This week on the Free to Be Mindful Podcast, host Vanessa De Jesus Guzman sits down with Dr. Nikia Smith, an anesthesiologist with a powerful story about moving from burnout to balance and fulfillment. Dr. Smith opens up about the pressures of her demanding medical career, how it affected her well-being, and the brave steps she took to put her health and happiness first.

In this heartfelt conversation, Dr. Smith shares the turning point that led her to seek therapy and rethink what success really means. She talks about the slow build-up of burnout and how it can sneak up on us, especially when we’re trying to meet the expectations of others.

Through her healing journey, Dr. Smith learned to listen to her body, honor her feelings, and define success in a way that truly fits her life. Now, she helps other women—especially women of color in the medical field—spot burnout early and make their mental health a priority before things spiral.

Listen to this powerful episode wherever you get your podcasts. Don’t forget to subscribe and share it with someone who could use a reminder that their well-being matters!

REFERENCED LINKS:

Website: sheisfireforged.com

Instagram: @sheisfireforged

TikTok: @NikiaSmithMD

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120 COPING SKILLS
https://www.freetobemindful.com/podcast-120copingskills


CULTIVATE CALM CHALLENGE
https://www.freetobemindful.com/podcast-cultivatingcalmchallenge


SUBMIT QUESTIONS for CONSULT A COUNSELOR:
https://qrco.de/consultacounselor


WATCH THE PODCAST ON YOUTUBE:
https://www.youtube.com/@counselorvdejesus


GET THE MUSE HEADBAND AT A DISCOUNT!
https://choosemuse.com/freetobemindful
Use this link to get 15% off your total when you purchase the amazing brain sensing headband that tells you when you're in a meditative state and guides you to improve your practice.


STAY CONNECTED:
Show Hashtag: #freetobemindfulpodcast
Website: https://www.freetobemindful.com/podcast
All Social Channels: @counselorvdejesus


DISCLAIMER:
Free to Be Mindful Podcast episodes are for educational purposes only and should not be considered as or substituted for therapy or professional help from a licensed clinician.

Welcome to The Consult a Counselor Series, a special segment of the Free to Be Mindful Podcast. Join therapist and host Vanessa De Jesus Guzman, LPC, NCC, as she answers real-life parenting questions, offering practical advice to help you find your calm in the chaos of parenting - and not lose your, well, you know…

TODAY'S QUESTION:

"What can I do to help my daughter be more confident?"

In this episode, Vanessa shares practical ways to help your daughter develop unshakable confidence. From modeling self-assurance to encouraging effort over perfection, she breaks down how small shifts in parenting can make a big impact. Vanessa also provides strategies for fostering positive self-talk, embracing challenges, and helping your daughter own her worth.

TUNE IN TO LEARN:

• Why confidence is built, not given - and how to foster it
• How your own self-talk and behaviors influence your child’s confidence
• The power of effort, struggle, and new experiences in shaping confidence
• Simple ways to help your daughter develop a strong, positive self-image

TAKEAWAY MESSAGE:

Confidence isn’t about getting everything right - it’s about learning, growing, and believing in yourself along the way. With small, intentional shifts, you can help your daughter step into every space knowing she is strong, capable, and worthy.

Listen in, and remember... you’re always free to be mindful!

Send us a text

120 COPING SKILLS
https://www.freetobemindful.com/podcast-120copingskills


CULTIVATE CALM CHALLENGE
https://www.freetobemindful.com/podcast-cultivatingcalmchallenge


SUBMIT QUESTIONS for CONSULT A COUNSELOR:
https://qrco.de/consultacounselor


WATCH THE PODCAST ON YOUTUBE:
https://www.youtube.com/@counselorvdejesus


GET THE MUSE HEADBAND AT A DISCOUNT!
https://choosemuse.com/freetobemindful
Use this link to get 15% off your total when you purchase the amazing brain sensing headband that tells you when you're in a meditative state and guides you to improve your practice.


STAY CONNECTED:
Show Hashtag: #freetobemindfulpodcast
Website: https://www.freetobemindful.com/podcast
All Social Channels: @counselorvdejesus


DISCLAIMER:
Free to Be Mindful Podcast episodes are for educational purposes only and should not be considered as or substituted for therapy or professional help from a licensed clinician.

In this episode of the Free to Be Mindful Podcast, we’re diving into the topic of emotional guarding—the walls we build to protect ourselves from pain but that often keep us from experiencing connection, trust, and joy. Whether it's fear of rejection, past trauma, or societal pressures, emotional guarding can hold us back in many areas of life.

Vanessa shares insights on how these walls form and offers practical strategies for breaking them down. She also reflects on her own journey of emotional guarding, exploring the balance between protecting our peace and opening ourselves to possibility.

EPISODE DESCRIPTION:
Learn what emotional guarding is, why it happens, and how to break free from it. Vanessa explores how trauma, childhood expectations, and personal insecurities can create emotional barriers. She provides tools to help you dismantle these walls, from self-reflection to communication, and explains how openness can lead to growth, connection, and healing.

TUNE IN TO LEARN:

• What emotional guarding is and how it affects relationships
• The common reasons we build emotional walls
• Steps to break down those walls while maintaining healthy boundaries
• How vulnerability can create stronger, more meaningful connections

TAKEAWAY MESSAGE:
Breaking down emotional walls takes time and intention, but it opens the door to deeper relationships, greater self-awareness, and a stronger sense of peace. It starts by acknowledging why those walls are there and committing to the steps that foster trust and connection. Listen in, and remember—you’re always free to be mindful!

Send us a text

120 COPING SKILLS
https://www.freetobemindful.com/podcast-120copingskills


CULTIVATE CALM CHALLENGE
https://www.freetobemindful.com/podcast-cultivatingcalmchallenge


SUBMIT QUESTIONS for CONSULT A COUNSELOR:
https://qrco.de/consultacounselor


WATCH THE PODCAST ON YOUTUBE:
https://www.youtube.com/@counselorvdejesus


GET THE MUSE HEADBAND AT A DISCOUNT!
https://choosemuse.com/freetobemindful
Use this link to get 15% off your total when you purchase the amazing brain sensing headband that tells you when you're in a meditative state and guides you to improve your practice.


STAY CONNECTED:
Show Hashtag: #freetobemindfulpodcast
Website: https://www.freetobemindful.com/podcast
All Social Channels: @counselorvdejesus


DISCLAIMER:
Free to Be Mindful Podcast episodes are for educational purposes only and should not be considered as or substituted for therapy or professional help from a licensed clinician.