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 Time flies. How could I be 36 when days before I turned 30 and the next five years that followed, my constant wish was to die? I survived and I can’t believe I am saying how excited I am for what the future will bring, what kind of adventures I will still embark on and what life lessons I will still learn and count them even if it’s not my birthday. In this episode I talked about 65 life lessons I have learned in my 36 years of existence. -Don't sabotage my peace just because I was used to chaos.-Rock bottom is not a final destination.-Work less. Rest more.-The worst has already happened. It's time to receive.-I am capable of hard things.-People can change. If I have changed, so they can and they deserve second chances.-Embrace my shadow self and the fact that I don't know everything yet.Check the rest by listening to the full episode. Check www.thisvillagegirl.com for more inspiring stories and follow me on Instagram for daily dose of inspiration, motivation and self-improvement tools you can use to live the life of your dreams. 

In today's episode, we have one of the people I look up to when it comes to reading and he is here to help us answer one of the questions I received from Tiktok specifically how to start a good reading habit. Matt is the genius behind one of my favorite Instagram accounts, Bookmattic, where I get inspiration and ideas for what to read next. Matt is from Oregon, USA and identifies himself as a lifelong learner.  He is not just the person behind one of my favorite Instagram accounts but he is the superhuman behind the blog, bookmattic.com, the Youtube channel, Bookmattic and the Podcast, Best Books Podcast.In this episode we talk about: -Moving to Indonesia to teach English-How his life and mindset changed when he moved overseas-How his book addiction started and the number of books he reads in a week -How he manages his time having a bookstagram, a blog, a Youtube channel, a podcast, being an English teacher, a Master's student, having online course, writing his books, consistently reading books, being a husband and a father-Tips on how to start a reading habit-What he loves about interviewing authors on his own podcastConnect with MattInstagram @BookmatticTwitter @BookmatticYoutube @BookMatticPodcast @ Bookmattic Best Books PodcastAvail his course: Reading Mastery Online CourseSubscribe to his newsletter Follow me on Instagram for daily dose of inspiration, motivation, self-love and healing tips @thisvillagegirl or visit www.thisvillagegirl.com for more. 

It's hard recording and publishing this episode. My best friend's son attempted suicide and even after a couple of days have passed, I still don't know how I feel and what I think about it.In this episode, I talk about: -How I feel and what I think about my best friend's son's attempt to end his life-How hard it is to have mental health problems in the Philippines-What this situation is trying to teach me and realizations-What can we do to help those who have depression -What can we do to help prevent suicideFor more self-improvement tools, visit www.thisvillagegirl.com. For daily motivation, inspiration and self-love tips, follow me on Instagram @thisvillagegirl

“I'm sorry.” As I started also listening to myself when I open my mouth to say something, I noticed that this is one of those words I have been overusing.  “Oh. No need to say sorry.”  Was the response that I often get from apologizing.  Then I asked myself, why am I apologizing for so many things even if it's clearly not my fault? In this episode, I talk about the 10 things I stopped apologizing for and why I was unconsciously doing do.  Next time you're about to say sorry, bite your lips first and ask yourself, is it really your fault? Please follow me on Instagram @thisvillagegirl for daily dose of motivation and inspiration and share this episode with those who matter to you who you think needs to hear this. Check www.thisvillagegirl.com for more self-improvement tools. 

This episode was first published on Mental Strength Notes where Alissa interviewed me and we talked about my journey and what lead me to becoming the content creator that I am today.We talk about:  -My struggles growing up in a third world country and my parents working overseas to give us good quality of education-How I struggled to get a University degree not knowing what I truly wanted -The unhappiness I felt and why I quit my job without savings nor plans-How I navigated life feeling lost, confused, scared and stuck-My time volunteering teaching English to the refugees and what I have learned-How gratitude and compassion changed my perspective-How I started a self-improvement blog check Alissa's podcast here For more inspirational stories visit www.thisvillagegirl.com and follow us on Instagram @thisvillagegirl

