Surrender isn’t about giving up—it’s about letting go. In Lesson 3, we’re exploring the magic of surrender. What does it mean to surrender and what does it look like in personal growth as well as in relationships?

Surrender is the deep trust in the unfolding of your path.

Surrender in relationships isn’t about rolling over or giving up your needs—it’s about loosening your grip on control, allowing love to evolve naturally, and trusting the process of connection. 

Surrender is not a weakness, passivity, or resignation. 

Learning to surrender is a process and it doesn’t have to be a massive life shift. You can practice in small ways.

These life lessons are often learned the hard way and they become our greatest teachers. My hope is that by sharing my experiences in my special 10-week “Coming Home to Yourself” podcast series, you’ll recognize these universal truths in your own journey and move through them with a little more ease.. 

Download this episode’s worksheet at http://andreaowen.com/661

What you’ll hear in this episode:

• The Role of Surrender in Healing and Personal Growth: How surrender is deeply tied to self-trust (which connects to your work around self-abandonment)
• Surrender in Relationships: what it looks like, for example, letting go of rigid expectations and softening into trust; and why it matters.
• How to Practice Surrender: how to surrender to your emotions instead of suppressing them.

Resources from this episode:

🎉 Don’t forget that I’m giving away a copy of one of my books each week on Instagram! 🎉

Write Your Way Through It

Sign up to make sure you don’t miss any of my birthday episodes!

Lesson 1: Self-abandonment, codependency, and self-trust

Lesson 2 - The Four Holy Emotions: How Grief, Terror, Rage, and Shame Unlock Your Power

Book recommendations:

I love a good personal development book, and you do too, right? I’ve compiled a list of book recommendations, as mentioned in past episodes. Check out these amazing book recommendations here. Happy reading!  

MSN is supported by:

We love the sponsors that make our show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on our website: andreaowen.com/sponsors/

Episode link:

http://andreaowen.com/661

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Before we jump into today’s podcast episode, I want to remind you that Write Your Way Through It is currently open for registration! Join us now and take advantage of the early bird price. We start at the end of this month!

This week's minisode comes from a direct message I received from a podcast listener. She sent me a message saying that she related to something I was going through and admires me for the way I seem to handle it. [Visit AndreaOwen.com/660 to see the direct message]

I'll be honest with you, this one made me very emotional. Partly, because I always love receiving messages like these from listeners, partly because it always feels amazing to be validated for your own growth, and partly because I knew I wanted to come on the podcast and be honest with you about what that particular journey has really looked like. Do I always move through challenges like these with steadiness?

Not at all.

Tune into the podcast where I open up about this, talking specifically about values work, self trust, and the support we seek and hopefully find in our friendships.

Resources from this episode: 

Write Your Way Through It

Sign up to make sure you don’t miss any of my birthday episodes!

Episode 658: Lesson 1 on self-abandonment, codependency, and self-trust

Book recommendations:

I love a good personal development book, and you do too, right? I’ve compiled a list of book recommendations, as mentioned in past episodes. Check out these amazing book recommendations here. Happy reading!  

MSN is supported by:

We love the sponsors that make our show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on our website: andreaowen.com/sponsors/

Episode link:

http://andreaowen.com/660

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“Emotional fluency is your path to power.” Welcome to Lesson 2, where I explore what I call the four holy emotions—grief, terror, rage, and shame—and how they can unlock your power. But like any personal growth journey, we need to lay the groundwork first. I’ll share why we resist these emotions, explore how to stop resisting them, and finally, see them as sacred messengers rather than obstacles.

If you’re new to my special 10-week “Coming Home to Yourself” podcast series leading up to my 50th birthday, welcome! Every Wednesday, I’m sharing a life lesson that has shaped my personal growth over the last 50 years. I put a lot of thought into what has truly propelled me forward. And because birthdays (and personal growth) deserve to be celebrated, don’t forget that I’m giving away a copy of one of my books each week on Instagram! 🎉

Each of the emotions I discuss in this episode has an unmet need, a truth, or a deep intelligence beneath it. When we meet them with curiosity instead of avoidance, they become portals to freedom, clarity, and self-trust.

One more thing - grab this episode’s worksheet below! ⬇

What you’ll hear in this episode: 

• Grief, Terror, Rage, and Shame: How each one, when met with curiosity instead of fear, leads us closer to personal power.
• How We Typically Resist the Four Holy Emotions: The coping strategies we develop: numbing, perfectionism, people-pleasing, workaholism, addiction, dissociation
• How to Work WITH These Emotions Instead of Against Them: Leaving you with the question, ”What if we started honoring these emotions instead of fearing them?"

