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Holidays aren’t one-size-fits-all, and pretending they are can drain our spark. We lean into Festivus as a fresh frame for honesty—airing real grievances, naming the masks we wear to fit in, and choosing a small, brave reset when life feels stuck in the middle. I share why I’m running a 10-day personal reset anchored by a shadow mandala, a simple visual practice for meeting the parts of ourselves we’ve exiled as “too much” or “not enough,” and how that work helps chronic dis-ease shift toward coherence.

We explore the hard truth about motivation: sometimes the stick works better than the carrot. Remembering the cost of inaction can push us to reclaim sleep, clear clutter, and protect the conditions for healing. From there, we get practical with The SHIFT framework from my book The Shift: Own Your Emotions, Own Your Life—turning emotions into usable data, creating a safe space to investigate patterns, feeling what we avoid, and alchemizing it into action. This is emotional fitness: the everyday reps that build freedom, resilience, and better choices.

There’s also a new take on dragons. Instead of slaying what scares us, we wake it up and make it an ally. Shadow work, breath, posture, and voice become portals to the subconscious where symbols carry more weight than words. We practice coherence so we can stay calm when things get chaotic—and help others co-regulate back to center. You’ll leave with one prompt: choose a single, slightly uncomfortable shift today. Change a word in your story, retire one stale grievance, or put pen to paper and draw a circle around what you feel. If you’re ready for seasonal resets, community support, and tools that actually fit real life, hit play, subscribe, and share this with someone who could use a little shine. Then tell us: what’s the one shift you’ll make now?We use Festivus as an honest mirror for the holidays, unpacking shadow work, chronic dis-ease, and the courage it takes to reset when life feels mid and messy. A 10-day reset, a shadow mandala, and the SHIFT framework anchor a practical path toward emotional fitness and calm coherence.

• honoring non-traditional holidays and personal rituals
• 10-day reset structure and shadow mandala practice
• chronic dis-ease, clutter, and self-healing strategies
• hero’s journey resistance and the “too much” mask
• airing grievances with self to release shame
• dragons as hidden strengths within the shadow
• carrot vs stick motivation and avoiding complacency
• the SHIFT framework for emotional fitness
• coherence, co-regulation, and calm under stress
• one small brave shift to build momentum

Sponsors and CTAs:
go over to sleepingdragonsco.com
You can find The Shift on Amazon now
Come practice with me and get stronger
So I really hope that you will join me and at least try
If you join my human reboot dojo over on the school platform, you can ask me for a digital copy of that book anytime

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We explore why connection feels harder during the holidays and how nervous system overload, shifting roles, and quick-hit technology drain our capacity to gather. We offer small, practical tools to rebuild trust, start with self-regulation, and create new rituals that fit real life.

• naming the loneliness trend and loss of trust
• stories of risk, travel, and why trust grows with shared effort
• catering vs cooking and the shame loop around time and money
• tech distraction, dissolving roles, and invisible labor burnout
• dopamine vs oxytocin and why slow talk feels hard now
• interoception as the bridge from self to others
• micro-practices to regulate before, during, and after gatherings
• device baskets, one shared dish, and better gratitude rituals
• new third spaces and a monthly three-day reset offer

I hope you'll join me for my monthly three-day resets in the Human Reboot Dojo. You can find that on the school platform. I hope you'll have to check out my sponsor, the Sleeping Dragons Company.

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In this episode of the Authentic Action Podcast, Gabrielle Angel Lilly explores the complex relationship between humans and AI, particularly focusing on how AI can fulfill emotional needs through dopamine-driven interactions. She discusses the implications of relying on AI for companionship, the neurochemistry behind our emotional responses, and the importance of maintaining genuine human connections. Gabrielle offers practical tools for regaining balance and emphasizes the need for mindfulness in our interactions with technology.

takeaways

• AI can provide companionship but lacks true emotional depth.
• Dopamine drives our desire for AI interactions.
• Younger generations may be more vulnerable to AI dependency.
• Real human connections are essential for emotional health.
• Mindfulness is key in navigating AI relationships.
• AI can mimic emotional responses but cannot replace human connection.
• Understanding neurochemistry can help us manage our interactions with AI.
• Balance in technology use is crucial for mental well-being.
• Practicing real-world connections can enhance our lives.
• AI is a tool that should be used wisely, not feared.

Sound Bites

• "AI is like a vending machine for dopamine."
• "Dopamine isn't bad. It's fun stuff."
• "Your heart still knows how to feel."

Chapters

00:00
The Rise of AI Companionship

04:07
Understanding Dopamine and AI's Appeal

09:51
Vulnerability and Attachment in the Age of AI

18:58
Neurochemistry of Connection and AI

28:03
Regaining Control: Tools for Connection

34:40
Finding Balance in a Tech-Driven World

38:04
Arizona Moon

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