Brainz Magazine Exclusive Interview Andrea Hurst has spent more than three decades working at the intersection of physical health, emotional resilience, and holistic care. Her career began in bereavement support and the funeral profession; today, she maintains a 30 + year international practice as a reflexology master and wellbeing visionary for clients ranging from everyday families to public figures and business leaders. In this interview, she reflects on the experiences that shaped her practice, the misconceptions that still surround complementary therapy, and the philosophy that guides her work with clients navigating major life transitions, illness and stress. Andrea Hurst For readers who are meeting you for the first time, can you take us back to the beginning of your journey and share what first inspired your path into reflexology and holistic wellbeing? I came into reflexology following a career in bereavement support and counselling. During those years, I witnessed the extraordinary difference that genuine compassion, empathy and simply being fully present for another person can make. I then spent more than three years in the funeral profession, where I developed a deep understanding of professional care standards while helping people through some of the most difficult moments of their lives. Looking back, I can see that every step prepared me for the work I do today. When reflexology entered my life, I immediately felt I had found the path I was meant to follow. My studies confirmed that feeling, and I have continued to develop my practice ever since. Over the past three decades, I have refined my techniques, continually studying the connections between body, mind and wellbeing, and dedicated myself to helping people achieve greater balance, wellbeing and self-understanding. What experiences and lessons have shaped your approach over the past three decades, and what do you believe sets your work apart today? The greatest lesson I have learned is that every client is unique. Rather than treating people as a diagnosis or collection of symptoms, I see the whole person. During every treatment, I make my own assessment through the reflexes and then provide clear, honest and personalised feedback. Over more than 30 years, I have refined not only my treatment sequences but also my ability to recognise patterns relating to physical wellbeing, emotional health and lifestyle. Clients often tell me that what makes my treatments different is that nothing feels generic. Every session is individual, compassionate and deeply personal. My intention is always to help people understand themselves more clearly and to make informed decisions about their wellbeing, enabling positive and lasting change. “Rather than treating people as a diagnosis or collection of symptoms, I see the whole person.” Many people are familiar with reflexology by name but may not fully understand it. How would you explain its benefits on mental well-being? Reflexology involves applying gentle pressure to specific reflex points on the feet to encourage the body's natural balance. One of its greatest strengths is the deep relaxation it can promote. Many people spend much of their lives under constant pressure, leaving the nervous system in a prolonged state of alertness. During treatment, clients frequently describe experiencing a profound sense of calm, mental clarity and emotional release. These feelings often continue after the session. While reflexology is not a substitute for medical or psychological care, it can be an excellent complementary therapy that supports relaxation, stress management and overall well-being. What have your clients taught you about health, stress and success? Working with clients from all walks of life—including business leaders, public figures and everyday families—has taught me that status and success do not protect anyone from stress or emotional challenges. What everyone shares is the need to feel heard, understood and treated with honesty and compassion. Sometimes the most valuable part of a treatment is helping someone recognise patterns in their life that they may never have noticed themselves. That self-awareness often becomes the starting point for meaningful change. What are the most common issues you see today? Modern life rarely allows people time simply to pause. I regularly see clients experiencing poor sleep, chronic stress, dehydration, rushed eating habits, digital overload and exhaustion. My treatments encourage people to slow down, reconnect with themselves and become more aware of the habits influencing their wellbeing. Often, it is not dramatic changes that create lasting health, but small daily habits practised consistently. How important is intuition in healing and personal growth? I believe intuition can play an important role in healing and personal development. Many of us instinctively know what feels right, yet we often ignore those feelings because of external pressures or information overload. Learning to trust our intuition—alongside sound judgement and appropriate professional advice—can help us make healthier decisions and remain true to ourselves. What misconceptions still exist around reflexology and complementary therapies? The biggest misconception is that complementary therapies either replace conventional medicine or have no real value. My experience has shown neither is true. Reflexology works best alongside conventional healthcare. It is also far more than a simple foot massage. Becoming a skilled reflexologist requires years of study, practical experience, continual learning and genuine dedication to understanding people as whole individuals. Looking ahead, what message would you most like readers to take away? I would like people to understand that true wellbeing involves caring for body, mind and spirit together. Health is influenced by our thoughts, nutrition, relationships, environment and lifestyle and the way we care for ourselves every day. My philosophy is simple: live truthfully, continue learning, show kindness to yourself and others, and always strive to become the healthiest, happiest and most authentic version of yourself. I believe that when we do that, we not only improve our own lives but also positively influence the lives of those around us. “My philosophy is simple: live truthfully, continue learning, show kindness to yourself and others, and always strive to become the healthiest, happiest and most authentic version of yourself.” Across three decades of practice, Andrea Hurst's message remains consistent: real wellbeing comes from treating people as individuals, not diagnoses. Whether guiding clients through stress, major health transitions, or the search for greater self-understanding, her approach blends clinical rigour with genuine compassion—encouraging people to slow down, trust their instincts, and build health through small, sustainable changes rather than dramatic overhauls. Connect with Andrea Hurst: Website: www.reflexology.guru Pool of Purity: www.poolofpurity.com Instagram: @reflexologyguru Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/reflexologyguru/ Threads: @reflexologyguru

Written by Kirsten Welsch, Founder & Master-Trained Color Analyst Kirsten Welsch is a certified 23-season color analyst and founder of ATX Color Studio near Austin, Texas. She also runs Business of Color Analysis, where she helps new color analysts build and market their businesses with confidence. Black has a reputation as the one color everyone can wear, but color analysis tells a different story. Depending on your undertone, depth, and contrast, black can either sharpen your features or quietly work against them. Here is how to tell which one is happening to you and five alternative neutrals worth trying if black isn't doing you any favors. What makes a color "flattering" in the first place? Black is probably the closest thing fashion has to a universal default. When people do not know what to wear, they often reach for it automatically. It coordinates easily, is widely available, and works for almost any occasion. However, a color being practical does not necessarily make it flattering. In professional color analysis, we look at how a color interacts with a person's natural features across four characteristics: undertone, intensity, depth, and contrast. Black sits at the deepest end of the value scale and typically functions as a cool, high-contrast neutral. Those qualities can look beautiful on someone whose natural coloring is equally deep, cool, bright, or high in contrast. On someone with lighter, warmer, or more muted coloring, black can become the first thing you notice about an outfit instead of the last. That does not mean the person looks bad. It simply means black may not be doing as much for them as another neutral could. Ideally, you want people to notice your face first, with your clothing framing you rather than competing with you. Why black washes some people out When people say black makes them look tired, washed out, or older, they are usually noticing the contrast between the clothing and their natural coloring. Black absorbs light, creating a strong visual boundary beneath the face. If someone does not naturally have enough depth or contrast to balance that boundary, the difference can make shadows, unevenness, and redness in the complexion more noticeable. It can also make the lips and eyes appear less defined. People with soft coloring often find that black feels too sharp. People with warm coloring may notice that it makes their skin look grayer. People with very light coloring can feel completely overwhelmed by it. This is one reason someone can love the style of a black dress and still feel that something is off once they put it on. The dress may fit beautifully. The problem is usually the relationship between the color and the person wearing it, not the garment itself. Who actually looks best in black? Black is most naturally harmonious on people who have enough visual strength to support it, which often means deep overall coloring, cool undertones, bright or clear coloring, and high natural contrast. Someone with dark hair, light skin, defined eyes, and cool undertones may look striking in black because the depth of the clothing is repeated within their natural features. These characteristics are commonly associated with Winter palettes. True Winters, Bright Winters, and Deep Winters are often able to wear black particularly well, though the best result still depends on the individual. It is also worth being careful not to judge a season based on a single feature. Having dark hair does not automatically mean someone looks good in black. A person can have dark hair while still having warm, soft, or low contrast coloring, in which case espresso brown, deep olive, or a warmer navy may create a more balanced result. Fair skin does not automatically mean black is too harsh, either. If someone has naturally high contrast and clear, cool coloring, black may be one of their strongest colors. Color and personal styling work together through the relationship between all of your features, not just one isolated characteristic. Is black actually slimming? Black has a longstanding reputation for being slimming, but color is only one small part of how clothing affects the appearance of the body. It can sometimes make an outfit feel streamlined because it creates one continuous, uninterrupted area of color. Silhouette, proportion, fabric, tailoring, neckline, hemline, and the placement of details usually affect how an outfit looks far more than whether the clothing is black. A beautifully fitted dress in navy, chocolate brown, olive, or burgundy can be more flattering than a poorly fitting black one. It is also worth asking what "flattering" actually means. Looking slimmer is not the only goal when getting dressed, and a color can create a streamlined silhouette while simultaneously making the face look tired or disconnected. The best outfit considers the whole person, not just the body. Can warm color seasons still wear black? Anyone can wear black. A seasonal color palette is not a dress code, and discovering your best colors does not forbid you from wearing everything else. Color analysis gives you information, not rules. As a True Spring myself, black is not one of my most naturally harmonious colors. My coloring is warm, bright, and light, while black is extremely deep and visually heavy. I can still wear it, but I know I may need to make a few adjustments to help the outfit feel connected to me rather than separate from me. Some people genuinely love black. Others need it for work, events, performances, uniforms, or formal dress codes, and many people already own a significant number of black pieces they have no interest in replacing. You do not need to get rid of them. You can learn to wear black more intentionally and identify which alternatives give you the same versatility with a more flattering result. Five flattering alternatives to black If black feels too harsh, you do not need to replace it with bright colors. There are several versatile neutrals that still feel polished and easy to coordinate, and the right one for you depends on your undertone, intensity, depth, and contrast. Interestingly, the fashion industry itself is starting to notice this shift. Marie Claire reported that navy blue is emerging as a refreshing alternative to black on runways such as Khaite and Chanel this season, which aligns with what I see in the studio every week. Deep navy. This is one of the easiest alternatives to black because it offers similar