In this episode of Thriving in the Messy Middle, hosted by leadership coach and former media executive Amy P Wilkins, we delve into the complexities and pivotal moments women leaders face in transitional phases of their careers. Amy provides an introspective look into the concept of building a guiding coalition within organizations, inspired by her enlightening conversation with Sarena Diamond.

Throughout the episode, Amy highlights the importance of recognizing when a shift is necessary, whether it's continuing to invest in the current organizational structure or acknowledging a misalignment that demands action. Drawing on her personal leadership experiences and insights gained from her conversation with Sarena, Amy emphasizes the importance of guiding coalitions in driving change and shaping company culture. This episode encourages leaders to reflect deeply on their commitment to their current roles and the potential impact of their influence.

Serena Diamond is a renowned leader committed to fostering organizational change and alignment. With a career marked by substantial influence in her field, Serena advocates for shaping culture through strategic internal collaboration. Her insights on guiding coalitions in leadership provide invaluable guidance for those navigating the complexities of organizational dynamics.

Key Takeaways

• Understanding the importance of building a guiding coalition as a leader to influence change within an organization.
• Realizing that willingness to invest in a guiding coalition can signal alignment and belief in the organization's potential.
• Differentiating between frustration and misalignment to make informed decisions about staying or leaving.
• Acknowledging the courage it takes to shape culture internally and the invisible nature of this work.
• Reflecting on personal willingness to lead and influence as a signal for career direction and alignment.

Quotes

A guiding coalition exists to help leaders influence change from within. It's how ideas travel and silos loosen, and it's how culture actually shifts.Frustration says, this is hard, but I care. Misalignment says, I no longer believe my effort here will matter.Staying doesn't mean everything is aligned. It means the misalignment feels workable.Sometimes the messy middle isn't asking you to try harder; it's asking you to be honest with yourself.When that willingness disappears, it's not a character flaw; it's just data.Staying doesn't mean everything is aligned. It means the misalignment feels workable.The messy middle isn't something we pass through once. It shows up again and again, and each time we meet it with a bit more awareness, a bit more choice, and a lot more self-trust.

In this episode of Thriving in the Messy Middle, your host Amy P Wilkins has an enriching conversation with Sarena Diamond on navigating and thriving in transformation leadership. With a career spanning over thirty years, Sarena sheds light on the importance of leading with heart and embracing the inevitable chaos within change processes. She recounts her own journey from a corporate transformation executive to a solopreneur, emphasizing the necessity of people-centered and values-driven leadership.

Sarena shares her experiences navigating organizational change, particularly during unpredictable times like the COVID-19 pandemic. Highlighting the significance of maintaining a robust network and fostering a guiding coalition, she demonstrates how leaders can not only endure but thrive amidst uncertainty. The discussion touches on essential themes such as building personal and professional networks, leveraging LinkedIn for personal branding, and leading without losing oneself. Sarena's insights provide a roadmap for leaders looking to stay anchored as they adapt to change, offering a valuable perspective on the transformative power of collaboration and shared vision.

Key Takeaways

• Building a strong network with diverse perspectives is crucial for effective leadership and navigating the "messy middle."
• Embracing change and allowing oneself to be vulnerable can lead to unanticipated growth and innovation.
• Developing a personal brand and maintaining an active presence on LinkedIn can significantly enhance leadership visibility and influence.
• Creating a guiding coalition helps leaders share decision-making responsibilities, fostering a more united and effective team.
• Continuous learning and curiosity are fundamental in adapting to rapid changes within organizations and industries.

Sarena Diamond Quotes

The best leaders through the change are the ones who make teams want to share, learn, and be part of the solution.We recognized that in the face of adversity, we were not only thriving but making all kinds of changes.There is power in the LinkedIn platform and the ability to connect with people who are like you.Creating a guiding coalition for the rest of the organization is so important.If you were on Gilligan's Island, all of a sudden, you'd have to figure it out. I say to people all the time that I am good at helping navigate change now because I've learned a lot of lessons about how not to do it. It's lonely going by yourself. You get better by allowing other people to be part of this journey.

Related to this EpisodeThe New Career Playbook: LinkedIn and Amplifying Your Unique Voice

About Sarena Diamond

Sarena Diamond, CEO & Founder of Diamond Solutions Group, is an executive consultant who helps business leaders bring big vision to life and turns "what if?" wonderings into "way to go!" celebrations.

After 30 years of climbing corporate ladders and achieving success by all the traditional definitions, Sarena now serves as a global transformation executive with a track record indesigning and deploying strategic transformation. With expertise in Organizational Change Management, she engages high-performing teams while delivering innovation, operational excellence, and process improvement initiatives.

As CEO and Founder of Diamond Solutions Group, Sarena leverages her corporate experiences from Accenture, IBM, Pepsi Cola, and Mellon to inspire teams to embrace change more easily and bring leaders' visions to life in client environments ranging from Fortune 100 enterprises to PE-backed ventures.

Sarena holds an MBA from Pace University, a BS in Computer Science from Russell Sage College, and a certification in Collaborative Storytelling for Social Impact from Georgetown University. Sarena is an energetic public speaker, avid community volunteer, and conscientious board member. Most significantly, Sarena is "Mom" to three terrific adults and "Honey" to a loving, supportive partner.

Sarena Diamond LinkedIn Profile

Join Amy P Wilkins on Thriving in the Messy Middle as she shares insights on the pressures that come with leadership roles when we find ourselves in the "messy middle" of our careers and lives. This state is typified by transitions, challenges, and complexities that can often lead to confusion and self-doubt. Many individuals report feeling "off" or lost in their roles, yet often struggle to name these sensations explicitly. Most people aren't lacking motivation or capability. They are lacking language. This observation highlights the importance of naming one's experiences without self-judgment, enabling a more accurate understanding of one's current state. By developing this language, leaders can resist the urge to rush through transitions and acknowledge what Amy describes as the Messy Middle Archetype™.

Drawing from her own experiences and those of her clients, Amy introduces the Messy Middle Archetype™ as a framework for naming these seasons of uncertainty and change. Amy guides listeners to recognize where they stand, encouraging identification and fostering self-compassion. She explores six archetypes women often experience: Juggler, Restless Achiever, Quietly Burning Out, Dreamer, Rising Leader, and Seeker. Each archetype represents a unique stage of growth or challenge, offering opportunities for personal reflection and development. Tune into this thought-provoking episode to discover how naming your archetypes provides a burst of clarity and inspiration in your leadership journey and leads to meaningful action.

Key Takeaways

• Understanding your Messy Middle Archetype™ can bring clarity, fostering self-compassion as you navigate life's transitions.
• Whether you are a Juggler, Restless Achiever, or another archetype, recognizing and naming your experience can provide insight into your leadership journey.
• Language matters: Developing a language to express where leaders find themselves can help eliminate judgment.
• Energy focus over intensity: Emphasizing steadiness, presence, and self-trust can empower leaders to make meaningful and sustainable changes in their roles.

Quotes

Thriving isn't about perfection. It's about growth.You may recognize yourself in one archetype. You may hear pieces of yourself in several. You may move between them over time.What would happen if I stopped doing something? And why do I believe I can't? - On the Juggler archetype Confidence doesn't automatically arrive with the title.- On the Rising Leader archetype The Seeker's work is awareness and willingness.- On the Seeker archetypeEach archetype offers an invitation to AWE, awareness of where you are, and willingness to honor what's true without the story we add to it.

Join leadership coach Amy Wilkins in this Messy Middle Moment episode, as she delves into the often daunting topic of personal branding. She emphasizes the importance of establishing a personal brand well before it becomes a necessity and how this can be a powerful tool in professional growth, even when navigating the uncertain terrains of career transitions. Drawing from conversations and experiences, Amy provides actionable insights on maintaining visibility and building credibility.

Amy highlights the significance of platforms like LinkedIn in showcasing leadership and professional presence. Drawing from last week's conversation with Melissa Cohen, who recast her perspective on LinkedIn usage, the episode underscores the transition from treating it as a digital resume to a dynamic storytelling space. Amy also breaks down statistics that reveal the effectiveness of consistent posting in increasing engagement and visibility. Amy emphasizes showing up with authenticity, investing in your future self, and owning your narrative. Embrace the discomfort and build your brand with intention and courage. Keep thriving through life's transitions with these empowering insights.

Key Takeaways

• Start Before It's Needed: Amy emphasizes the importance of building a personal brand before it becomes an urgent necessity.
• Consistency is Key: Regular and intentional engagement on platforms like LinkedIn can greatly enhance professional visibility.
• Overcome Self-Doubt: Embrace the discomfort of posting content consistently, as it leads to greater opportunities and network presence.
• Visibility Equals Leadership: Being visible is an act of leadership, not vanity; it's about sharing your voice with authenticity.
• Invest in Future You: Cultivating a personal brand is an investment in your future professional self, building credibility and leadership presence for when the time is right.

Quotes

The best time to build your brand is before you need it.LinkedIn users who post at least once a week for 20 plus weeks receive five times more engagement per post.Visibility is leadership and not vanity.You're not late, you're not behind, and you don't need to be polished to be powerful.Your brand is your reputation, your impact, and your voice.

Mentioned in this EpisodeThriving in the Messy Middle podcast with featured guest Melissa Cohen, a LinkedIn and personal branding strategist: The New Career Playbook: LinkedIn and Amplifying Your Unique VoiceThroughout the episode, Melissa unveils the concept of personal branding, emphasizing the importance of authenticity and showing up as one's true self even when navigating messy middle moments. Amy and Melissa explore mindset shifts essential for thriving in chaos, enriching the listener with life-changing lessons from transitions and professional evolution.

Research ReferencedHow Social Media Consistency Builds Unstoppable Results, Storykit New Insights Suggest Posting Frequency Is Key to LinkedIn Success, Social Media Today How Often Should You Post on LinkedIn in 2025? Data From 2 Million+ Posts, Buffer How LinkedIn posting frequency impacts growth, Medium Women who LinkedIn: The gender networking gap among executives, ScienceDirect

This IN HER VOICE: STORIES OF LEADERSHIP episode of Thriving in the Messy Middle, hosted by Amy P Wilkins, features an insightful conversation with branding strategist and LinkedIn guru, Melissa Cohen. Melissa shares her journey from a high-powered fashion career to becoming a personal branding expert. Amy and Melissa discuss how Melissa's unexpected career pivot at Ralph Lauren during the pandemic led her to uncover a new calling in helping others build a personal brand on LinkedIn.

Throughout the episode, Melissa unveils the concept of personal branding, emphasizing the importance of authenticity and being one's true self, even in messy middle moments. They explore navigating career pivots, the power of authentic storytelling, and using LinkedIn to enhance visibility. Melissa emphasizes the importance of starting, building a network, and using AI carefully while maintaining a unique voice. Amy and Melissa discuss mindset shifts essential for thriving in chaos, enriching the listener with life-changing lessons from transitions and professional evolution.

Key Takeaways

• Non-linear Career Paths: Careers today are rarely linear, often involving lateral moves and pivots. Embrace change and be open to exploring new directions.
• Power of Personal Branding: Melissa emphasizes the importance of building a personal brand, highlighting LinkedIn as a platform that can create unforeseen opportunities and broaden one's professional visibility.
• Begin with Comments: Getting started on LinkedIn doesn't require perfection. Engage through commenting and build visibility gradually, fostering connections and conversations.
• Utilize AI judiciously: While AI can support content creation, it shouldn't replace one's unique voice. Authenticity is key to branding.
• Network and Relationships: Cultivate a robust professional network. Relationships are crucial in career transitions and can provide unexpected opportunities.

Melissa Cohen Quotes

Everything good that has happened to me in the last five years has happened because I decided to be visible and keep showing up on a regular basis.Your voice is one of the most precious assets that you have. So be really careful who and what you trust it with.There's no perfect time, and the perfect time is now.We're all multifaceted individuals. We all have talents… and I think we fall so easily into that trap of only focusing on what we do for work.Content is king, but comments are the keys to the kingdom. (citing Dan Roth's insight on LinkedIn engagement. Daniel Roth, Editor in Chief, VP of Content Development at LinkedIn)Your voice is one of the most precious assets that you have.

Mentioned in this EpisodeThe Spotlight Effect Wonderland Dreams by Alexa Meade

Related Blog ArticleWhen Growth Doesn't Look Like a Climb

About Melissa Cohen

Melissa Cohen is a LinkedIn and personal branding strategist who helps leaders, founders, and executives elevate their visibility, credibility, and business impact. Earlier in her career, Melissa held leadership roles in the fashion industry, contributing to the global growth of iconic American brands, including Ralph Lauren, Tommy Hilfiger, and Nautica. That brand-building expertise continues to shape her strategic, high-touch approach today.

