I’m back with Lesson 5 in my Coming Home to Yourself series, sharing what I’ve found to be the seven essential foundations for building a healthy, lasting, and loving relationship. I also talk about how some of these foundations have helped shape my relationship with my new partner, Dr. Fox (not his real name…more on that later)! As I get ready to celebrate my 50th birthday in April, I’ve been reflecting on the biggest life lessons I’ve learned about love, partnership, and personal growth. 

The health of our relationships has a huge impact on our overall well-being, which is why choosing the right partner, whether you decide to get married or not, is one of the most important decisions you’ll ever make. A thriving relationship isn’t just about chemistry; it takes emotional maturity, communication, self-trust, resilience, and daily effort. In fact, love isn’t just about finding the right person, it’s about being the right person. 

Download this episode’s worksheet at http://andreaowen.com/664

What you’ll hear about in this episode:

• Emotional Maturity and How to Own Your Sh*t: Self-awareness, self-regulation, and recognizing when you're projecting past wounds.
• Radical Honesty and Authentic Communication: Honesty fuels connection, even when it’s hard or messy.
• Self-Trust & Independence: Keep your passions, friendships, and personal growth alive.
• Conflict Resilience: You Two vs. The Problem: Ditch shame, defensiveness, and the need to “win.”
• Letting Go of Control and Holding Boundaries: Trust your partner while standing firm in your needs.
• Deep Respect and Mutual Appreciation: Love is a daily choice, not just a feeling.
• Shared Vision and Growth: Use the “Relationship Check-In” to assess what’s working, what’s not, and what you both need.

Resources from this episode:

🎉 Don’t forget! I’m giving away a copy of one of my books every Wednesday on Instagram! 🎉

How to Stop Feeling Like Shit Group Coaching Program - Coming Soon!

Private Coaching with Me!

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

Lesson 3: The Magic of Surrender

Lesson 4: Life Purpose: Coming Home to Yourself

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/664

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

If you’ve ever wondered what life coaching really looks like, this minisode is a little glimpse into the process. Kathryn, a former client (and mental health therapist), suggested she come on to share her experience, because coaching is different for everyone.

She opens up about navigating what was next for her, breaking free from people-pleasing, and finally giving herself permission to take big, bold steps, including a move to another state and launching a jewelry business. Plus, she shares the simple morning ritual that reignited her spark that she co-created in her work with Andrea. 

Sometimes, all it takes is saying your dreams out loud, like Kathryn did. Because, the universe might just be waiting for you to take that first step.

Resources from this episode:

Coaching with me! 

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/663

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

Welcome to Lesson 4, where we explore the deeper meaning behind Coming Home to Yourself and challenge the idea that purpose, like love, success, and happiness, comes from outside of us. At (almost) 50, I've come to realize that our real purpose isn't about what we do, it's about who we become. 

In this episode, I’ll explore how culture and society shape our need to seek purpose and external validation—and whether that truly serves us. I'll also break down what it means to truly come home to yourself and how to shift from seeking to simply being. Lastly, I’ll share practical ways to start this journey.

Coming home to yourself isn’t a one-time event; it’s a lifelong practice. It’s about unlearning the belief that you must be more to be enough.

Download this episode’s worksheet at http://andreaowen.com/662!

What you’ll hear in this episode:

• The Search for Purpose: How culture conditions us to seek love, worth, and belonging through achievements, people-pleasing, and validation, yet never truly feel fulfilled.
• What It Means to Come Home to Yourself: Shifting from seeking to being, reclaiming yourself over self-abandonment, and realizing you are already whole.
• How to Start Coming Home to Yourself: It starts with unlearning external validation, reclaiming your truth, building self-trust, embracing stillness, rediscovering lost parts of yourself, and choosing wholeness over perfection.

Resources from this episode:

🎉 Also, “Hi!,” I’m giving away a copy of one of my books each week on Instagram! 🎉

Private Coaching with Me!

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

Lesson 3: The Magic of Surrender

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/662

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

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