2026 with Annette and Ada is designed for those of you who would like to focus on your coaching and make it a priority in your life, and for those of you who have been working hard with us and want to set clear, identifiable goals for the coming year.

This month, we are exploring what happens when life moves too fast for too long. After spending October examining Hustle Culture on our podcast, we are turning our attention in this digest to the toll that constant busyness and pressure can take on our physical and emotional well-being.

Defensiveness can feel like a natural reaction when we believe we are under attack. Our partner, family member, or friend makes a comment that we interpret as critical, and almost before we can think, words come flying out of our mouths to protect us. We explain, we justify, or we counterattack. In the moment, defensiveness feels necessary for self-preservation; however, in truth, it is a barrier to love and connection.

Thank you for trusting us to support you on your personal development journey.

In a world that often feels reactive and divided, one of the most powerful personal development tools we can practice is simple, yet transformative: responding with curiosity instead of judgment.

Last week, I said goodbye to my beloved friend, Greta. She was only six years old, but in the five years she was with me, she filled my world with more love, loyalty, and quiet companionship than words can ever express.

In May, we turned our hearts toward one of life’s greatest treasures: Friendship. In a world that often celebrates independence and self-reliance, we devoted time to honoring the importance of human connection, mutual care, and the kind of love that shows up in everyday ways.

April was a great month for us at the Academy for Personal Development. During many of our client sessions and on our Morning Intentions podcast, we explored a topic that touches every part of our lives: our nervous system.