Holistic Mental Health for Women Solopreneurs

🔴 Episode SummaryWhat happens when the woman building the dream never stops long enough to care for herself?In this deeply personal episode, Dr. Nic shares why she started pausing, what it cost her when she didn’t, and how the pause became one of the most transformational parts of her wellness and entrepreneurial journey.This is not just a conversation about rest.It’s a conversation about burnout, emotional exhaustion, self-abandonment, survival mode, and the sacred power of slowing down long enough to reconnect with yourself, your purpose, and your vision.If you’re a woman solopreneur, creative, or visionary who has been carrying too much for too long, this episode will invite you to stop, breathe, and reflect on what your spirit, mind, and body may be trying to tell you.🔑 Key TakeawayPausing is not weakness.Sometimes the pause is the very thing that reconnects you to yourself, your clarity, your creativity, and the deeper vision for your life.🔴 Power Pause ReflectionWhen is the last time you truly paused?Not scrolled.Not planned.Not worked ahead.But actually stopped long enough to listen to yourself?🔴 This Episode Is For You If:You feel emotionally exhaustedYou’ve been functioning in survival modeYou struggle to rest without guiltYou feel disconnected from yourself or your visionYou’ve been building while burned outYou know you need to slow down, but don’t know how🎧 Stay Connected: Newsletter, The Pause for Solos on Substack

🔴 Episode SummaryRest sounds good…until it’s time to actually do it.Then suddenly:you feel behindyou feel unproductiveyou feel like you should be doing something elseAnd guilt creeps in.In this episode, I’m unpacking the internal tension so many women solopreneurs and creatives carry when it comes to rest—and why rest often feels harder than doing the work.This is not just about taking a break.It’s about understanding why rest feels uncomfortable, what’s driving the guilt, and how to begin creating a rhythm of rest that actually supports your life, your wellness, and your dream pursuit.If you’ve ever struggled to slow down without feeling like you’re falling behind, this episode will meet you right where you are.🔴 In This Episode, I Share:Why rest can feel uncomfortable—even when you know you need itThe hidden beliefs that create guilt around slowing downHow productivity culture and internal pressure shape your relationship with restWhat I’ve learned about rest through seasons of forced pauseThe difference between avoidance and intentional restWhy rest is not a reward—it’s a rhythmHow guilt-free rest actually supports clarity, creativity, and sustainabilityA simple way to begin practicing rest without overthinking it🔑 Key TakeawayRest is not something you have to earn.It’s something you need in order to continue building without breaking yourself.When you begin to see rest as part of your leadership rhythm—not a disruption to it—you move differently.🔴 Power Pause MomentTake a moment and ask yourself:What belief is making it hard for me to rest right now?Is it:“I don’t have time”“I’ll fall behind”“I should be doing more”“I haven’t done enough yet”Now gently ask:What would it look like to rest anyway?🔴For the Woman Who Feels Like She Can’t Slow DownIf you are:constantly thinking about what needs to get donestruggling to disconnect from your workfeeling guilty when you try to restpushing through exhaustion to stay productiveThis episode is your invitation to pause a necessary part of how you build well.💌 Stay ConnectedIf this episode resonated with you, I’d love to invite you to stay connected with me beyond the podcast.Over on Substack, I share deeper reflections, encouragement, and real conversations about wellness, wholeness, and what it looks like to pursue your dreams without abandoning yourself in the process.👉 Subscribe here: [https://substack.com/@nicolepertillar🎧 Share This EpisodeIf this episode spoke to you, share it with another woman who needs permission to rest without guilt.Sometimes the reminder we need is simply knowing we’re not the only one navigating this tension.🔴 Final ReminderYou don’t have to run yourself into the ground to prove you’re committed.You can build your dream…And still give yourself permission to pause.

How to Stay Grounded When Life Feels Out of Control🔴 Episode SummaryIn this episode, I mentioned HOTWORX, my new favorite place and promised to share a LINKWhen life feels like it’s spiraling, the instinct is often to try to control everything. But what if the path back to peace…is actually found in focusing on just one thing?In this episode, I’m sharing how an intense caregiving season forced me into a place where almost everything in my life felt out of my control—and how I found grounding in the most unexpected place: my nutrition and movement.If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed, unsteady, or like life is happening faster than you can process, this episode will help you shift your focus from trying to control everything…to anchoring yourself in what you can control.🔴In This Episode, I Share:What it really feels like when life is out of your controlWhy trying to manage everything can actually increase overwhelmThe one thing I chose to stay consistent with during a hard seasonHow nutrition and movement became a grounding rhythm for meWhy caring for your body is not superficial—it’s foundationalHow physical stewardship can create space for mental and emotional clarityThe surprising way clarity about my business began to returnHow to identify one stabilizing rhythm in your own life🔑 Key TakeawayWhen life feels chaotic, you don’t need to control everything to feel grounded again.You just need one thing you can return to.One rhythm.One act of care.One place where you remind yourself—you are still here, and you still matter.🔴 Power Pause MomentTake a moment and ask yourself:What is one thing I can consistently steward well in this season?Not everything.Just one thing.What would help you feel more grounded, more present, and more connected to yourself right now?🔴 For the Woman Building While Carrying a LotIf you are navigating:caregivingburnoutemotional overwhelmunexpected life transitionsor a season where your capacity has shiftedThis episode is your reminder that grounding doesn’t come from doing more…It comes from returning to yourself.💌 Stay ConnectedIf this episode resonated with you, I’d love to invite you to stay connected with me beyond the podcast.I share deeper reflections, encouragement, and honest conversations about wellness, wholeness, and pursuing your dreams without abandoning yourself over on Substack.👉 Subscribe here: The Pause for Solos!🎧 Share This EpisodeIf this episode spoke to you, share it with another woman who may be trying to hold everything together right now.Sometimes one grounded reminder can shift everything.🔴 Final ReminderYou may not be able to control everything around you…But one steady act of caring for yourself can help you come back to center.And from that place—so much becomes possible.

