
Beyond Mindset: A Deeper Way to Work With Emotions
From The Vibrant Mom Podcast by Cara Maiolo, LPC
March 3, 2026 · 40 min
About this episode
Cara Maiolo discusses the importance of understanding and nurturing emotions rather than simply trying to fix them.
In this episode, I get a little feisty about two popular pieces of advice I think are holding us back: that we can choose our emotions and that mindset work alone will fix them. I share why emotions aren’t problems to solve or glitches to override, but powerful signals meant to guide us, especially in midlife motherhood. This conversation is about gently growing our emotional skill set so we can meet ourselves with more compassion and step into a grounded, loving power within. Key Takeaways (1) See all emotions even the painful ones as natural and valuable information (2) Take away the “alone” by building a nurturing relationship with yourself before trying to fix anything (3) Widen your capacity to feel by pairing hard emotions with soothing gestures (rock by rock across the river) (4) Listen deeply before solving, asking “what else?”, “what’s underneath that?”, and “tell me more.” Links The Vibrant Mom Collective How to Navigate Difficult Emotional Moments
People in this episode
Host: Cara Maiolo
Topics covered
- emotional intelligence
- midlife motherhood
- self-compassion
- mindset
- emotional skill set
Keywords
- emotions
- mindset
- self-improvement
- compassion
- emotional skills
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