Taiye Aluko is a relationship and marriage coach specializing in emotional intelligence. She works with couples and high-achieving individuals to address emotional disconnection and build healthier, more fulfilling relationships. Taiye’s method helps transform relationships from surviving to thriving, focusing on emotional awareness, communication, and practical tools for reconnecting. Taiye Aluko, Relationship Coach Who is Taiye Aluko? Taiye Aluko is a relationship and marriage coach, emotional intelligence practitioner, and the founder of Raregems Coaching & Counselling. I work primarily with couples and high-achieving individuals who appear “fine” on the outside, yet privately feel emotionally disconnected, misunderstood, or exhausted within their relationships. At home, I’m intentional about quiet rhythms and genuine connection. I enjoy exercising, relaxing with friends over unhurried lunch dates, and the simple but powerful joy of being fully present. I’m not drawn to noise; I’m drawn to depth and that value deeply shapes my work. Something interesting about me is that I am a twin and also a twin mama. Growing up with a twin sister was joyful, but it also came with constant comparison. For a long time, I struggled with fully owning my individuality. As I grew older and became more emotionally aware, I learned to embrace my uniqueness. It has been and continues to be a beautiful journey of self-acceptance. What pivotal life or career moment led you to become a relationship and marriage coach? It wasn’t a single dramatic moment; it was a pattern I kept seeing. I observed that many people genuinely love each other and deeply desire healthy homes. They often have wonderful courtships, yet after marriage, they begin to feel lonely inside the same relationship. They weren’t failing because they lacked love; they were struggling because they lacked emotional skills. This insight is also deeply personal. In my own marriage, we experienced seasons of intense conflict moments that almost caused us to give up on each other. It wasn’t until we learned to pause, regulate our emotions, and respond differently that we began to experience real shifts in our connection. Working with couples, I consistently see how stress, unspoken expectations, emotional triggers, and unresolved hurts quietly shape the emotional climate of a home. That observation made me deeply curious about what actually makes love sustainable. That curiosity led me into emotional intelligence work and eventually into relationship coaching, where I could merge empathy, structure, and skill-building. I discovered that beyond romance and chemistry, it is emotional awareness and emotional regulation that truly sustain relationships. How would you describe the core problem most couples come to you with, even if they don’t realize it yet? The core problem is almost always emotional disconnection. Couples may say, “We don’t communicate,” “We argue all the time,” or “We’re no longer close.” But beneath those complaints is a deeper pain: I don’t feel emotionally seen. I don’t feel safe. I don’t feel understood. It is possible to live together, parent together, and build a life together, yet still feel emotionally alone. That silent loneliness is what many couples struggle to name. Even infidelity, in many cases, begins where emotional disconnection has been left unattended. What makes your approach to relationship coaching different from traditional counselling methods? My work is emotionally intelligent, practical, and skill-based. Traditional approaches can sometimes keep couples stuck in explanation without transformation. There may be a lot of talking and analysis, but not enough tools for real-life moments when emotions escalate, when tone shifts, when someone shuts down, when resentment surfaces, or when trust feels fragile. I focus on emotional awareness, naming what is really happening. Emotional regulation, responding without causing damage. Communication that builds safety rather than control. Repair, learning how to return to each other after rupture. My goal is not to help people win arguments. It is to help them build relationships that feel emotionally safe to live in. Can you explain what you mean by helping couples move from “enduring” marriage to truly enjoying it? Many couples are not planning to divorce. They are simply enduring their marriages. They manage responsibilities, share bills, co-parent, and maintain appearances. Yet the warmth is gone. The home feels tense or emotionally distant. They function like teammates rather than companions. That, to me, is deeply sad because relationships are meant to be enjoyed. Enjoying marriage means feeling emotionally secure with each other, being able to talk without fear of escalation, experiencing affection that feels natural rather than forced, and knowing that even when conflict occurs, repair is possible. I help couples move from “we’re managing” to “we’re connected again.” That shift changes everything about the emotional climate of a home. What are the most common mistakes couples make that quietly erode intimacy and connection? The most damaging mistakes are often the quiet ones. Avoiding difficult conversations and hoping time will heal what honesty and skill should address. Shutting down emotionally, becoming “fine” instead of being truthful. Assuming your partner should instinctively know your needs. Allowing resentment to accumulate without repair. Replacing intimacy with productivity, building a life while neglecting the relationship within it. Taking each other for granted through over-familiarity. Most couples don’t lose intimacy overnight. They lose it through small, unresolved moments repeated over time. How do you help high-achieving individuals balance personal success with a thriving home life? High achievers often have strong external competence, but relational success requires a different kind of strength. Emotional presence, vulnerability, and intentional communication. I help high-achieving individuals build habits that protect their relationships. These include creating emotional transitions from work mode to home mode, understanding how stress spills into tone, impatience, and withdrawal, expressing needs without harshness or control, and establishing consistent rituals of connection rather than occasional grand gestures. A thriving home is not built on intention alone. It is built through emotional skill and repeatable relational habits. What transformation do your clients typically experience after working with you? Transformation usually begins with clarity, followed by reflection and self-awareness. From there, change becomes practical and visible. Communication feels calmer and more effective. Conflict is handled without emotional explosions. Emotional intimacy begins to return. Both partners feel safer and more secure. Clients often describe feeling lighter, more understood, and more hopeful about their relationships. How do emotional awareness and communication play a role in rebuilding trust and harmony? Emotional awareness helps people recognize what they are feeling before they react. That single skill changes arguments, because many conflicts are not about the issue being discussed, they are about the emotion underneath it. When couples learn to name emotions, regulate responses, and communicate without blame or assumption, trust begins to rebuild. Partners feel less attacked and more understood, and harmony gradually returns. Who do you feel your work is especially meant for, and why do they resonate with you? My work is especially meant for couples and individuals who want more than simply going through the motions of marriage. They are often high-functioning, responsible, values-driven, and committed, yet privately feel emotionally stuck, wondering why they are doing everything “right” and still feel disconnected. They resonate with me because I combine warmth with structure. I don’t shame people for struggling; I help them build emotional skills they were never taught. What does a successful and healthy relationship look like through your lens? A successful relationship is emotionally safe, mutually respectful, and resilient. It is not perfect, but it includes honesty without fear, conflict with repair, accountability without shame, affection that feels natural, and a shared commitment to growth. A healthy relationship feels like a place where you can exhale, not a place where you constantly brace yourself. For someone reading this who feels stuck or disconnected in their relationship, what would you invite them to do next? I would invite them to make one powerful shift: be curious, not critical. Ask yourself what pattern keeps repeating here. What emotion shows up beneath our conflict or silence. What do I need to learn to respond differently. Disconnection is not a life sentence. It is a signal. And with the right tools, emotional repair is possible. If this resonates with you, I invite you to follow my work by subscribing to my YouTube channel . You don’t have to keep enduring what can be healed, especially when support and skill are available.   Follow me on Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn , and visit my website for more info! Read more from Taiye Aluko

Written by Marissa Cherepanov, CEO/Visionary Marissa is widely recognized for her contributions to female leadership and women's empowerment. She is the CEO visionary of No Girl Left Behind, a leading organization fostering female empowerment. She is also a sought-after motivational speaker, career coach, and active advisor at Linfield University's Women in Leadership Program. There’s a reason empowerment has become a major cultural conversation, confidence is eroding earlier, women are carrying heavier loads, and too many people are expected to “figure it out” in isolation. No Girl Left Behind (NGLB) is stepping into that gap with a bold premise, empowerment should be practical, multi-generational, and built to last. NGLB is not positioning itself as another inspirational event brand. It’s building an ecosystem, designed to meet girls and women where they are, equip them with real tools, and keep support going long after the room empties. And now, as NGLB scales its footprint nationally, the organization is entering its next chapter with a landmark partnership and a highly anticipated community event. A movement built for girls starting at 9 and open to all women Most empowerment spaces serve one audience at a time, youth programs for girls or conferences for adult women. NGLB disrupts that model by being intentionally inclusive, welcoming girls starting at age 9 and all women (you don’t need to be a mom to attend). That early start matters. When confidence is shaped at a young age, leadership becomes a learned practice, not a late-stage rescue. NGLB creates the kind of environment where girls can build identity, self-worth, and voice early, while women gain space to grow, reset, and rise in their own season. The signature: NGLB’s dual-track model The most distinct feature of NGLB is its Dual-Track Model, a format that turns a single event into two targeted experiences running in separate spaces, one track designed for girls and one for women, with purposeful moments of connection throughout the day. This is not passive “sit and listen” programming. NGLB emphasizes learning that translates into life, interactive teaching, self-discovery, and tools attendees can take home and apply immediately. That approach creates something rare, a multi-generational impact in real time. Girls are learning confidence and leadership foundations while women are strengthening their mindset, resilience, and direction, within the same community, on the same day. Beyond event day: Support that doesn’t disappear Here’s where NGLB separates itself from the typical empowerment event cycle, it’s built around what happens after. The organization’s own message is clear, empowerment can’t be contained in a single day. NGLB continues the work through ongoing communication, online support, mentorship touchpoints, and resources designed to keep participants growing long after the lights go down. In a world where many events offer a high moment and then silence, NGLB is building continuity, turning empowerment into an ongoing experience rather than a one-time inspiration. Scaling the vision: U.S. expansion with community anchors NGLB’s growth strategy is rooted in reach and repetition, more cities, more programs, more lives changed. The organization has publicly outlined an expansion vision moving into 2026, an intentional build toward a nationwide network of empowered girls and women. That expansion is strengthened by community-aligned partnerships that provide both visibility and access, creating a platform where empowerment programming can scale without losing heart. Next up: May 2, 2026, at the Salvation Army Kroc Center A major highlight of NGLB’s next season is its partnership with The Salvation Army, which NGLB has described as a “landmark partnership” helping bring the mission to a broader community platform. That partnership launches into a major moment. NGLB’s next U.S. event is set for May 2, 2026, at the Kroc Center in Salem. Venue address: 1865 Bill Frey Dr NE, Salem, OR 97301. This event is positioned as a kickoff to the next chapter of impact, bringing together speakers, workshops, and a community of women and girls ready to grow, connect, and lead. Leadership with vision and execution NGLB is led by Marissa Cherepanov, Chief Executive Officer, who oversees the U.S. organization’s growth and momentum. Under her leadership, NGLB’s mission is being translated into action, expanding programming, deepening partnerships, and building a model where women and girls are not only inspired but also equipped and continually supported. Why this matters now NGLB is remaking empowerment by refusing to separate generations, refusing to stop at inspiration, and refusing to let support end at the door. It starts early, at age 9, it stays open, all women, it delivers intentionally, dual-track programming, and it continues long after the day ends, with ongoing mentorship and resources. And as the organization expands across the U.S., May 2, 2026, at the Salvation Army Kroc Center stands as the next proof point, not just another event date, but another step in building a nationwide movement where no girl and no woman is left behind. Follow me on Instagram , LinkedIn , and visit my website  for more info! Read more from Marissa Cherepanov Marissa Cherepanov, CEO/Visionary Marissa is a dedicated leader committed to empowering women. She shares her life story and unique insights on personal growth, dedicating her life to inspiring others and driving the female empowerment movement. Marissa serves on the Board of Advisors for Linfield University's Women in Leadership program and is the CEO of No Girl Left Behind.

