Without Losing Your Cool with Shantelle Bisson
Without Losing Your Cool is a lifestyle interview series that brings the thoughts, feelings, emotions and common struggles out of your head and heart and out into the open.
Each week you can sit with us, laugh with us, cry with us, and be challenged to get out of your own way to go out there and live your best life.
Here, we talk about real life. Shantelle doesn't shy away from the tough conversations, while also inspiring you to re-examine yourself on a soulful level through conversations with her closest friends, and the industry's most sought-after guests.
The common goal? To hear stories from fellow humans who have overcome life's biggest (and most relatable) obstacles, to achieve their dreams of having a more fulfilling life. Through our conversations, you will gain wisdom and trust; and when each episode wraps you will be left with the belief that you too can, and will get the most out of this one beautiful life.
Shantelle doesn't just talk the talk of overcoming trauma to triumph in life, she walks it. And she has what it takes to help you walk confidently through your own life. She reminds you every week that you are not alone. There are so many of us out here who feel the same feelings, and share the same thoughts, and yet feel so alone. But when you hang out with us you're never alone, and you will bear witness to your own heart, mind and soul grow!
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Without Losing Your Cool with Shantelle Bisson
041. Navigating Life's Toughest Conversations with Michelle Surtees
In this episode, Michelle Surtees (https://www.instagram.com/tough.cookie.communications/) joins me to talk about her latest book, "Crummy Conversations," and her beliefs on the importance of communication in all types of relationships – especially with our kids.
Michelle dives in with her inspiration for writing "Crummy Conversations," a book about talking with kids about death, divorce, diagnosis, departure, and disaster. She emphasizes the importance of kids understanding the whole picture and why it's crucial for parents to be honest with their children about difficult topics.
As someone who has worked with children and families for over 18 years, Michelle believes that courageous communication is for everyone. She shares how she transformed her communication style and in turn, transformed her relationships and brought her closer to herself. She explains the goal of intentional and empathetic communication and introduces the Courage to Communicate model.
Michelle also gives us tips for navigating situations that don't have a positive outcome and differentiating between real danger and fight, flight, or freeze.
As you’ll hear in our conversation, Michelle's insights remind us of the importance of intentional and empathetic communication in all aspects of our lives.
Learn more about Michelle here: https://toughcookiecommunications.com/
We talk about:
- [2:15] Why Michelle wrote her book, Crummy Conversations
- [5:35] Why it's so important for kids to see and understand the whole picture
- [7:50] How to handle wishing we could go back and change things
- [9:00] What Raising Your Kids Without Losing Your Cool actually means
- [10:55] How Michelle transformed her communication style and in turn transformed her relationships
- [13:45] How to bring your full self to your relationship
- [15:10] The goal of intentional and empathetic communication
- [17:25] The Courage to Communicate model
- [32:40] Navigating situations that don't have a positive outcome
- [34:10] The role of our Amygdala
- [37:30] Differentiating between real danger and fight, flight or freeze
- [39:00] Strategies to process and move forward in hard moments
- [45:05] Tips for making uncomfortable conversations feel more natural
- [47:15] What intentional and empathetic communication is
Loved this episode? I know, me too, friend! Me too! If this episode resonated with you, we'd love to hear from you, say hi on Instagram @shantellebisson, @withoutlosingyourcool, and for the love of all things cool, if you have a burning question you'd like answered, go to shantellebisson.com/podcast and leave us a message for your question to be featured on our upcoming episodes!
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Until next time remember to keep doing the hard things, and show up like you mean it! Without Losing Your Cool!