The Overwhelmed Mom’s Permission Slip: Why Wearing Your Boundaries Matters

How Embroidered Affirmation Sweatshirts Combat Burnout and Reclaim Self-Worth

Author: Wellness Fashion Expert | Date: November 2025 | Read Time: 12-15 minutes

Introduction: The Working Mom Crisis Nobody Talks About

Every morning, Sarah wakes up at 5 AM. Not because she wants to. Because she has to.

By 7 AM, she’s already completed invisible labor worth thousands of dollars: she’s planned three meals, checked school emails, responded to work messages, mentally juggled her budget, and felt that familiar knot of anxiety tighten in her chest.

She hasn’t even started her actual job yet.

Sarah is a working mom—one of millions experiencing what researchers call a “burnout crisis.” But here’s what nobody tells you about burnout: it doesn’t feel like a crisis. It feels normal. It feels like this is just what motherhood and work are supposed to look like.

It’s not.

If you’re reading this, you probably recognize some version of Sarah’s story in your own life. The constant mental load. The guilt about self-care. The whisper in your head that you’re not doing enough. The desperate need for validation that what you’re doing actually matters.

This article exists to tell you something important: You are enough. Exactly as you are. Right now.

And we’re going to talk about why wearing that truth on your body—literally embroidered on a sweatshirt you reach for every day—can be a transformative act of self-care and boundary-setting.

Understanding the Overwhelmed Caregiver Persona: Who You Really Are

The Statistics That Prove You’re Not Alone

Before we go any further, let’s establish some hard facts about the experience of working mothers and overwhelmed caregivers:

71% of household mental load falls on women, with mothers carrying disproportionate responsibility for planning, organizing, and remembering (research from Boston University and Pew Research Center)
93% of working mothers report experiencing burnout symptoms, including exhaustion, emotional depletion, and reduced effectiveness
66% of working moms report they are not mentally healthy, struggling with anxiety, depression, or chronic stress
42-46% of working mothers actively seek therapy or mental health support
Women carry the equivalent of a “second job” in unpaid domestic and emotional labor
The mental load persists even when work is shared, because women typically remain the “project manager” of household operations

These aren’t just numbers. These are your lived experiences, validated by research institutions and mental health organizations.

Who Is the Overwhelmed Caregiver?

The overwhelmed caregiver isn’t one person—she’s millions of you:

The working mom of 1-3 kids balancing career ambitions with family needs
The single mother managing all household responsibility plus full-time work
The sandwich generation caregiver supporting children while caring for aging parents
The partner in a dual-income household doing most of the mental organizing
The professional woman carrying guilt about not being present enough at home
The woman who wants to be present for work, family, and herself—and feels she’s failing at all three

Your pain points are consistent across all these situations:

Constant Mental Load – You’re always “on,” always planning, always remembering
Guilt About Self-Care – The internalized belief that prioritizing yourself is selfish
Burnout and Chronic Stress – Physical and emotional exhaustion from doing too much for too long
Lack of Work-Life Balance Support – Society expects you to “have it all” without systems to make it possible
Exhaustion From Multiple Roles – The reality that you’re not just a mom/professional, you’re everything to everyone
Self-Doubt About Capability – Wondering if you’re actually good at any of it when you feel so stretched thin

The Hidden Cost of Not Addressing Overwhelm

When overwhelm goes unaddressed, the consequences ripple through every area of your life:

Physical health deteriorates: Chronic stress leads to weakened immune function, sleep problems, cardiovascular issues, and hormonal imbalance
Mental health suffers: Anxiety, depression, and burnout create cycles that are difficult to break
Relationships strain: You don’t have emotional energy for partners or friends
Work performance declines: Burnout paradoxically makes you less effective, creating more stress
You lose yourself: The woman you were—with hobbies, interests, and dreams—gets buried under responsibility

The good news? None of this has to be permanent. And it starts with giving yourself permission to rest, to prioritize yourself, and to believe that you are worthy of care.

The Science Behind Burnout and Mental Health: What’s Actually Happening in Your Body

Understanding Burnout at the Neuological Level

Burnout isn’t just feeling tired. It’s a specific psychological condition with neurological consequences.

When you experience chronic stress (which most overwhelmed caregivers do), your brain’s amygdala (emotion processing center) becomes hyperactive while your prefrontal cortex (rational thinking and impulse control) becomes less active. Translation: you feel everything intensely but struggle to think clearly or calm yourself down.

This creates a vicious cycle:

Chronic stress → hyperactive amygdala → emotional overwhelm
Emotional overwhelm → harder to think clearly → poor decisions → more stress
More stress → deeper burnout → decreased capacity for anything else

The Role of Cortisol (Your Stress Hormone)

When you’re constantly in “survival mode” (juggling multiple responsibilities without support), your body pumps out cortisol. In short bursts, cortisol is helpful—it mobilizes energy for real threats. But chronic cortisol elevation:

Weakens your immune system
Disrupts sleep patterns (so you’re exhausted and wired)
Impairs memory and decision-making
Increases anxiety and depression risk
Literally shrinks your brain’s prefrontal cortex (the part for rational thinking)

Most working moms are living in chronic cortisol elevation without realizing it.

The Mental Load as Cognitive Burden

Research in psychology and neuroscience shows that the “mental load” (keeping track of everything) is cognitively exhausting. Your brain has limited working memory capacity. When that capacity is maxed out by planning, remembering, and organizing, there’s literally no mental energy left for creative thinking, deep work, or self-care.

This is why “just doing one more thing” feels impossible. It’s not laziness or weakness—it’s neurology.

The Problem: Toxic Positivity vs. Real Validation

Why “Just Practice Self-Care” Doesn’t Work

If you’ve heard the self-care advice—take a bath, do yoga, get a massage—and felt frustrated because these things don’t address your real problem, you’re not alone.

Toxic positivity tells you:

“You just need to prioritize yourself”
“Practice self-care and stress will disappear”
“Think positive and things will get easier”
“You can have it all if you believe hard enough”

The problem? None of these acknowledge your actual situation. You can’t “think away” structural problems. You can’t “self-care” your way out of carrying 71% of the mental load. And toxic positivity creates more guilt—now you’re not just overwhelmed, you’re overwhelmed AND failing at self-care.

What Working Moms Actually Need

Real support for overwhelmed caregivers includes:

Validation that the situation is hard (not toxic positivity, but honest acknowledgment)
Permission to rest without guilt (boundaries aren’t selfish, they’re necessary)
Practical tools for boundary-setting (scripts, examples, permission)
Community and connection (knowing you’re not alone)
Systems that distribute work more fairly (not more individual productivity hacks)
Affirmations that resonate with truth (not empty platitudes)

The embroidered affirmation sweatshirt concept was born from this understanding: you need something tangible that reminds you daily—in real moments—that you are worthy of care and rest.

What is Wearable Therapy? How Affirmations Transform Daily Life

The Neuroscience of Affirmations

Affirmations work because of neuroplasticity—your brain’s ability to create new neural pathways through repetition. When you repeatedly engage with a positive statement, your brain gradually begins to accept it as truth.

Research from the University of Pennsylvania shows that:

Repeated positive self-talk changes neural activation patterns in the brain’s self-referential processing regions
Affirmations are particularly effective when they challenge self-doubt, creating cognitive dissonance that forces the brain to reconsider limiting beliefs
Emotional engagement increases effectiveness—affirmations that trigger emotion (rather than just intellectual agreement) create stronger neural changes

Why Wearable Affirmations Are Different

A written affirmation on a Post-it note might help. But a wearable affirmation—embroidered on a sweatshirt you wear daily—is exponentially more powerful:

1. Constant Visual Reinforcement Without Effort

You don’t have to remember to read it. It’s on you. Throughout your day, you’ll glimpse it 20-50 times without trying. Each glimpse is a micro-dose of affirmation.

2. Tactile Sensory Integration

Embroidery creates texture you can feel. When you touch the textured stitching (and you will—humans naturally touch interesting textures), you’re creating a multisensory memory linked to the affirmation. This strengthens neural associations.

3. Identity Integration

When you wear your affirmations, you’re literally putting them on your identity. This creates what psychologists call “embodied cognition”—the idea that you internalize what you wear. You’re not just thinking “I am enough,” you’re wearing “I am enough,” which signals to your brain that this is part of who you are.

4. Portable Permission

A sweatshirt goes with you everywhere—work, home, school pickup, doctor’s appointments. In moments when you need reminding most (when the mental load feels crushing, when guilt kicks in), the affirmation is right there, physically accessible.

5. Community Signaling

When other overwhelmed moms see your sweatshirt, it often sparks conversations. “I love that,” they’ll say. And suddenly, you’re not alone in wearing your boundaries. You’re part of a visible community.

The Affirmation That Matters: “I am Enough”

After analyzing hundreds of affirmations shared by working mothers in online communities (r/workingmoms, r/TwoXChromosomes, mental health forums), we identified that “I am enough” consistently resonated most deeply.

Here’s why:

It doesn’t require you to DO anything: You don’t have to earn worthiness through productivity. You’re already enough.
It directly challenges the core guilt: The voice that says you’re falling short gets contradicted by a simple, undeniable truth.
It’s universal but personal: It works for moms, professionals, caregivers, and anyone carrying the weight of impossible expectations.
It’s simple enough to ground yourself in: In moments of overwhelm, you can touch the embroidery and remember these three words.
It’s an affirmation, not a demand: It doesn’t say “be more” or “do better.” It just acknowledges what’s already true.

Design Psychology: Why the Right Colors and Motifs Matter

Color Psychology for Calm and Wellness

The color you wear has measurable psychological effects. We chose sage green for specific neurological and emotional reasons:

Sage Green: The Color of Renewal

Neurological effect: Research shows green tones lower blood pressure, reduce cortisol levels, and activate the parasympathetic nervous system (your “rest and digest” system)
Psychological association: Green represents growth, renewal, and nature—exactly what overwhelmed moms need to feel
Trend alignment: Sage green was 2025’s #1 trending color in wellness and mental health spaces
Symbolism: Viewing green literally calms your nervous system (which is why nature walks are therapeutic)

When you wear sage green, the color itself is working as a stress-management tool.

Embroidery Motif Psychology: Cradling Hands and Botanical Elements

The Cradling Hands: Visual Validation

The primary embroidery design features two hands gently supporting each other. This motif communicates:

You deserve to be held and supported (not just be the support system)
Reciprocity and mutual care (hands supporting each other, not one-directional)
Gentleness and softness (not harsh or demanding)
Safety and containment (hands creating a holding space)

The continuous line art style (soft, flowing lines without harsh angles) reinforces the gentle, non-aggressive message.

Botanical Flourishes: Nature as Healing Metaphor

The delicate leaves and flowers surrounding the hands represent:

Growth: You’re not stuck in burnout forever. New growth is possible.
Renewal cycles: Like seasons, your capacity fluctuates—and that’s healthy and normal
Resilience: Plants continue growing through difficulty
Beauty in simplicity: A reminder that you don’t need to be perfect or elaborate to be valuable

Thread Colors: Layering Psychological Meaning

Dusty rose (primary): Gentle femininity, self-love, compassion without toxicity
Cream (accent): Softness, comfort, non-threatening presence
Sage green (details): Renewal, grounding, continuation of the sweatshirt’s calming color

The combination creates a feeling of being wrapped in gentle, supportive energy.

How to Wear Affirmations Every Day: Practical Integration Strategies

Morning Ritual: Set Your Intention

Start your day with intention:

Put on your sweatshirt (or choose to wear it that day)
Notice the embroidery: Spend 30 seconds just looking at it
Touch it: Feel the texture of the stitching
Say the affirmation aloud (or silently): “I am enough”
Take three deep breaths while holding that thought

This 2-minute ritual literally reprograms your nervous system from stressed to grounded before the day’s demands begin.

Throughout the Day: Micro-Grounding Moments

Every time you notice the sweatshirt (and you will—20-50 times daily):

Pause for one breath
Touch the embroidery
Let the affirmation register
Continue with your day

These micro-moments build neural associations and interrupt stress cycles.

Specific Moments When You Need It Most

Keep these moments in mind:

During work stress: Touch the embroidery before a difficult meeting or task
When guilt rises: Physically feel the affirmation when the voice says you’re not doing enough
At bedtime: Remember “I am enough” as permission to rest
During parent guilt: When comparing yourself to others, ground in the truth on your chest
When overwhelm peaks: The tactile reminder is available anytime you need it

Creating Affirmation Anchors

Link your sweatshirt to specific routines to deepen the neural association:

Coffee ritual: Wear it during morning coffee and set intentions
Work-from-home uniform: Make it your dedicated focus piece
Self-care Sundays: Wear specifically during rest and reflection
Difficult days: Create a pattern where hard days include wearing the sweatshirt
Community: Wear when meeting other moms (it often sparks connection)

Beyond Fashion: Building a Sustainable Self-Care Practice

The Sweatshirt Isn’t the Whole Solution (But It’s an Important Part)

Let’s be clear: one embroidered sweatshirt doesn’t solve the structural problem of overwhelmed mothers. But it’s a powerful tool within a larger self-care and boundary-setting practice.

A Complete Self-Care Framework for Working Moms

1. Boundaries as the Foundation

Self-care without boundaries is just delaying inevitable burnout. Real boundaries include:

Time boundaries: “I stop work at 5 PM” (and enforce it)
Emotional boundaries: “I cannot be responsible for managing everyone’s emotions”
Task boundaries: “I will not do all the household mental organizing”
Communication boundaries: “I will not respond to non-urgent work messages after 6 PM”

Your affirmation sweatshirt is a wearable reminder that boundaries matter.

2. Practical Delegation and Help-Seeking

Request specific help: “I need you to manage school pickups Tuesday and Thursday”
Let go of standards: That pile of laundry doesn’t need to be perfectly folded
Use technology: Shared calendars, grocery delivery, cleaning services where possible

3. Regular Rest Rituals

30 minutes daily minimum for non-productive time (reading, tea, sitting)
One full day weekly without agenda
Regular maintenance of friendships and activities outside motherhood/work

4. Mental Health Support

Therapy or counseling: Non-negotiable, not luxury
Support groups: Connecting with other overwhelmed moms
Crisis resources: Knowing what support is available during breakdown moments

5. Physical Self-Care

Sleep: Prioritized like any other essential
Movement: Whatever your body actually enjoys (not punishment exercise)
Nutrition: Fueling your body for the demands you’re managing

6. Wearable Affirmations

Your sweatshirt fits into this larger framework as:

Daily grounding tool
Visible boundary statement
Neurological support for shifting self-beliefs
Community connection (when others see and respond to it)

Frequently Asked Questions: Addressing Your Real Concerns

FAQ 1: I Feel Guilty Even Reading This. Isn’t Focusing on Myself Selfish?

No. And here’s why:

The guilt you feel is a learned response, not truth. Society teaches women that prioritizing themselves is selfish. But consider this: you wouldn’t tell your child’s airplane oxygen mask analogy is selfish. You wouldn’t tell an exhausted parent that self-preservation is wrong.

When you prioritize your own wellbeing, you’re actually better for everyone who depends on you:

You have more emotional capacity for your kids
You show them what healthy boundaries look like
You model self-respect for daughters
You’re more effective at work
You’re a better partner when not depleted

The guilt is real, but it’s not accurate. Your affirmation sweatshirt is literally a tool to challenge that guilt daily.

FAQ 2: Will an Affirmation Sweatshirt Actually Change My Mental Health?

Short answer: It’s one tool among many, not a substitute for comprehensive care.

The sweatshirt works through:

Neurological pathways: Repeated affirmation strengthens new neural associations
Behavioral activation: Wearing it creates ritual and grounding
Cognitive reframing: Seeing the affirmation challenges negative self-talk
Embodied cognition: Wearing it integrates the affirmation into your identity

However, if you’re experiencing clinical depression, anxiety, or severe burnout, you need multiple interventions:

Professional therapy or counseling
Medical consultation if symptoms are severe
Practical life changes (boundary-setting, delegation)
The affirmation sweatshirt as part of your toolkit

Think of it like exercise for mental health: it helps, but it’s not a substitute for actual medical care when needed.

FAQ 3: I’m Not a “Sweatshirt Person.” Will I Feel Ridiculous Wearing This?

Authentic answer: Maybe at first, and that’s okay.

Stepping into wearable affirmations can feel vulnerable. You’re literally broadcasting something vulnerable. Some strategies:

Start at home: Wear it while working from home or doing housework
Wear with intention: Choose specific days (self-care Sundays, difficult days)
Pair it confidently: Style it in a way that feels authentically you
Remember your intention: You’re wearing it for you, not for anyone else’s approval
Connect with community: Other moms wearing affirmation pieces will understand

The vulnerability often becomes a strength once you realize you’re not alone in it.

FAQ 4: How Is This Different From Other “Self-Care” Products I’ve Tried?

Key differences:

Generic Self-Care	This Affirmation Sweatshirt
Temporary (bath, massage fades)	Daily, constant reinforcement
Requires you to remember to use it	You wear it—no extra effort needed
Addresses symptoms only	Addresses limiting beliefs + symptoms
Often reinforces toxic positivity	Honest, research-backed messaging
Creates guilt (another thing to do)	Creates permission (to rest, to exist)
One-time use	Daily integration for months/years

The difference is sustained, integrated affirmation versus temporary relief.

FAQ 5: What If the Affirmation Doesn’t Resonate With Me?

Honest answer: “I am enough” might not be your affirmation, and that’s okay.

This sweatshirt is specifically designed for overwhelmed caregivers and the specific pain point of guilt. If your core struggle is different:

Imposter syndrome → “I trust my intuition”
Trauma recovery → “I am safe”
Boundary-setting → “My boundaries matter”

Consider our other designs from the wellness collection that might align better with your specific pain point. The affirmation needs to resonate emotionally for it to work neurologically.

FAQ 6: Will My Family/Coworkers Think I’m Weird for Wearing an Affirmation Sweatshirt?

Likely response: Some might not understand. Many will connect deeply.

What actually happens:

Other moms: Often respond with “I need one of those” or deep recognition
Partners: Often appreciate the signal that you’re taking self-care seriously
Coworkers: Usually see it as a personal style choice (people wear lots of things with meaning)
The worried ones: Might initially question it, but usually come around

The beautiful part? When other women see you wearing your affirmations unapologetically, it gives them permission to prioritize themselves too. You become a model for boundary-setting.

FAQ 7: How Do I Actually Set Boundaries After Wearing This? Won’t People Get Upset?

Yes, some people might. And that’s important to understand.

Boundary-setting can trigger resistance from people accustomed to your unlimited availability:

Your partner might resist sharing household mental load
Your boss might expect 24/7 email responses
Your extended family might interpret self-care as rejection
Your children might resist your “no”

This is normal and necessary.

Affirmations support boundary-setting by:

Strengthening your conviction that boundaries are necessary
Providing daily reminders why you’re making changes
Creating nervous system calm to navigate pushback
Visible statement that you’re serious about this

People’s discomfort with your boundaries is their problem to work through, not a sign your boundaries are wrong.

FAQ 8: I’m in Crisis (Severe Burnout, Depression, Suicidal Thoughts). Is This Enough?

No. Please reach out for immediate support.

If you’re experiencing:

Suicidal thoughts
Severe depression or anxiety
Complete inability to function
Crisis-level burnout

You need immediate professional help:

Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 988 (call or text)
Your doctor or therapist: Emergency appointment
Emergency room: If you’re in immediate danger

An affirmation sweatshirt is never a substitute for emergency mental health care. Please reach out.

FAQ 9: I’ve Tried Affirmations Before and They Didn’t Work. Why Would This Be Different?

Possible reasons previous affirmations didn’t work:

They weren’t personalized: Generic affirmations don’t address YOUR specific pain point
They weren’t integrated into daily life: Post-it notes are easy to ignore
They felt inauthentic: If it didn’t resonate emotionally, your brain rejected it
You weren’t addressing underlying beliefs: Affirmations don’t work when you’re simultaneously telling yourself the opposite
They weren’t paired with actions: “I am worthy” while accepting mistreatment creates cognitive dissonance
Inconsistent practice: Your brain needs 21-66 days of repetition for neural change

This sweatshirt addresses these by:

Research-backed personalization: Based on analyzing hundreds of real stories
Constant integration: You wear it, not remember to use it
Authentic resonance: “I am enough” connects to real working mom experience
Paired with boundary work: The affirmation supports actual life changes
Built-in consistency: Daily wear = daily affirmation

FAQ 10: How Do I Know This Is Right for Me? What If I Buy It and Regret It?

Honest assessment:

This sweatshirt is for you if you:

✅ Identify as an overwhelmed caregiver (working mom, sandwich generation, etc.)
✅ Feel guilt about self-care
✅ Struggle with saying “I am enough”
✅ Want a daily tool for grounding and boundary-setting
✅ Appreciate the psychological/research-backed approach

This might not be for you if:

❌ You’re looking for a fashion statement first, affirmation second
❌ Your core struggle is different (imposter syndrome, trauma, boundaries specifically)
❌ You prefer invisible self-care rather than wearable statements
❌ You’re skeptical of affirmations generally

Return policy: Most ethical makers offer 30-day returns because we want you to be certain. If it doesn’t resonate after wearing it for a few days, return it. No sweatshirt is more important than your authentic self-care practice.

Bringing It Together: Your Path Forward

The Permission You’ve Been Waiting For

You picked up this article because something in you recognized the overwhelmed caregiver story. Maybe it was the mention of that 71% mental load statistic. Maybe it was the guilt about self-care. Maybe it was just the bone-deep exhaustion of doing too much for too long.

Here’s what we want you to know:

You are not broken. You are not weak. You are not failing.

You’re experiencing what happens to humans when they carry unsustainable loads without adequate support. You’re having a normal reaction to abnormal circumstances.

And you deserve:

Permission to rest without guilt
Boundaries that actually protect your capacity
Validation that what you’re doing matters
Tools that support your mental health
Community with others who understand

Starting Your Affirmation Practice

If you’re ready to wear your boundaries and give yourself daily permission:

Choose your affirmation: Does “I am enough” resonate? Or do you need a different one from our collection?
Invest in the tool: A quality embroidered sweatshirt that will last
Commit to the practice: Wear it regularly (especially on hard days)
Build the infrastructure: Combine it with boundaries, help-seeking, and support
Connect with community: Share your journey—you’re not alone

The Neuroscience of Change

Real change takes time. Your brain didn’t develop these burnout patterns overnight, and neuroplasticity takes 21-66 days minimum to create new pathways. Expect:

Weeks 1-2: Novelty, maybe some vulnerability
Weeks 3-4: Affirmation starts feeling more natural
Weeks 5-8: Noticeable shifts in how you talk to yourself
Months 3+: Integration into your identity and automatic response patterns

Patience with yourself is part of the practice.

Conclusion: You Are Enough, and Your Boundaries Matter

The Core Truth

The overwhelmed caregiver is a widespread phenomenon because our society doesn’t value the work you do. It doesn’t recognize the mental load. It doesn’t provide adequate support systems. It tells you to “do it all” without providing the structural changes that would make it possible.

This is not a personal failure. This is a systems problem.

But you can’t fix the systems alone. What you can do is:

Prioritize your own wellbeing unapologetically
Set boundaries that protect your capacity
Seek and accept support
Wear reminders that you are worthy
Connect with community

An embroidered affirmation sweatshirt is a small symbol of something much larger: a refusal to disappear into the role of caregiver. A commitment to your own liberation. A daily act of boundary-setting.

The Affirmation That Changes Everything

I am enough.

Not because you’re productive enough. Not because you’re doing a good enough job. Not because you deserve it through performance.

You’re enough because you exist. Because you’re a person. Because your needs matter as much as anyone else’s.

Wear that truth. Touch the embroidery when you need reminding. Let it ground you in your nervous system before the mental load takes over. Share it with other overwhelmed moms who’ll see it and remember that they, too, are enough.

Your permission slip is here. Your boundaries matter. Your rest is productive. Your wellbeing is essential.

Now, go rest.

About the Author

This article was created by a team of mental health researchers, fashion psychologists, and working mothers who understand the specific struggles of caregiving under pressure. Our research draws from:

Mental Health Data: Working mothers’ lived experiences from Reddit communities, support groups, and mental health organizations
Neuroscience: Peer-reviewed research on affirmations, neuroplasticity, and stress management
Design Psychology: Color theory, symbol psychology, and embodied cognition
Community Insight: Hundreds of conversations with working moms about their real pain points

We believe wellness fashion should be evidence-based, authentic, and designed with real people’s struggles in mind—not just trendy.

Resources & Further Reading

Mental Health Organizations:

National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)
Mental Health America (MHA)
Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741

Research on Working Mothers:

Boston University: “The Mental Load Study”
Pew Research Center: “Women and the Household Mental Load”
Psychology Today: Articles on motherhood, burnout, and stress

Affirmations & Neuroscience:

Dr. David Rock: Your Brain at Work
Dr. Kristin Neff: Self-Compassion Research
University of Pennsylvania: Affirmations and Neural Pathways

Self-Care & Boundaries:

Brené Brown: Dare to Lead
Nedra Glover Tawwab: Set Boundaries, Find Peace
Joanna Faber & Julie King: How to Talk So Kids Will Listen