Congruent with Lisa Carpenter | The truth beneath success. Why it never feels like enough.

ENCORE: Why You Don’t Need a Coach (But Why You May Want One)

Fresh off an incredible two-day retreat in the beautiful Okanagan, Lisa dives deep into the story that keeps so many driven, ambitious people trapped: "I should know this stuff already."If you've been drowning in personal development for years, reading all the books, taking the courses, working with coaches, and you're still stuck in the same patterns, this episode is for you.What You'll Learn:The Truth About "Should Know Better" Lisa breaks down why believing you should already have it figured out is the exact thing keeping you stuck. She shares how this story kept her trapped for years and why it's actually keeping you from the transformation you're craving.The Bus vs. Plane Analogy We don't need coaches. We're all capable of finding our way. But working with a one-to-one coach is the difference between taking a bus across the country versus hopping on a plane. Same destination, completely different timeline.Lisa's Money Story Transformation For years, Lisa thought she had a money problem. The real problem? She was constantly holding her attention on what she didn't have instead of recognizing the abundance that was already there. She shares the specific questions she asked herself that shifted everything.The Four Phases of TransformationAwareness - Discovering what's really holding you back (spoiler: it's not what you think)Acceptance - That hard pill moment when you realize the problem isn't the problemPractice - The part nobody wants to do but everyone needs to doEmbodiment - Where you become aware of your red flags and know how to bring yourself back to center fasterThe Real Cost of Playing SmallLisa challenges you to ask yourself: What is it costing you to get stuck in your stories? How much longer are you going to use "I should know this" as an excuse to not make the investment in yourself that you need to make?She shares her own journey of learning to stop shrinking, to show up as a leader, and how working with coaches for two decades has allowed her to create the life and business she has today.The Dragon Unicorn MomentLisa shares a powerful story about a friend telling her: "You not standing out is like a dragon unicorn standing in the middle of a field, not standing out." This became a turning point in her journey of accepting that she's here to lead.Bottom LineYou have information, but information is nothing without action. Nothing. The most successful, emotionally well people Lisa knows have worked with coaches, not because there's anything wrong with them, but because they value personal growth and want to show up as more powerful leaders in their lives.Take ActionIf this episode resonates with you:Stop telling yourself you should have it figured out by nowConsider what's really holding you back from taking actionAsk yourself: What would be possible if these stories didn't exist?Fill out Lisa's market research form (link in show notes)Book a conversation with Lisa at lisacarpenter.ca/wwmThis Week's Challenge: Really ask yourself what you want and what you need for your own personal transformation. Give yourself permission to want what you want, need what you need, and get out of the story that you should be doing it all by yourself.You can be driven and ambitious and want more in your life, but you don't have to do it at your own personal sacrifice. Make you a priority this week.Want to work with Lisa? She's looking for driven, ambitious humans who are ready to stop playing small and create their extraordinary lives. Visit lisacarpenter.ca/wwm to learn more.