Written by Sophie Reyer, Author Sophie Anna Reyer is an Austrian author of multiple theater pieces and publications. She was born in Vienna, Austria. Reyer discovered her various profound talents in the arts at a young age as a child prodigy. I remember asking, “Why does the sky look like this?” I was eight. It was summer. The sun hung low and swollen, copper-colored, too heavy to lift itself back into blue. The air smelled wrong, sharp, metallic, as if something electrical had snapped. My throat burned when I breathed. “It’s just heat,” they said. “Just smoke from far away.” Far away. As if distance could soften disaster. I pressed my face against the window and watched ash drift down like lazy snowflakes. I didn’t understand then. I still don’t. How can something be alive, forests breathing, rivers moving, seasons arriving on time, and then suddenly not? How the world can be there one moment and altered beyond recognition the next. Whenever I think about climate collapse, I am always a child again, standing at the window, sensing that something vast had cracked open, even if no one around me yet had words for it. Later, I learned the numbers, parts per million, degrees Celsius, deadlines already passed. But numbers don’t smell like smoke. They don’t itch in your lungs. They don’t make birds disappear from places where birds once sang every morning. And still, we cling to them, as if quantification could contain loss. I wonder if we rely on data because grief feels too large, because mourning an entire planet seems obscene, excessive, almost hysterical. You are allowed to grieve a person, perhaps a species, maybe a single forest. But to grieve systems? Oceans? Futures? That feels inappropriate. Unproductive. And yet the crack opens anyway. A few years ago, I met a woman from an island nation that will likely disappear within my lifetime. She said it casually, the way one might mention an upcoming move. “We will have to leave,” she said. “Our ancestors will stay.” I didn’t know how to respond. There are no polite phrases for submerged graves. Later that night, I watched tourists dance barefoot on the same beach, phones glowing in their hands, filming the sunset as if sunsets were guaranteed, as if land were permanent, as if memory could float. From mourning to tourism, again, a short distance. Too short. We are told to stay optimistic. Hope is marketed as a moral obligation. Recycle. Innovate. Stay positive. Buy the right products. Say the right slogans. But where is the space for despair? Where do we put the rage that comes from watching governments calculate acceptable losses, from hearing that entire regions are “collateral damage” in the pursuit of economic growth? Why must grief always be privatized, softened, transformed into motivational posters and greenwashed optimism? Perhaps because grief is dangerous. Grief interrupts productivity. Grief refuses timelines. Grief does not promise solutions. “Grief is political.” Judith Butler’s words echo here, too, even if the context shifts. Whose losses are acknowledged? Whose futures are considered grievable? A flooded European city becomes a tragedy. A drought devastating African farmers becomes a statistic. Certain landscapes are mourned. Others are expected to vanish quietly. Life that is not framed as worth saving becomes expendable. Life that is not mourned is erased twice. And so, climate collapse is not only an ecological crisis, it is a crisis of recognition, a crisis of whose pain counts. We perform rituals anyway, climate summits with choreographed apologies, minutes of silence followed by business as usual, symbolic tree plantings while entire ecosystems are auctioned off. Like funerals, these performances help us pretend that closure is possible, that if the right words are spoken, the loss will be contained. But the crack remains. It spreads through generations, through bodies that carry anxiety they cannot name, through children who learn early that the future is negotiable. Today, the air is unusually warm for this time of year. The seasons have lost their discipline. I sit by the window and practice mourning. I mourn glaciers I have never seen, languages that will disappear with the land that held them, animals whose names will only exist in children’s books labeled extinct. I mourn the arrogance that taught us mastery instead of belonging, the slowness of our response, the speed of our denial. I do not need optimism right now. I need honesty. I listen to the low hum of the city, to the sound of systems still running, still consuming, still insisting on normalcy, and I allow myself to feel what that costs. The crack does not close. But maybe, if we dare to sit with it, without entertainment, without distraction, it can teach us something. Not how to fix everything, but how to care, finally, for what is still here. Follow me on Facebook , Instagram , and visit my LinkedIn  for more info! Read more from Sophie Reyer Sophie Reyer, Author Sophie Anna Reyer is an Austrian author of multiple theater pieces and publications. She was born in Vienna, Austria. Reyer discovered her various profound talents in the arts at a young age as a child prodigy. She is a writer of theater pieces (S. Fischer) and novels (Emons) and was shortlisted for the Austrian Book Award in 2019 and 2021.

Written by Kathleen Mitchell, NLP Master & Mindset Transformation Coach Kat Mitchell transforms how women over 40 think, feel, and show up in their lives. As a certified Master NLP Practitioner, hypnotherapist, and speaker, she guides women from self-doubt to self-trust, helping them break patterns of overgiving and overwhelm to reclaim their confidence, clarity, and courage---one powerful mindset shift at a time. Every February, the same pattern repeats itself, the gym membership gathers dust, the morning routine fades, and the carefully crafted vision board gets shoved in a drawer. We tell ourselves we lack discipline, willpower, or motivation. But what if the real problem started long before we set the goal? Most New Year's resolutions fail because they're built on a foundation of what we think we should want, not what we actually need. They're created from external pressure, comparison, and the exhausting belief that we need to fix ourselves before we're worthy of the life we want. For women over 40 who've spent decades meeting everyone else's expectations, these goals often become just another way to prove we're enough. The missing piece isn't another strategy. It's radical awareness. What radical awareness actually is Radical awareness isn't positive thinking or mindfulness meditation. It's the willingness to see what's been running your life without sugar-coating it or running from it. It's asking yourself the uncomfortable questions most people avoid because the answers might require change. It means looking directly at the patterns you've been repeating for years, the people-pleasing that leaves you exhausted, the boundaries you don't set because you fear disappointing others, the dreams you've shelved because someone once told you they weren't practical, and the version of yourself you've been performing because it feels safer than being seen. This is neuroscience, not philosophy. Your brain operates from patterns established through repetition and reinforcement. Many of those patterns were formed when you were young, navigating environments where adaptation meant survival. As a Master NLP Practitioner and Certified Hypnotherapist who spent years leading multi-million-dollar projects before transitioning to transformation coaching, I've seen how these unconscious programs dictate everything from career choices to relationship dynamics. But here's the powerful part, research from Stanford University on neuroplasticity confirms that the brain can reorganize itself throughout the lifespan through intentional practices and experiences. Your brain isn't fixed. The neural pathways running your current patterns can be rewired through deliberate attention and new choices. Psychologist Carol Dweck's groundbreaking work on growth mindset demonstrates that when people believe their abilities can develop through effort and learning, they activate different neural circuits than those who believe their traits are fixed. Her ongoing neuroscience research shows that a growth mindset leads to quantifiable changes in brain responses to challenges and setbacks. This matters because the stories you tell yourself aren't just thoughts floating in your head. Neuroscience research on self-talk shows that inner speech activates the same brain regions as speaking aloud, including Broca's area and the auditory cortex. When you repeatedly tell yourself limiting narratives, you're not just reinforcing a belief, you're strengthening specific neural pathways. And when you shift those narratives through radical awareness, you're literally rewiring your brain. Different types of self-talk activate distinct neural pathways. Instructional self-talk engages planning regions and the cerebellum, while motivational self-talk activates reward and emotional centers. Positive framing enhances left prefrontal cortical activity and reduces stress hormones like cortisol. This is why the work of becoming aware of your internal narratives isn't optional for transformation. It's the foundation. Radical awareness is the moment you stop being a passenger in your own life and start questioning which neural pathways you're strengthening with every thought, every decision, and every story you tell yourself about what's possible. Why women over 40 need this conversation Midlife brings a particular reckoning. You've likely spent decades building a life that looks successful from the outside while feeling increasingly disconnected on the inside. You've managed caregiving responsibilities, career demands, relationship expectations, and the constant low-grade hum of not being enough. Then something shifts, a health crisis, an empty nest, a relationship