Written by Lisa Sheerin, ICF PCC Executive Coach | Transforming Confidence, Communication & Leadership Lisa works as an executive public speaking coach, actor, and fitness enthusiast. She is passionate about helping people overcome imposter syndrome and find their authentic voice to unlock career success in business and beyond. She is the founder of Speak Proud. I’ve just got back from Japan, and there’s one small detail I can’t stop thinking about. Not the temples, the food, or the neon, but crossing the road. In Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto, the cities felt calm, clean, and efficient. The pace was different. At pedestrian crossings, even when there were no cars, people waited for the lights to change. No edging forward. No last-second dash. They just waited for the green. At first, I assumed it was a strict rule following. Then I realised it read as something else, composure. A shared calm. Nobody looked impatient. It was settled. It made me think about how often we do the opposite with our voice, especially at work. So many brilliant people rush to speak. They jump in before the thought has fully landed, fill the silence, and overexplain as if speed equals confidence. It doesn’t. In high-pressure moments, the nervous system shows up in the voice. Not because you don’t know what you’re talking about, but because you don’t trust the pause. Silence can feel like exposure, so you try to outrun it. The problem is, rushing quietly changes how you’re perceived. It compresses meaning. It makes your points feel lighter than they are. It invites interruption because your endings aren’t clean. And even when the content is excellent, the pace can signal anxiety instead of authority. Japan gave me a simple image for what authority often looks like in speech, the green light. A green light isn’t just permission to move, it’s a shared agreement that this is the right moment. A pause does the same thing. It signals steadiness. It tells the room you’re not scrambling for space. You already have it. Here’s the shift to try this week, pause before you speak. Not a dramatic pause, not a performance, just one clean beat. Use it in a few specific places. When someone asks you a question, take a beat before answering. It signals you’re considering it properly. Before your main point, let the setup land, then deliver the statement. After you finish a sentence, hold still for half a second. Let the ending land rather than rushing to fill the air. If you want one simple exercise, try the “one sentence rule.” Answer in one sentence, then stop. You can always add more, but you’ll be surprised how often one sentence is enough when it’s delivered cleanly. Most people don’t struggle with starting, they struggle with ending. They trail off, soften the end, or add extra words that dilute the point. Practice finishing and staying still. Silence isn’t emptiness, it’s impact. This isn’t about becoming slower. It’s about becoming deliberate. Pace communicates status more than we realise. The person who can take their time is often perceived as the person in control. That’s why the pause works. It’s not a technique, it’s a signal. Over the next few days, don’t try to overhaul your whole speaking style. Just notice where you rush, and what changes when you wait. Try the green light pause once a day, one beat before you speak, one clean ending after you finish. Then watch what happens in the room. Speak proudly. Follow me on Instagram , LinkedIn , and visit my website for more info! Read more from Lisa Sheerin Lisa Sheerin, ICF PCC Executive Coach | Transforming Confidence, Communication & Leadership Lisa works as an executive public speaking coach, actor, and group fitness instructor with over 20 years of experience. A graduate of a three-year drama school program in London, she began her career in theatre and film, where she faced and overcame imposter syndrome. Today, she empowers others to embrace their authenticity and transform self-doubt into confidence, combining her acting expertise, fitness training, and passion for personal growth. Her mission is to guide others toward a life where they can speak and live proudly.

Written by Gaelle Mokoy, Marketing and Branding Coach Gaelle Mokoy is a well-known marketing and branding expert who has worked with brands internationally. Gaelle Mokoy Coaching first started in 2018 to support small to medium businesses in the UK and has since expanded into consulting with businesses across the globe. One of the biggest mistakes business owners make is treating branding and marketing as if they are interchangeable. They are not the same, but they are inseparable. Branding and marketing are two sides of the same coin. Branding gives your business its identity, while marketing ensures that identity reaches the right people at the right time, every time. Without branding, marketing feels hollow. Without marketing, branding remains invisible. To build a business that lasts, you need both working in harmony. Key differences between branding and marketing Branding Focus: Long-term and strategic. Branding forms the foundation of your business and how you want to be perceived over time. Goal: Builds trust, credibility, and loyalty by shaping perception and creating an emotional connection. Branding is about reputation and recognition. Tools: Visual identity, messaging, values, tone of voice, customer experience. Timeframe: Enduring. Your brand guides decisions for years, often becoming more valuable with time. Measurement: Recognition, loyalty, referrals, and how people talk about your business when you are not in the room. Marketing Focus: Short-term and tactical. Marketing is about specific campaigns and actions designed to generate results quickly. Goal: Drives action and conversion, getting people to click, sign up, or purchase. It’s your megaphone to the market. Tools: Social media campaigns, advertising, email funnels, events, PR outreach, and content creation. Timeframe: Temporary. Campaigns run for weeks or months, and then you launch the next one. Measurement: Clicks, conversions, leads, sales, and immediate returns. How branding and marketing work together Branding and marketing are not separate entities but interconnected halves of a whole. Branding provides the “why” and the “who.” It defines why your business exists, who you serve, and what you stand for. This clarity builds the foundation for everything else. Marketing provides the “how” and the “where.” It determines how you reach people, what channels you use, and how you craft campaigns that spread your brand’s story. Here’s the key: a strong brand empowers effective marketing. When your identity is clear, your marketing resonates more deeply. Customers recognise your tone, trust your message, and are more inclined to act. Marketing alone might grab attention, but without branding, it rarely converts attention into loyalty. The benefits of alignment When branding and marketing work together, they create compounding power: You attract the right audience. Clear branding ensures your marketing speaks to people who align with your values and offerings, not just anyone scrolling by. You create consistency. Every campaign feels familiar because it ties back to your larger identity. This builds trust and recognition over time. You scale with confidence. With a strong brand, you don’t have to reinvent yourself with every campaign, your foundation remains stable as you expand. You build loyalty, not just sales. Marketing might drive first-time purchases, but branding turns buyers into repeat customers and advocates. You future-proof your business. Campaigns come and go, but a strong brand endures. Even if platforms or algorithms change, your brand identity holds steady. Implementing brand consistency Consistency is the bridge that connects your brand’s strategic purpose to your marketing’s tactical execution. It ensures that every customer touchpoint, from a five-second social media ad to a year-long email funnel, feels like it comes from the same source. This is achieved through a formal, documented Brand Guideline or Brand Style Guide. This document should serve as the single source of truth for every team member, agency, and partner involved in your business. Key elements to include are: Visual identity: Approved logos, color palettes (with hex codes), typography rules, and image style. Brand voice and tone: A detailed description of how the brand "speaks" is it authoritative, witty, empathetic, or playful? This guides all copywriting. Core messaging: The mission, vision, and elevator pitch. It defines the three to five key benefits or values the brand communicates. Customer experience (CX) standards: Rules for how the brand interacts with customers on support calls, in live chat, or when handling complaints. When your marketing team uses this guide as a blueprint, your brand message is amplified without distortion, converting fleeting attentio n into long-term loyalty. Imagine two companies selling the same skincare product. Company A invests in ads highlighting discounts and features. They might see short-term sales, but when the campaign ends, so does the momentum. Company B builds a brand around “confidence through natural beauty.” Their marketing campaigns, blogs, social media stories, and influencer partnerships all reinforce that message. Over time, customers not only buy the product but also become loyal advocates of the brand’s philosophy. The difference? Company B aligned branding and marketing. They sold more than a product, they sold a meaningful idea and experience. Branding and marketing are not rivals. Branding is the soul of your business, marketing is the voice that shares it. One without the other is incomplete. Marketing without branding is noise. Branding without marketing is silence. Together, they create music that your audience remembers and returns to. If you want to build a business that doesn’t just sell but endures, start by auditing both your branding and marketing. Ask: Is my brand clear enough to fuel my marketing, and is my marketing amplifying my brand? Follow me on Instagram , LinkedIn , and visit my website for more info! Read more from Gaelle Mokoy Gaelle Mokoy, Marketing and Branding Coach Gaelle Mokoy is a Marketing and Branding Coach dedicated to helping entrepreneurs build purpose-driven, profitable brands. After navigating three sectors and overcoming the pressure to conform, she developed powerful frameworks to help women build brands that reflect who they truly are, not just what they sell. Today, she is the founder of Gaelle Mokoy Coaching, where she mentors entrepreneurs to embrace their voice, refine their message, and grow with integrity. Her work blends marketing psychology, strategic communication, and deep ancestral wisdom to help clients build legacy-aligned businesses. Gaelle’s mission: No voice left unheard.

