Have you ever caught yourself thinking...

Maybe I'm too sensitive.

Maybe I care too much.

Maybe I should just stop trying.

Those conclusions can feel true after disappointment, rejection, or betrayal—but what if pain isn't the most reliable interpreter of who you are?

In this episode, Christian life coach Cortney Loui explores the difference between healthy growth and self-erasure. Through a personal story about her autistic son and a coaching conversation with a client, she invites you to question whether you've been trying to fix something God is actually inviting you to steward.

If you've ever wondered whether your compassion, sensitivity, curiosity, or desire to help is "too much," this conversation will help you slow down, consider the fuller picture, and begin seeing yourself with greater honesty and hope.

In this episode you'll discover:

• Why pain can turn an experience into an accusation about your identity

• The difference between changing who you are and growing in wisdom

• What Romans 12 teaches about accurate, humble self-understanding

• Why God-given gifts often need stewardship—not erasure

Reflection Question

What part of yourself have you been treating like a weakness that God may actually see as a gift?

Ready to explore your own story?

If today's conversation left you wondering, "What gifts has God placed in me that I've misunderstood because of hurt, fear, or old stories?" a God-Given Gifts Chat is a beautiful next step.

Together, we'll look for the recurring threads in your life, notice the ways God has uniquely wired you, and discern what He may be inviting you to steward—not shrink.

Learn more about the God-Given Gifts Chat: https://coffeechatsandyogamats.com/giftchat 

Scripture: Romans 12:3–8

Wondering what your God-given gifts actually are and how to honor them in the middle of real life (not just the highlight reel)? Let’s talk. 💬

The best place to start is a free God-Given Gifts Chat — an audio + text convo inside Voxer (no Zoom required, promise). We’ll:

• Check in on your current season

• Name 1 gift

• Brainstorm 1 simple next step you can take

No pressure. No pretending. Just a grace-filled space to help you get unstuck and move forward with a little more clarity and confidence.

✨Book your God-Given Gifts Chat — or just reply to any email from me with "I'm curious" and I’ll send you the details.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How quickly do you decide what a difficult moment says about you?

Maybe you think:

• I'm too much.
• I'm not enough.
• I should have known better.
• I can't trust myself anymore.

In this honest, voice-memo-style conversation, Cortney shares a bittersweet reflection as summer comes to an end, a coaching story about a woman rebuilding confidence after heartbreak, and a simple practice that can help you slow down before believing every accusation your mind offers.

This episode isn't about pretending everything is okay or ignoring mistakes. It's about learning to become a compassionate observer of your life—making room for both truth and grace so you can see more of the whole picture.

If you've been second-guessing yourself after disappointment, transition, conflict, or loss, this conversation will encourage you to pause, get curious, and remember that

one painful moment doesn't get to define your identity.

• Why your brain naturally creates conclusions about difficult experiences.

• The difference between acknowledging reality and accepting every self-accusation as truth.

• How curiosity creates space for wisdom, healing, and perspective.

• Why your God-given strengths often show up long before you have language for them.

• A simple question to ask before believing the story your mind is telling.

What's one conclusion you've been believing about yourself lately... and what else might be true?

Interested in discovering more about how God uniquely designed you?

Schedule a God-Given Gifts Chat, a relaxed one-on-one conversation where you'll explore your current season, identify some of your natural God-given strengths, and leave with practical next steps for living with greater clarity and confidence.

Email [email protected] with "Gift" in the subject line to learn more.

If this episode encouraged you, I'd love for you to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a friend who may need the reminder that one difficult season doesn't tell the whole story.

Let's go live loved today.

Wondering what your God-given gifts actually are and how to honor them in the middle of real life (not just the highlight reel)? Let’s talk. 💬

The best place to start is a free God-Given Gifts Chat — an audio + text convo inside Voxer (no Zoom required, promise). We’ll:

• Check in on your current season

• Name 1 gift

• Brainstorm 1 simple next step you can take

No pressure. No pretending. Just a grace-filled space to help you get unstuck and move forward with a little more clarity and confidence.

