What if the reason it feels so hard to stop people-pleasing isn’t about willpower, but about the role you learned to play a long time ago? In this episode, I walk through the “good girl” pattern so many of us developed in our families and why it can feel almost impossible to change, even when it’s exhausting you. 

We talk about the deeper emotional responsibility behind keeping the peace, how these patterns were formed as a way to feel safe, and what it looks like to begin stepping out of them with compassion, clarity, and a new way forward. 

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN 

[00:00] Ep 359 Recap: The Real Reason Why Many of Us Are Exhausted 

[02:00] The “Good Girl” Role You Learned in Your Family 

[05:00] Why Pushing Down Emotions Isn’t Harmless 

[07:00] What’s Really Driving Your Need to Keep the Peace 

[10:00] How People-Pleasing Shows Up in Family Dynamics 

[13:00] Why Being “Nice” Can Actually Keep You Stuck 

[16:00] What’s Happening Inside the Part of You That Feels Overwhelmed 

[18:00] Why Change Feels So Hard (Even When You Want It) 

[21:00] The First Step Toward Breaking the Pattern with Compassion 

RESOURCES: 

Tired of the exhaustion of making everyone happy and keeping the peace at all costs?  

Grab Alicia’s People Pleasing Check-In Workbook: A three-part guided exercise to uncover what’s driving your people pleasing and begin moving toward healthier relationships, clearer thinking and greater emotional peace. 

RELATED EPISODES: 

Ep 223: People Pleasers, You Don't Need to Apologize for Your Decisions

Ep 358 — People Pleasing: Is This the Real Reason You’re Exhausted + Overwhelmed? 

Ep 359 — When Emotions Feel Scary: Practical Tools to Courageously Process What’s Inside 

Send us Fan Mail

What if the tiredness you feel isn’t about your to-do list but the exhaustion of making everyone happy and “keeping the peace” in the middle of family dysfunction?  

Yes, people pleasing—and carrying the emotional weight that was never ours to hold-- is the real culprit behind our mental overwhelm and overthinking.  

This is the first of 3 episodes on breaking free from people pleasing. Let’s talk about how to reduce your emotional exhaustion from people pleasing and show up with more peace, clarity, and emotional freedom, even when others don’t change. 

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN 

[00:00] When You Feel Drained (and Slowing Down Doesn’t Fix It) 

[03:00] Do These Classic People Pleasing Patterns Sound Familiar? 

[06:00] What Are Some Core Emotions Behind People-Pleasing? 

[15:00] Why Boundaries Feel So Uncomfortable (Even When We Know We Need Them) 

[18:00] How People-Pleasing Gets Tied to Your Identity 

[21:00] The Guilt That Keeps the Cycle Going 

[24:00] What It Looks Like to Start Letting Go of What Isn’t Yours 

RESOURCES: 

Tired of the exhaustion of making everyone happy and keeping the peace at all costs?  

Grab Alicia’s People Pleasing Check-In Workbook: A three-part guided exercise to uncover what’s driving your people pleasing and begin moving toward healthier relationships, clearer thinking and greater emotional peace. 

RELATED EPISODES: 

Ep 223: People Pleasers, You Don't Need to Apologize for Your Decisions 

Ep 326: A People Pleaser's Guide to Setting Boundaries (When You're Afraid to Offend Others) 

Ep 350 — Why Is It So Hard to Surrender and “Let Them”? 

Send us Fan Mail

What if courage isn’t about pushing past your emotions, but learning how to bring them honestly before God? In this episode, I share a recent conference message on why emotional awareness is not a weakness, but spiritual maturity, and how learning to process what’s happening inside can help you find greater peace, healing, and courage. 

We talk about the messages many of us have believed about emotions, why avoiding feelings often makes them louder, and practical tools to help you courageously work through what’s inside with God. 

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN 

[00:00] Why Avoiding Emotions Doesn’t Create Peace 

[05:00] What If Emotional Awareness Is Actually Spiritual Maturity? 

[10:00] Why Unprocessed Emotions Often Become More Reactive 

[16:00] What Do You Tend to Do When You Feel Emotionally Triggered? 

[18:00] How the A.D.D. Method Helps You Process Emotions With God 

[22:00] How Do You Discern What’s True When Emotions Feel Loud? 

[25:00] Why Courage Means Bringing Emotions Into the Light 

[31:00] What If Emotional Confidence Starts With Noticing What You Feel? 

RESOURCES: 

If this episode resonated with you, a great next step is my book Emotional Confidence: 3 Simple Steps to Manage Emotions with Science and Scripture, where I teach the A.D.D. method and practical tools for working through emotions with God. 

For speaking inquiries: [email protected] 

RELATED EPISODES: 

Ep 341: Step #1 to Calming Emotional Spirals: Notice + Name Your Feelings

Ep 343: Is Your Emotional Health Blocking Your Breakthrough? 

Ep 357: Is It OK to Use AI to Manage Your Emotions? 

Send us Fan Mail

Have you ever shared something with AI that you didn’t want to say out loud to someone else, or found yourself feeling comforted by the response? Let’s talk about AI and emotional health, and whether it’s actually helping or quietly replacing something more important. 

In this episode, I’m walking through the benefits, the risks, and how to use AI in a way that supports your emotional growth without replacing your relationship with God or a real connection with others. 

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN 

[00:00] Is It OK to Use AI to Manage Your Emotions? 

[03:00] Why So Many People Are Turning to AI for Emotional Support 

[07:00] What Are the Hidden Risks of Using AI This Way? 

[10:00] Why AI Can Reinforce Your Perspective Instead of Challenging It 

[12:00] What Role Does Accountability Play in Emotional Growth? 

[13:00] Why AI Can’t Replace Real Human Connection 

[15:00] How Can You Use AI in a Healthy, Balanced Way? 

[17:00] What Does It Look Like to Keep God at the Center of This Process? 

RESOURCES: 

If you’ve been using AI to process your emotions, take a moment to reflect on how you’re using it. Is it supporting your growth, or is it becoming a substitute for something deeper? 

Start by bringing your emotions to God first, and then use tools wisely as support—not replacement. 

If you want to learn a practical way to process your emotions with God, check out the A.D.D. method in Emotional Confidence: 3 Simple Steps to Manage Emotions with Science and Scripture. 

RELATED EPISODES: 

Ep 341 — Step #1 to Calming Emotional Spirals: Notice + Name Your Feelings
Ep 342 — Help for Emotional Overreaction in Relationships
Ep 350 — Why Is It So Hard to Surrender and “Let Them”? 

Send us Fan Mail

What if the emotional overwhelm you’re feeling right now isn’t a personal failure, but something happening inside your body?  

Let’s talk about perimenopause, hormones, and why your emotions may feel harder to manage than they used to. 

In this episode, I’m breaking down the brain science behind these changes and sharing how Scripture and practical tools can help you navigate this season with more calm, clarity, and compassion for yourself 

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN 

[00:00] Why Do Emotions Feel Harder to Manage in Perimenopause? 

[03:00] What’s Actually Happening in Your Brain + Body During Perimenopause? 

[06:00] How Estrogen Affects Mood, Anxiety, and Brain Fog 

[08:00] Why Your Stress Response Feels More Intense in Perimenopause 

[11:00] Is This Emotional Regression—or Something Else? 

[14:00] How Identity, Confidence, and Boundaries Shift in Midlife 

[17:00] Why This Season Is About Capacity, Not Character 

[22:00] What Practical Tools Help You Regulate Emotions Right Now 

FREE 7-Day Course: Notice + Name Your Feelings 
A free 7-day video training for Christian women who want more calm, clarity + confidence. 

Short daily videos, simple practices, and a guided playbook to help you understand what’s happening inside and respond with clarity instead of reactivity. 

