Today, I'm thrilled to share a really eye-opening and inspiring conversation I had with Natalie Sader. Natalie is a clinical psychologist and the founder of My Food Innergy, where her mission is to empower women to love themselves unconditionally.

In this episode, we dive deep into her personal journey, starting with what it was like growing up as a woman in Lebanon. She shares how she used to live in survival mode just trying to meet strict societal standards, and how moving to the US finally gave her the freedom to cut those cords and discover her true self.

We also talk about some incredibly powerful mindset shifts. Natalie explains a brilliant technique for practicing gratitude: zooming out and watching your life from afar, almost as if it were a movie. This simple shift helps you see the abundance around you that you might otherwise miss when you're hyper-focused on what's lacking. We also discuss a beautiful piece of wisdom from her father—that contentment is an "endless treasure"—and how being truly grateful for what you have doesn't mean you lose your ambition for more. Finally, we even touch on the profound, grounding gratitude that comes from simply having food on your plate.

It’s a wonderful chat about shifting from feeling like life is just happening to you, to becoming an active, joyful participant in your own journey. I can't wait for you to hear this one, so let's dive right in!

Resources:

Head to https://AirDoctorPro.com and use promo code GRATITUDE to get UP TO $300 off today!

You can find more about Nathalie, here: https://www.nathaliesader.com/

Thank you so much for listening to The Gratitude Podcast! Please rate and review us everywhere you listen to podcasts, including Spotify & Apple Podcasts.

Timestamps:

[03:45] Natalie discusses the strict societal pressures and standards she faced growing up as a woman in Lebanon, and the immense freedom she found upon moving to the US.

[08:15] The power of "zooming out": Natalie explains how stepping back to view your life from a third-person, movie-like perspective helps you recognize the blessings you might otherwise miss.

[13:30] Reflecting on past therapy sessions, Natalie shares how she shifted from feeling like a passive victim to becoming an active, empowered participant in her own life.

[18:20] The catalyst for change: How moving, getting pregnant, dealing with anxiety, and facing a physical issue sparked her profound awakening and journey into holistic healing.

[22:50] "Contentment is an endless treasure": Exploring her father's Arabic wisdom and understanding how you can remain highly ambitious while being deeply grateful for what you already have.

[26:15] Discussing an Oprah Winfrey quote that resonated with Natalie, highlighting the truth that focusing on what you lack will only ever create more lack.

[28:40] Building the "gratitude muscle" through small, daily acts of appreciation, like finding joy in the simple ability to hold a morning cup of matcha or coffee.

[31:10] Natalie’s profound perspective on food, drawing from her childhood experiences in Lebanon, and the pure, grounding gratitude of simply having a meal on the table.

Have you ever caught yourself sleepwalking through life? Just going through the motions, checking off boxes, and assuming that tomorrow is a guarantee?

Today, I am sitting down with a truly incredible human being, April Seifert. April is a life design strategist, but the journey she took to get there is what will really blow you away. By the time she was just 11 years old, she lost her father to cancer, bringing her face-to-face with the reality of human mortality at an incredibly young age. And if that wasn't enough, shortly after his passing, she was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, leading to terrifying periods where she temporarily lost her vision and even her ability to walk.

But here is why I am so excited for you to hear this conversation: instead of letting these immense hardships make her bitter, April used them to cultivate a profound, intense appreciation for the present moment. She shares an unforgettable story about how finally getting her vision and mobility back made her realize just how easy life actually is—and how the things we constantly take for granted, like simply walking across a room, are actually massive gifts.

In this episode, April challenges us. She asks us not to wait for a tragedy, a loss, or a severe diagnosis to start living intentionally. She walks us through exactly how to close the gap between ourselves and our own mortality, so we can stop putting our dreams on hold and start actively designing the life we actually want to live.

Resources:

Head to https://AirDoctorPro.com and use promo code GRATITUDE to get UP TO $300 off today!

You can find more about April, here: https://www.leadingauthorities.com/uk/speakers/april-seifert

Thank you so much for listening to The Gratitude Podcast! Please rate and review us everywhere you listen to podcasts, including Spotify & Apple Podcasts.

Timestamps:

04:15 – Defining Gratitude in the Present: April shares her personal definition of gratitude, describing it as an "intense appreciation for the present moment" and recognizing the gifts hidden in the now.

08:30 – A Childhood Interrupted by Loss: April opens up about her Midwestern upbringing and the heartbreak of watching her father battle colon cancer, ultimately losing him when she was only 11 years old.

14:20 – The MS Diagnosis & Facing Mortality Again: Shortly after her father's passing, April details the terrifying onset of her own medical symptoms—including temporary blindness and paralysis—leading to a diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis.

19:45 – The Tennis Court Epiphany: April shares a profound memory of trying to play tennis with her mom while physically impaired. She reflects on the sheer relief of regaining her vision and mobility, leaving her with the lifelong perspective that, comparatively, "life is easy."

24:10 – Closing the Gap with Our Mortality: A deep discussion on human nature. April explains why we constantly try to put distance between ourselves and the concept of death, and why accepting our finite timeline is the key to truly living.

29:30 – The Blueprint for Life Design: April breaks down her actionable framework for changing your life: 1) Radical self-awareness, 2) Identifying the points of friction in your current day, and 3) Intentionally designing your ideal state.

34:15 – Waking Up from the "Sleepwalk": A striking reality check on why we shouldn't wait for a tragedy to start living. April asks a powerful question to shift your mindset on a bad day: What would a loved one who has passed away give to have the "boring" day you're wasting today?

37:30 – Expressing Deep Gratitude: April reflects on the people she is most thankful for right now, highlighting her incredibly resilient mother, her endlessly supportive husband, and her two young daughters.