Subtle Resistance

By: April Edwards
Listen for free

  • Summary

  • We live in a culture where being overloaded, stressed out, and crushed by impossible standards is considered "normal". This podcast explores the art of choosing an intentional life through subtle resistance. Join us as we dive into strategies for embracing self-compassion, prioritizing planning, and reclaiming restful weekends. Each episode offers practical tips and inspiring stories to help you reflect, set healthy boundaries, and challenge self-limiting beliefs. Tune in to discover how to create a balanced and fulfilling life on your own terms. #subtleresistance
    April Edwards
    Show more Show less
Personal Success
Show more Show less
activate_Holiday_promo_in_buybox_DT_T2
Episodes
  • #013 - The Power of Hobbies in Adulting

    #013 - The Power of Hobbies in Adulting
    Nov 14 2024
    Looking to break the monotony of adult life? This week, I dive into why hobbies are more than just fun—they’re essential for joy and balance. What if a hobby could actually make adult life more meaningful? Do you ever feel like every day looks the same? What do you do just for the fun of it? Think hobbies are only for kids? I refuse to believe that adult life is meant to be miserable. I accept that this world is difficult, and that hard work is required to support a full filling life and a family. But I have fought back against this crushing idea of a boring adulthood. One of the areas that has made the biggest impact is trying out new hobbies. There is something beautiful about learning a new skill or creating something from scratch. I have found that choosing to spend time on a hobby and chasing the fun is always worth it. I want to feel more connected to myself, and I know that trying new things helps me do that. I also love the way new hobbies create connections with other people when we share what we’ve learned. These pursuits, no matter how small, have the power to bring more lightness into my life and connect me to others in unexpected ways. Practical Tips to Start a New Hobby - Do not spend a bunch of money or a whole shelf of supplies. Allow yourself to be a beginner and make mistakes. It’s not meant to be perfect or win an award — do it for fun. Keep it simple — don’t overcomplicate it. . Here are some hobbies that I have enjoyed at different times and in a variety of ways: Notice which ones stand out to you and grab your attention. nature journaling knitting homemade things sewing painting objects canning baking homemade soap finger knitting painting on a canvas Baking fresh bread each week wood burning paper crafting walking journaling candle making Nature Study Reading poetry Organizing areas of my home Bird watching Weightlifting / kickboxing Photography Hiking Gardening Raising chickens Adult coloring Cloud watching and learning about weather astronomy water color drawing / sketching with pencil Hobbies give us a chance to step outside the routines that sometimes feel stifling, inviting us to rediscover joy and curiosity. I believe that you can start this week. and Start small. Quotes - There is something beautiful about learning a new skill or creating something from scratch. “You get to experiment without the consequences. You get to create what is in your head rather than adapting to someone else’s expectations.” “Initiating a project with no parameters and no expectations from others also forces you to stay self-aware and learn to follow your intuition.” from Manage Your Day-to-Day by Jocelyn K. Glei “Slow hobbies are good hobbies. I cannot come up with a hobby that is rushed: fishing, crocheting, rock climbing…” “I cared most about being liked versus liking myself. When you start listening to your own heart and your own wants life gets so much richer.” “Hobbies are so important! They bring connection with others and ourselves.” – That Sounds Fun by Annie F. Downs Reflection Questions: What is a fun hobby idea for you? What are some activities that make you feel like yourself? What lights you up or excites you to learn more? Connect with April: https://linktr.ee/april.edwards . Music intro/outro from Pixabay: https://pixabay.com/music/acoustic-group-acoustic-folk-acoustic-guitar-138361/ reflection music: Me and my guitar Unplugged Billy_Ziogas - https://pixabay.com/music/acoustic-group-me-and-my-guitar-unplugged-222588/
    Show more Show less
    14 mins
  • #012 the first step to avoiding burnout - defining empathy w/Jalynne

    #012 the first step to avoiding burnout - defining empathy w/Jalynne
    Oct 17 2024

    Why empathy so important—especially when it comes to ourselves. Join me and my friend Jalynne as we explore how to practice self-compassion and navigate the challenges of adulthood with more kindness.

    .