Start the free course here: AliciaMichelle.com/feelings 

RESOURCES MENTIONED: 

• The New Menopause by Dr. Mary Claire Haver 
• Everything I Wish I Could Tell You About Midlife by Dr. McKayla Albertson 
• Emotional Confidence: 3 Simple Steps to Manage Emotions with Science and Scripture by Alicia Michelle 

RELATED EPISODES: 

Ep 281 — Everything I Wish I Could Tell You About Midlife with Dr. McKayla Albertson 

Ep 341 — Step #1 to Calming Emotional Spirals: Notice + Name Your Feelings 

Ep 343 — Is Your Emotional Health Blocking Your Breakthrough? 

Send us Fan Mail

What if you could discover true rest and soul replenishment—in Scotland? Let’s talk about the upcoming Christian women’s retreat I’m hosting in Scotland in June 2027!  

This is my third “Rest + Restore” Retreat, and I love how these 10 days of intentional rest, meaningful connection (and yes, fun and amazing travel adventures!) transform women’s emotional health and faith in lasting ways.  

Today I’m sharing all the details about this incredible Scotland trip and how you can join us! 

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN 

[00:00] Are You Carrying Too Much and Desperate for Real Rest? 
[02:00] Why These Rest+ Restore Retreats Are So Different (and So Transformational) 
[05:00] Ever Felt Like You Need a Vacation from Your Vacation? 
[07:00] How Deep Connection and Friendship Naturally Form on These Women’s Retreats 
[10:00] Can You Bring Your Husband on This Women’s Retreat? 
[13:00] What Will the 2027 Scotland Retreat Actually Be Like? 
[19:00] Where Will We Go + What Will We Experience in Scotland? 
[24:00] How This Women’s Retreat Changes How You Experience Your Life 

JOIN ME IN SCOTLAND FOR A REST + RESTORE RETREAT 

The 2027 Scotland retreat isn’t just about traveling somewhere beautiful; it’s about creating space for deep rest, meaningful connection, and a renewed sense of clarity for your life. 

We have a small group (just 14 spots), and we’re already half full, so if this is something you’ve been longing for, I encourage you to take the next step and learn more. 

Learn more about the retreat details, what’s included, and how to save your spot here:
👉 AliciaMichelle.com/Scotland 

RELATED EPISODES: 

Ep 336: Stories from the Italy Retreat: Blessings + Surprises from Our Time in Tuscany 

Ep 335: Need Deep Soul Rest? Join Me In 2026/2027 for Women's Retreats that Restore Your Spirit 

Ep 348 — How Can We Find Rest That Actually Restores Body, Mind and Soul? 

Send us Fan Mail

I’m excited to share a simple way to connect with Jesus this Easter—through Christian meditation (we’ll even walk through a guided meditation together in this episode)!  

Let’s also explore how Christian meditation helps us slow down, calms our minds and bodies, and allows us to engage Scripture in a deeper, more personal way.  

Discover how this biblical practice supports emotional regulation, strengthens your relationship with God, and prepares your heart for Easter with greater peace, reflection, and spiritual depth. 

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN 

[00:00] Does Easter Feels Spiritually Dry Instead of Meaningful? 

[02:00] What Is Christian Meditation—and How Is It Different? 

[05:00] How Christian Meditation Calms The Nervous System and Mind 

[06:00] Is Christian Meditation Biblical? What Does Scripture Say? 

[09:00] How Is Christian Meditation Different From Eastern Meditation? 

[11:00] How Does Christian Meditation Help Us Hear From God More Clearly? 

[13:00] Why Slowing Down Changes Our Experience of Easter 

[16:00] FREE EASTER MEDITATION: The Love of Christ at the Cross  

Get the Christian Meditations for Daily Calm (30 guided meditations) for a simple, powerful way to connect with Jesus during the Easter season or anytime! Get access at AliciaMichelle.com/meditations 

RELATED EPISODES: 

Ep 220: The Science of Christian Meditation: How Christian Meditation Renews the Mind, Heals the Body and Supercharges Spiritual Growth 

Ep 221: Super Busy? 15 Ways Christian Meditation Can Fit Into Your Daily Schedule 

Ep 222: How to Manage Emotional Overwhelm with Christian Meditation 

Send us Fan Mail

Struggling with mom anger and feeling ashamed of how you react to your kids? You’re not alone. Every mom I’ve ever met (including me!) has struggled with mom anger to some degree in various seasons of their motherhood. How can we manage these overwhelming feelings in a way that offers both understanding for the emotions and practical solutions to stop the tension? 

