Chaos to Connection: Boundaries and Breakthroughs for Cycle-Breaking Women

Diane Sorensen
  • 4.6 (26)
  • MENTAL HEALTH
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Chaos to Connection is for cycle-breaking women ready to heal generational patterns and lead their families with authenticity, not approval. Hosted by Diane Sorensen, Boundary & Empowerment Coach, each episode explores motherhood, self-worth, and emotional healing—where boundaries become bridges and connection, not control, is the path to transformation. This isn’t behavior management—it’s liberation. Learn to listen to yourself and create the calm, connected relationships you crave. ✨ Reclaim your calm. ✨ Speak your truth. ✨ Live free

  1. 5D AGO

    275. Need More Patience? This One’s for You.

    “I just need more patience.” It’s one of the most common things I hear from parents — and one of the most loaded. In this episode, I gently challenge the idea that patience is something you either have or don’t have. Because what if patience isn’t a personality trait… or a moral virtue… or something “good parents” naturally possess? What if patience is actually about capacity? Capacity to tolerate discomfort.Capacity to feel stress in your body without reacting.Capacity to return to yourself when you get triggered. In a culture that quietly equates patience with performance — looking calm on the outside while pushing everything down on the inside — it’s no wonder so many of us feel like we’re failing. But performance calm isn’t the same as embodied composure. And impatience isn’t a character flaw — it’s often a signal that your nervous system has hit the edge of its capacity. You’ll also hear how learning to own your triggers — instead ofsuppressing them — becomes one of the most liberating practices of leadership in parenting and beyond. Patience isn’t about staying calm all the time.It’s about knowing how to return to yourself when you don’t. Resource mentioned in this episode: https://www.dianesorensen.net/stop Let’s Connect:Instagram: @dianesorensen.bbFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/diane.sorensen.589 Join the conversation — share your takeaways or questions from today’s episode by sending me a message on Instagram or Facebook. I love hearing from you! Working Together:Diane Sorensen Coaching is where boundarywork becomes the bridge from chaos to connection.You’ll learn to transform your triggers, lead with compassion, and create emotionally safe, connected relationships built on authenticity, not approval.Reclaim your CALM, speak your TRUTH, and live FREE → Submit an inquiry or learn more: www.dianesorensen.net/contact → Explore free guides and resources to support your growth: www.dianesorensen.net/ → Join the weekly newsletter forinsights, tools, and support delivered straight to your inbox: www.dianesorensen.net/email-list

    16 min

  2. FEB 9

    274. When Your To-Do List Is Running Your Life with Courtney Cecil

    What if the reason you feel rushed, stretched thin, and disconnected isn’t because you’re doing something wrong—but because the systems supporting your life aren’t actually supporting you? In this episode I’m joined by Courtney Cecil, host of the LifeManagement System for Working Moms and founder of the Working Moms Movement. Courtney supports high-achieving working moms who are doing all the inner work—mindset shifts, personal growth, self-awareness—and yet stillfeel overwhelmed, behind, and depleted. What I love about Courtney’s approach is that she doesn’t frame this struggle as a personal failure or a lack of discipline. She names it for what it often is: a systems problem, not a motivation problem. In our conversation, we explore how the missing piece may be a structure that actually reflects your values, capacity, and season of life. In this episode, we talk about: * Why so many working moms feel overwhelmed even when they’re “doing everything right” * How the mental load quietly drains energy and presence * The difference between internal work and external systems—and why both matter * Why time management isn’t about productivity, but about alignment * How creating supportive systems can reduce burnout and increase breathing room * What it really means to design a life that works for you, notagainst you If your to-do list feels endless…If your responsibilities at home feel imbalanced…If you long to be more present but can’t seem to find the space… This conversation will feel grounding, validating, and deeply practical. Let’s Connect:Instagram: @dianesorensen.bbFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/diane.sorensen.589 Join the conversation — share your takeaways or questions from today’s episode by sending me a message on Instagram or Facebook. I love hearing from you! Working Together:Diane Sorensen Coaching is where boundarywork becomes the bridge from chaos to connection.You’ll learn to transform your triggers, lead with compassion, and create emotionally safe, connected relationships built on authenticity, not approval.Reclaim your CALM, speak your TRUTH, and live FREE → Submitan inquiry or learn more: www.dianesorensen.net/contact → Explore free guides and resourcesto support your growth: www.dianesorensen.net/ → Join the weekly newsletter forinsights, tools, and support delivered straight to your inbox: www.dianesorensen.net/email-list