ending, or a sudden awareness that the life you've been living doesn't reflect your true self. The goals you set from this place of transition often fail because they're still rooted in old programming and decades of accumulated limiting beliefs about what's possible for women your age. You can't create a new life from an old identity. This is where most resolution-setting goes wrong. We try to add new behaviors without examining the beliefs driving the old ones. We commit to morning routines without asking why we're exhausted in the first place. We set ambitious career goals without acknowledging the relationship depletion beneath our burnout. We promise to prioritize self-care while still believing that putting ourselves first is selfish. The neuroscience helps explain why this approach fails. Your brain has been running the same patterns for decades, creating deeply grooved neural pathways. When you layer new goals on top of unexamined limiting beliefs, your brain defaults to the stronger, more established pathways—the ones that say, "People like me don't get to do that" or "It's too late for me." These aren't just discouraging thoughts. They're neural patterns your brain has been practicing and perfecting for years. Radical awareness asks different questions, not "What should I do?" but "What have I been tolerating?" Not "What goals should I set?" but "What am I ready to change?" Not "Who do I want to become?" but "Who have I been pretending to be?" And critically, "What neural pathways am I strengthening every time I repeat the same limiting story about my life?" The good news? Neuroplasticity research confirms that these patterns aren't permanent. The brain's capacity to reorganize continues throughout your life. But rewiring requires more than willpower. It requires awareness first, then intentional practice of new patterns. The three phases of reclaiming yourself Real transformation doesn't happen through willpower. It happens through clarity, then power, then action. This is the foundation of my Reclaiming You framework, a three-month journey designed specifically for women navigating major life transitions. The first phase is about seeing yourself clearly. This means radical awareness of what's been running your life, including the self-talk patterns and limiting beliefs you've internalized over decades. It involves energy reclamation to understand what's draining you versus what you've been told should drain you. It requires evaluating the relationships and environments shaping your choices and learning to lead yourself forward instead of waiting for permission or validation from others who may be unconsciously reinforcing your limitations. The second phase is stepping into your power. This is where self-trust replaces self-doubt, where you design your life deliberately instead of reactively, where you embody your inherent worth rather than constantly trying to earn it, and where you integrate who you're becoming instead of clinging to who you've been. This phase actively rewires neural pathways by consciously replacing limiting narratives with aligned ones—not through affirmations your nervous system rejects, but through experiential evidence that creates new neural connections. The third phase is living extraordinarily. Not extraordinary in the Instagram-highlight sense, but in the grounded, authentic sense of navigating change with resilience, taking bold action from your center, owning all of who you are, and stepping into unlimited possibility. By this phase, you've practiced new patterns enough that they become the brain's default pathways instead of the old limiting ones. But it all starts with clarity. Without it, every goal becomes another way to abandon yourself. The questions that change everything Radical awareness begins with questions that create breakthroughs instead of busy work. These aren't journaling prompts designed to make you feel better. They're designed to make you see clearly, especially the invisible narratives shaping your reality and the neural pathways you're unconsciously strengthening. What am I tolerating that I'm no longer willing to accept? This question reveals the boundaries you haven't set and the patterns you've normalized, the relationship dynamics you've accepted as unchangeable, the work environments that drain you, and the internal narratives that keep you small. When you write down what you're tolerating, you often discover you're living according to someone else's script about what women your age should accept. What stories am I telling myself about what's possible for me? Your brain believes what you repeatedly tell it because repetition creates and strengthens neural pathways. If you've been telling yourself that it's too late, that you're too old, that you've missed your chance, that ship has sailed, you've been practicing those neural pathways daily. Research on self-talk shows that these repeated narratives don't just discourage you mentally, they activate stress responses and create physiological patterns that reinforce the limitation. Awareness of the story is the first step to choosing a different neural pathway. What would I choose if I trusted myself completely? This question bypasses the "should" and reveals the "want." It exposes the gap between what you know is right for you and what you're doing. That gap is where your power is hiding. It's also where you'll find all the external voices that have convinced you not to trust your own knowing. Who am I when I'm not performing for anyone? This is the question that unravels decades of conditioning. The version of you that emerges when you're not managing perceptions, meeting expectations, or proving your worth is the version that knows what you need. She's been waiting underneath all those practiced neural patterns of who you should be. Where did I learn that this limitation was true? This is the radical awareness question that disrupts old neural pathways. When you trace a limiting belief back to its source, you often discover it came from someone else's fear, bias, or projection, a teacher who said you weren't creative, a parent who insisted that practical careers were the only safe choice, or a culture that decided women over 40 become invisible. These weren't truths. They were suggestions you accepted and then reinforced through repetition until they became neural grooves. And you can choose to stop strengthening them. These questions aren't comfortable. They're not meant to be. Radical awareness disrupts the familiar patterns your brain has been running on autopilot. That disruption is where transformation becomes possible because it's where new neural pathways can begin to form. From awareness to action Clarity without action is just rumination. But action without clarity is just exhaustion in a different form. The women I work with often come to me burned out from years of action that wasn't aligned with who they are or what they actually need. The shift happens when awareness informs choice, and choice builds momentum. When you see clearly what's been running your life, including the neural pathways created by decades of limiting self-talk, you can decide whether to keep strengthening them or create new ones. When you understand that your exhaustion might be less about how much you're doing and more about doing things that violate your core values or authentic desires, you can reclaim your energy differently. When you recognize that the story about being too old or too late is a neural pathway you've been practicing rather than a truth you discovered, you can deliberately practice a different one. Not through forced positive thinking that your nervous system rejects, but through small experiments that generate new evidence. This is how you create new neural pathways with experiential data your brain can't argue with. When you lead yourself forward instead of waiting for external validation, you stop abandoning your goals halfway through because they were never really yours to begin with. This is the work that makes resolutions obsolete. You're not setting goals to fix yourself. You're aligning your life with who you're becoming and actively choosing which neural pathways to strengthen through the stories you tell yourself, the actions you take, and the patterns you practice. The invitation If you're tired of setting goals you abandon, exhausted from trying to keep up with a life that doesn't fit, or ready to stop performing and start choosing, the work begins with one question, "What do I want?" Not what you should want. Not what would make others happy. Not what looks impressive. What do you actually want? That question is the doorway to radical awareness. And radical awareness is the foundation of reclaiming you. Ready to go deeper? Take the exhaustion assessment to discover whether your burnout stems from relationship depletion, energy crisis, or identity loss patterns. Or explore the 10 radical awareness questions for women over 40 , designed to help you see what's been running your life and begin to sense what you actually want. The clarity conversation starts now. Follow me on Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn , and visit my website for more info! Read more from Kathleen Mitchell Kathleen Mitchell, NLP Master & Mindset Transformation Coach Kat Mitchell's decade as a family caregiver, navigating her mother's Alzheimer's and helping her brother relearn language after multiple strokes, ignited her fascination with the brain's capacity to transform. Watching her brother rebuild neural pathways sparked her journey into NLP mastery and hypnotherapy, where she discovered that the same neuroplasticity principles could help women rewrite limiting beliefs at any age. Now a board-certified Master NLP Pratitioner, hypnotherapist, and speaker, Kat combines hard-won wisdom from the caregiving trenches with powerful mindset techniques to help women reclaim their lives after years of putting everyone else first.

