This week on Girls Night, we’re doing something a little different — and incredibly special. As my twins turn five (how?!), I’ve been reflecting on everything I wish I could go back and tell myself before becoming a mom. The fears, the hopes, the questions, the emotions — the moments when I looked around and thought, “This is not what I ordered.” So in today’s episode, I’m sharing four letters I wrote to the woman I was before motherhood — the woman who was wondering… 💌 Who will I be after I become a mom? 💌 What will kids do to our marriage? 💌 What if something goes wrong? What if the world is too scary? 💌 What if I mess this up? If you’re planning, trying, pregnant, or simply wondering if you’ll ever feel “ready,” these letters are for you. They’re honest, tender, hopeful, and full of the things I wish someone would have told me years ago. We’ll talk about what actually happens to your identity, how marriage shifts (and strengthens), how to navigate fear in a world that feels overwhelming, and why motherhood isn’t something you download — it’s something you grow into. And if these letters resonate with you, you can get the full series for free at StephanieMayWilson.com/letters — they’re yours to keep or share with a friend who needs them. At the end of the episode, I’ll also share more about Becoming Mama — the course my best friend Kelsey (a brilliant therapist) and I created to help you prepare emotionally, mentally, and practically for this huge transition. It’s the roadmap we wish we’d had, and enrollment is open for just a few more days. Wherever you are on the path to motherhood, friend — you’re not alone. I’m right here with you. Mentioned in this episode: 💛 Love Your Single Life [https://stephaniemaywilson.com/singlelife] 💛 Just Married [https://stephaniemaywilson.com/justmarried] 💛 Becoming Mama [https://stephaniemaywilson.com/becomingmama] 🛒 Stephanie’s Journals & Guides [https://stephaniemaywilsonshop.com/] Stay connected: 📸 Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/smaywilson/] 🌐 Website [https://stephaniemaywilson.com/] 💌 Join the Girls Night Community [https://stephaniemaywilson.com/email] Podcast Sponsors: - Antique Candle Co. - BetterHelp - NIV Application Bible - Piper and Leaf Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

All season long, we’ve been talking about what I call The Everything Era—that season when you have to make so many of the biggest, most consequential decisions of your life all at once. It’s full of possibility, but it’s also full of pressure—especially when some of those decisions don’t seem to fit together very well. And one of the trickiest examples of that is the tension between career and motherhood. What happens when the rhythm that used to work suddenly doesn’t anymore? When the version of success you used to chase doesn’t quite fit the life you have now? Or when your family needs you in one way, but your career seems to demand something entirely different? My guest today is Neha Ruch, founder of Mother Untitled and author of The Power Pause: How to Plan a Career Break After Kids—and Come Back Stronger Than Ever. Through her work, Neha is helping women rethink what it means to take a pause in their careers after having kids—showing that stepping back doesn’t mean stepping away from your ambition. She’s helping us reimagine this in-between space as a powerful, intentional season of reflection and realignment—a chance to build a life and career that actually work together, not against each other. Whether you’re already a mom, planning for motherhood, or just thinking about what your next chapter might hold, this conversation will give you permission to press pause—not out of fear or failure, but as a power move. Alright friends, let’s dive in. Here’s my conversation with Neha Ruch. Mentioned in this episode: 💛 The Power Pause 💛 Love Your Single Life [https://stephaniemaywilson.com/singlelife] 💛 Just Married [https://stephaniemaywilson.com/justmarried] 💛 Becoming Mama [https://stephaniemaywilson.com/becomingmama] 🛒 Stephanie’s Journals & Guides [https://stephaniemaywilsonshop.com/] Stay connected: 📸 Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/smaywilson/] 📸 Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/neha_ruch] 🌐 Website [https://stephaniemaywilson.com/] 💌 Join the Girls Night Community [https://stephaniemaywilson.com/email] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sometimes life doesn’t go the way we planned. The job ends, the relationship shifts, the dream unravels — and we’re left standing in the in-between, wondering how to trust again. In this episode of our Not the Life I Ordered series, we’re talking about what it looks like to start dreaming again after disappointment. We’ll talk about rebuilding hope, rediscovering curiosity, and learning to believe that the story of your life might still turn out beautifully — even if it looks nothing like you imagined. Mentioned in this episode: 💛 Love Your Single Life [https://stephaniemaywilson.com/singlelife] 💛 Just Married [https://stephaniemaywilson.com/justmarried] 💛 Becoming Mama [https://stephaniemaywilson.com/becomingmama] 🛒 Stephanie’s Journals & Guides [https://stephaniemaywilsonshop.com/] Stay connected: 📸 Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/smaywilson/] 🌐 Website [https://stephaniemaywilson.com/] 💌 Join the Girls Night Community [https://stephaniemaywilson.com/email] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you’ve been feeling disconnected lately — like everyone else has their people and somehow you just… don’t — you’re not alone. In this episode, we’re talking about why friendships fade, why loneliness doesn’t mean something’s wrong with you, and how to start again. Stephanie shares the five most common kinds of disconnection, what science says about why friendship really matters, and a simple recipe for rebuilding the kind of circle every woman needs. 💛 Listen in, share this episode with a friend who might need it too, and remember: you’re not behind — you’re just between circles. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This season, we’ve been talking about what to do when you look around at your life and think, “Wait… this is not what I ordered.” Maybe things didn’t turn out the way you thought they would — and now you’re asking those big, scary, beautiful questions: Who am I now? What do I want? Where do I go from here? But for a lot of us who grew up in church, those questions can feel… complicated. Because somewhere along the way, we were taught that it’s wrong to want things. That it’s dangerous to trust ourselves. That being a “good Christian woman” means making yourself smaller — dying to yourself, staying quiet, and serving everyone else first. Today we’re having a conversation I think so many of us need — about what faith actually asks of us. Our guest is Dr. Alison Cook, a therapist, host of The Best of You podcast, and author of the bestselling book by the same name. Alison is an expert at the intersection of faith and psychology. She helps women heal from past wounds, develop a strong sense of self, and experience a loving God who is for them — not asking them to disappear. We’re going to talk about what self-denial really means, how to know when faith has turned into self-erasure, and what it looks like to follow Jesus without losing yourself in the process. You ready? Let’s jump into my conversation with Alison! Mentioned in this episode: 💛 Love Your Single Life [https://stephaniemaywilson.com/singlelife] 💛 Just Married [https://stephaniemaywilson.com/justmarried] 💛 Becoming Mama [https://stephaniemaywilson.com/becomingmama] 🛒 Stephanie’s Journals & Guides [https://stephaniemaywilsonshop.com/] Stay connected: 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smaywilson/ | https://www.instagram.com/dralisoncook/ 🌐 Website: https://stephaniemaywilson.com/ 💌 Join the Girls Night Community: https://stephaniemaywilson.com/email Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Have you ever woken up one day and thought, “I don’t even know who I am anymore?” Maybe it’s after motherhood, a breakup, a big move, burnout, or even after finally reaching a goal you worked so hard for — and suddenly realizing it doesn’t feel the way you thought it would. Somewhere along the way, between the to-do lists and expectations, you lost touch with the person underneath it all. In this episode, we’re talking about how to find your way back. 💛 We’ll talk about: ✨ Why we lose touch with ourselves (and why it’s not a failure — it’s human) ✨ How to start hearing your own voice again ✨ Practical ways to rediscover what you love, need, and value in this season ✨ How to rebuild a life that feels like peace on the inside, not just success on the outside This isn’t a “self-care” conversation — it’s a coming home to yourself conversation. If you’ve been on autopilot, feeling disconnected from who you are, this episode will help you start to find your way back — gently, honestly, one small step at a time. So grab a cozy drink and join me — let’s reintroduce you to you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on Girls Night, we’re asking one of the biggest — and maybe most important — questions we can ask ourselves: Do you like your life? And even more — do you believe you’re allowed to? So many of us have followed all the rules, checked all the boxes, and built the kind of life we thought we were supposed to want — only to look around and wonder why it doesn’t feel like home. In this episode, we’re slowing down, taking inventory, and learning how to remodel the parts of our lives that no longer fit. We’ll walk room-by-room through your “life house” — your relationships, your body, your work, your faith, your family, your joy — and ask some simple but powerful questions: 👉 Does this still fit me? 👉 Do I like it? 👉 What might need to change? This isn’t about burning it all down. It’s about noticing what’s working, what’s not, and making small, thoughtful changes that help your life feel like you again. If you’ve been trudging along a path that feels uphill and exhausting, this episode will help you find a new route — one that’s easier, freer, and a lot more beautiful. Resources Mentioned: Love Your Single Life Just Married Becoming Mama Stephanie’s Journals & Guides Let’s be friends! Instagram Website Join the Girls Night Community Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Have you ever felt like you were doing everything “right” — checking every box, following every rule — and still ending up restless, disappointed, or wondering, Is this really the life I want? In today’s episode, we’re talking about something many of us rule-followers were never taught how to do: questioning authority. We’ll unpack: Where the formulas and “life scripts” we’ve been following actually came from How to recognize when a leader, community, or cultural voice doesn’t deserve authority in your life A practical vetting process for deciding who should get a seat at your table What to do when a leader you trusted lets you down How to quiet the noise of other people’s expectations and hear your own voice again If you’ve ever felt crushed by the weight of doing what you’re “supposed” to do, this episode will help you take a deep breath, release the old scripts, and start writing a life that truly fits. ✨ Resources & Links 📘 Create a Life You Love (my newest book) 💻 My online courses & journals 💍 Newlywed couples course — Just Married: StephanieMayWilson.com/JustMarried ❤️ Free resource to find a counselor you can trust: StephanieMayWilson.com/Counseling Make sure you’re subscribed so you don’t miss what’s ahead this season — because together we’re going to keep unpacking how to let go of other people’s expectations and rebuild a life that feels like home. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Season 22 is here — and Girls Night just turned 8! In this special kickoff, Stephanie introduces our new series, Not the Life I Ordered, a single, long, rolling conversation about what to do when your life doesn’t look or feel the way you thought it would — especially in The Everything Era, when all the biggest decisions arrive at once. You’ll hear the origin story of Girls Night, why this season is different, why so many of us feel disoriented and isolated right now, and a simple practice to turn down the noise so you can hear (and trust) your own voice again. Stephanie also guides you through three clarifying questions and leaves you with four grounding reminders — including this one: It’s not too late. In this episode: • The Everything Era (and why you’re not behind) • When the formula “A + B = C” fails you • The people-pleaser’s trap • How to create quiet in a noisy world • A guided reflection to name what’s hard (and why it helps) Resource mentioned: What to Say Script Guide — practical, word-for-word responses for uncomfortable family questions (marriage, kids, timelines & more): stephaniemaywilsonshop.com If this resonates, please follow/subscribe and leave a quick rating & review — it helps more women find the show. And say hi! DM or email me — I truly write back. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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Hey friend, welcome to Girls Night — a podcast for women who are figuring out what's next.  Whether you're focused on career, dating, getting married, having kids, or honestly just trying to figure out your life right now — this show gives you expert guidance and practical next steps to create a life you genuinely love, not one someone else thinks you should live. I'm Stephanie May Wilson — 9x author, TEDx speaker, and your host here at girls night and in each episode, we tackle the questions that keep so many of us up at 2 AM — like what to say when people ask invasive questions about your life choices, how to stop comparing your timeline to everyone else's, and most importantly, how to figure out what you actually want and what your next right step is to get there. As we’re trying to figure out our lives, you might find yourself running into some obstacles and wondering, “Is this normal?” Does everybody struggle with this or am I the only one?” Or maybe like me, you've had several friends receive ADHD diagnoses recently, and you're wondering,”What about me? Am I neurotypical? Or are there some things that are different and unique about my brain too?” Friend, in this episode you're going to hear from Greer Jones. Greer is the host of The Unfinished Idea podcast and a passionate advocate for neurodivergent families, helping others build lives that actually work for their unique brains.  I learned SO much from this conversation. I can’t wait for you to hear it.  Resources Mentioned: → "We Need to Talk" guide with scripts for 44 difficult conversations https://stephaniemaywilsonshop.com/products/we-need-to-talk-scripts-for-44-of-lifes-most-difficult-conversations → Love Your Single Life course for building confidence and navigating dating conversations https://stephaniemaywilson.com/SingleLife → Just Married course for newlyweds learning to navigate conflict and communication https://stephaniemaywilson.com/JustMarried → Becoming Mama course for advocating for yourself during pregnancy and early motherhood https://stephaniemaywilson.com/becomingmama → Create A Life You Love book https://stephaniemaywilson.com/create Connect with Girls Night: 🎧 New episodes every week: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/girls-night-with-stephanie-may-wilson/id1278993781 📱 Follow @SMayWilson on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smaywilson/ 💌 Weekly newsletter with exclusive content https://stephaniemaywilson.com/email 🌐 Show notes and resources https://www.girlsnightpodcast.