Mean people are everywhere right now and the data confirms it. In this episode, Barb and Michelle unpack why cruelty seems to be escalating, breaking down the different types of mean people we all encounter and what actually drives their behavior. Barb shares a raw, personal story about being screamed at in a parking lot while her mother was dying in hospice, and what that moment taught her about judgment, control, and the stories we never see.

This conversation goes deep into narcissism, spiritual bypassing, the difference between empathy and giving someone a pass, and how to stop carrying what was never yours in the first place. Whether you are dealing with a cruel stranger, a toxic family member, or your own tendency to absorb other people's behavior, this episode gives you a practical framework for protecting your peace without losing your compassion.

What you'll take away:

• Why the shift from "thinking it" to "saying it" is fueling a cruelty epidemic
• The grocery store moment that reveals how we all judge without knowing someone's story
• How to shift from asking "why are they like this" to "what can I do right now"
• What a real narcissist looks like and why they genuinely cannot change
• The practical difference between forgiving someone and simply being done with them

Don't let someone else's cruelty become the story you carry. Learn how to set it down.

💬 We’d love to hear from you! What insight or moment resonated most with you in this episode? Share in the comments—we truly read every one.

📅 Subscribe & Join Us Next Tuesday for another heartfelt episode of Life Happens with Barb and Michelle! 💕

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🎙️ New episodes of Life Happens with Barb and Michelle are released every Tuesday

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📘 Go Deeper with Dear Friend

If this episode resonated with you, you may also love Michelle’s USA TODAY bestselling book, Dear Friend, a daily reflection companion designed to help you reconnect with your inner voice, honor your needs, and find clarity and strength one day at a time.

Because resilience doesn’t begin with changing your circumstances.

It begins with strengthening your relationship with yourself.

And that may be the most important relationship you’ll ever build.

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Comparison is the one emotion everybody feels and nobody admits to — and Barb Schmidt and Michelle Maros of Life Happens with Barb & Michelle were scared to record this episode for a reason. In this raw, unfiltered conversation, they unpack the jealousy, resentment, and quiet self-destruction that comparison leaves behind — and make a case that might surprise you by the end.

From Michelle comparing her book sales to her friends' mid-tour, to Barb owning up to something she projected onto Michelle for years, this episode goes places most podcast conversations never do. If you've ever felt something ugly creep in while watching someone else win — and then felt ashamed of it — this one is for you.

What you'll take away:

• Why 85% of your daily thoughts are negative — and how comparison supercharges the loop
• How jealousy and envy are signals, not character flaws — and what they're actually pointing to
• The self-talk method for catching comparison before it turns into resentment
• Why "be better than yesterday" might be quietly doing more damage than good
• How to let comparison fuel action instead of shame

Don't risk letting comparison keep stealing your joy without ever asking what it was trying to tell you. Learn how to read it instead.

Episode Breakdown ⬇️

0:00 Introduction

0:36 Where Does Comparison Come From?

0:52 The Science of Negative Thinking

7:07 Barb's Personal Story: Childhood & Comparison

9:19 Comparing Yourself to Yourself

11:23 Comparison, Jealousy & Envy

25:09 Michelle's Story: Visiting a Friend's Family

28:22 Self-Talk as the Key Tool

39:17 Can Comparison Actually Be Helpful?

40:50 Takeaways & Closing

💬 We’d love to hear from you! What insight or moment resonated most with you in this episode? Share in the comments—we truly read every one.

📅 Subscribe & Join Us Next Tuesday for another heartfelt episode of Life Happens with Barb and Michelle! 💕

🎙️ Hosted by:

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🎙️ New episodes of Life Happens with Barb and Michelle are released every Tuesday

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📘 Go Deeper with Dear Friend

If this episode resonated with you, you may also love Michelle’s USA TODAY bestselling book, Dear Friend, a daily reflection companion designed to help you reconnect with your inner voice, honor your needs, and find clarity and strength one day at a time.

Because resilience doesn’t begin with changing your circumstances.

It begins with strengthening your relationship with yourself.

And that may be the most important relationship you’ll ever build.

👉 Order your copy: https://amzn.to/3Us9eqg

🎧 Listen to the audiobook and step into a year that truly loves you back: https://amzn.to/459zSdt

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What if being “selfish” is actually the key to healthier relationships?

In this week’s episode of Life Happens with Barb & Michelle, we’re answering your questions about navigating difficult relationship dynamics — without guilt, overexplaining, or abandoning yourself in the process.

From unrealistic expectations and gossip to setting boundaries for the first time, we’re diving into the messy, uncomfortable, and very real parts of relationships.

💬 Barb shares how she sets boundaries and approaches hard conversations with clarity and calm.

💬 Michelle opens up about releasing guilt, healing with confidence, and refusing to live in a victim mindset.

This conversation is honest, practical, and empowering — especially if you’ve ever struggled with people-pleasing or feeling responsible for everyone else’s emotions.

✨ In This Episode, We Explore:

• Why guilt often keeps us stuck — and what to do instead
• How to identify your values and honor your needs
• Setting boundaries without overexplaining
• Supporting loved ones without rescuing them
• Why healthy relationships require clarity, not self-sacrifice

At the heart of it all? You don’t build strong relationships by shrinking yourself. You build them by standing in your truth.

📘 Continue the Conversation

If this episode resonates, you may also love Michelle’s USA TODAY bestselling book, Dear Friend — a daily reflection companion designed to help you reconnect with yourself, strengthen your inner voice, and practice emotional clarity one day at a time.

Because the most important relationship you’ll ever build… is the one you have with yourself.

👉 Order your copy: https://amzn.to/3Us9eqg

🎧 Listen to the audiobook and step into a year that truly loves you back: https://amzn.to/459zSdt

💬 We’d love to hear from you! What insight or moment resonated most with you in this episode? Share in the comments—we truly read every one.

