Written by Shardia O’Connor, Cultural Consultant Shardia O’Connor explores identity, power, leadership, and social conditioning through a values-led, critical lens. In a world increasingly focused on individualism, "Main Character Syndrome" has emerged as a cultural phenomenon where people view themselves as the central figure in every situation. While self-focus can boost confidence, it often leads to toxic behaviors like dismissing others' experiences and prioritizing personal narratives over genuine connections. This article explores the darker side of Main Character Syndrome and offers insights into fostering empathy and balance in our interactions. Are you the star of every scene? We have all had moments where life feels like a movie, and we are the star. There is nothing wrong with taking pride in your story or striving for personal growth. But when this “main character energy” takes over, it can get in the way of meaningful relationships—both at work and in our personal lives. Main character syndrome (MCS) happens when we start seeing the world as revolving around us. Sure, it is not always intentional, but it can lead to self-centered behaviour that alienates others. Let us break down what this looks like, why it is a problem, and how we can keep it in check. What is main character syndrome? Main character syndrome is when someone acts as though life is their personal stage, and everyone else is a supporting character. It’s often unintentional, but it can stem from: Social media culture: Platforms glorify “main character energy,” encouraging people to prioritise their own stories. Individualism: Society sometimes emphasises personal success over collective well-being. Echo chambers: If no one challenges this behaviour, it can feel normal. While feeling like the main character can be empowering, it often comes at a cost—especially if it diminishes other people’s voices and experiences. Signs you might have MCS Not sure if this applies to you? Here are a few signs to look for: You crave the spotlight: Do you feel the need to be the center of attention in conversations or events? You overshadow others: Are you quick to redirect discussions back to yourself, even when someone else is sharing? You take all the credit: In team settings, do you highlight your role while downplaying others’? You struggle with feedback: Do you see constructive criticism as a personal attack? You forget to ask about others: Are you so focused on your story that you miss others’ perspectives? Why is it a problem? The belief that life should unfold like a movie can lead to disappointment. Not every day can be a grand narrative, and this mindset may cause people to feel unfulfilled or dissatisfied when reality does not align with their expectations. People with main character syndrome can prioritise their own needs and desires, often disregarding the impact of their actions on others. This self-absorption may make it hard to form meaningful relationships, as others feel sidelined or undervalued. Seeing oneself as a "main character" can trap someone in a fixed mindset. Rather than embracing collaboration or learning from others, they may become overly focused on their own storyline, hindering personal development. Main character syndrome might feel harmless, but it can damage relationships and teamwork in big ways: At work It creates friction in teams when collaboration is ignored. Colleagues may feel undervalued or unappreciated. Innovation can suffer if one person dominates the conversation. In personal relationships Friends and family might feel unseen or unheard. Over time, it can lead to emotional disconnection and resentment. You might find yourself isolated if others start pulling away. Recognising these tendencies is the first step toward addressing them. How to avoid main character syndrome Good news—there are simple steps you can take to strike a healthier balance. Here is how: Listen more: Instead of waiting for your turn to speak, focus on what others are saying. Ask thoughtful questions and show genuine interest. Share the stage: Celebrate others’ wins. Let someone else take the lead in conversations or projects. Practice empathy: Remember, everyone has their own challenges, successes, and stories. Try to see situations from their perspective. Check yourself: Pause and ask: “Am I lifting others up, or am I overshadowing them?” Invite feedback: Ask trusted colleagues or loved ones if you come across as too self-focused. Be open to their insights. Focus on the “We,” Not just the “Me”: Whether it is at work or in your personal life, think about how you can build connections instead of just shining on your own. Main character syndrome does not make you a bad person—it is something most of us fall into at times. The key is recognising it and making changes that foster better relationships. Being the main character does not mean the world revolves around you; it means knowing how to play your role while supporting the other “characters” in your life. After all, the best stories are the ones we create together. It is okay to celebrate yourself, but not at the expense of others. Conclusion Main character syndrome does not make you a bad person—it is something most of us fall into at times. The key is recognising it and making changes that foster better relationships. Being the main character does not mean the world revolves around you; characters” in your life. After all, the best stories are the ones we create together. Recognise that everyone has their own story. Life is richer when we share it with others and value their experiences.   Follow me on Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn , and visit my website for more info! Read more from Shardia O’Connor Shardia O’Connor, Cultural Consultant Shardia O'Connor is an expert in her field of mental wellbeing. Her passion for creative expression was influenced by her early childhood. Born and raised in Birmingham, West Midlands, and coming from a disadvantaged background, Shardia's early life experiences built her character by teaching her empathy and compassion, which led her to a career in the social sciences. She is an award-winning columnist and the founder and host of her online media platform, Shades Of Reality. Shardia is on a global mission to empower, encourage, and educate the masses!

Written by Anthony Brenner, Mentor, Coach, and Writer Anthony Brenner is a former Division I and professional athlete, coach, and writer with over 30 years of experience working with athletes, families, and leaders globally. He integrates performance, mindfulness, and self-awareness to support sustainable growth under pressure. There was a time when I believed that the most important wisdom in my life would come from achievement, preparation, and performance. My years in collegiate and professional environments taught me discipline, habits, and technical mastery, how to train, how to prepare, how to endure. But nearly all of the wisdom that truly shaped who I am came later, through life’s more challenging moments. It was through adversity, not accolades, that I was guided back to my true essence, one that had long been clouded by the pursuit of validation and recognition. Trauma rarely arrives announcing itself as wisdom. More often, it shows up as disruption, a loss of certainty, a breaking of rhythm, or a quiet unraveling of the identity we’ve worked hard to maintain. At first, the instinct is to move past it quickly, to fix what’s uncomfortable, or to distract ourselves with productivity. But in my experience, wisdom does not reveal itself through avoidance or acceleration. Over time, I began to notice something subtle but important. The moments that changed me most were not the ones where I pushed harder, but the ones where I stopped resisting what was present. Trauma, I learned, doesn’t necessarily break us, it refines us. It sharpens sensitivity. It teaches discernment. It slows us down enough to listen. One of the things I return to again and again in my work is this. There is almost always a gift or a quiet wisdom on the other side of difficulty, if we are willing to slow down enough to listen. Much of what we’re conditioned to believe tells us that growth requires constant effort, hustle, and grinding forward. My experience has shown me something different. Stillness, presence, and intentionality are often what unlock clarity and possibility, not force. This realization fundamentally changed how I show up in my life and in my work. I no longer feel compelled to rush people toward solutions or resolutions. Whether I’m working with an athlete, a parent, or a leader, my first concern is not how quickly we can move forward, but whether there is enough safety and space for awareness to emerge. Growth, I’ve learned, happens naturally when people feel seen, heard, and unhurried. What I’ve come to see is that many children, teenagers, and young adults are rarely given the space, tools, or permission to learn these lessons in our culture. We move quickly to fix, correct, or distract, often missing the quieter moments where awareness wants to emerge. In my own work, I try to bring this understanding into every interaction, creating space for reflection, presence, and curiosity, not as something to teach, but as something to model. Trauma has a way of recalibrating our relationship with control. It exposes the limits of willpower and reminds us that presence is not something we achieve, it’s something we allow. In that allowing, something softens. Perspective widens. The need to prove or perform begins to loosen its grip. The wisdom trauma leaves behind is quiet and patient. It doesn’t interrupt or demand to be heard. It waits for moments of stillness, moments when we stop trying to fix, explain, or move on too quickly. In that quiet, something familiar begins to surface. What many of us mistake for a negative or critical voice is often intuition trying to be heard through noise and urgency. When we allow space, silence, and curiosity, that voice softens and reveals itself as guidance. Not instructions, not answers, but a steady inner knowing that has been there all along, waiting for us to listen. Follow me on Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn , and visit my website  for more info! Read more from Anthony Brenner Anthony Brenner, Mentor, Coach, and Writer Anthony Brenner is a mentor, coach, and writer whose work explores the intersection of performance, awareness, and human development. A former Division I and professional athlete, his perspective has been shaped not only by elite environments but by decades of lived experience navigating pressure, identity, and growth on and off the field. With over thirty years of experience working with athletes, families, and leaders globally, Anthony integrates technical mastery with mindfulness, emotional regulation, and intentional leadership. His work is grounded in the belief that clarity, presence, and self-awareness are foundational to sustainable performance and a meaningful life.

Written by Jess Lapachinski, Mental Performance Consultant Jess Lapachinski is a mental performance consultant, writer, and founder of Victory Lap Mindset. She partners with athletes, coaches, and leaders to build the psychological skills needed for high-level performance. I read a book last year that completely changed the way I think about leadership, fitness, productivity, and overall wellbeing. It wasn’t a book about doing more or waking up at 5 AM to run through a host of recommended morning routine activities; it was practical. The idea was simple: we all have a limited amount of energy each day. Dr. Lisa Feldman Barrett, a neuroscientist and leading expert in the science of emotion, coined this concept as a body budget. Dr. Barrett refers to our daily body budget like a financial budget. We have a running balance that we can draw from or deposit into, depending on our actions. This concept has come to guide many of the habits and decisions I make throughout the day. I have a limited amount of energy each day, and I’m not alone. We all start each day with a finite number of resources for our bodies and brains. Learning how to maximize energy and resources is the key to managing how we show up for ourselves and others. But it’s more than optimizing every minute of every day and getting every ounce out of ourselves. No matter what society tells us is productive, learning how to rest—both physically and mentally—prevents burnout and chronic exhaustion. This is where the power of the body budget comes in. Our brains influence our body budget by predicting our body’s needs and deciding where to invest resources. I know myself well enough to understand that if I’m sick, tired, didn’t get proper sleep the night before, or am experiencing a particularly stressful stretch of life, I might not start off with a budget of 100%. On those days, it’s more important than ever to make deposits to my body budget. I need to fill my cup more than draw from it. That might look like modifying a workout to an outdoor walk or some mobility work. It also might look like intentionally skipping my workout entirely, reading a book, enjoying a cup of tea, or relaxing on the couch with my family. Over the years, I’ve slowly tried to take my foot off the gas when I need to, although it’s a skill I am still learning. When I wake up ready to take on the world, I do my best to get the most out of those days, a big-time workout, high productivity, deep work on a project, or content for clients. I need less self-coaching these days because my baseline is high. (Try and stop me!) As a mental performance consultant, I spend a lot of time coaching athletes to take action, especially when motivation is low. And that advice is important. In both sport and life, we can’t always allow our emotions to dictate our behavior. If we did, effort would be inconsistent, and growth would stall. We are still the boss. We decide what stays and what goes. But the body budget concept reshaped how I think about action on both good days and tough ones. Instead of asking, “How do I push through this?” I now ask, “What’s my baseline today?” What would it look like to add to my budget just enough to meet today’s expectations, while still setting myself up for a stronger tomorrow? That question has changed the way I coach myself and my clients. It creates room for accountability without shame or guilt. Effort without exhaustion. And most importantly, it reminds us to give ourselves grace during the natural ups and downs of life. We are human beings, not robots. Sustainable performance in leadership, accountability, and performance starts with understanding the root of where our energy comes from. Check out Dr. Lisa Feldman Barrett’s book How Emotions Are Made and learn how to start managing your own body budget. Follow me on Instagram , LinkedIn , and visit my website  for more info! Read more from Jess Lapachinski Jess Lapachinski, Mental Performance Consultant Jess Lapachinski is a mental performance consultant and founder of Victory Lap Mindset. After years in collegiate and independent school athletics, she recognized the growing need for psychological skills training that meets the rising pressures of modern sport. With advanced degrees in sport psychology and sport leadership, she blends research-backed methods with the practical insight of a former coach and athletic administrator. Jess helps high-performing athletes move beyond overthinking and performance anxiety by building confidence and psychological flexibility. She also partners with coaches and athletic programs to create environments where athletes feel supported and empowered to perform their best.

Written by Nassim Ebrahimi, Developmental Psychologist, Mental Performance Coach, Author, and Speaker Coach Nassim Ebrahimi, PhD, is the founder of Becoming My Stronger Me, LLC. As a developmental psychologist, mental performance coach, podcaster, and author, she empowers athletes, coaches, and parents to unlock confidence, mental resilience, and peak performance through evidence-based strategies grounded in sport psychology and human development. For years, we’ve been told that high performance is reserved for the “naturally gifted”, the prodigy, the born leader, the person who just has it. Psychology and performance science tell a very different story. Whether in sport, business, leadership, or life, sustained excellence is far less about talent and far more about the mental skills people intentionally train over time. The good news? Mental skills are not fixed traits. They are learnable, adaptable, and trainable across the lifespan. As a developmental psychologist and mental performance coach, I’ve worked with individuals who perform under immense pressure, from athletes and executives to students, parents, and coaches navigating high-stakes environments. The common thread among those who thrive isn’t talent alone. It’s how they think, respond, and regulate themselves when it matters most. The talent myth: Why we overestimate natural ability Western culture has a deep fascination with talent. We love stories of overnight success and effortless brilliance, but research consistently shows that talent is a poor predictor of long-term performance without the skills to support it. Psychologist Anders Ericsson, whose work on expertise reshaped how we understand elite performance, found that what separates top performers from others is not innate ability, but deliberate, structured practice paired with effective mental strategies. In fact, Ericsson’s research demonstrated that: Early “talent” advantages often disappear without proper skill development Experts accumulate thousands of hours of purposeful practice Mental skills such as focus, emotional regulation, and feedback processing are critical to progress Talent may open a door, but it does not keep you in the room. What high performers actually train (that others don’t) High performers don’t just train what they do, they train how they think while doing it. Mental performance research highlights several core skills that consistently predict success across domains: Emotional regulation under pressure: According to the American Psychological Association, unmanaged stress impairs working memory, decision-making, and motor execution . High performers train themselves to recognize stress responses early and regulate them effectively, rather than trying to eliminate pressure altogether. Attention control: Studies in performance psychology show that attentional control, not motivation, is one of the strongest predictors of consistency . The ability to refocus after distraction separates those who perform occasionally from those who perform reliably. Response to feedback and failure: Research on achievement motivation indicates that individuals with a growth-oriented approach to feedback persist longer and improve faster. This isn’t about “positive thinking”, it’s about learning how to interpret information without attaching it to identity or self-worth. The science is clear: Mental skills are trainable Neuroscience confirms what applied psychology has long suggested, the brain is adaptable . Neuroplasticity research from institutions like Stanford University shows that repeated mental training physically reshapes neural pathways associated with attention, emotional control, and learning. Consider this: Functional MRI studies demonstrate that mental rehearsal activates the same neural networks as physical practice . Cognitive training improves performance even when physical ability remains constant. Psychological skills training has been shown to enhance performance by up to 20–30% in high-pressure contexts, according to applied sport psychology meta-analyses. In other words, performance improves not just by doing more, but by thinking better. Why pressure exposes skill gaps (not character flaws) One of the most damaging misconceptions about performance is that struggling under pressure means someone “can’t handle it.” In reality, pressure simply reveals untrained mental skills . When the stakes rise, systems default to their weakest link. If attention, emotional regulation, or self-talk hasn’t been trained, performance declines, not because of a lack of desire or talent, but because the system isn’t prepared. This is why so many capable people: Perform well in low-stakes settings but struggle when it matters Confuse anxiety with incompetence Mistake inconsistency for lack of discipline Mental skills don’t emerge on demand. They must be practiced intentionally, just like physical or technical skills. A new definition of talent What if talent isn’t something you’re born with, but something you build? From a developmental psychology perspective, talent is better understood as the interaction between ability, environment, and skill acquisition over time. When mental skills training is added to the equation, performance becomes far more predictable and sustainable. This reframing is powerful because it shifts performance from something mysterious and exclusive to something accessible and trainable. Where to start: Training the mind like the body Mental training doesn’t require hours a day. It requires intention and consistency. High performers begin by: Practicing awareness of internal states (focus, tension, emotion) Training response patterns, not just outcomes Reflecting on process, not just results Separating identity from performance Just as importantly, they stop waiting to “feel confident” before acting, and start building confidence through skillful action. Final thoughts Talent might get attention, but mental skills sustain performance. The most effective performers aren’t the least human, they’re the most trained. They’ve learned how to work with their minds instead of against them, especially under pressure. And that’s not a gift. It’s a skill. If you’re curious what it would look like to train your mental skills with the same intention you train your technical or professional skills, start by asking a simple question, "What am I practicing mentally, every day, whether I realize it or not?" Awareness is always the first step toward change. Follow me on I nstagram , LinkedIn , and visit my website  for more info! Read more from Nassim Ebrahimi Nassim Ebrahimi, Developmental Psychologist, Mental Performance Coach, Author, and Speaker Coach Nassim Ebrahimi, PhD, is the founder of Becoming My Stronger Me, LLC. As a developmental psychologist, mental performance coach, podcaster (Becoming My Stronger Me podcast), author (The Stronger Mind and Baller Goals), and speaker, she empowers athletes, coaches, and parents to unlock mental resilience and peak performance under pressure through evidence-based strategies grounded in sport psychology and human development. She holds a PhD in Developmental Psychology from The Pennsylvania State University. Through her work, she supports individuals and teams in developing the mental skills needed to thrive in sport and life. Her mission is to help people train their minds with the same intention they train their bodies. References: Ericsson, K. A., Krampe, R. T., & Tesch-Römer, C. (1993). The role of deliberate practice in the acquisition of expert performance. Psychological Review, 100(3), 363–406. American Psychological Association. (n.d.). Stress effects on the brain and body . McEwen, B. S. (2007). Physiology and neurobiology of stress and adaptation: Central role of the brain. Physiological Reviews, 87(3), 873–904. Eysenck, M. W., Derakshan, N., Santos, R., & Calvo, M. G. (2007). Anxiety and cognitive performance: Attentional Control Theory. Emotion, 7(2), 336–353. Dweck, C. S. (2006). Mindset: The New Psychology of Success. Random House. Yeager, D. S., & Dweck, C. S. (2012). Mindsets that promote resilience: When students believe that personal characteristics can be developed. Educational Psychologist, 47(4), 302–314. Stanford University. (n.d.). Neuroplasticity and brain adaptation. Doidge, N. (2007). The Brain That Changes Itself. Viking. Guillot, A., & Collet, C. (2008). Construction of the motor imagery integrative model in sport: A review and theoretical investigation. International Review of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 1(1), 31–44. Weinberg, R. S., & Gould, D. (2023). Foundations of Sport and Exercise Psychology (8th ed.). Human Kinetics. Beilock, S. (2010). Choke: What the Secrets of the Brain Reveal About Getting It Right When You Have To. Free Press. Ryan, R. M., & Deci, E. L. (2000). Intrinsic and extrinsic motivations: Classic definitions and new directions. Contemporary Educational Psychology, 25(1), 54–67.

Written by Heidi Richards Mooney, Author, Coach & Entrepreneur Heidi Richards Mooney is a dynamic professional speaker, celebrated author, seasoned entrepreneur, and Senior Executive Contributor dedicated to empowering individuals and businesses to succeed. As a past president of the Florida Speakers Association, she has inspired countless audiences with her expertise in PR, internet marketing, and brand elevation. January is the perfect time to reset your intentions and refine your message. In 2026, it’s not about shouting louder, it’s about making your voice clear and impactful. This article offers actionable tips to help you clarify your message, create deep connections, and elevate your visibility with purpose and strategy. New Year, new feeds, same old noise? Not you Ah, January. The month of fresh starts, big dreams, and half-finished vision boards. Your inbox is flooded with "Goal-Getter" guides, your feed is a confetti parade of rebrands, and your coffee budget just doubled, again. But while the world is busy yelling “new year, new me,” you, my friend, are about to do something much more powerful: You’re going to clarify your voice. Because in 2026, thought leadership isn’t about saying more; it’s about saying what matters, better. It’s not about being everywhere, it’s about being recognizable, repeatable, and real. This is your year to stop overthinking your content, over-apologizing for your opinions, and over-filtering your message to sound like everyone else. It’s time to own your voice and elevate your visibility, with strategy, consistency, and yes, a touch of sparkle. Here’s how to do just that. 1. Forget the fluff, clarify what you actually stand for Let’s start with a bit of tough love. If someone reads your bio or visits your site and still doesn’t know what you do or what you stand for. Houston, we have a branding problem. In 2026, the people who cut through the noise are the ones with a message so clear you can quote it, tweet it, and tattoo it on your mug. Instead of “I help leaders show up online,” try: “I help female founders become the most visible expert in their industry using content that converts and captivates.” See the difference? Specific. Bold. Purposeful. You’re not selling ideas, you’re selling transformation. Clarify your voice by asking: What 'one' problem do I help solve? Who do I want to serve deeply this year? What values or beliefs am I unapologetically bringing into my work? Sticky note test: If your core message doesn’t fit on a sticky note and spark curiosity or connection, it’s time to tighten it up. 2. Choose depth over volume (no, you don’t need to be on every platform) Repeat after me: I do not need to go viral on TikTok to be a successful thought leader. You don’t have to post every day in every place to be seen. You just need to show up with depth, clarity, and value, consistently, on the right platform(s) for your people. In fact, when you’re trying to “be everywhere,” you risk being memorable nowhere. Choose your platform(s) wisely: Where does your ideal audience already spend time? What platform best supports your content strengths (writing, speaking, video)? Where do you actually enjoy showing up? “You don’t need a louder megaphone. You need a stronger message and a smarter room.” Even if your “room” is a quiet corner of LinkedIn, a podcast, or a newsletter, it’s your stage. Own it. 3. Talk like a human (a relatable, imperfect human) Let’s retire robotic jargon for good, shall we? Nobody wants to read about “proprietary frameworks that drive operational synergy within vertical solutions.” (I yawned just typing that.) People want real. They want your voice. The voice that isn’t afraid to say, “Here’s what worked. Here’s what didn’t. Here’s what I learned while crying into a Google Doc at 2 a.m.” Ways to humanize your content in 2026: Use your voice like you’re talking to your favorite client, not writing a textbook Share your behind-the-scenes, especially when it’s messy Own your awkward, your aha moments, your almost-gave-up stories “People don’t trust perfect. They trust presence.” Also, don’t be afraid to be funny. Even in serious industries, humor is human. A well-placed eye-roll emoji or relatable analogy can make your message stick. 4. Make your message repeatable Ever notice how some thought leaders have a phrase, model, or tagline that just sticks? That’s not an accident. It’s intentional messaging that becomes a signature, and makes them impossible to forget. Here’s how to make your ideas stick: Turn your process into a branded framework (e.g., The V.O.I.C.E. Method) Give your approach a name (even a cheeky one, hello, “Social Media Sandwich Strategy”) Create mantras your audience can adopt as their own (e.g., “Done is better than perfect”) “If they can’t remember it, they won’t repeat it. And if they don’t repeat it, you’ll never scale your influence.” When people start quoting your content in their content, you’re not just building followers. You’re building a legacy. 5. Create connection, not just content Let’s be real: content is easy to create these days. But connection? That takes time, interest, and consistency. Content becomes leadership when it makes people feel seen. When someone reads your words and thinks, “She gets me.” When they hear your story and say, “I thought I was the only one.” Create a connection in 2026 by: Ending every post or article with a reflection prompt or question Starting a community ritual (e.g., “Monday Momentum” or “Friday Wins”) Engaging like a real person, not a billboard, in your DMs and comments “Thought leadership isn’t about getting applause. It’s about starting conversations.” Bonus: When you prioritize connection over content, you naturally stand out. Most people are too busy promoting. Be the one who’s building relationships. Clearer voice, bigger impact, braver you The truth is that the internet doesn’t need more content. It needs more clarity. More connection. It needs your voice, clear, confident, and completely your own. So whether you’re launching a book, stepping onto stages, rebooting your brand, or simply trying to be seen in a way that finally feels aligned. Make this your mantra: “I will speak with clarity, not clutter. With purpose, not pressure. With leadership, not just for likes.” Your 2026 thought leadership kickstart checklist Before January gets away from you, take time to reset your voice and refocus your influence: Clarify your 2026 “sticky note” message, one sentence, one big idea Choose 1-2 primary platforms to show up consistently (and joyfully) Humanize your content voice, less buzzwords, more realness Create one signature message or series people can remember and repeat Start one intentional conversation this week to reconnect with your audience Optional Bonus: Write a love letter to your audience. Thank them. Tell them what’s coming. Invite them to grow with you. Nothing says “I’m a leader worth following” like gratitude and direction. Follow me on Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn , and visit my website for more info! Read more from Heidi Richards Mooney Heidi Richards Mooney, Author, Coach & Entrepreneur Heidi Richards Mooney is a dynamic professional speaker, celebrated author, seasoned entrepreneur, and Senior Executive Contributor dedicated to empowering individuals and businesses to succeed. As a past president of the Florida Speakers Association, she has inspired countless audiences with her expertise in PR, internet marketing, and brand elevation. A small business owner and PR strategist, Heidi specializes in helping clients amplify their online presence, craft compelling narratives, and achieve measurable results. She empowers her clients to get their websites and online profiles noticed by leveraging innovative Public Relations campaigns, capitalizing on achievements to secure media attention, and building a consistent and influential brand voice.

Written by Christina Giordano, Marketing & Manifesting Consultant Christina Giordano is the founder of the movement Soul'd™, an approach to marketing and manifesting with nothing but the essence that is you. Alignment has become one of the most overused and misunderstood terms in entrepreneurship. Often, it is framed as something soft or abstract: following what feels good, choosing ease, or waiting for clarity before taking action. In practice, this interpretation keeps many entrepreneurs circling familiarity rather than moving toward growth. True alignment is not comfort. It is integrity. Alignment occurs when your decisions, actions, and leadership are consistent with what you know to be true, especially when that truth challenges your habits, your ego, or the version of yourself that once felt safe. Entrepreneurship, at its core, is not just a business journey. It is a process of self-confrontation. Alignment is the mechanism that determines whether that confrontation leads to expansion or stagnation. Below are five ways alignment functions as a practical, strategic framework, rather than spiritual jargon, for building a business that can actually hold what you’re trying to create. 1. Alignment reframes rest as a growth lever, not a pause In high-performing cultures, rest is often treated as a reward or a setback. In reality, rest can be one of the most strategic decisions an entrepreneur makes. There is a critical difference between being ready for more and being able to hold more. Revenue growth, visibility, and leadership all require internal capacity. When that capacity is lacking, pushing forward creates instability rather than expansion. Rest, when used intentionally, becomes an active recalibration. It sheds outdated patterns, identities, and coping mechanisms that no longer support who you are becoming. From the outside, this can look like a pause. Internally, it is preparation. Growth that outpaces capacity is unsustainable. Alignment ensures the opposite. 2. Alignment is not about flow, it is about precision Alignment is often described as “going with the flow.” While there is truth in this, it misses a key distinction: alignment depends on which version of you is leading. A contracted version of yourself, one driven by fear, avoidance, or confusion, will make different “aligned” choices than an expansive, self-led version of you. Both may feel justified in the moment. Alignment, therefore, is not about asking, “Does this feel right?” It is about asking, “Is this consistent with the standard of the leader I am becoming?” Precision comes from internal standards. Entrepreneurs who operate in alignment move with intention. They do not drift. They decide. 3. Alignment replaces reassurance with responsibility Much of the spiritual conversation around alignment avoids responsibility under the guise of trust or surrender. This creates a loop where individuals remain focused on healing, mindset, or manifestation, without taking ownership of the behaviors and choices that created their current reality. Responsibility, properly understood, is not pressure. It is peace. Responsibility is the ability to respond in integrity. It is choosing from your highest capacity rather than reacting from your most familiar patterns. This shift transforms leadership from self-punishment into self-respect. Without responsibility, alignment becomes performative. With it, alignment becomes freeing. 4. Alignment strengthens discernment instead of offering direction Alignment is not a shortcut to clarity, nor is it a mystical solution that removes uncertainty. What it does offer is discernment, the ability to distinguish between truth and illusion. Many popular approaches to manifestation rely on magical thinking: faking confidence, bypassing discomfort, or affirming outcomes without building capacity. These methods fail because they attempt to manipulate outcomes without addressing identity. You cannot fake a frequency. You cannot bypass reality. And you cannot build a business on illusion without paying the cost later. Alignment sharpens discernment by anchoring decisions in reality, responsibility, and internal coherence. It allows entrepreneurs to tolerate truth long enough to act on it. 5. Alignment requires internal consistency, not more confidence Confidence is often treated as the missing ingredient in leadership. In practice, consistency matters far more. Internal consistency is the ability to remain self-led across emotional states, setbacks, and pressure. It is how you treat yourself when outcomes are uncertain, and motivation is low. The body records every moment of self-abandonment and self-trust. Over time, this internal landscape becomes your external reality. This is why nervous system regulation matters, not to keep you comfortable, but to stabilize you as you grow. Alignment demands that your internal and external behaviors match. Momentum is built one choice at a time. The strategic reality of alignment Alignment is not a belief system. It is a leadership practice. Your frequency may set the standard, but your decisions enforce it. Businesses expand only to the level of integrity their leaders are willing to maintain. Entrepreneurship rewards those who allow their essence to lead. When integrity becomes non-negotiable, alignment stops being aspirational and starts becoming operational. That is when growth becomes sustainable. Follow me on   I nstagram , and visit my website  for more info! Read more from Christina Giordano Christina Giordano, Marketing & Manifesting Consultant For over 15 years, Christina Giordano has helped soulpreneurs build their businesses with alignment and authenticity, leading the way. In 2020, she channeled her own methods of self-discovery, which act as soulful (yet practical) roadmaps for entrepreneurs to market and manifest with nothing but their essence. These methods are The Marketing Methods, The L.I.F.E. Method, The S.O.U.L. Method, The L.O.V.E. Method, The Manifesting Methods, The D.E.B.I.T. Method, The C.R.E.D.I.T. Method, and The R.O.S.E. Method. The methods represent the movement Christina has founded and trademarked as “Soul’d,” which empowers big-hearted business owners to show up, be seen, and shine in the way that is uniquely and wholeheartedly you.

Ultra endurance athlete, nutrition coach, and doctoral student, Lauren Callahan, is using science-based nutrition, compassionate coaching, and plant-forward strategies to transform endurance athletes from injured and tired to resilient and unstoppable. Passionate about gut health, plants, and peptides, she guides endurance athletes to use nutrition to improve their health, mood, performance, hormones, and recovery. Lauren Callahan, Ultra Endurance Athlete Nutrition Coach Who is Lauren Callahan? Introduce yourself, your hobbies, your favorites, you at home and in business. Tell us something interesting about yourself. I’m a healer – but not in the sense you might think. Yes, I am deeply spiritual, and yes, I used to be a therapist, so I highly value emotional, mental, and spiritual healing. But I also think we can overspiritualize our healing by ignoring our physical bodies. So when I say I’m a healer, what I mean is that I help people reconnect with their bodies through good nutrition and gut health, through eating more plants, and through using natural peptides to tap into the body’s natural ability to self-heal. When we do these things, our energy and mental focus and emotional clarity can grow dramatically, and we find ourselves feeling more vibrant, full of life, and reaching bigger goals than we ever thought we could reach. And that, in and of itself, is a very healing experience. And it’s this healing – with gut health, plants, and peptides – that helps make me who I am today. I’m an ultra endurance athlete – I ran my first 100-mile ultra a couple of months ago, and will run a 200-mile ultra in March. I’m a doctoral student of science in integrative wellness, a nutrition coach, and a network affiliate marketer with a start-up company for natural bioactive peptides. And I’m a wife and mom, and lover of all things outside. What inspired you to specialize in holistic nutrition? I tried for four years to run a marathon and failed at every attempt. And while I appreciate all the kind folks out there who would say, “Well, it wasn’t really a failure, it was a learning experience,” – and you would be right – the fact is, I was so frustrated. I ate healthy, I trained, I handled my stress, and I tried to go to sleep at a decent time. Why was I having so much trouble? So I went down a rabbit hole of improving my gut health as a sort of last-ditch effort to make some changes and help out my running performance. After about six months of working to improve my gut health, I not only ran my first marathon – I actually ran my first 50-mile ultra. Then I did my first full Ironman – that’s a 2.4-mile swim, a 112-mile bike ride, and then a full marathon run of 26.2 miles. Then I ran another 50-mile ultra, and did another Ironman, and finally a 100k – and I did all of that in one year’s time. To say that gut health was the game-changer is an understatement. But that wasn’t the end of the story. In those six months of working on my gut health, my serotonin levels naturally went up. I started falling asleep at night with no issues. My anxiety was down. Recovery was better. My gastrointestinal health was better. I never really got sick. I just felt better. I was a therapist at the time, and when my clients were coming in telling me how they used to be fine and now they just weren’t, I always wanted to ask them – can we check your gut health? But it was a little outside my scope of practice. So I finally decided to switch careers, leave the therapy world, and start doing holistic health nutrition coaching. And as I kept growing, my business did too. I decided at one point to go almost exclusively plant-based, and I had never known that inflammation and stress could melt away the way that it does just by eating more plants. So I began to support my clients in doing this as it made sense for them. And in the process of transitioning to plant-based, I finally completed my first 100-mile run after four other attempts. The latest point of growth for me and for my business was introducing natural bioactive peptides. There is a lot of information out there about synthetics, but not a lot about these natural options. Peptides just help your cells communicate better and support their natural pathways for healing in your body. It was a really simple way for my clients and customers to reach a new level of health – with energy, aging, metabolism, focus, mitochondrial health, better sleep, visceral fat loss, and lean muscle mass growth. I had come to a point in my life where I had really big goals with running, school, my business, my finances, my family – and I felt like I just needed to pair back. It was too much. But once I started taking peptides, my energy, focus, and recovery went up, and my stress went down so much that I felt like I could not only keep those goals, but actually set bigger ones. Now, I’m helping my clients and my customers do the same, which is so fulfilling for me, and so empowering for them. You work a lot with ultra endurance athletes. What advice would you give to someone preparing for their first ultra-endurance event? The number one thing I come across with athletes getting ready for their first ultra-endurance event is that they are still trying to run on “marathon food”. What I mean by that is that a majority of marathon runners can get by on run gels, chips, and candy. But for longer running events, gels usually are not enough, or runners get easily tired of them. You have to get used to incorporating real food. I get a lot of funny looks at races for the food I bring, but I’m usually putting cans of soup in my drop bags, or bringing smoothies with me. Train with real food and get your body used to taking it in so that you’re not bombing on gels and candy on race day. The other thing I hear a lot is runners who are so focused on getting in their protein – which is definitely important – that they ignore their need for carbs. Carbs are your body’s – and your brain’s – preferred energy source, so you have to incorporate this into your nutrition. However, I would also say that I’ve recently discovered an unexpected benefit of a particular peptide that most of my customers are using for fat loss. It’s one made from brewers' yeast, and it helps with fatty acid oxidation, so it helps to burn visceral fat. What I have found is that it can be really beneficial for ultra endurance athletes because it helps them become more efficient at using fat for fuel – of which we have a near endless supply – as opposed to constantly needing those carbs. Why did you decide to become an advocate for bioactive peptides? I originally decided to try a peptide – one extracted from fava beans – that helps build lean muscle mass and muscular endurance. It was kind of a no-brainer for me as an athlete, and as a female, and as someone over 40 – because we’re always trying to shove as much protein as we can at ourselves, and it can be a little much. This peptide, however, helps build lean muscle four times better than whey protein, five times better than creatine, and six times better than leucine alone. You still need to get in your protein, but this peptide makes you a lot more efficient at using it. I liked the peptide so much, and I was so impressed with the research, that I knew I would recommend it to every single one of my former and current clients. So I decided to become an affiliate, figuring I would just make a few bucks in the process. And since I was an affiliate, I decided I would try all the other peptide products, which included peptides for muscular endurance, visceral fat loss, energy, focus, and more restorative sleep. Once again, the research was very impressive – plenty of human clinical trials as opposed to some of the synthetic peptides out there. After I tried them, I couldn’t believe how good I felt – I felt like I was immortal! It was then that I expanded my business and started training for a 200 miler, in addition to going to school. I am the healthiest I have ever been, and I am helping others be the healthiest they have ever been, one customer at a time. Not only that, it’s been a fantastic company to work with and a huge doorway for financial freedom. I am always looking for folks to add to my team so that I can help others find this financial freedom as well. Do you spend more of your time coaching or working as an affiliate for bioactive peptides? Both. This has been one of the most surprising benefits of expanding my business to include bioactive peptides. Nutrition coaching is one of those “luxury” items for most people, and something that most of us can research and find our own guidance on if we look around long enough on social media. Working one-on-one with a coach can be hugely transformative – but it can also be a huge commitment. When I started offering bioactive peptides in my business, the response was amazing, and I found that customers were very interested in using peptides to help their bodies reset and heal. At first, I felt like I was becoming a bit of a sell-out – that I was offering a product in lieu of a life change. However, a service I offer to every single one of my new customers is a completely free nutrition coaching session. And I am always very interactive with my clients. So what I found is that, by offering bioactive peptides and through offering free nutrition coaching to my customers, I have actually begun to do more coaching than I have ever done. Once again, this is very rewarding to me, and very empowering to my customers. How can potential customers get started with you? Anyone who is ready to get started with peptides can go directly to my website and purchase them. I also invite people to connect with me on Facebook or Instagram – I am always happy to consult with folks who want to make sure they are getting the peptides that are right for them. And of course, once you get started, I’m excited to offer a free nutrition coaching session and ongoing support so that my customers can truly be the healthiest they have ever been. I have experienced this, and I want others to experience this as well. And finally, I know there are those who will read this interview and want to jump in on this start-up opportunity as well. They are welcome to visit my opportunity website to see if becoming an affiliate is aligned with their vision and values. Follow me on Facebook , Instagram , and visit my website  for more info! Read more from Lauren Callahan

Written by Lance Allan Kair, Licensed Professional Counselor Lance Kair is a licensed professional counselor, founder of Agency Matters Mental Health, and published philosopher integrating trauma-informed care with existential and postmodern insights. He brings depth, compassion, and decades of lived experience to the evolving landscape of mental health. Psychology often mimics the precision of physics but struggles with the fluid nature of mental health. While psychology seeks to categorize and explain mental phenomena, mental health remains grounded in the real-time processes that unfold regardless of theory. This article delves into the distinction, highlighting how mental health as a field speaks to what is happening in practice, independent of fixed theoretical frameworks. Psychology’s physics envy Psychology has long attempted to function like physics by identifying underlying mechanisms, such as brain chemistry, attachment styles, disorders, and theories of mind, meant to explain mental life. In doing so, it implicitly adopts physics as a model: a discipline that discovers stable structures beneath surface phenomena, structures presumed to operate independently of interpretation or belief. The difficulty is not that psychology seeks structure, but that it does not, in practice, operate this way. Unlike physics, psychological theories do not settle into stable agreement. They are continually debated, revised, and replaced, and none function independently of the interpretive commitments that sustain them. More importantly, psychology lacks an agreed-upon basis for what is being identified as its object of analysis. The grounds of explanation themselves remain in question. As a result, psychological theories must not only account for phenomena but also argue for the terms under which those phenomena are to be understood. Physics does not behave this way. The discipline that runs on frameworks For this reason, psychology functions less like a hard science and more like a belief-structured discipline. This is not an accusation of error, nor a claim that psychology is merely subjective or arbitrary. Belief-structured systems, including philosophy and religion, can be coherent, rigorous, and practically effective. The distinction here is structural: psychology organizes understanding through interpretive frameworks rather than through belief-independent laws. Mental health is not psychology’s leftover category Mental health, by contrast, is less a derivative outcome of psychology and less a vague residual category that emerges once theory has done its work. In many institutional and everyday contexts, public policy, funding structures, or common talk about “improving mental health,” it is indeed treated derivatively. But as it functions in practice, mental health is itself a theory that speaks to what is already happening. It does not require subjective verification or argumentative defense, because it brings into view patterns and processes already in play. To articulate mental health in this way is not to impose a new framework, but to make explicit what has been implicitly organizing practice all along. What clinicians are already doing In practice, clinicians already operate with this distinction, whether or not it is explicitly acknowledged. Psychological explanations, neurobiological, developmental, diagnostic, and relational are used to orient engagement with situations as they present themselves. These explanations are not detached from what is occurring, nor do they compete with it. They function as ways of organizing attention. Mental health does not begin from a preferred framework, it begins with the situation itself. Psychological theory enters afterward, as a means of rendering that situation intelligible. When theory starts talking to itself Psychology does attempt to regulate itself through feedback, revising its models in response to what is encountered in practice. In this sense, it operates cybernetically. The difficulty is that there is no shared agreement about what this feedback is fundamentally reckoning. When psychology attempts to connect brain processes, mental constructs, and situations, the connective structure itself becomes another theoretical object. Instead of settling description, the method generates further debate about how description should proceed. This produces a characteristic dynamic within the field. Rather than beginning with what is happening and allowing theory to remain responsive to it, theoretical frameworks increasingly function as organizing authorities. What began as interpretive tools risks becoming implicit standards. The method turns inward and begins to refer primarily to itself. Baking is not the same thing as food A metaphor helps clarify this distinction. Psychology is like baking. It treats human life as a particular kind of thing and develops increasingly refined diagnostic recipes, categories, theories of intervention, and explanatory models. Within baking, this makes sense. Recipes can be compared, adjusted, taught, and reliably reproduced. Baking works well when what is being made is, in fact, a cake. Mental health, however, is like food in general. It includes baking, but it is not limited to it. Not everything people eat is a cake, and not everything that sustains or organizes life fits a baking recipe. There are many kinds of food, many ways of preparing it, and many ways food functions across situations. Psychological theories retain their usefulness within this broader domain, but they do not define it. Problems arise only when baking is treated as the definition of food itself, rather than as one mode of engagement within a much larger field. What keeps happening, whether we name it or not This is where the comparison to physics becomes instructive. Mental health refers to processes that occur regardless of how they are specifically named or categorized. Naming can matter to the people involved, shaping how a situation is understood and engaged, but it does not organize mental health in the same way across contexts. Families reorganize. Patterns of strain and adaptation emerge. Situations change. These developments are not generated by a theory, even though theories may describe them. Mental health remains oriented toward what is occurring as it unfolds, while different ways of naming and explaining those processes come and go. Why the field never quite settles This also explains a familiar tension in the field. Practitioners widely agree that no single theory can govern all situations and that rigid prescriptions are neither realistic nor ethical. Yet psychology, as a discipline, continues to debate its own foundations and categories. This work is not misplaced, but it belongs to a different register than the task of reckoning what is happening in concrete situations. Mental health philosophy, stripped down Mental health philosophy, as used here, does not aim to resolve those debates or replace psychological theory. Its role is descriptive: to clarify how the field already operates and to distinguish between interpretive frameworks and the situations they are used to understand. Psychology provides structured ways of making sense of what is happening. Mental health names the field in which what is happening is already underway. Keeping this distinction clear does not diminish psychology, it situates it. Visit my website for more info! Read more from Lance Allan Kair Lance Allan Kair, Licensed Professional Counselor Lance Kair is licensed professional counselor and founder of Agency Matters Mental Health, he blends trauma-informed therapy with deep philosophical insight drawn from thinkers like Zizek Badiou, and Kierkegaard. Formerly immersed in 1990s psychedelic and rave culture, his lived experience with addiction, grief, and harm reduction drives his radically compassionate care. He's the author of multiple philosophical works, including The Moment of Decisive Significance, and is a leading voice in the emerging field of Mental Health Philosophy.

Susanne and Arne Salig, pioneers in integrative psychotherapy and emotional competence development, have just released their highly anticipated professional handbook, The Emotion-Based Self-Competence Method (ESM). Available today, January 2026, and published by Shaker Verlag, this comprehensive guide presents a revolutionary therapeutic approach that bridges neuroscience, emotion theory, and practical intervention strategies. Validated with over 1,000 patients, ESM integrates the Self-Competence Model according to Salig/Theissler with the Two Basic Emotions Theory (love-fear polarity), offering mental health professionals, coaches, and organizational developers a powerful framework for facilitating lasting transformation. With applications spanning prevention, therapy, and organizational development, The Emotion-Based Self-Competence Method is now available internationally, offering practitioners a scientifically grounded yet immediately applicable methodology that addresses the root causes of emotional dysregulation and empowers clients to achieve authentic self-determination. "This isn't just another therapeutic model, it's a paradigm shift in how we understand and work with human emotions," said the Saligs. "We wanted to provide practitioners with a method that honors the fundamental role of emotions in self-regulation while offering clear, actionable pathways for helping clients develop genuine autonomy and resilience." Spanning 22 comprehensive chapters, The Emotion-Based Self-Competence Method guides practitioners through the theoretical foundations, diagnostic approaches, and intervention strategies of ESM. The book demonstrates how all human behavior can be understood through the polarity of two basic emotions, love and fear, and how self-competence develops through the balanced integration of these emotional forces. Through detailed case studies, practical exercises, and evidence-based protocols, practitioners learn to help clients identify emotional deficits, develop affect tolerance, and cultivate the five dimensions of self-competence: self-awareness, self-acceptance, self-empowerment, self-care, and self-esteem. Early reviews from therapeutic professionals are calling it "a masterfully integrated approach that finally connects emotional theory with clinical practice" and "an essential resource that will transform how practitioners understand and facilitate emotional development." The Emotion-Based Self-Competence Method is available in softcover and PDF formats through Shaker Verlag and major online retailers. The authors are also offering specialized practitioner training programs beginning in April 2026, with certification tracks for therapists, coaches, and organizational development professionals. Visit this website for training schedules, practitioner resources, and access to the international ESM community. About the authors Susanne and Arne Salig are internationally recognized experts in emotional competence development and integrative psychotherapy. Co-developers of the Self-Competence Model by Salig/Theissler, they have worked with over 1,000 clients and trained hundreds of practitioners across multiple disciplines. Their work synthesizes insights from depth psychology, neuroscience, and body-oriented therapy into a coherent, practical methodology that has been successfully applied in clinical, coaching, and organizational contexts worldwide. Media contact Arne Salig Co-Developer ESM +49 151 50709545 Email

Written by Justin H. Briggs, Writer Justin H. Briggs is the author of "Insanity Comes To Mind: A Memoir on Mental Health," which was published on May 1st, 2020. He is a good writer working at being great. In this deeply personal and unvarnished account, the author explores the intense realities of living with a disability. From the early morning battles of medication routines to the emotional toll of chronic pain and isolation, this article takes readers through a day in the life marked by resilience, survival, and self-reflection. It's a poignant reflection on the complexities of disability, mental health, and the constant search for stability in a world that doesn't always accommodate. Midnight-3 AM Waking up in a cold sweat is normal. Whether I dream, have disoriented visions, or sleep like a rock, I am immediately disgruntled upon waking up yet again, not just because I am soaked through the clothes and bedding. The sweat is a result of latent stress, medication side effects, or the probable combination of the two, inescapable realities of disability. Depending on when I last took my anti-anxiety medication the night before, I may need to add it to my pre-dawn medication regimen. The prescriptions take precedence in life, otherwise, I have no functional capabilities in any way without them. They work best with the necessary minimum caloric intake to metabolize into an effective dosage. That is assuming, of course, that I have any food available for breakfast. I eat things you discard, often. Concerning drug dependency, considering my perpetual morning routine and taking stock of my past, let it be known that I have combed weed out of the carpet to pack a bowl. I have licked every cocaine baggy I have not shared. And, upon at least one occasion, I was fortunate enough to accidentally snort heroin. Nothing I have done with regard to consuming drugs or controlled substances has made me feel more of a depraved addict than licking pharmaceutical controlled substances off of my kitchen floor before daybreak. My traumas manifested in physical dexterity loss and foggy, drowsy thoughts, allowing me to drop my pill. Drag your stove out wrong, and you crush the half-milligram tablet that grants you six hours of apathy about your place in the world, so you lick the powdered tile remnants like an alley cat destined for rabies. 4 AM Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate. Marijuana gives me cotton mouth sometimes. Every prescription I take has side effects, including, but not limited to, cramps, nausea, disorientation, tremors, balance issues, stamina degradation, and virility loss beyond what mere water may alleviate. I have all of the side effects of a cancer patient without the cancer, my hair has greyed and fallen out prematurely. So, I inject myself with testosterone boosters twice per month. This injection, self-administered, allows not just my sexuality to exist physically, but also the entirety of my masculine faculties to function at the necessary level of a man in his 40s, rather than at the level of a man in his 70s, per a diagnosis from just a couple of years ago. My pineal gland is shot. My “third eye,” the part of your brain that allows you to dream, imagine, visualize, etc., has run through worse than any dive bar bathroom I have found escape within, from the horrors of my own mind. Bad news on the testosterone issue as of late, though. My latest primary care physician has determined that my testosterone boosters may be spiking a chemical indicator that I am developing excessive testosterone intake. So, should evasive maneuvers in the form of determining yet another medication alternative prove a failure, I will soon develop the “bitch tits” of Meatloaf in Fight Club fame. Matter of time, perhaps. 5-6 AM If I can be calm and medicated and avoid throwing up, I tend to drink coffee and smoke cigarettes until dawn. I wait for the sun when it is unavailable. And I pray, perhaps only to it, for obvious limitations of any god yet known. In a mental institution, such as the public facilities I have attended, a patient is not allowed to smoke cigarettes for the duration of their stay. 95% of disabled Americans smoke cigarettes. When the staff releases you from your visit, every other patient reminds you to smoke a pack for them each on the outside. Oral fixation, nicotine addiction, boredom, all valid reasons to smoke cigarettes. I smoke for the false sense of control over my life that a mere cigarette provides. I will never be able to stop smoking cigarettes at this rate, and statistically, I will still be lucky to die of cancer at all, and not an accidental overdose, suicide, or general degradation of my cognitive functions until permanent mental incarceration or a vegetative state is attained. Coffee helps; after half a pot or so and a few smokes, the perpetually reinvigorating constipation generally gives way by dawn. I can shit solid most days anymore, at least for about the last year. Most of my 15 years or so under medication are filled with bowel movements beyond definition, aside from “wrong.” 7-9 AM Ideally, by sunrise, I am not only awakened, shit, showered, and shaved, but I am in optimal hygiene. The first indication of a subject, or person of interest, or suspect being “unwell” is poor hygiene. Brush your teeth, wash behind your ears, and stay clean and groomed. I have been run off by family and friends for my poor hygiene almost as often as for my emotional outbursts or insane dialogue. Then the cops usually show up, wherever I may flee to, like the monster I wish not to be, and then they escort me to a hospital. As the caffeine kicks in and the stool plops, I remind myself of the cramping of cuffs around my wrists and the feel of the barrels of service weapons at my temple. This is a necessary mental preparation for every day I may have left to awaken to this condition. 10-11 AM Double-check meds. Know your regimen, schedule, or attend every doctor’s appointment and prescription renewal; 24/7/365 career being incapable by society’s standards. Then comes the self-loathing, grief for my potential unmet, trauma of lived and unbelieved experiences, despair beyond measure. By 10:30 AM or so, I tend to need another anti-anxiety medication. Always water with medications…you are going to cramp up anyway, so just keep your piss clear. If I have any wherewithal, I journal to keep my mind occupied. If I feel anything but physical, mental, or spiritual sickness, then I work. Writing is a career I am leveraging a gift through in the hope of financial solvency or even wealth; disability bears a cross per symptom. If all of my crosses are leaning against one another and balanced for a minute, then I can drop bombs from my pen like a Baptist preacher spits The Lord’s Truth. But my truth is an internal prison that confines my mental and physical health to limits both authentic and perceived, and others will always perceive of me what they will. And that tends to be a perception they go out of their way to ignore about me until they want me to leave. They tend to be naive about my reality, and I ask not for their pity, as even their empathy or sympathy is inherently placating to protect their own sense of mental fortitude. Noon By lunch, if I have worked up an appetite at all, I eat food. Minimum caloric intake works for the medications, the wallet, and the waistline, win, win, win. But by this time, I have likely ventured into the outside world for sustenance, food bank, pharmacy check-in, more caffeine but in public, like I am normal. I keep questionable company wherever I am, for certain, if you just include my own internal dialogue. But I have learned that I am generally unacceptable in any polite crowd, at any bar, or really anywhere outside of my studio. I am not a shut-in but a shut-away, or shut-out, a mutually beneficial dynamic between myself and society at large. 1-3 PM Pharmacies are a tricky issue consistently, as is insurance, as is reading and following labels. The automated renewal phone lines are no guarantee. And so, when a medication is due for renewal, I tend to initiate the process days in advance, then present myself at the pharmacy in person at least once to confirm the date of pick-up, double-check my availability of funds while I wait, and again ideally purchase the medications in early afternoon when the lines are short. Just a perk of being unemployable. Around 2 PM or so, I am spent emotionally more often than not, though my energy level tends to need submission. With minimum caloric intake, my daily mood stabilizer/anti-psychotic tends to slow the neuron synaptic firings in my brain. I think. Sometimes, in the calming, I fantasize about sleep. Then I remember the first piece of medical data administered upon my release to an out-patient facility after my suicide attempt failed: given that my suicide attempt included slashing my wrist to bleed out alone, I was informed that my statistical probability of “suicide by cutting” is 75%. That is a survival improbability too, statistically, but the necessary efforts to improve my health since being enlightened led simply to different versions of the same disabled, inadequate, financially neutered man which I am. 4-6 PM By dusk, I have exhausted myself physically, medically, and often, sexually. Self-care is important; self-love helps. I then tend to enter a haze as the medications and exhaustion stretch that magic moment between awake and asleep into hours of malaise, leading to a disoriented fade-out you could call sleep, like day-dreaming under the influence of heroin. The fog lasts long. Memories flutter in and around, fears of the unknown and uncontrollable are muffled in the mind, and all perception of time passing fades as the sun. Since I tend to be alone with my cat and have minimal social responsibilities, the only FOMO I have left is a longing to fall asleep to dream not and awaken never again. Follow me on LinkedIn and visit my website for more info! Read more from Justin H. Briggs Justin H. Briggs, Writer Justin H. Briggs is a writer located in Manhattan, Kansas, USA. He is more than his diagnosis and less than his potential for success, in his opinion, but he is working on that. His diagnosis of schizoaffective bipolar disorder manifests symptoms of depression, mania, delusions, paranoia, and hallucinations. He is in no way medically certified beyond the occasional CPR certification, but he has been there and done that, so to speak.

