Holistic Mental Health for the Woman Behind the Vision

Dr. Nicole Pertillar

I started this podcast because I kept seeing women with powerful dreams, deep callings, brilliant ideas, and beautiful businesses(or business ideas) quietly burning out behind the scenes. Women who were building, leading, serving, creating, caregiving, praying, planning, and pushing through. Women who loved their work, but were tired, clouded , and stretched thin. And you know what? I get it! I know that place. I know what it feels like to carry a God-given vision while also realizing your capacity has limits. I know what it feels like to want to build something meaningful, but also need space to breathe, heal, pause, and become whole. That’s why I created Holistic Mental Health for Women Solopreneurs. I’m Dr. Nic, Wellness Coach, Wholeness Advocate, Founder of The PAUSE Sessions, and Creator of the Journal Brand Wholeness Within Journals. This podcast helps purpose-driven women entrepreneurs prioritize wellness, prevent burnout, regulate their nervous systems, and build sustainable businesses without breaking the builder. This show is for women solopreneurs, creative entrepreneurs, coaches, service providers, and faith-led visionaries who are ready to stop self-abandoning in the name of success and start building from a place of wholeness. This is a place to pause, breathe, tell the truth, and create rhythms that help you protect your spirit, mind, body, creativity, and business. Through personal stories, practical coaching, mindset shifts, guided reflection, and holistic wellness strategies, I’ll help you pause without quitting, shift without shame, and renew your capacity for the dream you’ve been called to build. Because your dream matters. But so do you. This podcast is for you if you’ve ever asked the following questions: How do I avoid burnout as a woman solopreneur?How do I grow my business when I feel overwhelmed?How do I stop feeling guilty for resting as an entrepreneur?How do I prioritize my mental health while running a business?How do I manage stress as a solopreneur?How do I regulate my nervous system when business feels overwhelming?How do I stop self-abandoning while pursuing my dreams?How do I create sustainable business growth without hustle culture?How do I find clarity when I have too many ideas?How do I stay consistent in my business when I’m emotionally exhausted?How do I stop procrastinating on my purpose?How do I pursue my dreams when life keeps interrupting my plans?How do I create better self-care rhythms as a woman entrepreneur?How do I build emotional capacity for my business and calling?How do I overcome business overwhelm and decision fatigue?How do I keep creating when I feel stuck, tired, or uninspired?How do I align my life, dreams, and/or business with my wellness, faith, and purpose? If you’ve been searching for a way to move forward without losing yourself, this space is for you. Here, we are choosing a different rhythm. One rooted in wellness, clarity, capacity, faith, creativity, and sustainable purpose. You do not have to burn out to prove you are called. You do not have to abandon yourself to build something meaningful. Welcome to Holistic Mental Health for the Woman Behind the Vision—where we build the dream without breaking the builder.

  1. 1d ago

    038 How Healthy Community Can Reveal The Extraordinary YOU

    How Healthy Community Can Reveal The Extraordinary YOUSometimes the gifts that matter most are the ones we barely notice in ourselves. In this episode, Dr. Nic shares how a friend’s thoughtful observations helped her recognize her ability to create safe spaces, connect deeply with others, and bring peace into a room.Dr. Nic explores how trustworthy community can act as a mirror—reflecting our strengths and growth without defining our identity. She also considers why it can be hard to receive affirmation, how isolation can limit our perspective, and why healthy relationships must make room for boundaries and personal capacity. In this episodeHow a friend’s message helped Dr. Nic recognize gifts she had taken for grantedWhy natural strengths can feel ordinary from the insideHow trustworthy people can reflect back qualities we may not have named for ourselvesThe difference between community reflecting who you are and defining who you areWhy some kinds of growth happen in relationship, not isolationHow to receive specific, grounded encouragement instead of deflecting itWhy healthy community should make room for limits, boundaries, and saying noHow the “notice, name, nourish” practice can help you consider what others reflect backKey takeawayYour community does not get to define you. But trustworthy people can help reflect strengths and growth that are difficult to see from the inside. Receive their perspective with curiosity and discernment, while staying grounded in your own self-awareness and values.