📅 Subscribe & Join Us Next Tuesday for another heartfelt episode of Life Happens with Barb and Michelle! 💕

🎙️ Host by:

• https://www.instagram.com/peaceful_barb/
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Listen to our podcast anywhere→ https://michellemaros.com/podcast/ 

🎙️ New episodes of Life Happens with Barb and Michelle are released every Tuesday

✨ Available Now✨ Order Dear Friend to receive daily doses of clarity, hope, and heartfelt encouragement.💌 https://amzn.to/3Us9eqg

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In this week's episode, Barb and Michelle discuss their personal practices for letting go of regret. They both share their stories and experiences from their lives that led them to feel like they had wasted time, and wished they had made important changes sooner, and how they both are gently releasing these feelings.  

We take a deep dive into:

• How we can start to embody the notion that no time spent is ever wasted
• How we can be more gentle with ourselves for how we’ve spent our past
• How would we feel if we didn’t have the regret and anxiety about spending “too much” time on our “mistakes”

Follow us @MichelleMaros and @Peaceful_Barb and share your experiences with us @BarbKnowsBestPod or at Michellemaros.com/podcast.

Click here for Barb’s book, The Practice. 

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In this week's episode, Barb and Michelle discuss the often requested topic of worry. Sharing from personal experience, Barb and Michelle chat about how worry shows up in their lives and how they’ve slowly intended to release the unnecessary nature of it.

We take a deep dive into:

• What is worry?
• Why are we so quick to lean into worry?
• How can we worry less?
• What would life look like with faith over worry?

Follow us @MichelleMaros and @Peaceful_Barb and share your experiences with us @BarbKnowsBestPod or at Michellemaros.com/podcast.

Click here for Barb’s book, The Practice. 

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Mentioned in today’s episode:

• Why Worrying Isn’t Worth It

• 85 Percent of What We Worry About Never Happens 

This episode is brought to you by AG1.

AG1 is a comprehensive, all-in-one supplement made up of 75 vitamins, minerals, and whole food sourced ingredients. Head over to drinkag1.com/barbknowsbest to get a free one-year supply of vitamin D3+K2 and five AG1 travel packs with your first purchase.

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In this week's episode, Barb and Michelle continue their conversation about forgiveness, opening up about what this practice actually looks like in real life. Barb shares personal stories and insights from her recent divorce, and walks us through her steps to aligned forgiveness. 

We take a deep dive into:

• The real goal of forgiveness
• What we should let go of when seeking to forgive
• Tangible steps towards seeking forgiveness

Follow us @MichelleMaros and @Peaceful_Barb and share your experiences with us @BarbKnowsBestPod or at Michellemaros.com/podcast.

Click here for Barb’s book, The Practice. 

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Mentioned in today’s episode:

• What We Get Wrong About Forgiveness Part I
• The Game of Life and How to Play It

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In this week's episode, Barb and Michelle discuss one of Barb’s oldest, and most life-changing practices: mantra repetition. Learn all about this powerful practice: what it is, how to do it, and how it can change your life. Plus, Barb and Michelle share how using a mantra has impacted both of their lives, personally.  

We take a deep dive into:

• What is a mantra?
• How can you choose which mantra is right for you?
• How can we incorporate this practice into our lives, no matter how busy we are

Click here for Barb’s book, The Practice. 

Follow us @MichelleMaros and @Peaceful_Barb and share your experiences with us @BarbKnowsBestPod or at Michellemaros.com/podcast.

Don’t miss a thing, sign up for our newsletter, here!

This episode is brought to you by Factor. 

Factor’s fresh, chef-prepared meals take the guesswork out of eating healthy. Every meal uses thoughtfully sourced ingredients with no hormones, antibiotics, GMOs, or additives. Head over to factormeals.com/barbknowsbest50 to get 50% off your first box, plus 20% off your next month.

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In this week's special Mother's Day episode, Barb and Michelle dive into their personal mother/daughter relationship, sharing intimate stories, lessons, and insights from their lives. Barb also shares her biggest tips for parenting and raising strong, centered children. Follow us @MichelleMaros and @Peaceful_Barb and share your experiences with us @BarbKnowsBestPod or at www.michellemaros.com/podcast.

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In this week's episode, Barb finally opens up about a practice that she's been hesitant to bring onto the show: forgiveness. Learn about what Barb struggled with when faced with forgiveness, and what she thinks we get wrong about the journey to forgiveness. Follow us @MichelleMaros and @Peaceful_Barb and share your experiences with us @BarbKnowsBestPod or at  www.michellemaros.com/podcast.

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In this week's brand new episode, Barb opens up about an addition to her daily practice that has dramatically changed her life. Learn the three specific steps she's been taking to find a greater sense of inner peace and happiness. Follow us @MichelleMaros and @Peaceful_Barb and share your experiences with us @BarbKnowsBestPod or at  www.michellemaros.com/podcast.

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Episode 114 - Remember Who You Are

In this week’s episode, Barb and Michelle chat more about Barb’s recent silent retreat experience, and another powerful lesson she learned from her time away. Barb opens up about noticing where she had lost herself along the course of the past year, and how she gently is bringing herself back. Follow us @MichelleMaros and @Peaceful_Barb and share your experiences with us @BarbKnowsBestPod or at www.michellemaros.com/podcast.

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Episode 113 - You Don’t Have to Be the Favorite!

In this week’s all new episode, Barb and Michelle sit at the table to discuss a topic that rose to the surface for Barb during her recent silent retreat. Have you ever felt the internal drive to be someone else’s favorite? Whether it be at school, work, or even in friendships, many of us seek to be the favorite. Barb and Michelle talk about their personal journeys with this dynamic and how they are breaking it, once and for all. Follow us @MichelleMaros and @Peaceful_Barb and share your experiences with us @BarbKnowsBestPod or at www.michellemaros.com/podcast.

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In this week’s all new episode, Barb and Michelle dive into a listener's request of how to not let the changes in other people's moods affect you. In this sneaky habit, many of us find ourselves giving away our power by walking on eggshells to bend to the moods of others. In this show, Barb and Michelle discuss personal stories and insights of how they’ve worked through this dynamic in their own relationship. Follow us @MichelleMaros and @Peaceful_Barb and share your experiences with us @BarbKnowsBestPod or at www.michellemaros.com/podcast.

