This week on Here’s What We Know, our guest is Karen Howard, the brilliant author behind the book, Upset is Optional and Executive Director of the Organic and Natural Health Association. Listen in as she shares her wisdom on personal growth, professional journeys, and societal reflections.
This episode is sponsored by:
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In this Episode:
- Meet Karen Howard as a powerhouse in natural health advocacy and an insightful author aiming to help us control our reactions to life’s challenges.
- Discover the essence of Upset is Optional, focusing on maintaining control over one’s reactions.
- Explore parenting insights deeply tied to overcoming adversity.
- Hear how 9/11 significantly pivoted Karen’s career trajectory.
- Learn life lessons & parenting tips for teaching children to follow their passions rather than societal expectations.
- Dive into Karen’s extensive involvement in government policy-making.
- Understand how political engagement has evolved with an emphasis on voting knowledgeably about candidates and issues.
- Learn the value of open-mindedness in decision-making processes & educate oneself to actively participate in democratic processes and remain open to evolving perspectives.
Quotations:
“When things happen to you, you learn from them and then you have a choice. You can either carry it with you as pain your entire life. And I was not the love child, I was the accident child. You make that story up or you can flip it around and you can create a totally different story. And it’s really all within your power.” ~ Karen Howard
“I succeed when I love my work and when I know that I’m serving seven generations.” ~ Karen Howard
“do what you love. We say that, and I don’t know if we really mean it or if we’re helping them understand what that means. Because I could love to eat ice cream all day long and that really wouldn’t serve any purpose.” ~ Karen Howard
“I think teaching our kids to be brave and understand themselves, they don’t always have to jump. They’ve got good advisors, their parents are there to help, is something we need to be more mindful of instead of go get your degree, get your graduate degree, then you’re gonna make a six-figure income, you’re gonna buy the house. Those expectations can cause a lot of stuff.” ~ Karen Howard
“Expectations are really the original form of all suffering.” ~ Karen Howard
“Being able to figure out how to be your best self and what might be holding you back, you know, in terms of all the things that we get upset about now. Are they really worth the effort?” ~ Karen Howard
“I think that politics has always been, it’s a sport, know, and I think people forget that. The difference I think now is that the stakes are so incredibly high and people are so connected that they, for probably more than any other time in our history, feel like they have a vested interest in it. So that’s the good side, you know, that people are getting upset and actually awake instead of not voting.” ~ Karen Howard
“Don’t vote just because of TikTok.” ~ Karen Howard
“People need to be more judicious in what they read and what they learn and in their effort to be participants.” ~ Karen Howard
“Being an observer and being able to pick and choose where you want to insert ‘X word’ is wise and sometimes it’s just better not to say anything.” ~ Karen Howard
“ It’s real that these people lived, breathed and what happened to them is part of our DNA. And I love that. I love that story. And that I have the ability to leave a legacy not in what is in my will, but through my work, through my kids, and through their kids, that to me is meaningful and that’s reason to be on the planet and even to continue to vote.” ~ Karen Howard
Bio:
Originally from Springfield, MO, Karen spent the last 40 living years in Washington,DC working as Congressional Committee staff, lobbying for health care issues, and working for a variety of professional and trade associations. She have experienced a monumental shift in her outlook since the fateful events of 9/11 in 2001. This cataclysmic event left an indelible mark on her sensibilities, prompting her to seek a more purposeful existence. Thus commenced her extraordinary journey towards healing and self-discovery.
For a decade, Karen collaborated closely with naturopathic physicians, leading the way as their Executive Director. She ventured to Ecuador, immersing herself in the wisdom of native healers.
It was during that time that she was introduced to Bob Duggan, the visionary behind Tai Sophia acupuncture school. Pursuing a master’s degree under his tutelage, Karen learned to cultivate a state of well-being through mindful language and actions.
Karen invites you to explore Bob’s final body of work—an enlightening collection of ten practices that have empowered her to navigate life’s tumultuous waters with grace and bid farewell to unnecessary suffering. The stories she shares are intended to guide you in honing your ability to listen to your body, adjust your response to external influences, and experience your power to shift how you respond to what we commonly refer to as stress. Karen’s sincerest wish is that you derive immense benefit from Bob’s teachings and tap into the profound wisdom residing within your own body. Remember, upset truly is optional.
Guest Contact Info:
Website: https://upsetisoptional.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/karen.howard.75641
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karenhoward1761/