Written by Param Singh Sahni, Humanistic Therapist & Coach Param Singh Sahni is a BACP-registered Humanistic Therapist, Trustee at the Metanoia Institute, and founder of The Work. He works privately, supporting people with their mental health needs and specializes in emotional resilience, grief, identity, and trauma-informed care rooted in compassion and social justice. I am writing this from a place of urgency, not abstraction. In the space of a single month, three men, each of whom I had a personal or professional connection to, have died by suicide. One left a note. One overdosed. One was found in the woods. There is no safe distance from this. No academic framing that fully protects against the impact of such losses. When men die in this way, something fractures not only within families and communities, but within masculinity itself. These deaths force us to confront what men are being asked to carry, silently and alone, in a world that offers few places for that weight to be set down.   This is not a metaphorical crisis. It is an emergency.   Masculinity is not failing, men are being failed Much of the current discourse frames masculinity as inherently toxic, outdated, or dangerous. While critical examination of power, entitlement, and harm is essential, this narrative often overlooks a quieter truth: many men are not clinging to dominance, they are drowning.   This is particularly true for men from the global majority: Black and Brown men, men of colour, ethnic men, and those of us who are consistently “othered.”   For these men, masculinity is not merely a social identity, it is a survival strategy forged under pressure. From a young age, many are instructed explicitly or implicitly to man up, to endure, to suppress vulnerability in order to remain safe, employable, or socially acceptable.   At the same time, they live with a constant threat: being profiled by police, scrutinised in public spaces, or treated as suspicious simply for existing. Many are told to “go home” while standing on the land of their birth, or that of their parents. For children of immigrants, masculinity is shaped not only by gender expectations but by inherited survival narratives, less about thriving, more about enduring.   The double bind of the “othered” man For many men of colour, masculinity exists within a relentless double bind.   If we remain silent, we are seen as emotionally unavailable or disengaged. If we speak up, we risk being perceived as aggressive, unstable, or threatening. If we respond to harassment, we are often the ones arrested. If we don’t respond, we are told we should have stood up for ourselves.   Brown men are stereotyped as terrorists, black men as criminals. Both are inherently suspect. This is not paranoia, it is pattern recognition.   The psychological cost of living within this bind is immense. Hypervigilance becomes normal. Anger is swallowed or redirected. Fear disguises itself as numbness. Grief has nowhere to go. Over time, this pressure does not dissipate, it accumulates.   And when there is no space for that accumulation to be processed safely, it often turns inward.   Suicide is not a lack of strength, it is the end of endurance The men I am holding in mind were not weak. They were enduring.   Enduring loneliness. Enduring shame. Enduring cultural dislocation. Enduring expectations they could neither meet nor reject.   One left a note. One numbed himself until his body could no longer cope. One disappeared into the woods. Different circumstances, the same despair.   Suicide in men is frequently misunderstood as impulsive or selfish. In reality, it is often the final outcome of prolonged endurance when the internal resources men are taught to rely on (self-control, silence, stoicism) finally collapse under sustained pressure.   This is what happens when masculinity is defined as containment without release.   Emotional regulation is a social justice issue Conversations about men’s mental health, particularly for men of colour, must move beyond wellness rhetoric and into structural reality. Emotional regulation is not a “soft skill,” it is a life-saving capacity.   Many men were never taught how to: Recognise emotional states before they overwhelm Locate feelings within the body Regulate distress without shutting down or exploding Ask for help without fear of humiliation or threat   Instead, they learned to endure until something broke.   For men already living under racialised stress, this absence of emotional education is not benign, it is dangerous.   Community is not optional Men do not heal in isolation. One of the most damaging myths of masculinity is that growth must be solitary. For men who already experience social marginalisation, seeking help can feel like further exposure or risk.   Yet when men gather without hierarchy, bravado, or performance, something essential returns. Shame softens. Language emerges. The nervous system settles. There is relief in being seen without needing to prove.   Community is not a luxury. It is an antidote. A closing reflection I am writing this because three men are gone. Because I do not want to carry another name in my body. Because silence is no longer an option.   Masculinity does not need to be erased. It needs to be expanded, contextualised, and humanised—especially for those who live at the intersections of race, migration, and historical trauma.   If you are a man reading this and recognise the weight described here, know this: you are not broken. You are responding to an impossible load. And you do not have to carry it alone.   This conversation is not for later. It is happening now. Lives depend on it. Follow me on Instagram and visit my website for more info! Read more from Param Singh Sahni Param Singh Sahni, Humanistic Therapist & Coach Param Singh Sahni is a BACP-registered Humanistic Therapist and Trustee at the Metanoia Institute. He is the founder of The Work, a platform dedicated to supporting the mental health of men of colour through vulnerability, connection, and culturally sensitive care. With nearly a decade of experience, he has supported people through life’s challenges related to addiction, behavioural patterns, and relational difficulties. He also works privately with individuals navigating grief, identity, emotional regulation, and life transitions. His approach is rooted in compassion, justice, and creating spaces where people feel seen, heard, and supported.

Written by Sandro Endler, Business Finance Specialist Sandro Endler is an experienced finance professional with over 30 years of expertise in business finance and strategy. He is the author of FACE IT! Mastering Business Finance and holds advanced degrees in finance and economics from renowned universities. For many business owners, the word budget sounds restrictive, almost like putting the business in a financial straitjacket. In reality, an annual budget is the opposite. It’s one of the most powerful tools you can use to gain clarity, control, and confidence in your decisions. And if the year has already started and you don’t have one yet? Don’t worry. It’s not too late. A budget is a decision-making tool, not just a spreadsheet An annual budget is not about predicting the future with perfect accuracy. It’s about forcing intentional decisions. When you build a budget, you are answering critical questions: How much revenue do we realistically expect to generate? What costs are essential, and which ones can be optimized? How much cash do we need to operate safely each month? Where should we invest to support growth? Without a budget, these decisions still get made, but usually in a reactive, unstructured way. Visibility creates control One of the biggest risks in business is operating “blind.” You may be profitable on paper and still struggle with cash. Or you may feel busy and growing while margins quietly erode. An annual budget gives you: Monthly visibility into revenues, expenses, and cash flow Early warning signals when costs drift, or sales fall short A baseline to compare actual performance against expectations This visibility allows you to act early, when adjustments are easier and far less painful. Budgeting is especially critical in uncertain times Economic uncertainty, interest rate changes, labor costs, and market volatility make planning more important, not less. A budget helps you: Stress-test scenarios (best case, base case, worst case) Prepare for slow months before they happen Decide in advance how you will respond if conditions change Businesses that survive and grow during uncertain periods are rarely the ones improvising month to month. No budget yet? Start now, midyear is fine Many business owners think, “The year already started, so I’ll wait until next year.” That’s a costly mistake. You can and should build a budget at any point in the year: Use actual results from past months Project the remaining months forward Turn it into a rolling budget you update regularly A budget created today is far more valuable than a perfect budget that never gets done. A budget aligns strategy with reality Growth plans, hiring decisions, marketing initiatives, and investments all require financial support. A budget forces alignment between what you want to do and what the business can actually afford. It answers the uncomfortable but necessary question: Does our strategy make financial sense? The bottom line An annual budget is not about limitation, it’s about leadership. It helps you move from reacting to events to intentionally guiding your business forward. Whether you are a growing company or an established one, budgeting is a foundational discipline that separates managed businesses from merely busy ones. If you haven’t created your annual budget yet, now is the right time. Not next year. Not next quarter. "Now." Because clarity today always beats uncertainty tomorrow. Face it! Follow me on  LinkedIn ,  and visit my website for more info! Read more from Sandro Endler Sandro Endler, Business Finance Specialist Sandro Endler is an experienced finance professional with more than three decades of experience in business finance and strategy. As the author of FACE IT! Mastering Business Finance, he provides valuable insights for business owners seeking to improve their financial management. With advanced degrees in finance and economics, Sandro combines academic expertise with real-world experience to help businesses achieve growth and efficiency.

