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Mindfully Modern Collective, Chicago, IL (2025)

09/10/2025

Session themes this week:
Radical Acceptance + Authenticity

After years of walking alongside clients and studying what creates a meaningful life, I’ve learned that 💫 happiness isn’t about chasing the next milestone or holding it all together for appearances.

Happiness is living in alignment with what truly matters to YOU and remembering that every feeling that rises and falls is honest, not a flaw or a failing.

❤️ It’s choosing radical self-acceptance and authenticity, meeting yourself exactly as you are without needing to fix, judge, prove, or earn your worth.

It’s giving yourself permission to be unapologetically authentic, embracing every beautiful flaw and magnetic gift you bring to the world. Because life is messy, and so are we.

✨ Radical acceptance begins with noticing the moments you resist your own experience, when you’re caught in self-criticism, replaying something you said with embarrassment, or sinking into the old story of “I’m not enough.”

Instead of pushing those feelings away or trying to be someone different, radical acceptance invites you to pause and bring presence to what’s here.

RAIN Practice:
R - Recognize what you’re feeling in the moment

A - Allow it to be there without judgment

I - Investigate gently with curiosity: what does this part of me need?

N - Nurture yourself with compassion, as you would a close friend

From this place, authenticity flows more naturally, because when you stop resisting who you are, you create the space to live as who you are.

Because anything less moves you away from happiness rather than toward it. And embracing who we are is the fiercest thing we can do.

08/26/2025

✨Virgo Season Rituals✨

I’ve been craving more rituals lately—and I didn’t realize it until last night in a guided meditation. Thank you

You can call it what you like: moments, routines, or even personal boundaries. But I love the word ritual. Ritual feels sexy. It feels special. It feels like something worth honoring.

Rituals aren’t about being motivated every day or loving structure (that’s definitely not me 🙋🏻‍♀️). They're a sacred way to keep doing the things that bring me peace and alignment with my values and the life I’m building.

And it’s not only about self-care. Rituals help you take aligned steps toward your bigger goals.

✨ Want to leave your job? Create an intentional ritual when you sit down to search: light a candle, take a deep breath, and check in with your body as you notice what excites you (and what doesn’t). Give yourself gratitude when finished for honoring your wants/needs even if you didn't find what you're looking for.

✨ Calling in a relationship? Create a ritual before dates or while swiping—pause, breathe, and remind yourself what kind of love you’re opening to.

✨ Saving for a dream home? Light a candle, play grounding music or tap into mindful gratitude each time you transfer money to savings, making it feel intentional rather than transactional.

These may feel like small things, but they’re how we slow down, connect with what matters, and support the bigger transformations quietly unfolding in our lives, without letting the daily hustle hijack our day.

We don't just arrive at our end milestones. Remember, transformation happens in the MICROMOMENTS, the rituals you create and honor with yourself.

Virgo season is the reminder I needed: true change lives in the details we choose.

Daily/Weekly Rituals I'm Committing To:

✨ 5 mins of journaling to connect with my higher consciousness.
✨ Moving my body (yes, even when I don’t want to—because afterwards I feel amazing).
✨ Creating a cozy reading corner, finally.

What rituals are calling to you right now?

08/01/2025

Today marks August 1st, the midpoint between the Summer Solstice and the Fall Equinox.

In Celtic tradition, this day, Lughnasadh, was a time to pause and honor the “in‑between,” to celebrate the abundance that’s already here while trusting what’s still on its way.

It’s natural and beneficial to hold hopes for the future, but life is unfolding right now, in the middle of our days and seasons. We often rush through the in‑between, the chapters where things haven't fully come to fruition, or simply the ordinary moments of the day, forgetting that these spaces are where our lives actually take shape. Moments like walking to pick up your kid from school, sharing a laugh via text, ordering your drink at the coffee bar, the way your pet greets you when you're home, or gazing at the moon. 🌿 These everyday pieces of life are the thread. Growth, connection, and clarity often rise quietly when we choose to stay present.

