Awakening Worth in Childless Women: Recent Episodes
Sheri Johnson
You’re on a new path and one you didn’t expect to travel. And it’s definitely a road less travelled. It’s the one without kids. My name is Sheri Johnson and I’m on it too. No matter how you got here – pregnancy loss, infertility, never finding the right partner - the loneliness and lack of childlessness is the same. The triggers? They’re universal. That feeling of inadequacy in a world so focused on motherhood is what we all feel. It all boils down to our sense of worth. This is where we walk the path together and we talk about building our sense of worth, so we too, can find our place, and live joyful, fulfilling lives as a childless women.
I started this podcast back in 2020, thinking it was about grief. I was focusing on miscarriage. It was called Love and Loss. And then as my own journey evolved, as I had to accept that I was never going to have children, I realized that I had so much more to talk about than just the grief.
And as I worked with childless women, I began to see something deeper. Beneath the grief was this equally aching emotion – and a belief: I am not enough.” I am not good enough. I am treated like a second class citizen. I am less than the mothers. This is not grief.
Then I started noticing something else… My friends with kids? They felt it too. My clients in midlife? Same story. Women navigating burnout, divorce, menopause… all wondering, "Is it just me? Why do I feel like I’m constantly hustling to be perfect, to help others, to please others – I’m always last on the list".
In this episode, you’re going to find out:
- what all this "not enoughness" is really all about
- the catalysts that shine an light on our feelings of less-than
- the deep lessons I learned from being childless (that will crack YOU open too)
I'm also going to share why I'm closing this chapter and give you a sneak peak at the amazing things that are coming next!
Until June 12th will be your LAST CHANCE to join the Women of Worth program for childless women. This is not a support group. It's a guided transformation. And one that you'll never find anywhere else. Email me the word PROGRAM at sheri@sherijohnson.ca if you want to apply for one of the last 6 spots.
Where to find Sheri:
Instagram: @sherijohnsoncoaching
Website: sherijohnson.ca
So many women try to fix the pain of childlessness by avoiding baby showers, cutting off triggering friends, or demanding others say the “right thing.” But what if the true revolution isn’t about protecting yourself from the world… but reclaiming your place in it?
In this second episode of our 3-part closing series (so go back to ep. 147 if you haven't listened to it yet), we unravel the common mistakes women make when trying to relieve the pain of being “othered.” We revisit the work you’ve already done by listening to this podcast and show you what’s truly possible when you move from hiding to rising.
You are not just healing. You are leading. And your very presence is actually a part of a revolution that's changing the world.
What You’ll Hear:
- 4 ways women try to relieve pain that actually keep them stuck
- The cost of organizing your life around avoidance
- A powerful reflection on your journey with this podcast
- What becomes possible when childless women stop trying to fit in—and start taking up space
Continue being a part of the revolution by joining our last live cohort of the Women of Worth. Email me "PROGRAM" at sheri@sherijohnson.ca and I'll send you the info!
Where to find Sheri:
Instagram: @sherijohnsoncoaching
Website: sherijohnson.ca
I make a BIG announcement at the beginning of this episode so tune in to find out more about the future of the Awakening Worth Pod. And then, the rest of the episode is for the childless woman who wonders why she still feels stuck in grief after letting go of motherhood. It's not just grief you’ve been carrying. It’s the deep, unspoken belief that your worth was tied to becoming a mother.
In this opening chapter of our final 3-part podcast series, I share the personal realization that changed everything for me: triggers are not just about grief—they’re about self-worth. And when you begin to reclaim yours, everything shifts.
We’ll explore the hidden signs of low self-worth masked as grief, and how your healing journey has always been about more than loss—it’s been about liberation.
What You’ll Hear:
- The truth about triggers and grief no one talks about
- 7 signs your self-worth is calling for attention
- Why this podcast was actually about way more than becoming a mother—it was about becoming me and inviting you to become YOU
The doors are open for the last round of the Women of Worth - a guided transformation from grief and triggers to peace and purpose. Email me at sheri@sherijohnson.ca with the word PROGRAM if you want to apply for one of the last spots.
Where to find Sheri:
Instagram: @sherijohnsoncoaching
Website: sherijohnson.ca
When you're childless, midlife and menopause can feel like much more than a biological transition. It's a spiritual reckoning. Especially when the world thinks that the only value women add after menopause is "grandmother" - and you don't get to be one.
In this deeply honest episode, we’re naming what few dare to say: that for childless women, midlife and menopause come with a unique, often invisible layer of grief. Not just hot flashes—but heartbreak. Not just hormone shifts—but identity shifts.
✨ If you're silently asking yourself:
- “What’s my worth now if I’m not a mother?”
- “Will I be forgotten as I age?”
- "What's my legacy going to be?"
…this episode is for you.
We explore:
🔹 The silent grief of childlessness that menopause brings to the surface
🔹 Why traditional wellness and empowerment models miss the mark for women like you
🔹 The myth of irrelevance—and how patriarchy and pronatalism shape our fears
🔹 How to redefine legacy, worth, and purpose on your own terms
🔹 How to Rise and Reclaim your worth and take on a soul-honouring path forward
If you want to know more about how to gracefully navigate menopause as a childless woman, send me an email at sheri@sherijohnson.ca with the word PROGRAM.
Where to find Sheri:
Instagram: @sherijohnsoncoaching
Website: sherijohnson.ca
I know that Mother's Day is one of the toughest days of the year for us women without kids. When I went through my first couple of Mother's Days, I followed all the advice I heard online....
Just stay off social media. Just pretend it's just like any other day. Do something nice for yourself.
These were all things that worked to help me push through the day, but really just amounted to band-aid solutions. They didn't actually me to fully let go of the triggers leading up to it or the pain I experienced on the day itself.
It wasn't until I started doing things differently that I actually began to enjoy it. And this week, we're replaying my unique steps for not just getting through the day with grace but showing up fully for it.
These are the steps that are going to help you actually feel better next year, and each day leading up to it.
My steps for getting through the day go against the grain. They'll seem counterintuitive but they work.
And if you want more, we are running the last live cohort of the Women of Worth program starting this week. If you want to apply for one of a few spots left, email me the word PROGRAM at sheri@sherijohnson.ca.
Where to find Sheri:
Instagram: @sherijohnsoncoaching
Website: sherijohnson.ca
What if the very thing you thought disqualified you from living a meaningful and powerful life… was actually the very thing meant to ignite it?
In this episode, I’m speaking directly to the woman who didn’t get the life she planned. The one who didn’t become the mother she dreamed of being—and wonders if she’s now supposed to just sit on the sidelines while everyone else builds, leads, and creates.
If that’s you, I want you to know: you were made for more.
I’m dismantling the deep and painful myth that childless women are “less than”—and sharing how this chapter of your life might just be the one where you become who you were always meant to be.
🔥 Here’s what you'll shift:
- The lie of the bystander: How society conditions us to shrink when we don’t become mothers—and why that ends now.
- Real stories of reclamation: From a Grammy-nominated composer to a courageous counselor, you’ll hear how my clients turned their grief into something purposeful and bold.
- Instead of trying to push the pain away, allowing your pain to lead you to your purpose: I share how I didn’t bypass the pain—I let it shape me, guide me, and ultimately lead me to this work.
Not having children didn’t sideline your life. Believing you have nothing left to offer is what sidelines your life.
Healing isn’t just about feeling better—it’s about building something beautiful.
Are you feeling the pull?
If you’re quietly aching for more… if something inside you knows this can’t be all there is… this is your final chance to join me live inside Women of Worth.
This isn’t about fixing yourself. It’s about reclaiming your voice, your gifts, your future.
You don't have to be a bystander.
I’m holding space for 10 women who are ready to rise in the last live cohort of the Women of Worth program. And if you’re listening to this episode right now, it's not by accident.
📩 Email me at sheri@sherijohnson.ca if this resonated and you're ready to rise and reclaim your purpose.
Where to find Sheri:
Instagram: @sherijohnsoncoaching
Website: sherijohnson.ca
What if I told you that being being a people pleaser might be the very thing holding you back from feeling free, worthy, and at peace in your own life?
This episode is for the high-achieving, childless woman who is tired of over-functioning, over-giving, and still never feeling like enough. If you find yourself wondering…
- “Am I being selfish?”
- “Do people think I have it too easy?”
- “Should I be doing more?”
…then you are going to resonate with this conversation.
Here's a big truth we unpack: People-pleasing isn’t kindness—it’s self-abandonment dressed up in likability.
In this potent and soul-shifting episode, you’ll uncover:
✅ The 7 sneaky signs you’re still trying to prove you’re “a good woman” (even without kids)
✅ Why you overcompensate to be seen as worthy
✅ How internalized patriarchy and pronatalism quietly shape your people-pleasing
✅ The real cost of performing instead of being
✅ Small but powerful steps to reclaim your time, your truth, and your peace
This is your permission slip to stop performing and start living.
If you’re often called “so nice,” but secretly feel invisible or exhausted—this one’s for you.
👉 Plus: We’re opening the FINAL round of Women of Worth™, the deep transformation experience for childless women ready to stop people-pleasing and start living for themselves. Only 10 spots. Once it’s full, it’s gone.
📩 Ready to apply? Email sheri@sherijohnson.ca with the subject line: “I’m ready for more.”
Where to find Sheri:
Instagram: @sherijohnsoncoaching
Website: sherijohnson.ca
You don’t have kids, but somehow you’re still hustling to prove you're a good woman. Why?
We live in a world that glorifies selflessness—and if you're not a mother, the pressure to perform it in other ways is real.
This episode is a wake-up call to the invisible ways you're trying to prove your worth by over-giving.
✨ What if everything you've been taught about what makes a woman “good” is actually a trap?
I'm pulling back the curtain on a cultural myth that affects millions of women—especially those without children:
👉 The belief that your worth lies in how much you sacrifice.
For moms, their worth is often tied to how much they sacrifice for their children.
And what happens when a woman doesn’t have children?
🔹 She sacrifices in other ways
🔹People still (either consciously or subconsciously) label her as "selfish"
🔹 And that label silently drives perfectionism, people-pleasing, and burnout
You’ll hear:
- A personal story that cracked open the invisible pressure to “earn” our place in the world
- How both mothers and non-mothers are gaslit by impossible double standards
- The hidden cost of trying to “make up” for not having kids
- And how to reclaim your worth—without guilt, without apology
🔥 You’ll Learn:
- The real reason high-achieving women without kids overcommit and overgive
- How patriarchy + pronatalism are behind the myth of the “ideal woman”
- Why even your most “empowered” choices may be driven by fear of being seen as selfish
- A reframe that will change how you say yes and no forever
If you’ve ever wrestled with guilt for honouring your own needs, if you’ve bent over backwards to seem “selfless,” - this episode is your permission slip.
Ready to reclaim your life without apology?
Tune in!
📲 Loved this episode?
Here’s how to support:
- Follow the show so you never miss an episode
- Rate & Review – Your words help this reach more women who need it
- Share it with a friend who’s ready to break the “selfless” spell
Where to find Sheri:
Instagram: @sherijohnsoncoaching
Website: sherijohnson.ca
Most women think that if they just knew what to say to set a boundary, aka say "no", they will start doing it. That's actually what's keeping them from getting time back for what they really want.
The media conversations about setting boundaries are reinforcing this belief, and missing a critical piece that is stopping women from setting them.
First, they tell you that you should set better boundaries. That's not helpful because most women already know they should, but either think it's unrealistic or have been unable to do so.
The information out there also tends to be about the practical side of setting boundaries, like what to say or do, such as blocking your calendar for personal time.
The problem is that none of this works if you have emotions or beliefs that stop you from setting the boundary in the first place, or overthinking and spinning with guilt after you do set one.
So, my sister, Jen, who is an expert on burnout and boundaries, is talking with me about the secrets to finally setting boundaries- without guilt.
We dig into:
- the other boundaries beyond saying "no": the overlooked boundaries that protect your peace.
- The fears and emotions that stop you from setting a boundary
- Boundaries for childless women
- Why setting boundaries is so crucial to being a great leader
We leave you with 5 steps to maintaining stronger boundaries.
If you are stressed, over-committed and tired, releasing the emotions keeping you from honouring your boundaries is one way to find peace and ease at work and in life.
If you want to start setting healthier boundaries and sticking to them, join our virtual mini-retreat!
Get all the information here: Guilt-Free Boundaries Virtual Retreat
Find Jen on instagram: @jenreimerleadership
Where to find Sheri:
Instagram: @sherijohnsoncoaching
Website: sherijohnson.ca
This is something most childless women don't realize, and it's the thing that is keeping them stuck.
The grief you feel as a childless woman is real, but there’s something much bigger at play.
So many childless women I talk to tell me they feel stuck. They think it's grief. But they're wrong. I'm going to tell you why and the key to becoming unstuck.
The truth is, there are silent forces that have affected the way you view yourself, and they are the culprit. They are constantly running in the background, telling you that you are not worthy if you're not a mother.
In this episode, I'll give you 5 signs that these forces are at play in your life, and give you the key to getting on the path to freedom.
I call it the Unbecoming Blueprint, and the women who go through it feel lighter, more self-assured, and FREE.
If you want to know more about the Unbecoming Blueprint, click HERE to join the waitlist for the Women of Worth program
Where to find Sheri:
Instagram: @sherijohnsoncoaching
Website: sherijohnson.ca
Do you ever find yourself in a conversation about parenting and, even though you have advice to share, you’re afraid to speak up because you’re afraid someone will say, ‘You can't possibly understand—you don’t have kids.’
You might feel invisible in family gatherings, stop yourself from contributing to kid-focused discussions, or apologize and add disclaimers before sharing your perspective, like, "I know I don’t have kids, but…’
It's very important that you start speaking up in these situations, and we're going to talk about why in this episode.
Today's conversation covers a topic that people just don't talk about. It's like an unsaid rule that women without kids don't get to have an opinion about parenting.
We cover why this is the case, and the underlying reason you stop yourself from voicing your opinion and how to start, without feeling like you don't deserve to have an opinion.
It all comes down to what I call, The Confidence Code, which is more than just ‘feeling confident’—it’s about showing up with the belief that you belong in every conversation, regardless of whether you have kids or not.
So, if you've ever held back in conversations about kids or parenting, start voicing your opinion with confidence.
And if you are looking to take this 100 steps deeper so you can live with confidence, clarity and joy, the Women of Worth is open for enrolment for the last time at 2023 pricing!
Send me an email at sheri@sherijohnson.ca with the word CONFIDENCE and I'll send you the info!
Where to find Sheri:
Instagram: @sherijohnsoncoaching
Website: sherijohnson.ca
Tired of feeling lonely as a childless woman?
Most childless women feel lonely at some point or another. Loneliness is an uncomfortable feeling not only because it feels like you don't belong, but also because society today has conditioned us to believe that there's something wrong with us if we're lonely.
Today we are flipping the script on loneliness. Loneliness is not a character flaw. It's just a sign that you're craving true connection.
The problem is, if you're lonely as a childless woman, you may be tempted to seek out the wrong kind of connection. It's called, "Common Enemy Intimacy", and if this is where you think you're finding connection, it's actually making your loneliness worse.
We're going to talk about society's reinforcing messages about lonely childless women, why we sometimes seek out the wrong connections that can make your loneliness even worse, and the counterintuitive thing to do instead.
Where to find Sheri:
Instagram: @sherijohnsoncoaching
Website: sherijohnson.ca
If you're frustrated with workplace structures, experiencing inequities, or feeling envy towards mothers or other women - this episode is for you. This is Part 2 of a discussion I had with my sister, Jen, about women in the workplace and the experiences of both mothers and childless women.
This episode might ruffle some feathers. Jen and I are going to lay out why the diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives (or dismantling of them right now in the US) might not matter.
Then, we suggest some new and unconventional ways to find equity in the workplace for women in general, and specifically, how to bridge the gap between mothers and non-mothers.
We cover so much in this episode. Things like:
- empowering you to find a feeling of equity internally
- how to stop trying to fit into a man's world and own your feminine strengths
- how to stop being agreeable and playing small
We believe that the more women lead authentically, the more the system will have no choice but to adapt. Listen in if you want to be your authentic, joyful, childless self.
Join the waitlist for Sheri's Women of Worth For Childless Women Program here
Find Jen at:
Instagram: @jenreimerleadership
Join Jen's "From Busy to Being Program" here.
Where to find Sheri:
Instagram: @sherijohnsoncoaching
Website: sherijohnson.ca
I've been avoiding this topic, but it's time we talk about it. At some point along the way, most of my clients mention "work", and how being childless can be a unique experience in the workplace, no matter what kind of workplace it is.
It's International Women's Day as we publish this episode, and with that comes renewed vigour for gender equality in the workplace.
On today’s ep, my sister, Jen, who is a leadership coach and expert in boundaries and busy-ness, joins me to flesh out what it means to be a woman (with or without children) in the workplace and how the quest for equality might be happening in all the wrong ways.
We dive into ways society reinforces inequality - not just gender inequality, but also inequality between women. We discuss ways workplaces can actually cause a divide between women and what women really want in workplaces.
This episode is sure to turn your women's equality paradigms upside-down. At the end, we'll suggest some actions that will incite real change in women's equity.
See you inside!
Find Jen at:
@jenreimerleadership
www.virtuousradicals.com
Join the waitlist for Sheri's Women of Worth Program for Childless Women here.
Where to find Sheri:
Instagram: @sherijohnsoncoaching
Website: sherijohnson.ca
If you wanted to have kids and you're here now, at some point you have to or had to make a very tough decision.
What I’ve found is that it doesn’t matter whether you’re single, partnered, tried IVF, on the adoption route, never tried anything – we all are faced with a decision at some point. If you end up on the childless path, at some point, you decide to stop trying.
On today’s episode, I talk about the decision, the process, and what happens after you make it, so that you can feel more confident in your choice and recover emotionally after you've made it.
We're going to talk about
-
the agonizing process of figuring out what to do
-
some critical mistakes you might be making in an effort to make a choice
-
the counterintuitive mindset shift to finally get to a decision
This conversation is going to help you find peace with your decision, if you're in it or you already made it, freedom from regret, and wholeness beyond motherhood.
Where to find Sheri:
Instagram: @sherijohnsoncoaching
Website: sherijohnson.ca
You're the woman who was kind of ambivalent about having kids...until it was too late. Maybe you thought, "Someday I’ll have kids. When the right person comes along. When I have my career in place. I have time."
That was me. And suddenly I was out of time.
The feelings you might have felt and still be feeling are slightly different than if you desperately wanted kids and couldn't, or you never wanted them.
I'm going to talk about these nuanced emotions today, and what you can do to thrive if this is you.
We'll cover some of what you may be experiencing and why - like grappling with unexpected grief, regret, confusion, and self-doubt. Most importantly, we'll talk about the counterintuitive thing you can do to shift from ruminating, regretting, or grieving to finding clarity, freedom, and deep inner peace.
I love hearing about your breakthroughs and AHA moments. Send me a DM on instagram @sherijohnsoncoaching.
Ready for more?
Check out the WOMEN OF WORTH PROGRAM: HERE
Our signature program to process your grief, awaken your self-worth, and create your life of purpose and joy, even without kids.
Where to find Sheri:
Instagram: @sherijohnsoncoaching
Website: sherijohnson.ca
Why do we hold ourselves back from the lives we truly want? And more
importantly, how do we break free from this cycle?
Today, we are talking about something that quietly but powerfully shapes the
way we live—guilt.
This emotion affects childless women in unique ways. And sometimes, it turns into self-sabotage.
In this episode, I'm going to help you:
- Identify any guilt you might be harbouring, knowingly or unknowingly
- Discover how it might be leading you to unwittingly self-sabotage joy and happiness in your life.
- Understand some common ways that self-sabotage shows up for childless women like overcompensating. For example, Some childless women over-give in relationships, almost as if trying to justify their worth without kids.
- And finally, to release this guilt and embrace the joy in your life.
Listen in to start releasing the guilt you're carrying underneath it all, and start embracing your childless life joyfully.
References:
Money, A Love Story by Kate Northrup
Create Your Best Life guide: https://sherijohnson.ca/bestyear/
Where to find Sheri:
Instagram: @sherijohnsoncoaching
Website: sherijohnson.ca
Many of my clients grapple with this feeling that no one understands or has compassion for what they're going through. I might ruffle some feathers with my advice for you. But it's worth listening to the end, because when you do this, your life will transform.
I'm talking with my sister, Jen Reimer, about compassion - receiving it, giving it, and having it for yourself.
We get into where this seeming lack of compassion stems from, how to foster mutual compassion for those you perceive as insensitive, and finally, how this practice can transform your life.
Where to find Jen:
Instagram: @jenreimerleadership
Website: www.virtuousradicals.com
Where to find Sheri:
Instagram: @sherijohnsoncoaching
Website: sherijohnson.ca
Struggling to accept and love our bodies, especially when they haven’t done what society expects, is a theme that has been emerging inside my Women of Worth program.
Are you content with your body that didn't birth a child? Or do you feel that it has somehow failed you?
From ancient ideals to modern media, we’ve been told that motherhood is fundamental to being a woman. So, when that’s not part of your story many women begin to feel that their body is a daily reminder of what didn't happen. And to deal with this kind of judgement, they disconnect from their bodies.
In this episode, we'll find a way to honour the incredible bodies that carry us through life, and forgive them if they haven’t behaved the way we wanted them to, or they don’t look the way we want them to.
Then we'll explore how tapping into your body’s wisdom can lead you to profound self-love, joy, and acceptance.
Have a listen and share it with your friends if it's helpful - childless or not.
Where to find Sheri:
Instagram: @sherijohnsoncoaching
Website: sherijohnson.ca
It's not just parents who get tired. Childless women do too and when they are honest about feeling tired, that feeling is often invalidated by parents. We couldn't possibly be as tired as someone who has kids, right?
And yet, childless women feel just as busy, burned out and fatigued. Why is that?
In this solo episode, you find out:
- why we feel guilty when we rest
- how you can redefine rest in a way that will give you permission to do so more often
- what you can start doing today to practice resting without guilt
Where to find Sheri:
Instagram: @sherijohnsoncoaching
Website: sherijohnson.ca
You are in for one of the most fascinating conversations I've had on the podcast so far! Sarah Roberts joined me for this episode to show us the multitude of ways that regret can show up on the childless path. She also beautifully dropped it all into a framework for us so we can really start to recognize the source of the regret and begin to release it.
You are also going to experience some huge opportunities for a perspective shift on motherhood, the maternal decisions we made as childless women and the identities we carry forward.
This is a long one, but it's a good one.
You'll recognize Sarah as a very active and well-known member of the childless community. She is the founder The Empty Cradle, her counselling and advocacy service for childless women, ambassador of World Childless Week and facilitator of Gateway Women's Reignite Weekends in Australia. Sarah lives on a semi-rural property, she paints, plants trees and loves juicy conversations about life (as you'll hear on this episode). Sarah is deeply passionate about the human experience and what it means to live a good life.
Where to find Sarah:
Website: www.theemptycradle.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/involuntarychildlessness/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theemptycradle/
References from this episode:
Episode 94: 3 Keys to Overcoming Regret and Fear of Regret on the Childless Path
Book: The Power of Regret: How Looking Back Moves Us Forward by Daniel Pink
Where to find Sheri:
Instagram: @sherijohnsoncoaching
Website: sherijohnson.ca
You are gonna love my guest today - as a Canadian, to me, she's the quintessential funny, beautiful, British lady. And she's thriving solo. No partner, no kids. But she didn't always feel that way.
On this episode, Lucy Meggeson, host of Spinsterhood Reimagined, joined me to share her journey from hard done by to happy as a single woman without kids. But even if you have a partner, stick with me for this one. Lucy dropped so many golden nuggets of mindset shifts and tools that all of us childless people can benefit from.
You are going to discover Lucy's secrets to being happy even without a partner or a child. It is entirely possible!
Lucy Meggeson worked in production at BBC Radio 2 for several years before becoming the host and producer of her own podcast, Spinsterhood Reimagined — a podcast that celebrates all things single, childfree and personal growth.She’s a regular on Jo Good’s BBC Radio London show and has been a guest on various other radio and podcasts, including Jeremy Vine’s BBC Radio 2 show and Peter McGraw’s ‘Solo: The Single Person’s Guide to a Remarkable Life’. Lucy is based in London. She lives alone and enjoys a full, peaceful, contented and meaningful life (with a cat named Johnny Depp).
Where to find Lucy:
Instagram: @spinsterhoodreimagined
Website: www.lucymeggeson.com
Membership: Thrive Solo
Where to find Sheri:
Instagram: @sherijohnsoncoaching
Website: sherijohnson.ca
Today we're doing something a little different, and extra special.
Most people I know just jump into New Year's resolutions and get started trying to make them happen. But this is a mistake if you want to create your best year.
Before we create, we need to reflect on what exactly it is that we want. And there is so much information and inspiration held in the past year. So today, we're going to reflect.
We're going to remember, acknowledge and honour all you've been through this year, what you've accomplished, and what you've learned.
I offer you a meditation in this episode to help you relax into knowing what you want to keep from 2024 and letting go of what you don't. I recommend listening in a quiet space. Enjoy!
If you want to go deeper into this exercise with me, JOIN the:
Manifest Your Best Year in 2025 mini-workshop and guidebook.
Where to find Sheri:
Instagram: @sherijohnsoncoaching
Website: sherijohnson.ca
I used to dread the Christmas holidays when I first learned that I wasn't going to have kids of my own. Along with all the grief the holidays brought up, I also felt like I didn't belong at the kid-centred events or even at my own family gatherings.
The holidays are probably one of the toughest times for childless women. Grief can hit at unexpected moments and the triggers seem to be all over the place. They hit our social media feeds, our shopping excursions, and the middle of the football game on TV. Even a quick trip to the grocery store can seem daunting.
One of the hardest things about it might be that you've lost sight of your true self desires, so that you can imagine future holidays without all the traditions you thought you'd be creating with your kids.
Over the years, I've created a holiday season that I absolutely love. In this episode, I share my best 10 tips for you to create yours.
You'll find out:
- how to process the grief that comes up (hint: time doesn't heal)
- what to do to prepare for the potential triggers and release them
- how to redesign your holidays in a way that feels good for you
If you're ready to create the life your soul truly desires, join me to Manifest Your Best Year in 2025. Click the link below:
https://sherijohnson.thrivecart.com/yearend/
Where to find Sheri:
Instagram: @sherijohnsoncoaching
Website: sherijohnson.ca
It's the holiday season here in Canada and a common belief is that "magic is for kids." And as adults, we only get to experience magic through our kids.
So, what does that mean for childless women? We don't get to experience magic?
I believe that we DO; that these are myths, and I invite you to bust them with me in this episode.
We're also going to talk about what magic feels like, looks like, and how to bring more of it into our lives.
Join the "Love Your Unconventional Life" retreat here.
Resources:
Gabby Bernstein's May Cause Miracles book
Where to find Sheri:
Instagram: @sherijohnsoncoaching
Website: sherijohnson.ca
Are you making this mistake that could be stopping you from experiencing your best life?
Many people walk around on autopilot, thinking about the past or the future instead of being present. They make the mistake of operating on autopilot and following routines, without asking themselves what they really want to experience or how they want to feel.
If this is you, you're not manifesting your best life.
Manifesting a great, purposeful life requires getting intentional about what's ahead of you, whether that's your day, your week, or your year.
Living intentionally actually begins with reflecting back; noticing with gratitude what you have manifested, what you want more of, and how that felt. It also allows you to acknowledge what you've been through.
Then, you need to intentionally call in how you want to feel and what you want to experience, so that you create your life instead of allowing it to happen to you.
This episode gives you some simple steps to manifest the life you desire.
If you're ready to stop waiting for a great life to show up and want to manifest your best year with me, join the Manifest Your Best Year in 2025 mini-program here.
Where to find Sheri:
Instagram: @sherijohnsoncoaching
Website: sherijohnson.ca
Do you have a pet that feels like a child to you? Even if you don't, stay tuned, because this episode is going to blow the lid off of the "you don't know love until you have a child" sentiment that we hear from parents.
I have a really special guest on this episode who is going to take us through her childless journey as someone who self-identifies as a fence-sitter when it came to having children or not. She is a client, now also a gifted coach/facilitator inside of my signature program for childless women, a dog-mom and one of the most introspective and insightful women I've ever met.
Carla Montie and I had such a fascinating conversation about the childless experience and the parallels she sees between parenting and pet care and ownership. There are way more than you'd think and I can't wait to hear your thoughts on it.
Where to find Sheri:
Instagram: @sherijohnsoncoaching
Website: sherijohnson.ca
Something I hear all the time from childless women is, "I feel like I don't belong", or "I don't fit in".
One of the biggest mistakes I see among these women making is AVOIDING kid-centred events in order to avoid the feeling that they don't belong.
I felt this too, so I get it. I used to avoid anything to do with Santa, the Christmas parades, or any community event that was focused on children. I was afraid to feel the feelings that went along with those events.
And, I learned that this was only making me feel worse. It's because creating a barrier around yourself isolates you even further. So you feel less connected and more excluded. Until you fix the underlying issue, you'll stay like this and eventually become lonely, even bitter.
This episode is all about what this underlying issue IS, and how to transform it, so that you feel belonging no matter where you are or who you're with. You'll learn:
- What is REALLY underneath the feeling that you don't belong
- The secret to feeling like you DO belong
- My 3C's framework for shifting your sense of belonging, no matter who you're with.
