In this episode, we explore why, despite our best efforts, thought work sometimes falls short. You might be doing everything right—focusing on affirmations and mindset shifts—but still feel stuck.

Today, we’re diving into something I’ve experienced personally, and I see a lot of my clients struggling with too: why thought work sometimes doesn’t seem to work. You’re doing all the mindset work, trying to be in control of your thoughts, but it’s just not getting you the results you want. Sound familiar?

It took me a while to figure this out, but I found the answer: Thought work is powerful, but there’s something even more powerful that can override it: our nervous system.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• Why thought work sometimes isn’t enough to break negative habits
• How your nervous system can override your thoughts during stress
• The role of the nervous system in controlling your actions and reactions
• The concept of "home base" and how to regulate your nervous system
• Why food, overeating, and stress are linked to your body’s survival response
• Practical steps to bring your nervous system back to a calm, balanced state
• How to combine thought work with nervous system regulation for lasting change

FEATURED ON THE SHOW

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• I’d love to hear from you with any questions or breakthroughs or topics you’d like me to cover. Send me a direct message on Instagram @ajoyfulyou or email me at rachael@ajoyfulyou.com
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• Work with me

In this episode, I dive into something that’s been on my mind ever since I heard President Nelson say, “This is the secret to a life of joy.”

As someone who’s all about joy, that caught my attention.

He said the secret is to come unto Christ and offer our whole soul to Him, which got me thinking—what does it mean to offer our soul?

I realized that our soul is made up of both our body and spirit, so I started asking myself how I’m caring for these two parts of me.

I’ll walk you through how I broke this down: what a healthy body looks and feels like, and what a healthy spirit means to me.

I also share a beautiful moment I witnessed during my daughter’s labor—

If you’ve ever wondered how to truly live a life filled with joy, this episode will give you some practical insights and a fresh perspective.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• President Nelson’s insight on joy:
• How to reflect on where you’re giving your time, energy, and focus in life.
• The importance of caring for both your body and spirit.
• Practical tips on maintaining a healthy body and nourishing your spirit.
• How supporting and uplifting others can enhance your own joy.
• A touching story about witnessing women empowering each other during childbirth, and its deeper message about community.

FEATURED ON THE SHOW

• Would you do me a favor? Please leave a review on your preferred podcast platform — it helps me reach more and more people. Thank you!
• I’d love to hear from you with any questions or breakthroughs or topics you’d like me to cover. Send me a direct message on Instagram @ajoyfulyou or email me at rachael@ajoyfulyou.com
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If you're tired of feeling stuck, unhappy with your body, and constantly controlled by food, and frustrated with your life?

Tis episode offers practical insights and steps to help you finally conquer once these things once and for all.

If you're ready to stop the cycle of dieting, embrace joyful living, and take control of your life from the inside out so you can find freedom from the food and body drama that’s been holding you back, you'll love this episode.

Get ready to start your journey to conquering joy with this episode.

WHAT YOU WILL DISCOVER

• How to heal your relationship with food and your body without relying on restrictive diets or punishing exercise routines.
• The concept of "Joyful Freedom" and how it can transform your life, giving you peace around food, body image, and self-worth.
• Practical tools for lasting change—how small, simple steps can make a huge difference without overwhelming you.
• The difference between happiness and joy—and why true joy comes from within, independent of your external circumstances.
• How to stop the all-or-nothing thinking that keeps you stuck in the vicious cycle of dieting and shame.

FEATURED ON THE SHOW

• CONQUER PROGRAM
• Would you do me a favor? Please leave a review on your preferred podcast platform — it helps me reach more and more people. Thank you!
• I’d love to hear from you with any questions or breakthroughs or topics you’d like me to cover. Send me a direct message on Instagram @ajoyfulyou or email me at rachael@ajoyfulyou.com
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• The Joy Plan Book

In this episode of the Joyful You Podcast, we tackling how to overcome pesky negative thoughts about ourselves, like self-doubt, insecurity, and dislike that often keeps us down, so we can RISE UP into the next best version of ourselves.

WHAT YOU WILL DISCOVER

• A fun and eye-opening activity to explore how easily we focus on negative thoughts versus positive ones about ourselves.
• Insights into why our brains tend to highlight flaws and how this affects our daily lives and relationships.
• Ideas for creating positive affirmations and using them in your daily life to shift your mindset.

• Why it's crucial to acknowledge and appreciate your strengths and how that can transform your outlook.

• The ABC's to Rise Up!

FEATURED ON THE SHOW

• Sheri Dew BYU Women's Conference Talk 2001
• Ezra Taft Benson Quote
• Sticky Beliefs Podcast
• H. Burke Peterson Quote
• Patricia Holland Quote
• Sheri Dew BYU Women's Conference talk 2008
• Would you do me a favor? Please leave a review on your preferred podcast platform — it helps me reach more and more people. Thank you!
• I’d love to hear from you with any questions or breakthroughs or topics you’d like me to cover. Send me a direct message on Instagram @ajoyfulyou or email me at rachael@ajoyfulyou.com
• Follow me on Instagram for more
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In this episode, we're revisiting a topic so many of us struggle with—emotional eating.

You might think you’re turning to food because you’re stressed, bored, or need comfort, but that's only part of the reason. What’s really happening is you’ve built an emotional eating habit.

In this episode, I explain how you created this habit and how the cycle works and, more importantly, how to break free from it.

So if you’re ready to start a new chapter in your relationship with food, this episode is for you! Let’s do it!

WHAT YOU WILL DISCOVER

• How emotional eating is actually a habit cycle involving cues, thoughts, urges, and rewards.
• Why eating makes you feel good in the moment but keeps you stuck in the cycle.
• How you always have the power to choose a different response to the urge.
• Practical ways to break the emotional eating habit and create new, healthier habits.
• Simple yet effective strategies to reward yourself without turning to food.

FEATURED ON THE SHOW

• 5-Day Stop Emotional Eating Challenge
• Would you do me a favor? Please leave a review on your preferred podcast platform — it helps me reach more and more people. Thank you!
• I’d love to hear from you with any questions or breakthroughs or topics you’d like me to cover. Send me a direct message on Instagram @ajoyfulyou or email me at rachael@ajoyfulyou.com
• Follow me on Instagram for more
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This week, we’re diving into the theme of overwhelm—a common feeling that can hit when we’re faced with seemingly insurmountable tasks.

Overwhelm can be likened to super glue—it keeps us stuck in place and prevents us from moving forward. It feels strangely comforting because it’s familiar, even if it’s not productive. We often indulge in this emotion because it feels safer than stepping into the unknown and taking action.

So, how do we break free from overwhelm? Tune in to this episode to find out.

WHAT YOU WILL DISCOVER

• What creates overwhelm
• Why we get stuck in overwhelm
• A simple strategy to combat overwhelm

FEATURED ON THE SHOW

• Would you do me a favor? Please leave a review on your preferred podcast platform — it helps me reach more and more people. Thank you!
• I’d love to hear from you with any questions or breakthroughs or topics you’d like me to cover. Send me a direct message on Instagram @ajoyfulyou or email me at rachael@ajoyfulyou.com
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In this episode of The Joyful You Podcast, we dive into the concept of creating supportive conditions for weight loss rather than forcing it through restrictive diets and intense exercise.

Tune in to learn how adjusting your approach can lead to sustainable, joyful permanent weight loss.

WHAT YOU WILL DISCOVER

• Supportive vs. Forcing: The episode begins by addressing common frustrations with weight loss, such as stalled progress despite efforts. The key message is that the body needs supportive conditions to release weight effectively. Forcing weight loss through extreme calorie cuts or over-exercise creates an environment where the body feels unsafe and resistant to change.

• Holistic Approach: Weight loss isn't just about physical health. It encompasses emotional, mental, spiritual, and social well-being. The body needs a safe and supportive environment, which includes adequate sleep, hydration, stress management, compassionate self-talk, and gentle eating practices.

• Foundational Habits (Fundies): The episode outlines essential habits to foster a supportive environment for weight loss:

  • Sleep: Aim for 7-9 hours of restful sleep to allow the body to repair and manage weight effectively.
  • Water: Drink at least 64 ounces of water daily to stay hydrated and avoid cravings.
  • Stress Management: Implement practices like gratitude, deep breathing, and uplifting activities to manage stress and maintain balance.
  • Compassionate Thinking: Practice positive self-talk and view challenges with kindness to avoid emotional eating and self-sabotage.
  • Gentle Eating: Focus on eating when hungry, choosing nourishing foods, and stopping when full, while avoiding emotional eating.

FEATURED ON THE SHOW

• Would you do me a favor? Please leave a review on your preferred podcast platform — it helps me reach more and more people. Thank you!
• I’d love to hear from you with any questions or breakthroughs or topics you’d like me to cover. Send me a direct message on Instagram @ajoyfulyou or email me at rachael@ajoyfulyou.com
• Follow me on Instagram for more
• Website

Are you using self-development as a useful tool or are you using it as a weapon?

Do you ever think: if you can just stick with it long enough and muster up enough willpower, then eventually it will work, you’ll create a new habit and become a new person, but usually end up feeling frustrated, broken, and ashamed?

On this episode we're talking about Habit Science and why attempting to force strategies that don’t align with you actually hurt you, not help you.

WHAT YOU WILL DISCOVER

• The Chameleon Effect
• How coaching and self-development is helpful and how it is not
• Why all your effort towards your goal, isn't working
• What we think creates a habit
• What actually creates a habit

FEATURED ON THE SHOW

• Would you do me a favor? Please leave a review on your preferred podcast platform — it helps me reach more and more people. Thank you!
• I’d love to hear from you with any questions or breakthroughs or topics you’d like me to cover. Send me a direct message on Instagram @ajoyfulyou or email me at rachael@ajoyfulyou.com
• Follow me on Instagram for more
• Website