The Karen Kenney Show

I recently overheard a conversation (yeah, there’s no denying it - writers are serial eavesdroppers) - where someone was struggling with a previous verbal commitment they had made.
They'd given their word to someone about something… but then the facts and situation changed, and they were grappling with what to do.
I’m paraphrasing - but they said something like, “I gave my word, but now that relationship and person are really different.”
From what I could grasp, they felt as if they’d kind of been bamboozled.
And since they were a “person of their word” - cue the psychological turmoil and suffering.
I could practically feel the mental wringing of their hands in my own body.
Look, I really do my best not to offer unsolicited advice or coaching to total strangers - so I kept my big mouth shut - but I still thought it was worth talking about with you! 😆
So, on this episode of The Karen Kenney Show, I’m getting into what it really means to give your word, keep your word, and when you absolutely have to 👉 how to break your word.
I share some personal stories from my own life, touch on how repeated broken promises can mess with our nervous system and sense of safety, and why reliability and integrity matter so damn much to us.
We’ll also dive into the tricky territory of when breaking your word might just be the most honest, self-loving, and spiritually aligned thing you can do…
Especially if you find yourself in a harmful or abusive situation.
We’ll walk through how you can do it with as much responsibility, compassion, and integrity as possible.
That way, if or when it’s ever necessary, you can do the most ethical and self-respecting thing - without being a total dick or abandoning what really matters.
If you’ve ever wrestled with a commitment that no longer feels right - but you’re wicked scared of being seen as “bad,” “selfish,” or “unreliable” - 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 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

Do you ever just catch yourself feeling a little extra cranky, nitpicky, or just sort of over it… even though nothing is technically wrong?
Yeah, me too. 🙋🏼‍♀️
It occurred to me the other day (as I was falling asleep) that maybe I could use a little "attitude adjustment". 😳
And I'm pretty sure that that’s exactly what sparked this week’s episode of The Karen Kenney Show where I share a simple practice that came to me in the middle of the night:
The little "librarians" in my head call this sucker a “​Gratitude ​Salad.” 🥗 😆
OK, so instead of doing the same ol​' same ol' and just kinda' going-through-the-motions gratitude list...
I​'m gonna' walk you through how to build a more alive and specific practice by adding different “ingredients” like:
- A person you’re grateful for (and why – with details)
- An animal – past or present – that lights up your heart
- A place​ that holds a special memory or turning point for you
- A thing that carries real meaning or has brought comfort in your life
- A feeling you love to experience and want to welcome in more
In this episode, I also talk about:
- Why our brains are wired with a negativity bias and how to gently interrupt it when it starts working overtime!
- How a fresh take on gratitude can help when you’re feeling fried, discouraged, or overwhelmed by our crazy-ass world
- A sweet story about Stephen Colbert and laugh lines that has stayed with me
- Simple ways to actually feel the gratitude in your body ​- ​instead of just think​ing about it in your head
If you’ve been feeling a little whin​y, worn thin, or just not yourself lately, I made this one with you (and me) in mind. ❤️

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 practical tools, universal principles and stories, and a variety of resources.
KK has been a yoga teacher for 25+ years, has been giving Thai Yoga Massage since 2008, and began teaching it to others in 2015.
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 1:1 program THE QUEST and via her HEART-TO-HEART DAYS using Voxer.
She also leads a group program and community called THE NEST.

CONNECT WITH KK:
🙋🏼‍♀️ WEBSITE: https://www.karenkenney.com/
📬 GET MY EMAILS: https://www.karenkenney.com/signup
📝 WRITE CLUB: https://www.karenkenney.com/writeclub
🪺 THE NEST - COACHING + COMMUNITY: https://www.karenkenney.com/nest
🗡️ THE QUEST - 1:1 MENTORING: https://www.karenkenney.com/quest
❤️ HEART-TO-HEART DAY: https://www.karenkenney.com/hearttoheart
🫙 TIPJAR: https://www.karenkenney.com/tipjar
🆓 SPIRITUAL TEAM FREEBIE: https://www.karenkenney.com/freebie
👤 FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/karenkenney.writer/
📱 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 make a positive contribution in your life - especially when you’re feeling stuck, scared, or like you’re falling behind.
I share a little bit about working on my memoir and why author Ryan Holiday says that chasing word or page counts can backfire, and how shifting to small, doable daily actions can change everything.
We revisit Kaizen (continuous improvement through tiny steps), and I show you how to apply the concept in your writing, money, fitness, relationships, and spiritual practice. It can help even when you only have 5 or 10 minutes!
I also pull in some wisdom from the Bhagavad Gita, A Course in Miracles, and some of my favorite teachers to remind you that no sincere effort is ever wasted!
If you’re tired of your own (or others) “all-or-nothing” thinking and want a more compassionate, sustainable way to grow…
Then this episode will help you start making positive contributions today, from exactly where you are and with exactly what you’ve got to give. ❤️

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 practical tools, universal principles and stories, and a variety of resources.
KK has been a yoga teacher for 25+ years, has been giving Thai Yoga Massage since 2008, and began teaching it in 2015.
She's also a Gateless Writing Instructor, the creator of WRITE CLUB, and host of The Karen Kenney Show podcast.
She coaches clients individually in her 1:1 program THE QUEST and via 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 why simply showing up for the people you love - matters more than you might think.
I share the story of my first-ever art exhibition (eeeek!), the friends who showed up to surprise me there (“We got you, Motherfucker!” 😆), and how that moment healed an old part of me that had gotten used to “going it alone.”
We dive into what I call your “Balcony People” - the ones who are up in the stands creating a rumpus and cheering their faces off for you - and why their presence (or absence) can leave such a mark.
I also get honest about hyper-independence, not wanting to ever feel like a burden, and how I’m still learning how to let love in.
If you’ve ever wondered, “Does it really matter if I go to the thing?”
This episode is my heartfelt reminder: Heck Yeah, it does!!!!
Your presence, your effort, your curiosity, and even your follow-up text can mean way more than you know. ❤️

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 practical tools, universal principles and stories, and a variety of resources.
KK has been a yoga teacher for 25+ years, has been giving Thai Yoga Massage since 2008, and began teaching it in 2015.
She's also a Gateless Writing Instructor, the creator of WRITE CLUB, and host of The Karen Kenney Show podcast.
She coaches clients individually in her 1:1 program THE QUEST and via 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 the powerful difference between sympathy, empathy, and compassion and why it matters in how we move through the world.
I share a personal story about my mixed media art piece that I created for “The Mothership” Exhibition - in honor of my mother on the 45th anniversary of her murder - and how watching strangers interact with my work revealed, in real time, the shift from sympathy to empathy and beyond.
We explore:
- How sympathy creates distance
- How empathy helps us feel ‘with’ someone
- How compassion asks, “How can I help?” and moves us to act
I also offer a few simple ways you can start building your own compassion muscle - for others, yourself, animals, and for all the beings that may be suffering in this wild world we’re all sharing.

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 practical tools, universal principles and stories, and a variety of resources.
KK has been a yoga teacher for 25+ years, has been giving Thai Yoga Massage since 2008, and began teaching it in 2015.
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 1:1 program THE QUEST and via 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