Stop Letting the Gap Drain Your Joy — Life Lesson Quotes — Laurel Roberts-Meese | Ep 100

On this episode of Relatable Wisdom, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Laurel Roberts-Meese, a seasoned trauma therapist and founder of Laurel Therapy Collective. Laurel shared one of her guiding quotes: “May the space between where you are and where you want to be inspire you.” Together, we unpacked how this mantra shaped her journey—from juggling four jobs while slogging through the long and underpaid road to therapist licensure, to building her own thriving practice. Laurel’s perspective is refreshingly honest; she doesn’t sugarcoat the grit it takes to move from survival mode to living with intention. Now, as she mentors and nurtures the next generation of therapists, her story is a testament to dreaming big, taking one step at a time, and even savoring the tough transitions. If you’re feeling stuck or overwhelmed by the distance between your “now” and your dreams, Laurel’s insight will inspire you to see that space as a place of possibility—no matter how small the next step might seem.Connect With Laurel Roberts-MeeseWebsite: https://www.laureltherapy.net/If Relatable Wisdom speaks to you—if a quote shared makes you pause, smile, or see things differently—consider subscribing so you never miss an episode. And if you have a minute, leaving a review helps more people discover these everyday voices and the wisdom they carry. Your support means the world.Every episode has more to it than what you hear. Join the Relatable Wisdom newsletter to get thoughtful reflections, behind-the-scenes extras, and personal notes that don’t make it into the show. It’s a calm space to stay inspired between listens.Sign up here: https://relatablewisdom.com/joinIf the quotes and stories you hear here offer you comfort, clarity, or connection, you can help support the podcast by buying me a coffee. Every small contribution helps keep these everyday voices and shared wisdom going strong.Support the show: https://buymeacoffee.com/wisdomhqWant to be a guest on Relatable Wisdom? Send Wisdom Okonkwo a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/relatablewisdomChapters00:00 Hitting Career Goals And What’s Next01:20 Meet Laurel Roberts-Meese01:57 Laurel’s Inspiring Quote02:14 Meaning Behind The Mantra03:00 How The Quote Became A Daily Anchor04:28 Laurel’s Burnout And Career Struggles07:39 Steps Toward Her Ideal Practice08:25 Building A New Generation Of Therapists09:21 The Vision For A Small Team10:16 Wisdom Community Break11:04 Keeping Dreams Personal11:25 Overwhelm Vs. Inspiration When Goal Setting12:40 Advice For Young People Finding Direction13:55 The Five-Year Plan Practice15:00 Start With What You Don’t Want15:47 Navigating Survival Mode16:44 Small Steps Toward More Ease17:23 Dreams, Horizons, And Shifting Goals17:32 Laurel’s Disneyland Daydream18:40 Inspiring Listeners To Dream Small, Too19:21 How To Connect With Laurel19:51 Closing Reflections And Thanks