versatility without appearing quite as severe. Cooler coloring pairs well with an inky, blue-based navy, while warmer coloring often looks better in a slightly clearer navy that does not appear almost black. Charcoal gray. This provides depth and polish with less contrast than true black, which makes it especially helpful for cool but softer coloring, such as that found in many Summer palettes. A deep graphite gray works for someone who needs more depth, while a softer charcoal suits lower contrast coloring. Espresso brown. This is an excellent option for warm or rich coloring. It offers much of the depth of black while adding warmth that connects to golden, peachy, or earthy features. Dark olive. This is one of the most overlooked wardrobe neutrals. It coordinates surprisingly easily and works particularly well for warm, rich, earthy, or softened coloring. Olive pairs with cream, camel, denim, brown, rust, peach, and burgundy. It gives the same grounded feeling as black without creating the same coolness near the face. Deep teal or aubergine. A neutral does not have to be gray, brown, or navy. Both colors are dark enough to anchor an outfit while adding dimension. Deep teal suits people who want something richer than navy but more colorful than black, and it works for warm or cool palettes depending on the shade. Aubergine ranges from a cool, deep purple to a warmer plum. How to wear black more intentionally if you still love it If you love black or need to wear it, there are several ways to soften its impact on your complexion. Keep it away from your face. The closer a color sits to your face, the more influence it has on your appearance. Black pants, skirts, shoes, and handbags are far less likely to affect your complexion than a black turtleneck or blouse. Open up the neckline. A V neckline or scoop neckline creates space between the black fabric and your face, making the contrast feel less abrupt than a high black neckline. Add one of your best colors near your face. A jacket, scarf, necklace, or blouse creates a buffer between you and the black garment. Spring coloring might benefit from coral, ivory, or a warm green, while Summer coloring might benefit from dusty blue, soft rose, or lavender. The goal is not to hide the black but to reconnect the outfit to your natural features. Wear your best metal. People with warm coloring often find that gold jewelry makes a black outfit feel more harmonious, while those with cool coloring often look better in silver or platinum Adjust your makeup, not your effort. A flattering lipstick, blush, or eye color can help restore definition without piling on more makeup. If you repeatedly feel washed out in black, the issue is usually the color itself rather than how much makeup you are wearing. Choose texture over solid black. Washed black, faded black, or a black and cream print can feel considerably softer than a solid, saturated black. How can you tell if black is flattering on you? Start by comparing black with other neutrals in consistent natural lighting. Stand near a window during the day without direct sunlight on your face and hold a black garment underneath your chin, followed by navy, charcoal, espresso, and olive. Try to look at your face rather than deciding which fabric color you personally prefer. Notice whether you see your face or the garment first, whether your complexion looks even, whether the shadows underneath your eyes become more noticeable, whether your lips and eyes stay defined, and whether the color feels connected to you or separate from you. You may find that black is genuinely one of your strongest colors, or you may discover that another neutral gives you the same polished feeling while allowing your natural features to come forward more easily. At-home comparisons can be a helpful starting point, but lighting, makeup, hair color, and personal bias can all affect what you see. This is why a professional color analysis can help you know for sure. Find the neutral that works for you Black is not a bad color. It simply is not as universal as we have been taught to believe. For some people, it creates a striking, harmonious result, while for others, it looks heavy or disconnected from their natural coloring. Your best neutral should fit your lifestyle, coordinate with your existing pieces, and support your features, whether that turns out to be black, navy, charcoal, espresso, olive, teal, or something you never considered a neutral before. This is really the same idea behind building any capsule wardrobe around versatile, intentional pieces. The goal is not to limit your choices but to understand which colors make you look and feel more vibrant so you can use that information in a practical way. Ready to discover your most flattering colors, neutrals, makeup, and hair recommendations? Explore professional color analysis with ATX Color Studio in Bee Cave, Texas, or virtually from anywhere by clicking here. Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn for more info! Read more from Kirsten Welsch Kirsten Welsch, Founder & Master-Trained Color Analyst Kirsten Welsch is a certified 23-season color analyst and the founder of ATX Color Studio in Bee Cave, Texas. After years of designing luxury weddings in Costa Rica, she discovered color analysis and realized the power of wearing the right colors firsthand. That experience inspired her to help other women feel that same confidence. She now offers in-person and virtual color analysis sessions and runs Business of Color Analysis, where she mentors aspiring color analysts on marketing, social media, and building a successful business. Her mission: helping women stop guessing and start glowing.

Written by Norm Leo, Climate Scientist, Keynote Speaker, Climate Communication Specialist Norm Leo is a climate scientist, speaker, and consultant who makes climate science easy to grasp and inspires confident action by highlighting the tangible benefits of climate solutions. He is also the author of "Look At It This Way," helping readers see climate challenges as opportunities for growth and impact. Forget climate solutions as sacrifices, like something you must do, whatever the cost. After giving hundreds of presentations on this topic, I’ve learned that an opportunity awaits you: the same choices that help stabilize the climate also drastically improve your financial well-being. From lower energy bills to cheaper transportation to smarter food habits, climate-friendly decisions can help you save hundreds of dollars every month and thousands of dollars every year. All changes, or, as I like to call them, upgrades, big or small, add up quickly in your life. This article shows you how climate solutions become a wealth-building strategy that supports your lifestyle, your health, and your long-term financial security. Why are climate solutions also money-saving? Climate solutions reduce carbon emissions, but they also reduce expenses. When you use less energy, drive more efficiently, waste less food, or protect your home from extreme weather, you’re not just helping the planet. You’re creating financial breathing room. The biggest savings come from three areas: Lower home energy use. Cheaper transportation. Smarter food choices. These aren’t abstract ideas. They’re practical, measurable, and accessible to anyone who wants to save money. The biggest ways you can save thousands each year 1. Cutting home energy costs: Your home is one of the easiest places to unlock immediate savings. Even small improvements can significantly reduce your monthly bills, including energy-efficiency upgrades like insulation and air sealing, smart thermostats that optimize your energy use, solar panels on the roof to increase autonomy, batteries to use that energy when the sun isn’t shining, and heat pumps that replace oil or gas heating. Typical savings: $500 to $2,000 per year on an average-sized home. Heat pumps: One of the smartest upgrades you can make. Modern air-source heat pumps don’t burn fuel. They move heat, making them two to five times more efficient than gas or oil systems. That efficiency translates directly into savings. Recent Canadian modeling shows heat pumps are already the lowest-cost heating option in most major cities, even before incentives. Households switching from oil or electric baseboards often save $800 to $2,000 per year, while also gaining efficient air conditioning.[1] 2. Reducing transportation costs: Transportation is often a household’s second-largest expense and one of the easiest to shrink. Electric vehicles cost far less to fuel and maintain, public transit can replace expensive commutes, and active mobility, like biking, eliminates fuel costs entirely. Typical savings: $1,000 to $10,000 per year. EVs: A major long-term cost saver. Electric vehicles have fewer moving parts, no oil changes, and dramatically lower fuel costs. A 2024 analysis by Consumer Reports found that EV drivers save $1,000 to $2,000 per year compared with gas-powered vehicles, depending on local electricity prices and driving habits. Over the lifetime of the car, that adds up to tens of thousands of dollars in avoided fuel and maintenance costs.[2] 3. Saving money through smarter food choices: Food is another area where climate-friendly habits translate into real savings. Plant-based meals cost roughly 30% less than meat-based meals, and reducing food waste can save the average household a significant amount each year. Typical savings: $1,000 to $2,000 per year. Reducing food waste: A simple way to save $1,000 a year. Households throw out an estimated $1,300 worth of edible food every year, according to a 2022 report from Second Harvest. Planning meals, freezing leftovers, and buying only what you need can dramatically cut grocery bills while reducing emissions from food production and landfill waste. What about the restaurant? More and more people bring their own containers so they can continue tasting that delicious food at home.[3] The hidden financial benefits most people overlook Climate solutions don’t just lower monthly bills, they protect your long-term financial stability. Higher home value from energy-efficiency upgrades, lower insurance premiums for climate-resilient homes, fewer costly repairs from flooding, heat damage, or storms, and more stable jobs in fast-growing clean-energy industries are all part of the bigger financial picture. Investments in clean energy, like solar panels, also have high growth potential, as do investments in plant-based processed foods, like vegan burgers, where there is consumer demand. These benefits compound over time, making climate choices some of the most reliable long-term investments you can make. What about upfront costs? It’s true, some climate solutions require an initial investment. But here’s what most people don’t realize: many upgrades come with rebates, tax credits, and low-interest financing. Payback periods are often shorter than expected, and some solutions, like reducing food waste or using transit, save money immediately. Energy-efficient homes also often sell for more, offering a great return on investment. Climate solutions aren’t expenses. They’re assets that pay you back. 10 practical tips to save you money Get a home energy audit. Switch to LED lighting. Seal air leaks. Install smart thermostats. Try one plant-based meal a week. Reduce food waste. Use public transit. Explore electric vehicle rebates. Consider a heat pump. Review your insurance for climate-risk savings. Each of these tips is simple and proven to save money. Turn climate solutions into a wealth-building strategy Climate solutions aren’t about deprivation. They’re about living better. Lower bills, fewer surprises, healthier homes, and more financial stability: these are the real benefits of climate-smart choices. You don’t need to do everything at once. Start small and build momentum. Every step you take compounds into long-term savings. Ready to save thousands each year? If you enjoyed discovering how climate solutions can save you money, you will absolutely love my new book, "Look At It This Way: Climate Change Solutions Will Benefit Your Health and Wealth," available on Amazon and in many other bookstores. Its unique reversible design makes learning about climate change more engaging, more visual, and a lot more fun. If you are a professional who is trying to craft messaging that truly resonates, whether you are a sustainability officer in a city, a project manager in a museum, or someone responsible for public engagement, my expertise is at your service. I help organizations communicate climate solutions in ways that inspire action, build trust, and connect with real people. Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn for more info! Read more from Norm Leo Norm Leo, Climate Scientist, Keynote Speaker, Climate Communication Specialist Norm Leo is a climate scientist and leading voice in climate communication, known for making complex environmental issues clear, relatable, and actionable. With over 2,000 presentations delivered worldwide, including TEDx, he helps audiences understand climate change without overwhelm or eco anxiety. As the author of "Look At It This Way" and former Head of Science Education at the Biosphere, Environment Museum, he blends scientific expertise with innovative messaging techniques. Norm's talks empower entrepreneurs, executives, and organizations to navigate sustainability with confidence and clarity. His solution-oriented approach leaves audiences inspired to contribute to a more resilient future. References: [1] Canadian Climate Institute, 2023, Heat Pumps Pay Off: Unlocking Lower-Cost Heating and Cooling in Canada [2] Consumer Reports, 2023, Electric Vehicles Save Consumers Money [3] Second Harvest, 2022, Wasted Opportunity Report

