In this episode, you’ll hear:

A poetic reframe: hard things as gifts to your future self

The herbalist’s story of “We don’t take away—we give”

How journaling helped Wendi rewire her mindset

A powerful gym moment and how simple phrases changed everything

A sweet story about chickens, wasps, and newfound confidence

Practical examples of uplifting self-talk in everyday tasks

7 journal prompts to gently shift from deprivation to devotion

Mentioned in this episode:

SafeWaterDrop.com – my favorite no-fuss water purifier

Rosalee de la Forêt – herbalist and author

The Joyfully Prepared Facebook group – come share your insights with me!

1. What am I giving myself by doing this hard thing?
2. What have I tried to take away in the past—and how might it feel to give something better instead?
3. When I think about a habit I want to change, what is my self-talk around it?
4. What am I truly craving underneath the habit—comfort, connection, energy, space?
5. Who taught me how to talk to myself—and who do I want to sound like now?
6. Where in my life am I ready to shift from deprivation to devotion?
7. What are three things I gave myself this week—on purpose or not—that helped me feel more whole?

Episode 179 – Proof You’re Still Doing Great (Even If You Missed a Week)

Hey friend—today’s episode is short, honest, and from the heart. I missed releasing an episode last week. First time in over three years. And guess what? I didn’t panic. I rested. And now I’m here to talk about what that taught me. 💛

In this episode, I share:

Why I skipped an episode after 179 weeks straight

A reminder that rest isn’t failure

What baseball taught me about streaks and starting again

A few of my personal wins (and sweat-soaked Florida thoughts)

Gentle journal prompts to help you reflect and rest

Why being loved has nothing to do with productivity

📒 Journal Prompts from the Episode:

Where in my life am I feeling the most tired right now?

What’s one small way I can offer myself grace today?

What story am I telling myself when I need a break—and is it true?

What’s one tiny thing I can do today that helps me feel grounded or restored?

What have I already done this week that I’m proud of—even if it’s small?

💧 Special thanks to our sponsor: SafeWaterDrop.com
Keep your emergency water supply safe and drinkable—especially during hurricane season. I use Madidrop myself and recommend it for every emergency kit.

🫶 You are not behind. You are not lazy. You are loved.

✨ What if five minutes at the end of your day could be the most powerful mindset shift you’ll make all week?

Today I’m sharing my transformation journal—a simple, four-part daily practice that’s helped me see progress, even on the hardest days.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

Why I started this journal after a “Rapid Transformation” challenge with Dr. Benjamin Hardy

The four prompts I use every night:
1️⃣ At least three wins (even tiny ones)
2️⃣ Remembering a mercy or miracle from the day
3️⃣ A transformation that happened, big or small
4️⃣ Three goals for the next day to support your bigger dreams

Real-life examples from my own journal entries (including shower wins, rainstorms, and battling giant Florida roaches 🪳)

How this practice helps you celebrate your growth, notice God’s blessings, and stay focused on what matters most

💧 Special thanks to our sponsor: SafeWaterDrop.com
I keep Madidrop in my own emergency kit for safe, purified water when it counts most. Check them out at SafeWaterDrop.com.

📝 Links I mentioned:

Dr. Benjamin Hardy’s books (Be Your Future Self Now, The Gap and the Gain, 10x Is Easier Than 2x) 

My website: joyfullyprepared.com

TikTok for my garage clean-out adventures: @WendiBergin

I’d love to hear if you try this transformation journal for yourself! Send me a message at joyfullyprepared.com and let me know how you’re making it your own.

You are worth celebrating, my friend. 💛

In this heartfelt episode, Wendi Bergin opens up about why she chose the name Joyfully Prepared and what being the Joyful Prepper truly means to her.

She shares how preparedness runs deep in her family history—from her grandfather’s 1,800 jars of food in 1938, to her own teenage canning adventures. But she also gets honest about how, as a young mom, her preparedness message was once rooted in fear and “doom and gloom.”

A single question from a friend during a playdate forced Wendi to rethink everything: “Why do you always talk about the doom and gloom?”

That moment planted the seed for change.

Today, she explains how she transformed her approach, why she believes preparedness is an act of love and faith, and why failure (and laughter) have an essential place in this lifestyle.

Whether you’re new to preparedness or a seasoned homesteader, this episode is an invitation to trade panic for planning, fear for faith, and perfectionism for grace.

Listen in and discover:

Why success isn’t as funny (or as helpful) as failure

How being prepared can bring real peace of mind

The importance of letting go of control and making space for grace

Why you deserve to be joyfully prepared

Join Wendi for an honest, encouraging conversation that will remind you: you can’t plan for everything—but you can always choose to show up with love.

Website: www.joyfullprepared.com

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/joyfulprep

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joyfulprepper/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/selfreliantmoms/I

When the power goes out, clean water becomes priceless.

