Core Motivations Podcast

Michelle Connolly
  • 5.0 (2)
  • Mental Health
  • Updated Weekly

Welcome to Core Motivations Podcast... Your first step towards discovering tools for Self care & Self love. We will use tools like the Enneagram, A Biblical perspective, Authors of books, and podcastors I love and so much more as we learn tricks and tips of learning how to give yourself love and care.

  1. 14h ago

    Mental Hygiene for Kids: Making Calm a Daily Habit with Veronica Moya

    In this episode of the Core Motivations podcast, host Michelle sits down with mindfulness educator and children’s wellness advocate Veronica Moya to unpack the wild ride of helping kids handle a complex world of emotions. Together, they explore why meditation works so well for kids, why it should be treated like everyday mental hygiene, and how starting young completely changes the way children grow into adulthood.This is a highly interactive episode where we move straight from theory into practice! Veronica guides listeners through a short, powerful meditation exercise you can follow along with right from your headphones. Then, the tables turn as Michelle guides Veronica through a live, mock Enneagram Coaching session based on her actual test results—mapping out her personal behavioral patterns, hidden motivations, and accidental blind spots right on air. Key Topics Covered Mindfulness & Childhood Development Mental Hygiene: Why daily meditation for children is exactly like brushing your teeth—it's a small habit that completely helps them refocus.A Decade of Data: Insights Veronica gained from working organically with thousands of kids over the span of 10+ years.The Long-Term Impact: How planting the seeds of mindfulness early helps the next generation build unstoppable self-trust.Guided Meditation: A short, live breathing and presence exercise designed for both parents and kids to experience together.Enneagram Coaching In Action: A deep dive into Veronica’s assessment sheets to look at how core motivations and blind spots shape our daily lives. Action Steps & ResourcesSupport the Mission: To find information on how to support Veronica’s incredible nonprofit work, pop on over to her website using the direct link below!Connect with Veronica: https://veronicamoya.com/Enjoyed the Episode? Leave us a quick review on your favorite podcast app and let us know your biggest takeaway from today's chat!As always I'm Rooting for you 💕 Get connected today Free Enneagram assessment https://assessment.yourenneagramcoach.com/ Don’t forget to connect with Michelle to help you with those results and book a (free) 30 min meet and greet https://calendar.app.google/RTu4pSag6PBBLWe97 Email-Michelle@coremotivationscoach.com Instagram-instagram.com/coremotivations_coach Youtube-Michelle - YouTube

  2. Oct 6

    The Curious Mind: Decode Your Drive

    Welcome Back! Michelle Connolly shares a deeply personal health update before pivoting into a practical Enneagram teaching on motivation versus behavior. She explains how core fears, desires, and values shape what people do, then closes by showing how curiosity can interrupt conflict and improve relationships. As Always... I'm Rooting for You💕 Get in touch Michelle Free Enneagram assessment ⁠https://assessment.yourenneagramcoach.com/⁠ Don’t forget to connect with Michelle to help you with those results and book a (free) 30 min meet and greet ⁠https://calendar.app.google/RTu4pSag6PBBLWe97⁠ Contact through email ⁠Michelle@coremotivationscoach.com⁠ Instagram ⁠instagram.com/coremotivations_coach⁠ Youtube ⁠Michelle - YouTube⁠ Timestamps 00:00 — Personal health update: fatigue, dizziness, and a hemoglobin crisis03:27 — Hospital admission, blood transfusion, and iron infusion04:56 — Why listening to your body matters before things get worse05:53 — Introducing motivation versus behavior through the Enneagram06:23 — What motivation means and how it drives action07:22 — Intrinsic motivation versus extrinsic motivation08:20 — Motivation is rarely laziness; it may point to a systemic barrier09:10 — Shared values across Enneagram types09:47 — Defining behavior as observable action and response10:37 — The triads and how Enneagram types process emotion12:01 — Motivation is the “why” and behavior is the “what”15:31 — Type 1: integrity, self-discipline, and fear of being wrong16:21 — Type 2: helping as a feedback loop for feeling needed17:36 — Type 3: achievement, productivity, and worth19:19 — Type 4: authenticity, uniqueness, and identity loops21:17 — Type 5: energy conservation and protective boundaries22:49 — Type 6: safety-seeking, reassurance, and vigilance24:32 — Type 7: fulfillment, freedom, and constant movement26:03 — Type 8: self-reliance, control, and assertive autonomy27:58 — Type 9: peacekeeping, numbing, and avoiding conflict29:57 — Practical growth steps for changing reactive patterns31:51 — Quick healthy-path traits for all nine types33:31 — Curiosity as a practice for relationships and self-awareness35:18 — Asking what story you’re telling yourself about someone’s behavior38:17 — Why curiosity can break conflict cycles and reduce labeling39:45 — What each type may be protecting itself from41:13 — Benefits of curiosity: empathy, problem-solving, and reduced defensiveness42:28 — Closing takeaways and invitation to revisit the episode43:43 — Teaser for the next episode with guest Veronica Moya

    The Curious Mind: Decode Your Drive

  3. Sep 21

    Beyond the Bubble Bath

    Regular self-care—like a long nap or a weekend getaway—doesn’t work if it doesn’t target why you are exhausted in the first place. Burnout isn’t just about having too much on your plate; it’s about how your mind handles the plate. Join Michelle Connolly as we dive beneath the surface to uncover the nine hidden psychological coping mechanisms we automatically turn to when life gets heavy, and how those exact habits are quietly draining your battery. Look for the how distinguishing external overload from the internal friction that makes even an empty day feel exhausting. Michelle connects these patterns to Enneagram-based tendencies and describes how they show up in daily life. With specific example of self-care failing when it does not address the underlying mental script. This Week's Challenge: Listen closely to the 9 profiles, identify the one that sounds most like your inner voice, and commit to its corresponding micro-action over the next 48 hours. Remember: if it feels uncomfortable or unnatural at first, that means it’s working. Until Next time... I'm Rooting for you💕 Get connected today Free Enneagram assessment https://assessment.yourenneagramcoach.com/ Free 30 min meet and greet https://calendar.app.google/RTu4pSag6PBBLWe97 Contact through email Michelle@coremotivationscoach.com Instagram instagram.com/coremotivations_coach Youtube Michelle - YouTube Key topics Michelle Connolly explains the show’s new continuous episode format and notes this is episode 67.She introduces burnout as a mental and emotional exhaustion problem, not just physical fatigue.nine burnout patterns tied to default coping responses: PerfectionistPeople-pleasingPerformanceEmotional tidal waveGuarded batteryDisaster rehearsalChronic distractionArmorArtificial peaceTimestamps 00:00 - New episode format and why the show is moving away from seasons01:45 - Episode 67 and the shift toward more consistent content02:27 - Why today’s topic moves from theory to practical burnout relief03:16 - A personal self-care attempt interrupted by a medical setback05:08 - Burnout as deep mental exhaustion, not just physical fatigue06:32 - The real problem is how the mind handles the load07:17 - Why even an empty schedule can feel unbearable08:50 - Start by examining your internal pressure, not your calendar09:20 - The perfectionist and people-pleasing traps10:23 - The performance trap and the link to identity and output11:15 - Emotional tidal waves and guarding scarce energy12:08 - Disaster rehearsal, chronic distraction, armor, and artificial peace13:39 - Breaking exhaustion loops with small experiments14:03 - The 48-hour master experiment for each burnout profile17:08 - Why true self-care is stepping off the treadmill17:58 - Choose one default setting and test its matching practice18:53 - Sharing your burnout pattern and following the show19:14 - Podcast disclaimer and where to find Michelle

    Beyond the Bubble Bath

  4. Sep 4

    The Hidden Cost of Always Putting Everyone First

    What happens when you spend so much time taking care of everyone and everything else that you get to the end of the day—and there’s nothing left for you? In this episode of Core Motivations, Michelle takes a personal look at self-care, mental health, and the importance of recognizing when we’re running on empty. She shares her own realization that constantly putting people, responsibilities, schedules, and daily demands first can leave little—or nothing—for ourselves. Self-care isn't simply about taking a break or doing something relaxing. It can mean recognizing our limits, protecting our energy, setting boundaries, getting the rest we need, and making intentional space to refuel physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. Michelle also shares how her faith has shaped her understanding of self-care, reflecting on examples of Jesus intentionally making space for solitude, prayer, physical rest, and stepping away—even when there were still needs and responsibilities waiting. And sometimes, practicing self-care means making an actual change. For Michelle, that means moving Core Motivations to an every-other-week schedule—not because she is stepping away, but because she wants to practice what she talks about and create the space to continue showing up intentionally. Why we so easily put everyone and everything else before ourselvesWhat happens when we continually operate with an empty tankThe connection between self-care and mental healthHow exhaustion can affect our emotions, decisions, relationships, and ability to cope with stressWhy self-care isn't always about doing what feels goodThe importance of rest, solitude, boundaries, and spiritual renewalWhy we don't have to wait until everything is finished before we take care of ourselvesLearning to recognize when we need to pause, refocus, and rechargeWhy slowing down isn't the same as quittingThe importance of practicing what we preachA question to take with you: What if the question isn't, “What more can I do?” What if the question is, “What do I need?” Sometimes self-care means slowing down—not because we're giving up, but because we're taking care of the person who has to keep going. A reminder from Michelle: Self-care isn't about escaping your life. It's about taking care of yourself so you can actually be present for it. As always... I'm Rooting for you💕 Get connected today Free Enneagram assessment https://assessment.yourenneagramcoach.com/ Don’t forget to connect with Michelle to help you with those results and book a (free) 30 min meet and greet https://calendar.app.google/RTu4pSag6PBBLWe97 Contact through email Michelle@coremotivationscoach.com Instagram instagram.com/coremotivations_coach Youtube Michelle - YouTube

  5. Aug 24

    What’s Behind the Behavior? The Enneagram in the Classroom

    What if the behavior we're reacting to isn't actually the whole story? A student talks back. Another shuts down. One refuses to participate. Another constantly challenges authority. It's easy to make assumptions about what we're seeing—but what if we became curious about what might be happening underneath? In this episode, Michelle Connolly explores the connection between behavior, motivation, and the Enneagram, looking at how understanding the deeper motivations behind our actions can change the way we respond to them. The Enneagram isn't about labeling students or trying to determine everyone's type. Instead, it can give educators another way to look at the people in front of them—to recognize that the same behavior can come from very different motivations, fears, needs, and experiences. Turning back to the lens of Teachers How your own patterns and triggers influence the way we interpret student behavior? What happens when a student's actions push one of our buttons? And how can self-awareness help us interrupt the reaction cycle and respond more intentionally? Together, we explore what happens when we move from: Behavior → Interpretation → Motivation → Awareness → Choice → Response Because understanding someone's behavior doesn't mean excusing it. We can hold boundaries, maintain expectations, and still become curious about the person behind the behavior. As always... I'm Rooting for you 💕 Free Enneagram assessment https://assessment.yourenneagramcoach.com/ Make sure to connect with Michelle to help you with those results and book a (free) 30 min meet and greet https://calendar.app.google/RTu4pSag6PBBLWe97 Contact through email Michelle@coremotivationscoach.com Instagram instagram.com/coremotivations_coach Youtube Michelle - YouTube Teacher Resource https://www.kinf.org/programs/national-network 00:00 Introduction to the episode and its focus on classroom dynamics 01:02 The challenge of managing diverse student behaviors 02:15 Using the Enneagram to understand underlying motivations 03:22 The importance of curiosity over judgment in behavior analysis 04:52 Behavior versus motivation: pulling back the curtain 06:30 How fears and needs influence student behavior 07:36 Responding with curiosity and boundaries 09:04 Examples of understanding motivations behind behaviors 11:33 The cycle of classroom interactions and misunderstandings 13:02 The role of teacher triggers and self-awareness 14:18 Creating space for choice through self-awareness 15:27 Practical takeaways for teachers and non-teachers alike 17:20 The importance of curiosity in the new school year 18:16 Closing thoughts and contact information

    What’s Behind the Behavior? The Enneagram in the Classroom

  6. Aug 17

    What to Ask When Life Hands You a Chapter You Didn’t Choose

    In this episode, Michelle Connolly, certified Enneagram coach and Symbus Marriage Coach, explores the powerful shift from a victim mindset to a hero mindset and what it means to reclaim your agency after pain.Making meaning without denying it. Pain is real. What happened matters. But the question becomes: “You may not get to choose what happened, but you do get to choose what it means and what you do next.” Key topics Michelle defines the difference between genuine victimization and a victim mindset, emphasizing that this episode is not dismissing trauma or real harm.In this episode, she explains how a victim mindset can become entangled with identity through blame, helplessness, and a rejection of problem-solving.She shares that painful experiences like loss, betrayal, disappointment, failure, and unexpected change are universal, but they do not have to become the whole story.Michelle introduces the central question: what meaning am I going to give this experience?She contrasts the victim mindset, which asks what happened to me, with the hero mindset, which asks what am I going to do with what happened to me?In this episode, she stresses that hero mindset is not toxic positivity, instant forgiveness, or pretending the pain did not matter.She frames hardship as a possible catalyst for self-awareness, boundaries, courage, compassion, resilience, and wisdom. Explaining agency as the belief that you can influence your life through your choices, responses, actions, and mindset.In closing, she encourages listeners to stop asking why me and start asking what now, reminding them that the past is part of the story but does not get the final word. As always... I'm Rooting for you 💕 All the things Free Enneagram assessment https://assessment.yourenneagramcoach.com/ Don’t forget to connect with Michelle to help you with those results and book a (free) 30 min meet and greet https://calendar.app.google/RTu4pSag6PBBLWe97 Email-Michelle@coremotivationscoach.com Instagram-instagram.com/coremotivations_coach Youtube-Michelle - YouTube Additional Resources The Willow Group–The Victim to Warrior Podcast | iHeart Resources for Survivors of Violence, Disasters, and Other Traumatic Experiences National Domestic Violence Hotline Call 1-800-799-7233 or text "START" to 88788 for 24/7 confidential support. National Sexual Assault Hotline (RAINN): Call 1-800-656-4673 for free, confidential support any time. VictimConnect: Call or text 1-855-484-2846 to find resources and referrals for all types of crime. When Victimhood Becomes an IdentityPhoenix Trauma Center & Dr Scott Giacomuccihttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o-6NGvkEsogTimestamps 00:00 - Welcome to the show and today’s real talk topic00:48 - Why this episode is about making meaning from pain01:55 - Clarifying victim mindset versus being a victim03:57 - Michelle’s personal experience with abuse and trauma05:10 - What a victim mindset looks like in practice07:17 - Painful chapters like loss, betrayal, and rejection09:55 - Pain is part of the story, not the whole story11:03 - The question of meaning: what does this experience mean12:22 - Pain can become an invitation for growth and boundaries13:44 - Victim mindset versus hero mindset15:05 - The hero questions that create forward movement16:30 - Why hero mindset is not fake positivity18:02 - When accountability and justice still matter18:54 - How setbacks reveal character in the story20:18 - The shift from powerless to purposeful21:29 - “This is who I am now” versus “I am still writing”22:25 - Reclaiming agency after hurt and disappointment24:29 - Agency is not control, but it is choice25:58 - What can I do from where I am27:17 - Responsibility without self-blame28:49 - Small choices that move you from victim to hero30:03 - Agency means the past does not get the final word30:58 - Closing reminders, disclaimer, and listener call to action32:19 - Where to find Michelle and how to stay connected

    What to Ask When Life Hands You a Chapter You Didn’t Choose

  7. Aug 13

    Stop Scheduling your clock-Start Scheduling your energy

    We all have good intentions. We know what we want to accomplish, how we want to show up, and what matters most to us. But then real life happens—and suddenly the perfectly planned week doesn't look anything like we imagined. In this episode, Michelle Connolly explores the messy middle between intention and action and why having a strong intention doesn't necessarily mean we have a strategy for executing it. We'll look at the psychology of intent versus action, why rigid time-blocking can set us up for frustration, and how learning to schedule our energy instead of simply scheduling our time can help us work with ourselves rather than against ourselves. Michelle also introduces the idea of The Intention Trap—the cycle of creating ambitious plans, falling short when life gets messy, and then responding with guilt or self-criticism instead of curiosity and adjustment. You'll learn how to create an energy map, build a more flexible weekly schedule, create a minimum viable day when your original plan isn't realistic, and use a simple reset approach when your week inevitably goes off the rails. Because intentional living isn't about creating the perfect plan. It's about knowing what matters, creating strategies that support it, and learning how to come back to it when life gets messy. A Question to Consider Where are you currently scheduling your intentions rather than your actual energy? And when your week doesn't go according to plan, ask yourself: “What matters now, and what's my next best step?” As Always... I'm Rooting for you💕 Connect with Michelle Free Enneagram assessment https://assessment.yourenneagramcoach.com/ Don’t forget to connect with Michelle to help you with those results and book a (free) 30 min meet and greet https://calendar.app.google/RTu4pSag6PBBLWe97 Contact through email Michelle@coremotivationscoach.com Instagram instagram.com/coremotivations_coach Youtube Michelle - YouTube IMPACT RESET I- Identity the intention - What did I actually want to accomplish? M- Meet reality- What is actually happening right now, what should change?P- Pinpoint the priority-What matters most now pick 1-3 things?A- Adjust the strategy- Do I need to change the time approach, environment or even expectations? C -Check my energy- do i have energy for this task right now. What task does my current energy match? T -Take the next step- what the smallest action I can take right now? 4 = High energy — productive and engaged 3 = Moderate energy — functioning well but not at your peak2 = Low energy — tired, distracted, or easily overwhelmed1 = Very low energy — depleted, mentally or physically exhaustedStep 3: Notice how you feel Next to each rating, write a few words describing how you usually feel. For example: You're looking for patterns. 8–10 AM | 5 | Focused, creative, motivated 1–3 PM | 2 | Sluggish, distracted, tired Step 4- Match your tasks to your energy, Build your week around your energy to restore High Energy- Important work-creative Low Energy-Routine tasks-errands Time Stamp 00:00 Introduction and episode overview 01:31 The importance of gratitude and mindfulness 02:47 The reality of weekly planning and energy levels 04:34Why rigid time blocking sets you up for failure 05:16 Understanding the psychology of intent versus action 06:41 The gap between desire and behavior 08:13 Planning based on your actual self, not ideal self 10:09 The intention trap and the messy middle 11:53 The role of environment and willpower 13:29 Matching tasks to energy levels 15:06 The importance of awareness and self-compassion 17:13 The weekly reset and realignment 20:07 Energy mapping and identifying energy drains and boosters 23:35 The impact reset framework (impact, meet reality, prioritize, adjust, check, take)

    Stop Scheduling your clock-Start Scheduling your energy

  8. Aug 3

    Mastering Mindfulness, Gratitude & Personal Agency with Aaron Hendon

    Welcome to Core Motivations, the podcast where we explore the deeper motivations that shape our thoughts, relationships, leadership, and everyday decisions. Today, Michelle is joined by Aaron Hendon—an acclaimed real estate leader, keynote speaker, and author—for a candid conversation about challenging conventional wisdom and discovering how gratitude can become a catalyst for extraordinary personal growth. Drawing from his upcoming book, How to Live a Grateful Life in an F'd Up World, Aaron shares how reframing adversity can help us build resilience, develop a healthier mindset, and create lasting change. Together, Michelle and Aaron explore practical strategies for moving beyond reactive living, cultivating gratitude in the midst of life's challenges, and embracing the personal agency we all have to shape meaningful outcomes. You'll also get a front-row seat to a live Enneagram typing session as Michelle guides Aaron through the process, offering a fascinating look at how self-awareness can deepen leadership, strengthen relationships, and accelerate personal transformation. As Always... I'm Rooting for you💕 Get Connected Today Free Enneagram assessment https://assessment.yourenneagramcoach.com/ Don’t forget to connect with Michelle to help you with those results and book a (free) 30 min meet and greet https://calendar.app.google/RTu4pSag6PBBLWe97 Contact through email Michelle@coremotivationscoach.com Instagram instagram.com/coremotivations_coach Youtube Michelle - YouTube Linkedin www.linkedin.com/in/michelle-connolly-92016330a https://www.instagram.com/aaronhendon_themindfulceo/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaronhendon/ Key Topics Aaron's journey to becoming a mindful leader and entrepreneurUsing mindfulness and gratitude to build resilience and reduce stressBreaking free from hustle culture through intentional livingFinding purpose by aligning with your true valuesThe five steps to cultivating lasting gratitudeA live Enneagram typing session and insights into personality patternsHolding both grief and gratitude as a path to growthPractical ways to practice mindfulness in everyday life00:00 - Introducing Aaron Hendon and his inspiring journey02:46 - From bakery to mindfulness, Aaron’s transition into real estate03:26 - Landmark Forum: Breaking limitations and finding freedom05:22 - Using mindfulness meditation for sales success06:13 - Slaying hustle culture one mindful moment at a time08:37 - The connection between mindfulness and living in alignment with your true north10:38 - Developing self-agency through kindness and acceptance11:32 - The role of meditation as a tool for mindful living13:08 - How mindful communication enhances relationships and work performance16:12 - Aaron’s mission: empowering a million people to meditate18:03 - The concept of agency: The ability for self-determination22:04 - Holding grief and gratitude simultaneously for emotional resilience25:02 - The five A’s of gratitude: awareness, allowance, acceptance, appreciation, attitude28:32 - The power of language and experiencing reality without resistance32:14 - Curiosity and compassion in understanding others’ perspectives35:11 - How mindfulness influences leadership and team dynamics37:26 - True north as a metaphor for life purpose39:29 - Introduction to the Enneagram as a tool for self-discovery45:04 - Exploring emotional responses through the gut, heart, and head triads52:45 - Understanding and working through self-limiting beliefs55:47 - The importance of the stance and how we move through the world61:50 - The significance of developing a self-awareness map for behavior and choices70:29 - Recognizing your default settings and how to shift toward growth78:55 - Final takeaway: The power of self-kindness and compassion

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About

Welcome to Core Motivations Podcast... Your first step towards discovering tools for Self care & Self love. We will use tools like the Enneagram, A Biblical perspective, Authors of books, and podcastors I love and so much more as we learn tricks and tips of learning how to give yourself love and care.

Information

  • Creator
    Michelle Connolly
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    61
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Michelle Connolly
  • Show Website
    Core Motivations Podcast