Hold My Purse podcast episode cover – Man in the Mirror with host Rho

You’ve been so busy fixing everything around you — the relationship, the household, the job, the kids, the friendships — that you forgot to look at yourself. Not the “I need to do better” guilt spiral. Not the “I need to lose weight” look. We’re talking about really standing in front of yourself and asking: who is this woman, and what does she actually need?

Inspired by the release of the Michael Jackson biopic and the timeless message of “Man in the Mirror,” Rho breaks down why real change — the kind that actually sticks — doesn’t start with a grand gesture or a new year or waiting for someone else to finally act right. It starts with one honest moment. One turn toward yourself.

This episode is for the woman who has been so strong for so long that she forgot to check in with herself. It’s time to put down the avoidance and finally look.

3 Key Takeaways

01 — You can’t change what you won’t acknowledge.

Knowing a pattern exists and actually looking at it are not the same thing. You can have a vague awareness that something isn’t working and still never stop to ask how you got there or what part you played. That’s the mirror moment — and it’s uncomfortable. But on the other side of that discomfort is real clarity.

02 — The mirror doesn’t shame you.

A lot of us avoid looking because we’re afraid of what we’ll find. But when you approach your own reflection with honesty and grace — not judgment — you don’t find failure. You find a woman who survived. A woman who gave a lot, maybe too much. And a woman who is absolutely ready for something different. Healing isn’t about shaming who you were. It’s about making room for who you’re becoming.

03 — Real change starts with one honest decision.

Not a grand gesture. Not a perfect plan. Not waiting until everything lines up. It starts with the decision to stop lying to yourself about what you actually need. One turn toward yourself. And then another. That’s how the woman on the other side of survival mode gets built.

Put It Down Practice

Find five minutes and stand in front of an actual mirror. Not to fix your hair. Not to check how you look. Just to look at yourself. Then say this out loud:

“I see you. I’m not running from you anymore. And I’m ready to know who you actually are.”

Then journal whatever comes up. Don’t clean it up. Don’t make it pretty. Just write the truth.

🌿 Want to go deeper in your self-care journey?

🎙 Hold My Purse is a bi-weekly podcast that centers healing, wholeness, and the sacred act of putting yourself first. Don’t forget to follow, share, and leave a review if this episode made you feel a little more seen today.

Sponsor Shout-out:
This episode is brought to you by Self Care Shawty 🌿, your go-to for homemade skin products that keep you moisturized, healed, and at ease. Explore their amazing offerings at selfcareshawty.etsy.com.

💼 Remember:  Until next time, my fabulous friends and self-care warriors… keep loving you, protect your peace, and hold your own damn purse.

And I’ll meet you right back here in two weeks — same space, same heart, new ways to choose you. 💖

058: Man in the Mirror: What Happens When You Finally Look at Yourself
Rhonda Nelson
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