After thirteen years in a demanding corporate role, Monica Virga Alborno found herself depleted—mentally, physically, and spiritually. Her body, once a reliable vessel for ambition and drive, began sending her messages she could no longer ignore. The constant fatigue, the misalignment, the ache of obligation — all were whispers of what Monica would come to name “expired energy.”

It wasn’t burnout in the traditional sense. It was something deeper, a knowing that the season had ended. That her life, as structured and “successful” as it looked from the outside, was out of sync with what truly mattered.

In a reflective episode of The WandHERwild Podcast, Monica opens up about this pivotal turning point. Broadcasting from under a Norwegian September sun, she shares the five guiding questions that have helped her reorient her life toward intentionality. These questions didn’t come from a book or a productivity app — they emerged from experience, gut checks, and quiet moments of self-honesty.

This post explores those questions, why they matter, and how they can help any mother, entrepreneur, or soulful woman live a life that’s not just full — but fulfilling.

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The Wake-Up Call: Listening to the Body’s Signals

“I was getting so sick towards the end… my whole body was reacting. I just knew — this doesn’t feel right anymore.”

For Monica, the body was the first messenger. Long before the spreadsheets became unbearable or the late nights unsustainable, her body began to break down. She describes the sensation not just as stress, but as a visceral misalignment. A truth lived in the gut, in the breath, in the fatigue that no amount of caffeine could erase.

This is where the first pivot came — and with it, the first question:

1. Does this truly make me happy?

At first glance, this may seem like a lofty or even selfish question — especially in a culture that praises productivity, sacrifice, and external validation. But Monica challenges that narrative.

This question, she explains, is about coming back to what lights you up. Whether it’s a career, a routine, a relationship, or a calendar full of obligations — does it bring joy?

If not, why is it still taking up space?

"Does this truly make me happy?" isn’t a luxury question. It’s a survival one.

2. Is this an obligation I can say no to?

From holiday events to work commitments to casual invites that feel more draining than nourishing, Monica reminds us: not everything deserves a yes.

As a recovering workaholic and a high-achiever by nature, she had to retrain herself to pause and ask:

Is this obligation optional?
Is it something I’m doing out of guilt or fear?
Would it feel more expansive to say no?

Sometimes, she admits, it’s hard to walk away — especially when expectations are involved. But practicing discernment is a radical act of self-respect.

“There are certain things we have to show up for. But if it’s something you can say no to — can you?”

3. Does this add value to my life?

This one’s simple, Monica says, but not easy. Especially in a world where digital noise, busy work, and comparison can easily masquerade as value.

She shares a moment of checking in with herself while scrolling social media. “Was this adding anything meaningful? Was it lifting me up, inspiring me, or helping me rest? Or was it numbing?”

Intentional living requires clearing space for what truly matters — and that means calling out what doesn’t.

“Even something as small as a scroll session… if it’s not bringing value, it’s quietly draining you.”

4. Does this feel right — in my body, in my gut, in my intuition?

This question is about coming home to your inner compass. Not the logical answer. Not what society expects. Not what your mentor said.

It’s about how it feels.

Monica shares how even during her peak professional success, there came a moment when her body gave her a clear signal: This is no longer aligned.

“I don’t regret that time,” she reflects. “But it was time to move on.”

Living with intention isn’t about regret. It’s about redirection.

“It did feel right for a long time… but now? It doesn’t.”

5. Do my kids feel safe to express their needs?

As a mother, Monica knew her personal alignment would ripple outward — into how she parents, how she listens, how she holds space.

Intentional living, she emphasizes, isn’t only about the inner world. It’s also about modeling what it means to be emotionally present for the people we love.

She asks:

Are our kids allowed to voice what lights them up?
Can they share hard emotions without being dismissed or punished?
Do they feel seen, not just managed?

This final question opens the door to rethinking how we co-create our homes — not from a place of control, but connection.

“Are we just raising kids to follow instructions — or to know themselves?”

Living Intentionally Doesn't Mean Doing Less. It Means Doing What Matters Most.

For those who imagine intentional living as a minimalist calendar, a slow morning routine, or quiet afternoons with tea — Monica gently reframes the narrative.

She does work. A lot, sometimes. She admits to working entire weekends when she's in a flow, designing events, writing copy, organizing collaborations.

But now, she does it on her terms.

“I’m not trying to convince you to become an entrepreneur,” she says. “I just want to invite you to tune in. To ask: does your life feel like yours?”

Intentionality isn’t about idleness. It’s about agency. About choosing how to spend your energy, your time, your presence — not handing it away out of guilt or fear.

“It’s not about doing nothing. It’s about doing what feels exciting, fulfilling, and real.”

Bringing the Vision to Life: A Season of Collective Intentionality

As Monica records this episode, she’s preparing to open the free Intentional Living During the Holidays audio event — a four-day experience featuring 40+ speakers and soulful conversations that support parents through the chaos of the season.

Why the holidays? Because that’s when intention matters most — when the cultural script is at its loudest, and the burnout is most real.

The event is broken into four tracks — Connection, Body, Mind, and New Ideas — each packed with bite-sized, WhatsApp-style voice note recordings from certified professionals and lived-experience parents.

The intention? To support listeners in creating presence over pressure. Joy over perfection. Meaning over overwhelm.

“We go into the holidays with big hopes… but so often we come out the other side feeling burned out, overstimulated, and wondering what just happened.”

An Invitation

As this season shifts — leaves turning, light changing — Monica offers a gentle, grounded call to tune in. To listen. To pause.

The five questions aren’t a checklist. They’re a compass. A way to return to yourself when life feels blurry. A way to move from autopilot into alignment.

And for those seeking community, support, and ideas? The Intentional Living During the Holidays audio event is open now. Free. Accessible. Created with love for any mother or family who’s ready to live differently.

Because you don’t need to do more. You just need to do what matters — and trust that’s enough.

Pull Quotes to Highlight

“It did feel right for a long time… but now? It doesn’t.”
“There are certain things we have to show up for. But if it’s something you can say no to — can you?”
“Even something as small as a scroll session… if it’s not bringing value, it’s quietly draining you.”
“It’s not about doing nothing. It’s about doing what feels exciting, fulfilling, and real.”
“Are we just raising kids to follow instructions — or to know themselves?”

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