How To Break Bad Habits: Cindy Azar - Health & Life Coach

0:05 this is the beyond the story podcast, a show that goes way beyond the story. And now, sebastian cindy. Welcome to the show. Thank you. Thanks for being here. Is this your first podcast episode? Yes, wow, we got a newbie on our hands, ladies and gentlemen. Well, I'm glad that you braved the path to becoming a podcast guest here. A lot of people are like huh, what about that?

0:46 Yeah, that's kind of how I felt. You're not alone. It's pretty common, it happens, it happens. So on this show I like to talk about people's story and really what brought them to present day with what they're currently doing. I know you've had quite the interesting journey I hate that word word but don't have a better word right now for it but you've had quite the interesting journey over the past few years on transitioning into what you want to do and figuring out what your groove is. You and I met I think it's been a couple of years now through a mutual group, apex. I want to say our first interaction was you commenting on my post about there being too single, not being enough single people in that group.

1:32 Yeah, yeah, yeah, I do remember that and I was like who's this little hottie? Let me see what's up. Let me see what's up. Crazy how we connect these days in this wild wild west of social media. At that time you were doing mortgages and I know that you've been up to some other. Really seems like more exciting things for you as of late. So let's back up a little bit. I know you're a mom too. I know you got kids as well that are growing up and doing things and all that fun stuff. So let's back up a little bit for some context to the beginning of the story and what really kind of brought you to present day with what you're doing.

2:12 Sure. So actually I used to be in the health and wellness industry oh my, it's been a minute. I was a personal trainer, had my own studio. Uh was married at the time and then went through a divorce and sold everything and I needed to get a job where I can could support myself and my kids. So um went into sales and then from there went into the mortgage industry, did really really well for seven years, um, but I've always had that. I always missed the help. Being in the health and wellness industry, um kept up with, you know, my personal uh health and wellness and I would, here and there, you know, have like little small classes and then when the market started slowing down about two years ago was it two years ago?

3:09 Yeah. I think it was when these 8% interest rates, decided to join us. Yeah, when both the home prices and the rates went up, things started slowing down. My daughter was away at the in the army. Still, my son had just moved to his dad's in Vegas and here I was, um, by myself, you know, empty nest, and was like, okay, now that both my kids are out of the house, um, business has slowed down. This is my time for me to focus on me and what I really want to do, and took some time to figure out what, what is that?

3:51 What does that look like for me? And went right back into the health and wellness industry. I was like, yeah, that's what I've always enjoyed doing it. And then decided to get certified as a health and life coach, and then, yeah, as a yoga teacher. And here I am building a community in that world, and I feel like the next step is putting a podcast together. Yeah, hey, well, how ironic is that? huh, yeah, I find it, you know it's. It's interesting that you know, usually when we're deeply passionate about something and then we kind of veer off the course a little bit and start doing something different, and then we end up going back to it's not necessarily what's familiar, it's what we are, what we're, what what really gets us excited and I think that's really what's happened with you, because you seem ridiculously passionate about whether it's a yoga class, I think it's.

4:49 I think at the core of it and correct me if I'm wrong is really being able to help people and help people get to wherever it is that they want to go. I mean, that's really what a coach does, right, exactly. And you know, it's not just helping people accomplish those goals, it's helping them create those habits. That's where I really focus is helping them create those habits. Create those habits that's where I really focus is helping them create those habits. Someone can say, hey, I'm, you know, I want to lose weight or whatever and then they go all in for a week or two and then they go right back to those old habits and then, yes, so I.

5:29 That's where I like to help people is creating those habits that will eventually lead them to their goals. Let's talk about that, because habits are something they're easy to create and terrible to break. So walk me through that. How does that work? I had a lady on yesterday and she was like she works with adolescents. She's a coach for adolescents and helps them with feelings and emotions and how to properly and manage them in a healthy manner. I was like wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, let's back up, let's back up. I don't even know how to do that. So how do I process emotions and feelings and health? But anyway. So today we're talking about habits. So let's see. What does that look like? Somebody comes to you and they're like hey, I eat too much, I don't work out, I want to lose weight, or you know whatever.

