Better Days Start Today

This week’s episode is a return after an unexpected pause. I share where I have been, what has been shifting behind the scenes, and what you can expect moving forward.WHAT WE’LL COVER:✔ Why the podcast has moved to Substack✔ Why I am experimenting with video and how you can watch✔ Where my content and community will live from now on✔ What is happening with my health and why it matters✔ A speaking event I am honored to be part of in January✔ A small December surprise I am creating for youThis episode is simple, just you and me reconnecting and catching up. I close with a journal question that has been guiding me through this season of change.JOURNAL PROMPT:What do I most need in this season of my life, and how can I honor that need today?LINKS🔥 Join Writing Wild Society on Skool🎥 Watch full video episodes on Substack🎤 Learn about A Future Fest🤝 Connect with me on SubstackIf this episode spoke to you, share it with a friend,  and remember, better days start today. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit adriennecrowley.substack.com

Today's episode is a reading of my essay, A Reading on Purpose, inspired by The Great Work of Your Life by Stephen Cope. This reflection explores how clarity of action begins with clarity of identity and why the question isn't "What should I do?" but "Who am I right now?" Through the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita, we'll unpack the idea that confusion about purpose is really confusion about self. When you return to who you are beneath roles, fear, and expectation, your next step becomes clear. This episode invites you to stop chasing your purpose and start expressing it. WHAT WE'LL COVER: ✔ Why confusion about purpose is really an identity crisis ✔ How to reconnect with your true self before deciding what's next ✔ The difference between push energy and pull energy ✔ How to act from alignment instead of pressure   🔥 Grab the free Reimagine Your Life Guide! It'll help you uncover possibilities for what's next and decide on your next step. CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD.   JOURNAL PROMPT: Where are you trying to figure out what to do before you've remembered who you are?   CHATGPT PROMPT: Act as an Identity Alignment Coach. I'm unsure about my next step in [describe situation]. Help me explore who I am in this season of life and what feels most authentic to me now. Ask five questions that reconnect me to my truth and intuition, then reflect back what you notice and suggest one small, values-based action I could take this week.   If this episode spoke to you, share it with a friend, and remember, better days start today.   This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit adriennecrowley.substack.com

Ever notice how you handle some things right away but ignore others completely? This episode will help you see what's really at play. We all have patterns that shape how we spend our energy and awareness of those patterns gives us choice. In this episode of Better Days Start Today, we're exploring the patterns that shape how you spend your energy, the ones that decide what gets your attention before you even realize it. You'll hear about the four common approaches we tend to use: avoidance, "it's not a problem until it's a problem," eat the frog, and feel it first, and how they tend to show up differently in relationships, health, work, and life decisions. This will help you notice your natural rhythm. Once you understand your default patterns, you can choose what gets your energy instead of reacting out of habit. That awareness is where self-trust and alignment begin. WHAT WE'LL COVER: ✔ How avoidance, action, and intuition all play a role in energy use ✔ Why your approach often shifts depending on the area of life ✔ How awareness (not fixing) leads to more aligned choices ✔ What it means to work with your rhythm instead of against it   🔥 Grab the free Reimagine Your Life Guide! It'll help you uncover possibilities for what's next and decide on your next step. CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD.   JOURNAL PROMPT: Where in your life are you spending energy out of habit instead of alignment — and what might shift if you began choosing where it goes? CHATGPT PROMPT: "Act as a clarity coach. Help me explore where my energy is going right now,  emotionally, mentally, or physically. Ask me three questions to help me see which parts of my life deserve more attention, which need less, and what small shift I can make this week to use my energy more intentionally."   If this episode spoke to you, share it with a friend.   This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit adriennecrowley.substack.com

In this episode of Better Days Start Today, I'm exploring the idea of letting go. It's a phrase we hear often, but what does it really mean? For me, it's less about giving up and more about releasing what no longer fits in this season of life. As the leaves change outside my window, I've been reflecting on how trees naturally release what's no longer serving them. And I've been asking myself: what am I still carrying that feels heavy? What would it look like to set it down and create space for something new? Letting go doesn't mean losing. It means choosing freedom, lightening your load, and making room for what matters most. WHAT WE'LL COVER: ✔️ Why letting go can feel like failure, and what it really means instead ✔️ How nature can guide us in learning to release ✔️ A simple ritual to symbolically let go of what's weighing you down ✔️ Journal prompts to help you reflect and lighten your load   JOURNALING PROMPTS: What am I carrying that feels heavy? Which expectations can I loosen my grip on? What would it feel like to not have this weighing on me anymore?   CHATGPT PROMPT: Copy this prompt and paste it into ChatGPT or your fave AI tool. Remember, the more context you provide about yourself and your situation, the more robust results you'll receive. "Act as a values-based decision coach. I've been holding onto [describe the burden, expectation, or story]. I want to explore what it would mean to let it go. Guide me through three reflective questions that help me see what's possible if I release it, and suggest one small ritual or action I can take today to practice letting go in a meaningful way."   🔥 Grab the free Reimagine Your Life Guide! It'll help you uncover possibilities for what's next and decide on your next step. CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit adriennecrowley.substack.com

In this episode, I'm sharing a Substack essay I wrote called Consumed or Connected? It's about the tug-of-war I've been feeling with my phone and technology. On one hand, it helps me stay connected. On the other, I've noticed how easily it consumes my time, energy, and attention. I'll take you inside my own stories, the truths I uncovered when I looked at my screen time, and the shifts I'm making to bring my attention back into alignment with what really matters to me. If you've ever wondered whether you're using your phone or if your phone is using you, this episode will give you space to reflect and reset. WHAT WE'LL COVER: ✔️ How to tell if your screen time is connection or consumption ✔️ The hidden stories behind my phone habits (and what was really true) ✔️ Why screen time awareness matters more than intention alone ✔️ Simple strategies I'm using to reduce digital distractions and reclaim my focus 🔥 Grab the free Reimagine Your Life Guide! It'll help you uncover possibilities for what's next and decide on your next step. CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD.   JOURNAL PROMPT Ask yourself: What do I most want to pay attention to in this season of my life? If my attention isn't directed there right now, where is it going instead? What might need to shift for my attention, intentions, and actions to align?   CHATGPT PROMPT Copy this prompt and paste it into ChatGPT or your fave AI tool. Remember, the more context you provide about yourself and your situation, the more robust results you'll receive. "Act as a Digital Wellness Guide. I want to explore my relationship with my phone and devices. Right now, I notice that I [describe your current habits]. I want to pay more attention to [insert values, e.g. relationships, creativity, rest], but my actions don't always align. Help me uncover where my attention is being consumed instead of consciously chosen. Guide me through 3 reflective questions that reveal what's underneath my habits, and suggest one small but meaningful change I can try this week to feel more connected and less consumed." This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit adriennecrowley.substack.com

This week, we're digging into what we're trading without even realizing it, which is something most of us don't slow down to think about. You've probably had those "how did I get here?" moments. The job, the lifestyle, the structure of your days... it might all look good on paper, but something feels off. We're talking about the choices that seem small in the moment but shape everything long term. The things we say yes to because they sound like progress like more money, more success, and more adventure, without fully considering what we're saying no to along the way. Every yes is also a no. Whether it's turning down connection to chase freedom, or saying yes to structure at the cost of spontaneity, it all adds up. If you're not paying attention to what you're trading, you might end up with a life that doesn't actually feel like yours. WHAT WE'LL COVER: ✔️ How tunnel vision in goal-setting can quietly reshape your entire life ✔️ What we miss when we only focus on the "gain" and not the "cost" ✔️ Why short-term decisions feel obvious, but long-term trade-offs sneak up on us ✔️ How to use the idea of emotional opportunity cost when making big life choices ✔️ A journaling question that can help you check for alignment before you commit   JOURNAL PROMPT: What am I trading in pursuit of this goal? Is it a trade I'm consciously choosing or one I haven't fully thought through? CHATGPT PROMPT: Act as a values-based decision coach. I'm working toward [insert goal], but I'm realizing it might come at the cost of things I care about like time, connection, or flexibility. Help me explore what I'm really trading in pursuit of this goal, and whether the life it leads to is one I actually want. Then guide me through one small step I can take to bring my current choices into better alignment.   🔥Download the free Reimagine Your Life Guide! It'll help you uncover possibilities for what's next and decide on your next step. CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD.     This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit adriennecrowley.substack.com

This episode is for anyone who's ever forced themselves to keep doing something that doesn't feel right just because it's what they're "supposed" to do. Inspired by a recent backpacking trip, I'm sharing a moment of unexpected peace I experienced in the mountains and what it revealed about how we live, work, and choose what to tolerate. If you've been wondering why certain parts of your life feel heavy or misaligned, this is your nudge to pause, question, and realign. You don't have to do more with a better attitude. You can do less of what never fit in the first place. WHAT WE'LL COVER: ✔️ What your dread is trying to tell you (yes, even about your business or life path) ✔️ Why following someone else's "right way" might be keeping you stuck ✔️ The truth about playbooks and how to write your own ✔️ A question that can help you reimagine your way forward ✔️ How to trade pressure for peace (and still make progress)   JOURNALING PROMPT: What's one part of your life that feels misaligned or heavy? What might shift if you gave yourself permission to stop doing it the "supposed to" way?   CHATGPT PROMPT: "Act as a reflective clarity coach. I've been forcing myself to keep doing things that don't feel aligned because I believe I should. Here's what I'm currently wrestling with: [insert situation]. Help me explore what might be possible if I stopped following the 'supposed to' path and instead created a version of success that feels peaceful, energizing, and right for me. Then offer one shift I could experiment with this week."   🎁 Grab the free Reimagine Your Life Guide! It'll help you uncover possibilities for what's next and decide on your next step. CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit adriennecrowley.substack.com

In this episode, I'm sharing a different way to think about the halfway point of the year. If you've been focused on what hasn't happened yet or where you thought you'd be by now, this is your reminder to pause, zoom out, and ask better questions. Instead of measuring progress by goals alone, I want to invite you to think about who you want to be by the end of the year and how you want to feel when you get there. This kind of midyear check-in is about recalibrating. It's about aligning your energy and decisions with the version of you you're becoming, not the version of you who set those goals back in January.   WHAT WE'LL COVER: ✔️ Why goals matter, but direction matters more ✔️ The question that can reset your entire second half of the year ✔️ How to use feeling as a compass instead of an afterthought ✔️ The mindset shift that opens you up to new possibilities ✔️ A simple way to recalibrate your next steps from the inside out   ✍️JOURNALING PROMPT: It's December 31, 2025. I feel proud of how I showed up this year. I feel grounded in who I've become. Here's what I focused on, what I let go of, and how I feel in my body, heart, and mind...   🎁 Grab the free Reimagine Your Life Guide! It'll help you uncover possibilities for what's next and decide on your next step. CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD.   This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit adriennecrowley.substack.com

In this episode, I'm sharing why I intentionally choose hard physical challenges and how they've taught me to stay calm and focused even when everything in me wants to quit. These experiences are about resilience, emotional endurance, and stacking evidence that you can do hard things, in every area of your life. This idea came from something Denis Morton said on a recent Peloton ride: "We're practicing serenity under duress." That's exactly what I've learned through every hike, long ride, and endurance challenge. The strength we build during the tough moments carries over into the rest of life. When things get hard, we already know how to stay steady, because we've practiced. WHAT WE'LL COVER: ✔️ Why doing hard things on purpose builds more than physical strength ✔️ The connection between physical challenge and emotional resilience ✔️ The mindset shifts that happen when you stop avoiding hard things ✔️ What endurance events can teach us about getting through life's lows ✔️ How to use your past challenges as proof you can keep going   🎁 Grab the free Reimagine Your Life Guide. It'll help you uncover possibilities you haven't even considered yet and decide on your next step. CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit adriennecrowley.substack.com

If your first instinct is to cut the things that nourish you whenever life gets busy, you're not alone. In this episode, I'm talking about something I've seen in so many women lately and something I've lived through myself. When responsibilities pile up, we tend to sacrifice the very things that keep us grounded, joyful, and well. And we do it quietly, often without questioning whether there's another way. I share a story about a friend whose instinct was to cancel a dream trip she had trained for, all because everything else felt urgent. It reminded me of a season in my own life when I did the same thing. I let go of the things that were for me, one by one, until I hit a wall. This episode is a reminder and a practical guide for how to stop overcommitting, protect your energy, and start prioritizing your own needs without guilt.   WHAT WE'LL COVER: ✔️ How overcommitment shows up in high-functioning women ✔️ The internal and external pressures that keep you stuck in this pattern ✔️ 3 simple ways to start putting yourself back on the list ✔️ What resentment can teach you about what needs to change   RESOURCE: 🎁 Grab the free Reimagine Your Life (with a little help from AI) Guide. It'll help you uncover possibilities you haven't even considered yet and decide on your next step. CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD.   This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit adriennecrowley.substack.com

If everything feels important, nothing is actually getting the energy it needs. In this episode, I'm talking about what it means to prioritize your life when things feel overwhelming, scattered, or too full. You'll hear why trying to do it all is making you feel stuck, and how to start getting clear on what actually deserves your time right now. I'm also sharing a personal story about what happened when I decided to press pause on productivity and be fully present instead. Spoiler: it was worth it. If your calendar is packed but your life still feels off, this one is for you.   WHAT WE'LL COVER: ✔️ Why choosing what matters is harder than it sounds ✔️ How to spot the disconnect between your calendar and your values ✔️ What happens when you stop trying to keep up ✔️ A simple question to help you get back in alignment this week   🎁 Grab the free Reimagine Your Life (with a little help from AI) Guide. It'll help you uncover possibilities you haven't even considered yet and decide on your next step. CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD.   This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit adriennecrowley.substack.com

Feeling stuck, uncertain, or like you're out of alignment with the life you thought you'd love? This episode is your permission to stop spiraling and start listening to the version of yourself who already knows what matters. In this episode, I share a journaling practice that flips the script: instead of overthinking what's next, you'll let your future self speak through you. You'll learn how to write a letter from the version of you who's already made it through, the one who's wiser, kinder, and deeply grounded in truth. WHAT WE'LL COVER: ✔️ Why future-self writing is a powerful tool for clarity and confidence ✔️ How to write the letter (without it feeling cheesy or forced) ✔️ What this exercise reveals about what you actually need right now ✔️ How to use AI to help you reflect on your letter and uncover hidden insights   👉 FEELING STUCK? Get Reimagine Your Life (with a little help from AI). It'll help you see what's possible and help you uncover your next step. CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD.   This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit adriennecrowley.substack.com

Feeling disconnected from your life like you're going through the motions but nothing really excites you? You're not alone. Whether you're fresh off a major life change or just stuck in a rut, this episode will help you start finding your way back to yourself through the things that actually make you feel alive right now. Forget the pressure to "find your purpose" or make a five-year plan. Let's talk about the joy that shows up in movement, creativity, and even mowing the lawn… trust me and listen.   WHAT WE'LL COVER: ✔️ Why feeling "flat" is often a sign you're in transition ✔️ The unexpected clues that help you uncover what lights you up now ✔️ Why your body often knows what feels good before your brain does ✔️ How to look for small sparks instead of big, intimidating answers ✔️ A "Joy Resume" exercise that can shift your energy today   👉 FEELING STUCK? Get Reimagine Your Life, my free AI-Guided Reflection that will help you see what's possible and uncover your next step. CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit adriennecrowley.substack.com

Have you ever looked around at your life and thought, "I made all these choices… so why doesn't it feel good? Why am I unhappy?" This conversation was sparked by the book The Wedding People. While I loved the plot, it was the characters and their dialogue that hit me. This book had the kind of lines that make you pause and reflect on your own life. The kind that holds up a mirror. In this episode, I'm sharing the moments that made me feel seen and the truths they stirred in me. We'll talk about the ache of not saying what you mean, the loneliness we carry but rarely admit, and the uncomfortable realization that you might be shrinking to fit the life you built. WHAT WE'LL COVER: ✔️ The emotional cost of holding back your truth ✔️ Why we criticize ourselves when no one else is watching ✔️ How loneliness can show up even when you're not alone ✔️ What it means to outgrow the life you once wanted ✔️ The permission to want something different now If you're in a season of quiet questioning or feeling like you've been holding your breath inside your own life, this episode is for you. 📖 Purchase The Wedding People here. 👉 FEELING STUCK? Get Reimagine Your Life, my free AI-Guided Reflection that will help you see what's possible and uncover your next step. CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit adriennecrowley.substack.com

Have you ever told yourself, "I just need to get clear first"... …and then weeks (or months) go by, and you still haven't moved? You're not alone. I've been there too – stuck in the loop of overthinking, waiting to feel 100% ready, totally sure, or fully confident before taking action.  Clarity doesn't always come before action. It often comes because of it. In this episode, I'm unpacking The Clarity Trap, the myth that we need perfect certainty before we move and what to do instead. WHAT WE'LL COVER" ✔️ Why waiting to "be sure" can quietly keep you stuck ✔️ What clarity actually is (and why it often shows up late) ✔️ How to shift from paralysis to progress — without a 5-year plan ✔️ How I made big, scary moves without feeling 100% ready   🎧 Tune in now and start moving forward — even if it's just one small, aligned step.   IF YOU'RE READY FOR MORE,  I'd love to invite you to Clarity Without Overthinking, a 90-minute guided experience where we'll use AI as a reflection tool to hear yourself more clearly and take one aligned step towards what you want. 👉 SAVE YOUR SEAT   This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit adriennecrowley.substack.com

If you've ever found yourself journaling your heart out, polling your friends, gathering all the info — and still feeling stuck — I want to offer a new perspective today: You're not overthinking. You're underlistening. In this episode, I'm sharing a reframe that changed everything for me and might do the same for you. Because the real reason you feel stuck isn't that you haven't thought hard enough… it's that you haven't created space to hear what you already know. WHAT WE'LL COVER: ✔️ What "underlistening" looks like and how it keeps you stuck ✔️ Why more input isn't the answer (and what is) ✔️ How to tell when you're avoiding the quiet ✔️ A story about the decision I avoided for years — and what finally moved me forward ✔️ How to reconnect with your own clarity, even when fear is loud   If you've been trying to think your way through something and still feel like you're going in circles, this one's for you. Let's talk about what happens when we slow down long enough to actually listen.   IF YOU'RE READY FOR MORE,  I'd love to invite you to Clarity Without Overthinking, a 90-minute guided experience where we'll use AI as a reflection tool (not a fixer) to help you hear yourself more clearly and move forward. 👉 SAVE YOUR SEAT This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit adriennecrowley.substack.com

In this episode of Better Days Start Today, I sit down with Lori Pappas, a woman who has reinvented herself time and time again. From breaking barriers in the tech industry to launching humanitarian efforts in Africa in her 50s, Lori shares how she followed her inner wisdom to build a life of purpose, curiosity, and impact. What we'll cover: ✔️ Reinvention after success (and "failed" retirement) ✔️ Staying open to what's next even when you don't know what it is yet ✔️ The courage to pivot in unexpected ways ✔️ Living a life full of chapters, not one fixed identity If you've ever felt like it's too late to start over or too soon to slow down, Lori's story will remind you that you're just getting started.   👉 Feeling stuck? Get Reimagine Your Life, my free AI-Guided Reflection that will help you see what's possible and uncover your next step. Grab it here and start moving forward today.   Connect with Lori Pappas: https://www.loripappas.com Join the Wise Woman Sisterhood Sticky Notes on Substack Buy The Magic of Yes: Embrace the Wise Woman Within   This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit adriennecrowley.substack.com

If someone told you exactly when and how your life would end… What would you do differently starting today? In this episode, we're talking about how life might change if we had this information, an idea sparked by the novel Here One Moment by Liane Moriarty. We'll explore some hard but necessary questions about how we're living now.  This is about freedom and alignment. It's about getting clear on what actually matters and challenging the stories that keep us stuck in default mode. If you've been waiting for the "right time" to change something in your life, this might just be your wake-up call.   What we'll cover: ✔️ Why we delay the things that matter most (and how to stop) ✔️ The illusion of being "stuck" and how to break free ✔️ How to challenge the belief that reinvention isn't practical ✔️ A life-altering mindset shift that puts time in perspective ✔️ Journal prompts + a free AI reflection tool to help you reimagine your life If you're craving clarity, this one's for you.   📚Grab the book, Here One Moment:: https://amzn.to/41UTocu  👉 Think you're stuck? Get Reimagine Your Life, my free AI-Guided Reflection that will help you see what's possible and uncover your next step. Grab it here and start moving forward today. 🗓️ Book your complimentary coaching session  This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit adriennecrowley.substack.com

Feel like you're behind in life? In this episode, we're reframing that belief, unpacking the pressure of timelines, and helping you reconnect with your own path. Whether it's career, relationships, or personal growth—this episode will remind you: you're right on time. What We'll Cover: ✔️ Why the belief of being "behind" is rooted in social conditioning ✔️ How social media fuels the pressure to keep up ✔️ How to shift your focus from what's missing to how far you've come ✔️ The power of rewriting your internal timeline ✔️ Ways to reconnect with what's true and aligned for you   👉 Feeling stuck? You're not—you're becoming. Get Reimagine Your Life, my free AI-Guided Reflection that will help you see what's possible and uncover your next step. Grab it here! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit adriennecrowley.substack.com

We all know AI can help with productivity, but what if it could help you think better, reflect deeper, and grow faster? In this episode, we're exploring how AI can be your thinking partner for self-coaching, journaling, and mindset shifts. Forget generic chatbot responses. When used correctly, AI can provide surprising insights, challenge your thought patterns, and help you break free from limiting beliefs. What We'll Cover: ✔️ Why AI is more than just a productivity tool, it's a mirror for self-growth. ✔️ How to structure AI prompts for deeper breakthroughs (and avoid surface-level responses). ✔️ The surprising ways AI can reframe your thoughts and shift your perspective in real time. ✔️ How to use AI for journaling, self-reflection, and coaching yourself through challenges. ✔️ Why AI isn't replacing human wisdom, it's helping you access your own faster. If you've ever journaled, overthought a decision, or wished for a new perspective, this episode is for you.   👉 Think you're stuck? You're not—you're becoming. Get Reimagine Your Life, my free AI-Guided Reflection that will help you see what's possible and uncover your next step. Grab it here and start moving forward today.   This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit adriennecrowley.substack.com