Become a Creator today!Start creating today - Share your story with the world!
Start for free
00:00:00
00:00:01
"An Episode for YOU, Dear Listener.✨#98
85 Plays1 month ago
This episode is a little different—we’re talking directly to YOU.
If you’re listening, take a moment to pause and really receive this: you’ve made it through every challenge life has thrown your way. Every struggle, every doubt, every moment you weren’t sure you could keep going… you did.
Relax and receive.
Let us tell you the unseen impact you’ve already had on others, the hidden purpose inside your struggles, and the powerful truth that your personal growth is not selfish—it’s service to the world.
This episode is a reminder that you are not behind, not broken, and not alone. You are part of something bigger—and your presence matters more than you know.
Take a breath, receive this, and let it land.
And if something in this episode resonates, we’d love to hear from you—leave a review, send us a message, or share it with someone who might need it today.
Stay Sparked.
✨☕ This episode is sponsored by www.BecomeLucid.com
Lucid is a functional mushroom and nootropic brand designed to fuel mental clarity, focus, and long-term brain health. Their flagship product is a premium mushroom coffee blend infused with clinically studied nootropics—crafted to deliver clean energy without the crash.
✨🎶 MASSIVE Thank you to Dub Sutra for their beautiful opening music. Check out their incredible music catalogue online. https://dubsutra.com
Recommended
Transcript
Introduction to Stay Sparked
00:00:02
Speaker
On today's episode, we are talking directly to you. We are using this time to spark you with words of affirmation, words of encouragement, and celebrating the existence of who you are.
00:00:17
Speaker
Enjoy the episode.
00:00:21
Speaker
Hello and welcome to Stay Sparked. I'm Betsy Finkelhoo, the creator of the Power Affirmation Journal and Somatic Bodyworker. I am John Halcyon Stinn, the host of the Hug Nation YouTube channel and the Heart Centered Men men's groups.
00:00:35
Speaker
We are longtime friends that decided to start recording our inspiring conversations as a way to light you up. It is our core intention to spread sparks of inspiration. So thank you for
Gratitude for Nature and Sponsor
00:00:48
Speaker
being here. And we always start with gratitude. So let's start with you. What are you grateful for today, John Halcyon?
00:00:56
Speaker
The ocean. Last night I jumped in the sea at sunset and it was just such a delightful ah cleansing. I'm still feeling refreshed.
00:01:08
Speaker
Mmm, nice. I love the ocean, the way that it does that. Well, you sparked my gratitude for the forest, from the ocean to the forest. I have been getting to learn about springtime in the forest and the mountains here in Asheville, and I'm so grateful to get to be a student in these beautiful, majestic forests that are so old and so beautiful.
00:01:32
Speaker
So grateful for the forest today. Beautiful. Well, and we also have lots of gratitude for our sponsors, Lucid. This is a mushroom nootropics drink. Our dear friends have been cultivating this beautiful concoction of medicinal mushrooms, nootropics that help your mind, your body, and your spirit feel great. There's combinations. You've got the coffee. see We've got chai. We've got even just a super boost. And even my favorite, the dream, which is like a wind down yummy drink. So thank you, Lucid.
Inspiration and Affirmation Goals
00:02:05
Speaker
Find them on becomelucid.com.
00:02:08
Speaker
Incredible part of my ah daily joy. Thank you, Lucid.
00:02:14
Speaker
Yum, yum, yum. Okay, so let's get into it because I'm super excited about today's episode because the core intention of this podcast is really about inspiring you, the listener,
00:02:29
Speaker
Wherever you are, you are taking a moment to listen to this podcast to receive inspiration. And we were realizing that the nature of podcasts is a very individual experience. Usually you'll be listening by yourself in headphones, maybe in the car. Occasionally you might listen to a podcast with a friend. um But we understand that you're taking this moment just for you listen.
00:02:55
Speaker
receive and to listen and to gain something. And so we both are word enthusiasts and words of affirmation and encouragement is something that really has fueled me on my path. And we always fan each other's flames and celebrate each other. And it just feels so good. And so we decided to create an episode that is fanning your flames.
00:03:20
Speaker
You, whoever you are that is taking this moment, this podcast landed in your ear for a specific reason for you to receive today.
