LIFE IN A WORD

The word is ADVOCATE

Definition: Merriam-Webster Dictionary - one who supports or promotes the interests of a cause or group

  Posted 10/9/25

My Story: An Advocate for Others, An Advocate for Self

The word Advocate holds a very special space in my life.

For the past six years, I have been an advocate for my 94-year-old mother, a stroke survivor. I continuously seek resources that educate me and help me deliver a healthier life for her. I do this because she is someone I love and believe in, and because she can no longer advocate for herself.

I know I'm not alone; many are committed to advocating for the young, the poor, the sick, and various other populations, including the elderly.

This essential act of caring for others, however, has led me to a crucial question, one I now ask myself and my clients: How do I advocate for myself?

How do you advocate for yourself so you, too, can live a healthier life? My answer lies in reclaiming the most authentic version of ourselves: the child within.

The Call to Remember

We live in a world overflowing with diverse cultures, beliefs, and perspectives. Familial, historical, political, and artistic narratives are constantly evolving, sparking discourse that has blanketed generations with uncertainty and, in many cases, fear.

In this time of uncertainty, I encourage you to seek out a time that felt simpler, kinder, and more joyful—for most of us, this is early childhood. A time of curiosity, exploration, and unconditional love, which brings to mind the poignant message in Whitney Houston’s song, “The Greatest Love of All”:

I believe that children are our future, teach them well and let them lead the way. Show them all the beauty they possess inside. Give them a sense of pride to make it easier. Let the children’s laughter remind us how we used to be.

Reclaiming Your Essence

In my coaching practice, I use an exercise where clients are asked to locate a picture of themselves as a young child and study it. To truly look at the expression on your face, the sparkle in your eyes, and the softness of your posture.

Reflect on that time when you had the freedom to approach the world with wonder, curiosity, and excitement—a time free of fear, anger, stress, rejection, or judgment.

This is an opportunity to push away the scars and worries that come with age and life experiences, and to awaken that original spirit of wonder and excitement. By inviting that spirit back into our lives, we can decrease our current anxieties and live a happier life.

A child is a master explorer. With innocence and pure wonder, they take in everything around them, learning and growing from every sight, sound, and experience. The purpose of this exercise is to draw out the essence of the child that still lives within you, and to reclaim that original curiosity. If we, as adults, can choose to learn and explore life's challenges rather than reacting negatively to them, we will naturally live healthier, more balanced lives.

The Smile on My Face

My own photo was one taken at a park in Brooklyn, New York when I was four years old. I had not a care in the world, and the smile on my face was a testament to the innocence and simplicity of my life back then. I hadn’t yet been exposed to the many challenges ahead—the highs and lows, the losses and gains—the big world waiting for me outside my safe little bubble.

Advocating for ourselves may not come easily, especially if you are someone who is always putting others first, and that’s okay. We are all made of many layers. But I encourage those who are struggling (which is most of us), to find that childhood photo. Reclaim your essence, because you can.

Let your childhood curiosity, joy, and laughter remind you of the way you used to be, and how you can be again.

Advocate for yourself. Stop letting uncertainty and fear sabotage your performance, well-being, and relationships. Do it because you love yourself, believe in yourself, and—unlike my mom—you still can.

LET'S CONNECT

If you're ready to start this journey of advocating for yourself, please accept my gift of a free consultation. We'll explore your goals and some of obstacles that have been holding you back. We'll also discuss an action step that will start you on your way to a happier life.

Please email me at innervoicelifecoach08@gmail.com. There is no cost or obligation, just the chance to share your thoughts with a certified life coach who is eager to help you take that first step.

LIFE IN A WORD

The Word is STUCK

AI Definition: being unable to move or progress from a particular position, place or situation.

Posted May 5, 2025

My Story on Stuck

You’re Not Stuck, You’re Just One Brave Step Away From Change.

Feeling stuck isn’t a life sentence; it signals that you’re ready for something new, even if it feels scary.

If you find yourself caught in a toxic relationship, trapped in a job that drains you, navigating a phase of life that no longer serves you, make a change. If you feel like you’re standing still or that your life has paused in a place where you never meant to linger, make a change.

Here’s the truth: You’re not stuck; you’re simply one courageous step away from getting unstuck.

• Just one step away from shedding the fear that holds you back.

• Just one step away from reigniting your confidence.  

• Just one step away from putting yourself first, not out of selfishness, but out of strength.

Now is the time to stop wishing for change. Be the person you want to become. Your next chapter doesn't have to mirror your last; it can be lighter, stronger, more joyful—more authentically you. And you don’t have to do it alone.

As a Certified Life Coach, I'm here to help you take that first brave step. Together, we can overcome what’s keeping you stuck and reignite the passion that makes you feel alive, creating meaningful and lasting change one step at a time.

If you’re ready to move forward, I’m here to walk alongside you.

Let’s talk. Book your FREE “Discovery Call” today. One conversation can change everything. It just takes one brave step to get things moving..

Email me today. No cost or obligation, just an opportunity to say out loud what you've wanted to change about your life with a certified Life Coach who wants to help you get there.

Inner Voice Health & Life Coaching

Ronni Hochman

Certified Mental Fitness/Positive Intelligence Coach

Certified HCI Health & Life Coach, Certified TCM Transformational Coach

innervoicelifecoach08@gmail.com

LIFE IN A WORD

The Word is OVERLOAD

Definition: Merriam-Webster Dictionary: an excessive load or amount of something

Posted 4/21/2025

My Story on Overload (when life throws us more than we can handle)

Every so often, I feel a tension in my body and a dull pressure in my head, bordering on a headache. After some self-reflection, I’ve realized that these moments are a new form of sensory overload.

Medical News Today defines sensory overload as “the overstimulation of one or more of the body’s five senses. People will respond differently to feeling overstimulated, but symptoms often include anxiety, discomfort, and fear.”

Simply put, when our brain takes in more than it can process—from what we see, hear, smell, taste, or touch—it tries to get our attention. It’s our inner warning system saying, “Something isn’t right. Time to slow down. Time to shift.”

We usually associate sensory overload with bright lights, loud noises, intense flavors, overwhelming textures, or powerful smells. But I’d like to add one more modern-day culprit that sends me into overload every single day—the undeniable, unavoidable, and unrelenting influx of emails.

They come from everywhere: people I know, companies I don’t, advertisers, politicians, and scammers—all vying for a moment of my time and attention.

And no matter how often I unsubscribe, block, or report something as junk, those same senders always seem to find their way back. My daily ritual of “select and delete” usually takes place in the morning—right after my meditation and yoga. Just writing that makes me rethink my timing. Shouldn’t peaceful practices come after an email battle?

I’m sure some of you can relate.

Here’s the thing: how is any person with a life expected to read—let alone respond to—the constant flow of requests, sales pitches, news flashes, and updates? It amazes me. I’m only one person!

And it doesn’t stop with email. Let’s not forget the avalanche of text messages, news alerts, group chats, and live-stream notifications that pop up on our screens dozens of times a day.

How do they even find us?

To all the relentless senders out there: please, take pity on us! We’d have to give up everything we hold dear to satisfy your appetite for our attention.

So, what’s the solution?

To the tech wizards among us—I’m reaching out. Short of deleting my email account altogether, is there anything I can do to stop this overload? I am truly at your mercy.

Until then, I’ll continue my daily ritual: select and delete. And maybe rethink the timing of my morning meditation!

I've used the "overload of emails" as a metaphor for when life throws us more than we can handle.

When your mind and body are on overload and tell you that "something isn't right. Time to slow down. Time to shift." I hope you'll reach out to me.

As a Life Coach, I help men and women transition from one chapter of their life to another with confidence and calm by taking one small step at a time.

I encourage the first step to take me up on my offer for a free consultation. No cost or obligation, just an opportunity to share your thoughts out loud with a certified Life Coach.

Please click the email address below to schedule your appointment. I promise that's one email I look forward to reading and responding to. Thank you.

E-mail: innervoicelifecoach08@gmail.com