#25 The Sustainable Path to Growth

with Maria Cherkasskaya

Hosted by Michelle Massunken & Tina Wilston

Most entrepreneurs assume their challenges are rooted in mindset. But often, the real barrier is something far more practical: a lack of clarity, structure, or support. In Episode 25 of The MindSpa Podcast, business and mindset coach Maria Cherkasskaya joins us to explore what sustainable, aligned growth actually looks like—and why doing “more” is rarely the solution.

Clarity Before Action: Understanding What You Really Want

Maria shares a simple but powerful starting point: identify what’s not working. Listing what you no longer want in your life or business creates the foundation for a clear direction. This form of personal auditing helps turn vague dissatisfaction into actionable insight.

Once clarity appears, the next step is structure, not just mindset work. Maria emphasizes that many founders don’t have a “mindset problem”; they have a skills and plan gap. Sustainable momentum only happens when vision is paired with practical strategy.

Moving Through Imposter Syndrome

Whether you’re experienced or just starting out, imposter feelings are normal. For seasoned professionals, Maria recommends anchoring yourself in past success, returning to client feedback, results, and the transformations you’ve supported.

For newer entrepreneurs, she offers a grounded reminder: you’re supposed to feel uncertain at the beginning. Confidence grows from practice, community, and taking one step at a time.

Inspired Action vs. Hustle

One of the central themes of our conversation is Maria’s concept of inspired action. Not every task requires intensity or pressure. Some actions naturally carry energy because they align with your values and vision. These are the actions that feel sustainable—actions that lead to growth without burnout.

This distinction matters. Hustle can push you forward, but inspired action keeps you moving long-term.

Burnout as an Internal Conflict

Maria introduces a thoughtful perspective on burnout: it often emerges when our internal values are in conflict. When your actions move in one direction while your needs pull in another, overwhelm becomes inevitable.

Her approach encourages people to pause and ask:

Where am I betraying my own needs?
What would alignment look like in this moment?
What support or boundary needs to be added so I can recharge?

Grounding practices—presence drills, mindful breathing, or connecting with supportive peers—help re-establish balance.

A 10-Day Vipassana Retreat: Building Space Between Thought and Action

Maria also shares insights from her 10-day silent meditation retreat. The goal wasn’t transformation in isolation—it was learning to sit with discomfort, stay present, and create space between trigger and response. This space becomes essential in leadership, relationships, and decision-making.

The retreat offered lessons in:

sitting with emotion rather than reacting
cultivating internal calm
observing thoughts without being pulled into them
strengthening long-term resilience

These tools translate directly into entrepreneurial life.

What’s Next for Maria

Maria is currently scaling her marketing agency, expanding her Manifest Change Society community, and exploring new ways to support entrepreneurs through clarity, structure, and aligned strategy. She remains open to evolution, a reminder that growth is not linear, but a series of intentional pivots guided by intuition and purpose.