That's Where I'm At
Finding Joy Amidst Challenges: Nancy's Story of Reinvention
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Episode notes
Welcome to a new episode of That's Where I'm At podcast. Joining me is a special guest, Nancy Gabriel, a skilled mediator with over 11 years of experience in conflict resolution. Nancy shares her inspiring journey of finding her calling as a mediator, driven by a personal experience of facing sudden loss and challenging probate litigation. Her story highlights the importance of patience, kindness, and gratitude while navigating grief and major life changes.
They share the unique ways women and men evolve emotionally, emphasizing the importance of seeking therapy and expressing feelings. The two friends discuss the power of volunteering and how giving back can be therapeutic during challenging times. They stress the importance of seeking therapy and openly expressing feelings as key components of personal growth and healing.
Are you looking to find hope and healing in your life? Tune in and learn!
Timestamps[01:23] Nancy’s background
[03:05] The journey to becoming a mediator
[05:01] What Nancy loves about what she does
[06:34] Nancy’s low moments and how what she did to rediscover herself
[08:30] Coping with the losses
[12:02] Tips for people struggling with grief
[13:35] How Nancy got into journaling
[17:14] Insights on how to navigate widowhood
[27:42] How women and men are socialized differently, resulting in varying communication patterns
[29:38] How to help grieving people
[32:23] How volunteering can help with the healing process
[36:39] How keeping a compliment journal can help one in dealing with self-doubt or low self-esteem
[41:59] The importance of a growth mindset in personal development
Notable Quotes- There's no timetable for grief. We all know that. For me, it took me two years. And what happened first was I wanted closet space. Okay. So that was the first thing I did.
- Say yes to a lot of good things. So that you can figure out what you like and let people take you out. I had so many people taking me out to dinner and stuff.
- You know, people say time heals all wounds. It doesn't; my quote is time helps. Yes. It doesn't heal. It helps.
- A divorce is a death of a marriage, and so, instead of focusing on how awful it was at the end, maybe you can isolate a few happy memories at the beginning or, you know, when your children were born or something like that.
- Tell yourself the truth in the kindest way possible.
- I think mostly, we're both generalizing here, but I think mostly women have an easier time expressing feelings than men do because I think men sometimes equate vulnerability with weakness.
- If you are struggling, give something back. Volunteer whatever is a passion of yours. If you like to read, redo a first-grade class, or go to an assisted living facility. If you like animals, volunteer at a shelter or a veterinary clinic. If you have a medical background, find a free clinic and volunteer there.
- Treat yourself gently, especially when you're in the throes of a challenge. Yes. A light, a, you know, a downward cycle as opposed to an upward cycle. Remember that every down cycle is followed by an up cycle.
Resources
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