The Living Whole and Holy Podcast

37. From People-Pleasing to Holy Freedom (Part 2): The Spiritual Roots of People-Pleasing

From People-Pleasing to Holy Freedom: How to Stop Living For the Approval of Others and Start Living For God Part 2: The Spiritual Roots of People Pleasing Welcome to Part 2 of this special 3-part series on breaking free from people-pleasing and learning to live for the approval of God instead of the approval of others. In Part 1, we uncovered what people-pleasing is and why it disguises itself as a counterfeit virtue. Now we're asking a deeper question: Why does people-pleasing have such a grip on our hearts? In this episode, we uncover the spiritual roots of people-pleasing by looking at Scripture, the Catechism, and the wisdom of the saints. Together, we'll discover why this struggle isn't simply a personality trait or bad habit—it's a matter of misplaced identity, disordered love, and forgetting whose approval matters most. In this episode, you'll discover: 🤍 How people-pleasing traces all the way back to the Garden of Eden 🤍 What Scripture teaches about the fear of man and the freedom that comes from fearing God above all else 🤍 What we can learn from Adam and Eve, St. Peter, Pontius Pilate, and Our Blessed Mother 🤍 How pride and distrust of God quietly fuel people-pleasing 🤍 Why seeking the approval of others can never satisfy the deepest longing of your heart 🤍 How rooting your identity in Christ changes everything 🤍 Why authentic freedom begins when God's opinion matters more than anyone else's As we close this episode, I invite you to pray the Litany of Humility, [https://ascensionpress.com/pages/litany-of-humility?srsltid=AfmBOopge_dhQ5lmOsAbUdzcCQLOGH6050SBNMDy4i5XzXpHf8K2Ppk6] asking Jesus to free your heart from the need for human approval and deepen your trust in His love. 📖 Scripture for this Episode "The fear of man lays a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is safe." — Proverbs 29:25 🙏 Anti-people pleasing saints to ask for intercession: * St. Teresa of Avila * St. Catherine of Siena * St. Joan of Arc * Our Lady of Guadalupe Coming up next week... In Part 3, we'll move from understanding to transformation. I'll share practical Catholic coaching tools to help you renew your mind, establish healthy boundaries, overcome people-pleasing for good, and begin living confidently from your identity as God's beloved daughter. Books and Prayers Mentioned: Introduction to the Devout Life [https://www.amazon.com/s?k=introduction+to+the+devout+life&crid=1SPU0LAI9FV4H&sprefix=introduction+to+the+devout+life%2Caps%2C293&ref=nb_sb_noss_1] by Saint Francis De Sales The Litany of Humility [https://ascensionpress.com/pages/litany-of-humility?srsltid=AfmBOoqUp3LejqQXHRpNxizAru4OEm0cu8X6-JaftGUDzYf4vbIzQVPN] Connect with Carrie: Follow Carrie on Instagram @livingwholeandholy [https://www.instagram.com/livingwholeandholy/] ✨ If this episode resonated with you and you're ready to move from people-pleasing to holy freedom, I'd love to walk alongside you through Catholic life coaching. Schedule a Free 1:1 Catholic Coaching Clarity Call with Carrie [https://calendly.com/carriejaincoaching/coaching-consultation]

