Hi friends, Steph here! Welcome to our first episode in the month of July. Every summer, Rachel takes time off from recording new episodes to be more present with her kids while they're out of school — and this year, that time is especially needed. Many of you may know that Rachel's beloved brother-in-law passed away unexpectedly last month, and she's been spending a lot of time grieving and staying close to her sister and her kids. She will be back the first Monday in August with a brand new episode, and we're so grateful for your love and support for her family during this time.
In the meantime, the encore episodes Rachel chose for this month are some of her most personal solo episodes from the past nine years. She chose them because she wanted to share a lot of her heart this month.
Rachel described today's episode as one of the most personal things she's ever released. In it, she shares three pieces of writing she did during different seasons of her recovery from an eating disorder in her late twenties and early thirties. Something Rachel and I have in common is that we have both struggled with eating disorders as adults, and I have to tell you — when I re-listened to this episode to get it ready to re-air, I was deeply touched. Whether or not you've struggled with disordered eating, I think anyone who has worked on their mental health, and done the hard, tender work of therapy will see themselves in these essays. And if you're at the beginning of any mental health work, I hope this episode gives you hope as Rachel shares a glimpse into her journey.
For Rachel, one of the most transformative things she's discovered on her own healing journey is soul care, taking care of her body, mind and spirit. And for her, one of the most impactful forms of soul care has always been writing. It's always been where she figures out what she actually thinks and feels. Sanctifying your soul care is one of the six principles at the heart of Rachel's Self-Assured Motherhood program, and if you're curious about how well you're honoring your own needs as a mom, we have a free three-minute assessment waiting for you at 3in30podcast.com/quiz. This quiz will give you a visual representation of where you're thriving and where you're struggling in your self-assured motherhood journey.
3 KEY TAKEAWAYS:
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Essay 1: A True Story of Answered Prayers
Rachel originally posted this on her personal family blog back in 2013, and it's the story of a run with a new friend who unknowingly described Rachel's own struggles with food and body image. This was the moment Rachel finally let herself admit to her struggles out loud. It's where her recovery really began, and she traces those early months with so much honesty and gratitude for the people who showed up for her along the way.
- Essay 2: The Girl Who Ran Besides Me
Rachel's counselor asked her to write this one. She invited her to give her eating disorder a personality outside of herself, and what came out is so raw and real. Rachel writes her as a woman who ran up beside her during a college jog one night and never really left, and she traces the decade that followed with painful, specific detail. This one really resonated with me.
- Essay 3: A Letter to My Body
Another counselor invited Rachel to write this one years later, and Rachel said she expected it to come out angry, but it didn't. It's so tender, and so full of gratitude for a body that kept caring for her even when she wasn't caring for it. It made me want to write my own letter to my body!
I hope within these heartfelt reflections, you find something meaningful for your own journey. xx
Related Episodes:
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50 Ways to Lighten Your Mental Load
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