The Language Alchemy Podcast

95. How to Talk Respectfully to a Person with a Disability

“I don't want people to just be reduced to their disability, I want people to know that they can be so much more,” explains Jessie Wolinsky, social justice advocate and Badass Blind Babe Podcaster. Jessie was diagnosed at 7 years old with retinitis pigmentosa, a degenerative condition that causes blindness. At 14, she started the Jessie’s SightSavers fundraising group and raised a quarter of a million dollars for blindness research. Now, she is the President of the Los Angeles chapter for The Foundation Fighting Blindness. Today, she talks with host Alejandra about mindful communication and how to speak respectfully to a person with a disability. 
 
Many people do not interact with people with disabilities regularly. This unfamiliarity may cause them to act or speak in ways that are unintentionally disrespectful. Jessie explains that one of the most powerful things someone can do is to ask every person with blindness or another disability how they wish to be referred to, as language surrounding a disability is incredibly personal. Some may choose to refer to themselves as ‘blind’ as Jessie does, while others may view that language as harmful. The language you choose to use can inadvertently reduce a person to their disability, when in reality they are so much more than that. This is why it is so important to be mindful and use respectful communication.
 
Disabilities are a spectrum and just because two people are both blind, they may not have the same symptoms or experiences. By changing your language to reflect the individuality of the person you are speaking to, you are respecting that each person with a disability is unique. 
Quotes
• “Everyone deserves to have the right to be referred to in a way that makes them feel comfortable and resonates with who they truly are and how they truly want to identify.” (0:00-0:10 | Jessie)
• “I'm going blind, I can't control that. But I control how I respond to it.” (6:05-6:09 | Jessie)
• “Everyone struggles with always finding positivity in their life and trying to come to terms with things that they cannot control.“ (7:39-7:46 | Jessie) 
• “The most powerful thing that someone can do is ask every person with a disability or ask every person who suffers from vision loss, how do you want to be referred to?” (9:47-9:57 | Jessie)
• “I don't want people to just be reduced to their disability, and I want people to know that they can be so much more.” (16:26-16:31 | Jessie)
• “Everyone has the power to create the life that they want, regardless of what they might be experiencing, regardless of the things that they might not be able to control or change.” (21:06-21:15 | Jessie)
 
Links
Connect with  Jessie Wolinsky:
Jessie's Instagram: @jesswo
Jessie's Tik Tok: @badassblindbabe
Jessie's Podcast: Badass Blind Babe (available on all podcast platforms)
To join the Bay Area's Vision Walk of Donate to Jessie's NoCal Fan Club: https://give.fightingblindness.org/team/497720
To join the Language Alchemy mailing list, visit: https://www.languagealchemy.com
To ask questions you'd like Alejandra to answer in the podcast, visit: https://www.languagealchemy.com/podcastquestion
To find out about 1:1 transformative communication coaching with Alejandra, visit: https://www.languagealchemy.com/oneonone
To find out about couple transformative communication coaching with Alejandra, visit: https://www.languagealchemy.com/couples
To schedule a reduced-rate coaching consultation with Alejandra, visit: https://www.languagealchemy.com/newclient
To follow Alejandra on instagram follow @languagealchemy 
Podcast Music composed by Gary Lapow: open.spotify.com/artist/1HlMhcNfKIELxYil5mVqD
 
Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

94. This Is How You Avoid Conflicts

“The remedy, when you realize you're heading into conflict, is to, number one, find the misunderstanding. And number two, communicate clearly and directly,” explains host Alejandra. According to Linguists, 85% of all conflicts are based on misunderstandings. Today, Alejandra discusses how to avoid unintentional conflicts by explaining the four reasons why these misunderstandings happen.
 
