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True Stride

True Stride

Written by: Mary Tess Rooney
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Realizing your True Stride means moving forward in alignment with you heart, mind, body, energy and soul. This podcast offers thoughtful conversations to help you discover your groove at work, at home, during play and with your community. Empowerment coach, author and fellow Strider, Mary Tess Rooney, inspires heart-centered views to elevate your Heart Value, relationships and joy. Tune-in every Thursday for wise walks to get your stride on! Self-Help Social Sciences Success
Episodes
  • EP298: Support Makes the Mission Possible

    EP298: Support Makes the Mission Possible
    Jun 11 2026
    Adversity has a way of showing us where we need support, even when we think we should be able to handle something on our own. Since moving to the farm, I have had plenty of moments that stretched me in new ways. Some have been exciting, some have been overwhelming, and some have involved learning more than I ever expected about chickens, weeds, acreage, and all the little surprises that come with farm life. This past weekend brought one of those lessons into focus when my dear friend Alison and her daughter Eva came to visit from California. I had a list of things that had been weighing on me, and one of the biggest projects was clearing toxic weeds from the chicken run. It was not impossible for me to do by myself, but emotionally and mentally, it felt heavy. Once Alison stepped in with her positive attitude, mission-focused mindset, and willingness to get it done, the whole thing felt more manageable. There we were after dinner, wearing masks and gloves, cutting weeds, gathering seed pods, and eventually working by headlamp in the dark. It was practical, a little comical, and also deeply meaningful. It reminded me how much trust is built when someone is willing to stand beside you in the messy moments. On today's Wise Walk, we are looking at what becomes possible when we are clear about what we need, brave enough to ask for help, and open enough to let the people who love us show up. When you are dealing with adversity, what strategies help you navigate it successfully?Who in your life can you count on to show up for you in difficult moments?How do you lean on the people who are there for you?How can you be vulnerable enough to let others support you in the ways you need?How can you channel a positive attitude and mission-focused mindset so you can move through adversity with greater ease?Who is the person you can be vulnerable with when life feels heavy or uncertain?Who shares your commitment, willingness, can-do spirit, and team mindset?Who makes you feel like, no matter what comes your way, you can face it together?Whatever adversity you are managing right now, who can you call?Who has an ear to listen?Who will reassure you that you can get it done, even when the moment feels heavy, toxic, or overwhelming?How are the people in your life showing up for you?Are they offering a listening ear, encouragement, and support?Are they providing resources and strategy to help you navigate in ways you may not see as possible right now?How can you willingly accept their help?How can you say thank you for the ear, the resources, the support, or whatever they are offering to help advance the mission?As you reflect on the goals or adversity you are managing right now, which projects or obstacles require support?Which challenges require extra hands, moral support, or emotional presence to remind you that you have got this?How can you be crystal clear about what you need so your support team can show up for you?How can you weed through the noise of everything else you want done and identify where support is most needed?How can you build camaraderie with the people in your life who are there for you?How can you be clear about the specific areas where you need support? Whatever you are navigating right now, please remember that you are not alone. We really are better together, and sometimes the support we need comes through extra hands, a listening ear, or simply the encouragement to keep going. I would love to hear what you took away from today's episode, and if you have any tips or tricks for managing farm life, I am open to those too. Thank you, thank you, thank you for listening. Be sure to tune in next Thursday for another Wise Walk. In this episode: [02:36] We often hear clichés like "We are better together," and they are true. They exist for a reason.[03:27] My dear friends from California were visiting, and I had a list of things that I thought I would ask them to help me with, in between all of the fun we were also having.[04:13] There is pride and satisfaction when you see what you can accomplish together.[05:21] My chicken run was overgrown with weeds. They ended up being toxic jimson weeds. We had to find a way to safely clear out these weeds.[06:51] We suited up and cut them one by one. This was weighing on me and having the extra help made it possible. [08:08] We had a team mindset and tackled it with rhythm and flow.[09:03] We were willing to be vulnerable and lean into each other's strengths. We were better together.[10:40] Even when we're apart, we listen really well because sometimes it's about the emotional presence.[13:56] Leaning in for support can also help you bond in ways that are really cool.[15:09] It's important to be clear on what you need. I had a list, and when I helped my friend in California, she also had a list. It's about balance and knowing what you need help with.[17:01] Find ways to balance work and play.[18:47] I'm also feeling grateful for how each success energizes me. ...
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    22 mins
  • EP297: The Power of Productive Pressure

    EP297: The Power of Productive Pressure
    Jun 4 2026
    Pressure has a way of getting our attention. I don't always love how it feels in the moment, but I can't deny that it often brings me into sharper focus. When there's a deadline or a real sense of urgency, I start to see what matters most and what I can let go of. The extra noise gets quieter, the mission-critical pieces become clearer, and somehow that pressure can turn into momentum. Lately, I've been noticing this in my own life as I prepare for friends and family to visit and as I work toward a hiking goal that's coming up in mid-July. Both situations are stretching me, but they're also helping me make decisions, take action, and remember that not all stress is bad when we use it well. On our Wise Walk, we'll look at where pressure may be helping us grow, what nonessentials we can release, and how to build in recovery after an intense season of effort. Are you someone who performs better under pressure, and do you know what motivates you or gives you clarity and focus?What becomes possible when you lean into the pressure you're feeling, and what kind of beauty surfaces when you accept the situation you're in?Where in your life are you feeling pressure right now, whether it's from guests arriving, a fitness goal, a deadline, career projects, or something else on your calendar?Are those deadlines helping you perform under pressure and channel your stress into productive energy?Are you able to focus on what is mission critical, eliminate the nonessentials, and hit your stride?Where in your life are you building in recovery time after periods of pressure or intensity?Can you acknowledge when a pressure-filled season is helping you grow, while also recognizing that the intensity may not be sustainable?How can you eliminate the nonessentials and build in a recovery period after creating beauty under pressure?What tips, techniques, or tricks help you hyper-focus during an intense period while still giving yourself an off switch?How do you help yourself feel pride and satisfaction when you cross the finish line or accomplish what you set out to do?How do you build in mini wins along the way so you can recognize your progress and give yourself credit?When you are finished, do you take time to accept, acknowledge, and appreciate the beauty you created through your pressure strategies? Thank you for being part of this community and for helping me keep looking at life through a lens of possibility. I'd love to hear what you took away from this episode and what beauty you're creating under pressure. Whether you're working toward a goal, growing through a challenge, or learning to build in recovery, please reach out and share. I'm grateful for you and this community, and I hope you'll tune in next Thursday. In this episode: [02:28] Diamonds, pearls, and fossils are all beautiful and formed under pressure over time. As well as, espresso and crystals. There are so many examples in nature.[03:03] I don't like being under pressure, but I'm mindful about how it can improve my performance.[04:11] I have friends and family coming, and it's a motivating deadline. I have a heightened awareness of what I can get done in time.[05:18] My deadline for my hiking goal is giving me focus and clarity on my training plan. I enjoy pressure when it comes to the sense of reward, and the sense of relief. [06:11] My goal is also forcing me to get out there and join hiking groups and engage with others. [07:09] These goals are motivating me and helping me improve my performance and to grow. We have to put the time in now to get the payout.[08:34] As I reflected on beauty under pressure, I realized that stress is also involved. [09:29] Not all stress is bad. Even though we're not meant to maintain high adrenaline constantly, having deadlines and channeling our productivity isn't bad.[10:32] We have to make sure that we decompress after these stressful periods.[12:02] One of the strategies I use when I have super intense goals is setting a timer. I can be in high intensity go mode when I have an off switch.[13:37] When I was writing my book, I would use the Pomodoro Technique and set mini deadlines as writing sprints. Memorable Quotes: "Stress can have negative effects on us and can be used for good. We need to manage the pressure in our lives and let it help us achieve our goals." - Mary Tess"Recovery time is essential because we can't sustain a high level of intensity for too long." - Mary Tess"Pressure can be uncomfortable, but it can also reveal what we're capable of when we stay focused on the essentials." - Mary Tess Links and Resources: Mary Tess RooneyEmailHeart Value Facebook | LinkedIn | Twitter | Instagram
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    17 mins
  • EP296: The Rule of 3s: A New Way to Navigate Change

    EP296: The Rule of 3s: A New Way to Navigate Change
    May 28 2026
    I have been feeling waves of exhaustion, waves of energy, and honestly, a little out of rhythm as I settle into my new home. I'm only about 10 days into this move, and even though I'm excited and grateful, I've also had moments where I feel disoriented, tired, and unsure of what needs my attention first. When I shared that with my aunt, she reminded me of the Rule of 3s: three days to decompress, three weeks to build routines, and three months to begin feeling truly at home. That framework gave me so much perspective because change, even when it's good, still asks us to let go of something familiar. In those first few days, we are not just setting up a new space or stepping into a new chapter. We are also adjusting to what we left behind. I saw that in myself, and I saw it as I brought my dogs into this new environment and began creating routines for all of us, including the goats and chickens that are now part of my daily life. The more I think about it, the more I realize how much grace we need during any big transition. We cannot expect ourselves, our loved ones, or even our pets to feel settled immediately. We need time to decompress, time to create small grounding habits, and time to integrate into whatever new experience we are stepping into. On today's Wise Walk, we are slowing down to check in with ourselves and ask where we are in the Rule of 3s, whether we need rest, routine, or simply more patience as we find our footing. When you experience a major change in your life, are you able to give yourself grace and use the Rule of 3s to help you adjust and pace yourself?When someone you love, whether two-legged or four-legged, experiences a major shift like a new home or new job, can you offer them that same grace?In the first 72 hours of a transition, when everything can feel overwhelming, are you kind and patient with yourself?Can you recognize that even when a new experience is exciting and full of possibility, it may also come with a sense of loss?Are you willing to let yourself decompress as you adjust to giving up what you once had?Can you honor what you are losing while giving your body, mind, and heart the time they need to adjust and receive the full gains of what is next? Whatever you are taking on right now, I'm sending so much good energy and positive vibes your way. Change is hard for all of us, so if you feel stuck, frustrated, or unsure, take a moment to ask where you are in the Rule of 3s. Hopefully, months from now, you will look back and realize you handled the transition with more grace than you thought possible. Until next Thursday's Wise Walk, please be sure to prioritize fun, read the signs, direct your path, and get your Stride On. In this episode: [04:27] The first 3 days of my new home experience was disorienting. It has taken some time for me to decompress.[05:18] I didn't bring my dogs yet, because I knew they needed space to go through the transition.[06:22] We have to pace ourselves and acknowledge that we're going through a decompression period during the first 72 hours.[07:12] The best way to manage the first 72 hours is to give yourself permission to do the bare minimum and take the time to decompress. Manage your priorities to the best of your ability without overdoing it.[08:14] The second step is starting to establish routines for your new environment. Your first 21 days are about managing and starting small daily habits that help you feel grounded in your environment.[11:10] In my new home, I've also acquired goats and chickens.[12:44] I've not only been creating routines, I've also been hiking, walking, and exercising.[13:57] The three month mark is all about integration. Give yourself at least 3 months of that new activity to feel at ease.[15:34] When starting something new it takes a while to build up that muscle memory. It doesn't happen overnight.[16:24] Hold on to the habits that support you.[17:26] The message behind the rule of threes has really helped me manage the new move.[18:48] The rule of threes will also be helpful for my dear friends who just got new puppies. Memorable Quotes: "Sometimes feeling unsettled does not mean something is wrong. It simply means we are still integrating into what is new." - Mary Tess"In the first few days of a transition, we do not have to do everything. We only have to tend to what is essential." - Mary Tess"When we understand the phase we are in, we can stop fighting the process and start caring for ourselves through it." - Mary Tess Links and Resources: Mary Tess RooneyEmailHeart Value Facebook | LinkedIn | Twitter | Instagram
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    21 mins
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