Perfection is a terrible goal.

In this episode, I’m exploring how many women quietly carry unrealistic, outdated, or impossible standards for what “doing their best” is supposed to look like — especially in seasons of motherhood, transition, chronic stress, changing capacity, or growing responsibilities.

I share personal examples from my own life, including shifting exercise rhythms, building a coaching business during motherhood, and learning to reassess expectations with greater honesty and compassion instead of constantly measuring myself against unrealistic ideals.

We also talk about:

• the difference between realistic excellence and performative perfection
• why “doing your best” is not a fixed standard
• how changing seasons require changing expectations
• overfunctioning vs faithful stewardship
• the importance of compassionate self-awareness
• and how God may be more interested in wholeness than flawless performance

If you’ve been feeling behind, stretched thin, frustrated with yourself, or unsure how to define “success” in your current season, I hope this conversation helps you breathe a little deeper and approach yourself with greater wisdom and grace.

What would a more honest and compassionate definition of “doing your best” look like in this season?

• Matthew 5:48
• Reflection on biblical wholeness, maturity, and spiritual formation
• “Strive for excellence, not perfection”

The God-Given Gifts Chat is a one-on-one conversation where we explore:

• what’s going on in your current season,
• where you may be experiencing unnecessary friction,
• what seems to light you up,
• and possible life-giving next steps or shifts.

It’s also a space to discern whether deeper coaching support may be a good fit for you.

A quick summer update: I'm intentionally keeping my calendar lighter this summer so I can serve well and stay present with my family. Because of that, I'll only be opening 4 God-Given Gifts Chat spots across June and July. If a conversation has been on your heart, I'd love to connect.

📲God-Given Gifts Chat

https://coffeechatsandyogamats.com/giftchat

The Discover Your God-Given Gifts Coaching Experience is a personalized coaching experience designed to help women:

• better understand their wiring, strengths, and patterns,
• recognize both gifts and limitations with greater clarity,
• develop healthier rhythms and expectations,
• and lead their lives with more peace, confidence, wisdom, and intention.

You can learn more through the links in the show notes or by emailing me at hello@coffeehcatsandyogmats.com with the word GIFT.

Wondering what your God-given gifts actually are and how to honor them in the middle of real life (not just the highlight reel)? Let’s talk. 💬

The best place to start is a free God-Given Gifts Chat — an audio + text convo inside Voxer (no Zoom required, promise). We’ll:

• Check in on your current season

• Name 1 gift

• Brainstorm 1 simple next step you can take

No pressure. No pretending. Just a grace-filled space to help you get unstuck and move forward with a little more clarity and confidence.

✨Book your God-Given Gifts Chat — or just reply to any email from me with "I'm curious" and I’ll send you the details.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today's episode wasn't planned.

It started as a voice memo while I was reflecting on my coaching business, motherhood, and the unexpected ways God has been reshaping how I think about productivity, purpose, and real life.

Somewhere along the way, I realized I'd stopped trying to build my life despite my limits and started building it around them.

In this short Mini episode, we're chatting about:

• Why your current season isn't something to fight
• The freedom of working with your God-given wiring instead of against it
• How your season, capacity, and calling can work together beautifully
• Choosing harmony over urgency whenever you can

Whether you're navigating motherhood, work, ministry, caregiving, or simply feeling stretched thin, I hope this conversation reminds you that you don't have to wait for a different season before you begin living faithfully.

I'd love to hear what resonated with you. You can always reach me at hello@CoffeeChatsandYogaMats.com or learn more about a God-Given Gifts Chat if you'd like to explore your unique wiring together.

Grateful you're here, Beloved. 💛

Wondering what your God-given gifts actually are and how to honor them in the middle of real life (not just the highlight reel)? Let’s talk. 💬

The best place to start is a free God-Given Gifts Chat — an audio + text convo inside Voxer (no Zoom required, promise). We’ll:

• Check in on your current season

• Name 1 gift

• Brainstorm 1 simple next step you can take

No pressure. No pretending. Just a grace-filled space to help you get unstuck and move forward with a little more clarity and confidence.

✨Book your God-Given Gifts Chat — or just reply to any email from me with "I'm curious" and I’ll send you the details.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What if some of the things you’ve spent years criticizing about yourself are actually connected to how God intentionally wired you?

In this episode, I’m sharing a powerful conversation from a Beloved who realized her sensitivity, attentiveness, and servant heart weren’t weaknesses to hide — they were gifts to steward wisely.

Together, we explore:

• why women often mislabel their gifts as flaws
• how gifts influence everyday life far beyond church roles
• the difference between refining a gift and rejecting yourself
• why awareness is only the starting point
• and how understanding your wiring can help you carry your life with more peace, clarity, and intention

This conversation is deeply practical, encouraging, and rooted in the reminder that God designed people differently on purpose.

Who in your life helps reflect your gifts back to you honestly and compassionately?

And if no one immediately comes to mind, maybe that’s simply something worth noticing.

The God-Given Gifts Chat is a one-on-one conversation where we explore:

• what’s going on in your current season
• what seems to light you up
• how your gifts may already be showing up in your everyday life
• and possible life-giving next steps or shifts

It’s also a space to explore whether deeper coaching support may be a good fit for you.

A quick summer update: I'm intentionally keeping my calendar lighter this summer so I can serve well and stay present with my family. Because of that, I'll only be opening 4 God-Given Gifts Chat spots across June and July. If a conversation has been on your heart, I'd love to connect.

📲God-Given Gifts Chat

https://coffeechatsandyogamats.com/giftchat

The Discover Your God-Given Gifts coaching experience is a personalized one-on-one coaching journey where you’ll:

• better understand your wiring, strengths, rhythms, and limitations
• identify patterns that may be creating unnecessary self-conflict
• learn how to integrate your gifts into your everyday life
• and develop more intentional, peaceful, and sustainable ways of leading your life

If this episode resonated with you, you can connect with me through the links in the show notes or email me at hello@coffeechatsandyogamats.com with the word “GIFT.”

Wondering what your God-given gifts actually are and how to honor them in the middle of real life (not just the highlight reel)? Let’s talk. 💬

The best place to start is a free God-Given Gifts Chat — an audio + text convo inside Voxer (no Zoom required, promise). We’ll:

• Check in on your current season

• Name 1 gift

• Brainstorm 1 simple next step you can take

No pressure. No pretending. Just a grace-filled space to help you get unstuck and move forward with a little more clarity and confidence.

✨Book your God-Given Gifts Chat — or just reply to any email from me with "I'm curious" and I’ll send you the details.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today's bonus conversation is a replay from a recent Tribe Beloved gathering.

Image Consultant Jackie Wheeler joins us for a practical and encouraging conversation about building a wardrobe that reflects who God uniquely created you to be.

Rather than following rigid fashion rules or chasing trends, Jackie shares how understanding your body, personal style, colors, and everyday life can help you create a capsule wardrobe that feels both chic and uniquely yours.

Whether you've ever felt stuck in your closet, overwhelmed by too many choices, or unsure how to express your personality through what you wear, this conversation offers thoughtful encouragement and practical wisdom rooted in stewardship, intentionality, and grace.

In this conversation, you'll hear about:

• Building a capsule wardrobe that fits your life and personality
• Understanding body shape, color, and personal style without feeling boxed in
• Reducing decision fatigue by creating a wardrobe that works together
• Shopping with intention instead of impulse
• Why you don't need permission to embrace the style that feels authentically you

Resources mentioned:

• Connect with Jackie Wheeler: http://www.thejackiestyle.com
• Jackie on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thejackiestyle/

Wondering what your God-given gifts actually are and how to honor them in the middle of real life (not just the highlight reel)? Let’s talk. 💬

The best place to start is a free God-Given Gifts Chat — an audio + text convo inside Voxer (no Zoom required, promise). We’ll:

• Check in on your current season

• Name 1 gift

• Brainstorm 1 simple next step you can take

No pressure. No pretending. Just a grace-filled space to help you get unstuck and move forward with a little more clarity and confidence.

✨Book your God-Given Gifts Chat — or just reply to any email from me with "I'm curious" and I’ll send you the details.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What if the problem isn't that you're failing—but that you're interpreting every struggle as proof that something is wrong with you?

In this Connection Call-style episode, Cortney explores the difference between shame and information, how recurring frustrations can reveal important patterns, and why compassion creates room for growth.

Because maybe the question isn't: "What's wrong with me?"

Maybe it's: "What's actually happening here?"

💭 Reflection Questions:

• Where am I feeling frustrated or defeated?
• What's actually happening there?
• What small adjustment or experiment might support me better right now?

Sometimes simply naming what's real is the first step toward less second-guessing yourself and more genuine confidence.

----

The God-Given Gifts Chat is a one-on-one conversation where we explore:

• what’s going on in your current season,
• what seems to light you up,
• how your gifts may already be showing up in your everyday life,
• and some possible next life-giving steps or shifts.

It’s also a space to explore whether deeper coaching support might be helpful for you.

So if this conversation resonated with you, you're welcome to email hello@coffeechatsandyogamast.com with the word “gift" or check out the God-Given Gifts chat form here: https://coffeechatsandyogamats.com/giftchat.

Wondering what your God-given gifts actually are and how to honor them in the middle of real life (not just the highlight reel)? Let’s talk. 💬

The best place to start is a free God-Given Gifts Chat — an audio + text convo inside Voxer (no Zoom required, promise). We’ll:

• Check in on your current season

• Name 1 gift

• Brainstorm 1 simple next step you can take

No pressure. No pretending. Just a grace-filled space to help you get unstuck and move forward with a little more clarity and confidence.

✨Book your God-Given Gifts Chat — or just reply to any email from me with "I'm curious" and I’ll send you the details.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Have you ever wondered why certain routines, rhythms, or ways of doing life seem to work beautifully for someone else… but leave you feeling exhausted, overwhelmed, or frustrated?

In this episode, Cortney explores the difference between personal growth and constantly fighting yourself.

Through stories, reflections, and practical examples, she shares how understanding your God-given wiring can help you approach life with greater awareness, peace, and intentionality — instead of constantly feeling like you’re failing to keep up with someone else’s expectations.

This conversation includes:

• personality preferences and decision-making
• why different rhythms work for different people
• overstimulation and seasonal capacity
• the difference between inspiration and imitation
• and how self-awareness can become a compass instead of a criticism

Because sometimes the issue isn’t that you’re lazy. It's that the rhythm simply doesn’t fit.

• Why comparison often creates unnecessary frustration
• The difference between being inspired by someone and trying to live exactly like they do
• How understanding your wiring impacts relationships, leadership, and everyday decisions
• Cortney’s “A/B day” summer rhythm example
• Why awareness helps reduce unnecessary self-conflict
• How God intentionally equips people differently for different good works
• The importance of building rhythms that fit your actual season of life

• What rhythms genuinely fit me in this season?
• Where am I trying to force myself into someone else’s way of doing life?
• What consistently creates friction or overwhelm for me right now?
• What helps me feel more grounded, peaceful, and present?
• Where might greater self-awareness create more compassion instead of criticism?

A quick summer update: I'm intentionally keeping my calendar lighter this summer so I can serve well and stay present with my family. Because of that, I'll only be opening 4 God-Given Gifts Chat spots across June and July. If a conversation has been on your heart, I'd love to connect.

📲God-Given Gifts Chat

https://coffeechatsandyogamats.com/giftchat

You can also learn more about the Discover Your God-Given Gifts coaching experience here: https://coffeechatsandyogamats.com/coaching

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-i-plan-my-entire-summer-around-two-types-of-days/id1485792921?i=1000767349087

Wondering what your God-given gifts actually are and how to honor them in the middle of real life (not just the highlight reel)? Let’s talk. 💬

The best place to start is a free God-Given Gifts Chat — an audio + text convo inside Voxer (no Zoom required, promise). We’ll:

• Check in on your current season

• Name 1 gift

• Brainstorm 1 simple next step you can take

No pressure. No pretending. Just a grace-filled space to help you get unstuck and move forward with a little more clarity and confidence.

✨Book your God-Given Gifts Chat — or just reply to any email from me with "I'm curious" and I’ll send you the details.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why does life sometimes feel harder than it “should” — even when you’re trying your best?

In this episode, Cortney talks about the importance of pausing long enough to honestly acknowledge your current reality instead of constantly judging yourself against outdated expectations or impossible standards.

This conversation explores:

• why awareness is not weakness
• how different seasons impact capacity
• the emotional cost of ignoring your limitations
• the difference between accepting reality and giving up
• creating “backup homes” for important rhythms
• and why flexibility is often wiser than perfection

Cortney also shares personal reflections on motherhood, nervous system capacity, seasonal rhythms, and what it can look like to lead your life with greater wisdom, honesty, and compassion.

If you’ve been feeling behind, stretched thin, frustrated with yourself, or unsure why everything feels harder lately, this episode offers a gentler and more grounded perspective.

Because ignoring your limits doesn’t increase your capacity — but compassionate awareness can help you stop fighting yourself and move forward more intentionally.

A quick summer update: I'm intentionally keeping my calendar lighter this summer so I can serve well and stay present with my family. Because of that, I'll only be opening 4 God-Given Gifts Chat spots across June and July. If a conversation has been on your heart, I'd love to connect.

📲God-Given Gifts Chat

https://coffeechatsandyogamats.com/giftchat

Wondering what your God-given gifts actually are and how to honor them in the middle of real life (not just the highlight reel)? Let’s talk. 💬

The best place to start is a free God-Given Gifts Chat — an audio + text convo inside Voxer (no Zoom required, promise). We’ll:

• Check in on your current season

• Name 1 gift

• Brainstorm 1 simple next step you can take

No pressure. No pretending. Just a grace-filled space to help you get unstuck and move forward with a little more clarity and confidence.

✨Book your God-Given Gifts Chat — or just reply to any email from me with "I'm curious" and I’ll send you the details.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Lately I’ve been thinking about trees, seasons, and the invisible weight so many women are carrying right now.

In this episode, I’m talking about:

• shifting capacity
• emotional and mental load
• seasonal transitions
• unrealistic expectations
• and why feeling stretched thin doesn’t automatically mean you’re failing

Using the metaphor of “sucker branches” in gardening, I explore how even good things can quietly drain energy away from the growth that actually needs nourishment in a particular season.

This isn’t a conversation about productivity or trying harder.

It’s an invitation to approach your current season with greater awareness, wisdom, and compassion.

• Why everything may feel harder right now
• The invisible load many women carry
• How seasons change capacity
• Why “good” things can still drain energy
• Spiritual reflections on pruning, abiding, and sustainable growth
• Compassionate self-awareness instead of shame

• What feels harder than I expected right now?
• What am I carrying that I haven’t fully acknowledged?
• What expectations may no longer fit this season?
• What’s draining energy without nourishing deeper growth?
• What would compassionate expectations look like right now?

A quick summer update: I'm intentionally keeping my calendar lighter this summer so I can serve well and stay present with my family. Because of that, I'll only be opening 4 God-Given Gifts Chat spots across June and July. If a conversation has been on your heart, I'd love to connect.

📲God-Given Gifts Chat https://coffeechatsandyogamats.com/giftchat

Wondering what your God-given gifts actually are and how to honor them in the middle of real life (not just the highlight reel)? Let’s talk. 💬

The best place to start is a free God-Given Gifts Chat — an audio + text convo inside Voxer (no Zoom required, promise). We’ll:

• Check in on your current season

• Name 1 gift

• Brainstorm 1 simple next step you can take

No pressure. No pretending. Just a grace-filled space to help you get unstuck and move forward with a little more clarity and confidence.

✨Book your God-Given Gifts Chat — or just reply to any email from me with "I'm curious" and I’ll send you the details.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.