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Confrontation isn’t easy — but it’s one of the clearest ways we honor ourselves and the people we care about. If we’re not honest about our feelings and needs, how can our relationships truly grow?

In this week’s episode of Life Happens with Barb & Michelle, we’re diving into loyalty and betrayal — including our own experience of being unexpectedly ghosted by a friend. From healthy communication to redefining what loyalty really means, this conversation is for anyone navigating hurt, boundaries, and the courage to speak up.

💬 Barb shares her experience with fear of abandonment and how she’s learned to voice her truth, even when it feels risky.

💬 Michelle reflects on why she’s cautious with the word “loyalty” and how she’s redefined it in her own relationships.

✨ What We Talk About

Redefining Loyalty

Loyalty isn’t blind or unconditional — it’s a conscious commitment to work through discomfort, growth, and change with honesty and respect.

Fear of Abandonment

Recognizing the underlying fears that may keep you silent or guarded.

Being Okay with Confrontation

Healthy relationships are strengthened — not broken — by hard conversations.

Loyalty to the Relationship Itself

Respecting the time, energy, and connection you’ve built by choosing communication over avoidance.

Reminder: There is power and healing in honest communication. Be brave enough to speak your truth and set the boundaries that protect your peace.

📘 USA TODAY BESTSELLER — Dear Friend by Michelle Maros

Dear Friend is a 365-day companion designed to support self-care, self-love, and emotional clarity. Each reflection offers a gentle pause — a reminder to come back to yourself, nurture your inner voice, and build a life rooted in presence and confidence.

Explore the book and continue the journey toward deeper connection — starting with yourself.

👉 Order your copy: https://amzn.to/3Us9eqg

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💬 We’d love to hear from you! What insight or moment resonated most with you in this episode? Share in the comments—we truly read every one.

📅 Subscribe & Join Us Next Tuesday for another heartfelt episode of Life Happens with Barb and Michelle! 💕

🎙️ Host by:

• https://www.instagram.com/peaceful_barb/
• https://www.instagram.com/michellemaros/

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🎙️ New episodes of Life Happens with Barb and Michelle are released every Tuesday

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We all often can pick up on times in life where we notice our minds going into overdrive, but sometimes, there are subtle ways overthinking creeps in. Barb and Michelle unpack common signs of overthinking, and recommend simple practices to overcome it. Follow us @MichelleMaros and @Peaceful_Barb and share your experiences with us @BarbKnowsBestPod or at  www.michellemaros.com/podcast.

Episode Notes:

7 Signs That You Are Overthinking:

References Mentioned in Today’s Podcast:

Acknowledging Overthinking

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In this new episode, Barb and Michelle discuss five powerful lessons they’ve learned recently that have been hard to accept but powerful to learn from. Follow us @MichelleMaros and @Peaceful_Barb and share your experiences with us @BarbKnowsBestPod or at  www.michellemaros.com/podcast.

Episode Notes:

References Mentioned in Today’s Podcast:

5 Hard Truths You May Need to Hear Today

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In this week’s show, Barb and Michelle discuss the subtle signs and red flags that can alert us to when it’s time to set a healthy boundary, in order to protect our own inner peace. They share personal stories and insights from recent events in their own lives, and how engaging in this practice has benefitted them. Follow us @MichelleMaros and @Peaceful_Barb and share your experiences with us @BarbKnowsBestPod or at  www.michellemaros.com/podcast.

 Episode Notes:

When you start to feel those feelings of disrespect from people in your life, this is a sign that you need to establish boundaries.

When facing times where you are engaged with a difficult person, or a difficult situation try to consider the Three C’s Rule:

• I didn’t cause it.
• I can’t control it.
• I can’t cure it.

Have clarity on what you want to say to someone that you feel is disrespecting you, and allow yourself to advocate for your best interest. 

References Mentioned in Today’s Podcast

• Nedra Glover Tawwab
• The Three C’s
• Barb Knows Best Episode 70: How We Manage Disrespect

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This week, Barb and Michelle seek to define ‘peace’, what it looks like in life, and the misconceptions surrounding its true meaning.  Follow us @MichelleMaros and @Peaceful_Barb and share your experiences with us @BarbKnowsBestPod or at  www.michellemaros.com/podcast.

Episode Notes:

Remember:

• True peace stems from the inside.  
• Your time and your energy are precious and irreplaceable; focus on the things that matter most to you. 
• Peace = discernment   
• Inner peace comes from loving and accepting yourself fully.

References Mentioned in Today’s Podcast:

• What a Peaceful Mind Means to Me by Michelle Maros
• Peaceful Mind Peaceful Life®
• The Road Less Traveled by Scott Peck

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After last week’s episode on peace and acceptance, we decided it would be fun to re-release this early episode discussing being okay with being the villain in someone else’s story. It’s a great conversation to follow up from episode 106! Follow us @MichelleMaros and @Peaceful_Barb and share your experiences with us @BarbKnowsBestPod or at  www.michellemaros.com/podcast.

Episode Notes: 

• It’s okay to disappoint someone else if you’re standing up for yourself.
• It’s okay to set boundaries in relationships that aren’t supportive, or loving, or in alignment, because you feel called to do so.
• It’s okay to speak your truth, even if you know that the people that are listening might not like it.
• It’s okay to say no.
• It’s okay to stop communicating with someone because they’re not respecting you or your wishes.
• It’s okay to not tolerate those parts of your life that drag you down, make you feel less than, or don’t allow you to live your fullest best life.

References Mentioned in Today’s Podcast:

My Favorite Lesson I’ve Learned in 2023 So Far by Michelle Maros

Crossing the Flood, A Commentary on the Oghatarana Sutta

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In this week’s episode, Barb and Michelle take a listener's request in discussing the concept of finding peace through acceptance, and letting people be wrong about you. In this episode they talk about personal experiences and lessons learned from releasing  the need to explain yourself and your actions. Follow us @MichelleMaros and @Peaceful_Barb and share your experiences with us @BarbKnowsBestPod or at  www.michellemaros.com/podcast.

