Written by Santarvis Brown, Leadership Engineer Dr. Santarvis Brown has spent 15+ years serving as a leader, innovator, and changemaker in education, showcasing in-depth insight as an administrator, educator, and program director. Some people live their lives making splashes. They show up, stir the waters, create a moment of noise, and then fade away. The impact is real, but it is temporary. Others make puddles. They move, they exist, they leave a small impression, but their influence rarely stretches beyond the immediate circle around them. But true leaders? True leaders are not defined by the size of their splash or the shallow reach of their puddle. True leaders are those who pour. The power of pouring When you pour, you don’t just touch the surface. You fill, you refresh, you overflow. Leaders who pour are not consumed with being seen. They are consumed with helping others see themselves. They don’t measure success by the height of their platform, but by the depth of their impact. Think about it. A splash makes noise, but it centers on the one who jumped in. Pouring shifts the focus outward. Pouring says, “My cup is not just for me. It is for you, too.” And here’s the beautiful truth. When leaders pour, they don’t just influence the moment. They create rivers that flow far beyond their reach. Splashes fade, puddles dry up, pouring multiplies A splash is memorable for a second, but it fades into silence. A puddle is visible for a while, but the sun eventually evaporates it. But pouring? Pouring multiplies. When you pour into someone, you ignite something that outlives you. You water their dreams. You nourish their confidence. You give them the strength to keep going when life says quit. And more often than not, those you pour into will one day turn around and pour into someone else. That’s how movements are built. That’s how legacy works. It’s not about what you keep in your cup. It’s about how much you were willing to pour out. The leader’s challenge So, here’s the question. Are you splashing, puddling, or pouring? If you’re splashing, you may impress people for a moment, but the applause will fade. If you’re puddling, you may matter to a few, but your reach will be shallow. But if you’re pouring, you’re building legacy. You’re shaping futures. You’re planting seeds that will grow long after you’re gone. Leadership isn’t about being the loudest voice in the room. It’s about being the vessel that fills others. At the end of the day, the world doesn’t need more splashes. It doesn’t need more puddles. It needs leaders who pour. Leaders who will say: “I’m not here for the spotlight. I’m here to spark a light in you.” “I’m not here to build monuments. I’m here to build people.” “I’m not here to be remembered. I’m here to remind you of who you are.” Because true leadership is not about making waves. It’s about making wells, places where people can drink, be refreshed, and rise up to their full potential. So, here’s the call. Don’t settle for splashes. Don’t shrink into puddles. Pour. Because leaders who pour don’t just leave ripples. They leave rivers. Follow me on Facebook , Instagram , and visit my LinkedIn for more info! Read more from Santarvis Brown Santarvis Brown, Leadership Engineer Dr. Santarvis Brown has spent 15+ years serving as a leader, innovator, and changemaker in education, showcasing in-depth insight as an administrator, educator, and program director. A noted speaker, researcher, and full professor, he has lent his speaking talent to many community and educational forums, serving as a keynote speaker. He has also penned several publications tackling issues in civic service, faith, leadership, and education.

If you have ever told someone you are getting your wisdom teeth removed, you have probably heard the reply: “So are you losing your wisdom too?” It is one of those lines that people love to repeat. The truth is, wisdom teeth have absolutely nothing to do with intelligence. You do not become smarter if you keep them, and you do not become less smart if they are removed. The name came from the age when they usually grow in, not because they give you some boost in brain power.  Most people get them between ages 17 and 25, which is traditionally considered the beginning of adulthood. That is why they are called wisdom teeth. Not because they provide wisdom, but because they show up during an age when you are supposed to be wiser. Once you understand that, the whole “losing wisdom” joke makes a little more sense.  Still, it makes a lot of people wonder whether the teeth had a greater purpose or if removing them causes more harm than good. Why We Have Wisdom Teeth Back when our ancestors ate diets that were rougher on the teeth, like roots, nuts, bark, raw meat, and anything else that required serious chewing power, humans needed stronger jaws. Larger jaws had more room for more teeth.  Wisdom teeth acted like extra grinders in the back, and they were useful because tooth loss was incredibly common. If someone chipped or broke a tooth, which happened all the time, wisdom teeth would eventually arrive and offer backup chewing power. Fast forward to today. We live in a world of softer food, refined diets, utensils, and dental care. We are not chewing down on animal bones or tearing tree bark. Our tooth loss rates are far lower. Our jaws also slowly evolved to be smaller because there is no longer a need for extra chewing strength. But those extra molars never went away.  What Happens If You Keep Your Wisdom Teeth You might wonder why dentists recommend taking them out if they are not useless. It is not because dentists love removing teeth. It is because wisdom teeth can cause problems if they do not have space to grow the correct way. Some people never have issues and their teeth grow in straight, healthy, and totally normal. Those people sometimes keep their wisdom teeth for life. There is nothing wrong with that. The problem occurs when there is not enough room. The teeth try to squeeze themselves into whatever tiny space they can find. They might grow sideways. They might bump into the molars already there. They might not fully break through the gums at all. Dentists check all of this with X-rays and by monitoring how teeth grow.  So the idea of automatically removing them whether you need to or not is not accurate anymore. The choice is based on what the mouth can handle. So What Do You Lose When They Come Out Some people feel relieved after the surgery. Others feel anxious about it. If someone is nervous enough, they wonder if they will lose something meaningful. It is surprisingly common for people to feel that wisdom teeth represent maturity. But here is the reality. When you take out your wisdom teeth, you lose: A set of extra molars that probably would not fit anyway A possible source of crowding A long-term risk of jaw pain A hiding place for bacteria What you do not lose is your ability to think, learn, grow, or improve as a person. The surgery will not change your personality, your memory, your common sense, or your problem-solving skills. If anything, most people feel more comfortable once the teeth are gone because pain is no longer looming in the future. Why We Joke About Losing Wisdom There is something interesting about the way humans talk about medical things. Humor makes us comfortable. Laughing about wisdom teeth makes the thought of surgery less intimidating. Teeth removal sounds serious, but a playful joke about wisdom makes it feel lighter and easier to face. So people repeat it without thinking too much about what it means. There is another layer. Wisdom is not a physical quality. It is more emotional and philosophical. Wisdom comes from experience, learning from mistakes, understanding yourself, and understanding others. Everything that shapes your sense of judgment. Those things come with time, and they do not come from molars. So if anything, the day you sit in that dental chair and decide to take care of your health might show more wisdom than keeping your wisdom teeth. What To Expect If You Have Them Removed A lot of myths surrounding wisdom teeth removal come from not knowing what actually happens. In reality, the procedure is routine. An experienced dentist in Levittown  handles it regularly. You get numbing medicine or sedation, depending on what you and the dentist choose The teeth get removed while you are numb or asleep You go home with aftercare instructions The gums heal over a few days to a couple of weeks The swelling and soreness fade gradually After the anesthesia wears off, the biggest challenge tends to be avoiding certain foods for a little while. Cold drinks, soups, pudding, and mashed potatoes are required. Some people enjoy the forced mini-vacation from crunchy foods. Others count down until the day they can eat a burger again. Most people recover completely without major issues. The whole experience becomes a memory that you laugh about later. And the wisdom jokes continue. What If Your Wisdom Teeth Never Grow In Not everyone has wisdom teeth. It is not a sign of anything deeper. It is simply genetics. If you never get them, you are not missing anything. There is no hidden advantage or disadvantage. It just means your jaw and your genetics decided to take a different direction. Your intelligence does not depend on having them or not having them. Your sense of maturity does not depend on them either. Your view of the world grows with experience. Not wisdom teeth.

Written by Dr. LJ Rose, Therapist, Author, Professional Speaker Dr. LJ Rose is an international expert in mind dynamics, psychology, and alternative healing modalities. Author of eight self-help books, she is the founder of the Natural Wellness Academy, offering professional online coaching certification and one-on-one mentoring in niche wellness careers since 2013. As an educator in natural wellness, even I was amazed that I eliminated a Basal Cell Carcinoma using topical cannabis oils in less than a month. When I first heard of “medical marijuana,” I presumed it was some creative stoner justifying their weed habit. Then I started hearing more and more, especially in Israel, where cannabis is a favored healing tool commonly used in hospitals and clinics. Israel’s Raphael Mechoulam successfully isolated and synthesized tetrahydrocannabinol, THC, the primary psychoactive compound in cannabis, in the mid-1960s. Mechoulam also discovered the human endocannabinoid system, a receptor network in our bodies fueled by cannabinoids found in marijuana that regulates human physiological processes like pain, mood, and appetite. This led to protocols to harness cannabis compounds for therapeutic purposes. Israel’s Ministry of Health oversees the entire process, from cultivation to pharmaceutical-quality cannabis distribution to patients. Medical cannabis is prescribed for a wide range of conditions in Israel, especially when conventional treatments have failed. Physicians tailor cannabis strains and formulations to individual patient needs, considering factors such as THC to CBD ratios and delivery methods, including oils, capsules, and inhalation. Chronic non-cancer pain management is the most common application, accounting for 63 percent of 2025 licenses. PTSD ranks second, rising from 9 percent to 17 percent over the same period, followed by neurological disorders such as Parkinson’s disease and multiple sclerosis, and to alleviate chemotherapy-induced nausea and improve appetite in cancer patients. Epilepsy, Crohn’s disease, and PTSD are just a few of the many other conditions treated with cannabis. Israel has the world’s foremost cannabis research ecosystem, including collaboration between universities, hospitals, and biotech firms. Clinical trials conducted there have explored cannabis efficacy and dosing protocols for autism spectrum disorder, fibromyalgia, and even palliative care. The Multidisciplinary Center for Cannabinoid Research at Hebrew University employs over 300 investigators across 40 labs researching cannabis’ impact on cancer, pain, inflammation, stress management, and neurological disorders. The center’s innovations include: Advanced extraction techniques ensure purity and consistency. New delivery systems that allow precise dosing with improved bioavailability. Genetic Strain Mapping enhances cultivation practices for targeted therapeutic outcomes. But what about me? When I learned I had a basal cell carcinoma, it was no longer a study. This was me. With an easy-to-tan Eastern European olive complexion, I honestly never worried about skin cancer. My father lived to 98 with no skin cancer issues, even though he spent decades under the sun in Acapulco following retirement, without ever using any kind of sunblock. I just assumed that I had inherited his “immunity,” along with his olive complexion. I was shocked when the physician’s assistant asked me how long I had that “brown spot on my nostril.” He took a biopsy but warned that he was quite certain I had a basal cell carcinoma. The lab report confirmed the same a few days later. Unlike a melanoma, a carcinoma is not life-threatening, but it can spread and lead to skin loss. Left untreated, it can lead to amputation of an appendage, like a nose or ear. My dermatologist suggested Mohs surgery, typically an all-day appointment where, after excising the growth, they keep digging and examining the dermal layers to ensure no cancer cells remain. There is discomfort, potentially disfiguring facial scars, and skin grafting, usually from ear cartilage, to fill in the cavity. My doctor then offered a prescription for a chemotherapeutic ointment to apply, which she said might work by ulcerating the skin and removing the carcinoma. Thank you, Rick Simpson I declined both options and told her that I would like to try an alternative treatment. My plan was to topically apply Rick Simpson Oil, also known as RSO, every day and recheck three months later. Personally, Mr. Simpson stands alongside great medical researchers like Salk, DeBakey, Pasteur, Hippocrates, and Nightingale. A Canadian named Rick Simpson developed RSO, Rick Simpson Oil, to treat his own skin cancer. Rick Simpson Oil is a thick, resinous form of high-purity, cannabinoid and terpene-rich, full-spectrum hashish that has effectively treated a variety of ailments, including cancer, arthritis, multiple sclerosis, asthma, MRSA, inflammation, high blood pressure, depression, and insomnia. As notable as this discovery is, Simpson should be as wealthy as the Sackler family. Nobly, however, Simpson gifted his healing formula to the world. Simpson does not sell RSO. Instead, he encourages patients to make their own using his formula here . You will find a wealth of valuable information on his site. You can also find ready-to-use RSO at most cannabis dispensaries. The plan In addition to the RSO or FECO, a full extract cannabis oil, a slightly different extraction and preparation method that can also be used topically and taken internally, I incorporated two additional treatments into my daily care. One was to clean the area with an astringent made of apple cider vinegar and freshly diced eggplant, left to marinate for a couple of days, with a few shakes morning and night, and strained into a clean jar. The second was full-strength organic Frankincense oil, which I ordered through one of my favorite and most reasonable essential oil suppliers, Plant Therapy. I applied all three faithfully, each one twice per day. On the 10th day, when I blotted that inner nostril area with the vinegar and eggplant astringent on a cotton pad, I felt a stinging sensation for the first time. I looked in the mirror every which way and did not detect the presence of the brown spot. It was gone. But, well aware that there could be cancer cells underneath, I continued the protocol every day until my three-month follow-up with the dermatologist. I told her what happened, and she verified this by looking at it with a magnifier and confirming that there was no visible carcinoma. “Medical cannabis saves lives” A 2017 meta-analysis by Thomas Clark of Indiana University South Bend concluded that cannabis use is associated with decreased rates of obesity, diabetes, and mortality from traumatic brain injury, among other conditions. This review noted that legal cannabis in all 50 states could prevent an estimated 17,400 to 38,500 premature deaths annually.[1] Yet sadly, there is very little mainstream information or US-based research about medical cannabis. A 2022 study at Germany’s Rostock University Medical Centre titled Impact of Cannabinoid Compounds on Skin Cancer noted, “Drugs targeting the endocannabinoid system are of interest as potential systemic chemotherapeutic treatments and for palliative care in cancer. Recent findings have suggested an essential function of the endocannabinoid system in the homeostasis of various skin functions and indicated that cannabinoids could also be considered for the treatment and prophylaxis of tumour diseases of the skin. “Cannabinoids have been shown to exert their anticarcinogenic effects at different levels of skin cancer progression, such as inhibition of tumour growth, proliferation, invasion, and angiogenesis, as well as inducing apoptosis and autophagy. This review provides an insight into the current literature on cannabinoid compounds as potential pharmaceuticals for the treatment of melanoma and squamous cell carcinoma.” The German study concluded, “Preclinical results show that cannabinoids could be a promising option for the systemic treatment of melanoma and squamous cell carcinoma of the skin. Important questions in the clinical context will be which cannabinoid, or combination of cannabinoids, is actually most effective for which type of skin cancer, and how high the dosage can be chosen without compromising patients’ quality of life through adverse drug effects. Another crucial question is in which combination with other cancer therapies cannabinoids show a synergistic anticancer effect and thereby possibly also reduce cytostatic typical side effects and prevent chemoresistance.” See here. Terpenes: The magic elixir I feel very fortunate that I avoided uncomfortable surgery, disfigurement, and the aftereffects of a chemo ointment. However, I also wonder how many people could be getting these same results if they only knew about the incredible healing power of medical cannabis. Terpenes are the magic elixirs of medical marijuana, also known as cannabis. Terpenes are found in most plants. Each terpene has its own special power. For instance, linalool, found in some cannabis plants, is the terpene that gives lavender its distinctive scent. Each plant has a unique terpene profile. Experts recommend cannabis strains high in linalool, known for its calming, sedating effect, for sleep issues. But each individual reacts to cannabis differently. What works for one may not be right for another. Customizing the ideal dosage requires a little experimentation to find just the right sweet spot, but the relief provided is well worth the journey. The gap in care Florida, where I reside, offers medical marijuana through prescription, but most prescribing physicians, as well as the sales clerks at the dispensaries, lack comprehensive training regarding the confusing variety of products, delivery systems, cannabinoid composition, and especially terpenes, which vary in each plant and product. Cannabis is a tremendous product, but it is also a complex product, where more effective outcomes come from knowledge and experience. We described this “gap in care” in our academy blog , where we agree that with the right education, adults and seniors can take the mentoring they receive from their coaches and use it to become their own greatest advocates. Inspired by a friend who had been helping cancer patients using an extremely concentrated form of cannabis oil, with impressive results, I realized the need for more awareness and education around natural and effective treatments for both topical and internal forms of wellness. The natural wellness academy As a result, I founded the Natural Wellness Academy in 2013 to train people as professional health coaches in alternative fields, including hypnotherapy, gut health, holistic health, spiritual wellness, neurodivergence, autism, and other proven alternative health therapies. In 2017, the Natural Wellness Academy (NWA) launched one of the world’s first  Medical Cannabis Coaching Certifications  and has since graduated a wealth of passionate and qualified advocates for medical cannabis. We are proud to say many consider NWA the world’s best medical cannabis training program. As a relatively new field, medical cannabis research is constantly developing new treatments, applications, and protocols. Natural Wellness Academy students and graduates are continuously updated on the latest cutting-edge research and developments in the field. Ten for two Change is a process, not an event. Way back in 1971, in the darkest days of Nixon’s marijuana war, I attended a concert at the University of Michigan for John Sinclair, the MC5 band manager, who was sentenced to ten years in prison for giving two joints to an undercover law enforcement agent at a concert. The bill was legendary – Bob Seger, Stevie Wonder, Commander Cody, Allen Ginsberg, Bobby Seale, Phil Ochs, and John Lennon, who wrote and performed “Ten for Two” about Sinclair’s plight when he finally took the stage at 3:00 am. Three days after the eight-hour concert, Sinclair was released from jail. Fifty years later, Sinclair was the first person allowed to purchase marijuana legally in Michigan. We never dreamed that marijuana, weed, pot, and a thousand other nicknames would not only be legal but also an extraordinarily effective health aid. It took a while, but that concert event was a first baby step in the fifty-year process. We can only hope that our knowledge of “pot’s” healing power evolves exponentially faster. Lives really do hang in the balance. Follow me on Facebook , Instagram , and visit my website for more info! Read more from Dr. LJ Rose Dr. LJ Rose, Therapist, Author, Professional Speaker LindaJoy Rose, Ph.D., is the founder of the Natural Wellness Academy, established in 2013, training mind/body/spirit wellness coaches in 40+ countries. The author of eight self-help books, including Your Mind: The Owner’s Manual, Dr. LJ is a pioneer in the worldwide training of hypnotherapy, subconscious dynamics, Jungian archetypes, and healthy lifestyle hacks. References: [1] Clark, Thomas. Cannabis Use Is Associated with a Substantial Reduction in Premature Deaths in the United States. Indiana University South Bend, 11 Aug. 2017.

