The Stories We Tell Ourselves — Rewriting Holiday Stress from the Inside Out

The holidays don’t just stress us out because of busy schedules or family dynamics — often, it’s the stories we tell ourselves about what’s happening that quietly create anxiety, overwhelm, and emotional distance.

In this episode of Closer to You, we explore how your thoughts shape your nervous system, your emotional experience, and your ability to stay calm and connected with your mother or daughter during the holiday season.

Once your body learns how to feel safe, the next step is teaching your mind to believe it. If you’ve ever found yourself thinking: “Why am I the only one who cares?” “She didn’t text back — she must be upset.” “If I don’t do this perfectly, everyone will be disappointed.” —you’re not broken. Your brain is doing exactly what it was designed to do… just a little too well.

In this episode, Steph gently blends cognitive awareness with nervous system regulation, helping you notice, name, and rewrite automatic negative thoughts so they no longer run your season — or your relationships.

You’ll learn how expectations quietly trigger stress, how your body reacts to worried thoughts as if they’re real threats, and how small mindset shifts can bring real calm, clarity, and connection. Because peace isn’t just about what happens around you — it’s about what happens inside you.

✨ In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

Why automatic negative thoughts spike stress so quickly How your thoughts send direct signals to your nervous system.

The hidden impact of expectations and the “should” trap.

The simple thought–feeling–body connection explained clearly.

A practical Pause–Name–Reframe tool to calm your mind in real time.

Why your brain has a negativity bias — and how to gently retrain it.

How gratitude “glimmers” help your body register safety.

Why changing your inner story can change your entire holiday experience.

Need more support? Go to- Stephchaffee.com to connect with Steph

The Holiday Survival Checklist — When You Are Too Tired To Do It All-A New Way To Do The Holidays

📝 Episode Description / Show Notes The holidays are supposed to feel joyful… So why do they often leave you exhausted, overwhelmed, and quietly fantasizing about escaping to a cabin in the woods?

In this episode of Closer to You, we’re talking about a new way to do the holidays — one that protects your nervous system, honors your emotional limits, and helps you stay genuinely connected to the people you love most. If you’re the one who carries the calendar, the traditions, the emotional temperature of the room, and everyone’s expectations — this episode is especially for you.

Steph gently walks you through a Holiday Survival Checklist rooted in nervous system science, emotional boundaries, and real-life compassion. You’ll learn why the holidays feel so overwhelming, how emotional over-functioning quietly drains your peace, and what it looks like to move from being the family peacemaker to becoming a steady peace holder.

This episode isn’t about doing less out of resentment — it’s about doing things differently so you can stay calm, present, and connected without burning yourself out. Because peace doesn’t come from holding everything together. It comes from learning how to hold yourself steady.

✨ What You’ll Learn in This Episode Why the holidays overload your nervous system (and why that’s not a personal failure) How constant stimulation and family dynamics impact emotional regulation The hidden emotional labor many women carry during the holidays.

Why “peacekeeping” leads to burnout — and what creates real peace instead How to plan for peace instead of perfection.

Why choosing your pace is a nervous-system strategy, not selfishness Simple, in-the-moment regulation tools you can use at the dinner table. How to have honest, loving conversations about your limits The powerful shift from peacemaker to peace holder How protecting your peace actually deepens family connection.

🧠 Key Takeaway You don’t have to control the room to keep the connection.

When your nervous system stays grounded, you become the calm others can feel. ✍️ Reflection Prompts As you move through this season, gently ask yourself: What value do I want to guide me this holiday season?

What would “good enough” look like this year? How do I want my body to feel when it’s all over — peaceful, proud, present?

There are no right answers — just honest ones. 💛 Ready for Support This Season? If the holidays feel complicated, heavy, or emotionally loaded — you don’t have to navigate them alone.

✨ Schedule a Relationship Renewal Call today, at stephchaffee.com and together we’ll begin creating calmer communication, healthier boundaries, and a relationship with your mother or daughter that feels peaceful, connected, and true to who you are.

This Episode is all about-holiday stress relief for women, nervous system regulation during holidays, mother daughter relationship healing, emotional boundaries with family, trauma-informed parenting, managing holiday overwhelm, family dynamics during holidays, emotional safety in relationships, calming anxiety at family gatherings, polyvagal theory holidays, emotional regulation tools, Christian women emotional health, healing generational patterns, communication tools for families, staying calm during holidays, holiday burnout recovery, mother daughter podcast

Episode 5: The Weight We Carry — Guilt, Shame & the Mother-Daughter Cycle

Have you ever laid awake at night replaying a conversation with your mom or daughter? That little voice saying “I shouldn’t have said that… I should’ve been more patient…” — only to feel guilt slip into the heavier weight of shame?

In this episode of Closer to You, we’re unpacking the real difference between guilt and shame, how they show up in your nervous system, and how to move from self-punishment into self-compassion.

You’ll hear:

• The key difference between guilt (I did something wrong) and shame (I am something wrong).
• How guilt can guide us back toward repair while shame keeps us stuck.
• The “Shame Reset” tool you can use anytime that heavy voice takes over.
• What happens when we suppress emotions.
• A 3-step process to loosen guilt and repair connection with small but powerful gestures.

✨ Plus, I’ll share journal prompts to help you soften guilt, release shame, and choose connection — again and again.

Because here’s the truth: guilt and shame don’t mean you’re broken. They mean you care. And connection with your mom or daughter is always possible — even if it’s messy, even if it takes time.

Resources + Links:

• Grab my free guide: 3-Step Nervous System Reset
• Book your Relationship Renewal Call at stephchaffee.com

If this episode encouraged you, please leave a review — it helps other women find hope and connection, too. And don’t forget to share it with a friend who needs this reminder today.