In a city known for noise, speed, and constant motion, Shannon Lima has built her career with a calm, focused energy that stands out. Based in New York City, she has worked across business development, strategy, and operations, often stepping into roles where clarity was missing and structure needed to be built from scratch. Her approach is consistent, ask the right questions, simplify what’s complicated, and move things forward without wasting time. “I’ve always liked bringing order to a mess,” she says. “Not because I need everything perfect, but because good work needs space to happen.” Early career foundations in client work Shannon’s professional path started and is currently in client-facing roles. She was often the link between what clients expected and what teams could deliver. That gave her a front-row seat to how companies operate under pressure, and how important it is to deliver and create value to meet and exceed the client’s needs. She became known for her ability to manage expectations and projects for Fortune 500 companies.  This foundation taught her something important. Relationships matter, but structure and collaboration win. “I realized early on that even the best ideas fall apart if no one owns the process. So I started becoming that person to make sure things got done.” Making the shift to strategy and operations As she moved into more senior roles, Shannon focused on strategy and operational planning. She led cross-functional projects, helped teams adopt clearer systems such as Oracle and WalkMe, and often jumped in when others felt stuck and sat on the bench. She’s worked across industries, from media and consulting to finance, but the themes have been steady: clarity, accountability, and quiet leadership. “People sometimes think leadership has to be loud or flashy. But in my experience, it’s often about being steady and solving complex business problems.” Her strength lies in navigating change without making it feel chaotic. She can take a goal, map it out, and then bring people with different priorities into alignment to get it done. Mentorship and guiding the next generation Shannon’s career success hasn’t made her disappear into meetings and strategy decks. She’s also deeply involved in mentorship, especially for women early in their careers. She participates in online communities and local events where she shares real, practical advice, like how to strategically network and map out career goals, how to structure your week better to maximize efficiency, or how to know which role is the best fit. “I don’t believe in the idea that you have to ‘wait your turn’ forever,” she says. “If you’ve done the work and you’re ready.” Her advice isn’t motivational fluff. It’s based on experience, reflection, and a real understanding of how hard it can be to grow in environments that aren’t always built for it. How she thinks about productivity and progress One of Shannon’s habits is a short weekly review. Every Friday, she spends ten minutes writing down what worked, what didn’t, and what she avoided. “That’s where the patterns show up,” she explains. “You start to notice what drains your time, or what you’re overthinking for no reason.” She also uses tools like Notion to keep her notes, frameworks, and reference materials organized. But she doesn’t rely on technology alone. Sometimes, a whiteboard and a good playlist are all she needs to get clear on a plan in place.  When things get overwhelming, she doesn’t push harder, she steps back. “If I’m stuck, I stop. I walk, stretch, or white board out whatever I’m working on to pause and think about a solution. You can’t think clearly if your brain’s spinning, so pause.” Moving forward without needing the spotlight Shannon doesn’t chase flashy titles or spotlight moments. She builds. She refines. She leads by example. And in a city full of noise, that kind of leadership stands out. Her focus is on what works, what lasts, and what brings people together to get things done, with clarity, collaboration, and purpose.

Written by Dr. Leanne Elich, Business Psychology Strategist Matching Leanne’s impressive qualifications, which include medical and business degrees from Harvard, are her energy, humor, and keen insight. Dr. Leanne Elich is an award-winning Sales Psychology and Business Strategist, author, speaker, and one of Australasia's most successful Technology Business Executives. Artificial intelligence is advancing faster than ever, yet it still struggles with what humans do instinctively – intuition, emotion, and nuanced decision-making. This raises a critical question for the future of technology, can AI truly become smarter without understanding the human mind? Behavioural science may hold the missing link, offering insights into how people think, decide, and feel, and reshaping how intelligent systems are designed to support, not replace, human intelligence. Why understanding the human mind is the key to designing better technology Artificial intelligence is evolving at an extraordinary speed. It drafts our emails, analyses our data, and helps us navigate complex decisions with unprecedented efficiency. But if AI is becoming so powerful, why does it still struggle with the very things humans do so naturally? Because at the centre of every AI system lies a simple truth. To build more intelligent machines, we must first understand how humans think. Many of AI’s limitations have less to do with technology and more to do with psychology. After all, humans rely on intuition, social cues, emotion, and meaning, elements no algorithm can understand on its own. That’s where behavioural science steps in. AI improves when it learns not just from data, but from the patterns, biases, shortcuts, and heuristics that shape human decision-making. Welcome to the era of AI augmentation. The science of building technology that doesn’t just compute… it understands. Why AI needs behavioural science Traditional AI learns by detecting statistical patterns. It can recognise language, classify information, and make predictions, but it doesn’t automatically understand why humans think or behave the way they do. Behavioural science helps bridge this gap by illuminating the psychological processes behind the choices people make every day. When AI systems are designed with these insights in mind, they become more intuitive, more predictable, and ultimately more useful. This is how machines begin to understand nuance, not through more data, but through better modelling of human behaviour. Thinking fast and slow, how AI can learn both Let’s look at the work of Daniel Kahneman, a trailblazing psychologist whose research reshaped our understanding of how humans think, decide, and behave. Awarded the Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences, he demonstrated that people are not the rational decision-makers that traditional economics once assumed. Instead, our choices are shaped by cognitive shortcuts, hidden biases, and emotional impulses. Human thinking operates across two modes. System 1, fast, intuitive, automatic. System 2, slow, analytical, deliberate. Most AI systems excel at System 2, calculation, logic, and precision. But they often miss the richness of System 1, emotional tone, intuition, and social nuance. Behavioural science provides the blueprint for integrating both. When AI recognises cognitive shortcuts such as loss aversion, anchoring, or framing effects, it becomes better at predicting real human responses. When it understands emotional cues, it becomes better at assisting, supporting, and guiding users. And when it learns when not to rely on speed, activating slower, more careful reasoning for high-stakes tasks, it becomes safer. This balance mirrors our own mental architecture, fast when it can be, slow when it must be. Creating AI that can “think about thinking” One of the most exciting directions in AI is metacognition, the ability to reflect on its own reasoning. Humans do this constantly. “Does this feel right?” “What am I missing?” “Should I double check this?” AI, however, typically produces answers with confidence, even when uncertain. Behavioural insights are now inspiring models that can: assess their own uncertainty generate alternative explanations question ambiguous inputs flag when human review is needed In other words, AI is learning to pause, reflect, and self correct, the same behaviours that make human thinking so powerful. Each step toward metacognition makes AI not only smarter, but significantly more trustworthy. Human centred AI starts with human behaviour If AI is to truly help people, it must be designed around real cognitive patterns, not idealised ones. Behavioural science helps developers: understand how people interpret information identify where confusion, overload, or bias appears structure communication in ways that feel clear and familiar align recommendations with human values and emotional needs For example: Users trust explanations that feel transparent and human like. Natural language interfaces reduce cognitive load. Systems that “show their work” build confidence. This is how AI becomes not just functional, but human compatible. Why this matters for the future of work AI is already reshaping professional life, from research and analysis to creativity and communication. But the real transformation happens when AI moves from being a tool we “use” to a partner that elevates our thinking. Which raises an important question. What does it mean to design AI that enhances human capabilities rather than overshadows them? Behavioural science provides three clear answers. Amplify strengths, don’t override judgment: AI can manage complexity and data volume, while humans lead on ethics, intuition, creativity, and context. Reduce mental load, don’t add to it: Tools designed around natural cognition feel effortless, even enjoyable. Support better thinking: AI that reasons, reflects, and checks its own output helps humans think more critically, not less. This is augmentation in its purest form, AI as cognitive scaffolding that elevates human insight and performance. Designing AI that learns with us, not just from us AI doesn’t only learn from datasets, it learns from interaction. Every correction, preference, and decision shapes how the system behaves. Behavioural insights help AI adapt to: individual values communication styles emotional tone personal decision patterns This makes AI more helpful, more aligned, and more responsive. And crucially, better able to know when to act, when to pause, and when to ask for human oversight. Changing behaviour by design The future of AI won’t be defined by processing power alone, but by how deeply we embed the science of human behaviour into its architecture. When developers understand psychology, intuition, bias, and emotion, AI becomes safer, more transparent, and more attuned to human needs. Because augmentation isn’t about making AI more human, it’s about helping humans think, create, and decide with greater clarity than ever before. Follow me on Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn , and visit my website for more info! Read more from Dr. Leanne Elich Dr. Leanne Elich, Business Psychology Strategist Matching Leanne’s impressive qualifications, which include medical and business degrees from Harvard, are her energy, humor, and keen insight. Dr. Leanne Elich is an award-winning Neuroscientist and Sales Psychology Strategist, author, speaker, and one of Australasia's most successful Technology Business Executives.

