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Show Notes
In today’s conversation, we are joined by Meghan Pherrill Gordon. In this conversation with Meghan, we cover a lot of ground. She’s a podcast host, she has a yoga business, and she teaches us about Human Design. But the part of this interview that I really enjoyed, and I think you’re going to love, is the deep dive into her personal experience with being diagnosed with extreme anxiety and OCD at a very young age. Her experiences with that and how she overcame it are really inspirational.
Meghan explains how she built her own practice and then began sharing what she learned through yoga and meditation with others, step by step and piece by piece. It is a great conversation about trying new things, finding balance, and finding the things that light you up and work for you.
In this episode, you will hear:
- Overcoming anxiety and OCD.
- Deciding to make the changes that you want in your life and then working on those changes.
- The power of yoga and meditation to change your life.
- Revising good things to find what works for you.
- How Human Design can help you to understand the nature of your being.
- Finding the thing that lights you up now.
About Meghan Pherrill Gordon
Meghan Pherrill Gordon is the creator of Balance by Meghan, an online community designed to empower and inspire you on your wellness journey so you can be the best version of yourself. Meghan is the host of the Balance Your Life Podcast, a 500-hour yoga teacher, a meditation teacher and trainer, a wellness influencer, and a Human Design reader. She lives in Nova Scotia with her husband, loves to travel (when there isn’t a pandemic), practice yoga, get outside in nature, and geeks out over anything wellness.
Connect with Meghan Pherrill Gordon:
Website: https://www.balancebymeghan.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meghan-pherrill-gordon-84839397/
Balance Your Life Podcast: https://www.balancebymeghan.com/podcast
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/balancebymeghan/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@balancebymeghan
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/BalancebyMeghan
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/balancebymeghan
Twitter: https://twitter.com/balancebymeghan
Additional Links:
- Shield Your Body website: https://ShieldYourBody.com
- Shield Your Body Youtube Channel: https://youtube.com/shieldyourbody
- Host R Blank on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rblank9/
- Shield Your Body on Instagram:https://instagram.com/shieldyourbody
Transcript
Meghan Pherrill 0:00
I felt like I had this puzzle in front of me and I was missing one piece. And then human design came into my life. And I was like, there it is the pieces there, the whole picture is there. And it literally was like what yoga had done for me. I was like, I have to share more of this with people because I feel like so many of us are conditioned to work a certain way or to be a certain way. And we’re literally going against the nature of our being.
Announcer 0:28
Welcome to the healthier tech podcast, the show about building a healthier relationship with modern technology. Now, here are your hosts, R blank and Stephanie Warner.
R Blank 0:41
So this conversation with Meghan, we cover a lot of ground. She’s a podcast host, she has a yoga business. And I learned about human design. But the part of this interview that I really enjoyed and I think our audience is going to love is, is the deep dive on, on her personal experience with anxiety, which in her case, was diagnosed very young, and very extreme. And her experiences with that and how she overcame it. It’s really inspirational.
Stephanie Warner 1:08
Yeah, absolutely. I really, I, I just I really enjoyed this conversation. It was it was, you know, there were so many points of just, you know, I don’t know, like human connection. You know, this was this was listening to her talk about her story, finding ways in which I personally felt connected to what she was saying. And then listening to how she’s built up this head. I guess this this practice that she has, it’s been one step. And then the next step, and then the next step, and then creating this programme that she likes that she talks about. And yeah, I just I just really liked it was really great conversation, and I hope our listeners really enjoy it as well.
R Blank 1:54
Yeah, let’s not keep them waiting any longer. Let’s get into it. Let’s do it. Megan Farrell is a meditation and yoga teacher, a yoga Alliance, continuing education provider and Human Design Guide. She is the creator of balanced by Megan, a platform and podcast designed to inspire and empower others to begin and maintain their yoga health and wellness journey. When Megan isn’t geeking out on wellness, she enjoys spending her day with her husband in Nova Scotia, practising yoga, travelling and getting outside in nature. Welcome, Megan, nice to talk to you again.
Meghan Pherrill 2:28
Thank you so much for having me. I’m so excited for this conversation.
R Blank 2:32
Yeah, no, this is and for those who don’t know, you graciously hosted me on your fantastic balance your life podcast. I think it was last year, I really enjoyed the conversation. So I’m really happy to have the chance to talk to you again. Yeah,
Meghan Pherrill 2:45
me too. We talked all about EMF and I learned so much. So I’m excited for this.
R Blank 2:50
Yeah. So today we’re turning the tables, we’re going to talk about the stuff you’re an expert in. And just stepping back. There’s a theme, or a storyline in in your backstory, how you got to where you are today. And it’s one that we seem to encounter a lot on this podcast and one that I like kind of investigating. Because I think it is really important to a growing number of people. And I know that so in the past, you suffered from depression, anxiety, OCD, OCD, and, and suicidal ideation. And as we discussed a lot on this show rates of anxiety are, are exploding. And, and what I’ve learned in the past couple of years, is that a lot of people with anxiety, don’t even realise they have anxiety, or it takes them a while to come to that recognition. So I want to be in our chat today on of your journey to awareness by asking, and it’s a really broad question. So answer however you want. What do you think anxiety? Is?
Meghan Pherrill 3:56
That’s such a good question. And for me, I very much knew I had anxiety right from I was diagnosed with obsessive compulsive disorder. I think when I was nine or 10, like I was in grade five, I was really young. And I knew because I couldn’t do anything without, for me it was these compulsions, or these routines or rituals that would, if I didn’t do them, I was going to have a terrible day I was going to die or my family was going to die, which sounds super extreme. But I’ve come to learn that in the OCD world that is very much a big anxiety is like if you don’t open the curtains one way you’re gonna die like it’s very extreme. But I was very well aware that I had these anxieties because, like I just couldn’t function in my life with them. So I was put on meds extremely, extremely young. But for me when I think of anxiety, it’s not being able to do anything in your life without her fear of something terrible happening, or you just feel like you have no control over your life and you’re being guided or dictated by this anxiety that controls every aspect of your of your world.
R Blank 5:15
So, so for my next one, I mean, you, you, you obviously came to this realisation or your parents or caregivers came to this realisation, pretty young in life. So I’m not sure if you have an answer to this question. But how? How are people? And I guess that’s my way of saying, yeah, it was, it was recognised for you as a problem very early. Other people? How are they supposed to? Or how do you recommend thinking about recognising whether anxiety is actually a problem that you need to address? Or it’s just kind of part of who you are? And it’s totally manageable? Is? Is there a dividing line? How do you think about that?
Meghan Pherrill 5:59
It’s such a good question. And I think for a lot of people, it can be very subjective, because so many people can experience it on different levels. But I would really say if you are, like, for me, there were so many things I wanted to even do in my life. And I would consistently be like, Oh, well, no, you can’t do that. Because your family won’t approve? Or if you do that, and something terrible happens to you, then what are you going to do? Like, I was always thinking of negative things, or like ways that I could? Like, what if plan A doesn’t go to the way I want What’s plan B, C, D, like, I was never just enjoying the moment, it was just very much. Like I would say, if anyone is like making a decision or wanting to do something in their life, that they’re consistently talking themselves out of it? Or, well, you can never do that, because you’re not worthy, or you’re, what is your family gonna think? Or you could blow all your money? If you do that. That’s an absolutely ridiculous thought, like, anything that’s really I guess,
R Blank 7:14
I feel you’re interfering with your life.
Meghan Pherrill 7:17
I feel like we all innately know that we’re experiencing anxiety, we just tell ourselves like, Oh, I’m just a high anxiety person or an anxious person. But I, I guess, if you really feel like it’s controlling your life, that is something that you absolutely have to kind of get the reins on a little bit more. And, you know, really figure out like, why do you experience this so much anxiety? Because I feel like it’s, it’s more of a internal thing, or even subconscious thing that’s leading you to this. It’s,
R Blank 7:53
it’s funny that it’s the first time I I’ve been thinking about this in this way, based on on your answer. It’s the first time I’ve really thought about anxiety, and addiction sort of being viewed in the same way, right? Because, you know, people can go out and enjoy a drink, or they can be addicted to alcohol, people can be anxious, or they can have debilitating anxiety. And it’s that dividing line, where I think like you say, where it starts to control you, instead of you’re controlling it that can be a useful way of trying to view that.
Meghan Pherrill 8:29
Yeah, absolutely. And like one other thing, I think that’s a very visual thing for somebody to recognise in themselves is, if you are experiencing anxiety, or what you think is anxiety, and it’s this, like contracting, feeling in your body, where you literally feel like your shoulders are slumping in words, your body is getting smaller, like that is a good indicator that you’re experiencing some sort of anxiety.
R Blank 8:55
So you already said you were on meds from a young age. And as I understand it was for a while, and and now you’re not. And you’re super happy and fulfilled and successful and expecting a child. Congratulations. Thank you so much. So So what when did that change happen? What changed? And what was that process? Like? How did how did you become aware of alternative paths to treatment? How did you pursue them?