Written by Lina Jurgile, Mindset & Transformation Coach Lina is a Mindset and Transformational Coach, Reiki Master, and certified NLP, Hypnosis, and Time Line Therapy® practitioner. She helps women heal emotional blocks, reprogram the subconscious mind, and align their energy to create a confident, joyful, and purposeful life filled with balance and inner peace. Have you ever felt guilty for resting? Do you say yes when you want to say no, just to keep the peace? Do you feel responsible for other people’s emotions, moods, and happiness? And even though you give so much, do you still quietly feel like you’re never enough? If you nodded even once, there’s a strong chance you grew up being the “Good Girl.” Not the rebellious one. Not the loud one. The strong, helpful, easy one. The one who learned early that love came from being convenient. And while this pattern once kept you emotionally safe, science now shows it can quietly drain self-worth, energy, confidence, and even financial growth in adulthood. The good news? Self-worth is not broken, it is learned. And what is learned can be rebuilt. Let’s walk through how. The science behind the “Good Girl” pattern When we are children, our brains and nervous systems are wired for one main goal, safety and connection. Research in developmental psychology and neuroscience shows that children quickly learn which behaviors keep caregivers calm, present, and emotionally available. When environments feel unpredictable, emotionally intense, or demanding, the nervous system adapts. Many girls unconsciously learn: Being easy keeps peace Being helpful earns approval Being quiet avoids rejection This creates what scientists call an adaptive stress response, a survival strategy stored in the nervous system. The body learns, “Belonging equals safety.” Over time, this becomes identity. In adulthood, this often appears as: People-pleasing Over-responsibility Chronic guilt Emotional exhaustion Low self-worth despite high effort Not because something is wrong with you, but because your body learned to survive. 1. Reframe the Good Girl as adaptation, not failure The first stage of healing self-worth is removing shame. You were not “too sensitive.” You were not “born insecure.” You adapted brilliantly to your environment. Your nervous system chose the behaviors that felt safest. But survival strategies are not meant to run adult lives. What once protected you now quietly drains you. Reflection exercise: Understanding your conditioning Write freely: When I was a child, I was praised for being __________ Conflict in my home felt __________ I learned that love came when I __________ Finish the sentence, “To be accepted, I learned I must __________.” This brings subconscious patterns into conscious choice. 2. Recognize self-abandonment in daily life Neuroscience shows that the brain strengthens whatever behaviors are repeated. Each time you override your own needs to keep peace, your nervous system reinforces, “My needs are not as important.” Over time, this becomes identity. Common signs include: Saying yes when you mean no Over-explaining your decisions Feeling guilty for resting Taking responsibility for others’ feelings Struggling to ask for more, emotionally or financially Self-worth cannot grow where self-abandonment is practiced daily. Reflection exercise: The awareness reset For one day, gently notice: When did I silence myself? When did I choose comfort for others over truth for me? When did I ignore my body’s signals of tiredness or discomfort? Awareness begins rewiring. 3. Heal where self-worth actually lives, the nervous system Talking alone often isn’t enough. Modern trauma and somatic research show that emotional experiences are stored in the body, not just the mind. Suppressed feelings activate chronic stress responses. Good Girls commonly suppress: Anger (to stay lovable) Sadness (to stay strong) Desire (to avoid being “too much”) These emotions remain as tension in the chest, belly, jaw, shoulders, and nervous system. This creates fatigue, anxiety, numbness, and low confidence. Practical somatic reset (2 minutes) Sit with your feet on the floor. One hand on your chest, one on your belly. Breathe slowly, longer exhales activate calming nerves. Ask quietly, “What am I feeling right now?” Let sensations exist without fixing. This teaches your body safety, the foundation of self-worth. 4. Rebuild self-worth through micro self-choosing The brain rewires through repetition. Not big declarations, small daily actions. Try one per day: Rest without apologizing Say no kindly but clearly Express a real feeling Ask for support Receive without explaining At first, discomfort is normal. Your nervous system is learning a new pattern, “Choosing myself is safe.” This is how identity shifts. Reflection exercise: Self-worth journal Each evening, write, "Today I honored myself when I __________." Confidence grows quietly through consistency. 5. Reprogram the core worth belief Most Good Girls unconsciously live by, “I am worthy when I am useful.” Neuroscience shows the brain forms beliefs through repetition and emotional experience. So we replace it slowly with the truth, “I am worthy because I exist.” Daily rewiring practice Repeat slowly, “I don’t need to earn love. I am already enough.” Let your body feel it, not just your mind. This is how new neural pathways form. The real transformation that follows When women heal the Good Girl survival pattern: Boundaries feel natural Emotional exhaustion fades Confidence becomes calm Relationships become healthier Receiving love and money feels safe Self-worth isn’t ego. It’s nervous system security. Final thought The Good Girl helped you survive. But she is not meant to lead your life forever. When you teach your body safety, choice, and self-respect, self-worth rises naturally. Not forced. Not faked. Rooted. And that grounded woman changes everything. Rebuilding self-worth is not about forcing confidence, it’s about teaching your body safety, clarity, and self-respect. If you’re ready to move out of survival mode and into a grounded, confident life, Lina Jurgile offers transformational coaching and healing sessions both online and in Dubai. Connect with Lina on Instagram to explore working together. Visit my website for more info! Read more from Lina Jurgile Lina Jurgile, Mindset & Transformation Coach Lina is a Mindset and Transformational Coach, Reiki Master, and certified practitioner of NLP, Hypnosis, and Time Line Therapy®. After transforming her own life through deep mindset and energy work, she now helps women release emotional blocks, reprogram limiting beliefs, and reconnect with their true selves. Combining neuroscience-based tools with Reiki energy healing, Lina guides her clients to create inner freedom, confidence, and a life aligned with purpose and joy. Her mission is to help women remember their power and consciously design the life they deserve.

Written by Ranya AlHusaini, Mindset Transformation Guru Ranya Alhusaini is a mindset transformation guru. Besides, she is a Hypnotherapist, Rapid Transformation Therapy Practitioner, and NLP. Ranya dug her way through self-discovery, curiosity, and knowledge. As a child, the first time you pronounced a word correctly, your mother clapped and smiled warmly. That was your first encounter with success, long before you understood what it truly means. You anchored success with this belief: “When I do well, people are pleased, and when people are pleased, I am accepted”. At that moment, success took root in your subconscious, intertwining deeply with your inner circle. At an earlier stage, success was not just an achievement, but more of a cherished moment. A compilation of moments expanded with warmth for deeper connection, moments of acknowledgment, validation, and pride. At the same time, your nervous system was recording every minor reaction, diversely implying around success, like the smile after a good grade, the praise for being responsible, and the safety that follows the righteous actions. And now, your nervous system is aware and knows all signals toward success. Unknowingly, this was the first contract you have signed quietly with the world around you. In today’s article, we speak deeply about why success can’t heal your self-worth. The emotional story behind success As a child, you never questioned what success was all about. Between the ages of four and seven, experiences were stored as an emotional pattern. A softened voice, a smile, and a relaxed atmosphere became tied to achievements. Children started anchoring another layer to success, like kindness, calm atmosphere, harmony between relationship, and warm love. Earlier in life, you were believing on how success can open doors to great resources. Hence, you were building more on a belief that says” my success can create safety”. Children’s realization is leading them to learn profoundly and quietly the weight of their action, repeating, “My action is my responsibility, and my responsibility is to succeed, because success brings safety”. How success becomes an emotional obligation The more responsibilities you add to the grid of aspiration, success becomes less of a joy and more of a stabilizing force of harmony. A child's realization can repeat on “When I do well, everything around me feels calmer and my parents’ emotions stabilize”. This is when success starts shifting roles from bringing joy to a responsibility. This belief follows you quietly to adulthood, leading you to lean more on achievements to gain respect. Finally, your subconscious can build more on protection while repeating,” If you keep succeeding, everything stays okay.” The performance loop you carry into adulthood With this on autopilot, “if you keep succeeding, everything stays okay, " the nervous system equates performance with safety, productivity with reassurance, and effort with protection. On progress, you refuse to rest or break from this cycle, thinking it might disrupt the momentum. With time, success becomes the language of reassurance, a coin into a validated stand in the community. Behind the scenes, the nervous system stays in a state of over-functioning, rarely recalibrating to rejuvenate wellbeing maintenance. This is when achievement is tied strongly to identity and emotional survival. From here, the discomfort of over-functioning can be an underlying dilemma of perfection, securing you mentally, emotionally, and financially. Urging your subconscious to chase familiar successful situations and expand more into connections and performance. Why slowing down feels threatening Many high achievers refuse the concept of slowing down, thinking vulnerability is a state of dysfunctional progress leading to stagnation. The role of your subconscious mind is to keep always on levels of protection, prioritization, and punishment. In this scenario, you are subconsciously being protected, leaving you less to depression and more to over-progression. Subconsciously, your belief system builds more on maintaining a progressive momentum of continuous performance, thinking to yourself, “resting can threaten your success and diminish protection”. Yet, your mind is repetitively revealing to your conscious “Don’t stop till you drop.” The deeper meaning behind performance The brain  is continuously integrating sensory information and forming internal predictions about the world, relationships, and situations we move through. With time, the nervous system learns to anticipate, sense, and respond with ease. These neural patterns are shaped by what has been implicitly stored within the subconscious, forming the basis of the relational intelligence. This fundamental mechanism influences both the subconscious and the conscious responses, allowing individuals to live and navigate life with precision. Children learned to perform according to an internal script shaped within the lines of everyday catches, pushing the most to maintain safety, harmony, and belonging. Success became a coin of validation. Over time, achievements started feeling awkwardly heavy, and a remedy you seek on days of bruised ego. Concluding, Success is an expression of your authentic originality, and not seeking an earlier version of belonging. The truth about success Success is often felt at the end of a prosperous journey, where you reap what you sow. It’s when your effort is paid, and self-doubt erased. A healthy mindset finds success in peaceful moments or places where peace is a dominant factor, leaving no space to chaos and noise. You learned that success can make you master the language of value, respect, and worth. You labelled success as: intelligence, capability, and a deserving position to your effort. Unconsciously, you were relying on success to stabilize and secure acceptance. You questioned, then, why success doesn’t feel like peace? If peace can’t be found after every successful story, remember achievements alone can’t build a harmonise life, nor heal your self-worth. Therefore, self-worth doesn’t grow from external validation , continuous achievements, and a successful life. Real success can’t tolerate external baggage for reclaiming self-worth. Success is owning your worth fairly to the point you need no acknowledgement, but rather a space to celebrate your human uniqueness. The obligations driving an internal exhaustion What you speak to your mind as a daily course of motivation can unconsciously dictate how you direct your effort, consistency, and performance. When you speak with obligations, something like: “I must keep going, no matter how tired I feel.” “I can’t say no, or people will think I’m weak.” “If I stop, everything will fall apart.” “I have to achieve more to be worthy of love or respect.” “I should always look strong, capable, and in control.” “Rest feels unsafe because it might mean I’m not enough.” “I need to fix things for others to feel secure.” “If I fail, I’ll disappoint everyone around me.” “I must always prove myself, even when it’s exhausting.” The above are some repetitive nudges narrating to your mindset, “this is the road to success”. With time, you find yourself repeating a belief that speaks with commitment: “Success comes with a price, and I have to bear it”. And when burnout finally comes knocking on your door, it is misunderstood as hard, long hours of working without resting. The conditional story behind self-worth You rarely speak about self-worth when everything in your life goes well and as planned. A strong awareness of worth goes noticeable when moment in your life requires you to slow down and find a quiet place to heal. At this moment, you question your worth, your deserving, and your standing in life. Gradually, you find yourself doubting your previous successful stories and repeating to yourself, “I never deserve what I have achieved” or “I don’t feel I am capable enough of what I am pursuing.” You stand there at a cross-road of hesitation, criticising yourself with the following: if I slowdown to rest it means “I am not valuable, and If I am not valuable, this means I am not capable, and If I am not capable it means I am not smart enough to carry forward in life, and If I am not all that it means I don’t deserve respect, and I am not worthy, and If I am not worthy I am not enough to be me as I am”. Henceforth, gripping to this belief complicate finding true peace. A reframed image of self-worth Self-worth is a felt experience of your existence, an internal narrative of your own humanity. You are worthy because you are a living human being deserving all respect to live with peace. You are not worthy due to your achievements. You are worthy because you were born with it. An initial state of a humane factor in the cycle of living life. Self-worth cannot be reinforced, nor conditioned according to anyone’s script. At this corner, motivation doesn’t move mountains inside your own conviction, but rather triggers your common sense of realization. If this triggers a notion of chaos, you are questioned to review again how you see your worth without any categorization. Self-worth beyond achievements You are now at a crossword, wanting to experience worth. Yet, you are still confused with what has been learned. You still can’t recognize how does worth feels like, is it more like confidence, an applause, or an acknowledgement. What makes you feel more worthy? Is it after graduation, promotion, or owning up to your dreams? In fact, self-worth is an internal permission for living without conditioning, like: Expressing your uniqueness through success Owning up to your ambition without self-judgement Resting to restore more energy for growing Success then can be aligned more to: peace, harmony, confidence, and integrity. A gentle invitation to reflect If this article resonated with you, pause for a moment before moving on. This is not an invitation to fix yourself, but to deepen your awareness and listen inwardly with compassion. I have created a one-page Reflection Guide  designed to help you explore how success may have been shaping your sense of self-worth, emotional safety, and belonging. This was designed to emphasize an intentional space for you to notice the patterns that have been guiding you and to recognize the ones that no longer serve your life. Take a few mindful minutes with the guide. Allow your responses to be honest, not polished. Insight begins with truth, not perfection. If, through this reflection, you became aware of negative emotional patterns that feel exhausting, you don’t have to navigate them alone, and so you are warmly invited to book a discovery call.  Sometimes, clarity comes from allowing yourself to feel supported. Follow me on LinkedIn , and visit my website  for more info! Read more from Ranya Alhusaini Ranya AlHusaini, Mindset Transformation Guru This is Ranya AlHusaini, a mindset transformation guru. My mission is to motivate professional women to unlock their self-worth and live a balanced life. With so much curiosity and self-awareness, I have developed my way with strength and determination. My expertise was well maintained as I took years to understand and develop my own through different modalities, and from there, I understood human nature and reaction. The modalities I use and consult throughout the session are NLP, Rapid Transformation Therapy technique, and Hypnosis. So, if you want a switch or a makeover in your life, hop in for a mindset transformation session! I have attached a photo of myself as well!

