Libsyn Directory

155. Living with Purpose: Inside the Intentional Living Collective with Elise Bowerman

Release Date: 12/18/2024

You Always Have a Choice: Reclaiming Agency as a Co-Parenting Mom (Encore)

Co-Parenting with Confidence

In this encore episode, I’m talking about something that quietly shapes how we show up as moms every single day: choice. So often, I hear women say, “I had no choice,” or “I had to,” especially in co-parenting and high-conflict situations. But the truth is, we always have a choice — even when none of the options feel easy. I break down how our brains work under stress, why we default to reaction mode, and how learning to pause gives us access to real agency. I walk you through the three choices that are always available to us: accept, change, or leave — and what each of those...

Creating Calm and Stability During Co-Parenting Holidays (Encore)

Co-Parenting with Confidence

The holidays after divorce can feel heavy, emotional, and overwhelming — and I know that personally. In this encore episode, I talk about how we can create more calm, stability, and intention during the holiday season, even when co-parenting feels challenging. I share why waiting until conflict shows up is often too late, and how choosing growth, compassion, and preparation before the holidays arrive can completely change how we experience them. I open up about my own grief around holiday expectations, how I’ve learned to hold sadness and gratitude at the same time, and why being...

Stop People-Pleasing and Start Setting Loving Boundaries (Encore)

Co-Parenting with Confidence

In this encore episode, I’m diving into one of the most essential skills I’ve had to develop in my own co-parenting journey: setting boundaries. So many of us were raised to prioritize keeping the peace and making others comfortable, even at the expense of our own emotional wellbeing. Over time, that leads to resentment, burnout, and feeling like a doormat. Today, I talk about how I learned to recognize those patterns in myself and how boundaries became a loving, empowering tool rather than something harsh or defensive. I walk through the difference between internal and external...

Moving Past Toxic Positivity and Into Real Confidence (Encore)

Co-Parenting with Confidence

In this encore episode, I’m diving into the real differences between positive thinking and toxic positivity, and why learning to embrace the full spectrum of emotions is essential for co-parenting with clarity, compassion, and confidence. So many of us have been told to “look on the bright side,” “stay positive,” or “just get over it,” especially after divorce. But none of that helps us heal. In fact, it often makes the hard moments feel even heavier. I share how I approach positive alignment in my own life and with my clients—rooted not in denial or forced optimism, but in...

What Five Years of Meditation Have Taught Me About the Power of Stillness

Co-Parenting with Confidence

Five years ago, I started meditating simply to quiet my mind. What I didn’t realize was that I was building something much deeper — a daily conversation with the divine, a foundation of self-trust, and a regulated nervous system grounded in the present moment. In this episode, I share what five years of consistent practice have taught me: how stillness strengthens us to meet life as it comes, how repetition heals our systems from the inside out, and how the simple act of showing up — every single day — transforms who we are. The biggest lesson? Whatever we focus on is what we...

From Reaction to Regulation: Choosing How You Show Up

Co-Parenting with Confidence

In this episode, Mikki Gardner explores what it really means to change from the inside out. So often, we think transformation happens when something outside of us shifts — a partner, a job, a child’s behavior — but lasting change always begins with self-regulation. Mikki breaks down the connection between our mind, body, and emotions, showing how awareness becomes the bridge to choice. You’ll learn how to strengthen your self-regulation “muscle,” recognize when you’re operating from reactivity, and return to calm so you can lead yourself — and your relationships — with more...

From Stuck to Still: Reimagining Your Relationships from the Inside Out

Co-Parenting with Confidence

After a season of change and messy transitions, Mikki returns to the mic with a powerful new direction for the podcast. In this solo episode, she opens up about navigating her own life shifts and why thinking our way out of relationship struggles doesn’t work. Mikki explores the three key paths we face when relationships feel stuck — repair, release, and re-imagine — and why true clarity comes from nervous system regulation, self-trust, and inner stillness. Whether you’re questioning a marriage, navigating co-parenting dynamics, or simply ready to stop looping through the same...

Breaking Free from Conflict with a Difficult Ex (Encore)

Co-Parenting with Confidence

Conflict after divorce is one of the hardest challenges to navigate—especially when you’re co-parenting with a difficult ex. I know firsthand how overwhelming it can feel to avoid conflict on the outside, only to create even more of it inside yourself. That’s why in this episode of Co-Parenting with Confidence, I’m breaking down what conflict really is, the hidden patterns that keep us stuck, and the third option we often miss when we feel trapped between speaking up or staying silent. I share insights from Jason Gattis’ book Getting to Zero along with my own journey of learning to...

Take Back Your Power: How Thoughts Shape Co-Parenting (Encore)

Co-Parenting with Confidence

Today we continue our look back at some of the most popular episodes of Co-Parenting with Confidence. In this encore episode, I share one of my favorite truths: your feelings don’t come from your ex, your circumstances, or the outside world—they come from your thoughts. When I discovered this, it completely shifted how I showed up as a mom and co-parent. Understanding that I’m not at the mercy of anyone else has been both liberating and empowering, and I want the same freedom for you. I’ll walk you through how our thoughts create our feelings, how those feelings drive our actions,...

169. Empower Yourself in Co-Parenting: The Connection Between Thoughts and Feelings (Encore)

Co-Parenting with Confidence

In this encore of episode #2, Mikki explores the emotional challenges faced by co-parents and emphasizes the importance of understanding the origins of our feelings. She discusses how our thoughts shape our emotions and actions, empowering listeners to take control of their emotional responses. Mikki introduces tools such as Byron Katie's four questions to help individuals reframe their thoughts and create positive change in their co-parenting relationships. What You’ll Learn: Understanding that feelings stem from our thoughts, not external circumstances. We have the power to change our...

More Episodes

In this inspiring episode, Elise Bowerman and I explore the transformative power of living with intention. This conversation is grounded in the importance of creating space in your life to reflect, reset, and realign with what truly matters to you. Featuring insights from the Intentional Living Collective, it explores how embracing purposeful living can unlock clarity, fulfillment, and authentic connections.

Whether you’re feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or simply curious about how to approach life with more meaning, this episode offers practical tips, heartfelt stories, and a fresh perspective on prioritizing what you truly want. Tune in to discover how slowing down can help you move forward with purpose.

If you are a woman living in the Metro Detroit area and want to step into a community of other like-hearted women in 2025, please check out our Intentional Living Collective here.

To learn more about Elise, check her out:

Elise Bowerman is a passionate advocate for women reclaiming their wholeness and living with intention. With 20 years of experience helping women connect with their bodies through movement, natural medicines, and mindfulness practices, she understands the transformative power of self-care and community.

As a board member of Birth Detroit and the co-founder of impactful initiatives like the Intentional Living Collective, Elise specializes in guiding women through life’s transitions. She provides busy moms tools to prioritize themselves, rediscover their identity, and find flow amid the chaos.

A mother herself, Elise knows firsthand the challenges of navigating life’s demands without the traditional support systems. Her work is grounded in honoring the natural rhythms of life and empowering women to embrace their full potential, creating a ripple effect of healing and strength in their families and communities.

LINKS

For more information go to my website here: https://mikkigardner.com/podcast/

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