A couple of weeks ago, I spoke at a women's club about self-awareness and the power of reflection. As I looked around the room, I noticed something interesting - many of us know when something isn't quite right in our lives, but we rarely take the time to pause, reflect, and do something about it.

Instead we operate in management mode, constantly tending to the needs of others: our families, our jobs, our responsibilities - without checking in with ourselves. We convince ourselves that reflection isn't something we have time for, when in reality, it is the key to understanding what we truly need and moving toward it with intention.

There is a difference between simply recognizing something in our lives and actively doing something about it.

👉🏼 Passive Awareness is when we know something but don't act on it. Maybe you realize you constantly overcommit, but you keep doing it anyway. Maybe you have always loved writing but you tell yourself you are too busy to start. Maybe you feel burned out but never take a moment to ask yourself what needs to change.

👉🏼 Action-Oriented Awareness is when you take small, intentional steps based on what you have noticed. It is when you go from saying "I know I need to make a change" to actually making the change. 

I experienced this shift firsthand. I have always loved creating, but for a long time, I was passively aware of it. I knew it fueled me, yet I wasn't making space for it in my life. Through my own reflection, I realized I was waiting for the right moment (the perfect plan). I didn't need that I just needed to start small.

I created a free guide to help others recognize their worth, and that single action led to four other digital well-being offerings - with more on the way! The lesson? You don't have to have it all figured out. You just have to begin.

In today's fast-paced world, we are encouraged to act but not necessarily to pause and reflect. The problem? When we don't reflect, we end up running on autopilot, making decisions based on urgency rather than alignment. 

Science backs up the power of reflection in deepening self-awareness. Research shows that intentional self-reflection improves:
✅ Emotional regulation - Helping us respond thoughtfully rather than react impulsively.
✅ Decision-making - Allowing us to make choices with clarity instead of defaulting to habits.
✅ Personal growth - Helping us identify patterns, understand our behaviors, and shift in meaningful ways.

Reflection gives us the power of choice - the ability to take control of our own lives rather than managing everything and everyone else.

If you are ready to move from passive awareness to action-oriented awareness, here are a few reflection prompts to consider:

🔹 What is something I know I need but have been avoiding?
🔹 Where in my life am I managing others' needs instead of prioritizing my own?
🔹 What is one small step I can take toward something that excites me?

​Take five minutes today to sit with these question. You might be surprised by what comes up.

To support you in deepening your reflection and self-awareness, I have created two guides:

📝 Free Guide for Self-Awareness & Reflection - A simple tool to spark reflection and build self-awareness.
📖 5-Part Self-Awareness & Reflection Guide - A deeper dive to help you build intentional self-awareness and take action.

We all have to start somewhere. The most important thing? Take the first step.

What is one thing you have been passively aware of that you are ready to take action on? I would love to hear - drop a comment below!

On Saturday, we celebrated International Women's Day - a day to honor the strength, resilience, and brilliance of women everywhere. And I have a little brain science to share with you that just might make you sit up a little taller. (Note: It's Brain Awareness Week!)

A friend and colleague of mine, who happens to be a neuroscientist, created this image with a fascinating fact about the female brain. Ready for it? 👇🏼

👉🏼 Women's brains run on low power mode without losing performance.

Wait, what?! Yup. Basically, our brains are like those magical energy-efficient appliances that keep crushing it no matter how much is being thrown at them. Honestly... I'm not surprised.

Years ago, before I had any awareness around taking care of myself, I lived this reality daily. 👉🏼 I worked a full-time job, kept the house in order, took care of my two girls, handled the grocery shopping, cleaned, cooked, planned birthdays, and somehow managed to keep it all together. Well, on the outside at least. Some days I felt invincible. Other days, I felt invincible but didn't want to be invincible - you know what I mean?

But here's the kicker - I never paused to ask myself, Why do I feel like I have to do it all?

The Invisible Burden We Carry
There has been this underlying expectation placed on women for centuries, to be the doers, the nurturers, the multitaskers, the everything-for-everyone. It is embedded so deeply in our history that it creates a lot of nonsense thinking and unnecessary suffering.

I lived it. I breathed it. I believed it.

I thought my worth was measured by how much I could do and how little I would complain about it. I would push through exhaustion, silence my frustrations, and plaster a smile on my face - all while drowning in the pressure of being everything to everyone. And when those unpleasant feelings popped up? I would shove them aside and keep going. Because that is what I thought I was supposed to do. Self-sacrificing at its best! 🏆 

The worst part? I shamed myself for the moments where I  expressed anger and literally lost my shit. Like...how dare I feel negatively.

Does this sound familiar?

Own Your Brilliance
So here is what I want to say to every woman reading this:

It is time to peel away the layers of expectation, pressure, and societal nonsense that keep you from feeling how incredibly amazing you already are. It is time to own your brilliance, protect your peace, and ditch the guilt.


You don't have to do it all. You don't have to prove anything. You don't have to silence your needs. 

What you do have to do?

Take care of yourself - unapologetically. Rest when you need to. Say no when you want to and when your plate is full. Protect your energy like it is gold!

Because, my friend - you are a superhero. Your brain is already wired for your brilliance. Your energy is powerful. Your potential is limitless. 

And the moment you choose to start treating yourself like the extraordinary woman you are - everything shifts.

So, today and every day, celebrate that. Celebrate you!

And for the love of all things good - take the nap, ignore the laundry, and stop feeling bad for choosing YOU. Because when you do... you will realize you have been unstoppable all along. 

Everyday there is a reason to celebrate being a women! So, Superhero, go take over the world or take a nap. Either way, you are winning! 💜

Send this to a woman you know can benefit from this message! We all need this reminder once in a while!

On my recent visit to the Netherlands, I had the chance to explore the iconic windmills at Zaanse Schans. While there, I couldn't resist the classic tourist moment: slipping my feet into a pair of oversized Dutch wooden shoes. 

As I stood there, laughing at how comically large they were, I couldn't help but think about the phrase "big shoes to fill."

We have all heard this phrase at some point in our lives. It is intended to inspire us to rise to the occasion, meet expectations, and live up to a certain standard. But as I have journeyed along my path, I have realized something important - those shoes were never meant for me in the first place. 

For years, I tried to fit into roles and definitions of success that weren't mine. I chased expectations that looked good on paper but felt empty in practice. And I know I am not alone in this. So many of us spend our lives trying to squeeze into shoes that don't fit, convinced that if we try harder, we will finally feel worthy. But the truth? The most successful fulfilled people I know aren't filling anyone else's shoes. They are wearing their own - comfortably, confidently, and unapologetically.

It takes courage to step out of expectations that don't align with who we are. It requires self-awareness to recognize when we are trying to fit into a mold that isn't meant for us. And it takes trust - trust that our own path, our own shoes, are exactly what we need to walk forward with purpose.

So, the next time you feel the pressure to fill big shoes, ask yourself: Are they really meant for you? Or is it time to step into your own and walk your own path?

We made it to Day 7 of the Self-Awareness Challenge: Catch & Reframe Fear-Based Thoughts! 🎉

This week we have practiced noticing our thoughts, shifting out of fear, and stepping into a more empowered, loving mindset. That is something worth celebrating!

So often we move from one goal to the next without stopping to acknowledge how far we have come. Real growth happens when we pause, reflect, and appreciate the small (and big!) shifts we make.

Even if you still catch yourself in fear-based thinking (which is totally normal!), the fact that you are more aware is a major win. Self-awareness is the foundation of personal growth.

How to Carry This Forward
💡Keep Noticing - Self-awareness is not just a one-week thing; it is a lifelong practice. Keep observing your thoughts and choosing empowering perspectives.
💡Celebrate Progress, Not Perfection - You don't have to get it "right" every time. The fact that you are showing up for yourself is enough.
💡Stay Connected - Growth is easier (and more fun!) when we do it together.