The Dragonfly Connection

Amber Cook

The dragonfly carries the wisdom of mental maturity, change, transformation, adaptability, self-realization, and the deeper meaning of life. These are the gifts that Amber and her guests offer listeners of The Dragonfly Connection podcast. 2020 set off a chain of events that has changed us forever and for many of us - forced us to face our unhealed mental and spiritual wounds. During this time of change and surrendering join Amber (The Dragonfly Momma) and her guests every week for open - honest - real (and healing) conversations to help you on your healing journey. New episodes out every week. Follow Amber on Instagram @the_dragonfly_momma read less
EducationEducation

Episodes

Embracing Our Sensitivities
Aug 31 2022
Embracing Our Sensitivities
Do you seem more sensitive than most people or have been accused of being too sensitive most of your life? Or maybe you just want to know how to communicate more effectively with the highly sensitive people in your life? Then this episode is for you! In it, Amber and Tammy chat about the traits of highly sensitive people or HSP's, our challenges and our super powers, and she gives a ton of great advice on how we can thrive in this world that seems like it's not meant for us.  Tammy Goen is a self love and happiness coach for us Highly Sensitive People. As an HSP she knows firsthand what it’s like to feel misunderstood, unaccepted, overwhelmed and needing to be fixed. She’s felt the shame and struggled in relationships and felt totally incapable of dealing with the atrocities of life. And in spite of it all she has learned how to thrive… how to love herself and embrace (and enjoy) her sensitivities and all that life has to offer. Using her degree in Counseling Psychology, her certifications in EFT/Tapping, HeartMath meditations, other meditation and mindfulness practices and energy healing techniques she helps others do the same.  Tammy has a ton of great offers and even free resources available on her website. coachtammygoen.com She even has a Guide for Highly Sensitives to communicate with non-HSPs! Get the guide here. And, as with most of my podcast guests, Tammy is available to connect with personally in Ambers Facebook group "The Dragonfly Connection". Hop on in, and tag her in a question or comment. If you're not already a part of it. It's free!
Episode #100
Jul 20 2022
Episode #100
This is Ambers 100th podcast episode and the topic was formed from a PTSD flashback she had the night before recording.  Amber uses PTSD and CPTSD interchangeably, but there is a difference. The main difference between the two is PTSD usually occurs after a single traumatic event, while CPTSD is associated with repeated trauma. Amber has CPTSD.  In this episode Amber shares her experience with PTSD and the lessons learned from this latest flashback - her first one in almost a year.  One of her biggest lessons this time was how PTSD has affected her relationship with food and her struggles with maintaining a healthy weight. Amber talks a little bit about EMDR experience in which she calls a miracle treatment for trauma. If you're unfamiliar with what EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is, it's a psychotherapy treatment that enables you to heal from the symptoms and emotional distress that come with trauma. Here's an EMDR website that describes it. www.emdr.com/what-is-emdr Here's the link to the NIH study and article she mentioned: The Weight of Traumatic Stress: A Prospective Study of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms and Weight Status in Women. If you'd like to do your own research, just Google "weight gain and PTSD", or "weight gain and trauma". There are a ton of studies and theories. Most come down to healing the pain that the trauma (or traumas) created and stored in your mind and body. It can't be buried, ignored, or swept under the rug. That pain will surface in all kinds of ways and will create things in your mind and your body that will hold you back in life. It may not hold you back completely, but it will prevent you from living a fully experienced life.  Excess weight and the (seemingly) impossibility of losing it may not be how unhealed trauma shows up for you, instead it may be one of the following.... Anxiety or panic attacks that occur in what would be considered normal situationsA feeling of shame; an innate feeling that you are bad, worthless, or without importanceSuffering from chronic or ongoing depressionPracticing avoidance of people, places, or things that may be related to the traumatic event; this also can include an avoidance of unpleasant emotionsFlashbacks, nightmares, and body memories regarding the traumatic eventAddiction and eating disorders in an attempt to escape or numb negative emotionsSleeping issues, including trouble going to sleep or staying asleepSuffering from feelings of detachment, or feeling "dead inside" Dissociation to disconnect in situations and conversationsHypervigilance - a constant feeling of being on guard Suicidal thoughts or actionsUncontrollable angerSelf-harm, cutting, and mutilationNot being able to tolerate conflicts Unexplained or irrational fears of people, places, or thingsAmber has personally experienced 14 of these at different times in her life and along her healing journey. And, now today, due to her deep healing work, out of that 14, she only still experience 5 of them on occasion. If she can do it, so can you! So now it's your turn for some self reflection. Get yourself a piece of paper or your journal, write down the following questions, and answer them. If you're working with a professional healer, coach, or therapist, you're highly encouraged to share the answers with them.  