This episode is different. It isn't polished or structured. It's real.
Life can feel heavy and beautiful at the same time. In this episode I share what it looks like to hold both, grief and hope, pressure and purpose, and how to keep showing up when your heart feels full and tired all at once.
If you lead people, run a business, or care for a family while carrying something heavy, this one is for you. You don't have to choose between strength and softness. You are allowed to hold both.
Your next step: if you're carrying a lot right now, you don't have to carry it alone. Come sit with us at drop in group coaching on Monday, Wednesday, or Friday. Five seats each, and you can come as often as you need.https://www.thrivingbynature.com/special-offer
Chapters00:00 Showing up real instead of perfect00:30 When life feels heavy and overwhelming01:10 Watching someone you love struggle and holding hope01:50 Grief, loss, and the weight of real life02:30 Why we think we can only feel one emotion at a time03:00 Holding grief and gratitude at the same time03:40 Hope in the middle of hardship04:15 Being present in loss04:45 The urge to stay busy instead of feeling05:10 Simplifying when everything feels like too much05:45 Letting go of perfection and just showing up06:10 What "happiness is a choice" really means06:45 How to keep going when your heart feels heavy07:15 Holding strength and softness07:40 Closing thoughts
Connect with meWebsite: https://www.thrivingbynature.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/thriving_by_nature_coachingLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bethany-stone-mindset-coach
Thriving by Nature is part of the PodFather Network.

You cannot expect a seed to grow in soil that has not been prepared, and neither can you. In this episode, I share what 20 years as a Montessori educator taught me about the power of a prepared environment, plus the research behind why your space shapes your choices, your stress, and your health more than you realize.We talk about the kitchen, the cake, the clutter, and the science of choice architecture, and I give you three practical steps to prepare your own soil this week.Want to go deeper? The Five Domains Business Reset is open for early access now at www.thrivingbynature.com/prelaunch

Have you ever felt lost even when life looks good on the outside? In this episode, we talk about what happens when you spend your life chasing approval instead of living in alignment with who you actually are.I share the story of a woman who built her entire sense of worth on gold stars and praise, and what happened when the world stopped giving them to her. We dig into the science of intrinsic versus extrinsic motivation, why high achievers are especially vulnerable to the shiny object trap, and three practical steps to start making decisions from the inside out.If you have been feeling scattered, disconnected, or like something is just off, this one is for you.Want to go deeper? Early access to the Five Domains Business Reset is closing soon. Grab your spot at thrivingbynature.com/prelaunch

Bethany explores ageism, multi-generational living, and the powerful wisdom that comes from staying connected to our elders. Through personal stories from her classroom and family life, she reflects on how intergenerational relationships foster compassion, emotional well-being, and a deeper sense of belonging.Connect with Bethany Here

In this episode of Thriving by Nature, I’m sharing a personal story about what happened when I pushed my body too far through a season of weddings, travel, business, dance, fitness, family, and nonstop responsibility.This episode is about physical self-care, but not in the fluffy way. We are talking about what overextension really costs your immune system, your emotions, your clarity, your energy, and your ability to show up fully for the people and work you love.If you have been running on empty, ignoring the signs, or telling yourself “just one more thing,” this episode is your reminder to listen earlier. Your body is always communicating, and learning to honor it is not weakness. It is wisdom, leadership, and self-respect.If this episode spoke to you, I would love to invite you to take the next step.Go to https://www.thrivingbynature.com/ or book your free Leadership Clarity Call. This is a chance for us to look at where you are feeling stretched, stuck, overwhelmed, or out of alignment, and begin identifying the small shifts that could help you lead your life, your business, and your responsibilities with more clarity and peace.You do not have to keep running on empty. Your body, your mind, your relationships, and your purpose are worth protecting.And if this episode helped you, share it with someone you love who has been carrying too much for too long.