Episode Notes:

What is peace?

• Peace is strength.
• Peace is rising above the chaos.
• Peace is acceptance.
• Peace is knowing who you are and knowing that you are worthy.

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In this week’s episode, Barb and Michelle talk about what it means to truly lean into acceptance of what is, and find authentic peace and understanding in the present moment. Follow us @MichelleMaros and @Peaceful_Barb and share your experiences with us @BarbKnowsBestPod or at  www.michellemaros.com/podcast.

Episode Notes:

• Accept what life is going to bring in the present moment.
• Accept that you have no control.
• Take a pause and ask yourself “What can I do here?”                                  
• Take the action that is going to serve you and all humanity around you.

Serenity Prayer:

God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.

References Mentioned in Today’s Podcast:

• Episode 49: Your Mindset in 2023
• Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl
• Acceptance The Way To Serenity and Peace of Mind by Vincent Paul Collins



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In this week’s episode, Barb and Michelle dive deeper into their conversation on settling, and how we can all start to find the inner-confidence to stand up for our desires. Follow us @MichelleMaros and @Peaceful_Barb and share your experiences with us @BarbKnowsBestPod or at  www.michellemaros.com/podcast.

Episode Notes:

Tips to help us feel worthy of our actual desires:

• Understand your feelings about a situation.
• Ask yourself what really matters to you. 
• Believe that life is working for you and not against you. 
• Trust the timing of your life. 

References Mentioned in Today’s Podcast:

Something’s Coming from Westside Story by Ansel Elgort

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In this week’s all-new episode, Barb and Michelle discuss the societal pressures that lead to settling, and how we can start to connect with ourselves and honor what we truly want and deserve. Follow us @MichelleMaros and @Peaceful_Barb and share your experiences with us @BarbKnowsBestPod or at  www.michellemaros.com/podcast.

Episode Notes:

Questions to Ask Yourself:

• Are you doing something that you wish you weren't doing?
•  Are you doing what you need to be doing?
• Are you feeling satisfied and fulfilled?

Remember, trust the timing and path of your life. 

References Mentioned in Today’s Podcast:

You Don't Have To Settle by Michelle Maros

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In this week’s flashback favorite, in honor of the new year and adopting healthy habits, we are replaying one of our early episodes on noticing unhealthy habits. In this episode,Michelle shares her journey to sobriety and recognizing the toxic patterns and habits in her life that stemmed from drinking. Barb and Michelle share their personal stories and histories of addiction, dysfunction, and making the choice to make a change. 

Follow us @MichelleMaros and @Peaceful_Barb and share your experiences with us @BarbKnowsBestPod or at  www.michellemaros.com/podcast.

Episode Notes:

• Notice where your “line” is and know what it means to cross the line.
• Toxic patterns stem from crossing the line, addictive habits stem lines being crossed
•  Notice when your choices are no longer in your control
• Ask yourself, do I have a choice? Am I in control?
• Am I hiding my habits?
• Do I feel shame?

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Have we become so independent—and so focused on self-care—that we’ve forgotten how much we actually need one another? With relationship deficits at an all-time high, this episode is a powerful guide to rebuilding connection and creating healthy dependency—without losing yourself.

In this week’s episode of Life Happens with Barb & Michelle, we’re joined by New York Times bestselling author, therapist, and boundaries expert Nedra Glover Tawwab for an honest and timely conversation about relationships, communication, and expectations. This episode launches the same day as Nedra’s new book, The Balancing Act,offering a deeper look at the themes shaping her work right now.

From understanding how trauma can show up in our relationships to navigating boundaries, “no contact,” and emotional dependency, this conversation speaks directly to the loneliness so many of us are feeling—and what we can do about it.

💬 Nedra shares insights from her clinical work and personal experience, and offers a preview of the ideas explored in The Balancing Act.

💬 Michelle & Barb bring their own lived wisdom to the conversation, exploring relationships through a generational and mother–daughter lens.

Finding the Balance

Why boundaries aren’t walls to keep people out—but tools to keep relationships sustainable and meaningful.

The Challenge of “No Contact”

When cutting ties is necessary—and why building community and connection matters just as much.

Mindful Communication

Why speaking honestly instead of silently rehearsing conversations can save relationships.

The Relationship Deficit

How cultivating a fuller, more diverse community supports healthy dependency and eases unrealistic expectations.

As Nedra reminds us, every relationship—from romantic partnerships to friendships, family, and community—is a balancing act. When we give too much, we lose ourselves. When we protect ourselves too much, we lose closeness. Finding the middle ground is where connection, authenticity, and joy live.

✨UPCOMING EVENT:

Calling all South Florida friends! Join Nedra Glover Tawwab and Barb Schmidt at Books & Books in Miami for a meaningful conversation—and the opportunity to receive a signed copy of The Balancing Act.

Get your tickets here:https://shop.booksandbooks.com/event/2026-02-21/evening-nedra-glover-tawwab-barb-schmidt

Order Nedra’s new book, The Balancing Act, to create healthy dependency and connection without losing yourself:https://www.nedratawwab.com/books/the-balancing-act

💬 We’d love to hear from you! What insight or moment resonated most with you in this episode? Share in the comments—we truly read every one.

📅 Subscribe & Join Us Next Tuesday for another heartfelt episode of Life Happens with Barb and Michelle! 💕

⭐Special Guest:

Therapist, NYT Bestselling Author, Nedra Glover Tawwab

https://www.instagram.com/nedratawwab/?hl=en

Order her new book here: https://www.nedratawwab.com/books/the-balancing-act

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🎙️ New episodes of Life Happens with Barb and Michelle are released every Tuesday

📘 USA TODAY BESTSELLER — Dear Friend by Michelle Maros

You don’t need a new beginning to come back to yourself. Dear Friend is a 365-day companion for self-love, presence, and quiet courage—one page, one day at a time. 👉 Order your copy: https://amzn.to/3Us9eqg

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In this week’s follow up to episode 100, Barb and Michelle continue their conversation about emotional monitoring, and share their tools and insights on how to manage the impulse to be the fixer in your relationships. Follow us @MichelleMaros and @Peaceful_Barb and share your experiences with us @BarbKnowsBestPod or at www.michellemaros.com/podcast.

 Episode Notes:

Here are some of the tools to managing the need to emotional monitoring:

• Become aware of your feelings.
• Honor your emotions.
• Name your feelings and allow them to move through you.
• Don’t allow your feelings to identify who you are.

References Mentioned in Today’s Podcast:

• Michelle’s Instagram Post on Emotional Monitoring
• Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor 

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This week, Barb and Michelle dive into a sneaky habit many of us fall into, especially as people pleasers. Learn all about emotional monitoring, how to spot it, and simple practices to unlearn this behavior. Follow us @MichelleMaros and @Peaceful_Barb and share your experiences with us @BarbKnowsBestPod or at  www.michellemaros.com/podcast.

Episode Notes:

Emotional Monitoring – This is the tendency to continually monitor the emotional states of others, while sacrificing attunement to one’s own emotional states.

If you find yourself emotionally monitoring, try to become aware of your emotions throughout the day. Remember you can’t control the emotions of others. Their behavior is not a reflection of who you are. 

References Mentioned in Today’s Podcast:

• Michelle’s Reel on Emotional Monitoring
• Empathy’s Evil Twin by Naomi Torres-Mackie Ed.M.,Ph.D.
• We Can Do Hard Things-The Podcast by Abby Wambach and Glennon Doyle



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In this week’s episode, Barb and Michelle continue their New Year conversation, opening up about their practices for setting aligned intentions at the start of the year, and how they choose their intention words. Follow us @MichelleMaros and @Peaceful_Barb and share your experiences with us @BarbKnowsBestPod or at www.michellemaros.com/podcast.

Episode Notes:

• Sit with yourself in a quiet space 
• Choose a simple powerful word that aligns best with what your desires and wants are.
• Be confident in your choice. Write your word on your mirror or in your phone so it reminds you each day.
• Let go of any expectations or outcomes.

References Mentioned in Today’s Podcast:

• Mindful Boca: An Evening with Elizabeth Gilbert
• Peaceful Mind Peaceful Life Newsletter

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Happy New Year! In this week’s all-new episode, Barb and Michelle kick off 2024 with helpful rituals, practices, and introspections to start the year out happy, aligned, and clear. Follow us @MichelleMaros and @Peaceful_Barb and share your experiences with us @BarbKnowsBestPod or at www.michellemaros.com/podcast.

Episode Notes:

New Year Rituals:

References Mentioned in Today’s Podcast:

My 3-Part Year End Ritual by Michelle Maros

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In this week’s episode, Barb and Michelle open up on a simple practice they both rely on to cultivate helpful optimism during difficult times. Follow us @MichelleMaros and @Peaceful_Barb and share your experiences with us @BarbKnowsBestPod or at  www.michellemaros.com/podcast.

Episode Notes:

• Keep something beautiful in your mind and heart as a form of optimism and motivation when times are difficult. 
• Life is difficult, so how we internalize it and what you do with it matters. 
• Acknowledge the feelings, including the sad ones but know that the feelings won’t last forever.

References Mentioned in Today’s Podcast:

John O’Donohue

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In this week’s episode, Barb and Michelle dive into common signs and feelings of living in survival mode, plus, they unpack how to move through these periods of live, and make aligned changes to feel more balanced and at peace. Follow us @MichelleMaros and @Peaceful_Barb and share your experiences with us @BarbKnowsBestPod or at www.michellemaros.com/podcast.

Episode Notes:

Signs You Are in Survival Mode

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In this week’s special episode, Barb and Michelle chat with celebrated members of the Florida Atlantic University Men’s Basketball team. After a whirlwind year reaching the Final Four, Barb and Michelle follow up with Head Coach Dusty May and returning players, Alijah Martin and Nick Boyd, to discuss how they maintain their vision, release external pressures, and keep focused on their goals. It’s an episode you won’t want to miss! Follow us @MichelleMaros and @Peaceful_Barb and share your experiences with us @BarbKnowsBestPod or at www.michellemaros.com/podcast.

Episode Notes

FAU Men’s Basketball Schedule https://fausports.com/sports/mens-basketball/schedule

Head Coach Dusty May - @coachdustymay

Dusty May led Florida Atlantic to what is undoubtedly its greatest season in school history in the 2022-23 campaign. May guided his Owls to the Final Four while posting a program-best 35-4 record. Prior to this season, the Owls had one previous appearance in the NCAA Tournament, but this year, May led the Owls to not just their first win in the big dance, but all the way to the Final Four in Houston.

Alijah Martin - @alijahmartin15

• Had a terrific season for Florida Atlantic and was a key component to the Owls’ Final Four run and 35-4 record
• A scoring machine, Martin scored double figures in 24 games, 20+ points in four games
• Became the 15 player in Florida Atlantic history to join the 1,000-point club 
• Became the first Owl to earn multiple All-C-USA Team honors in a career in FAU’s 10-year member as a history of the league

Nick Boyd - @sfnnick

• Came through in the clutch in the first-round win over Memphis in the NCAA Tournament, scoring a lay-up with two seconds left to put FAU up 66-65 and give the Owls their first NCAA Tournament win ever
• Scored a career-high 21 points on 7-of-11 shooting from the floor and 4-of-8 shooting from 3-point range in the win over Rice
• Led FAU in assists with 92 on the season
• The 40% shooting from 3-point range is the seventh highest in a single season in FAU history
• His 68 made 3-pointers were the second-most on the team
• Currently ranks fourth all-time in FAU history in career shooting percentage (40%)

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In this week’s episode, Barb and Michelle continue their conversation from last week on unpacking the uncomfortable moments of the holiday season, and walk us through the common feelings that arise during this time of year. Follow us @MichelleMaros and @Peaceful_Barb and share your experiences with us @BarbKnowsBestPod or at  www.michellemaros.com/podcast.

