Five Year You

Episode Overview: In this insightful episode of 5 Year You, Andrew and Catherine share how to prioritize peace in a world that constantly demands more. They explore why peace feels elusive, the role of boundaries, and how societal pressures encourage busyness instead of calm. With practical tools and personal stories, they discuss how to cultivate inner peace, set boundaries, and eliminate the stressors that disrupt a calm life. Whether it’s during the holidays or everyday life, this episode will help you build a sustainable sense of peace amidst chaos. Key Topics Covered: The Elusive Nature of Peace: Why peace isn’t a default state and must be actively cultivated in today’s culture.Boundaries and People Pleasing: How saying “no” to others often means saying “yes” to yourself.Internal vs. External Peace: Andrew’s take on why peace starts within and radiates outward.The Cost of Prioritizing Peace: How setting boundaries may ruffle feathers but is essential for mental and emotional well-being.Breaking Free from Social Media Traps: How digital habits disrupt your calm and what to do about it. Actionable Steps for Listeners: Identify Peace Disruptors: Take stock of what steals your peace—whether it’s social media, overcommitments, or people-pleasing habits.Set Clear Boundaries: Practice saying no to requests that drain your energy and don’t align with your values.Declutter Your Space and Mind: Simplify your environment and offload mental clutter through journaling or mindfulness.Digital Detox: Limit screen time and unfollow accounts that make you feel inadequate or stressed.Create Peaceful Habits: Develop small rituals like gratitude journaling, breathwork, or soft lighting to promote calm. Quotes: Catherine’s Aha Moments: "Peace isn’t handed to you—you have to cultivate it, insist upon it, and believe you deserve it.""The cost of peace is often uncomfortable conversations and boundaries, but it’s always worth it.""Social media has a way of turning contentment into comparison.""People pleasers prioritize everyone else’s calm but destroy their own in the process.""Visual clutter is mental clutter. Simplifying your environment creates space for peace." Andrew’s Aha Moments: "Peace is a muscle—flex it daily until calm becomes your default state.""You can choose peace instead of chaos at any moment, but it starts with awareness.""The people who push back against your boundaries are the ones who benefited most from you not having them.""Start with small habits, like breathing deeply or listening to spa music, to train your nervous system to embrace peace.""You can’t control the world outside of you, but you can control the world within you." Glimmers of the Week: Andrew: Discovering the profound benefits of a 75-minute breathwork session, feeling energized and lighter afterward.Catherine: Cherishing a rare and beautiful week of one-on-one time with her dad, soaking in every moment with gratitude and presence. Resources Mentioned: The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk – A deeper...

Episode Overview:In this heartfelt episode of 5 Year You, Andrew and Catherine take on the delicate topic of anger—how it manifests, why it’s often misunderstood, and how to manage it constructively. They share personal experiences, reflect on their individual relationships with anger, and discuss the importance of self-awareness and healthy outlets. Whether you’re prone to bottling emotions or experiencing explosive outbursts, this episode provides practical strategies for dealing with anger in ways that foster growth and maintain harmony.Key Topics Covered:Understanding Anger: How anger is a natural emotion but requires thoughtful management.Self-Awareness Cues: Recognizing physical and emotional signs that anger is building.Healthy Outlets for Release: Practical tools like exercise, breathing techniques, and creative outlets for managing anger.Boundaries and Communication: How to let others know where you’re at emotionally to prevent escalation.Releasing the Pressure: Andrew’s Instant Pot analogy for anger management and why it’s important to find controlled ways to let emotions out.Actionable Steps for Listeners:Identify Triggers: Reflect on situations or behaviors that tend to ignite anger and start recognizing early cues.Practice Deep Breathing: Use techniques like box breathing to calm your body and mind.Create Healthy Habits: Incorporate regular exercise, journaling, or mindfulness practices to prevent anger from building.Set Emotional Boundaries: Share where you are emotionally with those around you to create understanding and space.Seek Connection: Talk to a trusted friend or therapist to work through unresolved anger.Quotes:Catherine’s Aha Moments:"You can feel however you want, but you can’t act however you want.""Anger is just an emotion; it’s not bad. What matters is how we choose to handle it.""Thirty minutes alone can be transformative—I call it my recharge time.""You deserve to have a calm life, and that starts with managing your emotions.""Being self-aware isn’t a destination; it’s an ongoing practice."Andrew’s Aha Moments:"Anger is energy that needs to go somewhere—if it doesn’t, it festers inside.""The Instant Pot analogy: release your emotions gradually, or they’ll explode.""Deep breaths aren’t about fixing anger; they’re about creating space to respond better.""Helping someone else when you’re angry can shift your mood entirely.""Doing good feels good—it’s a great way to redirect your emotional state."Glimmers of the Week:Catherine: Attending her first hockey game and watching Wicked during a Thanksgiving trip to Canada with Andrew.Andrew: Spending American Thanksgiving with Catherine, enjoying shared meals and creating new traditions.Resources Mentioned:The Anger Management Workbook for Women by Julie Catalano – A practical guide for understanding and managing anger.The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk – A deeper dive into how unresolved emotions impact the body.Connect

