What if the secret to doing more isn't pushing harder—but finally understanding yourself? On this episode of Words of Wisdom from Kick-Ass Women, Liz Brohan and Mary Olivieri talk with Mary Clavier about what happens when ambitious women spend years trying to keep up, fit in, and meet everyone else's expectations. After a demanding corporate career, entrepreneurship, and a life-changing move to France, Mary discovered that the mind-body connection holds powerful clues to how we make decisions, manage energy, and respond to stress. She shares how Human Design helped her recognize her own patterns, rethink her relationship with productivity, and understand why constantly matching other people's energy can leave us running on empty. The conversation explores practical ways to tune into your body's signals, make decisions that feel right for you, and stop treating exhaustion as a badge of honor.
Stop Pushing Through! Your Body is Trying to Tell You Something
What if the answers you're looking for aren't in your head—but in your body?
Women are conditioned to push harder, do more, and keep going—even when stress is screaming at us to slow down. But what happens when the pressure to keep up with everyone else leaves us exhausted, overwhelmed, and disconnected from ourselves?
On this episode of Words of Wisdom from Kick-Ass Women, hosts Liz Brohan and Mary Olivieri talk with Mary Clavier, transformation guide, Human Design expert, and author of Mind-Body Connection Unlocked, about reconnecting with our body's wisdom, understanding how we make decisions, and learning to stop overthinking ourselves into exhaustion.
Mary's journey proves that sometimes the most meaningful transformations begin when we recognize that something isn't working. After 15 years in corporate manufacturing, an engineering career, and the launch of her own women's underwear brand, Brief Transitions, Mary faced the mounting stress of balancing work, travel, and family. When she discovered she was grinding her teeth in her sleep, the physical consequences of stress became impossible to ignore. It was time for a change.
Today, Mary helps people understand the mind-body connection and Human Design, a system she uses to explore individual energy patterns and decision-making styles. Her message? There is no one-size-fits-all formula for success, and constantly trying to match someone else's energy can leave you burned out.
Mary explains how different decision-making styles—including emotional authority, sacral responses, and splenic intuition—can help people better understand their instincts and approach major life decisions. She also shares practical ways to reconnect with your body, starting with something surprisingly simple: paying attention to what you need instead of automatically pushing through.
You don't need an hour of meditation or a complete life overhaul to get started. Sometimes, the first step is taking a break, stretching, or simply listening to that quiet inner voice you've been ignoring.
Ready to stop running on autopilot? Discover how greater self-awareness can help you make more aligned decisions, recognize your needs, and reconnect with your sense of purpose.
Because being a kick-ass woman doesn't mean doing everything. It means learning to recognize what works for YOU.
Listen now and start tuning in!
Resource Links and References
The following resources were mentioned during the episode or directly relate to the guest's work.
Highlight Quotes
STOP FOLLOWING EVERYONE ELSE'S RULES
"There's no one-size-fits-all recipe for success. When you understand your energy, you can learn to work in ways that align with YOU—instead of trying to follow everyone else's recipe and wondering why it isn't working."
— Mary Clavier
YOUR BODY IS TRYING TO TELL YOU SOMETHING
"Awareness is always the first step. Start paying attention to what you're doing—or not doing. Ask yourself, 'What do I need?' And when your body tells you something, don't dismiss it. Don't just shove it down and say, 'I'll do it later.'"
— Mary Clavier
YOU DON'T HAVE TO EARN YOUR REST
"I was keeping up with people, but I was actually overdoing it because I was amplifying energy from other people. That's what can lead to burnout and exhaustion. Learning that I needed rest breaks helped me start forgiving myself for not having the same energy as everyone else."
— Mary Clavier