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In this episode, you’re in for a treat.

I sit down with my good friend and fellow coach, Ben Pugh, for a heartfelt, hilarious, and honest conversation about everything from emotional resilience to the wisdom of Ted Lasso.

Ben and I met in coach training back in 2018, and we’ve been coaching each other ever since. He’s an incredible coach for parents of teens, and over the years, we’ve noticed just how much parenting and caregiving have in common.

Here’s just a peek at what we dive into:

• How Ben coached me through one of the hardest seasons of my life
• The power of believing in your kids’ emotional resilience
• What happens when we only see life through our own lens
• Why trying to fix everything outside ourselves doesn’t work—in parenting or caregiving
• The ongoing question: Who do I want to be right now?
• Ted Lasso, polarity, and why laughter helps us grow
• The importance of staying in our own lane (and knowing where that lane actually is)

This episode was inspired by a short video of Bob Proctor, the legendary self-help teacher—and it sparked a conversation full of wisdom, laughter, and real-life insight.

Don’t miss this one. It’s like sitting in on a deep, honest talk between two coaches who have each other’s backs—and have learned a lot along the way.

Resources: 

Ben Pugh Coaching - Be the parent of your dreams! 

Do You Know Who You Are - Bob Proctor Interview

As a Resiliency Coach for people who are caregiving for their partner, I'm here to support YOU, the caregiver. Learn more about my work at www.coachmarika.com.

Send Marika a text.

In this episode, I’m joined by celebrity DJ and radio host Steve Harper for a powerful conversation about worry—and the huge role it plays in caregiving.

Even if you already know that worry isn’t helpful (I covered this way back in Episode 2!), chances are you still find yourself stuck in it. Whether it’s worrying about your partner, your kids, the world, or even how others are worrying about you—it can feel constant, and exhausting.

In our talk, Steve and I explore why we worry, what it really costs us, and how much of it is rooted in fear, guilt, and regret. We also unpack why being worried about doesn't always feel great—and what you can do instead.

I also share a simple, 3-step process you can use anytime to shift yourself out of worry and back into the present.

If you’re a caregiver who’s ever felt weighed down by “what ifs” or future fears, this episode is for you.

You learn: 

• You'll learn why worry feels like you're doing something useful, but often just drains your energy.
• You'll hear how worry is often tied to guilt and regret from the past.
• You'll gain insight into how being worried about can feel disempowering to the person you're caring for.
• You'll walk away with a simple 3-step process to help you shift out of worry and refocus your thoughts.

As a Resiliency Coach for people who are caregiving for their partner, I'm here to support YOU, the caregiver. Learn more about my work at www.coachmarika.com.

Send Marika a text.

As caregivers, we often operate from a place of urgency, love, and sheer exhaustion—and without realizing it, we start seeing the world through a very narrow lens. We make assumptions about what our partner needs, what we’re capable of, and what the future holds. 

These assumptions feel true—but what if they’re not?

In this episode, I share a personal story that made me pause and ask a powerful question: What if I’m wrong? I explore how this simple shift in thinking can open up space, release guilt, and help you see your caregiving journey—and yourself—more clearly.

We’ll talk about why it’s so hard to question our perspective, what it’s costing us to be “right,” and how learning to lift the filter can change everything. If you’ve ever felt stuck, overwhelmed, or certain there’s no other way, this episode offers a gentle but important invitation to see things differently.

Tune in to learn how asking one brave question can bring clarity, connection, and peace of mind—right in the middle of your caregiving life.

Top things you'll learn:

• Your perspective is shaped by a mental filter—and in caregiving, that filter can distort how you see yourself, your partner, and your situation.
• The assumptions you make often feel like facts, but they may not be true—and questioning them can lead to new insights.
• Asking “How might I be wrong?” is a powerful way to open up space for clarity, self-compassion, and better decision-making.
• When you’re exhausted, grieving, or overwhelmed, it’s important to recognize your judgment may be off—and give yourself grace.
• Letting go of the need to be right can reduce stress and create more connection in your caregiving relationships.

As a Resiliency Coach for people who are caregiving for their partner, I'm here to support YOU, the caregiver. Learn more about my work at www.coachmarika.com.

Send Marika a text.

In this episode, I’m diving into something that shows up often in caregiving—but rarely gets talked about: our inner critic.

When you're supporting someone you love, especially in the intensity of caregiving, it’s easy to feel like you're not doing enough, not doing it right, or somehow falling short. That voice? That’s your inner critic. And she’s loud.

Today I share how this voice is actually part of a larger cast of inner archetypes—universal roles that live in all of us. From the Hero to the Sage to the Inner Child, each one has a purpose, but the Critic often steals the spotlight—especially when we’re stressed, tired, or doubting ourselves.

You’ll learn about the five most common forms the inner critic takes, how she affects your caregiving, your relationships, and how to begin shifting the way you relate to her.

If you've been feeling weighed down by guilt, comparison, or a never-ending list of “shoulds,” this episode will help you hear a different voice—one that offers more compassion, courage, and clarity.

What You'll Take Away

• What the inner critic really is
• The five most common forms your inner critic might take
• Why the inner critic shows up so strongly during caregiving
• How your inner critic affects your relationships
• Simple ways to shift your inner dialogue

As a Resiliency Coach for people who are caregiving for their partner, I'm here to support YOU, the caregiver. Learn more about my work at www.coachmarika.com.

Send Marika a text.

When you're in the thick of caregiving, it can feel like your life is on pause—like you're just holding on, waiting for the day when you can finally get back to living. But what if this experience is offering you something valuable right now? What if caregiving isn’t just something to endure but something that’s shaping you in ways you don’t yet see?

In this episode, I explore the hidden lessons caregiving presents—the ones we often miss when we’re focused on simply getting through the day. I share personal stories about how caregiving changed me, along with key mindset shifts that can help you find meaning, growth, and resilience in the midst of this challenging season. You’ll also get practical reflection questions to help you see what caregiving is teaching you about yourself, your values, and your strength.

Because life isn’t waiting for caregiving to end—it’s happening now. And when you start paying attention, you might just realize that this experience is transforming you in ways that will last far beyond this season.

What You'll Learn:

• Why caregiving isn’t just something to endure, but an experience that is shaping you right now.
• How to shift your mindset from “just getting through it” to recognizing the lessons life is offering.
• Key skills—like self-awareness, mind management, and asking better questions—that help you grow through caregiving.
• Reflection questions to help you uncover what caregiving is teaching you about yourself, your values, and your resilience.

Resources: 

The Rules For Being Human

As a Resiliency Coach for people who are caregiving for their partner, I'm here to support YOU, the caregiver. Learn more about my work at www.coachmarika.com.

Send Marika a text.

In this episode, I share practical strategies for caregivers to break free from mental spirals, which can often occur when life’s challenges pile up. Building on last week’s episode about processing emotions, I explore how caregivers’ thoughts can fuel negative feelings, especially when you're already feeling overwhelmed. I dive into how the combination of tough emotions and negative mental chatter can make it feel like you're stuck in a cycle, but I also offer a simple technique to regain clarity.

I walk you through the process of a thought download, a technique that allows caregivers to get all those swirling negative thoughts out of your head. By doing this, you can step back, gain perspective, and separate yourself from the problem. This practice helps you shift your mindset, see what’s actually working, and find space to make empowered decisions moving forward. 

If you’ve ever felt stuck or exhausted by the mental load of caregiving, this episode gives you the tools to reset and break free from those negative thought patterns. Tune in to learn how to stop the mental chatter and make room for more positive, actionable thoughts!

You'll Learn: 

• How to break free from a negative mental spiral – Learn why your thoughts can keep you stuck and how to shift your mindset.
• A simple technique for getting clarity – Discover how a thought download can help you get your negative thoughts out of your head and gain perspective.
• The power of self-reflection – Learn how to assess what's working and what's not, helping you separate emotions from facts.

As a Resiliency Coach for people who are caregiving for their partner, I'm here to support YOU, the caregiver. Learn more about my work at www.coachmarika.com.

Send Marika a text.

In this episode, I share a deeply personal experience of feeling overwhelmed by built-up emotions—how they compounded over time and what finally helped me work through them. When we suppress emotions, they don’t go away; they build up and resurface, often stronger than before.

I talk about why we instinctively resist emotions, how caregiving intensifies this struggle, and why numbing or distracting ourselves doesn’t work long-term. Most importantly, I walk you through my process for fully feeling and releasing emotions—including a guided tapping (EFT) meditation to help you process whatever emotions you’ve been holding onto.

If you’ve been carrying emotional weight for months or even years, this episode will help you create space to feel, release, and lighten your emotional load.

Listen now and try the guided tapping exercise to start processing your emotions today.

You'll Learn: 

• Why emotions build up – How suppressing or avoiding emotions can make them stronger over time, especially in caregiving.
• Why we resist emotions – The common fears and misconceptions that make it hard to fully feel our emotions.
• How to process emotions effectively – A step-by-step approach to allowing and working through emotions instead of numbing or distracting yourself.
• How EFT tapping can help – A guided tapping meditation to help you release built-up emotions and create a sense of calm.

Resources: 

Download a copy of the Tapping Points on my website. Click here and go to the bottom of the page.