What do you do when life interrupts your plans, your momentum disappears, and the business path you felt so sure about suddenly feels unclear?In this episode, I’m sharing what I learned during a forced pause and how that unexpected season gave me a deeper level of business clarity than I would have found by simply pushing harder. If you’re a solopreneur, creative entrepreneur, or purpose-driven woman trying to navigate burnout, overwhelm, shifting capacity, or a major life transition, this conversation is for you.Sometimes we assume clarity comes from doing more, moving faster, or trying harder. But this episode explores a different truth: sometimes clarity comes when life forces you to slow down long enough to finally see what no longer fits, what matters most, and what needs to change.In this episode, I break down the 4 biggest lessons I learned during my forced pause:1. Perspective Is Everything2. Less Is More / Clarity Needs Space3. Pivoting Is a Power Move4. Prioritizing Wellness Is a Business StrategyI learned that capacity matters in business decisions. Business strategy that ignores your wellness is not sustainable. Your life and your business have to fit each other, and you cannot build well by abandoning yourself in the process.If you’ve been asking questions like:How do I find business clarity when I feel stuck?How do I move forward after burnout?What do I do when life forces me to pause?How do I build a business that honors my mental health and real-life capacity?This episode is for you.In this episode, we talk about:how to find business clarity during a forced pauseburnout, overwhelm, and solopreneur mental loadwhy clarity often comes through slowing downhow to pivot in business without seeing it as failurethe connection between wellness, capacity, and sustainable entrepreneurshipwhy prioritizing wellness is a real business strategyThis episode is for:solopreneurs and women entrepreneurs navigating burnoutcreatives and purpose-driven women in a season of transitionanyone feeling stuck, unclear, or forced to reevaluate their business pathwomen who want to build without abandoning themselvesKey takeaway:The pause may not have been part of the plan, but it may be the very thing that helps clarify your path.Stay connected:If this episode resonated with you, I’d love for you to stay connected to my newsletter, The Pause for Solos, on Substack, where I share deeper reflections, encouragement, tips, strategies, and practical insight on wellness, business clarity, purpose, and building a life and business that honor your real capacity.

Don’t Leave the Dream Buried Inside YouIn this conversation, I share about how facing the loss of my dear friend impacted my journey, the heartbreak of learning she was at the end of her life, and the powerful realization that came as I reflected on the dreams she once shared with me, dreams that never got the chance to fully manifest.We talk about grief, mental health, purpose, and the emotional weight of postponing what matters most. This is not about pressure or urgency driven by fear. It’s about perspective, intention, and honoring the life you’ve been given.In this episode, I talk about:the emotional impact of learning my friend was at the end of her lifehow grief can bring clarity to your purpose and prioritiesremembering the dreams she shared that never got to manifestmental health, burnout, and navigating heavy life seasons as a solopreneurwhy life transitions can awaken a deeper urgency around your callingwhat it means to live fully and not leave your dreams buried inside youThis episode is for you if:you’ve been putting your dreams on hold while navigating a hard seasonyou’re experiencing grief, burnout, or emotional exhaustionyou’re a solopreneur or creative trying to balance life and purposeyou’ve been waiting for the “right time” to fully go after what’s in your heartyou want to live more intentionally and aligned with your purposeKey reminder from this episode:Don’t leave the dream buried inside you.But because what’s in you matters and it deserves to be lived.Stay connected:If this episode resonated with you, I’d love for you to stay connected with me through my newsletter, The Pause for Solos, over on Substack. That’s where I share deeper reflections and encouragement around mental health, grief, purpose, and what it looks like to pursue your dreams without abandoning yourself in the process.

What happens when the very thing you once felt called to starts feeling too heavy to carry?In this episode, I’m talking about the quiet battle between burnout and the dream in your heart. I’m sharing part of my own story when the weight of everything I was carrying made me want to walk away from something I deeply cared about. Not because the vision no longer mattered, but because I was depleted.If you’ve ever felt so exhausted that you started questioning your calling, your capacity, or whether the dream is even worth it anymore, this conversation is for you.Burnout has a way of distorting vision. It can make meaningful things feel burdensome and cause you to confuse exhaustion with clarity. In this episode, I’m unpacking why that happens, what I learned in that season, and why it’s so important not to make permanent decisions from a temporary state of depletion.In this episode, I talk about:what burnout can do to your visionhow exhaustion can make you want to walk away from meaningful workthe difference between being out of alignment and being depletedwhy capacity matters in the way you carry your dreamhow to pause before making permanent decisions in a temporary hard seasonprotecting the dream in your heart without breaking yourself in the processThis episode is for you if:you feel tired, discouraged, or emotionally drainedyou’ve started questioning a dream you once felt sure aboutyou’ve been tempted to give up on something meaningfulyou’re trying to build, lead, or create while navigating burnoutyou need permission to pause, rest, and reassess without abandoning yourselfKey reminder from this episode:Burnout will have you questioning everything, your capacity, your calling, your direction. But don’t make a permanent decision in a temporary state of capacity depletion.Mentioned in this episode:the emotional toll of carrying vision while depletedthe importance of rest, support, and restructuringthe need to discern whether you are truly out of alignment or simply exhaustedStay connected:If this episode resonated with you, subscribe to my newsletter, Pause for Solos, over on Substack for deeper reflections, encouragement, tips, and strategies about wellness, wholeness, and what it looks like to pursue the dream in your heart without abandoning yourself in the process.

I didn’t plan to pause, and I definitely didn’t plan to disappear from my own podcast!After ending 2025 full of vision, momentum, and big plans for what I called The Year of the Pause, 2026 arrived with sickness, grief, caregiving, and an abrupt shift in capacity that changed everything.In this episode, I’m sharing where I’ve been, what happened, what this unexpected season revealed about my mental health, and how I’ve had to rethink capacity, wellness, and the way I pursue my work as a solopreneur.This is an honest conversation about what it feels like when life interrupts your plans, when your energy disappears, and when the version of the year you imagined slips out of reach. I’m also sharing what I learned about trusting the process, honoring my wellness, embracing strategic pivots, and leaning on community when my heart felt stretched beyond what I could carry alone.If you’re a woman entrepreneur, creative, or purpose-driven solopreneur navigating burnout, grief, caregiving, or an unexpected life transition, this episode is for you.In this episode, I talk about:mental health and capacity as a solopreneurcaregiving, grief, and abrupt life changestrusting God’s timing in difficult seasonsthe importance of community and belongingbuilding your dreams without abandoning yourselfgiving yourself permission to pivot, pause, and move imperfectlySubscribe to my Substack, The Pause for Solos, where I share deeper reflections, encouragement, and honest words about wellness, wholeness, and pursuing your dreams without losing yourself in the process. The podcast is just a taste. So, make sure to get those The Pause for Solos emails!

My first episode of the new year with my fabulous sister, Tiffany Young! Here are a few links we referenced in this conversation.No More Silos- Click HEREEnvision 2026- Click HEREMosaic Mindset Newsletter- Click HERESweet Freedom (Sugar FREE FB Group)- Click HEREOur conversation delves into the challenges and opportunities of starting the year, the impact of illness on plans and productivity, the importance of holistic health and well-being, the burden of responsibilities on women, the challenge of pausing, adapting to change and expansion, building healthy habits, strategic direction and personal growth, the power of the pause, envisioning 2026, and the significance of consistency and small daily actions for long-term success.We also chatted about power of consistency, the creation of sustainable habits, the No More Silos community, choosing words for the year, embracing elevation and momentum, self-love and stewardship, parting words of wisdom, and plans for future conversations. The discussion emphasized the importance of personal growth, holistic well-being, and ongoing support within the community.TakeawaysThe importance of self-awareness and honesty in health managementThe value of envisioning who you want to become and the power of small daily actions for long-term success Consistency leads to significant long-term impactBuilding sustainable habits is essential for personal growthSelf-love and stewardship are crucial for holistic well-beingChapters00:00 Starting the Year with Excitement06:22 The Challenge of Pausing13:00 Building Healthy Habits19:24 Strategic Direction and Personal Growth29:27 Envisioning 202635:13 The Power of Consistency42:08 No More Silos Community51:03 Elevation and Momentum56:56 Self-Love and Stewardship01:04:14 Parting Words of Wisdom01:11:02 Future Conversations

Are you feeling the weight of everyone else’s needs as we head into the holidays… while your own needs are sitting on the back burner?In this episode of Leading Through the Cracks, I’m joined by a very special guest—my younger sister, Tiffany Young, CEO of The Young Impact Group. We’re talking about wholeness, grief, pivots, women’s health, and why saying “no” can be one of the bravest things you do.We don’t hold back in this conversation. From losing our dad and navigating the “hallways of grief,” to leadership, purpose, and our sugar-free health journey, this is a sister talk—but it’s also a woman who leads talk. If you’re a purpose-minded woman who pours out for everyone else, this one’s for you. ❤️In this conversation, we explore:🔴 How our upbringing and family values shaped the way we lead, love, and build community🔴 Losing our father, “being strong,” and what people get wrong about grief🔴 Why the holidays can feel heavy—and how to honor what you actually need this season🔴 The power of the pause and why 2026 is my Year of the Pause🔴 Tiffany’s pivot from Think Equity to The Young Impact Group and what it really costs to rebrand your purpose🔴 Our sugar-free journey (how we’ve each lost ~30 lbs, reduced inflammation, and found more energy & joy)🔴 How guilt keeps women from caring for themselves—and how to start rewriting that script🔴 Boundaries, saying “no,” and learning to pour from the saucer instead of the cupThis episode is especially for you if:🔴 You’re a woman in leadership, entrepreneurship, or ministry who feels pulled in a thousand directions🔴 You’re navigating grief (of a person, a role, a dream, or a season) and trying to function at the same time🔴 The holidays bring more anxiety than joy and you’re craving permission to do things differently🔴 You know it’s time to make a shift in your health, habits, or purpose… but you’re not sure where to beginStay connected ✨If this conversation spoke to you, don’t just click away—take a pause and ask yourself:“What do I need in this season and am I willing to honor it?”📌 Subscribe to the channel for more real conversations with whole women and transformative leaders.📌 Share this episode with a sister, friend, or colleague who needs a reminder that she is worthy of care, too.#LeadingThroughTheCracks#WomenWhoLead#WomenInLeadership#WomenSupportingWomen#PurposeDrivenWomen#CreativeWomen#LiveFromWholeness#BraveConversations#PowerOfThePause#EmotionalWellness#ReclaimYourVoice#ReclaimYourLife#ReclaimYourPowerThis is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nicolepertillar.substack.com

