ABOUT THIS EPISODE
Ever wonder why you feel like you have to hustle for everything, or why one critical comment can undo a whole good day? In this clip, Jessica Hottel gets honest about growing up in survival mode and how those early beliefs followed her into adulthood: the approval-chasing, the trouble resting, and the shutting down when she felt triggered.
If you're a mom trying to figure out how to be happier without adding one more thing to your to-do list, this one's for you. Jessica talks about why the stories we carry about ourselves start so early, and why getting curious about where they began is a powerful piece of personal development. It's not self improvement in the fix-yourself sense. It's about understanding the daily habits and reactions you built to protect yourself, and meeting them with kindness instead of criticism.
That's where self-compassion comes in. When you can see why you hustle, why you go quiet, or why "good enough" feels so out of reach, it gets easier to stop being a perfectionist and start treating yourself the way you'd treat a friend. Self care for mothers isn't only bubble baths and naps (though we're pro-nap). It's also giving yourself permission to understand why you are the way you are. Small shifts like that are what personal growth and development actually looks like, and they're often how to feel happy on an ordinary day, not just in the big moments.
Listen to the full episode here: https://www.aboutprogress.com/blog/5-steps-to-better-process-emotions-and-heal-your-souls-story
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