Have you ever felt dismissed, unseen, or misunderstood? In this episode, Ella unpacks the healing power of validation—the simple yet profound act of saying, “I see you. I hear you. You matter.” Through personal stories, spiritual insight, and psychology, we explore how validation stops the pain cycle, rebuilds connection, and helps us find wholeness without losing ourselves.

Get your free Wholehearted Living journal prompts. https://calm-sun-843.myflodesk.com/x5yo2oyoyu

Book a free discovery coaching call: www.ella-hooper.com

Follow me on Instagram:@ella.hooper__

This is a special episode because I’m joined by my life consultant, Rachel Hughes, for a rich conversation about the nervous system, trauma, and the journey of healing. Rachel has been a deeply influential voice in my own process—teaching me what it means to feel safe in my body and how to gently restore that sense of safety when it’s lost.

Together, we explore the importance of understanding triggers, cultivating self-compassion, and practicing emotional regulation in everyday life. This conversation highlights the power of creating safety in small, consistent ways—and the hope that emerges when we begin to truly heal.

Rachel created the course reclaimig you alongside Abi Stumvoll: https://justinandabi.com/courses/reclaimingyou/

Follow Rachel on instragram: https://www.instagram.com/rachelhughesconsulting/

Get your free Wholehearted Living journal prompts. https://calm-sun-843.myflodesk.com/x5yo2oyoyu

Book a free discovery coaching call: www.ella-hooper.com

Follow me on Instagram:@ella.hooper_

In this conversation, I coonect with my dearest friend, actress, author and poet Amy Leigh Wicks to explore Brene Brown's guidepost Cultivating creativity and letting go of comparison. The messy, beautiful intersection of creativity, comparison, and self-compassion. We talk about how comparison often creeps into everyday life more than our art, the painful gap between our ideal and actual selves, and how practices like parts therapy can help us embrace every part of who we are. This is a heartfelt invitation to confront vulnerability, stay present, and rediscover the playful joy that fuels authentic creative expression.

Key Takeaways

• Comparison often shows up in daily life rather than in art.
• Self-compassion is crucial for artists facing comparison.
• Creativity requires embracing all parts of oneself.
• The distance between ideal and actual self can be painful.
• Parts therapy helps in acknowledging different aspects of self.
• Comparison can act as a protector against vulnerability.
• Being present is essential for creativity to flourish.
• Artists must confront their pain to express themselves.
• Navigating uncertainty is part of the creative process.
• Finding joy in creativity is about learning to play.

Get your free Wholehearted Living journal prompts. https://calm-sun-843.myflodesk.com/x5yo2oyoyu

Book a free discovery coaching call: www.ella-hooper.com

Follow me on Instagram:@ella.hooper__

Check out Amy Leigh's website: https://amyleighwicks.com/

Follow Amy Leigh Wicks on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amyleighwicks/

Today I am exploring the guidepost Cultivating Intuition and Trusting Faith; Letting go of the need for certainty.

Get your free Wholehearted Living journal prompts. https://calm-sun-843.myflodesk.com/x5yo2oyoyu

Book a free discovery coaching call: www.ella-hooper.com

Follow me on Instagram:@ella.hooper__

Have you ever been on the receiving end of a guilt trip, or had someone unload all their drama onto you, leaving you unsure how to respond? If so, this episode is for you. Today’s conversation is inspired by a simple yet powerful quote: “Observe, don’t absorb.” It’s a real skill to witness someone else’s energy or negativity without taking it on as your own—and learning how not to internalize other people’s stuff takes awareness and practice.

Get your free Wholehearted Living journal prompts. https://calm-sun-843.myflodesk.com/x5yo2oyoyu

Book a free discovery coaching call: www.ella-hooper.com

Follow me on Instagram:@ella.hooper__

Are you aware when you are triggered? Most people aren't very aware until they start being intentional about their emoitonal world.

Join my 6 week emotional health course for woman starting Tuesday Oct 14!

https://www.ella-hooper.com/group-coaching

Get your free Wholehearted Living journal prompts. https://calm-sun-843.myflodesk.com/x5yo2oyoyu

Book a free discovery coaching call: www.ella-hooper.com

Follow me on Instagram:@ella.hooper__

Shame tells us we’re unworthy of love and belonging—but what if learning to face it could set us free? In this episode of The Next Brave Thing, I invited a returning guest Courtney Lancaster, a trauma-informed life coach, to unpack the complexities of shame, creativity, and the courage to be seen. Together, we explore how shame shows up in our lives, the self-protection strategies we use, and what it takes to move from hiding to wholehearted expression. Tune in for real stories, practical insights, and an honest conversation about what it means to own your story and step into visibility with courage.

Learn more about Courtney Lancaster: https://www.courtneylancaster.co/

Follow Courtney on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/courtneylan/

Get your free Wholehearted Living journal prompts. https://calm-sun-843.myflodesk.com/x5yo2oyoyu

Book a free discovery coaching call: www.ella-hooper.com

Follow me on Instagram:@ella.hooper__

(Guidepost 4)

Gratitude and joy aren’t just feel-good emotions—they are spiritual practices and nervous system tools for living a wholehearted life. In this episode, we explore what it means to let go of scarcity and fear of the dark and instead lean into the beauty and presence of joy, even when it feels risky.

Ella shares personal reflections, including how “glimmers”—small moments of safety and delight—helped retrain her nervous system to receive joy after years of powerlessness. We talk about how joy softens hard days, why we often resist feeling good, and how to notice what’s good on purpose.

You’ll hear:

• What glimmers are and why they matter for trauma healing
• Why we resist joy (hello, foreboding joy and upper limits)
• The science of gratitude and how it rewires your brain
• How to begin scheduling joy as a deliberate act of self-connection
• How to make space for emotional safety, even when life is hard

This episode is your invitation to stop waiting for joy to arrive and start making room for it—to let gratitude pull you back to the present and remind you: you are safe enough to feel good, even here.

Get your free Wholehearted Living journal prompts. https://calm-sun-843.myflodesk.com/x5yo2oyoyu

Book a free discovery coaching call: www.ella-hooper.com

Follow me on Instagram:@ella.hooper__