Turning Inward With Dr. Vivian Carrasco

In this special episode, Vivian captures the lessons and biggest takeaways she uncovered in her 46th year of life.  For her annual birthday review, she discusses her journey into wholeness, self-discovery, and how she has found spirituality outside of collective or organized religion. She talks about the many gifts she’s received from life in a physical and abstract sense and how those gifts have impacted her year.  Join Vivian in this encapsulation of her 46th year as she re-gifts all of the lessons and experiences she’s been given this year to you.  Show Highlights:  Vivian shares how the gift of roses helped her accept beauty and abundance in her year  This year has been a personal journey into wholeness through accepting personal cultural rituals  Contemplation and self-reflection in isolation and community are both important to deepen you  Vivian shares how community has brought her a new perspective of growth  The journey of self-awareness is crucial for growth and development  Your community is out th

With all of the massive shifts happening around us, we are all in a state of self-exploration, learning, and growth. The need for systematic change is now more prominent than ever and there’s no better time to educate yourself and be a part of that change.  In this episode, Vivian discusses the prejudices she’s not only experienced but had to overcome herself. She discusses some of her own struggles as a woman of color, and the importance of elevating the voices of the black community.  Join Vivian in this necessary and pivotal conversation about racial injustice, the impact of assimilation, why we shouldn’t compare protesting, donating, and volunteering, along with so many other vital aspects of the changes we’re experiencing after the murder of George Floyd.     Show Highlights:  Learning how to distinguish between fitting in and belonging is a growth process We don’t always know the impact what we have to say is going to make but we have to speak up  Vivian shares some of the unconscious bias thoughts she

Books can bring us new ideals and perspectives that we wouldn’t have initiated on our own. In today’s conversation, Vivian and Heather Williams, of Green Buddhi Yoga, discuss the teachings that The Way of The Rose by Clark Strand and Perdita Finn brought them.  The scale a variety of concepts, such as how we can experience religion on a personal level, the bridge between religion and the patriarchy, and how we can treat sex as sacred and not dirty. Tune into this episode for an insightful and introspective experience with Vivian and Heather.  Show Highlights:  Vivian and Heather share what restraints they initially had towards the book  Heather shares her inspiration to create her own rosary after the book club  How the image of God has shifted from being part of the patriarchy to a mother  Why we don’t have to search for God and should turn within ourselves  Vivian shares her favorite passage from “The Way of The Rose” The joy is there for us to enjoy  How trauma and childhood can effect religion  Ways to p

Mothering can show up in many different ways. It doesn’t have a specific gender, the need for children, or a limit on ability. Learning how to mother yourself, loved ones, employees, projects, and children, is crucial to nurturing your growth. In today’s episode, Vivian shares the importance of allowing yourself to give and receive mothering. She explores the importance of learning to allow others to mother you, and the spiritual revival that can accompany letting your children nurture you. Join Vivian in this gentle and abundance episode.  Show Highlights:  The unfolding of love being human  Why you need to become friends with yourself  How our embodied practices shift  Practices to explore how the structures of our minds work The importance of finding ways to express your creativity  Learning how to mother ourselves  How mothering can be a teacher  Sensing into fundamental needs being expressed Finding ways to meet your needs in a positive light  What makes kids better mind ninjas  Why you should look to k

Prayer is a crucial part of self-growth and connecting to your soul. In today’s episode, Vivian has an exploration of prayer and shares what her journey with prayer has been. She discusses the benefits, and what it looks like to open your perspective of prayer. She also teaches the method of the “body prayer” and how you can incorporate it into your daily life. Join Vivian in this episode to find your prayer, find your method, and attend to what you’re called to.  Show Highlights:  What is a practice and how do you learn  The power in our language to communicate  Finding your prayer and finding your method of prayer  Finding ways to open your perspective  The action and movement of prayer Learning to love being human and connect with our soul  The 4 postures and the 4 intentions for the body prayer  Links:  https://viviancarrasco.com