When conflicts occur in a relationship, it can typically be traced back to a misunderstanding. If you are unclear in your words, desires, or intentions, this may lead the person you are speaking with to misunderstand you. By working on communicating more clearly, you can avoid these conflicts. Some additional sources of misunderstanding come from misinterpreting someone’s words or actions as hurtful, assuming ill intent on behalf of the other person, and not clearly outlining who is responsible for what action. For example, if your partner says they will be home soon, and then they are not home until very late that night, you might be upset. However, your definition of ‘soon’ may be different from theirs, and the misunderstanding lies in not having communicated clear expectations.
 
Most conflicts are caused by misunderstandings. By learning to communicate with clarity and directness, you can avoid at least 10 conflicts a day. Determining the source of the misunderstanding is step one in resolving any current conflict. Pair that with communicating clearly and directly, and you are on your way to clearer communication and healthier relationships. 
 
Quotes
• “Most conflicts happen because of a misunderstanding.” (3:09-3:13 | Alejandra) 
• “Sometimes, and this is perhaps the most common way misunderstandings happen, we simply don't communicate clearly.” (6:25-6:33 | Alejandra)
• “Misunderstandings also happen when someone says something that was not meant to hurt you in any way, but the way you heard it does evoke hurt in you, because what the other person said or didn't say or didn't do didn't meet your unspoken expectations.” (7:36-7:58 | Alejandra)
• “The remedy, when you realize you're heading into conflict, is to, number one, find the misunderstanding. And number two, communicate clearly and directly.” (11:10-11:24 | Alejandra)
• “While it's simple to use clear, specific and direct language, or share our expectations in advance, communicating clearly can be uncomfortable.” (13:13-13:24 | Alejandra)
 
Links
To join the mailing list, visit: https://www.languagealchemy.com
To ask questions you'd like Alejandra to answer in the podcast, visit: https://www.languagealchemy.com/podcastquestion
To find out about 1:1 transformative communication coaching with Alejandra, visit: https://www.languagealchemy.com/oneonone
To find out about couple transformative communication coaching with Alejandra, visit: https://www.languagealchemy.com/couples
To schedule a reduced-rate coaching consultation with Alejandra, visit: https://www.languagealchemy.com/newclient
To follow Alejandra on instagram follow @languagealchemy Podcast Music composed by Gary Lapow: open.spotify.com/artist/1HlMhcNfKIELxYil5mVqD
Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

93. The Role of Equity in Intimate Relationships

“You are communicating equity with your partner when both of you respect and value each other's communication styles,” explains host Alejandra, transformative communication teacher and coach. Today, Alejandra discusses the value of communicating equity in your intimate relationship. She shares 10 indicators to evaluate whether there is equity within your current relationship as well as six ways to know when equity is lacking.
 
When there is a lack of equity within a couple, this often leads to the breakdown of the relationship. Relationships thrive on healthy communication that accounts for mutual respect. To communicate with equity, consider your partner’s emotional landscape and communication style before approaching them for a discussion. If you notice that there is a lack of respect in your partnership, or you feel like one of you is not having your communication needs considered, then that could be a sign that equity is missing. 
 
A healthy and mature partnership exists when the couple communicates with equality and equity from a place of shared power. If you and your partner take the time to consider each other’s individual needs and preferences while communicating, then you likely have equity in your intimate relationship. 
 
Quotes
• “While equality is a beautiful value because everybody has access to the same thing, it might not be enough.” (3:49-3:56 | Alejandra)
• “You are communicating equity with your partner when both of you respect and value each other's communication styles.” (8:08-8:15 | Alejandra)
• “When there's an absence of equity in the communication with your partner, you or your partner make fun of, disrespect, or devalue each other's needs, experiences, feelings, communication styles, cultural practices, trauma, information processing style, decision making style, social interaction levels. And you or your partner hold all of the above against each other.” (10:02-10:33 | Alejandra)
• “When a couple I worked with broke up, it was usually because of lack of equity in the relationship.” (12:06-12:11 | Alejandra) 
 