✨Book your God-Given Gifts Chat — or just reply to any email from me with "I'm curious" and I’ll send you the details.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How quickly do you decide what a difficult moment says about you?

Maybe you think:

• I'm too much.
• I'm not enough.
• I should have known better.
• I can't trust myself anymore.

In this honest, voice-memo-style conversation, Cortney shares a bittersweet reflection as summer comes to an end, a coaching story about a woman rebuilding confidence after heartbreak, and a simple practice that can help you slow down before believing every accusation your mind offers.

This episode isn't about pretending everything is okay or ignoring mistakes. It's about learning to become a compassionate observer of your life—making room for both truth and grace so you can see more of the whole picture.

If you've been second-guessing yourself after disappointment, transition, conflict, or loss, this conversation will encourage you to pause, get curious, and remember that

one painful moment doesn't get to define your identity.

• Why your brain naturally creates conclusions about difficult experiences.

• The difference between acknowledging reality and accepting every self-accusation as truth.

• How curiosity creates space for wisdom, healing, and perspective.

• Why your God-given strengths often show up long before you have language for them.

• A simple question to ask before believing the story your mind is telling.

What's one conclusion you've been believing about yourself lately... and what else might be true?

Interested in discovering more about how God uniquely designed you?

Schedule a God-Given Gifts Chat, a relaxed one-on-one conversation where you'll explore your current season, identify some of your natural God-given strengths, and leave with practical next steps for living with greater clarity and confidence.

Email [email protected] with "Gift" in the subject line to learn more.

If this episode encouraged you, I'd love for you to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a friend who may need the reminder that one difficult season doesn't tell the whole story.

Let's go live loved today.

Wondering what your God-given gifts actually are and how to honor them in the middle of real life (not just the highlight reel)? Let’s talk. 💬

The best place to start is a free God-Given Gifts Chat — an audio + text convo inside Voxer (no Zoom required, promise). We’ll:

• Check in on your current season

• Name 1 gift

• Brainstorm 1 simple next step you can take

No pressure. No pretending. Just a grace-filled space to help you get unstuck and move forward with a little more clarity and confidence.

✨Book your God-Given Gifts Chat — or just reply to any email from me with "I'm curious" and I’ll send you the details.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What if preparing for a new season wasn't about creating the perfect plan?

Whether you're getting ready for a new school year, a shift in family rhythms, a new opportunity, or simply sensing that life is changing, this episode is an invitation to pause before the transition instead of reacting once you're already in it.

In this Connection Call-style episode, I'm pulling back the curtain on a simple seasonal practice that's been shaping how I approach change. Rather than trying to solve every problem at once, I've learned to ask thoughtful questions, notice recurring patterns, celebrate growth, and create space for God to guide my next steps.

We'll talk about:

• Why I begin thinking about a new season before it arrives
• How Ecclesiastes has reshaped the way I think about life's transitions
• The difference between solving everything and simply paying attention
• Questions that help me prepare with greater wisdom and intention
• Why experimentation often leads to better rhythms than perfectionism

If you've been feeling the tension of an upcoming transition, I hope this conversation gives you permission to slow down, notice what's true, and enter your next season with greater peace.

Reflection Question

As you think about the season ahead, what's one thing you're noticing?

Not something you've already solved.

Just something you've noticed.

I'd love to hear from you.

Resources

If you'd like someone to help you think through your current season and discover how God has uniquely wired you, I'd love to connect through a God-Given Gifts Chat.

https://coffeechatsandyogamats.com/giftchat

Scripture Mentioned

Ecclesiastes

Wondering what your God-given gifts actually are and how to honor them in the middle of real life (not just the highlight reel)? Let’s talk. 💬

The best place to start is a free God-Given Gifts Chat — an audio + text convo inside Voxer (no Zoom required, promise). We’ll:

• Check in on your current season

• Name 1 gift

• Brainstorm 1 simple next step you can take

No pressure. No pretending. Just a grace-filled space to help you get unstuck and move forward with a little more clarity and confidence.