 Episode Notes: 

• Nostalgia 
• Grief 
• Disappointment 
• Loneliness 

References Mentioned in Today’s Podcast:

Managing Feelings During the Holidays by Michelle Maros

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In this week’s episode, Barb and Michelle debrief on tricky holiday dynamics, how they set boundaries with loved ones, and what we can all do to create space for ourselves during the busy season. Follow us @MichelleMaros and @Peaceful_Barb and share your experiences with us @BarbKnowsBestPod or at  www.michellemaros.com/podcast.

Episode Notes: 

Helpful tips for you to move through this holiday season:

• How do you want to feel this holiday season? 
• How do you want to celebrate and spend the last few weeks of this year?
• Have answers prepared for personal questions and conversations you would rather not have.
• Allow yourself to have boundaries and say “no” to things. 
• Find one way to honor yourself this season. 
• Have vicarious joy for others even when their joy doesn’t benefit you. 

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In this week’s episode, Barb and Michelle dive into one of their favorite self-care practices, especially for the end of the year. Learn all about the power and benefit of journaling and what it means to give your thoughts a home. Follow us @MichelleMaros and @Peaceful_Barb and share your experiences with us @BarbKnowsBestPod or at  www.michellemaros.com/podcast.

Episode Notes:

• Journaling is a practice that can help soothe, bring understanding, and reflection on the things that are happening around us each day.
• Journaling is a practice that works in collaboration with meditation and mindfulness. 
• Journaling is a practice that will give your thoughts a home. 
• Journaling can help you remember the positive and happy thoughts for your day. 

References Mentioned in Today’s Podcast:

• The Artist Way by Julia Cameron
• Scorpio Mystique

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Hard truth: Staying because it’s comfortable might be the loneliest choice you make. Sometimes the bravest thing you can do is stop ignoring the red flags and choose to end a toxic or misaligned relationship.

In this week’s episode of Life Happens with Barb & Michelle, we’re unpacking the pressure around relationships, singleness, and breakups — and what it really means to choose yourself. From recognizing when a relationship has run its course to building a strong sense of self, this conversation will empower you to create healthier relationships with yourself and others.

💬 Barb opens up about ending a 33-year marriage and how she stepped into a new chapter with confidence, clarity, and freedom.

💬 Michelle shares her journey of being alone and finding peace in choosing singleness over settling for less.

Self-Identity

Releasing the belief that our worth or purpose is defined by our relationship status.

Being Okay With Being Alone

Singleness isn’t failure — it can be a powerful season of growth, healing, and self-love.

Listening to Yourself

Learning to trust your feelings and needs so you can take the next right step.

Choosing Differently

Sometimes the uncomfortable path is the one that leads to joy, peace, and real alignment.

Reminder: You are more than your relationship status. Your identity, purpose, and fulfillment are defined by you — not by timelines, labels, or societal expectations.

📘 USA TODAY BESTSELLER — Dear Friend by Michelle Maros

Start 2026 with New Year, Brave You. Dear Friend is a 365-day companion to help you cultivate self-love, clarity, presence, and inner peace — one gentle reflection at a time.

✨ Begin the year with intention and courage.

👉 Order your copy: https://amzn.to/3Us9eqg

🎧 Listen to the audiobook and step into a year that truly loves you back: https://amzn.to/459zSdt

💬 We’d love to hear from you! What insight or moment resonated most with you in this episode? Share in the comments—we truly read every one.

📅 Subscribe & Join Us Next Tuesday for another heartfelt episode of Life Happens with Barb and Michelle! 💕

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In this week’s episode, Barb and Michelle take a listener's question of embracing the seasons of the in-between. In this episode, they will share personal stories and unique insights on how we can learn to fully accept life’s present moment. Follow us @MichelleMaros and @Peaceful_Barb and share your experiences with us @BarbKnowsBestPod or at  www.michellemaros.com/podcast.

Episode Notes:       

Tips to redefining the feeling of limbo:

• Be present.
• Have trust in yourself 
• Change your thinking
• Look for tiny joys
• Know yourself
• Reflect daily

References Mentioned in Today’s Podcast:

• Freedom from the Known by Jiddu Krishnamurti
• Tara Stiles

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In this week’s episode, Barb and Michelle offer up some levity and light-heartedness with simple tools and practices to share your kindness, love, and joy. Follow us @MichelleMaros and @Peaceful_Barb and share your experiences with us @BarbKnowsBestPod or at  www.michellemaros.com/podcast.

Episode Notes:

Have a sense of awareness in how you are taking what is happening in the world. Take a pause, feel your feelings and then begin again. 

10 Simple Ways to Make Someone’s Day

References Mentioned in Today’s Podcast:

• Reason for Hope: A Spiritual Journey by Jane Goodall
• 10 Simple Ways to Make Someone’s Day by Michelle Maros

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In this week’s episode, Barb and Michelle discuss the topic of belonging, and the basic human instincts we all feel to fit in. Both share personal stories and anecdotes as well as poignant insights on how we all can learn to belong, starting from the inside, out. Follow us @MichelleMaros and @Peaceful_Barb and share your experiences with us @BarbKnowsBestPod or at  www.michellemaros.com/podcast. 

Episode Notes:

Feeling like you don’t belong is painful and it’s lonely. This is a natural feeling and it’s important to have awareness of this feeling. Name it. Don’t be ashamed. 

Barb’s Pain Meditation 

I am aware of this pain

I care about this pain 

May this pain release.

When ending the sitting session

May I be safe

May I be deeply happy

May I be healthy 

May I live with ease 

References Mentioned in Today’s Podcast:

• Brené Brown On True Belonging By Azriel Reshel
• How I Learned to Belong by Michelle Maros 
• The New Psychology of Belonging by Kim Samuel
• The Age of Worry by John Mayer



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In this continuation of last week’s episode on healing, Barb and Michelle go deeper into the conversation of how we can start the path to healing, and share personal insights from their own journeys. Follow us @MichelleMaros and @Peaceful_Barb and share your experiences with us @BarbKnowsBestPod or at  www.michellemaros.com/podcast.