Links
To join the mailing list, visit: https://www.languagealchemy.com
To ask questions you'd like Alejandra to answer in the podcast, visit: https://www.languagealchemy.com/podcastquestion
To find out about 1:1 transformative communication coaching with Alejandra, visit: https://www.languagealchemy.com/oneonone
To find out about couple transformative communication coaching with Alejandra, visit: https://www.languagealchemy.com/couples
To schedule a reduced-rate coaching consultation with Alejandra, visit: https://www.languagealchemy.com/newclient
To follow Alejandra on instagram follow @languagealchemy
Podcast Music composed by Gary Lapow: open.spotify.com/artist/1HlMhcNfKIELxYil5mVqDI
Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

92. Be Sure Equality Is Present in Your Partnership

“The values of equity and equality have to do with how we relate to power. And in every intimate relationship power can be held by one person, and it can also be shared,” explains host Alejandra, transformative communication teacher and coach. Today, Alejandra discusses how to establish equality in communication with your partner.
 
When equality is present in your partnership, you and your partner have the same rights and responsibilities. You treat one another as equals and there is no power imbalance. When equality is not present, your partner may have more rights than you and you may feel uncomfortable expressing your feelings. Or the opposite could be true, you may have more rights, where your partner has more responsibilities. In order to improve your intimate relationship with your partner, aim to communicate in a way that prioritizes equality. As an example, if you talk for 5 minutes, then your partner gets that same amount of time to talk as well.
 
To have a healthy and mature partnership, power needs to be shared. If you are both conscious and intentional about sharing power, holding space for each other to express yourselves, and taking equal responsibility for conflict, then it is likely that equality is present in your partnership. However, if the opposite is the case, then it may be time to evaluate your communication and see where you can begin to incorporate equality. 
 
Quotes
• “The values of equity and equality have to do with how we relate to power. And in every intimate relationship, power can be held by one person and it can also be shared.” (4:33-4:46 | Alejandra)
• “If you want to have a healthy and mature conscious partnership, there needs to be shared power. And shared power happens when your communication has both equity and equality.” (5:22-5:37 | Alejandra) 
• “When you have equality in your communication with your partner, you both have the same rights and responsibilities.” (7:56-8:02 | Alejandra)
• “It's very hard to have intimacy and deep connection with your partner when you don't feel that you are equals.” (11:01-11:08 | Alejandra)
 
Links
To join the mailing list, visit: https://www.languagealchemy.com
To ask questions you'd like Alejandra to answer in the podcast, visit: https://www.languagealchemy.com/podcastquestion
To find out about 1:1 transformative communication coaching with Alejandra, visit: https://www.languagealchemy.com/oneonone
To find out about couple transformative communication coaching with Alejandra, visit: https://www.languagealchemy.com/couples
To schedule a reduced-rate coaching consultation with Alejandra, visit: https://www.languagealchemy.com/newclient
To follow Alejandra on instagram follow @languagealchemy
Podcast Music composed by Gary Lapow: open.spotify.com/artist/1HlMhcNfKIELxYil5mVqDI
Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

91. How to Be Trustworthy

“When you communicate in alignment with your values, when you say what you call yourself, you will feel grounded, capable, because those words have taken residence within you and others will trust you,” shares host Alejandra, transformative communication teacher and coach. Today, Alejandra discusses how when you engage in communication in alignment with your values, it helps others trust you. 
 
Alejandra explains that she struggled at first with referring to herself as a teacher and even more so with calling herself a coach. When she read The Prophet by Khalil Gibran, it completely changed her perspective. Khalil wrote about how teachers are people who guide their students home. This helped Alejandra connect her own core values to the word teacher, as she guides her clients on a path of transformation. When you fully embody who you say you are and the words you choose to call yourself, then others will be more inclined to trust you.
 
Take a moment to think about what words you would use to describe yourself. How do these words make you feel? Do you feel comfortable using them? If not, really evaluate why that is and see if there is another definition for the word or even another word that would feel more aligned with your values. When you can communicate in alignment with your core values, others will see that in how you are showing up in the world and will trust you. 
 
