Brilliant Balance

As summer comes to a close, many of us feel a little blue; we're not quite ready to bid adieu to the ease and flow of the season. Before we know it, we're back to the all-too-familiar hustle of everyday life, complete with that feeling of dread that creeps in Sunday evening and the reluctance with which you drag yourself out of bed and into your Monday morning commute. If you feel like this, you'r...

Have you ever thought you were for sure going to bomb a job interview or school presentation but then ended up getting through it with flying colors?  That was your mind playing tricks on you. It turns out our brain is an excellent author…of fiction! This is especially true when we're feeling anxious in a certain situation. That's when fear grabs the pen from our hands and starts writing its own s...

Life is full of little boxes pleading to be checked off; it all starts in school with classes to be taken, clubs to be joined, and most importantly, a degree to be earned.  As we get older and life throws more challenges at us, we realize how many things we think we need to do to meet society's standards. In the midst of hitting goals, and making plans, it's easy to get sidetracked from our real p...

Sitting with anger, anxiety or sadness may be the last thing you want to do. Because it's uncomfortable. Because it hurts. Because you're too tired. Or maybe you just don't know how.  You're not alone. Many of us are always in our thoughts - wrapped up in our daily agenda, our work, or the people who need us - and we go through the day without ever taking time to acknowledge our feelings.  But lea...

Can you recall a tradition that your family had when you were younger? Maybe it was visiting your cousins every weekend for a Sunday lunch? Or opening a single present on Christmas eve? Whatever your childhood traditions were, they undoubtedly created a sense of belonging and contributed to your shared legacy with your loved ones.  Looking back, you might get nostalgic, but the best part is that i...

When you think about working out, you probably envision going to the gym or a class. But there's a powerful exercise that you can fit into your day – even when you feel too busy.  What is it? Walking.  It may sound too simple but walking is actually one of the most mentally and physically rewarding activities you can do. Its benefits seem endless, especially since you can do it wherever you are. ...

It turns out the most important conversations are the ones we have with ourselves. But if you're not mindful, the discussion in your head can turn into "chatter". That's when your self-talk goes sideways and turns into endless anxiety-provoking worry. It's the dark side of our inner voice that can poison our relationships, health, and well-being. So how can you notice when your self-talk turns int...

The rising number of incredible women starting businesses and breaking entrepreneurial gender barriers is breathtaking. But it only tells part of the story. Simply starting a business may not lead to the satisfaction you imagined when you launched your new venture. If you've ever felt stuck, overwhelmed, or frustrated in your business, then this episode is for you. Today I'm sharing what I've lear...

If you feel like being a parent is the toughest job you've ever had, you're not alone. Being a parent is both beautiful and extremely challenging all at the same time.  After all, we're helping a whole new person navigate the world. And every person is unique. This means there are no set rules to tell you exactly how to be a good parent. So how do you ensure that you provide the kind of support th...

Imagine you finally overcame your agonizing "what if" syndrome and jumped into something new. It should all be easy now, right? No fast, my friend. Buckle up because you're headed straight for the "messy middle". That's the time when things start to go a little differently than you may have anticipated. At that point, you can't even remember why you thought this was a good idea in the first place!...

If you're raising kids, life is always super busy. Between household chores, work, and parenting, finding time for your significant other can be incredibly challenging. But if you don't make time to connect, it's all too easy to become roommates who just co-exist. You miss out on important moments and your connection can slowly slip away. So how do you maintain a strong bond with your partner when...

You plan your vacation to relax and take a break from work. But too often being out of the office means you're cramming in extra hours right up till the moment you leave. By the time you get to the airport, you're tired, frazzled, and cranky. If that's ever happened to you, you're not alone. Without careful planning, you can easily find yourself glued to your laptop even in the middle of a vacatio...

Laundry, unwashed dishes, meal plan for the week, work, medical appointments, and so much more. Being a mom comes with a seemingly endless to-do list. And you're not only staring down a busy schedule – you're also carrying around a mental list of decisions, reminders, and things you need to do. With so much to take care of, you can find yourself in constant overwhelm.  If that sounds familiar, thi...

Most corporate workplaces buy into certain myths that can unintentionally keep women and minorities from reaching their potential (even in diverse and progressive companies).  My guest today, Deanna Bass, has codified these myths that keep true equality just out of reach. One of my earliest mentors during my corporate career, Deanna will rekindle your innate confidence that there is plenty of room...

Do you ever wake up feeling like your dimmer switch is on? As if some external force needs to rise up to push you through the workday?  Pay attention because you could be noticing the signs of early-stage burnout.  Without quick intervention, burnout only gets worse.  And late-stage burnout is not to be messed with. It's where women quit their jobs, uproot their lives, and trudge through the day w...

Let's face it - we all have bad mornings. Whether it's losing your temper with your little one, getting stuck in traffic, or spilling coffee on your favorite white shirt…little things can add up and make you want to climb back into bed. But if the way your morning unfolds dictates how the rest of your day goes…you're missing an important opportunity.  In this episode, you'll discover how to turn a...

As a working mom, your life may feel like a balancing act.  Between juggling school calendars, work, quality time with your family, you're pulled in a lot of different directions. And you have to switch gears on the regular.  When these roles overlap, it's all too easy to get distracted. You can find yourself not feeling present as a mom or at work. But it doesn't have to be that way. In this epis...

As we get older, we start to experience a range of mental and physical changes. Whether it's a little extra weight you've never noticed before or a transition into menopause, it can become stressful when you don't know what's natural and what's in your control. But if you understand how to nurture your mind and body through the years, life just feels better. In this episode, Dr. Diane Downing shar...

Have you ever caught yourself feeling jealous of others' successes, looks, or achievements? Whether we like it or not, we all feel envious sometimes. The feelings can chase us around and fill us with strong emotions like anger, shame, and sadness.  You may hesitate to confront your envious feelings but doing so can set your heart free and fill you with joy again. Listen now to discover 3 simple st...

Do you worry about how TVs, iPads, and phones are turning us (and our kids) into disconnected zombies?  You're not alone. We're all guilty of being glued to these devices for most of our days. With endless options of entertainment at our fingertips, it's easy to lose touch with our surroundings and with each other. Listen now to discover simple actions you can take to control the technology in you...

Imagine you're 16 again. Could you make better choices with the perspective you have today?   So often, we base our decisions on our current perspective. And that can keep us stuck. It's easy to feel overwhelmed by our circumstances, fears, or other people's opinions. But what if we could make all these choices with our "future selves" in mind? In this episode, you'll discover a powerful framework...

Helping your aging parents can be a stressful and confusing time. With so many unknowns, it's hard to even know what to google for answers! You can feel really alone as you navigate uncharted territory. That's perfectly normal. As adult children, when imagining our parents as seniors, we can't comprehend how their aging will affect them or us. We don't like to think about our loved ones declining...

Does fulfilling your deepest desires sound like a pipe dream? If so, you're not alone – many of us think executing our vision would take too much time or energy, or that doing so is simply impossible. We don't always see or honor the gap between our desire and our ability to execute. And this "desire gap" can be the root cause of a lot of suffering. But many times, our dreams are not beyond our re...

Have you been feeling overwhelmed? Worried all the time? Anxious about everything going on in the world? You feel certain you should tend to your own mental health, but it seems impossible when there are so many things going on around you. So how do you stay calm when everything seems to fall apart? In today's episode, you'll discover some powerful practices to access your own inner calm—even if i...

If you've ever felt overwhelmed by the clutter in your kid's room, you're not alone. Many of us feel like our child's room just can't stay in order. Which leads to an ongoing conflict in a lot of homes. But often the mess is not because our kids don't want to cooperate. They just don't know how to do it. They need an effective and motivating system to keep their place clean. In this episode, you'l...