If you want to go DEEPER with me, my Substack is where I share even more behind-the-scenes, personal reflections, and wellness experiments, with new posts dropping every Thursday: https://substack.com/@thewellnessprocess

Follow Dr. Judith Joseph:

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

Website: https://www.drjudithjoseph.com

Book: https://www.highfunctioningbook.com

Follow us: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thewellnessprocesspod

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thewellnessprocess

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheWellnessProcess

Sponsors:

Use coupon code TWP to save 15%. The website is boncharge.com.

NOBL gives you real travel peace of mind — security, design, and convenience all in one. Head to NOBLTravel.com for 46% off your entire order! #NOBL #ad

Get 20% off your DeleteMe plan when you go to joindeleteme.com/TWP and use promo code TWP at checkout.

Use code WELLNESS at Monarch.com to get your first year of Monarch Core half off at just $50.

head to koraorganics.com and use code WELLNESS20 for 20% off sitewide. 

Start your new morning ritual & get up to 43% off your @MUDWTR with code TWP at mudwtr.com/TWP! #mudwtrpod

Visit Carawayhome.com/TWP10 to take an additional 10% off your next purchase.

Please note that this episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products and services. Individuals on the show may have a direct or indirect financial interest in products or services referred to in this episode.

Produced by Dear Media.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

^{Suzie Kondi Terry Shoes, Denim Shirt, Beaded Necklace (or a similar more affordable option here)}

Lately, I’ve been sharing on here that I’ve had some ups and downs with my mood. What else is new lol. And I think being nearly 8 months pregnant certainly has something to do with it (attempting to give grace!!). But we also all know I’m no stranger to the concept that repressing feelings can lead to anxiety and depression. When the thoughts and emotions we experience (especially the dark ones) have no place to go, they can (and will) cause our system to short circuit or shut down.

But this had me thinking… what about the positive thoughts and feelings? I’ve been noticing that the more I keep my creative expression, my ideas that are so deeply tied to my purpose, inside, the more “not myself” I tend to feel. Maybe, despite so many outlets to do so, I’ve been under-expressing? Honestly, there have been a handful of content ideas that have come to my mind lately that I’ve run through in my head, again and again, and not posted simply because I was afraid of saying it the wrong way. And I think I’ve been letting perfectionism steal the show.

I’ve also noticed that, as someone who subscribes to more than a handful of Substacks, I like reading best when it’s unfiltered and unpolished. When there isn’t a fleck of ChatGPT present. Heck, give me a typo. I always feel most connected to the writer and their message when it’s raw. So with that, I want to really share today. Pen to paper without fear of imperfection. This is a topic I’ve wanted to dive into for a while now and though it’s nothing heroic, it is interesting, and I think it’ll be a fun one for us to explore.

Read more

If you want to go DEEPER with me, my Substack is where I share even more behind-the-scenes, personal reflections, and wellness experiments, with new posts dropping every Thursday: https://substack.com/@thewellnessprocess

Follow us:

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

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thewellnessprocess

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheWellnessProcess

Sponsors:

Use code WELLNESS at monarch.com for 50% off your first year.

Try Jolie risk free for 60 days by going to jolieskinco.com/TWP

Go to tonal.com and use code WELLNESS for 20% off your purchase.

Save 25% on your first month at ritual.com/TWP 

Use code WELLNESS for 15% off the Premium Starter Kit at branchbasics.com

Get 10% off your first order at oseamalibu.com with code TWP

Get 40% off select Lola Blankets products with code WELLNESS at lolablankets.com

Produced by Dear Media

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

I’m writing to you today in a state of… let’s call it … recalibrated overwhelm. And as I was laying in bed in a state of disregulated overwhelm just moments before coming here, I was thinking about what to write, and I realized (as is always the case) that what’s on my heart in the moment is inevitably what’s best. Substack is a place of zero performance for me and I love that about it so much. And in a world of content made for the shortest of attention spans and writing plagued with ChatGPT, I hope you guys feel this from me.

So what landed me in this state? A sensitive gal meets 30 weeks pregnant (baby is size of a cabbage!!) meets a full work calendar meets non-stop hosting. Honestly, I know myself very well at this point, and this is a pretty obvious recipe to depletion. We’ve had guests in our home for pretty much the entirety of the last month and it has finally caught up to me. Now to be clear, every friend and family member we’ve had stay with us has been nothing but lovely — this is absolutely not about that. It’s a me thing: I’m deeply routine-centric, an introvert, and my home is my sanctuary. So when I fall out of the things that make me feel good, feel like my space is a chronic mess, and am “on” longer than my battery can afford to be, this is generally the result. Curious if anyone can relate here? :D

I started tearing up this morning, not because of sadness, not because I’m unhappy in the slightest, but because of sheer overwhelm. Our guests had just left, I went to lay down on the bed, and Targa jumped up and snuggled in beside me. It may have actually been the sweetness of him noticing my mood that finally broke me. In either case, I let the tears roll. Though I didn’t plan to have a menty B this morning (nor did I honestly feel like I had the time for it), I actually think crying is highly necessary and underrated. It’s like our body’s own built in emotional release system. I would much rather have my stuff come to the surface and pour of my eyes than have it live within me. I've felt, first-hand, how much damage keeping emotions in can do.

