Episode 271: Modeling Self-Love, Gratitude, and Confidence for the Next Generation with Katie Bongard

Apr 9

If your teen years were filled with insecurity, people-pleasing, or a desperate desire to fit in (hello, alcohol!), this episode will hit home.

Today I’m joined by Katie Bongard, a school counselor, alum of the Empowered AF 5X Coach Certification Program, and founder of Untamed Guidance, a coaching business aimed at instilling self-worth and self-love in tween and teen girls.

Katie’s work is SO important to this world. We talk about the emotional minefields girls are navigating today, from self-esteem to social media - and why so many of us are still carrying similar baggage from our own adolescence.

One message that really landed? If you want your kids to believe in themselves and go after their dreams… you have to show them what that looks like. How will they listen if you didn’t model that for them?

This conversation isn’t just for parents. It’s for anyone doing the deep work of reparenting themselves, breaking cycles, and modeling what’s possible - for others, and for your own inner teen.

IN THIS EPISODE:

Katie’s personal story: losing her dad at age 12 and the role alcohol played in her life as a teen and adult
Empowerment techniques Katie uses to guide tween and teen girls into self-love and worthiness
Social media's influence on youth today and why a societal shift towards banning it for younger users could change the narrative for future generations
How modeling positive behaviors can fundamentally shift your child's perspective, making self-love and gratitude daily rituals
Using technology for good with innovative tools like journaling and affirmation apps that offer practical, daily support for boosting mental well-being and mindfulness

REFLECTION QUESTION:

Reflect on your own tween and teen years. What were some of the challenges you faced, and how did they shape who you are today? Consider what you would tell your younger self now.

“Between the ages of 11 to 14 are so tricky for our kids, and girls especially. I was having a really hard time in general at school, being bullied and just feeling less than. And then my dad passes away. So our world completely got flipped upside down and I had no idea what to do, where to go, who to see. I honestly started turning to substances to feel connected, to kind of deal with the grief that I was experiencing.” - Katie Bongard

“If you're telling your daughter, ‘You're so worthy! You're beautiful! You're amazing!’ but then every day in the mirror, you're looking at yourself like, ‘Oh my gosh, I need to lose 10 pounds, and I don't like my hair and I have another stretch mark’ – those kids are picking up on those behaviors. So as mothers, we have a very important job. As parents in general, we have such an important job to model self-love for ourselves and gratitude for our children.” - Katie Bongard

LINKS/RESOURCES MENTIONED

Follow Katie Bongard on Instagram, see her free resources (some teen and parent guides, plus a newsletter), and visit the Untamed Guidance website.

If you know you’re meant to help other people change their relationship with alcohol and achieve deep healing (along with their bigger dreams), get on the waitlist for the Empowered AF 5X Coach Certification Program – and get 5x certified as a world class alcohol-free coach.

Check out the Thought Leader Mastermind, a 6-month mastermind for alcohol-free entrepreneurs to take their business from a hustle to a movement, grow their impact and income, and step into their brilliance as an industry thought leader.

Lose your desire to drink and lean into your dream life with my book Euphoric: Ditch Alcohol and Gain a Happier, More Confident You. When you order today, you’ll also unlock tons of resources and checklists to support you on your journey.

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Follow @euphoric.af on Instagram and watch me romanticize the AF lifestyle and show you how to make your entrepreneurial dreams come true.

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