✨Book your God-Given Gifts Chat — or just reply to any email from me with "I'm curious" and I’ll send you the details.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What if some of your most meaningful growth has become so integrated into your life… that you’ve stopped noticing it?

In this episode, I’m reflecting on:

• overlooked growth,
• changing seasons,
• realistic expectations,
• imperfect consistency,
• and learning how to stop fighting yourself so much.

From toddler sock victories to family prayer rhythms, summer schedule shifts, and the evolution of this very podcast, this conversation is an encouragement to notice the quiet ways growth is already unfolding in your everyday life.

What’s one small next step that feels life-giving, honest, and doable in this season?

Cara Harvey | Purpose Driven Mom: https://apurposedrivenmom.com

The God-Given Gifts Chat is a one-on-one conversation where we explore:

• what’s going on in your current season,
• what may be making life harder than it needs to be,
• what strengths and gifts are already showing up,
• and what rhythms or next steps may better support the life you’re actually living.

A quick summer update: I'm intentionally keeping my calendar lighter this summer so I can serve well and stay present with my family. Because of that, I'll only be opening 4 God-Given Gifts Chat spots across June and July. If a conversation has been on your heart, I'd love to connect.

📲God-Given Gifts Chat

https://coffeechatsandyogamats.com/giftchat

This deeper coaching experience helps women better understand:

• their wiring,
• strengths,
• rhythms,
• patterns,
• and capacity

so they can work with the person God created them to be instead of constantly fighting themselves.

📧 Email: [email protected]

💌 Subject Line: GIFT

Wondering what your God-given gifts actually are and how to honor them in the middle of real life (not just the highlight reel)? Let’s talk. 💬

The best place to start is a free God-Given Gifts Chat — an audio + text convo inside Voxer (no Zoom required, promise). We’ll:

• Check in on your current season

• Name 1 gift

• Brainstorm 1 simple next step you can take

No pressure. No pretending. Just a grace-filled space to help you get unstuck and move forward with a little more clarity and confidence.

✨Book your God-Given Gifts Chat — or just reply to any email from me with "I'm curious" and I’ll send you the details.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Perfection is a terrible goal.

In this episode, I’m exploring how many women quietly carry unrealistic, outdated, or impossible standards for what “doing their best” is supposed to look like — especially in seasons of motherhood, transition, chronic stress, changing capacity, or growing responsibilities.

I share personal examples from my own life, including shifting exercise rhythms, building a coaching business during motherhood, and learning to reassess expectations with greater honesty and compassion instead of constantly measuring myself against unrealistic ideals.

We also talk about:

• the difference between realistic excellence and performative perfection
• why “doing your best” is not a fixed standard
• how changing seasons require changing expectations
• overfunctioning vs faithful stewardship
• the importance of compassionate self-awareness
• and how God may be more interested in wholeness than flawless performance

If you’ve been feeling behind, stretched thin, frustrated with yourself, or unsure how to define “success” in your current season, I hope this conversation helps you breathe a little deeper and approach yourself with greater wisdom and grace.

What would a more honest and compassionate definition of “doing your best” look like in this season?

• Matthew 5:48
• Reflection on biblical wholeness, maturity, and spiritual formation
• “Strive for excellence, not perfection”

The God-Given Gifts Chat is a one-on-one conversation where we explore:

• what’s going on in your current season,
• where you may be experiencing unnecessary friction,
• what seems to light you up,
• and possible life-giving next steps or shifts.

It’s also a space to discern whether deeper coaching support may be a good fit for you.

A quick summer update: I'm intentionally keeping my calendar lighter this summer so I can serve well and stay present with my family. Because of that, I'll only be opening 4 God-Given Gifts Chat spots across June and July. If a conversation has been on your heart, I'd love to connect.

