Written by Caren Carnegie, Founder of Transform Fitness Coaching | Intuitive Momentum Coach | Speaker & Writer Caren Carnegie is a coach, psychic channeler, and the creator of Transform, a space where fitness, healing, and intuition meet. She helps people return to themselves by honouring the body and awakening the coach within. There comes a point in life when the version of movement that once defined you no longer feels like home. For some, that realization arrives quietly. For others, it’s abrupt, brought on by major life changes, burnout, or a shift in priorities. You may find yourself walking into a familiar gym and noticing that something has changed. The energy, the mirrors, the intensity you once craved, none of it lands the way it used to. It can feel disorienting to no longer connect with what once felt so supportive. Many people interpret this shift as a personal failure. They assume their body is holding them back, that they’ve “fallen off track,” or that motivation has simply disappeared. Others never felt a sense of belonging in fitness to begin with and are left wondering if movement is something they’re meant to connect with at all. Yet what if the truth is far more empowering? What if your body is not resisting you, but redirecting you? Your body isn’t the problem, it’s communicating When the nervous system no longer feels safe or aligned in a particular environment, it will create resistance. Exhaustion, lack of motivation, discomfort, even dread, are not signs you’re broken. They are signals telling you that you have evolved, and your movement needs to evolve with you. We don’t always recognize this shift because, for years, we were taught that fitness was supposed to look a certain way, high intensity, visible progress, measurable results. If we weren’t pushing, proving, or performing, we questioned our commitment. But the human experience is changing. Consciousness is shifting. Many people are waking up to a deeper relationship with their bodies, not as something separate or inferior, but as an essential part of who they are. The body is not just a vessel you were given. It is you, chosen by you, designed for the exact journey you are on. While that idea may feel unfamiliar or even challenging at first, it opens the door to a more compassionate truth. Your body isn’t holding you back. It’s guiding you forward. When that happens, the old paradigm of “no pain, no gain” stops making sense. Your identity has changed, your movement must change with it For people who once loved the gym, this shift can feel like grief. You may miss the drive, the community, the identity of being “the fit one.” You may crave what fitness gave you, structure, confidence, relief, yet can’t seem to reconnect with it in the same way. “You are not losing yourself. You are outgrowing an old version of yourself.” And that is one of the clearest signs of personal evolution. Strength still belongs to you, even if it looks different now There are also many who never felt welcome in traditional fitness spaces. Perhaps the mirrors felt unforgiving. The culture felt exclusive. The path forward felt unclear. That lack of belonging doesn’t mean movement wasn’t meant for you. It simply means the environments you were offered weren’t built with you in mind. Everyone deserves to feel capable in their own skin. Strength is not reserved for a specific body type, personality, or experience level. Strength is a birthright, and movement is simply its expression. A new era of fitness As we grow, heal, and realign, we require a way of moving that honours the whole human. Fitness for the new human is not about self-judgment or performance. It’s about connection, clarity, and trust. This modern expression of strength supports: Nervous system resilience Emotional release Energy balance Embodiment Grounded confidence Inner leadership If the old way no longer fits, that isn’t a setback. It’s an invitation. Your circumstances are not blocking you, they’re reflecting you When you’re evolving internally, your external world often rearranges too. Schedules shift. Priorities reshape. Environments that once felt right begin to feel misaligned. Life is not preventing you from moving. It is showing you that your movement must match your now. You’re not being held back. You’re being asked to move forward differently. What comes next This is the work I’ve devoted my life to. Through Transform Fitness Coaching and now Transform HQ, I help people rediscover what movement feels like when it’s rooted in self-connection. My mission is to create spaces, both physical and internal, where every person feels welcome in the process of becoming. Whether you once lived in the gym or never stepped foot in one, you deserve a relationship with movement that feels like home. You deserve strength that supports the life you are creating now. This chapter isn’t about going back. It’s about rising from here. Fitness doesn’t have to look like it used to. It just has to feel like you. That is fitness. Reflection: What does your body need movement to be in this chapter of your life? Visit my website for more info! Read more from Caren Carnegie Caren Carnegie, Founder of Transform Fitness Coaching | Intuitive Momentum Coach | Speaker & Writer Caren Carnegie is an Intuitive Momentum Coach, Certified Personal Trainer, and Speaker. She is the founder of Transform Fitness Coaching and creator of Transform HQ in Sebringville, Ontario, a holistic training space redefining strength for the New Human. Caren is an Executive Contributor for Brainz Magazine and an emerging voice in embodied leadership and soul-aligned well-being.

Written by Lulu Chumpitasi Bartra, Founder Lulu and Phil are co-creating a transformative Holistic Wellness Retreat in Peru’s Sacred Valley. Lulu, a seasoned Holistic Therapist, blends ancient healing practices, while Phil’s journey of resilience and humanitarian work fuels their shared vision to empower others to heal, grow, and reconnect with their true essence. Do you remember a time when someone praised you for something small you created, a moment that made you feel truly seen and talented? It felt good, didn’t it, as though a spark had been lit within you. Yet perhaps you never did it again, thinking it was just a one-off. Throughout our lives, there are countless small things we do that bring us joy and fulfilment. Yet, we often dismiss them, not realising they are whispers of the soul, sparks of creativity and intuition guiding us towards our true essence, the real you. What are you scared of? It’s not what’s out there but what’s inside. Often, we are scared of our own power. But once you realise what you are capable of, you will be amazed and will want to touch the stars. One spark leads to another, illuminating the path to our talents, gifts, and passions. But sometimes, someone’s criticism or society’s expectations dim that light, and we begin to follow what others believe is best for us, ignoring our inner fire and walking a path that is not truly ours. This, too, is part of the adventure, part of growing. Many may appear successful socially or financially, yet still feel as if something is missing in their lives, disconnected from their creativity and intuition. True fulfilment comes from listening to your inner self and living in alignment with who you really are. We come into this life to experience, to learn, to evolve, and perhaps the most profound lesson is to learn to love ourselves. When we connect from the heart, we begin to understand ourselves more deeply, rediscover our gifts, resolve conflicts more harmoniously, and live with greater authenticity and purpose. By focusing on your inner transformation and personal growth, we can start finding a more meaningful life and creating a sense of purpose. We live in a fast-paced modern world, constantly facing demands from work, family, and other responsibilities that disconnect us from ourselves and the community. We focus on hitting targets yet forget to connect, to slow down, struggling to find a sense of purpose and belonging in life. Part of the process of transformation is our own healing. When we heal ourselves, we don’t just heal individually but collectively. Change is a conscious choice. At some point, we all ask, “Is this the life I truly want? Is this how I wish to grow older? Have I spent years doing something that doesn’t nourish my soul but only pays the bills?” Life is about balance, and finding it can be challenging. The happiest people are often those who have discovered their life purpose and devoted themselves to it. You can achieve that too. Everything unfolds in its own divine timing. Allow yourself to go with the flow of life. Pain and struggles are part of the journey, they are masters that shape the powerful you. They teach you resilience, courage, and trust in the process. Be yourself, speak your truth, be loving, and find your tribe. True connection releases happy hormones that help you live a more mindful and meaningful life. Connect with others, connect with nature, but most importantly, connect with your higher power. This will help you increase your self-esteem and self-confidence. Being part of a community will bring you motivation and a sense of purpose. You can work together with a shared vision. However, understanding your own needs, your own passion, and your individuality is equally important. How do you know when you’ve found your personal purpose? You wake up excited for the day ahead, even when you’re tired. You feel fulfilled in what you do. You serve a purpose that benefits and helps other people. If you’re feeling stressed, anxious, or disconnected, answers can seem out of reach. Begin gently, breathe slowly and deeply, meditate, and reconnect with your intuition. Spend time in nature. Allow stillness to guide you. Feel how your energy begins to shift. I find that going to quiet places surrounded by nature allows me a deeper connection. Practice grounding and forest bathing. Hug trees. You will find yourself more at peace. As you make these practices a regular activity, they will relax your nervous system, allowing calmness and relaxation, activating your intuition and creativity, and helping you live a more balanced life. The right answers often come from this state of being, bringing clarity and helping you make better choices. Ask yourself: What makes me truly happy? What do I love doing that also benefits others? What inspires and motivates me each morning? What could I do that would make a difference in the world? Am I allowing my creativity to be expressed? You don’t have to be a natural artist, you can express your creativity in many ways. Find your passion. Look around you with an open heart. The universe is always whispering to you through signs, people, moments, and synchronicities. You only need to be open to receive. You will be guided by your higher self and your inner wisdom, connecting you to your calling. One day you will find your answers. Finding your purpose is a journey, not a destination. It unfolds as you reconnect with your true self, the real you. Practice gratitude. Be present. You will connect with your subconscious and your true essence. You are unique. You are gifted. You are powerful. You are here for a reason. Look how far you have come. Your true power has been awakening with little glimpses of light. Allow that light to shine bright and high. Trust your process. Trust your instincts. Everyone has a purpose in life. What’s yours? Follow me on Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn , and visit my website for more info! Read more from Phil Hartley & Lulu Chumpitasi Bartra Phil Hartley & Lulu Chumpitasi Bartra, Founder Meet the founders of Balance Holistic Retreat Peru. Lulu, a healer & Spiritual Guide with roots deep in Peru’s ancient traditions & Phil, an adventurer whose journey led him from the battlefields to the Sacred Valley, are the visionaries behind this wonderful project. Together they are creating a space to de-tox, de-stress & decompress from the pressures of modern life. A space where uniting the natural organic produce of the region with holistic practices & lifestyle changes creates optimal conditions for the body to restore & heal itself.

