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Introducing Solstice Illuminates
We are a clarity-led platform designed to help people and businesses grow with purpose. In a world full of noise, pressure, and constant change, what most individuals and organisations truly struggle with isn’t capability- it’s clarity. Clarity of purpose. Clarity of identity. Clarity of direction. Clarity of evidence. Clarity of strategy. Solstice Illuminates supports emerging leaders, founders, wellbeing brands, lifestyle brands, and purpose-driven teams who think deeply, f
Oct 31, 2025
Mindfulness and Meditation: Beyond the Myths, Grounded in Science
Purvi Midwinter, PhD Mark Midwinter, BMedSci(Hons) MB BS MD(Res) FRCS CBE A Solstice Illuminates Reflection If you’ve ever wondered whether mindfulness or meditation is “real,” “woo-woo,” or something people only reconnect with on a retreat in the Himalayas… you’re not alone. Most of us carry a quiet scepticism about these practices. And yet, how many times have we been told that when we feel stressed, overwhelmed, or anxious, we should simply meditate - or “be present,”
Nov 29, 2025
The Soil of Belonging: Migration, Conflict, and Hope
Purvi Midwinter, PhD A Reflection on Belonging in Australia I don’t write for the media. I hold neutral views about politics. I am grateful for safety, for free speech, and for the freedoms this country provides. I am someone on the ground, doing the work to create a better place. I came here as an immigrant. Today, I stand here proudly as an Australian. These words are for those who read quietly, and for those who fear in silence. My hope is that my readers will approach the
Sep 24, 2025
The Plant Pot of Work: Belonging, Unbelonging, and the Courage to Grow
A Life Across Borders: Navigating Belonging and “Unbelonging” There was a time when work was simple. Not easy but simple. You clocked in. Kept your head down. Did your job. For many of us, especially those from immigrant backgrounds, the purpose was crystal clear: Provide for your family. Be grateful for the opportunity. Don’t rock the boat. We didn’t ask questions. We didn’t negotiate values. We listened. We adapted. We survived. And in many ways, that survival became our su
Aug 31, 2025
The Dip After the Climb: Why Discipline Matters Most When Motivation Fades
Introduction The alarm goes off, loud, jarring, and unforgiving. It startles you awake. Your wise mind calmly signals, “It’s time to get up.” But your emotional mind wrapped in warmth and comfort, whispers something far more persuasive: “Just five more minutes…” It’s a cold morning. The blankets feel like safety. You hit snooze. Then again. And again. Until 40 minutes vanish into the fog. You jolt awake, heart pounding, adrenaline kicking in. Now you’re stumbl
Jul 26, 2025
Reclaimed: Real Recovery, Real Strength, Real Life
Introduction Who else has been hearing it everywhere lately? “Burnt out.” “Overwhelmed.” The weight of the world feels heavier than ever. Doom and gloom on the news. Tragedy after tragedy. People dying. Communities suffering. It’s hard work, emotionally, spiritually, mentally, just to stay afloat. And the demands keep coming. Work. Family. Screens. Commitments. Our energy is constantly consumed, and our capacity quietly drained. There’s illness. There’s cancer. There’s str
Jul 13, 2025
The KPI We Forget to Measure
Decoding professionalism and the hidden agendas that shape how we show up We’ve rarely seen professionalism listed as a KPI. Perhaps because it’s assumed, an unspoken standard expected of anyone who enters the workforce. You’re meant to know how to behave, how to communicate, how to carry yourself. Professionalism doesn’t just slip in its absence, it also reveals what’s hidden underneath: the quiet resentments, insecurities, or power plays that too often go unnamed. When we d
Jun 28, 2025
Across Cultures and Screens: The Many Faces of Charisma
You're sitting in a packed room; eyes fixed on the keynote speaker standing confidently on stage. There's a palpable silence; nothing moves, no murmurs, just their voice cutting through the quiet. You're gripped, completely hooked not even fully aware of why. Their hand gestures seem to speak a language of their own, perfectly matching the rhythm and meaning of their words. Your eyes and ears are locked. It's something intangible, invisible even, yet deeply powerful. Days lat
Jun 24, 2025
Feel It, Flow With It, Grow Through It: Why It’s Never Too Late to Reclaim Your Talent
An explosion of colour, emotion, and memory. Painted by Parul Bhatia showcasing how talent lives in what we feel, not just what we do Exploring how skill, discipline, and self-awareness shape the journey to excellence Introduction: More Than a Label As a parent, I’m often swept up in the energy of weekend sports, school concerts, and competitions. I watch children light up as they showcase their talents and be cheered on by proud faces and standing ovations. We praise their e
Jun 18, 2025
More Than a Sales Role: The Misunderstood World of Business Development
Are you in it? Thinking about it? Or working with someone who is in it? This article is for anyone navigating the world of Business Development - whether you're already in the role, considering stepping into it, or working alongside someone and wondering, “What do they actually do?” Business Development is one of the most misunderstood roles in business. It sounds impressive. It shows up on org charts. But ask five different people what it means, and you’ll get five very di
Jun 5, 2025
Build the Ramp, Open the Door: Leading with Neurodiversity in Mind
“Inclusion begins not with perfection, but with permission — to ask, to listen, and to lead differently.” – Purvi Midwinter When I attended a Diversity Blueprint: Neurodiversity in Practice event on Friday, the atmosphere was electric. People spoke without inhibition or judgement. They shared their lived experiences with energy, honesty, and vulnerability. It felt validating. Exhilarating. Energising. Hard truths were being spoken — but not with confrontation. Instead,
May 24, 2025
Crafting a Lasting Personal Brand: A Journey of Purpose, Connection, and Renewal
Personal branding has quietly been my anchor — through career pivots, personal growth, and moments of pause. Over the years, I’ve often been told, “You do it so well,” and asked, “Can you teach me how?” That recognition, while humbling, helped me realise something important: Personal branding isn’t just for when you have a job — it matters even more when you don’t. In past generations, we built our lives around a single community. We went to school locally, worked one
May 8, 2025
Use Your Words: The Hardest Chapter Taught Me the Most
“Sometimes when you're in a dark place, you think you've been buried, but you've actually been planted.” — Christine Caine In December last year, I was made redundant. Even now, it feels strange to write that. Redundancy is a word we hear often, but until it happens to you, you don’t truly understand the weight it carries. It’s not just about losing a job. It’s about losing your rhythm. Your purpose. Your identity. What I’m sharing here is my experience — my truth. We all r
Apr 17, 2025
National Safe Work Month - "Safety is Everyone's Business"
Introduction to National Safe Work Month October is National Safe Work Month, a time when employers and workers across Australia commit to creating safe and healthy workplaces. This annual event, organized by Safe Work Australia, emphasizes the importance of work health and safety (WHS) practices for all Australians. The theme for this year, “Safety is Everyone’s Business,” encourages workplaces to integrate safety into their daily operations and culture. A critical aspect of
Oct 2, 2024
Career Development - A Pathway To Success?
" Where do we start?" "Where will I be 5, 10 or even 20 years from now?" 'Will I be successful in whatever career I chose to do?" These are all the questions we ask ourselves close to graduating from University or even now when we are experiencing job losses, redundancies because of COVID - 19, and do we know the true answers to these questions? Its hard to say. It certainly is a challenging time for new graduates looking for work and even those who have been in their career
Sep 16, 2020
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