Welcome. I’m so glad you are here.
I began motherhood with hopes and dreams that I could navigate my days confidently with purpose, live intentionally, find joy and contentment in everyday life, and have God’s help and strength in this lifelong journey.
The reality of those first few years was that I was in complete survival mode, felt guilty a lot of the time, had no clue what my days should look like, and was snappy and irritable with my family. I was lost, overwhelmed, and desperate a lot of the time.
Eventually I clawed my way out of survival mode and started to get my feet under me. Then I would get sick. Or pregnant. Or need surgery. Or get a super bug. Or my husband’s work load would be really heavy. Or we would move. Or a child would be sick.
Over and over again during the last 7 years I was thrown back into survival mode and then would work my way back to thriving. Eventually I noticed something.
There is a clear, five-step path that takes us from surviving to thriving. Each phase has certain priorities and things to focus on. It also has pitfalls. The great news is that all of the phases have skills that can be learned that make going from surviving to thriving a little smoother and less scary each time.
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I also researched, read, and pondered obsessively about why there was a gap between what I hoped was possible – living with joy, confidence, purpose, and contentment – and my reality – desperate, overwhelmed, and exhausted.
This led me down three paths that together built the foundation for truly thriving in every season of motherhood.
The first was to conquer the overwhelm
and have a way to sort out my thoughts, establish my priorities and goals, and make progress in the little pockets of time that motherhood allowed.
I used to be a Franklin Covey, 2 pages a day, planner gal before the days of motherhood. But that model did not fit at all with the needed flexibility of being a mom. In 2015 I dove into productivity research and looked at every available planner imaginable. Then I decided to create my own.
For the next three years I tested loads of spreads and configurations in my notebook. By the end of 2018 I had officially settled on the perfect planning system for moms that met all of my requirements and shared it on IG stories.
A designer friend contacted me and made my wildest dreams come true: she worked with me and put together the 2019 Thriving in Motherhood Planner in just a few short weeks. I’ve been continuing to hone its pages every year since with the latest research and with feedback with moms around the world.
This planning system made it possible for me (and many other moms around the world!!) to make massive progress on your goals in small pockets of time. Madeline, a mother of two, shares:
“I was not a planner person before the Thriving in Motherhood Planner but it has fit seamlessly into my days. Before I would have big ideas of things I need to get done for the week or I was scrambling to throw dinner together. Now I have the planner and I start the week with my day to day planned, the list of things I need to do at some point, and a grocery list ready to go. I’m much more in control of my life and not at the mercy of the unexpected things that happen every day. It feels good. I feel like a better functioning adult. I am much more confident because I’m being intentional, doing the right things instead of what feels good in the moment. It has impacted my family a lot as well because I’m better able to stay on top of things that need to get done .”
To learn how to plan so you can make massive progress on your goals in small pockets of time – even if you aren’t a planner person!! – sign up for my next free training:
“I was not a planner person before the Thriving in Motherhood Planner but it has fit seamlessly into my days… I’m much more in control of my life and not at the mercy of the unexpected things that happen every day.”
– Madeline
The second path was to learn how to live with joy, confidence, and let go of the mom guilt.
“I love this journal and am so grateful you created it!“
– kellie
I read everything I could about positive psychology and high performance habits. I went to therapy and learned how to use cognitive behavioral therapy to identify and change my thinking patterns. I studied the scriptures and other sources of spiritual inspiration to live closer to God.
All of the research culminated in the Thriving in Motherhood Journal, with the goal of creating a tool that helped women have a thriving mindset no matter the circumstances.
I designed it with weekly and daily questions that have literally retrained how my brain perceives my life. I’m living in a completely different reality than I was a few years ago and feel confident, joyful, content, grateful, and excited – even in the hard seasons.
This journal was beta tested by an incredible group of women in the fall of 2019 and was revised based on their experiences. It is now being used by women all over the world to create a Thriving Mindset in every circumstance. This is Kellie’s experience:
“This journal has helped me to plan ahead, see the positive in each day, have less anxiety, show more gratitude, improve my prayers, communicate better with my Heavenly Father by listening for answers, and manage my time better! I love this journal and am so grateful you created it!”
To start seeing immediate changes with how you experience motherhood, sign up for the Love Your Life Challenge.
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I also love that the message of the show is just that – motherhood is a journey and we are all a work in progress.
– Elinorsmama
The third element of thriving was building my village and learning the work of friendship and community.
I learned how to be a better friend from the incredible women around me. To be vulnerable. To be the first to reach out. To share. To put in the work to develop strong relationships that are interdependent and nurture everyone involved. I lean on these other women in good times and bad.
But I felt the need for more – to take this small motherhood culture and community in my neighborhood to mothers everywhere. After a few years of planning and figuring out what the podcast would be, I began the Thriving in Motherhood Podcast in February 2018.
I was very much in a desperate place after having my third child. I clung to each conversation I had feeling both connected by our shared experiences and also clinging to the bits of light and hope other mothers shared. Each conversation gave me enough of a boost to keep me going until the next one.
This as been the experience of other podcast listeners as well:
“I love listening to this podcast. I learn so much during each episode and love getting other moms perspectives on life. As a young mother, I really appreciate hearing from seasoned moms on what they ahve learned through their motherhood journey. I also love that the message of the show is just that – motherhood is a journey and we are all a work in progress. Sometimes it’s messy and we are barely surviving a season of motherhood, but Jessica (and her interviewees) provide so many tools to help us strive to thrive as moms. And yet, they are realistic! I truly feel inspired to become a better mom (and person) each day. And I love listening to others stories and how they get through the hard times” – Elinorsmama
Join with me weekly at the Thriving in Motherhood podcast as I talk with other moms about their own experiences and expertise to help inspire all of us to keep going. I also share very practical ideas about how to actually thrive in all seasons of motherhood.
You can listen on apple podcasts, google play, stitcher, or get the weekly episode sent to your inbox!
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Ready to Get the Most out of Your Listening Time?
Pick a collection below to get actionable help with where you want to focus your growth.
How to have a thriving mindset in every season of motherhood – especially the hard ones.
Practical training and how-tos to start making your dreams and goals happen in the small pockets of time that motherhood allows.
Learn from mothers in all stages and phases of life with various expertise and family cultures
We want you and need your unique perspective and strengths in the Thriving in Motherhood Community! Check out how to get involved and build connections with other women.