Brilliant Balance

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

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Follow Cherylanne on Instagram: www.instagram.com/cskolnicki

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This week, I'm joined by our newest Brilliant Balance coach and a certified Enneagram expert, Heather Warnke, for a conversation about the transformative power of the Enneagram. Whether you're a longtime fan of the Enneagram or just curious about this buzzworthy tool, you'll discover how finding your true Enneagram type can catalyze profound self-awareness, compassion, and growth.

We'll break down what the Enneagram really is, why we sometimes mistype ourselves, and how uncovering your correct type can reshape the way you lead, love, and live. For years, I thought I knew my Enneagram type, until Heather walked me through a new assessment, and everything changed.

This episode offers a glimpse into how discovering your core motivations can impact every part of your life, and practical wisdom to embrace your essence. Plus, I'll tell you how you can experience this next-level clarity for yourself with a unique opportunity to work directly with Heather and Brilliant Balance!

Show Highlights:

• Heather Warnke's background and Enneagram journey. [03:40]
• What is the Enneagram? [05:27]
• Subtleties of alike behaviors with unalike underlying motivations. [06:56]
• Avoiding Enneagram type misidentification. [10:14]
• How correct Enneagram typing leads to radical self-integration. [15:38]
• Managing "shadows" for healthy "strengths" expressions. [25:07]
• Why ongoing certified Enneagram guidance matters. [28:56]
• The "act, feel, think" tri-type approach to the Enneagram. [31:34]
• The powerful positive ripples from embodied change. [34:03]
• Announcing the new Brilliant Balance Enneagram offering. [35:33]

To book an Enneagram Intensive with Heather: https://brilliant-balance.com/enneagram

Subscribe to the Brilliant Balance Weekly: www.brilliant-balance.com/weekly

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In today's encore episode, I'm sharing one of my favorite mindset reminders: how to get comfortable being uncomfortable. Expecting and embracing discomfort is where real growth happens—personally and professionally.

I'll revisit a memorable parenting moment to show how stepping into discomfort creates growth, and share the mindset shifts I use with clients and family. If you're facing a new challenge or feeling stretched in your current chapter, this episode is for you. You'll get practical tips on why discomfort is normal, temporary, and totally survivable.

Join me for a fresh perspective and actionable insights to help you push past limits and step into new opportunities for brilliance!

Show Highlights:

• Who needs the lesson in this episode the most? [02:06]
• Beauty-is-pain heels vs. life's necessary discomfort. [03:24]
• The core story of a child who fears finishing a timed mile last. [05:01]
• Embrace discomfort instead of de-emphasizing it. [06:46]
• A strategy to visualize and anticipate discomfort. [07:41]
• The power of mindset over physical preparation. [11:07]
• Why you should not "tough it out" with discomfort. [14:33]
• Understanding the brain's primitive and evolved parts. [15:39]
• Patterns of growth through discomfort in coaching clients. [18:10]
• A warning about your inner critic. [21:42]

Subscribe to the Brilliant Balance Weekly: www.brilliant-balance.com/weekly

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Have you ever found yourself staring at a gratitude journal, knowing you have so much to be thankful for, but just not feeling it? This week, I'm sharing a candid look into why gratitude can feel so out of reach when we're tired, stressed, or running on empty, even as the world tells us it's the season to count our blessings.

As ambitious women with full plates and big dreams, it's easy to fall into the trap of forcing gratitude, but in this episode, I reveal why rest and presence (not pressure) are the secret ingredients. I'll show you how letting go of the "gratitude checklist" and learning to savor real moments can reignite that sense of appreciation you crave.

If you're ready for a fresh perspective on thankfulness that actually fits your busy, brilliant life, this episode is for you. Let's give ourselves permission to experience gratitude as it was meant to be…joyful, effortless, and truly rewarding.

Show Highlights:

• What is the gratitude gap? [00:49]
• The neurological reason fatigue blocks positive emotions. [02:55]
• The importance of rest to restore positivity. [05:41]
• Why forced gratitude doesn't enter the heart. [06:37]
• Vividly reliving, embodying, and savoring positive moments. [08:24]
• How the pace of life affects gratitude. [10:39]
• Research findings on mindful slowing and pausing. [12:28]
• Making "gratitude pauses" a threshold ritual. [13:33]
• The power of being grateful for small joys. [14:36]
• Inviting you to subscribe and gift someone this episode. [17:39]

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

Feeling like you're running on empty, no matter how hard you try to have it all together? Fresh from an inspiring BOLD retreat in Asheville, NC, today I'll share the real reason high-achieving women like us keep slipping back into burnout, even after we swear we've got it handled. It's not about willpower or your to-do list. Burnout is actually a biological loop that our bodies get stuck in, especially when the pace never seems to let up.

I'll walk you through the hidden mental loads we carry and why recovery needs to be built into our rhythm, not just crammed in when we're desperate for a break. You'll hear my top three strategies for breaking free from the burnout cycle and creating a life with energy, joy, and true freedom.

This episode is your invitation to a new chapter, to make room for brilliance—and finally normalize rest, reclaim your rhythm, and enjoy what you're working so hard to build!

Show Highlights:

• Healing with BOLD coaching group retreats. [00:51]
• Understand the pattern of the burnout backslide. [01:21]
• How burnout is biological, not a weakness. [03:27]
• The WHO definition of burnout and related data. [04:55]
• A powerful self-assessment guide for burnout. [05:52]
• Invisible mental and emotional overload. [06:32]
• The importance of energy audits to track depletion. [08:56]
• Why recovery must be rhythmic, not reactive. [09:39]
• The power of short breaks and scheduled rest. [11:10]
• Inviting you to connect, share this episode, and subscribe. [15:33]

Subscribe to the Brilliant Balance Weekly: www.brilliant-balance.com/weekl

Follow Cherylanne on Instagram: www.instagram.com/cskolnicki

Join the Brilliant Balance Facebook Group: www.facebook.com/groups/281949848958057

In this episode, I'm joined by Sheri Jacobs, an accomplished entrepreneur, bestselling author, keynote speaker, and passionate advocate for creative breakthroughs. She's here to help us rethink everything we know about boundaries!

We often hear that endless options drive innovation, but Sheri shows us how setting the right boundaries can actually ignite creativity and teamwork. She brings impactful stories and inspiration, from her arctic wildlife photography adventures to behind-the-scenes moments with leading companies like Bank of America, demonstrating how a few smart limits can lead to sharper solutions. She shares practical ways to create more clarity and space for what matters, at work and at home, even while juggling busy family lives and bold aspirations.

If you feel overwhelmed by all you "should" be doing or struggle to find space for your passions, this episode offers fresh tools to help you choose what truly matters and design your most vibrant season yet. Listen in to learn how setting sensible limits can spark your next great idea.

Show Highlights:

• Sheri Jacobs' wisdom on boundaries with a Miles Davis insight. [02:08]
• The myth that boundaries restrict rather than provide clarity. [03:50]
• How fewer options within constraints led to a winning arctic wildlife photo. [05:01]
• Tatiana Goodman's findings on how fences foster creative play. [09:28]
• Why Bank of America's "Keep the Change" program is successful. [12:33]
• Advice for women to break through ceilings by narrowing focus. [15:14]
• Beat FOMO and overwhelm with a priority correction. [16:53]
• How to get more done by setting a firm bedtime. [19:36]
• The power of a capsule wardrobe and curbing fashion excess. [21:36]
• Where are you not setting yourself free by creating a boundary? [22:46]

To find Sheri's work and her books, go to https://www.sherijacobs.com/.

Subscribe to the Brilliant Balance Weekly: www.brilliant-balance.com/weekly

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Join the Brilliant Balance Facebook Group: www.facebook.com/groups/281949848958057

In this episode, I'm inviting you to join me for a much-needed Q4 energy check. As I head off to host a rejuvenating fall retreat with my BOLD coaching circle at the beautiful Grove Park Inn, I want to bring you into that vibe right here on the show.

If your calendar is starting to feel like a pressure cooker—with work deadlines, kids' activities, and holiday plans piling up—I get it. You're not alone. I'll walk you through a practical, honest self-audit to help you identify what's draining you and what's fueling you, and I'll share small but powerful strategies to restore your energy before year's end.

From finding those micro-breaks in your day, to setting healthier boundaries, and making space for what truly matters, and whether you're approaching exhaustion or simply want to preserve your spark this season, this episode is your permission slip to prioritize your well-being so you can finish the year feeling energized, present, and brilliant!

Show Highlights:

• BOLD coaching circle fall retreat and restorative self-care. [00:51]
• The importance of energy management in Q4. [02:45]
• How to give yourself an energy audit. [04:39]
• Rituals that make you feel "healthy, whole, and human." [08:36]
• Embrace micro-breaks for energy. [11:00]
• Saying the unselfish "no" to protect your bandwidth. [12:35]
• Planning ahead for the Q4 holiday chaos and fewer workweeks. [14:21]
• Remember that the end of the year is just a milestone. [17:07]
• Have you signed up for "The Weekly" newsletter? [20:35]

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

In today's episode, I'm exploring a topic that impacts all of us—falling into the "Comparison Trap."

Have you ever felt perfectly content with your life until a quick scroll through Instagram left you questioning if you were doing enough? I'll share a personal story about a recent episode of backyard envy to show just how quickly other people's highlight reels can undermine our own satisfaction. I'll walk you through three powerful truths about comparison: how it drains your energy, distorts reality, and distracts you from your true purpose.

If you're ready to stop measuring yourself against others and want to reclaim the joy and momentum in your own journey, this episode will help you break the cycle and focus on your unique path to brilliance.

Show Highlights:

• A personal story of the instant impact of Instagram comparison. [00:49]
• The hidden energy cost of comparison. [04:53]
• How comparison distorts perspective. [08:55]
• Recognizing the illusion of perfection and unseen struggles. [11:06]
• What comparison does to purpose. [13:18]
• Embrace the philosophy of running your own race. [15:05]
• How to weaken comparison with purpose. [15:41]
• Why is it important to celebrate others? [17:12]
• The sign that you haven't yet found your path. [18:19]
• Action steps and reflection. [19:29]

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

If you feel like your calendar is running your life, this episode is for you. Today, I'm shining a light on a struggle so many ambitious women know all too well…the trap of overcommitment. Why do we automatically say yes before we've even thought things through? How do we stop equating being needed with being valuable?

I'm exploring how our standards of what's reasonable might be setting us up for exhaustion, and the profound difference intentionally creating white space in our schedules can make before we desperately need it. I'll share personal stories and real-world strategies to help you slow down the reflexive yes and redefine what's actually reasonable for the seasons of life.

If you're ready for more breathing room and less burnout, this episode is your perfect starting point.

Show Highlights:

• The reality of overcommitment. [00:50]
• Awareness of the automatic "Yes" Reflex. [03:28]
• The power of the pause—and learning to say no. [04:59]
• Your standards of what's "reasonable" to take on. [08:03]
• Let others step up with self-compassion. [10:45]
• Building white space before you need it. [13:20]
• Why you need to protect your calendar. [16:55]
• Experiment with one shift and observe the impact. [17:19]
• Inviting you to share and try BOLD for community strength. [17:39]

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

In today's show, I'm trying something new—an "Ask Cherylanne" episode where I'm answering real-life questions from listeners just like you. We're digging into topics around from balance to burnout, from caregiving to commutes, and handling imposter syndrome, especially during major career changes.

Drawing from my coaching experience and personal journey, I'm sharing practical tips and relatable insights that you can easily put into action. I'll also let you in on my "golden rule" for maintaining balance, no matter how hectic life becomes.

So, settle in for some honest coaching that just might help you in the week ahead. And if this sparks questions of your own, reach out via DM or email because what you ask just may inspire a future episode!

Show Highlights:

• Introducing the "Ask Cherylanne" special episode format. [00:43]
• Inverting resilience-building practices to combat burnout. [04:48]
• Advice for sandwich generation struggles. [07:28]
• Why emotional processing with external support matters. [11:18]
• Making commutes meaningful with a dual purpose. [12:27]
• Imposter syndrome during a career change. [16:07]
• Do you have a "wins" file? [17:52]
• Discover the golden rule for peace and balance. [19:27]
• How to send in your questions for future Q&A episodes. [21:26]

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