By Dr. Aqeila Shepherd There’s something unmistakable that happens when change is knocking at the door of your life. It doesn’t always whisper. Sometimes, it screams through tension in your shoulders, a restless mind at night, or that deep gut feeling that says, “This chapter is over.” As a physician rooted in both science and spirit, I’ve come to understand change not just as a decision—but as a biological, emotional, and divine process. 🧠 The Brain on Change Change begins in the brain, often sparked by neuroplasticity —your brain’s amazing ability to rewire and adapt. When something in your life no longer aligns with your values, your nervous system lets you know. You may feel anxious, foggy, tired, or even physically drained. That’s your limbic system lighting up with signals that it’s time to pivot. It may feel uncomfortable, but this resistance is sacred. It’s your brain’s way of preparing for something new. As the prefrontal cortex steps in, you might suddenly feel clarity, focus, or what I call “divine downloads.” That’s not coincidence—it’s neurology and intuition working together. What Change Feels Like in the Body Realignment shows up physically, too. Common signs include: Tightness in your shoulders or gut Headaches or fatigue Disconnection from old spaces or people A craving for new knowledge or environments Change is embodied. Your cells literally start vibrating with new frequencies when you're walking toward your next season. ✨ The Spiritual Side of Change From a spiritual lens, change is a calling. In many traditions, this inner stirring is seen as the voice of the soul—or divine intelligence—speaking. You might notice synchronicities, recurring dreams, or just an inner “pull” toward something greater. During these seasons, our brainwaves actually shift—especially during meditation or prayer—moving into theta frequencies , which connect us to creativity, intuition, and the divine. Here’s the magic: both neuroscience and spirituality agree —resistance is not the enemy. It’s the crucible. It’s what transforms knowledge into wisdom, insight into action, and desire into destiny. Final Thought If you’re feeling the weight of change, honor it. Your body, your mind, and your spirit are aligning for your next elevation. Don’t rush the process. Listen to it. Lean into it. Let the discomfort guide you into becoming. You are not breaking down—you are breaking open. With love, Dr. Aqeila Shepherd Founder, Ask Dr. Shepherd Consulting

Have you ever sat back and missed the simplicity of childhood or past times when it seemed as though life took less effort to live? You would go down to Blockbuster on the weekends (not everyone is old enough to remember this gem) and pick out a good VHS to watch, ride your bike carefree with your friends, go on yearly vacations with the family, you could eat what you want without ever thinking about calories or diet, and being healthy simply meant not breaking any bones and just staying out of the emergency department- do you remember how those times felt? Easier. Freer. The nostalgia is almost intoxicating. Then there’s today, where the responsibilities feel a mile high to the sky, it seems as though everything around you is designed to fight against your health, there’s a flood of contradicting information and a million different self proclaimed fixes. Everyone and everything says that they have the answer, while reality seems to conversely suggest that no one and nothing seems to actually BE the answer- at least not for you. And here lies the great conflict. The conflict lies where we’re flooded with the images and stories that reflect what seems to work for everyone but our individual selves. Yikes right? It's frustrating. You're either going to love or despise this next part, because it seems too simple or theoretical to be the actual answer. You have to learn your personal "body language"- you have to learn you. What?! I know right. Let me explain it this way: not enough of us know how to translate the very clear and concise language that our bodies use to coomunicate its needs with us. Sometimes it needs more protein for the building blocks to repair damaged DNA- not a vegan diet. Sometimes it needs a nap for you to be more productive- not a cup of coffee. Sometimes it needs a moment of gratitude and reflection- not a glass of wine. Sometimes it needs fresh air for your headache- not a Tylenol. Do you see where I'm going here? Sometimes the actions that we take frustrate us because we aren't seeing any lasting effects, and that's because they were never the solution to begin with. We get burnt out and discouraged before we ever truly start the journey, because we were always only spinning in mud when we were putting all of that effort in with hitting the gas. It takes utilizing your innate ability of knowing oneself to understand what wellness, living, and healing look like for you. Have you done the honest groundwork to know yourself? Have you invested in long term gains for your wellness (and long term gains don't always require a million years of patience), or focused on quick fixes to get through the next set of 24 hours? Once you've truly gotten to know yourself, you can foster the trust in that little whisper of intuition that will guide you on your "get well, stay well, be well" journey. You'll somehow automatically know what your body needs without having to think about it. You'll naturally reach for the solutions that increase your vitality and regeneration. Like a dog who knows to eat grass when it has a tummy ache, two days before you even notice that he doesn't feel well. The answer was always YOU. Step one is knowing what you fundamentally need. Second is knowing what's in your toolbox and at your fingertips to implement from the most simplistic and effective vantage point. Now wrap all of that in a bow, and let me help you accomplish just that.