Staying the course is easy to talk about and hard to live.If you are an entrepreneur, business owner, or leader who feels discouraged because progress feels slow or invisible, this episode is for you.In this podcast episode, we talk about what it actually takes to stay the course without burning out. We explore the emotional reality of perseverance, why motivation fades, how the brain changes through repetition, and how to tell the difference between quitting out of fear versus pivoting with clarity.This episode includes real stories, research backed insight, and practical mindset tools to help you keep going when the results have not caught up yet.Topics covered in this episode includeHow to stay consistent when motivation fadesWhy progress often feels invisible before it becomes obviousThe science of grit and neuroplasticityHow entrepreneurs can avoid burnout while building something meaningfulStaying aligned with your values while growing your businessIf you are building something that matters to you and want to stay grounded through the process, you are in the right place.Subscribe for more mindset, life skills, and self care conversations for entrepreneurs and leaders.🔗 Resources & LinksGet the Five Domains Course : https://www.thrivingbynature.com/5-domainsSchedule a Leadership Clarity Call: https://calendly.com/thrivingbynaturecoaching/30min📲 Connect With BethanyWebsite: https://www.thrivingbynature.com/Instagram: @thriving_by_nature_coachingLinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/bethany-stone-mindset-coach

What you say to yourself matters more than you think.In today’s episode of Thriving by Nature, I’m diving into affirmations, not the fluffy, surface level kind, but the kind that actually shift perspective and rewire how you see yourself and your life.I share a personal story about perspective, how the lens you look through shapes everything, and I even sing one of my affirmation songs that I use in my own life.Affirmations are not about pretending.They are about intentionally choosing the words that shape your identity.Ready to go deeper?Join my Group Coachinghttps://www.thrivingbynature.com/special-offerRegister for my Free Masterclasshttps://calendly.com/thrivingbynaturecoaching/the-self-care-masterclassBook a Free Strategy Callhttps://www.thrivingbynature.comConnect with me:Website https://www.thrivingbynature.comInstagram https://www.instagram.com/thriving_by_nature_coachingYouTube https://www.youtube.com/@BethanyStone-ThrivingbynatureFacebook https://www.facebook.com/bethany.e.courtright/TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@bethanystone933 00:00Have you ever tried affirmations and felt like a complete fraud?00:20It's like saying I'm confident while your nervous system is in full panic mode, or repeating I am calm while your brain is completely spiraling.01:09Affirmations will definitely feel fake sometimes, and they don't work when they contradict your nervous system.01:17Because they can be extremely unbelievable at the time. 01:21They can ignore the really emotion that you're feeling and they are used to suppress instead of regulate. 01:28And if your body doesn't feel safe, your brain isn't going to believe the words that you're saying. 01:35So instead of saying something like.02:48Well, for me, this is, these are things that I will ask myself. What do you want to embody when you're feeling that? 03:43Do you want to feel calm? 03:44Do you want to feel strong? 03:46Do you want to feel empowered?03:48And then here is the most powerful part. 03:52You're step three create an I am statement.03:58Some I am statements I've used before are I am strong.04:05I am becoming.04:08I am capable of handling this.04:11Creating an I am statement for your.04:17Affirmation is going to change everything because I am becoming more steady.04:25I am capable of handling this. 04:28My worth is not dependent upon my productivity or determined upon that, and I'm going to respond from alignment and not reaction.04:40The only things that you have to really make sure that you're doing that are really key here are making sure that you are staying grounded.04:49Keep your IM statements true enough that your body doesn't reject the IM statement.04:55So.04:57The other practice that I get is how am I going to practice these affirmations? 05:03How do I do this? 05:05So there's about three times during the day when I feel like affirmations are useful in your mind space. 05:13So in the morning, choose your affirmation. 05:16I like to choose.05:17The same affirmation, and I use it for a very long time until another affirmation will resonate with me. 05:25Right now my affirmation is I am strong and I will write that down.05:31And then?05:33I think that I write it because that's what I write is in the morning. 05:38