Written by Dominic L. Johnson-Bey, King and Queen Fitness Virtual Dominic Johnson-Bey, widely known as Coach Bey, is a visionary fitness entrepreneur, author, and motivator dedicated to helping others conquer fear and doubt. As the founder of King and Queen Fitness Virtual, a cutting-edge online gym offering free trials and personalized training, he has transformed the way people approach health and wellness. In a world where physical appearance often overshadows overall well-being, true health requires a balanced approach that nurtures the body, mind, and spirit. This article delves into the importance of mental and spiritual fitness, offering practical tips and insights to help you embark on a more holistic fitness journey for long-term health and happiness. The illusion of physical-only fitness In today’s fitness-driven culture, the spotlight often shines brightest on the body. Sculpted abs, toned arms, and lean physiques dominate social media feeds, shaping the modern definition of “health.” Yet, beneath the surface of physical perfection, many silently battle anxiety, burnout, and emotional fatigue. The truth is simple but often ignored, a strong body means little without a strong mind and spirit to sustain it. The obsession with appearance can lead to unhealthy cycles of overtraining, restrictive dieting, and comparison-driven self-criticism. These patterns may produce short-term results but often erode long-term well-being. Tip: Start your fitness journey by setting feeling-based goals rather than appearance-based ones. For example, aim to “feel more energized” or “sleep better” instead of “lose 10 pounds.” This shift in mindset fosters a healthier relationship with your body and encourages sustainable habits. The missing link: Mental and spiritual fitness Health is not a one-dimensional pursuit. It’s a harmony between the physical, mental, and spiritual aspects of life. When one is neglected, imbalance follows. Studies from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) show that chronic stress and poor mental health can directly impact physical performance, recovery, and even immune function. Similarly, research published by the American Psychological Association (APA) highlights that mindfulness and emotional regulation improve endurance, focus, and motivation, key components of any fitness journey. The body is the vessel, but the mind is the driver. Without mental clarity and emotional balance, even the most disciplined workout routine can feel empty. Spiritual wellness, whether rooted in faith, purpose, or self-awareness, adds the final layer, grounding individuals in meaning and resilience. Practical ways to strengthen mental and spiritual fitness Practice daily mindfulness: Spend 5-10 minutes each morning focusing on your breath or repeating an affirmation. Journal your progress: Reflect not only on physical milestones but also on emotional and mental growth. Connect with purpose: Ask yourself why you want to be healthy. Is it to live longer, feel confident, or serve others better? Unplug regularly: Take breaks from social media to reduce comparison and reconnect with your inner self. The King and Queen Fitness Virtual philosophy At King and Queen Fitness Virtual, the mission extends far beyond physical transformation. Under the leadership of Coach Bey, a recognized Executive Contributor with Brainz Magazine and a handpicked Mr. Health and Fitness contestant, the team emphasizes holistic wellness. Their approach integrates physical training with mindset development and emotional empowerment, helping clients build not just muscle, but mental fortitude and spiritual alignment. Coach Bey’s philosophy is simple yet profound, "Through personalized coaching, guided virtual sessions, and a supportive community, King and Queen Fitness Virtual helps individuals reclaim balance inside and out." Example: One client, after months of focusing solely on weight loss, discovered through Coach Bey’s program that her real challenge was emotional stress. By incorporating meditation and gratitude journaling, she not only lost weight but also gained confidence and peace of mind. The science of wholeness Modern research continues to validate what ancient wisdom has long taught, the mind, body, and spirit are inseparable. Practices such as meditation, gratitude journaling, and mindful movement have been shown to reduce cortisol levels, improve sleep, and enhance overall well-being. According to a study from Harvard Health Publishing, individuals who combine physical exercise with mindfulness practices experience greater long-term health outcomes than those who focus solely on physical training. Practical applications Mindful movement: During your next workout, focus on your breathing and the sensations in your muscles. This enhances body awareness and reduces injury risk. Gratitude practice: End each day by listing three things you’re grateful for. Gratitude has been linked to improved mood and motivation. Balanced nutrition: Nourish your body with whole foods that support both physical and mental health, think omega-3 rich fish, leafy greens, and antioxidant-packed fruits. This interconnected approach doesn’t just build strength, it builds sustainability. It transforms fitness from a temporary goal into a lifelong lifestyle. The call to rise higher True health is not measured by the mirror but by the mind’s peace and the spirit’s strength. The next evolution of fitness demands more than sweat, it demands self-awareness, emotional intelligence, and purpose. How to begin your holistic health journey Assess your balance: Rate your physical, mental, and spiritual health on a scale of 1-10. Identify which area needs more attention. Create a routine that honors all three: Combine strength training with meditation and reflective journaling. Find a community: Surround yourself with people who value growth over perfection. Celebrate progress, not perfection: Every step toward balance is a victory. Join Coach Bey and the King and Queen Fitness Virtual team in redefining what it means to be fit. Explore programs designed to elevate every dimension of health, mind, body, and spirit. Visit here to begin a free trial and experience the transformation that goes beyond the physical. Join the Power Blog to get powerful insights and nutrition facts! Additional insights: Building a lifestyle of wholeness 1. The power of rest and recovery Rest is not laziness, it’s a strategy. Sleep and recovery days allow the body to repair and the mind to reset. Aim for 7-9 hours of quality sleep and schedule at least one active recovery day per week. 2. Emotional fitness matters Emotional intelligence, understanding and managing your emotions, can dramatically improve your health journey. When you can identify stress triggers and respond calmly, you prevent emotional eating, burnout, and negative self-talk. 3. Spiritual anchoring Whether through prayer, meditation, or time in nature, spiritual practices help you stay grounded. They remind you that health is not just about doing more but about being more present. 4. The role of community support Accountability and encouragement are powerful motivators. Virtual fitness communities, like King and Queen Fitness Virtual, provide a safe space to share challenges, celebrate wins, and stay inspired. Follow me on Facebook , Instagram , and LinkedIn for more info! Read more from Dominic L. Johnson-Bey Dominic L. Johnson-Bey, King and Queen Fitness Virtual Coach Bey's journey began long before he became a respected coach, entrepreneur, and author. Growing up, he faced challenges that tested his resilience and shaped his character. His childhood was marked by moments of struggle and self-discovery, but also by a deep curiosity about strength, both physical and mental. Those early experiences taught him the value of perseverance, discipline, and faith, lessons that would later become the foundation of his life's work. As a young man, Dominic found solace and purpose in fitness. What started as a personal outlet soon evolved into a calling to help others transform their lives. That passion led him to create King and Queen Fitness Virtual, a groundbreaking platform that empowers people everywhere. Reference material: National Institutes of Health (NIH) : The Impact of Mental Health on Physical Performance. American Psychological Association (APA) : Mindfulness and Motivation in Fitness. Harvard Health Publishing : The Mind-Body Connection in Exercise. Coach Bey and the King and Queen Fitness Virtual staff invite every reader to look deeper, train smarter, and live fuller because true health is not just about how the body looks, but how the soul feels.

