Written by Leah Williams, President & Owner, Licensed Massage Therapist Leah Williams specializing in Lymphatic drainage, imparting knowledge and expertise in Somatic release. President and Owner of Lymphatic Somatic Massage by Leah. Licensed Massage Therapist for over 25 years. Water fountains are a thing of the past. Let’s reminisce for a moment at the playground, at church, and at school. I remember in church, mom would notice me dozing off and whisper, “Go get some water.” I would stand up and head towards the water fountain. A couple of friends would follow, and we’d see who could drink the longest from the ice-cold, refreshing fountain before an adult caught us stalling to get back to our seats. Of course, we always had that one kid who wanted to practice his kissing skills on the fountain, which made us all laugh at how gross it was. It worked wonders! Suddenly, we would perk up in our seats and become alert. Ah, hydration! You recall the old adage, “If you wait until you feel thirsty, you are already dehydrated.” My dad would call me from his office, “Leah, can you get me a glass of water?” I’d run to the kitchen, turn on the faucet, grab a few ice cubes from the freezer, and voila! At a restaurant, we could always ask for a cup of water, free of charge and packed with ice. Those were days when water was virtually free, straight from the faucet or water fountain. Prince led us into the 2000s, partying like it was “1999”! We watched movies like Back to the Future and had high hopes for the new millennium. A lot changed, but mostly our health and social structures were impacted, mainly by the advent of and later, the accessibility of cellular phones. I got my first apartment in 2001. My father, a real techy guy, said, “I will get you a Cricket.” I said, “What?” He explained, “You don’t need a landline phone. A cellular phone will do. It’s cheap and all that you need.” I thought, “Oh, cool! I am going to have a cell phone!” But what do water and water fountains have to do with cell phones? Before I had a cell phone, I had a landline cordless phone with 17 channels, a voicemail box, and my personal greeting. I would leave home in the morning and rely on this system to stay in touch with family and friends. We all had some supernatural way of keeping connected, it seemed, only periodically checking voicemail while out and ultimately waiting until the evening to return calls. The same applied to water. I would wake up, eat breakfast, maybe drink some orange juice, and get to work, grabbing a small cup of water from the fountain. Then at lunch, I’d repeat the process, perhaps with lemonade, iced tea, or another glass of water. For some odd reason, thirst never led to dehydration. Fast forward to 2001 again. This cell phone was now in my purse and a plastic water bottle was in my right hand. Things started to evolve! Evolution became a hot topic, and I could see it happening before my eyes. I stopped buying 24-pack water bottles and purchased my own personal bottle. Cell phones were no longer just for calls but for texting as well. As I practiced my texting skills with my right hand, I began sipping water from my bottle with my left hand. Evolution, at its finest, I was now ambidextrous! In the 1990s, I had heard rumors of needing eight glasses of water per day. By 2001, it became a rule, absolutely necessary if you wanted to maintain a healthy body weight and stay well hydrated. What happened to our bodies’ ability to stay hydrated? Why the increase in water intake? Was the radiation in my right texting thumb telling my left hand to “sip more” and more water? What impact does this have on our lymphatic system, which is mainly water, and on the fighter T-Cells that manage blood sugars, fight cancers, heart disease, and obesity? Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and visit my website for more info! Read more from Leah Williams Leah Williams, President & Owner, Licensed Massage Therapist Leah Williams pioneering lymphatic drainage on deeper levels brings awareness to the connection between the water of our lymph systems, our auric field, and our Soma. In her mid-thirties, over a decade ago, her own personal health challenges led her to research the lymphatic system, which in turn she merged that understanding into her massage practice. While on that journey after witnessing Somatic release in clients, she discovered her Soma. Once an orthodox monotheist instructor, she now understands the ancient traditions of cultures around the world and their contributions towards the path of rediscovering the Authentic Human and our ability to heal from within, with the help of Creation's Energy.

Written by Claudia Gravaghi, Nutritional Scientist, Formulator & Counsellor Claudia Gravaghi is a Nutritional Scientist, Product Formulator and Counsellor in metabolic health. She combines clinical research, biochemistry, and emotional behavioural support to guide individuals, including GLP-1 users, toward sustainable health, metabolic balance, and a more informed relationship with food. GLP-1 receptor agonists have changed the landscape of weight management. For many individuals, these medications offer something they may not have experienced in years: relief. The constant mental negotiation around food becomes quieter. Hunger feels less urgent. Eating no longer dominates daily decisions in the same way. For those who have spent years feeling trapped in a cycle of cravings, restriction, and frustration, this shift can feel profoundly liberating. But as the conversation around GLP-1 therapy continues to focus on weight loss outcomes, one critical question remains largely unaddressed: What happens after GLP-1? It is a question that deserves far more attention, not only from clinicians but from anyone seeking sustainable metabolic health. The success story everyone talks about The early outcomes of GLP-1 therapy are often compelling. Reduced appetite, improved portion control, meaningful weight loss, and a reduced preoccupation with food can create an experience many patients describe as transformative. These effects reflect the medication’s action on appetite regulation, gastric emptying, and reward-related pathways in the brain. For many, this creates a physiological environment in which change finally feels achievable. This matters. For individuals who have spent decades battling persistent hunger and food noise, this is not simply about eating less. It is often about finally experiencing a sense of internal calm. The question few people are asking Yet amid the celebration of rapid progress, a quieter and more complex reality often emerges over time. What happens when: The medication is reduced? Treatment is paused? Side effects require discontinuation? Financial or practical barriers make long-term use unsustainable? The body adapts and weight loss plateaus? For many individuals, these moments reveal a difficult truth: appetite suppression is not the same as eating autonomy. Reducing hunger pharmacologically can create change, but it does not automatically teach the skills required to sustain that change independently. When external regulation replaces internal trust One of the less discussed consequences of long-term appetite suppression is the potential loss of confidence in internal eating cues. Many individuals become deeply accustomed to the external regulation provided by the medication. Decisions around eating begin to rely less on internal awareness and more on the pharmacological absence of appetite. In clinical practice, this often presents as uncertainty. Some individuals no longer know what appropriate hunger feels like. Others struggle to establish meal structure without the clear appetite suppression they had come to rely on. For some, reduced intake becomes so normalized that nutritional adequacy is unintentionally compromised. The concern is not simply whether hunger returns. It is whether the individual has rebuilt enough trust, structure, and understanding to respond to that hunger appropriately. The transition is psychological as much as physiological The period beyond GLP-1 is not just a metabolic adjustment. It is also an emotional and behavioural transition. For individuals who have relied on food for comfort, reward, predictability, or emotional regulation, the medication often creates temporary distance from these patterns. But distance is not resolution, and when pharmacological support changes, unresolved behaviours may resurface unless deeper work has taken place, which is why the post-GLP-1 phase often requires more than nutritional advice, including rebuilding awareness of genuine hunger and satiety cues, confidence in meal planning and nutritional adequacy, emotional regulation strategies independent of food, and trust in one’s ability to self-regulate without external suppression. This is not about willpower. It is about retraining your brain as much as your body. Weight loss is not the final outcome One of the most important shifts we need in the GLP-1 conversation is a broader definition of success. Success should not be measured solely by the number on a scale or by how effectively appetite has been suppressed. The deeper question is whether the individual is developing the capacity to nourish themselves confidently, consistently, and intentionally, both during treatment and beyond it. This is where sustainable metabolic health is built. Moving the conversation forward GLP-1 medications represent a meaningful advancement in obesity and metabolic care. They offer valuable physiological support and have helped many people experience a level of appetite regulation that once felt impossible. But they are not, and were never meant to be, the entire solution. The real opportunity lies in using this period of reduced food noise as a window for learning. A chance to rebuild eating competence. A chance to reconnect with internal regulation. A chance to create a relationship with food that can remain stable even when pharmacological support changes. Because the true measure of success is not how little someone can eat while on GLP-1. It is how confidently they can nourish themselves when they no longer need it. Follow me on Instagram, LinkedIn, and visit my website for more info! Read more from Claudia Gravaghi Claudia Gravaghi, Nutritional Scientist, Formulator & Counsellor Claudia Gravaghi is a Nutritional Scientist, Product Formulator, and Counsellor with a PhD in Clinical Nutrition and a background in pharmaceutical chemistry. She has worked internationally as a postdoctoral researcher in nutrition, metabolism, and cancer. Today, she develops evidence-based formulations and supports individuals in improving both metabolic health and their relationship with food. She has a particular focus on individuals using GLP-1 medications, helping them navigate appetite changes, nutritional adequacy, and the emotional aspects of eating. Her work bridges molecular science and real-life behaviour, translating complex biochemistry into practical, personalised strategies.

