Thriving Mosaic - Discover & Embrace Your Unique Identity

Stephanie Ravenscraft
  • 5.0 (10)
  • Self-Improvement
  • Updated Biweekly

A podcast dedicated to encouraging you to discover and embrace your unique identity, to authentically be yourself and to live your life in freedom from worrying about what others may say or think.

  1. 3d ago

    094 - Office Hours, Peace, and the Words We Speak

    In this episode, I’m sharing what this past week has looked like as I continue stepping into a new rhythm for my life and work. I’ve been setting more intentional office hours, cleaning and reclaiming my physical office space, creating reset rhythms for the house, and finding a better balance between home, business, and this next season of life. After years of raising kids, helping build our business, and holding so many pieces of family life, I really do feel like I’m standing in my time now. I also share two things I saw on social media that stayed with me. One helped me think more clearly about peace, people, and the words I use to describe myself. I don’t actually dislike people. I deeply value my peace, and I’m learning to speak about that more honestly. The second was a parenting idea I wish I had known years ago: letting children overhear us speak life, courage, love, and confidence about them when they think we’re not talking to them directly. I’m already tucking that one away for future grandchildren. My masterminds are making a return, and if you’d like more information, you can email me at Stephanie@StephanieRavenscraft.com. I also have a mailing list that I’m preparing to use more intentionally. If you’d like to be added, just email me and mention the mailing list. Until next week, live your life on purpose.

    34 min

  2. May 25

    093 - The Next Chapter Begins

    This week’s episode is a little bit of everything: travel recovery, grace, family updates, dogs who do not believe in sleeping in, and a very meaningful next step in my own life and work. After our trip to Texas with Jane, I underestimated just how much energy it would take to come home, catch up, get groceries, do laundry, and return to normal life. I had planned to record last week’s episode only one day late, and then I realized that I needed to extend myself grace. So I did. In this episode, I share a few stories from our Texas trip that I did not share on Building a Life and Business Together, including a sweet moment where I was reminded that McKenna is stepping into her adult life as Jane. For years, Jane has been the name used by those closest to her, and now she has chosen to use that name as she begins law school and this new chapter of her life. I also share a few updates from a weekend spent caring for Meagan and Jacob’s dogs, which included being woken up by a dog sneeze to the forehead and another dog kicking my already sore knee. Apparently, dogs sleep in for other people, but not for me. The deeper part of this episode is about the next chapter beginning in my own life. After a recent hot seat inside the Next Level Mastermind, I realized that I am ready to step back into coaching. I have known for a long time that helping women is part of my purpose, especially women who are navigating the changing seasons of motherhood, healing from past trauma, breaking free from expectations, and rediscovering who they truly are. I am bringing back my mastermind. My heart is to create a safe, judgment-free space where women can share where they are, where they want to go, and begin breaking free from the limiting beliefs and expectations that have kept them from living whole and free. In this episode, I talk about why I paused this work several years ago, why being fully present with my children was the right choice for that season, and why now feels like the right time to begin again. I am excited, nervous, grateful, and ready. If you would like to know more about the mastermind, you can email me at: stephanie@stephanieravenscraft.com You can also listen to the episode of Building a Life and Business Together where Cliff and I shared more about our Texas trip, apartment hunting with Jane, touring Texas A&M School of Law, and all the travel details here: https://www.cliffravenscraft.com/podcasts/building-a-life-and-business-together/episodes/2149207725 Thank you for the grace you extended to me as I extended grace to myself. Until next time, I encourage you to live your life on purpose.

