Introduction to Lead to Excel

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Welcome to the Lead to Excel podcast , where faith , leadership , emotional intelligence and neuroscience meet . I'm Maureen Chiana , your host , and I'm here to help you think differently , lead boldly and live intentionally . If you're ready to unlock your potential and transform the way you lead and live , you're in the right place . Remember to subscribe to this podcast so you never miss an episode . Let's dive in . Hello and welcome back to Lead to Excel podcast .

The Barrenness of Busy Life

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To Excel podcast . I'm Maureen Chiana , your neuroleadership coach , speaker and author of Rewire your Brain with Neuroscience and Scripture Every Day .

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Let's start with this quote by Socrates beware the barrenness of a busy life . That quote captures something many people face You're busy , but is that busyness actually fruitful ? And I know this because I have lived it . There was a season in my life when my days were overflowing Career , business , family , children's activities , church , running from one responsibility to another . On the outside I looked productive . Inside I was tired and unfulfilled . I was busy surviving , literally paying bills , saying yes to everything . But when I asked myself , am I busy doing the right things , the things God has called me to do , I realized the answer wasn't always yes . That moment was a wake-up call . It forced me to pause . Moment was a wake-up call . It forced me to pause , to ask God to realign me and to start rewiring my thinking .

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Science actually explains this well . Every time you tick something off your list an email , a bill , a chore your brain releases dopamine , the feel-good chemical . It makes you feel accomplished . It just rewards motion . That's why you can be busy all day yet feel empty . And that's because your brain is rewarding tasks , not purpose . And when busyness becomes constant , cortisol , the stress hormone , rises . High cortisol clouds your clarity , reduces creativity and blocks your ability to think strategically . So while busyness keeps you moving , it doesn't always move you forward . It doesn't always move you forward . It doesn't always move you in the direction in which you should be moving to accomplish your purpose .

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Emotional intelligence gives us tools to ask these questions , or to ask important questions . Why am I doing this ? Am I being driven by fear or am I aligned with God's purpose ? For many , busyness comes from fear Fear of lack , fear of letting people down , fear of missing out . But emotional intelligence teaches us that boundaries are not selfish , they are wise .

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Saying no allows you to say a bigger yes to the things that actually matter . So I want you to ask yourself the question am I busy doing what others expect of me , or am I busy doing what aligns with my calling ? That brings us to Ephesians 5 , 15 to 16 , that says be careful , then , how you live , not as unwise , but as wise , making the most of every opportunity . And then 2 Timothy 3 , 7 warns us about the danger of always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of truth . That means learning but not being able to really bring that learning into fruition . Isn't that a picture of modern life ? We attend courses , watch videos , scroll through endless information , always consuming but never actually pausing to apply , align and live in truth . That's busyness disguised as growth . And that's exactly why I created the resources .

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I have my book Rewire your Brain with Neuroscience and Scripture Every Day , so that you don't just learn but actually practice renewing your mind daily . Get your copy from Amazon or Mindsightstorecom . The other resource is Mindsight Women's Network , a transformational network where women are trained and coached by me to excel in leadership , in business relationships and personal growth . Rooted in scripture and powered by emotional intelligence and neuroscience , mindsight Women's Network is more than a community . It's a proven pathway to high performance and true transformation . Every woman is equipped with expert guidance , practical strategies and spiritual wisdom to thrive as an influential leader in her career , business and personal life . At Mindsight Academy , we are leaders , entrepreneurs and organizations . Don't just study neuroscience and emotional intelligence separately , but apply them together to rewire thinking and transform performance . All this because without alignment , all the learning in the world won't change you .

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So how do we shift ? The first key to shifting is stop and ask God . Begin each day with that prayer , with a prayer where you actually ask God a question and listen . Most of the time in prayers we're talking at God . Most times you don't stop to listen . So pray the prayer . Lord , help me to not just do more , but do the right things and also listen to what God tells you to do .

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The second thing is rewire your thinking . Don't celebrate only busyness . Celebrate progress on purposeful goals . My book Rewire your Brain with Neuroscience and Scripture Every Day gives you 366 daily reflections to help you practice this . The third thing to do is set purposeful priorities Each week . Choose three things that align with your values and calling . Let them guide your time . Then the next one is rest strategically .

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Neuroscience shows rest boosts clarity . Scripture also shows that rest renews the soul . So rest is actually holy strategy . Finally , find accountability . That's why Mindsight Women's Network exists . That's why I run the Mindsight Academy to create spaces where you don't walk alone , but with people who call you higher . So here's my challenge to you this week Write down three things you've been busy with . Then pause , pray and ask God which of these are survival tasks and which are the right things you've called me to do , because busyness without truth is emptiness , but busyness aligned with God's will is fruitfulness .

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If this episode resonated with you , I invite you to take action . Start small by getting my book Rewire your Brain with Neuroscience and Scripture every day , and watch out for the companion workbook coming soon with exercises to help you apply daily . You can also join Mindsight Women's Network if you're a woman ready to stop spinning and start thriving with purpose . And you can also explore the Mindsight Academy if you're a leader , entrepreneur or organization that wants to rewire thinking for lasting transformation . Because , remember , you're not called to a life of frantic survival . You are called to a life of purposeful impact . Stay blessed and keep leading with alignment . See you again soon .

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Thank you for tuning in to Lead to Excel podcast with me , maureen Chiana . I hope today's episode inspired and equipped you to renew your mind and lead with purpose . If it did , please you remember to subscribe , share with someone who needs it and leave a review . It really helps more people discover this message . Remember you are created to soar higher . Think boldly and live intentionally . Until next time , stay focused , stay faith-filled and keep becoming all God designed you to be . See you in the next episode . Bye for now .