You might call it ambition. Work ethic. Faithfulness. Discipline.
But sometimes "busy" is just pain avoidance with better branding.

In this episode, Spencer and Sammi unpack what they call hustloin—the cycle where hustle and busyness become a way to outrun what you don't know how to feel. From the tension of motherhood and autonomy, to entrepreneurship, provision pressure, and the subtle addiction to significance… we get honest about what's really driving you when you can't slow down.

We talk about:

• The difference between purposeful work and pain-driven hustle

• How "I have to do it all" creates chronic overwhelm

• Why you can't problem-solve well while you're triggered (and what to do first)

• The motherhood tension: impact and autonomy vs presence and slow living

• The "10x version of you" high—and how it can become a form of self-medication

• Integrity, impostor syndrome, and why connection has to come first

If you've been calling it productivity but it feels like pressure… this conversation will put language to what's happening inside you—and give you a path back to peace without quitting your life.

If this hit home, share it with a friend who's "always busy."
And if you want to go deeper into emotional health, wholeness, and building a life from connection, stay close—we're bringing you into the real conversation.

See all of our resources at www.aliveandfreeconsulting.com

What do you do when you're convinced you've heard from God—and everything falls apart? In this episode, Spencer and Sammi Robbins share stories of confusing dreams, missed signals, and the longing for divine direction that so often leads us into pain or shame. They unpack the subtle ways our desires and fears can shape what we think God is saying, and why it's so important to hold space for uncertainty, humility, and curiosity in our relationship with Him. Instead of formulas or guarantees, discover a grace-centered approach to hearing God's voice—one that's rooted in intimacy, not control. Whether you're wrestling with disappointment, searching for clarity, or simply longing to connect with God in a real way, you'll find hope, wisdom, and practical tools for your journey here.

Chapters & Timestamps
00:00 Introduction & the longing to hear God
03:45 Sammy's stories of God, desire, and confusion
21:40 Disappointment and shame: when you think you missed it
28:03 Taking risks, risking failure, and the heart-lifting shift
36:35 Direction vs. intimacy: what matters more
49:16 How certainty (and desperation) can become its own idol
59:41 Learning to rest in mystery, humility, and connection

Learn more, find resources, or get in touch at: www.aliveandfreeconsulting.com

Out of margin? Whether you're navigating a new baby, a demanding job, a strained relationship, grief, or a big transition, this conversation gives you practical ways to stay grounded when life won't slow down. We share Romi's birth story and the grief that unexpectedly opened the door to peace, unpack why people "borrow" each other's nervous systems, and walk through simple, repeatable practices to regulate in real time—without perfection or spiritual jargon.

Who This Is For (and Why It Helps)

• Parents and caregivers feeling stretched thin and reactive—learn how to co-regulate and repair.

• Singles and married couples without kids facing career pressure, loneliness, or change—use micro-practices to steady your inner world.

• Leaders, pastors, and coaches who carry others' emotions—discover how presence resets a room better than control.

• Anyone in transition or grief—see why honest sorrow can become the doorway to peace rather than a detour.

You'll walk away with language for what's happening in your body, a kinder way to meet your triggers, and small steps that create real change.

What You'll Learn

• How grief can make space for breakthrough (Romi's story)

• The pain–fear–tension loop and how to break it

• "Borrowed nervous systems": why your presence matters more than perfect words

• A clarifying question that transforms reactivity: "Why does this bother me?"

• Zero-margin tools: two breaths + one sentence, name the wave, orient to good, rhythm over rules, repair over perfection

Chapters & Timestamps
00:00 When life feels unmanageable (why margin matters)
03:20 Grieving what's ending and how it made room (Romi's birth)
10:10 Pain–fear–tension: what bracing does to your body
16:45 Borrowed nervous systems: presence over control
23:00 The belief beneath the reaction: "Why does this bother me?"
31:15 Micro-practices for zero-margin moments (step-by-step)
38:00 Being parented by God so we can lead from peace

Learn more, find resources, or get in touch at: www.aliveandfreeconsulting.com