If you're a childless woman, ready to dive deeper into your own sense of belonging, here are two ways to work with me:
Access my Create Your Best Holiday mini-course here , and turn your childless holiday full of triggers into one full of peace.
And, join the Love Your Beautiful Unconventional Life Retreat. This retreat takes place in March 2025 in beautiful Mazunte, Mexico.
Where to find Sheri:
Instagram: @sherijohnsoncoaching
Website: sherijohnson.ca
Send me a text and tell me what you're struggling with the most!
This might be one of the most "triggering" remarks that parents make to people who don't have kids. If you wanted kids, you sure don't feel very lucky, right? In fact, you might feel pretty unlucky.
Have you had this scenario come up before? I have and I'm going to walk through the steps I used to handle it with love and kindness.
This is the last solo episode in my summer series on responding authentically to all the questions and remarks we get as women without kids. I'll share:
- the sign that you're on the "treadmill of triggers"
- how to shift your mindset and approach this question with grace
- options for responding in different scenarios
If you are someone who wants to be prepared for ALL the insensitive remarks and questions - whatever comes your way - send me a DM to @sherijohnsoncoaching with the words "episode 121" and I'll show you what you can do next.
Where to find Sheri:
Instagram: @sherijohnsoncoaching
Website: sherijohnson.ca
Send me a text and tell me your favourite thing about the pod!
So many childless and childfree women hate this question. A simple "no" answer often leads to awkward silences or the other party trying to back track or fill the space. But what if you could answer this question with ease and grace and both you and the person asking the question could walk away from the conversation feeling good?
That's what today's episode is all about. It's not about coming up with snide or sarcastic comments that will "put the person in their place". It's about responding with a new perspective and with love and kindness.
In this solo episode, I'll show you how to:
- get into an empowering mindset
- shift your perspective on what causes people to ask this question
- be prepared with easy answers
If you want to find out how to answer ALL the insensitive questions and remarks about women without kids, send me a DM at @sherijohnsoncoaching with the words "episode 120" and I'll give you the next steps!
Where to find Sheri:
Instagram: @sherijohnsoncoaching
Website: sherijohnson.ca
Send me a text and tell me your favourite thing about the pod!
If you are anything like me, you're probably tired of hearing about JD Vance and the comments he made publicly about childless women being miserable cat ladies and having no stake in America's future.
I'm not even American, and yet angry reactions to this have been filling my feed these days.
The thing is, the majority of them have been simply reactions to his comments. And my question became, "what good is this doing?"
So I'm taking a different approach on the pod this week and actually showing you how to dissipate any reaction you may have had to JD Vance's comments.
Now let's get clear on one thing. I am not on his side. I'm not condoning what he said. I just want to shift your own perspective so that you can move on and let it go.
So this is what I'm going to share with you on this episode:
- what these kinds of comments show you about yourself
- how JD Vance's comments show you about him and his beliefs
- how lashing out against him is not actually going to change the way people think about childless women
If you're ready to take take a more empowering stance when it comes to insensitive comments and questions and find out how to let these triggers roll off your back, send me a DM on Instagram to @sherijohnsoncoaching with the word “powerful”. I’ll give you the steps on how to do it.
Where to find Sheri:
Instagram: @sherijohnsoncoaching
Website: sherijohnson.ca
Send me a text and tell me your favourite thing about the pod!
If you want to be able to answer questions like “do you have kids” with authenticity instead of awkwardness, you must shift your mindset. It's not enough to just rehearse how you'll respond. And if you're anything like I used to be, what you're rehearsing might feel more defensive and hurt than empowering.
When I first realized that I wasn't going to have kids, I just wanted everyone to just stop asking me about kids, stop giving me advice and stop saying things I didn’t want to hear. But once I realized that it was my own mindset that needed a shift, I felt a huge sense of empowerment.
In this solo episode, I'll share 7 signs that you might be stuck in a mindset that is blocking you from moving forward.
Where to find Sheri:
Instagram: @sherijohnsoncoaching
Website: sherijohnson.ca
Send me a text and tell me your favourite thing about the pod!
"Time heals all wounds" is the biggest lie we've been told about grief. I used to believe this lie, myself. After any sort of big emotion, I thought time would eventually clear it away.
This is a super-short solo episode where I break down why this common, widely-held belief is actually a myth, and what you can do about it.
This is the second episode in my summer series on how to answer all the insensitive questions and remarks we get as childless women. Tune in each week all summer long if you want to have more authentic, less-awkward conversations.
If you are someone who wants to stop waiting around for time to heal your wounds and take action instead, so you can answer all the questions with grace, send me a DM on Instagram with the word, "grace".
Where to find Sheri:
Instagram: @sherijohnsoncoaching
Website: sherijohnson.ca
Send me a text and tell me your favourite thing about the pod!
Do you have kids? Who's going to take care of you when you're old? What's your purpose then? You can borrow my kids anytime!
You've probably heard them all, or at least some of the questions and comments that bother us women without kids. Maybe you've thought to yourself, or maybe even out loud, "I wish people would just stop asking questions or saying insensitive things". And if you have, you might have noticed that there's always someone else who says something that gets under your skin and sometimes it comes right out of left field.
I'll let you in on a secret: it will never end. There will always be another mole in this endless game of wac-a-mole. Unless you heal the wound that is continuously being triggered by these questions and comments.
If you want to find out how to respond with authenticity and grace, have a listen to this episode, the first in a series during which I'll share my secrets.
And if you really want to go all in, summer is the perfect time to join the Women of Worthy Program! Your summer is going to get a whole lot better in the few weeks that are left, and you’ll be in a much better position to handle all the social media stuff around back to school and Halloween. Send me a DM on Instagram with the word SUMMER and I’ll share the details.
Where to find Sheri:
Instagram: @sherijohnsoncoaching
Website: sherijohnson.ca
Send me a text and tell me your favourite thing about the pod!
Childless? Childfree? Woman Without Kids? Take your pick!
I've been really curious about how women who don't have kids and wanted them identify themselves. Some appear to be really attached to the Childless Not By Choice term, and yet my own experience and in the multiple discussions we've had in my group program, childless seems to make us FEEL less.
In this solo episode, I unpack all the different terms, the fact that it's not as black and white as childfree versus childless, and how to detach yourself from the terminology altogether.
If you are someone who wants to have this kind of discussion openly and lovingly with other "childless" women, summer is the perfect time to join the Women of Worth program. Imagine how much better your summer could look with the right support through grief and to manifest your best life? Send me an email or a DM with the word "podcast 115" and I'll share the details with you.
Where to find Sheri:
Instagram: @sherijohnsoncoaching
Website: sherijohnson.ca
Send me a text and tell me your favourite thing about the pod!
Feeling lonely is one of the most common complaints I hear from childless women so if you're feeling lonely, you are definitely not the only one!
I felt lonely too when I first started down the path to permanently childless, especially once my husband seemed to have moved forward without me and didn't seem to understand what I was going through.
So I thought it was high time to talk more openly about loneliness and how to dissipate it. Tune into this solo episode to find out:
- why retreating and avoiding the situations that make you feel like an outsider is actually making you feel worse
- how shame makes its way into your psyche when you feel lonely
- the one thing that is actually going to shift things for you that you've never thought of doing
If you are done with feeling lonely and ready to have an amazing summer, even without kids, I'm opening up the Women of Worth program to a small group of women. It's only open to women who are ready to take action.
Send me an email to sheri@sherijohnson.ca with the word "summer" if you wanna find out more.
Where to find Sheri:
Instagram: @sherijohnsoncoaching
Website: sherijohnson.ca
Send me a text and tell me your favourite thing about the pod!
There was a time when I didn't quite feel like I had found a place within the childless community and the reason was that I had not done IVF. It seemed as though so many of the women there had tried IVF and they had this common language and terms that I wasn't familiar with.
Then I realized that there are SO many different paths that all converge on leading a life without children and yet perhaps there were other women out there who felt like I did. So on today's episode, I'm pulling back the curtains on why I chose not to pursue IVF and how I grappled with that choice.
You'll find out:
- all the reasons I decided not to do IVF
- the fears that kept me on the fence
- the judgment that came afterwards
If you're struggling with the decision between whether to quit trying to become a mom (in some way, shape or form) and embracing your life without kids, send me a DM on Instagram with the word DECISION. I'll show you how you can get off the fence.
References from this episode:
Ep. 100: From the Partner's Perspective, with Mike Johnson (my hubby)
Where to find Sheri:
Instagram: @sherijohnsoncoaching
Website: sherijohnson.ca
Send me a text and tell me your favourite thing about the pod!
Harrison Butker's commencement speech at Benedictine College ruffled a LOT of feathers, especially within the childfree community. There were a lot of insults thrown at him, arguments started on social media comment sections, even calls to cancel his NFL contract. Were they justified? In my opinion, it doesn't really matter.
What matters is this: how do YOU feel when you hear words like Harrison's and if it's outrage, do you know how to dissipate that? You might think you don't want to dissipate that anger, because, well, it's justified right? But what good is it, if everyone just walks away from the comment section feeling angry and nothing has changed?
In this solo episode, I'm breaking it all down:
- why you feel so outraged when you hear words like this and why they make you feel so slighted
- the mistakes that you might be making that are causing you to feel worse
- the first few steps you can take to feel relief
- how to actually close the gap between childless/childfree people and parents
If you want to find your own true purpose and worthy "vocation" as Harrison calls it, download my free PDF, Finding Purpose Beyond Parenthood: Getting Through Grief and Triggers to a Life of Meaning and Joy!
Where to find Sheri:
Instagram: @sherijohnsoncoaching
Website: sherijohnson.ca
Send me a text and tell me your favourite thing about the pod!
Download your free guide to Finding Purpose Beyond Parenthood: Getting Through Grief and Triggers to a Life of Meaning and Joy!
Last week I talked about how purpose is not something you "find". It's also not a singular mission. It's not a destination. And it doesn't have to be big.
Once you begin to practice all the things that I outlined that will bring you a sense of meaning and purpose, you may find that you are still struggling. It might mean that there is something standing in the way.
Identifying your personal obstacles is the first step. In this episode I share:
- 4 possible obstacles that may be standing in the way of your purpose
- 3 counterintuitive ways to remove them
- what do do next to solidify your purpose
If you are an action taker and want to discover more about how to live your purpose-filled life, download my free PDF guide, Finding Purpose Beyond Parenthood: Getting Through Grief and Triggers to a Life of Meaning and Joy!
Where to find Sheri:
Instagram: @sherijohnsoncoaching
Website: sherijohnson.ca
Send me a text and tell me your favourite thing about the pod!
Download your free guide to Finding Purpose Beyond Parenthood: Getting Through Grief and Triggers to a Life of Meaning and Joy!
Purpose is not some concept that you find. It's not a destination. It's not singular. And it doesn't come from having kids. I understand why you believe it does. I did too.
It's because society tells us that when you have kids, you'll be flooded with purpose. Especially as women, becoming a mother is supposed to be our sole (and soul) purpose. And when we don't get to have kids, we end up feeling lost, unfulfilled, like there's a big open space in front of us that we don't know how to fill.
And I'm here to tell you that it's entirely possible to live a beautiful, exciting, purpose-filled life, even without kids! I've done. My clients have done it. And I'm going to give you the two steps to doing it yourself today. Tune back in next week to find out how to remove any obstacles to living your purpose.
Discover more about how to live your purpose-filled life by downloading my free PDF guide, Finding Purpose Beyond Parenthood: Getting Through Grief and Triggers to a Life of Meaning and Joy!
Where to find Sheri:
Instagram: @sherijohnsoncoaching
Website: sherijohnson.ca
If you want to create your best life in 2024, even without kids, download my free guide. You'll discover how to find purpose, joy and fulfillment and what might be standing in the way.
Click here for your free guide
It is clear to me that Ruby Warrington is a thought leader in the childfree/childless space. She has authored, Women Without Kids: The Revolutionary Rise of an Unsung Sisterhood, and in my view, the whole book was revolutionary. She discusses concepts that were swirling around vaguely in my head and my mind was blown when I saw them so well articulated on the pages of her book.
We get into some of these concepts on today's episode. Topics ranging from the "motherhood spectrum" to the urge to leave a legacy and it's link to the fear of death. We discussed grief and self-worth and even sex and homophobia.
Have a listen to this episode and find out for yourself, how diverse the issues really are when you are woman without kids and how simply changing your perspective can actually change how you feel about your circumstances.
Find Ruby at:
Website: rubywarrington.com
Book: Women Without Kids: The Revolutionary Rise of an Unsung Sisterhood
Kripalu Retreat: Celebrate Being Childfree
If you want to create your best life in 2024, even without kids, download my free guide. You'll discover how to find purpose, joy and fulfillment and what might be standing in the way.
Click here for your free guide
Many childless people don't even realize they are grieving. Who would have known you can grieve the loss of an imagined future? What I find is that many women without kids, even those who choose not to have them, feel some sort of grief and it's not always the loss of that future. Identifying what specifically you're grieving is key to processing it.
In this solo episode, I'm giving you the first step of the Grow Through Grief pillar of my framework: identify what hidden grief might be lying under the surface. That is, after you realize or admit that you are feeling grief.
I'm sharing 7 different less-obvious things you might be grieving and didn't even know it. Many of these will resonate even with those who chose not to have kids, or those who are sort of ambiguous about it. So have a listen no matter what your circumstances.
If you are ready to fully process and release the grief AND get the rest of my framework for creating Purpose Beyond Parenthood, click here to sign up for one of my free focus groups.
Where to find Sheri:
Instagram: @sherijohnsoncoaching
Website: sherijohnson.ca
If you want to create your best life in 2024, even without kids, download my free guide. You'll discover how to find purpose, joy and fulfillment and what might be standing in the way.
Click here for your free guide
These are 5 steps you haven't heard before. You've probably heard people talk about staying off social media and opting out of Mother's Day emails. Maybe doing something nice for yourself and saying "no" to the celebrations. These are all valid things you can do to avoid feeling the pain of Mother's Day as a childless woman who wanted to be a mother.
And yet, they're all band-aid solutions. None of them will actually help you feel better next year on this day. Or throughout the year. None of them will help you to live a happy, purpose-driven, joyful life as a woman without kids every day.
My steps for navigating Mother's Day go against the grain. They'll seem counterintuitive but they work.
And if you want to take this a step further and find out my exact framework for living a purposeful, happy life as a childless woman THIS year so next Mother's Day feels amazing, email me the word "Mother's Day" at sheri@sherijohnson.ca or @sherijohnsoncoaching.
Where to find Sheri:
Instagram: @sherijohnsoncoaching
Website: sherijohnson.ca
If you want to create your best life in 2024, even without kids, download my free guide. You'll discover how to find purpose, joy and fulfillment and what might be standing in the way.
Click here for your free guide
Menopause is a huge transformational time for women and another topic that we don’t talk about enough. Women may joke about their memory, or hot flashes or complain about heavy periods. But they don’t talk about the deep stuff. The vulnerable stuff. Or the scary stuff.
