Called to Rise: Empty Nest, New Season

Denise Hines
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Self-Improvement
  • Updated Weekly

Called to Rise is the faith-centered podcast for Latter-day Saint women navigating the empty nest, midlife transitions, and the question, "What now?" Maybe it hits on an ordinary afternoon. The house is quieter, and you’re left wondering, "Who am I when nobody needs me?" So you reorganize a drawer, because Tupperware is easier to sort than identity. Each week, certified transformational coach Denise Hines shares honest, faith-based conversations to help Christian and Latter-day Saint moms rediscover personal purpose, renew confidence, and courageously create what comes next.

Episodes

  1. 2d ago

    How to Overcome Empty Nest Perfectionism & Procrastination: Stop Being So Hard On Yourself

    Do you keep putting off something important because you're afraid you won't do it well enough? Perfectionism can fuel procrastination, all-or-nothing thinking, and harsh self-talk, especially as you're figuring out what comes next after the empty nest. In this episode of Called to Rise: Empty Nest, New Season, Denise Hines shares a practical tool called Purpose Over Perfect to help you move forward, learn from mistakes, and stop measuring your worth by what you accomplish. If you're an empty-nest woman ready to get clear about what you want next and begin taking meaningful steps toward it, The Next Chapter Intensive offers 12 weeks of small-group coaching, practical tools, accountability, and a private coaching session. Our next group begins November 3, 2026, with just 10 spots available. Learn more: https://calledtorisecoaching.com/move In This Episode: How perfectionism can disguise itself as responsibility, high standards, or even trying to be a good Christian woman Why all-or-nothing thinking leads to procrastination and keeps us from pursuing meaningful goals How to separate your worth from your accomplishments, parenting outcomes, and other things you cannot control The four Purpose Over Perfect questions that help you recognize what matters and take action This Week's Practice: Choose one thing you've been delaying because you're worried you won't do it well enough. Ask yourself: What is the purpose here? What matters most? What does this need to accomplish? What can get better later? Then follow through on a reasonable first version. Afterward, ask yourself: Did it serve its purpose? What did I learn? What might I do differently next time? 5 Key Takeaways: Perfectionism can keep you stuck. Fear of making mistakes or disappointing others can make preparing feel safer than getting started. Your worth is not measured by your productivity. An unfinished task, difficult relationship, or disappointing outcome does not determine your value. All-or-nothing thinking makes progress harder. Small, imperfect steps still count. You can take responsibility without controlling every outcome. Your efforts matter, and so do other people's choices and agency. Evaluate your efforts instead of judging yourself. Learn what worked, make necessary changes, and keep moving forward. Resources:The Next Chapter Intensive A 12-week small-group coaching experience for empty-nest women who want clarity, confidence, and practical support in creating their next chapter. https://calledtorisecoaching.com/move Free Next Chapter Clarity Workbook Start exploring what you want in this next season of life. https://calledtorisecoaching.com/free References:Ether 12:27: The Lord knows our weaknesses and offers grace to help us grow. Let's Stay Connected! Know a woman who is always hard on herself or keeps putting off something she wants to do? Share this episode with her. Follow Called to Rise: Empty Nest, New Season on Spotify or Apple Podcasts for weekly conversations about faith, personal growth, finding purpose after the empty nest, and creating a meaningful next chapter.

  2. Oct 13

    Why Is Asking for Help Is So Hard (Even When You Need It)?

    Have you ever automatically said, “No, I’m fine. I’ve got it,” when you very clearly did not have it? For capable women who have spent years figuring things out, asking for help can feel harder than it should. We know how to solve problems, take care of people, and keep moving. But somewhere along the way, “I can figure this out” can turn into “I should be able to figure everything out on my own.” In this episode of Called to Rise: Empty Nest, New Season, I’m sharing how that pattern showed up in my own life, from a photography business I was almost too scared to tell anyone about to finally building Called to Rise with coaching, community, and support around me. We’ll talk about why knowing what to do isn’t always enough, what may actually be keeping you stuck, and why accepting support doesn’t make you less capable. In This Episode: Why asking for help can feel so uncomfortable What “Lone Rangering it” looked like in my own life The difference between knowing what to do and actually doing it Why support can help you see patterns you miss on your own This Week's Practice: Think of one area where you’ve been trying to figure everything out alone. Ask yourself: What kind of support would help me move? 5 Key Takeaways: Being capable does not mean you have to do everything alone. Knowing what to do and understanding why you aren’t doing it are different things. Support can help you recognize patterns that are hard to see from inside them. Asking for help does not take away your agency. You are still making the decisions and doing the work. Sometimes progress begins when you stop preparing in private and let yourself be seen. Resources: The Next Chapter Intensive group coaching program starts November 3, 2026. If you’ve been circling something that matters to you and trying to figure it all out alone, come take a look: calledtorisecoaching.com/move Next Chapter Clarity Workbook - A free workbook to help you get clear on what you want in this next chapter: calledtorisecoaching.com/free References: Exodus 18 If this episode helped you, follow Called to Rise: Empty Nest, New Season so you don’t miss what’s coming next. And if you know another woman who insists she’s “fine” while carrying everything herself, send this episode her way. Being capable doesn’t mean you have to do it all alone.

  3. Oct 6

    People-Pleasing and Boundaries: Saying No Without Feeling Guilty

    Are you the woman everyone can count on, the one who notices the need, fills the gap, and says yes before anyone else has even raised a hand? Service, generosity, and sacrifice are beautiful qualities. But when your yes is driven by fear, guilt, or the need for approval, serving others can quietly turn into overlooking yourself. In this episode of Called to Rise: Empty Nest, New Season, we’re talking about people-pleasing, boundaries, saying no without guilt, and the difference between wholehearted Christlike service and disappearing from your own life. In This Episode: How people-pleasing can hide inside being helpful and dependable Why saying no doesn’t make you selfish or less faithful What resentment may be telling you about your limits A simple pause that can help you make a more honest choice This Week's Practice: Before accepting a new, non-urgent request, give yourself a pause. Say: “Let me check my calendar and get back to you.” Then ask yourself: Do I actually have the capacity for this? Am I saying yes from love and willingness or from fear and guilt? What do I feel when I take this decision to God? Your answer may be yes, a smaller yes, or no. The goal isn’t to become less generous. It’s to make your yes honest. 5 Key Takeaways: Service and self-erasure are not the same thing. Loving and serving others does not require pretending you have no needs, limits, or responsibilities of your own. Pay attention to what is driving your yes. A choice made from love and willingness is different from one driven by fear of disappointing someone. Resentment can be information. It may point to an ignored limit, an unspoken expectation, or a yes you didn’t freely want to give. A smaller, honest yes still counts. You don’t have to take on the whole responsibility in order to contribute. Wisdom belongs in service too. Your capacity, health, relationships, and existing commitments matter as you decide what is yours to do. Resources: Next Chapter Intensive Learn more about my 12-week small-group coaching experience: calledtorisecoaching.com/move Free Next Chapter Clarity Workbook calledtorisecoaching.com/free Called to Rise Coaching calledtorisecoaching.com References: Joseph Smith Translation, Matthew 4:11 Luke 22:50–51 Mosiah 4:27 Elder David A. Bednar, “The Character of Christ” Ready to Create Your Next Chapter? Enrollment is open for the Next Chapter Intensive, my 12-week small-group coaching experience for women who are ready to get clear on what they want next, move past what’s keeping them stuck, and start creating a life they feel called to create. The group is intentionally kept small so there’s room for real coaching, conversation, and support. Learn more and enroll: calledtorisecoaching.com/move If this episode made you think of another woman who is always the one saying yes, share it with her. Follow Called to Rise: Empty Nest, New Season on Spotify and Apple Podcasts so you never miss a Tuesday episode.

