2025 was the year I stopped waiting to feel “ready” and started speaking anyway. Here’s what I learned about growth, perfectionism, and putting yourself back in the equation.

If unfamiliar territory always feels like too much for you, it is probably not because you are not capable. More often, it is because the way you are trying to step into it does not match your current capacity. In this article I share a simple question and a different way to approach growth so you can step outside your comfort zone without burning out.

A grounded look at the push through mentality and why “what doesn’t k*ll you makes you stronger” is one of the biggest resilience myths for high functioning women. Learn what real resilience looks like and why coping at all costs leads to burnout, not strength.

Melissa leading a women’s workshop, supporting personal and professional growth.

Melissa Duniam of Leading Rein, reflecting in a natural Tasmanian setting, representing clarity, boundaries, and personal reset.

Most women don’t choose to be busy, it just becomes the default.
But what happens when busy stops being a season and starts becoming an identity?

Discover the real difference between DISC and eDISC to help you work and lead in a way that actually fits you.

We’ve been told that resilience means holding it all together - staying strong, pushing through, doing it all. But what if that version of resilience is the very thing that’s breaking us?

It wasn’t the award that changed me, but what came after it. Real growth happens in the stretch; messy, human, and never perfect.

Inspired by a powerful EFF members conversation, with trainer Joe Pane, this post explores how projection and self-judgment keep us stuck and how curiosity opens the door to change.

For years I thought purpose meant being good at things others valued. But real purpose isn’t found outside yourself, it’s uncovered when you let go of the patterns keeping you stuck.

The first time I backed myself, it felt uncomfortable.
Like I had to justify it. Prove it.
But deep down I knew, if I didn’t say yes to me, no one else could do it for me.

We grow, we evolve but we rarely update the way we see ourselves or others. This blog explores what happens when we keep performing outdated versions of ourselves, and how to give yourself permission to become.

Mid-year isn’t just about numbers. It’s about noticing.

Noticing what’s working, what’s feeling heavy, and what’s been quietly sitting in the background waiting for your attention.

This blog isn’t a performance review. It’s a real-life check-in for women in the thick of it, managing life, work, decisions, and everyone else’s needs... often while quietly wondering if they’re falling behind.

If that’s you, this is your reminder:
You’re not behind.
You’re in the middle of something important.
And the second half of the year is still yours to shape.

Feeling tired of being the strong one all the time? You were never meant to carry it all alone. Discover why true strength includes safe connection in this heartfelt blog from Melissa Duniam.

You know that feeling when you stay in something longer than you should. Not because it feels right, but because it feels easier.

We tell ourselves we’ll figure it out later. But later rarely comes. And the longer we stay, the harder it gets to leave.

In this article, we explore why we stay stuck, how fear plays a role, and the mindset shifts that help you choose what’s right over what’s familiar.

We’ve all heard the phrase “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.” But what if that belief is holding you back? In this blog, I’m challenging the idea that endurance equals strength and why pushing through isn't always the answer. True strength isn’t about surviving more, it’s about knowing when to step back and choose what serves you. If you’re tired of being stuck in survival mode, this post is for you.

You keep telling yourself one day you’ll slow down, take a break, finally say yes to something just for you. But when is WHEN? Life will keep letting you wait, until you decide you’re done waiting. Maybe today’s the day you say YES to you.

Struggling with the pressure of New Year’s goals? In this honest reflection, Melissa shares her journey from survival mode to embracing growth, and how to let go of comparison to set meaningful intentions for YOUR season of life. Read more.

Discover why the pursuit of work-life balance is a myth that's keeping women stuck in burnout and unfulfillment. Learn how to shift from balance to alignment and create a life aligned with your values. Download the free guide, Beyond Busy, today.