Have you ever felt stuck, unfulfilled, or on the edge of burnout, wondering if this is really what life is supposed to look like? I’ve been there. And the turning point for me came when I sat in my car with my first life coach and did a simple core values exercise that completely changed the trajectory of my life.

In this episode of Leading With Heart, I’m pulling back the curtain on how uncovering my values helped me walk away from a job that was draining the life out of me, build a business aligned with what matters most, and prevent burnout before it takes over.

Core values aren’t just a “nice to have.” They’re your compass. They give meaning to your work, confidence to your decisions, and resilience when life feels heavy. And when you align with them, you stop chasing someone else’s definition of success and start creating your own.

Whether you’re leading yourself, your family, or your team, this episode will show you how values-based living can transform the way you show up every single day.

In This Episode:

Why values conflict is one of the leading causes of burnout
How identifying your values gives you confidence to say yes or no without guilt
The story of how a single exercise led me to quit my job and completely shift my career
Practical ways to uncover your top values and use them as a filter for decisions
How values-based leadership deepens connection with your team, your family, and yourself

RESOURCES:

September 24 Workshop:

https://fabulous-pioneer-9504.kit.com/products/anchoring-into-your-core-values

SIGN UP FOR THE APP:

https://www.christinamattisonyoga.com/lead-your-life-app

Dare to Lead Values Exercise:

https://brenebrown.com/resources/dare-to-lead-list-of-values/

Connect with me in the Strong and Resilient Woman Community on Facebook HERE (https://www.facebook.com/groups/yogaformilitarywomen)

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themilitaryyogi

Podcast Website:

Connect with me in the Strong and Resilient Woman Community on Facebook HERE (https://www.facebook.com/groups/yogaformilitarywomen), or on Instagram @themilitaryyogi

More about Christina Mattison and the Leading with Heart Podcast
Hey there! I'm Christina Mattison, an Air Force Officer, yoga teacher, dedicated wife, and proud mother of two. But most importantly, I'm here as a wellness and leadership coach for women in the military. I want you to know something: It doesn't have to be this way.

I've walked in your combat boots, and I understand the chaos that often accompanies military life. But I'm here to share a powerful truth with you: You have the innate ability to transform your own life. I've personally experienced this transformation, and I've witnessed it in the lives of countless clients I've had the privilege to guide.

Welcome to the Leading With Heart podcast your ultimate resource for discovering how to infuse joy, peace, and true success into every facet of military life.

**The views and opinions expressed within this podcast episode are those of the individual, and do not necessarily represent those of the Department of Defense or its components.

What really drives you? What lights you up and makes you feel aligned, and what leaves you drained and disconnected?

In this week’s episode of Leading With Heart, I’m diving into one of the most powerful tools for self-awareness and leadership: anchoring into your core values.

I share my own story of the first time I did a values exercise, and how it was a complete wake-up call. I realized that so much of my life was out of alignment with what truly mattered to me, and no wonder I felt unhappy and stuck. That moment gave me language for my inner world, and everything shifted.

In this episode, you’ll learn:
Why naming your core values is like turning the lights on in a dark room
How living in alignment creates freedom, clarity, and confidence
Why understanding the values of others transforms the way you lead at home and at work
Simple, practical ways to identify your own values and use them as a compass for decision-making

This is more than a “self-help” exercise, it’s a tool to ground you, guide you, and elevate the way you show up in every area of your life.

And if you’re ready to go deeper, we’re exploring core values all month long inside the Lead Your Life App. You’ll find journaling prompts, practices, and community support to help you put this work into action.

Because when you know your values, you know yourself. And when you live by them, you lead with heart.

