Goals and Grace

Rev. Juliet Spencer
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  • Self-Improvement
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Goals and Grace is for ambitious women who are ready to break free from self-doubt, align their faith with their goals, and step boldly into their calling. Hosted by Certified High Performance Coach Rev. Juliet Spencer, this show dives deep into the challenges of Imposter Syndrome, the power of clarity, and the beauty of living with intention. Through personal stories, practical strategies, and faith-filled encouragement, Rev. Juliet helps you embrace your purpose with confidence and grace. If you’ve ever felt like you’re running hard but going nowhere, or like your ambition is outpacing yo

  1. 3d ago

    You’re Allowed to Outgrow Who You Used to Be

    You’re Allowed to Outgrow Who You Used to Be What happens when the person everyone expects you to be no longer fits who you’re becoming? Maybe you’ve always been the strong one. The dependable one. The peacemaker. The successful one. The person who handles everything. Those can be wonderful qualities—until they become a job description you never agreed to keep forever. In this episode of Goals & Grace, Rev. Dr. Juliet Spencer explores why personal and spiritual growth can feel surprisingly uncomfortable, especially when the people around you are accustomed to an earlier version of you. Sometimes the very qualities that helped you succeed can eventually become limitations. Being endlessly available can keep you from doing the work only you can do. Independence can keep you from receiving help. Perfectionism can keep you from taking the next risk. And when you begin to change those patterns, other people might notice. They might even resist. That doesn’t necessarily mean your growth is wrong.  In this episode, you’ll discover:  Why relationships naturally develop roles and expectations How a strength can quietly become an identity you feel obligated to maintain Why the people who love you might still resist healthy changes What Jesus’ return to his hometown in Mark 6 teaches us about being seen through an old identity Why you don’t have to criticize who you used to be in order to grow How your identity as beloved by God frees you from defining yourself by achievement or usefulness Why grace for other people does not require regression from you A simple “Until now” exercise for identifying patterns you might be ready to change Juliet also shares a personal story about growing up as the youngest of three children (and the only girl) and what happened when, well into adulthood, she finally stopped automatically accepting the family responsibilities everyone assumed she would handle.   This Week’s Architect’s Question: What version of me am I continuing to perform because other people are comfortable with that person? Then take it one step further: Who am I becoming instead?  You don’t have to reject the person you were. Be grateful for what that version of you learned and accomplished. But remember: “I’ve always done it this way” is history. It is not necessarily instruction. You are still learning. Still becoming. Still discovering what faithfulness looks like in this season. And you are allowed to outgrow the person everybody knows. Scripture Referenced Mark 6:1–6 — Jesus returns to his hometown Mark 1:11  "You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.” Your Free Resource: Ready for greater clarity about what deserves your attention right now? Get Juliet’s free resource, One Clear Win by Noon, and begin creating more clarity and intentionality in just 11 minutes a day. Visit FreeGiftFromRevJuliet.com  About Rev. Dr. Juliet Spencer Rev. Dr. Juliet Spencer is the Spirit-Led Strategist , an ordained pastor, Certified High Performance Coach™, and founder of Goals & Grace Coaching. She equips high-performing Christians to move beyond overwhelm, self-doubt, and expectations that no longer fit so that they can build lives that they choose, not the one they fell into.

    You’re Allowed to Outgrow Who You Used to Be

  2. Oct 27

    Nobody Is Coming to Give You Permission: Stop Waiting for Approval and Trust Your Wisdom

