In a world fueled by stress and anxiety, emotional awareness is more vital than ever. On this episode of Cool Change, Chuck Allen speaks with Sarah Retzer, a mindfulness coach who transformed herself from a constantly anxious engineer to a thriving expert in emotional resilience.

Sarah shares how discovering mindfulness through InterMatrix Systems allowed her to move beyond simply managing emotions to actively training them—like building muscle at the gym. She explains how emotional patterns shape our reality, why intentional emotional responses are essential, and how we can shift from fear-based reactions to love-based interactions.

Whether you're feeling stuck in anxious loops, overwhelmed by emotions, or simply looking to enhance joy and peace in your daily life, Sarah’s insights offer practical tools to create lasting change.

Key Takeaways:

• Emotions aren’t just reactions; they're patterns that we can consciously reshape.
• Creating space between stimulus and response allows intentional emotional choices.
• Intentional daily practices can shift emotional patterns, enhancing relationships and overall life experience.
• Mindfulness and breathwork techniques effectively rewire emotional responses.

Special Offer:

Sarah is offering Cool Change listeners a complimentary special introductory three-session course designed to help you identify areas of your life ready for transformation, recognize emotional patterns holding you back, and begin the shift toward lasting peace and joy.

Connect with Sarah Retzer:

Phone/Text: 503-929-4632

Email: sarahretzer@innermatrixsystems.com

Recommended Books:

• Emotional Intelligence 2.0* by Travis Bradberry & Jean Greaves
• The Untethered Soul* by Michael A. Singer
• Breaking the Habit of Being Yourself* by Dr. Joe Dispenza

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In this episode of Cool Change, I share one of the most transformative experiences of my life—my journey with Ayahuasca. For decades, I lived with a deeply rooted fear tied to my heart health, stemming from childhood experiences with my father’s repeated heart crises. After a casual lunch with a trusted friend, I found myself embarking on an unexpected path—one that led me to confront my fear through Ayahuasca, a plant medicine known for its profound spiritual and healing properties.

In this episode, I take you through each step of that journey—starting with the preparation, to the intense three nights of ceremony, and the life-changing lessons I received from Ayahuasca. I reflect on how it reframed my understanding of my heart, not just as an organ but as the core of my emotional and spiritual being. Whether you're curious about Ayahuasca, grappling with your own fears, or simply love stories of transformation, this episode has something to offer.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• The power of intention when entering an Ayahuasca journey
• How childhood trauma and unresolved fear can manifest in our adult lives
• The transformative experience of letting go of fear
• The spiritual, emotional, and physical lessons Ayahuasca can offer
• How my relationship with my heart—both physically and emotionally—was changed forever

Key Quotes:

• "Ayahuasca told me: 'You will be remembered as a man with a very good heart.' And in that moment, I knew it wasn’t just about physical health—it was about how I live, love, and serve."
• "What I once saw as a source of anxiety—those heart palpitations—became reminders, love taps, pushing me to go out and do something meaningful with my heart."
• "Sometimes the strongest thing you can do is ask for help, and Ayahuasca put me in a position where I had no choice but to ask."

In this brief episode, I take you back to the summer of 1990—when my best friend Tim and I, fueled by our “do-it-yourself” mentality, embarked on a series of DIY adventures that nearly cost us our lives. From leaky boats to collapsing cars, we learned that sometimes the most valuable skill is knowing when to call for help. This episode explores the fine line between admirable self-reliance and reckless overconfidence, and how a little humility can be the key to growth and survival.

The Cool Change: Sometimes, growth comes from realizing you don’t have to do it all yourself. Knowing when to step back and ask for help is a form of strength, not weakness.