In today’s episode, Vivian reflects on the lessons and topics she’s curated for you in the upcoming episodes. She discusses what it means to find your why, what it means to love being human, and how death is an opportunity for new beginnings. She offers an invitation for you to reflect on what your milestones say about your growth, as well as to creatively express your becoming. Join Vivian in this exploration as she guides you through this next season of growth.  Show Highlights:  How to shift from how to why to find beautiful movement  The death that happens to us as we find a new way of being  We begin with death and then grow as we create our way to a rebirth Teaching people how to love people in the midst of being human  The opportunity to become and unbecome in relationship  Recognizing stages within our rebirth  Reflecting on distinctions in our transformations  What is love being human Links:  Vivian@viviancarrasco.com 

Creativity is the key to all change in our lives. As we move through transitional phases, finding ways to channel our energy and explore ourselves through a creative outlet is the best thing we can do for ourselves. In this episode, Vivian explores the importance of creativity in seasons of growth. She discusses what it means to find a way of being that is an embodied practice and how to be open to the flow of creativity. Join Vivian in this episode to reignite and practice your own creativity.  Show Highlights:  Why creative expression is a practice to explore during growth periods  Moving through transformations Why loving ourselves should always come first  How finding your creative potential is the key to your growth  Getting to a place of unshakable confidence and pure peace  Emerging into your better self through collaboration with others  Rediscover your creative potential  Establishing a personal practice to build your creativity  Links:  https://viviancarrasco.com

Life is a continuous cycle of growth. No matter how far we’ve come, we’ll continue to evolve and change identities. In today's conversation, Vivian talks about growing in the in-between spaces and how to distinguish between a role and yourself. As we move quickly through our identities, it can be difficult to be in the gap of significant changes. Join Vivian in this exploration of self-growth and the importance of having the ability to reinvent yourself.  Show Highlights:  Finding a way to see ourselves differently  The difference between a role and yourself  How the stages of life have shifted  The shifts that happen within marriage  Moving deeper into our sense of self  Learning the ability to reinvent ourselves constantly  How to build courage  Ways to claim creative potential  The importance of giving yourself extra love and self-compassion Using writing to move yourself  Why Within U is a direct response to a near death experience  Links: https://viviancarrasco.com

Self-compassion can bring our lives more happiness, more confidence, and more kindness. While overcoming our negative self-talk can be hard, it’s important to find a softness for ourselves. In today’s episode, Vivian shares the benefits of self-compassion, along with tangible practices you can take on your own journey. Vivian explores the beauty of a self-compassion break, and physical practices to soothe your soul. Join Vivian in this meditative and gentle episode to find what draws you closer to your own truth.  Show Highlights:  Vivian shares an overview of the series she’s been doing  Practices that help us feel safe moving through change  Allowing ourselves to acknowledge our pain and responding with kindness The benefits of self-compassion How self-compassion can minimize anxiety and stress  The stress defense and combating threats to our self-image  Using soothing touch as a self-compassion practice  Finding a word that brings you comfort  Exploring self-compassion practices  Discovering love being hu

You can’t give from a glass half full is a cliche we’re all familiar with, but tend to overlook. When it comes to loving others, we have to start with ourselves. While this can prove to be a struggle, it’s the only true doorway to growth. In this episode, Vivian shares her journey of self-compassion and what it means to be kind to yourself. She discusses the barriers we have to overcome in order to reach a place of self-love, along with the strength it provides us. Join Vivian in this self-exploration of love to learn how you can enhance your capacity to receive kindness.  Show Highlights:  Choosing to refer to yourself with kindness and self compassion How self-love can help you love others better  Turning insights into an experience for others  The biggest barrier to self-compassion  Learning to wield power by being kind to yourself  The power in self-love  Allowing the practice of compassion to reveal itself to you  Giving yourself time and space to learn a practice Links:  https://viviancarrasco.com/sta