6:14 Fill in the blank. Habit is on there. What's the first step in that process? So the first step would be to bring attention to your subconscious habits. You know, we say things, our thoughts, our, our actions, we do certain things without thinking them, and so we have to stop and bring attention to those. What am I saying, what am I doing without thinking? And then let's just say somebody has this thought that I'm just overweight and that's just how I'll always be, and they just have that mentality. Well, okay, let's let's stop and think about it. Why?

6:55 What's creating that thought? Is it because you? Is it a limiting belief? Is it because maybe you just don't know what to do? You need some help, you need a coach to help you figure out what's a better choice for said thing? And then making those habits, um, just making a conscious choice, to be like realizing when it's happening, stop and then switch it. So when they but when you talk to them to go and do that, like hearing it and understanding it and then actually going doing something about it are two completely different things. So what happens when you work with somebody and you go through this process they're like okay, cool, cindy got it.

7:39 And then they don't have it and they don't actually do it. Then what's that followup step then? Um so like I guess it's. It feels like you're unpacking what the issues and they're like okay, guess it's. It feels like you're unpacking what the issues and they're like okay, cool, I'm clear about it. So next week on our call, I want you to do x, y and z in between now and our next call. And then we get to the next call and like well, I tried to do it, but I wasn't able to do it, or I can't seem to get my mindset shifted out, because that's where I find the biggest challenge is actually being able to. I can understand it and conceptualize the problem, but putting it into play a little challenging yes, and that's where that's the biggest issue is.

8:20 People will set those goals, and then they say, yeah, yeah, yeah. I mean just, for example, I have this boot camp that I just started. I already have two people that only showed up for the first class and it's well, I didn't wake up or whatever excuse right, and it's like okay, is it really that important for you then? Are you really prioritizing it? Sure, what's? yeah, so I didn't wake up. A terrible excuse like get your life, Holy cow. So, and maybe they're just not ready and we can't you know, we can't force someone to. I can't change someone and that's not willing to change.

9:00 That's the first step in coaching, right? Are you open? Are you open? Being open to change is, is, is, and you got to want that too, right? I think that's what really leads to to eventual results is, and that's probably one of the first things you talk about. It's like are you, first of all, are you open to shifting to a different outcome, and do you actually have to do it If you're? Not open to do it, then we're going to waste our time here. Exactly and I do walk them through. Okay, what's going to happen if you don't do it? What's going to happen if you do do it? And let's focus on the positive. And you know I help them come up with some sort of anchor.

9:47 You know, when you're having these negative thoughts, shift your mind over to whatever it may be. It could be an object, something to kind of just remind them. Okay, you know, reel it back in. Right know, reel it back in. Right, reel it back in, exactly, that's right. What? What is something that we can do to reel it back in on here, which a lot of people have a lot of, you know, a lot of challenge, you know, going into it. So, and I'm really interested in this transition that you're, you know, you've been in for the past couple of years now it's like you're figuring out like what is next for you, what absolutely just set your soul on fire and you're like you know what I want to do that. So what is that?

10:28 I'm curious because I know that you've been in this discovery phase and you've started to really land by doing stuff and taking action on doing stuff Specifically local, with where you're at you and I had a conversation a couple of weeks ago and you're like I'm in a very remote place, lake Havasu, which is an absolute middle of nowhere, but in the middle of nowhere, and you're like I just don't know if I can get the plane off the ground in my little small town where I'm at right now. So what does that all look like? Cause I and I'm curious, cause you're you're in an interesting space too, where it's like you literally do or go wherever you really wanted to go, based on you know what, what you think is next for you, what you want to be able to go do, but you know back to change.

11:09 It's not always easy, right, right? right. So about a year and a half ago I went to Costa Rica and I was at a retreat and I absolutely fell in love with the idea of having a retreat center. So ultimately, my my ultimate goal like where I want to end up at is I want to have a retreat center somewhere where I live on the property by the ocean and I have retreats there People can come and do everything that I'm trying to, you know, build is coaching, cold punches, saunas, healthy food, the, the yoga, the workouts everything is there at this retreat center and I help with hosting these retreats.