In today’s episode of Leading Through the Cracks, we’re diving into a powerful, heart-opening conversation with Janica (“J”) Davis all about cultivating bravery — especially as women who lead, mother, build, create, and carry so much.❤️ This conversation is for the woman who knows she’s called to more…but has been held back by old stories, childhood scripts, or the fear of taking that first bold step.Together, we unpack:🔴 What bravery really looks like in everyday life🔴 How childhood scripts and cultural expectations shape our confidence🔴 The danger of “clearance tag thinking” and shrinking yourself🔴 How to rewrite your narrative with compassion and spiritual grounding🔴 Why healing requires community, reflection, and pausing🔴 The power of coming home to yourself — spirit, mind, and bodyThis one goes deep. It’s personal. It’s honest.And it’s full of the kind of wisdom that helps you breathe again and say, “It’s okay today.”💬 Episode Highlights00:00 – Welcome & intro01:20 – What cultivating bravery really means03:00 – Leadership, identity & the journey of reconnecting with yourself08:00 – Purpose, calling & trusting the inner knowing14:50 – The cost of self-sacrifice and reclaiming your worth17:40 – “Clearance Tag Thinking” — a powerful identity breakthrough22:00 – How childhood scripts shape adult behavior27:00 – The role of spirituality in healing34:00 – Why community is essential for emotional growth41:00 – Responding vs reacting45:50 – Recognizing your patterns and beginning the healing work52:00 – The power of pausing + why 2026 is the Year of the Pause1:04:00 – Creating your top 5 priorities & putting yourself at the top1:08:00 – Closing encouragementThis is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nicolepertillar.substack.com

If you’ve been with me for a while, then you know that every Monday, I interview an extraordinary woman with a powerful story of life leadership and transformation. We have a great time sharing, encouraging, teaching, and empowering women to PAUSE, SHIFT, and take their places in life and leadership with wisdom and grace.This week, the tables were turned and I invited my dear friend Dr. Towera Loper to interview me! The concept came because I’d just finished my first challenge Sip from the Well: 10 Days of Pause, and Dr. Towera being the lovely supportive friend that she is texted me through her coaching lens all of these powerful questions about my experience. Most leaders and creatives skip: pausing long enough to hear ourselves, to name what worked, what we learned, and what we’re carrying forward. I decided it was important for me to demonstrate this process in real time as an encouragement to my community to do this for themselves on a regular basis.This conversation became a case study in the how of pausing: how we keep momentum and make room for reflection; how we honor purpose while loosening perfection; how we follow the small nudge and let it grow. It was so awesome, I’ve decided to have Dr. T back regularly to do this with me. Take a listen to our conversation above.Coming up in December, I’ll be leading a workshop where I’ll be helping women PAUSE and chart their next chapter. This two day workshop will be a powerful time of reflection(much like what you see me doing in the video above) and strategizing….AND each woman will have unlimited access to me through January 31st for continued support in charting their next course!!! More info below:ShiftWell Life Mapping WorkshopIf this conversation stirred something in you, come do the work with support.ShiftWell Life Mapping is a two-evening live workshop for women ready to design 2026 with clarity, compassion, and capacity. We’ll map what matters, turn wishes & hopes into powerful achievable goals, and set a rhythm that honors your real life.You’ll get:* A guided life mapping framework that aligns vision with capacity (no more random half-baked goals without clear strategy)* A clear, doable next-90-days plan to carry momentum into the new year.* Continued support through January via Marco Polo Video/Voice messaging app for questions and accountability.* The ShiftWell workbook + prompts you can reuse each quarter.👉🏾 Register HERESeats are limited so we can keep it personal, spacious, and practical.🔴See you in the workshop if you’re ready to map a year that matches your calling and your capacity.Love & PeaceDr. Nic🔴This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nicolepertillar.substack.com

