Have you ever noticed that being in a leadership positionmysteriously activates old childhood patterns? In this powerful episode of Burnout to Thriving, host Cecilia Mannella explores the fascinating connectionbetween leadership roles and our earliest family dynamics.

Whether you're leading a team of two or running a service-based business, discover why vulnerability is essential for building trust and how your childhood experiences might be influencing your leadership style in ways you haven't realized.

Key Insights:

As Cecilia shares from her coaching experience, our first"team" was our family of origin, which explains why leadership often triggers childhood patterns. When we encounter conflict, difficult decisions, or performance pressures as leaders, we might default to coping mechanisms established in childhood. The good news? By becoming aware of these patterns, we can consciously choose to align with our leadership values instead of beingcontrolled by outdated responses.

Drawing from both her clients' experiences and her ownjourney as a first-born child of immigrant parents, Cecilia illustrates how perfectionism and emotional guardedness can interfere with authentic leadership. She emphasizes that trying to be "perfect" actually undermines trust—what builds connection is showing up with vulnerability and authenticity.

Final Thoughts:

As Cecilia reminds us, the goal isn't to be a perfect leaderbut a "good enough" leader who shows up with awareness,self-reflection, and a willingness to do things differently. By focusing on what you want to grow rather than what you want to eliminate, you create sustainable leadership that honours both your values and humanity.

Are you tired of Instagram-perfect bubble baths and expensive spa days being sold to you as "self-care"? In this eye-opening episode of Burnout to Thriving, Cecilia Mannella dives into the surprising political origins of self-care and how it transformed from a revolutionary act of resistance to a $450 billion industry that's more about selling products than actual wellness.

Self-care wasn't always about rose-all-day and bubble baths. What began as a political movement by Black Panthers creating free healthcare clinics and feminists establishing women's health collectives has transformed into a commercialized industry. The original intent was resistance against medical racism and patriarchal control over women's bodies – a far cry from today's Instagram-worthy self-care aesthetic.

What's particularly troubling about this evolution is how capitalism has positioned self-care as something you need to purchase. When we feel overwhelmed, the solution marketed to us requires spending money on products and services, creating a system where wellness becomes accessible only to those with financial means. But authentic self-care isn't about consumption – it's about boundaries, rest, and challenging the exploitative logic of a system that profits from our exhaustion.

• You're exhausted by the commercialized version of self-care that feels more like a to-do list than actual rest
• You struggle with setting boundaries and saying "no" to demands on your time and energy
• You feel constantly connected to technology and can't remember the last time you experienced true boredom
• You're ready to challenge hustle culture and redefine what caring for yourself actually means
• You want practical strategies to reclaim rest without spending money or adding more to your plate

• Do a Needs Audit: Regularly assess your actual needs versus conditioned wants
• Develop Consumption Awareness: Notice when your self-care becomes primarily about purchasing
• Practice Permission: Actively give yourself permission for rest and boundaries
• Integrate Community Care: Balance individual wellness with mutual support systems
• Analyze Structural Factors: Connect personal exhaustion to systemic issues rather than internalizing them
• Focus on Joy Metrics: Measure wellbeing through joy, connection and purpose instead of productivity

• Free Download: Journaling for Ambitious Women - 5 Days to Better Boundaries
• Book a compatibility call with Cecilia

Are you constantly frustrated with the people in your life not stepping up? Do you find yourself doing everything because "it's just easier" to do it yourself? In this powerful episode of Burnout to Thriving, host Cecilia Mannella explores how high-achieving women inadvertently train the people around them to underperform by consistently overperforming themselves.

You'll discover why letting the ball drop might be the most important leadership skill you're not using.

• Why women's tendency to overperform and overcompensate is actively reinforcing underperformance in others
• How the feedback loop of praise for "doing it all" traps women in cycles of exhaustion and resentment
• Why your actions speak louder than your words when delegating responsibilities
• The critical importance of allowing others to experience the discomfort of failure
• Four practical steps to break the cycle and train people to step up and take responsibility

The core insight of this episode is surprisingly simple yet profoundly challenging to implement: how we treat someone is how they will behave. When we treat people (colleagues, partners, children) as if they're incapable of handling responsibilities, they internalize that message and act accordingly.

As Cecilia explains, "If I treat someone as if they can't, they will show up with the 'I can't' mentality, but if I treat someone as if they can, and I actually believe they have the skillset and I'm willing to let the ball drop... you will see a huge change in working relationships."

This pattern transcends all aspects of life—from leadership in business to relationships at home. The solution isn't doing more; it's strategically doing less and allowing natural consequences to create growth.

• You're exhausted from constantly picking up the slack for others in your work or home life
• You find yourself frustrated that others aren't meeting your standards or expectations
• You're tired of nagging and micromanaging the people around you
• You feel resentful about carrying the invisible emotional labor in your relationships
• You want to build others' confidence and capabilities without burning yourself out
• You're ready to set stronger boundaries with yourself and others

Cecilia offers a practical four-step process to break the cycle of overperformance:

1. Start small: Choose a less critical task to practice letting go
2. Communicate clearly: Be explicit about who is responsible (no hinting or ambiguity)
3. Set clear expectations: Define consequences for tasks not being completed
4. Follow through: Be prepared to sit with the discomfort of things not being done perfectly—or at all

Ready to stop exhausting yourself while actually empowering those around you? Listen now to discover how letting the ball drop might be the leadership breakthrough you've been looking for. If you found this episode valuable, please leave a review, hit the follow button, and share with other high-achieving women who might be trapped in the overperformance cycle.

Interested in working together? Fill out this fun QUESTIONNAIRE and find out!

Are you constantly the unofficial therapist in your workplace? The one remembering birthdays, managing team conflicts, and smoothing everyone's emotional wrinkles? In this eye-opening episode of Burnout to Thriving, Cecilia Mannella dives into the exhausting reality of emotional labor – that invisible weight high-achieving women carry that leads to burnout. Learn the science behind this gendered burden and discover practical strategies to lighten your load without being labeled "difficult."

Episode Highlights:

- The surprising history of emotional labor research (it was only recognized in 1983!)

- Why women do 2.5 times more emotional labor in heterosexual relationships

- How the "office mom" trap creates career-limiting non-promotable tasks

- The hidden health costs: increased inflammation, suppressed immunity, and heart disease risks

- Liberation strategies to make the invisible visible and reclaim your energy

- The revolutionary power of "strategic incompetence" to create lasting change

Key Insights:

This episode explores how emotional labor evolved from a workplace concept to a gendered burden. Women face a double bind – rewarded for emotional caretaking yet professionally penalized for refusing these tasks. Research shows 61% of women regularly perform non-promotable emotional labor tasks, creating a compounding cycle of stress that has real physical consequences. As Dr. Amelia and Emily Nagoski's research in "Burnout" confirms, this invisible work isn't just mentally draining – it's physiologically damaging, with measurable impacts on inflammation markers and immune function.

Perfect For You If:

- You're a high-achieving woman who feels pulled in too many directions

- You find yourself managing everyone's emotions at work AND home

- You're tired of being the communication bridge between teams and departments

- You've noticed your health suffering from chronic stress and overwhelm

- You're ready to set boundaries without being labeled "difficult"

- You want practical strategies to make others carry their emotional weight

Resources Mentioned:

- "Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking Stress Cycles" by Dr. Amelia Nagoski and Emily Nagoski

- "Fed Up: Emotional Labor, Women, and the Way Forward" by Gemma Hartley

- Free Mini-Course: Journaling for Ambitious Women https://www.ceciliamannella.com/journaling-for-ambitious-women

Ready to lighten your invisible load and move from burnout to thriving? Listen now and take the challenge to let one ball drop this week – you might be surprised by who picks it up (or if it even needed picking up at all).

Are you exhausted from constantly trying to make everyone like you? In this powerful episode of Burnout to Thriving, host Cecilia Mannella challenges the deeply ingrained "Good Girl" conditioning that keeps professional women stuck in cycles of people-pleasing and burnout.

• Why our evolutionary need for belonging drives people-pleasing behaviors
• The hidden cost of wearing the "Good Girl" mask in your professional and personal life
• How to identify whether you're hustling for approval from people who don't share your values
• Practical strategies for showing up authentically, even when it means being "unlikable"
• The transformative power of investing in relationships with people who truly align with your values

Cecilia introduces a revolutionary perspective on likability: instead of trying to make everyone like you, focus on being liked by people who ARE like you. This subtle but powerful shift can lead to more authentic relationships and reduced burnout.

Drawing from Dr. Brené Brown's research on belonging, this episode explores how our ancestral need for tribal connection influences modern relationship patterns. Learn why the "Good Girl" mask might feel safe but ultimately leads to disconnection from your authentic self.

• You're a high-achieving professional woman feeling drained from constant people-pleasing
• You struggle with setting boundaries for fear of being disliked
• You're ready to break free from perfectionism and embrace authentic leadership
• You want to build deeper, more meaningful relationships without sacrificing your true self

• Dr. Brené Brown's research on belonging
• Anthropological studies on tribal communities
• The concept of moral injury in relation to stress

Ready to reclaim your authentic voice and stop exhausting yourself trying to please everyone? This episode provides actionable insights for professional women ready to thrive on their own terms.