Receiving and Celebrating Affirmations
00:03:30
Speaker
I was thinking that yes we talk about that we have these conversations that we share is what we do during the these our podcast. And today, we want to invite you in. So we're talking to you and recognizing, of course, it might be hard to speak back to us, but we really would love to hear any responses you have to anything we say. But really today, this episode, ah we're talking to you.
00:03:57
Speaker
Mm hmm. So thank you for taking a moment to listen and to receive our and words of encouragement. That is words of celebration for who you are. And so it might be challenging to receive sometimes when someone gives you a compliment and ah or if somebody, you know, shares something uplifting to you directly. And so this is the place for you to get to practice and just receive and just say yes to the things that we're saying. And so um have some wonderful, exciting things to just fan your flames with. And so whatever you need to do right now, shake off your day, open up your heart and get ready to just receive our love blast.
00:04:40
Speaker
Are you ready? I'm ready. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Okay, hey, let's do this. Okay, so I'm going to start and then you just pop in anytime you want, okay?
00:04:51
Speaker
Great. All right, so let's just take a deep breath.
00:04:58
Speaker
And you can imagine that it's like your birthday. It's a special day that you get to be celebrated and be reminded that you are amazing.
00:05:12
Speaker
You're an amazing person. Everything that you have been through to get to be where you are right now is truly a miracle. And everything that has led up to even your existence is truly a miracle. If you even just look at your hands right now,
00:05:28
Speaker
And look at the miracle that it is to be alive in this body. I'm celebrating you for all that you have created with these hands. I am celebrating the existence of your physical form in this life. So thank you so much for all that you have created. You're amazing.
00:05:46
Speaker
Bravo. You have literally overcome every single challenge, every obstacle of your life you have made it through. That's incredible.
00:05:58
Speaker
Bravo. Amazing. And even the things that you have still yet to overcome, whatever roadblocks, whatever challenges that you might be facing right now, you're cultivating resiliency, which is amazing. And you're staying steadfast and true to yourself.
00:06:14
Speaker
You haven't given up.
Value of Efforts and Journey
00:06:15
Speaker
And even if sometimes it feels like you have, you're still putting one foot in front of the other, which is amazing. And it's so important. I just really want to remind you that even the small wins, the small steps that you're taking towards your best life are really worth celebrating.
00:06:32
Speaker
And just in case you had a little voice that says, yeah, but that one thing that I did, ho, ho, ho, ho. You do not have the vantage point to understand if something is good or bad or how the struggle or the failure or the the misstep might not be exactly what future you is going to look back on and say, thank God i quote unquote, messed that up so dramatically so that I could find my way to find the strength to do the thing I needed to do.
00:07:06
Speaker
Absolutely. Your effort is not wasted. Everything that you have created, whether it made you know a huge impact on the world or no one ever saw it, something was shifted inside of you. The efforts that you have put into your creations, towards your work, towards your family, towards your health, all of this is so valuable. And so I just really want to remind you and us right now that taking a moment to just be proud,
00:07:35
Speaker
is o okay. Like to even just like put your hand on your heart and say, I'm really proud of myself. I'm actually, I'm really showing up in a good way for my life. And even though I might have struggled and maybe not been so nice to myself along the way, like it's okay to take this quiet moment to just be proud of yourself.
00:07:53
Speaker
Yeah. And even the things that you might think nobody noticed, you have no idea. In fact, I can pretty much guarantee that there are people out there that in their memory banks, in their there are thoughts that they go to to console themselves or to be inspired by, there's things that you did or you said the way that you were present for them that you don't remember at all and are massively significant to somebody.
00:08:23
Speaker
You are creating positive ripples and you have in so many ways that you're not aware of. It's so true. Yes,
Hero's Journey and Self-Improvement
00:08:30
Speaker
you are exactly where you need to be too. this moment, wherever you are, this is part of the journey.
00:08:37
Speaker
So whether you're in a really high moment where everything is flowing, abundance is happening, or whether you're in a really down moment, this is a reminder that you're exactly where you need to be for your soul's mission. This is part of the journey of life. And so really just continuing to celebrate the path that you're on and you're exactly where you need to be right now.
00:09:00
Speaker
Yeah. and And if it's tough, You are getting exactly the curriculum that you need. si And everyone around you is too.