36. From People-Pleasing to Holy Freedom (Part 1): The Counterfeit Virtue: Unmasking People-Pleasing

New Podcast Series:  From People-Pleasing to Holy Freedom: How to Stop Living For the Approval of Others and Start Living For God Part 1: The Counterfeit Virtue I'm so excited to welcome you to this brand-new 3-part series about one of the biggest struggles I see in Catholic women—and one I personally had to overcome myself. Over the next three episodes, we'll explore how to stop living for the approval of others and start living for God. Most women have never been told that people-pleasing is more than an unhealthy habit. It's often praised as kindness, selflessness, or simply "being a good person." But when our desire for the approval of others becomes greater than our desire to please God, it quietly steals our peace, our identity, and our freedom. Throughout this series, we'll uncover the lies behind people-pleasing, examine what Scripture and the Catholic faith teach about it, and discover how to root our identity in Christ so we can live whole, holy, and free. 🤍 In Part 1, you'll learn: • What people-pleasing actually is—and what it isn't • Why it often disguises itself as kindness, humility, and charity • The hidden emotional and spiritual costs of living for the approval of others • The four false identities people-pleasing creates • Practical, everyday examples of how it shows up in work, marriage, parenting, friendships, faith, and decision-making • A simple homework exercise to help you begin recognizing these patterns in your own life This episode isn't about guilt or shame. It's about awareness. Because awareness isn't condemnation—it's the beginning of freedom. 📖 Scripture for the Series "Am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ." — Galatians 1:10 🙏 Saints to Ask for Intercession * St. Teresa of Avila * St. Catherine of Siena * St. Joan of Arc ➡️ Coming Next: Part 2 Where did people-pleasing come from? Why does it have such a grip on our hearts? And what do Scripture and the Catholic faith teach about breaking free? In Part 2, we'll explore the biblical and spiritual roots of people-pleasing and begin replacing lies with God's truth. Connect with Carrie: Follow Carrie on Instagram @livingwholeandholy [https://www.instagram.com/livingwholeandholy/] ✨ If this episode resonated with you and you're ready to move from people-pleasing to holy freedom, I'd love to walk alongside you through Catholic life coaching. Schedule a Free 1:1 Catholic Coaching Clarity Call with Carrie [https://calendly.com/carriejaincoaching/coaching-consultation]

35. How God Grows a Calling One “Yes" at a Time With Kristin Bryant From Novena Cards

What if the calling God has placed on your heart isn't revealed all at once—but grows through each faithful "yes"? In this week's episode, I sit down with Kristin Bryant, founder of Novena Cards [https://www.novenacards.com/], to share her incredible journey of returning to the Catholic faith and discovering the mission God had been preparing her for all along. From working as a dental hygienist to creating greeting cards, discerning religious life, and unexpectedly losing her job during the pandemic, Kristin reflects on how every season—even the ones that didn't seem connected—became part of God's greater plan. Our conversation is a beautiful reminder that God rarely asks us to have everything figured out. Instead, He simply invites us to trust Him with the next step. As we continue saying "yes," He faithfully shapes our hearts, reveals our purpose, and grows the calling He has placed within us. In this episode, we discuss: ✨ Kristin's journey back to the Catholic Church and how the Eucharist changed everything ✨ Learning to discern God's voice through prayer and the spirituality of St. Ignatius ✨ Why courage often comes before clarity ✨ How God uses every season—even the unexpected ones—to prepare us for our vocation ✨ The story behind Novena Cards and how one simple idea became a ministry that encourages thousands in prayer ✨ The beauty and power of praying novenas for ourselves and others If you've been wondering whether God is calling you to something more, or you're navigating a season of discernment, this episode is a gentle encouragement to trust that He is already at work. You don't need to know the entire path—you only need the grace to say "yes" to the next step. Because God grows a calling one faithful "yes" at a time. Resources Mentioned: The Real Presence [https://www.amazon.com/Real-Presence-Peter-Julian-Eymard/dp/1482016214]by Saint Peter Julian Eymard (Meditations on the Eucharist) Connect Kristin: Follow Kristin on Instagram: @novenacards [https://www.instagram.com/novenacards/] Novena Cards Website: novenacards.com [https://www.novenacards.com/] Connect with Carrie: Follow Carrie on Instagram @livingwholeandholy [https://www.instagram.com/livingwholeandholy/] Schedule a Free 1:1 Catholic Coaching Clarity Call with Carrie [https://calendly.com/carriejaincoaching/coaching-consultation]

34. Whole and Holy Wealth: Living in God's Abundance With Rita Boccuzzi

God doesn't call us to fear money or worship it—He calls us to steward it well. In this episode, I sit down with Catholic wealth educator and entrepreneur, Rita Boccuzzi, to explore what it means to embrace a biblical understanding of wealth—one rooted in faith, stewardship, receiving, generosity, and God's abundant provision. Together, we talk about:  🤍 What Scripture really says about wealth  🤍 Trusting God as our source and supply  🤍 Breaking free from scarcity thinking  🤍 Why receiving is a vital part of the spiritual life and building wealth  🤍 Stewarding the gifts God has entrusted to us  🤍 Living generously and intentionally, rooted in Christ-centered values Whether you're navigating financial uncertainty, growing a business, preparing for retirement, or simply longing to trust God more deeply with every area of your life, this conversation offers a refreshing perspective on what it means to live in His abundance. I pray this episode encourages you to see wealth not as something to pursue for its own sake, but as a gift to steward faithfully—so that every blessing you've received can become a blessing for others. Connect with Rita: Website: Achieve Financial Aspirations [https://achievefinancialaspirations.com/] Instagram: @ritaboccuzzi [https://www.instagram.com/ritaboccuzzi/] Connect with Carrie: Follow Carrie on Instagram @livingwholeandholy [https://www.instagram.com/livingwholeandholy/] Schedule a Free 1:1 Catholic Coaching Clarity Call with Carrie [https://calendly.com/carriejaincoaching/coaching-consultation]

