The Healing Power of Hope: How Mindset and Faith Help Us Through Life’s Hardest Moments

Hope isn't just wishful thinking—it’s a mindset that shapes our outcomes. Discover how hope, mindset, and faith can guide you through divorce, illness, or any hardship.

In this powerful Saddle Up segment, Lesa Koski reflects on the healing power of hope—how it played a role in her breast cancer journey and how it’s backed by research from William Miller’s 8 Ways to Hope. Learn how mindset, belief, and the words we speak can shift the atmosphere around pain and fear into one of resilience, clarity, and gratitude.

Whether you're going through a divorce, facing a diagnosis, or walking through hardship with a loved one, this episode will equip you to hold onto hope and take your next step forward.

(00:00) Introduction: Finding hope in hard times

(01:10) What the Bible and psychology say about hope

(02:28) Lesa’s cancer story and the power of her doctor’s words

(05:12) Why hope matters: mindset, healing, and resilience

(07:00) Hope vs. fear: how gratitude creates space for peace

(08:45) A quick plug for Tuesday’s episode on postnuptial agreements

(09:20) Final encouragement: pass hope on to someone today

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• Hope is a mindset that reduces anxiety, boosts resilience, and helps us problem-solve.
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• Words matter—positive, hope-filled language can change outcomes.
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• Surrounding yourself with positive people supports emotional healing.
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• Prayer, gratitude, and trusting others can deepen your sense of peace.
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• Hope is not naive—it’s a strategy for navigating uncertainty and adversity.
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Lesa Koski is a divorce attorney turned mediator, coach, and podcast host of Doing Life Different. Her mission is to help women over 40 find faith, healing, and fresh starts—whether in divorce, marriage, or life transitions. Her Saddle Up segments offer bite-sized wisdom to help listeners do life better every week.

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• 🎧 Tuesday’s Episode on Postnuptial Agreements → [Insert Link]
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• 📖 Book: 8 Ways to Hope by William Miller
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• 💻 Learn more at www.lesakoski.com
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Can a prenup actually help prevent divorce? In this quick Saddle Up segment, Lesa Koski breaks down Tuesday’s episode with attorney Melissa Miroslavich and shares why prenuptial agreements might be one of the best ways to build a stronger, smarter marriage.

Whether you're single, engaged, divorced, or remarried, this 5-minute episode challenges the myths about prenups and explains how they set couples up for deeper commitment and clearer communication.

(00:00) Recap of full episode with Melissa Miroslavich

(01:20) Why prenups get a bad rap

(02:05) How prenups clarify your commitment legally and spiritually

(03:18) What most couples don’t realize about marriage and the law

(04:35) Final encouragement to think differently about prenups

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• A prenup isn’t planning for divorce—it’s planning for clarity
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• Most couples don’t realize marriage is a binding legal contract
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• Discussing a prenup shows emotional maturity and builds trust
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• Working together on a prenup may actually strengthen your marriage
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Can a Prenup Actually Strengthen Your Marriage? – with Melissa Miroslavich

prenup, marriage advice, relationship tips, divorce prevention, marriage mindset, legal marriage planning, saddle up segment, Lesa Koski, Doing Divorce Different, faith and marriage, communication tools, premarital preparation

Parenting Through Challenges: A Personal Story and Helpful Insights

In this episode of the Saddle Up segment, the Lesa shares a personal story about parenting differences with her husband, illustrating how each parent can contribute uniquely, even when approaches differ. She emphasizes that her podcast is for women facing various hardships, not just divorce. Reflecting on a past conversation with attorneys about parenting through divorce, she reassures listeners that having one healthy, caring parent is enough for children to thrive. The host also highlights the importance of not making situations scarier than they need to be and encourages listeners to live a happy, fun life while recapping her previous podcast episode.

00:00 Introduction and Welcome

00:12 About the Podcast

00:29 Parenting Through Divorce

01:36 Personal Parenting Story

02:56 Parenting Differences and Advice

03:51 Final Thoughts and Encouragement

DIY Parenting Plan Course

Find More From Lesa Here!

In this week's Saddle Up segment, Lesa shares key takeaways from Tuesday's Doing Divorce Different special episode. Despite being stood up by a guest for the first time on the podcast, the host reflects on her personal experiences, including her 34-year marriage and battle with stage one breast cancer, to discuss the importance of setting boundaries and reigniting passions from childhood. She emphasizes that self-sacrifice should not come at the cost of one's own well-being. The episode encourages listeners to take responsibility for their choices, set boundaries, and nurture self-love to better serve others.

00:00 Introduction and Recap of Tuesday's Episode

01:12 The Importance of Setting Boundaries

02:22 Personal Experiences and Lessons Learned

02:39 Reigniting Passions and Self-Care

03:47 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

In this heartfelt episode, the host welcomes Tami Wollensak, a successful mortgage lender with a focus on helping individuals navigate the financial hardships of divorce. Tami shares her inspiring story of overcoming her own divorce, building an incredible business, and her journey to becoming an Instagram influencer. The discussion covers the importance of focusing on one's calling, the value of authentic social media engagement, and practical tips on meditation for stress relief and personal growth. This episode is a beacon of hope for anyone facing challenging times and looking to come out stronger on the other side.