Written by David W. Carr, Mental Health Coach David Carr is an author, chaplain, certified mental health coach, and suicide prevention trainer. He writes on mental health, faith, leadership, and human connection, helping people move from awareness to practical care. Artificial intelligence is rapidly augmenting or replacing many tasks. Its ability to develop strategies, analyze data, and even make decisions signals the dawn of a new era for leadership. We now live in a world that is accelerating toward automation, and the differentiator we are searching for may be far less technical than we assume and far more human than we imagine. Consider two leadership meetings. In the first, the leader multitasks during a one-on-one. He glances at his screens and offers a quick solution. The situation is addressed, the box is checked, and efficiency scores a point, but our teammate leaves feeling overlooked. In the second, the leader closes her laptop, maintains eye contact, and listens without interruption. She asks thoughtful questions and allows space for reflection. The outcome is not simply a better conversation. It is stronger trust, clearer team alignment, and a more resilient culture. The difference is presence. Modern life is saturated with distraction. Back-to-back meetings, constant notifications, and the pressure to perform have created an environment where our attention is fragmented. While part of your role as a leader is to manage the ebbs and flows of teamwork, if the cost of our productivity erodes the trust of our team, then the cost is too high. Team engagement drops, and the team falls out of alignment when our people feel unheard. When the leader’s attention is divided and their conversations lack depth, it is the culture around them that suffers. Many of our strategic challenges are, at their core, relational, and our ability to remain present is what strengthens those relationships. This skill of presence cannot be automated. AI may generate insights, summarize conversations, or emulate empathy, but it will never offer genuine human presence. This is because presence is more than information and communication. Presence is the act of giving someone your full attention without distraction, agenda, or interruption. It is the ability to sit with the complexity of life, listen beyond the words spoken, and intentionally respond to the whole person in the moment. This creates psychological safety and signals respect. This is the key to making those around you feel seen and valued. This so-called “soft skill” is foundational to high-performing teams. In our search to increase efficiency and impact, the multiplier we most often overlook is the quality of attention and presence we bring to each interaction. This does not require more of your time. It requires more of your intention. You can accomplish more in a ten-minute, fully present conversation than you can in an hour of distracted interaction. As our technology evolves, good leadership will become more human. We cannot compete with machines on efficiency, so our advantage lies within our humanity. The ability to connect, understand, and remain fully present is the life and leadership skill that builds trust, drives performance, and will ultimately define results. The question is no longer whether you have time to be present and fully engaged, but whether you can afford not to be. This way of leading your life will cost you. It requires you to intentionally put away distractions. It forces you to listen without formulating a response. It demands that you slow down and notice this moment. It asks you to allow silence to exist, not fill it. This feels uncomfortable at first because it goes against our conditioning to move quickly, produce constantly, and optimize every moment. Presence is a skill developed in the forge of life. It is built through repeated, intentional choices: where you place your attention, how you regulate yourself, and how you show up for others. The more consistently you practice it, the more natural it becomes. Self-awareness is where presence begins. Notice what is happening inside you when you are distracted, stressed, or impatient. These moments reveal what is draining you. When you can observe your own patterns clearly, you can maintain control rather than allowing your emotions to make decisions. When you lack self-awareness, you may walk into a conversation carrying a frustrated inner state that shapes your words and tone without you realizing it. By contrast, being self-aware gives you control of your space and the ability to respond with clarity rather than simply reacting to emotion. In life and leadership, people do not need your immediate response as much as they need your full attention. Set aside distractions, stop rehearsing your response, and listen deeply to what is being said beneath the words. Live in this moment. This kind of presence builds trust because it tells the other person that they matter. You probably already know you need to slow down. Finding your pace is the physical expression of presence. When you move too quickly, your attention tends to scatter, and other people feel that rush before you ever say a word. Slow your breathing, ground your posture, and give yourself a moment before responding. That creates your space. When you own your space physically and mentally, you become intentional in your actions, and your calm presence is contagious. This is not a personality trait divinely offered to certain leaders. It is a practice that compounds over time. Start small. Choose one conversation today and give it your complete attention. Close your laptop. Silence your phone. Listen all the way to the end of their sentence. Then count to three. Do this consistently, and you will notice a shift. People will bring you their problems earlier, tell you the truth faster, and follow you further. This is how we deepen trust, strengthen alignment, and grow a resilient team. In an era when machines can accomplish almost anything, we must sharpen the skills they can never master. The distinctly human ability to remain fully present, to be genuinely here, is what will set future leaders apart. This skill can move you forward, and it is available now in your very next conversation. Follow me on Facebook, LinkedIn, and visit my website for more info! Read more from David W. Carr David W. Carr, Mental Health Coach David Carr is an author, chaplain, certified mental health coach, and suicide prevention trainer. His work focuses on the intersection of mental health, faith, leadership, and human connection. With over a decade of chaplaincy experience, David helps leaders, caregivers, churches, and communities respond to struggle with clarity, courage, and compassion. He is the author of The Suicide Conversation and creator of the MH5 Mental Hygiene System. He writes to help people move beyond awareness into meaningful action.

Written by Dr. Donya Ball, Leadership Expert, Keynote Speaker, Best Selling Author Dr. Donya Ball is a renowned leadership expert, keynote speaker, author, executive coach, and professor specializing in organizational development. She captivates audiences and readers around the world with her thought leadership, including her TEDx Talk, "We are facing a leadership crisis. Here's the cure." Competition is not the problem. In fact, competition can be one of our greatest teachers. Every elite athlete studies the competition. Every successful organization pays attention to the marketplace. Every leader knows what others do well in the marketplace. Competition sharpens us. Comparison, however, is something entirely different. Psychologist Leon Festinger introduced social comparison theory more than seventy years ago to explain that human beings naturally compare themselves with others. Comparison is not abnormal. It is human nature. The danger starts when someone else’s success becomes the measure of our own worth. That is the comparison trap. If you become so focused on your own growth that comparison feels worthless and like a waste of time, it loses its value and its power. Competition sharpens, comparison distracts Imagine watching the Olympic final in the 100-meter freestyle. Every swimmer knows who is in the lane next to them. They know their opponents and have studied them for years. They know their strengths, race strategies, and times. That preparation matters. But at the sound of the starting buzzer, everything changes. The fastest swimmers are not focused on looking left or right. They trust their training. They race. They stay focused on the wall in front of them. Sports psychologists have been studying elite performance for decades. One recurring finding is that where we direct our attention can influence performance. Dr. Gabriele Wulf’s studies on attentional focus have shown that an external focus can support better motor learning and execution. Leadership works exactly the same way. Know your competition. Learn from your competition. Respect your competition. But don’t get distracted by everyone else’s progress and lose focus on your own. Competition sharpens you. Comparison distracts you. Build an internal scoreboard One of the most important leadership shifts you can make is replacing an external scoreboard with an internal one. An external scoreboard asks, "Who got promoted? Who delivered the keynote? Who has the larger following? Who has the fastest-growing business?" An internal scoreboard asks, "What did I do today? Did I learn today? Did I become more disciplined today? Did I create more value than I did yesterday?" Psychologists Edward Deci and Richard Ryan have studied motivation for decades through self-determination theory. Their work suggests that motivation supported by autonomy, competence, and connection can strengthen persistence, performance, and wellbeing, particularly when compared with motivation driven mainly by external pressure or validation. The best leaders don't eliminate competition. They simply refuse to let anyone else keep score. Curiosity beats comparison Dr. Carol Dweck’s work on growth mindset offers another useful lens. People who are trapped in comparison ask, “Am I better than them?” People who are growth-oriented ask, “What can I learn from them?” One question creates insecurity. The other creates improvement. Curiosity has always been a better teacher than comparison. The quiet work nobody applauds The greatest performers in the world don’t spend most of their time looking at everyone else. They spend it practicing. Psychologist Anders Ericsson’s research on deliberate practice highlighted the role of intentional, focused improvement over time in developing elite performance. Excellence isn’t built by constantly assessing everyone else’s progress. It is built by attempting to improve your own. Reading. Practicing. Seeking feedback. Learning. Repeating. The people who become undeniable usually spend very little time trying to prove themselves. They are too busy improving themselves. Comparison is a cognitive distraction Comparison affects confidence as well. It also steals attention. Research scientist Dr. Sophie Leroy introduced the concept of attention residue, which describes how, when our minds switch from one task to another, some of our attention can remain on the task we just left. Consider how often leaders check LinkedIn. Industry rankings. Social media. Competitors. Other businesses. Other speakers. Every glance sideways can leave a small piece of your attention behind. That is attention you cannot invest in becoming better. Peak performance doesn’t look sideways Psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi spent decades studying flow, a mental state of deep concentration, presence, and immersion. Flow requires complete concentration. Complete presence. Complete immersion. Comparison interrupts all three. You’re not able to perform at your highest level while wondering what someone else is doing. Peak performance comes from focusing on the task, not fixating on everyone else. The leadership reality Competition isn't the enemy. Comparison is. Study excellence. Learn from excellence. Respect excellence. Then put your head down. Eyes forward. Zero distractions. The mission is larger than the noise. Leadership has never been about becoming better than everyone else. It is about becoming better than the version of yourself you were yesterday. Stay so undeniably dialed into your own growth that comparison loses its value and feels like a complete waste of time. Competition to Learning to Growth. Comparison to Distraction to Stagnation. Because the only competition that truly matters is your own progress. Follow me on Instagram, LinkedIn, and visit my website for more info! Read more from Dr. Donya Ball Dr. Donya Ball, Leadership Expert, Keynote Speaker, Best-Selling Author Dr. Donya Ball is a renowned keynote speaker, transformative superintendent, and passionate author. With over two decades of experience, she also serves as a professor and executive coach, mentoring and guiding aspiring and seasoned leaders. She has authored two impactful books, Adjusting the Sails (2022) and Against the Wind (2023), which address real-world leadership challenges. Her expertise has garnered national attention from media outlets like USA Today and MSN. Dr. Ball’s TEDxTalk, "We are facing a leadership crisis. Here’s the cure," further highlights her thought leadership.

