Whispers from The Creative Connection

Sometimes the Universe Makes Us Stop

Sun, 01 Feb 2026 03:07:34 GMT

Listening for Clarity at the Still Point.

Sometimes the Universe Makes Us Stop

Today I spent time volunteering as a judge at the Puget Sound Regional Future Business Leaders of America Competition. The event was about 66 miles from my house, and I needed to be there at 7:30 a.m. No big deal, right?

Here’s where it got a little more complicated.

My husband had left yesterday for an event on the Kitsap Peninsula and took the Honda Pilot. That left me with the Nissan Leaf, our electric car. A full charge is usually good for about 70–80 miles. On a good day, my driving style might squeeze out an extra mile or two. That is, unless I turn on the heat, go up hills, or get nudged by traffic to drive faster than the speed limit.

I planned carefully. I gave myself extra time to stop for coffee and breakfast, and if needed to top off at a fast charger along the route. I had already scoped out where I would stop.

I left about five minutes later than planned and told myself it would be fine.

Breakfast went smoothly, and I was back on the road, only slightly behind schedule.

Just south of Seattle, the rain started. With it came the need for defrosters and heat.

“This shouldn’t be an issue,” I told myself. I had already earned two efficiency trees and still had about 59 miles left on my charge, with roughly 44 miles to go. I could still stop for a quick charge if needed.

Then things shifted.

Near SeaTac, the wind picked up and the hills became more frequent. Traffic flow nudged my speed higher than I would have preferred. I glanced at the dashboard and noticed the available miles dropping faster than expected. I was closing in on my fourth efficiency tree, but the numbers weren’t comforting.

I started scanning for alternate charging stations closer to the freeway. The only one that made sense was the one I had already chosen at the Tacoma Mall, just five miles from my destination.

As I passed Fife, the dashboard began flashing a warning: 15 miles remaining.

I checked the time. It was 6:59 a.m. I wanted to arrive by 7:15 for training. The charger was ten minutes away. I would need about ten minutes to charge and five minutes to get to the venue. It was going to be tight.

“The training doesn’t start until 7:30,” I reassured myself. “You’ll be okay.”

We all know Murphy’s Law.

I exited the freeway and headed toward the Tacoma Mall. The mileage number disappeared and was replaced by flashing dashes. For those unfamiliar with electric cars, that usually means you have somewhere between eight and ten miles left.

I rounded the corner near Nordstrom and spotted the charging area, only to realize the chargers were disabled.

That sinking moment. Now what?

I kept driving, hoping to find another option. I passed Tesla chargers I couldn’t use. Google Maps showed other stations, but each one turned out to be out of service.

At that point, I let the coordinators of the event know I would be late and kept heading toward Pacific Lutheran University, five miles away, hoping for the best.

I arrived on campus just as the turtle symbol appeared on my dashboard, signaling two miles or less remaining. I parked, walked into the building, and took a breath.

I made it.

The car could wait.

The morning unfolded beautifully. I met my judging partner, discovered an unexpected connection to my theater work, and spent the next two hours listening to and evaluating student presentations. They were impressive. We wrapped up, got our lunches, and went our separate ways.

Then it was time to deal with the car.

Sitting there, I ran through a quiet checklist:

Is there a charger nearby?
Do I have enough energy to reach it?
If not, do I call AAA?

There was a charger about .6 miles away. Maybe I could make it.

The car turned on. I backed up. I put it in drive.

Nothing.

It died in the middle of a driveway. Campus Security appeared and helped me roll it back out of the way. I called AAA.

About thirty minutes later, Eric, the tow truck driver, arrived. He asked a series of questions and explained that this model of the Leaf has a small auxiliary battery that can be charged just enough to put the car in neutral, not to drive it.

We searched for chargers listed on the map. One turned out to be a private residence. Another didn’t exist where the map claimed it did.

Then Eric looked up from his phone.

“I found them.”

We drove one street over from where we had already been. There they were. Six chargers. And they worked.

As the tow truck pulled away, I found myself alone in a nearly empty parking lot.

Were these fast chargers?

How long would I be here before I could drive home?

And then I realized something.

I was in full stop mode.

I sat in the car and instinctively reached for my phone. This, I noticed, was not full stop mode. I put it down.

I looked around.

A large crow perched at the top of a tree, scanning the area before letting out a single squawk. People walked their dogs. Cars came and went. Campus Security passed by again to check on me.

The sky began to shift. It was clear the sunset would be brilliant.

It was quiet. My body softened. I wasn’t deciding anything. I wasn’t solving anything.

I was listening.

What might the Universe, God, the Divine have to share, if I let it?

Thoughts came and went. I let them pass. My body felt calm, settled, present.

This is the still point.

It’s why I’m offering a small, intimate gathering next Saturday called Finding Your Still Point. I’ve learned how to recognize this place in myself and allow space for it to emerge. Sometimes insight comes. Sometimes clarity arrives. Sometimes it’s simply rest.

Are you familiar with this place?
Maybe you once knew it.
Maybe you’ve never touched it before.

Have you ever been brought to a full stop by life?

And how did you respond?

Finding Your Still Point is a small, intentional gathering for those who feel stretched thin, uncertain, or quietly disconnected from themselves. Through guided reflection, embodied presence, and gentle listening, participants are invited to slow down, reconnect with their inner knowing, and leave with greater clarity about what truly matters. This is not about fixing or forcing change, but about creating space to hear what’s already true.

For more information about February 7 gathering click here .

When Everything Looks Fine… But Something Feels Off

Mon, 26 Jan 2026 04:43:05 GMT

There is a quiet sense that the life you’re living no longer feels like home.

On the outside, things look fine.

Life is full.

Your work is steady.

Relationships are intact.

There’s nothing obviously “wrong.”

And yet, something feels off.

It feels like there is a slight tension right below the surface, just hanging in the air.

It does not send you into crisis mode.
But you find it difficult to put words to, and explain.

There is a quiet sense that the life you’re living no longer feels like home.

While many people feel this, we don’t talk about it.

Why is that?

For many it has to do with a belief and image that we think we need to uphold about ourself. Afterall the world sees us as being successful, capable, and responsible. We’re taught that if things are working, we shouldn’t question them.

Just be grateful and count our blessings.

However when we lean into this, the quiet discomfort and longing seem to grow right below the surface.

But what if the discomfort isn’t a problem to fix?

What if its information rising from within?

I know this feeling. I have been here.

It was a moment in life when the path I had been one - the one I chose - no longer seemed to fit who I was. I knew it wasn't because of failure, or that I had choosen wrong. I came to realize that it was because I had grown and in the growing shifted, evolved, changed.

This realization was surprisingly disorienting. After all, I worked hard to build the career and life I had. It was a large investment of time, energy, care, and responsibility into reaching and becoming who I was. When I started to feel misaligned, my first instinct was to assume something was wrong with me.

I found myself really slowing down and intentionally looking at where I was. What was rising from within? What was my heart and soul trying to tell me?

The more time I took to sit, look and listen, I’ve come to see my life and this discomfort differently.

I understood that was not because something I was broken. I understood that this moment and understanding arrived because something had completed. A deeper understanding that this new perspective will not carry me forward on my life path.

It was a very quiet moment in fact.

There were no fireworks or dramatic plot twists. It was the moment I sat quietly on a bench in New York City. I became keenly aware that I was just performing a role I once loved, and now no longer recognized myself in that part.

I also recognized this was not about creating a new plan or finding a quick answer.

Instead I needed some space.

Space to listen.
Space to notice who I had and was becoming beneath the roles I had been living.
Space to acknowledge that something truly me was trying to surface.

An invitation hidden inside that “off” feeling.

Since the moment, of my own realization, I have worked with others facing this in their life. In fact, this often presents itself as an invitation hidden inside that “off” feeling.

The feeling is not asking you to burn everything down or reinvent yourself overnight.

It is instead asking you to pause long enough to listen more closely.

To observe and recognize what has shifted in you.

To honor the self that has been forming quietly, perhaps patiently, in the background of your life.

Does this resonate?

If this resonates, take a moment to gently ask yourself:

What in my life looks fine on the outside but feels misaligned on the inside?
When did I last feel fully present and myself?
What part of me has been asking for more room to breathe?

The answers to these questions are not to be rushed. They need time to rise from within. Sometimes in order for this to happen, you must simply be aware and name the feeling is a way to begin.

Not lost. Standing at a threshold.

At certain points in life, one finds themselves standing at a threshold.

It may even feel as though find yourself standing in an in-between space.

You are not alone.

Many women (and men) I meet are here too, even if they don’t always have language for it yet.

It feels like a tender and meaningful place.

A longing for space to listen often surfaces.

Is this you?

Are you longing for space to listen more deeply?

A place to explore what this moment is asking of you?

I’m holding a half-day gathering on February 7.

It will be a gentle entry point for women who sense that something has shifted and want to begin the journey of coming home to themselves.

No fixing or forcing. Just time, reflection, and shared presence.

Whether or not that’s the next step for you, know this: when everything looks fine but feels off, it doesn’t mean you’re lost. It often means you’re standing at a threshold.

Does this reflection feel familiar?

Or perhaps you feel as though you have been moving through life wondering why things look fine yet feel off?

If this is you. You are invited to a small, live Zoom gathering on February 7 called Finding Your Still Point .

This is an intentional doorway for women who sense they’ve outgrown an old way of being and want space to listen for who they are now. This is not about fixing your life or making big decisions. It’s about pausing long enough to reconnect with yourself, notice what’s no longer yours to carry, and begin moving toward the future self-that’s quietly been asking for your attention.

Details over the coming days, or feel free to email me at coachcyndi@cyndithomsen.net.

Listening Before Deciding: A Reflection on Permission, Presence, and Choice

Mon, 19 Jan 2026 02:10:52 GMT

A personal reflection and invitation on Permission, Presence and Choice.

The Pause

Recently I found myself in a position I have been in many times, stopping myself from a decision because I did not want to do the work.

After closer examination, I realized that it was not at all the work, but rather that I had stopped myself because of fear and a need to protect myself.

This was a very old song. One that has played on my internal radio for many years. In fact, I became really aware of this song when I traveled to New York City in the summer of 2016. I found myself struggling phsyically to move and pausing to consider, why?

Why then have I turned on this oldie ten years later?

Oh man… I think it is time to really sit with what I seem to be putting off or not allowing myself to do.

There have been a couple of decisions lately that I have been sitting in this realm of comfort versus wanting to push the limits and evolve, a process I have mindfully been working on since that summer of 2016.

The Interference

Two decisions needed to be made. One in my arena of work. The other in the area of my health and wellness.

As I looked at each of these, I wondered what the real problem was. Or was I hiding behind the decision with a “safe problem”?

It was indeed a safe problem: time.

“I don’t have time to do this?”

This is a response that I make, and perhaps you do too, when there is something we know we need or want to do but do not want to face.

So, if time wasn’t really the problem, what was?

What is below the surface underneath this that doesn’t want me to find, or rather make, the time to decide and do?

Emotional attachment to what others may think and say if I do?
Physical capacity being pushed that may cause discomfort?
Something else?

Deep questions indeed.

I needed to give these questions space.

The Listening

At first, what came were more of the should have, would have, and could have thoughts that so often show up in our lives.

The familiar trick my brain plays when I allow what others might think to hold more importance than my own self-compassion.

During my quiet meditation, I found myself allowing the belief of what others might think to float by, making space to hear my own voice instead.

What surprised me was that as my thoughts quieted, there was a rising sense of knowing from my belly and my heart. My body was giving me a signal of what was true.

The Decision

The answers were not loud.

Instead, there was a gentle drawing toward action, not in finding time, but in moving toward my calendar and intentionally placing the time where I would take action on what I desired to do.

The Expansion

This led me to another question, and one I will continue sitting with: why does the decision feel harder than the action itself?

I think it comes down to permission.

Permission we believe we need to give ourselves for self-care and personal development.

Reflection Question for the Week Ahead

What would change in our lives if we gave ourselves permission to listen long enough to hear what our heart, spirit, and body are asking for?

Would it lead us to live with more flow and desire?

With these questions in mind, I will be practicing presence and meditating on this.

As a companion to this reflection, on Wednesday’s episode of The Creative Connection Podcast, I will share one of my favorite meditations to support the practice of listening before deciding.

Join me on YouTube/@cyndithomsen/podcasts

Listening for Clarity: A Reflection on Beginning Again

Sun, 11 Jan 2026 23:20:21 GMT

How pausing to listen can bring clarity at the start of a new chapter.

Some days I feel like a broken record, saying and doing the same things over and over again.

January has a way of amplifying that feeling.

At the beginning of a new year, reflection often brings us face to face with familiar questions about clarity, direction, and whether we are truly listening to ourselves. Each year, as the calendar turns, I find myself looking back at the path I’ve taken and wondering what this moment is asking of me now.

So I reflect.

Who have I been talking to?
What have I been doing?
How have I been creating impact in the spaces I take up?
Where has the last year taken me?
And when will it feel different, better, more right?

This kind of reflection can feel repetitive, even circular. And yet, this January feels subtly different.

I’ve evolved.

I’m clearer about what I say yes to and, just as importantly, what I no longer do. I understand more deeply what brings me joy, what leaves me inspired and whole, and which spaces quietly drain me, leaving me feeling less like myself. This growing clarity has come from learning to listen to myself more honestly than I once did.

That awareness alone feels like a beginning.

As I sit with this, I find myself wondering: Have I felt this way every January? Or is this year truly different?

When I look back, I can see how each January has been its own threshold.

In 2020, as the pandemic began, I was struggling in my job and trying to understand what felt missing. What I eventually discovered was a lack of presence. I didn’t feel seen or heard. That realization led me to the Art of Feminine Presence© and marked the beginning of a deeper relationship with myself and my inner voice.

By January 2021, I was more embodied in my own presence and felt a growing desire to help others find theirs. I stepped into transformational coaching, working with women who, like me, were longing for more joy, inspiration, and meaning in their lives.
More on this can be found on the Creative Connection Podcast episode on Mindfulness, Gratitude & the Power of Allowing

As the calendar turned through 2022, 2023, and into 2024, I was deeply immersed in this work. Beneath the surface, I was also coming face to face with my own fears and self-doubt. I finished my memoir during this time and began to see my place in the world more clearly, even as I questioned whether I was fully stepping into it.

Last year, I recognized something important: I was still playing small.

So 2025 became a year of creating space. Space to show up. Space to be seen. Space to model the kind of change I wanted to create by living it myself. I began looking more closely at the who, what, where, when, and how of both my personal and professional life, listening for clarity rather than forcing answers.

And now, in hindsight, I can see that the years from 2020 through 2025 were not a series of false starts or failures.

They were preparation.

Each year was laying the groundwork for greater visibility, deeper listening, and clearer alignment. What I once interpreted as starting over or being broken was actually an unfolding. A practice of listening to myself more deeply and beginning again with compassion rather than judgment.

Beginning again, I’m realizing, doesn’t mean we got it wrong before.

Sometimes it means we were listening all along, even when we didn’t yet understand what we were hearing.

And maybe January isn’t asking us to reinvent ourselves at all.

Maybe it’s simply inviting us to pause…to listen more closely… and to trust that what’s becoming clear now is arriving right on time.
Check out my Reflection on Substack about Awareness

I'm curious, do you feel like the last few years have been preparing you rather than correcting you for what might be your next chapter?

What are you being inviting you into?

As you begin this year, what becomes possible when you listen to yourself with curiosity instead of urgency?

New to Reflections? This is where I write to listen more closely, both to myself and to what’s emerging.

If this piece met you where you are, you’re invited to linger. More reflections live here, alongside conversations on The Creative Connection Podcast, for those drawn to clarity, presence, and meaningful beginnings. The air Wednesdays at 9 am.

Compassion | A Reflection

Wed, 07 Jan 2026 19:31:57 GMT

A Reflection

Podcast Companion Introduction

This reflection is a companion to my recent podcast conversation on The Creative Connection Podcast with Dawn Fackler , founder of Over Abundance of Light . After we recorded, I found myself sitting with what lingered. Not the information we shared, but the feeling beneath it. This piece is an invitation to slow down and reflect on compassion, not as something we offer outwardly, but as something we practice inwardly first.

The Reflection

When I used to think about the word compassion, I almost always thought of it as something outside myself. I imagined deep care for another person and a desire to help alleviate their suffering.

In 2019, when I began a certification course in teaching mindfulness, my understanding shifted. I learned that compassion is not only something we extend outward. It is also something we are invited to offer ourselves.