Listen now and join the conversation about redefining success without sacrificing your authenticity.

Episode Highlights:Key Insights:Perfect For You If:Resources Mentioned:

Grab your FREE Seven Days of Journaling Guide:www.ceciliamannella.com/journalingforwomen

In this episode of the Burnout to Thriving Podcast, Cecilia Mannella guides us through the intricacies of responding to stress in our lives—whether it comes from work, relationships, or parenting. By acknowledging how our physiological responses are rooted in our evolutionary past, we can start to view stress differently and engage with it more effectively.

Cecilia explains that our modern-day stressors are perceived by our brains as threats, triggering ancient survival mechanisms designed to protect us from immediate physical dangers. In a world where threats are rarely life-threatening animals, but rather demanding jobs and complex relationships, the same physiological responses can leave us feeling overwhelmed and powerless.

Cecilia encourages a shift from stress management to intentional response, rooted in personal values and self-understanding. By recognizing your body's unique stress signals—whether that's tense shoulders or headaches—and aligning your reactions to your core values, you can empower yourself and avoid reactivating old narratives or trauma.

Listeners are guided to explore their values and use them as a framework to consciously decide how to engage with stress. This thoughtful approach reduces stress levels and cultivates a sense of power and control, avoiding the temptation of perfectionism. Discover how simple actions and mindset shifts can profoundly improve your stress experience.

Tune in to harness the power of curiosity and creativity, drawing from personal stories and practical advice. If you found this episode enlightening, share it with others who might benefit. Don't forget to rate, subscribe, and follow the podcast for more empowering discussions on thriving in a messy world.

Resources:

• Get access to Cecilia's Seven Days of Journaling Guide at

  www.ceciliamannella.com/journalingforwomen

Let's connect:

• Instagram:

  https://www.instagram.com/burnouttothrivingpodcast/

Disclaimer: The information provided in this podcast is for educational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for professional advice. Always consult with a qualified therapist or healthcare provider for personalized guidance.

In this transformative episode of Burnout to Thriving Podcast, rebranded to focus on empowering women, we tackle the enduring and complex subject of boundaries.

Boundaries are not just about saying 'no'; they're an evolving practice that enables you to love yourself without self-sacrifice, allowing you to be close to others without losing your sense of self. Host Cecilia Mannella delves into personal stories and societal expectations that shape the 'perfect woman' and 'good girl' narratives, emphasizing the importance of moving away from these scripts.

Cecilia discusses the pervasive guilt that often undermines boundary-setting and shares a candid anecdote about a recent personal experience in which she slipped back into old "good girl" behaviours. This underscores the ongoing, non-linear journey toward self-awareness and growth.

The discussion encourages listeners to reflect on how they've been taught to be selfless and prioritize future aspirations. It introduces the innovative concept of consulting a 'future you'—a version of yourself living the life you dream of. You're invited to imagine your future self and derive wisdom from her. She uses her insight to guide present-day decisions and identify barriers that hold you back from your true desires.

For meaningful progress, Cecilia suggests embracing life's messiness, valuing personal values over external expectations, and taking actionable steps toward a future that aligns with your dreams and goals. This episode is an invitation to rewrite the rulebook, say yes to yourself, and truly thrive as a woman in today's world.

Resources:

Thank you for joining today's episode. If you found it insightful, please share it with others who might benefit from it. Don't forget to rate, subscribe, and follow the podcast for more empowering conversations.

Join the FREE goal-setting workshop www.ceciliamannella.com/2025

In this episode of Mental Makeover Radio, we delve into the complex and often challenging topic of grief, especially as it intersects with the holiday season. Grief is a universal human experience that can become even more pronounced during a time typically associated with joy and togetherness. I discuss how grief shows up uninvited, stays as long as it wants, and leaves on its own terms, making it impossible to control or avoid.

As a young widow and as a professional working with individuals navigating various forms of loss, from the death of loved ones to the end of marriages and careers - I’ve learned how to show up for others as well as how to care for yourself. Our culture, particularly in the West, struggles with accepting and talking about grief, often treating it as something to be minimized or ignored.

For those experiencing grief during the holidays, I emphasize the importance of acceptance and compassion. It's crucial to acknowledge and name your grief, make space for it, and understand that it stems from love. I encourage listeners to ask themselves what they need during this time and to communicate those needs to others, setting boundaries as necessary.

For those supporting someone who is grieving, I stress the importance of showing up, even if you don't know what to say. Avoidance can be incredibly isolating for the person grieving. Instead, be present, ask about their loved one, and offer practical support. Simple gestures can make a significant difference.

