With a long-term goal, the path from Point A to Point B is rarely a straight line. Life happens along the way, turning that straight line into a winding path. Navigating the twists and turns requires determination, perseverance, and grit. But if you stay the course—no matter how tangled it becomes—you will eventually find success.

In this interview, Alayne Jorgensen shares the unexpected surprises and challenges she faced on the road to earning her PhD. She speaks candidly about being a single parent, getting remarried, and battling postpartum depression—all while holding onto her educational dreams.

Alayne’s story demonstrates that, although life rarely goes according to plan, it’s still helpful to fix your eye on a specific goal and navigate in that direction.

When it comes to goal setting, Alayne believes in having a clear goal with a flexible path. She also recommends traveling at your own pace, without comparing yourself to anyone else.

Alayne stresses the importance of relying on your village and surrounding yourself with supportive, encouraging voices. She also shares simple ways to practice self-care when your plate is already full.

• What it really looks like to juggle motherhood, work, and personal goals.
• Acting on intuition before you have everything figured out.
• Identifying what you truly want and letting go of distractions.
• A simple tool to help you push through when a goal feels tedious or discouraging.

Connect with Rachel on Instagram

Connect with Alayne Jorgensen on Instagram

MAY 2020 GIVEAWAY

Two ways to enter:

(1) Post a review to Apple Podcasts, and send a screenshot to @rachel_rebuilt on Instagram.

(2) If you don’t use Apple Podcasts, send a direct message to @rachel_rebuilt on Instagram. List the podcasting app you use, and tell me what you like about the podcast.

Two winners will be selected on June 1, 2020. One winner will receive a $30 gift certificate to Happy Beads; the other will receive a Fawny Pack from Fawn Design.

Human beings are natural storytellers. Some stories are written down; others are only thoughts. We use stories to interpret and make sense of the world. We also use them to teach abstract principles and connect with others.

Angie Lucas is a professional writer, former magazine editor, and voracious reader. In this interview, Angie and I explore the power of storytelling from three different angles.

CHANGE YOUR THOUGHTS

The power of storytelling begins with our thoughts—the internal narratives we tell ourselves about who we are and how the world works. Some of these stories are less helpful than others; we call these stories “limiting beliefs.”

In part one, Angie demonstrates how to recognize, examine, and reframe limiting beliefs. She also explains how this process differs from putting on rose-colored glasses or faking optimism.

SHARE YOUR LIFE STORY

The power of storytelling can also help you record your personal history for posterity—and no one is more qualified or capable of writing that story than you!

In part two, Angie offers three simple storytelling strategies to help you get started today. She also shares a bit of her own story, including her experience with infertility and pregnancy loss.

LEARN FROM OTHERS

Storytelling also has power to help us understand the human condition by making abstract ideas—like grief—more concrete.

In part three, Angie shares how her experience with loss helped her write My Big, Dumb, Invisible Dragon, a grief allegory for children. This beautiful book belongs in every family library and is a perfect gift for any child who is grieving the death of a loved one or experiencing life-changing loss (such as a divorce or cross-country move).

SHOW NOTES

Connect with Rachel on Instagram

Connect with Angie Lucas Instagram | Facebook | Website

My Big, Dumb, Invisible Dragon (Book)

Connect with Birgitta Sif (Illustrator) Instagram | Website

Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle (Book)

The Gifts of Imperfection by Brene Brown (Book)

Maya Angelou

Loving What Is by Byron Katie (Book)

Chatbooks

Evernote App

Prixm App

Talking to Strangers by Malcolm Gladwell (Book)

It’s Okay That You’re Not Okay by Megan Devine (Book)

A Long Way from Chicago & A Year Down Yonder by Richard Peck (Books)

Skellig by David Almond (Book)

Ida, Always by Caron Levis & Charles Santoso (Book)

The Rabbit Listened by Cori Doerrfeld (Book)

Daphne’s Blog

“Using Self-Love to Rebuild after Loss”

“Keeping a Marriage Together after Loss by Grieving Separately to Give Space to Heal Together”

“How to Support Those Who Are Grieving”

Note: This list includes affiliate links to books mentioned in this episode. I receive a small commission for products purchased through these links, which helps to support free content on the podcast.

