Episode 39: Decision Were Made

In this vulnerable post-election episode, mother-daughter duo Denise and Jackie process their raw emotions following the November 2024 election results. The conversation opens with a grounding mindfulness practice and box breathing technique (breathe in for 4, hold for 4, out for 4, hold for 4) as they acknowledge the difficulty many are experiencing.The pair explore how to maintain presence and calm during anxiety-producing times, with Denise emphasizing the Serenity Prayer as her anchor: “God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.” Jackie shares her Adult Children of Alcoholics (ACA) version: “God grant me to accept the people I cannot change, the courage to change the one I can, and the wisdom to know that one is me.”The conversation takes a thoughtful turn as they discuss values conflicts, self-advocacy in healthcare relationships, and the challenge of reconciling deeply held beliefs with maintaining human connection across divides. Jackie shares her experience of ending a therapeutic relationship after realizing their values alignment was crucial for her mental healthcare.The episode concludes with an exciting announcement of their new Sunday Zoom meetings at 6pm Pacific time, creating a safe space for people to process difficult emotions and find community during challenging times.Topics Covered:Mindfulness techniques including box breathing and the 5-4-3-2-1 exerciseUsing the Serenity Prayer as a practical tool during stressful timesThe importance of being present in the body during anxietyTheir updated Step 3: “We decide to trust that something bigger is taking care of us”Self-advocacy in therapeutic relationshipsCreating inclusive community spaces for authentic conversationBalancing political values and human connectionThe daily practice of Step 10: ongoing reflection and emotional processingJoin our upcoming meetings: https://forms.gle/4VxnNUnev1RoRJMCA (Zoom meeting on Sunday at 6pm PST, the meeting is password-protected so please fill out the form to receive the link and password!)The Big One podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-big-one-the-earthquake/id1645620672?i=1000579734783ACA Serenity Prayer: https://adultchildren.org/serenity-prayer/Follow Us:Follow Jackie: jackiefreed.la Follow Denise: @denise.freed Follow us on Instagram: @12stepsforeveryone Follow us on TikTok: @12stepsforeveryone