Chrissy Schmidt

Chrissy SchmidtOct 9, 2026

Everyone wants a magic bullet for anxiety. Steven Bartlett's guest recommended one - it takes 12 minutes a day. That guest was Daniel G. Amen, M.D. who has studied nearly 300,000 brain scans. I’d found the same meditation years earlier, when my anxiety was at its worst. 𝐖𝐞𝐞𝐤 2/52: 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞, 𝐩𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐬, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐠𝐨 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐛𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐞. I had daily headaches, a migraines, and a career I was crushing. On meds, I lost my edge. Without them, The edge cut. Pick your poison. My headache specialist didn’t prescribe a pill. She prescribed change: learn to relax. I accidentally walked into a Kundalini class. Not knowing this yoga existed. There was chanting. Strange breathing. Different moving. I was intrigued. Leaving class, it was the lightest I felt in weeks. I enrolled in teacher training. My first assignment: 𝐊𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐧 𝐊𝐫𝐢𝐲𝐚, 12 𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐮𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐚 𝐝𝐚𝐲, 40 𝐝𝐚𝐲𝐬. The first 10 days were brutal. By day 40, I felt like myself again. The data backs it up. Multiple studies across organizations. In a University of Pennsylvania study, 12 minutes a day for 8 weeks increased activity in brain areas tied to memory and attention. Here’s how to do it: ↳ Sit tall and close your eyes. ↳ Chant “Sa, Ta, Na, Ma,” touching your thumb to each fingertip in turn. ↳ 2 minutes aloud, 2 whispered, 4 silent, 2 whispered, and 2 aloud. ↳ Repeat daily for 40 days. It’s medicine you take daily. Angst still creeps in some days. The difference is that now I have somewhere to go. What’s your go-to when your mind won’t quiet down?

Chrissy SchmidtOct 13, 2026

Have you ever wondered if the way we work is actually working? More of us are asking. And I think that’s opening a door. Growth, efficiency, competition. Nothing wrong with any of them. But when we lose sight of the people inside the system or the people we serve We lose the point. People built systems. And we can build new ones. We glamorize doing it alone But we’re meant to be in community. A collective of professionals who are excellent at what they do, and share the same values. People you root for. Who share a mission. And you’d have a beer with. There’s one catch: You have to believe (truly believe) profit follows when we take care of others. It’s leading with the heart. The new system. If you’re in Chicago and you're passionate about helping organizations and people become the best versions of themselves, I'd love to connect: Here's the experts that come to mind... → Executive coach → Corporate psychologist → Philosopher/Buddhist studies → Resilience/burnout specialist → Sleep coach → Flow state coach → Anyone helping the mind, body, soul, or building connection Know someone who fits? Please tag them as well 💗

Chrissy SchmidtOct 16, 2026

The happiest day of my life cost $15. Top of my career ➡️ thin mattress in a Thai forest. Week 3 of 52: From burnout to peace. The people, places, and practices that helped me on the path. I’d reached the top of my career. Big titles, big salaries, shares vested. And I felt… indifferent. I couldn’t shake one question: Is this it? So I resigned. Bought a one-way ticket to Asia. And went looking for a monk. They always seemed happy. I wanted to know their secret. I ended up at the Pa Pae Meditation Center. In the forest between Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai. No heat. Modest meals. Thin mattresses. Everyone in baggy white clothes. Forest noises kept me up at night. Stripped of comfort. I meditated three times a day. Philosophy lessons twice a day. Hung on every word the monks said. I wanted to know what they knew that I didn’t. By day three, something shifted. Shivering through a cold morning meditation, the sun hit my face. I felt gratitude simply for the sun. Then came the alms walk. Monks walk barefoot and in silence, carrying empty bowls in the community. Along the road, villagers kneel and offer food. The community offers nourishment. The monks offer blessings. Each needs the other. I hadn’t relied on anyone in years. Was that belief serving me? Where did I even learn it? The day after I left, a hot shower felt luxurious. Fresh clothes made me feel like a queen. The first sip of coffee was bliss. I spent the day exploring temples and cafés with two women I met at the bus stop. It was the happiest day of my life. Here’s what those four days taught me: 1. 𝘍𝘦𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 gratitude is different from thinking it. ↳ When I gave up nearly everything, ordinary things like a warm shower and the sun on my face became extraordinary again. 2. Independence isn’t the same as strength. ↳ The alms walk showed me what I’d been missing: needing each other, and the humility that comes with it. 3. Growth takes willingness more than money. ↳ Four days cost me $60. What it really required was wanting change, staying curious, and sitting with discomfort. 4. Abundance and peace can coexist. ↳ I’m not anti-wealth. But I’m not sure you can truly appreciate what you have until you’ve felt what it’s like without it. Where’s a humble place that brought you unexpected joy? I’d love to hear the gems others have discovered!