Written by Meghan Rusco, Leader and Innovator As an Executive Contributor to Brainz Magazine, I'm passionate about exploring the frontiers of human potential and innovation. There are moments in life when the inner landscape becomes louder than the outer one, when a single conversation, a flicker of chemistry, or an unexpected question reveals more about our emotional state than we were prepared to see. These moments don’t arrive with clarity. They arrive with a contradiction. It’s possible to feel steady in one part of your life and stirred in another. It’s possible to be committed and still curious, loyal and still longing, grateful and still questioning. Human hearts don’t move in straight lines. They move in spirals, returning us to old lessons with new awareness. Many people assume that emotional conflict means something is broken. However, it often simply means that something is waking up. The tension between safety and spark There is a particular kind of confusion that arises when a new connection, even a small one, brushes against parts of us that have been quiet for a long time. It doesn’t have to be romantic. It doesn’t have to be acted upon. It doesn’t even have to be intentional. Sometimes it’s just the recognition of being seen in a way that feels unfamiliar. This can create an internal split: The part of you that values stability and history The part of you that responds to resonance and possibility The part of you that wants to honor commitments The part of you that wants to honor truth None of these parts is wrong. They’re simply revealing where your emotional needs may have shifted without your permission. When self trust feels fragile For many people, the hardest part isn’t the connection itself. It’s the self-doubt that follows. When your history includes caretaking, endurance, or choosing responsibility over desire, it’s easy to believe you’ve been wrong more than right. But that belief is rarely accurate. Most of us make decisions based on the information, capacity, and emotional tools we have at the time. What feels wrong in hindsight is often just growth, the kind that only becomes visible once you’ve outgrown the version of yourself who made those choices. Self trust isn’t built by never making mistakes. It’s built by learning to interpret your emotions as information rather than evidence of failure. The questions beneath the questions Sometimes we ask someone a hypothetical question that feels too bold, too revealing, or too vulnerable. But these questions are rarely about the scenario itself. They’re usually about something deeper: Are you emotionally available? Are you still tied to your past? Is this connection grounded or imagined? Am I safe to be open here? When the answer comes back uncertain, it can feel like the connection wasn’t what you thought. But uncertainty doesn’t always mean disinterest. It often means the other person hasn’t done the inner work you’ve already begun. Their hesitation is information, not a verdict. Holding the complexity of the heart without shame Feeling something stir inside you does not make you disloyal. It makes you human. Emotional responses don’t violate commitments. Actions do. And noticing your own internal shifts can be a powerful compass, pointing toward needs you may have ignored or minimized. You are allowed to have an inner world. You are allowed to feel conflicted. You are allowed to grow beyond the version of yourself who accepted less than she needed. The heart is not a courtroom. It’s a landscape, and you’re learning to walk it with more honesty than ever before. A new kind of clarity The real work isn’t choosing between two people or two paths. The real work is learning to trust your own emotional intelligence again. To recognize when something feels nourishing. To acknowledge when something feels incomplete. To honor the parts of you that are waking up. To listen without judgment. Clarity doesn’t always arrive as an answer. Sometimes it arrives as a shift, a quiet knowing that you can no longer ignore. Follow me on Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn , and visit my website for more info! Read more from Meghan Rusco Meghan Rusco, Leader and Innovator A seasoned thought leader and innovator, I bring a wealth of expertise to the table, fueled by a relentless curiosity for the complex interplay between technology, psychology, and success.

Written by Luther Lockard, Posture & Movement Coach, LMT Luther has over 27 years of experience educating and treating the public, elite athletes, & pain management clients with chronic musculoskeletal and soft-tissue alignment and postural issues. Ladies and gentlemen, people of the world, this article is a call to action. It is time to take responsibility for the factors that influence your health, movement, posture, and quality of life. Across modern society, preventable musculoskeletal dysfunctions and chronic pain patterns have become normalized. Poor posture, repetitive stress, sedentary lifestyles, unresolved injuries, and dysfunctional movement habits quietly accumulate until pain becomes unavoidable. For decades, many people have been taught, directly or indirectly, to outsource responsibility for their health to systems, institutions, and philosophies that no longer serve the realities of today’s world. In many regions, particularly in the United States, the modern healthcare system is under immense strain. Costs are rising, access is shrinking, and millions of people simply cannot afford to participate consistently. This article does not ask readers to reject conventional medicine. Instead, it expands awareness of practical, affordable, and proactive strategies that empower individuals to take responsibility for posture, movement, and musculoskeletal health, especially posture-related and movement-related dysfunctions, through complementary and alternative approaches. Self care is no longer optional. Self care is healthcare. Why this matters: The global musculoskeletal crisis Musculoskeletal health is no longer a niche concern. It is a global public health issue. According to the World Health Organization, approximately 1.71 billion people worldwide live with musculoskeletal conditions. These conditions are the leading cause of disability globally, with low back pain ranking first in over 160 countries. Musculoskeletal disorders significantly reduce mobility, independence, work capacity, and overall quality of life. In the United States, they are among the top drivers of healthcare spending, exceeding even diabetes and heart disease in total cost burden. Despite massive healthcare investment, many individuals continue to suffer from chronic pain and recurring injury without meaningful resolution. Why people seek musculoskeletal care The most common reasons individuals seek treatment for musculoskeletal issues include persistent pain, reduced mobility, acute injuries, degenerative changes, and neurological symptoms such as numbness or weakness. What these issues often share is a common root cause. Long-standing movement dysfunction, postural imbalance, soft tissue restriction, and unresolved compensatory patterns develop over time. Traditional, complementary, and integrative care Traditional medicine excels in acute care, diagnostics, and life-saving interventions. Complementary and integrative healthcare systems evolved from a different question. How do we restore balance, function, and resilience before dysfunction becomes disease? Complementary medicine supports mainstream care, integrative medicine blends biomedical and holistic approaches, and traditional systems emphasize personalized, preventive strategies. Together, these models offer a broader and more functional approach to musculoskeletal health. Why millions turn to alternative and complementary care People seek alternative healthcare because it offers holistic, personalized care, greater autonomy, alignment with personal values, fewer side effects, and a focus on addressing root causes rather than masking symptoms. Popular services include meditation, yoga, massage therapy, chiropractic care, movement-based therapy, and lifestyle education. Using alternative care responsibly Alternative healthcare must be used responsibly. Misuse occurs when services lack proper training, regulation, or transparency, or when individuals abandon necessary medical care. Responsible complementary care works collaboratively with conventional medicine. How to choose a qualified provider Verify credentials, education, and experience. Ask about assessment methods, specialization, and collaboration with medical providers. Understand costs, access options, and whether virtual or hybrid care models are available. The future of musculoskeletal care A new generation of providers is integrating digital posture assessments, AI-supported movement analysis, virtual consultations, and hybrid care models. These advancements expand access, reduce cost barriers, and empower individuals to take control of their musculoskeletal health. Conclusion Musculoskeletal dysfunction develops gradually through daily habits, posture, movement patterns, stress, and neglect. Many of these conditions are modifiable, manageable, and preventable when individuals take an active role in their care. Self care is not a replacement for medicine. It is a responsibility, a skill set, and a lifelong investment. As healthcare systems struggle to meet global demand, informed individuals who understand how to care for their bodies will thrive. Self care is healthcare. The time to begin is now. Follow me on Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn , and visit my website for more info! Read more from Luther Lockard Luther Lockard, Posture & Movement Coach, LMT Luther Lockard is a professional bodyworker with 27 years of experience, which includes the services of Posture & Alignment Coaching, flexibility training, personal training, medical massage, reflexology, craniosacral, Reiki, therapeutic touch, healing touch, and other energy-based modalities. Luther has over 2000 hours of professional training in bodywork, which includes Brain-Based & Corrective Exercise Movement Coaching.