Today we’re talking about the one thing you can’t live without during hurricane season: water.

We’ll break down:

How much water you actually need for your family

Smart ways to store water, even in small spaces

Why you also need a plan to bring water in when your stash runs out

Three simple steps to making questionable water safer: filter the chunks, reduce turbidity, and purify it (boil, bleach, or Madidrop!)

If you want peace of mind when the storm hits, this episode will help you get there—without panic, perfection, or blowing your budget.

🎁 Grab the free 12-Week Hurricane Prep Checklist

Collapsible Water Container Jug

Water Bob Bathtub Liner

MadiDrop -  www.safewaterdrop.com

Water Bricks - Water Storage Containers

What if getting prepared didn’t feel overwhelming?
This week, I’m walking you through my free 12-Week Hurricane Preparedness Checklist—designed for real families, real budgets, and real life.

Inside this episode:

Why a 12-week countdown gives you calm (not chaos)

The 4 categories that keep prep simple and focused

How to customize the checklist for your family using the “prep profile”

What’s on the back of the checklist (yep, we’re talking toilets and freezers)

The joy of checking off just one small thing at a time

🎁 Download the checklist at joyfullyprepared.com
Let’s make preparedness feel like peace—not panic.

Download 12-week Hurricane Preparedness Checklist

In this episode, we cover:

What a 72-hour kit is—and why I call it a Peace of Mind Bag

A not-so-hypothetical story about Tic Tacs and no flashlight (you’ll feel seen)

What to pack for you, your family, your pets, and even your car

Why packing extra underwear can feel like a survival superpower

A 5-item challenge to help you take quick action today

Where to grab my free printable checklists to make it even easier

🎒 Download the Peace of Mind Bag Checklists (for humans, pets, and cars):

👉Bug Out Bag Checklist for Emergencies
👉 Bug Out Bag for Pets

👉Thrive Life Freeze-dried Food

👉Pet Travel Bag

In this episode:
✅ Wendi’s real-life hurricane prep stories (what worked + what flopped)
✅ Why knowing what you have — and where it is — matters so much
✅ How to prep food for maximum comfort and minimum stress
✅ The #1 mindset trap moms fall into during storm prep
✅ A fun 10-minute game to get your hurricane gear checked + ready
✅ Encouragement to prep from a place of peace, not fear

Mentioned resources:

Hurricane lamps, generators, and alternate cooking gear

Hurricane Lamp Link

Simple snacks + comfort foods that help keep spirits up

Preparing as a family and involving kids in the process

Podcast Episodes:

The #1 Food Storage Myth: Why People Won't Eat Just Anything When They're Hungry

The Biggest Food Storage Challenge: How to Keep Picky Eaters & Your Family Happy

In this episode of Joyfully Prepared, Wendi continues the story she began in part one, opening up about how God helped her reframe her identity and healing journey after a season of deep heartbreak.

You’ll hear how she:

Discovered that her purpose was not just motherhood — but her identity as a daughter of God

Began to reframe her experiences, seeing them as things that happened for her, not to her

Learned to shift from guilt and comparison to gratitude and strength

Started weaving movement, meditation, and creation into her daily healing

Found the freedom to love herself and others better, without carrying the crushing weight of over-responsibility

If you’ve ever wondered how to reframe your pain or questioned your worth when motherhood feels overwhelming, this episode offers hope, perspective, and practical encouragement.

In this episode of the Joyfully Prepared podcast, Wendi gets real about the weight of motherhood — and how carrying it all nearly broke her.

• She shares how she slipped into unhealthy patterns:
• Never letting her kids experience consequences
• Neglecting her own physical and emotional needs
• Skipping connection with her husband
• Believing no one else could handle things “right”
• Caring too much about what other moms thought — and silently judging in return

Wendi opens up about how a painful, life-shattering moment forced her to face what she was really worshipping — and how God began gently showing her that motherhood was never meant to be an idol.

If you’ve ever felt crushed under the weight of motherhood or struggled to put God first, this episode is here to remind you: you don’t have to carry it all.

Reflection Questions to Journal:

1. Where in your life are you carrying more than God asked you to?
   Are there places you’ve taken on too much, thinking it’s all up to you?
2. Are you wearing a badge of martyrdom, like I did?
   Where are you silently sacrificing, hoping it proves your love or worth?
3. Are you rescuing others at the cost of your own peace or well-being?
   Where might you be stepping in to fix or save, when it’s not actually your responsibility?
4. Where have you been caring in unhealthy ways — hoping it will be “enough” to prove you’re a good mom, wife, or woman?
5. What small area of your life might God be inviting you to gently release back to Him?
   Where can you start by loosening your grip, just a little?

Website:  www.joyfullyprepared.com

FB Group: Joyfully Prepared

Podcast Episode:  Your purpose is YOU!