MAY 2020 GIVEAWAY

Two ways to enter:

(1) Post a review to Apple Podcasts, and send a screenshot to @rachel_rebuilt on Instagram.

(2) If you don’t use Apple Podcasts, send a direct message to @rachel_rebuilt on Instagram. List the podcasting app you use, and tell me what you like about the podcast.

Two winners will be selected on June 1, 2020. One winner will receive a $30 gift certificate to Happy Beads; the other will receive a Fawny Pack from Fawn Design.

Courage begins in the heart. It’s what helps us shoulder unexpected and unwelcome responsibilities. It’s what keeps us moving in the face of fear. During these strange times, when COVID-19 has turned our lives upside down, we perform ordinary acts of courage every day without realizing it.

This week’s guest, Melanie Burk, is a mother of five, wife to a physician assistant, small business owner, and woman of faith. Like other Americans, the Burks have been sheltering in place and homeschooling for about three weeks.

In this episode, Melanie and I redefine courage for those who have been asked to “stay home, stay safe” during the COVID-19 pandemic. While traditional courage emphasizes physical action,* we emphasize the need for “mental strength to persevere.”

This type of courage isn’t about fixing or doing. It’s about enduring and being. It includes (1) courage to feel waves of heavy emotion, (2) courage to embrace stillness, and (3) courage to practice self-compassion.

Together, we explore the emotional demands of our collective heartache, as well as our individual opportunities to seek light and joy. We also share how faith in a loving God helps us get through the daily challenges of quarantine.

ALSO IN THIS EPISODE

• Why emotional self-care is essential, not selfish, during quarantine.
• How to find stillness, even if your home is loud or busy.
• Simple ways to invite children into stillness with you.
• Why self-compassion is the secret to personal growth.

SHOW NOTES

Connect with Rachel on Instagram

Connect with Melanie Burk on Instagram

Dr. Brene Brown

Dr. Kristin Neff

Three Elements of Self-Compassion

Self-Compassion & Mindfulness

Christlike Parenting (Book)

Note: This list includes affiliate links to books mentioned in this episode. I receive a small commission for products purchased through these links, which helps to support free content on the podcast.

* We express gratitude to healthcare professionals, first responders, grocery store employees, and other essential personnel who cannot stay home during this pandemic and who continue to show extraordinary courage as they perform their regular responsibilities and keep our communities afloat.

We’re living in stressful times, and our options for emotional release are more limited, thanks to COVID-19. But even in these restrictive circumstances, we have the freedom to practice creativity. Creativity is a powerful coping strategy that can spark joy, reduce stress, and improve connection to self and to others.

Lynn Muir is a multi-passionate creator, who dabbles in everything from watercolor to woodworking. She is also a co-owner of The Makers Avenue, a creative studio for women and children. Lynn loves power tools, sawdust, and paint and believes creativity is “essential to a productive and happy life.” She’s not afraid to get messy or try new things.

In this interview, Lynn shares how she makes time to create as a busy mother of five, plus why it’s essential to her emotional well-being and how it blesses her children. She also explains how creativity has helped her through the most difficult trials of her life, including postpartum depression and her daughter’s cancer.

Lynn also offers tips for cultivating creativity in children—with special emphasis on how to involve boys. She also highlights some of the life lessons her children have learned through artistic exploration.

This light-hearted, laughter-filled conversation offers hope and practical tools to help you and your children through tough seasons, including the COVID-19 quarantine.

ALSO IN THIS EPISODE

• Lynn’s most memorable craft projects, plus her biggest creative flop.
• A simple, fool-proof exercise for people who claim: “I’m not creative.”
• How creative play reduces stress and boosts self-confidence.
• Why you don’t have to like or finish your creative projects to benefit.

SHOW NOTES

Connect with Rachel on Instagram

Connect with Lynn Muir Instagram | Facebook | YouTube | Website

The Makers Avenue Instagram | Website

Sometimes we look for our “calling” on a neon sign and expect the path to be easy, but more often, our purpose unfolds over time, presenting obstacles along the way. We find our purpose by taking incremental steps toward our passion and following our instinct.

Katie Cheesman, a self-proclaimed “old soul,” has always felt at ease with the elderly. After working as a geriatric nurse for several years, Katie started The Listening Ear Project—a passion project that eventually evolved into a private film company that documents and celebrates the life stories of senior citizens.

In this interview, Katie shares how following her curiosity led her step-by-step to the work she does today. She also speaks openly about the professional and personal obstacles she’s faced while pursuing her passion, including her experience with postpartum depression.

After sharing her own story, Katie summarizes some of the powerful lessons she’s learned from her elderly friends, offering us a unique perspective on what it means to live a “good life.”

Katie reminds us that every person on this planet has unique and valuable gifts to bring to the table. Our differences make us stronger. And each of us is weaving an inspiring legacy—even if we feel unremarkable and ordinary.

ALSO IN THIS EPISODE

• Why our differences are vital to our community.
• The importance of finding a tribe, both professionally and personally.
• Five lessons we can learn from our elderly friends.
• The unexpected secret to becoming a better listener.

SHOW NOTES

Connect with Rachel on Instagram

Connect with Katie Cheesman Instagram | Website

Do you trust yourself around food? Or do you believe you need an expert to tell you what’s best for your body? If you’ve ever felt guilty for overeating, anxious around sweets, or frustrated by a “lack of willpower,” you may be feeling the impact of diet culture—subtle and overt messages about how your body should look and what it means to be healthy.

As a holistic nutritionist and eating psychology coach, Stephanie Webb helps women heal their relationship with food and become confident eaters. Instead of offering a meal plan or macros, Stephanie teaches women to listen to their inner wisdom and make decisions that help them feel satisfied, nourished, and invigorated.

In this interview, Stephanie dispels the myth that intuitive eating means giving up on health. Instead, it means trusting your body to know when, what, and how much to eat. It’s a way to practice self-care, while respecting personal preferences. It also means challenging your own weight bias, or the idea that “thin is best.” Stephanie shares simple tips for ditching diet culture and becoming a more intuitive eater.

We also discuss how a lack of self-trust around food may be spilling over into the rest of your life—plus, what you can do about it!

ALSO IN THIS EPISODE

• Navigating the uncomfortable transition from dieting to intuitive eating.
• Putting weight loss on the back burner, even with mobility issues.
• Powerful questions to help you tune into your body.
• Tips for building a body-positive, weight-neutral online community.

SHOW NOTES

Connect with Rachel on Instagram

Connect with Stephanie Webb* Instagram | Website | Podcast

Eat Confident Co. Instagram | Facebook | Website

Intuitive Eating (Book)

Health at Every Size (Book)

Beauty Redefined

Emily Fonnesbeck

Note: This list includes affiliate links to books mentioned in this episode. I receive a small commission for products purchased through these links, which helps to support free content on the podcast.

* Since recording, Stephanie has shifted her business from Nutrition Redefined to Eat Confident Co. She has also changed the name of her podcast from Nutrition Redefined to Eat with Confidence. All links reflect these changes.

You can spend your whole life chasing approval and acceptance from family, friends, and strangers, or you can stand still and give yourself the love, compassion, and security you’ve always wanted. You can belong with yourself. Finding this inner peace is a process of identifying your values, honoring your needs, and setting loving boundaries to protect your energy.

In this interview, Jenna Rammell shares how a crumbling friendship forced her to re-examine her source of self-worth and belonging. She explains how affirmations, energy work, and a gratitude practice helped her process old pain and show up stronger in real life and in her online community. She also shares how this inner work transformed future friendships.

Jenna emphasizes that “belonging with yourself” isn’t selfish or solitary. It’s a way of moving through the world, knowing your worth, listening to your intuition, and releasing others from unfair expectations. It allows you to show up to life with more confidence and compassion.

Boundaries are a natural result of belonging with yourself. Jenna explains that boundaries are not cement walls but gentle barriers that protect you from doing things you later regret or resent. Jenna assures us that setting new personal boundaries may feel uncomfortable at first but may not be as confrontational as we expect.

ALSO IN THIS EPISODE

• Why codependent friendships leave you feeling drained, unappreciated, and unloved.
• How subconscious energy sabotages conscious efforts to be kind, loving, and abundant.
• Giving yourself permission to evolve, even when it may disappoint others.
• How to stop living like a martyr and start showing up for yourself and others.

SHOW NOTES

Connect with Rachel on Instagram

Connect with Jenna Rammell Instagram | Website

The Daily Essential Co. Instagram | Website

You Can Heal Your Life (Book)

The Emotion Code (Book)

Small Fry

Ashley Reeves

Shannon Sargent

Note: This list includes affiliate links to books mentioned in this episode. I receive a small commission for products purchased through these links, which helps to support free content on the podcast.

Perfectionism isn’t just putting your best foot forward, having high standards, or worrying about tiny details. Perfectionism is a fear-based mindset that keeps you from trying new things, sticking to challenging goals, and sharing your talents with others. It keeps you hustling for external validation or hiding in the shadows to avoid judgment.

As a self-identified “recovering perfectionist,” Monica Packer is leading a movement to help women overcome fear of failure and rejection by focusing on “progress over perfection.” Her inspiring podcast, About Progress, is a product of her own courage to try something new and embrace the messy growth process.

In this interview, Monica shares her journey from paralyzed perfectionist to determined “progressor”—a term she uses to describe her community members. She speaks candidly about her eating disorder and how her “perfect” life began unravelling while she was studying in Europe, at the epicenter of everything she loved.

Monica explains that, at its core, perfectionism is driven by a desire to live above the human condition, without flaws or weaknesses. It’s a destructive force that keeps you looking side-to-side—comparing and competing—which disconnects you from others, your Higher Power, and your own intuition. Monica offers practical advice for overcoming perfectionism and embracing a growth mindset.

ALSO IN THIS EPISODE

• The dark and destructive consequences of perfectionism.
• Ditching the “idealized woman” and creating a better vision for your life.
• How to make a “Do Something Bucket List” to explore your passions.
• Two types of perfectionism: overachieving and underachieving.

SHOW NOTES

Connect with Rachel on Instagram

Connect with Monica Packer Instagram | Website | Podcast

The Gifts of Imperfection (Book)

Free Class: How to Create a Life Blueprint

Rachel’s Interview on About Progress: Using Self-Love to Rebuild after Loss

Dr. Jennifer Finlayson-Fife

Monica’s 2019 “Do Something Bucket List”

About Progress: Underachieving Perfectionist

Monica’s Small Group Coaching

Note: This list includes affiliate links to books mentioned in this episode. I receive a small commission for products purchased through these links, which helps to support free content on the podcast.

In our fast-paced world, slowing down takes effort. We must learn to simplify our calendars, focus our attention, and say no to distractions—and sometimes, we must say no to good things that pull us away from our highest priorities.

In this interview, Rebecca Cooper, founder of the lifestyle site Simple As That, shares how her definition of “simplicity” has evolved over the years. She also explains how she keeps her family moving at a slower pace, so they can savor ordinary, unremarkable moments in everyday life.

In 2010, with four kids under the age of eight, the Coopers sold most of their belongings and moved to the Caribbean so Rebecca’s husband could attend medical school. Rebecca shares how living with fewer physical possessions and fewer modern conveniences taught her to “collect moments, not things” and sparked a family culture of adventuring close to home.

Rebecca reminds us that self-worth isn’t tied to productivity or accomplishments. She emphasizes the importance of self-care and rest, encouraging women to sit down and recharge every day. We also discuss the benefits of declaring a “season of rest” as a way to minimize anxiety and comparison.

ALSO IN THIS EPISODE

• Using a camera to see ordinary moments with new eyes.
• Unexpected benefits of minimalism.
• Teaching children life lessons through hiking and exploring.
• How to stop measuring your self-worth by your to-do list.
• Essential questions to streamline your calendar.

SHOW NOTES

Connect with Rachel on Instagram

Connect with Rebecca Cooper Instagram | Website

Free Class: How to Create a Life Blueprint

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Free Printable: 50 Everyday Moments You Need to Photograph

Slow Your Pace: A Free 30-Day Challenge

Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less (Book)

Chasing Slow (Book)

Note: This list includes affiliate links to books related to this episode. I receive a small commission for products purchased through these links, which helps support free content on the podcast.