Soul Aligned Self Care

What if boundaries aren't about controlling others—but about finally taking care of yourself? This week, we sit down with Diane Sorensen, Boundary & Empowerment Coach and host of the Chaos to Connection podcast, to explore how boundaries can transform your relationships, your parenting, and your life.
Diane shares her powerful personal journey—from growing up in a household where "harmony at all costs" was the rule, to navigating her daughter's mental health crisis, to discovering that boundaries are actually the path to deeper connection, not isolation. She explains why so many of us confuse boundaries with control, why setting them can feel so uncomfortable, and how to start taking small, courageous steps toward self-respect.
If you've ever felt exhausted from managing everyone else's emotions or wondered why you feel resentful even when you're "doing everything right," this conversation is your permission slip to start putting yourself first.
Key Takeaways:
Boundaries Are About You, Not Them: A boundary isn't telling someone what they can't do—it's knowing what's okay with you and what you'll do to take care of your own okness. 
Short-Term Discomfort for Long-Term Connection: Setting boundaries can feel uncomfortable at first, but the alternative—short-term relief for long-term resentment—is far worse.
You Don't Have to Explain: One of the most liberating boundary skills is learning to say "no" without over-explaining or apologizing. 
Self-Abandonment Shows Up in Small Ways: Laughing at jokes you don't find funny, agreeing to share food you don't like—these tiny betrayals add up.
The Ripple Effect: When you start respecting yourself, you teach your children (and everyone around you) how to treat you. And you model what self-respect looks like for the next generation.
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
02:30 Diane's Personal Wake-Up Call: Her Daughter's Mental Health Crisis
08:00 Generational Patterns: How Her Mother's Survival Shaped Her
12:30 The Exhaustion of Performing "Having It All Together"
16:00 What Boundaries Actually Are (And Aren't)
20:15 Short-Term Relief vs. Long-Term Resentment
24:00 Self-Abandonment: The Small Ways We Reject Ourselves
28:30 Why Maintaining Boundaries Is the Hardest Part
32:00 The Freedom of Not Managing Other People's Emotions
Resources & Links:
Podcast Spotify - https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/diane-sorensen1Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dianesorensen.bb/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/diane.sorensen.589
Website: https://www.dianesorensen.net/
Free gift – Drama to Empowerment workbook:https://www.dianesorensen.net/drama-to-empowerment
 
Connect with Tina: https://www.tinastinson.com
✨ Listen, Rate & Subscribe: If this episode resonated with you, please leave a rating and review—it helps us reach more people who need this message.
💌 Join the Community: Sign up for our newsletter for weekly insights on self-care and boundaries. Soul Aligned Life | Finding Calm–Exclusive Meditations & Self-Care Practices | Patreon
🎧 Share This Episode: Tag someone who needs to hear this.
Xo, T

What if the gift you buried as a child is the very thing calling you back as an adult? This week, we sit down with Dr. Michelle Millis Chappel, a Princeton PhD psychologist, world-acclaimed musician, and top business consultant for companies like Google and Intel, to explore how we can reclaim our hidden superpowers and live as our full, authentic selves.
Michelle shares her incredible journey from psychology professor to rock star with over a million fans, proving that it's never too late to answer a calling. We dive deep into Carl Jung's concept of the "golden shadow," why suppressing parts of ourselves is so exhausting, and how you can take baby steps toward a more aligned, joyful life. even if you're not ready to quit your day job.
If you've ever felt that familiar pull toward something you love but were told it was impractical, this conversation is your permission slip to start listening.
Key Takeaways:
The 4-Year-Old Clue: Your childhood gifts, the things that came easily to you. are often indicators of your true calling. Don't dismiss them. 
The Inner Critic is a False Alarm: That voice telling you "you can't" is just trying to keep you safe. Name it, thank it, and move forward anyway.
Flow State is Your Compass: If you lose track of time doing something and feel blissed out afterward, that's a powerful sign you're on the right path.
You Don't Have to Go from A to Z: Start with a passion project. Even a few minutes of doing what you love can release suppressed energy and rejuvenate your entire life. 
Claim Your Identity: Simply deciding "I am a writer" or "I am an artist" rewires your brain and opens doors you didn't know existed.
Resources & Links:
MichelleChappel.com
PowerofAuthenticity.org
Your True Calling podcast 
 
