The Maisie Hill Experience

What would it look like to change the way you respond to your inner critic? In this episode, I'm joined by my client Pamela in a continuation of a series where we celebrate the growth and achievements of Powerful members. Pamela shares her journey of transformation after joining the membership just six months ago, and how she moved from battling a voice that told her she wasn't enough to developing a compassionate relationship with herself.   Pamela's story highlights how small shifts in mindset and self-talk can create massive changes in how we show up in the world. You'll learn about the importance of celebrating your wins, breaking through your inner critic, and embracing self-compassion as you navigate life's challenges.   Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://maisiehill.com/259   Join us in the Powerful membership: https://maisiehill.com/powerful   Join us in Design Your Decade on January 2, 3, and 4, 2026: https://maisiehill.com/designyourdecade

What changes when you start treating yourself with compassion instead of constantly pushing through? In this episode, I'm joined by one of my Powerful members, Phyllis, for a conversation about self-compassion, identity, and what it can look like to understand yourself in a new way. Phyllis shares her experience of receiving an ADHD diagnosis and how coaching supported her through the assessment process and the emotional shifts that followed.   This conversation also looks at what it means to honour your needs without justification or apology. Phyllis shares how self compassion has shaped the way she responds to stress, makes decisions, and communicates with others. Whether or not ADHD is part of your story, this episode offers a grounded example of what it looks like to stop fixing yourself and start supporting yourself instead.   Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://maisiehill.com/258   Join us in the Powerful membership: https://maisiehill.com/powerful   Join us in Design Your Decade on January 2, 3, and 4, 2026: https://maisiehill.com/designyourdecade

What if the goal you set made failure impossible? In this episode, I'm joined by Heather Newson, one of my long-time members from Powerful, who shares her experience of working with the goal of being okay with getting things wrong. Heather takes us through her journey of navigating perfectionism and how embracing imperfection has shaped both her personal and business life.   We also explore Heather's bold long-term goal. She shares how she's remained connected to this vision despite life's curveballs and how taking imperfect action has helped her continue moving forward. Heather's story is a powerful example of how staying committed to big dreams can lead to growth, even when things don't unfold as quickly as expected.   Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://maisiehill.com/257   Join us in the Powerful membership: https://maisiehill.com/powerful

What happens when you stop choosing between doing everything yourself and relying on someone else? In this final instalment of my three-part series, I am looking at the middle place where you can hold yourself and allow others to hold you as well. This is where relationships and collaborations become stronger because you are no longer operating from the extremes that keep you isolated or overly dependent.   Interdependence is the point where mutual support, shared decision-making and healthy boundaries can flourish. You will learn how to recognise where you are overdoing independence or dependence in your relationships and how to shift those patterns. This work is practical and steadying and will help you build relationships that feel supportive in both directions.   Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://maisiehill.com/256   Join us in the Powerful membership: https://maisiehill.com/powerful

Have you ever watched someone post a question in an online group that they could have typed into Google instead? I'm exploring why some people default to asking others before engaging their own problem-solving skills, and why this pattern matters more than you might think. You'll discover specific ways to engage your own resourcefulness before asking for help, understand the difference between functional dependence and emotional outsourcing, and learn how to ask for support without abandoning your agency. By the end, you'll have a framework for noticing where you might be training others to depend on you, and where you might be depending too heavily on others yourself.    Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://maisiehill.com/255   Join us in the Powerful membership: https://maisiehill.com/powerful  

When you pride yourself on being capable and independent, it can be easy to miss when self-reliance starts to become isolating. Many of us learned early on that doing everything ourselves felt safer than depending on others, especially if asking for help once led to criticism or disappointment. But when the instinct to rely only on yourself becomes automatic, it can leave you stretched thin and disconnected from the people who want to support you.   In this episode, I explore the difference between healthy independence and the form of independence that hardens into hyper-independence. You will learn how to recognise the moments when you shut down the possibility of support, how to soften the belief that you must do everything yourself, and how to take one simple step towards letting help in. These shifts do not mean abandoning your resourcefulness. They mean creating a life where you can rely on yourself and stay connected to others at the same time.   Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://maisiehill.com/254   Join us in the Powerful membership, including the Boundaries Power Class coming up on November 26, 2025: https://maisiehill.com/powerful

When you leave a conversation wishing you had said something, that tightening in your throat is a signal from your body, not a failure on your part. Self-silencing often feels safer than speaking up, but it comes at a cost. The words you swallow can show up as tension, frustration, or even physical symptoms, because holding things in keeps your system in protection mode.   In this episode, I explore why self-silencing feels instinctive and what it takes to unwind that pattern. You'll learn how to recognise the difference between deliberate, grounded silence and the kind that keeps you stuck, as well as how to start speaking honestly in ways that strengthen rather than threaten your relationships.   Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://maisiehill.com/253   Join us in the Powerful membership, including the Boundaries Power Class coming up on November 26, 2025: https://maisiehill.com/powerful