Lowe Insights™, the thought-leadership brand behind The Resolution Room  podcast and a growing ecosystem of intentional living resources, has launched its new Wearable Wisdom Collection within their Clarity Closet . Rooted in the company’s mission to make everyday life more intentional, the collection features apparel and accessories designed to spark reflection, encourage grounded communication, and serve as daily reminders to lead with clarity and compassion. Each piece displays their signature three abstract dots, symbolizing the practice of pausing the pattern in the moment to break unhealthy cycles in the long term. “Our goal has always been to help people navigate tension with more ease and intention,” said Dr. Nashay Lowe, founder of Lowe Insights and host of The Resolution Room. “This collection is an extension of that mission: simple, practical, beautiful pieces that carry simple truths. Sometimes all we need is a gentle reminder on our sleeve or chest to stay grounded in who we want to be.” The Wearable Wisdom Collection includes a curated selection of tees, sweatshirts, and accessories featuring signature phrases from Lowe Insights frameworks and podcast moments. Crafted with soft fabrics, inclusive sizing, and minimalist design, the collection blends comfort with purpose. Early supporters have praised the line for its thoughtful messaging and modern aesthetic, calling it “intentional apparel that feels like a breath of fresh air” and “a wearable reminder to slow down, listen, and reconnect.” Whether worn during work, rest, community gatherings, or moments of introspection, the pieces invite users to embody the values that shape healthier communication and more connected relationships. The Wearable Wisdom Collection is now available here . Enjoy 20% off your first order over $50 with promo code RESOLVE26. Customers can explore multiple styles, color options, and limited-edition quotes inspired by Lowe’s research, teaching, and podcast conversations. About Lowe Insights Lowe Insights™ is a thought-leadership brand dedicated to transforming how people understand and navigate conflict. Through research-driven frameworks practiced through Resolution Sessions, digital tools, and The Resolution Room podcast, the company helps individuals and organizations cultivate clarity, curiosity, and connection. Founded by Dr. Nashay Lowe, Lowe Insights combines academic research, lived experience, and storytelling to reimagine conflict as information rather than interruption by empowering people to approach tension with intention and insight. Media contact Rachel Walker Receptionist 615-212-5986 hello@loweinsights.com

Written by Natasha B. Russell Darby, Transformation Architect A dynamic force in the entrepreneurial world, Natasha B. Russell Darby (NBR) is the Founder & CEO of NBR Global Solutions Inc. With a passion for empowering purpose-driven ventures, NBR Global Solutions offers coaching, speaking, training, and consulting services that equip entrepreneurs, businesses & non-profits with the tools they need to succeed. In the relentless pursuit of scaling a business or climbing the corporate ladder, we often treat "speed" as our most valuable metric. We wear our 80-hour workweeks like badges of honour, convinced that if we just push a little harder, we’ll finally reach the summit. But for the modern leader and entrepreneur, there is a hidden paradox: To accelerate your results, you must first learn how to slow down. The ghost in the C-suite: A story of "successful" burnout Take "Sarah," a client of mine and a brilliant tech founder. On paper, Sarah was winning. She had just closed a Series B round of funding, her team had doubled in size, and she was being scouted for major industry panels. But behind the scenes, Sarah was evaporating. She was answering emails at 2:00 AM, skipping meals, and her "executive presence" had become a mask of caffeine-fueled irritability. During one of our sessions, she confessed something chilling: "I’m the face of this company, but I don’t recognize the person in the mirror anymore. I’m moving so fast that I’ve left my soul three miles back on the trail." Sarah’s personal brand, once defined by vision and empathy, had become synonymous with "stress." Her team was walking on eggshells, and her strategic decision-making was suffering. She was running a marathon at a sprinter's pace, and she was about to hit a wall that no amount of venture capital could fix.   The high cost of the "always-on" mindset and the power of the pause When we operate in a constant state of urgency, without space to pause, we suffer from "Cognitive Tunneling." Our prefrontal cortex, the part of the brain responsible for complex decision-making and emotional regulation, begins to fatigue. We stop leading and start reacting. In this state, your Personal Brand, the very essence of how you show up for your team and your market, becomes diluted. You become a leader who is frazzled, inconsistent, and disconnected. If your brand is the "soul" of your business, what happens when that soul is exhausted? The reset framework: A 3-step coaching model To move Sarah and leaders like her from "busy" to "impactful," I utilize a framework designed to help recalibrate the internal compass. Silence the static (The audit): You cannot fix what you cannot see. I challenged Sarah to a 24-hour "Digital Sabbath", no phone, no laptop, no Slack. We often use "busyness" as a shield to avoid the uncomfortable questions. When the noise stops, the truth emerges. Ask yourself: Is my current pace sustainable, or am I just running away from the fear of being still? Align the core (The identity): Your leadership is an extension of your personal brand. If your brand stands for "Innovation" but you are too tired to think creatively, there is a fundamental misalignment. We worked to re-identify Sarah’s core values. We realized her brand wasn't just "Growth", it was "Groundbreak." To break ground, you need a solid foundation, not a shaky one. Strategic re-entry (The execution): Slowing down isn't about stopping, it’s about choosing a more efficient path. We audited Sarah’s calendar and removed the "Low-Value/High-Stress" tasks. By slowing down her response time, she actually increased her accuracy. Instead of doing ten things at 10 per cent capacity, she began identifying the "one thing" that moved the needle and gave it her full, rested presence.   Your personal brand is your north star As an entrepreneur, you are the face of your company. As a leader, you are the architect of your culture. If your personal brand is rooted in chaos and exhaustion, that is exactly what you will scale. Your team doesn't just do what you say, they mirror how you are. When you take the moment to slow down and reset, you aren't just "taking a break." You are protecting your most valuable asset: Your Presence. Success isn't just about the goals you achieve, it’s about the person you become while achieving them. Sarah didn't just save her company by slowing down, she saved the leader her company actually needed.   Transform your leadership from the inside out The most successful leaders of the next decade won't be the ones who worked the most hours, they will be the ones who mastered their internal state. Your personal brand is the core of being successful as a leader and an entrepreneur, it’s time you treated it with the strategy and care it deserves. If you are ready to stop the cycle of burnout and start leading with intentionality, let’s connect. I am available for keynote speaking engagements and executive coaching focused on personal branding, sustainable leadership, and high-performance psychology. To book a time to connect, click here to my calendar. Follow me on LinkedIn   to gain more strategic insights and tips to fuel your success and minimize burnout. Visit NBR Global Solutions to learn more. Follow me on Facebook and Instagram  for more info! Read more from Natasha B. Russell Natasha B. Russell Darby, Transformation Architect NBR is driven to transform lives and businesses through impactful leadership and strategic communication. With a passion for purpose-driven leadership, she empowers clients to lead with purpose, confidence, and clarity. NBR's expertise in communication, branding, and public relations enables her clients to achieve their business goals and unlock new opportunities. As a sought-after speaker and event host, she inspires audiences to reach their full potential, both personally and professionally. Dedicated to making a positive impact globally, Natasha actively volunteers her time in support of youth.

Written by Abisola Fagbiye, Customer Experience Strategist Abisola Fagbiye is a Customer Experience Strategist and Microsoft 365 Productivity Consultant with a Professional Diploma in CX from The CX Academy, Ireland. A WiCX member, she transforms how businesses connect with customers, turning interactions into drivers of loyalty and growth. Customers appreciate it when you remember their preferences and try to anticipate what they might need. However, if your knowledge feels invasive rather than helpful, it can cross a line. Finding that delicate balance between respecting privacy and being attentive is key, it can either foster loyalty or cause customers to lose trust. Many companies only realise which side they're on after they've lost some customers, so it's important to stay mindful of this balance. Customers really want you to understand them better. They appreciate recommendations that align with their interests, messages that reflect their preferences, and experiences that genuinely seem crafted for their needs. It's also important to be mindful so they don't feel like you're monitoring them too closely. The key isn't about how much data you gather, but rather what you do with it. Research from Epsilon shows that 80% of customers are more inclined to buy from brands that offer personalised experiences. According to Accenture, consumers are likely to stop supporting brands that fail to personalise. Personalisation has moved from being a competitive edge to a necessary part of survival. And data from Boston Consulting Group show that companies that master personalisation often see significant revenue boosts compared to their competitors.   Most companies are failing Research from Segment reveals that most companies think they're providing personalised experiences. Still, only 60% of customers feel the same way, highlighting the need to understand the gap between perceived and actual personalisation to keep customers engaged and satisfied.   Personalisation operates across dimensions Content personalisation helps deliver information that genuinely connects with individual interests. When the articles, products, and offers customers see align with what they genuinely care about, rather than just promoting what the company wants, they feel more valued. Timing personalisation ensures we reach customers at the moments they're most open to engagement, while channel personalisation meets them in their preferred communication spaces. Recognising where each customer is in their journey allows us to tailor experiences accordingly. New customers may need a different approach compared to loyal supporters. Ultimately, building genuine customer loyalty depends on providing personalised experiences that feel sincere and authentic, not just driven by algorithms.   The privacy paradox resolves with intent Customers generally don't mind companies using their data, as long as it's done respectfully and helpfully. They appreciate when personalisation makes it easier to find products they truly want. However, if it feels manipulative or intrusive, they may feel uncomfortable or resentful. When recommendations help save their time, it feels like good service. But if targeting seems more like surveillance, it can breach their sense of privacy. Truly caring personalisation that aligns with customer interests can build strong trust, while focusing only on company goals can weaken it.   