Julie Cloutier is a Wealth Consciousness Coach and creator of The Wealth Activation Movement™ – a global call to rise beyond fear, lack, and striving, and return to the natural state of wealth that already lives within. Julie Cloutier, Wealth Consciousness & Money Mindset Coach Who is Julie Cloutier? I’m Julie Cloutier – a creator, mentor, and devoted explorer of human potential. At my core, I help people expand their wealth by expanding their state of being. I guide clients into a deeper relationship with their mind, their energy, and their personal value so they can create lives that feel wealthy on every level. I reside near Montreal, Canada, with my partner of 25 years, and we also enjoy a cozy apartment close to the ski slopes in the Eastern Townships. We’re both completely in love with each other and our dog, Ginger – and a fun fact is that Ginger has become the star of “The Ginger Walk”, my YouTube daily podcast-style series where I share insights, reflections, and energy transmissions straight from our walks. What inspired you to become a transformational coach and wealth-consciousness mentor? My journey began with a deep curiosity about why some people thrive and expand, while others remain stuck in patterns that don’t align with their true potential. I dedicated years to studying the mind, energy, behaviour, and the unseen forces that influence our reality – not just from a theoretical perspective, but through lived experience. Every breakthrough revealed the same fundamental truth: when we change who we believe ourselves to be, everything we do shifts effortlessly. Eventually, it became clear that I couldn’t hold back from guiding others. I observed many individuals attempting to “fix” themselves through strategies, mindset tricks, or constant action… when what they truly needed was a transformation in identity and energetic capacity. My aim became to teach what genuinely sparks change – embodied awareness, self-trust, nervous system expansion, and cultivating a new relationship with receiving. I focused on wealth-consciousness because money exposes everything: our beliefs, self-worth, limitations, patterns, and relationship with power and responsibility. It serves as one of the quickest mirrors for growth and understanding – and one of the most misunderstood. I was inspired to help people view wealth not merely as a goal, but as a state of being that they can step into – a frequency they can live from. In the end, I became a mentor because I am committed to the moment someone realizes they were never “blocked”… they were simply operating from an old identity. Witnessing someone rise into their fullness – confidently, unapologetically, and energetically expanded – is the most inspiring work I could ever hope to do. What is your signature method – “energetic alignment and identity revelation” – and how does it help your clients? My signature method, Energetic Alignment and Identity Revelation, is about transforming from the inside out. Most people focus on strategies or external actions – but true change happens when you shift who you believe yourself to be, who you choose to be. My method guides clients to align their energy with the life they want and reveal the truest version of themselves that’s always been waiting to emerge. We begin by uncovering the hidden beliefs, patterns, and energetic blocks that keep them playing small. Then I support them to expand their nervous system, refine their energy, and help them step fully into an identity that naturally attracts wealth, love, and opportunity. It’s not about doing more or trying harder – it’s about being more, embodying more, and allowing life to flow effortlessly. Clients often describe this as a “quantum leap” in how they show up: working with me accelerates their transformation, they’re more confident in their value, decisive in their choices, and magnetically aligned with opportunities that match their new energetic state. It works faster and precisely, and is a long-lasting transformation because it addresses the root cause – their identity – rather than just the symptoms. What kinds of people or clients benefit the most from working with you? The clients who benefit most from working with me are mostly entrepreneurs who have a gift, a service that they are offering to their clients, and they are done playing small; they are ready to step into a bigger version of themselves. They’re tired of doing more, hustling harder, and chasing results that never feel truly aligned. What they crave is a shift in identity – to embody their worth, align their energy, and live from a place of natural confidence, ease, and flow. These clients have reached a place where they’ve realized that money, achievements, and accolades are not where true happiness is found. They are looking for deeper fulfillment without sacrificing their success. In fact, they want to be more, to receive more, by hustling less, and they are ready for guidance to step into that effortlessly expanded state. They are looking for inner conviction and inner freedom, for which the by-product is more effortless success and more money. They want to be highly paid to do what they love. Can you share a transformation story where your work helped someone move from struggle and scarcity to abundance and ease? A client came to me after experiencing burnout, even though she was already very successful. She was a renowned researcher looking to make a career change – stepping into the space of supporting others in their growth and transformation. She was scared of making the wrong decision, in fear of lack, and hesitant to charge her true worth, which made her next step feel very scary. Through our five-week private mentorship, we worked on clearing those fears, aligning her energy, and refining her identity as someone who could fully value her work and serve others from a place of ease and confidence. We also clarified her ideal clients and the pricing that matched her value, which allowed her to feel safe with her decision to change career and allowed opportunities to flow more effortlessly. After our work together, she shared that the fear of lack had dissolved greatly, she was growing as a successful mentor, and doors were opening for her to be known and serve her ideal clients. She ultimately announced her resignation from her previous position and stepped fully into her new path with conviction. Her transformation shows how alignment, clarity, and energetic refinement can turn fear into decisive action and abundance. How do you define “effortless prosperity,” and what steps do you guide clients through to reach it? I define effortless prosperity as living in a state where abundance flows naturally – in money, opportunities, relationships, and personal fulfillment – without forcing, hustling, or sacrificing your well-being. It’s not about luck or doing more; it’s about aligning your energy, identity, and value so that life responds to the version of you who is fully confident, clear, and open to receive. To guide clients toward this state, we follow four key steps: Uncover beliefs – We identify the hidden patterns and fears that create resistance and scarcity. Expand capacity – We develop the ability to feel deeply and regulate their nervous system, so clients can operate from calm, clarity, and confidence. Design identity – We activate the highest version of themselves they want to be, including their dream, ideal clients, ideal relationships, pricing, and life vision. Embody the energy – We practice stepping fully into this identity so abundance, ease, and success flow naturally in every area of life. Embodiment is a key aspect of my work; they feel the change in their body, not only in their mind. Without that aspect, the changes are only temporary. I help my clients have long-lasting change at their identity level. Through these steps, clients stop chasing results and instead live from a state that naturally attracts wealth, opportunity, and fulfillment – effortless prosperity and joy become their everyday reality. What makes your approach different from traditional coaching or therapy? My approach is completely different because I don’t focus on fixing problems, giving advice, or teaching strategies alone. Traditional coaching and therapy often work on the surface – helping clients manage symptoms or behaviours. My work goes straight to the root: who you are at your core, how you value yourself, and how you show up energetically in the world. I guide clients through energetic alignment and identity revelation – expanding their nervous system, clearing blocks, and refining their sense of self so they can embody abundance, confidence, and fulfillment naturally. It’s not about doing more or pushing harder; it’s about being more and stepping fully into an identity that magnetically attracts everything they desire. In short, traditional methods help you cope. My approach helps you transform – creating shifts that are fast, deep, and long-lasting, so clients live in ease, inspiration, and effortless prosperity. For someone experiencing anxiety, limiting beliefs, or burnout – what’s the first thing you help them with? The first thing I do is help them reconnect with their nervous system and their capacity to feel safe. Anxiety, burnout, and limiting beliefs all show up as blocks in the body and energy, not just the mind. Once we clear the immediate resistance and regulate their nervous system, they can access clarity, presence, and a sense of safety. From there, we uncover the hidden beliefs and patterns that have been keeping them stuck and create a foundation for their new identity – one that naturally embodies confidence, ease, and abundance. When the nervous system is calm and the identity is aligned, transformation becomes not only possible but effortless. What does a typical coaching or mentorship program with you look like (duration, process, what to expect)? I offer a few different mentorship options depending on the level of transformation clients are seeking. My 6-month small group program is intimate and highly interactive. Clients go through four pre-recorded modules: uncovering limiting beliefs, dismantling those beliefs while expanding emotional intelligence, revealing their truest desire, and embodying the energy of their desired future now. They also have access to a live group Q&A with me and two strategic 1:1 sessions to ensure deep alignment and clarity. For those seeking deep, rapid transformation, I offer a 6-week private container, meeting once a week for intensive sessions. This mentorship is precise and includes an open Telegram channel where I deliver prompts tailored to their personal process, allowing clients to integrate breakthroughs quickly and efficiently. Additionally, I provide 3 to 6-month private containers on demand, designed for clients who want fully personalized guidance and ongoing support as they step into new levels of alignment, abundance, and embodiment. Across all programs, clients can expect a transformative experience – not just learning strategies, but actually embodying a new identity and energy so that ease, abundance, and confidence become their natural state. If someone is curious but hesitant to reach out, what would you say to encourage them to take the first step toward working with you? I always say that transformation happens for those who are ready to fully commit. For someone curious, I offer The Money Frequency Reset Experience – eight pre-recorded sessions plus a workbook, priced to make it accessible as a first experience of my work. This program allows clients to witness my coaching style and experience real shifts when they engage fully with the material. From there, they can evaluate whether they’re ready to go deeper. For someone ready to invest more or move faster, they can also reach out for a one-to-one conversation to see if there is an energetic fit to work together in high proximity. The clients who benefit the most are those willing to take bold steps, do the work, and choose a new way of being – that’s where real transformation begins. To end, the easiest way to stay connected and get to know me is to subscribe to watch “ The Wealth Coherence Masterclass ” for free. Or subscribe to Julie’s YouTube Channel . Access the website . Follow me on Facebook , Instagram , and LinkedIn for more info! Read more from Julie Cloutier

