Turning Challenge into Clarity for Lasting Vitality – Interview with Founder Miriam Garcia-den Boer
- 3 days ago
- 5 min read
In this exclusive interview, Miriam Garcia-den Boer, the founder of Wellbrain, shares her transformative journey from an MS diagnosis to creating a space for brain-based vitality coaching. Discover how building awareness of brain patterns and making simple shifts can lead to improved focus, resilience, and overall well-being. Learn practical tools for aligning your brain and body to foster lasting personal growth and vitality.
Miriam Garcia-den Boer, Brain-based vitality coach
What first led you to create Wellbrain and focus on brain-based vitality coaching?
Wellbrain was born out of a moment I never expected: my MS diagnosis at the end of 2023. It forced me to slow down, to listen and to truly understand how my brain and body were working together. What I discovered was powerful: when we build awareness of the brain, we can influence our energy, resilience and overall wellbeing in ways we often overlook.
I realized that this wasn’t just about managing a condition, it was about transforming how I lived. That shift gave me a new sense of purpose. I wanted to share what I was learning, not as theory but as something lived and experienced. Creating Wellbrain became a natural step. It’s a space where I guide others to reconnect with themselves, understand their brain and build sustainable vitality from within. For me, it’s about turning challenge into clarity and helping others do the same.
What inner strengths did you discover that you didn’t know you had?
One of the biggest strengths I discovered was resilience, not the kind that pushes through at all costs, but a quieter, more conscious resilience that listens, adapts, and trusts the process. I also found a deep sense of self-awareness, learning to tune into my body and mind in a way I never had before.
Another strength was courage – the willingness to face uncertainty, to let go of who I thought I had to be, and to redefine my life on my own terms. And perhaps most meaningful was the ability to find purpose within challenge, to transform something difficult into something that could support and inspire others.
How do you turn brain science into simple tools people can actually use in daily life?
For me, it’s about translating science into something people can feel and apply immediately. Brain science can sound complex, but at its core, it’s about understanding patterns – how we think, react and restore energy. I focus on making that practical and human. I guide people to notice small signals: their energy levels, stress responses and thought patterns. From there, we build simple habits – like mindful pauses, breathing techniques or reframing thoughts – that gently shift how the brain responds.
The key is simplicity and consistency. It’s not about doing more but about doing things differently, with awareness. When people experience even a small shift, they start to trust their ability to influence their own wellbeing and that’s where real, lasting change begins.
You’ve worked in multinational HR roles across Europe and the Middle East, what did those environments teach you about stress and human behaviour?
Working across multinational HR roles in Europe and the Middle East showed me that, regardless of culture or background, the way we experience stress is deeply human. I saw high-performing individuals constantly pushing through pressure, often disconnected from their own limits and signals.
Those environments taught me how normalized stress has become and how little awareness we often have of its impact on our brain and behaviour. People weren’t lacking capability; they were lacking the space and tools to regulate, recover and stay aligned.
It made me realize that sustainable performance isn’t about doing more but about understanding how we function under pressure. That insight now shapes my work – helping people recognize their patterns, create balance and lead from a place of clarity rather than constant stress.
What workplace habits are quietly damaging people’s focus, resilience and wellbeing today?
One of the most damaging habits I see is the constant “always on” mode – people moving from one task to another without pause, leaving the brain no space to reset. This continuous stimulation reduces focus and slowly drains resilience.
Another is the normalization of multitasking. While it feels productive, it actually fragments attention and increases mental fatigue. Over time, it trains the brain to stay in a reactive state rather than a focused one.
There’s also a tendency to ignore internal signals – pushing through stress, fatigue or overwhelm instead of responding to them. These patterns may seem small, but over time, they disconnect people from their own capacity to perform and feel well. Rebuilding awareness is often the first step back to sustainable energy and clarity.
If someone wants to make their brain their best friend, where should they begin this week?
Start with awareness, not change. This week, simply begin by noticing your energy levels, your focus and how you respond to stress throughout the day. Your brain is constantly giving you signals, but we often move too fast to recognize them.
Create one small daily pause, even just a few minutes, to check in with yourself without distraction. This helps shift the brain out of constant “doing” into a more balanced state.
From there, choose one simple habit – like slowing your breathing, stepping away between tasks or focusing on one thing at a time. It’s not about perfection but about building a relationship with your brain based on curiosity and consistency. That’s where trust and real change begin.
What is one practical shift that can help people feel calmer and think clearer during a stressful day?
A simple but powerful shift is to pause and regulate your breathing. In moments of stress, the brain moves into a reactive state, and our breathing often becomes shallow without us noticing. By slowing it down just a few deep, steady breaths, you signal safety to your brain and body.
This small reset can quickly calm your nervous system, helping you step out of overwhelm and back into clarity. It creates space between reaction and response, allowing you to think more clearly and act with intention rather than pressure.
It may seem simple, but these small pauses are where real change begins.
How did your MS diagnosis deepen the way you now view vitality, success and personal growth?
My MS diagnosis completely redefined how I see vitality, success and personal growth. Before, vitality was often about energy and productivity. Now, it’s about balance, awareness and how well I listen to my body and brain. It’s a more sustainable, honest kind of energy.
Success also shifted from external achievements to internal alignment – feeling grounded, clear and connected to what truly matters. I no longer measure it by how much I do but by how I live and how I feel.
Personal growth became less about pushing forward and more about deepening self-awareness. MS taught me that growth can come through slowing down, adapting and trusting the process. It’s not linear, it’s a continuous, conscious relationship with yourself.
If readers could remember one truth about lasting wellbeing, what would you want it to be?
If there is one truth I would want readers to remember, it’s that lasting wellbeing is not something you chase, it’s something you build through awareness and daily connection with yourself. It doesn’t come from doing more, but from understanding how your brain and body respond to life.
When you learn to notice your patterns, respect your limits and support your nervous system, well-being becomes more stable and sustainable. Small, consistent shifts matter far more than big, short-lived changes.
Ultimately, well-being starts within. The more you understand yourself, the more capacity you create for calm, clarity, and resilience in everyday life.
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