Climb Your Mountain

What if self-acceptance wasn’t just a feel-good idea—but the key to becoming more effective, motivated, and fulfilled in every area of your life?

In this episode of the Climb Your Mountain Podcast, Sarah Maurer explores radical self acceptance and why beating yourself up for “falling short” actually blocks the results you want. If you struggle with shame, harsh self-talk, or the belief that you need to fix yourself to be worthy, this conversation is for you.

We dig into the familiar “greatest hits” many high-achievers carry—you’re lazy, you’re too much, you’re not capable, you’re not lovable—and how these thoughts show up in real life: yelling at your kids after a long day, forcing yourself into tight jeans, skipping the gym, overspending, or trying to be smaller and more pleasing than you really are.

Sarah breaks down why self-criticism is actually a form of self-protection, why it doesn’t work long-term, and how operating from shame fuels emotional overwhelm, burnout, and inconsistency. Then she offers a powerful alternative: choosing self compassion and believing you are fundamentally good, worthy, and capable exactly as you are.

The sooner you practice radical self acceptance, the sooner you create more of what you want—connection, confidence, consistency, and peace.

WORK WITH SARAH

Curious about how life coaching can help you? You can schedule a free consultation by:

• Clicking here and grabbing some time on my calendar
• Emailing me at [email protected]

For the first 48 years of my life, my only experience with hypnosis was a stage show at college.

The hypnotist told the participants they were in class. They sat looking straight ahead like they were listening to the professor. 

Suddenly the hypnotist yelled BADGER! and pointed at the ground. And all the participants freaked out and jumped up on their chairs.

It was hilarious. But I didn’t exactly associate it with healing and empowerment.

It felt kind of coercive, to be honest.

When you think about hypnosis, what comes to mind? A bearded guy swinging a gold watch? A cult leader? 😵‍💫

If so, you’re not alone.

There are so many misconceptions out there.

Which is really a shame, because science suggests hypnosis is a fast and effective way to relieve stress and anxiety. It’s also great for pain management and behavior change.

I’ve personally undergone hypnosis to help with guilt, social anxiety, and a driving phobia. And the results feel like a miracle.

And as a life coach certified in hypnosis, I’ve seen this modality help clients change faster and with less struggle.

But don’t just take it from me!

On this week’s episode of the Climb Your Mountain podcast, I’m joined by the amazing Wella Jay. She’s a past client who came to me specifically for hypnosis.

In our conversation she opens up about her experiences with hypnocoaching. We dive into:

❇️ How clinical hypnosis (the one we do in coaching) actually empowers you to take control of your own healing

❇️ What to expect in a typical hypnosis session

❇️ Why hypnosis might work better for some people than traditional “talking” methods of coaching

❇️ Debunking common myths, e.g. that it’s a form of mind control or manipulation

❇️ How hypnosis changed how we see life and ourselves (there’s definitely a spiritual benefit)

❇️ Our own experiences and results in hypnotherapy — and how it sometimes surprised us with “bonus” healing we weren’t even looking for

If you’re curious about hypnosis …

If you’ve thought about coaching, but dislike the idea of talking about yourself or answering lots of questions …

This one is definitely for you!

Enjoy! ❤️

WORK WITH SARAH

Curious about how life coaching can help you? You can schedule a free consultation by:

• Clicking here and grabbing some time on my calendar
• Emailing me at [email protected]

I hired my first coach because I wanted to stop overdrinking. 

It worked.

And to this day, it remains one of my favorite things to coach my clients on.

I’m living proof that a coaching approach can help you cut way back. Enough to make a real difference in your health and mental well-being. (Ask my blood pressure!)

And this week on the Climb Your Mountain podcast, in honor of Dry/Damp January, I’m going to walk you thought my recommended cut-back approach.

You’ll get a ton of tips and insights you can action on right now to finish Dry/Damp January strong — or start your own 30-day break today.

Things like:

⭐️ Shouldn’t we be going for total abstinance? What the latest science says about cutting back and quitting alcohol. (This might come as a huge relief!)

⭐️ The most important success factor you must nail before you start that makes everything else easier.

⭐️ The immense benefits of taking a 30-day break (even if you have to go to your snottiest cousin’s 200-person wedding in Mexico this month).

⭐️ Common triggers and stumbling blocks to expect (boredom, loneliness, mental exhaustion, etc.)

⭐️ How stopping overdrinking is an invitation to bring more fun and pleasure into your life.

