When was the last time you did something just for you? Without guilt, apology, or the endless mental list of what still needs to be done?
If you can’t remember, you’re not alone.
In this episode of The Joy Unleashed Project, we invite you to pause, breathe, and rediscover what it means to matter again.
Through the story of “Sarah,” a woman who apologized for wanting a one-hour massage, Mattie shines a light on the invisible guilt so many of us carry when we try to prioritize ourselves.
Because somewhere along the way, we were taught that caring for ourselves is selfish.
But the truth? It’s not selfish. It’s strategic.
When you care for the person who cares for everyone else, you don’t take away from others, you strengthen your ability to show up for them.
Inside this episode:
Why guilt shows up when you put yourself first, and how to reframe it
The neuroscience behind caregiving and why women are wired to nurture
The real cost of chronic self-neglect (and what it does to your brain, body, and mood)
How to rewrite the story of “selfishness” into one of responsibility and self-trust
Gentle, doable ways to start honoring your needs, without drowning in guilt
You’ll walk away with:
Permission to put yourself back on your own priority list
Clarity on why self-care is not indulgent—but essential
Practical tools to quiet guilt and make peace with rest
A renewed sense of purpose, peace, and joy
Because the guilt you feel isn’t proof that you’re selfish, it’s proof that you’ve been neglecting yourself for too long. You deserve to matter in your own life. Not as a reward for what you give, but simply because you exist
Want to go deeper?
Download Mattie’s free Permission Slip Boundary Script—a guided tool to help you honor your needs without guilt or apology. Get it here
And if you’re craving a supportive space to reconnect with purpose and joy, join The Flourish Collective, a heart-centered community for women 45+ rediscovering themselves beyond the roles they’ve played. Learn more here
You don’t have to earn your joy.
You just have to remember it’s yours.