Anyway, when I get into this state of overwhelm, it’s really easy for me to go into freeze and just do nothing… which I then proceed to beat myself up for, because meanwhile the list of to dos continue to pile up. A vicious cycle that is to be avoided at all costs. When Clayton saw me in this state, he pulled me close, sat me down on the couch, and said let’s make a game plan. He knew what state I was in and that today was my Substack writing day (I honestly look forward to Wednesdays so much for this reason). He told me to leave the messy house and the dog, go get a matcha, write and take the morning to myself. And so here we are. To be honest, the quick resurgence of my mood had a lot to do with that gesture. I cannot overemphasize the role of a supportive partner — always, but especially when you feel off. One that makes you feel seen, doesn’t add to your existing overwhelm, and instead takes a load off so you can crawl your way out of the quick sand. I’m very lucky.

^{Us yesterday (also at Montauk General) — today though, no boys or dogs allowed!!! Bathing suit, hat & shorts linked.}

For me, being out of alignment no longer feels permanent or daunting in the way that it once did, which I think is best case scenario. The goal in working on your nervous system, and really just having a better understanding of your body and it’s language, is not to never feel out of alignment. It’s for the duration and intensity of those times to lessen. So today, I wanted to run through some of the ways this shows up for me (I have a feeling a lot of you will relate) — so you can start to decode your body’s own signals, and know how to quickly and simply recover. Because ultimately, we cannot control our surroundings or triggers — but how impacted we are and the bounce back are what’s on us.

Read more

If you want to go DEEPER with me, my Substack is where I share even more behind-the-scenes, personal reflections, and wellness experiments, with new posts dropping every Thursday: https://substack.com/@thewellnessprocess

Follow Dr. Rachel Goldman:

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

Website: https://www.drrachelnyc.com

When Life Happens: https://www.whenlifehappensbook.com

Follow us:

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

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thewellnessprocess

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheWellnessProcess

Sponsors:

Use code WELLNESS at monarch.com for 50% off your first year.

Head to cozyearth.com and use code WELLNESS for an exclusive 20% off

Visit Tatcha.com and use code TWP for 15% off your first purchase.

Use coupon code TWP to save 15% at boncharge.com

Secure 10% off for life and begin your intentional wind-down journey today at piquelife.com/wellness

Visit carawayhome.com/TWP10 or use code TWP10 at checkout to take an additional 10% off your next purchase 

Text TWP to 64000 to get 20% off all IQBAR products, plus FREE shipping. Message and data rates may apply. 

Produced by Dear Media

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

I also just have to add that this EXACT view — couch, kitchen behind me, TV in a corner, big windows, trees outside — was in my “safe space” manifestation visualization for years. I never knew where the house was, but I came back to it over and over again, and it will NEVER get old that I had literally been to this little corner before, years before Clayton and I bought this house, in my dreams. And I just love that it’s my full circle view as I’m writing this.

Occasionally, (last night for me lol) my brain mistakes the quiet and calm for fatigue or low mood, and I’m curious… does anyone else experience this? When you’ve experienced depression throughout your life, it can be hard to not equate similar (but different) sensations to those dark times. What I’ve found is that because I’m so used to being in GO mode all the time, occasionally I can short circuit a little when there is “less to do”. And, especially at 7 months pregnant, I am trying to make an active effort to just enjoy the slower days. It may sound silly, but allowing myself to nap or just read a book does not generally come easily … but here we are! To be clear — zero complaints, just keeping it real with what’s going on in my hard-wired, overachiever brain.

This week, I wanted to touch on a fun one: my top manifestations so far in 2026. I think often times, time just passes us by, and all of a sudden we’re mid year with no reflection on what we’ve accomplished. It’s a fun exercise that I highly recommend doing, especially if you made a manifestation list or a vision board at the end of last year. As a refresher, here was a snippet of mine:

So today I’m getting into it all — the things on my list that I drew into reality (I’m floored to say there were soo many of them), exactly HOW I did it, and what’s next up on my list. I absolutely love talking about this stuff, today’s post is here to EXPAND you — and given the Lion’s Gate Portal, I thought the timing was perfect for us!

