Meredyth with a Why: Wisdom, Truth, Soul Guided Spirituality

Latest Episodes:

057: Strong BO$$ Bitches: Words Have Power. Dec 14, 2021

Show notes

Welcome to my new series, Strong Boss Bitches with Monica Morton, a private detective, crime expert for a true crime TV series, and a life coach. Over the next few weeks, we're going to be talking about how to be your best and baddest strong boss bitch self.

Money, work, lazy, perfection, failure. What do you think and feel when you hear these words?

Words have connotations. Words are full of energy—both negative and positive—and they carry intention. The way you use your words and how you say them matters. When you understand this, you don't allow people to bring any negativity around you.

Today we're talking about the power behind words, and why it's so important to be conscious of how people treat you. Often, we believe what others say, even when it's harmful. Words penetrate our psyche. When they are positive, they are uplifting. When they are demeaning, it's a form of abuse. You can control the power of your words with awareness, education, and knowledge. You can control the power of others' words with healthy boundaries, self-esteem, and confidence.

You are worthy of loving relationships and friendships. You are worthy of the best.

What's in this episode:

Making the decision to work through your trauma and create healthy boundaries

Why we have to speak out against intentionally demeaning language (like the n-word)

How to hold each other accountable for our words and actions (including family members)

The importance of extending grace toward others and ourselves

Why failure is a good thing

Shifting our energy toward positivity and kindness

Reframing negative relationships with words

How covid has affected our ability to connect

For full show notes, resources, and links, head to: https://www.meredythwillits.com/podcast

Are you ready to go deeper? I am giving you the keys to the castle. If you enjoyed this podcast and want to hear more, make sure to subscribe so you'll never miss an episode! You can also join us on Patreon for exclusive content you'll only hear there: https://www.patreon.com/MeredythWillits

You can connect more by visiting me on my website at https://www.meredythwillits.com/ or connecting with me on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/MeredythWillits34 or Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/meredyth_willits.

056: Strong BO$$ Bitches: Cinderella is a Fairy Tale. Let's Heal and Get Real. Dec 07, 2021

Show notes

Cinderella is a fairy tale. And yet, many women still think of this story, and other princess tales, as reality. Woman meets man, man saves woman, they live happily ever after. Today, we're going to talk about why this fairy tale should remain just that—a magical and idealized story.

The reality is that relationships are complicated. As a woman in a patriarchal society, it is important to know your worth. You cannot let society determine your value. When you take time to heal and truly know who you are and what you want from life, you can come to a relationship as a whole person, instead of as someone who "needs saving." It's time that we as women save ourselves.

No one is going to make you happy. No one is going to fill up your tank. Only you can do that for yourself. Now, let's heal and get real.

What's in this episode:

Why "you complete me" is a statement that kills relationships

Understanding and valuing your worth

How competitiveness is tearing down women friendships

Why you need to have difficult conversations

Building confidence and self-esteem

The importance of healing yourself and its effect on intimate relationships

How to protect your energy

Learning to love yourself as you are in this moment

For full show notes, resources, and links, head to: https://www.meredythwillits.com/podcast

055: Your Words Matter. Let's Make a Shift. Nov 30, 2021

Show notes

We are affected by everything. All of what we hear and see... All of it affects us greatly. Our bodies are nothing more than an absorber of frequency: good, bad or ugly. That's why it's so important to pay attention to the words you speak aloud. Being mindful not just about what you think, but what you say is so key.

In today's solo episode, I am wrapping up my series on abuse and I'll give you a sneak peek into what's to come with my Strong BOSS Bitches series. You'll hear about a recent challenge I encountered and how I was able to navigate that through the words that I spoke. Once you realize the true power and depth of the words you say, you'll truly be able to make the shifts to change your life for good.

What's in this episode:

What you can expect in my upcoming Strong BOSS Bitches series

Why I'll be going back to solo episodes after this series

Understanding your past life regressions and how it helps your world align

How I talked myself through a recent stressful situation

Why you have to say your affirmations out loud

How your entire body is affected by what is going on around you

For full show notes, resources, and links, head to: https://www.meredythwillits.com/podcast

054: Abuse & Consent with Rosalia Nov 23, 2021

Show notes

**Trigger warning**: This episode contains content describing physical, mental, emotional, and sexual abuse. If this is not in line with something that you want to or are able to listen to today, I strongly suggest that you do not listen to this episode.

