Apply for the Sisterhood here.

"Just think positive!" "Be grateful!" "Look on the bright side!" We've all heard it—and we've all tried it. But forcing positive thoughts when you're genuinely struggling doesn't work. In fact, it makes things worse. In this episode, you'll learn why false positivity exhausts you, the ladder approach to building authentic thoughts, and how to process emotions so you can create real holiday joy—not fake happiness.

What You'll Learn

The Ladder Metaphor: Why Jumping Doesn't Work Trying to jump from "I'm dreading the holidays" to "I'm so excited!" is like trying to hang Christmas lights without a ladder—you'll exhaust yourself and never reach your goal. You need to build a ladder of authentic thoughts and climb one rung at a time.

Why False Positivity Makes Things Worse When you force thoughts you don't believe, you create cognitive dissonance, bypass real emotions, shame yourself, exhaust your energy, and disconnect from authentic joy. Your brain knows when you're lying to it—and it rejects false positivity.

The Ladder Approach: Building Authentic Thoughts Instead of jumping to positivity, start where you actually are (no judgment, no "shoulds") and build ladder rungs of thoughts that feel TRUE and progressively more helpful. Each rung should feel authentic while moving you slightly toward empowerment and hope.

Thought Flipping vs. False Positivity Thought flipping builds awareness—it shows you that your thoughts aren't facts and that you have options. You can use thought flipping to choose your destination (top of the ladder), then build an authentic path to get there.

The Missing Piece: Processing Emotions at Each Rung You can't skip emotions—you have to process them at each rung of your ladder. Bring the "bully" (dread, anger, resentment) closer instead of running from it. Feel it, honor it, work through it. Only then can you authentically move to the next rung.

LIKE WHAT YOU HEAR & WANT TO GO DEEPER?

🎯 REGISTER FOR THE FREE BETTER BECAUSE OF DIVORCE WORKSHOP where you will:

✓ Uncover the story that has been running (and potentially ruining) your life since your divorce. 

✓ Feel the shift from powerless to powerful through a live exercise that shows you how to get back behind the wheel of your own life.

✓ Discover the specific gap standing between where you are now and where you want to be. You will leave the workshop knowing exactly what to do to close that gap. 

Click here to register for the free workshop now.

About Julie:

After 23 years of marriage and a betrayal she never saw coming, Julie  found herself starting over from scratch. No roadmap. No guarantee it would be okay. Just the decision that her life was worth rebuilding.

Julie is now a Certified Life Coach, a Health and Wellness Coach, and founder of the FIERCE Sisterhood — a transformative community for divorced women ready to rebuild their lives from the inside out. She hosts the Better Because of Divorce podcast because she believes divorced women deserve more than surface-level positivity. They deserve real, lasting transformation.

She knows what it costs to start over. And she knows what's possible on the other side.

...

Calm doesn't just happen—you have to create it on purpose. 

In this episode, you'll learn a practical 3-step process for creating calm during the holidays (and all year long), even when your ex is difficult, your adult kids change plans, or family dynamics are messy. This is about taking your power back and showing up with intention, no matter what chaos surrounds you.

What You'll Learn

Step 1: Define What Calm Means to YOU Most people want to be calm but have never defined what that actually means. Get specific about how calm feels in your body, looks in your day, and sounds in your life. You can't create calm if you don't know what you're creating.

Step 2: Anticipate What Might Interrupt Your Calm This isn't worrying—it's preparing. Based on history and real information, identify who or what typically disrupts your peace during the holidays. When you anticipate potential disruptions, you stop being blindsided and start being ready.

Step 3: Create a Plan and Practice It For every potential disruption, create a specific response plan—then practice it ahead of time. Rehearse what you'll say, how you'll respond, and how you'll maintain your calm. When chaos comes, you'll already know exactly what to do.

Key Takeaways

• Calm is not about eliminating chaos—it's about knowing how YOU will show up in the middle of it
• The difference between worrying and anticipating: worrying obsesses without a plan, anticipating uses what you know to prepare
• When you practice your calm response ahead of time, it becomes automatic in the moment
• You don't need perfect circumstances to have calm—you just need intention and a plan

Ready for Support?