I want to first just say that this right here is a judgement-free manifestation zone, and I hope you all feel the same. Judging what other people are manifesting is so low vibe. So here’s the thing: I’ve always had this undeniable, deep appreciation of aesthetics. And, I spent the majority of my life fighting myself and my love of “nice things”. It’s a part of me that I’m sure is ripe for discussion and criticism, but I’m here to tell you that I genuinely no longer care. And if you feel the same way, I see you. It’s more than okay to love self expression, clothing, beautiful spaces and places! And learning to stop masking this part of myself out of fear of how I would be perceived has opened me up (and drawn manifestations in) in a way I couldn’t have imagined.

Read more

If you want to go DEEPER with me, my Substack is where I share even more behind-the-scenes, personal reflections, and wellness experiments, with new posts dropping every Thursday: https://substack.com/@thewellnessprocess

Follow Sammy Nussdorf:

Instagram/TikTok: @brokebackcontessa

Meadow Lane Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meadowlanenyc

Follow us:

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

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thewellnessprocess

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheWellnessProcess

Sponsors

Visit https://newzealandhoneyco.com/ and use code wellness at checkout for 20% off your first purchase

Try Jolie risk free for 60 days by going to jolieskinco.com/TWP

Go to butcherbox.com/twp to get $20 off your first box, plus your choice of free ground beef for life or chicken thighs/top sirloins in every box for a year – with free shipping always.

Use code WELLNESS at monarch.com for 50% off your first year.

Produced by Dear Media

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week, I wanted to touch on the side of wellness that’s been… frankly, giving me the ick. It’s the side that allowed me stay sick under the guide of “healing” for many years. The part that can feel incredibly overwhelming and can lead to perfectionism disguised in a new, sneaky format. I obviously love wellness, it’s literally in my brand’s name, but my approach to it now is VERY different than it was 5 years ago, and I think it’s important we talk about it. I felt a strong pull to write about this because I have a sneaking suspicion that I’m not alone in this. I hear from so many people on here, the streets of NYC, in the DM, literally everywhere — that despite doing all the things, they are still in an uphill battle mentally or physically. And, from a place of DEEP empathy and understanding, I’m here to tell you that MORE IS NOT ALWAYS MORE.

There was a point in time where I was, on paper, doing everything “right” from a health and wellness perspective. I was drinking my morning celery juice, meditating, avoiding a laundry list of foods that a blood test had shown were causing “inflammation” (not even just gluten, dairy, refined sugar, etc. — but also random things like avocado, carrots, chicken and garlic). I was moving my body every day. I was forcing (key word) myself to write a morning gratitude lis… and yet, despite doing the absolute most, I was the least well I had ever been.

Read more

If you want to go DEEPER with me, my Substack is where I share even more behind-the-scenes, personal reflections, and wellness experiments, with new posts dropping every Thursday: https://substack.com/@thewellnessprocess

Follow Nikki Novo:

Website: https://www.nikkinovo.com

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

Follow us:

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

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thewellnessprocess

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheWellnessProcess

Sponsors:

Save 25% on your first month at ritual.com/TWP 

Use coupon code TWP to save 15% at boncharge.com

Go to tonal.com and use code WELLNESS for 20% off your purchase.

Text TWP to 64000 to get 20% off all IQBAR products, plus FREE shipping. Message and data rates may apply. 

Head to oakessentials.com and use code TWP for 15% off your first order at checkout

Head to cozyearth.com and use code WELLNESS for an exclusive 20% off

Produced by Dear Media

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

To pivot a bit, a theme that’s been coming up in my DMs and Q+A boxes lately is organization — and specifically how I manage to stay on top of everything with ease. And to be clear, I by no means execute everything, every day, perfectly. BUT — as a type-A perfectionist who thrives in an environment that is kept high and tight, I do know a thing or two about staying organized and optimized. They say that if you want something done, ask a busy person — and I truly feel that my most productive, seamless days tend to be the ones with more on the calendar because I have no choice but to approach how I’m spending my time strategically.

So today I wanted to share a handful of the ways I stay ON IT — and at this point, many of these things I just do on autopilot (which you can, too). But what I’ve found is that the little organizational changes add up. The more you can implement these behind-the-scenes systems to keep things in order, the less stressful the load tends to feel, and the more you can get done without strain. Especially as a (Human Design) Projector, that’s really the name of the game for me. I’m a short-bursts-of-highly-productive-energy kind of gal. So let’s get into it…

Read more

If you want to go DEEPER with me, my Substack is where I share even more behind-the-scenes, personal reflections, and wellness experiments, with new posts dropping every Thursday: https://substack.com/@thewellnessprocess

Follow us:

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

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thewellnessprocess

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheWellnessProcess

Sponsors:

Use code WELLNESS for 15% off the Premium Starter Kit at branchbasics.com

Get 10% off your first order at oseamalibu.com with code TWP

Try Jolie risk free for 60 days by going to jolieskinco.com/TWP

Save 25% on your first month at ritual.com/TWP 

Go to butcherbox.com/twp to get $20 off your first box, plus your choice of free ground beef for life or chicken thighs/top sirloins in every box for a year – with free shipping always.

Produced by Dear Media

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Me and my girl had the most NEEDED beach walk this past Sunday. You know what’s funny about a sweet photo like this? What you wouldn’t know is that I woke up, hormonal AF, weeping, emotional and so down for no specific reason, and tried to cancel on Nicole. Here’s what she texted me back to pull me out of it — and btw, I get to see Nicole maybe 2x/year max, so the timing of our little beach day was not by accident:

As my dear friend Hilary Hoffman ( ) always says: there’s a difference between being tired and being exhausted. There is, undoubtably, a time and place to let yourself do absolutely nothing, but there is also a time to push through it. And I try to apply this rule to my mental health, too. Because seeing Nicole on Sunday was exactly what I needed and it frankly turned my week around. The lesson here: don’t be afraid to be a “burden” or ask for help. As you can imagine, of all people, she understood the assignment :D

Anyway, I wanted to take a departure from some of the deeper, more thought provoking posts I’ve shared over the last few weeks and address, all in one place, some of the questions I get asked around things I’ve done to my face. And truly, this is such a fun, light one for me to write! I think some of you may be surprised to know that I’m not anti any of these things — even surgeries — if you have put time, thought and research into what you’re doing. IMO, there’s nothing wrong with changing something that you’ve spent your life feeling self conscious about. That said, surgeries, fillers, botox — obviously, none of it’s a fix for your inner world. You HAVE to tend to that, too.

And, as with most things, I believe DEEPLY that less is more. My goal is never to not look like myself. It’s just to enhance what I’m working with. And I’ve learned this the hard way over the years, which I’ll also show you guys with full transparency here… some of it is NOT good… LOL.

Also, as a little side note, to go with the theme of today’s episode — I’m putting together a giveaway for one winner: a big care package of a bunch of my favorite face & body related things. Lotions, potions, masks, eye patches, all the good stuff. To enter, you just have to comment on this post, and I’ll be announcing the winner and sending out their goodie box early next week!

Read more

If you want to go DEEPER with me, my Substack is where I share even more behind-the-scenes, personal reflections, and wellness experiments, with new posts dropping every Thursday: https://substack.com/@thewellnessprocess

Follow Dr. Tony Jimenez and Hope4Cancer:

Website: https://hope4cancer.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hope4cancermexico/?hl=en

Follow us:

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

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thewellnessprocess

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheWellnessProcess

Sponsored:

Visit carawayhome.com/TWP10 or use code TWP10 at checkout to take an additional 10% off your next purchase 

Try Jolie risk free for 60 days by going to jolieskinco.com/TWP

Secure 10% off for life and begin your intentional wind-down journey today at piquelife.com/wellness

Use coupon code TWP to save 15% at boncharge.com

Get $20 off the Waver Vibration Plate plus free shipping with code TWP at lifeprofitness.com

Produced by Dear Media

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

I talk a lot about the energetics of money (and actually wrote a whole post about my journey from scarcity to abundance), but today I wanted to get really granular. What are the actual, tangible things that I’ve been doing, especially lately, that have contributed to my continued financial growth? Some of these things may feel a bit counterintuitive. And you’ll notice a theme: none of them are directly money-making. In fact, a handful involve me actually spending money. Thoughtfully, of course. And while a handful of these things apply specifically to my job as a content creator, there is a takeaway from each that can be applied to anyone’s life or career. The common thread is that no action on this list communicates scarcity or lack to the universe, and that, to me, is the most important piece.

Read more

If you want to go DEEPER with me, my Substack is where I share even more behind-the-scenes, personal reflections, and wellness experiments, with new posts dropping every Thursday: https://substack.com/@thewellnessprocesspod

Follow Dr. Lucky Sekhon:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lucky.sekhon/?hl=en

Follow us:

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

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thewellnessprocess

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheWellnessProcess

Sponsors:

Use code WELLNESS at monarch.com for 50% off your first year.

Visit https://newzealandhoneyco.com/ and use code wellness at checkout for 20% off your first purchase

If you’re struggling with OCD or unrelenting intrusive thoughts, NOCD can help. Book a free 15 minute call to get started: https://learn.nocd.com/TWP

Go to tonal.com and use code WELLNESS for 20% off your purchase.

Head to koraorganics.com and use code WELLNESS20 for 20% off sitewide

Produced by Dear Media

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

^{Deiji Studios set.}

And so with that, I want to share something that came up for me on this trip that feels particularly vulnerable — especially as someone who, after many years of self-work, considers herself to have a great relationship with food and her body. But on the first couple days of our trip, I was surprised to find that I struggled existing on the beach in my "new" body. Being in a bathing suit six months pregnant, with a stomach that's no longer flat, boobs that have doubled in size, and dimples and stretch marks that didn't exist before, was, candidly, new and uncomfortable for me. And I think these body changes can be triggering for the most confident of women, even when you are so deeply grateful for the higher purpose your body is serving in creating new life. But I'd be lying if I said that at points I didn't find myself being overly self-critical and, honestly, a bit mean. It was reminiscent of a past version of me and honestly quite triggering.