00:09:13
Speaker
And so when it feels like the struggle is overwhelming or too much, i would I would give yourself a little bit of future vision and say, my current struggle, your current struggle, you are the hardest things for you right now is what you're going to be able to teach in the future.
00:09:32
Speaker
It's it's the the way that you're going to be able to connect to people who are struggling with the exact same thing Once you have gotten some familiarity and comfort and resilience around it. Absolutely. That is the hero's journey. Each of us are on our own journey of going into the depths and pulling the gems out of the darkness in order to be able to bring it into the light. And whatever your journey is, is perfect for you. So celebrating that. Yes, you are Amazing. Thank you so much for going into the dark, deep places to pull out the wisdom of your soul. It's amazing. And also, i just really want to celebrate you based on what you shared, Halcyon, around how you are actually helping other people. and You might not even know it.
00:10:18
Speaker
So just you doing your inner work and being willing to look at some of the challenges from a place of a growth mindset And potentially sharing that with the world or allowing yourself to be seen in your process is truly in service to a better world. And other people are paying attention to your growth process. So thank you.
00:10:39
Speaker
Thank you so much for your service and devotion to to growth because that's what we're all here for. Thank you. yes yeah Yes. I mean, the it it can be easy to feel like there's so much broken in the world.
00:10:56
Speaker
And it can even feel selfish to be working on yourself. when there's so much out there that needs to be fixed. But I would challenge you and make remind you that you are a part of the world.
00:11:08
Speaker
And the most powerful effect that you can have for world healing is the work that you've been doing on yourself, that you continue to do on yourself. Because every little bit of growth and healing that you do increases the benefit of every ripple you make.
00:11:25
Speaker
Absolutely. Every person you touch is then impacted in a more positive way. You are a cell in this massive organism. And if you spend any energy getting yourself healthy, keeping yourself healthy, you are doing a service to all of us. So thank you.
00:11:45
Speaker
Yes, yes, yes. Yes. And not only a cell and the whole organism, but also a piece of the puzzle. You have a unique piece of this very dynamic, complex puzzle of humanity right now. And whatever that is, it's unique
Authenticity and Human Experience
00:12:00
Speaker
to you.
00:12:01
Speaker
And so really finding this moment to be grateful that we're alive right now. I'm so grateful that you're here because you have a very important piece of the puzzle for this next phase of what we're all going through. And the cool part is you don't even have to know what that piece of the puzzle is. To just continue to exist in your most authentic self is truly a gift. That is the contribution to this this very wild, ever-changing world that we live in. So you're amazing. You're doing great with your piece of the puzzle.
00:12:33
Speaker
Yes. And you have no idea the magnitude of your contribution. And it can be easy to feel like I need to be doing more. But I would i would remind you that that's really up to God to decide how much of everything is needed in the whole this whole ah painting that is being painted. You need to just be focused on being purely your color, being you as authentically as possible. And if the impact of that means that you are present for your kids, that is as important as
00:13:13
Speaker
flying to another country and digging a well, like every little piece, it is that you can't measure the magnitude of it, only the the integrity of it.
00:13:23
Speaker
So thank you. Yes, yes. oh oh My heart is a flutter. And I am reminding you that your heart is powerful too.
00:13:34
Speaker
Your heart is radiant. And it is a powerful force for this world. So keeping your heart open is courageous. And I see you. Thank you so much for showing up here even just today. Listening to this podcast to stay open, to stay inspired is this is such a gift.
00:13:53
Speaker
It is amazing. Your heart is is a magnetic field. And the more that you keep tending to it the way that you are, filling your your your brain and filling your your content of your being with positive things like this is charging, supercharging your heart. What a gift your heart is.
00:14:16
Speaker
And it's activism. yeah It is easy to stay closed, to protect, to to close your heart and your world off. It takes courage to stay open, to continue to grow, to to risk.
00:14:35
Speaker
It is impossible to live without fear. So if you get scared sometimes, do not take that as any indication of weakness. You cannot be without fear, but you can be brave.
00:14:46
Speaker
You can recognize that, yes, this is hard. I don't know if I can do it and I'm going to do it anyways. And you have been doing that your whole life. So give yourself some kudos. I'm going to high five you through the screen and fist bump you.