Written by Anna Woolliscroft, Writing for Wellbeing Specialist Anna is a journalling coach and wellbeing advocate on a mission to share the transformative power of writing with 100,000 people. Through her company, Writing with Purpose, she helps women navigate life’s challenges and rediscover their joy through creative expression and nature connection, alongside hosting the Writing with Purpose podcast. Every January brings the same cycle. You set ambitious resolutions with genuine conviction, only to watch them crumble by February. The problem isn't really about willpower or commitment, it’s that traditional resolutions are structurally designed to fail. What if you could replace them with a sustainable approach that actually creates change? Intention-setting through journalling offers a research-backed alternative that transforms how you approach the year ahead. Why traditional resolutions fail According to YouGov research from December 2024 , only 33% of people who made New Year's resolutions for 2024 kept all of them. Nearly half (45%) managed some but not all, whilst 19% failed to maintain any of their resolutions. Even more telling is that previous research found that just six days into the year, one in five people had already abandoned some of their resolutions. These statistics reveal fundamental problems with how resolutions are structured. Most resolutions focus on outcomes without addressing underlying systems or motivations. 'Lose two stone' tells you the destination but provides no map for getting there. Resolutions typically arise from external pressure rather than internal alignment. You set goals because you feel you should, not because they genuinely matter to you. When motivation is externally driven, it evaporates the moment circumstances become difficult. Traditional resolutions also ignore the reality of how change happens. Behavioural scientist BJ Fogg's research at Stanford University demonstrates that sustainable change requires tiny, consistent actions linked to existing habits. Grand resolutions that demand wholesale life transformations overwhelm your capacity for change. What is intention-setting? Intention-setting differs fundamentally from resolution-making. Whilst resolutions fixate on specific outcomes, intentions focus on the person you want to become and the values you want to embody. An intention provides direction without rigid demands. Instead of declaring 'I will exercise five times per week', an intention states, 'I want to become someone who moves my body regularly because it makes me feel strong and energised.' The first version creates a pass-fail dynamic. The second establishes a guiding principle that allows flexibility in execution. Research from psychologist Dr Gabriele Oettingen shows that effective intention-setting combines positive vision with realistic obstacle planning. Her WOOP method (Wish, Outcome, Obstacle, Plan) has demonstrated significant improvements in goal achievement across multiple studies. Intentions work because they acknowledge both aspiration and reality. Assessing balance with the 8 dimensions of wellness Before setting intentions, assess where you currently stand. Dr Margaret Swarbrick's 8 Dimensions of Wellness model provides a comprehensive framework for understanding wellbeing. These eight areas work together to create overall life satisfaction – Physical, Spiritual, Social, Intellectual, Emotional/Mental, Occupational, Environmental, and Financial. Take time to evaluate each dimension honestly. On a scale of 1 to 10, rate your current satisfaction in each area. Write about what contributes to your rating and what would need to shift for improvement. This assessment reveals imbalances you might not consciously recognise. Physical wellness encompasses exercise, sleep, nutrition, and medical care Spiritual wellness involves meaning, purpose, and connection to something beyond yourself Social wellness reflects the quality of your relationships and sense of belonging. Intellectual wellness means ongoing learning and mental stimulation Emotional and mental wellness covers your ability to process feelings and maintain psychological health Occupational wellness relates to satisfaction with your work and sense of contribution Environmental wellness involves feeling safe and comfortable in your surroundings Financial wellness reflects security and freedom from money-related stress. After rating each dimension, notice where gaps exist. These areas naturally suggest where to focus your intentions. You might discover that whilst your physical wellness scores high, your social connections have deteriorated. This awareness transforms vague discontent into actionable insight. Journalling prompts for each dimension Use these prompts to explore each wellness dimension more deeply. Spend 10 to 15 minutes writing about each one over the course of a week or two. Physical: How does my body feel right now? What activities make me feel energised? What prevents me from moving regularly? Spiritual: What gives my life meaning? When do I feel most connected to something larger than myself? What values guide my decisions? Social: Which relationships energise me? Which drains me? What would a deeper connection look like in my life? Intellectual: What am I curious about? What would I learn if I had unlimited time? How do I challenge my thinking? Emotional/mental: How do I process difficult emotions? What support do I need for my mental health? When do I feel most centred? Occupational: Does my work align with my values? What would make it more fulfilling? How do I balance professional demands with other areas of my life? Environmental: Do I feel safe in my surroundings? What changes would make my environment more nurturing? How does my physical space affect my wellbeing? Financial: Do I feel secure about money? What financial patterns cause stress? What would financial freedom look like for me? These responses become the foundation for setting meaningful intentions because you're listening to what your life is telling you. Future-self journalling technique Future-self journalling creates a bridge between your current reality and your aspirational identity. Research from UCLA psychologist Dr Hal Hershfield demonstrates that people who feel more connected to their future selves make better long-term decisions and exhibit greater self-control. Start by selecting a specific timeframe. One year works well for most people, though you might choose six months or three years depending on what feels manageable. Find a quiet space where you won't be interrupted for at least 30 minutes. Close your eyes and visualise yourself at this future point. Don't force specific images. Allow details to emerge naturally. Where do you live? What does a typical day look like? How do you spend your time? What relationships matter most? How do you feel in your body? Now write a letter from this future self to your current self. Use first person and present tense as if you're already living this life. Describe your days, your priorities, and how you spend your energy. Include sensory details. What do you see when you wake up? What sounds fill your environment? What brings you joy? Most importantly, have your future self explain what choices and changes made this life possible. What did you stop doing? What did you start prioritising? What support did you seek? What fears did you move through? This isn't fantasy planning. It's reverse engineering the path to your desired life. After writing this letter, read it back and notice what surprises you. What elements feel deeply true? What feels aspirational but achievable? What seems impossible? These reactions reveal both your authentic desires and your limiting beliefs. Creating a vision for the year Whilst future-self journalling focuses on identity, visioning creates a concrete picture of what you want to experience over the coming year. This practice combines imagination with practical planning. Begin by reviewing your 8 Dimensions assessment and your future-self letter. What themes emerge? What areas need attention? What excites you? Write these observations down before moving forward. Now imagine it's December of the coming year. You're reviewing the past twelve months with satisfaction and pride. What happened to create these feelings? Write about specific experiences, achievements, relationships, and changes. Be detailed and concrete. Include the full spectrum of life. What did you do for work? How did your relationships evolve? What adventures did you have? What challenges did you handle well? What brought unexpected joy? What risks did you take? Don't limit yourself to major accomplishments. A great life also lives in small moments, such as weekly coffee with a friend, regular morning walks, time spent reading, and creative projects pursued without pressure. These details matter as much as promotions or achievements. After creating this vision, distil it into three to five core intentions. These should capture the essence of what matters most. Instead of listing specific goals, identify the qualities or experiences you want to cultivate. For example, 'I intend to prioritise creative expression over constant productivity' or 'I intend to build deeper connections with the people who matter most.' Supporting your practice with guided meditation Complement your journalling practice with guided meditation to deepen your connection to your intentions. Meditation research from Massachusetts General Hospital shows that regular practice strengthens the brain regions associated with self-awareness, emotional regulation, and perspective-taking. Find a 10-20-minute guided meditation specifically designed for intention-setting. The meditation should include body awareness to ground you in the present moment, followed by visualisation of your future self or desired year, and closing with an affirmation of your core intentions. Practice this meditation weekly, ideally at the same time and place, to establish a ritual. Many people find Sunday evenings or Monday mornings particularly effective for reconnecting with intentions before the week begins. You might record your own guided meditation using the vision you've written. Hearing your own voice describing your intended year creates powerful neural connections between current action and future outcomes. Alternatively, apps like Insight Timer or Calm offer specific intention-setting meditations you can customise to your needs. Translating intentions into daily action Intentions without action remain wishful thinking. The key is identifying tiny, specific behaviours that align with your broader intentions. This is where BJ Fogg's Tiny Habits method proves invaluable. For each core intention, identify the smallest possible action that moves you towards it. If your intention involves creative expression, the tiny habit might be opening your notebook after breakfast. If it's a deeper connection, perhaps it's sending one genuine message to a friend each morning. Link these tiny habits to existing routines. After I pour my coffee, I will write three sentences in my journal. After I close my laptop at the end of the workday, I will text one person I care about. These anchored habits bypass the need for motivation and instead rely on automatic triggers. Track your habits through journalling rather than apps or spreadsheets. Each evening, write one sentence about how you lived your intentions that day. This reflection reinforces the connection between your daily actions and your broader vision. It also provides data about what works and what needs adjustment. Monthly intention review practice Set aside time on the final Sunday of each month for an intention review. This monthly rhythm keeps you connected to your vision without the overwhelming pressure of daily assessment. Read your original future-self letter and vision for the year. Then reflect on these questions:  Which intentions felt most alive this month?  