I had spent a lot of time on the plane ride over going through old photos, because I'm putting together a physical album for Clayton and me — to collect all our memories over the last couple of years. Has anyone ever had that sensation where the day a photo is taken you don't even want to look at it because you're picking yourself apart, and then you see the photo a week later and realize you actually looked great? In my Journal Speak that night, I had THOUGHTS about the way I'd been talking to myself over the years. Sitting there in a body that's now understandably bigger (and it should be!), I thought: how dare I have been so critical of her. It made me see that, even with how far I've come with my confidence and body image, there's still work to be done. You can be taking great care of your body, nourishing it with love, and unfortunately still not be fully kind to yourself.

What I’m discovering is that the things that have popped up for me so far in pregnancy (which, it’s not lost on me, are very small in the grand scheme of things) — like first-trimester nausea and skin issues, and now this internal conversation around my body — are all with purpose. Bringing a life into the world, and simultaneously having it bring up old wounds — in my case around perfectionism and enough-ness — is not by accident. One of the things that’s helped me through these moments is the belief that it’s all by design. And when we view the things that are coming up for us as an opportunity, rather than a circumstance we’re the victim of, they tend to feel a lot less sticky. It’s actually less about avoiding these flare-ups altogether, and more about our ability to identify and move through them a little more quickly than we did in the past. Having an old pattern rear its head doesn’t mean you’re broken, and it doesn’t take away from your progress. It’s simply part of the human experience.

So what else helped me move through this? Because, thankfully, I ended up finishing the trip feeling very differently. The first piece was being open and honest about what was going on for me. For so many years, I kept my struggles to myself. I was in a relationship for almost a decade, during which I experienced some of my lowest self-esteem, and only one time did I ever verbalize it. Holding onto the shame of our experiences, and feeling like they’re so uniquely atrocious, keeps us stuck. And the irony is that I now scream them from the rooftops of my platforms (so, thank you for allowing me to heal through this process, too). But saying it out loud to Clayton — physically saying “I’m struggling” — and also Journal Speaking that sh*t out, was undeniably helpful.

The other piece was leaning into the trust I’ve built in my body over the years. I know, for a fact, that when I treat it with care, it rewards me. And care doesn’t have to mean the cleanest, wholest foods and the most strenuous workouts. Care in Italy looked like sharing a pomodoro spaghetti with Clayton at virtually every meal, and eating a pizza amuse-bouche with joy. It looked like doing a few MWH workouts when I had it in me to move. I really believe that the more we communicate safety to our bodies, the more they reward us. And then there’s the grace piece — I am growing a literal human being inside of my body. Eating more, and even indulging more, comes with that territory, and it’s NOT just about me anymore. I think the wellness space, and the world of optimization more specifically, has put a lot of us in a bit of a self-centered mindset, and I’m grateful that pregnancy is humbling me out of whatever’s left of that.

Two things I cannot emphasize enough do NOT help when you're in a body spiral — trust me, these are my tried and true guaranteed fails: One, seeking external validation. Although compliments feel good, it's simply never sufficient, because this is an inside job — and that can get tricky with social media, so it's an important one to pay attention to. And two, depriving yourself of the foods you're craving. God, I used to do this all the time — eat the "healthified" version of something, only to end up reaching for 10 other things because I was never actually satiated. This also really slips us into that restrictive mindset — and restriction communicates a lack of safety to the body. And if you're familiar with my POV on safety, you know it's literally the root of all nervous system regulation.

Something I know all too well is that the combination of being really freaking hard on yourself (especially about your body) and too much time doomscrolling (guilty of doing this more than ever when traveling) can be really hard on your mental health. This combo certainly got me while I was away. So I can’t stress enough the importance of time away from your phone. I used my Brick (I always rave about this thing) every single day in order to force an unplug, and that absolutely contributed to a boost in my mental health.

I want to be clear that I am by no means complaining about what was, truly, one of the best trips I’ve ever taken. I feel immensely grateful to have been in Italy, with my husband, on our baby moon — especially given that just two years ago I was heartbroken, in chronic pain, and unable to see a clear vision of a happy future. But I also want to use this platform to not just give you the pretty picture, but to also show you the humanness that lies beneath it. Because even though I’ve done a lot of work on myself, I’m not immune to a flare-up of a past struggle. And I think that’s something a lot of us get wrong, and that can keep us feeling really broken or stuck: that there’s this destination of being completely and perfectly well — and it’s just not realistic. You can have a 10/10 trip and still experience uncomfortable inner noise.

