Ziva Voices No. 8 Women's Health & Wellness

Women’s Health & Wellness

ZIVA VOICES

SPEAKER EVENT: WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH

EMPOWERING WOMEN IN TECH: A NEW ERA OF INNOVATION AND INCLUSION

REVOLUTIONIZING WOMEN'S HEALTH: GROUNDBREAKING TECHNOLOGIES PAVE THE WAY FOR A BRIGHTER FUTURE

WHAT I WISH I KNEW: SELF-LOVE IS NOT SELFISH

ADDRESSING THE UNCONSCIOUS BELIEFS AND BEHAVIOURS WITHIN US

MINDFULNESS BEFORE MATH - MY EXPERIENCE BRINGING MINDFULNESS TO THE CLASSROOM

ELEVATING EMPLOYEE EXPERIENCE & WELLBEING: HELPING EMPLOYEES BECOME THE BEST VERSIONS OF THEMSELVES

EXPLORING THE CONNECTION BETWEEN BOUNDARIES AND WELL-BEING

TAMING FERRETS: A GUIDE TO OVERCOMING NEGATIVE THOUGHTS

AN OFTEN-OVERLOOKED ASPECT TO YOUR WELL-BEING? MEANINGFULNESS

BECOMING PROSPEROUS: MANAGE YOUR PERSONAL FINANCES FOR BETTER WELLBEING

PART 2: HEALTHCARE + SOCIAL JUSTICE + SURVIVING + THRIVING

AFGHAN WOMEN AND HEALTH UNDER THE TALIBAN

TWO YEARS POST-DOBBS: MATERNAL HEALTH, MENTAL HEALTH, EMERGENCY CARE ALL WORSEN UNDER ABORTION BANS

BOOK REVIEW: NAVIGATING HEALTHCARE MISINFORMATION IN THE AGE OF SOCIAL MEDIA: DR GEETA NAYYAR’S “DEAD WRONG”

CANCER SURVIVORSHIP: A WHOLE PERSON PERSPECTIVE

A PARENT’S PERSPECTIVE: CREATING CHANGE FOR CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS

BECOME WELL AND WEALTHY IN BUSINESS BY SPEAKING UP

MOTHERWHOOD, WELLNESS AND BUSINESS: MYGLOH COLOSTRUM

THE GLOBAL WOMAN'S GUIDE TO THRIVING: HOW SOMATIC AWARENESS EMPOWERS YOU IN THE WORKPLACE

WELLNESS BOOKS + PODCAST RECOMMENDATIONS

PART 3: LEARN MORE ABOUT ZIVA VOICES PART 4: INSIGHT INTO THE

THE 4 PILLARS OF ZIVA VOICESHERSTORY IN THE MAKING

MISSION AND VISION

OUR GOALS AND WHAT WE OFFER

Editors’ Letter

BY DR. KINGA MNICH & ELLA LUCAS-AVERETT

Every quarter, we gather to discuss the most prevalent topics among women worldwide and choose the most pressing one. This time, we have chosen to focus on WOMEN'S WELLNESS. Not only because it is a muchmisunderstood issue, but also because it is a vital element of a thriving life. As we delve into this vital and wideranging topic, we invite you to reconsider what wellness truly means in our global environment.

Too often, wellness is reduced to spa days and surfacelevel self-care oftentimes luxuries that seem out of reach for many women. But true wellness is far more profound and essential. It's not an indulgence; it's a necessity. It's not about surviving; it's about thriving - spiritually, mentally, and physically.

The World Health Organization defines health as "a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity." This holistic view forms the foundation of our approach to wellness in this issue.

We explore wellness as a daily practice, a philosophy, and a way of living that permeates every aspect of our lives:

- In the workplace, where we spend so much of our time

- In our mental health, the cornerstone of our overall well-being

- In women's healthcare, addressing our unique needs and challenges

- In the global context, recognizing wellness as a universal human right

- And in the delicate balance between work and personal life

Wellness isn't about carving out occasional moments for self-care. It's about creating a life where you can flourish fully, professionally and personally.

It encompasses financial security, healthy habits, strong support networks, and the freedom to pursue what brings you joy whether that's globetrotting or curling up with a good book.

In this issue, we bring you stories, insights, and practical advice from women who are redefining wellness in their lives and communities. We challenge the notion that wellness is a luxury and present it as an essential component of a fulfilling life.

Join us as we explore the multifaceted world of women's wellness. Let's redefine what it means to be truly well and empower ourselves to create lives of balance, health, and joy.

Here's to your wellness journey,

KingaMnich DR KINGAMNICH

I AM IN THE RIGHT PLACE, AT THE RIGHT TIME, DOING THE RIGHT THING.

WELLNESS IS ABOUT MORE THAN JUST PHYSICAL HEALTH; IT’S ABOUT ALIGNING YOUR LIFE WITH YOUR TRUE PURPOSE.

LOUISE HAY

P A R T O N E

MINDFULNESS + SELF-CARE

What I wish I Knew: SelfLove Is Not Selfish

by Pika Dubey, India

Having spent years training as a counselling psychologist, I've acquired a wealth of knowledge that I believe can greatly benefit others in navigating life more effectively. My journey has been a transformation from being heavily influenced by the opinions and expectations of others to cultivating my voice and a strong sense of self.

There was a time before I started my psychology journey when I allowed the perceptions of those around me to dictate my thoughts.

In doing so, I lost sight of my own thoughts and beliefs, sacrificing my authenticity in pursuit of external validation just to feel approved.

Through years of introspection and selfreflection, I've come to appreciate my unique strengths, wholeheartedly accepting them as intrinsic to who I am. Along this journey, I've learned a profound truth: that we need not conform to others' perceptions of life. Each individual's perspective is valid and worthy, rooted in their own experiences and beliefs. It's a realization that has liberated me from the confines of societal expectations, allowing me to honour my truth while respecting the diversity of thought that exists around us. Each unique, each valid.

A message I'd like to convey to our daughters and young women is the importance of being able to express your feelings and set boundaries, even when it feels uncomfortable.

In our society, there is often an unspoken expectation for girls and women to prioritize the comfort and happiness of others above their own. We are taught to be polite, and accommodating, and to avoid causing discomfort or conflict –even if it comes at the expense of our own well-being. However, I want you to know that your feelings matter, and it is crucial to honour them, even if it means speaking up when it feels difficult. Learn to say no when Uncomfortable.

If something doesn't feel right, if a situation makes you uncomfortable or if someone crosses your boundaries, it's okay to speak up. Your feelings are valid, and you have every right to assert them.

We are taught to be polite, and accommodating, and to avoid causing discomfort or conflict – even if it comes at the expense of our own well-being.

Looking back, I wish I had understood the profound importance of honouring myself before anyone else and embracing self-love as the greatest form of love. It's a lesson that took me time to learn, but one that has fundamentally transformed how I navigate and approach life.

Before, I often found myself prioritizing the needs and desires of others above my own, believing that self-sacrifice was noble and necessary for acceptance. I've come to realise that true love – both for oneself and for others – begins with a deep and unwavering respect for one's own worth and well-being.

In my journey of an evolving relationship with my body over time, there has been a profound shift from a pursuit of perfection to a newfound sense of peace and acceptance. Like many, I once harboured the desire to attain an idealized image of physical perfection, striving to conform to societal standards and expectations. The pursuit of flawlessness consumed my thoughts, dictating my actions and influencing my self-worth.

Over time, I began to embrace a more compassionate and holistic approach to my relationship with my body. Instead of fixating on external appearances, I shifted my focus inward, cultivating a deeper understanding and appreciation for my body's inherent wisdom and resilience. I learned to listen to its signals, honour its needs, and treat it with kindness and respect.

Today, my relationship with my body is characterized by love, gratitude, and acceptance.

In essence, what I wish I knew earlier is that selflove is not selfish.

Aging and longevity are often perceived through a narrow lens, confined by societal expectations and stereotypes. However, I've learnt that age is merely a number, a label that fails to capture the breadth of human potential and the richness of life's experiences.

What I've learned is that the key to embracing aging and longevity lies in rejecting the notion of being confined by societal norms or expectations. Instead, it's about listening to our hearts and following the call even if it means graduating at the age of 50 or learning a new skill set at 60. It’s never too late to write your story differently if you are ready.

After all, the true measure of your life and your happiness is not what others think of it but what you think happiness is for you!

Pika Dubey, a dedicated and compassionate Counselling psychologist who understands that seeking therapy requires courage and vulnerability. With a strong focus on creating a safe, supportive, empathetic, and nonjudgmental environment, she is committed to helping individuals on their journey towards healing and self-awareness.

https://theheadspacelab.com/

https://www linkedin com/in/pika-dubey-b65327224/

ADDRESSING THE UNCONSCIOUS BELIEFS AND BEHAVIOURS WITHIN US

by Kate Tolson, Nottingham, United Kingdom

In my practice, I work with women all across the world, from many different backgrounds and living in various cultural norms. All of whom, despite various advantages and all of the outward appearances and trappings of success and confidence, still feel stuck in an area of their life where they are carrying an underlying sense of fear and anxiety.

These women often confide in me that they don't know what the cause is, but when we begin to talk, what emerges are the glimpses of deep-seated concerns of perhaps losing everything they've worked so hard for at any moment. It’s an irrational but legitimate feeling that the good things in their life are hanging by a thread, and that the life, work or health they want or have is not secure, available or deserved.

I see the familiar unconscious patterns and very real fears running in the background - a fear that something could come along and disrupt their carefully crafted lives.

This unconsciously sabotages or constricts behaviour to keep the women in what is already known, and therefore to the more primitive self, known to be safer.

These women, despite professional accomplishments, still harbour insecurities held in place by their younger mind - just out of their conscious awareness - and they are almost waiting to be ‘found out.’ These women strive to believe in their abilities and all of the positive opportunities and messages of empowerment in the modern world, yet just under the surface, they can't shake the feeling that this world remains an un-winnable battleground for women.

These women are all of us.

The War Within

What’s more, this can become an all-out war between the conscious, rational-mind and the unconscious, fear-mind within. It's a disheartening truth that many of us women subconsciously feel that success in one area of your life comes with a trade-off, a sacrifice that women must make that men seemingly do not.

A storied pattern reflected back to us in much of the media of our time: we have to be this, and not that, some of this, not too much of that, or there are consequences. To gain, we must lose.

So subconsciously, women grapple with this internal conflict, desiring and striving for excellence in life while subconsciously battling societal expectations of doing it all right - all whilst being humble at the same time.

