Operation Optimism

THINGS ARE ABOUT TO GET REALLY UNCOMFORTABLE

Katrina Chavez — Wed, 30 Nov 2022 15:00:53 -0500

ONE thing, every day for 22 days. WHY? Because I want to become a better person with confidence and consistency. The journey of self-development is not easy, but worth it. I’m testing out the habits of successful and happy people to see whether they are effective for me!

I’m here to help millennials feel more intentional and authentic on and off of social media. Tech tips, social media content creation strategy, and mindset as entrepreneurs are the focuses of this new chapter of the channel! I’d love to connect on social media!
www.instagram.com/YourFriendKatrina
www.tiktok.com/@thebrightsideofsocial

A Change of Plans

Katrina Chavez — Wed, 02 Nov 2022 11:52:14 -0400

HEY, friend!
It’s been a while, but I’m so glad to be back at it.
Podcasting has always been fun, and I feel like I’m not done yet.
I’ve spent most of the year invested in the offerings I’m currently providing, whether it’s the mindset membership or one-on-one coaching for podcasting or social media, and my bandwidth had been met.
Let’s get intentional with living a life of optimism without sugarcoating our actual experiences or needs.
I’d love to hear what you want to hear more of by sending me a DM on Instagram @YourFriendKatrina!

People Pleasing and My Mental Health | Operation Optimism

Katrina Chavez — Fri, 25 Feb 2022 20:10:25 -0500

This is a super vulnerable episode for me, but there were some things that really needed to come into the light and be talked about.

I touch on things such as cutting toxic energy from my life, my body image journey, my history of people pleasing, energetic boundaries I’ve set up for myself, social media and how our children are affected by it all.

For Those That Don’t Have Time For Self Care w/ Jen Miller | Operation Optimism Podcast

Katrina Chavez — Fri, 18 Feb 2022 14:34:09 -0500

Today, I welcome one of the precious people in my personal orbit to the podcast. So many of the women I surround myself with are creating powerful things to help others, so Jen Miller and I dive into self care and why it’s not what you think and how to get started in nurturing your whole self.

TAKEAWAYS
1. You can be grateful for the now while also following the pull to do more in life.
2. You have choices and can take control of your life as you learn to accept that it IS in fact possible for you!
3. Previous generations most likely have not demonstrated healthy/intentional self care practices for us. We can make the effort to change the story and be the positive or realistic role model for self care. Our children are always absorbing and watching how we do things. Let’s be the change for them and show them what’s the new norm.
4. There are so many ways to care for yourself outside of giving yourself a manicure or getting a massage. With Jen’s help, you can uncover things to do for yourself that fit your schedule, budget and energy level.
5. You can read all the books, take all the courses, listen to all the podcasts but until you decide to actually start taking action for yourself, you won’t see a change in your life.
6.You can’t wait for motivation to do all the things. You have to find ways to make self care happen, even when you don’t want to do it.

You can sign up for the Free workshop, Not Your Mamma’s Self Care, happening March 3rd! by clicking below:
https://thrivebyaction.ck.page/notyourmamasselfcare

Find Jen on Instagram
Follow Katrina on Instagram

THE MINDSET TRICK TO GETTING STARTED AS AN ENTREPRENEUR

Katrina Chavez — Fri, 11 Feb 2022 13:43:42 -0500

I’m BACK with my first episode of 2022!
Where have I been the past few months?
If you don’t follow me on social media and/or are not in my memberships, then you may be out of the loop with it all.

You should pause now and go follow me on Instagram (where I’m most active)
https://www.instagram.com/yourfriendkatrina

Business has been so fulfilling for me as of late and It truly feels like everything is expanding and it’s beautiful!
I’ve been guiding my ladies to feel more intentional and optimistic around their day to day lives and within their businesses inside The Bright Side membership.
Aside from that, I’ve been behind the scenes working 1:1 with clients launching memberships, courses, podcasts and Virtual Assistant services between it all.

I have big visions for 2022 and I’m ready to step into that energy.
This podcast is one of the things that I’ve been thinking about what I want to share and how specific I want to get.

The truth is, I started as a lifestyle content creator. It takes time for me to shift that into businesswoman hat with all the content. Because at the end of the day, I truly do enjoy sharing my life and connecting through it all.

I plan to share stories of others who are leading intentional lives and the wisdom they have to offer.
I will continue to share my experiences in womanhood and in business.
I have a list of intentions for 2022 and definitely will be documenting the process of making them come true!