Meghan Pherrill 9:23
So for me, I was on meds until I was about 20 years old, give or take 1920 years old, and I had never, it was very much like the doctor says to take this. That is what I do. They’re a doctor, they know what’s best for me. And I had also experienced suicidal tendencies. I became a self cutter when I was in high school and grade eight. But there was also this idea of like, I didn’t want to die, even though sometimes there were days where I was like, Oh, I just don’t want to do this anymore. Really, in the back of my mind was like, I don’t want to die. And I remember being like 18 years old and just thinking, there are so many people out there, friends of mine. I mean, I honestly don’t even know how I had fun sometimes in high school that were happy. And I was like, what, like, why do they get to be happy? What how do I get to that point, like, I was just tired. I was so tired of feeling miserable, upset, angry all the time. And I actually had a girlfriend, who, oh, we got into an argument over something, she was going somewhere. And I was upset that she hadn’t invited me and she said something along the lines of like, Megan, you’re just, you’re a negative person. Like, I just, I don’t want to have you around as much. And it was such a slap in the face that I needed. That I was like, I don’t, I don’t want to be this person anymore. This person. It’s not fun to be like this. And it was like, it sounds so cliche and everything. But I literally had like this lightbulb moment of like, I’m not doing this anymore. I am deciding that I’m going to try whatever I can to be happy. That’s that’s absolutely
Stephanie Warner 11:17
amazing. And I’ve had that I like I’m listening to you. And I’m feeling this in my in my gut, because I had the same a very similar situation or an epiphany when I was younger as well. Where I just realised I had a friend tell me like just honestly, like you’re just kind of negative and not that fun to be around when we’re doing fun things. That’s it’s a problem. I’m glad you know that. Going back to that i get i When you said that I was just, I felt that. And that is a very profound thing to experience, especially as a young woman, because we have so many other we have so many things going on in our mind. Plus, in addition to that you’re having these other thoughts plus OCD. What? So what did you do? What was your what what did that journey look like from getting to that moment of like, oh my gosh, I don’t want to be this person to a place where you’re able to kind of manage without medication and kind of start to start switching that the way you handle the outside world and your the inside world how you feel about yourself?
Meghan Pherrill 12:32
Yeah, I’ll be honest, like my OCD was so beyond out of control, like, even for myself to look back now and go, I cannot believe like, even for example, before I went to bed, I had to count every single book that I had in my bookshelf, 42 times. You know, I had to sit if I’d before I could sit down on a couch, I would have to stand up sit down like six different times, there were so many weird triggers that I had in rituals, that to this day. So when I went and finally saw my doctor about it, and you know, he psychologists to my I was seeing a cognitive behavioural therapist. And I was just like, I don’t have to do some of my rituals anymore. And she was like, Well, what do you mean? And I was like, I just don’t feel this need to really do some of them anymore. I went to there was universities that were having studies on OCD. I mean, I went through the ringer on them doing tests to be like, Well, why, like, why this girl? Why did she have this moment of clarity? Because it’s, as far as I know, OCD there’s like a 1% success rate of somebody kicking an OCD habit. And for somebody who was so extreme, they still to this day, have no idea what fired in my brain or what happened that just made me go no, I don’t have to do this anymore. And it was, it was literally an overnight switch. There were a couple of things that I did like, one of the things that my husband teases me about, I don’t have to do it anymore, but I would brush my teeth for exactly like three minutes. That one carried with me.
R Blank 14:15
That’s a good one. No,
Meghan Pherrill 14:16
it’s not a bad one. It’s like, there’s worse things to have. But there was like, just a couple of things that I kept doing. But it was such an overnight thing that like the doctors were like, there’s literally no explanation to say why you’re doing this other than like, this is fantastic. And they took me into studies just to see if there was anything special I guess like quote unquote special about me. But they still like I have no idea why I just decided it was literally like a decision I made that was like no not doing this anymore.
R Blank 14:50
It’s really taking
Meghan Pherrill 14:51
control. That’s impressive. It was a it’s still such a surreal moment for me to realise that Like I came that far, because it’s, you hear people like go on these journeys. And it was like, there’s also very extreme personalities in my family. And I don’t know if there’s any sort of correlation, but like, my grandfather was an alcoholic. And he did the same thing one day, he was like, No, I’m not doing this anymore, and never drank again, after that realisation. And I don’t know if it was something like we have in common or whatnot. But I had still, at that point, stayed on my medication. They’re like, you know, you were pretty suicidal, at one point, like, this is great, keep doing what you’re doing. But like, maybe, let’s just keep you on the meds for a while. And then I had met my, who is now my husband, but my boyfriend at the time, and he had gone through a period in his life where he was on the exact same medication as me. And ironically, it was a year, it was 2013. And I knew this sounds so morbid, but I knew nine people who passed away that year, it was awful, including my grandfather, who was like I just idolised the man, I thought he was everything. And I remember thinking, well, things can’t get any worse. And my husband’s like, you know, what are my boyfriend at the time, you can do this, you know, it’s going to be hard, but I’m going to be here for you. And I just, I would never recommend this, my doctor was infuriated with me. But I just stopped taking my meds, cold turkey, and I went through withdrawal for weeks. And but every day was like, it’s one more day, one more day under my belt one more day under the belt, like I can do this, I can do this. And I like I slept a lot. I was cranky a lot. I didn’t do anything, but I just knew, like everyday was like getting out of my system. And, you know, after a few weeks, I wasn’t on them anymore. And I felt like a totally renewed person. And
R Blank 16:57
that’s such a great, I mean, I wish I wait, I’m sure you do, too, that you had a secret to share that other people could replicate. But that is such a great story. And it’s just really heartening to hear.