In this empowering episode of 5 Year You, Andrew and Catherine unpack the myths and realities of confidence. They explore how confidence is not an innate trait but a skill that anyone can learn and develop over time. By sharing personal stories, practical strategies, and insights on overcoming self-doubt, they help listeners build the foundation for self-assuredness and resilience. This episode is a must-listen for anyone seeking to live more authentically and boldly.Key Topics Covered:Confidence as a Skill: Catherine discusses how confidence is developed through practice and self-discovery, not something people are simply born with.Overcoming Fear of Judgment: How evolutionary instincts contribute to self-consciousness and strategies to push past fear.Trial and Error in Building Confidence: Andrew shares how persistence and vulnerability are key to improving confidence in new areas.Support Systems for Growth: The importance of surrounding yourself with people who encourage and uplift you.Confidence and Authenticity: Why confidence grows when you live in alignment with your true self.Actionable Steps for Listeners:Reframe Confidence: Treat it as a skill to develop, not a trait you either have or don’t.Embrace Vulnerability: Be open to feedback and willing to try new things, even if they don’t go perfectly at first.Write a Confidence List: Reflect on everything you’ve accomplished in your life, big or small, as a reminder of your capability.Find Your Support Team: Surround yourself with people who uplift and encourage your growth.Challenge Your Inner Critic: Engage with the voice of self-doubt and question its validity to break free from fear.Quotes:Catherine’s Aha Moments:"Confidence isn’t something you’re born with—it’s something you build.""The more you live in alignment with your authentic self, the more confidence becomes a natural result.""It takes time and practice to say, ‘That’s great for you, but this is what makes me happy.’""Being self-conscious is a primal instinct—understanding it helps you move past it.""Confidence doesn’t mean being fearless; it means showing up despite the fear."Andrew’s Aha Moments:"Confidence comes from surviving everything life has thrown at you and knowing you’ll figure it out again.""Your ego wants to keep you safe, but safety doesn’t always mean growth.""Vulnerability isn’t weakness—it’s the path to strength.""You’re not your inner critic; you’re the person who decides whether to listen to it.""Confidence is built through consistent effort and a willingness to be a beginner."Glimmers of the Week:Andrew: Celebrating his son’s birthday and reflecting on the pride and joy his children bring him as they grow into amazing people.Catherine: Watching her son’s confidence shine as he bought and gave a flower to a girl he admires, and enjoying a heartfelt moment with her daughter over crepes.Resources Mentioned:The Confidence Code by Katty Kay and Claire Shipman – A guide to understanding and developing confidence.Millionaire Mind Intensive – A

In this thought-provoking episode of 5 Year You, Andrew and Catherine explore the concept of "the trappings of success." They dive into how societal expectations and material pursuits can unintentionally create a life that feels more like a cage than a celebration. Sharing their personal experiences with chasing success and re-evaluating its cost, they offer actionable strategies for breaking free from these traps and aligning success with what truly brings joy and fulfillment.Key Topics Covered:What are the Trappings of Success?: Understanding how material goals and societal standards can lead to a life that feels burdensome.The Emotional Cost of Success: Catherine shares her journey of downsizing her life and finding mental clarity by stepping away from societal expectations.Overcoming Busyness as a Coping Mechanism: Catherine explains how constant activity can prevent emotional processing and mindfulness.Shifting Perspective on Success: Andrew shares how reframing success as personal fulfillment instead of societal validation creates a more authentic life.Stuff and Simplification: Examining how material possessions can add unnecessary weight to life and how to prioritize utility and joy in your belongings.Actionable Steps for Listeners:Assess Your Current "Race": Are you running a race that’s truly yours, or are you following societal expectations? Take time to reflect on whether your goals align with your authentic self.Downsize with Purpose: Evaluate your possessions and commitments to determine what adds value to your life and what creates unnecessary stress.Redefine Success: Write down what success means to you. Remove societal and external influences from this definition.Simplify Where Possible: Focus on things that bring genuine utility or joy. Start with one room, one category, or one habit at a time.Embrace Quiet Moments: Create space for mindfulness by reducing busyness and allowing time for emotional reflection.Quotes:Catherine’s Aha Moments:"The trappings of success can feel more like a cage than an achievement.""Busyness is a trauma response—it keeps you from feeling your emotions.""Simplifying my life didn’t feel like failure; it felt like freedom.""You don’t have to live a life that looks good to others—focus on what feels good to you.""Authenticity is the pathway to happiness."Andrew’s Aha Moments:"The things we want most often come with hidden costs—time, energy, and emotional strain.""What you chase should align with who you are, not who society tells you to be.""The walls of my dream house became the walls of my cage.""Reframing success as peace and fulfillment has been the most liberating shift of my life.""Possessions should serve your life, not control it."Glimmers of the Week:Catherine: Surprisingly loves her coin laundry setup in her apartment—it’s streamlined her life and made laundry less of a chore!Andrew: Enjoyed a trip to Nashville with his son, attending a Predators game and visiting the Grand Ole Opry, a meaningful moment of connection and joy.Resources Mentioned:Scarcity Brain by Michael Easter – Insights on how our instincts to acquire can hinder our...

Episode Overview:In this episode of 5 Year You, Andrew and Catherine explore the challenges of letting go of relationships that no longer align with your personal growth. They share insights on how personal development can create shifts in your circle of friends, family, and colleagues and discuss the concept of “raising your vibration.” The hosts dive deep into setting boundaries, understanding the sunk cost fallacy in relationships, and recognizing when it’s time to create space for new connections. With empathy and honesty, they provide practical advice on navigating these changes while staying true to yourself.Key Topics Covered:Why Letting Go is Necessary: Andrew explains how growth can naturally lead to shifts in relationships and why it’s okay for not everyone to stay in your life forever.Raising Your Vibration: Catherine describes how personal growth changes the energy you bring to relationships and attracts people aligned with your values.Boundaries and Pushback: The importance of setting boundaries and recognizing who supports your growth versus who resists it.Sunk Cost Fallacy in Relationships: Why time invested in a friendship or relationship doesn’t mean you have to keep it if it’s no longer serving you.Making Space for New Connections: Practical ways to create room for relationships that align with your authentic self.Actionable Steps for Listeners:Evaluate Your Relationships: Reflect on the five people you spend the most time with. Do they uplift you, or do they hold you back?Set Boundaries: Practice saying no to behaviors or requests that don’t align with your growth.Make Room for Growth: Consider creating space for new connections by reducing time spent with negative influences.Embrace Contrast: Use challenging relationships as lessons to better understand what you value and need in your life.Focus on Your Journey: Trust that as you grow, the right people will naturally be drawn to your energy and purpose.Quotes:Catherine’s Aha Moments:"Some people are meant to come into your life for a season, to teach you a lesson, but not to stay forever.""You can’t control other people’s journeys, only your own, so focus on being true to your authentic self.""Raising your vibration doesn’t mean cutting people off—it means attracting what aligns with who you’re becoming.""Negative comments are always about the person saying them, not you.""Living authentically is the best way to attract your tribe and find fulfilling relationships."Andrew’s Aha Moments:"You only have so much space in your life—choose wisely who gets to share it with you.""Letting go of toxic relationships is not about rejection, it’s about making room for the right connections.""You’re an amalgam of the five people you spend the most time with—surround yourself with those who lift you up.""Raising your vibration means changing how you approach life and relationships—and the right people will follow.""No one can make you feel a certain way without your permission."Glimmers of the Week:Andrew: Looking forward to a family trip to Nashville to enjoy BBQ, a hockey game, and a visit to the Grand Ole Opry.Catherine: Excited about her progress on Duolingo, learning French as a beginner and enjoying the journey of embracing imperfection.Resources Mentioned:

