We’re wrapping up October; where has the time gone?! It’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month. I don’t usually pay much attention to all the different “awareness months,” but this one feels personal. So today, I want to share a few things I’ve learned from my own experience. I was getting regular mammograms, but I wasn’t checking my breasts between appointments. For more than a year, I had a deep itch in my left breast and an overwhelming, unexplainable fatigue. I mentioned it to m

It’s that time of year again. Well…almost. Personally, I’m not crazy about seeing Christmas decorations in the stores before Halloween. Slow your roll, capitalism. Can’t we relish one holiday at a time? But I’m bringing up the holidays early for a reason that has nothing to do with shopping, decorating, or getting a head start on your to-do list. I want you to enjoy them. I want you to arrive at the holidays mentally, emotionally, and physically prepared, not exhausted from t

The holidays have felt very different to me these past two years. The week before Christmas in 2024, I found a lump in my breast. For nearly two years before that, I had been feeling increasingly tired. I knew something wasn’t right. I asked questions, saw my doctor, and had tests done, but everything appeared normal. Maybe it was hormonal. Maybe it was menopause. Maybe I was simply doing too much. So, like so many of us do, I kept going. I remember preparing for Christmas th

What if the behaviors you criticize most in yourself are not signs that you are lazy, difficult, or broken—but your nervous system’s attempts to protect you? Procrastination, overthinking, perfectionism, people-pleasing, and self-sabotage can all be signs that your body is responding to perceived danger, even when no immediate physical threat is present. These patterns can feel frustrating, confusing, and deeply personal. But they are not proof that you lack discipline or wil

Sometimes we know exactly what we want to change, yet we still can’t seem to follow through. Maybe you want to say no more often, but you’re afraid of disappointing someone. Maybe you want to slow down and take better care of yourself, but resting makes you feel guilty. Maybe you want to ask for help, have a difficult conversation, or make a career change, but you’re worried about conflict, criticism, or failure. You genuinely want the change, the rest, or the peace. But some

Language creates meaning. The words we repeatedly use to describe our lives influence what we expect, how we feel, and how we respond. Learning how to reframe negative thoughts can help us interrupt the patterns that create unnecessary stress and approach our lives with greater ease and intention. For years, I had a habit of thinking about many parts of life as hard. But for most of us, “hard” doesn’t always sound like: This is hard. It is more likely to sound like: I have to

What patterns prevent you from being present and enjoying your life? It’s an important question at any time of year, but especially as we move toward the holidays—a season that can bring joy and connection, but also stress, overwhelm, and exhaustion. Many of the patterns that make our lives harder did not begin as conscious choices. They developed slowly through our experiences and the messages we received about what we needed to do to be loved, valued, successful, or safe. M

Last week, I wrote about the beliefs we carry and how learning to question them can begin to change our lives. Afterward, a few readers asked what they could replace certain limiting beliefs with. Such a good question! But before we can replace a limiting belief, it helps to understand where it came from. How Are Limiting Beliefs Formed? Our limiting beliefs often have deep roots. From the time we are very young, we gather information about ourselves, other people, and the wo

Last week, we explored what manifestation really means. It does not mean magically attracting whatever you want. It does not mean controlling every circumstance. And it certainly does not mean blaming yourself when difficult things happen. Manifestation is the process of bringing your beliefs, desires, and intentions into visible expression through the way you live. The truth is, we’re already doing that. Our thoughts influence how we feel. How we feel influences our choices.

