Listen to Empower Her Wellness
Cara-Michele Nether, Licensed Acupuncturist, Functional Nutrition Counselor, Certified Personal Trainer and Self-Care Consistency Coach
Cara-Michele Nether has been a licensed health practitioner and founder of Strength & Vitality Wellness near Baltimore, Maryland, for the past 19 years. She specializes in transforming sporadic stabs at self-care into reliable energy-building routines that become a natural part of the day for women between the ages of 45-65. She has been recognized as the Best Rated Acupuncturist in Baltimore for five consecutive years and is the author of the book “Fuel Your Engines.“
After eliminating the burden of complexity, guilt, and self-judgment around self-care, women feel they are back in the driver’s seat of their lives. This change gives them greater control over their mental and physical energy, allowing them to positively impact the relationships they cherish without regrets.
Our mental and physical energy directly influences the quality of our actions and words at any given moment. Thus, prioritizing well-being is non-negotiable if we want to show up as the best version of ourselves.
Growing up, Cara-Michele observed the mental and physical self-harm her mother and other women caused themselves by prioritizing everyone else’s needs above their own self-care.
As a young woman, this made her both sad and angry, but later in life, she found herself in the same trap. Even as a seasoned health practitioner, she was diagnosed with an avoidable health concern at age 52. This experience reinforces that knowing what to do is rarely a problem for intelligent, hard-working women. Doing it, the leap to consistent self-care, is the invisible hurdle.
Cara-Michele is deeply committed to empowering women to control their stories. She wants to shine a light on two facts: one, making friends with self-care consistency is more straightforward than they might think, and two, feeling good is the easiest way to do good.
From pain relief to practical energy-producing strategies that fit the busiest of schedules, Cara-Michele’s slow, intentional approach allows women to experience the full potential of having their minds and bodies behind them.
Find Cara-Michele online
In this episode we address the unique challenges faced by women aged 45 to 65, who juggle responsibilities involving children, careers, and aging parents. Cara-Michele introduces the concept of the “health and wellness rollercoaster,” which captures the cycle of excitement and discouragement experienced when adopting new health strategies. She highlights the pitfalls of setting unrealistic health goals, advocating instead for sustainable wellness approaches.
She encourages women to become effective energy producers through manageable habit changes rather than drastic lifestyle alterations, redefining self-care as activities that generate energy. Cara underscores the importance of proactive preparation to maintain energy levels on busy days and critiques simplistic self-care suggestions for caregivers, promoting an understanding of motivations for health and the establishment of consistent habits based on foundational principles.
The discussion emphasizes self-reflection to clarify personal goals and values, encouraging choices aligned with one’s future aspirations. By understanding their identity and values, individuals can guide their interactions and daily decisions towards a fulfilling life. The conversation also highlights the challenges of maintaining consistency in health and wellness, contrasting the instant gratification from unhealthy habits with the delayed rewards of healthier practices.
Cara-Michele advocates for small, manageable changes, such as gradually increasing water intake and exercise, to prevent frustration and promote persistence. Women are encouraged to schedule personal time for self-care, find enjoyable forms of exercise, and understand their needs and goals. Societal pressures that prioritize caregiving over self-care are acknowledged, with guilt identified as a barrier to well-being. A self-consistency quiz is introduced to help identify obstacles, suggesting that mastering energy management can simplify achieving personal growth and self-care routines.
Key Discussion Points:
- Realistic Health Goals:
- Cara emphasizes the pitfalls of setting unrealistic health goals.
- Advocates for sustainable wellness approaches over drastic lifestyle changes.
- Energy Production and Self-Care:
- Redefines self-care as activities that generate energy.
- Encourages manageable habit changes to become effective energy producers.
- Highlights the importance of proactive preparation to maintain energy levels on busy days.
- Proactive and Reflective Practices:
- Stresses the importance of self-reflection to clarify personal goals and values.
- Encourages making choices aligned with future aspirations.
- Understanding one’s identity and values to guide interactions and daily decisions.
- Overcoming Instant Gratification:
- Discusses the challenge of maintaining consistency in health and wellness.
- Contrasts instant gratification from unhealthy habits with the delayed rewards of healthier practices.
- Practical Tips for Sustainable Changes:
- Recommends small, manageable changes such as gradually increasing water intake and exercise.
- Encourages scheduling personal time for self-care and finding enjoyable forms of exercise.
- Understanding personal needs and goals to create a fulfilling wellness routine.
- Addressing Societal Pressures:
- Acknowledges societal pressures that prioritize caregiving over self-care.
- Identifies guilt as a significant barrier to well-being.
- Introduces a self-consistency quiz to help identify personal obstacles.
- Mastering Energy Management:
- Advocates that mastering energy management can simplify achieving personal growth and self-care routines.
Your Host – Shelly Drymon
My mission is to empower and inspire women to embrace their life transitions as opportunities for wellness, growth, and self-discovery and live their lives with clarity, purpose, and joy. Committed to honesty, integrity, and authenticity, I lead by example, showing that it’s never too late to live a life you love.