Staying the course sounds inspiring until you are in the middle of it.In this episode, we talk about what it really looks like to keep going when progress feels slow, results are quiet, and quitting feels tempting. This is for the entrepreneurs, leaders, and high achievers who are doing the work but wondering if it is actually working.We explore the emotional side of perseverance, the science behind grit and neuroplasticity, and the difference between quitting, pivoting, and staying aligned. I share stories, research, and practical tools to help you stay grounded, focused, and committed without burning yourself out.If you are building a business, navigating a transition, or working on becoming a stronger version of yourself, this episode will remind you why staying the course matters, and how to do it in a sustainable way.If you are ready to grow without losing yourself in the process, this one is for you.Learn more or book a free strategy call athttps://www.thrivingbynature.com

In this episode of Thriving by Nature, Bethany reflects on ageism, multi-generational living, and the deep wisdom that comes from staying connected across generations.Fresh off a presentation at the Utah Montessori Conference, Bethany shares personal stories from her classroom, her family, and her own experience living in a four-generation household. From inviting elderly guests into her classroom to growing up alongside her Swiss grandmother, she explores how relationships with elders shape patience, compassion, emotional well-being, and perspective.This episode highlights the benefits of intergenerational connection, including research-backed reductions in anxiety and improved mental health for younger generations. Bethany invites listeners to reconsider how society treats the elderly and to reflect on what we lose when we isolate those who carry so much lived wisdom.A heartfelt reminder that thriving doesn’t happen in isolation, it happens in connection.

What if the reason children struggle to focus, regulate, and engage is the same reason adults do?In this episode, I unpack a Montessori lesson many of us forgot, that the adult is part of the prepared environment. From nervous systems and sensory input to screens, dopamine, and modern overwhelm, we look at why engagement feels harder today and how Montessori offers a timeless framework for restoring presence, purpose, and connection.This conversation is for educators, parents, leaders, and anyone who feels pulled in too many directions and wants to create more intentional environments for learning and life.

Feeling stuck even though you are working hard and doing all the right things?In this episode, I talk about why effort does not always equal visible progress and how feeling stuck is often a signal that something deeper is shifting. We discuss stress, clarity, nervous system regulation, and the life skills that support sustainable growth without burnout.This episode is for high achievers, business owners, and leaders who want to move forward with clarity instead of force.Visit www.thrivingbynature.com to learn more or book a free strategy call.

As the new year approaches, many people feel pressure to set big goals, yet struggle to follow through. In this episode, I talk about how to set goals in a way that actually works with real life, not against it.I share two personal stories, training for a half marathon using small manageable steps, and navigating life as a single mom working multiple jobs while staying present for my children and building a future from the ground up.We explore why breaking goals into smaller actions matters, how organization supports momentum, and why progress does not require perfection. Just consistency and clarity.This episode is for anyone who feels overwhelmed by goal setting and wants a grounded, realistic approach that leads to real accomplishment.As a new year gift, anyone who books a January strategy call with me will receive my Organize Your Life, Mind, and Environment booklet for free. The link is Here! Sometimes you do not need to see the finish line. You just need to take the next step.

When life gets heavy you feel it everywhere. You feel it in your thoughts, your choices, your pace, and even in the way you breathe. In this episode I talk about what it really means to pause when everything in you wants to push through. I share stories, honest truth, and the reminder that pausing is not quitting, it is wisdom. Sometimes the strongest thing we can do is slow down long enough to see what actually matters. Join me as I walk through how to protect your time, your energy, and your mental load so you can move forward with clarity instead of overwhelm.

In today’s episode, I talk about the quiet struggle so many of us face, the desire to hold everything together and make sure life turns out the way we think it should. I share why this urge to control usually comes from a place of love and fear, and how it ends up creating stress, anxiety, and tension for everyone involved, including the people we are trying to protect.

In this episode I talk about the real lesson behind the story of the tortoise and the hare and why consistency matters more than speed in every area of our lives. I share how slow, steady effort creates long term success, how small daily actions build confidence, and why staying grounded in your purpose always pays off. If you have been feeling rushed, pressured, or like you are falling behind, this episode will help you breathe, reset, and remember that your power is in the steady steps you take every single day.