These challenges are only perpetuated because they are deeply-rooted not only in our individual unconscious mind, but also in the collective unconscious, which is a state of mind that holds the collective past and reflects the reality that women have navigated for centuries. All of us from childhood have absorbed messages from various sources through our upbringing, the media, in the classroom, and via societal norms that have all shaped our beliefs and perceptions of ourselves as well as our place in the world around us. And it’s all encoded in the ‘internal computer program’ of the deep mind, ultimately overriding anything we have chosen to bring into our lives in adulthood if it feels unfamiliar or threatening to anything already there. These unconscious beliefs run the show, causing us to self-regulate and selfsabotage. We are not fully aware of what we each do or don’t do to maintain this status quo we only see the results of it

So, how can we address these unconscious beliefs and behaviours within us?

It seeks to guard and secure our physical protection from risk (through protection by the tribe) and our priority of access to available resources (provision by the tribe). It therefore is preoccupied with status and our place in hierarchy.

Our subconscious-self manages the intricacies of interpersonal-dynamics and our behaviour around others - from our subconscious body language, facial expressions and use of language that is automatic and unthinking, to the looping thoughts and patterns of thinking that keep us behaving and identifying within the ‘safe’ parameters of our cultural paradigm and societal hierarchy, the environment that has been most familiar to us since birth. This deep need shapes the vast majority of our interactions in life because it is how we have learned to stay protected and connected within the human tribal consciousness for millennia. Primarily we can do this by understanding them. In the simplest terms, our unconscious self prioritises our access to - and protection of - our basic resources for ourselves and our off-spring. It seeks to protect the basic health of the body; it is driven to keep us alive, fed and sheltered. The unconscious mind runs our nervous system in regulating our bodily processes (hormonal and chemical responses) as well as our daily basic habits (eating, sleeping, movement).

Our subconscious self - whilst connected to the unconscious - is a whole different layer of being. It is driven to keep us connected to others and prioritises our sense of personal power and status within the communal environment.

The rational self is probably the mind state we modern beings identify with the most, it’s the choices we make, the decisions we take, the way we strategise and learn to explore new experiences.

The rational self is probably the mind state we modern beings identify with the most, it’s the choices we make, the decisions we take, the way we strategise and learn to explore new experiences. But as much as we identify as rational beings, this part of us only accounts for a small fraction of our mind space, somatic expression and brain activity. It isn’t us, just a small part of us.

The Watcher

However, there’s another self that you may have engaged with in meditative practices, the ‘watcher,’ which observes the whole mind with equanimity on all levels. This part knows when something within us has run its course and needs to transform, release, heal, grow, restore, evolve.

This is the part we engage with and empower within transformational hypnotherapy, this is the part of you which knows exactly what the cause, the reason and the reality is for any given experience we find ourselves in. It also knows when the conditions are right for a change to take place. It’s the evolutionary self.

Navigating the Way

Over the past decade, I've dedicated my life and work to understanding the complexities of the unconscious mind and these fascinating levels of consciousness within us. Through my work and my therapy practice, as well as my own personal journey, I've come to understand that our problems in life are never isolated incidents.

That they are in fact, intricately connected to our past, present and future, individually and collectively, and all operate within a framework of the perception of our environment at any given time.

My understanding now goes far beyond the traditional binary understanding of a conscious self and a non-conscious self. Because the reality is far more multilayered within each of us.

Back to the question; how can we address these unconscious beliefs and behaviours within us?

What We Can Do: Healing Modalities

Hypnosis still remains one of the most powerful mediums to explore this realm within us, as it facilitates the exploration of the multiple layers of mind and self. Modern transformational hypnotherapy utilises therapeutic tools within the hypnotic state to reveal to us the parts within which are just trying to protect us in a way which made sense for our ancestors or for our younger selves, but which isn’t fit for purpose anymore in our maturing lives and in this rapidly evolving paradigm in which we all live.

In my online practice I use methods like Rapid Transformational Therapy (RTT), somatic exploration, guided hypnotic unconscious work, and subconscious educational coaching to empower individuals to understand and recognise some of these protective patterns that manifest in different guises in different circumstances.

This journey of self-discovery into our unconscious selves is personally revealing and yet also gives us collective understanding that provides true empowerment, that requires each of us to be courageous, vulnerable, and willing to confront our own inner journey in the context of these modern, rapidly evolving times. We can embrace the fresh perspective of our maturity, our innate wisdom, and the integrative understanding of our now-grown selves today. Embracing this holistic approach, women can truly unlock their individual potential and compassionately rewrite the whole narrative of their life.

I am Kate Tolson, and I am a subconscious expert and a transformational hypnotherapist. I am passionate about helping women to evolve your perspective and restore your power to affect growth and change in your corner of the world.

Www.energygardener.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/theenergygardener/

Kate Tolson is a subconscious expert and transformational hypnotherapist dedicated to empowering women to unlock their potential and navigate life's challenges. With over a decade of experience, she specializes in RTT hypnotherapy, somatic exploration, and subconscious coaching to help women evolve their perspectives and restore their power. Kate's holistic approach enables women to rewrite their life narratives, embracing their innate wisdom and strength.

I

am not my thoughts, emotions, sense perceptions, and experiences. I am not the content of my life. I am Life. I am the space in which all things happen. I am consciousness. I am the Now. I am.

B Y R O N K A T I E

MINDFULNESS BEFORE MATH - MY EXPERIENCE BRINGING MINDFULNESS TO THE

CLASSROOM

By Sarah Hanrahan

In 2014, I began my elementary teaching career with a completely different mindset about public education than I have now, 10 years later. I didn’t know then that I would soon put my passion into mindfulness programming to support my traumatized students and colleagues.

I didn’t know then that I would soon put my passion into mindfulness programming to support my traumatized students and colleagues.

I was fortunate to start teaching at a Title I, high-needs school in Lexington, Kentucky - Mary Todd Elementary. Many families in the Mary Todd community do without many basic needs that I often take for granted, like a clean home, plenty of healthy food, reliable transportation, job security, and loving familial support. I felt like I could make a real difference in a school like that, and I’d like to think that the impact I made there is my greatest career achievement.

As a new teacher, I often felt unequipped to help students with explosive behaviors. I didn’t yet have training in traumainformed practices, Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACES), or most relevantly, mindfulness and movement in the classroom.

My first year of teaching, I had 7 students (who I vividly remember) who had never received any intervention to address their sometimes dangerous behavior in the classroom.

I hardly got to teach because I was constantly clearing my room of students to keep them safe from flying pencils, books, chairs, and desks. Even my school leaders struggled to support me, as I was not the only teacher with these behavior issues. There simply were not enough adults in the school to handle every student in need of support.

Even before becoming a teacher, I was a casual yoga student, primarily for physical health purposes. I wanted to bring this to my colleagues at Mary Todd as a stress relief tool and an opportunity to bond over our stressful jobs. I quickly became the ‘yoga expert’ in our school, and I eventually incorporated short meditations and movement in my classroom. This was the very beginning of my realization that everyone, including me, needed a break from the demands of the classroom and becoming mindful and present with my students gave us just that.

THE PANDEMIC

Fast forward to 2020, which we all know was the year that changed us forever. All of a sudden I was teaching through a computer screen, barely seeing any of my students because, come on, what 2nd grader can consistently get themselves on a computer for hours a day?

Especially the students who were home with several siblings, often without parents because they had to be at work, even through a global pandemic. My mind was exploding with fear for my students, their mental health, and what this collective trauma would do to our school once (if ever) we returned.

In my search to find answers and support, I became a trauma-informed children's yoga teacher; I got Reiki certified and leaned hard into mindfulness for educators. I was ignited. I quickly developed a plan and sought guidance from my school leadership. I wanted to implement a school-wide mindfulness program for our students once we returned in person. I knew that we couldn’t just show up like usual, without mental health at the forefront of, well... everything.

EXPANDING THE WORK

After talking with district leaders, I was given a small grant from a corporate sponsor to carry out this work in my school. I became a fulltime mindfulness and movement teacher and provided whole group classes based on mindful movement, self-awareness, and emotional regulation. I also guided individual students through tough moments in a room that was completely dedicated to peace and healing.

The next year, ESSER funding (Federal COVID relief funding) allowed us to grow the program to 4 additional elementary schools for two years. Through this additional support, each school was slowly shifting their culture and climate. With such a simple concept, thousands of people were living healthier school days and, in turn, were able to learn more peacefully and effectively. Everyone who heard about this said things like “I wish I had something like that when I was young” and “This is SO needed” and “Why can’t EVERY school have this?”.

With such a simple concept, thousands of people were living healthier school days and, in turn, were able to learn more peacefully and effectively.

I’m hopeful that soon, mindfulness/ wellness/ regulation/ breathwork won’t be trendy words. They’ll just describe the way we live.

At the end of this school year, ESSER funding will cease and the school district does not currently have plans to continue the support in these 5 schools. However disheartening this is, all educators, parents, and students involved with the work greatly value the impact that was made. The data tells a very compelling story and that can’t be taken away.

What I always try to remember is that these students and teachers won’t just forget how to regulate their emotions. They’ll be forever armed with breathing strategies, calming techniques, and ways in which they can simply feel better in this unpredictable, sometimes very scary, world. That thought fills my heart every day, and I’m hopeful that soon, mindfulness/ wellness/ regulation/ breathwork won’t be trendy words. They’ll just describe the way we live.

I am now navigating a new business venture that will continue to offer mindfulness support to all community members.

The name I chose, “Practice,” is meant to represent what we are all doing, every day, to feel ‘better.’ We are practicing patience. We are practicing self-awareness. We are practicing peace.

A coach in middle school once told me that ‘Practice makes permanent, not perfect,’ and I believe that what we practice truly becomes who we are. So my great hope is to support anyone who wants to practice tools for overall well being alongside me.

Sarah is an experienced educator, specializing in mindfulness and wellness programming.

She provides consulting and implementation support for K-12 schools, and Community Organizations.

She have worked in schools for 10 years and started a program that taught thousands of students and hundreds of educators mindfulness and emotional regulation tools to live a healthier life.

https://www linkedin.com/in/sarahhanrahan/

by Ivana Tufegdzic

Investing in employee well-being is not only a moral imperative, but also a strategic advantage that will help you build a company that your employees will not want to leave.

By prioritizing our employees’ happiness, we can transform workplaces and help employees become the best versions of themselves.

‘To

travel is to live’ -H.C. Andersen

Ever since I can remember, I’ve had two big passions in my life: learning languages and my desire to see the world through travel. I always knew that a job connecting me to other cultures, educating people and helping them achieve their potential, and spreading the love for the beautiful language of English, would bring me immense joy. This led me to pursue a career in education and English language teaching which later evolved into a career in Human Resources.

Coming from Serbia, an eastern European country, it wasn't always easy to find affordable travel options or travel visa-free, especially in the 1990s and early 2000s.

In addition, travel wasn't widely popular due to financial constraints, and for many young people, it unfortunately was not an option, especially during frequent economic crises. I’ve always felt the need to share the immense joy and happiness that travel brings, hoping to inspire others to seize every opportunity to explore the world.

