Choosing to Heal with Monica Leigh

Hosted by Monica Leigh

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Latest episode

Jan 2024

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About the show

Welcome to Choosing To Heal with Monica Leigh, where small talk is out and deep discussions are in. On this podcast, Monica gets vulnerable and shares insights, tangible tips, and lessons she has learned over the years. She also invites other guests with inspirational stories of growth and healing onto the show. After doing extensive recovery work to heal betrayal trauma (which included wounds that existed long before that too), Monica learned skills that transformed the relationship she has with herself and others, for the better. Hitting rock bottom in her marriage left her broken and desperate enough to dig deep and begin her lifelong journey of healing. Overcoming betrayal ended up being the best worst thing to happen, as it gave her the gift of perspective that she now hopes to share with others. Each episode will help you maximize your potential and live a life with intention and purpose. Because healing is woven into every single aspect of our lives, no topic is off limits. From mental, emotional and physical wellness, to relationships, faith and business, the goal is always the same: We're choosing to heal, grow and thrive each day. New episodes every Wednesday. If you enjoy this podcast, please subscribe & leave a review! To learn more about Monica, dive further into topics mentioned, or to submit a topic/guest request, visit her website at www.monicaleighblog.com Connect with her on Instagram and Facebook @monicaleighblog Follow the podcast @choosing2heal

Listen to episodes

30 recent

January 24, 202428 min

29. Why I Stopped Trying To Save My Marriage

Ever since I started sharing more about my co-parenting journey with my ex-husband online, lots of comments and assumptions have been shared, both good and bad, but mostly bad. It blew people’s minds how I’m able to sit down at the same dinner table and still have an amicable relationship with him, then we shouldn’t have gotten a divorce. “You couldn't put your egos aside when you were married, but now you can.” “If this is so perfect, then why didn't you just stay together?” “Genuinely curious if you get along so well, why divorce in the first place? I just don't get it.” “If you can cordially communicate and be in each other's presence and have the ability to compromise like this why couldn't you compromise on the thing that caused you to divorce in the first place?” “If you get along this well after a divorce, then you shouldn't have gotten a divorce.” Because here’s the thing: just because you get along well with someone doesn’t mean that you are meant to be in a romantic relationship with that person. Yes, you read that right. This is from someone who fought for her marriage for years. So in this episode, let’s talk about some of the things I did to try to save my marriage and how I arrived at the decision to end it. In this episode: 04:18 - My story of betrayal trauma 05:58 - How I kept myself in denial 08:39 - What are you motivated by when it comes to saving your marriage? 11:11 - A healthier way to advocate for yourself when saving your marriage 14:03 - When I realized my own role in the dysfunction of my marriage 14:28 - What happens when you let go of control 17:32 - Is it possible to divorce from a place of love and healing? 19:38 - The turning point of why I stopped trying to save my marriage Resources and links mentioned in this episode Download my FREE Core Values Workbook Join the Choosing to Heal Community and Book Club Full Show Notes HERE Connect with Monica: Follow Monica on Instagram , Facebook and TikTok . To learn more about Monica, dive further into topics mentioned, or to submit a topic/guest request, visit her website at www.monicaleighblog.com Follow the podcast on Instagram and Facebook Join Monica’s email list to become an exclusive insider Thank you for listening to Choosing To Heal with Monica Leigh! If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe & leave a review to help support the podcast and keep future content coming!