ENCORE: One Key Factor to Make Doing the Difficult Things Easier

Lisa dives deep into the confusion around "let it be easy" versus doing hard things. If you've been avoiding uncomfortable actions or pushing through everything with force, this episode reveals the difference between allowing and forcing, and why both approaches can keep you stuck.Many of Lisa's clients are excellent at doing hard things. They're masters at pushing through, putting their heads down, and forcing things to happen. But there's a crucial difference between forcing and pushing versus allowing. The energy behind the action matters as much as the action itself.Lisa woke up with sore legs, knowing she had to train glutes that day. Heavy weights, high volume, very mental. She didn't feel like it. But she's committed to her outcome, and she knows that if she starts negotiating with herself based on how she feels, she's already losing.Instead of wasting energy negotiating or switching to upper body, she went straight to the gym. While warming up, she shifted her energy from "Oh my God, this is going to be so hard and take so long" to reminding herself that she's strong, capable, and her body can do this. She tuned into her body's yes or no signals, which is different than just not feeling like it.The key insight: she went in knowing it would be hard and asked "How can I allow this to be easier?"Whether you're trying to transform your body, lose weight, or grow a business, it's going to be hard. Lisa can't tell you how many face-down moments she's had in business, how many hard decisions she's made, how much adversity she's faced. Being an entrepreneur isn't for everyone and it's definitely not a walk in the park.When you're doing hard things, it's confronting. You have to look at your limiting beliefs, the stories you're telling yourself, your current identity and ways of being. You have to stare all of that down, and it's really uncomfortable.Most people aren't willing to do uncomfortable things. So Lisa asks: is it that it's hard, or is it that it's uncomfortable and we don't want to do uncomfortable things?For many high-achievers, the hardest, most uncomfortable thing isn't pushing through more activities. It's learning to slow down, say no, make rest a priority, have more fun, take things off their plate, be in the discomfort of not taking care of everybody else, and actually making themselves a priority.When Lisa was learning to rest, she had to dismantle all her stories and beliefs: rest was lazy, rest was unproductive, rest was for "those people." She had things to do. It was tied to her identity as an overachiever who wore "busy" as a badge of honor. She could do all the things and take care of everybody else while doing them. No wonder she burned out.To heal, she had to learn that slowing down was the hard thing for an over-doer. Most people would say slowing down isn't hard, but when you're wired to constantly achieve, slowing down is the most uncomfortable thing you can do.Lisa had to learn how to make rest feel easier. Resting felt torturous, so she shifted her energy by reminding herself what rest would bring: healing, strength, the ability to do more ultimately. Rest wasn't going to take away from anything. She had to learn to honor and value rest, and that's how she allowed the hard thing to be easier.Get comfortable being uncomfortable. The more you can get comfortable with being uncomfortable, that's when the magic happens. In that discomfort, you can adjust your energy so that even when it's uncomfortable, you still find a way to win and honor your energy.The question becomes: what feels hard that you've been avoiding? And what things are you doing that you're telling yourself are hard that, if you shifted your energy around them, you could allow to be easier?Thank you for being part of this community. If this episode resonated with you, share it with someone who needs to hear this message.

ENCORE: The 3 Biggest Mistakes People Make Trying to Protect Their Energy

If you're feeling drained despite all your efforts to manage your time and boundaries, you're probably making these three critical mistakes that are actually robbing you of the very energy you're trying to preserve. This episode reveals why your current strategies are backwards and what to focus on instead. Mistake #1: Waiting for Others to ChangeThe biggest energy drain is believing that other people or circumstances changing is the solution to feeling better. You're living in "when then" mode. When your partner changes, when you have more time, when your kids are older, when you get a new job, THEN you'll have energy for yourself.This is giving away your power entirely.External circumstances changing doesn't automatically give you more energy or make you prioritize yourself better.If you believe your husband, kids, or schedule needs to change before you can feel better, you're putting yourself in a powerless position where forces outside of you control your wellbeing. That costs you massive amounts of energy because you're fighting what you can't control. Mistake #2: Thinking It's a Time Management ProblemThis is like slapping lipstick on a pig. You're looking for a solution to the wrong problem.Time management is easy when you know how you're prioritizing your time and what needs to get done. No system or strategy is going to give you more energy. The people Lisa works with are some of the most productive people she's ever met. They're so productive they don't even realize they're over-functioning way beyond what they need to do in a day.Here's what's really happening: you create organized systems and free up space, then immediately fill that space back up because you're uncomfortable with calm. You say you want more time and energy, but you're actually more committed to filling that time because you feel calm in the chaos.It takes serious nervous system regulation to get comfortable being calm in the calm. Most people feel more comfortable in chaos than in peace, so they'll always create things to bring them back to busyness. Mistake #3: Using Worry as a Problem-Solving StrategyThis is where Lisa gets really honest about her own patterns. Worrying and focusing on the problem as a way to fix the problem. Many of Lisa's clients have unraveled the belief that there's even a problem when often what they find is they've created a problem where none existed.Consider what worry is giving you. Many of us learned that the more we worry, the more responsible we're being about handling things. But where did you learn that worry was the way to solve problems? You get more of what you focus on.Lisa shares her personal example with money worry. She didn't have a money problem she had a worry-about-money problem. She spent tremendous energy worrying about debt, asking herself how she'd pay it off, if she'd be okay. Then she developed a strategy to break the worry cycle. Lisa's Worry-Breaking StrategyShe started asking herself: "Is anything different today from yesterday?" The answer was always no. "Did you spend all day yesterday worrying?" Yes. "Did that change anything?" No. "Is anything different today?" No. "Did anything bad happen yesterday?" No.Day after day after day, she had evidence that worrying wasn't changing anything and nothing bad was actually happening. No bill collectors showed up. Nobody took her car. Nothing bad was happening. In that moment, she'd tell herself to stop spending energy worrying and put that energy into being responsible for doing things that would support the outcome she wanted.If something had changed when she asked those questions, it still came back to: what do I need to take responsibility for in this moment? Then she'd do that thing and move on. Ready to break these energy-draining patterns and create sustainable energy that supports your extraordinary life? Connect with Lisa at LisaCarpenter.ca/wwm to explore what's possible.