Episode Overview:In this episode of 5 Year You, Andrew and Catherine tackle the deeply personal and universal topic of self-worth. They discuss the pervasive feeling of “not being good enough” that so many people experience, particularly in high-achievement cultures. The hosts reflect on how upbringing, societal pressures, and personal expectations often feed into this feeling and share insights on how to counteract it with self-compassion. This conversation offers practical steps for building a more positive relationship with yourself, embracing self-worth, and learning to be “good enough” in a world that often tells us otherwise.Key Topics Covered:The Roots of Feeling "Not Good Enough": Andrew and Catherine share their personal experiences with self-doubt and how societal pressures can perpetuate this feeling.Parenting and Self-Worth: Catherine discusses her approach to instilling self-worth in her children, emphasizing effort over results to prevent linking achievement with worth.Breaking the Cycle of Overachievement: Andrew and Catherine reflect on how being workaholics and perfectionists has impacted their lives and led them to reframe their approach to success.Social Media and Comparison: Catherine shares tips on curating your social media feed to avoid triggers of self-doubt and focus on accounts that inspire personal growth.Creating Self-Affirming Habits: Practical advice on fostering habits that reinforce self-worth, such as acknowledging small wins and treating yourself with kindness.Actionable Steps for Listeners:Unfollow Negative Influences: Curate your social media feed to eliminate accounts that make you feel inadequate and replace them with content that promotes self-love and positivity.Acknowledge Small Wins: Make it a habit to recognize and celebrate even minor accomplishments, helping to build a more positive self-view.Prioritize Self-Care Over Productivity: Shift focus from constant achievement to self-care activities, like resting when needed and embracing activities that bring joy.Surround Yourself with Positivity: Choose friends, media, and activities that uplift you and remind you of your inherent worth.Quotes:Catherine’s Aha Moments:"You were born worthy, and nothing you do or don’t do changes that.""Self-worth isn’t about what you accomplish; it’s about embracing who you are, flaws and all.""When you feel not enough, it’s often because you’re measuring yourself by someone else’s yardstick.""The path to feeling good enough starts with quieting the outside noise and listening to your own voice.""Social media should be a place of inspiration, not comparison. Follow people who lift you up, not make you feel small."Andrew’s Aha Moments:"Feeling good enough starts with how you treat yourself and recognizing the value in who you are, not just in what you achieve.""Success isn’t a measure of worth—it’s simply one part of the journey to being your authentic self.""When you prioritize self-care over productivity, you’re telling yourself, ‘I matter beyond what I can do for others.’""The constant need to prove ourselves keeps us from appreciating who we already are.""Every time you celebrate a small win, you’re rewiring your mind to see that you are, and always have been, enough."Glimmers of the Week:Catherine: Discovered a new gluten-free bakery with delicious treats that bring joy to her and make her feel great about nourishing...

Episode Overview: In this episode of 5 Year You, Andrew and Catherine tackle the challenge of simplifying life, a topic Andrew admits he struggles with. The conversation covers everything from simplifying routines, finances, and household tasks to cutting down on mental clutter. The hosts discuss how overcomplicating things adds stress while simplifying can lead to mental clarity and overall well-being. With plenty of personal examples and practical tips, this episode will resonate with anyone looking to declutter their life and find peace in simplicity.   Key Topics Covered: Overcomplicating vs. Simplifying: Andrew shares his tendency to overcomplicate tasks and Catherine highlights how simplifying makes things more manageable, using examples from her own life, like cooking with fewer ingredients.Simplifying Finances: Both hosts talk about how simplifying finances—through consolidating debt and reducing budget categories—can bring mental relief and make life easier to manage.Creating a Simple Home Environment: Catherine shares her experience downsizing to an apartment and how reducing household responsibilities, like yard work and bill payments, gave her more peace of mind.Simplifying Health Goals: Andrew and Catherine discuss how simplifying their diets and workout routines helped them lose weight and improve their health without overcomplicating the process.The Mental Benefits of Simplifying: They explain how simplifying various aspects of life can lead to more time, energy, and mental clarity for the things that truly matter. Actionable Steps for Listeners:   Pick One Area to Simplify: Whether it's your finances, your diet, or your home environment, choose one area to focus on first, and simplify it step by step.Identify What’s Essential: Take a look at your daily routine or your budget and identify the few things that matter most. Let go of what’s not essential.Practice Letting Go: Simplifying often means removing things, whether it's physical clutter or mental clutter. Start practicing letting go of things that don’t serve you anymore.Embrace Empty Space: Once you simplify, resist the urge to fill the new space with more stuff. Instead, enjoy the calm that comes with less. Quotes: "Simplifying is the act of removing the unnecessary so you can enjoy the essential more." – Andrew Dewar"It’s about the feeling you get at the end, that sense of exhale when you have more space in your life." – Catherine Collins   Glimmers of the Week: Catherine: Enjoying the simplicity of a few thoughtful purchases for her shower, courtesy of a birthday gift card from her parents, which has brought her unexpected joy.Andrew: Excited about his new CIRCUL ring, which tracks his energy and stress levels throughout the day, helping him understand his body better. Resources Mentioned: CIRCUL Ring – A wearable that tracks energy and stress levels, among other health metrics.Opal App – A phone app that helps block distractions and reduce screen time. Connect with Us:   Visit Five Year You to sign up for emails from...

Episode Overview: In this episode of 5 Year You, Andrew and Catherine explore the challenges of finding calm amidst the chaos of daily life. From the stresses of parenting and work to personal struggles with overachievement, they discuss how difficult it can be to slow down and prioritize peace. Both hosts share personal stories of burnout, anxiety, and the need for self-soothing techniques. Whether it's through mindfulness, breathing exercises, or simply removing yourself from a stressful situation, this episode is packed with actionable steps for anyone looking to cultivate calm in their life.     Key Topics Covered: Identifying Escalating Stress: Catherine shares how she uses a number system to communicate her stress levels and how she actively removes herself from escalating situations to prevent emotional overload.Andrew’s Inner Dialogue: Andrew discusses how his inner voice often drives feelings of stress and how he’s learning to separate that voice from his true self through mindfulness practices.Creating a Calm Home Environment: Catherine talks about intentionally building a calm atmosphere in her household as a single parent and how that affects her well-being and her children’s.Dealing with High Expectations: Both hosts reflect on the pressures of being high achievers and how that drive can lead to burnout and illness if not managed properly.The Importance of Daily Calm Practices: The episode highlights how small, consistent habits like walking, meditating, or breathing exercises can make a significant difference in reducing stress over time. Actionable Steps for Listeners:   Practice Breathing Exercises: Take three deep breaths and visualize moving from your head (where the stress lives) to your heart (where calm resides).Create Calm Rituals: Whether it's a daily walk, a quiet moment with tea, or yoga, find a small activity that brings you peace and integrate it into your routine.Set Boundaries for Stress: Use tools like Catherine's stress number system to communicate when you need space and to prevent overwhelming situations from escalating.Reflect on Your Environment: Notice if your home or workplace is conducive to calm, and make intentional changes that foster peace, such as decluttering or lowering noise levels. Quotes: "Your calm is in your heart. It’s always there, waiting for you to return to it." – Andrew Dewar   "You can choose to step away from stress, but it’s a practice. It’s not going to happen overnight." – Catherine Collins   Glimmers of the Week: Catherine: She’s excited about using a new app called Opal, which helps block distractions on her phone, reducing screen time and giving her back precious time in her day.Andrew: Enjoyed a peaceful solo movie experience where he had the entire theater to himself, turning what could have felt awkward into a calming and enjoyable moment. Resources Mentioned: Opal App – A phone app that blocks distractions to help you focus and reclaim time.Feeling Wheel – A tool to identify and label your emotions, which can help with emotional regulation. Connect with Us:   Visit Five Year You to sign up for emails from your future self and