Written by Helen Kenworthy, Artistic Director Helen champions the arts as a tool for change. Now, as CEO of RYTC Creatives CIC and Give Get Go Education, she mentors young people, creates pathways for them to thrive in the arts, and helps launch successful careers. There is a growing recognition that a young person cannot learn well if they are not well. Academic achievement, creative development, and intellectual growth do not happen in isolation from everything else a young person is experiencing. They happen inside a body, a mind, an emotional world, and a set of relationships that are constantly shaping what feels possible, what feels safe, and what feels worth trying. For too long, wellness and education have been treated as separate concerns. Schools have focused on attainment. Wellness has been left to individuals, families, or specialist services operating at a distance from the learning environment. The result is that many young people arrive in classrooms carrying things that make learning difficult, without anyone in that space being equipped to help them begin to set those things down. Integrating wellness into education changes this. It does not ask teachers to become therapists or schools to become clinics. It asks something more nuanced and more powerful, that the environments where young people spend so much of their time are designed to support the whole person, not only the academic self, that wellbeing is not an afterthought, but a foundation, and that the people and organisations with expertise in wellness are brought closer to the places where young people actually are. Wellness organisations like RISE and Joyful Living represent exactly this kind of possibility. They bring approaches, knowledge, and values that complement what education already does and strengthen it in ways that make a real and lasting difference. When wellness organisations and educational settings collaborate well, what emerges is something neither could create alone, an environment where young people feel genuinely seen, genuinely supported, and genuinely ready to grow. Why wellness and education belong together The idea that a young person must be emotionally and physically well in order to learn effectively is not new. Decades of research in neuroscience, developmental psychology, and education have confirmed that stress, trauma, disconnection, and unmet emotional needs significantly impair a young person's capacity to engage, retain information, build relationships, and believe in their own potential. Wellbeing is not separate from learning. It is the ground learning grows from. Yet many educational systems continue to treat these as parallel tracks. Pastoral care exists, but is often underresourced. Mental health support exists, but waiting lists are long and access is uneven. Wellness is acknowledged, but rarely embedded into the daily texture of how schools operate and how young people experience them. The gap between what young people need and what learning environments consistently provide remains significant. Bringing wellness into education is not about adding more to an already stretched system. It is about changing the orientation of what is already there. It is about asking not only what young people need to know, but what they need to feel in order to be ready to learn it. It is about creating environments that actively reduce the barriers that prevent young people from being fully present, engaged, and capable of growth. When this happens, the benefits are not limited to wellbeing. They extend to attainment, attendance, relationships, and every area of school life. The role of wellness organisations as partners in education Wellness organisations bring something into educational settings that is genuinely distinct. They are not constrained by curriculum requirements, attainment pressures, or the administrative demands that shape so much of what schools can and cannot do. They are able to focus on what a young person needs as a whole human being and to offer the kind of sustained, relational, and holistic support that educational settings often want to provide but struggle to sustain. When wellness organisations work in genuine partnership with educational settings, they do not simply add a service. They add a perspective. They bring approaches rooted in compassion, embodied wellbeing, and the understanding that wellness is not achieved through information alone. It is practised, embodied, and built through consistent experience in environments that model and actively support it. Effective partnership between wellness organisations and schools requires trust, clarity of role, and a shared commitment to the young people at the centre. It also requires humility on both sides, an openness to learning from each other and a recognition that the best outcomes for young people emerge when different kinds of expertise work together rather than in isolation. When this partnership is built well, the result is something greater than the sum of its parts. Why this matters for inclusive learning environments Inclusion is one of the most important and most misunderstood words in education. At its simplest, it means that every young person has a place. But genuine inclusion goes further than physical presence in a shared space. It means that every young person has access to the conditions they need to actually participate, to belong, to be known, and to grow. For many young people, those conditions are inseparable from their wellbeing. Young people with experiences of trauma, mental health challenges, neurodivergence, social anxiety, bereavement, family instability, or persistent stress do not simply need accommodations within a system that remains unchanged around them. They need environments that have been genuinely shaped with their experiences in mind. Environments where the adults around them understand that behaviour communicates unmet needs. Where difference is not pathologised. Where the pace, tone, and structure of the learning day have been considered through a wellbeing lens. This is precisely where the integration of wellness into education becomes most powerful. It moves inclusion from a policy aspiration to a daily practice. It ensures that the young people who most need supportive environments are not the ones least likely to find them. It also communicates something profound to every young person who walks through the door, that they matter here, not only as a learner, but as a person. Signs that a learning environment may need wellness integration Wellness integration is most powerful when it is proactive rather than reactive, introduced before a crisis rather than in response to one. There are consistent signs that a learning environment would benefit from a more intentional and collaborative approach to wellbeing. Recognising these signs early creates the opportunity to act before young people, staff, or the wider community reach a point of significant strain. An educational setting may need wellness integration when: Staff report feeling ill-equipped to respond to the emotional and mental health needs of young people. Behavioural incidents are high, and responses focus on consequences rather than understanding. Young people are disengaging, withdrawing, or attending inconsistently without clear academic reasons. Anxiety, low mood, or emotional dysregulation are visibly affecting a significant number of students. There is no consistent, embedded approach to emotional literacy or mental health across the school. Wellbeing support is available only reactively, after a young person has reached a point of crisis. Staff wellbeing and retention are suffering, with burnout or high turnover affecting continuity. Inclusion is a stated value, but certain groups of young people consistently feel unseen or unsupported. Partnerships with external wellness organisations are absent or limited to one off interventions. Young people describe feeling that school is a place for their academic performance, not for them as people. These signs are not indicators of failure. They are invitations to build something better. Wellness integration is not about adding pressure to already stretched environments. It is about creating the conditions in which both young people and the adults who support them can genuinely thrive. What effective wellness and education collaboration looks like in practice Knowing that wellness and education should work together is one thing. Understanding what that collaboration actually looks like on the ground is another. Effective partnership between wellness organisations and educational settings is not accidental. It is intentional, relational, and built on a shared commitment to the young people at the centre of both. When wellness and education collaborate effectively, you are likely to see: Regular, structured communication between wellness practitioners and educational staff about the young people they both support. Wellness practitioners embedded within the school environment rather than operating only through external referrals. Joint training and professional development that help educators and wellness professionals understand each other's language and approaches. A shared framework for wellbeing that is visible across the whole learning environment, not limited to designated pastoral spaces. Young people who know who to turn to, trust that they will be heard, and experience support as consistent rather than fragmented. Wellbeing woven into the physical design of learning spaces, with areas that support calm, sensory regulation, and reflection. A curriculum that makes room for emotional literacy, self-awareness, and the kind of reflective practice that builds long-term resilience. Leadership that models wellness as a value, not only a service, and creates the conditions for both staff and students to prioritise it. Outcomes that are measured not only through attainment data, but also through indicators of belonging, confidence, and emotional wellbeing. A culture in which asking for support is normal, encouraged, and met with a consistent and caring response. This is what becomes possible when wellness organisations are genuine partners in the educational environment rather than distant services. The young people in these spaces do not simply receive better support. They experience what it means to be in an environment that was built, in every meaningful way, with them in mind. How the Creative Pathway Methodology supports wellness in education Through RYTC Creatives CIC, The RYTC, Education Selection Box, ESB, and Give-Get-Go Education, GGGE, the Creative Pathway Methodology brings together learning, creativity, and career development in a way that places the wellbeing of the whole young person at the centre. It does not treat wellness as a separate strand running alongside education. It weaves it into the very fabric of how young people are supported, seen, and helped to grow. The RYTC creates brave, expressive spaces where young people are invited to explore their identity, develop their creative voice, and discover what they are capable of through arts based practice. These are not simply performance opportunities. They are environments designed to build confidence, emotional resilience, and self belief through the act of creative participation. When a young person steps into a RYTC space, they are stepping into somewhere that values who they are as much as what they can produce. ESB brings a personalised and inclusive approach to learning that holds both education and mental wellness together as inseparable concerns. It recognises that a young person's ability to engage with learning is directly connected to how they are doing on the inside, and it creates flexible, supportive experiences that address both at once. By attending to mental wellness as actively as academic progress, ESB reduces the pressure points that most commonly drive disengagement, anxiety, and low self-worth. It creates the conditions in which learning feels genuinely possible again, not as something to perform under pressure, but as something a young person can step into with growing confidence and care for themselves. GGGE connects young people to career development and real-world opportunities in a way that is grounded in their own strengths, interests, and emerging sense of direction. It understands that a young person's sense of future possibility is itself a wellbeing resource. When a young person begins to see a credible path forward, one that includes them, they bring a different quality of motivation, engagement, and hope to the present moment. Together, these three strands of the Creative Pathway Methodology create something that mirrors the best of what wellness integration in education can offer. They build safe, consistent, relational environments. They develop emotional literacy and resilience through practice rather than instruction. They meet the brilliantly underestimated with the belief and structure needed to help them grow. They do all of this through the daily work of creative, educational, and career-focused experiences, not as an addition, but as the heart of what they do. 11 ways integrating wellness and education transforms learning environments It creates a culture where young people feel safe enough to learn: Learning requires vulnerability, and vulnerability requires safety. When wellness is integrated into education, safety becomes a design principle rather than an assumption, and more young people are able to be fully present in the spaces where they learn. It ensures emotional needs are met alongside academic ones: A young person who is anxious, grieving, or disconnected cannot simply set those experiences aside when they walk through the door. When wellness is embedded in the educational environment, there are people, processes, and spaces designed to acknowledge and respond to those needs as part of the everyday experience of school. It builds the capacity of educators to support the whole person: Teachers are often the first to notice when a young person is struggling, but they do not always have the tools or confidence to respond in ways that genuinely help. Wellness integration addresses this by bringing specialist knowledge directly into the educational environment, giving staff practical skills and the support to use them. It introduces trauma-informed approaches across the whole environment: Trauma-informed practice shifts the question from “What is wrong with this young person?” to “What has this young person experienced, and how can we respond in a way that helps?” When this approach is embedded across an entire environment, it changes not only individual interactions but also the culture of the institution as a whole. It makes space for mindfulness, movement, and regulated nervous systems: The ability to focus and engage is deeply connected to the state of a young person’s nervous system. Wellness-integrated environments create regular opportunities to regulate and reset, supporting the physiological conditions that learning depends on. It strengthens relationships between young people and the adults around them: The quality of relationships between young people and the adults in their environment is one of the strongest predictors of engagement, achievement, and wellbeing. Wellness integration prioritises these relationships, creating the time and shared understanding that allow genuine connections to develop. It reduces stigma around mental health and emotional difficulty: When self-care, emotional literacy, and mental health are woven into the everyday life of a learning environment, the stigma that prevents so many young people from seeking support begins to lift. Young people receive a powerful message, their inner life matters, and needing help is human, not shameful. It supports the wellbeing of educators as well as students: Educators cannot consistently support the wellbeing of young people from a place of depletion. When staff feel valued, understood, and equipped with their own wellbeing practices, they bring more steadiness, more presence, and more genuine care to the relationships at the heart of every learning environment. It creates continuity of support through collaborative partnerships: One of the greatest challenges in supporting young people’s wellbeing is the fragmentation of services, where a young person can fall through the gaps between systems that do not communicate. When wellness organisations work in genuine partnership with educational settings, they create a joined up network of support that follows a young person consistently. It responds to the diversity of how young people experience wellness: Wellness does not look the same for every young person. For some, it is found through movement, for others, through creativity, connection, stillness, or structure. Inclusive wellness integration makes room for this diversity, ensuring that more young people find something that genuinely resonates with them and supports their wellbeing. It builds environments where every young person can genuinely belong: Belonging is not simply about being present in a space. It is about feeling that the space was made with you in mind. When wellness is truly integrated into education, it creates the conditions for this kind of belonging to be possible for every young person, including those who have most often felt that educational environments were not built for them. Conclusion The future of education is not only academic. It is human. Young people are not simply minds to be filled with knowledge. They are whole people whose capacity to learn, connect, grow, and contribute is shaped by how well they are, how safe they feel, and how genuinely the environments around them have been built with their experience in mind. Integrating wellness into education is one of the most important steps a learning environment can take. Not because academic achievement does not matter, but because it matters so much that we cannot afford to ignore the conditions that make it possible. When young people feel genuinely supported, emotionally regulated, relationally connected, and truly seen, they do not only perform better. They become more of who they are capable of being. Through the Creative Pathway Methodology across RYTC Creatives CIC, Education Selection Box, and Give-Get-Go Education, young people are supported to develop not only academically but also as whole, confident, and emotionally resilient human beings. When wellness partnerships are built intentionally and sustained with genuine commitment, what emerges is a learning environment that works for every young person, not only those who already find it easiest to thrive within it. Wellness and education are not competing priorities. They are the same priority, seen from two angles. Together, they create something that neither can build alone, a space where young people can genuinely learn because they genuinely belong. To explore more about wellness integration in education and the organisations shaping inclusive learning environments, visit here. Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and visit my website for more info! Read more from Helen Kenworthy Helen Kenworthy, Artistic Director Helen Kenworthy’s career embodies the transformative power of the arts, from her early roles in the prestigious West End with Bill Kenwright to her impactful work in regional theatre. As manager of the Oxfordshire Youth Arts Partnership, she created pathways for young people to thrive in the arts, with many going on to successful careers. Now at RYTC Creatives CIC and Give Get Go Education, Helen continues to inspire and mentor the next generation of theatre-makers and community leaders, offering invaluable opportunities for growth and professional development.

Written by Sarah Hurst, Coach and Creator of the Mind Medicine Movement™ Drawing on her own healing journey through cancer, Sarah Hurst is a coach and creator of the Mind Medicine Movement™, helping people calm the nervous system, reconnect to themselves, and take back their power to heal body, mind, and soul. A major life experience can change far more than your circumstances. It can alter your body, relationships, routines, and sense of safety, leaving you wondering why you no longer feel like yourself. Finding your way back is not about pretending nothing happened, but gently reconnecting with who you are now and who you may be becoming. Why does identity change? One of the things I hear most often from people after cancer, trauma, or another major life change is, “I don’t know who I am anymore.” Sometimes this arrives during the experience itself, but often it emerges later, when the immediate crisis has passed, and everyone expects life to return to normal. Identity is built from many different parts of our lives. It includes how we see our body, the roles we hold, the work we do, the relationships we belong to, our confidence, routines, values and expectations for the future. When several of these change at once, the familiar picture we held of ourselves can begin to fall apart. The National Cancer Institute’s guidance on life after treatment recognises that a person’s “new normal” may include different goals, routines, sources of support, physical changes and emotional scars. Even when treatment is over, the internal experience may be far from finished. Trauma and prolonged stress can also affect the way we relate to ourselves. The nervous system becomes focused on keeping us safe, which can leave little space for curiosity, creativity or self-discovery. As I explored in my article about why calm is essential for nervous system healing, survival mode is not a weakness, it is the body adapting to what has happened. You have not disappeared, although it can certainly feel that way. Your old map of yourself has simply been disrupted, and you may need time and space to understand the new landscape. When roles take over During illness or adversity, a particular role can quickly become the loudest part of someone’s identity. You may become the patient, the person with cancer, the strong one, the carer, the anxious one or the person everyone expects to cope. These roles may be necessary for a time. They can help us organise a frightening experience, communicate what we need or simply make it through the day. The difficulty comes when one role grows so large that it begins to obscure every other part of us. A diagnosis may be something you are living with, but it is not the whole of who you are. You are still the person who loves, laughs, creates, notices, dreams and matters. Those parts may feel distant during survival, but they have not ceased to exist. Labels can also be complicated. Some people feel empowered by words such as “survivor” or “warrior”, while others feel restricted or alienated by them. The National Cancer Institute acknowledges that the meaning of “survivor” can change over time and that some people prefer an entirely different term. There is no correct label, and nobody else should decide which identity you are expected to adopt. Finding yourself again begins with recognising that you are always more than the role life has temporarily asked you to play. Stories shape identity Human beings make sense of their lives through stories. We connect experiences from the past with who we believe we are today and what we imagine may be possible tomorrow. Research into narrative identity and mental health has found associations between themes of agency within people’s life stories and improvements in their mental health. This does not mean that positive thinking controls what happens to us, or that difficult emotions should be replaced with cheerful ones. It suggests that the meaning we make from our experiences, and the amount of agency we feel within our own story, can matter. The language we repeat often becomes part of how we experience ourselves. Statements such as “I am broken”, “My body has betrayed me”, “I will never cope again” or “Cancer is who I am now” may arise from very real pain. When repeated without question, however, they can leave little room for another future to emerge. I often say that the body listens to the stories we tell it. By this, I do not mean that our words cause or cure physical illness. I mean that the stories we live by can reinforce fear and powerlessness, or begin to create a greater sense of safety, choice and possibility. More spacious language might sound like, “I am learning to trust myself again”, “I am finding out what I need now” or “I am more than what happened to me.” These statements do not deny reality. They simply allow the story to continue. Grieving your former self There can be enormous pressure to move forward after illness or trauma. People may expect you to feel grateful, strong or relieved, while you are quietly grieving a life and a version of yourself that no longer feels available. You may grieve your former body, energy, confidence or independence. You may miss the ease with which you once made plans, trusted the future or moved through the world without constantly scanning for risk. You might also grieve relationships, careers, dreams or a sense of innocence that was changed by what happened. This grief deserves acknowledgment. Finding yourself again does not require you to rush past what you have lost, and growth should never become another standard you are expected to meet. Research into post-traumatic growth explores the possibility that people may experience changes in meaning, relationships, priorities and inner strength after adversity. However, research also shows that responses to trauma are highly varied and that growth and distress can exist alongside one another. Post-traumatic growth is complex, and nobody owes the world an inspiring transformation because they have suffered. You are allowed to miss who you were, without becoming stuck in the past. You are also allowed to feel curious about who you may become. Grief and growth can sit beside each other without either one cancelling out the other. Reclaiming choice and agency In Shadow Work, the Victim is an archetype that represents the part of us that feels powerless, wronged, or unable to influence what happens next. This part should not be judged. If something overwhelming has happened to you, feeling helpless may be an entirely understandable response. The lighter, alchemised form of the Victim is traditionally known as the Warrior. This does not have to mean fighting, forcing or remaining endlessly strong. It represents the part of you that begins to reclaim choice, courage, boundaries and a voice. You do not need to identify as a warrior. The word itself may not feel right for you, particularly when so much cancer language is framed around battles and winning. What matters is the movement underneath the archetype, from feeling that you have no power towards recognising where choice still exists. You may not have chosen what happened, and you may not be able to control every outcome. You can begin to choose how you support yourself, what language you accept, where you place your energy, which boundaries you need and whose voices you allow to influence your next chapter. Agency is not about taking responsibility for the illness or trauma. It is about remembering that what happened to you does not have to make every future decision on your behalf, and that some parts of your story are still yours to shape. Who are you becoming? Many people begin their recovery wanting to get back to normal. They want their old energy, confidence, body, routines, or certainty returned to them, which is deeply understandable. But the person who went through the experience cannot be completely untouched by it. Trying to recreate an exact version of your former self can sometimes deepen the sense that you are failing, because that earlier version of you lived before knowing what you now know. Healing isn’t about getting your old identity back. It’s about growing into the person your experiences have invited you to become. This is an invitation to meet yourself with curiosity, not a demand to become someone more accomplished, spiritual, or relentlessly positive. It does not mean your experience happened for a reason, or that you must turn pain into a grand purpose. The invitation may simply be to become more honest about what matters, more compassionate towards your limits, clearer about your boundaries or more willing to listen to yourself. You may discover that parts of your former identity still fit beautifully. Other parts may have been shaped by expectation, habit or the need to please others. Some may have protected you once but no longer support the life you want to live. Instead of continuing to ask, “How do I become my old self again?”, the question can gently change. You can begin asking, “What feels true for me now?”, allowing the answer to unfold rather than forcing it. How to reconnect Reconnection rarely comes from sitting down and demanding an immediate answer to the question, “Who am I?” That can feel far too big, especially when you are already overwhelmed. It often begins by slowing down enough to notice yourself again. Within my SIPS™ framework, Slow Down comes before Identity for this very reason. Without space, it is difficult to separate your own voice from fear, pressure, and the expectations of others. Begin by noticing small preferences. What feels nourishing today? What leaves you depleted? Where do you feel most like yourself, even for a few minutes? These details may seem insignificant, but they are clues. You might reconnect with your values rather than trying to recreate your old roles. If kindness, freedom, creativity, connection or honesty matter to you, consider how one of those values could be expressed in your life now. Identity is not only something we think about, but it is also something we practise through small choices. Pay attention to moments of aliveness. Perhaps you feel something stir while walking outside, listening to music, spending time with someone safe, writing, making something, or offering support to another person. These glimmers can help reveal what remains meaningful beneath the layers of survival. It may also help to ask, “What am I ready to release?” An identity built around always being strong, endlessly productive, or responsible for everyone else can become exhausting. Sometimes finding yourself involves putting down versions of you that were never allowed to rest. There is no deadline for this process. Identity is not a puzzle you must solve correctly. It is a relationship you continue building through listening, experimenting, and allowing yourself to change. Begin coming home Finding yourself again does not mean erasing what happened or returning to the person you were before. It means creating enough safety and space to meet yourself as you are now, with honesty, compassion and curiosity. You are more than your diagnosis, your trauma, your losses and the roles you needed to survive. Your identity is still alive and evolving, even if you cannot yet see its full shape. You might begin with one quiet question, “What part of me is waiting to come home?” Do not force an answer. Notice what arises and allow that to be the beginning of a new conversation with yourself. If you are navigating identity after cancer, illness, or a major life change and would value someone walking alongside you, you can explore my coaching and support. You do not need to find your whole way forward today. Sometimes coming home begins with one gentle step. Follow me on Facebook, LinkedIn, and visit my website for more info! Read more from Sarah Hurst Sarah Hurst, Coach and Creator of the Mind Medicine Movement™ After walking her own path through cancer, Sarah Hurst discovered that true healing isn’t just physical; it’s emotional, spiritual, and deeply personal. She went on to create the Mind Medicine Movement™, helping others calm their nervous systems, rediscover purpose, and reconnect with themselves through her SIPS™ framework: Slow Down, Identity, Purpose, Self-Love. Today, Sarah supports people living with or beyond cancer and anyone seeking calm, clarity, and wellness through her coaching, meditation, and touch therapy practice in Hove, East Sussex. She also offers an online coaching service.

