This week on Creating Connections, I had the pleasure of sitting down with the amazing Illa Lynn - psychology enthusiast, women’s empowerment coach, and self-proclaimed chain breaker - to talk all about authenticity, breaking through generational “shoulds,” and finding ourselves beyond the exhaustion of everyday expectations.

Illa gets real about her own journey - how years of people-pleasing and perpetual busyness led to burnout and a literal wake-up call from the universe.

She opens up about how she learned the importance of self-care (without feeling guilty!), rediscovering joy, and setting new standards for her life…and for her kids.

We swapped stories about the pressures women face, the guilt we carry, and how so many of us wake up one day thinking, “I don’t even know who I am anymore.” If you’ve ever felt that way, you’ll find so much hope and practical wisdom here.

But it’s not just about the heavy stuff. We also talk about small, actionable ways to start reconnecting with yourself - whether it’s five minutes to journal before your kids wake up or finding those little “micro-pleasures” that make you smile.

Illa shares her step-by-step blueprint from her book, Uncover Authentic You, and she makes self-love feel absolutely doable!

So if you’re a woman - and especially if you’re a mom - who needs permission to slow down without guilt, crave more authenticity, or just want to feel seen, heard, and cheered on, this episode is for you.

Grab your favorite drink and let’s remind ourselves together: we deserve to thrive, not just survive.

Excited for you to tune in!

If you found value in this episode of Creating Connections, we'd love and appreciate a review! ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/creating-connections/id1625704526

You can listen to previous Creating Connections episodes by subscribing to our channel here or to our podcast on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/creating-connections/id1625704526

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4fSOTnukCE9IOwogZb7hYP?si=ey3wu1GyS2mlBjAdWlTeyg

Connect with Illa here:

Grab her book: https://www.amazon.com/UNCOVER-AUTHENTIC-YOU-Acceptance-Self-Discovery/dp/B0BMSRJWZS

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/illa-lynn/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IllaLynn

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

Want to be a guest on Creating Connections? Send Nhien Dinh a message on PodMatch, here: ⁠https://podmatch.com/hostdetail/1709753417385796564d8d28b⁠

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