Tonya Wilholt - In the Moment Leadership Coaching

05/18/2026

One of the most interesting parts of the meditation retreats I co-led this weekend through the Grand Rapids Center for Mindfulness was practicing “custody of the eyes” — asking participants to intentionally not make eye contact during the retreat.

Some participants described it as surprisingly freeing.

It highlighted how much nonverbal information our nervous systems process all day long through eye contact and facial expressions: approval, discomfort, warmth, judgment, reassurance, tension, connection.

Most of us are unconsciously scanning and adjusting constantly for social cues.

And while eye contact can create beautiful connection, it can also keep us externally focused and subtly activated.

For some participants, stepping out of that social monitoring — even briefly — brought a sense of relief and calm they didn’t realize they needed.

It made me wonder how much of modern exhaustion comes not only from noise and busyness… but from the nonstop stream of social information we’re processing all day long.

socialmonitoring

03/15/2026

Do you ever feel like you can’t be creative because you’re not being productive? What if you released the need to be productive every moment? Allowing yourself to spend time creating without perfection can create dividends in other areas of your life

03/13/2026

If you ever need to calm down quickly, try this simple breathing technique to engage your parasympathetic nervous system. The trick is to focus on the breath, making the exhale longer than the inhale.

03/12/2026

Here's the full video from last night. We talk about lived experience with neurodivergence, as well as the impact of neurodivergence in our schools, workplaces, and communities. We move on to how we can improve as a society to support those with neurodivergence.

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1GmvagQazu/

Send a message to learn more

03/12/2026

Honored to have been part of this important panel discussion last night on neurodivergence. As someone who has struggled with unmedicated ADHD and social anxiety most of my life, I can’t tell you how many pairs of gloves I’ve lost over the years, how many times I’ve almost missed my flight, or how often I’ve completely shut down due to overwhelm.

What I can tell you is the impact — how neurodivergence affects individuals, families and the workplace, and how moving towards acceptance, self-compassion, and curiosity made all the difference.

Neurodivergence affects so many of us, and more understanding is what’s needed. It begins with conversations like this.

03/08/2026

Have you ever felt unsafe in your body? Learn how to ground yourself and quell the sense of deep internal shaking that some people feel when stressed.

01/05/2026

As we step into a new year, there’s so much focus on goals and resolutions. But before asking what you want to achieve, it can be powerful to ask how you want to show up.

For me, one of my intentions for 2026 is learning to sit with discomfort and ambiguity — trusting myself without rushing to fix or figure everything out.

Intentions shape our actions. And over time, those actions become the results we’re hoping for.

How do you want to show up in 2026?

10/24/2025

I’m thrilled to share that I am now officially an Associate Certified Coach (ACC) through the International Coaching Federation (ICF) — the world’s leading organization for professional coaches.

The ICF credential represents rigorous standards of training, ethical practice, and demonstrated coaching skill. Earning this certification means completing extensive coach-specific education, mentoring, and performance evaluations to ensure the highest quality of coaching.

I have a few openings for new clients who want to:
✨ Reduce stress and prevent burnout
✨ Navigate major life or career transitions
✨ Build greater balance, confidence, and clarity

If this resonates with you (or someone you know), I’d love to connect. 💬