Melissa is the creator of The Caffeinated Chronicles, a widely read LinkedIn newsletter, and the co-author of the Amazon best-selling book Your Career Resilience Blueprint. In January 2024, she was recognized as a LinkedIn Top Voice by the platform's editorial team. She is a member of the Board of Directors for Her Move Next, a 501(c)3 organization dedicated to empowering girls and young women through the power of chess, community, and competition. She was a founding member of Chief, the largest network of senior women executives.

Melissa's Website Melissa Cohen LinkedIn Profile @MelissaBethCohen Linktree DIY Influence Membership Community: Co-founders Melissa Cohen & Julie Morris Check out Melissa's #linkedinnuggets - Amy's Nugget is featured HERE

In this episode of Thriving in the Messy Middle, Amy P Wilkins, leadership coach and former media exec, draws listeners into a compelling reflection on choosing a "word of the year" and its transformative power in leading a purposeful life. Amy unveils her chosen word for 2026, "AWE," exploring its profound significance beyond just being the name of her company. With a thorough understanding of navigating complex life transitions, Amy shares insights that illustrate the rejuvenating impact of awe, both psychologically and emotionally.

Highlighting the roots of her approach, Amy outlines her "AWE Framework" – Awareness, Willingness, and Energy – as essential elements to cultivating personal growth. She discusses how fostering awareness allows individuals to recognize their true selves, willingness encourages bold action despite fear, and energy sustains progress and intentionality. Each concept underscores the importance of living strategically and embracing the unknown with a growth mindset. As Amy articulates these concepts, she utilizes key terms such as "growth zone," "resilience," and "creativity," emphasizing a scientifically validated understanding of how awe can expand our thinking, enhance well-being, and spur empathetic interactions.

Key Takeaways

• Choosing a Word of the Year: Selecting a word to guide the year provides a focused vision and grounds you amid life's unpredictabilities.
• Embracing Awe: Awe bridges the exhilarating and the terrifying, serving as a catalyst for growth and creativity.
• The AWE Framework: Awareness, Willingness, and Energy are key aspects for self-growth and navigating challenges.
• Reflection Exercise: Visualizing your achievements by the end of the year can help identify the word that aligns with your goals.
• Scientific Benefits of Awe: Experiencing awe leads to stress reduction, mood enhancement, and increased empathy.

Quotes

Awe is the only word that captures that magical tension of being exhilarated and terrified at the same time.Awareness is about paying attention to the truth of where you are right now. Without judgment, without performance, without the story.Willingness is where transformation actually begins.When I choose awe, I'm choosing to elevate my energy, to stay connected to the things that sustain, inspire, and stabilize me.Energy is the expression of our choice. It's how we embody the next version of ourselves.A single word that shapes your attention, a word that reflects your aspirations.

Research Referenced: Scientific studies about the power of awe. The Power of Everyday Awe Eben Harrell, Harvard Business Review What Is Awe? Greater Good Science Center, UC Berkeley Eight Reasons Why Awe Makes Your Life Better Greater Good Science Center, UC Berkeley

In this episode of Thriving in the Messy Middle, Amy Wilkins delivers a thoughtful reflection on the crucial, often overlooked practice of year-end reflection for leaders. As 2025 draws to a close, Amy emphasizes the importance of acknowledging both big and subtle wins, supporting your leadership, relationships, and well-being. Discover the AWE framework—Awareness, Willingness, and Energy—to help propel your leadership in 2026. This reflection nurtures clarity and confidence, enabling impactful growth beyond mere metrics. Dive into this Messy Middle Moment to reflect, reset, and prepare for the upcoming year's challenges and achievements.

Key Takeaways

• Reflecting on past achievements is crucial before planning for the next year, avoiding a negativity bias that focuses on failures.
• The AWE Framework comprises Awareness, Willingness, and Energy, facilitating a strategic reset for leaders.
• Recognizing subtle wins reinforces effective leadership behaviors and influences future success.
• Shifting to celebration impacts energy positively and aids in shaping intentional leadership for the coming year.
• Leadership growth extends beyond metrics, reflecting meaningful decisions and moments of resilience throughout the year.

Quotes

Your ability to lead what comes next is shaped by your willingness to reflect on what's already happened.By acknowledging progress, even small progress, you reinforce the behaviors that help you lead effectively.It's the subtle wins we tend to miss—those moments that directly contribute to your impact and reputation as a leader. If you don't pause to examine the year that was, your brain defaults to what didn't happen, what you missed, what you postponed.How you feel about the year influences how you lead in the next one.What energy do I want to bring into my leadership in 2026?

Related Blog ArticlesIt's Time for Leaders to Protect Their Most Precious Resource – Their Energy

Research Referenced: Scientific studies in neuroscience support the idea that recognizing progress encourages the perseverance of those beneficial behaviors, leading to sustainable, positive change.

Baumeister, R. F., et al. (2001). Bad Is Stronger Than Good. Review of General Psychology.Amabile, T. & Kramer, S. (2011). The Progress Principle. Harvard Business Review Press.Di Stefano, G., Gino, F., Pisano, G. & Staats, B. (2014). Learning by Thinking: How Reflection Aids Performance.Grant, A. & Gino, F. (2014). A Little Thanks Goes a Long Way. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology.Bersin, J. (2012). The State of Employee Recognition. Bersin & Associates.Schultz, W. (2015). Neuronal Reward and Decision Signals. Physiological Reviews.Fredrickson, B. L. (2001). Broaden-and-Build Theory of Positive Emotions. American Psychologist.Boyatzis, R. & McKee, A. (2005). Resonant Leadership. Harvard Business School Press.

In this episode of "Thriving in the Messy Middle," host Amy Wilkins shares profound insights on growth and leadership during life's most challenging moments. Amy emphasizes that these "messy middle" moments — times when life feels most chaotic and unsteady — are indicators that exponential growth is coming. Drawing on her own experiences and those of last week's podcast guest, Allison Arden, Amy highlights the remarkable transformation that occurs when we embrace uncertainty and allow it to shape us into wiser, more resilient individuals.

Amy shares her own story of confronting misalignment and physical burnout, underscoring the importance of embracing these tumultuous periods as opportunities for self-awareness and growth. Emphasizing vulnerability and community, Amy offers rich insights, including handling crises, seeking support to overcome adversity, and finding personal growth in professional misalignment. Discover how these moments, though challenging, can reshape you as a stronger leader.

Key Takeaways

• Messy middle moments are inevitable and recurring for those on a growth journey; they offer opportunities for deep self-awareness and personal development.
• The absence of a clear path is naturally unsettling, but it often preludes significant personal evolution and leadership improvement.
• Vulnerability in the face of adversity, such as asking for help, is an empowering strength, not a weakness.
• Resilience and wisdom are the lasting legacies of challenges overcome, providing invaluable lessons and insights for navigating future obstacles.
• Engaging with a supportive community can transform seemingly insurmountable crises into opportunities for exhilaration and growth.

Quotes

These messy moments are the times that shape you.Crisis doesn't make you weak. It makes you real.The messy middle is where the most happens.

Mentioned in this EpisodeThriving in the Messy Middle Podcast: Emotion and Purpose: A Better Way to Reinvent Your Career

Related Blog ArticlesWhat Happens When Leaders Ask for Help: Growth & Strength Stop Leading Alone: Why a Strong Tribe Is Essential for Leadership How to Build Resilience When Life Gets Messy Why Self-Awareness Is the First Step to Leadership Growth

In a riveting episode of Thriving in the Messy Middle, host Amy Wilkins welcomes Allison Arden, a pioneer in emotional intelligence within business environments. This episode takes listeners through Allison's transformative journey from a high-stakes leadership position at Ad Age to founding Elements of Us™, her groundbreaking framework for understanding and leveraging emotions at work to achieve dramatically improved outcomes. Allison shares her story of navigating personal and professional crossroads, offering powerful insights into embracing one's emotional landscape as a pathway to authentic leadership and innovative transformation.

The conversation delves into key themes of emotional resilience and personal growth, perfect for rising leaders and professionals seeking clarity amid uncertainty. Allison shares candid experiences from her time at Ad Age during tumultuous periods, such as the dot-com crash and global financial crises, illustrating how she came to recognize the power of emotions. She emphasizes the importance of pausing, self-reflection, and the courage to pivot when external success no longer aligns with internal values. Listen to Allison's story of resilience and growth for valuable lessons on navigating your own messy middle.

