Today, my business–Melissa Parsons Coaching– turns five years old. I want to congratulate myself on continuing to have a strong business five years in, and I want to thank all of you: my listeners, my clients, my fans, and my followers. I know for sure that I would not be here without all of you.

I became a coach after receiving coaching myself because I was convinced–and still am–that coaching is the secret to the universe and I should share it with as many people as possible in my lifetime. I saw how it helped me go from simply surviving to truly thriving, and I wanted every human to have that same experience.

Since then, I have learned so much. I’ve learned about how the body and the brain work together to keep us safe, how society at large creates our beliefs and our experiences, and the importance of staying present —both in my own life and with my clients–in order to help them make deep and lasting changes.

In this episode, I’m sharing my journey from being coached to becoming one myself, along with the most powerful lessons I’ve learned from working with so many incredible women over the past five years.

Click HERE to get the full show notes.

How many times have you said you were “too busy” when you just didn’t want to do something? Or answered “I’m fine” even though you were struggling? We’ve all been there. But these small white lies—and the bigger ones we tell ourselves about who we are and what we want—can quietly become tiny prisons that limit our authenticity.

In this episode, we’re diving into something that might make you squirm, but is essential to becoming your favorite version of yourself: radical honesty. Here’s the thing–every time you make an excuse instead of simply saying “no thanks,” you’re not just lying to someone else. You’re sending yourself the message that your real feelings aren’t valid enough to stand on their own. Over time, that kind of dishonesty erodes your relationship with yourself and builds walls between you and the people you love.

Remember, no matter how uncomfortable it is, the truth will set you free–and that's exactly where the growth happens.

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Today, I want to discuss resistance—not just the kind that involves marching in the streets, but also the everyday choices we make moment by moment that can serve as influential acts of resistance in their own right.

Many of us feel that the world is moving in a direction that challenges our deepest values. I hear from so many of you who feel overwhelmed, angry, and sometimes even hopeless about what’s unfolding around us. I feel it, too, and yet I also notice something else in our community: a quiet determination, a refusal to surrender to despair, and a deep desire to act in alignment with our values, even when it feels like we are swimming against the current.

In this episode, we’ll explore how following your intuition is an act of political and personal courage. We’ll also discuss how the small actions you take in your corner of the world matter more than you might realize.

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When was the last time you genuinely celebrated something you accomplished? Not just a quick “yay me” before rushing to the next task, but a moment dedicated to acknowledging your achievement? If you're struggling to remember, you're not alone. In this episode, we're talking about why our brains resist celebrating ourselves, why it's crucial that we change this pattern, and how doing so will transform your life.

Celebrating your wins can feel uncomfortable for many reasons, especially for women juggling multiple roles. But it is absolutely game-changing once you embrace it. Today, I’ll give you some practical tips and actionable strategies to help you celebrate yourself more effectively. This shift in self-relationship will ripple throughout your life and enable you to become your favorite version of yourself.

Click HERE to get the full show notes.

Today, I share my experience at a remarkable destination that helps me be my favorite me. I have recently returned from a five-night trip to the amazing Miraval Tucson, and I have gathered several of the best things about the resort and the lessons I have learned to pass along to you.

Miraval is a premium wellness retreat that offers an all-inclusive experience. There are currently three locations in the US, with plans for more around the world. A trip there is truly an investment I encourage you to consider making in yourself.

There are so many things I love about Miraval–the incredible classes, luxury bedding, and rejuvenating spa. I am also grateful for the valuable things I have learned during my visits. Every time I go to Miraval, I discover something about myself that helps me thrive when I'm back home. I hope this episode gives you a peek into the benefits of a wellness resort and offers some of the wisdom I have gained during my time at Miraval.

Click HERE to get the full show notes.

We are usually so quick to blame ourselves when something goes wrong–our thoughts spiral to how we could have been better or done more. But when something goes right, we often deflect and fail to take credit for our accomplishments.

Today, we'll unpack the tendency–especially among women–to downplay our successes while amplifying our failures. We'll talk about why we do this, how it affects our relationships with ourselves and others, and what we can do instead.

Giving yourself credit isn't about inflating your ego or diminishing others' contributions; it's simply about acknowledging the truth of your efforts and abilities. Many of us struggle to do this, so in this episode, I’ll give you tips and tools to help you practice receiving compliments and recognizing the amazing things you bring to the table.

You deserve to feel the satisfaction and joy that comes from recognizing your worth, and that recognition is the foundation for you becoming a favorite version of yourself. A version that knows her value, shares her gifts without apology, and inspires others to do the same.

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Today, we’re talking about something I see happening all the time with the amazing women I know and work with–and something I've done myself.

Do you have moments where you have a brilliant idea, but you don't speak up because you're worried about how it might be received? Or when you downplay your accomplishments so that you don't make other people feel uncomfortable? Or maybe it's changing your appearance, your opinions, or even your goals to fit what someone else wants for you. Or it could be ignoring your needs and wants to prioritize those of your partner or your friends.

Believe it or not, these are all forms of self-rejection. We abandon parts of ourselves–our truth, our desires, our authenticity–in exchange for external validation and acceptance. Over time, this pattern can leave us feeling empty, resentful, and disconnected from who we really are.

In this episode, we’ll explore why we fall into this cycle, how to recognize it, and most importantly, how to break free so that we can live more authentic and fulfilling lives where we accept all the little bits that make us our favorite versions of ourselves.

Click HERE to get the full show notes.

Have you ever noticed how we tend to save profound expressions of love and appreciation for special occasions? We save our best words for eulogies because it feels too awkward to tell the living how much they mean to us. But I'm here to tell you: avoiding a little bit of discomfort is not worth missing the chance to deepen relationships while we still have the opportunity.

When we wait until someone is gone to express our gratitude, we’re not just robbing them of hearing it—we’re robbing ourselves, too. We miss out on the chance to experience the powerful connection that happens when vulnerability meets gratitude.

In this episode, I’ll share practical ways to spread more love while it matters most. This isn’t just about avoiding regrets when someone passes, it’s about fostering deeper, more authentic connections while we’re all still here. It’s about celebrating the people who make our lives worth living, now, not later.

Click HERE to get the full show notes.