Meghan Pherrill 17:12
I do too. I wish it was like you do this and this. And this, but I think for me, and it’s, you know, it sounds so like, that’s it. But it really came down to like, it was a decision I made that it was like, this is not going to be how my life goes anymore. And I will do whatever I can to change it. And I will say I’m lucky in the sense like I had a very supportive family. I wasn’t like in an environment that quote unquote, made me sick in the first place. You know what I mean? Like, you hear some people go through addiction, and they go back to the environment that made them sick. Like, it wasn’t like that. For me, I had a really good support system. But it was just like, I just kept putting one foot in front of the other. And, you know, Brad, my boyfriend at the time, he really stuck by me. And I can only imagine how much of a nightmare was at the time. But yeah, in my head, I was like, Well, what worst can happen? Like my grandfather passed away? I knew all these other people who passed away. It’s like, oh, it can only go up from here.
Stephanie Warner 18:11
Right? Right. Yeah. And in that’s just it is absolutely. An amazing, amazing story. And and I wonder I just kind of am fascinated by this journey, this part that you took when you stopped taking your medication was? Is that when you found yoga and meditation? Or were those things you were already doing? Like? How, how did yoga have a role to play in you managing those symptoms? And that or was that something you found a little later.
Meghan Pherrill 18:41
So it is exactly how I found yoga. I was so used to when I was on my medication, like I could nap for like three hours a day easily. And I slept so much when I was on those meds. And I stopped taking them and I had all this time to kill. I was like, oh my god, what am I supposed to do with myself, I’m usually sleeping at this point or having that. I had when I was like, 15, my mom had taken me to try yoga. And she was like I hear it’s good for anxiety, at the very least because I also had asthma. She was like, at the very least I think it’ll help with your asthma. And I did it in like a dingy basement apartment of like my mom’s friend. So there was all these at the time, like older women around me and I was like, I don’t get this. This just is not doing it for me. But as I sat there like five years later, I was like, oh my god, like what am I supposed to do right now? And this little voice in my head was like, do yoga. Like yoga? All right, but if I’m going to do yoga, I want it to be like a workout like I want to get in shape. I want to tone my body. And I had this like really crappy little mat from Walmart. That was like ice slid all over the place, I threw, I threw on this 20 minute like, power yoga, because I was like, I’m gonna do exercise, and it’s gonna be fabulous. And the video totally kicked my butt. And while I’ve always been like a smaller person, I mean, I was like, I could barely hold a plank, I was sweating. And I was just like, I was a disaster on that mat. And I was like, Okay, I’m gonna do this exact video three times a week, it’s 20 minutes long, until I can master it. And that was just kind of it. Like, I was like, okay, day one, I did it, I took a day off. And then the next day, it was like, Oh, I’m gonna, I’m gonna try that video again. And each day I got like, a little bit stronger, holding the poses until I could go through the entire video without hyperventilating and gasping for air and do a lot of the poses. And I was just like, I felt so good. On the mat, I was still going through some stuff off of it. But on the mat, I was like, Wow, this actually makes me feel so good. And I just feel so like, I was just really enjoying the moments. And I was so sad when the video ended, because I was like, Oh, I just I enjoyed that so much. I can’t wait to do that again. And three days a week, became four days a week. And then it became five days a week until I was doing some version of yoga every single day. And I noticed, you know, I was nicer, I was less reactive to people and to things around me, I started to sleep better. And then I was like, well, if I’m doing all this good stuff for my body, because I would I noticed my body’s starting to get stronger and lengthen out and lean out. I was like, you know, I kind of start eating better to like, compensate for this. And maybe if I start eating better, because I was very much like chicken fingers and fries type of girl. Like, my idea of vegetable was like corn. And if you were lucky, I’d have a few carrots. But I was like, yeah, like I just I was I felt like this, the next step was like, Okay, let’s eat a little healthier. And that I noticed that was doing something like my mind just started to get clearer. And I started drinking more water. And I just I like honestly became just so much more happier with my life from that moment. And meditation came a little while later, I had been practising for five years at that point. And I was the person who was like, I can’t meditate, I have too many things in my brain. Like I just, I don’t see the point in my head, I was like meditation is some guy in a dark room, cross legged chanting home, and like, it was just not doing it for me. And I had, like, I had noticed such a profound change in my life that I was like, I have to do this for other people. So I decided to take my yoga teacher training. And in that training, our the lady who was running it, the studio owner, was like, we’re gonna do some meditation. And I was like, Absolutely not like, this is not for me. But we were forced to do it. So we sat in a circle, and she led us through a guided meditation. And I remember when the meditation closed, bawling my eyes out, like just sobbing. And, you know, when they came around to share some insights of like, how that meditation made you feel. I blurred it out like that. It’s the only time in my life where I haven’t been negative to myself, where I didn’t have this constant voice in my head, telling me that like, I wasn’t good enough. And, you know, like, Who do you think you are teaching this? Like, it was just quiet and I actually didn’t have those thoughts. And from that moment on, I was like, I have to meditate every single day. Like, this is the only time I’m not so negative or mean to myself.
