Podcasts about hands free mama

Welcome to week one of the Summer of Mentorship! This summer we are answering your questions with guests from past episodes. We are starting off with an episode from April of 2020 (ep 280) with Rachel Macy Stafford, the founder of Hands Free Mama.  Rachel's Hands Free Mama mentality is all about finding balance in a media-saturated, perfection-obsessed world. And it's about seizing the little moments that life offers us to engage in real and meaningful interaction. She shares a realization that she was not connected with her own people. How she was believing a lie that she needed to hide certain parts of herself, the messy parts, the imperfect parts, in order to be loved and accepted.Her “ah-ha” moment came when she vulnerably shared this belief with her daughter and found acceptance.  “Opening that door to being human actually brings us closer together. Then we can connect from that place of 'I'm struggling' and that doesn't mean there's something wrong with me. That doesn't mean I need to hide it. It means I need to reach out and talk to someone about this so we can work together to see how we might go forward.” From that place she has chosen to extend that same acceptance and found real connection. Which then helps keep the lines of communication open as they grow up.  “This is all about redefining what our role is as a parent. It is not the authoritarian model anymore. It is the guide, the truth teller and the encourager. Not the enforcer, not the half listener, not the critic. That those roles are only going to get us further and further from each other when the idea is right now we need to come closer.” Connect with Rachel:  Website:  handsfreemama.com Facebook: facebook.com/TheHandsFreeRevolution Instagram:  @handsfreerevolution Twitter: @handsfreemama FREE LIVE LOVE NOW LISTENING PLAN:  Click here for special 7-day listening plan for Don't Mom Alone Listeners Links Mentioned:   Live Love Now [BOOK] Only Love Today [BOOK] Amy McCready--Positive Parenting Solutions Pre-order Bonuses--21-Day Self-Care Listening Plan AND 4 Downloadable Tools for Connection Ask “Heart Questions vs. Performance Questions” Practice phrases that take you “From Conflict to Calm” Consider if you are an “Easy-to-Be-Around Adult” Exclusive Phone Lock Screen - “Connecting by Protecting” Summer of Mentorship Podcast Club Discussion Questions: What kind of parenting model did you grow up with? How has that model influenced your parenting today? Do you see your role as more of an enforcer or an encourager? What are some problem areas for your child(ren) that you can bring them in on finding a solution?  Could taking the time to listen to them make a difference in how you both respond? What is one thing you'd like to implement this week from Rachel's talk?

Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com. Episode 3064: Rachel Macy Stafford, writing for HandsFreeMama.com, shares an inspiring message about the power of revisiting and nurturing long-forgotten dreams. At her Soul Shift retreat, a simple yet profound question about life without financial constraints sparked attendees to share their deeply held dreams. This led to an epiphany for Rachel about her own aspirations, particularly around hosting retreats in beautiful locations. Drawing on the insights from her book "Live Love Now," she underscores the transformative power of experiences that push us beyond our comfort zones. Rachel's story is a testament to the idea that it's never too late to pursue our dreams, and that sometimes, all it takes is a little fresh air to revive them. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://www.handsfreemama.com/2023/11/16/if-youve-got-a-cherished-dream-shoved-in-a-drawer-please-give-it-fresh-air/ Quotes to ponder: "Dreams don't have timelines, deadlines, and aren't always in straight lines." "Young people don't usually develop a specific purpose and then go become an expert in that thing. Rather, they are exposed to something new that helps them develop their own sense of purpose." Episode references: "Live Love Now: Relieve the Pressure and Find Real Connection with Our Kids" by Rachel Macy Stafford: https://www.amazon.com/Live-Love-Now-Pressure-Connection/dp/0310358647 Patrick Cook-Deegan is indeed the founder of Project Wayfinder: https://www.withwayfinder.com/team/patrick-cook-deegan Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com. Episode 3064: Rachel Macy Stafford, writing for HandsFreeMama.com, shares an inspiring message about the power of revisiting and nurturing long-forgotten dreams. At her Soul Shift retreat, a simple yet profound question about life without financial constraints sparked attendees to share their deeply held dreams. This led to an epiphany for Rachel about her own aspirations, particularly around hosting retreats in beautiful locations. Drawing on the insights from her book "Live Love Now," she underscores the transformative power of experiences that push us beyond our comfort zones. Rachel's story is a testament to the idea that it's never too late to pursue our dreams, and that sometimes, all it takes is a little fresh air to revive them. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://www.handsfreemama.com/2023/11/16/if-youve-got-a-cherished-dream-shoved-in-a-drawer-please-give-it-fresh-air/ Quotes to ponder: "Dreams don't have timelines, deadlines, and aren't always in straight lines." "Young people don't usually develop a specific purpose and then go become an expert in that thing. Rather, they are exposed to something new that helps them develop their own sense of purpose." Episode references: "Live Love Now: Relieve the Pressure and Find Real Connection with Our Kids" by Rachel Macy Stafford: https://www.amazon.com/Live-Love-Now-Pressure-Connection/dp/0310358647 Patrick Cook-Deegan is indeed the founder of Project Wayfinder: https://www.withwayfinder.com/team/patrick-cook-deegan Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com. Episode 3064: Rachel Macy Stafford, writing for HandsFreeMama.com, shares an inspiring message about the power of revisiting and nurturing long-forgotten dreams. At her Soul Shift retreat, a simple yet profound question about life without financial constraints sparked attendees to share their deeply held dreams. This led to an epiphany for Rachel about her own aspirations, particularly around hosting retreats in beautiful locations. Drawing on the insights from her book "Live Love Now," she underscores the transformative power of experiences that push us beyond our comfort zones. Rachel's story is a testament to the idea that it's never too late to pursue our dreams, and that sometimes, all it takes is a little fresh air to revive them. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://www.handsfreemama.com/2023/11/16/if-youve-got-a-cherished-dream-shoved-in-a-drawer-please-give-it-fresh-air/ Quotes to ponder: "Dreams don't have timelines, deadlines, and aren't always in straight lines." "Young people don't usually develop a specific purpose and then go become an expert in that thing. Rather, they are exposed to something new that helps them develop their own sense of purpose." Episode references: "Live Love Now: Relieve the Pressure and Find Real Connection with Our Kids" by Rachel Macy Stafford: https://www.amazon.com/Live-Love-Now-Pressure-Connection/dp/0310358647 Patrick Cook-Deegan is indeed the founder of Project Wayfinder: https://www.withwayfinder.com/team/patrick-cook-deegan Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rachel Stafford of Hands Free Mama talks about the best "worst" advice on helping kids learn to help themselves Episode 1926: The Best “Worst” Advice on Helping Kids Learn to Help Themselves by Rachel Stafford of Hands Free Mama on Letting Your Kids Fight Their Own Battles Rachel Macy Stafford has one goal: help people choose love as much as humanly possible. She is the New York Times best-selling author of Hands Free Mama, Hands Free Life, Only Love Today and Live Love Now. Rachel is also a certified special education teacher and inspiring speaker. Millions find solace and direction in her monthly blog posts at handsfreemama.com and in her supportive online community, The Hands Free Revolution. Rachel's work has been featured on CNN, Good Morning America, TODAY, Global News, TIME, and other print and online media sources. She loves taking long walks, baking, and helping out at cat shelters and visiting nursing home residents. Rachel lives in the south with her husband and two daughters who inspire her daily. The original post is located here: https://www.handsfreemama.com/2022/08/26/the-best-worst-advice-on-helping-kids-learn-to-help-themselves/  Visit Me Online at OLDPodcast.com  Interested in advertising on the show? Visit https://www.advertisecast.com/OptimalRelationshipsDailyMarriageParenting Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rachel Stafford of Hands Free Mama talks about what she learned from her "wonder window" Episode 1886: How a ‘Wonder Window' Became My Calm After the Storm by Rachel Stafford of Hands Free Mama on Coping With an Empty Nest Rachel Macy Stafford has one goal: help people choose love as much as humanly possible. She is the New York Times best-selling author of Hands Free Mama, Hands Free Life, Only Love Today and Live Love Now. Rachel is also a certified special education teacher and inspiring speaker. Millions find solace and direction in her monthly blog posts at handsfreemama.com and in her supportive online community, The Hands Free Revolution. Rachel's work has been featured on CNN, Good Morning America, TODAY, Global News, TIME, and other print and online media sources. She loves taking long walks, baking, and helping out at cat shelters and visiting nursing home residents. Rachel lives in the south with her husband and two daughters who inspire her daily. The original post is located here: https://www.handsfreemama.com/2023/08/04/how-a-wonder-window-became-my-calm-after-the-storm/  Visit Me Online at OLDPodcast.com  Interested in advertising on the show? Visit https://www.advertisecast.com/OptimalRelationshipsDailyMarriageParenting Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today's guest, New York Times bestselling author Rachel May Stafford, confided to her friend that the fruits of her successful career were starting to sour. She had become stressed, depleted, and was feeling used—all of it contaminating her joy and sense of purpose. Her friend Shannon replied with a wise reminder, the way only our truest friends can: “Rachel, you're a mapmaker, not a baggage carrier, not a tour operator, and not a travel agent. You are there to guide and accompany people through their own journey; you are not responsible for carrying stuff that does not belong to you.” The relief in releasing roles that were no longer serving her is one of many powerful Soul Shifts that Rachel and I discuss in today's conversation. Listen in for strategies to drop self-judgement and the masks we wear for others, stepping more fully into authentic joy. More About Rachel: Rachel Macy Stafford is the New York Times bestselling author of Hands Free Mama, Hands Free Life, Only Love Today, and Live Love Now. Her new book, Soul Shift: The Weary Human's Guide to Getting Unstuck and Reclaiming Your Path to Joy. Rachel is a sought-after speaker and creator of her perennially popular course, Soul Shift Lift.