    Our lives are filled with lots of moving parts and stacks of decisions that we have no context for. Adulting is hard. Most people I know are exhausted, extremely busy, and frustrated.

    There is no magic formula or perfect plan that works all the time.

    It is very easy in this demanding and fast-paced world to get overwhelmed.

    At the end of each episode I say:

    "Let's avoid overwhelm, and navigate the complexities of adulthood with empathy and practical tips."

    So today we are looking at bit closer at the word empathy.

    I honestly struggle with self-compassion and having empathy with myself (and sometimes others). But today I am chatting with my friend Jalynne. She is an excellent example of someone who shows kindness towards herself and others. She has unique insight and I'm excited to have her here with me today.

    In this episode we discuss:

    • What is empathy? How we define it.

    • Why does empathy matter? Why do we care?

    • How can we have empathy for ourselves? And why is that so hard?

    > > > Find Jalynne at: www.jalynnewrites.com .

    Practical Resources for Reflection

    My Life in Lists - Creating Calm & Resilience

    How to Avoid the Crash

    Summer Reflection - What Worked & What Didn't?

    . Quote

    “Trying softer isn’t about knowing or doing the right thing; it’s about being gentle with ourselves in the face of pain that is keeping us stuck. Because no matter how hard we try, we can’t hate or shame ourselves into change. Only love can move us toward true growth. This is the love given to us by a gentle, kind, compassionate, good God—and the love we are invited to give ourselves too. ”

    ― Aundi Kolber from her book: Try Softer

    [ & here is a link to her very inspirational Instagram ]

    .

    Reflection Questions:

    • How can you show yourself kindness this week?

    • What are some areas where you can show more empathy for yourself (like you would a close friend)?

    Connect with April: https://linktr.ee/april.edwards

    Music intro/outro from Pixabay: https://pixabay.com/music/acoustic-group-acoustic-folk-acoustic-guitar-138361/

    reflection music: by Lesfm from Pixabay - Just Relax https://pixabay.com/music/beautiful-plays-just-relax-11157/

    Show more Show less
    18 mins
  • #011 - EHAP & creating inner calm

    #011 - EHAP & creating inner calm
    Oct 10 2024

    I don't feel like I can function at productive levels when the clutter is shouting at me from every surface. (11 min.) .

    I have a productivity tip that is disguised as a homemaking routine that will make a big impact on your daily life and the peace that you feel in your home.

    EHAP = Everything Has A Place

    This means that when you organize your home everything has somewhere that it belongs that is not sitting out in your way. It also means that everything you own can go back to where it should go after use.

    .

    A recent Substack post I wrote is called: Counter Clutter: The Invisible Enemy of My Productivity

    In this post I shared:

    • what my childhood kitchen looked like with a Dad as a professional chef and a mom who is a minimalist

    • how in my 20's I decided to only clean the kitchen when I felt like it

    • my lightbulb moment when I was going through a big declutter

    • realizing my blank slate gave me freedom to enjoy my kitchen

    Clear surfaces make space for stuff to happen but they also provide white space a somewhere for the eyes to rest.

    It is a resistance against the idea that every area must be filled with stuff that we have spent money on. It is creating visual boundaries in the areas of our home where we want to relax.

    . Show Notes:

    Mystie Winkler and her posts on EHAP = Everything Has A Place. Her homemaking classes are amazing! A great place to start if you feel overwhelmed.

    my Substack post: Counter Clutter: The Invisible Enemy of My Productivity

    Today's Quote -

    • Gretchen Rubin's book: Outer Order, Inner Calm

    Reflection Questions -

    • What do your kitchen counters look like right now?

    • What do the surfaces in your living room look like?

    • How is that affecting your productivity and inner calm?

    Connect with April: https://linktr.ee/april.edwards

    Music intro/outro from Pixabay: https://pixabay.com/music/acoustic-group-acoustic-folk-acoustic-guitar-138361/

    Reflection Music from CalvinClavier: https://pixabay.com/music/modern-classical-afterglow-atmospheric-cinematic-piano-225035/

    Show more Show less
    11 mins

What listeners say about Subtle Resistance

Average customer ratings

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Audible.com reviews

Amazon reviews
No Reviews are Available