00:15:01
Speaker
No, that was a little too hard. Sorry, I didn't mean to hit you that hard. But i really, bravo, because it is not easy to be a human being. you know we not be You might not be fighting a bear every day, but that's actually kind of a simple process. You can know exactly what it requires, what the dangerous parts are. There's teeth, there's claws. But every day you are navigating such a complex process landscape of pressures and manipulation and all all the the forces of of truths and untruths and socialization and trying to stay in your ah authentic being in a world that is really pulling you at that.
00:15:47
Speaker
That is hard. And it's i just i I'm just so impressed. If you're here listening right now, then you have made hard choices and you have been a a warrior in the direction of a more loving world. So, man, thank you. Thank you. Yeah. And thank you for showing up.
00:16:09
Speaker
Really. Thank you so much for showing up again and again in authenticity, in devotion to your best life. I see you creating in this really amazing way. So i I have this bubbling creative expression of joy for you right now. i i celebrate your magic.
00:16:31
Speaker
Yeah.
00:16:39
Speaker
of light of inspiration for others to receive and when you get into that authentic place of creating whatever it is that you choose to create and put your energy into it's amazing it's so amazing There's this like this vision of a parade just for you. There's like there's balloons and there's a a band and there's like pictures of you and people celebrating you just in the full joyful ah exploration and an effervescent, playful, magical celebration of you and your creativity and who you are.
00:17:17
Speaker
yeah. what What a gift to share
Transforming Emotions into Creativity
00:17:20
Speaker
this journey with you. i i want to take one moment and just to remind us of what we are, the bounty that we are able to celebrate together and that we are conscious within human bodies on this fertile planet.
00:17:40
Speaker
And in a universe that is is large beyond comprehension, we are on the only planet we know of that has life.
00:17:52
Speaker
I heard something recently, the most rarest ma material in the world, do know what it is Is it diamond? Is it gold? No, the rarest material in the in the entire universe is wood. Because we're the only place that has life, the only place that has growing things. And we live on that planet.
00:18:11
Speaker
And so we get to experience life. life And not just like like we get to experience the the spices and the flavors from all over the world.
00:18:22
Speaker
We get to experience the entertainment and the music from the most talented people in the world for for every generation history.
00:18:33
Speaker
history they would be lucky to hear a symphony or to hear ah music played. And we have so much access to the most incredible artistic creations. And we have the ability to, with our minds and our creativity, create.
00:18:50
Speaker
Yes. Oh, my gosh. well That's amazing. Thank you for for being a part of this incredible ah adventure with us. Yes, yes. And i love this inspiration because I can feel the shift into the we From you, listener, to we, we all are so amazing to be human, to be able to walk, even just the simplicity of being able to stand. If you can stand, look at your ankles. There are so many bones in your ankles that create this miracle for your, like,
00:19:22
Speaker
ah over a hundred pounds or more to be balancing on every day. It's a miracle to be able to walk around in these physical bodies. It is truly a miracle to feel, to have so many feelings, to be able to access such a range of emotions. i mean, we are the only species that go through such a range and it's, it's amazing. And so to be able to celebrate what we are,
00:19:48
Speaker
from the wider viewpoint, rather than getting like swept up into my own little microcosm, but to be in the like, oh, wow, look at how complex we are. Look at how dynamic our consciousness is and how it's ever expanding. The time that we live in right now.
00:20:07
Speaker
To be able to have such ah amazing discoveries scientifically about consciousness, about our bodies, about the earth, or about you know the ocean, for example. There's just still so much we don't know. and so much is just coming through. It's amazing. We're so we're so fortunate.
00:20:27
Speaker
So incredibly fortunate. and And even amongst all those incredible experiences, it is not without suffering and struggle and pain.
00:20:39
Speaker
And I think it's really important to add that to the list of things that we are able to experience. Yeah. There's a comic or ah a drawing that I saw once where there was this line of souls, like an infinite line of souls waiting in line for the opportunity to be born into a body.
00:21:00
Speaker
Like we are the divine. We are oneness. We are bliss. But that's eternal. We have this teeny tiny sliver eternal. nine decades if we're lucky, where we get to actually experience this humanness.
00:21:17
Speaker
Part of that is hard because that lets the soft be so much more incredible. And so when we are having our human experience, it is so wonderful to be able to share it with you and to remind each other what a gift this is.
