Episode 244: From Diet Culture to Self-Trust Through a Values Aligned Life with Erica Djossa

“If we are not clear on what our values are, they will be prescribed for us.”

Is living by someone else’s “shoulds” quietly running your life? I know how easy it can be to adopt society’s rules around health, productivity, and what it means to be “good”, until one day, you don’t even recognize what truly matters to you anymore. In this powerful conversation with psychotherapist and founder of Momwell, Erica Djossa, we dig into how our values get shaped (and distorted), what happens when we lose ourselves in roles like motherhood or high-achiever culture, and the deep impact this has on our relationship with food and our bodies.

Erica and I discuss why so many of our perceived values are actually inherited expectations, from family, diet culture, and the constant messaging that thinner is better. We share our own stories of untangling from these prescribed values to discover what truly feels grounding and supportive. We talk about how identifying your real values can help you navigate comparison, build self-trust, and make choices that bring satisfaction instead of burnout.

Whether you’re struggling to let go of dieting rules, feeling lost in people-pleasing, or just wanting to experience more peace in your life, this episode invites you to turn inward. You’ll walk away with practical steps to identify your values and questions to gently examine which priorities are actually serving you, and which might be holding you back.

What You’ll Learn:

• How our definition of health is shaped, and sometimes distorted, by family, society, and diet culture
• Why living a values-aligned life can anchor your food and body healing journey
• Simple ways to start untangling the “shoulds” from your true priorities
• How to use your values as a compass when food rules and comparison creep in
• Strategies to sort out which values are genuinely yours, and which are inherited or anxiety-driven
• How self-compassion and curiosity can guide you through value discovery, even when it feels messy or emotional

Connect with Erica:

• Instagram: @momwell
• Momwell website
• Erica’s website
• Values Sort

Struggling to know when to eat or when to stop isn’t a failure… it could be a byproduct of following diet rules instead of your body’s cues. The free Hunger & Fullness Scale Guide helps you ditch the noise and tune back into the cues your body is sending to build trust with your body and food. Get it at DietCultureRebel.com/hungerfullnessscale.

Come back next week for another episode and connect with me over on Instagram at @diet.culture.rebel.

Struggling with food, but not sure where to start?

You don’t have to feel 100% ready to get support. If you’re tired of obsessing over food or feeling stuck in the diet cycle, my team of Registered Dietitians is here to help. We offer one-on-one nutrition counseling—and we accept insurance! Spots are limited, so head to https://dietculturerebel.com/insurance to see if we’re covered in your state and learn how to get started.