Sr. Monica Clare: From Hollywood to Holy Orders - A Journey to Authentic Joy

This summer, I found myself slowing down—getting quieter on the trails, more present among the trees, and stepping away from my usual morning routine of “to-do” lists, three coffees, and hustling to get people into my coaching programs. I got quiet. I sat with the parts of myself that feel uncomfortable and need external validation to feel worthy.  

I kept hearing the Zen Buddhist phrase: “chop wood, carry water". The wisdom is simple: do everyday tasks with mindfulness and presence.

For me, that meant canceling my coaching program that was supposed to start in August. It meant releasing the constant striving for speaking opportunities, letting go of outreach for podcast guests, and returning to my roots—deep, one-on-one conversations where space is dedicated to what truly matters. It meant going back to being a therapist.

For years, Sister Monica Clare heard a quiet call toward a quiet religious life. She first explored Hollywood, marriage, and conventional success before discovering that her heart was truly drawn to sisterhood.

Even if you’re not religious or spiritual, this conversation will likely resonate with you. Sister Monica Clare’s story is about learning to "gravitate towards joy versus chaos" and having the courage to follow your authentic calling—no matter how unconventional it may seem, and no matter what you have to release to honor it.

Her journey began in a Southern town marked by poverty, abuse, and violence, including witnessing her grandfather attempt to stab her father. Her mother’s encouragement to pursue a different life set her on a path through college in New York City, a career in Hollywood, marriage, heartbreak, and even performing in comedy clubs.

Through it all, she never abandoned the power of prayer—even when the call to religious life felt “complicated and baffling, completely out of step with her fame-adjacent life in Los Angeles”. She tried everything to silence it: therapy sessions, ignoring it, secrecy, and even asking friends and mentors, “What do you think about me being a nun?”

Sister Monica Clare’s story becomes a compass for anyone struggling to find their truth. Authentic calling rarely makes logical sense—but it always leads to deeper fulfillment.

Today, at 59, she has found her unique path to serve:

•  Launched @NunsenseForthePeople on TikTok in 2020
• Wrote the bestselling memoir A Change of Habit
• Uses social media to raise awareness about progressive religious orders like the Community of St. John Baptist
• Offers spiritual counseling specializing in religious trauma, mental illness, and addiction

Sister Monica Clare is the Mother Superior at the Community of St. John Baptist, an Episcopal convent in New Jersey. Before taking her vows in 2012, she worked as a photo editor in L.A. and performed in an acoustic rock duo and improv comedy troupe.

In our conversation, she shares how prayer became her sanctuary throughout Hollywood rejections and personal heartbreaks. She reveals the guiding messages she received from God during life’s challenges—like when she discovered her husband was cheating and heard, “Get up and get your house in order.” She opens up about overcoming the fear that people wouldn’t want her around and finding peace as a socially awkward introvert in a tight-knit community.

This episode is an invitation to listen to your own quiet callings and consider what authentic joy could look like in your life—and what you might need to release in order to honor it.

🎧 Tune in now to listen.

Love,

Molly

Resources & Links:

Read Sr. Monica Clare's memoir, A Change of Habit