Simple on Purpose | Intentional Living and Parenting

I see a theme in the women I life coach. When I ask them what they want in their life, their homes, their motherhood, their relationships, peace (calm, serenity, harmony) is a common answer.  Peace is something we crave, but we often trade it in for relief.  The problem is that peace and relief can look similar. Because the pain lessens for a bit.  But relief is not peace. Relief is a temporary reduction/removal of the pain. Peace is finding calm amongst the pain and stressors.    *this is an affiliate link, which means when you purchase this item I get a nominal commission at no cost to you  FULL TRANSCRIPT AVAILABLE AT THE END OF THIS POST   This week my 6-year-old son was having an 'off day' - a few of them. Eventually, I kept him home from school with me. I could see he was having a soul fever (a concept from Simplicity Parenting*) and that day allowed him to rest and recenter.  As an adult, I can relate to how he was feeling. So often I have this strange stressor that is highjacking how I show up - I'm not present and I'm not having any fun or feeling like I am in control of my life. It feels overwhelming.    What do we want relief from? So often when we have some kind of discomfort, pain or urge we just want relief. We just want it to stop. We treat it like a hot coal in our hands. We are acting from a stress response and looking for a quick way to make the pain stop.    The more seek relief, the more fearful we get of the pain/discomfort So we lash out, we withdraw, we try to control everyone and everything. This is how we learn to cope with the discomfort of feeling pain.  The more we do this, the more afraid we become of experiencing this 'pain', this 'hot coal'. We develop coping mechanisms that help us find relief from this perceived pain.  But when we don't immediately seek relief, then we can start to sit with this hot coal a little longer. Learn that it won't hurt us, that we can handle it.    We need to get through the discomfort in order to move into peace This is where peace lives. In going through the discomfort of not giving ourselves immediate relief.  It can show up in motherhood, in marriage, in our life, in our relationships.  What I am learning is that when I let myself be uncomfortable and get past the need for immediate relief, I move into a space where there is an OPPORTUNITY to experience peace and practice peace - the peace God gives me, the peace I find within, the peace I can offer those around me.    Peace also requires trust - of ourselves, others and of God I shared an example of a fight I was about to have with my husband over butter, honey butter to be specific. In the past, I would dump a conflict onto him and shame him into fixing it. But I decided to sit with the discomfort I was feeling and let myself work to a calmer place -  so I could address this issue with kindness and understanding of myself - rather than blowing it up, in the moment, from a stress response. I call this the Circle Back. And it isn't about never addressing the issue, it is about circling back to it from a place of calm.  But I can do this BECAUSE I trust us. I trust that this is something we can work through. I've learned to trust him and myself with conflict resolution. Peace also requires us to trust ourselves and to put trust in God that he's got us, his hand is in it, he has the long game.    Mindful questions:

When we decide we want to turn off the autopilot and take control of our lives, we might be really excited. It is fun to think about the goals and dreams we have, where we want to go with our lives. But the hard work of showing up for it every day isn't something people really talk about.  Intentional living is a journey I started about six years ago and I thought it would be so much easier, and come naturally, and everything would 'click'. When it wasn't quite like that I realized that there is a really messy part of intentional living that we might gloss over.  So, I want to share some of the things I experienced and learned and encourage you with them. So that as you go on this journey in your own life, you can feel motivated to see it through when it feels hard. Because hard doesn't always mean you are doing it wrong, it often simply means you are doing it.  Full transcript is at the bottom of this post.  Some things to remember WHEN INTENTIONAL LIVING IS HARD * It doesn't come naturally. We started with ‘intentional parenting’ and made a list of what we hoped to teach our kids, and things to do with our kids. It included road trips - because that’s what I thought it *should* include. But I do not like road trips with my kids, and I hate that I hate them so much but they are not a preferable experience for me.  It doesn’t come naturally - and this can encourage you that your hard work is moving you down the road. Read more about the road trip that made me cry right here. * What we want changes over time. This is encouraging because it means we are allowed to change our minds, try new things, and keep refining it along the way.  * It shines a light on your blind spots. For me, a big one was my victim mentality - of being the victim of my life, motherhood and marriage. Listen to the episode on being a mom martyr right here.  * It is the daily practice. We should be motivated by this big vision we have and remember that intentional living is showing up for the daily work of moving in that direction * It is empowering. This is the reason I still do it. It has grown me and shown me a lot I can let go of. It has brought me more in tune with myself and made me feel empowered that I can do hard things and take steps towards the life I want.    To get started with intentional living, use the LIVE YOUR VISION, and LIVE YOUR VALUES worksheets, the LIFE ON PURPOSE WORKBOOK The get some support in getting started schedule a 1-hour strategy session or apply for the Life on Purpose 1:1 Coaching Program with Shawna.  Episode Transcript Welcome to the Simple on Purpose podcast. This is a place where I want you to take some time to slow down.

Feeling rushed, overwhelmed, unproductive can all be signs you are living your life on autopilot. That is, living life by default, without intention.  The outcome is an inner sense of lack, but we might not notice it. BECAUSE Our life might look 'nice' enough on the surface, and we have done all the things that people told us would make us successful and happy - but we really don't feel it. So we think something is wrong with us, and with our lives.  Autopilot living leaves you feeling ineffective and like you aren't stepping into your purpose and passions for your life.  I have six ways that auto-pilot living can be showing up in your life and give you some direction on what you can do about it.  I write this all to you as someone who lived on autopilot for about 30 years before waking up to it and deciding to take control of my life. I had let complacency seep through my whole life. My health, my motherhood, my marriage, my home, my relationships. They were all operating without any intention or direction from me and what I truly craved in those areas of my life.  (full episode transcript is at the bottom of this post) SIX SIGNS YOU ARE LIVING YOUR LIFE ON AUTOPILOT * You are putting out fires all-day * You are feeling overwhelmed * You feel restless....or apathetic * You feel unproductive at the end of the day * You feel like something is missing * You are distracted And in motherhood, we can see we are on autopilot when * We've turned on the 'no switch' and not turned it off * We are short with our kids (then shame ourselves for it) * We are just 'trying to get through the day'   LINKS MENTIONED What is subconscious thinking  and how it impacts your life (episode 76) Productivity needs purpose (blog post) I stopped enjoying my kids (episode 16) (blog post) My husband's take on setting goals and LIFE ON PURPOSE together (episode 47) Small things that can change your whole life (episode 78) The Live Your Vision worksheets (get them here) The Live your Values worksheets (get them here) The Life on Purpose Workbook

Do small things has changed my whole life.  Today I'm sharing how motherhood really brought me face to face with my own neediness and limiting beliefs that everything and everyone else was causing me problems.  Becoming self-aware of how I had brought myself to this point in my own life made me realize I can't be my own solution.  I needed God. I met God in my neediness and he showed me some hard truths on what needed changing.  Because I didn't want to stay where I was, on autopilot. There was a lot of victimhood and resent and anxiety and poor health where I was - if I stayed there and kept the status quo I could see that my life in 2 . . . 5 . . . 10 years was not the life I wanted.  But this isn't all a big bummer. I have something that can help you, something I learned on the way in TAKING ACTION to shift my life.  This is the COMPOUND EFFECT A concept from Darren Hardy that tells us the little things we do, consistently, have a cumulative impact on our lives. Both the good habits the bad habits - they accumulate as the days pass.  I will share with you about 10 SMALL THINGS I have worked on over the past 5 years that I feel have made my life so much better, and some of the things I'm working on this year.  And if you are feeling like you are ready to pick one small thing and start it, I have some question to help you identify what that could be.  Because our life is like a ship, we need to adjust it's course a little bit each day so we can end up pretty darn close to our destination. AND REMEMBER, you can only steer a ship that is moving - we need to take ACTION!   (Full episode transcript is at the bottom) All the fun links to help you learn more . . .  Homemaker, on Purpose (available from Amazon, or as an eBook) Are you making motherhood harder than it needs to be (Episode 67 ) What are limiting beliefs and how they impact you (Episode 76) Showing up for your future self (Episode 21) Want to make a change, here are three tips to help you get good at it (Episode 70) The Life on Purpose Workbook (available as a digital copy or from Amazon) The Live Your Values + Live Your Vision worksheets (you can find both right here) Apply here to learn more about the Life on Purpose 1:1 Coaching Program  Spending the month on GRATITUDE in the Facebook Community Group (

We all hear about the Sabbath and as moms, we are like, "Sure! When will we find this magical day of rest from our lives??"  Because rest sounds good, but there are still kids here asking me for snacks and to play with them! This past weekend I had one of the most restful days I've ever had. It inspired me to share this episode (as I hit record planning to talk about something totally different) and tell you the ways that rest has refreshed me and why I encourage you to do it too! To me, this day of rest came about from the overwhelming need to address some emotions that were piling up for me (I needed to feel my feelings!). I needed a day to listen to my body and listen to God.  So I put everything on the back burner and had a day of BEING STILL, rather than DOING ALL THE THINGS! THE IMPORTANCE OF FAMILY RHYTHMS In our home we fall into natural FAMILY RHYTHMS, it is how things get done. And one of our rhythms for a few years has been Church and Chill on Sundays.  This gives us the framework to make space in our week for the things we value - even if we are still learning to appreciate them and do them well.  A day of rest has been one of those things.  WHY IT IS IMPORTANT TO REST When we spend a day of rest, we get a chance to listen closer to our life, our bodies, to God It also helps us to come out of the constant stress response we have been operating in. When we are stressed we are flooded with stress hormones and even using a different part of our brain. We need to find ways to come down from that stress response by letting our body feel like it is safe, so it can cue the brain to chill out.  A day of rest lets your body move out of operating in a stress mode.  It also gives you energy for the week ahead. I felt like I rested until I felt restless (which is rare of a Type 9).  TEACHING OUR KIDS TO REST Resting is a skill and it is one we can teach our kids too.  This doesn't mean we roll into a Sunday telling our kids they are on their own - but to walk alongside them in learning how to do it.  BECAUSE IT ISN'T COMFORTABLE Just BEING for a day won't feel comfortable. It might even feel boring. But God calls us to it and it is worth making it a practice for your soul to be refreshed.  CHOOSE THINGS THAT REFRESH YOU Pay attention to how you get rest. Avoid things that actually drain you even though they don't require a lot of energy (ahem, social media!).    The full transcript is available at the end of this post.  FUN LINKS FROM THE EPISODE Sign up for Simple Saturdays (the virtual coffee date with me that comes out twice a month) Check out Stef Gass (Mompreneur Mastermind podcast) Saturday morning chores (the episode on how we started them in our home) Family Rhythms (what ours are, and worksheets to make your own) The Enneagram (I talk about it a lot, here are the basics) Two episodes on mindset shifts that can help moms of babies and toddlers (

