The Daring Well Podcast - Holistic Health & Wellness, Mindset, and Personal Growth

What do you do when you don’t know what to do?

Whether you’re facing uncertainty in your career, relationships, health, finances, business, or simply wondering what’s next in life, it’s easy to get overwhelmed trying to figure out the whole path.

In this episode of The Daring Well Podcast, Rita explores a simple but powerful mindset shift: when you don’t know what to do, start with what you know.

You don’t need to have every answer, every step, or your entire future mapped out. Sometimes finding your purpose begins with getting quiet enough to hear what is already true within you.

Rita talks about uncovering the desires, gifts, values, and dreams that can become buried beneath fear, busyness, stress, perfectionism, and other people’s expectations. She also explores why change is a necessary part of growth and why the difficult experiences we’ve walked through don’t have to be wasted.

Most importantly, this episode offers a reminder that you will know as you go. Small, intentional steps can provide the clarity you need for the next step.

And when you’re feeling stuck, ask yourself:

What do I know for sure?

Then start there.

This episode also includes journaling prompts to help you reflect on your values, relationships, energy, desires, and what you may need to release or embrace in this season of life. 

I created the Path to Purpose Journal to help you slow down, get quiet, and reconnect with what you already know within yourself.

Download FREE Journal https://www.daringwell.com/freebies

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What if the stress you're trying so hard to avoid is actually your body trying to get your attention?

In this episode of the Daring Well Podcast, Rita sits down with former elite athlete and movement coach Katia Sereno for a powerful conversation about stress, anxiety, resilience, self-trust, and the wisdom of the body.

Katia shares her journey from years of performing, training, and pushing her body beyond its limits to discovering a different way of living—one rooted in slowing down, listening, and paying attention to the signals her body had been sending all along.

Her story is a powerful reminder that sometimes we don't recognize how much pressure we're carrying because pushing through has simply become part of our identity. Katia talks openly about motherhood, anxiety, exhaustion, and the moment a serious fall forced her to stop and acknowledge the signs she had been overlooking.

Together, Rita and Katia explore what it means to move from "I have to" and "I should" toward greater awareness and intentionality.

You'll also discover practical ways to reconnect with yourself without adding another overwhelming task to your already busy schedule—including the power of five-minute pauses, mindful check-ins, movement, breathing, journaling, and small daily micro-shifts.

Katia reminds us that your body is your first home—a place you can always return to, especially during seasons of transition, fear, anxiety, and uncertainty.

If you've ever said, "I don't have time to take care of myself," this conversation may offer a different perspective: You may not need another hour in your schedule. You may simply need to reclaim five minutes and use them intentionally.

In This Episode, You'll Discover:

• How pushing through can become part of your identity
• Why our bodies may communicate with us before we consciously recognize what's wrong
• The connection between motherhood, fear, anxiety, and self-worth
• How slowing down can help you reconnect with your intuition
• Why you don't have to navigate difficult seasons alone
• Simple five-minute practices for checking in with yourself
• How to create sustainable self-care through small "micro-shifts"
• Why your body can serve as a compass during times of change
• How to identify your true motivation before trying to make a change
• Why movement should feel supportive—not like punishment
• The importance of becoming aware before trying to fix everything
• How changing the way you speak to yourself can influence your daily experience

A Simple Practice to Try

Katia encourages listeners to check in with themselves three times a day and simply ask:

"How do I feel?"

Instead of immediately asking What should I do next?, pause and ask:

"What does my body need right now?"

You don't have to fix anything. Start with awareness.

Even five intentional minutes can become a meaningful micro-shift toward greater self-care and connection.

Connect with Katia Sereno:

https://katialifetransform.com/

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Are you facing adversity?  Are you ready to quit and throw in the towel?  Don't throw in the towel yet.  What if adversity isn't just something we have to survive—but something that can help us discover who we truly are, what matters most, and why we're here?

In this powerful conversation, Rita sits down with Terry Tucker, author, speaker, former SWAT hostage negotiator, business owner, hospital administrator, NCAA Division I basketball player, and a voice for motivation, mindset, resilience, and personal development.

Terry shares the deeply personal lessons he has learned through a life that has taken many unexpected turns—including living with terminal cancer for 14 years and undergoing amputations of his foot and leg.

Rather than focusing only on what has been lost, Terry speaks about what he is choosing to give: love, service, positivity, and encouragement to others.

At the heart of the conversation is a powerful shift from success to significance.

Terry explains that success can be about what we accomplish for ourselves, while significance is about the positive difference we make in the lives of others. He challenges us to stop living as though we are empty and need to continually fill ourselves with accomplishments, possessions, titles, or recognition.

Instead, he encourages us to discover the gifts and strengths already within us—and then "empty ourselves out" in service to ourselves, our families, our communities, and the people we encounter along the way.

Terry also shares the Four Truths that serve as foundational principles in his life:

1. Control your mind, or your mind will control you.
2. Embrace pain and difficulty and use them to become stronger and more resilient.
3. What you leave behind is what you weave into the hearts of other people.
4. As long as you don't quit, you can never be defeated.

This conversation explores resilience, purpose, mindset, discomfort, meaningful connection, faith, and the choices we make every day.

Terry reminds us that we don't have to wait for a major life crisis to practice resilience. We can intentionally step outside our comfort zones, do small things that make us uncomfortable, develop healthier habits, and learn to focus our energy on what we can actually control.

One especially practical exercise Terry shares is to write down everything occupying your mind—and then cross out everything you cannot control. What's left is where you can direct your energy and action.

And perhaps one of the most memorable mindset shifts of the conversation is this:

Do I have to—or do I get to?

Do I have to go to work, or do I get to go to work?

Do I have to drive my children to school, or do I get to?

The circumstances may not change, but the way we approach them can.

This episode is a heartfelt reminder that adversity does not have to be the end of our story. Sometimes, the places where life breaks us can also become places where strength, purpose, compassion, and resilience grow.

In This Episode, You'll Discover:

• Why your purpose may evolve throughout different seasons of life
• The difference between success and significance
• Why constantly chasing achievement may never truly satisfy us
• Terry's Four Truths for building a quality life
• How to develop greater mental resilience
• Why stepping outside your comfort zone can prepare you for life's bigger challenges
• A simple exercise for separating what you can control from what you cannot
• How meaningful human connection can change someone's experience
• Why your legacy is found in what you weave into the hearts of others
• The powerful shift from "I have to" to "I get to"
• How small daily choices and habits shape the life we create
• Why continuing to take one step forward can be a victory in difficult seasons

A Gentle Invitation

My dear, as you listen, consider:

What are you chasing—and is it bringing you closer to significance?

What gifts, strengths, experiences, and wisdom already live inside of you?

And how might you use them to make a positive difference in someone else's life?

You don't have to have everything figured out.

You don't have to change the whole world.

You can simply make a positive dent in the world around you.

Keep living. Keep loving. Keep Daring Well.

Connect with Terry

Learn more about Terry Tucker, his books, motivation, and daily thoughts at 

https://www.motivationalcheck.com/

About the Daring Well Podcast

The Daring Well Podcast is a space for heart-centered conversations about mindset, coping skills, wellness, relationships, purpose, and living fully and freely.

Hosted by Rita Mercer, wellness coach and licensed counselor, the podcast encourages you to care for your whole self—mind, body, and spirit—and to live well, love well, and lead well.

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For free wellness resources. Click the link to tap into new ways to reset with mindfulness, holistic wellness tips, and coping skills.
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What if becoming your best self requires you to let go of the person you used to be?

In this replay episode of The Daring Well Podcast, we explore the grief that comes with growth—the people, places, situations, habits, and beliefs we sometimes have to release as we step into a new season of life.

Growth isn't always exciting or comfortable. Sometimes it requires courage, difficult goodbyes, and the willingness to leave behind what feels familiar. Rita explores how loyalty, guilt, fear, hope, and limiting beliefs can keep us stuck in our comfort zone.

But real growth takes grit, preparation, and grace. It's about continuing to show up for yourself, honoring your values, and trusting that something greater may be waiting on the other side of the uncomfortable season.

In This Episode, You'll Reflect On:

• What you may need to let go of in order to grow
• How fear and guilt can keep you stuck
• Why growth requires grit and intentional action
• The connection between preparation and grace
• What abundance can look like beyond finances
• Who you're being called to become

Reflection:
What are you holding onto that may be keeping you from becoming the person you're called to be?

You were created for more. I dare you to grow.

Keep living. Keep loving. & Keep Daring Well.

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For free wellness resources. Click the link to tap into new ways to reset with mindfulness, holistic wellness tips, and coping skills.
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You don’t have to postpone joy.  Choose Joy today!

What if, before the demands of the day begin, you gave yourself permission to pause, breathe, and intentionally choose how you want to show up?

In this gentle guided morning meditation, Rita invites you to slow down, release tension, and create space for hope, peace, gratitude, self-compassion, joy, and happiness.

This episode is a reminder that you may not be able to control everything that happens during your day—but you can become more intentional about where you place your attention, what you focus on, and what deserves your energy.

Through calming breaths, intention-setting, and affirmations, you'll be encouraged to reconnect with your worth, release doubt and worry, honor healthy boundaries, and step into your day with greater confidence and hope.

And perhaps most importantly, you'll be reminded that you can always reset and begin again.

One breath can change the direction of a moment.

One intentional thought can shift your focus.

And one small choice can help you create a different kind of day.

✨ In This Episode, You'll Explore:

• How to begin your morning with intention instead of immediately jumping into your to-do list
• Using breath to release tension and create a sense of calm
• Choosing hope, peace, love, and gratitude
• The power of focusing your attention on what you want to grow
• Taking small, intentional steps toward becoming the person you want to be
• Practicing self-acceptance, compassion, and grace
• Remembering that your worth isn't defined by accomplishments or possessions
• Creating healthy boundaries around your energy
• Choosing joy and happiness even when life isn't perfect
• Using a simple breath as a reset for your mind, body, and spirit

💛 A Morning Reminder

Choosing happiness doesn't mean ignoring the difficult things in your life.

It means refusing to let the hard things become the only things you see.

You can acknowledge what's difficult while still looking for what's beautiful.

You can experience uncertainty while still choosing hope.

You can have a hard day and still make space for joy.

And when you need to?

Reset. Breathe. Begin again.

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For free wellness resources. Click the link to tap into new ways to reset with mindfulness, holistic wellness tips, and coping skills.
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What if the answers you've been searching for aren't outside of you—but already living within you?

In this episode of The Daring Well Podcast, Rita sits down with Jen Aks, TEDx speaker, bestselling author of Your Body Is Speaking, somatic educator, and creator of The Power of Gesture®, for a powerful conversation about the intelligence of the body and why mindset alone isn't always enough.

Jen shares her personal journey from feeling disconnected from her own intelligence to discovering the many ways we experience intelligence through the body. Her story is a powerful reminder that traditional measures of success don't capture the full picture of who we are or what we're capable of.

Together, Rita and Jen explore the concept of “body set”—an embodied complement to mindset—and the four intelligent systems that can help us develop greater self-trust:

• Kinesthetic intelligence – the body's ability to move, express, communicate, and navigate.
• Somatic intelligence – the “gut knowing” and physical sensations that provide information about our experiences.
• Intuitive intelligence – how we respond to and act on that inner knowing.
• Emotional intelligence – our ability to recognize, understand, and work with our own emotions while holding space for others.

Jen also introduces The Power of Gesture, a practice that uses movement—particularly the hands—to help us connect the mind and body. She explains how our hands can serve as a bridge between our logical mind and emotional body. 

❤️ A Different Way to Relate to Struggle

Toward the end of the conversation, Jen offers a beautiful invitation: What if we loved our struggles?

Rather than judging ourselves for difficult emotions or experiences, she encourages us to approach them with curiosity, compassion, and love. Our emotions and struggles can become teachers rather than problems we need to eliminate.

The conversation also explores the idea that we can experience seemingly opposite emotions at the same time. We can be happy and terrified, excited and nervous, confident and uncertain. It doesn't have to be either/or. It can be “yes, and.”

✨ In This Episode, You'll Discover:

• Why mindset alone may not be enough for meaningful change
• What “body set” means and how it complements mindset
• The four forms of body intelligence
• How disconnection from the body can contribute to self-doubt
• Why your gut feelings are worth paying attention to
• How your hands can help you process emotions and information
• The Power of Gesture and the science behind it
• A simple RESET practice for shifting anxious energy
• How to approach difficult emotions with curiosity instead of judgment
• Why you don't have to choose between two seemingly opposite emotions
• How reconnecting with your body can strengthen self-trust and authentic leadership

A Takeaway to Carry With You

Your body isn't working against you. It may be communicating something you need to hear.

Instead of immediately overriding, analyzing, or judging what you're feeling, pause. Get curious. Notice what's happening in your body. Give yourself permission to listen.

As Jen reminds us, when we approach our emotions with curiosity, compassion, and love, we can begin to see ourselves—and our struggles—in a completely different way. 

Top  Podcast Chapters

Your Body Already Knows

Rita opens with the question: How often have you ignored your body when it was trying to tell you something? This establishes the episode's central message—that empowered decisions require access to the intelligence already within us. 

 From Self-Doubt to Body Intelligence

Jen shares the deeply personal story behind her work, including how traditional measures of intelligence contributed to years of self-doubt and disconnection—and how discovering multiple forms of intelligence helped her reconnect with herself. 

 What Is “Body Set”?

Jen breaks down body set, the four body intelligence systems, and how they can help us develop self-trust and lead from the inside out. 

The Power of Gesture + RESET Practice

Jen explains how gestures can help bridge the mind and body, then walks listeners through her simple RESET practice for working with anxiety, nervousness, and emotional energy. 

What If We Loved Our Struggles?

The conversation turns toward self-compassion, emotional acceptance, and learning to approach our inner voices with curiosity rather than judgment. Jen's “yes, and” perspective offers a powerful way to hold complex emotions. 

Connect with Jen Aks

Website:  https://jenaks.com/

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

TedX Talk: https://youtu.be/nfZGY1mAbWs?si=9gdG1A44C4M3zOo-

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Breathwork & Candle Making Experience in Cincinnati, OH

https://www.daringwell.com/courses/candle-making-experience

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Support the show

Follow us on YouTube & TikTok:
@DaringWell

For free wellness resources. Click the link to tap into new ways to reset with mindfulness, holistic wellness tips, and coping skills.
https://www.daringwell.com/freebies

What happens when your mind knows what to do, but your body still says, “Not yet”?

In this episode of The Daring Well Podcast, Rita sits down with Veronique Ory, an intuitive movement and mindfulness guide, author of Shine On and Off the Mat, and founder of the Shine Collective, for a powerful conversation about the often-overlooked connection between the mind and body.

We talk about what it means to actually feel safe in your body, why mindset work alone may not be enough, and how slowing down, movement, silence, nature, and body awareness can help us reconnect with ourselves.

Veronique shares openly about her own journey through intergenerational trauma, substance use, perfectionism, overachievement, and identities that once shaped how she saw herself. Her story offers a reminder that healing isn't about becoming someone who is never triggered or uncomfortable—it is about developing greater awareness and learning new ways to move through discomfort.

At the heart of this conversation is an invitation to stop simply consuming wellness information and start putting it into practice.

Because sometimes the next step isn't learning something new.

Sometimes it's getting quiet enough to hear what your body already knows.

In This Episode, We Explore:

• Why your body may not feel safe even when your mind knows what to do
• The connection between movement, emotions, and self-awareness
• How early experiences can shape our nervous system responses
• The relationship between perfectionism, productivity, achievement, and identity
• What “felt safety” actually means in the body
• How silence, stillness, and time in nature can help us reconnect
• Why creating space can be just as important as filling our lives with more
• How to recognize the people, places, and practices that support your sense of safety
• Moving beyond consuming wellness content and taking meaningful action
• Why you don't have to wait for the “perfect” moment to create more joy in your life

Top 5 Episode Chapters

1.  When Your Mind Knows but Your Body Says “Not Yet”
   Exploring body awareness, movement, mindfulness, and why mindset may not be the whole story. 
2. From Trauma & Perfectionism to a New Way of Living
   Veronique shares her journey with early imprints, freeze responses, achievement, perfectionism, and identity. 
3. What Does Felt Safety Actually Feel Like?
   A conversation about authenticity, relationships, chosen family, solitude, nature, and practices that help us feel safe in our bodies.
4. The Power of Getting Quiet & Emptying Yourself
   Why creating silence and space can help us resource ourselves instead of constantly consuming more information and stimulation. 
5. Stop Consuming Wellness & Start Living It
   Turning inspiration into action, creating more joy in the present moment, and choosing to do something now.

Connect With Veronique

Veronique Ory is an intuitive movement and mindfulness guide, author of Shine On and Off the Mat, and founder of the Shine Collective. Her work brings together movement, mindfulness, self-inquiry, community, and practices designed to help people reconnect with themselves.

Listeners can learn more about her work, her book, and the Shine Collective through her website.

Website:  https://yogawithveronique.com/

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

Get the Book, Shine On & Off the Mat:  https://a.co/d/0g9PLNtY

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Support the show

Follow us on YouTube & TikTok:
@DaringWell

For free wellness resources. Click the link to tap into new ways to reset with mindfulness, holistic wellness tips, and coping skills.
https://www.daringwell.com/freebies

What comes to mind when you hear the words self-love?

For some, it may feel empowering and uplifting. For others, it may bring up guilt, discomfort, feelings of unworthiness, or the belief that putting yourself first is somehow selfish.

In this replay episode of The Daring Well Podcast, Rita Mercer takes a deeper look at what self-love really means—and what it doesn't.

Self-love isn't about being perfect, selfish, overly confident, or giving yourself everything you want in the moment. It's about developing a healthy relationship with yourself, recognizing your inherent worth, honoring your needs, setting healthy boundaries, and learning to show yourself the same compassion you so freely give to others.

Rita explores some of the common barriers that can make self-love difficult, including self-criticism, comparison, rejection, past wounds, people-pleasing, unrealistic expectations, and relying on external validation.

She also reminds us that self-love isn't a destination we eventually arrive at. It's a lifelong practice of consistently showing up for yourself—with intention, mindfulness, patience, grace, and compassion.

In This Episode, You'll Explore:

• What self-love really means—and what it doesn't
• Why self-love isn't selfish or narcissistic
• The connection between self-love and healthy relationships
• How comparison and external validation can interfere with self-worth
• Why past rejection and emotional wounds can affect how you see yourself
• The difference between self-love and self-care
• How self-criticism can become a barrier to self-love
• Why setting boundaries and asking for help are acts of self-love
• How self-love connects to your identity, intuition, confidence, and legacy
• Simple ways to begin practicing self-love in your daily rhythms

A Reminder for You

You don't have to earn your worth.

You are worthy simply because of who you are.

Self-love means creating space for yourself, recognizing that your needs matter, trusting yourself, honoring your limits, and choosing to believe in yourself—even on the days when you don't feel particularly confident.

And remember: self-love is a journey, not a destination.

You don't have to master it all today. Start with awareness. Notice how you speak to yourself. Notice where you're overextending yourself. Notice where you're seeking approval or putting everyone else's needs before your own.

Then choose one small way to show up for yourself differently.

Daring Well Candle Making Experience
Breathwork and Candles
For more info and to register - www.DaringWell.com

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Support the show

Follow us on YouTube & TikTok:
@DaringWell

For free wellness resources. Click the link to tap into new ways to reset with mindfulness, holistic wellness tips, and coping skills.
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How would your life change if you knew you only had 700 Mondays left?

Most of us greet Monday with a sigh, counting down until the weekend. But what if Monday wasn't something to survive—it was a reminder that our time is precious?

In this heartfelt solo episode, Rita shares a powerful perspective inspired by attending her uncle's funeral and the realization that 700 Mondays equals just over 13 years. Through honest reflection, she invites you to stop rushing through life and start intentionally creating moments that truly matter.

This isn't an episode about fear—it's about hope.

It's about choosing presence over distraction, purpose over procrastination, and gratitude over taking another day for granted.

Whether you're feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or simply needing a fresh perspective, this episode will encourage you to pause, reflect, and embrace the life you've been given—one Monday at a time.

In This Episode, You'll Discover:

• Why "700 Mondays" may completely change how you think about time.
• The powerful lesson funerals can teach us about living well.
• How everyday moments often become life's most meaningful memories.
• Simple ways to live with greater intention, gratitude, and purpose.
• Why waiting for "someday" may be costing you the life you want today.

Episode Chapters

Why Mondays Matter More Than You Think
Introducing the "700 Mondays" perspective and why time feels shorter than we realize.

What a Funeral Taught Me About Living
Reflections from attending a loved one's funeral and the importance of the life lived between the dates.

Stop Waiting. Start Living.
Practical reminders to choose connection, kindness, forgiveness, health, and joy today.

Make the Moments Count
A heartfelt invitation to live, love, and lead with greater purpose and intention.

Invitation to Create & Slow Down
Learn about the upcoming Daring Well Candle Making Experience and ways to continue your wellness journey.

Key Takeaways

• Life is measured in moments, not milestones.
• We never know how many Mondays remain.
• Small choices create a meaningful life.
• Presence is one of the greatest gifts you can give yourself and others.
• There is still time to become the person you want to be—but don't wait.

Favorite Quote

Resources Mentioned

Learn more about the Daring Well Candle Making Experience at www.DaringWell.com

Connect with Rita

If this episode encouraged you, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who needs a reminder that today matters.

Keep living, loving, and daring well.

God bless.

Send us Fan Mail

Support the show

Follow us on YouTube & TikTok:
@DaringWell

For free wellness resources. Click the link to tap into new ways to reset with mindfulness, holistic wellness tips, and coping skills.
https://www.daringwell.com/freebies

What if the choices you're making today are shaping a future version of yourself that's either grateful...or wishing you had chosen differently?

In this reflective solo episode of The Daring Well Podcast, Rita Mercer explores the powerful inner conversations we all have with our past, present, and future selves. Through an everyday story about something as simple as putting up a windshield sunshade, she reveals how our smallest daily decisions often reflect much bigger patterns in our lives.

If you've been feeling overwhelmed, stuck in regret, or struggling to prioritize your own well-being, this episode will help you shift from guilt and self-criticism toward grace, compassion, and intentional living.

You'll be encouraged to stop replaying the past, become more present, and begin making choices your future self will thank you for.

In This Episode, You'll Learn:

• Why your daily habits shape the person you're becoming.
• How to stop letting guilt and shame keep you stuck.
• The difference between comfort in the moment and long-term fulfillment.
• Practical ways to extend yourself grace through every season of life.
• Reflection questions to help you become more intentional with your choices.
• How mindset coaching can help you move from surviving to thriving.

Reflection Questions

• What would your future self thank you for?
• What wisdom does your past self have to offer?
• Where do you need to replace guilt with grace?
• What healthy habit can you begin today?
• What is one small action you can take that honors your future?

Resources

Monthly Candle Making Wellness Workshops beginning in August 

https://www.daringwell.com/courses/candle-making-experience

Learn more about workshops, coaching, and wellness resources at www.DaringWell.com.

If you're interested in one-on-one mindset coaching, email [email protected] to learn more.

Enjoying the Podcast?

If this episode encouraged you, please:

• Subscribe to The Daring Well Podcast
• Leave a review
• Share this episode with a friend who could use a little more grace today

Your support helps spread the message of hope, healing, and holistic wellness to more people.

Until next time...

Keep living, loving, and daring well.

Send us Fan Mail

Support the show

Follow us on YouTube & TikTok:
@DaringWell

For free wellness resources. Click the link to tap into new ways to reset with mindfulness, holistic wellness tips, and coping skills.
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