Episode Overview:In this episode of 5 Year You, Andrew and Catherine dive into the anxiety of always feeling behind in life—whether it's being late to a meeting or feeling like you're falling behind on major life milestones. They share their own stressful morning experiences and discuss the deeper issue of comparing ourselves to others and societal expectations. Throughout the episode, they emphasize the importance of self-compassion, patience, and embracing the fact that we are all on our own unique timelines.Key Topics Covered: The Anxiety of Being Late: Andrew and Catherine talk about their personal frustrations with being late and how societal pressure adds to this anxiety. Feeling Behind in Life: They explore the broader concept of feeling late in life, comparing your progress to others, and the stress of not meeting societal expectations. Embracing Your Own Timeline: Catherine and Andrew share how to let go of the invisible "life checklist" and recognize that everyone’s path is unique. Self-Compassion and Humility: They talk about the importance of showing yourself kindness and practicing humility when things don't go as planned. Turning Stress into Compassion: Andrew discusses how moments of stress, like running late, can serve as opportunities to practice compassion for ourselves and others.Actionable Steps for Listeners: Practice Self-Compassion: When you find yourself running late or feeling behind, be kind to yourself instead of self-critical. You’re doing your best. Flip the Script on Being Late: Shift your mindset to recognize that sometimes things happen outside of your control. Compassion toward yourself and others is key. Embrace Your Unique Timeline: Stop comparing yourself to others and trust that you are exactly where you're meant to be in life, at the right time. Create Your Own Traditions: Let go of societal pressures to follow established traditions. Make your own path, whether it’s how you celebrate holidays or how you choose to live your life.Quotes: "You're not late. You're exactly where you're supposed to be." – Catherine Collins "A tradition is just something somebody else started a long time ago. You can start your own traditions whenever you want." – Andrew DewarGlimmers of the Week: Catherine: Excited about her new thrift store find—a hot pink V-neck sweater that fits perfectly and still had the tags on. Andrew: Enjoyed Canadian Thanksgiving by breaking away from traditional expectations and taking his kids to a funny movie, shopping, and having a meaningful dinner conversation.Resources Mentioned: Feeling Wheel – A helpful tool for identifying and processing emotions.Connect with Us: Visit Five Year You to sign up for emails from your future self and take control of your timeline...

Episode Overview:In this episode, Andrew and Catherine tackle a common challenge—needing permission. Whether it’s waiting for approval to rest, to buy something for yourself, or to pursue a new goal, many of us feel like we need someone else’s okay to live the life we want. The hosts dig deep into why we feel this way, how it’s tied to worthiness, and how we can begin to give ourselves permission to live on our own terms. Filled with relatable stories, practical advice, and a healthy dose of humor, this episode is about empowering you to step into your own life.Key Topics Covered: The Roots of Needing Permission: How childhood conditioning and societal expectations play into our adult lives, creating the habit of seeking external approval. The Role of Worthiness: The hosts explore how needing permission is often a reflection of feeling unworthy or undeserving of the things we want. Permission to Rest and Care for Yourself: Catherine shares her struggle with feeling like she needs approval to take a break or do something for herself, even in her own home. The Life Checklist: Andrew and Catherine discuss the societal "checklist" of life that tells us what we should be doing, and how breaking away from that can make us feel like we need validation. Practical Steps for Self-Permission: Tips on how to start small by giving yourself permission for little things, building up to bigger goals, and how this ties into living a life of purpose.Actionable Steps for Listeners: Start Small: Give yourself permission for simple things like taking a break, buying a small treat, or doing something you enjoy. Awareness: Begin noticing the moments when you feel like you need permission from others and ask yourself why. Affirm Your Worthiness: Remind yourself that you are worthy of good things, whether it's a snack or a big life change, without needing external validation. Journal Your Desires: Write down the things you want to do but haven’t given yourself permission for yet. Start with one and give yourself the green light.Quotes:"The only person you need permission from is yourself. Start small, and build that muscle of self-approval." – Andrew Dewar"If something keeps bubbling up inside of you, that’s your heart talking. Give yourself permission to follow it." – Catherine CollinsGlimmers of the Week: Andrew: Excited about his new discovery—Siesta chips, a healthier snack made with cassava flour that’s both satisfying and good for him, especially the churro-flavored ones. Catherine: Cherishing a surprise manicure and pedicure session she shared with her daughter, making for a special bonding moment.Resources Mentioned: Feeling Wheel – For identifying and processing emotions.Connect with Us: Visit