At the core of compassion is love. And mindfulness teaches us that to truly understand love toward another, we need to begin within. We need to learn how to treat ourselves with loving-kindness and care, especially in moments when it would be easier to be critical or dismissive.

That understanding deepened further when I was introduced to Dawn Fackler through a friend last November. As we spoke about her work and the Compassionate Conversations Summit , compassion began to take on another dimension for me, one rooted in conversation and presence.

If we allow ourselves to remain open and curious while listening to another person’s story, something subtle but powerful begins to unfold. We don’t just gain insight into their experience. We begin to notice where their story resonates with our own, where it challenges us, and where it invites us to soften.

When Dawn and I spoke in mid-December, we talked about how stories can become anchors during times that feel heavy or uncertain. We explored how grief is not limited to the loss of someone we love deeply. It can also surface when expectations are not met. When a career shifts in a direction we didn’t choose. When health changes invite a new path we never imagined.

As she shared her journey, I became more aware of the losses and transitions woven through my own life. Some were significant and visible. Others were quieter, layered over time, and easier to overlook. Yet all of them deserved acknowledgment.

What stayed with me most was this realization: compassion begins when we allow ourselves to be present with what is, without judgment and without urgency to fix or resolve it.

That includes our own stories.

By the time our conversation ended, I knew I wanted to create more space for this kind of listening. Not just through a summit or a podcast, but in everyday moments. In the way we speak to ourselves. In the way we listen to others. In the way we allow grief and hope to exist side by side.

Perhaps compassion, at its heart, is the willingness to remain present with ourselves and one another, even when there are no easy answers.

Listener Invitation

If this reflection resonates, I invite you to listen to my full conversation with Dawn on the podcast. In it, we explore why creating spaces for compassionate conversation matters, how story can offer hope during seasons of grief and transition, and what becomes possible when we allow ourselves to be fully seen and heard. You can also learn more about the Compassionate Conversations Summit and the intention behind it, if you feel called to continue the journey by following this link.

A question for you to consider, Where might compassion be inviting you to turn inward right now?

What This Year Asked Me to Listen To...

Mon, 29 Dec 2025 20:38:46 GMT

A year-end reflection on listening, compassion, and beginning again

What This Year Asked Me to Listen To

As this year comes to a close, I find myself less interested in summing it all up—and more interested in becoming quiet so I can listen.

This time as December draws to a close and January lurks around the corner I find if I pause and really slow down, the edges have a way of softening the edges. The pace shifts. The noise thins. What once felt urgent begins to loosen its grip. And in that quieter space, a different question emerges:

What was this year trying to teach me… and was I listening?

This wasn’t a year that asked me to move faster or do more. It asked something far subtler—and far braver.

It asked me to pause, breath, listen, and be courageous in moving toward what feels right and true.

Listening Beyond the Noise

Much of my life has been shaped by forward non-stop motion—planning, producing, creating, leading. These are gifts, and they’ve built meaningful work and community. But this year reminded me that motion without listening can quietly disconnect us from ourselves and our truth.

I've learned that listening, isn’t passive. Rather it is an active practice of presence.

I have come to believe that when we hurry the body tightens.

I am learning that when I honor the quiet “no” alongside the enthusiastic “yes,” I find clarity.

A clarity that arrives on its own timeline rather than demanding it on mine.

What I have discovered it that some of the most important answers this year didn’t come through effort. They came through stillness.

What Slowed Me Down

This year slowed me in ways I didn’t always welcome at first.

I was slowed by noticing my fatigue, uncertainty, and when the next step wasn’t immediately clear.

And yet—these moments and pauses became teachers.

These moments showed me where I was carrying expectations that weren’t mine anymore. They revealed how often I equated consistency with my worth. I am learning to trust that depth matters more than frequency.

Deeper listening required releasing the pressure to constantly prove something—especially to myself.

The Quiet Wins

Not every victory arrives with applause.

Some of the most meaningful moments this year looked like:

Choosing presence over productivity
Allowing rest without guilt
Letting an idea take shape slowly rather than forcing it into form
Staying with a feeling long enough to understand what it was asking for

These were not headline or marque moments. I noticed that they were foundational ones.

They reminded me that a life—and a body—thrives when it is heard.

Carrying This Forward

With December rolling into January and a new year, I ind I’m holding less tightly to outcomes and more intentionally to qualities :

Listening.
Spaciousness.
Integrity.
Connection.

You may notice this reflected in the rhythm of my writing here as well. Rather than my weekly reflections, which seemed to slow down this month. I’ll be sharing every couple of weeks—allowing more room for integration, depth, and what wants to emerge naturally.

This feels aligned. Grounded. Honest.

This year also reminded me that compassion isn’t something we offer only to others—it’s something we practice inwardly, often in quiet moments like this.

A Year-End Listening Practice

Before you move on, I invite you to pause for a moment.
Not to solve anything—just to listen.

Place one hand on your heart.
Take a slow breath in… and an even slower breath out.

Again if you wish.

Then gently ask yourself:

What has this year been asking me to acknowledge?
Where have I been carrying more than I needed to?
What feels tender, unfinished, or quietly hopeful as I step toward the new year?

Write down a word, a phrase, or simply notice what arises.
There is nothing to fix here. Only something to be heard.

Listening Together

If these questions stirred something in you, you’re not alone.

In January, I’ll be participating in the Compassionate Conversations Summit — a free, online gathering created for anyone moving through transition, uncertainty, grief, or quiet longing.

Over five days, heart-centered guides and teachers will offer gentle practices, reflections, and conversations designed to help you feel steadier, less alone, and more supported as the year begins.

If you’re craving a space where listening is honored and compassion leads the way, this may be a meaningful next place to land.

You can learn more and join us January 19 - 25 online. You may register here: Summit Link

And whether or not you attend, may you trust what your listening reveals.
It’s already guiding you.

From Mindfulness to Soul Alignment — Returning to What Matters Most

Sun, 07 Dec 2025 16:47:35 GMT

As we move toward the close of the year, I’ve been reflecting on the conversations we’ve been having on The Creative Connection Podcast. The last two episodes — one on Mindfulness, Gratitude, and the Power of Allowing , and the other on Soul Alignment with intuitive coach and energy healer Janet Therese — feel like two strands of the same thread.

Both point us to our north star, home to ourselves.

Both invite us to slow down, listen inward, and rediscover what truly matters.

And both speak directly to what so many high-achieving, visionary women feel this time of year: the nudge to shift, the longing to breathe, and the quiet pull toward a deeper way of living.

Today, I want to weave these two episodes together — and offer you a few reflections as we head into a season that asks us to pause and reconnect which we quite often try to power through.

�� Part One: Mindfulness as a Path Back to Your Voice and Vision

In the mindfulness episode, I talked about how simple practices — breath, grounding, gratitude, and allowing — open the doorway to presence.

Presence is the antidote to the pace that keeps so many people, and I believe women running on empty.

When we slow the breath, the nervous system softens.
When we ground, the mind quiets enough for us to hear ourselves again.
When we practice gratitude, relationships shift — not because circumstances change, but because we do.

Mindfulness is not about perfecting calm—it is about learning to allow things to be without attachment to them.
It’s about becoming available to your life again—and sometimes actually listening to the wisdom within.

I find that especially for the woman who is rushing toward the next goal, the next project, the next milestone, mindfulness brings you home to the moment where your true voice can finally be heard.

✨ Part Two: Soul Alignment — A Conversation with Janet Therese

In my conversation with Janet Therese, we explored a deeper question:

What does it mean to live a life aligned with your soul’s intended path?

Janet shared beautiful insights about purpose — not as a role or a job title, but as an inner compass that guides us through expansion and contraction.

Here are a few of the pieces that resonated the most:

�� Purpose isn’t something lofty — it’s something lived.

It may not look like a career.
It might be the environment you create.
It might be the way you love, guide, nurture, or speak truth into someone’s life.

�� Expansion becomes the body’s yes.

When we feel alive, open, or connected — that’s alignment.
When we feel heaviness, constriction, or drained — it may be misalignment, or it may be fear disguising itself as a warning.

�� We don’t have to know the whole picture.

Janet used the image “marbles on a cookie sheet” to describe how our lives influence others in ways we can’t possibly see. We don’t always know how our purpose is touching the world — but it is.

�� Feeling your way forward is wiser than forcing clarity.

Purpose, or our reason for living is revealed through presence, not pressure.

I found that our conversation felt like a gentle reminder for us all — your soul already knows the way.
Our work is to get quiet enough to listen and hear it.

�� How These Two Conversations Intertwine

Mindfulness clears the noise.
Soul alignment reveals the direction.
Mindfulness anchors you in your body.
Alignment asks you to listen to it.
Mindfulness softens the edges and brings you into the present moment.
Alignment helps you discern which path is yours to walk.

Together, they create a powerful invitation to stop rushing past your life and begin living it with intention, clarity, and courage.

�� A Reflection for You

As we near the close of 2025, I find myself asking these questions:

Where am I being asked to slow down?
What practices help me feel rooted and present?
What makes me feel expansive, alive, or connected?
Where is my body whispering a truth that my mind hasn’t caught up to yet?

I learned back in 2016 while in NYC:

Your body remembers who you are.
Your soul knows the way back.
Presence helps you hear it.

�� You're Invited: Feminine Frequency Festival — December 27 at 10 AM PT

If these conversations have resonated with you — if you’re feeling the call to reconnect with your inner wisdom, your purpose, your presence — I’d love to invite you to join me at the Feminine Frequency Festival . Beginning on December 21 and go through New Year’s Day. This is a completely free global gathering of wise women on Facebook. This is the second time I will be presenting with them.

I am sharing on December 27 at 10 AM PT ,

Awaken Your Inner Quiet Magic: A New-Year Presence Activation for Women Ready to Align with Their Next Chapter,
and I would be honored to share that space with you.

We’ll explore presence, purpose, story, and the power of listening to your body’s intelligence — all in community with other women rising into their next chapter in 2026.

Save the date and I will share how to join us and the schedule in the coming weeks.
What a great way to close out 2025 and come home to yourself in 2026

�� Missed the Podcasts, listen by following these links to the Episodes

Mindfulness, Gratitude, and the Power of Allowing → LINK
Soul Alignment with Janet Therese → LINK

I look forward to sharing next week with my husband ways to have less mess and chaos and more joy during the holiday season.

Blessings to you, Cyndi ��

When the Body Speaks: Finding Your Voice, Your Calling & Your Next-Level Life

Wed, 26 Nov 2025 00:49:30 GMT

Companion Blog to This Week’s Creative Connection Podcast with Janet Doerr

There are moments in life when your body whispers before your mind ever understands.

A tight chest.
A restless ache.
An inner nudge you can’t explain.

For many of us, these sensations feel like inconvenience — something to push through, manage, or silence so we can keep moving.
But what if the discomfort isn’t a problem…
What if it’s a message?
A sign.
An invitation.
A deeper truth rising to the surface.

This week on The Creative Connection Podcast, I had a powerful conversation with Janet Doerr , a Medical Intuitive and Master Energy Healer who has supported over 1,800 clients across 43 countries.

Our entire dialogue centered around this idea:

✨ The body speaks first. The soul speaks through the body. And when we listen — our voice, our calling, and our next level begin to reveal themselves.

�� The Moment You Remember You Are Divine

One thing Janet said that struck straight to my center was this: “I’m a divine being in a human body.”

And she meant it literally.
Not poetically.
Not metaphorically.
But as a lived knowing.

She shared how, the moment she stopped seeing herself only as a human — a doer, fixer, achiever — her intuition expanded, her awareness shifted, and her entire energy field began to open.

Her body had been speaking long before her mind knew how to translate it.

And that is true for all of us.

Your body knows when something no longer fits. It knows when you’ve outgrown a version of yourself.
It knows when you’re stepping into a new chapter — even if you can’t articulate it yet.

�� When Your Voice Gets Quiet, Your Body Gets Loud

Many women I work with tell me:

“I don’t know what I want anymore.”
“I can’t hear my voice.”
“I feel numb.”
“I’m unsure, restless, disconnected.”

But when we slow down and tune in, the truth often appears through the body:

✨ Tight throat → truth unspoken
✨ Heavy shoulders → carrying what isn’t yours
✨ Exhaustion → misalignment
✨ Restlessness → calling
✨ Tension → boundaries needed
✨ Heart ache → desire
✨ Goosebumps → guidance
✨ Relief → recognition

Janet and I both believe this: Before your voice returns, your body speaks. Before your calling arrives, your body prepares.
Before your next level appears, your body knows the way.

This is not weakness.
This is wisdom.

�� Upleveling Is an Inside Job — Not a Hustle

During our conversation, we explored how spiritual awakenings, intuitive expansions, and next-level transformations rarely arrive in tidy packages.

They tend to show up as:

A shift
An ache
A pull
A knowing
A desire
A calling
A discomfort
A longing to come home to yourself

And every time…the body is the first messenger.

If you’ve been sensing an internal shift — a quiet “something is changing” inside you — this episode will help you honor that.

�� What Your Body May Be Saying Right Now

Janet offered simple, powerful questions you can ask yourself:

✨ What part of me is asking to be heard?
✨ What truth am I holding in my body?
✨ Where am I being called to soften?
✨ What am I resisting that wants to move?
✨ What next-level version of me is trying to emerge?

Your body will answer.
Maybe not in words — but in sensations, clarity, breath, and release.

�� You Don’t Have to Walk This Alone

This has been a season of deep clarity and awakening for many of the women I work with.
We are collectively remembering:

Who we are
What matters
What no longer fits
What our next level looks like
And how our voice wants to come forward

This is the kind of work we do inside the Rooted In You Winter Circle , beginning January 3rd.

It’s a space to pause, reconnect, and realign —to hear your body again, to reclaim your voice, to rediscover your calling, and to step into the woman you’re becoming.

If your body has been whispering, if your voice has been quiet, if your spirit has been nudging you forward…I hope you’ll join us.

✨ Small Business Holiday Saturday Special: $97 through November 30 (regular price $297–$497)
Only 12 spots available.

�� Learn more & reserve your seat - here

�� Listen to the Full Conversation with Janet Doerr

This is one of the most expansive episodes I’ve recorded — a blend of intuition, energy, healing, and embodied awakening.

�� Listen here

Reclaim Your Voice & Glow Again: What Janet Bernstein Taught Us About Burnout, Brilliance, and Becoming Whole

Tue, 18 Nov 2025 00:07:04 GMT

There are conversations that land softly…
and then there are conversations that shift something inside you.

Last Friday's episode of The Creative Connection Podcast with Janet C. Bernstein , keynote speaker, 10-time author, and Chief Glow Strategist at Let Her Glow, was the second kind — honest, revealing, and deeply needed for women who lead, create, give, and carry so much.

Janet knows burnout from the inside out.
She also knows what it feels like to shed the roles, expectations, and versions of yourself that no longer fit… and reclaim the voice you almost forgot you had.

And that is exactly what we talked about —
what it takes to glow again without burning out.

�� The Wake-Up Call: When Your Spirit Says “No More”

What struck me most in this conversation was the unfortunate validation that often women wait until everything is on fire before we pause.

We push.
We produce.
We take care of everyone else.

And then one day, our body, our heart, or our spirit whispers (or sometimes shouts):
“This isn’t working anymore.”

Janet had that moment — the kind that brings you back to your knees and then back to your truth.
Her reinvention wasn’t about becoming someone new…
It was about returning to who she had always been.

I reflected that I too had had the Wake-Up Call. In the middle of Central Park in the Summer of 2016. I share this in my upcoming memoire, Courageous: A Journey from Pain to Purpose.

✨ The G.L.O.W. Code: A Framework for Coming Home to Yourself

Janet’s signature framework — the G.L.O.W. Code — emerged from her own healing:

G rounded
L iberated
O n Fire
W hole

Four pillars that help women stay aligned with their voice, their purpose, and their own internal knowing.

What I love most about her work is how it echoes the heart of The Creative Connection: you can’t reclaim your voice if you’re living disconnected from yourself.

Glow happens when presence meets courage.
When authenticity meets action.
When leadership meets truth.

�� Shed What No Longer Fits

During our conversation, Janet said something that landed with weight and grace: “Transformation begins by shedding what no longer fits.”

And isn’t that true for all of us?

Sometimes the burnout isn’t from doing too much…
It’s from doing too much of what is not you.
Old roles.
Old identities.
Old expectations.
Old ways of proving, producing, performing.

The moment we let go — we make space to...

Breathe again.
Listen again.
Glow again.

�� Trying New Things: The Spark That Reignites Your Fire

Janet reminded us how joy often hides in the things we haven’t tried yet.