00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome

01:24 Tami's Journey and Business Insights

03:39 Navigating Divorce and Financial Decisions

07:33 Finding Your Calling and Overcoming Challenges

10:09 The Power of Focus and Niche Marketing

18:55 Instagram Growth and Social Media Strategies

20:27 The Struggle with Social Media Growth

21:03 Authenticity Over Perfection

22:12 Sharing Personal Stories

23:08 How to Share Content on Instagram

26:21 The Impact of Instagram on Business

27:11 The Importance of Meditation

28:17 Starting a Meditation Practice

35:09 Consistency is Key

35:35 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

https://www.newamericanfunding.com/mortgage-loans/tamiwollensak

The episode features Lesa Koski and her coach, Tracy Pleschourt, discussing the transformative power of self-coaching, especially in times of adversity. Tracy introduces her 'Self-Made You' goal planner, designed to help individuals manage their time, emotions, and actions towards achieving their goals. The host shares her personal journey of overcoming a significant health scare, emphasizing the importance of feeling one's emotions and the value of self-coaching and spiritual faith. They underline the distinction between pain and suffering and stress the importance of investing in oneself to lead a more abundant life.

00:00 Introduction and Warm Welcome

00:20 Meet Tracy Plushcourt: Coach and Friend

01:28 The Goal Planner: A Tool for Success

04:15 Understanding Pain and Suffering

08:36 The Power of Self-Coaching

16:34 Seeking Professional Help

17:19 The Challenge of Self-Coaching

17:45 Personal Struggles and Rest

18:59 Rediscovering Passions and Dreams

19:11 The Role of Self-Coaching and Other Resources

20:30 Defining Self-Coaching

22:42 The Importance of Self-Coaching Skills

24:02 The Impact of Self-Coaching on Personal Growth

27:31 Practical Applications of Self-Coaching

32:58 The Journey of Becoming Self-Made

33:25 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Get your goal planner here!

DIY Parenting Plan Course

Find More From Lesa Here!

https://www.amazon.com/Goal-Planner-Journal-Step-Step/dp/B0DRDSHF5D/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_pdt_img_top?ie=UTF8&th=1

In this special episode of Saddle Up Live Lesa revisits an inspiring previous interview with CaryJack, known as the Happy Hustler. Cary, who has been featured on Entrepreneurs On Fire, shares his 10 alignments for achieving blissful balance in life, even during challenging times like a divorce. As Lesa and Cary Jack discuss selfless service, optimized health, unplugging digitally, loving relationships, mindful spirituality, abundance financially, personal development, passionate hobbies, impactful work, and nature connection, listeners are encouraged to rate themselves in each area and strive for continuous improvement. Cary also emphasizes the importance of focusing on one alignment at a time to avoid burnout. The episode is filled with valuable insights for anyone looking to navigate through tough times and find happiness. Connect with Cary through the Happy Hustle Podcast and his book, available for free for a limited time at thehappyhustlebook.com.

00:00 Introduction and Episode Overview

00:43 Revisiting a Special Episode with Carrie Jack

02:08 Introducing Cary Jack and His Philosophy

04:01 The 10 Alignments for a Blissful Life

05:44 Selfless Service and Optimized Health

07:25 Unplugging Digitally and Loving Relationships

11:43 Mindful Spirituality and Financial Abundance

13:02 Personal Development and Passionate Hobbies

14:16 Impactful Work and Nature Connection

20:48 Final Thoughts and Connecting with Cary Jack

In this powerful episode of Saddle Up Live, I sit down with the incredible Michele Locke—a woman who turned pain into purpose and rose through the storm with faith, grit, and a fierce dedication to self-care.

From growing up in the aftermath of her parents’ divorce to becoming a lawyer, judge, and single mother, Michele’s journey is one of strength, heartbreak, and unapologetic growth. Her story is a reminder that no one will prioritize your well-being if you don’t do it first.

We talk about:

• What it’s like to build a career while holding a broken heart
• How to recognize subtle forms of control in relationshipsWhy “No” is a holy wordAnd how self-care isn’t selfish—it’s survival

If you’re a woman who’s constantly putting others first, this episode is your wake-up call. It’s time to put yourself back on your to-do list—not someday, but now.

• Michelle’s early life lessons and her mother’s unforgettable advice
• What it really takes to start over after divorce
• How to identify emotional and financial control in relationships
• The importance of self-care after a health scareA heartfelt reminder: Happiness is your job. No one else's.

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• “Nobody will take care of your kids the way you do. Take care of YOU.”
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• “Learn to say no. It’s not selfish—it’s sacred.”
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• “Stop waiting for someone to come save you. It’s your turn now.”
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• Stop putting yourself last
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• Break free from old patterns
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• Reclaim your strength
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• And live from a place of wholeness, not burnout
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📩 Want personal support on your journey?

Connect with me for coaching or mediation at lesakoski.com