The Force Within: Recalibrating Your Inner Power

The Force Within: Recalibrating Your Inner Power

This May 4th, pause to reconnect with your inner power. The force you seek—clarity, creativity, and purpose—has always been within. This blog invites you to realign, reflect, and rediscover the spark beneath the noise of everyday life.

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The Puzzle Is Complete: Now the Real Work Begins
Nicole Ensmenger Nicole Ensmenger

The Puzzle Is Complete: Now the Real Work Begins

At first glance, the puzzle of life might seem complete, but true growth comes from pausing to examine the connections between each piece. It’s not just about finishing the picture -it’s about recalibration. Join me as we explore how intentional reflection can help you align your life with who you’re becoming, and discover the real work that lies in understanding the puzzle of your life.

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Fuel for the Journey: Celebrating the Wins
Nicole Ensmenger Nicole Ensmenger

Fuel for the Journey: Celebrating the Wins

Life isn’t just about big milestones. It’s about the quiet wins—surprising conversations, small acts of courage, intentional pauses. When we stop to notice them, we find the fuel for growth, joy, and momentum.

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Leadership in Low Gear: How to Get Unstuck and Keep Climbing
Nicole Ensmenger Nicole Ensmenger

Leadership in Low Gear: How to Get Unstuck and Keep Climbing

Ever felt like you’re doing everything right but still not moving forward? Stuck halfway up a metaphorical hill, tires spinning? This post dives into the muddy moments of life and leadership—where growth happens, tension stretches us, and reflection reveals the way forward.

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The Unseen Leader
Nicole Ensmenger Nicole Ensmenger

The Unseen Leader

When you hear the word leader, what comes to mind?

A CEO? A politician? A coach giving a pep talk?

It’s easy to think of leadership as a position - something earned, assigned, or chosen.

But what if leadership isn’t about a title at all?

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The “I CAN” Mindset: Leading Yourself to Success
Nicole Ensmenger Nicole Ensmenger

The “I CAN” Mindset: Leading Yourself to Success

Your mindset shapes your actions, decisions, relationships, and leadership. A negative mindset isn’t just about self-doubt—it directly impacts your success and opportunities. If you constantly tell yourself, “I can’t,” or “I’m not good enough,” you’re not just thinking negatively—you’re creating real barriers in your life.

Henry Ford once said, “Whether you think you can or think you can’t, you’re right.” This means that our beliefs shape our reality. A negative mindset can lead to:

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The Power of Play: Why You Need More Fun in Your Life
Nicole Ensmenger Nicole Ensmenger

The Power of Play: Why You Need More Fun in Your Life

For most adults, play is something we used to do when we were kids. But somewhere between deadlines, responsibilities, and keeping everything together, we stopped. We started believing that play is frivolous, a waste of time, something that doesn’t belong in the “real world” of adulthood.

But here’s the reality: play is essential. It’s not just a stress reliever—it’s a powerful tool for creativity, problem-solving, emotional resilience, and even leadership. If you want to level up in life, reduce stress, and improve your relationships, play is one of the most overlooked (yet most effective) ways to do it.

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The Pocket Pause: The Power of Slowing Down in Leadership
Nicole Ensmenger Nicole Ensmenger

The Pocket Pause: The Power of Slowing Down in Leadership

As leaders—whether in our careers, our communities, or our families—we often get so caught up in taking care of everything and everyone else that we forget to take care of ourselves. The meetings, deadlines, responsibilities, and expectations pile up, and even the things meant to bring us joy—a morning workout, a coffee break, or a moment of reflection—become just another box to check off.

We push forward, driven by results, responsibilities, and the next goal. But in the process, we risk losing something vital: Ourselves.

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Creating Boundaries that Empower: Balancing Relationships and Leadership
Nicole Ensmenger Nicole Ensmenger

Creating Boundaries that Empower: Balancing Relationships and Leadership

Imagine standing at the edge of a frozen lake in midwinter. The snow-covered ice stretches before you, pristine and inviting. It looks solid, but you know better. Some areas are thick and strong enough to support a full day of skating, while others—hidden beneath that same smooth surface—are weak and ready to crack under the slightest pressure. The only way to move safely across this lake is by understanding where the strong footing is and respecting the warning signs along the way.

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Recalibrating the Soul: From Reaction to Response through Self-Love
Nicole Ensmenger Nicole Ensmenger

Recalibrating the Soul: From Reaction to Response through Self-Love

There was a moment when it became crystal clear that something had to change.

After returning from vacation, there should have been a sense of renewal—but instead, there was a tightness in my chest, a restless energy, I was pacing the floor while the world around me remained still. Tears came without warning, and in that quiet moment, reality hit me like a ton of bricks.

I was done, stick a fork in me, extra chewy, over cooked — well done!

That was the moment when I realized something had to change. Life couldn’t continue like this….

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Rituals for Success: How Routines Shape Leadership Effectiveness
Nicole Ensmenger Nicole Ensmenger

Rituals for Success: How Routines Shape Leadership Effectiveness

Imagine a river flowing steadily toward its destination. At first glance, it seems effortless, just water moving naturally along its course. But if you look closer, you’ll see something interesting—there are rocks in the way. Some small, some massive.

Now, the river doesn’t stop. It doesn’t turn back. It doesn’t waste energy fighting the rocks. Instead, it carves a path around them, over time shaping the landscape itself.

That’s what routines do for us. They create a flow, a rhythm, a sense of momentum. And when obstacles—stress, distractions, setbacks—get in the way, we don’t have to stop. We adjust. We navigate. And over time, we shape the life we want.

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Breaking Free from Your Own Groundhog Day
Nicole Ensmenger Nicole Ensmenger

Breaking Free from Your Own Groundhog Day

Are you feeling like every day is the same, stuck in a never-ending cycle of routine? If you’ve ever had a Groundhog Day moment, where life feels like it’s on repeat, it might be time to hit reset. In this post, we’ll explore how breaking free from the monotony starts with self-awareness, self-love, and intentional action. Ready to create lasting change in your life and leadership? Keep reading to discover how you can shift from autopilot to purposeful action.

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Health as a Leadership Tool: Nutrition and Exercise for Mental and Physical Stamina
Nicole Ensmenger Nicole Ensmenger

Health as a Leadership Tool: Nutrition and Exercise for Mental and Physical Stamina

Discover how prioritizing your physical and mental health can enhance your leadership skills. In this post, we explore the powerful connection between nutrition, exercise, and sustainable leadership. Learn practical strategies to build stamina, reduce burnout, and lead with clarity and energy—no matter where you're starting from.

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Mental Clarity for Leaders—Practical Tips for Focus and Decision-Making
Nicole Ensmenger Nicole Ensmenger

Mental Clarity for Leaders—Practical Tips for Focus and Decision-Making

Recently, while teaching a class of seventh graders, I was reminded of a simple, fun way to make decisions: good ol’ rock-paper-scissors. (And for the Friends fans out there, you might even add “water balloon”—IYKYK!) The students were trying to decide who had to present in front of the class, and this lighthearted method helped them quickly settle the matter. While most of us won’t be using rock-paper-scissors for major life choices, it sparked a reflection on how often we face decisions and how those choices—big or small—shape our days and our lives.

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Reflect, Recharge, and Lead with Intention
Nicole Ensmenger Nicole Ensmenger

Reflect, Recharge, and Lead with Intention

Looking Back to Move Forward

Last year is officially in the books, but before we dive headfirst into this one, it’s important to reflect. Growth doesn’t happen automatically—it’s the result of intentionally learning from our experiences.

Ask yourself:

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