Dr. Diane Jackson Schnoor, nationally recognized speaker, educator, and founder of Dr. Diane’s Adventures in Learning, is launching the 2026 Daily Picture Book Read-Aloud Calendar, a free, year-long resource designed to make daily read-alouds joyful, meaningful, and easy to sustain. The calendar delivers one thoughtfully curated picture book every day of 2026, directly to a user’s digital calendar. Each daily entry includes a short empathy or inquiry discussion prompt, a simple 'steam' engagement idea, and a direct book link, supporting literacy, curiosity, and connection across homes, classrooms, libraries, and community learning spaces. “This calendar grew out of years of working with educators and families who wanted meaningful literacy routines without added pressure,” said Dr. Diane Jackson Schnoor. “Daily read-alouds don’t have to be complicated to be powerful. They just need to be intentional, accessible, and rooted in joy.” The Read-Aloud Calendar was intentionally created as a free resource, reflecting Dr. Diane’s commitment to accessibility and shared learning. Those who wish to support the work may do so, helping sustain future literacy resources, but access to the calendar is always open. Early responses from educators, parents and caregivers, and learning leaders have been overwhelmingly enthusiastic. “Diane, this is such a good idea! Can’t wait to share it,” said Steve Spangler, host of DIY Sci and author of The Engagement Effect. Fourth-grade teacher Kimmy Moss described the calendar’s impact on her classroom culture, “This will create positive ripples, I know it. My theme of the year so far has been virtuosity, do the common uncommonly well. I have a class that 'loves' reading this year. I am so excited to do as much of the calendar as I can! You are truly extraordinary, and I’m going to make sure my communities know about this!” Teachers and families alike have also highlighted the calendar’s immediate practicality. “Wow! This is amazing. I am always looking for books like this! I just added them to my calendar and I may just hand our librarian the printout, we need these books stat!” said Sherae Hunter, teacher and parent. The calendar integrates seamlessly with Apple Calendar, Google Calendar, and Outlook, allowing users to subscribe once and receive all 365 daily entries automatically, no emails, printing, or additional planning required. The project also celebrates the work of hundreds of authors and illustrators whose multicultural picture books support themes of belonging, curiosity, creativity, nature, and community, values that align with Dr. Diane’s broader work at the intersection of diverse children’s literature, early literacy, learning through play, and empathy and connection. About Dr. Diane Jackson Schnoor Dr. Diane Jackson Schnoor is a nationally recognized speaker, educator, and children’s literature specialist focused on learning through play, empathy, and creativity. She is the founder of Dr. Diane’s Adventures in Learning and host of the Adventures in Learning podcast, where she explores joyful, research-informed approaches to literacy and lifelong learning with educators, authors, and thought leaders. Availability Dr Diane’s 2026 Daily Picture Book Read-Aloud Calendar is free to access now. To learn more or add the calendar, visit here . Media contact Dr. Diane Jackson Schnoor Founder, Dr. Diane’s Adventures in Learning diane@drdianeadventures.com www.drdianeadventures.com 845-702-5379

Written by Phil Edwards, Leadership Educator and Foster Care Advocate Phil Edwards is a Leadership Educator and Foster Care Advocate, and the creator of the CARE Leadership Framework. He focuses on trauma-informed leadership, foster parenting, and youth development. It is 2026. A new year is upon us. It is a day filled with light, yet for countless others, it is a day that quietly exposes what is missing. Millions are spending the day without family. They are grieving loved ones who have passed, or others who are incarcerated, separated from the world they want to return to. Shelters, hospitals, and mental health facilities are overcrowded with people who are alone and would love to have someone to call “family.” This is often the experience of many young people who grew up in foster care, stepping into adulthood without a stable place to go, without a support system, and without the reassurance that they matter. Today, let us speak directly to them, and to everyone who has ever felt unseen on a day when the world celebrates. New Year’s Day is a reminder that every person deserves belonging, dignity, and hope, no matter where they are, where they have been, or what they are facing. This is why the CARE Leadership Framework exists. What is CARE Leadership? CARE Leadership is a human centered, trauma informed, future focused framework built for people who lead, support, or raise youth, especially those transitioning out of foster care. CARE stands for: C. Clarity. Understanding who you are, what you need, and how to navigate the world with direction, purpose, and confidence. A. Accountability. Building discipline, ownership, and responsibility, not as punishment, but as empowerment. R. Resilience. Developing the strength to rise after setbacks, adapt to change, and protect your mental and emotional well being. E. Empathy. Leading with understanding, for yourself and others, to create healthy relationships and safe spaces. CARE is not a program. It is not a curriculum. It is a leadership lifestyle for youth, parents, caregivers, educators, and communities that want to see young people thrive. Why CARE Leadership exists CARE Leadership was created for one reason. Too many young people leave foster care unprepared, not because they lacked potential, but because they lacked leadership support. Every year, thousands of youth transition into adulthood without a family to call, financial stability, emotional support, a mentor or guide, a roadmap for adulthood, mental health tools, or a sense of identity or purpose. On December 31st, days after Christmas, an 18 year old foster youth ages out and transitions into independent living. Expecting young people who had to survive childhood to suddenly know how to survive adulthood is not leadership. It is abandonment. CARE Leadership exists to close that gap, with training, mentorship, coaching, retreats, and practical tools that equip youth and caregivers with what they need to build stable, healthy, confident adult lives. What young people leaving foster care need for the future The future of foster care is not simply better placements or paperwork. The future lies in leadership, life skills, and identity development. To support emerging adults from care, they must be equipped with a roadmap for adult life. This includes basic life skills, financial literacy, employment preparation, healthy relationships, and emotional regulation. These must be taught, not assumed. After leaving foster care, it is essential that they have a sense of belonging. Not necessarily a traditional family, but a community, mentor, or network that says, “You matter, and you are not doing this alone.” Next is mental and emotional resilience. Not through punishment or toughness, but through tools, self awareness, and consistent support. Imagine a home that uses empowerment instead of pity. Youth from care are not broken. They are capable leaders who simply need someone to walk with them until they can walk on their own. Growth increases when young people are given opportunities that match their potential. Education, career pathways, mentorship, entrepreneurship, and leadership development are all powerful examples of these opportunities. Young adults leaving care deserve the same things every young adult needs, guidance, support, and people who believe in their future. A New Year’s message to those who feel alone today If today feels quiet, if your phone is not ringing, if you are in a shelter, a group home, a hospital, a room by yourself, or locked behind a door you wish you could walk out of, if you are grieving someone you love, if today feels like a reminder of what you have lost instead of what you have, hear this message clearly. You are not forgotten. You are not too late. You are not alone. Your story is still developing. Your leadership is still emerging. Your life still matters, deeply. Your presence in this world means something. And someone, even if it is just one person, is rooting for your future. This is the core of CARE Leadership. Moving forward: What comes next In the coming year, CARE Leadership will expand into seminars for caregivers and youth workers, retreats for foster parents and post care youth, life skills workshops for young adults, leadership training for youth in transition, articles, podcasts, and videos that build identity and confidence, and community partnerships that give youth real support. This work is only beginning, but the CARE Leadership Framework is built on a simple truth. “When we lead with Clarity, Accountability, Resilience, and Empathy, we can change the future for every young person leaving care.” A final word On this New Year’s Day, whether you are surrounded by people or sitting in silence, I hope this message finds you with hope. The world needs who you are becoming. The next generation needs leaders who understand them. And together, we can build a future where no young person enters adulthood alone. This is CARE Leadership. This is our mission. And this is only the beginning. Follow me on Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn ,  and visit my website for more info! Read more from Phil Edwards Phil Edwards, Leadership Educator and Foster Care Advocate Phil Edwards is a Leadership Educator, Foster Care Advocate, and creator of the CARE Leadership Framework. With 30+ years of coaching experience, 20 years of foster parenting, and 15 years in post-secondary education, he writes and speaks on trauma-informed leadership, foster parenting, and youth development.

Written by Jagroop Sahi , Founder & CEO Founder of KIDDYKIND, a curated marketplace for sustainable baby and kids brands, Jagroop Sahi writes on sustainability, conscious capitalism, and why supporting small businesses is essential to building ethical, future-ready economies. Sustainability doesn’t have a problem with ideas. It has a leadership crisis. Everywhere you look, conferences, reports, taskforces, and “thought leadership” panels, the organisations setting the sustainability agenda are often the same ones driving the crisis. Companies built on overproduction, waste, and extractive supply chains are still defining what “responsible” looks like. And until we change who leads the conversation, real progress will remain out of reach. The wrong voices are dominating It isn’t that sustainability lacks innovation or commitment. The issue is structural. Many of the companies shaping today’s sustainability narrative have everything to gain from keeping its definition shallow. For them, sustainability is a compliance exercise or a marketing strategy, not a transformation of business. They promote circularity while increasing production, publish glossy ESG reports while hiding critical data, and redefine “responsible growth” in ways that never threaten their bottom line. Follow the incentives, and a pattern emerges. The loudest voices in sustainability are often the least qualified to define it. Circularity isn’t enough Circularity has become the industry’s favourite word, yet for many companies it is little more than a checkbox. Recycling, resale, and repair programs are celebrated as transformation, while overproduction, the real problem, continues unabated. In some cases, the implicit message seems to be, “Why should independent businesses benefit from circularity when we can control it ourselves?” It is smart business, but it calls into question who really has moral authority to lead the “responsible” conversation. Overproduction, the elephant in the room The numbers are staggering. The global fashion industry produces between 80 and 150 billion garments every year, and up to 40 percent remain unsold, often heading straight to landfill or incineration. Only a tiny fraction of brands actively work to reduce production, yet overproduction costs retailers more than US$64 billion in wasted inventory annually. Even more alarming, just over 10 percent of major brands disclose their production volumes publicly. So why is the conversation dominated by circularity, resale, and recycling? Because these solutions don’t challenge the foundation of overproduction. They allow big companies to appear responsible while keeping business as usual intact. Seeing it firsthand I experienced this at a recent retail sustainability event. I expected radical thinking, conversations about production caps, regenerative materials, and supply chain ethics. Instead, I heard the familiar chorus, large corporations dominating the stage, repeating circular slogans as if they were substitutes for real responsibility. Circularity was presented not as a system redesign but as a revenue stream and branding exercise. One of the loudest voices was a company with a long history of supply chain controversies. Another was celebrated for circular initiatives that, in reality, accounted for just a tiny fraction of their sales. The message was clear. The least credible organisations are still defining sustainability. Why leadership matters When the wrong companies dominate, sustainability becomes weaker, transparency evaporates, and real innovation gets sidelined. Greenwashing thrives. Smaller responsible brands struggle to be heard. Incrementalism becomes the default, and the industry’s most pressing challenges are ignored. Circular revenue is prioritised over systemic change. The future of sustainability will be determined by who is leading. Not the companies with the biggest marketing budgets or the most sales, but the ones whose entire business is built on responsibility, where ethics guide every decision and sustainability is embedded in the DNA. Building responsibility from the ground up The organisations that should lead are those that make material responsibility fundamental, designing products to last and to be repaired before circularity even enters the conversation. They challenge overproduction, choosing “less, better” rather than “more, faster.” Transparency is not optional. They know every step of their supply chain, and ethical practices guide every partnership. Waste reduction is designed in from the start, and the communities and ecosystems they depend on are actively supported and reinvested in. Their measure of success is not applause or awards, it is tangible impact. A call for change To shift the trajectory of sustainability, we must elevate these authentic leaders. Industry platforms need to prioritise credibility over scale. Transparency around production must be non-negotiable. And most importantly, the conversation must start with production, not circularity. Until we change who is leading, the industry will continue celebrating the wrong wins, proposing the wrong solutions, and having the wrong conversations. Sustainability is not failing because the problems are too big. It is failing because the wrong people are in charge. If we want different outcomes, we need different leaders. Follow me on  Instagram ,  LinkedIn , and visit my  website  for more info! Read more from Jagroop Sahi Jagroop Sahi , Founder & CEO Jagroop Sahi is the founder of KIDDYKIND, a curated marketplace championing sustainable and ethical baby and kids brands. She is a sustainability entrepreneur and contributing journalist writing on conscious capitalism, corporate responsibility, and the role of small business in building future-ready economies. Known for bridging values-driven purpose with commercial reality, she offers practical insights for leaders navigating impact, scale, and consumer trust. Through her work, she challenges businesses to move beyond performative sustainability toward meaningful, measurable change.

Shifting Gaia™, the emerging authority in conscious consumerism founded by cancer survivor and advocate Hiba Yazbeck, has officially launched the   Shifting Gaia Marketplace , a curated platform dedicated to making sustainable shopping transparent, accessible, and genuinely accountable. Positioned at the intersection of sustainability, editorial rigor, and elevated e-commerce, the marketplace marks a pivotal moment for a brand that began as a content-led initiative and has quickly evolved into a trusted compass for conscious consumers. At its core, Shifting Gaia was built to solve a modern problem: consumers want to shop better, but the sustainability space is mired in greenwashing, vague claims, and inconsistent standards. Many brands promote “clean,” “eco-friendly,” and “natural” messaging without third-party verification or clear definitions. Shifting Gaia fills this gap with a methodical evaluation rubric, a fully transparent ratings system, and an editorial voice that prioritizes accuracy over aesthetics. Shifting Gaia also grew out of Hiba’s deeply personal journey. Navigating cancer treatments as a stage IV warrior forced her to confront what she was putting on and in her body, and how little clarity existed around ingredients, safety, and impact. “Cancer changed my body, but it also changed my purpose,” says Yazbeck. “I don’t want anyone to feel as lost or misled as I did. With Shifting Gaia, I want to give people a trustworthy way to make healthier, more transparent choices that protect themselves and the world we share.” With the marketplace, the brand takes its mission a step further by turning its research-driven directory into a tangible shopping experience where every brand has been rigorously vetted for environmental and social impact. Hundreds of brands have already been evaluated and rated within the Shifting Gaia directory, and many of the highest-scoring brands are now featured in the Shifting Gaia Marketplace, giving consumers a clear, guided way to shop better. A new standard for sustainable shopping Unlike traditional online retailers, the Shifting Gaia Marketplace is more than a collection of brands. It is a curated ecosystem built around strict sustainability criteria, including packaging footprint, ingredient/material sourcing, energy and emissions, waste management, product longevity, labor practices, and transparency across the supply chain. Each brand undergoes a detailed evaluation before entering the directory and the marketplace. This assessment results in clear ratings (Top Choice, Conscious, Average, Poor, and Avoid), allowing customers to understand what they’re supporting in addition to what they’re buying. “Consumers are overwhelmed by contradictory sustainability claims,” says Yazbeck. “They want fewer, better purchases. They want trust. Our marketplace removes the guesswork. Every product has a story, every brand has been assessed, and every purchase is informed.” What makes Shifting Gaia different is its commitment to radical transparency and clear standards. Rather than relying on vague buzzwords, the platform shows customers how and why a brand was rated the way it was, bridging the gap between marketing claims and real impact. A marketplace built for the modern conscious consumer The Shifting Gaia Marketplace launches with over 50 small and sustainable brands across beauty, personal care, wellness, home, and lifestyle, with plans to scale to hundreds of vetted brands as the platform grows. Many current partners represent the future of responsible business: refill systems, plastic-negative certifications, compostable packaging, fair-trade supply chains, and materials innovations that challenge conventional manufacturing. Early partners include leaders in clean cosmetics, zero-waste body care, low-waste home essentials, circular apparel, and transparent wellness brands. Every participating brand has been selected because it demonstrates measurable efforts to reduce its environmental footprint, instead of the all-too-common performative marketing. The marketplace also prioritizes small and founder-led brands, many of which lack visibility in mainstream retail ecosystems dominated by mega-corporations. By giving these businesses a platform rooted in transparency and editorial credibility, Shifting Gaia positions itself as a bridge between impact-driven makers and consumers looking for trustworthy alternatives. Designed with integrity from the inside out The Shifting Gaia Marketplace is structured to be as intentional as the brands it carries. From curation to categorization, every touchpoint is designed for clarity. Products are grouped by need states (everyday basics, refillable essentials, low-waste swaps, conscious gifts) rather than typical hyper-commercial categories. Editorial elements are woven throughout the experience: ingredient breakdowns, sustainability summaries, packaging notes, and direct links to full brand evaluations. This integration ensures that customers can understand the impact of each purchase without needing to rely on marketing language. The platform also encourages slower, more mindful shopping. Instead of urgency-driven tactics like countdown timers, endless discounts, or seasonal novelty drops, the marketplace highlights quality, longevity, and thoughtful consumption. Promotions, when offered, support accessibility without fueling impulse-driven waste. Operationally, Shifting Gaia partners directly with top-rated sustainable brands. The marketplace currently covers North America, with expansion to the MENA region underway, connecting a growing global community of conscious shoppers and ethical businesses. Turning conscious shopping into collective healing Beyond commerce, Shifting Gaia operates as a force for good. A portion of proceeds supports cancer research, survivor programs, community wellness initiatives, and environmental action including support for organizations such as St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital®, 1% for the Planet™, and other aligned partners, turning everyday purchases into acts of collective healing and regeneration. “Every product on Shifting Gaia carries two stories,” Yazbeck explains. “The story of how it was made and the story of the life it touches. When someone chooses a more sustainable shampoo, a refillable cleanser, or a low-waste home staple, they’re not just buying an item. They’re voting for a future where transparency, health, and dignity matter.” Buying better matters, and Shifting Gaia is leading the charge in creating a consumer economy built around conscious decision-making and sustainable choices. Shifting Gaia is more than a marketplace. It’s a movement empowering consumers and brands to redefine what ethical shopping looks like today. You can explore the new Shifting Gaia Marketplace and discover brands shaping a more sustainable, honest, and hopeful future. About Shifting Gaia™ Shifting Gaia™ is a sustainability-focused marketplace and platform founded by cancer survivor and advocate Hiba Yazbeck. Built to combat greenwashing and confusion in the “clean” and “eco” space, Shifting Gaia evaluates brands using a rigorous, multi-point framework and methodical evaluation rubric covering ingredients, packaging, emissions, labor practices, and transparency. The marketplace curates responsible beauty, wellness, home, and lifestyle brands while championing small and founder-led businesses. A portion of proceeds supports cancer research, survivor care, community wellness initiatives, and environmental impact, including organizations such as St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital®, 1% for the Planet™, and other mission-aligned partners turning conscious shopping into a collective movement for good. Media contact Garrett Stockwell Email Website

Written by Marie Keutler, Psychotherapist & Somatic Therapist | Yoga & Breathwork Teacher Marie Keutler is a psychotherapist, yoga instructor, and retreat facilitator, specializing in holistic wellness. Through therapy, yoga, and breathwork, she helps individuals shift from stress to balance. Her retreats and wellness programs are designed to inspire meaningful, lasting transformation. It’s the first week of 2026, and everywhere you look, it’s the same story. The “new year, new you” promises. The 30-day challenges. The vision boards. The curated productivity rituals. Everyone has a word of the year. A goal list. A plan for how this year will finally be different. And yet, underneath all that optimism, many people are carrying something else. A quiet panic. Am I doing enough? Am I enough? Wild, isn’t it? We start a brand new year and immediately feel like we’re already behind. Every ad, every algorithm, every carefully designed product is selling you the same thing, a better version of yourself. Underneath all the branding, that message is clear. You’re not enough as you are. The biology of never enough There’s a reason this pressure feels familiar. Our entire attention economy is optimized to keep us chasing, faster, harder, more. Social media platforms are designed to reward comparison, not connection. Transformation programs make money off the gap between who you are and who they promise you could be. Even your nervous system plays a role. The more time you spend in low-level stress, what’s known as sympathetic activation, the more your brain interprets discomfort as “something must be wrong with me.” In other words, the world profits from your sense of inadequacy, and your biology, if left unchecked, reinforces it. Growth isn’t the problem, fear is Let’s be clear. Growth is good. Wanting things is good. Setting goals and working toward change can be meaningful. But there’s a world of difference between: Growth that comes from curiosity, clarity, and desire vs. Growth driven by fear, comparison, and not-enoughness Your body knows the difference, even when your mind doesn’t. Growth from genuine desire: Breath deepens Chest opens Effort feels energized, even when it’s challenging Growth from pressure and fear: Breath becomes shallow Body contracts Everything feels urgent, heavy, never quite enough From the outside, the behaviours might look identical. But on the inside, your nervous system is telling a completely different story. This is why we burn out by February Many people mistake pressure for motivation. It shows up as rigid routines, endless lists, overcommitment, or a relentless voice that says you should be doing more. It feels productive, until it isn’t. When pressure replaces presence, performance replaces connection. And the cost is high: Chronic dysregulation, hello anxiety and exhaustion Shallow sleep Emotional reactivity Disconnection from what you actually want This isn’t a lack of willpower. It’s your nervous system operating from survival mode. What if this year, you tried something different? Before you double down on optimizing everything, what if you simply noticed? What happens in your body when you think about your goals? Do you feel expanded or tense? When you scroll past someone else’s highlight reel, do you feel inspired, or behind? Are you setting goals from a place of joy, or from fear that who you are isn’t enough? There’s no right or wrong answer. Just more awareness. And that awareness is powerful. Because once you know what’s driving you, you get to choose a different way. Your body is already talking to you Here’s what the research tells us. Chronic stress impacts both mental and physical health. It weakens immune function, reduces cognitive performance, and increases the risk of burnout and depression. Breath-based regulation techniques, like slow, extended exhales, increase vagal tone, improving your nervous system’s ability to self-regulate. Higher vagal tone is linked to better decision-making, emotional regulation, sleep quality, resilience, and overall health. Translation? You can’t think your way out of stress. But you can feel your way back to clarity, calm, and presence, if you work with your mind and body, not against them. A different kind of support This is why nervous system work matters. Not because it’s trendy, but because it’s necessary. When your system feels safe, you can: Know what you actually want, not just what you think you should Move toward goals without tying them to your worth Grow from presence, not panic If you’re ready for that I’ve opened a limited number of 1:1 therapy spots for 2026. If you’re craving more regulation, clarity, and support, not to fix you, but to let go of what’s no longer working, I’d love to chat about what working together could look like. Therapy isn’t about quick fixes or abstract concepts. It’s about practical tools, nervous system awareness, and learning how to return to yourself, especially when stress patterns take over. Here’s how one client put it: The tools are simple, but the impact is deep. I’ve stopped defaulting to patterns that used to run my life. Reach out here . Start now with Baseline When stress spikes, theory isn’t enough. You need something that works, in the moment. Baseline is the first micro-tool app designed for real-time nervous system regulation. No fluff. No overwhelm. Just a 30-second check-in and a guided reset tailored to what your system needs. We’re currently in early access and inviting a small group to test the next version. Save your spot here . Because you don’t need more pressure, you need more presence. Follow me on  Instagram ,  LinkedIn , and visit my  website  for more info! Read more from Marie Keutler Marie Keutler, Psychotherapist & Somatic Therapist | Yoga & Breathwork Teacher Marie Keutler is a psychotherapist, yoga teacher, and wellness retreat facilitator dedicated to helping individuals reconnect with their minds and bodies. She combines evidence-based therapy, yoga, and breathwork to create accessible, science-backed tools for stress relief and well-being. Marie’s innovative programs, including the Pocket Reset Toolkit and Overdrive to Balance, provide practical self-care practices for busy lives. She also hosts transformational retreats in Greece, Portugal, and Africa, offering immersive experiences to foster deep healing and connection.

Written by Anne-Catherine Bédard, Research Scientist at Dow & Founder of Labcoat & Leggings Anne-Catherine Bédard is a PhD chemist, abstract artist, and the founder of Labcoat and Leggings. Author of numerous scientific papers and an empowering coloring book series, she bridges science and creativity to inspire confidence, authenticity, and self-expression. Many professionals move through their careers carrying a subtle but persistent tension. Not burnout exactly, but a continuous effort to manage perception, regulate expression, and remain within acceptable bounds. It shows up as muted communication, delayed decisions, chronic overperformance, or the feeling of being perpetually edited. This pattern has a name, self concealment. Self concealment is not a lack of confidence or capability. It is a learned survival response. The brain prioritizes belonging because, historically, belonging meant safety. When visibility feels risky, the nervous system adapts by reducing it. Over time, this adaptation becomes automatic. Language softens. Complexity is hidden. Competence is performed while authenticity is constrained. The cost is cumulative. Self concealment quietly erodes clarity, creativity, and leadership effectiveness. It increases internal friction and decision fatigue while reducing long term resilience. Here, we explore what it looks like to step out of self concealment gradually, month by month. Each installment examines a specific phase of awareness, regulation, and identity integration, grounded in applied neuroscience and lived experience. This is not a prescriptive framework. It is an observational one. The goal is not optimization, but alignment, reducing internal compression so leadership requires less effort and less self editing. What follows is a year long exploration of what that process actually looks like in lived experience. January – Awareness The year begins with recognition. Self concealment rarely announces itself. It emerges in small, repeatable moments, softened language in meetings, delayed responses, internal editing before speaking. January is about noticing these patterns without attempting to change them. At this stage, visibility is observational. Nothing shifts yet, but nothing remains unconscious. February – Permission Permission appears before behavior changes. It looks like noticing you have an opinion and allowing it to exist internally without rehearsing how it will be received. It is the moment you stop preemptively editing your thoughts in your own mind. Externally, the shift may be subtle, letting a preference stand without justification, declining a meeting without a detailed explanation, allowing silence after you speak instead of rushing to soften your point. No one else may comment on this change yet, but internally, something has shifted. Fewer negotiations are required, and decision making begins to feel lighter. March – Expression Expression is where internal permission begins to translate into visible behavior. It looks like saying what you think closer to the moment you think it, rather than revisiting it later. Offering an opinion without waiting for complete certainty. Sharing a draft earlier than feels comfortable instead of refining it endlessly in private. Externally, the changes are small but noticeable, fewer qualifiers, clearer statements, less post conversation replay. Expression at this stage is not about being bold or disruptive. It is about reducing the delay between internal clarity and external communication. April – Identity As expression increases, identity often lags behind. April focuses on recognizing when internal narratives no longer match lived behavior. This phase frequently brings both clarity and disorientation. It looks like realizing the role or label you have been operating under no longer fits as cleanly as it once did. You may notice discomfort when introducing yourself, hesitation when describing your work, or a sense that your current responsibilities no longer capture your contribution. Nothing needs to be resolved yet. April is about allowing identity to feel unfinished while it catches up to who you are becoming. May – Belonging Belonging becomes visible through contrast. In May, you begin to notice which rooms require you to shrink and which allow you to expand. Certain conversations leave you unusually tired, while others feel stabilizing even when they are challenging. You may find yourself choosing proximity based on alignment rather than history, or tolerating the discomfort of disappointing someone in order to remain internally steady. Belonging at this stage is not about withdrawal. It is about recognizing where authenticity is supported and where it carries a cost. Choosing alignment over familiarity often introduces discomfort before relief. June – Body Self concealment often disconnects us from bodily awareness. June restores attention to sensation as a regulatory resource. By now, self concealment reveals itself less through thoughts and more through physical cues. It looks like noticing tension in your jaw before speaking, shallow breathing as a decision approaches, or fatigue that follows certain interactions rather than workloads. You begin to treat physical cues as information instead of obstacles. Pausing before responding becomes less about politeness and more about regulation. The body becomes a signal system that supports clearer choices and more sustainable visibility. July – Joy Joy is frequently minimized in professional contexts to maintain control or credibility. July reframes joy as a stabilizing, regulatory state rather than an indulgence. When joy is permitted, nervous system flexibility increases. Decision making improves. Creativity rebounds. Joy enters not as celebration, but as stabilization. It looks like allowing satisfaction without immediately minimizing it, enjoying restorative moments without turning them into rewards for productivity, and letting positive outcomes land instead of rushing ahead. Joy here signals that the system has enough capacity to expand without vigilance. August – Courage As visibility becomes consistent, risk becomes clearer. August addresses courage in its practical form, reputational exposure, leadership accountability, and decision ownership. Courage shows up when outcomes matter and approval is uncertain. It looks like taking ownership of a decision that may be questioned, naming a direction before consensus fully forms, or allowing your name to be associated with an outcome rather than remaining safely in the background. The nervous system is activated, but no longer overridden. Courage here is not urgency or force. It is the capacity to stay regulated while acting in alignment, even when reputational risk is present. September – Boundaries Boundaries reduce the need for self concealment by clarifying expectations. By September, many realize that self concealment was often doing the work that boundaries never did. Boundaries begin to look less like protection and more like clarity. Responding rather than reacting. Saying no without over explaining. Allowing others to manage their own disappointment. As expectations become clearer, fewer situations require self editing, creating space for expression without constant vigilance. October – Integration By October, effort gives way to alignment. Internal negotiation decreases. Decisions arrive faster. Follow through requires less energy. It looks like words, values, and actions lining up without constant adjustment. Complexity still exists, but it no longer fragments you internally. What once required conscious correction now happens automatically, because the system has stabilized around who you are. November – Reflection Reflection consolidates change before familiar holiday dynamics return. Progress is recognized not through achievement, but through reduced friction. November looks less like an assessment and more like recognition. Stressors that once drained you now feel neutral. Situations that required careful self monitoring no longer do. What stands out is not what you achieved, but what no longer costs you energy. December – Consolidation The year closes with coherence rather than performance. Public and private selves align more consistently. December looks like stability rather than celebration. Fewer moments of self editing. Less internal commentary about how you are being perceived. You respond more than react. You speak without rehearsing. You rest without explaining. Consolidation is not arrival. It is the recognition that moving through the world now requires less effort because less of you is being held back. Putting the framework in action this year Exiting self concealment is not a single decision. It is a process of repeated, regulated visibility supported by awareness, nervous system alignment, and reflection over time. Beginning in January, I will be publishing a monthly newsletter and hosting a corresponding community discussion aligned with each theme in this series. Each month expands on the topic with applied neuroscience, lived examples, and space for shared reflection. This work is designed to be gradual, practical, and sustainable. To continue this work throughout the year, join the monthly newsletter and community discussion here . Follow me on Facebook , Instagram , and LinkedIn  for more info! Read more from Anne-Catherine Bédard Anne-Catherine Bédard, Research Scientist at Dow & Founder of Labcoat & Leggings Anne-Catherine Bédard is a PhD chemist, artist, and founder of Labcoat and Leggings, where science meets creativity. Trained to explore molecules, she now uses color to explore emotion, transforming her journey of healing into a mission to help others embrace authenticity and self-expression. Her work celebrates the beauty of being bold, kind, and unapologetically whole. Each piece she creates invites viewers to feel empowered, confident, and free to shine in their own light.