Episode Notes:

There is no shame in seeking help from an outside source such as therapist or mental professional. 

 Helpful Steps to Start Healing:

•  Skip the why and ask the what. 
• Ask yourself the question WHAT is causing the pain, instead of why you are feeling the pain.
• Understand what is your responsibility to heal from and what is not. Know that you can’t do the healing work for someone else. 
• Identify what it is that you need to heal. 
• Become aware of how you feel in certain people’s presence, or situations that you are in.
• You don’t have to stay in situations where you are being harmed. You deserve better. 
• Start to make one significant change that will start the healing process. 
• Honor yourself in every way possible, in every moment possible.

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This week, Barb and Michelle dive into the topic of healing, and what the journey entails, and open up about some misconceptions they’ve experienced about the healing path. Follow us @MichelleMaros and @Peaceful_Barb and share your experiences with us @BarbKnowsBestPod or at  www.michellemaros.com/podcast.

Episode Notes:

• Healing is for ourselves; not the other person.
• Healing is a forever process. We are always in a state of healing from different states or experiences. Allowing this to be true allows us to always be in a state of making ourselves whole again.
• We all experience trauma. Trauma is a challenging emotional consequence that we are living through because of a distressing event.
• Healing can begin when you start to truly look at the root of the trauma you are trying to heal from. Have awareness of where we need to start with healing and what are the traumas.

References Mentioned in Today’s Podcast:

How to Heal from Trauma 

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In this final episode diving into Barb’s retreat, Barb and Michelle tap into the biggest takeaways, the why’s to meditation and going on retreat, and how we all can start to implement the benefits Barb experienced, from our own home. Follow us @MichelleMaros and @Peaceful_Barb and share your experiences with us @BarbKnowsBestPod or at  www.michellemaros.com/podcast.

Episode Notes:

Poems Barb Read in Today’s Episode

• Sangha - Community 
• Grandma Sumana
• Mitta - Friend

Meditation is simply taking some time to sit with yourself, a few minutes every day, sit alone to connect with yourself without distraction.  

Benefits of Meditation 

• You feel more confident. 
• You become more self-aware.
• You have a deeper sense of trust and knowing.
• You start to have the clarity that you seek.

References Mentioned in Today’s Podcast:

• The First Free Women – Original Poems Inspired by the Early Buddhist Nuns by Matty Weingast
• 11 Ways Meditation Has Changed My Life by Michelle Maros



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In this week’s episode, Barb and Michelle continue their conversation about Barb’s silent retreat and her biggest takeaways, including the life-changing revelation she had during an interaction with mud. Follow us @MichelleMaros and @Peaceful_Barb and share your experiences with us @BarbKnowsBestPod or at  www.michellemaros.com/podcast.

Episode Notes:

Buddhist tradition teaches there are two types of suffering:

From this retreat, Barb was able to recognize the deep sense of impermanence and how living in the present is how she can experience real joy.  She learned how she had not truly been caring for herself, not receiving, just continuing to give without refilling her cup.  

Compassion Meditation (Repeat to yourself)

I care about your suffering.

I care about your pain.

I care about you. 

May you be free from your fears. 

May you be peaceful and live with ease.

References Mentioned in Today’s Podcast:

The First Free Women – Original Poems Inspired by the Early Buddhist Nuns by Matty Weingast

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In this week’s episode, Barb opens up about her recent experience of attending a 30-day silent retreat. She shares her profound insights, takeaways, and the biggest challenges she faced. If you’ve ever been interested in silent retreats, this episode is for you! Follow us @MichelleMaros and @Peaceful_Barb and share your experiences with us @BarbKnowsBestPod or at  www.michellemaros.com/podcast.

Episode Notes:

• When choosing a retreat: listen to your heart and allow it to guide your decision.  *We do not recommend attempting a 30-day silent retreat for your first retreat. 
• The retreat was based on love and kindness. Allow your heart to feel loving and kind.        
• If the world presents us with something uncomfortable, if you sit long enough, you can become comfortable and then attach to it.          

References Mentioned in Today’s Podcast:

The First Free Women – Original Poems Inspired by the Early Buddhist Nuns

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Feeling stuck or behind? This week’s episode is for you! In this vulnerable conversation, Barb and Michelle discuss the tricky topic of life timelines, how to formulate your own timing for your life, and release the societal pressure that we all experience. Follow us @MichelleMaros and @Peaceful_Barb and share your experiences with us @BarbKnowsBestPod or at  www.michellemaros.com/podcast.

Episode Notes:

Tips and practices to help you accept YOUR timeline:

References Mentioned in Today’s Podcast:

The Practice: Simple Tools for Managing Stress, Finding Inner Peace, and Uncovering Happiness by Barb Schmidt 

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In this week’s episode, Barb and Michelle continue their conversation from last week, answering listener questions and sharing personal stories and insights. Follow us @MichelleMaros and @Peaceful_Barb and share your experiences with us @BarbKnowsBestPod or at  www.michellemaros.com/podcast.

Episode Notes:

• How to feel comfortable being alone?
• Have the discernment of when you want to be alone and when you do not.
• Learn to love your own company and how to be fortified in our own company.
• Make a list of the things you like about yourself and the things you like about being alone. Understand the relationship you have with yourself and start being okay being you.
• How to overcome a break-up?
• Don’t deny yourself the feelings that you are having.
•  Don’t talk yourself out of why you broke up in the first place.
• Honor the relationship you had by allowing yourself to grieve the end of the relationship.
• How to stop catastrophizing and overthinking things about life?
• Pause.
• Become aware of what you are thinking.
• Ask yourself, is this thought true?
• Have boundaries with how much you take in about things that give you anxiety and fear about life in general.
• You have to train your mind to bring your mind back to the present. It’s a practice.
• I am trying so hard to be everything to everyone, and what if I can’t?
• The truth is that you can’t do everything and be everything for everyone. It’s not possible.
• Ask yourself what can you do at this moment?
• Make a list of the people you can help and what you can do for them.
• Remember, you can’t take care of others if you don't take care of yourself.
• Know that people appreciate your love and care and support.
• How to stop caring about what other people think of us?
• Other people's opinions are a bi-product of their own experiences.
•  Be your own biggest advocate.
• Be in alignment with yourself and your own truth.

References Mentioned in Today’s Podcast:

• The Power of Solitude by Michelle Maros
• How to Reframe Loneliness by Michelle Maros
• 3 Tips for Mending Strained Relationships by Michelle Maros
• My #1 Reminder to Help Relieve Anxiety by Michelle Maros

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Divorce breaks a million hearts — including your own.

But sometimes, choosing yourself is the bravest and most healing decision you can make.

What if all it took to change your life was the courage to trust yourself again?

In this week’s episode of Life Happens with Barb & Michelle, we’re joined by NYT bestselling author Jen Hatmaker for an honest, compassionate, and deeply moving conversation about life after divorce, listening to your intuition, and finding freedom on the other side of heartbreak.

Jen opens up about putting her life fully out there — the grief, the courage, the fallout — and what it was like to go from deep personal pain to becoming an instant New York Times bestseller. Together, we explore what happens when trauma finds you… and how ignoring your truth doesn’t make it any less true.

This episode is for anyone who feels stuck, conflicted, exhausted from self-doubt, or quietly wondering if it’s time for something different.

💬 In this conversation, we explore:

• Choosing Yourself: Why freedom and joy begin the moment you decide your needs matter.
• Life After Divorce: The heartbreak, the healing, and the unexpected growth that follows.
• Comfort Over Coaching: Why people often want to soothe us instead of supporting real change.
• The Sunk Cost Fallacy: Why no amount of time, history, or sacrifice is worth staying somewhere that no longer feels right.
• Trusting Your Intuition: How we often gaslight ourselves out of the truth we already know.
• Parenting Through Divorce: Navigating change, honesty, and healing with your children.
• Feeling the Hurt: Grieving what was, what could’ve been, and honoring the pain without getting stuck in it.

Barb and Michelle also share their personal experience navigating divorce as a mother and daughter — and how choosing honesty, presence, and self-trust reshaped their relationship.

✨ This episode is a reminder:

You’re not broken. You’re not weak. And trusting yourself isn’t selfish — it’s necessary.

📖 Order Jen’s memoir, Awake, to go deeper into courage, truth, and choosing yourself:

https://www.amazon.com/Awake-Memoir-Jen-Hatmaker/dp/166808368X

💬 We’d love to hear from you:

What moment or insight resonated most? Share in the comments — we truly read every one.

📅 Subscribe & join us next Tuesday for another heartfelt episode of Life Happens with Barb & Michelle 💕

⭐ Special Guest:

Follow Jen Hatmaker on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jenhatmaker/?hl=en

🎙️ Host by:

• https://www.instagram.com/peaceful_barb/
• https://www.instagram.com/michellemaros/

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🎙️ New episodes of Life Happens with Barb and Michelle are released every Tuesday

📘 USA TODAY BESTSELLER — Dear Friend by Michelle Maros

Start 2026 with New Year, Brave You. Dear Friend is the perfect 365-day companion to help you cultivate self-love, clarity, presence, and inner peace—one gentle reflection at a time.✨ Begin the year with intention and courage.

👉 Order your copy: https://amzn.to/3Us9eqg

🎧 listen to the audiobook today and step into a year that truly loves you back. 👉https://amzn.to/459zSdt

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#JenHatmaker #Divorce #Freedom #ChooseYou #Courage

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In this week’s episode, Barb and Michelle take questions from the listeners about their relationship. They dive into the tricky dynamics of working together as family members, the sources of their biggest disagreements, and what they credit to making their relationship what it is today. Follow us @MichelleMaros and @Peaceful_Barb and share your experiences with us @BarbKnowsBestPod or at www.michellemaros.com/podcast.

Episode Notes:

Knowing how you want to feel in a relationship and what you want that relationship to look like is powerful. 

Fostering a healthy mother/daughter relationship isn’t easy.

Helpful tools:

• Therapy 
• Meditation 
• Mindfulness 
• Starting from a place of love. 
• Understanding 

Tips for disagreements:

References Mentioned in Today’s Podcast:

Barb's Sign Quote by Dahlia Diell

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This week, Barb and Michelle dive into the much-requested topic of aging, what they think about the term “anti-aging”, and how they’ve managed their own feelings about the aging process. Follow us @MichelleMaros and @Peaceful_Barb and share your experiences with us @BarbKnowsBestPod or at www.michellemaros.com/podcast.

 Episode Notes:

• We all are constantly aging, it means we are alive.

• Set an intention daily to be comfortable in your own skin. 
• You are more than just your looks and your age. 
• You are a combination of all things. 
• Beauty is not just on the outside, it is also on the inside.

•  Love and accept yourself in this moment by embracing who you are and what you are now. 

Three questions to ask yourself when trying to cultivate positive self-talk:

There are two constants in life:

References Mentioned in Today’s Podcast:

How to Real Love and (Completely) Accept Yourself by Michelle Maros

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In this week’s episode, Barb and Michelle discuss the art of assertive communication, and how we all can cultivate the skills needed to communicate in this way. Plus, they share their own personal experiences being afraid to be assertive for fears of not being liked, and more! Follow us @MichelleMaros and @Peaceful_Barb and share your experiences with us @BarbKnowsBestPod or at www.michellemaros.com/podcast.

Episode Notes:

Tips to becoming a more assertive communicator:

• Know who you are and what you want.
• Say what you mean. 
• Be present in your conversation. 
• Take responsibility and do not be passive in your communication. 
• Ask questions for clarity.
• Tell the truth. 
• Know when to be silent.
• Give yourself permission to take space in the conversation.
• Reinforce your boundaries.
• Be open to compliments as well as criticism.

Helpful responses when you are in a difficult conversation:

References Mentioned in Today’s Podcast:

10 Reminders for Effective Communication by Michelle Maros

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