Book Release Date: November 22, 2025 – New book “You Already Have It: A Practical Guide to Finding Balance Within” challenges the global self-improvement pressure and offers a more sustainable path to well-being. Mental well-being coach Valeriya Kovbuz announces the release of You Already Have It: A Practical Guide to Finding Balance Within , a book that offers an alternative to today’s culture of constant self-improvement. At a time when individuals feel overwhelmed by pressure to upgrade themselves, improve endlessly, and push through exhaustion, Kovbuz offers a grounded path guided by clarity, balance, and sustainable inner well-being. Instead of promoting the idea of becoming someone else, the book invites readers to slow down and reconnect with what is already stable and present within them. “You don’t need to become someone new. You just need to return to who you already are,” says author Valeriya Kovbuz. An original framework designed to support inner stability At the heart of the book is The TREE of Balance Method, Kovbuz’s visual model that maps the inner world across four interconnected domains: Trunk – presence and clarity Roots – safety and core values Extensions – creativity and authentic expression Energy – the current that fuels the entire system This model offers a simple, thoughtful structure for understanding internal imbalance and restoring balance with care. By translating complex inner experiences into an accessible form, it becomes easier to see where stability has been lost and how it can be rebuilt with clarity and intention. Why the book matters now Many people today move through life at a pace that leaves little room to pause, reflect, or reconnect with themselves. Even small moments of inner calm feel rare. This book offers a space to slow down and find that inner steadiness again. You Already Have It addresses this phenomenon directly, offering a counter-narrative to the “always become better” mindset and instead emphasizing sustainability, inner regulation, and authentic self-connection. Designed for both personal and professional use, the book provides practical insights for: individuals seeking clarity and balance coaches and therapists well-being practitioners educators and leaders specialists supporting people under chronic stress About the author Valeriya Kovbuz is a mental well-being coach, speaker, and writer whose work centers on helping people reconnect with their inner steadiness. Drawing on years of coaching experience and a deep engagement with Transactional Analysis, she developed The TREE of Balance Method – an original reflective tool that supports clients in understanding their inner world with clarity, compassion, and balance. Her approach is grounded in the belief that people are already complete. What we often seek is not another reinvention, but a return to what feels true and steady within us. In this book, she brings together her experience, her method, and her philosophy to offer readers a gentle, accessible guide to navigating the complexities of modern life without losing themselves in the process. Availability You Already Have It: A Practical Guide to Finding Balance Within is now available on Amazon . Media contact Email: valeriyakovbuz@gmail.com

Written by Twanna Carter, PhD, Career Transition Coach, Hypnotherapist An ICF Professional Certified Coach (PCC) who empowers stressed, busy women execs, tackling impostor syndrome, self-criticism, and doubt to alleviate their stress so that they can find peace of mind and focus on excelling in their careers. Dr. Twanna Carter, renowned executive coach and certified Unbreak My Soul facilitator, today announced the next Unbreak My Soul Safe Space group session, taking place Sunday, June 22, 2025, from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM EST via Zoom. Created as a confidential healing circle for professional women facing, or recovering from, workplace trauma, the two-hour virtual gathering offers reflection, validation, and evidence-based tools for rebuilding resilience and emotional well-being. “Too many high-achieving women carry invisible wounds from hostile or undermining work environments,” said Dr. Carter. “This Safe Space is a community where their stories are honored and their healing is prioritized.” What participants can expect from Unbreak My Soul Safe Space group session Guided group discussion that surface common challenges and shared experiences Interactive exercises rooted in positive psychology, trauma-informed care, and resilience science Practical take-away resources participants can apply immediately to support ongoing recovery A nurturing, judgment-free environment that empowers each attendee to reclaim agency, dignity, and confidence in her career Dr. Carter’s approach is shaped by her own journey chronicled in the anthology Corporate Blues: The Untold Truths of Women in the Workspaces . “Healing is an art, one fostered by time, practice, and, above all, love,” she added. “Your healing is sacred. Your thriving is inevitable.” Registration details Attendance is limited and by paid registration only. Interested participants can reserve their seat on Calendly . The registration fee covers: Live access to the two-hour Safe Space session Downloadable worksheets and reflection prompts A curated resource list for continued support About Dr. Twanna Carter Dr. Twanna Carter, PhD, PCC, is an award-winning executive coach and certified Unbreak My Soul Safe Space facilitator based in Bowie, Maryland. She specializes in guiding women executives and leaders out of survival mode, helping them design careers that honor their worth without sacrificing relationships or well-being. Media contact Dr. Twanna Carter CEOTwanna Carter Professional & Personal Coaching, LLC Email: twanna@twannacarter.com Website:   www.twannacarter.com Follow me on   LinkedIn ,   YouTube ,   Instagram , and visit my   website  for more info! Read more from Twanna Carter Twanna Carter, Ph.D., Career Transition Coach, Hypnotherapist An ICF Professional Certified Coach (PCC) who empowers stressed, busy women execs, tackling impostor syndrome, self-criticism, and doubt to alleviate their stress so that they can find peace of mind and focus on excelling in their careers. Rather than coach symptoms, she leverages her coaching so that women work on the root causes that threaten to sabotage their career and life. Which means clients see immediate change resulting in decreased stress, increased confidence, and shifting from overwhelm to relaxation. Recognized as an Office of Personnel Management Presidential Management Fellow, Twanna left full-time federal employment to be an entrepreneur. She is currently the CEO of Twanna Carter Professional & Personal Coaching, LLC.

