More Than a Milspouse | mindset, clarity, work-life balance, create a purpose-fueled life as a military spouse, Milspouse Mastermind

How long does it really take to form a habit? Perhaps, like me, you grew up hearing the 21 day habit myth.   In this episode, we’re unpacking where this idea actually came from, why behavior change is so hard, and how long it can actually take to form a habit that lasts.   Plus, I unpack what’s really going on inside our brain and why our mindset is such a crucial piece of the habit formation puzz...

I’d always heard the adage that “leaders are readers.” But for many years after completing school, I really didn’t read much. I’m sure I’m not alone. According to one poll I came across, few people read more than four books a year. But a few years back I set a goal to read more books. And every year since I’ve added to the number of books I completed. This year was a game changer for me. Learn wha...

Sometimes life doesn’t turn out the way we hoped or expected. But what matters is not what happened…but what happens next.   It’s easy to get stuck dwelling on how we wish things would have turned out. But that rarely helps us move forward and craft a life with purpose.   Part one of getting unstuck is being able to embrace what is and where we are today. Part two is then using our story to make a...

Throughout 2022, I released an episode every single month recapping my efforts to set and pursue goals as a purpose-fueled military spouse, while navigating a months-long OCONUS PCS (overseas move).   In this episode, I’m zooming out and reflecting on the year as a whole. What were my biggest wins? Where did I struggle the most? And what lessons am I taking with me into 2023.    Here are my reflec...

Do you find yourself taking care of everyone else and putting yourself last by neglecting your own self- care?   You want to eat healthy, but your spouse is gone and the kids are being picky. So cereal for dinner it is…again.   You planned to start a workout video…but then the day got away from you. And now all you want to do is collapse on the couch.     Ever feel like getting your health and nut...

It’s easy to get caught up in the pressure to achieve our goals, pushing ourselves to the limit in pursuit of success. But that success can easily come at the expense of what is most important in our lives – our relationships, our health, our mental wellbeing. We can get so caught up in our goals that we forget to take care of ourselves and the things that truly matter. Welcome to my monthly real...

Do the terms “new year’s resolutions” and “setting goals” make you cringe a little inside? Are you sick of setting a goal, and then failing to make it a reality in your life?   Maybe you feel like you lack the willpower. Or don’t have the time. Or your schedule just feels too unpredictable.   You haven’t cracked the code on how to actually keep a new year’s resolution. And you don’t want to set yo...

The presents are unwrapped. Leftovers are in the fridge. And you’re asking the question, now what?   What can you and I do to make the most of this last week of the year? What can we do so that this isn’t a week that is a waste, but one that sets us up well for next year?   Whether you’re with family, or all alone, these four tips will help you end your year well, so that you can start a new year...

It’s hard to believe that Christmas is almost here. What’s one term that gets used a lot this time of year? JOY. But what does joy even mean? And is it really possible to live full of joy?   This is a conversation I’ve been wanting to have with you for awhile. And this week felt appropriate. So as you are running to the store to get last minute supplies, and popping in your earbuds while you wrap...

The holidays can be difficult, emotionally and mentally, for many military families. Perhaps your spouse is deployed. Or you’re living far from home for the holidays. Perhaps your family doesn’t understand why you can’t travel to be with them. Or perhaps you’re just overwhelmed with feelings of loneliness, grief, anxiety or stress.   What do we do with these big thoughts, feelings and emotions thi...

Welcome to my Real Life Recap series, where each month I show you what it actually looks like to pursue goals and live a life of purpose as a military spouse – the good, the bad and the unexpected. What does it really look like to balance it all?   Let’s talk about what actually happened for me in the month of November. What were my wins? Where did I struggle? And what were my biggest takeaways fo...

Have you taken a step back from your career or something that you were passionate about…only to wonder if you are saying goodbye to that thing for good?   In this episode, I talk with Charlene Wilde, a veteran and military spouse, who spent ten years as a stay-at-home mom. Today she is Senior Vice President and Assistant Secretary at the American Armed Forces Mutual Aid Association (AAFMAA).   We...

Last week on the show we talked about boosting our happiness as military spouses. The irony is that the more we make happiness our goal, the more we actually struggle. The more we struggle to get rid of unpleasant feelings, the more we actually struggle with stress, anxiety and even depression.   Happiness happens, not when all your dreams come true, but as a byproduct of a fulfilling life. So wha...

We all want to be happy. We want to love our lives.   But what about all the bad things that happen? What do we do when things don’t go our way? What happens when life doesn’t go according to plan (hello, military life)? Can we still find happiness? And if so how?   In this episode we are digging into the concept of happiness. What is it? What can we do to boost our happiness as military spouses?...

Why does life have to be so hard? This question led Dr. Jannell MacAulay on a quest to better understand how she could move from burnout, overwhelm and simply surviving…to thriving. And how she could help other active duty service members and military spouses do the same. Dr. MacAulay is a retired veteran and military spouse, TEDx speaker, and a mother of two on a mission to help leaders and organ...

The movies make it sound romantic.   Girl falls in love with a service member. They throw caution to the wind and get married. They live happily ever after.   Unfortunately, the movies are always accurate depictions of reality. Let’s try a different version.   Girl falls in love. Girl gives up her dreams to follow her service member. Girl winds up not happy with the way her life looks today. Girl...

Welcome to my Real Life Recap series, where each month I show you what it actually looks like to pursue goals and live a life of purpose as a military spouse – the good, the bad and the unexpected. What does it really look like to balance it all?   Let’s talk about what actually happened for me in the month of October. What were my wins? Where did I struggle? And what were my biggest takeaways for...

So many military spouses end up not doing things that align with their talents and passions. They end up working entry level jobs or earning paychecks doing something that doesn’t really light them up.   Today’s guest dreamed of something different. She saw the talent and potential of military spouses and set out to create a platform to highlight what military spouses bring to the table.   In this...

So many of us as military spouses struggle to make meaningful connections. I’m not just talking about surface small talk with neighbors, or at the spouse coffee, or with our kids’ friends’ parents. I’m talking about meaningful connections and true friendships, which is what most of us truly want.   We want to be seen, known, and understood; and we want to know others. But sometimes that can feel r...

In the years that I’ve been a military spouse, the advice I’ve heard time and time again is “just find a way to keep busy.” Your active-duty spouse is deploying? “Just stay busy.” The kids are off to school for the first time? “Just stay busy.” Your spouse is working long hours? “Just stay busy.”   And the longer that I’ve been in this lifestyle, the more convinced I’ve become that this isn’t grea...

You’re tired of moving. Of getting the crappy rental house because that was the only thing available. Of settling for that outdated house on base because it was the only one within your BAH. And you see photos of your non-military friends' homes with their beautiful kitchens, organized pantries and the sectional couch that fits just right in the living room. You don’t have hours to spend on transf...

Welcome to my real life recap series, where each month I show you what it actually looks like to find purpose and chase a dream as a military spouse – the good, the bad and the sometimes ugly. What does it really look like to try and balance it all as a milspouse?   What does “normal” really look like as a military family?   In this episode, I’m sharing what life looked like for me in September. I...

book or learning that new skill. You started going back to school. And then life happened.   Your active-duty spouse deployed, your kids were home for the summer. Or you spent three months moving across the country and trying to get settled in a new location. You got stressed and overwhelmed with life. And that thing you were so excited about…got pushed to the back burner. And now you realize you’...

You know that you’ll be PCSing in six months. Or you can see that deployment looming on the horizon. And you realize that there is an underlying sense of anxiety you feel. Not just about the unknowns, but about how you are going to manage all the things. And specifically, if you have a work from home business or a goal that you’re working toward, how will this major life change affect it? Will you...

Yes, you can dream big as a military spouse. Yes, you can have a plan to avoid the dream killers that threaten to derail your progress. But you’re still unlikely to take action when you feel stressed out and overwhelmed by everything on your plate.   So what needs to change? Is there a way to make this a reality, not just for other military spouses, but for YOU??   In this limited time replay of t...