Manifestation has become quite the buzzword and I tend to stay away from buzzwords. I prefer ideas that are grounded in real life and backed by science. However, as a deeply spiritual person, I’ll admit I also love a little woo. Just because something hasn’t been scientifically proven—yet—doesn’t mean it isn’t real or useful. After all, science often begins with an idea or experience we don’t fully understand, followed by an effort to understand it. And today, manifestation

Over the past few weeks, we’ve been talking a lot about our thoughts. We’ve talked about noticing what you’re thinking. Choosing your thoughts more intentionally. And finding bridge thoughts when the thought you want to believe feels a little too far away. Today, I want to bring all of this together by talking about why your thoughts matter so much. Because your thoughts don’t just stay in your head. They influence how you feel. How you feel influences how you behave. And how

If you’ve ever tried to replace a negative thought with a positive one and immediately thought… Yeah, right. You’re not alone. Maybe you’ve been telling yourself: I love my body. But after years of criticizing your body, you don’t believe it. Or maybe you’re trying to think: I trust myself. But you’ve spent years second-guessing yourself, worrying about making the wrong decision, and asking everyone else what they think. Your brain isn’t buying that one either. This is one of

As far as we know, human beings are the only species capable of thinking about what they think about. It’s called metacognition. Metacognition is the ability to think about your own thinking. It allows you to notice your thoughts, question whether they’re true or helpful, and intentionally choose beliefs that support the life you want to create. When we learn to notice our thoughts, then to think on purpose instead of simply believing every thought that pops into our minds, o

Have you ever walked away from a conversation thinking, That could have gone so differently? I recently had one of those moments. Last week, I shared the story of picking up the custom shoe inserts that had been sitting at my podiatrist’s office for months. If you read that email, you might remember my description of the voicemail I received from the nurse. It wasn’t exactly warm. In fact, I would describe it as quite rude. By the time I walked into the office, I already felt

Have you ever replayed a conversation over and over in your mind? Maybe someone criticized you. Dismissed you. Misunderstood you. Or simply caught you off guard. Hours later, you’re still thinking about it. You replay what they said. You imagine what you wish you had said. You think of all the ways you could have defended yourself. If you’ve ever done this, you’re not alone. There’s actually a name for it. It’s called rumination. And this week, I caught myself doing exactly t

How the Sounds of Nature Calm Your Nervous System and Help You Feel More Present One of my favorite things about summer is the soundtrack of nature. This is the time of year when I spend as much time outside as I possibly can. I love waking up to a chorus of birds singing outside my window. I smile when I see baby squirrels, chipmunks, bunnies, and ducks exploring my backyard. Hummingbirds often hover just a few feet away while I sip my tea on the patio. And this summer, I’ve

How to Break Free from Overthinking, People-Pleasing, and Perfectionism When most of us think about freedom, we picture fireworks, flags, and the Fourth of July. But there’s another kind of freedom that deserves celebrating. The kind that begins inside of us. As a life coach, I’ve learned that many women aren’t looking for more success or more to accomplish. They’re longing for something much deeper. They’re longing to feel free. Free from overthinking. Free from saying yes w

If you’re a smart but stressed woman who has trouble falling asleep, wakes up in the middle of the night, or never feels fully rested, your bedroom may be playing a bigger role than you realize. Many women in midlife find themselves lying awake at night with racing thoughts, waking in the early morning hours, or feeling like they never reach truly restorative sleep. Hormones certainly play a role. Stress plays a role too. But one factor that often gets overlooked is your slee

For years, I thought my sleep problem was happening at night. I believed that if I could find the right supplement, the perfect bedtime routine, or the magic trick to quiet my mind, I would finally sleep. But recently, I’ve started wondering if the real problem wasn’t happening at night at all. What if your racing mind at bedtime has more to do with what you’re not doing during the day? The Hidden Reason Your Mind Races at Night As many of you know, I spent much of last year

Why You Can’t Sleep at Night: 7 Daytime Habits That Improve Sleep Naturally If you’ve ever found yourself staring at the ceiling at 3 a.m., wondering why you’re exhausted but can’t sleep, you’re not alone. For years, insomnia was an unwanted companion in my life. I’ve always been a light sleeper, but when perimenopause arrived, I began waking up around 3:30 or 4:00 a.m. and struggling to fall back asleep. Then during breast cancer treatment, sleep became even more elusive. No