A HOLY MESS | From Shame, Regret, Exhausted, Burnout To Boundaries, Emotional Healing, Christian Mindset, Recovery, Personal

Dani Sumner - Christian Life Coach & Faith Led Motivational Speaker, Spiritual Director, Mentor, Christian Life Transformation Coach

Do you ever feel stuck, emotionally drained, or like you’re constantly striving but never “enough”? You’re in the right place! Welcome to A HOLY MESS Podcast (ranked in the top 1% globally🎉), a podcast designed for you if you’re ready to break free and heal from self-doubt, burnout, and overgiving—so you can step into confidence, peace, God’s grace and purpose with clarity. Each week, I share biblical wisdom, mindset shifts, and real conversations to help you: ✨ Overcome self-doubt and fear with faith-based confidence. ✨ Let go of striving and perfectionism and embrace God’s grace. ✨ Set healthy boundaries and stop people-pleasing without guilt. ✨ Heal from burnout, shame, regret, and emotional exhaustion. ✨ Renew your mind with God’s truth and step into your purpose. There’s no magic wand to find more freedom, but there are practical tools that can help. Even as Christians who sometimes feel unworthy and shame about our past, anxious about our future, or feel like we are not enough. There is so much more for us! There’s hope, joy, peace, fun, purpose, and a reason that YOU are on this planet. If you’re ready to rediscover your worth, reconnect with God, and finally feel at peace, you’re in the right place. We can have fun and laugh while trudging through our messes; this stuff doesn’t need to be dry and boring. I can’t wait to journey with you. Your new friend, Dani Learn -> www.danisumner.com Connect -> hello@danisumner.com Facebook -> https://www.facebook.com/DaniSumnerCoaching Instagram -> https://www.instagram.com/danisumner/

  1. 5D AGO

    220. You’re Not Who You Used to Be (And That’s Worth Celebrating)

    Healing Your Past & Stepping Into Your Authentic Self Wanting to connect with Dani about Coaching? Schedule your complimentary call here.  If you’ve ever felt like you’re still not where you want to be in life, this episode is for you. Fresh out of a brand photo shoot, Dani shares a powerful reflection about authenticity, healing, and learning to celebrate how far you’ve come. For years she felt like a chameleon—shapeshifting to fit everyone else’s expectations. But healing, faith, and doing the inner work changed everything. You might not be where you want to be yet… but you’re also not who you used to be. And that deserves to be celebrated. In This Episode Why resenting past versions of yourself keeps you stuck • The mindset shift that unlocks real transformation • Dani’s “garden hose” analogy for healing emotional wounds • Why gratitude helps you step into your next season • How God uses even your hardest seasons for growth Work With Dani If this episode resonated with you and you’re ready for deeper healing, peace, and purpose, Dani offers free discovery calls to explore your next step. Whether you’re looking for personal transformation or feel called to help others through coaching, Dani would love to connect. 👉 Book your free discovery call   Glad you’re here, Dani   🌟To learn more about Dani & to join the newsletter list-> https://www.danisumner.com/ 🌟 Follow me on YouTube 🤳🏼 ALSO, let's connect on social media: Facebook, Instagram -> Facebook and Instagram

    16 min
  2. MAR 6

    219. ⭐ Feeling Overwhelmed? A Simple Way to Come Back to Yourself

    If you’ve been feeling overwhelmed with life, stuck in anxiety, or living in survival mode, this episode will help you slow down and reconnect with peace. Feeling overwhelmed lately? Like life is coming at you from every direction? In this episode, Dani shares one simple phrase that has helped her navigate seasons when life feels like too much: Do the next right thing. When everything feels urgent and your mind starts spinning, it’s easy to believe you need to solve the entire problem immediately. But overwhelm often lifts when we stop trying to control everything and simply take the next small step. This episode explores why overwhelm makes it harder to think clearly, how small actions can interrupt the spiral, and why learning to focus on the next right thing can bring you back to yourself when life feels heavy. If you’ve been feeling stretched thin, emotionally exhausted, or stuck in survival mode, this conversation will offer a grounded way to move forward with more peace. In This Episode You'll Learn Why overwhelm makes it harder to think clearly • The power of the phrase “Do the next right thing” • Why small actions often break the overwhelm spiral • How to create your own Next Right Thing list before you need it • Why joy isn’t dependent on your circumstances If You're Feeling Overwhelmed If you’ve been feeling overwhelmed with life, stuck in anxiety, or unsure how to calm your mind when everything feels like too much, this episode will help you slow down and reconnect with yourself. Learning how to do the next right thing when you're overwhelmed can help move you out of survival mode and back into peace. Want to explore what it would be like to get Coaching from Dani? If this episode resonated with you and you’re craving deeper support, Dani offers Coaching designed to help you move from survival mode into a life of peace, clarity, and emotional freedom. 👉 Book a free discovery call   Glad you’re here, Dani   🌟To learn more about Dani & to join the newsletter list-> https://www.danisumner.com/ 🌟 Follow me on YouTube 🤳🏼 ALSO, let's connect on social media: Facebook, Instagram -> Facebook and Instagram

    18 min
  3. FEB 18

    218. 🔥 Stuck in Survival Mode? How to Finally Feel Peace Again

    How to Stop Living in Survival Mode and Expand Your Capacity for Peace Why can’t you feel peace, even when you love God and pray for it? In this episode, Dani talks about anxiety, burnout, and why so many Christian’s in particular feel stuck in survival mode. You’ll learn how your nervous system affects your ability to experience joy, and why peace isn’t just spiritual, it’s physiological. Using a simple “small frying pan” metaphor, Dani explains how emotional conditioning can shrink your capacity to receive peace, and how to gently expand it. If you’re emotionally exhausted, over-functioning, or wondering why joy feels hard to access, this conversation will help you: Understand survival mode and nervous system regulation • Learn how to practice peace in everyday life • Rewire stress-based patterns with faith • Grow your capacity for joy, calm, and emotional safety This is Christian mindset work rooted in scripture, nervous system healing, and practical life coaching. You don’t have to stay in survival mode. Peace is something you can learn to hold. 📞 Want Support? Or Feel Called to Lead others and become a Life Coach? If this episode resonated and you’re ready for deeper support in your own healing journey, I offer free discovery calls where we can talk about what’s keeping you stuck and whether coaching is the right next step. And if you’re listening thinking, “I don’t just want peace, I want to help others find it too,” I also train and certify Life Coaches. Whether you’re looking for personal transformation or feel called to step into becoming a Life Coach, we can explore that together. 👉 Book your free discovery call here No pressure. Just clarity.   Glad you’re here, Dani   🌟To learn more about Dani & to join the newsletter list-> https://www.danisumner.com/ 🌟 Follow me on YouTube 🤳🏼 ALSO, let's connect on social media: Facebook, Instagram -> Facebook and Instagram

    13 min
  4. FEB 5

    216. How to Rest Without Guilt (Even When You’re the One Who Holds Everything Together)

    The Problem: You finally sit down to rest, but your brain won't let you. The guilt kicks in. The "shoulds" start screaming. You feel lazy, unproductive, unworthy. What's Really Happening: This isn't a character flaw, it's conditioning. Your nervous system learned that rest = unworthiness, and now it's stuck in overdrive. The Solution: You can retrain your brain so rest feels peaceful instead of anxiety-inducing. In This Episode: Why rest feels "wrong" (spoiler: it's your wiring, not you) The dark side of having a strong work ethic How to check in with your nervous system about rest A quick practice to identify what's driving your guilt Why transformation feels awkward before it becomes elegant Try This: Imagine taking the rest of today off. Just rest. What comes up? Anxiety? Guilt? That's just data and information for us to learn from, and you can rewire it. The Goal: Make unworthiness feel awkward and rest feel natural. This Episode is For You If: You equate your worth with productivity, struggle to take breaks without guilt, or you're on the verge of burnout. Ready to rest without the guilt? Book a free discovery call with me!   I'm here for you. I love you. I'm cheering for you, Dani   🌟To learn more about Dani & to join the newsletter list-> https://www.danisumner.com/ 🌟 Follow me on YouTube 🤳🏼 ALSO, let's connect on social media: Facebook, Instagram -> Facebook and Instagram

    11 min
  5. JAN 31

    215. How to Set Boundaries as a Faith Based People, Without the Guilt

    Ever said yes, when you knew wanted to say no? In this episode, I'm getting a wee bit vulnerable about my own fall back into the rescuer trap with my parents. I thought I had this figured out. I didn't. And in the past this 'always say yes and sacrifice for others,'  cost me my health. I literally burned out my adrenals years ago because I couldn't say no.  Here's what we're diving into: Why boundaries feel impossible at times when you've been taught that sacrifice = love The rescuer trap and how it shows up in your family, your church, your everyday life Generational patterns that are stealing your peace  The permission you've been waiting for: Just because you CAN doesn't mean you SHOULD How over-giving destroys the very people you're trying to help ✨ You get to have limits as a human being. Full stop. ✨ The more you prioritize your own health, the more you'll have to give to others. ✨ Ask yourself: Am I doing this because it's needed, or because I need to be needed? If you're tired of feeling stuck in cycles of over-giving, resentment, and guilt, you don't have to figure this out alone. Here's your plan: → Ready to further your healing journey, and step into your purpose more deeply? Book a free discovery call and let's map out your next move together. Glad you're here, Dani 🌟To learn more about Dani & to join the newsletter list-> https://www.danisumner.com/ 🌟 Follow me on YouTube 🤳🏼 ALSO, let's connect on social media: Facebook, Instagram -> Facebook and Instagram

    12 min
  6. JAN 27

    214. How to Prioritize Your Needs Without Guilt: Breaking Free from Survival Mode as a Christian Woman

    Struggling with guilt when you prioritize self-care? Learn practical ways to move from survival mode to thriving, honoring your God-given needs without apology. Ready to feel more fulfilled in life? If you're ever wanted to become a Life Coach, now’s the time to look into what it’s all about!  Book your free discovery call where we'll explore your dreams and see if  “Messy Life Transformation Coaching Certification" is a fit for you.  These calls are super chill, just me with my coffee, having a real conversation about your life and where you want to go. 👉 Schedule your free call at here! If you're drowning in everyone else's needs while yours stay buried, this episode is your permission slip to stop. I almost talked myself out of beach yoga this morning. The guilt showed up fast, “shouldn't I be working?” But here's what I've learned after years of running on fumes: you can't pour from an empty well, and God didn't design you to survive on exhaust. In This Episode: [00:03:15] Why Self-Care Feels Like Rebellion The guilt Christian women carry when prioritizing their needs, and the theology that actually supports self-stewardship. [00:08:42] The Frog in Boiling Water How we adapt to dysfunction without realizing it—and why you don't need different circumstances to start thriving (Isaiah 43:18). [00:14:20] Practical Self-Prioritization Time blocking, identifying your actual needs, scheduling white space, and giving yourself permission to figure it out as you go. [00:22:37] External Processing for Overthinkers Finding safe spaces to get the noise out—journaling, coaching, therapy, trusted community. [00:28:15] Your First Responsibility Why stewarding yourself isn't selfish—it's obedience. Key Truths: ✨ "Your first responsibility to the Lord is to steward YOU. How can you steward everyone else if you're just a dry well?" ✨ The Sabbath wasn't created for God—it was created for YOU. Rest is holy. ✨ Progress over perfection. Move yourself up one burner at a time. ✨ While you still have breath in your lungs, God is not done with you. Your 24-Hour Challenge: Do something radical for yourself. Beach yoga. Breakfast without phones. A walk where you just exist. Whatever you need—lean into it. Ready to Stop Running on Empty? If you're tired of survival mode and ready for a safe space to process what's actually going on, let's talk. Book your free discovery call where we'll explore where you're stuck, whether coaching is right for your season, and how to move forward. These calls are super chill, just me with my coffee, having a real conversation about your life and where you want to go. 👉 Schedule your free call at AHolyMess.com Remember: You're not selfish for taking care of yourself. You're being obedient to how God designed you to live. 💙 Cheering for you, Dani   🌟To learn more about Dani & to join the newsletter list-> https://www.danisumner.com/ 🌟 Follow me on YouTube 🤳🏼 ALSO, let's connect on social media: Facebook, Instagram -> Facebook and Instagram

    20 min
  7. JAN 24

    213. I Felt Like I Was ‘Too Much’ AND ‘Not Enough.’ Until I Learned This Lesson

    Hey friend!  Today we're talking about nervous system regulation. If that sounds "woo" to you, I get it. But this is biblical, and science is catching up. What We're Covering: When I got sober, I was SO dysregulated. I'd go straight into fight or flight over everything. I had to learn to catch myself and regulate instead of constantly reacting from trauma. The Messy Life Transformation Coaching Certification: 6 months of YOUR transformation first. Yes, you'll learn to coach others, but it starts with you. We can't pour from an empty well. Key Truths: You're not too much AND you're enough (Ephesians 2:10 - you're God's masterpiece) Taking care of yourself isn't selfish—it's the most selfless thing you can do The world will dysregulate you over and over. You have to regulate yourself internally You deserve a seat at the table, not standing in the corner in the dark This Certification Is For: People who want to build a coaching business Bible study leaders who want real transformation (not just head knowledge) Anyone tired of having all the answers Those called to help others but don't know where to start Whatever you've done or whatever's been done to you—God's not done with you. Shame, limiting beliefs, and fear do not get the final say.   📅 Ready for see your next steps? Book your FREE complimentary call here   Peace, Dani   🌟To learn more about Dani & to join the newsletter list-> https://www.danisumner.com/ 🌟 Follow me on YouTube 🤳🏼 ALSO, let's connect on social media: Facebook, Instagram -> Facebook and Instagram

    21 min
5
out of 5
180 Ratings

About

Do you ever feel stuck, emotionally drained, or like you’re constantly striving but never “enough”? You’re in the right place! Welcome to A HOLY MESS Podcast (ranked in the top 1% globally🎉), a podcast designed for you if you’re ready to break free and heal from self-doubt, burnout, and overgiving—so you can step into confidence, peace, God’s grace and purpose with clarity. Each week, I share biblical wisdom, mindset shifts, and real conversations to help you: ✨ Overcome self-doubt and fear with faith-based confidence. ✨ Let go of striving and perfectionism and embrace God’s grace. ✨ Set healthy boundaries and stop people-pleasing without guilt. ✨ Heal from burnout, shame, regret, and emotional exhaustion. ✨ Renew your mind with God’s truth and step into your purpose. There’s no magic wand to find more freedom, but there are practical tools that can help. Even as Christians who sometimes feel unworthy and shame about our past, anxious about our future, or feel like we are not enough. There is so much more for us! There’s hope, joy, peace, fun, purpose, and a reason that YOU are on this planet. If you’re ready to rediscover your worth, reconnect with God, and finally feel at peace, you’re in the right place. We can have fun and laugh while trudging through our messes; this stuff doesn’t need to be dry and boring. I can’t wait to journey with you. Your new friend, Dani Learn -> www.danisumner.com Connect -> hello@danisumner.com Facebook -> https://www.facebook.com/DaniSumnerCoaching Instagram -> https://www.instagram.com/danisumner/

You Might Also Like