Episode Overview:In this episode, Andrew and Catherine dive into a profound yet relatable concept they call the "Emotional Garage." Our bodies tend to store emotions just like we store boxes in a garage, but over time, this accumulation can have detrimental effects on both our mental and physical health. The hosts share personal stories and insights about how unprocessed emotions can manifest physically, how to acknowledge and release these emotions safely, and how to maintain emotional well-being in everyday life.Key Topics Covered: The Emotional Garage: What it is and how we tend to store emotions rather than process them. Impact on Health: How storing emotions can lead to physical ailments and emotional overwhelm. Cultural Influence on Emotions: Discussing the societal conditioning, especially among men, to suppress emotions. The Importance of Emotional Release: Different ways to safely express emotions, including crying, journaling, physical activity, and talk therapy. Personal Stories: Andrew's personal journey of learning to face his emotions after years of avoidance, and Catherine’s insights on the emotional-physical connection, especially with her autoimmune conditions. Visualizing Emotions: How personifying your emotions as "gremlins" or small creatures can help in understanding and releasing them.Actionable Steps for Listeners: Identify Your Feelings: Use tools like the Feeling Wheel to name and recognize your emotions. Understanding what you are feeling is the first step to processing it. Acknowledge Your Emotions: It’s okay to feel anger, sadness, or frustration. Find a safe outlet to express these emotions, whether it's taking a walk, venting to a friend, or journaling. Talk to Someone: If you’re struggling to face your emotions, seek a safe space, whether it’s a trusted friend or professional therapist, to begin unpacking those “boxes.” Give Yourself Permission to Cry: Crying is a natural emotional release. Allow yourself to feel and let go, just like you would laugh or express joy.Glimmers of the Week: Catherine: A new, colorful backdrop in her home office, featuring artwork from her twins, has brightened up her space and brought her joy. Andrew: The incredible experience of seeing Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, which left them in awe of the spectacular stage effects.Quotes: "You can clean out your emotional garage one box at a time. It doesn’t have to be a spring clean." – Andrew Dewar "Your emotions don’t want to be stuck inside of you. Let them out and watch how much lighter you feel." – Catherine CollinsResources Mentioned: Feeling Wheel – A tool to help identify and name your emotions. The Body Keeps the Score – A book that explores the connection between emotions...

Do you find yourself constantly wanting more, chasing the next big thing, and never feeling truly satisfied? If so, you’re not alone.In this episode, we explore how discovering contentment with what you have can lead to a richer, more fulfilling life. From personal anecdotes about overconsumption and the mental weight of material possessions, to practical coaching advice on finding your authentic self, this episode is packed with insights that encourage you to pause, reflect, and appreciate your current state.Plus, stay tuned for our glimmers segment where we share some personal highlights, including Cat’s return to therapy and Andrew’s latest tech find. Tune in and start your journey toward a more content, authentic you!

Perfection. It's something that I think a lot of us struggle with. In this episode, we will explore our deep-seeded roots of perfectionism that often dates back to our childhood, and discuss how societal pressures shape our relentless pursuit of unattainable standards.Cat shares her personal journey of being a "recovering perfectionist" and offers a glimpse into the mindset that often drives these behaviors.Andrew brings valuable insights into embracing our imperfections and finding self-love.Together, we highlight the importance of creating supportive communities and discovering our true selves.If you struggle with perfectionism or know someone who does, you won't want to miss this episode. Tune in for raw, real, and relatable advice to help you conquer perfectionism and live life on purpose. Let's get started!

