another so there aren't any surprises later on down the road. When we set boundaries, we take back control over our lives by saying no when it's time to say no, or yes when it's time to say yes--and then sticking with our decisions without feeling guilty or anxious about them afterward. Setting boundaries for yourself and others is a way to protect yourself from overworking, doing things that you don't enjoy, and feeling beholden to others. If you've ever had a moment where you felt like you were being taken advantage of, or if you have difficulty saying "no," then this episode is for you. When we don't set healthy boundaries for ourselves, we can lose our sense of self, feel exhausted by the needs of others, and resentful over feeling used. In this episode, we'll explore the concept of personal boundaries and how they can help us feel more comfortable in our relationships with others – whether at home or at work.

In a world filled with distractions, how do we take control of our focus? In this episode, I explore the impact of our cluttered environments on attention and share practical tips for managing where we place our limited mental energy. Let's discover how being intentional with our focus can help us navigate life's constant demands more effectively!

For us to help others, we need to heal ourselves simultaneously. If we don't, it's a bit like the blind leading the blind.

What is a mantra? What is an intention? What is the difference?

I spoke with one of my students the other day about the difficulties of seeing her mother suffering. It could be easy to take on those emotional states as our own. However, it's not really very helpful.

It can be easy to fall into the mentality of shopping around when looking for strategies to help us feel happier. That can be problematic.

Today I am replying to a question from one of my students struggling with connecting with others again as she emerges from the pandemic isolation. It's a reminder of why our social connections are vital to our wellbeing.

Being kind to ourselves is not something we're taught. 75% of people who find it easy to be kind to others find it hard to be kind to themselves.

For 13 years, I travelled the world living out of one bag. These are the lessons I learned from having so little.

How do you handle negative emotions without letting them control you? In this episode, I explore a concept called "wise generosity" when dealing with difficult feelings. Instead of resisting or chasing after your emotions, I share how to hold them with spaciousness and curiosity, allowing them to naturally dissolve. Discover how giving your emotions room to breathe, without getting caught in stories or judgments, can transform the way you experience them.

What if a simple shift in mindset could transform your relationships? In this episode, I explore how moving from judgment to concern can dissolve barriers and open the door to loving-kindness. I'll share how asking, "What might they be going through?" can change how you interact with others, even in challenging moments. Let's dive into how cultivating genuine concern for others can deepen connections and bring more love into your life.

There are some new studies out from the University of Cambridge showing that there is a difference in the age that social media affects girls and boys. I would love to know your thoughts on how to address keeping a healthy relationship with technology and your kids.

What if clarity and peace are already within you, waiting for the chance to emerge? In this episode, I explore a profound Tibetan saying: "Water, if you don't stir it, becomes clear." I'll share how our constant mental stirring—through stress, drama, and distractions—clouds our minds and how allowing stillness can reveal clarity.

Why do we suffer when things change? In this episode, I explore the fundamental law of impermanence and how our attempts to hold onto things—whether relationships, places, or moments—lead to suffering. I'll discuss how embracing the truth that everything is always changing can transform the way we approach life. Learn how letting go, rather than resisting change, allows us to navigate life's waves with more ease and freedom.

What would change if we shifted our focus from ourselves to how we can truly benefit others? In this episode, I explore what it means to live as a vessel of love—not from self-sacrifice, but from deep connection and awareness. I'll share how stepping out of self-protection and into service can bring greater freedom, joy, and purpose.