January 17, 202427 min

28. How Somatic Therapy & Energy Work Can Help You Heal with Maria Sellars

If you have been in therapy for years but you feel stuck, this episode is for you. Have you heard the term “the body keeps score”? That is because trauma gets stored in our bodies, which is why it’s so important to incorporate a somatic approach to healing. You may understand WHY you are stuck cognitively, but you won’t experience true healing until you release the trauma somatically. In this episode of the Choosing to Heal podcast, I talked with Maria Sellars, a dynamic Healing Arts Practitioner. We dive into different modalities like energy work & somatic therapy, what they are, and how they can help you heal. In this episode: 03:42 - Discover the cheapest form of anti-depression 04:44 - Intro to other modalities: somatic therapy & energy work 07:21 - Why talk therapy alone isn’t enough 10:02 - How and why trauma is stored in the body 12:52 - How and why your body responds when you’re emotionally triggered 16:43 - How to heal at a body level & why it’s so important 22:05 - Simple ways to get started with vibrational, somatic, energy healing Resources and links mentioned in this episode Join the Choosing To Heal Community HERE Full Show Notes HERE Connect with Monica: Follow Monica on Instagram , Facebook and TikTok . To learn more about Monica, dive further into topics mentioned, or to submit a topic/guest request, visit her website at www.monicaleighblog.com Follow the podcast on Instagram and Facebook Join Monica’s email list to become an exclusive insider About our guest: Maria Sellars is a dynamic Healing Arts Practitioner who has been studying movement and energy medicine for over 17 years. She is the owner of Heal. Pain & Stress Relief Center in the Orlando, Florida area. Her passion is helping people to light up their lives because she knows what it is like struggling and living in the dark. Maria’s approach to healing combines energy work, somatic inner child work and chakra balancing techniques to help people find clarity, peace and joy in their worlds. We all have the capability to heal our lives and Maria is here to walk alongside you as you grow along your journey. Connect with Maria Follow Maria on Instagram @orlandoenergyworker @whattheheal.podcast www.mariasellars.com Thank you for listening to Choosing To Heal with Monica Leigh! If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe & leave a review to help support the podcast and keep future content coming!

January 10, 202429 min

27. 8 Ways You May Be Sabotaging Your Relationship & Why

Here’s the thing: you’re not a horrible person for unconsciously sabotaging your relationship. Your unhealthy habits have nothing to do with who you are as a person but it says everything about your past and what you’ve been through. So in today’s episode, let’s take a hard look at the ways you may be self-sabotaging your relationship and the reasons why you may be doing this. Once you gain a deeper understanding as to why you may be doing these behaviors, you can do better and choose to heal. In this episode mp3: 01:58 - 8 ways you may be sabotaging your relationship 04:47 - The wounded beliefs that fuel your behavior 06:26 - Words to watch out for when you’re in conflict 08:57 - What you’re REALLY trying to communicate 17:41 - How past trauma plays a huge role in how you act out 21:57 - Why it’s hard for your partner to respond when you react Resources and links mentioned in this episode Get my FREE Triggered Masterclass Listen to Episode 5: How to Respond, Not React Join the Choosing to Heal Community and Book Club Full Show Notes HERE Connect with Monica: Follow Monica on Instagram , Facebook and TikTok . To learn more about Monica, dive further into topics mentioned, or to submit a topic/guest request, visit her website at www.monicaleighblog.com Follow the podcast on Instagram and Facebook Join Monica’s email list to become an exclusive insider Thank you for listening to Choosing To Heal with Monica Leigh! If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe & leave a review to help support the podcast and keep future content coming!

December 27, 202326 min

26. Start Fresh in 2024 By Doing A New Year Reset! Here’s How.

It’s almost the start of a brand new year, and if you're like the rest of the world, you're probably starting to think about New Year's resolutions or things you want to do differently for 2024. So in today's episode, I’ll walk you through the exercises we’re doing inside the Choosing to Heal Community and Book Club to say goodbye to 2023 and prep for 2024 with intention so we can continue to heal and thrive. In this episode: 01:46 - How to prep for the new year 03:11 - Why you need accountability partners 04:29 - Do this to trigger your 2023 memories 05:26 - Journal prompts to use for 2023 reflections 09:46 - A creative approach to gratitude 11:55 - Defining your word of the year 18:35 - How to break down goals into an actionable plan 23:05 - Decluttering for the new year Resources and links mentioned in this episode Download my New Year Reset Workbook HERE Join the Choosing to Heal Book Community and Book Club for accountability and healing resources Full Show Notes HERE Connect with Monica: Follow Monica on Instagram , Facebook and TikTok . To learn more about Monica, dive further into topics mentioned, or to submit a topic/guest request, visit her website at www.monicaleighblog.com Follow the podcast on Instagram and Facebook Join Monica’s email list to become an exclusive insider Thank you for listening to Choosing To Heal with Monica Leigh! If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe & leave a review to help support the podcast and keep future content coming!

