What should we do when our children lie? In this thoughtful episode, I share a personal story from my junior high softball days that taught me an important lesson about shame, fear, and honesty. Drawing from a recent Instagram discussion about children who lie, I explore why kids sometimes hide the truth and how our reactions as parents can either strengthen connection or reinforce hiding behaviors.

Learn practical approaches to handling dishonesty with compassion, why inducing shame often backfires, and how to create an environment where children feel safe telling the truth. This episode offers a refreshing perspective on a common parenting challenge, reminding us that how we respond to lying matters more than preventing every instance of it. Join me for a conversation about building trust, understanding the developing brain, and parenting from a place of connection rather than perfection.

In this episode, I share my recent experience pushing outside my comfort zone by traveling solo to a life coaching conference - from waking up at 3 AM to navigating California traffic and even getting coached in front of others! I then dive into powerful insights from three transformative books I've been reading: "The Untethered Soul" by Michael A. Singer, "How to Win Friends and Influence People" by Dale Carnegie, and "The Choice" by Dr. Edith Eva Eger. Discover why becoming the "watcher" of your thoughts might be the key to creating an extraordinary life, how our inner narrative shapes our reality, and what a Holocaust survivor can teach us about overcoming life's greatest challenges.

In this episode, I share my personal journey of choosing discomfort as a pathway to growth. Learn how I challenged myself to present to a coaching group despite self-doubt, and discover the powerful combination of hope and gratitude that helped me navigate my son's health crisis. I explain why deliberately stepping outside your comfort zone each week can transform your life. Whether it's taking a college course, reconciling a relationship, traveling somewhere new, or pursuing a physical challenge, this episode will inspire you to commit to one uncomfortable action weekly and witness your confidence bloom. 

In this episode, we explore the powerful relationship between our circumstances and results. While we can't always choose our circumstances, we can choose how we experience them through our thoughts, feelings, and actions. As an example, I tell the story of the miracle we experienced with my son's health. 

Whether you're facing health challenges, relationship difficulties, or any other trial, this episode offers insight on how to experience your circumstances differently. The power to choose your results is always available to you! 

Today we explored ways to focus more on gratitude in your life. I offered a couple strategies that have worked for me. On Amber Smith's podcast she asks the questions, "Do you wake up expecting something amazing to happen today?" As we ask this question we can live in a way that creates amazing things and also be filled with gratitude.

In this thought-provoking episode, we tackle the complex relationship mothers have with judgment—both from others and ourselves. Discover why some judgment is necessary and protective, while other forms can trap us in cycles of self-doubt and insecurity. Through personal stories and practical strategies, learn how to distinguish between helpful discernment and harmful criticism, and how to break free when other people's opinions start to define your motherhood experience. You'll walk away with powerful tools to respond to judgment with confidence and compassion, turning moments of criticism into opportunities for growth. Join us to explore how the judgments that truly shape us are ultimately the ones we choose to believe about ourselves. 

In this episode, I dive deeper into my journey of preparing to send my son on his mission. After initially focusing on gratitude to overcome disappointment about his mission call, I discovered that other emotions—sadness and worry—were still lingering beneath the surface.

I explore the important distinction between "clean pain" (natural sadness that honors our relationships) and "dirty pain" (unnecessary suffering from worrying about things beyond our control). Drawing inspiration from Mel Robbins' book "Let Them," I share insights about allowing ourselves to experience the full range of emotions without immediately trying to change our thoughts or reaching for distractions.

This episode offers a vulnerable look at parenthood, letting go, and the beauty of developing a rich emotional vocabulary that acknowledges all our feelings—even the uncomfortable ones. Join me as I discover that true emotional wellness isn't about feeling happy all the time, but about honoring the complete human experience.

Unlock the power of your mind and transform your daily experience! In this episode, discover how your morning thoughts can shape your entire day. Learn the game-changing skill of redirecting your brain's focus from negativity to gratitude. Through a personal story about my son's mission call, I show how intentional thinking can turn disappointment into profound appreciation. Whether you're struggling with self-criticism or looking to develop more mental resilience, this episode offers practical insights into creating a more positive, intentional life. Join us as we explore the 50/50 principle of life and how you can choose which side of the spectrum you want to experience. 

In this powerful episode, we explore how to escape the destructive cycle of blaming others or shaming ourselves for the results in our lives. Using the life coaching model (C-T-F-A-R), we examine how our thoughts and feelings about circumstances lead to actions that create our results—whether in parenting, finances, or personal goals.

Through vulnerable personal stories about parenting mishaps and practical examples from everyday life, you'll discover five powerful "F" questions that can transform how you approach challenging situations:

1. FUTURE - What can I learn from this experience?
2. FEELINGS - What emotions are guiding my actions?
3. FEEDBACK - What would I tell a friend in this situation?
4. FAMILY & FRIENDS - What support do I need from others?
5. FACTS - What's actually true versus my interpretation?

Join us to learn how taking ownership of your results—without blame or shame—creates the foundation for meaningful change in every area of your life.

Strong people don't need others to change to be happy—they learn to take responsibility for their own happiness. Through my own experience and coaching insights from Brooke Castillo, I explore how moving from "emotional childhood" to "emotional adulthood" transforms our relationships and overall happiness. Whether you're struggling with unmet expectations in your relationships or seeking more emotional independence, this episode offers practical wisdom on becoming emotionally strong while keeping Christ at the center of it all.

Keywords: emotional strength, relationships, personal growth, Valentine's Day, Christian perspective, marriage, self-improvement