    34 min

  3. May 11

    092 - A Weekend of Emotions

    This episode centers on McKenna's college graduation weekend in Bowling Green, and I'll be honest, I went into recording it already emotional. I had just watched a reaction video to Taylor Swift's "Ronan" and then written a social media post about the weekend, and cried through both. So I was doing my best to hold it together. The weekend opened with a social work pinning ceremony Friday morning, and I genuinely had no idea what to expect beyond McKenna receiving her pin. What I didn't know was that she had been nominated for awards. She won the BSW Research Award for research she had presented at a conference in New Orleans and again in Frankfort, Kentucky. I didn't know about any of that until they called her name. Then she won Outstanding BSW Student as well. I turned to Meagan and asked if she knew. She didn't. She didn't even know what McKenna went to New Orleans for. That told me everything about how quietly McKenna carries her own accomplishments. She also graduated summa cum laude and walked the stage wearing every cord and medal she had earned. She had her bling, just like she asked for when she graduated high school. Every piece of it was deserved. The rest of the weekend was full in the best way. Lunch at a tiny Italian place in downtown Bowling Green, ice cream at Meltdown after the evening graduation where I had the Honeysuckle Divine and I am still thinking about it, brunch at Double Dogs on Saturday with Leo, and a home concert that same night featuring a folk-country trio called The Woods who I am convinced are on their way to something big. Mother's Day itself I kept intentionally slow, sourdough in the morning, Outlander with Cliff, and dinner out with Cliff, Matthew, and Koki, a Japanese exchange student from NKU who is staying with us this week before flying home. But underneath all of it was something I was trying not to cry through. McKenna is moving states away for law school in August, and this feels different from college. I found a post by Rhiannon Turner about the empty nest transition that gave language to what I was sitting with. The moment that got me most was walking back to the car after the evening graduation and watching all three of my kids ahead of us on the sidewalk, laughing and talking, 26, 24, and 21, still genuinely choosing each other. That is still my favorite sound in the world. I earned that. And I felt it this weekend.

    32 min

  4. May 4

    091 - When Life Feels Heavy and You Still Keep Showing Up

    In this episode, I share a very real snapshot of life this week. McKenna’s graduation celebration gave me the perfect excuse to buy the buttercream cake I had been craving, and our simple family dinner turned into a sweet and meaningful moment together. I also talk about how exhaustion, a sleepless night, and some heartbreaking news about a friend losing her adult child left me in a tender and heavy place. Even though this episode came out later than planned, I still wanted to honor the commitment I made to myself to keep showing up weekly. I also reflect on Leo, my first dog, and the idea that the right dog comes into your life at exactly the right time. Leo was originally meant to be McKenna’s emotional support animal, but he attached himself to me. Looking back, I can see how he became my interim purpose during the season between active motherhood and whatever comes next. As I begin to feel ready to step back into coaching, possible mastermind groups, one-on-one work, and perhaps even public speaking again, I’m recognizing how much Leo helped carry me through the in-between. If any part of this episode resonates with you, whether it’s family, grief, purpose, transition, or the deep love of a dog, I’d love to hear from you. You can reach me at Stephanie@StephanieRavenscraft.com.

    21 min

  5. Apr 27

    090 - Making Friends When You Don’t Leave the House

    In this episode, I’m sharing a very ordinary, very real Sunday-night peek into my world: heated blankets, Rocky Road ice cream, meal prep, McKenna’s upcoming graduation, and the moment I remembered I still needed to record this podcast. I made a commitment back in January to show up here every week, and this is one of those episodes where I simply kept my word, even when I didn’t have a perfectly polished topic ready to go. What came out was a little bit of everything that has been floating around in my brain this week. I talked about cleaning up years of photos on my phone, losing a 400-plus-day streak in the Swipewipe app, trying to identify random babies in old photos, and laughing at the truth of this line: “I’m definitely the friend you meet through other people. I’m not outside enough for you to just stumble upon me.” That opened up some honest reflection about friendship, this stage of life, and realizing that I may be ready to make a new set of local friends, which probably means I’m going to have to leave my house more often. I also shared about going to see the Michael Jackson movie with Cliff, how much I enjoyed it, and how much I love the behind-the-scenes stories, documentaries, and little rabbit trails that come after watching a biopic. Somehow, that led to Costco, Cincinnati Reds thoughts, TikTok, and a very accurate example of what it is like to live inside my brain. One small thing catches my attention, and suddenly I’m on a whole journey I did not plan to take. This week ahead includes projects around the house while Cliff is away, watching One Piece with Matthew, having McKenna home for the weekend, and finally getting the family together for poker night so we can hear all about Meagan and Jacob’s trip to Africa. It feels like a full and meaningful season, in the quiet everyday kind of way. Contact Me If something in this episode resonated with you, or if you have a question or thought you’d like to share, I’d love to hear from you. You can reach me at stephanie@stephanieravenscraft.com. Until next time, I encourage you to live your life on purpose.

    31 min

  6. Apr 20

    089 - When You Blink and They’re Grown

    This week, I found myself sitting in a space I don’t think you can fully prepare for as a parent. My youngest daughter turned 21, and I’m still trying to wrap my mind around what that actually means. I’ve been intentional about being present through every stage of raising my kids, and yet somehow it still feels like it all happened in an instant. I share a reflection that’s been on my mind since last week about unspoken expectations and how they quietly create resentment on both sides of a relationship. It’s something I’ve believed for a long time, but I’ve been seeing it from a new angle recently, and it’s added another layer of awareness for me. Most of this episode, though, is me processing what it feels like to look at my children and realize they are fully stepping into adulthood. I talk about the different seasons of parenting. The physical exhaustion of the early years, the emotional weight of the teenage years, and the deep sense of awe that comes from watching them become who they are. I also share the story of McKenna. The way she came into our lives, the realization that she wasn’t an accident but deeply wanted and meant to be part of our family, and the overwhelming pride I feel watching her live with intention and follow through on what she sets her mind to. This episode is a mix of reflection, gratitude, and a little bit of wonder about how quickly life moves. I’m noticing how my role as a mother continues to evolve, and I’m holding space for both the memories of who they were and the excitement of who they are becoming. Thanks for being here with me as I process it all.

    22 min

  7. Apr 13

    088 - When Fear Shows Up, But You Don’t Let It Lead

    In this episode, I found myself reflecting on a simple phrase I came across that stopped me long enough to really sit with it: “Unspoken expectations are premeditated resentments.” That idea connected deeply with something I’ve believed and taught for years, that unspoken expectations will always lead to failure in our relationships. I share why clear, spoken communication is essential for any relationship to grow and thrive, and how easily resentment can build when we expect something from others that we’ve never expressed. From there, I take you into a very real, very personal week in my life. While Meagan and Jacob were away on their trip to South Africa, I stepped into caring for their dogs. While the experience was manageable, it turned into a week of constant transition, disrupted routines, and an unexpected sense of isolation. It gave me a deeper appreciation for how much my daily rhythms support my well-being, and how quickly things can feel off when those rhythms are gone. The heart of this episode is something I’ve been quietly navigating for the past two years. I’ve been carrying fear and anxiety about their trip. Not constantly, but consistently enough that I had to be intentional about how I responded to it. I made a conscious decision not to give that fear a voice. I didn’t speak it out loud. Instead, I worked to redirect my thoughts, again and again, choosing to picture them safe, enjoying the experience of a lifetime. What surprised me most is what happened once they actually left. The fear that had been showing up for so long simply wasn’t there anymore. That experience showed me something powerful. I didn’t eliminate fear by pretending it didn’t exist. I maintained my power by not feeding it with my words or allowing it to define my focus. This episode is an honest look at communication, expectations, routine, and what it means to face fear without letting it take over. If something in this conversation resonates with you and you’d like to talk it through, I’d love to hear from you. Email me: Stephanie@StephanieRavenscraft.com Until next time, live your life on purpose.

    32 min

  8. Apr 6

    087 - No Two Children Grow Up in the Same Home

    This week’s episode started with a short clip I kept seeing over and over again. It was from an interview between Mel Robbins and Gabor Maté, and one statement in particular stayed with me: No two children grow up in the same household. That idea landed deeply for me, not just as a concept, but as something I’ve lived and witnessed. I grew up in a large, blended family, and even among siblings who shared the same parents, the same homes, and many of the same moments, our experiences were completely different. Our relationships with our parents were different. The timing of our lives was different. Even the emotional environment we stepped into was different. As I reflected on my own childhood, I began to see just how true this is. Then I turned that same lens toward my own kids. Even though they were raised by the same two parents, in the same home, they each had a unique experience. Different personalities, different seasons of life, different needs, different memories. Some of what stood out to me: How birth order and personality shape a child’s experience How life circumstances shift over time, even within the same family How what I remember as a parent doesn’t always match what my kids remember How love can be equal, but time, attention, and energy can still look different I also found myself sitting with a powerful question: One day, my children will be sitting at a table with people I’ve never met, and someone will ask them what it was like to grow up in our home. What will they say? That question is about recognizing that each person carries their own version of the story, and that those stories are shaped by so many subtle, shifting factors. This reflection has given me a deeper sense of understanding and compassion. Not just for my own children, but for my siblings, my family, and even myself. If this idea resonates with you, I’d love to hear what it brings up. You’re always welcome to reach out and share what you’re processing.

    24 min
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5
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10 Ratings

About

A podcast dedicated to encouraging you to discover and embrace your unique identity, to authentically be yourself and to live your life in freedom from worrying about what others may say or think.

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