Welcome back to the Five Year You Podcast, where we guide you on the journey to becoming your best self one day at a time. In today's episode, titled "Releasing Rigidity," we dive deep into the mental constructs and self-imposed rules that often hinder our personal growth and happiness.Join us as we explore relatable examples, from the habitual ways we think about mealtime to the deep-rooted behaviors stemming from childhood. We discuss the balance between structure and flexibility, and how challenging our own rigid rules can open up pathways for new, fulfilling experiences.Get ready to gain insights, laugh, and perhaps even rethink the way you approach daily life. Are you ready to grow? Let's get started!

Feeling stuck in a rut or bogged down by negative thoughts? Fear not—we are here to unpack the importance of small, consistent mindset shifts and how they can lead to profound personal growth over time.Tune in as we discuss practical tips, share relatable examples, and even delve into the complexities of long-held beliefs about money, self-worth, and more.Whether it's improving how you view your body, your parenting, or even your financial outlook, this episode promises to be raw, real, and incredibly valuable for anyone looking to become the best version of themselves. Ready to shift gears and grow with us?Let's get started!

Join us as we Move to Authenticity and embrace our true selves. From exploring the joy of childhood passions to the significance of personal preferences, we delve into the vital steps that lead to genuine happiness. We discuss the challenges of overcoming societal expectations, the importance of acknowledging your inner desires, and how living authentically can transform your life.Whether you're looking to reignite old hobbies, reassess life choices, or simply find more joy in the everyday, this episode is a must-listen. So, pack your bags—metaphorically, of course—and get ready to move into your own authentic city! And don't forget to stay tuned for their glimmers segment, where they'll share the little things bringing joy to their lives.

Celebrating a special milestone – our 30th episode! We're taking a moment to reflect on what’s working in our paths to personal growth and what isn’t. This isn’t just about celebrating our successes; it’s about keeping it raw, real, and relatable as we navigate personal development's highs and lows.We will share our journey with you, from health improvements and financial decisions to the benefits of new habits and biohacking. We'll be giving you an honest look at what’s been effective, what hasn’t, and how small changes can lead to big transformations over time. Whether it's Andrew’s dive into vitamins and minerals or my strategies for paying off debt and improving energy levels, we promise there will be insights you can take away for your own life.Are you ready to grow?

Struggling with feeling content in your life? On this episode of Five Year You, Catherine and I dive into practical and relatable steps to finding contentment right where you are. If you are an overthinker, you are going to love this, because we are too.We share personal stories, discuss the power of mindset shifts, and explore how to rewire those old, negative thought patterns.Join us as we uncover how to make contentment your baseline and live more joyfully every day.

Do you ever find yourself rehashing the same frustrations over and over in your head or in conversations with loved ones? In the latest episode of the Five Year You podcast, hosts Andrew and Cat introduce the "60-second rule" - a simple but powerful technique for getting things off your chest in a healthy way so you can let go and move on.In this episode, you'll learn: What the 60-second rule is and how it works Why we tend to get stuck in negative thought loops and have trouble letting things go How to communicate to others when you just need them to listen vs. when you want solutions Tips for advocating for yourself if others aren't receptive to the 60-second rule How to spot deeper issues if you find yourself constantly venting about the same thingsWhether it's work stress, relationship frustrations, or everyday annoyances, the 60-second rule can help you process emotions productively so negativity doesn't fester. Tune in now to learn this valuable technique you can start using right away.

Are you stuck in a job you hate, believing the myth that you have to choose between making money and doing work you love? I'm here to tell you that you CAN find fulfilling work that pays well!The key is to reconnect with the activities and interests that lit you up as a kid. What did you love doing just for the joy of it? Use that as a starting point to explore career paths that align with your passions. Take small steps, like volunteering, taking a class, or job shadowing to test the waters. You don't have to have it all figured out! As you take action, you'll gain clarity on what you want. Don't let limiting beliefs hold you back. You have unique gifts to share with the world through work that feeds your soul. Give yourself permission to pursue work you love - you're worth it! For more inspiration, check out the Finding Work You Love episode on the Five Year You podcast.