We’re empowering women to start the new year off on a high note, and one thing that BFC is doing to kick start the movement is by supporting other women. We’re proud and excited to feature, Joyce Shulman, as our guest writer for this blog as she talks about her experience as a working mom and her mission towards wellness.
Fifteen years ago, during a particularly chaotic time when I was juggling the demands of running a business while raising two kids, my mother shared an observation that has stayed with me ever since.
“I feel like we did your generation a disservice,” she said.
“How so?” I asked, curious and maybe a little defensive.
“Because my generation threw out the rulebook. We told you that you could do it all. But we never told you how,” she explained. “And now you all seem like you’re working so hard to do everything and do it all well. Frankly,” she concluded, “it looks exhausting.”
She was right. I grew up believing I could do it all. And, in many ways, I did. I practiced law for a decade before embarking on an entrepreneurial journey, building and exiting four different companies. Along the way, I raised two fantastic kids who are now launching their own adult lives. But it wasn’t easy. My mom’s words sometimes echoed in my mind: there were moments when it was exhausting.
Yet throughout my journey, I remained a student of what it takes to live a happy, healthy, and balanced life. I experimented, stumbled, and learned. And now, in this new chapter, it has become my mission to share what I discovered: six key pillars of wellness that serve as a framework for creating a more balanced, fulfilling life. By adjusting the dials of each, you can move closer to living in harmony— though, as we’ll discuss in a moment, your wheel will never be perfectly round.
The Six Pillars of Wellness
- Physical Activity: Movement is medicine, and it’s non-negotiable. Regular physical activity boosts your energy, strengthens your body, and uplifts your mood. Are you moving enough?
- Fun: Fun isn’t optional; it’s mission-critical to a happy life. Do you know what lights you up? Are you making time for joy, play, and laughter?
- Ikigai: This Japanese concept refers to your “reason for being”—the intersection of what you love, what you’re good at, what the world needs, and what you can be paid to do. Are you living in alignment with your passion and purpose?
- Nutrition for Fuel: Food is both fuel and medicine. It impacts how you feel today, tomorrow, and for years to come. Are you nourishing your body with what it truly needs?
- Rest & Recovery: Wellness requires both effort and ease, energy out and energy in. Are you honoring your need for rest and recovery, or are you constantly pushing through exhaustion?
- Connection: Relationships are a cornerstone of happiness and longevity. Are you prioritizing deep, meaningful connections with friends, family, and community?
Putting It Into Practice
I invite you to download a copy of my Wellness Wheel from my website here. Print a few copies and use them to check in with yourself. Which pillars are thriving? Which need a little extra attention?
But here’s the key: you’re not aiming for perfection. You won’t always feel completely aligned with your purpose, be exercising regularly, eating well, resting enough, having fun, and maintaining deep connections all at once. Life simply doesn’t work that way. The Wellness Wheel isn’t about achieving a perfect score; it’s about cultivating awareness. It’s about noticing where you might need a little more care and making small adjustments.
Remember, the goal isn’t to do it all. It’s to create a life that feels balanced enough for you to thrive. Here’s to your well-being in 2025 and beyond.
Joyce Shulman
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Joyce Shulman is a professional coach working with women at the intersection of their personal and professional lives. Clients have called her work “brilliant” and “life-changing.” If you’d like to have a conversation about where you are and, more importantly, where you’d like to be, email her at [email protected].