Beyond Coping: What Drives Perfectionism and Hyper-Independence in Moms with Tisheila Justice Artwork

The Sparkle Project

(Formerly Worthy Mother Podcast)

The Sparkle Project is a feminist podcast for moms who are done carrying the weight of motherhood alone and are ready to connect with who they truly are - their sparkle, if you will.

So many of us feel overwhelmed not because we’re failing, but because we’re mothering inside a patriarchal system that expects us to give endlessly, stay quiet, and lose ourselves in the process. This space challenges those outdated expectations and embraces a more empowered, more supported, more self-honoring version of motherhood.

Hosted by Emily Rose MacDonald, a divorced mom of two on her own journey to shine a little brighter, each episode explores the realities of modern motherhood through a feminist lens that values equity, autonomy, mental health, and the humanity of moms.

You’ll hear conversations about identity, mental health, self-care, healing, and the many ways we can reclaim ourselves in a world that often overlooks the needs of mothers.

If you’re a mom who believes we deserve more than survival, and that our culture has to evolve for moms to truly thrive, you’re in the right place.

Welcome to The Sparkle Project.

Instagram:
@honestlyemilyrose
@thesparkleprojectpod

TikTok:
@thesparkleprojectpod

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The Sparkle Project

Beyond Coping: What Drives Perfectionism and Hyper-Independence in Moms with Tisheila Justice

August 26, 2025 • Episode 163

What if perfectionism, hyper-independence, and mom rage aren’t character flaws but survival strategies that once served you? In this powerful conversation, trauma therapist Tisheila Justice joins Emily to explore how unhealed wounds resurface in motherhood, why these coping mechanisms feel so hard to let go of, and how we can begin breaking cycles for ourselves and future generations.

The conversation gets into:

The hidden link between trauma and perfectionism in motherhood
Why hyper-independence feels safer than asking for help
Nervous system regulation tools you can actually use in the moment
How shifting focus from tasks to connection transforms parenting
Why community is one of the most important starting points for healing

If you’ve ever felt like you should be able to do it all or battled shame around not being the “perfect mom,” this episode will help you reframe, release, and reconnect.

🔗 Connect with Tisheila:

Instagram: @growthandwellnessmhc
TikTok: @tisheilajustice
Website: www.growthandwellnessmhc.com

✨ Let’s keep the convo going:

Follow Emily on Instagram → @honestlyemilyrose
Follow the podcast on TikTok → @worthymotherpodcast

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