Tina's Website: https://www.tinastinson.com
 
Calls to Action:
✨ Listen, Rate & Subscribe: If this episode resonated with you, please leave a rating and review, it helps us reach more people who need this message.
💌 Join the Community: Sign up for our newsletter for weekly meditations, self-care and alignment.>>Soul Aligned Life — Finding Calm–Exclusive Meditations & Self-Care Practices | Patreon
🎧 Share This Episode: Tag someone who needs to hear this.
Xo, T

Exciting site news, TinaStinson.com is live! In this short episode Tina shares updates about moving her website and podcast platforms, then guides listeners through five powerful journaling questions to help them slow down, protect their energy, and tune into their intuition. Grab your journal, get cozy, and explore how to realign your path or stay the course with practical self-care prompts.
Connect with Tina on Instagram
Soul Aligned Life: https://www.instgram.com/thesoulalignedlifepodcast
Talia Sunday Designs: https://www.instagram.com/taliasunday
The Website: https://www.tinastinson.com 
🙏 Thank you for tuning in to the Soul Aligned Self Care Podcast!
✨ If you loved this episode, please:
Subscribe to the show so you never miss an episode
Share it with a friend who needs this message
If you’re listening on Apple Podcasts, leave a quick review to help this show reach more amazing women like you 💜
📌 Patreon (support the podcast & receive exclusive practices): https://www.patreon.com/tinastinson
 

When did we stop creating just because it felt good? As children, we painted, colored, glued scraps of paper together, and danced around the living room. We weren't worried about whether it was beautiful or good enough. Then somewhere along the way, many of us stopped. We became busy. Responsible. Boring. In this solo episode, I'm inviting you back to the creative play you left behind.
🎧 In This Episode, You'll Learn:
Why creativity matters more than ever in a world of constant consumption
How to start creating when you don't feel "artistic" (no talent required)
The simple practice that changed how I approach creativity (hint: it starts on my kitchen counter)
Why I believe we need more play, more color, and more freedom in our lives
An invitation to creative retreats for women (coming soon!)
✨ Key Quotes:
"Creativity was never about perfection. It's about expression, connection, and giving yourself space to slow down long enough to hear your own thoughts."
"What if we gave ourselves permission to create the way we did as children? Curious. Messy. Free. Unconcerned with what anyone else thought."
📱 Connect & Continue the Conversation:
What did you love making as a child? Send me a DM @taliasunday (This is my art handle)
Join the Email List: https://www.tinastinson.com/hbl-blog-sign-up
Retreat Waitlist: Coming soon on my new website! https://www.tinastinson.com
Xo,, T

Are you in your 50s (or 30s, or 40s) and wondering, Is this it? You aren't broken. You aren't indecisive. Society programmed us to be "good worker ants," but humans are meant to be fluid. In this raw solo episode, we break down why feeling "blah" is actually a sign of growth, and how to stop fearing change.
🎧 In This Episode, You’ll Learn:
The "Worker Ant" Myth: Why staying consistent might be damaging your health.
The Best Relationship Advice: What a 50-year marriage taught me about luck, space, and growing together (without needing to be the same).
The Doctor Dilemma: How to walk away from an investment (career, program, identity) that no longer fits.
Action vs. Thought: Why you can't think your way into a new life (and the small step to take today).
✨ Key Quotes:
"What if the goal of life isn't to figure out who you are once and for all? What if the goal is to keep becoming?"
"We don't find ourselves. We discover ourselves through experience."
📱 Connect & Continue the Conversation:
Feeling stuck? Send me a DM @tinastinsoncoach with the word "FLUID"
Also, follow my reinvention as a new artist @taliasunday
website: https://www.tinastinson.com

