Balanced but Barely

Carla Jean Lundgren
  • 5.0 (6)
  • Self-Improvement
  • Updated Weekly

If you’re holding it all together on the outside—but quietly falling apart on the inside—you’re not alone… and you’re in the right place. Balanced but Barely is a real, unfiltered podcast about messy healing and real life. Hosted by Carla Jean Lundgren, we talk anxiety, depression, PTSD, self-love, and spirituality—without pretending we have it all together. Through honest conversations, humor, and practical tools, you’ll feel seen, supported, and less alone. If you’re doing the inner work while still spiraling sometimes… you belong here.

  1. 4d ago

    Ep 14: I'm Fine. Everything Is Fine. Why Is My Eye Twitching? The Everyday Anxiety We Pretend Isn't Anxiety

    You know that moment when someone texts, "Can you call me?" and suddenly you're mentally preparing for the worst? Or when your boss sends a calendar invite with no explanation? Or when your bank account looks a little...too quiet? Welcome to the Anxiety Olympics. 😂 In Episode 14 of Balanced but Barely, we're taking a lighter—and much funnier—look at the everyday stressors that can send our nervous systems into overdrive. From mysterious texts and "per my last email" to money stress, work, relationships, health worries, information overload, and the exhausting reality of adulting, we're breaking down why seemingly small things can sometimes feel like VERY big things. We'll talk about the difference between everyday stress and anxiety, what's actually happening in your body when your stress response kicks in, and why your nervous system may not be "being dramatic" after all. You'll also get practical tools for identifying your personal anxiety triggers, calming your body before reacting, managing digital overwhelm, closing those mental "open tabs," and deciding whether something is actually dangerous—or simply uncomfortable. Plus, we're handing out medals in the Anxiety Olympics, because apparently "We need to talk" deserves its own category. This week's Weekly Shift: Notice Before You React. Because you don't have to eliminate every stressful thing in your life. You just need to stop letting every little thing run the show. Take a breath. Unclench your jaw. Turn off a notification. And remember... You don't have to have it all figured out. We're figuring this out together.

  2. Aug 13

    Ep 13: Joy Is Not A Reward

    What if you stopped waiting for your life to be perfect before allowing yourself to enjoy it? In this episode of Balanced but Barely, we're talking about the Joy Delay—the habit of telling ourselves we'll relax, celebrate, have fun, or finally feel happy when everything is fixed, organized, paid off, healed, or figured out. Spoiler alert: there's always another "when." We'll explore the science behind positive emotions, savoring, happiness, and why joy isn't just a fluffy concept or toxic positivity. We'll look at why we sometimes feel uncomfortable when life is going well, how our nervous system can become accustomed to stress, and why achievement alone can't carry the weight of our happiness. With a little help from Inside Out, we'll explore what it means to experience joy while life is still complicated. You'll also get practical mindfulness and nervous-system regulation tools, journal prompts, and this week's Weekly Shift: Joy Is Not a Reward—one small challenge to help you stop postponing your life and start noticing the good moments that are already happening. Because you don't have to have everything figured out to have a good day. Joy isn't waiting for you at the finish line. It's available along the way. Take a breath. Drink some water. Go find something that makes you laugh. We're figuring this out together.

  3. Aug 7

    Ep 12: Polling The Group Chat Again

    Have you ever asked five people for advice…only to do exactly what you wanted anyway? 😂 In this episode of Balanced but Barely, we're talking about intuition, self-trust, people-pleasing, and the exhausting habit of looking outside ourselves for validation. We'll explore why even confident, capable people second-guess themselves, how to tell the difference between intuition and anxiety, and how nervous system regulation can help us slow down enough to actually hear our own inner wisdom. With a little help from The Wizard of Oz, Legally Blonde, and Moana, we'll talk about what happens when we stop waiting for someone else to give us permission to trust ourselves. Plus, you'll get practical mindfulness tools, the 24-Hour Pause, journal prompts, and a simple Weekly Shift to help you stop polling the group chat and start listening to yourself. Because self-trust isn't about always making the right decision. It's about knowing you'll be okay if you don't. Take a deep breath. Drink some water. Trust yourself a little more than you did yesterday. We're figuring this out together.

  4. Jul 31

    Ep 11: Plot Twist - Which Version of You Just Walked Through The Door?

    Have you ever noticed that you're a different version of yourself depending on who's in the room? Maybe you're confident at work, quiet around your family, carefree with your closest friends, and the one who "has it all together" for everyone else. If you've ever wondered which version of you is the real you, this episode is for you. In this episode of Balanced but Barely, Carla Jean explores the fascinating psychology behind identity, labels, and the masks we wear to belong. Through relatable stories, research-backed insights, humor, and pop culture examples from Runaway Bride, The Devil Wears Prada, and Barbie, you'll discover why adapting to different environments isn't a sign that you're being fake—it's part of being human. Together, we'll unpack the Chameleon Effect, intersectionality, self-complexity, and the lifelong influence of labels and expectations. You'll learn the difference between healthy adaptation and self-abandonment, why your nervous system seeks belonging, and how to reconnect with the parts of yourself that may have been hidden beneath roles, responsibilities, and other people's expectations. You'll also be guided through mindfulness exercises, journal prompts, and practical reflections designed to help you explore your own identity with curiosity and compassion. Because maybe the goal was never to become someone else. Maybe the goal was simply to come home to yourself.

  5. Jul 15

    Ep 10 - Congratulations! You're Everyone's Emergency Contact

    What if being everyone's emergency contact has become your identity? In this episode of Balanced but Barely, Carla Jean explores the exhausting reality of being "the strong one"—the person everyone depends on, the one who always says yes, fixes the problem, remembers all the details, and carries the emotional weight of everyone around them. While these qualities are rooted in compassion, they can quietly become a source of burnout, resentment, and self-neglect. Together, we'll unpack the difference between being needed and being loved, why so many of us confuse our usefulness with our worth, and how childhood experiences and survival patterns can shape the roles we continue to play as adults. You'll learn how over-functioning affects your nervous system, why asking for help can feel so uncomfortable, and how healthy boundaries create stronger—not weaker—relationships. This episode includes practical tools for recognizing emotional overload, mindfulness exercises to help you reconnect with yourself, journal prompts for self-reflection, and simple ways to begin receiving support without guilt. We'll also explore how this topic connects to the Four Pillars of Wellness—mental, physical, spiritual, and financial well-being—and offer additional resources, including a recommended book, app, documentary, and heart-opening yoga poses. If you've ever felt like you're carrying everyone else's emotional backpack while quietly ignoring your own, this episode is your reminder that strength doesn't mean doing everything alone. You deserve relationships where you are valued for who you are—not just for what you do. Because you don't have to be everyone's emergency contact to belong, to matter, or to be deeply loved.

  6. Jul 9

    Ep 9 - If Overthinking Burned Calories, You Would Be Ripped

    Ever wonder why you can't seem to move forward—even when you know exactly what you need to do? Spoiler alert: you're probably not lazy. Your brain may simply be trying to keep you safe. In this episode of Balanced but Barely, CarlaJean dives into the psychology and neuroscience behind feeling stuck, overthinking, procrastination, perfectionism, anxiety, burnout, and chronic stress. If you've been feeling overwhelmed, emotionally exhausted, disconnected from yourself, or trapped in the cycle of "I'll start Monday," this episode is for you. You'll learn why your nervous system often chooses familiarityover change, how fear disguises itself as procrastination andperfectionism, and why motivation isn't the first step—movement is. Through relatable stories, practical tools, mindfulness exercises, nervous system regulation techniques, and the Four Pillars of Wellness, you'll discover how to stop waiting for the perfect moment and start creating meaningful momentum one small step at a time. In this episode, you will learn: • Why your brain prefers safety over change• How anxiety, trauma, PTSD, and chronic stress affect decision-making•The surprising connection between perfectionism and fear• How overthinking keeps you stuck in survival mode• Practical strategies to overcome procrastination and self-doubt• Simple mindfulness techniques to regulate your nervous system• How the Four Pillars of Wellness (mental, physical, spiritual, and financial wellness) can help you regain balance Whether you're navigating anxiety, depression, PTSD, burnout, people-pleasing, life transitions, or simply feeling like you're carrying the weight of the world, this conversation will remind you that being stuck isn't a sign of failure—it's often a sign your mind and body are asking for safety before they're ready for change. If today's episode made you laugh, made you think, or made you whisper, "Well...that felt a little too personal," be sure to subscribe to Balanced but Barely, leave a review, and share this episode with someone who needs the reminderthat they're not alone. Follow Carla Jean on Instagram @_carlajean143 fordaily encouragement, behind-the-scenes moments, and a community of people learning to navigate real life with more love and less pressure. For free guided meditations, wellness resources, show notes, and more, visit www.carlajean143.com and subscribe on YouTube at carlajean143. Remember... take a deep breath. Progress isn't about doingeverything perfectly. It's about taking the next small step.

  7. Jul 1

    Ep 8: Stop Beating Yourself Up - Ahimsa, Self Harm, & the Violence We Don't Talk About

    What if the person you're hardest on... is yourself? In this episode of Balanced but Barely, Carla Jean explores one of yoga's most powerful—and often misunderstood—teachings: Ahimsa, the practice of non-violence and non-harm. While many people think Ahimsa is simply about being kind to others, this conversation turns the focus inward to examine the subtle ways we create suffering in our own lives. From harsh self-talk and chronic stress to ignoring our physical needs, abandoning our values, and making fear-based financial decisions, Carla Jean reveals how self-harm often shows up in everyday habits rather than dramatic moments. Through the lens of the Four Pillars of Wellness—mental, physical, spiritual, and financial—she offers practical ways to replace self-judgment with self-respect and move from survival mode toward a life of greater balance and peace. Listeners will learn how to identify the hidden forms of self-violence that keep them feeling overwhelmed, disconnected, and emotionally exhausted, while discovering simple mindfulness practices that cultivate awareness, compassion, and intentional living. What Ahimsa, the first of the Eight Limbs of Yoga, really means and why it's relevant far beyond the yoga matHow negative self-talk affects your nervous system, identity, and emotional well-beingThe difference between self-discipline and self-punishmentWhy chronic stress, burnout, and ignoring your body's needs can be forms of self-harmHow spiritual wellness is strengthened by living in alignment with your valuesWhy financial wellness begins with awareness, not shamePractical mindfulness techniques to create more peace in each area of your lifeSmall daily choices that help build a healthier relationship with yourselfWhether you've been living on autopilot, carrying impossible expectations, or simply feeling like you're your own toughest critic, this episode is a reminder that true wellness isn't built through perfection—it's built through compassion. Because non-violence isn't only about how we treat other people. It's also about how we treat ourselves. And maybe the greatest act of self-love is choosing to stop fighting the person in the mirror. 🎙️ Balanced but Barely — where growth meets real life, and we're figuring it out together.

  8. Jun 17

    Ep 7: Happiness Called...It Said You're Making This Way Too Complicated

    What if happiness isn't something you find? What if it's something you practice? In this episode of Balanced but Barely, Carla Jeanchallenges one of the most common beliefs about happiness—that it's waiting for us somewhere in the future. Whether it's tied to a promotion, a relationship, more money, a smaller pants size, or simply getting through the next stressful season, many of us live in a constant state of "I'll be happy when..." But what if happiness isn't a destination at all? Through relatable stories, humor, mindfulness practices, nervous system education, and practical tools, Carla Jean explores why so many people struggle to experience happiness—even when life is going relatively well. She breaks down the science behind why we adapt so quickly to achievements, why anxiety and overwhelm can makehappiness feel out of reach, and how our pursuit of perfection often prevents us from appreciating what's already good. This episode dives into the difference between happiness and joy, why chronic stress impacts our ability to experience positive emotions, and how presence, connection, meaning, and gratitude play a larger role in happiness than external accomplishments ever could. Listeners will learn: ✔️ Happiness is not a destination—it's a practice. ✔️ You don't have to wait for perfect circumstances toexperience moments of joy. ✔️ Anxiety and chronic stress can make happiness harder toaccess, but not impossible. ✔️ The happiest people still experience sadness, grief,disappointment, and struggle. ✔️ Presence is often more important than achievement. ✔️ Meaningful relationships are one of the strongestpredictors of long-term happiness. ✔️ Gratitude isn't pretending everything is good—it'snoticing what is good alongside what is hard. ✔️ Happiness is often found in ordinary moments we overlookwhile chasing extraordinary ones. If you've been postponing your happiness until life calms down, everything is figured out, or you finally reach your next goal, this episode offers a gentle reminder: Life may never be perfect. The inbox may never be empty. The to-do list may never be finished. And happiness doesn't require any of those things. Because sometimes happiness isn't found in the next achievement. Sometimes it's found in the coffee you're drinking, the personsitting next to you, the deep breath you're taking, or the simple realization that this imperfect life is still worth enjoying. 🎙️ Balanced but Barely — where growth meets reallife, and we're figuring it out together.

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About

If you’re holding it all together on the outside—but quietly falling apart on the inside—you’re not alone… and you’re in the right place. Balanced but Barely is a real, unfiltered podcast about messy healing and real life. Hosted by Carla Jean Lundgren, we talk anxiety, depression, PTSD, self-love, and spirituality—without pretending we have it all together. Through honest conversations, humor, and practical tools, you’ll feel seen, supported, and less alone. If you’re doing the inner work while still spiraling sometimes… you belong here.

Information

  • Creator
    Carla Jean Lundgren
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    15
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Carla Jean Lundgren
  • Show Website
    Balanced but Barely