11:58 That's my ultimate goal. That's like yeah, so what does that look like to make a reality? I mean, I know that's the ultimate goal on there, but it's you know, usually it starts with, okay, cool, listen, I know a resort. I mean, I know a retreat place that I can use until I figure out where my actual spot is or where I'm going to go and land. So, like, what is that? Cause then you know, your next step is getting people there to actually go and do it and say, yeah, I want to go on a retreat, I want to, you know, you know, see a different reality. So what does that all look like? I'm always curious on how these things come together, cause I've got a couple of friends that are put similar, similar concepts together, and it's no easy task by any stretch of the imagination, because you're dealing with 12 people.

12:42 Yeah, so first step I feel like in my journey there is meeting other retreat facilitators and I actually had two Zoom calls with one couple owns a place in Phoenix and then the other one in Sedona. So talk to them about co-facilitating Kind of the neighborhood kind of. Yeah, right, it's the closest for me. So, yeah, I spoke with them and they are willing to co-facilitate and kind of show me how things work. And then, once I feel comfortable, I will plan on doing my own retreats and then hopefully I shouldn't say hopefully eventually I will have my retreat and I'll gain all the experience from having these retreats.

13:38 I think it's a good game plan. When's the first retreat? I don't have a date yet. I'm still figuring it out further. Yeah, so figuring it out, waiting for their emails to give me some you know, their rates and whatnot. So cool but. I'm sure you'll see it on social media when I do have it, yeah. We've spoken several times about it. I'm all about the retreats. I'm sure you'll see it on social media when I do that. We've spoken several times about it. I'm all about the retreats. I'm always very resistant to going, but I'm always glad that I go and do. And I have a friend I want to introduce you to too. that's in this retreat figure it out mode as well. She works with conscious-based businesses and business owners specifically entrepreneurs as well and doing something, and she's based here in Miami and I don't know if she's hosted one or it's been on the, on the, in the game plan or in the works to do one in Costa Rica as well, which you got to experience on there.

14:33 So I think between Miami, costa Rica and Arizona, my goodness, there's a, there's a retreat happening. Well, cool. I'm glad that we got the opportunity to finally get a podcast episode recorded, cause the first we talked about this. You're like I don't know about that. I do. we're recording a podcast episode. Yeah, now watching it would be it yeah, well, how do you feel about it? You did it. I mean, here we are I did it yeah you're a podcast guest. I mean it happened, yay, yeah, and you know. You know it's funny how podcast conversations you know I always say having a podcast, podcasting in general, can you know can change your perspective and thought process.

15:17 It does, because you have interesting, thought-provoking conversations, or at least one would hope and sometimes it's another step into the process of figuring out, you know, whatever it is that we're all trying to figure out. So you know the power of podcasting. But well, I appreciate you taking the time and hang out with me for a few minutes here. I don't do long drawn out everlasting, gobstop podcast episodes at all. I just get in talk about people's story, what interests them, what they got going on right now, and it really is a connection tool for me to be able to further connect with people and figure out other ways to work together, et cetera. So, but I appreciate your time. Any final thoughts for our listeners about, like, what you do as far as helping people get to where they want to be?

15:58 No, no, final thoughts. You have to have final thoughts. It's a must. Putting me on the spot like that. Do you want me to send you a script? Yeah, that would have helped. That post. It's up everywhere. Yeah, all right. So Cindy's final thoughts are if you've had the nudge to do something different in your life, you need to do it, and usually we need somebody to come alongside us and support us, to help us get to where we want to be, just like she's reaching out to people to figure out what her next play is with the retreat. So that's Cindy's final thoughts.

16:39 I gave her her final. I gave you final thoughts for you, because you know that's what friends do you know, Cindy, keep rocking and rolling. I'm a I'm a huge Cindy fan and uh supporting what you got going on, and excited to see how this whole retreat thing unpacks and I look forward to getting to one of them one of these days here thank you, yeah, for sure all right, cool, I'll talk to you soon okay until next time. Friends, thanks so much for tuning into this episode of the beyond the story podcast. Be sure to appreciate it. If you haven't done already, make sure you're subscribed to the show. This way, you'll get updates as new episodes become available. If you feel so inclined, please leave us a review. Be sure to appreciate it.

17:19 Signing off from the podcast LaunchLabcom Studios. We'll talk to you next time.