Ep. 18 The ACT of Living: Mindfulness & Behavior with Dr. Ashley Fiorilli
Sit with us as we explore the transformative power of regulation, self-awareness, and connection in therapy and daily life. Together, we’ll dive into Dr. Ashley Fiorilli’s insights on ACT, mindfulness, body awareness, and boundaries, uncovering practical tools to foster curiosity, self-compassion, and a more grounded approach to personal growth.
Find out more about [Guest]’s work/website/project here:
Prompts for Deeper Exploration
Ready to dive deeper into this topic? Discover how this episode applies to your own path by exploring the prompts we’ve curated below.
Then, we invite you to share your reflections with the TFD community in the comments. Your experience adds to the collective conversation!
Journal Entry
Think back to a time when your body signaled distress before your mind fully registered it. Journal about the early signs of dysregulation you’ve noticed in yourself. What physical sensations did you experience? Were they subtle or overwhelming?
Then, create a list of three grounding techniques—such as movement, breathwork, or sensory awareness—that can help you reconnect with your body when these signals appear.
Creative Expression
Reflect on one boundary in your life that feels rigid, like Ashley’s example of the sapling's protective fence.
Sketch, paint, or make a collage of two sapling landscapes: one that reflects the past, and one that reflects the present. Reflect on the following questions as you create.
Past: What did this rigid boundary look like when it was erected? How has it served you over time? What did you feel you needed to keep outside of the boundary? What was the state of your sapling at the time (e.g., weak/strong, flexible/stiff)?
Present: What is the state of your sapling now? Do you feel that your boundary still meets your needs, or would you make adjustments? Would you change what you let in or keep out? Is your boundary still helping you grow, or is it now restricting you?
Reflect on your artwork when finished.
Playfully Embodying your Inner Critic
Externalize your thought patterns by assigning them a character, sound, or visual symbol. If your inner critic were a character, what would they look like? How do they move and speak?
Act out your thought-character in a playful way. Experiment with shifting their tone—how would they sound if they spoke like a cartoon villain, a wise guide, or a dramatic news anchor? How does their body language change?
Notice what bringing a sense of levity to your inner critic feels like.
