Fifteen years ago, I committed to two minutes of meditation a day. Just two.

That tiny pause in the morning became a practice.

That practice became a lifeline.

And eventually, it rewired my brain, reshaped how I show up–and became central to the work I now teach.

That’s the power of a trim tab.

“And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.”

We may hide it better.
But many of us still shut down when we feel misunderstood.
We still grip tightly when we fear being wrong.
We still hear correction as rejection.

And here’s the thing:
When the brain feels threatened, it literally narrows.
Perception shrinks.
The ability to take in new information drops.
We stop listening–not out of stubbornness, but out of self-protection.

The words you use shape your mindset, energy, and outcomes. Discover how shifting your language from fear to clarity can transform your leadership, focus, and results–from surviving to thriving.

I recently returned from two weeks in Japan—first in Nozawa Onsen, a small farming and ski village where the way of life is simple, deeply connected, and slow—before exploring the rich culture in Kyoto and Tokyo. There’s a Japanese phrase that echoed through every part of my trip: Ichigo Ichie. "One moment, one time. Never again."