Written by Dr. Janet Curcio Wilson, Ecopsychologist, Educational Advocate, and Registered Art Therapist Based upon recent quantum physics research by Italian physicist, Dr. Federico Faggin, Dr. Curcio Wilson's research in depth psychology suggests synchronicities are "spiritually causal." She is the founder of "the intuitive mindset method," a proven strategy that employs synchronicities as a personal GPS system to manifest intentions. There seems to be a silent movement creeping slowly into our awareness. Have you noticed? It appears as a shift in consciousness, where the message begins as a whisper and then gradually, and seemingly without our awareness, increases in intensity. Do you feel it? Do you sense something is changing beneath the surface? It may feel like a gentle nudge or a stirring that cannot be denied at first. Yet, as time passes, this nudge begins to feel more like a push, like something that can no longer be ignored, and this nudge seems to have stages. Initially, you may feel as if something or someone is trying to get a message to you, yet it is barely audible, quite vague, and out of reach, so you may ignore it. Then, without warning, this voice gets a bit more persistent, a bit louder, and a bit clearer. You begin to pay attention, and as you do, the message gradually comes into focus. You feel called by an unseen force, which starts by asking you to think about sharing this experience. You may convince yourself that your friends might think you are a bit crazy if you share it. After all, you can barely clarify these whispered concepts for yourself. Surprisingly, for those who push through the initial fear of sharing, they find many others are receiving a similar message. How is this possible? The answer appears to be building within the field of quantum physics, specifically through the research of Italian physicist Dr. Federico Faggin. He is the inventor of the microprocessor. He published his book Irreducible in 2024,[1] wherein he suggests consciousness does not reside in the human brain. Rather, he describes the human brain as a receiver, much like a radio transmitter or a computer. He suggests the universe itself is conscious. This has profound implications for human potential and may help explain this vague awakening many people seem to be experiencing. Let us look at these implications. Although no one can prove where thoughts come from, if Faggin is right and the universe itself is conscious, with the human brain acting as a receiver, it makes sense to consider the possibility that thoughts come through us as energy. Scientists have long known the brain has electrical energy, which is why an electroencephalogram, or EEG, works. It measures the electrical impulses in the human brain and translates these impulses into waves. Scientists have also known the human heart has magnetic properties which, together with the brain, create the electromagnetic energy of the heart and brain connection, as discussed in research conducted by the HeartMath organization.[2] In this way, thoughts and feelings may be transmitted outside the human body to what classical field theory referred to as the quantum field, as described by Faraday and Maxwell.[3] It is here that electromagnetic impulses generated by the coherence of our heart and brain, when resonating at the same frequency, have the capacity to be projected into the cosmos, for example, into the quantum field. It seems we may be sending messages out into the world through our thoughts, amplified by our feelings, whether through conscious intention or unwittingly. This is where the theory of entanglement may provide a bridge between what we send out and what we receive. Entanglement theory, when originally discovered in 1935, referred to the separation of photons and electrons. Einstein discovered that when systems such as spin were adjusted in one photon, the effect on the other photon instantaneously made the exact same adjustment.[4] Even though entanglement theory remains a theoretical experiment, it suggests that atomic particles with the same composition, separated by distance, appear to have an intimate connection which enables what happens to one to immediately happen to the other. Whether this can be extrapolated from the atomic level to the electromagnetic level has yet to be proven. Yet, if humans are made of stardust and have the same composition as animals, planets, plants, minerals, and the Earth, might a conscious universe play a role in concert with the electromagnetic energy we send out into its quantum field? What might that role be? Perhaps current New Age theorists may have something viable when they suggest the universe may be listening. Our intentions might be heard by a conscious universe, and it might be speaking back to us through our thoughts and through synchronicities. Maybe that slight nudge we are hearing is the universe itself attempting to get our attention. It does not appear likely that this idea can be “proven” by the scientific method, at least at this point in history. However, if we investigate the lived experience of many Indigenous tribes who have maintained a deeply personal relationship with the natural world, we find that some tribes, such as the Shipibo of northern Peru, do not believe in coincidences. For example, this tribe suggests that when an uncanny coincidence occurs, like the synchronicities we all experience from time to time, it is “the voice of the cosmos” confirming we are on the right path. When I visited and studied this tribe for my doctoral research, I found their deep reverence for the consciousness inherent within all living things blessed them with a primordial relationship extending back millennia. They appeared to be in conversation with the universe in a way that modern civilization has largely lost due to years of domestication. I would like to leave you with this final thought. Cultural historian Thomas Berry (1999) suggested humanity has disengaged from what he referred to as “the great conversation” when we established civilizations. He stated, “The universe is a communion of subjects, not a collection of objects.”[5] He believed every being has agency, meaning, and voice as the story of our cosmos unfolded. So, if that slight voice within you is trying to get your attention, perhaps it is time to listen, not in a scant or incidental manner, but to engage in “exquisite listening,” a term that suggests listening with your whole being, open to greater potentialities. My research findings[6] suggest “the voice of the cosmos,” which Indigenous peoples experience regularly, may lead us to reconsider Carl Jung’s definition of synchronicity as acausal, meaning without a cause. My findings suggest synchronicity may be spiritually causal, and we, as humans, through our thinking and feeling, may be the cause. The reason a synchronicity may hold meaning for us could be because it originated within our thoughts first and was then sent out to the quantum field. Perhaps we are being asked to sharpen our intuition so that we have the ears to hear the “voice of the cosmos” arising within our hearts, allowing its message to be respected by our thinking brain and enabling us to resonate with the frequency that supports and sustains life. The next time you experience a synchronicity, an uncanny coincidence that appears nearly magical, ask yourself, “What have I been musing about and hoping for lately? How might this uncanny coincidence have a message for me? Is it here to validate that I am on the right path, or is there something I may be missing?” Then close your eyes, sit very still, and place one hand over your heart for at least five minutes. Listen to the sounds around you as you remain open to that whispering voice. Who knows? This may be the start of a “great conversation.” Follow me on Facebook , Instagram , and visit my website for more info! Read more from Dr. Janet Curcio Wilson Dr. Janet Curcio Wilson, Ecopsychologist, Educational Advocate, and Registered Art Therapist Dr. Curcio Wilson is an Ecopsychologist, Educational Advocate, and Registered Art Therapist. Her work combines art and nature therapy with quantum physics and psychology in a step-by-step individualized process designed to help clients direct their life’s purpose. This psychospiritual approach anchors quantum healing by weaving the best of science with practical tools for personal transformation. As a retired educator of 49 years, Janet’s embodied approach to building the human-nature relationship provides individuals from a path toward personal harmony.. She works with individuals ages 3 to 103. References: [1] Faggin, F. (2024). Irreducible: Consciousness, life, computers, and human nature. Essentia Books. [2] Balaji, S., Nachum P., Atkinson, M., Muthu,M., Ragulskis, M., Vainoras,A.., McCraty, R.,   (2025). Heart rate variability biofeedback in a global study of the most common coherence frequencies and the impact of emotional states Scientific Reports, (2025) 15:3241. DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-87729-7 . [3] Franklin, J.(2018). Classical field theory. Cambridge University Press.  [4] Einstein, A., Podotsky, B., & Rosen (1935). Can quantum-mechanical description of physical reality be considered complete? Physical Review, 47(10), 777-780. https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRev.47.777 [5] Berry, T. (2006). Evening thoughts: Reflecting on Earth as sacred community (m>E. Tucker, Ed.). Sierra Book Club Books. [6] Curcio Wilson, J. (2025) The mandorla pathway: Synchronicity’s regenesis of the human–nature relationship (Doctoral dissertation). Pacifica Graduate Institute. ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global

Mark Mathia is a renowned business strategist, executive coach, and profit acceleration expert who has spent over 30 years building, scaling, and leading high-performing businesses across industries, with a particular depth in healthcare and entrepreneurship. A Gallup-Certified Strengths Coach, ICF Associate Certified Coach (ACC), and Certified Positive Psychology Coach, Mark combines brain science, proven strategies, and energy alignment to help driven owners and executives break through plateaus and achieve sustainable dominance. Through his proprietary CatalX PSE™ framework, fusing Psychology, Strategy, and Energy, he empowers clients to uncover hidden revenue (often $100K to $1M+), amplify their unique strengths, eliminate burnout, and create systems that deliver what he calls Triple Margin Freedom: dramatically higher profits, reclaimed personal time, and thriving relationships without constant grind. His clients, ranging from CEOs of growing enterprises to visionary founders, consistently report transformative results, doubling revenues, restoring passion for their work, and building legacies that extend far beyond the balance sheet. Mark is also the host of the Essentially You podcast, author of practical guides to profitability, and a sought-after speaker who believes true success isn't just about working harder, it's about leading smarter, living fuller, and leaving a meaningful impact. Mark Mathia, Chief Catalyst Officer & Business Strategist Who is Mark Mathia? Introduce yourself, your interests, what you love outside work, and something unique about you. “I’ve summited mountains both literally and figuratively.” After three decades in boardrooms and corner offices, scaling businesses, leading teams, and making high-stakes decisions that impacted hundreds, I know what it takes to win at the top. But outside work, I'm a devoted husband and father who draws deep joy from my faith, family adventures like hiking the Rockies, and mentoring the next generation. Something unique? I've summited mountains both literally and figuratively, turning startup struggles into profitable exits. That's why I founded Mark Mathia Coaching & Consulting, LLC, as a Business Strategist and Coach. My mission: Help ambitious leaders refuse success without soul, unlocking Triple Margin Freedom, skyrocketing profits for bold impact, reclaimed time to live fully, and high-trust relationships that fuel partnerships. Blending my Gallup-Certified Strengths Coach expertise, Integrative Enneagram practice, Positive Psychology coaching, and John Maxwell Team insights with my proprietary CatalX™ formula (Psychology × Strategy × Energy), we rewire mindsets via neuroscience, activate hidden revenue, and shift grind to grace. The result? Effortless domination, burnout-proof cultures, and legacies blending excellence and joy. What pivotal moment in your career inspired you to shift from corporate success to empowering others through strengths-based coaching? “Watching leaders transform was electric.” Like many of my clients, I too hit peak success – skyrocketing revenue, explosive growth, industry accolades, but inside, I was grinding to exhaustion, teetering on collapse. Like most entrepreneurs, I’ve also led through the economic downturns. I like to say I’m an entrepreneur at heart and have the scars to prove it. Given the extreme differences between success and failure, I found that traditional systems that fixated on "fixing" weaknesses felt backward, like building on quicksand. During the peak success moments focusing on weaknesses killed momentum, and during the hard times, the wrong focus guaranteed failure.  Then, Gallup's strengths research and Marcus Buckingham's insights flipped everything: Potential explodes by amplifying natural wiring, not patching flaws. Watching leaders transform, ditching deficits, boosting engagement, igniting productivity and joy, was electric. That fire led to my CatalX PSE™ framework. This shift reclaimed 20 hours a week for me personally, now, I help clients do the same. How do you help business owners and leaders stop “grinding” and start dominating with more ease? “The secret isn’t harder work, it’s smarter, intentional systems built around natural gifts.” My own grind-to-thriving journey forged this path. Via CatalX PSE™, Psychology × Strategy × Energy, we uncover subconscious blocks, align vision with high-leverage systems, and optimize energy. Clients double revenues while cutting hours, building aligned teams that thrive. Can you explain your CatalX PSE™ formula and how it accelerates profit and performance? “Think of it as a three-legged stool: Remove one, everything topples.” Psychology (80% of our Success): Rewire mindsets with CliftonStrengths®, Enneagram iEQ9, NLP. Builds bold confidence, ends self-sabotage. Strategy: Proprietary playbooks uncover $100K-$1M+ revenue via high-impact moves. Energy: Seals leaks, fuels long-term wins. Multiplicatively, it accelerates 2-3x margins. Gallup shows that strengths-based teams hit 17% higher productivity. In today's fast-paced world, what hidden challenges do leaders overlook, and how does your CatalX PSE™ framework turn them into opportunities? The most overlooked challenge isn't external, it's the subtle, internal ceiling many leaders unknowingly place on their own success, fulfillment, and impact. Deep down, we each carry an invisible threshold for how much abundance, joy, and sustained high performance we believe we truly deserve. When things start going exceptionally well, revenues climbing, teams thriving, personal life aligning, we often unconsciously create drama, overcomplicate decisions, or drift into exhaustion to pull ourselves back to a "safer," more familiar level. This self-imposed limit fuels subconscious blocks, an exhausting fixation on fixing perceived weaknesses, and chronic misalignment, manifesting as burnout and disengagement (Gallup reports only 15% of employees worldwide are truly engaged). CatalX PSE™ transforms these hidden barriers into profound opportunities by systematically dismantling that inner ceiling. Through Psychology, we uncover and release those limiting thresholds, expanding your capacity to embrace ever-greater levels of success without self-sabotage. Strategy redirects energy away from weakness-chasing toward amplifying your unique strengths and operating in your zone of true genius, the activities where your natural gifts ignite effortless flow, creativity, and fulfillment. Energy then aligns your team and culture around this elevated state, creating momentum that feels abundant rather than forced. The outcome? Leaders reclaim vast amounts of time and vitality, accelerate profits sustainably, and build resilient, high-engagement cultures where everyone thrives. I've guided clients to double revenues and retention rates within 12 months, not through grinding harder, but by stepping fully into this expanded space where success compounds naturally and joyfully. What makes strengths-based coaching and positive psychology different from traditional business coaching? “Traditional coaching patches leaks in a sinking ship. Strengths-based amplifies gifts, unlocking exponential potential.” It’s asset-oriented, neuroscience-grounded, and holistic, delivering Triple Margin Freedom beyond siloed tactics. How does integrating faith and family values into your coaching help clients achieve holistic success? “It’s success with soul, honoring the whole person.” Faith and family are core anchors in my own life, and I bring that perspective into my coaching as a foundation for living and leading with integrity. Importantly, my personal faith never imposes on a client’s beliefs, coaching is always respectful of whatever spiritual or values framework they hold (or don’t hold). Instead, we gently explore what they  truly believe, why it matters to them, and how clearly their daily actions align with those values. When leaders live in alignment, when their choices consistently reflect their deepest values, they experience flow, sustained energy, abundance, and success that feels meaningful and lasting. When actions drift outside those values, it often leads to burnout, moral compromise, leadership fatigue, and eventual breakdowns. Through tools like the Enneagram and strengths assessments, we clarify those core values, build healthy boundaries, reclaim priority time for family and personal renewal, and create leadership habits rooted in integrity. One client, for example, reclaimed his Sundays to be fully present with his kids, and in the same season, his revenues soared. The result is holistic success: thriving professionally without sacrificing the relationships and inner peace that make it all worthwhile.  What's one underrated tool in your arsenal that consistently delivers 'aha' moments for clients? The Profit Elevation Audit: The hidden revenue revealer most leaders never see coming. While many coaches focus exclusively on mindset, values, and communication, all important elements of emotional intelligence (EQ), I’ve discovered the profound truth that separates struggling businesses from unstoppable ones: profit is the master domino. When profit accelerates, it knocks over every other obstacle, hiring becomes effortless, cash flow stress vanishes, team engagement soars, innovation flows freely, and personal freedom expands dramatically. That’s why profit acceleration and business mastery sit at the absolute core of everything I do at MarkMathiaCoaching.com . We don’t just elevate EQ, we sharply raise business IQ, strategic execution, revenue optimization, and operational intelligence, creating the complete intelligence required for sustainable, high-velocity growth and what I call Triple Margin Freedom: dramatically higher profits, reclaimed personal time, and a thriving marriage and family life. The underrated tool that consistently triggers the biggest “aha” moments is my proprietary Profit Elevation Audit, a rapid, deep-dive diagnostic that uncovers hidden revenue, untapped margins, and overlooked opportunities already sitting inside the business. When paired with the CatalX PSE™ framework, these discoveries become immediate, high-leverage action plans that transform insight into cash flow fast. One founder walked in feeling stuck at seven figures with constant overwhelm. The audit revealed $500K in annual revenue hiding in pricing, process, and positioning gaps he couldn’t see. Within months of implementing the fixes, that money was in the bank, without adding headcount or working longer hours. It’s not just analysis, it’s revelation that directly translates into bigger profits, greater freedom, and the kind of business mastery most leaders only dream about. Can you share a real success story where your work changed a business’s results or a leader’s life? “I actually like my team now, and they love working here.” A CEO was forced into micromanaging amid plateaued revenue and regulatory risks. We redesigned her role around her Relationship Building and Strategic Thinking strengths. In 12 months: revenues and donations improved, engagement soared up 40%, and she cut her hours down to 45 per week. Triple Margin Freedom in action! How do you help clients grow profit, reclaim time, and build teams that run without burnout? “Your organization will never outpace your current level of thinking.” We uncover talents via Enneagram and CliftonStrengths®, then build “strengths partnerships.” Result: Profit grows, time is reclaimed, burnout becomes rare, clients report 2-3x margins, and renewed vitality. But we don’t stop at that, we must raise our IQ as well as our EQ, and my proprietary coaching offers educational tracks that help business owners expand their knowledge to actually grow their business. For this, I offer courses in finance, a virtual MBA, and you get full support all along the journey. Your organization will never outpace your current level of thinking. Expand your knowledge the business always follows. What emerging trends in leadership do you see, and how does your coaching prepare clients for them? “Leading well in a world with smart computers, remote teams, and people who want work to feel meaningful.” Right now, three big changes are happening in how leaders do their jobs: Smart computers (AI) are helping with work, like doing boring tasks fast or giving new ideas. Good leaders use AI to make their teams stronger, not to replace people. They keep things kind, fair, and human. Teams working from home or different places is now normal. Leaders have to be really good at making everyone feel connected, even when they’re not in the same room. They care more about what gets done than who’s sitting at a desk. People want work to matter. Workers are tired and stressed. They want bosses who care about them, give them purpose, and help them avoid burning out. Great leaders build teams where people feel valued and happy. My coaching helps leaders get ready for all of this. Using my CatalX PSE™ method, we work on three things: Mind – Helping leaders stay calm and flexible when things change fast. Plan – Teaching them how to use AI and new tools the smart way, so they can grow their business while focusing on what they’re best at. Energy – Keeping leaders and their teams strong and positive, even when life is busy. We build workplaces where people feel connected and excited about their work. The goal? Leaders end up ready for the future. They can use new technology, lead teams that aren’t always together, and create places where people love working, and the business does really well too. My clients say they don’t just feel ready, they feel excited to lead in this new world! What are the first steps someone should take if they want to work with you or transform their business? Self-Assess: Grab free Profit Acceleration Trainings at markmathiacoaching.com Discovery Call: Book a 45-minute no-obligation session Dive In: Join private coaching or programs “No progress in 90 days? The next 90 are free, I’m that confident.” What do you want your ideal clients to know about the value and long-term impact of working with you? “I want you to know that this isn’t just about growing your business, it’s about reclaiming the life and legacy you started this for in the first place.” When you finally step fully into operating from your unique strengths, doing the work only you can do with the gifts only you have, everything shifts. Decisions become clearer. Energy stops leaking. Growth feels natural instead of forced. And success starts to feel deeply fulfilling, not just impressive on paper. But the real impact goes far beyond the bottom line. My deepest desire for you is that you rediscover the passion that made you start this journey, the fire that once kept you up at night dreaming big. I want you to become the present, fully-engaged spouse, parent, and friend you long to be, without the constant pull of guilt or unfinished work. And I want you to build a business that runs with strength and independence, one that serves your life instead of consuming it, one you can proudly pass on as a thriving legacy. This work is life-changing because it touches every part of who you are: the leader, the visionary, the family member, the human being hungry for meaning. Years from now, my clients don’t just look back on bigger revenues or smoother operations. They tell me they look back on regained time with their kids, restored intimacy in their marriage, renewed energy for what matters most, and a profound sense of peace knowing they built something sustainable, values-driven, and truly their own. If that’s the future you want, one where success serves your whole life, not the other way around, I’m here to walk with you every step of the way. Follow me on Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn , and visit my website for more info! Read more from Mark Mathia

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.

Written by Vibecke Garnaas, New Earth Strategist New Earth Strategist, certified spiritual coach, and published author with 17+ years guiding awakening souls through 1,500+ transformative channeling sessions and globally recognized Spiritual Quest Podcast. As a leader, you’ve always thrived on momentum, solving problems, moving fast, and holding space for others. But what happens when the drive fades, and clarity feels out of reach? These moments of stillness aren’t signs of failure, they’re invitations to evolve. You might find yourself asking: Am I still aligned with my mission? Why does my work feel so heavy? Is this burnout, or is something deeper unfolding? These questions are not signs of failure. They are signals of expansion. You are not stuck or lost. You are leveling up. Recognizing the signs of this transformation is the first step toward embracing your role as a New Earth Leader. New Earth Leadership Motivational culture often tells us that leveling up feels like a triumph. But sometimes, it feels like stillness. It feels like spaciousness. It feels like silence. These moments of stillness are not setbacks, they are the sacred pause that invites you to step into a new way of leading. This is where real transformation begins, an invitation into New Earth Leadership. New Earth Leadership is not about accelerating harder or pursuing endless upward motion. It’s about anchoring more deeply into presence, wisdom, and truth. Our world is ready for leaders who nurture sustainability, compassion, and genuine connection, not through force, but through the gentle, unwavering power of their being. When you feel called to slow down, to listen more deeply, and recalibrate your course, this is not a step back. This is the essence of New Earth Leadership, a sacred act of aligning with the next, more authentic phase of your evolution. You are moving, not away from purpose, but toward a more expansive, vibrant expression of your mission, co-creating a loving and awakened world. Related:  How to Channel Your Soul’s Wisdom for Global Impact in 5 Steps 6 signs you are leveling up 1. Feeling disconnected from old roles You no longer resonate with the identities you once wore. This isn’t apathy, it is your alignment shifting. You might think, "I used to know exactly who I was. Now, I’m not so sure." That’s growth in action, and it’s a reflection of the Law of Resonance, what you align with internally, you naturally attract. As your energy field expands, old patterns fall away, clearing space for new opportunities and relationships that match your evolving frequency. 2. Your purpose feels like an echo What once drove you now feels distant. This isn’t a loss, it’s your life making space for something new and more aligned with you. You might ask, "Why doesn’t this excite me anymore?" The answer lies in the Law of Conservation of Energy, energy is never lost, only transformed. The echo of your old purpose is your field releasing what no longer serves you, making room for a new, more meaningful direction. 3. You are drawn to stillness, not stimulation Instead of reaching for more, you seek less. This longing for quiet is your system recalibrating to receive clarity. When you say, "I just want quiet," know that your nervous system is yearning for coherence. It’s the Law of Rhythm at work, everything moves in cycles, and this phase is the pause between inhale and exhale, between what was and what’s to come. Embracing this rhythm helps you trust the process and surrender the urge to rush forward. 4. You are questioning everything Your breath slows, and your body softens as the energy shifts within you. Beliefs, goals, and values are placed under gentle review. Here, the Law of Polarity reveals itself – growth often mirrors contraction. Before we expand, we must first contract. Embracing both the emptiness and the fullness, the loss and the gain, opens the gateway to true expansion. 5. You feel spacious, not empty Emptiness can feel like absence, but spaciousness is pure presence awaiting form. You are becoming the container for what’s next. If you sense hollowness, reframe it as openness. This, too, is the Law of Rhythm – all of life moves in cycles. Spaciousness marks the pause between cycles, the womb of potential, not the void of loss. 6. You are experiencing synchronicities Meaningful coincidences and resonant patterns begin to guide your way. This is the Law of Correspondence in motion, as above, so below, as within, so without. Your internal shifts are reflected in your external world. As you recalibrate, your environment, relationships, and opportunities adjust and align to support your next phase. How to embrace the sacred pause Now that you recognize the signs of leveling up, you may be wondering how to move through this powerful, in-between space. The sacred pause is not a void to be filled, but a fertile ground for new growth. Here are heartfelt practices to help you honor this time, invite clarity, and support your next evolution. These steps will support you in finding clarity, cultivating deeper presence, and embracing your personal evolution as it unfolds. Anchor in breath. Clarity comes from breathing deeper, not thinking harder. Avoid labels. Don’t rush to define this phase as "stuck" or "lost." Create rituals of stillness. Try morning silence, evening reflection, or breathwork. Trust the reconfiguration. Your field is aligning with a higher harmonic. Remember, the law of free will is always at play during this sacred pause. While the universal laws may guide your process, you remain the ultimate creator. You choose how to respond as things unfold, whether to resist or flow, contract or expand, cling or release. Each choice carries the power to shape your journey and call in new levels of clarity and growth. Leveling up is not always loud. Sometimes, it is a whisper. A pause. A breath. In these moments of stillness, you are invited to listen deeply, to honor the unity that pulses within your own heart and the hearts that surround you. Let the silence be your teacher. Allow the breath to guide you to new levels of awareness and connection. You are not alone on this journey. We rise together, heart to heart, spirit to spirit, igniting a movement of healing and awakening across this earth. Trust the pause. Trust the calling within you. As you open to this new way of leadership, you step boldly into the role of torchbearer, one who shines light, inspires unity, and embraces transformation for the highest good of all. The world is waiting for your radiance. Breathe, pause, and lead the way. Related: Become the Peace – The Inner Work That Changes Everything Channeled transmission As a trans channeler, I serve as a conduit for messages from higher consciousness, spoken through me and recorded in real time. The following transmission was not authored in the traditional sense, it was received directly from the Chief of the Holy Land, a spiritual archetype embodying ancestral wisdom, unity, and the sacred fire of transformation. It is offered here not as doctrine, but as a living frequency, one that may resonate with your own inner knowing and ignite the torchbearer’s spirit within you. “You have chosen to walk in unity. Many of you have already felt the Oneness within your hearts and are now taking inspired action. Self-love is the light that will birth the new world. But it is only the beginning. Now, as you experience unconditional love between hearts, you ignite a force within the torchbearer’s spirit, a vibration that burns within the fire of each heart, within the heart of Mother Earth, and within the holy land itself. This fire is now yours to wield. But you must seek the silence within your heart, listen carefully to what your soul is now sending, and align with the speed of its vibration to manifest the movement within yourself, your group, and your community. You stand at the threshold of a new year, a time of opening. Opening your community. Opening your hearts. Opening to the understanding that your soul’s spirit was created in unity. Now, you are asked to embrace your soul’s purpose, to stand united in the strength, power, and force of the torchbearer’s spirit. We need you. We need the resources of your soul. The time has come to give back to Mother Earth, to humanity, to the universe as a whole. It is all free will, dear friends. You choose the steps you take. You choose to embrace or to walk your own path. The choice is yours. So open your hearts. Allow your soul energy to move. Let the movement arise within your group and take this community into the world to manifest what is now needed to support Mother Earth and all living beings.” This message serves as a reminder that the journey of leadership is not one of isolation but of unity and co-creation. If you’re ready to step fully into your role as a New Earth Leader, let’s embark on this transformative journey together. I invite you to   book a Discovery Call  today to take the first step toward aligning your mission with your highest potential and co-creating the future you are meant to lead. The world is waiting for your light. Trust the pause, embrace the calling, and lead the way into a new era of unity and transformation. Related: Bridging Dimensions and Guiding Souls to Their True Frequency – Interview   with Vibecke Garnaas Follow me on Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn , and visit my website for more info! Read more from Vibecke Garnaas Vibecke Garnaas, New Earth Strategist Vibecke Garnaas is a New Earth Strategist, certified spiritual coach, and a Channeler for higher consciousness, offering a unique blend of holistic guidance, multidimensional healing, and personal transformation. With over 17 years of experience and 1,500+ life-changing channeling sessions, she empowers awakening souls to align with their purpose and embrace their divine essence. Through her globally recognized Spiritual Quest Podcast, signature mentorship programs, and transformative retreats, Vibecke creates uplifting spaces for healing and awakening, inspiring conscious co-creators to shine their light and foster planetary transformation.

Written by Natasha B. Russell Darby, Motivational Speaker A dynamic force in the entrepreneurial world, Natasha B. Russell Darby (NBR) is the Founder & CEO of NBR Global Solutions Inc. With a passion for empowering purpose-driven ventures, NBR Global Solutions offers coaching, speaking, training, and consulting services that equip entrepreneurs, businesses & non-profits with the tools they need to succeed. As we step into the first days of 2026, the air is thick with "resolutions." But for the high-level entrepreneur and executive, resolutions are rarely enough. What is required is a fundamental shift in valuation. In business, we meticulously track the ROI of our investments, the depreciation of our assets, and the health of our balance sheets. Yet, many leaders fail to apply that same rigor to their most critical asset, themselves. To thrive in 2026, you must stop treating your energy as an infinite resource and start treating it as your most sacred capital. 1. Energy management over time management We have been lied to. We’ve been told that if we just "manage our time" better, we can do it all. But time is a finite commodity, energy is the actual engine of leadership. You can have a perfectly blocked-out calendar, but if your energy is depleted, your decision-making will be flawed, your creativity will be stagnant, and your leadership will be reactive. The audit: Look at your daily tasks. Are they "energy givers" or "energy takers"? The shift: To thrive, you must protect your "power hours", those times when your focus is highest, and refuse to spend them on low-value administrative noise. 2. Delegation as an act of sovereignty Many leaders view delegation as "passing the buck" or a loss of control. In reality, failing to delegate is a failure of leadership. When you insist on doing everything yourself, you become the bottleneck of your own organization. Delegation is not just about offloading tasks, it is about reclaiming your genius. The rule of 80%: If someone else can do a task at 80% of your capacity, it shouldn't be on your desk. Trust as scale: By delegating, you aren't just freeing your time, you are empowering your team to grow. You are choosing to lead at the level of strategy rather than the level of execution. 3. The "fuel" filter: Making choices that help you thrive Every "yes" you give to a project, a client, or a meeting is a "no" to your own well-being and strategic vision. In 2026, your primary goal is to become more selective. Ask yourself, "Does this fuel my vision, or does it merely fill my schedule?" The Thrive Fac tor: Choose relationships that are reciprocal. Choose projects that challenge your intellect. Choose habits that nourish your body. The Worthiness Mind set: Recognizing your own value means realizing that you do not have to "earn" rest through exhaustion. Rest is the preparation for peak performance. Make 2026 the year you lead from abundance A business is only as healthy as the person leading it. If you are ready to stop "grinding" and start growing, it begins with the decision to value yourself as much as your vision. The transition from a "Do-er" to a "Strategic Leader" is a journey that requires clarity, courage, and often, an outside perspective to help you see the blind spots in your own self-valuation. Let’s architect your thrive-state in 2026: Executive coaching: I specialize in helping leaders audit their energy, master the art of delegation, and build systems that prioritize their health without sacrificing their profit. Let’s work one-on-one to ensure your 2026 is your most sustainable year yet. Speaking engagements: I am currently booking keynotes and workshops for Q1 and Q2. I help organizations understand that "Self-Care is a Strategic Asset," providing teams with the tools to work smarter, lead better, and thrive collectively. You are the engine of your legacy. It’s time to start treating yourself like it. Connect with me via email  to schedule a discovery call or inquire about my 2026 speaking calendar. Follow me on Facebook , Instagram , and visit my   website  for more info! Read more from Natasha B. Russell Darby Natasha B. Russell Darby, Motivational Speaker NBR is driven to transform lives and businesses through impactful leadership and strategic communication. With a passion for purpose-driven leadership, she empowers clients to lead with purpose, confidence, and clarity. NBR's expertise in communication, branding, and public relations enables her clients to achieve their business goals and unlock new opportunities. As a sought-after speaker and event host, she inspires audiences to reach their full potential, both personally and professionally. Dedicated to making a positive impact globally, Natasha actively volunteers her time in support of youth.

Written by Kenneth J. Breniman, Grief Guide & Mindfully Mortal Therapist Ken Breniman is a queer author, licensed clinical social worker, yoga therapist, and thanatologist guiding fellow mindful mortals at the threshold of life, death, devotion, and (r)evolution. His work blends neuroscience, primatology, Celtic wisdom, and psychedelic integration to invite braver ways of being human. When Dr. Jane Goodall died last year, I was both saddened and, eventually, mobilized. Emerging research in grief psychology and neuroscience suggests that when grief is tended, it can become a powerful motivator, left unattended, it can become immobilizing. This is an empowering reframe, one increasingly relevant in a world shaped by collective loss. I wasn’t grieving because Dr. Goodall’s work was unfinished, nor because her legacy felt fragile. I was grieving because she embodied a way of being human that now feels endangered – patient, relational, scientifically grounded, spiritually humble, and hopeful without being naïve. In her final interview, she looked directly into the camera and into the eyes of anyone willing to meet her there. As an ancestor-in-training, this elderly woman took a sip of Irish whiskey and made a simple request to the world, “You have it in your power to make a difference. Don’t give up. Do your best while you’re still on this beautiful Planet Earth.” Not perfectly. Not heroically. But humanely. She reminded us that hope is not a feeling, it is a discipline. A practice. A choice repeated daily. Her death stirred grief in me, not just for her, but for the part of myself that had been waiting. Waiting for certainty. Waiting for moral clarity. Waiting for permission to act without contradiction. Instead, I stayed still. I wrapped myself in existential analysis like a weighted blanket and mistook paralysis for wisdom. Eventually, the weight became too heavy, and something else stirred, an urge to move. From despair to motion I grew up in rural Pennsylvania, where being different is noticed early. Later, I moved to Japan, came out, and found myself part of the early 1990s LGBTQ movement, one that wasn’t loud or performative. We were simply people showing up, risking small acts of honesty in daily life, often without language, legitimacy, or safety guaranteed. Ironically, it was in another country, living as a visible outsider, that I learned social change doesn’t always come from volume. Sometimes it comes from intentionality. Sometimes it comes from knowing when to speak and when to listen. When I returned to the United States, I became a social worker and grief-tender, walking alongside people navigating trauma, loss, and mortality. Years passed. I continued to serve. And still, the world hardened. Climate disruption accelerated. Extinction became visible rather than abstract. Authoritarian impulses, once considered fringe, began moving closer to the center. There is a particular despair that comes from understanding too much and moving too little. It can masquerade as maturity. In my mid-50s, I began asking a different question, "What is the smallest honest action that might interrupt my numbness?" For me, the answer was Borneo. Why Borneo, and why now Orangutans are not symbols. They are kin, sharing roughly 97 percent of our DNA, and they are exquisitely vulnerable to instability. Habitat loss has long been the headline. Climate disruption is now accelerating that loss, with researchers warning that its combined effects may push already fragile populations toward extinction. Peer-reviewed research estimates that over 100,000 Bornean orangutans disappeared between 1999 and 2015. Today, fewer than 105,000 remain in the wild. Climate change compounds this loss, erratic weather, prolonged droughts followed by intense rainfall, disrupted fruiting cycles, and collapsing forest canopies force orangutans into increasingly dangerous proximity with humans. Females give birth only once every seven to nine years. There is no quick recovery from compounded stress. What unsettled me most was a line from Daniel Quinn’s Ishmael that began haunting me again. If gorillas were gone, what would that say about humans? Rwanda and Uganda have made remarkable progress in gorilla conservation since Quinn wrote those words. But now another of our closest relatives faces climate-accelerated erasure. That realization became too heavy for me to hold without moving. The sound bath question, asked honestly Before leaving for Borneo, I offered a sound bath to chimpanzees at a local zoo. The keepers were receptive. The chimps were curious, alert, engaged, choosing proximity and distance on their own terms. That experience matters. And it proves nothing. Does it mean displaced, traumatized, and orphaned orangutans will find singing bowls soothing? Does it mean local communities will welcome them as meaningful tools rather than foreign curiosities? Does it risk becoming another well-intended imposition carried in by a Westerner? I don’t know. And that not-knowing matters. Primates are individuals. Sanctuaries are complex systems. Cultural relationships to sound, ritual, and outsiders vary widely. What regulates one nervous system may overwhelm another. So I hold this not as a solution, but as a hypothesis, one that must be tested slowly, ethically, and only with consent. If the answer is no, I will listen. If the answer is yes, I will remain cautious. Receptivity is not something I get to assume. It must be earned. Singing bowls: Borrowed, commercialized, complicated Singing bowls, often marketed in the West as “Tibetan,” originate from Tibet, Nepal, and the Himalayan foothills, where metal bowls historically served many purposes – ritual, alms collection, meditation support, and daily use. What is less acknowledged is that the modern wellness framing of singing bowls is largely a Western reinvention. Claims of ancient, exclusively meditative use are often overstated, retrofitted for global wellness markets now worth billions. Naming this matters. I am borrowing a tool that has been romanticized and commodified, sometimes thoughtfully, sometimes carelessly. That reality demands humility, not defensiveness. Why test this with primates at all? My working hypothesis is simple – apes in captivity, particularly those recovering from trauma, may benefit from carefully introduced, choice-based auditory enrichment that supports regulation, curiosity, and agency. This idea is not speculative fantasy. Zoos and sanctuaries routinely use auditory enrichment as part of welfare programs. Professionals at the Smithsonian National Zoo, the Oakland Zoo, and others have expressed openness to exploring this question when framed ethically and non-intrusively. That receptivity doesn’t prove effectiveness. It does suggest the question is legitimate. So rather than speculate endlessly, I chose to volunteer for a month in Borneo and donate a set of singing bowls, purchased with funds generously provided by my yoga students, as a potential tool the sanctuary may or may not choose to use in the future. Experiment does not mean extraction. It means observation, consent, and restraint. The white savior mirror I am a white American man with a passport, education, and professional flexibility. History is heavy with people who looked like me traveling somewhere “to help” and leaving harm behind. If this becomes a story about my meaning, it fails. If it centers my voice over local expertise, it fails. If it turns animals or communities into aesthetic backdrops, it fails. The only ethical posture I can find is this – to be a participant, not a protagonist. Show up. Follow local leadership. Accept correction. Leave changed, hopefully, for the better. The work, then, is not to withdraw in fear of getting it wrong, but to stay in relationship – to listen, to be accountable, and to keep choosing care over control. What this is really about: Grief, privilege, and the search for direction This is not about orangutans alone. It is about grief seeking direction. Privilege seeking responsibility. Love refuses to stay theoretical. If there is a way to use my access, care, curiosity, and devotion to primates, without pretending I’m saving anyone, then this work is worth doing. Time will tell what is welcomed and what is not. Listening is part of the work. A closing question If you read this and think, 'That’s him, not me,' pause. What part of you has gone dormant because the world felt too broken? What longing did you label impractical or naïve? What gift is still waiting for permission to be used? You don’t need to go to Borneo. You don’t need a platform. You don’t need perfection. But you do need to choose. You may need to curl up with despair for a while, most of us will at some point. Let stillness help it pass through you. Just don’t mistake it for a destination. Don’t let it become so heavy that it keeps you from moving. Eventually, my hope is this, you will crawl or step, however awkwardly, toward what you love. My lifelong hero spent her life reminding us that hope is not a feeling. It is a discipline. I’m choosing to practice it in a way that makes sense to me, imperfectly, visibly, and in motion. And I choose to believe that when we act with humility rather than dominance, with devotion rather than despair, we are not acting alone. We are walking with those who came before us, with elders, with teachers, with ancestors like Dr. Jane Goodall, who spent her life showing us how to belong to this planet rather than rule it. Only that we keep choosing life while there is still time to choose it. Follow me on Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn , and visit my website for more info! Read more from Kenneth J. Breniman Kenneth J. Breniman, Grief Guide & Mindfully Mortal Therapist Ken Breniman is a queer author, licensed clinical social worker, certified yoga therapist, and thanatologist whose work lives at the intersection of mortality, meaning, and transformation. Drawing from neuroscience, primatology, Celtic wisdom, and psychedelic integration, he challenges the myth of human exceptionalism while honoring the precious role each of us plays in the ongoing evolution of our species. Ken is the author of a three-body solution and subversive acts of humanity, and the creator of the See-Soul children’s grief literacy series. Through writing, teaching, and ritual-informed practice, he guides mindful mortals toward deeper humility, resilience, and collective becoming.

Written by Clio Bushland, Courageous Living and Leadership Specialist Clio Bushland is a specialist in Courageous Living and Leadership. She combines her background in Marriage and Family Therapy with a foundation in neuroscience and over two decades of business leadership to help people transform fear from a barrier into useful data and energy, and align their actions with their goals at work and at home. In leadership and in life, we often wait for confidence before we act. In reality, confidence comes from meaningful action. Over the years, I've noticed that when my clients focus on building confidence, they often feel frustrated and behind. One day, confidence is high, the next, it is gone, and its absence feels like some kind of failure. But when we shift the focus to understanding and accepting fear, they feel more resilient and energized, while also less discouraged when confidence wavers. “I have not only faced fears, but walked through them. Now I look forward to the increased confidence that comes every single time I do something that I didn’t think I could.” – Shelly – Engineer, Inventor, and Client Confidence is a prediction, not a prerequisite Confidence is often seen as a prerequisite for meaningful action. We want to feel confident before we share our ideas, make a big decision, or take a risk. But confidence is a result of taking these actions, not a prerequisite to taking them. Confidence is the brain’s anticipation of success based on experience. The brain reviews prior outcomes and predicts whether we are likely to succeed. If it decides we are likely to succeed, we feel confident. If it doesn’t have enough data to predict success with confidence, we feel fear. It is the brain’s way of warning you of risk. The trap of waiting to feel ready Waiting to “feel confident” before starting becomes a trap. It stops you from taking action and allows you to confuse avoidance with preparation. Fear does not mean you are not ready. You can be prepared without feeling ready. You can be ready and still feel afraid. Feeling ready rarely precedes action, that feeling of readiness emerges through action. When we wait for confidence to come first, we reinforce hesitation rather than progress. Removing the expectation of feeling ready eliminates an unnecessary barrier. There are also situations we never fully feel ready for, no matter how many times we experience them. Some situations reliably activate the threat response even after repeated exposure. Think of activities such as public speaking and performance that trigger our fear of social evaluation. Even seasoned professionals experience stage fright. This is not a weakness. It is a biological reality. Why new situations trigger fear instead of confidence Why is it that new situations can trigger such fear even when they seem innocuous or straightforward on the surface? Why can we come off a success in one area but immediately feel a lack of confidence when we start something new? When we do something new, our brain has no data to work with. Because one of its most primal jobs is to keep us alive, the brain defaults to caution. Novelty is often treated as a potential threat until proven safe. The novelty is why starting something new can feel so scary. Even when the new thing is something good and rewarding, it can still bring substantial fear. Risk and reward are inextricably linked The actions that move us forward and bring us reward generally involve risk. Sometimes that risk is tangible. Leaving your position to start your own business involves financial risk. Sometimes it isn’t so tangible. Building your personal brand requires exposure that leaves us feeling vulnerable to judgment or ridicule. Your brain is wired to perceive risk as a threat and respond with fear. Courage lets you use that fear as valuable data for decision-making rather than letting it be the final decision-maker. All that said, I am talking about the fear that arises when we are doing something new or challenging, but also necessary to our goals. I am not talking about a gut feeling of dread when you are about to walk down a dark alley. While our nervous systems are not designed to handle hours of doomscrolling, they are highly equipped to handle situational threats. If your gut says take a different street, or avoid that person, or be extra cautious in an unfamiliar environment, listen. Remember that courage aligns our actions with our values. Unless one of your values is putting yourself at unnecessary risk, remember to use your judgment about when to use courage to push through and when to listen to what your fear is telling you. While risk is part of life and progress, there is no need to add risk without reason. Fear is not a personal failing – It is a neurobiological state Our bodies have predictable physical responses such as tension, increased heart rate, and narrowed attention when our threat detection system is triggered by conflict, new opportunities, or unfamiliar situations. Sometimes, no amount of positive self-talk returns the nervous system to baseline. This is not a weakness or a character flaw. This is your brain doing its job, protecting you, avoiding threat, seeking familiarity. It is also not (usually) a sign to stop. You can handle fear and uncertainty. You are built for it. Courage is always available – Confidence isn’t One reason I focus almost exclusively on courage rather than confidence is that courage is always available. Courage breeds action, which is essential for your growth. Confidence depends on internal and external conditions, memory, physiological state, and prediction. Some days your nervous system simply cannot generate confidence. But courage remains an option regardless of your emotional state. Another advantage of courage is that it enables us to take the actions that build confidence. Courage enables us to take action, gain exposure, and build experience, which is precisely how the brain learns to predict success, build familiarity, and generate confidence. Courage into action into capability into confidence. Waiting for confidence can lead to stagnation, avoidance, and procrastination. Take action first. Confidence comes later. Courage moves us forward when confidence can’t When you choose to have that necessary but uncomfortable conversation or begin the exciting but intimidating project, you are using courage to move toward what matters. Courage can look many different ways, and much of the time you can’t see it at all. For some, leaving the house is a profound act of courage. For others, it doesn’t even register. Some people can lead a meeting with no hesitation or fear, but asking someone for help leaves them with sweaty palms. At work, we require courage to speak up in meetings, request resources, or pursue a promotion. In our personal lives, courage might mean setting a boundary, scheduling a doctor’s appointment, or trying something new. Whether you are leading a team or leading your own life, courage is the mechanism that moves you forward when confidence is unavailable. Courage allows you to take control and act despite fear, which is vital to progress in all areas of your life. How courage builds true, lasting confidence And that brings us to practical application. How do you take courageous action when your brain is sounding the alarm? Below is a simple, science-informed framework to help you move from fear into meaningful action. The BRAVE method™ B: Breathe & break the cycle The first step is to interrupt the body’s automatic fear response and stop spiraling. Slowing our breathing engages the prefrontal cortex and re-engages the part of our brain that enables us to make decisions based on logic rather than fear. Another fast and effective technique is to soften your gaze or widen your field of vision. Under stress, our visual field narrows, expanding it engages the parasympathetic system and helps reduce threat activation. The two combined are a powerful way of signaling your brain to shift resources from responding to a threat to solving a problem. R: Reality check Ground yourself in what is actually happening. Modern threats are rarely physical danger. More often, ambiguity, interpretation, or uncertainty triggers our threat detection system. Give the situation the urgency it actually merits, not the urgency assigned by fear. You can’t take five minutes to calm your nervous system when the building is on fire. You usually benefit from giving yourself time to settle down before you send that angry email or respond to that negative comment on social media. Dealing with disrespect from a coworker can wait until you have had a chance to think about how you want to respond. The closer to the problem, the better, but it doesn’t have to be immediate. A: Align with your values & direction Reconnect to what matters most to you. Make sure your choices align with your values and goals. Courage becomes more accessible and sustainable when anchored in integrity and in your purpose. V: Venture forward Move forward, whether it is a bold leap or a single tiny step. What matters is movement in the direction you want to go. E: Evaluate, celebrate, and iterate Once you have taken action, notice the outcome, what you learned, and what data you generated. This step is essential, especially when your motivation system is strained by stress or low emotional bandwidth. Sometimes you will take action and get immediate validation that the choice you made moved you in the direction you want to go. Sometimes you will have to wait for that validation. And sometimes you will get it wrong. You will make mistakes and missteps, that is part of being human. You still get credit for moving forward despite fear. Celebrate the act of courage itself, even if the outcome isn’t what you hoped. Win or learn. Continue or adjust your next steps based on the information you just gathered. In summary Courage is not the absence of fear. It is the willingness to act in the service of what matters most, even when afraid. If you want to build something meaningful, a life, a team, a company, courage is not optional. It is a foundational capability. Confidence is great, but it is a result of action, not a requirement for action. Courage is the gateway skill that enables progress. Once you start taking action, confidence follows.   Follow me on Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn , and visit my website for more info! Read more from Clio Bushland Courageous Living and Leadership Specialist Clio Bushland is a specialist in Courageous Living and Leadership who helps people move through fear with clarity and intention. Her background spans Marriage and Family Therapy, neuroscience, nonprofit leadership, and more than two decades of hands-on business management. She teaches people to transform fear from a barrier into useful data and energy, making it possible to align their actions with their goals in both work and life. Clio is known for blending research with real-world practicality, supporting leaders and individuals in building the resilience and skills needed to navigate today’s complex and rapidly changing world.

Written by Isabelle Veser, Music Producer I'm Isabelle Veser, a French-German-Greek EDM producer, singer, and songwriter based in Cologne. I've collaborated with international artists like Luca Testa, Van Snyder, Millean, and Burak Yeter. After performing at Canadian Music Week and Rotterdam School Festival, I'm excited to bring my music to the U.S. this year. Isabelle Veser has always approached songwriting as a form of emotional documentation, a way of capturing moments, feelings, and inner conflicts before they fade. She often describes her creative process as instinctive, melodies usually come first, soft and unplanned, followed by lyrics that spill out like thoughts she hasn’t yet spoken aloud. Whether she’s on the road, backstage, or alone in a quiet room, Isabelle writes by tuning into her own honesty, letting vulnerability guide her pen. Her new release, “No Friends,” is a perfect example of this raw and intuitive way of creating music. A Song Born in a Paris Hotel Room at 2 A.M. Veser has shared that “No Friends” was written during a sleepless night in a modest hotel room in Paris. After a long day of travel and rehearsals, she found herself unable to rest, overwhelmed by a nagging feeling of isolation. The city outside was alive with late-night energy, but her room felt strangely still. Sitting on the edge of the bed, illuminated only by the neon glow seeping through the curtains, she opened her notebook and began writing, not about a person this time, but about the universal experience of feeling alone even when surrounded by people. Why she wrote the song During that period, Isabelle was navigating the fast-paced music world, constantly moving from city to city. She often found herself surrounded by crowds yet disconnected. “No Friends” became her way of acknowledging that loneliness, transforming it into something honest rather than shameful. The song’s message is simple but powerful, solitude doesn’t mean weakness, sometimes it’s the starting point for self-understanding. How it was written Most of the lyrics were shaped in that single Parisian night. With only her travel guitar and her phone’s voice recorder, she captured the melody exactly as it emerged, soft, vulnerable, almost confessional. In the weeks that followed, she refined the structure with her producer, but the emotional rawness stayed untouched. Some of the vocal textures from that first voice memo even made it into the final version, giving the radio release a genuine, unfiltered quality. From midnight thoughts to radio airplay It’s rare for a song created in such isolation to resonate so strongly with listeners, yet “No Friends” has done just that. Perhaps because it speaks to something deeply human, the fear of being alone and the quiet strength found in embracing it. Isabelle Veser’s late-night confession from a Paris hotel room has become a track that feels both intimate and universal. And as radio audiences continue to connect with it, it’s clear that “No Friends” is far more than a moment of loneliness, it’s a moment of truth. Follow me on Instagram ,  and visit my website  for more info! Read more from Isabelle Veser Isabelle Veser, Music Producer Isabelle Veser has been passionate about making music since childhood. Determined to prove that women can succeed in the male-dominated EDM scene, she began producing, composing, and singing her own tracks in 2022. Her style blends Mainstage, Big Room, and Techno, though she enjoys working across all genres. With discipline and perseverance, she has built a growing career in music. She now helps other artists develop their own sound and navigate the industry.

Written by Jen Legaspi, Master Life Coach Jen Legaspi is a trauma-informed Master Coach and author of Brave Wise Woman. She works with women who overthink, self-abandon, and learned early to perform, please, or perfect in order to feel safe. Her work centers on rebuilding self-trust through nervous-system-aware, non-performative inner work — a quiet rebellion against the pressure to be perfect. Everywhere I look, people are turning to artificial intelligence (AI) for coaching and guidance when they’re doubting themselves. Did I say the right thing? Are my feelings valid? Am I overreacting? It’s convenient, nonjudgmental, and always available. For perfectionists, people-pleasers, and anyone prone to second-guessing, AI coaching can feel like a lifeline. But here’s the catch, the real question behind those queries: Can I trust myself here? – isn’t one AI can answer . And the more you outsource that question, the less you learn how to answer it for yourself. AI can reassure and validate you forever, but it will never teach you how to trust yourself. Why care about self-trust when AI can validate When AI can give you instant answers that feel good, it’s fair to wonder, why bother learning to trust yourself? The core reason is that self-trust eases the hidden stress and frustration that come from relying on others, or AI, to tell you what to feel, want, or do. Without self-trust, you become dependent, consciously or not, on others to define what you want, how you feel, what you need, and even how far you can go in life. Psychologists call this an external locus of control, when your sense of worth and direction comes from outside of you instead of within. In other words, who you are gets shaped by what’s outside of you. That dependency comes at a cost. Emotionally, it leaves you stressed, drained, anxious, disappointed, resentful, and even angry, whether you realize it or not. It also robs you of authenticity, because your choices reflect what others expect instead of what you truly want. On a human level, this is a pain many of us carry, the struggle to live in alignment with who we really are. Trusting yourself builds the resilience to navigate life when there’s no clear answer or outside guidance. Your inner compass guides you through uncertainty and helps you make decisions without instant reassurance, something technology can’t give. Not all of us are ready to grow or focus on self-trust, but deep down, most of us long to feel steady, capable, and aligned with who we truly are. The appeal of AI as a “coach” AI feels irresistible for many reasons. In an attention economy, it’s always ready, willing, and able. Coming home from a confusing date? Ask AI. Ruminating over a mistake at work? Ask AI. In a worst-case scenario spiral? Ask AI. The technology is fast, convenient, and, unlike humans, never judges or rejects you. Instead, it validates. For perfectionists and people-pleasers afraid of failing in front of others, AI offers relief from the vulnerability of shame in being wrong. From that perspective, it can feel emotionally safe. And every time AI validates you or offers a cool, insightful answer, your brain gets a little hit of dopamine, a reward that keeps you coming back for more, even if nothing is actually changing beneath the surface. Each dopamine hit bypasses the real work, learning to listen to yourself, trust your instincts, and navigate uncertainty. One social media user summed up the appeal, “It’s cheaper than a therapist.” Another said, “A machine gets me while humans don’t.” These comments capture why AI can feel like an easy solution, until you realize what it can’t give you: trust in your own guidance. Advice that sounds wise but isn’t AI can generate advice that sounds reasonable on the surface but often misses the deeper truth. One social media user posted that they asked AI, “How do you get your head and your heart to feel the same way?” The bot replied, “Do what your head says, and your heart will follow.” At first glance, it reads as calm and Yoda-like, but it lacks the nuance needed for someone struggling with inner conflict. That conflict often shows up when different parts of you want different things, your head says one thing, your heart another. In those moments, we often default to the head to figure it out for a sense of control or safety. Perfectionists and overthinkers, especially unconsciously, rely on analysis and reasoning to manage anxiety. But this kind of advice only reinforces the disconnect from the body, the place where stress, unprocessed emotions, and your true knowing live. For perfectionists and overthinkers, skipping over the body can feel like the safest move, but it often fuels the cycle of second-guessing and anxiety they long to break free from. Turning to technology in those moments only reinforces the same loop. Unseen patterns influencing your life Some believe they’d know if AI gave them bad advice. One person wrote on social media, “I think I’m very self-aware and would be able to tell if the advice I received from AI was off.” But if self-awareness were enough, none of us would keep repeating the same patterns in relationships, careers, or habits. Think of an iceberg. The tip above the water is what we notice, but most of the mass is hidden below. Around 95% of our behavior is driven by unconscious patterns, limiting beliefs, suppressed emotions, implicit memories, and body responses outside awareness. This means that no matter how much self-awareness or emotional intelligence you’ve developed, there will always be hidden layers quietly shaping your decisions and outcomes in life. That’s why deeper work, especially in a skilled human coach relationship, is often needed to uncover and shift them. Healing is human While personal insight and reflection matter, healing is accelerated when another person holds space for your emotions, witnesses them with love instead of judgment, reflects new possibilities, and notices resistance so you can move beyond it. For many of us, especially people pleasers, resistance often shows up in what you’re avoiding, your needs or hard truths, which is something AI won’t catch. AI also can’t hold you accountable. And accountability matters. Keeping your word to yourself proves you can rely on your own choices and decisions. That reliability is a key part of building self-trust. Without that practice, AI robs you of the chance to exercise integrity, strengthen that trust, and create meaningful change. Having a human coach vs. AI When we don’t trust ourselves, we’re cut off from our body, the very place trauma and unprocessed emotions live. A skilled coach pays attention to subtleties in tone, breath, posture, and expression that point the way back to your deeper truth. Coaching isn’t about handing you answers, it’s about helping you discover and trust your own. AI, by contrast, mainly reflects what you already think and feel (the tip of the iceberg you’ve put into words) which can create an echo chamber of validation while leaving the deeper layers unexamined. Instant reassurance from AI can bring temporary relief, but it doesn’t always support the kind of personal growth that shifts unhelpful patterns. Building self-trust is about safely noticing, feeling, and responding to your own thoughts, emotions, and bodily sensations, even when it’s uncomfortable. Human connection provides the accountability, witnessing, and nervous system co-regulation that allow you to explore these deeper layers and strengthen your inner guidance. How to teach yourself to trust yourself If you’re ready to reconnect with your inner compass, try these practices: Notice the impulse, and move. When you feel the urge to reach for AI, it’s often less about needing an answer and more about wanting to offload the discomfort of uncertainty. That urge is your body’s way of signaling that energy wants to move. Instead of outsourcing it, try heel drops (lifting and dropping your heels repeatedly), running in place, or shaking out your limbs. Pause afterward and notice, has the impulse shifted? What about your thoughts? This simple practice helps release tension and reconnects you with your own guidance. Spot your glimmers, and savor them. Glimmers are small moments of calm, joy, or connection. Journaling, laughter, walks in nature, or time with supportive people are examples. These experiences give your nervous system a mini-break from stress, strengthen grounding, and reinforce your capacity to feel safe and resilient. Keep promises to yourself. Follow through on small commitments, showing up for a yoga class, starting a task you’ve been avoiding, or checking in with your feelings. Every time you honor your word, you reinforce that your choices matter, building self-trust and a foundation for bigger, meaningful changes. The takeaway The impulse to reach for AI when you’re second-guessing yourself is one I’ve felt too. It feels safe, validating, and immediate, giving a quick hit of reassurance. But shifting patterns doesn’t come from instant answers on a screen. It comes from being seen and supported as a whole person with someone who can uncover the hidden layers shaping your choices, help you face resistance without judgment, and practice accountability in a way that strengthens self-trust. Each time you pause, feel, and respond from your own inner guidance, you reclaim your voice, your clarity, and your confidence. That’s the kind of personal growth no algorithm can deliver. Ready to learn how to trust yourself again? A human coaching relationship can make all the difference. Visit here to take the first step, a complimentary call with me. Follow me on   Instagram ,   Facebook ,  and LinkedIn  for more insightful tips and empowering guidance. Read more from Jen Legaspi Jen Legaspi, Master Life Coach Jen Legaspi is a trauma-informed Master Coach and author of Brave Wise Woman. She works with women who overthink, self-abandon, and learned early to perform, please, or perfect in order to feel safe. Her work centers on rebuilding self-trust through nervous-system-aware, non-performative inner work — a quiet rebellion against the pressure to be perfect.

Written by Kate Castro, Singer/Songwriter/Keynote Speaker Kate Castro is known for her resilient mindset and founder of SenseK8 LLC. She is a singer, songwriter, and keynote speaker who teaches people the importance of embracing uncertainty during adversity to lead a happier life. You can see Kate in the TV show “Women In Power” coming soon in 2026. From a very early age, I felt compelled to cultivate a strong mindset in certain areas of life because of my environment. Although I lived in a loving household, there was a scarcity of material and financial resources. I grew up in a house where abundance was not the mindset. My parents were always worried about how much things would cost. How much were the groceries going to cost that week? Did we have enough for new clothes? Ensuring we kept the furnace no higher than 68 degrees because oil wasn’t cheap was a must. When we are born into an environment of scarcity, the mindset of lack lingers for a long time unless we know how to change it. Most of us have been told to pursue our dreams, no matter what they are. At a certain age, a parent, an aunt, a friendly caretaker, or a teacher told us to chase our dreams. Figure out what you want to do in life and pursue it. Not everyone has been fortunate enough to have people who encourage them to live out their dreams, as many folks don’t get the chance to be dream chasers because of family responsibilities, bills, obligations, and/or emotional trauma that hold them back. The external chase It was visceral for me, the inner knowing that I wanted success. Financial success, because I knew what it was like to live without it. I had to work hard for many things I had since the age of 12, when I started babysitting, and 14, when I had a paper route to earn money. If I wanted something, I needed to earn money to get it because money didn’t grow on trees. My mom and dad were hard workers, but that didn't mean they made a good living when I was little. This hard work and eagerness to earn more money instilled in me a clear ambition, for sure. Making money meant I was more valuable-or so I thought. Even as a little girl, I knew there was a difference between the rich and the poor, or at least the perception behind the socioeconomic status. I had the notion that I wasn’t as good as the girl from a wealthy background who lived on the south hill. Even though I was unaware that I was equating my worth with my family's finances at a young age, I was caught in cycles that are clear to me now, which created a lot of resistance in my adulthood. I was seeking to be of greater value in the face of external forces. Because of that, my attachment to my desired outcome pushed those things away or made them more challenging to attain. Whether it was to procure a higher status at work, not only for money but also for my ego, the constant effort to be thinner, and the lifestyle I desired in a certain amount of time, I was giving off a frequency of desperation to the energy world. Society often conditions us to believe that worth must be earned or proven. We strive for excellence in every aspect of career, family, and personal development, yet measure our value by external markers such as titles, achievements, finances, and social approval. This relentless pursuit of validation rarely satisfies, no matter how much we accomplish, it often feels insufficient.   The mindshift As a longtime student of quantum physics, I now understand that everything really is energy. Believing and living as an energetic being who vibrates at a high frequency, I have been able to alchemize several circumstances from pain into purposeful learning. Everything is interconnected. In his book PEMF: The 5 th  Element of Health, physicist Bryan Meyers explains how food, water, sunlight, oxygen, and Earth’s magnetic field are vital to life. The frequencies of the Earth’s magnetic field are necessary for the human body’s energy production. It makes sense, then, that we are energetic beings and that the power of our minds is beyond what we have ever known. I expanded my consciousness by weaving together scientific and spiritual concepts. During my cancer journey, I meditated daily and sent energetic love to the trees, animals, and people I love because I believed it would make me feel better. In doing so, it made me feel healthy and cared for. I applied this concept to money in my spiritual practice as well. Money is a tool, and when we think of it as abundant rather than scarce, more shows up to help us live with additional options and navigate our lives freely. Even when material things haven’t shown up yet, I hold the vision in my mind that it’s already taken care of and on the way. I’ve dedicated a lot of my life in the past fifteen years to becoming more energetically aware of everything. Dr. Wayne Dyer was the catalyst of this awareness in my twenties. I realized that what I believe to be true will be my truth. I was all action for years-I had to do, rather than being conscious of my limiting beliefs of things not unfolding unless I made them. Now I think there is no limit to the abundance available to me. I changed my mind and now vibrate on the level of what I want to attract. When we think we are abundant, we attract more of what we desire. The missing piece The ambition to follow your passions carries significant weight in life, while the fortitude to plow through obstacles builds resilience that endures, though wholeness, after all, stems from within. I have faced plenty of adversity in my lifetime, and I’m grateful for it now, because I know those hard times brought me to a clearer place. The ability to reflect on and learn from the most challenging situations brings so much clarity that we can move forward confidently in all aspects of life. This clarity made me realize it all boils down to "worthiness." I was seeking to feel worthy. Until I felt the worthiness inside, the hard work and hustle were the only way to get things done, often with accolades to follow, but sometimes at the expense of stress, burnout, and little playtime. One can go on like this for years without realizing there is another way, a more fulfilling, less stressful way to live. I chased opportunities and people because I wanted to reach my next goal or attain something I thought would make me happy and more valuable. Pursuing goals is essential to a successful life, but not when you don’t leave room for patience. I chased certain people because I so badly wanted things to happen on my timeline. I was afraid opportunities wouldn't present themselves unless I made them happen. Time and time again, in the face of unwanted outcomes, I realized my past ways were not the best course of action. It’s like chasing a butterfly, the more you go after it, the further it flies away. After much self-reflection and inner work, I know it was a scarcity mindset. “If I don’t get this person to see me, I’ll miss out. I need so-and-so to see my talent. Jane Doe must hear the lyrics in my songs,” and on and on. Sometimes, though rarely, those relationships did develop and produced beautiful projects. Alignment Once I realized the extent to which I had been operating in lack, my life changed. When we release the need for others to like us, know we’re awesome, like our work, and so forth, there is a tremendous amount of energy to create from! I no longer chase. I radiate and align with opportunities that fit my passions. Everything is now drawn to me because I changed how I feel and how I identify with it all. This transformation occurred because I embodied the feeling of being worthy of the things I desire. The elevated version of myself changed my life. I created a frequency that turned the old lack mentality into abundance. Choosing to encompass the new version of me became the new reality.  Awareness The outside validation I once longed for dissipated. I did the inner work, and I finally realized that I was doing certain things for approval. My decisions are no longer driven by fear or urgency. I make decisions easier, and I do less because I know that opportunities will meet me if they are meant to. No hustling. I plant seeds of my desires in the ether, then I relax and play while I wait. There is wisdom in the wait. Observe. Trust. I take inspired action when I feel it. There are times when the old version of me arises, where I want to act out of impulse, but then I pause. I become aware of the old chase mentality and realign my thoughts with the expanded me. The photo connected to this article is from a recent trip I took with my family to London. In it, I am enjoying the scenery, unaware that my stepdaughter was taking my picture, simply allowing the environment to be. There are some people that I still want to work with whom I chased in the past. Maybe those collaborations will come to fruition one day, but it won’t be from the old, rushed energy I once had. Follow me on Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn ,  and visit my website for more info! Read more from Kate Castro Kate Castro, Singer/Songwriter/Keynote Speaker Kate Castro is a singer, songwriter, and keynote speaker. A cancer diagnosis provoked a personal and spiritual awakening. Healing and transformation lead her to guide others to find what lights them up in life. Founder of SenseK8 LLC, living in possibility and embracing uncertainty is what Kate encourages others to experience. All challenges have the ability to be opportunities. You can see Kate in the TV show “Women In Power” coming soon in 2026.

Written by Jamee Culbertson, Senior Instructor, Teacher Trainer Jamee Culbertson integrates Taoist practices, the Alexander Technique, and spiritual healing for transformative experiences. She is a Senior Healing Tao Instructor teaching Tai Chi, Qigong, and Taoist meditations at the Universal Tao Boston School of Taoist Practices. Jamee is a teacher trainer certifying teachers in both disciplines. What if clarity isn’t something you’re missing, but something you’ve been avoiding? This article invites you into an embodied exploration of conscious decision-making, showing how nervous system regulation, energetic anatomy, and inner power can guide choices that feel aligned, confident, and deeply your own. Our new class, ‘Three Dantian Qigong and Decision Making’ is an Embodied Energetic Journey Into Clear, Confident Decision-Making powered by Nervous System Regulation. Resistance to clarity Many people don’t bring consciousness to the decisions they make because, oddly enough, they don’t actually want clarity. " Clarity isn’t something we lack, it’s something we unwittingly avoid. ” Strange to say, but many people do not want to embrace their power, especially if they’re comfortable in their victimhood. That was certainly the case for me for a time. It took the tough love of a Lakota medicine woman, one of my earliest teachers, to help me find my own source of power and learn to trust it. There is something profoundly important about being guided by someone who has done the work and is walking with their power. They don’t tell you what to do, they show you what’s possible. Learning automatically Neuroscience offers a powerful insight here. Brain cells called mirror neurons are activated both when we perform an action and when we observe someone else performing that same action. These neurons light up sensory, empathetic, and social connections within the brain. In other words, consciousness is contagious. We learn not only through instruction, but through presence. Much of today’s holistic messaging tells us we must “raise our vibration” in order to manifest what we want, but rarely does it explain how. That’s where these teachings come in. Accessing your energetic blueprint In this course, we show you how to access your energetic blueprint, your actual energetic architecture. This is not metaphorical, it is experiential. When you learn to make decisions by tapping into your energetic design, those decisions are undeniably on track for you. You cannot be led astray by your own blueprint. “When decisions come from your energetic design, doubt falls away and direction becomes unmistakable.” If someone is holding back from engaging with and building their power, it may simply mean they aren’t ready, and there is no judgment in that. Distinguishing timing from self-limitation However, there is an important distinction between honoring right timing and telling ourselves a story that we don’t have what it takes to move forward. These stories can take many forms—just about any reason that allows us not to act. This is why money is so often used as the reason not to go for what we truly want. Money becomes the “cause” for not moving forward with something that feels empowering or even life-changing. Yet money is never the cause, not when we understand that the universe has our back. Reframing money as energy There is no shortage of energy in the universe. Energy cannot be created or destroyed, it can only be transformed. This isn’t woo-woo, it’s physics. And money, at its core, is a form of energy. “This isn’t woo-woo, it’s physics, consciousness, and choice working together.” So when we say we want something, yet claim we can’t afford it, what limits are we placing on ourselves and on the universe? We are effectively saying yes but no. Saying, “Yes, I want this, but now is not the right time” is very different from saying, “I don’t have the resources.” Proper action requires proper timing. If something truly lights you up and you say yes to it, resources have a way of becoming available even if you don’t yet know how. Expanding awareness of our multidimensional nature As we come to understand our own energetic anatomy, we begin to recognize our inter-dimensional self. This may sound far-reaching, yet multidimensionality exists within the physical body itself. By expanding our awareness, we gain access to more of our design. This process is deeply healing, profoundly transformative, and undeniably empowering. Reclaiming decision-making power as women And it is especially empowering for women. “When women reclaim their power to decide, generational patterns begin to change.” Why women? Look at our ancestry. My grandmother could not vote, I can. My mother did not have a voice, I do. When women become the decision-makers in their own lives, real change begins. And that is where transformation truly takes root. Follow me on  Facebook ,  Instagram ,  and visit my website for more info! Read more from Jamee Culbertson Jamee Culbertson, Senior Instructor, Teacher Trainer Jamee is a Senior Instructor at the Universal Tao Boston School, teaching Tai Chi, Qigong, and Taoist meditation. With nearly 40 years of experience, she integrates Taoist practices, the Alexander Technique, and spiritual healing. She is an internationally certified Alexander Technique Instructor and teacher-trainer at the Boston Conservatory at Berklee. Jamee has taught at Harvard University, Mass General’s Home Base program for veterans, and community wellness events like Rosie’s Place. Her work blends ancient wisdom and modern techniques to support healing, balance, and self-awareness.

Written by Tonia Kisliakov, CEO/ Director of Gateway Travel Tonia Kisliakov is an experienced travel professional with a passion for creating authentic, meaningful journeys worldwide. Through her leadership at Gateway Travel in Australia, she inspires travellers to explore with purpose, curiosity, and creativity – transforming each trip into a story worth remembering. In a world where stress, noise, and digital overload have become the norm, travellers are no longer looking for simple holidays. They are seeking depth, renewal, and personal evolution. This shift has created one of the most powerful movements in modern travel, transformational travel. As the CEO of Gateway Travel, Australia’s original travel wholesaler since 1972, I have witnessed this transformation firsthand. Travellers want more than itineraries. They want experiences that change them, reconnect them, and awaken something within. What is transformational travel? Transformational travel is intentional travel designed to create lasting personal growth. It offers a chance to reset, reflect, and return home with greater clarity and purpose. It is about meaning, not mileage. Gateway Travel’s transformational travel approach At Gateway Travel, we design journeys that shift perspectives, elevate wellbeing, and reconnect travellers with what truly matters. Each experience is crafted to go beyond luxury and into something deeper, a journey that becomes a turning point. Our philosophy rests on three core pillars: Immersion, not tourism: Travellers engage with destinations as participants, not spectators. From secluded island hideaways to culturally rich encounters, each moment is designed to foster connection, curiosity, and authenticity. Purpose-led design: Every itinerary starts with intention, clarity, renewal, healing, inspiration, or reconnection. This ensures travellers return home with more than memories. They return with momentum. Transformative outcomes: Travellers come home changed, mentally, emotionally, and physically. Whether through nature, culture, or introspection, the journey leaves a lasting imprint. Why transformational travel matters now People are burnt out. They are craving authenticity, connection, and meaning. Traditional tourism cannot meet that demand. Transformational travel does. It addresses the deeper human need to pause, reflect, and realign our lives with what truly matters. This is why it is not just a trend. It is the future of conscious travel. The future of travel is transformational As the world continues to shift, travellers are seeking experiences that not only enrich their minds but elevate their lives. Transformational travel is not simply about where you go. It is about who you become along the way. At Gateway Travel, we stand at the forefront of this global movement, where luxury meets meaning, and every journey becomes a catalyst for change. Follow me on Facebook , Instagram , and LinkedIn ,  and visit my website for more info! Read more from Tonia Kisliakov Tonia Kisliakov, CEO/ Director of Gateway Travel Tonia Kisliakov is an Australian travel professional dedicated to helping people experience the world with authenticity and purpose. With years of experience crafting tailored holidays through Gateway Travel, she believes travel is a powerful form of connection and personal growth. Tonia combines creativity, cultural insight, and care to design journeys that inspire lifelong memories and new perspectives. Her mission: to turn every journey into a story worth sharing.