Having It All Is A Myth

Having It All Is A Myth

From Chasing Brighter Podcast: Choosing Real Over Perfect by Jessica Colarco and Kelly Fox

May 21, 2026 · 14 min · Season 5 · Episode 30

About this episode

Jessica and Kelly discuss the myth of 'having it all' and explore a more honest approach to living a fulfilling life.

This week, Kelly and Jessica blow up the "having it all" story — where it came from, why it keeps getting a makeover, and what they actually think. From the career-and-family narratives of the 1980s to today's softer language of "intentional living" and "alignment," the pressure for women to thrive in every area of life simultaneously is still very much alive. Jessica and Kelly unpack why this framework is both a myth and a trap — and what a richer, more honest version of a full life actually looks like. What We Cover in This Episode Where the "having it all" phrase came from and how it has evolved over decades Why the new language of intentional living and alignment can feel just as suffocating Shonda Rhimes' honest take on thriving at work while feeling like you're failing at home — and why that's not actually failure Jessica's personal story of dreams in seasons: pausing, pivoting, and building at different times in her life Why a good life doesn't have to be a simultaneous one — it can be sequential How comparison triggers the "something is missing" feeling — and what to do when you catch it The reframe: happiness is a choice, not a result of the right circumstances Kelly's…

People in this episode

Hosts: Jessica Colarco, Kelly Fox

Topics covered

  • having it all
  • intentional living
  • comparison
  • personal growth
  • work-life balance

Keywords

  • myth of having it all
  • intentional living
  • work-life balance
  • comparison
  • personal stories

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