Stay Close with Sarah Brassard

What if healing didn’t always mean pushing through? What if not being ready wasn’t a failure—but a form of wisdom?In this final episode of the season, Sarah Brassard offers a compassionate framework for what happens after the initial breakthroughs—when the patterns are named, the wounds are understood, and suddenly… it all feels too overwhelming. This tender space between recognition and integration is where many of us falter—not because we’re doing it wrong, but because we’ve never been taught how to pause with care.This conversation is a permission slip to go at your own pace. To honor what’s rising. And to know that sometimes, the most courageous step forward is… not yet.Inside This Episode:A recap of the journey from Episode 1 through nowWhat to expect when your healing journey stirs deep emotional materialWhy emotional overwhelm is information—not an emergencyHow to move at your own pace without shameUnderstanding the role of protective patternsThe essential role of community in your becomingWhy pausing isn’t avoidance—it’s alignmentFive Essential Truths to Carry With You:Emotional overwhelm is not an emergency. It’s information.You get to go at your own pace. Healing isn’t a race.Your protective patterns are not your enemy—they’re part of your healing.You need people. Healing happens in community and connection.Sometimes the most healing thing you can do is pause.Notable Quotes:“Your becoming happens when you’re seen and held by people who love you—not despite your struggles, but because of your beautiful, brave humanity.”“The goal isn’t to arrive somewhere different. The goal is to come home to who you are.”“These emotions aren’t invaders—they’re messengers. They’ve been waiting for the right moment to be witnessed and held.”Try This:When something stirs inside you, pause.Breathe.Ask yourself gently: What part of me isn’t ready to be rushed?Let stillness be your sacred companion.Connect with Sarah:If this episode resonated, Sarah would love to hear from you. Leave a comment/review on the podcast or tag her on Instagram @sarahwbrassard with your reflections. You’re not alone in this journey—and there’s no wrong way to return to yourself.Intro and Outro Music Credits“I Don’t Care (Zirophux)” by Carly Johnson — https://www.carlyjohnsonmusic.com/shop“Obi’s Chair” by Mark Geary — https://markgeary.com/home-page/albums/Licensed via Persona Music

In this episode of Stay Close, host Sarah Brassard explores the transformative power of choosing yourself first. Far from being selfish, Sarah explains how this practice is actually foundational to forming authentic relationships and experiencing genuine love.Episode HighlightsWhy choosing yourself first is not selfish and is in fact an act of ‘Sacred Rebellion’Simple, everyday self-care practicesDaily emotional check-insSetting compassionate boundariesMaking time for stillness and restThe healing magic of Yoga Nidra"When we're truly choosing ourselves, we create space for others to be themselves too."Intro and Outro Music Credits“I Don’t Care (Zirophux)” by Carly Johnson — https://www.carlyjohnsonmusic.com/shop“Obi’s Chair” by Mark Geary — https://markgeary.com/home-page/albums/Licensed via Persona Music

In this deeply personal episode, Sarah shares the profound journey of healing her relationship with her mother through vulnerability and forgiveness. Discover how small, brave acts can transform even the most fractured relationships and learn to approach similar challenges in your own life. Inside This Episode: - The power of vulnerability in healing relationships - Realizing and dismantling emotional walls - Practicing self-forgiveness as a path to healing - Creating new, joyful traditions and moments of connection - Guided forgiveness practice and reflective questions Key Quote: “There's nothing in life that can't be healed.” Reflective Questions: - What would forgiveness look like here? - What might it feel like to forgive myself, even if it's just a little bit? - What might it feel like to forgive the other person, even if I'm not ready to say that out loud yet? Try This: Next time you feel distant or hurt in a relationship, practice the guided forgiveness exercise shared in this episode. Notice how small, intentional acts of understanding and compassion can soften the barriers and foster deeper connections. Connect with Sarah:Sarah’s Book – Inside: A Guide to the Resources WithinA gentle companion for your healing journey. Explore the bookStay in Touch: Receive Sarah’s notes from the heart, upcoming offerings, and soulful reflections. Subscribe to the newsletterConnect on Instagram: @sarahbrassardIntro and Outro Music Credits“I Don’t Care (Zirophux)” by Carly Johnson — https://www.carlyjohnsonmusic.com/shop“Obi’s Chair” by Mark Geary — https://markgeary.com/home-page/albums/Licensed via Persona Music

What if the parts of yourself you’ve tried to hide are actually the gateway to your greatest wisdom?In this episode, Sarah explores the power of embracing our raw, unfiltered truth. Together, we look at the inner tension between perfectionism and presence—and how true freedom comes when we give ourselves permission to be fully human. Through metaphor, storytelling, and guided reflection, Sarah invites you to reconnect with your wildness, your aliveness, and your imperfect beauty.Inside This Episode:Why our “wild parts” are often the most sacredHow perfectionism distances us from real connectionWhat it means to value presence over performanceMeeting the inner critic (“the shitty committee”) with compassionTools for authentic self-expression, including the sacred pauseReflective questions to reclaim your truthKey Quotes:“Perfection is a mythical creature. What if instead of chasing perfection, we chased authenticity?”Try This:Next time you feel triggered, practice the sacred pause:Notice physical sensations → Take a deep breath → Get curious about what’s really underneath. This week, notice where perfectionism or people-pleasing show up. What shifts if you let yourself be fully seen?Connect with Sarah:Sarah’s Book – Inside: A Guide to the Resources WithinA gentle companion for your healing journey. Explore the bookStay in Touch: Receive Sarah’s notes from the heart, upcoming offerings, and soulful reflections. Subscribe to the newsletterConnect on Instagram: @sarahbrassardIntro and Outro Music Credits“I Don’t Care (Zirophux)” by Carly Johnson — https://www.carlyjohnsonmusic.com/shop“Obi’s Chair” by Mark Geary — https://markgeary.com/home-page/albums/Licensed via Persona Music

Episode SummaryIn this episode, Sarah explores the paradox of returning to our true selves by shedding the layers we've accumulated over time. She discusses how "unbecoming" the protective habits and limiting beliefs we've adopted allow us to return to our authentic nature.Key ConceptsUnbecoming to Become: The process of peeling away protective layers to return to our authentic selvesThe Breath as a Reconnection Tool: Using conscious breathing to bridge conscious and unconscious mindsThe Observer Practice: Developing the ability to witness emotional patterns without being swept away by themRest as Foundation: Understanding that rest isn't just recovery, but the foundation that makes all healing possibleEpisode OutlineMoving Away From OurselvesHow we disconnect from our true selves for safety, acceptance, or because of limiting beliefsThe cost of becoming someone other than our authentic selfSarah's personal journey of disconnection following childhood lossThe Path Back to AuthenticitySarah's healing journey beginning with Kundalini yogaThe importance of consistent practice in rewiring neural pathwaysCognitive behavioral therapy and identifying limiting beliefsDevelopment of "The Observer" consciousnessThe Power of RestHow exhaustion led to a deeper healing questionThe discovery of Yoga Nidra as a foundational practiceThe concept of a "spiritual savings account" where rest is worth ten times other practicesThe courage to rest in a culture that celebrates pushing throughDaily PracticeThree questions to ask yourself daily:Where am I holding tension in my body right now?What practice would help me feel more like myself today?What is one small way I can honor my need for rest today?Resources MentionedBook: "Inside: A Guide to the Resources Within" by Sarah BrassardBook: "Radiant Rest" by Tracee StanleyPractice: Yoga NidraPractice: Kundalini YogaPoem: "Courage" by David Whyte (featuring the line "to be courageous is to stay close to the way we are made")Quote to Remember"True courage is often found in the decision to stop, to rest, to listen to your body when everything around you is saying, keep going."Connect With SarahStay connected through Sarah’s newsletter. Receive soulful updates, offerings, and gentle invitations to return home to yourself.Subscribe hereFollow Sarah on Instagram: @sarahbrassardIntro and Outro Music Credits“I Don’t Care (Zirophux)” by Carly Johnson — https://www.carlyjohnsonmusic.com/shop“Obi’s Chair” by Mark Geary — https://markgeary.com/home-page/albums/Licensed via Persona Music

In this episode of Stay Close, Sarah opens up about a story she’s never shared publicly before—a story of loss, identity, and the lengths we sometimes go to protect ourselves from pain.At just 13 years old, Sarah coped with her mother’s departure by creating an entirely new persona—"Muffy," complete with a fictional twin sister. What began as a way to survive and escape grief became a metaphor for the masks we all wear when we feel unsafe, unseen, or not enough.Through this vulnerable reflection, Sarah explores the long-lasting effects of abandoning ourselves for acceptance and the journey of returning to who we truly are. She speaks about the exhaustion of shape-shifting, the weight of personas, and the quiet liberation that comes with removing the armor.💬 In this episode, Sarah shares:Her first experience with hiding her authentic self—and why it felt safer at the timeHow her pattern of self-abandonment showed up in adulthood and relationshipsWhat it took to finally begin the journey back to herselfThe small but powerful practices that can reconnect us to our truthThis episode is a soft invitation to reflect on your own “Muffy moments”—those times when you’ve stepped away from your truth to fit in, avoid pain, or keep others comfortable. Sarah reminds us that we don’t have to stay in those roles forever. The path back is gentle, and it’s made up of small, courageous steps.🌿 Evening Reflection Practice:Before you end your day, ask yourself:When did I feel most alive today?When did I feel most connected to myself and others?When did I feel most at peace?These are your signposts. They are showing you where you’re already staying close to your true self.Resources & Mentions:Stay connected through Sarah’s newsletterReceive soulful updates, offerings, and gentle invitations to return home to yourself.Subscribe hereFollow Sarah on Instagram: @sarahbrassard“The most courageous thing you can do is simply to stay close to how you were made.”Thank you for holding space for this story. We hope it reminds you that you’re not alone—and that coming home to yourself is always possible.🌙 Until next time, stay close.Intro and Outro Music Credits“I Don’t Care (Zirophux)” by Carly Johnson — https://www.carlyjohnsonmusic.com/shop“Obi’s Chair” by Mark Geary — https://markgeary.com/home-page/albums/Licensed via Persona Music

The Second Initiation: Healing Through VulnerabilityIn this deeply personal episode, Sarah Brassard shares her experience with a recent respiratory infection that became a powerful catalyst for healing old grief. Speaking with vulnerability even through her recovery, Sarah connects this physical illness to a similar respiratory infection she experienced 32 years ago—what she calls her "first initiation" into self-discovery.Episode Highlights:Sarah reflects on recording the previous episode about her bronchial pneumonia at age 32, only to experience similar respiratory symptoms hours laterThe connection between physical ailments and stored emotional pain, particularly grief from losing her parents at ages 13 and 16How Sarah recognized this illness as "old grief coming through my physical body"The importance of prioritizing self-care by clearing her calendar and allowing herself to be vulnerableThe science of neuroplasticity and how reframing our stories physically rewires our brainsThe shift from seeing experiences as "happening to me" to "happening for me."Key Quote:"I am courageous as I move closer to the way I was made." - Inspired by poet David WhyteGuided Practice:Sarah leads listeners through a "Story Shift" exercise:Recall a challenging experience from your pastNotice how your body feels when recalling this experienceAsk yourself: "What if this experience wasn't happening to me, but for me?"Consider what gifts it brought, what strengths you developed, and how it prepared you for something important laterNotice the subtle shifts in your body as you reframe the experienceScience Behind the Practice:Sarah references neuroscientist Dr. Maya Reinhardt's research on how reframing our narratives can:Improve vagal tone and heart rate variabilityStrengthen immune functionDecrease stress hormonesHelp the nervous system understand that we're safeWeekly Invitation:Choose one story you tell about yourself—perhaps something labeled as a failure or disappointment:Write it down exactly as you currently tell itWrite a second version focusing on what you gained, learned, and how you grewRead both versions aloud and notice how your body responds to eachConnect with Sarah:Sarah’s Book – Inside: A Guide to the Resources WithinA gentle companion for your healing journey. Explore the bookStay in Touch: Receive Sarah’s notes from the heart, upcoming offerings, and soulful reflections. Subscribe to the newsletterConnect on Instagram: @sarahbrassardThank you for holding space for today's story.May it remind you that you’re never alone in your healing.🌸 Until next time, stay close.Intro and Outro Music Credits“I Don’t Care (Zirophux)” by Carly Johnson — https://www.carlyjohnsonmusic.com/shop“Obi’s Chair” by Mark Geary — https://markgeary.com/home-page/albums/Licensed via Persona Music

To Be Courageous Is To Stay Close To The Way We Are MadeHost Sarah Brassard introduces her new podcast, "Stay Close," which explores what it means to return to our authentic selves. The episode centers on David Whyte's powerful quote: "To be courageous is to stay close to the way we are made."Episode Highlights:Sarah reflects on her 65 years of life, with much of it spent trying to return to her authentic selfThe pivotal moment of disconnection: when Sarah's mother left her family when she was 13 years oldThe journey of healing and forgiveness with her mother, now 96 years oldThe four elements of being human: physical, emotional, mental, and spiritualSarah's personal health crisis with bronchial pneumonia became a "healing event" and a turning pointThe importance of finding alignment through mentors, community, and practices that feel true to your experienceLooking inward to recognize what authenticity feels like rather than seeking external solutionsKey Takeaways:Authentic living requires recognizing what disconnects us from our true natureTrue healing comes from turning toward what needs attention rather than away from itFinding your path back to authenticity often happens through following small breadcrumbs, not giant leapsThe courage to return to who we truly are is one of the most important journeys we can undertakeJoin Sarah on this exploration of staying true to yourself while building meaningful connections in a world that often wants to reshape us.Intro and Outro Music Credits“I Don’t Care (Zirophux)” by Carly Johnson — https://www.carlyjohnsonmusic.com/shop“Obi’s Chair” by Mark Geary — https://markgeary.com/home-page/albums/Licensed via Persona Music