Enjoy! ❤️ 

WORK WITH SARAH

Curious about how life coaching can help you? You can schedule a free consultation by:

• Clicking here and grabbing some time on my calendar
• Emailing me at [email protected]

If you’d rather eat broken glass than set new year’s goals, I’ve got a podcast episode for you!

So many of us have PTSD around goals.

We feel shame about all the times we’ve gone for something in the past … only to fall on our faces.

Every time we see a successful person, we assume they did it “right.” (Set goal. Followed up with disciplined action. Got result.)

But what if the opposite was actually true?

What if creating your dreams is always supposed to look and feel like a shit show?

It’s like this drawing. No one escapes the scribble!

(Including all those successful people who make it look so easy. Remember, you’re only seeing their after.)

The only reason goal-setting hurts is that we massively underestimate the time and energy it will take to create our results.

And on this week’s episode of the Climb Your Mountain podcast, I’m going to walk you through:

🌺 Why so many people quit on their goals when they’re on the verge of success (and how to avoid it)

🌺 Why goals are still worth it (even when they’re hard)

🌺 Why it doesn’t matter how much you’ve failed in the past.

🌺 Some new ways to look at goals (beyond do-or-die measures of your self-worth)

Enjoy! ♥️ 

WORK WITH SARAH

Curious about how life coaching can help you? You can schedule a free consultation by:

• Clicking here and grabbing some time on my calendar
• Emailing me at [email protected]

Last week in Mexico, I tried to take the bus to a cenote (swimming hole). 

I was SURE it would take just 15 minutes to jump on the colectivo (mini-bus).

90 minutes later …

😭 I’d just walked all over Tulum in the blazing sun trying to get cash for the bus fare …

😭 And then walked another 30 minutes looking for the right bus stop

😭 I was sweating, dehydrated, frustrated and PISSED because I wanted to get to the cenote early before the crowds

😭 I finally caught the damn bus

What went wrong here?

Absolutely nothing. 

This is the way it’s supposed to work. 

Our brains tell us we can do it faster.

But our brains are wrong.

By planning only for the best-case scenario, we create a lot of frustration for ourselves.

We end up feeling stressed, behind, incapable, and overwhelmed.

Life feels chaotic.

We’re late for everything.

And we quit on our dreams because we think they’re taking too long. (When really we just underestimated the time and effort required.)

So this week’s episode of the Climb Your Mountain podcast, let’s talk about a new way to plan.

One that factors in delays, missteps, friction, and obstacles.

It’s incredibly simple.

And if you’re setting 2026 intentions, it will save you so much heartache!

Enjoy. ❤️ 

WORK WITH SARAH

Curious about how life coaching can help you? You can schedule a free consultation by:

• Clicking here and grabbing some time on my calendar
• Emailing me at [email protected]

If you didn’t end the year like you’d hoped …

If there were goals you didn’t reach …

If you feel more stuck than ever …

Then you’re probably beating yourself up for wasting time.

You might be buying into the punishing idea that it’s actually possible to MAXIMIZE your time. 

By doing everything right.

By never failing or getting distracted.

And by always finishing what you start.

If so, here’s what I want to offer you.

(This always blows my clients’ minds.)

Friend, there is no such thing as wasting time.

The word “wasting” implies that you have perfect control. 

You don’t.

And in fact, trying to be perfect can actually make your time management WORSE.

On this week’s episode of the Climb Your Mountain podcast, we’ll talk about how to break free from this toxic belief.

How to find sufficiency with exactly where you’re at.

And why it’s still totally possible for you to succeed — even if it didn’t happen this year. (Or for the past ten years.)

Change is always possible.

All it takes is once.

Here’s how you know that’s true.

Enjoy, and happy New Year. ❤️ 

WORK WITH SARAH

Curious about how life coaching can help you? You can schedule a free consultation by:

• Clicking here and grabbing some time on my calendar
• Emailing me at [email protected]

If you’re having a sad Christmas …

You’re SO not alone.

(Even if it seems like everyone else on earth is merry and bright.)

I fell into this trap.

On Christmas Eve, I sent out an email speaking to everyone who is struggling during the holidays.

I felt kind of silly doing it.

My brain told me …

🧠 Everyone else is really HAPPY! You’re the only weirdo who’s not overjoyed by the season.

🧠 Now you look like a loser.

🧠 Also, if Debbie Downer and Scrooge McDuck had a baby, it would be you.

Well. It turns out my brain was wrong.

