Mental Health Awarenesswith Sara Troy and her guest Denise Joseph, On air from July 14th
You are Unique by Design: Owning Your Lane
Denise Joseph believes we have been sold the idea that the goal is to be equally good at everything, but she advocates that specialization is by design, not a weakness. Using the analogy of a body, she notes that the eye doesn’t try to be the hand, nor the ear a foot; similarly, the most effective teams, families, and communities are those where individuals know and own their unique ‘lane.’ This conviction drives her work at Called Into Confidence, where she helps purpose-driven individuals and teams bridge the ‘thinking gap’—the root of miscommunications that leave people feeling unheard or stuck in circular conversations. By utilizing the Whole Brain Thinking framework (HBDI®), Denise empowers her clients to move from frustration to clarity, allowing them to rediscover their inherent capacity and embrace their specific strengths. Her simple message to pass on is to stop apologizing for how you think. The world doesn’t need a diluted version of someone else. it needs, the full, courageous, specific version of you.
Denise Joseph is a Public Health Analyst and Whole Brain Thinking practitioner whose journey began in Trinidad. Navigating the complexities of cultural identity and professional service shaped her unique perspective on how we connect across ‘different worlds’. This path eventually led her to specialize in the HBDI® to help teams and individuals find lasting change. When she isn’t helping clients rediscover their confidence, Denise is a curious explorer who finds joy in dancing, thrifting, and traveling, always seeking to embrace life’s simple moments with gratitude.
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Sara’s View of Life, with Sara Troy. On air from July 14th
There are times when we think we’re pacing ourselves. We tell ourselves we’re saying no more often, taking breaks, and not overloading our schedule. Yet somehow it still catches up with us. Why? Because we often forget that it isn’t only physical activity that drains us. Emotional energy, mental stimulation, and constant engagement can exhaust us just as much as physical work.
I’ve done many shows on pacing yourself, and yet recently I became my own lesson. I went away for five nights and six days. It was wonderful. I spent quality time with my son, my daughter-in-law, my daughter, and my best friend. We laughed, talked, connected, and made beautiful memories. Although I rested here and there, my normal routine was completely disrupted.
When I returned home, I thought I would have a day to recover and find my equilibrium again. Instead, I went straight into Nana mode. The grandchildren arrived, and for four days in a row I was right back into family life. By the fifth day, my body simply stopped cooperating. My legs felt like they had turned to steel. Every muscle hurt. I could barely walk.
That’s fibromyalgia. After living with it for over thirty years, my body and I have learned to communicate. Usually it gives me warnings, but this time I ignored them. My body was saying, “I let you enjoy those wonderful days, but you forgot to rest afterward.” Eventually it shut me down completely.
The truth is, our bodies always speak to us. Mine happens to speak through pain and stiffness, but yours may communicate differently. Perhaps it’s overwhelming fatigue, emotional burnout, anxiety, brain fog, headaches, irritability, or simply feeling like you cannot cope anymore. Whatever form it takes, those warning signs deserve our attention.
Overstimulation affects everyone differently. People living with autism, ADHD, ADD, OCD, fibromyalgia, or other conditions often reach their limits more quickly because their nervous systems are already working harder than most people realize. But even if you don’t live with those challenges, everyone has a breaking point. We all have limits.
The important question is this: How do you recognize your own warning signs before your body forces you to stop?
If we don’t take time to rejuvenate ourselves, burnout is inevitable. Whether it’s emotional, mental, physical, or spiritual exhaustion, we eventually pay the price. We need to learn our own personal limits and respect them. When life taps us gently on the shoulder, we need to listen before it hits us with what I call the “cosmic two-by-four.”
One of the simplest and most powerful things we can do is… nothing.
Not meditation. Not listening to a podcast. Not checking our phone. Simply sitting quietly. Sit outside and watch the birds. Listen to the wind in the trees. If you’re lucky, perhaps you’ll see hummingbirds, deer, squirrels, or simply watch the clouds drift by. There is an incredible art in doing absolutely nothing.
Those quiet moments allow your mind, body, heart, soul, and spirit to settle. They restore your equilibrium. They calm your nervous system. They replenish the energy you’ve been spending without even realizing it.
We also need to hydrate properly. Our bodies need water to function efficiently. Water lubricates our joints, supports our muscles, nourishes our brain, and keeps everything flowing as it should. Sometimes the simplest acts of self-care make the biggest difference.
Learning to say “no” is another act of self-care. It doesn’t mean you don’t love your family or care about your responsibilities. It means you’re honouring your own capacity. If we stretch ourselves too thin, we’re no longer effective for anyone else.
I know how difficult that can be. When it comes to my daughter and my grandchildren, saying no has never been one of my strengths. But this weekend, after spending a little more time helping out, my body finally said, “Enough.” I had to spend the rest of the weekend resting because there simply wasn’t another choice.
Sometimes we also need to ask for help. We hesitate because we don’t want to inconvenience others, but that’s what community is for. One person may not be available, but another might gladly pick up groceries, watch the children for an hour, or lend a helping hand. We have to allow others the opportunity to support us, just as we would support them.
Caregivers, in particular, need to hear this message. You are no good to anyone when you are completely burnt out. You cannot continue pouring from an empty cup. Rejuvenating yourself is not selfish—it is essential. It allows you to show up fully for the people who depend on you.
I’ve learned my lesson once again. My body reminded me that even joyful experiences require recovery afterward. Overdoing it doesn’t have to come from stress alone. Even happiness can become exhausting if we never pause to recharge.
So please, pay attention to your own warning signs. Listen when your body whispers instead of waiting until it screams. Give yourself permission to say no. Delegate when you can. Ask for help when you need it. Take a “me day” without guilt.
Most importantly, learn the beautiful art of doing nothing.
Because it takes far less time to prevent burnout than it does to recover from it. As the old saying goes, a stitch in time saves nine.
May you honour yourself. May you listen to your body, your mind, your heart, your soul, and your spirit. And when they ask for rest, may you give yourself permission to simply stop, breathe, and rejuvenate.
Self Discovery Wisdom is sustained by those who believe in conscious conversation. If this episode resonated with you, subscribe and, if you feel called, make a donation. Your support helps us keep amplifying voices that inspire growth, courage, and compassion. Thank you. Please join Our Forgotten Seniorsanthology and help to bring this book to awareness.
Sara’s View of Life with Sara Troy, on air from July 7th
Taking Time for Yourself
I have been away for a few days, taking some much-needed time out. Normally, I stay close to home on weekends because of my grandchildren, and we always find something to do together. But this time they were away camping, which gave me the opportunity to visit my other children and spend time with friends. I left the island, headed over to Vancouver, and enjoyed some precious quality time.
Quality time is something we all need, yet it rarely happens by accident. In our busy world, with endless demands pulling us in every direction, we have to make a conscious choice to create space for it. We need moments that rejuvenate us, fulfill us, and remind us who we are beyond our responsibilities.
Three days a week I host interviews and have deeply meaningful conversations with extraordinary people. These discussions are illuminating, inspiring, and nourishing to my heart, soul, and spirit. On the other days, I am Nana. I am surrounded by grandchildren climbing on me, babies needing attention, and all the joyful chaos that comes with family life. I treasure those moments, but they require a different part of me. Balancing those roles is important, and so is finding time simply to be Sara.
Living with fibromyalgia means my energy is often limited, which makes self-care even more essential. Sometimes taking time for yourself means stepping away from routine and reconnecting with other parts of your life. This weekend was about seeing my son and daughter, spending time with my best friend, and simply being an adult among adults. My son and his wife are building exciting new ventures, and my daughter is constantly busy with work and travel, so every opportunity to be together feels precious.
Recently I spoke about moderation and time management in my show, To Scroll or Not to Scroll. Taking time for yourself is part of that balance. Sometimes you simply recognize that you need a break, a chance to step away, breathe, and do something that restores you. Whether that means visiting loved ones, taking a short trip, or simply spending quiet time alone, it is important to listen to that need.
A few weekends ago, I had the house to myself and a long list of plans. I was going to change curtains, tackle projects, and catch up on everything. Instead, I did very little. It was over thirty degrees outside, and I found myself enjoying what I call a “nothingness day.” I puttered about, did a little here and there, but there was no urgency, no pressure, and no expectation. It was exactly what I needed.
Sometimes we need a day where nothing is required of us. There is always another task waiting, another responsibility calling, another demand on our attention. At some point, we simply have to close the door on all of it and say, “Today is for me.” Whether that means taking yourself out for lunch, reading a book, enjoying a spa day, sitting in nature, or doing absolutely nothing at all, it is time well spent.
We often forget the value of stillness. In generations past, people worked hard, but they also spent time in reflection. They sat with their thoughts, talked with family, looked at the stars, contemplated nature, and reflected on their lives. Today, we fill every spare moment with noise, screens, and distractions. Yet true renewal often comes from quiet reflection.
One of the most powerful words we can learn is “no.” No, I am unavailable this weekend. No, I cannot take on one more commitment right now. No, I need some time for myself. You do not owe anyone a lengthy explanation. Taking time for yourself is not selfish; it is necessary. It is where you rejuvenate, recalibrate, and reconnect with yourself.
You are with yourself every moment of your life, from the day you are born until the day you leave this world. What are you doing to nurture that relationship? Maybe it is a massage, a walk by the ocean, a favorite book, a quiet cup of coffee, or simply a day without expectations. Whatever it is, make room for it.
When we fail to take care of ourselves, burnout eventually follows. We take on too much, say yes too often, and carry more than we were meant to bear. The weight accumulates until exhaustion catches up with us. Taking time for yourself is not a luxury; it is part of maintaining your well-being.
So give yourself permission. Take a deep breath. Step back when needed. Say no when necessary. Create moments of stillness. Make room for joy. Most importantly, remember that caring for yourself is not taking away from others—it is what allows you to show up fully for the people and responsibilities that matter most.
Self Discovery Wisdom is sustained by those who believe in conscious conversation. If this episode resonated with you, subscribe and, if you feel called, make a donation. Your support helps us keep amplifying voices that inspire growth, courage, and compassion. Thank you. Please join Our Forgotten Seniorsanthology and help to bring this book to awareness.
Authors Kisswith Sara Troy and her guest Andrea Nechita, on air from June 30th
My story began with my own struggles as a student. I know what it feels like to work hard yet still feel overwhelmed, discouraged, and burnt out. Through years of trial, research, creativity, and persistence, I developed personalized strategies and systems that helped me move from struggling to thriving.
Today, through my debut book, My Student Toolbox: From Struggling to Thriving: Your Student Success Guide, and my personalized educational performance coaching, I help students and families build their own personal toolkit for academic and lifelong success.
As a student success coach, author, speaker, and artist, my mission is to empower students to move from struggling to thriving and to remind them that with the right support and strategies they too can succeed in school and beyond.
With a passion for art and history, I pursued my studies starting with an Honors Bachelor of Arts in Art History from McMaster University in Ontario, Canada. My love for the renaissance and medieval periods took me to Budapest, Hungary, where I completed a Master of Arts in Interdisciplinary History and Medieval Studies from Central European University. Afterwards, I went on to further develop my professional skills in Montreal, Canada, with a Master of Library and Information Studies from McGill University.
My work has taken me into the heritage and education sectors, including roles in universities, museums, cultural centres, libraries, and even in the field on archaeological sites. I consider myself a lifelong learner and a learning advocate. I love helping others and empowering them to learn, reflect, and thrive through designing, developing and publishing meaningful educational and artistic content.
Self Discovery Wisdom is sustained by those who believe in conscious conversation. If this episode resonated with you, subscribe and, if you feel called, make a donation. Your support helps us keep amplifying voices that inspire growth, courage, and compassion. Thank you. Please support Our Forgotten Seniorsanthology and help to bring this book to awareness.
Nature of Addictions with Sara Troy and her guest Erik Peers, on air from June 30th
The 6Fs of Healing: A Whole-Person Approach to Recovery
For over a decade, he lived what he describes as a pharmaceutical nightmare that began when he was prescribed medication despite feeling there was nothing wrong with him. The drugs gradually stripped away his emotions, joy, and sense of self, leading to a diagnosis of Major Depressive Disorder and years of escalating medication. What followed was a devastating cycle of dependence, withdrawal, cognitive struggles, and the realization that the medication itself was contributing to the very symptoms it was meant to treat.
Determined to reclaim his life after ten years on psychiatric medication, he developed an extraordinarily slow tapering process that ultimately set him free. The journey inspired a lifelong commitment to understanding mental health, recovery, and human resilience. Since 2005, he has earned a psychology degree, qualified as both a Health Coach and Executive Coach, and immersed himself daily in the latest research in the field.
Over the last decade, he has refined his approach into what he calls the Polymath Protocol and the 6Fs Method, Physical, Pharmaceutical, Feelings, Philosophical, Family, and Financial. This whole-person framework recognizes that true recovery is about far more than reducing medication; it is about restoring health, identity, relationships, purpose, and the ability to thrive. Working with clients worldwide, every individual who has completed the program with me has successfully reduced or eliminated their medication while reclaiming their lives.
Today, his mission is simple: to be the guide he needed during his own darkest years, bringing together two decades of lived experience, education, and research to help others find a safer, smoother, and more predictable path to healing and authentic living.
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Please join Our Forgotten Seniorsanthology and help to bring this book to awareness.
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