Join The Fierce Sisterhood where we practice these tools together and you don't have to figure it out alone. Apply here for details: https://juliesteedcoaching.com/apply-program

Remember: You don't have to wait for calm. You get to create it.

LIKE WHAT YOU HEAR & WANT TO GO DEEPER?

🎯 REGISTER FOR THE FREE BETTER BECAUSE OF DIVORCE WORKSHOP where you will:

✓ Uncover the story that has been running (and potentially ruining) your life since your divorce. 

✓ Feel the shift from powerless to powerful through a live exercise that shows you how to get back behind the wheel of your own life.

✓ Discover the specific gap standing between where you are now and where you want to be. You will leave the workshop knowing exactly what to do to close that gap. 

Click here to register for the free workshop now.

About Julie:

After 23 years of marriage and a betrayal she never saw coming, Julie  found herself starting over from scratch. No roadmap. No guarantee it would be okay. Just the decision that her life was worth rebuilding.

Julie is now a Certified Life Coach, a Health and Wellness Coach, and founder of the FIERCE Sisterhood — a transformative community for divorced women ready to rebuild their lives from the inside out. She hosts the Better Because of Divorce podcast because she believes divorced women deserve more than surface-level positivity. They deserve real, lasting transformation.

She knows what it costs to start over. And she knows what's possible on the other side.

...

Worry is a thief that steals your joy—especially during the holidays. In this episode, we explore how worry robs you of precious moments with loved ones, beautiful holiday traditions, and your ability to live fully in the present. But more importantly, you'll learn exactly how to stop worry in its tracks and turn it into a force for good.

What You'll Learn

• Why Your Brain Makes You Worry 
• What Worry Actually Steals
• How to Control Worry
• The Practice of Surrender 
• How to Stop Worry Now

If you'd like to join us in the FIERCE Sisterhood, you can apply for membership here. 

LIKE WHAT YOU HEAR & WANT TO GO DEEPER?

🎯 REGISTER FOR THE FREE BETTER BECAUSE OF DIVORCE WORKSHOP where you will:

✓ Uncover the story that has been running (and potentially ruining) your life since your divorce. 

✓ Feel the shift from powerless to powerful through a live exercise that shows you how to get back behind the wheel of your own life.

✓ Discover the specific gap standing between where you are now and where you want to be. You will leave the workshop knowing exactly what to do to close that gap. 

Click here to register for the free workshop now.

About Julie:

After 23 years of marriage and a betrayal she never saw coming, Julie  found herself starting over from scratch. No roadmap. No guarantee it would be okay. Just the decision that her life was worth rebuilding.

Julie is now a Certified Life Coach, a Health and Wellness Coach, and founder of the FIERCE Sisterhood — a transformative community for divorced women ready to rebuild their lives from the inside out. She hosts the Better Because of Divorce podcast because she believes divorced women deserve more than surface-level positivity. They deserve real, lasting transformation.

She knows what it costs to start over. And she knows what's possible on the other side.

...

In the reply of this popular episode, we meet Christi and learn about her healing journey.

She is continuing to shine as a member of the FIERCE Sisterhood.

"I wanted to shine again" ~ Christi Guinard

If you've been wondering whether coaching actually works or if transformation is really possible at this stage of life, this episode is your answer.

Meet Christi: Six months ago, she felt stuck and unrecognizable to herself. Today, she's a woman who has discovered her inner strength and learned to manage the thought spirals that used to control her life.

In this interview, Christi opens up about her coaching journey with Julie, sharing the exact moment she knew she wanted help and how she went from feeling lost to feeling empowered in just six months.

What you'll discover:

• The "shine again" moment that motivated Christi to invest in coaching
• How she learned to question her assumptions and fears instead of being controlled by them
• The difference between coaching (which focuses on your potential) and therapy (which processes the past)
• How processing grief while building strength can happen simultaneously

You can create a life that you love, too. Apply here for the sisterhood and start living the life you're meant to live.

LIKE WHAT YOU HEAR & WANT TO GO DEEPER?

