What happens when everyone sees you as "the strong one," but no one asks how you're really doing?

In this heartfelt episode of The Shared Diary Podcast, Lori Phillips, Debbie Prediger, and Nicole Cowley explore the emotional weight of always carrying everything for everyone else. Together they share personal stories about vulnerability, crying, asking for help, setting boundaries, and learning that true strength isn't pretending everything is okay.

They discuss why so many women struggle to say "I need help," the pressure to appear strong, the reality of people pleasing, and the freedom that comes from allowing yourself to be fully seen.

If you've ever felt responsible for everyone else while quietly carrying your own burdens, this conversation will remind you that you don't have to do it alone.

Learn more at: https://shareddiarypodcast.com/

Watch the video episodes: https://www.youtube.com/@shareddiarypodcast

If you have ever made the “safe” choice and later wondered what would have happened if you had trusted yourself... this episode is for you.

In Episode 3, Lori Phillips, Debbie Prediger, and Nicole Cowley share the small decisions that erode self-trust and the practical, everyday shifts that rebuild it. We tell real stories, offer tools you can use today, and finish with a one-sentence permission exercise to help you choose differently tomorrow.

For the full transcript and resources, visit: https://shareddiarypodcast.com/

Inside the conversation:

• [02:10] A choice I wish I had trusted myself on
• [15:30] Turning regret into a roadmap
• [30:45] Small habits that rebuild confidence
• [45:20] Q&A: How to stop second-guessing
• [58:05] Closing prompt: Your permission sentence

The Shared Diary Questions

What's bringing you joy right now?

What's challenging you right now?

What's inspiring you right now?

What's one thing you're grateful for this week?

What would be different in your life if you trusted yourself just 10% more?

Bonus: What's one small thing you did this week that felt like trusting yourself?

Final Question: "If you wrote one sentence at the bottom of today's diary entry, what would it say?"

SHARE IN THE COMMENTS! WE WANT TO KNOW!

If you’re waiting for the day when everything finally feels "settled" and you have all the answers—this episode is your permission to stop waiting.

We grow up believing that by 40, 50, or 60, we’ll eventually reach a "finish line" of certainty. But what happens when the life you imagined at 20 doesn’t match the life you’re living today? In this episode of The Shared Diary, Lori Phillips and Nicole Cowley (with Debbie Prediger) strip away the pressure of the midlife "shoulds" and get honest about the reboots life asks for.

For the full transcript, show notes, and resources from today’s episode, visit: https://shareddiarypodcast.com/

Inside the conversation:

• [02:12] The myth of "having it all figured out"
• [25:11] When life asks for a total reboot vs. a small tweak
• [39:04] Identifying where the "shoulds" and external pressures come from
• [53:43] The unexpected gifts of midlife: confidence, boundaries, and community
• [01:10:05] Closing the entry: Your one-sentence diary prompt

Connect with the Hosts:

• Lori Phillips: https://thebeawesomenetwork.com
• Debbie Prediger: https://debbieprediger.com
• Nicole Cowley: https://www.nextstepwithnicolerenee.com

Join the Tribe: What is one "should" you are officially letting go of today?

• Empowering You Free Group
• Be Extraordinary Network
• The Be Awesome Network

New episodes of The Shared Diary are released every Friday at 2:00 PM Eastern.