Written by Sandro Endler, Business Finance Specialist Sandro Endler is an experienced finance professional with over 30 years of expertise in business finance and strategy. He is the author of FACE IT! Mastering Business Finance and holds advanced degrees in finance and economics from renowned universities. The beginning of a new year is more than a simple reset. For business leaders, it is a strategic opportunity to pause, reassess, and realign. Those who truly move forward are not the ones who rush into action, but the ones who face the changes they need to make to thrive in 2026. Progress requires honesty. And honesty requires courage. Reflection before acceleration Before setting new goals, effective leaders take a hard look at the previous year. Not through the lens of excuses or optimism, but through facts and outcomes. Ask yourself: What actually worked, and why? What consumed time, money, or energy without delivering value? Where did discipline slip under pressure? Facing these realities early allows you to correct course before momentum locks you into the wrong direction. Face the changes, don’t avoid them Many businesses sense what needs to change but delay action. Systems feel outdated. Costs feel heavier. Decisions feel slower. These signals do not disappear with a new calendar year. Thriving in 2026 means confronting: Inefficient processes that no longer scale Financial habits that limit flexibility Leadership gaps that quietly affect execution Avoidance feels comfortable. Change builds strength. From goals to strategy Goals alone are not enough. Strategy is what converts intention into results. A strong start means translating vision into: Clear financial priorities Measurable performance indicators Defined execution paths and risk awareness When leaders face necessary changes head on, strategy becomes sharper, and execution becomes lighter. Financial discipline sets the tone The first quarter establishes the financial rhythm for the entire year. Early decisions around pricing, spending, hiring, and investment tend to compound, for better or worse. This is the moment to: Gain real visibility into cash flow Align budgets with strategic priorities Say no to growth that is not financially sustainable Financial clarity is not restrictive. It is liberating. Leadership is the anchor Change creates uncertainty. Leadership creates stability. At the beginning of the year, teams look for direction, consistency, and confidence. Leaders who communicate clearly, act decisively, and remain grounded set a tone that carries through the year. Leadership in 2026 will not be about reacting faster. It will be about deciding better. The foundation determines the outcome A successful year is rarely won through speed alone. It is built on clarity, discipline, and the willingness to face uncomfortable truths early. The businesses that will thrive in 2026 are not waiting for conditions to improve. They are improving themselves. Face the changes you need to make now, so the rest of the year works in your favor. Follow me on  LinkedIn ,  and visit my website for more info! Read more from Sandro Endler Sandro Endler, Business Finance Specialist Sandro Endler is an experienced finance professional with more than three decades of experience in business finance and strategy. As the author of FACE IT! Mastering Business Finance, he provides valuable insights for business owners seeking to improve their financial management. With advanced degrees in finance and economics, Sandro combines academic expertise with real-world experience to help businesses achieve growth and efficiency.

Alejandro Gómez Cobo did not build his career by chasing headlines or fast wins. He built it by showing up every day, learning from mistakes, and staying grounded in clear thinking. From working on a family farm to leading a strategic communication startup, his path reflects steady growth shaped by discipline, patience, and personal reflection. “I never believed success had to be loud,” Alejandro says. “I just wanted my work to make sense and move forward.” Early life and foundations in Querétaro Alejandro was born and raised in Querétaro, Mexico. His parents, Vicente Gómez Narvaiza and Isaura Cobo Frade, taught him the value of responsibility early in life. Work was part of daily routine, not something separate from life. That mindset followed him into adulthood. Today, he is married, has three children, and lives a structured but balanced life. Family remains a central priority. “If work takes everything from you, it’s not really success,” he says. Education and the value of structure From 1992 to 1996, Alejandro studied accounting at the Instituto Tecnológico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey. He graduated with honors. Numbers appealed to him because they brought order and clarity. During this time, he also played basketball, learning teamwork and consistency. “Accounting trained my mind,” he explains. “It taught me to look at reality, not just ideas.” This foundation would shape every role that followed. Leadership lessons on the family farm After graduating, Alejandro joined his father’s farm, where he worked from 1997 to 2008. The operation employed more than 150 people. Managing people, logistics, and pressure became part of daily life. “It wasn’t romantic,” he says. “It was real work. Real problems. Real people depending on decisions.” Those years taught him leadership without titles. He learned how communication failures could slow progress and how clear instructions could save time and conflict. Moving into management and new industries After more than a decade on the farm, Alejandro entered the trucking industry. He spent four years as a general manager, overseeing operations and teams in a fast-moving environment. This role expanded his experience beyond family business. It also showed him how systems and communication could either support or limit growth. “Most problems were not technical,” he recalls. “They were human.” Starting a strategic communication business Two years ago, Alejandro took a new step and launched a strategic communication startup. The company began small. One client. One clear problem to solve. Today, it has 12 employees. “I didn’t start with a big vision,” he says. “I started with execution.” Rather than chasing rapid expansion, Alejandro focused on clarity. Clear language. Clear goals. Short-term planning. He avoids long-term forecasts and prefers to work in weeks and months. “I only work with short-term goals,” he explains. “They keep me focused and calm.” Daily habits and personal discipline Alejandro starts most days with a run. Running gives him mental clarity and space to think. He reads daily, favoring books and newspapers over fast content. He avoids working on weekends when possible and protects time with family. “I believe rest is part of the job,” he says. He also volunteers at a food bank, staying connected to the community and grounded in perspective. A career built on clarity Across industries, one theme remains consistent in Alejandro’s career: clear thinking and correct use of language. He believes communication is often the silent factor behind success or failure. “Words matter,” he says. “They shape decisions, culture, and trust.” Alejandro Gómez Cobo ’s story is not about dramatic leaps. It is about steady progress, thoughtful choices, and learning from real experience. His career shows how big ideas don’t always arrive fully formed. Sometimes, they are built slowly, one clear step at a time.

