Written by Anne Wallen, Director and Founder of MaternityWise International Anne Wallen is a respected figure in women’s health with over 30 years of experience and is a leading voice on global change in maternity care, particularly for those at greatest risk. Preeclampsia remains one of the most serious complications of pregnancy and one of the leading contributors to maternal and infant morbidity and mortality worldwide. Along with obstetric hemorrhage, infection, thromboembolic disease, and cardiomyopathy, hypertensive disorders of pregnancy account for a substantial proportion of maternal deaths. Even when not fatal, preeclampsia can lead to stroke, placental abruption, acute kidney injury, pulmonary edema, liver dysfunction, disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), fetal growth restriction, medically indicated preterm birth, and lifelong cardiovascular disease for the mother. The tragedy is that many cases develop gradually, with warning signs that can be recognized if mothers and their support teams know what to look for. Unfortunately, the problem is worsening. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's newly released National Vital Statistics Report, the rate of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy has increased dramatically over the past decade. More than one in ten women giving birth in the United States now experience gestational hypertension or preeclampsia, representing an increase of more than 70 percent since 2016. Researchers note that maternal age and obesity alone do not account for the rise, indicating that the causes are likely multifactorial and deserving of much deeper investigation. As maternity professionals, educators, and advocates, we should certainly pay attention to these statistics. But rather than responding with fear, we should respond with knowledge. Beyond the blood pressure cuff "Preeclampsia is far more complex than just elevated blood pressure." It is a multisystem disorder involving abnormal placental development, endothelial dysfunction, immune system alterations, systemic inflammation, vascular changes, oxidative stress, and impaired maternal cardiovascular adaptation. While medicine has made remarkable advances in recognizing and managing severe disease, our healthcare system often remains focused on identifying complications after they begin rather than maximizing maternal wellness before they occur. Fortunately, there is growing recognition that improving maternal health before and throughout pregnancy matters. Evidence supports optimizing chronic medical conditions before conception, maintaining appropriate prenatal care, managing diabetes and chronic hypertension, encouraging regular physical activity, obtaining sufficient sleep, reducing tobacco exposure, and identifying women who may benefit from interventions such as low-dose aspirin based on established clinical guidelines. These measures cannot eliminate every case of preeclampsia, but they represent meaningful opportunities to reduce risk and improve overall pregnancy health. Nutrition is more than calories "One of the most overlooked aspects of prenatal care is nutritional education." Pregnancy dramatically increases physiological demands on nearly every organ system. Blood volume expands by approximately 40 to 50 percent. The placenta becomes a metabolically active organ requiring substantial nutrient delivery. Maternal kidneys, liver, cardiovascular system, endocrine system, and immune system all adapt to support the developing baby. "These remarkable changes require adequate nutritional reserves." Research has associated poor dietary quality with increased inflammation, insulin resistance, vascular dysfunction, and metabolic disease, factors that are also implicated in hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. While no single nutrient prevents preeclampsia, evidence suggests that a balanced diet rich in high-quality protein, fruits, vegetables, whole grains, healthy fats, and appropriate micronutrients, especially a complex of methylated B vitamins along with adequate magnesium, supports maternal cardiovascular and metabolic health. Addressing deficiencies when identified, promoting hydration, supporting healthy blood sugar regulation, and encouraging individualized nutrition planning are all practical ways to strengthen maternal wellbeing. At MaternityWise International, we believe nutrition deserves to be discussed long before labor begins, not as a restrictive set of rules, but as one of the foundational ways families can nourish both mother and baby. Since doulas are influential throughout their client families’ journeys through pregnancy, birth, and postpartum, and are able to spend much more time prenatally educating and supporting them through these changes, they have the opportunity to make a profoundly positive impact. Lifestyle matters because physiology matters Modern pregnancy exists within an increasingly demanding environment. Chronic stress, inadequate sleep, highly processed foods, sedentary lifestyles, environmental exposures, financial insecurity, and limited access to nutritious foods all influence maternal physiology. Although none of these factors alone explains preeclampsia, together they create a landscape in which inflammation, metabolic dysfunction, and cardiovascular strain may become more likely. Supporting maternal health therefore requires a broader conversation, and doulas are in a fantastic position to have that conversation. They can get to know the client’s current status, give advice, educate, and support healthy changes as needed. Simple practices such as regular movement, restorative sleep, hydration, stress reduction techniques, mindfulness, appropriate weight management, and emotional support contribute to healthier pregnancies. Equally important is ensuring that women feel heard, respected, and empowered to seek medical evaluation whenever something feels wrong. A mother who understands her body is not "difficult." She is engaged in her own healthcare, and that is powerfully positive. Recognizing the symptoms of preeclampsia that save lives Education is most powerful when it prepares families to recognize danger early. Every pregnant woman should know that the following symptoms require prompt medical assessment: Persistent or severe headache Visual disturbances such as blurred vision or flashing lights Right upper quadrant or epigastric pain Sudden swelling of the hands, face, or eyes Rapid weight gain caused by fluid retention Shortness of breath Elevated blood pressure Decreased fetal movement Far too often, these symptoms are minimized, dismissed, or attributed to "normal pregnancy." While many pregnancy discomforts are indeed benign, hypertensive disorders can progress rapidly. Timely evaluation can mean the difference between routine treatment and life-threatening complications. The unique role of the doula This is where professional doulas provide tremendous value. Doulas are not medical providers. They do not diagnose disease, prescribe treatment, or replace physicians or midwives. Instead, they become trusted educators, compassionate observers, skilled communicators, and consistent sources of support throughout pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum period. Because doulas often spend significantly more uninterrupted time with families than any other member of the healthcare team, they are uniquely positioned to reinforce healthy habits, encourage prenatal attendance, facilitate informed conversations, and help parents recognize when symptoms deserve immediate medical attention. This is not practicing medicine. It is practicing vigilance, education, and compassionate support. How MaternityWise helps change the trajectory At MaternityWise International, we believe reducing maternal mortality begins long before an emergency room visit or labor admission. Our curriculum intentionally prepares doulas to understand the physiology of pregnancy, the pathophysiology of hypertensive disorders, and the evidence-informed strategies that support healthier pregnancies. Students receive comprehensive education in maternal nutrition, hydration, appropriate weight gain, blood sugar balance, inflammation, sleep health, stress physiology, prenatal exercise, and the social determinants of health that influence pregnancy outcomes. "Just as importantly, they learn professional accountability." Our doulas are taught never to dismiss concerning symptoms or reassure a client when medical evaluation is warranted. Instead, they learn to recognize red flags within their scope of practice, encourage immediate communication with physicians or midwives, reinforce adherence to clinical recommendations, document observations appropriately, and remain a calm, compassionate presence throughout the process. We also teach something equally important: "Education is not about creating fear. It is about creating confidence." When families understand why healthy nutrition matters, how lifestyle influences pregnancy, what symptoms deserve attention, and when to seek medical care, they become empowered partners in protecting maternal health rather than passive recipients of healthcare. A shared responsibility No single profession will solve the maternal mortality crisis. Physicians, midwives, nurses, dietitians, public health professionals, doulas, childbirth educators, policymakers, researchers, and families each hold an important piece of the solution. Education alone cannot eliminate preeclampsia, but education changes behaviors. It improves communication. It strengthens partnerships between families and healthcare providers. It promotes earlier recognition of complications. It supports healthier pregnancies from the very beginning. Most importantly, it reminds every expectant mother that her body deserves nourishment, her concerns deserve to be heard, and her symptoms deserve to be taken seriously. If we hope to change the future of maternal health, we must begin where lasting change always begins, with knowledge, compassion, accountability, and a commitment to helping families thrive long before complications arise. Follow me on Facebook Instagram, and visit my website for more info! Read more from Anne Wallen Anne Wallen, Director and Founder of MaternityWise International Anne Wallen is a respected figure in women’s health with over 30 years of experience and is a leading voice on global change in maternity care, particularly for those at greatest risk. She continues to educate and empower birth professionals in more than 20 countries, contributes to a variety of curricula, and shapes the future of maternal health through her impactful role as a speaker and mentor. Anne is the Director and founder of MaternityWise International, and her legacy lies in inspiring generational changes and elevating women's healthcare worldwide. References: American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Gestational Hypertension and Preeclampsia. Practice Bulletin No. 222. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Hypertension and Preeclampsia in Pregnancy. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. National Vital Statistics Reports. Births: Provisional Data for 2025. Volume 75, Number 4. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Pregnancy Mortality Surveillance System. American Heart Association. High Blood Pressure During Pregnancy. The New York Times. Belluck, P. (July 29, 2026). High Blood Pressure in Pregnancy Has Surged in the U.S.

Los Angeles, CA, United States – For millions of Americans, each day is a struggle against anxiety, grief, stress, and overwhelming negative thoughts. While many search for lasting answers, wellness expert and transformation coach Miriam Putnam believes hope begins with a new perspective. Through her RESET and RISE framework, she and her team help individuals move beyond emotional overwhelm, rediscover their purpose, and create meaningful, lasting change. More than one in five U.S. adults experiences a mental health challenge each year, underscoring the growing demand for approaches that help people heal, build resilience, and thrive. It is easy to see that the traditional mental health system isn’t currently working. "RESET and RISE is the result of years of advocacy, research, and personal experience. I've watched it help many individuals overcome anxiety, grief, negative thought patterns, and the everyday pressures that keep so many people from living the life they envision. True transformation is possible, and if it has helped so many others reclaim their peace, purpose, and confidence, I believe it can help you too," says Putnam. The RESET and RISE framework combines practical tools with personalized guidance to help individuals overcome anxiety, grief, and limiting beliefs to step into the power of their true selves. Participants learn strategies to build resilience, find balance, and create healthier, more fulfilling lives. One client, Dave, credits the framework with helping him discover a new way of living after years of searching for balance. "I wanted a way to balance life's pressures, find peace of mind, and live according to my vision," he says. "Through RESET and RISE, I found practical tools that created meaningful and lasting transformation. It wasn't about temporary motivation- it was about changing how I approached life." For Putnam, the work is deeply personal. Losing her mother after a struggle and failure with the mental health system became the turning point that inspired Putnam's lifelong mission to help others find hope and healing and avoid the unfortunately broken system. "All I ever wanted was someone who truly understood how to help people experience genuine happiness and restore their well-being," says Putnam. "When I couldn't find that person, I decided to become the person I had once been searching for." Today, Putnam works with clients seeking sustainable transformation rather than temporary solutions, empowering them to replace limiting beliefs with confidence, resilience, and renewed purpose. "I hope more people have access to approaches that honor the whole person and provide meaningful, lasting solutions," Putnam says. "Until then, my team and I will continue serving individuals who are ready to reclaim their lives and create a future filled with hope, balance, and purpose." Putnam encourages those facing mental health challenges to remember they do not have to navigate recovery alone or in a failed mental health system. Through the RESET and RISE framework, individuals develop practical tools that foster resilience, renewed purpose, and lasting personal growth. The genuine transformation clients experience demonstrates what is possible for anyone willing to embrace the journey toward a better life. About Miriam Putnam Miriam Putnam is a wellness expert, transformation specialist, holistic mental health advocate, and founder of the RESET and RISE framework. Inspired by her personal journey and years of advocacy, she helps individuals overcome emotional barriers, build resilience, and create lives rooted in purpose, balance, and lasting well-being. For more information about Miriam Putnam and the RESET and RISE framework, visit here. Miriam Putnam is available for interviews.

Written by Laura McCann, Founder & CEO of Auratherapy Laura McCann is the Founder & CEO of Auratherapy, a luxury wellness brand helping people reclaim their breath and remember they are vibrational beings. A 30-year CPG + tech founder, she’s building a modern movement at the intersection of scent, energy, and self-mastery, turning daily rituals into transformation. After more than thirty years as an entrepreneur, people often assume I’ve seen it all. The truth is almost the opposite. Every stage of building a business has required me to become a student again. When I launched my first company, I didn’t need to understand ecommerce because ecommerce wasn’t part of my business. I didn’t need to think about SEO, customer journey mapping, lifecycle email marketing, affiliate programs, user-generated content, AI prompting, conversion optimization, or software product design because those disciplines either didn’t exist or weren’t relevant to the company I was building. Today’s CEO is expected to understand an entirely different business landscape than the one I entered three decades ago. That’s why I believe one of the greatest skills an entrepreneur can develop isn’t knowing everything. It’s knowing how to rapidly acquire expertise in subjects you’ve never had to master before. The mistake I see many bootstrapped entrepreneurs make is believing they have to acquire that expertise entirely on their own. I’ve never believed in shortcuts. But I absolutely believe in compression. If someone has already spent twenty years mastering a discipline, why would I spend the next five reinventing what they’ve already learned? Every time my business reached a new chapter, I found myself needing a new operating system. When Auratherapy became an ecommerce business, I needed to understand ecommerce as a discipline, not just as a sales channel. I hired a coach because I wanted to compress years of learning into months. I didn’t just learn tactics. I learned the language, customer lifetime value, flywheels, retention, acquisition, and conversion optimization. Suddenly, I wasn’t just making decisions, I understood the framework behind those decisions. The same thing happened when I hired a mindset coach. One question changed how I built my company: “Is there a Standard Operating Procedures for that?” At first, I thought we were talking about documentation. Instead, we were talking about scale. That one idea fundamentally changed the way I think about business. Every recurring problem should eventually become a repeatable solution. Every repeatable solution should become a system. Every system should be documented. SOP stopped feeling like corporate paperwork and became the foundation that allowed my company to grow without constantly reinventing itself. Later, branding became its own discipline. By then, I had already built multiple businesses, but this one required creating a consumer brand from the ground up. That meant learning an entirely different skill set: positioning, messaging, voice, story architecture, customer perception, and brand strategy. What I thought I was buying was branding. What I was actually acquiring was a way of thinking that continues to influence every decision I make today. When I hired a Chief Revenue Officer as a coach, the lesson wasn’t sales. It was systems. I realized that high-performing sales organizations don’t rely on charisma. They rely on architecture. Every conversation has a sequence. Every objection has a pattern. Every customer journey has friction that can be measured and improved. Once again, I wasn’t simply hiring expertise. I was borrowing a framework until it became my own. Not every engagement was a home run. I hired a packaging agency expecting them to develop our next generation of product packaging. It wasn’t the right fit, and ultimately, we went in a different direction. But I don’t consider the investment wasted. Working alongside talented people helped me narrow down options, clarify my instincts, and gain confidence in decisions I might have otherwise second-guessed. The packaging we ultimately launched wasn’t created by that agency, but the process absolutely sharpened my thinking. Sometimes the greatest value isn’t the deliverable. It’s becoming a better decision-maker. More recently, I hired a team to rethink the strategy behind our Miami retail experience. For years, I had been immersed in the mechanics of running a retail business: products, fixtures, staffing, operations, inventory. They continually brought me back to something much bigger- the customer journey. That shift changed everything. Founders naturally become experts in how a business operates. Customers experience how a business feels. Those aren’t always the same thing. Today, we’re building our next-generation website alongside our ATOS software platform, and once again, I’ve found myself learning from specialists. Watching experienced product strategists work has been one of the most educational experiences of my career. They don’t begin with features. They begin with use cases. They map customer behavior, organize visual inspiration, document workflows, challenge assumptions, and create enormous collaborative canvases where everyone can literally see the strategy unfolding in real time. We’ve since adopted that way of working across other parts of our business because the framework itself is valuable. The same thing happened when I was accepted into the Fixer Advisory Program, a brand accelerator for beauty, wellness, and CPG companies. As part of the program, I was introduced to a series of AI-powered strategic tools designed to excavate ideas around our brand’s value proposition, mission, positioning, and long-term vision. What surprised me most wasn’t the technology itself, it was the quality of the questions. The tools didn’t simply generate answers. They systematically uncovered information I already possessed but hadn’t yet organized. They challenged me to articulate who we serve, why we exist, what differentiates us, and even what kind of CEO I am. Those insights became the foundation for refining our strategy, our investor narrative, and our future roadmap. Once again, I realized that the real value wasn’t AI. It was the framework behind the questions. The technology simply made that framework more accessible and dramatically faster than I could have achieved on my own. Looking back over three decades, I realize that every one of these investments had something in common. I wasn’t collecting consultants. I was collecting ways of thinking. Every coach taught me a mental model. Every agency introduced a methodology. Every strategist revealed another blueprint. Every project expanded my own operating system as a CEO. I’ve often joked that entrepreneurship has been like earning five different master’s degrees without ever receiving the diploma. The joke isn’t really a joke. Between the money I’ve invested, the projects I’ve led, the mentors I’ve worked with, and the frameworks I’ve absorbed, I could probably claim a master’s degree in branding, another in ecommerce, another in sales, another in operations, another in finance, another in product development, and another in leadership. The tuition was certainly real. The classroom just happened to be my own business. The biggest lesson, however, had nothing to do with marketing or branding. It had everything to do with abundance. Bootstrapped entrepreneurs often wear their resourcefulness as a badge of honor. We pride ourselves on figuring things out. We stretch every dollar, solve problems creatively, and build with whatever resources we have available. Resourcefulness is one of the greatest strengths an entrepreneur can possess. Scarcity is not. There’s a profound difference between creatively solving problems and believing you don’t deserve access to world-class thinking. Too many founders eliminate opportunities before anyone else has the chance to. They assume the best agency won’t take their call. They assume the consultant is too expensive. They assume the mentor is out of reach. They decide they can’t afford the investment before they’ve explored what might be possible. I’ve learned the opposite is often true. Some firms will phase projects. Some advisors will coach instead of consult. Some experts will generously share how they think before you ever become a client. Some will surprise you simply because you had the courage to ask. Today, AI has fundamentally changed the economics of learning. For the first time in history, entrepreneurs have access to strategic frameworks that were once reserved for the world’s largest companies. AI won’t replace great advisors, but it can dramatically amplify what you learn from them. It can help you organize your thinking, pressure-test your assumptions, accelerate your learning, and build upon the frameworks you’ve collected throughout your career. Perhaps that’s the biggest shift I’ve experienced as a CEO. I no longer see these investments as projects. I see them as designing my own executive education. Every time my business requires a new capability, I don’t ask myself, “Can I figure this out alone?” I ask a different question: “Who already knows how to think about this better than I do, and how can I learn from them?” That isn’t weakness. It’s leadership. Because the greatest return on investment isn’t the website, the packaging, the software, or the marketing campaign. It’s the CEO you become in the process. Perhaps that’s the real framework advantage. Not collecting deliverables. Collecting ways of thinking. Looking back, I don’t think I’ve just built businesses. I think I’ve spent the last thirty years designing my own executive MBA, one project, one mentor, one framework, and one lesson at a time. If only someone would finally send me the diploma. Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn for more info! Read more from Laura McCann Laura McCann, Founder & CEO of Auratherapy Laura McCann, a former child star, France-raised creative, NY fashion alum, and tech entrepreneur, now leads Auratherapy as Founder & CEO. With 30 years as a founder across CPG and tech, she’s bringing luxury and innovation to functional fragrance through breathable, essential oil-based Aroma Perfumes and water-based aura sprays. Auratherapy pairs this with data-driven aura and chakra diagnostics that translate energy into personalized rituals. Her mission is to help people reclaim their breath, remember they are vibrational beings, and transform through the practice of adoring yourself.

Written by Prudence Hatchett, Leadership Resilience Strategist Prudence Hatchett is an award-winning entrepreneur, international speaker, bestselling author, and Leadership Resilience Strategist helping leaders transform burnout into sustainable influence and high performance. There is a dangerous assumption happening in workplaces today. Leaders are calling everything "stress." Long day? Stress. Difficult employee? Stress. Endless meetings? Stress. Loss of motivation? Stress. But what if it isn't stress anymore? What if the problem isn't that you're carrying too much but that you've been carrying it for too long? The truth is that stress and burnout are not the same thing. Yet I continue to see high-performing leaders treating burnout with stress management techniques that were never designed to solve it. They take a vacation, schedule another self-care day, or promise themselves that next month will be easier. It rarely is. The distinction between stress and burnout is more than semantics. It has significant implications for leaders and organizations. The World Health Organization (WHO) recognizes burnout as an occupational phenomenon resulting from chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed, distinguishing it from everyday stress. Gallup reports that employees who are thriving in their overall well-being are substantially less likely to experience frequent burnout, highlighting why resilience must become a proactive leadership competency rather than a reactive coping strategy. If we continue treating burnout like ordinary stress, we'll continue applying the wrong solutions. Because burnout isn't simply an overload problem. It's a resilience problem. As a licensed therapist, leadership resilience strategist, and executive coach, I've learned that resilience isn't about enduring more responsibilities. It's about maintaining your ability to think clearly, lead confidently, and recover effectively while challenges exist. Understanding the difference between stress and burnout is where that transformation begins. Stress says, "I have too much to do." Burnout says, "I don't care anymore." Stress is usually connected to overload. Your calendar is full. Deadlines are approaching. Decisions are piling up. You still care. You simply don't have enough capacity. Burnout is different. The emotional investment begins to disappear. Work that once energized you now feels meaningless. Your passion quietly becomes indifference. That emotional detachment is one of the earliest warning signs that your nervous system has moved from temporary activation into long-term depletion. Resilience helps leaders recognize these shifts before emotional exhaustion becomes their new normal. Stress feels temporary, burnout feels permanent Stress has an ending. Once the project is completed or the crisis passes, most people begin recovering naturally. Burnout doesn't operate that way. Even after the workload decreases, the exhaustion often remains. Leaders tell me they take a week off and return feeling exactly the same. That's because burnout changes more than your schedule. It changes how your brain and body respond to demands. Resilience creates the internal capacity to recover instead of simply surviving. Stress increases energy, burnout drains it Stress can actually sharpen performance for short periods. Your focus increases. Your adrenaline rises. You solve problems quickly. Burnout removes that fuel entirely. Simple decisions become overwhelming. Creative thinking declines. Patience disappears. Confidence slowly erodes. Many leaders mistake this for laziness or poor motivation when, in reality, their internal operating system has been depleted. Resilience restores energy by strengthening recovery, not by asking you to push harder. Stress is about external pressure, burnout becomes internal Stress usually begins with something happening around us. Deadlines. Conflict. Financial pressure. Organizational change. Burnout eventually becomes internal. Negative thinking increases. Self-doubt grows louder. Decision fatigue becomes constant. Emotional regulation becomes more difficult. At this stage, removing one stressful event rarely fixes the problem because your nervous system has learned to remain in survival mode. This is why resilience must become an internal skill instead of an external strategy. Stress can be managed, and burnout can be rebuilt This is perhaps the biggest misconception. Stress management and burnout recovery are not interchangeable. Managing stress may include: Better boundaries Improved time management Delegation Exercise Vacation These are valuable practices. But burnout requires rebuilding your emotional endurance, mental flexibility, cognitive recovery, and nervous system regulation. In other words, burnout requires resilience. Not the version of resilience that simply tells people to "be stronger." Strategic resilience. The kind that allows leaders to recover without disconnecting from their purpose, regulate emotions without suppressing them, and continue leading without sacrificing themselves in the process. Resilience changes everything The healthiest leaders I know aren't the ones with the least amount of stress. They're the ones who know how to recover. They recognize early warning signs. They understand how pressure affects their thinking. They regulate their emotions before they react. They protect their energy instead of constantly spending it. Most importantly, they understand that resilience is not something you use after burnout. It is what prevents burnout from taking over in the first place. Final thoughts Stress is part of leadership. Burnout doesn't have to be. Leadership will always involve difficult decisions, uncertainty, and responsibility. The goal is to build the internal resilience that allows you to navigate those demands without losing yourself in the process. Because resilience isn't simply about bouncing back. It's about leading forward with clarity, endurance, and purpose, even when the pressure never completely disappears. Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and visit my website for more info! Read more from Prudence Hatchett Prudence Hatchett, Leadership Resilience Strategist Prudence Hatchett is an award-winning entrepreneur, international speaker, executive coach, Leadership Resilience Strategist, and bestselling author. With over 20 years of experience in mental health, education, and leadership development, she helps leaders eliminate burnout, strengthen resilience, and elevate their influence. As the founder of PH Counseling, LLC® and Learn with Prudence®, Prudence combines neuroscience, psychology, and leadership strategy to deliver transformative, actionable insights. Her engaging presentations empower audiences to lead with clarity, confidence, and purpose while creating psychologically safe, high-performing cultures that thrive in today's demanding environment.

The saying “you are what you eat” is true. Research has shown that diet plays a critical role in shaping a person’s health and well-being. Unhealthy diets can pose a major risk for disease and disability. Similarly, movement and regular physical activity are crucial for overall well-being. Exercise can provide significant physical and mental benefits and actively contributes to the prevention and management of diseases, such as diabetes. Mental health is also critical to overall well-being and leading a better life. An individual’s emotional state can have a direct impact on their physical health and nutrition. For example, poor mental health can increase the likelihood of chronic physical conditions. For readers interested in advancing their understanding of complex patient care and health systems, online AGACNP programs can offer a pathway to developing more advanced clinical knowledge while staying engaged with evolving wellness-focused approaches in healthcare. What is integrative health? Before delving into how nutrition, movement, and mental health are all connected, it’s important to understand integrative health. The term describes a patient-centered style of delivering healthcare that considers a more holistic approach. Instead of treating all components of an individual’s health separately, an integrative approach considers the whole person’s physical, emotional, mental, and social factors when treating a patient. Healthcare professionals employing an integrative health approach will focus on the person as a whole, not just the specific disease or illness. It is an evidence-based practice that considers how different aspects of a person’s health, such as their mental state, can affect their physical health. How does it work? A healthcare professional employing an integrative approach will complement conventional Western medicine with lifestyle changes and therapies that have been scientifically validated. Examples of these include: Lifestyle changes (e.g., food, exercise) Dietary supplements Body-based therapy (e.g., massages) Psychological treatment Psychotherapy Meditation or mindfulness activities It’s important to understand that these should never replace conventional medicine. Healthcare professionals employing an integrated approach will only use these alongside formal treatment options. How is it different from a holistic approach? Despite the terms often being used interchangeably, there is a difference between integrative and holistic health. Understanding the difference is crucial for anyone navigating the modern healthcare landscape. The concept of holistic health is over 2000 years old and has strong roots in ancient history and traditional Chinese medicine. In Chinese Medicine, practitioners believed that the body, mind, and spirit were all interconnected and must work harmoniously for balance and well-being. Traditionally, practitioners of holistic health would include alternative treatments, such as acupuncture and herbal medicine. On the other hand, while integrative health takes the holistic philosophy of treating the whole person, it is rooted in evidence-based practice supported by research. The importance of nutrition The link between nutrition and physical health has been known for years, but it also has a significant impact on mental health and overall well-being. As the American Psychological Association states: “We are what we eat”. Growing evidence reveals that what we eat influences more than just physical health. It can have an impact on a person’s mood and emotions, as well as decrease the risk for mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety. Research indicates that a diet with minimal processed foods and a focus on fruits and vegetables is associated with positive mental health outcomes. One study of 45,000 people found that individuals with high amounts of fruit and vegetables in their diet were linked to significantly reduced psychological distress. How movement affects health Recent data from the American Heart Association reveals that only one in five adults and teens get enough exercise to maintain good health. It’s recommended that individuals fit in at least 150 minutes (2.5 hours) of moderate-intensity aerobic activity per week. Examples of moderate-intensity activities include: Fast-paced walking Water aerobics Gardening Dancing Physical activity is directly connected to a person’s physical and mental health. Exercise has a scientifically proven influence on a person’s mental well-being and emotional state. Several positive outcomes include: Reduces symptoms of anxiety and depression Enhances sleep and cognitive function Meeting exercise goals can improve self-esteem and confidence Mental health and overall wellness Mental health can impact physical health and a person’s body through biological, behavioral, and neurological pathways. People living with poor mental health are more likely to experience poorer physical health than the general population. People living with mental illness are also more likely to experience comorbidity – two or more – of physical conditions. This is a connection that goes both ways. It’s also more likely that a person living with a physical illness is more likely to develop a mental illness, as poor health can be stress-inducing and raise the risk of conditions such as depression. Poor mental health can impact physical health and overall well-being directly and indirectly. For example, depression can affect a person’s willingness to complete activities that promote good health, such as brushing their teeth, exercising, or cooking healthy meals – impacting nutrition and physical health. Research also reveals that positive mental health has a wealth of benefits for physical well-being. These include: Reduced risk of heart disease and stroke Make chronic illness or pain more manageable Studies suggest that people with good mental health have a higher life expectancy If you’re looking to shift towards better living, it’s important to focus on all aspects of your life and health. Making small steps to improve in all areas, including our mental health, physical health, and diet, is easier than singling out just one.

