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This week, I'm joined by Beatriz Albina, a nurse practitioner, somatic coach, and the bestselling author of End Emotional Outsourcing, to discuss a hidden nervous system epidemic among professional women: "functional freeze." Do you look poised and unstoppable on the outside, but often feel disconnected from yourself? Beatriz breaks down the functional freeze phenomenon and "emotional outsourcing," the reason you might be stuck in a pattern of overgiving, perfectionism, and people-pleasing.She explains how chronic disconnection from our bodies is a protective response deeply rooted in our nervous systems. This compassionate and science-backed conversation will illuminate why willpower alone isn't the answer—and how you can begin to reclaim your self-trust and honor your humanness to design an authentic, brilliant next chapter. Don't miss it!  Show Highlights: What is functional freeze? [04:05] Is functional freeze a common problem? [07:18] Emotional outsourcing vs. healthy co-regulation. [09:30] Navigating the self and curiosity vs. external expectations. [12:45] The importance of finding "grown-up" support and a "village." [17:22] Why somatic, body-based nervous system rewiring matters. [18:20] A simple "What am I feeling right now?" awareness self-check. [19:44] Reconnection practices to check in with your body and honor it. [21:43] The need to heal from "I'm fine" conditioning. [28:05] Where to find Beatriz Albina's free resources and her book. [32:29] To find Beatriz Albina's work and the free meditations she's offering: https://beatrizalbina.com/free-meditations/ Subscribe to the Brilliant Balance Weekly: www.brilliant-balance.com/weekly Follow Cherylanne on Instagram: www.instagram.com/cskolnicki

Today, I'm mixing things up a bit by answering YOUR questions all about setting boundaries that actually hold, especially at work. If you've ever found it tough to say no, wondered how to handle tricky power dynamics, or felt overwhelmed by requests after hours, you're in the right place. I'll share five real situations that listeners have asked about, along with practical strategies you can use right away. You'll hear about everything from managing expectations with leaders to finding your voice as the "new person" in the office. My hope is that you'll recognize your own experiences, pick up some actionable tips, and start shaping boundaries that help you shine without burning out.  Show Highlights: Don't miss Kate Northrup's free "Good with Money" workshop. [00:56] What boundaries mean beyond just saying no. [03:52] Boundary setting with senior leaders who ignore preferences. [04:23] Consistency as the key to fostering boundary respect. [07:43] How to make a work increase you can't refuse negotiable. [08:09] Creating clarity without saying no. [11:33] Resetting after-hours etiquette with always-on colleagues. [12:12] Benefits of "beginning as you mean to go on" in a new job. [17:07] Tips for avoiding unpaid work and protecting your time. [20:26] Are you letting others define your boundaries for you? [27:02] To register for Kate Northrup's Good with Money Free Masterclass click here: https://thefreefam.ontraport.net/t?orid=497195&opid=170 Subscribe to the Brilliant Balance Weekly: www.brilliant-balance.com/weekly Follow Cherylanne on Instagram: www.instagram.com/cskolnicki

Today, I'm sharing a simple truth that often goes unspoken: life is not linear. We're conditioned to believe that progress should be a steady, upward journey, but what if our lives actually operate in cycles, not straight lines? I'm unpacking the "momentum cycle" and exploring why your energy, creativity, and focus naturally ebb and flow through distinct seasons—surges of expansion, hard stops of crisis, the uncertainty of transitions, and the necessity of recovery—and why striving to always be at your peak can actually hinder your progress. If you're tired of measuring your life against an unfair expectation of nonstop achievement, tune in for fresh insights on honoring your energy, matching your actions to your current season, and finding power, even in the pauses.  Show Highlights: Details of Kate Northrup's upcoming money workshop. [00:59] The fallacy that life is linear vs. the "momentum cycle." [03:44] The highs and gradual low of growth and expansion. [07:31] Navigating crisis periods with focus. [09:40] How transition and change can become accelerators. [12:49] Do you allow yourself time to recover and heal? [16:59] Suffering due to misaligned output and capacity. [21:00] How can you honor your human limits? [24:57] The power and opportunity in pausing. [26:24] Find out whether you're in sync with your phase. [28:53] The joy of trusting the cycle and celebrating others' wins. [30:00] To register for Good with Money click here: https://thefreefam.ontraport.net/t?orid=497195&opid=170 Subscribe to the Brilliant Balance Weekly: www.brilliant-balance.com/weekly Follow Cherylanne on Instagram: www.instagram.com/cskolnicki