What if eating well didn't have to be complicated, expensive, or time-consuming? In this episode, Lisa Parda and I geek out about real food, how to cook for a busy life, why batch cooking is a game-changer, and how to stop villainizing yourself over a cookie.
We also talk about why American processed food tastes different (and not in a good way), how to navigate the grocery store without overwhelm, and why labels are for cans, not people.
In this episode, we cover:
Why every meal doesn't have to be a culinary feast
The magic of batch cooking and freezing in glass jars
How to use the Dirty Dozen / Clean 15 list (and when to just buy the damn berries)
Why frozen fruits and vegetables are your secret weapon
The truth about protein yes, you can have too much
Why community cooking might save your week (and your sanity)
Resources & Links:
Lisa's cookbook: My Love Language Is Food
Follow Lisa on Instagram: @starsatnightpublishing
EWG.org (Dirty Dozen / Clean 15 list)
Salt Sugar Fat by Michael Moss (recommended book)
🙏 Thank you for tuning in to the Soul Aligned Self Care Podcast!
✨ If you loved this episode, please:
Subscribe to the show so you never miss an episode
Share it with a friend who needs this message
If you’re listening on Apple Podcasts, leave a quick review to help this show reach more amazing women like you 💜
🔗 Connect with me here:🌐 Website: https://www.tinastinson.com📌 Patreon (support the podcast & receive exclusive practices + monthly resets): https://www.patreon.com/tinastinson🎁 Freebie: The Self Healing Toolkit - stop burnout, stress, and overwhelm in their tracks & start to regulate your nervous system: https://www.tinastinson.com/signup📺 YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@SASCTinaStinson

What if you stopped pretending? What if you matched their energy instead of burning out, and used that freed-up time for what actually makes you happy?
This episode is an invitation to the wild, fun, free side of life. I get real about the collective exhaustion we’re all feeling, why loyalty at work is a one-way street, and the time audit that frees up hours every week. Plus, how I’m trying to retire without a retirement plan, and why I’m bringing you along for the ride.
In this episode, I cover:
Why matching their energy is the path to freedom
The 7-day time audit (free up 3–4 hours for joy)
Opting out of the biggest scam in history
How to figure out what actually makes you happy
My new podcast direction: interviewing wild, unconventional humans & of course Self-care and Nervous System Regulation as well!
🙏 Thank you for tuning in to the Soul Aligned Self Care Podcast!
✨ If you loved this episode, please:
Subscribe to the show so you never miss an episode
Share it with a friend who needs this message
If you’re listening on Apple Podcasts, leave a quick review to help this show reach more amazing women like you 💜
🔗 Connect with me here:🌐 Website: https://www.tinastinson.com📌 Patreon (support the podcast & receive exclusive practices + monthly resets): https://www.patreon.com/tinastinson🎁 Freebie: The Self Healing Toolkit - stop burnout, stress, and overwhelm in their tracks & start to regulate your nervous system: https://www.tinastinson.com/signup📺 YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@SASCTinaStinsonXo, T

I'm back with a solo episode to share a big shift happening inside my business, and inside my own life. After interviewing experts and going through my own transformation, I've realized something important:
Self-care isn't enough if your lifestyle doesn't change too.
So today, I'm walking you through the 4 pillars of this new direction and giving you 10 small, unique shifts you can start using right now.
Listen to find out:
Why self-care alone keeps you pushing a boulder uphill
The 4 pillars of a truly aligned life (unlearning, rebuilding, real alternatives, + human needs)
How to shift your lifestyle without blowing up your life
10 nervous-system-supporting practices you can do today
The 10 Shifts I Cover:
Humming – stimulates the vagus nerve and increases nasal nitric oxide (great for sinuses!)
Holding the gratitude – asking "What am I grateful for today?" keeps it expansive
Naming your future self – "What would future T do?"
Using the sun to cleanse your energy – close your eyes and let it burn away the clutter
Allowing yourself to feel the feelings – my "pity party" method that actually works
Going to sleep as the best version of you – fall asleep in your favorite moment of the day
Slowing down during pleasurable activities – bees, gardens, and savoring
Taking a few deep breaths before meals – move into rest + digest before you eat
Honoring your body – check in and actually listen
Accepting yourself as you are right now – not some future version
Connect with Tina:
📧 Email list –https://www.tinastinson.com/hbl-blog-sign-up – get notified for blogs, podcasts, and the next Soul Aligned Life Retreat
🧭 Mentorship inquiry – Free "get to know me" call – https://calendly.com/tinastinson/free-intro-to-private-coaching
🌐 Website transition – Moving to Soul Aligned Life in August (email list stays with me!) it will still be https://www.tinastinson.com
Mentioned in this episode:
"If you're interested in shifting your lifestyle and don't know how to get started, this is the type of mentorship I'm moving into. Nervous system regulation combined with small, baby shifts, so you can transform without blowing up your life."
👉 Free inquiry call link in the show notes. No pressure. No high-pressure sales. Just a conversation. https://calendly.com/tinastinson/free-intro-to-private-coaching
Subscribe + Review:
If you loved this episode, please take a moment to rate and review the show. It helps other women find this work.
Xo, T