Quotes
• “When you're not embodying what you're calling yourself, it’s harder for others to trust you or trust your value.” (3:15-3:22 | Alejandra) 
• “Even though I helped others communicate in alignment with their values, I didn't always talk my walk. I hid behind other people's communication methods.” (12:34-12:45 | Alejandra)
• “That word coach took me even more years to accept. I will admit that I was so allergic to that term, and that's because I had this image of a sports coach yelling at kids.” (13:35-13:49 | Alejandra)
• “One of the meanings of ‘coach’ is a carriage, a kind of vehicle that takes people on a journey. And when I learned about that meaning of ‘coach’, that word started to resonate with me.” (15:02-15:17 | Alejandra)
• “When you communicate in alignment with your values, when you say what you call yourself, you will feel grounded, capable, because those words have taken residence within you and others will trust you.” (18:23-18:38 | Alejandra)
 
Links
To join the mailing list, visit: https://www.languagealchemy.com
To ask questions you'd like Alejandra to answer in the podcast, visit: https://www.languagealchemy.com/podcastquestion
To schedule a reduced-rate coaching consultation with Alejandra, visit: https://www.languagealchemy.com/newclient
To follow Alejandra on instagram follow @languagealchemy
Podcast Music composed by Gary Lapow: open.spotify.com/artist/1HlMhcNfKIELxYil5mVqDI
Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

90. A Must-have Communication Tool to Transform Your Life And Relationships

“If you're not having the meaningful, nourishing, kind and healthy relationships you deserve, it is because you are not communicating in alignment with your relational values,” explains host Alejandra, transformative communication teacher and coach. Today, Alejandra shares a must-have communication tool to transform your life and relationships.
 
One of the most impactful ways you can transform your life and relationships is to communicate consciously. If you’re not getting what you want to experience in your relationships, it is likely that you are not communicating in alignment with your relational values and are instead aligning with your unconscious habits or beliefs. In order to communicate in alignment with your values, you have to first define what they are. Alejandra shares a story about Kenyatta Leal, a man who was imprisoned and struggling with loneliness, unable to understand why his family didn’t want to pick up his phone calls anymore. Kenyatta meets a wise man in prison who tells him to write down his 10 relational values. When Kenyatta realizes that he is not living or communicating from a place of alignment with those values and that much of his pain is self-inflicted, it changes his entire life.
 
Alejandra recommends writing down your 10 most important relational values and getting familiar with them. Once you know your values, you can make conscious changes in your communication. By communicating consciously you will be able to have more fulfilling and meaningful relationships with yourself and others. 
 
Quotes
• “If what you would like is to be able to communicate effectively or skillfully, then you need to know that effective skillful communication is not about saying the right thing, or avoiding saying the wrong thing. Communicating skillfully is about communicating consciously.” (1:33-1:54 | Alejandra)
• “Values are your North Star. They are your compass to help you make decisions to help you live your life.” (3:47-3:56 | Alejandra)
• “When my communication students and coaching clients align their communication with their own relational values, everything changes for them.” (5:09-5:18 | Alejandra)
• “If you're not having the meaningful, nourishing, kind and healthy relationships you deserve, it is because you are not communicating in alignment with your relational values.” (11:24-11:37 | Alejandra)
• “When we're not experiencing what we want in life, it's because we're communicating in alignment with our habits and beliefs, most of which are unconscious.” (12:33-12:43 | Alejandra) 
• “Our values are not habitual. We are very conscious and aware of our values.” (12:49-12:55 | Alejandra)
Links
To join the mailing list, visit: https://www.languagealchemy.com
To ask questions you'd like Alejandra to answer in the podcast, visit: https://www.languagealchemy.com/podcastquestion
To sign up for the Choosing True Connection 8-week Online Group Coaching Program waiting list, visit: https://www.languagealchemy.com/enroll
To schedule a reduced-rate coaching consultation with Alejandra, visit: https://www.languagealchemy.com
To follow Alejandra on instagram follow @languagealchemy
To view The Last Mile's website, visit: https://thelastmile.org
Podcast Music composed by Gary Lapow: open.spotify.com/artist/1HlMhcNfKIELxYil5mVqDI
Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