December 20, 202323 min

25. 2023 Year In Review: My Personal Highs & Lows

This time of year, you’ll see a lot of highlight reels. But let’s be real… a year doesn’t consist of ONLY GOOD. Consider this your dose of what a REALISTIC year can look like, balancing both the good and the hard! Choosing to heal is not a linear path and this year was no exception. In this episode, I share my most impactful experiences from 2023: both highlights and lowlights. In this episode: 02:40 - The biggest shock of the year 03:35 - Learning how to surrender the outcome 08:04 - Grieving unexpected loss 10:00 - Hidden everyday blessings 10:24 - The underrated benefit of being in a long-distance relationship 13:51 - How blended family is both a blessing and a struggle 17:01 - Biggest frustration in my healing journey so far 20:32 - Why I’m able to dive deeper into healing this year Resources and links mentioned in this episode Get my FREE Triggered Masterclass Listen to Episode 7: Deciding To Divorce, Dating After Divorce & What Life Looks Like Now Join the Choosing to Heal Community and Book Club Full Show Notes HERE Connect with Monica: Follow Monica on Instagram , Facebook and TikTok . To learn more about Monica, dive further into topics mentioned, or to submit a topic/guest request, visit her website at www.monicaleighblog.com Follow the podcast on Instagram and Facebook Join Monica’s email list to become an exclusive insider Thank you for listening to Choosing To Heal with Monica Leigh! If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe & leave a review to help support the podcast and keep future content coming!

December 6, 202313 min

24. Can Your Partner Help You Heal? Debunking 3 Common Relationship Myths

Should you do the work and heal unhealthy relationship patterns BEFORE entering a relationship OR can your partner help you heal? In this episode, I am debunking three common myths about healing in relationships because believing them can hold you back or make you think that your relationship is doomed when it's simply not the case. I'll be getting vulnerable and sharing some personal examples about areas that I'm still healing in my current relationship, as well as what is required from you and your partner if you want to have a relationship that facilitates growth and healing for you both. In this episode: 02:20 - Why there’s no such thing as being “fully healed” 03:50 - The difference between a toxic relationship and a relationship that experiences rough patches 06:16 My personal struggle with conflict in my relationship 06:43 - How childhood trauma can manifest as an unhealthy coping mechanism in relationships 08:39 - The core step you need to take to stop attracting emotionally unavailable people 09:25 - Can your partner help you heal? Resources and links mentioned in this episode Download my FREE Core Values Worksheet Listen to Episode 23: Moving on Too Quickly? How To Tell If You’re Ready To Date Again Join the Choosing to Heal Community and Book Club Full Show Notes HERE Connect with Monica: Follow Monica on Instagram , Facebook and TikTok . To learn more about Monica, dive further into topics mentioned, or to submit a topic/guest request, visit her website at www.monicaleighblog.com Follow the podcast on Instagram and Facebook Join Monica’s email list to become an exclusive insider Thank you for listening to Choosing To Heal with Monica Leigh! If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe & leave a review to help support the podcast and keep future content coming!

November 29, 202321 min

23. Moving on Too Quickly? How To Tell If You’re Ready To Date Again

One of my biggest fears about dating post-divorce was getting into a new relationship only to repeat the same patterns, leading to yet another failed relationship. So is it true that if you move on too soon, you’re unhealthy and your new relationship is doomed to fail? Is staying single the only way to do the work and heal those relationship wounds? In this new episode, I’m sharing my opinion on dating after divorce and spoiler warning…it’s not a popular one. In this episode: 01:11 - My personal story 02:14 - How I “tested” myself to see if I was truly ready to date again 06:42 - Unspoken societal stigma about how long one should wait to date again 08:52 - Staying single vs. dating right away 10:05 - My unpopular opinion about dating after divorce 12:55 - How healing your hurt with your former partner can contribute to your personal healing 16:17 - Questions to reflect on to see if you’re ready to look for a new healthy relationship 18:25 - Mindset shift for dating post-divorce 20:29 - Affirmations for dating post-divorce Resources and links mentioned in this episode Get my FREE Core Values Worksheet HERE Full Show Notes HERE Connect with Monica: Follow Monica on Instagram , Facebook and TikTok . To learn more about Monica, dive further into topics mentioned, or to submit a topic/guest request, visit her website at www.monicaleighblog.com Follow the podcast on Instagram and Facebook Join Monica’s email list to become an exclusive insider

