In this episode, I’m sharing a very honest, off-the-cuff reflection.

I took a short break from the podcast and social media while focusing on some important priorities—catching up on medical care after our move, completing continuing education hours in California, and continuing to build my Ohio private practice. Stepping back was part of honoring my values this year, especially around rest, health, and self-care.

What this episode really centers on, though, is a conversation I recently had with one of my children that stayed with me. We talked about mental health, emotional expression, and how our coping patterns can be shaped by what we model—often without realizing it.

I reflect on:

• how children notice far more than we think

• what it means to hear hard feedback without defensiveness

• the importance of accountability, repair, and growth in relationships

• how internalizing emotions can be a protective nervous system response

• learning to sit with feelings instead of pushing through them alone

This episode is shared from my perspective as a parent, therapist, and human, not to tell anyone else’s story, but to reflect on my own patterns and growth. My hope is that it reminds you that perfection isn’t the goal—connection and repair are.

We also touch on vulnerability and why it’s essential for real connection, drawing inspiration from the work of Brené Brown and others who remind us that being open with the right people is not weakness—it’s courage.

If this episode resonates with you, or if it feels like something someone you care about might need, you’re welcome to share it.

Most of all, I hope it reminds you:
You don’t have to carry everything alone.
You’re allowed to rest.
And you’re allowed to grow, even when it’s uncomfortable.

Take care of yourself, and I’ll see you in the next episode.

This episode is personal, but not singular.

It’s for the ones who are quiet, observant, and steady.
The helpers. The ones who love deeply without needing attention.

I reflect on someone who has shaped me profoundly, the lessons they’ve taught me about unconditional love, and the humility that comes with realizing where we didn’t always get it right.

If you learned early how to be steady in an unsteady world, this episode is for you.

You were never meant to carry everything alone.

There are moments when the world feels upside down—when you’re seeing things with your own eyes, but being told not to trust what you’re noticing. And over time, that kind of disconnect doesn’t just feel stressful—it can make you question yourself.

In this episode, Michelle talks honestly about what it feels like to live in sustained uncertainty, how collective stress shows up in the nervous system, and why feeling angry, overwhelmed, or exhausted right now doesn’t mean something is wrong with you.

This is not an episode about fixing things or forcing calm.

It’s about naming what’s happening, understanding your body’s response, and offering yourself a little more compassion in a genuinely hard moment.

If you’ve been wondering, “Why do I feel like this?” — this conversation is for you.

In this episode:

• Why feeling dysregulated right now makes sense

• The impact of being told not to trust your own experience

• Regulation without bypassing anger or fear

• What it means to care deeply and still need rest

• A reminder that you don’t have to carry everything today