ENCORE: How to Feel More Successful and Productive by Doing Less

In a world bombarded with optimization strategies and endless to-do lists, Lisa challenges the conventional wisdom that more equals better. This episode cuts through the noise to reveal why high-performers often sabotage themselves with impossible standards and how to break free from the "all or nothing" trap that keeps you stuck.We're drowning in information about how to optimize everything, and it's creating paralysis for high-achievers. When you can't do something perfectly, you opt out entirely. This happens with health, relationships, business, and self-care. The result? Zero action equals zero results, even though some results are infinitely better than none.Lisa breaks down the core pillars that actually matter for performance: sleep, movement, nutrition, outdoor time, relationships (especially with yourself), and hydration. These basics don't change, but we get distracted by every new optimization strategy instead of mastering what we know works.Everyone's talking about cold plunging for nervous system benefits, but Lisa reveals why she doesn't do it despite knowing the benefits. She's already doing hard things and chooses different hard things that support her nervous system post-burnout. The lesson? Don't do things just because others say you should. Choose what works for YOUR life and nervous system.What if you gave yourself permission to go to the gym once a week instead of five times? What if you committed to one healthy breakfast instead of overhauling your entire diet? What if you meditated for five minutes instead of aiming for an hour? The key is finding the minimum you can commit to and actually stick with it.For years, Lisa used being hard on herself as motivation. This worked until it didn't. When you're using self-criticism to move forward, you're in an abusive relationship with yourself. The shift? You can achieve more through strategic kindness than constant criticism.Sometimes the answer isn't adding more strategies—it's consciously deciding what to stop doing. Put a pin in optimization techniques that don't fit your current bandwidth. Schedule a reminder to revisit them in three to six months. Give yourself permission to let things go without guilt.Can you sit with yourself in silence for five minutes? If not, what does that say about your relationship with yourself? What are you running from? What stories are you telling yourself about what you "should" be doing? These questions reveal the deeper patterns keeping you stuck.This episode is for high-achievers who feel like they're constantly failing despite doing everything "right." If self-care feels like another job on your to-do list, if you opt out of healthy habits because you can't do them perfectly, or if you're ready to challenge the stories keeping you overwhelmed, this episode will shift your perspective.Choose one foundational area where you want improvement. Ask yourself what's the absolute minimum you can commit to and actually stick with. Notice what stories come up when you consider doing "less." Then give yourself permission to let everything else go for now while you build this one sustainable habit.Success and fulfillment don't come from doing all the things—they come from doing the right things consistently. When you master the basics and build on a solid foundation, you don't need to constantly add more to feel successful. You'll actually start enjoying your life instead of grinding through it.Ready to master the art of prioritizing yourself and creating a life filled with joy, fulfillment, ease, and peace? Fill out the application https://lisacarpenter.ca/wwm/ and let's discuss how to get you the results you're after without sacrificing yourself to achieve them.Enjoyed this episode? Head over to your listening platform and leave a rating and review—it helps us get this message into the ears of more women who need to hear it.

You’ll Spend Anything on Your Kids But Won’t Invest in the One Thing They Actually Need From You

Are you an overwhelmed parent who's tired of yelling at your kids? Do you find yourself losing it with your children, then feeling guilty about your parenting afterward? If you're a high-achieving mom or dad struggling with parenting anxiety, constant overwhelm, and the exhausting cycle of trying to control everything, this episode is for you.In today's deeply personal episode, I share the real story of how doing my own healing work completely transformed how I show up as a parent, and how it's breaking generational trauma for my children.What You'll Learn:Why "good parents" still lose it with their kids (and what's really happening beneath the surface)The hidden cost of perfectionist parenting and how it damages both you and your childrenHow emotional safety actually works in parenting (it's not what most parents think)Why your kids' anxiety isn't really about anxiety - and what it's actually telling youThe one investment that changes everything for your family's emotional healthHow breaking generational patterns happens through YOUR healing, not your children's behaviorPerfect for Parents Who:Feel like they're always yelling despite wanting to be calmStruggle with mom guilt or dad guilt about their parentingAre overwhelmed by daily parenting challengesWant to stop repeating their parents' mistakes but don't know howAre high-achievers who can't seem to "achieve" at parentingFeel anxious about their children's emotional well-beingAre tired of walking on eggshells around their kids' big emotionsFeatured Story:I share the raw, real moment when my 14-year-old son Jake dropped his brand-new phone in the river, and how our response became a powerful example of generational healing in action. You'll hear exactly what we did differently (and what we used to do wrong) that's creating emotional safety for our kids.The Investment Truth:Why parents will spend thousands on tutoring, sports, and schools but resist investing in the inner work that actually gives their children emotional security, self-compassion, and healthy relationships with themselves.If you're ready to stop the cycle of overwhelm and create the emotionally safe family environment your children actually need, this episode will show you exactly where to start, and why the work begins with you.

The Hidden Codependency Keeping High-Functioning Women & Men Stuck

You're not needy. You're not the damsel in distress. You get shit done.But what if I told you that your excellence, your leadership, your "I've got this" attitude is actually a sophisticated form of codependency that's keeping you emotionally trapped?In this raw, unfiltered solo episode, I'm pulling back the curtain on the high-functioning codependency that disguises itself as strength but leaves you drowning in resentment while everyone else gets to rest.What You'll Discover:The Real Face of CodependencyWhy it's not about being needy—it's about needing to be needed so badly you abandon yourselfHow your "strength" became your prisonThe difference between being helpful and being codependentThe Hidden Traits That Don't Look CodependentYou anticipate others' needs before being asked (and call it leadership)You intellectualize feelings but avoid actually feeling themYou see your value in what you do, not who you areYou never ask for help but resent people who doHow It Shows Up Everywhere:At Work: You're the emotional air traffic controller managing everyone's moodsIn Parenting: You over-function for your kids while under-functioning for yourselfIn Love: You choose potential over reality and call it commitmentThe Codependent Loop That's Stealing Your Joy:Obsession (disguised as leadership)Control (disguised as being proactive)Resentment (disguised as martyrdom)Collapse (disguised as "having a lot on your plate")Hope (disguised as optimism)RepeatThe Hard Truth:You've built an empire on "not good enough." You're constantly chasing, constantly proving, constantly giving—but never arriving at that place where you feel genuinely fulfilled.Your life looks amazing on the outside. But on the inside? You're exhausted, disconnected, and wondering why success doesn't feel the way you thought it would.The Way Out:This isn't about becoming selfish or uncaring. It's about coming home to yourself. It's about moving from codependency to sovereignty—knowing who you are without all the masks and coping mechanisms.The Three A's:Awareness: Seeing these patterns without judgmentAcceptance: The gateway to transformationAction: Detachment, boundaries, and reparenting yourselfReal Talk:How much longer are you going to stay in this loop? How much longer will you pat yourself on the back for being "so strong" while your joy slips through your fingers every single day?The cost of doing nothing isn't just your well-being—it's your relationships, your health, and the woman you're meant to become.If This Hit You Like a Freight Train:This episode might be one to listen to twice. There's a lot here. And if you're sitting there thinking "holy shit, this is me"—that's your nervous system recognizing the truth.You have a choice right now. You can keep pretending these patterns are just "being responsible," or you can decide that today is the day you stop abandoning yourself for everyone else.Ready to break the cycle? Visit LisaCarpenter.ca/WWM and fill out the application. Let's have a real conversation about what it looks like to reclaim your life.If this episode rocked your world, share it with another high-functioning human who needs to hear this. That's how we change lives—one honest conversation at a time. Resources Mentioned:Work with Lisa: LisaCarpenter.ca/WWMFollow Lisa on Instagram: @LisaCarpenterInc"Codependency isn't about weak people. It's about people who have been conditioned to believe their worth depends on being needed, accepted or approved by others." - Ross Rosenberg