Resources from this episode:

Write Your Way Through It

Sign up to make sure you don’t miss any of my birthday episodes!

Find me on Instagram @heyandreaowen

Lesson 1: Self-abandonment, codependency, and self-trust

How to Stop Feeling Like Shit

Book recommendations:

I love a good personal development book, and you do too, right? I’ve compiled a list of book recommendations, as mentioned in past episodes. Check out these amazing book recommendations here. Happy reading!  

MSN is supported by:

We love the sponsors that make our show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on our website: andreaowen.com/sponsors/

Episode link:

http://andreaowen.com/569

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I am kicking off a special 10-week podcast series leading up to my 50th birthday! Every Wednesday, I’m diving into a different life lesson which includes reflections on personal growth, resilience, and what it truly means to come home to yourself. Because birthdays (and personal growth) should be celebrated, I am also giving away a copy of one of my books each week on Instagram! 🎉

This first episode is all about self-abandonment, codependency, and self-trust—big topics that have shaped my own journey. I’m breaking down what self-abandonment actually looks like, why so many of us fall into that pattern, and most importantly, how to shift towards self-trust. If this resonates with you, stick around for the whole series—there’s so much more to come.

What you’ll hear in this episode: 

• The Dance of Self-Abandonment: How it shows up in your life and relationships, the weight of shame and the inner critic, and how all the “shoulds” silence your truth in favor of the “safer, more reasonable” path.
• Meeting Your Inner Compass: Tuning into your body’s wisdom, laying the foundation for self-trust, and granting yourself the freedom to be messy and imperfect as you find your way back to yourself.
• The Courage to Stay: Choosing yourself changes everything—navigating the discomfort, embracing small acts of self-trust, and witnessing the powerful and often uncomfortable ripple effects in your relationships.

As we move through this series together, my hope is that these episodes help you reflect on your own journey and what it means to come home to yourself. Building self-trust isn’t about getting it perfect—it’s about being your own safety net, moment by moment, with curiosity and compassion.

Resources from this episode:

Write Your Way Through It

Sign up to make sure you don’t miss any of my birthday episodes!

Find me on Instagram @heyandreaowen

Minisode 657: Where do we go from here?

Minisode 637: The anatomy of self-trust

Episode 623: Gene Keys, Personal Discovery, and Purpose with Tracie Cornell

Book recommendations:

I love a good personal development book, and you do too, right? I’ve compiled a list of book recommendations, as mentioned in past episodes. Check out these amazing book recommendations here. Happy reading!  

MSN is supported by:

We love the sponsors that make our show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on our website: andreaowen.com/sponsors/

Episode link:

http://andreaowen.com/658

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you’re living in the United States (and even if you don’t), the last few weeks have been a doozy. Between the fires in Los Angeles, and the changes that are happening that our government has been pushing forward, current events have been enough to not only make our heads spin, but cause peak levels of anxiety. 

And boy do I feel you. 

I recorded a short minisode sharing with you two things I’ve found online that have been enormously helpful. There’s no shortage of information out there about what’s happening (whether that information is reliable or not), and I wanted to bring you something about where we go from here. 

Last, starting on Wednesday, you’ll see something new land in your inbox and in the podcast feed: Ten weekly life lessons I’ll be creating episodes about, as I approach my 50th birthday in April! I’ll be giving a book away every week, so stay tuned for details on how to win 🎉

Resources from this episode: 

Write Your Way Through It

Email from Bernie Sanders

Facebook post on the tactic of overwhelm

Sign up to make sure you don’t miss any of my birthday episodes!

Book recommendations:

I love a good personal development book, and you do too, right? I’ve compiled a list of book recommendations, as mentioned in past episodes. Check out these amazing book recommendations here. Happy reading!  

MSN is supported by:

We love the sponsors that make our show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on our website: andreaowen.com/sponsors/

Episode link:

http://andreaowen.com/657

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“You just need to ask for help!” Sure, sounds easy—until you actually try to do it. This week, we’re tackling the real reasons setting boundaries is hard and why the mental load still falls disproportionately on women. My guest, Dr. Kat Kaeni, is a perinatal mental health-certified psychologist and host of the podcast Mom & Mind. She’s here to break down how our conditioning keeps us stuck in burnout mode and what we can do to shift out of it.

