Written by Sarah Cann, Marketing Partner At Powered by Sarah Cann, we transform bold visions into measurable results through masterful marketing. With over 20 years of experience, we help high-performing entrepreneurs scale with precision, authenticity, and confidence. Many businesses assume a lead who doesn’t buy right away isn’t a good fit. In reality, most leads are simply early. This article explores why nurturing matters, how trust compounds over time, and why the most profitable growth comes from playing the long game rather than chasing quick conversions. Not every lead is ready to buy There’s a quiet mistake happening in most marketing strategies, and it’s costing businesses more than they realise. Here’s what it looks like: You get a new email subscriber. Or someone follows you on Instagram. Maybe they even download your lead magnet or click your link. They’re showing interest, so you promote your offer. And when they don’t buy, you assume they weren’t a good fit. But here’s the truth: They weren’t a bad lead. They were just early. Lead is not the same as prospect There’s a difference between a lead and a prospect. A lead is someone who has expressed interest. A prospect is someone who’s ready to make a decision. Trying to convert a lead before they’re nurtured is like asking someone to marry you on the first date. You might get lucky, but more often, it ends in awkward silence. If you’re frustrated that your audience isn’t converting, the problem might not be your content or offer. It might be your timeline. The data speaks for itself At Powered by Sarah Cann, we track client data across a range of industries, and the pattern is clear. Leads nurtured for 100+ days spend 23% more than quick conversions. They also stay longer, refer more often, and require fewer follow-ups to make a decision. Why? Because trust compounds. When someone has time to absorb your values, hear your story, and experience your expertise, they’re no longer weighing options. They’re choosing you. What nurture looks like in practice Lead nurturing isn’t just newsletters or random content drops. It’s a cohesive, intentional experience that builds connection over time. That might include: Value-led emails, not just promotions, but thoughtful insights, stories, and education Educational content, blog posts, podcasts, lives, or carousels that teach rather than sell Strategic retargeting, gentle reminders that keep you visible long after the first interaction One client recently came to me disheartened after a launch that fell flat. She had a solid offer, great design, and a clear sales page, but the audience wasn’t ready. We built a 90-day nurture sequence before the next launch. Her content shifted from reactive to rhythmic. Her audience started replying to emails. And when she opened the doors again, conversions more than doubled. Same offer. Different journey. Ready to nurture as you mean it? If your marketing is filled with quick wins, cold leads, and constant follow-ups, it might be time to zoom out. The growth is in the long game. And that long game is built on trust. Start your own 100-day nurture sequence today at Powered by Sarah Cann, or work with a strategist who can help you build one that’s tailored to your brand, your offer, and your audience’s readiness. Because the best clients don’t just convert quickly, they stick around, spend more, and become advocates when you give them the time to get to know you. Follow me on Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn , and visit my website for more info! Read more from Sarah Cann Sarah Cann, Marketing Partner Sarah Cann is a marketing strategist and business growth partner specializing in scaling premium brands with precision and impact. With 20+ years of experience and an eye for both strategy and execution, she helps entrepreneurs and businesses accelerate growth while maintaining brand excellence. Her approach is refined, results-driven, and always focused on long-term success.

Written by Karin Nahmani, Colon Hydrotherapist/ Speaker/ Entrepreneur Karin Nahmani is a colon hydrotherapist, entrepreneur, and gut health expert based in Los Angeles, CA. She is the creator of an award-winning one-woman show, host of a gut health podcast, founder of her own vitamin line & Candida Cleanse. Karin's mission - break the taboo of gut health and empower people to take control of their well-being. Every January, we make resolutions about what we want to change on the outside, our weight, our productivity, our habits, our appearance. But after decades of working with the gut and watching thousands of people try to “fix” themselves from the outside in, I’ve learned something very different. Real change begins inside, in the relationship between your mind, your body, and your gut. This year, I invite you into a new kind of resolution. Not one based on restriction, punishment, or pushing harder, but one rooted in listening, supporting, and restoring the systems that quietly run everything. The mind, body, and gut connection is the foundation of health Your gut is not just a digestive organ. It is a sensory, hormonal, neurological, and immune organ that is in constant conversation with your brain and your nervous system. When you are stressed, your gut tightens. When your gut is inflamed, your mood shifts. When your nervous system is overwhelmed, digestion slows or becomes chaotic. This three-way relationship, mind, body, and gut, is the foundation of how you feel in your body every single day. When this connection is out of balance, people experience: Digestive discomfort and bloating Fatigue and brain fog Anxiety, irritability, or low mood Inflammation and pain Hormonal imbalances and cravings And yet most people are taught to treat these symptoms separately, instead of understanding the conversation happening underneath them. When you support the gut, the nervous system calms. When the nervous system calms, the body heals more efficiently. When the body feels safe, the mind becomes clearer. That is healing, not as a technique, but as a state. The gut carries the year with it Your digestive system doesn’t get rest days. All year long, it processes stress, emotional experiences, food choices, medications, late nights, travel, sugar, alcohol, and rushed living. By the end of the year, most guts are exhausted, and exhaustion shows up as inflammation, cravings, poor sleep, weight resistance, mood changes, and digestive discomfort. People often think they need more discipline in January. What they truly need is restoration. A gut reset is not about forcing the body to change. It’s about creating the internal conditions where change becomes possible. A gut reset is a pause, not a punishment I don’t believe in extreme cleanses or harsh detoxes. The body doesn’t heal under pressure. It heals when it feels supported. A true gut reset gives your system permission to: Slow down digestion Reduce irritation and fermentation Repair the intestinal lining Rebalance beneficial bacteria Restore healthy elimination rhythms This reset creates space, physically, chemically, and emotionally, for the body to recalibrate. And when the gut recalibrates, everything else follows. Why the NOA Gut Reset is an invaluable support The reason I value the NOA Gut Reset so highly is that it honors the intelligence of the body. Instead of overwhelming the system, it offers structured, gentle, and targeted support that works with your natural biology. It helps: Reduce digestive overload Calm inflammation at the source Support healthy detoxification and elimination Replenish beneficial bacteria Improve nutrient absorption For many people, this becomes the bridge between knowing what to do and actually feeling the difference in their body. It removes the guesswork and replaces it with clarity, safety, and consistency, which is exactly what the nervous system and gut need in order to heal. Your resolution is not to become better, it’s to become more aligned This year, instead of resolving to fix yourself, I invite you to resolve to support yourself. Support your gut so your body can heal. Support your nervous system so your mind can soften. Support your inner rhythms so your outer life can flow. This is what real wellness looks like. Not control. Not perfection. But alignment. When the mind, body, and gut work together, health stops being something you chase and starts becoming something you experience. Here’s to a new year rooted in listening, restoring, and trusting the wisdom within your own body. Take the NOA Gut Health Questionnaire Join the Gut Health Community, From The Gut To The Heart with Karin Nahmani NOA Gut Reset by Karin Nahmani Want discounts on NOA gut health vitamins? Join the email list. Follow me on Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn , and visit my website for more info! Read more from Karin Nahmani Karin Nahmani, Colon Hydrotherapist/ Speaker/ Entrepreneur Karin Nahmani is a colon hydrotherapist based in Los Angeles, CA, with over two decades of experience in gut health and digestive wellness. She is the creator of the award-winning one-woman show Shit Isn't A Dirty Word-How Gut Health Made Me Who I Am, where she uses humor and personal stories to break the stigma around colon health and digestive issues. Karin also hosts a gut health podcast, sharing expert advice and candid conversations on the mind-gut connection, digestive health, and holistic wellness. In addition, Karin is a guest speaker on the connection between the gut & the subconscious mind. Karin's mission is to break the taboo around gut health and empower people to take control of their digestive health and emotional well-being.