🎯 REGISTER FOR THE FREE BETTER BECAUSE OF DIVORCE WORKSHOP where you will:

✓ Uncover the story that has been running (and potentially ruining) your life since your divorce. 

✓ Feel the shift from powerless to powerful through a live exercise that shows you how to get back behind the wheel of your own life.

✓ Discover the specific gap standing between where you are now and where you want to be. You will leave the workshop knowing exactly what to do to close that gap. 

Click here to register for the free workshop now.

About Julie:

After 23 years of marriage and a betrayal she never saw coming, Julie  found herself starting over from scratch. No roadmap. No guarantee it would be okay. Just the decision that her life was worth rebuilding.

Julie is now a Certified Life Coach, a Health and Wellness Coach, and founder of the FIERCE Sisterhood — a transformative community for divorced women ready to rebuild their lives from the inside out. She hosts the Better Because of Divorce podcast because she believes divorced women deserve more than surface-level positivity. They deserve real, lasting transformation.

She knows what it costs to start over. And she knows what's possible on the other side.

...

Breath work goes beyond mindset—it releases what you're holding at a subconscious level.

In the final episode of our Team FIERCE coach series, meet Keri—breath work coach and guide for women navigating divorce, loss, and major life transitions.

Through early motherhood, loss, and overcoming adversity, Keri discovered breathwork's transformative power. Now she helps women rediscover their voices and heal from grief and trauma in ways that mindset work alone can't reach.

Breathnwork releases deep-seated pain and limiting beliefs stored in your body at a subconscious level. This isn't just about thinking differently—it's about releasing what you've been carrying physically and emotionally.

Why this matters for the FIERCE Sisterhood: Sometimes healing requires more than talking or thinking your way through. Keri's breathwork creates space for release, connection, and transformation in community with women who truly understand.

The FIERCE Sisterhood is where every part of you is accepted, supported, and celebrated.

LIKE WHAT YOU HEAR & WANT TO GO DEEPER?

🎯 REGISTER FOR THE FREE BETTER BECAUSE OF DIVORCE WORKSHOP where you will:

✓ Uncover the story that has been running (and potentially ruining) your life since your divorce. 

✓ Feel the shift from powerless to powerful through a live exercise that shows you how to get back behind the wheel of your own life.

✓ Discover the specific gap standing between where you are now and where you want to be. You will leave the workshop knowing exactly what to do to close that gap. 

Click here to register for the free workshop now.

About Julie:

After 23 years of marriage and a betrayal she never saw coming, Julie  found herself starting over from scratch. No roadmap. No guarantee it would be okay. Just the decision that her life was worth rebuilding.

Julie is now a Certified Life Coach, a Health and Wellness Coach, and founder of the FIERCE Sisterhood — a transformative community for divorced women ready to rebuild their lives from the inside out. She hosts the Better Because of Divorce podcast because she believes divorced women deserve more than surface-level positivity. They deserve real, lasting transformation.

She knows what it costs to start over. And she knows what's possible on the other side.

...

"What would love do? That's the question that changes everything."

In Part 4 of our Team FIERCE coach series, meet Natalie Hunt—master certified leadership coach with a background in psychology and organizational leadership.

Natalie's approach: She helps divorced women rebuild confidence, set boundaries, and rediscover self-trust through the lens of self-leadership. Her philosophy? Transformation happens through small, brave steps—and it accelerates when you're supported by community.

Her guiding principle: When faced with decisions, ask "What would love do?"—choosing self-love and authenticity over fear and obligation.

Why this matters for the FIERCE Sisterhood: Self-trust is foundational to becoming better because of divorce. Natalie gives you the leadership tools to create the life you actually want.

LIKE WHAT YOU HEAR & WANT TO GO DEEPER?

🎯 REGISTER FOR THE FREE BETTER BECAUSE OF DIVORCE WORKSHOP where you will:

✓ Uncover the story that has been running (and potentially ruining) your life since your divorce. 

✓ Feel the shift from powerless to powerful through a live exercise that shows you how to get back behind the wheel of your own life.

✓ Discover the specific gap standing between where you are now and where you want to be. You will leave the workshop knowing exactly what to do to close that gap. 

