009 | Goal Setting & Perseverance: The Winding Path to Success with Alayne Jorgensen

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With a long-term goal, the path from Point A to Point B is rarely a straight line. Life happens along the way, turning that straight line into a winding path. Navigating the twists and turns requires determination, perseverance, and grit. But if you stay the course—no matter how tangled it becomes—you will eventually find success.

Keep Your Eye on the Goal

In this interview, Alayne Jorgensen shares the unexpected surprises and challenges she faced on the road to earning her PhD. She speaks candidly about being a single parent, getting remarried, and battling postpartum depression—all while holding onto her educational dreams.

Alayne’s story demonstrates that, although life rarely goes according to plan, it’s still helpful to fix your eye on a specific goal and navigate in that direction.

Lessons along the Path

When it comes to goal setting, Alayne believes in having a clear goal with a flexible path. She also recommends traveling at your own pace, without comparing yourself to anyone else.

Alayne stresses the importance of relying on your village and surrounding yourself with supportive, encouraging voices. She also shares simple ways to practice self-care when your plate is already full.

Also in This Episode

• What it really looks like to juggle motherhood, work, and personal goals.

• Acting on intuition before you have everything figured out.

• Identifying what you truly want and letting go of distractions.

• A simple tool to help you push through when a goal feels tedious or discouraging.

Show Notes

Connect with Rachel on Instagram

Connect with Alayne Jorgensen on Instagram

MAY 2020 GIVEAWAY (CLOSED)

Two ways to enter:

(1) Post a review to Apple Podcasts, and send a screenshot to @rachel_rebuilt on Instagram.

(2) If you don’t use Apple Podcasts, send a direct message to @rachel_rebuilt on Instagram. List the podcasting app you use, and tell me what you like about the podcast.

Two winners will be selected on June 1, 2020. One winner will receive a $30 gift certificate to Happy Beads; the other will receive a Fawny Pack from Fawn Design.

007 | 3 Ways to Be Courageous without Leaving Home with Melanie Burk

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Courage begins in the heart. It’s what helps us shoulder unexpected and unwelcome responsibilities. It’s what keeps us moving in the face of fear. During these strange times, when COVID-19 has turned our lives upside down, we perform ordinary acts of courage every day without realizing it.

This week’s guest, Melanie Burk, is a mother of five, wife to a physician assistant, small business owner, and woman of faith. Like other Americans, the Burks have been sheltering in place and homeschooling for about three weeks.

Redefining Courage

In this episode, Melanie and I redefine courage for those who have been asked to “stay home, stay safe” during the COVID-19 pandemic. While traditional courage emphasizes physical action,* we emphasize the need for “mental strength to persevere.”

This type of courage isn’t about fixing or doing. It’s about enduring and being. It includes (1) courage to feel waves of heavy emotion, (2) courage to embrace stillness, and (3) courage to practice self-compassion.

Seeking Light & Joy

Together, we explore the emotional demands of our collective heartache, as well as our individual opportunities to seek light and joy. We also share how faith in a loving God helps us get through the daily challenges of quarantine.

Also in This Episode

• Why emotional self-care is essential, not selfish, during quarantine.

• How to find stillness, even if your home is loud or busy.

• Simple ways to invite children into stillness with you.

• Why self-compassion is the secret to personal growth.

Show Notes

Note: This list includes Amazon affiliate links to books mentioned in this episode. I receive a small commission for products purchased through these links, which helps to support free content on the podcast.

Connect with Rachel on Instagram

Connect with Melanie Burk on Instagram

Dr. Brene Brown

Dr. Kristin Neff

Three Elements of Self-Compassion

Self-Compassion & Mindfulness

Christlike Parenting (Book)

* We express gratitude to healthcare professionals, first responders, grocery store employees, and other essential personnel who cannot stay home during this pandemic and who continue to show extraordinary courage as they perform their regular responsibilities and keep our communities afloat.

005 | Discover Your Legacy: Turning Passion into Purpose with Katie Cheesman

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Sometimes we look for our “calling” on a neon sign and expect the path to be easy, but more often, our purpose unfolds over time, presenting obstacles along the way. We find our purpose by taking incremental steps toward our passion and following our instinct.

Following Curiosity

Katie Cheesman, a self-proclaimed “old soul,” has always felt at ease with the elderly. After working as a geriatric nurse for several years, Katie started The Listening Ear Project—a passion project that eventually evolved into a private film company that documents and celebrates the life stories of senior citizens.

In this interview, Katie shares how following her curiosity led her step-by-step to the work she does today. She also speaks openly about the professional and personal obstacles she’s faced while pursuing her passion, including her experience with postpartum depression.

Leaving a Legacy

After sharing her own story, Katie summarizes some of the powerful lessons she’s learned from her elderly friends, offering us a unique perspective on what it means to live a “good life.”

Katie reminds us that every person on this planet has unique and valuable gifts to bring to the table. Our differences make us stronger. And each of us is weaving an inspiring legacy—even if we feel unremarkable and ordinary.

ALSO IN THIS EPISODE

• Why our differences are vital to our community.

• The importance of finding a tribe, both professionally and personally.

• Five lessons we can learn from our elderly friends.

• The unexpected secret to becoming a better listener.

SHOW NOTES

Connect with Rachel on Instagram

Connect with Katie Cheesman
Instagram | Website

001 | Stop Hustling: How to Slow Down & Simplify Life with Rebecca Cooper

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In our fast-paced world, slowing down takes effort. We must learn to simplify our calendars, focus our attention, and say no to distractions—and sometimes, we must say no to good things that pull us away from our highest priorities.

Collect Moments, Not things

In this interview, Rebecca Cooper, founder of the lifestyle site Simple As That, shares how her definition of “simplicity” has evolved over the years. She also explains how she keeps her family moving at a slower pace, so they can savor ordinary, unremarkable moments in everyday life.

In 2010, with four kids under the age of eight, the Coopers sold most of their belongings and moved to the Caribbean so Rebecca’s husband could attend medical school. Rebecca shares how living with fewer physical possessions and fewer modern conveniences taught her to “collect moments, not things” and sparked a family culture of adventuring close to home.

Slow Down & Recharge Daily

Rebecca reminds us that self-worth isn’t tied to productivity or accomplishments. She emphasizes the importance of self-care and rest, encouraging women to sit down and recharge every day. We also discuss the benefits of declaring a “season of rest” as a way to minimize anxiety and comparison.

Also in this episode

• Using a camera to see ordinary moments with new eyes.

• Unexpected benefits of minimalism.

• Teaching children life lessons through hiking and exploring.

• How to stop measuring your self-worth by your to-do list.

• Essential questions to streamline your calendar.

Show Notes

Connect with Rachel on Instagram

Connect with Rebecca Cooper
Instagram | Website

Free Class: How to Create a Life Blueprint

Additional Resources

Note: This list includes Amazon affiliate links to books related to this episode. I receive a small commission for products purchased through these links, which helps to support free content on the podcast.

Free Printable: 50 Everyday Moments You Need to Photograph

Slow Your Pace: A Free 30-Day Challenge

Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less (Book)

Chasing Slow (Book)