Which faded into the background?  What unexpected opportunities aligned with my vision?  What obstacles appeared?  How did I respond? Notice patterns without judgment. If you consistently struggle to act on a particular intention, that's information to pay attention to. Either the intention doesn't truly resonate, or you need different implementation strategies. Both insights are valuable. Use each monthly review to adjust your approach. Perhaps one intention needs to be broken into smaller pieces. Maybe another requires seeking support you've been reluctant to ask for. Flexibility will be your strength here. Planning for obstacles Dr Oettingen's research demonstrates that effective intention-setting includes planning for obstacles. Optimism alone doesn't create change because you need realistic strategies for handling inevitable difficulties. For each core intention, write about potential obstacles. What typically derails you? When do you abandon commitments? What circumstances make it difficult to act on your values? Be honest and specific. Then, using an 'if-then' format, create plans for handling these obstacles. If I feel too tired to journal in the evening, then I'll write three sentences while having my morning coffee instead. If work overwhelms me and I neglect relationships, then I'll schedule weekly calls with important people directly into my calendar. These if-then plans work because they remove decision-making from moments of stress or fatigue. You've already decided what to do when obstacles appear. You simply execute the plan. Practising self-compassion Dr Kristin Neff's research at the University of Texas shows that self-compassion predicts greater motivation and resilience than self-criticism. When you inevitably have days where intentions slip, how you respond matters more than the slip itself. Write yourself permission to be human. Create a self-compassion statement you can return to when you struggle. Something like, 'I'm doing my best with the resources and awareness I have right now. Tomorrow offers another opportunity to align with my intentions.' Journal about setbacks without judgement. What happened? What triggered the difficulty? What can you learn? What will you try differently? This curious exploration prevents shame spirals whilst preserving valuable information. Remember that intention-setting is a practice, not a performance. You're exploring what it means to live more consciously and deliberately. Some days will demonstrate clear alignment. Others will reveal how far you still need to go. Both types of days provide essential feedback. Begin your intention-setting practice This approach to the new year requires more initial effort than writing a list of resolutions. It also produces dramatically different results. You'll create a sustainable practice that supports ongoing growth rather than generating guilt when rigid goals prove unrealistic. Start with the 8 Dimensions assessment, then move to future-self journalling and visioning. Allow yourself several sessions to complete this work properly. Rushing defeats the purpose. If you'd like guidance in developing a sustainable journalling practice, book a Journalling Audit consultation  or browse online workshops. Together, we'll identify techniques that match your learning style and create a fulfilling habit for the year ahead. Follow me on Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn , and visit my website for more info! Read more from Anna Woolliscroft Anna Woolliscroft, Writing for Wellbeing Specialist As a certified Journal to the Self Instructor and holder of a Master's in Creative Writing and Wellbeing, Anna guides women in reclaiming their purpose through proven journalling techniques and creative writing strategies. From climbing Mount Kilimanjaro to transitioning her marketing business into meaningful work, Anna has learned that transformation begins with honest self-reflection. Whether through live workshops, on-demand training, self-learning resources, or her podcast featuring therapeutic writing experts, Anna's mission remains clear – to share the life-changing power of intentional writing with 100,000 people over the next decade, helping women move from feeling stuck to living with clarity and confidence.

Leonora K. Rosalind draws on her experience in high-pressure tech and IT environments, including roles at Cisco, to help leaders and high performers work smarter, not harder. She blends neuroscience, meditation, and mindfulness to show how nervous system regulation drives clarity, creativity, and better decision-making. Her writing challenges conventional assumptions about productivity, pressure, and success, inviting readers to rethink how they perform at work and in life. Leonora K. Rosalind, Founder, Thought Leader, Speaker & Meditation Guide Who is Leonora K. Rosalind? Leonora K. Rosalind is a thought leader, speaker, and creator of Light Meditations, immersive experiences that spark transformation. She operates at the nexus of nervous system regulation, psychology, and consciousness, helping individuals and organisations, including Fortune 500 companies such as Cisco, surpass stress, burnout, and reactivity to achieve sustainable performance. Through mindfulness, breathwork, visualisation, and sound, Leonora guides participants into a deeply regulated, restorative state of awareness. In turn, these methods foster space for healing, expanded consciousness, and renewed focus, enabling people to reconnect with innate intelligence, creativity, and purpose. Her work draws on neuroscience to show how regulating the nervous system and cultivating presence boost cognition, resilience, and well-being. She distils these findings into actionable tools for use in daily life, from demanding corporate settings to personal development retreats.  Working internationally across corporate events, workshops, and wellness gatherings, Leonora combines ancient wisdom with modern science to help teams break free from unexamined patterns and operate from a place of presence rather than survival. Her approach focuses on liberation, enabling participants to end unconscious suffering and step into their true lives. Reflecting on your journey, what personal or professional turning point led you to the work you do today? My turning point came through burnout. I had tied my identity and self-worth to struggle, believing that pushing harder made me more valuable. Over time, my nervous system became locked in a state of fight-or-flight. I accepted exhaustion, hyper-reactivity, anxiety, and overwhelm as normal, but the truth is, there is nothing normal about operating from anything less than your full capacity. I started journaling to get my thoughts out of my head and onto paper. Creating that psychological distance brought instant relief. From there, I discovered nervous system regulation through breathwork and meditation, practices now shown to activate the parasympathetic nervous system, reduce stress hormones, and improve emotional regulation. As I became less reactive, clarity returned. I could finally see my patterns instead of being consumed by them. That experience changed the trajectory of my life and became the foundation for the work I now share with others. Who do you serve, and what is the core challenge they come to you for help with? I primarily work with people experiencing burnout, chronic stress, or stagnation, often high-performing individuals and teams who seem outwardly successful but feel internally disconnected, exhausted, or unfulfilled. The core issue is a dysregulated nervous system. The brain generates about 70,000 thoughts per day, and our evolutionary negativity bias means the mind defaults to perceived threats. When unchecked, people exist in a state of chronic stress. Their energy is consumed by unexamined thoughts, emotional reactivity, and internal pressure. They’re trapped in mental loops, unable to access clarity, creativity, or a felt sense of purpose. They come to me because something in them knows there has to be another way to live and lead. How do you define the transformation your clients experience through your work? People who work with me experience a tangible shift from constant reactivity to sustained awareness, gaining a sense of inner sovereignty that empowers their actions and decisions. As the nervous system regulates and the internal dialogue quietens, energy stops leaking. That reclaimed energy becomes available for insight and aligned action. What emerges isn’t a new version of the self, it’s the rediscovery of one's authentic self. Clients consistently report greater peace, clarity, and purpose as inherent qualities are uncovered through this work. What makes your approach unique compared to others in your field? My work translates depth psychology, neuroscience, and ancient wisdom into practical tools people can use every day to regulate their nervous system and gain clarity. I don’t teach people to bypass their experience or simply “think positively.” Instead, I help them develop awareness to observe thoughts and emotions without immediately identifying with them.  At the heart of the work is accessing regulated states of presence, natural human states that existed long before chronic distraction. The approach is ethical, embodied, and practical. This isn’t about self-improvement, but self-liberation, freeing energy trapped in unconscious patterns so it can be used elsewhere. What is the biggest block you see holding people back in life? An unexamined mind. The mind is a powerful tool, but when left unchecked, it becomes a cage that creates unnecessary suffering. We suffer because we believe every thought we think and identify with every emotion we feel. In other words, we confuse the voice in the mind with who we are. When thoughts and emotions go unobserved, they become invisible drivers of behaviour, shaping our reactions, decisions, and sense of self. To understand how pervasive this is, of the tens of thousands of thoughts generated by the brain each day, research suggests up to 80% are negative. 91% of our worries never come true, and when they do, they are rarely as catastrophic as the mind predicts. Up to 95% of daily thoughts are repetitive, cycling from one day to the next. This constant repetition reinforces distorted thinking patterns and keeps the nervous system locked in survival mode. Left unobserved, the mind simply recycles fear, and over time, that fear becomes the lens through which reality is experienced. How do you help clients gain clarity and move forward with confidence? Clarity isn’t something you force, it’s something that emerges when your nervous system is regulated. When the body feels safe, the brain regains access to higher-order thinking, creativity, and insight. This is supported by decades of research showing that chronic stress impairs memory, learning, and decision-making. As presence increases, confidence follows naturally. What results or shifts do your clients often notice first? The first thing people notice is space, mental, emotional, and energetic. Clients report feeling calmer, less reactive, and more anchored. Over time, triggers lose their charge, and sleep improves. Focus sharpens.  From there, people report better relationships, clearer boundaries, improved health, and a renewed connection to their purpose. Why do you believe this work is especially relevant in today’s world? We live in a world that incentivises distraction, normalises dysregulation, and glorifies relentless busyness. The human nervous system hasn’t evolved at the same pace as technology. Chronic stimulation keeps people locked in a state of high alert, which research links to burnout, anxiety, and reduced cognitive performance. Presence is no longer a luxury, it's essential. What is one misconception people have about the type of support you provide? That it’s abstract, impractical, or about escaping reality. In truth, it’s the opposite. Presence sharpens perception. This work improves how people show up moment to moment, under pressure, in conflict, and in leadership. Regulation leads to better decision-making, communication, and resilience. It also restores agency. This is inner work with outer results. What advice would you give someone who feels stuck but unsure where to begin? Start by noticing, not fixing. Notice your thoughts. Notice your reactions. Notice your dreams. Dreams aren’t random, they’re messages from the unconscious. When that material is brought into awareness, the emotional charge reduces and behaviour shifts naturally. Freedom begins when you become a better internal sensor, able to observe where energy is leaking through unconscious reactivity. From there, seek support that works with both the mind and the body. You don’t need to force change. Clarity emerges when the nervous system returns to balance.  How can readers take the next step to work with you or learn more? I host regular talks, workshops, and immersive experiences that help individuals and organisations regulate the nervous system, quiet mental chatter, and perform under pressure. I also collaborate with wellness platforms, apps, and brands to create bespoke sleep and dreamscape recordings, meditative sound journeys designed to support rest and recovery. To take the next step, visit my website  or connect with me on my social media. Join a community committed to presence and transformation, and discover how you or your organisation can move beyond burnout into sustainable clarity and performance. Follow me on Instagram and LinkedIn for more info! Read more from Leonora K. Rosalind

Written by Phillipe Walker, Life Coach Welcome to Mend Don't Cry. A compassionate, professional space for rebuilding after loss. I combine decades of clinical nursing (HIV/AIDS and infectious diseases), university lecturing, and bereavement counselling with practical life‑coaching and NLP mindset tools to help people recover stability, reconnect, and find renewed purpose. Loneliness is now a major topic in discussions about well-being. Across Europe, policymakers and practitioners often call it a public-health crisis that affects mental health, physical health, and social ties. Still, some argue that loneliness, especially among men, is exaggerated, misunderstood, or even shaped by media stories. This debate is especially important for life coaches and wellbeing professionals. The way we understand loneliness affects how we help clients, create support programmes, and work toward healthier communities. To be effective, we need to consider both the evidence and the criticisms, particularly when working with men, whose experiences of connection are often misunderstood. Loneliness as a public-health issue Research in Europe over the past five years shows that loneliness is more than just a private feeling. It is a social issue that can be measured and has effects on whole populations. The EU Loneliness Survey[2] found that about 13% of Europeans are often lonely, with higher rates among young adults, migrants, and people experiencing financial difficulties. The UK Government’s Tackling Loneliness Evidence Review (2023) also links loneliness to depression, anxiety, heart disease, and lower quality of life. A 2024 review of loneliness policies across 52 countries[3] found that more governments now view loneliness as a real public-health issue that requires a coordinated response. This includes investing in social spaces, digital access, community programmes, and targeted support for groups at higher risk. From this perspective, loneliness is not imaginary. It is a real issue that affects health and society, and it deserves serious attention. The argument that loneliness is overstated Even with growing evidence, some critics have concerns about how loneliness is described and discussed. Loneliness is subjective and culturally shaped Not all loneliness is pathological. Some is: situational temporary developmentally normal culturally influenced More people reporting loneliness might reflect changing expectations of friendship and closeness, rather than a true epidemic. Risk of medicalising normal human experience Critics warn that calling loneliness a health crisis can make everyday experiences seem like problems, such as: solitude introversion life transitions natural periods of disconnection This can create unnecessary stigma. Structural problems can be mislabelled as loneliness Issues such as unstable jobs, housing shortages, fewer community spaces, and digital divides all contribute to disconnection. From this perspective, the real problem is weak social infrastructure, not just individual loneliness. These critics do not deny that loneliness exists. Instead, they question how we understand and address it. The debate around male loneliness The discussion becomes more complex when it comes to men. Many men do feel profoundly disconnected, but the idea of a “male loneliness crisis” can be misleading if we do not look deeper. Male loneliness may reflect structural change, not emotional weakness Men’s social networks have historically been tied to: stable employment local community institutions activity-based friendships As these structures shrink, men may feel “lonely” because they are losing traditional ways to connect. The risk of pathologising masculinity The crisis narrative often frames men as emotionally underdeveloped: “Men don’t talk.” “Men don’t open up.” “Men don’t have friends.” “Men/boys don’t cry.” This oversimplifies how men connect. It overlooks the value of bonding through physical activity, teamwork, shared tasks, and purpose-driven groups. Media amplification and moral panic Headlines often link male loneliness with: dating difficulties declining marriage rates online behaviour social withdrawal This can distort the issue and reinforce stereotypes rather than help us understand the real causes. Intersectionality matters A single “male loneliness crisis” narrative hides the fact that loneliness risk varies by: class ethnicity sexuality migration status disability Men are not all the same, and their ways of connecting are not identical. A balanced path forward The truth lies somewhere in the middle. Loneliness is real, it can be measured, and it has serious effects on public health. But calling it a crisis, especially for men, can oversimplify the issue or encourage treating normal feelings as problems. For life coaches and wellbeing professionals, the most effective approach combines compassion with attention to social structures. Strengthening social infrastructure Communities need: accessible public spaces affordable activities transport links digital inclusion intergenerational programmes Men need support in the ways they naturally connect This includes: activity-based groups skills-based coaching purpose-driven communities peer mentoring physical movement and shared tasks Use clinical pathways when appropriate When loneliness occurs with depression, trauma, or chronic illness, referral is essential. Avoid over-medicalising Not all loneliness is a disorder. Practitioners can help clients distinguish: situational loneliness chronic loneliness structural disconnection identity-based isolation Clarity helps avoid stigma and leads to better support. Pull-quote: “Not all loneliness is a crisis. The challenge is knowing when it’s a signal, and when it’s a symptom.” Conclusion Loneliness is not a made-up crisis, nor does it affect everyone in the same way. It is a complex social issue that requires careful understanding, especially when working with men. Life coaches and wellbeing professionals need to see both sides – recognising the real harm of ongoing loneliness while avoiding simplistic narratives that turn men into stereotypes. The future of addressing loneliness depends on improving social structures, using evidence-based methods, and recognising gender differences. This approach respects the many ways men connect, heal, and find belonging. Visit my website  for more info! Read more from Phillipe Walker Phillipe Walker, Life Coach I’ve faced crippling debt, homelessness, workplace burnout, and the loss of two life partners, and I know what it’s like to feel emotionally homeless and like an outsider. I came to the UK from a country torn by internal strife, and those experiences taught me that vulnerability and asking for help are acts of strength. With decades in clinical nursing (HIV/AIDS and infectious diseases), university lecturing, and bereavement counselling, I offer an evidence‑based, compassionate coaching approach. Using practical life‑coaching, NLP mindset tools, and steady empathy, I’ll help you reconnect, turn loss into possibility, reduce loneliness, and build a clear, actionable path to renewed purpose. References: [1] Barreto, M., Victor, C., Hammond, C. et al. (2021) ‘Loneliness and social isolation among older adults in Europe: Evidence from the SHARE survey’, European Journal of Ageing, 18(1), pp. 1–15. [2] European Commission Joint Research Centre (JRC). (2023) The EU Loneliness Survey: Monitoring loneliness across Europe. Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union. [3] Goldman, N., Khanna, D., El Asmar, M.L., Qualter, P. and El-Osta, A. (2024) ‘Addressing loneliness and social isolation in 52 countries: A scoping review of national policies’, BMC Public Health, 24(1), pp. 1–15. [4] Qualter, P., Vanhalst, J., Harris, R. and Lodder, G. (2021) ‘Loneliness across the life span’, Current Opinion in Psychology, 43, pp. 82–87. [5] UK Government. (2023) Tackling Loneliness Evidence Review: Main Report. London: Department for Culture, Media and Sport.

