About the Author
Patti cultivates homegrown changemakers prepared to step into their power and work with others to create the world they want to live in. Get in touch to find out how you can grow the social changemaker in yourself and those you serve with Blue Roads Changemaker YOU.
Changemaker Sandy Joy Weston is a refreshing reminder of how to choose the joy in life. Sandy and I had such a wonderful conversation that helped me come back to my own positive nature. We often hear so many negative reports from many corners of the world. If you turn on the news, you are likely to be shown some of the ugliest sides of humanity, but Sandy believes deeply in the basic good in people.
I want to bring awareness to everybody that their gifts are unique!
As human beings, it's important to temper any negative bias with the recognition of our wins and our gifts. My discussion with Sandy, reminded me that it is precisely those gifts that will help the world get closer and closer to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.
In this episode of “On Your Own Terms,” Sandy shares her “Homegrown Solutions for a Patchwork World”. Watch the video of our conversation, listen to the podcast, and read the summary! Take this episode as a reminder of all that is beautiful and joyful in the life we are blessed to share.
Homegrown Sandy
Until recently, Sandy Joy Weston was not ready to tell the world where she was grown.
It is not because I was ashamed of it. It made me who I am, but I wasn't ready to come from a positive and powerful place with it.
Sandy always finds a way to stay positive. Her chipper personality has helped her tremendously as she pushed through the hurdles in her early childhood. At face value, you might think she is jovial due to a lack of stress and challenges in her life. On the contrary, Sandy chooses her approach to life with intention. Even a “ball of sunshine” like Sandy has endured her share of fiery episodes.
Early in life, Sandy dealt with the struggles of poverty while her mother experienced mental illness.
As a child you would think I would've been devastated, but since as early as I can remember, I felt I had a bigger purpose.
The support system that helped Sandy survive and thrive came in the form of 5 guardian angels. Sandy has felt a spiritual connection to her angels since she was 5 years old. For her, it is a way to connect to a higher power. When she was struggling, she could turn to her angels for guidance and love. No matter what people thought of her, Sandy always had her angels.
Sandy has a human support system as well.
I have the best people surrounding me. I think the right person comes into your life, right when you need them most, if your eyes are open.
Solution-Focused Sandy
Sandy’s work focuses on the areas of both physical and mental health. Since her mother spent time in mental health care, she has wanted to help people stay mentally fit as well as physically fit. Sandy believes that whatever challenges our brains hold within them, we each have unique and beautiful gifts to bring to the world. She teaches her clients and followers that if there is something they really want to do, there is a way to make it happen.
Not only was I able to get them physically fit, but I was also helping them get more mentally fit.
Sandy built a business in Philadelphia with over 15 trainers conducting in-home fitness programs and later opened several health clubs around Philly.
“They used to call me Philadelphia's favorite daughter.”
Right before COVID-19 hit the world, Sandy sold her business, but her mission to bring joy and mental wellness to people did not stop. Sandy has shifted her work to include speaking, writing books, hosting radio shows, podcasts and more.
Sandy's Patchwork
Sandy’s in awe of all types of humans and what they have to offer. This keeps her firmly rooted in the positive. In her words:
My friends were teasing me and joking, “You know Sandy, not everybody is pippy-skippy like you all the time.” And I said back, “I'm not joyful all the time. I have all those other emotions. I just have systems to get out of there quicker.”
I love humans. I love all their messiness. I truly don't sit there in judgment. I am in awe!
Sandy knows that it can be hard to always be so positive and upbeat. But for her, it's about strategy and necessity. She is what I call “optimistic on purpose.” It is more than just waking up and wearing rose-colored glasses or refraining from judgment. Sandy makes a point of admiring the beauty in humanity because she knows that everyone has the potential to bring positive change to the world. Part of this optimism comes from her appreciation of human diversity. She does not want to live in a world where everyone is like her. She wants to connect to a world where difference is celebrated and appreciated.
This confirms what I've found in my own research about changemakers. Effective changemakers consistently embrace diverse people and perspectives with curiosity and generosity.
Changemaker Sandy
As a Changemaker, Sandy wants to show each person in the world what they are capable of.
One strategy Sandy recommends is to take one to three minutes a day to reconnect with yourself. She says this simple daily practice will not only help you feel better during your day but can have long-lasting benefits for your mental health. Because you can do this self-check any time and anywhere, it's a fairly easy strategy to implement.
What is most important to her is that you recognize your own potential. Often people will think they are incapable or unworthy of the effort it takes to change. Sometimes resistance is based in real trauma, but Sandy believes, if we are willing to push past these feelings, anyone can find growth and healing.
Just think of a word describing how you want to show up today. Then reflect on that word throughout your day. Ask yourself, "Am I really embodying that? And if not, what could I do to shift that?"
If you come from a place of raw honesty and curiosity, you will discover parts of yourself that were previously unconscious to you. Often people doubt these practices because they do not see the benefits immediately. They might think it oversimplifies life, but Sandy has seen what can happen when we commit to simple practices like this that are easy to do.
Take a moment and put your hands on your heart and feel it beat. Feel how powerful you really are. When you put your hands on your heart, even for a second, it automatically calms you down.
Another beautiful exercise that Sandy shared was to place your hands on your lap, feet flat on the floor, and close your eyes.
Think of the word PEACE and focus on it. Allow yourself to embrace the meaning of the word and to open yourself to all the peace that the universe has to offer you. Breathe deeply as you sit in this feeling.
When you are ready, perform the same exercise but with the word LOVE. Open yourself to receive love from all the corners of the universe. You can do this exercise for a minute or longer if you like. If you have other words you would like to feel and connect to, you can adapt the exercise to your needs.
Sandy has an abundance of resources available for those who would like to learn more about her and get tons more of tips to help you live your most JOYFUL life. You can connect with her through her website at http://www.sandyjoyweston.com/ or follow her on social media. Her books (Train Your Head Body Will Follow, 30 Day Reset Journal, and Recess to Reset Journal for Kids) can be found at all the major book retailers.
When it comes to the Sustainable Development Goals, Sandy definitely is active in Goal #3 – Good Health and Wellbeing and Goal #4 – Quality Education. Her efforts to help people with their mental health also contribute to the advancement of Goal #11 – Sustainable Cities and Communities and Goal #16 – Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions. After all, finding PEACE and LOVE within ourselves is the first step to creating a peaceful and loving community.
I hope you'll get in touch to let us know what YOU and people you know are doing to realize these Global Goals by the year 2030. We can sure do it if we all work together and take our place as Changemakers!
CHECK OUT our CHANGEMAKER YOU course to help you get started today!
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Patti cultivates homegrown changemakers prepared to step into their power and work with others to create the world they want to live in. Get in touch to find out how you can grow the social changemaker in yourself and those you serve with Blue Roads Changemaker YOU.
