Rejection Is Redirection... Or Is It?

“You have to love yourself first”

We’re diving into joy today! In this episode, Megan and Jacqui smash open the cliché “follow your joy”, getting real about why the joy advice both works and backfires. In this episode * The Myth of “Follow Your Joy”: Why this feel-good mantra misses the messier parts of being human (08:22) * Joy vs. Happiness vs. Pleasure: Your brain on emotions, and why getting the definition right changes everything (13:39) * How to Actually Find Joy: The micro-moments that matter (spoiler: you can’t manufacture joy on demand, but you can make it more likely to show up) (18:41) * Why Chasing Joy Is NOT About Avoiding Pain: Real talk on grief and foreboding joy (12:08, 33:43) * Our IRL stories: Jacqui’s horse rescue adventures, Megan’s book journey, and why YouTube trolls aren’t the boss of your feelings (05:27, 20:18) * Book recs: “The Joy Reset” by Mary Catherine McDonald, “Joyful Anyway” by Kate Bowler, plus the movie that had Megan sobbing – in a good way (17:42, 32:55). If you’ve ever felt secretly sabotaged by "good vibes only" culture, or wondered why joy sometimes makes you uneasy, this episode will make you feel SEEN. Megan and Jackie don’t sugarcoat — expect punchy honesty and way more nuance than your average self-help chat. Hit play and discover: * Why joy and grief are buddies, not enemies * How to spot (and savor) small joys, even in a dumpster-fire week * Strategies for emotional agility — without toxic positivity Links & Resources * The Joy Reset – Mary Catherine McDonald [https://www.marycatherinemcphd.com/the-joy-reset] * Joyful Anyway – Kate Bowler [https://katebowler.com/] * Inside Out (Film) [https://www.pixar.com/feature-films/inside-out] * Voicemails with Isabel (Netflix) [https://www.netflix.com/] Dive in even deeper with us! Try a free 10 minute EFT tapping session with Jacqui: https://jacquiacree.com/experience [https://jacquiacree.com/experience]  Pull your Human Design Chart with Megan: https://meganjohnstoncoaching.com/get-hd-chart [https://meganjohnstoncoaching.com/get-hd-chart] We’d love to hear from you! Jacqui’s instagram: @jacqui.acree Megan’s instagram: @meganjohnstoncoaching

“Follow your joy”

We’re diving into joy today! In this episode, Megan and Jacqui smash open the cliché “follow your joy”, getting real about why the joy advice both works and backfires. In this episode * The Myth of “Follow Your Joy”: Why this feel-good mantra misses the messier parts of being human (08:22) * Joy vs. Happiness vs. Pleasure: Your brain on emotions, and why getting the definition right changes everything (13:39) * How to Actually Find Joy: The micro-moments that matter (spoiler: you can’t manufacture joy on demand, but you can make it more likely to show up) (18:41) * Why Chasing Joy Is NOT About Avoiding Pain: Real talk on grief and foreboding joy (12:08, 33:43) * Our IRL stories: Jacqui’s horse rescue adventures, Megan’s book journey, and why YouTube trolls aren’t the boss of your feelings (05:27, 20:18) * Book recs: “The Joy Reset” by Mary Catherine McDonald, “Joyful Anyway” by Kate Bowler, plus the movie that had Megan sobbing – in a good way (17:42, 32:55). If you’ve ever felt secretly sabotaged by "good vibes only" culture, or wondered why joy sometimes makes you uneasy, this episode will make you feel SEEN. Megan and Jackie don’t sugarcoat — expect punchy honesty and way more nuance than your average self-help chat. Hit play and discover: * Why joy and grief are buddies, not enemies * How to spot (and savor) small joys, even in a dumpster-fire week * Strategies for emotional agility — without toxic positivity Links & Resources * The Joy Reset – Mary Catherine McDonald [https://www.marycatherinemcphd.com/the-joy-reset] * Joyful Anyway – Kate Bowler [https://katebowler.com/] * Inside Out (Film) [https://www.pixar.com/feature-films/inside-out] * Voicemails with Isabel (Netflix) [https://www.netflix.com/] Dive in even deeper with us! Try a free 10 minute EFT tapping session with Jacqui: https://jacquiacree.com/experience [https://jacquiacree.com/experience]  Pull your Human Design Chart with Megan: https://meganjohnstoncoaching.com/get-hd-chart [https://meganjohnstoncoaching.com/get-hd-chart] We’d love to hear from you! Jacqui’s instagram: @jacqui.acree Megan’s instagram: @meganjohnstoncoaching

“Protect your peace”