    Nobody Is Coming to Give You Permission: Stop Waiting for Approval and Trust Your Wisdom What if the permission you’ve been waiting for is never coming? Permission to make the change. To say no. To rest. To start something new. To disappoint someone. To admit that something that once fit your life simply doesn’t anymore. In this episode of Goals & Grace, Rev. Dr. Juliet Spencer continues the You’re the Adult—But It Didn’t Come With Instructions series with a conversation about approval, discernment, decision-making, and learning to trust the wisdom you’ve already gained. High performers are often exceptionally good at understanding expectations. We know what gets rewarded, what other people need from us, and what will earn their approval. But eventually, we have to ask a harder question: Am I making a wise decision—or am I waiting for someone else to tell me I’m allowed to make it?  For people of faith, that question can become even more complicated. Sometimes what feels like waiting on God might actually be waiting for absolute certainty. Juliet explores Acts 16 and the relationship between human agency and divine guidance: Paul and his companions move, listen, adjust, and move again. Perhaps what we need isn’t always divine permission—but divine partnership. In this episode, you’ll explore:   Why successful, responsible people can still find themselves waiting for approval The difference between asking “Am I allowed?” and “Is this wise and appropriate?” How seeking more opinions can sometimes become a form of delay Why someone else’s disappointment doesn’t automatically mean you’ve done something wrong The cost of action and the often-overlooked cost of inaction How to decide whose voices deserve real influence in your life The difference between seeking God’s guidance and asking God to make every decision for you Why spiritual maturity can make us more discerning, grounded, and courageous decision-makers   How to stop giving people from your past a vote in decisions they don’t even know you’re making The Architect’s Questions Whose permission am I waiting for?  And then: What would I choose if I stopped requiring their permission? This isn’t permission to ignore wisdom, commitments, consequences, or the people your decisions affect. It’s an invitation to recognize when discernment has quietly turned into delay. Your life does not need a unanimous vote. Your Challenge This Week Write yourself an actual permission slip: “I give myself permission to __________.” Then sign it. You’ve lived. You’ve learned. You’ve succeeded, failed, recovered, grown, prayed, and accumulated wisdom you didn’t have five, ten, or twenty years ago. At some point, you become the one holding the pen. You’re the adult. And this time, you get to sign the permission slip. Ready for support making a decision or creating your next chapter with greater clarity and courage? Use the link below to schedule a free Goals & Grace coaching call with Rev. Dr. Juliet Spencer, the Spirit-Led Strategist.   https://www.goalsandgrace.co/Free-Coaching-Call-Sign-Up Goals & Grace is where faith meets high performance—so you can build a life that is not simply successful, but deeply, authentically fulfilling.

    Nobody Is Coming to Give You Permission: Stop Waiting for Approval and Trust Your Wisdom

  3. Oct 22

    The Reliable Person’s Trap: When Helping Everyone Becomes Too Much

    When Being Reliable Turns Into Being Too Available You know you're the reliable one when people start conversations with, “I know you're busy, but…” Being dependable is a strength. Being trusted is a gift. But somewhere along the way, capable people can become the default destination for every problem, request, unfinished task, and responsibility nobody else wants to carry. You become the human kitchen counter—the place where everything gets set down because no one knows where else to put it. In this episode of Goals & Grace, Rev. Dr. Juliet Spencer explores the difference between being reliable and being perpetually available—and why learning that distinction is essential for protecting the life you're actually trying to build. Drawing from the story of Moses and Jethro in Exodus 18, Juliet challenges a common assumption among high-capacity people: If I can do it, I should do it. But capability and wisdom aren't the same thing.  Someone needing your help doesn't automatically mean it's wise—or appropriate—for you to be the one who provides it. You'll discover: How “responsibility creep” quietly turns occasional favors into permanent expectations Why capable people often become the default owners of other people's problems What Moses and Jethro can teach us about delegation, leadership, and healthy boundaries Why caring about a problem doesn't require you to own it How over-functioning can actually prevent other people from growing and leading The important difference between being reliable and being available Why a thoughtful no can be more honorable than a resentful yes How technology has created an expectation of constant access Three questions to help you decide whether a responsibility really belongs to you Your Spirit-Led Strategist Question Is this really mine to carry—or am I carrying it because I'm afraid of what happens if I don't? Today's Move: identify one responsibility, expectation, or form of access that has become automatic and ask: Did I consciously choose this responsibility, or did I simply inherit it? Am I the only person who can do this—or am I simply the person most accustomed to doing it? Is continuing to do this wise? You can care without carrying everything. You can disappoint someone and still love them. You can say no and still be generous. And you can be unavailable and still be reliable. Because sometimes saying no is exactly what allows your yes to mean something. Because we go farther faster when we have a guide, schedule your FREE coaching call with Juliet today.  https://www.goalsandgrace.co/Free-Coaching-Call-Sign-Up