As a Resiliency Coach for people who are caregiving for their partner, I'm here to support YOU, the caregiver. Learn more about my work at www.coachmarika.com.

Send Marika a text.

Caregiving is exhausting—not just physically, but mentally and emotionally. When we’re overwhelmed, our brains tend to focus on everything that’s hard, keeping us stuck in a cycle of stress and negativity. But what if the key to feeling better wasn’t about fixing every problem, but simply asking better questions?

In this episode, I talk about how our thoughts shape our experience and why shifting from problem-focused thinking to solution-focused thinking can make a huge difference. I share personal examples, practical strategies, and simple but powerful questions that can help you break out of the negativity loop and move forward with more ease.

If you’ve ever felt like you’re drowning in the weight of caregiving, this episode is for you. Tune in and learn how to take back some control—one better question at a time.

You'll Learn:

Why Negative Thinking Keeps You Stuck – Learn how your brain’s natural negativity bias reinforces stress and exhaustion, making caregiving feel even harder.

The Power of Better Questions – Discover how shifting from problem-focused thinking to solution-oriented questions can help you feel more in control.

Simple Questions to Change Your Mindset – Get practical examples of questions that can turn frustration into action, like What’s the simplest way to do this? or How can I make this easier?

How to Break Free from Overwhelm – Find out why focusing on problems doesn’t lead to solutions—and what to do instead.

A Small Action That Creates Big Change – Learn an easy exercise to start practicing better questions today and notice the immediate shift in how you feel.

As a Resiliency Coach for people who are caregiving for their partner, I'm here to support YOU, the caregiver. Learn more about my work at www.coachmarika.com.

Send Marika a text.

As a caregiver, you pour so much of yourself into supporting your partner, yet it can often feel like no one notices or acknowledges your efforts. That lack of appreciation can be frustrating, even demoralizing, leading to resentment and emotional exhaustion.

In this episode, I dive into why feeling unappreciated is such a common struggle in caregiving, why our partners may not express gratitude the way we expect, and how waiting for external validation can keep us stuck in a cycle of frustration. 

More importantly, I’ll share how to shift your perspective, reconnect with your reasons for caregiving, and take back control of your emotional well-being. Because the truth is, you deserve to feel valued—and that starts with you.

Listen in to learn how to break free from resentment, recognize your own worth, and create a more fulfilling caregiving experience.

What you'll Learn: 

• Why caregivers often feel unappreciated – Understand the common reasons why your partner or others may not express gratitude the way you expect.
• How feeling unappreciated impacts your emotions and behavior – Learn how this frustration can lead to resentment, burnout, or withdrawing from your relationship.
• A mindset shift that puts you back in control – Discover how reconnecting with your why and appreciating yourself can transform your experience.
• Practical steps to change the dynamic – Get actionable strategies for setting boundaries, recognizing unspoken appreciation, and communicating your needs in a healthy way.

Resources: 

55. Reconnecting to Your Purpose in Caregiving

50. The Mental Framework To Regain Control in Your Life

22. Setting Boundaries to Sustain Your Caregiving Journey

As a Resiliency Coach for people who are caregiving for their partner, I'm here to support YOU, the caregiver. Learn more about my work at www.coachmarika.com.

Send Marika a text.

Caregiving can feel like an endless cycle of responsibilities, leaving you physically exhausted and emotionally drained. Over time, you might find yourself asking, Why am I even doing this? 

In this episode, I talk about what happens when we lose our sense of purpose in caregiving—and how to find it again.

I’ll walk you through the emotional toll of caregiving, why it’s so easy to feel disconnected, and four simple steps to help you shift your perspective and reconnect with yourself. We’ll talk about how small mindset shifts, self-connection, and daily gratitude can help you regain a sense of meaning, even in the hardest moments.

If you’ve been feeling stuck or overwhelmed, this episode is for you. You’re not alone, and you don’t have to stay in this place forever. 

Tune in and let’s talk about how to find your reason to keep going.

Top Takeaways from This Episode:

• Why losing your sense of purpose in caregiving is so common – and how to recognize when it’s happening.
• The emotional toll of caregiving – how exhaustion, isolation, and resentment can quietly build up over time.
• Four key steps to shift your perspective – practical ways to reconnect with your purpose, even on the hardest days.
• How to zoom out or zoom in – two different mindset shifts that can help you regain clarity and motivation.
• The power of self-connection – why remembering who you are beyond caregiving can help you move forward.
• How small moments of gratitude can make a big impact – simple ways to shift your focus and find meaning in daily life.

Mentioned in the show: 

24. Navigating and Overcoming Caregiver Resentment

As a Resiliency Coach for people who are caregiving for their partner, I'm here to support YOU, the caregiver. Learn more about my work at www.coachmarika.com.