Choosing What You Keep: Energy, Influence, and Honoring Yourself

In this heart-centered episode recorded at the Appalachian Snail Market & Cafe in Bolivar, West Virginia, Kim and I welcome our friend Liz for an open, unpolished conversation about consciously choosing what we take from others. We explore how we’re all “programmed” by upbringing, then reshaped by the people, energies, and ideas we meet along the way—keeping what resonates and gently putting down what doesn’t. From grieving and growth to empathy and “holding space,” we talk about power and awareness, listening without absorbing, and following what feels peaceful. We also share personal stories—proud tears, angry cries, accents we accidentally mirror, and the rocks we choose to carry—to illustrate how to protect your energy, be intentional with influences (including media), and surround yourself with people who lift you higher.Takeaways: Notice what feels light versus heavy, choose the traits and energies that truly support you, release what isn’t yours, be selective about what you watch and listen to, and honor yourself by moving toward what makes your heart happy.