There is so much happening in the world and in our personal lives right now. The noise can feel constant—the headlines, the responsibilities, the unspoken weight of what tomorrow might bring. It’s easy to feel like we’re standing in the middle of chaos, with thoughts pulling us in a hundred different directions. And in that swirl of anxiousness and overwhelm, gratitude might feel almost impossible. 

But what if gratitude isn’t about ignoring the chaos… what if it’s about changing the lens we look through? Because when you change your focus, you change your feelings. And when you change your feelings, you begin to change your future. And that’s okay! 

Action Steps 

• Take a Gratitude Pause each afternoon.
• Send one Gratitude Note that is specific and heartfelt.
• Create your Gratitude Anchor and let it retrain your focus.

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 “Hey friends—welcome back to And That’s Okay! Can you believe it? We are celebrating one year of this podcast. One year! I honestly can’t believe I get to sit here, one year later, with you listening in, reflecting on where we’ve been, and celebrating where we’re going. 

So today’s episode is different. It’s not just a look back, but a moment to pause, reflect, and ask: how did I get here? And even more importantly—how did you get here?” 

“If there’s one thing I know for sure, it’s that we carry a lot—expectations, responsibilities, and yes, emotions that we’re often told to push aside. 

How many times have you felt something deeply—overwhelmed, frustrated, even joyful—but caught yourself thinking, ‘I need to get over it,’ or ‘It’s fine,’ or even, ‘I don’t have time for this’? 

If that’s you, put in the comments right now: That’s me! 

We do it all the time, don’t we? But here’s the thing… emotions are real. They’re messengers. You were created with feelings. You just haven’t always been given permission to validate them. 

So let’s switch it up—NOW in the comments put these three words: And That’s Okay! That’s your new mantra.” 

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Hey friend, welcome back to And That’s Okay! Today we’re talking about a feeling I know you’ve had before…feeling out of place. You know those moments—you walk into a room, everyone seems connected, and suddenly you feel like the outsider? Maybe it’s at work, a social gathering, or even in your own family. That sinking thought hits you: “I don’t belong here.”

Take a deep breath with me. I want you to hear this and really let it sink in: You’re in the room already for a reason. Even if it doesn’t feel like it right now, your presence matters. And that’s what we’re going to unpack today…because feeling out of place doesn’t mean you’re not enough… And That’s Okay!

Action Steps:

1. Seek out spaces where your presence matters;

2. Remember the moments your value has already been seen;

3. Own your uniqueness—because that’s exactly why you’re in the room.

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 Welcome back to And That’s Okay! I want to start today with something really personal. It wasn’t until I actually started taking time with my feelings that I realized just how much power they hold. Not power in a scary way, but power in what they can teach me… and in how they signal what’s going on underneath the surface. 

The tricky part is, feelings don’t usually knock on the door and introduce themselves. They just kind of… show up. Sometimes they come rushing in, sometimes they linger quietly in the background, and rarely do they come with an explanation or definition. That’s the elusive nature of them. 

And here’s the thing — you can’t just let them float by and expect to fully understand them. You’ve got to do a little bit of work. You’ve got to pause, notice, reflect, and sometimes even challenge what they’re telling you. And when I started doing that, everything shifted for me. I learned that I didn’t have to be at the mercy of my feelings, but I also didn’t need to shut them down. Instead, I could listen, learn, and then choose my next step. 

That’s what we’re talking about today — when should you validate your feelings, and when should you actually question them? And… that’s okay. 

ACTION STEPS: 

• Validate First
• Question Second
• Act Third

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Words have power. Sometimes they build us up… and sometimes, they cut deeper than we expect. Maybe it was something said in the heat of the moment, maybe it was a comment that stung long after the conversation ended. Harsh words have a way of sticking with us—echoing in our minds, making us question who we are or how we’re seen. 

If you’ve ever walked away replaying someone else’s words, wondering why they hit so hard… you’re not alone. We’ve all been there. 

And in today’s episode, we’re going to explore how to face those harsh words, protect our own peace, and remind ourselves that even when they hurt remember… And that’s okay! 

ACTION STEPS:

1. Reframing and Taking Control

2. Protecting Your Peace

3. Turning Pain Into Power

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Have you ever found yourself sitting in your car after grocery shopping, bags waiting in the backseat, and just… couldn’t bring yourself to drive home? Like your body and mind are telling you, “Not yet.”

Maybe it’s not about the groceries at all. Maybe it’s the noise, the chaos, the endless expectations waiting behind that door.

Today, we’re going to lean into that heavy feeling and talk about why it’s okay to pause — really pause — even in the middle of the busiest day.

If you’ve ever wished for just two quiet minutes to yourself, me too…And That’s Okay!  This episode is for you.

ACTION STEPS:

1 - Claim two minutes

2. Do a quick mental unload

3. Give Yourself a Tiny Win

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Today we’re talking about the non-money things you’re allowed to want more of — and how to actually create them in your life. Not with hustle. Not by chasing more. But by choosing better. 

I’ll share personal reflections — including a moment this week that really shifted how I define abundance — and I’ll walk you through realistic, specific ways to claim more energy, more peace, more connection… without guilt. 

Because it turns out, wanting more doesn’t make you ungrateful...It means you're ready to live with more intention. You're ready to stop settling for just getting through the day — and start creating a life that actually feels like yours. 

ACTION STEPS 

1. Five minutes of stillness.
2. A simple message to someone you love.
3. One small promise to yourself — and keep it.
4. Choose play.
5. Take one thing off your plate.

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Okay… let’s just go ahead and say it: I had a plan. It was a good plan. It was on the calendar, the outfit was laid out, and I was hydrated. But then—because the universe apparently wanted to test me—the plan fell apart. And what came rushing in? That oh-so-familiar combo: frustration, being fed up, and feeling completely off track.” 

 If you’ve ever felt like you’re doing your best and life decides to give you a flat tire… this episode is for you. 

Today, we’re talking about the moments where we feel like we're doing everything right—maybe even with a little momentum—and then boom… life reroutes us. It's not about just accepting the detour—it's about learning how to show up anyway. And… how to not lose ourselves in the spiral. 

Action Steps:

Name it in real time. Say it, feel it, own it.

Ask: What can I still do right now? One simple move forward.

Give yourself one permission slip. Release the pressure. Let grace lead.

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You’re doing everything. You’re checking the boxes. Running the errands. Juggling the work, the kids, the laundry, the texts, the emails.

You are not sitting still—like, ever.

And yet… you still feel like you’re drowning.

That low hum of anxiety? It’s there before your feet hit the floor. That weight in your chest? It follows you through the day.

And when your head finally hits the pillow, it whispers: “You didn’t do enough.”

If that’s you? You are not alone. And listen carefully:

You are not broken. You are not lazy. You are not failing.

You are overwhelmed. You are overextended. And you are likely multitasking your way into burnout.

If you are feeling this right now, if you are shaking your head in agreement, I want you to HEAR my tell you… ...And That’s Okay.

ACTION STEPS:

1. Take 90-second breath breaks to pause and check in.
2. Choose just ONE task and give it your full focus.
3. Clear one small physical space.
4. Write down 3 things you completed today.
5. Reset before returning to your task.

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 We’re often told to "leave the past in the past."
 To keep moving. To only look forward.
 And sure... there’s a lot of truth to that — life doesn’t wait, and neither can we.
 But here’s something we don’t talk about enough:
 Not everything in the rearview mirror is bad.
Some of it?
Some of it is beautiful. Some of it is the reason you’re standing right here today.
Some of it... deserves a second glance, not because you’re stuck — but because you’ve grown.
Because you’re wiser now. Because the messy, imperfect, beautiful path behind you gifted you strength, clarity, empathy, and grit...And That's Okay!
And when life feels chaotic — when everything around you feels loud and messy — sometimes the greatest thing you can do isn’t to push forward harder...
It’s to take one long, deep breath.
Glance back.
Find one thing you survived. One thing you learned.
And say to yourself:
"That mattered. That made me. And I’m still here."
Today, we’re going to talk about the gift of looking back — even in the middle of the mess.
How it changes the way we walk forward. How it changes the way we love people.
How it softens the hard places and strengthens the tender ones.
And how even when life feels like pure chaos... there is still something good rising inside you. 

Action Steps:
1. Pause and name a moment you’re proud of.
2. Start your "Look What I Survived" list.
3. Text someone who helped you learn.
4. Create a 3-minute Rearview Ritual.
5. Speak one strength-based affirmation out loud.

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