Feeling burnt out? Like you are just "should-ing" all over yourself? In this episode, Elaine Glass returns to the podcast to blow up the myth that meditation has to be still and silent. She introduces the Nemus Code, an energy medicine modality born from a dream and a 20-year career in healthcare.
Elaine shares how she healed from burnout and Hashimoto's as a single mom by learning to actively get quiet. We discuss why you can't move forward until your nervous system feels safe, how to tell the difference between fear and intuition, and why those "random" obsessions (like pattern-making or art) are actually your soul guiding you home.
What You’ll Learn:
00:05 Why "Get Quiet" is actually a walking meditation (not just sitting still).
05:15 The science of why you can't heal until your body feels safe.
12:40 How to stop the "hustle mentality" in your 50s and tune into your body.
18:30 The origin story of the Nemus Code (and the dream that started it all).
25:00 The 8 energy points to unlock your own inner guru (Guided practice inside).
32:00 Why following a short-lived obsession (like Etsy silver sets) is vital for your health.
Resources & Links:
Get Elaine’s Book: Get Quiet: 7 Simple Paths to the Truth of Who You Are (Hay House)
Connect with Elaine: Instagram @elaineglass.author | Website: elaneglass.com
Mentioned in Episode: The Nemus Code Energy Points (Available on Elaine’s website)
Notable Quotes:
"You are your own guru. You are your own psychic. You are your own medium. The guidance comes in the quiet." — Elaine Glass
"We think happiness is a big, bang experience. Actually, it's just tiny little joyful moments that add up to heal your life." — Elaine Glass
🙏 Thank you for tuning in to the Soul Aligned Self Care Podcast!
✨ If you loved this episode, please:
Subscribe to the show so you never miss an episode
Share it with a friend who needs this message
If you’re listening on Apple Podcasts, leave a quick review to help this show reach more amazing women like you 💜
🔗 Connect with me here:🌐 Website: https://www.tinastinson.com📌 Patreon (support the podcast & receive exclusive practices + monthly resets): https://www.patreon.com/tinastinson🎁 Freebie: The Self Healing Toolkit - stop burnout, stress, and overwhelm in their tracks & start to regulate your nervous system: https://www.tinastinson.com/signup📺 YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@SASCTinaStinson

What happens when the person you love most leaves, and leaves behind an unfinished story?
For Ksenia J. Merck, the answer wasn't to pack away her husband's manuscript. It was to pick up her paintbrush.
In this episode, Ksenia opens up about losing her husband Bill in March 2024, and how finishing his science fiction novel Ghost Flower became her lifeline. She painted the cover. She illustrated the interior. She wrote a companion journal. And along the way, she discovered that grief can be a doorway into something unexpected: collaboration that doesn't end when a heartbeat does.
If you've ever lost someone and wondered if they're still with you, or if you're sitting on a creative project that feels too painful to touch, this conversation is for you.
What You'll Learn
🎨 How Ksenia felt Bill's presence while painting the Ghost Flower cover, and why she knows it wasn't just imagination
📖 What the Ghost Flower Companion Journal is (and how it helps readers go deeper into the novel's themes)
⏳ The book's central question: Would you time travel to save humanity knowing you couldn't come back?
🧠 Why purpose might be the most underrated tool for navigating grief
🌿 How nature, art, and solitude helped Ksenia rebuild after loss
✨ The concept of "soul contracts" and why Ksenia believes this project was always meant for her
🎭 The difference between structured architectural work and free creative expression—and why she needs both
Resources & Links
🌐 Ksenia's Website: https://www.merckiipress.com/
📸 Instagram: @merck2press
💼 LinkedIn: Ksenia Merck
📘 Facebook: Merck2Press
🙏 Thank you for tuning in to the Soul Aligned Self Care Podcast!
✨ If you loved this episode, please:
Subscribe to the show so you never miss an episode
Share it with a friend who needs this message
If you’re listening on Apple Podcasts, leave a quick review to help this show reach more amazing women like you 💜
🔗 Connect with me here:🌐 Website: https://www.tinastinson.com📌 Patreon (support the podcast & receive exclusive practices + monthly resets): https://www.patreon.com/tinastinson🎁 Freebie: The Self Healing Toolkit - stop burnout, stress, and overwhelm in their tracks & start to regulate your nervous system: https://www.tinastinson.com/signup📺 YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@SASCTinaStinson