November 16, 202327 min

22. Unexpected Holiday Grief Post-Divorce

Splitting time during the holidays, being alone, having your kids away…these are the things most divorced people expect to grieve over post-divorce. But what I didn’t expect to hit me like a ton of bricks was all these much more subtle and nuanced things that I didn’t even think could affect me but they did. It's difficult to not have expectations on how the holiday is going to go when year after year it has looked and felt the same. In this episode, let’s talk about the things divorced people grieve people that aren’t really discussed. In this episode: 01:27 - Longing over attachment to holiday traditions 06:20 - Grieving the relationships of your former extended family 13:42 - Navigating the balance of sharing grief with my partner while also protecting him 17:02 - Scripts for holding emotional boundaries 18:23 - Missing my stepkids 19:27 - The silver lining in dating after divorce 23:11 - Holding space for grieving over the past and being grateful for the present 24:17 - Feel your feelings 25:54 - Emotions don’t always have to have meanings Resources and links mentioned in this episode Get my proven step-by-step process for letting go and moving forward HERE Full Show Notes HERE Connect with Monica: Follow Monica on Instagram , Facebook and TikTok . To learn more about Monica, dive further into topics mentioned, or to submit a topic/guest request, visit her website at www.monicaleighblog.com Follow the podcast on Instagram and Facebook Join Monica’s email list to become an exclusive insider Thank you for listening to Choosing To Heal with Monica Leigh! If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe & leave a review to help support the podcast and keep future content coming!

November 8, 202329 min

21. 10 Things I’m Not Giving Energy To In My 30s

What sticks out to me so far in my life is how different I feel right now in my 30s compared to when I was in my 20s. I’ve heard people around me say, “30s are your new 20s” and I feel like it could go one of two ways. First, is that people can view getting older as the worst thing that can happen to them. The second is viewing it as an opportunity to discover new versions of themselves. I’m definitely the latter and I won’t deny that I love getting older. Each year, I become wiser and more in tune with my authentic self. I discover new ways of creating the person I want to be. So whether you are in your 30s and just looking for some things you can leave behind too, or whether you're in your 20s or younger and just wondering what life might be like in your 30s, I’m sharing the 10 things I’m no longer giving energy to in my 30s. No matter how old (or young) you are, my hope is that you can take away some things to consider and ask yourself if it’s worth it to give energy to these things as well. In this episode: 01:59 - No longer feel guilty about declining invitations or not making these interactions a priority 05:12 - Giving up alcohol due to witnessing harm and feeling personal distress 08:40 - Self-improvement is key, allowing me to manage discomfort without controlling others' opinions 11:22 - Discovering the power of internal validation 13:07 - Not stressing about appearance 18:10 - No longer changing myself to gain acceptance and approval 20:22 - Not feeling guilty for saying no 21:40 - Appreciate that embracing imperfections and vulnerabilities is a courageous act 23:37 - Realizing that life is too short to engage in things out of obligation or fear of offense 26:47 - Reflecting on the significance of where we direct our energy Resources and links mentioned in this episode Sign up for Monica’s Love Mail Full Show Notes HERE Connect with Monica: Follow Monica on Instagram , Facebook and TikTok . To learn more about Monica, dive further into topics mentioned, or to submit a topic/guest request, visit her website at www.monicaleighblog.com Follow the podcast on Instagram and Facebook Join Monica’s email list to become an exclusive insider Thank you for listening to Choosing To Heal with Monica Leigh! If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe & leave a review to help support the podcast and keep future content coming!

November 1, 202332 min

20. From Page to Practice: Turning Reading into Action with Nick Hutchison

When it comes to selecting a book to read, the process can often be overwhelming and intimidating, particularly if you are relatively new to the world of reading and haven't had the chance to explore it extensively. That's why I reached out to Nick Hutchinson, founder of Book Thinkers, a renowned platform dedicated to promoting the love of reading and personal development. I sought his expertise on the art of selecting the perfect book, reading with purpose and intention, and effectively applying the knowledge gained from your reading materials to your everyday life. In this episode: 05:39 Info about Nick’s new book, Rise of the Reader! 06:42 Debunking the myth: “I don’t have time to read” 07:27 How you can read 26 books a year by committing to 15 mins/day 10:07 The missing link between reading, retention and implementation 13:18 How to implement what you read into real life action 17:03 How to choose the right books to read 19:53 Nick’s reading habits that have helped him read 500+ books in the past 10 years Resources and links mentioned in this episode Join the Choosing to Heal Community and Book Club Buy the book on Amazon Full Show Notes HERE Connect with Monica: Follow Monica on Instagram , Facebook and TikTok . To learn more about Monica, dive further into topics mentioned, or to submit a topic/guest request, visit her website at www.monicaleighblog.com Follow the podcast on Instagram and Facebook Join Monica’s email list to become an exclusive insider Connect with Nick Learn more about Nick Learn more about BookThinkers For personalized book recommendations, DM Nick on Instagram Thank you for listening to Choosing To Heal with Monica Leigh! If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe & leave a review to help support the podcast and keep future content coming!