Is Your Gut Making You Anxious? The Gut-Brain Connection Explained

We’ve all had those “butterflies” before a big presentation, or that sinking feeling in the stomach when life throws us a curveball. That’s your gut-brain connection at work. But what if I told you that your digestive health influences so much more than butterflies? Your gut may be quietly shaping your mood, your energy, your sleep, and even your sense of calm.

In this first post of my 3-part mini-series, we’re diving into gut health — why it’s one of the hottest wellness topics right now, how it’s linked to your mental well-being, and what you can do (starting today) to heal from the inside out.

---

🌱 The Science Made Simple

Your gut is home to trillions of bacteria, fungi, and microbes that together form your microbiome. Think of it as a bustling community — when it’s balanced, you thrive. When it’s out of balance, your health suffers.

Here’s where it gets fascinating: your gut and your brain are in constant conversation through the vagus nerve (your body’s “superhighway” of information). Roughly 90% of serotonin (your “feel-good” hormone) is produced in the gut, not the brain. No wonder what you eat and how you digest it can have such a powerful effect on your mood, energy, and resilience.

---

🚫 Common Gut Disruptors

If you’ve been feeling off — anxious, bloated, or just not yourself — your gut might be waving a red flag. Some common culprits include:

• Ultra-processed foods packed with sugar and additives

• Stress & anxiety (cortisol changes how we digest food)

• Antibiotics and over-sanitization (which wipe out good bacteria too)

• Low-fiber diets that starve the microbiome

---

🥑 Healing from the Inside Out

The good news? Your gut is resilient — and small changes make a big difference.

• Eat gut-loving foods: fermented foods (yogurt, sauerkraut, kimchi), fiber-rich veggies, and prebiotic foods (bananas, garlic, asparagus).

• Soothe your system: meditation, Reiki, journaling, and mindful breathing lower stress that disrupts digestion.

• Practice mindful eating: slow down, savor your food, and notice how it makes you feel.

---

📝 A Simple Weekly Challenge

Want to tune in to your own gut-brain connection? Try this for 7 days:

1. Add one gut-friendly food each day.

2. Journal after your meals: How do I feel physically and emotionally right now?

3. Notice patterns between what you eat and how you feel.

---

✨ Final Thoughts

Your gut isn’t just about digestion — it’s about balance, calm, and vitality. When your gut is happy, your brain feels the difference.

Stay tuned for next week’s post, where we’ll explore another hot wellness trend: sleepmaxxing — optimizing your rest for energy, clarity, and calm. And then in Week 3, we’ll bring it all together with a look at how gut health and sleep deeply influence each other.

💬 I’d love to know: What’s one gut-friendly food or ritual you already use to feel your best? Share it in the comments — your tip might inspire someone else’s healing journey.

Redirecting Your Energy

Today I want to bring you a short and sweet message—something I do often to
maintain balance. It’s a practice I rely on to shift my perspective, and I hope you find it as helpful as I have over the years.

Sometimes it feels like life keeps stacking the odds against us. We try to move forward, but one challenge after another pops up—like we’re forever playing catch-up, always behind the 8-ball. It’s exhausting.

And when that happens, it’s so easy to slip into frustration, anger, or self-doubt. We replay conversations, stew in negativity, or wonder why others seem to have it easier. But staying in that energy only keeps us stuck.

Here’s the shift: we may not control the circumstances, but we can redirect our perspective. This doesn’t mean ignoring pain or pretending everything is fine. It means choosing not to let the negativity take root in us.

Imagine pivoting in the moment:

• From frustrated → fulfilled by looking for one thing you’ve already done well today.

• From angry → accepting by acknowledging, “I can’t change this piece, but I can choose my next step.”

• From stuck → compassionate by extending kindness to yourself first, and then to those around you.

And remember—you are not alone in this. Everyone carries their own struggles, though we may not always see them on the surface. We never know what battles someone else is fighting inside. So as much as you need to have compassion for yourself, extend that same compassion outward. If someone frustrates you, pause and consider that they may be going through something heavy too. Allow them grace.

Negativity will always exist—it’s part of being human. But rising above means standing in your truth, holding onto your peace, and choosing to lead with compassion. Each time you redirect, you take back your power. You move from reaction to intention. You remind yourself—and others—that kindness and perspective are choices available in every moment.

So today, ask yourself: Where can I pivot? Where can I soften, let go of the weight, and rise higher? 

The Power of Stillness

In years past, I would rush through every moment of my life, missing out on the most important parts. I remember my son Vinni once telling me to slow down—because he didn’t want me to wake up one morning and realize I had missed too much. That hit home. I was supposed to be teaching him, not the other way around. Why was he noticing what I was missing?

-------------------------------------------------------

Teachers come in all shapes and sizes, and luckily, I was humble enough to listen. That day changed my life. I won’t tell you I became perfect overnight—but I did begin shifting how I lived, and it started me on the path to where I am today. I appreciated that moment more than Vinni could ever know.

