What do you truly deserve from life? And how often do you sacrifice your own needs to accommodate everyone else's expectations?

In Part 3 of our continuing conversation with Melissa Carey, host and behavioral health therapist Jim Ellermeyer explores the importance of self-awareness, personal boundaries, and creating a life that reflects who you really are.

Melissa opens up about her own experience of being highly intuitive and naturally accommodating others, often anticipating their needs before they even ask. She reflects on recognizing these patterns, learning to honor her own choices, and understanding that personal growth doesn't happen all at once.

Sometimes, what feels like returning to an old struggle is actually an opportunity to go deeper.

Jim and Melissa also discuss the freedom that comes from admitting "I don't know." Rather than viewing uncertainty as a weakness, they explore how curiosity and a beginner's mind can open new possibilities.

The conversation moves into Melissa's passion for sound-based mindfulness experiences, including Tibetan and crystal singing bowls, tuning forks, drums, humming, and breathwork. She describes how participants can embrace unexpected sounds, connect with a group, and discover their own experience of presence.

Melissa also shares her perspective on Reiki as a personal spiritual practice, her interest in aromatherapy, and her willingness to challenge conventional assumptions.

Throughout the conversation, Jim connects these ideas to 12-step recovery, behavioral change, and the importance of acceptance.

In this episode:

• Reclaiming your needs without abandoning compassion for others

• Setting boundaries around unsolicited advice

• Understanding why personal growth happens in layers

• Finding freedom in saying "I don't know"

• Exploring sound, rhythm, and mindful listening

• Reiki as a practice of personal awareness

• Challenging assumptions and opening yourself to new perspectives

• Accepting the present as a starting point for change

Remember: mindfulness isn't about having every answer. It's about being present, remaining open-minded, and choosing how you participate in your own life.

Connect with Melissa Carey:
https://intothespirithealing.life

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Learn to Fish Without Bait: A 365-Day Mindfulness Journal and Adult Coloring Book

https://www.lulu.com/shop/james-ellermeyer-lpc-ma-ncc-lpc/learn-to-fish-without-bait/paperback/product-6n9rd8.html?page=1&pageSize=4

Do a kindness for yourself, and do a kindness for another.

Together, they revisit the timeless teachings of Jesus, focusing on his central message of love, compassion, and self-discovery — a message that’s often been overshadowed by societal control, rigid traditions, and centuries of interpretation.

We’ll discuss:
• Why spirituality is about personal connection rather than institutional rules.
• The two greatest commandments Jesus taught and why they free us from fear.
• Insights from alternative gospels like Thomas and Mary Magdalene that emphasize the divine spark within.
• How to embrace mindfulness, self-validation, and inner freedom in your daily life.

Jim challenges us to see the divine within ourselves and others, and to choose kindness, forgiveness, and mindful living as a way of nurturing that spark.

🎧 Join us on a journey toward living without definitive expectations — where true freedom lies in love, compassion, and understanding.

Visit FishingWithoutBait.com to listen to more episodes, share your thoughts, and explore ways to live fully in the moment.