What an intense past couple of weeks!

I don’t know about you, but I’ve experienced a whirlwind of emotions lately. I feel sad about my kids' futures and am grieving over the state of our democracy.

At the same time, I feel empowered, knowing that I have self-agency and can choose how I feel each day. By paying attention to when I’m in fight or flight versus rest and digest, I recognize that I can’t help others if I’m constantly in a state of fear, hate, or anger.

So, I’ve made a pact with myself: to feel all my feelings, but also embrace what is, and move forward from a place of love and light, guided by what I call the *mother archetype*—an image of a nurturing, protective mother that resides in the collective unconscious of all humans. This archetype is associated with qualities of love, compassion, protection, fertility, creativity, and abundance.

Having both Mary Pipher and Elizabeth Lesser on the Cracking Open podcast this week felt like divine timing. Over the last month, I re-released the episodes that they had previously and individually done, to remind the listeners who they are and the vast amounts of wisdom they each have to offer. Having them back in my first-ever dual interview for this podcast was an even greater treat!

This special conversation reminds us that life can be simpler if we focus on giving and receiving warmth, spending time in nature, and being present in every moment—whether it’s the comfortable or the uncomfortable parts of life. Both of these women encourage us to ask ourselves each day: “What am I walking away from today, and what am I walking toward?”

Their wisdom reminds us that life is not easy, and Elizabeth encourages us to be curious about what it means to be a hero: “Let’s make the heroes be the ones who stay behind and tend and befriend. Who love. Let’s make love be the sign of a hero.”

Or, as Mary says, “Mr. Rogers was wonderful because he opened up children’s eyes to the diversity of people, and also the importance of understanding and kindness toward people.”

Both women embody the *mother archetype*, and they will undoubtedly give you hope for the future, remind you to love your neighbors, and inspire you to never give up on your passion to help others while also finding your own path.

Elizabeth Lesser has touched millions through her bestselling books, co-founded the Omega Institute in Rhinebeck, NY, helped Oprah Winfrey produce a 10-week online seminar based on Eckhart Tolle’s A New Earth, is a frequent Oprah’s Soul Series host and has appeared on Super Soul Sunday.

Mary Pipher is a community organizer and activist for many causes and has authored 11 books including 4 New York Times bestsellers. Her latest book is A Life in Light, a luminous new memoir that taps into a cultural moment to offer wisdom, hope, and insight into loss and change.

After finishing their interview, I sat in my chair with my hand on my heart and took some deep breaths. I felt immense gratitude for the opportunity to have conversations and connections with such incredible and courageous women like Elizabeth and Mary. Our time together reminded me that when I am scared or in a place of fear, I am going to pause and redirect my energy. I'm going to make Love my hero and my north star.

Love,
Molly


Learn more about Elizabeth Lesser and her work here
Learn more about Mary Pipher and her work here

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The Cracking Open podcast has an exciting upcoming episode where, for the first time, I host a dual interview with Elizabeth Lesser and Mary Pipher to discuss a particular and profound issue for women (stay tuned for its release on November 21st!)

Leading up to that episode's release, I am re-releasing their initial interviews with me so you can soak in their deep wisdom and charm. You can listen to Elizabeth's episode here. Whether it's the first time you've listened or a refresh, you are in for a treat.

This week's episode on the Cracking Open podcast is someone who I would consider a cherished guide in my personal and professional journey over the last two decades.

Mary Pipher, Ph.D. is a truly extraordinary psychologist who specializes in women, trauma, and the effect of culture on our mental health.

I first came across Mary's work twenty years ago while teaching at an all-girls school in San Francisco. I felt lost on how to best provide emotional support to my students when they felt left out with friends, insecure about their bodies, navigating challenges in their home lives, or struggling with feeling worthy. A fellow teacher recommended that I read a book called Reviving Ophelia by Mary Pipher.

When I read her words below, I knew I had found the right guidance:

“Girls struggle with mixed messages:
Be beautiful, but beauty is only skin deep.
Be sexy, but not sexual.
Be honest, but don’t hurt anyone’s feelings.
Be independent, but be nice.
Be smart, but not so smart you threaten boys.”

Ever since, I have read anything and everything that Mary has written and it has always been a compassionate, wise, and safe place to land. And because of this, I am pinching myself that I got to have this conversation with her and share it with all of you.

Mary graduated in Cultural Anthropology from the University of California at Berkeley and received her Ph.D. from the University of Nebraska in Clinical Psychology. She was a Rockefeller Scholar in Residence at Bellagio and has received two American Psychological Association Presidential Citations, one of which she returned to protest psychologists’ involvement in enhanced interrogations at Guantánamo and other black sites.

She is a community organizer and activist for many causes and has authored 11 books including 4 New York Times bestsellers. Her latest book is A Life in Light, a luminous new memoir that taps into a cultural moment to offer wisdom, hope, and insight into loss and change.

In today’s episode, Mary reminds us that we don’t have to be perfect, solve every problem, or "fix" anyone. She also helps us remember that we live in a universe filled with love and light that surrounds us and is available to us, at all times.

I will leave you with her wise words:

“I think a wonderful life doesn't mean that a person hasn't had a lot of tragedy. It means they've had a big, rich life where they’ve been able to experience a really wide range of emotions and people and adventures and learnings of all different kinds.

And of course, in terms of loving fiercely, the price for loving fiercely is the pain of goodbye, but I would always choose to love fiercely.”


Love,
Molly

Learn more about Mary Pipher and her work here


The new 6-Month Coaching Group begins November 13th!
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October 19th marked the 13th anniversary of my dad’s passing. It was a deeply profound day, as I experienced a revelation about my grief.

I realized that to reach a healthier place with my grief, I needed to engage with it differently. For the past 13 years, I’ve held onto a level of consciousness regarding my grief that requires transformation. I’ve been wearing a cloak of identification with the narrative of someone who lost their parents too young, feeling like a victim and grappling with anger over both of my parents’ deaths (my mom passed away five years ago).

However, last Saturday, I realized to reach the next level of healing, I needed to cultivate a different relationship with my grief and my dad. While I’m unsure exactly what this new relationship looks like, I set an intention that day to let go and surrender, shifting from the mindset of “this happened to me” to a perspective of “this happened for me.” I aspire for my grief to embody more light than darkness, and to serve as a teacher rather than a burden. I want it to guide me toward humility and deeper wisdom. When grief resurfaces and I feel the sadness and loss in my bones, I wish to embrace it through my tears or screams, but not to identify solely with it.

I share this journey because one woman who has profoundly influenced my understanding of grief is Elizabeth Lesser. I discovered her work around 11 years ago, shortly after my dad’s death, when I read her book Broken Open. Every word resonated deeply and reassured me that I could survive this loss. This book radically changed my life, and I often gift it to those going through difficult transitions.

The Cracking Open podcast has an exciting upcoming episode where, for the first time, I host a dual interview with Elizabeth and Mary Pipher to discuss a particular and profound issue for women (stay tuned for its release on November 21st!)

Leading up to that episode's release, I will re-release their initial interviews with me so you can soak in their deep wisdom and charm. Whether it's the first time you've listened or a refresh, you are in for a treat.

Elizabeth has touched millions through her bestselling books, including Cassandra Speaks: When Women Are the Storytellers, The Human Story Changes, Broken Open: How Difficult Times Can Help Us Grow and Marrow: Love, Loss & What Matters Most.

She co-founded the Omega Institute, a retreat and conference center in Rhinebeck, NY, dedicated to holistic education and social change movements, attracting over 30,000 participants annually. In 2008, she also helped Oprah Winfrey produce a 10-week online seminar based on Eckhart Tolle’s A New Earth, which reached more than 8 million viewers worldwide. Elizabeth is a frequent Oprah’s Soul Series host and has appeared on Super Soul Sunday.

Please enjoy this incredible conversation. Grab a cup of tea, a notebook, and a pen, and take this hour to soak in Elizabeth’s storytelling, wisdom, and insights.

Love,
Molly


Learn more about Elizabeth Lesser and her work here


The new 6-Month Coaching Group begins November 6th!
Email Molly for more details!

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