Written by Summer Jean, Integrative Sound Psychotherapist Summer Jean is most known for her transformational work with trauma, major life transitions, grief, and deep healing of long-term suffering. She is the owner of Agami Karma Therapy and the online transformation program, Ascend. Through years of working within the most intimate spaces of human connection, I’ve witnessed a quiet but powerful truth that can change the trajectory of any relationship, romantic, familial, or professional. It’s the difference between tension and ease, conflict and understanding, surviving and truly thriving. That truth is the Art of Letting Others Be. Let me be clear, it’s not easy. In fact, it may be one of the most difficult forms of love we’ll ever practice. For some, this level of emotional maturity may take a lifetime to develop. But for those willing to grow in awareness, it is one of the most liberating and transformative capacities we can embody. “Love doesn’t always say, ‘I’ll fix it.’ Sometimes it says, ‘I trust you to find your way through.’” What it really means to “let be” To let someone be is to allow them to have their emotional experience without rushing in to fix, rescue, explain, control, or manage it. When someone is having a bad day, let it be. When someone is storming through rage, grief, or sorrow, let it be. Let them move through the current of their own inner activation without trying to redirect their river. Because when we interfere, we often take something from them, their right to feel, to process, and to find their own way through. We mistake our interference for love when, more often than not, it’s about soothing our own discomfort. Why we interfere Our impulse to insert ourselves into someone else’s emotional storm is usually rooted in insecurity, fear, or old conditioning. Over time, I’ve observed three core patterns: 1. “I must have done something wrong” This fear-based narrative turns another person’s emotional state into a reflection of our worth. Did I say something wrong? Did I cause this? How can I be better? This response is rooted in the belief that we are not enough as we are. 2. “I can’t feel safe unless you’re okay” This is the anxious nervous system in action. Someone else’s emotions trigger an internal sense of danger, a fear of rejection, abandonment, or punishment. I need to fix this so I can feel safe again. This response often turns love into caretaking or control. 3. “If I don’t act, I’ll lose connection” This comes from the fear of being irrelevant, unseen, or pushed out. We rush in not to support but to secure our place. We equate being needed with being loved. Who am I without this relationship? I need this person to need me. This response touches our wounds within our self-identity, attachments, and co-dependencies. All three patterns live quietly in the subconscious, in our nervous system, our emotional memory, and our core beliefs. The less aware we are of them, the more they rule how we manage the relationship. The discipline of not interfering It takes immense inner strength to resist the urge to fix what was never ours to fix. This is why the prerequisite to becoming an artist of “letting be” is to deepen your relationship with your own self. This means building your capacity to tolerate discomfort while staying anchored in your own center. When you learn to regulate your inner landscape, you no longer need to manage someone else’s. You take responsibility for what you can control and release what you can’t. You can stand in the storm without trying to change the weather. You can hold space without needing to be the hero. This isn’t emotional detachment. This is emotional maturity. The sacred space between The space between two people is sacred. It’s where trust, respect, and true intimacy grow. When we stop pushing ourselves into someone else’s emotional experience for our own reassurance, we create room for: Mutual trust: Each person learns they can hold their own. Trust builds confidence, both personal and relational. “The moment you stop needing the external world to change is the moment your personal power returns to you.” – Joe Dispenza Safety: No one feels controlled, fixed, or invalidated. Both people feel accepted in their full humanity, their highs and lows, their good and bad days. “Secure connection is not built by rescuing someone from their emotions but by standing with them while they feel.” – Sue Johnson Deeper connection: The bond isn’t built on rescuing but on presence, faith, and the freedom to be. “Empathy is not feeling for someone, it’s feeling with them without losing ourselves in their story.” – Brené Brown This applies to every relationship, partners, parents, and children, friends, colleagues, even strangers. And here lies the deeper teaching, what is in one is in the whole. Understanding that we are energy beings, interconnected and interwoven. When one person learns to hold their center and not entangle, that steadiness ripples through the entire relational field. It shifts the energetic bond. One regulated nervous system can stabilize two. One clear boundary can create mutual safety. One act of self-trust can rewrite the entire dynamic. The messenger within Learning to let others be is not passive, it’s deeply conscious and requires active discipline. Emotional activations are messengers. They are signals calling us to look inward, examine old beliefs, and integrate parts of ourselves that have remained unprocessed. Our triggers often carry the weight of past feelings, thoughts, and meanings that were never fully made sense of. They become stuck in the mind and body, ruling from the subconscious. When we meet these inner messengers with awareness, we free ourselves from repeating the same emotional loops, and in doing so, we allow others the space to meet their messengers too. A new kind of love Letting others be doesn’t mean turning away. It means standing beside, holding steady, and granting each soul the dignity of their own journey. It asks us to face our insecurities, soothe our nervous systems, and rise into self-trust. When we do, our relationships stop being places of survival and become spaces where each person can breathe, grow, and just be. “Secure love trusts the process, even when it’s messy, loud, or uncomfortable.” When the activated person is ready, they can invite you in because you have become a safe place to land. Imagine a world where we no longer take things personally, get defensive, or leap to judgment born from assumption. This kind of love cleans the energetic bond between you and the other. It liberates both. Once invited, you can then walk the path with them, side by side, from a place of compassion, knowing it’s not about you. And from that liberated space, love grows, stronger, cleaner, freer. Both people shift into gratitude for one another, honored to simply witness and be witnessed. That’s a rare and sacred kind of relationship. Follow me on Facebook and Instagram for more info! Read more from Summer Jean Summer Jean, Integrative Sound Psychotherapist Summer Jean, owner of Agami Karma Therapy, is a seasoned Integrative Sound Psychotherapist and mother of four, dedicated to empowering others to heal. Combining Western Psychology and Eastern Philosophy, she helps clients overcome trauma, fears, and major life transitions with a deeper sense of self. Helping those she works with to rewire unhealthy thinking patterns and break the habit of living out of balance. With over 20 years of experience and a distinguished speaking career in the medical, educational, and mental health fields, Summer’s work centers on ascending obstacles and fostering mind-body-soul balance. Passionate about spirituality and the human experience, she inspires others to create purposeful, empowered, soul-driven lives.

Written by Iva Perez, Visibility & Resilience Coach for Women in Leadership Iva Perez is on a mission to help 1,000 women and entrepreneurs achieve higher levels of success, confidence, and freedom. She has successfully merged 20 years of corporate experience with her studies on the Science of the Mind into her role as a Licensed Transformational Hypnotherapist and is endorsed by the UK’s No. 1 Therapist, Marisa Peer. In a world that rewards noise, women leaders often find themselves running on cortisol instead of confidence. But what if visibility wasn’t about posting more, but aligning your energy with science-backed chemistry that builds trust and influence? In this empowering guide, Visibility and Resilience Coach Iva Perez reveals six neuroscience-based shifts that help women be seen, heard, and paid more, without the burnout. Because the problem isn’t your content, it’s your chemistry. Visibility doesn’t start on social media. It starts in your nervous system. The morning firefight You wake up already behind. Emails ping before your kids’ alarms go off. Someone needs an updated forecast. A client moves a deadline. Your child suddenly feels unwell and needs to stay home. Your brain starts sprinting before your feet hit the floor. By 9 a.m., you have mediated, managed, and multitasked with matcha in hand, adrenaline quietly replacing breakfast. You are the woman who gets things done. And you have grown remarkably good at it. But you did not build your career just to keep firefighting. You signed up for leadership, growth, and influence. To create the kind of impact that allows you to be seen, to be heard, to be paid. Lately, though, it feels like no one sees the you behind the doing. You tell yourself, “Once things calm down, I will focus on my visibility. I will write that post. I will update LinkedIn. I will finally share that win.” But things do not calm down, and the days keep stacking up. For many women in leadership, visibility feels like a luxury, something you will do after the fires are out. Yet here is the paradox, visibility is what buys your freedom back. Because when people see you, they trust you. And trust is the currency of contracts, clients, and credibility. Visibility is not vanity. It is leverage. Why visibility is the new currency In 2025, attention is capital, and trust is its interest rate. If visibility has ever felt like fluff, the stats beg to differ. Research by Edelman and LinkedIn  found that 82% of decision-makers trust a company more when its leaders publish original ideas. Translation? Your expertise alone doesn’t open doors. Your presence does. But not all visibility is created equal. Your body runs two visibility modes Let us talk chemistry, not metaphors. One mode burns you out. The other builds your credibility while you breathe. Cortisol visibility is what most women are taught. Post daily. Stay “relevant.” Hustle for the algorithm. You push, post, and perform because you “should.” Every piece of content feels like a chore. You look productive, but you feel depleted because you are running on cortisol and dopamine, the chemistry of survival. Coherent visibility, on the other hand, runs on oxytocin, serotonin, and endorphins, the chemistry of trust, connection, and calm confidence. You show up grounded. Your message lands because it feels trustworthy. A fascinating 2024 study from the NCBI and the HeartMath Institute showed that coherence, the harmony between heart and brain rhythms, directly improves how others perceive credibility and trustworthiness. When you post from peace, people feel it. When you show up in panic, they feel that too. The science of trust: Why presence converts more than price If price were all that mattered, the cheapest offer would win every deal. But it doesn’t. A 2019 Edelman-LinkedIn B2B Thought Leadership Impact Study  revealed that 55% of decision-makers awarded contracts based on thought-leadership content but only when it felt trustworthy, not forced. Your audience isn’t just scanning your words. They’re subconsciously reading your tone, expressions, and energetic coherence. Neuroscientist Vanessa Van Edwards  calls this emotional contagion, the way your state of being literally transfers to others. In one fascinating experiment, participants who smelled “fear sweat” from skydivers activated their own fear centers on brain scans, even without knowing what they smelled. That’s how contagious emotion is. So if you’re showing up burnt out, your audience can sense it before you ever say a word. The hidden gap between what you need and what your day allows Here’s the real delta, the invisible gap most women never name. What you need to grow: Visibility to authority for better pay, partnerships, and peace. What your day gives you: Fire after fire into no space for strategic presence, into a constant adrenaline loop, into creative depletion. That gap? It’s not a reflection of your capability. It’s a reflection of your chemistry . You were trained to operate from reactivity, not resonance. To perform, not to project. To deliver, not to design visibility systems that sustain you. So let’s change that because visibility shouldn’t be another chore on your list. It should be your invisible ally. Here’s how to turn that chemistry into currency. Six science-backed shifts to be seen, heard & paid more 1. From “I don’t have time” to “I design time” “I don’t have time” isn’t a fact. It’s an identity. It’s the badge every high-performing woman wears when she’s been running life like a relay race she never signed up for. Your brain’s Reticular Activating System (RAS) filters reality based on what you believe. It literally edits your world. Say “I don’t have time,” and your brain looks for proof of overwhelm. Say “I design time,” and your brain starts scanning for efficiency, shortcuts, and allies. According to Karla McLaren, author of Embracing Anxiety: How to Access the Genius of This Vital Emotion, using specific mantras reprograms  the RAS to scan for efficiency instead of urgency. You’ll start seeing systems, tools, and automation opportunities that were invisible before. The truth is, most women don’t lack time. They lack templates. Not Canva templates, but cognitive ones. 2. The AI advantage: Automate the noise, amplify the signal Let’s be honest. No woman in leadership has time to be a full-time creator and a full-time visionary. That’s where AI becomes your ally, not your threat. In my sessions, I teach women how to build what I call their AI Squad, a team of free or near-free AI tools that act as digital interns: One drafts posts, One repurposes articles, One refines your tone to match your voice. Recently, I led a group of 40 women through this process. In under 20 minutes, every participant generated a full month of thought-leadership content  aligned with their brand and authentic voice. AI done consciously doesn’t replace your creativity. It protects it. It saves your nervous system from decision fatigue and keeps your message aligned. Because visibility that runs on cortisol gets scrolled past, visibility that runs on coherence gets remembered. And when you’re ready to take it up a notch, that’s when AI-enhanced portraits come in, realistic, high-end visuals that look like you on your best day. 3. Turn visibility into a system, not a sprint Visibility shouldn’t live in your calendar. It should live in your ecosystem. You don’t need to post daily to prove relevance. You need to design systems that scale trust. Start with earned media visibility, which is free authority you can’t buy. Two underused but powerful tools for women leaders are HARO (Help a Reporter Out)  and TEDx. A single HARO feature can put your name beside global experts and create credibility that sticks. When you share that article with “Featured as an Expert in,” you’re not bragging, you’re signaling reliability. And TEDx? That’s the pinnacle of trust equity. It’s not about fame. It’s about ideas worth spreading. In my Top 8/100 Mom Bosses Abroad Podcast , I interviewed Dr. Elena Paweta, a TEDx curator who lifts the intimidation veil for women. She revealed that the real secret isn’t polish, it’s clarity.TEDx organizers choose speakers who lead with conviction, not perfection. So, instead of “I need to get visible,” try, “I’m ready to codify my credibility.” Because authority compounds when it’s systemized, not improvised. 4. Design a chemistry circle, not a networking one A Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University  study  tracking 58,000 working hours found that sitting within 25 feet of a high performer increased one's own performance by 15% and sitting near a low performer decreased it by 30%. Your environment is your emotional algorithm. Surround yourself with people who operate from expansion, not exhaustion. Your nervous system calibrates accordingly. This isn’t networking. It’s neuro-sculpting. Choose five people whose frequency feels like ease. Not just mentors but mirrors. Because your visibility grows in the soil of your surroundings. 5. Speak like a thought leader (without the buzzwords) Thought leadership isn’t about sounding smart. It’s about sounding more like you, the woman who’s actually lived, built, and earned her perspective. Before you post, breathe coherence into your message: Notice three things in the room you hadn’t noticed before. Inhale for five, exhale for five. Imagine sending ease through your chest. This is neuroscience in action. Heart-brain coherence increases empathy, focus, and clarity. Coherence and the use of prompts like these help unlock stories that stick: “What’s one decision you made that protected a client when things went wrong?” “What’s a myth in your industry you wish people stopped believing?” “What’s a personal ritual that makes you reliable in chaos?” One story like that outperforms 20 generic posts. Because stories convert. Data just convinces. Visibility isn’t a marketing task. It’s an energetic transmission. 6. Coherence is the new currency We live in a world that rewards noise, more posts, more hustle, more doing. But the leaders who are remembered are the ones whose energy feels consistent. Coherence is congruence. And that unlocks automatic charisma. It’s when your message, tone, and energy all say the same thing. In neuroscience, coherence activates mirror neurons, the brain’s empathy engine. It tells others, “You’re safe to trust me.” In physics, this has a name, Constructive Interference, when two waves of equal frequency amplify each other. Translation? You literally double your energetic impact when you’re aligned. That’s why I create Magnetic Charts  for clients that help leaders access an authenticity blueprint that helps them operate from flow, not force. Alignment = Ease Ease = Trust Trust = Tangible success Because people don’t buy efficiency, they buy energy. The hidden edge behind all six shifts At its core, this isn’t visibility training. It’s the nervous system's leadership. Because when women stop running on cortisol, they start running on coherence. And coherence compounds, in contracts, in connection, in cash flow. But here’s the secret no one tells you, coherence can be designed. That’s exactly what I help women leaders do inside my Magnetic Presence Accelerator ,  where strategy meets energy and AI becomes your creative ally instead of your drain. It’s where we decode your unique energetic blueprint (based on your Human Design) and blend it with modern AI systems, including AI-Realistic Portrait Sessions. That’s the premium edge, where AI imagery meets energy coherence, turning your visual presence into instant trust currency. This is what buys back your time, automating the noise so you can amplify your signal. You don’t just learn how to “show up.” You learn how to emit trust. And when your message, visuals, and frequency all match, your online presence stops feeling like performance and starts feeling like power. Because it captures you as your most coherent, magnetic self, the one your audience can’t scroll past, because you radiate congruence. You become impossible to ignore. And that’s when opportunities start finding you. Because people don’t buy efficiency, they buy energy they can trust. You’re not behind, you’re becoming Maybe you’ve been quiet for a while. Maybe you’ve tried “personal branding” before, and it felt fake. Maybe you’ve been the invisible backbone for everyone else’s brilliance. You’re not late to the visibility game. You’re arriving right on time, with more wisdom, truth, and resonance than any algorithm could ever manufacture. The world doesn’t need another perfect woman shouting into the void. It needs you, grounded, coherent, and audacious enough to lead from your natural rhythm. Visibility isn’t a luxury anymore. It’s leadership. And the women who master it, with grace, not grind, are setting the tone for what success looks like in this next decade. Calm. Coherent. Magnetic. Your aura already knows how to go viral. Let’s just give it the mic. If this article resonated, book a private Magnetic Presence Preview Call , your first step toward visibility that feels like you. Follow me on Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn , and visit my website for more info! Read more from Iva Perez Iva Perez, Visibility & Resilience Coach for Women in Leadership Iva Perez is on a mission to help 1,000 women and entrepreneurs achieve higher levels of success, confidence, and freedom. She has successfully merged 20 years of corporate experience with her studies on the Science of the Mind into her role as a Licensed Transformational Hypnotherapist and is endorsed by the UK’s No. 1 Therapist, Marisa Peer. She helps women and entrepreneurs drop the overwhelm and anxiety and, instead, create new subconscious beliefs to facilitate powerful transformations. This way, mothers can successfully navigate the overlap between work and family life. Iva is the co-host of the Top Ranked podcast, Mom Bosses Abroad, as well as an avid speed reader and matcha evangelist.

Written by Kristy "Ceilidh" Suler, Sex, Relationship, and Birthing Coach Kristy “Ceilidh” Suler is a Sex, Relationship & Birthing Coach with a background in Psychology, blending Somatica®, Orgasmic Birth, and intuitive energy practices to guide clients into healing, intimacy, and joy. She is the founder of Heartgasm Coaching and author of Heartgasms: Sacred Sex, Prophetic Dreams, & the Frequency of Love. What if childbirth could be more than manageable? What if it could be blissful? Drawing from leaders of the conscious birth movement and current science on oxytocin, endorphins , and embodiment, this article explores how safety, autonomy, and pleasure can turn labor into an experience of empowerment and, yes, ecstasy. What do we mean by “orgasmic” or “ecstatic” birth? “Orgasmic birth” does not mean every labor leads to orgasm. It refers to a spectrum, from moments of pleasure and connection to waves of ecstasy, that become possible when a birthing person feels safe, autonomous, and uninhibited. Leaders like Debra Pascali-Bonaro  (Orgasmic Birth), Sheila Kamara Hay  (Ecstatic Birth), and Stephanie Larson  (Dancing For Birth™) have spent decades reframing the views around birth from fear to pleasure and empowerment, teaching practical ways to invite this experience. As Sheila Kamara Hay emphasizes, the birthing person must feel free to explore whatever feels right in the moment, whether that is partner touch, self-touch, or simply movement and breath. The through-line is consent, choice, and safety. The science: Why pleasure helps labor To hold the tension of this article, we must anchor “orgasmic birth” in biology. The body is wired to birth with pleasure if we create the right conditions. Oxytocin , often called the love and trust hormone, does more than contract the uterus. In physiological labor, pulsatile oxytocin rises 3-4x over baseline, and is released into the brain as well as the body, affecting mood, calm, and bonding. That is why privacy, safety, and love amplify rather than diminish their power. Oxytocin is a shy hormone. Meanwhile, endorphins  act as nature’s soft analgesics. Women already begin pregnancy with elevated endorphin levels, and many studies show further rises during unmedicated labor. High-quality reviews show that massage during labor  can effectively help manage pain. These chemicals help raise pain thresholds, promote calm, and even induce euphoric sensations. Pleasure pathways also help. Touch or sensual stimulation can activate competing neural circuits, blocking pain signals (a principle supported by the Gate Control Theory of Pain ). In one study, sensory therapy using light, sound, and tactile stimuli called Snoezelen therapy , lowered perceived pain and increased satisfaction in birth. Nipple and breast stimulation provide another powerful tool. Research shows that stimulating the nipples can strengthen contractions and support labor progress , and emerging evidence  suggests it may reduce blood loss in the third stage of labor. Upright, mobile labor  has also been shown to shorten the duration of labor and improve coping. Gravity, movement, and instinctual positions allow the pelvis to expand naturally and can transform the experience into something more positive, sometimes even euphoric. And while the idea of dance in labor might sound whimsical, emerging research suggests otherwise. A review titled “Dancing During Labor: Social Media Trend or Future Practice?”  concluded that movement and dance during the first stage of labor may decrease pain intensity, shorten duration, and increase maternal satisfaction. In other words, what feels good to the body may also improve outcomes. Finally, non-pharmacological tools (movement, water, touch, positioning) preserve hormonal cascades rather than interrupt them. Less medical intervention means less stress, fewer hormone disruptions, and more space for pleasure to surface. In sum, modern research now validates ancient wisdom, that when we honor love and autonomy, birth can be more than survival. It can be ecstatic.  Thought leaders: Wisdom & tools Debra Pascali-Bonaro (Orgasmic Birth) Birth can be pleasurable, powerful, and healing. Pleasure is a human right in childbirth. Practice: Create an intimate “love bubble”, dim lights, privacy, warm water, music, and invite sensual coping like breath, sound, or self-touch. Sheila Kamara Hay (Ecstatic Birth) Mission: replace the pain paradigm with pleasure. “Plan for pleasure in childbirth like we plan weddings and birthdays.” Practice: Train for pleasure in pregnancy, through movement, breath, sound, and erotic self-exploration, so the body recognizes these pathways in labor. Favorite mantra: “Open mouth, open cervix as above, so below.” Stephanie Larson (Dancing for Birth™) Calls for ending the lithotomy position (lying flat with legs in stirrups) and returning to primal, euphoric birth. Practice: Sway, circle, rock, squat, slow-dance, or move in water. Trust your body’s instinctive rhythm. Ina May Gaskin (Midwifery pioneer) Famous for saying, “The energy that gets the baby in gets the baby out.” Ina May Gaskin advocated for privacy, trust, and uninhibited sound/movement. Documented orgasmic sensations in birth and coined the “sphincter law”, openings like the cervix relax best when a woman feels safe and unobserved. Michel Odent (French obstetrician) Called oxytocin a “shy hormone” that flows in private, loving conditions. Michel Odent described birth as a “cocktail of love hormones,” echoing that intimacy and safety, not bright lights and interruptions, support the natural physiology of blissful birth. Orgasmic birth in media: From Grey’s Anatomy to Outlander For many, it’s not peer-reviewed studies but TV shows and films that shape ideas of birth. In recent years, television and film have started to explore what the orgasmic birth movement has long taught, that love, pleasure, and autonomy belong in labor. Grey’s Anatomy  introduced Dr. Carina DeLuca, an Italian OB-GYN who promotes pleasure in labor. She advocates for masturbation and sexual stimulation to boost oxytocin, reduce pain, and help labor progress. Outlander  depicted an intimate birth when Fergus helps his wife, Marsali, by kissing her nipples, stimulating oxytocin, and easing contractions. What looks shocking on screen is actually midwifery wisdom. Orgasmic Birth (2008 documentary, Debra Pascali-Bonaro)  remains the seminal film that brought real stories of pleasurable birth into public conversation. The Business of Being Born (2008 documentary, Ricky Lake)  challenged medicalized birth and inspired countless parents to consider midwifery and home birth. “For me, The Business of Being Born was the reason I chose a midwife and a home birth, a decision that shaped my own transformative experience and continues to inspire my work today.” Together, these portrayals show that orgasmic or ecstatic birth is not just an underground idea. It is finding its way into mainstream conversations. Screens may dramatize or condense, but they can also validate what midwives have long known, and science is now confirming, birth has the potential to be safe, loving, and even orgasmic. Evidence-based ways to boost oxytocin & turn pain into pleasure Here are some simple, evidence-backed practices you can invite into your labor to help shift fear into safety, amplify oxytocin, and even transform pain into pleasure. Use whatever feels safe, consensual, and good. Skip anything that does not. Privacy & ambiance: Dim lights, minimal observers, warmth, music, whatever makes you feel safe and tranquil. Breath & sound: Deep inhale, long open-mouth exhale, sing, scream, curse, moan, or chant in low tones (“open mouth, open cervix”), let sound express itself naturally. Movement & positions: Walk, pace, sway, or dance. Gentle hip circles can feel especially supportive. Try a supported squat, sit-and-rock on a birthing ball, or lean forward on hands and knees. Studies show these upright positions can shorten labor, ease pain, and increase satisfaction. Water immersion:  Warm water immersion  can soothe while letting you float, sway, and shift easily. Follow your instincts, ebb and flow, like water, and let your body lead.  Touch (your rules): Massage, hugs, counter-pressure, or self-touch and vibrators, if desired, to stimulate oxytocin and relieve pain. Tantric/bioenergetic focus: Visualize energy looping from the womb to the heart to the brain to the back down, and repeat, transmuting contractions into warmth and opening. Supportive team & providers: Choose midwives, doulas, and other providers who protect your autonomy, support pleasure in birth, and guard your intimacy bubble. Common questions Is this only possible at home? No. With privacy, autonomy, and support, ecstatic birth can happen anywhere, at home, a birth center, or a hospital ( WHO Recommendations for Positive Childbirth Experiences ). Do I have to involve my partner sexually? Not at all. Some prefer self-touch only or no touch. Autonomy is the key. What if I don’t feel pleasure in labor? That’s perfectly okay. The goal isn’t performance, it is permission. Even without overt pleasure, practices like movement, water, and breath reduce fear and pain, often creating a more satisfying birth. Does nipple stimulation really help? Yes, research shows  it increases oxytocin, supports labor, and may reduce postpartum hemorrhage risk. Final thoughts Birth has long been portrayed as a medical crisis or a trial to endure. But science, midwifery, and lived experience converge to show another possibility, childbirth can be safe, sacred, and even ecstatic. By embracing love, autonomy, and pleasure, we open the door to not just surviving labor but being transformed by it ( Buckley, Gentle Birth, Gentle Mothering ). If this inspires you, begin by talking with your provider or birthing team about creating a pleasure-positive birth plan. And if you’d like guidance weaving intimacy, energy, and conscious birth practices into your own journey, I offer 1:1 coaching to support you. Follow me on Facebook , Instagram , and visit my website  for more info! Read more from Kristy "Ceilidh" Suler Kristy "Ceilidh" Suler, Sex, Relationship, and Birthing Coach Kristy "Ceilidh" Suler is the founder of Heartgasm Coaching and a Sex, Relationship & Birthing Coach trained through Somatica®, Dancing for Birth™, and Orgasmic Birth, with an academic background in psychology, sociology, and peace studies. She offers 1:1 coaching for individuals, couples, and polycules, weaving trauma-informed intimacy, energy work, and sound healing into pleasure-centered transformation. Ceilidh is also the author of the forthcoming book Heartgasms: Sacred Sex, Prophetic Dreams, & the Frequency of Love. Her vision is a world where pleasure, love, and birth are reclaimed as ecstatic expressions of embodied sovereignty and a collective movement toward peace on Earth.

Written by Dr. Reetu Verma, Transformational Life Coach Dr. Reetu Verma, founder of Healing Health and Happiness, is a heart-centred Transformational Life Coach who blends Eastern spiritual wisdom with Western modern research to guide individuals on their unique healing journeys towards achieving holistic health to radiate love and bliss. In the ancient wisdom of yoga, the human being is understood as far more than flesh and bone. Beneath our visible form lie subtle energetic layers, sheaths that together shape every aspect of our human experience. These are known as the Pancha Koshas, the five layers of being. Derived from the Sanskrit words pancha (five) and kosha (sheath or covering), this ancient framework offers a profound way to understand the multidimensional nature of our health and well-being. As the koshas remind us, true health isn’t about fixing the body or quieting the mind alone, it’s about aligning every layer of who we are. When body, breath, mind, wisdom, and spirit move in harmony, happiness becomes our natural state. “We are more than just our physical bodies and the constant mental chatter. We are multilayered beings. Our body, mind, and soul need to be in balance and in harmony for us to be truly healthy and happy.” The five koshas: Layers of our being The koshas move from the tangible to the subtle, from the outermost physical form to the innermost essence of bliss. Each sheath influences the others, creating a dynamic system of interconnection and flow. Annamaya Kosha (Physical body): The outermost layer, composed of the elements of nature and nourished by food (anna). It represents our physical health, structure, and vitality. Practices such as mindful movement, nutrition, and rest nourish this sheath. Pranamaya Kosha (Energy body): The layer of prana, or life force, flowing through channels known as nadis. Balanced breathing, pranayama, and time in nature awaken vitality and inner radiance. Manomaya Kosha (Mental body): This layer governs our thoughts, emotions, and sensory experiences. Meditation, journaling, and compassionate self-talk help purify this sheath, bringing clarity and calm. Vijnanamaya Kosha (Wisdom body): The seat of intuition, discernment, and inner knowing. When this sheath is active, we align our actions with truth and purpose. Self-inquiry, reflection, and spiritual study awaken this inner wisdom. Anandamaya Kosha (Bliss body): The innermost sheath, beyond words and intellect, is the experience of pure joy, peace, and unity with all that is. This is our true nature, revealed when all other layers are harmonized. Integration for wholeness The five koshas are not separate, they function as interconnected layers that shape every aspect of our health, physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual. When one sheath falls out of balance, it ripples through the entire system. Mental stress constricts the breath, stagnant energy clouds intuition, and disconnection from wisdom dims joy. Even physical pain in the body often mirrors deeper emotional tension or energetic blockages. The body speaks what the mind suppresses. When we carry unresolved stress or unexpressed emotions, it often shows up as tension, fatigue, or pain. Conversely, when we nurture one layer, by calming the mind, moving the body, or opening the heart, the entire being responds. Energy flows freely, breath deepens, and harmony is restored across all levels of our existence. Integration is the essence of healing, wholeness expressed through balance across all levels of being. The five koshas: A new lens on health The wisdom of the five koshas offers a truly holistic view of well-being, one that sees health not as the absence of illness but as harmony between all layers of our being. Each kosha vibrates at its own frequency, from the physical body to the blissful essence within, and when these layers move in rhythm, we experience vitality, clarity, and peace. This ancient framework beautifully bridges modern science and spirituality. The physical sheath aligns with cellular health, the energy body with breath and the nervous system, the mental body with thoughts and emotional balance, the wisdom body with intuitive awareness, and the bliss body with heart coherence. The koshas remind us that healing unfolds from the inside out. When energy and awareness realign, the body naturally restores itself. Ultimately, the path to health is not about fixing what is broken but about remembering our inherent wholeness, where balance, joy, and connection already reside. My journey: From breakdown to awakening I remember the moment everything changed. Diagnosed with a life-threatening illness (encephalitis), my world collapsed. I lost the ability to walk, talk, and even feed myself. Life became a slow, painstaking process of rebuilding from the ground up. Yet, in the midst of that darkness, I was surrounded by light, a radiant, unconditional love that transcended form. It felt like a warm embrace from the universe itself. Returning to the physical world was not easy. But that glimpse beyond the veil revealed something extraordinary, we are not separate beings. We are, at our core, energetic and spiritual beings having a human experience, constantly in motion and deeply connected to everything around us. Recognising this truth transformed my approach to healing and living. It taught me that genuine health is not static but a dynamic alignment of energy, awareness, and purpose. Key takeaways: The wisdom of the five koshas Health is multidimensional: True well-being extends beyond the physical body. The five koshas remind us that health arises from harmony between body, mind, breath, energy, and spirit. Every layer influences the whole: Each kosha interacts with the others. Stress in the mind can constrict breath and cause body pain, while calm breathing can restore balance across all levels. Healing begins when we nurture each layer. Integration leads to wholeness: When we align all layers of our being, we reconnect with our natural state of peace and happiness. This alignment, not perfection, is the essence of holistic health and spiritual fulfilment. The wisdom of the koshas invites us to look beyond symptoms and surfaces, to see health as harmony across every dimension of our being. When we nurture all layers, the physical, energetic, mental, intuitive, and blissful, we rediscover what has always been within us, wholeness, peace, and radiant well-being. Call to action If you are ready to move beyond stress and embrace holistic health, to restore your balance, energy, and inner harmony, I invite you to join my Heart-Centered Awakening Program. Blending timeless wisdom with modern science, you will embark on a transformative journey that harmonises your body, mind, and spirit, gently restoring balance, igniting your inner spark, and unveiling the profound peace and joy that reside naturally within you. Follow me on Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn , and visit my website for more info! Read more from Dr. Reetu Verma Dr. Reetu Verma, Transformational Life Coach Unlock your potential with Dr. Reetu Verma, a Transformational Life Coach, Spiritual Teacher, and Global Speaker. Empowering individuals through holistic health coaching, mindfulness, and energy healing, Dr. Verma integrates modern research with spiritual wisdom, emphasizing yoga philosophy. She shares expert insights on chakra healing, heart-centered living, and emotional freedom at global summits. Through her radio program, Dr. Verma raises awareness on health, well-being, environmental sustainability, and the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), inspiring positive change and collective action. Mission to create: Love in action: a heart-centered community united in care, kindness, and transformative change.

Written by Danijela Mrdak, Therapist, Clinical Hypnotherapist, Trauma And Fertility Therapist Danijela is an award-winning therapist, educator, public speaker, and contributor to revolutionising mental health and fertility therapy, and creator of an innovative approach to helping women overcome mental barriers to conception and pregnancy. She has developed a course that upskills professionals to achieve great results with pregnancy issues. What your grandmother experienced in her lifetime could have modified her DNA, and these changes can be passed down through generations. Your nervous system learned from your grandparents' nervous system. You were primed to carry the burdens that were not your own. In this article, we explain what the science of epigenetics means for your children and grandchildren. Even though studies show that over half of women with endometriosis have experienced some form of trauma or abuse, many patients cannot recall any. Could it be that the trauma was inherited from their mother or grandmother through the genes that were passed on, leaving no direct memory? Science now confirms that trauma from previous generations, especially on the maternal line, can leave biological imprints that affect your reproductive health today. I have worked with a client, Sara, whose grandmother, the victim of domestic abuse during her pregnancy, died a few hours after giving birth to her mother. Her mother therefore experienced prenatal trauma, birth trauma, and the grief and loss of her mother’s death. As a consequence of this traumatic experience, she resisted having children and resisted motherhood, but her husband insisted they have two. Although she had two children, she was never able to connect with them and was never emotionally present. The pain traveled through generations, and she carried sorrow, grief, and loss. She had experienced abuse during her intrauterine life. This is the inherited information that was embedded in her body, mind, and spirit. My client Sara was affected by her mother’s traumatic experiences, but also by her grandmother’s. In our therapy session, Sara was able to access her prenatal memories, feelings, and impulses in hypnosis. Babies in the womb have prenatal awareness, and the most developed sense in the womb is hearing due to the amniotic fluid. Sara remembered that her mother never wanted her and never connected with her in the womb. Broken prenatal bonds imply a detachment of the mother from her womb baby. Her mother rejected her and the role of being a mother. Sara had many subconscious mental blocks. She had a fear of death during childbirth, a fear of hospitals, and a fear of becoming like her mother. She could not conceive after 14 failed IVF procedures. I helped her remove her subconscious fears and mental blocks to pregnancy and conception, and to reconnect with her womb. Now she is expecting a baby girl, and she is 47 years old. How could your grandmother’s life change your cells? The science of epigenetics promises to deliver big changes in how we understand heredity and treat illness. Everyone has heard of the genome, that double helix DNA code that is uniquely yours, unless you have an identical twin. But there’s another layer of complexity responsible for creating you, and that’s the epigenome. Your epigenome sits in your cells with your genome. It’s a set of instructions that decides which parts of your DNA are activated or which genes are switched on or off. Every one of us has a unique DNA code. We all have many epigenomes because every different type of cell in the body, skin, fat, liver, and brain, has its own epigenome. Each person has one genome but multiple epigenomes, depending on the cell type. As we age, our epigenomes also age. We know that psychological stress, trauma, physical stress, smoking, alcohol consumption, diet, physical activity, obesity, infectious diseases, environmental pollutants, sun exposure, working night shifts, and countless other environmental factors can change our epigenomes. What we don’t know are the exact details of how and to what extent. How are epigenetic changes passed on? The concept of inheritance is one of the most controversial and fascinating aspects of epigenetics. It suggests that events in our lives can affect our children’s development and health, and possibly our grandchildren’s as well. The experiences our grandparents had before our parents were born may also impact our lives. I believe everyone is intrigued by this idea, that they are part of the experiences that occurred before them, to their ancestors. It is not just about genes or DNA, it is about being part of your family’s history. Professor Rachel Yehuda, a Professor of Neuroscience and Psychiatry at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York, studies the impact of traumatic experiences on survivors of the Holocaust, war veterans, survivors of the September 11 attacks, and their children. Her studies found that children born after the war to Holocaust survivors with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) were more likely to develop depression or PTSD themselves compared to other Jewish adults. These children also shared epigenetic markers with their parents on a gene that made them more reactive to stress. The understanding of how epigenetic changes could be transmitted from parent to child is still not entirely clear, but there is evidence to suggest that this happens at the time of conception and during intrauterine life. From the very beginning of development, genes exist simultaneously in two environments, the micromedium within the cell and the macromedium outside the cell, primarily the mother and then the growing fetus. DNA and these two environments (intracellular and extracellular) interact from the moment of fertilization. How can grandmothers (and mothers) pass on epigenetic changes? Everything that a mother experiences while she is pregnant can impact the epigenome of her developing baby. Did you know that a female baby's lifetime supply of eggs is created while she is growing in her mother’s womb? This means that the trauma she experiences can also impact these eggs, and eventually, the children they may become. In this way, the activity of the pregnant mother can touch the lives of her grandchildren. You were shaped inside your grandmother’s womb, and you inherited her stress, you were imprinted by her nervous system. If she was stressed, unheard, unseen, wounded, or unsafe, those signals passed into your mother’s developing body and into the egg that would one day become you. Your grandmother’s cortisol shaped your cells, her vagus nerve tone echoed forward. Her body said, This is what the world is like. Remember this blueprint. Then came your mother’s pregnancy, and you were shaped again, by her experiences, stress levels, sleep, trauma, joy, and nourishment. Your body’s ability to regulate stress was set before you were born. Like a nervous system inheritance, this is what we also refer to as intergenerational trauma. Some effects have been observed in grandchildren as well, suggesting transgenerational programming. Epigenetic inheritance of experiences in humans There’s a very famous, well-documented case during World War II and the Dutch winter where we can clearly see the impact of famine during pregnancy on a population over generations. During World War II, the Germans cut off food supplies to parts of the Netherlands, causing a famine. The Dutch Hunger Winter study is important because it provides insight into how a starvation diet during limited periods of gestation influences the subsequent health of offspring. Babies born to women during this time had a lower birth weight. When those babies grew up and had their own children, the third generation had significantly more problems with diabetes and obesity than the rest of the population. The Syrian War Survivors, Hama Siege (1982), is among the first human evidence that trauma can epigenetically affect multiple generations. Grandchildren of women pregnant during the siege showed distinct epigenetic marks, despite never directly experiencing the conflict. Can grandfathers (and fathers) transfer epigenetic changes? Professor Hannan and his team at the Florey Institute have shown that stress affects the epigenome of mouse sperm, and this can have an impact for more than one generation. The research they conducted demonstrated that increased paternal stress hormones changed the epigenome of the sperm and altered the offspring. Physical stress in the father mice has been shown to increase anxiety in offspring, Professor Hannan confirmed. However, the research also showed that increased physical activity in the father mice had positive effects. Fathers could transfer epigenetic changes to their children, and possibly grandchildren, through changes to sperm around the time of conception. The message of encouragement to heal Your body is always whispering through symptoms, hormone shifts, skin, weight, energy, sleep, cravings, and mood. If we want a different dialogue from our body, we shouldn’t silence it, we should listen, understand, and address the root cause. Your life always whispers to you, but you have most likely developed a habit of ignoring the messages your body is sending. If you’re seeking answers for infertility, endometriosis, PCOS, or any other condition, start this journey with an open mind. Let your body speak, and learn how to change the story it tells. You can book a free 30-minute consultation call with award-winning therapist Danijela Mrdak. In her therapy sessions, she focuses on identifying and eliminating the root cause of any issue. She also creates a personalized audio recording designed to help reprogram the mind. “You did not choose the blueprint. But you are allowed to change it. You are the first generation with this valuable knowledge and these tools. You can rewire what was wired in. You can give your body the safety you, your mother, and your grandmother never got to feel. You can break the trauma circle,” said Danijela Mrdak. In my therapy sessions, I have seen, for example, that tubal problems in my clients are often centered on their inner child. The root cause is that their inner child is not old enough, mature enough, or nurtured enough to feel fertile. If pain were a person, it would be very quiet at first, sitting in the body. After some time, it would grow louder and ultimately scream through certain organs. It would show up as an illness. I always tell my clients this, your mind is the womb. Whatever the mind can conceive, it can create in your reality. You can heal your life. I always teach my clients this in my therapy sessions, you are like an arrow, you can only go forward. You can never, ever go back to the past. Follow me on Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn , and visit my website for more info! Read more from Danijela Mrdak Danijela Mrdak, Therapist, Clinical Hypnotherapist, Trauma And Fertility Therapist Danijela Mrdak is an award-winning therapist, clinical hypnotherapist, and trauma and fertility therapist practicing the Rapid Transformational Therapy (RTT) method. She also holds a Masters in Law. She specialises in female fertility issues, including conception, IVF, pregnancy, and pre/post-natal issues. She has had enormous success in helping women all over the world to conceive. Danijela has received awards and recognition for her extraordinary contributions to mental health and fertility therapy and for her innovative approach to helping women overcome mental barriers to pregnancy. She developed a comprehensive course specifically aimed at therapists, coaches, and hypnotherapists to support them in assisting women and conception.

Written by Charlotte Cheetham, Gut Health Coach Charlotte Cheetham is an expert coach in gut health for menopausal women. She is the founder of Lifeinsights and aims to help all menopausal women one by one to heal their symptoms, which are preventing them from living a normal life. She has also written articles for Healthieyoo magazine about gut health, menopause, and psychobiotics. For many women in their 40s and 50s, sugar cravings hit harder than ever. That innocent biscuit with your tea now leaves you bloated. Afternoon chocolate gives you a rush, then a crash. And somehow, your jeans feel tighter by the end of the week, even when you’ve been “good.” It’s not your imagination. During perimenopause, the way your body handles sugar changes dramatically, and your gut feels the effects first. “If you fix your gut, your hormones will follow.” The hormonal storm: Why sugar hits harder now As oestrogen and progesterone levels fluctuate, your body becomes less sensitive to insulin, the hormone that manages blood sugar. Combine that with higher cortisol (the stress hormone) and disrupted sleep, and you’ve got the perfect storm for sugar cravings, belly fat, and energy crashes. When insulin stays high for too long, your body starts storing more fat around your middle, your gut bacteria shift, and you feel constantly drained. These changes also make your gut more reactive, meaning a muffin or a latte that used to sit fine now triggers bloating, cramps, or unpredictable IBS flare-ups. The more your gut is out of balance, the more you crave sugar because the ‘bad’ bacteria are sending signals to your brain asking for their next fix. The gut-sugar connection Your gut microbiome, the trillions of bacteria living inside your intestines, thrives on balance. Some bacteria feed on fibre and help reduce inflammation. Others feed on sugar and create gas, bloating, and fatigue. Too much refined sugar feeds the wrong crowd. It encourages the overgrowth of yeasts like Candida albicans and reduces the diversity of beneficial bacteria that help manage digestion and mood. This imbalance, called dysbiosis, can trigger IBS symptoms such as: Constant bloating Cramping or gas Alternating constipation and diarrhoea Fatigue and brain fog Over time, your gut lining becomes more permeable (“leaky”), allowing toxins and inflammatory compounds to enter the bloodstream, worsening hormone fluctuations and cravings. Did you know? Your gut bacteria can influence your food choices. When “sugar-loving” microbes dominate, they send hunger signals through the vagus nerve, literally making you crave sugar. The IBS-energy rollercoaster That post-lunch slump? It’s more than tiredness. Here’s what happens: You eat a sugary or carb-heavy meal. Your blood sugar spikes. Insulin floods in to lower it. Blood sugar drops too quickly. You feel shaky, tired, and crave another sweet hit. Cortisol rises to rescue your energy, but it also tightens the gut muscles, which can trigger IBS symptoms. Over time, this cycle leads to unstable moods, low motivation, and even worse sleep. Your blood sugar affects your gut, and your gut affects your mood. It’s all connected. How to spot when sugar is sabotaging you You might not think you eat much sugar, but it sneaks in everywhere. Here are tell-tale signs that it’s time to reset: You wake up bloated, even after light dinners. You crave something sweet after every meal. You get “hangry” between meals. You feel tired but wired at night. You rely on caffeine to get through the afternoon. If this sounds familiar, your blood sugar and gut bacteria are out of sync, and your hormones are struggling to keep up. Healthy swaps to support hormone and gut balance Recommendation: gentle changes that stabilise blood sugar, feed the gut, and naturally calm cravings. Begin the day with protein: Skip cereal and toast. Try eggs, avocado, and spinach, or a smoothie with protein powder, chia, and nut butter. Keeps blood sugar steady for hours. Choose fibre-rich carbs: Refined carbs (white bread, pasta) spike sugar and feed the wrong microbes. Swap for quinoa, brown rice, or lentils. Their fibre feeds beneficial bacteria and helps detoxify oestrogen. Pair fruit with fat or protein: Avoid fruit on its own. Pair it with yoghurt, nuts, or seeds to slow sugar release. Try berries with coconut yoghurt or apple slices with almond butter. Beat the 3 p.m. slump: Energy crashes come from blood sugar dips. Lunch on salmon, quinoa, and roasted vegetables. Snack on nuts, hummus, or edamame instead of chocolate. Crowd out, don’t cut out: Focus on adding, not restricting. Include fermented foods (sauerkraut, kefir) and prebiotic fibres (onions, leeks, asparagus). These help rebalance your microbiome and reduce cravings. Watch hidden sugars: Read labels, as sugar hides as maltose, syrup, or dextrose. Make your own dressings with olive oil, apple cider vinegar, and herbs. Drink before you snack: Often, cravings signal dehydration. Sip water with lemon or herbal tea before eating. The goal isn’t to cut out sugar forever, it’s to control the spike. Healing the gut after sugar overload If you’ve been in the sugar and IBS loop for a while, your gut may need a reset. This four-step approach helps clients calm inflammation and restore energy. Remove the irritants: Reduce processed foods, alcohol, and refined sugar for 2 to 4 weeks. This gives your gut lining time to heal. Rebalance the microbiome: Add probiotic foods (kefir, kimchi, miso) and prebiotics (onions, garlic, asparagus). These support digestion and hormone metabolism. Repair the gut lining: Support with L-glutamine, zinc, and collagen. Bone broth or chia puddings help soothe and repair. Reintroduce slowly: After your reset, bring back natural sugars such as berries, apples, and dark chocolate mindfully. Notice how your body responds. The emotional side of sugar Sugar isn’t just about food, it’s emotional comfort. When oestrogen drops, serotonin dips too, making us crave sweet foods for a mood lift. Healthier ways to find balance: Movement: a 10-minute walk after meals stabilises blood sugar. Breathwork: deep breathing lowers cortisol and reduces cravings. Mindful eating: savour your food, satisfaction reduces overeating. When you replace sugar with self-care, your cravings start to fade naturally. You can’t outsmart biology, but you can work with it. The results: A happier gut, a calmer mind Within a few weeks of changing how you eat, you’ll notice: Less bloating and IBS discomfort Steadier energy Fewer cravings Better sleep Clearer thinking Your gut bacteria rebalance, your blood sugar stabilises, and your hormones follow. It’s a chain reaction that brings you back into alignment and helps you feel like yourself again. Gut-friendly sweet swaps cheat sheet If You Crave... Try This Instead Why It Works Chocolate 1 square of 85% dark chocolate + handful of almonds Magnesium supports mood & reduces cravings Ice cream Frozen banana blended with Greek yoghurt Adds probiotics & protein Fizzy drinks Sparkling water with lime & mint Refreshing & supports digestion Biscuits Oat cakes with nut butter Healthy fats + fibre = satisfaction Sugary coffee Matcha latte with almond milk Sustained energy & antioxidants Final thoughts: Progress, not perfection Midlife isn’t about restriction, it’s about rhythm. Your body is asking for balance, not punishment. By swapping quick fixes for nourishment, you create a foundation of energy and calm that ripples through every part of your life. So next time you crave sugar, pause and ask, “What is my body really asking for?” When you listen, and feed your gut with what it truly needs, you’ll find your cravings soften, your energy stabilises, and your sparkle returns. Because when your gut is in balance, your whole life is in balance.  Follow me on  Instagram , LinkedIn,  and visit my website  for more info! Read more from Charlotte Cheetham Charlotte Cheetham, Gut Health Coach Charlotte Cheetham is an expert Gut Coach for menopausal women. After suffering from an acute gut infection, she had to learn how to manage her gut health to prevent another massive flare-up. She has learnt how to manage her nutritional needs to become healthy and happy during menopause. Her mission is to help as many women as possible manage their diet and lifestyle, so they can also learn how to become healthy and happy again.

Written by Paul Corke, Leadership Innovator, Author & Speaker Paul Corke is an executive coach, author, speaker, and is considered to be a leading expert on mindset, leadership, and innovation. and is also the Managing Director of Paul Corke International, an innovative Executive Coaching business. He previously spent 25 years in the corporate world with award-winning results, specializing in organizational effectiveness, coaching, employee engagement, talent management, and leadership development with experience in the UK, Ireland, Europe, the US, and the Middle East. In a world flooded with curated lives and public-facing success, it's easy to mistake appearance for authenticity. Social media, advertising, and peer pressure all encourage us to keep up, often at the cost of our own truth. We buy the house, the car, the clothes, we holiday in the ‘right’ places and dine where everyone else is seen, not always because it aligns with who we are, but because of how it looks from the outside. But here’s the question that cuts through the noise, If no one was watching, would you still choose it? This article explores how comparison, judgment, and unrealistic expectations can block our authentic path and create what psychologists call the happiness gap, the distance between how we’re living and who we truly are. Why comparison disconnects us from ourselves We all compare. It’s human. But when comparison becomes habitual, it erodes the space for self-trust and intuitive living. Social Comparison Theory (Festinger, 1954) suggests we constantly measure ourselves against others to evaluate our worth. But upward comparison, looking at those who seem to be doing “better,” often leaves us feeling inadequate, even if our lives are objectively full. Authenticity, defined as living in accordance with our true values, is one of the strongest predictors of wellbeing. When we live by someone else’s script, we sacrifice peace for performance. The question “If no one was watching, would I still do this?” is a powerful tool. It pulls us back to intrinsic motives—what we want, not what we believe will impress others. And when we live for show, we often lose our centre, drifting from joy, purpose, and presence. Letting go of the performance Organisational example: A tech company breaks the comparison cycle A global tech firm noticed a culture of internal one-upmanship, flashy company cars, high-end offices, and constant productivity metrics. It looked successful, but beneath the surface, morale was low and burnout was high. The leadership posed a question, If no one outside the company was watching, would we still operate like this? The answer was no. They stripped back status symbols and re-centred the culture on contribution, not comparison. In 12 months, internal surveys showed a marked rise in wellbeing, authenticity, and collaboration. Lesson: When organisations encourage “keeping up,” authenticity disappears. When they support internal alignment, people thrive. National case: A country redefines success In a small European country with growing dissatisfaction despite rising incomes, a national campaign invited citizens to ask, “Would you buy it if no one else saw it?” Debt, social pressure, and burnout were rising—not because people lacked resources, but because they were trapped in the cycle of comparison-driven consumption. The public initiative, focused on values-led living and personal reflection, helped reduce household debt and increased national wellbeing scores within three years. Lesson: Cultural narratives built on comparison can fuel collective unhappiness. But when societies encourage reflection and realignment, people return to what truly matters. Choosing purpose over performance 1. Jim Carrey – Rejecting the Hollywood script At the peak of his career, Jim Carrey was a household name with fame and fortune. Yet he described feeling empty. “I think everybody should get rich and famous and do everything they ever dreamed of so they can see that it's not the answer.” He retreated from major film roles, explored art and spirituality, and began speaking openly about ego, identity, and the illusion of success. External success doesn’t equal internal fulfilment. Authenticity may require letting go of what everyone else considers “winning.” 2. Keanu Reeves – Humility over hype Despite global fame, Reeves lives simply, often taking public transport, avoiding luxury excess, and quietly donating to causes he cares about. “Money is the last thing I think about. I could live on what I’ve already made for the next few centuries.” He rarely courts attention and is often praised not for his status, but for his grace, groundedness, and integrity. True authenticity isn't loud. Sometimes, it’s the quiet rejection of status games in favour of real alignment. 3. Adele – Reclaiming her narrative After global success with her album 25, Adele stepped away from the spotlight. Tabloids speculated endlessly, but she later shared that she needed to rediscover herself outside of public expectation. “I felt like I was doing it for myself. I wasn’t chasing anything.” Her next album 30 was raw, emotional, and real, not made for awards or algorithms, but as a reflection of her truth. Authenticity sometimes means disappointing others in order to be true to yourself. The judgement loop and the happiness gap Comparison often breeds judgement, of others and of ourselves. And judgement distances us from empathy, curiosity, and self-compassion. It also inflates the happiness gap, that space between what life is and what we think it should be, and the gap between us being our authentic selves. When that imagined version is fuelled by social media, unrealistic role models, and external validation, it’s rarely attainable. How to reclaim your truth: Practical tools Ask the “no one watching” question regularly: Would I still post this, buy this, say this, or live this way if no one else knew about it? Curate what you consume: Be mindful of how much time you spend around comparison-fuelling content such as social media, luxury advertising, or hyper-competitive environments. Celebrate invisible wins: Integrity, patience, rest, and presence don’t always show online, but they are essential indicators of an authentic life. Track triggers of comparison: Notice when comparison flares up, who or what sparks it, and what insecurity it reveals. Use it as insight, not indictment. Define “enough” for yourself: Write your own success metrics, not based on someone else’s lifestyle, but on how at peace, energised, and fulfilled you feel. Speak it out loud: Share your authenticity goals with someone you trust. Accountability helps when the world pulls you back into old habits. Final thoughts: Return to you The path to a meaningful life doesn’t run through someone else’s highlight reel. It lives in the quiet moments when you choose what aligns, not what impresses. If no one was watching, who would you be? That’s the question that closes the happiness gap. That’s where authenticity begins. Follow me on  Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn , and visit my website  for more info! Read more from Paul Corke Paul Corke, Leadership Innovator, Author & Speaker Paul Corke is an executive coach, author, and speaker, and is considered to be a leading expert on mindset, leadership, and innovation. and is also the Managing Director of Paul Corke International, an innovative Executive Coaching business. He previously spent 25 years in the corporate world with award-winning results, specializing in organizational effectiveness, coaching, employee engagement, talent management, and leadership development with experience in the UK, Ireland, Europe, the US, and the Middle East. With over 25 years dedicated to coaching and mentoring leaders within organisations and with his own clients. His unique blend of innovative techniques and coaching has become a hallmark of his approach to leadership development. Recognised as the No. 1 Health & Wellness Thought Leader by Thinkers 360, Paul is also an accomplished author. His latest book, “Leadership 5.0: The Future of Leadership,” offers profound insights into ground-breaking perspectives on leadership. Paul is an engaging keynote speaker, and his commitment to advancing the field of leadership is evident in his role as a thought leader. His talks and written work underscore his dedication to shaping the future of leadership by challenging norms and fostering a mindset of continuous innovation.

Written by Katelyn Mateo, Identity and Manifestation Coach Katelyn is an Identity and Manifestation Coach, Transformation Healer, and Founder of The Ripple Effect Signature Program, guiding individuals and business owners to release subconscious blocks and align with their highest potential. There are moments in life when it feels too still. We’ve prayed, acted, and waited, yet nothing seems to be moving in the direction we thought we were heading. Beneath the stillness, God is always at work. The presence of God rarely arrives as a tidal wave. More often than not, God is revealed in subtle ripples that begin in the unseen. 1. Reflect on the seeds you’ve planted Every prayer whispered with uncertainty, every act of kindness offered without reward, every time you chose integrity even when it wasn’t convenient, those were all spiritual seeds you planted. Sometimes the ripples we’re looking for are actually the harvest of seeds we long forgot we once planted. The opportunity that arises out of the blue, the calmness after the storm, all of it is fruit that grew from something small and unseen. Awareness is key  Everything begins with awareness. What you are currently experiencing today was once something you sowed in faith. Pay attention to how the life you’re currently living was once something you prayed for. God takes what we plant in faith and multiplies it, often in ways that are subtle and slow to reveal themselves, just like planting a seed in your garden. Sit in gratitude  This is why reflection is essential. It allows you to become aware, reflect on your current reality, and be grateful for what has already come to fruition. When you take the time to look back with gratitude, not judgment, you start to notice the traces of the divine thread. You realize that certain blessings, no matter how small, did not just appear. They were the result of your obedience, prayers, and surrender to God. It is in this reflection that you begin to see the ripple effect, how one small shift or one small decision set in motion a chain of alignment that brought you to where you are now. 2. Notice the divine timing in delays and detours One of the most evident ways to see the ripple effect of God within your life is through the timing of events, especially the moments that didn’t follow your plan. We often view delays and detours as signs that things are not working out, but what if they were just redirections? Rejection or protection?  When you look back on your life, you may now see that doors that didn’t open for you were not rejections but protection. The opportunities you wanted so desperately to work out were simply stepping stones to something greater, something more aligned with your purpose. God’s timing is rarely immediate. The foundation must first be set, you must be prepared for what’s to come, or you won’t be able to hold onto it. You are being refined for what lies ahead. Delays are blessings in disguise Delays create depth in your belief. They stretch our patience, build resilience, and shape the version of us that is needed to sustain the blessings coming our way. It is not waiting in vain. It is evidence of God’s divine orchestration. The job that never called you back led you to another connection or decision that launched your path to purpose. The relationship that ended helped you realize you were deserving of someone more aligned with where you were headed. That season of waiting became your foundation for clarity to propel you forward. Acknowledging divine timing is one of the most purposeful ways to see the ripple effect of God in your life. Realizing what once seemed like disappointment was actually alignment in disguise. 