Episode 50

Your Permission to Search for What Feels Like Home

Published on: 29th April, 2026

It’s perfectly okay if you’re still figuring out what feels like home. In this episode, we dive into the idea that home isn’t always a physical place; sometimes it’s a feeling, a person, or even a community. I share my own experiences of feeling unrooted, even when everything seemed settled on the outside. We discuss how home is more about alignment and acceptance than just ticking boxes. It’s a journey, and if you’re in the middle of that search, remember that you have the right to take your time. So, let’s give ourselves permission to keep exploring what truly makes us feel at home.

Takeaways:

  1. It's completely normal to still be figuring out what home truly means for you.
  2. Home can be more than just a physical location; it can be a feeling or a connection.
  3. Sometimes we find ourselves searching for belonging in new places or relationships.
  4. It's important to give yourself permission to explore and take your time finding home.
  5. Remember, there's no deadline on feeling like you belong somewhere or with someone.
  6. Accept that it's okay to be in the middle of your search for home.
Transcript
Speaker A:

Hey, this is.

Speaker A:

It's okay if bite sized permission slips.

Speaker A:

I'm Matt Gilhooley and today's permission.

Speaker A:

It's okay if you're still figuring out what feels like home.

Speaker A:

Home isn't always a place.

Speaker A:

Sometimes it's a feeling, a person, a community.

Speaker A:

Sometimes it's something we carry within ourselves.

Speaker A:

And sometimes it's something we're still searching for.

Speaker A:

I've gone through seasons where I didn't feel rooted.

Speaker A:

Even when I had an address, even when life looked settled from the outside, there was still this quiet question of, is this it?

Speaker A:

Does this feel like home?

Speaker A:

And the answer wasn't always clear.

Speaker A:

It's taken time for me to realize that home isn't just about ticking boxes.

Speaker A:

It's about alignment.

Speaker A:

Feeling like you can exhale, like you breath belong, not because you fit perfectly, but because you're accepted fully.

Speaker A:

Maybe you're still figuring out what what that feels like.

Speaker A:

Maybe you've outgrown these old versions of home.

Speaker A:

Maybe you're searching for it in new places, new relationships, or new versions of yourself.

Speaker A:

That's okay.

Speaker A:

You are allowed to be in the middle of that search.

Speaker A:

And you're allowed to take your time.

Speaker A:

So if you're up for it, tell yourself, I give myself permission to keep searching for what feels like home.

Speaker A:

There's no deadline on belonging.

Speaker A:

That's your permission slip, friend.

Speaker A:

Tuck it in your pocket and I'll see you next time.

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About the Podcast

It’s Okay If… Permission Slips for Mental Health, Self-Acceptance, and Growth
Bite-Sized Permission Slips for Real Life
What if you didn’t need to have it all figured out?

It’s Okay If… is your weekly permission slip to be human.

I created this short-form podcast as part of my own healing process — a way to slow down, process grief, and reconnect with what I was feeling.

Each bite-sized episode (just 3 minutes or less) offers a short, honest reflection to challenge perfectionism, embrace your real self, and remind you that you're not alone.

Hosted by Matt Gilhooly, creator of The Life Shift Podcast, this show delivers midday nudges of self-acceptance, insight, and calm – whether you're walking the dog, stuck in traffic, or just need a breath.

No fluff. No fixing. Just a moment of truth.

New episodes every Wednesday at noon. Follow wherever you get your podcasts.

About your host

Profile picture for Matt Gilhooly

Matt Gilhooly