📲God-Given Gifts Chat

https://coffeechatsandyogamats.com/giftchat

The Discover Your God-Given Gifts Coaching Experience is a personalized coaching experience designed to help women:

• better understand their wiring, strengths, and patterns,
• recognize both gifts and limitations with greater clarity,
• develop healthier rhythms and expectations,
• and lead their lives with more peace, confidence, wisdom, and intention.

You can learn more through the links in the show notes or by emailing me at [email protected] with the word GIFT.

Wondering what your God-given gifts actually are and how to honor them in the middle of real life (not just the highlight reel)? Let’s talk. 💬

The best place to start is a free God-Given Gifts Chat — an audio + text convo inside Voxer (no Zoom required, promise). We’ll:

• Check in on your current season

• Name 1 gift

• Brainstorm 1 simple next step you can take

No pressure. No pretending. Just a grace-filled space to help you get unstuck and move forward with a little more clarity and confidence.

✨Book your God-Given Gifts Chat — or just reply to any email from me with "I'm curious" and I’ll send you the details.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today's episode wasn't planned.

It started as a voice memo while I was reflecting on my coaching business, motherhood, and the unexpected ways God has been reshaping how I think about productivity, purpose, and real life.

Somewhere along the way, I realized I'd stopped trying to build my life despite my limits and started building it around them.

In this short Mini episode, we're chatting about:

• Why your current season isn't something to fight
• The freedom of working with your God-given wiring instead of against it
• How your season, capacity, and calling can work together beautifully
• Choosing harmony over urgency whenever you can

Whether you're navigating motherhood, work, ministry, caregiving, or simply feeling stretched thin, I hope this conversation reminds you that you don't have to wait for a different season before you begin living faithfully.

I'd love to hear what resonated with you. You can always reach me at [email protected] or learn more about a God-Given Gifts Chat if you'd like to explore your unique wiring together.

Grateful you're here, Beloved. 💛

Wondering what your God-given gifts actually are and how to honor them in the middle of real life (not just the highlight reel)? Let’s talk. 💬

The best place to start is a free God-Given Gifts Chat — an audio + text convo inside Voxer (no Zoom required, promise). We’ll:

• Check in on your current season

• Name 1 gift

• Brainstorm 1 simple next step you can take

No pressure. No pretending. Just a grace-filled space to help you get unstuck and move forward with a little more clarity and confidence.

✨Book your God-Given Gifts Chat — or just reply to any email from me with "I'm curious" and I’ll send you the details.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What if some of the things you’ve spent years criticizing about yourself are actually connected to how God intentionally wired you?

In this episode, I’m sharing a powerful conversation from a Beloved who realized her sensitivity, attentiveness, and servant heart weren’t weaknesses to hide — they were gifts to steward wisely.

Together, we explore:

• why women often mislabel their gifts as flaws
• how gifts influence everyday life far beyond church roles
• the difference between refining a gift and rejecting yourself
• why awareness is only the starting point
• and how understanding your wiring can help you carry your life with more peace, clarity, and intention

This conversation is deeply practical, encouraging, and rooted in the reminder that God designed people differently on purpose.

Who in your life helps reflect your gifts back to you honestly and compassionately?

And if no one immediately comes to mind, maybe that’s simply something worth noticing.

The God-Given Gifts Chat is a one-on-one conversation where we explore:

• what’s going on in your current season
• what seems to light you up
• how your gifts may already be showing up in your everyday life
• and possible life-giving next steps or shifts

It’s also a space to explore whether deeper coaching support may be a good fit for you.

A quick summer update: I'm intentionally keeping my calendar lighter this summer so I can serve well and stay present with my family. Because of that, I'll only be opening 4 God-Given Gifts Chat spots across June and July. If a conversation has been on your heart, I'd love to connect.

📲God-Given Gifts Chat

https://coffeechatsandyogamats.com/giftchat

The Discover Your God-Given Gifts coaching experience is a personalized one-on-one coaching journey where you’ll:

• better understand your wiring, strengths, rhythms, and limitations
• identify patterns that may be creating unnecessary self-conflict
• learn how to integrate your gifts into your everyday life
• and develop more intentional, peaceful, and sustainable ways of leading your life

If this episode resonated with you, you can connect with me through the links in the show notes or email me at [email protected] with the word “GIFT.”