I reflected a lot on how life could look a lot different if I had stuck with my original idea at the start of my membership last year. A membership for introverted moms… the space I call The Bright Side would definitely look different than it does now had I stuck with that.

Moral of this episode is to JUST GET STARTED. Start before you’re ready. Your business will evolve just as you do.

There are people out there who need what you have to say and what you have to offer the world, so please just get started and keep moving. Know that your message, story, energy matters so much.

I am cheering you on, as always.
DM me on Instagram if you need a bit of help with the process.

Finding Joy Through Community

Katrina Chavez — Fri, 01 Oct 2021 22:33:53 -0400

I chat with Karen Peters from Camp HaHaHeaven about her journey to finding joy in togetherness! You can find Karen below: https://camphahaheaven.com/ https://www.instagram.com/camphahaheaven/ Do you feel like you’re struggling with your mindset in the mornings and just can’t seem to get your thoughts and perspective off on the right foot? Have no fear!  I’ve put together 100 of my favorite affirmations for you to reflect and speak into truth. BUT ALSO, I’ve recorded all 100 on a single empowering 15 minute vocal track for you to listen to in the morning and feel like you can truly do anything in your day or handle anything that is thrown to you. You can go to www.katrinachavez.com/extras and grab your bundle for just $14.00 today! This vocal track was previously exclusively for my members in the membership, but I feel a pull to offer it to you for a low price as well because we all are worthy of starting our day with a positive mindset! TAKEAWAYS -You often create the thing or space you need and by doing that, you truly open up so many possibilities. -Whether you don’t want to leave the house or you CAN’T, there are still communities available that are there to support you and empower you. -Technology can feel like a curse, but the more you stretch yourself and get curious of how to do things USING the internet, it can turn into something that is fun and no longer daunting. -It may feel like you don’t have a choice in things, but you really do have a lot of power in how you react to things in your life.   -LOVE doesn’t do you any good if you hold onto it. Share it with the world! -Listen to your heart and take it as a clue as to what you have to explore in your life. I’d love to connect on Instagram! www.instagram.com/YourFriendKatrina

Simple Shifts To Change Your Mindset | Coaching Week Recap

Katrina Chavez — Sun, 19 Sep 2021 22:17:43 -0400

What an incredible coaching week it was!
Even if you couldn’t attend, I wanted to give you the best parts of the week in summary!
Of course, being there LIVE for the week was next level, but I wanted to share this with you (while protecting the attendees privacy).

The doors to The Bright Side Mindset Membership CLOSE Wednesday, Sept. 22nd at 11:59PM Central
CLICK HERE TO JOIN US

I’d love to connect with you on Instagram, DM me your favorite takeaway from today’s episode by following me below:
https://www.instagram.com/yourfriendkatrina

Allowing Yourself to Be Finally Effing Happy While Managing a Chronic Condition

Katrina Chavez — Fri, 10 Sep 2021 13:54:17 -0400

TODAY, I welcome my friend Shannon to speak about her journey to creating happiness for both herself and for others and not letting a chronic condition take away her power and strength! Here are a few takeaways: 1. You can be coached to happiness, despite your diagnosis! 2. When you’re faced with a chronic illness, the community can be very heavy and depressing. THIS community that Shannon has created is the one that fills the gap in between having a chronic condition and unearthing your strength and audacity to feel happy. 3. “What am I putting out into the universe, regardless of what is going on with my body?” You are powerful BEYOND the strength of your physical body! 4. As woman, we are trained to think “it must be somehow my fault”. But sometimes there is something deeper that needs to be addressed before the little tweaks with mindset, exercise, self talk can start making a big difference. 5. You can be loving and kind to yourself, but having a community that calls you out on your own BS is crucial. 5. You can have all of the feelings but still be living a happiness lifestyle. 6. Invite your inner critic to the table and listen with a comforting tone that everything is going to be okay and you are making decisions to keep you safe. 7. Going through the process can be dark, but there is always brightness and hope when you have a guide who is by your side through it all. 8. You were never meant to do this alone, even though you may have felt isolated in your womanhood or with a chronic condition. To register for Katrina’s Mindset Coaching week, do so below: https://www.subscribepage.com/twodegrees Follow Katrina on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/yourfriendkatrina You can find more about Shannon’s Finally Effing Happy community below. Shannon’s Instagram https://www.instagram.com/finallyeffinghappy Finally Effing Happy Podcast https://finallyeffinghappy.podbean.com/ Shannon’s website https://www.finallyeffinghappy.com/store

My Secret to “Getting it all done” in my life.