  2. Sep 28

    037 The Hidden Cost of Building Your Vision While Not Addressing the Needs of Your Body

    The Hidden Cost of Building Your Vision While Not Addressing the Needs of Your Body Dr. Nic explores what happens when women keep pursuing their vision while postponing their own health, needs, and well-being. Through a personal story about navigating perimenopause and finally scheduling long-overdue medical appointments, she reveals how a trusted friend’s lived experience and encouragement helped her move from awareness to action.This episode is a reminder that caring for your body is not separate from your calling. Your physical health, mental health, and capacity directly affect what you are able to carry—and there is no vision without the woman carrying it.Dr. Nic also explores the role of healthy community in helping women access wisdom, perspective, and encouragement without giving up their agency. The right community does not tell you what to do. It helps you think more clearly, reminds you of what you already know, and gives you the support to take your next step. In this episode, Dr. Nic discussesWhy knowing what you need to do does not always lead to actionHow a friend’s lived experience helped Dr. Nic address health concerns she had been postponingThe difference between receiving wisdom and blindly copying someone else’s choicesWhy healthy community should support agency rather than replace itHow conversations with trusted people can provide language, perspective, and hopeWhy caring for your physical body is part of caring for your visionThe hidden cost of consistently putting your needs at the bottom of the listHow community can help women move from “I’ve been meaning to do that” to “It’s done”Why women should consider not only who can support them, but how they can support othersThe value of sharing what you have lived, learned, and survivedHow relationships can reveal gifts, patterns, and possibilities we may not recognize on our ownThe upcoming conversations about The Well and The Whole PractitionerKey takeawaysYour body is not separate from your visionTaking care of your health is not taking time away from your calling. Your body is how you carry out your vision, so ignoring its needs can eventually limit your capacity to pursue what matters.Healthy community supports actionSometimes you do not need more information. You need someone who can remind you of what you already know, validate your experience, and encourage you to take the next step.Wisdom is not the same as instructionAnother woman’s story can offer perspective, resources, and possibilities without becoming a blueprint for your life. Healthy community shares lived wisdom while honoring each person’s agency and individual circumstances.You may be carrying wisdom someone else needsYour experience has value. You do not need to rescue anyone or become an expert. Sharing what you have lived and learned may help another woman feel less alone as she finds her own way forward.

  3. Sep 21

    036 Why Healthy Community Matters in Vision Pursuit

    The Woman Behind the Vision: Why Healthy Community MattersDr. Nic opens a new chapter of the show by widening the conversation from women solopreneurs to all visionary women. This episode explains why the woman carrying the vision matters just as much as the vision itself, and why community is essential for capacity, wholeness, and sustainable purpose.We discuss how healthy community can hold, reflect, encourage, and challenge you without requiring self-abandonment. Dr. Nic also introduces two upcoming community spaces, The Well and The Whole Practitioner, as part of this expanded vision. Key topicsDr. Nic explains the podcast’s expanded focus from women solopreneurs to women behind the vision, including leaders, ministry builders, artists, nonprofit founders, writers, and women building strong families.She says it is unnecessary to sacrifice yourself on the altar of your vision, because building something beautiful should not require breaking yourself in the process.The episode frames community as more than companionship—it is a place where women can be held, nourished, challenged, and supported without guilt.Dr. Nic revisits the “pause” as a core practice: noticing what is happening, naming what matters, nourishing what needs attention, and building rhythms that fit your real life.She distinguishes between merely having people around and being in healthy community, asking whether it is safe to tell the truth, say no, disagree, and take up space.The episode introduces two upcoming communities: The Well for women of vision and purpose, and The Whole Practitioner for women whose work centers on helping others.Dr. Nic emphasizes that healthy community should increase capacity, not drain it, and should support both vision and mental health.She closes with a reflection on belonging, asking what it means to have people beside you while you carry your vision.

  4. Sep 14

    035 Small Action Steps Count: The Consistency Mindset That Actually Lasts For Women Pursuing Purpose

    In this episode, Dr. Nic explains why consistency is not about perfection. Instead, it’s about building a sustainable rhythm that fits your real life and real capacity. You’ll learn how to stop treating one missed day like failure, why small steps still count, and how to return to your goals without shame. In this episode:Why consistency does not mean perfectThe difference between rules and rhythmsWhy small actions still matterHow to return after falling out of routineA simple mindset shift for sustainable growthMain takeaway:Consistency is learning how to return. Perfection is not consistency and chasing it may be the very thing keeping you stuck. Dr. Nic breaks down the second C of sustainable self-care and shows why the real skill isn’t never missing a day, but learning how to return.If you’ve been feeling frustrated by habits, routines, or goals that don’t seem to last, this episode will help you think differently about progress. Dr. Nic shares how to move away from rigid rules and all-or-nothing thinking and build rhythms that fit the season you’re in. You’ll learn: Why consistency often gets confused with perfectionThe difference between a sustainability problem and a discipline problemWhy small actions still countHow to stop treating one missed day like failureWhat it means to build rhythms instead of rules If you’re ready for support in creating sustainable rhythms for your life and business, book a discovery call with Dr. Nic (LINK COMING SOON) - currently email nicolepertillar@gmail.com for booking

  5. Aug 31

    033 The 3 C's of Self-Care That Can Keep You Together When You Feel Like Falling Apart

    The 3 C’s of Self-Care for Women SolopreneursThis episode is a solo reflection from Dr. Nic on how self-care shows up in real life, especially during seasons of stress, transition, and building a business. She shares a personal story about community, then breaks down three practical anchors for sustainable well-being: commitment, consistency, and community. In this episode, Dr. Nic explains why self-care is less about knowing what you should do and more about actually doing it in a way that supports your life and work. If you’re a solopreneur trying to stay grounded while carrying a lot, this one is about building rhythms that help you keep going. Key topicsDr. Nic introduces the “three C’s of self-care” - commitment, consistency, and community - as the core theme of the episode.She reflects on a difficult year and how those three elements helped keep things from completely falling apart.A weekend visit to a winery event for natural skincare becomes a real-world example of why saying yes to community matters.She shares how meeting two women at the event reminded her that women often carry similar struggles, even when their life stories look different. Commitment is framed as a decision: “This matters,” not “I’ll do it when life calms down.” Consistency is described as showing up most days, not chasing perfection. Community is presented as an essential support system for wellness, business, parenting, relationships, and purpose. She ties the three C’s to recent personal challenges, including a 30-day hot Pilates challenge and a 21-day sugar-free challenge.Dr. Nic encourages listeners to identify which C needs attention now and to take one aligned next step within the next seven days.She closes by reminding listeners that they are worthy of rest and a life of ease.

  6. Aug 24

    032 Stop Abandoning Your Dreams: Why Pursuing What Matters Is Self-Care

    Stop Abandoning Your Dreams: Why Pursuing What Matters Is Self-CareWhat if self-care isn't only about how you rest—but also about refusing to keep abandoning the things that make you feel most alive? In this special International Self-Care Day conversation, Dr. Nic sits down with Ronnie for an honest conversation about self-care, pursuing your dreams, women’s wellness, community, movement, and what happens when we continually put ourselves last. As women, many of us have become incredibly good at supporting everyone else's needs, goals, families, careers, and dreams. But somewhere along the way, we can begin losing connection with our own desires. And sometimes self-care looks like saying: This matters to me, too. Ronnie shares her own journey of building a health platform for underserved women navigating perimenopause, menopause, and hormonal changes—all while continuing to work, facing rejection, navigating uncertainty, and having plenty of moments when she wondered whether she should keep going. Together, we talk about why you don't have to know exactly how the dream will unfold before you begin. Sometimes you simply need to identify the next step and create enough space in your life to take it. We also explore the importance of caring for the whole woman along the way. Because pursuing your dreams isn't sustainable if you continually sacrifice your physical health, mental and emotional well-being, finances, relationships, rest, and capacity to get there. And perhaps most importantly, you were never meant to do all of this alone. 🔴 In This Episode, We Talk About:Why pursuing your dreams can be an important form of self-careHow women can unintentionally abandon themselves while caring for everyone elseWhy you don't have to quit your job or completely change your life to begin pursuing something meaningfulThe power of taking small, consistent steps toward a dreamHow movement and physical wellness can support your energy, confidence, creativity, and mental healthWhy knowing and honoring your capacity mattersThe importance of financial wellness as part of whole-person self-careWhy community matters when you're building somethingThe loneliness and isolation that can come with solopreneurshipHow the right relationships can help you keep going when you want to quitWhat rejection, fear, and uncertainty can teach you about your dreamWhy pursuing something meaningful can surface old fears and unfinished inner workCreating space for the things that bring you life now, rather than waiting for the perfect seasonWhat grief and loss can teach us about the urgency of living fullyWhy you are worthy of doing the work necessary to overcome what has been holding you back🎧 This Episode Is For You If:You're a woman who has spent years putting everyone else first. You're building a business or pursuing a dream and feeling lonely in the process. You're wondering whether it's too late to start something new. You've been talking yourself out of something because you don't have enough time, money, energy, support, or certainty. You're navigating midlife and beginning to ask, "What do I want now?" Or you're simply ready to stop putting the parts of yourself that make you feel alive on the shelf. 🔑 Key TakeawaySelf-care isn't only about recovering from the life you're living. Sometimes self-care means having enough courage, intention, and support to build a life you actually want to live.

  7. Aug 17

    031 The Power of Commitment, Consistency, & Community

    The Power of Commitment, Consistency, and Community: Showing Up for Yourself Without Chasing PerfectionWhat becomes possible when you stop trying to do everything perfectly and simply commit to showing up for yourself? In this special International Self-Care Day conversation, Dr. Nic is joined by Shakari Anderson to reflect on the 30-day Hot Pilates challenge that brought two complete strangers together and became a powerful lesson in commitment, consistency, accountability, and community. After a difficult season of grief, caregiving, and personal transition, Dr. Nic knew she needed something that would help her reconnect with herself and return to the rhythms that supported her holistic wellness. Shakari was also seeking a way to rebuild her confidence, recommit to her health goals, and prove to herself that she could finish what she started. Together, they discovered that self-care is not always about finding more discipline or pushing yourself harder. Sometimes, it is about finding the right people to walk beside you, encourage you when life interrupts your plans, and remind you that one difficult day does not erase your progress. This conversation explores why consistency does not require perfection, how community can make personal goals feel more sustainable, and why honoring your current capacity is one of the most important forms of self-care. In This Episode, You’ll Hear:🔴 Why commitment to yourself is an essential part of holistic self-care 🔴 How consistency helped Dr. Nic and Shakari complete a 30-day Hot Pilates challenge 🔴 Why missing a day does not mean you have failed or need to abandon your goal 🔴 The difference between being persistent and trying to perform perfectly 🔴 How accountability and community can help you keep going when motivation fades 🔴 Why movement can support your emotional wellness, confidence, and mental health 🔴 How grief, caregiving, transitions, and changing responsibilities can affect your capacity 🔴 Why self-care requires regularly checking in with your spirit, mind, body, health, and environment 🔴 The importance of recognizing the difference between self-abandonment and self-sabotage 🔴 How becoming the leading lady of your own life can change the decisions you make for yourself A Powerful ReminderYou do not have to show up perfectly to show up powerfully. There may be days when you cannot complete the entire plan. There may be seasons when your energy, responsibilities, health, or emotional capacity changes. That does not mean you have failed. Sustainable consistency leaves room for real life. The goal is not to criticize yourself every time something interrupts your routine. The goal is to notice what you need, make the necessary adjustment, and return to yourself without shame. Connect with Dr. NicFollow Dr. Nic on Instagram: @thepauseforsolos and on Substack for Email Newsletter Explore additional encouragement, resources, and opportunities to pause, renew, and build without burning out: Subscribe to Holistic Mental Health for Women Solopreneurs for more conversations about self-care, burnout prevention, emotional wellness, capacity, community, and pursuing your purpose without breaking the builder. SEO Keywordscommitment and consistency, power of community, accountability and self-care, holistic mental health, women solopreneurs, consistency over perfection, building healthy habits, honoring your capacity, burnout prevention for women, self-care for caregivers, community and mental wellness, movement and mental health, showing up for yourself, sustainable wellness, personal growth and accountability

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About

I started this podcast because I kept seeing women with powerful dreams, deep callings, brilliant ideas, and beautiful businesses(or business ideas) quietly burning out behind the scenes. Women who were building, leading, serving, creating, caregiving, praying, planning, and pushing through. Women who loved their work, but were tired, clouded , and stretched thin. And you know what? I get it! I know that place. I know what it feels like to carry a God-given vision while also realizing your capacity has limits. I know what it feels like to want to build something meaningful, but also need space to breathe, heal, pause, and become whole. That’s why I created Holistic Mental Health for Women Solopreneurs. I’m Dr. Nic, Wellness Coach, Wholeness Advocate, Founder of The PAUSE Sessions, and Creator of the Journal Brand Wholeness Within Journals. This podcast helps purpose-driven women entrepreneurs prioritize wellness, prevent burnout, regulate their nervous systems, and build sustainable businesses without breaking the builder. This show is for women solopreneurs, creative entrepreneurs, coaches, service providers, and faith-led visionaries who are ready to stop self-abandoning in the name of success and start building from a place of wholeness. This is a place to pause, breathe, tell the truth, and create rhythms that help you protect your spirit, mind, body, creativity, and business. Through personal stories, practical coaching, mindset shifts, guided reflection, and holistic wellness strategies, I’ll help you pause without quitting, shift without shame, and renew your capacity for the dream you’ve been called to build. Because your dream matters. But so do you. This podcast is for you if you’ve ever asked the following questions: How do I avoid burnout as a woman solopreneur?How do I grow my business when I feel overwhelmed?How do I stop feeling guilty for resting as an entrepreneur?How do I prioritize my mental health while running a business?How do I manage stress as a solopreneur?How do I regulate my nervous system when business feels overwhelming?How do I stop self-abandoning while pursuing my dreams?How do I create sustainable business growth without hustle culture?How do I find clarity when I have too many ideas?How do I stay consistent in my business when I’m emotionally exhausted?How do I stop procrastinating on my purpose?How do I pursue my dreams when life keeps interrupting my plans?How do I create better self-care rhythms as a woman entrepreneur?How do I build emotional capacity for my business and calling?How do I overcome business overwhelm and decision fatigue?How do I keep creating when I feel stuck, tired, or uninspired?How do I align my life, dreams, and/or business with my wellness, faith, and purpose? If you’ve been searching for a way to move forward without losing yourself, this space is for you. Here, we are choosing a different rhythm. One rooted in wellness, clarity, capacity, faith, creativity, and sustainable purpose. You do not have to burn out to prove you are called. You do not have to abandon yourself to build something meaningful. Welcome to Holistic Mental Health for the Woman Behind the Vision—where we build the dream without breaking the builder.