Written by Dawn Nicole Hernandez, Founder of Turning The Tide Tutoring and New Generations Academy Knikki Hernandez is known for her work in education, communication, and personal development. She is the founder of Turning The Tide Tutoring and New Generations Academy, and the host of The Gentle Year podcast, where she interviews experts on learning, parenting, psychology, and human potential. Many parents who pursue alternative forms of education encounter criticism from family members, friends, spouses, and even popular influencers. Perhaps you too have heard that you are making the wrong choice. Perhaps someone has questioned whether your child is learning enough, socializing enough, or preparing adequately for the future. Perhaps the people closest to you have made you feel as though choosing a different educational path is irresponsible, unrealistic, or selfish. When that happens repeatedly, the discouragement can begin to affect the way you think, feel, and make decisions. You may start second-guessing yourself, feel pressured to defend every choice, and may wish for more support or, at the very least, a little more respect for the care and courage behind your decision. What you may be experiencing Your environment affects your thoughts, emotions, and confidence. The words of the people around you can become powerful, especially when those words reinforce fears you already carry. You may intend to create a calm, personalized, or more meaningful educational experience for your child. At the same time, outside criticism may introduce doubt, guilt, or anxiety that competes with that intention. I refer to these competing messages as counterintentions. A counterintention is any fear, belief, expectation, or outside influence that works against what you are trying to create. You have likely experienced this before. Perhaps you wanted to become an artist, musician, entrepreneur, or writer, but someone told you to pursue something more practical. Perhaps you shared an idea for your latest invention as a child and were told it was unrealistic, foolish, or unlikely to succeed. Those messages do not always disappear. Sometimes they remain in the background and influence the way we evaluate ourselves years later. For parents, this can become especially intense because educational decisions affect not only personal identity, but also the wellbeing and future of a child. The question then becomes, how do you move forward without allowing criticism to control your thinking? Start by acknowledging what is true The first step is not to argue, persuade, or force yourself to feel confident. It is to acknowledge the situation honestly. Take a breath and name what is happening. You might say: “My family does not currently support my educational choices.” “My spouse and I have different ideas about what is best for our child.” “I am struggling to teach my child in the way I hoped.” “This experience is making me question myself.” Acknowledging reality simply means stopping long enough to see the situation clearly without resisting what is. Resistance often keeps people emotionally trapped. They spend so much energy wishing the situation were different that they have very little energy left to respond wisely. Once you acknowledge what is happening, you can begin to consider perspectives you may not have examined yet. Ask yourself: What might the other person be afraid of? What part of their concern is emotional? Is any part of their concern practical? What evidence would help clarify the situation? What support or information may be missing? What am I assuming about their intentions? Writing down your answers can help you separate legitimate concerns from criticism that is rooted in fear, misunderstanding, or habit. You do not need to have every answer immediately. Your responsibility is to become clear enough to take the next thoughtful step. Define what success looks like One of the most useful things you can do is create measures of success that are not controlled by other people. Many parents feel as though they must accomplish everything, satisfy everyone, and prove that their educational choice is working. That is an exhausting standard. Instead, define a meaningful win for the day. Your win might be reading together for ten minutes, completing one round of multiplication flash cards, helping your child recover calmly from frustration, preparing a nourishing breakfast, finishing one assignment without conflict, or taking five minutes to sit quietly with a cup of coffee. A small win is still a win. Remember, educational progress is rarely created through one dramatic breakthrough. It is usually built through repeated moments of attention, consistency, and connection. Next, identify what is essential. A doctor’s appointment, soccer practice, helping an elderly parent, and completing one core educational task may be essential. Reorganizing a closet probably is not. When you define both your win and your essentials, you create structure without demanding perfection from yourself. You also begin to gather real information about what is and is not working. Focus on the people who have a true stake in the decision Not every critic deserves equal influence. Family members and friends may care deeply about your child, but that does not mean they should control your educational decisions. A spouse or co-parent, however, is a legitimate stakeholder. Their concerns deserve to be heard, even when you disagree. The goal is not to surrender your perspective. The goal is to create a process that allows both of you to think clearly and remain focused on the child. Begin by sharing your concerns respectfully. Ask whether your spouse or co-parent is willing to have an open conversation. If the timing is poor, schedule a time within the next day or two when both of you can be mentally prepared. Before the conversation, outline your thoughts and questions. This can help you avoid turning the discussion into a debate. Consider writing down: What you are concerned about? What you hope will improve? What you have observed in your child? What you are willing to reconsider? What evidence would help both of you evaluate the current plan? What support do you need from each other? If prayer or spiritual reflection is meaningful to you, take time beforehand to center yourself. Create a standard you can evaluate together During the conversation, explain that your goal is not to win an argument. Your goal is to determine what is genuinely helping your child. Speak slowly. Be mindful of your tone. Give the other person space to explain what they are seeing and feeling. Then create a shared standard of acceptability for the current educational plan. This may include questions such as: Is our child making academic progress? Is our child emotionally regulated most of the time? Is the current structure realistic for our family? Is our child developing confidence? Are social needs being met? Are the adults involved able to sustain this plan? What specific signs would tell us that the plan needs to change? Agree to review the situation weekly, biweekly, or monthly. This creates room for flexibility while also preventing the conversation from becoming purely emotional or theoretical. You do not have to decide the entire future in one sitting. You need a responsible next step and a way to evaluate it. Prepare for what the situation may teach you Even when the current plan feels uncertain, the experience may reveal valuable information. You may learn more about how your child responds to pressure, discover that your child needs more structure, more flexibility, or a different form of support, recognize that a conflict about schooling is also connected to communication, finances, workload, or trust within the family, and realize that the educational model itself is less important than the way it is being implemented. Remain willing to learn from what is happening. In more serious situations involving custody, safety, severe family conflict, disability, or significant mental health concerns, additional support may be necessary. A counselor, educational consultant, evaluator, mediator, or legal professional may help the family move forward more responsibly. Seeking support is simply a sign that you are taking the situation seriously. Focus on success, not a predetermined outcome It is easy to become attached to one specific result. You may feel that homeschooling, private school, public school, online school, or a microschool must be the answer. However, parents sometimes receive the exact outcome they wanted and later realize that it was not the best fit for the child. The well-being, growth, confidence, and long-term success of your child are more important than proving that one particular path is right. Your responsibility is not to force a conclusion. It is to remain thoughtful, observant, honest, and willing to adjust. Take a breath. Define the next win. Identify what is essential. Talk with the people who truly share responsibility. Create a standard you can evaluate together. Then allow the evidence, the relationship, and the needs of your child to guide the next step. Blessings to you. Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and visit my website for more info! Read more from Dawn Nicole Hernandez Dawn Nicole Hernandez, Founder of Turning The Tide Tutoring and New Generations Academy Knikki Hernandez spends much of her time asking questions, helping people untangle complex ideas, and convincing students that writing isn't nearly as painful as they think it is. As the founder of Turning The Tide Tutoring and New Generations Academy, she helps learners develop stronger communication, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills. She is also the host of The Gentle Year podcast, where she explores education, personal growth, and the fascinating ways humans think, learn, and make sense of the world.

Written by Jade Taussig, Psychotherapist, Coach & CEO Jade Taussig is an accredited psychotherapist, coach and entrepreneur dedicated to helping people unlock lasting change, process their emotions and find their voices. As co-founder of Integrated Wellness, creator of Mood Moved and CEO of We Are The News, she combines psychological expertise with innovation, creativity and personal growth. Psychotherapy, though irreplaceable, isn’t always the fastest or most accessible path to feeling better. This is because the key to its success is the quality and depth of the relationship between the therapist and their client. Such connections cannot be rushed or artificially manufactured. The experience of good therapy should not feel as though you’re the recipient of narcissistic love bombing. Medication may yield rapid change, but it can have negative side effects and cause mood flattening. This raises the question of what other therapeutic tools can reduce stress and improve our mental wellbeing. With almost 20 years of clinical experience and my own personal pursuit of this question, I have found the answer to be movement and creative expression. The two may be combined or explored separately. In both cases, the results are transformative. Limitations of psychotherapy Having spent many years as a psychotherapist, I can honestly attest to the positive power of fostering an ongoing, deep and trusting relationship. With the right pairing, talking, reflection and exploration do indeed yield transformative results. I would recommend it to anyone and everyone wishing to understand their own and others’ inner worlds, thought patterns, behaviours and triggers. Therapy does, however, rely largely on language. Sometimes, we simply do not have the vocabulary or cannot access the words we need to fully express our feelings. For example, I’m dyslexic, so sometimes I get stuck, whilst other people simply don’t like talking about their emotions and so on. Sometimes sharing a silence, comfortably or uncomfortably, may be appropriate. It can be containing and supportive in and of itself, but this is not always the case. On occasion, silence can feel unsafe or even hostile. Experiences of trauma, especially those that occurred at an early age or during a preverbal time, can be particularly elusive and painful. How do we find the words when we didn’t have language available to us at the time? How did the baby or child experience that trauma, where did it go, and how was it processed? Early trauma and trauma in general may be absent from our conscious minds and memories, yet it can fester and cast a shadow over our everyday experience. It lurks in the background, can be our worst enemy, and can sabotage our very existence. Therefore, we need to find creative ways to engage with the unconscious, preverbal parts of ourselves. Limitations of medication Medication may be helpful for some, but it does not address underlying problems. Rather, it focuses on symptom management and often serves to flatten emotional affect, dulling positive as well as negative moods, which is known as emotional blunting. Ironically, the side effects from mental health drugs can, for some, cause the very thing the medication has been prescribed to treat. Research acknowledges that antidepressants may cause anxiety or, in extreme cases, increase the risk of suicide, violence and homicide. Another concerning reality is the severe medical and social side effects from antipsychotic prescription drugs. Research shows that, alongside poor lifestyle choices, these medications have been linked to the shortening of life by up to 25 years. I’m not suggesting that all people taking mental health medication will experience these side effects. It must also be acknowledged that, for some, these medications are a lifeline, particularly during periods of crisis. However, it is important for people to make informed decisions and, where possible, to have additional options available. Evidence for the benefits of moving Adrenaline and cortisol are the body's stress hormones. Inappropriate spikes in these or ongoing elevated levels can yield deeply negative effects on our bodies and minds. When exercising, adrenaline and cortisol levels are reduced. Alongside this, the production of endorphins, a natural mood elevator, is stimulated. A high is elicited without the downsides associated with substance use and abuse. The body keeps the score Dr. Bessel van der Kolk’s groundbreaking book The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma explores the impact trauma has not only on the mind but also on the body. He argues that trauma can imprint on our bodies, leading to automatic stress responses that affect the muscles, nervous system, and organs. The amygdala, the part of our brain responsible for the fight-or-flight survival instinct, may be triggered at inappropriate moments. The prefrontal cortex, which is responsible for rational thought, is also impacted. Therefore, merely thinking rationally will not alleviate symptoms. For some, this mind-body connection may seem a bit “out there”. However, the link between stress and heart problems has long been known. Dr. Bessel van der Kolk argues that traditional psychological care, such as EMDR, alongside body and mind-focused modalities, can be particularly impactful. As trauma causes physical imprints, it stands to reason that adopting strategies that incorporate the physical as well as the mental will be beneficial. As the brain is neuroplastic, it has the inherent ability to adapt, form new connections and rewire itself. Physical activities, such as yoga, help individuals reconnect