28. You can love your life and still want more: Motherhood, identity & finding your purpose
Listen to You can love your life and still want more: Motherhood, identity & finding your purpose - with Marissa Kula wherever you get your podcasts
You did all the things you were told would make you happy—you got married, had a family, built a stable life—but somehow, you’re still unhappy. You feel sad and disappointed, and maybe even a little ashamed to admit it. Are you ungrateful? Is there something wrong with you that this life isn’t enough?
No. You’re human. You have ambitions. You have purpose in this life, whether you’ve found it yet or are still seeking it.
In this episode I’m talking with Marissa Kula about her journey to finding fulfillment beyond motherhood, from returning to school to pursuing her love of scuba diving, photography, and nature.
We talk about the expectations that shape the lives we build, how easy it is to lose sight of what we want while trying to make everyone else happy, and the mom guilt that creeps in when we finally make time for ourselves. Because even when we know we deserve to pursue our own interests, actually giving ourselves permission to do it is another story.
We also get into what it looks like to take that first step toward something you want, even when you don't have the whole plan mapped out or know exactly where it will lead. Marissa's story reminds us that making space for the things that make us feel alive doesn't mean we're choosing ourselves instead of our families. It actually helps us show up as more fulfilled versions of ourselves. And show our kids they're allowed to build lives that feel right for them, too.
Marissa Kula is a mom, wife, nature and wildlife photographer, scuba diver, and creator of The Mindful Diver—a platform at the intersection of conservation, creativity, and mindful living. Through photography and storytelling, both above and below the water, she invites people to slow down, reconnect with themselves and the natural world, and see why the places and wildlife we love are worth protecting.
In this episode, we cover:
You can love your life and still want more. So why does that feel so hard to admit?
The expectations we’ve inherited about what a fulfilling life is supposed to look like.
How people-pleasing can lead us to put our own dreams on the back burner.
What happens when you reach your breaking point and finally start listening to the part of you that's been asking for more.
The mom guilt that comes with choosing something for yourself—and why it’s worth pushing through.
And the message we send our kids when we stop putting our own dreams on hold.
Connect with Marissa:
More about Momming as a Millennial podcast:
Welcome to Momming as a Millennial, the podcast where we dive into the challenges and triumphs of being a millennial mom in today’s dynamic world. Join your host, Christine Giarrizzo, on this candid journey as we navigate the complexities of motherhood, from tackling outdated stereotypes, to embracing our individual parenting styles.
In each episode, we explore the intersection of tradition and modern parenting. We’ll look at unsolicited advice and internet noise, as well as gender roles and expectations handed down by our parents and grandparents, in order to find what resonates with our true, authentic selves.
Tune in for honest conversations, genuine stories, expert insights, and a supportive community that understands the unique circumstance of navigating parenthood as a millennial. Together we’ll rewrite the narrative, challenge societal norms, and celebrate the diverse voices that make up our generation.
Let’s redefine what it means to be a mama in the millennial era.
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