Stephanie Warner 24:04
Yeah, I love that I love I love the stages that you described. Because it’s like, sometimes they feel like it’s easy when you start to think okay, I’m gonna do it 2023 It’s the new year I’m gonna eat right and do yoga every day and then we end up just getting into paralysis of like, I’m trying to do too much and it sounds you just kind of it sounds like from your journey you just kind of naturally went step by step you’re like, Okay, I’m doing this for my for my physical body. And wow, this feels great. I’ve like net what’s next and then continuing the steps and I I wonder like how so how did you transition your love for yoga and and wellness in from a hobby. I won’t say a hobby, but from a lifestyle change for yourself into a business that then you grew for other people to help other people.
Meghan Pherrill 24:55
I knew I had been for being Honestly, a train wreck of a person up into that point of my life. And I just kept thinking, you know, I would tell people what I went through or friends who knew we were like, oh my god, the changes you have made, were amazing. And I’ll never forget going back to high school, like a year or two later and talking to a class about it. I knew one of the teachers, he was like, come back, I love your story, share it with my students to hopefully inspire them. And I remember at the end of it him saying, You know what, Megan, I am so happy to see you. Thriving in your life because I honestly thought you were going to be a statistic. And I, I hated watching you suffer that way. And I was like, if I can change my life, I again from the person who was on so much medication from the person who was going to a therapist every week to, to really like dropping my medication to change my life in the most positive ways. I was just like, I have to share this with people, I have to tell more people. And I honestly thought, you know, I’ll just get my yoga teacher training certification. I’ll teach a couple of classes, because for me, it had been so profound, that I was like, you know, that like, if that’s how I, if that’s all I do, that’s all I do. You know, I was still working at this time in corporate and I had no intention of starting my own business. But everything I kept learning, I kept sharing online on like, Instagram, or Facebook, and people would ask me all these questions like, can you say you’re doing lemon water? Like, this? Sounds like a silly question. But like, how much lemon water are you doing? And like, when are you drinking it? Are you eating? First? Are you like, little micro questions that, for me, I’m like, I have these questions. It’s not always these big, abundant questions that you have. But it’s like, I have micro questions that nobody seems to be answering online like yet. When do you drink your lemon water? Is it first thing in the morning? Or is it after you eat? And so I just started sharing the things that were working for me, and also the things that weren’t working for me. And I made it very clear, you know, like, at this point, this is not working for me, but like yoga. I tried it, hated it. Five years later, I did it again, and absolutely loved it. So, you know, I keep revisiting these things. And I just, I would get more of this community behind me asking questions. And then I thought, you know, like, I was learning so much. And I, there were people out there who were so inspiring that never got a chance to share their story that I had started this podcast. And the purpose behind the podcast was originally just sharing other people’s stories of how they got into yoga. And that served me for about a year, but then I started meeting other people who were like, Hey, I don’t necessarily do yoga, but I meditate. And meditation has changed my life. Or, you know, I was the person who was 400 pounds, I’m now 150. And I started walking everyday and lifting weights. And that changed my life. And I was like, Oh, my gosh, these people need a chance to share their stories. And then it’s funny, because almost in this world, in the wellness space, it’s like this idea of like, the more you know, the less you know, and you would just learn so many things I’ll use us as an example are like, this technology, and everything is so great and so fascinating. But I innately started to think of like, what is all this tech doing to ourselves, and I remember listening to somebody else on a podcast, and it was when 5g was getting big, and it was like, man, we don’t know what this is doing to our bodies on a cellular level. And then I started wanting to have experts and people like you are who were like, Hey, let’s talk about EMF, because that is also affecting your health and wellness. And, you know, I’d have people come on and talk about blue light, and like why that could be contributing to your health and wellness issues, or maybe not getting us far on your journey. And so it just became this more idea of like, How can I help people begin and maintain their wellness journeys, so they can be the best version of themselves, right? Like just this idea of you. It’s not eating your fruits and vegetables. It’s like looking at the oils that we’re consuming and like the farms that are spraying things and like how that’s impacting our hormones, and it almost becomes a little overwhelming at some points. But I just think there’s not enough of it out there of people who know, this stuff could be compounding and actually leading to problems. Even if you think you’re doing the right or quote unquote, the right things like you could be contributing to some future health problems. Yeah.
R Blank 29:51
So that that’s actually a great segue to the next thing I wanted to ask right because the podcast you just described the evolution of your podcast balance. Is your life and started out with yoga and then expanded to meditation then expanded to other lifestyle then expanded to other toxins and, and your business is called balanced. And website is called balanced by Meghan. And so just based on those two things, I’m seeing that balance is important to you. But seeing how your podcast evolved, balance is not just about yoga. So kind of the vibe that I got by looking through your materials and your podcast episodes and being on your podcast is that you see balance as a metaphor for how to approach life do you do you see it as kind of like a through line of your life journey and the kind of information that you think is important and want to share?
Meghan Pherrill 30:48
Yeah, I think it’s this idea of like, there’s just a couple of different things. There’s this duality in our world or in our life, we have both feminine and masculine energy within us, we both go really hard. And we also need time to rest and digest. And even like, even more than that, I sometimes find when you are in the health and wellness field, it’s like, you have to have this certain type of diet. And don’t you dare have a piece of chocolate because it can. It’ll absolutely ruin your life. And I’m still the girl who I love to have pizza. I love to have french fries. If there’s a celebration, you’re I don’t know if I can swear on here, so I won’t. But like, Oh, damn, damn, right. I’m having a piece of cake. Like,
R Blank 31:32
that’s adorable. You thought that was a swear.
Meghan Pherrill 31:36
I wanted to be mindful. I
Stephanie Warner 31:39
appreciate that.
Meghan Pherrill 31:41
You know, and it was just like, I don’t want to live so restricted. Like, it takes the fun out of life when you’re like, oh, I have to count this many calories. Or I can only eat this amount of
R Blank 31:52
data. No, totally. I I can relate directly. Because there’s, there’s a lot of my customers and audience who expect me never to use Wi Fi. And, you know, it’s like i i feel like i i try to share useful information. But I’m not trying to be like this model that people need to, you know, it’s about living the life you want to live and, and finding and sharing the information that you think is important, but you don’t have to, you know, physician heal thyself.
Meghan Pherrill 32:28
Exactly. It’s just like, I mean, even in the yoga space, God forbid, I posted a video a little while ago, I was on a beach. So shocker. I was in a bikini. And I did a yoga float and someone’s like, How dare you call yourself a yogi when you’re wearing a bikini? And I was like where do you think I currently live? Like, I live in a society where like, I’m on a beach like, I’m not gonna wear my parka. And I was just like, I do find some people are like, like, I’m sure you can relate like, well, how dare you use Wi Fi and in EMF things. You’re supposed to be this expert. And you’re like, okay, like, I still live in the real world. And yeah, there’s this, this balance of it. But like, yeah, I try my very best Monday to Friday not to have sugar and to eat really well and not to consume any alcohol. I’m not consuming anything right now. It’s
R Blank 33:24
right. So I’m pregnant. No, nine months. Yeah. No.
Meghan Pherrill 33:29
I’ve never been a huge drinker. And this is a side tangent, but just the fact that somebody was like You absolutely cannot drink where I’m like, I want to have a glass of wine now. Like,
Stephanie Warner 33:40
I’m pretty sure they do in France. Oh, no,
R Blank 33:43
I never. Yeah, I never craved pizza. As much as I did. The year I was vegan. That was my that was my super craving. The year I was vegan was
Meghan Pherrill 33:53
like, when people tell you, you can do things you’re like, now I want to do it. Now I want to have the thing I’m not supposed to. So it’s like, I really just believe in this idea of like, yeah, like, have fun, be disciplined. Like, I really feel like there’s so much to be said about having a disciplinary practice. But like, if you’re celebrating somebody’s birthday on a Tuesday, and you’re like, Well, only on Saturdays, I’m allowed to have a treat, like live your life. You know what I mean? Like, we’re not doing it seven days a week, but you got to celebrate and enjoy the things life has to offer as well.
R Blank 34:29
So is that part of what is? Yeah, is that part of what you think of is as or what you what you mean when you talk about human design.