Written by Sebastian Liew, Medical Herbalist Dr Sebastian Liew * is the first medical herbalist to have significantly pioneered Western herbal medicine in Singapore and Asia. He is a distinguished fellow member of the Complementary Medical Association (UK). Liew has run a thriving clinical practice for over twenty years, specialising in chronic diseases, all with a whole-person approach. Studies show that loneliness is worse than smoking, alcoholism, and obesity. It is not so much the trauma you experience, but rather the sense of struggling alone, which is the main stress. Indeed, I have often felt alone throughout my life, being the only son and the last child in the home. As an introvert, I still am. Yet, I don’t feel lonely, nor do I sense any isolation. Fortunately, I have had experiences that reassure me that I am not alone if I intend to serve. There are invisible forces at work. Let me share with you my spiritual experiences with plants and invisible forces that have helped me realize I am important in this web of life, and so are you. The first encounter of being alone with my spiritual calling The first incident occurred during my early secondary school days, when I was around 13 to 14 years old. My realization that one is called to a life of mission came to me spiritually while I was in the bathroom! As do many teens, I dreamed of becoming someone. I was preparing to get dressed for an audition (despite my father's objection) when suddenly, I heard a powerful inner voice telling me that I was destined to do other meaningful things. I was seeking approval and love to pursue acting. This inner voice told me I should seek more meaningful things in life, rather than superficial ones like transient fame and money, the reasons I wanted to be an entertainer. Instead, the inner voice revealed that I was destined to lead a genuinely meaningful life if given the chance. From that day onwards, I aspired to become a valuable person for the world, perhaps a historian, a chemist, a teacher, or even a spiritual leader, however remote the possibility might have seemed in my circumstances at the time! This experience has stayed with me until now. Coupled with my interest in spirituality, this conviction that I was created to be useful and that everything that happens can be transformed into good convinced me. My second encounter: A breakthrough in my career Fast forward: After graduating from Singapore Polytechnic with a diploma in Engineering (1982), I pursued a corporate career with various multinational companies. Despite a relatively successful career in the corporate world, I felt a deep sense of discontentment. I could not handle the never-ending office politics. Working daily in the office was like going to war. I felt that the emptiness in my heart had worsened over the years, so much so that I was on antidepressants for some time. I finally got down on my knees and started praying for God's guidance and direction. “Surely, God does not want me to be in this situation. I don’t think I want to live like this anymore,” I thought. I soon began researching and taking courses in various holistic therapies, including spa therapy, reflexology, aromatherapy, touch therapy, and nutrition. Despite my passion and interest in these fields, I was unprepared to give up my full-time managerial position and a good salary. Besides, I was the sole breadwinner in my family. I needed to support the physical, financial, and emotional needs of my elderly parents. How could I give up my lucrative job? My third encounter with plant divine energy After a period of part-time work in natural therapies, I finally decided to pursue a full-time career in natural medicine in a spiritual moment. I was conducting massage training at a retreat on an organic farm in Malaysia. My turning point in life came after three days of eating organic plant foods and being surrounded by plants and herbs. Thanks to the farmer, I touched the plants, tasted the leaves and flowers, and enjoyed their aroma. I could feel their healing vibrations. These vibrations seemed to uplift me, flooding my body with love and opening my channels for the reception of universal intelligence. They inspired me, raised my consciousness, and brought me nearer to my soul, the secret chamber of peace. An indescribable joy sprang from within me. It felt like a spring of water refreshing my heart. I felt I was not alone in my life's struggles. I am a precious drop of water in an ocean. The calling from plants and the awareness of God's love for me were so strong that I shed tears during the sharing session with the participants and the organizers. After this spiritual awakening, I began my relentless journey to pursue plant medicine. All good things came my way, like meeting the right teachers, guides, and helping hands. I am very thankful for them. Over the years, I have tried to work on myself, my weaknesses, and my inner conflicts, to heal others. So, I would be happy after practicing naturopathy and herbalism. I would have a purposeful and happy life. The fourth encounter – The rose The truth is, it was just the beginning of seemingly endless struggles and disappointments. I had many ups and downs in my journey. I often felt like giving up and just going back to making money in the corporate world. In Singapore, there is no support for my work, no association to fight for our trade, and no government support. The health ministry thinks we are just some weed medicine and is suspicious of us. The media is not very friendly. I had to struggle alone. One of those memorable, depressing periods occurred in 2019. My healing work as a medical herbalist discouraged me at that time. I wondered whether I should carry on. There was mental constipation and a cloud of doubt hanging above me. An inner voice told me to turn to one of my favorite spiritual guides, St. Thérèse of Lisieux. St. Thérèse of Lisieux (1873-1897) taught us the doctrine of the little way of complete childlike trust in God and surrender to His love. For nine consecutive days before my trip to Museflower Retreat and Spa (located in Chiang Rai, Thailand) for a personal retreat, I asked St. Thérèse of Lisieux, a French saint, to obtain a sign of a rose if my prayer was granted. After the nine-day prayer, I almost forgot about it because I thought it was too magical for such things to happen. It may have just been superstitious. Roses are everywhere, in wet markets, churches, florist shops, etc. I checked myself into Museflower on December 3, 2019. My room number was 261. Early the following morning, as I stepped out of my room, I saw a single rose in front of my room. I could not believe it. Upon checking with the resort management, I learned that roses are not part of the landscape. Whether you believe it or not, it was an unforgettable spiritual experience, for I constantly experienced the saint's inspiration in my spiritual and professional life. What is the most important lesson? The most important lesson is: I am not alone. If I embrace life with a loving intention, the Spirit/God will work with us. There are many good spiritual guides and divine energies in nature and the universe that constantly help us grow into better, more loving people and help us return to our true selves. Follow me on Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn , and visit my website  for more info! Read more from  Sebastian Liew Sebastian Liew, Medical Herbalist Sebastian Liew is the first medical herbalist (since 2004) who has significantly pioneered phytotherapy in Singapore and possibly across Asia. With credentials from the Naturopaths and Herbalists Association of Australia, the TGA, and the University of New England, he is a distinguished fellow member of the Complementary Medical Association in the UK. As a Doctor of Naturopathy*, he embodies the role of a natural medicine coach and teacher, dedicating his life to guiding clients to recover from chronic illnesses with a whole-person approach, and discover their inner healing potential, their innate ability to heal and shine. His lifelong vision is to: Cure the Sick, Heal the Wounded, and Inspire the Weak. References: Liew, S., Saint Girons, B. (2024). My Healing Life - The Most Important Work in Life. Sebastian Liew Centre. Available on Amazon . Liew, S. (2013). From Leaf to Life. Sebastian Liew Centre. Available on Amazon . Williams-Farrelly, M. M., Schroeder, M. W., Li, C., Perkins, A. J., Bakas, T., Head, K. J., Boustani, M., & Fowler, N. R. (2024). Loneliness in older primary care patients and its relationship to physical and mental health-related quality of life.  Journal of the American Geriatrics Society , 72(3), 811–821.

Written by Kristi McLeod, SubSoma Practitioner and Speaker Kristi McLeod is a Master of nervous system capacity and subconscious imprinting. She trains practitioners, entrepreneurs, and executives to not just survive business but thrive through it. Every organization says they want innovation, but few understand what it actually takes to create it. Innovation doesn’t come from pressure. It doesn’t come from perfectionism or fear of failure. Innovation comes from safety. When people feel safe in their bodies, in their teams, and in their culture, they take risks, share ideas, and stretch beyond what they already know. When they don’t, they protect. They overthink, stay quiet, and play small. Safety isn’t just a mindset, it’s a physiological state. It’s the difference between a brain that’s focused on survival and one that’s free to create. The physiology of innovation Our nervous system is always scanning for danger or safety. When it perceives a threat, like conflict, instability, or unrealistic expectations, it shuts down access to the creative, problem-solving part of the brain. In that state, people don’t innovate, they comply. But when the nervous system feels safe, the body opens. Energy can move toward growth, imagination, and collaboration. That’s when innovation happens, not from a place of pressure, but from possibility. Safety is the foundation of creativity Psychological safety has become a corporate buzzword, but true safety begins in the body. A team can have great policies and still feel unsafe if people are dysregulated, rushed, or constantly bracing for impact. When safety becomes embodied, people learn to regulate, ground, and co-regulate with each other, and it changes everything: Meetings become more generative Teams take healthy risks Communication becomes direct and human Mistakes turn into learning instead of shame Innovation thrives where the nervous system feels steady enough to explore the unknown. Leadership that cultivates safety Creating this kind of environment requires regulated leadership. Leaders who model calm, curiosity, and compassion signal to their teams. You’re safe here. It’s okay to be real. It’s okay to try. That’s how you unlock innovation, not by demanding it, but by cultivating the conditions where it naturally arises. When a team feels safe enough to be themselves, the best ideas surface. Safety isn’t the opposite of progress, it’s the soil it grows from. Innovation that gives back Through SomaSkye Wellness, I help organizations bring this embodied safety into the workplace. Each customizable wellness employee and leadership container blends nervous system regulation, embodiment practices, and subconscious tools to help teams build capacity and creativity from the inside out. And because real impact extends beyond the workplace, any customizable packages purchased by December 31, 2025 (for use in 2026) will have half of my speaking fee supporting STAND Against Sexual Assault , a Calgary nonprofit creating safety, advocacy, and change for survivors. When your people feel safe, innovation thrives. When you invest in safety, everyone wins. Learn more here . Follow me on Instagram and visit my LinkedIn  for more info! Read more from Kristi McLeod Kristi McLeod, SubSoma Practitioner and Speaker Kristi is a nervous system coach and Subconscious practitioner specializing in helping entrepreneurs, practitioners, and executives build true capacity from the inside out. She’s the founder of SomaSkye Wellness and creator of The Foundation, a monthly membership rooted in nervous system regulation, Subconscious Imprinting (SIT), and SSP (Safe and Sound Protocol). Known for her grounded, deeply embodied presence, Kristi teaches the kind of safety that can be felt, not just understood. Her work is for the ones ready to stop performing regulation and actually build capacity.

Written by Jessica Falcon, Soul Embodiment Guide & Relationship Expert A former lawyer turned mystic, Jessica Falcon is an International Soul Embodiment Guide & Relationship Expert. She guides you to embody your power, reclaim your sovereignty, and experience true freedom. Tune into her Soul Sovereignty & Sexuality Podcast. Understand what karmic relationships are so you can pull your power back and create freedom in all of your relationships. Karmic relationships force you to look at your shadow. The ultimate purpose is to bring you into deeper union with yourself. Experiencing one is a gift from the soul, but it can also feel chaotic, disturbing, or downright scary. Before we dive deeper into what karmic relationships are, let's define karma. Unfortunately, many people in the West view karma as a form of punishment. You have likely heard the phrase, "You will pay for it in the next lifetime." I believe this is because the Judeo-Christian belief in rewards or punishment by a supreme god has tainted our perspective of karma. Karma is an energetic imprint. To understand it, we have to see the body as energy, the energy of your soul. Even though your body dies, your soul does not. It is eternal, and it passes through various lifetimes, bringing with it energetic imprints, or karmas. Time is not linear, which means that when you heal karma in this lifetime, you heal it in past or future timelines as well (they are all happening simultaneously). The soul is multi-dimensional and not bound by time or space. The energetic imprint can be in the form of a deeply embedded thought, belief, emotion, choice, or action. When karma exists between two people in a karmic relationship, it means energetic cords were formed between them in another lifetime. Karmic cords are very similar to, and are formed by, codependent dynamics in relationships. Codependency includes: Silencing your truth to make somebody happy Feeling you have to give somebody what they want and cannot say no Believing you "need" the other person (financially, emotionally, or mentally) or cannot live without them Letting the other person decide your worth or value Patterns of trying to prove your worth or how good you are Seeking permission or validation from others Codependent patterns are internal. That means they are patterns within you that you have a responsibility to heal. They will follow you from relationship to relationship until you do so. Visually, I like to imagine cords coming from your core, or solar plexus, that seek to obtain something from outside of you. They seek to hook into the person with whom you are in a relationship. In a karmic relationship, the codependent patterns are still internal. The difference is that they also existed between you and the other person in a previous lifetime. The cords that come out of you are already hooked into them. They agreed to this (consciously or unconsciously). For example, if you felt the only way you could experience money, status, or authority was through a particular person, you leaked your life force energy and power to them. They, on some level, agreed to this and took your energy. They fed off of it. It gave them something they wanted or needed, a sense of power over you, for example, or a sense of worth. When you meet in this lifetime, that energetic dynamic will play itself out until you: Become aware of and identify the pattern within yourself Pull your power back from the other person Begin to source your needs internally instead of externally Karmic relationship cords are created when we source power, love, belonging, safety, worth, permission, or value externally, from another person, rather than internally, from our own soul. Your soul is whole and complete unto itself. It is the frequency of divine love. Since your soul is an individuated aspect of the divine, it is light. It is an abundance. It cannot lack. Yet, because we chose to incarnate in physical form, we took on physical, mental, and emotional bodies. These can create thought forms or beliefs that take us away from our own divine nature. This occurs when we look outward and identify ourselves through the external world rather than developing our own internal identity and letting this radiate out. Anytime you hide or reject a part of yourself because another person does not like it, for example, you are giving them power over you. When this happens repeatedly in a relationship, the cords (that outsource your power, worth, or love) become stronger and stronger between two people. That is why it can feel so hard to break them once you enter into a relationship with each other in this lifetime. The cords can run deep in your energetic system. It might feel as if you cannot live without them because your life force energy is literally feeding off of them. When karmic relationships show up in your life, they come as an opportunity: To come back into wholeness To reclaim your sovereignty To learn how to source love internally, not externally To embody more of your soul's truth To come into sacred inner union The (often difficult) truth is that a karmic relationship is not union. It is two people who merge into each other, and one or both people lose themselves. True union, visually, looks like the vesica pisces. Two whole, complete selves choose consciously to come together and create a third, the union. Neither loses themselves. Both people source internally, which means they are sovereign. This is the only way to experience true freedom in your relationships. It all starts by you freeing yourself. This is something I help my clients do in a 1:1 Divine Activation Portal to Embody your Sacred, Sovereign Power . The good thing is that you do not have to wait for the other person to agree or change their behavior. You can free yourself of your own karma, regardless of their capacity or incapacity to do so. It is, of course, helpful if you can both navigate the relationship and its dynamics consciously, but it is not necessary. You are the one in power. You decide for yourself. In addition to the 1:1 Divine Activation Portal, I also offer a monthly Temple of Divine Feminine Power that covers topics such as how to speak your truth, how to embody your boundaries, and sacred union that support you to end codependent or karmic relationships and fully embody your sovereignty. Follow me on  Facebook ,   Instagram , and  LinkedIn  for more info. Read more from Jessica Falcon Jessica Falcon, Soul Embodiment Guide & Relationship Expert A former lawyer turned mystic, Jessica Falcon is an International Soul Embodiment Guide & Relationship Expert. She guides you to embody your power, reclaim your sovereignty, and experience true freedom. Jessica spent years researching religious history, ancient civilizations, and mythology to get to the root of unequal power dynamics in relationships. She has identified the core beliefs and wounds that must be confronted to experience shared power and freedom in relationships. She leads retreats, workshops, and online portals of transformation to help you embody your divinity, activate your sexual life force energy, and revolutionize your relationships. Tune into her Soul Sovereignty & Sexuality Podcast on all major platforms.

Written by Joseph Patrick Fair, Author | Coach | TV Host | Thought Leader Joseph Patrick Fair is an author, coach, TV host, and thought leader in clarity, transformation, and aligned success. He draws on 25 years of public safety experience to help individuals overcome adversity and unlock their highest potential. Every January, millions of people decide they’re finally going to change their lives. They commit to better habits, new goals, new standards, new promises, and by March, 92% of them have already stopped. Most people assume this is a failure of willpower, discipline, consistency, or mindset. It isn’t. People don’t fail because they’re weak, they fail because they’re unclear. Transformation does not collapse from lack of desire. It collapses from a lack of direction. And this is the part almost no one talks about. The real reason most people never change is not emotional or moral. It is neurological. The brain is not designed for transformation, it is designed for survival. That means it prefers the familiar, even when the familiar is unhealthy, unfulfilling, or painful. When the path ahead is unclear, the brain does not move forward. It defaults backward, into old habits, old identities, and old loops. That is the single greatest reason people repeat lives they no longer want. The real failure point: Cognitive fog Research from major neuroscience centers shows that when the brain cannot accurately predict the outcome of a decision, it activates the threat response system and reduces forward action. In other words, confusion triggers self-protection, not progress. This is why motivation spikes, then crashes. This is why people start strong, then stall. This is why “I’ll start Monday again” becomes a lifestyle. The problem isn’t effort. The problem is mental fog, a lack of clarity about what comes next. The moment the path becomes vague, the mind retreats to certainty, even if that certainty is destructive. What is the clarity effect? The Clarity Effect is the moment the brain stops resisting change and begins participating in it, not because motivation increased, but because uncertainty decreased. Clarity is not an emotion. Clarity is a neurocognitive state in which the goal is defined, the path is visible, and the next step is winnable. Once those elements are present, the brain shifts out of defense mode and engages the prefrontal cortex (planning and action). That’s why clarity feels energizing, the brain finally knows where to send its power. The four pillars of clarity Direction over desire: Motivation is energy, but clarity is instruction. People don’t need more passion, they need a map. Reduce cognitive load: The more decisions required before action, the less likely action becomes. Simplify the path, and behavior changes faster. Purpose before productivity: Most burnout comes not from doing too much, but from doing what doesn’t feel meaningful. Purpose sustains what productivity starts. Micro-certainty creates macro-change: Small, winnable steps build identity faster than big, unsustainable leaps. Confidence is built through evidence, not intensity. How change actually works in the brain All lasting transformation follows the same five-stage sequence: Clarity: the fog lifts, the path is defined. Action: the body follows the instruction. Evidence: small wins begin to stack. Identity shift: “I am becoming the kind of person who…”. New reality: behavior stabilizes, environment adapts, change holds. Every failure happens at stage one, lack of clarity. Without clarity, action becomes inconsistent. Without action, evidence never forms. Without evidence, identity never updates. Without identity shift, the past repeats. Clarity is not part of the process, it is the beginning of the process. A personal observation In my own life, change did not begin when things became unbearable, it began when things became defined. I did not need more motivation. I needed a meaningful next step I could see, understand, and commit to. Once the fog had a name, movement returned. Once movement returned, identity began to rebuild. Once identity changed, the future reopened. That is the power of clarity, it gives the mind something to walk toward. How to use the clarity effect today Name the fog: If you’re stuck, ask: “What exactly is unclear right now?” Shrink the step: If the task feels heavy, reduce it until it becomes impossible not to start. Decide once, not daily: Automation protects against decision fatigue. Track proof, not progress: One small win a day is more transformational than one “perfect” day a month. Ask the clarity question: “Do I need more effort, or more definition?” Final thought People don’t fail because change is impossible. They fail because confusion is heavy. Clarity is not a luxury. Clarity is the first step toward motion, identity, and personal freedom. Once the path becomes clear, progress is not a battle, it is a consequence. Follow me on Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn , and visit my website for more info! Read more from Joseph Patrick Fair Joseph Patrick Fair, Author | Coach | TV Host | Thought Leader Joseph Patrick Fair is an author, coach, TV host, and thought leader in clarity, transformation, and aligned success. With over 25 years of frontline experience in public safety, he brings real-world resilience and leadership insights to the personal development space. Through his television program Spotlight Community Service, he amplifies the voices of changemakers across the nation. His writing blends storytelling, strategy, and psychology to help people turn adversity into personal power. Joseph’s mission is to guide others toward authentic growth and meaningful impact.

Written by Jessica Hastings-Lesperance, Realtor®, Director of Operations, Co-Owner Fierce and epic all rolled into one, she’s an absolute rockstar. Jessica Hastings-Lesperance was raised with Real Estate™ for her entire life. She is co-owner, Marketing Visionary, Director of Operations, and realtor ® at the Terri Hastings Real Estate Group/Keller Williams Realty Centres, one of the top-producing Keller Williams teams in all of Canada. There’s a feeling I wish I could bottle, that glitter-like rush in your chest when you look at your kids and see pure excitement in their eyes, curiosity bursting at the seams, and that look that says, “Uh oh… is a mom moment coming?” It’s the sparkle of connection. The spark before the conversation. The pause before the growth. I love those moments, the questions, the unexpected statements, the little windows into their minds where I get to lean in, ask something deeper, and watch their world expand right in front of me. Those are the opportunities that feel like magic. It’s in those tiny pockets of time that everything becomes clear. Nothing else matters. Not the deadlines, the stress, or the weight of the world. What matters is witnessing your kids grow, watching them face challenges, think through problems, try, fail, laugh, and try again. There is no feeling like watching your child take a breath, steady themselves, and push through something hard. You can almost see resilience forming in real time. You can see courage stretching its wings. And then there’s the wisdom they share, those unexpected one-liners that stop you in your tracks and make you think, “How did someone so small understand something so big?” There’s also a gratitude that comes from the moments they don’t even know you’ve witnessed, the quiet bravery in trying something new, the kindness they show a sibling, the pride in their eyes when they figure something out on their own. These silent snapshots reveal who they are becoming, and they leave an imprint deeper than they’ll ever realize. And sometimes, the gratitude comes from how they gently pull you back to yourself, their joy reminding you to slow down, their curiosity nudging you to see beauty in the ordinary, their questions making you reflect in ways you hadn’t expected. Motherhood holds up a mirror, showing you not only who they are becoming, but who you are still becoming, too. And that’s why I keep asking questions, the hard ones, the new ones, even the ones I’ve asked a hundred times. Questions open doors. They spark curiosity, reflection, and little breakthroughs that quietly shape who they’re becoming. Every question is an invitation, to think, to imagine, to understand themselves just a little more. And in those conversations, whether big or small, connection deepens, confidence grows, and their inner world comes alive in the most beautiful way. These moments slow the world. They soften the edges of the day. They remind you what’s actually important. True gratefulness isn’t quiet, it glows. It sparkles in the spaces between their laughter, their questions, and their courage. It’s knowing you get a front-row seat to the miracle of who they’re becoming. And that? That is the greatest privilege of all. Follow me on Facebook ,   Instagram , and visit my  website for more info! Read more from Jessica Hastings Lesperance Jessica Hastings-Lesperance, Realtor®, Director of Operations, Co-Owner Fierce and epic all rolled into one, she’s an absolute rock star. Jessica Hastings-Lesperance was raised with Real Estate™ for her entire life. She is co-owner, Marketing Visionary, Director of Operations, and realtor ® at the Terri Hastings Real Estate Group/Keller Williams Realty Centres, one of the top-producing Keller Williams teams in all of Canada. Jessica is an inspiring entrepreneur, real estate investor, coach, speaker, and published author. She has been featured on major media outlets, including podcasts and real estate TV talk shows, and has been published in various magazines. Recently, she was recognized as one of Canada’s Top Fitness Instructors for 2023 by Impact Magazine.

Written by Ella Thomas, Bookkeeping & Accounting Strategist Ella Thomas is a Bookkeeping and Accounting Specialist and the founder of Strategic Bookkeeping Specialists. She helps business owners gain confidence, control, and peace of mind with their finances so they can fully focus on growing the business they love. Debt can feel like a weight that holds you back from living your best life. But here’s the truth, it doesn’t have to control you. I’ve walked the path to financial freedom, and I know that with the right plan, commitment, and mindset, anyone can do it. Paying off debt isn’t about perfection, it’s about taking consistent, intentional steps toward a life where you are in control. Before you dive in, it’s important to know that paying off debt is as much a mindset as it is a numbers game. This isn’t about rushing or punishing yourself, it’s about creating a clear, realistic plan that fits your life and empowers you to make steady progress. Think of it as your roadmap to financial freedom, where each step brings you closer to control, confidence, and peace of mind. 1. Know your numbers Before you can tackle debt, you have to face it head-on. Start by figuring out exactly how much you owe. Make a comprehensive list of all your debts, credit cards, personal loans, student loans, everything. Knowing your total debt is the foundation of your plan. 2. Decide your monthly debt payment Be honest with yourself about what you can afford. Even small payments make a difference. Consistency matters more than the size of the payment. Setting realistic monthly targets keeps motivation high and discouragement low. 3. Make a strategy There are several ways to approach paying off debt, but I love the “smallest to largest” method. By paying off smaller debts first, you build confidence and momentum. Each paid-off debt is a win that fuels your drive to tackle the next one. 4. Talk to your creditors Many people shy away from communicating with creditors, but it can be surprisingly helpful. Don’t be afraid to negotiate interest rates or discuss settlement options. A simple conversation can ease your burden and sometimes save you money. 5. Get organized Organization is key. I personally use a spreadsheet to map out: How much will I pay Which creditor am I paying Which month is the payment due My projected debt-free date This keeps me accountable and provides a clear visual of my progress. Life happens. You might miss a month or two, but the key is to stay committed. Stick to your plan, adjust when necessary, and remember, you will pay off your debt. Paying off debt is more than just numbers, it’s about reclaiming your confidence, creating freedom, and taking control of your life. Every payment, no matter how small, is a step toward your freedom. Start today, stay consistent, and celebrate every win along the way. Financial freedom isn’t a dream, it’s a choice you make, one intentional step at a time. Follow me on Instagram , LinkedIn , and visit my website for more info! Read more from Ella Thomas Ella Thomas, Bookkeeping & Accounting Strategist Ella Thomas is the founder of Strategic Bookkeeping Specialists, dedicated to helping business owners simplify their finances and build confidence in their numbers. With years of experience in bookkeeping and accounting, she understands the challenges entrepreneurs face and provides practical strategies to bring clarity and peace of mind. Ella’s mission is to empower business owners to focus on what they love, growing their business, while she takes care of the financial details. Discover more insights and tips by visiting her profile page.

Written by Wayne Elsey, Founder and CEO Wayne Elsey is the founder and CEO of Elsey Enterprises. Among his independent brands, he is also the founder and CEO of Funds2Orgs. While traveling for our shoe and sneaker reuse social enterprises, I've watched workers sort through mountains of footwear. It's not easy work, and most people who sort the shoes are women, but for each of them, it's the difference between being able to provide for their children. It’s the entrepreneurial mindset in action. I’ve also noticed there's deep gratitude and appreciation for the opportunity to make a living for their young families.  One of the reasons I left the corporate sector was that I didn't want just to make money. I wanted to make a difference. I knew that you don't have to choose between social good and profit, and I write about this often. We live in divisive times, but this is a moment for opportunity. Emerging entrepreneurs  can and should look to think bigger and bolder to make money and make a positive difference.  The social entrepreneur’s playbook is different When I launched Funds2Orgs  and Sneakers4Good  a couple of years later, I wasn’t simply starting two social enterprises. I was flipping the script with the entrepreneurial mindset. In the shoe business, I realized from my travels worldwide that there was a way to do something that matters. My team and I know that we're facing environmental challenges and that sustainability means more than just the planet. It also means well-paid work opportunities.  I've written about traditional philanthropy with the idea of raising money to help others. There's a place for soup kitchens, domestic violence shelters, and other organizations that do the work that, in many cases, others won't. However, there's also a space for social enterprises. Within them, there's economic power and innovation. The first question is, if you were to make a social difference, what would you look to change and how? Why you need to think bigger as an entrepreneur Our challenges today are enormous, but these are the challenges of our time, and still, social good can exist. Throughout history, the planet has faced challenges without sufficient resources to address them, and my guess is that people in those times felt anxiety and exhaustion. Think of large-scale historical events such as the Black Plague, World War I, and World War II. Enormous suffering and worry existed during those times. When it comes to new businesses, there's a difference between entrepreneurs who do big things and those who don't. It all boils down to mindset . The mindset means not creating a social enterprise with half measures. It also means seeing possibilities where others see dead ends. Aside from figuring out the 'what' and 'how' of social impact, the social entrepreneur mentality is about building solutions to scale and even to turn them into movements.  Acting bolder with the entrepreneurial mindset means doing what scares you If you're ready, and you see that profit and purpose can, in fact, come from establishing a social enterprise. It's not enough to dream big, you have to act. And you also have to realize that the chances are the idea will scare you. You may get people who tell you that it won't work. If you've done your homework, don't listen. Again, there are solid business plans  for social enterprises. Set a date and move even if you're not ready. Put it out there.  Calculated risks fuel vision, meaning your social enterprise should be the first to stand up before everyone else. Creating any successful social enterprise means trusting the data, but it also means trusting your gut. After the Indian Ocean tsunami , I knew I wanted to make money and do social good. I wanted to change lives, help save the planet, and create sustainable jobs. The success of our brands wasn’t guaranteed, but I trusted the planning and my team.  Surround yourself with doers, not dreamers Unfortunately, too many would-be entrepreneurs wait for perfection. But that's the enemy of progress, and perfection doesn't ever exist. Social good doesn't wait for a perfect pitch deck. In my experience, I've walked into meetings with nothing more than stories of the lives we've changed and a shoe or sneaker to drive home the point that shoe and sneaker reuse is part of the thriving circular economy .  But there's more to our team's success in our social enterprises. While every member of our team is a dreamer who sees an opportunity to make a social impact, 100% of the team are doers. Our team doesn't look at or discuss challenges. Instead, we call challenges 'opportunities.' Why is that? Because they're an opportunity for us to think, innovate, and take a better path. I can't tell you how much that drives and motivates people.  The entrepreneurial mindset and leaving a legacy, not just a footprint Being a social entrepreneur is all about mindset. We believe we can solve the most significant challenges and do better for our teams and others. If you're thinking you'd like to create a social enterprise, consider looking into resources such as the following: School for Social Entrepreneurs Coursera: Becoming a Social Entrepreneur Global Impact Investing Network (GIIN) Certified B Corporation (B Labs) Building a business that makes money and changes lives doesn't happen by accident. It occurs with an entrepreneurial mindset with focused intentionality and always asking why things can't change and how to do things better than our competitors. In short, it happens because we refuse to settle for less and accept things as they are (i.e., divided and with fewer opportunities) as unchangeable. So, consider leaving more than footprints and leaving a legacy. © 2025 Wayne Elsey . All Rights Reserved. Follow me on Facebook,   Instagram , LinkedIn,   and visit my website  for more info! Read more from Wayne Elsey Wayne Elsey, Founder and CEO Wayne Elsey is the founder and CEO of Elsey Enterprises. Among his independent brands, he is also the founder and CEO of Funds2Orgs. This social enterprise helps nonprofits, schools, churches, civic groups, individuals, and others raise funds while helping to support micro-enterprise (small business) opportunities in developing nations and the environment.

Written by Ewa J. Kleczyk, PhD, Special Guest Writer and Executive Contributor In every industry, from technology to healthcare to entrepreneurship, one truth remains universal, the people who rise are not the ones who know everything, but the ones who ask. Yet for many high-achieving professionals, asking for guidance or sharing early ideas feels terrifying. We fear looking uninformed. We worry that exposing uncertainty will undermine our credibility. And most of all, we fear that reaching out will signal that we are “less than,” unprepared, or somehow undeserving of our seat at the table. This fear is real, and it is holding too many talented leaders back. Why are we afraid to ask At the core of the hesitation is a deeply human concern. We don’t want to look foolish. We’ve been conditioned to believe that competence equals knowing, rather than learning. Professionals at all levels, even senior executives, carry internal narratives like: “What if my question is obvious?” “What if they judge me?” “What if they think I’m not ready for this role?” “What if sharing my idea seems amateur?” These thoughts are powerful enough to silence us. They keep us from raising a hand in meetings, from approaching mentors, from pitching new initiatives, and from advocating for ourselves. But the truth is the opposite of what we fear. The paradox: High performers ask more, not less After years of leading analytic and data science teams, speaking globally, and working with executives across organizations, I’ve observed a pattern: The most successful professionals are the ones who ask the most questions. They treat curiosity as a strategy. They treat vulnerability as a leadership tool. They treat collaboration as an accelerant, not an admission of inadequacy. High performers don’t ask less because they know more. They ask more because they are committed to knowing better. This shift in mindset is what separates stagnant careers from accelerating ones. The emotional cost of silence When we avoid asking for guidance, we don’t just miss information, we miss opportunity. Silence can cost us: Visibility: No one knows what we’re working toward if we keep it hidden. Advancement: Unasked questions lead to preventable mistakes or stalled progress. Connection: Relationships grow through authentic dialogue, not perfection. Confidence: The more we hide, the smaller we feel. Avoiding requests for support is not protecting our credibility—it is shrinking it. Reframing asking as leadership So how do we dismantle the fear? It begins with reframing. 1. Asking is an act of clarity, not weakness Professionals who ask questions are not unsure, they are intentional. 2. Sharing your work invites collaboration People cannot support what they cannot see. By voicing your ideas, you activate mentors, collaborators, and champions. 3. Seeking advice signals emotional intelligence Leaders who understand their own limits are safer, more strategic decision-makers. 4. Vulnerability builds trust No one connects with perfection, they connect with humanity. 5. Not asking costs you far more than asking ever will A missed opportunity is far more damaging to your trajectory than a moment of temporary discomfort. How to start asking with confidence Here are three practical strategies you can implement immediately: Start small: Ask one question in your next meeting. Share one idea. Reach out to one colleague. Build the muscle gradually. Use framing language: Maintain confidence and clarity with phrases like: “To move this forward efficiently, I’d like your perspective on.” “I want to make sure I’m aligned. Can you help me understand.” “I’d value your insight on an idea I’m developing.” These statements show intention, not insecurity. Remember that people love being asked: Most professionals feel honored when someone seeks their perspective. Asking them is not a burden, it’s a compliment. The moment everything changes The turning point in any career happens when we realize: Asking for support does not diminish your expertise, it amplifies your potential. Growth requires interaction. Innovation requires dialogue. Leadership requires humility. If you feel fear when speaking up, reaching out, or presenting your work, know this: you are not alone, and nothing about that fear makes you unqualified. But stepping through that fear one question at a time opens doors you didn’t even know existed. The leaders who rise are not the ones who avoid being seen. They are the ones who choose to be seen fully, bravely, imperfectly, and with purpose. A final thought and an invitation Stepping into your voice, your ideas, and your potential begins with one choice, refusing to let fear silence you. When you ask, you rise. When you seek support, you accelerate. When you share your work, you lead. If this message resonates with you and you want deeper insights on courageous leadership, taking risks, and building a future defined by your choices, you can explore these themes further in my book Empowered Leadership. Read it on Amazon . Follow me on Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn , and visit my website  for more info! Read more from Ewa J. Kleczyk, PhD Ewa J. Kleczyk, PhD, Special Guest Writer and Executive Contributor Dr. Ewa J. Kleczyk is a leader in healthcare research, leadership, and community impact. With over two decades of experience, she has transformed healthcare innovation and data-driven strategies while championing education and equity. She has dedicated her career to empowering leaders, advancing women in healthcare, and helping organizations create lasting impact. She is the author of Empowered Leadership: Breaking Barriers, Building Impact, and Leaving a Legacy and Editor-in-Chief of UJWEL. Her mission, break barriers, build impact, leave a legacy.

Written by Charlotte Phelps, Founder of The Alchemy of Being Charlotte Phelps, Founder of The Alchemy of Being, transformed her life from a terminal prognosis into a mission to empower others. She offers tools and insights, born from her own journey, for personal growth and holistic health, helping individuals curate their unique 'Toolbelt for Life'. We live in a culture that runs on pressure. Pressure to optimise, improve, achieve, upgrade, evolve. Pressure to be further along. Pressure to have clarity when you feel uncertain, direction when you feel lost, confidence when you feel stretched, and plans when you are simply trying to catch your breath. December magnifies all of this. The turning of the year becomes a collective checkpoint where the world asks you to evaluate yourself. What did you accomplish? What will you change? Who will you become next? Yet beneath these expectations sits something quieter and far more human. Your nervous system is not asking for pressure. It is asking for space. And this is where curiosity offers a radically different way to begin a new year, with softness instead of striving, exploration instead of self-judgment, and openness instead of overwhelm. What if 2026 did not need a grand plan, just a curious mind?   The culture of constant pressure We have never lived in a society so saturated with expectations. Productivity has become a modern virtue, and self-improvement a silent measurement of worth. Everywhere we turn, there is the sense that we should be doing more. Achieving more. Becoming more. It is woven into corporate culture, filtered through social media, baked into wellness narratives, and carried quietly in our own internal dialogue. This pressure does not pause for December. In fact, it intensifies. The end of the year becomes a symbolic scoreboard. We are encouraged to review, assess, and hold our year up against standards that often were never ours to begin with. Even positive concepts like growth and transformation get distorted when viewed through the lens of urgency. The deeper truth is that much of this pressure is cultural conditioning, not personal desire. When you are surrounded by expectations of improvement, it becomes easy to mistake those expectations for your own values. This is why the turning of the year can feel heavy, even for people who have grown, healed, and survived more than anyone will ever know.   Why the calendar amplifies expectation There is something psychologically potent about a threshold. Birthdays, new jobs, new relationships, and new years all activate the part of us that longs for renewal. The problem is that this natural moment of reflection gets hijacked by societal narratives of performance. We are encouraged to meet the new year with declarations rather than curiosity, certainty rather than enquiry, and slogans that reduce transformation to catchphrases. The familiar chorus begins to surface, “New Year, New You”, “This is your year”, “Now or never”. These phrases sound motivating, but they often create pressure rather than possibility. The calendar changes, and suddenly we feel obliged to become a different version of ourselves by 1 January, as if transformation were something that can be summoned on command. This pressure has nothing to do with your readiness or your capacity. It has everything to do with the symbolism of a date. And yet many people interpret their discomfort in January as a personal failing, when in reality it is simply a mismatch between expectation and biology. Your body does not move in calendar cycles. It moves in seasons, rhythms, and capacity. No wonder the pressure of a new year can create more contraction than expansion.   The nervous system cost of beginning from pressure Pressure does not inspire change. It constricts it. When you enter a new year with a sense of urgency, the body registers this as a threat. The sympathetic nervous system activates, cortisol rises, and the brain narrows its focus to short-term survival, not long-term transformation. You cannot create spacious, sustainable growth when your system is braced for impact. This is why so many people feel overwhelmed or flat in January. It is not lack of motivation. It is nervous system biology. When pressure becomes the starting point, the body cannot integrate, explore, or adapt. It can only endure. If you would like to understand this more deeply, my articles on Integration Isn’t Sexy   and The Pace Principle  explore how the nervous system governs your capacity for change and why safety and pacing matter far more than intention at the start of any transformational process. Your capacity for change is not determined by discipline. It is determined by regulation. When your system feels safe, open, and resourced, you can grow. When it feels scrutinised, judged, or rushed, it retreats into protection. This is why curiosity is so powerful. Curiosity signals safety. Curiosity: A state that creates space rather than strain Curiosity softens the edges of experience. It turns pressure into enquiry, uncertainty into possibility, and discomfort into information rather than threat. It is one of the most powerful states for nervous system regulation because it widens perspective rather than narrowing it. Curiosity removes the expectation to get things right. It dismantles the perfectionism that often sits beneath New Year narratives. It allows you to step into the year without knowing everything in advance, which is far more aligned with how human transformation actually works. Where pressure says: You should know. Curiosity says: You can explore. Where pressure says: You need a plan. Curiosity says: You can begin anywhere. Where pressure says: You must be certain. Curiosity says: You are allowed to be in discovery. When you begin from curiosity, your system relaxes. Openness returns. Pace becomes natural. Capacity expands. This is the physiological foundation of genuine change.   What if you did not need all the answers in January? There is something deeply liberating about releasing the expectation to know everything at the start of a year. You do not need to decide the entire trajectory of 2026 in the first week of January. You do not need to have your goals, identity, habits, or direction perfected by the time the fireworks fade. What if January became a month of listening rather than declaring? A month of paying attention to the subtle signals from your body, your energy, your desires, and your lived reality. You could ask questions like: What do I feel drawn to explore this year, even if I cannot explain why? What feels heavy that I no longer want to carry? What do I want to feel more often in 2026? Where is there a sense of natural momentum already building? What small experiment feels exciting rather than intimidating? These questions create movement without pressure, direction without rigidity, and clarity without force. To support this, we have created a downloadable list of curiosity based reflection questions  which can guide your thinking gently, without pressure. These prompts invite exploration rather than certainty, and can help you start the year with a sense of openness rather than obligation. The power of entering 2026 gently Beginning gently does not mean lacking ambition. It means honouring capacity. It means letting your nervous system set the pace rather than external expectations. It means choosing experiments over ultimatums, and honesty over performance. You might try: exploring one new habit at a time rather than overhauling your life. (For guidance with this, check out our Habits eBook  offers simple, sustainable approaches to embedding change) choosing a theme for the year instead of rigid goals. A theme creates direction without pressure and gives your year a sense of coherence without fixed expectations. creating small pockets of experimentation rather than all-or-nothing commitments. My article on overcoming the all or nothing mindset explores why this shift is so powerful and how it frees your nervous system to engage more fully. noticing what brings joy or relief and allowing that to guide your next step. If you would like to understand why joy is such an important form of medicine, you can explore my Brainz article on joy and how it supports resilience. These are not small actions. They are sustainable actions. They reflect a way of living that is grounded, embodied, and achievable. Curiosity keeps you connected to your real life, not an imagined ideal.   The year ahead is not a deadline The turning of the year is not a test you need to pass. It is simply a moment, an opening in time, an invitation to step forward with a little more awareness than you had before. You do not need to perform your transformation. You do not need to prove your readiness. You do not need to force a version of yourself you are not yet ready to inhabit. What if you allowed 2026 to unfold as a conversation rather than a contract? A relationship rather than a race. A journey that begins not with pressure, but with a deep breath, a softened body, and the gentle question: What might be possible if I simply stayed curious? Because curiosity does not just change how you enter a year. It changes how you live it. Follow me on Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn , and visit my website for more info! Read more from Charlotte Phelps Charlotte Phelps, Founder of The Alchemy of Being Charlotte Phelps's life took a pivotal turn at 33 when she was given just six weeks to live due to a likely bowel perforation. This diagnosis came after a decade of being told she was fine by the medical world, making it both validating and shocking. Forced to explore unconventional options to survive, Charlotte not only regained her health but also underwent a transformative journey of soul, mind, and body. She also developed a profound need to understand how she had lived, which sparked a decade-long exploration of holistic practices and alternative approaches. This journey ignited a deep passion to share what she’d discovered with others, leading to the creation of The Alchemy of Being.

Written by Therese Lyander, Transformational Holistic Health & Mindset Coach Therese Lyander is a Transformational Coach within Holistic Health and Mindset. Through her program, Finally Free, she helps women reconnect with their inner Genius by combining Human Design with holistic health practices. She guides them in releasing trauma, finding balance, and creating a life that feels true on their own terms. I believed trauma therapy would teach me how to stop reacting so strongly. How to stop taking everything in. How to become a more “manageable” person. Instead, I saw something completely different. How much love I had held back in order to survive. Being “too much” When I started trauma therapy, I thought I would learn how to fix myself. How to soften my reactions, turn off what felt like too much, and stop taking in the world with my whole body. But what came up was something entirely different. I had been holding back almost all my love. Under all the pain my body had protected me from feeling, there was a love so strong it frightened me. When I finally felt it, I was shocked that it had been there the whole time, locked away. Then came the grief. The grief of remembering when and why I abandoned love for the first time. When it became too risky to show it. The shame of sharing it with the world. My way of expressing love, ever since I was little, has always been through my seeing and my feeling. Projectors in Human Design have a particular way of seeing, we notice things others do not. This can make things difficult for a Projector child who naturally corrects their parents or picks up on completely different details than the children around them. Having an emotional authority on top of this did not make anything easier. Even though half of humanity has an emotional authority, it is not necessarily appreciated. Most people have suppressed their emotions from an early age and therefore lost contact with their inner guide. Early on, I understood that my perspective was not welcome. But I had no other way of being. So I adapted. I tried to understand which versions of myself were most appreciated. I held back everything that was me. The rest became a kind of charade, a performance I eventually believed in. The few times my real self slipped through only motivated me to tighten my protection even more.   From performance to listening to the body Eventually, hardness and achievement became my identity, both outwardly and inwardly. A highly functioning, high-achieving girl with panic attacks, unprocessed emotions, no appetite, and physical symptoms that grew stronger with time. In hindsight, everything becomes clear, but when you are in it, it is hard to make sense of anything. We also do not live in a society with a holistic view of the body, even though that is exactly what is required to understand and resolve these complex health situations. I see now that this was never me. My persona was a symptom, not my true self. It was the expression of a long internal battle. A battle to fit in. A battle that kept me in constant survival mode. When you live for a long time in a nervous system stuck in low-level activation, fight, flight, fawn, freeze, the body builds a life based on protection. You become an expert at reading rooms, controlling energy, and holding back emotions so you do not take up too much space. Everything becomes about staying alert. When the body has carried pain for too long without expressing it, it stores it somewhere else: The jaw that never relaxes The stomach that tightens The voice that goes quiet The appetite that disappears The love that is held back in the form of caution. For me, this was literal. It was not until I began working with my jaw, my voice, and my nervous system, everything that had been locked for almost my entire life, that I started to understand what my body had been protecting me from. Behind the tension, there was not only pain. There was love. So much love it was almost overwhelming. The hardest part of healing was not meeting the pain. The hardest part was the softness. Allowing myself to be open, speaking with my real voice even when it trembled with fear. Showing how much I actually feel. Eating in the way my body needs instead of holding on to an ideology I lived in for more than ten years. Resting. Releasing control and allowing love to exist in my body without negotiating for it first.   Waking up to love and yourself I realized that my deepest capacity for love had been hidden under everything I thought I needed to shut down. Like a room I avoided because the light inside was too bright when I was still living in darkness. When the protections began to fall away, I changed, but not through sudden breakthroughs. It happened through small movements: The jaw releasing when I spoke the painful truth out loud The stomach softening when I stopped attacking myself The voice returning when I no longer silenced it The heart expanding when I stopped shrinking myself The relationship with food is becoming soft again The female body beginning to heal when it finally felt safe It was a return to myself. My body came home first. My self followed. The love had been intact the entire time. Love is not something waiting for us on the other side of healing. Love is the foundation that makes healing possible. We cannot use the same patterns that made us unwell to become whole. We cannot perform healing. Healing is what remains when all defenses finally fall. When the nervous system no longer has to protect itself. When the body is no longer at war with itself. Letting go is a process. It is not linear. Inner conflicts rise until we surrender to the truth. With each layer we release, it becomes easier to live in our new pattern. With every breakthrough, with every surrender, we need to grieve. But right after the grief comes something else. New blooming, new inspiration, a new story of who we are. Follow me on Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn , and visit my website for more info! Read more from Therese Lyander Therese Lyander, Transformational Holistic Health & Mindset Coach Therese Lyander is a pioneer within Holistic Health and Mindset Coaching, with a passion for awakening the inner Genius in every woman. She guides women who have lost touch with their power, purpose, or zest for life—not by focusing on what's “wrong,” but by helping them return to the wisdom of the body and the clarity of the soul. After more than a decade of struggling with physical and mental health challenges, she found her own path to healing through detox, fasting, trauma healing, and Human Design. Today, she shares that journey with others—not just to help them function again, but to live freely, truthfully, and in alignment with who they really are.