Written by Kath Roberts, Coach, Colour Teacher & Author Kath is a systems coach and international teacher of colour therapy. She unlocks innate potential in individuals and groups by bringing together what we know, who we are, and then ultimately what we do. Recognising that brilliance isn't just in our heads, but emerges from the integration of intellectual, emotional, and spiritual intelligence. There's a question I ask every entrepreneur who approaches me struggling with their business, "What if nothing in your business is actually about your business?" The space always goes quiet. Because somewhere deep down, they already know the truth. Your business isn't separate from you. It isn't something you operate from the outside, like a machine you've built that occasionally malfunctions.   Your business is a living system , an extension of your consciousness, a reflection of your inner landscape, and a mirror for everything you haven't yet made peace with inside yourself. The reflection you can't unsee That client who keeps pushing your boundaries, she's showing you exactly where you struggle to hold your own. The team member who won't take the initiative is reflecting on your own relationship with trust and control. The revenue plateau you can't seem to break through is pointing directly to your ceiling around receiving, worthiness, or what you unconsciously believe you deserve. This isn't mystical thinking. It's systems theory, meeting depth psychology, meeting quantum physics. Everything in a living system is interconnected, mutually influencing, and responsive to the whole. When you change one element, the entire system reorganizes itself around that change. And at the centre of your business system is you. Your unhealed wounds become your business model. Your unconscious beliefs become your profit and loss statement. Your nervous system state becomes your company culture. The question isn't whether your internal world shapes your business, it's whether you're open and ready to examine it all and see how. The web of invisible connections We've been taught to think of business as linear, put in the effort, and you'll get the results. But living systems don't work that way. They work through feedback loops and what systems theorists call "sensitive dependence on initial conditions", or put more simply, small changes in one area creating massive shifts throughout the entire system. This is why you can implement the perfect marketing strategy and get zero results, while your competitor with an inferior approach attracts clients effortlessly. The difference isn't in the strategy. It's in the internal conditions that either allow or block the system from thriving. Actions matter, of course, but the consciousness from which we are operating matters way more. Your business exists within nested systems, and these are your personal history, your family patterns, your cultural conditioning, and your nervous system state. When you try to "fix" a business problem without understanding its roots in these deeper systems, you're treating symptoms while the cause remains untouched. This is one of the reasons you’ll find serial millionaires making money from their start-ups and then losing it all and restarting all over again. The body keeps the score Your body knows your business is in trouble long before your spreadsheets do. The exhaustion that no amount of sleep can fix. The anxiety that spikes before an important client call. The back pain that intensifies with each difficult conversation you're avoiding. Your body isn't failing you, it’s merely providing you with the intelligence your mind hasn't caught up to yet. When you're operating from complete alignment, your body feels resourced, energized, alive, and you feel like anything is possible. When you're out of integrity with your values or building something that doesn't truly serve your soul's purpose, your body begins to protest. What if that persistent tension in your shoulders is your body's way of saying you're carrying too much alone? What if that Sunday night dread is pointing to a business model that fundamentally doesn't fit who you are? The body doesn't lie. And in a living system, the body's wisdom is as essential as the balance sheet. In our modern age, we're amateurs at listening to our bodies' wisdom, living predominantly in our heads while staying distracted from our truth. Bessel van der Kolk, author of the groundbreaking book, The Body Keeps the Score, reminds us that "physical self-awareness is the first step in releasing the tyranny of the past." When we learn to befriend the sensations in our bodies, we unlock intelligence that our rational minds alone could never access. This is intelligence that's essential for building businesses aligned with who we truly are The patterns you inherited Some of the most persistent patterns in your business didn't originate with you. They came through you, transmitted across generations like a radio signal you didn't realize you were tuned into. The grandfather, who lost everything, taught a family system that security means never taking risks. The mother who sacrificed her dreams for everyone else's needs, passing down the belief that success requires self-abandonment. Unresolved experiences and beliefs move through family lines until someone becomes conscious enough to interrupt the pattern. I've watched entrepreneurs transform their businesses completely by addressing a single inherited belief. The woman who stopped over-giving when she understood she was healing her mother's pattern of martyrdom. Another who stopped hustling when she realised her family’s pattern of never having enough money. The man who broke through his income ceiling when he recognized he'd unconsciously taken a vow never to surpass his father's success. Your business becomes the arena where these ancestral patterns play out, until you bring them into conscious awareness and choose differently. As you integrate these unprocessed parts, you, your life, and your business will accelerate with less effort because you build from higher awareness and you create success from the inside out. The shadow in the boardroom Carl Jung taught us that whatever we don't integrate within ourselves, we meet as fate. In business, this shows up with remarkable precision. The parts of yourself you've rejected or disowned don't disappear, they   become your shadow.  They always show up as that "difficult" client who triggers you, the team conflict you can't resolve, the boss you just can’t please, and the visibility you unconsciously sabotage. Your shadow doesn't oppose your business, it merely reveals what's asking to be integrated so you can become whole. Every entrepreneur has a version of this, the success that terrifies them as much as it excites them. The visibility they crave but simultaneously hide from. The money they want but don't feel worthy to receive. These aren't character flaws. They're your psyche, trying to protect you based on old information. Maybe visibility meant danger in your family. Maybe success meant isolation. Maybe power meant becoming like someone who hurt you. When your shadow is integrated rather than rejected, it stops showing up as business problems and starts showing up as authentic power. The healing that transforms everything Here's where it gets extraordinary. When you do the internal work, that is, when you   shift a core belief,  heal an old wound, or integrate a rejected part, your business begins to transform without you changing a single external strategy. The entrepreneur who heals her relationship with receiving suddenly has clients showing up and willing to pay premium prices. The leader who resolves his control issues watches his team step into their full capacity. The creative who gives herself permission to be seen finds her work going viral. Nothing in their marketing changed. Nothing in their business model shifted significantly. But everything in the system reorganized around their new internal state. When you address the root cause, your consciousness, your beliefs, your nervous system, the symptoms resolve themselves. The system naturally moves toward wholeness because that's what living systems do when the conditions allow it. The practice of seeing So how do you begin to see your business this way? Start by   getting curious  instead of critical. When something isn't working, rather than asking "What's wrong with my strategy?" try, "What is this showing me about myself? What pattern is asking to be seen?" Notice when a personal breakthrough coincides with a business breakthrough. Pay attention to which activities drain you, and which energize you. Your body is always giving you systemic intelligence. Track the patterns. Do you have the same issues with different clients? The same conflicts with different team members? These repetitions are clues to something deeper, asking for your attention. Work with the whole, not just the parts. When tempted to fix one isolated problem, zoom out. What else is connected to this? How is this business challenge related to your personal growth edge right now? And bring compassion to what you find. Your business challenges aren't evidence that something is wrong with you, far from it. They are all invitations to deeper integration, more authentic expression, more wholeness, and ultimately, more aligned success. The business that breathes When you begin to work with your business as a living system, something profound shifts. You stop fighting against yourself. You stop trying to force outcomes through strategies that don't honour who you actually are. You start building businesses that breathe, that have room for your humanity, that grow organically and succeed because they're aligned with your truth. This doesn't mean business becomes effortless because living systems require constant tending and care. But the effort comes from a different place. Not from pushing against your own resistance, but from moving with your own wisdom. Not from proving your worth, but from expressing your gifts. Not from fear of what you might lose, but from devotion to what you're here to create. Your business is always communicating with you. Every challenge, every pattern, every stuck place is feedback from the system, showing you exactly what needs attention for the next level of growth. The question is, "Are you listening?" When you finally understand that your business is not separate from you, that it's a living, breathing expression of your consciousness, everything changes. You stop looking outside yourself for answers and start sourcing them from within. You stop treating symptoms and start healing systems. You stop building businesses that exhaust you and start creating ones that excite and expand you. This is the work. Not just building a business but becoming a person whose internal landscape can hold the business you're meant to create. Not just developing strategies but developing yourself. Not just seeking success but seeking wholeness in all aspects and discovering that when you find the latter, the former follows naturally. Your business is a mirror. What it shows you is always an invitation. The only question is, "Are you ready to look?" Ready to explore what your business is reflecting back to you? If this article resonates and you're curious about understanding your business as a living system, I invite you to explore working together. Through one-to-one coaching and my upcoming Creative Edge series (commencing January 14, 2026), I guide entrepreneurs, coaches, and conscious leaders through the journey of making the unconscious conscious, so your business can finally align with who you truly are. Because when you heal the system from the inside out, everything shifts with ease and grace. Discover how we can work together  |  Join The Creative Edge Follow me on Facebook , Instagram , and visit my LinkedIn  for more info! Read more from Kath Roberts Kath Roberts, Coach, Colour Teacher & Author Kath Roberts is an international colour therapist, systems coach, and author who bridges the business world with the metaphysical to facilitate profound transformation. With over 37 years of work experience across leadership, sales, and consultancy with a focus on cultivating talent , she uses colour, systemic coaching, and nature-based practices to help conscious leaders and creative entrepreneurs align with their soul's purpose. She creates space and the appropriate structure so transformation moves from the inside out with ease and grace.