Many victims of abuse live in fear. Fear of telling their parents. Fear of setting boundaries. Fear of passing their trauma onto their children. But it doesn't have to be this way. It is possible to heal your trauma. It is possible to break the cycle of not talking about trauma. It is possible to have open communication with your children.

In today's episode, I'm speaking with Rosalia Rivera of Consent Parenting, who empowers parents to be sex-positive and confidently teach their children about body autonomy and safety, boundaries, and consent. Rosalia is on a mission to normalize the conversation around consent and dismantle the shame that comes with abuse. If you are a survivor of abuse, Rosalia can help teach you how to not pass your triggers and trauma to your kids. All parents can learn how to prioritize self-love and boundary setting, and how to put fear-based methods of parenting in the past for good.

It isn't our children's job to prevent abuse; it's ours.

What's in this episode:

Rosalia's family history of sexual abuse and how it influenced her own healing

The difference between consent education and abuse prevention education

Why it's important to teach body autonomy from a young age

How to empower your children to recognize that their voice matters

Why discussions around consent and abuse shouldn't be taboo

Creating a space of open communication with your child

Why support systems are so important as a parent with a history of abuse

Tools and resources for communicating and setting healthy boundaries

How to work with Rosalia

For full show notes, resources, and links, head to: https://www.meredythwillits.com/podcast

053: Valerie Huard Talks Trash Nov 16, 2021

Show notes

**Trigger warning**: This episode contains content describing abuse and trauma. It may bring up feelings and thoughts about trauma specific to you. If this is not in line with something that you want to or are able to listen to today, I strongly suggest that you do not listen to this episode.

Decluttering. It's one of those buzz words we hear all the time and an activity that evokes a feeling of stress in a lot of people. But what if your inability to declutter is actually because of stress and past trauma? Whether it's the loss of a parent or child, an abusive relationship, bullying in your past, or any other trauma, PTSD causes us to protect ourselves in ways that aren't always beneficial. In today's episode, I'm talking to Valerie Huard about her business, DO Well, where she empowers clients to overcome their trauma through decluttering.

Having suffered physical and emotional abuse by her grandfather as a youth, Valerie took it into her own hands as an adult to figure out how to take care of herself. Traditional medical and therapy routes failed her, and a cross-country move with her husband and children caused her to realize her trauma resulted in hoarding tendencies. Valerie and I take a deep dive into how trauma and clutter are linked, as well as how to separate the two and create lifestyle changes that are sustainable.

What's in this episode:

Valerie's experience with childhood abuse

How she tried to protect herself from further trauma

Valerie's healing journey, both traditional and non-traditional

Her discovery that clutter and hoarding was linked to past stress and trauma

Why decluttering carries emotional attachments

How our brain and body process stress and trauma

How to disassociate from your trauma before (and during) decluttering your home

Practices to help you sustainably declutter and maintain long-term lifestyle changes

Resources and options for working with Valerie

For full show notes, resources, and links, head to: https://www.meredythwillits.com/podcast

052: Kisha's Legacy is LIFE Nov 09, 2021

Show notes

**Trigger warning**: This episode contains content describing child abuse—physical, emotional, and sexual. If this is not in line with something that you want to or are able to listen to today, I strongly suggest that you do not listen to this episode.

Childhood abuse lives with you forever. You are a victim and a survivor for the rest of your life. How do you take charge of your healing journey? In today's episode, I have the pleasure to chat with Kisha Edmunds who shares how her stepfather sexually assaulted her from ages 5-12, and how she was able to prosecute him 20+ years later. And win. She details behaviors and actions she used to protect herself as a child, how she finally disconnected herself from the core of her trauma, and how she prioritizes her healing as both a woman and a mother.

You won't regret following her story. Her social media platforms, Kisha's Legacy, are a place for her to share her very personal experience and engage with other trauma survivors. It is a way to put her pain to purpose. If you are listening to this and have ever found yourself a victim of abuse, whether recently or 20+ years ago, I hope this episode encourages you to seek help and put your healing first.

