Blog
Healing Aspirational Shame: One Mormon Woman's Journey
It wasn’t until my early teens that I recognized the dilemma that I was facing. I wanted a lot for my life, for my career, for my creative expression. I knew that I wanted to pursue a helping profession and that I wanted to express myself through songwriting and singing. But because I had internalized the message that a woman’s role was to sacrifice for her family, I started believing that my aspirations were not good, and not of God. I was hearing that God wanted me to be a wife and a mother, and I knew that that was true, but I wanted other things for my life, too. I began to wonder and eventually believe that something was wrong with me for having such strong creative desires and educational and professional aspirations. Did I have to choose between having a family and having a career?
Aspirational Shame in Motherhood: The Motherhood Tribe Podcast
I recently had the opportunity to discuss aspirational shame in mothers with Katy and Valerie of "The Motherhood Tribe" podcast. Aspirational shame is a topic I've written about for many years and refers to the feelings of guilt or unworthiness that some women experience when they have desires or ambitions outside of their home and family life.
The Highest & Holiest Calling: Q.MORE Podcast
I was thrilled to speak with Rosemary Card about motherhood, marriage, and cultural expectations of women within the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Going off of my TEDxOgden Talk "The Costs of Idealizing Motherhood," we discussed some of the nuances of what it looks like to be a woman in the Church.
Self-Care Helps Your Relationships: Good Things Utah
So often in relationships, we are aware of the other person's needs and work to fulfill them. While this is a wonderful trait, it can lead to burnout if we chronically neglect ourselves. Here are some self-care tips that actually help strengthen our relationships with others:
On Creativity, the Writing Process, Boundaries & More: PsychCentral Interview
The book features valuable suggestions and poignant real-life examples to help us speak up and effectively express ourselves. As I mentioned in my endorsement, I truly believe it should be required reading for all women and girls. Because setting solid boundaries isn’t something we’re normally taught. And yet it’s the foundation for everything: healthy relationships, a meaningful, fulfilling life.