Growing with Gayle

Ever felt like you have to keep your shit together 24/7, or else you’re failing as a mum? 💔
In this korero, I’m getting completely transparent about my journey from being a young Māori mum at 15, numbing my pain and triggers with alcohol, to celebrating nearly 3 years sober and finding true emotional freedom.
We’ve been told to "suck it up, buttercup," to hide our anger, grief, and sadness because showing weakness feels unsafe. But suppressing those emotions just stores them in our body until we explode.
Today, we are normalizing being human. I’m sharing the exact tools I use daily, like the power of "the pause", to move from reacting out of trauma to responding from a grounded state. Let's break the generational cycles, drop the mask of perfection, and create safe spaces to feel, heal, and expand alongside our whānau.
If this conversation resonated with you, please subscribe, leave a comment below with your biggest takeaway, and share this with a Mama who needs to hear it. Lots of love always. ✨

In this kōrero I share my own personal experiences of overcoming adversity, the grief associated with letting go of past identities, and the importance of self-trust in the journey of personal growth. Healing is a lifelong process and I would love to invite you to embrace the life you have had so far and use it as a means of refinement rather than a definition of your future. Through reflection and action, you can choose to become the creator of your life, moving beyond victimhood to empowerment.grab a cuppa and join me for this conversationIf you ever want to dive deeper into this work you can, by starting the conversation with me - talk to me here:https://calendar.app.google/j4AR52R8M5Q2dRu97 00:00 Navigating Life's Unexpected Challenges02:18 The Power of Identity Shifts04:28 Grief in Transformation06:37 Understanding the Transformational Crisis08:53 Building Self-Trust Through Action10:58 Embracing New Levels of Growth13:28 Choosing to Be the Creator of Your Life18:34 Reflection and Moving Forward

In this episode I share how listening to Grant Cardone’s The 10X Rule reminded me that normal effort creates a normal, average life, and that if I want an extraordinary life I need to take extraordinary action instead of coasting.

I reflect on how staying in my comfort zone kept me stuck for years, including patterns from my upbringing around addiction and alcohol, and how fear of being seen and fear of failure can stop us from even starting.
I talk about building self-trust through small daily actions, from saying yes to simple self-care choices to committing to bigger identity shifts like becoming a runner. I explain how habits and neural pathways make change uncomfortable
AndI leave action steps: name one area where I’m being mediocre, imagine going 10% harder, choose one small daily habit, and commit fully (more at the bottom)

00:00 10X Rule Spark
01:32 Normal Effort Trap
02:54 Breaking Old Patterns
03:56 Fear of Failing
06:39 Stop Waiting Start
08:29 Comfortable Conditioning
10:12 Self Trust Micro Wins
15:06 Choose Your Identity
16:52 Habits and Neural Paths
18:55 10 Percent Action Plan
21:51 Bigger Why and Wrap

If you were game enough to accept my challenge here are the reflection questions:
- What one area of your life are you currently doing “enough” in?
- What would happen if you went 10% harder this week?
- Which small daily habit could you increase to push beyond average?
Write down one thing you will commit to doing fully, no shortcuts, this week.
And if you would like to dive deeper on your own healing journey and want to hear more about how I can support you - book in here:
https://calendar.app.google/3g2wMaQsMuN9WXvM7
Connect soon xo

In this episode I’m talking about frustration.... ironically while re-recording after my laptop didn’t save the first take LOL. I share where I’ve been over the past couple of years with starting and stopping the podcast, and why I took a three-month pause from my business (and a month off social media) to let my nervous system settle, be present with my kids as a single mum, and support my uncle after his quadruple bypass. I reflect on how growing and grieving can coexist, and how building from dysregulation can bleed into what we create. I unpack why frustration isn’t weakness, failure, or a sign to quit. it’s a signal of misalignment, crossed boundaries, unmet needs, value violations, or being right on the edge of growth. I also share a simple way to work with frustration instead of reacting: pause, breathe, zoom out, and ask what it’s trying to show you (including where the expectation vs reality gap is, what boundaries you’ve ignored, and whether you’re tired or misaligned). Wrapping it up with a bow and choosing vs chasing, moving with intention, and taking action even when it’s uncomfortable. Stay connected for more kōrero on topics like this xx

00:00 Laptop Fail and Frustration
01:10 Who I Am and Hiatus
03:57 Rest Seasons and Grief
05:52 Regulation Before Building
09:34 Frustration as a Signal
11:53 Fear and the Growth Edge
13:43 Pause and Ask Questions
16:32 Choosing Expansion This Year
18:58 Wrap Up and Stay Connected

In this episode, I share the deeply personal and transformative story of my first pregnancy and birth at the age of 16. From attending high school while dealing with severe morning sickness to navigating labour and a challenging emergency C-section, I describe how this experience not only made me a mother but also instilled a fierce determination and resilience in me. I discuss the emotional highs and lows, the incredible support system around me, and the life-changing lessons I learned. Join me as I open up about this sacred and often untalked-about journey, aiming to spark similar conversations and connections among listeners who have been through their own unique pregnancy and birthing experiences.

To dive deeper into these conversations, stay tuned and check out what I have got going on over at https://beacons.ai/gaylemoanajohnson

00:00 Introduction and Setting the Scene
00:17 The Importance of Birth Stories
02:16 First Pregnancy Challenges
07:21 Labour and Delivery
15:30 Post-Birth Reflections
18:21 Conclusion and Invitation for Future Conversations