There is SO much going on for women during perimenopause and midlife, and childless women experience it, quite often, right alongside trying to start a family before it’s too late. That, to me, adds a whole other element.
In this solo episode, I shed light on:
- what childless women experience that is different from the norm
- why we want to hold onto our youth even more than a mother might
- how to defy societal conditioning and move through this period in your life with joy
DM me "AGING" on Instagram @sherijohnsoncoaching if you are ready to let go of societal norms so you can love your childless midlife.
Where to find Sheri:
Instagram: @sherijohnsoncoaching
Website: sherijohnson.ca
It's hard to fit in when you are in the minority. Childless women over 40 make up roughly 20% of the population (depending on what country you live in). Sometimes I wonder how many of them are living in the larger cities because it sure feels like everyone around me in my little town are parents.
But what if we embraced this unchosen nonconformity? What if we unleashed the inner rebel within us and did EVERYTHING our own way? How liberating would that feel, especially if you let go of what everyone else thought about it?
In this solo episode, we'll explore together...
- the societal pressures and expectations placed on women to conform to traditional roles and identities, even after they know they won't have children
- how to overcome the fears around truly embracing authenticity, defying societal norms, and forging your own path to fulfillment
- how to uncover alternative paths for yourself and have the courage to fulfill them without feeling the need to justify it to others
- getting through the self-doubt
If you want to create your best life in 2024, even without kids, download my free guide. You'll discover how to find purpose, joy and fulfillment and what might be standing in the way.
Click here for your free guide
In our current society, women without kids make up anywhere between 15 and 25% of the adult female population, depending on the country. Recently, I started to wonder what life would look like - what grief would look like - if that were reversed.
If mothers were in the minority, would childless women feel so much FOMO, inadequacy or lack of belonging? Would the grief run as deep? Would we still wonder what our legacy or purpose is?
Join me for this solo episode where I contemplate:
- aging in a world where childless women made up a larger proportion of the population than mothers
- how different purpose and legacy might look in this alternative reality
- what grief might look like for women without kids
It's this kind of reality that I'm creating inside the Women of Worth group immersion. A place where childless women feel a sense of belonging, meaningful connection, an open space to create their best lives, even without kids.
If you want to take one step towards your best life, download my free PDF guide to Create Your Best Year, Even Without Kids.
Where to find Sheri:
Instagram: @sherijohnsoncoaching
Website: sherijohnson.ca
Have you ever come away from a conversation thinking "gosh, "people just don't get it"? Either they say something insensitive or simply can't empathize with your childless circumstances.
It's definitely happened to me. Even recently. But the mistake I see in the childless space is the assumption that there is nothing you can do about it. You just have to deal with the irritation or "trigger" and move on somehow.
What I have noticed, in myself and my clients, is that there IS something you can do about it. The first step is recognizing when it's happening and then taking steps to do what's in your own control instead of trying to change them.
Listen to this solo episode to find out:
- what lies beneath the feeling that people "just don't get it"
- 10 different ways that your feelings might be invalidated
- 4 steps you can take to avoid feeling this way
DM me or email me the word "empathy" if you're ready to find true connection and empathy within a community that understands you.
Where to find Sheri:
Instagram: @sherijohnsoncoaching
Website: sherijohnson.ca
If you want to create your best life in 2024, even without kids, download my free guide. You'll discover how to find purpose, joy and fulfillment and what might be standing in the way.
Click here for your free guide
Anger is an emotion that comes up a lot with my childless clients who wanted kids. Anger can be a really complicated emotion because it's not only an emotion in and of itself, but it can also disguise other emotions.
What makes it even tougher to manage is that most little girls are taught not to express the tough emotions. Anger is something boys are allowed to show, but not girls. Yes, even in today's society. So you might be someone who was conditioned to suppress anger, and maybe other negative emotions as well.
Join me on this episode as I share:
- the difference between true anger and anger that disguises other emotions
- why we feel anger and the mistakes you might be making to avoid it
- what to do about anger specific to your childless path
If you are ready to let go of anger so you can feel at peace with your path, send me a DM on Instagram or an email at sheri@sherijohnson.ca with the word "anger".
References from this episode:
Atlas of the Heart by Brené Brown
Where to find Sheri:
Instagram: @sherijohnsoncoaching
Website: sherijohnson.ca
If you want to create your best life in 2024, even without kids, download my free guide. You'll discover how to find purpose, joy and fulfillment and what might be standing in the way.
Click here for your free guide
As I embark on the next 100 episodes on the Awakening Worth Podcast, I spend this session reflecting on the deeper reason I keep hitting record and why you should keep hitting the play button.
I've come to realize that so many of us are stuck in this pronatalist ideology and it's impacting, well...really, all of humanity. It's us, the childless women, who feel it the most, but it's affecting all of us.
On this solo episode, I'm delving into:
- what pronatalism is and why you need to start paying attention to how it's affecting you
- the magic that will happen when we start dismantling it
- the difference between grief and feeling like you don't belong, or like a second class citizen next to the moms
- the two epidemics we're experiencing in our culture that no one is talking about
What if we, the childless women, are the ones who can break down and break free of this centuries old ideology? What if it's us, who can lead the transformation of our society and deeply impact the lives of not just other childless women, but women in general?
If you want to be a part of this kind of transformation and change in the world, start by taking my Self-Worth quiz to find out how deeply pronatalism is impacting YOU.
sherijohnson.ca/quiz
References From this Episode
Episode 55: My So-Called Selfish Life with Therese Shechter
Episode 67: Patriarchy and Pronatalism and Their Impact on Childless Women, with Jody Day
Episode 92: How to Turn Grief Into Growth, With Kirsten Frey
Book: Dance of the Dissident Daughter by Sue Monk Kidd
Where to Find SheriInstagram: @sherijohnsoncoaching
Website: sherijohnson.ca
If you want to create your best life in 2024, even without kids, download my free guide. You'll discover how to find purpose, joy and fulfillment and what might be standing in the way.
Click here for your free guide
Celebrating 100 episodes today! My husband, Mike Johnson, and I mark this special occasion together on the podcast with a conversation that makes its way through life without children from HIS perspective. As we share the narrative of our journey, from the heartbreak of miscarriage to the multitude of decisions along the fertility treatment path, we peel back the layers of our different perspectives.
Mike lends his voice to explore the complexities of a partner's role in facing childlessness, an area frequently overshadowed by the focus on women. We shed light on the decision-making process behind IVF and donor eggs and dissect the influences that his own previous life-altering events had on the anticipation of parenting.
This milestone episode doesn't just celebrate the podcast's growth; it honors the dance that happened while adapting our hopes for the future together.
Mike gets pretty vulnerable and open during our conversation with some questions that took him off guard. Join us for the raw and honest episode!
Where to find Sheri:Instagram: @sherijohnsoncoaching
Website: sherijohnson.ca
If you want to create your best life in 2024, even without kids, download my free guide. You'll discover how to find purpose, joy and fulfillment and what might be standing in the way.
Click here for your free guide
The moment I sat in quiet meditation with an energy healer, I never anticipated the floodgates of emotional pain that would open from my womb space. That pivotal encounter ignited a journey into womb healing, leading me to create womb healing retreats that help women to release emotions stored in the womb space.
On today's episode, I replay a conversation that my sister, Jen, had on her show, Leading with Grace. We venture into the transformative power of acknowledging and addressing womb trauma, not just for those who've grappled with infertility or sexual trauma, but for any (and we argue ALL) woman.
You are going to discover:
- what womb "trauma" is and how almost every woman has experienced some kind of it
- how we store emotion in the womb space in much the same way that we store stress in our shoulders
- how and why releasing this emotion allows you to tap into purpose, self-worth, creativity and your innate intuitive gifts.
This one is more than just a conversation; it's an invitation to transform your deepest wounds into unparalleled strength.
To find out more about our Energetic Womb Healing Virtual Retreat, visit sherijohnson.ca/womb
Deadline to sign up is Thursday, Feb. 29th.
Where to find Jennifer:Instagram:@jenreimerleadership
Website: virtuousradicals.com
References:
Women Who Run with the Wolves By Clarissa Pinkola Estes
Where to find Sheri:Instagram: @sherijohnsoncoaching
Website: sherijohnson.ca
If you want to create your best life in 2024, even without kids, download my free guide. You'll discover how to find purpose, joy and fulfillment and what might be standing in the way.
Click here for your free guide
This episode is a bit controversial. I think there's this an expectation that if you are a woman, you are onboard with everything International Women's Day stands for. But I'm not known for just getting on board with something simply because of an expectation. Do I want women to rise? Yes. Do I want there to be equitable pay in the workforce? Yes. Do I want to see more women at the top? Absolutely!
At the same time, there are some aspects of IWD that I look at from a different perspective. I'm sharing all my thoughts on this episode and I'm curious about your reaction.
You'll hear me discuss:
- how I won't strive for equality, but I will strive for equity
- that I refuse to fight for equity and why
- why I don't expect men to solve this for us
- how to actually create a world of inclusion
References:Women’s Bodies, Women’s Wisdom by Dr. Christiane Northrup
Where to find Sheri:Instagram: @sherijohnsoncoaching
Website: sherijohnson.ca
If you want to create your best life in 2024, even without kids, download my free guide. You'll discover how to find purpose, joy and fulfillment and what might be standing in the way.
Click here for your free guide
I'm doing a solo episode today and pulling back the curtain on pronatalism even further. In this episode, I will peel away the layers of this pervasive belief system, examining how it shapes the sense of purpose and self-worth in those of us without children. By uncovering historical and contemporary pressures from society, government, and religion, we pave the way for acceptance and a redefined sense of meaning and purpose beyond traditional expectations.
Tune in to find out:
- what pronatalism is and how it affects our subconscious beliefs about purpose
- how my own sense of purpose and fulfillment unfolded over a number of years
- how your own sense of purpose might be affected by pronatalism and what to do about it
Where to find Sheri:
Instagram: @sherijohnsoncoaching
Website: sherijohnson.ca
If you want to create your best life in 2024, even without kids, download my free guide. You'll discover how to find purpose, joy and fulfillment and what might be standing in the way.
Click here for your free guide
As a leader in the childless space, Maria Hill brings a ton of wisdom to this episode. Her story of parental and societal expectations as a woman growing up in the 60's shed so much light on what we are going through now as childless women.
Maria and I cover some unexpected topics in this conversation from how Ayurveda supports the grief journey to highly sensitive people to the patriarchy and how it's impacting us all.
The most fascinating part of the conversation for me though, was on the topic of how our current culture perpetuates survival mode. You'll discover:
- how our society and the leaders within it are keeping us from thriving
- some of the surprising ways that we can shift our mindset as women without kids
- Maria's best tip for women just embarking on the childless path
Where to find Maria:
Website: www.mariaehill.com
The Age Of The Queen webinar series: www.mariaehill.com/wcw-queen/
Instagram: @mariahill
References from this episode:
The Book of Longing by Sue Monk Kidd
Dance of the Dissident Daughter by Sue Monk Kidd
Are You A Highly Sensitive Person Test by Elaine Aron
Spiral Dynamics: Mastering Values, Leadership and Change by Prof. Don Edward Beck and Christopher C. Cowan
Where to find Sheri:
Instagram: @sherijohnsoncoaching
Website: sherijohnson.ca
If you want to create your best life in 2024, even without kids, download my free guide. You'll discover how to find purpose, joy and fulfillment and what might be standing in the way.
Click here for your free guide
Legacy. It's a word I hear a lot in the childless community. What kind of legacy will I leave now that I'm not having kids? As though having kids is the only way to leave a legacy.
In this episode, I'll unpack:
- what legacy is and the role of ego in this need to leave a legacy behind
- how to know if you're ego is coming into play and the mistakes you might be making while trying to leave a legacy
- how to delink children and legacy
- strategies for redefining legacy
To get Sheri's FREE guide to Create Your Best Life Even Without Kids, click here.
Where to Find Sheri
Instagram: @sherijohnsoncoaching
Website: sherijohnson.ca
A feeling of regret and fear of future regret are two things I hear so many childless women talk about. We regret decisions and choices we made in the past that have led to our current circumstances. We also are afraid to make decisions in the present because we might regret them later.
I'm going to unpack it all in this episode. You'll find out:
- what is regret and what purpose does it serve
- what happens when you stay stuck in regret or stuck in decisions because of the fear of it
- how to make peace with it and truly live with no regret
It's entirely possible to step into peace and acceptance of your path without feelings of regret. If you want that, send me a DM on Instagram with the words "ep 94" and I'll show you how.
Where to find Sheri:
Instagram: @sherijohnsoncoaching
Website: sherijohnson.ca
If you want to create your best life in 2024, even without kids, download my free guide. You'll discover how to find purpose, joy and fulfillment and what might be standing in the way.
Click here for your free guide
Embarking on the path of adoption or deciding against it—either one is a journey laden with emotion and complexity. Today, I open my heart to you in a candid narrative of my own experiences with the profound choice of not adopting.
We'll cover the unpredictable adoption landscape, unpack societal expectations, and contemplate the often-overlooked emotional and logistical hurdles that can steer one away from this life-altering decision.
Listen to this episode and also discover:
- How I answer the question, "why not just adopt?"
- How shame and self-worth show up during the route to and away from adoption
- What to do if you're stuck in the decision
If you're struggling with the tangle of societal expectations, judgment, fears and your own true desires that keep people from making a decision, DM me "ep 93" on Instagram and I'll guide you through it.
Where to find Sheri:
Instagram: @sherijohnsoncoaching
Website: sherijohnson.ca
If you want to create your best life in 2024, even without kids, download my free guide. You'll discover how to find purpose, joy and fulfillment and what might be standing in the way.
Click here for your free guide
I continue to be enlightened and inspired by my good friend, Kirsten Frey. She returns for a second time on this episode to share her expertise on recovering from grief and opens us up to the multitude of different kinds of loss.
We tend to think of the acute sense of loss after a loved one has passed as the primary type of grief, but there are 40 other kinds of valid loss that may not have anything to do with physical death. The realization that you're never going to be a mother is one of them.
If you're a woman without kids, or even if you're a mother, this episode is going to blow your mind. Kirsten and I discuss:
- what "completing" grief is and we answer the question as to whether grief can ever be fully processed and healed
- the difference between tangible and intangible loss
- the importance of acknowledging and feeling your emotions
- why taking action is imperative for moving through grief
Kirsten Frey is a Transitional Life Coach, Advanced Grief Recovery Specialist and Reiki Guide.
Where to find Kirsten and get her free e-book:
Instagram: @tlclifecoaching
Website: Transitions Life Coaching
E-book: 61 Tips for Moving Through Grief
Where to find Sheri:
Instagram: @sherijohnsoncoaching
Website: sherijohnson.ca
References from this episode:
Awakening Worth Podcast Episode 16: 6 Myths that Prevent Healing from Miscarriage
If you want to create your best life in 2024, even without kids, download my free guide. You'll discover how to find purpose, joy and fulfillment and what might be standing in the way.