00:21:36
Speaker
Truly. And all of our feelings are valid. All of your feelings are valid. The anger that you might feel from seeing the state of the world, any despair, any sorrow, the deep grief that comes from what's happening in a global perspective, to feel all of that is valid. And to be willing to go there and to let your feelings come through, through whether whether it's tears or pain or creation, it's important to feel all of that. And that's a part of the human experience. And in doing so, the miracle it is to see it get alchemized.
00:22:14
Speaker
right, that depth of grief that we can feel that we can actually go into it when we go into it, then what can come from that is is something so incredible. Maybe it's art. Maybe it's music. Maybe it's activism. Maybe it is community organization. Maybe there's something, right? And so the miracle that it is to really grief our emotions, the space to be truly felt in this human body, in this human experience.
00:22:45
Speaker
It's amazing. So celebrating all of this range of, of emotions and processes that we get to go through and this shortlived life ninety ninety years is short 100 is still kind of short in the grand scheme of everything, right? It's a blip. I mean, in in the grand scheme of this wild cosmos, it's a blip. and And if we pay attention and if we allow ourselves to be present with the people around us, with the sunsets, with the pets and the babies and the plants, every moment is an eternity filled with awe.
Spreading Positivity
00:23:30
Speaker
Yes, every moment. And celebrating that we can fan each other's flames. And you have a voice and your voice is very powerful. And so often we wait till it's someone's birthday to tell them how amazing they are.
00:23:45
Speaker
Or sometimes we wait until they pass, you know, to make a tribute to them. And so may this conversation, these sparks be a reminder for you to keep spreading that positive reflection to the people that you care about and fanning their flames and Because you never know. Those positive words of encouragement might actually change someone's life.
00:24:08
Speaker
It might open them up in a whole other way to believe in themselves that they may never had been before. That birthday card that you write to someone. Maybe you write them a card halfway through the year to just celebrate them. And i I know I'll actually bring up a card I have on my wall that was from 2007.
00:24:28
Speaker
from this woman named Sonia and she wrote in and this birthday card something that just helped me so much in the moment and I saved it for all these years and I read it from time to time to feel the magic of her words would you like to hear it yes In order to make art, we must first make an artful life, a life rich enough and diverse enough to give us fuel. We must strive to see the beauty where we are planted, even if we're planted somewhere that feels very foreign or our or to our own nature.
00:25:02
Speaker
Betsy, you connect so many souls by bringing them to joy to to enjoy a sense of richness and diversity instead of more overcrowding and sameness. A mentor at making an artful life, teaching others to bloom where they're planted. finkahu flower as little literal example. The beauty you see in life is is more and more and I'm proud to know you.
00:25:26
Speaker
And it just, that just lands so hard with me. And I just keep coming back to like, right. I bloom where I implanted. i know who I am. The reflection of a dear friend from many years ago continues to provide those ripples. And she may never know. Yeah. She may never know.
00:25:45
Speaker
and, and I would guess there's some people who know you or know of you, and they probably assume that you are in a constant state of awareness of how amazing you are.
00:25:58
Speaker
I doubt myself too. I got an email two days ago from someone that dramatically changed my week. I was feeling really struggling to like, does anything I do matter?
00:26:11
Speaker
And someone sent me this incredible note of appreciation. And i was like, and now we're actually been writing back and forth, back and forth, because i was realizing how much of our passions connect. But I want to remind you, listener, that you are fully qualified, fully empowered, and have everything in you right now to be that inspiration to people around you.
00:26:41
Speaker
And you don't have to wait to reach out to someone. If it's been a long time and you haven't reached out to someone to remind them how amazing you think they might be, this might be the day. but Just because we think that we know that somebody you know is posting a picture that it looks like their life is great, maybe they might need a little sparkle in their inbox.
00:27:02
Speaker
And we did an episode on this, actually. We'll pull it out and share it again. But it's like, how do we actually just continue to spread sparks in the people's lives that we haven't talked to in a long time or people that we do to just send a little love note and say, you're amazing.
00:27:19
Speaker
Because, hey, guess what? Listener, you're amazing. You're so amazing. Thank you so much for being who you are for the the light that you bring into the world, for the presence that you bring into the world, for the authenticity that you bring to the teachings, the creativity, the art, the music, whatever it is that you are letting to flow through your soul, your unique soul is truly amazing.
00:27:46
Speaker
yeah if you're If you're hearing the vibrations of our voice right now, we we know quite a bit about you. We know that you have struggled, that you have battled self-doubt, that you have sought connection and purpose and dealt with doubt and had triumphs and heartbreak and
00:28:13
Speaker
You've failed. you have stumbled. You've had awkward moments. You've created things that never went anywhere. You've started projects that you've had to cancel. You have also finished amazing things. You've also raised people, very likely,
Interconnectedness and Gratitude
00:28:30
Speaker
if you're a parent. You've helped people. You've done random acts of kindness. You have made a positive difference in the world.
00:28:38
Speaker
Yeah. The biology of your brain probably doesn't let you remember that on a daily basis. But let us remind you. And because we do know that about you, we know that you're amazing.
00:28:50
Speaker
You're amazing. Thank you so much for being you. and this is a reminder that as we're speaking to you. This is the connection of all of us because we're human.
00:29:03
Speaker
This is who we are. And we are all the same, all like unique snowflakes, but we're of the same essence. We're made of the same stuff. And so what a gift it is to be alive. Thank you so much for receiving our celebrations and our words of encouragement and happy unbirthday to you. ah Oh my gosh, I feel so good right now. know. Okay, we have to plus press, press, repeat, play it again and again and again. Loop, loop.
00:29:34
Speaker
Yes. ah And thank you, John Halcyon, for playing with me to spread these sparks and to just continuing to explore what it is to spread sparks in the world through this podcast, through our conversations.
00:29:48
Speaker
And for anyone out there that wants to learn more about how we do this in our own lives, we both work with clients individually, virtually and in person doing men's work. You do men's work. I do women's work. We both do circles and facilitate retreats. We both have books and you can work with us one-on-one if you reach out. to be able to just have your more individualized, celebratory, real coaching. we We love empowering people. And so feel free to reach out anytime. You can find my work on poweraffirmation.com and johnsaslifestudent.com.
00:30:28
Speaker
That's right. Yeah. All right. Would you like to close us off with an affirmation? I would love to hear your affirmation.
00:30:43
Speaker
I appreciate about you the consistent ease which you connect to your affirmations. Every single time I feel all this like inspiration from, from just the, the natural connection you have to that. And the way that you share with the world ah is, is so appreciated. So,
00:31:07
Speaker
Please, please, please. Okay. All right. I got to be spontaneous instigator. um Next time. i'll give Next time I'll give you a warning. Okay. So let's use some affirmations that are similar to what we talked about. So now this is your turn, listener, to really tune in with yourself and affirm these things to yourself in your own unique way. And so just closing your eyes if that feels good. i like to do a little tuck of the chin that is kind of like an internal bow is I've got this.
00:31:38
Speaker
I've got this. I'm doing amazing. I'm exactly where I need to be. Life is working in my favor. Life is working in my favor.
00:31:52
Speaker
i am making a positive difference in the world simply by being me. i am making a positive difference in the world simply by being me.
00:32:05
Speaker
I'm so grateful to be alive. I'm so grateful to be alive. I'm so grateful to be alive. I'm so grateful to be who I am. I'm so grateful to be who I am.
00:32:17
Speaker
i am sparked. I am sparked. I am sparked. And I'm going to stay sparked. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. ah If you want to start practicing your giving and compliments, feel free to leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or a comment on our YouTube or just leave us a comment on our Instagram at StaySpark. We would love to hear anything that's on your mind and heart.
00:32:46
Speaker
Thank you so much. Stay Spark, people.
00:32:53
Speaker
Has this conversation sparked you? Send us a note or leave a comment on the Stay Sparked Instagram page or YouTube channel. Reviewing us on Apple Podcasts really helps too. But most helpful of all is when you share us with a friend.
00:33:07
Speaker
We are so grateful to our sponsor, Lucid, makers of delicious functional mushroom and nootropic drinks. And special thanks to Dub Sutra, creators of our beautiful intro and ending music.
00:33:18
Speaker
Find links to me, Betsy, and all of this good stuff in the show notes.
00:33:24
Speaker
They spark friends.