The seasons allow us an opportunity to grow with them as we move through our own lives. When we find ourselves feeling stagnant, there are practices we can utilize to connect us back to our spirits. This weeks practice is dedicated to breath. Vivian shares how you can use the practice of breath to center yourself and find connection in your daily life. Vivian also takes you through a guided breath meditation that you can take and use as your own. Join Vivian in this rejuvenating and inspiring episode to find your own practice.  Show Highlights:  What makes a practice so vital to growth  What is a practice and how to integrate it into your daily life  Vivian shares her exploration of overcoming excuses  Using breath to center yourself  Vivian walks you through a guided breath meditation  Vivian shares ways you can integrate breath practices into your daily life  Links:  https://viviancarrasco.com   Vivian@viviancarrassco.com 

Journeying through change looks differently for all of us, but there are strategies we can take with us to learn to center ourselves. Today, Vivian talks about the path of growth and what it truly means to turn inward. She discusses her own process of change and the importance of releasing expectations of the path to be straight. She moves between teaching and practices to help you both learn and to gift you with tangible practices you can use in your own journey. Join Vivian in this exploration of self to guide you through your own path of growth.  Show Highlights:  Vivian shares an overview of the topics she’s covered over the past few months  Why Vivian aligns her growth with the seasons instead of the “New Year”  The path of turning inward  Journeying through words with Vivian  Finding peace moving through change  Why growth doesn’t always mean you’re moving forward The art of surrendering  Coming back to your own experiences to develop self knowledge  Finding the support of your own breath Learning to r

The process of inner-exploration is slow and never ending. However, as we choose to make these small changes every day, we can look back over the years to see how much progress we’ve made.  Winter in particular is a season for grieving the old, mourning, and deep rest. Winter gives us an opportunity to prepare for new birth.  In today’s conversation, Vivian shares how you can prepare yourself for new birth and how you can use the practice of advent to prepare your heart. Join Vivian in this conversation of inner-exploration and learn how you can use your physical space to support that journey to finding your own truth.    Show Highlights:  Advent is a spiritual practice anyone can adopt to prepare their heart Sometimes it’s not about doing it right and more about learning how to do it in a way for you  Recognizing your mistakes when trying to adopt new practices can help center you in the practice of learning how to learn  Other people don’t notice your mistakes as much as you do  Sometimes what causes us to

Self-exploration takes time, patience, and a lot of soul-searching.  In today’s episode, Vivian talks about how she’s learned to navigate finding truth, uncovering your deepest values, and why nature is the best teacher. She shares her own strategies to do inner-work, along with why it’s necessary. She also discusses how nature can be a great teacher for self-exploration and how you can look to it as a mentor.  Join Vivian in another insightful and calming episode to learn more about how you can uncover the truest version of you.   Show Highlights:  Exploring the transformation that happens inside of us when we align ourselves with seasons  Sometimes setting “smart” goals isn’t the smart thing to do  How to dance with your doubt and why it’s important to find your why  Look with curiosity before you expect confidence  Learning a new point of view can help you uncover your values  Sharing with friends can help you explore your mindset intervention  Your external life doesn’t have to change if your internal se

Being aligned with your core values is vital to pursue your true purpose and joy. Identifying those values can often seem intimidating and confusing, but it doesn’t’ have to be.  Today, Vivian Carrasco shares how you can get rid of the disconnect between you, your heart, and your values by using tangible exercises for self-exploration. She discusses the importance of being aligned with your “is-ness” and how to eliminate self-doubt.  Join Vivian in this episode to learn more about how you can pursue what you really want to do and what you’re actually doing by anchoring yourself in your values.  Show Highlights:  Letting go of others expectations of you is one of the first steps to step into your own desires  Listening to your intuition can help you navigate journeying to become who you are  Learning to accept yourself can help you find your true nature  Lining yourself up with your values will allow you to live a life full of inspiration, energy, and true power Practicing a values affirmation is important be

