Today on the Joyfully Her Podcast, we’re joined by the incredible Jasmine Kilgore of Creative Direction! From full-time homeschooling to building a thriving agency, Jasmine opens up about the real behind-the-scenes of living out your purpose in both motherhood and the marketplace.

If you’ve ever wrestled with balancing your calling, your kids, and your mental health—while keeping your faith front and center—this conversation will speak right to your heart. 💛✨

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"I felt like a shell of myself, numb. Who am I? What is this?" These devastating questions haunted me after the birth of my daughter nine years ago. As a mother and Christian therapist who survived postpartum depression, I'm pulling back the curtain on maternal mental health struggles that 80% of new mothers experience but few discuss openly.

The staggering reality is that suicide remains one of the leading causes of death during the postpartum period. Yet the stigma surrounding maternal mental health keeps countless women suffering in silence, afraid to admit they're struggling, worried about judgment, or terrified their children might be taken away. I know these fears firsthand – at my six-week checkup, I wasn't honest on my depression screening, prolonging my suffering unnecessarily.

Beyond the typical "baby blues" that last 2-3 weeks, about 30% of mothers experience perinatal mood and anxiety disorders that require support. Risk factors include family history, traumatic births, lack of social support, past trauma, and relationship problems. These conditions manifest not just as depression but also anxiety, OCD behaviors, and in rare but serious cases, postpartum psychosis requiring immediate medical attention.

When left untreated, these conditions affect everything – from bonding with your baby to your marriage relationship. I remember hiding in my closet, crying and praying for help when the isolation became too much. This transition to motherhood, what experts call "matrescence," deserves the same preparation and support as other major life transitions.

If you're struggling, please ask yourself: How different would your experience be if you prioritized your wellness today? What if you shared your heart with God and connected with safe people who can support you? The journey through maternal mental health challenges isn't one you should walk alone. Share this episode with a mother who might need to hear she's not alone, and join our community as we continue exploring motherhood honestly together.

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Feeling overwhelmed by the invisible workload of motherhood? You're not alone. Modern mothers complete an average of 15 hours of unpaid, unnoticed labor every week, and society often pushes us to pack in even more. But what if the solution isn't adding tasks but creating systems that truly support who you are?

In this transformative episode, Christian therapist Nicole Gabrielle reveals science-backed approaches to establishing balance through effective systems. Discover how habit stacking can help new routines stick with 80% less effort and why time blocking might be the game-changer your daily schedule needs. The research is clear: our brains crave routine, and when we honor that need while aligning our activities with our deepest values, everything changes.

Beyond practical strategies, Nicole addresses the spiritual component of balance, challenging listeners to examine whether they're following societal pressures or God's vision of success. She shares powerful insights about self-compassion, explaining how extending grace to yourself actually reduces stress hormones and improves your overall wellbeing. The myth of perfect balance gets dismantled as Nicole offers a refreshing perspective on motherhood as a mindful juggling act rather than an impossible standard of perfection.

Whether you're drowning in overwhelm or simply seeking more intentionality in your days, this episode provides both the practical tools and the spiritual encouragement to create systems that honor your season of life. Ready to transform your approach to motherhood? Listen now, and don't forget to subscribe for our upcoming episode on the fascinating physiological changes of "mom brain" and how they impact your daily life.

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Feeling overwhelmed by the competing demands of motherhood, marriage, and everything else on your plate? You're not alone. This eye-opening episode reveals startling statistics: one in four women experience anxiety or depression while balancing their roles as wives and mothers, with women twice as likely to be diagnosed with anxiety disorders due to this emotional overwhelm.

Beyond the numbers lies a powerful reframing of how we approach "balance" in our lives. Rather than maintaining perfect equilibrium, what if we viewed life more like juggling? Some balls will inevitably drop—the key is recognizing which ones can bounce and which are made of glass. Drawing from Ecclesiastes 3:1, we explore how embracing life's seasons gives us permission to focus on what matters most in each chapter of our journey.

The Proverbs 31 woman, often misunderstood as doing it all simultaneously, actually demonstrates this seasonal approach perfectly. Her various accomplishments weren't happening at once but throughout different periods of her life. I share my own painful lesson of trying to maintain a demanding career with a newborn and two other children until the Holy Spirit nudged me to recognize my season had changed.

This episode challenges you to honestly assess what's on your plate right now. Does everything belong there in this current season? Does your work meet "the exchange rate of heaven" as described in 1 Corinthians 3:12-13? Through practical suggestions like drawing out your commitments and prayerfully evaluating each one, you'll discover how to create space for what truly matters. Subscribe now and join our community of women seeking to honor God in every season while finding authentic joy in our divine calling as wives and mothers.

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Are you drowning in motherhood overwhelm while secretly wondering if you're the only one who sometimes hates how hard it is? You're not alone. 

This first installment of our Balance Series confronts the rarely-discussed reality that many Christian mothers feel burdened, exhausted, and disconnected from joy—despite deeply loving their children. Nicole Gabrielle, a Christian psychotherapist, compassionately addresses raw comments from mothers who struggle with society's impossible expectations and their own perfectionism.

Drawing wisdom from the often misunderstood Proverbs 31 woman, Nicole reveals three practical balance strategies that transform motherhood from burden to blessing. First, stop trying to do everything yourself—the Proverbs 31 woman had maidservants! Learn how modern conveniences like grocery delivery and meal services can be your "maidservants." Second, intentionally cultivate community with other mothers who understand your journey and can provide genuine support during difficult seasons. Finally, release the crushing pressure of perfectionism by partnering with the Holy Spirit, remembering that "His strength is made perfect in our weakness."

This episode reframes motherhood as a sacred refining process where our children become the "sandpaper" God uses to shape us into who He's called us to be. Rather than fighting against the challenges, we're invited to surrender control and find freedom in partnership with God.

Ready to experience motherhood differently? Share your own balance struggles and successes in the comments, and join us next week as we continue exploring practical balance strategies from Scripture that you can implement immediately.

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The journey of motherhood is a divine calling that shapes eternity despite being undervalued by modern society. Through sharing my personal struggle as a first-time mom experiencing undiagnosed postpartum depression, I reveal how motherhood serves as a profound refinement process.

• Motherhood requires laying down our lives daily for our children, reflecting Christ's sacrificial love
• Society often overlooks the eternal significance of nurturing souls within our homes
• The challenging transition to motherhood can feel isolating when we're expected to only express joy
• Changing our perspective to view motherhood as a divine assignment transforms difficult seasons
• Like Nazareth and Galilee, our "little places" at home have profound importance in God's kingdom

Join me for our next episode where we'll discuss creating balance in motherhood while embracing the joy God intends for us on this journey. Hit the like button and subscribe to join the movement!

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