21: Two States of Being -Suffering vs. Beautiful

In this episode of The Transformation Show, Justin and Janell explore the concept of the Two States of Being: suffering and beautiful. Inspired by their experience at David Bayer’s Powerful Living Experience event, they break down these two states and share actionable insights on how to shift from suffering to beautiful, both mentally and physically.

Key Takeaways:

• Two States of Being: At any given moment, you are in either a suffering state or a beautiful state. These states influence your emotions, thoughts, and ultimately your actions. Understanding this is essential for personal growth and improving your quality of life.

  • Suffering State: Includes emotions such as stress, anxiety, overwhelm, sadness, anger, frustration, jealousy, and boredom. It triggers the fight-or-flight response, keeping you in a reactive mode.
  • Beautiful State: Includes positive emotions such as joy, gratitude, peace, excitement, curiosity, compassion, and happiness. This state activates the parasympathetic nervous system (rest-and-digest), allowing for creativity, problem-solving, and a higher quality of life.

• Recognizing Your Emotional Home: Justin and Janell encourage listeners to evaluate how much time they spend in suffering versus beautiful states each day. Awareness is the first step toward change.

Key Points Discussed:

1. Fight-or-Flight Response:

   • The fight-or-flight (sympathetic nervous system) is designed to protect you from immediate danger, but in modern life, it is triggered far too often—by things like traffic, work stress, or arguments. This can cause physical effects such as high cortisol levels, weight gain (especially around the midsection), and chronic stress.

2. Rest-and-Digest Mode:

   • The beautiful state is where creativity, peace, and calm reside. Activating the parasympathetic nervous system allows for rest, rejuvenation, and problem-solving. Practices like yoga, meditation, and deep breathing can help move you into this state.

3. Changing Your State:

   • You cannot effectively solve problems or move forward in life while in a suffering state. Justin and Janell emphasize that changing your physical state is often the quickest way to shift your mental and emotional state.
   • Examples of Physical State Shifters: Exercise, deep breathing, music, nature walks, restorative yoga, and even something as simple as a shower or a nap can help shift you into a beautiful state.

4. Practical Ways to Shift from Suffering to Beautiful:

   • Take a nap or meditate to quiet the mind.
   • Breathing exercises: Inhaling for four counts, exhaling for six to eight counts helps activate the parasympathetic nervous system.
   • Showers and baths: Water can have a soothing, cleansing effect, helping to wash away stress.
   • Exercise: Justin highlights how a tough workout can help release stress, while Janell notes that gentle exercise or yoga can also shift your state.
   • Gratitude practice: Writing down or thinking about what you’re grateful for can immediately shift your mindset into a more beautiful state.
   • Music: A playlist of feel-good songs can quickly elevate your mood and energy levels.
   • Nature: Time outdoors, also known as "forest bathing," has been shown to reduce stress and improve well-being.
   • Coloring or creative activities can also shift your mental state.

5. Awareness is Key:

   • Simply recognizing that you are in a suffering state allows you to begin the process of shifting out of it. Name the emotion you're feeling—whether it's fear, anger, or frustration—and then take steps to change your physical state.

Final Thoughts: Justin and Janell wrap up the episode by encouraging listeners to perform a self-check: How much time do you spend in a suffering state versus a beautiful state each day? They stress the importance of taking responsibility for your emotional and physical well-being, using the strategies shared to shift into a more beautiful state of being.

Reflection Questions:

• On a typical day, how many hours do you spend in a suffering state?
• What tools or actions can you use to shift into a beautiful state?
• How would your life be different if you spent more time in a beautiful state?

Call to Action: Take a moment to reflect on your current emotional state. Ask yourself, “How am I feeling right now?” and take immediate action—whether it’s breathing deeply, taking a walk, or listening to music—to elevate your state of being.

Resources Mentioned:

• Powerful Living Experience with David Bayer
• Techniques for activating the parasympathetic nervous system (yoga, breathing, meditation)
• Playlists and personal development resources for creating a beautiful state

Follow Janell on Instagram @janell.yule.  Follow Justin on Instagram @justin.yule.