Written by Cindy Witteman, Founder/ CEO/ Editor-in-Chief Cindy Witteman is a multi-award-winning author, speaker, and founder dedicated to empowering others through storytelling, action, and impact. She inspires change as the creator of Little Give TV Show, FORCE Magazine, and the Nonprofit Driving Single Parents Inc. There are moments in life when you pause and realize everything you have walked through led you right here. Not because the road was easy, but because every step had purpose. The release of my Legacy Makers documentary episode and being named a finalist for the Women of the Year Award by National Women in Business mark one of those moments for me. Together, they represent alignment. Alignment between purpose, perseverance, and choosing to keep going even when I had every reason to stop. CF Views LLC was built on one simple belief. Stories matter. Not the polished highlight reels, but the real stories. The messy ones. The uncomfortable ones. The stories filled with fear, resilience, growth, and courage. Stories of people who kept moving forward when quitting felt like the safer option. Being featured in Legacy Makers and recognized on a national level feels deeply connected to that mission. This season is not about accolades. It is about reflection, gratitude, and momentum. The power behind legacy makers Legacy Makers is more than a documentary series. It is a platform that gives voice to people who turned adversity into purpose-driven impact. Being invited to share my story was an honor, but it also came with responsibility. I knew this story needed to be honest. My episode walks through a journey shaped by generational poverty, domestic violence, fear, and uncertainty. It also shows how those experiences became the foundation for founding Driving Single Parents Inc., creating media platforms, and building a business rooted in service and opportunity. Legacy is not built overnight. It is built in the moments when you show up scared. When doubt is loud. When the future feels unclear. It is built by failing, learning, and choosing to try again anyway. The documentary captures parts of my story that are deeply personal. It reflects the challenges that shaped me and the lessons that continue to guide everything I do today. It is a reminder that legacy is not about perfection. It is about impact. It is about how you show up for others. Releasing this episode feels like closing one chapter and opening another. A moment that says the journey mattered and the work is far from finished. A recognition that hits close to home Being named a finalist for the Women of the Year Award by National Women in Business is both humbling and affirming. This recognition is not just about business success. It honors leadership, resilience, integrity, and contribution. It recognizes women who are using their voice and their platform to create meaningful change. The final award announcement will take place on March 26th in San Antonio. Knowing the outcome will be announced in the city where my mission was born makes this moment even more meaningful. San Antonio is where Driving Single Parents began. Where Little Give was created. Where FORCE Magazine was first dreamt up. Where CF Views LLC grew from an idea into a purpose-driven multimedia company. Regardless of the final outcome, being named a finalist is a win. It is confirmation that impact-driven work matters. That people over profit matters. That leading with heart is worth it. CF Views LLC and the bigger picture CF Views LLC exists to tell stories that inspire action. Through publishing, media, television, podcasts, documentaries, and nonprofit advocacy, the mission has always been about creating opportunities for others through storytelling and connection. These milestones are not mine alone. They belong to every person who supported the vision, collaborated on projects, trusted the platforms with their story, and believed in the mission when it was still taking shape. They also belong to the version of me that almost quit. The version that questioned everything. The version that kept going anyway. Legacy Makers honors the story. The Women of the Year finalist recognition honors the impact. Together, they reflect exactly what CF Views LLC stands for. Why this moment matters Celebrating milestones is not about ego. It is about acknowledgment. Pausing long enough to recognize growth and then using that momentum to create more good. This moment matters because visibility creates opportunity. When stories are shared, doors open. When journeys are honored, others feel seen. When women are recognized for leadership, it sends a powerful message to the next generation that their dreams are valid and attainable. It also proves something I believe deeply. You do not have to sacrifice your values to succeed. You can build something meaningful without losing yourself. Leading with heart and purpose is not a weakness. It is a strength. Looking ahead March 26th will be meaningful no matter the outcome. It marks a moment of reflection, celebration, and forward movement. CF Views LLC is entering a new chapter focused on expanding storytelling platforms, amplifying unheard voices, and creating opportunities rooted in service and impact. There is more to come. More stories to tell. More collaborations to build. More lives to impact. Stay tuned as the final award announcement approaches and the next chapter unfolds. Because legacy is not just what we accomplish. It is what we inspire others to believe is possible. Follow me on Facebook , and visit my website for more info! Read more from Cindy Witteman Cindy Witteman, Founder/ CEO/ Editor-in-Chief Cindy Witteman is an award-winning author, speaker, and Action Mastery Specialist passionate about helping others create impact and live with purpose. As the founder of Driving Single Parents Inc., creator of the Little Give TV Show, and Editor-in-Chief of FORCE Magazine, she empowers people worldwide to turn challenges into triumphs. Cindy is also a proud mom, Nonna, and advocate for giving back, believing that even the smallest acts of kindness can create a lasting ripple effect. Through her work, she continues to inspire others to embrace possibilities, take bold action, and write their own success stories.

Written by Jenni (Benningfield) Black, Mental Performance Coach Jenni (Benningfield) Black is a former professional athlete, a mental performance coach, and the founder of Inner Opponent Coaching. As a certified professional coach, Jenni specializes in working with high-performing leaders, athletes, coaches, and teams. Visualization is a mental GPS. When you repeatedly picture your destination, your brain begins to map a route, making it easy to get back on track when you drift. Most high performers only prepare physically, and if they do prepare mentally, they may not be preparing for all of the possibilities or even tapping into all that they can to set them up for success. Our subconscious does not know the difference between what is real and what is not. In other words, mental reps can be valuable since it can strengthen neural pathways like physical reps. Visualization creates neurons to fire in the same sequence as they would if it truly happened in real life. As the principle of Hebbian learning states: “Neurons that fire together, wire together.” What does this truly mean in practice? It preps the nervous system to create less of a threat response and more of a calm and regulated state Boosting focus and lessening anxiety and fear. The body responds as if it’s real through heart rate, breathing, and muscle activation. Let’s pause to reflect. How aware are you of the things happening “between the ears”? How are you preparing for detours, setbacks, or unexpected outcomes? If the answer is, “not much,” maybe it’s time to level up. Write down all possible scenarios, both positive and negative, “good” and “bad.” Include how you’ll respond to each. Then visualize how each scenario unfolds by engaging all your senses. See it. Hear it. Feel it. Experience it to the fullest extent. Because when the mind believes it’s real, the body follows. If you’re unsure where to start, try these simple steps: Write it out. Read it aloud a few times. Close your eyes and play the scene like a movie. And remember these benefits: It’s safe and repeatable. High-quality mental reps. Increased preparation = increased confidence Zero wear and tear on the body. Visualization is an ongoing practice, meant to be revisited, refined, and adjusted over time. So, practice. Adjust. Repeat. There’s no right or wrong way to visualize, only whether you’re doing it or not.   Follow me on   Instagram ,   LinkedIn , and visit my   website  for more info! Read more from Jenni (Benningfield) Black Jenni (Benningfield) Black, Mental Performance Coach Jenni (Benningfield) Black, a former professional athlete and mental performance coach, discovered the life-changing impact of mental performance during her final year of professional basketball, helping her overcome the mental and emotional challenges of retirement and inspiring her to earn a Master’s Degree in Sports Psychology. Driven by this passion, she founded Inner Opponent Coaching to help high performers break through mental barriers and create a game plan to succeed in what truly matters to them.