Inner Superheroes and Everyday Mysteries

Uncover the Magic that Lies Beyond Your Mirror

Hello beautiful souls! 

Welcome to our little corner of the written world where we learn a little, reflect a little, laugh a little, and push back against being one dimensional and, instead, embrace the multidimensional nature of our human experience - those things that lie within us, beyond the mirror. 

Every other week, we’ll explore information from the sections below. Information that helps us move beyond the surface and step into our full selves. This week we are talking about:

• Introspection: Belonging versus fitting in (authenticity)

• Curious Science: Using sound for focus (brain health and self-improvement)

• New-Age Spirituality: My personal definition of reincarnation (interconnectedness)

• Tech: AI’s cooler version of OneNote (trying new things)

• Unique Angles on Health: Hormones and their role in anxiety (ensuring we can show up effectively)

Let’s embrace the complexities of our human experience and uncover the magic that lies beyond the mirror.

Thank you for joining me on this journey - let’s explore together!

Warmly, Sharon

“Belonging is the opposite of fitting in.” - Brene Brown

Time to Shed the Daytime Disguise (Wonder Woman-Style)

Let’s talk about Wonder Woman—she didn’t save the world while pretending to be someone else. She shed her daytime disguise and stepped into her power, and honestly, shouldn’t we be doing the same? Brené Brown nailed it: “Belonging is the opposite of fitting in.” So why are we still trying to squeeze into expectations that feel like a pair of too-tight jeans?

In this week’s content deep dive (look for post #2), I’m unpacking how we can stop hiding parts of ourselves just to fit in and, instead, start owning who we are—Wonder Woman cape optional. Ready to ditch the edited version and step into your full self?

Reflect:

• If you could shed your ‘daytime disguise’ like Wonder Woman, what version of yourself would emerge, and what’s holding you back from embracing that fully?

Redefine:

• Daily Self-Check-Ins

  • Why: This builds self-awareness, helping you notice when you're adjusting yourself to fit in versus when you're showing up authentically. It helps you take action in real time, course-correcting as needed to align with your true self.

  • How: Start your day with the question: "Am I making choices today that are true to me?" Throughout the day, pause to reflect on how you’re feeling and adjust accordingly.

"If you want to find the secrets of the universe, think in terms of energy, frequency, and vibration."
— Nikola Tesla

Tune In, Zone Out: How Binaural Beats Can Boost Your Focus (Get Those Headphones Ready)

Do you like to dive into the tunes while working or studying? Ever catch yourself in full-on concert mode instead of focus mode when the playlist just hits too right? Trust me, I’ve been there—suddenly I’m belting out lyrics and maybe even throwing in a dance move (or two). But when it’s crunch time or I really want to focus in to build self-awareness, lyrics tend to trip me up. Here’s the fun part: there's actually a specific frequency that can give your brain a boost for learning and focus—no lyrics needed!

Enter the world of binaural beats, where two slightly different frequencies in each ear create a third brain-buzzing tone. About 40 hz is the sweet spot. It's like a secret handshake for your neurons, but you need headphones to get in on the action. Dive into Alpha waves (8-14 Hz) to spark creativity or Theta waves (4-7 Hz) to boost memory. Adding these sounds to your personal routine might just make your brain thank you with some next-level efficiency.

Reflect:

• Have you ever noticed how certain sounds affect your mood or focus? How might binaural beats fit into your daily routine to boost creativity or memory?"

Redefine:

BOOSTING BRAIN WAVES IMPROVES MEMORY

• National Institute of Health: Addante RJ, Yousif M, Valencia R, Greenwood C, Marino R.

• Try it yourself: Spotify (don’t forget those headphones)

We are not isolated beings but part of an ongoing exchange of energy, constantly shaping and being shaped by the lives that came before us and the lives that follow. - Me

Reincarnation: The Energy We Pass On (My Own Theory)

When I think about the idea of reincarnation, I see it less as the rebirth of a single soul into a new body and more like a transfer of energy, not unlike data being transferred across the internet. Consider this: our cells are filled with energy, experiences, and memories that shape who we are. As we live our lives, these cellular memories are stored like tiny packets of information—containing not only our physical experiences but our emotional and spiritual ones as well.

When we die, instead of our energy disappearing into the void, it’s released back into the universe, like packets of data seeking a new destination. In my mind, these packets don’t just vanish but are absorbed into the next significant energy event—a birth. It’s as if the memories, wisdom, and experiences from one life are handed off, becoming part of the cellular makeup of someone new.

This isn’t reincarnation in the traditional sense of a soul returning to start again but rather an idea of reincarnation as energy—energy that doesn’t die, but transforms and continues. Imagine how the energy of someone’s life could subtly influence the next, not through conscious memory but through cellular resonance, guiding behaviors, preferences, or connections that feel unexplainably familiar.

In this way, perhaps we are all interconnected not just in the now, but across time, through the energy and memory we leave behind.

By thinking about reincarnation this way, we honor the idea that we are not isolated beings but part of an ongoing exchange of energy, constantly shaping and being shaped by the lives that came before us and the lives that follow. It’s a beautiful way to contemplate our existence and the connections we share with the past and the future.

Reflect:

• How does thinking of yourself as part of a continuous flow of energy change the way you see your own legacy?

Redefine:

• Only Love is Real is one of the most beautiful, real stories about reincarnation I have ever read. Brian Weiss uses hypnoses in his sessions and one of those stories are what creates this book. Through this story, he illustrates how love transcends lifetimes, showing us that deep, timeless bonds guide us toward healing and spiritual awakening. While the book doesn’t align with my personal theory, it’s a fascinating exploration into reincarnation.

From Birth Charts to AI’s Cooler Version of OneNote

So, picture this: my family and I were hanging out in the living room when they requested a crash course on Generative AI. We kept it super simple—we started with ChatGPT, set up a basic, free account, and off we went. No overwhelm, just dipping our toes in.

Then, I thought, why not spice it up a bit? I offered to show them how AI could dive into their astrological birth charts. I’d run the prompts, share what I was typing, and read the responses back to them. That’s when things really clicked—now, they were into it, asking all kinds of questions and figuring out how to frame prompts. Over the next couple of days, we played around with all kinds of topics. Before I knew it, they were doing it themselves during downtime, less intimidated by the whole thing.

By the end of the week, no, they weren’t AI experts (who really is?), but a barrier had been knocked down. The moral of the story? Don’t be afraid to give it a whirl—it’s not as scary as it seems. Just remember to treat it like any online tool, and, as always, keep your personal info safe.

Reflect:

• How open are you to exploring new tools or technologies that seem intimidating at first, and what might happen if you approach them with curiosity instead of fear?

Redefine: Give something new a go yourself by trying out this special tool discovery, Notebook LM, because it’s pretty incredible!

• Notebook LM by Google

  • Imagine if your trusty old school binder could not only hold all your notes but actually help you think through them. That’s the vibe of Notebook LM. It’s like Microsoft OneNote’s cooler, more intuitive cousin—both let you organize your research, but Notebook LM takes it a step further, letting you query your content like it’s your personal study buddy. Need to pull together insights from different pages or notebooks? No flipping through tabs here—Notebook LM does the legwork, serving up what you need in seconds.

Hormones, Sugar, and My Anxiety Mystery

Explaining the way I experience anxiety is always... interesting. For me, it wasn’t about racing thoughts spiraling into stress. Nope, my body decided to go rogue and start throwing out all the physical symptoms of anxiety without the mental buildup. I hadn’t had an anxiety attack until my late 30s or early 40s, and let me tell you, it was a wild ride. I was thinking, “Why am I feeling this way when my mind is totally chill?” Was I actually stressed?

One thing I did know for sure: my hormones were all over the place, like a rollercoaster. And then I started noticing a pattern—this strange anxiety would show up at the same times each month. Being the problem-solving strategist I am, I had to crack the case. So here’s what I discovered:

Estrogen, when it's on its best behavior, is like the ultimate calming BFF—keeping your nerves in check and your mood balanced. But when its levels start fluctuating (hello, perimenopause!), it can flip the script and trigger anxiety. It’s like estrogen went from "let’s zen out" to "let’s freak out!".

And as if estrogen wasn’t tricky enough, sugar decided to crash the party. Sugar’s not just an innocent little treat—it messes with your insulin, which messes with your hormones. When insulin spikes, it lowers SHBG (aka the hormone police), and when that happens, estrogen runs wild. The result? Hormonal chaos that makes anxiety worse, especially when estrogen takes over and progesterone—the calming, soothing one—gets sidelined (estrogen dominance).

Oh, and let’s not forget what sugar does to your blood sugar levels. Spikes and crashes leave cortisol (your stress hormone) on high alert, bringing on anxiety symptoms like rapid heartbeat and restlessness, even if your mind is cool as a cucumber. Add in the fact that unstable blood sugar also messes with serotonin (your mood regulator), and it’s no wonder you feel like your brain and body are at odds.

Is the same true for men, as well? Yes. Testosterone, like estrogen in women, can have an impact on mood and anxiety levels. Low testosterone levels have been associated with increased anxiety, depression, and irritability in men, especially as they age (a condition often referred to as andropause or "male menopause"). While testosterone doesn’t fluctuate as sharply as estrogen does in women, it does naturally decline with age, potentially leading to mood disturbances. Sugar intake impacting cortisol and insulin spikes have very similar reactions in both men and women.

Reflect:

• How does your diet—specifically sugar intake—affect your mood and anxiety levels? Are you noticing patterns between your eating habits and how your body and mind respond?

Redefine:

• Track Your Triggers: Start by keeping a simple daily log of how you feel physically and emotionally, noting any sugar intake, hormonal shifts (especially during different phases of your cycle), and stress levels. After a few weeks, review the patterns.

• Watch one of my favorite female hormone experts talk about the value of Progesterone for helping with anxiety.