In this conversation, I was joined by Macea (The Pigtail Prophet), whose “30 Days of Peace” personal experiment has become The Peace Experience.What We Mean by “Peace” (and what we don’t)Peace isn’t pretending nothing is wrong. Peace is not perfection or passivity. Peace is a practice, a muscle, a decision. Macea share with us that peace is wisdom, a skill that integrates our emotional brain and our logical brain so we can respond instead of react.Line we kept coming back to: “Peace is possible.”Reframe Macea offered: Peace can bend in a storm without breaking.Journal prompt (2 minutes):Where in my life am I expecting peace to look like still water when it may actually look like steady breath in choppy waves?The Mantra: I’m Okay TodayJournal prompt:What shifts in me when I choose calm over control today?From Deficit to OverflowWe talked about the quiet slide into leadership-from-empty: the strong friend, the coach, the one who “always has it.” Overflow requires rest and release, not just more grit.What helped (in her words + mine):* Rest on purpose. Not a reward for finishing; a rhythm for functioning.* Gentle questions. “What do I need today?” “What would work for me right now?”* One small shift. Peace on a 1–10 scale. If I’m at a 2, what carries me to a 3?* Listening inward. Make space to hear: That didn’t feel good. I need help. I’m not okay yet.Journal prompt:What’s one gentle boundary that would move your peace from a 2 → 3 today?Be Love (To Yourself)I wore my Just Be Love tee today on purpose. Yes, we’re called to be love out there in the world, but can we be love to ourselves? To let grace cover the gap between where we are and where we hoped to be?Self-compassion check-in:* Where am I still carrying yesterday?* What can I put down for the next 24 hours?* If a friend were me, what would I say to her?Journal prompt:Write yourself a three-sentence affirmation/mantra that begins with “I’m okay today…”The Hard Thing We NamedSo many of us learned to survive by pleasing, adapting, shrinking. Rejection recruited our masks. Peace gave us permission to say: I need help. I don’t like that. I’m ready to be seen.Journal prompt:Where am I hiding to stay “safe,” and what tiny act of visibility could honor the truer me?* Join The Peace Experience (January cohort)A 30-day journey with daily micro-practices, weekly touchpoints, and a gentle plan to build durable peace.→ Learn more: The Peace Experience – details & registration* Come back Monday, November 3rd @ NOON ESTWe’re flipping the script: my dear friend Towera will coach me live. We’ll unpack what happens when vision takes off, momentum builds, and you forget to pause and reflect. I promise you, I’m going to cry. It’s an important vulnerable conversation about the importance of honoring your journey…all the wins and all the grows.About Macea (The Pigtail Prophet)Creator of The Peace Experience—born from her personal “30 Days of Peace” practice—Macea helps women rebuild capacity, regulate emotions, and return to inner calm through simple daily rhythms of rest, reflection, and gentle action.

In this episode of Leading Through the Cracks, I welcomed back Kelly from Life Between the Systems, a systems strategist and self-proclaimed “9-to-5 Fixer,” who helps women create ease in their lives and work by simplifying what they already do.Our conversation is a powerful reminder that ease is possible in the midst of full thriving lives.🔴 Frustration Can Lead to GeniusKelly shared how her love for systems began in one of the most stressful work situations imaginable. She was managing logistics for massive international trade shows. Every document was manual, every change meant hours of tedious updates, and the workload grew heavier by the year.One day, out of pure exhaustion and frustration, she grabbed a blank notepad and wrote and began to create her own process that led to smoother and faster systems for her team.🔴 Reflect: Where are you frustrated right now? What might that frustration be trying to teach you?🔴 Bundle, Stack, and SimplifyKelly’s first tip for ease:“Bundle what belongs together.”Simplify your day by connecting related tasks: Habit Stacking* Make your coffee while your baby’s bottle warms.* Clear your counter while waiting for the kettle to boil.* Combine errands in the same part of town.These small connections save not only time, but mental energy.“It’s the little tweaks to your morning that make a huge difference in how the rest of your day feels.”🖥️ Systems That Serve YouKelly also shared information about Notion, which I was beyond excited aboutFor years, she tried to make other people’s templates work for her. But the breakthrough came when she stopped trying to make it pretty and made it hers.“I started from scratch, kept it simple, and just built what I actually needed.”Now, her Notion dashboard includes:* A home tab (for family & routines)* A business tab (with spaces for every project)* A personal tab (for habits, hobbies, and dreams)She calls it her “home base” — where every idea, task, and plan finds a place to land.🔴 Reflect: Where does your mind keep ideas? Are they landing somewhere safe?📱 Automations for Everyday EaseKelly lights up when she talks about automating everyday life from hydration to laundry and honestly, I lit up when she shared. I need these strategies in my life ASAP.Her secret weapon?NFC tags (Near Field Communication).They’re small stickers you can program with your phone. A simple tap can:* Log your water intake* Start a laundry timer* Add groceries to your shopping list* Even trigger affirmations or money mindset reminders“ These tiny automations remove mental friction and add peace.”You don’t have to be a tech expert to use them. You just need a willingness to notice what feels hard and ask, “Could this be easier?”💼 The 9-to-5 FixerKelly’s bigger mission is helping women in corporate life find freedom without leaving their jobs.“You don’t always have to quit your job to live a life you love. Sometimes the shift you need is already within your skillset.”She teaches women how to:* Identify what’s draining them* Leverage what they already know* Propose new roles or processes that align with their strengthsIt’s about reclaiming agency and purpose right where you are.

This was such a powerful conversation between Crystal and myself. These conversations have quickly become the highlight of my business. The lovely Crystal speaks about her voxer coaching services in this video, which are a great option for busy multi-passionate people who do not have the time or energy to get dressed and camera ready for a coaching session. Look into it HERE.Here are a few highlight from our conversation…When Awareness Meets AcceptanceCrystal’s story is one of awareness unfolding into acceptance.After years in marketing and a later-in-life ADHD realization, she began studying her energy patterns. She took note of the moments she felt most creative, most focused, most alive.“I started time-logging myself for a week,” she said.“That’s when I discovered my core hours. When my energy is high, that’s when I create. When it dips, that’s when I rest.”Instead of forcing her life into someone else’s system, she built one that honored her brain. She learned that capacity isn’t about doing more. It’s about doing what matters in a way that honors who you are.🔴 Journal Prompts* When during your day do you feel most creative or energized?* Where are you forcing yourself to function in a way that doesn’t fit how you actually work?* What would it look like to build your systems around your energy, not against it?_________________________________________________________________________The Myth of “Too Much”Crystal and I laughed (and nearly cried) over being called “too much.”Too many ideas. Too many passions. Too many pivots.But multi-passionate doesn’t mean scattered, it means ALIVE, vibrant, and free-flowing. It means honoring the mosaic of who you are, not slicing yourself into parts that make other people comfortable.“I help multi-passionate people shape their ideas into something undeniable—without sacrificing their wellbeing,” she said.That sentence stopped me. Because that’s the real work.To build in a way that doesn’t break us.To sustain the creative spark without burning down our peace.🔴 Journal Prompts* What parts of yourself have you hidden to seem “manageable” to others?* What does being multi-passionate look like in your life right now?* How can you begin to protect your joy and wellbeing while you build?_________________________________________________________________________The Red Dot: No More HidingIf you’ve seen me use the red dot 🔴 across my work, you know it’s more than a brand mark.It’s my declaration.I used to hide behind black clothes, busyness, fear of being seen. I hid because of fear of judgement and rejection.Stacy London is one of my style icons and watching her on What Not to Wear, I realized red symbolizes confidence, presence, visibility. I decided I would no longer hide from my own brilliance.So I placed a red dot over the “i” in the word SHIFT, a reminder that every pause, every pivot, every shift toward alignment is a choice to be seen as your full authentic self.🔴 Reflection Prompts* Where have you been hiding parts of your light or voice?* What color—or symbol—represents your re-emergence?* How might you honor your capacity this week by being seen in one small way?

Episode: Lessons Learned from the Pause Challenge (with Lisa Zader)Host: Nicole (Mosaic Life)Guest: Lisa Zader — mom, photographer, creative, communications educator, lifelong learnerEpisode OverviewWhat does it really mean to pause—and why is it so hard? In this soulful convo, Nicole and her lifelong bestie, Lisa Zader, reflect on the Sip from the Well: 10 Days of Pause challenge. They unpack capacity shifts across seasons, why “pause ≠ stop,” how comparison sneaks in, and practical ways to build redemptive rhythms so you’re not constantly recovering from your own life. Expect tender truth, lived wisdom, and a few powerful visuals (hello, bubbles and camera lenses) you’ll carry into your week.Listen ForThe difference between simple and easy when it comes to self-careWhy the silence of a pause can feel uncomfortable—and what that’s telling youHow capacity changes across seasons (motherhood, work, caregiving, business)“Redemptive rhythms” vs. patterns that leave you depletedThe bubble visual: gently expanding your personal space without pushing people awayThe lens visual: when to zoom out for perspective and zoom in for focusHow beliefs drive behavior (and why naming your story matters)Using pause to prevent forced pauses (Nicole’s brick-house accident story)Practicing grace over judgment in your self-care journeyChapter Markers00:00 Welcome + why we’re here01:06 Real Stories, Whole Women, Transformative Leadership03:10 Meet Lisa + why she joined the Pause Challenge06:20 The silence feels hard: “My body forgot what pause feels like”08:40 Capacity shifts & comparing seasons12:35 Simple ≠ Easy: building the pause muscle14:40 What pause looks like in real life (it’s not an overhaul)15:05 Bubble visual: expanding space with compassion18:05 Listening for your inner voice vs. autopilot21:00 Nicole’s forced pause: the accident + world shutdown24:15 Alignment vs. doing “all the good things”26:20 Patterns, autopilot, and why we must re-check the story48:20 Lens visual: wide-angle vs. zoom focus for your life54:45 Letting go of stories that aren’t yours59:00 Redemptive rhythms you don’t have to recover from1:01:30 Stop abandoning yourself: reclaim your daily rhythm1:03:35 What’s next + how to join Pause SessionsMemorable Quotes“A pause isn’t stopping—it’s the sacred breath before the next movement.”“You can be doing good things and still be out of alignment.”“We behave from belief. Shift your thinking, shift your world.”“Create a life you don’t have to keep recovering from.”“Sometimes you need the wide-angle lens. Sometimes you need to zoom in.”Try This: 5-Minute Pause PracticeSit quietly, no phone.Ask: What season am I in?Ask: What does my body, mind, and spirit need right now?Notice without fixing. Breathe.Journal PromptsWhere am I living without margin?What small rhythm would bring peace and presence this week?Which story about myself needs updating?When did I last feel aligned—and what supported it?About Our Guest — Lisa ZaderLisa is a mom, wife, photographer, and communications educator who’s learning to live creatively across every area of life. She brings a rich perspective on capacity, communication, and the courage to practice pause in real time.

🔴 Leading Through the Cracks | Unlocking Your Strengths with Jolene PickensIn this powerful episode of Leading Through the Cracks, we dive into the transformative power of knowing your strengths—and how this awareness shifts everything from leadership to relationships, creativity to communication.My dear friend, leadership consultant Jolene Pickens, joins me for a rich conversation on how understanding your StrengthsFinder results can unlock your potential, reframe your mindset, and help you lead with more intention—at work, in your family, and within yourself.🔑 Whether you’ve taken the assessment before or never even heard of it, this episode will show you how your strengths shape the way you show up… and how to grow into the best version of yourself, on purpose.🔥 What You’ll Hear in This Episode:– Why strengths-based development matters more than "fixing weaknesses"– How your top 10 strengths operate intuitively—and how to work with them– How strengths show up in parenting, marriage, business, and leadership– The difference between raw and mature strengths (and how to grow yours)– Why understanding team dynamics through strengths boosts communication– How creative women can align their business vision with their natural wiring– BONUS: Details about our upcoming Strengths-Based Leadership Workshops 🔴⏳ TIMESTAMPS00:00 – Welcome & introduction to Jolene01:10 – What is StrengthsFinder and why does it matter?03:00 – Emotional intelligence, self-awareness, and owning your strengths06:00 – Why your strengths can shift with seasons11:30 – Using strengths to lead in business and life16:00 – Team dynamics and communication breakthroughs21:00 – Strengths in relationships, marriage, and parenting25:00 – Children & Strengths: A homeschool wellness connection29:00 – Fixed vs. Growth mindset and strengths development32:00 – Understanding your full 34 strengths report35:00 – Win-win collaboration through strengths37:00 – Upcoming workshop announcement + closing words💥 JOIN THE UPCOMING WORKSHOPJolene and I are teaming up to lead a Strengths-Based Leadership Workshop just for you!We’ll go deeper into the themes from this episode and help you apply them to your real life, work, and relationships.🔴 Want to lead from your design and not lose yourself in burnout?📩 Subscribe to my email list or follow on Substack to stay in the loop → Mosaic Life🌍 STAY CONNECTED✨ Subscribe to the channel for new conversations every Monday📣 Follow Jolene: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jolene-pickens/🔴 Join The Mosaic Life movement: SUBSCRIBE🎨 CREDITSGuest: Jolene Pickens, Organizational Leadership & Strengths ConsultantHost: Dr. Nicole Pertillar, Founder of The Mosaic Life & Live From Wholeness CoachingTheme: Leading Through the Cracks – Real Stories. Whole Women. Transformative Leadership.🔖 HASHTAGS#LeadingThroughTheCracks #StrengthsFinder #WomenInLeadership #StrengthsBasedLeadership #CliftonStrengths #CreativeWomenLead #LiveFromWholeness 🔴This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nicolepertillar.substack.com

I Am Me with Kelly of Life Between the SystemsThese Monday conversations have become a true highlight of my week. I get to sit down with women who carry powerful stories; stories of resilience, leadership, and the courage to live aligned with who they truly are.This week, I had the honor of speaking with Kelly of Life Between the Systems about pivoting, motherhood, burnout, and the power of remembering who you are.Kelly’s story is a reminder that leadership is not just about the roles we hold; it’s about our wholeness, the pivots we allow, and the courage to declare: I am me and know that is enough.The Power of the PivotKelly spent twelve years in corporate, pouring herself into a company she once considered her family. But over time, the culture shifted. Toxicity crept in. Burnout hit her repeatedly.Her breaking point came in a team meeting where she turned off her camera and broke down in tears. That was her wake-up call: “Something’s not it. This is not what brings me joy.”From that moment, she began shifting. She pitched herself into a new role that aligned with her strengths, found systems that brought her joy, and eventually stepped away entirely to embrace a new season of motherhood and purpose.PAUSE 🔴 + Journal Prompt:Where in your life are you doing something simply because you would feel guilty if you stopped, not because it brings you joy?Motherhood as a Leadership ShiftMotherhood reshaped everything for Kelly. She shared vulnerably about the guilt of leaving her company before maternity leave, the tears of those first six weeks, and the eventual realization that motherhood killed her career but in the best way.Her words: “It established it into the path I want to take; helping women find the gold in themselves without abandoning who they are.”PAUSE 🔴 + Journal Prompt:What roles in your life feel heavy right now? How might you reframe them as invitations to grow into more of who you already are?Not Leaving Yourself BehindKelly’s most powerful reminder was this:“Do not leave yourself behind. Do not leave the thing that brings you joy. And if you don’t know what brings you joy, then it’s time to take a moment of stillness, a pause, and discover it.”So many women, when asked what brings them joy, don’t know how to answer. We can list our roles: mother, daughter, friend, leader. But when asked who we are? That’s harder.Kelly reminded us of her childhood mantra: “Yo soy yo. I am me.”PAUSE 🔴 + Journal Prompt:Who are you outside of your roles? Take 10 minutes today to write without titles or expectations. Just: I am…A Collective InvitationThis conversation is a beautiful example of why I believe so deeply in the power of the pause.Kelly and I both know firsthand what it means to keep pushing past our limits. We also know the beautiful shifts that can happen when we finally stop abandoning ourselves.That’s why I’m inviting you into Sip from the Well: 10 Days of Pause (October 1–10). Ten days to breathe, reset, and rediscover joy again. Because when we pause, we pivot. When we pivot, we realign. And when we realign, we remember: I am me.

“Pausing is not weakness. It is the bravest act of remembering who you are, and giving yourself permission to who you are, and returning to your place of peace and ease.”We live in a world that glorifies busyness. Our calendars are full, our minds are racing, and our bodies often feel like they’re running on fumes. But what happens when we stop long enough to ask ourselves: How am I really doing?Samantha Edu of Brown Heart TV and I dive deeply into this powerful conversation regarding being positioned to pause.Two events we would like you to know about:Practice the Pause with Nicole's Sip from the Well : 10 Days of Pause October 1st -10thLive from Wholeness CoachingDaily prompts, gentle practices, and community accountability.Deepen the pause with Samantha's Positioned to Pause Mini-Retreat, October 11thBrown Heart WellnessTeacher-led mindful movement, guided journaling, tea tasting, and a planning circle for your next brave step.This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nicolepertillar.substack.com

🔴 Listen in as ‪Radha Dala @radhathetherapist and I‬ and I explore the journey of the Soft Life.🔴 KEEP EXPLORING If today’s conversation sparked something within you, subscribe and follow along for more leadership, creative renewal, and honest reflections on your journey🔴 Subscribe to Mosaic Life to stay informed. 💌 Get weekly strategies, inspiration, or encouragement for life, love, and leadership by subscribing to Mosaic Life: https://nicolepertillar.substack.com/🔖 HASHTAGS #LeadingThroughTheCracks #WomenInLeadership #ThePowerofthePause #WholeLifeLeadership #LiveFromWholeness #lifeloveleadership #thewellcollectiveThis is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nicolepertillar.substack.com

On Monday’s episode of Leading Through the Cracks, I had my dear friend Rachel Renee on to chat about the importance of self-advocacy. Self-advocacy is something that doesn’t come easy to many women. We tend to be nurturers, caretakers, and constantly on the go taking care of everyone and everything else but our own needs. If that sounds like you and you need a little encouragement to just stand up for YOU, take a listen and be encouraged.Please comment or message with any thoughts and questions. Rachel and I would love to take the conversation even further.Thank you LP's vibe, Netta Fei, Tiffany M. Young, and many others for tuning into my live video with Rachel Renee! Join me for my next live on Monday, September 8th, when I’ll be chatting with Radha Dalal about the topic of “Permission to Live The SOFT Life” video in the app.This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nicolepertillar.substack.com

🔴 Belonging: To Be Seen, Hear, and Understood. How creating atmospheres of belonging can truly shift things in a woman's life. Join in as Dr. Towera Loper and I explore issues of belonging🔴 KEEP EXPLORING If today’s conversation sparked something within you, subscribe and follow along for more holistic leadership, creative renewal, and honest reflections from the journey.🎥 Watch next: Creating Space for Other Women in Leadership→ https://youtu.be/1G_VAkrBy0M🔴 Join my community: The WELL Collective: Registration link coming soon. Subscribe to Mosaic Life to stay informed.💌 Get weekly strategies, inspiration, or encouragement by subscribing to Mosaic Life: [https://nicolepertillar.substack.com/]🔖 HASHTAGS #LeadingThroughTheCracks #WomenInLeadership #ThePowerofthePause #WholeLifeLeadership #LiveFromWholeness #lifeloveleadership #whengriefhits 🔴This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nicolepertillar.substack.com

Thank you Margaret Williams, MS, ACC, Nichole Lee, Towera Loper, and many others for tuning into my live video with Roni | Your Midlife Bestie!My conversation with Roni today was fabulous! It's always life-giving to speak with like-minded women about what we can do to lift up one another. Ladies, as a Wholeness Advocate & Life Purpose Coach, I am here for you! If you've been feeling like lost, frustrated, confused, or like life comes at you faster than you can keep up, I'm here for you. If you've been feeling alone on your journey of entrepreneurship, leadership, or just life in general, I'm creating community for you. If you are a creative, multi-passionate women who needs assistance in finding your sweet spot so you can run with purpose, I AM HERE FOR YOU! Stay close & connected. Be on the lookout for the launch of the community I'm creating just for you!!!Know another woman who needs to be encouraged in her journey, SHARE. We’ll be back every Monday through the end of the year with powerful conversations to uplift and empower women in life, love, and leadership.If you missed me LIVE, it’s not too late to join in the conversation. I’d love to hear from you. What stood out to you? What hit you in an empowering way? What created an aha moment for you? What other topics would you love to see covered?Join me for my next live video in the app.This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nicolepertillar.substack.com

Thank you to everyone who joined “leading from the cracks” today! We started off with a powerful conversation surrounding grief. Grief is one of the universal experiences of live but shows up so uniquely in our individual lives.May you be encouraged by our conversation. May it lead to a spark on your journey to wholeness and authentic living. I’d love to hear your thoughts on the conversation!One of my passions is to help you SHIFT into position for your wholeness, your purpose, and the mark you’re called to leave on the world.Connect with me if you’re a woman who desires to lead your life in a way that allows you prioritize your wholeness and wellbeing.Connect with me if you’re a woman who feels like you’re always giving, always comforting, always loving, but not often feeling the love and support in return.Connect with me if you’re a woman of faith, but struggle to sometimes find your place within religious systems.Connect with me if you’re a creative woman who struggles to find space for your creative outlets.Connect with me if you know you’re called to something more but doubt, confusion, the illusion of no time, and fear of your own success blocks you from trying.I see you. 🔴I know this struggle.I know what it’s like to be the leader…to be the strong one…to feel like no one is ever available to hold space for your emotions.I know what it’s like to know there’s more in you but not have the clarity or the confidence to walk it out.I know what it’s like to feel like there’s no time to focus on you and burnout trying to keep up with all the “should” of life.I see you. 🔴I’m creating space for you.Coming Soon…The WELL Collective…where women like you gather, PAUSE, REFILL, REALIGN, RENEW SHIFT🔴We’re going deep and we’re doing it in community…Stay Tuned!From My Mosaic Life to Yours, and Committed to Your Wholeness, Dr. Nic🔴My Mosaic Life is an invitation into wholeness. An Invitation into community. An invitation to prioritize your wellness & not lose yourself as you lead your life.This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nicolepertillar.substack.com