Do you recognize any of the symptoms or experiences in that list of 15 above in yourself? Where are you stuck in life - what area(s)? Health, Career, Relationships, or general Fulfillment? Be specific! What kind of support do you need? From what or who? What does that look like? Have you found tools that help you? If so, what are they and why aren't you using them? If you are using them, why aren't they working? How do you celebrate your wins? Is it something that you feel benefits you - like if it effects your health negatively, you might want to find another way to celebrate?Why do you start treatments/programs/plans meant to benefit you mentally or physically and not finish them?What do you think is holding you back from living your best life?What can you do to change or eliminate those things all together? Really give this one a hard think. Where have you found the most success so far in your healing journey?Who inspires you the most on your healing journey? Follow that person. Read their books or publications. Listen to them. Watch them. Learn all you can about them. But, please for you're health, don't put them on a pedestal or make them your guru. Learn from them. What are the top 3 things you have done to help yourself?What is one thing you would say to someone you love who feels the way you feel about yourself and your life when you're feeling low? Now say that last one to yourself! Maybe even turn it into a mantra. Put it on your mirror. Say it every day.  You are worthy and you deserve to live a joyful, peaceful, full, healthy life!  Self-awareness is so huge when it comes to helping you get there! So, why not take some more time for yourself and answer these questions? Then re-commit to becoming more self-aware and getting to the bottom of what's holding you back!  What happened to us in the past doesn't have to have a big negative impact on our present and our future. True healing is possible for all of us.  In this episode shares an exciting update about her current offerings too! To connect with Amber you can visit her website, or follow her on social media.  And, don't forget to join us in The Dragonfly Connection Community on Facebook. It's a private group for fans of this podcast, guests that you've heard on here, and anyone wanting more connection, and support on their healing journey. It's a great group, full of love. If you have any questions or comments about this episode or others, you can post them in there, and even ask Amber or her podcast guests questions directly.
Healthy From The Inside Out
Jun 29 2022
Healthy From The Inside Out
Ambers guest, Steve Q. Wiltshire has made fitness, health & mindset a priority for 3 decades! Shortly after winning the Mr. Oregon Body Building Competition, Steve developed an autoimmune disease that originated from a serious gut complication that took a huge toll on his overall health, his life, and his career.  Up until then Steve followed what he perceived as experts in fitness regarding what was "healthy", like radical meal plans and supplements containing harsh chemicals. But, eighteen long months after being diagnosed with an autoimmune disease and more, which he talks about in this episode, Steve healed himself through alternative and holistic healing methods. Now he doesn't just look healthy, he IS healthy from the inside out. And, it's evident through his boundless energy and outlook on life! Now it's Steve's mission to help others reclaim their health & power...and love themselves no matter where they're at! Steve is an inspiring Speaker, Author, Mindset Coach and the founder of Body Temple Health & Wellness. His company also has it's own, all natural, chemical free supplement line! The links to follow are included below.  Also included is his complimentary ‘15 Day Kickstart Gut Detox Plan’. Like Steve says, "The Gut is the engine and the brain of the body." After listening to this episode you should definitely check out his free detox program and all his other great resources to help you on your healing journey.  If you're part of The Dragonfly Connection Community on Facebook you can also connect with Steve and other podcast guests in there.  Grab the complimentary detox program at bodytemplellc.com/kickstart Check out all the resources his company offers (including chemical-free supplements) at www.bodytemplellc.com
Inner Work
Jun 15 2022
Inner Work
Ambers guest today is Rachel West, and this is her 2nd time being on the podcast. Rachel is a Holistic Personal Growth Coach, Best Selling Author and the Founder of "Empowering Growth". She is also a Domestic Violence Victims Advocate and Community Health Worker.  Rachel focuses on helping others with mindset improvement and their mental health with a specialty in addiction. She has a belief that you must do the inner work, if you ever want the outer to work; and understands first hand how releasing negative mental, emotional and behavioral programming helps you feel, hear and see new possibilities simply by shifting your thoughts so that you can achieve the results you dream of at a much higher level.  One of her favorite quotes is from Stacey O'Byrne, "Choice is a powerful thing, suffering is always optional".  Sometimes in our lives horrible things do happen, tragedies, traumatic experiences - things that are truly not our fault, and sometimes things that we don't have actual recognition of because they happened to us as children...or even to our ancestors. Those things/events have the potential to wreck havoc in our lives when just left to run amok in our subconscious.  If left buried and untreated, they can lead to mental health challenges as well as addiction. In this episode, that's what the focus is - the buried emotions, the untruths we tell ourselves, and the programming...the roots of the problem. Then Rachel shares some ways to heal those things in your life and how to help others. Because, suffering is optional. We can all choose to start our healing journey or not.  So, even if you haven't been touched by addiction in your family like Rachel and Amber have, this episode is one you need to hear...if not for you, for someone you care about. Then go share it with them! There's also a really easy self-awareness tool buried within their conversation that you can start using today.  All the ways you can connect with Rachel are listed below. If you join The Dragonfly Connection Community on Facebook, you can ask her questions directly. It's a free group, Amber created to help us stay connected and empowered on our healing journeys. Rachels Website: www.empoweringgrowthcoach.com  Facebook and Her Private Group on Facebook   And, on Instagram.
Getting Curious
Jun 1 2022
Getting Curious
"Curiosity is the gateway drug to intuition" - Kimberly Spencer  Kimberly Spencer is an award-winning high-performance, trauma-informed coach and trainer, Amazon best-selling author, TEDx speaker, and the founder of CrownYourself.com. From her entrepreneurial beginnings at five selling bags of glitter-water to her neighbors, to becoming an award-winning screenwriter, certified Pilates instructor, Miss Congeniality, and six-time WEGO Health Activist Award nominee, Kimberly is proof that it's better to make your own mold than to conform to someone else's. She and Amber talk a ton about this topic in this episode along with her own healing journey, the mother wound (and the father wound), drama triangles and so much more good stuff to help you on your life and healing journey.  Kimberly's work has been featured on Netflix, The CW, ESPN, Chicken Soup for the Soul, and NPR, and in Thrive Global, CNBC, and Forbes. We are so honored to have her part of the Dragonfly Connection now!  Let us know what you thought of this episode in The Dragonfly Connection Community!  All the ways you can connect with Kimberly are listed below.  ***Something happened to Ambers mic during this recording, cause it's definitely a little off. But, it shouldn't ruin your experience. Please refrain from dinging her reviews because of it. Instead, please share with your friends and leave a review about the wonderful content rather than mic error.  Website: https://crownyourself.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/crownyourselfnow Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/crownyourself/ Instagram: https://instagram.com/crownyourselfnow
Cosmic Connection
May 25 2022
Cosmic Connection
Ash Marshall-Odell says, "Living life is a spiritual experience."  Spirituality is a very important part of our healing journey and Amber felt that this episode was the perfect one to help wrap up Mental Health Awareness Month for us. Please share with someone who needs to hear it...not just in May, but anytime.   Ash is a spiritual teacher & mentor, healer, empath, psychic medium, certified personal coach, Light Worker, Reiki master & teacher, and author of the book, Light Bound: A Healer’s Journey through Trauma, C PTSD, and Anxiety, and now most recently the host of her own podcast, the "Attune to You" podcast.  In this episode she and Amber are chatting about spirituality, healing journeys, energy, and the infinite possibilities within and around each of us....or cosmic connections. Ash shares a plethora of self-help tools that can help you tune more deeply into yourself for developing more ease, clarity, capability, and insight. Most are free and many are low cost. They're tools available to all of us.  When you're done listening check out Ash's podcast.  You can also connect with Ash on her website and purchase a copy of her book. All those links are below. Attune to You Podcast on Apple Podcasts or search for it on Spotify and Google too! podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/attune-to-you/id1599580831  Visit her website for resources and a to purchase her book sacredjourneyswithash.com If you'd like to connect more intimately with Ash, Amber and other podcast guests join us on Facebook in The Dragonfly Connection Community group.
Language of Love
May 11 2022
Language of Love
It's still Mental Health Awareness Month. But, after last week's episode where Amber talked about some heavy topics, we decided to go a little lighter...but, the information in this episode is still helpful for your mental health. And, Ambers guest Bethany has a loving, sunshine energy that's just good for the soul.  Bethany Nicole is back for a second time and this time we're chatting about the 5 Love Languages, based on work and books by Gary Chapman. Bethany is an LA-based author, freelance writer, and relationship expert. She's also the creator of "Written In The Stars" Relationship Sessions where she uses alternative healing modalities to work on your deeper layers - the subconscious, astrological, energetics, and even karmic layers to get to the root of what's really going on in your love life, to create long-lasting benefits, and to build long-term connections.  And, Bethany also uses the 5 Love Languages in her work and on herself.  Amber is a huge fan of the 5 Love Languages and believes it's one of the things that's kept her relationship with her husband as solid as it is. They were fortunate to get the original book as a wedding present and have been using it and the concept since they first realized they didn't have the same love language.  Whether or not you already know about the book, you're in a romantic relationship, wanting to be in one, or happily single; this episode is for you. There are actually Love Language books for everyone and can benefit all types of relationships...even the one with yourself.  Here are the main Love Language books: The 5 Love Languages: The Secret to Love that Lasts The 5 Love Languages Singles Edition: The Secret that Will Revolutionize Your Relationships 5 Love Languages Of Children: The Secret To Loving Children The 5 Love Languages of Teenagers: The Secret to Loving Teens Effectively The 5 Love Languages for Men: Tools for Making a Good Relationship Great  Connect with Bethany at bethanynicole.com Or on Facebook or Instagram
Grief Lessons
Apr 27 2022
Grief Lessons
"Grief can often feel like being quarantined. Now, it’s even more so. Grieving is hard and isolating even at the best of times, and unfortunately, we are far from the best of times." That's a quote from a piece written by Ambers guest today, Kevin Ringstaff founder of PetCloud - grief support services for pet loss.  Now if you're not a pet owner, that's ok, this episode is focused on grief in general - the stigmas around it, the process, and ways to help ourselves and others.  Kevin has been a student of grief for many years. He's been through several grief certification programs over the years and he's currently studying to be a Board Certified Hospital Chaplain. He spends his days talking about grief, creating activities and products around grief, and listening to the grief stories from people all over the country. PetCloud is his first company, created to help those who are going through the loss of a pet. A direct link to this website will be below. He's currently seeking stories about pet loss for his upcoming podcast. If you're interested, you can connect with Kevin through his website or on social media.  Kevins has another company, Grieving at Work, created to help teach management how to better support grieving employees in the workplace. If you'd like to connect with him, and other podcast guests more intimately; join us in Ambers private Facebook group, The Dragonfly Connection.  Visit his websites: petcloud.pet  And, grievingatwork.com Find him on Instagram and Facebook too!
Emotional Freedom
Apr 13 2022
Emotional Freedom
"We are never going to grieve ourselves into happiness" You may remember Penny's episode from last season called "Habits of Happiness", named after her signature program.  Penny has been involved in the health care field for over 40 years.  She's a beloved massage therapist in Portland, OR, and an EFT Practitioner. Her work is client-centered because she knows how unhelpful and even damaging it is to not be heard, or have your feelings dismissed. She tries to be as much coach and cheerleader as therapist, empowering clients to discover what works for them on their journey towards healing; and to encourage clients take a journey of unfoldment beyond just the cessation of their pain. In this episode she and Amber talk a lot about EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique) or tapping. It's a healing method we're starting to hear more about, but it's still pretty misunderstood. So, in this conversation today; we dive deeper into it's origins and how it can be used for everything from physical pain to mindset. It's also a great stress and anxiety reliever!  Penny describes some of the points that you could start using today after you listen. After listening, head over to her website to learn more and take advantage of all her free content - including tapping videos. She's also listed in Ambers  holistic health and wellness directory, HealingWaze.com. You might be able to snag a promo code or something!  Penny's Website: calmhealthease.com You can also connect with Penny, other podcast guests, and fans in The Dragonfly Connection Facebook group. It's free to join.
Allow What Is
Mar 30 2022
Allow What Is
Sit back and get ready for an hour of hope, inspiration, and a ton of great wisdom coming from today's guest, Susan DeLorenzo. This is Susan's 2nd time on the podcast, because Amber really enjoys chatting with her, and she's a listener favorite.  Susan is a transformational life coach whose focus is on helping others who are emerging from life-altering adversities. She guides them to evaluate the insights and wisdom that these times hold. She believes our dark moments hold amazing "gems" which we can use to elevate our lives. Susan is a cancer survivor, which seems to be a part of a many of Ambers guests stories lately. She doesn't specifically seek out conversations with cancer warriors. But, it's understandable why they would be the people who use their stories to then help others. Cancer is big and scary and even if we ourselves don't get it, we're bound to be touched by it through others at some point in our lives.  Susan, like many of Ambers guests who have overcome some big obstacles, draws upon her personal journey as well as her professional training to help others. Susan's specialty is teaching mindset and tools to help us rebuild our lives in alignment with our deepest desires. Susan is also the author of the upcoming book, "Pulling the Gems from Adversity", which they'll talk about a little towards the end. It's kind of a surprise ending too!  Follow Susan on Facebook and Instagram.  Get tons of great resources on her website: https://susandelorenzo.com/
Keep Moving Forward
Mar 23 2022
Keep Moving Forward
Today's guest Terry Tucker says a ton of inspiring things in this episode, but this is one of Amber's favorites, "What we leave behind are the things we weave into the hearts of other people." It's her favorite because it's what this podcast is all about - weaving inspiration, healing, and empowerment into your hearts. This short episode will leave you and your heart full of all three and more!  Terry is a cancer warrior helping others get and stay motivated; keep moving forward no matter the circumstances and improve their lives in general through his stories and wisdom. He has been an NCAA Division I college basketball player, a marketing executive, a hospital administrator, an undercover narcotics investigator, a SWAT Team Hostage Negotiator, a high school basketball coach, a business owner, a motivational speaker, and most recently, an author. His book, "Sustainable Excellence, Ten Principles To Leading Your Uncommon and Extraordinary Life" is just one of the ways Terry practices what he preaches - the importance of stepping out of your comfort zone. Terry has also been featured in some magazines and loves to share his encouraging words and wisdom wherever he can - his website and social media have a ton of free resources available.  Unlike many of Ambers past cancer warrior guests, Terry is not out of the woods. He is currently fighting cancer again. And, like you'll hear him say, he does have bad days; but he doesn't let that stop him. He keeps moving forward, using his story to help others. After listening today, please take a moment to send some good vibes and prayers his way. I'm sure he wouldn't mind you reaching out either -  maybe send him some encouraging words and wisdom.... Connect with Terry via Facebook , Instagram, or LinkedIn Visit his Website, motivationalcheck.com to access all his blog posts and daily motivations.
The Answers Within
Mar 9 2022
The Answers Within
1 in 8 US women will develop invasive breast cancer over the course of her lifetime. Sharing these stats are not meant to scare you, and this in no way means you or someone you know will get breast cancer. But, It's something we should all be aware of.  Cancer in all forms is on the rise, and although conventional medical experts will tell you that there's little we can do to avoid getting cancer and if you do get cancer - the only way to  treat it with harsh chemicals or surgery; Today's guest, Rebecca Durance Hine knows better. There are a ton of ways to boost your immune system to fight cancer naturally and a ton of gentler treatments with less side effects.  Rebecca's knowledge comes from personal experience. When she was just 28 she was diagnosed with a very aggressive form of breast cancer. And, today you get to hear about her journey and how cancer changed her life in very unexpected ways.  Rebecca was a teacher, writer, actor and model who had all but given up on her dreams before that diagnosis. Cancer made her realized that we don't necessarily have as much time as we think, and that we need to do the things we want to NOW, while we're still able to. This perspective came about as she took charge of her own healing and embraced life again! Rebecca learned a ton about healing cancer and preventing it from coming back and loves to share that knowledge with others. She is now an integrative cancer care advocate running a blog and online community that supports cancer patients. She's also in the process of writing her first book!  Even if you've never been personally touched by cancer, you're gonna benefit from listening to Rebecca's story and wisdom. It's full of hope, courage and some great health advice! And, speaking of health advice, Rebecca offers a ton of free resources on her website, social media and YouTube; including an anticancer diet guide. All the links are below. You can visit the Solis website at soliscancercommunity.com Her Facebook group, Solis Cancer Community, can be found at facebook.com/groups/solis.cancer.community You can access mental and emotional health resources, from meditations to interviews to vlogs, on the Solis CC YouTube channel  And connect with her on Instagram @solis.cancer.community Get your Anti-Cancer Diet Guide HERE.
Ignore The Never
Mar 2 2022
Ignore The Never
Well, since recording this episode, Covid stuff seems to finally be calming down; but now we're witnessing a pretty scary situation over in Europe and Asia. The hits just keep coming!  If you're feeling a little defeated, hopeless, and unmotivated, this episode might just be the boost of inspiration and motivation you need. Because helping ourselves always helps other people. And, sometimes that's all we can do when other options are limited.  Self-care must be a part of your daily routine. And, if your self care contains more sweat than Zen then this episode is perfect for you! Or maybe you're trying to figure out what kind of self-care works for you? Ambers chat with Robert might be what inspires you to go after it so you can be the best, most successful version of you.  Robert Foster is a successful entrepreneur and a competitive athlete. But as an overcomer, he also knows what it’s like to struggle through hardships. At the peak of his career, Robert became an All-American athlete, but that narrative came tumbling down when he encountered what could have been a career-ending injury. And, while medical professionals had strong doubts that the he would ever bounce back from his injury, Robert proved them wrong and came back stronger than ever. Hence the hashtag and title of this episode "Ignore The Never". Now he helps other people develop resilience and confidence by helping them find the power in their own personal stories. Learn more about how Robert can help HERE Or you can follow him on Facebook  He also has his own podcast Shut up and Grind with Robert B. Foster.