RESOURCES:

SIGN UP FOR THE APP:

https://www.christinamattisonyoga.com/lead-your-life-app

Dare to Lead Values Exercise:

https://brenebrown.com/resources/dare-to-lead-list-of-values/

Connect with me in the Strong and Resilient Woman Community on Facebook HERE (https://www.facebook.com/groups/yogaformilitarywomen)

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themilitaryyogi

Podcast Website: www.leadingwithheartpodcast.com

SHOW NOTES: https://www.christinamattisonyoga.com/blog/

Connect with me in the Strong and Resilient Woman Community on Facebook HERE (https://www.facebook.com/groups/yogaformilitarywomen), or on Instagram @themilitaryyogi

More about Christina Mattison and the Leading with Heart Podcast
Hey there! I'm Christina Mattison, an Air Force Officer, yoga teacher, dedicated wife, and proud mother of two. But most importantly, I'm here as a wellness and leadership coach for women in the military. I want you to know something: It doesn't have to be this way.

I've walked in your combat boots, and I understand the chaos that often accompanies military life. But I'm here to share a powerful truth with you: You have the innate ability to transform your own life. I've personally experienced this transformation, and I've witnessed it in the lives of countless clients I've had the privilege to guide.

Welcome to the Leading With Heart podcast your ultimate resource for discovering how to infuse joy, peace, and true success into every facet of military life.

**The views and opinions expressed within this podcast episode are those of the individual, and do not necessarily represent those of the Department of Defense or its components.

For the past five years, I’ve had the privilege of walking alongside women in the military community, helping them prioritize self-care, strengthen resilience, and become powerful advocates for themselves. What started as an online yoga community during the pandemic has since blossomed into retreats, workshops, challenges, and the Strong and Resilient Women Facebook community.

But I’ve always dreamed of something more, something consistent, accessible, and designed as a true one-stop shop for wellness and self-leadership.

In this special episode of Leading With Heart, I’m unveiling my biggest project yet: the Lead Your Life App.

Built specifically for women in the military community—service members, veterans, retirees, and spouses, this app is not just another wellness download. It’s a purpose-driven space where you’ll find:

Monthly missions designed to keep you focused and consistent

Bite-sized tools that fit into real-life schedules

A supportive community of women who get it

Meditations, journaling prompts, self-paced courses, and live events that meet you where you are

This episode is both a behind-the-scenes look at why I created the app and an invitation to join a movement of women who are rewriting the story of what it means to care for themselves first.

If you’ve ever struggled with guilt, inconsistency, or feeling like there’s no time for you, this episode will show you a new way forward.

RESOURCES:

APP Waitlist: https://www.christinamattisonyoga.com/app-waitlist

Connect with me in the Strong and Resilient Woman Community on Facebook HERE (https://www.facebook.com/groups/yogaformilitarywomen)

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themilitaryyogi

Podcast Website: www.leadingwithheartpodcast.com

SHOW NOTES: https://www.christinamattisonyoga.com/blog/episode79

Connect with me in the Strong and Resilient Woman Community on Facebook HERE (https://www.facebook.com/groups/yogaformilitarywomen), or on Instagram @themilitaryyogi

More about Christina Mattison and the Leading with Heart Podcast
Hey there! I'm Christina Mattison, an Air Force Officer, yoga teacher, dedicated wife, and proud mother of two. But most importantly, I'm here as a wellness and leadership coach for women in the military. I want you to know something: It doesn't have to be this way.

I've walked in your combat boots, and I understand the chaos that often accompanies military life. But I'm here to share a powerful truth with you: You have the innate ability to transform your own life. I've personally experienced this transformation, and I've witnessed it in the lives of countless clients I've had the privilege to guide.

Welcome to the Leading With Heart podcast your ultimate resource for discovering how to infuse joy, peace, and true success into every facet of military life.

**The views and opinions expressed within this podcast episode are those of the individual, and do not necessarily represent those of the Department of Defense or its components.

Some journeys change us so deeply that we can hardly recognize the person we used to be. That’s the story of today’s guest, Audra Carpenter.

Audra first joined me on the podcast two years ago, at a time when she was simply trying to survive. Since then, she’s walked through the fire of inner work, healing, and transformation, and has emerged stronger, braver, and more herself than ever before.

In this conversation, Audra opens up about her journey from survival mode to thriving. She shares how community, self-forgiveness, therapy, and even the courage to face her deepest fears have helped her rewrite her story and truly step into the identity she once only dreamed of.

We talk about the power of envisioning who you want to become, what it looks like to do the hard work of healing, and how every small step forward builds a foundation of confidence and self-trust. Audra’s story is raw, real, and a reminder that transformation is possible for all of us.

If you’ve ever felt stuck under the weight of shame or wondered if you could really become the woman you aspire to be, this episode will give you hope, courage, and practical insight into what’s possible when you refuse to give up on yourself.

In this episode:

• Inspiration to face your own “I did it” moment
• A deeper understanding of how community and support change everything
• Encouragement to keep moving forward, even when it’s hard

This is an episode you’ll want to come back to anytime you need a reminder that growth is always possible.

RESOURCES:

Listen to Audra’s previous episode:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/navigating-depression-interview-with-audra-carpenter/id1690855329?i=1000630945785

2026 Retreat Waitlist:

https://www.christinamattisonyoga.com/retreats

LYL App Waitlist

https://www.christinamattisonyoga.com/app-waitlist

Join the Strong and Resilient Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/336774597179247

SHOW NOTES: https://www.christinamattisonyoga

Connect with me in the Strong and Resilient Woman Community on Facebook HERE (https://www.facebook.com/groups/yogaformilitarywomen), or on Instagram @themilitaryyogi

More about Christina Mattison and the Leading with Heart Podcast
Hey there! I'm Christina Mattison, an Air Force Officer, yoga teacher, dedicated wife, and proud mother of two. But most importantly, I'm here as a wellness and leadership coach for women in the military. I want you to know something: It doesn't have to be this way.

I've walked in your combat boots, and I understand the chaos that often accompanies military life. But I'm here to share a powerful truth with you: You have the innate ability to transform your own life. I've personally experienced this transformation, and I've witnessed it in the lives of countless clients I've had the privilege to guide.

Welcome to the Leading With Heart podcast your ultimate resource for discovering how to infuse joy, peace, and true success into every facet of military life.

**The views and opinions expressed within this podcast episode are those of the individual, and do not necessarily represent those of the Department of Defense or its components.

If you’re waiting to feel like the woman you’re becoming before you act like her… you’re doing it backwards.

Welcome to the final episode in our 4-part “Interrupt the Pattern” series, where we close the loop on what it really takes to shift your habits, beliefs, and identity, for good.

This week, we’re talking about identity-based change and why it’s the key to lasting transformation. We’ve spent the last few weeks recognizing the patterns that no longer serve us, learning how to pause and interrupt them, and replacing them with new behaviors. But this is where it “sticks”

Inside this episode, I’m sharing:

• How to anchor your new habits in the identity of the person you’re becoming
• A journaling prompt that will rewire your brain and reshape your life
• A sneak peek at the Lead Your Life App launching September 8th!

Small shifts. Repeated often. That’s how you become her.

RESOURCES:

Questions to reflect on:

Who do you need to be: what kind of person do you need to become and what kinds of things does this person think, say or do?

Write down: I’m becoming the kind of person who (fill in the blank)

APP Waitlist: https://www.christinamattisonyoga.com/app-waitlist

Pattern Interrupt Episodes:

Week 1: Interrupt the Pattern: You're Not Broken, You're Wired That Way: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/interrupt-the-pattern-youre-not-broken-youre-wired-that-way/id1690855329?i=1000715461472

Week 2: Interrupt the Pattern [Week 2] - The Power is in the Pause https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/interrupt-the-pattern-week-2-the-power-is-in-the-pause/id1690855329?i=1000716477403

Week 3: Interrupt the Pattern [Week 3] - New Pattern New Programming

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/interrupt-the-pattern-week-3-new-pattern-new-programming/id1690855329?i=1000718664561

SHOW NOTES: https://www.christinamattisonyoga.com/blog/episod

Connect with me in the Strong and Resilient Woman Community on Facebook HERE (https://www.facebook.com/groups/yogaformilitarywomen), or on Instagram @themilitaryyogi

More about Christina Mattison and the Leading with Heart Podcast
Hey there! I'm Christina Mattison, an Air Force Officer, yoga teacher, dedicated wife, and proud mother of two. But most importantly, I'm here as a wellness and leadership coach for women in the military. I want you to know something: It doesn't have to be this way.

I've walked in your combat boots, and I understand the chaos that often accompanies military life. But I'm here to share a powerful truth with you: You have the innate ability to transform your own life. I've personally experienced this transformation, and I've witnessed it in the lives of countless clients I've had the privilege to guide.

Welcome to the Leading With Heart podcast your ultimate resource for discovering how to infuse joy, peace, and true success into every facet of military life.

**The views and opinions expressed within this podcast episode are those of the individual, and do not necessarily represent those of the Department of Defense or its components.

We’ve named the pattern. We’ve practiced the pause. Now it’s time to rewire.

In this episode, I’m sharing the real-life next step in our “Interrupt the Pattern” series, and it’s the part where true change begins. Because awareness is powerful, but action is what rewires the brain.

I get a little personal in this one and open up about a pattern I’ve been working on in my own life, how it shows up, what I’ve learned from it, and what I’m choosing to do instead. (Spoiler: It’s not always easy, but it is always worth it.)

Together, we’ll talk about:

• Why your brain resists change, and how to work with it, not against it
• How to uncover the real need hiding behind your old habit
• How to name a new behavior that supports who you’re becoming

This isn’t about being perfect. It’s about being aware, and learning how to interrupt the loop and choose a new path, even when it feels uncomfortable or unfamiliar.

So take a deep breath, tune in, and ask yourself: What do I want to do instead?

RESOURCES:

Pattern Interrupt Episodes:

Week 1: Interrupt the Pattern: You're Not Broken, You're Wired That Way: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/interrupt-the-pattern-youre-not-broken-youre-wired-that-way/id1690855329?i=1000715461472

Week 2: Interrupt the Pattern [Week 2] - The Power is in the Pause https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/interrupt-the-pattern-week-2-the-power-is-in-the-pause/id1690855329?i=1000716477403

Connect with me in the Strong and Resilient Woman Community on Facebook HERE (https://www.facebook.com/groups/yogaformilitarywomen)

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themilitaryyogi

Podcast Website: www.leadingwithheartpodcast.com

SHOW NOTES: https://www.christinamattisonyoga.com/bl

Connect with me in the Strong and Resilient Woman Community on Facebook HERE (https://www.facebook.com/groups/yogaformilitarywomen), or on Instagram @themilitaryyogi

More about Christina Mattison and the Leading with Heart Podcast
Hey there! I'm Christina Mattison, an Air Force Officer, yoga teacher, dedicated wife, and proud mother of two. But most importantly, I'm here as a wellness and leadership coach for women in the military. I want you to know something: It doesn't have to be this way.

I've walked in your combat boots, and I understand the chaos that often accompanies military life. But I'm here to share a powerful truth with you: You have the innate ability to transform your own life. I've personally experienced this transformation, and I've witnessed it in the lives of countless clients I've had the privilege to guide.

Welcome to the Leading With Heart podcast your ultimate resource for discovering how to infuse joy, peace, and true success into every facet of military life.

**The views and opinions expressed within this podcast episode are those of the individual, and do not necessarily represent those of the Department of Defense or its components.

Ever find yourself stuck in the same frustrating loops, overcommitting, spiraling into self-doubt, or working yourself to the edge of burnout, and wonder why you keep doing it?

It’s not because you’re broken. It’s because you’re wired that way. But here’s the good news: your wiring can change.

In this powerful kickoff to our July series, I’m talking about the habit loops and mental patterns that run our lives on autopilot, often without us even realizing it. Drawing from habit science and real-life examples, I explain how your brain is simply trying to protect you… even if the patterns it’s built are no longer serving you.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why we repeat patterns we know are unhealthy
• How your brain creates, and clings to, habit loops for survival
• Why self-awareness is the most underrated tool for change
• How to shift from judging your patterns to witnessing them with compassion

This isn’t about fixing yourself, it’s about finally seeing yourself clearly. Because once you see the loop, you can interrupt it.

RESOURCES:

Connect with me in the Strong and Resilient Woman Community on Facebook HERE (https://www.facebook.com/groups/yogaformilitarywomen)

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themilitaryyogi

Podcast Website: www.leadingwithheartpodcast.com

SHOW NOTES: https://www.christinamattisonyoga.com/blog/episode75

Connect with me in the Strong and Resilient Woman Community on Facebook HERE (https://www.facebook.com/groups/yogaformilitarywomen), or on Instagram @themilitaryyogi

More about Christina Mattison and the Leading with Heart Podcast
Hey there! I'm Christina Mattison, an Air Force Officer, yoga teacher, dedicated wife, and proud mother of two. But most importantly, I'm here as a wellness and leadership coach for women in the military. I want you to know something: It doesn't have to be this way.

I've walked in your combat boots, and I understand the chaos that often accompanies military life. But I'm here to share a powerful truth with you: You have the innate ability to transform your own life. I've personally experienced this transformation, and I've witnessed it in the lives of countless clients I've had the privilege to guide.

Welcome to the Leading With Heart podcast your ultimate resource for discovering how to infuse joy, peace, and true success into every facet of military life.

**The views and opinions expressed within this podcast episode are those of the individual, and do not necessarily represent those of the Department of Defense or its components.

Ever find yourself stuck in the same frustrating loops, overcommitting, spiraling into self-doubt, or working yourself to the edge of burnout, and wonder why you keep doing it?

It’s not because you’re broken. It’s because you’re wired that way. But here’s the good news: your wiring can change.

In this powerful kickoff to our July series, I’m talking about the habit loops and mental patterns that run our lives on autopilot, often without us even realizing it. Drawing from habit science and real-life examples, I explain how your brain is simply trying to protect you… even if the patterns it’s built are no longer serving you.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why we repeat patterns we know are unhealthy
• How your brain creates, and clings to, habit loops for survival
• Why self-awareness is the most underrated tool for change
• How to shift from judging your patterns to witnessing them with compassion

This isn’t about fixing yourself, it’s about finally seeing yourself clearly. Because once you see the loop, you can interrupt it.

RESOURCES:

Connect with me in the Strong and Resilient Woman Community on Facebook HERE (https://www.facebook.com/groups/yogaformilitarywomen)

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themilitaryyogi

Podcast Website: www.leadingwithheartpodcast.com

SHOW NOTES: https://www.christinamattisonyoga.com/blog/episode74

Connect with me in the Strong and Resilient Woman Community on Facebook HERE (https://www.facebook.com/groups/yogaformilitarywomen), or on Instagram @themilitaryyogi

More about Christina Mattison and the Leading with Heart Podcast
Hey there! I'm Christina Mattison, an Air Force Officer, yoga teacher, dedicated wife, and proud mother of two. But most importantly, I'm here as a wellness and leadership coach for women in the military. I want you to know something: It doesn't have to be this way.

I've walked in your combat boots, and I understand the chaos that often accompanies military life. But I'm here to share a powerful truth with you: You have the innate ability to transform your own life. I've personally experienced this transformation, and I've witnessed it in the lives of countless clients I've had the privilege to guide.

Welcome to the Leading With Heart podcast your ultimate resource for discovering how to infuse joy, peace, and true success into every facet of military life.

**The views and opinions expressed within this podcast episode are those of the individual, and do not necessarily represent those of the Department of Defense or its components.