Today, I'm sitting down for an eye-opening conversation about wealth with bestselling author, entrepreneur, and creator of the Relaxed Money Method, Kate Northrup, who brings a refreshing perspective on money—seeing it as a relationship, not just a set of numbers. Why does making good money not necessarily make us good with money? Kate explains to us how our stories about money shift through life's seasons, the surprising role our nervous system plays in financial decision-making, and why feeling truly safe with abundance is the real prize. If you've struggled with the tension between ambition and the pull of "real life," or financial shame and secrecy, take the first step to recalibrating your relationship with wealth with Kate's wisdom. After the episode, you may want to join Kate's upcoming workshop!  Show Highlights: Money as a number vs. a relationship in your real context. [02:17] Reimagine financial tasks with the "money date" concept. [05:02] Financial shame in successful women and the cost of secrecy. [08:19] The real key to being good with money beyond the topline. [11:47] Uncouple your identity and nervous system from money beliefs. [18:23] How to power-reset your nervous system. [24:07] The lie of scarcity and separation vs. energy of clarity. [30:01] Kate Northrup's free "Good with Money" workshop. [38:24] Check out Kate's podcast Plenty. [41:13] To register for Good with Money, click here: https://thefreefam.ontraport.net/t?orid=497195&opid=170 To find Kate's podcast Plenty: https://katenorthrup.com Subscribe to the Brilliant Balance Weekly: www.brilliant-balance.com/weekly Follow Cherylanne on Instagram: www.instagram.com/cskolnicki

Are you ready to reevaluate how much being liked really matters? In this episode, I'm talking about the surprising, powerful, and sometimes uncomfortable truth that seeking approval can actually keep us from reaching our full potential. I'll explain how the need to be liked is a fuel woven into our early lives and careers, but then becomes a constraint as we step into midlife and leadership roles. I'll show you why we need to trade our need for approval for clarity, courage, and the kind of power that inspires true leadership—the power of shifting focus from managing perceptions to forging real outcomes. If you've felt the powerful pull of wanting to be liked, ever softened your opinions, over-accommodated, or hesitated to claim your authority for fear of ruffling feathers, you know what this episode is about. Tune in to discover how trading approval for influence can open up a chapter of freedom and impact, and the legacy you crave!  Show Highlights: What does our need for approval stem from? [01:05] The early power of approval and high-achiever conditioning. [04:35] How approval becomes a clashing limiter at midlife. [06:47] Approval-oriented vs. power/influence-oriented behaviors. [07:45] Understand true power. [11:48] Learning to withstand disapproval and hold your own. [13:46] Costs of overoptimizing for approval and underclaiming space. [15:42] The "I" statements of the "liked" vs. "influential" identity. [18:58] Five steps to reclaim influence without approval polling. [21:08] The benefits of earning influence over approval. [24:02] Subscribe to the Brilliant Balance Weekly: www.brilliant-balance.com/weekly Follow Cherylanne on Instagram: www.instagram.com/cskolnicki

Today, I'm joined by communication scholar and Baylor professor Dr. Allison Alford to shine a light on a topic that speaks directly to the heart of so many women—the often unseen work of "daughtering." If you're the steady anchor of your family, the go-to for remembering birthdays, managing sibling dynamics, and smoothing over tensions before anyone else even notices, this conversation is for you! Dr. Alford is the author of Good Daughtering and brings wisdom, empathy, and refreshing clarity to the subtle yet significant roles that many professional women carry as adult daughters, and the interplay of obligation and autonomy, devotion and depletion. She offers practical strategies to lighten your load, reclaim your agency, and reshape your definition of what it means to be "enough." You'll discover why recognizing your "daughtering" labor is both liberating and essential. This conversation offers a fresh perspective on modeling daughtering, so tune in for inspiration to purposely create a life with a more sustainable, joyful balance! Show Highlights: What does "daughtering" mean? [05:06] The doing, thinking, feeling, and being work of daughters. [06:34] Acknowledging the blessing/burden duality of daughtering. [11:45] Is it love or duty that motivates daughtering work? [13:04] Identifying hedonic vs. eudaimonic happiness. [13:39] How daughtering can shift to overfunctioning and resentment. [16:21] Research findings on daughter and son roles in family care. [19:36] Redefining "enough" and embracing being a B+ daughter. [23:18] How to practice microdosing daughtering and agency. [26:01] Self-care as daughters and modeling it for the next generation. [28:44] Dr. Alford's book and where to find her work or contact her. [31:46] Connect with Allison Alford here: https://www.instagram.com/daughtering101/?hl=en Subscribe to the Brilliant Balance Weekly: www.brilliant-balance.com/weekly Follow Cherylanne on Instagram: www.instagram.com/cskolnicki