Use the data you already have Your purchase history helps you understand your customers' preferences, needs, and shopping habits, making it easier to better serve them. By looking at their browsing behaviour, you can see what interests them, even if they haven't made a purchase yet. Support interactions give insights into issues that personalised solutions can address beautifully. Over time, communication preferences become clear through their behaviour, allowing you to connect in ways that feel natural and respectful. This first-party data, shared happily by your customers from their interactions with you, helps create a personalised experience that feels genuine rather than intrusive. You're using what they've shared openly rather than relying on intrusive surveillance.   Technology enables scale Unified customer data platforms bring together information from various sources, creating detailed profiles that help us understand our customers better. Real-time decisioning engines work seamlessly to show each customer what matters most at any given moment. AI and machine learning uncover patterns that might otherwise escape human analysis, enriching our insights. Integration links these personalisation efforts directly to customer-facing systems, ensuring a smooth experience. Without this solid foundation, personalisation might feel piecemeal rather than comprehensive. It's also important to see how AI can enhance personalisation responsibly, while respecting ethical boundaries, to build trust and confidence.   Know the creepy line Personalisation is an excellent tool to enhance customer experience, but it can feel a bit unsettling when it reveals secrets customers didn't expect or uses their information in unexpected ways. For example, showing ads for products discussed privately can seem intrusive. Similarly, predicting life events before customers share them might make them uncomfortable. A good rule of thumb is: Would your customers feel at ease if you explained how you know what you do? If not, you might want to rethink your approach. Being open about how you use data isn't just the right thing to do, it's also an innovative business practice. When customers understand how their data helps improve their experience, they tend to be more comfortable with sharing it.   Companies excelling at personalisation share practices They focus on being genuinely helpful rather than just targeting specific groups. Their recommendations are aimed at solving real problems, and their communications offer actual value. Offers are made to match what customers genuinely need. They build trust over time by demonstrating their value rather than asking for information right away. Customers are given control over their data and preferences, and the approach is continually tested and improved. What feels personal to one group might seem intrusive to another, so understanding this difference is key. Research from McKinsey shows that organisations with advanced personalisation strategies experience strong revenue growth and lower costs of acquiring new customers. The secret is using personalisation in a way that genuinely benefits customers, not to manipulate them. When done well, personalisation should make experiences more helpful, not more controlling. Help your team master personalisation without crossing the creepy line. "Deliver Consistency Without Killing Personalisation" tackles this exact challenge, showing how to use data to serve customers better without making them feel like they're being surveyed. Your marketing and CX teams will learn the framework that leading brands use to personalise ethically, building trust rather than destroying it. Inquire about this keynote  or email abisola@abisolafagbiye.com Follow me on Facebook , Instagram , and LinkedIn for more info! Read more from Abisola Fagbiye Abisola Fagbiye, Customer Experience Strategist Abisola Fagbiye is a Customer Experience Strategist and Microsoft 365 Productivity Consultant who helps organisations rethink engagement, build CX-driven cultures, and drive retention and growth. With global experience spanning SMBs to enterprises, she delivers workshops and training that blend strategy, energy, and actionable insight. She is a mentor and rising voice in CX leadership. Further reading: AI in Customer Service: How to Automate Without Losing the Human Touch How to Turn Satisfied Customers into Loyal Advocates

Written by Danielle Van de Velde, Meditation Teacher, Reiki Master, Psychic Medium, and Author Dani Van de Velde is a passionate advocate for living a spiritually aligned life in the modern world. She is a meditation teacher, Reiki Master, psychic medium, and author of Spirited. She is the founder of Spirited Living and Spirited Business online communities, a broadcaster on News for the Soul Radio, and host of The Modern Crone podcast. As we near the first two days of February, we enter the first turn of the Wheel of the Year, a cross-quarter point between the Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox (in the Northern Hemisphere). The sunlight starts to change in the sky, very subtly brighter and slightly longer days. Water currents in the oceans and river systems shift, and deep beneath our busy cities and busy lives, the Earth is gently stirring towards spring. Early spring is under the surface. In most northern countries, the land is still veiled in ice and snow, but signs of the shift are becoming evident. Snow drifts begin to shrink, and the slight increase in light stirs seeds into germination and animals from hibernation. Whether we are conscious of it or not, we are also affected by these shifts, because we come from and dwell in the same wild field that is starting to ‘gear up for growth’.    In my observation, people are affected by these subtle generative energies in similar ‘under the surface’ ways. They come through us in impulses, like the impulse to clear out disused clothes and items from cupboards and shelves, the impulse to take new directions, learn new skills, and create new habits (or shed old ones). For many of us, there’s the same impulse to ‘gear up for growth’, to get our heads, hearts, and homes in order, and to connect with the energies and vibe we want for the year to come. It’s a vibration we seek, a generative one. In my own life, I can see several creative projects I seeded at the end of last year now germinating. The last few weeks have been marked by introductions, connections, conversations, and referrals to enable the growth of these projects. If I were to map them out, it would look a lot like a root system growing and expanding. I also have an almost maddening desire to clear out anything and everything in my home space that hasn’t been used in the last six months.    As with all the turns of the Wheel of the Year, this time has been marked for thousands of years with beautiful rituals across many different traditions that help the seeker connect consciously with the immense wild-field of energy stirring and put it to use. The ancient Celtic festival is known as Imbolc (pronounced EE-molc), which derives from the meaning ‘in the belly’. At one level, this is in reference to pregnant or milking sheep, but also perhaps to the Spring stirring but still remaining within the belly of the Earth.   In Pagan Europe, this time was closely associated with the pre-Christian goddess Brighid and the threefold Goddess, transforming from the Crone (winter) into the Maiden (spring). Festivals marking this juncture were known as the Feast of Torches, Oimelc, Lupercalia, Feast of Pan, Snowdrop Festival, Feast of the Waxing Light, and no doubt many others now lost in time. Later, Imbolc was celebrated by Christians as St Brigid’s feast day (the pagan goddess and Christian saint sharing many attributes). The vibration of this time also refracts through festivals such as Candlemass and Groundhog Day.    As ritual evolves over the ages, connecting us with the early vibration of Spring, they link us to the wider field of energy that is available, because they have been charged with the awareness of many people before us through time, just as our churches, temples, sacred sites, and the wilderness are energetic bridges too. It is their role in the human story. They are gateways.    Here are three ways to engage with the growing vibration of Spring to bring hope, generation, and movement into yourself, home, and life. All draw on ancient roots and are adapted to modern living. They are simple, small steps that create a conscious connection, and it’s that connection that generates change, beauty, and a touch of the sacred in everyday life. 1. Mainlining the energy of spring through spending time in nature Perhaps the most direct way to connect with the energies of growth and expansion around us is to spend time in the wilderness, directly attuned to the shifts in nature. Where I live in Singapore, so close to the equator, the seasonal shifts are far more subtle, but there are clear markers. The length of the day increases rapidly, as does the angle of the sunrise and sunset.    Creating a window to connect with the rising sun and the promise of the dawning day is simple and deeply centring. There is a beautiful energy at this time, before the day fully stirs into operation, a pause that allows us to gather ourselves into stillness and lean into the highest possibility of the day and the season. Face the rising sun directly, breathe in the dawn, and notice how it moves across the markers on your horizon each day. You might like to try my morning meditation Greet the Day  on the Insight Timer app for this.   Meditative walking   in nature with the intention of noticing the first signs of Spring around you combines movement with intent for connection, which is very powerful. It exposes the whole system to the stirring of light, new growth, creatures, changes in colour, and the pheromones released by plants for growth. Since the January New Moon, I have dedicated my morning time in the jungle to this practice. And whilst I am in the lush tropical jungle, I can sense the stirring clearly. Little Asian squirrels have become more active, the bird calls have deepened and diversified, trees are starting to blossom, and the jungle floor is covered in seeds. Delicious energy to be enveloped by.    Eating the first foods of Spring brings these powerful generative energies directly into our bodies. Head to the local farmers’ markets to source them straight from the Earth and in season, when the spring energy that yields them is at its peak. Early Spring produce is bountiful, colourful, and yummy. Vegetables: Arugula, Asparagus, Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Carrot, Cauliflower, Celery, Collard Greens, Kale, Lettuce, Leeks, Onions, Parsnips, Potatoes, Rutabaga, Spinach, Sweet Potatoes, and Turnips are the main characters. And for fruits, it’s the citrus family that bursts onto the scene at this time: Clementine, Grapefruit, Kumquats, Lemons, Limes, Mandarins, Oranges, Strawberries, Tangelos, Tangerines.  2. Using the element of fire Imbolc is one of the four Celtic Fire festivals. It acknowledges the return of the sun and a stirring into action. Fire is also associated with the third Chakra, Manipura, our centre for personal power, self-esteem, volition, and the putting of choices into action. Fire and Light are associated in nearly all spiritual traditions with inspiration, illumination, transmutation, expansion, and purification (the release of low-vibration energy and blocks). Some simple ways to connect consciously with the Fire aspect of the season are:    Change up the candles in your home, sacred space, and meditation kit. The traditional colours used for this are white, orange, and red candles. Another beautiful tradition is Candle Anointing, a simple ritual for dedicating candles to the season and bringing high-resonance scents into the home. Typical Imbolc scents include cinnamon, rosemary, myrrh, and frankincense.   Burning bay leaves imbued with intent is a simple yet powerful ritual that helps clarify in the mind and heart the aspects you wish to nurture and grow in the coming season. Bay leaves have long been recognised for their medicinal properties. They contain powerful compounds such as pinene, cineol, elemicin, and linalool, which, when burned, are released into the air and are known to soothe feelings of anxiety and frazzled nerves, as well as alleviate fatigue and respiratory tightness. It’s likely that burning bay leaves as an Imbolc ritual began when households sought to purify the air in their homes after the long winter months spent snowed in and sharing space with livestock.   A powerful addition to this tradition is to write on the bay leaves the aspects you wish to nurture with the Spring energies for growth in your spiritual soil-bed. It’s a simple tradition I used to practise with my young children. I would give each of them three bay leaves and ask them to write on each one the things they wanted to develop within themselves for the year. We’d then burn them together and state the aspects we sought to grow as we cast the leaves into the flames. There’s something very powerful about a family standing as witnesses to each other’s growth, and it also gives parents an inside track on how best to support their children’s spiritual and emotional development.  3. Using traditional Imbolc symbols in groovy craft for the home and gifting Imbolc is a celebration of home and hearth, particularly, and as with each turning of the Wheel of the Year, I love to make symbolic crafts for my home and gifting. Two powerful symbols for the season are St Brigid’s Cross and the Spring Maiden. Both these symbols were made on Imbolc in a gathering of the village women.   St Brigid’s Cross is traditionally made from interwoven reeds or hay. The Christian story goes that St Brigid went to visit a dying Druid King and, at his bedside, wove a cross from the threshing hay on the floor. Upon seeing the cross, the Druid converted with his last breath. Whilst there is no historical evidence of St Brigid having lived in Ireland, there is a lot of evidence of her character and the cross having far more ancient origins. The older Celtic tradition at Imbolc honoured the Goddess Brigid (Bhrid, Brede, Bridean) as a symbol of the Maiden Goddess representing the early Spring vibrations, and the cross is believed to be an adaptation of the Sun Symbol used at Celtic Fire festivals to acknowledge and link to the energies of the shifting sunlight across the earth and seasons. What I love about this symbol is that it captures the spiralling, expanding energies of early Spring. There is movement within it. You can find plenty of YouTube instruction videos on how to make them.   Another powerful symbol for the season is the maiden Goddess in all her beauty. In ancient times, corn dolls or goddess dolls called Brídeóg were fashioned from hay and hung on doorways and in bedrooms to attract the energies of the Spring and all its promise. Larger versions of Brídeóg were paraded through village streets, and chants were called to invite her and all her abundance into the community and fields.   This one was very easy to make using leftover cotton yarn from my craft box. The wreath was ready-made, and I fashioned the Brigid’s Cross from dried lavender stems a student had given me.   I also make these Goddess dolls to give to my friends. I create each one with the recipient in mind, weaving my best wishes for them into the maiden Goddess form, with gratitude for their friendship in my life.   Making time to honour the coming season as it emerges through the wilderness helps us attune to its vibration and power. This is the real point: when our human systems vibrate at higher resonances of possibility, expectation, and love, it creates changes in our ordinary experiences. This is the true vibration of Spring, and it’s delicious. Why not engage?   Happy Imbolc, everyone!   The Spirited Living Membership  is welcoming new members to explore courses and practical content designed to guide you on your path to healing, self-discovery, and mindful living. You can also explore a spirited life in my book, Spirited: A Guide to Your Innate Spiritual Design to Transform Your Life, now available. See stockists here . Follow me on Facebook ,  Instagram , and  LinkedIn  for more info! Read more from Danielle Van de Velde Danielle Van de Velde, Meditation Teacher, Reiki Master, Psychic Medium, and Author Dani Van de Velde is a meditation teacher, Reiki Master, psychic medium, and author of Spirited. She is the founder of the Spirited Living and Spirited Business communities, supporting spiritually aligned growth and conscious leadership. Dani is a broadcaster on News for the Soul Radio and host of The Modern Crone podcast, exploring modern spirituality and embodied wisdom. Her work bridges intuition and everyday life, offering grounded, accessible pathways to self-trust and inner clarity. She is known for a warm, practical approach that honours both the mystical and the real.

Written by Denzil Tafadzwa Tanyanyiwa, Global Strategist | Founder | CEO Denzil T. Tanyanyiwa is the Founder of Linkmount Global Network and Executive Director at Solicitude for Orphan Children Support Group. He serves as the Chief Executive Officer of AfriCan Bioenergy Corporation. A visionary leader committed to sustainable development, innovation, and building impactful networks. With a strong focus on diplomacy (including commercial diplomacy across Africa), and fostering Global partnerships and Investor Relations. Denzil champions initiatives that empower communities and drive meaningful social and economic impact. Africa’s energy challenge is often framed as a problem of scarcity. Too little power. Too much demand. Fragile grids stretched across vast distances. But scarcity is not Africa’s defining constraint. Dependency is. For decades, African economies have relied on imported fuels, external grids, foreign data centers, and financial systems disconnected from physical production. The result has been energy insecurity, currency instability, and limited industrial growth. AfriCan Bioenergy Corporation was created to challenge that model, not by copying Western energy systems, but by designing an African industrial architecture rooted in local resources, resilient technology, and sovereign control. Founded in Canada and anchored in Zimbabwe, AfriCan Bioenergy Corporation is building a bio-industrial ecosystem that integrates clean energy, carbon utilization, advanced computing, and digital value creation. The objective is not incremental reform, but a leap forward toward energy sovereignty, digital independence, and climate-aligned industrialization. A Pan-African vision with a strategic starting point Zimbabwe was selected as AfriCan Bioenergy Corporation’s first continental hub for both practical and strategic reasons. The country sits at the crossroads of Southern Africa, with access to land, technical talent, and regional markets, while also facing long-standing challenges related to energy reliability and industrial underinvestment. Rather than extending fragile national grids or importing fuel at scale, AfriCan Bioenergy Corporation is deploying localized energy islands that generate power, fuels, and digital infrastructure within the same system. This approach reduces transmission losses, improves resilience, and allows energy production to directly support industrial and digital growth. The company’s Zimbabwe initiative is structured as a first-of-a-kind national demonstration of green industrialization that can be replicated across the continent. The technology platform behind the vision At the core of AfriCan Bioenergy Corporation’s strategy is the Integrated Thermochemical Materials and Hydrogen Platform developed by Triton Hydrogen Corporation. Rather than operating as a single power plant or refinery, the platform functions as an industrial operating system. It converts biomass into multiple outputs, including biodiesel, sustainable aviation fuel, hydrogen, syngas, biochar, and advanced carbon materials. Carbon dioxide generated during production is captured and converted into stable solid forms, transforming emissions into usable products rather than atmospheric waste. Artificial intelligence-based digital orchestration optimizes energy flows, storage, and carbon accounting in real time. The result is a system designed to operate continuously, adaptively, and with minimal external inputs. This integration is essential. Africa does not need isolated solutions. It needs systems that work together across energy, industry, and digital infrastructure. Why Nopal cactus changes the equation Central to the model is an unconventional feedstock: Nopal cactus. Nopal grows on marginal land, requires minimal water, and does not compete with food crops. In semi-arid regions where conventional agriculture struggles, Nopal thrives. It absorbs significant amounts of carbon dioxide and produces high biomass yields suitable for energy conversion. Unlike corn or sugarcane, Nopal avoids the food versus fuel dilemma. It also enables rural participation in the energy economy without displacing subsistence agriculture. When processed through AfriCan Bioenergy Corporation’s platform, Nopal produces transport fuels, clean power, biochar for soil regeneration, hydrogen for storage, and carbon materials for advanced applications. For African economies where land is available, but capital is constrained, this combination offers a scalable pathway to climate-aligned growth. Building energy islands instead of fragile grids The Zimbabwe deployment includes a hybrid bioenergy microgrid designed to operate independently of national transmission infrastructure. The system combines Nopal-derived fuels, hydrogen, battery storage, thermal storage, and renewable inputs such as solar and wind. These microgrids are designed to serve cities, farms, mines, data centers, and remote communities with reliable twenty-four-hour power. Because they are localized, they are less vulnerable to outages, fuel supply disruptions, or grid failures. This model reflects a broader shift in energy planning. Rather than expanding centralized grids indefinitely, resilient local systems can provide faster, more reliable access while supporting industrial activity directly at the point of generation. Carbon as an asset, not a liability Conventional climate narratives treat carbon as a problem to be eliminated. AfriCan Bioenergy Corporation approaches carbon as a material resource. Through integrated carbon capture and utilization, biogenic carbon dioxide is converted into biochar, mineralized carbon, and advanced materials. These products improve soil health, lock carbon into stable forms, and create additional revenue streams. The result is a system that is not simply low carbon, but potentially carbon negative. Zimbabwe’s role in this ecosystem is not limited to domestic energy supply. It becomes a producer and exporter of carbon-negative fuels and materials into global markets that increasingly price carbon intensity.
  Powering digital sovereignty with clean energy One of the most ambitious components of the project is the Zimbabwe Green AI Compute Campus. As artificial intelligence expands, data centers are becoming some of the largest energy consumers in the world. Today, most are powered by fossil fuels and controlled by foreign entities. By co-locating sovereign compute infrastructure with carbon-negative energy systems, AfriCan Bioenergy Corporation aims to anchor Africa’s digital future in African energy and African infrastructure. The campus is designed to host government systems, fintech platforms, climate modeling, digital identity services, and cybersecurity workloads. This is not cloud outsourcing. It is digital sovereignty supported by physical energy assets.
