We live in a world that constantly prioritizes convenience—fast food, quick fixes, and instant results. But what happens when we take that same approach to our own lives? In this episode, I dive into how we’ve been conditioned to prioritize efficiency over true self-investment and why that’s holding us back from real growth, joy, and fulfillment. If you’ve ever struggled with feeling like an “inconvenience” or putting yourself last, this episode is for you.

🕒 [0:00 - 2:30] | The Lightbulb Moment

• How this topic came to me while driving home from spin class.
• The realization: We’ve been trained to think of ourselves as “convenient” or “inconvenient.”
• The connection between convenience culture and how we treat ourselves.

🕒 [2:30 - 6:00] | The Fast Food Analogy 🍔

• Why we can’t build a strong, fulfilling life using a “fast food” approach.
• The difference between cheap, quick fixes vs. meaningful, long-term investments.
• The impact of always choosing the easiest, lowest-cost option—whether with time, money, or energy.

🕒 [6:00 - 9:30] | The Convenience of Input vs. The Inconvenience of Output

• We often choose what’s easy and efficient (the “fast food” input).
• But that leads to long-term dissatisfaction, burnout, and lack of fulfillment.
• The cycle of cutting corners and why it never leads to real happiness.

🕒 [9:30 - 12:00] | Time Audit: How Much Are You Really Investing in Yourself?

• A quick self-check: How much time do you spend purely on YOU (not for work, family, or others)?
• Why most women answer less than an hour per week—or even zero.
• The hidden consequences of constantly deprioritizing yourself.

🕒 [12:00 - 15:30] | Money Audit: Are You Always Looking for the Cheapest Option?

• A second self-check: How much money have you spent only on yourself in the past year?
• Why we spend so much on family, homes, and responsibilities but almost nothing on ourselves.
• The real cost of only buying things for ourselves if they’re on sale.

🕒 [15:30 - 18:00] | The House vs. Fast Food Comparison 🏡

• When you buy a house, do you pick the absolute cheapest one with poor materials and bad insulation? No!
• Yet, we do this with ourselves—choosing “cheap” solutions instead of quality investments.
• What would happen if you built yourself the way you build a home—thoughtfully, intentionally, with care?

🕒 [18:00 - 20:30] | The Power of Real Self-Investment

• How investing in yourself expands your capacity—to handle stress, relationships, work, and life.
• Why the belief that “investing in myself takes away from others” is a LIE.
• How my personal coaching and self-development investments have made me better in all areas of life.

🕒 [20:30 - 23:00] | Stop Looking for the Quickest Fix

• The obsession with shortcuts and why they often lead to more frustration.
• The importance of consistency over speed.
• Why the “slow, nourishing” approach is the one that actually works.

🕒 [23:00 - 25:00] | Final Thoughts + Action Steps

• How to start making better investments in yourself—with time and money.
• The first step: Start with nervous system regulation (grab my free 5-minute reset at joinamanda.ca).
• A reminder: You deserve more than the clearance section of life.

🎧 Ready to stop treating yourself like fast food? Listen now!

✨ P.S. Don’t forget to subscribe & leave a review!

In this episode, I explore the concept of soft strength—a way to hold boundaries, advocate for yourself, and navigate difficult situations without aggression or emotional dysregulation. Too often, women are labeled as “too much” when they stand up for themselves or “people pleasers” when they don’t. But there’s a middle ground: a way to be strong without force, and firm without anger. I share personal experiences, client insights, and practical strategies to help you step into your power while staying true to yourself.

[00:00 - 02:00] Introduction

• How the idea of soft strength came up in my coaching and content creation process
• Strength doesn’t always have to be aggressive—there are different ways to embody it

[02:01 - 05:30] The Stigma Around Women’s Strength

• The world often labels strong women as “Karens” or “bitches,” making it harder to advocate for ourselves
• There is nothing wrong with being assertive, but there’s also power in a softer approach
• The balance between pushing through and holding space for yourself

[05:31 - 09:45] Advocating for Yourself Without Emotional Dysregulation

• Strength is not about demanding or yelling—it’s about clarity and self-trust
• How to hold firm boundaries without feeling the need to justify or explain yourself
• The power of approaching boundaries from a place of calm, rather than anger

[09:46 - 14:30] Boundaries in Difficult Relationships

• How boundaries often come up in co-parenting, breakups, and family dynamics
• The difference between setting a boundary from a place of anger vs. a place of self-respect
• Why boundaries aren’t about controlling the other person, but about how you will respond

[14:31 - 17:50] Giving People Back Their Own Feelings

• The tendency to take responsibility for other people’s emotions
• Why we try to “fix” people’s feelings and how it disconnects us instead of bringing us closer
• How to shift from emotional responsibility hoarding to true, open support

[17:51 - 21:30] The Power of Soft Strength in Real-Life Situations

• Personal story: Navigating my mother’s illness and seeing how people tried to “fix” the grief
• The difference between holding space for someone versus trying to change their experience
• The kind of support that truly makes a difference in hard times

[21:31 - 23:00] Final Thoughts & Next Steps

• Soft strength is about showing up as the version of yourself that you want to be
• How to journal on where you can embrace soft strength in your life
• Invitation to book a free consult for 1:1 coaching: amandahess.ca/bookacall

Love this episode? Don’t forget to leave a review! Your support helps more women find this podcast and step into their own power. 💜