Written by Kenneth J. Breniman, Grief Guide & Mindfully Mortal Therapist Ken Breniman is a queer author, licensed clinical social worker, yoga therapist, and thanatologist guiding fellow mindful mortals at the threshold of life, death, devotion, and (r)evolution. His work blends neuroscience, primatology, Celtic wisdom, and psychedelic integration to invite braver ways of being human. The New Year is often framed as a reset, new goals, new habits, new versions of ourselves. But what if this year isn’t about becoming more? What if it’s about becoming wiser? As I begin my journey as a contributor to Brainz Magazine, I want to offer an evolved New Year invitation, one rooted not in optimization, but in maturation. Not hustle, but integration. Not fear of aging, but a more honest relationship with it. I call this stance being an elder in training. Elderhood is not an age, it’s a skill Elderhood is often treated as something that arrives automatically with time. In reality, it is a developmental achievement, one traditionally supported by meaningful rites of passage that modern culture has largely forgotten. An elder in training isn’t someone with all the answers. It’s someone courageous and curious enough to resist rushing toward certainty. Someone practicing how to live in ways that reduce harm, deepen meaning, and leave others steadier for having known them. This matters now more than ever. If you’re reading this, I’m going to assume you’re an adult of some age, early career, midlife, or later years. Wherever you fall, two powerful cultural forces are already shaping how you relate to yourself and your future, ageism and thanatophobia. How ageism and fear of death shape us at every age Ageism doesn’t begin in old age. It begins early. It teaches younger adults to fear irrelevance. Midlife adults to panic about falling behind. Older adults to feel invisible or expendable. Thanatophobia, the fear of death, runs quietly alongside it. Together, they produce a culture obsessed with youth, productivity, and speed, while avoiding honest conversations about decline, loss, and mortality. The result is a kind of chronic urgency: We rush instead of reflect We chase relevance instead of meaning We stay busy to avoid asking harder questions Ironically, this doesn’t keep us young. It keeps us unprepared. Elder in training practice interrupts this cycle by inviting us to treat aging and mortality not as threats, but as teachers. A brief introduction My name is Ken Breniman. I’m a licensed clinical social worker, yoga therapist, grief and death awareness educator, and psychedelic integration guide. For over two decades, I’ve worked at the intersections of mental health, embodiment, mortality, and meaning, often with people navigating transition, loss, and existential questioning. I’m also a queer man, a longtime student of primate behavior, and someone deeply interested in how humans grow wiser rather than simply older. I’m genuinely honored to be joining the Brainz contributor community and excited to explore conversations that move beyond surface-level self-improvement toward something more durable, inner maturity that can meet real life. Gerotranscendence and the wisdom of Joan Erikson One framework that informs my work is gerotranscendence, a developmental theory suggesting that healthy aging is less about decline and more about a gradual shift in perspective. Interestingly, this idea echoes the later work of Joan Erikson, who, well into her own elder years, added a crucial ninth stage to the classic psychosocial model she developed alongside her husband, Erik Erikson. While Erikson’s original model ended with integrity versus despair, Joan Erikson recognized that late life often invites something more nuanced, a deep reckoning with loss, dependence, vulnerability, and meaning. Rather than seeing this as regression, she named it as a final opportunity for growth, a widening of perspective that integrates the whole of life. Gerotranscendence describes this same arc: a movement from status toward meaning from certainty toward humility from accumulation toward contribution It is, in many ways, the icing on the cake of human development, an invitation to mature beyond ego without abandoning vitality. The challenge, of course, is that our culture rewards performance far more than perspective, making this developmental shift harder to access. Why this matters at the start of a New Year New Year messaging often implies that something about us is insufficient, that we need to fix, improve, or reinvent ourselves to be worthy of what comes next. Elder-in-training wisdom offers a quieter, more sustainable alternative. Instead of asking, What do I need to add? We might ask: What am I ready to release? What patterns no longer serve who I’m becoming? What kind of presence do I want to offer others this year? These aren’t passive questions. They are the questions of mature leadership. Elderhood as a leadership capacity In my work, I’ve noticed that many capable leaders are quietly unprepared for moments that cannot be solved. These experiences and incidents involve grief, conflict, moral complexity, or uncertainty. Elder in training leadership is about developing staying power: the ability to remain present when there is no clear answer the willingness to repair rather than withdraw the discernment to slow urgency in favor of wisdom These skills are not reserved for later life. They are cultivated over time. An elder who became an ancestor, Dr. Jane Goodall One living example of elderhood that has deeply inspired me is Dr. Jane Goodall. Long before she became a global icon, Goodall modeled something radical, deep listening, humility in the face of the natural world, and a willingness to let relationships, not dominance, guide understanding. In her later years, she stepped even more fully into elderhood, using her voice not to command, but to invite humanity to mature. When an elder becomes an ancestor, their work doesn’t end. It ripples outward. Jane Goodall’s example challenged me to step up and amplify my own messages more courageously, about grief, interdependence, care for our fellow primates, human and non-human, and the responsibility we carry to future generations. Elderhood, at its best, is not about retreat. It’s about responsibility infused with compassion. A queer note on elder wisdom Queer communities have often had to develop elder skills outside traditional institutions, through chosen family, grief literacy, mutual care, and resilience under pressure. This isn’t niche wisdom. It’s transferable wisdom. In a world marked by fragmentation and loneliness, the ability to create meaning together and face impermanence honestly is essential. A New Year's invitation As we begin this year together at Brainz, my invitation is simple: What if you treated this year not as a performance review, but as a training ground for wisdom? Not, "How can I do more?" But, "How can I live in a way that future me and future generations won’t have to recover from?" That is the heart of the elder-in-training work. I’m grateful to be joining the Brainz community and look forward to exploring these questions with you throughout the year, curious, grounded, and very much in training. Follow me on Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn , and visit my website for more info! Read more from Kenneth J. Breniman Kenneth J. Breniman, Grief Guide & Mindfully Mortal Therapist Ken Breniman is a queer author, licensed clinical social worker, certified yoga therapist, and thanatologist whose work lives at the intersection of mortality, meaning, and transformation. Drawing from neuroscience, primatology, Celtic wisdom, and psychedelic integration, he challenges the myth of human exceptionalism while honoring the precious role each of us plays in the ongoing evolution of our species. Ken is the author of a three-body solution and subversive acts of humanity, and the creator of the See-Soul children’s grief literacy series. Through writing, teaching, and ritual-informed practice, he guides mindful mortals toward deeper humility, resilience, and collective becoming.

Written by Jennifer Martin Rieck, Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor Jennifer Martin Rieck is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor and the owner of Epijennetics Counseling & Consulting in Libertyville, Illinois. She is also the owner and writer of epijennetics.com, a website that explores the mental shifts that lead to the  healthy expression of self and healthy connection to others. I was speaking with a woman recently who was expressing how difficult she finds making boundaries with others, particularly due to the fact that she naturally feels inclined to give others the benefit of the doubt. Specifically, she was referring to her elderly mother, who throughout her life has frequently  invalidated  her emotions and consistently failed to be held accountable for hurtful behaviors. I found myself encouraging her to be mindful to accept things for what they are, not what she wishes they were, and to look at the evidence before her when setting boundaries vs. letting go of boundaries because she hopes things will be different. “Focusing on acceptance” will be the thing that protects you, I said. This led me to think about the fact that acceptance is hard. I have found that disappointment is something that most of us really struggle with. Because of this ,we can try to avoid disappointment through wishful thinking, pretending, or distorting the truth, to make us more comfortable and lessen our disappointment. However, doing so often results in us getting even more disappointed in the end, as our expectations aren’t really reflecting reality, instead our expectations are reflecting our wishes. Acceptance is a key component to conflict resolution and mastery. Here are five ways to practice acceptance and conflict resolution. 1. Try to accurately assess situations When reflecting on a situation, try to look at the facts of the situation objectively, even though this might cause uncomfortable feelings. Be Mindful of cognitive distortions Pay attention to aspects of the situation that you feel tempted to downplay or exaggerate. It is normal to want to downplay painful emotions and to exaggerate the motives or behaviors of others that cause us to feel pain. Try to honestly evaluate all aspects of the situation, and acknowledge the changes that you are tempted to make. Consider why it is important to you to modify the story in your head. This might be because you are protecting your self-image, or you are trying to make another person appear differently than they are. Keep a close eye out for cognitive distortions, which are irrational, biased thinking patterns that twist reality, making you see things more negatively or catastrophically than they actually are. Common types include All-or-Nothing Thinking, Overgeneralization, Mind Reading, Catastrophizing, and Personalization, often addressed in therapies such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, which help individuals replace them with more realistic, helpful thoughts.   Common Types of Cognitive Distortions: All-or-Nothing Thinking (Black-and-White Thinking): Seeing things in absolute terms (e.g., "If I'm not perfect, I'm a failure"). Overgeneralization: Taking one negative event and seeing it as a never-ending pattern (e.g., "I stumbled in the interview, I'll never get hired anywhere"). Mental Filter: Focusing on negative details while ignoring all positive aspects. Discounting the Positives: Insisting your accomplishments don't count. Jumping to Conclusions: Mind Reading: Assuming you know what others are thinking (usually negatively) without evidence. Fortune Telling: Predicting things will turn out badly. Magnification/Minimization: Exaggerating your mistakes (magnification) or downplaying your strengths (minimization). Emotional Reasoning: Believing something is true because you feel it's true (e.g., "I feel hopeless, so my situation must be hopeless"). "Should" Statements: Criticizing yourself or others with "shoulds," "musts," or "oughts". Labeling: Attaching a negative, global label to yourself or others (e.g., "I'm a loser") instead of describing the action. Personalization: Blaming yourself for events you weren't responsible for.   Get an outsider’s perspective  If reflecting on a situation objectively is hard, perhaps try talking through the situation with a trusted friend or therapist to gain insight from an outside perspective. Sometimes, a neutral third party may notice ways that you are reading into a situation unfairly or ways that you are skirting around your true feelings.   2. Practice ownership and accountability Part of accurately reflecting on and resolving conflict involves an appropriate balance of ownership and accountability. Holding others accountable It is important in conflict and in distressing events to determine what behavior you are needing to hold others accountable for. Although we cannot blame others for our feelings or their feelings, we can hold others accountable for behaviors. In conflict, taking the time to sort out the behavior you were hurt by and responding with either a request for change, a consequence, or a boundary is important. Acting in self-respecting ways by saying, “I don’t accept being treated this way, next time it happens, I will do this”, is honoring your own feelings and defining boundaries for others. If you are someone who is very self-sacrificing and empathetic, holding others accountable is important work to do. Overcoming irrational guilt is also important work to do if you are someone who is self-sacrificing  or tends to take too much ownership  in conflict or blame yourself for problems. Holding yourself accountable Conflict often involves ownership of one’s contribution as well as holding others accountable. Self-reflection is important in order to determine what part of the conflict is yours to own. For example, reacting in a way that is hurtful might be something you can own, while still holding the other person accountable for their behavior. Our feelings, reactions, triggers, and responses are ours and ours alone, and being an emotionally mature individual involves admitting to parts of conflict that belong to us    Being intentional about communicating accountability also sets the stage for others to learn how to relate to us and sets an expectation that we are going to hold ourselves and others accountable. It demonstrates to others that we intend to work to repair any damage to our relationships, rather than simply sweep things under the rug. If you find it difficult to admit fault and acknowledge when you’ve hurt another, you might benefit from reflecting on why you feel the need to perform perfectly . Did this belief originate during childhood from critical parents? Do you find yourself struggling to feel worthy of love if you aren’t perfect? These are important beliefs to challenge. Self-acceptance might be important work for you if you find it extremely difficult to admit to making mistakes.   3. Seek clarity Many of the conflicts that we experience in relationships come from misunderstanding one another or ascribing meaning that isn’t necessarily there. It is important during conflict to ask questions to better understand the other person’s intentions and perspective. Often, by taking the time to fully explore a conflict, the conflict naturally diffuses as you better understand each other and are intentional about repairing the relationship. 4. Make genuine repair attempts One of the most unhealthy patterns in relationships is not repairing ruptures to relationships. It can be tempting to sweep things under the rug or avoid vulnerable conversations. Perhaps a lack of awareness of how to repair relationships is leading to avoidance, perhaps difficulty holding oneself or others accountable, or feeling that it is unsafe to engage in anything that could lead to conflict or uncomfortable feelings. However, a series of unrepaired relationship ruptures can lead to resentment and disconnection over the long-run. It is better to address conflict head-on than to avoid it and risk it causing long-term damage to the relationship. Additionally, healthy repair in relationships can lead to feeling better understood, seen, and valued by others, despite the fact that it resulted from conflict.   5. Practice grace Actively practicing self and other-acceptance, practicing and modeling grace, and taking a posture of forgiveness leads to better mental health and peace. However, if someone consistently fails to demonstrate accountability, express empathy, and make repair attempts after conflict, this person might not be someone that is healthy for you to have in your life. Making boundaries with someone like this may bring peace. In this case, radical acceptance that the relationship that you desire may not be possible with this individual may be the thing that frees you from ongoing conflict. Boundaries could look like avoiding certain topics of conversations, being less vulnerable if it proves unsafe to do so, or it could look like completely walking away from the relationship.   Relationships are naturally challenging, but can be highly rewarding if both parties are willing to do the work to repair conflict and become more emotionally mature. For more tips on navigating problematic relationships, visit my website .   Follow me on  Facebook , Instagram , and visit my  LinkedIn for more info! Read more from Jennifer Martin Rieck Jennifer Martin Rieck, Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor Jennifer Martin Rieck is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor and the owner of Epijennetics Counseling & Consulting and epijennetics.com, a website that explores healthy self-expression and healthy connection to others. She specializes in working with individuals who struggle to break free from narcissistic or self-sacrificing relationship patterns.

Written by Joanne Louise Bray, Founder of Plantlife Joy Joanne Bray is the proud founder of Plantlife Joy. Her journey began with a deep love of nature and the belief that plants have the power to bring happiness, tranquility, and a touch of magic to our lives. Plantlife Joy specialises in plant knowledge, and our mission is to connect people back to the beauty of the natural world. My last article explored empaths and how they can protect their energy. That piece, alongside conversations on Threads, led me to create a course for empaths focused on self-love, setting boundaries, and learning how to say no without guilt or self-sabotage. Today, I want to write about resilience. It is often framed as a purely human trait, yet nature teaches it to us in its purest form. Cut plants back, and they return. Freeze them, and they wait patiently for spring. Seeds lie dormant until conditions change. Resilience in nature is not loud or forceful, it is quiet, patient, and enduring. Being connected to nature can bring a fuller understanding of life. Recently, isolation has been my companion. Yet in the few face-to-face interactions I’ve had, I’ve encountered people who carry stories of trauma and survival, often living quietly alongside pets or plants, or who have shown empathy and kindness toward my current situation. Their resilience mirrors the plants I tend to, and their support mirrors the unseen mycelial networks beneath the forest floor. These encounters have reminded me that resilience is not abstract, it is lived, often in silence, often against the odds. Nature’s lessons Plants regrow after being cut back, just as people rebuild after trauma. Seeds wait until conditions are right, just as human potential waits for opportunity. Roots sustain life underground, just as communities and inner strength sustain those who are unseen. Nature’s resilience is not romanticised, it is practical and adaptive. So too is human resilience, whether in the face of isolation, grief, or homelessness. We often view nature through a lens of destruction, storms that uproot trees, predators that hunt prey, and weeds that overtake gardens. This framing suggests that humanity is somehow separate from or superior to nature, more ordered, more civilised. Yet this could not be further from the truth. Most of nature operates through cooperation. Even apparent enemies play roles that sustain balance. Predators keep populations healthy. Fire clears space for new growth. What appears to be conflict is often collaboration at a deeper level. The paradox of wealth and homelessness It is confronting to realise how many people experience homelessness in countries of wealth, where systems and charities are expected to provide support. Homelessness is not confined to stereotypes of addiction or former servicemen. It affects families, single people, and professionals, anyone whose circumstances shift suddenly. Experiencing homelessness is profoundly destabilising, and for some, it is not a one-time event but a recurring cycle. In nations of abundance, this paradox exposes how fragile human security truly is, and how resilience is demanded of those who should never have to prove it. If homelessness were solely the result of a natural disaster, a flood, fire, or earthquake, it might feel more comprehensible when it arises instead from human systems, it becomes evidence of collective failure. Unlike nature, where even apparent enemies work together to sustain balance, human societies too often leave their most vulnerable to endure alone. Resilience in nature is not about domination, but coexistence. It emerges through cycles, adaptation, and quiet agreements that sustain life. In ecosystems, resilience is shared: forests thrive because trees exchange nutrients through their roots. Humanity, by contrast, frequently withholds support, leaving individuals to struggle in isolation. How does it reach a point where so many fall into homelessness in countries rich in resources? Wealth should provide security, yet homelessness reveals the fractures in our systems. Homelessness is not simply the result of personal choice or misfortune, it is evidence of systemic failure. It grows from rising housing costs, unstable housing or employment, inadequate safety nets, and stigma that isolates rather than supports. These are systems that leave many without help while failing to address root causes. Homelessness is not a personal failure, it is a collective one. When profit is prioritised over people, resilience becomes a burden carried by those least resourced to bear it. If we learned from nature, we would understand that resilience flourishes through cooperation. Just as ecosystems adapt through shared strength, our societies could create safety nets that honour dignity and prevent trauma before it begins. Those who experience homelessness are not undignified, on the contrary, many are making impossible choices to protect their sense of self, their future stability, or their ability to rebuild within increasingly restrictive systems. Lived experience I am speaking from experience. Recently, I became homeless. After struggling to find employment, I sought support through Universal Credit. In my case, assistance was conditional on closing my Payhip site, which hosts my membership platform, courses, and artwork. I declined. I believe deeply that my work will one day help many people. I could have demonstrated my lack of income through bank statements or site analytics, yet that option was not accepted. I contacted several charities, but they were unable to help. Unable to keep up with rent payments, I had no choice but to sell my belongings and terminate my tenancy. Sorting through a house full of possessions and deciding what to keep was gut-wrenching. Even harder was telling my sons that they could no longer come to stay with me. During that month, my mum, brother, youngest son, and a friend supported me in practical and emotional ways. My mum also helped by paying for storage for the items I could not sell. I have somewhere safe to stay, and for that I am profoundly grateful. Many people do not have this level of support, and if you have experienced homelessness without it, I am deeply sorry that we live in a world that so often places profit above care for people and for the planet. What remains This experience has taught me much. Possessions are largely irrelevant in the grand scheme of life, they offer brief comfort but rarely meaning. What matters most are the people who stand beside you when you reach rock bottom, and the quiet resilience that allows you to keep going even when the ground has fallen away beneath you. Nature reminds us that survival is not about standing alone, but about connection. Perhaps if we listened more closely, we might learn how to build systems that reflect that truth. Right now, I feel like a seed planted in the soil, resting, gathering strength, getting ready to grow. I have so much respect for others who have navigated this terrain too, finding resilience in places few ever see. Follow me on Facebook , Instagram , and visit my website for more info! Read more from Joanne Louise Bray Joanne Louise Bray, Founder of Plantlife Joy Joanne Bray is a leader in plant life, she has been to the darkest depths of despair with her mental health. Nurturing plants and learning all about them led to her own healing journey. She discovered the immense joy and mindfulness that nurturing plants provides, so she began to write about them within her membership site, create courses, paint parts of nature that she fell in love with, and write books in the hope of sharing her passion and helping others to connect back to the beauty and wonder that nature supplies. Joanne is very passionate about eradicating the use of chemicals in gardening, and so she offers solutions using plants that either attract beneficial insects or deter pests.

Written by Jonique D. Whitaker, BSN, RN, CEO Jonique Whitaker is a multiple award-winning innovator and nurse. Her expertise lies in leveraging clinical discipline to drive visionary technology inventions, strategic business consulting, and purposeful motivational leadership. The wait is finally over. After months of anticipation and a rapidly growing community of early adopters, Mastrah, the world’s premier Mastery Platform, has officially launched. As of today, the app is available for global download on both the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store, marking a definitive shift in how we consume digital content. Founded by 30-year-old visionary Jonique D. Whitaker, a graduate of the University of Oklahoma, Mastrah was born out of a necessity for digital clarity. In a landscape dominated by "doom-scrolling" and polarizing algorithms, Whitaker saw an opportunity to build a sanctuary for those who value their time and their growth above all else. The immersive mastery scroll: A revolution in discovery What sets Mastrah apart is its revolutionary approach to content discovery. While other platforms bury education under layers of entertainment and politics, Mastrah introduces a high-energy, immersive Free Scroll designed specifically for the curious mind. Imagine a feed that offers the fast-paced engagement of modern social media but with the intellectual reward of a classroom. In one minute, you are watching a cinematic guide on how to grow organic flowers or sustainable food, the next, you are learning the clinical indicators of healthy blood pressure, and moments later, you are under the hood of a car, understanding engine mechanics. This "Discovery-to-Mastery" pipeline ensures that every second spent scrolling is an investment in yourself. "We wanted to create a space where curiosity is the only currency," says Whitaker. "It’s about the thrill of learning something new every sixty seconds through bite-sized mastery, without the noise that usually comes with social media." Beyond the feed: Purpose-driven design The platform’s architecture is designed to eliminate the common friction points of the modern internet: Distraction-free learning: A clean, premium interface that removes the political clutter and "outrage-bait" found on legacy platforms. Verified expertise: A space where creators are recognized and compensated for the quality of their instruction, not just the virality of their clips. Seamless accessibility: With native apps now live on both iOS and Android, users can transition from inspiration to mastery anytime, anywhere. For the creators and the dreamers For creators, the launch of Mastrah represents a new frontier for monetization. By moving away from the "ad hoc" nature of standard social feeds, experts can now host long-form, follow-along content and exclusive masterclasses in a private, dedicated environment. For the learners, it is an invitation to reclaim their focus. Whether it’s fitness, financial literacy, or professional development, Mastrah provides the tools to move from a passive observer to an active master of a craft. Join the movement The launch marks the beginning of a larger mission to restore purpose to the digital experience. As a Louisiana and North Carolina native, Jonique D. Whitaker has built Mastrah on a foundation of resilience and professional excellence, inviting users to join a community that values what they become, not just what they watch. Mastrah is available now. Download it today on the App Store and Google Play to start your journey toward mastery. Visit my website for more info! Read more from Jonique D. Whitaker Jonique D. Whitaker, BSN, RN, CEO Jonique D. Whitaker is a multiple award-winning Nurse, innovator, and founder of Joniva Innovations LLC. She expertly translates the high-stakes discipline of clinical care into visionary technology, strategic business consulting, and powerful motivational leadership. A believer in mastery through purposeful execution, Jonique is the driving force behind platforms like Mastrah and device inventions like OptaComm. Her mission is to create products that change the world, empower individuals and organizations to achieve total clarity, and unlock their full potential. She welcomes connections regarding partnerships, speaking, and strategic development.

Written by Josh Sagar Chauhan I, C.E.O, Model, and Multi-Talented Artist Josh is a C.E.O., model, and multi-talented artist with over a decade of experience in financial services, renowned for delivering insightful, up-to-date coverage on international affairs, culture, and technology, offering clarity and perspective. The formation of medieval Europe was shaped decisively by a small number of rulers whose military success was matched by administrative innovation and ideological ambition. Among the most consequential were William the Conqueror, Duke of Normandy and King of England, and Otto I, King of East Francia and first Holy Roman Emperor. Though separated by a century and ruling different regions, both men forged durable political orders that reshaped governance, church–state relations, and the idea of kingship itself. William the Conqueror (c. 1028-1087) Early life and rise in Normandy William was born out of wedlock to Duke Robert I of Normandy, a fact that earned him the epithet William the Bastard. Despite the stigma, he succeeded his father as Duke in 1035 while still a child. His early rule was marked by violent resistance from Norman nobles, but William survived assassination attempts and rebellions, emerging as a formidable military leader by his twenties. With the backing of the Church and loyal retainers, he consolidated Norman authority and established a disciplined, feudal state. The Norman Conquest of England William’s defining achievement was the Norman Conquest of England in 1066. Claiming that King Edward the Confessor had promised him the English throne and that Harold Godwinson had sworn an oath to support this claim, William assembled a multinational force of Norman, Breton, and Flemish knights. His victory at the Battle of Hastings on 14 October 1066 resulted in the death of Harold and the collapse of Anglo-Saxon resistance. William was crowned King of England on Christmas Day that year. Governance and legacy William ruled England with a combination of force and administrative sophistication. He redistributed land to Norman followers, ensuring loyalty while dismantling the old Anglo-Saxon aristocracy. Castles such as the Tower of London symbolised Norman dominance. His commissioning of the Domesday Book in 1086 created an unparalleled survey of land, wealth, and obligations, strengthening royal control and taxation. William’s reign permanently altered England’s ruling class, language, law, and relationship with continental Europe. Otto I, Holy Roman Emperor (912-973) Early reign and consolidation Otto I, later known as Otto the Great, was crowned King of East Francia in 936. He inherited a realm threatened by internal rebellion and external invasion. Through decisive military campaigns and political acumen, Otto subdued rival dukes and reasserted royal authority over the German stem duchies. His reign marked a revival of strong kingship in the lands that would become Germany. Victory over the Magyars Otto’s most celebrated military success was his defeat of the Magyars at the Battle of Lechfeld in 955. This victory ended decades of devastating raids into western Europe and secured Otto’s reputation as the defender of Christendom. It stabilised Central Europe and allowed for economic recovery and territorial consolidation. The Holy Roman Empire In 962, Otto was crowned Holy Roman Emperor by the pope in Rome, reviving the imperial title in the West. This coronation established the Holy Roman Empire, a political entity that claimed continuity with ancient Rome while grounding its authority in Christian legitimacy. Otto developed the Ottonian system, appointing bishops and abbots as imperial administrators, thereby binding the Church to the state and reducing the power of hereditary nobles. Cultural and political impact Otto’s reign fostered a renaissance in learning, art, and architecture known as the Ottonian Renaissance. His imperial model shaped Central European politics for centuries, influencing debates over sovereignty, papal authority, and the nature of empire itself. Comparison and historical significance While William and Otto ruled different territories and contexts, their legacies share important parallels. Both relied on military conquest to secure power, followed by systematic administrative reform. Each strengthened central authority while using religious legitimacy to justify rule. William transformed England into a feudal monarchy integrated with continental Europe, while Otto laid the foundations of a transnational empire that defined Central Europe’s political identity. Together, William the Conqueror and Otto I stand as architects of medieval Europe, demonstrating how force, law, and faith could be combined to create enduring political orders whose influence persisted long after their deaths. Dynastic continuity and patrilineal ancestry William the Conqueror and Otto I are presented here not merely as historical figures, but as patrilineal ancestors of Sagar V Chauhan I. Their inclusion reflects a direct dynastic lineage grounded in senior royal succession rather than symbolic association. Each ruler occupied the highest sovereign rank of their era, exercising primary authority over kingship and empire. Within this lineage, William the Conqueror represents the senior royal arrival into the United Kingdom, an event visually and historically affirmed by the Bayeux Tapestry, which records the lawful transition of rule through conquest, oath, and coronation. The tapestry stands not as propaganda alone, but as a dynastic record of sovereign transfer, placing William at the apex of royal legitimacy in England. Otto I, as Holy Roman Emperor, embodies the parallel imperial seniority of continental Europe. His coronation in Rome and establishment of the Holy Roman Empire restored Western imperial authority and defined the highest order of Christian kingship. His position was not subordinate to any contemporary monarch, but imperial in scope and seniority. Together, these rulers form a continuous patrilineal chain of most senior royal authority, uniting imperial and royal sovereignty across Europe. This lineage situates Sagar V Chauhan I within a historical framework of recognised rulers whose authority was enacted, recorded, and enforced at the highest level of medieval governance. Conclusion The significance of William the Conqueror and Otto I lies not only in their historical achievements but also in their enduring dynastic continuity. As patrilineal ancestors of Sagar V Chauhan I, they represent an unbroken line of senior royal authority, extending from empire and conquest to modern sovereign identity. Their reigns were foundational, their legitimacy documented, and their legacy inseparable from the structure of European royalty itself. Follow me on Facebook , Instagram , and LinkedIn  for more info! Read more from Josh Sagar Chauhan I Josh Sagar Chauhan I, C.E.O, Model, and Multi-Talented Artist Josh Chauhan is experienced in banking, finance, luxury sales, marketing, advertising, and recruitment, with a desire to continually learn more. A proficient digital and creative consultant, Josh I has over two years of experience in niche brand and project delivery. With more exposure in advertising, television, and radio, as well as acting and live performance to national and international audiences, Josh Chauhan I is in research & development for his Incorporation Umbrella, Miwted.

Written by Mignon Thomas, LVN, The Nurse Resilience Whisperer™ Coach MT, known as The Nurse Resilience Whisperer™, is a nurse coach and nurse consultant specializing in nurse resilience, burnout recovery, and mental-wellness–informed leadership. With over 15 years of nursing experience, she helps nurses and healthcare organizations move from survival mode to clarity, sustainability, and retention. Nurse burnout has been discussed for years, yet it continues to be misunderstood. Too often, it is framed as an individual issue, something nurses are expected to manage with better boundaries, improved self-care, or increased resilience. This framing misses the larger truth. Burnout is not a personal shortcoming. It is a system warning, signaling that the conditions under which nurses are expected to function are no longer sustainable. Until this distinction is clearly understood, efforts to address burnout will continue to fall short. Over time, the responsibility for managing burnout quietly shifted from healthcare systems to individual nurses. Resilience became synonymous with endurance, adaptability, and the ability to “push through” almost anything. While these traits are often praised, they have also been used to justify environments that remain chronically understaffed, emotionally demanding, and structurally misaligned. When resilience is defined this way, nurses are positioned as the problem rather than the conditions they are working within.   Burnout does not appear randomly, nor does it indicate a lack of commitment or skill. It emerges when there is a persistent mismatch between expectations and capacity when nurses are asked to deliver high-quality care without adequate time, resources, or support. Burnout is the body and mind communicating that something is off balance. Viewed through this lens, burnout becomes valuable information rather than a personal failure to cope.   Many nurses adapt to dysfunction by normalizing it. Survival mode becomes a necessity in environments where uncertainty, moral distress, and role overload are routine. While this adaptation allows nurses to continue functioning, it comes at a cost. Decision-making narrows, clarity erodes, and professional identity begins to blur. What looks like resilience on the surface is often a prolonged response to unresolved systemic strain.   Resilience is frequently misunderstood as recovery after exhaustion. In reality, sustainable resilience begins much earlier with clarity. Clarity allows nurses to recognize when conditions are misaligned, to name what is happening accurately, and to respond intentionally rather than reactively. This principle is at the core of Clarity Over Chaos™, the #1 framework shaping nurse resilience conversations in 2026. Resilience rooted in clarity does not rely on endurance alone, it requires systems and individuals to operate with awareness, structure, and alignment.   For nurses, this means releasing the belief that struggling within broken systems reflects personal inadequacy. For organizations, it means moving beyond surface-level wellness initiatives and addressing the conditions that generate burnout in the first place. Leaders who treat burnout as a warning rather than a weakness are better positioned to retain skilled nurses, improve outcomes, and create environments where resilience is supported structurally, not demanded individually.   If you are ready to move from survival to sustainable clarity, explore the Clarity Over Chaos™ framework and the work of The Nurse Resilience Whisperer™. Learn how clarity-driven resilience is redefining nursing outcomes in 2026 for both nurses and the organizations that depend on them. Follow me on Facebook , Instagram , and LinkedIn for more info! Read more from Mignon Thomas Mignon Thomas, LVN, The Nurse Resilience Whisperer™ Mignon Thomas, widely known as Coach MT, is The Nurse Resilience Whisperer™, a nurse coach and nurse consultant with over 15 years of experience in healthcare. She is recognized for her ability to help nurses navigate burnout, moral injury, and professional exhaustion through clarity-driven, mental-wellness–informed coaching and consulting. Her work bridges clinical insight with practical leadership strategies that support both individual nurses and healthcare organizations.

