Podcast
Lisa Jakub
Hosted by Lisa Jakub · EN
3episodes
Episodes
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Words for your eyes and ears
Mar 5, 202100:03:52Tap to summarizeHi Friends, just ignore that audio at the top. We’ll talk about that later.I got a lot of feedback from this Tweet. Mostly versions of “same” and “I feel attacked.”I had been putting off asking someone to fix something. This would have made me anxious pre-COVID, but there is something about spending 11 months in isolation that makes social interactions even more intense and makes motivation super hard to locate. And that is okay. It’s understandable if right now, accomplishing one little thing per day is all you can handle. I applaud you for that. But there are some things that we really want to do. We know those things will make us feel better, will move us towards a future we want, will help us to feel more grounded and joyful. I’ve been getting lots of questions lately about motivation: how to find it and how to maintain it. What should we do when conjuring motivation feels totally impossible? Well, I think we stop trying. Forget motivation. If I am searching for that feeling of wanting to eat kale or write the next chapter of my new book or get on the yoga mat, I almost never find it. What I can look to instead is commitment. Commitment = purpose + discipline + scheduling * Purpose gets to the WHY of what I’m doing. Is it because I want to have that dopamine rush after a work out? Is it because I want to spend time being creative?* Discipline is about me obeying myself, and keeping the promises I make to myself. I deserve to take this time to do something that is meaningful to me. I remember that self-care isn’t selfish, it’s burn-out prevention. * Schedule means that I write it down, and I set reminders. I don’t do something because I feel like doing it, I do something because my Google Calendar says it’s time to do it. After I’ve eaten the kale or written the chapter or I’m lying on my yoga mat after a practice - I always feel amazing. That is the “I’m so glad I did that” feeling that I’m working for. That is when we get the reinforcement of our WHY. And when we make that a habit, it gets easier to stick with, because we get that physical and/or emotional reward. And then eventually, maybe some days we really are motivated. We are still living in a world that feels overwhelming and painful a lot of the time. It’s totally understandable if you do not have a lot of extra energy lying around with which to learn a new language or clean out the garage or start painting watercolors. But if those things bring you a spark of joy, then commit to them. Don’t wait for motivation. Pick a time, several days a week, and create space for that in your life. Even if it’s just 10 minutes, that matters. It adds up. This is something you have some control over, in a reality where that feels more rare than ever. You can choose where to spend your energy. What I read and it made me laughGod I Feel Modern Tonight By Catherine CohenI’m finding quarantine to be an amazing timeto revert to the basest, most vileversion of myself I’ve worked yearsto outgrowWhat looks coolThe Ashmolean is the University of Oxford's museum of art and archaeology, and it was founded in 1683. They are offering all kinds of free programs and collections online, everything from life and death in ancient Athens to a discussion about the importance of embroidery and textiles. (I don’t think my needlepoint with swearing is quite museum-worthy, but it’s good to have dreams.)What I’m cookingCrispy Bean Cakes with Harissa, Lemon, and Herbs I made this last night and it was so tasty. In fact, I misread the recipe, made it entirely wrong, and it was still delicious! Easy to mess around with and create your own version, if, like myself, you happen to be “adventurous in the kitchen.” (That is an actual quote from my mother-in-law, one of the first times she saw me cook. I've decided it was a compliment.)What I recordedA new episode of my podcast is up! This one is all about my pup, Olive. When we rescued her, she was malnourished, traumatized, and fear-aggressive.Basically, a nightmare. This a story about how things can change. It can seem so dark and hopeless - but things actually can get better. This is a story about how everyone is capable of healing. Listen here or find Embrace Your Weird on Apple Podcasts, Sticher, or wherever you listen to podcasts. And now we get to the secret recording at the top of this page!I don’t mean to be a jerk - but I can’t really tell you what this is for. It’s one of those things where it might be a thing, or it might not, so I’m not sharing about it yet. Many of you know that I work with combat Veterans. So for this secret thing, I was asked to record a four-minute audio piece about my understanding of my identity as a civilian. I had never thought of myself as a civilian until I was around a bunch of Veterans, and suddenly that definition became the most important thing about me. I’ve never told these stories publicly before, and - shocker - they contain profanity and a story about a graphic event. So heads up. Thank you for reading, friends. Thank you for being part of our little community here. I am so grateful for you. Much love, ~Lisa Get full access to Lisa Jakub at lisajakub.substack.com/subscribe
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The Mud and the Gold
Jul 31, 202000:06:25Tap to summarizeHi Friends! Welcome to Friday story-time. I thought I would mix it up a little bit, so you could hear my voice, and not just read my words. So I am inviting you into my closet so I can share a story I’ve been thinking about a lot lately. Click the play button above to hear it. This story has been getting me through the tough moments and helping me to reframe the way I see myself and the world. Not bad for a simple little story. I hope you enjoy it. Much love to you all, ~Lisa(And PS, here’s a photo to accompany the story. From my 40th birthday in Thailand. It’s not THE Buddha that I’m taking about, but it helps give you an idea of scale and the stunning amazingness of these works of art.) Get full access to Lisa Jakub at lisajakub.substack.com/subscribe
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The Love Letter
Apr 3, 202000:10:09Tap to summarizeHi Friends, I’m bringing you a little something different today: my words in audio form. I recorded a new mini-episode of my podcast, called The Love Letter. It’s not public yet, but you get to hear it first by clicking above. It’s the first time I’ve ever cried during a podcast. I was going to re-record it because of that, but I didn’t. Because I want to be real with you. It’s a mini-episode, just ten minutes because none of us have a decent attention span these days. This episode is about how I’ve not wanted to write lately. For me, that’s like saying I no longer have any use for food. But there is a very real reason why that is, and I talk about it in this episode, and I also share the re-frame that helped me to work through some of the difficult emotions I’ve been feeling. And I share how you can do that, too, if you think it might help you. If you’re new to my podcast and want to hear more - you can do that at embraceyourweirdpodcast.com or find it on iTunes, Stitcher, or wherever else you find such things. And now, on to the silly things: What I’m watchingLittle Fires Everywhere(I was going to watch Tiger King, but I can’t handle it when sad things happen to animals, so I decided to skip that one.)What I’m readingHum If You Don’t Know the Words - Bianca MaraisHow I’m donating and looking cuteEmbrace Your Weird Merch is here. 100% of the proceeds go to COVID-19 relief charities. Get Embrace Your Weird or Weirdo emblazoned on shirts, mugs, phone cases, notebooks, or socks. Wear it proudly on your next Zoom call - for work or happy hour. What I’m looking forward toI’m working with 1440 Multiversity in California to bring you a weekend online workshop on how to use writing and mindfulness to deal with these challenging times. We’ll be meeting May 2 & 3 from 9-11 am and 1-3 pm PST for this immersive program that you can access from everywhere. We will discuss concepts such as neuroplasticity and ancient yogic philosophies on reducing suffering. We will use mindfulness practices to connect to the present moment. (Beginners to yoga, writing, and meditation are totally welcome.) I don’t have a registration link yet, but if you are interested, send me an email at LisaJakub108@gmail.com and I’ll get you the information. Quote I’m loving"We have not journeyed all this way across the centuries, across the oceans, across the mountains, across the prairies, because we are made of sugar candy." - Winston ChurchillI’m sending you love and a quarantine-approved hug and some more love. Because we all need it. ~Lisa Get full access to Lisa Jakub at lisajakub.substack.com/subscribe
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