It’s officially been 4 years since the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic. Recently, I stumbled upon studies showing that the pandemic qualifies as a “collective trauma,” where we've all experienced psychological distress together. But here's the kicker: many people hesitate to admit they experienced trauma during the pandemic, perhaps because we downplay our struggles, comparing them to others' experiences.

Beyond pandemics, we all have survival periods in life – those moments where we're barely keeping our heads above water. Yet, sometimes, we hesitate to acknowledge just how hard things are.

This week's guest, storyteller and doula Brandi Sellerz-Jackson, reminded me of the importance of recognizing when we're merely surviving versus truly thriving. She spoke of thriving as a state of being characterized by awareness, ease, and compassionate self-exploration. It's not just about existing—it's about cultivating a life that's rich with meaning and fulfillment, one that's truly ours to savor.

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In this special bonus episode you'll hear from me and my podcast manager, Taylor, as we address the flood of questions and comments that came in after a coaching call about making exercise a habit. We give our own personal histories with exercise, including what our current routines look like. Plus, we break down the three biggest barriers to exercise, and what overcoming those looks like for us.

This episode originally aired on More Personal, the listener-supported private podcast feed. If you like this episode, you can access all of the exclusive subscriber benefits, including an additional episode every Friday, a supporters hub for discussion, and online gatherings.

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Kim, a mother of three navigating the challenges of early parenthood, shares her struggles with connecting with others and the fear of vulnerability stemming from past experiences. Together, we uncover that what Kim really wants is to reclaim her sense of self and cultivate meaningful connections.

Listen as we work on the small steps that Kim can take, emphasizing the gradual cultivation of friendships aligned with her values and identity. This episode will be relatable to many women that are seeking genuine connection, and need the encouragement to embrace vulnerability as a pathway to fulfillment and authentic relationships.

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Inspired by a friend's recent story I wanted to explore what it truly means to infuse joy, luxury, and care into our daily routines. From simple acts like lighting a candle while washing our face to more elaborate rituals like organizing vegetables by color for meal prep, we'll uncover how these moments can transform our perspective and elevate our experiences.

This concept of romanticizing life is more about mindfulness and gratitude, rather than mere romance. I want to help you find these moments that already are, or easily can, occur in your life - aimed at embracing the beauty of the present moment.

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Jessica Jackson, creator of the Thriving in Motherhood podcast, shares her journey from struggling with postpartum depression and anxiety to finding her way to thriving in motherhood. She recounts the challenges she faced, including a life-threatening illness after the birth of her third child, and how these experiences led her to discover the power of planning and creating a vision for her life.

Jessica emphasizes the importance of starting with a clear vision, breaking it down into manageable steps, and planning realistically within a week rather than focusing on idealistic daily schedules. Plus, she introduces the concept of the "big three," where you prioritize three key tasks aligned with your vision for the week. By embracing these principles and customizing planning methods to your own life, you can learn to plan weeks you can truly win.

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This monthly series features an episode sharing my recent highs and lows, how my habits are going, a Do Something List update, plus what I'm loving lately and my commitments for the upcoming month. I hope this glimpse into my life, my family, my work, and my own self development encourages you in your own journey.

Around here the goal is never perfection, just to keep trying, even if in very simple ways. I think you'll see that with all of the big changes going on for me, taking the smallest of steps has helped to keep me afloat and feeling like myself. As always, I encourage you to get messy, too!

Tan France videos, Cast iron pot, Chain necklace

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Reflecting on the chaos of the last week while my husband has been out of town, I realized how it echoes past times when this hectic pace was the norm for me. Those times were what sparked a shift in prioritizing showing up more as myself, in my own life. My journey towards embracing this led to a deep appreciation for the power of habits, not as rigid routines but as flexible tools to navigate life's demands.

Today I'm sharing four key habits, and how these simple practices have become my anchor amidst the chaos. I hope these insights inspire you to identify and prioritize small habits that can make a big difference in your own life's juggling act.

Recent meal planning episode

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In this episode, I interviewed Jason Van Ruler, a seasoned therapist, about the profound impact of our past on our present and future. Jason shared his personal journey, reflecting on a childhood marked by upheaval and trauma, which shaped his perspective and propelled him towards a career in therapy.

Jason highlighted the transformative power of vulnerability and connection in the healing process, underscoring that healing is indeed possible, albeit a journey rather than a destination. He encourages us to embrace imperfection and cultivate spaces for honesty and growth, as we learn from our past and look to our futures.

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Metaphors shape our perceptions of ourselves, our relationships, and our capacity for personal growth and change. When we use them to speak about ourselves and our world, they are reflective of the beliefs we carry and the truths we prize.

Today, our guest Joy Marie Clarkson wants you to better notice the metaphors you’re anchoring into and how to switch them to ones that encourage flourishing over productivity. If you’re tired of your constant cycles of updating, crashing, and rebooting, Joy will teach you how to stop looking at yourself as a machine and instead own this metaphor for yourself: I am a tree.

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Is there something that has made you think other people can do that, but not me? This episode is part of a series to convince you otherwise. These episodes feature real people who are answering the question “How do you…?” about their various passions and pursuits.

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