321. Stuck in Stress? How to Reset Your Nervous System and Live With Purpose

Have you ever looked around at your life and thought, “I didn’t mean to settle here…but somehow I did”? You’re not alone, friend. In this powerful episode of House of Joy, Dr. Edie gets real about that quiet midlife restlessness — the feeling that you’ve checked all the boxes, built a beautiful life, but deep down…you know there’s more. More joy, more purpose, more possibility waiting for you to claim it. She shares how so many of us unknowingly set the “thermostat” of our lives too low — settling for fine instead of fulfilled — and how to raise your internal standard for what’s possible in your thoughts, emotions, faith, and daily habits. Together, you’ll explore: ✨ Why settling often feels “reasonable” — and how to recognize when you’ve done it ✨ The “life set point” that’s secretly keeping you stuck (and how to reset it!) ✨ How to partner with your potential instead of negotiating with it ✨ What it looks like to live from your true self instead of your false self ✨ Four powerful areas to raise your standard: your thoughts, emotions, habits, and faith ✨ The difference between doing more and believing more Edie reminds us that raising your standards isn’t about hustle or perfection — it’s about agreement. It’s agreeing with heaven about who you really are. It’s believing that God is still doing a good work in you and that your most alive, joy-filled days aren’t behind you…they’re right in front of you. So if you’ve been feeling stuck, restless, or just a little “fine,” this episode will reignite your hope, refresh your mindset, and invite you to step boldly into the next, truest version of your life. Because you don’t rise to your goals — you fall to your standards. It’s time to raise them. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

326. The Cortisol Reset: 10 Simple Ways to Lower Stress and Save Your Sanity What if you could actually enjoy this busy season instead of just surviving it? In this week’s episode of House of Joy, Edie and her daughter Emme are diving into all things cortisol, stress, and sanity-saving habits — plus a little wedding talk (because the countdown is ON! 💍). If you’ve been feeling the weight of your schedule, your hormones, or just the pace of life lately, this episode is your permission slip to slow down, breathe, and start living with more calm, joy, and intention. Together, we’re unpacking: ✨ The truth about cortisol (and why you need it!) ✨ The sneaky ways we keep our stress hormones high without realizing it ✨ How to use your mindset to shift out of fight-or-flight ✨ 10 simple, practical ways to lower stress — from journaling and breathing to sunlight, protein, and creative rest ✨ Why laughter, connection, and presence might be the best medicine of all This is the perfect episode for anyone who wants to live with more energy, ease, and peace — even in a full, beautiful, slightly chaotic season of life. So pour your coffee (or your kombucha 😉), take a deep breath, and join us for some laughter, real-life stories, and a whole lot of encouragement to care for yourself well this fall. Because you were never meant to live in constant overdrive. BrainTap app (Edie’s favorite for sleep & mindset) NingXia Red, Daily Hormone Essentials, and other supplements for hormone health Design Your Life: Live Your Purpose, Leave Your Legacy — our upcoming fall workshop! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this week’s episode of House of Joy, I’m sharing a live teaching from my Life Mentoring School program—one of our most powerful topics ever: getting over your past so you can step into your future self. If you’ve ever felt stuck in old patterns, defined by who you’ve been, or unable to forgive yourself (or others) for the past, this episode is your invitation to lay that weight down. You’ll learn how to stop punishing yourself with old stories, release resistance, and use my Creation Cycle tool to start building the future version of you—mentally, emotionally, and even physically. Here’s what we cover: ✨ Why your past is not your prison—even if it “really happened” ✨ The sneaky way we keep re-creating old pain in our thoughts and bodies ✨ How to use the Creation Cycle from any entry point—mind, emotions, or action ✨ A simple shift you can make tonight to feel different and spark momentum ✨ How to dream about your future self in 30, 90, or 365 days (and actually become her!) Whether you’re brand new to House of Joy or curious about what happens inside Life Mentoring School, this teaching will give you a beautiful taste of the freedom and transformation waiting for you. Because you are not your past—you’re who you’re becoming. And the future you want can begin today. 💛 Cozy Earth — My favorite temperature-regulating bamboo* sheets. Try them risk-free with a 100-night trial + 10-year warranty. Use code HOJ for 40% off at https://tinyurl.com/HOJCozyEarth  Check out the NIV Application Bible here https://tinyurl.com/HOJNIVAppBible and use code HOJ at checkout for an additional 10% off!!  Interested in advertising on this show? Learn more here! https://docs.google.com/forms/d/16V_c91F1iIYNZOVvrEinrB9h2dsZq-kZFqYYEDQ4A60/edit  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dear ones, you’re in for a treat! Today I’m chatting with my new friend (and LMS + Master Coach student) Kelli France—author, podcaster, mom of four-turned-soon-to-be “Glamma,” and the vibrant creator behind One Goal for 100 Days. Kelli went from food stamps to seven figures, walked through a 97% pay cut this year, and is now launching a movement to help midlife women move from lost, lonely, and stuck to purpose, passion, and power. You’ll feel seen, cheered on, and ready to take your next brave step. What we talk about Emotional capacity > endless hustle: why feeling your feelings creates sustainable growth The Creation Cycle (LMS): stop skipping to action—start with identity and emotion Working from rest, not for rest: practical rhythms that actually refill your cup Midlife momentum: how to find (and accept!) your passion, then give it purpose Identity shifts that stick: changing sneaky, “true-but-unhelpful” thoughts Passion–Purpose–Power framework: daily routines, “power-ups,” and tangible next steps Community that holds space: why sisterhood changes everything—for you and your family Meet Kelli! Host of the Finally Fearless podcast (top 1%) Author of One Goal for 100 Days Find her on IG: @kellifrance and join the Reignite Your Spark workshop waitlist via her link in bio Come sit with us inside Life Mentoring School—the coaching, tools, and sisterhood that help you live on purpose. ediewadsworthcoaching.com/join Share this episode with a midlife friend who needs a little flame-fanning today. 🔥 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dear ones, lean in—this one is for you. 💛 We are stepping into the final 90 days of the year, and I want to invite you to look at this season in a whole new way. What if your life could look radically different in just 90 days? I believe it can. In this episode, I share how living in 90-day cycles has completely transformed my life over the past 10 years. It’s not about hustling harder or piling on more “shoulds.” It’s about waking up to your desires, partnering with God in them, and becoming the woman He created you to be. Here’s what we’ll talk about today: ✨ Why 90 days is the sweet spot for creating lasting change ✨ How to shift your focus from problems to possibilities ✨ The surprising role desire plays in transformation (hint: it’s holy!) ✨ Why this next season could be the most powerful of your life Friend, you don’t have to wait for a new year or a perfect moment. One season—one focused 90-day stretch—can ripple into every part of your life, from your health to your relationships to your calling. And if you don’t want to do this alone, now is the perfect time to join us inside Life Mentoring School before some exciting changes ahead. ediewadsworthcoaching.com/join  Because your life isn’t meant to be lived on autopilot. Let’s wake up, step into who we were made to be, and make these last 90 days our most magical yet. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on House of Joy, we’re back with part two of my heartfelt conversation with my daughter, Caiti Riden. If you haven’t listened to part one yet, start there—it sets the stage for everything we dive into today. In this episode, Caiti shares more of her journey walking through seasons of anxiety, depression, and burnout—and the tools she’s learned along the way to care for her body, mind, and soul. From weightlifting and walking to building emotional resilience and practicing radical acceptance, this conversation is packed with hope and practical encouragement. We talk about: Why caring for your body is one of the best gifts you can give your mental health The connection between metabolic health, nutrition, and mood What it looks like to balance compassion with challenge in your daily habits The importance of laughter, joy, and finding light in the middle of heaviness How to hold onto hope, even when progress feels slow Caiti’s honesty and wisdom will leave you inspired to keep showing up for yourself—body, mind, and spirit—so you can live strong, resilient, and joy-filled. 