A new class.
A courageous conversation.
A creative practice you’ve forgotten.
A desire you’ve never voiced aloud.

Sometimes the thing that reignites our soul is waiting just beyond the edge of our comfort.

Reclaiming voice isn’t just about speaking.

It’s about experimenting , expanding, and being willing to meet yourself in new ways.

�� Community Is Where Our Power Returns

One of the threads that ran through our conversation was the power of community — real, honest, supportive connection.

We aren’t meant to glow alone - but women tend to try.

We rise faster, heal deeper, and stay the course longer when we are witnessed…when we are believed…when we are surrounded by others who understand the weight we carry and the dreams we hold.

It’s why conversations like this one matter.
And why circles, communities, and intentional spaces matter even more.

�� If You’ve Been Feeling the Pull to Begin Again…

I feel like the last month or so of conversations have all bee invitations. Reminders.
A mirror for your soul.
An opportunity to find your spark.

Takeaways from this episode and several others are

You are allowed to shed what no longer fits.
You are allowed to reclaim your voice.
You are allowed to glow — grounded, liberated, on fire, and whole.

If you haven’t listened yet, you can tune in here: �� The Creative Connection Podcast – Episode with Janet Bernstein → [link]

Want more information about the G.L.O.W. code, check it out here .

�� Ready to Realign Your Own Voice & Vision?

If this conversation spoke to something in you, you may be feeling the call to reconnect with yourself in a deeper, quieter way.

The Rooted In You Winter Circle begins January 3rd — this is a 6-week journey to pause, reset, and realign with your clarity, courage, and purpose.

✨ Small Business Saturday Special: now thru November 30 Join for $97 (regularly $297)

This circle is intimate (just 12 women), reflective, restorative, and designed to bring you back home to yourself.

�� Learn more & reserve your spot → link

Talent and Courage

Mon, 10 Nov 2025 21:32:31 GMT

The Call to Step Out and Create the Life You’re Passionate About Living

I had been told for years, I had talent. I took a leap and joined a Summer Stock group and helped create a new musical for Joseph Papp. The picture above shows me in the back row, with the gold skirt on. Interestingly, prior to this experience I had never had a dance class or been in a musical and yet, I was cast as a tap dancer in a full on musical. WOW!

However, there’s a moment in every creative life when talent isn’t enough.

You can have all the skill, vision, and preparation in the world — but sooner or later, the path will ask for something deeper. It will ask for courage.

In fact, not long after this show, I hit a wall. I was not sure I had what it took to be on Broadway and I did not have support at home. What was I to do?

This week on The Creative Connection Podcast, I sat down with Gem Wiltshire , Managing Director of Hollywood Access Inc., and we talked about this and about what it really takes to move forward as an actor, artist, or human being.

Gem has built a life around helping others step into their own light — guiding both her children and countless performers toward success on the world’s biggest stages and screens. But what struck me most wasn’t her résumé — it was her heart .

Because Gem doesn’t just talk about courage. She lives it.

�� Talent Gets You Started — Courage Keeps You Growing

Talent opens doors — but it’s courage that keeps you in the room.

Every creative journey begins with a spark — a moment of recognition that says, I was made for this. But bringing that spark to life takes more than inspiration; it takes the willingness to act, to risk, and to stay true to yourself when the world tells you to be something else.

Gem and I talked about the countless moments when courage becomes the defining factor: auditioning after rejection, showing up when imposter syndrome whispers “not yet,” starting a business, or daring to reinvent yourself midlife.

In every story, courage isn’t a loud, dramatic force. It’s the quiet decision to keep going — to trust that your voice, your timing, and your truth still matter.

�� The Heartset Behind True Success

Courage isn’t just about bold moves. It’s about staying open — to feedback, to failure, to transformation.

Gem and I both know what it means to redefine success:

She moved from the boardroom and classroom into the heart of Hollywood.
I moved from center stage to directing, teaching, and coaching others to shine.

What we’ve both learned is that real success has more to do with alignment than applause.

When your heart, belief, and purpose line up — when you’re creating from who you are, not who you think you should be — that’s when fulfillment begins.

And that alignment always requires action.

�� Stepping Into Action

We can dream, plan, and prepare — but the moment that changes everything is the one where we say yes and step forward.

This is what I love most about Gem’s story: she didn’t wait for perfect timing. She took the next right step.

I took a step and left a corporate job where I made great money but it did not fill the well of my soul. I went on a journey to discover what would.

If you’ve been standing at the edge of something new — a creative project, a business, a shift in your life or career — let this be your reminder:

You don’t have to have it all figured out.

You just have to begin.

Action is what transforms courage into momentum.

So write the scene and screenplay for your own life.

Send the email.
Apply for the role or position of your dream.
Start the thing that’s been whispering to your heart.

That’s where courage becomes creation.

�� An Invitation to Begin Again

If you’re ready to step forward — not with hustle, but with heart — I’d love to invite you to join me for the Rooted In You Winter Circle , beginning January 3rd.

This six-week journey is designed to help you pause, reconnect with what is calling you, and realign with what matters most to you — so you can create your next chapter from clarity and confidence.

�� Early-bird registration is open through November 15th with a special rate of $297 and two bonus 1:1 coaching calls when you register early.

You’ll find all the details in the show notes or here; Rooted In You .

✨ Because Here’s the Truth

Talent may get you noticed, but courage builds the life you love.

And when you take action — even one small step — you turn dreams into direction.

So go ahead. Be brave enough to begin again. The world is waiting for what only you can create.

Creating in a Judgmental World: The Courage to Keep Expressing

Sun, 02 Nov 2025 17:00:07 GMT

How Creativity Becomes a Pathway to Healing, Wholeness, and Freedom

We live in a world that has a lot to say about what’s “good enough.”

From an early age, we’re taught that creativity should look a certain way — neat, polished, measurable. We learn to color inside the lines, meet expectations, and produce results that can be graded or praised. Somewhere along the way, many of us forget the joy of making something simply because it’s ours.

This week on The Creative Connection Podcast, I sat down with Jacob Nordby , writer, creative coach, and founder of Creativity UnBootcamp, to talk about what it means to stay creative in a judgmental world. Jacob’s wisdom runs deep — he reminds us that creativity isn’t just about producing art; it’s about becoming whole.

And in a culture where perfection and productivity often take center stage, that might be the most courageous act of all.

�� The Cost of a Critical World

Judgment — both external and internal — can silence even the most vibrant creative voices.
We find ourselves comparing. We find ourselves critiquing. We doubt and question our value.

“Who am I to write, sing, dance, lead, paint, or speak?”

Every creative soul I’ve ever worked with has asked some version of that question.

And yet, when we take a moment to sit in the silence and try to avoid judgment, we lose something vital — not just our creative spark, but a piece of our own aliveness. A piece of our true essential self.

Jacob and I talked about how this pressure to “get it right” often leads to a deeper disconnection — from our intuition, from play, from joy.

Healing can and does begin the moment we start to create or ask ourselves what we want to do, or feel. Because you see this is an act of creativity — no matter how imperfect — is a declaration of freedom and a step toward creating the life you passionately want to live.

�� Creativity as Resistance and Healing

Creating in a judgmental world isn’t necessarily a rebellion for rebellion’s sake; it’s an act of remembrance. It allows us to recall what we once dreamed of for ourself.

It’s how we return to who we really are before fear and expectation took over.

Jacob shared that healing through creativity isn’t about fixing yourself — it’s about allowing yourself to be seen . To write the messy truth. To paint without needing to frame it. To sing off-key and love the sound.

In that kind of honest expression, judgment loses its power.

I see this all the time with the artists, leaders, and storytellers I work with. Once they stop performing for approval and start creating for connection, their voice becomes clearer, stronger, and more alive. Creativity stops being something they do — it becomes who they are.

�� The Courage to Create Anyway

The question isn’t whether judgment will come — it’s what we’ll do when it does.

Will we shrink back, or will we keep creating anyway?

As I have shared before, it is a choice. What will you choose?

The truth is, the creative path asks us to hold both — the vulnerability of being seen and the freedom of expression.

When we meet that tension with curiosity instead of fear, we find something powerful: resilience, compassion, and the courage to keep showing up.

“When we stop asking for permission to create,” Jacob said, “we stop needing the world to validate who we are.”

When we do, we realize that this is when real healing begins and we can finally come home to ourself.

�� An Invitation to Reconnect

If this conversation stirred something in you — that quiet longing to express yourself more freely — I invite you to begin again.

Start small.
Write one line that feels true.
Sing in the car.
Dance in your kitchen.
Say yes to that workshop, class, or creative circle you’ve been thinking about.

Because your creativity isn’t frivolous. It’s medicine.

Are you ready to reconnect with your voice, your purpose, and your sense of joy?

I’d love to have you join me for the Rooted In You Winter Circle , beginning January 3rd.

�� Early-bird registration is open through November 15th — with a special rate of $297 and two bonus 1:1 coaching calls when you prior to January 3rd. Follow this link for more information

The Rooted In You Circle is a space to pause, breathe, and realign with what matters most — to create from wholeness, not hustle.

✨ Looking Ahead

Next week, we’ll keep the conversation going on the Creative Connection with Gem Wiltshire , Managing Director of Hollywood Access Inc. We’ll explore what it means to bring your creative voice into the world with talent and courage — how to move forward in an industry (and a world) that often forgets the human heart behind the performance.

Listen to the Creative Connection on YouTube follow this link.

Because creativity isn’t just about being seen.

It’s about seeing yourself clearly — and daring to share that truth with others

Creating Space for Connection: How Love and Creativity Keep Us Growing

Sun, 26 Oct 2025 16:00:25 GMT

What 44 Years of Partnership Have Taught Us About Listening, Voice, and Renewal

After 44 years together — and 41 and a half years of marriage — my husband Dan and I have learned that connection isn’t about being inseparable. It’s about creating space for each other to grow.

Last week on The Creative Connection Podcast, we sat down together to reflect on how music and storytelling have shaped our relationship. For Dan, music has always been the language of his soul — a way to express emotion and release what words can’t capture. For me, storytelling became my way home — the thread that helped me reconnect with my voice after seasons of silence.

We discovered, often through trial and error, that when we each have a creative outlet, our relationship thrives. When we don’t, it begins to feel smaller — like we’re asking the other to carry something that can only be tended from within.

�� The Space Between Notes

Early in our marriage, life was full — raising two boys, working, managing all the daily noise that comes with building a home and a future. Creativity often took a back seat to practicality. But after the birth of our second son, we both started to feel a quiet ache — the sense that something essential was missing.

It wasn’t that we weren’t happy. It was that we weren’t whole.

That’s when we realized: love grows best when both partners have space to return to themselves.

Music gave Dan that outlet. Storytelling gave me mine. And in honoring that creative space for each other — instead of competing for it — we found a deeper connection.

We learned that love, like art, requires rhythm.

Moments of harmony, yes — but also pauses, rests, and space for improvisation.

�� Creativity as Connection

For us, creativity isn’t a luxury — it’s a language.

When Dan is in the orchestra pit for one of the shows I direct, I get to see him doing what he loves most: creating connection through sound. When we sing together at church, it’s another kind of presence — one that reminds us that the same spirit that moves through art also moves through love.

We’ve realized that creativity isn’t about performance or perfection. It’s about presence — showing up as yourself, alive and open to the moment.

In our conversation on the podcast, Dan said something that stayed with me:

“When you find your creative rhythm, you find your center. And when you find your center, connection becomes natural.”

That’s what I believe too — that the creative process and the relationship process are mirrors of one another. Both ask for listening, trust, surrender, and courage.

�� The Practice of Listening

Listening — truly listening — is where presence begins.

It’s easy, especially in long-term relationships, to assume we already know what the other person will say or how they’ll react. But connection happens when we stay curious. When we pause before responding. When we remember that the person beside us is still evolving — just like we are.

That’s what The Creative Connection is really about: learning to hear the quiet wisdom within us, and in the people we love.

�� Looking Ahead: The Creative Spirit that Heals

Next week, I’ll be joined by my friend and fellow creative Jacob Nordby , author, writing coach, and founder of Creativity UnBootcamp. Jacob’s work has inspired thousands of people to reconnect with their creative spark — not as a hobby, but as a sacred path to healing and self-discovery.

We’ll be talking about how the creative spirit helps us heal, find our voice, and rediscover our mission — how creativity itself becomes the bridge between meaning and joy, between what’s been and what’s next.

If the conversation with Dan was about the heart of relationship, next week’s will be about the soul of creativity — the energy that brings all of it to life.

�� Rooted in You: Coming Home to Yourself

Before we can truly connect with others, we must reconnect with ourselves.

This the foundation of the Rooted In You Winter Circle , a six-week journey to pause, realign, and rediscover what matters most.

�� Begins January 3
�� Early-bird $297 through November 15
✨ Includes two bonus 1:1 coaching calls with me

When we root back into our creative essence — our inner voice — everything else begins to flow more naturally: love, clarity, purpose, connection.

To find out more and save your seat in the circle of 12, follow this link: Rooted in Your Winter Circle

Because love that lasts, like creativity that endures, is never static.
It’s alive, expanding, and always inviting us to listen more deeply.

Conscious Responding: The Power Formula for Love that Lasts

Sun, 19 Oct 2025 16:00:28 GMT

How Presence, Awareness, and Self-Leadership Transform Every Relationship

There’s a moment in every relationship when something small suddenly feels big — a tone of voice, a misunderstood glance, a silence that lingers longer than usual.

In that space between what was said and how we respond, there’s a choice. It’s the difference between repeating an old pattern and creating something new.

This week on The Creative Connection, I sat down with Dr. Jeni Wahlig , co-founder of PowerfuLove Relationship s and co-creator of The Power Formula — a framework designed to help couples and individuals shift from reactivity to connection. Our conversation reminded me that presence is not a luxury in love — it’s the foundation.

�� The Art of Conscious Responding

So often in relationships, we move fast. We interpret, assume, defend, fix. Our nervous systems go on autopilot, replaying old fears or learned patterns.

But what if, in those moments, we could press pause?

Dr. Jeni calls this conscious responding — a practice rooted in self-leadership. Instead of reacting from habit or hurt, we take a breath, slow down, and choose presence.

When we pause, we give ourselves the gift of awareness.
When we relax, we make space for compassion.
When we open, we invite understanding and repair.

This is what Dr. Jeni calls the Power Formula — a way to transform the micro-moments that define our relationships. Because real love isn’t just built in the big moments of celebration or crisis — it’s formed in the quiet, everyday choices to stay present.

�� Love as Self-Leadership

One of the most powerful truths from our conversation was this: Love begins with one — with you.

Before we can connect deeply with someone else, we must first cultivate the ability to stay connected to ourselves. This is what Dr. Jeni calls relational self-leadership.

When we lead ourselves with awareness, we become less reactive and more responsive. We learn to notice what’s happening in our body — the tightening, the withdrawal, the flood of emotion — and choose to stay grounded instead of spiraling.

That’s where transformation happens. Not in perfection, but in practice.

�� The Power of the Pause

There’s a practice in Dr. Jeni’s work called PRO — Pause, Relax, Open — and it may be one of the simplest yet most profound tools for cultivating conscious love.

P - Pause: Before speaking or reacting, take one conscious breath. Notice what’s happening inside.
R - Relax: Soften your shoulders. Drop your jaw. Loosen your grip on being right.
O - Open: Be willing to see the present moment, your partner — or yourself — with new eyes.

This moment of opening allows for the creation of a bridge. It interrupts the pattern and allows compassion to flow where defensiveness once lived.

As someone who teaches presence and voice, I love how this practice integrates the body with conscious thought. Our voice — literal and metaphorical — becomes clearer when we give our body permission to relax and receive so we can connect with the heart.

�� Conscious Love in Everyday Life

Conscious responding isn’t just about romantic relationships. It’s about how we engage with everyone — friends, family, colleagues, even ourselves.

It’s the daily art of showing up fully aware. It allows us to

Listen with curiosity instead of judgment.
Take responsibility for our energy and our impact.
Lean into presence as a guide our actions.

It’s about becoming the kind of person who brings peace into the room, not because everything is calm, but because you are.

�� Bringing It Home

Next week, I’ll be joined by my husband, Dr. Dan Thomsen , for a special episode on Extraordinary Relationships: Presence, Partnership, and the Practice of Love.

Together, we’ll explore how evidence-based relationship science and embodied presence come together to help couples grow through change, not just survive it.

Because love that lasts isn’t about never falling out of rhythm — it’s about learning how to return, together, again and again.

�� Rooted in You: Where Conscious Love Begins

The same awareness that strengthens relationships begins within.
That’s what we practice inside the Rooted In You Winter Circle — a six-week journey to pause, reconnect, and realign with what matters most.

�� Begins January 3
�� Early-bird $297 through November 15
✨ Includes two bonus 1:1 coaching calls with me

In community, we learn what it means to lead ourselves with grace and to love from a place of wholeness.

Because the art of conscious responding — like love itself — always begins within.

Unmuting Your Soul: Listening to the Power of Silence, Voice and Change

Sun, 12 Oct 2025 16:00:43 GMT

Silence is Where Your Soul Begins to Speak

There’s a moment in every journey when words fall away.

When the noise of the world quiets just enough for a whisper to rise — a whisper that sounds like truth.

This week on The Creative Connection, I sat down with Priya Sudarsanam , a colleague and fellow guide who helps women reconnect with their authentic voice through mindfulness, embodiment, and the wisdom of the body.

Our conversation reminded me how deeply intertwined our paths are — two women who believe that voice isn’t just sound. It’s sensation. Energy. Presence.

It’s the vibration of your truth moving through your body - sometimes with a sound and other times in silence.

�� The Voice That Lives Within

We’re born into this world with a cry — the first sound of life.
From that moment, we’re wired to express, to connect, to be heard.

But over time, life teaches us to quiet down.
To be polite. To be professional. To be what’s expected.

Each “should” and “not now” piles up, and slowly, the voice that once rang out with confidence begins to dim. In fact, we begin to question whether we have choice.

Priya and I both see it every day in the women we work with — voices that have learned to whisper, or hide, or doubt their own sound. Yet beneath those layers, the true voice never disappears. It waits.

And in seasons of change — especially midlife transitions like perimenopause — that voice begins to stir again, asking to be heard. We begin to believe we have choice and wonder with curiosity what our choice will create for us.

�� Embodiment: Where Voice Begins

We shared that the journey back to authentic expression starts in the body.
Before you can speak your truth, you have to feel it .

It may be

A tightness in your throat.
A flutter in your chest.
The breath you’ve been holding.

These sensations feel like obstacles — but they aren't. They are messages.
Your body carries every unsung word, every silenced story, every truth waiting for permission to emerge. These messages are a cry for your soul and essence to speak.

When you listen — truly listen — you begin to unmute your soul.

�� The Power of Silence

In a world that prizes quick answers and constant noise, silence can feel uncomfortable — even rebellious.

But silence is not absence. It’s space.
It’s where the body softens, the heart opens. Where the voice remembers and begins to make a noise.

Sometimes it is a whimper and sometimes it is a cry.

Priya and I both hold this space for our clients — spaces where stillness becomes sacred, and where what’s unsaid often speaks the loudest.

Because when you reconnect with silence, you reconnect with what I call your true self . Your essential self.

If you have not listened to the full episode yet, do so. It only scrapes the surface but maybe the words you need are found within this conversation. To do so follow this link - The Creative Connection .

Within the episode, I share how you can connect with Priya and an invitation to

�� Rooted In You: Coming Home to Your Voice

If you’ve been feeling that stirring — that sense that there’s more to say, more to live, more to be — I invite you to pause and listen.

Your body knows.

Your heart remembers.
Your voice is waiting.

And if you’d like a supportive space to practice listening, feeling, and expressing again, I’d love to have you join me in the Rooted In You Winter Circle .

This 6-week intimate gathering is for women ready to pause, breathe, and realign with what matters most. Together, we’ll explore presence, heart wisdom, embodiment, and voice — all within a compassionate community where every story matters.

�� Begins January 3
�� Early Bird: $297 through November 15
✨ Bonus: 2 private coaching calls with me prior to the start of the Circle if you would like.
�� Limited to 12 women

�� Reserve your spot here

Because unmuting your soul isn’t about being louder —
It’s about being truer.

When the Heart Speaks

Sun, 05 Oct 2025 16:00:29 GMT

Learning to quiet the mind, listen to your heart, and prepare to speak your truth.

Today's blog is a companion to this weeks Podcast featuring guest Vicky Garrett.

Life can be noisy.
Our schedules are full, our minds are busy, and even our best intentions can get lost beneath the steady hum of “shoulds” and “to-dos.”

In the midst of all that noise, it’s easy to forget that there’s another voice waiting to be heard—
one that whispers instead of shouts,
one that guides instead of demands.

That’s the voice of your heart.

This week on The Creative Connection, I had the joy of sitting down with Vicky Garrett , Emotional Wellness & Life Coach and founder of Heart Chatter Life. Vicky helps sensitive, big-hearted adults learn to self-regulate their emotions and nervous systems—so they can move from overwhelm and overthinking into calm, clarity, and courageous action.

Together, we explored what it really means to listen to your heart’s chatter —and how doing so can transform the way you live, love, and lead.

�� When Mind Chatter Drowns Out the Heart

Most of us know what mind chatter sounds like.
It’s the inner critic. The perfectionist. The voice that whispers “You’re not ready” or “You’ll never get it right.”

It often comes from fear—fear of failure, rejection, or even success. And while that voice tries to protect us, it can also keep us stuck, disconnected, and exhausted.

Vicky reminded us that the heart’s chatter is something altogether different.
It’s not reactive; it’s responsive.
It doesn’t push; it invites.
It’s your intuition, your inner knowing, your connection to the deeper truth that lives within you.

When we learn to quiet the noise of the mind and listen to the wisdom of the heart, we begin to make choices that feel aligned—choices that lead us back home to ourselves.

�� The Science of the Heart

Here’s what I found fascinating: our heart and brain are in constant conversation .

When we’re emotionally dysregulated—stressed, fearful, anxious—that connection becomes noisy and disjointed. We lose access to our intuition, creativity, and clear thinking.

But when we create coherence —when our heart and brain are in sync—we restore balance to our entire system.

In this state, we feel calm, clear, and connected.

We make decisions from wisdom, not worry.
And we can show up fully present, even when life feels uncertain.

�� A Simple Practice to Begin

Vicky shared that we can begin this shift in just a few minutes a day.

Here’s one simple practice you can try right now:

Pause. Place your hand gently over your heart.
Breathe. Slow your breath, in and out, as if you’re breathing through your heart.
Feel. Bring to mind something that evokes gratitude or love.

This practice brings your heart and brain into coherence, quieting the noise and awakening your calm. Over time, it begins to rewire your brain and body toward greater resilience.

�� A Gentle Reminder

When emotions begin to rise, when the chatter grows loud, pause and remember:
�� Your heart already knows the way.
�� You don’t have to have all the answers.
�� You only need to listen.

�� Continue the Journey: Rooted In You Winter Circle

If you’re longing for a space to pause, breathe, and come home to yourself , the Rooted In You Winter Circle was created for you.

Together, we’ll explore presence, self-regulation, and heart-centered practices to help you reconnect with your voice and vision.

✨ Winter Circle Begins: January 3
�� Early Bird Registration Ends: November 15
�� Bonus: Two private coaching calls when you register early

Your heart has been whispering.
It’s time to listen.

�� Reserve Your Spot Here

�� Reflection Prompt

When was the last time you listened to your heart—and what did it say?
Take a moment today to write it down. Sometimes the wisdom we seek is already waiting… inside us.

�� Coming Next Week on The Creative Connection

As we learn to listen to the heart’s voice, another question naturally arises: What happens when we try to speak that truth aloud ?

Next week, I’ll be joined by Priya Sudarsanam , where we’ll explore what it means to find your voice — not just metaphorically, but physically, spiritually, and even biologically.

From that first cry we make as newborns (the sound everyone waits to hear) to the ways life slowly quiets us down — and how, in seasons like perimenopause , our body and brain call us back to reclaim it — this episode will be a powerful reminder:

�� Your voice was never lost. It’s been waiting for you to remember it.

Stay tuned — it’s one you won’t want to miss. The Creative Connection Podcast

The First Step to Reclaiming Your Voice and Vision

Sun, 28 Sep 2025 16:00:17 GMT

How slowing down helps you realign with what matters most.

Life has a way of pulling us in a hundred different directions. Family. Work. Community. The needs of others. Somewhere along the way, we start to lose touch with ourselves — our voice, our vision, our sense of what truly matters.

I know this feeling well. There was a season in my life when I was doing all the “right” things — showing up for everyone around me, checking all the boxes of responsibility — but inside, I felt disconnected . I couldn’t remember the last time I paused long enough to hear my own voice.

That’s when I began to understand the quiet but profound power of presence .

�� What is Presence?

Presence is more than sitting on a meditation cushion or adding another task to your to-do list. It’s a posture of attention and intention — the act of fully arriving in this moment, without needing to fix or prove anything.

When you are present, you begin to notice the subtle “heart chatter” that shapes your choices. You feel the signals your body sends — often long before your mind catches up. You hear the quiet truth of what matters most.

Presence isn’t about doing more.

It’s about remembering who you are — the part of you that’s been there all along, waiting to be heard.

�� Why Mindfulness Matters for Voice & Vision

When we live on autopilot, it’s easy to drift into default patterns — rushing, proving, over-giving. We lose the thread of our own story.

But when we slow down — even for a moment — clarity begins to return.

Mindfulness invites us to listen inwardly, to pay attention to what’s alive right now. It opens the doorway to:

✨ Clarity — seeing what’s truly important in this season of life.
�� Courage — stepping forward without apology.
�� Compassion — releasing the pressure to perform or prove.

From this place of presence, you begin to reclaim your voice — the authentic expression of who you are — and your vision — the creative direction that lights your way forward.

On this weeks episode of The Creative Connection - my podcast - I shares some simple practices to begin this process of mindfulness.

�� A Simple Practice to Begin

Here’s something you can try right now:

Pause whatever you’re doing.
Take three deep, steady breaths.
Ask yourself: “What truly matters in this moment?”

No judgment. No pressure to fix or figure it out. Just noticing.

Even sixty seconds of presence can shift your entire day — and start to shift your life.

Want to learn about other ways to move toward reclaiming your voice, reigniting your vision and aligning your life with what matters most - to you. Join me for future episodes on

�� Coming Up on The Creative Connection

This week’s episode lays the foundation for a new series on reclaiming your voice and vision through mindfulness and presence.

Over the next few weeks, I’ll be joined by incredible guests who will deepen this journey:

�� Vicky Garrett – Heart Chatter: Listening Beneath the Outside Noise
�� Priya Sudarsanam – 4 Steps to Finding Your Voice in Relationships (and the Wisdom of the Throat Chakra)
�� Dr. Jeni Wahlig – Creating Powerful Love: Why It Begins with the Relationship You Have with Yourself
�� Dan Thomsen – The Power of Presence in Partnership: Finding Joy in Conflict
�� Jacob Nordby – The Healing Journey of Creativity: Courage to Be Seen and Share Your Story

Each conversation builds on this first step: presence — the foundation of every authentic voice, meaningful relationship, and courageous creative act. To catch up and listen to the upcoming podcasts on The Creative Connection - follow this link ��️The Creative Connection Podcast

Or maybe you have heard enough and you are looking for ways to go deeper and move from light practice to full scale strength training for personal development...

✨ An Invitation to Go Deeper

If you’re ready to reconnect with your inner wisdom, I invite you to join me for the Rooted In You Winter Circle — a 6-week journey designed to help you:

�� Pause and breathe.
�� Realign with what truly matters.
✨ Reclaim your voice, vision, and sense of self.

This is an intimate space for women who are ready to live with more clarity, courage, and connection.

Details:
�� Begins January 3, 2026
�� Early Bird: $297 (until November 15 - afterwards it goes up to full price, $497)
�� Bonus: This training offers you 4 1:1 coaching calls with me, by taking part in the early bird registration you will get two additional 1:1 coaching calls with me
�� Limited to 12 participants

�� More details and to save your spot, click this link

Come home to yourself — with presence, clarity, and courage .

The Masks of Safety: Why the Mask of Playing Small Feels Safe (But Isn't)

Sun, 21 Sep 2025 02:21:08 GMT

How silence, people-pleasing, and perfection keep us hidden—and how reclaiming your voice can set you free.

The Masks We Wear

We all wear masks.

Some look like perfection. Others show up as people-pleasing, caretaking, or proving our competence. On the surface, these masks make us feel safe. They shield us from conflict, rejection, or judgment. But underneath, they cost us something far greater—our aliveness.

I know this mask well. Mine was silence.

A Personal Story

Years ago, I heard about a program designed specifically for women. It wasn’t about productivity or hustling harder. It was about becoming powerful and feminine—learning to be seen, to be heard, and to create the kind of impact we’re born for.

Everything inside me lit up. I wanted this more than anything.

But then fear crept in. Not fear of the program, but of what it might mean for my marriage.
If I grow in this way, what if it changes everything? What if my husband doesn’t like who I become?

So I stayed quiet. I put on the mask of safety.
I told myself, It’s fine. I don’t really need this.
But inside, I was shrinking.

It took me five years—five years of silence and second-guessing—before I finally gave myself permission to say yes. And when I did? It didn’t break my marriage. It strengthened it.

Because when we show up as our true selves, we don’t lose connection. We deepen it.

That program became one of the foundations of my coaching, my teaching, and the work I now share with others. But I often wonder: what might have been different if I had given myself permission sooner?

What I Learned About Masks

Here’s what I want you to know:

Masks feel safe—but they cost us.
Every time we hide, we lose a little piece of ourselves.
Growth doesn’t break connection—it can deepen it.
Authenticity creates more intimacy, honesty, and trust.
“Someday” is a thief.
Waiting for the “right time” keeps us stuck. Small steps today are better than waiting years for perfect conditions.
Your voice matters—not just for you, but for others.
When you reclaim your voice, you give permission for others to do the same.

An Invitation

Take a moment and ask yourself: What mask am I wearing right now?
What truth is underneath it?
What would it feel like to set it down, even for a moment, and let your true voice be heard?

If these questions stir something in you, I’d love to invite you into the Rooted In You Circle .

It’s a supportive space for women who are ready to pause, reconnect, and begin again with clarity and courage. We start Wednesday, September 24 —and there’s still time to join.

�� Join the Circle here

And if you’re not quite ready, you can begin with my free Visibility Reflection Journal —a simple way to start listening to your inner voice today.

�� Download the Journal here

Because your voice is too important to be hidden.

Leading Through Change: Finding Your Voice and Living Authentically

Sun, 14 Sep 2025 21:25:02 GMT

Why reclaiming your voice and vision is the key to beginning again with courage

We’ve all had seasons where life knocks us sideways. A change in health, a loss, or simply the weight of carrying too much can leave us wondering: How do I start again?

This week on The Creative Connection Podcast , I had the honor of speaking with Pamela Miles — a former pastor, advocate, artist, and survivor — whose story is a powerful reminder that starting fresh is not failure. It’s courage.

Reclaiming Your Voice

Pamela’s shared her journey and showed us how we can reclaim our voice by stepping out of the noise of others talking over us. She shared that this is indeed the first step in reclaiming our life. For her, artistry, advocacy for youth, and storytelling became a way to heal, to connect, and to lead from her authentic self.

Her story resonated deeply with me. Like Pamela, I’ve faced times when doubt and old narratives told me to stay small. But each time I and we choose to speak up, step forward, and begin again moves us closer to aligning with our truest self.

Leading Through Change

True leadership doesn’t come from a title — it comes from authenticity. Pamela reminded us that leading through change requires clarity, courage, and the willingness to live from what really matters.

Leading in our lives, careers, and in our communities is not easy. Change asks us to let go of what we thought was certain. It asks us to pause and breath through resistance and pain. When we pause and breathe into the moment, we often discover that our voice, body, and spirit will lead the way forward.

The Role of Community and Creativity

Pamela also reminded us of the healing power of creativity and community. Her art became both an outlet and a doorway into deeper connection — proof that creativity isn’t just self-expression, it’s survival and renewal. In the deeper connection we find ourselves and a since of belonging.

This combination of creativity, community and connection is why I created the Rooted in You Circle . We were never meant to navigate life let alone, change by ourselves. Circles give us space to pause, to be witnessed, and to rediscover our voice with support at our side. To find out more visit, this link .

A Reflection for You

Today I invite you to ask yourself:

�� Where in your life are you being invited to reclaim your voice and begin again?

It might be a career shift, a creative dream, or simply saying “yes” to yourself after years of saying no.

Step Into Your Next Beginning

If Pamela’s story inspired you, I encourage you to listen to the full episode of The Creative Connection Podcast .

And if you’re ready to take the next step yourself, the Rooted in You Circle begins September 24. This is a trusted space to pause, reconnect, and move forward with clarity, courage, and connection.

✨ Beginning again is not a setback — it’s your invitation to live from your truest self.

The Courage to Begin Again

Sun, 07 Sep 2025 16:00:27 GMT

Finding resilience, clarity, and courage in life’s fresh starts.

Sometimes the bravest thing we can do isn’t charging ahead—it’s beginning again. Each fresh start invites us to release old stories, take one small step forward, and rediscover the courage to live in alignment with what truly matters.

We all know what it feels like to stumble, stall out, or even stop altogether.

Maybe it’s a project you put on hold, a dream you shelved, or a season of life that left you exhausted and wondering if you could keep going.

For many years, I believed beginning again meant I had somehow failed. That I wasn’t disciplined enough, strong enough, or talented enough to “get it

right” the first time. Maybe you’ve told yourself a similar story.

But here’s what I’ve learned: the ability to begin again isn’t failure. It’s resilience.

Why Beginning Again Takes Courage

When we start fresh, we’re asked to:

Release the old story — to let go of the belief that pausing or stopping makes us less worthy.
As I near the completion of my memoir, I see how often I carried old stories like a collection of failure badges. One of the hardest to release was the belief that I wasn’t a writer. My ninth-grade teacher once wrote on my paper: “You are not a writer. At least not without a lot of work.”
That message stuck for decades. I was even physically ill during the early stages of writing, battling that belief. Yet, through persistence and support, I learned that releasing old stories creates space for a new version of ourself to emerge.
Take a small step forward — trusting that courage builds in motion, one step at a time.
When I trained for a half-marathon and later a sprint triathlon, the finish line felt impossible. Even climbing out of Central Park on that painful day in 2016 required immense courage to take the first step. The same has been true for every new job, promotion, or the leap into entrepreneurship.
The first step is always the hardest—new, scary, uncertain—but once it’s taken, momentum begins to carry you forward.
Ask for support — allowing community and connection to hold us steady when fear whispers that we’re alone.
For me, this has often been the hardest lesson. Growing up, I believed success meant doing everything myself. But I’ve discovered the opposite is true: I could not have reached many milestones without help. A coach trained me for races, guided me through health challenges, and mentored me as I started my business.
Asking for support isn’t weakness—it’s wisdom, and it’s one of the most courageous choices we can make.

These take more bravery or simply powering through. It takes humility, presence, and a willingness to trust the process.

My Own Fresh Starts

One of my most defining “begin again” moments came in 2016 in New York City. I found myself at the bottom of a hill in Central Park, unable to walk, my body demanding that I stop.

What looked like a breakdown was really an invitation: to pause, to listen, and eventually to start again—this time with greater clarity and alignment.

That moment reshaped how I see new beginnings. It’s not about erasing what came before. It’s about carrying forward the lessons, leaving behind what no longer serves, and stepping into a future with courage.

A Reflection for You

As fall approaches, I’ve been looking at the spaces in my own life where I’m being called to begin again. I can already see one or two.

How about you? Where in your life are you being invited, nudged, or called to begin again?

It might be something small—a daily habit, a creative practice, a relationship—or something bigger, like a career path or long-held dream.

Whenever I feel the nudge to begin again, I stop, breathe, and ask myself:
�� What’s one small, meaningful step I can take that moves me toward what matters most?

Then I listen—to my body, my heart, and the wisdom around me.

I encourage you to try this, today. Maybe for the next week. Or perhaps for the next couple of weeks.

Rooted in You Circle ��

If you’re feeling the call to reset and begin again with clarity and courage, you don’t have to do it alone. The Rooted in You Circle begins September 24. It’s a trusted space to pause, reconnect, and take those next steps forward—supported by community and grounded in what truly matters.

�� [Learn more and reserve your spot here – link ]

Because the most courageous beginnings rarely happen in isolation. They grow stronger when we step into them together.

✨ Closing thought: Beginning again is not a setback. It’s your invitation to step into the life you’re meant to live.

If you missed Friday’s podcast on this theme, you can listen here: [ Podcast Link ]. And next week, I’ll be joined by a guest sharing her own journey of beginning again.

Why Pausing is the Most Courageous Step Forward

Sun, 31 Aug 2025 16:00:07 GMT

True or False?

Is hard!

As leaders, creatives, entrepreneurs, or change-makers, society tells us that progress comes from pushing harder, moving faster, and always doing more. So we push and push, go and go—until finally, life feels overwhelming. And yet, the temptation is always to add one more strategy, credential, or item to our already overflowing lists.

My mind flashes to a scene in Monty Python’s The Meaning of Life : the character Mr. Creosote in a restaurant, a metaphor for excess and gluttony. Even when stuffed, he takes one more bite—and explodes.

Sometimes we do the same, don’t we? We push ourselves to the point of nearly exploding, reaching overwhelm so deep that we can’t continue.

Have you ever experienced this?

I have.

For years, I believed slowing down meant falling behind. I thought if I just kept striving—working longer hours, earning another degree, proving myself one more way, one more time—then I’d finally feel secure and successful. Instead, I found myself exhausted, disconnected, and questioning whether all that effort was leading me anywhere meaningful.

But what if the bravest, most effective step forward isn’t doing more—what if it’s pausing?

The truth is, pausing isn’t weakness. It’s strength. Pausing gives us space to breathe, to listen, and to remember who we are beneath the noise. Like a stone in the middle of a rushing stream, the pause grounds us so we can find clarity and direction again.

On a trip to New York City in the summer of 2016, my body finally told me to stop. I found myself at the bottom of a hill in Central Park, unable to walk. I had to pause—listen—and take one intentional step at a time just to make it out of the park and finish my vacation.

That experience taught me, and continues to teach me, that when we dare to pause, three powerful things happen:

We gain clarity about what truly matters in life.
We discover the courage to say yes—or no—with intention.
We reconnect with our own presence , creating space for meaningful connection with ourselves and others.

The pause doesn’t mean giving up on our goals or dreams. It means choosing them from a place of alignment instead of fear or exhaustion.

Try this �� Reflection Prompt : Take a moment today to ask yourself: Where in my life do I need to pause, breathe, and listen before moving forward?

Since that summer in 2016, I’ve made pausing a practice—and I’ve helped others find their own pause as well.

In fact, this is the heart of the Rooted in You Circle. It’s a space to pause, reconnect, and realign with your voice, vision, and purpose—so you can step forward with clarity, courage, and confidence.

�� Our fall Circle begins September 24, and you’re warmly invited to join a small group of women who are ready to find the pause together. Follow the link below to see more about it

�� Rooted in You Circle

And if you’re a man seeking this kind of work, my husband Dr. Dan Thomsen offers a companion path.

Click here for information on Mindful Masculinity .

Let us help you come home to being Rooted in You.

✨ Join me next week on my podcast and blog as we explore - Rooted Voices: Courage to Begin Again.

Beyond Perfection

Fri, 22 Aug 2025 15:25:16 GMT

How Owning Your Truth-Story-Builds Courage, Connection and Clarity.

Have you ever held back from sharing something because you didn’t feel ready?

Perhaps it was because you thought you needed more time, more polish, or more confidence before your story could be told.

On Friday, I shared a personal story on my podcast — one that still stirs strong emotions in me. I talked about the time I ran away for love, only to discover it wasn’t what I’d hoped and it didn’t end the way I expected. It became a story of disappointment, self-discovery, and learning to come home to myself.

Today, I am sharing a very different story — one that happened on a stage, with stitches in my mouth, as I challenged another long-held belief. And yet, it taught me something strikingly similar:

✨ You don’t have to be perfect to be powerful.

In the fall of my senior year in high school, I auditioned for The Legend of Sleepy Hollow at the Minneapolis Children’s Theater. It was a last-minute decision, prompted by a friend.

The timing was far from ideal — just three days after having half of my wisdom teeth pulled. I still had stitches in my mouth and I did not feel like I was in a perfect position to do this. I did not have a song and had only just learned to dance the summer before.

�� All the way to the theater, I wondered if I should even show up.

When we arrived we were ushered to the dance portion of the audition. This portion of the audition was a group activity. As we completed it, we learned that the singing portion would be done as solos.

When it was my time for my singing audition, I remember walking onto the stage and silently praying they would have a piece of music I knew. It was still early in my vocal training and didn’t feel confident in my voice yet.

I was hardly the picture of polished confidence. My jaw was sore. My smile was tight. Every word reminded me of how uncomfortable I felt.

But I did. I stepped onto the stage — imperfect, uncertain, and still healing — and gave what I could.

And here’s what surprised me: I was cast.

Not because I looked flawless.
Not because I hit every note perfectly.

But because I showed up.

My presence — my willingness to be there as I was — carried more weight than perfect delivery ever could.

That experience has stayed with me for the forty-five years since I had was there.

There are still moments in my life when I wrestle with the choice to go or not go — to show up or hold back. But this story reminds me, again and again, that courage isn’t about waiting until everything feels perfect.

It’s about choice. It’s about choosing to show up — especially when things feel messy, raw, or incomplete.

Here are some of the questions I’ve asked myself. Maybe you’ve asked them too:
• What does the perfect moment even look like?
• What if it never comes?
• What am I holding myself back from — and is that really more important than living fully?

What I’ve learned and come to believe is:
✨ Perfection creates distance between me and what’s important.
�� But when I stay connected to my truth, my story helps me create the life I am passionate about living.

When we allow ourselves to be seen — stitches and all — we give others permission to do the same.

Our voices, stories, and presence don’t need polishing before they matter.
We matter because we are.
Our voice matters because it carries the weight of our truth.

So let me ask you…

Where have you been waiting for “perfect” before sharing your story — or your hope for your career, your love, or your voice?
What might shift if you let yourself show up as you are — not flawless, but fully present and rooted in your own story?

This is the heart of Rooted in You.

Rooted in You is a small group experience designed to help you move toward clarity, confidence, and courage.

It’s about learning to trust your voice as it is.
To stop editing yourself into silence.
To remember that you already hold everything you need to begin.

If this message resonates — if you feel that whisper inside to stop waiting and start showing up — Rooted in You might be your next step.

I’ll be opening the doors soon to this intimate, powerful circle where we reclaim our voices and share our stories without apology.

✨ If you're curious… stay close.

Because your story matters.
And so do you.

In the meantime, I invite you to download a Reflection Journal I created for those who joined me for a recent workshop. It’s a gentle starting point for reconnecting to your voice.

Join me next week, I’ll be sharing the story of someone who believed they were on the right path — only to discover that perhaps it wasn’t their path after all.

Overcoming Fear: The Quiet Path Back to Your Voice

Sun, 17 Aug 2025 01:22:04 GMT

Why your voice matters more than your fear—and how to begin reclaiming it.

Overcoming Fear: The Quiet Path Back to Your Voice

Fear is sneaky. It rarely shows up only in the spotlight moments—on stage, hitting “publish,” or raising your hand at a meeting.

Fear slips in at the dinner table when you want to bring up something important.
It creeps into your relationships when you hesitate to share a dream.
It disguises itself as “being polite” or “waiting for the right time.”

The problem is: the longer we wait, the quieter our voice becomes. Not just in our work, but in our art, our relationships, our lives.

But here’s the truth: overcoming fear isn’t about eliminating it. It’s about meeting it, breathing through it, and daring to speak anyway. Because your voice matters—not only to you, but to the people who are waiting to hear it.

How Fear Shrinks Our Voice

When we don’t name our fear, it grows. Slowly, it seeps into every corner of our being.

At first, we might brush it aside—“It’s not a big deal.” But each time we hold back our truth, we teach ourselves a dangerous lesson: my voice isn’t safe.

And when that happens, it doesn’t just silence our words. It mutes our creativity. It blurs our boundaries. It hides our desires. It creates distance in our relationships, because intimacy requires truth.

The result? Less connection. Less authenticity. Less joy.

My Story: Learning to Say No

For years, my greatest fear wasn’t standing on stage—it was saying no.

I had convinced myself that if I didn’t say yes to every request, every need, every opportunity to help, people wouldn’t like me. And the truth is, it worked—people did like me. But the cost was steep: I had no time left for the things that mattered most to me.

Worse, my body began to show the strain. My health faltered. My energy drained. I felt like my own life was slipping away while I worked to keep everyone else’s afloat.

One day, I finally tried a small “no.” Just one. To an acquaintance in a volunteer group. And the world didn’t collapse. In fact, something remarkable happened—I felt lighter. Stronger.

From there, I began to reclaim small pieces of myself. Saying no created space for saying yes—to my creativity, my relationships, my health. What I discovered is this: when you overcome fear, you don’t just find your voice. You strengthen every relationship in your life.

Three Practices to Move Through Fear

If fear has been holding the microphone in your life, here are three simple practices that help me reclaim mine:

Root in Presence.
When fear spikes, your body thinks you’re in danger. Pause. Place your feet firmly on the floor. Inhale for 5, hold for 5, exhale for 8. This simple act tells your body: I am safe enough to speak.
Reframe the Risk.
Instead of asking, “What if I fail?” try, “Where can I grow?” This small shift opens the door to possibility instead of panic.
Rehearse in Safe Spaces.
Practice your voice in places where you feel supported. That could be with a trusted friend, in a creative group, or even in the mirror. Every rehearsal plants confidence.

Experiential Takeaway: Try This Today

Right now, choose one thing you’ve been afraid to say—whether to yourself, your work, or someone you love.

Whisper it to yourself in the mirror. Write it in your journal. Or, if you feel brave, share it with a safe person in your life.

Then pause. Notice how your body feels. Did your shoulders drop? Did you breathe a little deeper? Did a weight lift, even just slightly?

This is the beginning of a new pattern: a life where your voice belongs.

An Invitation

If you feel a nudge that it’s time to reclaim your voice, I’d love to invite you into a deeper conversation.

This Monday, August 18 at 7 PM PT, I’m hosting Claim (or Reclaim) Your Creative Voice, a virtual interactive workshop where we’ll explore these practices in real time. This isn’t just for artists—it’s for anyone ready to stop holding back and start showing up fully in work, creativity, and love.

And because this is a journey, not a single step, I’ll continue the conversation on next week’s episode of The Creative Connection: Owning Your Story and Why Sharing It Matters More Than Getting It Perfect.

Because the world doesn’t need your flawless story.

It needs your true one.

Are Your Career Decisions Actually A Couples Decision?

Sat, 09 Aug 2025 19:58:57 GMT

Before a Life Changing Talk With Your Partner — Try A Solo Reset for Guidance

Opening scenario:
You’re thinking about a career change, a creative project, or a big life shift.
You haven’t even said it out loud yet, but your mind is already running through:

How will this affect us?
Will they be okay with it?
Can we juggle it with everything else?

This is a natural response when you are in a loving committed relationship where the other person may be impacted by the decision you are going to make. In fact, Friday August 8 my husband, Dan who is a relationship expert, psychologist, coach, teacher and writer discussed this on my podcast. We talked about how taking a pause or breath is important and loving.

However, we also talked about how it could also muffle your own voice before you’ve even heard it clearly if you believe your partner's influence or belief is more important than yours.

The counterintuitive insight:
One of the most surprising things I’ve learned coaching women in their second (or third) chapter is this: before you have the big talk with your partner, take a short solo retreat to find out what you want?

I’m not talking about a week in Bali. Even one evening away, with no to-do list and no problem-solving, can give you the space to hear yourself without the constant echo of “we.”

I have found this to be true for myself as well. I remember the summer of 2020, I really wanted to join the program that would certify me as a coach I needed to take a pause. I needed to check in with myself to make sure this was what I really want to do or just something I thought I wanted to do. After my pause of twenty-four hours and sometime in my backyard, I was able to share with Dan what I wanted, and needed so that we could decide if this was something our relationship and family could support.

Why it works:
When you return from a pause of even just twenty-four hours, you’ll feel more grounded and certain of yourself. You will most likely be better at sharing your thoughts, desires and needs from a place of clarity, not from guesses about what your partner might want. That shift alone can change the entire conversation.

Try it with guidance:
If you’d like help creating your own version of this reset, join me for Rooted In You on Monday, August 11 at 7:00 PM PT . In just one hour, we’ll practice a simple grounding exercise, identify the one question your retreat should answer, and create a plan you can actually follow through on.

Because the first step to making a decision with someone is knowing what you truly want—before you ask for their thoughts.

Closing Reflection Question:
If you had 24 hours alone this month, what question would you take with you?

Curious about what I mentioned in today's article?

Visit the podcast conversation with my husband https://www.youtube.com/@cyndithomsencreativecoach/podcasts

Information and to register for the Rooted In You Class August 11 go here

What If You Didn’t Show Up?