33. How God Unexpectedly Led Me to My Husband Through Adoration with Bernadette Pohl

✨ What if the relationship you're holding onto is preventing you from receiving the one God has planned for you? 🤍 In this heartfelt and faith-filled conversation, Bernadette Pohl shares the incredible story of how she courageously ended a 5-year engagement, surrendered her future to God, and unexpectedly met her husband through Daily Mass and Adoration just one week before moving from across the country. This episode is a powerful reminder that God's timing is perfect, His plans are always greater than our own, and true peace is often one of the clearest signs of His direction. Bernadette vulnerably shares how discernment, surrender, and staying rooted in her Catholic faith helped her navigate heartbreak and ultimately create a solid marriage built on shared values, sacrifice, and Christ at the center. In this episode, we discuss: 🤍 Why shared faith and values matter in marriage  🤍 Trusting God when your plans fall apart  🤍 How Daily Mass and Adoration helped guide her path  🤍 The importance of choosing relationships that align with your deepest values and refusing to settle  🤍 Finding peace through surrender and trust in God's timing  🤍 Marriage as a path to holiness, sanctification, and growth in virtue  🤍 Navigating suffering, loss, and uncertainty together as a couple  🤍 The role of community, spiritual direction, and the saints in marriage  🤍 How to live your life as a prayer Whether you're discerning a relationship, healing from heartbreak, waiting on God's timing, or simply longing to trust Him more deeply, this conversation will encourage and inspire you to keep surrendering your plans and following His peace. Books Mentioned: He Leadeth Me [https://www.amazon.com/He-Leadeth-Me-Extraordinary-Testament/dp/0804141525/ref=sr_1_1?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.RFE8-nzLDZv7Rx4kxEf74v_xgsQkTNUfsFAnsfsnZUuMWI_S7wzpV3-FoIfk6V-_Pbdo82ULuaICL1vhZJOw9kOG1Wuz0ENtdIQk0eGxoqDlwUvnHYUaLjpGANagqIzHZ_dmONUaiQ3x4Z2qt7zw4dNnrSAxYKRFs9yti1RiM8sYi3B_tNMngX9_WzkuLdyweSk0RcPJPmQzO38_Bo1cDA.AJ4uePMqtn9SoIw3o3wGEBDv0lJiQAFCqKn2LlV2AyM&dib_tag=se&keywords=he+leadeth+me+by+walter+ciszek&qid=1780973250&sr=8-1]by Walter Ciszek A Severe Mercy [https://www.amazon.com/Severe-Mercy-Sheldon-Vanauken/dp/0060688246/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3GID6RJZ5QTZJ&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.ReCJkI-a_atBu0BxFKw_rol_FYZhCcnRCoWnFTE5TrvuAD4FD50JpC2hyYTT4gYnW_CNyiWdOe_ffcryrnzpZUV56ERokw7jk9OAKaHLITiPosdfD-MenJNtcxxBbSbNa-X4FlXzrG1H3BDW5OvzfeiHihZBkzdkNNlYGncNevjNCboM9BQ5XQCfzawdXdhSHN5Jut0FdwuO_EvQi1XSVUlIEBHK_u8aDI5GDwIjjx4.wzkCYqH4TvSwnNKJW7D3xFlzRDcmTCx13xfKh7iaJ4M&dib_tag=se&keywords=a+severe+mercy&qid=1780973368&sprefix=a+severe+mercy%2Caps%2C388&sr=8-1]by Sheldon Vanauken Connect with Bernadette: 🎙️ Moving Mountains Podcast: Real Stories of Modern Day Miracles [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/moving-mountains-podcast/id1661002470] 📱 Instagram: @movingmountainspodcastak [https://www.instagram.com/movingmountainspodcastak/] Connect with Carrie: Follow Carrie on Instagram @livingwholeandholy [https://www.instagram.com/livingwholeandholy/] Schedule a Free 1:1 Catholic Coaching Clarity Call with Carrie [https://calendly.com/carriejaincoaching/coaching-consultation]