Growth isn't always exciting. Sometimes it feels like grief.

In this episode of Rooted & Rising, Dr. Carmela Maxell explores why becoming the person you're meant to be often requires letting go of the person you've always been.

Like a snake shedding its skin, personal growth can feel uncomfortable, unfamiliar, and even painful. We outgrow relationships, identities, habits, careers, and expectations that once protected us—but may now be holding us back.

Why does change feel like loss?
Why do we sometimes mourn the very things we know we need to leave behind?
And how do we find the courage to embrace what's next?

Join Dr. Maxell for an honest conversation about identity, transformation, resilience, and the quiet courage it takes to keep becoming.

Whether you're navigating a career change, healing from loss, leaving a relationship, or simply discovering who you are, this episode is a reminder that growth isn't about becoming someone else—it's about uncovering who you've been all along.

Because sometimes the hardest part of growth isn't changing...

...it's letting go of the skin that no longer fits.

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Have you ever convinced yourself that a new planner, another notebook, or that random gadget in your online shopping cart was going to change your life?

You're not alone.

In this first installment of Sunday Seeds of Thought, Dr. Carmela Maxell explores the psychology behind weekend impulse purchases and why so many of us find ourselves filling our carts on Sunday evenings. What if those purchases aren't really about what we're buying—but about what we're feeling?

Through humor, practical insights, and thoughtful reflection, this episode invites you to pause before clicking "Buy Now" and consider what you're really searching for.

Sometimes the greatest investment isn't another package on your doorstep—it's preparing your mind, your heart, and your week.

Join us for a lighthearted conversation that just might change the way you think about your shopping cart...and yourself.

Sunday Seeds of Thought is a weekly 10-minute series designed to help you begin each week with greater intention, resilience, and perspective.

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Subscribe to the Rooted & Rising Insider Newsletter for exclusive updates, behind-the-scenes content, and more meaningful conversations.

What does it cost to survive systems that weren't built for you? In this episode Dr. Carmela Maxell explores the mental health impact of navigating institutions as a person of color or marginalized identity — examining weathering, racial battle fatigue, and intergenerational trauma. This isn't abstract. It lives in your body. And there are ways through.