Written by Alynne R Davis, Expressive Arts Psychotherapist, Coach & Consultant Alynne Davis is an Expressive Arts Psychotherapist, Coach, and Consultant specializing in eating disorders, trauma, and women’s mental wellness. She integrates expressive arts, evidence-based methods, and mind-body healing to support meaningful and lasting transformation. Many women enter therapy believing that if they could just try harder, be more disciplined, or finally get it right, their anxiety, perfectionism, emotional eating, or chronic overwhelm would disappear. When those strategies fail, the conclusion often feels deeply personal. Something must be wrong with me. Trauma-informed care offers a different understanding. You are not broken. Your nervous system adapted. What does trauma-informed care really mean? Trauma-informed care recognizes how past experiences shape the nervous system, emotional responses, and patterns of behavior. Rather than focusing only on symptoms, it considers the broader context of a person’s life, including relational experiences, chronic stress, emotional neglect, medical trauma, and long-term nervous system overload. Instead of asking, "What is wrong with you?" Trauma-informed care asks, "What happened to you?" From this perspective, anxiety, hypervigilance, people-pleasing, emotional suppression, and perfectionism are not flaws. They are survival responses that once helped create safety. Why so many women feel broken Women are often socialized to prioritize others, suppress their needs, and stay emotionally regulated for everyone around them. Over time, this creates disconnection from the body and erosion of self-trust. When therapeutic or wellness approaches focus only on changing behavior, women may feel blamed for symptoms they cannot control. Shame deepens rather than softens. For many women, these patterns show up most clearly in relationships, especially where emotional enmeshment, people-pleasing, or boundary confusion  are present. Creative and body-based approaches can help restore emotional safety and agency. Trauma lives in the nervous system Trauma is not stored only as memory. It is held in the nervous system. When the body remains in states of fight, flight, freeze, or fawn, insight alone is rarely enough. A woman may understand her patterns intellectually yet still feel unable to regulate her responses. Trauma-informed care prioritizes nervous system regulation alongside emotional processing. When safety is established in the body, the nervous system no longer has to rely on extreme coping strategies to feel protected. Why creativity plays a powerful role in healing Creative expression reconnects women to their bodies and inner experiences through image, color, movement, and sensory awareness. It bypasses the inner critic and creates space for emotional expression without judgment. Creativity invites curiosity instead of control. For many women, this feels safer than direct emotional confrontation and allows emotions to be explored without overwhelm. Creative work becomes a bridge between insight and embodiment. Trauma-informed care during major life transitions Life transitions can intensify nervous system sensitivity. Perimenopause and menopause , in particular, often bring emotional shifts, anxiety, sleep disruption, and changes in body awareness. When these transitions are not approached through a trauma-informed lens, women may feel dismissed or misunderstood. Supporting the nervous system alongside emotional and physical changes creates a more sustainable path forward. Healing is not about fixing yourself Trauma-informed care does not aim to fix women. It helps them understand themselves. When women feel safe inside their bodies, many behaviors soften naturally. Food no longer needs to regulate emotions. Perfectionism loses urgency. Rest becomes possible. Not because something was corrected. But because something was finally understood. Why trauma-informed care changes everything Trauma-informed care meets women with context rather than judgment and curiosity rather than correction. It honors resilience without romanticizing suffering and recognizes that healing unfolds through safety, connection, and integration. If traditional approaches have ever felt incomplete, it may not be because you failed to heal. It may be because your nervous system was never fully included in the conversation. A gentle invitation If this perspective resonates, you may wish to explore trauma-informed, creative, and nervous-system-based approaches to healing further here . Follow me on Facebook , Instagram , and LinkedIn for more info! Read more at Alynne R Davis Alynne R Davis, Expressive Arts Psychotherapist, Coach & Consultant Alynne Davis is an Expressive Arts Psychotherapist, Coach, and Consultant who helps women heal from eating disorders, body image struggles, trauma, and emotional burnout. She blends expressive arts, nutrition, CBT-E, IFS-informed work, and trauma-informed yoga to support deep and lasting transformation. Alynne empowers women to rebuild self-trust, restore their relationship with food and body, and reclaim emotional freedom. Through her articles, workshops, and coaching programs, she offers compassionate guidance and research-informed strategies for meaningful, holistic healing.

Shaqeem Akbar-Downey grew up on the court and the field. Basketball and football were not hobbies. It was a daily routine. From an early age, he played for multiple teams and traveled across cities and states to compete. Those experiences shaped how he thinks about effort, teamwork, and focus. “Sports taught me how to show up every day,” Akbar-Downey says. “You don’t improve by talking. You improve by doing the work, even when no one is watching.” Traveling for games also opened his eyes to bigger opportunities. Competing outside his neighborhood pushed him to think seriously about education and long-term goals. The discipline required to balance training, school, and travel became the foundation for his future career. Education that blended creativity and business After attending Sir Wilfred Laurier High School, Akbar-Downey continued his education at St. Lawrence College. He studied culinary arts alongside business management. At first glance, the combination may seem unusual. For him, it made sense. “Culinary arts taught me precision and timing,” he explains. “Business management taught me structure. You need both if you want results.” Working in kitchens helped him understand systems, efficiency, and pressure. Business courses gave him the tools to manage people, processes, and outcomes. Together, they shaped how he approaches marketing today, with creativity guided by structure. Building a career in marketing and advertising management Akbar-Downey now works in marketing and advertising management, partnering closely with major used car dealerships. His role focuses on building campaigns that deliver real results, not just attention. “I don’t believe in flashy ideas that don’t convert,” he says. “If it doesn’t bring in qualified leads, it’s not doing its job.” His work centers on understanding local markets, customer intent, and timing. By aligning messaging with real buyer behavior, he helps dealerships consistently generate leads and close multiple deals. The approach is practical and grounded in execution. Rather than relying on one-size-fits-all strategies, he adapts campaigns to each dealership’s inventory and audience. That flexibility has become a defining part of his reputation. Leadership through consistency and trust Akbar-Downey does not describe himself as a traditional executive. His leadership style is shaped by sports and hands-on experience. He believes trust is built through consistency. “In both sports and business, people follow results,” he says. “You earn respect by being reliable.” Dealership partners value clear communication and predictable performance. Akbar-Downey focuses on setting expectations early and measuring outcomes honestly. If something does not work, he adjusts quickly. That mindset mirrors his athletic background. Review the game tape. Fix mistakes. Move forward. Staying connected to youth and community Outside of work, Akbar-Downey remains closely connected to sports. He is actively involved in youth basketball and football training programs. His goal is to help young athletes develop skills while learning discipline and confidence. “I see myself in those kids,” he says. “All they need is guidance and someone who believes in them.” He volunteers his time to support youth from the neighborhoods where he grew up. For him, giving back is not about recognition. It is about access. He wants young athletes to see pathways beyond their immediate environment. Sports, he believes, are a tool. Not everyone will go pro. But everyone can learn structure, teamwork, and accountability. A business mindset shaped by the long game Shaqeem Akbar-Downey approaches both business and life with a long-term mindset. He understands that success is built gradually. Campaigns improve through testing. Skills are sharpened through repetition. “Nothing meaningful happens overnight,” he says. “You build momentum by staying consistent.” That philosophy keeps him focused as he continues to grow within the marketing and advertising space. He is less concerned with titles and more focused on impact. Helping partners succeed. Helping young athletes grow. Improving systems one step at a time. Shaqeem focused on the future As his career continues to evolve, Akbar-Downey remains grounded in the lessons that shaped him early on. Discipline from sports. Creativity from culinary training. Structure from business education. Those elements now come together in his work every day. “At the end of the day, it’s about showing up prepared,” he says. “Whether it’s a game, a campaign, or mentoring a kid, the mindset stays the same.” For Shaqeem Akbar-Downey, leadership is not loud. It is steady. And it is built one play at a time.

Toronto, ON –  John Gerges is changing how people experience Toronto. Through his walking tours, Gerges transforms ordinary streets into living stories, blending art, history, and local culture into experiences that feel personal, current, and deeply connected to the city. Rather than focusing on major landmarks, Gerges leads visitors through neighborhoods like Graffiti Alley, Kensington Market, and lesser-known laneways filled with murals, gardens, and family-run shops. Each tour reflects the city as it exists in the moment, shaped by artists, residents, and constant change. “I liked knowing why a place looked the way it did,” Gerges said. “Once you know the story, you never see it the same way again.” A lifelong curiosity for the city Gerges grew up in midtown Toronto, spending his free time exploring neighborhoods with friends. Even at a young age, he paid attention to details others often overlooked, from murals tucked into alleyways to the history behind older buildings. That curiosity followed him to the University of Toronto, where he studied Communications and City Studies. While in school, he worked part-time at an art studio in Queen West, where he was introduced to street artists, independent creators, and the behind-the-scenes work that supports local culture. “That studio showed me how much talent exists off the main paths,” Gerges said. “Most visitors never find it on their own.” Turning passion into a walking tour business After graduating, Gerges earned a certificate in Tourism and Hospitality Management from George Brown College. The program helped him understand how tours are structured and how Toronto’s tourism ecosystem functions. In 2016, he launched his own walking tour brand. Instead of scripted routes, Gerges designed flexible tours that evolve with the city. Murals appear overnight. Shops change hands. Stories grow with each walk. “I tell people the tour changes every week,” he said. “That’s because Toronto keeps changing.” His Graffiti Alley tour quickly gained attention for its authenticity and variety. Visitors appreciated that no two tours felt the same and that both permanent and short-lived art were treated as part of the city’s story. Building trust through authentic experiences What sets Gerges apart is how personal his tours feel. He greets shop owners by name, remembers guests, and shares stories rooted in real relationships rather than rehearsed facts. “I try to remember names,” he said. “People relax when they feel seen.” His approach has led to strong word-of-mouth growth, with reviews often highlighting the connection guests feel during the experience. Many describe the tours as feeling less like a formal activity and more like exploring the city with a knowledgeable friend. Life beyond the tour routes Outside of guiding tours, Gerges remains closely connected to Toronto’s creative life. He lives near Ossington and spends early mornings practicing street photography, capturing quiet moments before the city fills with activity. He cycles the waterfront trail regularly and restores vintage film cameras, a hobby he developed during the pandemic. Food exploration also plays a role in his work. Gerges keeps a running list of favorite local spots, from bánh mì shops to shawarma counters and plant-based bakeries. Some of these places have become informal stops along his routes. “If I love a place, I want people to experience it,” he said. New stories, same streets Gerges is currently working on a photo-driven book documenting Toronto’s laneways and the artists behind them. He is also developing a nighttime walking tour focused on illuminated murals, neon signs, and the city’s atmosphere after dark. “Toronto changes personality at night,” he said. “I want people to feel that shift.” Despite new projects, his focus remains the same, authentic experiences grounded in curiosity and consistency. “This city is a living canvas,” Gerges said. “Every day, there’s a new story if you’re paying attention.” Through patience and a deep connection to place, John Gerges has turned a personal love of walking in Toronto into a meaningful career, one step at a time. About John Gerges  John Gerges is a Toronto-based walking tour guide and city storyteller specializing in art-focused and neighborhood-driven experiences. Through his tours, he helps locals and visitors explore Toronto beyond traditional landmarks, highlighting the people, murals, and everyday details that shape the city’s identity.