    The Reliable Person’s Trap: When Helping Everyone Becomes Too Much

  4. Oct 15

    You’re the Adult. Apparently You’re Supposed to Know What You’re Doing

    You’re the Adult. Apparently You’re Supposed to Know What You’re Doing. Your shirt came with washing instructions. Your coffee maker came with a manual. But you? At some point, the world basically said, “You’re an adult now. Best of luck.” And when you’re a capable, high-performing person, there’s an added expectation: you’re supposed to know what to do. You’re the one other people come to for answers. So what happens when you don’t have one? In this episode of Goals & Grace, Rev. Dr. Juliet Spencer, the Spirit-Led Strategist, launches the new You’re the Adult. Now What? series with a conversation about uncertainty, discernment, and the pressure to make the “right” decision. Why? Because wisdom and certainty are not the same thing. Sometimes faith gives us clarity. Other times, faith gives us the courage to move without it. Drawing from Abraham’s call in Genesis 12 and the image of God’s Word as a lamp to our feet in Psalm 119, Juliet explores what it means to take the next wise step when God hasn’t handed you the five-year strategic plan you were hoping for. In this episode, you’ll discover:  Why high performers can be especially vulnerable to decision paralysis The difference between discernment and trying to eliminate uncertainty Why gathering more information can eventually become a way of postponing commitment   How to separate what you know from what you fear  Why choosing what matters most sometimes means giving up something that matters, too The difference between being responsible and trying to control the outcome Why a difficult outcome doesn’t automatically mean you made the wrong decision   How grace changes the way you look at decisions made by an earlier version of yourself Three questions to help you move forward when you don’t have absolute certainty This Week’s Question Where am I demanding certainty when what I really need is courage?  Your Practice Choose one decision you’ve been circling and divide a page into three sections: What I Know (Write down the facts—not predictions, fears, or worst-case scenarios) What I Fear (Name the worries, assumptions, and possible outcomes that keep pulling you back into uncertainty) What Matters Most (Identify the value you most want this decision to honor) Then ask yourself: What’s the next wisest step?  And once you make the decision, give yourself permission to stop reopening the case every fifteen minutes. You don’t have to know everything to move forward. You can trust yourself enough to make the wisest decision you can—and trust God enough to know that if you need to pivot, you won’t have to figure that out alone. Scripture Genesis 12:1, Psalm 119:105  Need Help Discerning Your Next Step? If you’re circling an important decision and could use a thoughtful, faith-centered conversation to help you find clarity, schedule a complimentary coaching call with Rev. Dr. Juliet Spencer. Schedule yours HERE! https://bit.ly/Free-Coaching-Call-Signup Goals & Grace with Rev. Dr. Juliet Spencer, the Spirit-Led Strategist Equipping high-performing Christians to bring together the wisdom of their faith and practical strategy so they can lead and live with greater clarity, courage, and purpose.

    You’re the Adult. Apparently You’re Supposed to Know What You’re Doing

  5. Oct 8

    Build a Life Your Future Self Will Thank You For

    The life you want probably isn’t one enormous, courageous decision away. It’s being built right now—through the ordinary decisions you make again and again. In this final episode of the current Goals & Grace series, Rev. Dr. Juliet Spencer brings together the questions we’ve explored throughout the season and asks one more:  What do you want to build? High performers can become so focused on accomplishing the next goal, meeting the next responsibility, or proving they’re capable that they rarely stop to ask whether their everyday decisions are creating the life they want. Juliet invites you to look at five areas of your life: faith, relationships, work, well-being, and contribution and imagine sitting together one year from today. What would need to be different for you to say: “This year changed me”? Drawing from Matthew 7:24–25 and Jesus’ image of building on rock, Juliet explores what it means to build a life that isn’t protected from every storm, but is grounded deeply enough to withstand them. You’ll also hear what Juliet means by becoming The Spirit-Led Strategist: bringing together faith, wisdom, strategy, courage, and action—not waiting for God to hand you a detailed blueprint, but learning to listen deeply, choose faithfully, move courageously, and trust that God will be with you as you go. In this episode: Why your life is shaped more by ordinary decisions than dramatic ones The five areas worth building intentionally: faith, relationships, work, well-being, and contribution Why “Who am I becoming?” may matter more than “What am I accomplishing?” The difference between building a meaningful life and simply building an impressive one Why faith doesn’t guarantee better “weather”, but gives us somewhere to stand when the weather changes What it means to become a Spirit-Led Strategist How one decision today can begin changing the life you’re living a year from now The Architect’s Question: What decision can I make today that my future self will thank me for? Today’s Move Write a short description beginning: “The life I’m building is…” Then choose one decision this week that provides evidence that you mean it.   Goals and Grace is hosted by Rev. Dr. Juliet Spencer, Certified High Performance Coach and The Spirit-Led Strategist, equipping high-performing Christian leaders to get out of their own way, reconnect with inner guidance, and perform at the level they know they’re capable of—without sacrificing themselves to do it.Did you know: While building the life you want , you will go farther, faster if you have help? Schedule your FREE coaching call TODAY!  https://bit.ly/Free-Coaching-Call-Signup