Katrina Chavez — Fri, 20 Aug 2021 12:32:36 -0400

Hello, friend!

I’m coming on here to share a bit of raw and real truth with you. It’s actually inspired by a comment my husband often makes. In the rare chance that there is some truth to what he’s implying, I just want to pull back the veil and get totally vulnerable with you.

Yesterday, as I was crushing it in computer behind-the-scenes work for my business, he was helping by sorting the laundry. First of all. I need to really bring to light that running a business or multiple businesses , especially if you’re in the beginning phases of establishing healthy and organic growth, 95% of the “business” is working in the weeds.

By that, I mean that I’m reverse engineering my next launch, I’m reaching out to guests for events, I’m reaching out to potential podcast guests, I’m writing emails, I’m creating content for my membership to keep them moving forward in their dreams, I’m listening to mentors, I’m prepping content for my free Facebook group or polls for my stories, I’m figuring out tech things that aren’t working as I want them to. AND SO MUCH MORE.

Only 5% is what you actually see. The stories, the posts, the lives, the products, the free texts, the promo posts.

There’s a lot that goes on that many outside of entrepreneurship can’t even comprehend.

So, taking all of this into consideration, my husband, the dear man he is, says “OH, I don’t know HOW you do it all. You keep up with everything, you’re superwoman.”

I nearly every time give him THE look. You know the one, the look of “Do you REALLY want to go there?”

But it made me think… “Gosh, I hope I’ve given credit where credit is due more often than not.”

The reality is….
My husband helps with a lot.
He helps with dishes, because my hands cramp up while I’m holding the dishes and I suffer from eczema, which shows up when I’m in hot water too long or too often.

He helps with laundry when I let it pile up (most of the time, it’s CLEAN laundry that is piled up). I’m good about washing the laundry. Sometimes I’m good about switching it over, but I’m awful about sorting and putting it away. And we have pretty minimal wardrobes, so it could definitely be more daunting.

The cold hard truth is that there will be seasons of life when one thing takes precedent over other things. Right now, it’s my business.
I still make time to connect with my children, I give them my attention when they pop into a Zoom call with colleagues, and I make a point of taking them outside at least ever other day.

I know that there will be a day soon that I have found a nice coasting energy, where everything is well established and growing without a lot of effort from my end. There will be a day when I don’t stress about my husband working in a factory anymore because I’ll be replacing and surpassing his income with my businesses.

If you’ve been round a while, you know I speak about the clutter in my small space of a home. It’s no secret. It’s something I’m continually working on and encouraging the rest of then family to do so as well. I low key wish we could just donate everything and live out of a traveling RV. LOL.

I want you to know that your dreams are STILL important, even if other things fall a bit behind while you get things established.

While you are crushing your goals and have tunnel vision of your dreams, take at least a day each week where you don’t work . This can be used to catch up on housework, go out as a family, etc.

Balance isn’t about having everything equal.
It’s about giving your energy to what is important to you in that moment.

I want you to give yourself grace as you navigate your daily challenges and don’t compare yourself to other’s on the internet.

Let them INSPIRE YOU. Look at them and say “wow, I want some of that!”, quoting the amazing Sheri Salata there. “I want some of what she’s got”. It’s a healthy spin on the jealousy feelings. Look for possibilities in how to make your dreams happen.

I truly believe that the right mentors, messages and clues are put in front of us in divine timing. DOn’t ignore them. Lean in and listen. Ideate. Write things down.

Your life may not be perfect right now, but there is so much good in the world (even now) and that is what we use as fuel to keep going.

I hope that this episode resonated with you and I’d love to hear how you liked this podcast!

If you could take a moment and rate the podcast (scroll on your phone or desktop) and write me a review, I’d be so happy!

It helps this podcast rank and like I said before, gets the messages in front of the perfectly aligned women who need to hear what I’ve got to say.

Thank you so much for listening.
Also, if you’re NOT part of my free Facebook group, we have a really fun giveaway coming up and you won’t want to miss this chance to win!
Find the group HERE:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/380588903027403/

Follow me on Instagram so we can connect and look at the bright side of life together!
https://www.instagram.com/yourfriendkatrina

When Your Doodles Save Your Soul | Interview with Professional Doodler Amanda

Katrina Chavez — Fri, 30 Jul 2021 15:35:12 -0400

Welcome my friend Amanda, a self proclaimed Professional Doodler and Sticker artist to the podcast today.

Amanda and I met earlier this year and it’s so funny because while we were in the same Zoom circles, we weren’t connecting one on one. When we finally got to do a one on one call, Amanda said to me “You look so familiar. Do I know you from somewhere? I feel like I already know you.”

In this conversation, I hope you feel like you’re listening to your people and that this episode resonates with you.

I knew bits of Amanda’s story, but she really peeled back the layers in our conversation and I want to just thank YOU, AMANDA, for showing up and just really opening up without resistance. You are truly a gem and I’m so glad you joined me here.

For the friends listening, did you know that I air most of my interviews on YouTube as well? You can scroll down to the show notes below this episode on your screen and see the YouTube link if you prefer to watch instead!
https://youtu.be/N8B0my7mAhg

Promo
I hope you are LOVING today’s episode as much as Amanda and I did! If you ARE, I’d be so grateful if you could write me a review for the podcast. Reviews are so special because it helps me rank in the podcast land and reach more women who need more inspiration in their life.
If you’ve already written a review, take a screenshot of your phone, share it to your Instagram Stories and TAG me @YourFriendKatrina so I can see it and personally thank you in the DMs.
www.instagram.com/yourfriendkatrina

I want to take a moment and tell you about a workshop I’m hosting on AUGUST 18th at 12PM eastern.

Many women get overwhelmed with their thoughts/dreams/goals and end up stopping or giving up on themselves before they’ve even started.

If you’re having trouble untangling all of your thoughts or are feeling in a funk or are simply needing the uplifting community that motivates you to keep moving forward….

Join me on August 18th on Zoom.

I’ve designed a step by step process that I use with my clients to help them feel more in alignment every week and I want to share it with YOU!

FIVE steps to alignment.
I want you to feel confidant moving forward and in control of your next steps.
The workshop is $18 and if you are interested in snagging a seat, head over to www.katrinachavez.com/workshop

I hope to see some of you there, it’s going to be so much fun because I always bring the positive energy and an open ear to listen to where you’re at or where you’re stuck!

Takeaways
1. We lead by example. We witness others leading and end up being down the same path. In the same way, others are looking to you and how you’re leading. By following your passion, others will see that it is possible for them as well!

2. Just because you’re good at something doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s a basket to put all your eggs into.

3. Sometimes life hands you lemons. Stay aware of the thoughts you’re having and the pain you’re feeling. If it is feeling too big to work through on your own, please seek help from a medical professional so you can get back to your joyful, vibrant self.

4. You are worthy of doing what you love and you deserve to show yourself that you love yourself enough to do what makes your soul shine.

5. You can change your scenery and the things that are happening in your life and still feel heavy. The pain follows you until you surrender and work through it with the help you truly need.

6. When you are in alignment with what your soul truly craves, it all falls into place so easily. Like all the pieces start clicking together before your eyes.

7. When you get all of your thoughts out on paper or vocally, you have the opportunity to analyze them and really think to yourself “Is this true?” Or can I pick new and more positive thoughts?

8. Life isn’t about being perfect, doing all the “expected” things that are coming at us from outside opinions. Sometimes, it’s more in alignment to be a rebel and make waves that go against the “norm”.

9. If you have something that has been pulling on your heart, just do it. Because You Only Die once. The time is going to pass anyway, why not use your finite time here doing something you love.

10. Be OKAY with just doing OKAY with some areas of your life. Let go of perfection and embrace the failures.

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A Pivot That Changed Everything! | Interview with Wisconsin Photographer Amanda Ketterhagen

Katrina Chavez — Fri, 16 Jul 2021 20:17:59 -0400

Hey friends! Today, I sit down for my first in-person interview with my friend Amanda Ketterhagen to chat about how she knew it was time for a huge life change, what her best investment was in her business, what her limiting belief is in her life AND setting boundaries! This conversation was such a joy and I hope you love it as much as I do. You can find Amanda on social media below: Instagram Pinterest Website Follow me on social Instagram The Bright Side of Life Facebook Group GRAB YOUR DECK HERE ->Kids Affirmation Deck Thank you so much for listening today! Your friend, Katrina

False Evidence Appearing Real

Katrina Chavez — Fri, 09 Jul 2021 16:03:43 -0400

Why we stay in our comfort zone. Who is comfy right now? It feels nice, right? Links mentioned in this episode: Work with me Membership Naturally I tend to be a limit pusher. A bit of a rebel. I don’t want to be comfy. I want to keep trying new things. I want to keep pushing myself to grow. Quoting Mel Robbins here, “Your mind loves what it knows. Anything that feels familiar, whether it’s good or bad for you, is what your mind wants more of because it can predict the outcome. Your mind is an efficiency machine designed to keep you safe which is why it loves patterns, routines, and habits. Predictability = no risk” If you like a predictable life without any risk, let me know in the chat! But even when we are in the familiar, we have limiting beliefs pop up. Beliefs that we acquired as an adult, beliefs that were engrained in us when we were young, beliefs that were formed from observing others, beliefs that aren’t even ours but we’ve adopted and concluded they are true. ——— Fear. FEAR really just stands for FALSE EVIDENCE APPEARING REAL Repeat that! What are some common limiting beliefs that you have pop up ? Are they around your ability to do something? Are they around money? Is there a pattern there? I want you to notice these thoughts when they pop up. I want you to look it in the face, acknowledge it, like “oh, you think that… I can’t make enough money to retire my husband from that factory job?” And I want you to sit there with it and really think. IS THIS TRUE? Or is this False Evidence Appearing Real? Who says it’s true? YOU DO. Do you want it to be true? Or are you determined to debunk it each and every day? ——— You have a bit of homework today I want you to write down THREE LIMITING BELIEFS and an affirmation to debunk them. GRAB A MANTRA DECK HERE! How to do this? Example: a limiting belief would be something like “ I could never create something that people would pay me for.” A mantra to debunk that would be – one that I actually personally use “As I do what I love, money flows to me freely.” Another example: limiting belief “Good things don’t happen to people like me” A mantra to debunk that would be “Happiness is my birth right. I choose to believe that I am creating the life of my dreams” ——— A little hack that I regularly implement is to truly believe that the universe, god, insert higher power here is ALWAYS working in your favor.

Creating Your Uncluttered Life | An Interview with April Mansfield

Katrina Chavez — Fri, 02 Jul 2021 16:50:41 -0400

Hey, friend! Today’s guest is my friend April Mansfield from Your Uncluttered Life. We dive into how she got started with this business, the sneaky ways clutter is stealing from you and what to do about it in order to create your uncluttered life. You can find her on Instagram below Your Uncluttered Life Join her free Facebook group below Finding Freedom From Clutter To claim one of the 3 spots open for optimism coaching at the exclusive offer price of $199 a month for three months, email me at hello@katrinachavez.com or DM me on Instagram Once you sign up with me, you’ll get weekly 45 minute one on one calls with me to help you learn to balance your mom role with building a life you crave by following your heart. We will work on mindset, habits, soul care and manifestation, creating an action plan for achieving your goals and you’ll also have 24/7 access to me via voxer or text message.

Why Living In A Small Town Could Be Stopping Your Dreams

Katrina Chavez — Fri, 25 Jun 2021 12:58:08 -0400

Hi, friend! Today we are diving in on a solo episode with how small town life could be stopping you from achieving your goals AND what to do to help fix it. Links mentioned in this episode: The Bright Side Membership Doors Close June 30th! Bonus Morning Mantra Uplift to start your day off right AND a happy mail package from me IF you sign up by 6/30! https://member.thebrightside.social Are you following me on Instagram for inspiration? https://www.instagram.com/yourfriendkatrina

The World Needs Your Personal Flair | An Interview With Britni Livingston

Katrina Chavez — Fri, 18 Jun 2021 13:17:04 -0400

Hey, friend! Today, my sweet friend Britni joins me in chatting about her journey to making beautiful handmade wooden toys for children and how she navigates running a business with two small children. She shares a bit of how she overcomes her limiting beliefs and beautiful advice for those who are intimidated to get started. You can find Britni below on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/livingstonlivingllc/ Shop her creations below: https://www.livingstonlivingllc.com/ DOORS are closing for The Bright Side Membership! Don’t delay on moving forward with your dreams, the membership won’t open again until the fall and it will be a higher price than it is now (currently $34.99). https://member.thebrightside.social Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yourfriendkatrina

Why Self Care Is Not Working

Katrina Chavez — Fri, 11 Jun 2021 13:30:46 -0400

HI, friends! The podcast is BACK, with a special first episode as a solo episode! Self care is widely talked about, but what happens when it’s not working? Today, I dive into how we need to start implementing care in a different way to truly create a ripple and move the needle forward in our dreams. Links mentioned in this episode: Forgiveness meditation: Cord cutting meditation: Join us for the next full moon session: https://buy.stripe.com/8wM5lVfr14pzc6Y6or Grab your journal here, with a bonus sticker: Empowering Journal and Sticker Bundle Mantra deck link coming soon! Stay in the loop by following me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yourfriendkatrina

One Year of the Pandemic | Supporting Our Children’s Mental Well Being

Katrina Chavez — Fri, 05 Mar 2021 01:16:55 -0500

Hi friends! I cannot fathom the fact that we are approaching one year of everything being shut down from COVID-19. There has been so much growth but still a lot of suffering that has happened. I speak with Julie Brown, co-founder of My Mental Health Rocks in the UK all about how we can support our children when they are struggling in uncertain times and creating a connection. You can find more information on My Mental Health Rocks by visiting their links below: https://www.facebook.com/mymentalhealthrocks https://www.mymentalhealthrocks.com/ https://www.instagram.com/mymentalhealthrocks/ To get the E-book that I referenced in the interview, I’ll link it below: https://app.sellwire.net/p/2hS If you enjoyed today’s episode, please take a screenshot and share it in you IG stories and tag me so I can do a little happy dance!

Toxic Positivity VS Optimism

Katrina Chavez — Fri, 26 Feb 2021 13:51:05 -0500

Hey, friend! I’ve been seeing the term “toxic positivity” floating around my feeds and initially, I felt a pang in my gut because I’m ALL about positivity. However, in doing further research, I find a few key differences between toxic positivity and optimism. I dive in on this episode to help you know the difference and to feel more hopeful in feeling your feelings! Head over to Instagram to follow all the details of the new membership community coming in March 2021! www.instagram.com/yourfriendkatrina

Toxic Positivity VS. Optimism

Katrina Chavez — Fri, 26 Feb 2021 11:56:35 -0500

Community, Mental Health and Embracing Your Spiritual Journey as a Woman

Katrina Chavez — Thu, 18 Feb 2021 23:50:15 -0500

Today, my lovely friend Jacqueline joins me in talking about nurturing your mental health after a hard chapter, diving deep into your spiritual journey and how community could change the world. If you’d like to follow Jacqueline on her platforms, click below! www.instagram.com/officialjaysnest https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTyxgPYRnk9pRw-z3Ug3E3w To keep tabs on my upcoming membership community, The Bright Side, make sure you’re following me on my Instagram! www.instagram.com/yourfriendkatrina Thanks for listening, friend! Your friend, Katrina

How to avoid Mom Burnout & tips to stay sane while home with the kids!

Katrina Chavez — Fri, 12 Feb 2021 11:26:28 -0500

Hi friend! Episode 10 for the Operation Optimism podcast is with Missy Yandow from Slumber and Bloom! She’s a potty training and pediatric sleep expert who is here with a fantastic conversation about how to avoid mom burnout AND tips for stay at home moms and work from home moms! You can find her content on Instagram and YouTube! www.instagram.com/slumberandbloom www.youtube.com/slumberandbloom If you’d like to stay up to speed on my content, come over and soak up my Instagram feed and get a dose of optimism! www.instagram.com/yourfriendkatrina

Episode 09- Promoting Body Positivity With Your Children

Katrina Chavez — Fri, 05 Feb 2021 10:06:56 -0500

Today, we have a beautiful interview with the one and only Shaylee Meurer! We chat about body positivity, raising children with positive body talk and women empowerment! To follow Shaylee and her movement, head over to her Instagram! https://www.instagram.com/shayleemeurer If you loved this episode, send me a DM on Instagram and let me know what you loved about it! https://www.instagram.com/yourfriendkatrina

Overcoming and thriving after life throws you a wrench

Katrina Chavez — Fri, 22 Jan 2021 09:22:44 -0500

Hey everyone! Today, I interview a friend and fellow Wisconsin mom Allie Zusan! She had a super challenging year in 2020 (even before COVID-19 hit!). She and I dive into what transpired, how she overcame the anxiety and triggers and ended up quitting her career and starting a business (TOTALLY not part of the plan!) Life is hard for everyone, but it’s where you go from there that matters. It’s okay to shift gears and try something new. It may even lead to a new passion! You can check out Allie’s company and their adorable (bonus: SUPER cozy) clothing at the link below! www.quotesandcotton.com www.instagram.com/quoteandcotton To get a dose of optimism and uplifting content on the daily, be sure to follow me on Instagram where I’m SUPER active and really focus on helping you have your best day! www.instagram.com/yourfriendkatrina To see the VIDEO of this interview and to soak up our energy, there is a YouTube upload as an alternate option.

Identity loss as a mom [episode 07]

Katrina Chavez — Sun, 13 Dec 2020 14:00:05 -0500

Episode 07 is all about listening to the little whisper in your soul and being proud in following that! Judgement and criticism are inevitable, but this episode will pump you up to get those twenty seconds of courage to DO IT! Links from this episode: Ditch the Mom Guilt and Thrive in 2021 Webinar Saturday, December 19th at 3PM CST Register here https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_cCgWE7PqRhmCb775YrGJAQ Join the Facebook community here https://www.facebook.com/groups/operationoptimismwithyourfriendkatrina

Flip the Script on Motherhood – Changing your mindset!

Katrina Chavez — Fri, 13 Nov 2020 17:06:44 -0500

Hi everyone, welcome to the operation optimism podcast. I’m your host, Katrina Chavez. I am a work-from-home Mom. I’m a recovering emotional spender. I’m a book Enthusiast. I’m on a mission to declutter and overall, I’m a glass-half-full kind of gal or at least most days.Life as a woman in today’s society can feel very isolating, especially as a mom and it can be hard to find someone who gets it without judging you or like talking behind your back, you know, you ALL know those people! I’m here to hopefully help you feel like you’re chatting with a friend who embraces you for who you truly are not who society expects you to be. I’m so glad you’re here. Let’s jump into today’s episode. Hi everyone, welcome back to operation optimism podcast. I am so happy you’re here. I feel like it’s been ages.What a decade October was… am I right, anybody else?So I’m here today because I saw this meme floating around and if you saw this post about it on Instagram, I mean, you kind of know where I’m coming from. But today I’m just going to break it all down – and with a little bit of feedback from a very loyal viewer, this is going to be longer than my normal podcast have been. I’m shooting for like 20 to 30 minutes and with a longer podcast comes more prep. And the first time I’ve actually sat down and wrote notes on everything. I want to say- so bear with me if you hear pages flapping… that was me. Okay jumping right in… so this meme, or like graphic, I guess you could say and, I’m not knocking the person that made it or posted it. If you shared this before like I have no judgment, but I feel like it’s very hard to see the positive and things like this and you just kind of self-sabotage and nit pick yourself like especially as a new mom or seasoned mom for that matter, but I really wanted to get into how we can rewire your thinking to do a little switch in your mind. So the picture the graphic says “the invisible load of motherhood: stay at home Mom Edition” and there’s 12 things here that I guess you could call pain points or things that we “struggle with” as moms. I just want to help you out. So the first one is isolation. It’s interesting how we can feel lonely and is if we are the only ones feeling this way but millions are in the same boat as we are. You’re definitely not alone. Your struggle might be unique, but the feelings are ones that so many others are having right now. There might be like this little Invisible String connecting you to so many others and it may help you to remind yourself of this. That this too shall pass what you can do to find a flip to this feeling is if you have friends Marco Polo or video chat, reach out about what’s going on because I guarantee that she will be there for you to lean on and lift you back up. I feel like we all rise together, we can’t do it alone. And if you don’t have any friends… become your own best friend! I say this because as uncomfortable as it might be to be alone, the way that you treat yourself and how you show up for yourself matters. So be kind to yourself and lift yourself up. Number two is feeling undervalued. First of all, you’re not a housekeeper. You aren’t the lunch lady. You aren’t the personal assistant to an entitled to your old demanding her 10 snack of the day. You are a wavemaker who is constantly evolving as a human. What you’re doing matters. It is the most impactful job that feels very mundane until you shift your mindset. And note that if you are feeling under appreciated, it may be a huge help to bring this up to your spouse. I believe that housework should be a two-person job or more. I mean if you have children who are fully capable...

Start Your Morning With Intention

Katrina Chavez — Tue, 20 Oct 2020 21:10:48 -0400

Hi everyone, welcome to the operation optimism podcast. I’m your host, Katrina Chavez. I am a work-from-home Mom. I’m a recovering emotional spender. I’m a book enthusiast. I’m on a mission to declutter and overall. I’m a glass-half-full kind of gal, or at least most days.Life as a woman in today’s society can feel very isolating especially as a Mom and it can be hard to find someone who gets it without judging you or talking behind your back, you know… you all know those people! I’m here to hopefully help you feel like you’re chatting with a friend who embraces you for who you truly are not who society expects you to be. I’m so glad you’re here let’s jump into today’s episode. 00:00:49 Hi everyone, welcome back to operation optimism podcast with your friend Katrina. I apologize because it might sound a little different today. I’m not at my computer with my normal microphone setup. I’m actually in the car driving and a thought came to my mind that I wanted to bring up with you. So I’m driving my promise that I’m hands-free and I’m safe. So let’s get on with it. Today, I wanted to talk about… How do you set the intention for the day every day?As you know, women tend to set the mood or the tone for the day and if we start our day off in a really foul mood, chances are it’s probably not going to be a very good day. 00:01:55 It’s like we’re putting into the universe that is already going to be awful and there’s nothing you can do about it, but coming from my experience… I have shared my bed, well, my husband and I have shared our bed for five years , five and a half years with at least one child and for a long time, it was two children and they are all very light sleepers for the most part. So it’s hard for me to wake up before them and be like a morning routine person because we’re just not really good at routines. We’re really not we’re really awful my family really awful with routine. So I mean if it’s great for you then I’m so happy for you. 00:02:44 But lately, now that my children are a little bit older… they’re 5 and 1/2 + 3 and 1/2. 00:02:53 I feel like I’m able to be a little bit more. I don’t know. I guess you could say I feel a little bit more ballsy in the morning. Does that make sense? I don’t know if it resonates with anybody but in the mornings, I have slowly started to make myself a priority which I know can sound very selfish as a mom. 00:03:30 But it’s really an investment for your kids like to be able to put yourself first even for just like 5 minutes of the day. 00:03:42 It can really make a huge difference in like a shift in the day. So. I want to share a few things that you can do if you end up getting out of the bed or getting out of your own bed before your children wake up or even if they are awake just making time for this because if we say ” I never have time” or “I’ll find the time to do it.” You’ll never find the time because there’s always something else that will be at a higher priority for you. As women we put ourselves last – which we need to stop doing! 00:04:19 So I wake up early, I mean probably once a week honestly, maybe twice a week if I’m really lucky but it’s becoming a little bit more regular… I wake up a little bit before I know my children will wake up and I sneak out of the bed and I’m sandwiched between my husband who is a horrible sleeper and my son who is a very clingy child and notices when I’m gone most often. 00:04:51 but I’m able to sneak out from them and even just the simple act of making a cup of coffee before everyone is awake and being able to sit down and drink your coff...

Is Retail Therapy Toxic?

Katrina Chavez — Thu, 08 Oct 2020 20:19:31 -0400

I’m all for treating yourself from time to time, but when it becomes a constant thing you do in order to “make you happier” then it’s time to take a step back. I talk about my history with retail therapy and how I became an emotional spender. When did it start? What drove me to spend? What was really going on? I also tackle the whole “Carrie Bradshaw” culture and why it’s so toxic for women to see and aspire to be. Did you know I created a Facebook group specifically for my podcast listeners?? https://www.facebook.com/groups/operationoptimismwithyourfriendkatrina

The Anxiety of Traveling During a Pandemic

Katrina Chavez — Sun, 04 Oct 2020 12:33:00 -0400

We recently decided to venture on a little getaway as a family of four during a pandemic. By four months of isolation, we were feeling big cabin fever and like we just needed a change of scenery. I chat about what happened once we got to the resort that shook me as well as how it all turned out! Follow me on instagramhttp://www.instagram.com/yourfriendkatrina

My Goals For The Last 90 Days of 2020

Katrina Chavez — Sun, 04 Oct 2020 02:00:00 -0400

This year has FLOWN by and most of us haven’t seen any progress with our goals we set at the start of the year. But why not make the last 90 days a sweet ending to this chaotic chapter?! I list a few of my personal goals for the last 90 days ranging from HEALTH, WEALTH, MARRIAGE and MORE! Follow me on Instagram – http://www.instagram.com/yourfriendkatrina

Mental Health During A Pandemic and What I’m Doing To Help

Katrina Chavez — Sat, 03 Oct 2020 23:53:00 -0400

It’s no secret that 2020 has been a really HEAVY year and, if I’m being completely honest as I always strive to be, I’m still processing and may be for quite some time. I’ve found myself in a position of new paths and am not feeling 100% confident ment...