Sarah Josipovic did not stumble into real estate. She grew up inside it. Homes, plans, and neighborhoods were part of everyday life long before she ever wrote an offer or walked a client through a build. Today, she is a licensed Sales Representative with Sotheby’s International Realty Canada, working closely with a respected Hamilton builder while also operating as part of a family real estate team. Her career reflects patience, preparation, and a steady approach to leadership in a changing industry. This is the story of how she built her path, step by step. Early roots in real estate and homebuilding Sarah grew up in Stoney Creek, Ontario. Both of her parents are from Hamilton, and real estate was always close to home. Her mother built a long career as a real estate agent. Her grandfather was a custom home builder. That exposure shaped how she sees property today. “I was around floor plans and job sites from a young age,” Sarah says. “I learned early that homes are not just structures. They’re personal.” Her childhood was active and focused. She excelled in tennis and skiing, sports that demanded discipline and repetition. “Sports taught me how to stay calm under pressure,” she says. “That carries over into real estate more than people think.” That mindset would later become a quiet advantage. Education in urban planning and sustainability Sarah attended Cardinal Newman Catholic Secondary School in Stoney Creek before moving on to Ryerson University, now Toronto Metropolitan University. She studied Environment and Urban Sustainability with a minor in Geography. She graduated with honours in April 2016. In her first year, she received the award for Best Overall First Year Student in her program. “I was always interested in how cities grow and how people live in them,” she says. “Real estate sits right at that intersection.” Her education gave her a framework for thinking beyond single transactions. She learned how zoning, land use, and long-term planning affect communities. That broader view still shapes how she works with buyers today. From service jobs to professional real estate Before entering real estate, Sarah spent over a decade working in hospitality and retail. From 2009 to 2020, she held roles as a waitress, bartender, hostess, and retail associate. Those years taught her how to deal with people on their best and worst days. “You learn quickly how to listen,” she says. “You also learn how to stay professional when emotions run high.” In 2019, she enrolled in real estate licensing courses. She became officially licensed in October 2020 with Sotheby’s International Realty Canada. The timing was not easy. The market was shifting. Expectations were changing. “That first year forced me to learn fast,” she says. “There was no room for shortcuts.” Working with builders and new construction A major focus of Sarah’s career today is new construction. She works closely with RealPro Homes, a Hamilton-based builder, on residential projects. New builds demand a different skill set. Timelines are longer. Decisions are layered. Clients often need guidance months before move-in. “New construction is about managing expectations,” she says. “People need clarity at every stage.” Her background gives her an edge. She understands floor plans, materials, and design trade-offs. She also understands the emotional side of building from scratch. “You’re asking people to wait,” she says. “Trust becomes everything.” A family-based real estate team Since 2020, Sarah has worked alongside her mother as part of a real estate team. The partnership blends experience with a modern approach. “We’re different, and that’s the strength,” Sarah says. “She brings decades of perspective. I bring a new lens.” Working with family also sets a higher bar. “There’s accountability,” she adds. “You don’t cut corners when your name and your family name are both on the line.” Leadership style and personal balance Outside of work, Sarah prioritizes health and structure. She weight trains, practices Pilates, and yoga. She spends time fishing, hiking, camping, and skiing. Her favorite place is up north, on the lake, surrounded by trees. “That’s where I reset,” she says. “Nature keeps me grounded.” She is also rarely without her eight-year-old German Shepherd, a registered service animal who has been with her since puppyhood. “She goes everywhere with me,” Sarah says. “She reminds me to slow down.” A steady presence in a fast industry Sarah Josipovic does not frame success in loud terms. Her career reflects consistency, preparation, and trust built over time. “I don’t see real estate as a quick-win business,” she says. “It’s a long game.” As markets shift and client expectations evolve, that mindset positions her as a steady leader in her field. She brings together family knowledge, academic grounding, and real-world experience. And she continues to build, one relationship at a time.

Aspiring screenwriters face a universal temptation. A brilliant new idea appears mid-draft, sparkling with possibility, and suddenly the current project feels like a slog. The pattern repeats until hard drives overflow with abandoned scripts and nothing reaches completion. Bennett Graebner, who spent nearly two decades as an executive producer on The Bachelor franchise before returning to his original passion for screenwriting, has watched talented friends fall into this trap for years. His diagnosis is blunt: new ideas feel exciting because they remain untested, while screenplays function as lottery tickets that hold zero chance of winning if never completed. Why do new ideas feel more exciting than current projects? An idea that exists only in imagination carries no flaws, no structural problems, no scenes that refuse to work. Imperfections emerge only after a writer commits words to paper. "It's so easy to start something, get excited about it, work on it, and then get frustrated by it," Bennett Graebner observes . "That shiny other thing that's in your head or in your notes, because that thing is like, oh, well that's fun. And that's not that hard." Screenwriting coach Jenna Avery identifies this pattern as "bright shiny object syndrome," a term she uses in Script Magazine to describe how almost anything else looks more appealing once writers begin hard work on a script. Untested ideas appear perfect Current screenplays have problems that need solving. New ideas seem to solve themselves. "The only thing that's perfect is that idea that you just have the idea for that you actually haven't worked on yet, because that isn't anything," Graebner explains. "You're just like, that's an awesome idea. Well, yeah, it's just an idea." What seemed like a guaranteed success in imagination reveals complications the moment it becomes a working document. Rather than push through, writers retreat to the next shiny object. What do writers lose when they never finish? "They're all just lottery tickets," Bennett Graebner states. "Your chance of getting something made is so slim. But if you don't finish anything, well, you have no shot at all." Approximately 50,000 screenplays are registered with the Writers Guild of America each year , while spec script sales number in the dozens. Only 11 spec scripts sold in 2023, with just one selling in the first three months of 2024. A finished script at least enters the competition. An unfinished script guarantees nothing. Writers who never complete scripts cannot build proficiency with structure and pacing. Mechanics of ending a story, of bringing threads together in a satisfying resolution, only develop through practice. "I think about these friends of mine who are just working the same thing for years and years and years, and it's like, you can't do that," Graebner says. Graebner taught screenwriting for years and observed the same pattern repeatedly. Students with talent and ambition failed to complete projects, while less naturally gifted writers who finished their scripts moved forward. "You've got to get to the point where you can at least say, hey, take a look at this," Graebner explains . "As opposed to like, yeah, I'm working on something, which we all do, by the way." Managers, agents, and producers cannot evaluate potential based on descriptions of works in progress. Finished scripts give them something to read, assess, and champion. Quitting reinforces itself Creative professionals who repeatedly abandon projects develop patterns that become harder to break. Each unfinished script makes the next abandonment easier. Conversely, each completed project builds confidence and momentum. How can writers break the cycle? "You have to power through and just finish it, otherwise you're just going to be sitting there," Bennett Graebner advises. Frustration with a current project does not make a new idea superior. Both scripts will present problems and demand effort. Commitment to completion makes the difference. First drafts mark beginnings, not endings. Eric Heisserer wrote approximately 100 drafts of Arrival before production. M. Night Shyamalan did not discover that Malcolm Crowe was dead until the fifth draft of The Sixth Sense. Writers who abandon projects after two or three drafts may be quitting just before their best work would emerge. Use new ideas as motivation Rather than switching projects, Graebner suggests treating new ideas as rewards for completing current work. "Don't do that. Do not do that," he tells himself when tempted to jump to something new. "But sometimes a little bit of that is good where you're like, I need a break from this thing. But you can't take too much of a break. And then you just have to finish it, even if it's not perfect." Jon Acuff, author of Finish: Give Yourself the Gift of Done, recommends placing new projects at the finish line for current ones. Anticipated rewards provide motivation to push through difficult sections. Completion over perfection Bennett Graebner acknowledges that he fights the same impulses as every other writer. New ideas arrive uninvited. Current projects grow frustrating. The temptation to start fresh never fully disappears. "I do it too, man," he admits. "But yeah, I think that you have to power through and just finish it." His years teaching screenwriting reinforced what his own career demonstrated: talent matters less than output. Writers who generate dozens of ideas but complete nothing remain amateurs indefinitely. Writers who push through frustration and finish imperfect scripts develop the skills, build the portfolios, and create the opportunities that lead to professional work. A finished screenplay, however flawed, can open doors. It can attract representation, land assignments, or simply teach the writer what the next script needs. A drawer full of brilliant beginnings accomplishes none of these things. For aspiring screenwriters chasing careers in an industry where the odds already stack against them, Graebner's advice cuts through the noise: stop romanticizing the ideas you haven't tested and finish the work in front of you.