Written by Maria Alejandra Toledo Valderrama, Holistic Wellness Coach Ale is a Holistic Wellness Practitioner and founder of Ale's Health who creates transformative programs combining Breathwork, Mindfulness, Nutrition, and her own line of organic Health-Snacks. She empowers driven individuals to reconnect Mind & Body while unlocking their full potential. Your mind is lying to you. And you’ve been listening for way too long. I need to tell you something that might sting a bit. Those thoughts running through your head whispering “you’re not good enough” or “that’s not for people like you”? They’re prison bars you’ve built yourself. I know this because I lived it and keep finding more of those as I keep working on my personal growth. How did those limiting beliefs get into my head? They could’ve come from everywhere: my dad’s abandonment, the way my family talked about money, my friend’s circle, the teachers at the 10 schools I went to, and most importantly, the stories I kept telling myself for so long about each belief, consciously and unconsciously. And the worst part, I wasn’t even aware of how stuck I was. But what the hell are limiting beliefs anyway? Think of limiting beliefs as those invisible scripts running in the background of your mind, quietly dictating what you think you can and can’t do. Psychology research tells us these are assumptions we hold about ourselves and the world that  hold us back from achieving what we’re truly capable of .   But that’s not it. These beliefs aren’t even yours. Ends up most of your beliefs were handed to you by parents, teachers, past experiences, society, the media you consumed, the friends, and the culture and environment you grew up in. All these unconscious attitudes often come from childhood learning and experiences that we’ve long forgotten, yet they still control what we do, who we are, and how we see ourselves today. It takes more compelling evidence to change beliefs than it took to create them. That’s from decades of psychological studies. Your brain is literally wired to stick to beliefs once they’re formed, even when they’re completely wrong.   The science behind why you’re stuck Your brain is always trying to keep you safe. And safe to your brain, means keeping everything exactly the same.   Recent neuroscience research has completely shattered the old myth that our brains are “hardwired” and unchangeable after childhood. But truly,   your brain is constantly rewiring itself throughout your entire life  through a process called neuroplasticity, which means you CAN literally change the physical structure of your brain by changing your constant thoughts and behaviours.   Here's how beliefs are structured within: Every experience we have is generated by a chain that begins with a belief. Beliefs lead to thoughts, thoughts create emotions, and emotions drive behaviours. It’s a domino effect! And it starts with what you believe about yourself. Think about that for a sec. If you believe you’re unworthy, you’ll have thoughts about your unworthiness, which eventually will trigger feelings of shame and inadequacy. Feeling “not good enough” and “not capable” to accomplish your own dreams, and all the things that only you are able to see. Just to be clear here, the fact that you are able to see all your dreams, it means you are capable of achieving, and that’s already yours. This is why you’re able to see them. How limiting beliefs are destroying your life right now   Let me paint you a picture. Maybe you’ve been in the same dead-end job for years because you believe “the good things that you get from this company you won’t find in any another”. Or you’ve stayed in a relationship that drains you because deep down you think, “I can make her/him change so we could have a better relationship”. Perhaps you’ve never pursued that business idea, never invested, written that book, or taken that trip because somewhere along the way you decided “people like me don’t do things like that.” The damage isn’t just emotional. Studies have found that people with self-limiting beliefs are   more likely to be unemployed or in lower-paying jobs  compared to those without these beliefs. They lack the confidence to seek better opportunities, creating a cycle of underachievement that spans generations. So, beyond physical illnesses and legal wills, we leave an immense, often unconscious legacy to future generations that shapes their identity, values, and life trajectory. Read that again. Your brain can change (and here’s exactly how) Remember neuroplasticity? That fascinating discovery that your brain can rewire itself? Well, it means that you and I are not stuck with those old beliefs we have.   Neurons that fire together, wire together . This principle is known as Hebb’s rule, and it’s the foundation of how your brain changes. Every time you think a thought or practice a behaviour, you’re nothing but strengthening the neural pathways associated with it. The more you repeat it, the stronger it gets. The less you use a pathway, the weaker it becomes.   This is a door opening for those who truly want to change their lives and the way they think about themselves. It is going to feel uncomfortable, you are going to have moments where you may say I can’t, it’s too difficult. So I want you to pause right there for a sec and remind yourself, “This requires effort and consistent practice. As uncomfortable as it could get, I remind myself why I’m fully committed to do it”. Just like learning any skill, it takes time and baby steps progress. Five steps to break free from limiting beliefs Step 1: Get brutally honest about what you belief You can’t change what you don’t acknowledge. Grab a journal and write down every limiting belief you catch yourself thinking. “I’m too old.” “I’m not creative.” “I always fail.” “Money doesn’t grow on trees.” Get it all out. The awareness alone will shake you. Step 2: Question everything For each belief you wrote down, ask yourself: Is this 100% true? Where did I learn this? What evidence do I have that contradicts this? (Remember that not because you have evidence, you should label yourself as) What would I be like if my belief was completely the opposite?   Challenge your assumptions like your life depends on it, because honestly, it does.   Research on cognitive behavioural therapy  shows that revising beliefs is the key change mechanism in one of the most effective psychological treatments available. Step 3: Create your new truth You can’t just remove a belief, you need to replace it with something better. For every limiting belief, write a new empowering one that’s believable to you right now. Not some random affirmation you don’t buy, but something that feels like a truthful stretch. Old belief: “I always fail at everything I try.” New Belief: “I learn from every experience and improve over time.” Step 4: build evidence for your new belief Your brain needs proof. Start small and collect evidence that supports your new belief. Keep a “wins journal” where you document every tiny success, every moment that contradicts your old limiting belief. Your brain will start to notice patterns and rewire accordingly. Step 5: Practice, practice, practice Here’s the truth nobody wants to hear: This isn’t a one-and-done thing, a magic pill. Changing deeply held beliefs requires repetition. Every single day, you need to consciously choose and listen to the thoughts that align with your new beliefs, not the old ones (those will be wondering around). It might feel fake at first, that’s normal. With consistent practice, these new neural pathways will strengthen and eventually become your new default.   The power of self-compassion in this journey This journey is not linear at all (I think no journeys are). You’re going to mess up. You’re going to catch yourself falling back into old thought patterns. You’ll have days where you believe all the limiting garbage again. That’s not failure, that’s being human. We’re undergoing years, maybe decades, of conditioning here. Be patient with yourself. Self-compassion is to treat yourself with the same kindness you’d show a good friend who’s struggling. It’s recognizing that you’re worthy of growth and change, even when, especially when you stumble. We all deal with limiting beliefs. Even that successful person you admire. Personally, it has required me to question everything I thought I knew about myself, to be willing to be wrong about the stories I’d been telling myself for decades, stepping into uncertainty and doing things that scare me. It's this or choose to be stuck. Stuck with a slow, soul-crushing kind of pain that builds over the years.   Your invitation to break free So here’s my challenge to you, pick one limiting belief that’s been holding you back. Just one. Write it down. Question it. Replace it with something better. Start collecting evidence that contradicts it. Practice your new belief every single day for the next 30 days. If you do this consistently, your brain will start to change. Your life will start to shift. Opportunities you couldn’t see before will suddenly appear. Not because the world changed, but because you did.   The life you want is on the other side of the beliefs that are keeping you stuck. The only question is: Are you willing to do what it takes to get there?   Your limiting beliefs don’t get to write the ending to your story. You do.   Follow me on Facebook , LinkedIn , and visit my website for more info! Read more from Maria Alejandra Toledo Valderrama Maria Alejandra Toledo Valderrama, Holistic Wellness Coach Ale is a Holistic Wellness Practitioner passionate about helping others discover their true potential and live life to the fullest. Through her comprehensive approach combining Breathwork, Mindfulness, and Nutritional guidance, she empowers driven individuals seeking balance, Health-Conscious professionals navigating stress, and Wellness enthusiasts ready for a deeper transformation. She has developed her own line of five organic Health-Snacks made exclusively with natural ingredients, providing Clean, Guilt-Free Nutrition.

Written by Marcela Reyes, Personal Development Coach Marcela Reyes is a transformational personal development coach specializing in mindset mastery, belief transformation, and purpose alignment. She is the founder of One Fine Journey ® Coaching and creator of the “Limitless by Design Experience” program. Language was never something I gave much thought to when growing up. As a shy-ish girl, I remember choosing silence over speech, rehearsing sentences in my head, and letting them dissolve before saying them out loud. I didn’t understand then that words weren’t just ways to express ourselves, they were bridges we built, both to others and to ourselves. Now, years later, I’ve learned that there’s so much to consider when it comes to how we communicate. The words we say to ourselves and the phrases we speak matter more than we imagine. Our words don’t just describe our reality, they shape it, color it, sometimes even create it. Have you ever stopped to consider that the words you use daily might be more than simple expressions? The phrases we repeat, especially those spoken with emotion and conviction, hold deeper connections to our lives than we realize. Listen closely to the words you speak. When you say, “I hate seeing this,” could you be seeking a new perspective? “Nobody supports me” might signal a longing for connection and strength. “I’m stuck” could be your way of expressing it’s time to release what holds you back. Even “I carry a great weight” and “I don’t feel inspired” may be invitations from within, asking you to lighten your load and breathe fully again.   How your words shape your reality Language isn’t merely descriptive, it’s generative, shaping your reality from the inside out. The words you tell yourself and speak out loud have profound power, creating the belief systems that orchestrate the unfolding of your life story. Neuroscience shows that our words activate neural pathways , influence our biochemistry, and direct our perception. Your self- talk creates your belief systems and resonates with how you think, act, and what you choose to do. The key to understanding this connection lies in how your subconscious processes information. Unlike your conscious mind that grasps metaphor and meaning, your subconscious hears only the literal message behind your words, especially when those words carry strong intention and emotion. Your brain naturally filters out everything that doesn’t match your current mindset, which is why becoming aware of your self-talk is so essential. Your language acts as a mirror, reflecting the unresolved tensions, unexpressed emotions, and limiting beliefs you carry within. These deeper patterns may, over time, find expression in your physical experience and your daily circumstances.   Choosing conscious speech Speaking conscious words means choosing to communicate, both externally and internally, only in ways that manifest what you truly desire in your life and continuously bring you well-being. This practice invites peace, purpose, and self-respect, bringing your thoughts, emotions, and actions into beautiful harmony. How do you cultivate this practice? This shift begins with awareness. With each moment, you have a choice about where you’re coming from: Love or fear? Abundance or lack? Confidence or doubt? When you recognize your current energy, you gain the power to elevate it. You can choose thoughts and speak words that empower you, emotions that uplift you, and beliefs that reflect your inherent worth. Use your words to honor yourself, your world, and orchestrate your most beautiful story.   Creating conscious change Becoming aware of your habitual expressions opens up a beautiful door to transformation. By paying loving attention to the phrases you repeat, you can begin to recognize patterns that may no longer serve your life. This awareness is a gift, it empowers you to make conscious choices, not just in your words but also in how you approach your life and care for yourself. The next time you catch yourself using a particular phrase repeatedly, I invite you to pause with compassion and ask: What might this be telling me? Am I speaking from my highest self? Does this language reflect the reality I wish to experience?   The ripple effect Your words are so much more than random expressions. Your choices create a ripple effect that amplifies and merges into your world, influencing everyone and everything around you. Your words aren’t merely describing your life, they’re actively creating it, moment by moment. By choosing conscious words that align with your deepest values and aspirations, you transform your inner landscape, your beliefs, and the very texture of your lived experience. When you shift your belief systems, you open the door to a new reality. Your words might be inviting you toward healing and positive change, whispering a path to wholeness you’ve been seeking all along.   Moving forward Your extraordinary life is waiting, and transformation can begin in this very moment. Remember that every word you speak has the power to initiate change. You are writing your own beautiful story, one choice at a time. If you sense it’s time to accelerate your journey toward a purpose-filled life that you love, I warmly invite you to explore how we might collaborate through the opportunities on my website . You deserve to step into the person you’ve always envisioned and embrace what your heart is calling you to do! Follow me on Facebook and Instagram for more info! Read more from Marcela Reyes Marcela Reyes, Personal Development Coach Marcela Reyes is a leader in personal development, guiding individuals to rediscover their life’s meaning and purpose. Through personalized coaching, she helps clients rewire limiting beliefs and live extraordinary, purpose-driven lives. Each session is tailored to the client’s unique blueprint and goals, ensuring transformative results. Her motto: “Life is now!”

Written by Dr. Diane Jackson Schnoor, Speaker, Podcast Host, Education Consultant Dr. Diane Jackson Schnoor is a nationally recognized speaker, educator, and children’s literature specialist. Founder of Dr. Diane’s Adventures in Learning and host of the Adventures in Learning podcast, she helps organizations use play-based learning to foster collaboration, creativity, and empathetic problem-solving. Reading aloud is one of the most powerful learning tools we have, and one of the most underleveraged. When picture books are shared intentionally, they become more than stories, they become invitations to empathy, inquiry, creativity, and connection. In a world where educators and families are stretched thin, the question isn’t whether read-alouds matter. It’s how we can make them sustainable, meaningful, and joyful, every single day. That question is what inspired Dr Diane’s Daily Picture Book Read-Aloud Calendar, a year-long approach to literacy that weaves together empathy, STEAM thinking, and learning through play. What is a daily read-aloud, and why does it matter? A daily read-aloud is the simple practice of sharing a story consistently, without turning it into a worksheet or performance task. Research has long shown that read-alouds support vocabulary development, comprehension, background knowledge, and oral language, but their impact goes far beyond academic outcomes. Daily read-alouds help children: Build emotional literacy Develop listening and discussion skills Make sense of complex ideas through story Associate reading with connection and pleasure When read-alouds are treated as a ritual rather than a requirement, they activate curiosity and belonging, two prerequisites for deep learning. Windows, mirrors, and sliding glass doors: Why book choice matters The concept of books as windows, mirrors, and sliding glass doors , introduced by scholar Dr Rudine Sims Bishop , offers a powerful framework for intentional book selection. Mirrors help children see themselves reflected and valued and offer them possibilities Windows offer valuable insights into lives, experiences, and cultures that are different from their own Sliding glass doors invite readers to step into new perspectives, imagine possibilities, and take transformative action A thoughtfully curated read-aloud calendar ensures children regularly encounter all three, without placing the burden of constant searching on educators or families. This approach not only supports identity development, but also strengthens empathy, cultural understanding, and critical thinking, skills essential for both academic success and civic life. Empathy is not taught, it’s practiced through story Empathy develops through repeated experiences of perspective-taking, reflection, and thoughtful conversation. Multicultural picture books create safe entry points into big ideas like fairness, loss, courage, responsibility, and hope. When a read-aloud includes a short reflection prompt, children are invited to: Notice emotions and motivations Consider how actions affect others Connect story moments to their own lives These small, daily moments add up. Over time, children learn that reading is not just about decoding words. It’s about understanding people. STEAM thinking begins with curiosity and play, not content coverage STEAM learning thrives when children are invited to engage, ask questions, observe patterns, and explore ideas through play. Multicultural picture books naturally support this process. A single story can spark: Scientific observation (weather, growth, systems) Engineering challenges (design, problem-solving) Artistic expression (illustration styles, storytelling) Mathematical thinking (patterns, sequencing, comparison) When read-alouds include simple, playful STEAM invitations, rather than scripted activities, children engage more deeply and authentically. The goal is wonder and discovery sparked by play and a good book. We don’t need lots of materials to craft these invitations, just the ability to pause, reflect, and observe where our children’s curiosity lies. When we pair high-quality literacy experiences and opportunities for STEAM exploration, we create invitations for engaged learning. Learning through play: The bridge between literacy and engagement Too often, we view play as “other” – something that is only done as an extra or in the earliest days of childhood. Once we welcome children into formal education, the inclination is to push play aside in favor of the many demands of scripted curriculum. Play is not the opposite of academic excellence. Play is the pathway to real, sustainable learning, collaboration, critical thinking, creativity, and problem solving. Learning through play allows children to test ideas, make meaning, and take intellectual risks. When read-alouds are paired with opportunities to play and explore, children: Retell stories through dramatic play Build, create, and problem solve inspired by characters or settings Ask “what if?” and “why?” questions Develop executive function and collaboration skills These experiences activate the joy of learning, which is essential for sustaining attention and motivation over time. Activating a love of reading through consistency and care Children learn to love reading when reading feels: Predictable but not repetitive Thoughtful but not heavy Connected to real conversation Free from constant evaluation A daily read-aloud calendar supports this by removing decision fatigue and creating space for presence and connection. When adults know what they’re reading, they can focus on how they’re connecting. Over time, reading becomes associated with warmth, curiosity, and shared discovery, a foundation that lasts far beyond early childhood. Why a calendar model works The calendar format may seem simple, but it’s powerful. By embedding literacy directly into daily routines, a read-aloud calendar: Reduces planning overload Encourages consistency Supports long-term habits Makes high-quality book access more equitable When literacy lives where we already look, our calendars, it becomes part of the rhythm of everyday life. A call to action: Make read-alouds a daily act of care Daily read-alouds are not an “extra.” They are an investment in empathy, creativity, and lifelong learning through play. If you are an educator, family member, librarian, or community leader, consider how a consistent, intentional read-aloud practice might transform not just literacy outcomes, but relationships, curiosity, and joy. To learn more about Dr Diane’s 2026 Daily Picture Book Read-Aloud Calendar  and explore how it supports empathy, STEAM thinking. Follow me on Facebook , Instagram ,  LinkedIn , and my website for more info! Read more from Dr. Diane Jackson Schnoor Dr. Diane Jackson Schnoor, Speaker, Podcast Host, Education Consultant Dr. Diane Jackson Schnoor is a nationally recognized speaker, educator, and podcast host who believes better learning, and better leadership, start with play. With more than 30 years of experience spanning classrooms, museums, and universities, she helps organizations create environments where curiosity sparks collaboration, creativity fuels critical thinking, and empathy drives problem-solving. Her work blends children’s literature, play-based STEAM learning, and real-world leadership to show what’s possible when we commit to learning and leading through play.