🔗 Resources & Links: Join our Design Your Life, Live Your Purpose Workshop: ediewadsworthcoaching.com/design  Learn more inside Life Mentoring School: ediewadsworthcoaching.com/join Connect with me on Instagram: @ediewadsworth Check out the NIV Application Bible here https://tinyurl.com/HOJNIVAppBible and use code HOJ at checkout for an additional 10% off!!  Interested in advertising on this show? Learn more here! https://docs.google.com/forms/d/16V_c91F1iIYNZOVvrEinrB9h2dsZq-kZFqYYEDQ4A60/edit ✨ If this episode encouraged you, share it with a friend who needs a reminder that better days and stronger seasons are ahead. And don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review—it means the world to us! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

321. Stuck in Stress? How to Reset Your Nervous System and Live With Purpose Are you living in constant fight or flight? Stress, overwhelm, anxiety, and fear might feel normal—but they don’t have to define your life. In this episode of House of Joy, Dr. Edie dives into how your nervous system works, why so many of us get stuck in survival mode, and how to retrain your body and mind to live in love, peace, and joy instead. You’ll learn: ✨ The two emotional states we all live in—and which one fuels resilience, creativity, and healing ✨ Why stress chemistry is addictive (and how to break free from it) ✨ Practical ways to regulate your nervous system and rewire your emotional state ✨ How to step out of fear and start creating your life on purpose This conversation is packed with hope, practical tools, and a reminder that you don’t have to stay stuck in stress mode. You were created for more—for joy, peace, and abundance. 💡 Workshop Reminder: This week is our Design Your Life, Live Your Purpose workshop! Don’t miss three powerful days of teaching, coaching, and practical tools to help you stop living in default mode and start creating the life God designed you for. 👉 Sign up here: https://www.ediewadsworthcoaching.com/design  Cozy Earth — My favorite temperature-regulating bamboo* sheets. Try them risk-free with a 100-night trial + 10-year warranty. Use code HOJ for 40% off at https://tinyurl.com/HOJCozyEarth  Check out the NIV Application Bible here https://tinyurl.com/HOJNIVAppBible and use code HOJ at checkout for an additional 10% off!!  Interested in advertising on this show? Learn more here! https://docs.google.com/forms/d/16V_c91F1iIYNZOVvrEinrB9h2dsZq-kZFqYYEDQ4A60/edit  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today is extra special. My daughter Caiti Riden, NP (mental health nurse practitioner, lifelong learner, and absolute light) finally sat in the House of Joy chair. She opens up about her panic attacks in nursing school, a long season of depression and brain fog, and how faith, science, movement, and mentorship helped her rebuild a grounded, hope-filled life—one she now pours into her patients. Don’t miss Part 2 This conversation ran long (because it’s just that good!), so this is Part 1. Part 2 drops next week. In this episode: Growing up with grit: failing an early exam → learning how to really study The first panic attacks, the “haze,” and why depression can feel like isolation in a crowded room The role of faith in the dark: clinging to Psalm 40 and praying through brain fog ICU nights, compassion fatigue, and how environment impacts mental health Why Caiti chose integrative psychiatry and the power of a humble mentor Exercise as medicine: why 3–4 moderate/intense workouts per week can rival an antidepressant Whole-person care: meds + mindset + lifestyle + spiritual support (no one lever fixes everything) Agency vs. overwhelm: what The Body Keeps the Score taught us about healing If you’re in a tough season You’re not broken and you’re not alone. This episode is your reminder that healing is possible, help is real, and hope is not naive—it’s fuel. Next week, Caiti and I go deeper on practical tools, boundaries that heal (not harden), and how she cares for her patients and herself without burning out. — With so much love, Edie Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you’ve