61. How To Handle The Holidays With Self-Compassion | Coach Moe Poole & Paula Rao
61. How To Handle The Holidays With Self-Compassion | Coach Moe Poole & Paula Rao  
Podcast: Wisdom Stripes with Meg Tuohey
Published On: Thu Dec 11 2025
Description: How do you move through the holidays with more compassion, grounding, and self-awareness? In this special episode of Wisdom Stripes, I’m joined by Coach Moe Poole and Paula Rao, LPC to explore why the holidays are so emotionally intense... and how to support yourself when stress, expectations, family patterns, or grief begin to take over. We talk about: • Why holiday pressure activates old patterns • Emotional labor, comparison, and “hallmark expectations” • Boundaries without guilt • What to do when you feel overwhelmed or “flip your lid” • Grieving loved ones or lost seasons of life • How to return to your growth instead of falling into old roles • Reconnecting with what actually makes the holidays meaningful This conversation will support anyone feeling stretched thin, triggered, depleted, or unsure how to stay grounded in a busy, emotionally loaded season. ✨ HeartPrint Holiday Bundle Bonuses Preorder HeartPrint and receive: 5 Weeks of Wisdom — journal prompts Early access to Chapter One Wise Woman Antidotes to the Inner Critic Claim your bundle: https://megantuohey.com/megan-book-heart-print/ Connect with Today’s Guests Coach Moe Poole — Transformational Mindset & Energy Coach Facebook: facebook.com/moe.poole.9 Instagram: instagram.com/theecoach.moe Paula Rao, LPC — Therapist & Trauma Specialist Website: https://westhoustoncounseling.com/paula-rao/ Connect with Meg Tuohey Instagram: https://bit.ly/4f6B0AW Facebook: https://bit.ly/3BILKXU TikTok: https://bit.ly/4f7M8he LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/4hbXJOb Learn more: https://bit.ly/3NtUF24 The Wisdom Lab: https://bit.ly/4eI8S7N Listen on Apple: https://apple.co/3Yp2vjP Listen on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/4f8xTsj ⏰ Timestamps (Chapters) 00:00 — HeartPrint Holiday Bundle 01:19 — Why the holidays feel intense 02:31 — Introducing Coach Moe & Paula 04:52 — Expectations & emotional pressure 07:29 — Fear, obligation & guilt 09:05 — Emotional load of being “the leader” 10:39 — Seasonal shifts & lowered capacity 12:48 — Protecting your growth 14:21 — Boundaries & planning ahead 16:21 — Staying present & regulated 17:29 — Old patterns resurfacing 20:24 — Reconnecting with values 22:18 — Emotional tipping point 24:24 — What to do when you flip your lid 27:34 — Processing without harming relationships 31:10 — Regulation tools 33:42 — “Honor the occasion” mindset 34:49 — Navigating grief 39:01 — The grief “software update” 43:05 — Accepting the gap between hope & reality 47:43 — Making holidays meaningful again 51:14 — The “yeah, but…” inner narrative 53:04 — Creating 10 minutes of joy 57:24 — HeartPrint philosophy 1:00:10 — Becoming your future self 1:03:11 — Closing & gratitude 🚨 DISCLAIMER The Wisdom Stripes podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional mental health or medical advice.