What happens when loss collides with leadership—and a business psychologist decides to turn heartbreak into a blueprint for living authentically? In episode 230 of Joy Found Here, Dr. Camille Preston shares how navigating five devastating losses in just five months forced her to slow down, reframe her choices, and ultimately write her book Living Real: Redefining Success, Presence, and Happiness. For Camille, the journey wasn’t about pushing through pain but about embracing the full spectrum of human experience—grief, joy, and everything in between.

As the founder of AIM Leadership, Camille helps individuals and organizations unlock potential not through surface-level fixes, but by integrating work and life in ways that are real, sustainable, and deeply fulfilling. She opens up about how saying “no,” questioning long-held assumptions, and having more genuine conversations became lifelines during her own season of grief. Her beloved Uncle Phil, a central figure in her story, embodies the legacy of living with clarity and purpose—reminding us that impact comes from presence, not perfection.

In this episode, Camille reflects on why micro shifts matter, how to stop “shallowing” your life, and why permission to feel is the gateway to joy. Whether you’re a leader burned out from endless demands or someone carrying unprocessed grief, her message is clear: when we choose to live real, we create more room for connection, meaning, and enduring joy.

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

• Five losses in five months (04:26)
• Asking what really matters (07:25)
• Questioning old assumptions (08:50)
• The power of slowing down and saying no (10:07)
• From coach to business psychologist (12:10)
• Loneliness, burnout, and “shallowing” (16:38)
• Uncle Phil’s legacy (20:34)
• Metabolizing grief into growth (23:45)
• Micro shifts and resilience (28:42)
• Choosing integration over perfection (36:33)

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• Book: Dr. Camille Preston - Living Real

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