In this episode, Megan and Jacqui dive straight into the origin, meaning, and real-life application of that classic self-help mantra: “Protect your peace.” We get into how this saying exploded in 2020, how it feels different depending on your background, and why sometimes “protecting your peace” is code for healthy boundaries…and sometimes it might be an excuse to stuff your feelings down deep. Inside this episode: Mini Rabbit Holes:    - Megan’s full-on *House of Dragon* obsession — family trees, behind-the-scenes, the whole digital dragon's lair [03:33]     - Accidental algorithm deep-dives into *shows you never meant to care about*     - The donut that made a grown woman drive 40 minutes (twice)     - Dogs, hotel ghosts, and sleepless nights Protecting Your Peace IRL:   - Where did “protect your peace” actually come from? [10:17]   - Why 2020 made this phrase go viral—and why THAT MATTERS [11:33]   - When “protect your peace” is about fighting racial burnout, not just “muting” annoying content [25:14]   - Screentime, boundaries, and the line between self-care and avoidance   - The difference between protecting *your* peace vs. protecting peace as a community     - Bonus: Navigating “family drama season” without losing your mind Dive in even deeper with us! Try a free 10 minute EFT tapping session with Jacqui: https://jacquiacree.com/experience [https://jacquiacree.com/experience]  Pull your Human Design Chart with Megan: https://meganjohnstoncoaching.com/get-hd-chart [https://meganjohnstoncoaching.com/get-hd-chart] We’d love to hear from you! Jacqui’s instagram: @jacqui.acree Megan’s instagram: @meganjohnstoncoaching

The F-word you might be missing in your life

We’re doing a deep-dive into FUN — yes, the F-word you might be missing in your life!  In true Rabbit Hole fashion, we’re getting into the nitty-gritty and nuance surrounding fun. We kick off with Broadway dreams, childhood meltdowns for VIP perks, and the magic (or mayhem) of singing boat life. Then we go all-in on the science and psychology of fun, inspired by *The Power of Fun* by Catherine Price. Here’s what you’ll get: What You’ll Hear: - The Pressure to Have Fun: Why summer can feel like a “fun test” for adults and how to ditch the guilt trip.   - True Fun vs. Fake Fun: The holy trinity of True Fun—playfulness, connection, and flow. Plus, a breakdown of *why* binging Netflix solo might not cut it.   - Adulting vs. Joy: How productivity, competition, and “getting serious” can kill your fun gene—and why it’s not your fault. - Barriers to Fun: Self-consciousness, judgment, and why having fun can make you feel… weird. - Tiny Experiments: Why trying new things (and failing gloriously) might be your pathway to more joy. - Permission to Redefine Fun: Whether it’s puzzles, horses, or a yacht club where no one owns a boat (true story), we unpack how to discover your UNIQUE flavor of fun without shame or shoulds. WE WANT YOUR FUN! Seriously, tell us: what’s your version of joy? What mini or major experiment could you try this week? DM us, email us, or tag us—let’s inspire each other with new ideas. (Looking at you, non-curling curling club and boatless yacht party goers. If you’re feeling stuck in “adulting mode” and want to bring more energy, aliveness, and connection back into your life, this episode’s the jumpstart you need. Press play—and let’s get FUN back on your radar. Resources mentioned: - The Power of Fun [https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/57569793-the-power-of-fun] by Catherine Price Dive in even deeper with us! Try a free 10 minute EFT tapping session with Jacqui: https://jacquiacree.com/experience [https://jacquiacree.com/experience]  Pull your Human Design Chart with Megan: https://meganjohnstoncoaching.com/get-hd-chart [https://meganjohnstoncoaching.com/get-hd-chart] We’d love to hear from you! Jacqui’s instagram: @jacqui.acree Megan’s instagram: @meganjohnstoncoaching

“Choose your hard”

Welcome back to The Rabbit Hole, where Jacqui and Megan tear into the gooey middle of self-growth clichés faster than you can say, “Pick your poison.” On the docket this week: “Choose Your Hard”. So what’s the deal – is this just hustle culture camouflaged, or is there a deeper magic to owning the hard stuff in life? Grab your headphones—a friendly roasting of toxic positivity awaits. In This Episode: - The science of beliefs and how “choose your hard” is more than an Instagram quote—backed by research, not wishful thinking [07:21] - Ways to counterbalance “choose your hard” with “let it be easy” without getting stuck in self-improvement overwhelm [18:44] - A closer look at envy, comparison, and why everyone’s “hard” looks different on the outside [20:17] Key Takeaways: - The “hard” you choose today—waking up for a 5am gym session, making that tough decision—often means a softer landing for *future you* [16:56] - It’s not about going full drill sergeant on yourself. Pair discipline with ease for personal growth that lasts [19:03] - You can change deep-rooted beliefs, but it’s about shifting probability, not instant miracles [22:34] - “Choose your hard” isn’t one-size-fits-all. [20:12] Resources Mentioned: - Book: *The Power of Beliefs* [https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/235699995-the-power-of-beliefs] by Shawn Achor [07:24] Subscribe, review, and dive deeper into The Rabbit Hole with us. Each episode is a passport to self-help clichés, real life stories, and personal growth that fits more than just your Instagram feed. Dive in even deeper with us! Try a free 10 minute EFT tapping session with Jacqui: https://jacquiacree.com/experience [https://jacquiacree.com/experience]  Pull your Human Design Chart with Megan: https://meganjohnstoncoaching.com/get-hd-chart [https://meganjohnstoncoaching.com/get-hd-chart] We’d love to hear from you! Jacqui’s instagram: @jacqui.acree Megan’s instagram: @meganjohnstoncoaching