Confessions of a Recovering Micromanaging Perfectionist Martyr
As a mother of four and a self-proclaimed micromanaging - perfectionist - martyr, I constantly need to be reminded that control leaves me lonely, perfection can paralyze me, and caring for others over myself leads to resentment. Join me as I try to navigate being a structure-luvin' gal, in an absolutely chaotic household.
Episodes
394 episodes
Life Balance Check-In – My Personal Scoreboard
After weeks of scoreboard talk, I started wondering if there’s a kinder way to check in on how life’s really going. In this episode, I share a simple Life Balance Wheel I’ve been using to get a quick snapshot of my “game of life.” Curiou...
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Season 10
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Episode 30
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4:29
Strong Game Energy - My Personal Playbook
Last week we talked about life’s unofficial scorekeepers ⚾️… and that got my brain spinning. If life really is a game, what kind of player do I want to be out there? In this episode, I’m sharing a few of the “rules” in my personal playbook—from...
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Season 10
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Episode 29
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3:03
You’re Not My Scoreboard - Who Gets a Vote?
Ever feel like someone in your life is quietly keeping score? ⚾️ A recent conversation got me reflecting on opinions, boundaries, and those moments when it feels like someone else is calling balls and strikes in my life. In this episode, I shar...
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Season 10
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Episode 28
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3:21
Confessions Conversations: Julie Fitzpatrick
What happens after the life you planned quietly changes? 🌱 In this gentle conversation, Julie shares pieces of her story—divorce, rediscovering her inner voice, and the slow process of rebuilding. Along the way, we explore quiet truths, friends...
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Season 10
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Episode 27
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25:35
Thirty-Somethings - Growing, Grinding, and Glowing
✨ A love note to all the tired 30-something legends: grinding, growing, and glowing (quietly) through the mayhem. Life in your 30s can feel like a group project with no project manager—strong opinions, and the emotional bandwidth of a chewed-up...
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Season 10
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Episode 26
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3:50
Toxic Positivity - Why I Still Choose the Bright Side
🌧️ Heard of “toxic positivity”? This episode unpacks what it really means—without shaming the sunny side. ☀️ Come sit with a story about burnout, empathy, and finding the light (gently). 💛 No fixing, just a soft place to land.
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Season 10
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Episode 25
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4:59
Why Change Feels Bad - And What to Remember
🎯 Change doesn’t always feel good—and that’s not a red flag. In this week’s episode, we explore the messy middle of starting new things (and why it’s worth it). 💃💗 From golf coaches to breastfeeding flashbacks, here’s your humble reminder that ...
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Season 10
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Episode 24
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3:49
Pause Before Helping - 2 Questions to Consider
🧺 Thoughtful or over-the-top? This episode shares a moment where clean laundry led to a cleaner mindset. Two tiny questions made a big shift. 💡💗 Before you help (again), take a moment with us. It might just save you a round trip to Resentment T...
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Season 10
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Episode 23
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4:22
The Final Reframe – Just Neuroscience and Kindness
We’re closing out our self-talk series 💛 but this isn’t goodbye, just a pause to reflect. This episode unpacks what happens when you swap “truth-telling” for true kindness—and how science has quietly had our backs all along 🧠✨ One fina...
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Season 10
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Episode 22
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3:17
Parenting My Words - One Snarky Comment at a Time
Ever caught yourself saying “What’s a nicer way you could’ve said that?” 😅 Same—except this time, I asked myself. This week’s episode is about trading MamaDe’s Passive-Aggressive Playlist 🎶 for something softer, clearer, and way m...
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21:34
Outdated Self-Talk – Time for a Reframe
What if your most “honest” self-talk is actually holding you back? 🧠💭 This week, I’m sharing the surprising reframes that are helping me trade old truths for new pathways. It’s not about pretending—it’s about practicing a voice that helps, not ...
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Season 10
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Episode 20
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4:41
Confessions Conversation: Melissa O’Hara
Ever snapped at “What’s for dinner?” 🍽️😤 Yeah… same. This week on Confessions Conversations, my friend Melissa O’Hara joins me for a raw + real chat about burnout, brain rewiring 🧠, and finding calm in the chaos. If you’ve ever felt like the
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Season 10
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Episode 19
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26:37
Self-Talk 2026 - A Mindset Shift I Wasn’t Expecting
New year, new neural pathways? 🧠✨ This week kicks off our Self-Talk 2026 series—where we’re quietly rewriting those old scripts in our heads. If you’ve ever felt like your inner voice is more critic than coach, you’re in good company. 💬💛 Let’s ...
