By Chance Avenue

Host Elizabeth Tiglao-Guss explores what it means to give yourself permission to feel real, unapologetic joy without guilt, especially after loss. She shares her personal journey through miscarriage, years of failed fertility treatments, and the grief and anger that surfaced during the adoption process, including the emotional weight of having to “prove” worthiness in an adoptive family profile. After two failed adoptions just two weeks apart—one involving a six-month-old placed in their home briefly and another falling through while traveling to pick up a newborn—she and her husband Victor traveled to Kenya and Tanzania. Experiencing the vastness of the Serengeti helped her feel genuine happiness without guilt and reshaped her belief that joy isn’t earned, can coexist with grief, and can begin with small moments of letting it in.

1. Permission to Feel Joy
2. Miscarriage and Guilt
3. Infertility Years
4. Adoption Worthiness Trap
5. Meditation as Anchor
6. Failed Adoptions Collapse
7. Africa Trip Breakthrough
8. Joy Without Conditions
9. Let Joy and Grief Coexist
10. Small Steps to Happiness
11. Closing and Share

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IG: @bychanceavenue

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In this hearftelt episode host Elizabeth Tiglao-Guss explores the identity crisis that can come with living without children not by choice, asking: who are you if not the woman who was supposed to become a mother? She shares her own journey through unsuccessful fertility treatments, opening to adoption, and grieving both the child she wouldn’t have and the experience of pregnancy she longed for. Feeling “done” brought emotional fatigue, fear about her husband Victor’s timeline, and deeper questions about purpose and worth beyond motherhood, shaped by family and cultural expectations. Through faith, prayer, and meditation, she began letting go of an old identity and sensing a calling to build community, serve, create, and live intentionally. She leaves listeners with two journaling prompts about what has always been true and who they’d become if they knew they’d be okay.

1. The Big Identity Question
2. Motherhood As A Plan
3. Treatments And Adoption Grief
4. Feeling Like Nobody
5. Emotional Fatigue And Fear
6. Faith And A New Purpose
7. Building A Different Life
8. Ask Yourself Who You Are
9. Two Journal Prompts
10. Closing And Share This

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IG: @bychanceavenue

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In this heartfelt episode, host Elizabeth Tiglao-Guss returns to the basics of what it really means to “process your emotions,” especially in the context of infertility grief and being childless not by choice. She shares her personal history of growing up in the Philippines suppressing emotions, being teased for sensitivity, and later experiencing a breakdown in her early twenties that led to a diagnosis of clinical depression something she now understands as years of suppressed feelings surfacing. Drawing from decades of therapy and somatic work, she explains what processing is not (just crying, ruminating, trying to get over it, or a one-time fix) and breaks down the internal steps: awareness, validation, acknowledgement/naming, and feeling emotions without distraction by noticing how they show up in the body. She describes how unprocessed emotions can feel like heaviness, irritability, and “blah” symptoms that impact relationships, and how doing the work gradually brings relief. Elizabeth also shares a tool that works for her writing as expression and release, including stream-of-consciousness writing and emphasizes that unprocessed emotions keep people stuck and cloud the ability to imagine a future. She closes by encouraging listeners to start with small steps, and offers clarity sessions for support.

1. Why Processing Matters
2. My Emotional Backstory
3. Breakdown to Breakthrough
4. Beyond Infertility Talk
5. What Processing Is Not
6. Four Steps to Process
7. Feeling It in the Body
8. Signs You Are Stuck
9. Writing as Release
10. Clear Space for Future
11. Start Small and Keep Going
12. Closing and Support

If you’re in a season where you could use a little more support and clarity, I’m offering private Gentle Clarity Sessions. You can let me know what’s going on and request a session here:

👉 https://bychance.myflodesk.com/claritysession

Connect with Elizabeth:

IG: @bychanceavenue

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Want to share your story? Apply to be a guest!

In the second episode of this heartfelt series, host Elizabeth Tiglao-Guss explores the journey of moving forward without children. Elizabeth discusses the emotional process of letting go of old dreams, creating space for new ones, and finding hope and excitement amidst uncertainty. She shares personal anecdotes, including the symbols of her past dreams and how she reimagines her future with new goals and possibilities. Elizabeth encourages listeners to honor their past dreams while embracing the new potential their current circumstances offer. With practical advice and emotional support, this episode aims to inspire listeners to dream again and find joy in their redefined lives.

1. Introduction: Embracing Life Without Children
2. Acknowledging Old Dreams
3. Creating Space for New Dreams
4. Exploring New Possibilities
5. Reimagining Life and Setting New Goals
6. Conclusion and Support

If you’re in a season where you could use a little more support and clarity, I’m offering private Gentle Clarity Sessions. You can let me know what’s going on and request a session here:

👉 https://bychance.myflodesk.com/claritysession

Connect with Elizabeth:

IG: @bychanceavenue

Stay connected & up to date with all things By Chance

Want to share your story? Apply to be a guest!

In the first part of this two-part series, host Elizabeth Tiglao-Guss addresses the challenges and fears of deciding to move forward without children. She shares her personal journey from the initial terror of the unknown to finding a way to live intentionally. Elizabeth offers insights on how to navigate uncertainties, emphasizing the importance of staying connected with loved ones and taking life one manageable step at a time. She provides practical advice for reframing the unknown and living in the present moment, aiming to inspire listeners to build a full and meaningful life despite the uncertainties.

