Some voices never truly leave us. They echo in our minds, guiding our decisions and comforting us long after the physical presence is gone. My mother Constance's voice is that eternal presence for me, and her sayings have become the foundation of who I am today.

From her playful "shuffle off to Buffalo" when heading to bed to her profound "this too shall pass" during life's storms, Mom's words created the soundtrack of my childhood. She practiced mindfulness with "just breathe" long before wellness gurus made it trendy. Her wisdom about faith—"God isn't out there, it's in you"—shaped my spiritual journey and self-trust. Even her practical reminders to "do your taxes" and "chew your food" taught me that presence matters in the mundane moments.

When she passed away in 2021, I faced not just grief but an enormous space where her voice used to be. Yet in that space, I found something unexpected: courage. The courage to end my failing marriage, to rebuild my life, and to recognize that her greatest gift wasn't dependency but the strength to forge my own path while carrying her wisdom forward. The challenge isn't forgetting our loved ones—it's continuing to grow while honoring how they shaped us. Mom's voice becomes part of my inner dialogue, guiding me through challenges and celebrations alike. What saying from someone you've lost still guides you today? Share your story and let's celebrate how we carry forward those we love through their words that live on in us.

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That hollow feeling when the noise dies down and everyone else has gone home?

It might not be loneliness at all—it might be your first real chance to discover who you truly are.

For those of us who've spent years (or decades) tying our worth to how useful we can be to others, that ache of isolation often strikes right when we finally stop pouring ourselves into everyone else.

Suddenly, there's silence, and in that silence might be grief, fear, or echoes of a younger self who learned that being alone meant doing something wrong. But what if that feeling isn't a punishment, but an invitation?

In this deeply personal exploration, I'm sharing five powerful steps to transform loneliness into sacred solitude. From naming your feelings without shame to romanticizing your alone time, these practices aren't just band-aids—they're portals back to your authentic self.

You'll discover how to rewrite what being alone means, how to fall in love with your own company, and why sitting still with yourself might be exactly the medicine your soul has been craving.

Whether you're a recovering people-pleaser, going through a major life transition, or simply wanting to deepen your relationship with yourself, this episode offers both gentle compassion and practical tools.

The truth is, you're not broken when you feel lonely—your nervous system is simply rewiring after years of self-abandonment.

And on the other side of that discomfort lies the most beautiful homecoming: reconnecting with the parts of yourself you temporarily forgot.

Grab the free solitude self-care checklist RIGHT HERE and join me in turning those quiet moments from something we dread into our most empowering, soul-nourishing practice. Because when you can truly be at home with yourself, you're never really alone again.

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This week's self-care surge took me from enneagram typing to chiropractic scans and theta healing, revealing the critical difference between authentic mojo and toxic positivity. The journey cracked me open, exposing blind spots I didn't realize were there and showing how my body was carrying stress my mind had rationalized away.

• Mojo is your authentic life force – the inner fire that gets you moving and showing up as yourself
• Toxic positivity is a "good vibes only" mask that overrides real emotions with forced sunshine
• True self-care makes you feel more like yourself, not someone you think you should be
• As an Enneagram 9, I discovered my tendency to numb out and avoid confrontation. If you'd like to learn more about Enneagram, check out Tamara Kroeker - she's the best

My parasympathetic nervous system was in the red zone despite feeling "fine" intellectually
• Nervous system dysregulation can cause chronic fatigue, emotional numbness, and withdrawal
• Gentle practices like deep breathing, nature time, and safe connections help restore balance
• Theta healing unlocked beliefs about safety and responsibility I didn't know were holding me back. To learn more about Theta Healing, you're in great hands with Megan at the Conscious Village!
• Reconnecting with my inner child became an unexpected part of my healing journey
• Real mojo comes from honesty, not forced positivity

If you haven't grabbed your copy of Small Shifts Massive Mojo yet, HERE IS YOUR LINK It's full of simple ways to build real momentum, one honest moment at a time.

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AS PROMISED - HERE'S YOUR 🔗 TO THE FULL LIST! JUMP ON IN!

Episode Snapshot:

That nagging feeling of being slightly "off" – not broken, not lost, just disconnected from yourself – is something many of us experience but struggle to address. What if reconnecting with your authentic self doesn't require dramatic change but rather intentional micro-adjustments?

This episode explores 20 powerful, game-changing habits that serve as breadcrumbs back to your truest self. Beginning with our weekly mantra "I choose habits that make me feel good about myself," we dive into how feeling good about yourself isn't a luxury but an entitlement you deserve right now. These small shifts bring you back to alignment without requiring you to burn everything down and start over.

From morning practices like waking up without immediately reaching for your phone, to journaling with honest self-assessment, to taking walks without distraction – each micro-habit creates space for authentic connection with yourself. We explore nourishment beyond food, boundary-setting through saying no to obligations, and the transformative power of clearing both physical and mental clutter. The episode also highlights ways to reintroduce joy and pleasure without justification, including solo dates and doing things purely because they feel good.

What makes these shifts so powerful is their sustainability. You don't need to implement all twenty at once – just start with the one that tugged at your heart most while listening. That magnetic pull is your intuition pointing you toward your next step home. Through consistent small actions, you'll find yourself naturally returning to who you've always been beneath the expectations and noise of modern life.

Ready to reconnect with your authentic self? Download the complete list of shifts from the show notes and share which one you're implementing first! Remember, you're not far from yourself – you've just been a little loud, a little busy, a little pulled in too many directions. These shifts are your path back home.