Sat, 02 Aug 2025 20:14:00 GMT

How Your Life—and Someone Else’s—Might Be Different

Have you ever wondered if sharing your voice, your work, or your truth is just...self-promotion?

If you’re like me, you may have found yourself asking:

Is this ego?
Am I just seeking attention?
Do I really have something worth saying?

But I’ve learned that visibility isn’t vanity—it’s service . And sometimes, the simple act of showing up can change everything.

The Myth of Vanity

When I launched my business, Creating a Passionate Life, I planned an in-person workshop. I poured time, energy, and my heart into preparing—slides, handouts, exercises. As the date approached, only three people had signed up.

My instinct? Cancel it. Spare myself the embarrassment.

But something nudged me to talk to my business coach first.

She asked me one powerful question:

“What if those people who signed up really need what you have to offer—and you don’t show up?”

That landed hard. This wasn’t about me anymore. It was about them.

The day arrived, and only one person came.
Just one.

I could've had an internal pity party. Instead, I chose to be present, curious, and fully engaged with this person, who had shown up.

I asked about why they showed up . What followed was a deep, meaningful conversation—and by the end, they asked if I offered one-on-one coaching.

The coaching relationship that followed led them through a huge life transition.
And if I hadn’t shown up?
None of that would’ve happened.

A More Personal Story

Visibility has also shaped the most important relationship in my life.

During my freshman year of college, I felt completely lost. My campus was twice the size of my hometown, I had no real friends, and a guy I cared about dumped me—on my birthday.

I shared my struggle with a gal I’d casually spoken to in class. She offered to be my roommate the following year. Since the roommate lottery hadn’t worked out, I thought— why not? It couldn’t be any worse.

During move in day in September, she introduced me to her friends, including one guy she admitted she had a crush on. I told her not to worry—I was “giving up boys” to focus on my grades since they had tanked the year before.

You might be able to guess where this is going...

That guy and I became close friends. Then something more.

Today, we’ve been married for over 41 years.

Dan and I are pictured in the banner. The picture at the top of the article is us with our three adult sons and my daughter-in-law at my birthday dinner.

And it all started with one vulnerable moment. A conversation, where I showed up for myself.

The Power of Presence

So I ask you to really consider the following two questions for yourself:

What exists in your life today because you showed up?
And what might not exist if you hadn’t?

These stories—mine and those of my clients—inspired me to create a program called Rooted In You.

Rooted In You is a space for cultivating quiet confidence, clarity, and the courage to walk into any room knowing you are fully aligned to who you are at your core.

Visibility means sharing that—whether quietly or boldly—with the world.

Take It Further: A Reflection Practice

Take a moment—right now, if you can—to pause and reflect.

Grab a notebook, your journal, or even the notes app on your phone. Settle into your seat. Take a deep breath in…and release.

Ask yourself:

Where in your life are you craving to be seen?

Really let that question land.

Write down whatever comes up.

Don’t filter or fix what emerges. It’s showing up for a reason. Honor it.

Then ask:

What would being seen look like in that area of your life?

When you’re done, take a moment to close your eyes again and bring to mind a time you felt joyful, fulfilled, and fully you.

Where were you?
Who was with you?
What were you doing?
What did you feel in your body?
Were you seen? Heard? Acknowledged?

If now isn’t the time to dive into this, I invite you to return to these questions later.

As you do so you will be reminded of a time when you have been seen—not because you performed, but because you showed up as yourself and those around you witnessed it with warmth, respect, and love.

An Invitation

If this reflection resonated with you, I’ve created a free Visibility Reflection Journal to help you explore this more deeply. It’s filled with prompts and space to process what visibility means for you—not as a performance, but as an expression of your truth.

You can download it here [ Journal ], or find it in the show notes of my podcast .

And if you’d like personalized support, I invite you to book a free 30-minute Clarity Call . We’ll talk about where you’re feeling unseen—and what it might look like to step forward, rooted in who you are.

What is Next?

This week on The Creative Connection , I’ll be joined by someone very dear to me—my husband, Dan Thomsen. He’s a Mindful Masculinity Coach, Gottman-trained therapist, and creator of The Path.

We’ll be talking about:
Rooted - Revitalized - and Rising: The Power of Presence is for Renewal and Real Relationships

In our honest and heart-centered conversation Dan and I will explore what it means to reconnect to ourself and each other especially during moments of challenge and how to cultivate relationships rooted in truth, care, respect, and love.

You won't want to miss it...

Until then—
Keep creating.
Keep leading.
And keep showing up for yourself with courage.

What If You’re Not Behind — You’re Becoming?

Sun, 27 Jul 2025 16:48:32 GMT

Listening to your life, honoring your pace, and choosing courage anyway.

“Nature never rushes, yet everything is accomplished.” — Lao Tzu

Most (sunny) mornings, I sit on my back deck with a cup of coffee and listen to the birds. It’s peaceful. Grounding. A quiet ritual of presence.

On the mornings when my to-do list is already chasing me, that voice creeps in:

“I’m behind.”

About 95% of the time I catch myself with a simple but powerful question:

“Who told you you’re behind?”

Maybe you’ve asked yourself that, too.

Was it your third-grade teacher? A parent? A job description that wanted “ten years of experience” before you’d even turned 25?

Or maybe it wasn’t a person at all—but the whisper you’ve carried in your mind ever since you dared to step off the path and do something bold, creative, or unexpected.

We hear it everywhere:

“I’m running behind.”
“I just need to catch up.”
“I missed my chance.”

But behind what, exactly?

The Timeline That Was Never Yours

For many women—especially those of us between 45 and 65—the pressure to meet someone else’s timeline started early.

Schools rewarded speed.
Culture praised early bloomers.
And somewhere along the way, many of us believed the lie that success has an expiration date.

If you didn’t publish by 30…
If you weren’t leading by 40…
If you didn’t make it by 50…
Then clearly, you missed your shot.

But here’s the truth I’m learning, slowly and deeply:

You are not behind.
You are becoming.

The Detour Wasn’t a Mistake

As an artist and creative soul, I’ve taken a lot of detours. Some were necessary—life shifts, caretaking, health challenges. Others were fueled by old stories that whispered, “ You’re too late. Someone else already did it better. ”

When I started writing my memoir at 61, those voices were loud.

“Why now?”
“Other people published in their 30s.”
“Who’s going to care about your story?”

But here’s the wild thing:

Taking time didn’t weaken the story.
It deepened it.

Every delay gave the truth more room to breathe. The writing got better. And so did I.

As I settle into the title Courageous , I realize how much courage it has taken to keep going—to persist with the end in sight. The book is set to publish this fall at 64 .

The Isolation Trap

I’ve noticed that when life slows down or detours arise, my inner critic gets louder. That “you’re behind” voice turns up the volume. And often… I go silent.

I retreat.
Maybe you’ve done the same.

We wait until we’re “ready” or “caught up” to rejoin the world.
But isolation only magnifies fear and shame.

When I was in fourth grade, I desperately wanted to be in choir or band. I auditioned for both. Afterward, the teacher told me I was “tone-deaf.” I told no one. I shrank and stayed small.

But I wasn’t tone-deaf. I later took lessons to train my ear and even won a contest that proved it.

Still, it wasn’t until I was in my 50s that I truly felt comfortable sharing my musical talent.

The cure?

Connection—not to impress or perform, but simply to be seen.

Some of my greatest breakthroughs didn’t come from sitting alone at a desk. They came from a walk with a friend… a class I almost didn’t take… a simple conversation that reminded me I’m not alone.

You don’t have to be finished to belong.

Becoming Is Invisible Work

Becoming isn’t flashy. It doesn’t go viral on social media.

The though of becoming, reminds me of The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams.
In the story, the Skin Horse explains:

“Real isn’t how you are made... it’s a thing that happens to you.”

Becoming isn’t something you chase. It’s something you allow.

What I’ve learned is that it often shows up in the quiet moments:

Sitting with my journal and finally telling the truth.
Listening to my body say, “Not this. Not yet.”
Daring to show up to the audition, even if I don’t get the part.

Last December, I auditioned for a show I truly wanted. I made the callback—but didn’t get cast. I was disappointed… but I also realized something deeper.

That “no” gave me space to say a deeper “yes” to something else that needed me more.

How is becoming showing up for you?
If you pause and reflect on the last week, month, or year—what’s unfolding beneath the surface? What’s quietly helping you become the person you’re meant to be?

You’re Not Behind — You’re Becoming

If no one’s said it to you lately, let me:

You’re not late.
You will arrive right on time.
Your timeline is not broken.
You are moving at your own sacred pace.
You are in the process of becoming the fullest version of yourself.
You are becoming who you were meant to be.

So don’t disappear. Don’t wait until it’s perfect.

Put one foot in front of the other and journey forward—
One word. One brushstroke. One musical note. One audition.
One risk. One moment of truth.

Let it be messy. Let it be yours.

Your Becoming Doesn’t Have to Be Lonely

You don’t have to do this alone. Consider one small step today to honor your path:

Join a circle.
Call a creative friend.
Share one sentence from your story.
Book a discovery call with a coach you trust.

Because becoming doesn’t have to be lonely.

And your time is now.

Cyndi offers Complimentary Creative Clarity Calls and offers Circles . Check these out by the link.

The Art of Continuing: A Love Letter to Self-Worth

Sun, 20 Jul 2025 21:15:00 GMT

What if the “art” of continuing is the ultimate expression of self-worth as an artist, musician, dancer, writer, or leader of other creatives?

That question echoed in me as I stood in front of a painting at the Seattle Art Fair yesterday—one that somehow captured the chaos, balance, and harmony of the creative journey. I was struck by how easily I could see the value in the artwork—the detail, the emotion, the layers of meaning.

A representative of the artist approached my husband and me and shared that the painter, Jeffrey Melzack, had once worked as an art teacher for students in special education. Later, I visited his website and read these words:

“Balance… the body of my art attempts to visualize levels of living experience. I believe our lives are not a set of easily defined givens, but a complex of experiences that require responses that reflect who we are.”[See Footnote]

It was clear to me—this artist and teacher understood both his value and the value of us as humans. His work speaks to the interconnectedness of humanity and the delicate balance we’re all navigating. And this made me wonder: How did he come to know and trust his worth so deeply?

That reflection turned inward. How do I know my worth as a coach and guide for others artists and non-artists? So often—myself included—we forget to see ourselves through the same compassionate and appreciative lens we use for others.

But here’s the truth: whether we’re coaching, creating, directing, composing, or dancing—as individuals or as a member of a collective-we must keep showing up. Keep creating. Keep leading. Even when things feel uncertain or go uncelebrated. That’s not just resilience; it’s self-worth in motion. That’s artistry. That’s leadership.

As a coach, actor, and organizational leader, I know how much happens behind the scenes—quiet preparation, thoughtful planning, emotional labor. The kind of invisible work that few people see or recognize, but without which nothing meaningful can unfold. And yes, sometimes I struggle to own the value of that work. It’s easy to doubt its worth when the world doesn’t applaud it.

But then I remind myself: just because something is invisible doesn’t mean it’s insignificant. And I continue—because I know it matters.

So I ask you:
How do you recognize the value in what you do? How do you celebrate the quiet, meaningful contributions of others whose paths you cross?

Our work as creatives and leaders doesn’t always come with applause. Sometimes, it shows up in a rehearsal room, a journal entry, a brave idea shared in a meeting, or a quiet decision to keep going when no one else sees the stage we’re on.

To continue—that is the offering.

It’s the brushstroke, the breath, the beat that says, I’m still here. I still believe this matters.

✍️ Journal Prompt:

What if the art of continuing is the ultimate expression of your self-worth as an artist, a leader, a human?
What would change if you fully believed that?

Footnote: More about Jeffrey Melzack: https://www.melzackartworks.com/about/

The Show Must Go On - But So Should Your Sanity

Mon, 14 Jul 2025 02:00:01 GMT

The Show Must Go On — But So Should Your Sanity

I first heard the phrase “the show must go on” back in high school. But now, many years (and hats) later, I’d like to add something to it:

“The show must go on — but so should your sanity.”

Let’s talk about that.

These days, I’m a:

CEO of my own business
Artistic/Managing Director for a community theater
Community volunteer
Wife and partner of 41+ years
Mom of three grown kids (born within 24 months of each other while I was working and getting my MBA!)

I’ve had a full plate most of my life. And what I’ve learned is that buried inside that phrase, “the show must go on,” is often a quiet message we tell ourselves:

Keep pushing. Don’t stop. Get it all done. Even if you’re exhausted.

Sound familiar?

Burnout Isn’t Just a Buzzword

Let’s be honest. The word “burnout” gets thrown around a lot. Sometimes it even makes us roll our eyes.

But if you’ve ever found yourself thinking:

“Why am I so tired all the time?”
“I used to love this work… what happened?”
“I feel like I’m doing everything and getting nowhere…”

…then you know burnout is real. And if you’re a leader, a creative, or a caregiver (or all three), it can sneak up fast.

That’s why I want to share three tools that can help protect your energy and bring your joy back:

Scheduling
Delegation
Boundaries

You probably nodded just now, right? Because these sound obvious. And yet—how often do we actually use them?

Why We Skip the Simple Stuff

I think it’s because we start with big dreams. Big goals. We want to make a difference, create something beautiful, or lead in a meaningful way.

But instead of breaking those dreams into small, doable steps, we try to do it all. Right now. On our own.

Been there?

Flashback: My First Big Theater Moment

Let’s go back to high school for a minute.

I was cast in my first mainstage play. It wasn’t a huge role — I played the housekeeper — but I was thrilled! I soaked up everything: blocking, costumes, lighting… I was in heaven.

But then, just days before opening night, our lead actor dropped out. She was overwhelmed. Exhausted from balancing school, work, and the show.

Our director sat us down and said, “Cyndi, you’ve been in all her scenes. You know the blocking. Can you take the lead role?”

Without blinking, I said “YES!”

I was terrified — but I was ready.

That moment taught me a lot. Not just about performing, but about what happens when someone pushes too hard. When they don’t rest. When they try to

do it all.

Questions I Ask When I Feel Stuck

Over the years, I’ve learned to check in with myself when I lose motivation. Here’s what I ask:

Why do I feel off right now?
Is this still important to me?
Does this help me reach my bigger goal?
Where am I stuck?

And often, the answer leads me back to one of these things:

➤ I’m trying to do it all.

Can I delegate something? Can someone help?

➤ I’ve taken on too much.

Can I break it down into smaller steps and put them on a calendar?

➤ I’m distracted.

Did I say “yes” to something that doesn’t really fit my bigger purpose?

Real Life: Directing a Big Musical

Here’s a real example from my role as Artistic/Managing Director.

The first time I was asked to stage a full-length musical with a big cast, I said yes — without fully realizing what I was getting into.

I had directed plays before. But this was different. There was casting, choreography, music direction, costumes, production… and more.

And I tried to do it all. Alone.

Add in some personal life challenges, and I hit a wall. Sitting in a hotel room in Tucson, I had a moment of truth:

I can’t do this by myself.

Once I admitted that, the right help showed up. It always does — when I stop pretending, I can do everything.

Now, every time I start a new project, I make sure the right team is in place. I ask for help. I plan ahead. I set clear boundaries. And I protect my love for what I do.

The New Motto I Live By

The show must go on — but so should your sanity.

This phrase reminds me that doing what I love shouldn’t cost me my health, my peace, or my joy. And when I use tools like scheduling, delegation, and boundaries, I can keep going in a way that feels good — and sustainable.

What About You?

Has any of this hit home for you?
Do you find yourself juggling too much?
Is there something you need to say “no” to — or ask help with — so you can keep loving what you do?

I’d love to hear what you’re discovering.

Email me anytime at: coachcyndi@cyndithomsen.net

Huzzah!
Cyndi

Your Vision Is Only as Strong as Your Plan

Mon, 07 Jul 2025 03:00:03 GMT

How do you take your vision into a strong plan that will guide you toward success?

In 1985, when I was a first-time manager, I had a great vision! Take the team and department I was responsible for from the bottom to the top of the company. I remember the day my manager sat down with me to talk about my vision, "Cyndi that is great! So how are you going to accomplish it?"

I stopped dead in my tracks. At twenty something I had no idea how to make that vision a reality let alone how to create a plan, inspire a team, and lead them to the top. After many deep conversations with my manager and team, we created a plan with milestones and targets. In six months and lots of sweat and patience, resilience, and perseverance, we reached that goal. The president and vice president of the company wanted to know what I had done and could I duplicate it in all the departments and stores. In fact, they created a position for me to have this become a reality. At twenty-five I took a company’s vision and created a strong plan to propel a whole company forward in the marketplace. Now, I would be lying if I said it was easy and that it did not come with some missteps, it did. Through the process I learned to take my eyes off myself and onto another by learning to ask questions.

Several years later in my late thirties, I faced a similar learning situation when I led a drama program in a small private school. I became responsible for teaching preschool through high school how to share themselves through stories on stage in front of an audience. During this challenge, I had to confront some of my own childhood demons; told and not feeling that I was good enough, and having my peers tell me I was stupid, and ugly. I had to learn how to take my eyes off myself again and think about how to protect and uplift the young people. How could I translate teaching them confidence, resilience, and flexibility so that they would feel capable of sharing themselves. How could I show them they were important and belonged? For the year I held this position, I learned a lot about myself and how to ask good questions while guiding all ages to share confidently.

In my forties I found myself again having to figure out how to recreate this in the health and fitness world where I became a mentor and trainer for triathletes, a youth swim team, active older adults, and an aquatics team. We had a vision as a team to increase our connectedness with the community. I learned that sometimes the most effective way to translate this team vision for health or fitness was by finding out why the community existed. Why were these members here? What brought us together? As we peeled back the layers of the members why, we found a way to accomplish the vision. The questions I asked were, why do you want to do the triathlon? Why are you on the team - for fun or to get good at a certain stroke so you can compete on a bigger stage? Why do you come to Silver Sneakers or Water Fitness? Is it to be mobile, reduce pain, recover from an injury, or is it simply to be in community with another person because you live alone.

Over my 40+ years of work, I have experienced this in the world of theatre, retail, arts, music, marketing, writing, churches, nonprofit businesses, and for-profit businesses. I have gone into each place and space with the question of what is possible, followed by how that is possible, and finally why are all these people here doing this. When I was a leader in one of these places an interesting thing occurred when I asked these questions. For those who hired me, if they had never really considered these questions, they began to look at their work differently and something shifted. When it did, the business shifted and the team either jumped on board or replaced themselves so the owner could accomplish their vision. This has been universally true wherever I have been.

For the last seven years (except for 2020) I have been working on the vision of defining what it means to be a family, either related or one we find and create ourselves. I have chosen to do this in a community theatre. I have had the pleasure of building communities of 20 to 40 people on stage and offstage who are on a journey of learning what it means to belong, grow, and create an impact with their story.

I usually start the rehearsal process with a question, why are you here? Why is this important to you? What do you want to get out of this experience?

As we make our way through the six to eight weeks of rehearsals, I continue to ask these questions and tie it to the story we are sharing. Then I ask how it relates to each person in their own lives, whether they are on stage, offstage or in the pit.

What ends up happening by the time the show closes, we have become our own chosen family who care for, want to stay connected, and are genuinely interested in each other.

This is how I create, inspire, and lead to empowering the world one story at a time.

I am curious, have you experienced this? How? I would love to hear from you so that this is conversation and not just me sharing my stories. Please either comment below or on one of the social posts or email me. I want to hear from you!

Cheers until next week!

Cyndi

Welcome to The Director’s Table – Leading the Way

Tue, 01 Jul 2025 03:08:44 GMT

Pull up a Chair and join me at the table.

Please, pull up a chair and join me at the table.

The Director’s Table isn’t just for opening nights, curtain calls, or last-minute production notes. It’s where real leadership begins — where creative vision meets practical strategy.

In the Winter Spring of 2016 I found myself in a new role, director of a musical. Now I had been on stage for many year and been the director of many shows that were not musicals. However, when my friend and mentor found himself in a health crisis I had to step in to take over the direction of a musical. Needless to say I was intimidated and scared. You see when I was ten, I had been told I was tone-deaf. After recovering from that shock and the loss of confidence it caused, I found my rhythm, voice, and music and with it the confidence to be on stage as a performer. However in that moment of crisis when my friend had to step down, I was right back to being told I was not good enough or that I even had a voice.

Since that moment, I’ve directed many musicals, developed new works, led creative teams, and built productions from scratch to sold-out houses — and I know how exhilarating… and overwhelming… it can be.

Here’s the truth: You don’t have to do it all alone. And you don’t have to choose between creativity and clarity. I have learned both of these the hard way and I don't want you to experience what I did.

So I created this space is for all the directors, drama educators, creative producers, and anyone ready to step into leadership with confidence — and a plan. You see the work I have done on stage, backstage, and leading creative teams I have translated to leading non-profits, small and large corporations who focus on customer service, tourism, and product deliverables. There are so many similar elements that keep the leaders at time struggling to be Creative, Inspirational, and questioning whether they can lead. I want to have a frank discussion about our successes, challenges, and the things that make us better directors - leaders. AND in the end I want you to Lead Your Way and Be the Best You Can in doing so.

Each week, I’ll share insights, tools, and real talk to help you:
✔️ Lead with clarity, not chaos
✔️ Build budgets and timelines that support your vision
✔️ Forecast revenue for productions — no accounting degree required
✔️ Manage teams, cast with confidence, and navigate the inevitable curveballs
✔️ Stay grounded, connected, and inspired

If you’ve ever wished for someone to hand you the unspoken rules of creative leadership — or just remind you that you’re not alone — you’re in the right place.

Let’s Lead the Way — together.

— Cyndi

Visibility vs. Vanity

Fri, 09 May 2025 23:57:18 GMT

The Power of Being Seen with Purpose

Visibility and vanity are two sides of the same coin, but they can lead to vastly different outcomes for creative entrepreneurs and innovative leaders. For a woman at the top of her industry, the line between them can feel especially thin, as success often requires stepping into the spotlight while resisting the pull of shallow recognition. True visibility goes beyond mere attention; it’s about impact, influence, and leaving a legacy. Vanity, on the other hand, can trap even the most accomplished leaders in a cycle of performance for the sake of appearance, rather than authentic connection. In this article, we’ll explore the difference, why it matters, and how to embrace meaningful visibility that fuels both personal and professional growth.

Defining Visibility and Vanity

Visibility is the quality of being seen, noticed, or recognized. It’s about sharing your work, message, or brand in a way that genuinely connects with others, creating lasting impact and influence. For creative leaders, visibility means standing in your truth, owning your voice, and using your platform to inspire, guide, and elevate others. It is the power to be known for your authentic contributions, not just for the spotlight you command.

Vanity, by contrast, is an excessive focus on oneself, an outward projection often driven by the need for validation or admiration. It’s about image over substance, achievements over authenticity. Vanity can feel like visibility, but without a deeper purpose, it risks becoming hollow, disconnected, and fleeting. True leaders understand that real influence is not just about being seen, but about being known for their impact and integrity.

The challenge women face is knowing when to stop trying to influence and when to focus on simply being seen and heard. Consider these two examples from the latest news:

Visibility: Emma Chamberlain’s Evolution

Emma Chamberlain, a prominent content creator who rose to fame on YouTube, has recently shifted her focus from traditional vlogging to exploring art, fashion, and entrepreneurship through her coffee brand. In a candid interview, she addressed fans' reactions to her transformation, emphasizing her commitment to personal growth and authenticity over reverting to past content styles. Chamberlain's journey exemplifies meaningful visibility—leveraging her platform to reflect her evolving identity and values, rather than conforming to audience expectations for the sake of popularity. (People.com)

Vanity: Gabriela Moura’s Kentucky Derby Controversy

Social media influencer Gabriela Moura sparked debate at the 2025 Kentucky Derby with her choice of attire—a revealing black dress and large hat—which some considered inappropriate for the event. While Moura defended her outfit as a form of self-expression and comfort, the incident highlights how the pursuit of attention through provocative appearances can blur the line between genuine visibility and vanity. The focus shifted from the event itself to the controversy surrounding her fashion choice, raising questions about the impact and intent behind such public displays. (New York Post)

The Power of Authentic Visibility

It is my belief that true visibility isn’t just about being seen; it’s about being understood. It’s about making a meaningful impact and creating a legacy that outlasts the latest trend.

"You become what you believe." — Oprah Winfrey

To be truly visible is to lead with purpose, to stand for something greater than yourself. It means building a legacy, creating lasting impact, and using your influence to lift others. This kind of visibility builds trust, credibility, and authentic connection—qualities that transcend trends and social media algorithms. It’s about being remembered for your courage and conviction, not just your image.

The Vanity Trap – When Visibility Goes Sideways

Vanity can sneak into our lives when we lose sight of our deeper mission and instead chase the superficial metrics of success. It’s the temptation to prioritize perception over purpose, to seek approval over authenticity. This path can lead to burnout, disconnect, and a sense of emptiness, no matter how many followers or accolades you accumulate.

Signs you may be drifting toward vanity:

You’re more focused on appearance than substance.
You prioritize short-term attention over long-term impact.
You feel disconnected from your original mission.
Your self-worth fluctuates with external validation.

Shifting from Vanity to Authenticity

Having spent many years studying leadership, I have learned that leadership isn’t about being perfect, it’s about being present. It’s about choosing to be real and authentic over appearance and substance over status.

Aligning visibility with your core values and mission is essential for lasting impact. Here are some practical strategies:

Define your “why” and let it guide your actions.

“Authenticity is when you say and do the things you actually believe.” Simon Sinek, Start with Why

Focus on the quality of your connections, not just the quantity of your followers.
Share stories that reflect your journey, challenges, and growth, not just your successes.

“To be authentic is to be at peace with your imperfections. The great leaders are not the strongest; they are the ones who are honest about their weaknesses.” (“Simon Sinek quotes - must read for leaders - New Age Leadership”)
— Simon Sinek, A-Z Quotes

Stay grounded by surrounding yourself with a community that keeps you accountable and aligned.

One of my favorite leadership teachers is Simon Sinek if you have not already guessed. Here is what he said on LinkedIn.

“I think women make better CEOs... Men want me to prove to them that trusting people, loving people, taking care of people is a good thing for business. Women inherently understand that, and make decisions accordingly.”
— Simon Sinek LinkedIn

Conclusion: Choosing Impact Over Image

As you step into greater visibility, remember that true influence comes from depth, substance, and the courage to show up authentically. It’s not just about being seen, but about being known for who you truly are. If you’re ready to take the next step in owning your visibility without falling into the vanity trap, consider joining My Women’s Mastermind Group. Here, you’ll find a supportive community of like-minded female leaders focused on meaningful growth, connection, and lasting impact. Together, we can redefine what it means to be seen and heard.

Ready to make your mark? Email me at coachcyndi@cyndithomsen.net to find out more about the Mastermind.

The Unshakeable Life

Tue, 18 Mar 2025 22:51:38 GMT

Finding Strength, Stability, Success

What is an Unshakeable Life?

I have been on a personal and spiritual path for quite some time. I went on a mission to find the answer to what makes a person, or their life seem unshakeable. Are they unshakeable? seeking the answer to this question. Through my journey, I examined different aspects of my life, looking for the foundations of true stability and resilience.

One of the most powerful lessons came from an unexpected source—a willow tree.

When my family moved to Prior Lake, Minnesota, we settled in a new development where few trees stood. My father laid down sod, and my mother wanted to plant a willow tree, inspired by the name of our neighborhood, The Willows. She cut a branch from a nearby willow by the beach, placed it in water to root, and prepared to nurture it into the ground.

Shortly after, a tornado warning swept through our area. Concerned, my mother rushed outside to bring the fragile branch indoors for protection. The storm passed, and the young willow survived. Decades later, that tree stood tall and strong, its deep roots anchoring it firmly to the earth.

That willow became a symbol for my own journey toward becoming unshakeable.

Lessons from Life’s Storms

Throughout my life, people have shown up at the right moments to help me build resilience. My piano teacher was one of the first. She taught me that we all move to our own rhythm and that if someone doesn’t like my style, there will always be someone who does. This lesson carried me through times of uncertainty, reminding me that my worth isn’t dependent on external validation.

Near my 20th birthday, I met a man who would become my life partner. His unwavering love taught me the power of deep, unconditional support—the kind of foundation that makes a person feel truly unshakeable.

Like many actors and artists of the theater, I’ve had moments of struggle in my career. I’ve questioned my path, battled self-doubt, and wondered if I could truly build a life doing what I love. But every time I paused and listened to my inner voice, I was reminded of what brought me joy and fulfillment. My piano teacher’s wisdom resurfaced: I define who I am. It is my decision to create the life I want.

It took me nearly 60 years to fully embrace this realization. When I did, I looked around and saw so many others struggling just as I had. That’s when I knew my mission—to help others find their unshakeable life.

The Unshakeable Artist: Breaking Free from the Struggle

As a theater artist myself, having worked as an actor, dancer, director, and designer, I know firsthand the challenges creatives face. Too many talented artists find themselves:

Overworked and underpaid
Stuck in a cycle of rejection and inconsistent gigs
Struggling to turn their talent into a stable career
Wondering if it’s even possible to make a real living in the arts

But here’s the truth: ✅ You don’t have to struggle to do what you love. ✅ Talent alone isn’t enough—strategy and confidence matter. ✅ A thriving career is built, not wished for.

That’s why I created The Unshakeable Artist Program —to help creatives break free from uncertainty, book the gigs they want, and design a career that supports their dream lifestyle.

What Does It Mean to Be Unshakeable?

Being unshakeable doesn’t mean you won’t face challenges. It means you develop the mindset, strategies, and support system to weather any storm. Just like the willow tree, you grow deep roots so that when the winds of doubt, rejection, and uncertainty come, you bend but do not break.

The Unshakeable Artist Program Helps You:

�� Book more gigs with confidence
�� Get paid what you’re worth—no more undervaluing your skills
⏳ Create a sustainable career (without burnout)
�� Build a lifestyle that supports your creative passion

Most artists are never taught how to:

Position themselves for the right opportunities
Advocate for their worth without fear
Break free from the “starving artist” mindset
Design a career that brings both fulfillment and financial stability

If you’re tired of waiting for your big break and want real strategies to land consistently, fulfilling work—let’s connect.

�� Message me to learn more about The Unshakeable Artist Program and start booking the gigs you want!

Final Thoughts An unshakeable life is one built on purpose, passion, and resilience. Whether you’re an artist, entrepreneur, or someone seeking stability in your life, the journey starts by recognizing your worth, embracing your unique rhythm, and committing to creating a life that truly fulfills you.

The storms will come. But when you are deeply rooted, you will stand tall.

Are you ready to build your unshakeable life?

The Art of Transformation

Tue, 11 Mar 2025 22:48:04 GMT

Finding Your Voice, Creating Your Path, Changing the World

Transformation isn’t a single moment—it’s a journey.

It’s the choice to step beyond fear, embrace your creativity, and trust that your voice matters. As artists, we don’t just paint, write, dance, act, or compose. We transform —ourselves, our audiences, and the world around us.

I know what it’s like to be told, “You can’t.” As a child, I was denied the chance to join the choir, labeled as tone-deaf. But that moment, that setback , became the catalyst for my creative path. I found my voice through piano, acting, and storytelling. And more importantly, as my journey and life continued I found my purpose. I made it my mission to ensure that no artist—no matter their background, age, or obstacles—is ever turned away from their dreams.

True transformation happens when we step into our power, embrace community, and commit to something bigger than ourselves. That’s why I’m dedicated to helping artists not only find their voice but build a sustainable life doing what they love . It’s not just about creating—it’s about creating with purpose, with impact, with the confidence that what you do matters .

The world needs your story. Your art. Your presence. The world needs YOU !

Transformation begins the moment you believe in yourself. Do you know what it is you believe?

Maybe today, you do. But what about the days when you don’t? Imagine what would be possible if you believed in yourself ALL THE TIME.

I help people like you step forward. I help you create boldly. I partner with you and others like you to shape a world where artists thrive, where stories heal, and where creativity becomes the catalyst for change.

Are you ready to transform? Let’s build this future together. ��

Unlock Your Creative Potential

Wed, 05 Mar 2025 22:04:46 GMT

5 Steps to Turning Your Creativity into a Sustainable Career

Have you ever felt like your creative passion was meant for something bigger—but you weren’t sure how to make it a reality? Maybe you’ve been creating for years but struggle to turn your art into a sustainable career. Or perhaps you're just starting out and wondering how to navigate the journey from passion to profitability.

I know exactly how that feels. When I was younger, I was told I was tone-deaf and discouraged from pursuing music. But that didn’t stop me—I found my voice through piano, vocals, and acting. I faced obstacles, doubts, and setbacks, but I refused to let them define me. Instead, I turned my passion into my purpose, and over time, I built a career helping other artists do the same. Now, I’m dedicated to ensuring that no artist, writer, musician, or performer is turned away from exploring their artistic potential.

If this resonates with you, I invite you to join me for my upcoming workshop: 5 Steps to Turning Your Creativity into a Sustainable Career—where passion, purpose, and profitability come together to help you build a thriving artistic life.

Why This Workshop?

As creatives, we’re often told to pursue our passions, but rarely are we given a clear roadmap to success. Many artists, writers, musicians, and performers face challenges like inconsistent income, self-doubt, and navigating the business side of creativity. This workshop is designed to change that by providing actionable steps to transform your artistic gifts into a fulfilling, financially sustainable career.

What You’ll Learn:

During this interactive session, we’ll walk through five essential steps that will set you up for long-term success:

Clarify Your Creative Vision – Define your artistic identity, mission, and the impact you want to make.
Overcome Mindset Blocks – Address limiting beliefs, fears, and doubts that hold you back.
Build a Strong Foundation – Learn the key elements of branding, marketing, and audience connection.
Monetize Your Passion – Explore multiple income streams that align with your values and strengths.
Create a Sustainable Plan – Develop a strategy for consistent growth, creative fulfillment, and financial stability.

This workshop isn’t just about theory—it’s about real, practical steps that you can start applying immediately. Whether you’re a visual artist, writer, dancer, musician, or any creative business owner, you’ll leave with tools to move forward with confidence and clarity.

Who Is This For?

This workshop is perfect for creatives who:

Want to make a living doing what they love
Struggle with turning their passion into profit
Need guidance on how to share your passion and 'art' with the world
Are ready to step into their purpose and build a sustainable creative career

Join Us!

If you’re ready to take the next step in your creative journey, I’d love to see you at this workshop. Let’s bridge the gap between passion and profitability—so you can do what you love while making a meaningful impact in the world.

�� Date: Sunday March 9
�� Location: Virtual from 2 to 5 pm Pacific
�� Sign Up: Registration Link

Don’t let another year go by wondering what if?

Your creativity deserves to thrive, and you deserve to be paid for the incredible work you bring into the world. Let’s make it happen—together!

#PassionPurposeProfit #CreativeEntrepreneur #SustainableCareer

Vision

Mon, 03 Mar 2025 23:09:10 GMT

Seeing Beyond the Present to Create the Future

Five years ago, we all found ourselves stuck at home, facing an invisible threat that turned life upside down. Suddenly, everything we relied on—our routines, our work, our creative flow—was thrown into chaos. Sure, there were plenty of people working on solutions, but let’s be real… a lot of them didn’t make sense at first. And by the time the practical ones started showing up, we resisted them. Why? Because it didn’t matter what the solution was—all we knew was that we felt trapped, and when you feel trapped, you fight to break free.

But little by little, the world adjusted. Zoom, Google Meet, FaceTime, virtual meetups—all these tools became lifelines. Suddenly, it wasn’t just tech nerds using video calls; it was all of us. We found ways to connect, collaborate, and create, even when the old ways weren’t an option.

As a theater director, I was right there in the thick of it. Our show got canceled the week after the lockdown started, and like so many others in the performing arts, I was left scrambling. First, it was the heartbreak of losing the work we loved. Then, reality hit: How do we make a living now? For those of us without a financial safety net or a backup plan, it was terrifying.

And here’s the thing—some creatives are still struggling. I hear it all the time: Maybe I should just quit. Maybe I should get a “real job.” I get it. But here’s what I also know: Without a clear vision, it’s way too easy to give up.

Why Vision Matters More Than Ever

Vision isn’t just about dreaming big—it’s about having something strong enough to pull you through the tough times. It’s what keeps you going when the money isn’t coming in, when rejection piles up, when self-doubt creeps in. It’s what makes you sit down and refine your craft, put yourself out there, and

stay the course even when things feel impossible.

The creatives who make it? They’re not necessarily the most talented. They’re the ones who get really clear on their vision, mission, and purpose—and then build a roadmap to make it happen. They revisit it daily, weekly, monthly—adjusting as needed but never losing sight of where they’re headed.

So, What’s Next for You?

If you’re feeling stuck—or just ready to take your creative career to the next level—join me this Sunday, March 9th , for a workshop on Creating a Sustainable Career in Your Creative Genius .

In this workshop, we’ll dive into:
✔️ Getting clear on who you are and what your creative genius is.
✔️ Learning how to share your vision in a way that attracts opportunities.
✔️ Mapping out a real plan to build a sustainable career doing what you love.

Look, I know the road isn’t easy—but that doesn’t mean it’s impossible. With the right vision, strategy, and support, you can create a future where you’re thriving, not just surviving.

Let’s figure it out together. Hope to see you there.

Need more information email at coachcyndi@cyndithomsen.net or to Register follow this link .

Personal Brand

Sat, 01 Mar 2025 22:09:26 GMT

Be the Best You Can Be

“Today is the first day of the rest of our life, and it is our opportunity to be the best we can be.” I had no idea when I opened my mouth and said those words at my high school graduation that I would be creating my personal motto and brand. Fortunately, it was one that must have been at the core of who I am and what I believe because it is one that I have not had to try and hide.

You see, your personal motto or brand is the impression people have of you, based on your skills, values, and actions. I have been able to carry this with me in all areas of my life and have, in fact, built training programs, classes, and speeches around it.

When I meet a person for the first time or connect with someone whom I will be working with on a project, I usually ask what their personal motto or brand is. Why? Because if they have taken the time to distill what they stand for and believe in down to a key phrase, then I know that they have taken time to evaluate what they stand for and have a set of values that they will not diminish just to get the job done.

For creatives, a personal brand is especially vital. It is more than just a tagline or a logo—it is the essence of who we are, what we create, and how we impact others. In a world saturated with talent, our personal brand distinguishes us, making our work recognizable and our presence memorable. It communicates our unique artistic vision and the values that guide our creativity.

Building a personal brand requires authenticity. It is not about crafting a false image to please others but about aligning our external presence with our internal truths. When we show up as our best, most genuine selves, we attract the right opportunities, collaborators, and audiences. People trust consistency, and when our brand reflects our true selves, we create deeper connections and lasting impact.

Additionally, a strong personal brand serves as a foundation for growth. It gives us clarity in decision-making, ensuring that we take on projects that align with our purpose rather than simply chasing fleeting success. It also provides resilience—when faced with challenges, our brand reminds us why we started and will fuel our perseverance.

As creatives, we must remember that our personal brand is not stagnant; it evolves as we grow. Each new experience, project, and lesson refines our vision and deepens our impact. However, the core—the values we stand by and the authenticity we bring—remains unwavering.

To be the best we can be is not just about personal achievement but about the impact we have on others. When we commit to our brand with integrity, we inspire, uplift, and empower those around us. That is the most rewarding aspect of personal branding: not just defining who we are but using that identity to help others be the best they can be.

Not sure where to start to create your own personal brand statement or identity? Join me for an upcoming Workshop: 5 Steps to Turning Your Creativity into a Sustainable Career. We will begin by looking at your Unique Artistic Identity and Your Personal Brand.

For more information and register follow this link . Questions, email me at coachcyndi@cyndithomsen.net.

Building Community

Thu, 27 Feb 2025 20:26:50 GMT

Finding a Sense of Belonging in a Broken World

During the pandemic, Simon Sinek shared on a YouTube that “Humans are social animals. We seek belonging. We feel safer in a tribe than alone. But not all tribes are health.”

Boy oh Boy, did I get that. How about you?

The year of 2020 was difficult for each of us. In the spring of that year, I faced a need to support the big corporation I worked for and felt my integrity was being tested by their desire for me to do certain things. As the year waned on it got tougher. Then in the fall, I stepped into a leadership role in a non-profit organization I had only volunteered at in smaller roles since 1997. I soon discovered that there were two tribes and a very wide chasm between them. You may recall that this was remarkably like what was going on in our country at the time.

My leadership role for this organization called for me to try bridge the gap or make it smaller. I went on a mission to understand how to build community and create a sense of belongingness for each side. It was a journey to learn how to honor each person’s beliefs, feelings, and perspective AND to find a way to create a sense of unity toward a common mission. Being a person who has always believed that there is a connection between story and community building, I used this as a starting point. Why? I have always been a storyteller. First as an actor, singer, director, writer, and teacher. I have watched stories and music shift the mood, perspective, and attitude of groups of people. I wondered during this time in 2020 if my art form could help me with the task of creating a community and a sense of belonging in a group who felt disconnected and in opposition. The question became, could I help these two groups of people I love, understand one another, and find common ground so they could feel connected?

As is usually the case, the universe showed me a way. A podcast called Home Bound Oregon. I got to know Mark Yaconelli and learned he was the founder of The Hearth, a nonprofit that offers training for people who want to improve their storytelling skills while learning how to build and strengthen community within a transformative, collaborative, and supportive environment. His book, Between the Listening and Telling, helps the reader understand why stories are so important in the role of building shared understanding and community. I signed up for and dove headfirst into the nine-month long training to become a Certified Community Storyteller facilitator.

If you are like me, when you begin a journey of understanding you end up going down rabbit holes that lead you to new avenues of insight. That was the case as I journeyed with my cohort to The Hearth. Not only did I learn how to use stories to bring communities together, but we also learned how stories can help and create shared understanding. Through this training we also learned about other organizations who do similar work, Narrative4 and their Story Exchange. I fell in love with Story Exchange!

Narrative4 teacher’s facilitators go into classrooms, work environments, and boardrooms, to help build cultures of inclusivity and connectedness. A Story Exchange has those participating share their stories with a partner. The partner actively listens while their partner shares their story. Then the partner who has been listening then shares with the whole group the share they just heard. Sitting and watching this is awe inspiring as you watch a room where there have been conflicts and shift to one where there is a sharing of tears, laughter, and hugs show up as the community gets to know one another deeper.

As a coach of creative artists, performers, musicians, and such, it is important to build communities of connectedness especially in a world where it seems like we are losing our connectedness. It is important to find people with whom you can share yourself and know that they will honor your dreams, pains, and your challenges so that you can create, get inspiration, become engaged, and thrive in the world today.

Not familiar with the work I do. I work with artists, writers, dancers, musicians, actors, and creatives who feel called to express their truth, share their stories, and make a meaningful impact.

If you seek clarity in your creative path, want to overcome fear and self-doubt, and crave a supportive community that nurtures your growth, this is for you.

I help you cultivate presence, design a life that aligns with your purpose, and deeply explore your "why"—so you can strengthen your voice, step into your power, and create what you love with confidence, joy, and purpose. Along the way, you will also sharpen your craft and elevate your skills to new levels.

Join Us

Are you an artist ready to step into your power, define your creative path, and make a living doing what you love? We are here to support you every step of the way.

Connect with me today and become part of a thriving community that values creativity, passion, and purpose.

[Contact Us ] | [ Join the Movement ]

Overwhelmed and hating it?

Wed, 31 Jan 2024 19:00:06 GMT

Overwhelm has been my best teacher. Want to know why?

In 2020, I was working in the cruise industry. On a day in January, a guest called me from the middle of the Pacific Ocean to share they had just been told no port would let them dock. His question was, “How am I going to get home?”

After my initial shock, we had no idea what was happening and this was my first call of the day at 7 am Pacific. When my supervisor arrived, I asked, What is happening? I shared what I had been told by a guest and asked, what could I tell him when he called me back in a couple of hours. My supervisor's response was, “I am not sure.”

As we all know it was a few months later when we ALL were confronted with having “to move home” for work and school and everything else. Of course, when your whole family is at home 24/7 all sorts of things can happen, right? For me, during this time my emotional overwhelm and stress showed up daily. I had to confront things I had been avoiding for years. I found that overwhelm and stress had me…

On edge and snappy with those I loved most.
Not sleeping well and tired a lot of the time
Making poor decisions about food, exercise, and self-care because of overwhelm and stress.

During that time, I was introduced to embodiment practices that helped me manage my feelings of overwhelm and stress I was able to sleep better, make positive choices around self-care, including food and exercise, and rediscovered my joy.

I would love to know how overwhelm, is playing out in your life.

From my work with clients, I know that we all have at least one area in life that consistently brings stress and anxiety… And sometimes two or three areas…

How would your life change if you could shift your experience and be

Present and connected to those you love.
Productive and in flow.
Joyful.

I have created a Masterclass where you can stabilize your stressed-out system and get off the emotional rollercoaster of overwhelm.

This Masterclass will provide you with a powerful tool you can easily implement in your daily life to help you release stress and anxiety so you can find joy and ease in the ordinary moments of your life.

Move from Overwhelm to Joy and Ease

Monday, February 19 from 7 to 8:30 pm on Zoom

There is a cap of 20 participants to this Masterclass

Whispers from The Creative Connection

Sometimes the Universe Makes Us Stop

Listening for Clarity at the Still Point.

Sometimes the Universe Makes Us Stop

When Everything Looks Fine… But Something Feels Off

There is a quiet sense that the life you’re living no longer feels like home.

And yet, something feels off.

While many people feel this, we don’t talk about it.

But what if the discomfort isn’t a problem to fix?

It was a very quiet moment in fact.

An invitation hidden inside that “off” feeling.

Does this resonate?

Not lost. Standing at a threshold.

Does this reflection feel familiar?

Listening Before Deciding: A Reflection on Permission, Presence, and Choice

A personal reflection and invitation on Permission, Presence and Choice.

Listening for Clarity: A Reflection on Beginning Again

How pausing to listen can bring clarity at the start of a new chapter.

Compassion | A Reflection

A Reflection

Podcast Companion Introduction

The Reflection

Listener Invitation

What This Year Asked Me to Listen To...

A year-end reflection on listening, compassion, and beginning again

What This Year Asked Me to Listen To

Listening Beyond the Noise

What Slowed Me Down

The Quiet Wins

Carrying This Forward

A Year-End Listening Practice

Listening Together

From Mindfulness to Soul Alignment — Returning to What Matters Most

When the Body Speaks: Finding Your Voice, Your Calling & Your Next-Level Life

Companion Blog to This Week’s Creative Connection Podcast with Janet Doerr

Reclaim Your Voice & Glow Again: What Janet Bernstein Taught Us About Burnout, Brilliance, and Becoming Whole

And that is exactly what we talked about — what it takes to glow again without burning out.

�� The Wake-Up Call: When Your Spirit Says “No More”

✨ The G.L.O.W. Code: A Framework for Coming Home to Yourself

�� Shed What No Longer Fits

�� Trying New Things: The Spark That Reignites Your Fire

�� Community Is Where Our Power Returns

�� If You’ve Been Feeling the Pull to Begin Again…

�� Ready to Realign Your Own Voice & Vision?

Talent and Courage

The Call to Step Out and Create the Life You’re Passionate About Living

�� Talent Gets You Started — Courage Keeps You Growing

�� The Heartset Behind True Success

�� Stepping Into Action

�� An Invitation to Begin Again

✨ Because Here’s the Truth

Creating in a Judgmental World: The Courage to Keep Expressing

How Creativity Becomes a Pathway to Healing, Wholeness, and Freedom

Creating Space for Connection: How Love and Creativity Keep Us Growing

What 44 Years of Partnership Have Taught Us About Listening, Voice, and Renewal

�� The Space Between Notes

�� Creativity as Connection

�� The Practice of Listening

�� Looking Ahead: The Creative Spirit that Heals

�� Rooted in You: Coming Home to Yourself

Conscious Responding: The Power Formula for Love that Lasts

How Presence, Awareness, and Self-Leadership Transform Every Relationship

Unmuting Your Soul: Listening to the Power of Silence, Voice and Change

Silence is Where Your Soul Begins to Speak

When the Heart Speaks

Learning to quiet the mind, listen to your heart, and prepare to speak your truth.

�� When Mind Chatter Drowns Out the Heart

�� The Science of the Heart

�� A Simple Practice to Begin

�� A Gentle Reminder

�� Continue the Journey: Rooted In You Winter Circle

�� Reflection Prompt

�� Coming Next Week on The Creative Connection

The First Step to Reclaiming Your Voice and Vision

How slowing down helps you realign with what matters most.

�� What is Presence?

�� Why Mindfulness Matters for Voice & Vision

�� A Simple Practice to Begin

�� Coming Up on The Creative Connection

✨ An Invitation to Go Deeper

And that is exactly what we talked about —
what it takes to glow again without burning out.

Sometimes the bravest thing we can do isn’t charging ahead—it’s beginning again. Each fresh start invites us to release old stories, take one small step forward, and rediscover the courage to live in alignment with what truly matters.

Huzzah!
Cyndi