Rachel Wingman

How many “NOs” did you take last week?

I took over 50.

There is a difference between safe stress and danger stress.

Safe stress stretches us.
Danger stress shuts us down.

Neuroscience shows that social rejection can activate brain regions linked with physical pain. That is why a “no” can feel so personal before our mind has time to respond.

But a “no” does not always mean failure.

Sometimes it means not now.
Sometimes it means not the right fit.
Sometimes it means we need to explain the value better.
Sometimes it simply means we need to keep going.

As business owners, entrepreneurs and leaders, rejection is part of the journey.

If we are too afraid to receive a “no”, we may also miss the opportunity to receive a “yes”.

So this week, I am not counting rejection as failure.

I am counting every “no” as practice.

Practice in emotional regulation.
Practice in courage.
Practice in leadership.
Practice in becoming stronger.

Sometimes the path to the right “yes” is built through many brave “no’s”.

You're not the only one...

You're not the only one experiencing burnout.

You're not the only leader carrying the weight of everyone else.

You're not the only parent wondering if you're getting it right.

But here's the thing...

Knowing you're not alone is comforting.

Building the skills to respond differently changes everything.

That's why we don't just talk about wellbeing.

We practise it.

We experience it.

We build it.

Because the goal isn't simply to survive another setback.

It's to become the architect of your next chapter.

You're not alone.
➡️ You have tools.
➡️ You build capacity.
➡️ You create a different future.

If you're curious about what that looks like, join us at our FREE 7 Wonder Shifts Book Launch & Wellness Expo.

Come and experience the 7 Wonders Wellness System and discover how small shifts can create lasting change.

The 7 Wonder Shifts Book Launch & Christmas in July Wellness Expo Join us for a meaningful Christmas in July Book Launch and Wellness Expo. Walk through Memory Lane, hear from 7 specialists, and discover how every generation can understand each other. Free entry, registration required.

Some conversations stay with you.

This week on WonderVoice Podcast, I had the joy of sitting down with Simmo Braun, also known as The Bloody Good Human.

What I loved most was not just what Simmo does, but the honesty behind how he got here.

From experiencing anxiety, crying in the backyard while working in corporate, to slowly finding his identity, purpose, and voice through blood donation and contribution, his story is such a powerful reminder that wellbeing is not always found by doing more.

Sometimes it is found by reconnecting with what truly matters.

Simmo even took his three children around Australia in a campervan, visiting communities, sharing his mission, and showing that contribution can be lived in everyday moments.

And that really touched me.

Because contributing is one of the vital elements of mental wellbeing.

It does not always need to be big.
It does not need to look perfect.
It does not need to be loud.

With the right intention, every act of contribution to the community counts.

The bonus moment?

After the podcast, Simmo guided me and my team through a 9D breathwork meditation experience.

For someone like me who is always go, go, go, and finds it hard to sit in stillness, it was surprisingly easy, engaging, and deeply interesting.

It was also one of the first times I experienced a WonderPause moment together with my team.

As leaders, we always have a choice.

We can choose what kind of work environment we want to create, not just for our team, but for ourselves as business owners too.

A space where people can grow.
A space where people can breathe.
A space where people can contribute, reconnect, and thrive.

Thank you Simmo for being such a passionate human, and for reminding us that purpose often begins with one honest step.

Is "psychosocial" just the latest workplace buzzword?

Short answer: no.

Longer answer: it became trendy because workplaces kept ignoring it until they couldn't anymore.

The regulations arrived. The claims data piled up. A generation entered the workforce unwilling to leave their nervous systems at the door.

"Psychosocial" didn't become fashionable. It became unavoidable.

The real question isn't whether it's a trend. It's whether your organisation will treat it as a checkbox or a structural change.

New article on why psychosocial is the word our workplaces have been waiting for:

https://wonderlab.com.au/psychosocial-safety-workplace-beyond-the-buzzword/

Being a local today… and still discovering new wonder in my own city. I joined the Sydney Opera House Explore Tour on my own, and it reminded me that travel doesn’t always mean going far. Sometimes, travel is about seeing a familiar place with fresh eyes.