And lastly, here’s the lighter stuff, as promised. Our trip itinerary was as follows, and I will never gate-keep the details — our travel agent, Helen Nguyen, really made this all happen with perfection for us:

Where we stayed — Mezzatore (Ischia):

This is the sister hotel to Il Pellicano (in Porto Ercole, Italy, which we absolutely adore), and I was shocked to find that I loved Mezzatore even more. It's absolutely gorgeous, yet quite casual (I never even wore heels), the food is amazing, and the beach setup is absolutely iconic. We're going back again next summer for a friend's wedding and I couldn't be happier to return!

What we ate — Ischia:

While Clayton tends to be more of an adventurer, I personally love a hotel where I can mostly just stay on campus. There’s something about the ease of going nowhere that feels so good to me. So, we ate almost all of our meals at the hotel. There’s a more casual restaurant by the pool, which we preferred, and a more formal one for dinner. My favorite thing about the food in Ischia was the absurdly delicious tomatoes they have in the region, and their Scialatielli pasta (these thick, hand-cut noodles) — we had to get one at every meal.

We ventured out twice for dinner in Ischia. Once at Giardino Eden, and this was a mistake — only people in the restaurant, QR codes on the table for menus (a big ick of mine), and house music playing. Apparently this is more of a lunch/beach club spot, and it’s actually quite good during the daytime. The other place we went, and LOVED, was L’isola— really great pizza, really great vibes, highly recommend getting a patio table.

Where we stayed — Il San Pietro (Positano):

It was our first time staying here too, and truly one of the most incredible hotel experiences we’ve ever had. Both hotels we stayed at were, and it showed, family-owned for decades. The attention to detail, service, food, and layout of this place were absolutely stunning. Positano can be a little chaotic, and we loved that ISP was a little removed from the bustle of the town (my kind of vibe).

To get here, we took a boat from Ischia and made it a bit of a day — we stopped at Lo Scoglio (Marina del Cantone) for lunch, which was 100/10.

What we ate — Positano:

Again, we mostly ate at the hotel here, which was my preference, and hard to go wrong with. We had lunch one day at Da Adolfo — a superb little hole in the wall with delicious, authentic food. And then we popped out one night to go to La Sponda at Le Sirenuse Hotel for dinner. It was definitely worth the (short) shuttle ride into town (the hotel provides it), and it also happens to be the only place I bought anything — their store has an amazing little curation of clothes & accessories! The other thing we popped out for (almost nightly) was gelato. We loved Sofiposa, and it was right next to where the hotel shuttle dropped us off in town. A scoop of coconut with a scoop of mango was the perfect combo IMO.

What I wore:

Finishing with some fun outfits — because although the bump was an adjustment, I did enjoy dressing her (most of the time) :D

^{Blue Issey Miyake set, vintage Fendi look, a gorgeous silk printed shirt and shorts, blue one piece (I have this in a few colors it’s so good), workout onesie, embroidered maxi dress.}

^{A lip oil that doesn’t leave my side, an affordable tennis necklace, this chic white set from Gap is LIGHT & very well priced, super cute green hat, yellow embroidered loafers, a supportive swim top, the best hair scunchies i’ve ever found, this woven tote i’m loving, the yellow clutch I use all the time, very yummy chili oil, Suzie Kondi shorts, a black summer shoe, a face mask that has been SAVING my skin, the best cut white tee, Missoni shirt on my wish list, the (clean) sunscreen i’ve been wearing, and this fish bag is so cute… Shop the entire edit here.}

Sending you all the biggest hug!

E xx

I would describe myself as having been an ultra-sensitive, perfectionistic deep-feeler for as long as I can remember. One of my very first memories involves walking through the kindergarten doors with my best friend, worrying that the skort I was wearing wasn’t good enough. I remember seeing a bunch of girls in dresses and feeling like I had made the wrong choice. I think part of this was nature and part was nurture, but after spending many years in therapy over-analyzing my childhood, I’ve landed in a place where I’m much more focused on the now. I think it’s important to understand why we are the way we are, but it’s even more important to take charge of who we’re becoming.

Subscribe <3

There were, of course, many times when I took a little too much charge. And that’s why I’ve included the word process in my brand — because it’s not at all about the destination of being perfectly “well.” That type-A, hyper-sensitive personality I described landed me in a place where I suppressed a lot of emotions. In elementary school, I was called a crybaby. In high school, I was told I was “easy to hate.” The result was, unfortunately, a shrunken version of myself — both physically and emotionally.

Body image struggles, chronic infections, pelvic pain that felt like a five-year-long UTI, skin issues, mold toxicity, and Lyme disease naturally followed. And because I didn’t know what I know now (and I don’t blame myself at all for that), I fell hard into a victim mentality. I felt delicate, easily breakable, and very much identified with being the one who was “always dealing with something.” I spent most of my time running from doctor to guru to healer, spending tens of thousands of dollars, taking dozens of supplements, and becoming hyper-fixated on the idea of “healing.” What I didn’t know was that this mentality was exactly what was keeping me stuck in the same, sick place.

When you start playing whack-a-mole with chronic symptoms, it unfortunately (and fortunately) keeps you very busy. I say fortunately because it’s by design. Your body — which is ALWAYS working for you and never against you, as hard as that may be to understand when you’re in it — would rather create physical discomfort than force you to feel the pain of whatever is going on beneath the surface. Nervous system regulation, which ultimately healed me of every single one of those chronic symptoms, has changed my life in more ways than I could have ever imagined. And I talk about the exact how in many of my posts on here. This is a great one for getting a basic understanding, and this one is a FREE Q+A where I answer the most frequently asked questions I see around the daily journaling practice that quite literally saved my life (and trust me, I know how insane that sounds).

Abundance and luxury are also themes you’ll see often. And ironically, I once carried a lot of shame for caring about those things. I grew up in a small town in Michigan, was raised by two incredibly hardworking nurses, and lived a very normal life. Even from a young age, there was an urge inside of me to be successful — I wanted financial independence. I would do everything from collections cans and taking them to the grocery store for the return to hustling at lemonade stands on the weekends. But there was always something inside of me, even from a very young age, that felt stuck and trapped. This is a generalization, but from my POV at that age, people from the Midwest didn’t often leave the Midwest. So when I moved to NYC after graduating from the University of Michigan with tens of thousands of dollars in student loans, no financial support, and a job in finance that I didn’t want but knew I needed for the paycheck, I had a serious fire lit under me. Eventually, I started Sweats & The City, a fitness review IG and blog with my partner and dear friend, Dale (she still runs it, and it’s even better than before), and after 10 years decided to take a major leap: leaving something I had built that was very financially comfortable to build The Wellness Process as my full-time job.

Since then, I have worked incredibly hard to build what has now become a seven-figure business — across my IG, podcast, and Substack — and because of where I came from, I will forever carry that with the utmost pride. And I share this not to brag, but because I am not special, and I need you to know that it’s possible for you, too. It’s truly about finding your purpose and authenticity, both of which I cover frequently in this corner of the internet. I also need to add that working hard, for me, doesn’t mean burning the candle at both ends or feeling depleted. I use tools like this energetic blueprint to understand my own unique wiring and work with it rather than against it, like I spent so many years doing. One of the things I really struggle with in the wellness world is that it often becomes a copy-and-paste exercise. And nothing about being “well” is one-size-fits-all. So what you’ll find is that I share a lot of tools on here that have been helpful for me — not in a “you need this to solve all your problems” way, but in a “that felt really good for me” way. There is never any pressure to do; I am simply providing a menu of options.

Alongside my career journey, because I strongly believe that wealth, health, and love tend to go energetically hand in hand, I went through many ups and downs in my relationships. Ultimately, in my early thirties, I ended up taking another trust fall and walking away from an eight-year relationship. What ensued after taking that leap, trusting that I felt the strong urge to leave for a reason, and deeply believing that the right person was out there for me was easily my greatest blessing and most important manifestation to date. I met Clayton several months after that rock bottom. We got engaged after just nine months, married the following year, and got pregnant shortly after — and I don’t believe any of this is a coincidence.

On our babymoon in Italy last week <3 — A good reminder of just how MUCH can change in just two years.

I was recently doing a rewiring meditation in Limitless course (which btw, I highly, highly recommend this if you’re interested in growing your Substack — I do NOT gatekeep here!!) and came across a memory of when a major block developed. I was in the fourth grade and had put so much time into my book report (as a perfectionistic overachiever does). I turned it in so proud of my work that I was literally looking forward to the day I would get my grade back. A few days later, my teacher pulled me aside. She told me it was very unlike me to skip an assignment and asked me why I hadn’t turned my report in. I was horrified, heartbroken, defensive, and mad. She never ended up finding the report, and I had to fight not to get a bad grade on it. This resulted in what I now realize was a wound around feeling unseen in my work. I felt like my teacher didn’t believe me, like I had done something wrong, and like my precious work — work that I was genuinely so proud of — had been completely overlooked. The irony is that, selfishly, through my podcast and this Substack, I get to do the complete opposite of that. It absolutely lights me up to sit down every week and dedicate an entire day to writing for you all. And as much as I appreciate the feedback I get when I hear from this community or meet any of you IRL, please know that you’re healing me as much as I’m helping you. Feeling genuinely seen in my experiences, with the added bonus that they might help even one other person feel seen in theirs, is the medicine I never knew I needed.