In episode 99 of Outside The Studio with Tessa: In this empowering episode, of Outside the Studio, Rachel Macy Stafford and Tessa Tovar delve into the realm of empowering and learning from our children, shifting towards conscious communication and rewriting our limiting beliefs by addressing our inner dialogue. Rachel shares several tips from her multi best-selling self-help guide books, on how to get unstuck and reclaim your own unique path. When you listen to this episode you will gain valuable insights from a renowned best-selling author of self-help guide books. (32:46) "A lot of us grew up hearing, you know, be kind to others, be kind to others, be kind to others. We never heard: Are you being kind to yourself right now?" - Rachel Macy Stafford Rachel Macy Stafford is the New York Times bestselling author of Hands Free Mama, Only Love Today, and Live Love Now. Rachel is a certified special education teacher whose personal strategies are universal invitations to embrace life with urgency and cultivate connection despite the distractions of our culture. Her blog is a source of inspiration to millions. Rachel lives in Georgia with her beloved family and two rescue cats. For more, visit handsfreemama.com Timestamps(00:00) Introduction(02:00) Rachel's Origin Story(05:00) Cultural Narrative On Writers(06:30) Authors and Artists Saved US(10:00) How To Use Soul Shift(12:00) Where To Start And How To Make Choices(14:25) Fear Of Commitment And Fear of Failure(17:50) The Five Second Rule(20:20) Wisdom From Our Children(25:51) Balancing Being Efficient With Time and Also Learning To Slow Down(29:22) Three Steps To Shift Your Habits(31:50) Identifying Emotional Armor, Comparison Traps, And Windows Of Recovery(38:44) A creative Space Without External Validation(39:45) The Birth of "Hands Free Mama"(47:00) Parenting Your Children Through Mistakes(51:45) Rachel's Content Production Strategy(54:10) Final Thoughts Key Takeaways1. Encouraging Self-Reflection: Explore the importance of self-reflection in personal growth and how to guide our children in introspection to gain clarity about their aspirations and dreams.2. Embracing Individuality: Gain insights on fostering an environment that celebrates individuality, empowering our children to embrace their uniqueness and forge their own distinct paths in life.3. Self-Limiting Beliefs: Rachel shares strategies to help you identify and challenge your self-limiting beliefs. Learn to break free from constraints and pursue your dreams.(13:27) "Few people know so clearly what they want. Most people can't even think what to hope for when they throw a penny in the fountain" - Barbara Kingsolver Connect with Rachel Macy StaffordWebsite: https://www.handsfreemama.com/https://www.handsfreemama.com/books/Soul Shift: The Weary Human's Guide to Getting Unstuck and Reclaiming Your Path to Joy (Sounds True)is an empowering guide to reclaiming inner peace in a world of overwhelm.Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/handsfreerevolution/Twitter: https://twitter.com/handsfreemamaFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheHandsFreeRevolutionPinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/handsfreemama/ Connect with Tessa TovarWebsite: https://tessatovar.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tessamarietovar/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tessa-tovar-baa27613Twitter: https://twitter.com/TBenedicktusThe Dark Moon: A Book of Poetry for Savasana: https://a.co/d/e8LgG1T

Do you have negative thoughts and limiting beliefs that hold you back from achieving the things you want to? Do you want to overcome these and reclaim your life?Rachel Macy Stafford is the New York Times bestselling author of Hands Free Mama, Hands Free Life, Only Love Today, and Live Love Now. Her latest book is Soul Shift: The Weary Human's Guide to Getting Unstuck and Reclaiming Your Path to Joy. Rachel is a certified special education teacher whose personal strategies are universal invitations to embrace life with urgency and cultivate connection despite the distractions of our culture. In today's episode, Rachel dives into common self-limiting beliefs and how you can work through them to reclaim your life and your balance.You can look forward to:(00:55) Introduction(01:38) Rachael's Journey(03:56) Emotional Triggers(10:42) Self-Limiting Beliefs(19:00) “I don't belong” Belief(26:06) Life-Enhancing Truth(29:24) Final Comments and LinksIf you want to follow along further, you can find all things Rachel on her website.Share this episode with your mum, sister or a friend if you know they'll love it too!Until next time, Stay Balanced P.S. Need a fix in-between episodes? Head on over and connect with us on our TikTok & Instagram!Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/thebalancetheory. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Live from the Maven Space in downtown Indianapolis, Aimee Kandrac reunites with Rachel Macy Stafford, best-selling author of Hands Free Mama, Only Love Today, Soul Shift, and more. Aimee and Rachel discuss the challenge of letting go of routine, especially during times of crisis. They also share touching words of encouragement from friends and neighbors, emphasize the importance of looking after yourself, and destigmatize asking for help. Episode Abridged Transcript Aimee: Welcome to Kitchen Chats. Today we are coming to you live from Maven Space in downtown Indianapolis. I am so honored to have my new friend and guest, Rachel Macy Stafford, here with me today.   Rachel: Thank you. So glad to be here.   Aimee: I love to start my Kitchen Chat conversation with the same question. Do you have a moment in your life when you found yourself in the kitchen with someone where there's this major life event, and it's time to talk to a friend about what's going on?   Rachel: I definitely do. After my father-in-law died in 2017, I was just on the tail end of launching my third book Only Love Today. I was coming back from a trip to Canada and grieving, and I just had a really, really dark night where I didn't know if I wanted to stay. I wrote about it because that's the best therapy for me, and I also want people to know that you might see me having this life that seems put together but that I struggle, too. So I put it out there and got a knock on the door within 15 minutes. I do not answer my door, but they were really persistent. And it was my next door neighbor. We're not super close, but apparently she reads everything that I post because she came right over. She is the kind of person that will go there with you. She said, ‘Rachel, I just read your post about your dark night and about the questions that you were having. I want you to know that you don't have to be strong with me. I know you're strong for a lot of people. You can cry with me and tell me how it is.' I carry that with me. ‘You don't have to be strong with me.' I use that with people. Because how often are we told that we don't have to be strong, especially as women who are holding up so much for our families?   Aimee: Thanks for sharing that with all of us. That's not something that many of us are able to admit often. And that is pretty relevant to your book and why you wrote it. It's all about: How are we showing up for our families? How are we showing up for ourselves? You wrote this book during lockdown and COVID. So how was writing this book that is so emotionally touching while you're caring a lot for your family in the world that had to be isolated?   Rachel: I definitely had a different approach to Soul Shift than I did to all my other books. In my house, the pandemic deeply affected my youngest daughter. It was one of those things where when you wake up in the morning and you're not really sure what's going to come at you because things are so unstable. I had to decide I'm not going to have a writing schedule. There was no nice, neat little calendar with chapter one this week. I could not plan a thing. And I know a lot of people during the pandemic, they couldn't plan anything.   Aimee: Even after the pandemic, as we're moving into ‘normal,' when you've got a kiddo who's going through something, you can't keep that schedule. Releasing the requirement on ourselves to have a schedule is not something that I can do very well. But when you're going through a crisis, you just can't have that the same way.   Rachel: One of the things that helped me the most when I was writing a book was self compassion. I talked to myself like I would talk to a friend who was trying to do something really hard at a really hard time. There would be mornings when I would know I'm supposed to be working on this part of the book, and I just couldn't do it. So I would find myself saying, ‘Wait a minute. What can I do today?' I took over the ping pong table in our basement with construction paper, Sharpies, sticky notes. Even though I couldn't put sentences together, I had ideas and had things I wanted people to feel when they went through the book. So I laid out this kind of map on the ping pong table. What transpired is a book that has all this space in it. It has places to doodle, draw, and journal. It just feels like a place you can breathe because that is how I created it.    Aimee: We talked on our last podcast about other ways that we can take care of ourselves, and you love to swing. What are some of your other self care tips?   Rachel: I don't like to use the term self care because it's really been commercialized, and we tend to think of things to pamper ourselves. But realistically, we don't want to put off our self care for once every six months, right? In the book, I called it the practice of looking after yourself. Because we know how to look after other people. We're really good at it. We're not so good at looking after ourselves. During the pandemic, I found these swings all over Atlanta. Sitting there for 20 minutes, I would feel like a different person. I don't think anyone would say self care is getting on a swing. But it's not so much about getting on the swing. It's like listening. Self love starts with self listening. Self love is also this concept that's so vague. What if self love is just listening to your body cues and verbalizing it? Just like when we look after our children, and they tell us, ‘I need this.' And we tend to them.   Aimee: We want to be there for other people, but we can't when we're not in the right spot.   Rachel: Exactly.   Aimee: I don't think any of us ever plan for being diagnosed with something or having an accident or having any of these things happen in life where we need to support someone else or we need to be supported. You had some of that with Avery.   Rachel: Yes, that's when I decided that there should be a term like companion as a verb. I am companioning her through this journey. I can't take this pain away from her. I can't solve this problem. This is something she has to go through. But I can tell her, ‘You don't have to go through it alone. I'll be your companion.'   Aimee: We as friends can do that for our friends who are going through something. We have the opportunity to step in.   Rachel: We often overthink it. ‘Well, I don't know what to say to my friend who's going through this horrible crisis.' Or ‘I just made this loaf of bread but I don't have a dinner to go with it.' Those are things that we need to stop doing. When your heart says, ‘I should reach out. I should take the spread over. I should ask her if I can run to the store.' Nine times out of 10, they're going to say, ‘How did you know?'   Aimee: I read an article this week that really resonated with me. The author suggests three Hs: Do you want to be heard? Do you want to be hugged? Or do you want to be helped? At different times, I would have different answers. I also know there are different times that I can't always help, but I can hear you, or I can give you a hug.   Rachel: We shouldn't underestimate the power of presence. Out of all the passages in the book, this is the one I'm hearing the most people have been writing to me. It was so personal to me with Avery, but apparently, this is something that a lot of people feel. I'm just going to read a portion of this little poem that I wrote after a visit to the doctor that was tough.   I am a companion  on a journey I didn't ask for -- no how-to no instruction manual no gentle guide to lead us. I AM the guide, learning as I go, but too busy holding pieces of pain and fear to take notes.   Yet sealed in my brain, etched on my heart, is encouragement from my fellow companions, those keeping close as our beloveds navigate a difficult journey.   I step off the path for a moment to let the sun warm my face and offer this message to my fellow travelers.   Never underestimate the significance of that hand on their foot,  of that assurance in your voice,  of that belief you managed to grasp out of thin air. Your ability to connect in crisis without a manual,  without a map, is the most direct form of love and comfort you can offer in times of uncertainty.   Aimee: That's really beautiful. And so right. There's no guide. There's no manual. Every situation is different. And that hand on the foot -- I really love the visualization of that. Can I just put a hand on your foot?   Rachel: I had asked ahead of time if I could hold her hand during the procedure. They said no, but her toe was literally right there. I thought maybe they wouldn't catch me holding Avery's foot. I just wanted her to know, ‘I'm here. You're not alone.'   Aimee: Sometimes taking care of someone else is helpful for us. Even if I'm just a companion on the side, there's actually a lot of healing that can happen when you're helping someone. One of the goals that I had when I was starting this podcast was to destigmatize asking for and receiving help. We're supposed to be ready to do all of our own things, especially as women. But when we allow someone else to help us, they're getting something out of it, too.   Rachel: Yes. I remember that same neighbor -- she's very intuitive -- she saw me at the mailbox as I was going through some foot problems. She asked, ‘How are you?' I said, ‘Well, I gotta have surgery on my foot.' And I will not forget what she said to me. She said, ‘When is that procedure scheduled? You better give me the date because it would be my honor to show up for you.' That's what she said to me, and that made me believe that she really did want to help. It would be my honor.   Aimee: It really is a privilege to be allowed into someone's space when they're going through anything. When someone lets you help them, how special is that? But it's hard to do. At least, it feels weird for me, and this is my job.   Rachel: No, it is hard to ask for help. But the more I do it, the more I see that we're not supposed to navigate life alone. We're not designed for that.   Aimee: Humans are social creatures. We're not all supposed to have the same skills. We're not all supposed to have the same needs. But we all need that connection, and we all get so much healing when we allow everyone else to come together.   Rachel: I think it'd be important to note also that sometimes we can take the helper role too far. That's important to bring up because although it's wonderful to help someone when they're in crisis, we also have to remember that we can't fix it. I was going through that with Avery. I was reaching out for every resource under the sun and just spending enormous amounts of time like it was consuming me because I wanted to help her and support her. My mom's here tonight, and my mom is always the voice of wisdom. She was a therapist for many, many years. I was talking about how worried I was about Avery, and my mom dropped a truth bomb on me. She said, ‘The person I'm most worried about right now, Rachel, is you. And I think that you need to start investing in taking care of healing yourself because she's not the only one who's going through a traumatic event.'   Aimee: It is really hard. Rachel: Basically, we're saying there's no one size fits all. It's why it's so important to get in tune with yourself and to do that self listening. There's so much guidance inside us, and so to trust ourselves in saying, ‘Maybe this is consuming me.' For Avery, I had to say, ‘I'm gonna let you lead.' And that's hard. But we want to empower them to believe: ‘I'm capable, I can get through this.' That's another thing that people need to hear: You are capable of handling this.   Aimee: You can. And I can be here if you want to be heard and you can't be strong today. Or if you want to hug today. I am really fortunate and lucky that I do have enough people who will remind me of those things as I'm going through something. We are getting close to our time. As I close out all of my podcasts I like to ask my guests two final questions. The first one is: What is your favorite thing to do for someone if they are experiencing anything?   Rachel: Well, that's super easy. I am the care package queen. I love to make care packages.   Aimee: You're going to have to talk to my mom about this.   Rachel: We could put our talents together.   Aimee: I am so thrilled that there are people in this world who love to do care packages. It clearly gives you so much joy. Please don't ever make me do a care package. The final question is: When you are going through something, what is the best thing that someone has done for you?   Rachel: I had a situation about a year ago, and I just had this huge dilemma in front of me regarding what was going on with Avery. I didn't know what to do. I texted my friend Shannon, who's mentioned in the book a lot, and told her, ‘I don't know what to do.' She said, ‘Rachel, you do know what to do. You just haven't given yourself the time and the space to listen. You don't have to figure this out right now. You just have to let it have time to surface.' She was right. I went and visited my mom and dad shortly after that conversation. My dad said I had to see the butterfly garden at their retirement home. I was literally sitting in the butterfly garden when I remembered that Shannon had this vision of these flowers just popping up, up, up. She thought it was for Avery, but actually the garden was for me. I just needed to sit and let these seeds have time to grow and root. I needed someone to tell me because I don't think I would have gotten there.   Aimee: Rachel, thank you so much for joining me today. I really appreciate it. And thank you to our audience for listening to us today and joining us.   Resources + Links Rachel's Books: Soul Shift, Hands Free Mama, Hands Free Life, Only Love Today, Live Love Now HandsFreeMama.com Rachel's Social Media: Twitter, Facebook, Instagram Kitchen Chats on YouTube Aimee Kandrac: Website, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn WhatFriendsDo: Website, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn   About Aimee and WhatFriendsDo Aimee Kandrac is a speaker, consultant, and the co-founder and CEO of WhatFriendsDo. Her work is instrumental for organizing support during life-changing events, and she speaks to organizations about creative ways to help friends and family during times of crisis. Aimee has been recognized as a Top 50 Mompreneur by Babble.com and is the first female CEO in the state of Indiana to close a $500,000 funding round. She has been featured in Forbes, Time, the LA Times, Oprah.com, the Indianapolis Star, and more. WhatFriendsDo is a simpler way to create organized and actionable support during a time of crisis. The free, online platform empowers healthcare facilities, HR departments, families, and friends to easily coordinate meals, errands, transportation, childcare, communication, and more for those in the midst of a life-changing event. The women-founded and women-led company started as a solution for a friend with terminal cancer. WhatFriendsDo is based out of Indianapolis.

Can you remember the last time that you felt pure joy, ease, bliss and happiness? Tune in for an inspiring discussion with Rachel Macy Stafford on her new #book Soul Shift: The Weary Human's Guide to Getting Unstuck and Reclaiming Your Path to Joy. #MomentsWithMarianne with host Marianne Pestana airs every Tuesday at 3PM PST / 6PM EST and every Friday at 10AM PST/ 1PM EST in the Southern California area on KMET1490AM & 98.1 FM, ABC Talk News Radio affiliate! Not in the area? Click here to listen! https://tunein.com/radio/KMET-1490-s33999/ Rachel Macy Stafford is the New York Times bestselling author of Hands Free Mama, Hands Free Life, Only Love Today, and Live Love Now. Rachel is a certified special education teacher whose personal strategies are universal invitations to embrace life with urgency and cultivate connection despite the distractions of our culture. Rachel's work has been featured on CNN, Today Show, Good Morning America, Global News, TIME.com, as well as in hundreds of other online and print publications. https://www.handsfreemama.comFor more show information visit: www.MariannePestana.com#bookclub #books #readinglist #SoulShift #RachelMacyStafford #MomentsWithMarianne #kmet1490am #radioshow #MariannePestana #selfcare #selfhelp #SoundsTrue #mustread #newbook #newlife #bookish #reading #empowerment

Have you ever struggled to be present with your children?  You're not alone, friend.   In today's episode, Rachel Macy Stafford, the New York Times bestselling author of Hands Free Mama, teaches us how to cultivate connection despite the distractions of our culture.   Her newest book, Soul Shift: The Weary Human's Guide to Getting Unstuck and Reclaiming Your Path to Joy, releases on March 28, 2023.   Join us as we discuss how she discovered a “soul shift” that changed her motherhood journey.  In this conversation, Rachel teaches us that as we pay attention to the guidance of our soul, we can find deep connection with our family.   Three things you'll learn about in this episode:   How to pay attention to the guidance of your soul How to find quiet moments of restoration How to start your own soul shift journey of living the life you actually desire   To connect with Rachel, head to: Website: Hands Free Mama Instagram: @handsfreerevolution Book: Soul Shift: The Weary Human's Guide to Getting Unstuck and Reclaiming Your Path to Joy “I would think about how much I wanted to be able to just sit on the couch with my family around me, wearing the clothes that I feel comfortable in, not feeling like I have to be doing what the world is asking me to do. I saw laughter, I saw joy, I saw messy counters and all that. And it sounds so simple, yet it was so hard for me to let go of all these expectations and realize that I really just wanted this beautiful connection.” – Rachel Macy Stafford ·         BOOK A 1:1 UNSTUCK SESSION WITH MICHELLE ·         TAKE THE PERSONALITY PATTERN QUIZ - Personality Quiz        SHOW NOTES - Are You Ready for a Soul Shift? FREE 5-STEP MORNING ROUTINE FOR MOMS FB COMMUNITY: The Calm Mom Collective JOIN ME ON INSTAGRAM: @michellegrosser.coach   “I love The Calm Mom Podcast!” ← if that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing our show!  This helps us support more women, just like you, on their motherhood journey.  Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.”  Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode!

Rachel Macy Stafford is the New York Times bestselling author of Hands-Free Mama, Hands-Free Life, Only Love Today, and Live Love Now. Rachel is a certified special education teacher whose personal strategies are universal invitations to embrace life with urgency and cultivate connection despite the distractions of our culture.Today she joins the podcast to talk about her new book: Soul Shift: The Weary Human's Guide to Getting Unstuck and Reclaiming Your Path to Joy. You'll love this conversation about learning to recognize and utilize our emotional triggers as invitations to release limiting beliefs, build healthy connections, and expand our capacity to flourish.Let's dive in. What you will learn:What our to-do lists are preventing us from experiencing? The process of breaking free from control. How we choose what gets priority in our lives versus what we should choose. What shifts Rachel began to see in her children as she experienced a soul shift herself. The benefits of being authentic with others.Releasing the need for our children to fit in our preconceived ideas and letting them be themselves completely. The distinction between mindfulness, gratitude, and toxic positivity.Where to find Rachel:https://www.facebook.com/TheHandsFreeRevolutionhttps://www.instagram.com/handsfreerevolution/https://twitter.com/handsfreemamahttps://www.pinterest.com/handsfreemama/Check out our Moms of Tweens and Teens website HERESign up for our Moms of Tweens and Teens newsletter HERE Find more encouragement, wisdom, and resources: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/momsoftweensandteens/ Join our Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/Momsoftweensandteens Find awesome resources on MOTTs University: https://www.mottsuniversity.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/momsoftweensandteens/ Sheryl also has an Inner Circle weekly Parenting Program with a community of like-minded moms, personal coaching, and tons of resources to equip and support you to love well, navigate the challenges and meet your tween and teen's unique needs during these pivotal years. Get on the waitlist to get all the details and to be the first to know when it opens! https://momsoftweensandteens.lpages.co/waiting-list-for-membe...

Aimee chats with the Hands Free Mama, Rachel Macy Stafford, about helping kids through times of crisis. Aimee and Rachel discuss the importance of communicating with children in a way they can understand, knowing when to set boundaries, and taking care of yourself. Rachel also talks about her new book, Soul Shift. Episode Highlights Kids are intuitive. Children have an intuitive sense of when a parent is struggling. Being open about vulnerabilities and struggles can be a way for parents to connect with their children during difficult times. “My humanness is not a weakness in my relationship with my child; it's a strength,” Rachel said. “It's a point of connection with her.” Kids learn how to handle tough times from adults. Children watch their parents and model their behavior. In times of crisis, this means parents can just as easily model unhealthy coping mechanisms for their kids as healthy coping mechanisms. “My kids are learning how to navigate this crisis by watching how I'm navigating this crisis and how I'm handling this stressor,” Rachel said. Communicate in ways that kids can understand. A while ago, Rachel noticed a pattern that she acted “like a mean taskmaster” to her children before events out in public, which was driven by her anxiety. As she worked on changing her behavior, she put her anxiety in language her children could understand, explaining that she worried whether she'd belong or find a friend. “By articulating what's happening, kids don't internalize it or think, ‘Mom's mad at me,'” Rachel said. Know when to step back. Rachel is in the process of going through an experience with her teenage daughter. She's had to learn when to step in and help, when to step back and let her teenage daughter gain her own self-care skills, and when to set boundaries. “The more I tried to intervene and project my feelings and my ideas on this experience, the more I'm taking away from her ability to navigate a crisis for herself,” Rachel said. “We want to raise young people who feel confident and capable for making these decisions.” Remember to take care of yourself, too. When it comes to getting out of your kids' way and healing yourself, Rachel suggests thinking about the things that brought you joy as a child. For her, it's going to the library to have a good, quiet time. “Alright, Rachel,” Rachel said. “You don't need to make healing Avery your life's purpose. You need to go invest in things that will help you be a healthy companion for her on her journey.” Resources + Links Rachel's Newest Book: Soul Shift Rachel's Other Books: Hands Free Mama, Hands Free Life, Only Love Today, Live Love Now HandsFreeMama.com Rachel's Social Media: Twitter, Facebook, Instagram Kitchen Chats on YouTube Aimee Kandrac: Website, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn WhatFriendsDo: Website, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn About Aimee and WhatFriendsDo Aimee Kandrac is a speaker, consultant, and the co-founder and CEO of WhatFriendsDo. Her work is instrumental for organizing support during life-changing events, and she speaks to organizations about creative ways to help friends and family during times of crisis. Aimee has been recognized as a Top 50 Mompreneur by Babble.com and is the first female CEO in the state of Indiana to close a $500,000 funding round. She has been featured in Forbes, Time, the LA Times, Oprah.com, the Indianapolis Star, and more. WhatFriendsDo is a simpler way to create organized and actionable support during a time of crisis. The free, online platform empowers healthcare facilities, HR departments, families, and friends to easily coordinate meals, errands, transportation, childcare, communication, and more for those in the midst of a life-changing event. The women-founded and women-led company started as a solution for a friend with terminal cancer. WhatFriendsDo is based out of Indianapolis.

What does it mean to find your inner truth? How do you show up authentically, in your power, in life's hardest moments?   And how does that inner integrity benefit your children and how you show up as their parent or caregiver?   In this episode, Rachel Macy Stafford joins me to talk about the meaning and purpose we find in adversity.    Rachel Macy Stafford is the creator of Hands Free Mama. She is an author, speaker, and creator, who helps mamas learn what it means to be hands free. Rachel says that before, she was holding on to the wrong things and missing out on life. Finally, she is holding on to what matters, and it has given her life new meaning. It's time to grasp what really matters to you and then start living.   Listen in as we talk about: [2:30] How Rachel came up with the idea of ‘Hands Free Mama' [4:40] Looking beyond ‘authenticity' as a buzzword and finding your inner truth [14:30] How to be authentic on social media  [21:45] How does trying to achieve perfection actually impact our kids? [29:30] Advice for people making a life transition Notes from Natalie: Sign Up for Natalie's Newsletter    Connect with Rachel Macy Stafford Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/handsfreerevolution/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheHandsFreeRevolution Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.ca/handsfreemama/  Twitter: https://twitter.com/handsfreemama  Website: https://www.handsfreemama.com/about-me/    Connect with Natalie Tysdal Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ntysdal/  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZ2puxB_hWDNn1Qe3UzOMKg  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NatalieTysdal/  Website: https://www.natalietysdal.com 

This Throwback Thursday episode comes to you while I'm away on vacation at my happy place, UCLA's Bruin Woods in Lake Arrowhead.While here for the week, I've made it an annual tradition to take off all my social media apps from my phone, truly unplug, and be present. The inspiration for this came from this week's guest, Rachel Macy Stafford, whose personal commitment to putting down her phone and becoming a Hands-Free Mama led to a Hands-Free Movement, several powerful books, and most recently to a new audio journey called Soul Shift Sessions through a partnership with Sounds True. You can follow the link to explore this for yourself in the show notes. This episode was originally recorded during a challenging time in our pandemic, March of 2020, while we were sheltering in place and just after the killing of George Floyd. There is no question that we face continued challenges. I hope this episode sparks renewed hope in the power of presence, fulfilling our unique purpose, and authentic connection. You can purchase Rachel's new Soul Shift Sessions audio journey here.    This Week's Challenge:   For this week's challenge, Rachel encourages us to think about any hurtful comments, or criticism, consciously and unconsciously, that we've been carrying around that's holding us back from truly fulfilling our purpose. Reflect on it and slowly turn that pain into purpose. This Episode is Dedicated by Samantha Arsenault   Samantha Arsenault Livingstone is an Olympic gold medalist, high-performance consultant, mental health educator, speaker, and entrepreneur – and she's a mother of four and recovering perfectionist. Samantha holds a master's degree in education and spent six years teaching high school science and coaching swimming. After a near-death experience with her then 12- month old daughter, Samantha knew it was time to pay forward all she's learned about achievement, emotional resilience, rising from failure, and finding happiness.   In 2016, Samantha founded Livingstone High Performance in response to the mental health crisis impacting adolescents across the globe, specifically those in the athletic arena. LHP provides pillars of support to organizations, teams, and individuals to elevate mental health and improve performance, and build a more empowered village. In addition to private and group coaching, Samantha offers online courses and consults with teams and organizations on athlete wellness initiatives, leadership, strategic planning, rising skills, and developing high-performance cultures. She is a certified instructor of Mindful Sport Performance Enhancement and Mental Health First Aid.   Samantha is an engaging public speaker who has more than 19 years of experience, which includes her TEDx Talk: The Weight of Gold: An Olympian's Path to Recovery. She's been featured as a keynote speaker, expert panelist, workshop facilitator, and seminar leader. She's worked with high-school, collegiate, and professional athletes in a group and 1:1 setting; school districts; athletic departments; coaching organizations; women in business groups; wellness entrepreneurs; and national governing bodies, most notably, USA Swimming.   Samantha and her husband, Rob, live in the Berkshires with their four girls. To learn more about her offerings, go over to www.samanthalivingstone.com.   To learn more about her offerings, go over to www.samanthalivingstone.com. You can join Samantha's FREE 5-Day I AM CHALLENGE at www.samanthalivingstone.com/i-am-challenge     • Facebook @slivingstonewellness • Instagram @slivingstn • Linkedin @sarsenaultlivingstone In This Episode We Talk About:   • The way Rachel's mother gave her the gift of “presence” even when she couldn't be physically present.   • Rachel's quest for purpose and the legacy she wants to leave • How reflecting on the question “How do I do it all?” on a run one day became the “spark moment” that pushed Rachel to choose herself • What Rachel means by her connection to her “dreamer girl” • Why facing the truth is really just the beginning • What it means when Rachel says to her children “I want to love you by your book.”  • Hands-Free Mama as a way of being • The pressure and insecurity of online life and how screentime distraction becomes the biggest obstacle to living purpose-filled • The 3 roles that will allow us to walk beside our kids • Finding your place of refuge and helping your kids find theirs • How we can “find our people” by doing the things our heart calls us to do • The tear-filled pledge I made to Rachel, reading from a promise in her book on p.57    Full Episode Show Notes   Check out the full shownotes from the original episode here: Ep 74: Living and Loving with Authenticity with Hands Free Mama Rachel Macy Stafford   Mother's Quest is a podcast for moms who are ready to live a truly E.P.I.C. life. Join in for intimate conversations with a diverse group of inspiring mothers as they share how they are living an E.P.I.C. life, Engaging mindfully with their children (E), Passionately and Purposefully making a difference beyond their family (P), Investing in themselves (I), and Connecting to a strong support network (C). Join our community of mothers to light the way and sustain you on your quest at https://www.facebook.com/groups/mothersquest/

Do you want to finally let go of the perfectionism and unrealistic expectations that are holding you back from taking care of yourself and truly enjoying your journey of Motherhood? In this week's episode, Kelli chats with Jaclyn, a Life Coach and Certified Health and Wellness Coach, who helps moms ditch the unrealistic expectations of motherhood so they can have less stress and more joy. They dive into how Jaclyn helps other moms let go of all the "shoulds" so they can finally enjoy being great moms. Jaclyn stresses on how the overwhelming unrealistic expectations of motherhood can strain our relationship with our family, friends and most of all, ourselves. Kelli and Jaclyn also get real about letting go of perfection, getting past the mom guilt, and cultivating self-care, self-love, and self-compassion. They also talked about: 03:05 Being happily married 08:45 Getting past the exhaustion of being a mom 10:43 Taking time to take care of ourselves 13:08 Enjoying motherhood more 15:21 Balancing responsibilities 20:39 Brainstorming 24:40 Dealing with non-negotiables 26:46 Coming from a place of love and compassion 28:50 Hands Free Mama 31:26 Sharing the joys and the challenges Jaclyn reminds us that we can’t pour from an empty cup and that we have to replenish our energy and remind ourselves to spare us the grace and space to be at peace with our own body and mind, before becoming anyone else for others. We can only keep up for so long and so intentional rest is necessary. Check out Hands Free Mama by Rachel Macy Stafford: Hands-Free Mama Learn more about Jaclyn Zubiena: Website: Jaclyn Zubiena Instagram: Jaclyn| Coach for Moms (@jaclynzubiena) • Instagram photos and videos Facebook: Jaclyn Zubiena Coaching - Home | Facebook ___________________________________________ Join The Working Mom Collective Business Launchpad Course Waitlist! Who is this course for? Moms who are looking for an actionable plan to build their online business, whether you want to build a side hustle, an online biz to replace your day job, or you're a mom who is currently not working but wants to have a plan to build an online business that is straightforward and will take you from idea to action. Join the Waitlist here: The Working Mom Collective Business Launchpad Join Kelli Femrite in The Working Mom Collective Community: Instagram Facebook Group - The Working Mom Collective The Working Mom Collective Blog and Website

⁣⁣I am so excited to share this conversation with Rachel Macy Stafford. This is something every parent, and every adult, will be relieved and encouraged to hear. Rachel's writing, and her wisdom is this episode, are so validating, accessible, and empowering. And I cannot think of a time when we might need it more. We discuss the three roles for parents she describes in her latest book Live Love Now: Truth-teller, Encourager, and Guide. We touch on each one, and in particular the Guide. Throughout this episode, Rachel shares her own wisdom through story and vulnerability. You will leave wanting to connect more with yourself, and having tracks to run on in connecting with your own kids. This is a soul nourishing episode for all parents, and everyone really, and I know it will leave you feeling refreshed, connected, and encouraged.⁣ ⁣ ⁣ Rachel Macy Stafford is a writer with one goal: to help people choose love as much as humanly possible. She is the New York Times bestselling author of Hands Free Mama, Hands Free Life, and Only Love Today; a certified special education teacher with a Master’s Degree in education; an in-demand speaker, and beloved blogger who inspires millions through her vulnerable posts at handsfreemama.com and through her supportive Facebook community, The Hands Free Revolution. Rachel’s newest book, Live Love Now, tackles the modern-day stressors facing young people today and offers illuminating, straight-forward strategies to help adults effectively and compassionately connect with the kids they love at a time when the stakes are higher than ever. ⁣ ⁣ ⁣ Registration is now open for SOUL SHIFT, Rachel's shame-free, hope-filled online course. The SOUL SHIFT experience is based on eight transformative truths Rachel discovered on her journey to let go of what doesn’t matter to grasp what really does. These eight truths were catalysts for the changes Rachel knew she needed to make in order to find peace and purpose for herself while learning to build connection and healing with those she loves. If you'd like to come home to yourself by making healthy, loving responses a way of life, click here for more information on SOUL SHIFT.⁣ ⁣ IG - @handsfreerevolution⁣ FB -@TheHandsFreeRevolution⁣ Twitter - @handsfreemama⁣ ⁣ ⁣ For more Still Becoming, follow Monica on Instagram: @monicadicristina.

In today's 1-year anniversary episode, Angie discusses what she believes to be the gateway to the awakening through motherhood ~ PRESENCE.Are you slowing down to come home to yourself?Are you truly present in the moments of motherhood?Are you moving so fast through your day to “run away” from feelings that arise within?All of these are questions to ask yourself as you walk through the greatest classroom of life ~ MOTHERHOOD.For in the moments of slowing down and allowing space for feelings to arise, your true healing begins.All quotes referenced within today's podcast were from Natalie of The Class:“you don't have to do much to fully inhabit your body/this life” “doing what you're doing when you're doing it is the only way to do it freely…motherhood” “if you were doing what you're doing when you're doing it, what kind of mother would you be?”Angie also referenced how she began her journey with becoming more present through Rachel Stafford's blog and books, The Hands Free Mama, many years ago.You can find The Class @ www.theclass.com and Rachel Stafford @ www.handsfreemama.com.You can learn more about working with Angie @ www.angieschaffer.com and follow her on IG @angielynnschaffer. She also has a Facebook group community, The Intuitive Mother Collective that you can join @ https://www.facebook.com/groups/3128842320557319 and reach out to her at angie@angieschaffer.com to learn more about her new program, The Awoken Mother that launches in February!

Rachel Macy Stafford is the author of “Hands Free Life,” “Hands Free Mama,” “Only Love Today,” and the new “Live Love Now,” all books sharing Rachel's powerful message of how learning self-love is the inflection point for nearly every part of how we live our lives that brings us closer to or farther from joy.In this episode, Rachel discusses some of the most important points from “Live Love Now” and her research with children of all ages to discover how parents can heal and care for themselves to make their children feel truly loved. Key Takeaways:Self-awareness that leads to self-love is critical to healthier parenting, and must come first.Our parenting style is a product of our inner narratives, many unexamined thoughts we've carried for years.The ways in which we fail to love ourselves - being hypercritical, having unrealistic expectations, despising our weaknesses - become the unhealthy components of our parenting.Favorite Quotes:“The truth is not the end; the truth is the beginning.”“That part of us - our dreamer, our inner child - is still within reach.”“That life of selflessness came at such a cost that I was not just hurting myself, but my children.”“Awareness changes everything because then you can make a different choice.” Support:This podcast is made possible by you — our listeners all over the world — from Brazil to Australia, the USA to Singapore. Please support the JOMO(cast) for just $3 a month. Sign up at patreon.com/jomocast. Go Deeper:Sign Up for 7 Days of JOMO Quests, a free series of science-backed challenges to reclaim joy: experiencejomo.com/free-resources. Follow @experiencejomo on Instagram, Facebook + Twitter.  Resources:Read the Hands-Free Mama blogGet the Book discussed in this episode, “Live Love Now”Follow the Hands Free Revolution on FacebookFollow the Hands Free Revolution on InstagramListen to the JenRiday podcast episode “Emotional Resiliency” featuring Rachel See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In stressful times- how can we help our kids manage worry, relationships and technology? What does it look like to be the role models they need- even when we are trying to hold it together ourselves?   Today, I'm joined by Rachel Macy Stafford of Hands Free Mama to talk about what stressors the younger generation is battling with most, what it looks like to lead the way in healthy technology use, and how to point your kids to a life of relationship and purpose.    We also chat about: -How our own coping mechanisms can help our children thrive -How to respond to your kids in a way that builds trust -And the questions to ask before we hurl accusations or give corrections   Favorite quote: There's no right or wrong way to love each other through the tricky turns of life.    In this episode I answer these questions: 1. How do I know if I'm self-sabotaging myself? And if I am, how do I stop it? (36:07) 2. How do I learn to trust God? (41:15)   Links to great things we discussed:  1. Rachel Macy Stafford 2. Live Love Now: Relieve the Pressure and Find Real Connection with Our Kids 3. Noah Kahan- Mess 4. Life is a Verb 5. Where the Crawdads Sing 6. Bethel Revival's in the air  Hope you loved this episode! Be sure to subscribe in iTunes and slap some stars on a review! :) xo, Alli    www.alliworthington.com/podcast/rachelmacystafford  

This week on Real Talk with Rachel we’re talking with Rachel Macy Stafford. Rachel Macy Stafford is a writer with one goal: to help people choose love as much as humanly possible. Her latest book is Live Love Now: Relieve the Pressure and Find Real Connection with Our Kids. She is also the New York Times bestselling author of Hands-Free Mama, Hands-Free Life, and Only Love Today. She is a certified special education teacher with a Master’s Degree in education; an in-demand speaker; and a beloved blogger who inspires millions in her weekly blog posts at HandsFreeMama.com and through her supportive Facebook community, The Hands-Free Revolution. We're talking about: Many kids today feel unheard and unseen, that no one knows who they really are. A lot of kids feel micromanaged, there’s no time for fun or trying new things. Adults feel the same kind of pressures that our children do, but silently. We teach our children these damaging ideas because that’s what we’re telling ourselves. When you put a child on a path that’s not authentic to them you see depression and anxiety. Listening to what calls your heart gives you energy and purpose, it’s not easy, it’s necessary. “It’s a gift to be able to be human with your child so they can be human with you.” We’re there to encourage. Don’t forget to text the phrase “RealTalkGiveaway” to the number 44222 to be entered to win giveaways from show guests and sponsors! Connect with Rachel Stafford on her website, Instagram, or Facebook Connect with Rachael Gilbert on her website, Instagram, or Facebook

I’m honored to share today's episode, a conversation three years in the making with Rachel Macy Stafford, that arrives during remarkably challenging times, just as we need Rachel’s wisdom most. Rachel is a writer with one goal: to help people choose love as much as humanly possible. A New York Times bestselling author, her latest book is Live Love Now: Relieve the Pressure and Find Real Connection with Our Kids. She’s also the New York Times bestselling author of Hands Free Mama, Hands Free Life, and Only Love Today; a certified special education teacher with a Master’s Degree in education; an in-demand speaker featured on CNN, Good Morning America, Global News, TIME.com, FoxNews.com, as well as in hundreds of other online and print publications and a beloved blogger who inspires millions in her weekly blog posts at HandsFreeMama.com and through her supportive Facebook community, The Hands Free Revolution. Like so many of her followers, I stumbled upon Rachel’s work years ago, and her writing immediately became a light on my path to more fully live my purpose. I'm so grateful that I had this time to talk with Rachel, to explore the threads of presence and authenticity that weave through so much of her journey, to understand that facing our truths is just the beginning of unexpected invitations, and to remember what’s possible for our children to live a present-filled, purpose-filled life when we step forward to do that first.  This conversation with Rachel and her beautiful new book, which I hope you will get and savor as I have been doing, will make you want to show up for yourself and your children in profound new ways and to embody her underlying message, to Live Love Now. Much appreciation, P.S. Know someone who would love this conversation? Pay this forward to a friend who may be interested.   This Episode is Dedicated by Samantha Arsenault Samantha Arsenault Livingstone is an Olympic gold medalist, high-performance consultant, mental health educator, speaker, and entrepreneur – and she’s a mother of four and recovering perfectionist. Samantha holds a master's degree in education and spent six years teaching high school science and coaching swimming. After a near-death experience with her then 12- month old daughter, Samantha knew it was time to pay forward all she's learned about achievement, emotional resilience, rising from failure, and finding happiness. In 2016, Samantha founded Livingstone High Performance in response to the mental health crisis impacting adolescents across the globe, specifically those in the athletic arena. LHP provides pillars of support to organizations, teams, and individuals to elevate mental health and improve performance, and build a more empowered village. In addition to private and group coaching, Samantha offers online courses and consults with teams and organizations on athlete wellness initiatives, leadership, strategic planning, rising skills, and developing high-performance cultures. She is a certified instructor of Mindful Sport Performance Enhancement and Mental Health First Aid. Samantha is an engaging public speaker who has more than 19 years of experience, which includes her TEDx Talk: The Weight of Gold: An Olympian’s Path to Recovery. She’s been featured as a keynote speaker, expert panelist, workshop facilitator, and seminar leader. She’s worked with high-school, collegiate, and professional athletes in a group and 1:1 setting; school districts; athletic departments; coaching organizations; women in business groups; wellness entrepreneurs; and national governing bodies, most notably, USA Swimming. Samantha and her husband, Rob, live in the Berkshires with their four girls. To learn more about her offerings, go over to www.samanthalivingstone.com. To learn more about her offerings, go over to www.samantha livingstone.com. You can join Samantha’s FREE 5-Day I AM CHALLENGE at www.samanthalivingstone.com/i-am-challenge   Facebook @slivingstonewellness Instagram @slivingstn Linkedin @sarsenaultlivingstone   In This Episode We Talk About: The way Rachel's mother gave her the gift of “presence” even when she couldn't be physically present.   Rachel's quest for purpose and the legacy she wants to leave How reflecting on the question "How do I do it all?" on a run one day became the "spark moment" that pushed Rachel to choose herself What Rachel means by her connection to her "dreamer girl" Why facing the truth is really just the beginning What it means when Rachel says to her children "I want to love you by your book."  Hands-Free Mama as a way of being The pressure and insecurity of online life and how screentime distraction becomes the biggest obstacle to living purpose-filled The 3 roles that will allow us to walk beside our kids Finding your place of refuge and helping your kids find theirs How we can "find our people" by doing the things our heart calls us to do The tear-filled pledge I made to Rachel, reading from a promise in her book on p.57  This Week's Challenge: For this week’s challenge, Rachel encourages us to think about any hurtful comments, criticism, consciously and unconsciously, that we’ve been carrying around that’s holding us back from truly fulfilling our purpose. Reflect on it and slowly turn that pain into purpose.   Learn More About Rachel Macy Stafford   Rachel Macy Stafford is the New York Times bestselling author of Hands Free Mama, Hands Free Life, and Only Love Today. Her fourth book, Live Love Now, releases in April 2020. Rachel is a certified special education teacher who helps people overcome distraction and perfection to live better and love more. Rachel's work has been featured on CNN, Good Morning America, Global News, TIME.com, FoxNews.com, as well as in hundreds of other online and print publications. Her blog (www.handsfreemama.com) currently averages one million visitors a month. Rachel loves taking long walks, baking, and volunteering with homeless cats and nursing home residents. Rachel lives in the South with her husband and two daughters who inspire her daily. Follow Rachel on Social Media HandsFreeMama.com Facebook: @TheHandsFreeRevolution         Instagram: @HandsFreeRevolution Twitter: @HandsFreeMama   Resources Mentioned: Live Love Now: Relieve the Pressure and Find Real Connection with Our Kids by Rachel Macy Stafford Hands Free Mama: A Guide to Putting Down the Phone, Burning the To-Do List, and Letting Go of Perfection to Grasp What Really Matters! By Rachel Macy Stafford What’s Wonderful About a Phone-Conquering, Heart-Led Teen? Find Out For Yourself Being a Mess Becomes a Comfort, Not a Curse, In Just One Ask iGen: Why Today's Super-Connected Kids are Growing Less Rebellious, More Tolerant, Less Happy and Completely Unprepared for Adulthood by Dr. Jean M. Twenge Announcements: Honoring George Floyd By Stepping Into Empathy And Action I want to acknowledge the pain and horror so many of us are feeling at the killing of another black man by a police officer, in the death of George Floyd. Rachel’s gift is to invite us to be present and purposeful in our lives and that same presence and purpose calls us now to take that pain and turn it into deeper understanding and action. To support that, in the show notes, I’m including a link to an episode I recorded a few years ago with the co-founder of Mother’s Against Police Brutality Sara Mokuria, and to a set of Anti-Racism resources that Rachel shared in a post, she wrote today. Also in that post, Rachel offered these words from her new book Live Love Now, that I invite us to sit with, along with a few moments of silence, to honor George Floyd, and so many other men like him. "What if we responded to the injustices inflicted on human lives with empathy and action rather than defensiveness or apathy? What if we lived as if we truly believed it’s not 'your back' or 'my back,' but 'our back'?"   Resources Mentioned in the Opening Call to Action in Honor of George Floyd:  Ep33: Beyond the Trauma: Legacy, Compassion and Change with Mother’s Against Police Brutality Co-Founder Sara Mokuria Anti-Racism Resources   The Mother's Quest Manifesto Challenge is technically over, but the Reflection Journal, live videos, and reflective prompts are all still waiting for you in the Mother's Quest Facebook Group. Follow along at your own pace by registering here: www.mothersquest.com/manifestochallenge and coming on over to the private group here.    If you enjoy the Mother’s Quest Podcast, we’d love your support in sharing this or another favorite episode with a mother you think would appreciate it too!  Another way to help spread the word is to leave a review at Apple Podcasts. Instructions for leaving a review are here: How to leave a rating or review for a podcast from your iPhone or iPad On your iOS mobile device, launch Apple's Podcast app. Tap the Search tab in the lower right corner of the screen. Enter the name of the podcast you want to rate or review. ... Tap the Reviews tab, then tap “Write a Review” at the bottom of the screen.   Acknowledgments: A big THANK YOU to our “patrons” for helping to bring these conversations to myself and other mothers through financial and/or in-kind support: Vickie Giambra Casey O'Roarty of Joyful Courage Kathie Moehlig or TransFamily Support Services Anne Ferguson of MamaFuel On the Move and etsuko Kubo Kate Amoo-Gottfried Nicole Lee Olivia Parr-Rud "Vince" of the While Black Podcast Sara Brannin-Mooser Lindsay Pera Julie Castro Abrams Alexia Vernon Brooke Markevicius Democracy Clothing Michael Skolnik Helgi Maki Kari Azuma Tamara Sobomehin Katie Krimitsos Carrie Caulfield Arick Rachel Rosen Chandra Brooks Jen Simon Monisha Vasa Celia Ward-Wallace Vanessa Couto Desiree Adaway Rachel Steinman Katie Hanus Denise Barreto  Sage B. Hobbs  Samantha Nolan-Smith Jody Smith Emily Cretella Collette Flanagan Titilayo Tinubu Ali  Carly Magnus Hurt Lizzy Russinko  Suzanne Brown Mara Berns Langer Mallory Schlabach  Katharine Earhart Jessica Kupferman Jen Jenkins Dohner Genese Harris Tonya Rineer Liane Louie-Badua Cristin Downs  Erin Kendall  Niko Osoteo  Erik Newton  Claire Fry Divya Silbermann Rachel Winter Caren and Debbie Lieberman Cameron Miranda Fran and David Lieberman Debbie and Alan Goore The Sustainable Living Podcast Samantha Arsenault Support the Podcast If you’d like to make a contribution to Mother’s Quest to support Season Four of the Podcast and/or help provide coaching scholarships for mothers, follow this link to make a contribution. If you would like to “dedicate” an upcoming episode to a special mother in your life, email me at julie@mothersquest.com --- Mother's Quest is a podcast for moms who are ready to live a truly E.P.I.C. life. Join in for intimate conversations with a diverse group of inspiring mothers as they share how they are living an E.P.I.C. life, Engaging mindfully with their children (E), Passionately and Purposefully making a difference beyond their family (P), Investing in themselves (I), and Connecting to a strong support network (C). Join our community of mothers to light the way and sustain you on your quest at https://www.facebook.com/groups/mothersquest/  

Today I talk with Rachel Macy Stafford, the Hands Free Mama. She's a mom, New York Times Bestselling Author, and we're talking today all about the idea of living as our authentic selves rather than seeking perfectionism in who we think we are expected to be, and how living this way in our own lives can lead to true connection and less pressure on our kids.  This conversation encouraged me so much, and no matter if you're a parent or not, this will resonate with you. Links Live Love Now Book Rachel's Website Find Rachel on Instagram Find Desirae on Instagram Podcast Website Simple Morning Lists Sponsors Book of the Month- Use code Minimal-ish to get your first book for 9.99 Feals- Get 50% off your first month Little Passports- Use code Minimalish to get 15% off any subscription.  

Today you're in for a real treat because my good friend Rachel Stafford is here to spread some wisdom on parenting through this unprecedented time. Rachel is the founder and author of Hands Free Mama, a revolution to let go of all distractions so we can show up as the best parents we can be for our kids. She is also the author of her new book, Live Love Now, which tackles the biggest challenges kids face today and how adults can help them face these stressors with love, compassion, and acceptance. You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/3bwzmYW  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today you're in for a real treat because my good friend Rachel Stafford is here to spread some wisdom on parenting through this unprecedented time. Rachel is the founder and author of Hands Free Mama, a revolution to let go of all distractions so we can show up as the best parents we can be for our kids. She is also the author of her new book, Live Love Now, which tackles the biggest challenges kids face today and how adults can help them face these stressors with love, compassion, and acceptance. You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/3bwzmYW 

Rachel Stafford has started a revolution around what I believe is one of the most important concepts in the world today: identifying and combating distractions. The author of Hands Free Mama, which is one of my favorite books of all time, Rachel joins the show to talk about how important it is to break out of the fog of distraction and to-dos in order to be present for your children. You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/2Wz4mkD Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rachel Stafford has started a revolution around what I believe is one of the most important concepts in the world today: identifying and combating distractions. The author of Hands Free Mama, which is one of my favorite books of all time, Rachel joins the show to talk about how important it is to break out of the fog of distraction and to-dos in order to be present for your children. You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/2Wz4mkD

Each month I re-release an older episode of Surviving Sarah and I decided to re-release my conversation with Rachel Stafford for December. You may know her as the Hands Free Mama. She is a best selling author penning the books Hands Free Mama, Hands Free Life and Only Love Today.   Rachel is one of those people who have been influential in my life—even without her knowing it. I can remember reading her blog back when Sinclair was about 2 or 3 years old and her words were such an encouragement to me. And now we live close to each other and she has been gracious to give me some of her time for morning walks to talk about life, faith, parenting and writing. I think she is such an amazing woman.   I chose to put this episode back in your ears because we are standing at the cusp of a new year and I think this conversation will set you up for 2019. This conversation originally took place on the cusp of 2017 and what we discussed greatly impacted me. And I still reference what we talked about often and practice the phrases that we said on a near daily basis.  If you want to be the best you that you can be, then this episode is a must listen.    Click here for the original show notes from this episode.   Connect with Sarah: website// Facebook// Instagram// twitter// Pinterest// YouTube