1. Introduction to the Series
2. Facing the Unknown
3. Coping Strategies and Support
4. Reframing the Unknown
5. Key Takeaways and Conclusion
6. 
   

If you’re in a season where you could use a little more support and clarity, I’m offering private Gentle Clarity Sessions. You can let me know what’s going on and request a session here:

👉 https://bychance.myflodesk.com/claritysession

Connect with Elizabeth:

IG: @bychanceavenue

Stay connected & up to date with all things By Chance

Want to share your story? Apply to be a guest!

In this deeply personal episode, host Elizabeth Tiglao-Guss shares her journey of self-forgiveness, especially related to her struggles with infertility. Inspired by a passage from 'The Comfort Book' by Matt Hague, Elizabeth discusses the subconscious blame she placed on herself and the profound impact of letting go of these feelings. Through therapy, meditation, and various mindfulness practices, she emphasizes the importance of self-awareness and releasing guilt to live a fulfilling life. Elizabeth encourages listeners to explore their own healing processes and offers support through private sessions designed to provide empathy and understanding.

1. Rediscovering the Joy of Reading
2. The Power of Self-Forgiveness
3. Struggles with Infertility and Self-Blame
4. The Journey to Letting Go
5. Embracing a Good Life
6. Seeking Support and Offering Help

If you’re in a season where you could use a little more support and clarity, I’m offering private Gentle Clarity Sessions. You can let me know what’s going on and request a session here:

👉 https://bychance.myflodesk.com/claritysession

Connect with Elizabeth:

IG: @bychanceavenue

Stay connected & up to date with all things By Chance

Want to share your story? Apply to be a guest!

In this heartfelt episode host Elizabeth Tiglao-Guss shares five essential tools that supported her emotional and mental well-being after deciding to stop pursuing parenthood. She emphasizes the importance of creating a personal toolbox of practices and rituals, including meditation, journaling, travel, therapy, and community. Elizabeth shares her journey of coping with deep emotions and finding new perspectives through these tools, offering listeners insights into how they can build and adapt their own toolboxes to navigate life's hardest transitions.

1. Introduction: Sharing My Journey
2. Creating Your Own Emotional Toolbox
3. The Evolution of My Personal Tools
4. Tool 1: The Power of Meditation
5. Tool 2: The Healing Practice of Journaling
6. Tool 3: Embracing Travel and Adventure
7. Tool 4: The Importance of Therapy
8. Tool 5: Building a Supportive Community
9. Conclusion: Building Your Own Toolbox

Connect with Elizabeth:

IG: @bychanceavenue

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In this deeply personal episode, host Elizabeth Tiglao-Guss is joined by her husband Victor to mark two years since they decided to stop trying to have children through adoption. They share their emotional journey, reflecting on the challenges, the grief, and the healing process. They discuss how their lives have changed, the support they found in each other, and the newfound freedom they've embraced. Through therapy and open communication, they continue to navigate the complexities of their decision and find joy and purpose outside of parenthood.

1. Introduction and Welcome Back, Victor!
2. Reflecting on the Decision to Stop Trying for Children
3. Coping with the Decision and Family Circumstances
4. The Healing Process and Acceptance
5. Navigating Emotions and Therapy
6. Gratitude and Moving Forward
7. Enjoying the Present and Future Plans
8. Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Connect with Elizabeth:

IG: @bychanceavenue

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In this episode, host Elizabeth Tiglao-Guss discusses her personal experiences with therapy and mental health, inspired by an interview with comedian and talk show host Trevor Noah. Elizabeth reflects on the stigma surrounding therapy, how it has evolved, and the misconceptions that still exist, particularly in certain cultures and families. She shares her own journey, starting therapy due to a depression diagnosis in college, the ups and downs of finding the right therapist, and how therapy has been an invaluable tool for her through various life challenges, including infertility and menopause. Elizabeth emphasizes that seeking support, whether through therapy, coaching, or talking to a trusted friend, is essential and should not be viewed as a sign of weakness. She encourages listeners to ask themselves what they need and to seek the help they deserve.

1. Introduction: The Importance of Therapy
2. Trevor Noah's Influence on Mental Health
3. Personal Journey with Therapy
4. The Evolution of Therapy Accessibility
5. Meeting Victor: A Shared Value in Therapy
6. Different Types of Support
7. Final Thoughts: Embracing Support
8. Conclusion: Self-Reflection and Gratitude

Connect with Elizabeth:

IG: @bychanceavenue

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As we enter a new year, host Elizabeth Tiglao-Guss reflects on the practice of setting intentions rather than rigid resolutions. She recounts her journey with the words 'evolving' and 'surrender' over the past year amidst personal challenges, such as her father's critical illness, and how these experiences have led her to her new word for the year: 'expand.' Elizabeth expounds on the importance of allowing oneself to grow, adjusting boundaries, and making room for both joy and grief. This episode is a gentle reminder to approach the new year with intention, self-compassion, and the readiness to embrace life's contrasts.

1. New Year Reflections and Intentions
2. Choosing the Word for the Year
3. The Journey of Surrender
4. Lessons from a Challenging Year
5. Embracing Expansion
6. Encouragement for the New Year

Connect with Elizabeth:

IG: @bychanceavenue

Stay connected & up to date with all things By Chance

Want to share your story? Apply to be a guest!