Redefining Success During Life’s Biggest Transitions (Live Coaching with Kasia)

In this powerful live coaching session, Lisa works with Kasia, a former client who is navigating pregnancy in her 40s while running a successful coaching business. This conversation explores the profound shifts that come with major life transitions and how our definitions of success must evolve with us.Key Topics DiscussedThe Reality of Pregnancy vs. ExpectationsHow pregnancy can shatter our carefully constructed ideas of how life "should" goThe guilt that comes when reality doesn't match our dreamsLearning to hold multiple truths at once: excitement and regret, joy and burdenRedefining SuccessMoving from external metrics (revenue, client satisfaction, stability) to internal statesKey insight: "Success isn't a measurement - it's a feeling you get to embody"Success as an identity and internal state of being rather than external achievementValue Beyond the DollarRecognizing inherent worth that isn't tied to income generationThe unpaid labor of motherhood, partnership, and family buildingStanding in your power when financial contributions shiftNavigating Partnership During TransitionHaving difficult conversations about expectations and contributionsMoving from 50/50 thinking to understanding natural ebbs and flows in relationshipsThe importance of negotiation and honest communicationConflict Avoidance PatternsHow childhood experiences with conflict shape adult behaviorThe difference between actual conflict and perceived judgmentLearning to trust your ability to navigate uncertaintyKey TakeawaysSurrender as Practice: Major life transitions require us to practice surrender at levels we've never experienced beforeInternal vs. External Judgment: Often the harshest judgment comes from within, not from othersThe Value Question: Ask yourself and your partner: "What would you pay me to be a mother to your child?"Presence Over Productivity: Some seasons of life call for being rather than doingRelationships as Long-term Reciprocity: Healthy partnerships aren't tit-for-tat but involve carrying each other through different seasonsReflection QuestionsWhere in your life are you trying to avoid conflict that may not even happen?How are you defining success, and is that definition serving you?What would change if you truly believed in your inherent worth, separate from what you produce?How might you honor the season of life you're in rather than rushing to the next one?Connect with LisaWebsite: [lisacarpenter.ca]Instagram: [@lisacarpenterinc]If this episode resonated with you, please share it with someone who might need to hear these insights about navigating major life transitions with grace and self-compassion.

From Burned Out High Achiever to Multi-Million Dollar Coach: The Messy Truth About Success That No One Talks About

This week, I’m flipping the script and taking the hot seat.In this special episode, I’m joined by my client Angela—a life coach and medical doctor from New Zealand—for a deep, heartfelt conversation about what it really means to choose your path, trust yourself, and evolve beyond who you used to be.We dive into the real behind-the-scenes of my journey: the career pivots, identity shifts, and uncomfortable-but-worth-it moments that led me to where I am today. From walking away from business models that no longer felt aligned, to navigating fear and self-doubt, this episode is an honest look at what happens when we stop performing and start living from our values.Inside this episode, you’ll hear us talk about:Why choosing yourself often means disappointing othersLetting go of identities that once felt safe—but no longer serveWhat it really looks like to lead with integrity (even when it’s messy)How to stop outsourcing your power and start trusting your truthWhy redefining success is one of the most courageous things you can doThe quiet—but radical—act of living in alignment with your valuesThis isn’t about “doing it all” or chasing the next goal. This is about you—getting honest about what you want, what matters most, and where you’re still stuck in outdated stories that are keeping you from living fully. This episode is for you if you are: At a crossroads in your life or businessTired of chasing success that doesn’t feel goodReady to reconnect with yourself—and choose your next chapter with intentionAnd if this episode speaks to you, it’s time to go deeper...Join Me in Tulum — Only 3 Spots LeftMy 12-month coaching + retreat experience is for the high-achieving woman who’s done all the “right” things... and still feels like something’s missing.This isn’t about fixing you. It’s about meeting the real you—and giving her space to exhale.✔️ High-touch private coaching ✔️ Intimate, soul-shifting retreat in Tulum ✔️ A powerful sisterhood of women who get itReady to walk into your next chapter, lighter and more aligned than ever? Apply now for Tulum →Thank you for tuning in. If this conversation sparked something in you, share it with someone who needs to hear it.And remember— Your next level doesn’t require you to do more. It asks you to choose differently. You have the power to choose your way forward.

