JoAnn Joyner Kisler says we spend a lot of time thinking about what we eat, but maybe not enough time thinking about what we put into our minds.

The founder of Breath of Energy Healing joined In Depth with Kristine Bellino to talk about her own life experiences, spirituality, generational trauma and some of the ideas behind her book.

What’s on your ‘mental menu’?

Kisler said the idea for Thought Menu actually came from going out to restaurants.

Her husband is a chef, and Kisler said she has spent years around the food and restaurant world. While eating out, she started noticing how much time people spent looking at menus and trying to figure out exactly what they wanted to order.

It made her wonder why we don’t always give that same attention to our thoughts.

“People spend more time on pondering and struggling with what they’re going to order on a menu as opposed to what they’re waking up in the morning and the thoughts they’re thinking,” Kisler said.

She believes the thoughts people start their day with can affect how they react to what happens around them.

The book follows that food theme and is arranged somewhat like a menu, something Kisler said she did on purpose to keep things simple and avoid overwhelming people.

You can’t control other people

Another big part of Kisler’s message is focusing on what you can actually control.

You can’t control your boss, someone being rude to you or even someone flipping you off in traffic, she said. What you can control is how much space you allow those things to take up in your head.

Kisler compared it to deciding who gets a seat at your dinner table.

“What are you allowing to sit at your dinner table in your mind?” she asked.

That can also apply to relationships. Kisler said sometimes people have to recognize when someone may not be good for them and learn to “love them from afar.”

Looking at family patterns

Kisler also talked about her work through Breath of Energia Healing, where she focuses on empowering women.

Part of that work involves what she describes as generational or ancestral trauma, looking at behaviors, emotions and family patterns that may have been passed down from previous generations.

Kisler said the idea isn’t about blaming parents or other family members. Instead, she encourages people to look at those patterns and decide what they want to continue carrying in their own lives.

Slowing things down

For someone feeling overwhelmed, Kisler said it doesn’t necessarily have to start with a huge change.

She recommends things like slowing down your breathing, going outside, taking a walk, getting some sunlight or simply finding a quiet moment.

Kisler also talked about meditation and her Christian faith. She said she doesn’t see the two as being at odds and believes quieting the mind can help people better understand what they’re thinking and feeling.

She also said people, especially women who are used to taking care of everyone else, need to remember that they can’t constantly give without taking care of themselves too.

“If you just only give, then you’re eventually going to be on the floor, emotionally on the floor,” Kisler said.

Her message is ultimately pretty simple: You can’t control everything or everyone around you, but you can pay more attention to what you’re carrying with you.

To learn more about JoAnn Joyner Kisler and Breath of Energia Healing, visit breathofenergiahealing.com.

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