Climb Your Mountain

Do you ever find yourself quietly hoping someone will read your mind? Maybe you wish your partner would ask before inviting the whole family to stay at your house. Or your friend would notice you're running out of social battery. Or your coworkers would magically realize you can't take on one more thing. Instead of speaking up, you stay quiet, stuff down your frustration, and wonder if a...

Last week we talked about one of the biggest mindset shifts around boundaries: "I don't want to" is a perfectly good reason to say no.  But that leaves a very practical question... How do you actually say no without feeling like a jerk? In this episode, I'm sharing the surprisingly simple formula for saying no with confidence, without apologizing, overexplaining, making excuses...

Have you ever noticed that you feel like you need a really, really good reason to say no? Like donating-a-kidney-level good. Because somehow, "I don't want to" doesn't seem like enough. In this episode, we're talking about why so many of us treat other people's wants like they're our obligations, and why that habit is quietly draining our time, energy, and nervou...

Should you invest in therapy, coaching, or both? And why does this question somehow feel more stressful than picking a health insurance plan? (Which, admittedly, is a very low bar.) In this episode, I'm answering some of the most common questions I hear about coaching and therapy. We talk about whether a degree automatically makes someone better at helping people, why insurance-covered therap...

How do you choose the right therapist or coach when there are so many options... and the stakes feel pretty high? In this episode, we're talking about one of the most overlooked factors in personal growth: the relationship between you and your helper. Yes, training, credentials, and methods matter. But whether you're looking for a therapist, coach, or some other kind of support, research...

If you’re struggling with your mental health, feeling stuck in life, or wondering whether life coaching or therapy is the better investment, this episode is for you. As someone who has worked as both a therapist and a coach, I’m breaking down the real differences between the two — without the black-and-white internet hot takes. We’ll talk about when therapy is the smartest place to start, when coa...

If you’ve ever wondered whether you need a therapist or a coach — or why the internet seems so divided about it — this episode breaks it all down without the black-and-white thinking. We explore the real differences between therapy and coaching, where they overlap, and what most people misunderstand about both professions. From licensing, ethics, and evidence-based treatment to personal growth, go...

Ever mess up — and feel like everyone saw? In this episode of the Climb Your Mountain Podcast , life coach Sarah Maurer dives into what to do when you’re feeling judged. Maybe you missed a meeting at work. Yelled at your kid in Target. Snapped at your aging parent. Got dumped and now dread showing up solo to your cousin’s wedding.  Sometimes people really are judging. But here’s the deeper truth:...

Raise your hand if you want to feel more love in your life. In this episode of the Climb Your Mountain Podcast , life coach Sarah Maurer explores a belief many of us carry: that love comes from other people. If you’re single and worried you’re missing out… if you’re in a relationship but don’t feel fully loved… or if you secretly believe you’re just “not lovable enough,” this conversation is for y...

What if self-acceptance wasn’t just a feel-good idea—but the key to becoming more effective, motivated, and fulfilled in every area of your life? In this episode of the Climb Your Mountain Podcast , Sarah Maurer explores radical self acceptance and why beating yourself up for “falling short” actually blocks the results you want. If you struggle with shame, harsh self-talk, or the belief that you n...

For the first 48 years of my life, my only experience with hypnosis was a stage show at college. The hypnotist told the participants they were in class. They sat looking straight ahead like they were listening to the professor.  Suddenly the hypnotist yelled BADGER! and pointed at the ground. And all the participants freaked out and jumped up on their chairs. It was hilarious. But I didn’t exactly...

I hired my first coach because I wanted to stop overdrinking.  It worked. And to this day, it remains one of my favorite things to coach my clients on. I’m living proof that a coaching approach can help you cut way back. Enough to make a real difference in your health and mental well-being. (Ask my blood pressure!) And this week on the Climb Your Mountain podcast, in honor of Dry/Damp January, I’m...

If you’d rather eat broken glass than set new year’s goals, I’ve got a podcast episode for you! So many of us have PTSD around goals. We feel shame about all the times we’ve gone for something in the past … only to fall on our faces. Every time we see a successful person, we assume they did it “right.” (Set goal. Followed up with disciplined action. Got result.) But what if the opposite was actual...

Last week in Mexico, I tried to take the bus to a cenote (swimming hole).  I was SURE it would take just 15 minutes to jump on the colectivo (mini-bus). 90 minutes later … 😭 I’d just walked all over Tulum in the blazing sun trying to get cash for the bus fare … 😭 And then walked another 30 minutes looking for the right bus stop 😭 I was sweating, dehydrated, frustrated and PISSED because I wante...

If you didn’t end the year like you’d hoped … If there were goals you didn’t reach … If you feel more stuck than ever … Then you’re probably beating yourself up for wasting time. You might be buying into the punishing idea that it’s actually possible to MAXIMIZE your time.  By doing everything right. By never failing or getting distracted. And by always finishing what you start. If so, here’s what...

If you’re having a sad Christmas … You’re SO not alone. (Even if it seems like everyone else on earth is merry and bright.) I fell into this trap. On Christmas Eve, I sent out an email speaking to everyone who is struggling during the holidays. I felt kind of silly doing it. My brain told me … 🧠 Everyone else is really HAPPY! You’re the only weirdo who’s not overjoyed by the season. 🧠 Now you lo...

Imagine that suddenly you only had electricity for two hours a day. Two hours a day to charge your phone, use your Wi-Fi, run your heating/air conditioning, watch TV, refrigerate your food. Maybe you were already hungry and working hard to survive. And suddenly, the lights went out, and life got that much harder. That's what happened this year in Cuba. (As I learned on my recent trip.) In thi...

Is this you? You're working two jobs to pay for all your kids activities — and yet they won't lift a finger to help you clean the house. You've just had a big loss (a child, partner, parent) — and suddenly everyone disappears. (Grief ghosts are real.) Your partner is happy for you to plan the entire vacation — and then complains loudly that they don't want to go to Disney Land....

It's my 50th birthday. And I'm not here to give you a load of bullshit about how excited I am, or how 50 is the new 40. The late 40s have been TOUGH. And that's true for most people. Statistically, 47 is the most unhappy age. (Yes, actual scientists have studied this.) It's the collision of parenting, elder care, and peak work responsibilities. Your time has never been more con...

As you gather with loved ones this holiday season, you may hear lots of opinions about yourself how you're living your life. Things like ... 😭 You're too fat. 😭 You need to get a grownup job. Yanno, like cousin Becky the neurosurgeon. 😭 It's a shame you're still single. 😭 You better hurry up and have kids (or another kid). 😭 Also, you're getting kind of old to have ki...

Your life could use a glow up. But is life coaching really the answer? What the hell happens in those sessions? Cause if it's just talking, you could do that with your bestie. If it's just advice, you could get that from your opinionated big sis. Or ChatGPT. If it's just a step-by-step how-to process, you could get that from a self-help book. How exactly is coaching different? On th...

How do you know you're doing life "right?" It's a question that can come up at midlife, at the end of an era — or anytime in our disconnected, technology-numbed-out world. 🤔 A lot of people try to get life "right" by doing the socially approved things — prestigious job, 2.5 kids, house in the burbs. 🤔 Some look to social media likes and follows to know if they'...

Did you know that 70% of people have used an AI like ChatGPT for therapy, coaching, or emotional support? So if you've ever tried this — or use it daily — you're far from alone. You may also have heard negative news coverage around using AI for mental health support. (For example, many states and professional organizations are calling for greater regulations and passing restrictions into...

PRE EPIC SERIES Last month, I shared a series called Do Your Epic Shit. And some common feedback was: "This is amazing. AND.  I don't feel like this is my starting point.  I'm just overwhelmed, dysregulated, confused, and not able to take even small steps. First I'd love to learn the basics. The foundational skills that will allow me to play hard and tolerate the discomfort of...

PRE EPIC SERIES Last month, I shared a series called Do Your Epic Shit. And some common feedback was: "This is amazing. AND.  I don't feel like this is my starting point.  I'm just overwhelmed, dysregulated, confused, and not able to take even small steps. First I'd love to learn the basics. The foundational skills that will allow me to play hard and tolerate the discomfort of...