Navigating Conflicting Emotions in Motherhood with Ashley

In this episode of Beyond the Beautiful Chaos, host Alisha welcomes her sister, best friend, and fellow mom, Ashley. A licensed clinical counselor and mother to Ava—born just a month before the host’s twins—Ashley brings both professional insight and personal experience to the conversation. Together, they explore the complex and often conflicting emotions of motherhood, from joy and gratitude to guilt and resentment.

Listeners will gain a deeper understanding of why these emotions arise, how to accept them, and practical strategies for managing them in everyday life.

Key Topics Covered

• Ashley’s Journey into Therapy & Motherhood – How her personal experiences shaped her approach to mental health and emotional resilience.

• Common Conflicting Emotions in Motherhood – Exploring the inner tug-of-war between love and frustration, gratitude and guilt, pride and inadequacy.

• Understanding Emotional Dissonance – Why moms experience opposing emotions and how high expectations, life changes, and lack of support contribute.

• Personal Experiences & Coping Strategies – Ashley shares her own struggles with mom guilt and how she reframes those feelings.

• Practical Tools for Emotional Balance – Mindfulness, self-compassion, cognitive reframing, and effective communication strategies.

• Managing Mom Guilt & Social Pressure – How to release unrealistic expectations and navigate the influence of social media.

• When to Seek Professional Support – Signs that therapy might be helpful and misconceptions about seeking help.

Key Takeaways

• Conflicting emotions in motherhood are normal and do not indicate failure.

• Naming emotions and accepting that “two things can be true” can ease emotional struggles.

• Self-compassion, realistic expectations, and mindfulness techniques help manage guilt and overwhelm.

• Therapy is a tool for growth, not a sign of weakness.

Final Thought

Ashley leaves moms with an encouraging reminder: Pause and look at your child. They are thriving because of you. You are enough.

Connect & Share

If this episode resonated with you, share it with another mom who might need to hear it! Subscribe to Beyond the Beautiful Chaos for more honest conversations on motherhood.