In this honest conversation, anger management coach Elizabeth Andreyevskiy shares her personal story of explosive mom rage, the shame that followed, and how God led her toward healing.  

Learn what’s really underneath reactive anger, how overwhelming sensory stimulation (hello early parenting years!) fuel anger, and practical steps to respond with more calm, patience, and hope in Christian motherhood.  

This is definitely an episode to share with another mom friend who struggles here! 

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN 

[00:00] The Quiet Shame Behind Mom Anger in Christian Motherhood 

[05:00] Elizabeth’s Story: Her Breaking Point With Rage and Mom Anger 

[10:00] Is Anger a Spiritual Problem, or Is There More Going On? 

[14:00] What Emotions Are Really Underneath Mom Anger? 

[18:00] When Overstimulation and Nervous System Stress Fuel Manage Angry Emotions 

[23:00] How Mindset Shapes the Way You Show Up With Your Kids 

[27:00] What Practical Habits Actually Reduce Anger and Reactivity? 

[31:00] Why There Is Hope for Mom Anger (You Can Find Freedom!) 

Connect with Elizabeth Andreyevskiy via her website at emotionallyhealthylegacy.com, or check out her podcast Emotionally Healthy Legacy wherever podcasts are streamed. 

RELATED EPISODES: 

Ep 341 — Step #1 to Calming Emotional Spirals: Notice + Name Your Feelings 

Ep 342 — Help for Emotional Overreaction in Relationships 

Ep 347 — When What You're Doing to Rest Isn’t Working: Living with Hidden Burnout + Exhaustion 

Send us Fan Mail

Caring for an aging parent: so many of my friends are in this stage right now! If you’re also in this season, you understand how emotionally overwhelming it can be to care for an elderly parent. What do we do with the guilt, the grief and the new boundaries we must set as we try to offer support on so many levels, often while also pursuing career and personal goals (and for many of us, still raising kids)? 

In this episode, I sit down with hospice nurse and author Linda Larson to talk honestly about the emotional tension and the faith-stretching that comes with caring for aging parents. Linda offers not only biblical encouragement but also extremely practical advice for walking through this season well.  

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN 

[00:00] Why Midlife Caregiving Feels So Emotionally Complicated 

[05:00] What Emotions Are Normal When Caring for Aging Parents? 

[09:00] Why Role Reversal Creates Grief for Both of You 

[16:00] What If Your Relationship With Your Parent Wasn’t Healthy? 

[21:00] How Do You Help Without Trying to “Fix” Aging? 

[26:00] Why You Can’t Do Caregiving Alone 

[32:00] What If You Feel Resentful, Exhausted, or Spiritually Ashamed? 

[37:00] Where Can You Find Faith-Based and Practical Support? 

Connect with Linda Larson via email at [email protected], or check out her book Walk Me Home: A Companion for the Caregiving Journey on Amazon.  

JOIN ME IN MARCH/APRIL FOR A 6-WEEK STUDY ON STRESS LESS: 

If you’re exhausted from carrying situations that won’t change and feel stuck in stress loops you can’t seem to escape, join us for our next 6-week journey inside the Emotional Confidence Club: “Stress Less: A 6-Week Journey to Release Control + Make Peace with What Isn’t Changing.” 

Let’s learn how to process the emotions underneath control, release what isn’t yours to carry, and experience peace, even when circumstances stay the same. 

Go to AliciaMichelle.com/club to join the March/April study. 

RELATED EPISODES: 

Ep 350 — Why Is It So Hard to Surrender and “Let Them”? 

Ep 349 — How Can We Stress Less + Find Peace When Nothing Is Changing? 