If you're like me, you know you aren't the same woman you were a year or even a month ago. In this episode, I'm inviting you to make a powerful shift—to make decisions like the woman you're becoming, not the one you're outgrowing. I'll talk about how easy it is to default to comfort zones, old identities, or the opinions of others, the pitfalls of letting those steer our lives, and why that keeps us playing small. Let's explore how tapping into the insight, courage, and vision of our future selves can lead us to choices that have the power to excite, stretch, and fulfill us. This episode is a practical invitation to recalibrate, break free from old patterns, and start making decisions today that your future self will thank you for! Let's craft our next chapters—one intentional decision at a time.  Show Highlights: Are your choices aligned with your evolving identity? [00:46] A reflective exercise to do with your 16-year-old self. [04:30] Why present-moment decisions are a trap at life's inflection-points. [07:22] Meet a VVIP—your future self. [10:18] Five common drivers of current decisions. [11:04] How to harness vision to question familiar patterns. [17:31] The power of "possibilities" thinking vs. constraints. [18:36] What story do you want to tell with courage over fear? [19:12] Tap into long-term satisfaction in the painful now. [20:00] Learning to honor the opinion of your future self. [21:09] Share your present and future story with us or DM for support. [22:16] Subscribe to the Brilliant Balance Weekly: www.brilliant-balance.com/weekly Follow Cherylanne on Instagram: www.instagram.com/cskolnicki Join the Brilliant Balance Facebook Group: http://www.facebook.com/groups/281949848958057

Today, I'm handing over the host chair and letting you in on a different conversation, where I'm the one answering the questions! In this episode, which I'm re-airing after we recorded it for her show, Molly Asplin interviews me about the story behind Brilliant Balance, my leap from corporate life to entrepreneurship, and why our personal definitions of success matter more than any universal standard. We talk about the seasons of our lives, the messy reality behind the highlight reels, and how giving ourselves permission to embrace the "now" can change everything. If you've ever wrestled with burnout, perfectionism, or the belief that you just can't press pause, I promise you'll feel seen here. Grab your coffee, settle in, and join us for a fresh perspective on designing a brilliant, balanced life, your way.  Show Highlights: How I left P&G with financial runways to launch a business. [03:43] Align your pace with life's growth and recovery seasons. [10:56] Are you living by outdated standards of success? [18:16] How to name your season and reset your rhythm. [20:23] The power of intentional calendar curation. [24:12] Energy management essentials for health and resilience. [27:44] What's procrastination perfectionism? [32:05] Separating social narratives from yourself as a woman. [34:56] The pendulum shift to recovery from career overdrive. [41:08] Permission for tired women to sleep and get support. [42:41] Check out my Momentum Playbook and other helpful tools. [45:51] To find Molly Asplin's podcast The Modern High Performer, visit https://mollyasplin.com/modern-high-performer-podcast/. Subscribe to the Brilliant Balance Weekly: www.brilliant-balance.com/weekly Follow Cherylanne on Instagram: www.instagram.com/cskolnicki

Ever find yourself stuck in an endless loop of overthinking, self-doubt, or battling between what you want and what you "should" do? To get to the heart of this inner tug-of-war, today, I'm joined by Dana Bernstein, principal of Dare to Live Brave and author of It's the Thought that Counts: Mastering the Art of YOU vs. You. Dana is a conflict resolution coach, helping professionals in high-stakes environments like universities, government, banking, and the court system. We're talking real-life inner conflict between ambition and self-doubt, or when your values feel like they're battling for control. Dana breaks down why labeling our emotions is magic and how knowing exactly what drives you can shift everything about how you show up, not just in tough conversations, but in your biggest moments. Join us if you're ready for powerful stories, actionable steps, and plenty of aha moments to reclaim your power and move forward as your most empowered, graceful self (even in the messiest moments) to the big, bold life you envision.  Show Highlights: Understanding competing values in the "YOU vs. You" conflict. [02:40] Inner conflict in women and why self-discovery matters. [04:13] Discover your best self with leveraged values and "Who" words. [05:22] How to "pause, ponder, pivot" when you feel triggered. [07:05] The rider, elephant and peanuts analogy for emotions and reasoning. [08:19] Practicing the pause effectively and advance preparation. [11:10] In-the-moment conflict vs. after-the fact conflict. [13:52] The power of self-mastery over negotiation in conflict resolution. [15:31] What do you feed your mind, ice cream vs. bananas? [19:09] Using body awareness as early warnings of conflict activation. [23:23] Self-compassion and living clean between your ears. [24:58] To take the Who assessment: https://danabernsteinconflictcoach.github.io/the-who-assessment-official-/ To find Danas book: http://bit.ly/3PLlYG9 Subscribe to the Brilliant Balance Weekly: www.brilliant-balance.com/weekly Follow Cherylanne on Instagram: www.instagram.com/cskolnicki  

Ever feel like you're always racing toward the next big milestone and forgetting to savor the moments of the life you're actually living? In this episode, I'm discussing how we can easily overlook the lives we're truly living, continually focused on what's next, waiting for things to settle down, missing out on the present. I'm talking about my own recent experience of this and the common patterns I see among high-achieving women: treating our current chapter as just a stepping stone, constantly planning, or having trouble letting the good moments sink in. With relatable reflections and practical suggestions, I'll share ways to help you notice the goodness in your daily life and become more present, even when things feel messy or transitional. This episode is here to remind you: you don't need a different life to feel more joy—you just need to truly be here for the one you have. Let's rediscover the brilliance in our everyday moments.  Show Highlights: The subtle problem of missing the moment. [00:46] "Spotlight Session" advantage in our BOLD community. [02:54] Why "now" is not a placeholder for real life. [04:15] Future-focused living due to overactive competence. [07:14] The importance of reframing presence. [10:12] Letting the good land to enjoy full presence. [11:00] What is ease and flow? [13:11] How patterns of not living in the present turn into a loop. [13:46] Practice noticing and appreciating the life you have. [16:01] Ways to share and support the show. [17:31] Subscribe to the Brilliant Balance Weekly: www.brilliant-balance.com/weekly Follow Cherylanne on Instagram: www.instagram.com/cskolnicki

Today, I'm taking a closer look at the growing pressure so many of us feel around health optimization, especially during midlife, when simply keeping up with the latest wellness and beauty trends and advice can start to feel like another full-time job. I'm breaking down why health information and solutions constantly inundate us, and the mental and financial costs of trying to do it all, and I'm sharing practical ways to bring more ease and intention back into our daily routines. If you've ever felt overwhelmed by constantly shifting "rules" or found yourself buried in trackers, apps, wearables, and endless wellness products, this episode is your permission slip to turn down the noise and refocus on what truly supports your well-being. We can reclaim self-care as something that fits into our lives rather than another source of stress.  Show Highlights: The growing weight of health advice. [00:53] Understanding the strategic health industry trap. [03:51] The engineered pressure to solve perceived problems. [06:18] Tracking fatigue and why more data isn't always better care. [07:12] Consciously choosing what not to track or act upon. [09:37] Shifting from performative to supportive self-care. [10:18] What should be the actual role of health and self-care? [11:38] Practical steps to curate health inputs and regain balance. [12:43] Where does vanity pressure end and health begin in marketing? [15:06] Subscribe to the Brilliant Balance Weekly: www.brilliant-balance.com/weekly Follow Cherylanne on Instagram: www.instagram.com/cskolnicki

This week, I'm sitting down with Aimee Rickabus, powerhouse entrepreneur, author, mother of six, and CEO of Tomahawk Information Solutions, to shine a light on the invisible labor women manage every day and reveal its surprising ROI. Aimee shares her experience of managing both her business and a bustling family, and how she has built executive-level skills along the way, turning household micro decision power into strategic thinking and leadership. We discuss the idea that success shouldn't be viewed as a relentless climb up a ladder, but more as tending to a garden, acknowledging the varied and shifting seasons of life. Aimee has practical strategies for you to make your invisible work visible, leverage it in your career, and optimize your time and energy through technology. If you've never wondered how all those behind-the-scenes efforts are training grounds for high-level skills, this episode will feel like a breath of fresh air.  Show Highlights: The eye-opening mirror of home and business leadership. [02:16] Mothers' mental load of micro decisions and interruptions. [03:18] How being a mom hones emotional intelligence. [06:00] The powerful ability to say no learnable in motherhood. [06:59] Empathy-driven leadership shaped by parenthood. [07:30] Gaining project management skills at home. [08:26] The strategic value of invisible labor. [09:22] Embracing success as a "garden" with life's seasons. [10:54] What's the cadence of authentic female leadership? [13:01] Make invisible tasks conscious—then optimize and/or automate. [15:41] Why tech adoption is your gateway to legacy projects. [19:36] Ways to connect with Aimee and get her book. [25:43] To find Aimee's work, book, and podcast, visit: https://themanageher.com Subscribe to the Brilliant Balance Weekly: www.brilliant-balance.com/weekly Follow Cherylanne on Instagram: www.instagram.com/cskolnicki

If you're tired of seeing your good habits crumble when life gets messy, today's episode is a must-listen. I'm revealing why our routines often fail, and it's not because we aren't disciplined.  You'll learn my "minimum viable dose" strategy, which makes it easy to stick with your habits even when motivation is low or your schedule is off track. I'll show you how making small adjustments can help you keep promises to yourself, with actionable tips for building your Plan A, Plan B (and Plan C!), so you can keep moving forward even on the toughest days. Say goodbye to all-or-nothing thinking and embrace a more resilient approach to self-care, productivity, and growth. Hit play now and let's build habits that truly last!  Show Highlights: Do motivated women over-design ideal habit systems? [00:48] Why ideal habits fail. [02:57] The problem with aiming for streaks. [03:48] Building habits for hard days. [05:32] What's the "minimum viable dose" of a habit? [05:57] Defining habit Plans A to C—ideal to minimum viable dose. [06:49] Win with "one is greater than zero" thinking. [11:17] How to apply the advice in this episode to your habits. [13:17] Plan C as the key to building consistent habits. [15:48] How self-trust, not competition, is the true goal of habits. [16:35] Subscribe to the Brilliant Balance Weekly: www.brilliant-balance.com/weekly Follow Cherylanne on Instagram: www.instagram.com/cskolnicki

Today, I'm looking at the idea of using accountability as a "forcing function" that can transform our cherished goals from wishful intentions into accomplished realities. If you ever wonder why our work projects always seem to get done while personal goals keep getting relegated to "someday," this episode will hit home. I'm sharing why our personal lives lack the built-in accountability and structures that make professional commitments non-negotiable, because, get this, motivation isn't enough. I'll explain that with examples, insights from behavioral science, and actionable steps to harness accountability mechanisms to accomplish your most important priorities. Discover the value of enlisting paid professionals (and even some unlikely familiar faces) as accountability allies! Accountability doesn't add pressure! It powerfully creates freedom by clearing space for what matters most to you. I'm inviting you to hit play and discover a few simple shifts to make this your year to soar.  Show Highlights: Last call to register for our free January workshop. [00:47] Why do work goals win and personal goals get shelved? [03:09] Forcing functions and accountability power. [05:23] Can self-sufficiency beliefs hinder external accountability? [07:44] Why "obligers" need accountability mechanisms. [08:26] Emotional reasons for resisting accountability. [09:38] Make your employees and kids your accountability partners. [12:08] Low-leverage accountability pitfalls vs. mutual accountability. [14:19] Ensuring success with high-leverage paid accountability. [16:19] Reframing constraints as freedom for "rebels." [19:05] Register for my free workshop "Make Your Week Work for You": https://brilliant-balance.com/reclaim Subscribe to the Brilliant Balance Weekly: www.brilliant-balance.com/weekly Follow Cherylanne on Instagram: www.instagram.com/cskolnicki

Ever find yourself circling around a decision, stuck between yes and no, with a big "maybe" holding you back? This week, I'm pulling back the curtain on the "maybe mindset"...that quiet habit of postponing meaningful choices and playing it safe. I'll share why it's so tempting to linger in indecision, the real price we pay for not committing, and practical strategies for finally breaking that cycle. Expect honest recollections, a fresh perspective on why clarity doesn't require perfect certainty, and a powerful invitation to make bolder, more confident choices. If you're ready to stop living in limbo and start moving forward, don't miss this episode.  Show Highlights: Have you spotted your euphemisms for "maybe"? [00:51] The true costs of the "maybe mindset." [04:30] Paralysis of options and how to overcome it. [05:56] The comfort zone conundrum. [08:11] The illusion of abundant time. [09:53] Ask "What would have to be true to say yes?" as a clarifier. [13:23] Weighing the cost of a no. [15:56] The power of breaking big choices into small steps. [18:05] Why embracing uncertainty leads to growth. [19:37] Clarity through a clear yes and a clear no. [20:50] Register for my free workshop "Make Your Week Work for You": https://brilliant-balance.com/reclaim Subscribe to the Brilliant Balance Weekly: www.brilliant-balance.com/weekly Follow Cherylanne on Instagram: www.instagram.com/cskolnicki