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There comes a season—often in midlife or during caregiving—when the version of you who “did it all” no longer fits.

In this episode of Life of Joy & Purpose, we’re talking about the quiet identity loss so many women experience when they’ve spent years being the strong one, the dependable one, the one who holds everything together.

If you’ve ever thought:

• I don’t know who I am anymore,
• Why does this feel harder than it used to?
• I’m doing so much, but it never feels like enough,

you’re not alone—and this conversation is for you.

Together, we explore why letting go of old roles can feel so painful, especially in midlife and caregiving seasons, and why that grief deserves compassion. You’ll be gently invited into a small, doable shift: choosing one role you’re allowed to soften this season—without guilt or shame.

This episode offers reflection, reassurance, and a reminder that you’re not losing yourself—you’re becoming someone wiser, more present, and more aligned with the season you’re in.

✨ Perfect for women navigating midlife transitions, caregiving, burnout, identity shifts, and the desire to live with more joy and purpose.

Thanks so much for joining me today on Life of Joy & Purpose. If this episode spoke to you, I’d love for you to subscribe, leave a review, or share it with a friend who’s on the journey too.

You can connect with me on Instagram @vickigardinercoaching. Sign up for my monthly newsletter filled with encouragement, practical tools, and soul-aligned inspiration for midlife women who are ready to live with clarity, joy, and purpose. Click here to sign up!

Until next time—take a deep breath, stay true to yourself, and remember: joy and purpose are already within you. You’re just uncovering it—one step at a time.

🎧 If you loved this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone you love.

PDF- Course: How to Care for Others Without Losing Yourself

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Click here for all the links!

I’d love to hear from you- send a text!

The Quiet Exhaustion No One Talks About (And Why You’re Not Broken)

It’s the beginning of the year… and you’re already tired.

Not the kind of tired that goes away with sleep—but the quiet exhaustion that settles into your bones after months (or years) of carrying responsibility, caring for others, and holding everything together.

In this episode of Life of Joy & Purpose, we’re talking honestly about the exhaustion no one names—especially for midlife women and caregivers who feel like they should be grateful, strong, and capable… even when they’re running on empty.

If you’ve been wondering:

• “Why am I so tired when nothing is technically wrong?”
• “Why does a new year feel heavy instead of hopeful?”
• “Is something wrong with me?”

This episode is for you.

We’ll gently explore:

• Why chronic emotional and mental exhaustion is so common in midlife and caregiving seasons
• Why your tiredness is not a failure—but a signal
• A small, compassionate step you can take today: naming your exhaustion and releasing one unrealistic expectation
  
  

You’ll also hear an invitation to go deeper with my PDF course, How to Care for Others Without Losing Yourself, created to help you support the people you love without disappearing in the process.

We’ll close with a calming prayer—so you don’t just leave informed, but steadied.

✨ You are not broken.
✨ You are not behind.
✨ You are deeply human—and worthy of care too.

🎧 Listen in, take a breath, and let this episode meet you right where you are.

Thanks so much for joining me today on Life of Joy & Purpose. If this episode spoke to you, I’d love for you to subscribe, leave a review, or share it with a friend who’s on the journey too.

You can connect with me on Instagram @vickigardinercoaching. Sign up for my monthly newsletter filled with encouragement, practical tools, and soul-aligned inspiration for midlife women who are ready to live with clarity, joy, and purpose. Click here to sign up!

Until next time—take a deep breath, stay true to yourself, and remember: joy and purpose are already within you. You’re just uncovering it—one step at a time.

🎧 If you loved this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone you love.

PDF- Course: How to Care for Others Without Losing Yourself

Join my free Facebook Group and be a part of our community of women!

Click here for all the links!

I’d love to hear from you- send a text!

The In-Between Season: Starting the New Year Without Rushing Yourself

January often arrives with pressure to reset, plan, and become something new — but for many midlife women and caregivers, the heart isn’t ready to sprint forward yet.

In this episode, licensed therapist Vicki Gardiner speaks gently to the woman living in the in-between: no longer who she once was, not quite sure who she’s becoming. With compassion and clarity, she explores why early January can feel heavy, how caregiving intensifies this season, and why slowing down may be exactly what your nervous system needs.

You’ll hear reassurance that you’re not behind, practical grounding tools you can use anytime, and a reminder that support — emotional and practical — matters deeply during seasons of transition.

This episode is an invitation to begin the year without rushing your heart, honoring where you are, and creating space for calm, clarity, and steadiness to grow.

🎧 Perfect for midlife women, caregivers, and anyone navigating change with responsibility and tenderness.

Thanks so much for joining me today on Life of Joy & Purpose. If this episode spoke to you, I’d love for you to subscribe, leave a review, or share it with a friend who’s on the journey too.

You can connect with me on Instagram @_vickigardiner_. Sign up for my monthly newsletter filled with encouragement, practical tools, and soul-aligned inspiration for midlife women who are ready to live with clarity, joy, and purpose. Click here to sign up!

Until next time—take a deep breath, stay true to yourself, and remember: joy and purpose are already within you. You’re just uncovering it—one step at a time.

🎧 If you loved this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone you love.

Join my free Facebook Group and be a part of our community of women!

Click here for all the links!

I’d love to hear from you- send a text!

The holidays can feel especially overwhelming for family caregivers, midlife women, and anyone juggling aging parents, dementia care, chronic illness, or nonstop emotional labor. In this heart-centered episode, therapist and coach Vicki Gardiner, LPC shares practical tools and compassionate support to help caregivers reduce stress, prevent burnout, and find peace during the busiest time of the year.

You’ll learn how to simplify holiday expectations, manage caregiving responsibilities with more confidence, and create healthier boundaries that protect your mental and emotional well-being. Vicki also offers a gentle guided reflection, real-life strategies for coping with holiday overwhelm, and self-care practices specifically designed for midlife caregivers who are stretched thin.

Whether you’re caring for a parent with Alzheimer’s or dementia, supporting a spouse with medical needs, or navigating the “sandwich generation” life, this episode will help you breathe deeper, stay grounded, and rediscover moments of joy this season.

Topics include:
• Holiday stress for caregivers
• Midlife burnout + emotional overload
• Caring for aging parents or loved ones with dementia
• Setting boundaries with family during the holidays
• Reducing caregiver overwhelm
• Practical self-care for midlife women
• How to stay organized and calm during December
• Managing guilt, exhaustion, and expectations
• Prioritizing your mental health as a caregiver
• A short caregiver’s prayer and grounding moment

Plus — Vicki shares her most requested resource:
✨ The Caregiver’s Survival Guide — Binder + Digital Edition
Your complete caregiving organization system to reduce stress, track important details, and support your emotional well-being.

This episode is a must-listen for caregivers, midlife women, dementia caregivers, and anyone navigating the emotional load of caring for a loved one.

Thanks so much for joining me today on Life of Joy & Purpose. If this episode spoke to you, I’d love for you to subscribe, leave a review, or share it with a friend who’s on the journey too.

You can connect with me on Instagram @_vickigardiner_. Sign up for my monthly newsletter filled with encouragement, practical tools, and soul-aligned inspiration for midlife women who are ready to live with clarity, joy, and purpose. Click here to sign up!

Until next time—take a deep breath, stay true to yourself, and remember: joy and purpose are already within you. You’re just uncovering it—one step at a time.

🎧 If you loved this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone you love.

Join my free Facebook Group and be a part of our community of women!

Click here for all the links!

I’d love to hear from you- send a text!

The holidays can stir up more than joy — they can awaken grief, shame, exhaustion, and the voice of your inner critic. In this heartfelt episode, Vicki Gardiner shares gentle truths and practical steps for navigating loss, financial stress, and unrealistic expectations during the Christmas season.

If this year feels tender — if your heart aches, your budget’s tight, or your joy feels dim — this conversation will help you find sacred stillness, grounded peace, and new meaning in the middle of the mess.

You’ll learn:
✨ How to quiet your inner critic when she whispers “you’re not enough”
✨ What to do when grief or shame sneak into your holidays
✨ How to create a meaningful Christmas without spending more money
✨ Why slowing down may be the most spiritual act of the season

Vicki ends with a heartfelt Christmas prayer for weary souls and shares details about her upcoming 7-Day Inner Critic Reset — a grace-filled experience designed to help you rediscover peace and compassion heading into the new year.

Thanks so much for joining me today on Life of Joy & Purpose. If this episode spoke to you, I’d love for you to subscribe, leave a review, or share it with a friend who’s on the journey too.

You can connect with me on Instagram @_vickigardiner_. Sign up for my monthly newsletter filled with encouragement, practical tools, and soul-aligned inspiration for midlife women who are ready to live with clarity, joy, and purpose. Click here to sign up!

Until next time—take a deep breath, stay true to yourself, and remember: joy and purpose are already within you. You’re just uncovering it—one step at a time.

🎧 If you loved this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone you love.

Join my free Facebook Group and be a part of our community of women!

Click here for all the links!

I’d love to hear from you- send a text!

“Grace in the Chaos: Finding Gratitude, Peace & Purpose During the Holidays”

Feeling overwhelmed by the holidays? 🎄 Between the shopping lists, family expectations, and endless to-dos, it’s easy to lose yourself in the chaos. In this heartfelt episode of Life of Joy & Purpose, therapist and life coach Vicki Gardiner, LPC shares how to rediscover gratitude, calm your mind, and reconnect with who you are — even when life feels stressful and loud.

You’ll learn:
✨ How to practice real gratitude — even when it doesn’t come naturally
✨ Simple mindfulness techniques to ease holiday stress and anxiety
✨ How to create sacred pauses and reclaim your peace
✨ What to do when your inner critic gets louder during the holidays
✨ Ways to reconnect with your authentic self and find joy again

Whether you’re managing family stress, navigating loss, or just craving more peace this season, this episode will help you find grace in the middle of the busy — and remember that you are enough, exactly as you are.

🕊️ Stay to the end for a short guided prayer and words of encouragement to carry you through this season with calm and purpose.

Thanks so much for joining me today on Life of Joy & Purpose. If this episode spoke to you, I’d love for you to subscribe, leave a review, or share it with a friend who’s on the journey too.

You can connect with me on Instagram @_vickigardiner_. Sign up for my monthly newsletter filled with encouragement, practical tools, and soul-aligned inspiration for midlife women who are ready to live with clarity, joy, and purpose. Click here to sign up!

Until next time—take a deep breath, stay true to yourself, and remember: joy and purpose are already within you. You’re just uncovering it—one step at a time.

🎧 If you loved this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone you love.

Join my free Facebook Group and be a part of our community of women!

Click here for all the links!

I’d love to hear from you- send a text!

As the leaves turn and the air grows crisp, this episode of Life of Joy & Purpose invites you to slow down and rediscover the beauty of gratitude.
Host Vicki Gardiner, LPC shares heartfelt reflections and powerful daily practices to help you cultivate thankfulness, calm, and connection during the fall and holiday season.

You’ll learn how to create meaningful gratitude rituals, find peace in imperfect holidays, and anchor your heart in joy — no matter what this season brings.

Whether you’re walking through change, missing someone at your table, or simply craving a slower, more intentional rhythm, this conversation will remind you that gratitude changes everything.

✨ In this episode:

• Daily gratitude practices to renew your mind and lift your mood
• Mindful ways to find peace during the holidays
• How to balance gratitude and grief in changing seasons
• Simple rituals that bring joy, presence, and calm

Perfect for your morning walk, cozy coffee time, or quiet reflection, this episode will help you enter November with an open heart and a spirit of thankfulness.

Thanks so much for joining me today on Life of Joy & Purpose. If this episode spoke to you, I’d love for you to subscribe, leave a review, or share it with a friend who’s on the journey too.

You can connect with me on Instagram @_vickigardiner_. Sign up for my monthly newsletter filled with encouragement, practical tools, and soul-aligned inspiration for midlife women who are ready to live with clarity, joy, and purpose. Click here to sign up!

Until next time—take a deep breath, stay true to yourself, and remember: joy and purpose are already within you. You’re just uncovering it—one step at a time.

🎧 If you loved this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone you love.

Join my free Facebook Group and be a part of our community of women!

Click here for all the links!

I’d love to hear from you- send a text!

Description:
Feeling overwhelmed by the upcoming holidays? In this heartfelt episode, therapist and life coach Vicki Gardiner, LPC, shares how to prepare your mind, heart, and home for the holiday season with peace and purpose. Learn simple ways to practice self-care, set healthy boundaries in your relationships, and manage your budget with intention — so you can truly enjoy this time instead of just surviving it.

Vicki’s warm, faith-filled approach will help you slow down, reconnect with what matters most, and experience joy that lasts beyond the new year. Perfect for anyone craving a calmer, more meaningful Christmas season.

✨ Topics include:

• How to care for yourself during the holidays
• Managing relationships and family expectations
• Budgeting without guilt or stress
• Creating new, intentional holiday traditions
• Finding gratitude and peace in the present moment

🎧 Tune in for practical tools, gentle reflection, and a closing prayer to center your heart for the season.

Thanks so much for joining me today on Life of Joy & Purpose. If this episode spoke to you, I’d love for you to subscribe, leave a review, or share it with a friend who’s on the journey too.

You can connect with me on Instagram @_vickigardiner_. Sign up for my monthly newsletter filled with encouragement, practical tools, and soul-aligned inspiration for midlife women who are ready to live with clarity, joy, and purpose. Click here to sign up!

Until next time—take a deep breath, stay true to yourself, and remember: joy and purpose are already within you. You’re just uncovering it—one step at a time.

🎧 If you loved this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone you love.

Join my free Facebook Group and be a part of our community of women!

Click here for all the links!