    36 min

  3. FEB 2

    273. Relationship Over Compliance — What Does That Even Mean?

    We hear it all the time: “Choose relationship over compliance.” Or “Connection over Correction” It sounds right. It feels aligned.And yet, in the real moments—when a child resists, ignores, or says “no”—many parents are left wondering: What does that actually look like? In this episode, I unpack what relationship-focused trulymeans—and what it doesn’t. Drawing from my years as an educator, my training with Dr. Becky Bailey, and my lived experience as a parent and coach, I explore the gap between parenting language we’ve been given and the embodied skills we were never taught. You’ll hear why focusing on relationship in parenting is not about being permissive, “nice,” or fixing behavior—and why it actually requires more leadership, not less. In this episode, we explore: *Why “relationship over compliance” often feels confusing in the moment *How behavior-focused prioritizes adult relief, not skill-building *What relationship-focused really asks of the adult *The role of self-regulation and presence in leading children *Why compliance soothes the adult nervous system—but relationship builds capacity *How staying connected to yourself changes everything in moments of resistance At its core, this episode reframes leadership away from control and toward regulated, self-led presence—especially when things fall apart. If you know you believe in connection but struggle to live it especially when it’s hard, this conversation is for you. Let’s Connect:Instagram: @dianesorensen.bbFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/diane.sorensen.589 Join the conversation — share your takeaways or questions from today’s episode by sending me a message on Instagram or Facebook. I love hearing from you! Working Together:Diane Sorensen Coaching is where boundary work becomes the bridge from chaos to connection. You’ll learn to transform your triggers, lead with compassion, and create emotionally safe, connected relationships built on authenticity, not approval.Reclaim your CALM, speak your TRUTH, and live FREE → Submit an inquiry or learn more: www.dianesorensen.net/contact → Explore free guides and resources to support your growth: www.dianesorensen.net/ → Join the weekly newsletter for insights, tools, and support delivered straight to your inbox: www.dianesorensen.net/email-list

    24 min

  4. JAN 26

    272. From Control to Curiosity: Understanding Resistance in Parenting

    What if resistance isn’t the problem—but the doorway? In this episode of Chaos to Connection, Diane explores one of the most misunderstood dynamics in parenting: resistance. From chores and homework to “not listening,” resistance often triggers power struggles that leave both parents and children feeling disconnected and frustrated. But what if resistance isn’t defiance at all? Drawing from nervous system awareness, emotional leadership, and her own lived experience, Diane reframes resistance as self-protection, not misbehavior—and reveals how power struggles begin when a child’s resistancecollides with a parent’s unowned trigger. This episode invites parents to shift from control to curiosity, blame to ownership, and reactivity to regulation—creating the conditions where responsibility, connection, and trust can actually grow. In This Episode, You’ll Explore: *Why resistance is not defiance—but protection *How children’s resistance mirrors adult resistance (avoidance, procrastination, “I know,” shutdown) *The hidden reason power struggles escalate: resistance meeting resistance *How parents often react not to behavior, but to what the behavior triggersin them *Why blaming children for our triggers dismisses their inner experience *The difference between control-based parenting and curiosity-based leadership *How boundaries can exist without power struggles *Why staying with yourself when triggered is the real work of parenting A Key Reframe from the Episode: “Resistance is fear trying to keep us safe—and power struggles begin when resistance meets resistance.” Reflection Questions for Parents: What does my child resist most—and what might that resistance be protecting them from? What gets triggered in me when my child resists? Where might I be resisting their resistance instead of leading from regulation?   Connect with Diane:Instagram: @dianesorensen.bbFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/diane.sorensen.589 Join the conversation — share your takeaways or questions from today’s episode by sending me a message on Instagram or Facebook. I love hearing from you! Work with Diane:Diane Sorensen Coaching is where boundary work becomes thebridge from chaos to connection.You’ll learn to transform your triggers, lead with compassion, and create emotionally safe, connected relationships built on authenticity, not approval.Reclaim your CALM, speak your TRUTH, and create the CONNECTED relationships you long for. → Submit an inquiry or learn more: www.dianesorensen.net/contact → Explore free guides and resources to support your growth: www.dianesorensen.net/ → Join the weekly newsletter for insights, tools, and support delivered straight to your inbox: www.dianesorensen.net/email-list

    14 min

  5. JAN 19

    271. The Power of Boundaries: From All-or-Nothing to Empowered Action w/ Cortney Hackett

    In this week’s episode, I’m joined by Cortney Hackett, founder of Grit & Grace. Cortney helps women turn overwhelm into action with practical, grounded strategies that make the impossible possible. Together, we dive into one of my favorite topics — boundaries — and explore some of the biggest misconceptions women hold about them. Cortney shares how boundaries aren’t walls or restrictions, but pathways to freedom, clarity, and self-leadership. We also unpack the “all or nothing” mindset that keeps so many of us stuck in cycles of burnout and procrastination — and how taking small, meaningful steps can actually create more momentum than massive overhauls ever do. And don’t miss Cortney’s brilliant reframe on “scheduling freak-out time,” a practice that helped her quiet chronic worry and move from anxiety into action. In this episode, we explore: *The liberating truth about boundaries — and how they create emotional and energetic freedom *Why perfectionism and “all or nothing” thinking keep women stuck *The power of small, doable actions that build confidence and consistency *Cortney’s practical tip for managing worry: schedule your“freak-out time” *How to move from surviving to leading yourself through life’s everyday hard things  About Cortney: Cortney Hackett is the founder of Grit & Grace, where shehelps ambitious, self-aware women transform overwhelm into clear, confident action. Blending mindset work with strategic planning, she guides women to stopspinning in stuck patterns and start leading themselves forward with purpose and peace. Connect with Cortney: 👉 Instagram - @OfficialGritAndGrace Connect with Diane: Instagram: @dianesorensen.bb Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/diane.sorensen.589 Join the conversation — share your takeaways or questions from today’s episode by sending me a message on Instagram or Facebook. I love hearing from you! Work with Diane: Diane Sorensen Coaching is where boundary work becomes the bridge from chaos to connection. You’ll learn to transform your triggers, lead with compassion, and create emotionally safe, connected relationships built on authenticity, not approval. Reclaim your CALM, speak your TRUTH, and live FREE. → Submitan inquiry or learn more: www.dianesorensen.net/contact → Explore free guides and resourcesto support your growth: www.dianesorensen.net/ → Join the weekly newsletter forinsights, tools, and support delivered straight to your inbox: www.dianesorensen.net/email-list

    37 min

  6. JAN 12

    270. Why Chores Don’t Teach Responsibility (And What Actually Does)

    As parents we want to raise responsible children. But what does responsibility actually mean—and how do kids truly learn it? In this episode, we explore why chores, homework, and compliance don’t automatically create responsibility, and how focusing only on behavior can unintentionally teach children to perform responsibility rather than embodyit. When responsibility is enforced without safety or trust, children may comply on the outside—but inside, resentment quietly grows. You’ll learn why responsibility isn’t something we can force, coerce, or manage into existence—and what actually helps children claim ownership for themselves. In this episode, we explore: *Why responsibility is often confused with compliance and “good behavior” *How focusing on appearances can disconnect children from their inner world *The difference between performative responsibility and embodied ownership *How power struggles around chores and homework create resentment—not capability *Why resistance isn’t the problem, but the doorway *The two ingredients required for true responsibility: safety and trust *How adult regulation and presence shape a child’s capacity for ownership This episode is an invitation to pause and reflect:Are we raising responsible children—or resentful ones? Because responsibility isn’t taught through pressure.It’s grown through relationship. Mentioned in this episode: Schedule your Breakthrough session here:https://www.dianesorensen.net/call Resource - https://www.dianesorensen.net/drama-to-empowerment   Connect with Diane:Instagram: @dianesorensen.bbFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/diane.sorensen.589 Join the conversation — share your takeaways or questions from today’s episode by sending me a message on Instagram or Facebook. I love hearing from you! Work with Diane:Diane Sorensen’s Coaching is where boundary work becomes the bridge from chaos to connection.You’ll learn to transform your triggers, lead with compassion, and create emotionally safe relationships built on authenticity, not approval. Reclaim your CALM, speak your TRUTH, and live FREE. → Submitan inquiry or learn more: www.dianesorensen.net/contact → Explore free guides and resourcesto support your growth: www.dianesorensen.net/ → Join the weekly newsletter forinsights, tools, and support delivered straight to your inbox: www.dianesorensen.net/email-list

    23 min

  7. JAN 5

    269. New Year, New Meaning: Choosing Integration Over Performance

    Every January, we’re invited—sometimes pressured—to fix ourselves. New goals.New habits.New versions of who we should be. Instead of a New Year’s resolution, I choose a word – or actually it seems to choose me. In this episode, I share my 2026 word and what it means to me—not as a concept to master, but as a lived, embodied practice. I reflect on the difference between performance and embodiment, and how so many of us were conditioned to perform for approval, safety, and belonging—often withoutrealizing it. Performance asks us to prove.Embodiment invites us to experience. This episode isn’t about doing more.It’s about the journey home to your own authenticity over seeking approval. A reflection to sit with / journal prompt: If I allowed myself to fly, what would that look like andhow would I feel? Resource mentioned in this episode: https://www.dianesorensen.net/drama-to-empowerment Connect with Diane: Instagram @dianesorensen.bbFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/diane.sorensen.589 Join the conversation — share your takeaways or questions from today’s episode by sending me a message on Instagram or Facebook. I love hearing from you! Work with Diane: Diane Sorensen’s Coaching Programs are where boundary work becomes the bridge from chaos to connection.You’ll learn to transform your triggers, lead with compassion, and create emotionally safe relationships built on authenticity, not approval.Reclaim your CALM, speak your TRUTH, and live FREE. → Submit an inquiry or learn more: www.dianesorensen.net/contact → Explore free guides and resources to support your growth: www.dianesorensen.net/ → Join the weekly newsletter for insights, tools, and support delivered straight to your inbox: www.dianesorensen.net/email-list

    16 min

  8. 12/29/2025

    268. Waking Up from the Lie of Not-Enough with Crystal Haitsma

    What if the constant feeling of not-enoughisn’t the truth about you — but a learned illusion shaped by shame? In this heartfelt and expansive conversation, I’m joined by Crystal Haitsma, creator and host of The Art of Shame-FreeLiving — a space devoted to waking up from the belief that something is fundamentally wrong with us. Crystal shares her personal journey of findingherself again — not by bypassing discomfort, but by turning toward shame, meeting it with curiosity, andallowing it to become a portal to inner fullness instead of proof of deficiency. Together, we explore how shame quietly shapesour relationships, our boundaries, and our sense of self — and how reclaiming our wholeness creates the foundation for real connection. This conversation is an invitation to soften the inner fight, release the lie of not-enough-ness, and remember what’s always been true — you were never broken. Crystal Haitsma is a personal coach, relationship guide, and host of The Art of Shame-Free Living podcast, whereshe explores how releasing shame opens the door to connection, creativity, and inner fullness.   Connect with Crystal: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/its.crystal.noelle/ Podcast: https://www.coachcrystal.ca/podcast-platforms   Connect with Diane:Instagram: @dianesorensen.bbFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/diane.sorensen.589 Join the conversation — share your takeaways or questionsfrom today’s episode by sending me a message on Instagram or Facebook. I love hearing from you! Work with Diane:Diane Sorensen’s Coaching Community is where boundarywork becomes the bridge from chaos to connection. You’ll learn to transform your triggers,lead with compassion, and create emotionally safe relationships built on authenticity, not approval.Reclaim your CALM, speak your TRUTH, and live FREE. → Submit an inquiry or learn more: www.dianesorensen.net/contact → Explore free guides and resources to support your growth: www.dianesorensen.net/ → Join the weekly newsletter for insights, tools, and support deliveredstraight to your inbox: www.dianesorensen.net/email-list

    34 min
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4.6
out of 5
26 Ratings

About

Chaos to Connection is for cycle-breaking women ready to heal generational patterns and lead their families with authenticity, not approval. Hosted by Diane Sorensen, Boundary & Empowerment Coach, each episode explores motherhood, self-worth, and emotional healing—where boundaries become bridges and connection, not control, is the path to transformation. This isn’t behavior management—it’s liberation. Learn to listen to yourself and create the calm, connected relationships you crave. ✨ Reclaim your calm. ✨ Speak your truth. ✨ Live free

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