Meghan Pherrill 34:38
So human design came to me a few years ago now and it was I was learning all of these things in yoga flow yoga philosophy, I was learning about Buddhism and the chakra system. And I always felt like there was a little bit of a key piece that was missing. At this time, too. I was also really looking at how do I expand and grow My business and there’s all these people out there coaches that are like, Oh, if you’re not working on this 24/7 a day, you’re not moving the needle forward, and it has to be this way and to do this, and I was like, that doesn’t feel good to me like, I don’t I don’t I identify with any of this. And a girlfriend had mentioned to me, Oh, do you know your human design? And I was like, This sounds like another trend. I’m not doing this. And she was like, no, like, I learned about mine, and it really like pinpoints who I am. And I was like, okay, cool. Sounds sounds fine. I’ll look into it. I never looked into it. And then I heard it, someone else mentioned it on a podcast, it was like human design. And then I read somewhere on a blog post, like it was just, it kept like beating itself over my head. And I was like, Okay, I’m doing this human design thing. It’s literally like you plug your information into a free app, or free website, it looks at your exact birth location, your exact date of birth, and the time you were born. And I mean, to the minute, I have all that, yeah, it pulls up this information, and it will literally link so there’s five different energy types. So it will tell you what kind of energy type you are. So how do you work in the most optimal way? In the world? And how do you recharge? And are you the type of person who does really well under pressure with deadlines? Are you that person who, like you need lots of time to get things done. And I remember looking at my human design chart, and it was very much like you’re not the person who works nine to five all the time, like I always felt in corporate, like I would work really well from like 10 until lunch, and then I’d have my lunch. And then I would work really well until like 330 or four o’clock. But then I was done. I was like, I’m tapped out I’m tired. And even when it came to like doing yoga, and like trying to grow this, I love doing it so much. But I kept finding myself burnt out all the time. And like, How is this possible, I really love what I’m doing. But, you know, maybe doing eight hours a day of trying to grow my business and teaching yoga and doing all the these yoga things like it’s not serving me. And it was literally like, reading about my human design was like, Yeah, you’re not meant to you don’t have a sustainable energy. It’s like when it’s there, it’s there. And when it’s gone, it’s gone. And you do really best by sleeping. And when I was little, everyone used to call me sleeping beauty because I’m asleep all the time. And for me that was like, that was my way to rest and recharge, right? Some people like to Netflix and chill. Some people like to go out in nature or take a walk. And for me, I was like don’t want that really gives me the opportunity to let go of the day to let go of people’s energies, I also felt like I was so influenced by people’s energies around me. And if you read your human design chart and look into it, it’s like it that’s literally in there. It’s like I get, I absorb other people’s energies. And it really influences my moods and my emotions, like if someone around me is having a bad day, I find I take that on. Whereas like my husband is the total opposite. If I’m in a bad mood, it does not faze him at all. Like he is like still high vibing. And I started doing these charts just for fun for like friends and family. And I would tell them things and to be like I’ve never been able to articulate. But that is exactly how I feel. And I feel like I work really well with this. And again, using my husband as an example. He is what we call him human design, like a generator. And those are the type of people that like when they are doing something that they absolutely love, they can have a sustainable energy, they can keep going, they can do the 24 hour, seven days a week type of work on their business or their hobby or their passion. And, you know, I’m very much the person at a certain time of day. I don’t want to talk about work anymore. I’m done for the day, I just want to chill and enjoy it my husband would catch like the second wind at like 8pm and be like, oh, like I just I want to research this thing. I discovered this and I’m just I’m gonna go work on it a little bit. And it used to drive me absolutely insane. So I was like, No, it’s like eight o’clock. It’s supposed to be we’re supposed to wind down now. And then his human design charts like No, like if he’s catching this wind or he was like has this sustainable energy. He should keep rolling with it because at some point he’s not going to want to any more his energy is going to be gone. But while it’s there, like feed into that like work with it and stuff. So I felt like I had this puzzle in front of me and I was missing one piece and then human design came into my life and I was like, there it is the pieces there. The whole picture is there and it literally was like what yoga had done for me. I was like I have to share more of this with people because I feel like so many of us are conditioned to work a certain way or to be a certain Way, and we’re literally going against the nature of our being.
Stephanie Warner 40:04
Yeah, yeah, absolutely. That’s interesting. And I’m like, I need to do this I need to find out some more information. And so I’m just I’m thinking about you know, like, how difficult it can be to just kind of detach and let go of the day and that’s that’s difficult for so many people for various reasons, whether it’s children family work. And I know for myself a detaching has been super struggled detaching, whether it’s from my phone, or just from the day and just relaxing or making that time and space to do something super healthy and good for myself. Could you do you have any, like personal behaviours or practices that you can share with our audience to help them kind of help us, I’ll include myself. Detach and take it take a little time for ourselves. And
Meghan Pherrill 40:55
I think what’s really important is people have to find the thing that interests them, don’t do something because you saw your favourite influencer online doing this. It’s like, if it sparks an interest in you, lean into it, look into it. But like, if you feel really drawn to something, first of all, I would say put your energy into that, then I would say, you do know yourself and you know yourself, I think better than we give ourselves credit for, are you the type of person who you’re like, you know, I want to work out, but I never find the time of day time in my day to be doing it. For me, that was me a lot of the time. And I was like, Okay, well, it’ll be the first thing that I do, then, like, I will wake up, brush my teeth. And then I will, you know, do what I need to do and then do my workout. That way. There’s no excuse later in the day, or like, I wanted to do an hour workout. But now I only have 30 minutes because you know, I over went on a interview or I worked a little more than I thought I was going to. So are you a morning type of person? Or are you an evening type of person? I know some people who are like, No, my workout is the signal of the end of the day, I shut my computer down at four o’clock. I go to the gym. And that’s it. To me, that is my signal light like the day is done. So I would say figure out what type of
R Blank 42:17
total on the total opposite I if I don’t work out, like when I wake up. I don’t work out. So get it done. Yeah. So I wake up early and make sure I Yeah, so I wake up. Most people kind of think I’m a little too crazy early, but I wake up early and make sure I get my workout done. And because yeah, otherwise I don’t do it.
