Sz 2 Ep 14 | What if emotional overwhelm isn't coming from your life circumstances—but from the sentences running through your mind?

In this intimate, practical conversation, Elle Rowley sits down with master coach Jody Moore to explore the roots of emotional suffering for mothers, especially in life's toughest seasons. Together, they bust the myth that overwhelm, anxiety, and guilt are caused by what’s happening outside of us, and instead reveal how our thoughts—and the judgments stacked on top of them—create our hardest moments.

Jody Moore shares how practicing self-compassion, curiosity, and letting go of perfectionism transformed her experience as a mother, coach, and woman. She explains why striving to be a “good mom” can be counterproductive, and why embracing your “world’s okayest mom” moments might be exactly what you and your kids need.

You'll hear real stories from Elle about navigating complicated grief, her early struggles with self-judgment, and how thought awareness opened the door to healing. Jody dives into practical concepts—from emotional adulthood and curiosity in hard conversations, to the power of raising your “minimum baseline” and owning your choice to stay connected, even when you want to quit.

This episode is a compassionate guide to befriending your emotions, shedding unnecessary suffering, and building stronger relationships—starting with the one you have with yourself.

Timestamps

00:00:00 - Emotions driven by self-compassion.

00:03:00 - Podcast helps mothers in grief.

00:07:00 - Overwhelm comes from our thoughts.

00:12:00 - Handling teen anxiety with validation.

00:16:00 - Bad days versus rough seasons.

00:21:00 - Celebrating "okayest mom" mindset.

00:27:00 - Set practical minimum baselines.

00:33:00 - Moments of connection over work.

00:40:00 - Embracing compassion and self-acceptance.

01:07:00 - Aspirations for matriarch phase.

Episode Links:

Down The Well Links:

Elle's Substack - https://substack.com/@ellerowley

Elle's Instagram - instagram.com/ellerowley

Support families in Guatemala by purchasing a 'World Peace Begins at Home' tee - https://www.the-humble-village.org/shop

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About Down The Well:

Motherhood should be full of joy and meaning. But it often isn't. Why is that? On Down the Well, Elle Rowley talks through the mother's hero's journey, and why it's different from the one you might have learned in school or books.

Unlike the traditional hero's journey, mothers have to descend into the depths of their own soul. No one comes out of motherhood the same, and with the right perspective and resources, we can make sure that transformation is for the better.

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