Wondering what your God-given gifts actually are and how to honor them in the middle of real life (not just the highlight reel)? Let’s talk. 💬

The best place to start is a free God-Given Gifts Chat — an audio + text convo inside Voxer (no Zoom required, promise). We’ll:

• Check in on your current season

• Name 1 gift

• Brainstorm 1 simple next step you can take

No pressure. No pretending. Just a grace-filled space to help you get unstuck and move forward with a little more clarity and confidence.

✨Book your God-Given Gifts Chat — or just reply to any email from me with "I'm curious" and I’ll send you the details.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today's bonus conversation is a replay from a recent Tribe Beloved gathering.

Image Consultant Jackie Wheeler joins us for a practical and encouraging conversation about building a wardrobe that reflects who God uniquely created you to be.

Rather than following rigid fashion rules or chasing trends, Jackie shares how understanding your body, personal style, colors, and everyday life can help you create a capsule wardrobe that feels both chic and uniquely yours.

Whether you've ever felt stuck in your closet, overwhelmed by too many choices, or unsure how to express your personality through what you wear, this conversation offers thoughtful encouragement and practical wisdom rooted in stewardship, intentionality, and grace.

In this conversation, you'll hear about:

• Building a capsule wardrobe that fits your life and personality
• Understanding body shape, color, and personal style without feeling boxed in
• Reducing decision fatigue by creating a wardrobe that works together
• Shopping with intention instead of impulse
• Why you don't need permission to embrace the style that feels authentically you

Resources mentioned:

• Connect with Jackie Wheeler: http://www.thejackiestyle.com 
• Jackie on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thejackiestyle/

Wondering what your God-given gifts actually are and how to honor them in the middle of real life (not just the highlight reel)? Let’s talk. 💬

The best place to start is a free God-Given Gifts Chat — an audio + text convo inside Voxer (no Zoom required, promise). We’ll:

• Check in on your current season

• Name 1 gift

• Brainstorm 1 simple next step you can take

No pressure. No pretending. Just a grace-filled space to help you get unstuck and move forward with a little more clarity and confidence.

✨Book your God-Given Gifts Chat — or just reply to any email from me with "I'm curious" and I’ll send you the details.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What if the problem isn't that you're failing—but that you're interpreting every struggle as proof that something is wrong with you?

In this Connection Call-style episode, Cortney explores the difference between shame and information, how recurring frustrations can reveal important patterns, and why compassion creates room for growth.

Because maybe the question isn't: "What's wrong with me?"

Maybe it's: "What's actually happening here?"

💭 Reflection Questions:

• Where am I feeling frustrated or defeated?
• What's actually happening there?
• What small adjustment or experiment might support me better right now?

Sometimes simply naming what's real is the first step toward less second-guessing yourself and more genuine confidence.

----

The God-Given Gifts Chat is a one-on-one conversation where we explore:

• what’s going on in your current season,
• what seems to light you up,
• how your gifts may already be showing up in your everyday life,
• and some possible next life-giving steps or shifts.

It’s also a space to explore whether deeper coaching support might be helpful for you.

So if this conversation resonated with you, you're welcome to email [email protected] with the word “gift" or check out the God-Given Gifts chat form here: https://coffeechatsandyogamats.com/giftchat.

Wondering what your God-given gifts actually are and how to honor them in the middle of real life (not just the highlight reel)? Let’s talk. 💬

The best place to start is a free God-Given Gifts Chat — an audio + text convo inside Voxer (no Zoom required, promise). We’ll:

• Check in on your current season

• Name 1 gift

• Brainstorm 1 simple next step you can take

No pressure. No pretending. Just a grace-filled space to help you get unstuck and move forward with a little more clarity and confidence.

✨Book your God-Given Gifts Chat — or just reply to any email from me with "I'm curious" and I’ll send you the details.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.