Ep 342 — Help for Emotional Overreaction in Relationships 

Send us Fan Mail

Anxiety: when does everyday worry cross into something that needs more attention? In this episode, I talk with Becky Keife about her personal journey with anxiety, what helped her recognize when she needed support, and how God met her in the middle of it. 

You’ll learn how to tell the difference between situational worry and ongoing anxiety, why high-achieving women often struggle silently, and how simple daily practices can help turn anxiety into an invitation to connect more deeply with Jesus. 

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN 

[00:00] Why Anxiety Feels So Common Right Now 

[04:00] How Becky’s Anxiety Showed Up in Her Body 

[07:00] Why High-Achieving Women Often Hide Anxiety 

[12:00] How Do You Know When Anxiety Needs More Attention? 

[17:00] Why Shame Keeps Us From Getting Help 

[18:00] Why a Daily Devotional Format Helps in Anxious Seasons 

[20:00] What “Peace Practices” Actually Look Like in Real Life 

[24:00] How Anxiety Can Become a Bridge to Jesus 

Connect with Becky Keife on Instagram (@beckykeife), or check out her book A Verse a Day for the Anxious Soul on Amazon or wherever books are sold. 

JOIN ME IN MARCH/APRIL FOR A 6-WEEK STUDY ON STRESS LESS: 

If you’re exhausted from carrying situations that won’t change and feel stuck in stress loops you can’t seem to escape, join us for our next 6-week journey inside the Emotional Confidence Club: “Stress Less: A 6-Week Journey to Release Control + Make Peace with What Isn’t Changing.” 

Let’s learn how to process the emotions underneath control, release what isn’t yours to carry, and experience peace, even when circumstances stay the same. 

Go to AliciaMichelle.com/club to join the March/April study. 

RELATED EPISODES: 

Ep 349 — How Can We Stress Less + Find Peace When Nothing Is Changing? 

Ep 341 — Step #1 to Calming Emotional Spirals: Notice + Name Your Feelings 

Ep 330 — How to Manage Big Out-of-Control Emotions 

Send us Fan Mail

Maybe it’s time to surrender a tough situation, or to “let” people be who they’re going to be. But how in the world does that happen? Let’s talk about why letting go feels so much harder than it sounds, what’s really underneath our resistance, and how to move toward peace without suppressing your emotions or pretending it doesn’t hurt. 

Learn why surrender often brings up grief, fear, and identity questions, how stress loops form when situations don’t change, and what it looks like to process emotions with God so peace becomes possible, even when circumstances remain the same. 

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN 

[00:00] Why Surrender and “Let Them” Feels So Hard 

[06:00] Our Hidden Fears Around Surrender and Letting Go 

[09:00] Here’s What’s Really Behind Our Need to Control… 

[12:00] When Letting Go Feels Like Losing Your Identity 

[14:00] Ever Confuse “Being Loving” With Taking Control? 

[16:00] How Stress Loops Form When Nothing Is Changing 

[19:00] What Real Peace Requires 

[21:00] How Emotional Tools Help You Stop Replaying Stressful Situations 

JOIN ME IN MARCH/APRIL FOR A 6-WEEK STUDY ON STRESS + LETTING GO OF CONTROL: 

If you’re exhausted from carrying situations that won’t change and feel stuck in stress loops you can’t seem to escape, join us for our next 6-week journey inside the Emotional Confidence Club: “Stress Less: A 6-Week Journey to Release Control + Make Peace with What Isn’t Changing.” 

Let’s learn how to process the emotions underneath control, release what isn’t yours to carry, and experience peace, even when circumstances stay the same. 

Go to AliciaMichelle.com/club to join the March/April study. 

RELATED EPISODES: 

Ep 349 — How Can We Stress Less + Find Peace When Nothing Is Changing? 

Ep 342 — Help for Emotional Overreaction in Relationships 

Ep 341 — Step #1 to Calming Emotional Spirals: Notice + Name Your Feelings 

Send us Fan Mail