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A
Thank you guys for joining me for another powerful moment from one of my favorite episodes. This is a highlight clip to enhance your week. I hope you enjoy with the anxiety. What would you say are your main tools that you use now to handle it?
B
Meditation is number one. I know you meditate too well.
A
Okay. No, I don't. Not like you. You do Transcendental meditation, right?
B
Yes.
A
I've taken one class back in the day and I really want to learn more about it. Like, what would you say is different about TM to other meditations?
B
So for me, I had tried different meditations over the apps and different platforms and stuff, guided meditations, and I still think there's a time and place for those. And I do use those occasionally now. But I always just kind of felt like I was listening to something and then I would be done and I was like, okay, well, that was nice and relaxing, but it wasn't doing anything for me. And when I started this is back in 2018, I started noticing that a lot of people kind of in my orbit who were people that I looked up to who just had this thing about them that you just can't really put your finger on, they were all doing tm and I was like, okay, I'm going to try it. My husband started doing it, my parents started doing it. So I was like, I guess that's my sign. And the way that you learn TM is you go and you do a four day class. It's only like an hour or two a day. And I noticed in that first day even that it just brought my nervous system down and I felt so anchored. Like, that's the only way that I can describe it. And I felt energized after, but in like a calm way, I felt like my sleep was better. Like when I started doing it consistently, it was just so crazy effective for me from the beginning. And yeah, I've heard that. I've heard the analogy. So if you think about the ocean and you think of like a small boat on the surface of the ocean, it's going to rock with every single tiny little wave and current and all of that. And what I learned in TM is that that kind of meditation is kind of like going down to the floor of the ocean where there's still a current. You know, you still might move a little bit, but you're not so like at the mercy of what's happening up there and it's not so turbulent. And that was like, really what I felt. So I'm a little bit of like an evangelist about it. I try not to.
A
I'm influenced right now, honestly.
B
Yeah, it's amazing. If you can do it, and it does cost money, it goes to their nonprofit foundation, but you can also, like, scholarship. And if you really can't afford it for anybody listening, like, they do, like, an honor system. They're like, if you can pay $10, you know, we'll take it.
A
That's amazing.
B
Yeah.
A
So you do that twice a day.
B
Twice a day for 20 minutes in silence. They give you a mantra. And I was so intimidated. I was like, 20 minutes in silence, like, in my head. Are you fucking kidding me? Sorry. But, I mean, it was, like, really scary. And you just think of the mantra, and you're going to lose the mantra occasionally, and then you just think of it again and bring it back. And the whole thing about TM is that it's effortless. You're not trying to clear your mind. You know, our brains have thoughts rattling around in them 24 7. And the thing about meditation, and this is not exclusive just to tm, is that, like, you. You notice that, and you can detach from the thoughts. And that was, like, a huge benefit that I got from that because, you know, I tend to take thoughts as fact. Yeah, same. And when I could just kind of observe that, I was like, oh, this is just craziness in my head. Like, it doesn't mean anything.
A
It's kind of observing the thought rather than being the thought.
B
Yes.
A
I think Jay Shetty said, if you say that you don't have time for meditation, you need it more than anyone else.
B
Yeah.
A
And I think that's so true. I'm so inspired by that. I really want to try that. What other tools have you used? Because I know you've mentioned. Okay, can you explain stoicism to me?
B
Yeah, stoicism. Well, I don't know. I think I can, but it has a lot of similarities to, like, a lot of the principles in recovery. And it is kind of accepting life on life's terms. It's not placing judgment on anything. Like, you know, we tend to be so reactive and assign, you know, good or bad to anything happening. Like, oh, this is terrible. And stoicism is just like. No, this is just what it is. It's like acceptance. Like, radical acceptance. So I don't know if that's a good definition.
A
No, I love that. And something that I'm striving for. Your story is so inspirational and so refreshing. Also, in the wellness space, I don't think I've come across someone like you before, do you feel like your audience has become kind of like a sober community? Do you get a lot of questions.
B
About it, about sobriety? Occasionally, yes, I do. I do have some people that I'm really close with who reached out to me initially on Instagram trying to get sober, and I was able to help them with that. And now they've been in my life for years. And that's really amazing. I noticed a lot over the pandemic that I got a lot of messages. I think people were really reevaluating their relationship with alcohol because when we started working from home and all of that, you know, it's like wine every day at 5:00. And I think people, after a few weeks of that or months or whatever, started feeling like maybe this is not the most healthy thing. So I did notice a correlation with that. I always say, like, my DMS are always open for anybody who's curious, you know, how to get sober, or questions if they think they might have a problem. I'm always happy to help in that way. But yeah, I mean, my community is really amazing. Like, they're just really supportive. I just want to feel good. That's like, I want to be healthy and I want to feel good. I spent so many years feeling like absolute shit and treating my body like shit. So now the biggest motivation for me is just feeling my best. And I do notice that when I make that the priority, my body responds really positively.
A
I can relate to that as well, because although my life was better when I was on the fitness journey, it was still a form of self torture. And I know that sounds kind of dramatic, but it was like. It was like, let me work myself into the ground because that felt similar to destroying my life through whatever I was doing before. It was kind of like self harm, but in a healthy way, if that makes sense. Sounds a little weird, but.
B
No, I totally get that. And I think there's also an element of control, right? Like, I can control this. And when I was doing like macros and BBG and everything that I was doing at that time, like, it gave me a sense of control. And I realized, like, oh, I can do this many macros and not feel hungry, so I'm going to reduce them even more. And, you know, I got down to like, really low calories. I see pictures of myself now and I was super lean and skinny. And I remember at the time I didn't see that in the mirror. I saw, oh, I need to like, lose weight in this area, tone up that area. Like, it was never enough.