with and feel safe in their bodies. Synchronised rhythmic activities, such as dance, martial arts, sports or being part of a creative group, can be especially impactful. The social aspect of these shared activities plays a crucial role, as it helps lower social isolation, increase shared positive experiences, and help rebuild trust in others. Movement for the mind Alongside observing what works best for my clients, I have spent many years having psychotherapy myself. Furthermore, I have tried numerous paths to peace during the course of my lifetime. With this, I’ve come to the conclusion that there is no panacea. The fact is that different things work for different people at different times. The experience of personal therapy is distinctive from that of movement, though the two are complementary. When I dance or practice martial arts, my mood shifts, and the result is instantaneous. Many a time, I’ve been stressed out, burnt out, sad or, on occasion, positively fuming. Within minutes of arrival at a class and starting to move, my emotions shift. They transform. I’ve consistently left sessions feeling better upon exit than I did upon arrival. Personally, the social factor has a profound impact too and elevates the positive experience. That said, there are many people who like nothing more than a solitary run. The key is finding the movement type you like best and the right environment for you. In an ideal world, my recommendation would be to blend psychotherapy with regular movement. In the real world, where therapy may not always be possible, movement is accessible to us all, any time, at little to no cost. Therapeutic movement-based workshops My passion for movement and its positive impact on mental health has inspired me to create Mood Moved, a series of workshops that combine movement, psychotherapeutic knowledge and creative practices to support emotional wellbeing, self-expression and personal growth. I collaborate with dancers, martial artists, actors, art therapists and holistic health practitioners to deliver fun and meaningful pathways toward emotional processing, healing and stress relief. Join us: Find out more and connect Join us at our upcoming workshops. Women's Confidence Reset, Reduce Stress, Build Confidence & Feel Strong with Jade & Arianna Move, Release, Restore, Dance, Art & Movement for Wellbeing with Jade & Ran Find out more about our Mood Moved workshops, and other therapeutic services. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, X, TikTok and visit our website. Read more from Jade Taussig Jade Taussig, Psychotherapist, Coach & CEO Jade Taussig is an accredited UKCP psychotherapist, coach and co-founder of Integrated Wellness, with over 17 years' experience supporting mental health, emotional wellbeing, confidence and personal growth. She adopts a holistic approach, drawing on Psychodynamic Psychotherapy, EMDR, EFT, coaching, and movement-based approaches to help individuals create meaningful and lasting change. Jade is also the creator of Mood Moved, an innovative workshop series combining psychotherapy, movement, creativity, and self-expression to support wellbeing and resilience. In addition, she is the CEO & co-founder of We Are The News, a community-driven news-based social media platform dedicated to freedom of expression, transparency, and informed discussion.

Some careers are built on technical expertise. Others are built on relationships. Omar Messado has built his on both. Over several decades, he has helped lead procurement, transportation, construction, and infrastructure projects that keep organizations moving. Along the way, he has become known for something equally important: developing people. Whether negotiating complex contracts or mentoring future leaders, Messado believes success is measured by the positive impact you leave on others. Born in Jamaica, West Indies and raised in New York after immigrating to the United States at the age of ten, he has carried the same principles throughout his career. Those principles are integrity, fairness, preparation, and continuous learning. "Success is when you take a brief pause and look back on where you have been, where you came from and where you are now," he says. "It is not just about career growth. It is about the many people you have helped along the way." How Omar Messado built a career in procurement and leadership Messado grew up watching his parents build successful careers through hard work. His father worked as an electrical engineer for Con Edison, while his mother worked in a corporate office. Their example taught him that success comes from consistency rather than shortcuts. After graduating from Rice High School with First Honors and a Special Award for Business, he earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance from Iona College. He later completed coursework in Financial Planning before earning a Master of Science in Civil Engineering and Transportation Management from the Polytechnic Institute of New York University. The combination of finance, engineering and transportation gave him a broad understanding of how large organizations operate. It also prepared him for leadership roles that required both technical knowledge and practical decision-making. What makes Omar Messado an effective procurement leader? Throughout his career, Messado has held senior procurement positions with Metro-North Railroad, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), and Kawasaki Rail Car. His work has included strategic sourcing, contract management, rolling stock procurement, construction and infrastructure programs, and operational improvements. Despite the scale of those responsibilities, he believes leadership always comes back to people. "Be a leader that is open to learning from others, especially those you supervise," he says. "Give credit and recognition to those who deserve it." He also believes mistakes should become learning opportunities rather than reasons for blame. "Understand that mistakes will be made," he explains. "The important thing is to educate so they are not repeated." That approach has helped him earn a reputation for fairness, collaboration, and objective decision-making throughout his career. The contract negotiation that changed his perspective One experience stands out as an example of Messado's problem-solving approach. While working as a Contract Administration and Marketing Manager at Kawasaki, he was asked to help resolve a difficult contract in Boston. The nearly completed program needed to be closed before the end of the financial year, but commercial damages created a significant challenge. Many believed the only option was to make a contractual payment. Instead, Messado proposed something different. He suggested replacing part of the financial settlement with a package of valuable deliverables that would better meet the customer's current operational needs while remaining commercially fair for both organizations. The customer accepted the proposal. The contract was formally amended, the deliverables were completed, and the program closed before the deadline. Rather than simply following the obvious path, he found a solution that benefited everyone involved. "There is always a way to resolve things," he says. "It does not need to be dramatic nor destructive." Why mentorship is central to Omar Messado's leadership style Messado often measures success differently from many business leaders. For him, promotions and completed projects are important, but they are not the final goal. "My success is when you see the accomplishment of others based on your input, guidance and support," he says. "Your success is measured by the accomplishments of your team." That philosophy has made mentoring one of the most rewarding parts of his career. He also credits one mentor for shaping his own leadership style. Gennaro "Gene" Sansone shared a simple lesson that Messado has carried throughout his professional life. "Say what you mean and mean what you say." The advice became his personal standard for building trust, resolving conflicts and maintaining integrity, even during difficult periods that included professional barriers and discrimination. How Omar Messado stays focused on long-term success Messado believes successful careers require both planning and flexibility. He sets clear short-term and long-term goals while recognizing that changing circumstances sometimes require adjustments. Outside work, he has also found value in maintaining healthy routines. After learning to swim at the age of fifty, swimming became part of his daily routine and a way to reset mentally. "When I finish swimming, my mind is clear to meet the new day," he says. "Everything from the day before is erased." That habit helps him approach challenges with renewed focus and fresh perspective. Omar Messado's view of leadership Looking back, Messado sees leadership as something much bigger than managing projects or meeting deadlines. It is about helping others succeed. It is about solving problems with integrity. And it is about leaving every organization stronger than when you arrived. His career demonstrates that lasting success is not built through individual achievement alone. It is built by developing people, earning trust, and bringing practical ideas to life that continue creating value long after a project is complete.

For many companies, lasting five years is an achievement. Lasting fifty years is something entirely different. That is what makes the story of Seci Construction, Inc. worth examining. Founded in Clifton, New Jersey, in 1973, the family-owned exterior home improvement company has spent more than five decades helping homeowners protect and improve their properties. Along the way, the company has installed more than 5,000 roofs, expanded across four states, and earned some of the industry's highest certifications. Yet the idea that helped drive that growth was surprisingly simple. "We've always believed that quality work speaks for itself," the company says. "People remember when you treat their home with care and respect." That belief became the foundation of a business that continues to thrive in a highly competitive industry. How did Seci Construction get started? When Seci Construction opened its doors in Clifton in 1973, the home improvement industry looked very different than it does today. There was no social media. There were no online reviews. Most homeowners found contractors through recommendations from friends, family members, and neighbours. That environment forced companies to focus on reputation. "In those days, your reputation travelled through neighbourhoods," the company says. "If you did good work, people told their friends and family." Rather than pursuing rapid growth, Seci Construction focused on earning trust one project at a time. That approach created a steady stream of referrals and repeat customers. The company believes that early decision shaped everything that followed. The big idea that helped Seci Construction grow Many businesses focus on selling projects. Seci Construction focused on protecting homes. That difference may seem small, but it changed the way the company approached its work. "A roof is not just shingles," the company explains. "It's protection for a family. It has to last. It has to perform." Viewing projects through that lens helped the company build stronger relationships with homeowners. Instead of treating roofing, siding, windows, and masonry as isolated services, the company saw them as part of a home's long-term health. That philosophy became increasingly important as homes throughout the Northeast aged. Today, many residential properties in New Jersey and neighbouring states are decades old. Maintaining those homes requires long-term thinking rather than short-term fixes. The company recognised that reality early and built its business around it. Why experience matters in exterior home improvement Over the years, Seci Construction expanded its services while maintaining a focus on exterior home improvement. The company now serves homeowners across New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, and Pennsylvania. With more than 5,000 roofing projects completed, the team has encountered a wide range of challenges. "When you've worked on thousands of homes, you learn how to solve problems properly," the company says. That experience helped Seci Construction earn major industry recognitions, including GAF Master Elite Contractor status, President's Club membership, and Owens Corning Platinum Preferred Contractor certification. The company also maintains an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau and has earned more than 500 verified positive reviews through HomeAdvisor. While those accomplishments are significant, the company views them as outcomes rather than goals. "These certifications are earned through performance," the company says. "They show customers that we meet high industry standards." What has helped Seci Construction stay relevant for decades? Many businesses struggle to adapt as industries evolve. Seci Construction has experienced major changes in materials, technology, and customer expectations since the 1970s. The company says one of its biggest lessons has been balancing innovation with consistency. "Materials and technology will keep changing," the company says. "But quality workmanship and strong relationships will always matter." Modern roofing systems, energy-efficient windows, and advanced siding products have transformed the industry. Homeowners today also have access to more information than ever before. As a result, communication has become increasingly important. "People want honesty and clear communication," the company says. "That matters just as much as the construction work itself." The company believes transparency helps create trust, particularly during large home improvement projects. How family values continue to shape the business Despite its growth, Seci Construction continues to operate with many of the same principles that guided its early years. The company's mission centres on helping people turn their first homes into forever homes. That idea influences how projects are approached and how customer relationships are maintained. "We understand that a home is personal," the company says. "People are trusting you with something that matters deeply to them." The company believes this perspective helps keep the focus on long-term outcomes rather than short-term transactions. Many of its customers return years later for additional projects or refer family members and neighbours. For Seci Construction, those relationships represent one of the clearest measures of success. Looking ahead while staying grounded More than fifty years after its founding, Seci Construction continues to serve homeowners throughout the Northeast. The company does not view longevity as an accident. Instead, it sees it as the result of consistently following a straightforward idea: earn trust through quality work. "You can't fake reputation," the company says. "It takes years to build and one bad job to lose." In an industry where trends, products, and technologies continue to evolve, that mindset remains at the centre of the company's story. For Seci Construction, the biggest idea was never about rapid growth or expansion. It was about building trust, protecting homes, and doing the work well enough that customers would remember it decades later. More than fifty years after opening in Clifton, that idea is still working.