This High-Earning Pilot was Losing Sleep Over Money at 3 AM (Here’s How I Coached Him)

In this powerful episode, Lisa shares an unedited coaching conversation with Greg, an airline pilot who has significant wealth on paper yet still wakes up at 3 AM worried about money. This is context coaching in action—addressing the story problem, not the money problem.What you'll hear:The "Just Enough" Identity Crisis Greg has substantial assets and multiple properties, but his relationship with money is still governed by childhood stories like "money doesn't grow on trees." Despite his financial success, he operates from scarcity and wakes up anxious about lack. This disconnect between his actual wealth and his emotional experience with money is more common than you might think among high earners.Context vs. Content Coaching in Action Rather than coaching Greg on budgeting or cash flow management, Lisa immediately identifies that this isn't a money problem—it's an identity problem. She coaches to the pattern underneath his words, not the surface-level content he's presenting. This is the difference between treating symptoms and addressing root causes.Real-Time Transformation You'll witness the exact moment Greg has a visceral reaction to Lisa calling him "wealthy" and how she uses that as a gateway to help him step into a new identity. Lisa introduces the concept of pattern interrupts and gives Greg specific homework to retrain his brain out of scarcity thinking.The conversation reveals how Greg's scarcity mindset isn't just affecting his sleep—it's preventing him from doing more good in the world. He and his husband have already established endowments at his alma mater, but his "just enough" identity keeps him from fully stepping into his role as a wealthy person who can create positive impact.Lisa helps him see that holding onto lack mentality is actually a disservice to those who need him to show up in his full financial power. The shift from victim to steward of wealth becomes not just personal growth, but moral responsibility.Lisa gives Greg specific assignments: calculate his total net worth and use that number as a pattern interrupt whenever scarcity thoughts arise. She also challenges him to define what wealth means for him personally and plan how he wants to give back from that place of abundance.The homework isn't about managing money better—it's about managing his identity and relationship with wealth completely differently.Why This Episode MattersThis isn't theory or feel-good advice. It's real coaching happening in real time with someone who has significant financial success but is still trapped by old stories. If you're a high achiever who feels financially stressed despite your success, this conversation will show you exactly how those patterns operate and how to break free from them.You'll hear how quickly transformation can happen when you address the right problem. Greg doesn't need more money—he needs to step into the identity of someone who already has more than enough.Ready to examine your own money stories? Head to lisacarpenter.ca/wwm to apply for coaching and discover what's really keeping you stuck.

The Truth About Coaching That No One Talks About

Fresh off her second Camino walk, Lisa tackles the question everyone's thinking but not asking: What's the actual difference between coaching and therapy? And why do successful, exhausted people often find therapy keeps them stuck while coaching propels them forward?Here's the real difference:Therapy is past-focused—diving into what happened to you, processing trauma, gaining insights about how things impacted you. You talk about the problem, get some insight, then leave.Coaching is future-focused—where are you now, where do you want to go, and what needs to shift to get you there? It's about identity shifts, accountability, and taking action.Lisa's approach is different because she coaches to your context, not your content. She's not listening to your circumstances—she's hearing the patterns underneath your words. Because the problem you think you have? It's usually not the problem you actually have.Think about money. Instead of talking about your financial struggles, Lisa asks: "If money were a person, what kind of relationship would you have with them?" Then you step into the identity of someone who treats money with reverence. That's how she became debt-free—identity shift first, results follow.You might need therapy if: You're dealing with clinical depression, trauma, or severe anxiety.You're ready for coaching if: You feel stuck despite having it all, keep repeating the same patterns, have done years of therapy but aren't gaining momentum, or you're ready to stop being a victim of your circumstances and start taking responsibility for your future.The bottom line: Coaching isn't something you need—it's something you want because you love what it brings to your life and how it helps you expand into more. Ready to explore what's possible?Lisa has openings this summer and fall, plus Reclamation (her signature program) is open for registration. To learn about Lisa’s transformative "Reclamation" program, visit LisaCarpenter.ca/ReclamationTo learn about working 1:1 with Lisa click hereIf this episode resonated, share it with someone who might be ready to stop being a victim of their circumstances and start becoming the architect of their life.