3. Notice the people God sends The ripple effect of God often flows through the people in your life. There are people who enter our lives with divine timing, speak truth when we need direction, or challenge us in ways that call us to grow. Every single person who crosses our path is there for a reason and carries a purpose, even if the relationship seems more like a lesson or the purpose isn’t immediately clear. No coincidences A friend who miraculously comes into your life to remind you of your worth when you’ve forgotten it is not a mere coincidence. A mentor who sees potential in you before you see it in yourself is not an accident. The stranger whose kindness restores your faith in humanity is not a mistake. These are divinely orchestrated meetings to confirm your path. Each one carries a thread of divine alignment that gently pulls you closer to where you are meant to be. A shift  Looking at people through this lens transforms how you move about in this world. Instead of asking yourself, “Why did this happen?” you begin to ask, “What is this here to teach me?” Instead of moving through life with confusion, you begin to move with clarity and see that something far greater is being orchestrated. The people God sends are either gentle guides or difficult mirrors, but they are both living proof of the ripple he is creating within your life. Through these encounters, he shapes us, aligns us, and expands us into the next level of who we are meant to become. 4. Understanding that your healing heals others One of the many extraordinary ways to witness the ripple effect of God is through the quiet influence of your own healing. Every time you choose to rise from what was meant to break you, every time you forgive when revenge would have been more favorable, every time you return to peace after pain, you send out a wave of spiritual restoration that reaches far beyond yourself. Healing through you We have believed that healing is something personal, something that only happens within us. However, healing is never isolated. When God chooses to heal you, he then heals through you. Your transformation becomes the testimony, because what else could it be if not God? This is a reflection and living proof of the power of God. Your testimony then becomes a glimmer of hope for someone else who is watching your journey, even silently. Breaking the patterns Healing is divine work, and it carries a generational impact. When you willingly break patterns of fear, shame, or self-sabotage, you are not just changing your life. You are altering the spiritual DNA of your entire bloodline. You are the evidence that God’s restoration is real and alive in this world today. The ripple effect of divine alignment continues through every healed heart because every act of restoration reveals the presence of God, his power, his faithfulness, and his ability to bring calm from chaos. 5. Recognize God’s fingerprints in the ordinary Often, we are waiting for God’s presence to appear as a life-changing miracle, an unmistakable answer to prayer, or a moment that feels cinematic. The truth is, God rarely moves with only grand gestures. His hands are in the details, in the ordinary moments of life, creating quiet ripples that shape your journey in ways you may not immediately see. Divine alignment The ripple effect of divine alignment becomes most obvious when you slow down and are completely present in the moment. It is often when we are rushing and our nervous systems are stressed that we miss these subtle clues. It could be the words of encouragement from a friend, the small act of provision just in the nick of time, or the sense of peace in the midst of the storm. These are the fingerprints of God. Recognition  Being present by journaling, visualizing, meditating, or simply reflecting can help you become more in tune with these moments. Over time, the patterns begin to emerge and become so obvious that you may wonder why you didn’t see them sooner. You may notice how a simple conversation sparked an opportunity, how a setback led to immense clarity, or how a seemingly random encounter with a stranger brought intense guidance. When you finally connect the dots, what seemed like a mere coincidence begins to reveal something deeper. The ordinary then becomes extraordinary when it is seen through the lens of God’s work. These small, often invisible ripples accumulate, shaping your life in ways that eventually become undeniable. Once you recognize them, you become more attuned to the guidance and opportunities God places in your path, empowering you to move toward your purpose. Follow me on Instagram , and visit my website for more info! Read more from Katelyn Mateo Katelyn Mateo, Identity and Manifestation Coach Katelyn is an Identity and Manifestation Coach, Transformation Healer, and Founder of The Ripple Effect Signature Program. She empowers business owners and individuals to remove subconscious barriers and self-limiting beliefs so they can live and lead from their highest potential. Having overcome a near-death experience and the loss of her home in 2022, Katelyn’s journey of resilience and rebirth fuels her mission to help others transform their pain into purpose and create lives that radiate impact and intention.

Written by Ella Thomas, Bookkeeping & Accounting Strategist Ella Thomas is a Bookkeeping and Accounting Specialist and the founder of Strategic Bookkeeping Specialists. She helps business owners gain confidence, control, and peace of mind with their finances so they can fully focus on growing the business they love. The end of the year is a natural time for reflection, planning, and preparation. For business owners, it’s also a time to ensure your finances are in order and ready for tax season. With the right approach, what can feel overwhelming can become an organized and empowering process. As a business owner in the U.S., you are required to file taxes annually, either individually or through your business entity, depending on your structure. Five essential steps to prepare your business finances 1. Hire a bookkeeper A professional bookkeeper is more than someone who enters numbers. They are your organizational ally. A skilled bookkeeper ensures your financial statements are accurate, up-to-date, and ready to be used for tax preparation. They help keep you compliant, track your income and expenses, and make certain all taxes are filed and paid on time. 2. Hire a tax accountant While a bookkeeper keeps your records organized, a tax accountant can help you strategically minimize your tax liability. The right tax professional doesn’t just file your taxes. They provide insight into planning, deductions, and strategies tailored to your business. 3. Choose the right team It’s crucial to feel a strong connection with the professionals you hire. Reach out to several bookkeepers and accountants and find the ones whose energy, approach, and communication style resonate with you. Your comfort and trust in your team will make managing your finances much easier and less stressful. 4. Utilize your bookkeeper fully Your bookkeeper is there to help you with all your annual requirements. This includes 1099 filings, W-2s, payroll taxes, sales taxes, and secure document storage. The more you leverage their expertise, the less stress you’ll face when tax season arrives. 5. Review your documents carefully Even the most experienced professionals can make mistakes. As the business owner and taxpayer, it’s your responsibility to review all documentation before filing. Carefully check the reports from both your bookkeeper and tax accountant to ensure accuracy. This step protects you and ensures your filings are correct. Preparing your finances for the end of the year doesn’t have to be stressful. By taking these steps, you’ll approach tax season with clarity, confidence, and a sense of control, allowing you to focus on growing your business and stepping into the new year fully prepared. Follow me on Instagram , LinkedIn , and visit my website for more info! Read more from Ella Thomas Ella Thomas, Bookkeeping & Accounting Strategist Ella Thomas is the founder of Strategic Bookkeeping Specialists, dedicated to helping business owners simplify their finances and build confidence in their numbers. With years of experience in bookkeeping and accounting, she understands the challenges entrepreneurs face and provides practical strategies to bring clarity and peace of mind. Ella’s mission is to empower business owners to focus on what they love, growing their business, while she takes care of the financial details. Discover more insights and tips by visiting her profile page.

Claudette Rickett Spinelli Schwartz has built a life and career defined by purpose, compassion, and connection. Known for her leadership, philanthropy, and genuine care for others, she brings integrity to everything she does – whether she’s guiding a business initiative, supporting a local charity, or hiking a quiet trail surrounded by nature. “I’ve always believed that success means more when it lifts others too,” Claudette says. “That’s how I measure progress – not just by what I achieve, but by how much good it creates.” Her story is one of balance – blending professional achievement with a deep sense of social responsibility. It’s a balance that has earned her the respect of colleagues, community leaders, and peers alike. Early lessons that shaped her leadership Claudette’s values were shaped early in life by a strong sense of family, hard work, and gratitude. She often credits her upbringing for teaching her the importance of service and community. “I grew up understanding that no one succeeds alone,” she reflects. “You give back when you can, and you stay grounded no matter how far you go.” That philosophy would become a guiding force throughout her professional journey. It helped her build not just a career, but a reputation for empathy-driven leadership – one that values people as much as results. Building a career with integrity and intention Throughout her career, Claudette Rickett Spinelli Schwartz  has approached leadership as both a responsibility and a privilege. Colleagues describe her as someone who leads by example – steady, principled, and unafraid to make the tough calls when needed. She believes in creating spaces where people feel seen and valued. “When people feel respected, they give their best,” she explains. “That’s true in business, in teams, and in life.” Her work has earned her recognition not just for professional accomplishments, but also for how she achieves them – with integrity, compassion, and purpose. Claudette often emphasizes that the best results come from collaboration and trust. “The most successful teams aren’t the biggest,” she says. “They’re the ones that listen to each other and move forward together.” A commitment to philanthropy and community Beyond the boardroom, Claudette has dedicated herself to a range of charitable and community causes. She supports organizations that focus on improving lives – from local animal shelters to broader humanitarian efforts. Her philanthropic philosophy is hands-on. “I don’t just want to write a check,” she says. “I want to show up, understand the work, and help make it sustainable.” That mindset has led her to partnerships with nonprofit leaders and community organizers who share her drive for meaningful change. Whether she’s volunteering at an event, helping raise awareness, or mentoring young professionals, Claudette approaches every effort with the same level of care she brings to her professional work. The power of nature and balance For all her professional focus, Claudette knows the value of stepping back. She finds peace and perspective in nature – hiking, cooking outdoors, and exploring new landscapes whenever she can. “Nature keeps me centered,” she says. “It reminds me that growth takes time and that every season has a purpose.” This connection to the natural world shapes how she manages stress, makes decisions, and leads teams. She often encourages others to seek balance – to make space for reflection and renewal amid busy schedules. “Burnout doesn’t build leaders,” she adds. “Balance does. When you take care of yourself, you have more to give.” Leading with compassion in a changing world In an era where many leaders focus solely on performance metrics, Claudette stands out for her human-centered approach. Her leadership is grounded in empathy, clear communication, and long-term thinking – qualities that have become even more important in uncertain times. “People want authenticity,” she says. “They want to know the person leading them understands what they’re going through. That’s where trust begins.” Colleagues describe her as someone who listens more than she speaks – a rare quality in fast-paced industries. She believes that leadership today means fostering connection, not just driving output. A legacy of purpose and positive change Claudette’s journey reflects a blend of professional success and personal fulfillment. It’s a reminder that leadership doesn’t have to come at the cost of compassion – and that integrity can be the strongest form of influence. As she looks toward the future, her focus remains the same: to lead with purpose, serve her community, and stay grounded in what truly matters. “Titles fade,” she says. “But kindness – that’s what lasts. That’s what people remember.” Her example offers a timeless lesson: real leadership isn’t just about ambition or authority. It’s about heart, humility, and the courage to make a difference – one decision, one act of service, one moment of compassion at a time.