We talk about the mental weight of keeping everything running and why self-compassion and boundaries aren’t just fluffy concepts—they’re essential for protecting your peace and wellbeing. 

What you’ll hear:

• The truth about boundaries and why they’re so hard to keep (5:55)
• How shame and self-compassion affect mental health (20:38)
• Strategies to help you improve your overall mental well-being, today (30:25)
• Why the mental load tends to fall on women and what to do about it (33:08)

Resources:

Sign up for my email list

Dr. Kat Kaeni’s website

Book recommendations:

I love a good personal development book, and you do too, right? I’ve compiled a list of book recommendations, as mentioned in past episodes. Check out these amazing book recommendations here. Happy reading!  

MSN is supported by:

We love the sponsors that make our show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on our website: andreaowen.com/sponsors/

Episode link:

http://andreaowen.com/656

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“A lot of days it feels like standing in a pile of rubble and trying to figure it all out.” In this coaching session, I sit down with Lisa, a listener who’s grappling with self-abandonment and the exhaustion that comes from always putting others first. In fact, during this session you’ll hear me talk about how Lisa has “mastered the art of walking away from herself to shield from walking away from others”. Together, we unpack her struggles and explore how small, intentional steps can help her rebuild a stronger connection to herself.

If you’ve ever felt stuck, resentful, or unsure how to set boundaries, this conversation will resonate. I’m sharing practical tools and insight to help you shift your mindset, examine your relationship with resentment and anger; and take meaningful steps toward the life you deserve.

What You’ll Hear

• The emotional weight of prioritizing everyone else and losing yourself in the process
• Why anger often masks deeper feelings like resentment and hurt—and how to unpack them
• Doing the personal development work and the power of small steps in rewiring your brain 
• Journaling as a tool for clarity and connecting with your emotions

Resources:

Private Coaching

Sign up for my email list

My book, Make Some Noise

Book recommendations:

I love a good personal development book, and you do too, right? I’ve compiled a list of book recommendations, as mentioned in past episodes. Check out these amazing book recommendations here. Happy reading!  

MSN is supported by:

We love the sponsors that make our show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on our website: andreaowen.com/sponsors/

Episode link:

http://andreaowen.com/655

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I’m thrilled to welcome Asha Frost, an indigenous medicine woman, bestselling author of You Are the Medicine, and creator of the newly released Animal Elders Oracle Deck. Asha and I dive into the transformative power of reconnecting with our roots, embracing the wisdom of the seasons, and learning to trust the medicine within ourselves.

We talk about the beauty of slowing down, connecting with nature, and the magic of awe and wonder. As you listen, I hope you’ll be inspired to embrace your own cycles of growth and healing with compassion and curiosity

What you’ll hear:

• How vulnerability can become a powerful tool for healing and supporting others (3:55)
• Reclaiming your inner medicine (“medicine sparks”) and reconnecting with Self (5:26)
• Rediscovering and honoring your ancestral roots and healing generational trauma (12:04)
• Ways to align your evolution with the natural rhythms and cycles of the earth (30:21)

Resources:

Join me for free group coaching calls in January!

Sign up for my email list

Asha’s website

Asha’s Animal Elders Oracle Deck

Asha on Instagram @asha.frost

Book recommendations:

I love a good personal development book, and you do too, right? I’ve compiled a list of book recommendations, as mentioned in past episodes. Check out these amazing book recommendations here. Happy reading!  

MSN is supported by:

We love the sponsors that make our show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on our website: andreaowen.com/sponsors/

Episode link:

http://andreaowen.com/654

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As the new year kicks off, it can be helpful to spend some time reflecting, intention-setting, and embracing fresh opportunities for growth. In this minisode, we explore why celebrating small wins matters more than ever and how they can create a ripple effect of positivity and progress, even in challenging times.

What you’ll hear in this episode:

• The Psychology of Small Wins: Learn how celebrating even the tiniest accomplishments activates your brain's reward system and fosters motivation.
• Momentum Over Perfection: Small victories build momentum and help combat the all-or-nothing mindset that often hinders your progress.
• Practical Ways to Celebrate: From journaling to a little dance, discover how to make celebrating small wins a meaningful (and fun!) habit.
• The Ripple Effect: Understand how small wins accumulate to create lasting change and success in the bigger picture.
• What it looks like: Explore examples of what small wins in personal growth can look like. 

As we navigate the early days of this year, let’s commit to honoring our progress—step by step, win by win. Whether it’s finishing a challenging task, finding time to rest, or showing kindness in a tough moment, every victory is worth celebrating. Thank you for tuning in, and may this episode inspire you to embrace the joy in your journey.

P.S. Our hearts go out to everyone in Los Angeles affected by the recent fires. These moments of hardship remind us of the importance of resilience, hope, and finding light in even the smallest victories.

Resources from this episode:

Sign up for our free group coaching calls coming up in January

Sign up for my email list

Book recommendations:

I love a good personal development book, and you do too, right? I’ve compiled a list of book recommendations, as mentioned in past episodes. Check out these amazing book recommendations here. Happy reading!  

MSN is supported by:

We love the sponsors that make our show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on our website: andreaowen.com/sponsors/

Episode link:

http://andreaowen.com/653

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I’m thrilled to welcome back Jessica Graham, an incredible author, trauma expert, and meditation teacher, to talk about their brand-new book, Being (Sick) Enough: Thoughts on Invisible Illness, Childhood Trauma, and Living Well When Surviving is Hard. If you’ve ever felt the weight of trauma, chronic illness, or just navigating life in a challenging world, Jessica’s wisdom will resonate deeply.

In this conversation, we explore the complexities of healing, mindfulness, and finding balance in a world that often feels overwhelming. After listening, my hope is that you’ll walk away with not only a better understanding of the connection between trauma and physical health but also actionable insights for living well—even when surviving feels hard.

What you’ll hear:

• What sparked Jessica’s new book and how it supports those navigating trauma and chronic illness (17:52)
• Why we often need science to trust ourselves and what that reveals about healing (21:29)
• The science of “limbic resonance” and how rewiring our attachment systems can transform relationships and choices (26:48)
• How mindfulness isn’t a one-size-fits-all practice (31:59)
• Jessica’s journey of coming out as nonbinary and finding healing through alignment (37:27)
• Strategies for living well in a world full of political, environmental, and societal challenges (48:55)
• Plus, a coaching episode update on Christina about getting out of her comfort zone! (58:11)

Resources:

Join me for free group coaching calls on January 21st and January 23rd!

Private Coaching with Andrea

Jessica’s website

Episode 643: Sexuality and Spiritual Awakening Jessica Graham

Episode 623: Gene Keys, Personal Discovery, and Purpose with Tracie Cornell

Andrea’s psychedelic therapy private podcast feed

Episode 648: Coaching session w/ Christina on getting out of her comfort zone

Book recommendations:

I love a good personal development book, and you do too, right? I’ve compiled a list of book recommendations, as mentioned in past episodes. Check out these amazing book recommendations here. Happy reading!  

MSN is supported by:

We love the sponsors that make our show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on our website: andreaowen.com/sponsors/

Episode link:

http://andreaowen.com/652

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Heather Chauvin is back, and we’re exploring what it really means to step into your power—especially when life feels overwhelming. As a leadership coach, Heather helps ‘successful’ women live, work, and parent with courage and authenticity, on their own terms. Through her podcast, Emotionally Uncomfortable, and her work, she offers practical tools and fresh perspectives on what it takes to not just survive, but truly thrive.

We talk about what happens when you stop running from life’s storms and start facing them instead. Heather shares how tuning into your body’s signals can transform your relationship with fear, anxiety, and overwhelm—and help you create a life that feels grounded, even when the world around you feels chaotic.

What you’ll hear:

• Why running toward challenges (like a buffalo) can help you move through them faster (9:44)
• How to recognize the difference between inner wisdom and external noise (15:16)
• Simple prompts to guide self-trust and decision-making (17:01)
• What your body might be trying to tell you through stress, fatigue, or other symptoms (38:14)
• Everyday practices to embody the kind of person your younger self needed (46:39)

Resources:

Heather’s website

647 Minisode: Simple New Year ritual

649: Coaching session w/ Jenna on being on the “right path”

Sign up for my email list

Book recommendations:

I love a good personal development book, and you do too, right? I’ve compiled a list of book recommendations, as mentioned in past episodes. Check out these amazing book recommendations here. Happy reading!  

MSN is supported by:

We love the sponsors that make our show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on our website: andreaowen.com/sponsors/

Episode link:

http://andreaowen.com/651

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices