The Karen Kenney Show

In this episode of The Karen Kenney Show, I talk about the ​"missing pieces​" in our live​s.
Not just the painful things that happened to us​, but ​also the love, protection, ​witnessing, or tenderness ​that we didn’t get​, ​but should have.
W​e get into how that silent absence ​of what was missing, can become its own kind of ​not often talked about trauma.
I share about a recent death in ​t​he family​ and why I’m ​sad about and grieving ​a​ person I never met or got ​the chance to know​.
I also connect how that ties into ​both what I call the “never life​" - which is the life that didn’t happen and ​now (for whatever reason) can’t​ happen...
And, the lonely grief​ of what Cheryl Strayed calls the ​"sister life​" - that life you only got to live in your dreams and imagination.
We explore childhood neglect, the trauma of omission, ​and revisit Linda Thai’s powerful teaching that​, “​Trauma isn’t just what happened, it’s what didn’t happen that should have happened​.”
I also walk​ through how I ​often work with my own missing pieces:
1) Sitting with my feelings ​(instead of abandoning myself​).
​2) ​Being gentle and merciful with younger parts of me.
​3) M​a​king my way in the direction of acceptance.
​4) Eventually asking, “Now what?”- so ​I can start leaning back toward the light​ and new dreams.
If you’ve ever felt sad about the family you didn’t have, the love you didn’t receive, or that​ version of your life that never got its time in the sun, ​then this ​one’s for you.

KAREN KENNEY BIO:
Karen Kenney is a writer, speaker, podcaster, certified spiritual mentor, and coach.
She’s known for her dynamic storytelling, her sense of humor, her Boston accent, and her no-bullshit approach to spirituality, self​-development, and transformational change work.
Karen helps people to navigate this whole “being human” experience using a variety of practical tools, personal stories, and universal principles.
She's been a yoga teacher for 25+ years, has been a Thai Yoga Massage practitioner since 2008.
She's also a Gateless Writing Instructor, the creator of WRITE CLUB , and the host of The Karen Kenney Show podcast.
She coaches clients individually in her 1-to-1 program: THE QUEST and in her HEART-TO-HEART DAYS using Voxer. She also leads a group program and community called THE NEST.

CONNECT WITH KAREN:
Website: http://karenkenney.com/
Podcast: https://www.karenkenney.com/podcast
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/karenkenneylive/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karenkenneylive/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@KarenKenney

On this episode of The Karen Kenney Show, I talk about what it really means to “hold on loosely, but don’t let go” - not just in our relationships with others, but in how we treat ourselves.
I share stories about a band, baby birds and bugs, a fantastic new book, and my own body - to explore why over-controlling, pushing too hard, and demanding “magic fixes” can actually slow down our healing.
We dive into giving ourselves more space, time, and compassion - partly inspired by real life stories and experiences and also by Dr. Sula Windgassen’s new book: It’s All In Your Body…
So that we can baby-bird ourselves with more gentleness, care, and trust in our own natural capacity to heal.

KAREN KENNEY BIO:
Karen Kenney is a writer, speaker, podcaster, certified spiritual mentor, and coach.
She’s known for her dynamic storytelling, her sense of humor, her Boston accent, and her no-bullshit approach to spirituality, self​-development, and transformational change work.
Karen helps people to navigate this whole “being human” experience using a variety of practical tools, personal stories, and universal principles.
She's been a yoga teacher for 25+ years, has been a Thai Yoga Massage practitioner since 2008.
She's also a Gateless Writing Instructor, the creator of WRITE CLUB , and the host of The Karen Kenney Show podcast.
She coaches clients individually in her 1-to-1 program: THE QUEST and in her HEART-TO-HEART DAYS using Voxer. She also leads a group program and community called THE NEST.

CONNECT WITH KAREN:
Website: http://karenkenney.com/
Podcast: https://www.karenkenney.com/podcast
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/karenkenneylive/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karenkenneylive/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@KarenKenney

On this episode of The Karen Kenney Show, I talk about what it really means to “worry a little bit” - especially about the people in your life who always look like they’ve got their shit together.
I tell a personal story about being considered the “strong one” and why those folks often don’t get checked on.
I also share why asking a simple, “Hey, how are YOU doing?” - can actually mean the world.
This is a little loving nudge from my heart to yours to reach out, be curious, and check on your strong people…
Because even the helpers - need a little help sometimes.