    Build a Life Your Future Self Will Thank You For

  6. Oct 1

    S2 Ep. 5: Stop Trying to Earn the Life You Already Have

    There’s a particular kind of exhaustion that comes from building a good life—and still feeling like you have to prove you deserve it. Keep producing. Keep achieving. Keep being useful. Keep showing everyone they were right to trust you. For high performers, achievement can quietly shift from something we do into evidence of who we are. And for Christians, the pattern can be even harder to recognize because we can give it spiritual language. We call overworking faithfulness. We call needing to be needed, serving. We call carrying too much being responsible. But what if grace was never meant to be another thing you had to earn? In this episode of Goals and Grace, Rev. Dr. Juliet Spencer explores what happens when achievement becomes tied to identity—and why even the life you once prayed for can begin to feel like something you have to continually prove you deserve.  You'll discover: Why high performers can turn their lives into one long performance review How achievement can subtly become evidence of worth Why Christians can spiritualize overwork and over-responsibility How the constantly moving finish line keeps us from enjoying what we've already built The difference between working for your value and working from your value Why grace doesn't require you to become less ambitious How releasing the need to prove yourself can actually make you more courageous THE STRATEGIST'S QUESTION What am I still trying to earn that grace has already given me? Approval? Belonging? Permission to rest? The right to call yourself successful? The belief that you're enough even when you aren't producing something for someone else? Don't rush past the question. The answer might explain some of the exhaustion you've been carrying. THIS WEEK'S PRACTICE Catch yourself proving. When you're about to say yes, ask: Would I still say yes if I weren't trying to prove anything? When you're tempted to keep working long after you've done enough: What am I afraid it will mean if I stop? And when something doesn't go according to plan, notice whether you're evaluating the result—or yourself. Because you can pursue extraordinary goals without requiring those goals to prove that you're worthy. You don't have to earn the right to enjoy the life you've already been given. Click https://bit.ly/Free-Coaching-Call-Signup to schedule your free Coaching Call to see if you'd be a good fit for Goals and Grace Coaching!

    S2 Ep. 5: Stop Trying to Earn the Life You Already Have

  7. Sep 24

    When Faith Doesn’t Make You Fearless

    When Faith Doesn’t Make You Fearless You can lead the meeting, solve the problem, take care of everyone else—and still second-guess yourself when the decision is yours. If you're a person of faith, that uncertainty can come with an extra layer of guilt: Shouldn't I be more confident than this? If I really trusted God, wouldn't I know what to do? Does being afraid mean I'm not being faithful enough? In this episode of Goals & Grace, Rev. Dr. Juliet Spencer challenges the idea that strong faith should somehow make us fearless. Scripture tells a very different story. Moses questioned his qualifications. Esther faced real risk. Peter could be courageous one moment and uncertain the next. And in Gethsemane, even Jesus demonstrated that faithfulness doesn't require pretending difficult things aren't difficult. Juliet also introduces what it means to be a Spirit-Led Strategist—someone who brings prayer and planning, discernment and decision, faith and thoughtful action together, because being Spirit-led doesn't mean being passive. And having a strategy doesn't mean you aren't trusting God. In this episode: Why fear isn't evidence of failed faith The unhelpful expectations Christians sometimes place on themselves Why confidence may not actually be what you need The difference between waiting on God and waiting until you're no longer afraid Why prayer and planning belong together How to identify your next faithful step even when you don't have certainty The Spirit-Led Strategist's Question Where am I interpreting discomfort as evidence that God is telling me no—when it may simply mean I'm being asked to be courageous? This week's practice: Choose one decision you've been circling and ask: what do I already know, what am I uncertain about, what am I afraid of, what wisdom and faith are telling me. Then ask: If I didn't require myself to feel completely confident first, what would my next faithful step be? The episode closes with a prayer for anyone who needs courage without certainty. You don't have to become fearless to become courageous. You don't need certainty about the whole road. You need courage for the next faithful step. Scripture referenced: Mark 14:34–36 Esther 4 Nehemiah 1–4