  AfriCoin and energy-backed value AfriCoin represents the financial layer of the ecosystem. Rather than a speculative cryptocurrency, it is designed as an energy-backed settlement mechanism. Each unit is linked to measurable outputs such as kilowatt hours generated, carbon captured, or biofuel produced. This creates a direct relationship between physical production and digital value. In regions where energy poverty and currency instability reinforce each other, this model offers a new development logic: produce energy, generate value, finance growth. Strong governance, transparency, and regulatory alignment will be essential for credibility. But the principle is clear. Real assets can anchor digital systems in real economies. Connecting Africa to global green markets AfriCan Bioenergy Corporation’s vision extends beyond Zimbabwe. The company is developing a biofuel corridor linking Africa, Oman, and Europe. Africa supplies biomass and production capacity. Oman provides logistics and hydrogen integration. Europe represents a demand center for carbon-priced fuels. This corridor positions African countries not as raw commodity exporters, but as producers of finished energy products with climate value embedded. It is a pathway from extraction to industrial participation. The road ahead From Zimbabwe, AfriCan Bioenergy Corporation plans expansion into South Africa, Namibia, Nigeria, Kenya, and Morocco. Each deployment will adapt to local conditions while maintaining the same integrated architecture. Africa does not need to wait for permission to industrialize sustainably. It can build systems that reflect its geography, its people, and its priorities. AfriCan Bioenergy Corporation is not proposing a single project. It is proposing a new model for how energy, industry, and digital systems can grow together on African terms.   Discover more: AfriCanBioenergyCorporation | Instagram | LinkedIn | Website Read more from Denzil Tafadzwa Tanyanyiwa Denzil Tafadzwa Tanyanyiwa, Global Strategist | Founder | CEO Denzil T. Tanyanyiwa is a Global Strategist, High Representative for Strategic Partnerships & African Advancement, and CEO of AfriCan Bioenergy Corporation. He is also the Executive Director at the Solicitude for Orphan Children Support Group. Through his work, Denzil champions inclusive development, entrepreneurship, and diplomatic collaboration across Africa and the global South.

Written by Marie-Louise Gessner, Life Coach Marie Gessner, a powerful ACC coach, is working to support you in finding your answers in life's areas. She brings my listening, and together we explore your answers. When we see others struggle with expectations, self-doubt, and the pursuit of validation, it’s easy to want to step in, guide, and direct. But sometimes, the most considerate thing to do is to let them take the step towards insight themselves, to let them truly belong to themselves. For it is only when someone dares to face their own inner world, listen to their own truth, and decide for themselves what is important, that real change can happen. When you genuinely allow them to find their own insights, emotional freedom is the greatest reward. They let go of the need to be liked by others and dare to stand firm in their own truth. The value of allowing them to discover their own worth Everyone has their own unique story, their own strengths and weaknesses. Even if we see someone struggling with feelings of inadequacy or comparison, it is important to let them realise their own value. For it is in that personal insight, when you see for yourself that no one else can fill your shoes, that the strength to set boundaries and stand up for yourself grows. Discovering that being enough is linked to self-worth allows us to accept that we may disappoint others, and that our value is not dependent on achievement. Self-awareness a process that cannot be forced Self-awareness takes time and requires courage to ask yourself what brings joy, life, and meaning. It is a form of inner clarity that develops over time, often through reflection, experience, and even through painful moments. Consequences act as a catalyst for self-awareness, they force us to pause and reflect, to understand the link between actions and outcomes. Here, we can spot our patterns, motives, and the effects they have on our lives. For instance, a conflict at work can lead to insight about whether you avoid difficult conversations or not. Succeeding with a project can reveal what strengths you possess and how you function in pressured situations. Those of us around them can offer support, listen, and be present, but we must also allow them to ask the questions and find the answers themselves. A casual coffee, a chat, or a warm glance can make a difference, but the journey is their own. Allowing them to accept both strengths and weaknesses No one is perfect, and it’s precisely that which makes us human. When someone faces their failures and shortcomings, we sometimes feel the impulse to save, correct, or protect. But if instead we let them embrace both strengths and weaknesses, we give them the chance to grow and rise in adversity. As the Swedish saying goes, “It is in a headwind that a kite rises.” We can cheer from the sidelines, but let them fly on their own. Learning to set boundaries is no simple matter, and sometimes we see someone struggle to say no. It’s tempting to comfort or take over, but sometimes it’s best to let them dare to assert their needs themselves. Being able to handle uncomfortable feelings and still learn from them leads to emotional maturity. We can remind them that it’s not about shutting out the world, but about daring to belong to themselves. The journey towards belonging to oneself and understanding one's value The journey towards belonging to oneself and understanding one’s value is rarely a straight line, sometimes we move forward, sometimes we stumble back. Just as with a child learning to walk, it is sometimes more important to stand beside and let them try on their own, than to hold their hand too tightly, but also to allow them to make discoveries on their road towards self-awareness and acceptance. For their sake, to let them understand their own value. Self-awareness should not be overshadowed – it should be celebrated. – Marie Gessner Follow me on Instagram , LinkedIn, and visit my website for more info! Read more from Marie-Louise Gessner Marie-Louise Gessner, Life Coach Marie’s mission is to see others rise and live the life they want. With coaching as a method, Marie helps individuals and groups find clarity, overcome obstacles, set plans, and develop potential and personal growth. Through powerful dialogues in listening, she brings you the supportive tools, and you decide if you will take action on your own answers between the sessions. You do the work, and she is behind you for support.

Written by Dr. Kapil and Rupali Apshankar, Award-Winning Board-Certified Clinical Hypnotists | Board-Certified Coaches Dr. Kapil and Rupali Apshankar are international bestselling authors and globally respected mentors in business, life, and relationship success. As the founders of Blissvana, a premier personal development and success studio, they have dedicated their lives to empowering others. Their proven coaching methodologies have consistently delivered exceptional results across all areas of life, from personal growth to professional achievement. There is a moment in every transformational practitioner’s journey when the outward signs of progress seem at odds with the quiet truth stirring within. You know you are gifted. You know your work changes lives. You know your presence carries a calm, healing intelligence that people feel the moment they speak with you. Yet, despite all of this, your practice does not reflect the depth of who you are. It is a strange and tender place to stand. You can sense that something greater is trying to unfold through your work, yet the path toward that expansion feels cloudy. You feel the pull of a larger destiny, but the structure of your business remains small. You feel the call to serve more deeply, yet your income plateaus. This experience is far more common than most practitioners realize. Many of the most gifted coaches and healers on the planet are not struggling because their work is lacking. They struggle because the inner architecture of their consciousness has not yet evolved to hold the level of success their soul is calling them toward. This is the spiritual paradox of growth. Your practice cannot expand beyond the identity that is running it. Scaling is not simply a business problem. It is a matter of alignment, intention, identity, and energy. When your inner world rises to meet the magnitude of your calling, your practice naturally begins to reshape itself around that higher frequency. Opportunities appear. Ideal clients arrive. Pricing shifts. Boundaries strengthen. You speak with greater clarity. You inhabit a deeper sense of worthiness. The reasons most coaches and healers struggle to scale are not signs of failure. They are signs of awakening. Here are the deeper reasons most practitioners struggle to scale, and how to finally step into the practice you were born to lead. 1. Their practice is built on service, but not on structure Most coaches and healers begin from the heart. You know you are here to help people. You feel called to guide. You feel guided to serve. You lead with compassion and intuition. But the heart alone does not build a sustainable practice. The heart needs a structure so it can breathe. Without structure, you may experience: inconsistent income uncertainty around pricing exhaustion from serving everyone difficulty describing what you actually offer lack of boundaries around time and energy resentment toward your schedule or clients Many spiritual entrepreneurs resist structure because it feels restrictive. Yet structure, when aligned, does not imprison your gifts, it protects them. Structure ensures: you do not overgive your work is sustainable clients receive predictable transformation your energy feels supported your practice can grow without draining you Scaling requires the realization that your gifts expand when your container expands. It is a familiar idea, yet one many practitioners have not fully embodied. A practice that reaches seven figures is not built through strain, but through clarity that allows energy, clients, and opportunities to flow. 2. They sell sessions instead of transformation This is one of the greatest reasons coaches and healers stay stuck. When you sell a session, you sell time. When you sell a transformation, you sell a journey. A session has a price ceiling. A transformation does not. Selling sessions leads to: burnout undercharging clients who come and go unpredictable revenue difficulty scaling Selling transformation creates: deeper client commitment higher-value programs spacious scheduling a clear signature method results you can measure and articulate a practice that grows organically through referrals and authority Your clients are not seeking minutes. They are seeking change, hope, and a meaningful shift in their life, their identity, their relationships, and their sense of purpose. When your work focuses on the transformation, your practice begins to breathe with intention. 3. They stay generalists instead of becoming known for one thing Many practitioners fear choosing a niche. They worry that specializing will limit them. They fear excluding people. They fear being too specific. They fear missing opportunities. But spiritually, the opposite is true. Your soul work becomes clearer when your message becomes clearer. No one becomes magnetic by trying to help everyone. You become magnetic when you help someone deeply. Scaling requires a shift from: “I can help anyone.” to “I am called to help these people with this transformation.” When you do this, your marketing simplifies, your message sharpens, your authority rises, and your confidence grows. What once felt scattered begins to align, and your practice accelerates naturally as clients recognize themselves in your words. And your clients can finally find you, because they recognize themselves in your words. 4. They have not built an identity that can hold expansion This is the most spiritual truth in business. Your practice grows to the level of identity you hold. If a part of you still believes: “I am not ready.” “I am not worth higher prices.” “I am not a real expert.” “I do not want too much attention.” “I do not want people to judge me.” “I do not want to outgrow anyone.” Then your subconscious will quietly slow your progress. Not to punish you, but to protect you. Every practitioner we have coached who grew beyond six figures and into a multi-six or seven-figure practice had one realization. Scaling is more about who you become than what you do. Your identity must expand before your income can. This expansion is gentle and internal. It happens through: alignment intention releasing old stories raising your self-concept choosing abundance over fear embodying your higher self When your identity shifts, your practice follows. 5. They lack the authority assets that signal trust in a noisy industry We live in a world where everyone calls themselves a coach or healer. People are searching for guidance, but they are also searching for credibility. Practitioners struggle when their work is beautiful, but their presence is invisible. Authority assets such as: a professional profile a signature method a transformation statement client success stories niche clarity editorial features expert positioning Do not just market yourself. They validate you. When clients see your authority, they feel safe investing in your transformation. Authority is alignment made visible. Scaling begins the moment you stop whispering your gifts and begin owning them fully. 6. They operate their practice alone when their calling is bigger than one person Many coaches and healers attempt to grow their practice by themselves. They try to: do all their admin create all their programs market everything coach everyone design their branding write their copy manage their finances This is not scaling. It is a form of spiritual self-sacrifice that eventually limits both impact and joy. A practice grows when you allow support. Support in your systems. Support in your structure. Support in your visibility. Support in your community. Support in your message. You are not meant to build your practice alone. You are meant to build it in partnership with people who believe in your calling. When you allow yourself to be supported, your business becomes a sanctuary, not a burden. The true secret to a $1m practice: Alignment before action You do not scale by pushing harder. You scale by aligning deeper. Scaling is not a reward for hard work. It is the natural expression of a soul in harmony with its purpose. Success comes when you: heal the subconscious patterns holding you back build a structure that supports your gifts define the transformation you offer embody the identity of your higher self strengthen your authority allow yourself to be supported say yes to your soul's expansion Your practice begins to grow the moment you grow. Not by force, but by remembering who you are meant to be. A gentle invitation to your next level of expansion If these insights stirred something within you, consider the possibility that this is not a coincidence. Growth rarely arrives with fanfare. It reveals itself in quiet recognitions, a soft exhale, a subtle sense that life is asking more of you, not as pressure, but as remembrance. When your soul is ready to expand, it does not shout. It whispers. It nudges. It places a question in your heart that will not leave you alone: “What would my life look like if I allowed myself to rise?” The truth is that your next level is not outside of you. It is already forming within your awareness, gathering strength each time you choose alignment over fear, clarity over confusion, and intention over habit. Scaling your practice is not about force. It is about stepping into the version of yourself who no longer negotiates with her own greatness. This journey asks only one thing of you: that you trust the quiet intelligence unfolding in your life. You are not being pushed. You are being invited. You are not being tested. You are being remembered. And the path ahead is not one you must walk alone. Your expansion is already in motion. All that remains is for you to say yes to the version of yourself who has been waiting patiently to lead. If this kind of soulful exploration calls to you, we invite you to walk a little further with us. At Blissvana, we have devoted our lives to creating experiences that help people reconnect with their higher self and awaken the clarity that already lives within them. Whether through regression work, hypnosis, guided imagery, or intentional creative practices, every offering is designed to help you return to your natural state of peace and alignment. Always remember that you are not broken. You are becoming. Every step you take with intention brings you closer to the life you were meant to live. If you feel ready to explore these deeper layers of your emotional and spiritual journey, we welcome you to connect with us, ask your questions, and take the next gentle step toward your own inner freedom. Your healing is already underway. If you feel a resonance with this way of growing, it may be an invitation to continue the journey in conscious partnership. Connect with Kapil and Rupali If this article has opened something within you, trust that feeling. It is simply your inner self asking for a little more space to breathe and a little more compassion as you grow into a new chapter of your life. You may also enjoy our Color and Affirm book series . These books blend soothing illustrations with simple affirmations to encourage self-love, calm, and creativity. They make thoughtful gifts for anyone seeking peace or personal reflection. At Blissvana, we believe every person is an artist of their own life. Our programs and sessions are designed to help you shape your inner world with intention, clarity, and love. If you feel called to explore this work more deeply, we invite you to join us for a gentle, no-pressure conversation where we can explore what your next step may be . Say yes to your healing. Say yes to your awakening. Say yes to the life your soul has been waiting to live. Follow us on LinkedIn , Instagram , Facebook , and visit our website for more info! Read more from Dr. Kapil and Rupali Apshankar Dr. Kapil and Rupali Apshankar, Award-Winning Board-Certified Clinical Hypnotists | Board-Certified Coaches Dr. Kapil and Rupali Apshankar are international bestselling authors and globally respected mentors in business, life, and relationship success. As the founders of Blissvana, a premier personal development and success studio, they have dedicated their lives to empowering others. Their proven coaching methodologies have consistently delivered exceptional results across all areas of life, from personal growth to professional achievement. With a unique blend of clinical hypnosis, coaching, and holistic personal development, Kapil and Rupali have transformed the lives of thousands worldwide. Their signature programs are designed to help individuals unlock their fullest potential, overcome limiting beliefs, and achieve sustainable success in every facet of life. Through Blissvana, they offer workshops, retreats, and one-on-one coaching that provide their clients with the tools and strategies to thrive in today’s complex, fast-paced world.

Josephine Eneje is a human transformation architect and founder with over 25 years of corporate experience across media, telecommunications, maritime, and skincare industries. She is a certified Global Professional in Human Resources (GPHR) and a certified cosmetic formulator, whose career spans multi-disciplinary leadership roles in human resources, global project leadership, change management, and enterprise transformation, operating at the intersection of people, performance, and purpose. Josephine Eneje, Human Transformation Architect | Founder Your career spans several industries and leadership roles. What connects all these chapters of your work? I have spent over twenty-five years working across different disciplines and leadership roles, including communication, human resources, learning and development, project leadership, change and transformation, and, more recently, beauty and entrepreneurship. What connects these chapters is not chance or convenience, but a deliberate internal process that has guided my decisions from the beginning. Towards the end of my university years, I developed a strong sense of direction about my purpose, even though I did not yet have full clarity on how it would ultimately take shape. What I knew was that my work needed to be meaningful, intentional, and connected to who I was becoming. That sense of direction became the reference point for every career decision I made, allowing clarity to unfold through lived experience rather than forcing it too early. I evaluated each role carefully. I never moved simply because an opportunity was available or attractive. I always asked whether the role would take me further in the direction of my purpose. Sometimes the connection was immediately clear. Other times, it required deeper reflection, but there always had to be a thread I could recognise. One example was my transition from a communication-focused role in media into a learning and development role within telecommunications. While the environment changed, the discipline at the core of my work remained consistent. In both roles, I was using communication to educate, align people, and help translate values into daily practice. That same logic applied later when I moved into global project leadership roles. What changed were the responsibilities and scope, not the underlying purpose driving the work. So while my career path may appear diverse from the outside, I have never experienced it as fragmented. Each role built on the capabilities of the previous one, adding depth, perspective, and leadership range, and shaping a coherent journey guided by purpose and deliberate choice. At what point in your journey did you realise that aspiration needs direction, not just drive, to build a career with meaning and continuity? When I look back at my career, I see a series of roles chosen with intention. Not because they were the obvious next step, but because each offered an opportunity to express my values and build toward something meaningful. What mattered to me was ending each day knowing my work had purpose and that it would add up over time. From my first role, I was clear about why I wanted to be there and what I wanted to gain. I did not approach my career as a ladder to climb for its own sake. Direction mattered more than momentum. Even when I did not have every answer, I needed to know that each role was taking me further along the right path. I remember an early conversation with my manager when I took on a role. I was transparent about how long I planned to stay and what I was working toward next. During that time, I was deliberate about the skills I wanted to build, the contribution I aimed to make, and how I used the opportunity to grow. That clarity shaped how I approached my work and the decisions I made each day. That experience reinforced something I already understood. Drive can keep you moving, but direction gives continuity. It ensures that growth is not just upward, but meaningful and sustainable over time. You have led major transformations under pressure, including during periods of global uncertainty. What did those seasons teach you about leadership? Leadership, for me, has never been a fixed style. It shifts with people, context, and what the moment requires. Reading team dynamics and understanding what people need in real time has always shaped how I lead, especially under pressure. A defining season was during the COVID-19 pandemic. At the time, I was a Global Project Implementation Leader, responsible for delivering a complex transformation initiative with a largely remote team spread across Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. Almost overnight, the way we worked changed, bringing with it heightened uncertainty, emotional strain, and new personal realities for people across regions. I was leading a highly experienced, high-performing team made up of talented specialists and subject-matter experts in their respective fields. These were professionals accustomed to operating at pace and delivering to demanding standards. When team members had to step away unexpectedly due to personal or health-related circumstances, I had to make rapid adjustments to ensure continuity. What stood out was how the team responded. Others stepped in willingly, took on interim responsibilities, stretched beyond their defined roles, and supported one another, so the work could continue without disruption. That response did not come from pressure or authority. It came from trust. People felt heard, respected, and included. They knew their perspectives mattered. Over time, this created a strong sense of togetherness and shared ownership, even in an uncertain and emotionally demanding period. In every weekly team meeting, I was intentional about reconnecting the work to the bigger picture. When people could see how their contribution mattered, they leaned in more deeply. That season reinforced a belief I hold firmly today: leadership under pressure is shaped as much by values, clarity, and self-leadership as by technical skill. When people feel trusted and valued, they rise together. What has your personal leadership journey taught you about carrying responsibilities that are not always visible? Over time, leadership taught me that some of the heaviest responsibilities are the ones no one sees. When you realise that your decisions affect not just performance, but people’s livelihoods, families, and futures, leadership becomes deeply personal. One role that shaped this understanding was during a peak period in my human resources career. While I led a direct team of HR professionals, I was also responsible for the employee lifecycle of over a thousand permanent and outsourced employees. How people experienced the organisation, how they were supported, developed, and guided through difficult moments, ultimately sat with me. Much of this responsibility was invisible. I often found myself holding space between employee needs and organisational expectations, acting as an umpire of sorts. I facilitated conversations, guided decisions, and managed tensions that were rarely captured in any role description, yet were critical to maintaining trust and stability. A significant part of my work involved helping people see that they had choices. Rather than directing them, I supported them to understand their role in shaping their own growth and next steps. Many conversations focused on reframing perspectives, encouraging accountability, and helping individuals see options even when situations felt limiting. This work required care, honesty, and courage. The thinking often followed me home. What mattered most to me was not visibility or recognition, but knowing I had listened carefully, assessed situations fairly, and acted with integrity, even when outcomes were difficult. That is what carrying invisible responsibility has taught me. When did it become clear to you that you needed to start planning for what came next, even while carrying significant professional responsibility? Beauty has always been part of my world. I grew up fascinated by the way my mother and her sister exchanged beauty products, ideas, and opinions. It was never casual. Even as a child, I was drawn to it. My mother noticed early and, with care, put boundaries around what I could explore until I reached an age we agreed on. Her dresser table, filled with beauty products, left a lasting impression on me. My first real attempt to create my own natural beauty products came in 2014, and it failed completely. I ordered raw materials, experimented, and quickly realised how much I did not know. I packed everything away, but I did not pack away the dream. I allowed it to sit quietly in the background while I continued building my career. Years later, while fully engaged in demanding corporate roles that I genuinely loved, that interest resurfaced. In 2021, the spark returned. By early 2022, I enrolled to study skincare formulation and beauty brand management, preparing after my normal work hours, often in the quiet and stillness of the night, where focus came more easily. As a driven, time-conscious professional who travelled frequently and moved across climates, my skin felt every transition. That lived experience became confirmation. What I had started years earlier was not a distraction from my career. It was a natural continuation of it. Planning for what came next did not feel like leaving something behind. It felt like alignment. Your work today reflects a strong focus on legacy beyond career achievement. What does legacy mean to you in practical terms? In my world, legacy is about creating work that restores, simplifies, and supports career and professional women on their journey of becoming. It is not an abstract idea. It is something built through everyday choices, with care and intention. That philosophy sits at the heart of my skincare brand, Dame Jo! I created it for high-achieving, time-conscious professional women who carry full calendars and heavy demands, and who often give generously to their work and to others. Dame Jo! is not skincare for everyone. It is intentionally designed for career women who want results without complexity, clarity without excess, and care without overwhelm. Each product is created to be effective, while also offering a quiet moment of pause and reconnection within demanding professional lives. Building Dame Jo! drew deeply on my corporate background in learning and development, project leadership, and change management. I applied the same thinking to build something thoughtful and sustainable, rather than driven by guesswork or trends. As I shared that journey, I began to notice a pattern. Many professional women hold strong ideas and a clear vision, but find themselves stuck in ideation mode without a structured system to move forward. That insight led to the creation of Lab To Legacy, a platform designed to support career women in moving from idea to execution and into building legacies of their own. Legacy, to me, is not just what you build. It is the clarity and space you create for others to build on, long after you are no longer in the room. A closing reflection If any part of my story resonated with you, I invite you to visit our Story page on Dame Jo!, to learn more about the brand’s philosophy, or to join our mailing list via the website footer, to stay connected. Follow me on LinkedIn , and visit my website for more info! Read more from Josephine Eneje

Tara Swann is an Emotional Empowerment & Embodiment Coach, Author, and Speaker who specialises in helping women break free from emotional survival patterns and step into their feminine power, inner truth, and conscious creation abilities. With a unique blend of emotional alchemy, subconscious transformation, feminine-masculine integration, and somatic embodiment, Tara guides women to release fear, insecurity, and old relational patterns so they can manifest the life and love they deeply desire. Tara Swann, Emotional Empowerment Coach & Author Who is Tara Swann? Introduce yourself, your hobbies, your favourites, you at home and in business, and tell us something interesting about you. Hello! My name is Tara, and because we always start with our profession, I am going to start with who I am personally. I am an ocean child; I grew up by some of the clearest ocean waters in the world in Western Australia. I am a Pisces – sensitive, emotional, compassionate, creative, and intuitive. I love to play and dance, especially with my family. I have three beautiful children, who have all shaped the woman I am today in different ways. They each initiated me into deeper self-love, presence, and devotion to life. At home, I am deeply devoted to my life as a mother and lover, and that devotion begins with myself, through my health, my practices, and my inner world. That devotion naturally extends into my work as a coach and author, where I guide women to come home to themselves and cultivate a deeper connection to their bodies and emotions, so they too can feel empowered and whole in their lives. I feel most inspired when I write. I wrote my second book in one month, and all three were published within a single year, in 2023. What inspired you to begin this work and eventually build the business you have today? The inspiration for my work came through overcoming seventeen years of chronic anxiety, depression, and an autoimmune disease by learning how to feel my suppressed emotions. The first time I consciously discovered this work was when I was panicking about speaking in a live masterclass. For the first time in my adult life, at thirty-two years old, I chose to sit with my emotions instead of running away in anxiety. I allowed myself to feel the shame and grief in my body and uncovered a long-held belief that it wasn’t safe to use my voice, rooted in childhood experiences. This brief but powerful moment not only allowed me to speak confidently in that masterclass but also opened a doorway into deeper embodiment work. I began continually returning to the body to liberate myself from fear, which ultimately led to writing three books, speaking on stages, and attracting the love of my life. Today, I teach these methods through emotional empowerment and embodied manifestation, and I am nearing completion of my Tantra practitioner training, which has supported me in embodying this work at an even deeper level. What core problem do your clients come to you for, and how do you uniquely help them solve it? Most clients come to me feeling unmet in relationships. They either cannot attract their ideal partner, or their current partner isn’t meeting them at the depth they long for. Usually, this isn’t about the partner or future partner, but about their internal relationship between their inner masculine and feminine energies, and their capacity to feel emotion while creating a safe container within themselves that allows their emotions to flow without resistance or judgment. Through my Five Pillars of Emotional Empowerment, I support clients in allowing all emotion, releasing emotion to open the heart and set healthy boundaries, neutralising fears and insecurities to show up in love rather than projection, using emotions as guidance and in decision making, and influencing emotions to consciously create the relationship they desire, or become the lover they wish to meet. At its core, my work is rooted in the understanding that our outer world is a reflection of our inner world. How would you describe your approach or methodology for creating real transformation? There are many practices that support women at different stages and with their own unique challenges, from emotional release to inner child work to dialoguing with different parts of themselves to embodied manifestation. At its essence, however, my work always comes back to being with what is present in the body, allowing it without judgment, receiving it as the exact medicine needed, and feeling raw emotion fully within a safe space. This creates the internal space required to call in what they truly desire for their lives. This might look like releasing grief from a past painful relationship by fully expressing and moving that emotion through the body, allowing the heart to open again. From there, a woman can move forward with clarity, deciding what she wants next and who she chooses to be. As an example in my own life, this process showed up through a deep fear of speaking on stage. I allowed myself to express every thought that arose, including “you’re not good enough” and “you’re not impactful enough.” Giving those thoughts a voice allowed me to access and feel the raw emotion beneath them, the shame and sadness held in my body. Once that energy was cleared, I felt spaciousness and inner power. In that moment, I called in the energy of the Huntress archetype and the dark feminine, and I was able to speak confidently and without fear. That event resulted in my highest book sales in a single day to date. This is emotional alchemy. What makes your programs and services different from what people might find elsewhere? The difference in my work is that it is embodied. We don’t focus on the mind; we focus on the body. The deepest truth comes from the body, and the precise medicine needed resides in the body. When people realise that their source of vitality, presence, and power already lives within them, they naturally become empowered. I teach people how to live life self-sourced, as humans experiencing their humanity, with less resistance, less suffering, and more openness, aliveness, and joy. I also deeply embody this work in my own life, and without that lived embodiment, I wouldn’t be able to create a safe container where real and lasting transformation can occur. Who is your ideal client, and what challenges are they usually facing when they seek you out? My ideal client is the woman who is willing, open, and ready to show up for herself. She desires deeper intimacy and connection, and she longs to free her voice and be guided by her intuition. At this point in her life, she is often guided by fear and internal voices telling her that she “should” be living or being a certain way, rather than following her truth. That truth has been drowned out by the noise of her parental and societal conditioning. She wants depth but doesn’t know what depth feels like. She wants to feel alive but doesn’t recognise where her life force energy is leaking, or how to awaken it within herself. She wants connection but doesn’t know how to stop abandoning herself in order to find it. She wants to feel whole yet still rejects aspects of who she is. She wants a conscious, grounded man, but hasn’t been taught how to become a match for him. And ultimately, she wants to create a life she loves, without realising the power she already holds to do so. Reflecting this truth to her is what I am most passionate about. What changes or breakthroughs can clients expect after working with you? After working with me, my clients have manifested aligned love, stepped into leadership and coaching roles themselves, become emotionally empowered, and become their own source of love and fulfilment. Ultimately, they become women who are self-sourced, radically self-loving, and have raised their standards for both love and life. From this place, they embody the life they desire, and it naturally finds its way to them. What is one misconception people often have about your field, and how do you address it? One huge misconception people have about my field is that it’s about emotional regulation, staying in parasympathetic state as much as possible, softness, gentleness, and calming people down. I do not teach emotional soothing; I teach emotional capacity. The goal of working with emotions is not to be calmer; it’s about finding peace, love, and acceptance within the chaos. It’s about staying present with the intensity without collapsing, numbing, or armouring. It’s about building capacity and non-resistance for the full spectrum of life. My teacher, Chantelle Raven, says, “Pain is inevitable, suffering is optional”. Suffering is a byproduct of resisting what is. When what’s alive in someone is activated, expressed, and released through the body, pain becomes fleeting, and suffering is no longer necessary. This is why I no longer work primarily with the mind or “negative” thoughts. Thoughts are often just the surface expression of suppressed emotion and unheard, unmet parts. I work with the body because that is where truth lives and where liberation happens. Can you share a powerful client success story that reflects the impact of your work? One of my more recent clients first came to me in a very challenging period of her life. Friendships were breaking down, and she had found herself in a trauma-bonded relationship, repeating painful and toxic love cycles. She deeply desired a man who could truly meet her, yet found herself attaching to the wrong men in attempt to find that connection. After four months of working together, she felt free from that attachment. She felt liberated from past friendships, trusting that they were falling away to make space for the new version of herself and more aligned connections. She became so full and complete within herself that she no longer felt attached to needing a relationship, and she redirected her energy into investing in property. Two months later, she messaged me to share that she had met her soulmate. She is now pregnant with their child. Her worth was finally felt, and that internal shift was reflected in her love life, friendships, and wealth. A lot can happen in 6 months. What is one piece of guidance you often give clients that becomes a turning point for them? The simplest, yet most profound, guidance I offer is to allow. Many of us are taught, in subtle and overt ways, that some emotions are not okay to feel. As children, this often looks like being told to go to our rooms, to toughen up, to get on with it, or to get over it. Over time, we form the belief that emotions such as anger or sadness are wrong or bad. As adults, this belief manifests as lack of emotional allowance, blocking energy flow. We push emotions down, suppress them, and unknowingly create disharmony and dis-ease in our lives. For many clients, the most life-changing shift is learning how to allow without judgment. From there, I guide them through practices that safely and powerfully vibrate this energy through the body. This allows them to practice living in flow with life, being present with both comfort and discomfort, allowing them to cultivate a deeper connection to themselves, activating intuition, truth, alignment, and self-love. What do you believe is the biggest barrier stopping people from achieving the results they want? The people who experience the greatest transformations are the ones who consistently show up for themselves. A lot can happen within a session, and the results can be profound, but real change happens outside of the session. When a client takes what they’ve learned and continues to show up daily, even for just five minutes, it allows for deeper embodiment of the work and a genuine shift in the subconscious. This is integration, and it’s the piece that is so often missed. This is why many people attend healing events yet never experience long-term change. Daily integration is the key to lasting transformation, which is why my work is rooted in supporting clients in becoming their own healers. How can someone get started working with you, and what is the first step you recommend? If you feel the pull, and you’ll know if you do, you can apply to work with me privately here . If you feel the resonance but are still discerning whether this is the right path for you, there are several ways to explore my work more deeply. I offer online programs at my website that are instantly accessible, ranging from short courses to six-week transformational journeys, such as Becoming Her online. You can also find my books, You Don’t Have Anxiety, Becoming Her: The Woman You’ve Been Taught NOT To Be, and The Ocean Is She, here or on Amazon worldwide. And of course, I love hearing from you, so feel free to connect with me on Instagram @itstaraswann. Liberation begins the moment you stop searching outside yourself and start listening within. Follow me on Instagram , and visit my website for more info! Read more from Tara Swann

Written by Matijas Slivnik, Naturopath | Therapist | Musician Matijas Slivnik is a naturopath specializing in burnout, hormonal balance, and chronic fatigue. He combines natural medicine, energy healing, and healing sounds to help clients restore body and mind, delivering lasting results with over 12 years of experience. Chronic stress, persistent inflammation, and long-term digestive or emotional imbalances are increasingly common in modern life. While many approaches focus on managing symptoms, growing scientific and holistic awareness points toward a deeper regulatory system that often remains under-supported, the vagus nerve. The vagus nerve plays a central role in restoring balance within the body. It connects the brain to vital organs and helps regulate inflammation, stress responses, digestion, and immune function. When supported properly, it can become a powerful ally in improving long term health and resilience. What is the vagus nerve, and why is it so important? The vagus nerve, also known as the tenth cranial nerve, is the longest nerve in the human body. It extends from the brainstem down through the neck and chest, branching into the heart, lungs, liver, stomach, intestines, and other essential organs. This extensive reach makes the vagus nerve a primary communication highway between the brain and the body. It is a key component of the parasympathetic nervous system, which governs rest, repair, and regeneration. Unlike the stress-driven sympathetic response, parasympathetic activation allows the body to slow down, digest efficiently, reduce inflammation, and restore internal balance. Core functions of the vagus nerve A healthy and responsive vagus nerve supports several essential processes in the body. It helps regulate heart rate by slowing it down and stabilizing cardiovascular function. It supports digestion by stimulating gut motility and digestive enzyme production. It modulates inflammation by reducing excessive inflammatory signaling. It plays a crucial role in emotional regulation, stress recovery, and mental clarity. It supports immune system balance and adaptive response. Because of this wide influence, vagus nerve dysfunction is often linked to chronic stress, anxiety, digestive disorders, fatigue, and inflammatory conditions. Why vagus nerve activation is essential for chronic conditions When the vagus nerve is underactive, the body can remain locked in a state of chronic stress. In this state, healing processes are suppressed, inflammation persists, and recovery becomes difficult. Supporting vagus nerve activation helps the nervous system shift toward parasympathetic dominance. This shift is essential for people experiencing anxiety, depression, irritable bowel syndrome, poor sleep quality, high blood pressure, heart rhythm irregularities, or slow recovery after illness. Improved vagal tone has been associated with better emotional regulation, improved gut-brain communication, enhanced sleep quality, reduced inflammatory load, and improved overall vitality. Natural ways to support and activate the vagus nerve Vagus nerve support does not require extreme interventions. Consistent, gentle practices can have a profound cumulative effect over time. Slow diaphragmatic breathing is one of the most effective tools. Deep breathing that lengthens the exhale directly stimulates vagal pathways and signals safety to the nervous system. Cold exposure, such as short cold showers or facial cold water immersion, can activate vagal reflexes and improve autonomic balance. Vocal activities, including singing, humming, and gentle gargling, stimulate muscles connected to the vagus nerve and create calming vibrational feedback. Mind-body practices such as meditation, mindfulness, and yoga help regulate nervous system tone by combining breath awareness, movement, and mental presence. Nutritional support also plays an important role. Fermented foods nourish the gut microbiome, which communicates with the brain through the vagus nerve. Omega-3 fatty acids support nerve integrity and help modulate inflammation. Why the vagus nerve is often overlooked in conventional medicine Despite its central role in health regulation, the vagus nerve is still rarely addressed as a primary therapeutic target in conventional medicine. Treatment approaches often focus on isolated symptoms rather than nervous system regulation as a whole. Neuromodulation of the vagus nerve is still not commonly emphasized in the management of chronic stress-related conditions, digestive disorders, anxiety, or depression. Preventive strategies that support long-term vagal tone are also frequently underestimated. For individuals experiencing chronic stress, burnout, or persistent digestive imbalance, it is essential to include approaches that actively support nervous system regulation. Combining evidence-based medical care with natural supportive strategies creates a more complete and sustainable healing framework. This integrative perspective allows the body to regain balance rather than constantly compensating for imbalance. The vagus nerve as the bridge between mind and body The vagus nerve is not just a physical structure. It is a living communication system that reflects how safe, supported, and regulated the body feels. When vagal tone is healthy, stress becomes easier to manage, emotional resilience improves, and the body can enter states of deep restoration. Over time, this creates a foundation for improved health, clarity, and overall wellbeing. Supporting the vagus nerve through daily habits is not a trend. It is a return to understanding how deeply interconnected the body truly is. If you would like to learn how to support your vagus nerve naturally and improve your overall health, feel free to reach out. We are happy to share more and guide you further. Follow me on Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn , and visit my website for more info! Read more from Matijas Slivnik Matijas Slivnik, Naturopath | Therapist | Musician Matijas Slivnik is a naturopath specializing in burnout, hormonal balance, and chronic fatigue. With over 12 years of experience, he combines natural medicine, energy healing, and psychotherapeutic modalities to support holistic health. As an experienced musician, he uses music and healing sounds to enhance healing. Matijas is the founder of PraNaturas, helping clients restore energy and balance naturally.