Shonda Moralis, MSW, LCSW is on a mission to help ambitious moms play big without burning out. Author of the award-winning book, Breathe, Mama, Breathe and Don’t Forget to Breathe, she is a Psychotherapist, Life Balance Coach, Therapreneur, and Podcast Host. Shonda serves on the board of Shanthi Project, an education nonprofit providing evidence-based mindfulness services to children and adults. She lives in Pennsylvania with her husband and two kids, loves to play outside, endeavors to practice what she preaches, and is perennially fascinated by what makes people tick. The timing of this interview was so serendipitous. The day before I interviewed Shonda, my therapist told me I would really benefit from mindfulness meditation. I was skeptical, if not downright doubtful. So, I loved picking Shonda’s brain as we dug into all the ways mindfulness as a practice can shift our brains to help us achieve balance (although not in the sense you might assume), greater productivity, creativity, and overall energy.  Listen in to hear Shonda share: Her experience raising two children 10 years apart in age Her parenting philosophy: good enough is great How “balance” shifts over the course of motherhood and should be a gentle recalibration over time, not massive sweeping overnight changes How to integrate 1-5 minutes of mindfulness to shift your day - and the importance of keeping it short & doable The science of mindfulness and how meditation changes the shape, function, and efficiency of your brain The difference between mindfulness, meditation, and mindful breaks - and the benefits of each How to use breath, becoming, and balance breaks in short (like 1 minute) ways to increase your calm, increase your energy, or restore a mindset of balance to your day Links mentioned:  Connect with Shonda and get her free 5-minute mindfulness meditation: shondamoralis.net Shonda’s podcast: Therapeutic Perspective Podcast  Shonda on Instagram Shonda on Facebook Shonda on Linkedin Sponsor info and promo codes: Please find our sponsor information here: shamelessmom.com/sponsor/ Interested in becoming a sponsor of the Shameless Mom Academy? Email our sales team at sales@adalystmedia.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices