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Let’s talk about stress, Reader.

If you’re an ambitious professional, you probably know stress well.

It’s that tightness in your chest before a big meeting, the racing mind at 2 a.m., or the nagging thought that you’ll never “do enough.”

But here’s the truth: stress isn’t your enemy. It’s a signal—your body’s way of saying, “Hey, I need attention.”

For years, I thought the answer to stress was to push harder, do more, and ignore the signs.

But that only led to burnout. What changed everything for me—and now for my clients—is learning to listen to stress instead of fighting it.

Stress can be a teacher if you let it.

Here’s how to work with it:

💡 Pause on Purpose: The first step is giving your body a moment to reset. It’s amazing how a 30-second pause can shift your entire mood.
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💡 Move Through It: Stress gets trapped in the body. Through playful movements, we release that tension so it doesn’t build up.
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💡 Build Resilience: By creating small, daily habits—like intentional breaks—you start to rebound faster and feel more in control.

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This might sound like an April Fools' joke, but science backs it up!
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​Research shows that how we respond to stress matters more than the stress itself. Play—whether through movement, creativity, or even a mindset shift—helps regulate the nervous system, making it easier to recover from stress and build resilience over time.

Play isn’t just fun—it’s a powerful tool for well-being.

When you embrace these tools, you’ll feel lighter, think more clearly, and show up as the grounded, confident leader you truly are.

If stress feels like it’s running your life, know this: you have the power to rewrite that story.

Consider this your next Power Play.

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To your playful resilience,​
Ashley
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👉 Something exciting is coming soon… a Play Challenge designed to help you shift stress into power. Stay tuned!