That email got more responses than anything I’ve sent out this year.

It turns out plenty of you are feeling sad around the holidays.

For all kinds of reasons.

Tragic losses. Relationship breakups. Money pressure. Overwhelm. Past holiday trauma.

You would never guess from social media.

But it’s true.

So I’m glad that not only did I send an email …

I also made a podcast about this.

On this week’s episode of the Climb Your Mountain podcast, I share some of my own sad Christmas experiences.

And I’ll also offer you some survival tips. 

Really practical things you can do to make micro moments of joy in a difficult season. 

Enjoy ❤️

WORK WITH SARAH

Curious about how life coaching can help you? You can schedule a free consultation by:

• Clicking here and grabbing some time on my calendar
• Emailing me at [email protected]

Imagine that suddenly you only had electricity for two hours a day.

Two hours a day to charge your phone, use your Wi-Fi, run your heating/air conditioning, watch TV, refrigerate your food.

Maybe you were already hungry and working hard to survive.

And suddenly, the lights went out, and life got that much harder.

That's what happened this year in Cuba. (As I learned on my recent trip.)

In this week's episode of Climb Your Mountain, you'll hear about some of the struggles Cuba is going through.

But you'll hear even more about the resilience of the human spirit.

People in Cuba are proud of having nothing — and yet having everything.

We can all practice this.

Even in times of darkness and deprivation, it's possible to create great spiritual, emotional, cultural, and social wealth. 

And in fact, sometimes its in those dark times that our light shines brightest.

If you're going through a metaphorical dark period, don't miss this one.

You're going to get practical tools to help you honor your struggles, find micro moments of joy, deepen your relationships, and find freedom when your choices are limited.

Enjoy ❤️ 

WORK WITH SARAH

Curious about how life coaching can help you? You can schedule a free consultation by:

• Clicking here and grabbing some time on my calendar
• Emailing me at [email protected]

Is this you?

• You're working two jobs to pay for all your kids activities — and yet they won't lift a finger to help you clean the house.
• You've just had a big loss (a child, partner, parent) — and suddenly everyone disappears. (Grief ghosts are real.)
• Your partner is happy for you to plan the entire vacation — and then complains loudly that they don't want to go to Disney Land.
• Every time you go somewhere with friends, you always end up driving, and its getting old.

Feeling unsupported sucks. 

It's most hurtful when you make it mean something about yourself

That you're too much.

That you're too needy.

That you're not worthy of care and attention.

That your problems are too awful for anyone else to handle.

Bestie no.

We are done with all that!

In this week's episode of the Climb Your Mountain podcast, we've going to demystify all the reasons other people aren't helping you out more. 

(Spoiler alert: it's NOT you.)

And then I'm going to show you some useful thoughts, frames, and Jedi mind tricks that will help you ALWAYS get the support you need. No matter what.

Enjoy ❤️ 

RESOURCES MENTIONED

• Instagram post about loneliness epidemic

WORK WITH SARAH

Curious about how life coaching can help you? You can schedule a free consultation by:

• Clicking here and grabbing some time on my calendar
• Emailing me at [email protected]

It's my 50th birthday. And I'm not here to give you a load of bullshit about how excited I am, or how 50 is the new 40.

The late 40s have been TOUGH.

And that's true for most people.

Statistically, 47 is the most unhappy age. (Yes, actual scientists have studied this.)

It's the collision of parenting, elder care, and peak work responsibilities.

Your time has never been more constrained.

You feel urgency to trek to Mt. Everest Base Camp while you're still healthy — but you're working 60 hours a week and supporting multiple family members. 

You worry that your happiest years are past — and it just gets worse from here.

Bestie, if this is you, you really need this week's episode of the Climb Your Mountain podcast.

Because it is going to give you HOPE.

It's going to reassure you that greater happiness is coming.

You don't have to work for it.

It's going to happen naturally.

And.

You can also move toward happiness NOW.

Not by quitting your job and walking across Mongolia with twenty dollars in your pocket. (Although that would be a totally iconic midlife crisis thing to do.)

You get to start reclaiming happiness right here, one small step at a time.

Here's how.

Enjoy ❤️ 

RESOURCES MENTIONED

• The Happiness Curve: Why Life Gets Better After 50 (book) (aff. link)

WORK WITH SARAH

Curious about how life coaching can help you? You can schedule a free consultation by:

• Clicking here and grabbing some time on my calendar
• Emailing me at [email protected]