The Power of a Clear Yes in 2026

Our first Take the Mic Tuesday reminded me how powerful it is when women are given space to pause, breathe, and be honest with themselves.

Twenty women gathered virtually for a guided meditation led by Pamela Biasca Losada. Refocus & Rise: A Mindful Start to 2026, centered on three simple but profound practices: Letting Go, Letting In, and Letting Be. 

As we moved through intentional breathing and reflection, I realized how often we hold onto obligations, expectations, and roles out of habit rather than alignment. That awareness stayed with me long after the session ended and became the push I needed to write this blog.

For years, women have been conditioned to be reliable, agreeable, and available. We say yes because we are capable. We say yes because we care. We say yes because we do not want to disappoint, miss an opportunity, or be perceived as difficult.

But somewhere along the way, yes stopped meaning alignment and started meaning depletion.

I see it constantly. Brilliant women stretched thin. Leaders are overcommitted. Impact diluted because energy is scattered across obligations that no longer serve who they are or where they are going.

For me, 2026 is not the year of doing more. It is the year of doing what matters.

There is deep freedom in saying no. There is even more power in saying not right now. And there is clarity in knowing exactly what deserves your yes.

If you are auditing your “yes” list this year, here are some non-negotiables worth protecting and prioritizing:

• Support that is mutual - Not transactional. Not one-sided. Real support that shows up when you need it most… or maybe when you don’t realize you even need it!

• Collaboration that is real - True collaboration that shares power, credit, and responsibility.

• Spaces that strengthen you instead of draining you - Environments where you do not have to explain yourself or prove your worth.

• Relationships rooted in integrity and trust - People who honor boundaries, respect capacity, and value your voice without conditions.

• Communities that normalize honesty - Where you can say “I am tired,” “I am unsure,” or “I am ready for more” without judgment.

Why Brave Women Project Belongs on Your Yes List

Brave Women Project is not about being busy. It is about being intentional. Here is why BWP earns a clear yes in 2026:

• We prioritize retention, not constant recruitment - Our work is designed to keep women supported, visible, and engaged over time.

• We value depth over noise - Meaningful connection and leadership growth means “We aren’t a group you do networking with – we are a community you do life with.”

• We honor real capacity - Participation at BWP adapts professional demands and evolving priorities.

• We foster collaboration, not competition - Women are encouraged to amplify one another, always!

• We create spaces where honesty is allowed - You do not need to have it all figured out to belong here.

In 2026, let “no” be okay. Let “not right now” be respected. And let “yes” be reserved for the people, places, and purpose that truly deserve it. Brave Women Project is here to support women who are choosing alignment over obligation, clarity over chaos, and leadership that lasts.

In case you were wondering what I wrote in my journal after the meditation…

Letting Go: Fear Criticizing myself People, things, and activities that don’t benefit me Letting In: New ideas Saying “yes” to the RIGHT things Asking for help when I need it

Remember, your “yes” shapes your future.

Choose wisely.

xo ~ Kel

Be Brave. Press Send.

The other day, I sat at my desk staring at an email I had written - an email I knew could open a door, move me forward, and create an opportunity. My finger hovered over the mouse, right above the Send button… and I froze.

Right there in the corner of my desk is a little framed sign that reads,

“You Got This.”

I look at it every day, sometimes without even noticing it. But at that moment, it felt louder. Steadier. It was almost like speaking directly to me.

Even so, my hand trembled. My breath caught. My mind filled with questions:

What if she says no? 

What if I’m overstepping? 

What if I shouldn’t even be asking?

I eventually pressed send, after reading and RE-reading that email - and the reply came back warm, positive, and open.

But the moment that stayed with me wasn’t her response.

It was the fear I felt before I clicked.

And it made me think:

How many women sit in that exact same pause?

How many brilliant, capable, passionate women hold their breath over an email they absolutely deserve to send?

We all know that moment - the hesitation, the self-doubt, the internal tug-of-war between wanting more and fearing too much.

It’s not about the email itself.

It’s about everything tied to it:

Advocating for ourselves.

Asking for something.

Risking rejection.

Stepping into possibility.

Being seen.

Women carry a kind of emotional weight before hitting send that often goes unseen.

We worry about being misunderstood.

We don’t want to be perceived as pushy or demanding.

We don’t want to inconvenience anyone.

We don’t want to ask for too much.

But maybe the scariest part is this:

Sending the message means choosing ourselves - and that takes courage.

Every time a woman sends an email that scares her, she’s doing something brave:

claiming space, using her voice, and betting on her own worth.

My experience was just one moment.

But it opened my eyes to a much bigger truth:

**We are not alone in that hesitation.

We are not the only ones afraid of the Send button.

And we are not the only ones who do it anyway.**

So, if you’re reading this with an unsent message sitting in your drafts - something important, something hopeful, something that stretches you just a little - I hope you look at whatever your version of a “You Got This” sign is.

A reminder.

A nudge.

A whisper of courage.

And when your hand shakes?

Let it.

When your voice trembles?

Let it.

When your heart races?

That just means it matters.

But when you’re ready - press Send.

Not because you’re fearless, but because you’re brave.

Fear Isn’t a Swear Word: How to Work with Fear in Relationships, Breakups, and Parenting

by: Melissa Ghelarducci Hancock

Fear shows up in every part of our lives. It can live quietly in the background of our relationships, whispering questions like “What if I’m not enough? What if this doesn’t last? What if I get hurt again?”

It can make us second-guess love, question our worth, or stay silent when we know we should speak up. Fear can keep us in relationships that no longer feel safe or make us build walls around our hearts in new ones. Sometimes it hides behind people-pleasing or perfectionism. Sometimes it just feels like a knot in your stomach that never really goes away.

And sometimes, fear shows up while you are just trying to make dinner, and your brain decides that is the perfect moment to replay every bad relationship decision you have ever made. Thanks, brain.

I have known that kind of fear. During my marriage and divorce, it went far beyond worry. I was threatened, told I was being followed, and even saw someone I cared about targeted. I carried the constant fear of losing my children and of who would be brought into their lives. For a long time, I thought that feeling meant I was weak. With time, therapy, training, and a supportive community, I learned something different. Fear is not weakness. It is information. It is your mind and body saying, something needs attention.

Fear also lives in the body. Many women notice tightness in the chest, a knot in the stomach, clenched jaws, sleepless nights, or shoulders that feel like they are holding up the world. These are normal nervous system responses such as fight, flight, freeze, or fawn, especially during relationship stress or parenting challenges. Somatic skills like breathwork, grounding, and gentle movement help the body register safety again, which in turn helps the mind think clearly.

Because fear is information, we can work with it. The first step is to bring curiosity, not judgment. Below is a simple, practical framework I share with clients when fear feels overwhelming. It aligns with the Brave Women Project’s 5 Es: Educate, Empower, Encourage, Engage, and Evolve, by offering knowledge, skills, and compassionate action you can take today.

This Is NUTS Plan™ (Name, Unpack, Tackle, Separate)

I call it This Is NUTS™ because, honestly, fear can make you feel exactly that way.

Name it: Put the fear into words. I am afraid my child will be affected by all of this. I am afraid I cannot afford this new budget. I am afraid to trust again.

Unpack it: Ask, what question is this fear really asking? The fear about parenting might be asking, how can I protect my child’s stability while staying grounded myself?

Tackle it: Take one small step. Have an honest conversation, make a budget appointment, or schedule a check-in with a mentor or therapist. (Bonus points if you do it without ugly crying in the car first.)

Separate it: List what is in my control and what is not. Work the list you can influence and plan around the rest.

When the dust starts to settle, many of us ask, now what? That is where a broader roadmap helps. My D.O.N.E. Method™ (Decide, Own, Navigate, Elevate) offers a structured way to move forward.

Decide what you really want for yourself and your family, values first, then logistics. Own your story, strengths, and needs without apology. Navigate relationships, parenting, and professional choices with clear next steps and supportive allies. Elevate by learning from the chapter you have lived and building practices that sustain your wellness, purpose, and joy.

A moment from a recent conversation on Talk Pittsburgh crystallized this for me. Kelly Dzanaj looked at me and said, “Melissa, you are brave.” I had not thought of myself that way. I was just doing the next right thing, often with shaky hands. That reminder matters for all of us. Bravery does not always look loud. Sometimes it is quiet, consistent, and deeply personal, showing up to the hard conversation, telling the truth, or resting when your body says you need it.

And then there is Jack Sparrow, my favorite accidental philosopher, who said, “The problem is not the problem. The problem is your attitude about the problem.” Whether you love pirates or not, he is not wrong. Life throws curveballs. Sometimes they are softballs, sometimes they are flaming cannonballs. We do not get to choose the storm, but we do get to choose our stance, preferably with a little eyeliner and rum-free courage.

People often ask me what keeps me going after everything I have been through. I joke that I purely live out of spite, but honestly, there is some truth to it. That fire, that edge, that refusal to quit, it is what drives me to keep moving forward in my business and my life. I take all of that anger, frustration, and rage that once tore me down and use it to help someone else avoid it. Spite can be fuel if you aim it toward a purpose. It is not about revenge. It is about resilience.

Fear and pain do not care who you are or what your story looks like, but strength, humor, and grit are always available. When we stop fighting fear and start working with it, we begin to rebuild from a place of wisdom instead of worry.

Practical prompts to try this week:

• Where does fear live in my body today? Name the sensations and breathe into them for 60 seconds.

• Write a one-sentence “Name It” statement about your biggest current fear.

• Unpack it by writing the question underneath.

• Choose one tackling step you can complete in 15 minutes or less. (You can even set a timer between laundry loads.)

• Draw two columns labeled “In My Control” and “Out of My Control.” Fill them honestly, then circle one item in the “In” column to act on.

• Close by writing one compassionate sentence to yourself, as if you were speaking to your best friend after a long day.

Fear is not a swear word, and neither is divorce, breakup, parenting, or starting over. They are not proof of failure. They are signals. When we name them, laugh through them, and take small steps anyway, we take back our power. That is how we protect what matters, model resilience for our kids, and build lives that feel good again, one brave, occasionally spite-fueled step at a time.

About the Author: Melissa Ghelarducci Hancock is the founder of I Do. I Did. I’m Done!® Divorce Coaching and creator of the D.O.N.E. Method™ and This Is NUTS Plan™. She is also the founder of Divorced & Ready to Travel Diaries™, a global community and retreat series helping women rediscover joy, confidence, and connection through the healing power of travel. A Divorce and Conflict Resolution Specialist, best-selling author, public speaker, and developmental therapist, Melissa helps women navigate relationships, parenting, and life transitions with clarity, compassion, and the occasional laugh when life feels upside down.

www.divorcecoachmelissa.com