Held & Whole

Held & Whole

By Callie PerezParentingKids & Family
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Held & Whole episodes

  • Episode 6: Why Your Body Resists Rest (And How to Reclaim It)

    Have you ever finally had a moment to sit down only to feel like you should be doing something? You know you need rest, but when you try to take it, your mind won’t stop racing. The laundry, the emails, the never-ending to-do list… it all pulls at you, making rest feel out of reach.

    If slowing down feels hard for you, you’re not alone. And more importantly, there’s nothing wrong with you.

    In today’s episode, we’re talking about why rest can feel so uncomfortable, the hidden reasons your body resists slowing down, and how to start trusting rest instead of fighting it. Because here’s the truth: Rest isn’t something you have to earn; it’s something you were always meant to receive.

    Join me as we explore:

    🌿 Why your body fights rest (and how to help it feel safe slowing down)
     🌿 The emotional weight of believing rest is something to qualify for
    🌿 How Jesus modeled rest - even in the middle of chaos
    🌿 A simple way to start embracing rest without guilt

    So take a deep breath, soften your shoulders, and let’s settle in together. You don’t have to keep running on empty.

    In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

    ✔ Why rest feels hard even when you know you need it
    ✔ The way your nervous system keeps you in ‘go mode’ (and how to shift it)
    ✔ A faith-centered perspective on rest that removes guilt
    ✔ Small steps to help your body & mind trust rest again

    Let’s Connect!

    📌 Follow the Podcast: Here!
    📌 Join the Community: Here!

    Listener Reflection:

    Before you move on with your day, take a second and ask yourself:
     💭 What’s one belief that has made rest feel out of reach for me? Where did that belief come from?

    ✨ Want to go deeper? ✨
     Take a moment to reflect:
     💡 Do I feel like I need to “finish everything” before I can rest?
     💡 What if I let go of the pressure to earn rest and started receiving it instead?
    💡 How would it feel to believe that rest is safe?

    When you start to see rest as something you’re meant to receive, everything begins to shift.

    Up Next:

    Next time, we’re talking about something so many of us wrestle with: feeling behind. If you’ve ever felt like you can’t quite catch up, like you’re always just a little late to where you’re supposed to be, you won’t want to miss this one.

    Until next time, breathe deep and remember: you are held, you are whole, and you are SO worth taking care of. 💛

    17 min
  • Episode 5: Your Faith Is Not Broken - Releasing Guilt Around Mental Health Struggles

    If you’ve ever felt like struggling with mental health means your faith isn’t strong enough, you are not alone.

    For a long time, I believed my struggles meant I wasn’t trusting God enough. I told myself that if my faith was stronger, I wouldn’t feel anxious or exhausted. But when I actually started looking at scripture, I didn’t see a God who expected me to have it all together—I saw a God who draws near in the middle of the hard stuff.

    In today’s episode, we’re breaking down the false belief that faith should “fix” mental health struggles and embracing the truth: God cares about all of you—your body, your mind, your emotions, and your soul.

    Join me as we explore:
    🌿 Why faith and mental health are not opposing forces
    🌿 The moment I realized I didn’t have to “prove” my faith through strength
    🌿 How God met Elijah’s exhaustion with care—not shame
    🌿 Practical ways to honor both your faith and your mental well-being

    So take a deep breath, get cozy, and let’s settle in together. Because you don’t have to carry this alone.

    In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

    ✔ Why struggling doesn’t mean your faith is weak
    ✔ The biblical truth that breaks cycles of guilt
    ✔ How rest can be an act of faith
    ✔ Simple rhythms to care for both your faith and mental health

    Let’s Connect!

    📌 Follow the Podcast: Here!
    📌 Join the Community: Here!

    Listener Reflection:

    Before you move on with your day, take a second and ask yourself:
    💭 Have I ever felt guilt around struggling with my mental health? Where did that belief come from?

    ✨ Want to go deeper? ✨
    Take a moment to reflect:
    💡 How have I been taught to think about mental health and faith?
    💡 Does it feel like I need to “fix” myself before coming to God?
    💡 What if I let myself rest in the truth that God is already near?

    When you start to believe that God’s presence isn’t something you have to earn, everything begins to shift.

    Next time, we’re talking about the pressure to “do it all” and what it really means to let go and trust God with what’s actually yours to carry. I can’t wait to see you there!

    Until next time, breathe deep and remember — you are held, you are whole, and you are SO worth taking care of. 💛

    26 min
  • Episode 4: A Gentle Reminder - You Are Allowed to Rest

    Hey friend, I’m keeping it short and sweet today with a little something different. I had a full episode planned, but honestly? I’m not feeling my best. Instead of pushing through, I’m choosing to practice what I talk about here: listening to my body, resting when I need it, and trusting that the world keeps turning even when we slow down.

    And I know I’m not the only one who needs that reminder. Maybe you’ve been running on empty too. Maybe you’ve been telling yourself you’ll slow down later once everything is done, once everyone else is taken care of. But the truth is, rest is part of the work.

    In this short but meaningful episode, I’m offering you a simple encouragement, a breath of fresh air in your day. I’ll walk you through a gentle pause, a moment to reset, and a reminder that you don’t have to earn your rest.

    💛 What You’ll Hear Today:

    • A personal reflection on listening to your body and choosing rest
    • A short encouragement for anyone feeling stretched thin
    • A guided breath practice to help you pause and reset
    • A simple but powerful truth: You are enough, even when you slow down

    Wherever you are, I hope this episode gives you permission to pause. To take a deep breath. To remember that you are worthy of care, just as you are.

    And hey - stick around to the very end for a little blooper that might just make you smile. 😆

    Let’s Connect:
    If this episode spoke to you, I’d love to hear from you! Share your thoughts or your favorite takeaway inside The Well-Rooted Mom Community (soon to be Held & Whole: Faith-Centered Moms).

    Take good care of yourself today, friend. Until next time…

    Breathe deep and remember: you are held, you are whole, and you are SO worth taking care of. 💛














    5 min
  • Episode 3: Finding Peace in the Present Moment: A 3-Step Framework to Anchor Yourself in the Now

    It’s so easy to get caught up in what’s next, to replay the past, or to feel like you’re always reaching for something just beyond your grasp. But real peace? It’s found right here, in the now.

    In this episode, we’re sharing a simple, 3-step practice to help you anchor yourself in the present - so you can breathe a little easier and trust God’s timing.

    Join me as we explore:

    🌿 Why it’s so hard to stay present (and how it impacts your well-being)
    🌿 A simple, repeatable practice to help you ground yourself in the now
    🌿 A powerful mindset shift that makes peace more accessible
    🌿 How faith helps you release worry and settle into the moment

    So take a deep breath, settle in, and let’s do this together. Because peace isn’t something you have to find. It’s something you can step into right now.

    In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

    ✔ Why your mind naturally pulls you out of the present (and how to shift it)
    ✔ The 3-step practice for anchoring yourself in the moment
    ✔ How faith can reframe the way you experience peace
    ✔ Practical ways to build this habit into your daily life

    Let’s Connect!

    📌 Follow the Podcast: Here!
    📌 Join the Community: Here!

    Your Intentional Pause for Today:

    Before you move on with your day, take a second and ask yourself:
    💭 What’s one thing grounding me in this moment right now?

    ✨ Want to go deeper? ✨
    Take a moment to reflect:
    💡 What usually pulls my mind away from the moment?
    💡 How would it feel to trust that I am exactly where I need to be?
    💡 What’s one small way I can practice being present today?

    The more you practice anchoring yourself in the moment, the more peace becomes your resting place.

    Next time, we’ll be talking about faith and mental health - how to care for both without guilt. I can’t wait to see you there!

    Until next time, breathe deep and remember — you are held, you are whole, and you are SO worth taking care of. 💛

    16 min
  • Episode 2: You Can’t Pour from an Empty Cup: 5 Ways to Avoid Mom Burnout

    Happy Valentine’s Day, friend! 💛 Today is all about love and, if you’re like most moms, that love is always flowing outward. Toward your kids, your spouse, your friends. But today? I want you to turn that love back toward yourself for a moment.

    Because here’s the truth: You can’t pour from an empty cup. And yet, as moms, we push through exhaustion, keep giving even when we’re running on fumes, and wonder why we feel so depleted. But what if taking care of yourself wasn’t about waiting until you crash, but about small, daily choices that keep your cup full?

    In this episode, we’re talking about five simple, real-life ways to replenish yourself - without guilt, without adding more to your to-do list, and in a way that actually fits into your life.

    🌿 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

    ✔️ How to check in with yourself and recognize when you’re running on empty
    ✔️ Five small, practical ways to refill your cup every day
    ✔️ Why self-care isn’t selfish - it’s an act of love
    ✔️ A faith-centered reminder that God designed us for renewal, not burnout

    If you’ve been feeling drained, exhausted, or like you never have time for yourself - this episode is for you.

    ✨ 5 Simple Ways to Replenish Yourself (Without Guilt):

    1️⃣ Prioritize Rest for Yourself Like You Would for Your Kids – Learn how to shift your mindset around rest and give yourself permission to recharge.
    2️⃣ Fuel Your Body with Love, Not Just Leftovers – Eating whatever’s leftover from your kids’ plates isn’t fueling you. Discover small, easy ways to nourish yourself without overhauling your diet.
    3️⃣ Move Your Body in a Way That Feels Good – Exercise doesn’t have to be another chore. Whether it’s stretching, walking, or dancing in your kitchen, movement can be a powerful way to refill your energy.
    4️⃣ Recognize the Early Signs of Burnout – Burnout doesn’t happen overnight. Learn how to notice the warning signs and respond before you hit a wall.
    5️⃣ Let Yourself Rest Without Guilt – Your worth isn’t tied to how much you get done. True rest is about giving yourself guilt-free permission to pause.

    🌳 Faith & Encouragement: Rest as an Act of Trust

    Even Jesus stepped away to rest. He didn’t tell the weary to work harder. He invited them to rest with Him (Matthew 11:28). When we resist rest, we’re not just pushing past exhaustion; we’re pushing past trust. Real rest is an act of faith. It’s believing that even when we pause, God is still holding everything together.

    If you’ve been running on empty, this is your invitation to let God refill you first.

    💛 Your Next Step: Choose One Small Way to Fill Your Cup

    Right now, take a second and choose one small way you can take care of yourself today. Maybe it’s an earlier bedtime, a nourishing meal, or simply letting yourself breathe for five minutes without thinking about the next task. Whatever it is, decide it now and, more importantly, follow through.

    And if you’re still unsure? Start with something small. When this episode ends, pour yourself a glass of water and actually drink it. A tiny, physical reminder that you are worth refilling.

    📢 Loved This Episode? Here’s How You Can Support the Show:

    💛 Share this episode with a friend who might need this reminder today. You never know who’s running on empty.
    💛 Subscribe & leave a review. It helps Held & Whole reach more moms who need encouragement.
    💛 Join me next time! We’re talking about finding peace in the present moment with a simple 3-step framework to help you ground yourself when life feels overwhelming.

    Until next time, breathe deep and remember — you are held, you are whole, and you are SO worth taking care of. 💛

    22 min
  • Episode 1: Redefining Self-Care – What If It’s Already Here?

    You wake up already feeling behind. The weight of motherhood, responsibilities, and the never-ending to-do list presses in before you even have a chance to breathe. And self-care? It feels like just one more thing you don’t have time for.

    But what if self-care was never meant to be something extra? What if it wasn’t something you had to earn or schedule but something that’s already present in your everyday life?

    In this very first episode of Held & Whole, we’re redefining self-care - not as another item on your to-do list, but as something simpler, softer, and deeply restorative. Because real self-care isn’t about adding more. It’s about noticing what’s already here.

    Join me as we explore:
    🌿 Why self-care isn’t a luxury - it’s how we were created to function.
    🌿 The moment I realized I didn’t need permission to rest.
    🌿 How God’s design for rest is completely different from ours.
    🌿 Simple ways to receive self-care without adding more to your plate.

    So take a deep breath, get cozy, and let’s settle in together. Because this, my friend, gets to be simple.

    In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

    ✔ Why self-care isn’t something you have to deserve
    ✔ The connection between faith and rest
    ✔ A mindset shift that makes self-care feel effortless
    ✔ Practical ways to embrace self-care in the middle of your busy life

    Let’s Connect!

    📌 Follow the Podcast: Here!
    📌 Join the Community: Here!

    Listener Reflection:

    Before you move on with your day, take a second and ask yourself:
    💭 What’s one way I’ve already cared for myself today - without even realizing it?

    ✨ Want to go deeper? ✨
    Take a moment to reflect:
    💡 How have I been taught to see self-care?
    💡 Does it feel like something I have to earn? Something I can only do when everything else is done?
    💡 How might I want to redefine self-care for myself?

    When you start seeing self-care in the small moments, everything begins to shift.

    Next time, we’ll be talking about burnout - how to pour from a full cup without running on empty. I can’t wait to see you there!

    Until next time, breathe deep and remember — you are held, you are whole, and you are SO worth taking care of. 💛

    15 min
  • Welcome to Held & Whole: Your Peace-Filled Journey Begins Here

    Hi there, I’m Callie, and I’m so excited to welcome you to the Held & Whole Podcast! If you’ve been feeling stretched thin, putting everyone else first, and craving a way to care for yourself without adding to your already full plate, you’re in the right place.

    In this trailer episode, I’ll share the heart behind the podcast, why taking care of yourself is essential, and what you can expect from upcoming episodes. From faith-filled conversations about self-care to practical tips for finding peace in the chaos, this podcast is all about helping you thrive as a mom, not just survive.

    Take a deep breath, press play, and join me on this journey toward a more peaceful, intentional life.

    Join me in my Facebook group here!

    4 min

About Held & Whole

From the publisher's feed

Motherhood isn’t meant to be carried alone - and neither are you.


Welcome to Held & Whole, a faith-centered podcast for moms who are ready to release the pressure,…