THE VITAL SHIFT NEWSLETTER

 Notes for Living Well

Insights, stories, and practices for a fulfilling life

The Vital Shift Newsletter is a gentle invitation to pause, breathe, and reconnect with yourself as you navigate life’s shifts, both big and small. 

It's release follows the natural rhythms of the seasons, inspired by the same wisdom that has guided my personal and professional path: intercultural and interdisciplinary studies, along with the Integrative Medicine approach. This perspective is grounded in a growing body of evidence developed over the past two decades, showing how modern neuroscience continues to confirm key insights long held by ancient healing traditions from both East and West—such as the teachings of Hippocrates and Ayurveda.

At the heart of my work are life transformational coaching practices and deep respect for Nature and the vital forces within the interconnected biosphere we all belong to. These natural cycles—what we call seasons—don’t just shape plants and animals; they affect our energy, emotions, and capacity for change. In coaching, I draw on these rhythms to help clients reconnect with themselves, clarify what matters most, and take aligned action—nurturing sustainable growth from the inside out.

In this spirit, each newsletter draws from The Vital Shift Roadmap (VSR)—my transformational coaching framework designed to support personal growth, expanded awareness, and values-aligned living.

The VSR is a guiding map that highlights eight interconnected dimensions of inner and outer life where being intentional and self-aware helps us navigate change, align with what truly matters, and lead with clarity— from exploring your inner dialogue, uncovering core beliefs, and examining daily habits, to clarifying your guiding mindset, connecting with heart-driven desires, assessing lifestyle alignment, building empowering boundaries, and cultivating meaningful connections with a clear vision.

Each seasonal edition highlights the dimensions most attuned to the energy of that time—offering reflections, prompts, and practical tools to support your renewal and forward movement.

MID SUMMER REFLECTIONS : Clarify and Strengthen Your Guiding Mindset

Here we are with the second edition of the Summer Reflection Series: Action & Expansion—an opportunity to clarify what truly matters to us and to explore new ways of being.

In June, our reflection centered on inner power and how it becomes available when we tune in to what’s alive within us: thoughts, emotions, intuitions, desires, and signals from the body. Now, we move into the heart of a powerful dynamic: mindset—our inner framework of beliefs and attitudes that silently shapes the way we think, perceive, and act.

From Perfectionism to Purpose: A Personal Shift

July is also my birthday month, and it’s become a moment of real celebration. But it wasn’t always that way.

For a long time, I lived with a mindset shaped by perfectionism and a deep need for approval. My success in the luxury fashion world—where I was admired for my style, performance, and ability to meet high expectations—became part of my identity. I worked hard to avoid mistakes and never fall short, until I eventually burned out and felt empty inside.

Something in me was quietly asking for more—more meaning, more authenticity, more inner growth. Leaving that career to step into college education and coaching was terrifying. I was risking everything I had built—my reputation, relationships, and financial stability. Yet it was also the moment I stopped letting fear of failure define me.

That decision marked the beginning of a shift—from striving to appear perfect according to social expectations, to allowing myself to explore what else life could be about. To become whole. To become fully myself.

Letting go of what looked like success on the outside opened the door to a life that nourishes me from within.

I realized that the best lessons often come from experiences we label as “mistakes” because they seem to cost us something—status, certainty, or advantage. But are they really mistakes when seen from the perspective of what we need to grow and care for our well-being?

Most importantly: our mistakes don’t define who we are.

What changed everything for me was witnessing how students responded to my teaching. Their appreciation, their growth, and the way they began to care for their own well-being helped me see something I hadn’t fully recognized: that my journey had value. Sharing what I had learned wasn’t just helpful, it was deeply meaningful.

That’s when I understood: vitality and fulfillment don’t come from being perfect. They come from aligning with what truly matters.

Vital Shift Focus: Clarify our Guiding Mindset

Our guiding mindset is made up of the beliefs, narratives, and attitudes that shape how we relate to ourselves, others, and the world.

It’s the lens through which we interpret experiences, meet challenges, and make choices. It determines how we respond to difficulty, how we receive feedback, and how much we allow ourselves to grow.

Some mindsets are rigid rooted in fear, perfectionism, or the need for control. Others are open and flexible grounded in curiosity, self-trust, and compassion.

A mindset that supports well-being isn’t based on relentless positivity. It’s formed through the integration of thought, emotion, and action. It allows space for reflection, vulnerability, and meaningful movement forward.

While a fixed mindset may silence desire to avoid risk or judgment, a growth-oriented mindset listens—to our longings and our fears—and still gently moves us forward. 

Book Spotlight: Explore Mindset with Carol Dweck

I recommend reading "Mindset: The New Psychology of Success" by psychologist Carol Dweck. A book that brought me clarity on the consequences of different attitudes toward learning and challenges.

Her work explained how people tend to move between two mindset types:

• Fixed Mindset – Believing that traits like intelligence or talent are innate and unchangeable.

• Growth Mindset – Believing that abilities can evolve through effort, reflection, and learning.

Research indicates that those with a growth mindset are more resilient, creative, and receptive to feedback, and that mindset isn’t a label—it’s a practice. We move between different attitudes all the time, and thanks to our brain’s neuroplasticity, we can shift and grow.

The key is recognizing those moments of contraction—when we default to old patterns—and gently choosing to listen, learn, and expand. 

Words from a Client Shifting into a New Mindset

One of my clients recently shared:

“I’m becoming more aware of my thought patterns and how they impact my emotions and actions. Shifting my mindset has allowed me to realize that I am not behind or have 'wasted potential' but am going at my own pace, which is okay. I also feel like I’m starting to treat myself with more compassion instead of self-criticism.”

This kind of shift isn’t always evident on the outside—but it transforms everything on the inside. 

Book Spotlight: Explore Mindset with Carol Dweck

I recommend reading "Mindset: The New Psychology of Success" by psychologist Carol Dweck. A book that brought me clarity on the consequences of different attitudes toward learning and challenges.

Her work explained how people tend to move between two mindset types:

• Fixed Mindset – Believing that traits like intelligence or talent are innate and unchangeable.
• Growth Mindset – Believing that abilities can evolve through effort, reflection, and learning.

Research indicates that those with a growth mindset are more resilient, creative, and receptive to feedback, and that mindset isn’t a label—it’s a practice. We move between different attitudes all the time, and thanks to our brain’s neuroplasticity, we can shift and grow.

The key is recognizing those moments of contraction—when we default to old patterns—and gently choosing to listen, learn, and expand. 

Try This: Questions & Tools for Inner Growth

If this resonates, take a moment to journal or reflect on these questions:

• Is my mindset open and growth-oriented—or focused on perfection and external approval?
• Can I trust my inner voice enough to follow where my heart leads?

Try freewriting to notice when a fixed mindset arises. Pay attention to thoughts like: “I’m not good at…” and reframe them as: “I can learn to…”

When you catch a limiting belief, pause and ask: “What else could be true?”
Then speak to yourself with kindness and encouragement.

These small shifts build inner trust—and open space for growth.

Next Month: The Power of Heart-Driven Desires

In the August edition, we’ll reflect on the power of heart-driven desires—why activating your deepest longings leads to more authentic, joyful action, and how to navigate the tension between mind and heart.

Closing Thoughts

It’s worth staying in touch with your inner voice—and remembering that your natural mindset, your forma mentis, isn’t fixed from birth. You’re not bound to conform to who you think you should be just because that’s how things feel right now.

Your mindset is alive and responsive, uniquely yours, and ready to evolve. Thanks to the brain’s neuroplasticity, it can change—especially when you begin listening to what truly energizes and nourishes you.

Remember: a vital shift doesn’t happen by trying to change everything you don’t like all at once. It begins with sincerely listening to your thoughts, emotions, and heart’s desires, and gently observing your ways of being. That’s already you walking the path of growth.

With encouragement for your journey,
Franca

 P.S Let's Stay Connected 

If something in the newsletter sparks a realization, a question, or a desire for deeper exploration, I’d love to hear from you. Sometimes, the proper conversation at the right time can bring the clarity you need to move forward. Your journey is yours alone, but you don’t have to walk it alone. Let’s connect!

📩 Send me a message at franca@francafoligatti.com 

📩 Book a Call