📅 I’ve been reminded of that lately. I’ve felt restless about getting my first women's wellness retreat planned, but I’m leaning into listening to my intuition and trusting my journey toward this future milestone and how it’s going to unfold. The in‑between can be exciting (I love these location ideas), beautiful (I can't wait for this collective healing and adventure), and yes, at times uncertain (Will enough people register?). It’s so easy to push ourselves to achieve or cross the finish line, but the truth is, the journey is where the meaning is made.

So today, I’m choosing small moments of presence: writing this post, appreciating my AM meditation (even though I was a little distracted), and spending time with my ideas about a retreat, honoring the excitement and uncertainty without rushing into action.

Because this is what the journey is about. These little acts remind me that I’m not waiting for this part of my calling to begin, it’s already happening as it unfolds. I’m grateful for these moments of guidance, dreaming, and patience.

Your August mantra:
✨ I embrace the beauty of becoming, trust that each step holds meaning, and open myself to the magic of what’s unfolding.

07/09/2025

🌕 Full Moon • July 10, 2025

The Buck Moon in Capricorn is all about realignment.

Named for the majestic antler growth on buck deer, also called the Thunder Moon—echoing July’s thunderstorms symbolizes regeneration, strength, and a return to purpose. It carries the energy of growth after shedding—reminding us that release isn’t weakness, it’s wisdom.

Most Full Moons stir emotion. But this one has a uniquely grounded, strategic feel. With the Sun in Cancer and the Moon in Capricorn, we’re being asked to tend to both our inner world and our outer life.

Cancer pulls you inward to care for your emotional landscape.
Capricorn helps you put structure around what you’ve been feeling.

It’s not just “feel it to heal it”—it’s “feel it, then do something with it.”

⸻

Why this moon stands out:

🦌 The Buck Moon: Symbolizing strength, growth, and aligned beginnings after a season of letting go.

📍 Cancer–Capricorn polarity
A blend of softness and structure. Feel deeply, then act with intention.

🌑 It’s the farthest full moon of the year
Known as a “micromoon”—smaller in the sky, but powerful in subtle, internal shifts.

🗓️ It lands mid-year
A natural time to reflect, reset, and reorient toward what actually matters.

⸻

Mindfully working with this energy:

🖊️ Journal what feels heavy or outdated—get it out of your head and onto paper

🌿 Ground your system with routine, rest, or time in nature. Maybe even sit outside under the moon.

📅 Recommit to one meaningful priority—let it be simple but steady.

🧘 Honor that progress, sometimes that looks like pausing or doing less

05/27/2025

Hi, I’m Ilene—and it’s been a minute.

This is the next chapter.
MMC is a space where science meets soul—where we talk about growth, joy, burnout, clarity, and navigating the messy middle.

I’m not here to flood your feed with noise.
I’m here to talk about real things:
✨ How we show up, how we evolve, how we make space for what matters—and how we take risks to live happier.

🙌🏽 It’s for women and entrepreneurs who feel the pull for something more aligned—whether that’s healing, expansion, a midlife chrysalis, starting a business, vibing up or just craving a different way of living.

📝 I’ll be sharing a little bit of everything:
- wellness + lifestyle,
- my life, nervous system + manifestation
practices,
- soul-aligned business conversations,
- and yes—updates on upcoming wellness
retreats.

If you’re into living with more intention, creating from alignment, and believing in both nervous system work and manifestation—this space is for you.

If you’re new here, welcome. If you’ve been around, thank you. 🙏🏽 I’m so glad you’re here.

Let me know what you want to see more of—drop a comment or just say hi.

05/16/2025

Big news and a heartfelt update —

After years of meaningful work under the Next Step Counseling name, I’m excited to share that this space is now becoming Mindfully Modern Collective.

One year ago, I made the decision to step away from the group practice I had nurtured and led—to make space for my own evolution while honoring the clients and team I value(d) deeply.

I knew it was time to let go of what was, so something new could emerge. The kind of in-between space many of you have navigated yourselves—
and I’m grateful we’ve walked similar paths.

So what happens in the aftermath of selling a business and balancing burnout?

Well, in the past 12 months, I’ve…

🌍 Fed my soul with rest and tons of travel
🐾 Said goodbye to my beloved cat, Gio
📚 Fell back in love with reading fiction
🏡 Kicked off a San Diego Airbnb
🍻 Worked behind the scenes on our WI bar, Happy Daze, and partnered with my husband + two friends on another WI bar, Fritz's
🧠 Reset my nervous system + recovered 85% (and counting) from burnout—my creativity is returning(!)
☀️ Rested, wandered, cried, laughed, journaled, meditated, loved on my dogs, spent time with my husband, soaked in the sun Every. Single. Day., and let myself BE
💫 And quietly followed the calling… and began branding my next chapter: Mindfully Modern Collective

This next chapter blends science with soul-aligned intentional living—
for women and female-identifying individuals who are craving more from their life, business, or sense of self.

I’ll be offering:
— Online coaching programs
— Licensed counseling (for IL residents)
— Curated Women’s Wellness Retreats
— Astrocartography & intuitive healing tools

As this journey unfolds, I’ll be sharing here in a way that feels more personal and intentional—rather than a stream of constant content.

You can expect posts on wellness & lifestyle, manifestation mindset, a little magic—and offerings.

My hope is that this space feels more intimate and grounded, and more like a conversation between us.

If you followed me through NSC, THANK YOU—truly—for staying.

Your continued presence means more than you know, and I’m honored to share this next evolution with you. ❤️

Logo Design: Becky Beals

04/29/2024

💫 What will you talk about in therapy this week?! 💫

We LOVE therapy and for good reason!

Yes, it can be uncomfortable breaking past vulnerability constructs society has taught us and open up and share. We love therapy because it provides a supportive space to unpack our thoughts, heal from past wounds, and empower ourselves to create meaningful change.

❤️ You get to ❤️
1) unpacking emotions,
2) learn to set boundaries,
3) work towards personal growth and self-discovery
4) gain healthy and effective coping skills,
5) uncovering patterns,
6) gaining resilience
7) find clarity and direction
8) improve communication skills and enhance relationships
9) increase self-care and self-compassion
10) finding what authenticity means for you and how to best live it
11) we could go on and on and on

Creating meaningful change is so dang hard and supporting you in living your best life is our life's purpose. We absolutely love it and we know you will too!

We can't wait to hear what you're brining in this week to talk about!

04/26/2024

Slams laptop shut until Monday...
Got any weekend plans to nourish your soul? 🌞☕️ ✨🌻📚🎶🤗🍦

Engaging in ANYTHING we enjoy triggers the release of dopamine and endorphins in the brain's reward pathway, leading to feelings of pleasure and well-being. This activation also enhances connectivity between brain regions, promoting relaxation and reducing stress.

Doing things we like is vital for mental health and happiness.

💫 Decide to do 1 think you'll do to nourish your soul this weekend.

'tjudgeyourself

04/25/2024

Embracing Tears: 5 Reasons Why Crying is GOOD

1️⃣ Emotional Release: Shedding tears can be a powerful way to release pent-up emotions, providing a cathartic release and a sense of relief.

2️⃣ Stress Reduction: Crying triggers the release of endorphins, our body's natural feel-good hormones, which can help reduce stress and promote relaxation.

3️⃣ Emotional Processing: Tears often accompany moments of deep reflection and introspection, helping us process complex emotions and gain clarity.

4️⃣ Connection: Crying can strengthen bonds with others, fostering empathy and understanding as we share vulnerable moments with loved ones.

5️⃣ Physical Benefits: Tears contain stress hormones and toxins, so shedding them can have physical benefits, promoting overall well-being.

In society, there's a stigma attached to crying in public, with the expectation to maintain a facade of strength and composure at all times. However, it's important to challenge this notion and recognize that tears are a NATURAL and HEALTHY expression of our emotions. Let's deconstruct this culture and embrace vulnerability and acknowledges that crying is a sign of courage, not weakness.

04/23/2024

Grief is a journey, and understanding its stages can bring clarity and comfort during difficult times. From denial to acceptance, each stage offers an opportunity for processing your pain. It's okay to feel whatever you're feeling and while these steps are called "stages" you will flow in and out of them. Unfortunately they are not experiences you have and then graduate from.

💛 Denial: A natural defense mechanism, giving us time to process overwhelming emotions.
🌧 Anger: A powerful emotion, expressing pain and frustration.
💔 Bargaining: Trying to make sense of the loss, seeking ways to regain control.
😢 Depression: Accepting the reality of the loss, feeling sadness and emptiness.
🌈 Acceptance: Learning to live with this missing piece and embracing life, while honoring the memories.

Remember, grief is unique to each individual. Be patient with yourself and others as you navigate this journey of healing.

JOIN our upcoming 6 WEEK VIRTUAL GRIEF SUPPORT GROUP - Weds at 7PM starting 5/15. Call/Text 312-796-9507

04/17/2024

💙 Debunking Myths About Grief 💙

Grief is a deeply personal experience, yet misconceptions and self-judgement make the process more trying than it already is. Reframing your relationship to grief is an important process to when moving forward seems unthinkable.

❌ Myth: "Time heals all wounds."
✅ Reality: Time doesn't erase grief, but it allows us to learn to live with it and find new ways to cope.

❌ Myth: "You should be 'over it' by now."
✅ Reality: Grief has no timeline. It's okay to take as much time as you need to heal, and healing looks different for everyone.

❌ Myth: "Grieving means being sad all the time."
✅ Reality: Grief is a rollercoaster of emotions. It's normal to experience moments of joy, anger, and everything in between.

❌ Myth: "Talking about it will make it worse."
✅ Reality: Sharing your feelings and memories can be therapeutic and help in the healing process.

❌ Myth: "Grief only happens after a death."
✅ Reality: Grief can be triggered by various losses, such as divorce, job loss, or the end of a relationship.

Join our upcoming Virtual 6 Week Grief Support Group on Weds at 7pm starting 5/15. Fee: $25 per meeting, with sliding scales offered and BCBS PPO accepted.

Text 312-796-9507

04/16/2024

🌟 Debunking Myths About Grief 🌟

Grief is a deeply personal experience, yet myths and misconceptions often surround it. Let's debunk myths to foster understanding and support for those navigating the journey of grief.

❌ Myth: "Time heals all wounds."
✅ Reality: Time doesn't erase grief, but it allows us to learn to live with it and find new ways to cope.

❌ Myth: "You should be 'over it' by now."
✅ Reality: Grief has no timeline. It's okay to take as much time as you need to heal, and healing looks different for everyone.

❌ Myth: "Grieving means being sad all the time."
✅ Reality: Grief is a rollercoaster of emotions. It's normal to experience moments of joy, anger, and everything in between.

❌ Myth: "Talking about it will make it worse."
✅ Reality: Sharing your feelings and memories can be therapeutic and help in the healing process.

❌ Myth: "Grief only happens after a death."
✅ Reality: Grief can be triggered by various losses, such as divorce, job loss, or the end of a relationship.

Let's break down these misconceptions and offer support and understanding to those walking the path of grief. Together, we can create a more compassionate and empathetic world. 🌈

Join our upcoming Virtual 6 Week Grief Support Group on Weds at 7pm starting 5/15.

Engaging discussions, personalized self-growth exercises, coping strategies and finding meaning after loss all while in a supportive environment with others who understand what you're going through.

Fee: $25 per meeting, with sliding scales offered and BCBS PPO accepted.

Text 312-796-9507

Mindfully Modern Collective

09/10/2025

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08/01/2025

07/09/2025

05/27/2025

05/16/2025

04/29/2024

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04/25/2024

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04/17/2024

04/16/2024

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