Life Happens with Barb & Michelle

Michelle Maros & Barb Schmidt
  • 4.9 (1K)
  • MENTAL HEALTH
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Life Happens with Barb and Michelle is your guide to navigating the twists, turns, and beautifully messy moments of life. Hosted by Barb and Michelle, a dynamic mother-daughter duo and the Co-Founders of Peaceful Mind Peaceful Life®, this podcast dives into the growth, shifts, and self-discovery that define our journeys. Together, they explore what it truly means to live authentically, strengthen mental health, embrace change, and rise after every stumble. Tune in for heartfelt conversations, insights, and inspiration to help you thrive in every chapter of your story. Thanks so much for being with us, we love being with you and sharing life with you all! Join our YouTube community and see our episodes on video by subscribing to our channel @lifehappensthepodcast *The information and opinions expressed in this program are for educational purposes only, are not intended as medical or other health advice, and solely reflect the personal experiences of the host and guests. You should not act or rely upon any information contained in this program without seeking the advice of a qualified medical provider. Any reproduction or rebroadcast of this program, in whole or part, is prohibited without the prior written permission of Michelle Maros™, LLC. © 2022 Michelle Maros, LLC*

  1. 248 - The Hidden Cost of Overgiving in Relationships

    3D AGO

    248 - The Hidden Cost of Overgiving in Relationships

    Have you ever cared about someone so much that you slowly disappeared? Have you ever been the strong one, the helper, the fixer — only to wake up exhausted, resentful, or unsure where you went? In this week’s episode of Life Happens with Barb & Michelle, we explore the hidden cost of overgiving in relationships and how codependency, people-pleasing, and emotional overfunctioning quietly lead to burnout. Inspired by Codependent No More by Melody Beattie, this conversation shifts the focus from controlling others to caring for yourself. We talk about boundaries, emotional exhaustion, self-worth, detachment, and how to stop losing yourself in relationships. If you struggle with: Overgivingfeeling responsible for everyone else’s emotionsdifficulty setting boundariesrelationship burnoutor constantly putting others first…this episode is for you. 💬 Barb shares how she began recognizing her codependent patterns during addiction and divorce — and how healing started when she stopped trying to manage everyone else’s experience. 💬 Michelle opens up about losing herself in past relationships and how she rebuilt trust with her own voice, needs, and intuition. ✨ In This Episode, We Discuss: How overgiving leads to resentment and emotional fatigueThe difference between love and codependencyWhy healthy relationships require boundariesHow to stop controlling others and start caring for yourselfAcceptance, detachment, and emotional resilienceRebuilding self-worth after toxic dynamicsYou cannot pour from an empty cup. Healthy love is mutual. Boundaries are not selfish — they are necessary. If you’re ready to stop overextending, start honoring your needs, and build balanced, lasting relationships, press play. 💗 Mentioned in today’s episode: Melody Beattie’s When Things Fall Apart: https://bit.ly/4rBjmvX 📘 Go Deeper with Dear Friend If this episode on overgiving, boundaries, and rebuilding self-worth resonates with you, you may also love Michelle’s USA TODAY bestselling book, Dear Friend — a daily reflection companion created to help you reconnect with your inner voice, honor your needs, and build emotional clarity one day at a time. Because healing codependency doesn’t start with changing someone else. It starts with strengthening your relationship with yourself. And that may be the most important relationship you’ll ever build. 👉 Order your copy: https://amzn.to/3Us9eqg 🎧 Listen to the audiobook and step into a year that truly loves you back: https://amzn.to/459zSdt 💬 We’d love to hear from you! What insight or moment resonated most with you in this episode? Share in the comments—we truly read every one. 📅 Subscribe & Join Us Next Tuesday for another heartfelt episode of Life Happens with Barb and Michelle! 💕 🎙️ Host by: https://www.instagram.com/peaceful_barb/https://www.instagram.com/michellemaros/Join our community⬇️ YouTube: www.youtube.com/@LifeHappensThePodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lifehappensthepodcast/ Substack: https://lifehappensthepodcast.substack.com/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lifehappensthepodcast Listen to our podcast anywhere→ https://michellemaros.com/podcast/  🎙️ New episodes of Life Happens with Barb and Michelle are released every Tuesday ✨ Available Now✨ Order Dear Friend to receive daily doses of clarity, hope, and heartfelt encouragement.💌 https://amzn.to/3Us9eqg Our Sponsors: * Check out TruDiagnostic and use my code LIFEHAPPENS20 for a great deal: https://www.spreaker.com/our-platform Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

