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My client was about to make the biggest mistake of her academic career...

Until I told her to do the exact opposite of what every productivity expert recommends.

Sarah's hands shook as she clutched her lecture notes. Her ex had just said "Hey" in the faculty hallway—such a simple word that hit like a punch to the gut.

Five years together. Same department. And now every casual encounter left her completely drained, like someone had pulled the plug on her energy.

"I can't keep doing this," she whispered to herself.

The problem wasn't her productivity system.

When Sarah came to see me, she thought she needed help managing her assistant professorship workload. Academic pressure was crushing her, she'd lost her creative voice, and every day felt like survival mode.

But as we worked together, something deeper emerged.

The failed relationship wasn't just personal drama—it was professional poison. Beneath her struggle to focus was unprocessed grief. The loss of a future that could have been. Dreams that had quietly died while she wasn't looking.

"I keep trying to be productive," she told me, "but I feel like I'm running on empty."

So instead of adding more to her schedule, we did the opposite.

We created space. Space to feel what she'd been avoiding. Space to be present instead of frantically busy. Space for her authentic voice to emerge.

I held space for Sarah to reconnect with what was really happening inside. We practiced being here, now—not rushing toward the next deadline or away from uncomfortable feelings.

Three months later, everything had changed.

Sarah finished writing a major grant proposal and started a project that genuinely excited her. But more importantly, she'd learned to trust her inner voice again.

"I remember why I loved this work," she told me, her eyes bright. "I can hear myself think again."

The breakthrough wasn't about doing more. It was about creating space for who she really was to emerge.

Peace,

-Alex

P.S. If you're feeling drained by toxic dynamics or stuck in survival mode, I have 2 spots open for September. Apply here to start your empowerment journey​

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