Gone are the days when becoming best friends with someone happened over a shared fruit snack on the playground. 🛝 🍅 Back then, it was easy. You just had to meet someone, laugh over something silly, and boom—instant connection.

A couple of years ago, I injured my vagus nerve, a crucial part of the nervous system that helps regulate essential functions such as heart rate, digestion, and the body’s relaxation response. Little did I know, but when the vagus nerve is damaged or impaired, it can trigger a cascade of problems—anxiety, digestive issues, difficulty managing stress, and much more. It can feel like your inner world is imploding, while your body continues to function as if everything is business as usual - aka I honestly thought that I was going to die while medical staff looked at me like I was a crazy lady making things up. That's because the disconnect between what’s happening inside and what’s visible on the outside makes it incredibly difficult to diagnose, as the symptoms don’t always align with what you might expect from a typical physical injury, which is why it often goes unnoticed.

We’ve all experienced it—brands that make us feel something. Whether it’s excitement, nostalgia, or empathy, emotions drive decisions in a way that logic just can’t. And here's the thing: studies show that when you tap into your customers' emotions, your brand sticks with them longer.