Ask Ms. Mindfulness
Shelley Pernot, otherwise known as the Irreverent Guru of Mindfulness, muses on life, leadership and everything in between. Your one stop shop for career tips, leadership tips and daily inspiration!
What’s the Best that Could Happen?
Last weekend in New Orleans, I came across a simple question:
What’s the best that could happen?
It stopped me—because most of us are wired to ask the opposite.
We scan for risk, try to control every outcome, and call it “being prepared.”
But somewhere along the way, we may be feeding our fears more than our dreams.
And when we do that, our world quietly starts to shrink.
Who are you trying so hard to be? Try gently instead.
We spend so much energy striving to become someone — more polished, more successful, more certain — that we forget to ask why. Often, the pressure to “be better” is rooted in fear: fear of not belonging, not measuring up, or not being enough.
What if the path forward isn’t about pushing harder, but softening into who you already are? Trying gently doesn’t mean lowering your standards — it means releasing the tight grip of identity and choosing growth from self-trust rather than self-criticism. The shift is subtle, but the freedom is profound.
The power of choice in leadership
There's nothing worse than a "must" or a "have to." We often solider on, at a cost. What toll might this attitude be taking on your energy, and the energy of your team?
What’s Driving Your Leadership – Fear or Purpose?
Want to be powerful? Let go of the performer
They’re not leaving their job, they’re leaving your leadership
Tired of Drama at Work?
Struggling with Burnout? Here’s one simple question to ask yourself…
For my fellow conflict avoiders out there - here's a powerful reframe
What Pain Can Teach Us About Leadership
The Beautiful Thing About Conflict
What it really means to rest (hint: it’s not about fancy self-care)
The Next Time You're Guilted into Saying Yes, Think About This
Want to feel more joyful? Think about this.
Are you at a Career Turning Point? Ignore it at your peril.
What's the Secret to Building a High Performing Team?
In the pursuit to feel the fear and do it anyway, this is what we forget
Be Careful Who You Put on a Pedestal
If you’re struggling to figure out how to inspire your team (or yourself), think about this