 In this episode, we have Dr Sophia Godkin. Dr Sophia is a Health Pyschologist, Happyiologist, Happiness and Relationship and Transformational Coach. Dr Sophia is the author of The 5-Minute Gratitude Journal, The Happiness Journal and published her most recent book, The Soul Journey. She is also the doctor behind The Happiness Doctor. Dr Sophia also recently appeared on Canada's number one morning show, Breakfast Television, where she talked about practices that can enhance happiness. Dr Sophia taught and is teaching people of all ages and backgrounds the principles and practices of happiness, self-love and healing whether in the form of individual coaching, writing or group education. Dr Sophia is known for depth, lightheartedness and transformative potential of her work.  We talk about: -The difference between Psychologist, Psychotherapist and Psychiatrist-The connection of mental and physical health-The importance of childhood in adult's life-Most common questions she gets as a Psychologist-The things she learned practicing that she didn't learn in school-How parents migrating to first world countries prepare their children to avoid intense mental health effects that can lead to more trauma they must heal from in their adult life-Why we must not feel ashamed of asking for professional help when we feel that our mental health is declining-More on self-loveConnect with Dr Sophia:Website: www.thehappinessdoctor.comInstagram: @thehappinessdoctorGet her newest book: https://www.thehappinessdoctor.com/soul-journalBook her coaching services: https://www.thehappinessdoctor.com/coachingFor more inspirational stories visit  www.thisvillagegirl.com and follow us on Instagram @thisvillagegirl

Today, we have Phi Dang on the podcast. Phi Dang is an intuitive human design life coach known as the 'Positivity Queen.' She helps clients all over the world shed past patterns and overcome their negative self talk to be happier and confident. She is known for helping people step into their power, to reclaim it and be more true to their authentic self.We talk about:  -losing her father at a very young age and being bullied which led her to explore spirituality-traveling the world solo-having a corporate job, starting a side hustle and then quitting her job only after 11 months-how to be confident-the effects on mental health of Asian families migrating to first world countries-becoming a life coach to help others step into their power, to reclaim it and be more true to their authentic self. -Importance of self-care, health and resting in businessConnect with Phi:Website: phidang.comInstagram: @thephidang Join her Masterclass Soul Sister Collective: phidang.com/soul-sister-collectiveCheck my blog www.thisvillagegirl.com for more inspiring stories and follow me on Instagram @thisvillagegirl for daily dose of inspiration, motivation and self-love tips. 

In today's episode, we have Ivana Skoric, a certified life coach and solution-focused coach, a blogger and the founder and host of The La Ivana Podcast talking about self-improvement, empowering women, the relationship of having a degree and success, limiting beliefs and taking small actions in the direction of one's dreams.  We talk about:  -Quitting college to volunteer in hostels for free accommodation-Self-improvement journey, self-exploration and the importance of finding yourself and asking yourself what you truly want-Launching a blog and turning it to a full-blown location independent coaching business -The relationship or importance of having a degree and success especially in the digital age -Limiting beliefs and how to re-frame the mind to become the best version of ourselves-What she does when her brain plays tricks on her -How she centers herself being a creative entrepreneur Connect with Ivana: Instagram @humandesigncornerBlog: laivana.comPodcast: The La Ivana Podcast Get her Human Design Blueprint to flow with radical self-acceptance: https://laivana.com/human-design-blueprint/Check www.thisvillagegirl.com and  follow me on Instagram @thisvillagegirl for more inspirational stories.   

Michael Caberic is a friend I met at work in the Phiippines 10 years ago. We clicked in an instant we laughed. We even worked in Malaysia together and even traveled together. He now lives and works in Singapore and recently launched his very own podcast, Samutsari (Anything) he co-hosts with our friend, Celso. In this episode we talked about things we never really talked about despite of being friends for quite some time now and I asked him questions I never asked. We looked back at how far we've come and how much we have grown. He even openly and courageously talked about growing up gay and the toxic Filipino mentality he wished to stop. I had so much fun recording this episode that it took us nearly two hours to record where we laughed most of the time I feared there'd be no decent episode to be published. Check his Instagram  @gocabzgo for more of his work and if you're from the Philippines or happen to understand Tagalog, their podcast, Samutsari, is on Spotify. For more inspiring stories, check www.thisvillagegirl.com and follow me on Instagram @thisvillagegirl