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Season 10
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Episode 18
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6:16
Happy Fend For Yourself Day!
🎉 Happy Fend For Yourself Day! 🎉 This episode celebrates doing absolutely nothing—with love, humor, and a dash of self-talk magic. 🛋️ Whether you're lounging or traveling, this one's a cozy reminder that rest isn’t lazy—it’s imperative. ✨ Kids,...
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Season 10
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Episode 17
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2:53
BONUS: Positive Self-Talk – Helmstetter Book Recap
Curious about What to Say When You Talk to Yourself? 📖🧠 This bonus episode offers a gentle, bite-sized summary of Shad Helmstetter’s classic book on self-talk—what it is, how it works, and why it matters 💬💗. If you’ve been looking for ...
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Season 10
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Episode 16
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8:05
Self‑Talk Wake‑Up Call – A New Voice That’s Changing Me
My kids gave me a wake-up call years ago 😳—and it turns out, I needed another one! This episode explores how our self-talk 🧠 becomes the soundtrack of our lives—and the power of softening the script 💗. No pressure, no perfection—just one curiou...
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Season 10
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Episode 15
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6:30
Craving More Validation — See the Care Behind the Quiet
Ever feel like you're giving out standing ovations 👏... and getting occasional golf claps in return? 😬 This episode peeks behind the silence to explore the many ways love shows up—especially when praise isn't part of the package. From popcorn m...
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Season 10
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Episode 14
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4:01
All I Want for Christmas VIII - A Break from Being On Call
🎄 This season, I found myself juggling connection and control—again. A night out, a few unchecked texts, and a family FaceTime later, I realized the “hotline” I was running was one I created. Tune in for a reflection on presence, letti...
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Season 10
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Episode 13
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4:19
Learning to Prune – A Shift in Parenting Growing Kids
What if your own branches 🌿 are crowding someone else’s light? A gentle look at parenting growing kids, inspired by gardening ✂️, overgrowth, and the quiet gift of letting go 💛Posts referenced in this episode:
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Season 10
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Episode 12
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3:12
Feeling Off? Linking Moods to What We Say
Ever think about how your mood might be linked to your words? Inspired by Rumi, my mom’s birthday 🎉, and a well-timed @ShawnAchor book 📖, this episode dives into the quiet power of praise 🙌—and how forgetting it might dim our inner light ✨<...
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Season 10
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Episode 11
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4:43
Letting Go - Moving On From the Past
A tearful SUV saga 🚗💔 turns into a deeper look at why letting go can feel so impossible. From clingy car decisions to parenting text etiquette, this one’s for anyone feeling stuck between who they were and who they’re becoming. Come sit with us...
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Season 10
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Episode 10
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4:53
Confessions Conversations: Rachel Joffe
💔 She spent years helping people through unthinkable loss — then it happened to her. In this Confessions Conversation, Rachel Joffe shares what she’s learned from both sides of the grief process. 💛 From hospital floors to private pract...
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Season 10
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Episode 9
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26:35
Reclaiming the Day - Ditching What Doesn't Fit
🎃 Whether it’s a holiday or just a regular ol’ Sunday, some routines just stop working. This episode explores how one family—and one tired mom—ditched the old Halloween script and found peace in reimagining the day. Quiet reinvention, unexpecte...
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Season 10
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Episode 8
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3:51
End Zones & Gratitude - Wins Worth Remembering
Ever reached the “end zone” and barely paused to notice? 🏈✨ This one’s a heart check on gratitude, growth, and the quiet wins we often forget to celebrate. A reflective conversation inspired by a college-aged kid, a few past dreams come true, a...
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Season 10
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Episode 7
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3:30
Sixteen Candles – It’s Awkward Before It’s Awesome
🎉 He’s 16! And I’m handing out wisdom instead of party favors. This week, I’m reflecting on Walkmans, awkward beginnings, and why sticking it out (even when it’s awkward) can lead to the best memories. 💿✨ If you’ve ever wanted to bail on a mome...
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Season 10
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Episode 6
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4:10