89. 7 Communication Tools You Need to Use When You Talk to Women

“If you want to change this old, outdated, and inaccurate paradigm that women are inferior and men are superior, and you want to change this societal habit, then you need to take responsibility,” explains host Alejandra, transformative communication teacher and coach. Today, Alejandra shares seven transformative tools you can use to communicate in a way that is in alignment with your value of respect for women.
 
In order to honor women and reinforce the ideals of equality and equity, it is important to really look at the way you communicate with women. We have all been conditioned to communicate in ways that devalue women, and changing that requires a conscious effort. You can more effectively communicate with women in a way that is more respectful by taking notice of their body language and facial expressions, truly listening and not interrupting with unsolicited advice or opinions, and speaking up when a man takes credit for a woman’s ideas. 
 
If you are in a situation where men are speaking over women, or women are too shy to speak their minds, or someone is belittling a woman for being in touch with her feelings, take responsibility and say something. Many times, this behavior is so ingrained that people communicate in disrespectful ways unconsciously. By speaking up and drawing attention to it, you can empower women so that their voices can be heard.
 
Quotes
• “We've all been conditioned to communicate with women in ways that tend to hurt women or to give women the message that we are less than men or that we're not enough.” (4:11-4:22 | Alejandra) 
• “Notice women's body language and facial expressions as others are speaking.” (5:07-5:11 | Alejandra)
• “If you want to change this old, outdated, and inaccurate paradigm that women are inferior and men are superior, and you want to change this societal habit, then you need to take responsibility.” (9:17-9:33 | Alejandra)
• “Life will be much richer for you, when you learn to have access to your feelings and communicate them out loud.” (13:19-13:26 | Alejandra)
• “When you interrupt a woman to give her unsolicited advice, you are playing the role of protector. A woman telling you something stressful doesn't mean you need to perpetuate the patriarchal archetype of the damsel in distress.” (18:20-18:35 | Alejandra)
 
Links
To join the mailing list, visit: https://www.languagealchemy.com 
To ask questions you'd like Alejandra to answer in the podcast, visit: https://www.languagealchemy.com/podcastquestion
To sign up for the Choosing True Connection 8-week Online Course waiting list, visit: https://www.languagealchemy.com/enroll
To schedule a reduced-rate coaching consultation with Alejandra, visit: https://www.languagealchemy.com 
To follow Alejandra on instagram follow @languagealchemy 
Podcast Music composed by Gary Lapow: open.spotify.com/artist/1HlMhcNfKIELxYil5mVqDI
Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

88. Why We Talk About Women & Men the Way We Do

“When we human beings started using metal, not for technological purposes only like before, but to create weapons that were used by the males of those civilizations, that's when men had to become stronger and more ‘manly’ or ‘aggressive’ to survive. And that's when language changed to praise men for displaying aggressive and dominant behavior,” explains host Alejandra, transformative communication teacher and coach. Today, Alejandra shares why we use different language when speaking about women than when speaking about men through the lens of Riane Eisler’s book, The Chalice and The Blade: Our History, Our Future.
Riane’s book calls out the fact that the history of culture and civilization as we know it has been told by men. In it are accounts of history from the often untold feminine perspective. For example, ancient civilizations before the time of the Greeks were not by nature patriarchal and violent as you may have been taught in school. Mostly these cultures were about males and females creating thriving partnerships and peaceful societies. It all changed when humans began working with metal to create weapons. This change transformed language, started the trend of praising men for being aggressive, and ultimately transformed the relationship between men and women.
To this day, we see the impact language has made on the dynamics between men and women. It may be easy to think civilizations have always been patriarchal, but history shows that this is not the case. Ancient civilizations were quite egalitarian, and their societies were peaceful. It was not until the advent of metal weaponry that language began to favor a patriarchal paradigm.
 
Quotes
• “We tend to interpret our reality, our environment, our world based on our various layers of culture and the paradigms that influence us.” (7:12-7:22 | Alejandra)
• “When women and multidisciplinary teams looked at the same relics, they concluded that these ancient civilizations were about collaboration and creating thriving partnerships in which males and females cooperated in peaceful and egalitarian societies.” (7:45-8:04 | Alejandra)
• “When we human beings started using metal, not for technological purposes only like before, but to create weapons that were used by the males of those civilizations, that's when men had to become stronger and more ‘manly’ or ‘aggressive’ to survive. And that's when language changed to praise men for displaying aggressive and dominant behavior.” (10:36-11:04 | Alejandra)
• “This language changed the relationship between men and women. It changed the structure of human relations into rigid and force based rankings, and of course, we still see the impact today.” (11:39-11:55 | Alejandra)
• “We will not be able to evolve consciously and purposely if we're still speaking a language of war and domination.” (13:37-13:44 | Alejandra) 
• “When we transform our language, we transform our communication. And when we transform our communication, we transform our relationships. And when we transform our relationships, we transform our world.” (14:14-14:27 | Alejandra) 
 
Links
Riane Eisler's website: https://rianeeisler.com/
Center for Partnership Systems: https://centerforpartnership.org/
To join the mailing list, visit: https://www.languagealchemy.com
To ask questions you'd like Alejandra to answer in the podcast, visit: https://www.languagealchemy.com/podcastquestion
To schedule a reduced-rate coaching consultation with Alejandra, visit: https://www.languagealchemy.com
To follow Alejandra on instagram follow @languagealchemy
Podcast Music composed by Gary Lapow: open.spotify.com/artist/1HlMhcNfKIELxYil5mVqDI
Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

87. Should I Drop the B-word? And More

“If these terms are used over time, they serve to justify negative and harmful behaviors towards the group labeled with that devaluing term,” explains host Alejandra, transformative communication teacher and coach. Today, Alejandra answers listener questions on communication including why to drop the B-word and why some women downplay their accomplishments when they talk about themselves. 
 
Alejandra explains that the B-word cannot be reclaimed the way some other devaluing terms have been.
 
Even just one word can have the power to bring connection and love or divisiveness and hatred. Devaluing terms like the B-word have been used to negatively describe women since the 15th century. You might be tempted to use the B-word in casual conversation as an attempt to reclaim it. However, this word is not really for women to reclaim because they never used it to refer to themselves in the first place. Instead, all using the B-word does is perpetuate negative connotations and sexist ideas. 
 
Many historically marginalized groups have had words weaponized against them. For women, the B-word has always been used negatively by others. It isn’t a fun term that empowers women because it only serves to further the stereotype that women need to be submissive, simple, and agreeable. If you use the B-word in your communication, consider who that is serving and really think about if it reflects your values and beliefs.
 
Alejandra helps a listener reflect on why she feels uncomfortable talking about her positive qualities and achievements when she talks about herself. She explains that culture and language go hand in hand, and that if you’ve been raised in a culture that considers men more important than women, it will be hard for a lot of women to talk about their accomplishments without feeling that they shouldn’t.
 
Quotes
• “One word can be so powerful. One word can bring connection, love, divisiveness, hatred. The possibilities are infinite.” (2:41-2:51 | Alejandra)
• “Devaluing terms usually describe a particular group of human beings as subhuman or as non-human animals.” (4:40-4:49 | Alejandra)
• “If these terms are used over time, they serve to justify negative and harmful behaviors towards the group labeled with that devaluing term.” (5:59-6:10 | Alejandra)
• “Language and culture go hand in hand. Culture continuously shapes language, and vice versa.” (13:28-13:35 | Alejandra)
 
Links
To join the mailing list, visit: https://www.languagealchemy.com
To ask questions you'd like Alejandra to answer in the podcast, visit: https://www.languagealchemy.com/podcastquestion
To schedule a coaching consultation with Alejandra, visit: https://www.languagealchemy.com
To follow Alejandra on instagram follow @languagealchemy
Podcast Music composed by Gary Lapow:
open.spotify.com/artist/1HlMhcNfKIELxYil5mVqDI
Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

86. She Felt Like an Outsider, Now People Trust Her

“People see me as a person that they can trust since I am learning how to voice the things that may be hard to swallow, may be hard to hear, may be hard to hold. Yet, I am working on delivering these messages from my heart in a way that I am holding compassion and truly sitting with a person in front of me and listening to them,” explains Jenny Sapito Montalvo. Jenny is a Mesoamerican artist, intuitive guide, and visual designer. Today, she shares the transformations she has experienced in her life since starting coaching with Alejandra and harnessing the power of language.
 
Jenny grew up feeling like an outsider. She was born in the United States, but she spent several years in El Salvador. She experienced a lot of bullying in school due to being different from the other kids, being shy, and having a hard time communicating her emotions. Jenny was afraid to express herself because she thought people would misunderstand her or think she was a weirdo. Since going through coaching, she has become able to better voice her own opinions and open up more with others, so much so that she is now viewed as a trusted confidant rather than as an outside observer.
 
When Jenny learned to communicate more effectively, she was able to heal her relationships with her family and friends, stop being so fearful of conflict, and feel more comfortable in her own skin. It can be challenging to speak up and allow yourself to be heard, especially if you have been made to feel small in the past. However, if you’re willing to put in the work and commit to shifting your relationship with language, you can start to leave those old anxieties behind and improve your interpersonal relationships. 
 
Quotes
• “Right now how I identify is a human being with very cosmic connections, deeply rooted and committed to being here on the Earth.” (5:29-5:45 | Jenny)
• “I had a few friends and I found it challenging to navigate that too because I feel a bit of an outsider and feel that being quiet allowed me to be an observer.” (14:46-14:59 | Jenny)
• “There is always an opportunity to grow and to move through our anxieties and our beliefs of not feeling good enough to be heard.” (18:15-18:25 | Jenny) 
• “I'm able to communicate more of the things that I felt ashamed to admit to others because I'm operating in a different way. I'm very intuitive. I feel things. I feel energy. I get messages. And I felt shame for this. I felt that this is going to be misunderstood. People are going to see me as a weirdo. People are gonna think whatever, and that's valid. I mean, my ancestors and our ancestors did go through spaces where they felt they couldn't communicate things that might have seemed strange to others, even though they were very valid. And oftentimes these intuitive hits, this intuitive information can be lifesaving. So being able to communicate and connect to myself from this place of centeredness, feeling grounded, has allowed me to bring in a voice that was probably missing from the conversation.” (19:10-20:14 | Jenny) 
• “People see me as a person that they can trust since I am learning how to voice the things that may be hard to swallow, may be hard to hear, may be hard to hold. Yet I am working on delivering these messages from my heart in a way that I am holding compassion and truly sitting with a person in front of me and listening to them.” (21:24-21:49 | Jenny)
 
Links
To see Jenny's website visit: http://www.shapeshiftservices.com
To follow Jenny's Instagram, follow @jetamoro
 
To join the mailing list, visit: https://www.languagealchemy.com
To ask questions you'd like Alejandra to answer in the podcast, visit: https://www.languagealchemy.com/podcastquestion
To schedule a reduced-rate coaching consultation with Alejandra, visit: https://www.languagealchemy.com
To follow Alejandra on Instagram follow @languagealchemy
Podcast Music composed by Gary Lapow: open.spotify.com/artist/1HlMhcNfKIELxYil5mVqDI
Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm