Zen Supermom: The Mental Fitness Podcast

Alena Gomes Rodrigues
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Mental Health
  • Updated Weekly

I'm not a supermom. But I always wanted to be one and have it all: family, career/business that I love, AND the time for myself. But that ambition without proper stress resistance and resilience killed my mom (cancer at 48) and drove me to the edge of burnout twice. Only when I saw the disastrous effects of my anger, stress, and resentment on my little daughter, I knew I had to change... Since then, not only have I healed but I also helped thousands of other women all around the world through trauma-informed therapy and mental fitness training. And I decided to share the most vulnerable and valuable pieces of my and their journey here. Because if we got out of that dark, stuck place of feeling like a terrible mom, YOU CAN DO IT TOO. So choose the episode that speaks to you and tune in!

  1. Jul 17

    Why being successful at work doesn't make motherhood easier

    Send us Fan Mail Many of the moms I work with are incredibly successful. They're lawyers. Architects. Therapists. Business owners. Corporate leaders. They're resilient, disciplined, organised, and exceptionally good at solving problems. So why does motherhood make so many of them feel like they're failing? In this episode, I’m exploring why the very strengths that help us succeed professionally can sometimes work against us at home. You'll discover why children don't need better management - they need emotional leadership - and why trying to "fix" parenting the same way we solve problems at work often leaves us feeling even more frustrated. In this episode: Why career success doesn't automatically translate into parenting confidenceThe hidden difference between project management and emotional leadershipWhy children respond to your nervous system before your wordsWhat many high-achieving mums unknowingly missWhy connection always comes before behaviour managementThe deeper reason parenting often feels so emotionally exhaustingIf this episode resonates with you, and you'd like to learn more about Mental Fitness Gym, join the priority list here: 👉 https://alenagomesrodrigues.com/priority-list/ Support the show

    Why being successful at work doesn't make motherhood easier

  2. Jul 10

    How to deal with a strong-willed child without yelling

    Send us Fan Mail Do you feel like you're constantly stuck between being too nice and suddenly exploding at your strong-willed child? You're not alone. In this episode, Alena shares a recent situation with her own daughter and explains why the real challenge wasn't the child's behavior - it was what that behaviour triggered inside her own nervous system. Together, we'll explore why so many loving parents struggle with power struggles, why parenting techniques often disappear under pressure, and why the answer isn't becoming stricter or more permissive. Instead, we'll look at the generational patterns that shape the way we react when we feel ignored, disrespected, or out of control. In this episode: Why strong-willed children trigger us so deeplyThe hidden reason parenting scripts stop workingWhy healthy authority starts with your nervous systemThe difference between boundaries and controlHow generational patterns create power strugglesThe first step towards becoming a calm, predictable leaderIf this episode resonates with you and you'd like to explore Mental Fitness Gym, join the priority list to be the first to hear when enrollment opens: 👉 https://alenagomesrodrigues.com/priority-list/ Support the show

    How to deal with a strong-willed child without yelling

  3. Jul 3

    Why is it so hard to say no to your kids without feeling guilty?

    Send us Fan Mail Why does saying "no" to your kids feel so much harder than it should? You know boundaries are important. You know your kids need them. So why do you keep: explaining one more time,giving one more chance,feeling guilty every time they get upset,and end up exploding anyway?For years, I thought I had a boundary problem. I didn't. I had a nervous system that had learned, long before I became a mom, that standing up for myself wasn't safe. And that the only effective boundary is punishment - which I hated as a child, and did not want to repeat as a mother. In this episode, I share one small memory from my own childhood that completely changed how I understand: people-pleasingguilthealthy boundariesand why so many loving mums struggle to say "no."If you've ever thought: "Why do I feel like such a bad mom every time I set a boundary?" ...this episode is for you. In this episode you'll learn: ✔ Why boundaries feel so uncomfortable for many moms ✔ Where people-pleasing really comes from ✔ Why parenting advice alone isn't enough ✔ Why anger isn't the problem, but a signal ✔ How your childhood still influences your parenting today ✔ The missing step before gentle parenting techniques actually work 💛 Want to learn more about the mental fitness practice for busy moms? We're currently running the beta, and public enrollment opens later this year. Join the priority list here: https://alenagomesrodrigues.com/priority-list/ Or simply send me an email: hi@zensupermom.com Tell me where you lose your patience most often. I personally read every email. #gentleparenting #momrage #nervoussystem #peoplepleasing #boundaries #parenting #zensupermom Support the show

  4. Jun 26

    Why You Swing Between Too Nice and Too Strict With Your Kids (And How to Finally Stop)

    Send us Fan Mail Has anyone ever told you that you are too soft with your kids? And is there a part of you that agrees, but you refuse to go the other direction because you do not want your children growing up scared of you? So you swing. Nice. Then strict. Then guilty. Then nice again. In this episode of the Zen Supermom podcast, Alena explains exactly why this pattern happens, why willpower and parenting books will never fix it, and what mental fitness actually is and why it is the only thing that gets you out of the swing for good. What you will learn in this episode: Why you swing between too nice and too strict and why it is a generational autopilot not a personal failingThe two most common childhood patterns that create this swing in adulthoodWhy parenting scripts fail because they assume you are already calm when you need to use themWhy staying calm on the outside while locking anger inside is more dangerous than yelling according to Dr Gabor Mate and Dr Joe DispenzaWhat mental fitness is and why it works in seconds rather than requiring an hour of yogaThe third way between too nice and too strict and how to actually feel it in your nervous systemWhy your daughter is wiring everything she watches you do into her identity every single dayHow to apply to be coached live on the Zen Supermom podcastNext step: join Alena live in the free Mommy Tantrum Masterclass:  https://zensupermom.easywebinar.live/mommy-tantrum-masterclass Apply to be coached live on the podcast:  https://form.jotform.com/261413211817347 Free Mommy Tantrum Masterclass: https://zensupermom.easywebinar.live/mommy-tantrum-masterclass Website: alenagomesrodrigues.com Instagram: @alenagomesrodrigues Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/ZenSupermom Book — I Yelled I Cried I Healed: https://www.amazon.com/Yelled-Cried-Healed-Supermom-Tantrums-ebook/dp/B0FNS4QRNC Topics: too nice too strict parenting, generational autopilot, parenting scripts don't work, calm parenting, mental fitness for moms, suppressed anger, Dr Gabor Mate, people pleasing mom, nervous system parenting, mommy tantrum, zen supermom podcast. Support the show

    Why You Swing Between Too Nice and Too Strict With Your Kids (And How to Finally Stop)

  5. Jun 19

    Why Hiding in the Bathroom to Calm Down Is Not Working (And What Mental Fitness Actually Is

    Send us Fan Mail Have you ever locked yourself in the bathroom to avoid losing it with your kids? Only for them to knock on the door two minutes later and make everything ten times worse? You are not alone. And it is not working because removing yourself was never the real solution. In this updated episode of the Zen Supermom podcast, Alena revisits the mental fitness topic she first introduced in Episode 18 back in February 2023, this time going deeper with a live exercise you can try right now and a breakdown of the specific stress coping patterns that are keeping you stuck. What you will learn in this episode: Why removing yourself from stressful situations with your kids often makes things worseWhere mental fitness originally came from and why it was developed for people under extreme professional pressureA live mental fitness exercise you can do right now anywhere without leaving the roomWhy parenting scripts, gentle parenting techniques, and ChatGPT advice all fail when your nervous system is dysregulatedThe step zero that every parenting course skips and why it is the only thing that will actually make the differenceHow to identify your specific stress coping pattern and where it came fromWhy your pattern goes directly back to whose approval you craved most as a childHow mental fitness creates the space between trigger and reaction that changes everythingAlena also shares details about a new 6-week beta mental fitness program she is designing. If you are interested, reach out directly. First introduced in Episode 18, February 2023: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2069721/episodes/12295782 Next step: join Alena live in the free Mommy Tantrum Masterclass:  https://zensupermom.easywebinar.live/mommy-tantrum-masterclass Apply to be coached live on the podcast:  https://form.jotform.com/261413211817347 Free Mommy Tantrum Masterclass: https://zensupermom.easywebinar.live/mommy-tantrum-masterclass Website: alenagomesrodrigues.com Instagram: @alenagomesrodrigues Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/ZenSupermom Book — I Yelled I Cried I Healed: https://www.amazon.com/Yelled-Cried-Healed-Supermom-Tantrums-ebook/dp/B0FNS4QRNC Topics: mental fitness for moms, hiding in the bathroom mom, how to stop yelling at kids, step zero parenting, nervous system regulation, stress coping patterns, mommy tantrum, hyperachiever mom, people pleasing mom, calm parenting, generational trauma, zen supermom podcast. Support the show

    Why Hiding in the Bathroom to Calm Down Is Not Working (And What Mental Fitness Actually Is

  6. Jun 12

    Why You Sound Like Your Mum When You Lose It (And How to Finally Stop)

    Send us Fan Mail You swore you would never sound like your mum. And then one day her exact words came out of your mouth. And you stood there wondering what just happened. In this episode of the Zen Supermom podcast, Alena explains exactly why this happens, what is going on in your nervous system in that moment, and what it actually takes to stop it permanently. What you will learn in this episode: Why you sound like your mum when you lose it even though you promised yourself you never wouldWhy the pattern goes much deeper than simply copying what your parents didWhat is actually happening in your nervous system in the moment your parents' words come out of your mouthThe deep fear of not feeling safe that is underneath every single mummy tantrumWhy knowing where the pattern comes from is not enough to stop it happening againWhy reading more parenting books and asking ChatGPT more questions will never fix thisWhy your busy busy busy coping pattern is actually keeping you stuckHow long it actually takes to rewire the generational pattern and why waiting is costing your kids more than you realizeWhat unconditional love actually looks like in practice when your child is at their most difficultNext step: join Alena live in the free Mommy Tantrum Masterclass: https://zensupermom.easywebinar.live/mommy-tantrum-masterclass Apply to be coached live on the podcast: https://form.jotform.com/261413211817347 Free Mommy Tantrum Masterclass: https://zensupermom.easywebinar.live/mommy-tantrum-masterclass Website: alenagomesrodrigues.com Instagram: @alenagomesrodrigues Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/ZenSupermom Book — I Yelled I Cried I Healed: https://www.amazon.com/Yelled-Cried-Healed-Supermom-Tantrums-ebook/dp/B0FNS4QRNC Topics: generational trauma parenting, why do I sound like my mum, fight or flight parenting, nervous system parenting, mommy tantrum, stop yelling at kids, how to rewire generational patterns, unconditional love, calm parenting, hyperachiever mom burnout, zen supermom podcast. Support the show

    Why You Sound Like Your Mum When You Lose It (And How to Finally Stop)

  7. Jun 5

    How to Get a Lot Done on No Sleep Without Yelling at Your Kids (3 Steps That Actually Work)

    Send us Fan Mail You did not sleep. Again. And now you have a full day ahead, kids to manage, and a voice in your head already telling you it is going to be a terrible day. In this episode of the Zen Supermom podcast, Alena shares the 3 steps she uses to get through a productive day even on no sleep, without snapping at her kids and without burning herself out. This is not about pushing harder. It is not about spa days. It is about understanding why the mental suffering on tired days is actually optional, and what the real root of the problem is. What you will learn in this episode: Why lack of sleep is not actually the reason you lose your patience with your kidsThe concept of learned helplessness and how it connects to your childhoodStep 1 How to catch the poor me story and create space between the feeling and your reactionStep 2 What taking care of yourself actually means, starting with asking for help without feeling guiltyStep 3 The big picture helicopter view and the 99 year old grandma exercise that puts any exhausted day into perspectiveWhy the mental suffering on tired days is optional even when the physical exhaustion is completely realWhy taking care of yourself on no-sleep days is the most important thing you can do for your kidsNext step: join Alena live in the free Mommy Tantrum Masterclass: https://zensupermom.easywebinar.live/mommy-tantrum-masterclass Apply to be coached live on the podcast: https://form.jotform.com/261413211817347 Free Mommy Tantrum Masterclass: https://zensupermom.easywebinar.live/mommy-tantrum-masterclass  Website: alenagomesrodrigues.com  Instagram: @alenagomesrodrigues  Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/ZenSupermom  Book — I Yelled I Cried I Healed: https://www.amazon.com/Yelled-Cried-Healed-Supermom-Tantrums-ebook/dp/B0FNS4QRNC Topics: no sleep mom, mom burnout, sleep deprivation parenting, learned helplessness, mommy tantrum, emotional regulation for moms, generational trauma, people pleasing mom, taking care of yourself as a mom, calm parenting, stop yelling at kids, zen supermom podcast. Support the show

    How to Get a Lot Done on No Sleep Without Yelling at Your Kids (3 Steps That Actually Work)

  8. May 29

    Ep 186: Why You Cannot Enjoy Holidays With Your Kids (And It Has Nothing to Do With the Stress)

    Send us Fan Mail You planned the entire summer vacation. Great place to stay. Fun activities. Delicious food. You spent the money, gave up sleep, and organized every detail so your family could have an amazing time and memories. In this episode of the Zen Supermom podcast, Alena Gomes Rodrigues explains why moms who cannot enjoy holidays with their kids are not dealing with planning stress or a kid’s behavior problem. They are dealing with a generational pattern that was wired in their nervous system long before their children were born. What you will learn in this episode: Why you cannot enjoy holidays with your kids and why stress and planning have nothing to do with itWhat is actually happening in your nervous system when you feel helpless and resentful on holidayHow Alena realized she was re-enacting her own mother's exact holiday patterns without knowing itThe generational belief that tells women it is selfish to enjoy yourself while others are not yet happyWhy the people pleaser and the resentful martyr are two sides of the same woundHow to start catching the inner dialogue that is running your holidays on autopilotWhy this is actually good news and how one internal shift changes the whole experienceAlena is also opening coaching spots on the podcast. Apply to be coached live here: https://form.jotform.com/261413211817347 Next step: join Alena live in the free Mommy Tantrum Masterclass before summer: https://zensupermom.easywebinar.live/mommy-tantrum-masterclass Free Mommy Tantrum Masterclass: https://zensupermom.easywebinar.live/mommy-tantrum-masterclass Website: alenagomesrodrigues.com Instagram: @alenagomesrodrigues Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/ZenSupermom Book — I Yelled I Cried I Healed: https://www.amazon.com/Yelled-Cried-Healed-Supermom-Tantrums-ebook/dp/B0FNS4QRNC Topics: holiday stress for moms, mom burnout on vacation, people pleasing mom, generational trauma parenting, why can't I enjoy holidays, mom resentment, self worth for moms, rewire generational patterns, mommy tantrum, zen supermom podcast. Support the show

    Ep 186: Why You Cannot Enjoy Holidays With Your Kids (And It Has Nothing to Do With the Stress)
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About

I'm not a supermom. But I always wanted to be one and have it all: family, career/business that I love, AND the time for myself. But that ambition without proper stress resistance and resilience killed my mom (cancer at 48) and drove me to the edge of burnout twice. Only when I saw the disastrous effects of my anger, stress, and resentment on my little daughter, I knew I had to change... Since then, not only have I healed but I also helped thousands of other women all around the world through trauma-informed therapy and mental fitness training. And I decided to share the most vulnerable and valuable pieces of my and their journey here. Because if we got out of that dark, stuck place of feeling like a terrible mom, YOU CAN DO IT TOO. So choose the episode that speaks to you and tune in!

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