Click here to register for the free workshop now.

About Julie:

After 23 years of marriage and a betrayal she never saw coming, Julie  found herself starting over from scratch. No roadmap. No guarantee it would be okay. Just the decision that her life was worth rebuilding.

Julie is now a Certified Life Coach, a Health and Wellness Coach, and founder of the FIERCE Sisterhood — a transformative community for divorced women ready to rebuild their lives from the inside out. She hosts the Better Because of Divorce podcast because she believes divorced women deserve more than surface-level positivity. They deserve real, lasting transformation.

She knows what it costs to start over. And she knows what's possible on the other side.

...

In this episode of "Better Because of Divorce," I sit down with Coach Gia Huff, a certified professional life coach specializing in the subconscious mind.

Together, they explore the journey of healing and growth after divorce and becoming an empty nester. 

Gia shares her personal story of overcoming betrayal, finding empowerment through coaching, and the importance of community for women navigating similar experiences. 

The conversation covers topics like trauma recovery, the value of group coaching, and learning to trust oneself again. 

Listeners will gain insights into post-traumatic growth, the power of shared experiences, and the supportive environment offered by the Fierce Sisterhood community.

LIKE WHAT YOU HEAR & WANT TO GO DEEPER?

🎯 REGISTER FOR THE FREE BETTER BECAUSE OF DIVORCE WORKSHOP where you will:

✓ Uncover the story that has been running (and potentially ruining) your life since your divorce. 

✓ Feel the shift from powerless to powerful through a live exercise that shows you how to get back behind the wheel of your own life.

✓ Discover the specific gap standing between where you are now and where you want to be. You will leave the workshop knowing exactly what to do to close that gap. 

Click here to register for the free workshop now.

About Julie:

After 23 years of marriage and a betrayal she never saw coming, Julie  found herself starting over from scratch. No roadmap. No guarantee it would be okay. Just the decision that her life was worth rebuilding.

Julie is now a Certified Life Coach, a Health and Wellness Coach, and founder of the FIERCE Sisterhood — a transformative community for divorced women ready to rebuild their lives from the inside out. She hosts the Better Because of Divorce podcast because she believes divorced women deserve more than surface-level positivity. They deserve real, lasting transformation.

She knows what it costs to start over. And she knows what's possible on the other side.

...

Do you feel like your body is betraying you? 

Like the mirror has become your enemy and your energy has completely disappeared? 

You want to feel confident and good in your clothes, but between divorce, empty nest, and all the overwhelming changes in midlife—it just feels like too much to tackle right now.

In this episode, meet Elizabeth Sherman, Master Certified Life & Health Coach for Women in Midlife and one of the incredible coaches inside the FIERCE Sisterhood. 

Elizabeth brings a refreshingly comforting, non-restrictive approach to health and body image that actually works for real women navigating real life.

This conversation will change how you think about your health—and remind you that you don't have to wait until life calms down to start feeling good.

Your body, your confidence, your life—they're all waiting for you.

Interested in learning more about the FIERCE Sisterhood Program for Divorced Empty Nesters? Apply here.

LIKE WHAT YOU HEAR & WANT TO GO DEEPER?

🎯 REGISTER FOR THE FREE BETTER BECAUSE OF DIVORCE WORKSHOP where you will:

✓ Uncover the story that has been running (and potentially ruining) your life since your divorce. 

✓ Feel the shift from powerless to powerful through a live exercise that shows you how to get back behind the wheel of your own life.

✓ Discover the specific gap standing between where you are now and where you want to be. You will leave the workshop knowing exactly what to do to close that gap. 

Click here to register for the free workshop now.

About Julie:

After 23 years of marriage and a betrayal she never saw coming, Julie  found herself starting over from scratch. No roadmap. No guarantee it would be okay. Just the decision that her life was worth rebuilding.

Julie is now a Certified Life Coach, a Health and Wellness Coach, and founder of the FIERCE Sisterhood — a transformative community for divorced women ready to rebuild their lives from the inside out. She hosts the Better Because of Divorce podcast because she believes divorced women deserve more than surface-level positivity. They deserve real, lasting transformation.

