Some stories don’t just inspire ~ they unfold like a movie that reminds you of your own.In this cinematic-style episode, we sit down with Carmen Johnson, a powerhouse executive, strategic advisor, and advocate for women’s empowerment who dives into her developmental years and how she turned a life that could have gone one way into something extraordinary.Through the scenes of her life, we witness what happens when the script flips unexpectedly ~ from early loss and diagnosis to the strength found in community and purpose. This isn’t just a conversation about breast cancer ~ it’s about transformation, resilience, and the courage to keep rewriting the story even when life doesn’t go as planned.You’re invited to sit in the metaphorical theater with us, to watch real life unfold, and to ask yourself:If this were your story playing on the screen ~ how would you react?✨ Inside This Episode🎞️ How Carmen’s early choices shaped the foundation for her resilience later in life💔 The moment her life shifted from caregiver to patient overnight🌿 What it means to find grace and gratitude in the middle of grief💗 How humor, community, and purpose became her medicine🌅 Why Carmen believes legacy is about how you live now, not just what you leave behind💭 Listener Reflections~ What scene of your life are you currently living, and what lesson is it revealing?~ How can you let others help direct the story when your energy runs low?~ What does legacy mean to you today ~ and how are you living it right now?💕 Loving LinksCarmen continues to champion organizations that empower, educate, and uplift women through every phase of their journey. She’s living proof that advocacy doesn’t end when treatment does ~ it evolves into legacy.🌸 iRise Above Foundation ~ Supporting young women facing breast cancerCarmen and others sponsored and donated toward the publishing costs of Rising Above: Our Transformational Journey to Wholeness After Breast Cancer for the foundation’s benefit.🔗https://www.iriseabovefoundation.org/📚 Rising Above: Our Transformational Journey to Wholeness After Breast CancerBy Gillian Lichota | ISBN: 9781958472231An anthology that amplifies voices of resilience and healing, supporting the iRise Above Foundation.🔗 https://www.iriseabovefoundation.org/🏡 Carolina Breast Friends ~ The Pink HouseProviding comfort, community, prosthetic fittings, and education for women in treatment and recovery.Carmen proudly serves on the Board and plans to chair the Technology Board in 2026.🔗 https://www.carolinabreastfriends.org/🌿 TumbleweedAgentic AI for End-of-Life Planning, Legacy, and 24/7 Caregiver Support.Carmen supports this tech startup to help others prepare with clarity and compassion.🔗 https://tumbleweedplan.com/🎙 Sandwiched PodcastStories and support for the Sandwich Generation and caregivers ~ reminding us we’re never truly alone in caregiving.🔗 https://tumbleweedplan.com/sandwichedhttps://tumbleweedplan.com/sandwiched🎙 Hosted by Robin Gargano & Cliff Terracuso🎧 Tune in on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen.Connect with Robin & Cliff:🌐 www.L4Livin.com📩 Robin@L4Livin.com📸 IG @candyforbreakfastpodcast🔗 https://linktr.ee/l4map📚 Robin’s Book:The Beauty Within Tragedy: How a Resilient Soul Can Turn Grief Into Giftshttps://amzn.to/4o6XKp6
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Some stories don’t just inspire ~ they unfold like a movie that reminds you of your own.In this cinematic-style episode, we sit down with Carmen Johnson, a powerhouse executive, strategic advisor, and advocate for women’s empowerment who dives into her developmental years and how she turned a life that could have gone one way into something extraordinary.Through the scenes of her life, we witness what happens when the script flips unexpectedly ~ from early loss and diagnosis to the strength found in community and purpose. This isn’t just a conversation about breast cancer ~ it’s about transformation, resilience, and the courage to keep rewriting the story even when life doesn’t go as planned.You’re invited to sit in the metaphorical theater with us, to watch real life unfold, and to ask yourself:If this were your story playing on the screen ~ how would you react?✨ Inside This Episode🎞️ How Carmen’s early choices shaped the foundation for her resilience later in life💔 The moment her life shifted from caregiver to patient overnight🌿 What it means to find grace and gratitude in the middle of grief💗 How humor, community, and purpose became her medicine🌅 Why Carmen believes legacy is about how you live now, not just what you leave behind💭 Listener Reflections~ What scene of your life are you currently living, and what lesson is it revealing?~ How can you let others help direct the story when your energy runs low?~ What does legacy mean to you today ~ and how are you living it right now?💕 Loving LinksCarmen continues to champion organizations that empower, educate, and uplift women through every phase of their journey. She’s living proof that advocacy doesn’t end when treatment does ~ it evolves into legacy.🌸 iRise Above Foundation ~ Supporting young women facing breast cancerCarmen and others sponsored and donated toward the publishing costs of Rising Above: Our Transformational Journey to Wholeness After Breast Cancer for the foundation’s benefit.🔗https://www.iriseabovefoundation.org/📚 Rising Above: Our Transformational Journey to Wholeness After Breast CancerBy Gillian Lichota | ISBN: 9781958472231An anthology that amplifies voices of resilience and healing, supporting the iRise Above Foundation.🔗 https://www.iriseabovefoundation.org/🏡 Carolina Breast Friends ~ The Pink HouseProviding comfort, community, prosthetic fittings, and education for women in treatment and recovery.Carmen proudly serves on the Board and plans to chair the Technology Board in 2026.🔗 https://www.carolinabreastfriends.org/🌿 TumbleweedAgentic AI for End-of-Life Planning, Legacy, and 24/7 Caregiver Support.Carmen supports this tech startup to help others prepare with clarity and compassion.🔗 https://tumbleweedplan.com/🎙 Sandwiched PodcastStories and support for the Sandwich Generation and caregivers ~ reminding us we’re never truly alone in caregiving.🔗 https://tumbleweedplan.com/sandwichedhttps://tumbleweedplan.com/sandwiched🎙 Hosted by Robin Gargano & Cliff Terracuso🎧 Tune in on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen.Connect with Robin & Cliff:🌐 www.L4Livin.com📩 Robin@L4Livin.com📸 IG @candyforbreakfastpodcast🔗 https://linktr.ee/l4map📚 Robin’s Book:The Beauty Within Tragedy: How a Resilient Soul Can Turn Grief Into Giftshttps://amzn.to/4o6XKp6
Ep. 23 - When Positivity Hurts: The Truth About Spiritual Bypassing in Wellness Culture
Candy for Breakfast
40 minutes
3 months ago
Ep. 23 - When Positivity Hurts: The Truth About Spiritual Bypassing in Wellness Culture
If you’ve ever been told to “just be positive,” this episode is for you. Share it with someone who might be holding it all together instead of giving themselves permission to break through.In this episode of Candy for Breakfast, Robin and Cliff take a bold look at one of the most overlooked issues in the wellness world: spiritual bypassing. From toxic positivity to manifestation myths, they break down how “high vibes only” thinking can actually stall emotional healing and shut down real connection.Using real-life examples, research from the Journal of Humanistic Psychology, and personal insights from years of coaching and performance work, they uncover the subtle (and not-so-subtle) ways people avoid the emotions that lead to true growth. This episode provides powerful reframes and practical tools to help you move from avoidance to authentic, embodied healing.What You’ll Learn:What spiritual bypassing really means and where it shows upHow positivity culture can unintentionally silence people in painThe emotional risks of avoiding discomfort and difficult feelingsWhy bypassing is common in wellness, coaching, and spiritual circlesHow to spot bypassing in your own self-talk or conversations with othersLanguage shifts that encourage depth, honesty, and compassionTools to sit with discomfort, honor your emotional process, and deepen your healingKey Terms and Concepts:Spiritual Bypassing (coined by John Welwood): the use of spiritual practices or beliefs to avoid facing emotional discomfort, unresolved wounds, or personal accountabilityToxic Positivity: the cultural pressure to maintain a positive mindset at all times, even when it’s harmful or inauthenticEmotional Reframes: ways to shift from dismissive or minimizing language to grounded, supportive languageCliff’s Rule: “Emotions are messengers, not enemies.”Journal Prompt:What emotions do I avoid—and what might they be trying to teach me?Connect with Robin & Cliff: Website: www.L4Livin.com Email: Robin@L4Livin.com Instagram: @candyforbreakfastpodcast Linktree: https://linktr.ee/l4mapRobin’s Book: Beauty Within the Tragedy: How to Be Resilient in Grief, Loss, and Heartbreak
Candy for Breakfast
Some stories don’t just inspire ~ they unfold like a movie that reminds you of your own.In this cinematic-style episode, we sit down with Carmen Johnson, a powerhouse executive, strategic advisor, and advocate for women’s empowerment who dives into her developmental years and how she turned a life that could have gone one way into something extraordinary.Through the scenes of her life, we witness what happens when the script flips unexpectedly ~ from early loss and diagnosis to the strength found in community and purpose. This isn’t just a conversation about breast cancer ~ it’s about transformation, resilience, and the courage to keep rewriting the story even when life doesn’t go as planned.You’re invited to sit in the metaphorical theater with us, to watch real life unfold, and to ask yourself:If this were your story playing on the screen ~ how would you react?✨ Inside This Episode🎞️ How Carmen’s early choices shaped the foundation for her resilience later in life💔 The moment her life shifted from caregiver to patient overnight🌿 What it means to find grace and gratitude in the middle of grief💗 How humor, community, and purpose became her medicine🌅 Why Carmen believes legacy is about how you live now, not just what you leave behind💭 Listener Reflections~ What scene of your life are you currently living, and what lesson is it revealing?~ How can you let others help direct the story when your energy runs low?~ What does legacy mean to you today ~ and how are you living it right now?💕 Loving LinksCarmen continues to champion organizations that empower, educate, and uplift women through every phase of their journey. She’s living proof that advocacy doesn’t end when treatment does ~ it evolves into legacy.🌸 iRise Above Foundation ~ Supporting young women facing breast cancerCarmen and others sponsored and donated toward the publishing costs of Rising Above: Our Transformational Journey to Wholeness After Breast Cancer for the foundation’s benefit.🔗https://www.iriseabovefoundation.org/📚 Rising Above: Our Transformational Journey to Wholeness After Breast CancerBy Gillian Lichota | ISBN: 9781958472231An anthology that amplifies voices of resilience and healing, supporting the iRise Above Foundation.🔗 https://www.iriseabovefoundation.org/🏡 Carolina Breast Friends ~ The Pink HouseProviding comfort, community, prosthetic fittings, and education for women in treatment and recovery.Carmen proudly serves on the Board and plans to chair the Technology Board in 2026.🔗 https://www.carolinabreastfriends.org/🌿 TumbleweedAgentic AI for End-of-Life Planning, Legacy, and 24/7 Caregiver Support.Carmen supports this tech startup to help others prepare with clarity and compassion.🔗 https://tumbleweedplan.com/🎙 Sandwiched PodcastStories and support for the Sandwich Generation and caregivers ~ reminding us we’re never truly alone in caregiving.🔗 https://tumbleweedplan.com/sandwichedhttps://tumbleweedplan.com/sandwiched🎙 Hosted by Robin Gargano & Cliff Terracuso🎧 Tune in on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen.Connect with Robin & Cliff:🌐 www.L4Livin.com📩 Robin@L4Livin.com📸 IG @candyforbreakfastpodcast🔗 https://linktr.ee/l4map📚 Robin’s Book:The Beauty Within Tragedy: How a Resilient Soul Can Turn Grief Into Giftshttps://amzn.to/4o6XKp6