A
Yeah.
B
And, you know, ironically, I kind of just had to let go of control. My body told me, like, I've had enough, and I had to stop. Like, my hormones were out of whack. My gut health was out of whack. I had no energy whatsoever to do anything because it was all going into these workouts and the tracking my food and, like, all of these obsessions. And, like, I hit that wall, and I had to just stop and slow down. And, you know, slowing down turned out to be the kind of solution that I had been looking for that whole time.
A
I feel like when you've lived in chaos for so long, finding that control is so helpful, but there comes a point where you need to let that go, too. That's why I feel like the fitness world is such an evolving journey. Like, you never really have it fully figured out because you learn new things or you figure out something that works better for you as you evolve. Thanks for listening to this powerful moment.
B
If you want to hear the full.
A
Episode, click the link in the show notes. Love you guys.
B
Bye.
Podcast Summary: Pursuit of Wellness - POWerful Moment: 005
Episode Title: Arielle Lorre on Daily Tools to Manage Anxiety + Find Peace
Host: Mari Llewellyn
Release Date: November 20, 2024
In this episode of Pursuit of Wellness, host Mari Llewellyn engages in a deep and enlightening conversation with Arielle Lorre, focusing on effective strategies to manage anxiety and cultivate inner peace. The discussion delves into practical tools, personal experiences, and philosophical insights that aim to inspire listeners on their wellness journeys.
A significant portion of the conversation centers around Transcendental Meditation (TM) as a primary tool for managing anxiety.
Transcendental Meditation vs. Other Meditations:
Arielle shares her transition from various meditation practices to TM, highlighting its unique benefits:
"When I started [TM], I noticed that a lot of people I looked up to were doing TM, and it felt like my sign to try it. From the first day, it brought my nervous system down and made me feel anchored and energized in a calm way."
[00:30]
Personal Benefits of TM:
Arielle emphasizes the profound impact TM had on her life, including improved sleep and a stable nervous system:
"Consistently practicing TM was so effective for me from the beginning. It felt like going down to the floor of the ocean where the currents are still, but not as turbulent."
[02:32]
How TM Works:
The simplicity and effortlessness of TM are highlighted, distinguishing it from guided meditations:
"The whole thing about TM is that it's effortless. You're not trying to clear your mind; you just think of the mantra and gently bring it back when your mind wanders."
[02:54]
The conversation transitions to the philosophy of Stoicism and its relevance to mental wellness.
Definition and Principles:
Arielle explains Stoicism as a form of radical acceptance:
"Stoicism is about accepting life on life's terms without placing judgment. It's similar to principles in recovery, where you stop being reactive and just accept what is."
[04:07]
Application in Daily Life:
The philosophy encourages individuals to detach from reactive emotions and accept circumstances as they are, fostering inner peace and resilience.
Arielle discusses the intersection of sobriety and wellness, highlighting her role in supporting others.
Supporting Sober Community:
Mari inquires about the presence of sobriety within Arielle's audience, to which Arielle responds positively:
"I have people close to me who reached out for help with sobriety, and now they've been in my life for years. During the pandemic, many reevaluated their relationship with alcohol, leading to more conversations about sobriety."
[04:49]
Accessible TM Practices:
Arielle mentions the affordability and accessibility of TM, including scholarship options:
"They operate on an honor system where if you can pay $10, they'll take it, ensuring that cost isn't a barrier for those who need it."
[02:35]
Pandemic Impact:
The shift to remote work during the pandemic led to increased alcohol consumption, prompting more individuals to seek healthier lifestyles and sobriety.
The discussion delves into Mari's personal experiences with fitness and the psychological aspects of control.
Fitness as Self-Harm:
Mari shares her history of using fitness as a form of self-torture:
"Although my life was better when I was on the fitness journey, it was still a form of self-torture. It felt like self-harm, but in a healthy way."
[06:12]
Quest for Control:
Both Mari and Arielle discuss how fitness routines provided a sense of control, which eventually became unsustainable:
"I realized I was controlling my macros and reducing calories to the point where my hormones and gut health were out of whack."
[06:38]
The Importance of Letting Go:
Recognizing the need to relinquish control led to better mental and physical health:
"Slowing down turned out to be the solution I had been looking for the whole time."
[07:18]
Evolving Journey:
The fitness world is portrayed as an evolving journey where continuous learning and adaptation are essential:
"The fitness world is such an evolving journey. You never really have it fully figured out because you learn new things as you evolve."
[07:49]
The episode wraps up with encouraging words and an invitation to listen to the full conversation.
Encouragement to Listeners:
Mari emphasizes the value of the discussed tools and philosophies, urging listeners to explore and integrate them into their lives.
Accessing the Full Episode:
"If you want to hear the full episode, click the link in the show notes. Love you guys."
[08:11]
"When I started [TM], it brought my nervous system down and made me feel anchored and energized in a calm way."
— Arielle Lorre [00:30]
"Stoicism is about accepting life on life's terms without placing judgment."
— Arielle Lorre [04:07]
"Slowing down turned out to be the solution I had been looking for the whole time."
— Mari Llewellyn [07:18]
This episode of Pursuit of Wellness offers valuable insights into managing anxiety through meditation, embracing philosophical principles like Stoicism, and understanding the delicate balance between control and letting go in personal wellness journeys. Whether you're seeking practical tools or inspirational stories, Mari and Arielle provide a comprehensive guide to enhancing your pursuit of wellness.