LTGL2611-Building a Life That Feels Like Yours with MeghanDeford

Have you checked off all the boxes of conventional success but still find yourself quietly asking, "Is this it?"In this episode, host Kimberly sits down with Meghan DeFord—speaker, coach, host of the Wait! What Do You Do Again? podcast, and founder of DeFord Coaching and Consulting. Meghan shares her powerful journey from leading multimillion-dollar nonprofit campaigns to confronting a sudden life upheaval during COVID, including an unexpected layoff and divorce. Together, Kimberly and Meghan explore how societal conditioning traps us on a consumer-driven hamster wheel, why women specifically face intense pressure to perform for others, and how you can use curiosity and core values as a compass to stop performing your life and start authentically living it.Key TakeawaysThe "Surface-Level" Trap: We often hide our true feelings behind generic answers like "I'm good" or find ourselves constantly chasing the next consumer milestone (a new house, a vacation) without stopping to check how we actually feel.Worth vs. Productivity: Societal and systemic formatting conditions women from a young age to tie their self-worth to how productive they can be for other people, leading to persistent imposter syndrome even at the highest levels of success.Perceived vs. Real Restrictions: While life brings real logistical and financial boundaries, we frequently talk ourselves out of tracking new paths due to perceived stories and boundaries we've built in our own heads.Values as a Compass: Aligning your daily schedule with your core values—rather than an imaginary societal timeline—makes decision-making cleaner, easier, and inherently more fulfilling.The Power of the Reframe: Shifting from self-criticism to a mindset of curiosity allows us to transform minor daily mistakes (like forgetting something or letting food spoil) into simple, stress-free learning experiences.Episode Highlights & Timestamps[00:00:00] – IntroductionKimberly introduces Meghan DeFord and frames the core theme of the show: breaking free from a life that looks great on paper to build one that actually feels like ours.[00:03:55] – Meghan's Personal ReckoningMeghan opens up about her personal turning point during COVID, navigating a sudden divorce and unexpected career layoff while managing a depression diagnosis, forcing her to rediscover who she was outside of her career title.[00:10:45] – The Conditioning of Women & The C-SuiteA deep dive into why women consistently deprioritize their own desires. Meghan reflects on her time working with C-suite executives and the discrepancy in how ambitious mothers are perceived versus their male peers.[00:22:00] – Overcoming the Immediate "No"Meghan shares a practical story about designing a personal Q1/Q2 "business retreat" at home, illustrating how to identify the "why" underneath a dream when a massive expense (like jetting off to Europe) isn't realistic.[00:26:40] – Mapping Your ValuesMeghan breaks down her foundational coaching practice: selecting top core values from a list of 100 to guide your calendar and intentions. She shares her personal top five: Authenticity, Adventure, Optimism, Belonging, and Impact.[00:34:20] – The Grape ReframeA humorous look at mindset work in daily life—how cleaning rotten grapes out of the fridge shifted from a moment of self-judgment to a simple note on weekly grocery habits.[00:36:00] – Visualizing the Audacious FutureKimberly and Meghan walk through a future-self visualization exercise. Kimberly shares her dream of a private beach cabin for her grandkids, and Meghan reveals her five-year dream of hosting international retreats for women in Italy or Spain.[00:49:15] – Closing Thoughts: Fall in Love with Your LifeMeghan reminds listeners that choosing intentionality doesn't mean you have to throw a grenade at your current life—it can start as simply as trying a new restaurant or adjusting your morning alarm.Connect with Our Guesthttps://www.megdeford.com/Podcast: Wait! What Do You Do Again?Socials: @megdefordJoin the conversation: Come hang out with us in the Living the Good Life Facebook community for:Episode previewsBonus contentGuest Q&A opportunitiesA community of people choosing to live with more intention and joyJoin the Living the Good Life FB Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/LTGLCommunityEvery episode proudly sponsored by http://SwitchtoUSAMade.comContact Kimberly Henrie at https://livingthegoodlife.us/If this episode resonated with you, take a moment to leave a review or share it with someone who might need a little nudge toward their own version of the good life.