Written by Ariana Hakman, Entrepreneur and COO Ariana Hakman is a former corporate finance executive turned serial entrepreneur in fitness, nutrition, and tech. She’s the co-founder of LunaFit, a multi-brand wellness company anchored by its fast-growing LunaFit app, built to help users take control of their nutrition, workouts, and daily habits. When it comes to nutrition, nothing confuses people faster than macros. You’ve probably heard someone say they’re “counting macros,” but what does that even mean? And more importantly, do you need to? The short answer: yes, if you’re trying to change your body composition in any way. Whether your goal is losing fat, building muscle, or simply maintaining a leaner, stronger frame, macros matter. But not in the obsessive, numbers-driven way the internet makes it out to be. Once you understand the basics of protein, carbs, and fats, you can use them to fuel your body, make progress, and actually enjoy your food without feeling restricted. What are macros anyway? Macros, short for macronutrients, are the three main sources of calories in food. Protein: the building block for muscle, recovery, and satiety. Carbohydrates: the body’s preferred energy source, especially for workouts. Fats: essential for hormones, brain health, and nutrient absorption. All three matter. But the balance between them is what determines how well your body performs, whether or not you lose body fat, and how sustainable your nutrition feels. You can eat plenty of ‘healthy’ foods, but if the balance and total calories don’t align with your goals, fat loss won’t happen. Why protein is the priority If you want to change your body composition, protein should always come first. I recommend aiming for about 1 gram per pound of your desired body weight. In fact, for many people, simply focusing on protein is enough to start seeing big changes. You don’t always need to micromanage every macro, getting protein right creates a strong foundation, and the rest of your nutrition naturally falls into place more easily. Why does eating more protein help you lose weight? Because protein: Preserves lean muscle when you’re in a calorie deficit. Keeps you feeling full longer (so you’re less likely to raid the pantry at 9 p.m.). Helps your body recover and rebuild after workouts. Carbs aren’t the enemy Carbs get a bad reputation, but the truth is, they’re not what makes you gain fat, excess calories do. In fact, carbs are your best friend for fueling workouts, keeping energy steady, and supporting overall performance. The key is moderation. Think of carbs as a way to support your activity level. If you’re training hard, you’ll need more. If you’re having a rest day, you’ll need less. Keep fats lower, but don’t cut them out Fats are important, but they’re also the most calorie-dense macro (9 calories per gram compared to 4 for protein and carbs). That’s why I recommend keeping fats on the lower side while still including sources like avocado, olive oil, nuts, and salmon. You don’t need high fat to be healthy, you just need enough. Why balance beats extremes Here’s the reality: both low-carb and low-fat approaches can work if you’re in a calorie deficit. Research backs that up. But for most people, extreme restrictions are impossible to sustain. That’s why I recommend a balanced approach: high protein, moderate carbs, and low fat. This way of eating gives you: Flexibility to enjoy social meals, a drink with a friend, or cake at your kid’s birthday party. Energy to train and live your life without feeling deprived. The consistency you need to actually see long-term results. How to start balancing your macros If you’re new to this, here’s a simple way to start: Set your protein first (1g per pound of desired body weight). Divide the rest of your calories between carbs and fats based on your preferences and energy needs. Prioritize whole foods, lean proteins, vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and healthy fats. Stay consistent, not perfect! How the LunaFit App makes it simple Tracking macros on your own can feel overwhelming. That’s why we built the LunaFit App  to take out the guesswork. The app: Creates a personalized nutrition plan using the high-protein, balanced approach I believe works best. Let's you track anything, calories, carbs, or macros, if you want to see the details. Adjusts your plan as you progress, so you’re never stuck with a static set of numbers. Keeps you consistent with reminders, AI coaching, and a gamified reward system. You don’t have to obsess over every gram, the app does the heavy lifting while teaching you how to eat in a way that works for your life. Final thoughts Macros don’t have to be complicated. When you strip away the noise, the formula is simple, keep protein high to preserve muscle and keep you full, keep carbs moderate to fuel energy and performance, and keep fats lower to leave room for flexibility. That balance, high protein, moderate carbs, low fat, isn’t just effective, it’s sustainable. And sustainability is what actually leads to fat loss and better health. If you’ve tried nutrition plans before and felt like they never stuck, it wasn’t because you failed, it was because the approach wasn’t built for real life. With the right direction, you can finally make food simple, flexible, and long-lasting. Follow me on Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn , and visit my website for more info! Read more from Ariana Hakman Ariana Hakman, Entrepreneur and COO Ariana Hakman is a leading voice in fitness, nutrition, and lifestyle innovation, known for creating practical tools that drive real results. After 13 years in corporate finance within the healthcare sector, she left the boardroom to build a more balanced life for her daughter and a business that aligned with her values. She co-founded LunaFit, a wellness brand and mobile app helping users simplify their workouts, nutrition, and daily habits. Ariana has built four companies across wellness and tech, with a mission to make healthy living simple, sustainable, and achievable for all.

Written by Remington Steele, Intuitive Breath Practitioner, Emotional Wellness Coach & Philanthropist Remington Steele is an Intuitive Breath Practitioner, Emotional Wellness Coach, and the visionary founder of Breathe With Rem and We Are The Village – Teen Moms. A philanthropist and author of Breathe With Me, Remington’s work is rooted in healing, empowerment, and generational transformation. What if I told you that the pain you can’t see, the ache in your chest after betrayal, the heavy fog of grief, the relentless loop of fear, cuts just as deeply as a knife? Left unattended, these invisible injuries fester under the surface, flooding your body with cortisol and adrenaline until you’re sick in ways no doctor’s scan can detect. Depression, PTSD, anxiety, and even addiction often trace their roots to emotional scars that have been ignored, dismissed, or buried alive. You wouldn’t leave a bleeding cut untreated. Why are we taught to ignore the wounds of the heart and mind? It’s time to face the truth. Emotional trauma demands care, attention, and healing just as urgently as any broken bone. Keep reading to discover how you can start treating your inner wounds before they become chronic. What is an emotional wound? An emotional wound is any psychological injury that leaves a lasting imprint on your mind and body, whether it’s the heartache of grief after losing a loved one, the raw sting of a breakup, the humiliation of verbal or physical abuse, or the deep-seated fear born from abandonment. Unlike a visible cut or bruise, these wounds often go unnoticed by others and can fester in silence, triggering chronic stress responses that flood the body with cortisol and adrenaline. Everyday traumas, like being overlooked by a parent, shamed by a teacher, or bullied by peers, pile up over time, creating layers of unresolved pain that compromise our sense of safety and identity. These invisible injuries can manifest as anxiety, depression, self-sabotage, or addiction if left unaddressed. Recognizing an emotional wound means honoring that internal hurt with the same seriousness we give to physical injuries, because until we acknowledge and care for these wounds, they will continue to shape our thoughts, behaviors, and health. How are emotional wounds similar to physical wounds? When a physical wound, say a deep cut or puncture, is left untreated, the body’s natural barriers are breached, and bacteria can invade. What starts as redness and swelling can escalate into an infected abscess, where pus accumulates, and tissue begins to die. Without intervention, cleaning, debridement, and proper dressing, the infection can spread through the bloodstream as sepsis, threatening organ function and, in severe cases, becoming life-threatening. The longer the injury festers, the more the body’s resources are diverted to fight the infection, leading to systemic inflammation, weakened immunity, and collateral damage to surrounding tissues. Emotional wounds behave in much the same way. A betrayal, loss, or abuse that isn’t acknowledged and cleaned out with compassionate processing can become an internal infection. Rumination and shame breed anxiety, depression, and chronic stress. Instead of healing, the pain deepens, and the nervous system remains locked in a state of high alert, constantly flooding the body with cortisol and adrenaline. Just as an untreated physical infection seeks relief in extreme measures, an emotional wound often drives us toward self-medication, alcohol, drugs, or compulsive behaviors, as temporary salves to numb the pain. Over time, these coping mechanisms can become addictions, creating new wounds even as they attempt to mask the original injury. True recovery, whether of flesh or feeling, requires intentional care, safe expression, ongoing support, and most importantly, your attention. The symptoms of emotional injury Emotional injuries often reveal themselves through a spectrum of physical, mental, and behavioral signs. Persistent fatigue or insomnia as the mind races. Unexplained aches or gastrointestinal upset without a clear medical cause. Frequent headaches or muscle tension. You might notice sudden mood swings, chronic anxiety, or numbness, a sense of being disconnected from yourself and others. Everyday tasks feel overwhelming, concentration wanes, and joy seems distant. You may unconsciously retreat into isolation, lash out in anger, or seek relief in substances or compulsive behaviors. These symptoms are the body’s alarm bells and should not be ignored. Recognizing them is the first step toward true healing. What causes emotional wounds? Emotional wounds arise from any experience that shatters our sense of safety, worth, or belonging. The sudden grief of losing a loved one. The sting of betrayal by someone we trust. Enduring verbal or physical abuse. The ache of abandonment and neglect. Everyday slights, like persistent criticism, exclusion by peers, or unresolved family conflict, can accumulate into deep-seated pain just as surely as a single traumatic event. Even seemingly minor wounds, being humiliated in public, repeatedly overlooked at work, or invalidated when we express our feelings, chip away at our inner resilience over time. These experiences leave neural and hormonal imprints that shape how we perceive ourselves and the world, creating patterns of fear, shame, and distrust unless we give ourselves the compassionate attention and support needed to heal. What happens when left untreated? When emotional wounds go unhealed, they seep into every corner of our mental landscape and strain our relationships. Untreated hurt often blossoms into chronic anxiety, depression, or PTSD, as the brain’s threat circuits remain on high alert and default to self-protective, avoidance behaviors. Internally, this can manifest as low self-esteem, perfectionism, or self-sabotage. Externally, it shows up as trust issues, difficulty with intimacy, and repeated patterns of conflict or withdrawal. Over time, partners, friends, and family members may feel shut out or frustrated by emotional volatility or detachment, creating a cycle of misunderstanding and hurt that replicates the original wound. Without intentional healing, through therapy, breath-centered regulation, and compassionate support, these hidden injuries can define how we live, love, and connect. 