Are you going through the motions of motherhood but can't remember the last time you felt truly alive? Do you find yourself wondering who you even are anymore beyond "mom"? Have the things that once brought you joy become just another obligation on your endless to-do list?
Jennifer unpacks the dangerous pattern of numbing and disconnection that keeps mothers stuck in survival mode—and shows you the path back to rediscovering what makes you come alive. Through personal stories of her own journey from burnt out to lit up, she explores why we lose ourselves in the first place, the difference between healthy rest and harmful numbing, and the courage it takes to reconnect with your dreams when shame has been keeping them at bay.
If you've been running on empty, performing instead of living, or wondering if this is just what motherhood is supposed to feel like, this episode will remind you that you were meant for more than just surviving. Your desires, your dreams, and your calling matter—and it's time to reconnect with what makes you come alive.
🎧 Listen Now
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-enough-mom-podcast/id1755861428
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5CWYwsLq4bvK8KCvQn1J2n
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@jenn_bryant
Website: https://jennifer-bryant.com
📖 In This Episode
[00:00] Why so many mothers feel burnt out and disconnected from themselves
[03:15] The difference between healthy rest and harmful numbing behaviors
[06:30] How shame keeps you from pursuing the dreams that would make you come alive
[09:45] The turning point: recognizing when survival mode becomes your default
[12:20] What "coming alive" actually means (and why it's not selfish)
[15:40] Practical steps to reconnect with lost parts of yourself
[18:50] Why your desires and dreams are clues to your calling
[21:30] The courage it takes to pursue what lights you up when you're exhausted
[24:15] Breaking the cycle: from performing to living authentically
[27:00] How reconnecting with yourself makes you a better mother
Resources Mentioned in this Episode
📰 Give Me a Break: Psychologists explore the type and frequency of breaks we need to refuel our energy and enhance our well-being
https://www.apa.org/monitor/2019/01/break#:~:text=The%20researchers%20found%20that%20workers,be%20critical%2C%E2%80%9D%20Hunter%20says.
📰 Burnout: Signs, Causes, and What Actually Helps
https://womenspsychotherapycenter.com/mom-burnout-signs-and-what-helps/#:~:text=Key%20Takeaways,happily%20contribute%20to%20unsustainable%20demands.
How Do You See Me? A Friend Feedback Framework for Creative Clarity
https://practical-family.kit.com/products/how-do-you-see-me
Personal Coaching
https://jennifer-bryant.com/parentcoaching/
Energy Audit Worksheet (FREE DOWNLOAD!)
https://jennifer-bryant.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/ENERGY-AUDIT-WORKSHEET-Rediscover-What-Makes-You-Come-Alive-Why-This-Matters-When-youre-running-on-empty-its-hard-to-show-up-as-the-mother-you-want-to-be.-This-simple-audit-helps-you-identify-w.pdf
Book Your 90-Minute Breakthrough Session!
https://stan.store/JennBryant/p/90min-breakthrough-session
🎁 Featured Resources
Dream Reconnection Journal - Ready to reconnect with the dreams shame has been keeping you from pursuing? This journal features easy-to-follow prompts that take just 15 minutes each. Use it as a 7-day journey, once-a-week practice, or complete it all in one intentional day.
Available in Three Formats:
Large Print Journal (8.5x11): https://practicalfamily.shop/products/dream-reconnection-journal
Small Pocket Journal (5x8): https://practicalfamily.shop/products/dream-reconnection-journal-small
Digital PDF Version: https://practical-family.kit.com/products/dream-reconnection-journal-pdf
Each colorful journal page is uniquely designed with space for reflection and growth. Perfect for the mama ready to break free from shame and pursue her calling with courage.
The OVER Framework - Are you overwhelmed and need practical help getting unstuck? Download Jennifer's free OVER Framework to help you move from chaos to clarity: https://practical-family.kit.com/01508b2fd7/index
💬 Connect with Jennifer
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jenniferbryant__
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jenniferloganbryant
Threads: https://www.threads.com/@jenniferbryant__
X: https://x.com/JennBryant_hi
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jenniferbryant__
Website: https://jennifer-bryant.com
📬 Subscribe & Share
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Share this episode if you know another mama who's been feeling burnt out and disconnected. Send her this link and let her know: she was meant for more than just surviving.
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👋 About Jennifer Bryant
Jennifer Bryant is the host of the Enough Mom Podcast and an educational leader with 25+ years of experience. As a homeschooling mother of two teenagers and founder of PracticalFamily.org, she helps moms break free from comparison culture and step into confident, authentic parenting through her three-pillar framework: courage, confidence, and calling.
Jennifer has spent the last five years teaching teenagers public speaking skills, but what she's really teaching them is how to be vulnerable, how to risk being seen, and how to fail well and get back up again. Through tournament season, she's learned as much about resilience and breaking free from shame as her students have—and she's bringing those powerful lessons to mothers everywhere through the Enough Mom Podcast.
Disclaimer: Jennifer Bryant is not a licensed professional counselor. The content shared on this podcast is based on personal experience and educational research. For professional mental health support, please consult a licensed therapist: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us