Written by Jennifer Stewart, Technology & Productivity Trainer Jennifer Stewart is a Technology and Productivity Trainer and owner of Gateway Productivity, known for patiently helping clients overcome technology frustration and work more efficiently. She has trained individuals and businesses since 2011 and creates accessible learning content through her “Tuesday Tech Training” video series on YouTube. Most people can recognize clutter when it fills a closet, garage, or junk drawer. Digital clutter, however, is much harder to see. It hides in overflowing inboxes, crowded Downloads folders, duplicate photos, outdated files, and cloud storage accounts packed with information you will likely never use again. At first, saving everything seems harmless. Storage is cheap, search is powerful, and deleting something feels riskier than keeping it. But over time, those thousands of files create a different kind of burden, one that impacts your focus, productivity, and peace of mind. Researchers have even identified digital hoarding as a growing behavior with personal and organizational consequences, linking excessive digital accumulation to stress, disorganization, and reduced performance. Just because something does not take up physical space does not mean it is not taking up mental space. Recognize the hidden cost Many people keep digital files for the same reason they keep items in an overstuffed basement, they might need them someday. Unfortunately, that mindset often creates more problems than it solves. Every unnecessary file adds noise to your digital environment, making it harder to find what actually matters. The cost of digital hoarding is not just storage. Studies show that employees spend an average of 1.8 hours per day searching for information, which equals nearly a quarter of the workday. When your files, emails, and documents lack structure, finding what you need becomes increasingly difficult. Digital clutter creates friction every time you open a folder, search for a document, or try to remember where something was saved. The more information we accumulate, the harder it becomes to navigate efficiently. Stop treating storage as unlimited Cloud storage has made it incredibly easy to save everything. In many ways, that is a blessing. In others, it has become an invitation to avoid making decisions. Research on digital hoarding found that 60% of people never delete photos, while vast amounts of outdated files continue to accumulate unchecked in cloud storage systems. Instead of asking, “Do I have room to keep this?” try asking whether you will realistically use it again, whether you could easily find it online if you needed it, and whether the version you are saving still has value. Building the habit of evaluating information before saving it prevents clutter from accumulating in the first place. Create simple rules for keeping files One reason digital clutter grows so quickly is that most people do not have clear criteria for what stays and what goes. Every decision becomes emotional or situational rather than systematic. Creating a few simple rules removes that uncertainty. For example, delete duplicate files immediately, keep only the final version of completed projects, archive documents with legal or historical value, and remove screenshots once they have served their purpose. The goal is not perfection. It is reducing the number of decisions you will have to make later. When every file has a purpose, your storage becomes significantly easier to manage. Schedule digital cleanup time Most people do not wake up one day with a cluttered digital environment. It happens gradually through hundreds of small decisions made over months or years. That is why decluttering works best when it becomes a routine rather than a major project. Consider scheduling a monthly Digital Cleanup Day when you review your Downloads folders, desktop files, screenshots, archived documents, email folders, and cloud storage accounts. Small maintenance sessions prevent the overwhelming feeling that comes with tackling years of accumulated information all at once. A little consistency goes much further than a massive annual purge. Reduce information overload Digital hoarding is not only about the files you save. It is also about the information you consume. Today’s professionals face a constant stream of emails, notifications, articles, videos, and messages competing for attention. According to research on information overload, 63% of employees report that too much information is a problem at work, while knowledge workers spend 19% of their time searching for information instead of using it. A few simple habits can help. Unsubscribe from newsletters you no longer read, leave inactive Teams and Slack channels, turn off unnecessary notifications, and stop saving articles you know you will never revisit. Sometimes, the best way to organize information is to stop collecting so much of it. Organize around retrieval Many people organize files based on where they think something belongs. A better approach is to organize around how you will find it later. Ask yourself what you would search for, which keywords you would remember, and which folder you would expect the file to be in. The purpose of organization is retrieval, not categorization. If you cannot find something quickly, the system is not serving you, no matter how neatly organized it appears. Simple folder structures, consistent naming conventions, and fewer storage locations often outperform complicated systems. Let go of “just in case” The phrase “just in case” may be the biggest driver of digital hoarding. We save documents just in case we need them. We keep emails just in case someone asks. We hold on to presentations, screenshots, and downloads just in case they become useful someday. But most of those someday scenarios never arrive. In fact, research on workplace digital hoarding suggests that the ease of modern storage technology encourages excessive retention that often exceeds actual operational needs. The more intentional you become about what you keep, the easier it becomes to manage what remains. Sometimes, deleting a file is less about freeing storage space and more about freeing mental space. Keep what matters Digital minimalism is not about deleting everything. It is about creating room for information that genuinely supports your work and life. The best digital environments are not empty. They are purposeful. When your files are organized, your inbox is manageable, and your storage contains only what matters, you spend less time searching, less time feeling overwhelmed, and more time focusing on meaningful work. Just as we occasionally clean our homes, vehicles, and workspaces, our digital lives deserve the same attention. Take the next step If your desktop is crowded, your Downloads folder is overflowing, or your cloud storage feels impossible to navigate, start small. Choose one folder, one device, or one inbox and spend fifteen minutes clearing out what no longer serves you. The goal is not perfection. It is progress. By making small, intentional decisions today, you can create a digital environment that supports clarity instead of chaos and gives you back time, focus, and peace of mind. Ready to create a more organized digital life? Schedule a consultation today to learn practical strategies for managing files, email, tasks, and digital workflows. Follow me on LinkedIn, and visit my website for more info! Read more from Jennifer Stewart Jennifer Stewart, Technology & Productivity Trainer Jennifer Stewart is a Technology and Productivity Trainer, and the owner of Gateway Productivity, dedicated to helping individuals and businesses reduce overwhelm and work more efficiently with their digital tools. Since 2011, she has empowered clients to overcome technology frustration through clear, patient, and practical training that creates real “lightbulb” moments. Jennifer is a recognized industry leader, an active member of the National Association of Productivity and Organizing Professionals (NAPO), and a national speaker who brings both expertise and approachability to every session. Through her popular “Tuesday Tech Training” video series on YouTube, she continues to make technology simple, accessible, and even enjoyable.

Written by Heather Higgins, Counsellor & Grief Coach With extensive experience supporting people through grief, and the professionals who work with them, Heather delivers practical, compassionate insights grounded in counselling, psychology, and emotional wellbeing. Her work focuses on helping individuals and organisations navigate grief with confidence and care. When someone we care about is grieving, our natural instinct is often to make their pain better. We search for the right words, offer advice, or try to find solutions that might ease their suffering. Yet grief is not a problem to be solved or something that can be fixed. More often than not, what grieving people need is not answers but understanding, compassion, and the reassurance that they do not have to face their loss alone. In this article, we'll explore the difference between supporting someone's grief and trying to fix it, and why simply being present can be one of the most meaningful gifts we can offer. Why do we feel the need to "fix" grief? When someone we care about is grieving, it is natural to want to ease their pain. Seeing another person suffer can leave us feeling helpless, prompting us to search for the "right" words or offer advice in the hope of making things better for them. In many areas of life, we are taught to solve problems, find solutions, and focus on moving forward, so it is understandable that we approach grief in the same way. However, grief is not a problem to be solved or an emotion to be fixed. It is a deeply personal response to loss that deserves to be acknowledged rather than hurried away. By recognising our instinct to fix grief, we can begin to shift our focus from trying to remove someone's pain to simply walking alongside them with empathy, patience, and compassion. When good intentions cause harm Most people who support someone after a loss do so with genuine care and compassion. However, comments offered with good intentions can sometimes leave a grieving person feeling misunderstood or as though their emotions need to be minimised. Phrases such as "Everything happens for a reason," "They're in a better place," or "At least they're no longer suffering" are often said in an attempt to offer comfort, but they can unintentionally dismiss the depth of someone's grief. Likewise, encouraging someone to "stay strong" or "move on" may create pressure to hide emotions rather than express them, which can be harmful. Instead of searching for reassuring words, it is often more meaningful to acknowledge the person's loss, validate their feelings, and allow them the space to grieve in whatever way feels right for them. This helps people feel seen, heard, and accepted, reducing the isolation that so often accompanies grief and reinforcing the fact that they do not have to hide or justify their emotions. What grieving people really need While every person's grief is unique, there are some universal needs that many grieving people share. More than advice or solutions, they often need to feel listened to, understood, and accepted without judgement. Grief can bring a wide range of emotions, from sadness and anger to guilt, relief, confusion, or even moments of laughter. Having the freedom to express these feelings without fear of criticism can be incredibly healing. Grieving people also benefit from patience and ongoing support, as grief does not end after the funeral or within a set timeframe. Sometimes, one of the most meaningful things we can do is acknowledge their loved one by name, share a memory, or simply ask how they are coping or what they need. These small acts of compassion remind people that their loss has not been forgotten and that they do not have to carry their grief alone. The power of simply being present One of the greatest misconceptions about supporting someone through grief is believing that we need to have the perfect words. In reality, our presence is often far more valuable than anything we could say. Simply sitting with someone, listening without interrupting, allowing silence, and acknowledging their emotions without trying to change them can provide a profound sense of comfort. Being present communicates, "You don't have to go through this alone," even when there are no answers or solutions. Grief cannot be taken away, but knowing that someone is willing to stay alongside us in our pain can reduce feelings of loneliness and help us feel supported, understood, and connected during one of life's most difficult experiences. Practical ways to support someone who is grieving Supporting someone through grief is rarely about finding the perfect words, it is about showing up with compassion, consistency, and a willingness to listen. While every person's experience of grief is different, small, thoughtful actions can have a lasting impact. Rather than trying to take away their pain, focus on creating a space where they feel safe to express it. Here are some simple but meaningful ways to support someone who is grieving: Avoid clichés or trying to find the "right" words: Comments such as "Everything happens for a reason" or "They're in a better place" are usually offered with good intentions, but they can unintentionally minimise someone's pain. Rather than searching for the perfect response, acknowledge the person's loss with honesty and compassion. A simple "I'm so sorry" or "I'm here for you" is often far more meaningful. Listen more than you speak: When someone is grieving, they rarely need us to have all the answers. Most often, they need someone who is willing to listen without interrupting, judging, or trying to change how they feel. Active listening communicates that their thoughts and emotions matter, helping them feel heard, understood, and less alone. Acknowledge their loved one by name: Many grieving people fear that their loved one will be forgotten. Saying their name, sharing a memory, or asking about them shows that their life continues to matter. While some worry that this may upset someone, most grieving people are already thinking about the person they have lost and often appreciate the opportunity to speak about them. Accept that grief has no timeline: Grief does not follow a schedule, and there is no point at which someone should be expected to have "moved on." Everyone experiences loss differently, influenced by their relationship, personality, previous experiences, and the circumstances surrounding the death. Allowing people to grieve at their own pace helps reduce pressure and validates their individual experience. Check in long after the funeral: Support often surrounds someone immediately after a bereavement, but it gradually fades as life returns to normal for everyone else. For the person grieving, however, the loss remains part of their everyday life. A message or phone call weeks or months later can remind someone that they are still thought of and supported when they may need it most. Offer specific help: Instead of saying, "Let me know if you need anything," which is so broad that someone in the depths of bereavement may not respond, offer practical support that requires little effort from the grieving person. Suggestions such as dropping off a meal, collecting children from school, walking the dog, or accompanying someone to an appointment remove the burden of having to ask for help at a time when decision making can feel overwhelming. Respect that everyone grieves differently: There is no universal way to grieve. Some people openly express their emotions, while others process them more privately. Some may return to work quickly, while others need more time. Avoid comparing grief experiences or making assumptions about how someone "should" cope. Instead, respect their individual way of responding to loss. Be comfortable with silence: Not every moment needs to be filled with conversation. Sitting quietly beside someone, offering a hug if appropriate, or simply being present can provide immense comfort. Silence can create space for reflection and emotion, reminding someone that they do not have to carry their grief alone. Remember important dates: Birthdays, anniversaries, holidays, and significant milestones can reignite feelings of grief, even years after a loss. Remembering these dates with a thoughtful message or gesture lets someone know that neither they nor their loved one has been forgotten. Small acts of remembrance can have a lasting impact and will mean more to the person who is grieving than you may ever know. Simply be present: Above all, remember that your presence is more valuable than perfection. You do not need to fix grief or make the pain disappear. That is not your job. By showing up consistently with kindness, empathy, and patience, you offer something that no advice ever can: the reassurance that someone does not have to face their grief alone. Supporting without trying to take the pain away One of the greatest acts of compassion we can offer someone who is grieving is to accept that we cannot take their pain away. They know you can’t fix it for them, and they don’t expect you to. Grief is a natural response to losing someone or something deeply meaningful, and while we may wish we could make it disappear, our role is not to fix it but to walk alongside the person experiencing it. By listening without judgement, acknowledging their loss, and remaining present through the difficult moments, we help reduce the loneliness and isolation that grief can bring. In the end, people are unlikely to remember the perfect words we said, but they will remember who showed up for them and how we made them feel. Sometimes, the most meaningful support comes not from trying to change someone's grief, but from showing them that they don't have to carry it alone. A final reflection Supporting someone through grief is not about having all the answers or finding the perfect words. It is about choosing connection over comfort, presence over solutions, and compassion over the need to fix what cannot be fixed. Every conversation we have about grief has the potential to remind someone that their pain is valid, their loved one is remembered, and they are not alone in carrying their loss. If we can become more comfortable sitting alongside grief rather than trying to remove it, we can create a culture where people feel safe to express their emotions without fear of judgement. Perhaps the greatest gift we can offer someone who is grieving is not the promise that things will get better, but the reassurance that they do not have to face their grief alone. If this article has resonated with you and you'd like to continue the conversation, you may also enjoy my article, Why Conversations About Grief Matter More Than Ever, where I explore how open dialogue can help create a more grief-informed society. You can also read my interview, How Parental Loss Shaped My Work With Grief, to learn more about the personal experiences that inspired my work. For a deeper exploration of grief, healing, and finding purpose after loss, my book, Guided by Grief, is available now. I also share practical guidance, education, and reflections on grief and bereavement through my Instagram community. I invite you to connect, continue learning, and help create a world where no one needs to navigate grief alone. Follow me on Facebook and LinkedIn for more info! Read more from Heather Higgins Heather Higgins, Counsellor & Grief Coach Heather is a grief specialist, counsellor, author and facilitator with extensive experience supporting children, young people, adults and the professionals who care for them. After loosing both parents at a young age, she now uses her lived experience to support others through bereavement. Her work focuses on helping individuals and organisations better understand grief, loss, and emotional resilience through practical, compassionate approaches. Through her writing and teaching, she aims to make conversations around grief more informed, accessible, and human.

Written by Rosanna Ho, Clinical Hypnotherapist and RTT® Practitioner Rosanna Ho is a Clinical Hypnotherapist, RTT® Practitioner, and cultural identity expert who helps global top performers and Third Culture Individuals (TCIs) find their way “Home.” With nearly a decade of counselling experience, she bridges psychology and subconscious healing to help professionals trade chronic stress for Peaceful Productivity. If you are a high achiever, there is often a quiet, terrifying question that whispers in the back of your mind, “If I stop pushing so hard, will I lose my competitive edge?” For years, your stress has been your engine. Chaos has become your normal. The anxiety, sleepless nights, and hypervigilance have acted as a sort of internal fuel, driving you to cross finish lines, close deals, and build empires. As such, you consciously or subconsciously believe that if you let go of the pressure, you will fall behind and stay behind. So, you keep running. You stress and strain your way through chronic exhaustion, wearing your burnout like a badge of honour. All the while, you may be quietly chipping away at your health and inner peace in pursuit of external validation. But here is the truth your ego may not want you to acknowledge: hustle culture is not a strategy for sustainable success. When it is not balanced with rest and recovery, it can contribute to chronic stress that masquerades as ambition. When your primary driver is stress, you are not necessarily scaling your business or career. You may simply be surviving your own ambition. The force myth: Why conscious productivity hacks eventually fail Most traditional productivity advice focuses entirely on the conscious mind. For instance, we are told to wake up at 4:00 a.m., master time blocking, build elaborate efficiency systems, and cultivate raw, unyielding self-discipline. However, these hustle “hacks” are built on a deeply flawed premise that promises you can force your way to sustainable success. This is, in and of itself, an oxymoron because the very act of force is meant to be temporary, while what is natural and organic is, by nature, more sustainable. "Force only creates counter-force, known as resistance." For example, sleeping seven to nine hours per night is generally recommended for healthy adults. Eating a balanced diet helps provide the nutrients our bodies need to function. Balancing work with sufficient rest is also important because it can help us sustain ourselves financially, physically, and energetically. Therefore, when you rely solely on willpower and force to work, your brain must constantly override your body’s signs of fatigue, fear, and resistance. During stressful situations, the body may release hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline. While this response can be useful in short bursts, prolonged stress can negatively affect physical and psychological health. Something eventually has to give, and that may express itself through concerns such as exhaustion, sleep difficulties, headaches, anxiety, or burnout. This is not necessarily a lack of discipline. It may be a sign that your mind and body need recovery and support. Conscious willpower and prolonged attempts to force productivity can lead to an overworked body and mind, eventually resulting in burnout. Stanford University’s eye-opening research on how the human mind shapes reality highlights how mindsets influence our responses to stress suggests that our assumptions about stress can affect our psychological and physiological responses. Thus, if your underlying belief is that you must suffer to succeed, you may begin to interpret everyday challenges through a lens of threat, even when your circumstances are manageable. Moreover, despite recognizing that they are burning out, many leaders still find themselves stuck in cycles of overanalysis rather than actively making changes. This may be because consciously knowing that you are stressed and understanding the reasons behind it are not always enough. As I explain in my article, “Why Self-Awareness Alone Fails to Create Lasting Change and What Works Instead,” meaningful transformation may require us to address the deeply rooted cultural, emotional, and systemic stressors that influence the relationship between our minds, bodies, and subconscious patterns. The subconscious solution: Shifting from force to flow If overextending yourself to the point of chronic strain and stress is the problem, what is the alternative? It is what I have coined Peaceful Productivity, a state of Sustainable Success in which your external output becomes a natural byproduct of your internal alignment. When you operate from a foundation of deep alignment, you stop fighting yourself. You have the space to breathe fully and deeply. You are able to be present in the moment and give what is required of you to succeed at that time. Consequently, success can become a more natural and organic byproduct of your actions rather than the result of chronic strain. True, high-level productivity does not require you to conquer your resistance. Rather, it requires you to understand, address, and integrate it. This can shift your state of mind entirely. As the late Stanford neurosurgeon Dr. James Doty discussed in his work on the neuroscience of manifestation and intention, our intentions can influence what we notice and where we direct our attention. By first helping our bodies and minds move away from a heightened threat response and towards a calmer state, we may be able to think more clearly and compassionately about ourselves and the world around us. When you are caught in a chronic state of stress, your brain may increasingly focus on potential threats. This can make it more difficult to recognize creative, strategic solutions and may reinforce the very fears that are contributing to your stress. Some of our deepest blocks, such as fear of failure, fear of success, imposter feelings, and the belief that “I must work hard to be worthy,” may persist even when we consciously recognize that they are unhelpful. Because these beliefs may be connected to deeply established habits, experiences, and emotional patterns, they can influence the lens through which we view the world. They may contribute to diminished confidence, relationship difficulties, or behaviours that undermine success. Stress may also be accompanied by physical symptoms such as muscle tension, stomach discomfort, sleep difficulties, back pain, or headaches. However, when you cultivate a greater sense of internal safety, you may be better able to recognize strategic opportunities, intuitive insights, and aligned pathways towards growth. Dr. James Doty discussed practices such as breathing exercises, relaxation, attention training, and replacing unhelpful thoughts with more constructive ones. However, consciously forcing ourselves to change long-established patterns of thinking can be challenging. In my private counselling practice, I guide high-performing clients as they examine and update the mindsets and subconscious patterns that may be influencing their lives. After engaging in deeper subconscious work to address and release perceived blockages, some of my clients report that their lives shift in ways they previously only dreamed of: They experience a greater sense of internal safety. They can balance working deeply with resting deeply without feeling consumed by guilt. Their intuition, awareness, and ability to make connections feel sharper. They report that as the background noise of stress and anxiety lessens, they are better able to see and think clearly. They feel more confident making decisions. They may also make pivotal decisions more efficiently rather than agonizing over them for weeks. The real world shift from an uphill battle to a more natural flow This shift from friction to flow may become a more consistent experience, as some of my clients have reported. When we address the emotional, mental, and behavioural factors contributing to our stress, things that once felt like an uphill battle may begin to feel more natural. For instance, my client Bianca from Canada came to me looking to break free from stress-related habits that she felt had contributed to weight gain. By exploring and transforming the subconscious beliefs and patterns influencing her behaviour, Bianca reported developing a healthier relationship with herself. As she put it, “So far, I’ve lost 10 pounds in just under three months and am still slowly losing. More than weight loss, I’d like to emphasize the ease with which I approach food and how I don’t feel so powerless against bingeing and snacking when I’m stressed. I’ve had fewer cravings since listening to my hypnosis recordings. I can better listen to my body when it’s hungry and full, and getting some exercise on my treadmill doesn’t feel like an uphill battle anymore. It feels natural to do. Back then, losing three pounds made me scared because I wasn’t confident that I could keep up the habit and would ultimately regain the weight. Now, I don’t doubt myself, and I know that releasing this excess weight is not only possible, but inevitable.” You can read more stories from clients who have begun stepping into their own experience of Sustainable Success here. Bianca’s story illustrates how addressing subconscious patterns may help reduce the energy spent fighting against your own thoughts and habits. This is what Sustainable Success is all about: becoming aligned enough to allow your work to feel like a natural extension of you and to approach it with greater ease. Step into your chapter of sustainable success If you are tired of forcing your way to the top, it may be time to develop strategies, skills, and, most importantly, a mindset that recognizes that what got you here may not be what gets you there. Time management strategies, weekend retreats, and mindset journals may be helpful to an extent, but they may not be sufficient to address chronic stress or deeply established emotional and behavioural patterns. To transform your relationship with success and productivity, you may need to commit to a deeper exploration of the beliefs and habits influencing you. You do not need to choose between your peace of mind and your professional career. It is possible to make a meaningful global impact while cultivating a sense of peace within yourself. You truly can be both peaceful and productive. When you are ready to transition away from chronic stress and burnout and step into a structured, long term journey of subconscious alignment and Sustainable Success, I invite you to begin your next chapter with me through a Transformation Alignment Call. The client’s identity has been modified to protect confidentiality. The testimonial reflects the client’s individual experience, and results may vary. Follow me on Instagram and LinkedIn for more info! Read more from Rosanna Ho Rosanna Ho, Clinical Hypnotherapist and RTT® Practitioner Rosanna is a dedicated guide for global citizens and high-performers navigating the complexities of identity, belonging, and mental load. Combining her background in Clinical Hypnotherapy, Rapid Transformational Therapy (RTT®), and Third Culture identity, she helps clients bridge the gap between external success and internal fulfillment. After overcoming two decades of chronic eczema using RTT®, Rosanna now empowers others to resolve their physical and mental manifestations of stress—such as insomnia, burnout, and weight management. Her mission is to help overachievers return to their authentic selves and lead lives of “Peaceful Productivity” rooted in the core tenets of freedom, fulfillment, and peace of mind.

Written by Linda Lee Smith, Transformational Wellness Services LLC Linda Lee Smith and Richard Schmelke are authors and transformational coaches who believe the most meaningful chapter of life can begin at any age. Through their writing and teaching, they empower others to reconnect with themselves, embrace new possibilities, and live with greater purpose and vitality. Have you ever looked around at the life you've built and quietly wondered, "When did I stop feeling like myself?" It rarely happens overnight. Most of us don't wake up one morning and decide to abandon our dreams, silence our intuition, or disconnect from our authentic selves. Instead, it happens gradually, almost imperceptibly, as we become consumed by careers, relationships, responsibilities, caregiving, financial pressures, and the endless demands of daily life. We become who others need us to be. We learn to perform rather than simply be. We become so busy caring for everyone else that we forget to care for ourselves. From the outside, life may look successful. We may have careers we worked hard to build, families we deeply love, and accomplishments we once dreamed of. Yet beneath that success, many people quietly feel that something essential is missing. Not because they have failed, but because somewhere along the journey, they lost touch with themselves. The slow drift away As a holistic nurse, transformational coach, and author, I've spent decades listening to people's stories. Although every story is unique, one common thread recurs. People don't lose themselves in a single dramatic event. They lose themselves in thousands of small moments. Each time they ignore their body's signals because there isn't time to rest. Each time they silence their inner voice because someone else's opinion seems more important. Each time they choose obligation over authenticity. Each time they postpone joy until "someday." Little by little, the distance grows between who they truly are and the life they're living. Many don't even realize it has happened until life forces them to pause. Sometimes it's a health challenge. Sometimes it's grief, divorce, retirement, burnout, or an unexpected transition. Suddenly, the distractions fall away, and a deeper question emerges, "Who am I now?" Your body has been trying to tell you One of the greatest misconceptions in our culture is that our bodies are simply machines that occasionally break down. I have found something very different. Our bodies are remarkably wise. Long before our minds recognize that something is out of alignment, our bodies begin to whisper. Fatigue, chronic tension, anxiety, digestive issues, headaches, disrupted sleep, and persistent exhaustion are often more than physical symptoms. They can be invitations to slow down and pay attention. The body remembers what the mind has forgotten. It remembers unexpressed emotions, unresolved grief, and dreams we've set aside. It remembers the authentic self patiently waiting beneath years of busyness and expectation. When we begin listening instead of resisting, the body becomes one of our greatest teachers. The cost of living on autopilot Modern culture celebrates productivity, achievement, and constant motion. We wear our busyness almost like a badge of honor. Yet being constantly busy can be one of the easiest ways to avoid ourselves. When every moment is filled with noise, notifications, obligations, and endless task lists, we leave little room to hear the quiet wisdom within. Stillness can feel uncomfortable because it asks us to meet the person we've been too busy to notice. But stillness isn't empty. It is where clarity begins and intuition becomes audible. It is also where healing often begins and the mask we wear starts to crack. The doorway back to yourself This realization inspired my newest book, The Doorway Back to Yourself: How to Reconnect with Yourself, Trust Your Inner Knowing, and Live the Life You Were Meant to Live. It is available now on Amazon. The book rests on a simple truth. There is a doorway back to yourself, and it is never too late to walk through it. Returning to yourself doesn't require becoming someone new. It requires remembering who you've always been. That journey often begins with small practices that invite awareness back into everyday life. Taking a conscious breath before reacting. Listening to your body's quiet signals. Creating moments of stillness. Trusting your intuition. Asking yourself one powerful question, "What would you love in your life?" Not what others expect. Not what seems practical. Not what you've always done. But what truly brings your heart to life. Sometimes that single question becomes the first step toward an entirely different future. Coming home One of my favorite images is that of coming home. Home is not merely a place. It is a way of being. It is the feeling of living in alignment with your values, honoring your body's wisdom, trusting your inner knowing, and allowing your life to reflect your true self. No matter how far you've wandered, that home has never disappeared. It has simply been waiting. Waiting beneath responsibilities. Waiting beneath fear. Waiting beneath the expectations that slowly covered your authentic self. The beautiful truth is this. Your true self was never lost. It was only forgotten for a brief time. Every moment offers a new opportunity to pause, breathe, listen, and begin again. The doorway has always been there. All that's left is to step through it. Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and visit my website for more info! Read more from Linda Lee Smith and Richard Schmelke Linda Lee Smith and Richard Schmelke, Transformational Wellness Services LLC Linda Lee Smith and Richard Schmelke are authors, coaches, and TEDx speakers dedicated to helping people rediscover purpose, vitality, and joy. Linda brings decades of experience in holistic healing and has trained thousands worldwide in integrative practices. Rich’s background in leadership and personal development inspires others to think bigger and live more intentionally. Together, they create transformational programs that blend inner healing with practical life guidance. Their work is grounded in both professional expertise and their own experience of creating a vibrant new chapter later in life.

Diogenes Muse-Cleveland is a pioneer in his field. Raised in Flint, Michigan, he suffered a catastrophic injury at the age of 21, leaving him with tetraplegia. Despite the difficulties that came along with his condition, Diogenes has always strived to forge a path forward through intense willpower and determination. Through the establishment of Muse Management Services, Diogenes hopes to improve his life and the lives of all those like him for generations to come. Diogenes Muse-Cleveland, CEO and Founder of Muse Management Services What inspired you to create Muse Management Services, and what problem were you determined to solve from the beginning? In the beginning, the one problem that I was most determined to solve was "How do I afford the equipment I need to make life easier?" Obviously, I knew I needed to make more income, but the question of how to make income without putting my Social Security benefits at risk made the former question seem all the more impossible to answer. Then, I obtained a job working from home. When I began working from home as an independent contractor, I found out I was eligible for the PPP loan offered by the SBA., which I spoke about in my last article. I applied and was approved for $3000. This was a great moment for me, coming from a perspective of dire prospects regarding job availability. This encouraged me to do more research regarding grants, loans, etc. Shortly after that, I became aware of and applied for, the EIDL grant and earned $10,000! That's more money than I've ever made at one time during any job I've ever worked as an employee. This was a monumental moment for me. Honestly, disabled or not, I think anybody in my position at that time would have been jumping for joy. Ten thousand dollars is ten thousand dollars no matter what condition you're in. The best thing about these awards was that because they were classified as "unearned income", they had no effect on my Social Security income. This meant I was able to keep the money as well as all the benefits of being on Social Security. This solidified my viewpoint that it is more beneficial to be an independent contractor than an employee. Eventually, I desired a way to share this information with others in my condition. This, in turn, led to the creation of Muse Management Services. Do you only accept applications from those with disabilities? Although we are geared toward offering jobs to those with mobility-related disabilities, we do hire those without them as well. So, don't be afraid to apply for a job because you don't have a disability. How did your own experience with paralysis change the way you think about employment and opportunity? Before becoming paralyzed, I looked at employment as synonymous with opportunity. In life, the type of job one holds is definitely correlated with the opportunity for growth and freedom that one considers possible. Don't misunderstand, I still believe that this is true for the most part. However, after working as an independent contractor myself, I realize that being an employee is not always the most beneficial opportunity available. What have you learned about helping people find legitimate work from home opportunities that most businesses overlook? I have learned a lot on the path of life down which I now travel. In my opinion, the most important thing I have learned is to "think outside the box", so to speak. I realize now that disability does not mean inability. This has allowed me to see opportunity and promise where others see only disappointment and hopelessness. Why do you believe flexible independent contractor work can be especially valuable for people with disabilities or other life challenges? Well, besides the ability to earn income without the hassle of having to jump through the million hoops that those with paralysis have to jump through just to leave the house (if you know, you know), and the possibility of obtaining lump sums of money without it having an effect on your social security income, there is the ability to schedule the hours that you wish to work yourself, versus having to adhere to the schedule someone else set for you who has absolutely no idea what it's like to live a day in your position. This allows you to incorporate things like pressure relief, physical therapy, doctor's appointments, etc. into your work routine. On top of that, it helps you to change your mindset from that of an employee to one more similar to a business owner. This is beneficial because it opens your perception up to the possibility for growth. You need that if you've been in a time of stagnation regarding job opportunities. What misconceptions about remote work would you most like to challenge? The most common misconception I have come across is that most work-from-home opportunities are a scam. Especially if the opportunity is not attached to a well-known company. While you should always be cautious and do your research thoroughly on any opportunity to which you might desire to apply, you do yourself a disservice by blanket labeling all but the most well-known as scams. What practical advice would you give someone who wants to build a sustainable income from home but does not know where to start? The most practical thing I could say is to start with Muse Management Services. Everything you need to know can be found on our website. You can visit our frequently asked questions page and ask any other questions you may have via our email address found on our Apply Now webpage. If it does turn out that Muse Management Services is not for you, then you will at least leave with the benefit of experience working with a reputable work-from-home company. How can someone decide whether independent contracting is a better fit than a traditional job? In my opinion, the best way to know whether something is good for you or not is to experience it for yourself. Your mother's belief in entrepreneurship shaped your journey long before Muse Management Services existed. How does her influence continue to guide the way you lead your business today? Besides the fact that without my mother's influence I would definitely not have become the CEO of a company, it is also her influence that encourages me to continue forward in all of my endeavors. She taught me to push through obstacles no matter what, and not to quit until the goal I have in mind is realized. She was the embodiment of tough. I hope one day my children will be able to say that about me. If readers could leave this conversation with one new perspective about resilience, work, and creating opportunity, what would you hope it would be? I would hope that one new perspective would be this. There's always another way. You just have to open your eyes up to it. You have no idea how many times I've dropped my head in despair thinking there was no way to change or fix something, only for my mom to point out a way that was right in front of me the whole time. It's all about your mindset. I'm grateful that she was able to pass this mindset down to me before she passed away. Follow me on Instagram for more info! Read more from Diogenes Muse-Cleveland

Written by Dr. Leanne Elich, Business Psychology Strategist Matching Leanne’s impressive qualifications, which include medical and business degrees from Harvard, are her energy, humor, and keen insight. Dr. Leanne Elich is an award-winning Sales Psychology and Business Strategist, author, speaker, and one of Australasia's most successful Technology Business Executives. Have you ever sent an email that felt perfectly written, only to receive no response? You spent time getting the tone right. You opened with a friendly greeting, asked about their weekend, and eased into the reason for your email. It felt warm, professional and thoughtful. The person reading it deleted it before reaching the second paragraph. Now imagine the opposite. An email lands in your inbox with no greeting, no small talk and no context. Just a direct request, "Can you send me the report by 3 pm?" One person appreciates the efficiency. Another thinks, "That was a bit abrupt." Neither email is wrong. They're simply written for different people. Understanding that the interesting question isn't who communicated better, but why we assume everyone wants to be communicated with in the same way, helps readers recognise their own biases and develop adaptable strategies. We all start with ourselves Communication feels personal because it begins with something familiar, ourselves. When we decide how to write an email, lead a meeting or deliver feedback, we naturally draw on our own preferences. If we appreciate warmth before business, we tend to offer warmth before business. If we value brevity, we get straight to the point. If we like detail, we include every single step. It feels logical because our own preferences are the easiest reference point we have. Psychologists describe this tendency as the false consensus effect, our inclination to assume other people think, feel and behave more like us than they actually do. It's one of the brain's many shortcuts, helping us make quick decisions without constantly analysing every social interaction from scratch. Most of the time, we aren't consciously choosing to communicate this way. We assume our version of "good communication" is universal. Communication is about interpretation, not intention When communication doesn't land, our instinct is often to focus on the message. Maybe I should have explained it better. Maybe I wasn't clear enough. Maybe I used the wrong words. Sometimes that's true. But often the issue isn't the message itself. It's that we spend far more time thinking about what we want to say than about how the other person is likely to receive it. We like to think communication is about expressing ourselves clearly. More often, it's about whether the other person interprets our message the way we intended. Every conversation is filtered through the other person's experiences, priorities, personality and expectations. The same words can create completely different reactions depending on who is listening. What feels respectful to one person may feel unnecessarily indirect to another. What feels efficient to one person may feel cold to someone else. The message hasn't changed. The interpretation has. We prepare more than we observe Before an important meeting, most of us prepare our message. We think about what we want to say, the points we need to cover, and how we want to come across. Far fewer of us prepare to observe. Yet the person sitting across from us is constantly providing information about how they prefer to communicate. They tell us through the questions they ask, the pace at which they speak, the level of detail they want, and even what they choose to focus on first. The biggest communication mistakes rarely happen because we choose the wrong words. They happen because we never stop to ask whether we're speaking to the right version of the listener. The most effective communicators don't just deliver information well. They pay attention before they speak. The signals are usually there One of the most overlooked aspects of communication is that people constantly reveal how they prefer to engage. Some people begin every meeting by asking about your weekend. Others open their laptop and ask, "What's first on the agenda?" Some reply to emails with a single sentence. Others provide context, explanation and detail. Some make decisions quickly. Others want time to think before responding. Even body language provides clues. Some people lean into conversation immediately. Others sit back, observe and contribute only after they've processed what they're hearing. These aren't random habits. They're behavioural signals. The problem is that most of us are so focused on delivering our own message that we stop paying attention to the person receiving it. We're busy preparing our next sentence while the other person is quietly telling us exactly how they want to communicate. Observation is an underrated communication skill When people think about becoming better communicators, they often focus on speaking, presenting, negotiating, influencing and persuading. Those skills matter, but before any of them comes another skill that receives far less attention, observation. The strongest communicators are rarely the people with the most polished script. They're the people who notice. They notice how quickly someone responds, whether they ask questions before making decisions, whether they prefer facts or stories, and whether they want context or conclusions. These observations allow them to adapt naturally rather than relying on the same communication style in every interaction. Frameworks help us notice what we usually miss This is where frameworks such as DISC become valuable. Not because they place people into neat personality categories, but because they interrupt one of our biggest behavioural blind spots, the assumption that everyone processes information the way we do. A highly dominant communicator may value speed, clarity and outcomes. Someone with a more relational style may naturally look for connection before moving into the task itself. Neither approach is better. The value isn't in the label, it's in the reminder that the person sitting opposite you may be processing the same conversation very differently. Frameworks like DISC don't replace observation. They sharpen it. Adaptability isn't about being fake Some people worry that changing how they communicate means changing who they are. It doesn't. There's an important difference between changing your personality and adapting your communication. We already do it every day. We don't speak to a close friend the same way we speak to a client. We don't explain an idea to a new graduate the same way we explain it to an experienced executive. That's not inauthentic. It's awareness. Adapting your communication isn't about becoming someone else. It's about recognising that communication isn't for the speaker. It's for the listener. What this reveals about human behaviour One of the brain's greatest strengths is its ability to use past experience to navigate the present. One of its greatest limitations is assuming those experiences are shared by everyone else. We naturally believe our preferences are reasonable because they make sense to us. But effective communication begins the moment we become curious enough to question that assumption. Perhaps the people we describe as great communicators aren't better at finding the right words, they're better at noticing what everyone else misses. Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and visit my website for more info! Read more from Dr. Leanne Elich Dr. Leanne Elich, Business Psychology Strategist Matching Leanne’s impressive qualifications, which include medical and business degrees from Harvard, are her energy, humor, and keen insight. Dr. Leanne Elich is an award-winning Neuroscientist and Sales Psychology Strategist, author, speaker, and one of Australasia's most successful Technology Business Executives.

Written by Kati Grand, Entrepreneur, Speaker & Author Kati Grand is an entrepreneur, speaker, and author of From Ideas to Reality, known for helping ambitious individuals turn ideas into tangible results. She is the creator of the Reality Maker approach, focused on clarity, decisive action, and meaningful execution. "Fake it till you make it." Few pieces of advice have been repeated more often in business, leadership and personal development. For many, it has served as permission to step beyond self-doubt, to apply for the promotion before feeling fully ready, to speak with confidence before confidence naturally arrives, or to say yes to opportunities that stretch their capabilities. In many ways, it works. Confidence often follows action, not the other way around. But like most powerful ideas, this one has a limit. The problem begins when "acting confident" slowly transforms into "maintaining an identity." The shift we rarely notice Growth is messy. It involves changing your mind, asking naïve questions, making mistakes, trying something that doesn't work, and occasionally admitting you have no idea what you're doing. An identity, however, demands consistency. Once people begin to know you as "the expert," "the entrepreneur," "the visionary," or "the successful one," a subtle pressure appears. Without realizing it, many begin protecting that identity instead of expanding it. The goal quietly changes. Instead of asking, "What can I learn next?" we begin asking, "What will people think if I don't already know this?" Instead of creating, we curate. Instead of exploring, we perform. Instead of growing, we manage perception. This transition is so gradual that most people never notice it happening. When success becomes a costume Social media has only amplified this phenomenon. We no longer simply build careers, we build personal brands. We don't just develop expertise, we communicate expertise. Neither is inherently wrong. Visibility matters. Reputation matters. But there is a difference between expressing who you are and feeling obligated to constantly perform who you believe you should be. When image becomes more important than evolution, curiosity begins to disappear. People hesitate to launch something imperfect because it doesn't match their reputation. They avoid asking beginner questions because experts aren't expected to ask them. They stop sharing the process because the finished result seems more impressive. Ironically, the very identity that once accelerated growth can eventually slow it down. Confidence is not performance There is another misconception hidden inside the phrase "fake it till you make it." Confidence is often mistaken for certainty. Yet the most capable leaders I've encountered rarely pretend to have all the answers. They ask thoughtful questions. They listen carefully. They change course when new information appears. Their confidence doesn't come from always appearing right. It comes from trusting that they can figure things out. That is a very different kind of confidence. One is performance. The other is resilience. A better question Perhaps the goal was never to fake anything. Perhaps the better question is, "How would the person I aspire to become respond to this situation today?" Notice the difference. This isn't about pretending you've already arrived. It's about allowing your future values to guide your present decisions. Your future self doesn't need to become a costume. It can become a compass. If the future version of you values integrity, choose honesty today. If they value discipline, keep today's commitment. If they value generosity, have the conversation you've been postponing. If they are known for excellence, improve one small detail instead of waiting to create something perfect. Your future identity isn't built through declarations. It's built through decisions. Never skip the small steps One of the greatest misconceptions in personal development is that transformation happens in defining moments. The keynote speech, the investment round, the bestselling book, and the successful business are visible moments, but they are not where transformation happens. Transformation happens in the ordinary, in the emails no one applauds, the difficult conversations, the hours spent learning, the projects that fail quietly, and the decision to begin again after something doesn't work. Small steps often feel insignificant because they don't immediately change how the world sees us. But they always change who we are becoming. Ultimately, that matters far more. Growth over image The people who continue growing over decades aren't necessarily the ones who started with the greatest talent or the biggest ambitions. They are often the ones who never became prisoners of their own identity. They remain curious after becoming successful. They remain students after becoming experts. They remain willing to look inexperienced in pursuit of becoming wiser. That requires humility. But it also creates freedom. Because when you no longer feel responsible for performing success, you regain the ability to pursue it. Perhaps that is the evolution of "fake it till you make it." Not abandoning confidence. Not abandoning ambition. But replacing performance with presence. Replacing image with curiosity. Remembering that the person you hope to become is not created by convincing the world you've already arrived. They are created, quietly and consistently, one honest step at a time. Follow me on Instagram and LinkedIn for more info! Read more from Kati Grand Kati Grand, Entrepreneur, Speaker & Author Kati Grand is an entrepreneur, speaker, and author of From Ideas to Reality, known for helping ambitious individuals turn ideas into tangible results. After building a career managing large-scale international projects, she stepped away to challenge conventional ideas of success and productivity. She is the creator of the Reality Maker approach, focused on clarity, decisive action, and execution. Her work sits at the intersection of mindset, strategy, and self-leadership, helping people move from overthinking into real impact.