She knows what it costs to start over. And she knows what's possible on the other side.

...

Part 1 of 5: Meet the coaches who make the FIERCE Sisterhood a one-stop shop for divorced empty nesters.

Welcome to a new podcast series introducing the five incredible coaches behind the FIERCE Sisterhood—each bringing personal experience with divorce, grief, empty nest or loss, and expert guidance in their specialty.

In Part 1, meet Kristy Souto, your yoga and meditation guide who discovered yoga as her lifeline during her second divorce and now helps other women find the same grounding and healing. 

Learn why her approach is perfect for women who don't feel like they belong in "regular" yoga classes and how living with intention sets your new life in motion.

Four more coaches to come in this series—creating comprehensive support for your complete transformation.

Want details about how you can join the Sisterhood? Drop me an email at [email protected].

LIKE WHAT YOU HEAR & WANT TO GO DEEPER?

🎯 REGISTER FOR THE FREE BETTER BECAUSE OF DIVORCE WORKSHOP where you will:

✓ Uncover the story that has been running (and potentially ruining) your life since your divorce. 

✓ Feel the shift from powerless to powerful through a live exercise that shows you how to get back behind the wheel of your own life.

✓ Discover the specific gap standing between where you are now and where you want to be. You will leave the workshop knowing exactly what to do to close that gap. 

Click here to register for the free workshop now.

About Julie:

After 23 years of marriage and a betrayal she never saw coming, Julie  found herself starting over from scratch. No roadmap. No guarantee it would be okay. Just the decision that her life was worth rebuilding.

Julie is now a Certified Life Coach, a Health and Wellness Coach, and founder of the FIERCE Sisterhood — a transformative community for divorced women ready to rebuild their lives from the inside out. She hosts the Better Because of Divorce podcast because she believes divorced women deserve more than surface-level positivity. They deserve real, lasting transformation.

She knows what it costs to start over. And she knows what's possible on the other side.

...

Healing isn't linear—and this weekend reminded me why that's actually beautiful.

If you've ever felt like you should be "over" your divorce by now, or struggled with feeling multiple conflicting emotions at once, this episode will normalize your experience and show you the sophistication of complex healing.

The story: Julie shares her experience attending her nephew's wedding—her ex-husband's family—where she had a wonderful time celebrating while simultaneously processing difficult emotions. She explores how both experiences can be true simultaneously and why nothing has gone wrong when this happens.

You'll discover:

• Why the story you tell yourself about your divorce determines your entire experience
• The difference between acknowledging pain and being defined by it
• How to show up authentically without shrinking or hiding from difficult situations
• The skill of holding multiple emotions simultaneously (grateful AND sad, joyful AND grieving)
• Why trying to feel only "positive" emotions is actually emotional sabotage
• The difference between mindset work and grief processing—and when to use each
• What "better because of divorce" actually means

Ready to learn the art of healing beautifully through complexity? Join the free Better Because of Divorce Challenge, starting next on Oct. 5. Register here now. Your one precious life is waiting.

LIKE WHAT YOU HEAR & WANT TO GO DEEPER?

🎯 REGISTER FOR THE FREE BETTER BECAUSE OF DIVORCE WORKSHOP where you will:

✓ Uncover the story that has been running (and potentially ruining) your life since your divorce. 

✓ Feel the shift from powerless to powerful through a live exercise that shows you how to get back behind the wheel of your own life.

✓ Discover the specific gap standing between where you are now and where you want to be. You will leave the workshop knowing exactly what to do to close that gap. 

Click here to register for the free workshop now.

About Julie:

After 23 years of marriage and a betrayal she never saw coming, Julie  found herself starting over from scratch. No roadmap. No guarantee it would be okay. Just the decision that her life was worth rebuilding.

Julie is now a Certified Life Coach, a Health and Wellness Coach, and founder of the FIERCE Sisterhood — a transformative community for divorced women ready to rebuild their lives from the inside out. She hosts the Better Because of Divorce podcast because she believes divorced women deserve more than surface-level positivity. They deserve real, lasting transformation.

She knows what it costs to start over. And she knows what's possible on the other side.

...