  4. Sep 29

    When Your Adult Child Leaves the Church: Navigating Love, Faith & Agency

    When your adult child chooses a path you never expected, it can stir up grief, fear, shame—and one painful question: Did I fail as a mother? In this deeply personal episode, Denise shares what happened when two of her sons chose to leave the Church and how that experience changed the way she understands motherhood, agency, acceptance, and trust in God. You’ll learn how to love an adult child without trying to control the outcome, honor their agency without abandoning your own beliefs, and recognize what belongs to your stewardship—and what doesn’t. If you know a mom who deeply loves an adult child but is carrying more fear or responsibility for that child’s choices than belongs to her, share this episode with her. Ready to create your next chapter? Enrollment is now open for The Next Chapter Intensive, my 12-week small-group coaching experience for women who are ready to get clear on what they want next, move past what’s keeping them stuck, and start creating a life they feel called to create. The group is intentionally small so there’s room for real coaching, conversation, and support. Learn more + enroll: https://calledtorisecoaching.com/move In This Episode: Why an adult child’s choices can feel like a reflection of your motherhood The difference between influence, control, acceptance, and agreement What the father in the prodigal son teaches us about agency How to grieve the future you pictured without making your child carry that grief How to stay connected while still holding healthy boundaries What belongs to you, what belongs to your child, and what belongs to God This Week’s Practice: Draw two circles on a page. Label the first My Stewardship and write down what belongs to you: your words, tone, boundaries, apologies, prayers, choices, and your own relationship with God. Label the second Their Stewardship and write down what belongs to your adult child: their beliefs, decisions, timing, and consequences. Then ask yourself: Where have I been spending energy trying to manage something that doesn’t actually belong to me? Choose one thing inside your own circle that you can focus on this week. 5 Key Takeaways: Your adult child’s agency is not a report card on your motherhood. You can teach, love, model, invite, and do your best without controlling the adult outcome. Acceptance is not agreement. Accepting what is true today does not require changing your beliefs or pretending you would make the same choice. Control can look a lot like love when you’re afraid. Repeated advice, persuasion, and monitoring may come from love mixed with fear. Love and boundaries can coexist. Honoring agency does not mean tolerating unsafe or disrespectful behavior. You can trust God with people you cannot control. Loving your adult child does not require putting your own life on hold while you wait for them to choose differently. Resources: The Next Chapter Intensive: https://calledtorisecoaching.com/move Free Next Chapter Clarity Workbook: https://calledtorisecoaching.com/free Called to Rise Coaching: https://calledtorisecoaching.com/ Scriptures & References: Luke 15:11–32 — The parable of the prodigal son 2 Nephi 2:27 — Agency and the freedom to choose Mosiah 18:9 — Mourning with those who mourn If your family situation involves abuse, addiction, serious mental-health concerns, financial exploitation, or immediate safety issues, seek qualified professional, medical, legal, or Church support appropriate to the situation. Follow Called to Rise: Empty Nest, New Season on Spotify and Apple Podcasts so you never miss a Tuesday episode!

  5. Sep 22

    When a Church Calling or Job Ends: What’s Next?

    What happens when a major life role that helped define you suddenly ends? Whether you left a career, retired, were released from a significant Church calling, or your children grew up and left the nest, you might find yourself facing a giant, quiet space. Even if you were ready for the change, it is completely normal to feel both relieved and a little bit lost. You might find yourself wondering: Who am I without that title—and what do I want now? For faith-driven women in midlife and the empty-nest years, several deep transitions often hit all at once. In this episode, we talk about how to navigate these emotional endings without rushing to replace what was lost. You’ll learn how to separate your true identity from a temporary title, turn lingering regret into useful wisdom, and confidently step into whatever God is stirring in your heart next. You don’t need a public title or a badge to make this next season deeply meaningful to the Lord. Your story is far from over! In This Episode: The Comfort of Structure: Why even a welcome, long-awaited ending can still feel like a genuine grieving process.Identity vs. Title: How changing roles impact your confidence, daily routine, and core sense of belonging.Discovering Who You Became: Why your hands-on experience, growth, and wisdom belong to you forever—even when the assignment is over.Uncovering True Desires: How to look beneath the surface to find what you actually miss about your past roles.Reframing Regret: Why seeing what you would do differently now isn't proof that you failed back then—it's absolute evidence that you have grown. This Week's Practice: Think about a role in your life that has recently ended. Grab a journal and ask yourself: When did I feel most alive in that role?What did I discover I was truly capable of?Where did I have to rely on the Lord in a way I hadn’t before?What am I completely ready to leave behind?5 Key Takeaways: A good ending can still feel like a loss. Your title may have changed, but what you learned is still yours. What you miss may be deeper than the role itself. Seeing what you would do differently now can be evidence of growth. You don’t need another title to make this next season meaningful. Resources: FREE Next Chapter Clarity Workbook: Get your gentle, faith-centered guide to figure out what's next at calledtorisecoaching.com/free If this episode spoke to your heart or made you think of a friend walking through an in-between season, please share it with her! Don't forget to rate, review, and subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube so you never miss a Tuesday episode. #EmptyNest #ChristianCoaching #MidlifeWomen #FindingPurposeAfter50 #FaithTransitions #LifeAfterRetirement

  6. Sep 15

    What Would You Love? Overcoming Guilt and Finding Your Purpose in Midlife

    For decades, your life has likely been organized entirely around other people's needs—your children, your family, your career, and your church callings. But when you spend years answering, "What does everyone else need?" you can completely lose touch with the question, "What do I want?" In this life-changing episode, we break down the false belief that gratitude and desire cannot exist together. Learn how to identify "fear wearing a sensible outfit" and discover why you are allowed to enjoy a passion before turning it into a mandatory ministry. It's time to stop abandoning your heart and start asking a foundational DreamBuilder question: What would you love? In This Episode: Why gratitude and desire can coexist How fear disguises itself as responsible thinking The difference between a dream’s full expression and present expression How to honor desire without rearranging your life overnight This Week’s Practice: Set a ten-minute timer and write what you would love with no editing. Choose one desire and take one small honoring action. 5 Key Takeaways: Gratitude and desire are not opposites: You can deeply love your family and your home while remaining incredibly curious about what else you can create with your life. Don't let the "how" kill the "what": The minute we think of a dream, our brains try to solve the logistics. First, permit yourself to name the desire; the practical steps come later. Spot fear wearing a sensible outfit: Fear rarely shows up looking dangerous. Instead, it sounds highly reasonable, whispering phrases like "be realistic," "think of the family," or "do it later." You don't have to monetize your joy: You are allowed to paint, hike, write, or garden purely for your own delight without forcing every single hobby to become a church service project or a business venture. Your family can adapt to your growth: Your growth is not a threat to the people you love. Your family has successfully navigated hundreds of changes, and they can handle you stepping into a new season. Resources: Free Next Chapter Clarity Workbook: https://calledtorisecoaching.com/free Scriptures and References: Psalm 37:4 2 Nephi 2:25 Brave Thinking Institute’s DreamBuilder Program

  7. Sep 8

    Notice What You’re Noticing: Navigating Midlife Discontent and Change

    Have you ever had an exciting new idea pop into your mind, only to immediately put it on trial? We often get caught in a mental trap, assuming a thought is either a direct, urgent command from Heavenly Father or a completely selfish distraction. In this episode, we explore why restlessness isn't necessarily a revelation, but why it is always worth noticing. Pulling from Doctrine and Covenants section 58 and the teachings of Elder David A. Bednar, we talk about the divine power of human agency. Discover how to correctly identify what your soul is actually longing for and how to match the size of your next step to the amount of clarity you have. In This Episode: Why agency belongs inside spiritual decision-making How persistence differs from panic What a desire may be trying to give you Why small, reversible experiments often create clarity This Week’s Practice: For seven days, record the nudge, the need beneath it, and one proportionate next step. 5 Key Takeaways: Restlessness contains valuable information: Before judging a restless feeling or trying to prescribe a radical cure, ask the smaller, gentler question: "What is this asking me to notice?" Agency is a feature of the plan, not a backup: God does not need to command us in all things. He trusts your beautiful mind, your experiences, and your free will to choose good paths. Revelation is usually like a sunrise, not a light switch: Divine guidance increases gradually. If you wait for absolute, mid-day sunshine before moving, you will never take the first step. Don't force your dreams to prove your worth: A healthy dream can involve big achievements, but ensure you aren't asking that dream to grant you the validation that God already gave you. Clarity comes through contact with reality: You do not need the entire map to start. Take a tiny, low-risk step—buy the paint, schedule the lunch, open the document—to let your desire test the real world. Resources: Next Chapter Clarity Workbook: https://calledtorisecoaching.com/free Scriptures and References: Brave Thinking Institute’s DreamBuilder Program Doctrine and Covenants 58:26–28 Elder David A. Bednar, adapt. from his April 2011 General Conference address, “The Spirit of Revelation.”  Moroni 7:13, The Book of Mormon.

  8. Sep 1

    Stop Rehearsing Catastrophes: How to Pause Anxiety Before It Starts

    Have you ever planned an entire disaster based on almost no evidence? An unanswered text or vague message can become a full catastrophe before the facts arrive. In this episode, we explore the small space between what actually happens and the worst-case stories our minds instantly invent. Learn how to stop your body from reacting to frightening predictions as if they are facts. Discover actionable, cognitive behavioral tools like worry postponement to regain mental authority. Shift your mindset from immediate panic to curiosity and faith as you navigate the empty nest season. In This Episode: Why worry can feel responsible and productive The difference between preparation and mental rehearsal How scheduled worry time works When a pause is not appropriate and qualified help is needed This Week’s Practice: Choose a brief daily or weekly worry time. When worry appears, write it down and ask: What are the facts? What story am I telling? What can I do now? 5 Key Takeaways: Rehearsing pain solves nothing: Simulating a future catastrophe only makes you suffer through it twice. Separate reality from fiction: Divide your circumstances into the bare facts, the story you tell, and the next step. Schedule your anxiety: Use a worry postponement tool to give fears a strict, limited time slot later in the week. Immediacy is not importance: Your brain confuses the urgency of a thought with its actual real-world weight. Worry is not preparation: True preparation creates clear action steps, while worry simply circles a problem. Resources: If anxiety is disrupting daily life, seek support from a qualified mental-health professional. Ready to move past the quiet restlessness of the empty nest? Download Denise’s free Next Chapter Clarity Workbook to start mapping out your next purposeful season today! calledtorisecoaching.com/free calledtorisecoaching.com References: Mary Morrissey, “The Power of the Pause Button: Pressing Pause on Panic,” Brave Thinking Institute / DreamBuilder LIVE. Matthew 6:34 Krzikalla et al. (2024), “Worry Postponement From the Metacognitive Perspective,” Behavior Therapy. Versluis et al. (2016), “Reducing worry and subjective health complaints,” British Journal of Health Psychology. The farmer story is a traditional parable commonly associated with Taoist teaching; versions and wording vary. Follow the show on Spotify and Apple Podcasts so you never miss a Tuesday episode!