What’s the opposite of LOVE?

I used to think it was hate.

But after a conversation with Jeanette Krass, Registered Psychologist, I started to see it differently.

Sometimes, the opposite of love is indifference.

Not healthy boundaries.
Not protecting your peace.

But the kind of indifference where we stop seeing another person’s humanity.

Love does not mean we must agree, rescue, or carry everyone.

Sometimes love is stepping back without hate.

Read the full article:
https://wonderlab.com.a

Sip the coffee...wear the smile...Happy Mondays

We talk a lot about “honesty” at work.

But what does that actually look like… around a table?

Dr Ragnar Purje’s recent article about “honesty at the table” really landed for me, he points out that it’s honest communication that truly nourishes us, not just the food or the slide deck.

So I’ve turned it into a tiny 7 Wonders Wellness System™ micro‑activation for leaders, teams and families.

Honesty at the Table – Work Edition

Use it in team lunches, offsites, project retros, even coffee catch‑ups.

1. One ground rule
“For this conversation, we tell the truth with respect.
No mocking, no piling on, no blame‑shame.”

2. One real question
Skip “How’s everyone going?” and try:

“What’s making your workday harder than it needs to be right now?”

“Where do you feel you have low control, and what’s one change that would help?”

“What’s one thing you’re not saying yet, that would actually help the team if you did?”

3. Listen more than you defend
Instead of explaining or fixing straight away, try:
“Thank you for saying that – can you tell me a bit more about how that shows up day to day?”

In 10–15 minutes, you’ve opened a safer speak‑up channel, given people a breather from the pressure, and heard real signals about workload, support and change for the human side of psychosocial risk.

And there’s a matching, consistent home version you can use at the dinner table with your family...same idea, softer language, same outcome:
real talk that feels safe.

Done regularly, these tiny table rituals build trust, calm the nervous system and quietly grow our emotional “capacity” at work and at home.

This is one of the micro‑activations inside the 7 Wonders Wellness System™, especially:

- WonderVoice – feeling safe to speak up

- WonderPause – slowing down enough to actually hear each other

If you’d like the full prompt list for leadership teams and family dinners, comment “Table” and I’ll send both versions.

A small joy moment this morning...

One simple way to build resilience is to keep creating small moments of joy every day.

This morning, when I opened my tissue, I noticed this cute little picture.

It was such a tiny surprise, but it made me smile.

Sometimes, joy is not something big or expensive.

It can be a thoughtful detail.
A playful design.
A kind word.
A quiet pause.
A simple moment that lifts our mood.

This is the kind of Wonder Experience I want to create for the people around me.

Through Wonderlab’s 7 Wonders Experience, our goal is to bring more joy, curiosity and meaningful moments into everyday life.

Because when we notice the small wonders, an ordinary day can become a little more wonderful.

What small moment brought you joy today?

EverydayWellbeing PauseAndNotice

Menopause ≠ ageing and suffering.
Menopause = rebirth, clarity and a new chapter of power.

Like the Japanese kōnenki way, “renewal years”, this is our invitation to rewrite the story of midlife on our own terms.

For generations, women have been told to “push through” this season in silence.

I believe it’s time to change the story from dread and decline to renewal, power and possibility, supported by real conversations, evidence‑based care and everyday rituals that honour our bodies.

Today at Wonderlab, we’re hosting our first mini‑talk on menopause exploring perimenopause, menopause and post‑menopause as a new beginning, not a taboo.

If you’re nearby, you’re still very welcome to pop in and join us over lunch, connection and honest conversation.

Stay tuned in this space for more: we’ll be sharing reflections from today and announcing a deeper‑dive menopause workshop very soon. In the meantime, you can find today’s event details here:

https://event.wonderlab.com.au/lm/monthly_networking_lunch_the_mother_load