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Have you ever felt that familiar stomach flip, tight chest, and sudden urge to scroll Instagram when faced with potential conflict? You're not alone. In this illuminating exploration of why we avoid difficult conversations, we uncover the surprising truth: conflict isn't the enemy—avoidance is.

Throughout this episode, we dismantle the myth that keeping the peace means swallowing your truth. Most of us don't avoid conflict because we don't care; we avoid it because we care too much. We've been conditioned to believe that speaking up is dangerous, disrespectful, or "not nice." But what if this avoidance is actually causing more harm than the conflict itself? What if those unspoken words are weighing you down more than you realize?

I share a powerful framework for approaching difficult conversations with courage and clarity. You'll learn concrete steps to express your feelings without creating defensiveness, how to listen effectively even when emotions run high, and why specificity trumps vague complaints every time. The episode features a moving story about Maya, whose one brave conversation transformed not just her work environment but how colleagues perceived her capabilities. Her journey from conflict-avoidant to confidently assertive demonstrates exactly what's possible when we face our fears.

Ready to step into your "conflict with confidence" era? This episode provides the practical tools and mindset shifts you need to transform those challenging conversations into opportunities for deeper connection. Because when you finally say the thing you've been avoiding, you don't just clear the air—you reclaim your voice, your energy, and your truth. Subscribe now and share with someone who needs this message. What conversation will you have today that your future self will thank you for?

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Ever wondered if you can truly be a friend and a leader at the same time? In this candid exploration of the friendship-leadership dynamic, we dive into the beautiful complexities and potential pitfalls of building your empire alongside those you love most.

The science is fascinating—when women engage in meaningful conversation with emotional bonding, our brains release oxytocin, literally calming our nervous systems and creating biological resilience. We're wired for connection, which makes the idea of building businesses with our besties so appealing. But as we discover through conversations with various entrepreneurs, this blending requires intentionality and clear boundaries to truly thrive.

From Olivia who champions the "two people against one problem" approach that's revolutionized her business partnership with her bestie, to Shelly who maintains a firm "hard pass" on mixing friendship with leadership roles, we hear diverse perspectives that illuminate both the rewards and risks. The magic happens in the middle ground—where trust and role clarity meet, where honest conversations happen without a heavy hand, and where supporting each other's success becomes the foundation rather than an afterthought.

For my recovering people-pleasers, this episode offers a powerful wake-up call. Leadership gets complicated when you're wired to keep the peace and ensure everyone's happiness at your own expense. Friendship in business can become a hiding place—a reason to avoid necessary conflict or tolerate misaligned behavior. But hear this: sacrificing your standards to protect someone's feelings isn't kindness; it's self-abandonment in disguise. You deserve to lead with both love and boundaries, creating spaces where everyone can rise authentically.

Ready to build relationships that fuel your mission rather than drain your energy? Listen now, and remember—protecting your peace isn't disloyal. That's leadership.

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Have you ever known something with absolute certainty but couldn't explain why? That quiet voice, that feeling in your stomach, that inexplicable knowing—it's your intuition trying to guide you home.

In this milestone 50th episode of Pocketful of Mojo, we're diving deep into why our gut instincts matter, why we so often ignore them, and how reconnecting with this inner wisdom transforms our relationship with ourselves. For recovering people pleasers, overthinkers, and perfectionists, that gut feeling can feel fuzzy or buried under layers of doubt, fear, or programming about what others think. But what if your intuition is actually the voice of your higher self—the part of you that knows everything you've been through and still sees you as whole, worthy, and wildly capable?

I share a deeply personal story about my first podcast venture and how my intuition tried to prepare me for an unexpected tragedy, highlighting how our gut often knows what's coming before our logical mind can make sense of it. We explore what it actually looks and feels like to trust your gut—not as dramatic lightning bolt moments, but as simple acts of pausing, feeling the "ick," choosing rest, or making aligned decisions. The transformation that follows is profound: relief, clarity, confidence, and ultimately freedom from the constant need for external validation.

Building a relationship with yourself follows the same principles as any meaningful relationship: listening, showing up, and keeping your word. When you honor this connection, you develop stronger boundaries, healthier relationships, increased confidence, and the ability to take decisive action that feels like a superpower. Life becomes easier because you're no longer at war with yourself.

Ready to strengthen your intuition? Take this week's mantra with you: "I trust the part of me that always knows." Your higher self isn't something to find—it's already there, waiting for you to listen. Share this episode with someone who needs this reminder, and remember: you don't need a perfect plan—you need a little more trust in yourself.

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We unpack what the popular "Let Them Theory" doesn't tell you and why finding your "Let Me" energy is essential for true freedom and fulfillment. The missing piece isn't just about letting others go, but discovering what you truly want after years of people-pleasing.

• The "Let Them Theory" is powerful but incomplete without knowing what you want for yourself
• Many people-pleasers have lost touch with their authentic desires after years of making others happy
• Achievement without alignment equals exhaustion, not joy
• Success isn't about external approval but inner peace and fulfillment
• How to conduct a "dream audit" to discover if your goals are truly yours
• Physical and emotional signals that indicate whether a goal excites or exhausts you
• Journal prompts to help uncover your authentic desires and aspirations
• The ultimate test: Would you still pursue your dream if nobody ever applauded?

Your mojo move this week: Pick one dream and honestly ask yourself, "Is this dream really mine?" If not, today is the perfect day to start building one that is.

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