    44 min
  2. 247 - The Hidden Ways We Create Our Own Pain

    MAR 3

    247 - The Hidden Ways We Create Our Own Pain

    What if when things fall apart… that’s actually where healing begins? In this week’s episode of Life Happens with Barb & Michelle, we’re diving into the wisdom of Pema Chödrön and her transformational book When Things Fall Apart — a powerful guide for navigating hardship, fear, failure, and suffering. When life feels overwhelming, our instinct is often to escape the discomfort. But what if leaning into fear is actually the path to resilience? What if the suffering we experience isn’t just about what happened — but the meaning we attach to it? This episode explores how to stop adding to your own suffering and start turning life’s hardest moments into growth and healing. 💬 Barb shares how When Things Fall Apart helped her navigate her mother’s terminal cancer diagnosis and shift from fear to grounded presence. 💬 Michelle opens up about recognizing where she was compounding her own suffering — and how she now approaches hardship with greater awareness, compassion, and courage. This conversation is an invitation to step out of denial, stop fighting reality, and begin building emotional resilience — especially when everything feels like it’s unraveling. ✨ In This Episode, We Explore: When Things Fall Apart – Why hardship and failure are not the end, but the beginning of transformation.How We Add to Our Own Suffering – The stories we tell ourselves that keep us stuck in guilt, denial, or fear.Leaning Into Fear – How facing discomfort builds real resilience.Reframing Failure – Why failure can be your greatest teacher.From Denial to Acceptance – Feeling difficult emotions instead of escaping them.The Danger of Passive Hope – Moving from wishing things were different to taking grounded, proactive steps.Building Emotional Resilience – Navigating small challenges so we’re stronger in life’s biggest storms.Being Fully Alive – Living with presence, curiosity, and compassion.True healing begins when we stop resisting what is. When we meet pain with compassion instead of judgment. When we realize that fear and hardship are not signs that we’re broken — but invitations to grow. If life feels heavy right now, this episode is for you. 💗 Mentioned in today’s episode: Pema Chödrön’s When Things Fall Apart: https://bit.ly/3OAynj2 📘 Continue the Conversation If this episode resonates, you may also love Michelle’s USA TODAY bestselling book, Dear Friend — a daily reflection companion designed to help you reconnect with yourself, strengthen your inner voice, and practice emotional clarity one day at a time. Because the most important relationship you’ll ever build… is the one you have with yourself. 👉 Order your copy: https://amzn.to/3Us9eqg 🎧 Listen to the audiobook and step into a year that truly loves you back: https://amzn.to/459zSdt 💬 We’d love to hear from you! What insight or moment resonated most with you in this episode? Share in the comments—we truly read every one. 📅 Subscribe & Join Us Next Tuesday for another heartfelt episode of Life Happens with Barb and Michelle! 💕 🎙️ Host by: https://www.instagram.com/peaceful_barb/https://www.instagram.com/michellemaros/Join our community⬇️ YouTube: www.youtube.com/@LifeHappensThePodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lifehappensthepodcast/ Substack: https://lifehappensthepodcast.substack.com/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lifehappensthepodcast Listen to our podcast anywhere→ https://michellemaros.com/podcast/  🎙️ New episodes of Life Happens with Barb and Michelle are released every Tuesday ✨ Available Now✨ Order Dear Friend to receive daily doses of clarity, hope, and heartfelt encouragement.💌 https://amzn.to/3Us9eqg Our Sponsors: * Check out TruDiagnostic and use my code LIFEHAPPENS20 for a great deal: https://www.spreaker.com/our-platform Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

    41 min
  3. 246 - No More Overexplaining: Building Healthy Relationships Without Guilt | Life Happens

    FEB 24

    246 - No More Overexplaining: Building Healthy Relationships Without Guilt | Life Happens

    What if being “selfish” is actually the key to healthier relationships? In this week’s episode of Life Happens with Barb & Michelle, we’re answering your questions about navigating difficult relationship dynamics — without guilt, overexplaining, or abandoning yourself in the process. From unrealistic expectations and gossip to setting boundaries for the first time, we’re diving into the messy, uncomfortable, and very real parts of relationships. 💬 Barb shares how she sets boundaries and approaches hard conversations with clarity and calm. 💬 Michelle opens up about releasing guilt, healing with confidence, and refusing to live in a victim mindset. This conversation is honest, practical, and empowering — especially if you’ve ever struggled with people-pleasing or feeling responsible for everyone else’s emotions. ✨ In This Episode, We Explore: Why guilt often keeps us stuck — and what to do insteadHow to identify your values and honor your needsSetting boundaries without overexplainingSupporting loved ones without rescuing themWhy healthy relationships require clarity, not self-sacrificeAt the heart of it all? You don’t build strong relationships by shrinking yourself. You build them by standing in your truth. 📘 Continue the Conversation If this episode resonates, you may also love Michelle’s USA TODAY bestselling book, Dear Friend — a daily reflection companion designed to help you reconnect with yourself, strengthen your inner voice, and practice emotional clarity one day at a time. Because the most important relationship you’ll ever build… is the one you have with yourself. 👉 Order your copy: https://amzn.to/3Us9eqg 🎧 Listen to the audiobook and step into a year that truly loves you back: https://amzn.to/459zSdt 💬 We’d love to hear from you! What insight or moment resonated most with you in this episode? Share in the comments—we truly read every one. 📅 Subscribe & Join Us Next Tuesday for another heartfelt episode of Life Happens with Barb and Michelle! 💕 🎙️ Host by: https://www.instagram.com/peaceful_barb/https://www.instagram.com/michellemaros/Join our community⬇️ YouTube: www.youtube.com/@LifeHappensThePodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lifehappensthepodcast/ Substack: https://lifehappensthepodcast.substack.com/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lifehappensthepodcast Listen to our podcast anywhere→ https://michellemaros.com/podcast/  🎙️ New episodes of Life Happens with Barb and Michelle are released every Tuesday ✨ Available Now✨ Order Dear Friend to receive daily doses of clarity, hope, and heartfelt encouragement.💌 https://amzn.to/3Us9eqg Our Sponsors: * Check out TruDiagnostic and use my code LIFEHAPPENS20 for a great deal: https://www.spreaker.com/our-platform Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

    38 min
  4. 245 - Loyalty, Betrayal, & Why Confrontation Matters | Life Happens

    FEB 17

    245 - Loyalty, Betrayal, & Why Confrontation Matters | Life Happens

    Confrontation isn’t easy — but it’s one of the clearest ways we honor ourselves and the people we care about. If we’re not honest about our feelings and needs, how can our relationships truly grow? In this week’s episode of Life Happens with Barb & Michelle, we’re diving into loyalty and betrayal — including our own experience of being unexpectedly ghosted by a friend. From healthy communication to redefining what loyalty really means, this conversation is for anyone navigating hurt, boundaries, and the courage to speak up. 💬 Barb shares her experience with fear of abandonment and how she’s learned to voice her truth, even when it feels risky. 💬 Michelle reflects on why she’s cautious with the word “loyalty” and how she’s redefined it in her own relationships. ✨ What We Talk About Redefining Loyalty Loyalty isn’t blind or unconditional — it’s a conscious commitment to work through discomfort, growth, and change with honesty and respect. Fear of Abandonment Recognizing the underlying fears that may keep you silent or guarded. Being Okay with Confrontation Healthy relationships are strengthened — not broken — by hard conversations. Loyalty to the Relationship Itself Respecting the time, energy, and connection you’ve built by choosing communication over avoidance. Reminder: There is power and healing in honest communication. Be brave enough to speak your truth and set the boundaries that protect your peace. 📘 USA TODAY BESTSELLER — Dear Friend by Michelle Maros Dear Friend is a 365-day companion designed to support self-care, self-love, and emotional clarity. Each reflection offers a gentle pause — a reminder to come back to yourself, nurture your inner voice, and build a life rooted in presence and confidence. Explore the book and continue the journey toward deeper connection — starting with yourself. 👉 Order your copy: https://amzn.to/3Us9eqg 🎧 Listen to the audiobook and step into a year that truly loves you back: https://amzn.to/459zSdt 💬 We’d love to hear from you! What insight or moment resonated most with you in this episode? Share in the comments—we truly read every one. 📅 Subscribe & Join Us Next Tuesday for another heartfelt episode of Life Happens with Barb and Michelle! 💕 🎙️ Host by: https://www.instagram.com/peaceful_barb/https://www.instagram.com/michellemaros/Join our community⬇️ YouTube: www.youtube.com/@LifeHappensThePodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lifehappensthepodcast/ Substack: https://lifehappensthepodcast.substack.com/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lifehappensthepodcast Listen to our podcast anywhere→ https://michellemaros.com/podcast/  🎙️ New episodes of Life Happens with Barb and Michelle are released every Tuesday ✨ Available Now✨ Order Dear Friend to receive daily doses of clarity, hope, and heartfelt encouragement.💌 https://amzn.to/3Us9eqg Our Sponsors: * Check out TruDiagnostic and use my code LIFEHAPPENS20 for a great deal: https://www.spreaker.com/our-platform Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

    39 min
  5. 244 - Nedra Glover Tawwab on Boundaries, Relationships & Why We Feel So Lonely | Life Happens

    FEB 10

    244 - Nedra Glover Tawwab on Boundaries, Relationships & Why We Feel So Lonely | Life Happens

    Have we become so independent—and so focused on self-care—that we’ve forgotten how much we actually need one another? With relationship deficits at an all-time high, this episode is a powerful guide to rebuilding connection and creating healthy dependency—without losing yourself. In this week’s episode of Life Happens with Barb & Michelle, we’re joined by New York Times bestselling author, therapist, and boundaries expert Nedra Glover Tawwab for an honest and timely conversation about relationships, communication, and expectations. This episode launches the same day as Nedra’s new book, The Balancing Act,offering a deeper look at the themes shaping her work right now. From understanding how trauma can show up in our relationships to navigating boundaries, “no contact,” and emotional dependency, this conversation speaks directly to the loneliness so many of us are feeling—and what we can do about it. 💬 Nedra shares insights from her clinical work and personal experience, and offers a preview of the ideas explored in The Balancing Act. 💬 Michelle & Barb bring their own lived wisdom to the conversation, exploring relationships through a generational and mother–daughter lens. ✨ What We Talk AboutFinding the Balance Why boundaries aren’t walls to keep people out—but tools to keep relationships sustainable and meaningful. The Challenge of “No Contact” When cutting ties is necessary—and why building community and connection matters just as much. Mindful Communication Why speaking honestly instead of silently rehearsing conversations can save relationships. The Relationship Deficit How cultivating a fuller, more diverse community supports healthy dependency and eases unrealistic expectations. As Nedra reminds us, every relationship—from romantic partnerships to friendships, family, and community—is a balancing act. When we give too much, we lose ourselves. When we protect ourselves too much, we lose closeness. Finding the middle ground is where connection, authenticity, and joy live. ✨UPCOMING EVENT: Calling all South Florida friends! Join Nedra Glover Tawwab and Barb Schmidt at Books & Books in Miami for a meaningful conversation—and the opportunity to receive a signed copy of The Balancing Act. Get your tickets here:https://shop.booksandbooks.com/event/2026-02-21/evening-nedra-glover-tawwab-barb-schmidt Order Nedra’s new book, The Balancing Act, to create healthy dependency and connection without losing yourself:https://www.nedratawwab.com/books/the-balancing-act 💬 We’d love to hear from you! What insight or moment resonated most with you in this episode? Share in the comments—we truly read every one. 📅 Subscribe & Join Us Next Tuesday for another heartfelt episode of Life Happens with Barb and Michelle! 💕 ⭐Special Guest: Therapist, NYT Bestselling Author, Nedra Glover Tawwab https://www.instagram.com/nedratawwab/?hl=en Order her new book here: https://www.nedratawwab.com/books/the-balancing-act 🎙️ Host by: https://www.instagram.com/peaceful_barb/https://www.instagram.com/michellemaros/Join our community⬇️ YouTube: www.youtube.com/@LifeHappensThePodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lifehappensthepodcast/ Substack: https://lifehappensthepodcast.substack.com/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lifehappensthepodcast Listen to our podcast anywhere→ https://michellemaros.com/podcast/  🎙️ New episodes of Life Happens with Barb and Michelle are released every Tuesday 📘 USA TODAY BESTSELLER — Dear Friend by Michelle Maros You don’t need a new beginning to come back to yourself. Dear Friend is a 365-day companion for self-love, presence, and quiet courage—one page, one day at a time. 👉 Order your copy: https://amzn.to/3Us9eqg Our Sponsors: * Check out TruDiagnostic and use my code LIFEHAPPENS20 for a great deal: https://www.spreaker.com/our-platform Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

    50 min
  6. 243 - You’re More Than Your Relationship Status: Overcoming the Fear of Being Alone | Life Happens

    FEB 3

    243 - You’re More Than Your Relationship Status: Overcoming the Fear of Being Alone | Life Happens

    Hard truth: Staying because it’s comfortable might be the loneliest choice you make. Sometimes the bravest thing you can do is stop ignoring the red flags and choose to end a toxic or misaligned relationship. In this week’s episode of Life Happens with Barb & Michelle, we’re unpacking the pressure around relationships, singleness, and breakups — and what it really means to choose yourself. From recognizing when a relationship has run its course to building a strong sense of self, this conversation will empower you to create healthier relationships with yourself and others. 💬 Barb opens up about ending a 33-year marriage and how she stepped into a new chapter with confidence, clarity, and freedom. 💬 Michelle shares her journey of being alone and finding peace in choosing singleness over settling for less. ✨ What We Talk AboutSelf-Identity Releasing the belief that our worth or purpose is defined by our relationship status. Being Okay With Being Alone Singleness isn’t failure — it can be a powerful season of growth, healing, and self-love. Listening to Yourself Learning to trust your feelings and needs so you can take the next right step. Choosing Differently Sometimes the uncomfortable path is the one that leads to joy, peace, and real alignment. Reminder: You are more than your relationship status. Your identity, purpose, and fulfillment are defined by you — not by timelines, labels, or societal expectations. 📘 USA TODAY BESTSELLER — Dear Friend by Michelle Maros Start 2026 with New Year, Brave You. Dear Friend is a 365-day companion to help you cultivate self-love, clarity, presence, and inner peace — one gentle reflection at a time. ✨ Begin the year with intention and courage. 👉 Order your copy: https://amzn.to/3Us9eqg 🎧 Listen to the audiobook and step into a year that truly loves you back: https://amzn.to/459zSdt 💬 We’d love to hear from you! What insight or moment resonated most with you in this episode? Share in the comments—we truly read every one. 📅 Subscribe & Join Us Next Tuesday for another heartfelt episode of Life Happens with Barb and Michelle! 💕 🎙️ Host by: https://www.instagram.com/peaceful_barb/https://www.instagram.com/michellemaros/Join our community⬇️ YouTube: www.youtube.com/@LifeHappensThePodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lifehappensthepodcast/ Substack: https://lifehappensthepodcast.substack.com/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lifehappensthepodcast Listen to our podcast anywhere→ https://michellemaros.com/podcast/  🎙️ New episodes of Life Happens with Barb and Michelle are released every Tuesday ✨ Available Now✨ Order Dear Friend to receive daily doses of clarity, hope, and heartfelt encouragement.💌 https://amzn.to/3Us9eqg 🔖 Hashtags: #Relationships #EndedRelationships #Breakups #ToxicRelationships Our Sponsors: * Check out TruDiagnostic and use my code LIFEHAPPENS20 for a great deal: https://www.spreaker.com/our-platform Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

    47 min
  7. 242 - Jen Hatmaker on Having the Courage to Choose Yourself | Life Happens

    JAN 27

    242 - Jen Hatmaker on Having the Courage to Choose Yourself | Life Happens

    Divorce breaks a million hearts — including your own. But sometimes, choosing yourself is the bravest and most healing decision you can make. What if all it took to change your life was the courage to trust yourself again? In this week’s episode of Life Happens with Barb & Michelle, we’re joined by NYT bestselling author Jen Hatmaker for an honest, compassionate, and deeply moving conversation about life after divorce, listening to your intuition, and finding freedom on the other side of heartbreak. Jen opens up about putting her life fully out there — the grief, the courage, the fallout — and what it was like to go from deep personal pain to becoming an instant New York Times bestseller. Together, we explore what happens when trauma finds you… and how ignoring your truth doesn’t make it any less true. This episode is for anyone who feels stuck, conflicted, exhausted from self-doubt, or quietly wondering if it’s time for something different. 💬 In this conversation, we explore: Choosing Yourself: Why freedom and joy begin the moment you decide your needs matter.Life After Divorce: The heartbreak, the healing, and the unexpected growth that follows.Comfort Over Coaching: Why people often want to soothe us instead of supporting real change.The Sunk Cost Fallacy: Why no amount of time, history, or sacrifice is worth staying somewhere that no longer feels right.Trusting Your Intuition: How we often gaslight ourselves out of the truth we already know.Parenting Through Divorce: Navigating change, honesty, and healing with your children.Feeling the Hurt: Grieving what was, what could’ve been, and honoring the pain without getting stuck in it.Barb and Michelle also share their personal experience navigating divorce as a mother and daughter — and how choosing honesty, presence, and self-trust reshaped their relationship. ✨ This episode is a reminder: You’re not broken. You’re not weak. And trusting yourself isn’t selfish — it’s necessary. 📖 Order Jen’s memoir, Awake, to go deeper into courage, truth, and choosing yourself: https://www.amazon.com/Awake-Memoir-Jen-Hatmaker/dp/166808368X 💬 We’d love to hear from you: What moment or insight resonated most? Share in the comments — we truly read every one. 📅 Subscribe & join us next Tuesday for another heartfelt episode of Life Happens with Barb & Michelle 💕 ⭐ Special Guest: Follow Jen Hatmaker on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jenhatmaker/?hl=en 🎙️ Host by: https://www.instagram.com/peaceful_barb/https://www.instagram.com/michellemaros/Join our community⬇️ YouTube: www.youtube.com/@LifeHappensThePodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lifehappensthepodcast/ Substack: https://lifehappensthepodcast.substack.com/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lifehappensthepodcast Listen to our podcast anywhere→ https://michellemaros.com/podcast/  🎙️ New episodes of Life Happens with Barb and Michelle are released every Tuesday 📘 USA TODAY BESTSELLER — Dear Friend by Michelle Maros Start 2026 with New Year, Brave You. Dear Friend is the perfect 365-day companion to help you cultivate self-love, clarity, presence, and inner peace—one gentle reflection at a time.✨ Begin the year with intention and courage. 👉 Order your copy: https://amzn.to/3Us9eqg 🎧 listen to the audiobook today and step into a year that truly loves you back. 👉https://amzn.to/459zSdt 🔖 Hashtags: #JenHatmaker #Divorce #Freedom #ChooseYou #Courage Our Sponsors: * Check out TruDiagnostic and use my code LIFEHAPPENS20 for a great deal: https://www.spreaker.com/our-platform Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

    58 min
  8. 241 - Rethinking the New Year: Why “Changing Yourself” Is the Wrong Goal | Life Happens

    JAN 20

    241 - Rethinking the New Year: Why “Changing Yourself” Is the Wrong Goal | Life Happens

