A Well Cared For Human: self-love strategies for transforming your pain into power

What happens when a warrior comes home—but no longer knows who they are?

In this powerful and heartfelt conversation, Kory sits down with award-winning fantasy author Zac Diamanti to talk about storytelling, trauma, and the long journey of healing after service.

Zac shares how his time in the military—and the difficult transition out of it—shaped his writing, especially in his cozy fantasy novel Guard in the Garden. We explore what...

Many of us were never taught how to work with our thoughts and emotions. Instead, we were taught to fear the control they had over us.

In this episode of A Well Cared For Human, Kory shares an audiobook excerpt exploring the Mind and Emotions Pillar, one of the Four Pillars of Wellbeing.

Growing up in an environment where her thoughts and feelings were constantly dismissed, criticized, and invalidated, Kory learned to distrust her ...

Many of us grow up learning to criticize our bodies long before we ever learn how to care for them. Maybe someone made hurtful comments on your appearance. Maybe you were bullied. Maybe the messages about what a body “should” look like slowly taught you to see your own body as a problem to fix.

In this episode of A Well Cared For Human, I share an excerpt from the audiobook of A Well Cared For Human, introducing the Four Pillars of...

When your mind is racing and your nervous system feels unstable, you don’t need to solve your life. You need to slow your body down.

In this episode of A Well Cared For Human, I guide you through a grounding meditation I use when I feel internally chaotic, a simple practice called “Be Like a Log.”

Inspired by a verse from the 8th-century Buddhist text The Way of the Bodhisattva by Shantideva, this meditation is about stillness, sta...

What does it actually mean to have a healthy relationship with yourself? In this episode of A Well Cared For Human, Kory explores the four essential attributes that change everything: honesty, trust, respect, and open communication.

Drawing from Chapter Three of A Well Cared For Human, she examines how trauma, self-doubt, gaslighting, and survival mode interfere with these qualities,  and how we can begin rebuilding them.

If you’ve...

What if self-care isn’t about habits — but about the relationship you’re building with yourself?

In this episode of A Well Cared For Human, Kory explores the most important mindset shift behind sustainable self-care: moving from isolated self-care tasks to intentional relationship-building across the Four Pillars of Wellbeing.

Through personal reflection and an extended audiobook excerpt from A Well Cared For Human, this episode co...

This episode features Chapter One of the audiobook A Well Cared For Human, presented as a full audio reading. It introduces the tone, voice, and emotional foundation of the book, offering an immersive entry point into the audiobook, along with the author’s introduction and commentary.

In this episode:

• Kory shares insights into the audiobook production process

• An introduction to the core idea that losses can be leveraged for...

New Year’s resolutions often sound motivating—but they can quietly damage your relationship with yourself.

In this episode, Kory offers a gentler, more sustainable way to set goals—one that prioritizes wellbeing over self-criticism. Using the A Well Cared For Human framework, she walks through how to align your goals with your body, mind, spirit, and relationships, while paying close attention to the thoughts, language, and actions...

Episode 145: Finding Balance in an Unbalanced World

In this week’s episode, Kory explores why so many of us feel exhausted, anxious, overwhelmed, or “out of sync” — and why none of it is a personal failing. Living in a fast-moving, hyperconnected world constantly pulls us off center. Add in the pressure to “get it together,” stay productive, and keep up with endless expectations, and balance becomes nearly impossible to maintain.

D...

Author James Clear said, “"You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems.” The only problem is that most systems that dictate our lives are not built by us, let alone for us.

In this episode, host Kory discusses how systemic structures impact our relationship with ourselves and our ability to nurture the four pillars of wellness: body, mind and emotions, spirit, and connection. Kory explains how ...

Gratitude can feel impossible when life feels chaotic, uncertain, or overwhelming — and yet this is when we need it most.

In this episode, we explore why gratitude often feels out of reach during stressful seasons, and why shifting your practice inward (toward gratitude for yourself) is one of the most powerful healing tools available.

I share three simple, grounding practices that help you:

• Build internal stability when the ...

Remember how fun it was to be scared as a kid? Haunted houses, scary stories, and Halloween thrills made fear feel playful — even exciting. But as adults, fear often feels heavier: anxiety, doubt, and self-criticism replace curiosity and courage.

In this Halloween-inspired episode of A Well Cared For Human, Kory M. Shrum shares two powerful tools for transforming fear: self-belief and curiosity. You’ll learn how to reframe fear as ...

Addiction can take many forms: substances, screens, shopping, work, or even relationships. In episode 141 of A Well Cared For Human, your host Kory opens up about her personal journey of overcoming several addictions over the years and share the five practices that helped her break the cycle.

You’ll learn:

• What addiction really looks like (and how to spot it in your own life)

• The mindset shifts that make recovery possible

• ...

Most adults forget to make time for play — but play is one of the most powerful (and free!) mental health tools we have. In this episode, Kory explains why play matters, how it reduces stress and sparks creativity, and five simple ways to add more play into your daily life.

If you’re feeling burned out, stuck, or craving more joy, this episode will give you lighthearted, practical tools to reset your mind and reconnect with what ma...

Birthdays are supposed to feel joyful, but for many of us, they bring something else: anxiety, self-doubt, or a quiet sadness we can’t quite name.

In this personal and honest episode, I share what my most recent birthday revealed about aging, self-worth, and the passage of time, and how I want to move into the year ahead with more clarity, joy, and compassion.

Whether birthdays fill you with excitement or dread, this conversation w...

Overthinking isn’t who you are—it’s a habit you learned to survive. In this episode, we explore how overthinking and over-intellectualizing often start as self-protection after trauma, but later keep us stuck. Learn why your mind races, how to spot when it’s holding you back, and gentle ways to quiet your thoughts so you can trust yourself and start thriving. Get more resources at www.awellcaredforhuman.com

#overthinking #traumahea...

Do you ever feel like you’re hiding who you really are? In this episode, we explore why you may fear being seen, how shame makes us play small, and what it takes to finally shine with confidence.

Whether it’s childhood conditioning, imposter syndrome, or just not wanting to “take up too much space,” these fears are real—and they keep so many of us from showing up fully. But the truth is: you’re not too much. You were meant to shine...

EP 136: Journaling for Self-Healing — How Writing Can Help You Reconnect with Yourself

In this episode of A Well Cared For Human, we explore how journaling can be one of the most powerful tools for healing your relationship with yourself. Whether you feel disconnected, lost, or unsure of who you are, journaling offers a path back to clarity, self-trust, and inner peace.

✨ Why journaling works for emotional healing ✨ The difference ...

In this episode, we dive into one of the most common misconceptions about meditation: the belief that it's the only way to be mindful or grow in awareness.

Topics covered: - What mindfulness really means - Why meditation isn’t the end goal - Practical ways to build awareness in daily life - How to stop feeling like you're "doing it wrong"

Meditation is powerful—but it's not the only tool for transformation.

If you're looking for...