Written by Maria Alejandra Toledo Valderrama, Holistic Wellness Coach Ale is a Holistic Wellness Practitioner and founder of Ale's Health who creates transformative programs combining Breathwork, Mindfulness, Nutrition, and her own line of organic Health-Snacks. She empowers driven individuals to reconnect Mind & Body while unlocking their full potential. You've tried the apps. You've done the therapy. You've downloaded Calm for the fourth time. And you're still exhausted, still snapping at people you love, still lying awake at midnight with a brain that absolutely refuses to shut up. So what if the one tool that could actually change everything has been sitting right under your nose, literally your whole life. Conscious breathing isn't a wellness trend. It's your body’s emergency reset button, and most of us never learned how to press it. What is conscious breathing, exactly? Great question and no, it's not just 'breathing slowly and hoping for the best.' Conscious breathing is the intentional practice of controlling your breath pattern to directly influence your nervous system. When you breathe without awareness (which is 99.9% of the time), your body may default to mouth breathing and shallow chest breathing, especially when stressed. That sends a signal to your brain, danger is here, stay alert!. Your stress hormones spike. Your heart rate goes up. Your digestion pauses. Your thinking gets foggy. Well, conscious breathing flips this completely. Through specific breathing techniques, you activate your   parasympathetic nervous system ,  the part of your body responsible for rest, repair, digestion, and clear thinking. You go from fight-or-flight to rest-and-digest in minutes. Sometimes seconds. Now let's talk about what that actually does for you because it's more than you think. 1. You build a bigger stress container (without needing to calm down first) Here's the thing nobody tells you about stress tolerance: it's not about having less stress. It's about expanding how much you can handle before you start to crack. If you see CO₂ (carbon dioxide) as the villain, it is actually a super hero. CO₂ is one of the principal gases produced in breathing processes, helping regulate blood pH levels, facilitating oxygen delivery to the tissues, and it’s nothing but our number one tool we can use to expand our capacity for physical and mental stress tolerance. And just to be clear, you do not want to expand your stress container to tolerate things you do not want to tolerate or deserve, but to gain your power back over your own actions and behaviour. By increasing CO₂ levels in the body, the brain signals it as “suffocation,” but through regular specific breathing techniques, you train your body to tolerate higher CO₂ levels, which directly reflects in your life, staying calmer under pressure and less reactive. Fascinating isn’t! Think of it like going to the gym but for your nervous system. The more you practice, the more capacity you have. Things that used to send you into overdrive just don't anymore. 2. You stop reacting and start choosing You know that feeling when someone says something, and you immediately snap, and then three seconds later you think, 'why did I just do that?’ or even worse, you let that ruin your mood for days, months, sometimes years until it actually becomes your identity without you even knowing. That's not a character flaw. That's a nervous system that never learned to pause. The breath is the only physiological system in your body that is both automatic and under your conscious control. Which means it's your direct line into your own nervous system. When you use it intentionally, you insert a gap between the trigger and the reaction and in that gap, you get to choose. Research published by the  Journal of Neurophysiology  confirms that controlled breathing directly influences the amygdala the brain's threat-detection centre reducing reactivity to emotional triggers. You stop reacting to your partner, your boss, your inbox. You start responding to them. Big difference. 3. It genuinely relieves anxiety and here's why Let's be real, most anxiety 'solutions' work at the mental level. You journal. You reframe. You try to think differently. And it helps a little until the anxiety comes back. Conscious breathing works at the physiological level (without second effects). For instance, Slow, diaphragmatic breathing activates the   vagus nerve,  which is the superhighway between your brain and your body that triggers a cascade of calming responses: lower cortisol, reduced heart rate, relaxed muscles, quieter mind. A   2017 study published in Frontiers in Psychology  found that just 20 sessions of diaphragmatic breathing significantly reduced cortisol levels and improved sustained attention. Not a temporary relief but a biological shift. 4. Your digestion gets better (yes, really) This one surprises people but stay with me, because it makes total sense. Your digestive system only functions well when you're in a parasympathetic state. When you're stressed (sympathetic mode), your body narrows “priorities” and shuts down “non-essential” functions and digestion is one of them. Blood gets redirected to your muscles. Stomach acid production drops. Your gut motility slows. This is why so many high-achieving, chronically stressed people also have IBS, bloating, poor gut health, or food sensitivities. It's not just diet. It's your   gut-brain connection  being hijacked by chronic stress. Regular conscious breathing, especially before and after meals, can restore proper digestive function by keeping your nervous system in the state it needs to be in to actually process your food. Less bloating. Better absorption. Happier gut. Happier you. You got me. 5. Your mood lifts without needing an explanation Ever notice how when you take a few deep breaths, something just shifts? There's a science to that feeling and it goes deeper than 'taking a moment.' Controlled breathing increases the production of   nitric oxide through nasal breathing , a molecule that dilates blood vessels, improves oxygen delivery to the brain, and has been shown to have direct mood-regulating effects. Your serotonin levels also respond to diaphragmatic breathing, as your gut microbiome (which produces ~90% of your serotonin) performs at its best in a parasympathetic state. It's not magic. But it might feel like it the first time you do a full session and realise you're genuinely, unexplainably in a better mood without having changed anything about your circumstances. 6. You think clearer 'I can't think straight lately.' Sound familiar? You probably thought it was sleep deprivation or too much on your plate. And those things don't help. But the real issue is often under-oxygenation of the prefrontal cortex (your analytical brain) When you're in chronic stress mode, blood flow prioritises your survival brain (amygdala, brain stem) over your thinking brain (prefrontal cortex). That's why anxiety makes you impulsive, reactive, and foggy, not because you're losing your mind, but because your brain is routing resources away from clear thinking. Thankfully, Conscious breathing’s here to save the day. By activating the parasympathetic system and improving oxygen delivery, breathwork has been shown to improve   cognitive performance, focus, and decision-making  within a single session! 7. You get real energy If you genuinely love your morning coffee, keep it. The ritual, the smell, the warmth of the cup. That's valid. Enjoy every sip.   But hand on heart, are you drinking it because you love it, or because without it, you can barely string a sentence together before 10 am? Because here's the thing, caffeine doesn't actually give you energy. It   temporarily blocks the brain signals that tell you you're tired . The exhaustion is still there, it's just hiding. And when the caffeine wears off? It comes back louder than before. That's not energy. That's borrowed time.   Conscious breathing, on the other hand, generates energy from the inside. Coherence breathing has been shown to   improve heart rate variability (HRV) , your body's actual measure of how resourced and recovered you really are. So yeah, enjoy the coffee. Just stop expecting it to save you. That's your breath's job. 8. (Cherry on top) it restores your entire respiratory system Most of us have been breathing wrong for years and we don't even know it. Chronic mouth breathing bypasses your nose's built-in filtration, humidification, and nitric oxide production system, locking your body into a low-grade stress state around the clock. Over time, it weakens your diaphragm, destabilises your airways, and yes, it can even worsen sleep apnea. But here's the good news, it's reversible.   Myofunctional therapy  (physiotherapy for your mouth and airway muscles) has been shown to reduce sleep apnea severity by up to 50% in adults and 62% in children.   Alternate nostril breathing  and   Buteyko-style CO₂ retraining  help reset your brain's breathing control centre, reducing the erratic over-breathing that triggers apneas in the first place. Conscious nasal breathing practiced during the day naturally carries over into the night, toning the airway tissues and stabilising your nervous system while you sleep. It follows the motion. Your breath isn't just a stress tool. It's a full-body repair system. But wait, why hasn't breathing 'worked' for you before? This is a question I get a lot and it's a fair one. 'I've tried breathing exercises. I just lie there thinking about my to-do list, but I do breathe!' Here's the truth: technique matters enormously. Breathing 'deeply' without understanding the mechanics is like going to the gym and randomly picking up weights. There's a specific relationship between your breathing pattern, your CO₂ levels, your nervous system state, and your body's physiological response. Without guidance, most people either over-breathe (hyperventilate) or under-breathe, and never actually shift their nervous system. The second reason is consistency. One session of breathwork is like one day at the gym, you feel something, but you don't see the results. The transformation happens in the practice, not the one-off. And that practice needs to be built into your actual life, not a 30-minute block you never find time for, but a 5-minute tool you use in the car, your desk, or before a big meeting. You're not the only one who's felt this way According to   Deloitte's 2025 Global Wellbeing Report , 40% of Gen Z and 34% of Millennials say they feel stressed or anxious all or most of the time. Not occasionally. Not when something bad happens. Most of the time. And   77% of Millennials report at least one burnout symptom , the highest of any generation. Fact is, we’re living in one of the most overstimulating, under-resourced periods in modern history, your nervous system needs training to handle it. That’s when conscious breathing comes in! If you're here, reading this, looking for something that actually works. You know there's something more than just surviving the week. And you're right, there is. A final thought If any of this landed for you, the exhaustion, the reactivity, the feeling that you've tried everything and nothing quite sticks, you're not alone. There are so many of us navigating the same thing. This is exactly why I do what I do: to build a space where we figure it out together, one breath at a time. If you're curious, come hang out. Ask questions. Share what's been going on for you. This community is yours too!. Follow me on Facebook , LinkedIn , and visit my website for more info! Read more from Maria Alejandra Toledo Valderrama Maria Alejandra Toledo Valderrama, Holistic Wellness Coach Ale is a Holistic Wellness Practitioner passionate about helping others discover their true potential and live life to the fullest. Through her comprehensive approach combining Breathwork, Mindfulness, and Nutritional guidance, she empowers driven individuals seeking balance, Health-Conscious professionals navigating stress, and Wellness enthusiasts ready for a deeper transformation. She has developed her own line of five organic Health-Snacks made exclusively with natural ingredients, providing Clean, Guilt-Free Nutrition.