As I mentioned earlier about not over-identifying with our wounds, we have a choice: to let them close us off or to find a way to expand through them. Looking back, every major chapter of my life has involved some kind of trust fall. Leaving Michigan for NYC. Starting Sweats & The City. Healing my chronic symptoms. Leaving a long-term relationship. Starting The Wellness Process. Getting married. Over and over again, the biggest blessings in my life have come from listening to a quiet nudge before I knew where it would lead. And I say this not to be toxically positive — I am human, flawed, and still have my struggles — but rather to show you the power of turning your pain into purpose, which is something we are all capable of.

I want to be clear that I am not a guru. I am simply here to share my own lived journey, which often involves things that can feel so isolating and unique, and yet are so universal. Being a mirror doesn’t mean simply reflecting you back to yourself; hopefully, it also helps you see something you couldn’t quite see before. Everything I write about is rooted in lived experience, and while I don’t have it all figured out, I hope this post, and my Substack in general, leaves you feeling a little lighter and a little less alone in this human experience.

PS: If you felt a specific reflection, some flicker of expansion, or an aha moment while reading this, let me know in the comments — I want to know what’s coming up for you! I try my best to respond to everyone, and I love hearing from you guys!

With so much love,

Eliz xxx

If you want to go DEEPER with me, my Substack is where I share even more behind-the-scenes, personal reflections, and wellness experiments, with new posts dropping every Thursday: https://substack.com/@thewellnessprocesspod

Follow Jeanette Aranda:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shutthekaleup/?hl=en

Follow us:

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

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thewellnessprocess

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheWellnessProcess

Sponsors:

Text TWP to 64000 to get 20% off all IQBAR products, plus FREE shipping. Message and data rates may apply. 

Use coupon code TWP to save 15% at boncharge.com

Get 10% off your first order at oseamalibu.com with code TWP

Head to cozyearth.com and use code TWP for an exclusive 20% off 

Produced by Dear Media

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

I have officially reached the stage of pregnancy where I am ~moody~ ... I don’t know if this is a thing? But I’m making it one. In my second trimester, I have been abnormally un-anxious — which I’m guessing is due to heightened progesterone and the lack of a luteal phase. It’s actually been a wild experience to have no week-long low each month — and my husband happily noticed this difference :D ... but as I’m now just shy of 6 months preg, I’m noticing a different pattern, which is randomly getting hit with bad moods.

^{The app I use to track this is called Stardust — love that it gives me an idea of where I’m at hormonally (it’s great for non-pregnancy too) + a sprinkle of spirituality}

They’re generally short-lived, but I had one the other morning while we were here (you’d think it would be impossible in paradise, and to be clear, I am by no means complaining) where I felt that luteal-phase level of darkness (seeing the world in black-and-white vibes) for a morning. I’m not going to lie, I’ve been riding so high that it spooked me a little. It’s really hard when you’re in the “darkness” not to feel a false sense of permanence.

^{Matteau white one piece}

So, freshly out of a hormonally induced anti-joy mood (which, obviously, can be caused by anything), I feel deeply reminded of what it means to really feel good and the polarity that inevitably exists. But today’s post is really a reminder of the self-induced versions, the less obvious ones that we partake in day to day on autopilot, often without even realizing it. This isn’t so much a guide as it is a brain dump... one that I think a lot of us (myself included) may need to hear. I feel strongly that so many of our subconscious behaviors are shaping our reality. And the ones we need to be particularly aware of are the sneakily negative ones that are quietly impacting us.

The internet can be such a beautiful place of creation, sharing, connection, and opportunity. And my experience of social media over the years has predominantly been that. But it can also be an ugly place — and I’m not going to lie, especially as a sensitive person, my negativity bias occasionally has me seeing only that small fraction of energy leeches.

I’ve been creating content on Instagram for over 10 years now, and one of the themes I see over and over again is other people’s joy becoming a trigger point — and unknowingly placing us into our own anti-joy energy. Which is so unnatural because human beings were literally put on this earth to experience joy. But this is also a very natural consequence of being able to see inside the lives (and highlight reels) of literally anyone. There was actually a point in time when I had to mute a handful of accounts that I found super expansive because I was so pained by not being where they were in life or having what they had. Instead of viewing it as something that was possible for me too (which it was, and is), I let my lack win.

Read more

If you want to go DEEPER with me, my Substack is where I share even more behind-the-scenes, personal reflections, and wellness experiments, with new posts dropping every Thursday: https://substack.com/@thewellnessprocesspod

Follow us:

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

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thewellnessprocess

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheWellnessProcess

Sponsors:

Visit sinacrisps.com and use code WELLNESS for 20% off your first order.

Visit carawayhome.com/TWP10 or use code TWP10 at checkout to take an additional 10% off your next purchase 

Use code WELLNESS at monarch.com for 50% off your first year.

Save 25% on your first month at ritual.com/TWP 

Get up to 43% off starter kits, plus free shipping and a free rechargeable frother when you use code TWP at mudwtr.com

Produced by Dear Media

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.