Ultimately, this episode aims to inspire listeners to make space for grief, show up for others, and foster genuine human connections during the holiday season. I hope it serves as a bridge to better understanding and support within relationships. If you found this episode helpful, please share it with others who might benefit from it. Don't forget to rate, subscribe, and follow the podcast for more insightful episodes.

For those interested in setting value-driven goals for the new year, I invite you to join my free mini-course. Details can be found at www.ceciliamanella.com/2025

Resources:

Connect with Cecilia Mannella on her Website 

Let's get social

Instagram ⁠https://www.instagram.com/mentalmakeoverradio/⁠ 

Facebook ⁠https://www.facebook.com/mentalmakeoverradio⁠ 

Disclaimer: The information provided in this podcast is for educational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for professional advice. Always consult with a qualified therapist or healthcare provider for personalized guidance.

Join the FREE goal-setting workshop www.ceciliamannella.com/2025

We live in a culture that is heavily outcome-focused. Whether it's achieving a financial goal, completing a marathon, or resolving conflicts in relationships, we tend to fixate on the end result. However, this obsession can often lead to short-lived satisfaction and a lack of long-term fulfillment.

Some fascinating research on marathon runners, reveals that those who enjoyed and shared their training process experienced greater fulfillment than those who focused solely on completing the marathon. This insight underscores the importance of valuing the journey over the destination.

The episode explores how this concept applies to various types of relationships, including romantic partnerships, friendships, and professional interactions. In couples therapy, for instance, the focus should be on developing a respectful and understanding process for handling conflicts, rather than merely aiming to eliminate disagreements.

I discuss how being process-focused can lead to personal growth, skill development, and unexpected opportunities. This approach is particularly crucial for long-term goals that may take months or years to achieve. By enjoying the process, we can avoid the pitfalls of feeling unfulfilled even after reaching our goals.

Listeners are encouraged to shift their focus from outcomes to processes. I suggest starting with a small adjustment, such as moving from a 90% outcome focus to a 60-40 balance and eventually aiming for a 90% process focus. This shift can lead to a more joyful, fulfilling, and successful life.

To help you implement these ideas, I announce a free, four-day workshop starting January 1st. This workshop will guide you through a value-driven goal-setting process that emphasizes the importance of enjoying the journey. You can sign up at www.ceciliamanella.com/2025

Links

Resources:

Connect with Cecilia Mannella on her Website 

Let's get social

Instagram ⁠https://www.instagram.com/mentalmakeoverradio/⁠ 

Facebook ⁠https://www.facebook.com/mentalmakeoverradio⁠ 

Disclaimer: The information provided in this podcast is for educational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for professional advice. Always consult with a qualified therapist or healthcare provider for personalized guidance.

Join the FREE goal-setting workshop https://www.ceciliamannella.com/2025

In this episode of Mental Makeover Radio, I had the pleasure of speaking with Chelsea Pagan, a family law attorney and premarital expert. Chelsea is a Family Law attorney and mediator with a passion for Premarital Planning. She has over a decade of experience litigating family issues and has used that experience to build a premarital planning course aimed at helping couples prepare their marriage for success without paying expensive lawyers and therapists to walk them through what they need to learn to do on their own. She is a prenup advocate and loves to talk about all things relationship and marriage, including on her own Podcast, Forever, but not always. Chelsea shared her journey from aspiring sports agent to becoming a dedicated family law practitioner. We delved into her transition from focusing on divorce litigation to emphasizing mediation and premarital planning, especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Chelsea highlighted the significant increase in prenups and the evolving dynamics of modern relationships. She noted that many of her recent clients are women who are high earners, reflecting a shift in gender roles and financial awareness. We discussed the importance of financial transparency and planning before marriage, debunking the myth that prenups are only for the wealthy.

Chelsea also emphasized the necessity of discussing potential future scenarios with partners, such as financial disclosures, family support, and parenting plans. She believes that these conversations build trust and emotional intimacy, setting a strong foundation for a successful marriage.

Overall, this episode sheds light on the practical steps couples can take to prepare for marriage, ensuring they are aligned on key issues and reducing the risk of future conflicts. Chelsea's insights are invaluable for anyone considering marriage or looking to strengthen their relationship.

Chelsea’s FREE workbook https://products.chelseapagan.com/smart-start-i-do-prep-checklist/ 

Resources:

Connect with Cecilia Mannella on her Website 

Let's get social

Instagram ⁠https://www.instagram.com/mentalmakeoverradio/⁠ 

Facebook ⁠https://www.facebook.com/mentalmakeoverradio⁠ 

Disclaimer: The information provided in this podcast is for educational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for professional advice. Always consult with a qualified therapist or healthcare provider for personalized guidance.