I used to be a big skeptic of limiting mindsets. I mean, how would I have a thought I'm not even aware of? And how would this thought somehow keep me stuck? Since I have learned more about the science behind it and how our thought life is really running the show I can see this everywhere. I can see how our mindsets limit our motherhood experience, our relationships, our drive, really - everything.  FULL TRANSCRIPT IS AVAILABLE AT THE END OF THIS POST Here are the main things I have learned that have really opened my eyes to the reality and practical application of limiting mindsets. We have conscious thoughts and subconscious thoughts. This is the iceberg with our conscious thoughts on the surface.  The majority of our daily reactions, habits, routines are coming from our subconscious thoughts - they don't require our attention and energy. Creating a whole network of subconscious thoughts is one of the three jobs of our brain - it keeps it efficient. If you stop and think, you can see a lot of areas of your life where you can notice the subconscious thoughts have taken over operation The subconscious thoughts are like the program running on a computer. The program is developed through personal experience and exposure - our upbringing, our culture and our past really form a lot of subconscious thought patterns.  The limiting mindsets are those mindsets that are subconscious - running in the background and they are disempowering you. They aren't serving you to grow in the life you want. It is not our brain's job to filter out limiting mindsets from empowering mindsets - that is something we have to do on purpose.  These mindsets matter because we SHOW UP from them. I use the CBT (cognitive behavioural therapy) model in coaching and it informs us that our thoughts create our emotion and we behave differently depending on how we feel. So the reason it matters is our experience of life matters. And our experience of life (feelings and actions, and their outcomes) come from our thoughts (conscious and subconscious).  In this episode I have some examples for you around money scarcity, kids should always obey, people don't care about what I have to say, I'm a victim of motherhood, etc.  Links Mentioned  Episode 71: I let my kids do whatever they wanted for a day (abundance day) Simplify for fall [sign up here] The Simple on Purpose FB group [make sure to answer the entry questions] Episode 40 : The not-enough mindset [scarcity and abundance mindset] Enneagram 101 The Life on Purpose Academy [closed until December, sign up here to be on the waitlist] Episode 67: Making motherhood harder than it needs to be [mom martyr]

Have you heard of hygge? It is the Danish word that embodies the sentiments of being cozy, connected and content. If you look it up on Pinterest you will see a lot of cozy spaces full of things like flickering candles, a lovely throw, some fuzzy socks.  These all make a space feel cozier, but it takes more than that to experience hygge.  I want to share three mindsets that will help you shift right into hygge and have that cozy, connected and content experience in your daily life.  You may have heard me talk about hygge before in this episode where I compared it with minimalism and how the two were different and similar. If I lean one way, it is probably towards hygge. But perhaps that is because I have done all the decluttering already and my home feels simpler.  But this Enneagram Type 9 especially loves hygge because of its focus on equality, balance, simplicity and contentment.  * If you want to add more hygge into your life this fall and winter then get yourself the FREE calendar on 30 days of hygge (get it here).  * If you love to look at hygge inspiration check out my Pinterest board And since we are entering fall and we love to have cozy spaces in our home, let's get out homes ready with the Simplify for Fall Challenge (sign up here).  It is so helpful to clear out your space and reset your home before Thanksgiving and Christmas take over our living space. And if you are prepping for Christmas already, check out the Simple Christmas Planner right here. This is the 2020 updated version!  FULL TRANSCRIPT AT THE END OF THIS POST   [convertkit form=1147577]    Full transcript of this episode Friends at Shawna, your nerdy girlfriend, and life coach from simple on purpose.ca. I am a Canadian mom in small town, Canada. I'm a mom of three cool kids. I am a life coach at the Life on Purpose Academy, and I also do one on one life coaching. And you probably know me if you've hung around the Simple on Purpose blog at all. So welcome. I'm so glad you're here. The whole goal around this show is to give you just a quick check in with yourself on the things that matter to you and the things you want in your life. So we're going to remove the distractions that we're going to simplify, and we're going to show up on purpose. That's our mission. And one of my favorite ways to show up in my home in my life is hygge and hygge is that Danish word? It's spelled H Y G G E I needed. It's the Danish word that embodies that sense of connectedness and coziness. And you've probably seen pictures of fuzzy socks and candles and tea with steam coming out of it. It's so cozy. It's so darn cozy. So I heard about this a few years ago, and I just love pinning pins about it. And if you've been on Pinterest, you probably seen the trend, the coffee mugs, the cozy blankets, a lot of Scandinavian inspired touches, but I want to encourage you that hygge is not a decor trend or a shopping list of cozy things to bring into your home, those help, but at his core, hygge v is a mindset. So over the centuries, the Danish people have embraced hygge as a way of life. They've brought these values into their daily life. And since they focus on making their long dark winter, an especially hygge time they've incorporated these things, quote unquote, things, stuff that we see as a representation of what hygge is, but it's not about the stuff who God is about. Sitting with your friends around a candle at the table...

When you are at home with a baby, or a toddler and a baby your whole world can feel boring and relentless. There are countless demands on your time, energy and body and it can be so overwhelming to show up every day in motherhood when you just want a hot minute alone! You aren't alone. I have been there (hello three kids under four!). And I get how exhausting and draining motherhood can be.  Like how are people even making dinner!?! And what is life like without Paw Patrol?? As my kids have gotten older I have been seeing things from a new point of view. I can see my new mom self with more objectivity. I can see that there were some mindset shifts that really helped me between 1-3 kids and mindsets that have really helped me over the years of parenting.  Your mindset can have a big impact on your motherhood experience and this isn't something to brush off.  I say that as someone who did brush 'mindsets' off as woo woo and weak. But now that I am aware that my thoughts dictate my emotions, and I ACT from how I feel has changed my mind.  I can see the connections with mindsets to my experience, my reality, everywhere. Especially in motherhood because momlife is an emotional struggle.  There is overwhelm, resentment, frustration and exhaustion! And when I tell myself the worst-case scenario about me as a mom, and my kids, and my support system them I am showing up from all those feelings.  I have some mindsets that I learned the long way in motherhood, and some I am still learning. I hope they empower you to mother on purpose, with more peace and presence! PART 2 of2 EMPOWERING MINDSETS WE DISCUSS IN THIS EPISODE: * It's ok to be tired * It's ok to lose myself in motherhood * It's ok to NOT be awesome today * It takes a village * What matters most is how I show up   Get the printable PDF that goes with this episode and the previous episode FUN LINKS! The Life on Purpose Workbook The Live Your Values worksheets Mindset for the tired mom How to be a good mom friend Schedule a mini-session to see what life coaching can help you with  Book a consult call to get started with life coaching  FULL TRANSCRIPT OF THE EPISODE He friends it's Shawna, your Nerdy Girlfriend and Life Coach from simpleonpurpose.ca. I am the author of the Life on Purpose Workbook. You can find that on Amazon, The coach behind the Life on PurposeAcademy, the monthly group coaching program for moms and a mom of three cool kids. So this is part two of two podcasts on the mindsets that will really help you in new motherhood this month in the life on purpose Academy, our monthly topic is mom on purpose. So this has been on my brain. There's so many things I want to say about being...

As the kids get older I find myself watching moms with babies and toddlers and remember what a hot mess it felt like. I can look back on those early years with all of their demands on my time, my body, my energy and notice how I really fought it and how I probably made it harder than it needed to be.  Hindsight is easier from the plateau than it is in the thick of the valley.  I can see a lot of mindset shifts that would have helped me to show up better.  I want to share them with you if you are a mama with small ones around and feel like you need a refresher for your heart and soul.    Because our mindsets matter. The story we tell ourselves about our life, about motherhood, about our kids, that all matters. It matters because we SHOW UP from this story.  If this story makes us feel helpless, that is how we show up. If this story makes us feel frustrated, that is how we show up.  I want to help you become aware of the stories you might be telling yourself here and offer you some new ways to look at things. THIS IS PART ONE OF TWO Emotional struggles and mindset shifts that we talk about in this episode: * It's ok to feel my tough feelings * It's ok to mourn my old life * Motherhood is hard, but I don't have to make it harder *  I can trust myself in motherhood (and move away from rules and perfectionism) * I am the mom meant for my kids * Have a plan and plan to change  THE FULL TRANSCRIPTION IS AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS PAGE  Get the printable PDF that goes with this episode and the following episode.      FUN LINKS FOR MAMAS: Faith and fertility My thyroid, my frenemy (grave's disease) My c-section and the feelings I was ashamed to admit My VBAC Story The baby who always cried God's grace through difficult parenting Settling, in motherhood What moms of toddlers need to hear Be the mom you are

One question I get so often is "how to get my husband to get rid of all his crap?" I don't have a magical formula to convince him to give up the ill-fitting company leather jacket from twenty years ago, or the questionable 'comedy' VHS from the 1990s - but I do have seven tips to help you navigate the conversations and process of decluttering with someone else in your home.  When most of us decide to become a minimalist we have laser eyes for everything that has got to go - and a lot of it is OTHER PEOPLE'S STUFF. Whether it is teens, grown kids, or your spouse these people like their things and do have some say over what happens to it.  We often find that the issue moves away from the STUFF in your home and becomes a RELATIONSHIP issue. So, these are tips on decluttering when your spouse isn't on board, but really, it's marriage advice too. Because the goal is to declutter our home while preserving the relationships of those in our home. We don't want to become minimalist at the cost of peace in our relationships.  Seven Tips for When Your Spouse Doesn't Want to Declutter 1. Talk about the common vision Sounds too simple right? But the more you can talk about the vision you each have for your space, the more you can find places where your vision overlaps and get excited about what you do agree on.  Having a vision is always more motivating because you are doing tasks for the sake of moving towards your vision rather than doing tasks for the sake of chores.  * Use this free worksheet to set some vision for your home   2. Quit trying to change them  If ex-boyfriends have taught us nothing it is that you cannot change people.  And really, when you feel like the person you love wishes you were different it feels crappy. It lays the foundation for resentment.  There is a difference in encouraging them to be their best, vs manipulating and shaming them for who they are    3. Declutter your own stuff first The most common piece of advice, for a good reason.  Actions speak louder than words. And you really don't need a lot of words when your partner can see you feel lighter and have more space and mental clarity in your home.    4. Let communal items have communal input I would pile up the 'communal items' that I thought we should get rid of and offered my husband a chance to go through them and grab what he wanted.  Because really, this is his home too and his stuff too. And we would all want someone to give us say about the things we wish to keep in our home.    5. Learn their why You may not agree that your husband needs to keep the Pottie Tang VHS, but you can still ask why he wishes to..... like really, why??? Because we all keep things for a reason and that reason doesn't need to make sense to us - just knowing they know their reason and they like it can let you off the hook of making this the issue you have conflict over.    6. Offer support  It is a hard step, but if you are willing to offer your support in helping them organize things it can be a game-changer.  It shows you are willing to let them figure things out, it shows you are empowering them to create the space they want too, and it gets things more organized which just feels like less clutter.    7. Let it be ok to disagree Marriage is so weird right!? It is putting two different people, with different opinions, different tastes,

The other day I let my kids do whatever they wanted for a whole day. I called it Abundance Day. It was a day of me saying yes instead of no.  . .  because I am a mom who is saying NO a lot.  I was solo parenting for a week and spent the first day being a parent who says yes, a step towards more abundant parenting.  Parenting from a place of abundance rather than withholding. Not that there is anything wrong with limits and withholding in the sake of teaching them skills and growing them into people who can manage frustrations and life - but sometimes I just want to shower them with YES and abundance with them earning it -  because God does not make us earn His abundance.  God gives us blessings and abundance in a variety of ways and I want them to experience the reality of that in a tangible way so they can also see it is true in how God provides for us.      Abundance Day was very eye-opening in terms of how my kids chose to spend their time, the decisions they made and the lessons they told me they learned at the end of it.   It was a good lesson for me too, to see where I can give them more freedom to make their own choices and to see where I can teach them some more skills to make better decisions.  We did Abundance Day on the first day of my husband's hunting trip, he was gone for a week.  I think it was a fun intro into my week of solo parenting. Also, over the years of him going on this trip, I've learned a few things that make this week a lot easier. Four tips to prep for a week of solo parenting Plan what makes my life easier, especially meals.  Keep checking in with their feelings, because they have lots of em Have proactive conversations ahead of time Have fun with them   When I turned 38 last month I quietly told myself that I wanted to actively seek an abundance mindset in my life. I made this a birthday resolution for myself.  I want to focus on abundant parenting and I know that I will also be working on it in these areas too: Areas of my life to practice an abundance mindset: * In my work - taking my time with things I wish happened sooner and putting limits on how much I do, knowing what I do is enough * In my time - taking time to slow down and enjoy my life and my people instead of saying ‘there isn’t enough time’ * In my relationships - focussing on nurturing the close relationships I have instead of feeling like all relationships need to be close - and just showing up in those relationships remembering that my friend’s love is abundant and I don’t have to earn it * In my food - I’m the kitchen warden and I can see a ton of scarcity mindset around food and preparing it and conserving it.    WIN A FREE LIFE COACHING SESSION FOR MOMS TAG ME ON INSTAGRAM to be entered to win a free FULL ONE HOUR coaching session on ANY TOPIC you want support on: parenting, setting goals, identifying your personal values, homeschooling during a pandemic, any of these issues are ones I can help you find more peace, presence and purpose on.    Links mentioned Simplify For Fall (sign up here for the free 5-day challenge that starts October 19th) Join the Simple on Purpose Community Facebook Group (make sure to answer the three entry questions) Sign up for the

Whenever we know where we WANT to go, but getting there, doing the work can meet a lot of hurdles.  One big hurdle is this desire we have to ‘get good’ at the thing.  What do you want to get good at? Meal planning, parenting, waking up early, a hobby, building a business . . .  What will it take for you to get good at it?  It isn’t just about mastering the skill/the thing itself  - it is about the things we can do that help us master the skill itself - the stepping stones that get us there.    Here are three tips I have for you if you want to DO THE WORK of getting good at something: Consider how you are measuring success - are you stuck in all or nothing thinking? How does that keep you from making progress? Ask yourself how you handle failure - could it be true that you cannot fail? I know it sounds naive, but there can be a lot of peace in looking for the truth in this Look at how you are motivating yourself - do you rely on negative motivation to slog your way through it? What would it look like to move into positive motivation? BONUS: Are you WILLING to be bad at something in order to get good at something?   Links Mentioned The Making Change Challenge (sign up for it right here, it will come to your inbox) All podcast episodes from Simple on Purpose Growth mindset podcast episode Tracking your habits blog post One small habit blog post The Life on Purpose Workbook Simple Saturdays emails (sign up here) The Simple on Purpose Community Facebook Group (make sure to answer the entry questions) Simple on Purpose on Instagram The enneagram, what it is and why I love it blog post

Will a clear and simple house bring me peace? There is a lot of evidence out there that decluttered, clutter-free home is a peaceful home. There are a lot of studies about the mental burden of clutter. There’s research to tell us that an ordered home helps us to FEEL calmer.  And I believe this is true.    A clear home CAN bring you peace.  But will it? I coach moms on this. Especially moms who label themselves as perfectionists. They have standards and expectations about how their home should be. They want it clear and tidy because of how they think it will make them feel.  They want this, and in order to get it it can come at a cost, the cost is peace in their home. Over the years of decluttering, organizing, doing chores, teaching my kids to do chores I have learned that it can make my space feel peaceful but it is UP TO ME how I show up every step of the way. I have to bring the peace into it.  Have you ever been to a beautiful place but the atmosphere in it stinks? It isn't as simple as how organized and pretty the home it. It is so much more.  And it takes work to create a beautiful experience in your home. It takes intention, vision, work, and being very mindful.  To me, this is the difference in someone who is a HOMEMAKER - a lost art of our generation. But homemaker isn't a bad word. It it is an empowering word.  If you are ready to reclaim you role as homemaker and move from thinking about things and doing a little here and there to taking ACTION, then join in the Fall Series at the Life on Purpose Academy.  Each monthly topic will help you take action to live your life on purpose all while getting teaching and coaching all along the way.  The fall series topics include: September - Reclaim Your Home October - Mom on Purpose November - Show Up for Love December - Connections + Friendships   LINKS MENTIONED How minimalism changed my motherhood (Episode 51) How minimalism changed my marriage, homemaking and life (Episode 52) Doing chores you want to avoid (Episode 60) Saturday morning chores (Episode 61) The Life on Purpose Workbook (learn more) The Simple Saturdays email (it comes out every two weeks) (Subscribe here) Fall Series in the Life on Purpose Academy (learn more)  

We all have a relationship with food.  It can go from one extreme of food is simply fuel we need to survive, all the way to food is a constant way to experience a pleasure.  In my life, I think I have swung to both sides of this spectrum. I have been paying attention to my relationship with food. What I eat, why I eat, how I feel when I eat and how I feel after. I am learning a lot, and I know I have more to learn.  Paying attention leads us to the subject of MINDFUL EATING. This is something I've been interested in because I don't think it came naturally to me. It is also something I've been wanting to teach my kids more about.  I asked Jessica Penner to come and teach us more about this topic.  Jessica is a Registered Dietitian from Smart Nutrition and the creator of the I Quit Overeating program. We covered so many great issues on mindful eating that mamas can relate to: * Regaining control and being confident in what we are eating * Food freedom in making choices around food. Let me say it again: FOOD FREEDOM! * Overeating - restrictions vs permission * Evening eating (anyone else going for those bedtime snacks?) * Emotional eating  * Comfort eating, is it always bad? * Food as coping with hard days/emotions * The diet mentality, food management for weight loss * Being mindful  * listening to your eating instincts * enjoying food * 'clearing your plate' * the grace we need to listen to ourselves * removing food restrictions * Being scared to be hungry * Food chatter in the brain Get started with Smart Nutrition: THE HEALTHY EATING PUZZLE QUIZ   Other Links Mentioned: Eating gluten-free, dairy-free while nursing a baby with esophagitis  What I learned from the Whole30 The Life on Purpose Academy  -monthly lessons and coaching for moms who want to live with more peace, purpose and presence Simple on Purpose on Instagram  

Motherhood is hard, but sometimes we make it harder than it needs to be by becoming a Mom Martyr.  I would know, I was one.  I was knee-deep in the work and struggles of motherhood and I needed everyone to know it. However, the way I was showing up and handling life and motherhood was actually making my life harder (cue the marriage counselling!) Reflecting back on where I was at, what I see I actually needed was to address my own personal doubts and fears and lack of enjoyment in motherhood.  I am sharing 15 ways that mom martyrdom can show up for you. As you are listening keep in mind that these are extreme examples and I don't think everyone will be doing all these things - though I felt like I sure way. These points may be hard to hear and that is ok, I felt the same way when these things were pointed out to me.  But, I want to encourage you that there are steps you can take if you want to try something new.  Read the related blog post: How to know if you are a Mom Martyr and what you can do about it.  What to do about being a mom martyr? * Ask yourself what you do want in motherhood, what do you want it to look like? * How do you want to show up (live your values) * What do you want to move towards (live your vision) * Focus on relationships that help you thrive in motherhood  * 12 ways to strengthen and heal your marriage * How to be a good Mom Friend * Practice self- awareness to see how you are showing up. I love to use the Enneagram for this * Get proactive - plan your day to make more peace and purpose for yourself.  * Get some support - counselling or life coaching (the Life on Purpose Academy is a great and affordable option for this)   Other links mentioned Sign up for Simple Saturdays The Moms30for30 wardrobe challenge When Did I Stop Enjoying Motherhood Life on Purpose Academy