Brilliant Balance

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Happy New Year! As we kick off the new year with a fresh season of possibilities and clean, blank calendar pages, the pressure to make "just right" choices can trip us up in our careers and personal lives, or even when managing our week. So, today, I'm discussing the myth of the "perfect choice." I'm taking a close look at how perfectionism and procrastination go hand in hand, keeping us from taking action. I'll share my honest experiences and a practical framework to help you break out of analysis paralysis, with a gentle reminder that progress happens when we act, not when we wait for certainty—it's movement, not perfection, that creates clarity and momentum. Plus, I have a free live workshop lined up to help you reclaim your week. Let's make this your year of progress, one bold decision at a time!  Show Highlights: Why the New Year's fresh start can get overwhelming. [00:50] The disguises of perfectionism and procrastination. [02:05] The "perfect choice" myth vs. multiple good choices. [02:54] What waiting costs in facets of real life. [04:16] How clarity comes after taking the first step, not before. [07:45] A four-step framework to overcome perfection paralysis. [08:44] Do you face paralysis in everyday, small decisions? [10:47] Pattern correction with a "life in miniature" view of the week. [11:52] Upcoming free live workshop: "Make Your Week Work for You" [13:52] A word of caution to protect your time for the workshop. [15:18] Register for my free workshop"Make Your Week Work for You": https://brilliant-balance.com Subscribe to the Brilliant Balance Weekly: www.brilliant-balance.com/weekly Follow Cherylanne on Instagram: www.instagram.com/cskolnicki  

Ready to make this your most extraordinary year yet—without the pressure of unrealistic resolutions? In this episode, I'm challenging the usual approach to New Year's resolutions and sharing a refreshing perspective to kick off your year. As we head into January, it's so easy to get caught up in creating grand resolutions and making bold promises for change. But as I discuss, these resolutions often burn bright and then quickly fizzle, leaving us feeling frustrated or behind. Instead, I'm inviting you to focus on something much more powerful—making small, intentional choices every day. I'll explain why these smaller, consistent decisions matter far more than sweeping resolutions and how they can help you become the best version of yourself, step by step. Tune in and step into a year without the pressure of traditional resolutions!  Show Highlights: Rethinking New Year's resolutions. [00:46] Inviting you to sign up for BRAVE for deeper change. [02:19] The power of small choices vs. broad resolutions. [04:06] Making the best choice in the present with agility. [06:32] Why meaningful progress is invisible and courageous. [09:27] Choosing the next right step toward lasting transformation. [11:02] Becoming your best self, not a whole new you. [12:44] We're here to support you with BOLD and BRAVE in 2026. [13:13] If you're ready to make courageous choices that create a life you love, join the BRAVE waitlist today: https://brilliant-balance.com/brave Subscribe to the Brilliant Balance Weekly: www.brilliant-balance.com/weekly Follow Cherylanne on Instagram: www.instagram.com/cskolnicki

Today, I want to talk with you about giving yourself permission to pause. As we move through a season that's usually packed with busyness and long to-do lists, I'm inviting you to slow down—truly rest and enjoy the present moment without feeling guilty or needing to justify it. In this episode, I'm sharing why stepping out of your normal routine, even just for a little while, can help you feel more clear-headed, creative, and connected with the people around you. I believe taking this kind of pause sets us up to enter the new year feeling grounded and restored. Let's let go of the constant push for productivity and embrace a week of presence, laughter, and simple joy, and enjoy what happens when we allow ourselves to just be. Happy Holidays!  Show Highlights: Permission to pause and rest this holiday. [00:48] Challenging the urge to use downtime for productivity. [01:50] Embracing presence and the magic of slowing down. [03:06] The personal benefits of pausing. [05:52] Explicit permission to release productivity guilt. [06:38] Will you join the collective pause this holiday? [07:51] If you're ready to make courageous choices that create a life you love, join the BRAVE waitlist today: https://brilliant-balance.com/brave Subscribe to the Brilliant Balance Weekly: www.brilliant-balance.com/weekly Follow Cherylanne on Instagram: www.instagram.com/cskolnicki

Today, I'm discussing the hidden cost of playing it safe, a topic that's secretly all too familiar for women with strong track records of achievement. If you feel restless for that next big leap, yet find yourself sticking to the safe and predictable path, or even avoiding measured, everyday growth opportunities, this episode is for you. I'll help you rethink what responsibility and excellence truly mean, and shed light on why we avoid risk and how to start taking meaningful, supported risks to bring more growth and fulfillment into our lives. From navigating childhood patterns of perfectionism to confronting the fears that keep us boxed in, the insights I'm sharing will help you shift from stagnation to flowing brilliance. This conversation is your invitation to stop shrinking your possibilities and start stretching into your potential and a vibrant next chapter designed just for you!  Show Highlights: Risk aversion in successful women and its disguises. [01:00] The excellence trap of achievement. [04:06] Early social conditioning behind risk aversion. [06:09] Fears that drive safety-seeking behavior. [06:41] Considering the risk of end-of-life regrets. [09:36] How safety breeds stagnation and resentment. [10:15] Is risk-taking a learnable skill? [12:24] My big swing with the Brave initiative. [13:36] How to take your next "Brave" step with Brilliant Balance. [15:25] If you're ready to make courageous choices that create a life you love, join the BRAVE waitlist today: https://brilliant-balance.com/brave Subscribe to the Brilliant Balance Weekly: www.brilliant-balance.com/weekly Follow Cherylanne on Instagram: www.instagram.com/cskolnicki

Do you feel like your life ticks all the right boxes, yet something's missing under the surface? This week, I'm discussing a surprising paradox many high-achieving women experience—what happens when our dream lives look perfect and applaudable from the outside, but fail to bring fulfillment on the inside. If you've been performing instead of living or started to sense that your ladder to success has been up against the wrong wall, this episode is for you. I'm sharing how to spot the performance trap and signals of misaligned success, plus practical strategies for reconnecting with your essence, auditing energy-drainers, and letting go of obligations that no longer serve you. Let's break the cycle of discontent together and claim a lighter, more satisfying life that both looks and feels great. Are you ready to make your next chapter the one that's truly yours?  Show Highlights: External success vs. inner fulfillment. [00:50] The hidden cost of living for achievement-based validation. [02:00] Rethinking success and missed inflection points. [04:43] The cycle of overwhelm, apathy, and resentment. [06:24] Four powerful signals of misalignment from your true self. [09:00] Permission to change. [13:37] Are you clear on what you really want? [15:20] How to audit what's draining your energy. [16:48] The power of purposely dropping a habitual obligation. [18:14] Check out the new "Brave" program if you're ready for support. [20:19] If you're ready to make courageous choices that create a life you love, join the BRAVE waitlist today: https://brilliant-balance.com/brave Subscribe to the Brilliant Balance Weekly: www.brilliant-balance.com/weekly Follow Cherylanne on Instagram: www.instagram.com/cskolnicki

As this year winds down, I'm inviting you to give it the fully present ending it deserves before you jump ahead to all that next year holds. In this episode, I'm sharing my favorite ways to embrace December with intention, whether that means finishing strong, leaning into rest, or striking a balance between the two. I'll prompt you to reflect on what you're ready to release, and what you still want to accomplish (minus the pressure or perfectionism), trading burnout for brilliance and making space for the magic that lives in the present moment. Plus, I'm sharing an exciting sneak peek into Brave, my brand-new community for women who are ready to make the courageous choices that create a life you love. Let's make these last weeks of the year count!  Show Highlights: The transition between holidays in this festive season. [00:49] My "Be where you are" mantra. [02:40] Finishing strong as a pathway to end the year well. [04:34] Why calling it is a valid way to close out the year. [06:34] Embracing the choice to rest. [09:05] Entering the middle path at the year-end. [10:25] Two powerful reflective questions for December. [13:37] A peek at Brilliant Balance's brand new "Brave" community. [14:53] How to get on the waitlist for "Brave." [18:09] If you're ready to make courageous choices that create a life you love, join the BRAVE waitlist today: https://brilliant-balance.com/brave Subscribe to the Brilliant Balance Weekly: www.brilliant-balance.com/weekly Follow Cherylanne on Instagram: www.instagram.com/cskolnicki

In this episode, we're looking at how we unintentionally contribute to our own holiday overwhelm, and how we can make choices this season that actually work FOR us instead of against us. The holidays are meant to sparkle with joy, but we all know firsthand how it feels to get caught in the whirlwind of picture-perfect expectations (miles of twinkling lights and Pinterest-worthy cookies anyone?). I'm sharing how to take back control, set boundaries, and actually enjoy the season instead of running yourself into the ground. You'll learn why doing less isn't a failure (it's liberation) and how giving yourself permission to break traditions or to call in support can make all the difference. I'll offer my favorite practical ways to simplify and clarify what matters most, so you create a holiday that feels magical instead of exhausting. Let's say yes to more connection and a whole lot less chaos this holiday season, and create celebrations that are both meaningful and manageable.  Show Highlights: Permission to savor the season stress-free. [00:48] What do you want to feel this holiday season? [04:58] Freedom to delegate and outsource holiday tasks. [06:46] Being honest about self-created overwhelm. [08:18] Why doing less for the holidays is not failing. [10:39] The joy of spontaneity in breaking with tradition. [13:08] An extended-family gift exchange idea over individual gift giving. [14:04] Tips to manage holiday preparations like a project. [15:56] Setting boundaries around holiday participation. [19:27] The value of connection over perfection. [21:09] Download the Brilliant Balance holiday planning guide. [22:37] To download my Holiday Planning Guide: https://brilliant-balance.com/holiday Subscribe to the Brilliant Balance Weekly: www.brilliant-balance.com/weekly Follow Cherylanne on Instagram: www.instagram.com/cskolnicki Join the Brilliant Balance Facebook Group: www.facebook.com/groups/281949848958057