London is set to host what may be the UK's first dedicated AI Digital Twin press launch as entrepreneur and former Apprentice candidate Jemelin Artigas unveils Twinora AI to an audience of investors, business leaders, celebrities, and international guests. The high-profile event marks the debut of a technology platform aiming to reshape content creation while fueling speculation about whether Lord Sugar missed the opportunity to back a future AI success story. Did Lord Sugar miss out on a future multi-million-pound AI success story? Former Apprentice Candidate Jemelin Artigas Launches Twinora AI Alongside Celebrity Guests, International Designers, Investors, Authors and Business Leaders London, United Kingdom – June 2026 This Sunday, London will become the centre of innovation, entrepreneurship and artificial intelligence as Twinora AI hosts what is believed to be one of the UK's first dedicated AI Digital Twin Press Launch events. The exclusive red-carpet event, hosted by former Apprentice candidate, entrepreneur and public figure Jemelin Artigas, will bring together celebrity guests, international fashion designers, bestselling authors, investors, founders, media personalities and business leaders from across the UK, Portugal, Italy and beyond. As the founder prepares to unveil Twinora AI to the world, many may be asking a fascinating question: Did Lord Sugar miss out on backing one of Britain's next AI success stories? Years after appearing on The Apprentice, Jemelin Artigas has gone on to build a successful six-figure online business and is now entering the technology space with ambitions to build a global AI company in one of the fastest-growing industries in the world. A revolution in content creation Twinora AI has been created to solve one of the biggest challenges facing modern entrepreneurs. Today, more than 200 million businesses rely on content creation to stay visible online. Yet many founders, coaches, consultants and business owners are experiencing burnout from the constant pressure to create content, film videos, stay active on social media and maintain their online presence. Twinora AI allows users to create an authentic AI Digital Twin that looks like them, sounds like them and helps them create content without the need for constant filming, studios or large content teams. The company is already attracting significant attention through its beta testing phase and is positioning itself at the forefront of the rapidly emerging AI Digital Twin industry. International VIP guests The launch will welcome an impressive line-up of guests and speakers, including: Elma Aveiro: Guest of Honour, entrepreneur and sister of global football icon Cristiano Ronaldo. Elma has built a successful business empire of her own and will also be showcasing her luxury fragrance brand Aurah. Brooke Adams: International bestselling author, entrepreneur and globally recognised business mentor known as "The Coaches Coach." Featured by Yahoo Finance, ABC, NBC, FOX, CBS and Entrepreneur Magazine. Chona Bacaoco: International fashion designer and Founder of MM Milano. Travelling from Milan to attend the event, Chona's work has been showcased at the Cannes Film Festival and featured in Vogue, Grazia, Tatler, Bazaar and L'Officiel. Lubna Rafiq: Celebrity makeup artist and founder of LRA Celebrity Agency. Maxine Booth: Television presenter, actress, singer and entrepreneur who will host the event. Nancy Miguel: Founder of Let's Go Latinas, empowering women through entrepreneurship and leadership. Ruhena Begum: Founder of Asiaglam and respected beauty entrepreneur. Aisha Sadiq: Founder of award-winning luxury fragrance house EsQue Parfum. Francis Cardoso: Founder of luxury fragrance brand Hombre Latino. Collection by Nadia: Luxury jewellery designer. Roger Castano: International fashion designer and luxury lifestyle influencer. Additional entrepreneurs, investors, founders, media representatives and VIP guests are expected to attend. A company built for global scale Twinora AI enters the market at a time when artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming how businesses operate. With more than 200 million businesses already relying on content marketing and digital visibility, the demand for AI-powered content solutions continues to accelerate globally. The company has already attracted hundreds of beta users and is preparing for significant expansion through strategic partnerships, media opportunities, influencer collaborations and large-scale distribution channels. Founder Jemelin Artigas believes Twinora AI has the potential to become a major player within the AI-powered content creation and digital twin market. More than technology Twinora AI is not simply launching a technology platform. The company is also announcing plans for Twinora University, an initiative designed to help women from disadvantaged backgrounds, survivors of abuse and individuals facing barriers to employment gain practical AI skills and future career opportunities. The long-term vision is to train and place graduates alongside founders and businesses worldwide, helping manage AI systems, AI Digital Twins and emerging AI technologies. From homelessness to Tech Founder The story behind Twinora AI is as inspiring as the technology itself. After arriving in the UK with very little, experiencing homelessness and overcoming significant personal challenges, Jemelin Artigas rebuilt her life through entrepreneurship. She later became known through her appearance on The Apprentice before building a successful online business that has helped entrepreneurs worldwide create greater freedom through digital education, business growth and technology. Today, Twinora AI represents the next chapter in that journey. A female-founded technology company with a global vision, ambitious growth plans and a mission to make artificial intelligence more accessible, empowering and impactful. The Twinora AI Press Launch will take place in London on Sunday 7 June 2026 and is expected to attract media attention from across the business, technology, lifestyle and entrepreneurial sectors. For media enquiries, interviews and press accreditation requests, please contact the Twinora AI Media Team.

Written by Nazoorah Nusrat, Holistic Life Coach Nazoorah Nusrat is a holistic life coach, mind-body practitioner, and founder of Clarity Coaching Energy. Through NLP, somatic healing practices, and heart-led alchemy, she helps people reconnect to their souls, release limiting beliefs, and heal from burnout, trauma, and toxic relationships. What holistic healing looks like in theory is often vastly different from how it unfolds in real life. Integration is not a concept or a stage to reach, but an ongoing process shaped through the nervous system, lived experience, and the body’s capacity to return to safety. This article explores how identity shifts, emotional healing, and nervous system regulation come together in practice, and why true healing is less about transformation as an idea and more about coherence in how we live, feel, and relate to ourselves over time. The noise around healing and what gets lost in it There are so many voices in the personal development and holistic space today, all speaking with certainty about what people should do, what they should avoid, who they should listen to, and who they should question. It becomes overwhelming very quickly, and in that overwhelm, something important often gets lost, which is the ability to actually feel what is true beneath all of it. My own approach has always been simple in principle, even if not always easy in practice. I look for lived experience. I look for integration. I look for whether someone’s work is actually embodied in their life, not just articulated through theory. Because at some point, knowledge without embodiment becomes noise. The question I often return to is this: how do I show that to you, as a reader who may not have come across me before? Not through credentials alone, and not through concepts, but through what has been consistent underneath everything I have ever done. Early sensitivity and the language before words From a young age, I experienced the world in a way that I did not yet have language for. I did not just observe environments, I felt them. I would walk into a room and sense shifts in energy before anything was spoken. I would pick up on tension, discomfort, or emotional undercurrents that were not yet visible on the surface. At the time, I didn’t understand this as anything meaningful. It was simply how I experienced life. But I was often the one who noticed when something was off, the one who could sense imbalance in people or situations, and the one who naturally stepped into roles of support, stabilisation, and emotional responsibility. I became the person who could hold space, smooth tension, and make things feel okay again for others, often before I had any awareness of what that role was costing me internally. Looking back, I can see now that this was not accidental. It was an early form of attunement, something that many people who later find themselves in healing, coaching, or therapeutic spaces will recognise in themselves. Not learned, but inherent. Leadership, communication, and seeing systems As I moved through education, leadership, and professional environments, this same thread continued, although it expressed itself differently. I became known for communication, for clarity, and for the ability to take complex, emotionally charged, or fragmented situations and bring them into something that people could actually understand and work with. In leadership settings, I was often the person teams came to when communication had broken down or when collaboration needed rebuilding. I could see systems, not just individuals. I could sense where misalignment was happening and translate that into something workable, something coherent. At the time, I did not frame this as a path or identity. It was simply how I operated. But over time, patterns begin to reveal themselves as something more than coincidence. They begin to reveal direction. When awareness does not yet become integration The deeper part of this journey, however, was not in recognising what I could see in others, but in learning what happens when you cannot yet apply that same awareness to yourself. Because there is a difference between understanding life conceptually and living it in an integrated way. For a long time, I did what many people do. I overrode my internal signals. I ignored discomfort when it arose. I stayed in situations longer than I should have. I rationalised what my body was already communicating clearly. I pushed through overwhelm, emotional exhaustion, and patterns I could intellectually see but not yet fully embody change within. There is a particular loop many people experience where life brings you back to the same internal place again and again, even when externally things are moving forward. It can feel confusing until you realise that repetition is often the system’s way of asking for integration rather than new information. Eventually, there comes a point where the system simply cannot continue in the same way anymore. Not because something external forces it, but because internal capacity reaches its limit. Breakdown as threshold, not collapse This is often what people refer to as breakdown. I don’t see it that way anymore. I see it as the moment the body stops agreeing to a way of being that is no longer sustainable. In my own life, and in the work I now do with clients, I have seen this pattern again and again. People arrive having lived for years in survival-based functioning. Over-functioning in relationships. Carrying emotional responsibility that was never entirely theirs. Staying available to others while disconnected from themselves. Holding stability externally while experiencing depletion internally. Often these patterns are shaped within relational dynamics where emotional safety has been inconsistent, and where narcissistic or emotionally imbalanced behaviours have required adaptation over time. In those environments, self-trust erodes gradually through repeated override, self-abandonment, and disconnection. Something shifts. A relationship ends, a role collapses, the body says no. A sense of self no longer holds in the same way. This is when what is often labelled as breakdown begins to reveal itself as something else entirely, a new threshold. The role of holistic healing in integration This is where holistic healing becomes not just supportive, but necessary. Integration is not a cognitive process alone. It doesn’t happen through understanding what went wrong or analysing patterns in isolation. It happens through the nervous system, through the body, and through emotional experience that is felt rather than simply observed. Breathwork, somatic awareness, EFT, NLP, sound-based practices, and other holistic modalities work because they engage the system where experience is actually stored and processed. They support the body in shifting from survival-based responses into states of safety, presence, and regulation. Once the body begins to feel safe again, something very natural begins to happen. Awareness returns, clarity returns, and the freedom of choice returns. Not through force, but through regulation. Integration as the real work of healing What I have come to understand, both personally and through working with others, is that healing is not about becoming someone different. It’s about becoming coherent with who you already are beneath adaptation. So much of what we call identity is shaped through experience, environment, and relational conditioning. So much of what we believe to be fixed is actually learned, which means it can be unlearned, softened, and reorganised. Not overnight or through effort alone, but through consistent return to the body, to truth, and to internal safety. Why this matters This is the foundation of my work through Clarity Coaching Energy. Not to add more information, or to give people another system to follow, but to support the process of integration, where mind, body, emotion, and lived experience begin to align again. Because when that alignment returns, something amazingly simple becomes obvious. We were never broken, wrong, or lost, we were just living out of coherence with ourselves for a time. Coherence is always something to which we can return. Work with me If you feel drawn to explore this further, you can find my work here. More writing on healing, identity, and nervous system awareness here. Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn for more info! Read more from Nazoorah Nusrat Nazoorah Nusrat, Holistic Life Coach Nazoorah Nusrat is the founder of Clarity Coaching Energy. With over 20 years of experience in health and wellness, she supports people moving through grief, burnout, or identity shifts to reclaim their clarity, confidence, and inner calm. As a reflexologist as well, Nazoorah blends science, spirituality, and soul to help her clients reconnect to their truth. Having moved through and healed from narcissistic relationships and dynamics, Nazoorah is passionate about emotional alchemy, sacred leadership, and creating spaces where people feel seen, heard, and empowered.

This is a canvas of love and light to a complex world, a transformative force to aid a dilapidating society. It is interesting that love is used as a necessary tool that contribute significantly to our world. Shades of love was shed as light to areas that depicted darkness. Love, light to our world. To her who's difficult to love and to him who finds love difficult In the name of Love I speak, It tastes like songs of sorrow on my lips, You sing to the karma of bitterness, the genesis of everything sweet, It becomes a chorus to the world, rhythm on everybody's hips. This is a script I have read too many times, How you give yourself to ruins too many times, Again, and again and again, too many times, This thing that doesn't have life takes breath out of you, too many times! It is vanity to water flowers when the garden is a desert, If the input is the output, how rich can this make a peasant? What is true love when the truth has lost essence? They didn't lose love, they only lost efforts, To be found, first, you need to be lost, Wear a skin that understands the skeletal system of love, Every sign is a message, every message is a sign, For this is the healing that refines time, To whom it may concern, Like water, see your reflection in the one you choose before you confine, In the name of Love, I speak, to her who's difficult to love and him who finds love difficult. #Loveislighttotheworld Butterflies Butterflies in my belly, fill me to stupor, Made in the Image of Olodumare, may this beauty lead you to suitors, Lead us not into temptations, just tell us where they are, we shall find our way there, What a butterfly feeling in the atmosphere. Butterflies in my heart, Make me music like no other, Let me dance to the sweet sounds of my lover, My heart beats for you forever, Let these undying beats beat me to death like Cain did to his brother, Butterfly bliss, take me away from our country border. Butterflies in my brain like a tumour, True feelings, make it feel true when it's false like a rumour, Make me smile, make me laugh, then tell me how sensational is the sense of humour, Butterflies in my eyes, that's the Apple of my eyes, let me see the unseen, go easy on me, easy on the eyes, Tell me lies and let it live long in my imagination like a dream, Bring it to life, in my eyes, the reality is a win. Butterflies in my head, I carry these feelings in my head, Like a stretcher carries life, as a mother carries her child, This inner child in outer space, playing to the obvious, Prince charming with the regal grace, His highness is tremendous, mine is contagious. Butterflies in my mouth, Let the beautiful feelings all out, let it all work out, Speak to existence like prophecy, let it rule over my thought process like monarchy, every word is parody, every line is a dynasty. Butterflies in my windpipe, Let me breathe, I'm suffocating from this mystery called life, Butterflies give me a new life, like "look! I just married a trophy wife" Butterflies all over my body, Make me blossom to glory, This is how to rewrite the story, From hard to fall to how harder you fall, Your essence changed the analogy, Butterflies all over my body, Somebody! Examine my anatomy, This is a lot like love, The light that shines in a world where darkness is abode. #Loveislighttotheworld More love We are like crumbs in a crumbling world, Pieces look for peace, The promising that lost a just course to promise land, A broken promise who couldn't break up their fallow ground, A dying desire disappearing into the eyes of the Heavens, Love was in Hell and there was war in Heaven, Hatred in our world, spreading itself like tentacles, Reaching for its stars to pitch a tent at its pinnacle, Love knows no bounds, and hate knows no boundary, State of Chaos! State of Catastrophe! State of Emergency! United States of Anarchy! This is the state of humanity, What is sympathy when sorrow is joy making mockery, Consuming like an infection, the weakness of others is energy, The oppressed is vilified for standing against insanity, Trying to get justice is next to trying to get nothing, What is empathy when seeking favour is like looking for vanity? How blessed is a society whose course of action fails peace and harmony? Oppression is only a wound when it is seen in open eyes, the unseen is swept under the carpet, carcass in closed casket, case closed, case dismissed. How hardship is going so hard with ease, 21st century poverty is beautiful birds to a dying tree, Obese music till the fat lady sings. The music is melancholy, Listen to the tune of its catastrophe, There's bread to feed the war but nothing to feed the poor, The capitalist has a thirst for hunger so they scavenge on the hunger of the thirsty, What is love when poverty is a weapon of mass destruction to destroy the masses, What is love when the vineyard owners can't drink from their own chalice, What is love when all we wage is war, I guess love is blind, we couldn't see the eyesore, What is love when they bring hate to your eyeballs, I mean, what is love when classism is a school of hard knocks, What's the place of love when we don't have a place for love, When we don't have that space to show love, As a people, there's nothing we need other than more love. Let the love rain slow, The importance of humanity is how every colour beautifies the rainbow, Love works, it's not a race, it's a victory lap to freedom, A breath away from peace of mind to mankind, A light to the world in dark times. #Loveislighttotheworld XYZ X For good, Live a life of love, A thing to hold, everything to behold, As good as new, as good as gold, Let a new world unfold, Cause her beauty to be bold, Send good tidings to her road, Blessings of the old, For good, Let her light brighten up dark times, Give her fortitude to walk away from borderline, Bring sanity to her land, make her a fertile ground, Save her from scavengers when she finds purpose, Emancipate her from chokehold, Let her breathe in bliss, send chaos back to its abyss, Send down the new reign, until showers of joy wash away the pain, A new day has come, go into the glitters of a bright night, Live a life of love, for you and yours is light to our world. Do this for the sake of love, for good. Y For better, I choose peace from a pool full of pieces, I take strength and give away weakness, Everything that hides under hindrance, Rather than decimating, I let the pen do the penance, Write till arthritis finds joys in violence, From pure love to pure decadence, Dust your crown and put on your eminence, Let your glory be evident, Be the light, ignore the gloom like negligence, For better, for worse is a feeling, when our humanness is unwilling, Unwilling to love, unable to bear the burden, Unwilling to forgive when you're hurting, unable to forget, the memory is poison, Until you get understanding, that not all that shines are diamonds, Not every platter is platinum, For better, exhale that thing that makes you bitter. Do this for the sake of love, for better. Z For the best, Choose what keeps you at rest, What puts you first, what makes you feel seen, feel heard, feel good, feels better, for the best, For the best, choose the best of life, Self examination, put yourself under the knife, Give yourself a thing that gives meaning to life, Have fun, enjoy all the vanities of life, Dare to dream, live the reality, Be a blessing to humanity, Satisfy your curiosity, Walk down the aisle with prosperity, For the best, Choose what's best, soar to your peak and be at your best, Be the light to places darkness dwells, a heaven to look up to in times of hell, a heart to give when it's hard to give, Live a life of love, for you and yours is light to our world. Do this for the sake of love, for the best. #Loveislighttotheworld Love is light to the world I come from a place of Love, Ile Ife, abode of our God, ibiti ojumo tin mo, where lights shine above and beyond, paradise of our pantheons, a place where strength is numbers and every number is one, Genesis of a revelation, before the great exodus, the original immigration, the purge, the colonial extradition, slave trade by barter, it's battery, took a nation out of a generation. Stripped of their humanity, lost their faces, their identity, In chains they sailed into a strange land, they battled to own a face like pageantry, They fought the school of thought, they fought classism, They fought the art of segregating colours, they fought racism, A battle till eternity, perhaps there might live a story time that changes the narrative, I come from a land of 2 rivers, a place of greed, where 3 square meals is a marathon my people find difficult to complete, May I remind you that this place is not meant to be a country, it was a company, North and South amalgamated in order to boost the company's economy, The idea of being a country was propaganda, it wasn't a proper agenda, Green and white was never the vision, I mean, how can 250 languages build a Tower of Babel in Niger Area and you don't expect division, I mean, how can you expect 250 languages to make a single decision. Truthfully speaking, I will be lying, If all 250 ayes have it. I come from a place of love, When we have too much hate in our world, We need ourselves, we need humanity, Hatred is just love that misplaced its priorities, Only if we can see that the darkness within is just the little light that refused to shine, Stray stars that refused to align, But love is light, and light is forever a blessing to a dark side, a beacon of hope to dark times, love is light, and this light is forever a blessing to mankind, Regardless of where we all come from, a place of love should be the heart of mankind, watchword to a dying world, always remember, a place of love is light to the world. #Loveislighttotheworld Glossary Olodumare means God in Yoruba language. "ibiti ojumo tin mo" translates literally to "where the day breaks" or "the source of the dawn." Ayomide Inufin ©2026. An Original Publication of The Spotlight Inc, London, United Kingdom.

Healing from trauma is not always about having the right words. For many people, it is about learning how to feel safe in their own body again. In this conversation, Kiara Brown explains how blending clinical therapy with somatic and spiritual practices creates a more grounded and effective approach to healing. She shares practical insights, clears up common fears about therapy, and offers simple starting points for anyone feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or disconnected from themselves. Kiara Brown, Licensed Professional Counselor, EMDR-Certified Therapist & Certified Hypnotherapist Can you share how your approach blends clinical therapy with spiritual practices, and why this integration is so effective for trauma healing? When I work with clients, I focus on meeting them where they are. I use evidence-based therapy techniques such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, EMDR, and mindfulness, while also integrating clinical hypnotherapy and other intuitive and integrative practices when appropriate. This approach is effective because trauma is not stored just in one place. It affects the mind and body, and often a person’s sense of connection and meaning. By combining clinical and spiritual approaches, we can address trauma from multiple angles. We are not only working with thoughts and emotions, but also with how trauma is stored in the body and experienced on a deeper level. This allows for more complete and lasting healing. How do somatic techniques support healing from trauma, and why is the mind-body connection such an essential part of your work? Somatic techniques are important because much of our experience is stored in the body. Many people can understand their experiences logically and still feel stuck in their emotional or physical responses. When we reconnect with the body, healing can move forward more effectively. If we stay in our minds, we tend to overthink and try to reason our way out of something that isn't rooted in logic. The mind-body connection helps regulate the nervous system and creates a sense of safety. From there, people can begin responding differently to triggers rather than feeling overwhelmed by them. What are some of the biggest misconceptions people have about trauma healing, and how do you address them in your practice? One of the biggest misconceptions is that you must share every detail of your trauma in order to heal. This can make therapy feel overwhelming and prevent people from seeking support. In my work, clients can share as much or as little as they want. Many of the modalities I use do not require a detailed discussion of the trauma. Another common concern is the fear of being retraumatized in therapy. I have extensive training in trauma work and focus on creating safety throughout the process. It is important for anyone seeking trauma therapy to work with someone who is trained and competent in this area. I also spend time educating clients about what trauma is and how healing works, so they feel more prepared and supported. How has integrating spiritual practices into your therapeutic approach changed the way you work with clients compared to traditional therapy methods? Integrating spiritual practices has allowed me to focus more on the whole person. It gives clients additional ways to understand their experiences and connect with themselves beyond just talking through problems. I still use traditional evidence-based methods as the foundation of my work. The spiritual practices are simply additional tools that may be helpful for some clients. This approach is always tailored to the individual. Not everyone connects with spiritual work, and that is respected. Regardless of the methods used, I believe the relationship between therapist and client is the most important factor in healing. For someone struggling with chronic stress or emotional shutdown, what steps can they begin to take today to reconnect with their true selves? Reconnecting can start with very small steps. One simple practice is to set aside at least two minutes a day with no distractions. Sit near a window or outside, have a glass of water, and focus on your breathing. Inhale through your nose and exhale through your mouth. This helps calm the nervous system and creates space to slow down. Another step is to reflect on what brings you joy and what drains you. Once you identify these, begin making time for the things that bring you joy. Consistency is more important than doing everything at once. Setting boundaries around your time is also important so you can continue showing up for yourself. How does EMDR help clients process trauma differently from other therapeutic modalities? EMDR helps clients process trauma by focusing on the negative beliefs connected to the experience rather than requiring a detailed discussion of the event itself. During EMDR, the client focuses on a memory while engaging in bilateral stimulation, such as eye movements or tapping. This process helps reduce the intensity of the emotional response connected to the memory. Over time, the memory becomes less distressing and feels more manageable. Clients are able to process trauma without needing to relive it in detail. This makes EMDR a powerful and effective option for many people. You've developed tools like guided journals and hypnosis recordings. How do these tools enhance the healing process beyond the therapy room? These tools are designed to support healing outside of sessions. They help individuals continue the work in a structured and accessible way. Guided journals encourage deeper reflection and help people recognize patterns in their thoughts and behaviors. Hypnosis recordings support relaxation and nervous system regulation. When used consistently, these tools reinforce the progress made in therapy. They also give people a sense of ownership in their healing process. Instead of relying solely on sessions, they are actively engaging in their growth daily. What personal philosophy do you hold that guides both your professional and personal life, especially when it comes to healing? My philosophy is that healing is not linear and does not happen through big, dramatic changes. It is built through small, consistent steps over time. In both my professional and personal life, I have seen that lasting change comes from small moments of choosing something different. There can be pressure to heal quickly, but that often leads to frustration. I encourage focusing on progress instead of perfection. Those small steps build momentum and lead to meaningful change over time. If there’s one key takeaway, you’d like clients to understand about trauma healing, what would it be? The most important thing to understand is that healing takes time and does not require sharing every detail of your trauma. It is a process that looks different for everyone. Finding the right therapist can make a significant difference. When there is trust and a good fit, healing becomes more manageable and effective. It is okay to move at your own pace and take breaks when needed. Healing is not about reliving the past. It is about changing your relationship with it so it no longer controls your present. Healing is not about becoming someone new. It is about returning to yourself in a way that feels grounded and sustainable. As Kiara Brown highlights, the process takes time, patience, and the willingness to take small steps forward. When the mind, body, and deeper parts of your experience are all included, healing becomes less about fixing and more about reconnecting. Follow me on Facebook and Instagram for more info! Read more from Kiara Brown

Written by Priti Solanki, Founder of Purplespot.ink Priti Solanki is a builder, mentor, and AI Solution Architect who shares insights through her Medium blog at WellnessWithin. She is the founder of Purplespot.ink and the creator of Ahavibes.xyz, a structured journaling tool for clearer thinking and better decisions. Most leadership failures do not begin with incompetence. They begin with cognitive overload. A leader’s role is not only to create strategy and execute plans. It is also to keep people aligned, motivated, and moving toward a shared goal, even during uncertainty, setbacks, and pressure. That responsibility creates a level of mental weight most people never fully see. Leaders operate inside constant context switching. One moment they are discussing long-term vision. The next, they are resolving team conflict, evaluating financial risk, responding to operational issues, calming stakeholders, or deciding whether to pivot an entire strategy. At the same time, they are expected to remain emotionally composed and decisive. This combination demands more than productivity. It demands psychological endurance. Over time, leaders begin carrying invisible layers of mental processing the pressure of uncertainty, the fear of making the wrong decision, responsibility for other people’s outcomes, and the constant need to anticipate risk before it becomes visible. A single poor decision can impact execution velocity, team morale, customer trust, or business growth. Decisions such as whether to invest or conserve resources, continue the current strategy or switch to Plan B, hire aggressively or slow down, all carry emotional and operational consequences. And this is where mental fatigue quietly becomes dangerous. When the mind is overloaded, it stops processing situations calmly. Instead of thoughtful evaluation, leaders begin operating in reaction mode. Everything starts feeling urgent. Conversations feel heavier than they are. Small setbacks begin triggering larger emotional narratives. The mind starts creating stories: “The investor has lost confidence.” “The team no longer believes in me.” “One mistake will destroy everything.” “I’m falling behind.” At that point, decisions are no longer driven by clarity. They are driven by accumulated emotional noise. One of the biggest misconceptions about stress is believing that venting automatically creates resolution. Recently, I spoke with a founder who shared how a single difficult VC meeting disrupted his entire day. One conversation triggered anxiety, self-doubt, emotional spirals, and reactive decision-making across multiple areas of his business. That conversation became part of this podcast episode, "The 3:00 Am Spiral: Burn, Bugs, and the Truth From a Founder’s Life." What stood out most was not the meeting itself. It was how quickly the mind transformed uncertainty into emotional certainty using a structured thinking approach. Sometimes the most powerful thing a leader can do is pause long enough to understand whether their mind is observing reality, or simply reacting to fear. Structured thinking is not about suppressing emotion. It is about slowing down long enough to separate facts from emotional storytelling. It creates space between an event and a reaction. At Ahavibes.xyz, I am exploring how structured reflection can help high-performing minds process difficult situations more intentionally. Follow me on Facebook, LinkedIn, and visit my website for more info! Read more from Priti Solanki Priti Solanki, Founder of Purplespot.ink Priti Solanki is a builder and AI Solution Architect, and the creator of Ahavibes.xyz, born from her own journaling journey. What started as a way to release thoughts evolved into recognizing repeating patterns in her thinking. She built Ahavibes to help others move from expression to clarity, enabling better decisions and deeper self-awareness.

Written by Amy Read, Board-certified Nurse Practitioner Amy Read, NP, is the founder of Sunshine Functional Healing. With a passion for root-cause medicine, she combines advanced clinical expertise and holistic care to help clients reclaim energy, balance, and vibrant health, body, mind, and spirit. Many men are taught to push through discomfort. Fatigue is blamed on a busy schedule. Weight gain is attributed to getting older. Poor sleep, brain fog, and reduced motivation are often viewed as normal consequences of modern life. The problem is that these symptoms are frequently dismissed when they may actually be important signals from the body. One of the biggest blind spots in men's health is the tendency to normalize symptoms that develop gradually. Unlike an injury or sudden illness, changes in energy, mood, metabolism, and performance often occur slowly over months or years. Because the decline is gradual, many men adapt without realizing how much their health has changed. As a result, symptoms such as chronic fatigue, low motivation, difficulty losing weight, poor sleep, irritability, or decreased physical performance are often ignored until they begin significantly affecting quality of life. Why men miss early warning signs Several factors contribute to this pattern. First, many symptoms develop gradually. What begins as occasional fatigue may slowly evolve into persistent exhaustion. Small changes in body composition may accumulate over time until weight gain becomes difficult to manage. Second, cultural expectations often encourage men to prioritize work, family responsibilities, and productivity over personal health. Many believe they should simply work harder, sleep less, or tolerate discomfort rather than investigate what may be causing their symptoms. Third, symptoms are often misattributed. Low energy is blamed on stress. Weight gain is blamed solely on diet. Brain fog is blamed on a demanding schedule. While these factors may contribute, they do not always explain the full picture. The body often communicates imbalance long before more significant health problems develop. The challenge is that many men do not recognize these signals until symptoms become severe enough to interfere with daily life. Looking beyond symptoms This is where a root cause approach becomes valuable. Traditional healthcare often focuses on managing symptoms individually. Fatigue, weight gain, poor sleep, and low mood may each be addressed separately. While symptom relief can be helpful, it does not always identify what is driving the problem. A root cause approach asks a different question, "Why is this symptom occurring in the first place?" Hormones, metabolism, sleep quality, stress response, inflammation, digestion, and nutrition all influence one another. When one system becomes imbalanced, multiple symptoms can appear at the same time. For example, persistent fatigue may be linked to low testosterone, thyroid dysfunction, nutrient deficiencies, insulin resistance, chronic inflammation, poor sleep quality, or elevated stress hormones. Similarly, weight gain may involve more than calories alone and can be influenced by hormonal and metabolic factors that affect how the body stores fat and regulates energy. Rather than treating symptoms as isolated problems, root cause care evaluates how different systems are interacting and seeks to uncover the underlying contributors to poor health. Why personalization matters One of the key principles of root cause care is recognizing that no two individuals are exactly alike. Two men may experience the same symptom but have completely different underlying causes. One may be struggling with sleep dysfunction and elevated cortisol levels. Another may have insulin resistance, nutrient deficiencies, or hormonal imbalances. Because the causes can vary, a one-size-fits-all solution often falls short. Personalized evaluation helps identify the factors most relevant to each individual and allows for targeted recommendations that support long-term improvement. The value of early intervention Many chronic health conditions do not appear overnight. They often develop gradually through a series of small physiological changes. Early symptoms such as fatigue, poor sleep, low motivation, reduced exercise performance, and changes in body composition are often the body's first warning signs. Addressing these concerns early can help prevent larger health challenges later. When underlying imbalances are identified and supported, improvements often extend beyond a single symptom. Better energy, improved sleep, enhanced focus, healthier body composition, and improved overall well-being frequently occur together because the body functions as an interconnected system. Taking a more proactive approach to men's health Men's health is not simply about managing symptoms as they appear. It is about understanding what the body is communicating and responding before small issues become larger problems. The goal is not just symptom relief. The goal is restoring optimal function, supporting long-term health, and improving quality of life. If you've been experiencing fatigue, weight gain, poor sleep, low motivation, brain fog, or other ongoing symptoms, consider viewing them as information rather than inconveniences. They may be your body's way of telling you that something deeper deserves attention. Free men's health webinar Men’s health: A root cause approach If you're struggling with fatigue, weight gain, low energy, or hormone concerns, join us to learn how a root cause approach can help improve energy, metabolism, hormone balance, and overall wellness. Restore your energy and reclaim your vitality. The webinar will take place on June 22, 2026, at 12:30 PM EST, live on Zoom. Reserve your free spot here. Take the first step toward better health by scheduling a free 10-minute men's health consultation to discuss fatigue, weight gain, low energy, hormone concerns, and overall wellness. Use code MENFIRST. Offer valid through June 30. Schedule here. Follow me on Instagram, LinkedIn, and visit my website for more info! Read more from Amy Read Amy Read, Board-certified Nurse Practitioner Amy Read, NP, is a board- certified Nurse Practitioner and the founder of Sunshine Functional Healing. With years of experience in integrative and functional medicine, Amy is passionate about uncovering the root causes of health concerns and empowering clients to achieve lasting wellness. She blends advanced clinical knowledge with a holistic, personalized approach, focusing on mind, body, and spirit. Amy is dedicated to patient education and believes in making complex health topics accessible and actionable. When she is not working with clients, she enjoys long walks, relaxing at the beach, spending time with friends and family, and inspiring others to take charge of their health journey. To learn more about this topic, read: A Root Cause Approach to Men's Health Why Men Often Ignore Early Warning Signs of Health Problems

Briana Lee is the founder and creative force behind LoveCashionista, a Boston-based brand specializing in fashion, digital art, photography, and interior design. Recognized for its emotionally driven and visually captivating work, LoveCashionista has been featured in renowned publications including Elle and Harper’s Bazaar, as well as major exhibitions around the world. Inspired by nature, sustainability, and the power of creative expression, the brand is rooted in the mission of turning pain into power through artwork, using art and design to inspire healing, resilience, environmental awareness, and self-empowerment. Briana Lee, Founder, Visual Artist and Fashion Creative What first inspired you to build LoveCashionista as a space that blends fashion, art, and emotional storytelling? LoveCashionista began as a story of my life. It was inspired by the experiences I’ve had, the interests I’ve pursued, and the different jobs and roles that have shaped my perspective over the years. Each stage of my journey introduced me to new ideas, challenges, and forms of creativity. As I continued to grow and learn, those experiences naturally transformed into different expressions of art. Fashion became one language, storytelling another, and together they allowed me to share lessons and emotions behind each moment. LoveCashionista evolved into a creative space where fashion, art, and personal narratives come together to celebrate growth, self-expression, and the beauty of transformation. How has your background in fashion, travel, and hospitality shaped the way you approach creative expression today? My background in fashion, travel, and hospitality has taught me to see creativity through a deeply human lens. Fashion introduced me to the power of self-expression through visual design, while travel exposed me to diverse cultures, perspectives, and artistic influences that continually inspire my work. Hospitality taught me the importance of creating meaningful experiences and genuine connections with people. Together, these experiences have shaped the way I approach creative expression today, with curiosity, empathy, and an appreciation for beauty in both the extraordinary and the everyday. They have helped me understand that every person, place, and experience carries a story, and I strive to reflect those stories through the content and artistic vision behind LoveCashionista. What does “turning pain into power” look like in your actual creative process? Turning pain into power means taking some of the hardest moments of my life and transforming them into something meaningful, powerful, and beautiful. My creative process is rooted in reflection, allowing myself to learn from challenges, setbacks, and personal experiences, then channeling those emotions into my work. Every design, every fashion show, every photograph, and every piece of art carries a story of strength, resilience, and perseverance. Creating has been a way for me to heal, grow, and reclaim my narrative. Looking back, I am proud of how those experiences have shaped not only my work but also who I am today. Each project becomes a reminder that even difficult moments can inspire purpose and transformation while creating something beautiful. Why was it important for you to expand beyond fashion into photography, digital art, interior design, and television? Expanding beyond fashion was a natural progression of my creativity because I feel that fashion, photography, digital art, interior design, and television all coincide with one another. Each medium allows me to tell a story from a different perspective while expressing the same creative vision. Exploring these areas has helped me grow as an artist and bring ideas to life in more meaningful and impactful ways. Where do you think the fashion and art industries still misunderstand