Finding Joy in Chaos: Living Abundantly with Hannah Keeley
In this episode Vanna talks with Hannah Keeley—America’s #1 Mom Coach, behavioral therapist, and founder of Mom Mastery University—to unpack the truth about “mom brain” and how it actually equips women for motherhood. Together, they reframe the mental shifts that happen after having children—not as setbacks, but as divine design—and offer real strategies to move from overwhelm to empowerment. If you’ve ever felt like you’re not yourself anymore, this conversation will help you see that who you’re becoming is exactly who you’re meant to be.
What You'll Learn
0:00 | Welcome Hannah Keeley!
5:33 | Strength shows up in the hard moments
8:10 | How motherhood rewires your brain
19:53 | Productivity rooted in purpose
25:37 | Mindset shifts that reclaim your time
32:53 | Faith over fear in personal growth
38:56 | Say yes to God’s call—even scared
41:14 | Finding joy in the messy moments
47:49 | From burnout to bold side hustles
Resources
Hannah’s Website
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Disclaimer: This podcast is intended for educational purposes only and is not to be taken as medical advice. Product links may contain affiliate links that are eligible for a small commission.
Embracing Mom Brain: Finding Strength and Joy Amidst Chaos
Key Takeaways:
Understanding and embracing the concept of "Mom Brain" can lead to profound personal growth and fulfillment.
Prioritizing one's purpose over productivity can transform a mom's life from stress-centered to joy-focused.
Flexibility and a shift in mindset are essential tools for mothers navigating the complexities of modern life.
The Science and Spirit Behind Mom Brain: Understanding the Changes
Motherhood is one of the most transformative journeys a woman can undertake, yet it often leaves many feeling overwhelmed by the changes to their cognitive and emotional faculties. This phenomenon, humorously referred to as "Mom Brain," is a significant shift in how we think and process the world around us once we become mothers. "Your brain is actually changing the priority system," explains Hannah Keeley, a seasoned mom coach and TEDx speaker. Before motherhood, a woman's brain focuses primarily on her own survival, but post-childbirth, the brain re-prioritizes to place the child's safety above all else.
Hannah elaborates on MRI studies that show anatomical differences in a woman's brain before and after childbirth, even citing a 4% loss in gray matter. This change contributes to symptoms like distractibility, anxiety, and even depression. However, while the condition can contribute to challenges like postpartum depression, it's crucial to remember "there's nothing wrong with you," as Keeley stresses. This understanding invites mothers to reconsider how they approach their productivity and self-worth in the face of overwhelming change.
The spiritual dimension of Mom Brain emerges when moms recognize that God designed this altered state to arm them with hyper-awareness, often termed as "mother's intuition." Rather than resisting these changes, bringing them into our conscious awareness allows us to leverage them for enhanced intuition and connectivity with our kids.
The Time Dilemma: Moving from Productivity Pressure to Purposeful Living
The relentless pressure to "do it all" is a narrative deeply ingrained in the cultural psyche, especially for modern mothers. But what if that's not the goal we're meant to chase? The transcript presents a powerful dichotomy: are you being productive to declare yourself worthy, or are you acting out of an abundance where it's all about sharing the endless wellspring of divine sufficiency? "If the why is coming from a place of sufficiency, you will never grow tired in that place," Hannah Keeley notes.
For mothers struggling with time management and a sense of never having enough hours in the day, it's crucial to reassess the source of this urgency. Is it derived from external validation, or does it genuinely reflect an inner calling? Keeley's advice to women who say they don't have enough time is revelatory. As moms, we have the freedom to choose to spend time meaningfully and wisely if we embrace a mindset of limitless possibilities.
Understanding this can liberate a mother from the shackles of unrealistic expectations, paving the way for truly rewarding accomplishments. By identifying and nurturing a purpose-driven existence, moms can transform drudgery into joy, exhaustion into elation—a shift seen in Vanna Padilla's experiences. Her life only began to flourish when she rested in the promise of divine leadership and released the iron grip of her once self-imposed constraints.
Joyful Mothering: Transforming Irritations into Opportunities for Growth
The conversation between Vanna Padilla and Hannah Keeley takes a profound turn when it broaches the subject of joy. Embedded within the chaos and disorder of motherhood, joy remains one of the most underutilized, yet unlimited resources available to moms who feel perpetually drained. "You can't be tired and joyful at the same time," Keeley insists. This sentiment challenges mothers to question why joy isn't more prevalent in their daily lives.
The solution lies in redefining rigidity. "The most flexible person wins," Keeley suggests, emphasizing the power of adaptability and embracing life's unpredictabilities as opportunities for spontaneous joy. This flexibility isn't just about scheduling but rather about mental elasticity—the ability to see beauty and purpose in mishaps and messes.
When mothers allow this mental shift, they set an invaluable example for their children. Joy becomes contagious, a family-wide practice instead of a lofty ideal. By asking the Lord for wisdom to see and relish the joys embedded in today's moments, rather than postponing happiness for an ambiguous future, mothers set a powerful example for the next generation of grace under pressure.
The transcript features a rich exchange on motherhood's psychological shifts, revealing vital lessons for navigating modern life as mothers. These themes remind us that the act of mothering is both an art and a science, an intricate balance of biology, belief, and action. Understanding Mom Brain, redefining productivity, and cultivating joy are integrated paths to embracing life's beautiful messiness. The true transformation, however, lies in acting upon these insights and reshaping the fabric of daily maternal life into a canvas of spiritual and personal growth. Embrace the changes, for they are tangible evidence of the beauty of life's most sacred adventure—motherhood.