Key Takeaways

• Embrace the "messy middle" as an opportunity to redefine personal and professional success by aligning external achievements with internal alignment.
• Develop emotional literacy in leadership to foster human-centred workplaces and improve team alignment and resilience.
• Effective leadership requires pausing for reflection, understanding emotional cues, and asking employees meaningful questions.
• Cultivating emotional awareness can illuminate a clearer pathway when navigating crises and organizational changes.
• See every emotional challenge as a chance to connect deeply with others and drive positive change within teams and companies.

Allison Arden Quotes

If I could help make emotion visible and make it easier to talk about and act upon, I could help a lot of people and ultimately help a lot of companies.There's so much joy and so much goodness on the other side, and so much learning and growing, but going through it (the messy middle) is really challenging.I believe that in setting up emotionally literate cultures and communities, and relationships, people are able to share differently. If we start taking the steps towards it, then we get there.

Mentioned in this EpisodeElements of Us Website: Explore Allison's framework for visualizing and acting on emotions. The Book of Doing: Everyday Activities to Unlock Your Creativity and Joy by Allison Arden - An activity book designed to inspire adults to rediscover joy and creativity.

About Allison Arden

Allison Arden is the Founder and Creator of The Elements of Us, the first patented, visual framework, language, and toolset that brings brain and behavioral science to people and teams to break through their biggest barriers, unlocking greater human connection, resilience, and performance at scale. An award-winning executive, Allison served as Publisher of Advertising Age for close to a decade. While leading through the Global Financial Crisis and the brand's digital transformation, amidst an industry going through seismic change, Allison realized the role emotion played in driving change, inspiring innovation, and navigating stress and burnout. Her curiosity set her on a mission to make the amorphous and 'soft skills' subject of emotion more visible and tangible. That mission led to The Elements of Us and a Master's in Psychology from Harvard to ensure The Elements of Us was grounded in evidence-based research and actionable insights to make an impact. She currently brings the Elements to individuals, teams, and organizations of all kinds through keynote talks and interactive experiences. The Book of Doing, Allison's first book published by Perigee, helps people of all ages unlock curiosity, creativity, and joy. A Brooklyn native, Allison is the Board Chair Emerita and board member of Reisenbach Philanthropies, supporting programs to improve the lives of all New Yorkers, and serves as a board member of Material for the Arts.

In this Messy Middle Moment episode, Amy Wilkins shares a profound reflection on the power of gratitude. As Thanksgiving approaches, Amy delves into how the simple act of saying "thank you" can transform relationships and dynamics in both personal and professional settings. Her personal experiences highlight the impact of expressing gratitude and the changes it can bring to team morale and performance.

Throughout the episode, Amy emphasizes the science-backed benefits of gratitude, such as serotonin and dopamine release, which enhance motivation and emotional well-being. She presents gratitude as a powerful leadership tool that can foster connection, improve collaboration, and create a positive work environment. Amy challenges listeners to engage in acts of gratitude, inviting them to recognize and commend their teams for their contributions. Such small gestures, she asserts, can lead to significant positive outcomes.

Key Takeaways

• Gratitude is a transformative practice that can significantly impact team dynamics and personal relationships.
• Saying "thank you" can boost mental well-being by releasing serotonin and dopamine, improving motivation and emotional connection.
• Amy shares a personal story where expressing gratitude through handwritten notes made team members feel seen and valued.
• Research shows that gratitude increases generosity and collaboration, with teams exhibiting higher performance and psychological safety.

Quotes

Gratitude isn't just polite, it's powerful.When you say thank you, you're not just being nice. You're changing the brain, yours and theirs.In the messy middle, when things are uncertain, complicated, or heavy, gratitude isn't fluff. It's fuel.Thank someone today out loud. Be specific. Tell them what you saw, what it meant, and why it mattered.

Research References: studies and summaries behind the gratitude and neuroscience insights shared in this episode:

1. PositivePsychology.com – The Neuroscience of Gratitude Overview of how gratitude activates dopamine, serotonin, and key emotional regulation centers in the brain.
2. IE University – The Science of Gratitude MRI research shows that gratitude strengthens empathy, memory, and emotional regulation.
3. Nuvance Health – Gratitude & Stress Response How gratitude reduces cortisol levels and boosts well-being.
4. PMC Meta-Analysis – Effects of Gratitude Interventions Review of 64 studies showing gratitude improves mental health and resilience.

For more detailed sources, read my full blog article, Say Thank You: A Simple Way to Lead with Impact