Gigi Langer

Worry Less Now!

 Love More Now!

THE BUBBLE HOUR Podcast with Jean & Gigi

Jean McCarthy is a sober woman dedicated to breaking down the walls of stigma and denial surrounding the disease of alcoholism.

She created the highly rated “Unpickled” blog, wrote the awesome Unpickled Holiday Survival Guide,” and hosts the popular podcast, The Bubble Hour.

What’s The Bubble Hour??

The Bubble Hour podcast seeks to inform, educate and help people identify with the stories, conversations and interviews with people who are just like they are, so people know they aren’t alone.

A couple of weeks ago, Jean and I recorded a wonderful conversation about her recovery and mine. We talked about our “soft spots,” the whispered lies (stories) underlying our shortcomings, codependency, infidelity, abuse, being a highly sensitive person, depression/anxiety, and the importance of healthy sober buddies.

Listen to our 45 minute chat by clicking HERE

*If you wish to share this link with others, here it is  https://www.blogtalkradio.com/bubblehour/2020/04/13/gigi-langer

About The UnPickled Blog

Jean’s very popular blog header states, “How I Secretly Quit My Secret Habit of Secretly Drinking.” She goes on to write, “I am learning to walk without the crutch of alcohol.  I began writing this blog on my first day of sobriety.  Gulp. I drank quietly in private and have managed to quit just as privately. I didn’t stay quiet about it, though. My story is all here. The purpose of this blog is to help make me accountable and, as it turns out, to encourage others along the way.”

According to Jean McCarthy, “Nobody can take the first tentative steps towards sobriety without first getting past denial, but even once they are past denial, the stigma surrounding alcoholism is so strong that people are reluctant to seek help.”

Unpickled is one of the top 15 recovery blogs (rated by “Port of Call.”) with thousands of followers.

Sober Survival Guide for Any Social Occasion

The perfect gift for the summer! Stay sober with family and friends at social events & parties. Buy the survival guide here

Insights and lessons from hundreds of interviews and blog posts about life after alcohol, practical exercises to build your readiness for awkward situations, bonus information for friends and family, and other useful tips.

gigi Langer worry less now

Gigi Langer, 34 years sober, holds a Ph.D. in Psychological Studies in Education and an MA in Psychology, both from Stanford University. Through her writing, coaching, and speaking, Gigi has helped thousands of people improve their lives at home and work. A former professor of teacher education at Eastern Michigan University, she lives in Michigan and Florida with her husband, Peter, and Murphy, their cat.

Worry Less Now Cover

Get Gigi’s award-winning book, 50 Ways to Worry Less Now.” (4.8 Stars on Amazon). Available in audioebookpaperbackClick HERE for FREE workbook & special offers.

  • “This book is a winner.” Karen Casey, Bestselling Hazelden author
  • “Valuable, heartfelt manual.” Publishers Weekly (BookLife)

Reactions: A Story & A Song

I’m noticing two major reactions to the “stay-at-home” orders.

Which one is your way of coping?

  1. Get really busy with projects, walking, cleaning, etc. or
  2. Veg-out with TV, reading, music, and other “less active” diversions.

Guess which group I’m in?? The latter. Aside from the essentials (connecting with family and friends, meditating/praying, and light exercising), what’s keeping me “busy?” NOTHING!

After a life-time of achieving this and that, my reaction is to just relax, and indulge in whatever tickles my fancy. And I’m loving it!

For example, I just spent a couple hours on the lanai listening to two of my favorite entertainers: the beloved Brazilian crooner, Caetano Veloso and our Michigan favorite, Vienna Teng. Here’s a story from Brazil and a song of hope from Teng.

Seen in Brazil: A Puzzling Crazy-Quilt

In 1974, I lived in Sao Paulo while my second husband worked with IBM computer systems. 

One day, I accompanied a Brazilian friend to her dentist appointment.  Up, up we went to the 40th story of one of the many famous Niemeyer skyscrapers dotting the Sao Paulo skyline. 

While in the waiting room, I read an article about the survivors of a recent “towering inferno” fire in this very same town. The scandal was that this modern-era skyscraper had no fire-protections and, as a result, many lives were lost.  

Perhaps it was this story that drew me to the window to peer down from the great height.  At first, I couldn’t make sense of what I saw:  a multi-colored quilt of shiny turtle-tops. 

What could it be?  As I studied the image far below me, I realized I was looking at many hundreds of Volkswagen “bugs” parked in a huge dirt parking lot.

At that time, about 80% of Brazilians owned VWs, with only a few color choices. Imagine the difficulty of finding your very own yellow bug (the color of mine) in a huge parking lot!  

The inventive “Paulistas” had solved this urban puzzle by parking all the yellow cars in one section, the blue ones in another, and so on.  The result was this bumpy, shiny quilt seen from the dizzying height above. I wish I had taken a picture!

A Song of Hope from Vienna Teng

“The Atheist Christmas Carol” isn’t only about the holidays and it’s not really “atheist.” It’s about HOPE, the best reaction we can have during uncertain times. Listen to this gorgeous song here, posted with its lyrics!

Savor these lines especially. “Don’t forget, don’t forget, I love, I love, I love you.”

Vienna reportedly said, “I don’t have enough faith to be an atheist.” Hmmm.

gigi langer worry less now

Gigi Langer, 34 years sober, holds a Ph.D. in Psychological Studies in Education and an MA in Psychology, both from Stanford University. Through her writing, coaching, and speaking, Gigi has helped thousands of people improve their lives at home and work. A former professor of teacher education at Eastern Michigan University, she lives in Michigan and Florida with her husband, Peter, and Murphy, their cat.

worry less now audiobook gigi Langer

Get Gigi’s award-winning book, 50 Ways to Worry Less Now.” (4.8 Stars on Amazon). Available in audioe-book, paperback. Click HERE for special offers.

  • “This book is a winner.” Karen Casey, Bestselling Hazelden author
  • “Valuable, heartfelt manual.” Publishers Weekly (BookLife)

The Ultimate Worry-Hack: Loving Connection

I’ve been sensing a seismic change in and around me, extending out to the entire planet. This viral threat has prompted many of us to reach deep down inside for something bigger and stronger than our fear.

I might call it an urge for loving connection.

Love is a force for goodness that wipes out all worry and negativity. And I believe it’s essential to our survival right now. 

Choose love rather than fear—every moment.

If we spread fear, it amplifies, with perilous results, such as war, stealing, hate-speech, demonizing of politicians, and so on.

Love, however, heals all separation, judgment, and condemnation; and it too amplifies as it’s shared.

So, I ask you to decide right now: Are you going to succumb to fear and separation, or will you rise up in loving connection?

Be a love finder, not a fault-finder

This lesson from Attitudinal Healing* says it so simply: “Be a Love Finder, Rather than a Fault Finder.”

Finding fault is criticizing others in the arrogant belief that “we know better,” thus casting them out of our hearts. Unfortunately, such destructive thoughts only make everything worse—in our own minds and in the world.  

How, then, do we become love finders?

We connect our hearts with one another via thoughts, prayers, and spoken words of hope, care, and affection. We choose to see the light in each person, regardless of their words and actions. We get out of the “judge’s seat” and leave it to a power much wiser than us.

So, let’s start now by making our  “survival strategy” one of loving connection rather than fault-finding!

*Attitudinal Healing was developed by Gerald Jampolsky, one of the early students of A Course in Miracles. These essential lessons of love are taught world-wide to heal illness and negative thinking.

worry less now

Gigi Langer, 34 years sober, holds a Ph.D. in Psychological Studies in Education and an MA in Psychology from Stanford University. Through her writing, coaching, and speaking, Gigi has helped thousands of people improve their lives at home and work. A former professor of teacher education at Eastern Michigan University, she lives in Michigan and Florida with her husband, Peter, and Murphy, her cat.

worry less now

Get Gigi’s new book, 50 Ways to Worry Less Now: Reject Negative Thinking to Find Peace, Clarity, and Connection” (5 Stars on Amazon). Available in audio, e-book, and paperback Click HERE for special offers.

  • “This book is a winner.” Karen Casey, Bestselling Hazelden author
  • “Valuable, heartfelt manual.” Publishers Weekly (BookLife)

LET’S BE AT PEACE . . . Come What May

Hello from southwest Florida. I hope you and your loved ones are safe and healthy.  Our golf community just had its first case of the virus, so we’re in quarantine, just like so many of you. 

As we listen to government warnings, gossip, and TV experts, it’s all too easy to lose sight of hope and tolerance–just when we need them most. So, when we find ourselves captivated by fear, let’s seek peace of mind instead.

Today, I offer you these words of love and peace, plus two powerful tools to help us face this challenge together.

Gratitude Brings Peace of Mind

I thank God (literally) for our food, water, and electricity. Not to mention my fun, steady husband of 30 years (need I remind you, he’s my 4th?). And let’s not forget our very social and entertaining cat, Murphy. 

But, most of all, I’m grateful for the opportunity to connect my heart with yours across space and time. More than ever, I’ve been joining with loved ones through prayer, positive thoughts, social media, and internet-based gatherings. (A friend just texted me, “I wish I had bought stock in Zoom!”). These connections are, most definitely, my life-line (remember, I’m the former “Queen of Worry!”).

If you’re feeling uncertain, take a moment to make your own gratitude list— truly a mental/emotional game-changer (and, I often do need to change the “game” in my head!)

Two Truths: Take ‘Em to The Bank!

During challenging times, I believe (right down to my toes) two things:

  1. We are all connected in spirit, and by joining together, our loving power can get us through anything
  2. My job is to replace my fear and panic with peace of mind, so I can reach out to others with love, encouragement, and care. 

Tool 19 from my book, 50 Ways to Worry Less Now, will help you find your own center of peace, wisdom, and courage.

Loving-Kindness Practice

This Buddhist practice (also called metta) calms your mind, opens your heart to goodness, activates the power of your true self, and dissolves whatever may be blocking your love for others.

First, say the affirmation for yourself:

  • May I be at peace.  May my heart remain open.
  • May I awaken to the light of my own true nature.
  • May I be healed. May I be a source of healing for all beings.

Now, say it for your loved ones and the entire world: May we be at peace. May our hearts remain open; May we awaken to the light of our own true nature. May we be healed. May we be a source of healing for all beings.

Finally, and this may be the most important of all, say it for someone you worry about or dislike: May you (name) be at peace; May your heart remain open. May you awaken to the light of your own true nature. May you be healed. May you be a source of healing to all beings.

I have memorized this Loving Kindness affirmation and say it often. Give it a try. It really works!

Blocks to Love: Judging, Resenting, Condemning

Why is the last version of this prayer so important? Simply put, hatred and judgement block our ability to give and receive love. Seeing people with forgiveness rather than condemnation is the most healing choice we can make–for the whole world.

“Dear God, please help me to see this differently.”

Join me in asking our higher power to help us see all others with love rather than criticism, and to fully open our hearts to one another. This is, after all, God’s will for us.

gigi langer worry less now

Gigi Langer, 34 years sober, holds a Ph.D. in Psychological Studies in Education and an MA in Psychology from Stanford University. Through her writing, coaching, and speaking, Gigi has helped thousands of people improve their lives at home and work. A former professor of teacher education at Eastern Michigan University, she lives in Michigan and Florida with her husband, Peter, and Murphy, her cat.

worry less now audiobook gigi Langer

Get Gigi’s new book, 50 Ways to Worry Less Now: Reject Negative Thinking to Find Peace, Clarity, and Connection” (5 Stars on Amazon). Available in audio, e-book, and paperback Click HERE for special offers.

  • “This book is a winner.” Karen Casey, Bestselling Hazelden author
  • “Valuable, heartfelt manual.” — Publishers Weekly (BookLife)