In this episode, we have Alissa Martin, the founder and host of the podcast Mental Strength Notes, the face behind the blog Alissaelephant.com and the vlog, Alissa Elephant, where she shares everything she has learned and realized upon taking the self-improvement route and the neuro-science behind all of it. She talks about creativity as form of self-care, good habits and the power of pivot.Visit www.alissaelephant.com to check and support her work. You can also follow her journey on Instagram. For more inspiration stories and self-improvement tips, visit www.thisvillagegirl.com.Follow us on Instagram for more and please support the show by rating it on Spotify. 

In this episode, we have Silvia Cosma of My Style 5. Silvia is a Style and Personal Branding Coach, a blogger and the vlogger behind mystyle5.com. Silvia talks about growing up in Romania, how she gained confidence, body positivity, moving to the Netherlands and going all in for her love for fashion, beauty, art, life and helping others to get there too. Check more of her work at www.mystyle5.com and on Instagram You can avail her ebook  course at https://payhip.com/b/0NSZYou can also book her coaching services at https://calendly.com/silvia-cosma/30minFor more inspiring stories, check www.thisvillagegirl.com.

In this episode, we have Conor Kelly from Manchester, England , the founder and host of the ComebaCK Podcast where he interviews people who faced adversities and how they bounced back from it. He now lives and teaches in Vietnam.  We discuss his journey that lead to Vietnam. You can listen to his podcast  on Spotify and all other podcast distribution platforms. You can also check more of his work at thecomebackwithck on Instagram and more on www.thisvillagegirl.com.

2021 has been a trying year and a mixture of insane ups and downs that I thought I'd never make it out sane when I thought that 2020 was the year I went all the way in when it comes to living a spiritual life. The storms I faced since the time I left everything behind six years ago was actually nothing compared to what 2021 brought to my life and looking back, had I didn't have all the wisdom from the previous years, I doubt if I'd be able to survive. I faced 2021 already fully equipped though I failed to see it right away. I will always be thankful to 2021 for it's the year love and light found me. 

In this episode, Alita Pacio of Share to Inspire  Blog talks about what she discovered when she left home, our country, the Philippines. She also openly shared about how she ended up with debts in Japan and how she bounced back from it. She also opened up about the struggles she faced starting a blog with a full time job and how challenging it is to acquire friends in a first world country like Japan where she sometimes feel like an outsider.  At 27, she courageously  shares the journey on her blog where she also openly talks about Financial, Productivity, Relationships and Personal Development Tips. Check her work out at Share to Inspire  Blog. She is also on Instagram, Pinterest and Facebook using the same handle.

"Who am I?" "Where am I good at?" These were the questions that ran nonstop in my head. I ignored them over and over again and drowned myself with tons of different activities to hush the voices inside my head that asks what if I write and share some entries on my journal I started keeping as a kid and most of the entries I have been keeping since I moved to a different country for a job I thought I loved and moving again after I kissed the rat race goodbye. I was about to turn 30 that time. Single, childless and jobless and terrified about everything. I was already old. No one I knew was writing or asking about life purpose or passion. I am not original anymore. I didn't have the time. In this episode, I talked about all the lies that stopped me from chasing my passion and living a heart-centered life. 

“Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes, including you.” ― Anne Lamott Yes. Including me. I took seven months of break from this podcast and three months from my blog, and actually the longest break in my entire life and the longest pause in my entire adult life. My journey in finding myself, my passion, my life purpose and my depression and trauma have finally met healing on its deepest level.  And at 35, I feel like a teenager ready and excited for life. Thank you for being with me in this journey. This journey doesn't end here. It actually just started. I am back and looking forward to create in my healed glory. 

