Episode 94: Messy Before It’s Neat Overwhelm, Empathy, and Owning Your Own Energy

Sometimes life feels like my daughter’s messy room, things get more chaotic before they come together. In this episode, I share how something as simple as helping her set up a new bed reminded me of a much bigger truth: you are responsible for you.

Not in the “check the boxes and do all the things” way, but in the deeper, embodied way of taking responsibility for your own energy and emotions.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

Why overwhelm often comes from unfinished “messes” in life (and how to reset)

How empathy can make you feel responsible for others’ emotions—and how to let that go

The truth about emotions: why you don’t need to “manage” them, but instead release and move through them

What happens when we avoid feelings through numbing, scrolling, or overeating

Why “good vibes only” is incomplete, and how duality is part of being human

Practical stepping stones: workouts, nervous system regulation, and slowing down to listen to yourself

How to anchor into deeper truths so you can feel safe and steady, even when life is messy

✨ Takeaway: You are responsible. You are capable. And being okay doesn’t mean always being happy—it means trusting yourself enough to move through what comes up.

Resources & Links:

Explore Within: A Return to Self – A 21-Day Journey of Embodied Calm, Clarity, and Deep Self-Trust →https://www.dorothymcgatlin.com/Within-Waitlist

Move your body with me inside The Lift Library → HERE

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Click HERE for the Show Notes.

If you enjoyed the episode, leave a review - it means the world to me + helps the show reach more people! Thank you!

📲 Let’s Connect:

Connect with me on Instagram - @dorothymcgatlin

Connect with me on Facebook - Dorothy McGatlin

September brings a sense of fresh starts, but what if, instead of hustling into new routines, you chose to return to self-care with calmness and gratitude? In this episode, Dorothy explores how to build supportive routines not from punishment or “I have to” energy, but from self-love, wholeness, and trust.

You’ll learn:
✨ How to anchor calm into your day with simple 2-minute grounding practices
✨ Why supportive routines (like water, walks, and strength workouts) matter more than rigid “all-or-nothing” plans
✨ The trap of September overcommitment, and choosing rest as progress
✨ A new lens on worthiness: why you don’t have to hustle to prove yourself

This episode is an invitation to return to your body, your life, and this season with gratitude. Your routines don’t need to be perfect, they just need to remind you that you are worthy, whole, and supported.

🔗 Resources mentioned:

Get on the waitlist for WITHIN: A 21-Day Return to Self 

https://www.dorothymcgatlin.com/Within-Waitlist

Looking for workouts to stay consistent with? Lift Library Workouts: HERE

_____________________________________________________

Click HERE for the Show Notes.

If you enjoyed the episode, leave a review - it means the world to me + helps the show reach more people! Thank you!

📲 Let’s Connect:

Connect with me on Instagram - @dorothymcgatlin

Connect with me on Facebook - Dorothy McGatlin

Do you ever catch yourself over-explaining, defending, or twisting yourself into knots just so someone else will “get it”? You’re not alone. So many of us — especially women in our 40s and 50s — carry a lifelong craving to be understood.

But here’s the truth: your peace doesn’t depend on someone else’s comprehension. Their validation isn’t your validation.

In this episode of Trusting Dorothy, we explore:

Why we seek validation and understanding and how it traces back to safety, belonging, and identity.

What happens when we feel misunderstood 

The cost of people pleasing and proving, and why it chips away at self-trust.

The freedom of release, letting go of the need to be understood so you can live with more clarity, compassion, and peace.

Practical tools for midlife women to stand kindly and firmly in their truth without over-explaining or abandoning themselves.

✨  Empathy isn’t obligation. It's safe to understand someone else’s perspective without appeasing them, and you can live in your truth without needing them to understand you.

If you’re ready to stop explaining and start trusting, this episode will guide you toward more peace, energy, and freedom in your life.

💛 Work With Me:

Get on the waitlist for WITHIN: A 21-Day Return to Self 

https://www.dorothymcgatlin.com/Within-Waitlist

Lift Library Workouts: HERE

 
📍 Missed earlier episodes on your nervous system?

Start with Episode 24 Signs of a dysregulated Nervous System

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Click HERE for the Show Notes.

If you enjoyed the episode, leave a review - it means the world to me + helps the show reach more people! Thank you!

📲 Let’s Connect:

Connect with me on Instagram - @dorothymcgatlin

Connect with me on Facebook - Dorothy McGatlin

Do you ever find yourself replaying a stressful moment over and over, or feeling guilty, ashamed, or like you were “too much” for speaking up or needing space afterward?

This week on Trusting Dorothy, we’re talking about how to calm your nervous system after triggers in a way that removes the guilt and shame and helps you come back to yourself with compassion.

I’ll walk you through a six-part self-care plan you can use anytime you feel wrung out after a hard conversation, a draining family dynamic, or just the overwhelm of daily life. You’ll also hear a personal story about how I’m helping my kids learn to trust their needs, so they don’t grow up sacrificing their own peace for someone else’s comfort.

