Unwind Your Mind

Natalie Milosevic

Unwind Your Mind is the podcast for overthinkers, perfectionists, and high-achievers who want to stop second-guessing themselves and start realigning with their version of success. Hosted by Career + Leadership Coach Natalie Milosevic, founder of Realign Your Life, each week you'll get practical tools, nervous system insights, and self-leadership strategies to help you release internal blocks, reclaim your power and build a career that feels like you. If you're ready to unlearn old patterns and step into more clarity, confidence, and ease - this is your space. Let's unwind your mind… and step into your fulfilment.

  1. May 18

    The Hidden Conditions Behind Feeling "Enough"

    Have you ever noticed how your mind keeps attaching conditions to feeling okay? "Once this project is over, then I can relax." "Once I've proved myself in this role, then I'll feel secure." "Once I feel more confident, then I'll speak up."   On the surface, these thoughts can sound ambitious and responsible. But underneath them is often a much deeper emotional pattern, the belief that your worth, peace, confidence, or sense of safety must be earned.   In this episode of Unwind Your Mind, we unpack the hidden "worthiness prerequisites" that drive so much of our behaviour, from perfectionism and overthinking to burnout, people-pleasing and fear of visibility.   I explore the difference between healthy ambition and conditional self-worth, why high-achievers often fear that self-acceptance will make them complacent, and how pursuing goals from a grounded sense of worthiness creates a completely different experience.   If you've ever felt like the goalposts keep moving, or like no achievement ever quite gives you the relief you thought it would, this episode will help you understand why.   HERE ARE 3 KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM THIS EPISODE: 1️⃣ There's a difference between "I want this" and "I need this in order to feel enough." 2️⃣ Worthiness doesn't remove your drive, it removes the emotional punishment attached to the drive. 3️⃣ Many of the patterns we struggle are related to conditional self-worth: perfectionism, over-preparing, procrastination, people-pleasing and fear of failure make a lot more sense when you realise your nervous system believes your worth is on the line.   MORE FROM ME: 📰 Get my Weekly Newsletter 🔗 Connect on LinkedIn 📸 Follow on Instagram or Facebook   SUBSCRIBE & REVIEW: If you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review. Your support helps us reach more people who need these insights.   Thanks for tuning in to Unwind Your Mind. See you next week! 🤍

    18 min
  2. May 11

    Clarity Is Kind: The Missing Piece in Team Performance Part 2

    If you've ever received feedback that felt more personal than helpful… or found yourself holding back from saying what's actually needed because you didn't want to come across the wrong way, this episode is for you.   In part two of this conversation on role clarity, we move from understanding the problem to exploring how it plays out in real workplace dynamics.   We unpack how expectations are often communicated in ways that feel like personal criticism, why that creates defensiveness or self-doubt, and how to shift those conversations so they're grounded in the role, not the individual.   We also explore the resentment that builds when expectations go unspoken, and how both leaders and individuals can take responsibility for creating clarity, even if it wasn't there to begin with.   If you want to feel more confident in your role, have more constructive conversations at work, and move away from second-guessing or frustration, this episode will help you see those situations differently.   HERE ARE 3 KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM THIS EPISODE: 1️⃣ Expectations land better when they're depersonalised. Framing feedback around the role, not the individual, creates clarity without defensiveness. 2️⃣ Resentment is often a sign of unspoken expectations. If something feels frustrating, it may be something that hasn't been clearly articulated. 3️⃣ Clarity is a shared responsibility, leaders need to articulate expectations, and individuals should seek them to create alignment and confidence.   MORE FROM ME: 📰 Get my Weekly Newsletter 🔗 Connect on LinkedIn 📸 Follow on Instagram or Facebook   SUBSCRIBE & REVIEW: If you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review. Your support helps us reach more people who need these insights.   Thanks for tuning in to Unwind Your Mind. See you next week! 🤍

    18 min
  3. May 4

    Clarity Is Kind: The Missing Piece in Team Performance Part 1

    Have you ever been doing exactly what was asked of you… but still felt like you somehow missed the mark?   Or been on the other side, where someone is doing work for you, and it's fine but the way they are showing up is frustrating you?   In many cases, this isn't a performance issue. It's a clarity issue.   In part one of this two-part episode of Unwind Your Mind, I unpack one of the most overlooked drivers of frustration in the workplace: unclear role expectations.   We explore how assumptions, unspoken standards, and undefined ownership create misalignment between team members and leaders, often without either side realising it.   We also look at why so many leaders avoid setting clear expectations in the first place, and how the fear of being perceived as "too harsh" can actually lead to more frustration, more rework and less effective teams.   If you've ever found yourself second-guessing your work, redoing someone else's, or feeling frustrated without being able to pinpoint why, this episode will help you see what might really be going on underneath.   HERE ARE 3 KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM THIS EPISODE: 1️⃣ What often looks like a performance issue is actually a clarity gap. When expectations aren't clearly defined, misalignment is almost inevitable. 2️⃣ Being "nice" and being clear are not the same thing. Avoiding expectations in the name of kindness often creates more frustration over time. 3️⃣ Role clarity is about more than tasks. It's about ownership, responsibility, and understanding what high performance actually looks like.   MORE FROM ME: 📰 Get my Weekly Newsletter 🔗 Connect on LinkedIn 📸 Follow on Instagram or Facebook   SUBSCRIBE & REVIEW: If you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review. Your support helps us reach more people who need these insights.   Thanks for tuning in to Unwind Your Mind. See you next week! 🤍

    24 min
  4. Apr 27

    The All-or-Nothing Trap: When 99% Still Feels Like Failure

    Have you ever completed something you knew you did well… and still found yourself fixating on the one small thing that wasn't perfect?   Maybe it was a test, a presentation, a project, or even a conversation. Everything went well overall, but your mind keeps coming back to that one moment that "should have been better."   And somehow, despite everything you did do well… it doesn't quite feel like enough.   In this episode of Unwind Your Mind, I unpack a subtle but powerful layer of perfectionism that often goes unnoticed, the shift from needing to exceed expectations… to believing that anything less than 100% isn't acceptable.   Through a real moment from a recent training workshop, I explore how these patterns can still be sitting underneath the surface, even after we've done a lot of work on ourselves, and how emotional reactions can reveal the beliefs we didn't realise we were still holding onto.   If you've ever felt frustrated with yourself over something minor, or found it hard to fully acknowledge your progress because your focus keeps returning to what wasn't perfect, this episode will help you see those moments differently.   HERE ARE 3 KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM THIS EPISODE: 1️⃣ High standards can turn into rigid expectations. When "doing well" becomes "it has to be perfect," even small gaps can feel disproportionately big. 2️⃣ Your emotional reactions are not random, they are clues. Moments of frustration or disappointment can point to underlying beliefs that are ready to be understood and shifted. 3️⃣ There is a difference between what happened and what you make it mean. When you separate the situation from the story you attach to it, you create space to learn, rather than judge.   MORE FROM ME: 📰 Get my Weekly Newsletter 🔗 Connect on LinkedIn 📸 Follow on Instagram or Facebook   SUBSCRIBE & REVIEW: If you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review. Your support helps us reach more people who need these insights.   Thanks for tuning in to Unwind Your Mind. See you next week! 🤍

    18 min
  5. Mar 30

    How to Move Through Negative Emotions at Work (Without Forcing Positivity)

    Negative emotions at work can feel uncomfortable, inconvenient… and something we just want to get rid of as quickly as possible. Especially when you care about doing a good job.   In those moments, it's easy to fall into the pattern of overthinking, self-criticism, and trying to "snap out of it" by forcing yourself to be positive.   But if you've ever tried to jump straight from frustration or guilt to "it's fine, everything's fine"… you'll know it doesn't actually work.   In this episode of Unwind Your Mind, we unpack a more effective way to move through negative emotions at work, without bypassing them or getting stuck in them.   I share a real example of misaligned expectations at work and walk you through what it looks like to meet yourself where you're at, process what's coming up, and move forward with clarity and self-leadership.   If you've ever been hard on yourself after making a mistake, or felt the pressure to "stay positive" when you don't actually feel that way, this episode will help you approach those moments differently.   HERE ARE 3 KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM THIS EPISODE:   1️⃣ You don't need to jump from negative emotions to positivity, aim for neutral first. Trying to force positive thinking creates resistance. Moving towards a slightly better-feeling, more believable thought is what actually creates momentum.   2️⃣ Processing emotions requires allowing them, not avoiding them. When you pause, name what you're feeling and give it space, it begins to move. When you resist it, it tends to linger and show up elsewhere.   3️⃣ Clarity creates self-leadership. When you move from "I feel bad" to understanding what specifically is upsetting you, you can shift from self-judgement into learning, ownership, and intentional action.   MORE FROM ME:   📰 Get my Weekly Newsletter 🔗 Connect on LinkedIn 📸 Follow on Instagram or Facebook   SUBSCRIBE & REVIEW:   If you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review. Your support helps us reach more people who need these insights.   Thanks for tuning in to Unwind Your Mind. See you next week! 🤍

    19 min
  6. Mar 22

    Resilience Series (Part 2): The Real Meaning of Resilience with Carolyn Cranwell

    Resilience Series (Part 2): The Real Meaning of Resilience with Carolyn Cranwell   Resilience is often spoken about as though it's a simple instruction, something you should just be able to switch on when life gets hard. But in reality, resilience is far more nuanced, and often far less polished, than the way it's commonly portrayed.   In Part 2 of this conversation with resilience expert Carolyn Cranwell, we move beyond the concept of resilience and into what it actually looks like in practice.   Carolyn walks us through the 7 Step Cranwell Resilience Ladder, breaking down each step and how it shows up in real life, especially during periods of uncertainty, pressure, and ongoing challenge.   Through stories from her own life, Carolyn brings a grounded and honest perspective to resilience. This isn't about having it all together. It's about navigating the messy, imperfect reality of adversity and finding a way forward.   IN THIS EPISODE, WE EXPLORE: What resilience actually looks like day-to-day, not just in theory. Why resilience isn't always neat, polished or comfortable. How perfectionism and over-responsibility undermines resilience. The pressure we place on ourselves, and why it can work against us. How to choose whose opinions to take on board during challenging moments. Practical ways to respond to unhelpful comments in real time. How to reconnect with your sense of identity and value during adversity. On the harder days, how to get back in the driver's seat of your life.   One of the most powerful reminders from Carolyn in this conversation: "You can't be all things to all people all the time"   CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION: This episode is Part 2 of the Resilience Series. If you haven't listened to Part 1 yet, make sure you go back to that episode. In Part 1, Carolyn unpacks the foundations of resilience and some of the most common misconceptions around what it really means.   EXPLORE CAROLYN'S WORK: 💻 www.globalpsychometricinstitute.com 📋 Fill out the contact form on the website to get in touch. 📕 Book: Hardcore Resilience – 7 Steps to Building Successful and Lasting Resilience in Your Business and Your Life 📝 Online Resilience Test (for individuals): The Cranwell-Cambridge Resilience Test 📝 Online Resilience Test (for employers): The Cranwell-Cambridge Resilience Test 💻 www.Navigating-Alzheimers.com   MORE FROM ME: 📰 Get my Weekly Newsletter 🔗 Connect on LinkedIn 📸 Follow on Instagram or Facebook   SUBSCRIBE & REVIEW: If you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review! Your support helps us reach more people who need these insights.   Thanks for tuning in to Unwind Your Mind. See you next week! 🤍

    1h 1m
  7. Mar 16

    Resilience Series (Part 1): The Real Meaning of Resilience with Carolyn Cranwell

    Resilience is a word that gets thrown around a lot, in workplaces, communities and online spaces, often as though it's a simple instruction: just be resilient. But what does resilience actually mean in real life, especially when someone is already carrying a heavy load?   This two-part series began after a listener of Unwind Your Mind reached out to share her experience living and working on a farm in regional South Australia. Between managing family life, helping on the farm during years of drought, and building her own business, she told me the word resilience was coming up a lot.   "Just be resilient." As though that sentence alone could solve everything.   That conversation sparked an important question: what does resilience actually look like in real life, when life doesn't slow down and the pressure doesn't disappear? Rather than unpacking that question alone, I invited an expert onto the podcast.   In Part 1 of this Resilience Series, I'm joined by international author, speaker and resilience expert Carolyn Cranwell, founder of the Global Psychometric Institute and author of Hardcore Resilience – 7 Steps to Building Successful and Lasting Resilience in Your Business and Your Life.   Carolyn's work did not begin in academia. It began in her own life. For 18 years, Carolyn cared for her husband Richard who lived with younger onset Alzheimer's while raising a young family, managing a household and working full time. Through that experience, she began to recognise patterns in how people sustain themselves through prolonged uncertainty and hardship.   Those insights ultimately led to the development of the 7 Step Cranwell Resilience Ladder, a model designed to help individuals understand what resilience actually looks like and how it can be built over time.   Carolyn then collaborated with The Psychometrics Centre at the University of Cambridge to develop the Cranwell-Cambridge Resilience Test, a scientifically based resilience assessment designed to help individuals see which steps on the Resilience Ladder they already exhibit and where they can further build their skills.   In this first conversation, we explore Carolyn's personal journey into this work and unpack some of the biggest misconceptions people have about resilience.   HERE ARE 3 KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM THIS EPISODE: 1️⃣ Resilience is widely misunderstood. Many people think resilience means pushing through without support or suppressing difficulty. Carolyn explains why that interpretation misses the point entirely.   2️⃣ Asking for help is a core component of resilience. For many high achievers, internal stories beginning with "I should handle this myself" create unnecessary pressure. Carolyn shares why reaching out for support is actually a key anchor of sustainable resilience.   3️⃣ Resilience can be developed. Rather than being something you either have or lack, resilience can be understood through patterns of behaviour, decision-making and mindset that strengthens with intention over time.   CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION: This episode is Part 1 of the Resilience Series. In Part 2, released next week, Carolyn walks us through the 7 Steps of the Cranwell Resilience Ladder and shares practical guidance for navigating adversity, uncertainty and ongoing pressure in day-to-day life.   EXPLORE CAROLYN'S WORK: 💻 www.globalpsychometricinstitute.com 📋 Fill out the contact form on the website to get in touch. 📕 Book: Hardcore Resilience – 7 Steps to Building Successful and Lasting Resilience in Your Business and Your Life 📝 Online Resilience Test (for individuals): The Cranwell-Cambridge Resilience Test 📝 Online Resilience Test (for employers): The Cranwell-Cambridge Resilience Test 💻 www.Navigating-Alzheimers.com   MORE FROM ME: 📰 Get my Weekly Newsletter 🔗 Connect on LinkedIn 📸 Follow on Instagram or Facebook   SUBSCRIBE & REVIEW: If you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review! Your support helps us reach more people who need these insights.   Thanks for tuning in to Unwind Your Mind. See you next week! 🤍

    47 min
  8. Mar 9

    Balance the Scales: Three Ways to Reclaim Your Energy and Advocate for Yourself

    International Women's Day brings important conversations about equality, opportunity and fairness in the workplace. While many of those challenges require broader societal and organisational change, there are also powerful shifts we can make in our own lives that influence how we experience work every day.   In this episode of Unwind Your Mind, I explore the theme of "Balance the Scales" through the lens of self-leadership and professional development.   We unpack three ways the scales can become unbalanced in our careers without us even realising it, from the pressure to fit in, to taking on too much responsibility, to holding back from asking for what we actually need.   We explore practical strategies you can begin using straight away to reclaim your energy, protect your time, and advocate for the opportunities that move your career forward. If you've ever felt drained from trying to meet everyone else's expectations while sidelining your own growth, this episode is for you.   HERE ARE 3 KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM THIS EPISODE: 1️⃣ Wearing a mask might help us fit in, but it will hinder our long-term career growth.  2️⃣ Learning to pause, assess, and set boundaries helps you protect time for work that genuinely moves your career forward. 3️⃣ When you learn to articulate your goals, connect them to business outcomes, and make clear requests, you move from hoping opportunities appear to actively shaping your career path.   RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE These are the other podcast episodes I mentioned: ·         What Authenticity Really Means (and Why It's So Hard to Live It). ·         How to get the most out of performance reviews (from both sides of the table).   MORE FROM ME: 📰 Get my Weekly Newsletter 🔗 Connect on LinkedIn 📸 Follow on Instagram or Facebook   SUBSCRIBE & REVIEW: If you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review! Your support helps us reach more people who need these insights.   Thanks for tuning in to Unwind Your Mind. See you next week! 🤍

    22 min

About

Unwind Your Mind is the podcast for overthinkers, perfectionists, and high-achievers who want to stop second-guessing themselves and start realigning with their version of success. Hosted by Career + Leadership Coach Natalie Milosevic, founder of Realign Your Life, each week you'll get practical tools, nervous system insights, and self-leadership strategies to help you release internal blocks, reclaim your power and build a career that feels like you. If you're ready to unlearn old patterns and step into more clarity, confidence, and ease - this is your space. Let's unwind your mind… and step into your fulfilment.