How to Bounce Back After a Slip Without Beating Yourself Up
In Episode 201 of the Slow Living Podcast, Kelsea shares something that might sound familiar: she had a slip with food this week. The part that matters most? She didn’t let it spiral into an “I’ve blown it” moment.
Instead, she regrouped, refocused, and reminded herself that progress is about the long game — not perfection.
We talked about moving away from obsessing over the number on the scale and instead tuning into how habits feel. Are they making life calmer? More joyful? Less stressful? Those are the wins worth tracking.
Kelsea is using tools like the Happy Scale app for gentle progress tracking and daily time-mapping to create more presence and intention in her day. She’s also getting ready for social situations by preparing phrases ahead of time, and she’s starting to notice when she’s moving her own goal posts — an easy-to-miss form of self-sabotage.
The heart of our conversation was about learning to:
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Give yourself unconditional love and grace after a setback
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Allow fun for its own sake (without needing it to be “productive”)
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Let go of outside validation as the measure of success
If you want to try some of the homework from this episode, here are a few prompts:
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Collect evidence that you’re already on the right track
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Make a “Before I Turn 40” bucket list (or “Before My Next Birthday”)
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Count how many summers you have left with your kids at home — and decide how to make them count
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Journal prompt: Is it still a job well done if no one notices? Why or why not?
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Practice saying to yourself: It takes as long as it takes
This episode is for you if you’ve ever had a setback and wondered how to climb out without slipping back into old patterns. Kelsea shows us it’s not about never falling — it’s about getting up with kindness and continuing forward.
PS: I am currently running a $300 off coupon code for the Simple Shortcuts to Peace course, inspired by Kelsea. Use code ILOVEME at checkout to activate this discount instantly!
Get all the details here: stephanieodea.com/peace