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Do you ever feel like everything on your to-do list is important? Like, genuinely important? And you want to do it all well, but you're also feeling completely overwhelmed and maybe a little burned out? If you just nodded your head, this episode is for you. I'm sitting down with my new friend Alexandra Kaval — who coaches ambitious women through exactly this struggle. And friends, this conversation is going to give you permission to think differently about your priorities and actually provide you with a roadmap for getting unstuck. We're talking about the big rocks method, why the things we get distracted by are never as important as the things we get distracted from - that's an Andy Stanley quote that will stick with you - and honestly, some pretty vulnerable stuff about how to rank the people in your life when you can't say yes to everyone. This is one of those conversations that's going to make you want to grab a notebook because Ali shares some really practical tools that you can start using today. So let's dive in. Resources Mentioned: → Join the email fam to receive instant access to our 15-minute coaching workshop → Apply for your complimentary clarity call for 1:1 coaching to live your most intentional, Christ-centered life both personally & professionally → Apply for Flourish - GSCC's Mastermind to grow your business, ground your faith, and cultivate community → "We Need to Talk" guide with scripts for 44 difficult conversations https://stephaniemaywilsonshop.com/products/we-need-to-talk-scripts-for-44-of-lifes-most-difficult-conversations → Love Your Single Life course for building confidence and navigating dating conversations https://stephaniemaywilson.com/SingleLife → Just Married course for newlyweds learning to navigate conflict and communication https://stephaniemaywilson.com/JustMarried → Becoming Mama course for advocating for yourself during pregnancy and early motherhood https://stephaniemaywilson.com/becomingmama → Create A Life You Love book https://stephaniemaywilson.com/create Connect with Girls Night: 🎧 New episodes every week: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/girls-night-with-stephanie-may-wilson/id1278993781 📱 Follow @SMayWilson on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smaywilson/ 💌 Weekly newsletter with exclusive content https://stephaniemaywilson.com/email 🌐 Show notes and resources https://www.girlsnightpodcast.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ever wonder how happy couples actually divide up household tasks without constant arguments? In this candid conversation, Stephanie sits down with her husband Carl to reveal the ONE thing that transformed their marriage: figuring out who does what around the house. After 11 years of marriage, they've cracked the code on avoiding resentment, eliminating daily arguments about chores, and creating a system that actually works. They share their real-life examples (including Carl's Marie Kondo folding methods vs. Stephanie's "bomb went off" approach), how they handle disagreements, and why clarity is the secret to feeling seen and appreciated. Whether you're newlyweds, engaged, or just tired of fighting about the dishwasher, this episode gives you practical tools to create your own system that works for YOUR relationship. What You'll Learn: How to inventory and assign household tasks fairly Why traditional gender roles don't have to dictate your marriage Real examples of how Carl and Stephanie divide everything from laundry to meal planning How to handle tasks you both hate (hint: outsourcing isn't just for the wealthy) The importance of acknowledging and appreciating each other's contributions Resources Mentioned: Fair Play by Eve Rodsky: [Book Link] Eve Rodsky's Girls Night Interview: [Episode Link] Just Married Course: stephaniemaywilson.com/justmarried Household Tasks Spreadsheet (available to Just Married and Becoming Mama students) Connect with Stephanie: Instagram: @SMayWilson Website: stephaniemaywilson.com Email: hello@stephaniemaywilson.com If this episode helped you, please leave a quick rating and review - it makes such a difference in helping other couples find these conversations! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Have you ever rehearsed a difficult conversation perfectly in the shower but completely froze when it came time to actually have it? Maybe you're avoiding setting a boundary with a friend, dreading the "where is this relationship going?" talk, or putting off asking for help when you're overwhelmed. If you've ever lost sleep over conversations you know you need to have but keep putting off, this episode is for you. This episode is for you if you've ever felt like everyone else got a manual for how to navigate conflict while you're just winging it, caught yourself saying "yes" when you wanted to say "no" because you didn't know how to set boundaries, or worried that speaking up about your needs would damage your relationships instead of strengthening them. In this episode of Girls Night, Stephanie breaks down exactly how to prepare for and navigate life's most difficult conversations. You'll get word-for-word scripts, practical strategies, and the confidence to finally have those talks you've been avoiding. What You'll Learn: Why your Everything Era makes difficult conversations both more important and more challenging The six-step framework for preparing for any hard conversation (so you never freeze up again) When you need to speak up versus when to let things go (the key indicators that will save you from unnecessary conflict) What happens when we avoid these conversations (spoiler: we end up living smaller lives) Word-for-word scripts for three of the most common difficult conversations women face How to anticipate pushback and respond thoughtfully instead of defensively Why people-pleasers and highly sensitive people actually have an advantage in these conversations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today we're tackling something I know so many of you are dealing with as we head into summer family gathering season. Have you ever been at a family event when someone - let's call her Aunt Sharon - starts asking those pointed questions that somehow manage to hit every single insecurity you've been trying not to think about? You know the ones: 'So, are you seeing anyone special?' followed immediately by 'You're not getting any younger, you know.' Or maybe it's 'When are you giving me some grandchildren?' or 'Are you still doing that little blog thing?' Cue the internal screaming, right? Today we're diving into what I call 'The Aunt Sharon Effect' - why these well-meaning questions feel like such a gut punch, and most importantly, how to handle them with grace while protecting your own heart and mind. We'll cover practical scripts you can actually use, mindset shifts that will change everything, and how to walk away from these conversations feeling empowered instead of deflated. Because here's what I've learned: the way we handle these moments says so much about how confidently we're walking in our own authority. And building that confidence? That's exactly what we're going to work on today. Let's dive in! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Have you ever scrolled through Instagram seeing friend groups on vacation together, celebrating everything as a unit, and genuinely wondered, "How do they all live in the same city? How did they find each other? And how can I find my people?" Maybe you've moved somewhere new and you're still making small talk with acquaintances months later. Or you're tired of being the one who always has to reach out first, scheduling friend dates 30 days in advance like business meetings. If you've ever felt like everyone else has their tight-knit friend group figured out while you're still searching for yours, you're not alone. In this episode of Girls Night, Stephanie sits down with entrepreneur and community builder Liz Forkin Bohannon to talk about how to build the kind of intentional community we're all craving — even when you're starting from scratch. What You'll Learn: Why most Americans have friendship completely backwards (and the mindset shift that changes everything) The four pillars of building lasting community that actually work in real life Why you need to commit to consistency BEFORE you feel connected (not the other way around) The "look for the losers" strategy that's more effective than trying to break into existing friend groups How Liz went from knowing zero people in Portland to living next door to her best friends The practical steps they took to buy property together and create intentional community How to have difficult conversations that deepen trust instead of damaging relationships The science behind why friendship is literally a matter of life and death (the data will shock you) You'll relate to this episode if you've ever: felt like everyone else has their friend group figured out while you're still searching, moved somewhere new and struggled to build meaningful connections beyond small talk, or wondered if deep adult friendships are actually possible outside of college. We cover everything from why Americans live in isolation to practical steps for building community, from the loneliness of moving to a new city to creating support systems that last through every life stage. Stephanie shares about living nine minutes from her best friend in Spain and how it's revolutionizing her perspective on proximity and friendship. Liz vulnerably walks through her journey from complete isolation growing up to now sharing property with multiple families in Portland, proving that intentional community isn't just a dream — it's totally doable. Resources Mentioned: → Love Your Single Life course for navigating singleness with confidence https://stephaniemaywilson.com/single... → Just Married course for newlyweds building strong foundations https://stephaniemaywilson.com/justma... → Becoming Mama course for intentional motherhood preparation https://stephaniemaywilson.com/becomi... → Help finding (and affording!) a great therapist https://stephaniemaywilson.com/counse... Connect with Girls Night: 🎧 New episodes every week https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... 📱 Follow Stephanie on Instagram   / smaywilson   📱 Follow Liz on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/lizbohannon/?hl=en 💌 Weekly newsletter with exclusive content https://stephaniemaywilson.com/email 🌐 Show notes and resources https://www.girlsnightpodcast.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hey friend! Welcome to Girls Night — your home as you navigate your Everything Era. I'm Stephanie May Wilson, and if you've ever had to excuse yourself to cry in a bathroom at someone else's celebration, this episode is for you. You know the feeling, right? You're genuinely happy for your friend who just got engaged, promoted, or pregnant — but there's this other part that feels like each piece of good news for someone else somehow makes your own dreams less likely to come true. If you've ever wondered how to be happy for friends when you're struggling with jealousy of friends' success, you're absolutely not alone. Today, I'm giving you a complete survival kit for celebrating friends' success when you're still waiting for your own good news. We'll talk about navigating wedding jealousy when you're single, baby shower jealousy when you're trying to conceive, and promotion parties when you're job searching. But first, let me tell you about the day before my husband Carl proposed to me, when one of my good friends got engaged — and I completely broke down at an Italian restaurant. Because here's what I learned that changed everything: just because someone else got something before you doesn't mean they got it instead of you. Your story is still being written, and someone else's timeline doesn't determine yours. So grab your coffee, put in those earbuds, and let's dive in. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to Girls Night! This podcast is for every woman in her Everything Era — that wild decade where we're making the most significant decisions of our lives all at once. Whether you're second-guessing a career move, questioning a relationship decision, or wondering if you're making the right choices about your future — you're in the perfect place. Today's episode is especially close to my heart because it's about something I see constantly in our community: why we keep second-guessing our best decisions and how understanding your emotional patterns can help you stop letting fear masquerade as wisdom. I'm sharing the story of the night before my family moved to Spain — when I was lying in bed having a complete panic attack about a decision I knew was right — and the breakthrough that changed how I navigate decision-making anxiety forever. If you've ever made a thoughtful choice only to immediately start doubting yourself when things got uncomfortable, this episode will give you the tools to trust your decisions even when they feel scary. You'll learn to distinguish between "this feels hard because it's wrong" and "this feels hard because it's new." Let's dive in! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hey friend! Welcome to Girls Night! I'm beyond thrilled to share today's episode with you because I’m talking with my very best friend, Kelsey Bennett. Kelsey and I both took the leap and relocated our families to Spain just 10 months ago, and I'm so excited to dive into what our experience has been like navigating this significant life change. In this conversation, we'll explore the highs and lows of our journey so far, how we navigated the decision-making process, and what's on the horizon for both of our families. Fair warning, there were tears shed in this episode, but for a good reason! If you’re in the midst of working through a big decision in your own life and need encouragement for what to do next, then this conversation is for you.  Okay, let’s jump into my conversation with Kelsey!  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hey friend! Welcome to Girls Night! It's hot here in Granada, Spain - my family and I moved here last summer - which means I'm instantly desperate for a pool. I cannot wait to go swimming this summer, and as we speak, I'm trying to wiggle one last weekend getaway out of our hotel points before we head back to the US for the summer. But naturally, just like summer means swimming, swimming means swimsuits, which means we're all going to be dealing with our feelings about our bodies in a way we don't have to quite as directly when we're covered in spring dresses or winter coats. Today I wanted to get a little candid - okay, a LOT candid - and share with you what I've been sharing with my in-person friends at my real-life girls' nights lately. And that's how I'm feeling about my body these days, especially considering me and everybody else is about to see a lot more of it. If you're someone who dreads swimsuit season, who starts panicking about "getting beach body ready," or who has ever felt like your worth is tied to the number on the scale or the size of your jeans, this episode is for you. We're going to talk about what it really means to get your body image ready for summer - and spoiler alert, it has nothing to do with losing weight. Before we dive in, I want to acknowledge that everyone's experience with their body is different — and that for a lot of us, the one we have with our body is by FAR our hardest relationship. For some of us, talking about body is tender, for some of us, it’s THE MOST TENDER THING. And my hope for this episode is that I’ve been able to create a safe space for you to process, no matter your experience. And if you find a place where I inevitably fell short, please forgive me in advance. If you've struggled with your weight your whole life, if you've been in a bigger body and faced discrimination because of it, if you've dealt with health issues - your experience is valid, and your feelings are valid. This conversation isn't meant to dismiss the real challenges that some people face, including the very real ways that society treats different bodies differently. What I am saying is that regardless of your starting point, regardless of your body size or shape, you deserve to feel at home in your body. You deserve to define what health means for you. And while mindset work can't erase societal discrimination, it can help you reclaim some power in how you relate to your own body. We’ll chat more about this in the episode. Let’s dive in! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices