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We need a new definition of success—one that harmonizes meaning and money.
Imagine diving into your workday with renewed energy, leaving behind the exhaustion or dread of a monotonous grind.
Traditional beliefs about success and the root cause of burnout are the same:
Prove yourself.
Work harder.
Take care of the business, and it will take care of you.
We’re recycling the mindset and practices that keep us stuck. Our souls need a jumpstart into The Age of Humanity.
Tune in for a new way of working that honors our nervous system and the bottom line, using knowledge of the brain, the Bible, and business. We’ll discuss timeless truths that amplify growth, ignite change, and reshape the world of work. No corporate speak or business BS. Let’s get to the heart of a rewarding career and profitable growth.
We speak human about business.
What’s in it for You?
Value, Relevance, and Impact (VRI): No, it's not a new tech gadget—it's your ticket to making your work genuinely matter to you and your company.
Human-Centric Insights: We prioritize people over profits without sacrificing the bottom line. Think less "cog in the machine" and more "humans helping humans."
I'm your host, Rebecca Fleetwood Hesson, your thrive guide leading you into the new Age of Humanity. I’ve navigated the highs and lows of business and life, from achieving over $40 million in sales, teaching thousands of people around the world about leadership, trust, execution, and productivity to facing burnout, divorce, raising a couple of great humans (one with ADHD), and navigating the uncertainty of starting a business.
I’m committed to igniting change in the world by jumpstarting business into profitable growth with the timeless truths of our humanity.
Sound crazy? It’s only crazy until it works.
Hit subscribe to never miss an episode, and leave a review to help other listeners discover our show.
Want insight and advice on your real career and business challenges? Connect with me on social media or email me at rebecca@wethrive.live. Your story could spark our next conversation.
[00:00:00] Rebecca Fleetwood Hession: Welcome back to the Business’s Human Podcast. I’m your host, Rebecca Fleetwood Hession, and we’re here to bring you episodes that blend meaningful work with profitable success here to steward what I call the Age of Humanity. I believe if we transform the way we work, we can transform the way that we live. As always, my friendly request, if you like what you hear, hit subscribe so you don’t miss any episode and leave a review to tell the other humans that they might like it too. Always looking to help you and connect with others. Alright, let’s get into it, shall we?
[00:01:02] Rebecca Fleetwood Hession: Welcome back to the Business is Human Podcast, and at the time of this recording, we are midyear. We are just past the 4th of July holiday here in the US and it’s summer, and it’s also midyear in business. So no better time than now to do some reflection. Today we’re not going to just rush through the noise and everything that’s going on around us. We’re going to pause for the powerful nature of reflection. Now, you know that everything we do here, we root it in science, business, and Bible. So reflection isn’t just a fluffy beginning of the year new journal, “When I have the space, I’ll do it” kind of concept. It is, in fact, science-backed, soul-fueling, and strategy-shifting exercise. And so I highly recommend that you consider making reflection a part of your daily practice. But if it’s a new concept to you, or it’s just been intermittent at best, that’s okay.
[00:02:13] Rebecca Fleetwood Hession: We’re going to spend some time today in reflection because let’s just dig into the science for a smidge. Neuroscience tells us that our brains need space to process our emotions, to reorganize our memory, and to regulate our nervous system. So, you might say regulate stress in everyday common terms. So the way that we get that space in our brains is through reflection. So when we pause and we notice things, here’s the key, here’s the big caveat to this — without judgment, our nervous system shifts out of activation, fight-flight mode into a more calm and curious state to help provide us with some clarity. So again, let me just reiterate that it means that we pause and notice without judgment, and this is important to us business people who are always trying to fix things because that’s what we get paid to do. Today, we’re not fixing anything, we’re just noticing it, naming it, and giving our brain some space.
[00:03:51] Rebecca Fleetwood Hession: And so I really underscore without judgment, this isn’t a time to try to shame yourself into betterment because that’s just not the way our nervous system is designed. Praise God. Literally. Today, I’m going to walk you through 10 reflection questions that are specifically designed to help create safety in our body and therefore clarity that leads to growth in our business, in our leadership, in our companies. And so if you’re new here, or maybe you missed the episodes that I’ve talked about this, the precursor to the growth that we all desire in our careers, or in our lives, or for our business, the precursor to growth is safety. We need to feel safe with ourselves, safe with others, safe in our environment in order to create the capacity for curiosity and growth and innovation in engaging the prefrontal cortex for great decision-making. So, today’s episode is designed to help you get some reflection and some space to generate more safety within yourself so that you can activate the innovation and the great decisions and the things that you need in your life, in your work.
[00:05:26] Rebecca Fleetwood Hession: And so you might want to grab a journal, but if you’re driving, you’re on the treadmill, or you’re out for a walk, whatever it may be, just spend some time thinking about the questions that I’m going to be asking you. And that’s enough. What I don’t want you to do is click out of this and think, “Oh, I’ll come back to this later when I can sit quietly in some perfection situation.” That is likely not going to happen, and you’re not going to come back to it, then you’re going to miss it. Don’t do that. Don’t miss it. And so, wherever you are is the perfect place for you to experience this episode. I used to do these episodes and I would say, “Okay, now pause and spend some time reflecting on this question,” and then I’d ask another one, and I know y’all too well.
[00:06:19] Rebecca Fleetwood Hession: And so what I know to be true is oftentimes we will say, “Oh, I’ll just come back to this later,” and we don’t. And I want to do a few things. I want you to reflect on a question that I’ve asked, but also I want you to get comfortable with having space in your life because I know from the work that I do coaching people that many of us are not comfortable at all with quiet or space because our lives are so frenetic that we feel uncomfortable. Then when we get this quiet in the space, because our nervous system, our brain believes that stillness equals safety. And so when we lead a really busy frenetic life, when we get quietness and stillness, it feels wrong. And so I want this episode to be an opportunity for you to experience some space and some quiet to get more comfortable and confident to do it more and more and more and more and more.
[00:07:33] Rebecca Fleetwood Hession: And so, for you to feel safe, I want you to know exactly how this is going to work because that’s another part of feeling calm and safe, is being able to have certainty in uncertainty. So, okay, how’s this going to work? Well, I’m going to ask the question, and then there’s going to be three minutes of space. Then I’m going to ask another question, and there’ll be three minutes of space. So all in all, you’re committing 30 minutes to 10 questions, and all of these questions center around our ability to find safety within ourselves and our nervous system, in our environments, in our life. Okay? So, it’s the same amount of time that you would be listening to an episode already. This one’s designed for you to reflect however you show up right now, whatever’s going on in your life right now, I promise you that you are loved and you are safe and you are enough.
[00:08:36] Rebecca Fleetwood Hession: And I’m so glad that you are here. Okay, here we go. A little bit more context about reflection before we kick in, just to give you a chance to process. This reflection activates the prefrontal cortex, the place where self-awareness in our executive functioning or decision-making lives, it quiets the amygdala, which is where we get our fear and our reactivity responses. Reflection brings our nervous system back to groundedness for safety. And this isn’t, like I said, woo. It is your brain, your nervous system doing what it’s designed to do, scan for danger, seek safety, and reorganize things within ourselves so that we have greater awareness. Because when we live in, like I said, in that constant state of doing and busy, we then live dysregulated. It’s like the snow globe that I talk about a lot. When you look at a snow globe, when it’s all shook up, what’s inside the snow globe can’t see out and what’s outside can’t see in.
[00:09:52] Rebecca Fleetwood Hession: And so we lack clarity. We even lack self-awareness because there’s so much spinning all around us. And so we have to sit the snow globe down in order to let everything, all the cells in our bodies, settle so that we have more clarity. So when we reflect, we sit the snow globe down for a minute and then get more clarity so that we can respond to our lives with greater intention. And from a faith perspective, constantly, Jesus went away to pray and to reflect and to have stillness. So it is biblical, it is neuroscience, and it is fabulous for your business. Okay, here we go. Three minutes in between. Let me set the timer. Alright, first question is, where do I feel most safe in my life right now? And why? And remember that safety isn’t just physical, it’s emotional, it’s relational, it’s even spiritual. Maybe the safety is with a person that you can just fully be yourself around or a space. Sometimes it’s in your car, maybe even sitting in your garage where you’re not actually driving and just can sit there, your kitchen or morning walk, tune in to where your body feels like it can truly exhale.
[00:11:24] Rebecca Fleetwood Hession: Three minutes.
[00:14:26] Rebecca Fleetwood Hession: The next question is, what people, places, or practices help regulate my nervous system? And regulation can come from meaningful connection with someone, some sort of rhythm that we are in, or even silence. So is it a walk at dusk? Is it conversation with a trusted friend? Is it a playlist that really grounds you? Or maybe it’s the feeling of your hands and the soil in the garden. Recognize what works for your system because this is a very personal situation. So, what people, places, or practices help regulate your nervous system?
[00:18:18] Rebecca Fleetwood Hession: I’m really curious how you’re feeling about those three-minute stretches if they feel like a blessing and you’re really allowing yourself to let your thoughts wander around with curiosity about the question or whether it feels really uncomfortable. Neither is right or wrong, it’s just information that is also a part of this exercise. So, question number three: Where in my work am I feeling dysregulated? Where I’m feeling tight, rushed, anxious? Be honest with yourself. This is not judgment, this is just noticing. Is it a standing meeting that you have that just spikes the feeling of anxiety? A relationship that just leaves you spinning? A deadline that always feels more like a threat than a goal? Name where your system is screaming at you that it doesn’t feel safe.
[00:26:05] Rebecca Fleetwood Hession: Number four is a follow-up question. What belief or story might be fueling that dysregulation? Our nervous system reacts to the stories that we believe. Stories like, “I’m not allowed to fail. They’ll think I’m lazy if I don’t do it. It just won’t get done.” These unconscious scripts really drive us until we bring them to light through reflection. So, question number four again: What belief or story, usually the stories we tell ourselves, might be fueling that dysregulation?
[00:29:53] Rebecca Fleetwood Hession: Number five, when do I feel most like myself? Relaxed, open, grounded. Think of a moment recently when time slowed and you felt really at home in your own skin. Maybe you were dancing in the kitchen or brainstorming just with no pressure of timelines, just thinking about something that was important to you or praying without a real agenda, just speaking to the Lord. Moments are data. Follow them. So again, the question is: When do I feel most like myself? Relaxed, open, and grounded.
[00:33:50] Rebecca Fleetwood Hession: You’re doing great. We’re on number six, so we’re halfway there, and I hope you’re getting more comfortable with the space. And your nervous system is starting to feel more calm to allow you to really reflect on these questions and do it without judgment, just with kind and loving eyes. Question number six: What am I pretending not to know about my own needs? Sometimes we can override the obvious. Are you exhausted but pretending you just need another cup of coffee? You are lonely, but you might be calling it independence? You pay attention to what you’ve minimized or rationalized. Your body really knows the truth. So take some time to reflect on it again with kind and loving eyes. The question is, what am I pretending not to know about my own needs?
[00:37:46] Rebecca Fleetwood Hession: Question number seven: What does my body need more of right now? Rest, movement, connection, nourishment? Tune in like you would with a child or your pet. What do they need? You pay attention to their needs, so do that for yourself. What does your body need? Is it a nap? Is it a hug, a walk, a snack? Often we default to just pushing through, but restoration begins when we really listen and respond to what our body needs. So question seven is: What does my body need more of right now? Rest, movement, connection, nourishment.
[00:41:46] Rebecca Fleetwood Hession: Question number eight: What’s one area where I’m striving? And remember, striving means clenched fist in a battle, feeling like there’s conflict where I’m striving instead of really trusting. Striving is frenetic or frantic energy. Trust feels rooted or grounded. Where are you white-knuckling an outcome at work, at home, or even in your faith? What would it feel like to release the grip and let it breathe? Remember, the symbol for striving is clenched fists, and for thriving in trust is open-handed, open mind, open heart, open hands. So, what’s one area where I’m striving instead of really trusting?
[00:45:23] Rebecca Fleetwood Hession: Number nine, we’re on the home stretch. What does success look like for me from a regulated state? So not in this frenetic, panicky mode, not from maybe fear of missing out, but from a place of peace, from clarity. Imagine defining success from a place of deep internal safety. It might sound quieter, but it’ll feel more honest. So the question is: What does success look like for me from a regulated state?
[00:49:35] Rebecca Fleetwood Hession: Okay, question number 10: What might your nervous system — and if you’ve read my first book, I called it your Inner Thrive Guide, which is also the Holy Spirit that lives within us — what might that be trying to show you in the stillness today? So, God often whispers, that’s why our nervous system is this tuning in. It’s not in the noise, but it’s in the silence, in the quiet where we can really engage with truth and get the encouragement that we need to rise up. Out of that quiet, is there a conviction? Is there comfort or a calling? You’ve been just too busy to pay attention to that. Now, through this time today, you’re realizing it might be trying to get your attention. So, what might God be trying to show you in this stillness, this nervous system regulation today?
[00:50:42] Rebecca Fleetwood Hession: Okay. How are you feeling? Listen, reflection is one of the bravest things that you can do, and it doesn’t always give quick answers, but it gives you something deeper. It gives you access to your internal guidance system that is always trying to keep you safe. And so the more that you can tap into it through these reflection questions and space, the more you’ll be on the path that is intended for you. So your nervous system isn’t a flaw, and we’re not trying to fix stress. It’s a compass that is guiding you and asking you to follow it. So let these questions keep working on you this week. You might want to revisit one of them that really stirred something in you and maybe pull out a journal and dig a little deeper into a couple of these. Maybe one surprised you and you really want to be curious about it for a little longer.
[00:51:45] Rebecca Fleetwood Hession: That would make me really happy if those were the outcomes. So here’s your takeaway: What did you learn about yourself today that you want to honor moving forward? As we wrap up, let’s just take a big, deep breath, hand over heart and say, “Thank you to my internal guidance system. Thank you to my nervous system, what I call the Holy Spirit that lives within me from the one who made me.” But just know that you are doing brave, beautiful work when you take the time to do this reflection. Alright, love you, mean it. I’m not coming down. I never left it on the ground. Thanks for being here. You can follow us on Instagram, Business is Human, or TikTok, Rebecca Fleetwood Hession. It’s a great way to share some of the clips with your colleagues and friends. Alright, make it a great day. Love you, mean it.