Written by Patrick Bradford, Business Consultant Patrick Bradford is a business consultant, keynote speaker, and founder of Patrick Bradford Consulting and of PlanPro Institute, an online business planning academy, helping growth-focused small business owners grow sales and lead with clarity through structured, results-driven strategies. Every business owner enjoys winning a new client. However, the wrong client can waste time, create unnecessary stress, and ultimately lead to disappointing results for everyone involved. Fortunately, poor fit prospects usually reveal themselves long before a contract is signed. Recognizing these early warning signs can help you make better business decisions. This article explores seven behaviors that may indicate a prospect is not the right fit, helping you protect your time and profitability. Why choosing the right clients matters more than closing every sale Early in my consulting career, I believed every prospect was an opportunity. Experience taught me that not every client is the right client. The most successful projects shared one thing in common, clear communication, mutual trust, and a commitment to achieving results. The most difficult projects also shared something in common, the warning signs were there from the very first meeting, but I chose to ignore them. Today, I see every discovery meeting as a mutual qualification process. While prospects evaluate whether I can help them, I evaluate whether we can build a productive working relationship. The following warning signs are not about judging people. They are simply indicators that a professional engagement may be heading toward success or unnecessary frustration. The cost of working with the wrong prospect Signing the wrong client can be more expensive than losing a sale. Poor fit prospects often require more meetings, delay decisions, and consume far more time and energy than clients who are committed to achieving results. While you are managing one difficult relationship, you are also missing opportunities to work with better fit clients. Beyond the financial cost, there is a personal one. Difficult clients create unnecessary stress, lower team morale, and distract you from growing your business. One lesson I have learned throughout my consulting career is that difficult clients rarely become difficult overnight. The warning signs are usually present during the very first conversations. We simply choose to ignore them because we are focused on winning the business. The following warning signs should not automatically disqualify a prospect. Instead, they should encourage you to look more carefully before deciding whether the relationship is likely to succeed. Seven early warning signs 1. They cannot clearly explain the problem they want to solve Every consulting engagement should begin with clarity. Before discussing solutions, timelines, or investment, both parties must first understand the problem they are trying to solve. During an initial meeting, it is perfectly reasonable for a prospect to be uncertain. Many business owners know they are experiencing declining profits, operational challenges, staff issues, or slow growth, but they have not yet identified the root cause. That uncertainty is often why they seek outside advice in the first place. However, if, after two discovery meetings, neither you nor the prospect can clearly define the problem, it should raise an important concern. One of the biggest mistakes consultants make is rushing into solution mode before completing the discovery process. They begin recommending strategies, preparing proposals, or outlining action plans without first confirming that everyone is solving the same problem. Throughout my career, I have found that one of the greatest values a consultant provides is clarity. Sometimes, the real problem has very little to do with the issue the prospect originally described. Until that clarity exists, meaningful progress is difficult to achieve. 2. They talk constantly but rarely listen The most productive discovery meetings feel balanced. The consultant asks thoughtful questions, the prospect shares relevant information, both parties seek clarification, and ideas flow naturally. These conversations create trust because each person feels heard and respected. Occasionally, however, you encounter a prospect who dominates every discussion. They answer questions before you have finished asking them. They interrupt repeatedly. They refuse to listen, even if they have been given plenty of time to speak. They redirect every topic back to themselves. Most importantly, they show very little curiosity about your observations or recommendations. At first glance, this behavior may simply appear enthusiastic. In reality, it often reveals something much more significant, a lack of coachability. Every successful consulting relationship depends on learning. The client does not need to agree with every recommendation, but they must be willing to listen, reflect, and genuinely consider another perspective. If someone is unwilling to do that during the sales process, it is unlikely that they will suddenly become receptive after hiring you. One quality I admire in exceptional business owners is intellectual humility. Regardless of how successful they have become, they remain curious. They ask questions. They challenge ideas respectfully. Most importantly, they understand that growth requires learning, and learning begins with listening. When a prospect talks continuously but rarely listens, I do not immediately assume they will become a difficult client. In my experience, great consulting outcomes start with conversation, not monologue. 3. They focus on price instead of value Discussing fees is a normal part of any business conversation. The warning sign appears when price becomes the prospect's only priority, while value and expected outcomes receive little attention. Over the years, I have met prospects who spend more time collecting quotations than discussing their business goals. They compare providers, negotiate fees, and delay decisions while searching for the "perfect" option. Unfortunately, this often leads to analysis paralysis, where the cost of inaction far exceeds any savings or profit they hope to achieve. The strongest clients approach the conversation differently. Instead of asking, "Can you lower your fee?" they ask, "How will this help my business?" or "What results can we expect?" They understand that professional consulting is an investment, not a commodity. I also become cautious when prospects repeatedly compare my services with those of lower priced competitors and ask me to match their fees. Every consultant brings different experience, methodologies, and expertise. Choosing an advisor based solely on price is rarely the best business decision. Price matters, but value matters more. 4. They respond to every recommendation with "Yes, but..." One of the best ways to evaluate a prospect is by observing how they respond to new ideas. I appreciate business owners who ask thoughtful questions and challenge assumptions. Those conversations often lead to the best outcomes because both parties are working together to find the right solution. The warning sign appears when every recommendation is met with the same response, "Yes, but..." "Yes, but our industry is different." "Yes, but my employees won't do that." "Yes, but our business isn't like theirs." Occasionally hearing this is perfectly normal. However, when every suggestion is immediately dismissed, I begin to question whether the prospect is genuinely open to change. One of my personal rules is simple, if I hear "Yes, but..." more than three times during an initial consultation, I stop trying and start closing the conversation. Business growth requires change, and change requires openness. If a prospect has already decided that every recommendation will not work, the challenge is no longer the business. It is the mindset and level of readiness. When readiness is missing, even the best solution is unlikely to create meaningful results. 5. They repeatedly avoid scheduled meetings How a prospect manages their time often reflects how they will manage the relationship after becoming a client. While occasional scheduling conflicts are understandable, repeated cancellations, late arrivals, or last minute rescheduling should not be ignored. In my experience, these behaviors rarely disappear once the project begins. Delayed decisions, missed deadlines, and slow implementation often follow, making it difficult to maintain momentum and achieve results. Repeated postponements may also indicate that solving the problem is simply not a priority. If a prospect struggles to commit one hour to a meeting, they are unlikely to dedicate the time and effort needed to implement meaningful change. Before moving forward, ask yourself, "If scheduling the first meetings is already this difficult, how will the rest of the engagement unfold?" 6. They are looking for information, not transformation Some prospects appear genuinely interested. They ask insightful questions, request examples, and engage in productive discussions. However, despite multiple meetings, they never take the next step. There is nothing wrong with wanting to learn, but there comes a point when a discovery meeting turns into free consulting. This is not productive because it leaves the prospect assessing too much information. The question I ask myself is simple, "Is this person seeking information or transformation?" Prospects seeking transformation are ready to make decisions and take action. Those seeking information often continue asking questions while postponing action indefinitely. A good way to identify the difference is by observing commitment. After presenting the solution, I usually say, "Do you have enough information to make a decision?" or "How would you like to pay, by bank transfer or credit card?" This usually provides a clear picture of where the prospect stands in terms of taking action. Recognizing this distinction helps protect your expertise and ensures your time is invested in prospects who are genuinely ready to move forward. 7. They expect you to produce results without their involvement One of the biggest warning signs is a prospect who believes hiring a consultant removes all responsibility from their shoulders. They expect the consultant to be like a genie in a bottle, granting business growth while they remain uninvolved. Unfortunately, business does not work that way. Consulting is a partnership. A consultant brings expertise, experience, tools, and an external perspective, but the business owner must provide leadership, commitment, and a willingness to implement change. Whenever a prospect expects someone else to "fix the business" without their active involvement, I take the time to explain that sustainable growth requires collaboration. Consultants can provide the roadmap, but only the business owner can drive the journey. Not every prospect should become a client One of the most valuable lessons I have learned throughout my career is that every prospect deserves respect, but not every prospect is the right client. Recognizing early warning signs is about protecting both parties from entering a relationship that lacks the conditions necessary for success. The right clients value collaboration. They communicate openly. They remain curious. They make decisions. Most importantly, they are committed to creating meaningful change within their business. As consultants and business advisors, our responsibility extends beyond solving problems. We also have a responsibility to ensure that the relationships we enter have the greatest possible chance of succeeding. Sometimes that means saying yes. Sometimes it means respectfully walking away. In my experience, learning when to do each is one of the most important business skills any professional can develop. If you are looking to improve the quality of your client relationships, start by improving the quality of your qualification process. The clients you choose today will shape the profitability and enjoyment of your business for years to come. Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and visit my website for more info! Read more from Patrick Bradford Patrick Bradford, Business Consultant Patrick Bradford is a business consultant and keynote speaker who helps growth-focused small business owners increase sales and lead with clarity. He is the founder of Patrick Bradford Consulting and of PlanPro Institute, an online business planning academy built to make business growth simple, practical, and accessible. He has traveled and worked with businesses across five different countries, bringing a hands-on global perspective to growth and leadership. Patrick is also the author of “Blueprint for Business Success,” where he shares practical frameworks for building strong, sustainable businesses.