Written by Dr. Irene Sanchez-Celis Castro, Mentor & Healer Womb medicine doctor, spiritual mentor, and creator of Radiance the Podcast, Dr. Irene Sanchez-Celis, helps women awaken the magic in their bodies and embody the sacred through cyclical living, Chinese medicine, and feminine alchemy. For centuries, women have been taught to fear menopause, as if it were a slow decline, a withering of beauty, sexuality, and vitality. But in truth, menopause is not an ending. It’s an initiation. A sacred rite of passage where the woman who has poured herself outward, into children, careers, relationships, and responsibilities, finally turns inward to reclaim herself. It is not the autumn of womanhood. It is her Second Spring. The alchemy of letting go Menopause often comes with resistance, not just physiological, but archetypal. When we cling to the Maiden, the part of us that measures worth through youth, fertility, and external validation, or resist releasing the Mother, the one who nurtures everyone else before herself, we experience friction, both emotional and physical. Hot flashes, night sweats, insomnia, anxiety, weight gain, and brain fog can symbolize not only hormonal fluctuations, but also the deeper energetic tension of holding on to an outdated identity. The invitation of this passage is to move from self-sacrifice to self-care, from cycling through phases of depletion to sustaining your own fire, steady, luminous, and self-contained. The clinical and hormonal landscape From a biomedical perspective, menopause marks the cessation of ovarian function and menstruation. The ovaries gradually reduce their production of estrogen and progesterone, while FSH (follicle-stimulating hormone) and LH (luteinizing hormone) rise as the body signals for ovulation that no longer comes. Estrogen, once the great conductor of cycles, mood, and metabolism, declines, leading to symptoms such as: Hot flashes and night sweats Vaginal dryness Sleep disturbances Mood swings, anxiety, or depression Changes in libido Weight redistribution, especially abdominal Joint pain and cognitive changes Yet these changes are not malfunctions. They are messages. The body is reorienting its inner economy, redirecting energy from reproduction to regeneration. The wisdom of Chinese medicine: Menopause as Second Spring In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), menopause is not a pathology. It is the natural transition from the phase of the Mother to that of the Crone, the wise woman. It is called “Second Spring” (Er Chun), a renewal of vitality on a subtler, more refined level. The Jing, or essence, stored in the Kidneys, our constitutional battery of life force, begins to shift from procreation to preservation. Rather than cycling blood outward each month, energy returns inward, nourishing the brain, heart, and spirit. The role of the 8 Extraordinary Vessels During menopause, the Eight Extraordinary Vessels (8EV), the great rivers of destiny, become profoundly active. They govern deep ancestral patterns, hormonal transitions, and the maturation of consciousness. Chong Mai (Penetrating Vessel) connects the womb and the heart and governs blood, libido, and creativity. Ren Mai (Conception Vessel) nourishes yin and supports fluid balance and emotional depth. Du Mai (Governing Vessel) tonifies yang, clarity, and spiritual strength. Dai Mai (Belt Vessel) regulates the flow between the upper and lower body and is essential in weight gain and heat regulation. When these vessels are harmonized, the transition into menopause can become graceful, empowering, and even ecstatic. When they are stagnant, we see symptoms of heat, dryness, or emotional turbulence. A holistic path through the transition 1. Nourish yin and anchor the spirit Herbal formulas like Zhi Bai Di Huang Wan or Liu Wei Di Huang Wan nourish Kidney Yin and cool internal heat. Foods like sesame, black beans, goji berries, cooked pears, and bone broth support yin and jing. 2. Support the heart-kidney axis Meditation, Qi Gong, and acupuncture along the Ren and Chong Mai reconnect the Heart and Womb, easing anxiety and insomnia. When this axis is balanced, we feel safe in our bodies again. 3. Embrace the body’s changes Movement practices like Qi Gong, walking, and gentle resistance training keep the Qi flowing, reducing stagnation and weight gain. Yoni steaming with cooling herbs, such as rose, peony, and licorice, can soothe dryness and reconnect women with their sacred center. 4. Tend to the emotional and spiritual body Menopause mirrors the great alchemical fire, burning away illusions of control, productivity, and perfection. Therapeutic modalities like body-mind reconnection, breathwork, and ancestral healing help release old roles so that wisdom can rise unobstructed. Living in direct current When a woman menstruates, her energy moves in cycles, waxing and waning like the moon. After menopause, she shifts from cyclical current to direct current. Her channel stays open 24/7. She no longer has to wait for ovulation to access her sensual power, or the new moon to receive intuition. She embodies them all, all the time, Maiden, Mother, Lover, and Crone, fused into wholeness. This is the embodied wisdom of the Elder Feminine, sovereign, radiant, and magnetic. Your invitation If you’re walking this path or sensing its approach, remember, "Menopause is not a loss of power. It’s the moment you become power itself." To support this transition holistically and reconnect with your feminine vitality, I invite you to explore the Womb Medicine Bundle , a deeply nourishing program that guides you through Chinese medicine, feminine rituals, and self-care tools to restore hormonal harmony, vitality, and sensual connection with your body. Follow me on Facebook , Instagram ,  LinkedIn ,  and my website for more info! Read more from Dr. Irene Sanchez-Celis Castro Dr. Irene Sanchez-Celis Castro, Mentor & Healer Dr. Irene Sanchez-Celis is a Doctor of Chinese Medicine, ontogonic hypnotherapist, and creator of Radiance: The Podcast. Known as a spiritual hacker embodied in feminine wisdom, she guides women through womb healing, tantric and shamanic arts, and cyclical embodiment. Irene's online programs blend Chinese medicine, somatic therapy, and sacred sexuality to help women reclaim their pleasure, power, and purpose. Her mission is to awaken the body as a sacred portal for soul remembrance and feminine leadership.

Written by Michael J McCusker, Founder/Podcast Host Michael J McCusker is a Global Freedom Fellow, multiple author, and host of the acclaimed “Lived Experience Podcast Series.” He’s a respected advocate for justice reform and a thought leader in Lived Experience Leadership, using storytelling to spark social change. Listen. Not with your ears alone but with your memory, your intuition, your sense of what it means to be human. Do you hear it? Stories have been with us since the beginning. Around fire pits, in chalky cave paintings, through sacred songs and whispered secrets. Stories are how we’ve always made sense of the world and of ourselves. I remember the magic of childhood bedtime tales, the hum of conversation on long bus rides to football matches, the echo of voices during family dinners, and casual pub nights. Even the often-dreaded PowerPoint presentations, yes, even those, are attempts at storytelling. Everywhere we look, someone is narrating their view of the world. But why do we tell stories? Because stories are how we influence, persuade, connect, and transform. Whether you’re in media, marketing, education, social justice, or tech, storytelling is your sharpest tool. It's how we teach, how we learn, how we grieve, how we heal. And let’s be honest: in a world saturated with noise, likes, and endless scrolling, only one thing truly cuts through authentic connection. Stories do that. Stories move people to action. The hidden power of everyday stories You may think storytelling is reserved for keynote speakers, novelists, or Oscar-winning filmmakers. It's not. Every post you make, every conversation you have, every email, caption, or podcast, you’re telling a story. You’re inviting someone to step into your experience, feel what you feel, and walk a mile in your shoes. That’s why brands are obsessed with storytelling. That’s why social media algorithms reward engagement that stirs emotion. And that’s why non-profits and advocacy groups are leaning into human-centred narratives because when people feel, they act. What attracts you to certain accounts or speakers? Why do some messages stick while others fade? It's not the production value, it’s the story. It’s vulnerability, honesty, and the courageous act of telling the truth. As Jimmy Neil Smith put it: “We are all storytellers, we all live in a network of stories. There isn’t a stronger connection between people than storytelling.” TED and the language of impact I often think of the global phenomenon that is TED. “Ideas Worth Spreading” isn’t just a slogan; it’s a mission. TED democratised knowledge and made the stage accessible to thinkers, dreamers, and doers. It taught us that the most world-changing ideas don’t come from resumes, they come from lived experiences. I’ve found deep resonance with TEDx talks on social justice, systems change, leadership, and personal redemption. These stories don’t just inform, they transform. They challenge assumptions, ignite empathy, and open possibilities. And perhaps the most powerful talks are those from individuals who’ve lived through adversity. Working in the criminal justice reform space, I encounter these stories often. I host  The Lived Experience Series Podcast  to spotlight individuals who’ve turned hardship into hope, academics, authors, activists, and mentors, reshaping what it means to lead and serve. Their stories remind me of Ivan Illich’s words: “Neither revolution nor reformation can ultimately change society. Rather, you must tell a more powerful tale, one so persuasive that it sweeps away the old myths and becomes the preferred story.” So, I ask you: What story are you telling? Beyond the filters We live in an age of filters, literal and metaphorical. It’s tempting to curate a perfect narrative, to showcase the highlight reel. But storytelling that truly resonates is messy. It’s honest. It’s rooted in emotional truth. We’ve all experienced joy, sorrow, betrayal, triumph, confusion, and elation. These shared emotions form the universal language of storytelling. They’re what make your voice relatable and unforgettable. So, the next time someone asks you, “What do you do?”, pause. Don’t just list your job title or daily duties. Use that moment to tell a story about what drives you, what lights you up, and what change you hope to see in the world. Make them feel something. Make them remember. This is your elevator pitch, your two-minute window to make someone care. It’s not just about selling yourself, it’s about sharing your essence. As Ira Glass once said: “Great stories happen to those who can tell them.” Stories are everywhere, if you’re listening We’re living in the most connected, content-rich moment in human history. With one tap, we access Netflix, Spotify, YouTube, TED, Substack, Medium, and endless podcasts. And yet, in this overload, the voices that rise to the top are those that are most real. The truth is, you don’t need fancy equipment or a viral post to tell a powerful story. You need intention, clarity, and the willingness to be seen. These platforms aren't just content channels, they’re stages. And the world needs your voice on them. From silence to signal Here’s the truth: everyone is fighting for attention. But not everyone is fighting for authenticity. The ones who cut through are those who speak with clarity, integrity, and courage. Your story, yes, your story might be the catalyst someone needs. It might change a mind, open a heart, or unlock a door. And no, you don’t need to have it all figured out. But you do need to start. Write the blog post. Record the first podcast. Share the vulnerable story. Craft the TEDx pitch. Ask yourself not what’s “perfect” but what’s true. Because ultimately, storytelling is not about ego. It’s about impact. Robert McKee said it best: “Storytelling is the most powerful way to put ideas into the world.” So, what’s your idea worth spreading? Ready to challenge the status quo? Share your story. Shift the narrative. Shape the future. Let’s collaborate. Book your call now . Follow me on Instagram , and visit my website for more info! Read more from Michael J McCusker Michael J McCusker, Founder/Podcast Host Michael J McCusker is a dynamic storyteller and podcast host who uses the power of voice to spark meaningful change. As a seasoned leader with lived experience, they’ve dedicated their life to guiding others toward purpose, self-leadership, and impact. Through powerful interviews and transformative conversations, their podcast The Lived Experience Series  amplifies voices that are often unheard but deeply needed. A published author, Michael J McCusker writes with clarity and conviction, Hidden Potential: Unlocking The Door Within ,  turning personal insight into universal lessons. Their work empowers individuals to own their story, speak with influence, and lead with authenticity. Whether on stage, behind the mic, or on the page, The Resilient-Irishman: How to Tackle Life's Adversities.  Michael J McCusker is committed to shifting narratives and building a legacy that inspires others to rise.

Written by Dr. O. Esther Aluko, Career & Personal Development Coach She is a Career and Personal Development Coach with almost ten years of experience. Her expertise is in Job & workplace readiness, career planning, growth, and personal development. Her work focuses on helping individuals build their capacity for career progression, navigate job transitions with ease, and achieve personal effectiveness using results-oriented methods. For many people in 9-5 roles, career growth feels like a waiting game. You wait for your manager to notice you. You wait for the promotion cycle. You wait for the right role to appear. You wait for someone to tap you on the shoulder and say, “You’re ready.” Over time, waiting becomes a habit, and habits shape outcomes. The Ripple Effect Advantage challenges this way of thinking. It reminds us that careers do not change through waiting, they change through intentional, consistent action. Not loud action. Not dramatic action. But small, deliberate steps that quietly reposition you long before an opportunity appears.   Every career is in motion. Even when it feels stagnant, it is still being shaped daily by the choices you make, the standards you uphold, and the energy you bring to your role. The problem is not a lack of movement, the problem is unconscious movement.   When your actions are reactive, your career drifts. When your actions are intentional, your career compounds.   A ripple can be as simple as how you respond to emails, how prepared you are in meetings, how consistently you deliver, or how willing you are to take responsibility beyond your job description. These things may seem ordinary, but over time, they become your professional identity.   Identity is not built through job titles. It is built through behaviour. Your reputation is formed not by what you say you can do, but by what people repeatedly experience when they work with you.   When you consistently show up prepared, people begin to associate you with reliability. When you communicate clearly and respectfully, people associate you with professionalism. When you solve problems without being asked, people associate you with leadership.   These associations matter. They become the invisible currency of your career. Many people focus on updating their CV when what truly needs updating is how they show up every day. Your CV opens doors, but your daily ripples determine which rooms you stay in.   Visibility is not vanity, it is strategy One of the biggest misconceptions in the workplace is the belief that “hard work speaks for itself.” Hard work matters, but it must be visible in the right way. Visibility is not about self-promotion, it is about clarity.   If people do not know what you contribute, they cannot advocate for you. If your strengths are hidden, they cannot be rewarded. If your growth is invisible, it cannot be recognised.   Visibility can be quiet and strategic. It can look like sharing progress updates, documenting outcomes, contributing thoughtfully in meetings, or volunteering for projects aligned with your strengths. Over time, these actions create a narrative around you, one that positions you as capable, dependable, and ready. The Ripple Effect Advantage encourages you to be intentional about this narrative rather than leaving it to chance.   Confidence in the workplace is often misunderstood. Many people think confidence is something you must feel before you act. In reality, confidence is something you earn through evidence.   Each small action you complete becomes proof that you are capable. Each responsibility you handle well strengthens your self-belief. Each challenge you face and overcome becomes part of your internal evidence bank.   This is why consistency matters more than intensity. One bold move can inspire you temporarily, but repeated small wins sustain confidence long-term. Over time, confidence stops being something you chase and becomes something you carry. Promotions, pay increases, and opportunities rarely happen by accident. They are usually the result of a system, even if that system is informal.   This system includes:   The relationships you build The problems you solve The trust you earn The value you consistently deliver   When you understand this, you stop asking, “Why haven’t they noticed me yet?” and start asking, “What ripples am I creating that make me undeniable?”   You begin to treat your career like a long-term investment rather than a series of emotional reactions.   Feeling stuck often comes from trying to change everything at once. The Ripple Effect Advantage takes the opposite approach. It asks you to identify one small area where change is possible and focus there.   Instead of trying to become more confident overnight, commit to speaking up once per meeting. Instead of trying to change your entire role, identify one process you can improve. Instead of trying to network broadly, build one meaningful professional relationship.   Small changes reduce resistance. They build momentum without overwhelm. And momentum is what unlocks growth.   Your manager is not your career strategy This may be uncomfortable to read, but it is important to understand: your manager supports your role, not your future. They may advocate for you, but they cannot be responsible for your long-term career trajectory. When you rely entirely on external validation, you give away control. When you take ownership of your growth, you regain it.   This means tracking your achievements, seeking feedback intentionally, building skills aligned with your goals, and positioning yourself for the opportunities you want, even before they exist.   The most successful professionals are proactive, not reactive. The actions you take in your role today ripple into future opportunities you cannot yet see. The colleague who observes your consistency may recommend you in the future. The manager who sees your leadership potential may open doors later. The project you deliver well may become a talking point in rooms you are not present in.   This is why integrity matters. This is why excellence matters. This is why small decisions matter. Your career is always speaking on your behalf. As you set goals, dreams, and vision boards in 2026, the question is not whether you want growth. Most people do. The question is whether you are willing to create the conditions that make growth inevitable.   The Ripple Effect Advantage is about choosing those conditions intentionally. It is about understanding that the future version of you is built by the habits you practise today.   You do not need to overhaul your life. You do not need permission. You do not need to wait. You need one intentional ripple repeated consistently. Ask yourself: What small action, if done consistently over the next 90 days, would shift how I am perceived at work? What behaviour, if strengthened, would increase my confidence? What ripple can I commit to today?   Because your career will not change when the opportunity arrives. It will change when you are already prepared for it. If you're ready to turn your small decisions into life-changing momentum in 2026.   Join the ripple effect advantage early access list You’ll be the first to receive:   The Ripple Blueprint Workbook A free Ripple Reset 2026 live coaching session First access to the 12-week Ripple Effect Accelerator Early-bird bonuses Pre-release pricing for the Ripple Effect Advantage eBook Begin your ripple here . Because breakthroughs don’t start with big moments. They start with one intentional ripple, and this might be yours. Follow me on Instagram , and visit my website for more info! Read more from Dr. O. Esther Aluko Dr. O. Esther Aluko, Career & Personal Development Coach She is a Career and Personal Development Coach with almost ten years of experience. Her expertise is in Job & workplace readiness, career planning, growth, and personal development. Her work focuses on helping individuals build their capacity for career progression, navigate job transitions with ease, and achieve personal effectiveness using results-oriented methods. Her speaking engagements span the United Kingdom, Belgium, West Africa, and Ireland with corporate organizations and higher education institutions.

Written by: Thi Quynh Trang Phan , Executive Contributor Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise. Effective business-to-education (B2E) marketing requires creating highly engaging content that solves customers' biggest problems. Creating the right content can establish you as a thought leader in education, generate leads, and build brand awareness. Your ranking in Google and other search engines can also improve with an effective educational SEO strategy. As part of the Mentoring Program, Trang Phan (Founder) has shown her colleagues how to optimize the educational content they want to convey through the course on SEO. Additionally, she explains how educational marketers can create engaging content that will attract potential customers and increase their Google rankings. To make the article sharing the expertise of educators more attractive, here are a few criteria to consider. “Eat” well EAT stands for "expertise, authority, and trustworthiness." It's a key ingredient in creating content that both potential customers and Google will enjoy. According to Trang, educators need to realize their value, stay current and broaden their horizons about the sustainable development of the educational technology industry. They are excellent professionals, but they also waste a lot of their inherent potential by not sharing what they can do with their friends, organizations, and the world. SEO Content is a great way to show the world you know your stuff. It shows that you must not only have good content, but also that it must stand out and be well-groomed, professional, and relevant." Differentiate and uniquely content Ms. Trang said educators shouldn't just write a blog post once and be done with it. A cluster of supporting content should be created around each page or pillar topic instead. In other words, a series of specialized articles on a particular topic, like an episode series, helps attract and stimulate followers' curiosity. A single piece of content can be used on many platforms, such as in short videos, graphics, or infographics... Combine your keywords suitably The use of keywords is very important, but it is crucial that they are used appropriately according to the topic and not rigidly according to some formula. When you write spontaneously, the problem is automatically solved. Make sure you don't get too hung up on things like singular and plural or different spellings of keywords. This is all about your streaming content and how you want to be found. Understanding SEO article structure Include your primary keyword in your headline (H1). It is a good idea to break up your content into subheadings (H2, H3) and include keywords within them. Alt text describes images so search engines can understand their content. Link to other relevant pages on your website using internal links. Any claims made in the content should be backed up with credible external links. Include keywords in your URLs and keep them short and descriptive. The meta tag should provide a brief description of the page's content, which is often displayed as a snippet in search results. Ensure your website is mobile-friendly and loads quickly, as this can affect your search engine ranking. Lastly, make sure your content is valuable and informative for your readers. Here are some educational articles in SEO structure from the top 19 Mentees in the ClassPoint Mentoring Program season 2. Follow me on Facebook , YouTube, and visit my website for more info! Read more from Phan! Thi Quynh Trang Phan , Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Professional with extensive knowledge of academic, professional, and social development in the field of education. Adaptable, curious, and quick to learn, with skills that can be applied to a variety of tasks. I am passionate about mentoring and leadership and a lifelong learner, always looking to improve and stay on top of the latest trends. My career goal is to help people reach their full potential and reach their goals. During the COVID-19 pandemic, I realized I needed to adapt quickly to changing circumstances. The only option I had at that time was to either lose everything or to continue on the educational career path that I had chosen. However, I had to continue in a completely different direction. And I realized that Technology has made it possible for educators to connect with audiences and share their expertise in seemingly unlimited ways. Since I have expertise in teaching, I can apply products to teaching and point out the weaknesses of manufacturers. Through my contribution to educational technology units in the country, I discovered that the educational entrepreneur creates positive value change using economic resources named "studying". A new challenge worth taking on is motivating educators to realize their value, stay current, and broaden their horizons for the sustainable development of the educational technology industry. "We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give."

Versandra Kennebrew is a healing artist, speaker, and grassroots wellness entrepreneur who turns lived experience into practical pathways for connection. Raised by a grandmother who taught resilience and service, she blends myomassology, energy work, yoga, and mindfulness into immersive programs that restore intimacy, reduce loneliness, and strengthen communities.  A neurodivergent, non-traditional student and educator, her mission is simple and ambitious. Touch one million lives by training Touch Artists and creating accessible relationship-wellness experiences worldwide. Versandra J. Kennebrew, Speaker, Author & Healing Artist Please tell us more about you. I’ve been a seeker of truth for as long as I can remember. My grandmother, Nina Belle, born in 1903 with only a third‑grade education, was my first teacher. She taught me that it’s never too late to learn and that loving your neighbor is next to loving God. Those early lessons shaped my devotion to service, lifelong learning, and the belief that healing is both personal and communal. I was born in a mental institution in Detroit in the early 1960s, and my childhood in the projects exposed me to both hardship and possibility. I always sensed that I was meant to rise above the pain, poverty, and despair around me. When my grandmother passed, I became the surrogate mother to my two younger brothers, carrying forward her legacy of compassion, courage, and faith. These lived experiences, combined with my INFJ‑A personality and high DI leadership style, have shaped me into an altruistic leader committed to making the world a better place to live and love. What is your motto? “Let there be light.” This simple phrase guides me through uncertainty, disappointment, and transition. When I speak it, I’m reminding myself that clarity is always available and that the Creator’s guidance is ever-present. It helps me shift from fear to faith and from confusion to illumination. Is there a core value that you are most passionate about? Collaboration is the core value I’m most passionate about. Education and innovation are essential, but collaboration is where transformation happens. When like-minded people come together, we tap into collective intelligence and create solutions that are more powerful than anything we could build alone. Collaboration is the heartbeat of my work. What is your business name, and how do you help your clients? My company is called Optimal Living Retreats LP, and we help individuals, couples, and organizations elevate their wellbeing through immersive wellness experiences, relationship‑building practices, and embodied learning. Using healing touch, yoga, meditation, and mindful communication, we guide people toward deeper connection, emotional clarity, and holistic balance. Whether we’re working with a conference audience, a bridal ecosystem, or a couple seeking intimacy, our goal is always the same, to help people feel seen, supported, and connected. What kind of audience do you target your business toward? I primarily work with conference planners, wellness retreat coordinators, student engagement leaders, and wedding ecosystem professionals who want to offer memorable, embodied experiences to their audiences. Some hire me for book signings or live demonstrations, while others bring me in as a unique activation for sponsors who want to stand out, especially brands aligned with intimacy, wellness, or holistic living. What services or products does your company offer? Optimal Living Retreats LP offers: Keynote speaking and immersive retreats, and wellness experiences Self‑help books, journals, and digital resources Certification programs for Touch Artists A global relationship wellness membership community Each offering is designed to help people reconnect with themselves and each other through practical, heart‑centered tools. How do your services address the needs of your target audience? Event planners want presenters who are relatable, engaging, and able to deliver value long after the event ends. My presentations are experience‑focused and grounded in lived leadership, which means attendees don’t just listen, they participate, feel, and transform. I break down complex concepts using everyday language, making wellness accessible to people from all backgrounds. Everything we provide is designed to be immediately applicable and deeply meaningful. Is there a common challenge your customers face? Conference and retreat organizers often struggle with logistics, budget constraints, and maintaining a genuine wellness focus throughout their events. They also encounter speakers who require more technical support than the event can provide, which can disrupt the flow and energy of the experience. How are you helping them face this challenge? My team and I deliver turnkey, high‑impact presentations that require minimal technical support and maximize engagement. We collaborate closely with organizers to ensure the content aligns with their goals and that attendees leave with practical tools they can use immediately. Our embodied approach helps events stand out and creates lasting value for participants. What sets Optimal Living Retreats LP apart from other services in the industry? What sets us apart is our grassroots foundation. While many retreat companies focus on luxury destinations, my work began in community health fairs, schools, senior centers, and veteran communities. That foundation keeps our programs accessible, culturally relevant, and deeply human. As we expand globally, we remain committed to collaborating with nonprofits, educational institutions, government agencies, and spiritual communities. Our Relationship Wellness Group serves as a global incubator where connection and relationship wellness are elevated as essential life skills, not optional add‑ons. What are your current goals for your business? As we prepare to expand into West Africa, one of our primary goals is to grow our Relationship Wellness Group to 500 active online members by the end of 2026. This community will serve as the foundation for our global movement to normalize intimacy skills and strengthen human connection. We are also preparing to host our first retreat in Liberia in 2027, where we plan to collaborate with organizations committed to healing the emotional wounds left by years of conflict. Our intention is to support families and communities in rebuilding trust, connection, and hope. Could you share some success stories from your clients? One of my most memorable clients was Raymundo, a middle‑aged man living with schizophrenia who struggled with relationships, especially with women. He had experienced sexual trauma as a teen and felt disconnected from his daughters. Through our work together, he learned to differentiate healthy touch from unhealthy touch and began expressing himself more openly. His dream was to have a girlfriend who trusted him and wasn’t afraid of him. Today, he proudly shares that he found his match, and they hug and kiss often, something he once believed was impossible. Another powerful story comes from a couple’s retreat I facilitated for a marriage ministry in Virginia Beach. One couple was on the brink of divorce and arrived unable to make eye contact, standing with their backs turned to each other. After a two‑hour interactive session, something shifted. They left holding hands with a sparkle in their eyes. Their pastor later told me they not only canceled their divorce plans, but they also renewed their vows. I also recall an event at an art gallery in Detroit where a man named Mark attended alone. He wanted to understand why his wife resisted gentle touch during intimacy. As we discussed common barriers to intimacy, including past trauma, he suddenly connected the dots to a story she had shared before their marriage. He left feeling empowered, compassionate, and ready to communicate with his wife in a way that honored both her needs and his own. If you could change one thing about your industry, what would it be and why? I would change the misconception that the wellness and wellness tourism industries are only for the affluent. Even some of my own coaches have encouraged me to focus solely on clients who can afford high‑ticket programs, but that has never aligned with my values. Healing is not a luxury, it is a human right. The truth is that people from all walks of life seek peace, healing, and connection. Many save for months to attend a retreat or invest in a wellness experience that could change their lives. Ignoring these individuals in marketing and programming is not only unethical but also a missed opportunity to serve humanity. I believe wellness should be accessible, inclusive, and representative of the diverse communities that need it most. Follow me on Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn , and visit my website for more info! Read more from Versandra J. Kennebrew

Written by Chris Harris, Keynote Speaker & Executive Coach Chris Harris is an international keynote speaker and executive coach who focuses on helping others transform their mindset to improve their performance in sales, leadership, and life. He has trained hundreds of companies from over 60 countries, authored eight books, and has been inducted into the Martial Arts Hall of Fame. Have you ever established a vital goal only to stop short of the finish line, not because you consciously quit, but because momentum quietly faded over time? You may have started strong, felt confident in the beginning, and genuinely believed you would follow through, only to look up weeks or months later and realize the goal had slipped into the background of your life. If you’re honest, the failure didn’t happen all at once. It happened gradually through distraction, fatigue, competing priorities, or a slow loss of focus. If that sounds familiar, I want to challenge how you think about goal setting. Missed goals are rarely a motivation problem or a character flaw. More often, they stem from a misunderstanding of what actually determines whether a goal is attained. In my experience, success or failure comes down to two competing forces: focus and friction. Focus comes from meaning and process. Friction comes from habits and saboteurs. If you want a goal to have a high probability of success, you must interrogate all four honestly and in advance.   Goal-related self-interrogation is the deliberate act of asking yourself four honest and often uncomfortable questions before leaving the starting block. If you skip this step, friction will eventually do the interrogation for you, usually at a moment when quitting feels justified.   Here are the questions you must answer.   Focus one: Meaning Why does this goal matter to me?   Meaning is the emotional anchor of a goal. It is the reason you started, and it is what sustains you when progress slows or discomfort shows up. When things are going well, meaning can feel optional. When things get hard, meaning becomes essential. It provides grit and resilience, helping you remember why you started when quitting feels logical or even necessary.   This is not about vague inspiration or external approval. It is about personal significance. Why does this goal matter to you specifically? What improves in your life if you follow through, and what stays the same if you don’t? If you cannot answer those questions clearly, the goal is already fragile because it has nothing to hold onto when resistance appears.   Focus two: Process What is the process I will follow?   Meaning explains why the goal matters, but process is what creates change. The most essential function of a goal is not the goal itself. The goal exists to act as a catalyst that forces you to create a process. That's where progress actually happens.   A well-defined process shifts your focus from a distant outcome to the immediate actions you can take each day. When you stay fixated on the goal itself, especially when it lies far in the future, you put pressure on yourself by measuring yourself against something you cannot yet control. That misplaced attention almost always leads to frustration and a loss of motivation.   Process is the foundation of progress because it answers one critical question clearly and consistently: What do I do today? It removes guesswork, reduces decision fatigue, and gives you something concrete to execute instead of something abstract to chase. When the process is straightforward, repeatable, and realistic, consistency becomes the norm rather than the exception.   This is also where motivation is generated. A well-designed process is laced with small, frequent wins. Each completed step creates a dopamine response that reinforces the behavior and keeps you engaged. Those wins stack, momentum builds quietly, and motivation becomes something you create through action rather than something you wait for.   When combined, meaning and process create intentional focus. Meaning reminds you why you started. Process tells you what to do next.   Friction one: Habits What habits will I need to break?   Most meaningful goals require behavior change, which means something you are currently doing must stop or be replaced with a habit aligned with where you want to go. To reach a new level of growth, you must eliminate the behaviors that produced your current results. This is where self-interrogation becomes uncomfortable but essential.   You must be honest about which habits are working against the future you say you want. Inconsistency, avoidance, late nights, emotional eating, procrastination, distraction, and comfort-seeking behaviors all create friction. If they are not addressed directly at the beginning, they will quietly overpower even the strongest intentions.   Breaking destructive habits is not about willpower. It is about design. These changes must be tied to the goal's meaning and built into the process itself. If the process does not account for the habit, the habit will eventually derail the process.   Friction two: Saboteurs What inner enemies must I confront?   The final element of self-interrogation is the most personal and demands the highest level of honesty. Your saboteur is the inner enemy living deep within your subconscious mind that is most likely to derail you based on your history, not in theory, but in reality. It may manifest as fear, self-doubt, perfectionism, impatience, or a need for immediate results. It may also surface through emotional triggers such as stress, boredom, frustration, or comparison. Only you know what has taken you out before. Self-interrogation requires you to ask one difficult question honestly: based on what you know about yourself, what is most likely to sabotage this goal before you cross the finish line? When the saboteur is named, its power weakens. When it is ignored, it quietly takes control. Going one step further and identifying its root cause allows you to confront it deliberately instead of repeatedly falling victim to it.   When you approach goals by answering these hard but necessary questions on the front end, you begin with meaning attached to effort, and a process designed around small, incremental wins rather than distant outcomes. You stop being surprised by resistance and start anticipating it. The result is success, defined simply as achieving the goal you set out to accomplish. Visit my website for more info! Read more from Chris Harris Chris Harris, Keynote Speaker & Executive Coach After overcoming a tumultuous childhood and through his countless experiences teaching close-quarters combat to elite warriors, Chris Harris has witnessed firsthand the transformational power of having a healthy mindset and choosing the proper perspective. As a captivating keynote speaker, he uses his life stories of enduring homelessness, overcoming adversity, and achieving fulfillment and success to inspire, encourage, and challenge his audience to obtain the life they want by using the tools they already possess.

Written by Tatiana Goded, Motivational Life Coach Tatiana Goded is passionate about helping women find their life purpose and rediscover their passions. She is the CEO of Puiaki Precious, a life coaching, NLP, and mindfulness business designed to leverage women find their true selves. Tatiana is also the author of “A Trip Towards the Sunset,” a journey of self-discovery published in 2025. Do you remember what brought you pure joy as a child? Perhaps you loved painting, writing stories, playing an instrument, or dancing until you forgot about everything else. Those passions that once made you feel most alive, where did they go? For many women, especially in midlife, these forgotten dreams become distant memories, buried beneath years of responsibilities, practicalities, and the voices that told us we needed to be "realistic." If you're like Claire, a 45-year-old woman with a loving family, a stable job, and a nice house who still feels unfulfilled, you're not alone. Claire remembers how she loved painting as a child, how hours would disappear as she lost herself in colors and creativity. But somewhere along the way, she abandoned it. People told her she'd never make a living from it. Life got busy. And now, despite having everything society considers success, she feels joyless and wonders what happened to that part of herself. The good news is that those dreams are still there, like treasures we've buried in our own backyard. We know they're there, but over time, we forget exactly where we put them. In this guide, we'll explore the five essential steps to unearth those treasures and bring joy and fulfillment back into your life. Why recovering your passions matters Before diving into the steps, it's important to understand why this work matters. Research consistently shows that engaging in hobbies and passions has profound benefits for mental health and overall well-being. A comprehensive scoping review published in 2024 found that hobbies help reduce depression, anxiety, and stress while improving quality of life and fostering social connections .[1] Most remarkably, a 12-year longitudinal study  discovered that for older adults with depression, taking up a hobby increased their odds of recovery by 272%.[2] Furthermore, research on passion and optimal functioning  shows that pursuing a passionate activity leads to high levels of psychological, physical, and relational well-being.[3] As noted in Joanne Pagett's recent Brainz Magazine article on "Redefining Success" , midlife has a way of resurfacing those longings and desires, not to shame us for not pursuing them earlier, but to remind us they're still available.[4] This is the moment when suppressed creativity, purpose, and desire begin knocking louder. Step 1: Reconnect with your forgotten dream The first step is both the simplest and the most profound, remembering what you loved. This isn't about choosing something practical or impressive. It's about identifying what genuinely brought you a sense of being most alive. Ask yourself these questions: What did you love doing as a child? What things bring you joy? What brings you a sense of feeling most alive? What have you been doing for hours on end, forgetting about anything else? What have you always felt drawn to? Don't rush this step. Sit with these questions. Journal about them. Close your eyes and let memories surface. The passion you're looking for isn't hiding, it's waiting for you to remember it. For some, it might be a creative pursuit like writing, painting, or music. For others, it could be a skill like woodworking, gardening, or cooking. What matters is not what the passion is, but how it makes you feel. Midlife, as research shows, is actually an ideal time for this rediscovery. Contrary to popular narratives of midlife crisis, this period offers opportunities to feel productive, emotionally fulfilled, and to pursue interests aligned with our sense of self. Insecurities wane, and confidence in work and outside interests typically increase during midlife. [5] Step 2: Understand why you abandoned your dream and define your big why Understanding why you left your passion behind is crucial to bringing it back. This step involves two essential parts, facing the past and clarifying the future. Part A: Learn why you abandoned your dream Most people abandon their passions during major life transitions or due to external pressures. Perhaps you left your passion behind when you transitioned from education to career, started university, became a parent, or entered a new relationship. Maybe you believed you couldn't make a living from it, or someone close to you discouraged you, telling you it wasn't practical or achievable. Fear plays a significant role too, fear of failure, the pressure to be a "responsible adult," and social expectations about what you "should" be doing with your time. At the heart of many abandoned dreams are limiting beliefs—those unconscious thoughts that run our lives without us being aware of them. Beliefs like "I'm not good enough," "Who am I to think I could succeed at this?" or "I don't have what it takes." These beliefs are usually formed in early childhood, when we didn't have the mental resources to question them. As noted in Antonio Esposito's Brainz Magazine article on limiting beliefs , these beliefs become part of our identity and dictate how we think, feel, and behave throughout our lives.[6] Neuroscience research shows that once a belief is formed, the neural pathways associated with it strengthen over time, making it increasingly resistant to change. Bringing these limiting beliefs to light and transforming them into empowering beliefs is often the deepest and most transformative work you can do. Part B: Write down your big why Once you've addressed why you left your passion behind, it's time to clarify why you want to bring it back. Your "big why" is the emotional, spiritual, or existential reason that drives you to reclaim your forgotten dream. Consider these questions: What draws you back to your passion over and over again? Why is it so important to you? Who are you with your dream in your life? What does committing to this mean for you? Your big why isn't just a nice-to-have, it's your anchor. Write it down, print it, and read it out loud daily. When obstacles appear (and they will), your big why becomes your best friend and accountability partner, the one that never lets you give up on your dream. Step 3: Take small steps toward your dream One of the biggest mistakes people make when trying to recover their passions is thinking they need to make dramatic, sweeping changes. The truth is, sustainable progress comes from consistent small steps. Enter the 15-minute commitment method. This simple yet powerful approach asks you to dedicate just 15 minutes each day to your passion. That's it. Fifteen minutes feels manageable, even in the busiest of schedules. It doesn't trigger the overwhelm that often comes with bigger commitments, and it sidesteps the perfectionism that can keep us from starting at all. What happens over time is remarkable. Those 15 minutes become a non-negotiable part of your day. They build momentum. They remind you why you loved this passion in the first place. And before you know it, you're not just spending 15 minutes, you're finding more time because you genuinely want to. But the key is to start small. Commit to those 15 minutes as if they're sacred, because they are. Research on passion pursuit  confirms that it's important to develop, explore, and experiment over time rather than tenaciously commit to a single approach.[7] This makes passion pursuit more sustainable by helping you discern who you are and what you care about. Step 4: Make yourself accountable Accountability is what turns good intentions into actual results. Without it, even the strongest commitment can fade when life gets busy or resistance creeps in. This step is about creating structures and relationships that support your commitment to your passion. Create a plan for moments of resistance Resistance is inevitable. There will be days when you don't feel like showing up for your passion, when excuses seem perfectly reasonable, or when old limiting beliefs resurface. The key is to anticipate these moments and have a plan ready. When resistance shows up, go back to your big why. Read it aloud. Remind yourself why this matters. Sometimes that's all you need to push through. Find an accountability partner An accountability partner can make all the difference. But not just anyone will do. Ideally, choose someone who: Understands your passion or has one of their own to rediscover Shares a passion with you, creating mutual understanding Will check in regularly and hold you to your commitments with kindness and support Having someone to share your wins and struggles with, someone who genuinely cares about your progress, transforms the journey from a solitary effort into a shared adventure. Step 5: Sustain your rediscovered passion Recovering your passion is one thing, sustaining it over the long term is another. This final step is about making your passion a lasting part of who you are, not just something you dabble in when time allows. Identify yourself with your passion There's a powerful shift that happens when you move from "I'm trying to write" to "I am a writer." When you identify yourself with your passion, you stop treating it as a hobby that can be dropped when things get hectic. It becomes part of your identity, something that's non-negotiable. As noted in Aden Eyob's Brainz Magazine article on the Pyramid of Change, effective transformation comes from the identity level, for what you say, you eventually become. Allow yourself to claim that identity. If you paint, you're a painter. If you play music, you're a musician. This isn't about ego, it's about honoring the part of you that comes alive when you engage with your passion. Maintain your commitment Sustaining your passion requires ongoing commitment. Keep your 15-minute practice or expand it as feels natural. Continue checking in with your accountability partner. Revisit your big why regularly to keep your motivation strong. And be gentle with yourself on days when life gets in the way. Consistency doesn't mean perfection, it means showing up again and again, even after you've stumbled. Connect with community Finally, seek out others who share your passion. Whether it's an online group, a local class, or a community of like-minded individuals, being part of a community reinforces your commitment and provides inspiration, support, and fresh perspectives. Research demonstrates , that hobbies help connect people, build relationships, and foster a sense of community, all of which contribute to improved mental health and well-being.[9] You're not on this journey alone. Bringing it all together Recovering your long-forgotten passion isn't about adding one more thing to your already busy life. It's about reclaiming a part of yourself that brings joy, fulfillment, and a sense of being truly alive. It's about honoring the dreams you once had and giving yourself permission to pursue them again, no matter how much time has passed. Claire, the woman we met at the beginning of this article, didn't need more time or resources to bring painting back into her life. She needed to remember why it mattered, confront the beliefs that held her back, and commit to small, consistent steps. And so do you. These five steps, reconnecting with your forgotten dream, understanding why you abandoned it while defining your big why, taking small steps, making yourself accountable, and sustaining your passion, are your roadmap. They've worked for countless women who felt stuck and unfulfilled, and they can work for you too. As research confirms, the benefits extend far beyond the hobby itself, engaging in passions reduces stress and depression, enhances quality of life, and creates meaningful connections with others. Take the next step If you're ready to dive deeper into this process and want guided support every step of the way, I invite you to explore my "Recovering Your Long-Forgotten Dream" 5-week online course. Over five weeks, we'll walk through each of these steps in depth, with workbooks, live sessions, meditations, and personalized support to help you bring your passion back to life. You'll receive five weekly live presentations (recorded if you can't attend), comprehensive workbooks for each module, bonus planning charts to track your progress, three guided meditations to keep you focused, an 800-word short story personalized for you describing your success, and a 60-minute private coaching session with me to support you in fulfilling your goal. This course is designed for women like you who are ready to prioritize their needs, rediscover joy, and reclaim the parts of themselves they've set aside for too long. With lifetime access to all materials, you can revisit the course for any passion you want to recover. If group work isn't your preference, I also offer private one-on-one coaching sessions tailored to your specific journey. And if you'd like to start exploring on your own, download my free Essential Kit to Recover Your Dreams, which includes journaling prompts, meditations, inspiring stories, and the first two chapters of my novel. For more information, contact me here. Follow me on Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn , and visit my website  for more info! Read more from Tatiana Goded Tatiana Goded, Motivational Life Coach Tatiana is a Motivational Life Coach passionate about helping women find their life purpose and rediscover the passion in their lives. She spent many years trying to find her own life purpose and recover her childhood passion for writing, wishing someone would help her reach her goals. Her journey was full of struggles and setbacks until she discovered the key elements to success. She is now following her life purpose as a life coach, and has followed her passion for writing, publishing her first book, “A Trip Towards the Sunset,” in March 2025. Tatiana’s mission is to help women in their midlife rediscover their long-forgotten dreams and recover their true selves, bringing back joy and passion to their lives. References: [1] Cleary, M., et al. (2024). Exploring the Impact of Hobbies on Mental Health and Well-Being: A Scoping Review. Issues in Mental Health Nursing. [2] Fancourt, D., Steptoe, A., & Bu, F. (2020). Trajectories of anxiety and depressive symptoms during enforced isolation due to COVID-19 in England. The Lancet Psychiatry. [3] Vallerand, R. J. (2024). The role of passion in the resilience process. Self and Identity. [4] Pagett, J. (2025). Redefining Success – Why Midlife Women Lose Their Identity, and How to Reclaim It. Brainz Magazine. [5] Heiser, D. (2019). Three Benefits of Midlife. Psychology Today. [6] Esposito, A. (2022). Limiting Belief – The Reason Why Your Life Sucks (Or Is Difficult!). Brainz Magazine. [7] Berry, Z., Lucas, B. J., & Jachimowicz, J. M. (2025). Giving up on a passion. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. [8] Eyob, A. (2021). The Pyramid of Change Is Calling. Brainz Magazine. [9] Pressman, S. D., Matthews, K. A., Cohen, S., Martire, L. M., Scheier, M., Baum, A., & Schulz, R. (2009). Association of Enjoyable Leisure Activities With Psychological and Physical Well-Being. Psychosomatic Medicine, 71(7), 725-732. Klemm, W. R. (2010). Atoms of Mind: The "Ghost in the Machine" Materializes. Springer.

Written by Michelle Gines, Founder of Purpose Publishing Michelle “MG” Gines is a strategist, publisher, and executive advisor who helps leaders transform ideas into books, brands, and platforms. She brings two decades of digital strategy and purpose-driven leadership to authors, entrepreneurs, and organizations ready to elevate their impact. Accomplished leaders often face a point when something familiar stops working. The work is still strong, judgment is deeper, and responsibility remains. Yet authority feels less visible, and access to influences is more complex. This is not a personal failing. It signals a shift in how leadership authority is recognized. In this article, I explain why experience alone no longer defines authority and how quietly successful leaders can assert themselves with clarity and confidence, without becoming louder or sacrificing their grounding. Specifically, I'll share practical strategies to articulate experience effectively, helping you anticipate actionable value and set clear expectations for your leadership journey. What authority used to mean in leadership Early in my career, authority came from tenure, proximity, and consistency. Leaders earned trust by staying, delivering over time, and carrying responsibility through complexity. Credibility developed slowly, often without explanation. There was an adage repeated often: keep your head down, do good work, and it will speak for itself. In many leadership environments, that approach worked. The context lived in the room, history filled in the gaps. Authority accumulated quietly.[1] This model shaped a generation of professionals who valued depth over display and contribution over commentary. Leadership authority was assumed rather than articulated. That model no longer operates the same way.   Why experience alone no longer defines authority Experience has not lost value, but authority is now recognized only when that experience is made explicit. For example, a recent Deloitte (2024) study found that leaders in remote and hybrid organizations who regularly explain the rationale for their decisions are perceived as more authoritative than those who rely solely on tenure or past achievements. This research highlights the changed context in which leadership is recognized, prompting a need to reconsider how authority is established and maintained in contemporary organizations. Organizations are more distributed. Leadership teams are more fluid. Decisions are made quickly by those absent from earlier work or formative years. In these conditions, experience is no longer self-evident. Today, authority is shaped by clarity. Leaders who explain complexity, frame decisions, and articulate judgment are more likely to be recognized and trusted, regardless of others' levels of experience. When leadership experience remains unspoken, it stays private. When it is articulated with care, it becomes visible and transferable. This shift does not reward noise. It rewards interpretation.   The confidence gap many leaders experience For many seasoned professionals, this creates a quiet confidence gap, as influence becomes less predictable and recognition arrives unevenly. Self-doubt may arise even alongside strong leadership capability, and feelings of restlessness or a whisper of impostor syndrome can surface as leaders question their visibility. Importantly, these emotions do not reflect a lack of skill but signal shifting expectations in leadership authority. They are both common and temporary.[2] Leaders often misinterpret these feelings, assuming declining relevance, when in reality the criteria for recognizing leadership authority have changed. In this piece, I will share strategies to help navigate these transitions with confidence. The gap is not about diminished value. The new challenge is that authority is earned through articulation, not just experience. Without language, depth can look like absence. Without framing, wisdom can go unnoticed. Over time, leaders may withdraw, attempt visibility that feels forced or performative, or both. Neither response restores authority.[3] Radigan and colleagues further observe that leadership authority is shaped by a leader’s ability to express genuine concern, which encourages authentic self-expression among employees and helps align individual identities with their job roles. While tenure remains essential for building substance, how leaders communicate and connect is key to their authority, articulation allows that substance to travel. For many quietly successful leaders, articulation feels uncomfortable. Those shaped by past models often see speaking about their work as self-promotion. But articulation is not exaggeration, it is translation.[4] To help ease this transition, consider starting with low-pressure articulation methods. Research supports the effectiveness of reflective writing as a means for leaders to articulate tacit knowledge and clarify their thinking in safe environments.[5] Reflective memos can provide a structured way to express insights without feeling overexposed. Mentoring, widely recognized for its reciprocal benefits, offers a natural setting to articulate your experiences in ways that benefit others and reinforce your authority.[6] Engaging in small group discussions can also provide an opportunity to share and refine your thoughts in a more intimate setting, as collaborative reflection has been shown to foster leadership development and shared understanding.[7] These approaches help demystify articulation, allowing it to feel more like an extension of your leadership rather than a forced performance. I encountered this tension myself during a later professional chapter. The work was strong. The judgment is sharper than before. Yet fewer people understood the context behind my decisions. Authority had not disappeared, but it now required language. Articulation means explaining why a decision matters, not just that it was made. It means naming patterns that feel obvious because you have lived them repeatedly. This shift does not require becoming louder. It requires becoming clearer. Imagine adjusting a dimmer switch instead of flicking on stadium lights, a gradual, intentional increase in understanding rather than a sudden blast of noise. This way, your influence grows naturally and authentically.   Rethinking leadership visibility Visibility is often misunderstood in leadership development conversations. According to Forbes, adequate leadership visibility is not about constant output, personal branding, or lack of humility. Instead, it involves being intentional and measured, speaking with discernment, focusing on clarity rather than sheer volume, and sharing perspectives thoughtfully. Effective articulation also benefits younger leaders. Articulation without experience collapses quickly. Depth gives language weight. According to Christy Chiarelli, when leaders combine their experience with reflective practices, their authority becomes more transparent and more effective.   Authority as stewardship in mature leadership A report from Christy Chiarelli notes that at more advanced stages of leadership, the focus of authority often moves from demonstrating competence to using reflection to guide and steward insight. Experienced leaders no longer build credibility from scratch. They carry a perspective shaped by responsibility. Articulation is a leadership responsibility, not self-assertion. When you explain what you have learned, you are not seeking attention. You are offering orientation. You are helping others navigate complexity with greater clarity. I often see this when leaders begin writing or speaking later in their careers. The ideas have been there for years. Once named, they create immediate clarity, not because they are new, but because they are finally visible.[8]   A season-specific insight for quietly successful leaders If you are quietly successful yet increasingly unseen, this season is not asking you to reinvent yourself. It is asking you to clarify yourself. Consider the example of John Mitchell, a mature leader at a mid-sized tech firm. John exemplifies how individual leaders’ actions can influence organizational outcomes. He consistently communicates his decision-making process to his team and shares strategic insights during regular meetings. This intentional communication not only makes his leadership more visible but also fosters greater alignment and coherence within his team. In John’s case, transparently sharing the rationale behind his decisions builds trust. He facilitates a mutual understanding of goals, which contributes to more cohesive collaboration and improved problem-solving. As a result, his team members are better equipped to anticipate expectations and align their efforts with organizational priorities, thereby enhancing overall performance. Such practices reflect a broader trend in strategic leadership research, which highlights the explicit connection between personal leadership behaviors (like those demonstrated by John) and their positive impact on team alignment and overall organizational effectiveness. What feels obvious to you is often invisible to others. Naming it is an act of leadership.[9] Today, authority evolves less on time served and more on clarity.   Closing reframe Experience continues to hold significant value, though it no longer serves as the sole determinant of leadership authority. In contemporary contexts, authority is established by translating expertise into purposeful action and by offering insights that are thoughtfully communicated and accessible to others. Quietly successful leaders advance by expressing their perspectives meaningfully rather than by increasing their visibility through superficial means. To begin adapting to this shift in leadership expectations, take time to reflect on a recent decision you made, analyze its context and consequences, and share your reflection with a colleague. This practical step provides a foundation for articulating your leadership insights, enabling you to participate more intentionally and visibly in the ongoing evolution of leadership authority. When you give language to what you have lived, your authority becomes visible again.   Join the Silent Success Newsletter If this reflection resonates, I share insights on leadership authority, visibility, and professional transition in my newsletter here . It is for leaders who value clarity over performance. You are welcome to join. Follow me on Facebook , Instagram , and LinkedIn for more info! Read more from Michelle Gines Michelle Gines, Founder of Purpose Publishing Michelle 'MG' Gines is an author, publisher, and executive strategist known for helping leaders turn their expertise into books, businesses, and platforms that create lasting influence. As the founder of Purpose Publishing and Expertise Unleashed, she has guided hundreds of authors from idea to implementation, building pathways that amplify both message and momentum. She also serves as a corporate digital strategies leader in the healthcare payer space, where she designs experiences for millions across the U.S. MG blends clarity, compassion, and conviction with a faith-forward perspective that inspires transformation and purposeful growth. Her work equips high-achieving professionals to unlock their voice, elevate their brilliance, and lead. References: [1] (The Leading Blog: A Leadership Blog, 2025) [2] (Unger, 2025) [3] (“Seeing to be seen”: The manager’s political economy of visibility in new ways of working, 2021) [4] (Schweitzer, 1963) [5] (Yost, 2012) [6] (Allen et al., 2004) [7] (Killion & Todnem, 1991) [8] (Creating Organizational Clarity, 2024) [9] (Marquis, 2025)

Written by Alfonso Gonzalez, ISSA Master Trainer and Wellness Coach Alfonso (AL) Gonzalez is an ISSA Master Trainer, Certified Wellness Coach, and Co-Founder of the Kairos Wellness Experience. Known for his multidimensional approach to wellness, AL helps individuals cultivate physical vitality, emotional resilience, and inner peace through integrative practices rooted in both science and lived experience. Mindfulness and meditation are everywhere, in leadership training, wellness programs, therapy offices, and corporate resilience initiatives. They’re praised for improving focus, emotional regulation, and stress management. Yet despite their popularity, many people quietly reach the same conclusion, “This doesn’t work for me.” They can’t focus. Their minds race. Meditation feels frustrating instead of calming. The problem isn’t a lack of discipline or motivation. It’s a missing neurological prerequisite.  If the body is tense and the brain is locked in threat-detection “fight or flight”, attention cannot settle into stillness. When stress hormones like cortisol remain elevated, the brain prioritizes vigilance over presence. – Al Gonzalez That missing piece is relaxation. The hidden reason mindfulness often fails From a neuroscience perspective, mindfulness and meditation don’t begin in the mind, they begin in the nervous system. If the body is tense and the brain is locked in threat-detection mode, attention cannot settle into stillness. When stress hormones like cortisol remain elevated, the brain prioritizes vigilance over presence. In this state: Thoughts accelerate Emotional reactivity increases Awareness feels uncomfortable or unsafe Trying to “be mindful” without first downregulating the nervous system is like trying to sleep with the lights on and alarms blaring. Relaxation isn’t optional, it’s foundational. What relaxation actually is (and what it isn’t) Relaxation is often misunderstood as passivity or disengagement. In reality, it is a biological state of safety. From a cognitive-neuroscience lens, relaxation occurs when: Protective muscular tension softens Breathing slows down and deepens The nervous system shifts out of fight-or-flight Cortisol levels begin to fall This shift creates the internal conditions necessary for higher-order brain functions, including awareness, empathy, and cognitive flexibility. When relaxation is absent: Presence feels inaccessible Meditation becomes effortful Mindfulness feels like another task to “get right” It’s not a failure of attention. It’s a failure of physiology. When relaxation becomes the entry point, presence stops feeling like effort, and clarity becomes sustainable. – Al Gonzalez Mindfulness: Awareness that requires safety In my workshops, I explain mindfulness as a skill of attention and awareness, the ability to observe sensations, emotions, and thoughts without resistance or judgment, in the present moment.  It involves: Observing thoughts without attachment Noticing emotions without suppression or judgment Staying curious rather than self-critical But mindfulness requires a regulated nervous system. A brain flooded with stress hormones cannot comfortably explore the present moment, it scans for threats instead. Relaxation creates an internal safety that allows awareness to expand. Meditation: Training the mind through stillness Meditation is a formal mental training practice that strengthens attentional control and emotional balance over time. Research consistently shows meditation can: Reduce anxiety Improve emotional regulation and clear seeing Increase stress resilience But meditation is not the starting point. Without relaxation, the mind resists stillness. The body remains braced. Stillness feels uncomfortable rather than restorative. Relaxation makes meditation accessible. A simple neuroscience-based framework Rather than competing practices, relaxation, mindfulness, and meditation function as a progressive system: Relaxation initiates the shift out of threat Mindfulness sustains awareness within safety Meditation deepens clear seeing through training Together, they reverse chronic stress patterns by lowering cortisol and supporting recovery-based neurochemistry associated with calm, connection, and optimism. Why this matters for brain health and resilience Chronic stress is linked to: Impaired memory Reduced cognitive flexibility Emotional reactivity Pessimistic thought patterns By contrast, when the nervous system repeatedly experiences safety and recovery, the brain becomes more adaptable, resilient, and emotionally balanced. Relaxation initiates the shift out of threat. Mindfulness sustains awareness within safety. Meditation deepens clear seeing through training – Al Gonzalez This is where optimism becomes biological, not forced. Bringing it into daily life Mindfulness and meditation don’t fail people. People are asked to practice them without first being taught how to relax. When relaxation becomes the entry point, presence stops feeling like effort, and clarity becomes sustainable. Continue your journey with Kairos Wellness Experience At Kairos Wellness Experience, we teach relaxation as a learnable physiological skill, using breath-centered, nervous-system-aware practices that make mindfulness and meditation more accessible and effective. If you’re ready to move beyond effort and into transformation, clarity, and resilience, learn more here . A calmer nervous system isn’t a luxury, it’s the foundation for sustainable performance and well-being. Follow me on Facebook ,  Instagram , and visit my  LinkedIn for more info! Read more from Alfonso Gonzalez Alfonso Gonzalez , ISSA Master Trainer and Wellness Coach AL Gonzalez is redefining what it means to be “well” in today’s fast-paced world. His approach at the Kairos Wellness Experience goes beyond surface-level fitness, offering deep, integrative practices that restore balance, build resilience, and foster community. By teaching participants how to “breathe for power and peace,” AL empowers people from all walks of life to reclaim their wellness, not just as a destination, but as a daily practice.