A journey of wellbeing

As the Head of People and Culture at GreenerField LLC, a successful American start-up, I have been given an opportunity to combine and advance my personal passions and professional goals with the help, support and creativity of its owners who genuinely care about employee health and wellbeing and have always put their employees first.

When I joined Greener Fields, my mission was to establish HR processes from the ground up and design a people-centered HR strategy to drive the company forward.

One of our primary goals was to create an exceptional employee experience focused on employee wellbeing and aiming to measure its impact on performance, retention and overall satisfaction.

In conversations with one of the owners, I shared my love for travel, and we discussed introducing a travel benefit to enhance employee experience and wellbeing. The Science of Wellbeing course by a Yale professor, Dr Laurie Santos, further inspired us, revealing that experiences are among factors that significantly contribute to happiness. The insights from the course pushed us to get creative, brainstorm ideas, and make important decisions about company benefits. As a result, we based many of our benefits on the knowledge gained from this course, making it a core aspect of our company culture.

Incorporating the Science of Wellbeing into company benefits

What truly makes us happy and how have we integrated this understanding into our employee programs and benefits?

Extensive research from the Science of Wellbeing course reveals that, contrary to common misconceptions, happiness is not primarily derived from a good job, money, or material possessions. Instead, the key factors contributing to happiness include:

Kindness

Social connection

Time affluence

Mind control

Spending time on experiences

Not comparing ourselves to others

Being present

Having healthy habits

Guided by these principles, we crafted the “GF travel adventures program” to enhance our employees’ lives by focusing on what truly matters - experiences.

This travel benefit allows employees to go on a long weekend trip (usually 4 to 5 nights) and explore the world, fully funded by Greener Fields twice a year. In 2024, we also introduced a week-long worldwide travel option enabling our staff to visit incredible destinations like the Dominican Republic, Mexico and Japan.

The only requirement is to take pictures and share your experiences with your team. In order to help our staff experience the joy of being kind to others, we require an act of kindness on each trip with an approved budget for it. Reflecting on the limited travel opportunities for young people in Serbia, and considering that most of our staff are based there, our travel program has enabled all employees to travel more frequently. Some have even flown on a plane or traveled to a different continent for the very first time.

The

impact of this benefit alone on employee wellbeing, satisfaction, and retention has been phenomenal.

Over the past 2 years, our employee retention rate has remained at 100% and employee engagement has consistently increased according to our engagement surveys. Our company-wide pulse average score has consistently been 4.4 over the last 2 years, based on weekly employee check-ins through our performance management platform.

We have found out that we need to be cautious of people’s tendency to quickly get used to the good things in life, which can lead to hedonic adaptation. To address this, we have assigned the Science of Wellbeing course to each staff member. This course provides valuable strategies to help counteract hedonic adaptation.

Another program that has positively impacted employees' lives and fostered healthy habits is our exercise program. This initiative is linked to the travel benefit, as employees must complete wellness challenges to qualify for travel rewards.

All staff members are required to exercise four times a week for at least 30 minutes, and we have been doing this as a team for about 18 months.

The company covers any costs associated with the exercise activities of their choice and provides all necessary support. Our employees have remained consistent with their exercise routines throughout the program, developing healthy habits that have become an integral part of their lives.

According to our wellbeing surveys, over 80% of our staff find the exercise program ‘moderately’ or ‘ very effective’ in improving their performance and productivity. Our financial results for 2023 reflect this positive impact.

Additionally, 90% believe the program significantly improved their mental health and wellbeing as well as their ability to handle busy days and daily stressors at work. Reported benefits include: increased energy levels, sense of achievement, reduced stress levels and increased resilience.

Our objective is always to help employees introduce habits and behaviors that will enhance their wellbeing and increase their level of happiness (meditation, sleep, building social connections, healthy eating just to name a few). In summary, we are very happy with the results we have achieved by introducing these employee programs and plan on experimenting further in the future by coming up with creative s our wellness challenges an benefits.

A call to action for employers and HR professionals

I hope that sharing our experience inspires other employers and HR professionals to invest meaningfully in employee experience and well-being. Get creative, gather feedback on what matters most to your employees, or use science-backed research to introduce benefits and programs that will change your employees’ lives for the better. While profits are essential for a functional company, the modern role of a company is to enhance employees’ lives, not just by balancing work and personal life, but by helping them become the people they aspire to be.

Ivana has 15+ years of experience in teaching English in corporate environments and 10+ years of experience in People & Culture management and creating employee-centered workplaces. She is passionate about assisting start-ups in building their HR processes and strategy from scratch, finding top talent and leveraging company culture to create better business outcomes.

As the Head of People & Culture at GreenerField LLC, she leads the organization's HR function ensuring the company is an exceptional workplace in the areas of talent acquisition, talent development, people operations, total rewards and employee experience & wellbeing.

Ivana is an avid traveller who firmly believes that exploring the world and other cultures greatly enhances our happiness and overall wellbeing.

https://www greenerfield com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ivana-tufegdzic-655a2641

IT IS EASIER TO ACT

YOUR

WAY INTO A NEW WAY OF THINKING THAN TO THINK

YOUR WAY INTO A NEW

WAY OF ACTING

ON AIR WITH ELLA

EXPLORING THE CONNECTION BETWEEN BOUNDARIES AND WELL-BEING

BY: COURTNEY EASTERLING, J.D.

Imagine you are at a professional dinner party—you know many of the guests but they are colleagues, not friends. Now imagine the food is being served and you have a dietary restriction that was not considered something that you must avoid for health reasons. Let’s set the gathering somewhere where food and hospitality are tightly intertwined (like the Southern US where I live!). What is your response?

Do you attempt to discreetly address the concern with the individual serving your food? Do you avoid saying anything and merely do not eat? Do you try to pick around the entree and find something you may be able to consume?

I have experienced this scenario too many times to count. If I inadvertently eat something with my problematic ingredients, I will experience a flare of my chronic illness, including unpleasant and painful physical symptoms for days or weeks. And yet, even knowing the potentially severe consequences to ingesting something my body cannot handle, I still find myself uncomfortable when having to address in a public setting. I do not want to offend anyone or create an inconvenience. Inevitably, the host will bend over backwards to try to find a solution but I don’t want to create a fuss.

I acknowledge that I have been conditioned by society to put the needs of others before my own and this conflict of needs comes into focus at almost every social gathering, for me.

Why is boundarysetting so difficult?

I intentionally opened with the dietary restriction scenario because people have strangely strong opinions on what others choose to eat (or not eat). I have lived with my chronic illness for two and a half decades and found the food connection sixteen years ago. However, I still run into individuals that are skeptical of my lived experience.

Boundaries would be easier if the other party understood or believed your reasoning but very often that understanding is lacking. Sometimes, we are not completely invested in our own boundary, making it more difficult to set it with clarity and stick with it. Boundary setting can also be difficult for women and marginalized groups who have been expected or conditioned to not “create a scene” or disrupt the status quo.

Why is boundarysetting critical to personal well being?

I intentionally opened with the dietary restriction scenario because people have strangely strong opinions on what others choose to eat (or not eat). I have lived with my chronic illness for two and a half decades and found the food connection sixteen years ago. However, I still run into individuals that are skeptical of my lived experience.

Boundaries would be easier if the other party understood or believed your reasoning but very often that understanding is lacking. Sometimes, we are not completely invested in our own boundary, making it more difficult to set it with clarity and stick with it.

Boundary setting can also be difficult for women and marginalized groups who have been expected or conditioned to not “create a scene” or disrupt the status quo.

Why is boundarysetting critical to personal well being?

In the dinner scenario, the connection between boundary setting and well-being is fairly clear: if I eat certain items, I will feel physically ill (and, in turn, emotionally drained). Many examples are not as immediately connected. For example, have you experienced a season where you took on everything saying “yes” to everything in your profession and your personal life until it all became too much? Maybe less drastically, have you had weeks where you have overbooked your time with things for others and cannot wait until the weekend to crawl into bed and recover? Saying “yes” to each of these items at the time might have felt appropriate and achievable but the collective of saying “yes” to everything will inevitably reach a point of overwhelm.

Maybe you have thought to yourself that you need to “make time for [insert self-care activity of choice]”? But how does one make time? There are only 24 hours in a day about eight of which are potentially allocated to sleep.

Making time for wellness can often feel like just one more chore to add to the neverending to-do list to be accomplished in the remaining sixteen hours. You may find yourself doing something because you feel like you are supposed to and want to simply check it off the list.

Instead, what if we aim to create boundaries around our time and define a few non-negotiables for protecting your well-being. When I reframed the idea of self-care into a boundary I needed to protect, I felt more empowered. It prompted me to think more concretely about practices I needed to feel well— physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.

“No,” is a complete sentence…and other practical tips.

As a lawyer that used to live by the billable hour and divide my day into six-minute increments, I appreciated the efficiency of yoga. My time on the mat gives me physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual benefits that help set a positive tone to my day. Although my career has shifted in recent years, I am still a planner and live by my calendar. For me, creating a recurring appointment for the yoga classes I enjoy (or the time for a personal practice at home) helps me protect that boundary.

When planning, I generally schedule around my yoga appointments like any other obligation on my calendar. I do not feel the need to provide an explanation to others as to why I am unavailable; I simply explain that I am not and offer an alternative time. No is, in fact, a complete sentence. On the rare occasions that I do need to schedule something during my yoga, I immediately identify a place to reschedule that time for myself.

While I do believe yoga is for everyone, you may disagree and I will enthusiastically respect your boundary. It is important, though, that you take the time to find what you need to feel well, including what boundaries you need to create.

Here are some prompts to get you thinking:

How do you define personal wellbeing? What current activities or habits support your well-being?

Are there any current obligations in your life that are not supporting your well-being? Do you have the ability to step away from those obligations? If not, is there a way you can set some boundaries that minimize the impact the situation has on your well-being?

If you have an hour free of obligation, what activity could you engage in to bring you joy? What if you had only thirty minutes? Fifteen minutes? Five minutes? Keep a running list of these activities and when you have a spontaneous moment of time without other obligations you can quickly dip into this bank for a little boost.

Is there a new activity or habit you want to incorporate into your daily or weekly routine? If so, outline how you will do so. (For example, “I will journal for three minutes a day at least three times a week about what I am grateful for.”)

Identify one of the above activities that is a necessity for your well-being. Make a plan for intentionally incorporating it into your week this week.

As you work through these prompts, be sure to acknowledge all of the work you are already doing. Take the insights that serve you and leave the rest—no explanation needed.

https://www linkedin com/in/courtney-risk-easterling-84721592/

https://www.instagram.com/courtneyeasterlingyoga

Courtney is a lawyer and a registered yoga teacher, writing and speaking regularly across her home state of Kentucky and nationally on a variety of legal and well-being issues. Her yoga practice is focused on accessible, functional movement to holistically support her students’ wellbeing.

TAMING FERRETS: A GUIDE TO OVERCOMING NEGATIVE

THOUGHTS

By Toni Powell Brisbane, Australia

It was a seemingly ordinary day in Brisbane’s King George Square back in 2001. A young man, visiting from out of state, finds himself in a bit of a pickle. He's enjoying himself, but there are two problems looming large: he's intoxicated in a public space, and he's toting around a pet ferret both illegal in Queensland.

Cue the arrival of the police, tasked with handling the situation. What follows is a comedy of errors.

The officer, clueless about ferrets, tosses the critter into a box on the back seat, believing it to be harmless. But unsecured, the lid pops open mid-drive, and total chaos ensues.

The panicked ferret, now free, wreaks havoc in the car. The policeman is on a freeway and stopping isn’t advised so he carries on trying to pay attention to the road.

Then something forces him to stop. The ferret runs up his trouser leg and actually bites him on the penis. Yes, his penir and yes, this really happened - it’s a true story.

Why recount this tale of ferret frenzy?

Because, amusing as it may be, it serves as a metaphor for our own mental landscape. Just as that seemingly innocent pet turned into a chaotic nightmare, so too can our thoughts transform into unruly, manic creatures if left unchecked.

Your Mental Ferrets

Consider the scenario: you adopt a seemingly harmless thought, a little selfpity after someone was unfair to you.

At first, it's comforting a companion in your grievance. But slowly, insidiously, this thought takes root until it becomes a constant presence in your mind. It grows, it invites others in, and now you have resentment, anger, and all of their emotional relatives dictating how you react and how you feel.

Thoughts are not benign – they control how you experience your whole life.

The last thing you want is negative thoughts making a comfy home in your head and have them run amok with your psyche.

If you want to be happier and less stressed, you have to work out how to best leave the ferrets at the door.

There are five things I say to myself when my negative thoughts get the better of me, and they've turned out to be incredibly effective at repelling ferrets.

1: Just because you think it, doesn't make it true.

Thoughts are fleeting and malleable, capable of being reshaped and discarded at will. Challenge their validity and be open to the possibility of change.

For me, I realised I was being arrogant insisting all my thoughts were the truth.

2: Thoughts can be changed.

This is a huge relief. Though of course to begin with, I didn't even think this could possibly be true. And when I did start trying, it felt quite difficult. These days it's absolutely no effort at all. The more you do it, the more deeply you understand that you don't need to believe a lot of what you think.

Thoughts being able to be changed pairs nicely with thoughts not being real, which means that the nasty judgmental thought I had about someone could be wrong, so it makes sense to change it.

All those cruel thoughts I have about myself being a loser, an idiot, a f-up, maybe, hopefully, could actually be wrong, or at least partly wrong.

Again, it makes sense to change it. The worried thought about a possibly dismal future may not come true. We can change

It doesn't make any sense at all to continue petting dangerous little ferrets if they aren't to be trusted. We put so much misplaced trust in our thoughts.

3: Does this thought serve me?

Does it serve you to think something's impossible or too difficult or beyond you? Does it serve you to focus on my many, many, and believe me, many, many shameful failures? Sure, the failures did happen. But does it serve you to dwell on them?

For me, I need to spend my focus on what will move me forward where I want to go, because if I don’t do that the chances of getting anywhere are slim.

4: Is this belief/thought useful?

Is it useful for me to believe nasty things about someone? We all have a bad side. Be generous to people. How is it useful for you to believe your boss, your neighbor, that fellow driver is an awful person?

Sure. Your they might do things you don’t like. We all do things others don’t like – including you and me.

I can even use this idea for big beliefs. I used to definitely believe that it all ends at death. Zip. Gone. No God, nothing, nothing, nothing, after.

And when I believed that, suicide became a real temptation. I’ve had, like most people, loads of trauma that made for some very uncomfortable emotions. I could end it! End the pain in minutes, forever.

Clearly this isn’t a really useful thought, so I changed my belief.

I decided to believe there's something bigger, some force in charge, with some design in mind, some actual reason for everything.

I chose to believe I'm part of that, I'm alive for a reason. Everything is part of a bigger plan.

Do I really believe that? Deep down, do I know this is true?

Not at all. Some days it seems likely, and some days, profoundly unlikely. I don't care. It serves me well to believe this way.

It's a useful belief because it gives meaning to my life and none of us do very well without meaning.

5: Lighten Up!

The other thing that I find useful is to remind myself to lighten up.

Life is too short to be bogged down by the weight of our own very serious thoughts. Our opinions and thoughts aren’t what the world revolves around.

We are just one of billions of people wandering on the earth.

Embrace humour, humility, and a healthy dose of scepticism. After all, in the grand scheme of things, most of our worries, resentments and anxieties won’t matter in a few weeks, or months.

In the words of Cat Stevens, "Positive thoughts and prayer have been, since the beginning of time, the best way to turn darkness into light."

So, I’m hoping this helps you cultivate a mind where escaped ferrets find it hard to make a home. I really don’t want you bitten where it hurts!

https://www linkedin com/in/tonipowell/

https://www.instagram.com/hellotonipowell/

Storyteller, Speaker and Author Renowned for her hilarious storybased talks, Toni is one of the most recognised & enjoyed positive culture and wellbeing speakers in Australia.

Toni’s great gift is using stories and comedy to teach simple ways all of us can use to turn our pain, stress, failure and trauma into a fantastic springboard to better things. It’s amazing to find that you can overcome almost anything with a few simple tools and Toni’s work is chock-a-block full of useful, easy, simple tools that actually work in real life.

AN OFTEN-OVERLOOKED ASPECT TO YOUR WELL-BEING? MEANINGFULNESS.

by Michelle Hollingshead, Lexington, KY

How Cultivating A Meaningful Life Adds to Wellbeing

During the pandemic, so many of us were struggling with burnout, loneliness, and disconnection from meaning and purpose in our lives and work. I began to believe that we were in a collective crisis for meaning, so I launched a research project with the hopes of offering practical and accessible approaches to create a meaningful life in the modern era.

I worked with a psychologist and researcher to guide this process, who conducted a literature search on existing instruments that measured meaning in life. I also launched a pilot study to collect qualitative data about the interviewees' three most significant life experiences to identify meaning indicators. The end result is my new book, Meaning Indicator: Finding Significance Through Challenge, Work, and Love.

A few of the benefits connected to experiencing life as meaningful include increased physical activity, healthier eating, and higher life satisfaction. When you feel like you matter, you believe your actions make a difference.

This has been my lived experience. One of my personal motivators for maintaining wellbeing and practicing self-compassion and self-love is so I can make a difference in our world. It is through gratitude, daily reflection and positive relationships with others that I feel peace and joy. I remember I am part of something larger than myself and my actions contribute to the collective well-being. This awareness orients my choices. The harder part is beginning again and forgiving myself when I don’t live up to my own standards.

When an individual experiences their life as meaningful, it contributes to their well-being and conversely an individual’s well-being is what sustains a meaningful life.

Fine tuning my awareness and attention to the good and opportunity during challenging times grounds me and helps me return to a state of hope and empowerment. Despite so many struggles, so much of humanity is mobilized in serving the well-being of others. Individuals are reminding each other to take only what they need. Healthcare workers are risking their lives to care for others. Crucial conversations are happening about sexual violence and racial justice. People are asking themselves what really matters. Finding significance can be an antidote to crisis. It can shift our perspective, transcending ‘the trivial or momentary’ conditions of life to considering something larger.

Finding significance is a practice.

Remembering we are part of something larger than ourselves shifts our perspective toward higher purpose and the greater good. I define progress as growth or movement to a better condition or higher state. We create meaningful transformation for ourselves and others when we do our work in service of the collective well-being. One question I ask myself is, “What is the impact of this choice on me, others, and the desired outcome?” More of us want our contributions to create better conditions for others and a sustainable future for all.

Evolution in the Workplace

Through this project and almost two decades coaching and consulting with leaders in personal and organizational transformation, I have seen an evolution in the workplace. In the last decade, a new archetype has emerged called the Greater Good. The defining attribute of this culture is that people are expected to contribute to the well-being of the larger community. The organization considers that they have a responsibility bigger than simply meeting the needs of their customers. They are looking at their impact on the community and the world as a whole. They care about social responsibility, the environment, meaning, sustainability, and making a difference.

There are still significant tensions between this aspired future and current realities. Selfleadership practices such as mindfulness, daily reflection, reading inspirational texts, journaling, and physical movement are essential to sustaining individual well-being and experiencing life as meaningful. Doing things for others and considering our impact on the community and world as a whole is essential to contributing to the collective well-being. Together we can generate a better future.

https://meaningindicator com

https://www linkedin com/in/michellehollingshead/

BOOK: Meaning Indicator

Michelle Hollingshead specializes in transformational change.

She is an entrepreneur, an author, and an International Coach Federation Master Certified Coach.

She is the founder of Imprint, a coaching and consulting company and is part of a global community committed to developing conscious leaders and organizations.

Becoming Prosperous: Manage Your Personal Finances for Better Wellbeing

by Armine Hutchens, Lexington, KY

WHEN YOU THINK OF HEALTH, YOU MAY THINK OF EATING RIGHT, EXERCISING, OR SEEING THE DOCTOR REGULARLY, BUT MAINTAINING YOUR FINANCIAL HEALTH CAN BE JUST AS IMPORTANT.

Without being financially stable, you may face physical and emotional stress that has an impact on your wellbeing and your relationships. You also put your ability to retire at risk. Finally, you enter a cycle of living paycheck to paycheck, never being able to truly get ahead. One emergency your air conditioner dies, your car dies, you get laid off and you could fall in a hole that is virtually impossible to climb out of.

I am originally from the country of Armenia, and you may be surprised to learn that, there, we had no credit scores! So when I married my American husband in 2002, it came as a shock to me that so much depended on that little (or hopefully BIG) number. We lived in an apartment and were trying to buy our first home together. The banks told us my husband’s credit score was too low to qualify for anything except a 2-year fixed interest rate mortgage that would become a variable interest rate in year 3. Thus the clock started on my quest to rebuild our credit.

I started by reading about how credit scores are determined. (Spoiler alert: it’s pretty complicated.) I discovered there are certain things we can do to increase our credit score and certain things we can avoid so as not to lower that critical number.

Fast forward to two years later, and I managed to rebuild our credit score to 800! We qualified for a much lower 30-year fixed interest rate on our house, a zero-interest rate car loan, and excellent credit card offers that allowed us to travel all over the world.