ever felt fried, frazzled, and weirdly resentful while trying to keep everyone else happy… this one’s for you. As a recovering people-pleaser, I’m sharing how to love fully without outsourcing your worth, absorbing everyone’s moods, or abandoning your own voice. We’ll talk about true self vs. false self, what healthy boundaries really are (and aren’t), and why self-doubt is one of the biggest energy leaks in midlife. In this episode you’ll learn How to spot “losing yourself”: constant external validation, silencing your needs, carrying emotions that aren’t yours. True self vs. false self: dropping the mask, living from belovedness, and becoming a “woman of valor.” Boundaries done right: sovereign choices versus trying to control other people. End the self-doubt spiral: reclaim the energy you’re leaking to second-guessing. Your body keeps score: the biology behind people-pleasing vs. living in truth, gratitude, and joy. Simple shifts to try this week so you can love from overflow, not depletion. Join our fall workshop Design Your Life: Live Your Purpose (Sept 24–26) + cozy home bonuses inside the pop-up Facebook group. Grab your spot for $7 → https://www.ediewadsworthcoaching.com/design Leave a quick review or share this episode with a friend who’s tired of living for approval. Your shares mean the world and help more women build lives of love, truth, and joy. 💛 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today Emaleigh and I wade into a big, buzzy topic: manifestation. Spoiler: I don’t subscribe to it—at least not the way it’s often taught. Instead, I share a faith-rooted framework I call the Law of Creation: partnering with God to renew your mind, steward your emotions, and take aligned action that shapes your life—and the room you’re in. We talk about why “waiting for the universe” feels passive and self-focused, and how living as a creator (image-bearer language!) is active, relational, and legacy-minded. We also touch on the “observer effect,” the felt reality of our “energetic signature,” and why processing all emotions (not fearing the “low vibes”) actually helps your body and your life. Manifestation vs. Creation: why one keeps you waiting and the other gets you moving Faith + “Energy” without the woo: thoughts, emotions, and the observer effect in everyday life Your energetic signature: the mood you bring and how rooms respond Emotions as fuel: why we don’t avoid sadness, disappointment, or grief From default to design: identity, habits, and showing up as who God made you to be Real-life stories: how staying in creation mode opened surprising doors (hello, lake lot!) Simple resets: church/communion, journaling, movement, gratitude, and tiny purposeful actions RHODΕ Beauty lip liner (Lunge) https://www.rhodeskin.com/products/peptide-lip-shape-lunge?variant=46054384795886&country=US&currency=USD&utm_source=google&utm_source=google&utm_medium=paid&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{adgroup.name}}&utm_term={}&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=22692010043&utm_adgroup=182736337322&utm_content=759301598543&utm_term=&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22692010043&gbraid=0AAAAAok-sx-j14PDvBsGnhFlYhS6gwsIo&gclid=Cj0KCQjww4TGBhCKARIsAFLXndSNvIKBJUw0MzqjsPli9ZFGd7pdUbqH2kRTAB7uUqwVPMxJHujvNlUaArdmEALw_wcB  Fenty Gloss Bomb (Sweet Mouth) https://www.ulta.com/p/gloss-bomb-universal-lip-luminizer-pimprod2031402?sku=2592393&cmpid=PS_Non!google!Product_Listing_Ads&utm_source=google&utm_medium=paidsearch&cagpspn=pla&CATCI=&CAAGID=&CAWELAID=330000200002859834&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=19046320253&gbraid=0AAAAAD9rLH5BOPsgJK6DBSz5-6DCMQIr8&gclid=Cj0KCQjww4TGBhCKARIsAFLXndRPDnIdsb9RKKu5qOB4KnsT31mZUDfj7OO3EKAo64WWmF8UIj_JdxYaAmwsEALw_wcB  My fall color kick: burgundy crossbody, tote, and booties (hello, cozy season!)  Find all here! https://amzn.to/480ci1n  I’m hosting our fall workshop Design Your Life, Live Your Purpose, Leave Your Legacy (Sept 24–26). Join for $7 and hop into the Facebook group for cozy home inspo, recipes, and a bonus when you upgrade to the all-access pass: Creating a Purposeful Home. https://www.ediewadsworthcoaching.com/design  If today helped, share this episode with a friend who’s ready to stop waiting and start creating. Your life is too beautiful to live by default. 💛 In this episode:Favorite Things we mentioned:Come create with us! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices