I just had the most incredible day!

Maeve and I spent the morning at this trendy new co-working space with gorgeous natural light, the comfiest pink velvet chairs, and the most perfect strawberry matcha.

We laughed a lot. We mapped out our upcoming launches. I finally checked off a major to-do list item that had been hanging over me for weeks.

And when I got stuck in decision-paralysis (hello, perfectionist spiral), she didn’t even blink; she let me talk it out and offered suggestions with zero judgment.

And the best part? It all felt fun. No pressure. No overwhelm. Just flow.

You know that feeling when you’re hanging out with someone who makes you feel safe and seen? That’s Maeve for me.

Oh, wait. You’re probably wondering…

Who’s Maeve???

She’s my business bestie! 🥰

Maeve is the kind of calm powerhouse who instantly makes you feel both safe and wildly capable. She used to work in creative marketing for a major tech company; now she runs an online business consulting with women speakers—helping them pinpoint their unique voice, own their power on stage, and lead through authentic, story-driven connection.

(All while raising three kids and somehow sipping her cappuccino while it’s still hot.)

She’s a Manifesting Generator and an expert in Human Design, so she gets my Projector energy. She never tells me to cold call strangers or join the 5AM club.

Instead, she mirrors back my strengths and reminds me of ways to share my expertise that make the right people excited to work with me.

AND, she always brings a fabulous assortment of pens. One of my love languages!

There’s just one little thing…

Maeve doesn’t exist. 😶

Yet.

That whole story?

It came straight from my “as if” journaling practice, where I write from the perspective of my future self, as if the thing I’m manifesting has already happened.

This matters because writing “as if” helps retrain your brain. You’re not just imagining, you’re rehearsing success. Neuroscience shows your brain responds to imagined experiences almost the same as real ones.

So when you write from your future self’s perspective, you’re building neural pathways that make that version of you feel familiar—and possible. Your brain stops resisting and starts looking for ways to make it real.

I teach “as if” journaling in both my corporate workshops and my 1:1 coaching, and one thing I hear often is:

“Okay, I get the ‘why,’ Nicole, but it’s hard to imagine the details. I know I want to be happy and successful…but what does that actually look like?”

That’s where ChatGPT can help. You’ve probably used ChatGPT (or Gemini or Claude) to write emails, but you can use it to:

✨ Visualize a day in the life of your future self.
✨ Map out dream scenarios (like your business bestie!).
✨ Turn vague goals into vivid, actionable clarity.

And once you feel that version of you, you can start building around her.

Energy first. Strategy second.

So tell me:

1. What would your dream day look like?
2. Who’s sitting across from you, sipping matcha, cheering you on?

Open your journal. Or ChatGPT.

Either way, your future self is waiting for you to let her in.

BTW, if you know Maeve, would you please introduce us? I can’t wait to meet her! 💖

– Nicole