Written by Zsuzsánna Boni, Life & Relationship Coach Zsuzsánna Boni is a coach, psychologist, and adult learning specialist. She empowers individuals and couples to lead a conscious life, own their confidence and clarity, and build the life they truly love, one rooted in awareness, growth, and self-leadership. How does a relationship move from closeness to control, from tension to fear, from abuse to lethal danger? These are uncomfortable questions, but necessary ones. Femicide is rarely a sudden act. It is often the final outcome of relationship patterns marked by coercive control, entrapment, and escalating danger. What is femicide, and how common is it? Femicide is not simply the killing of a woman. According to UN Women, femicide refers to the intentional killing of women or girls because of their gender, shaped by gender-based violence, coercive control, misogyny, and unequal power. It is not just an isolated act of violence, but often the most extreme end of a wider pattern of abuse, control, and dehumanization. Femicide data is methodologically difficult to compare across countries because definitions, legal categories, and reporting systems vary widely. Some countries record intimate partner homicide, others domestic or family-related homicide, and some do not use a distinct legal category of femicide at all. This means that even when women are dying, data systems may still fail to fully identify, classify, or count those deaths. Keeping that in mind, there are still some important statistics that are screaming at us, wanting to be heard. In 2024, globally, around 50,000 women and girls were killed by intimate partners or family members worldwide, which means that about 137 women were being killed daily. In 2023, in the EU, out of 1 million women, 4.1 were victims of intentional homicide by family members or intimate partners, which was nearly double the rate for men, 2.2 per million. In the U.S., CDC data covering 2018 to 2021 recorded 3,991 female victims of intimate partner homicide across participating states. The same CDC report found that 66.6% of these killings involved a firearm, and 98.5% involved a male suspect. For me, as a Hungarian woman based in Romania, this is not just an abstract global issue. It is also a regional and local one. In 2022, in Hungary, a total of 101 women were victims of homicide, including intimate partner and domestic homicide as well. In Romania, in the same year, a total of 134 women lost their lives due to domestic homicide or homicide overall. What is perhaps most disturbing is not only the scale of femicide, but the absence of a clear decline. In many regions, the numbers remain stubbornly high year after year, suggesting that awareness alone has not yet translated into consistent protection. Femicide as a process, not a sudden act Femicide is never a single, sudden explosion of violence. Research across public health, criminology, and gender-based violence studies suggests that it is more often the endpoint of an escalating process in which multiple forms of danger build over time. These factors do not mechanically “cause” femicide, and no timeline fits every case. Still, the literature shows that many femicides are preceded by identifiable patterns. This is why it is more accurate to think of femicide as a process of accumulating risk than as an isolated act of sudden rage. Five interacting domains of risk The markers of escalating danger can be organized into five interacting domains, aggressor-related factors, victim entrapment and vulnerability factors, relationship-related dynamics, environmental and situational factors, and social factors. These categories do not operate separately. They overlap, reinforce one another, and usually accumulate over time. Some shape the background conditions in which abuse can escalate more easily, some describe the pattern inside the relationship, and some intensify danger at key moments such as separation or disclosure. Together, they help explain why femicide can be better recognized as an escalating process than as a sudden, isolated act. Pre-existing conditions, the context in which risk takes shape Before there is an obvious crisis, there may already be a set of underlying beliefs, vulnerabilities, and societal conditions that increase risk. On the aggressor side, this can include rigid gender beliefs, prior violent behavior, a need for dominance, access to weapons, and difficulty tolerating rejection or loss of control. These factors do not mean femicide will happen. Still, they can create a foundation in which control and aggression are more likely to emerge when the relationship becomes emotionally threatening to the perpetrator. On the victim side, there may be economic dependence, trauma history, social isolation, limited family and friends’ support, and, in some cases, existing vulnerabilities created by earlier violence, poverty, discrimination, or lack of access to services. These are not “reasons” for femicide, but conditions that can increase entrapment. At the wider social level, gender inequality, victim-blaming attitudes, and the normalization of male control can make early abuse harder to identify as dangerous. Cultural narratives that romanticize jealousy, possessiveness, and control can blur the line between genuine attachment and domination. Weak institutional recognition of coercive control can also mean that the early signs of abuse remain invisible until the violence becomes more overt. Early warning signs, when control begins to show itself At this stage, the relationship begins to show patterns that often disguise themselves as jealousy, care, conflict, insecurity, or personality problems. These can include excessive monitoring, possessiveness, pressure for constant contact, isolation from friends and family, verbal degradation, intimidation, accusations, and demands for access to the victim’s time, phone, movements, or social world, gradually narrowing the victim’s autonomy. Coercive control starts to become visible, even if physical violence is still absent, infrequent, or hidden. The aggressor may test boundaries, punish resistance, and reward compliance, resulting in the victim’s behavior being adjusted to prevent conflict, calm the perpetrator, or avoid escalation. Others might underestimate this as passivity, when in reality, it may be a survival strategy within a relationship that is becoming increasingly unsafe. Friends, relatives, and even professionals may interpret the situation as a “difficult relationship” rather than an emerging pattern of domination. Pattern consolidation, when abuse becomes a system Here, control becomes more systematic and more central to the relationship. Abuse may extend beyond emotional intimidation into financial control, repeated threats, sexual coercion, stalking, surveillance, humiliation, and physical violence. The aggressor’s behavior begins to function as a system for regulating the victim’s choices, movements, relationships, and sense of self. Thus, the victim may increasingly organize daily life, trying to avoid certain topics, change routines, limit contact with others, hide information, or try to anticipate the aggressor’s moods. This can create the appearance of compliance from the outside, but in reality, it often reflects adaptation to chronic danger. The real concern is that a whole pattern of coercion is becoming normalized, harder to interrupt, and more capable of escalating. By the time the abuse reaches this level of consolidation, the survivor may already be deeply isolated, psychologically worn down, or practically trapped, while institutions may still be responding only to separate incidents rather than to the pattern as a whole. Escalation, when danger intensifies Risk often rises sharply when the aggressor experiences a loss of control or anticipates one. This can happen during separation, after disclosure of abuse, during legal action, in custody disputes, after the victim seeks help, or when she becomes more emotionally, socially, or financially independent. For an outsider, it is easy to say, “Why didn’t she just leave?” Research consistently identifies separation as a particularly dangerous period, not because leaving causes femicide, but because leaving can threaten the aggressor’s control and trigger retaliatory violence. During escalation, stalking may become more persistent, threats more explicit, surveillance more invasive, and violence more severe. The aggressor may shift from controlling the relationship to punishing the victim for trying to leave, resist, expose the abuse, or reclaim autonomy. This is also the stage in which access to weapons, prior threats to kill, forced sex, and escalating physical violence become especially important warning signs. Paradoxically, the closer the victim gets to separation or safety, the more dangerous the situation may become if the perpetrator is highly controlling, entitled, and unwilling to tolerate loss. Lethal danger, when the risk becomes acute The final stage is marked by acute indicators of potential lethality. These may include threats to kill, prior strangulation, weapon threats, obsessive pursuit, breaches of protective orders, suicidal-homicidal statements, extreme possessiveness, and the logic of “if I cannot have you, no one will.” These indicators appear with striking regularity across femicide research. By this stage, the abuse has often moved beyond control into openly life-threatening behavior. The perpetrator may communicate lethal intent directly or indirectly, or act in ways that show desperation, revenge, or a collapsing tolerance for the victim’s autonomy. Not every abusive relationship ends in femicide, and no single indicator guarantees a tragic outcome. However, the evidence shows that combinations of these warning signs precede many femicides. This is why prevention efforts that wait for severe physical assault may come too late. Why this model matters This timeline should not be read as universal, perfectly linear, or deterministic. It is also not a recipe for femicide. Cases differ, and not all risk factors appear in every case. Still, the literature strongly suggests that femicide often emerges through accumulation and interaction across personal, relational, situational, and societal levels. Understanding that pattern matters because it shifts the question from “How could this happen?” to “What warning signs, patterns, and institutional failures were already visible before the killing?” That shift is essential for prevention, because it places attention where it belongs, on coercive control, escalating danger, and the systems that too often fail to respond in time. Why recognizing the pattern earlier matters Understanding femicide as a process is not only a matter of naming violence more accurately. It is also a way of recognizing danger earlier, before the final act makes the pattern impossible to deny. For a closer look at what prevention, protection, and institutional responsibility require, continue with the second part of this series. Follow me on Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn  and visit my website for more info! Read more from Zsuzsánna Boni Zsuzsánna Boni, Life & Relationship Coach Zsuzsánna Boni is a coach, psychologist, and adult learning specialist helping individuals and couples transform the way they live, love, and connect. Having turned her own challenges and setbacks into growth and purpose, she brings depth and authenticity to her work. Blending a science-based perspective with consciousness and a can-do attitude, she guides people to turn awareness into action and growth into lasting change. Her mission is to empower others to own their confidence, cultivate healthy relationships, and shape a life aligned with their values. She believes that transformation begins with self-leadership, to build the life you love and love the life you build. References: Campbell, J. C., Webster, D., Koziol-McLain, J., Block, C., Campbell, D., Curry, M. A., Gary, F., Glass, N., McFarlane, J., Sachs, C., Sharps, P., Ulrich, Y., Wilt, S. A., Manganello, J., Xu, X., Schollenberger, J., Frye, V., & Laughon, K. (2003). Risk factors for femicide in abusive relationships: Results from a multisite case-control study. American Journal of Public Health, 93(7), 1089–1097. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024). Female victims of intimate partner homicide — United States, 2018–2021. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 73(34). European Commission. (n.d.). Crime statistics. Eurostat. European Institute for Gender Equality. (n.d.). Femicide. European Institute for Gender Equality. (n.d.). Hungary: Gender-based violence. European Institute for Gender Equality. (n.d.). Romania: Gender-based violence. Johnson, H., Eriksson, L., Mazerolle, P., & Wortley, R. (2017). Intimate femicide: The role of coercive control. Feminist Criminology, 14(1), 3–23. Lewis, P. C., Kaslow, N. J., Cheong, Y. F., Evans, D. P., & Yount, K. M. (2024). Femicide in the United States: A call for legal codification and national surveillance. Frontiers in Public Health, 12, Article 1338548. Stöckl, H., et al. (2022). Intimate partner femicide: A systematic review of risk factors. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(12), Article 7336. UN Women. (n.d.). Five essential facts to know about femicide. UN Women, & United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. (2023). Gender-related killings of women and girls (Femicide/Feminicide): Global estimates 2022. UN Women, & United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. (2025). Femicides in 2024: Global estimates of intimate partner/family member femicides.

Written by Guy Van de Putte, Spiritual Guide & Mentor Guy Van de Putte works as a guide for those looking for help navigating life's challenges or finding themselves at a crossroads. Blending shamanism, breathwork and constellation therapy with the non-dual and yogic traditions, he has a wide toolkit to support the power of presence and the healing words to accommodate lasting change. As a guide for those navigating life’s challenges or crossroads, Guy Van de Putte sheds light on how our minds often become obstacles, trapping us in cycles of self-doubt, fear, and negativity. In his work, he emphasizes that while we try to control our thoughts, this only strengthens their hold over us. By observing and retraining our minds, we can shift from being controlled by them to using them as powerful tools for personal growth and creativity. This shift ultimately helps create a life that aligns with our true potential. We often hear this these days, from self-help books or spiritual teachers: "You are not the mind." You are not your thoughts. So simple, yet so true. Once I started to observe my thoughts, I realized how poisonous they are most of the time. So, I turned to meditation, trying to slow them down, even make them disappear altogether, which, of course, didn’t work and let me fall into that familiar pattern of failing all over again. Before long, the voice in my head was back, reminding me of what I already believed to be true: that I was a failure and not good enough. What could I believe? The thoughts kept coming. The proof was there! That was when I still believed meditation was about stopping the thoughts and controlling the mind – that enemy that ruined my life. Unfortunately, this idea is something I still frequently hear during my sessions with clients: "I tried meditation, but it's not for me. I can't do it. The thoughts keep on coming. I can't reach that silence that everybody is talking about." Therefore, something as wonderful as meditation can turn into yet another thing to reaffirm all those strongly held beliefs we have about ourselves. Even if we do succeed in short moments of blissful quiet, we lose it as soon as the outside world reenters our awareness. Thoughts come and go. It's not about stopping them; it's about observing them without losing yourself in them. It's not about stopping your mind; it's about using it in a way that it will work for you, not against you. So, it really is a matter of retraining it. We're used to an overactive mind, scanning our surroundings, interpreting other people's words and actions. We're on full alert all the time, filtering whatever is going on around us through lenses that are nothing more than the product of the lies we've been telling ourselves all along. Our mind is in the driver's seat and is terrified to give the keys to anyone else. It's in a state of survival because, probably at one point in our lives, it had to be. Our surroundings weren't safe enough, either physically or emotionally, and our minds took over, trying everything they could to keep us safe and help us move forward. And it has done so for so long, and in such an amazing way, that it doesn't know anything else to do anymore. Whenever you feel anxious about the future, whenever you feel sad or angry about something that happened in the past, the voice in your head takes over. And you're being possessed, so to speak—not by an entity or a poltergeist, but by a mind that's always in fear, always feeling the need to control, to know what will happen, how it will happen, and always thinking of the next step to take to either attract what it wants or avoid what it doesn’t want to happen. The truth is, we have let it. Up to that point, it had no other choice because we weren't there. We were zoned out, lost in the things going on around us, unable to make sense of it. But if we truly want a life of peace and happiness, in love and faith, it is time to take the driver's seat. Not by pushing the mind aside, not by making it the enemy in the movie of our life, but by addressing it, talking to it, and taking care of it. And by stepping up, in gratitude. It has done its job, and it has done so in the best way it could. But now, it is time to create your own life—not your mind's life. Your mind is a tool, an amazing tool, maybe even the most amazing tool we have received. But once you finish using your blender or your power drill, you shut it off. You decide how many holes you want in your wall; you don’t let the drill decide. Your life is not a Disney movie, where all the coffee cups and spoons start singing and dancing whenever they feel like it, making a mess of things. Yet, when it comes to the mind, we let it do whatever it wants, whenever it wants. By observing the mind, we become conscious of its need to control. We start seeing the patterns we live out and the choices we make over and over again. And in that awareness lies the freedom we all long for: the freedom to make our own choices and create the life we want. By remaining the observer, we can detach and comfort the mind that lives in constant fear. And out of that, we can start using it in the way it is meant to be used. For conscious creation, to create a better life for yourself and others. All the great artists, inventors, innovators… have used their minds to translate the thoughts, the ideas, and the inspiration running through them. We use it to plan, to organize, and so on. And that's what it's there for. But not to bring you down and keep you trapped in an endless loop of negative self-talk and fear. Start using it for something creative that will contribute to life on Earth (and, therefore, your life as well), and it will lose its need to control. It will feel safe because it's been seen and heard, and you will get out of that control seat and let your higher mind take over. It will let the voice of truth, love, and wisdom take over. And before you know it, life will start to transform in ways you can't imagine yet. If you also want to break free from the limitations of your mind but could use some direction, don't hesitate to reach out to me. Follow me on Facebook , Instagram , and visit my website for more info! Read more from Guy Van de Putte Guy Van de Putte, Spiritual Guide & Mentor Guy Van de Putte works as a guide for all those looking for help navigating life's challenges or finding themselves at a crossroads. His passion is helping people who are ready to wake up go beyond the stories and patterns that unconsciously run their life. Thereby helping them to debunk the lies they told themselves, that are at the root of all the drama in their life, and take back the power over their own lives. So the old wounds from the past can be permanently healed and a new life of true freedom can emerge out of that. A fulfilled life in service off and in harmony with their true calling.

Written by Guy Van de Putte, Spiritual Guide & Mentor Guy Van de Putte works as a guide for those looking for help navigating life's challenges or finding themselves at a crossroads. Blending shamanism, breathwork and constellation therapy with the non-dual and yogic traditions, he has a wide toolkit to support the power of presence and the healing words to accommodate lasting change. A sudden break-up of a relationship can pull the rug from under the feet of even the toughest and strongest out there. It can feel like being struck by lightning on a clear summer day. Especially when there’s little to no explanation of why they departed or just retreated and left you standing out in the cold with more questions than answers. I once heard the famous psychologist Alain De Botton say there should be laws obliging people to provide the maximum amount of closure when a relationship comes to an end. This might sound a bit much, and by no means would I like to give the impression that governments should involve themselves in these private matters, but it was expressed in the context of the implications a sudden discard can have on us. Heartbreak, not a “normal” break-up which knocks you off your feet for a few weeks, but real deep heartbreak can leave you out in the cold for several years, in terms of impact resembling severe disease. Therefore, it should be treated with the utmost care and compassion for all involved. It doesn’t even matter how long the relationship lasted. The intensity of it is more important, although both partners could have experienced that differently, of course. It is, in fact, a sort of death. The death of the version of you in that relationship. The death of all the plans for that shared future you had. And we all know that an abrupt, unforeseen departure of a loved one leaves the relatives in a state of utter shock and despair. Unfortunately, in the case of a heartbreak, we’re so often told to get over it and move on. There are plenty of fish in the sea. So why would you even worry? And all you can think of is that one fish that got away, and for whom you would do anything to get it back. You feel yourself drifting in outer space, in the void. With no solid ground left under your feet. Every time you hit rock bottom, there seems to be an even deeper level underneath you that you hadn’t discovered before. You want it to stop. You wonder why, you want answers. You need closure. Probably, you want them back more than you want closure because that will make the pain go away, like waking up from a nightmare. “Thank God, it was all just a bad dream”. But if that’s not an option, you at least need a good reason as to why you have to now go through all of this. Yet deep inside, you hope. You hope that if you knew the reason why, you could do or say something to change their mind. Unfortunately, we don’t always get an explanation, or at least not one that makes sense to us. It’s easy to get lost in our minds at times like that. We overthink, try to remember every word, every detail. We’re looking for clues, hoping to get some clarity in the mess we’re in. Digging deeper doesn’t lead to anything, somewhere deep down, we know that. But the mind wants answers, wants to feel in control again. Now, however, is a time to give the mind a break and let it rest. To address the mind and take over from the endless stream of thoughts coursing through your head. But then what can we do?   Stop blaming yourself You start analyzing the relationship and everything that has occurred. Maybe you go into therapy, talk to a friend, or start searching the web. You remember situations where you could have acted differently. You start recognizing patterns that have disclosed themselves in previous relationships as well. You learn about your attachment style and love language. Maybe you’re too needy or too distant. You might discover a fear of abandonment or commitment. You might not like what you find out about yourself, about your shadow self, as Carl Jung called it. Whatever you find out, don’t use it as a weapon against you, but be grateful for the mirror. You can now see your own patterns and deep inner beliefs more clearly, so you can finally start to heal them. And the way to heal them is by being fully present with them. To recognize them without judgment. To allow every emotion without fighting it. To sit with yourself like you would with a sad or angry child. Feel it all, but don’t get lost in it. Or in the story in your head. The story where you messed up, where you’re a failure who’s incapable of love. Witness your mind, comfort it, but don’t allow it to take over. Learn from what has happened and remind yourself that you couldn’t have acted any differently. Now you do, because you have had the experience and the insights. Now you have a choice, once you integrate the lessons.   Get them off the pedestal now They are not perfect, otherwise you wouldn’t find yourself in the situation you’re in. You held up a mirror for them, as well. Maybe you have uncovered some of your own patterns, but they have theirs too. And it’s not your fault they didn’t like what they saw in the mirror. You have triggered their old wounds in the same way they triggered yours. And this may sound like the least romantic statement ever, but that is the real purpose of relationships. To show both partners where they are still bound to the pain from the past. The harsh truth is, they can’t give you the closure you need. That might sound too easy, like letting them off the hook. But they’re completely caught up in their own story. In their old hurts that they might not even be aware of. They’re possessed by it. And that won’t be solved by you telling them what their problems are. Unless they ask, chances are close to zero that they will be receptive to it. For the mind, it’s clear as water, if only they would see their own patterns, it can all be fixed. But healing is something we all do in our own timeframe. And you can only do it for yourself. So start looking back on the relationship with new eyes, with a new perspective. Often, we fall in love with potential. With how they could be. But that doesn’t always come to fruition. Let go of the potential and look at the facts. Did they really show up for you? Were they emotionally available? How was the communication? How fast did they reply? How much time did they really want to spend with you? How deeply were you allowed into their life? Did you have to walk on eggshells? Think about which words to use, what to do. Which red flags did you ignore to keep the relationship going? So you wouldn’t be abandoned again? Asking yourself these questions will paint a new picture of the relationship and give you a clearer image of what you truly desire and deserve in the future.   Focus on yourself Does it really help you to see all their posts and stories? Who are they with? Have they moved on? What are they doing? You’re rereading old messages, looking for clues. Where did it go wrong? What could I have done differently? It gives you a false sense of control over the situation, while all you can really do is surrender. So when you feel the urge arise to check their social media profiles, take a deep breath and relax. Again, ask yourself questions. Address your mind. Is this really helping me in any way? What do I get out of this? Think of all the time, energy, and attention you’re still investing in them by doing so. Put the focus back on yourself. What are your goals for the future? Which little step can you take today to bring you closer to your hopes and dreams? Although it might be hard to see, there is a gift in the situation. And that gift is that you now have time to focus all of your attention on yourself and your vision for the future. Ask yourself what you can give yourself in the moment. Treat yourself to nice things, be present with yourself. Like you would for a friend who was going through the same. Get some fresh air, go out in nature, move your body, or cook yourself a nice meal. You deserve it. Love yourself in a way that you don’t need anyone else’s love and validation anymore. And you will become the safe partner everyone wants to be with. So you can enter into a new relationship as a new version of yourself. One that doesn’t put any pressure on a partner to give them the validation that they are lovable. Because you have found that in yourself and you’re now able to provide for your own needs. Therefore, something new can arise, a new relationship based on unconditional love.   Give yourself time, be gentle with yourself Allow time to heal your wounds. The same way your body heals itself, time will heal your wounds. But you have to allow it by not ripping the band-aid off and stirring it all up over and over again. By thinking about them, obsessing over them. There’s no timeframe for healing. Depending on how emotionally invested you were and how abrupt the ending was, it could take a long time. But don’t focus on that. Only focus on the present moment and what you can do for yourself now. It will go with ups and downs. And sometimes you’ll feel like you relapsed. Don’t judge yourself for it. You’re doing your best. Remind yourself of that constantly. Even when you feel like you’re going around in circles, you’re still doing your best. Forgive yourself, try to forgive them. Honor the relationship you have had, the partner you have parted with. Then your pain and suffering could transform into the biggest personal growth and transformation you have ever encountered. To heal yourself from all the old wounds from the past that go back to the beginning of your life. To uncover the best version of you. and to stand completely in your power as You, the real you. Then what a legacy they’ll have left by what they have done to you. That’s the gift, that’s the potential. Follow me on Facebook , Instagram , and visit my website for more info! Read more from Guy Van de Putte Guy Van de Putte, Spiritual Guide & Mentor Guy Van de Putte works as a guide for all those looking for help navigating life's challenges or finding themselves at a crossroads. His passion is helping people who are ready to wake up go beyond the stories and patterns that unconsciously run their life. Thereby helping them to debunk the lies they told themselves, that are at the root of all the drama in their life, and take back the power over their own lives. So the old wounds from the past can be permanently healed and a new life of true freedom can emerge out of that. A fulfilled life in service off and in harmony with their true calling.

Written by Cyril Ibrahim Sader , Homeopath Health Consultant Cyril (I.C. Hom.) is a dedicated and compassionate Homeo pa th with experience in holistic healing. He blends both classical & modern homeopathy. He heals clients from all over the world, from his hometown, Beirut, Lebanon. In this article, Cyril Ibrahim Sader delves into the differences between homeopathy and psychotherapy, two powerful healing methods. While homeopathy focuses on treating the root cause of illnesses through individualized remedies, psychotherapy aims to improve mental health and emotional well-being. Sader shares compelling case studies where homeopathic treatments have led to transformative results, illustrating how both practices can complement each other for holistic healing. Homeopathy and psychotherapy Homeopathy is a natural form of medicine, used for over 200 years, that treats the person as a whole. We believe that illness is not just a physical state but a reflection of how the person is coping with life. And whatever coping strategy the person uses, it reflects psychosomatically on the body. We find that certain strategies tend to increase the risk to certain types of diseases, thinking patterns and behaviors. There is enough research to show the efficacy of Homeopathic remedies on humans, animals, plants and even cell cultures in the lab. Read below for research and case examples from my clinic, including several cases of breastfeeding-related mental health issues. Psychotherapy, on the other hand, is the use of psychological methods to help a person change behavior, increase happiness, and overcome problems. Psychotherapy aims to improve an individual's well-being and mental health, to resolve or mitigate troublesome behaviors, beliefs, compulsions, thoughts, or emotions, and to improve relationships and social skills. (Wikipedia) History and methods Homeopathy was discovered in the late 18th century by Dr. Samuel Hahnemann. It was a time when medicine was in the dark ages, and he refused to practice medicine as it was then. He took up translation of medical texts, from which he discovered the ancient principle, “like cures like” (Latin: similia similibus curentur), which served as the basic principle for what he later called the healing art of Homeopathy.   A modern medical example of like cures like is radiation therapy for cancer. Radiation causes cancer when the parameters are set right. At the same time, radiation can heal the cancer if the parameters are set right for that.   Another example is the plant Colchicum autumnale. It contains colchicine, a compound that in high doses can cause symptoms resembling gout-like inflammation. Yet, in carefully controlled doses, colchicine is used as a modern, evidence-based treatment for gout. The homeopathic remedy Colchicum is used as a treatment for gout and other issues. With Homeopathy, the remedies used can be seen as a microdose of a substance that stimulates the body to heal itself. It can be likened to giving the body new instructions (i.e., information) to shift its function to a healthy way again. This is why Homeopathic treatment is always individualized, to match the client’s body type, mind-type and specific manifestations of the disease they have. Psychotherapy, on the other hand, has to do with the mind, behavior, and emotions. It has roots that trace back to ancient practices, with early methods combining religious, magical, and medical perspectives. The term "psychotherapy" was first used in the late 19th century, after which it became a profession on its own, focused on treating psychological issues. Modern psychotherapists use a wide variety of tools and techniques, combining traditional talk therapy with structured methods, assessments, and evidence-based practices. These include cognitive-behavioral therapies, mindfulness-based therapies, and trauma-focused methods. Homeopathy and psychotherapy are complementary. What’s more, both practices have several things in common: they are healing arts that rely on the therapeutic relationship between the practitioner and the patient. Both deal with suffering, mental health, and the patient’s story. The homeopathic session, as with psychotherapy, always starts with the client talking about their issues without interruption. Science supports homeopathy Some people hold the view that there is no scientific evidence to support Homeopathy. The hundreds of high-quality research studies that are available disagree. Find out more at Homeopathy Research Institute . A 2015 randomized, double-dummy, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial from PLoS One compared the efficacy of individualized Homeopathic treatment to Prozac for moderate to severe depression in menopausal women. Both treatments were found to be safe and to have an effect much better than placebo. Homeopathy caused greater clinical improvement in symptoms of depression than fluoxetine and also improved the patients’ menopausal symptoms, whereas fluoxetine (Prozac) did not.[1] The fact that the homeopathic remedies improved the depression as well as the post-menopausal symptoms suggests that it is holistic in its action. And this tells us that both issues (in the study) are related in a way that homeopaths can understand. While in psychotherapy, there are many methods and tools for alleviating depression, they can only manage sleep and hot flushes of post-menopausal women. Another example is thyroid diseases. Psychotherapy and psychiatry don’t have protocols for thyroid cases except to manage the symptoms. In Homeopathy, thyroid disease has been successfully treated mostly because homeopaths go to the root of the issue. I have already documented a case of grief in my previous 2 articles. It was a case of hypothyroidism after chronic unresolved grief. With a few doses of a homeopathic remedy for grief, the test results showed a normal thyroid again after about a month. Breastfeeding “trauma” Another issue that Homeopathy excels at resolving is the issue of breastfeeding. Scientific evidence shows that lack of breastfeeding (or not enough of it) has detrimental long-term effects on humans. Formula-fed infants have significantly higher rates of gastroenteritis, diarrhea, pneumonia, and ear infections (otitis media) compared to breastfed infants. Meta-analyses show a 2-3x higher risk of gastrointestinal infections and a 3.6x higher risk of hospitalization for respiratory infections in the first year of life.[2] Mental and emotional states are probably harder to compare and study, but with Homeopathy, we see that resolving this lack of being breastfed causes big improvements in anxiety, self-confidence, and social interactions. Symbolically, this issue can be seen as a lack of nurture and a problem connecting to the mother, the source of warmth and affection for the child. Case examples MM, 35-year-old, female, Switzerland, her mom had to stop breastfeeding her after a month or so. Two days after receiving the remedy we give for people who have not been breastfed enough (or at all), she felt “great, a feeling of liberation which started after the remedy.” Then she tells me of a situation, “I had a teacher’s conference, stood on stage with 2 colleagues in front of 200 people. While we are presenting, people started talking to each other and commenting. It didn’t touch me, for the first time ever.” Another case, LE, a 30-year-old female from Lebanon, was breastfed for only a month. After a single dose of the remedy, and over the next several hours, she experienced the following changes. “Felt warm, happy, euphoric, no cigarette cravings! Very jovial and chatty, after a week of feeling very low. 2 hours later, nervous system in rest mode, jaw unclenched, lower back pain released (was very tight before). That evening, I feel warmer, like I have so much love and warmth to give. I was passing near a mirror, had a lot of love for myself, and did not focus on how I looked or other details. I was able to see myself through another lens, I saw innocence and wisdom at the same time. A sense of contentment and ease.” MS, female, 27-year-old, Saudi Arabia, she wasn’t breastfed a lot. She received several remedies, including one for breastfeeding. After a month, the following results
. She reports that the people around her say she is different. She used to be shy as a child, wouldn’t talk, and didn’t like people. Now she is better at talking to people, her anxiety is less and she feels calmer. After the remedies, her sleep time has increased, she was not sleeping enough before she started the treatment. She says she wants to live and search for what makes her happy and satisfied. Before, she was attached to people because she couldn’t find her value from inside. Now she says she is “inside herself.” She says she wants to take care of her health. The final case in this section I will share is IS, a 33-year-old male from Lebanon, who was breastfed for only 1 month. The next day after taking the first dose of the remedy, he felt more grounded and more self-confident. He continued taking it monthly. His facial hair grew to a normal beard, and he found he was able to say “no” to requests from others, which wasn’t the case before. He was a “people pleaser” before that moment. Resentment Another remarkable case, RMB, female, 65 years old, Lebanon, came to me for urinary bladder pain. Had a history of sexual abuse. Recently, she was emotionally triggered by a man who married her daughter. He reminded her of the man who assaulted her as a child. She was depressed, angry, resentful, and always arguing with her son-in-law, with a lot of drama. One of the remedies I gave her was for such a state, “hateful, resentful, angry.” She only took the remedy 4 times and incredibly, her resentment was resolved, without even talking to her about it. She invited her daughter and her son-in-law for Christmas and put the whole issue completely to rest. “I’m happy, not depressed anymore. Psychologically, I'm good. I made a decision and I'm feeling good. I’m in control of my emotions again.” Healing transformations such as these are common in Homeopathy. When the cause of an issue is resolved, the body and mind go back to their balance. As we see with the breastfeeding cases, the problems such people have do not originate in the mind alone. Both homeopathy and psychotherapy offer unique yet complementary ways of healing. While this article was more about showing off the power of Homeopathy from a psychotherapeutic perspective, the intention is to spread the word. The cases brought forth illustrate how deeply transformative and quick Homeopathy can be, especially when the root causes of illness are uncovered and resolved. Follow me on Instagram and visit my website for more info! Read more from Cyril Ibrahim Sader Cyril Ibrahim Sader , Homeopath Health Consultant Cyril (I.C. Hom.) is a dedicated and compassionate Homeopath with experience in holistic healing. Specializing in individualized treatment plans, he blends classical homeopathy with an understanding of mind-body wellness to support patients in achieving lasting health and balance. Known for his gentle approach and attentive care, he helps people of all ages navigate chronic conditions, emotional stress, and everyday ailments. He heals clients from all over the world, from his hometown, Beirut, Lebanon. Citations: PLOS ONE Staff. Correction: Individualized Homeopathic Treatment and Fluoxetine for Moderate to Severe Depression in Peri- and Postmenopausal Women (HOMDEP-MENOP Study): A Randomized, Double-Dummy, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial. PLoS One. 2015 May 4;10(5):e0127719. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0127719. Erratum for: PLoS One. 2015 Mar 13;10(3):e0118440. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0118440. PMID: 25938465; PMCID: PMC4418841. Stuebe A. The risks of not breastfeeding for mothers and infants. Rev Obstet Gynecol. 2009 Fall;2(4):222-31. PMID: 20111658; PMCID: PMC2812877.

In this interview, Rita Baki explores how transformation begins with awareness, helping individuals and teams overcome resistance to change. By integrating emotional intelligence, neuroscience, and subconscious work, Rita Baki helps clients unlock their full potential, leading to improved decision-making, performance, and overall well-being. Rita Baki, Human Performance & EQ Consultant What strategies do you use to help individuals embrace transformation and unlock their full potential? Transformation begins with awareness. It is the awareness of all the layers that once served as protections, but now cost us our internal stability. I help individuals gently understand how their emotional patterns, past experiences and subconscious beliefs shape the way they think, feel, and respond to life. Often, what looks like “being stuck” is simply the nervous system trying to stay safe in familiar ways. So, rather than pushing for change, we create the conditions for it. This means learning how to regulate the nervous system, building emotional awareness, and creating a sense of internal safety. From that place, clarity naturally emerges along with better decision-making, creativity, performance and ultimately, fulfilment. I build this trajectory for my clients by integrating emotional intelligence, neuroscience-informed approaches and subconscious work. However, at the heart of it is compassion. When we remove guilt and self-judgment, people stop fighting themselves and that’s when real, sustainable change begins. How do you tailor your services to address the unique needs of both individuals and corporate clients? While my core principles remain consistent, each program is thoughtfully curated to complement my client’s strengths, circumstances and goals. With individuals, the work is deeply personal. I create a space where they can slow down, feel safe and begin to understand what’s happening beneath the surface. We explore emotional patterns, internal conflicts and the subtle, unconscious ways they may be holding themselves back. From there, we work on regulation, clarity, and alignment so that change becomes an organic and natural process, rather than a forced one. In corporate settings, behind every organizational change is a human being navigating pressure, expectations and internal responses. Therefore, I bring the same human-centered lens, but translate it into a language that supports performance and leadership. I focus on strengthening emotional intelligence, communication, and decision-making, while helping leaders and teams understand how their internal patterns influence their external performance. This allows for more grounded leadership, stronger team dynamics, and greater resilience under pressure. Ultimately, my work bridges inner awareness with real-world outcomes – supporting sustainable performance without compromising well-being. How does current scientific research inform the way you approach human behavior and decision-making in your coaching? In my practice, I rely on evidence-based strategies grounded in neuroscience and behavioral science. There is a growing body of research showing that our cognition is not limited to the brain alone. Decision-making and behavior are influenced by three interconnected systems: the analytical brain (head), the emotional and relational intelligence of the heart, and the intuitive responses of the gut. From a neuroscience perspective, we now understand that these systems are in constant communication. The heart and brain interact through bidirectional neural pathways influencing emotional processing and perception, while the gut – often referred to as the “second brain” – communicates with the central nervous system via the vagus nerve, immune signaling and neurotransmitters.  This means that many of our patterns are not just psychological; they are also embodied physiologically. How do you integrate brain training techniques into your coaching sessions to drive personal and professional growth? I approach growth as a whole-system process. This process is one that involves not just the thinking mind, but the emotional and physiological intelligence of the body. In my work, I integrate a range of brain-based approaches, including emotional intelligence frameworks, somatic awareness practices, hypnotherapy and nervous system regulation. I also draw from Multiple Brain Integration Techniques (mBIT), which focus on aligning the intelligence of the head, heart and gut to support more coherent decision-making and behavior. I guide clients through processes that bring all of their internal systems into alignment. Together, we work on: Regulating the nervous system to create internal safety Working with subconscious patterns through hypnotherapy Using mBIT processes to align head (clarity), heart (values), and gut (intuition) Developing somatic awareness to reconnect with internal signals When these systems are coherent, people experience a very different quality of performance. They think more clearly, feel more grounded and make decisions that are both strategic and intuitive. How do you address the underlying causes of resistance to change, and what techniques do you find most effective in overcoming it? I am honestly delighted to be answering this question because resistance to change is a natural and essential part of the transformation process that is often misunderstood. It is not a sign of laziness or lack of discipline. Instead, it reflects the nervous system’s attempt to protect the individual from perceived uncertainty or threat. Even when change is positive, the body may interpret it as unsafe. This is why many people feel stuck despite having clear goals. And, to me, that is okay. In my work, I create a safety-first environment where resistance is acknowledged and explored with curiosity and patience. Through nervous system regulation techniques, increased self-awareness, and gradual exposure to new behaviors, clients begin to feel secure enough to move forward. I use methods such as parts integration, subconscious reprogramming, and emotional processing to overcome resistance to change. These techniques focus on resolving internal instability rather than managing surface-level behaviors. Lasting change cannot occur when the nervous system is dysregulated. True progress begins when the body feels safe. What impact have you seen your training programs have on teams, and how do they evolve through your approach? The impact of my workplace well-being programs is both immediate and long-term. In the short term, teams experience improved focus, reduced stress and better communication. There is often a noticeable shift in energy where people feel more present and engaged. Over time, a deeper impact emerges: stronger leadership, emotional intelligence in decision-making and a culture that supports both performance and well-being. Teams move from operating in survival mode to operating with clarity and intention. This is where innovation, collaboration and sustainable growth truly thrive. How do you see the future of leadership evolving in relation to wellbeing and performance? The future of leadership is deeply human. We are moving away from models that reward constant output and toward those that value regulation, awareness, and adaptability. Leaders who understand their own nervous system and emotional patterns will be better equipped to lead others through uncertainty. Well-being has never been a luxury. However, there is now more emphasis on it being a strategic imperative. Organizations that recognize this will not only retain talent but also unlock higher levels of performance and innovation. The leaders of the future are not the ones who push harder, but the ones who understand how to optimize their internal state and help others do the same. Follow me on Instagram , LinkedIn , and visit my website for more info! Read more from Rita Baki

Written by Helen Kenworthy, Artistic Director Helen champions the arts as a tool for change. Now, as CEO of RYTC Creatives CIC and Give Get Go Education, she mentors young people, creates pathways for them to thrive in the arts, and helps launch successful careers. When people think about what the body holds, trauma is often the first thing that comes to mind. It has become one of the most familiar ways we explain tension, emotional overwhelm, disconnection, and the quiet ways the past continues to shape the present. While this has helped many people make sense of their experiences, it has also narrowed the conversation because not everything the body carries comes from trauma alone. Sometimes the body is holding grief that was never fully expressed, or needs that were overlooked, postponed, minimized, or never met at all. Sometimes it is carrying the weight of experiences we had to keep moving through without having the time, language, safety, or support to process them properly. These experiences do not always show up in obvious ways. They tend to settle quietly, revealing themselves over time through tension, fatigue, emotional distance, restlessness, over-adapting, or a persistent sense that something feels off, even when life appears to be functioning on the surface. This is what makes the conversation so important. Many people are responding not only to what happened but also to what was missing, what was never acknowledged, and what they learned to live without. The body holds all of this in ways that are often subtle, layered, and deeply personal. In this article, we move beyond the idea that the body only stores trauma. We explore how unreleased grief, unmet needs, and lived experiences shape the patterns we carry, the signals we experience, and the ways we respond to ourselves over time. Because when we begin to understand this differently, we also begin to relate to ourselves differently. The myths we carry about emotional processing One of the reasons unreleased grief and unmet needs remain in the body for so long is because of what we have been taught about emotions, coping, and what it means to move on. These beliefs are often subtle and rarely questioned, yet they shape how we respond to ourselves every day. Here are some of the most common myths: If it was not serious, it should not still affect you. Time heals everything. Coping means you have healed. You should be able to move on by now. Emotions should be controlled or avoided. Being strong means not needing support. If you can explain it, you have processed it. Ignoring it will make it go away. These ideas do more than influence how we think. They shape how we relate to what we feel, often keeping us in patterns of pushing through, minimizing our experiences, and overlooking what the body may be trying to communicate. When these beliefs begin to shift, something else becomes possible. We start to recognize that what we carry is not about what was “big enough” to matter but about what was never given the space to be felt in the first place. The signals your body sends when something feels off The body often communicates in ways that are easy to miss, especially when you are used to getting on with things. These signals may not feel significant in the moment, but over time, they begin to form a pattern. They are not random. They are often the body’s way of showing that something has not yet been processed, acknowledged, or supported. This can show up as: Feeling tired even after resting. A constant sense of tension or tightness in the body. Difficulty switching off or fully relaxing. Feeling emotionally distant or disconnected. Overthinking or being constantly “on alert.” Finding it hard to identify or express what you feel. Always adapting to others, but rarely checking in with yourself. A persistent sense that something feels off, even when things seem fine. These experiences are easy to dismiss, especially when they do not feel extreme. But they are not insignificant. They are signals. When you begin to notice them without immediately pushing past them, something starts to shift. What once felt unclear begins to make more sense because the body is not reacting without reason. It is responding to what it has been holding for a long time. What it really means to hold unreleased grief, unmet needs, and the untold stories we carry Holding unreleased grief, unmet needs, and untold experiences is not always something we can clearly point to. It is often built gradually, through moments that were never fully processed, acknowledged, or supported. Not everything the body holds comes from what happened. Some of it comes from what was missing: The support that was not there. The reassurance that never came. The space that was never created to feel or make sense of what you were going through. Unreleased grief can sit as a quiet heaviness that is difficult to explain. Unmet needs can show up as constant effort, always adjusting and anticipating. Over time, the stories that form around these experiences can begin to feel like truth. The shift begins when we recognize that we are carrying both what we felt and the meaning we made from it. We are no longer only responding to the feeling, but also becoming aware of the interpretations that have shaped how we see ourselves and our experiences. From there, things begin to make more sense. Not because everything changes at once, but because we are no longer moving through it without understanding what we have been holding. The patterns the body develops to cope Over time, what has not been fully processed does not simply stay as an experience. It begins to shape how you move, respond, and relate to the world in ways that feel natural, familiar, and automatic. These patterns are not something you consciously choose. They develop gradually as ways of adapting, managing, and continuing in situations where something felt uncertain, overwhelming, or missing. They can show up as: Taking on everything yourself, even when support is available. Anticipating what others need before checking in with yourself. Staying quiet or holding things in. Overthinking and trying to get everything “right.” Always being prepared or thinking ahead. Constantly adjusting to keep things steady. Struggling to pause or fully relax. Feeling responsible for how things turn out. These ways of responding are often seen as strengths, independence, reliability, being easy to be around. But in many cases, they are learned responses that helped you cope when something important was missing. The impact of ignoring what the body is holding When what the body is holding is repeatedly overlooked, it begins to shape decisions, relationships, and the way you move through life in ways that are not always immediately visible. You may find yourself making choices based on what feels familiar rather than what feels right, staying in patterns that no longer support you simply because they are known. Responses that once helped you cope can begin to limit how fully you engage with what is in front of you now. Over time, this can affect how you show up in relationships. It can become harder to express what you need, to set boundaries, or to trust your own responses, not because you lack awareness, but because the body is still operating from what it has learned to expect. It can also begin to shape how much space you allow yourself to take up, how much you feel able to receive, and how fully you let yourself be seen. And often, this happens gradually, becoming part of what feels normal rather than something that stands out. What changes when you begin to respond When you begin to respond to what the body is holding, even in small ways, the experience starts to change. It does not require everything to be resolved or fully understood. The shift begins with recognizing what is there, rather than continuing to move past it. You may notice a different relationship with yourself, a greater awareness of what you feel and a clearer sense of what you need. Decisions begin to come from a more grounded place, rather than from automatic or reactive patterns. In relationships, this can create space for something different. It can become easier to express what matters, to set boundaries without guilt, and to respond without over-adjusting. Over time, this does not just change how you feel. It changes what feels possible because the body is no longer carrying everything on its own. Moving forward in a different way Moving forward does not mean going back to fix everything that was not processed at the time, nor does it mean waiting until you fully understand everything before doing something differently. The time is now, not in a pressured or overwhelming way, but in a quiet and steady way that begins with awareness. It starts with noticing what you feel without immediately pushing past it, recognizing the patterns that have become familiar, and becoming aware of the moments where you override your own needs, even in everyday situations. From there, it becomes about responding differently in small, consistent ways, allowing yourself to pause before reacting, acknowledging what you need, and creating space where you are not only managing, but also checking in with yourself. This is not about getting it right. It is about developing a more conscious relationship with how you move through your experiences and how you relate to yourself over time. As that awareness deepens, it opens up space for more intentional choices, for responses that feel more aligned, and for a way of experiencing life that is not shaped only by what has been carried. Moving forward with the creative pathway methodology Within the Creative Pathway across RYTC, ESB, and GGGE, this process is supported in a way that brings together creativity, learning, and personal development. Rather than focusing on fixing what has been carried, the approach creates space for individuals to express, explore, and better understand their experiences in ways that feel accessible and supported. It recognizes that change does not come from pressure, but from environments where people feel safe enough to engage, reflect, and respond differently over time. Through creative practice, education, and skill development, individuals are given opportunities to build confidence, develop awareness, and begin to relate to themselves in new ways. This is not about removing what has been experienced, but about creating pathways where those experiences can be understood and worked with, rather than carried alone. Over time, this creates a shift that extends beyond the moment, opening up greater clarity, support, and possibility. Conclusion What the body holds is not always obvious. It is not always something we can easily explain or trace back to a single moment, yet it continues to shape how we feel, how we respond, and how we move through the world. Unreleased grief, unmet needs, and the stories we carry are not signs that something is wrong. They are reflections of what has been experienced, adapted to, and carried over time. When we begin to recognize this, the focus shifts. Not towards fixing ourselves, but towards understanding what we have been holding and how it has shaped us. From that place, change becomes possible, not through pressure or perfection, but through awareness, through space, and through a different way of responding to ourselves and our experiences. What did you recognize in yourself as you were reading this? Creative Pathway methodology: Of Course You Can!™ serving the brilliantly underestimated.   Follow me on  Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn , and visit my website for more info! Read more from Helen Kenworthy Helen Kenworthy, Artistic Director Helen Kenworthy’s career embodies the transformative power of the arts, from her early roles in the prestigious West End with Bill Kenwright to her impactful work in regional theatre. As manager of the Oxfordshire Youth Arts Partnership, she created pathways for young people to thrive in the arts, with many going on to successful careers. Now at RYTC Creatives CIC and Give Get Go Education, Helen continues to inspire and mentor the next generation of theatre-makers and community leaders, offering invaluable opportunities for growth and professional development.

Written by Elizabeth Hopper Borge, Health and Wellness Coach Elizabeth Borge is a well-known Yoga and Tai chi professional, a National Board Certified health and Wellness coach, NBC-HWC, and a C-IAYT yoga therapist. She is the owner of Fit for Life Jenkiintown and founder of Dancer for Life LLC. We’ve all heard the phrase "you are what you eat," but as we look toward a future of staying active, mobile, and sharp, a better way to think about it is: your body is a high-performance machine, and your nutrition is the fuel. While it’s never too late to start, the nutritional choices we make today (whether we are 25, 45, or 65) determine how much "dance" we have left in our step decades from now. Why prioritizing your nutrition now is the ultimate gift to your future self 1. The protein-muscle connection: Protecting your strength One of the biggest hurdles to long-term vitality is sarcopenia, or age-related muscle loss. Starting as early as our 30s, we naturally begin to lose muscle mass if we aren't intentional about maintaining it. Muscle is more than just strength; it is the "body armor" that protects our joints and keeps our metabolism humming. To fight this, increasing high-quality protein is essential. Think of protein as the bricks and mortar for your muscles. By prioritizing protein in every meal, you aren't just fueling a workout; you are ensuring that your body stays strong enough to move, lift, and play for years to come. 2. Hydration and the brain: Clearing the fog Have you ever felt "fuzzy" or struggled to focus before a morning class? Often, what we mistake for "getting older" or "brain fog" is actually mild dehydration. As we age, our body’s thirst signaling can become less sensitive. However, our brains are roughly 75% water. Even a tiny drop in hydration can impact cognitive function, energy levels, and coordination. Making a habit of consistent hydration (starting with a full glass of water the moment you wake up) ensures your brain stays as quick and responsive as your body. 3. Anti-inflammatory eating: Soothing the aches Many people hesitate to start a new fitness routine because of nagging "aches and pains." While exercise is vital, what you put on your fork can either dampen or fuel that internal fire of inflammation. By making simple, anti-inflammatory swaps, you can help your body recover faster and feel more fluid. Swap processed snacks for leafy greens like spinach or kale. Incorporate spices like turmeric or ginger into your cooking. Reach for berries rich in antioxidants. These aren't just "health foods"; they are natural recovery tools that keep your joints supple and your energy high. Your long-term vitality blueprint Understanding what your body needs is one thing. Translating it into a realistic, enjoyable eating plan that fits your life is another. That is exactly where personalized nutrition coaching makes all the difference. At Fit for Life Jenkintown, our nutrition coaching is built around the same philosophy as our fitness programs: you deserve a plan that is tailored to you, your goals, your preferences, your schedule, and your body. Whether you are looking to build lean muscle, reduce inflammation, boost your energy, or simply feel your best every single day, our coaches are here to guide you step by step. Ready to fuel your best years? Start nutrition coaching at Fit for Life Jenkintown today and take the first step toward eating and living with purpose. Visit my website for more info! Read more from Elizabeth Hopper Borge Elizabeth Hopper Borge, Health and Wellness Coach Elizabeth is an NHB-WC (Board-Certified Health and Wellness coach), Certified Professional Coach, and Certified Weight Loss Coach (AFPA). She is a C-IAYT yoga therapist and has had years of counseling experience. She is a Level 1 and Level 2 IIQTC (Institute of Integral Qigong and Tai Chi) Senior Trainer, Tai Chi Easy Senior Trainer, and a Healer Within Senior Trainer. She is using all these skillsets to support your wellness journey.