sustainability? I think the fashion and art industry sometimes misunderstand sustainability by viewing it as a trend rather than a long-term commitment. True sustainability goes beyond materials and production methods. It’s about creating with intention, helping the environment, valuing craftsmanship, and making choices that have a lasting positive impact. What role does emotional connection play in creating meaningful visual work in today’s fast-content culture? I think emotional connection is everything. In a world where people are constantly scrolling and consuming content, what really stands out is something that feels real and authentic. People connect with stories, experiences, and emotions they can relate to. For me, the most meaningful work isn't just visually beautiful, it’s work that makes someone feel seen, inspired, or understood. That's what creates a lasting impact. What helps you stay creatively aligned when working across so many different disciplines? Staying open and constantly inspired is what helps me stay aligned. I’m always looking for new ways to create. I try not to fear new tools or technology but instead embrace them and find ways to incorporate them into my process. I try to understand how they can enhance my work. As long as I stay true to myself, everything naturally stays in balance. Through The Message, what kinds of stories or conversations do you feel communities need more of right now? Through The Message, I feel like we need more stories told directly from the community, through art, music, and culture, that reflect real experiences and can genuinely move people. When voices from different backgrounds are expressed creatively, it creates understanding, connection, and even change. I want to highlight work that comes from lived experience and shows how powerful creativity can be in bringing people together and shifting perspectives in the world. I also feel that we need moments that relax us and bring positivity, along with peace of mind. Especially during this time, all of these things are necessary. What do you hope people feel after experiencing your work for the first time? I hope people feel a sense of inspiration after experiencing my work, something that brightens their day both literally and figuratively. More than anything, I hope it brings them happiness and is special, even if it’s just for a moment. I hope my work, whether it’s fashion or art, creates a space for people to pause and connect with their own feelings. Sometimes that can be as simple as seeing beauty in a detail they might have overlooked, or feeling understood in a way they didn’t expect. If my work can create even a brief moment in someone’s day that feels uplifting or grounding, then that means everything to me. I want to create work that not only looks beautiful, but also feels meaningful, something that resonates emotionally and reminds people of their own light. Follow me on Instagram and visit my website for more info! Read more from Briana Lee

Written by Elif Köse, The Confidence Architect Former awards winner, fashion designer turned architect of internal revolutions, Elif built businesses, burned them down (strategically, not accidentally), and kept the parts that mattered, the ability to see exactly where someone is lying to themselves and the precision to call it out without making them feel small. So many people ask me if retreats are worth it. It happens at dinners, at the school gate, after a yoga class. There is always a small pause before they ask. You can see them deciding whether to say the thing they actually want to say. They usually do. They usually mean the money. Underneath that, they mean the days off, leaving things behind, the permission to stop. It is a fair question. Honestly, it is one of the most important questions a busy person can ask. So I have stopped giving the brochure answer. No talk of sunsets or how rested you will feel on the flight home. Instead, I tell people what I have actually noticed after years of watching leaders arrive and watching them leave. What I have noticed is this, people come back having made a decision. Not always a dramatic one, usually. Kind of like they pick up a hobby that slid away years ago. They finally have the conversation they had been circling for months. They rest, properly, for what might be the first time in a long while, and the rest itself shows them something they were simply too tired to see before. Or leaving a narcissistic relationship after 18 years of suffering. This article is for anyone wondering whether a retreat is the right thing for them. Whether you are in a season of overwhelm, navigating a big decision, or basically overdue a proper reset, these are the things I want you to know before you decide. What a retreat actually is and what it is not The word retreat means different things to different people. For some, it conjures silence and meditation. For others, it sounds like a corporate away-day with better scenery. Neither of those is quite what I mean. A retreat, in the way I use the word, is structured time away from your ordinary life with enough support around you to actually think. Not just to rest, though rest matters. To think. To feel. To hear yourself again without the noise of everything else competing for your attention. A never-ending to-do list. It is not a holiday, though it can be beautiful. It is not therapy, though it can be therapeutic. It is not a productivity retreat or a goal-setting workshop. It is something meaningful and more specific than any of those things. It is time to come back to yourself. The real difference between a holiday and a retreat Here is the comparison I find myself reaching for most often. A regular holiday gives you a break. A lovely one, often. You come home refreshed, a little lighter, with better colour in your cheeks. But then, within about a week, you are standing exactly where you were before you left. Same loop. Same decisions unmade. Same low hum of overwhelm picking back up. A retreat tends to do something different. It gives you distance from your own life, not just time away from your inbox but genuine perspective on the whole shape of things. That distance, it turns out, is extraordinarily rare. Most of us move so fast, for so long, that we lose the ability to see our own lives clearly. Clarity, it turns out, is the thing most leaders are shortest on. Not rest, not sunshine. Clarity. The internal space to hear yourself think without interruption. To stop second-guessing the same question for the fourteenth time. To know what you actually want to do next, with your work, your team, your time, yourself. A retreat creates the conditions for that clarity to surface. It is not magic. It is simply what happens when you remove the noise long enough for your own signal to come through. Why most leaders keep putting it off I have heard every version of the timing conversation. Now is not the right moment. Things are too busy right now. Maybe in the autumn. Maybe next year. I understand it, truly. When you are in the middle of running something, or building something, or holding a team together, stepping away feels counterintuitive at best and irresponsible at worst. But here is what I have come to believe, the leaders who keep saying not yet are often the ones who most need to go. The busyness itself is the symptom. The inability to step back, to think from a wider perspective, to make a clear-eyed decision about what actually matters, that is what happens when you have not stopped in too long. You do not have to be burned out to benefit from a retreat. You do not have to be in crisis. You just have to be the kind of person who cares about doing their work well, and who knows, somewhere underneath the noise, that they have been running on fumes for a little while now. What you actually come back with Over the years I have watched something consistent happen. By the second or third day, something in people's shoulders changes. Not because anything has been solved yet, but because they have stopped performing. There is no one watching. No one to update. No role to hold up. In that space, they start to remember things about themselves they had quietly set aside. What they wanted when they started. What they care about outside of work. What they have been avoiding. What they already know but have not had the stillness to admit. It does not always come as a revelation. Often it arrives more gently than that, as a simple knowing, a quiet yes or a quiet no, that clarifies something they had been turning over for months. They go home and make the call. Start the thing. End the thing. Say the true thing. Give themselves the permission they had been withholding. Not because the retreat told them to, but because they finally had the space to hear themselves clearly enough to act. What leaders have said about attending "I came not knowing what I needed. I left knowing exactly what I was going to do differently. I have not second-guessed it once."[1] The clarity that follows a retreat is not always dramatic. Sometimes it is a single decision, quietly made, that turns out to change everything. "I kept telling myself I could not afford the time. What I realised on day two is that I could not afford to keep going the way I was going."[1] The leaders who benefit most are rarely those with the most time to spare. They are the ones who show up despite the busyness and find that the investment returns itself many times over. "I have been on team retreats, wellness weekends, holidays. This was different. I actually came home knowing what I wanted."[2] The difference is the combination of structure, space, and skilled facilitation. It is not just beautiful surroundings. It is the right conditions for genuine reflection. "For the first time in years I slept without my mind running. By day three I remembered who I was before I got so busy."[1] Rest is the foundation. Without it, none of the deeper work is possible. This is why the retreat is designed to prioritise it fully, not as an afterthought but as the entire point. The real question to ask yourself When a friend asks me if a retreat is worth it, I have started asking something back. What would it be worth to come home knowing what you want? To stop guessing. To have one clear answer about your own life that you did not have before you left. That is usually where the conversation goes quiet. Because that is the real calculation, and the price of the room is only a small part of it. The larger cost is already being paid—in the energy of staying stuck, in the months of circling the same question, in the low-level drain of knowing something needs to shift but not quite being able to see what. Five days in Turkey this June, from the 23rd to the 27th, is an opportunity to step out of all of that. To be somewhere beautiful, to be held in a thoughtfully designed space, and to give yourself the rarest thing a leader can have, uninterrupted time to think. This retreat is not about productivity. It is not about coming back with a plan, a list, or a newly optimised morning routine. It is about returning to yourself, properly and generously, so that everything you go back to can benefit from a version of you that is clearer, calmer, and more certain of what matters. About this retreat This five-day retreat takes place 23-27 June in Turkey and is designed specifically for leaders, founders, and high-achieving women who are ready to rest and reset. The programme combines structured reflection sessions, generous free time, shared meals, and skilled facilitation. Numbers are intentionally small. The environment is beautiful and unhurried. Everything is designed to support the conditions in which real clarity tends to arrive. There is no agenda to perform to. No performance at all. Just space, time, and the company of others who understand what it means to carry a lot and to need, finally, to put some of it down. Full details on dates, pricing, what is included, and how to reserve your place are available at retreats.elifkose.com. If that question is sitting with you, whether now is the right time, or whether you can afford to step away, maybe just have a look. No need to decide anything today. Please note: This article is for informational purposes. The June retreat runs 23-27 June in Turkey. Places are limited. For all booking enquiries and further information, visit retreats.elifkose.com. Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn for more info! Read more from Elif Köse Elif Köse, The Confidence Architect Elif Köse is a dynamic editor, speaker, and strategist dedicated to helping women overcome self-doubt, reframe limiting beliefs, and step into their highest potential. Known for her authenticity and actionable insights, Elif combines neuroscience, mindset reprogramming, and deep empathy to guide leaders, visionaries, and change-makers toward lasting transformation. From fashion designer to transformational coach, her own story of reinvention inspires others to reclaim their voice, purpose, and impact as empowered female leaders. References: [1] Retreat participant, 2024 [2] Retreat participant, 2023

Written by Trishiana Shelton, Feminine Wellness Coach, Global Advocate Trishiana is a global Feminine Wellness & Sensuous Living Coach, an inspiring author, speaker, and coach. Her work explores how women can access deeper healing, vitality, and creativity by aligning with the body's natural intelligence and higher states of awareness. There is a language the female body has always spoken. Quiet, intelligent, precise. Not in words, but in signals. Signals of openness or contraction, of vitality or depletion, of readiness or retreat. Yet, many women have been taught to override this language. To push, perform, produce, and achieve, while the body slowly shifts from harmony into survival. But the body does not fail. It responds. In this article, you will explore the science of how the female body adapts to chronic stress, why healing requires a different kind of signal, and how women can begin to return to a regulated, vital, and fully embodied state of health. The body is not breaking, it is adapting What we often label as dysfunction is, in truth, adaptation. Hormonal irregularities. Fatigue that sleep does not touch. Anxiety hidden beneath accomplishment. A subtle disconnection from pleasure, from desire, from self. These are not random symptoms. They are intelligent responses to an internal environment shaped by chronic stress. Because stress is not simply emotional. It is a biological instruction. The body is always listening, always responding, and always doing its best to protect you, given the signals it receives. Stress: The invisible architecture shaping the female body When a woman experiences prolonged stress, the body reorganizes itself around survival. The nervous system shifts into sympathetic dominance, commonly known as the fight-or-flight state. In this state, the body makes predictable adjustments to protect itself. Blood vessels constrict to redirect resources, hormonal rhythms fragment under the weight of elevated cortisol, digestion and restoration slow as non-essential functions are deprioritized, and energy is diverted away from healing and repair. Overall, the body prioritizes function and output over feeling and receiving. This response is brilliant and necessary, it was designed to protect us from real and immediate danger. However, it was never meant to become a permanent way of living. The issue is not stress itself, it is the absence of return. Healing happens in safety, not urgency True healing does not occur in urgency. It happens in safety. The parasympathetic nervous system, often referred to as the rest-and-restore state, is where the female body repairs, regulates, and reawakens. Within this state, the body shifts into an entirely different mode of operation. Blood flow deepens and reaches tissues that were previously restricted, hormones begin communicating with greater coherence and rhythm, and organs receive the nourishment and oxygen they need to function optimally. Inflammation begins to calm as the threat signal subsides, and the body softens into receptivity, rest, and restoration. Research from institutions such as Harvard University and the National Institutes of Health continues to affirm what many women already intuitively feel: without nervous system regulation, true healing remains incomplete. The body cannot repair what it is still defending against. The hidden cascade inside the female body What unfolds beneath the surface when a woman lives in chronic stress is not random. It follows a precise sequence. Prolonged stress leads to nervous system dysregulation, which constricts blood flow, which reduces the delivery of oxygen and nutrients throughout the body, which creates organ imbalance, which then manifests as hormonal disruption and cardiovascular strain. The American Heart Association has increasingly emphasized how chronic stress uniquely impacts women's cardiovascular health, often silently and often overlooked until symptoms become impossible to ignore. Heart disease remains the number one cause of death among women aged 35 to 55, with chronic stress identified as a primary driver. This is not fragmentation. This is a system speaking in sequence. When you understand the sequence, you begin to understand the solution. Acupuncture as a return signal for the nervous system Acupuncture does something profoundly simple and profoundly powerful at the same time. It gives the body a different instruction. Not through force. Through precision. By stimulating specific points within the body, acupuncture communicates directly with the nervous system, guiding the body out of chronic activation and toward regulation. Research and clinical observation continue to associate acupuncture with meaningful physiological shifts: Activation of the parasympathetic nervous system Restoration of vagal tone, which governs the body's ability to self-regulate Expansion of blood vessels through nitric oxide release, improving circulation Improved oxygenation of tissues and organs Reduction of systemic inflammation Support for hormonal regulation and rhythm restoration Acupuncture does not override the body. It reminds it. This is why natural healing modalities deserve a larger place in the future of women's wellness, not as replacements for medicine, but as intelligent complements that help women participate more actively in their own restoration. Blood flow: The currency of the feminine body A woman's health is deeply tied to circulation. When blood flows freely and deeply through the body, everything changes. The womb receives the nourishment it needs to function and renew, and the ovaries receive what they need to regulate hormonal rhythms. Hormones move with greater coherence and predictability, tissues repair more efficiently as oxygen and nutrients reach them, and energy becomes available rather than diverted toward survival. When circulation becomes restricted due to chronic stress and nervous system dysregulation, the body begins to dim. This is where many women unknowingly live functioning, but not fully receiving, present, but not fully alive. Acupuncture helps reopen these pathways, and when flow returns, so does vitality. Libido is not separate from health, it is a measure of it Desire is often misunderstood. It is not merely psychological, it is physiological. Libido reflects the current state of multiple interconnected systems within the body. Nervous system safety and the absence of perceived threat, hormonal harmony and the rhythm of reproductive and stress hormones, circulatory vitality and the flow of energy through the body, emotional openness and the capacity to receive and give, and energetic coherence all contribute to erotic vitality. A body in survival does not prioritize pleasure, whereas a body in safety does not suppress it. When desire fades, the body is not rejecting intimacy, it is revealing imbalance. Erotic vitality, understood in this context, is not indulgence, it is evidence that the body finally feels safe enough to open. The feminine body is rhythmic, not mechanical The female body was never designed for constant output. It is cyclical. Responsive. Deeply attuned to internal and external signals. It opens when it feels safe. It restores when given space. It thrives in flow, not force. When this rhythm is honored, healing is no longer something that must be chased. It unfolds naturally, like a body remembering itself. The challenge for most modern women is not a lack of desire to heal. It is that the environments, schedules, and demands they live within leave no room for the nervous system to exhale. Beyond chemistry: The role of light and signaling in women's health Beyond chemistry and physical structure, the body relies on signaling a frequency that guides biological communication. Light itself functions within the body to influence the systems that govern health. It supports mitochondrial energy production and cellular vitality, regulates circadian rhythms that govern sleep, hormones, and mood, balances the nervous system and the body's ability to self-regulate, and restores mood, mental clarity, and emotional resilience. When chronic stress dominates, these biological signals become distorted, and the body's internal communication begins to break down. When the nervous system returns to coherence, synchronization resumes, and the body becomes more radiant in its function. Sensuousity: The regulated state of the feminine body This is where the conversation deepens. Sensuousity is not indulgence. It