Click here for your free guide
I used to start every year during my pursuit of motherhood thinking, "this is going to be my year". And it never was. Once I came to terms that my future was going to be childless, it started to look pretty dismal. And yet, I wanted to feel optimistic about the year ahead. What I didn't realize was that I had some obstacles in my way that needed breaking down. Consciously.
In this solo episode, you'll discover:
- what those 5 obstacles are
- how to identify if they're standing in the way of your joyful 2024
- what to do if they are
Join me, and let's step into 2024 with courage, grace, and the freedom to craft a life of meaning, motherhood aside.
If you are ready to create a joyful 2024, DM me "episode 91" on Instagram.
Where to find Sheri:
Instagram: @sherijohnsoncoaching
Website: sherijohnson.ca
Other References from this Episode:Awakening Worth Podcast Episode 73: Letting Go Of Your Childless Identity is Crucial for Embracing Your Future
Kate Northrup's Plenty podcast, Episode 17: How to Increase your Capacity to Receive Love
It's 3 days before Christmas as I record this special episode. This is not my usual all-talk episode or guest interview. Today, in this heartfelt episode, I'll guide you through a visualization exercise that promises to lift your spirits and shift your emotional state towards love and joy.
So find yourself a quiet spot where you won't be disturbed, put your ear pods in and get ready to transform. This powerful meditation will change your whole day, if not your entire holiday.
If you are a childless woman, and you want more of this, meditations and visualizations are something we do a lot of inside the Women of Worth group immersion and I'm opening up a new cohort in January. Head to my IG account and DM me "ep 90" if you want to find out more.
Where to find Sheri:
Instagram: @sherijohnsoncoaching
Website: sherijohnson.ca
If you want to create your best life in 2024, even without kids, download my free guide. You'll discover how to find purpose, joy and fulfillment and what might be standing in the way.
Click here for your free guide
It's pretty normal to feel like you don't belong when you're a childless woman. We grow up thinking that eventually, we'll belong to the mom club. And then it leaves us with a pretty big feeling of exclusion when we don't get to join.
Most people in the childless space, assume that this feeling of not fitting in is a part of the grief and that once the grief starts to lift, we'll also start to feel more included. But that is not the case.
In this episode, I'm going to share :
- why belonging is actually a deeply seated survival need
- how and why does this survival instinct show up when our basic needs for survival are already met
- 3 ways to hone your own sense of belonging without relying on the people around you to include you
If you are ready to start taking action toward developing your own sense of belonging, DM me "ep 89" and I'll share how you can take this deeper!
Where to find Sheri:
Instagram: @sherijohnsoncoaching
Website: sherijohnson.ca
References from this Episode:
Work by Dr. Kelly-Ann Allen : Making Sense of Belonging
If you want to create your best life in 2024, even without kids, download my free guide. You'll discover how to find purpose, joy and fulfillment and what might be standing in the way.
Click here for your free guide
When we want something, it's not actually that thing that we want. It's the feeling that we imagine we'll have when we have the thing. When I wrapped my head around this concept, I could use it to determine exactly what I wanted to feel and how to bring those positive emotions into the holidays.
The holidays don't have to be full of dread. They used to be for me. I'd avoid anything that had to do with kids and stuck to the adults-only parties and activities as much as I could. And then I suffered through the rest.
But then I found a way to intentionally create the holidays I wanted. For me, that was a season full of peace, joy, beauty and a little excitement and anticipation sprinkled in.
In this episode, I share:
- exactly how I shifted my mindset around the holidays and now, dare I say, love the season
- how I was able to tap into my true desires and the feelings I imagined they would bring
- the holiday traditions that bring me those exact feelings
If you want to find out more about how you can find Meaning Beyond Motherhood, DM me "focus group" to join my free focus group for childless women.
Where to find Sheri:
Instagram: @sherijohnsoncoaching
Website: sherijohnson.ca
References from this Episode:
85: 10 Tips to Get You Through the Holidays as a Childless Woman
86: How to Prepare Emotionally for Holiday Gatherings
The Worthy Project by Meadow DeVor
If you want to create your best life in 2024, even without kids, download my free guide. You'll discover how to find purpose, joy and fulfillment and what might be standing in the way.
Click here for your free guide
No one likes to be pitied. And childless women who wanted kids are no different. I certainly don't like it and I did feel as though people pitied me when I first began to accept that I would never be a mom. But when my clients started asking how to get past pity, I realized that I didn't feel it at all anymore and had to really dig into how I shifted my perception. Because the people around me certainly haven't changed. I did.
On this episode, you're going to find out:
- what pity really is and why it feels so isolating
- how to know if you are actually being pitied and how self-pity comes into play
- how to shift your mindset so that you never feel pity again
I’m really curious to hear how this episode lands for you. It’s a tough topic and one that comes up a lot. If it has for you, then my next question for you is this: are you going to continue to just plow through and hope that you just wake up on the other side of it all ? Or will you take some action, and figure out a way to let go of feeling pitied?
If you are the latter, head over to Instagram and send me a DM at @sherijohnsoncoaching with the words “ep. 87” . I’ll give you the step by step.
Where to find Sheri:
Instagram: @sherijohnsoncoaching
Website: sherijohnson.ca
References from this episode:
Atlas of the Heart by Brene Brown
If you want to create your best life in 2024, even without kids, download my free guide. You'll discover how to find purpose, joy and fulfillment and what might be standing in the way.
Click here for your free guide
If you’re already worried about feeling grief and triggers while at a family gathering or social event through the holidays, this episode is for you. I’m going to give you some solid steps for preparing yourself before, during and after so you can breeze through them like a woman of grace.
You'll discover:
- the mistakes I (and many childless women) make when planning for the holidays
- how to avoid resentment and maintain your boundaries
- the steps you can take before, during and after a gathering so you can actually enjoy socializing, even when there are kids around
If you want to go deeper, head over to my Instagram account and send me a DM with the words "episode 86" to get a copy of my holiday guide for childless women.
Where to find Sheri:
Instagram: @sherijohnsoncoaching
Website: sherijohnson.ca
References from this episode:85: 10 Tips to Get You Through the Holidays as a Childless Woman
If you want to create your best life in 2024, even without kids, download my free guide. You'll discover how to find purpose, joy and fulfillment and what might be standing in the way.
Click here for your free guide
The holidays are probably one of the toughest times for childless women. Grief can hit at unexpected moments and the triggers seem to be all over the place. They hit our social media feeds, our shopping excursions, and the middle of the football game on TV. Even a quick trip to the grocery store can seem daunting.
One of the hardest things about it might be imagining how futures holidays might look without all the traditions you thought you'd be creating with your kids.
I know how this all feels and yet, I've managed to create a holiday season that I absolutely love. On this episode, I share my best 10 tips for you to create yours.
You'll find out:
- how to process the grief that comes up
- how to prepare for the potential triggers and release them
- what to do if you want to redesign your holidays in a way that feels good for you
Head to Sheri's Instagram Account and DM her "ep 85" if you'd like a copy of the free guide that goes along with this episode.
Where to find Sheri:
Instagram: @sherijohnsoncoaching
Website: sherijohnson.ca
References from this episode:
Atlas of the Heart by Brene Brown
If you want to create your best life in 2024, even without kids, download my free guide. You'll discover how to find purpose, joy and fulfillment and what might be standing in the way.
Click here for your free guide
If you are a childless woman who feels triggered by how mom-focused and kid-centric our society seems to be, you might be stuck in the pronatalist ideology. If you're stuck here, you often feel like you are somehow worth less than mothers, you get irritated when someone asks if you have children, you feel as though you're treated differently at work, at church or even in your social circles.
Breaking free of the societal norms and expectations that stem from pronatalism is a key piece to feeling worthy in the world. This is why I do what I do. Ultimately, when we are able to shift our mindset as childless women, the world we see begins to change.
On this solo episode, I am going to unpack pronatalism and its influence on how we feel about ourselves as childless women. You'll discover:
- what pronatalism is
- my own story about how it affected my decisions on the childless path
- the mistakes I was making while trying to navigate pronatalism
- how pronatalism negatively affects mothers as well
- what do to about it all
My journey is not just about sharing experiences but also about extending an invitation to you. Together, we can challenge these outdated ideologies and empower ourselves to define our worth. If you want me to show you how, DM me "episode 84" on Instagram.
Where to find Sheri:
Instagram: @sherijohnsoncoaching
Website: sherijohnson.ca
References from this episode:
Episode 55: My So-Called Selfish Life with Therese Shechter
Episode 67: Patriarchy and Pronatalism and Their Impact on Childless Women, with Jody Day
Episode 75: Who Will Take Care of Me When I Get Old? With Jody Day
If you want to create your best life in 2024, even without kids, download my free guide. You'll discover how to find purpose, joy and fulfillment and what might be standing in the way.
Click here for your free guide
Are you feeling like you're navigating uncharted territory as a step-parent without any children of your own? I'm not a step-parent myself, but I've learned from my clients that it can be complicated with its own set of challenges and emotions.
Join me today as I interview Gail Miller, who is a life coach, maternal fetal medicine physician, TEDx speaker, founder of Path Onward Life Coaching, and step-parent.
Gail's journey of acceptance as a childless woman and step-parent is a testament of resilience and courage, a saga that will move, inspire, and empower you to challenge societal norms and live a fulfilling life despite some unique struggles.
Listen to this episode to find out:
- Gail's story through the ups and downs of caring for children who are not her own
- 3 tips for setting boundaries, handling expectations and cultivating a positive relationship with your stepchildren.
- Insights for handling sensitive conversations with your healthcare provider from Gail's first hand experience as a physician who supports high risk pregnancies
Where to find Gail:
Gail's free mini course for childless women: Take Charge of Your Health Conversations
Find Gail on Instagram @childlesspathonward
Where to find Sheri:
Instagram: @sherijohnsoncoaching
Website: sherijohnson.ca
If you want to create your best life in 2024, even without kids, download my free guide. You'll discover how to find purpose, joy and fulfillment and what might be standing in the way.
Click here for your free guide
If you’re grieving your dream of becoming a parent, you probably assumed at least someone amongst your family and friends would provide you with the support and empathy you need. And yet, my own experience, and that of most of my clients, is that their closest friends and family - and sometimes even their partner - are not able to offer empathy or understanding.
This is why looking for support among those closest to you – or worse, expecting it from them – might not be the best way to get the support you need.
Here's what you'll discover in this episode:
- Why support may not come from your loved ones
- Why childless women tend to minimize or invalidate their feelings and struggles
- How to source genuine support
- What to do to truly accept and receive support
Impact Question: Have you deemed yourself, or your grief, not worthy of receiving support? If you've answered yes, send me a DM with the word "support" and I'll show you how to get the support you need, whenever you need it.
Where to find Sheri:
Instagram: @sherijohnsoncoaching
Website: sherijohnson.ca
If you want to create your best life in 2024, even without kids, download my free guide. You'll discover how to find purpose, joy and fulfillment and what might be standing in the way.
Click here for your free guide
Lisa Hohenadel uses an intriguing behavioural therapy method to help childless women work through the grief and triggers. It's called Dialectical Behaviour Therapy or DBT. I've never come across this particular type of therapy before and I wanted to hear more about how Lisa uses it in her coaching practice.
Here's what you'll discover in this episode:
- what is DBT and how Lisa discovered that it would work on her own grief while coming to terms with the fact that she would never be a mom
- how to manage some of the trickier situations we encounter as childless women
- 3 DBT tools for managing triggers and grief and how to use them on yourself
Get a free copy of Lisa's "10 Tips for Managing your Triggers":Send an email to familyredifinedwithlisa@gmail.comor go to Lisa's Instagram and DM the word "resource" for a copy.
Where to find Lisa:
Instagram: @familyredefinedwithlisa
Facebook: Family Redefined with Lisa
Where to find Sheri:
Instagram @sherijohnsoncoaching
Website: sherijohnson.ca
If you want to create your best life in 2024, even without kids, download my free guide. You'll discover how to find purpose, joy and fulfillment and what might be standing in the way.
Click here for your free guide
If you've found yourself stuck in grief and triggers unable to get past it, today's episode is for you.
I'm unpacking five major blunders that keep childless women from moving forward and embracing their future.
And don't worry, I made every single one of these mistakes and so do my clients. I'm sharing them here not to judge, or cause you to judge yourself, but to show you that when you stop making these mistakes, your grief and triggers will lift.
You'll be able to genuinely support your pregnant cousin, attend the baby showers with grace and sit through your friends' stories about their kids with curiosity and interest.
It's such a relief!
In this episode, we'll cover:
- the 5 biggest mistakes childless women make
- the consequences of making these mistakes and what happens when you stop
- what to do instead
If you're ready to start implementing some of the things you'll discover, continue your journey by downloading my free secret podcast series: 3 Secrets to Processing Grief so You Can Reimagine Your Future
Where to find Sheri:
Instagram @sherijohnsoncoaching
Website: sherijohnson.ca
If you want to create your best life in 2024, even without kids, download my free guide. You'll discover how to find purpose, joy and fulfillment and what might be standing in the way.
Click here for your free guide
Did you know that most financial plans and planning software are geared entirely to the traditional parenting path? I hadn't really thought about how my saving, spending, retirement and estate planning might be totally different than that of my child-rearing friends. Until I met Jay Zigmont.
Jay Zigmont, holds a PhD, MBA, and CFP® and is the Founder of Childfree Wealth, a life and financial planning firm dedicated to helping Childfree and Permanently Childless people. Childfree Wealth is the first life and financial planning firm dedicated to serving people without kids.
In this episode, Jay shares his story about how he came to be on the childless path and what lead him to start Childfree Wealth. It was a fascinating and enlightening discussion where Jay shares:
- why financial plans for people without kids often looks entirely different than that of a parent
- the questions you can ask yourself that will help you uncover what you want to save for and spend your money (and energy) on
- tips for choosing a financial planner
Dr. Jay is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™, Childfree Wealth Specialist, and author of the book “Portraits of Childfree Wealth.” Dr Jay is the co-host of the Childfree Wealth podcast. His Ph.D. is in Adult Learning from the University of Connecticut.
He has been featured in Fortune, Forbes, MarketWatch, Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Business Insider, CNBC, and many other publications. In 2023, he was named a “Rising Star” by Financial Planning.
Where to find Dr. Jay:Website: Childfreewealth.com
Instagram: @childfreewealth
Jay's book: get a free copy of Portraits of Childfree Wealth
Where to find Sheri:
Instagram @sherijohnsoncoaching
Website: sherijohnson.ca
Other References in Episode:
Podcast episode: Jay Zigmont on Spinsterhood Reimagined
If you want to create your best life in 2024, even without kids, download my free guide. You'll discover how to find purpose, joy and fulfillment and what might be standing in the way.
