In Your Right Mind with Monique Rhodes

Sometimes we feel that it is easier to be in control. It can be exhausting when things change. I want to give you an example of allowing stressful situations not to be exhausting.

Can you hold space for the unknown? In this episode, I share a timeless story that reminds us of life's unpredictability—and why that's not something to fear. We explore how our need for certainty often adds unnecessary suffering and how choosing to live fully in the present moment brings both freedom and peace. If you've ever felt anxious about what's ahead or fixated on what's gone, this conversation will help you soften into trust and possibility. Let's talk about the wisdom of not knowing.

When we are experiencing stress, it isn't easy to think effectively. There's one quality that we can bring into our mind at this time that will make all of the difference.

How do we define success? When I work with people, often, the goal is the finish line. Interestingly, they eventually find the finish line deeply unsatisfying.

I was taught a simple strategy to help me do well in all sorts of situations. This is what I am going to teach you today.

Time Magazine just announced its Person of the Year. I want to say - are you joking me? I've got a much better suggestion as to who is the Person of the Year.

What does it feel like when one of your children wants to do something, and you are afraid for their safety? I answer this question in today's podcast.

It's easy to get caught up with work and jobs and things we need to get done, and it's harder to remember that this is not all that life is about.

How often do we expect big results from short bursts of effort? In this episode, I explore why true progress isn't about intensity but about consistency. I'll share how small, daily actions—repeated over time—are what truly lead to mastery and transformation.

Today I am going to teach you something important. It is a vital mindset shift - a mindset shift around our idea of separation.

What if it's not someone's behavior, but your fear of their behavior, that's causing the most pain? In this episode, I explore how anticipatory fear—our habit of bracing for harm—often hurts us more than the situation itself. I'll share how becoming conscious of this pattern can be a powerful first step toward freedom and peace.

We are masters of multitasking activities, and we are also masters of multitasking in our minds. Unfortunately, both of these activities significantly affect our ability to function.

What does it really mean to be rich? In this episode, we explore the true nature of wealth—beyond bank accounts and job titles. Through powerful stories of personal change and global experiences, Monique invites us to shift our understanding of richness from external success to inner fulfillment. Discover how emotional balance, simple living, deep relationships, and meaningful work can redefine what it means to live a wealthy life. Learn why enough might be more than plenty, and how embracing the richness already within and around you can lead to lasting happiness.

Have you ever confused compassion with pity? In this episode, I explore what compassion truly is—a willingness to feel another's suffering and be moved to ease it. We'll look at how to soften our hearts instead of turning away, and why this practice transforms not only how we treat others but also how we treat ourselves. The world needs more compassion, and it begins with us.

I get asked this question often. Here is the answer.

How do we discover true freedom in a world that teaches us to hold on tightly? In this episode, I explore how letting go—not clinging—can lead to greater peace, resilience, and love. Join me as we examine how life's challenges can shape us, not break us, and how surrendering our fear allows the deeper goodness within us to emerge. If you'd like to go deeper into this work, visit iintendtobehappy.com—it's a wonderful place to begin your journey with me.

All sorts of random things happen in our lives. The way we relate to these unexpected occurrences can be life-changing.

How often do we confuse sacrifice for love? In this episode, I explore the difference between giving from a place of fear and giving from a place of genuine love. I'll share how early patterns of seeking approval can shape our actions and why it's crucial to recognize when we're overextending ourselves for validation.

Can a simple act of imagination make you happier? In today's episode, I share a quiet practice that opens your heart and reconnects you with the humanity all around you. When we begin to see strangers as real people—full of their own joys and struggles—we soften. We become more generous. And without even realizing it, we start to feel less alone. Join me for this gentle invitation to extend love in the most unexpected places—and discover how that generosity transforms you too.

Today I answer a question on knee jerk reactions. How can we detach from the emotions that cause them?

….die young. I don't know if that's true, but when someone we love passes away, it brings everything important into focus.

What if the key to happiness isn't found in focusing on ourselves, but in how we care for others? In this episode, I explore why true happiness comes from compassion, generosity, and connection—not from grasping or self-serving pursuits. I'll share how shifting from self-centered happiness to compassionate happiness can transform not only your life but the lives of those around you.

What if the challenges in your life were actually guideposts, pointing you toward what you truly want? In this episode, I explore how difficult situations can bring clarity by highlighting what's not working and helping you envision what could be better. I'll share how to use these moments as opportunities to create a life aligned with your values and desires.

Do your relaxation habits actually restore you—or leave you feeling drained? In this episode, I explore how easy it is to fall into digital rabbit holes that offer the illusion of rest but leave us depleted. I'll share why passive scrolling isn't the break we think it is and how we can reclaim our time in ways that truly nourish our minds and hearts.

Whether it is Thanksgiving in your country or not, today's podcast is a beautiful reminder of the power of gratitude. And I have a fun little challenge for everyone at the end.

In today's podcast, I answer a question from one of my students. She is struggling to connect with her inner voice. I give her a strategy to help her.

I talk about my 4 year old niece a lot here because she is such a source of joy and learning for me. As many of you know she is very sick right now in hospital.

Why do so many apologies fall flat—and how can we do better? In this episode, I share a four-step approach to saying sorry in a way that's thoughtful, honest, and healing. I'll explore how true apologies strengthen relationships by acknowledging what happened, how it felt, why it occurred, and what we'll do differently.

It can be easy for us to put the focus on ourselves and worry about what others think. Maybe it's time for us to lighten up a little.

How do you respond when life feels overwhelming? In this episode, I explore how difficult moments can be powerful opportunities for growth, courage, and empathy. I'll share how becoming more conscious of our reactions helps us stay grounded, kind, and open—even in distress.

Often we don't get things right. We sometimes have days where we act far from the kind and loving person we want to be. How can you manage these days without getting down on yourself?

What do you do when anxiety suddenly takes over? In this episode, I explore a simple yet powerful tool to calm your mind and body in moments of stress: your breath. I'll share how slowing down your breathing can help you regain control and create space for clarity, even in the middle of a hectic day.

How do you face your fears without letting them consume you? In this episode, I explore why sitting with our fears—rather than pushing them away or spreading them to others—can be the key to moving through them. I'll share a powerful process for working with fear, from quiet self-reflection to writing as a tool for clarity.

What if the greatest gift you could give the people you love isn't your time, your advice, or even your presence—but your happiness? In this episode, I explore why your own joy is the most powerful offering you can make to the world. I'll share how learning to be happy isn't selfish—it's deeply generous. And I'll show you how taking responsibility for your own wellbeing ripples out in ways that uplift everyone around you.

For some of us, we tend to have a passive attitude to our lives. We want things to change, yet we may not feel we have to step into that change.

How do we create a more peaceful world when everything around us feels divided? In this episode, I explore the idea that the state of our inner world is reflected in the outer one. If we want less anger, less conflict, and more peace, it has to begin within us. I'll share why shifting our mindset, softening our attachments, and choosing to live with calm and compassion can ripple out into our families, communities, and beyond. Let's talk about how becoming the change inside yourself is the most powerful way to shape the world outside.

What if every challenge in your life was actually a sacred invitation to wake up? In this episode, I explore how the obstacles we face can be powerful teachers that help us shift from unconscious habits to conscious awareness. Discover how embracing your sacred inner space can bring clarity, reduce suffering, and foster transformation. Learn why waking up—moment by moment—is the key to lasting happiness, and how mindfulness empowers you to meet life with presence and grace.

What if happiness isn't found in big milestones, but in small, everyday moments? In this episode, I explore how true joy comes from noticing and appreciating the little things that make up our lives. I'll share how shifting your mindset from waiting for happiness to actively seeing it can transform the way you experience each day.

What if the key to a happier life is simply letting go? In this episode, I explore how our attachments to emotions, expectations, and outcomes create unnecessary suffering. I'll share how allowing life's waves—both stormy and sunny—to come and go without resistance can bring peace and spaciousness.

What if the real challenge isn't other people, but how we handle our own emotions? In this episode, I explore why difficult feelings arise in us and how learning to sit with them—rather than lashing out or shutting down—can transform our relationships and inner peace. I'll share how meditation and self-awareness can help us navigate emotional triggers with more clarity and control.

What if the greatest wisdom comes not from knowing, but from leaving space for the unknown? In this episode, I explore how embracing uncertainty allows for growth, curiosity, and deeper understanding—both of ourselves and others. I'll share why resisting the urge to label and define everything can create more openness and possibility in our lives.

What if your happiness had nothing to do with your circumstances—and everything to do with your mind? In this episode, I explore how learning to work with your thoughts, especially during challenging moments, is the most powerful path to peace. I'll share why meditation is essential not just when life is calm, but when it's stormy.

How often do you feel like you're not enough just as you are? In this episode, I explore the transformative power of self-acceptance and why embracing all parts of yourself—flaws and all—is key to finding peace and happiness. I'll share why letting go of the need to prove yourself can create a profound sense of relief and open you up to living fully.

Are we too quick to label things as right or wrong, good or bad? In this episode, I explore the richness that exists between the extremes—the space where real connection, understanding, and growth happen. I'll share how stepping away from rigid thinking and embracing the in-between allows us to see each other, and ourselves, more fully. If you'd like to go deeper into this work, visit iintendtobehappy.com—it's a wonderful place to begin your journey with me.

Holding onto things causes us suffering. We know that. But letting go is not easy. However, there is a way to practice it regularly to become a more effortless skill in your life.

What if the most loving, perfect part of you has always been there—just hidden beneath the clouds? In this episode, I explore how our habits, beliefs, and early experiences obscure our true nature, and how mindfulness and daily practice help us reconnect with who we really are.

If someone hurts us, the inclination is to close down. Unfortunately, the only person that hurts is us.

In a world where answers sit at our fingertips, we risk forgetting the deeper power of questions. In this episode, I explore why rushing to fix, explain, or advise often shuts down connection—while curiosity opens it up. When we ask with presence instead of telling with certainty, we create intimacy, trust, and space for others to hear their own wisdom. If you've ever wondered how to truly support the people you love, this conversation might be the shift you've been looking for

What does it mean to keep a sense of magic alive in our everyday lives? In this episode, I share a story about playing the Tooth Fairy for my niece and even for my puppy, Scamp, and how that simple act opened a doorway back into wonder. We'll look at the moment when many of us lose our belief in magic, how our minds become locked into a flat, material reality, and why it matters to stay open to possibility. Discover how inviting a little magic back into your perspective can deepen your relationships, lighten your days, and reconnect you with a dimension of life that's always available.