
Free to Be Mindful Podcast
The Free to Be Mindful Podcast invites you along on a journey to learn of mindful living, grow in mental health and inspire through personal growth. In a world where we can often feel much stress and overwhelm, this podcast provides bite-sized tips and real-talk conversations, empowering you to embrace mindfulness and nurture your full potential.
Welcome to the Free to Be Mindful Podcast, where busy working moms like you can find solace, clarity, and practical tips to live a mindful and intentional life. Hosted by Vanessa De Jesus Guzman - a Licensed Therapist, Retired Educator, Entrepreneur, and Mom of two - this podcast is designed to empower moms to prioritize their mental well-being, embrace mindfulness, and nurture their full potential without losing their cool.
In today’s fast-paced world, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed, stressed, and burnt out. But motherhood doesn’t have to mean chaos and anxiety. The Free to Be Mindful Podcast provides bite-sized tips, real-talk conversations, and expert interviews to help you embrace an intentional approach to find joy and reduce overwhelm, prioritize your mental health amidst the chaos of motherhood, and engage in self-discovery with guidance from experts and personal stories
Vanessa's unique blend of professional experience and personal insight has made her a trusted voice in the wellness and mental health space. Featured on the Today Show, Univision, Parents Latina and multiple national publications, Vanessa is passionate about helping moms like you reduce the mental load, find moments of peace, and live a more fulfilling life.
Each episode is designed with your busy schedule in mind—keeping things short, sweet, and practical. Whether you're driving to work, folding laundry, or taking a break between tasks, you can easily fit these episodes into your day. Every episode wraps up with a short guided meditation, giving you the opportunity to pause, reflect, and center yourself.
Whether you’re looking to reduce stress, cultivate mindfulness, or simply carve out time for yourself, the Free to Be Mindful Podcast is the perfect companion for your journey to a more mindful and joyful life.
New episodes are released weekly twice a week, so don’t miss out! Tune in to reclaim your calm, center yourself, and remember that in the midst of it all, you are always Free to Be Mindful.
Free to Be Mindful Podcast
Resting or Resisting: The Fine Line Between Boundaries & Avoidance
In this episode of the Free to Be Mindful Podcast, Vanessa De Jesus Guzman, therapist, mom, and speaker, dives into a conversation that’s equal parts real talk and reflection: the blurry line between rest and avoidance.
With humor, honesty, and a few unpopular opinions, Vanessa explores what it really means to honor your limits—without using boundaries as an excuse to check out.
Whether you’re feeling burnt out, stuck in a lazy season, or caught in a cycle of “I just don’t feel like it,” this episode offers a compassionate push forward.
EPISODE DESCRIPTION
Vanessa shares her take on how today’s culture of boundaries, bandwidth, and self-care can sometimes blur the lines between wellness and responsibility. With a mix of personal insight and professional perspective, she challenges listeners to examine whether their habits are serving growth—or avoidance.
TUNE IN TO LEARN
- How to tell the difference between rest and resistance
- What healthy boundaries actually sound like (and what they don’t)
- Why discipline doesn’t mean rigidity—but reliability
- What happens when avoidance becomes a lifestyle
- Reflective questions to get real with yourself
- How to gently shift from stuck to showing up
- Practical strategies to move forward with clarity and compassion
- The role of personal accountability in your growth journey
- When laziness is actually fear in disguise
- A short guided meditation to reset your mindset
TAKEAWAY MESSAGE
Boundaries should protect your peace—not become an excuse to stay small. With honest reflection, small steps, and self-compassion, you can move from avoidance to aligned action.
Listen in, and remember... you’re always free to be mindful.
120 COPING SKILLS
https://www.freetobemindful.com/podcast-120copingskills
CULTIVATE CALM CHALLENGE
https://www.freetobemindful.com/podcast-cultivatingcalmchallenge
SUBMIT QUESTIONS for CONSULT A COUNSELOR:
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WATCH THE PODCAST ON YOUTUBE:
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GET THE MUSE HEADBAND AT A DISCOUNT!
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Use this link to get 15% off your total when you purchase the amazing brain sensing headband that tells you when you're in a meditative state and guides you to improve your practice.
STAY CONNECTED:
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Website: https://www.freetobemindful.com/podcast
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DISCLAIMER:
Free to Be Mindful Podcast episodes are for educational purposes only and should not be considered as or substituted for therapy or professional help from a licensed clinician.