Maria Mojo Mondays: Two Ways to Say the Same Truth

Dear Mindset Maverick,

Let me ask you something.

If a 5-year-old asked you what you do for work, could you explain it without using big words, titles, or pressure-filled language?

I’ve been thinking about that lately.

Because when things feel heavy, complicated, or exhausting, it’s often a sign we’ve drifted far away from the simple truth underneath it all.

So here’s mine.

🌱 The simple version

If a 5-year-old asked me what I do, I’d say:

I help people who feel stuck or tired from work find their happy again.

If that same 5-year-old asked what I do with companies, I’d say:

I help grown-ups at work be nicer to themselves and each other so everyone feels happier and does a better job.

Both are true.

And neither sounds very corporate.

That’s intentional.

🔥 What burnout actually looks like

Somewhere along the way, we decided that leadership, success, and professionalism had to sound complicated, serious, and emotionally disconnected.

But burnout doesn’t come from a lack of intelligence or capability.
It comes from carrying too much for too long without space to be human.

Most of the leaders and professionals I work with are not falling apart.

They’re holding everything together.

They’re managing constant mental load.
They’re making high-stakes decisions while exhausted.
They’re absorbing stress for their teams, families, and organizations.
They’re functioning well while quietly running on empty.

Burnout at this level rarely looks dramatic.

It looks responsible.
It looks capable.
It looks like strength with no margin.

💡 Maria Mojo Coaching Insight

When someone tells me they feel stuck, tired, or disconnected from their work, I’m not listening for what they need to do next.

I’m listening for how much pressure they’re carrying internally.
How often they override their own needs.
How safe they feel being human in their environment.

Because clarity doesn’t come from pushing harder.

It comes from creating internal space.

🛠️ A simple coaching tool to try this week

Once a day, ask yourself:

What would being a little kinder to myself look like right now?

Not a big life decision.
Not a dramatic change.
Just one honest answer.

Sometimes it’s taking a real break.
Sometimes it’s stopping the mental rehearsal.
Sometimes it’s saying no without explaining.
Sometimes it’s letting good enough be enough.

Kindness isn’t weakness.
It’s regulation.
And regulation is leadership.

🌈 Bringing it full circle

Whether I’m working with an individual or an organization, the work is the same at its core.

Helping people reconnect with themselves.
Helping leaders lead without self-betrayal.
Helping success feel sustainable again.

Two audiences.
Two translations.
One body of work.

And yes, at the end of the day, it still helps people find their happy again.

💛 Your permission slip

If this resonated, let it be your permission slip to stop carrying everything alone.

You don’t need fixing.
You don’t need pushing.
You don’t need another productivity hack.

Sometimes you just need space to think, breathe, recalibrate, and remember who you are underneath the pressure.

If you’re feeling that nudge, trust it.

I’m always happy to connect, have a real conversation, and explore what support could look like for you, your leadership, or your organization.

If you’d like to chat, just reply to this message and we’ll set up a coffee chat.
(Or in my case, an unsweetened Pure Leaf Lipton Iced Tea with a piece of dark chocolate. Priorities. 😄🍫)

Until next Monday, keep choosing yourself a little more often and leading from a place that actually feels good.

💛✨
Maria Lesetz
Your Mindset & Resilience Coach