For over 33 years, The Pool Factory has helped homeowners make informed, confident decisions about above-ground pools. As the industry has evolved, the company has remained focused on one core principle, giving customers better choices, clearer information, and higher-quality products than traditional local pool stores can offer. By operating as a large-scale online retailer with nationwide distribution, The Pool Factory has reshaped how families shop for backyard pools, combining selection, education, and durability that brick-and-mortar stores simply cannot match. Why buying a pool online makes sense One of the most significant advantages of buying a pool online is selection. Local pool stores are limited by showroom space and small warehouses, which often means customers must choose from only a few models, sizes, or styles. Online retailers like The Pool Factory are not constrained by floor space. The Pool Factory operates large distribution warehouses, allowing customers access to hundreds of pool options, including a wide range of round and oval sizes that local stores cannot physically stock. This larger inventory also allows us to offer stronger, higher-quality pools manufactured by top American pool manufacturers, including some of the strongest round and oval above-ground pools available today. Combined with detailed product descriptions, verified customer reviews, and fast shipping, buying a pool online gives homeowners more flexibility, better value, and access to premium products that are often unavailable locally. High-quality pool liners built to last At The Pool Factory, liner quality is a significant priority. The company offers exclusive liner designs that are not commonly available elsewhere, featuring unique print patterns and some of the thickest gauge materials in the industry. All liners are manufactured by top pool liner manufacturers in America and built to precise specifications to ensure a proper fit for each pool size and shape when installed according to manufacturer guidelines. When paired with correct base preparation and installation, these liners provide long-lasting durability, reliable performance, and a clean, professional finish that customers enjoy season after season. Trusted pool filtration systems from industry leaders The Pool Factory sells only high-quality above-ground pool filtration systems from the industry's most trusted manufacturers, including Hayward and AquaPro. Every filter system is brand new, factory-sealed, and manufactured to strict performance and quality standards. Thousands of customers successfully use these filtration systems every season when they are installed and operated according to the manufacturer's instructions. Like all pool equipment, proper setup, routine maintenance, and correct operation are essential to long-term performance. Issues that arise after extended use, especially when installation or operating guidelines are not followed, do not indicate defective equipment. The Pool Factory works closely with leading manufacturers to ensure customers receive durable, efficient filtration systems designed for consistent water clarity and dependable operation. Designed for DIY installation Pools purchased from The Pool Factory are engineered with DIY homeowners in mind. Most customers successfully install their pools themselves by following the manufacturer's step-by-step written instructions and detailed installation videos. Each pool package is designed for straightforward assembly, with components manufactured to fit together properly when instructions are followed. Resources guide customers through base preparation, wall assembly, liner installation, and filling. With proper preparation and attention to detail, homeowners can achieve a professional-looking pool without specialized tools or prior pool-building experience. Buttress vs. buttress-free oval pools explained One of the most common questions homeowners ask when choosing an oval above-ground pool is whether to select a buttress or buttress-free design. Understanding how water pressure works helps explain the difference. Why round pools don’t need support systems: Round above-ground pools naturally distribute water pressure evenly in all directions. This balanced outward force creates structural strength around the entire pool wall, eliminating the need for side supports. Why oval pools need support on the sides: Oval pools do not distribute water pressure evenly. While the curved ends of an oval pool behave like a round pool and handle pressure naturally, the straight sides experience increased outward force. This pressure must be counteracted with a reinforcement system. Why oval pools don’t need supports on the ends: The rounded ends of an oval pool are structurally strong on their own. Because of this, above-ground pool manufacturers do not design end supports for oval pools, they are not necessary. Modern buttress-free oval pools: Today’s buttress-free oval pools use advanced engineering instead of large external braces. These pools rely on reinforced sub-structures beneath the pool, including heavy-duty pressure plates and structurally engineered support beams, to control outward pressure on the straight sides. Benefits of buttress-free designs Slimmer footprint, typically requiring only about one foot of clearance. Easier deck installation Cleaner, more streamlined appearance No extensive support in the yard Equal strength to traditional buttress designs when properly installed Pool options for every budget and need The Pool Factory offers budget-friendly pool models such as the Boreal, Bristol, and Del Rey, as well as some of the strongest saltwater series pools in the industry. Notably, The Pool Factory is the only company to offer the all-resin Saltwater Aurora, a fully corrosion-resistant pool with reinforced construction designed for long-term durability. With the largest selection of above-ground swimming pool models, The Pool Factory offers options to fit nearly any yard, budget, or preference. All pools are manufactured by top American pool manufacturers and supported by detailed information to help customers choose confidently. A trusted name built on education and choice The story behind The Pool Factory is not about hype or shortcuts. It is about giving homeowners access to better products, more precise explanations, and more control over their buying decisions. As reflected in many The Pool Factory reviews , customers value the combination of large-scale inventory, quality manufacturing, and straightforward education that makes the buying process clearer. By focusing on these fundamentals, The Pool Factory continues to set the standard for buying pools online, one backyard at a time.

Written by Claire Jones, Weight Loss and Confidence Coach Claire Jones is an award-winning weight loss coach, helping people build a healthy relationship with food and themselves. She is the author of How to Eat Less, and the founder of YourOneLife. Claire empowers clients to break free from diets, create effective habits, and build confidence in new challenges, guiding them towards lasting success. Why does eating less feel so hard, even when we want to lose weight? This article reveals how your appetite actually works, why dieting often backfires, and how to retrain your hunger signals gently and sustainably, without relying on willpower or medication. I haven’t always had a calm or regulated appetite. For decades, my eating felt inconsistent. Some days I could eat “normally.” Other days, I felt constantly hungry, snacky, or out of control around food. I could lose weight, but I never believed I could keep it off. Eventually, I did, and for the last 15 years , I have been able to live at a healthy weight while feeling relaxed around food. What changed everything for me wasn’t stricter rules or more willpower. It was understanding what was actually going on and learning how to work with my body instead of fighting it. The simplest way I’ve found to explain that process, both for myself and for the clients I’ve been coaching since 2020, is what I call the balloon analogy. It has become one of the most powerful tools in my practice to help people understand their appetite, let go of blame, and finally create sustainable change. It is by no means a scientific explanation. The real science is far more complex. But it is clear, practical, and easy to apply in real life, and that matters more. What is the balloon analogy, and how does it make appetite easier to understand? Picture your actual stomach organ as a balloon. A small balloon fills quickly. A stretched balloon can take much more in before it feels full. Your body adjusts the size of that balloon based on how you eat over time. Once you see that, many past dieting experiences suddenly make sense. That moment of clarity is what I aim to give my clients early in our work together. When they begin to see their eating patterns through this lens, it shifts the conversation from “What’s wrong with me?” to “What’s happening in my body, and how can I work with it?” A brand-new balloon versus one that has already been blown up Think about blowing up a brand-new balloon for the first time. The first breath is hard work. It feels resistant. Your cheeks ache. It feels like nothing is happening. Then suddenly it gives a little, and after that it becomes easier. Now compare that to a balloon that has already been blown up before. The air goes in easily. It expands quickly. There is very little resistance. That difference is exactly how appetite feels. If your appetite balloon is small, eating less feels manageable. If it is stretched, stopping earlier feels uncomfortable, and hunger feels loud. That isn’t a character flaw. It is an adaptation. How this showed up in my own life When my eating was more chaotic, my balloon was stretched. Portions were bigger. Snacking was frequent. Eating past fullness was normal. Dieting meant trying to tolerate intense hunger. When I tried to clamp down hard, the balloon pushed back. Hunger increased. Food obsession crept in. Rebounds followed. At the time, I thought that meant I was bad at dieting. What it actually meant was that I was trying to shrink a stretched balloon too quickly. Because I’ve lived this, I’m able to guide clients through the same shift, helping them recognize the signs of a stretched balloon and understand that their struggles with hunger or portion control are not personal failures, but biological adaptations. Why dieting feels so hard for many people Most diets assume everyone starts with the same appetite. They don’t. If you eat for a small balloon while yours is stretched, it feels genuinely hard. Not inconvenient. Not mildly uncomfortable. Hard. This is why people say: I’m hungry all the time. I think about food constantly. I’m fine all day, then lose control at night. I can’t stick to it even though I want to. I’m stuck in a weight loss plateau . That isn’t a motivation problem. It’s a capacity problem. How balloons get stretched in the first place Balloon stretching happens slowly through very normal behaviours: Regularly eating past comfortable fullness Portion sizes creeping up Grazing instead of eating meals Using food to manage stress or exhaustion Drinking calories without noticing Repeated diet and regain cycles That was my experience too. Each time, my body adapted. The balloon stretched. Appetite recalibrated upwards. That’s biology doing its job, not failure. We’re hardwired to eat when food is available, even when we’re not hungry. That’s part of how the human body has survived for thousands of years. It’s also why we’re able to store body fat in the first place. Hunger is a biological cue to seek food, not a moral failing. So it makes perfect sense that deliberately eating less, especially after a period of abundance, can feel like a threat to the system. Voluntary restriction doesn’t always go down well with a body that’s evolved to protect us from scarcity. Hunger is going to kick in at some point and derail us. What actually helped me regulate my appetite The biggest shift for me came when I stopped trying to force the balloon smaller and focused instead on gentle deflation. That meant: Eating to satisfied rather than stuffed Leaving food when I was full, even when it felt uncomfortable at first Eating proper meals instead of constant picking Allowing mild hunger without panicking Making small, consistent portion changes At first, this felt hard. But over time, something important happened. My appetite adapted. What once felt like “not enough” started to feel normal. Food stopped dominating my thoughts. Hunger became quieter and more predictable. That’s what appetite regulation actually feels like. These are also the foundational strategies I help clients implement, one small step at a time. Together, we practice tuning into real fullness, slowing down meals, and normalising mild hunger. Just like my own process, it’s not about perfection. It’s about gentle, consistent change. How improving nutrition quality reduced pressure One crucial piece that made this easier was improving the quality of what went into the balloon, not just the quantity. When I tried to eat less without changing food quality, it felt brutal. Smaller portions of energy-dense foods meant: Hunger returned quickly Satisfaction didn’t last Everything relied on willpower What changed things was focusing on lower-calorie, higher-nutrition, satisfying but less energy-dense foods. High protein. High fibre. That’s why I teach clients how to build meals that are both satisfying and lower in calorie density, so they can eat sufficient food without overstimulating appetite or relying on willpower. Energy density and appetite Some foods take up a lot of space for relatively few calories. Others deliver a lot of calories in very little volume. Some foods are easy and quick to digest, so we can feel hungry again soon. Other foods take longer to digest, enabling us to feel full for longer. When you’re gently shrinking a stretched balloon, this matters. By prioritising foods that were: Higher in protein Higher in fibre Higher in water content Lower in calorie density I could eat meals that physically filled the balloon without overloading it with energy, and that would sustain me for longer. The pressure I put on myself dropped. And when this boom and bust type pressure drops, appetite starts to regulate. Everything starts to feel calmer. Food becomes less of a focus. How this looked in real life This wasn’t about eating perfectly or cutting foods out. It was about making sure most meals: Actually filled me up Lasted more than an hour Didn’t trigger constant snacking Didn’t rely on coping with hunger That meant: Protein anchored meals Plenty of vegetables and volume foods Fewer meals and snacks containing refined carbs and fats Treat foods eaten deliberately, not as the base of every meal As nutrition quality improved, portion control became easier rather than harder. The balloon shrank with less resistance. The science behind appetite regulation Appetite isn’t just about willpower. It’s a complex system regulated by hormones and the brain. Ghrelin , made in the stomach, increases before meals and signals hunger to the brain. Leptin, made by fat cells, signals satiety and reduces appetite over time. These hormones interact with the hypothalamus in the brain, which integrates information from the gut and fat stores to regulate eating behaviour. When people lose weight , ghrelin tends to rise and leptin falls, increasing hunger and making it harder to maintain weight loss long term. Understanding this science helps remove the shame. It explains why appetite can feel overwhelming after dieting and reinforces the need for sustainable, gradual change. For my clients, the balloon analogy becomes a practical framework they can return to anytime they feel off track, without needing to remember the science. It helps them make sense of their experiences and stay calm in the face of setbacks, because they now understand what’s really going on behind the scenes. Why maintenance mattered more than weight loss One of the most important lessons I learned was the value of maintenance. Maintenance is where the balloon learns that this level of intake is safe. Rush past it, and the balloon stretches again. This is why people often lose weight, hit a target, then regain it. Portions creep Awareness drops Old habits return The balloon never gets the opportunity to stabilise. Learning to hold steady was what finally made my weight feel settled rather than constantly managed. I physically cannot eat the volumes of food I used to eat. I know if I continued to consistently push the boundaries over time, I would. But I don’t want to, so I actively choose not to. This is also why I work closely with clients on the skill of maintenance, holding steady instead of rushing forward. It’s the part most diets skip, but it’s where the real transformation happens. Holidays and real life still apply Life stretches balloons. Holidays. Stress. Disrupted routines. Alcohol. The goal isn’t to keep the balloon tiny all the time. It’s to notice when it’s stretching and respond early with awareness, not punishment. That’s why skills like portion awareness, nutrition quality, and regular check-ins matter far more than rigid rules. Long term weight loss is balloon management For me, and for the clients I work with now, sustainable weight loss comes down to: Understanding how your balloon got stretched Filling it with the right kind of food Reducing pressure gradually Letting appetite recalibrate Maintaining long enough for it to stick Weight loss becomes calmer. Food stops feeling like a constant battle. Appetite feels predictable and manageable. And over time, something surprising happens. Joy returns to eating. Joy in feeling satisfied but not stuffed. Joy in being able to eat just enough and feel good afterward. Joy in clearer thinking, more energy, and less fixation on food. That’s the outcome I help my clients work toward, not just weight loss, but a more peaceful, empowered relationship with food and body. When eating feels calm and aligned, sustainable progress doesn’t feel like a fight. It feels like freedom. If you’re ready to find freedom from overeating and retrain your balloon, visit my website to find out the ways to work with me in 2026. Follow me on Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn , and visit my website for more info! Read more from Claire Jones Claire Jones , Weight Loss and Confidence Coach Claire Jones is an award-winning weight loss coach and author of How to Eat Less. After struggling with her own weight and relationship with food, she transformed her mindset and developed a sustainable approach to lasting health. Now, she helps others break free from dieting cycles, build confidence, and create healthier habits. With a background in coaching and behavioural change, Claire empowers clients to embrace a positive, long-term lifestyle. Her mission is to inspire sustainable health and self-belief.