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Author: Maria Connolly

AI as Mirror: What Our Relationship with Technology Reveals About Ourselves

Written by Maria Connolly. Posted in Dream Big - Start Small, Great Circle Community, Women in Leadership.

As we use AI as a mirror to our inner self, our tech habits reveal surprising things about our inner patterns, fears, and unmet needs or desires. Most of us have a complicated relationship with technology. We love what it does for us — the convenience, the speed, the immediate access. But sometimes, if we’re brave enough to look closely and use AI as a mirror, we realize it’s also showing us things about ourselves we’d rather not face.

In many ways, AI and our devices have become mirrors. Not just tools we use, but reflections of our inner patterns, fears, and unmet needs. And if we pay attention, those reflections can teach us a lot.

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Being Present in the Moment: How to Stop Distractions from Hijacking Your Day

Written by Maria Connolly. Posted in Dream Big - Start Small, Health and Wellness, Mindfulness.

Being present in the moment is in danger of becoming a lost art, because AI-driven notifications keep us mindlessly glued to our screens.If we’re being honest… most days we feel pulled in a hundred directions. Between work, family, texts, emails, and a steady stream of notifications, it’s no wonder being present in the moment is so difficult. Our mindfulness is being hijacked! And yet this precious skill is one of the basic foundations of a full, richly satisfying life.

Have you ever caught yourself scrolling through social media while half-listening to a conversation? You’re not alone. Our devices and the algorithms behind them are designed to grab our attention and keep it. But the real cost isn’t just lost time. It’s lost peace, presence, and the deeper connection we crave.

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The Profound Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Our Ability to Connect

Written by Maria Connolly. Posted in Dream Big - Start Small, EMERGE Method, Life Skills.

We, who are on a path of personal growth and authentic living, need to connect on a deeper level. Otherwise, we lack clarity, resilience, and meaning.The number of times we check our phones every day is shocking! Studies estimate the average person taps, swipes, or clicks their device over 2,600 times a day, and heavy users check in at more than 5,400 interactions daily. Each notification, scroll, or quick message offers a fleeting sense of connection. But here’s the paradox: while these micro-interactions promise closeness, they often leave us feeling more isolated, anxious, and emotionally starved than before. And that’s not even considering the impact of artificial intelligence!

A false intimacy has become part of the digital age we live in. Being in constant contact isn’t the same as being truly connected. We, who are on a path of personal growth and authentic living, need  to connect on a deeper level. Otherwise, we lack clarity, resilience, and meaning.

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Being in Relationship with Ourselves: The Foundation of Healing and Growth

Written by Maria Connolly. Posted in Dream Big - Start Small, Life Skills.

eing in relationship with ourselves means we’re not a problem to be fixed, but we’re worthy of spending time, attention, and care on ourselves.Today, something clicked for me while listening to a conversation between Simon Sinek and Lewis Howes. They were exploring what truly fosters healing, and Simon, who typically gravitates toward evidence-based concepts, expressed some hesitation around ideas like self-love and gratitude practices to promote being in relationship with ourselves.

What captivated me was when Simon used the metaphor of falling in love with your partner. He described how love isn’t something that simply appears fully formed, but rather develops through consistent attention, care, and presence. In that moment, I had a profound realization: we need to approach being in relationship with ourselves in exactly the same way.

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How to Find Your Voice: Your Authentic Journey Toward Confident Leadership

Written by Maria Connolly. Posted in Dream Big - Start Small, EMERGE Method, Leadership Skills, Stepping Forward, Women in Leadership.

Knowing how to find your voice, honing your message, and learning to trust your voice will make you influential and unforgettableIt takes time to find your voice, that thing that makes you authentic and a force to be reckoned with. Knowing how to find your voice,  honing your message, and learning to trust your voice will make you influential and unforgettable. Is that your heart’s desire? After all, we’ve all experienced how icky it feels to be overlooked, unappreciated, put down, dismissed, unheard, underestimated, or undervalued. What can we do to make sure that doesn’t happen again? 

Perhaps you can relate to what happened to me years ago:

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