What's in this episode:

Kisha's experience with childhood sexual abuse

How gaslighting plays a factor in abusive relationships

How being a person of color influenced her situation

Why it's important to listen to children and take their voices seriously

How to recognize triggers and learn to respond to them

Resources for trauma and abuse victims

Why it's important to prioritize your healing

How to disconnect from your trauma

What true self-care looks like

Kisha's social media presence and how she aims to help others heal

For full show notes, resources, and links, head to: https://www.meredythwillits.com/podcast

051: Escape from Abuse with Orsika Julia Nov 02, 2021

Show notes

**Trigger warning**: This episode contains content describing domestic abuse and violence. If this is not in line with something that you want to or are able to listen to today, I strenuously suggest that you do not listen to this episode.

After escaping from an abusive relationship, you can feel like you are in quicksand, trying to stop sinking. Enter Orsika Julia. On today's episode, she shares her own experience of domestic abuse, how she left and began her healing journey. She shares some of the tendencies and red flags she witnessed, what a love bombing is and why you need time to heal before beginning another relationship. If you are listening to this and are in a similar situation, my hope is that this episode opens the door for you to find a way out of the quicksand.

What's in this episode:

Orsika's experience with abuse and domestic violence

How the way a person treats their family is related to abusive tendencies

What a love bombing is

Mindset shifts and how they help with healing

The red flags Orsika ignored in her marriage

Why you need time to heal after an abusive relationship

How she left her situation and began healing

Dealing with the triggers that exist after abuse

The work that Orsika does now

For full show notes, resources and links, head to: https://www.meredythwillits.com/podcast

050: Patterns of Abuse with Kimberly McFerron Oct 26, 2021

Show notes

**Trigger warning**: This episode contains content describing child abuse, both physical and mental, emotional and sexual. If this is not in line with something that you want to or are able to listen to today, I strenuously suggest that you do not listen to this episode.

Patterns and cycles of abuse can affect us our entire lives, especially when we witness and experience it as children. In this episode, I'm joined by Kimberly McFerron, host of the Limitless Pregnancy Podcast. She shares her experience growing up as a child of divorce between parents with a volatile relationship, being date raped at age 15 and how those experiences perpetuated a pattern of abusive relationships. We talked about gaslighting in relationships, breaking those patterns of abuse, and how Kimberly began to recognize and allow good things to happen in her life.

What's in this episode:

Kimberly's experience growing up as a child of divorce

How her parent's volatile relationship affected her childhood

Her story of being raped at age 15 and the aftermath

The pattern of abusive relationships she experienced

The gaslighting that occurs in relationships and how to recognize it

Breaking cycles of abuse and why that's important for our kids

Learning to accept and recognize good things after experiencing trauma

The importance of getting help

For full show notes, resources and links, head to: https://www.meredythwillits.com/podcast

049: A Secret that Almost Killed Her with Melissa Oct 19, 2021

Show notes

What are some of the red flags you need to look out for in the adults who are around your kids? In today's episode, Melissa is sharing her story of abuse at the hands of a family friend. She shares the grooming that took place and why she kept her abuse a secret. This is such a powerful episode about how to keep your children safe and how you should speak and support someone who has experienced abuse. Melissa even shares how her trauma began to affect her physically and impacted her health.

What's in this episode:

Melissa's story of abuse and grooming at the hands of a family friend

Some of the red flags to look for in adults around your children

How her abuser's threats against her family caused her to hide what was happening

The best way to talk to or support someone who has been abused

The difference between curiosity and concern

Why it's an honor when someone shares their story with you

Some of the physical pain Melissa dealt with during her abuse

How her trauma has affected her life and her health

For full show notes, resources and links, head to: https://www.meredythwillits.com/podcast

048: Renee was Sold for Sex by her Dad Oct 12, 2021

Show notes

Today's episode is a powerful one. I'm joined by Renee who is sharing her story of abuse, being trafficked, and her journey to healing. She shares her story in detail and the aftermath of the abuse she suffered from her father. Renee discusses what her healing journey has been like and how it has led her to share her story and help others who are experiencing similar forms of abuse. This is not an easy episode to listen to but an important one and I'm so honored to be able to share this platform with Renee.

What's in this episode:

Renee's story of abuse and how she was trafficked by her father

How her story unfolded in a normal suburban area

Her father's trial and how it affected her

How she began her healing journey

Why it's important to let yourself feel your emotions when healing

Why Renee feels it's important to share her story

How Renee is helping others

For full show notes, resources and links, head to: https://www.meredythwillits.com/podcast