In today's episode, you will hear my very first podcast interview for Casually Normies for their podcast.  Casually Normies traces my story where I got my confidence and more on being lost, finding my purpose and embracing my spirituality.  At first, I wasn't sure if I wanted to be interviewed because I wasn't used to giving my thoughts and the silent whispers of my soul a voice. Writing them down, publishing them as blog posts, social media posts and being interviewed for other websites was okay with me but actually speaking wasn't. I was confident to write but not speak.  I never felt truly confident which was ironic because the topic was all about confidence and bouncing back from failure and I didn't know that confidence in writing could be a different thing if I actually have my voice in it. Swipe up to listen to the full interview  To say that 2020 has been a tough year for me is an understatement however, looking back, none of the other previous years where I have spent actually trying to understand myself, love myself, train myself to be positive and pick up every wisdom from every poor life decision I have made was trying to give me can match 2020.  2020 has forced and pushed me to drop every single thing that's weighing me down and cut my every wound open and insert my hand inside to actually fish for what still triggers me, hurts me instead of making myself believe that I have healed and I am okay but still avoiding every topic where I feel I am being triggered.  I didn't immediately see the lessons it was intending to teach me which I have talked about on episodes 3 and 4. I took a break for few months weeping in the nearby river to ask where does this life and where does my blogging journey want to take me. I was burnt out, overwhelmed, overfed, overweight yet malnourished and brokenhearted. I noticed that in that break, invitations to speak started coming in and instead of saying no, I said yes to them all until I wondered if that wasn't a clue as to what I was supposed to be doing next and in December, I launched my own podcast.  I would like to thank Casually Normies for believing in me. Follow them on Instagram and check their podcast out for more inspiring and empowering stories.  

"What's your chronological order?" A question that we often hear and we have rehearsed a lot of times to answer and oftentimes, the answers we normally get are going to school, getting a degree, landing a job, finding a partner who also has more or less the same chronological order like us, reproduce and raise these kids in the same chronological order and then retire. Nothing is wrong with following that order but in today's episode, we will hear a story we don't often hear. A story of gallivanting the wolrd without being a travel blogger and doing what she did not for a living but a process of self-exploration and finally arriving. Meet Sheila. My cousin who's born and raised in the Philippines and moved to Germany when she's a kid and moved to the US  to study and work.  She lived there for decades and moved back to the Philippines to get a degree at 40 and who decided to move back to Germany after 40 to study nursing.This podcast episode is where she talked about the struggles of moving around, starting to live her life after 40 and finally arriving at 48. 

I already lost count of how many times I have mentioned my cousin, my spiritual mentor, in some of my blog posts every time I'd mention the power of mentors and idols and looking for people to surround yourself with. During the time when I was so lost,  just quit my job and everything in my life that I thought I wanted, he was the only one (of course his sister who also went through series of transformations and self-reinventions) who was able to direct me to consult my heart and to listen to it fully for whatever it's trying to tell me.  He was the one who told me that I can actually use my writing to find myself and fall back on track. Now that I have branched out and launched a podcast, I will not pass up the chance to have him on the show for him to tell his story and how come he seemed to know so much about suffering, pain and wisdom. I will not pass up the chance for him to be the first one I'd interview.  Visit his website richardmatthewerilla.com and you can find him on Instagram @richardmatthewerilla. Also check the organization he put up @talentschmiede_53. 

There's corporate or employed overhwelmed and there's creative entrepreneur overwhelmed. This is what I have found out as I have hopped and switched between them throughout the years and in my journey that started from leaving my old life and switched from juggling odd jobs, learning a new language, my blog, promotion, finding ways to monetize my blog and how I can find ways to scale while still making sure that I am still producing quality content that is still in alignment with what I am all about without sacrificing my own hollistic health and my purpose. In this episode I talked about the things I do when I feel like my all the items on my to-do list are screaming and demanding my attention.Also, since I am creating in batch, I am also using automation tool like Tailwind for Pinterest. Instagram and Facebook posts can also be scheduled in advance.  This has saved me a lot of time by manually pinning on Pinterest. If you want to try Tailwind,  here is my affiliate link which will give you a month of FREE trial.  https://www.tailwindapp.com/i/thisvillagegirl