Written by Catherine Crestani, Inner Authority Guide, Writer and Speaker Catherine Crestani is an Inner Authority Guide, author, speaker, and host of the Willow Healing Matters podcast who works at the intersection of spirituality, psychology, and consciousness. Drawing on her background in allied health and business leadership, she empowers people to reconnect with their inner wisdom and embody transformation. In a world with increasing amounts of technology, growing reliance on AI, and constant pressure to keep up, how do you stay connected to yourself in all the noise? At what point do we stop thinking for ourselves and start reflecting the systems around us? From running businesses for nearly two decades, I will be the first to admit that I was initially reluctant to embrace change. Moving to cloud-based systems, CRMs, and digital processes felt like adding layers between me and what mattered. Even now, watching people scan their faces to pay for something still feels unsettling. But here is what I learned. When I chose to embrace the changes that felt aligned, not all of them, my business became easier to run. Systems created efficiency. Access became simpler. Time opened up. And that space is where something important lives. Because now we are stepping into the age of AI. As we encounter this incredible opportunity, we must also acknowledge a very real risk, the risk of losing your voice in the noise. The risk of losing yourself in the age of AI AI is powerful. It can generate ideas, write content, streamline processes, and accelerate growth. But research is already beginning to highlight a shift in how we think and create. A study published in Nature Human Behavior found that when people rely heavily on AI generated suggestions, they are more likely to converge toward similar ideas, reducing originality and diversity of thought. At the same time, research from Harvard Business Review highlights that overreliance on automation can diminish critical thinking and decision making skills when individuals stop actively engaging in the process. In other words, the more we outsource our thinking, the easier it becomes to lose our own voice. The role of discernment The tool that allows us to stay connected to ourselves is discernment. Discernment is the ability to pause, check in with your truth, and decide what aligns and what doesn’t. It is what keeps your humanity intact in a world of increasing automation. Because AI is not the problem. Blind acceptance is. When you use AI without discernment, you risk becoming a mirror of it. But when you use it consciously, it becomes a powerful tool for expansion. Using AI without losing yourself I’ve experienced this firsthand. When I began using AI, I noticed that if I simply accepted what it gave me, the output felt generic, like it could belong to anyone. But when I challenged it, refined it, and stayed connected to my own voice, something shifted. For example, I experimented with prompts that removed politeness and asked for direct, honest responses. The output changed. It stopped mirroring me and started expanding my thinking. Now I use AI to support: editing my writing, including my novel, My Virtual Obsession refining SEO and content for my podcast, Willow Healing Matters supporting marketing and creative output And what I’ve learned is this: AI doesn’t replace your voice. It amplifies it, if you bring your voice first. How to stay connected to your voice If we are choosing to embrace AI rather than be consumed by it, we need to be intentional. Here are the practices I recommend. Try it yourself first. Before turning to AI, create something on your own. Write the post. Record the podcast. Explore the idea. If you skip this step, you risk outsourcing your voice before you have even heard it. Push back. AI is not always right. It can make errors, misinterpret context, and produce generic responses. Challenge it. Refine it. Question it. Discernment is built through interaction, not passive acceptance. Know who you are If you are using AI to find your voice, you are already disconnected from it. AI can help refine your message, but it cannot define it. Your voice is developed through lived experience, reflection, and inner work, not generated prompts. Create space away from technology Constant input creates noise. Research shows that uninterrupted time for reflection supports deeper thinking, creativity, and decision making. Stepping away, even briefly, allows you to reconnect with yourself. Go outside. Spend time in nature. Remove the noise. This is where clarity returns. Embrace change, with discernment. Technology is not going away. AI will continue to evolve. The question is not whether you engage with it, but how. Use what aligns. Leave what doesn’t. Trust yourself enough to know the difference. The return to self We are not just in a technological evolution. We are in a consciousness evolution. The more advanced our tools become, the more important it is that we remain connected to who we are. Because your voice is not something technology can create. It is something you choose to listen to. And in a world full of noise, that choice is what will set you apart. The choice to stay connected to yourself In a world that is becoming louder, faster, and more automated, staying connected to yourself is no longer optional, it is essential. Your voice is not something you find in a system, a prompt, or a platform. It is something you return to. And the more you practice listening to it, the clearer it becomes. If this article has made you pause, if it has sparked a sense that you may be ready to reconnect with your own voice more deeply, then this is your invitation to explore that further. Through my Inner Authority sessions, I work with individuals who are ready to move beyond the noise, reconnect with their inner wisdom, and make aligned decisions in their lives, businesses, and creative expression. You can learn more or book a session here. Because no matter how advanced technology becomes, your greatest advantage will always be your ability to think, feel, and choose for yourself. Follow me on Instagram for more info! Read more from Catherine Crestani Catherine Crestani, Inner Authority Guide, Writer and Speaker Catherine Crestani writes and speaks about consciousness, inner authority, and embodied leadership. With a background in allied health and entrepreneurship, she has built and led successful businesses before turning her focus toward empowering others to reconnect with their inner wisdom and live from embodied self-trust. Her work bridges spirituality and psychology to explore the deeper dimensions of healing, awareness, and human potential. She is the host of the Willow Healing Matters podcast. At the heart of her work is a simple knowing that when we remember who we truly are, everything changes. References: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41562-023-01644-2 https://hbr.org/2023/07/how-ai-is-changing-the-way-we-think https://www.apa.org/monitor/2015/03/brain-break

Written by Howaida Abdalla, Life Coach Howaida Abdalla is a survivor of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and a life coach who has experience when it comes to trauma that a survivor goes through and the journey it takes to heal. She helps women to reconnect and love themselves again. She is a founder of "The Growth Hub Coaching and "Women Empowerment edition: Impact for change" Podcast. Supporting survivors of female genital mutilation (FGM) requires more than awareness. It calls for listening, patience, cultural humility, and long-term commitment to safety and dignity. Survivors often live with physical, emotional, relational, and social impacts that may remain invisible to others. Real support begins when we understand that healing is not linear and that every survivor’s journey is different. This article offers guidance for individuals, services, and communities who want to respond with care, respect, and effectiveness. 1. Start With Belief and Respect One of the most powerful things you can do is believe survivors when they speak about their experiences. Many survivors grew up in environments where silence was expected. Some were told the practice was normal, necessary, or loving. Others were never given language to describe what happened to them. Support begins with: listening without judgment avoiding shock or intrusive questions respecting the survivor’s pace allowing them to choose what they share Instead of asking “Why didn’t anyone stop it?”, try, “Thank you for trusting me with this.” Belief restores dignity. Respect restores safety. 2. Understand That FGM Affects More Than the Body FGM is not only a physical experience. It can affect: body awareness trust in healthcare systems relationships and intimacy identity and belonging confidence and voice emotional regulation connection to culture or family Some survivors may live with chronic pain or medical complications. Others may mainly carry emotional or relational impacts. Many carry both. Support means recognizing the whole person, not only the procedure. 3. Avoid Assumptions About Culture or Choice FGM is often misunderstood as something survivors “accepted” or “agreed to,” when in reality most experienced it as children without informed consent. Supportive responses avoid blaming families, stereotyping communities, or treating survivors as cultural symbols instead of individuals. Instead, they stay curious, remain respectful, and recognize complexity. Many survivors hold love for their families while also holding pain from what happened, and both experiences can exist at the same time. 4. Create Safe Spaces in Healthcare Healthcare can feel frightening for survivors, especially if previous experiences involved silence, confusion, or lack of understanding. Professionals can support survivors by: asking permission before examinations explaining procedures clearly offering trauma informed care avoiding judgmental language allowing extra time when needed Small actions can make a large difference. A survivor who feels safe in one appointment is more likely to return for future care. Safety builds trust. Trust supports healing. 5. Support Emotional Healing Without Pressure Some survivors speak openly about their experiences, while others need years before finding words, and some never want to discuss details at all. All responses are valid. Support means not forcing disclosure, not rushing healing timelines, not expecting survivors to educate others, and recognizing silence as a coping strategy rather than weakness. Healing often happens slowly and quietly, and sometimes the most supportive presence is simply consistency. 6. Recognize the Impact on Relationships and Intimacy FGM can influence how survivors experience closeness, trust, and connection in adulthood. Support may involve encouraging access to trauma-informed therapy, respecting boundaries, understanding that intimacy may feel complicated, and allowing survivors control over conversations about their bodies. Partners, especially, play an important role by responding with patience rather than expectation. Feeling safe in relationships can be deeply healing. 7. Support Survivors Without Making Them Spokespeople Some survivors become advocates, while others do not, and both choices deserve respect. Support does not mean expecting survivors to tell their story publicly, educate communities, represent all survivors, or repeatedly explain cultural contexts. Advocacy should always be voluntary, not assumed. Survivors deserve space to simply live their lives. 8. Strengthen Community Awareness Without Stigma Communities play a powerful role in prevention and healing. Supportive community action includes creating safe conversations about bodies and wellbeing, supporting parents with accurate information, working with faith and cultural leaders, encouraging intergenerational dialogue, and protecting girls without shaming families. Change happens most effectively when communities are included, not judged. Compassion creates safer futures. 9. Encourage Access to Specialist Support Survivors may benefit from support such as specialist medical care, counselling or therapy, peer support groups, safeguarding advice when needed, and culturally informed services. Access improves when professionals clearly explain options and respect survivor choice. Support is strongest when survivors stay in control of decisions affecting their bodies. 10. Remember That Healing Is Possible Survivors are often described only through trauma, but they are also leaders, parents, professionals, artists, caregivers, advocates, and community builders. Support means recognizing strength as well as pain. Healing does not mean forgetting. Healing means reclaiming voice, safety, and self connection. And sometimes the most powerful message a survivor can hear is, You are not alone. Your story matters. Your future is yours. Follow me on Facebook and Instagram for more info! Read more from Howaida Abdalla Howaida Abdalla, Life Coach Howaida Abdalla is a life coach who helps women (survivors) of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) to reconnect & love themselves again. She was seven years old when the FGM procedure was done on her, which left her lost and disconnected not only from people, but also from herself. She has since dedicated her life to helping other survivors reconnect and love themselves. She is a founder of "The Growth Hub Coaching," where she helps & coaches survivors. Her Mission: To hep, To inspire & To empower.