    When Faith Doesn’t Make You Fearless

  8. Sep 17

    S2E3: The Exhaustion of Being the Reliable One

    You’re the one people count on. You remember what everyone else forgets. You follow through. You notice the problem before anyone else does-at work, at home, at church, and with friends.  You’re the person people trust to handle it. And somewhere along the way, being reliable can become more than a strength. It can become an identity. In Season 2, Episode 3 of Goals & Grace, Rev. Dr. Juliet Spencer continues this opening series about the hidden cost of being the person who can handle almost anything. In Episode 1, we explored decision fatigue. In Episode 2, we looked at what happens when everything feels important. Now we’re going one layer deeper: What happens when everyone assumes you’ll be the one to take care of it? Juliet explores the “invisible contract” many high-capacity people live under—the unspoken belief: I will be the person who keeps everything from falling apart. In this episode, you’ll discover: why reliability can quietly shift from a strength into an identity why “I can do this” does not necessarily mean “I should do this”   why resentment may sometimes signal that you’re carrying responsibilities you never consciously agreed to carry a powerful moment in Mark 1 when Jesus is told, “Everyone is searching for you.” Even surrounded by legitimate needs, Jesus demonstrates an important truth: The existence of a need does not automatically constitute your assignment. You can care deeply without carrying everything. You can love people without solving every problem. And you can disappoint someone without having done something wrong. THE ARCHITECT’S QUESTION Each episode in this series gives you an Architect’s Question—a question designed to help you slow down, gain clarity, and make a decision your future self will thank you for. This week’s question is: Is this mine to carry?  If you’re the reliable one, you’ve already proven that you can handle a lot. The better question is whether everything you’re capable of carrying actually belongs in your hands. THIS WEEK’S PRACTICE Rather than answering the Architect’s Question in the abstract, put it to work. Choose one responsibility you routinely carry and examine it through the lens of: Is this mine to carry? Then use these three questions to help you discern the answer: Did I consciously choose this responsibility? Does it still belong to me in this season? What would happen if I stopped carrying it—or carried less of it? Then don’t immediately change anything. Just notice. Notice what comes up when you imagine putting it down: relief, guilt, fear, discomfort, or the need to justify yourself. Your reaction may tell you as much as your answers do.  SCRIPTURE Mark 1:35–39 You can be dependable without being endlessly available. And sometimes the decision your future self will thank you for is deciding what you’re finally willing to put down. ABOUT GOALS & GRACE Goals & Grace is hosted by Rev. Dr. Juliet Spencer, known as the Decision Architect. Through the science of high performance and the grace of Biblical wisdom, Juliet helps high-capacity people make clearer decisions, pursue meaningful success, and build a fuller life without losing what matters most along the way. Schedule your FREE coaching call https://www.goalsandgrace.co/Book-Your-Free-Coaching-Call

    S2E3: The Exhaustion of Being the Reliable One
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About

Goals and Grace is for ambitious women who are ready to break free from self-doubt, align their faith with their goals, and step boldly into their calling. Hosted by Certified High Performance Coach Rev. Juliet Spencer, this show dives deep into the challenges of Imposter Syndrome, the power of clarity, and the beauty of living with intention. Through personal stories, practical strategies, and faith-filled encouragement, Rev. Juliet helps you embrace your purpose with confidence and grace. If you’ve ever felt like you’re running hard but going nowhere, or like your ambition is outpacing yo

Information

  • Creator
    Rev. Juliet Spencer
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    60
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Rev. Juliet Spencer
  • Show Website
    Goals and Grace