Hi, my name is Danielle and I am a recovering perfectionist.

I can argue a good case for why my perfectionism is not a bad thing and how seeking perfection has brought me many of the accomplishments I’m so proud of.

However, now with over four decades of life experience, I am able to see more clearly how the pursuit of perfection is what kept me for so long from living the peaceful life I truly desired.

Keep reading to learn what perfectionism is, how to determine if perfectionism is serving you or not, and three tools to help you overcome perfectionism to find what you really want: not a perfect life, but a peaceful one.

Are you a perfectionist?

The definition of a perfectionist is a refusal to accept any standard short of perfection. It goes beyond just being a high achiever and can cause you to feel anxious and stressed as you go through your life trying to avoid mistakes and do things just right.

Here’s a few signs you might be a perfectionist:

• You expect the best...

God is the creator of our powerful minds. He gave us the free will to use those minds to co-create our lives with Him. 

Do you know that you have the power to create peace with your mind? Yes, you can actually train your thinking habits to have peace!

One of the best skills I have learned to create this peace for myself is how to organize my mind. There is a daily practice I use to download my thoughts, examine any that are causing negative feelings, and decide intentionally which thoughts to keep and which to release to feel peaceful. This practice allows me to live the best version of my day with a clear, peaceful mind.

Just like physical clutter that needs to be sorted, purged, and reorganized, a cluttered mind needs regular attention and care. 

The process I’ll teach you here truly offers me peace each and every day. Try it out for yourself!

1. Become aware of your thinking with a thought download

What you choose to think about and believe is the key to...

Perhaps you’ve heard of life coaching and wondered what it entailed. Maybe you’re familiar with some life coaching concepts but haven’t taken the leap to hire a coach of your own. Or maybe you have zero idea of what a life coach actually does and why anyone might need one!

In this article, I’ll share with you what exactly a life coach is, how having your own life coach can help you, how life coaching is different than therapy, and of course, how coaching changed my life.

What is life coaching?

Life coaching is all about learning to manage your mind. When you understand the skills involved in managing your mind, you’ll have the key to creating the exact results you desire in your life. 

A life coach is a compassionate and curious observer of your mind. She will help you unpack your thoughts, both conscious and unconscious, and examine how those thoughts are causing your feelings, any suffering you’re experiencing, and every single result in...

You probably know the benefits of a daily devotional and a morning routine. Maybe you wish you had time in your schedule, but in the midst of being a busy mom it just doesn’t seem realistic to take this time in the mornings to connect with God.

Between making breakfast, getting kids out the door for school, and being on top of your game for work or volunteer responsibilities, when would you possibly carve out time for scripture, prayer, and deep connection with God?

Why you need a faith-filled morning routine even (and especially) if you’re busy

Let me start with the good news: It is absolutely possible for you to continue your crazy-busy life while effortlessly keeping God as your highest priority.

Can you imagine having plenty of time to connect to the Source of All Things Wonderful everyday because of the way you've organized your life?

Prioritizing God makes life work. And when you prioritize time with God in the morning, you'll find that a sense of peace and...

We all need a little extra help and support at times, especially if you’re a busy, often overwhelmed mom like many of my clients.

I recently read the following from Father Jacques Phillippe:

“When one does not know what is best, one must reflect, consider and take counsel….

The Lord doesn’t want us to be self sufficient and permits that sometimes we find ourselves in the impossibility of peace by ourselves so to accept help through the intermediary of another person to whom we can open up. 

Regarding interior peace, which is precious, we know that at certain moments in our lives we cannot find it by ourselves without the help of someone to whom we can open up our souls.”

Perhaps you have wondered about finding someone to whom you can open up your soul. Should you go to therapy? Hire a life coach? Chat with a spiritual director? 

Today I want to help you better understand the difference between a life coach and a spiritual director so you can...

We have taken a look, these past several weeks, at each of the Fruits of the Spirit and how they relate in our motherhood.

We wrap up the series today talking about - GOODNESS.

If you missed the previous posts on Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self-Control, you can find them on my blog page by clicking here.

Goodness, my faith-filled friends, is what you innately are at all times.

You are full of goodness simply because you exist and because you were created in the image of God, who is pure goodness.

But, especially in the struggles and trials of our daily lives, 

it sure doesn't always feel like we are full of goodness, right?

Especially when we snap at the kids or

Feel ill-will against our mother-in-law.

But cultivating goodness in our lives is less about taking great great strides in holiness and virtuosity that seem available only to the Saints,

And instead it’s more about the small acts of goodness you do throughout your day.

It...

I became more faithful by not going to church!.......Well, at least not entering a church building.

It's true.  I've grown in faithfulness and it was possible even when we have to stay-at-home during a pandemic. 

The best news? It’s actually been fun and fresh to break up a routine of my usual faith focused activities and learn other ways to connect with Christ to grow in FAITHFULNESS- which happens to be our next fruit of the spirit to explore.

Surprisingly, the time away from church (physically not going there) has given me a chance to find new ways to grow and receive grace. 

It's actually felt easy, not complicated, to pursue my faith and I want to share 3 ways of what worked for our family to grow in faithfulness in recent months:

1.  We've attended Mass, virtually, all over the world from Lourdes, France to my recent favorite in Wichita, KS. Snuggled together on the couch and always excited to see what this "new church" will be like, we've had a...

When I think about kindness, I automatically go to the opposite notion- MEAN

Why?

Probably because I live in Nashville, listen to Taylor Swift a lot and love her catchy song "Mean" where she really socks it to her ex through lyrics.  Ha! 

But Catholic mamas, kindness is kind of a big deal.  Sometimes we can forget that.  

And I don't mean showing kindness, as presented by google -the quality of being friendly, generous, and considerate-to others.

That already comes naturally in your vocation as a mom and as you mother your children everyday from near or afar. 

I want to remind you today about showing the Fruit of the Spirit of kindness to YOURSELF!

Jesus showed great kindness to sinners.

He shows great kindness to you and me every single day.

So, today decide to draw the line on shaming yourself or being mean to yourself but instead strive for greater kindness in your heart for yourself.

• Be kind to yourself after you yell at the...