KAREN KENNEY BIO:
Karen Kenney is a writer, speaker, podcaster, certified spiritual mentor, and coach.
She’s known for her dynamic storytelling, her sense of humor, her Boston accent, and her no-bullshit approach to spirituality, self​-development, and transformational change work.
Karen helps people to navigate this whole “being human” experience using a variety of practical tools, personal stories, and universal principles.
She's been a yoga teacher for 25+ years, has been a Thai Yoga Massage practitioner since 2008.
She's also a Gateless Writing Instructor, the creator of WRITE CLUB , and the host of The Karen Kenney Show podcast.
She coaches clients individually in her 1-to-1 program: THE QUEST and in her HEART-TO-HEART DAYS using Voxer. She also leads a group program and community called THE NEST.

CONNECT WITH KAREN:
Website: http://karenkenney.com/
Podcast: https://www.karenkenney.com/podcast
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/karenkenneylive/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karenkenneylive/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@KarenKenney

On this episode of The Karen Kenney Show, I talk about 6 powerful things that my therapist, Daphne Rose Kingma, taught me back when I was in my 20’s and living in California - that totally changed how I relate to myself and other people.
I share the story of finding an old journal from my early yoga teacher training days and the little “love note” cards Daphne wrote for me that have stayed with me for nearly 30 years.
We dive into learning how to​:
•​ Ask for what you need
•​ Notice what you’re not asking for
•​ Receive love and compliments without deflecting
•​ Honor rest
•​ Give yourself as much as you give others
•​ Have real compassion for the younger parts of you who had to grow up too fast.
If you’ve ever put yourself last, ​are an over-giver, or ​have struggled to feel worthy of ​love and your needs, ​then this one’s for you​! ❤️

KAREN KENNEY BIO:
Karen Kenney is a writer, speaker, podcaster, certified spiritual mentor, and coach.
She’s known for her dynamic storytelling, her sense of humor, her Boston accent, and her no-bullshit approach to spirituality, self​-development, and transformational change work.
Karen helps people to navigate this whole “being human” experience using a variety of practical tools, personal stories, and universal principles.
She's been a yoga teacher for 25+ years, has been a Thai Yoga Massage practitioner since 2008.
She's also a Gateless Writing Instructor, the creator of WRITE CLUB , and the host of The Karen Kenney Show podcast.
She works with clients individually in her 1-to-1 program: THE QUEST and in her HEART-TO-HEART DAY using Voxer. She also leads a group coaching program and community called THE NEST.

CONNECT WITH KAREN:
Website: http://karenkenney.com/
Podcast: https://www.karenkenney.com/podcast
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/karenkenneylive/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karenkenneylive/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@KarenKenney

On this episode of The Karen Kenney Show, I talk about how to stop abandoning yourself.
Self abandonment shows up in lots of ways, like:
When you say yes when you mean no (like going out even though you're exhausted), or by people-pleasing, joy sucking perfectionism, and always putting yourself last.
If you’re ready to build better boundaries, deepen self-trust, and practice more self-compassion, then this episode of The Karen Kenney Show is for you. ❤️

KAREN KENNEY BIO:
Karen Kenney is a writer, speaker, podcaster, certified spiritual mentor, and coach.
She’s known for her dynamic storytelling, her sense of humor, her Boston accent, and her no-bullshit approach to spirituality, self​-development, and transformational work.
Karen helps people to navigate this whole “being human” experience using a variety of resources - including practical tools, personal stories, and universal principles.
She's been a yoga teacher for 25+ years, has been a Thai Yoga Massage practitioner since 2008.
She's also a Gateless Writing Instructor, the creator of WRITE CLUB , and the host of The Karen Kenney Show podcast.
She coaches clients individually in her 1-to-1 program: THE QUEST and in her HEART-TO-HEART DAYS using Voxer. She also leads a group program and community called THE NEST.

CONNECT WITH KAREN:
Website: http://karenkenney.com/
Podcast: https://www.karenkenney.com/podcast
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/karenkenneylive/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karenkenneylive/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@KarenKenney