Each season brings opportunities for new growth. Learning how to tune into nature and your desires is a key part of moving through the liminal spaces of life. When looking at what each season teaches us, we also have to learn how to move through that growth and adopt those lessons into the next season.  In this episode, Vivian Carrasco discusses how to practically take steps to pinpoint your desires and move towards what brings you joy. While doubt often accompanies us on our journey, there are steps you can take to learn to dance with it.  Vivian shares her top 4 steps to take action and learn how to put new shoes on. Join Vivian in this introspective episode about transitions and discovering your desires through change.    Show Highlights:  Vivian explains why she’s transitioning from “turning inward” to “within U”  Fall is a seasonal shift for introspective thought and learning to let things go  You should stop looking for the right answers and discover what you truly desire  Letting go of others expectat

It’s human nature to resist change, defy uncertainty, and remain in our comfort zones. We’re genetically wired to only pursue our past experiences, but this often holds us back.  Today Vivian Carrasco shares her own personal experience of reaching outside of her limitations to reach a seemingly impossible goal, and how you can too! She discusses how to ignite your imagination in a way that will provoke meaningful engagement and fulfillment in your daily life. Join Vivian in this two-part series to learn more about how you can embrace your bravery, courageousness, and be the you you’ve always wanted.    Show Highlights:  Expanding your reach to break out of limitations  Cultivating in life relationships  Giving yourself permission to achieve the goals you want  Expanding your community and planting seeds of friendship  Taking time to align with your values  The importance of social interaction  Allowing your imagination to create a reality that reflects your values    Links:  https://viviancarrasco.wistia.co

Creating goals can often be daunting but as the holiday season approaches we’re all thinking about the future. When it comes to creating a life that reflects the vision you desire, it’s easy to talk down on ourselves and feel “stupid” for not knowing how to get there.  In this episode, Vivian shares her method for setting and achieving goals in a way that’s “MINE” and not “smart.” She reveals how to reset your internal framework and utilize your nature to create the life you desire. If you’re tired of running away from your fear and you want to run towards the future, join Vivian Carrasco in this inspiring and insightful episode.    Show Highlights:    Exploring values and aspirations  Navigating your internal compass  How to look at goals without suppressing possibilities  Establishing a solid framework to set goals  How to move towards goals  How innovation comes into play with setting new goals  The importance of recognizing your nature when moving into uncertainty  Energy blocking time  The importance of

Today’s conversation of Within (U) is a deeply introspective exploration with Alexandra Kalinowski. Alexandra, the host of the What If Podcast, extends not only her heart but a shedding of light on some of the most intimate and transformative seasons of her life.  Vivian Carrasco and Alexandra dissect what it looks to shed your predispositions and embrace the flow of the world around you, and how it impacts you directly. Join Vivian and Alexandra as they navigate how to listen to your body, take notice of patterns from the universe, and find community internally and externally. This heart-to-heart inspires an urgency to dive into the world around you and explore the shifts you’re currently experiencing in an enlightened space.  Show Highlights:  How to allow ourselves to develop mastery as we move through life  Evaluating who you want to become and taking the steps to get there  The emotional and physical impact that shifting beliefs can have  How childhood habits subconsciously manifest in adulthood  Learni

This week’s episode is the first to introduce the new direction the podcast is taking. Joining us in this transition is Dan Simon, host of It’s Personal Podcast. In this episode, Dan prompts Vivian with a series of questions that not only reveal her truth but unravel her experiences in a way that you can apply to your own self-exploration.  Dan and Vivian discuss how to embrace your innate nature, along with the process of immersing yourself in the goodness around you. Join Dan and Vivian in this evolution of growth not only for the podcast but in understanding the common ground between ourselves and others.    Show Highlights:    Who Vivian Carrasco is and the evolution of how she’s gotten to be who she is  Shifting your mindset from being driven by fear to becoming driven by love  The importance of being persistent in growth and retaining it  Taking responsibility for experiences and emotions  How to train yourself to capture and relive good moments  Reflecting on impactful life events  Vivian’s near-death