So how did I do it? That’s what I now share with my clients in my business ProsprKY. For the last five years, I’ve offered services to organize people’s financial plans, make budgets and stick with them, and repair their credit scores. My ultimate goal is to make my clients ready for a prosperous retirement.

When I first sit down with a new client, I always ask them the same question: “Do I want, or do I need?” If you ask yourself that before every new purchase decision, you will already be on the right track to better financial health.

It takes at least six months of proper focus on your financials to get to a place where your credit score is good enough to get out of “ridiculously high” interest rate territory. There’s an entire industry built on preying on people whose credit scores force them into situations where they get deeper and deeper into debt. Cash advances, super-high interest rates, rent-to-own…these are all things that some people think they have no choice but to utilize. Still, there are other options that you can access to improve your credit score without wasting your hardearned income on these scam businesses.

Without getting into too much detail here, the most important thing a person must do to rebuild their credit is to create a budget and stick to it! I use the 50-25-25 rule.

Fifty percent is for your bills and “needs,” 25% is for your “wants,” and 25% is for your savings. You can find people like me to help navigate settling debts and dealing with creditors. For example, I act as a go-between with collection agencies and try to reduce the debt they owe and stop the harassing phone calls.

I love getting messages from clients I’ve helped. The peace of mind they have after working to improve their personal finances is so rewarding! Sometimes the hardest thing about rebuilding your credit and financial health is taking the first step. Take that step! If you need help, find a reputable service provider to work with you to not only get you on the road to financial recovery, but across the finish line.

P A R T T W O

Healthcare + Social Justice

Surviving + Thriving

AFGHAN WOMEN AND HEALTH UNDER THE TALIBAN

“Women who held peaceful assemblies and demonstrations in the streets faced threats, and the Taliban arrested, detained, and tortured these women. “

Soon after the Taliban took power in Afghanistan, based on Amnesty International and UN reports, the Taliban restricted free movement, education, work, clothing, and all aspects of women's rights from Afghan women. The extremist group has torn down all types of protection for Afghan women.

It's challenging for Afghan women to escape or seek protection from domestic violence, child marriage, and forced marriage, and the rate of childbirth has surged in the country. Women who did peaceful assemblies and demonstrations in the streets faced threats, and the Taliban arrested, detained, and tortured these women.

SHABNAM’S STORY

Shabnam, who used to study computer science, has been out of school for two years since colleges have banned her participation. She describes before the government changed, she was working hard to achieve success and fulfill her dreams, but after the Taliban took over, her dreams shattered. Now, Shabnam needs to cover head to toe, and these changes affect her mental health. She feels disappointed and never believes her dreams will come true, and she feels like a death in slow motion. Shabnam explained that the Taliban banned scholarship and abroad studies opportunities for Afghan women. As a result, there is no way out; she is stuck in the country.

Before the Taliban took over, there were thousands of scholarship opportunities from the previous government during these twenty years of democracy in the country for women to go abroad and finish their education programs, usually bachelor's and Master's. Her message to the world and American women is to support and stand behind Afghan women.

FARHAT’S STORY

Farhat was a women's rights activist and worked in a private high school in one of the provinces of Afghanistan; she graduated from the mineral faculty of an engineering college.

She stated that "in Afghanistan, from the time women are born until the time women die, they suffer." There is extreme restriction. She used to work outside in the community and advocated for Afghan women, but unfortunately, now she must stay at home as per government order. After the extremist group retook power, they barred civil rights activists from advocating in favor of people, minorities, and women and hid their political opinions even from ordinary citizens.

Farhat lost her job at an international NGO; based on her professional major, she was required to work in engineering but secretly worked in a private high school. One day she went out for work, with her brother on a rainy day, and the Taliban stopped them and asked, "Why you young woman and man are walking on a rainy day alone." Then, they tried to make it clear they were biological siblings by showing their IDs; she felt hopeless on that day; “Even because of these dictators I cannot freely walk in my country and work in the offices.” She says, "Every human deserves respect and equal rights. In the office where they work, no women are allowed; we go to offices like smuggling. Everyone works for economic reasons in comparison to the previous government."

She is the elder sibling of her family and needs to support seven members, and she doesn't have a father to depend on. She keeps herself strong to give moral and psychological support to her sisters, who cannot continue her education, and the school she is working in is the only option to survive her mother and siblings. After the Taliban, the NGO she advocated for Afghan women. To prevent them from raising their voices of women, the Taliban locked and tortured them for seven hours in their office, and now they have changed their location for safety reasons.

For the readers of this article, Farhat's mesas sage is to represent Afghan women's rights and find a way to save women from this parison; if none care about Afghan women, the hotness of this fire will change to ashes, as long as everyone would be silent, women across the world and international community Afghan women might change to ashes, turn to a genocide of a generation of women in the country.

ZIBA’S STORY

Ziba is a nursing student who works at one of the hospitals in Mazar Sharif. Her life is changing tremendously, especially in terms of appearance. She is not allowed to enter the education center without a complete Hijab.

In the past, she had significant freedom; however, now she has a restricted life. If women do not follow Burqa rules, this nursing education center will be closed for all young women.

IMPACT ON HEALTHCARE AND WELLBEING

The situation of health in the country is shocking for the people, especially for women; mental health is stressful for Afghan women; the majority of Afghan women with no essential rights and staying home 24/7 suffer from depression and other illnesses. According to a new decree of the Taliban, female patients should receive treatment from a female doctor. Still, unfortunately, as Ziba, who works in a hospital, "the Taliban denied female doctors to work in the hospital, and based on their recent decree, female patients should be treated by a female doctor; however, unfortunately, now there is a lack of female doctors." With the closure of primary schools and colleges, it is impossible to have female doctors shortly.

In the country now, there is a higher rate of unemployment, and most of the women who are the breadwinners of their families are now refused work by the government. Sadly, people, and, in general, women, cannot afford the fees of a doctor. As a result, they tolerate the pain or any illness in their bodies.

WHAT CAN WE DO?

Women worldwide, especially American women, can raise awareness, advocate for Afghan women, and pressure policymakers to take action. Force government officials for the safety of Afghan women to negotiations and international aid. Solidary and sisterhood are crucial parts of supporting Afghan women in sharing their stories and using social media to expand the network of advocating for the safety of every girl and woman in the country.

Lamar Zala Gran is a dedicated advocate for women's rights and empowerment, with a strong commitment to bringing about positive change in Afghanistan and beyond. As the founder and president of Empowering Afghan Women, Lamar has been featured on global media platforms, participated in international conferences, and spoken with world leaders about the challenges faced by Afghan women. Currently pursuing his education at Berea College in the United States, Lamar continues to use his voice and experiences to inspire others and advocate for gender equality.

https://www wethinkcode.co za/

https://www linkedin.com/in/nyari-samushonga-6965523/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/lamar-zala

TWO YEARS POST-DOBBS: MATERNAL HEALTH, MENTAL HEALTH, EMERGENCY CARE ALL WORSEN UNDER ABORTION BANS

By Rebecca Gibron

Once a Planned Parenthood patient as a teenager,

Rebecca Gibron is now CEO of Planned Parenthood’s largest geographic affiliate, serving more than 100,000 patients yearly at 35 health centers in 6 states: Alaska, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Kentucky, and Washington.

As we mark the second anniversary of the Dobbs decision, we have mounting research supporting what we’ve long known to be true: when we restrict one aspect of care like with abortion bans we hinder all access to care. Since the reversal of Roe, we have witnessed increased risks to maternal health, mental health, and access to emergency obstetric care across the country. These bans not only impede abortion access but also jeopardize medical care for miscarriages, ectopic pregnancies, and other pregnancy-related issues. Moreover, they exacerbate pre-existing health conditions stemming from genetics, poverty, and social determinants of health. Communities already marginalized by systemic racism in health care access bear the brunt of these impacts.

It devastates me to say things will get worse under these abortion bans. It's also crucial to acknowledge the resilience and commitment to care our patients and providers face within these communities as they navigate these challenges.

Data from the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) show medical school residents are staying away from states with severe abortion restrictions. Fourteen states, many located in the Midwest, have enacted near-total bans on abortion. The AAMC analysis shows that the number of applicants to residency programs in these states fell by 4.2% between 2023 and 2024. In contrast, states where abortion remains legal saw only a 0.6% decline in residency program applicants. And the impact is not just felt for obstetrics and gynecology: specialties most affected include emergency medicine, family medicine, internal medicine, and pediatrics.

Nationally, one in three women of reproductive age – and even more trans and nonbinary people who can become pregnant – no longer have access to abortion in their state. People are forced to travel hundreds or thousands of miles for care or forced to remain pregnant against their will if they don’t have the financial means to seek care across state lines. If you are a Black woman forced to stay pregnant in a state like Indiana or Kentucky, with maternal mortality rates higher than most states in the country,

remaining pregnant puts you at twice the risk of dying from pregnancy complications than a white person.

Access to care has never been more urgent in our lifetime. Unless we see immediate change, the impact of these bans will continue for the generations that follow and their local communities. Polling from last year shows young people are postponing pregnancy due to fears about managing pregnancy-related emergencies. Like medical students avoiding abortionbanned states for residencies, young people are choosing not to relocate to these states. Abortion bans drive away up to half of young talent, creating a brain drain that impacts health and business, too. This might still surprise some; interest in vasectomies is rising at our health centers, and young people ask for them. Surveys suggest up to 5-6% of men aged 18-45 have had the procedure. In 2023, 50% of young adults reported symptoms of anxiety and depression symptoms, making them more likely than older adults to face mental health issues. These young adults are also finding it increasingly difficult to get treatment.

Contrary to anti-abortion rhetoric, abortion does not lead to poor mental health outcomes. In fact, quite the opposite: being denied a needed abortion actually undermines mental health and leads to higher rates of anxiety and lower selfesteem. Restricting access to safe, legal abortion is what causes harm.

Perhaps most importantly, this climate of fear is tying the hands of health care professionals nationwide, leaving them terrified that fulfilling their oath to care could subject them to malicious political attacks.

Just like we support our providers against political attacks, we are here to help patients struggling to navigate the chaotic web of restrictions to care. At Planned Parenthood, we are doing everything we can to meet these needs. We continue to help people forced to flee the state for abortion navigate across state lines and come back to us for follow-up care. We’ve expanded services to include vasectomies and gender-affirming care on top of the comprehensive reproductive care we already provide, like wellness exams, birth control STI checks and treatments and cervic

We

know that every person deserves access to health care, including abortion, without question or hesitation. We will use our knowledge from the mounting evidence collected by the rigorous research that has come about since June 2022 to fuel our fight for a future where everyone receives the health care they need— free from fear, barriers, bias, and borders.

Abortion is health care, and just like we all deserve to be represented in clinical research we all deserve access to basic

At P we can ple forced to flee the state for abortion navigate across state lines and come back to us for follow-up care.

https://www.plannedparenthood.org/plannedparenthood-great-northwest-hawaii-alaskaindiana-kentuck

https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebecca-gibron8056a5112/

Rebecca Gibron is the CEO of Planned Parenthood’s largest geographic affiliate serving more than 100,000 patients every year at 35 health centers in 6 states: Alaska, Hawai’i, Idaho, Indiana, Kentucky, and Washington.

Rebecca is committed to delivering on Planned Parenthood’s promise of safe and affordable reproductive health care for every body without judgment, without fear, without fail.

"Dead Wrong: Diagnosing and Treating Healthcare's Misinformation Illness" by Geeta "Dr. G" Nayyar, MD, MBA, is a thought-provoking exploration of the pervasive issue of medical misinformation and its detrimental impact on healthcare - particularly in the age of social media. The book delves into the root causes and amplification of misinformation in the digital age, and offers practical strategies for combating this growing threat.

The Landscape of Misinformation

Dr. Nayyar begins by tracing the historical presence of misinformation in various medical domains, such as diabetes, HIV/AIDS, and weight loss. She highlights how misinformation has been weaponized and politicized during the COVID-19 pandemic, exacerbating its spread and undermining public trust in science and healthcare professionals.

Dr. Nayyar emphasizes the role of technology, including social media and artificial intelligence (AI), in both propagating and combating misinformation. While these tools have facilitated the rapid dissemination of false or misleading information, Dr. Nayyar argues that they can also be leveraged to counter misinformation through effective communication, storytelling, and patient education.

But, Where Would We Be Without Women Sharing Information Online?

There are several challenges to Dr. Nayyar’s vision for healthcare medical practitioners. Two significant limitations within the current landscape that often send women to social media for help they might not be getting even from their trusted medical advisors are:

1) Medical education has historically been lacking when it comes to women's health beyond our reproductive years. Menopause, hormonal imbalances, and other issues specific to women's aging process and overall health are often overlooked or given minimal attention. In the absence of guidance from healthcare providers, many women have turned to social media and online communities to share experiences, seek advice, and find support. While these platforms can be valuable resources, the lack of reliable, expert-led information can be concerning. It's a catch-22 situation where women are left to navigate important health matters on their own, but the alternative of relying solely on unverified online sources is equally problematic.

2) The same can be said for nutrition and holistic wellness. Conventional medical training tends to focus heavily on pharmaceutical interventions and disease management, while overlooking the crucial role of diet, lifestyle, and preventative measures. As a result, many individuals have sought alternative sources of information, including social media influencers and wellness gurus, some of whom may promote questionable or even harmful practices. It's a delicate balance between acknowledging the limitations of mainstream medicine and ensuring that the information people consume is evidence-based and trustworthy.

These are complex issues without easy solutions, but they highlight the need for ongoing dialogue, reform, and a willingness to embrace a more holistic and evidence-based approach to healthcare.

We Need Strategies for Rebuilding Trust

Dr. Nayyar advocates for a human-centered approach to rebuilding trust in healthcare. Her book emphasizes the importance of physicians and healthcare leaders embracing digital platforms to communicate in relatable, plain language. By establishing a strong online presence and fostering personal connections with patients, healthcare providers can position themselves as trusted sources of information and counter the influence of anti-science narratives.

Listen in on a conversation with Dr. Geeta Nayyar ON AIR WITH ELLA: https://www.onairella.com/post/344-healthcare-misinformation

Get the Book: Dead Wrong: Diagnosing and Treating Healthcare's Misinformation Illness

References:

https://www ama-assn org/practice-management/physician-health/geeta-nayyar-md-mba-misinformation-rebuildingpatient-trust

https://www.itnonline.com/article/google-cloud-leader-and-high-profile-keynote-speakers-be-featured-himss24

Cancer Survivorship: A Whole Person Perspective

By Michelle Wiesner Lexington, KY

We recognize June is national cancer survivorship month in the USA and want to honor the many survivors in all communities. The American Cancer Society expects more than 2 million new cancer cases this year. The World Health Organization estimates over 35 million cases worldwide by 2050, a 77% increase over the 2022 totals (Global cancer burden growing, amidst mounting need for services).

According to NIH/NCI’s Definition of survivorship - NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms, “cancer survivorship focuses on the health and well-being of a person with cancer from the time of diagnosis until the end of life. This includes the physical, mental, emotional, social, and financial effects of cancer that begin at diagnosis and continue through treatment and beyond. The survivorship experience also includes issues related to follow-up care (including regular health and wellness checkups), late effects of treatment, cancer recurrence, second cancers, and quality of life. Family members, friends, and caregivers are also considered part of the survivorship experience.”

I came to realize the importance of caring for the whole person: body, mind, and spirit.

As a PT, I too was focused on physical recovery; encouraging flexibility, strengthening, scar tissue management, and lymphedema reduction. In my own health journey, I came to realize the importance of caring for the whole person: body, mind, and spirit.

In my experience as a hospital-based physical therapist for over 3 decades, much of the focus of cancer care, and therefore cancer survivorship, is focused on the bodyon physically eradicating the cancer from the body. But the NIH definition encourages care of mental, emotional, social and financial issues or concerns arising from cancer, as well as the impact on family and other relationships.

SURVIVORSHIP SURVIVORSHIP

S: SELF CARE S: SELF CARE

U: UNDERSTANDING / UNIQUE

U: UNDERSTANDING / UNIQUE

R: RELATIONSHIPS R: RELATIONSHIPS

V: VALUABLE V: VALUABLE

I: INSIGHT I: INSIGHT

V: VICTORIOUS V: VICTORIOUS

O: ONE DAY AT A TIME O: ONE DAY AT A TIME

R: REST R: REST

S: SMILE S: SMILE

H: HOPE H: HOPE

I: INSPIRATION I: INSPIRATION

P: PLAY P: PLAY

BY MICHELLE WIESNER

From that perspective, I offer this acrostic for SURVIVORSHIP:

Self-Care: True “self care” is making yourself a priority to care for your needs. Your needs include the basic needs of life: water, food, clothing, shelter, safety, as well as love and belonging.

After cancer treatment, your body, mind, and spirit are trying to recover from various forms of trauma. Surgery,radiation, chemotherapy as well as emotions such as fear, anxiety, overwhelm, or despair impact a person’s physical, mental/ emotional and spiritual health. So much of “cancer care” is focused on treatment of the disease with less emphasis on current and future quality of life. To recover more fully, one should consider nourishing daily habits around food, movement, relationships, mindfulness, spiritual practices as well as limiting exposure to toxicity.

Understanding / unique: Understanding what the usual process or phases of care are can help people feel less overwhelmed. Most prevalent cancers have typical treatment plans or phases of care, which begins with diagnostics (imaging, biopsies, etc.) to determine the extent of the invasion, is it localized or has it spread, is it slow growing or fast, is it impacted by hormones, etc. However, each person goes through a unique process and how you respond may be different. Each person is on their own journey. Extend grace to yourself and your unique journey.

Relationships: There are many research articles affirming the benefits of support, community and/ or healthy relationships on cancer survivorship. There are countless support groups for cancer survivors that meet in person as well as online; some are disease specific and some are for caregivers. We need a healthy community to be our best self. Our relationship with ourselves is one of high importance as well. I would encourage support from a trusted friend, cancer navigator, mental health professional, or pastor to promote a healthy relationship with yourself.

Valuable: YOU are a valuable human being and have inherent value. So often, our self worth is tied up in our career or family roles or responsibilities, but you are a human BEING not a human doing. Unfortunately, many have suffered from adverse childhood experiences that have damaged our self worth and then having a cancer diagnosis may exacerbate a sense of unworthiness, worthlessness or being a burden. Give yourself permission to ask for what you need and allow others to help you.

Insight: What one thinks or believes about themselves, their body, life expectations, etc. can impact overall quality of life. Often a traumatic event triggers a time of reflection leading to wisdom about self, others, spiritual beliefs, personal values, etc. A person’s concept of time may be altered after diagnosis. For example, waiting on test results can feel like hours or days stretch into weeks or months.

You may also become aware of changes in your personal values; tasks, roles or responsibilities that were the focus of your day no longer seem so important. One may come to appreciate the little things in life more.

Victorious: Take time to celebrate the victories, even the little wins. Focusing on the positive aspects of life supports healing. Celebration could be as simple as marking the date and event on the calendar or treating yourself to some good quality chocolate, comfy socks, a new book, a bouquet of flowers or whatever brings you joy. Celebrate others’ victories too, and borrow hope from them.

One day at a time: As a wise person said, “yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery and today is a gift, that is why it is called the present.” One way to live in the present is to focus on today; in the morning think about how you want to feel at the end of the day and then focus on doing the things that will get you there. Some days your body, mind, and spirit are marching to a different drummer so again, be gracious with yourself and others when your expectations are not met.

Rest: Give yourself permission to rest. So much goodness happens when we rest. Research proves the benefits of rest on recovery. When daily life takes all of your energy, don’t beat yourself up, but give yourself permission to rest. Prioritize your time and energy to focus on the most important tasks, then pace yourself allowing down time between tasks and give yourself permission to reschedule nonessential tasks.

It’s okay to politely invite visitors to come another day, or better yet, have a trusted friend help schedule visitors to allow time to rest between visits.

Smile: Smiling is a low effort, positive mood builder. Positive energy supports the healing of the body, mind, and spirit.

Hope: Expect with confidence. We tend to find / see / experience what we look for, some call this manifesting. If I am expecting things to go well, and I focus on the positive, then I am more likely to experience the positive. A daily habit that I have found helpful is to look for beauty daily; the colors in the sunrise, a flower or the way a drop of water catches the light.

Inspiration: There are so many stories of remarkable human beings overcoming tremendous odds,enduring hardships and surviving. If you are faltering, look to those who have persevered before you for courage and strength. Each survivor is influencing those who are alongside or coming behind. Who knows who YOU are inspiring!

Play: Sometimes, a little playfulness is needed. This could be enjoying others playing or even the antics of chipmunks, squirrels or hummingbirds. Blowing bubbles or coloring are easy options too. Retain your sense of humor during stressful times. Consider Laughter Yoga as a way to bring some playful joy into your day.

Whether you are currently going through cancer treatment, have been a multi decade survivor or have not had a cancer diagnosis, I invite you to take what resonates with you, consider the things that stir you as that may be what will bring you the best life yet.

Additional resources are available at National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship, Medical and Health Content on cancer.org, as well as cancer specific sites like the Susan G. Komen foundation. For more information about clean products visit the Environmental Working Group.

(Note: I am a member of the National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship, but I do not receive any financial benefit from mentioning any of these organizations.)

Michelle is a deeply caring soul eager to support people on their healing journey. Her foundation in health began as a Physical Therapist in 1991.

She completed a Health Coach certification with the Institute for Integrative Nutrition to expand her skills in mind, body and spirit health.

She is especially excited to offer “Thrivership,” a program to restore hope, nourish yourself and flourish in life after cancer.

Trilliumhealthandrestoration com

https://www linkedin com/in/michelle-wiesner4839712aa/

APARENT’SPERSPECTIVE:CREATING CHANGEFORCHILDRENWITHSPECIAL NEEDS

By Melissa J. Kopolow, Washington, USA

When I was just 25 weeks pregnant with twins, I unexpectedly went into labor. My son, a mere 1lb 14oz, overshadowed his delicate sister who barely weighed over 1lb – approximately the weight of four sticks of butter. Tragically, on their second day of life, my daughter suffered a brain bleed, marking the start of a challenging journey that to date has included 15 brain surgeries, one spinal cord surgery and countless therapeutic and medical interventions. Fast forward to today, at age 12, and both their resilience continue to astound me. I truly gave birth to my heroes.

Amidst this whirlwind, I was working for the US Government. Despite my dedication and competence, my managerial support vanished the moment my daughter's challenges became evident. Stripped of supervisory responsibilities and subjected to relentless scrutiny, I found myself navigating a workplace that saw me not as a professional, but as a frazzled parent incapable of meeting expectations.

My next manager was no better, regularly yelling at me and letting colleagues know that I was “unreliable” because I took time off to attend my daughter’s medical appointments.

Transitioning to the private sector offered hope, but it was not to be sustained, as it turned out. After nearly four years of superior work, my manager made me his scapegoat when his failings were reflected in an annual survey. He reminded me that “I owed him,” and that my role as a mother of a special needs child rendered me expendable. Each setback only fueled my resolve to seek a workplace that valued me for my skills and my capabilities, as well as my humanity.

It wasn't until I dared to be transparent with a prospective employer, laying bare the reality of my responsibilities as a mother, that I found genuine support. My new boss, herself a parent of a child with special needs, embraced me not as a liability but as an asset, recognizing that my worth transcended stereotypes.

Why did it take someone who could directly relate to me for me to be trusted as a professional to deliver rather than looking for ways that I could or would disappoint? Why was she able to see me as a human being who had a life outside of work rather than assuming that my parental responsibilities rendered me incapable of focusing at the office?

Working for such a supportive person offered me the opportunity to step back and see how much overt, as well as subconscious, bias exists in the workplace when it comes to people with disabilities. If I was being treated like this openly, what kind of things were people saying behind my back and the backs of differently-abled people themselves?

In reflecting on my journey, I recalled an incident at a playground when my daughter was around five years old. Another child, about the same age, was staring at her. The child approached my daughter, and before I could react, her mother whisked her away, encouraging her to play with "regular" kids. Ignoring the mother outright, I approached the child and explained why my daughter did not walk or talk like her, but that she loved to play with other children. Later, the child's grandmother thanked me for taking the time to normalize differences for her grandchild.

My daughter and her peers deserve a world where biases no longer dictate their worth. The solution, I believe, lies in the classroom – a realm where young minds can be molded to embrace diversity and foster empathy, respect, and understanding before cynicism and skepticism sets in.

But to achieve this vision, we must demand action from our schools: inclusive curricula, representation of students with special needs, peer support programs, and open dialogues about

disability and inclusion

But even as I type this, a nearby community is trying to block the construction of a school for special needs children, saying it will cause too much chaos in their upscale neighborhood. I am speechless and angry and horrified and heartbroken all that same time- these are my peers! It will take collective effort to change things, but the rewards – a world where diversity thrives, and talents are celebrated – are immeasurable.

I will rise to this challenge, but change won’t happen with me alone. I need partners-in-crime to make waves that will change for the better. Because if we don’t, literally nothing will change for the next generation of workers. So, I call upon mothers, sisters, friends everywhere to help me advocate for inclusive education that celebrates differences, equips students with empathy, and prepares them to enter a workforce that embraces their unique abilities. Send me a message on LinkedIn if you are ready, willing, and able to help hold teachers, schools and communities accountable. I have spent more than a decade fighting mostly alone, and it is past time to come together to make real waves and create the change we all want to see.

Melissa has more than 20 years of professional experience spanning government, private sector and non-profit. She is a global sustainability and social impact leader, human rights champion, Food is Medicine practitioner, disability inclusion advocate, professional speaker and unabashed MamaBearExtraordinaire.

She is the proud mother of twins born three months premature and uses her platform as a subject-matter expert to advocate for disability rights, inclusive education, patient empowerment, prematurity awareness, and brain health and repair through nutrition.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissa-kopolow/

Become WELL and WEALTHY in business by speaking up

by Quinn Conyers, Washington DC, USA

Many women business owners and entrepreneurs underestimate how valuable their voice is when navigating their entrepreneurial journey.

Many women business owners and entrepreneurs underestimate how valuable their voice is when navigating their entrepreneurial journey.

As a result, they settle for the title of busy or burned out business owner and overlook how being well and wealthy is related to their revenue.

Speaking up and standing out is not reserved for extroverts, high profile CEOs, or Executives.

I mean this literally:

Once you become intentional and deliberate about turning up the volume on your voice, you can leverage speaking as an income stream, marketing strategy, or self care tool in your business.

More importantly, once you view speaking and communication as a superior skill and not a “soft skill” you can convert conversations into business opportunities.

Sadly, women are too often silent when voicing their opinions, beliefs, and values as business women and in some cases, it’s costing them their health, wellbeing, and sanity. Continuing NOT to speak up about things that matter the most to you as an Entrepreneur can lead to stress and anxiety.

However, when you look at your voice as an intentional way to grow your business and how your wellbeing affects your sanity, a mental shift can happen. You may realize that some of your stress is connected to your silence. However, once you become intentional about how you care for your voice amazing things can happen.

Leveraging your voice in business can allow you to be well and wealthy in business in the following ways:

Successfully sell yourself and your products to clients and customers with ease.

1. Confidently communicate your value proposition in high pressure situations. 2. Motivate and inspire crowds to take action with them after you speak.

3. Increase your perceived value by prospective customers and clients 4. Broadcast your unique brilliance that separates you from your competition.

Leverage your voice as an intentional super power. 6. Monetize speaking requests on behalf of your business. 7.

Expand your reach and relationship with your target client 8.

As a woman in business, your voice is so much more than the words that come out of your mouth!

Your voice when coupled with luxury language (“wealthy words”) can elevate and enhance who you are and the value you provide. As a result, your voice becomes a competitive business advantage that can earn you more revenue and allow you to be super successful.

https://www linkedin com/in/quinnconyers/

SPEAK UP! Remember that remaining in the shadows might be costing you sales - and a healthier state of mind and general wellbeing. If speaking is NOT a skill that comes naturally to you, consider investing in public speaking as a professional and personal development opportunity. There are MANY resources available to help build this skill!

For the past 19 years, Quinn has served as a Senior Sales Manager, Keynote Speaker and Corporate Event Emcee for hundreds of Business & Sales leaders. Her innovative V.O.I.C.E framework introduces entrepreneurial leader to how they can rapidly increase their chances of conversion by drastically improving their communication confidence.

MOTHERWHOOD, WELLNESS AND BUSINESS: MYGLOH COLOSTRUM

Health and wellness has been a part of my story for as long as I can remember. I was an avid athlete from childhood into college, and after my college years, I began to connect to what overall wellness meant and the impact it would have on my life moving forward. I was physically able but I questioned if I was taking care of my body well enough. How could I optimally fuel my body so that I can continue to remain active, sharp, and healthy? How do I look inward so that I can approach my outward facing challenges head on with a clear mind and strong will? How can I share what I’ve learned with others?

“Take care of your body, it’s the only place you have to live.”

I was introduced to this quote early in my wellness journey and it has stuck with me.

After becoming a mother, the desire to fuel my body and feel my best was the strongest it had ever been. My body had endured a lot, as all do, and I wanted to remain strong and well for my family.

I was tired of cycling through supplements to try and find “the one.” After my firstborn, colostrum was a word I knew only as something my body would produce in the days after giving birth that I could feed my baby to aid in their protection, immunity, and growth. It is often referred to as “liquid gold,” due to its color, composition and many benefits.

Shortly after having my second child, I started to hear and read more about the benefits of colostrum consumption for humans well after childbirth. It turns out, all mammals produce colostrum post-partum, and not only babies, but individuals of all ages can reap the benefits of the nutrientrich superfood.[1]

Like most natural nutrition supplements, colostrum supplements are not FDA regulated or approved, regardless of the source. However, the link between human consumption of bovine colostrum and the benefits have been studied for decades. Colostrum is unique in its composition of essential nutrients such as proteins, fats[GC1] , vitamins and minerals, along with its bioactive compounds such as immunoglobulins (IgG, IgA, IgM), lactoferrin, and oligosaccharides, among others.[2]

So why colostrum for adults?

The bioactive compounds in bovine (cow) colostrum have been proven to benefit human health by enhancing the immune defense and gastrointestinal health. It is considered to be an effective source of immunity as it seals up the body’s protective barriers along the inner cell lining, helping to decrease inflammation. Its high levels of growth factors and peptides assist in muscle repair and regeneration of the hair and skin. One of the most impactful research studies on colostrum took place in 2007. The efficacy of colostrum consumption for two months was evaluated against the use of an anti-influenza vaccination to determine which was more effective at protecting against influenza. The results showed that colostrum was at least 3 times more effective than vaccination at preventing the flu![3] Other studies have demonstrated decreased inflammation and regeneration of the mucosal barriers in the participants who received colostrum.

My co-founder, Lianna (a pediatric nurse), and I took an interest and passion in learning more about the research behind colostrum and its benefits.

During our journey, we both began consuming colostrum daily. After a few days, I began noticing subtle differences –my energy levels had increased, my bloating decreased. After several weeks of consumption, the impact it had on my overall health was undeniable.

My bloating went away, my period cramping was reduced to nearly zero, my digestion became normal again after years of issues, I was losing less hair, my skin was tighter, and my recovery time post-workout improved. The illnesses that would typically cycle through our home after germs finding their way to us from daycare became infrequent.

After realizing the impact colostrum had on our own lives, we had an “AHA” moment. The colostrum options that were on the market didn’t excite us – they were boring, flavorless, and didn’t mix well. We decided to take the leap of faith and created our own company, myGloh - a colostrum product specifically formulated for women that is clean, delicious, and easy to drink.

We have learned so much about the colostrum market and what is most important to our brand, and giving women a high-quality product is what is most important to us. We pledge to:

Always put the calves' needs first, and only collect the surplus colostrum that would have otherwise been discarded, and 1.

Never use fake additives or sweeteners (we use naturally sweetener monk fruit) 2.

Founders, Lianna amd Erica

myGloh has been a labor of love and one that Lianna and I are proud of and we’re eager to continue sharing in this journey with women everywhere. Stepping into entrepreneurship was hard, but it feels like a full-circle moment being able to do so in the wellness space for women.

Erica Colon is a working mom of 2 littles. She has always strived to live a wellrounded lifestyle and recently look a leap of faith and launched myGloh colostrum, a women's wellness brand. She is a lawyer, now entrepreneur, who is excited to share her love of colostrum and healthy living with the wellness community.

https://mygloh.com/

https://www instagram com/mygloh/

GLOBAL MAN'S GUIDE TO THRIVING: OW SOMATIC WARENESS MPOWERS YOU N THE WORKPLACE

By Bethany Bubenzer, Lexington, KY, USA

Imagine for a moment that you’re walking into your favorite luxury spa. The doors open to reveal an airy space filled with soft natural light, thriving plants in every corner and a smiling receptionist ready to make sure your every need is met.

Essential oil diffusers pleasantly surprise you with a gentle scent of citrus and lemongrass. You take a deep breath, your shoulders soften, and the worries of your day suddenly seem a bit further away. The space has been meticulously designed to curate the somatic experience of tranquility, peace, and relaxation.

It’s a physical experience that tells your nervous system, “You’re safe here, take a deep breath, enjoy some lemon mint water.” This is because interior designers incorporate elements that indirectly promote somatic awareness for their clients in spas.

And, as it turns out, this principle is the missing ingredient for peak performance and a positive work culture.

Somatic awareness is the act of paying intentional and focused attention to bodily sensations.

Why do modern businesses need to consider somatic awareness?

According to a Gallup Poll, 33% of women are currently in a state of burnout. Burnout is physical, mental, and emotional exhaustion caused by prolonged periods of stress. The most common symptoms include fatigue, decreased performance, difficulty making decisions, negative outlook, and emotional outbursts.

Thanks to the study of nervous system regulation and somatics, we have a system to clearly identify the early signs of burnout or avoid it altogether.

Somatic awareness impacts the workplace in several ways, benefiting both individual employees and the overall work environment. Here is a closer look at the positive effects:

Individual Benefits:

Enhanced Self-awareness: By understanding how their bodies react to stress and emotions, employees can identify triggers and learn healthier coping mechanisms. This fosters a sense of self-control and emotional intelligence.

Improved Stress Management:

Somatic awareness practices, like deep breathing or meditation, equip employees with tools to manage stress in the moment, preventing burnout and promoting overall well-being.

Increased Focus and Productivity:

Reduced stress and a calmer mind lead to improved focus and concentration, allowing employees to work more efficiently and productively.

Greater Resilience: By understanding their stress responses, employees can develop . Resilience and bounce back from challenges more easily.

Stronger Decision-making: Somatic awareness helps employees tap into their intuition, increasing employees' informed and confident decisions.

Work Environment Benefits:

Improved Communication: When employees are more in tune with their own emotions, they can communicate more effectively with colleagues. This fosters empathy, understanding, and clearer communication.

Enhanced Collaboration: With reduced stress and better emotional regulation, teams can collaborate more effectively, fostering a more positive and supportive work environment.

Increased Creativity: A calm and focused mind is conducive to creative thinking. When employees are less stressed, they are more likely to come up with innovative ideas and solutions.

Reduced Conflict: Somatic awareness can help employees manage anger and frustration, leading to less conflict and a more peaceful work environment.

Higher Employee Retention:

Employees who feel supported and empowered to manage their well-being are more likely to be satisfied and stay with their company.

Leaders have an additional opportunity (and responsibility) to understand a somatic principle of “coregulation” when it comes to somatic awareness.

“Co-Regulation” is one of three principles introduced by Polyvagal Theory. Polyvagal Theory, developed by Dr. Stephen Porges in 1994, explains how the autonomic nervous system and vagus nerve regulate social and emotional behaviors.The theory presents three nervous system states:

The Ventral Vagal State (Social Engagement/Safety):

This is the optimal state for effective leadership and overall well-being. In this state, you feel:

Calm and relaxed

Connected and engaged with others

Safe and secure

Able to think clearly and make sound decisions

Your body is in a state of rest and digest, with relaxed muscles, slow breathing, and a steady heart rate.

The Sympathetic State (Mobilization/Fightor-Flight):

This state kicks in when you face a challenge or perceive a threat. Your body releases adrenaline and prepares you for action. This state is helpful in short bursts, but chronic stress can keep you stuck here, leading to:Increased heart rate and blood pressure

Increased muscle tension

Heightened alertness and focus

Difficulty concentrating

Anxiety and frustration

Impulsive or reactive behavior

The Dorsal Vagal State (Immobilization/Shutdown):

If stress becomes overwhelming or the threat is perceived as too great, this state can take over. It's a last-ditch effort by the nervous system to conserve energy in the face of danger. In this state, you may experience:

Dissociation or feeling numb

Fatigue and lethargy

Difficulty thinking clearly

Feelings of hopelessness or despair

Withdrawal from social interaction

Shutting down emotionally and physically

Coregulation, also spelled co-regulation, is a term used in psychology to describe a supportive and interactive process where one person helps another regulate their emotions and nervous system state. It's most commonly applied in the context of adult support for infants and young children, but the principles can be extended to relationships of all kinds, including those between leaders and their teams.

In the workplace this translates to, leaders naturally and unconsciously send signals of danger or ease based on the state of their nervous system.

If your boss is in an optimal state for creativity and connection, you’re more likely to have peak performance from the entire team.

Cultivating Somatic Awareness in the workplace can be simple. 62% of Americans stated work life balance as a key contributor to job satisfaction.

Even though it may not look like a spa,your nervous system can feel like it’s visiting one. And hey -- maybe you should take in your essential oil diffuser just in case!

Resources:

https://www.gallup.com/467702/indicator-employee-retention-attraction.aspx

https://www.stress.org/workplace-stress

www.bethanybubenzer.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/bethany-bubenzer-147bb9237/

WELLNESS BOOKS + PODCAST RECOMMENDATIONS

THE 4 PILLARS OF ZIVA VOICES

BOOKAZINE

Start by getting to know yourself better and understand your feelings. It gives you the ability to self-assess by understanding your strengths and weaknesses and their effects accurately. And it builds self-confidence, having trust in yourself and being willing to be yourself.

VIDEO PODCAST

Emotional Self-Control is an essential part of emotional maturity. Guiding your feelings and/or appropriately expressing them is a crucial skill.

Being goal-oriented and being able to work toward your goals.

Initiative, being self-motivated and having the ability to keep working despite setbacks.

ROUNDTABLES COMMUNITY

Empathy is one of the core pillars of emotional intelligence because it helps you to understand and acknowledge others’ emotions.

Organizational Awareness, meaning having the ability to explain yourself well and be aware of how you are being understood.

Creating space for others to process information and listening to others.

Inspirational Leadership: being a good mentor, role model, and inspirational figure. Influence in a positive & effective matter Improve relationships, negotiate, and lead. Have the ability to settle disputes, differences of opinion, and misunderstandings. Be A Change Catalyst!

OUR MISSION

Ziva Voices – HerStory in the Making is committed to collecting women’s stories, amplifying their voices, and providing a network to connect women worldwide. We exist to show how women influence their communities and benefit their economies through their work, to demonstrate the power of women working together, and to create a protective space to allow for growth.

We foster self-empowerment through sharing resources, building confidence, and helping women develop a growth mindset.

M I S S I O N

V I S I O N

VISION

Creating a world in which women’s contributions, creativity and voices are recognized and any opportunity barriers against them lifted.

We exist to show how women influence their communities and benefit their economies through their work, to demonstrate the power of women working together, and to create a protective space to allow for growth.

We foster self-empowerment through sharing resources, building confidence, and helping women develop a growth mindset.

OUR GOALS

We highlight how women change communities, benefit the economies in which they work, and lift each other up by fostering diversity and authentic equality.

The networking effect of this bookazine, our community and our workshops focuses on promoting women all over the world and providing them with highly effective and readily accessible support.

WHAT WE OFFER

We organize regular in-person events for women to network, learn and get inspired. Community Events

Online magazine, Quarterly Bookazine, Online & In-person Events, Workshops, Corporate Trainings, and Podcast (coming soon!) Connection & Inspiration

Ziva Voices - HerStory in the Making bookazine

Online quarterly publication with a focus on women’s stories, amplifying their voices, and providing a network to connect women worldwide.

Creating

a world in which women’s contributions, creativity and voices receive equal opportunities & visibility.

JOIN THE MOVEMENT

Dr Kinga Mnich

www kingamnich com

Sarah Hanrahan, MAT

https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahhanrahan/

Lamar Zala Gran

https://www linkedin com/in/lamar-zala

Courtney Easterling

Bethany Bubenzer

https://www.linkedin.com/in/bethany-bubenzer147bb9237/

Michelle Hollingshead

https://www.linkedin.com/in/michellehollingshead/

Armine Hutchens

www.linkedin.com/in/armine-hutchens-4748172a

Michelle Wiesner

https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelle-wiesner4839712aa/

Melissa J Kopolow

https://www linkedin com/in/melissa-kopolow/

Quinn Conyers

https://www linkedin com/in/quinnconyers/

Erica Colon

Rebecca Gibron

https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebecca-gibron8056a5112/

Ella Lucas-Averett

https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucas-averett/

Ivana Tufegdzic

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ivana-tufegdzic-655a2641/

Kate Tolson

https://www.linkedin.com/in/theenergygardener/

Toni Powell

https://www linkedin com/in/tonipowell/

Our Staff.

Co-Editors in Chief Dr Kinga Mnich & Ella Lucas-Averett

Contributors Pika Dubey, Sarah Hanrahan, MAT, Lamar Zala Gran, Melissa J Kopolow, Courtney Easterling, Erica Colon, Toni Powell, Kate Tolson, Bethany Bubenzer, Michelle Hollingshead, Ivana Tufegdzic , Ella Lucas-Averett, Quinn Conyers, Armine Hutchens , Rebecca Gibron, Michelle Wiesner

Chief Photography Editor Dr. Kinga Mnich

Photography Jennifer Chang and Canva

Associate Editor Carla Patricia Caguioa

EDITORIAL OFFICES

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Ziva Voices

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HerStoryintheMaking.

More women are building successful communities and businesses everyday They are shifting their mindset, using their leadership skills, mobilizing communities and turning a small business into an empire.

In the Ziva Voices, we bring forth stories of experience and inspiration to highlight ways in which you can learn how to shift your mindset, change your habits, learn new skills, build your confidence, and learn to speak up.

When we hear the stories of other womenovercoming the pain, social obstacles and self-doubt - it can become easier to understand that you have all it takes to make the next move, be the person that creates change, and feel connected and empowered.

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