Click here for your free guide
Has someone ever said to, "you're so lucky you don't have kids"? If you wanted kids, of course you don't feel very lucky to have that unfulfilled dream. Sometimes I wonder if parents say things like this - or complain about their kids - to us childless women because they want us to feel as though we're not missing out on anything great. But then, of course, they swoon over their kids in the next breath.
In this solo episode, I break down:
- the misconceptions we carry about this statement and how it affects our reaction
- what happens when you reframe these misconceptions
- how to respond to this statement
Follow Sheri on Instagram: @sherijohnsoncoaching
Sheri's website: sherijohnson.ca
If you want to create your best life in 2024, even without kids, download my free guide. You'll discover how to find purpose, joy and fulfillment and what might be standing in the way.
Click here for your free guide
There's this misconception out there that if you can get past the grief of your unexpected childless circumstances, your future will somehow just appear brighter. But unfortunately that's not true in most cases.
You've probably come across women in their 50's and 60's who are still struggling to feel worthy, happy and confident in their lives. Do you really want to go another 5, 10 or 20 years of living life not quite happy?
No! You deserve to be joyful, not just in your future, but right NOW in the present. In this episode, you'll find out:
- the story of living my entire life as it landed on my plate - very little of it was truly intentional - and where that landed me
- the mistake many childless women make when thinking about their future
- the first three steps to manifesting joy in the present, not just the future
What if I told you that you could still have a bright future without children? It's all about identifying your desires and taking actionable steps towards achieving them. To support you on this journey, I'm introducing my Women of Worth group immersion. It's a group coaching experience that will support, empower and guide you towards embracing your childless future and present.
Links mentioned in this episode:
Women of Worth Group Immersion: sherijohnson.ca/wow
Where to find Sheri:
Instagram: @sherijohnsoncoaching
Website: sherijohnson.ca
Navigating a sea of baby showers and first birthdays can feel isolating, especially as a woman who has not had children. If you've found yourself avoiding friends with young ones or feeling a twinge of envy every time a pregnancy announcement pops up on your feed, you're not alone. In this episode, we're confronting those feelings head-on, not as something to be ashamed of, but as a step towards finding peace.
You will discover:
- 3 mistakes childless women make when it comes to envy
- how to identify the actual emotion you're feeling when you see a pregnancy announcement
- the first 3 steps to facing envy and working through
Follow Sheri on Instagram: @sherijohnsoncoaching
Sheri's website: sherijohnson.ca
Other References in Episode:
Podcast episodes:
- Who Will Take Care of Me When I Get Old? With Jody Day
- How to Know if You Are Stuck in Disenfranchised Grief as a Childless Woman
Book: Atlas of the Heart: Mapping Meaningful Connection and the Language of Human Experience by Brené Brown
If you want to create your best life in 2024, even without kids, download my free guide. You'll discover how to find purpose, joy and fulfillment and what might be standing in the way.
Click here for your free guide
Jody Day is back for a second episode on the podcast! Our first conversation was so eye-opening for me, I had to have her back after I had actually digested all of what she shared with me.
Jody is often referred to as the founder of the "childless movement" and is the founder of Gateway Women, a global advocacy and support network for childless women. She’s the author of what many professionals consider to be the ‘go-to’ book on the topic, "Living the Life Unexpected: How to Find Hope, Meaning and a Fulfilling Future Without Children" (link below).
Jody was chosen as one of the BBC’s 100 Women in 2013 & a UK Digital Woman of the Year in 2021. She’s a global thought leader on female involuntary childlessness, a psychotherapist, a 2017 and 2022 TEDx speaker, and she’s been an Ambassador for World Childless Week since its inception in 2017.
Jody and I have a deep and eye-opening conversation about ageism and pronatalism in today's society and how they affect childless women's perception of their future. We delve into the fears, challenges, societal and economic impacts associated with aging without children. We explore body image and self-perception through midlife as well as purpose and potential of childless women.
Listen to this episode to discover:
- how childless women can shift their mindset about midlife, ageing and who will take care of them when their old
- a powerful exercise for reconciling connection with your body - something that most women lose as early as their teen years
- the transformational power of community
Where to find Jody:Website: Gateway-women.com
Instagram: @gatewaywomen
@apprenticecrone Jody's Book: Living the Life Unexpected: How to Find Hope, Meaning and a Fulfilling Future Without Children
Where to find Sheri:
Instagram @sherijohnsoncoaching
Website: sherijohnson.ca
Other References in Episode:
Podcast episode: Patriarchy and Pronatalism and Their Impact on Childless Women, with Jody Day
Webinar: Fireside Wisdom with Childless Elder Women (register here)
Book: The Dance of the Dissident Daughter by Sue Monk Kidd
Book: The Baby Matrix by Laura Carroll
Book: The Beauty Myth By Naomi Wolf
Book: The Wisdom of Menopause by Dr. Christiane Northrup
This is an extra-special episode as my twin sister, Dr. Jennifer Reimer, joins me. As two women who were childless until our 40s, we unravel the deep societal pressures, personal grief, and associated triggers on the pregnancy loss and infertility journey that we travelled at the same time. We came to a pivotal moment within weeks of each other: the decision to do IVF or not. This is where our paths split.
The real topic of this episode is the societal glorification of busyness and how it often masks the pain and feelings of unworthiness, in both mothers and in childless women.
Jennifer and I share our battles with the "six faces of doing", the different ways we've stayed busy to avoid dealing with our true feelings. We explore societal norms and the undue pressure they place on us, making us feel inadequate if we aren't mothers. This heart-to-heart conversation will urge you to question your own preoccupation with busyness and its correlation with your self-worth.
In this episode, you'll discover:
- the three reasons childless women are just as busy as mothers
- Jen's "6 Faces of Doing", the ways in which we keep ourselves busy, with a spotlight on perfectionism and people-pleasing
- how the recognition and confrontation of these causes of busyness can lead to an elevation in self-worth
Where to find Jennifer:Take Jennifer's quiz:What Kind of Doer Are You?Website: https://www.virtuousradicals.com/
Instagram: @jen_reimer_coaching
Where to find Sheri:
Instagram @sherijohnsoncoaching
Website: sherijohnson.ca
If you're a woman without kids, you are likely keenly aware of some of the judgments out in the media and in the world about childfree women being selfish, lonely and unable to truly know unconditional love.
But as a woman who didn't make that choice, what are your feelings toward those who did? What I discovered deep within myself, was some judgment. And it was keeping me from fully embracing a happy future without children.
Listen to this episode to find out:
- Whether you're also judging childfree women
- What happens when you let go of your identity as a childless woman who wanted kids
- The first two steps to embracing your future
Key Links from this episode:
5 Secrets to Embracing Your ChildFREE Life:
sherijohnson.ca/secrets
Follow Sheri on Instagram: @sherijohnsoncoaching
Have you ever had a deeply personal dream not come true? Have you felt pressured by societal expectations conflicting with your own path? Join us on a journey with Stephanie Joy Phillips, the incredible head and founder of World Childless Week, who will share with us her journey of not becoming a mother. As a child, Stephanie dreamed of motherhood, but life led her in a different direction - to create a community for childless women, providing support for those who share her experience.
In this episode, Stephanie and Sheri discuss:
- the unique challenges childless women face, whether they're rooted in biology, finances, society, or mental health
- some of the lesser known reasons that women remain childless
- the therapeutic power of connection and expression
Stephanie shares how writing and reaching out to others can alleviate the weight of grief and fortify your emotional strength. We celebrate World Childless Week's incredible expansion since its inception in 2017 and the invaluable emotional refuge it provides for those affected by childlessness. Let's honor every woman's worth, whether they are a mother or not, and learn more about this often misunderstood community.
Where to find Stephanie:Website: worldchildlessweek.net
Facebook: World Childless Week
Instagram: @worldchildlessweek
Where to find Sheri:
Instagram @sherijohnsoncoaching
Website: sherijohnson.ca
Listen to this eye-opening interview with Colette Eaton, an author who is passionate about sharing new and fresh ways to engage with Faith and God. Even if you are not religious, this episode will help you to uncover the root cause of some of your emotions as a childless woman.
Colette shares with us:
- how her own struggles with infertility and grief were influenced by her Christian upbringing
- how the mother identity can become an idol and how to shift your view
- how to change your perception of belonging
Colette's Website: https://coletteeaton.com/
Colette on Substack: Courage and Candor Instagram: @colette_eaton
Key Topics:
2:22 Colette's story of infertility and how she determined she had reached the end of the road
07:59 The guilt she felt when she stopped trying to conceive
11:36 "God hasn't blessed me"
16:03 How to embrace our own humanity and surrender our limitations
22:03 Letting go of the Motherhood identity as an idol
30:03 Expanding our view of motherhood
32:42 What is the true self vs false self
34:48 Colette's prayer practices and the Welcoming Prayer
Many childless women feel the heaviness of grief as they begin to accept a very different future than they imagined they'd have. In this episode, you will discover:
- What is disenfranchised grief and how to know if you are stuck in it
- The mistakes you might be making to avoid processing your grief
- The obvious and not-so-obvious things that childless women grieve
- The first step to moving forward
Exclusive podcast for navigating grief as a childless woman:
sherijohnson.ca/secret-podcast/
Follow Sheri on Instagram: @sherijohnsoncoaching
Key topics:
00:00 Disenfranchised grief: How childless women cope.
02:56 Some of the lesser known things childless women grieve
11:58 What is disenfranchised grief
15:15 The mistakes childless women make in order to fix the problem of disenfranchised grief
17:20 How to actually begin healing from your grief
When you feel angry and hurt by seemingly insensitive comments and advice from friends and family, it's only natural to want to let it all out in some way. But it may do more harm than good, to both yourself and the person you're venting to, when done incorrectly.
In this episode, you'll discover:
- what "getting things off your chest" really means
- what is "common enemy intimacy" and how it applies to childless women
- what to do when you feel hurt and have the urge to vent about it
Exclusive podcast for navigating grief as a childless woman:
sherijohnson.ca/secret-podcast/
Follow Sheri on Instagram: @sherijohnsoncoaching
Key topics:
02:28 What does "getting things off your chest really mean"
06:05 What do venting and judgment have in common
07:47 What is "common enemy intimacy"
08:19 What happens when you vent
11:24 What to do when you feel the urge to vent
In this engaging episode, BonnieRuth Rolf shares the story of how she and her husband were able to deepen their relationship and navigate grief as a childless couple. They are now developing a beautiful property in Texas to cater to other childless couples who want to do the same.
You'll discover:
- three tools to help you process grief no matter what circumstances brought you to the childless path
- how to be fully supported by educating those around you on what you need
- a new way to define legacy and how to reshape your own
- how BonnieRuth and her husband have recreated their legacy in the form a retreat centre for the childless
Where to find BonnieRuth and The Legacy Place retreat center:Website: https://www.legacyplaceretreat.com/Instagram: @legacyplaceretreat
Instagram: @barrennotbroken
Facebook: Legacy Place Retreat
Key topics:
2:13 BonnieRuth's story of 19 years through endometriosis, PCOS and hysterectomy
8:54 Three tools for healing as a childless couple
18:45 The enormity of the decisions we make on the childless path
22:29 Taking responsibility making your personal community aware of what you're going through
31:49 A new way to define legacy
39:29 Contributing to relationships with intention
44:45 Legacy and ego
49:08 BonnieRuth and her husband's vision for supporting other childless couples
There is so much systemic prejudice towards childless women ingrained in our society today that stem from ancient patriarchal and pronatalist views and government policy. Most of us don't even realize the extent. I didn't realize it and received a bit of an awakening right on the show.
Jody Day, the "mother" of the childless woman movement, joined me on this episode to share her story and why she started Gateway Women. Her own need for community and support led to a network for childless women, a book, two Tedx talks and countless other accomplishments in the childless space.
Have a listen as we discuss:
- the disenfranchised grief we feel as women who are childless by circumstance
- the level of shame we pick up from our pronatalist society
- why the patriarchal template for life and career doesn't work for women
Show notes: sherijohnson.ca/67/
Take the Worthiness Quiz and find out whether your own self-worth is holding you back from embracing your childless life!
I think for most of us, there’s potentially a long process of coming to the realization that you are going to be a childless woman. There’s no one big moment. And yet, it still catches us totally off guard.
You grow up assuming you’ll become a mother one day. You have no reason to believe that you won’t be. Whenever you meet a childless couple, you don’t even really register it or think about what their life is really like. You’ll never be that person so it doesn’t even enter your mind.
And yet, there IS a moment when you suddenly realize, oh my goodness, I’m here. I AM a childless woman. Not going to be, but am already.
And then the grief starts. We go through the 5 stages of grief, just like someone who's lost a living person. We lost a dream. And that counts. Have a listen to find out how the 5 stages of grief apply to the childless path.
I'm currently offering a Dream Memorial, 1 hour virtual retreat to help you get to the acceptance stage of grief. Click below to sign up.
Join the Dream Memorial - Virtual Retreat
Show notes: sherijohnson.ca/66
Susan Mason-Apps is my guest today and she’s an extra special guest.
Susan is my coach, healer, mentor and visionary. She is the founder of the Magical Life Institute and the Inner Journey Alchemy process. I’ve been working with Susan for over a year now. I went her process, and let me tell you, it was extraordinary. It’s hard to put into words, really. I think you’ll get a sense of what she does as we talk.
She started her career as a Forensic Biologist and it was fascinating to hear more about that. But for the last 20 years, she’s been offering healing and coaching services through various energetic healing modalities.
On this episode we really get into the spiritual side of self-worth and I can’t wait for you to hear it.
Show notes: sherijohnson.ca/65
Take the Worthiness Quiz and find out whether your own self-worth is holding you back from embracing your childless life!
Think of how often you hear people talk about being strong when it comes to the toughest parts of life. We try to be strong. We tell other people they ARE strong.
We tell children not to cry when they fall, we tell them to ignore it when someone calls them names. And in adulthood, we toughen up, put on a smile and pretend we're okay, even when we're coming apart inside.
But what if it's actually being vulnerable, showing your true feelings - bearing it all - that makes us strong?
In this episode, you'll discover:
- how "being strong" is actually hindering your own healing
- how to recognize if you're buying into the "be strong" mindset
- what to do to build true strength
Show notes: sherijohnson.ca/63
Is your own self-worth holding you back from embracing your childless life?
Take the Worthiness Quiz
Are you struggling to love your life again as you step onto the childless path? Do you think it's possible that it could be your own beliefs that are getting in the way? My guest on this episode put me in the hotseat and demonstrated how my own beliefs were making me feel triggered and annoyed by my own family.
Lana Manikowski is a life coach, specializing in helping childless women rediscover their meaning and build a future they truly love. She endured a 7 year journey through infertility, at the end of which she was presented with the realization that she could not have children. Like many of us, she yearned to connect with a community of women and when she couldn't find one, created Stitch Coaching.