Reconnecting with your true self in a world filled with noise requires more than insight, it demands the courage to turn inward and confront the beliefs that quietly shape your life. In this conversation, we explore how inner stillness, self-awareness, and releasing limiting patterns can lead to a deeper sense of freedom, purpose, and authentic fulfillment. Guy Van de Putte, Guide How do you help clients reconnect with their true selves in a world full of distractions? Distractions come in many forms. We usually start life by looking at the material world. There’s always a next goal to achieve, a new movie to see, or a deadline to be met. After enough bumps in the road, we might turn our attention to the therapeutic or spiritual world. We find solace in all sorts of workshops and trainings, self help books and podcasts, and although they bring insights and understanding, we still keep our minds occupied. There comes a point in one’s life when every true seeker has to turn inward. To the place of stillness within. The place where we can come home to ourselves. And where wisdom resides. There are many ways to do that. Meditation is probably one of the best known, but I also encounter a lot of resistance to it. Many people hold on to the belief that they can’t meditate because their thoughts keep coming. This comes from a false definition they’re carrying. The goal is not to stop the thoughts from arising. It’s about detaching from them and becoming the observer, and thereby gradually becoming aware that we are not our thoughts, but the silent witness to them. Of course, our breath is also a great entry point into that place of inner peace. Simply being aware that your body is breathing will instantly put you back in touch with that deeper dimension of who you really are. What breakthroughs do people experience when they release guilt, shame, or limiting beliefs? Everybody would love to hear that you become absolutely ecstatic and that all of a sudden, nothing bad happens to you anymore. It’s not about stopping the rain, it’s about learning to dance in it. And what arises then is a sense of inner peace. You can call it happiness if you want. We all use different definitions for it. Personally, I love the word freedom. The freedom to make your own choices, no longer fueled by your unconscious patterns. Freedom from all the lies we’ve been telling ourselves about all the things we’ve done wrong. All shame is based upon a lie. The lie that we are defective human beings, that we could have made other choices. We couldn’t have. Not at that moment. Forgive yourself for all you would do differently now, make amends where needed and possible, and be grateful for what you’ve learned from it. It’s all about changing our mindset about the past, not about changing it or carrying the burden of it forever. How do you support people in rediscovering their soul’s purpose and mission on Earth? Never underestimate the power of active listening. We all know what brings us joy and what comes naturally to us. Our eyes light up when we talk about it, and a different energy enters the room. Sometimes simply pointing that out and inviting people to feel their own excitement when they talk about their passions is enough. In that sense, we all act as mirrors to each other. The right question can be the key to a new life of purpose and meaning. However, many of us hold a belief that there is a specific end goal, that we’re failing our life’s purpose or mission because we haven’t figured out exactly why we’re here. We miss a certain job description, so to speak. We’re all here to express ourselves as the unique individuals we are, so how could we fit into a one size fits all description? We don’t need to know every step to get there. We have no idea yet what it will look like, and we don’t need to. If you look back at your life, you’ve always been guided to the right people, places, and circumstances. Deep down, we all know it. So it’s about guiding people back to that inner space of faith and trust. It is there, although it might be very well hidden. This process might take some time, but the most important thing is not to judge yourself when you find yourself back in despair. Honor your pace, honor your path, and trust that life is working out for you, never against you, no matter what the outside world might look like. What’s the most common barrier you help clients overcome on the path to fulfillment? We have all had our own life experiences where we encountered pain and loss, rejection and betrayal. And usually, we only seek help when things get really bad, when we feel we can’t go on anymore or we don’t know how to. By then, we have collected quite a storybook. So the stories my clients share with me are very diverse. But underneath it all, we all seem to share the same conviction. The form may vary, but it’s usually something along the lines of “I’m not good enough,” “Something’s wrong with me,” or “I am a failure.” Once that belief turns into a conviction, it becomes a pattern that unconsciously dictates our lives. And all the events taking place outside of us are measured by those upheld beliefs we carry within us. So we start performing and putting on an act. We start behaving the way we think will get us the love and validation every human being desperately longs for. It’s about permitting ourselves to be fully us. That’s where true fulfillment is found, living a life in alignment with our passions, our hopes, and our dreams. Without the fear based background noise telling us we won’t be able to make a living out of it or that we will estrange ourselves from the people around us. We were all born with a specific skill set, specific passions, and interests. Those aren’t random. Nothing in nature is. Look at any ecosystem and how well it is designed by divine intelligence. Don’t doubt for a second that you’re out of place. You’re part of life. Life needs you and what you have to offer, or you wouldn’t be here. How do you measure transformation when someone truly reconnects with their core self? This is actually a difficult question to answer, as it will not always be visible from the outside. We’re used to measuring success in terms of numbers or certain behaviors, but true inner transformation is very personal. Therefore, the way it looks from the outside may differ greatly from person to person. Sometimes the outer world doesn’t change a lot, or not at first. On the inside, however, there is peace. Peace with what is. We stop fighting life and the events happening around us. This doesn’t mean we no longer interact with what is or that we no longer feel emotions when something happens. But we learn to accept it first before trying to change it. We take a step back, relax into it, and see what comes from there. We stop performing and make different choices, choices that align with our inner truth, even if that means we have to give up certain things. Of course, there are signs as well. We’re all attracted to those who are expressing their authentic selves. You can see it in their eyes, you feel the sincerity. There are no hidden agendas. Something has changed. There’s a calmness there, very different from what we usually encounter when we engage with other people. Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and visit my website for more info! Read more from Guy Van de Putte

Written by Susan F. Moody, Intuitive Business, Life, and Success Coach As a Life Mastery Certified Coach®, Susan integrates spirituality with practicality, guiding women to discover their unique Soul Goal™ and chart a personal path to success and happiness. Unlock your inner wisdom, align your heart with your mind, and uncover actionable steps that resonate with your authentic self. I’ll be the first to admit, I’m not easily excitable. So when something does spark excitement in me, you’d think I’d welcome it without hesitation. Instead, I pause. I question. I analyze. I take the idea apart piece by piece before I allow myself to take a single step forward. And almost without fail, something predictable happens. The excitement fades. What once felt energizing becomes heavy. What felt full of possibility gets buried under logic, responsibility, and doubt. The very thing that lit me up quietly loses its spark. If you have ever done this, you are not alone. The questions that steal the spark When excitement appears, it rarely comes with a full plan. It arrives as a feeling, light, curious, alive. But instead of trusting that feeling, many of us immediately shift into evaluation mode. We start asking: Is this practical? Is this responsible? Am I really worthy of wanting this? Can I afford it, financially, emotionally, energetically? Sometimes the hesitation comes from responsibility. We have been conditioned to prioritize what is sensible over what is inspiring. Sometimes it is about worthiness. We question whether we deserve the joy or opportunity that excitement hints at. And sometimes it comes down to money, real concerns mixed with fear based assumptions that stop us before we even explore what is possible. None of these questions are wrong. But when they come too early, they can silence the very desire that is trying to guide us forward. From “why I shouldn’t” to “I’m going for it” Excitement is not random. It is information. It shows us what matters. It points toward growth, creativity, or expansion, often before our minds can fully make sense of it. When we shut it down too quickly, we miss an opportunity to learn something important about ourselves. The shift is not about ignoring responsibility or throwing caution aside. It is about changing the order of operations. Instead of asking why you should not, try pausing long enough to ask: What about this excites me? What part of me feels seen or energized by this idea? What would it look like to explore this, without committing to the entire journey? Excitement does not require an immediate “yes.” It simply asks for curiosity. Practical ways to protect your excitement If you tend to analyze excitement right out of existence, try these gentle adjustments. Let excitement breathe before dissecting it. Give it a day or two before evaluating the logistics. Separate curiosity from commitment. Exploring an idea does not mean you have to follow it to the end. Ask what you want, before asking what is practical. Desire deserves to be acknowledged. Notice which fears are protective and which are limiting. Not all hesitation is wisdom. Take one small step while the energy is still alive. Momentum often brings clarity. The Wise Woman says Excitement is a quiet form of guidance. It does not demand certainty. It invites movement. When something lights you up, it may be worth trusting that spark long enough to see where it leads. Not because it guarantees an outcome, but because it reconnects you with what feels alive, meaningful, and true. So the next time excitement shows up, resist the urge to take it apart too quickly. Let it exist. Let it inform you. Let it guide one small step forward. You do not have to have it all figured out. Sometimes “I really want to do this” is reason enough to begin. Follow me on Facebook , Instagram ,   LinkedIn , and visit my website  for more info! Read more from Susan F. Moody Susan F. Moody, Intuitive Business, Life, and Success Coach Susan F. Moody, Wise Woman, is dedicated to empowering women to tap into their own inner wisdom and discover the power of intentional living. Along her personal journey, Susan became a wisdom seeker looking for ways to connect with the divine for inspiration and guidance. She started working with the I Ching, angel cards, wisdom cards, runes, and pendulum work over 20 years ago and now offers these spiritual insight tools as an option to her clients. She has also developed a tangible technique, the Soul Goal™ finder, to help clients answer the contemplative question “Why am I here?”