Breaking the Cycle: How to Transform Success into True Fulfillment

Ever feel like you're running a race you didn't sign up for…

…Only to realize you're chasing your own shadow? 👥 

Me too. We spend so much time and energy trying to outrun our fears, our frustrations, those nagging voices in our heads…ultimately, simply, ourselves.

And the kicker? All that running, and we find out, we've only been on a treadmill, 🏃🏾‍♀️ never truly arriving at a new destination. There may be different people next to us, but deep down, it still feels the same.

In our last chat (and newsletter), we touched on the power of sitting with discomfort—particularly the discomfort of being with our emotions rather than trying to outrun them. Today, I want to take it a step further and explore how avoiding that discomfort actually limits us—keeping us from being the bold, innovative, and, quite frankly, amazing humans we're not only capable of being but meant to be—and already are, beneath the muck of our mental mess.

And all it really does is keep us disconnected from our true selves. It's like having a memory-draining app running in the background, constantly leaking our energy and keeping us in a battle with ourselves. 🔋

I've seen it time and time again—initially in my own life, and then ultimately in the lives of the incredible people and leaders I've had the privilege to work with. My work isn't just about helping people "tinker with their brains"—it's about guiding them to truly see themselves, to stop running, and to start embracing the amazing, unique, bright, beautiful beings they are.

Because when we stop battling ourselves and start living in alignment, everything changes.

Transforming Success into Fulfillment…

Have you ever hit that point where you've “made it” or reached that precious goal but still feel like something's missing? I've been there. Misery or apathy often tag along on that journey, sometimes in a seesaw with the ego's grip on success.

But here's the thing—when we learn to sit with ourselves, to really be present with all those messy, uncomfortable feelings, and acknowledge how we sometimes bury our heads in the sand or overlook what's really there, we unlock something incredible: choice. 

The choice to act from a place of alignment rather than fear, to connect deeply with who we really are, and to start living—really living.

 And that's when everything changes. 

 We stop just going through the motions and start connecting more authentically, building deeper relationships, and unleashing creativity and inspired leadership we didn't even know we had. It's uncomfortable at first, sure. But trust me, it's worth it.

Calm & Connect: A Space to Get Real (and Maybe Laugh a Little)

This Sunday, I'm inviting you to join our Calm & Connect session at 11am EST/8am PST. We'll dive into these ideas, probably share a few laughs, and explore practical steps you can take to start or deepen this journey. Whether you're just beginning or looking to take it up a notch, this session will have something for you—and maybe even a surprise or two.

Something Exciting (and a Little Mysterious) on the Horizon…

 I'm bursting at the seams with something new and exciting that's coming soon. It's an initiative I've been working on with some incredible co-collaborators, and it's all coming together at a major conference in September. I can't wait to share more with you—stay tuned!

 In the meantime, if you're ready to stop running and start living in alignment, let's connect. Whether it's for yourself or your organization, I'm here to help you lead with clarity, heart, and maybe even a bit of irreverence. For some immediate zen, check out my Insight Timer page—more meditations are on the way because, yes, my Calm & Connect Community has spoken!

Unlock Your Inner Strength: Conquer Inner Critics 🔓💪

I recently dove into the world of imposter syndrome and our inner critics, revealing how they can dominate our thoughts and, by extension, shape our lives. With a staggering 70% of women and 50% of men experiencing imposter syndrome—and even more grappling with their inner critics—it's clear this is a universal challenge.

But here's the game-changer: a simple yet profound tool that turns the tide on both fronts. Remember how we talked about pausing when these voices emerge? It's because battling or ignoring them only amplifies their influence, muddying our mental clarity and pushing us into reactive states—be it withdrawal or confrontation. This division, both within us and with others, stems from the fear that the world echoes our inner critics.

Pause, Acknowledge, Transform

Pausing to acknowledge these thoughts does more than silence them; it empowers us. Why do they exist? To keep us safe. But left unchecked, they're like inexperienced tween drivers at the wheel – convinced they know how to drive, but hand them the wheel and you're sure to find yourself in a pileup on the nearest interstate.😂

Here's where we can pivot: Recognize these thoughts for what they are, label them, and then actively engage with them through a transformative system I call Town Hall(SM). This isn't just about quieting the noise; it's about converting that cacophony into insights and wisdom that resonate with our deepest values.

Town Hall(SM): Your Mental Alchemy

This isn't theoretical jargon but a practical, values-aligned system grounded in brain science. It's about seeing through the fog, purifying our mental environment, and aligning actions with our core values rather than being puppeteered by fear.

Having facilitated this workshop for female executives and business owners, I've witnessed its power to illuminate and liberate. And now, I'm thrilled to extend this opportunity to you.

Join Us for a Transformative Journey

My desire is to share more of this with you through a workshop that promises to shift these concepts from theory to actionable practice. While it's a busy couple of months ahead, if the prospect of transforming your inner dialogue excites you, let's make it happen together.🤝

Are You In?

If your heart says, "Yes, I'm ready for change," simply reply with “ME!” or “Interested.” Your response will help gauge interest and possibly schedule another empowering event.

Here's to turning our inner critics into our greatest allies,

P.S. Just pausing to recognize these voices is already a massive step forward. But if you're craving more—if you're a seeker ready to harness the full power of your mind—this workshop is for you!

P.P.S. I am excited to continue digging further as well in THIS Sunday's Calm & Connect!

If you haven't already, sign up below!

The Alchemy of Self: Transforming How We See Ourselves, and Therefore, the World ✨

"We do not see the world as it is, we see the world as we are." - Anais Nin

In the quiet moments of reflection, have you ever pondered over the nature of your reality? Is it a rigid, unchangeable constant, or is it something more malleable, something that shifts with the tides of our perceptions?

For me, this profound insight by Anais Nin captures the essence of our journey. It's not just about changing the scenery around us but transforming the lens through which we view life.

From Personal Experience: At some point, we all yearn for change—be it in a fleeting moment or during life's persistent trials. I have lived through thousands of such moments, both as a child and well into my adulthood, where the only voice I heard was the echo of a desire for something – or everything – to be different, myself included.

I lived in fear. Fear that I wasn’t good enough, fear that things would change – fearful that things wouldn’t change. Fear permeated my being all the way down to my bones, but it was such a constant companion, I hardly realized its influence and couldn’t imagine life otherwise.

Until it hit me, like a lightning bolt, painful, illuminating and freeing all at once, liberating me into a whole new lease on life.

The quest for happiness, contentment, or success was not about altering my essence but about embracing a new state of mind.

Iterating Out: Decades later, I have watched innumerable clients who arrive at my doorstep with the desire to change their worlds (their jobs, partners, teams, colleagues), shift their relationship with themselves, how they see and treat themselves, and ultimately, generate tectonic shifts in their worlds.

The ever-agitated CEO moved from a world against him to a world which flocked to him.

The fear-riddled entrepreneur moved from a world to be fearful of – to a world which is replete with incredible opportunities.

The inadequate manager riddled with imposter syndrome, watched as her ideas + processes became a global company’s “standard” for processes.  

To alter our outcomes, we must work with our minds; how we see ourselves. There is no other way around it.

The Shift: How do we initiate such a transformative shift?

It starts with self-compassion, recognizing and embracing ourselves wholly and completely. To commit, above all else, to treat ourselves with the kindness we would bestow upon others – those we hold most dear.

It takes courage: Courage to be willing to do things differently. Courage to be willing to look at – and then unravel the unconscious stories and beliefs we have nourished and fed over the years; for they have become the dirty filters through which we experience life.  

It takes patience and time. The journey of self-transformation and cultivating a loving perspective towards ourselves is not a destination but a continuous path of growth. It’s about carving a new road, not patching a pothole. It’s about sustainability and it’s about living life rather than running away from- or resisting – life.

Closing Thoughts: A journey I’ve dedicated myself to for over 15 years, it’s an onion, continuing to reveal layers of potential, opportunity and boundless love. But in staying committed I know, and have seen too many times to count, that by choosing to really LOVE ourselves, we can indeed change the way we look at things - and in changing our perspectives, we dramatically reshape the world.

And as a peaceful word MUST start within, so too must a joyful, loving world. It MUST begin within.

Join me in this conversation. Share your moments of transformation and how self-compassion has reshaped your view of the world.

And know that if you feel called to dig deeper and want a partner by your side, that’s exactly what I am here for. 🌱 Reach out, book a call, let's connect.

PS - Want more newsletters like this? Sign up or reach out and DM me to get on the list for our bi-monthly newsletter 

How to Leverage the Power of A Pause + Micro Moments

Have you recently felt riddled with agitation? Or ever? If you have, you are not alone.

Let me tell you about a moment which, after intense agitation, changed everything: my perspective, my approach and my resolution. And it boiled down to a simple micro-moment. That moment where I chose to pause, to reflect, and pivot…

A few months ago, I had the gift of taking care of two precious, personality-filled pugs, Bear & Bella. In addition to their love, they offered invaluable lessons (click here for the first, fabulous edition :D ):

You know those mornings where you wake up and before you open your eyes, you are already agitated? At what, you have no idea! Perhaps it was a disturbing dream that you can’t even remember, but the urge is to go back to sleep and maybe, just maybe, shake the dream and shake the mood.

One particular morning, after a rough night of sleep, aware I had to deal with a sizable work issue, I groggily rolled over willing myself into a better mindset…

AND THEN… I smelled it.

This wasn’t the first day this had happened. It was the 5th(!!) day.

STRONG. Pungent. Poop. 😩

No matter how late I walked these precious pups - or how early I rose… 2 am on the living room floor was their newfound favorite time and place to relieve themselves.

Already agitated, you can imagine how this impacted my state of mind. I was DONE.

Done with the poo, done with the underlying agitation and issues.

As I knelt on the floor, scrubbing (and scrubbing… and scrubbing) the hardwood floor, I realized that my hands were mimicking my brain: attacking an issue, creating more distress and frustration.

So I stopped.

It was one of those micro-moments where I had a choice: further enmesh myself in my agitation and have that influence the rest of my day - which would be detrimental…

OR…

Pause, acknowledge the frustration without digging a deeper hole, and then pivot: look at how to best resolve the situation at hand and ask myself simple, yet critical situation-shifting questions.

Micro-moments are incredible opportunities that fill our days. And when we leverage them, we:

🧠 Reset and dramatically change the course of the hours and days that follow.

🧠 Turn around problematic situations with colleagues, clients and family members.

🧠 Create opportunities to ask a question (instead of jumping to conclusions), transforming our communication and relationships.

🧠 Reboot between engagements and meetings

🧠 Reroute problematic and debilitating inner dialogue

🧠 Ensure everyone feels heard and understood.

How do YOU leverage micro-moments?

It begins with awareness. It begins with mindfulness. And just like any muscle you build, it gets stronger with use.

Whether you set an alarm or use the “breathe” reminder on your phone, gift yourself regular moments to pause, reflect, and see if there is a simple or needed pivot.

I promise, you won’t regret it.

Ready for 1:1 Leadership + Development Coaching? Let's Talk.