Have you ever had an idea but found yourself unsure of how to take the first step? Maybe you're overwhelmed by the lack of time, energy, or support, and it feels like the idea is impossible to bring to life. The reason it feels that way is often tied to the way you're thinking about it. In this episode, I'm sharing a fresh perspective on how to approach your ideas and bring them to life with more ease.   I'm discussing the common mistakes I see people making when they're trying to execute their ideas and offering a new approach. You'll learn how to move beyond the obstacles that feel insurmountable and begin the journey of turning your idea into reality.   Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://maisiehill.com/252   Join us in the Powerful membership: https://maisiehill.com/powerful

Do you spend more time stewing on things than savouring them? Most of us replay frustrating situations in our minds far more often than we savour what feels good. But the brain uses the same circuitry for both. One keeps you trapped in stress, the other expands your capacity for joy.   In this episode, I explore how to redirect that mental energy towards what nourishes you. You'll learn how to notice when you're looping on something, how to recognise whether you're processing or stewing, and how to build a simple daily practice of savouring. This small shift can transform your baseline mood and help you feel more grounded, connected, and present in your life.   Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://maisiehill.com/251   Join us in the Powerful membership: https://maisiehill.com/powerful

Do you ever feel like your life is too full to make meaningful changes, even though you know something needs to shift? This week, I'm helping you recognise and shift the thought errors that keep you stuck in that cycle. These patterns of thinking, like "I don't have time", "it's not the right moment", or "this will take too much", feel true, but they're often just your brain's way of avoiding discomfort.   In this episode, I walk you through how to identify these thought errors for what they are, challenge them, and replace them with questions that open up new possibilities. You'll learn how to work with your brain instead of against it, so you can stop waiting for the perfect moment and start making progress today. Whether your goals feel too big, too far away, or just too hard to start, this conversation will help you take the next doable step toward real change.   Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://maisiehill.com/250   Join us in the Powerful membership: https://maisiehill.com/powerful

Do you find yourself hesitating when faced with a decision, even one that could move you closer to what you truly want? In this episode, I'm talking about decision making for your future self, and how the choices you make today shape the person you become tomorrow. Every decision is an opportunity to grow, to learn, and to step into a version of yourself that is more confident, aligned, and capable.   We explore how to shift your focus away from outcomes and external validation, and instead tune into the long-term impact of your choices on your personal growth. You'll learn why connecting with your future self can provide clarity, why discomfort often signals that you're on the right path, and how self-trust transforms uncertainty into decisive action. This episode also covers how to use your decisions to strengthen boundaries, prioritise what matters, and act in alignment with your values, even when it feels uncomfortable.   Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://maisiehill.com/249   Join us in the Powerful membership: https://maisiehill.com/powerful

Do you ever pause to consider what your personal standards are and how they shape your life? Your standards, whether about how you dress, how you spend your time, or who you spend it with, guide your choices and actions. They set the tone for how you treat yourself and how others treat you, and they can be consciously chosen or subtly learned over time.   In this episode, I explore how to notice, assess, and work with your personal standards. I share examples from my own life, from clothing choices to money routines, to show how even small standards reflect your self-worth and influence your daily life. You will learn how to identify when your standards are supporting you or holding you back, why the way you treat yourself is paramount, and how small adjustments can ripple out into other areas of your life.   Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://maisiehill.com/248   Join us in the Powerful membership: https://maisiehill.com/powerful

Do you ever feel frustrated when your most important goals seem to take forever to achieve? The goals that require you to expand your identity and sense of self aren't quick wins or overnight successes. They are the slow burns that transform who you are while you work toward them, demanding patience, commitment, and consistent effort over time.   I'm talking about the long game of change and why your most important goals need space to reshape you. You'll discover how to build delay tolerance, use uncomfortable emotions as fuel, and prune away distractions and old identities that hold you back. You'll also have practical ways to stay committed when progress feels slow and learn how to keep moving forward even when the immediate reward isn't visible.   Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://maisiehill.com/247

Do you trust the things your body tells you, even when you can't explain them or get someone else to validate them? Many of us who've been socialised as female have been trained to doubt what we sense, to question our instincts, and to defer to others' opinions, even when our internal knowing is guiding us correctly. This conditioning shapes the way we make decisions, respond to relationships, and navigate our work and creative projects.   In this episode, I'm exploring discernment—the ability to perceive what's obscure and trust your knowing, even when it can't be fully explained or justified. You'll learn how to tell the difference between clean discernment and fear-based decision-making, recognise when you're relying too heavily on external validation, and strengthen your ability to trust yourself. This episode is about tuning into your internal sense, making decisions that feel coherent, and building the muscle to honour your knowing without apology.   Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://maisiehill.com/246

Do you ever feel like you're waiting for the perfect conditions before you take action? In this episode, I dive into the mental blocks that prevent us from moving forward. We often give our power away to external factors or other people's decisions, like sliding all our chips across the casino table and letting someone else bet on our behalf.   Mental blocks often show up disguised as facts. Our minds tell us we can't move forward until we have approval, more resources, or a change in circumstances. You'll learn how to spot these mental blocks and recognise when you're betting on others instead of yourself. I'll explain how making a small move, even when the full picture feels out of reach, can get you back in the game. We'll also explore how changing the language you use can help unlock new possibilities for action.   Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://maisiehill.com/245

Do you ever feel guilty for prioritising yourself, even when you know it's necessary? Protecting your capacity — what I call "protecting the asset" — isn't just about avoiding burnout. It's about power, socialisation, and whose needs get met while others are expected to keep giving. When you start prioritising yourself, you aren't just changing your own life; you're disrupting systems that have long benefited from women's invisible labour and challenging the social rules that reward overfunctioning while punishing boundaries.   In this episode, I explore why taking care of yourself can feel indulgent or selfish and how that guilt was strategically taught to keep you useful to everyone but yourself. We unpack how being socialised as female encourages self-erasure, how workplaces and families rely on invisible labour, and why the people around you are trained to expect you to smooth over tensions. I also cover how to protect your capacity without inadvertently shifting burdens onto others and why doing this work is a political act that models new possibilities for collective care.   Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://maisiehill.com/244

Do you find yourself smoothing over tension in conversations, keeping everyone comfortable while you silently bear the weight? Many of us step into this invisible role, managing moods, filling in awkward silences, and making sure conflict does not surface. It can feel like you are helping others, but often, you are protecting yourself from discomfort, and it can be exhausting.   In this episode, I am exploring the idea of emotional support tights, the pattern of holding everything together, keeping conversations smooth, and preventing friction in relationships. Like shapewear that initially feels supportive but eventually becomes restrictive, this role starts with good intentions but ends up limiting authentic connection. Whether it is at work, with family, or in friendships, constantly smoothing over tensions keeps real issues from being addressed and prevents genuine relationships from growing.   Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://maisiehill.com/243

Do you ever feel that you're not supposed to take charge or assert yourself in a room? In this episode, I'm diving into the concept of dominance, why it's often demonised, and why we need to redefine it for ourselves. Many of us have been taught to fear or resist dominant energy, especially when past experiences have shown us its aggressive and harmful side. But what if we could reclaim dominance as a tool for leadership, protection, and direction?   In this episode, I explore the crucial difference between mature dominance and immature, aggressive dominance. I share why embracing mature dominance can be empowering, especially when we understand its role in setting boundaries, driving progress, and creating healthier relationships. Drawing from observations of horse herds and real-life examples, I explain how dominance, when used skillfully, helps keep everyone safe, directed, and at ease. It's about directing the group toward goals, protecting everyone's well-being, and making decisions that benefit the whole.   Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://maisiehill.com/242

How often do you put your needs last and convince yourself that being easy-going is a virtue? For years, I minimised my own preferences and smoothed over my wants to make life easier for everyone else. Being low-maintenance felt safe, like I was doing the "right" thing, but it came at a cost. This episode is about why tending to what you actually need matters, why saying what you want is essential, and how making yourself heard is not selfish but necessary for real connection and emotional well-being.   You will discover how to recognise when you are mistaking lack of conflict for healthy relationships, why expecting people to read your mind is futile, and practical ways to start expressing what matters to you. Most importantly, you will learn why being "high maintenance", having standards, needs, and desires, is not selfish but essential for genuine connection and emotional nourishment.   Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://maisiehill.com/241

Have you ever set a goal, only to find that distractions or other commitments get in the way of achieving it? In today's episode, I'm sharing a concept that has helped me and my clients achieve goals time and time again. It's the idea of "rocks," the essential steps that must be taken to reach your goal.   So, what exactly are rocks? Unlike goals, which represent the destination, rocks are the non-negotiable actions that support your goal. In this episode, I explain how to train your brain to focus on the rocks and share real examples from my community. You'll learn why setting goals that are truly for you is essential, and how focusing on your rocks keeps you grounded, allowing you to make steady progress, no matter what life throws your way.   Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://maisiehill.com/240