✨ What you’ll learn in this episode:

Why avoiding conflict doesn’t make you a bad person, it’s a nervous system instinct.

How to reframe guilt and shame into compassion and self-trust.

A six-step reset plan to help you move stress out of your body and find calm.

How closing the loop before bed sets you up for peace the next day.

This episode is your permission slip: you don’t need hours at the spa to reset. Just a few intentional minutes can shift your energy, regulate your body, and help you build trust in yourself again.

💛 Work With Me:

Get on the waitlist for WITHIN: A 21-Day Return to Self 

https://www.dorothymcgatlin.com/Within-Waitlist

Lift Library Workouts: HERE

 
📍 Missed earlier episodes on your nervous system?

Start with Episode 24 Signs of a dysregulated Nervous System

_____________________________________________________

Click HERE for the Show Notes.

If you enjoyed the episode, leave a review - it means the world to me + helps the show reach more people! Thank you!

📲 Let’s Connect:

Connect with me on Instagram - @dorothymcgatlin

Connect with me on Facebook - Dorothy McGatlin

We’ve all heard the saying “You can’t pour from an empty cup.” But what if your cup needs an empty?

In this week’s episode of Trusting Dorothy, we explore the often overlooked practice of emptying your cup, letting go of the old, emotions, and identities that no longer serve you.

Dorothy shares personal stories, including a recent decision to say “no” to a seemingly perfect opportunity, and how trusting her intuition created space for the right next step to arrive.

You’ll learn:

Why your life may feel “too full” and how to clear space for what you truly desire

How to recognize when your intuition is asking you to pause or say “not right now”

The surprising link between physical decluttering and emotional clarity

Three simple reflection prompts to help you release what’s weighing you down

If you’ve been feeling stretched thin, overcommitted, or unsure what’s next, this episode is your reminder that sometimes the most powerful thing you can do is pour a little out and make room for something better.

💛 Work With Me:

Get on the waitlist for WITHIN: A 21-Day Return to Self 

https://www.dorothymcgatlin.com/Within-Waitlist

Lift Library Workouts: HERE

 
📍 Missed earlier episodes?

Start with Episode 82 Intuition Versus Fear How to Hear the Truth in Your Body

_____________________________________________________

Click HERE for the Show Notes.

If you enjoyed the episode, leave a review - it means the world to me + helps the show reach more people! Thank you!

📲 Let’s Connect:

Connect with me on Instagram - @dorothymcgatlin

Connect with me on Facebook - Dorothy McGatlin

Feeling stuck trying to control every detail of your health journey or dream life? In Episode 89 of Trusting Dorothy, we explore a powerful mindset shift, from trying to “control it all” to gently “taking care of what you can.”

In this episode

🌟 The small but mighty change from let’s go to let go that transforms how we manifest

🌟 Two proven manifestation practices to call in your deepest desires, without force or hustle

🌟 Why abundance is already present in your life (and how to see it clearly)

Whether you’re on a weight loss journey, or simply ready to step into your most abundant, fulfilling life, this episode will help you release pressure, take aligned action, and trust the timing of your desires.

🔑 Tune in now to learn how to let go, take care of yourself, and powerfully create what your heart is calling in.

💛 Work With Me:

Get on the waitlist for WITHIN: A 21-Day Return to Self 

https://www.dorothymcgatlin.com/Within-Waitlist

Lift Library Workouts: HERE

 
📍 Missed earlier episodes?

Start with Episode #65 The Happiness Habit Part 1

_____________________________________________________

Click HERE for the Show Notes.

If you enjoyed the episode, leave a review - it means the world to me + helps the show reach more people! Thank you!

📲 Let’s Connect:

Connect with me on Instagram - @dorothymcgatlin

Connect with me on Facebook - Dorothy McGatlin

Episode 88 is a mid-year pause, a moment to breathe, reflect, and notice how far you’ve come while still holding space for what’s ahead.

In this week’s episode, Dorothy shares how to:

Check in with your intentions for the year and realign for the months ahead

Hold gratitude for both manifested and yet-to-manifest desires

Embrace expansion and give yourself permission to do less

Recognize abundance showing up in unexpected ways

See yourself not as unfinished, but beautifully in progress

We’ll also touch on the symbolism of the number 88—infinity, abundance, and transformation—and why now is the perfect time to shift from manifestation to momentum.

💛 Work With Me:

Get on the waitlist for WITHIN: A 21-Day Return to Self 

https://www.dorothymcgatlin.com/Within-Waitlist

Lift Library Workouts: HERE

 
📍 Missed earlier episodes?

Start with Episode #65 The Happiness Habit Part 1

_____________________________________________________

Click HERE for the Show Notes.

If you enjoyed the episode, leave a review - it means the world to me + helps the show reach more people! Thank you!

📲 Let’s Connect:

Connect with me on Instagram - @dorothymcgatlin

Connect with me on Facebook - Dorothy McGatlin

Feeling overwhelmed, unmotivated, or stuck in your weight loss journey—or just life in general? This week’s episode is your reminder that healing, momentum, and clarity can all begin with one small thing.

Join me as I share what happened when I cleaned my kitchen sink (yes, really!) and how that one simple act helped shift everything—from my energy to my mindset.

We’ll explore:

Why feeling your feelings is essential to emotional resilience and weight loss success

How to stop numbing and start gently shifting

What to do when your usual “toolbox” (like walks, workouts, or meditation) doesn’t feel like enough

How small external resets—like tidying a drawer—can calm internal overwhelm

Releasing the rush to “get there” and learning to trust the process of becoming

Whether you're working on your health, trying to regulate your nervous system, or just feeling off, this episode will help you find peace, self-trust, and progress—one breath, one drawer, one clean sink at a time.

🎧 Tune in and reclaim your sense of momentum—without the pressure.

💛 Work With Me:

Get on the waitlist for WITHIN: A 21-Day Return to Self 

https://www.dorothymcgatlin.com/Within-Waitlist

Lift Library Workouts: HERE

 
📍 Missed earlier episodes?

Start with Episode #65 The Happiness Habit Part 1

_____________________________________________________

Click HERE for the Show Notes.

If you enjoyed the episode, leave a review - it means the world to me + helps the show reach more people! Thank you!

📲 Let’s Connect:

Connect with me on Instagram - @dorothymcgatlin

Connect with me on Facebook - Dorothy McGatlin

In this episode of Trusting Dorothy, we’re redefining what it means to be “healthy” on vacation. If you’ve ever returned from a trip feeling like you need to detox, start over, or undo what happened, this episode will shift your mindset for good.

You’ll learn how to stay grounded in self-trust, not shame, and how to see rest, joy, and gelato as supportive—not sabotaging—parts of your long-term journey.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

Why your perception shapes your experience more than any one choice ever could

How to break free from the all-or-nothing vacation mindset

Why shame about what you ate slows your progress

How to practice embodied self-trust when traveling

The science behind diet breaks and metabolic flexibility

Why rest, joy, and connection are not the opposite of discipline, they’re part of health

How to come back after vacation without starting over

Whether you’re heading off on a trip or simply recovering from a weekend away, this episode will help you anchor back into your identity as someone who trusts herself and takes care of her body—on and off vacation.

📌 Show Notes & Links,

Lift Library Workouts: HERE

📍 Missed earlier episodes?

Start with Episode 81: Why is it so hard to relax 

_____________________________________________________

Click HERE for the Show Notes.

If you enjoyed the episode, leave a review - it means the world to me + helps the show reach more people! Thank you!

💛 Work With Me:

Get on the waitlist for WITHIN: A 21-Day Return to Self https://www.dorothymcgatlin.com/Within-Waitlist

Want weekly workouts, bonus coachings, and more join the Lift Library 

For Lift 1-1 Health and Weightloss coaching

📲 Let’s Connect:

Connect with me on Instagram - @dorothymcgatlin

Connect with me on Facebook - Dorothy McGatlin

Episode 85: Disneyland Paris & Dream Flights – The Final Leg of Our Europe Adventure

In the final episode of our European travel series, I’m walking you through our return from Lake Como to Los Angeles, with a magical stopover in Paris. Featuring a magic day at Disneyland Paris and a dream flight home in Air France business class, made possible by points and miles.

You'll hear how I booked our family of four in business class for under $1,000 total using Amex Membership Rewards and Flying Blue stopover perks, plus:

A family-friendly Paris itinerary in under 24 hours

Disneyland Paris tips: what to ride, when to use Premier Pass, and food finds

Why a stopover in Paris was a great add on to our trip

Credit card strategies to fly luxuriously for less

If you’ve ever wondered how to stretch your points for maximum joy, this episode wraps it all up with practical tips and Parisian magic.

📌 Show Notes & Links,

 Best travel credit card recs: HERE

📍 Missed earlier episodes?

Start with Episode 83: Rome and Episode 84: Florence + Lake Como

Plus, throw back Episode 39 on Credit Card Points and Miles

_____________________________________________________

Click HERE for the Show Notes.

If you enjoyed the episode, leave a review - it means the world to me + helps the show reach more people! Thank you!

💛 Work With Me:

Get on the waitlist for WITHIN: A 21-Day Return to Self https://www.dorothymcgatlin.com/Within-Waitlist

Want weekly workouts, bonus coachings, and more join the Lift Library 

For Lift 1-1 Health and Weightloss coaching

📲 Let’s Connect:

Connect with me on Instagram - @dorothymcgatlin

Connect with me on Facebook - Dorothy McGatlin