In this episode, you'll discover:
- how your own beliefs about yourself, the people around you and the world may be holding you back
- what those beliefs might be making you feel and how they make you behave
- how Lana's coaching methodology can help you move forward
Shownotes: sherijohnson.ca/63
Is your own self-worth holding you back from embracing your childless life?
Take the Worthiness Quiz
We all struggle, at least a little, with self-worth. We may not realize it (I didn't) or call it that, but we have all felt undervalued at some point. Meadow DeVor has created a formula for understanding self-worth and how to build it, and she lays it all out in her book, the Worthy Project.
On this episode, she shares:
- how over 500K in debt while being a money coach led her to realize that underneath of that debt was a feeling of worthlessness
- the signs that your self-worth could use a boost
- how to let go of the motherhood identity
There are so many gems in this episode. We go deep on the whole motherhood journey, infertility, childlessness, and even the similarities between the mothers and the childless women.
Meadow's book, the Worthy Project is available on Audible and coming out in print on May 11th. Pre-order your copy now!
Show notes: sherijohnson.ca/62
Is your own self-worth holding you back from embracing your childless life?
Take the Worthiness Quiz
It's not easy for women to love themselves through loss. We're so accustomed to caring for others and shoving our own needs aside that when it comes time for us to support ourselves, we don't feel worthy.
On this episode, Becky Barber, co-creator of the Try Self-Love Podcast, shares her story of 6 pregnancy losses and how having living children doesn't heal the grief that came with her losses. We discuss:
- the shame and guilt that come with pregnancy loss, infertility and childlessness
- how detaching from hope doesn't make it any easier
- how to love yourself through any loss including the loss of an identity, such as "mother" for childless women
Becky is a life and relationship coach who helps women to learn to love and respect themselves despite a damaged relationship with someone they love. Through spirituality, healthy boundary-setting and a continual practice of self-love, Becky was able to break free of her own toxic relationship with her mother and now helps others to do the same.
Beckyalso has a free gift for listeners: Finding a Therapist Who Gets It
You can find a link in the show notes at: sherijohnson.ca/61
Is your own self-worth holding you back from embracing your childless life?
Take the Worthiness Quiz
Katie Maynard is a licensed psychotherapist who has had her own experience with infertility and now childlessness. She's a therapist who "gets it" when it comes to the unique grief and challenges we face as childless women. What a gift as a client when seeking help, to speak with someone who understands.
In our conversation, Katie shares with us:
- the empowerment that is available to us as childless or childfree women
- the most common issues presented in her clinical practice (e.g. how to make the decision to stop trying)
- the benefits of finding a therapist who understands and how to find one
offers a triad of services: working with individual clients, supporting the clinical growth of other therapists, and creating change in the mental health community around the lack of training and competence with childless clients.
Katie also has a free gift for listeners: Finding a Therapist Who Gets It
You can find a link in the show notes at: sherijohnson.ca/60
Is your own self-worth holding you back from embracing your childless life?
Take the Worthiness Quiz
Jobi Tyson is one of those women who knows how to rise. She has a heartbreaking story of infertility that ultimately ended with a hysterectomy. But she soon found healing and empowerment by owning her voice.
She started the Tutum Journal and witnessed women beginning by sharing their stories anonymously to now fully stepping into the spotlight without shame.
On this episode, Jobi shares her own story with me plus:
- how she found healing
- how she got started with Tutum Global, a safe space for childless women to share their struggles
- some of the top stories she's come across while editing the Tutum Journal
Show notes at: sherijohnson.ca/59
Is your own self-worth holding you back from embracing your childless life?
Take the Worthiness Quiz
Many childless women feel a deep inner shame and mistrust of their bodies and are unable to show themselves compassion as a result. There's a disconnect between the mind, body and spirit.
Sarah Jane Smith used her embodiment practices to re-establish that trust with her own body after many years of infertility and ultimately a hysterectomy. She had to have compassion for herself as she re-established what she could do with her body and how she identified with it.
In this episode, you'll discover:
- how to reverse the desire to push for performance and how that relates to fertility and the desire to be a mother
- how to use movement to reconnect with your body and allow it to show you what it needs
- why it's so important to meet yourself with kindness and compassion
For Sarah Jane's free gift: How to Re-Establish Trust With Your Body, visit the show notes for this episode at: sherijohnson.ca/58
Is your own self-worth holding you back from embracing your childless life?
Take the Worthiness Quiz
Civilla Morgan has been hosting the podcast, Childless Not By Choice since 2015. This time, she's the guest and bearing all with me. We discuss:
- how fibroids, hysterectomy and lost love led her to the childless path
- what allows her to build her own self-worth and joy in her life
- how her faith guides her to fulfilment and purpose
Show notes: sherijohnson.ca/57
Is your own self-worth holding you back from embracing your childless life?
Take the Worthiness Quiz
On my own journey through childlessness, I realized I was making some big mistakes that were blocking me from feeling joy in my life. I also noticed that I wasn't the only one. In this episode, you'll learn:
- the top 5 mistakes that childless women make
- why they might be blocking you from embracing your childfree life
- what to do instead
sherijohnson.ca/56
Take the Worthiness Quiz and find out whether your own self-worth is holding you back from embracing your childless life!
Documentary film-maker, Therese Shechter, paid a visit to the podcast this week to discuss her most recent passion project, "My So-Called Selfish Life". Therese considers herself to be on the child-free end of the spectrum but her film appeals to the childless-not-by-choice and by-choice alike.
Together we discuss how similar the experiences of all childless women seem to be when it comes to the judgment and societal beliefs we face. We go deep on value and self-worth as childless women, especially as we begin to enter perimenopause.
There is so much learning and food for thought in Therese's film and you'll get a great little taste of it in this episode.
sherijohnson.ca/55
Take the Worthiness Quiz and find out whether your own self-worth is holding you back from embracing your childless life!
The path to motherhood can be daunting for some of us. The road through infertility, adoption, or a marriage in which one partner doesn't want kids are all rocky. Same for a single woman or a same-sex couple who wants children. Every decision along the way is tough, each let down is heartbreaking, and vast array of emotions you feel every step of the way can be overwhelming.
There comes a point when some women have just had enough. Others give up. What's the difference? How do you feel good about the ultimate decision you've made? I'm sharing my theories on today's episode.
sherijohnson.ca/54
Take the Worthiness Quiz and find out whether your own self-worth is holding you back from embracing your childless life!
One of the benefits of social media apps is the ability they have to gather like-minded people. It's easy to find them, follow them and join their groups. It's hard to imagine life without social media groups and followings now, but even just a few years ago, they weren't so prevalent.
And now, you have your pick, but not all are healing spaces. In this episode, I break down the differences between truly healing women's circles and those that masquerade as helpful. I'll share exactly why and how to identify a group that is really going to benefit you.
sherijohnson.ca/53
Find out your worthiness score!
Each of us has our own unique path through childlessness. Many have arrived here through infertility or pregnancy loss. But some haven't. Some haven't found a partner. Some couldn't afford to have a child on their own. Or that simply wasn't right for them. There are so many reasons a woman ends up on the childless journey.
For Emily Robbins, it was a combination of circumstances. She wanted children but life didn't turn out that way. She and I had a rich conversation about her unique story and the tools she uses to help heal.
Emily is a youth minister and lover of essential oils. She offers a generous gift to listeners who'd like to learn more. Link in the show notes below.
sherijohnson.ca/52/
Veronica Santini was devastated by a Premature Ovarian Syndrome diagnosis at 32 and found herself walking the childless path not long after. But her commitment to nurturing herself through yoga, slowing down and a personal healing journey has allowed her to embrace her beautiful childless life. She now finds meaning in her struggle by helping others heal too.
Show notes: sherijohnson.ca/51/
Quiz: sherijohnson.ca/quiz/
Society tells us that women are meant to procreate and having or raising a child is the ultimate purpose in life. While I bought into this belief in my early days as a childless woman, I now believe it's total rubbish. In this episode, I'm going to share with you:
- how women find real purpose
- three types of birth that create purpose (and none of them are related to giving birth to a child)
- how you can find your own purpose
https://sherijohnson.ca/50/
@awakening.worth
This is my first episode as the Awakening Worth Podcast (formerly the Love & Loss Podcast) and I'm excited about, not just a name change, but a whole new slew of topics focused on belonging, self-worth and living joyfully as childless women.
In this episode, I'm flying solo, sharing 3 secrets for building true worthiness rather than using "busy" as the measuring stick. You'll learn why busy-ness actually sends you into a forever feeling of not-good-enough and how to reframe it all in a way that awakens self-worth instead.
sherijohnson.ca/49
@awakening.worth
Do you have a morning routine that you love? I do. But I didn't always.
I used to stumble out of bed at the last minute, rush through a shower and grab breakfast and a coffee on the way to work. I dove right into the middle of what everyone else wanted from me and barely spent a minute on myself.
Those days felt overwhelming, chaotic and I used them to avoid thinking about what I was going through - miscarriage and infertility.
After my first miscarriage, my husband and I got a puppy. And that's when things started to shift for me. He's an Australian Shepherd - a very active dog. So my mornings HAD to start with a hike with him.
And that started the evolution of my morning routine.
Now, I spend the first couple of hours of my day on me. No email, early morning meetings or social media. Just me.
It started my emotional healing, the acceptance of my childfree life and a practice of self-worth.
I'm giving you the behind the scenes look at all my morning rituals in this week's episode.
sherijohnson.ca/48
If you want to start the new year off on the right foot, this episode is for you. After a special announcement about the Love & Loss Podcast, we dive into an abbreviated version of my end of year ritual. Set aside an hour of uninterrupted time, get yourself a pretty journal or notebook, and answer these 10 journal prompts.
I promise you, you'll have a whole different perspective on both 2021 and 2022 after you've finished this beautiful transition ritual.
sherijohnson.ca/47
These are not the usual fertility tips you hear. I'm a nutritionist and I hadn't heard of many of the simple things Annette Presley shared with me on this episode.
Annette is an expert at helping women get pregnant naturally after a miscarriage or infertility. She's a dietician turned functional nutritionist. She tells of her rebellion against one particular recommendation that dieticians make that wasn't backed up by the science. This discovery led her down her own path to developing the Mommy Maker Method.
In this episode, you'll discover:
- How Annette’s journey to the Mommy Maker Method started with divine inspiration to approach a woman who, unbeknownst to Annette, had been trying to get pregnant for nearly 2 years
- Why your genes do not have to determine your destiny and how to turn off the ones that block baby-making
- The one mineral that might be the culprit from getting you pregnant
- Three tips for improving your chances of getting and staying pregnant
Show notes: sherijohnson.ca/46
Floating Under Water is the first novel I've read with miscarriage as a central theme and it was a relief to simply fall into the book and follow the heroine's journey. The author, Tracy Shawn, has done a stunning job of capturing the challenges a woman faces in her friendships and in her marriage after a loss. She covers all the emotions from deep sadness to anger, and regret to hope.
Through her grief, the main character embarks on an incredible spiritual journey that leads her through her own transformation, out of her own self-doubt and into her personal power. It left me with hope that no matter what happens on a woman's motherhood journey, she has the opportunity to transform her pain into something beautiful.
sherijohnson.ca/45
We all have hot buttons that our loved ones are so good at exposing. But going through childlessness, miscarriage or infertility when you really wanted a child seems to bring all the triggers right to the forefront.
In this episode, you'll find out:
- what society tells us about triggers and how to get rid of them
- how triggers are like an octopus
- why it's important to heal them now
sherijohnson.ca/44
Trigger Release Formula Mini-program
No one willingly becomes a victim of hardship or tragedy. And they don't knowingly get stuck in victim mentality. And yet, most of us ask "why me" at some point in our lives. I definitely asked it after I had a miscarriage. And then asked it again and again when I had 2 more.
A lightbulb went on though, and I could see it, plain as day. I had turned to victim mentality many times in my life and have now found some ways to dispel it.
In this episode, find out:
- what exactly is victim mentality and how to know if you have it
- why being stuck in this mentality is actually increasing your suffering rather than helping it
- 7 tips for moving from victim mode to empowerment
sherijohnson.ca/43
Free Roadmap for Navigating Grief After a Miscarriage
Yes, it's entirely possible to feel joy in the midst of grief after a miscarriage. It's necessary, even.
In this episode, I'll share:
- what society has been making you believe about joy while grieving
- why it's so important to allow yourself to feel joy after a miscarriage, even when you're still sad
- 4 tips for bringing joy into your life in the midst of so much turmoil
Show notes: sherijohnson.ca/42
Instagram: @miscarriageloveandloss
Facebook group: Miscarriage - Love & Loss
Are you someone who has been saying "yes" to all the things after your miscarriage when you really didn't feel up to it? When saying "yes" would mean pasting a smile on your face and pretending to be happy when you felt broken inside?
If so, then this episode is for you. I definitely did not set clear boundaries after my miscarriages and I'll tell you all about what I did to change that. I'll talk about:
- why it's important to set clear boundaries at anytime, but especially after a loss
- why what the industry has been telling you doesn't go deep enough to really help
- what you really need to do instead and what it's going to do for your life when you do
sherijohnson.ca/41
It's tough for women to love their bodies on a good day. But how do you love your body after it feels like it's betrayed you?
I've had body image issues since childhood, but my miscarriages really made me lose what little trust and love I had left. In last week's episode (#39), I shared 5 tips for restoring love for your body. Today, I take one of those tips and really delve in.
We'll do a short meditation together that will allow you to bring positivity back to your whole self.
sherijohnson.ca/40
After a miscarriage, your own body can feel like a constant reminder that you're no longer pregnant. I definitely felt triggered by my body and also a lot of shame and anger toward it.
In this episode, find out:
- why you're feeling triggered by your own body
- the counterintuitive thing you need to do to drop it
- my top 5 tips for letting go of those triggers so you can feel free
sherijohnson.ca/39
When you feel the results of good nutrition on your body, it strengthens trust in your body. This is so important if you're planning another pregnancy after a miscarriage.
I really dove into optimal nutrition for healing after a miscarriage and preparing for my next pregnancy after my first miscarriage. I think that's part of why I was able to start trying again with very little fear that my body would betray me again.
Sarah Clark, founder of Fab Fertile, shares her secrets to healing your body after a miscarriage and preparing it for whatever is next.
sherijohnson.ca/38
This may not be the thing that you want to hear right now. You're probably striving for things to be normal again. For YOU to be normal again. I sure felt that way after my miscarriages. Unfortunately, this is a myth. But it doesn't have to be a negative thing. Life, and you, can actually be even better than before you loss. Tune in to find out how.
sherijohnson.ca/37
When all you have is a teddy bear or maybe an ultrasound picture of your baby after a miscarriage, you grieve. It doesn't matter that you never spoke her name to her. It doesn't matter that you never laid eyes on him. It doesn't matter that you didn't know your baby.