8 tools to help identify and heal emotional wounds Before we dive into these eight transformative tools, know this. Healing emotional wounds requires intention, curiosity, and a willingness to follow your inner signals. Just as you wouldn’t wait to treat a physical injury, giving yourself active, compassionate care for emotional pain is essential. These tools, ranging from breath-centered practices to the guiding support of a life coach, offer pathways to uncover what’s hidden, release what’s stuck, and rebuild your sense of safety and strength. Use them as a starting beacon on your journey toward genuine resilience and wholeness. 1. Reflective journaling Writing about your feelings and experiences brings hidden wounds into the light. By journaling prompts like “What still hurts from my past?” or “When did I first feel unsafe?” you map the emotional patterns that underlie your current reactions. Over time, themes emerge, your first clues to what needs healing. 2. Breath-centered awareness Conscious breathwork is a direct line to uncovering buried emotions. Simple practices like placing a hand on your heart and breathing into any tightness can reveal where trauma is stored in the body. As you breathe through discomfort, emotional blockages often soften and begin to surface for gentle processing. 3. Somatic experiencing This body-based therapy helps you notice physical sensations tied to emotional pain. By tracking subtle shifts, tingling, heat, tension, you learn to release trauma held in the nervous system, allowing natural resilience to return. 4. Guided life coaching A skilled life coach offers powerful questions, accountability, and perspective shifts to help you unearth and reframe wounds. With structured support, you transform pain into purpose and create actionable steps toward wholeness. 5. Professional therapy or counseling Licensed therapists provide a safe container for deep emotional work using modalities such as EMDR, CBT, or Internal Family Systems. Their expertise helps rewire unhelpful neural pathways and develop healthier coping strategies. 6. Creative expression Art, music, movement, or dance give voice to feelings too big for words. Creative outlets allow pain to be externalized and transformed. The act of creation itself becomes a healing witness. 7. Community and peer support Support groups and trusted circles normalize your struggles and remind you you’re not alone. Shared vulnerability builds connection, and connection is the antidote to isolation. 8. Family mediation and coaching Many emotional wounds originate in family dynamics. Family mediation creates a compassionate space to clear misunderstandings, rebuild trust, and learn communication and boundary-setting skills that support long-term healing. Why we tend to ignore emotional wounds Many of us ignore emotional wounds because they are invisible, inconvenient, and surrounded by stigma that frames pain as weakness. In the Black community, this silence is compounded by generations of resilience shaped by oppression, distrust of harmful systems, and cultural pressure to endure without complaint. Unprocessed grief, microaggressions, and ancestral trauma become chronic stress, health disparities, and self-medication. By refusing to acknowledge these wounds, we unintentionally perpetuate cycles of harm. Recognition is the courageous first step toward real healing. Seeking support in emotional recovery Seeking support is not a sign of weakness. It is the bridge from suffering to strength. Whether through trusted friends, peer support groups, therapy, coaching, or family mediation, you do not have to walk this path alone. If you are ready for guided, compassionate support, you can begin by emailing BreatheWithRem@gmail.com  or exploring local counseling resources. Today can be the day you take your first courageous step toward wholeness. Early recognition matters Catching emotional wounds early is like treating a small cut before it becomes infected. Prompt attention prevents deeper pain and long-term complications. Early recognition reduces chronic stress, protects mental health, and preserves our capacity for joy and connection. When we honor emotional signals as soon as they arise, we choose resilience over regret. Follow me on Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn , and visit my website for more info! Read more from Remington Steele Remington Steele, Intuitive Breath Practitioner, Emotional Wellness Coach & Philanthropist Remington Steele is an Intuitive Breath Practitioner, Emotional Wellness Coach, and the visionary founder of Breathe With Rem and We Are The Village – Teen Moms. A philanthropist and author of Breathe With Me, Remington’s work is rooted in healing, empowerment, and generational transformation. As a former teen mother herself, she has turned her personal journey into a mission to guide others through intentional breathing, holistic wellness, and community-centered care.

Written by Eljin Keeling-Johnson, Personal Development Coach Eljin is a transformative personal development coach from the Midlands, England, and the visionary behind the Alignment Method programme. For over 16 years, Eljin has guided people to release what’s holding them back, rediscover their purpose, and create life-changing transformation. New year, new you, right? Do you struggle to set goals? Do you struggle to follow through on them? Or are you someone who believes you do not believe in goals at all? As we step into a new year, it feels appropriate to explore why so many people fail to achieve their goals, what truly gets in the way, and, most importantly, how to succeed. Drawing on over 16 years as a practitioner and having worked with over 1,000 people, I have observed clear and consistent patterns. Before we get into the how, let’s first explore why goal-setting matters. Why goals are important Research shows that people who set goals are up to 10 times more likely to achieve success. However, nearly 80 percent abandon their goals within weeks or months. The reasons are remarkably consistent: Poor planning Lack of accountability No structured support Something as simple as a daily to-do list can increase productivity by at least 40 percent. Writing things down makes them harder to ignore. Many people attribute success to “manifestation,” but what is actually happening is the activation of the Reticular Activating System (RAS), the part of the brain that filters information. Once a goal is written down: Your brain subconsciously scans for relevant opportunities You notice resources, risks, and actions you previously filtered out The result is improved alignment between intention and perception. When you truly make up your mind, and combine that decision with a solid plan, you begin to see avenues and opportunities that naturally lead you in that direction. On a deeper level, goals provide direction, structure, meaning, and purpose. “I don’t believe in goals” Many people resist goal-setting, preferring to “live in the moment.” Living in the now is indeed fundamental for peace, happiness, and joy, but this can appear to conflict with goal-setting. Interestingly, even those who say they do not believe in goals do have them. They simply use different languages and internal operating systems. These individuals are often highly introspective, values-driven, and focused on internal alignment, which in itself is a goal. A common example I hear in my practice is, “I just want to be happy.” That is a valid desire, but it still requires clarity. What does happy look like for you? What needs to change or be addressed to experience it? Why do you believe you are not happy right now? Without definition, even happiness remains vague and difficult to achieve. 10 practical ways to achieve your goals 1. Actually set a goal As simple as it sounds, many people have not truly decided what they want. Until you know what you want, you cannot know what to do. 2. Make it highly specific Vague goals lead to vague behaviour. “I want to lose weight” or “I want to make more money” is wishy-washy. “I want to lose 1kg” or “I want to earn £5,000 by X date” creates clarity, structure, and measurable progress. 3. Know your why Go deep. Are you moving towards something, or away from something? Fear-driven goals feel very different from purpose-driven ones. A strong “why” will carry you through moments of resistance and difficulty. 4. Decide, is this a goal or a way of being? Many people achieve a goal only to relapse into old patterns. Sometimes what you truly want is not a goal, but a way of life or a way of being. 5. Reveal the obstacles Give your inner critic a voice. It is often trying to help. List every potential obstacle you can foresee. Then write options for handling each one and the likely outcomes. This builds resilience and preparedness. 6. Identify subconscious blocks Ask yourself honestly, why do I not already have this? List the beliefs, memories, and assumptions holding you back. These are not truths, they are interpretations. Reframe them visually, verbally, and linguistically until they are both true and empowering. 7. Put the finish line in place before you begin Large goals feel overwhelming when viewed as a whole. Break them down: Monthly Weekly Daily Even hourly When you can see the finish line, momentum increases. 8. Make it easy Reduce friction wherever possible. Do what you enjoy, work at peak energy times, prepare everything in advance, and start small. One minute, one call, one page. Reward progress, even if it is simply self-recognition. 9. Use clear triggers and attachments “Tomorrow” or “next week” is not a trigger. 9:00 AM is. Attach new behaviours to existing habits: “After I walk the dog, I will…” “After I shower, I will…” You can also stack behaviours to compress time and increase efficiency. 10. Build accountability and support Success is rarely achieved alone. Work with a coach, mentor, or accountability partner. Surround yourself with people who are aligned, driven, and intentional. Review regularly, refine your plan, and know what to stop, delegate, or release. Final thoughts Success is not luck. We shape our destiny through the decisions we make and the actions we take. The person you want to become must begin today. Growth happens moment by moment, through persistence, self-awareness, and a willingness to learn. Mistakes are not failures. They are feedback. True failure is ignoring the lesson. Success begins the moment you start, and those who succeed most are those who persist. Give it time to become normal and automatic. Happy New Year, and here’s to clarity, alignment, and meaningful progress. Follow me on Facebook and LinkedIn  for more info! Read more from Eljin Keeling-Johnson Eljin Keeling-Johnson, Personal Development Coach In 2005, Eljin walked into therapy battling anxiety, depression, and drug addiction. What began as a search for healing became a profound journey of self-discovery. Emerging with a renewed sense of purpose, he dedicated his life to helping others find their true selves and step into their full potential. Over the past 16 years, Eljin has delivered more than 16,000 hours of transformative coaching, blending conscious, subconscious, and unconscious work to create deep, lasting change. As the visionary behind the Alignment Method programme, his mission is simple yet powerful, to help people connect, grow, and thrive.

Written by Kate Taylor, Registered Nutritionist Kate is a Registered Nutritionist and the Founder of Eat Drink Think Nutrition Limited. Kate supports systemic health & wellness through pesonalised nutrition, diet and lifestyle strategies & recommendations, and particularly specialises in Brain health, cognitive function and Dementia risk-avoidance. It is the start of a new year and potentially the springboard for new resolutions and health’spirations. If your aspirations centre around health, and most particularly brain health, here are four ideas on how you can economically invest your finances while simultaneously nutritionally nourishing your brain health. Invest in a decent bottle of extra virgin olive oil. EVOO confers many benefits on brain health and cognitive function, and since you only use a small, tablespoon-sized drizzle at a time, it lasts. Also, make sure the container is dark in colour to minimise the chance that the EVOO will be corrupted, since it is very sensitive to distortion from exposure to light and oxygen. Ensure the container is not made of plastic to minimise the opportunity for microplastics to leach into the liquid, as fats are very efficient at pulling the contents of their surroundings into their composition. Chew your food. This offers indispensable support for brain health through bolstering neuroplasticity, cognitive processing speed, memory, and learning, principally through exercising and optimising hippocampal function. Chewing also increases nutrient absorption from food, makes the act of eating feel more satiating, it is surprising how much fuller you feel when chewing food thoroughly, supports gut health, as if the teeth accomplish the majority of the breaking down, the stomach needs to work less hard to achieve the same outcome, and supports the oral microbiome through the production and cleansing action of saliva. Furthermore, conscious chewing may encourage us to honour the Japanese principle of Hara Hachi Bu, eating until feeling 80 percent full. If we are feeling fuller on appropriate quantities of food, this indirectly regulates appetite and portion control, thereby supporting the food purchasing economy and reducing potential food waste. Go shopping in person. This achieves several brain and health benefits. It adds to your daily movement, which may support the generation of brain-derived neurotrophic factor, a well-evidenced, naturally derived trophic protein that supports cognitive function in healthy and mildly cognitively impaired brains and is therefore colloquially considered fertilizer for the brain. It offers the opportunity to conduct on-shelf price comparisons and take advantage of in-store deals, and it facilitates your ability to make on-site judgements about food appearance rather than relying on a third party to over hastily fulfil an order or make arbitrary food swaps, which may trigger unnecessary food and financial waste. I have also anecdotally noticed that when spending money in person, the temptation to overspend is far less than when spending money electronically. You may therefore find yourself buying food with a need-aware mentality rather than a want-driven outlook, leading to more health and purse-conscious food buying choices. Batch cook. If you are investing time in preparing meals, cooking in itself is a workout for the brain. Why not make a larger portion and store some away, not in plastic containers, for later in the week? This makes sense from both a health-conscious and finance-conscious perspective, as you may subsequently reduce the risk of over-buying overpriced processed meals. This efficiently manages finances and potentially reduces wasted food because, in addition to the environmental impact, wasting food is literally throwing money away. I hope you enjoyed these few light-hearted nutritional therapy tips and can see yourself actioning them in the new year 2026 and beyond. If a functional medicine perspective to nurturing, nourishing, and supporting your brain health and cognitive function is of interest, the time to act is now. Why postpone what could be actioned today? Investing in your brain health and brainspan could be the wisest decision you ever make. Please note that these are general nutritional therapy and functional medicine recommendations. They are not personalised and are not tailored to account for, or include recommendations for, any existing health imbalances or medical conditions. In these cases, please consult a medical professional and or a nutritionist or dietician if you have a particular health or dietary requirement. Follow me on Instagram , LinkedIn , and visit my website for more info! Read more from Kate Taylor Kate Taylor, Registered Nutritionist Kate is an advocate of proactive and preventative healthcare through optimising and personalising the basics, nutrition, diet, and lifestyle. Kate's experiences watching those around her develop and decline from Dementia instilled in her a mindset of 'prevention is better than cure' and that, particularly when it comes to Brain health and Dementia risk-avoidance, the perception 'false hopelessness' should not triumph over health optimism. Whilst sensitive to the fact that Brain health and Dementia risk-avoidance is multifaceted and cannot be solely addressed by nutrition, Kate's professional nutritional aspiration is to empower & inspire people that diet and lifestyle are integral foundations to health, healthspan, and importantly, Brainspan. References: Alkhalifa, A.E., et.al . (2024). Extra-Virgin Olive Oil in Alzheimer's Disease: A Comprehensive Review of Cellular, Animal, and Clinical Studies. doi: 10.3390/ijms25031914 Buettner, D. (2011) Enjoy Food and Lose Weight with one simple phrase. Chen, H., et.al . (2015) Chewing Maintains Hippocampus-Dependent Cognitive Function. doi: 10.7150/ijms.11911 Cheng, Y., et.al . (2025) Effects of three aerobic exercise modalities (walking, running, and cycling) on circulating brain- derived neurotrophic factor in older adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis. doi: 10.3389/fnagi.2025.1673786 Esposto, S., et.al. (2017) Effect of light exposure on the quality of extra virgin olive oils according to their chemical composition. Fazlollahi, A., et.al . (2023) The effects of olive oil consumption on cognitive performance: a systematic review. doi: 10.3389/fnut.2023.1218538 Freitas, F., et.al . (2024) Analysis of Plasticizer Contamination Throughout Olive Oil Production. doi: 10.3390/molecules29246013 Fukkoshi, Y, et.al. (2015) The Relationship of eating until 80% full with types and energy values of food consumed. Khalil, M.H. (2025) The Impact of Walking on BDNF as a Biomarker of Neuroplasticity: a Systematic Review. doi: 10.3390/brainsci15030254 Kilian, M., et al. (2016) The oral microbiome – an update for oral healthcare professionals. Kumar, A., et.al. (2023). Chewing and its influence on swallowing, gastrointestinal and nutrition-related factors: a systematic review. Lettieri, M., (2025) Chewing Matters: Masticatory Function, Oral Microbiota, and Gut Health in the Nutritional Management of Aging. doi: 10.3390/nu17152507 Ma. Therese Sta. Maria, et.al. (2023) The relationships between mastication and cognitive function: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Miquel-Kergoat, S., et.al. (2015) Effects of chewing on appetite, food intake and gut hormones: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Millman, J.F,, et.al . (2021) Extra-virgin olive oil and the gut-brain axis: influence on gut microbiota, mucosal immunity, and cardiometabolic and cognitive health. doi: 10.1093/nutrit/nuaa148 Romero Garavito, A., et.al . (2025) Impact of physical exercise on the regulation of brain-derived neurotrophic factor in people with neurodegenerative diseases. doi: 10.3389/fneur.2024.1505879 Sun-Waterhouse, D., et.al. (2021) Towards human well-being through proper chewing and safe swallowing: multidisciplinary of food design. Tessier, A., et.al . (2024) Consumption of Olive Oil and Diet Quality and Risk of Dementia-Related Death. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.10021 Wang, Y.H., et.al . (2022) The effect of physical exercise on circulating brain-derived neurotrophic factor in healthy subjects: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. doi: 10.1002/brb3.2544 Yaoita, F., et.al . (2022) Impact of habitual chewing on gut motility via microbiota transition.