Every so often, I look back on it with deep gratitude. In fact, this past weekend in Saratoga Springs, I thought of him again as my husband and I carved out moments of stillness. In a local gift shop, I spotted a little something Vinni would enjoy and picked it up as a token of appreciation—my quiet acknowledgment that even the teacher is always still a student.

We live in a world that glorifies motion—fast schedules, endless lists, and the constant pull of technology. It’s no wonder our energy feels scattered. But here’s the secret I’ve been reminded of lately: sometimes the most powerful reset isn’t about sitting completely still for long stretches of time, but about carving out smaller micro-moments throughout the day—pauses where we allow ourselves to simply do less.

Stillness doesn’t always mean sitting cross-legged in meditation for an hour (though it can!). Or stepping away for a weekend, a week, or even a month. It can be as simple as turning off the noise for a few minutes and letting yourself just be. When I step into stillness—whether it’s closing my eyes for a few breaths, listening to the rhythm of my heartbeat, or sitting with a cup of tea without multitasking—something shifts. My thoughts slow down. My body softens. And suddenly, I notice the subtler things that usually get drowned out: the warmth of the sun on my face, the sound of the wind in the trees, the whisper of my own inner voice.

This kind of pause is more than rest—it’s nourishment. Research shows that intentional stillness lowers stress hormones, sharpens focus, and rebalances the nervous system. Beyond science, it simply feels like coming home. And paradoxically, by doing less for a few minutes, I find myself far more productive and intentional with the things that truly matter.

The best part? Stillness is available anywhere. You don’t have to hike deep into the forest or retreat to a spa to experience it. You can find it in your living room before the day begins, in the car before heading into work, or in that moment when you choose to put the phone down and notice your own breath.

 -------------------------------------------------------

Try this: today, give yourself five minutes of stillness. No agenda. No goals. Just presence. Close your eyes. Breathe in deeply. Breathe out slowly. Allow yourself to simply exist in the pause.

You might be surprised how powerful those few minutes can be. Sometimes, the best way to move forward is to stop—just for a moment—and let stillness do its quiet work. And when you rise from that pause, notice how the newfound energy catapults you into more productivity, more fulfillment, and more wholeness.

Find solace in the stillness....
Be still,
Mary-Anne

Light at the End of the Tunnel: Rising Stronger from Seasons of Sadness

This morning, I found myself sitting on my porch, listening to the soft rhythm of the
rain on a quiet Sunday. The sky was heavy, the clouds unyielding, and yet I sat waiting—because I knew the sun would eventually break through. In that moment, I was reminded that life is much the same.

We all walk through tunnels at different points in our lives. They are those seasons that feel heavy, shadowed, and uncertain—the times when sadness lingers and hope feels far away. In the tunnel, it can seem endless. But here’s the truth: every tunnel has an exit, and every season of darkness eventually gives way to light.

---

Seasons of Sadness

Life comes in seasons, and sadness is one of them. Just as winter eventually melts into spring, sadness too has its cycle. It is okay—necessary even—to sit with the sadness, to feel it, to acknowledge the weight of it. Pretending it isn’t there only prolongs the journey. But sadness was never meant to be a permanent home; it is a passageway.

---

Guided and Surrounded

When we feel most alone, we are never truly alone. Angels, guides, and guardians surround us, lifting us when we stumble, guiding us when the path is unclear, and holding us when we feel too weary to keep walking. The good Lord above watches over every step, reminding us that even in our darkest hours, light is on the horizon.

---

A Father’s Reminder

I was reminded of this truth today, when a dear friend shared a Father’s Day post (it is Father’s Day in Australia). It brought me back to my own father, who used to sing, “What a Difference a Day Makes,” and call me “Little One.” When life felt heavy, he would remind me, “When the skies seem their darkest is when the sun will always shine its brightest.”

Those words have stayed with me my entire life. They are a reminder that even when everything feels overwhelming, hope is already on its way. Sometimes, all it takes is holding on through the night to witness a brand-new dawn.

---

Choosing to Emerge

The tunnel asks for courage. It asks us to keep moving forward, even when our eyes can’t yet see the exit. It asks us to trust the unseen support around us. And most importantly, it asks us to choose—to choose to rise again, to choose hope, to choose happiness even in the face of immense adversity.

Like the phoenix rising from the ashes, we too have the opportunity to emerge from sadness renewed—wiser, stronger, and shining brighter than ever before.

---

Drawn to the Light

Perhaps this is why I’ve always had such an obsession with sunlight—I absolutely love it. The sun recharges my very soul. No matter how many rainy days come, I know the sunshine is waiting, and when it pours over me, I feel whole again. Maybe you’ve felt that too—that deep sigh of relief and renewal when the light touches your skin. That’s what hope feels like. It’s always worth waiting for.

---

Brighter Days Ahead

The tunnel will not last forever. Sadness is a season, not a destination. The sun will break through, and when it does, you will feel the warmth of joy again. Until then, hold on. Rest when you must. Trust that you are surrounded, supported, and deeply loved.

Because the light is coming. And when it shines, you will be radiant.

---

🌿 Download My Reflection Corner Worksheet

You've got this!

Hold your head up high, and reach for the sunshine.

Be well,
Mary-Anne