In this episode, find out why we are led to believe this myth and how often it's proved wrong. (hint: it's not just grieving a baby's death in utero).
sherijohnson.ca/36
Miscarriage, PCOS and infertility were all pieces of Stesha Reukauf's journey. I sat down with Stesha, creator of the Holistic Fertility Method, to chat about her story and the limiting beliefs that keep you from getting pregnant.
Let me tell you, this juicy stuff. Stesha describes how all the physical and dietary changes she made weren't quite enough to help her carry to term. It was spiritual healing that ultimately led to not only a physically healthy pregnancy, but an emotionally joyful one. The kind of happy and beautiful pregnancy you deserve too.
Stesha shares how she did it in this episode. I learned a ton and I know you will too.
sherijohnson.ca/35
The holidays can be tough after a loss. Christmas, especially, is such a kid-centric holiday. Everywhere you look, there's a trigger of some sort. I used to dread the holidays. But not anymore. I developed some solid resources for getting through the holidays with ease and grace, and now, even joy. I'll share 5 of them with you in this episode (and they're not what you're thinking!)
sherijohnson.ca/34
Simone L'Abbé of Feel Fully, shares her story of pregnancy and loss after infertility, and how she came to develop a resilience and acceptance that translates across all areas of her life.
Simone is a resilience coach and uses mindfulness, meditation and yoga to help her clients find their inherent worth, and the tools and resources within themselves. She shares three free gifts at the end so stay tuned!
sherijohnson.ca/33
You expect to feel sadness after a miscarriage. You may not expect to feel the anger that comes with it.
In this episode, I'll share:
- all the expected and unexpected places that anger might show up after a loss
- the reason it's difficult to let it go
- what we've learned to do to try to manage anger and why it doesn't work
- the real key to releasing it
Show notes: sherijohnson.ca/32
I'm reconnecting with a former client today. Angelica is one of my first online coaching program participants and she's here to share her rollercoaster story of loss and hope.
sherijohnson.ca/31
The journey through grief after a pregnancy loss can feel pretty lonely. We turn to our friends, family and partner for support and more often than not, we don't receive what we need. In this episode, I'll explain:
- why some of your family and friends have not supported you the way you thought they would/should
- the different types of support out there and why they’re not working
- where to find all the support you need, any time you need it (hint: it's where you least expect it)
Stay tuned until then end as I have a special free gift for you today that I'm going to tell you about. You’ll find in the show notes at sherijohnson.ca/30
http://sherijohnson.ca/30
I sat down with Fertility Sound Healer, Leah Irby, in this episode. She shares with us her story of loss and how her background in music lead to her service offering for women who've had a loss or a period of infertility:
- how listening to music can change your emotions and your energy
- why it's important to make music of your own, even if it's just simple humming
- how to connect with the soul of your baby using music
Find the show notes and references at: sherijohnson.ca/29
So many women feel a multitude of emotions about their body after a miscarriage. Shame. Embarrassment. Body hate. In this episode, I'll share:
- Why so many women experience this feeling of body shame and resentment after a pregnancy loss
- The counterintuitive thing you need to do in order to love your body again
- Why it’s so important to do this
Links mentioned in this episode:
Show notes: sherijohnson.ca/28
Meditation for Shifting Your Body Image
Episode 24 with Sabrina of the Undone Path
Love & Loss Facebook Group
Just seeing all the first day of school pictures on social media broke my heart, knowing that I would never go back-to-school shopping for my three babies or take pictures of their happy little faces. I would never greet them after school and hear all about their first day back.
All those cute kiddos on social media was enough to get me way down in the dumps and feeling sorry for myself. Until I developed some tools to lift me back up and heal the underlying emotions. I'm sharing them all in this episode.
References from this episode:
- website: sherijohnson.ca
- episode shownotes: sherijohnson.ca/27
- Guide to Healing Any Emotional Trigger After a Miscarriage
I had three miscarriages before deciding, with my husband, to stop trying. This is the story of my third loss. I journeyed through relief, excitement, hope, denial and then grief. I'll share my story and the lessons I learned along the way.
Links to episode show notes:
sherijohnson.ca/26
It's hard to know if you've healed emotionally after a loss. When you're in it, you can't see the forest for the trees.
In this episode, I help you take a step back to get some perspective on where you're at emotionally. I'll share 5 questions to ask yourself that will help you to determine if you have more work to do on your journey.
Show notes:
sherijohnson.ca/25
Guide To Healing From Any Emotional Trigger After a Miscarriage
Sabrina Fletcher, like me, turned her pain into a business that serves other women who are going through the same thing she went through. She's the TFMR Doula and Pregnancy Loss Doula at The Undone path.
Sabrina had a pregnancy loss due to a medical termination. I know there are women out there who have had this kind of loss, but she was the first person I’ve met who’s had a termination for medical reasons (or TFMR).
Sabrina helps moms and families who have gone through a medical termination of wanted pregnancies to process and integrate grief. She uses a few different tools to do this but we’ve honed in on one of them today. She’s melded together art and one of my favourite tools, journaling.
She shares with us 3 of her favourite journal prompts and offered my listeners a free download with a bunch more. I think you'll find these exercises as insightful as I have.
References from this episode:
sherijohnson.ca/24
Love and Loss private FB community
I did a lot of things wrong after my miscarriages. I did a lot of things right too, by the way. But it took me a long time to realize what I was doing wrong. In fact, most of these things were still in check after my second and then my third miscarriage. I didn’t really learn until later.
You might be just a few days or weeks after your miscarriage or perhaps it's been years. What I’ve learned is that it doesn’t matter, you’ve likely been doing at least one of these things wrong as well. Everyone does.
I want to share 5 things I did wrong with you now so that you don’t have to wait to figure them out on your own and can start changing them now. I'm also going to share what I wish I would have done instead.
References from this episode:
Show notes for this episode: sherijohnson.ca/23
How to Let Go of Guilt After a Loss
Private Facebook group: Miscarriage Love and Loss
After 3 miscarriages and 6 years of infertility, my husband and I have embraced an unconventional life. It's one without children of our own, but it's full of love and happiness.
In this episode, I'll teach you how to recognize and follow the path that was meant for you, no matter how unconventional and live a life you absolutely love.
References from this episode:
Episode 21: 3 Secrets I've Been Afraid to Share 5 Years After My Miscarriages
Show notes: sherijohnson.ca/22
My last miscarriage was 5 years ago. 3 years later, I shifted my business toward helping women recover emotionally and spiritually from grief following a miscarriage. Since then, I've been holding in a few secrets. I was afraid of what you'd think if you knew these secrets. But in this episode, I'm opening up my heart and sharing all.
References from this episode:
- link to the show notes: sherijohnson.ca/21
- my online program: Release the Pain of Miscarriage in 6 Weeks
- free meditation: Release the Pain of MIscarriage Meditation
- free meditation: Surrender Your Fertility Plan to the Universe
- free guide: Heal From Any Emotional Trigger After a Miscarriage
- private Facebook group: Miscarriage Love and Loss
After I had my first miscarriage, I didn't join a support group. I didn't look for online resources for navigating grief after a miscarriage. I didn't go to therapy, at least not right away and not because I thought I needed help recovering from my miscarriage. I did nothing to try to help myself heal.
In this episode, I'm going to tell you why I didn't do any of these things, what belief I had that kept me from from actively working on my grief and what it meant for my emotional health.
Links Mentioned in This Episode:
My instagram handle: @miscarriageloveandloss
Ep. 16: 6 Myths That Prevent Healing From Miscarriage
My online coaching program: Release the Pain of Miscarriage in 6 Weeks
One of the complaints I here most often after a miscarriage is how challenging it is to keep your relationship together. It might feel like your partner is moving forward more quickly than you after your miscarriage. Or at least grieving very differently. And it can lead to misunderstandings and resentment.
But your partner may need more support than you realize.
In this episode, I dig into some of the thoughts running through your partner's mind after a loss and the emotion that underlies those thoughts. It's going to help you get a better understanding of how your partner might be feeling and, even better, inspire some compassion for him or her.
References from this episode:
sherijohnson.ca/16 Episode 16: 6 Myths That Prevent You From Healing After a Miscarriage
Release the Pain of Miscarriage in 6 Weeks My online program for emotional healing from miscarriage
Miscarriage Love & Loss My private Facebook group where we have intimate conversations about healing after a miscarriage
Links:
@miscarriageloveandloss follow me on Instagram
sherijohnson.ca check out my website for more resources
Cassie Vesey-Wells, shares some expert advice with us this episode. She's a trained counsellor with a practice focused on fertility, grief and loss.
Cassie starts by sharing her own story and experience with 3 miscarriages, which I know you are going to resonate with.
She then shares the simplest of simple strategies for emotional healing that have helped her and her clients. These strategies are so easy, you’ll wonder why you haven’t been doing them already!
sherijohnson.ca
Do you have emotional triggers that keep you feeling angry or hurt by friends or family? Of course! We all have them after a miscarriage.
Most women just navigate through the grief wishing people would stop triggering them, waiting for the grief to go away, believing that it's out of their control.
But it's not. If you can heal the pain that's underneath your triggers, you won't have to feel like everyone is pushing your buttons. I'll show you how to do that in this episode, using snippets from my own personal journal as examples.
I also created a free downloadable step-by-step guide to healing your own triggers. You can find on my website. You'll want to keep it somewhere safe so you can pull it out anytime you feel a new trigger. It works every time!
sherijohnson.ca
Society tells us all kinds of things about how best to heal from miscarriage. Many of them are myths and don't actually help at all.
Kirsten Frey, an expert on grief, had her own experience with loss and realized many years later that she had buried her grief instead of healing from it.
In this episode, she dives into the 6 myths that prevented her healing and shares how to bust through them to achieve true healing after a miscarriage.
sherijohnson.ca
I share with you my absolute best tools for healing after a miscarriage or infertility in this episode. I call them miraculous because they really are. They changed my entire life. And drastically.
After my first miscarriage, I had no idea how to heal emotionally from my loss. I did what I'd heard others say to do: keep busy, get back to work, avoid talking about it. And none of that worked. I believe that I simply learned to adjust to the empty feeling inside of me. I didn't actually heal from it.
I want you to heal. Once I learned the tools that would help me heal, I used them voraciously. And they worked. They still work. I use them all the time, whenever I feel a trigger, whether it stems from my losses or from something else.
Listen to this episode to find out my four best tools for healing after a miscarriage.
sherijohnson.ca/15
In this episode, I tell the story of my second miscarriage, which was entirely different from my first, physically and emotionally. Each one came with its own emotions, its own lessons, its own grief. If you've had a miscarriage, you'll definitely be able to relate as I tell the story of how it all went down. I'll share the lessons I learned along the way too so that you might learn from them as well.
Episode shownotes can be found at:
https://sherijohnson.ca/podcast/
Mother's Day has gotta be one of the hardest days of the year if you've had a miscarriage or if you're struggling with infertility. It certainly is for me.
After 3 miscarriages and 6 full years of infertility, I discovered some easy strategies for getting through the day with grace and I'm going to share 6 of them with you in this episode.
https://sherijohnson.ca/
Find out how to know when it's too soon to go back to work. Most women go back too early and there's a good reason why. I'm going to share those reasons with you, as well as the reasons you shouldn't go back too soon.
I also have a special meditation download for this episode that focuses on healing and comfort before you go back to work.
sherijohnson.ca
If you've had a miscarriage, you'll know that it's a lonely experience. But it can be so healing to hear someone else's story. A story a bit like your own. With the same struggles, the same heart break.
It took me a bit of courage to go as deep as I did when I told my own story in this episode. I revealed some parts of my story that I hadn't told anyone before and some feelings I had barely even admitted to myself.
https://sherijohnson.ca/
I was so naive when I had my first miscarriage and I received no guidance from the doctors or nurses who treated me, from friends and family. From anyone. I had to navigate through my miscarriage, and the grief afterwards, alone.
Then I made my way through a second miscarriage, and then a third. And by the end of all of that, I had learned a thing a two. All things that would have helped had I known them from the beginning. I want to share them with you, in case you are just starting your own journey with loss.
sherijohnson.ca
We all expect to feel a deep, deep sadness after a miscarriage. We've seen other people go through grief and we've watched them experience that sadness. But have you noticed that you feel all kinds of other emotions besides sadness?
I sure did after my 3 miscarriages. Jealousy, emptiness, numbness, anger...the list goes on. Grief isn't an emotion itself, it's a process that encompasses many emotions.
In this episode, I talk about 5 of the most common emotions BESIDES sadness, that you may not have realized are part of your grief.
sherijohnson.ca
It feels a bit like we've lost sight of everyone's problems in the world except for the massive one that no one can stop talking about. COVID19 is kind of all-consuming and I think it's left a lot of people in the lurch.
People like you. Women who are on a fertility journey and now have to wait even longer for a treatment. Women whose biological clock is ticking and they just want to get moving. Women who've had their dreams crushed in one fell swoop.
But you don't have to just sit back and wait. Why not take control over what you can? Right now.
sherijohnson.ca
Why do we think staying busy will help us feel better after a miscarriage? Think about it. It might take your mind off your grief for a brief period of time, but it just resurfaces, and sometimes at the worst possible moments.
In this episode, I'll explain why keeping busy won't make your grief go away and share 4 tools for actually helping you feel better.
sherijohnson.ca
Most of what we've heard during these crazy times is fear and negativity. But there are actually ways that you can take advantage of the quarantines and isolation and allow your body, mind and spirit to heal. You might even give your fertility a boost or prepare your body for your next pregnancy. Have a listen to find out how.
sherijohnson.ca
Questions like, "so when are you having kids?" can bring up a lot of anger in someone who's struggling with infertility or has just had a miscarriage. I know it does. I see a ton of posts about it on social media and I hear about it from my clients.
But what if I told you that there's a way to feel comfortable with these types of questions? That you could answer them with ease and grace and not get angry? Have a listen to this episode to find out how.
sherijohnson.ca
After a miscarriage or while on a fertility journey, there are so many decisions to make. It can get overwhelming and impossible to figure out the direction to go. You get "stuck". Paralyzed. And can't move forward. Here's how to change that.
sherijohnson.ca
Your marriage or partnership can take a beating after a miscarriage or a period of infertility. Use these 6 tips to make sure your relationship stays rock solid through tumultuous times.
sherijohnson.ca
When you've been through a miscarriage or months of infertility, your body starts to feel broken. Listen to this episode to find out how to release frustration towards your body, or your female body parts, so it can heal and you can move on to your next pregnancy.
sherijohnson.ca
Many women feel a sense of guilt after a miscarriage or prolonged infertility. As though they might have been able to prevent the loss or improved their chances of having a baby somehow. Perhaps if they'd done something differently, things would have been better. I felt this way too. Listen to this episode to find out how to let it go.
sherijohnson.ca