S1E10: Taming the Urge: ‘The Willpower Instinct’ Compassion& the Power of Pause

Struggling with self-control? Feel like your willpowerdisappears the moment life gets chaotic? You’re not alone — and today’s episode offers a powerful reframe that blends science, mindfulness, and soul.

In this episode of Read, Reflect, Rise, host WilsStruthers-Cooper brings you into the compassionate world of health psychologist Kelly McGonigal and her groundbreaking book The Willpower Instinct. Together, we’ll explore why willpower isn’t about being tougher — it’s about being kinder.

🌿 Listen to an eye-openingpassage from McGonigal’s work
🌿 Follow a short mindfulness practice to help you meet urges with curiosity
🌿 Receive a powerful affirmation to ground your willpower choices in compassion

Whether it’s resisting the midnight doom scroll, avoidingthe snack, or choosing stillness over stress, this episode will help you press pause and reclaim your power.

Want more?
Sign up at readreflectrise.comto get your episode affirmations, episode-inspired practices, and exclusive access to the companion book list.

✨ There is magic, medicine, and power in the words we weave and wield.

If you loved this episode:
✅ Follow or subscribe so you never miss a reflection
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✅Share this episode with a friend who needs a gentle willpower reframe

#KellyMcGonigal #WillpowerInstinct #MindfulChoices#SelfCompassion #ReadReflectRise #WilsStruthersCooper #Podcast #Affirmation#MeditationPodcast #SpiritualGrowth #Mindfulness #Willpower #Craving

Burnout and the Balm of Self-Compassion: MindfulSelf-Compassion for Burnout by Kristin Neff and Christopher Germer
Episode 9 | Read, Reflect, Rise with Wils Struthers-Cooper

If you've ever felt emotionally exhausted, chronically stretched, tapped out, touched out, or like you're running on empty, or beyond empty—you are not alone. In this powerful episode of Read, Reflect, Rise, Wils Struthers-Cooper gently guides you through the healing insights of Kristin Neff & Christopher Germer, pioneering researchers and authors ofMindful Self-Compassion for Burnout.

🧠 Learn why burnout isn’t just about doing too much—but about life imbalance without compassion
💓 Discover how self-compassion is not selfish, but an essential practice that protects your mental and emotional wellbeing.
🌿 Receive a soothing affirmation, hear the Affectionate Breathing practice from the book as your weekly practice AND and join Wils in a bonus calming exercise to restore your nervous system and reconnect with your inner voice. Double Chill bonus right here, folks!

Whether you’re navigating parenting, leadership, caregiving, or simply trying to stay afloat, this episode is a permission slip to pause, breathe, and meet yourself with grace.

This week it’s a wee sanctuary of words, wisdom, and wellbeing.

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#burnout #self-compassion #KristinNeff, #mindfulselfcompassion #mentalhealth#emotionalwellbeing #selfcare #selfhelp #motherhoodburnout #meditation #parenting#readreflectrise

S1E8 Turning Fear into Fuel for Transformation with 'Beyond Anxiety' by Martha Beck

What if your anxiety wasn’t something to fix… but somethingto listen to?

In this powerful episode of Read, Reflect, Rise with WilsStruthers-Cooper, we explore a life-changing excerpt from Martha Beck’s newest book, Beyond Anxiety.

Known for her grounded wisdom and deep truth-telling, Martha invites us to see anxiety not as a flaw, but as a sacredsignal — a guide to transformation.

You’ll hear:✨ A soulful reading from Beyond Anxiety
✨ A guided reflection on how anxiety can become your creative catalyst
✨ Ready to Rise affirmations to soothe, strengthen, and support you
✨ A takeaway that may just reframe how you meet your anxiety and creativity — forever

Whether you’re walking, journaling, or taking a quiet pause,this episode is your gentle reminder: you are not broken. You are human, and you are becoming.

💌 Want more affirmations, journal prompts, and personal insights each week?
Join the mailing list here → https://www.readreflectrise.com/(You’ll also get bonus resources and early access to exclusives!)

If this episode resonated with you, it would mean the world if you’d:• Leave a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ review• Share it with someone who’s navigating anxiety• Subscribe or follow so you never miss an episode

📚 Mentioned in this episode:
Beyond Anxiety by Martha Beck → https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/WilsStruthers-Cooper

Remember: There is magic, medicine, and power in thewords we weave and wield.

Take what you need, breathe into becoming, and rise gently.

#wilsstrutherscooper #readreflectrise #anxietyhelp #marthabeck #beyondanxiety #spiritualgrowth #mentalwellness #affirmationsforhealing #selfcompassion #wellbeingpodcast