is not performance. Sensuousity is the biological and energetic state that emerges when the female body is regulated, coherent, and fully resourced. While many wellness approaches focus on isolated symptoms, the Sensuousity Method views the female body as an interconnected system. The nervous system, circulation, hormones, emotions, environment, and daily habits continuously influence one another. When these systems move toward coherence rather than conflict, healing often becomes more accessible, sustainable, and deeply embodied. When the nervous system feels safe, blood flow is restored, hormones communicate more clearly, and the body is no longer bracing against life, something shifts. Healing accelerates. Emotional resilience expands. Energy becomes available. Creativity and intuition increase. Erotic vitality naturally reawakens. This is not a theory. It is what becomes possible when the body is finally given the right signals. The Sensuousity Reset: A practical first step Over the last several years, Trishiana has developed practical tools designed to help women move from overwhelm and disconnection into regulation and restoration. That work evolved into the Sensuousity Reset, a guided nervous system restoration experience that combines a healing audio activation, reflective embodiment journaling, education around stress physiology and feminine wellness, and entry into a larger healing framework designed for modern women. The purpose of the Sensuousity Reset is not dependency. It is awareness. More importantly, it is experience. When a woman feels even a small shift in her nervous system, she begins to understand that restoration is not an abstract concept. It is something her body is capable of today. The body already contains extraordinary intelligence. It simply needs the right environment and the right signals to express it. Retreats, restoration, and real-life embodiment Healing also requires an environment. Spaces where the nervous system can finally exhale. This is why the Sensuousity Method includes immersive feminine wellness retreats in the Dominican Republic and throughout the Caribbean. These are private experiences designed around restoration, embodiment, regulation, beauty, nourishment, and reconnection. These retreats are not built around performance. They are designed around coherence. Around giving the female body the conditions it has been asking for. Sunlight. Rest. Breath. Beauty. Conversation. Water. Safety. Touch. Spaciousness. Sometimes healing begins not with doing more, but with finally allowing the body to receive. A new paradigm of women's health The future of women's health will not be found in isolated treatments alone. It will emerge through understanding the female body as an interconnected system, one where the nervous system, blood flow, hormones, emotional well-being, environment, and energy continuously influence one another. Through educational articles, the complimentary Feminine Wisdom Newsletter, guided experiences, retreats, coaching, and ongoing research translation, the mission of Sensuousity is to help women stay connected to the discoveries, practices, and natural solutions that support greater health, resilience, vitality, and quality of life. Acupuncture lives beautifully at this intersection. Not as an alternative to medicine. But as a bridge toward a more intelligent and complete model of women's wellbeing. Perhaps this is where women's wellness is moving. Away from fragmentation. Away from symptom management alone. Toward coherence. Toward participation. Toward remembering how the body heals when given the right signals. Because beneath every symptom is communication. Beneath every signal is information, and beneath every moment of restoration is a body responding exactly as it was designed to respond when given the right conditions to heal. Begin your restoration today If this article resonated with something you have been feeling in your own body, you are not alone, and you are not broken. The body is simply waiting for a different signal. The Sensuousity Reset is a guided nervous system and feminine embodiment experience designed to help women move from survival into restoration. It combines a healing audio activation, reflective journaling, and education rooted in stress physiology and feminine wellness, for just $27 with immediate access. To begin your restoration today, access The Sensuousity Reset – A 16-Minute Return to Your Body. Follow her on Facebook, LinkedIn, and visit her website for more info! Read more from Trishiana Shelton Trishiana Shelton, Feminine Wellness Coach, Global Advocate Trishiana, a feminine wellness coach, author, & editor of Feminine Wisdom Newsletter, a free feminine wellness publication for high-achieving women that reports about research on how to reduce stress, restore nervous system coherence that can elevate their lives through feminine wellness & sensuous living practices. She integrates modern science, ancient wisdom & lifestyle practices that cultivate vitality & lasting transformation. She is an inspiring speaker, coach, and global advocate for feminine wellness. Her work explores how women can access deeper healing, vitality and creativity by aligning with the body's natural intelligence and higher states of awareness.

Written by: Oleg Hutsulyak In today's highly competitive construction environment, the advantage lies with innovative and practical technological developments. One such example is Travertine Look facade plaster technology, developed in Ukraine by Vasyl Kravchuk for the US market. It has already undergone practical application in America and is currently being prepared for patenting as a method that enables the imitation of natural stone using lightweight mineral plaster. “Natural stone and clinker (an ultra-strong building material) are too expensive. They are heavy, difficult to install and generate significant waste. The desire to improve these processes prompted me to develop a new facade plaster technology. Originally developed in Ukraine and already applied in the U.S., it helps reduce the load on the facade and foundation of the house, is easier to work with and can be modified without difficulty. It is very flexible and suitable for any exterior,” says the developer. What is Travertine look Vasyl explains that the Travertine Look mineral facade system is a comprehensive system for exterior finishing. It combines the use of mineral materials, a multi-layer application process, surface texturing and manual finishing. This technology differs from typical plaster systems or classic natural stone cladding in the ability to create a special architectural look, while remaining flexible and suitable for use in residential construction. “I developed this plaster to replicate the appearance of natural travertine,” says Vasyl. “To do this, I used a lightweight cement-based decorative facade system, which significantly reduces the cost of materials and the complexity of installation.” The development is based on a white cement mortar type S, which is used to create a decorative stone that resembles travertine (an environmentally friendly, porous, natural stone) and is applied to prepared external bases, such as concrete or stone surfaces. The application process consists of several stages: preparation and cleaning of the surface, application of the cement mortar, controlled texturing by hand using metal trowels, sponges or brushes, optional segmentation into blocks or geometric forms, hardening and painting to enhance visual depth and improve resistance to changing weather conditions. The developer highlights the following key advantages of the innovative technology: it gives the architect greater freedom in shaping the geometry and creating a unique look for the building; the technology reduces material costs and the weight of the facades, which makes their transportation and installation easier; by using a white cement mortar type S, the development reduces the environmental impact compared to traditional stone facades. “The Travertine Look mineral facade system can be used in a variety of projects. For example, for residential, commercial (office, retail) public buildings, including schools, hospitals, and government facilities,” says the developer. What sets this technology apart The use of the Travertine Look mineral system in the construction and architecture of the facade offers a range of advantages. “First of all, it is a cost saving. The materials and the application process are much cheaper compared to other similar technologies for facade decoration,” says the builder. In addition, Vasyl’s development plays an important role in preserving the housing stock. After its application, the durability of buildings increases, because high-quality materials and correct finishing technologies protect structures from moisture, temperature fluctuations and mechanical wear, reducing the need for frequent repairs. Aesthetically designed and decorated facades create a beautiful visual space and a single architectural style of the district. It becomes attractive to residents and investors, the market value of real estate increases and the area is developing intensively. “A high-quality facade coating contributes to the energy efficiency of the building, reduces heating and maintenance costs,” he adds. “And another key advantage of my development is the reduction of the need for natural stone in the decoration of houses. The plaster is made of mineral materials and guarantees the preservation of natural resources.” How the idea was implemented The developer says that in October 2025, the innovative Travertine Look development was implemented in a real project. It was applied during the construction of a residential building in the state of California. The mineral facade system is durable, so it requires minimal maintenance. Unlike natural stone, Travertine Look reduces material processing complexity, transportation requirements, and installation challenges, but at the same time maintains high performance characteristics. It is also applied manually, requires accuracy and a deep understanding of how mineral materials behave. This creative approach is driving demand for skilled professionals and supporting the development of a skilled workforce in the U.S. construction industry. Travertine Look technology is proof that custom-engineered solutions can scale and have an impact on the construction industry. Its innovation lies in its ability to replicate the visual and tactile characteristics of natural stone without the associated weight, cost, or installation complexity. Even in today’s highly competitive U.S. market, there is still room for new solutions with clear and measurable results that will shape the future industry of the construction industry in the coming years.