Stephanie Warner 42:39
Yeah. So what I hear is kind of, and I feel like we’ve probably talked about this before in other interviews as well. It’s kind of a recurring theme. But it’s like trusting yourself listening to yourself. And here. What I hear you saying is, is in May, and I’ll just rephrase and correct me if I’m not getting the gist but it sounds like figure out who you are. Work with yourself, not against yourself.
Meghan Pherrill 43:04
Yeah, like, I think we, we do know, we have interests that we’re like, oh, that seems silly. Or like, I want to go do a dance class. But like, I can’t dance, what are people gonna think of me? Like, who cares? There’s other people in this world that are doing a dance class, you know what I mean? Like, just find the things that like, lights you up or interest you. And you’re like, I’m gonna lean into that. And I would also say, like, Be okay with the fact that it might not interest you forever. You might, in six months decide, hey, that was fun. I’m glad I did it. I’m ready to try something new. But even when you’re like, let’s say you want to start a workout practice, or let’s even go even more micro, I want to start meditating for five minutes a day. I am committing to meditating for five minutes a day, first thing in the morning. Try it out. I do believe you need to try something else. Give yourself 30 days, it’s five minutes, you know what I mean? Like what else? So you’re gonna scroll Instagram and that time anyways, do the five minutes and if you’re like, you know what, I enjoyed it, but I feel really called to doing it in the evening, just before I go to bed. After your 30 days. Try that out. See if you like that better. I was the opposite. You know, I was like, when I started meditating. I was like, I’m gonna do it just before I go to bed. And same thing i By the time I was ready to like, quote, unquote, meditate. I was exhausted. I’m like, I am not going to do this correctly. So I switched after, you know, I tried the evening for a bit and I was like, this is really not for me. I want to try in the morning now. I switch to the morning and I’ve been meditating or doing some form of breath work in the morning for four years now like, and it’s it works for me. And don’t beat yourself up to like, we all have days where we don’t do it or even if we do a workout, you know, there’s some days where you’re like, could have done that a little better, it’s like, you know, we’re all human, just just commit to a routine, really stay disciplined in it. Don’t beat yourself up if you fall off the waggon just, you know, get back on it and keep going.
R Blank 45:15
That’s great. Yeah. And I don’t know if there’s other influences there. But I really heard cognitive behavioural therapy and
Stephanie Warner 45:24
no, less can be intimidating words. Megan,
R Blank 45:29
this has been a wonderful chat. I really have enjoyed this and you’re your, your, your life story. It’s, it’s, I mean, to me the way that you have overcome anxiety and channelled as you said, you met your old school friend who just saw you and just couldn’t believe how you turned out to me, that is inspiring, you know, even if it doesn’t have like, a replicable kind of model or recipe in there. It was it was really, really inspiring story and just such a wonderful conversation. So I really appreciate you coming on the show. What if for our listeners who’d like to connect with you and learn more? Where would you like them to go?
Meghan Pherrill 46:16
Well, thank you so much. I love having these conversations. I just I’m so grateful for the opportunity to talk to you both and to be on your show. And if anyone wants to connect with me, my handle across everything tick tock Instagram, YouTube, is balanced by Meghan, M E, G, H A N, my podcast is balanced your life and you can find that across all major podcast platforms. I’m usually on social media. You know, I take a break from it first thing in the morning and I don’t I’m not on it late at night, but you can usually contact me through there anytime a day.
R Blank 46:53
Excellent. We’ll have all of those links in the show notes do you do is your tick tock? Is it is it like crazy dances or is it like something else?
Meghan Pherrill 47:01
No, like tick tock is a lot of yoga and wellness related things. It’s a lot of what you’re getting on Instagram. I’m just flipping it over to Tik Tok, but like, you know, five poses if you have tight hips or lower back pain or, you know, this is how I make my smoothie in the morning and I am I applaud the dance people on Tik Tok. I’m not there yet. I saw him working out to to doing that. But no, I think I like again, a little tangent but tick tock so like really fun, light hearted platform, whereas I find some of these other platforms can be really like, overwhelming and like kind of in your face Bell things. I just feel like tick tock is great for a laugh. So you’re not gonna find me dancing on there, but you’ll find others.
Unknown Speaker 47:46
Great.
R Blank 47:47
Well, thank you again, Megan. This has been a wonderful conversation, and I really appreciate it.
Meghan Pherrill 47:52
Thank you so much. This has been amazing.
Stephanie Warner 47:54
Yeah, thank you so much for sharing your story.
Announcer 47:58
Thank you so much for listening to this episode of the healthier tech podcast. Remember to check the show notes for all the links and resources mentioned in the show. Please like and subscribe to the healthier tech podcast on Apple, Spotify or your podcast platform of choice. Get your free quickstart guide to building a healthy relationship with technology and our latest information at healthier tech.co
Transcribed by https://otter.ai
