In Your Right Mind with Monique Rhodes

  If you've ever tried to be present and found your mind halfway across the week fifteen seconds later, this episode is for you. Monique explores the real reason presence is so hard — from the brain's default mode network to the way trauma creates hyper-vigilance that looks like awareness but isn't — and shares three gentle doorways back to the here and now. No forcing, no performing. Just coming home. Ready to break the cycle for good? If this episode resonated with you, there's something you need to try next… Take the Happiness Quiz at https://iintendtobehappy.com/ — it's a quick (and eye-opening) way to discover what's actually impacting your consistency, focus, and overall wellbeing. Most people are shocked by their results — and even more surprised by what it reveals about the patterns holding them back. Take the quiz here → https://iintendtobehappy.com/ Let's take this work deeper, together.

This week on In Your Right Mind, Monique digs into one of the most common sources of unnecessary suffering: worrying about things outside our control. Drawing on her time riding a motorcycle through India, a teaching from the Dalai Lama, and years of working with people on happiness and mental wellbeing, she walks through a practical two-list framework and a three-step process to interrupt the worry cycle — for real. If your mind won't stop running worst-case scenarios, this one's for you.   Libsyn Ready to break the cycle for good? If this episode resonated with you, there's something you need to try next… Take the Happiness Quiz at https://iintendtobehappy.com/ — it's a quick (and eye-opening) way to discover what's actually impacting your consistency, focus, and overall wellbeing. Most people are shocked by their results — and even more surprised by what it reveals about the patterns holding them back. Take the quiz here → https://iintendtobehappy.com/ Let's take this work deeper, together.

  This week we're talking about something a lot of people feel but very few say out loud — that hollow, empty feeling that shows up even when your life looks completely fine from the outside. Monique walks through the three real reasons inner emptiness appears, including values misalignment and emotional disconnection, and offers three practical ways to start shifting it. If you've ever felt like you're going through the motions without knowing why, this one is for you.     Ready to break the cycle for good? If this episode resonated with you, there's something you need to try next… Take the Happiness Quiz at https://iintendtobehappy.com/ — it's a quick (and eye-opening) way to discover what's actually impacting your consistency, focus, and overall wellbeing. Most people are shocked by their results — and even more surprised by what it reveals about the patterns holding them back. Take the quiz here → https://iintendtobehappy.com/ Let's take this work deeper, together.

Does your brain constantly play worst-case movies about things that haven't happened? In this week's teaching video, I break down why your mind does this — it's actually a survival mechanism that's badly misfiring — and share the one technique that helps me stop the spiral. If your brain won't quit playing "what if," this one's for you.  Ready to break the cycle for good? If this episode resonated with you, there's something you need to try next… Take the Happiness Quiz at https://iintendtobehappy.com/ — it's a quick (and eye-opening) way to discover what's actually impacting your consistency, focus, and overall wellbeing. Most people are shocked by their results — and even more surprised by what it reveals about the patterns holding them back. Take the quiz here → https://iintendtobehappy.com/ Let's take this work deeper, together.

Why do we keep comparing ourselves to other people — even when we know it makes us feel terrible? In this episode, I'm getting into the real reason comparison hurts, and it has nothing to do with what the other person has. We talk about the neuroscience of social comparison, what's actually happening when you scroll through someone's Instagram and feel suddenly hollow, and a simple tool called the values audit that can stop comparison in its tracks. If you want to understand what's driving your comparison anxiety and finally get some relief from it, take my free Happiness Quiz at www.iintendtobehappy.com — you might be surprised by what you find. Ready to break the cycle for good? If this episode resonated with you, there's something you need to try next… Take the Happiness Quiz at https://iintendtobehappy.com/ — it's a quick (and eye-opening) way to discover what's actually impacting your consistency, focus, and overall wellbeing. Most people are shocked by their results — and even more surprised by what it reveals about the patterns holding them back. Take the quiz here → https://iintendtobehappy.com/ Let's take this work deeper, together.  

If you're always tired — even after a full night's sleep — this episode is for you. We're getting into the real reason so many people experience that bone-deep exhaustion that rest just doesn't fix: a nervous system that never got the signal it was safe to stop. I'll also walk you through a simple energy audit you can do today, and tell you about the free Happiness Quiz that can show you exactly where your energy is leaking. This one might change how you see your whole relationship with rest. Ready to break the cycle for good? If this episode resonated with you, there's something you need to try next… Take the Happiness Quiz at https://iintendtobehappy.com/ — it's a quick (and eye-opening) way to discover what's actually impacting your consistency, focus, and overall wellbeing. Most people are shocked by their results — and even more surprised by what it reveals about the patterns holding them back. Take the quiz here → https://iintendtobehappy.com/ Let's take this work deeper, together.

If you've ever snapped at someone over something tiny and then stood there thinking "why did I just do that?" — this episode is for you.   I walk through five signs your nervous system is stuck in overdrive: overreacting to small things, the "wired but tired" paradox, brain fog, unconscious body tension, and the one almost nobody talks about — losing the ability to feel genuinely good.   I share my own experience — how childhood trauma kept my body stuck in survival mode for years, even while I was living in the Himalayas doing daily meditation. My mind had healed, but my body hadn't gotten the memo.   Then I give you three tools: the physiological sigh (the fastest science-backed way to calm your nervous system — 30 seconds, free), a daily practice that physically rewires your brain over time, and a perspective shift that changes everything: you don't need more discipline. You need more safety.   Your nervous system isn't broken. It adapts to protect you. Now it's time to teach it that you're safe. Ready to break the cycle for good? If this episode resonated with you, there's something you need to try next… Take the Happiness Quiz at https://iintendtobehappy.com/ — it's a quick (and eye-opening) way to discover what's actually impacting your consistency, focus, and overall wellbeing. Most people are shocked by their results — and even more surprised by what it reveals about the patterns holding them back. Take the quiz here → https://iintendtobehappy.com/ Let's take this work deeper, together.

There's a number inside you that determines how happy you are — and most people go their entire lives without knowing it exists.   In today's episode, I explain what your happiness baseline is, why it keeps pulling you back to the same level no matter what happens in your life, and why that's actually the best news you've heard in a while.   I walk through the famous 1978 study on lottery winners and accident survivors, the 50/40/10 happiness model, and the four daily practices that research shows genuinely raise your set point over time.   I also share my own story — how I went from a suicide attempt at 19 to spending 13 years traveling the world studying happiness, and what I found that changed everything. Today, my 8-week course The Happiness Baseline has a 100% success rate in raising students' happiness scores. That statistic still moves me every time I say it.   If you've been wondering "why am I not happy?" even though your life looks fine on paper — this episode answers that question. Ready to break the cycle for good? If this episode resonated with you, there's something you need to try next… Take the Happiness Quiz at https://iintendtobehappy.com/ — it's a quick (and eye-opening) way to discover what's actually impacting your consistency, focus, and overall wellbeing. Most people are shocked by their results — and even more surprised by what it reveals about the patterns holding them back. Take the quiz here → https://iintendtobehappy.com/ Let's take this work deeper, together.  

"I tried to meditate, but I can't do it — my mind won't shut up."   It's the number one thing people say to me. And after twenty years of teaching meditation at more than seventy universities around the world, I can tell you: it's based on a complete misunderstanding of what meditation actually is.   In today's episode, I break down why your busy mind is not a sign of failure — it's the raw material. I share the Harvard research on why our minds wander nearly half the time, what meditation really is (not the Instagram version), and four practical techniques you can start using today: The Puppy Method, Name It to Tame It, The Anchor Shift, and The 10-Minute Agreement.   I also tell the story of how a group of women in India who wouldn't take no for an answer accidentally inspired what became The 10 Minute Mind — my meditation program now used at 70+ universities worldwide.   If you've ever believed you're bad at meditation, this one's for you. Ready to break the cycle for good? If this episode resonated with you, there's something you need to try next… Take the Happiness Quiz at https://iintendtobehappy.com/ — it's a quick (and eye-opening) way to discover what's actually impacting your consistency, focus, and overall wellbeing. Most people are shocked by their results — and even more surprised by what it reveals about the patterns holding them back. Take the quiz here → https://iintendtobehappy.com/ Let's take this work deeper, together.

Perfectionism is the most socially acceptable form of anxiety — and most of us have been wearing it like a badge of honour without realising the cost. In today's episode, I'm breaking down the psychology behind perfectionism, the direct link to anxiety and procrastination that most people miss, and the shift from perfectionism to excellence that actually makes you feel better. If you've ever felt like nothing you do is quite good enough — this one is for you. Ready to break the cycle for good? If this episode resonated with you, there's something you need to try next… Take the Happiness Quiz at https://iintendtobehappy.com/ — it's a quick (and eye-opening) way to discover what's actually impacting your consistency, focus, and overall wellbeing. Most people are shocked by their results — and even more surprised by what it reveals about the patterns holding them back. Take the quiz here → https://iintendtobehappy.com/ Let's take this work deeper, together.  

It's 11pm, you're exhausted, and your brain is wide awake running through everything. Sound familiar? In today's episode we're diving into brand new science that explains exactly why some brains can't switch off at night — and it's not a willpower problem. I'm sharing what's actually happening neurologically, and three things that are genuinely backed by research to help you finally rest. Ready to break the cycle for good? If this episode resonated with you, there's something you need to try next… Take the Happiness Quiz at https://iintendtobehappy.com/ — it's a quick (and eye-opening) way to discover what's actually impacting your consistency, focus, and overall wellbeing. Most people are shocked by their results — and even more surprised by what it reveals about the patterns holding them back. Take the quiz here → https://iintendtobehappy.com/ Let's take this work deeper, together.  

If you've ever said yes when you meant no, apologised for things that weren't your fault, or shaped yourself around other people's moods without even realising it — this episode is for you. Today we're talking about people pleasing: what it actually is, where it comes from, and what it's quietly costing you every single day. This one might change the way you see yourself. Ready to break the cycle for good? If this episode resonated with you, there's something you need to try next… Take the Happiness Quiz at https://iintendtobehappy.com/ — it's a quick (and eye-opening) way to discover what's actually impacting your consistency, focus, and overall wellbeing. Most people are shocked by their results — and even more surprised by what it reveals about the patterns holding them back. Take the quiz here → https://iintendtobehappy.com/ Let's take this work deeper, together.  

Something is missing. You can feel it. You just can't name it. It's not burnout. It's not ingratitude. It's not a productivity problem. It's a meaning problem. And it's affecting more people right now than at any other point in modern history — including the ones who look like they have it all figured out. In this episode, we get into what meaning actually is, why the way most of us are living is quietly blocking us from it, and what to do about it starting today. This one is going to stay with you. Ready to break the cycle for good? If this episode resonated with you, there's something you need to try next… Take the Happiness Quiz at https://iintendtobehappy.com/ — it's a quick (and eye-opening) way to discover what's actually impacting your consistency, focus, and overall wellbeing. Most people are shocked by their results — and even more surprised by what it reveals about the patterns holding them back. Take the quiz here → https://iintendtobehappy.com/ Let's take this work deeper, together.

There is a conversation happening inside your head right now. You didn't start it. You don't control it. And it is making every major decision in your life. Most people spend years chasing better circumstances — better jobs, better relationships, better results — without ever looking at the one thing underneath all of it. The story. The loop that's been running since childhood, quietly telling you who you are, what you deserve, and how much good you're allowed to let in.   In this episode, we pull that story apart. Where it came from, how it gets wired, why your brain fights to keep it even when it's hurting you — and exactly what it takes to replace it with something that actually serves the life you're trying to build. This one will hit differently. Ready to break the cycle for good? If this episode resonated with you, there's something you need to try next… Take the Happiness Quiz at https://iintendtobehappy.com/ — it's a quick (and eye-opening) way to discover what's actually impacting your consistency, focus, and overall wellbeing. Most people are shocked by their results — and even more surprised by what it reveals about the patterns holding them back. Take the quiz here → https://iintendtobehappy.com/ Let's take this work deeper, together.

At 19 years old, I didn't want to be alive anymore. Not because life was impossible — but because I had built an identity out of being broken. And nobody talks about this. We talk about depression. We talk about anxiety. We talk about the circumstances that bring us to our knees. But nobody talks about what happens when your suffering becomes your personality — and how that single thing can silently destroy your shot at genuine happiness. In this episode, I'm sharing the question that cracked everything open for me, the science behind why your brain is keeping you stuck, and the exact shift that took me from rock bottom to building a life rooted in real, unconditional happiness. This one is personal. This one is raw. And I think it might be exactly what you needed to hear today. Ready to break the cycle for good? If this episode resonated with you, there's something you need to try next… Take the Happiness Quiz at https://quiz.iintendtobehappy.com/ — it's a quick (and eye-opening) way to discover what's actually impacting your consistency, focus, and overall wellbeing. Most people are shocked by their results — and even more surprised by what it reveals about the patterns holding them back. Take the quiz here → https://quiz.iintendtobehappy.com/ Let's take this work deeper, together.  

Most people think their emotions are the problem.   They try to control them, suppress them, or push them away… and wonder why nothing changes.   But what if the real issue isn't your emotions at all — it's the way you've been taught to deal with them?   In this episode, I unpack the emotional education almost nobody received growing up — and the simple framework that completely changes how you understand anger, anxiety, jealousy, and every other feeling you've been trying to fight. Ready to break the cycle for good? If this episode resonated with you, there's something you need to try next… Take the Happiness Quiz at https://quiz.iintendtobehappy.com/ — it's a quick (and eye-opening) way to discover what's actually impacting your consistency, focus, and overall wellbeing. Most people are shocked by their results — and even more surprised by what it reveals about the patterns holding them back. Take the quiz here → https://quiz.iintendtobehappy.com/ Let's take this work deeper, together.

Most people think they need more love in their lives.   But what if the real problem is that you've been abandoning yourself?   In this episode, I unpack the quiet habits that slowly destroy your self-worth — and the simple shifts that help you build a relationship with yourself that no external validation can replace.   If you've ever felt like nothing is quite enough, this conversation might explain why. Ready to break the cycle for good? If this episode resonated with you, there's something you need to try next… Take the Happiness Quiz at https://quiz.iintendtobehappy.com/ — it's a quick (and eye-opening) way to discover what's actually impacting your consistency, focus, and overall wellbeing. Most people are shocked by their results — and even more surprised by what it reveals about the patterns holding them back. Take the quiz here → https://quiz.iintendtobehappy.com/ Let's take this work deeper, together.

You might think your clutter problem is about discipline.   It's not.   In this episode, I explain the surprising neuroscience behind why clutter builds up — and why your nervous system may be the real reason you can't seem to get organized, no matter how hard you try.   Once you understand what's actually happening in your brain, everything about decluttering starts to make sense — and suddenly it becomes possible. Ready to break the cycle for good? If this episode resonated with you, there's something you need to try next… Take the Happiness Quiz at moniquerhodes.com — it's a quick (and eye-opening) way to discover what's actually impacting your consistency, focus, and overall wellbeing. Most people are shocked by their results — and even more surprised by what it reveals about the patterns holding them back. Take the quiz here → moniquerhodes.com Let's take this work deeper, together.

Most people won't recognise themselves in 2026.   Not because they changed too much — but because they didn't change at all.   In this episode, I share five tiny self-care micro-habits that quietly rewire your brain, regulate your nervous system, and shift your identity — without overhauling your life.   If you want next year's version of you to feel calmer, clearer, and stronger… this is where it starts. Ready to break the cycle for good? If this episode resonated with you, there's something you need to try next… Take the Happiness Quiz at moniquerhodes.com — it's a quick (and eye-opening) way to discover what's actually impacting your consistency, focus, and overall wellbeing. Most people are shocked by their results — and even more surprised by what it reveals about the patterns holding them back. Take the quiz here → moniquerhodes.com Let's take this work deeper, together.

Some years ago, my brain stopped working.   I couldn't focus. I couldn't remember things. I couldn't finish simple tasks. And I thought something was seriously wrong with me.   What I discovered shocked me: chronic stress was physically changing my brain.   In this episode, I break down what stress is actually doing inside your head — and the four science-backed ways you can protect (and rebuild) your brain starting today.   If you've felt foggy, emotional, or not as sharp as you used to be… this is for you.   Ready to break the cycle for good? If this episode resonated with you, there's something you need to try next… Take the Happiness Quiz at moniquerhodes.com — it's a quick (and eye-opening) way to discover what's actually impacting your consistency, focus, and overall wellbeing. Most people are shocked by their results — and even more surprised by what it reveals about the patterns holding them back. Take the quiz here → moniquerhodes.com Let's take this work deeper, together.

I used to think I was healing… but I was actually hiding.   In this episode, I share the moment that changed everything — and the one simple shift that took me from depression and feeling completely stuck to building the life I live today.   If you've been overwhelmed by the size of the mountain in front of you, this conversation will show you why real change never starts with a big leap.   It starts with one step. Ready to break the cycle for good? If this episode resonated with you, there's something you need to try next… Take the Happiness Quiz at moniquerhodes.com — it's a quick (and eye-opening) way to discover what's actually impacting your consistency, focus, and overall wellbeing. Most people are shocked by their results — and even more surprised by what it reveals about the patterns holding them back. Take the quiz here → moniquerhodes.com Let's take this work deeper, together.

I rode a motorcycle through the Himalayas — altitude sick, terrified, completely unsure I could do it. And what I learned there changed everything I thought I knew about confidence.   In this episode, I share the truth nobody tells you: confidence doesn't come after success. It comes before it — and most people spend their lives waiting for permission that never arrives.   If you've been waiting to feel "ready"… you need to hear this.   Ready to break the cycle for good? If this episode resonated with you, there's something you need to try next… Take the Happiness Quiz at moniquerhodes.com — it's a quick (and eye-opening) way to discover what's actually impacting your consistency, focus, and overall wellbeing. Most people are shocked by their results — and even more surprised by what it reveals about the patterns holding them back. Take the quiz here → moniquerhodes.com Let's take this work deeper, together.

Most people think they're exhausted because life is hard. I don't believe that's true.   In this episode, I'm sharing the hidden pattern that keeps so many of us trapped in overthinking, emotional fatigue, and a mind that never switches off — even when nothing is actually wrong.   This isn't about fixing yourself. It's about seeing what your mind has been doing all along… and learning a completely different way to relate to it.   If you've been feeling stuck in your head lately, listen to this. Ready to break the cycle for good? If this episode resonated with you, there's something you need to try next… Take the Happiness Quiz at moniquerhodes.com — it's a quick (and eye-opening) way to discover what's actually impacting your consistency, focus, and overall wellbeing. Most people are shocked by their results — and even more surprised by what it reveals about the patterns holding them back. Take the quiz here → moniquerhodes.com Let's take this work deeper, together.

What if one of the most powerful tools for brain health, emotional clarity, and long-term longevity has been sitting quietly in your drawer this whole time?   In this episode, I'm sharing something that sounds almost too simple — yet neuroscience is now showing it can literally reshape how your brain processes stress, builds resilience, and protects your future cognitive health.   This isn't about productivity hacks or forcing positivity. It's about understanding how your brain actually works… and using a practice that takes just minutes a day to create real change from the inside out.   If your mind feels crowded, your focus feels scattered, or you've been wondering how to stay mentally sharp as you age — you'll want to listen to this one.   Because the habit most people overlook might be the very thing your future brain is begging you to start today. Ready to break the cycle for good? If this episode resonated with you, there's something you need to try next… Take the Happiness Quiz at moniquerhodes.com — it's a quick (and eye-opening) way to discover what's actually impacting your consistency, focus, and overall wellbeing. Most people are shocked by their results — and even more surprised by what it reveals about the patterns holding them back. Take the quiz here → moniquerhodes.com Let's take this work deeper, together.

You don't need more bubble baths. You need emotional mastery, deep peace, and a nervous system that doesn't flinch at chaos.   In Part 3 of this series, I reveal the 3 habits that separate reactive, exhausted lives from calm, grounded ones—especially the one habit that will instantly reduce 90% of your anxiety (and no, it's not what you think). This isn't self-care fluff. This is the foundation of a life you're proud of. Ready to break the cycle for good? If this episode resonated with you, there's something you need to try next… Take the Happiness Quiz at moniquerhodes.com — it's a quick (and eye-opening) way to discover what's actually impacting your consistency, focus, and overall wellbeing. Most people are shocked by their results — and even more surprised by what it reveals about the patterns holding them back. Take the quiz here → moniquerhodes.com Let's take this work deeper, together.

Most self-care advice keeps you soft. This habit? It makes you invincible.   In Part Two, I reveal the habit that forces you to stop lying to yourself—and gives you the clarity to become who you're meant to be. Plus: the mindset shift that ends anxiety and perfectionism—for good. Ready to break the cycle for good? If this episode resonated with you, there's something you need to try next… Take the Happiness Quiz at moniquerhodes.com — it's a quick (and eye-opening) way to discover what's actually impacting your consistency, focus, and overall wellbeing. Most people are shocked by their results — and even more surprised by what it reveals about the patterns holding them back. Take the quiz here → moniquerhodes.com Let's take this work deeper, together.

Everyone talks about self-care—but almost no one tells you the truth about what actually works.   In this episode, I reveal the first 3 habits that mentally strong, deeply peaceful people practice every day. You've never heard self-care described like this—and once you do, you'll understand why the usual advice keeps failing you. Ready to break the cycle for good? If this episode resonated with you, there's something you need to try next… Take the Happiness Quiz at moniquerhodes.com — it's a quick (and eye-opening) way to discover what's actually impacting your consistency, focus, and overall wellbeing. Most people are shocked by their results — and even more surprised by what it reveals about the patterns holding them back. Take the quiz here → moniquerhodes.com Let's take this work deeper, together.

You've been taught to fear stress. That belief might be the very thing keeping you exhausted, anxious, and stuck.   In this episode, I break down what stress actually is, why fighting it makes everything worse, and the simple physiological shift that can calm your body in under a minute. Once you understand this, you'll never think about stress—or your anxiety—the same way again. Ready to break the cycle for good? If this episode resonated with you, there's something you need to try next…

You've been managing anxiety all wrong—and it's quietly draining you every day. In this episode, I reveal the simple habit that rewires your nervous system, stops chronic stress in its tracks, and completely changes how you feel by the end of your day. It's not meditation. It's not journaling. It's something far easier—and almost no one is talking about it. Ready to break the cycle for good? If this episode resonated with you, there's something you need to try next…

Most people are chasing happiness the wrong way—and it's quietly ruining their peace. In this episode, I reveal the surprising truth about what actually creates lasting happiness (it's not what you think), why "feeling good" isn't the goal, and the one shift that will change how you experience your life forever. Ready to break the cycle for good? If this episode resonated with you, there's something you need to try next…

I used to think I'd finally feel happy once I got the job, the body, the relationship. But here's the truth no one tells you: You don't actually want the thing — you want the feeling you think it will give you.   And the wild part? You can feel that way right now.   If you've ever said "I'll be happy when…" — this will stop you in your tracks. Listen now. This changes everything. Ready to break the cycle for good? If this episode resonated with you, there's something you need to try next…

What if the reason you're constantly second-guessing yourself isn't because something's wrong with you—but because you were never meant to be liked by everyone in the first place?   In this episode, I reveal the real reason people misunderstand you, judge you, or pull away—and why that's not only normal, but necessary. If you've ever twisted yourself into knots trying to be enough for people who still didn't get you, this one will change everything. There's a surprising kind of freedom on the other side of letting go—and I'm going to show you exactly how to find it. Ready to break the cycle for good? If this episode resonated with you, there's something you need to try next…

What if the real antidepressant isn't in your medicine cabinet—but in your shoes? In this episode, we uncover the brain chemistry behind why movement is the most overlooked happiness hack of the 21st century. You'll learn how a simple walk can outmatch hours of doomscrolling, how your workouts might be making you more miserable, and why exercising the "wrong" way teaches your brain to hate it. Plus, the exact timeline for when your brain starts to physically rewire itself for happiness. Once you hear this, you'll never look at exercise—or your mood—the same way again. Ready to break the cycle for good? If this episode resonated with you, there's something you need to try next…

You're not stuck because you're lazy or unmotivated. You're stuck because you're carrying things that no longer belong to you. In this episode, I break down the 10 hidden patterns, beliefs, and behaviors you must let go of if you want to finally feel free—and why holding onto them feels safer than changing. If you'd like to go deeper into this work, visit moniquerhodes.com—it's a wonderful place to begin your journey with me.

You've set the goal. Felt the motivation. Promised yourself this time would be different. But somehow… you stopped. Again. What if I told you it's not a discipline problem? Or a motivation problem? Or even a mindset problem? In this episode, I reveal the surprising reason your follow-through keeps stalling—and the one daily shift that quietly rewires it all. If you're tired of starting over, this is the conversation that will finally explain why… and what to do instead. Ready to break the cycle for good?If this episode resonated with you, there's something you need to try next…

Have you ever had a moment where one more thing — just one — felt like it might actually break you?   That moment isn't weakness. It isn't poor coping. And it isn't you "failing at life."   In this episode, I break down what's really happening in your brain when overwhelm hits — why your thinking shuts down, why emotions spike or disappear, and why so many "coping strategies" fail at the exact moment you need them most.   If you've ever wondered why you can be calm one day and completely overwhelmed the next… why advice that should work doesn't… or why stress feels different now than it used to…   This conversation will change how you understand yourself — and what actually helps when everything feels like too much. If you'd like to go deeper into this work, visit moniquerhodes.com—it's a wonderful place to begin your journey with me.

Everyone says "I'll do that later." But people in their 70s are saying something different:   "I wish I'd known what later really felt like."   This episode is built on years of honest conversations with retirees — and what they wish they'd told their 50-year-old selves. If you're approaching or already in retirement and want clarity about what you need most right now, you can take the Retirement Roadmap quiz.   If you have already retired, go here: https://quiz.theretirementroadmapacademy.com/retirement-roadmap-score   If you are preparing for retirement, go here: https://quiz.theretirementroadmapacademy.com/retirement-roadmap-profile

You've read the books. You've listened to the experts. You've tried to stick to the things you know are good for you.   So why do your best intentions keep slipping through your fingers?   In today's episode, I'm revealing a simple — but often overlooked — reason why most people fail at creating habits that actually support their happiness, health, and peace of mind.   If you've ever felt frustrated with yourself for "falling off the wagon," this might be the moment where it all starts to make sense.

You've been told resilience means being strong, pushing through, and coping better. But what if that belief is actually what's keeping you exhausted?   In this episode, I share what resilience really is — and why so many well‑intentioned people are burning out while trying to "be strong." If you've ever wondered why stress feels like it's slowly wearing you down, even when you're doing everything you can, this conversation may completely change how you understand your own mental health.   This is not about trying harder. It's about understanding what your nervous system has been asking for all along.

You know what would make you feel better. You've tried the gratitude lists, the morning routines, the meditation apps… But somehow, it never sticks.   Here's the secret no one's telling you: it's not your fault. In this episode, I reveal the real reason why the habits that are meant to make you happier keep falling apart — and the one counterintuitive shift that makes them finally work.   This changes everything. Listen now.

Something subtle is stealing happiness from even the most self-aware people — and most don't realise it until they're already running on empty. In today's episode, I'll walk you through the surprising reason happiness slips away… and the one gentle shift that can change everything.   If you've ever felt like happiness keeps slipping through your fingers, this is for you.

If you've ever found yourself thinking, "Why does happiness feel so hard?" — you're not alone. In this episode, I talk about why that feeling doesn't mean you're broken or doing life wrong.   You'll discover a mindset shift that helps you step out of the exhausting loops in your mind and start building happiness — not as a finish line, but as a habit.

If you've ever asked yourself, "Why don't I feel better, even though my life is okay?" — this episode is for you. In today's conversation, I unpack one of the most common misunderstandings about happiness — the belief that it arrives after everything else is sorted. The truth is far simpler… and far more empowering. Happiness isn't a reward for fixing yourself. It's a practice. A habit. A way of being with yourself, especially when things are hard.

Most of us live with an invisible tension inside — not because we're doing life wrong, but because we're trying so hard to do it "right."   In this episode, I share a gentle mindset shift that has quietly transformed thousands of lives, including my own. It's not another thing to perfect — in fact, it's the opposite. If you've ever felt stuck in a loop of self-improvement or felt like peace was always just out of reach, this is for you.   This small shift in how you relate to yourself can change the way you experience anxiety, low moods, self-doubt — even the pressure to always be okay.   This isn't about fixing yourself. It's about finally being on your own side.

Self-doubt doesn't always look like fear. Sometimes, it shows up as endless mental loops… replaying conversations, rethinking emails, reanalyzing decisions you've already made.   In this episode, I take you deep inside the hidden mechanics of self-doubt — not as a flaw, but as a nervous system habit that once kept you safe. You'll hear real stories of how this pattern plays out and learn a gentle but powerful way to begin shifting it.   This isn't about "thinking more positively" or forcing confidence. It's about changing your relationship with uncertainty, and finally reclaiming the energy you've been losing to second-guessing.   If you've ever made a decision — and then doubted it immediately — this is for you.

Feeling stuck can be deeply uncomfortable—and most of us assume it means something has gone wrong. That we're failing, falling behind, or doing life incorrectly. But what if feeling stuck isn't a problem to fix… but a signal worth listening to?   In this episode, I explore why feeling emotionally stuck, foggy, or unmotivated is often a sign of intelligence—not failure. You'll learn how "stuckness" can be protective, how it often shows up during important transitions, and why pushing your way out of it can actually keep you stuck longer.   If you've been judging yourself for not being further along, or trying to force clarity that won't come, this conversation offers a gentler, wiser way to understand what's happening—and how to work with it instead of against it.

Most people think anxiety, stress, and worry are all the same thing. They're not—and that misunderstanding might be making things worse. In this episode, I'll guide you through a powerful reframe that changes how you experience these emotions. If anxiety has ever felt overwhelming or confusing, this conversation will bring a new kind of clarity.

What if the tension in your chest, the headaches that linger, or the constant fatigue aren't just random symptoms — but messages from your body asking you to listen?   In this episode, I offer a powerful new lens on the relationship between stress and illness. You'll learn how chronic stress quietly reshapes your brain, alters your immune system, and impacts your long-term health — and most importantly, how simple, grounded practices can begin to reverse the effects. If you've ever felt like your body is betraying you, this conversation will help you see it as your most loyal ally.

Do you feel like your mind never stops? Like you're constantly planning, worrying, analyzing — even when you're exhausted? There is nothing wrong with you. You're caught in a loop your brain doesn't know how to exit — yet.   In today's episode, I'll help you understand the Overthinking Loop from a neuroscientific perspective: why your brain spirals when it's overwhelmed, how your body keeps the loop alive without you realizing, and what you can do — starting today — to interrupt it. With science-backed tools and grounded insights, this episode is here to help you gently untangle your mind and find real, lasting calm.

Most people believe their unhappiness comes from their circumstances — their job, their relationships, their stress. But in this episode, I share what I've witnessed again and again in my work: many of us are held back not by what's happening around us, but by old protective patterns happening inside us. If you've been feeling stuck, overwhelmed, disconnected, or unsure why happiness feels out of reach, this episode may help you see yourself with more compassion — and offer a doorway back to possibility.

You know what would make your life better — and yet, you don't do it. It's not because you're lazy. It's not because you lack willpower. It's because your system is wired for safety, not growth.   In this powerful message, you'll uncover the surprising reason behind your hesitation — and learn why pushing harder rarely works. What you need instead is a path that feels emotionally safe, doable, and grounded in compassion.   Discover how to stop fighting yourself and start working with yourself — so you can finally follow through, not by force… but with clarity and trust.