  9. Sep 1

    Building a Healthy Relationship with Adult Children: Influence Without Control

    Motherhood does not end when children become adults, but the job description changes. Denise explores how mature motherhood moves from management toward relationship, without pretending the grief or restraint is easy. In this tender episode, we explore how to love adult children when "management" is no longer in your job description. Discover how to handle the four most sensitive transitions: advice, access, tradition, and identity. And learn how building a meaningful life of your own is actually one of the greatest gifts you can give your adult children. In This Episode: Why capability can feel painful when adult children stop checking first Advice, access, traditions, and identity in the adult-child relationship How to miss your children without making them repair the missing Why building your own life is a gift to them This Week’s Practice: Create three columns: Release, Retain, Receive. Pray over what love requires in this season. 5 Key Takeaways: Adults need a mother, not a project manager: When children are small, love looks like management; when they grow up, management starts feeling like control. Access does not equal importance: Adult children have a right to privacy, and loving them means being a safe harbor where they can share on their own terms. Grieve and adapt to changing traditions: A shifted holiday or family dinner is not a rejection; love is far more durable than a calendar date. Build a life they don't have to manage: Staying over-involved in an adult child's problems is often a distraction from facing the vulnerable questions in our own lives. Two truths can live in pairs: You can deeply miss the ordinary sounds of a full house while simultaneously supporting and cheering on your child's independence. Resources: Ready to move past the quiet restlessness of the empty nest? Download Denise’s free Next Chapter Clarity Workbook to start mapping out your next purposeful season today! calledtorisecoaching.com/free calledtorisecoaching.com Follow the show on Spotify and Apple Podcasts so you never miss a Tuesday episode!

  10. Sep 1

    "Do I Still Matter?" Overcoming the Empty Nest Identity Crisis

    When a familiar role changes, usefulness can feel like the measure of whether you still matter. In this powerful episode, we untangle the dangerous knot between being needed and being valuable. After decades of building identity around being hyper-competent and useful to everyone else, midlife asks us to slow down and reacquaint ourselves with the women God created us to be. Learn how to transition from a place of exhausted usefulness to an anchored confidence settled in Jesus Christ. In This Episode: Why competence and usefulness can become substitutes for identity The difference between a changing role and unchanging worth Why humility does not require denying God-given strengths How to carry mature qualities into a new chapter This Week’s Practice: Say three identity sentences each morning, then record one way you are learning, healing, creating, choosing, or becoming. 5 Key Takeaways: Usefulness fluctuates, worth never does: Your title, church calling, or child's daily dependency can change in an afternoon, but your value to God is eternal. True humility is rooted in gratitude: Humility isn't pretending God gave you no talents; it's recognizing His generosity and being willing to use what He gave you. Being a beginner is a sign of life: Moving from deep competence into new territories (like art, writing, or technology) can feel uncomfortable, but it is the next step of growth. Your skills did not evaporate: The patience, resourcefulness, discernment, and humor developed through motherhood remain inside you, waiting for new expression. Rest is not a character flaw: When your worth is settled, you no longer have to earn your place or your survival through an exhausted "yes" to every demand. Resources:  Free Next Chapter Clarity Workbook: https://calledtorisecoaching.com/free Called to Rise Coaching: https://calledtorisecoaching.com/ References: Psalm 139:14 Follow the show on Spotify and Apple Podcasts so you never miss a Tuesday episode!

  11. Season 1 Trailer

    Trailer: God Is Not Finished With You Yet

    Maybe it happens on an ordinary Tuesday afternoon. You look around a quiet house and wonder, “Who am I when nobody needs me in quite the same way?” Welcome to Called to Rise: Empty Nest, New Purpose, the essential podcast for Latter-day Saint women navigating empty nest syndrome, changing family roles, and adult children's agency. Hosted by certified DreamBuilder Coach Denise Hines, this show offers faith-based life coaching for LDS moms who want to separate their worth from their roles, rediscover their identity, and step into their next chapter. Your story is not over, and becoming is still part of your discipleship. Hit follow or subscribe to join our LDS parenting and personal growth conversation every Tuesday.

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Called to Rise is the faith-centered podcast for Latter-day Saint women navigating the empty nest, midlife transitions, and the question, "What now?" Maybe it hits on an ordinary afternoon. The house is quieter, and you’re left wondering, "Who am I when nobody needs me?" So you reorganize a drawer, because Tupperware is easier to sort than identity. Each week, certified transformational coach Denise Hines shares honest, faith-based conversations to help Christian and Latter-day Saint moms rediscover personal purpose, renew confidence, and courageously create what comes next.

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