    You don’t need to reinvent yourself this year 💫 With all the pressure to “fix” your life overnight and become a brand-new version of yourself, we’re taking a different approach to the new year—one that feels grounded, compassionate, and sustainable. In this week’s episode of Life Happens with Barb & Michelle, we’re answering your questions on how to start the year with clarity and confidence—without stress, overwhelm, or unrealistic expectations. From self-acceptance to pursuing your dreams, this episode is a gentle guide to stepping into a year that loves you back. 💬 Barb shares how she’s redefined purpose and goals in her life, releasing pressure and unrealistic expectations. 💬 Michelle opens up about why self-care can feel “boring,” and how she discovered a practice that actually works in real life. ✨ What We Talk About Starting the year intentionally: Releasing urgency, reframing the “new year pressure,” and letting go of unrealistic timelinesPracticing self-care consistently: Finding what supports you without feeling impractical or forcedNavigating triggering topics: Knowing your boundaries, honoring your standards, and speaking up when something feels unaligned with your valuesApproaching goals with grace: Breaking your dreams into realistic milestones while staying connected to what you truly wantThe pressure to reinvent yourself every January is exhausting. You don’t need a new version of you — you just need more compassion for the person you already are. 📘 USA TODAY BESTSELLER — Dear Friend by Michelle Maros Start 2026 with New Year, Brave You. Dear Friend is the perfect 365-day companion to help you cultivate self-love, clarity, presence, and inner peace—one gentle reflection at a time.✨ Begin the year with intention and courage. 👉 Order your copy: https://amzn.to/3Us9eqg 🎧 listen to the audiobook today and step into a year that truly loves you back. 👉https://amzn.to/459zSdt Mentioned in the episode: 💛 The Three Gates of Speech Principle: Is it true? Is it kind? Is it necessary? 💬 We’d love to hear from you! What insight or moment resonated most with you in this episode? Share in the comments—we truly read every one. 📅 Subscribe & Join Us Next Tuesday for another heartfelt episode of Life Happens with Barb and Michelle! 💕 Today’s Episode Sponsors: 🎙️ Host by: https://www.instagram.com/peaceful_barb/https://www.instagram.com/michellemaros/Join our community⬇️ YouTube: www.youtube.com/@LifeHappensThePodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lifehappensthepodcast/ Substack: https://lifehappensthepodcast.substack.com/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lifehappensthepodcast Listen to our podcast anywhere→ https://michellemaros.com/podcast/  🎙️ New episodes of Life Happens with Barb and Michelle are released every Tuesday ✨ Available Now✨ Order Dear Friend to receive daily doses of clarity, hope, and heartfelt encouragement.💌 https://amzn.to/3Us9eqg ✨Coming soon✨ You asked. We answered. We've been quietly creating a platform designed to support your emotional and mental wellbeing with practical tools, heartfelt teachings, and science-backed practices. Next month, our new Emotional Wellbeing Toolkit will be LIVE! Save the date and join us in stepping into a year that loves us back💕 Be the first to know and have access by signing-up for our newsletter: https://peacefulmindpeacefullife.substack.com/ Our Sponsors: * Check out TruDiagnostic and use my code LIFEHAPPENS20 for a great deal: https://www.spreaker.com/our-platform Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

    43 min
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About

Life Happens with Barb and Michelle is your guide to navigating the twists, turns, and beautifully messy moments of life. Hosted by Barb and Michelle, a dynamic mother-daughter duo and the Co-Founders of Peaceful Mind Peaceful Life®, this podcast dives into the growth, shifts, and self-discovery that define our journeys. Together, they explore what it truly means to live authentically, strengthen mental health, embrace change, and rise after every stumble. Tune in for heartfelt conversations, insights, and inspiration to help you thrive in every chapter of your story. Thanks so much for being with us, we love being with you and sharing life with you all! Join our YouTube community and see our episodes on video by subscribing to our channel @lifehappensthepodcast *The information and opinions expressed in this program are for educational purposes only, are not intended as medical or other health advice, and solely reflect the personal experiences of the host and guests. You should not act or rely upon any information contained in this program without seeking the advice of a qualified medical provider. Any reproduction or rebroadcast of this program, in whole or part, is prohibited without the prior written permission of Michelle Maros™, LLC. © 2022 Michelle Maros, LLC*

Information

  • Creator
    Michelle Maros & Barb Schmidt
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    214
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2022, Michelle Maros LLC, All Rights Reserved
  • Show Website
    Life Happens with Barb & Michelle

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