In this episode, Garth and Dara talk with Rachel Macy Stafford, the Hands Free Mama. Before starting her hands free movement, Rachel felt like she was holding on to the wrong things and missing out on life. She is fun and insightful and open to sharing her brilliance with others. She shares her story about what she went through and how she was able to shift her perspective and discover new meaning in life. Check it out, you’ll be glad you listened! RESOURCES:For information on Rachel, check out her blog, Hands Free Mama: https://www.handsfreemama.com/about-me/Follow her on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheHandsFreeRevolutionFollow her on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/handsfreerevolution/Check out the following posts for help and inspiration from Rachel:https://www.handsfreemama.com/2018/09/06/whats-wonderful-about-a-phone-conquering-heart-led-teen-find-out-for-yourself/https://www.handsfreemama.com/2017/12/15/tether-yourself-the-enlightening-talk-parents-arent-having-can-keep-teens-from-a-damaging-drift/Sign up to be notified when Rachel’s online course, Soul Shift, is open for registration in January:https://my.handsfreemama.comYou can learn more about Garth and Dara on their websites and on social media: You can learn more about Garth and Dara on their websites and on social media:Garth’s website: www.napkinnotes.comDara’s website: www.crazyperfectlife.comGarth’s Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/napkinnotes/Dara’s Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/crazyperfectlife/Garth’s Instagram Page: https://www.instagram.com/napkinnotesdad/Dara’s Instagram Page: https://www.instagram.com/crazyperflife/The FREE closed Crush Cancer Facebook Group, to sign up for Dara’s FREE Crush Cancer Bootcamp: https://www.facebook.com/groups/183817682165909/?multi_permalinks=248590082355335¬if_id=1527598690123875¬if_t=feedback_reaction_generic

Sheila and Maria discuss the use of technology and screen-time in the home including studies on the impact of these behaviors on our developing children and drawing on decades of experience observing and working with families as they have navigated these types of decisions.   "So your kids must love the iPad?" I asked Mr. Steve Jobs, trying to change the subject, the company's first tablet was just hitting the shelves. "They haven't used it," he told me "we limit how much technology our kids use at home." - New York Times article, September 2014, by Nick Bilton   Revisiting the theme of less-is-more, we believe that the same concept applies when it comes to screen time for our families. The evidence suggests that an increased use of technology is changing the way our children are wired to think, it is affecting their focus and contributing to an increase in emotional and behavioral issues. But it is not just these things that cause us to desire less technology in our families lives, we also have to consider the tradeoffs, what technology is taking away from them: time to play, explore the outdoors, be creative, and be in their bodies, activities which are all vitally important for our children.   Resources From This Episode The Pediatric Academic Society Study, 2017: http://www.aappublications.org/news/2017/05/04/PASScreenTime050417 U.S. National Survey by the Kaiser Family Foundation, 2010: https://www.kff.org/other/event/generation-m2-media-in-the-lives-of/ Marie Winn, The Plug-In Drug: https://www.amazon.com/Plug-Drug-Television-Computers-Family/dp/0142001082 Jane M. Healy, Endangered Minds: https://www.amazon.com/Endangered-Minds-Children-Think-About/dp/0684856204 James P. Steyer, The Other Parent: http://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Other-Parent/James-P-Steyer/9780743405836 Victoria L. Dunckley, Reset Your Child's Brain: https://drdunckley.com/reset-your-childs-brain/ Dr. Delaney Ruston, Screenagers: https://www.screenagersmovie.com/ Rachel Macy Stafford, Hands Free Mama: https://www.handsfreemama.com/  

Rachel Macy Stafford was missing life. Her planner bulged, her phone buzzed, her calendar constantly full. In a painful moment of realization, Rachel discovered she was choosing distraction over connection with her young family—and she decided enough was enough. In 2010, she started the Hands Free Mama blog, where she documents her journey to slow down and focus on what truly matters. Since then Rachel has become the New York Times bestselling author of three books: Hands Free Mama, Hands Free Life, and Only Love Today. In our conversation, Rachel tells us what living “hands free” means and gives us practical tools to help us slow down. We talk about how to teach our kids to use technology, how to let go of mom guilt, and what kids really want to do with their parents this summer (spoiler alert: it’s not going to Disney World).

Rachel Macy Stafford is the New York Times bestselling author of Hands Free Mama, Hands Free Life, and Only Love Today, and this week she joins Meagan in a special bonus interview episode of The Mom Hour. In this episode, Rachel and Meagan discuss Rachel’s journey from being a stressed-out, over-scheduled mom to scaling back The post Only Love Today with Rachel Macy Stafford: Voices 10 appeared first on The Mom Hour.

My guest today on today’s show is my friend Rachel Macy Stafford.  She is sharing bite-sized portions of her personal revelations in a beautiful new book, Only Love Today: Reminders to Breathe More, Stress Less and Choose Love. Her previous two books were best sellers, and her blog, HandsFreeMama.com, has been read by millions, and referenced by Arianna Huffington during a Wisdom 2.0 conference. The reference, and a recommendation from my wife, prompted me to reach out to Rachel a few years ago, and we’ve become friends since then.   Rachel was once one of the many people who let their phone take precedence over their time, their children, and their life. She had what she calls a breakdown/breakthrough moment, which miraculously provoked her hand to put down the phone. In an effort to take her life back, she started with a small break from the technology, so she could start to breathe again. Her story resonates with so many of us, because many of us are experiencing the same struggles, especially in the fast-paced, technology obsessed world in which we live.  In today’s episode, Rachel and I discuss how to take back our lives and focus on what truly matters.   Key Takeaways: [2:49] What does ‘bring your whole self to work,’ mean to Rachel? [3:55] Rachel was often asked how she did it all. [6:30] How can the people we love connect with us, if we don’t slow down? [10:48] The Hands Free Mama blog held Rachel accountable to her goals. [14:23] Rachel describes the challenges and opportunities of living a Hands Free Life. [21:48] Rachel was surprised at how relieved she felt to get her time back. [24:05] Inspiration came from a child’s face and a message from God.   Resources: Mike Robbins Website Mike Robbins Podcast Mike Robbins on Facebook Mike Robbins on Twitter Hands Free Momma Hands Free Revolution on Facebook Only Love Today: Reminders to Breathe More, Stress Less, and Choose Love, by Rachel Macy Stafford    

Today on Small Changes Big Shifts we have Rachel Macy Stafford. Rachel is the New York Times bestselling author of Only Love Today, Hands Free Mama, and Hands Free Life. Rachel is a certified special education teacher who provides readers with practical and motivating methods to let go of worldly distractions so they can live authentic and fulfilling lives. Since starting the blog Hands Free Mama in 2010, Rachel’s work has been featured in USA Today, TIME.com, MSN.com, FoxNews.com, Reader’s Digest, and she has appeared on CNN, Good Morning America, The Today Show, and Global News. Rachel loves being outdoors, baking, volunteering with homeless cats, and visiting nursing home residents. She lives in the South with her husband and two daughters who inspire her daily.

Rachel Stafford joins me for Episode 58. You may know her as the Hands Free Mama. She is is a wife and mother to girls, special ed teacher, blogger and New York Times best-selling author. When I started the podcast, Rachel was at the top of the list to people to invite to the kitchen table. I have been reading her blog for years and she has unknowingly been instrumental in helping me be a better mother. Our conversation is one of my favorite episodes. I can't tell you how many notes I took and moments of just enlightenment that I experienced. I relate so well to Rachel and I'm thankful for her insight and encouragement. We talk about how to choose love today, how to let go of control and expectations and how failing is not as bad as we think. So pull up a chair to my kitchen table and join the conversation. I hope you enjoyed my conversation with Rachel. I had so many takeaways from chatting with her. I'll include all of them in the Show Notes over at SurvivingSarah.com but the one I want to mention here the phrases that she used for herself and her kids. Phrases like "Be kind to yourself," and "We all make mistakes." I have been using those since we recorded. Sometimes you just need someone to tell you exactly what to say. The other one is "Only love today." I can't tell you how many times I have looked in the mirror and my first thought was something negative, but then I chose to say "only love today" and "be kind to yourself." I do believe that those words have the power to retrain our mind. What part of our conversation struck you? Let's not let the conversation end here. Come find me @sarahwbragg on Instagram or Twitter or SurvivingSarahPodcast on Facebook. Here's what i love about our guests on the show--they are so generous. so many of them give away products over on my Instagram. So if you are not following me there, then you are missing out on some potential winnings! This week, I would love it if you left a 5 star review of the show on iTunes. I know you hear me say that all the time, but it really does help women just like you find the show. So if there was a certain episode or just something that you love about the show, let iTunes know! Thank you again for listening. And as always, I hope that this show helps you survive a little easier. 

With all of the distractions in our lives, how do we live in order to create meaningful relationships with our children? Where does our time with work, technology, and household duties fit in with the little people in our lives? And how to we communicate with our children in order to build their trust? Kathi and Erin talk with Hands Free Mama, Rachel Stafford, about Hands Free Life: Nine Habits for Overcoming Distraction, Living Better, and Loving More.

Gratitude is a virtue that has received a LOT of attention from researchers in the past decade or thereabouts. It seems as though the most sure-fire way for many people to become happier is to be grateful. And because gratitude is such a simple concept for most people to understand (and because most people are fairly grateful anyway), it is a simple principle to practice in family life to improve everyone's wellbeing, and make our families happier. Show notes How can gratitude make your family happier? In this episode I suggest that parents: * Model grateful behaviour * Have conversations about grateful things * Create a gratitude tree * Carry a gratitude rock * Keep a gratitude diary/journal This week's parenting hack For great ways to connect with your kids, grab a copy of Hands Free Mama by Rachel Macy Stafford.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.