Mind & Body

Running can not only help you alleviate stress and have a happier mindset but can also help you feel more confident and achieve other goals. Christina Collison explains why. There’s a popular saying: you can’t pour from an empty cup. And when it comes to looking after others or living your best life, it’s certainly true. If your mind feels overwhelmed or depleted, everything becomes harder. That’s why running can be a powerful act of self-care. When I was caring for my late mum, who had dementia, I carved out 30 minutes most days to exercise. Running was my lifeline. It didn’t magically fix everything, but it gave me breathing space and clarity. Running is a reset button. Running offers a rare chance to be completely present. The rhythm of your feet, the fresh air, the mental f...

When I was a girl, I couldn’t do a cartwheel. I still feel the sting of being the only sister who didn’t make the gymnastics team — awkward, unsure, and aching to belong. At fourteen, I started exercising daily, convinced that changing my body was the key to changing my life. That drive eventually turned into restriction, and for years I withheld food from myself, believing I had to shrink to be seen. What I didn’t know then and what I want women to know now, is that playing big doesn’t require shrinking yourself to fit in. It doesn’t require pushing through pain or performing for approval. Playing big can be quiet. It can start with a breath, a small movement, or a moment of stillness. It begins with the radical idea that you are already worthy, right here, right now. If yo...

For years, I envisioned the TED stage. I could feel it in my body before it ever happened—the red dot beneath my feet, the gravity of speaking into a room charged with attention. But it didn’t come easily. In 2023, I finally gave that TED Talk. Not because I suddenly felt ready, but because I chose to stop waiting. I stepped into the tension, the fear, the self-doubt—and I did it anyway. It wasn’t perfect. But it was real. And that changed everything. The Real Meaning of “Playing Big” Let’s be honest: most people confuse “playing big” with being flashy, flawless, or famous. That’s not what it is. Playing big is about choosing visibility over comfort. It’s about leading even when your voice shakes. It’s about saying what needs to be said—even if it’s not smo...