Featuring Karen Rudolph | Blog by Neeti Keswani — Business Storytelling Coach | Host of Luxury Unplugged Podcast
Introduction
Welcome to another enriching episode of the Luxury Unplugged Podcast, where self-improvement meets soulful insight. I’m your host, Neeti Keswani, and this space is dedicated to helping you unlock your highest potential—through mindset shifts, authentic storytelling, and meaningful conversations with thought leaders around the world.
Today, we’re diving deep into a transformative approach to self-growth: Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP). And I’m thrilled to be joined by the brilliant Karen Rudolph, a transformational strategist who blends NLP, HeartMath, and holistic healing to help you reconnect with your truth.
Karen’s approach bridges communication, confidence, emotional regulation, and resilience—and this conversation is packed with tools that you can start applying today to shift your inner world and reinvent your outer reality.
Let’s begin.
Neeti: Karen, welcome to the Luxury Unplugged Podcast! So lovely to have you.
Karen: Thank you, Neeti. It’s an absolute pleasure to be here. I’m excited to talk about this topic—it’s very close to my heart.
Neeti: For our listeners who are new to it—what exactly is NLP? And how do you use it in your work?
Karen: For me, NLP is first and foremost about communication. It’s a better way of communicating with yourself so you can better understand others. I use it within my practice to help clients recognize how their thoughts are shaping their behaviors. NLP is rooted in understanding patterns—linguistic, cognitive, and emotional—and when you bring awareness to those patterns, you gain the power to reframe them.
So, whether I’m working with someone on confidence, stress management, or even emotional resilience, NLP gives us the language and tools to shift perspective and rewrite those internal dialogues that hold us back.
Neeti: Beautifully put. Now, you also work with HeartMath. For those unfamiliar, what is HeartMath and how does it help with emotional regulation?
Karen: HeartMath is a scientifically validated system that helps people manage stress, regulate emotions, and tap into their heart’s intelligence. It’s been around for years, and I’m a licensed practitioner.
In practice, it looks like this: when you’re stressed, your heart rhythm becomes erratic—like spikes on an EKG. But when you’re centered and calm, your heart rhythm forms a smooth wave-like pattern. HeartMath tools, especially breathwork and emotional refocusing techniques, help you shift back into that harmonious state quickly.
It’s a way of getting back into your heart—out of your head—and when you do that, your body, brain, and spirit begin to realign.
Neeti: That’s incredible. For someone just beginning their self-improvement journey and feeling overwhelmed—what’s the first mindset shift they can make?
Karen: The very first shift is stillness. We live in a fast-paced world, and most people are stuck in their heads—overanalyzing, overthinking, and replaying the past.
So I always start with journaling. And I don’t mean “I went to lunch today.” I mean self-inquiry prompts that invite truth. Questions like: What do I want? What do I value? Where am I hiding?
Most people know what they don’t want—but they’re unsure of what they do want. So I use a tool I created called the Tranquil Solutions Clarity Tool, where clients list their strengths on one side of a paper and their desires on the other. From there, we begin the journey of stepping into who they’re meant to be.
Neeti: I love that. And once they’ve declared the desire to change, how do they move forward and get unstuck?
Karen: It starts with one word: ask. You have to ask the questions that unlock your next step. It’s not about being “fixed”—you’re not broken. You’re here to expand.
So ask broadly: “What am I here to learn? What part of me is ready to grow?” Then tools like NLP or HeartMath can be used strategically. You don’t apply the whole toolbox at once—you listen, you feel, and you use what’s needed to support the moment.
It’s about listening to the body and the mind. Your system is always talking—if you’re overwhelmed, it’s asking for space. So we create space by asking and listening, not by rushing.
Neeti: Speaking of the inner voice—many people struggle with perfectionism or people-pleasing, especially in high-pressure careers. How can we center back into our authentic selves?
Karen: Oh, I know that one intimately—I’m a reformed people pleaser!
The truth is, people-pleasing pulls you out of alignment. Whether it’s at work or in relationships, it disconnects you from your truth.
Authenticity doesn’t mean being blunt or aggressive. It means learning to communicate with clarity and kindness. NLP is great for that. It teaches effective communication—not taught in schools—but vital for life.
When I was going through a divorce, I realized I didn’t know how to express myself. That realization led me to study communication deeply. And that’s what I teach now: how to share your truth in a way that serves both you and others.
Neeti: So good. Let’s talk about stillness again—because with digital overwhelm, many people feel disconnected. What’s a simple self-improvement technique that supports long-term growth?
Karen: Be. Still.
I mean that literally. Meditation, journaling, and self-reflection are essential in this noisy world. Without stillness, we can’t hear our own inner guidance.
The mind is loud. The ego protects. But the heart whispers. And if you don’t get quiet, you miss that whisper.
Once you get still, you can begin to see your patterns—the good, the bad, the sabotaging. Awareness is key. Because until you know what’s going on inside, you’re just shooting in the dark.
Neeti: That brings me to Ho’oponopono. You’ve mentioned you use it while kayaking! What has that experience been like for you?
Karen: I love Ho’oponopono. It’s so powerful. And yes—I do it every time I kayak!
The thing about patterns is—they don’t disappear. But once you become aware of them, you can choose how to respond.
For example, I used to call myself “stupid.” That was the running dialogue. But now, even when that voice tries to pop up, I clean it. I say: “I’m sorry. Please forgive me. Thank you. I love you.”
It brings me back to my truth. I’m not broken. I’m not stupid. I am enough. That’s the shift. It’s not about never hearing the inner critic again—it’s about responding with love instead of shame.
Neeti: Such an insightful conversation. Before we wrap up—what’s your message for someone standing at the edge of transformation?
Karen: First, you’re not alone. Second, you’re not late. Third, you’re not broken.
Transformation starts the moment you say: I’m ready.
You don’t need to have it all figured out. You just need to be willing. Start with one question. Take one breath. Write one truth.
Then repeat. Then ask again. Then listen.
Self-improvement isn’t a sprint. It’s a return—to your heart, your essence, your power.
You’ve always had it. Now is the time to remember.
Conclusion by Neeti
Thank you so much, Karen, for sharing such rich, compassionate, and deeply practical insights with us today.
From NLP to HeartMath, from self-inquiry to communication, this episode is truly a toolkit for anyone ready to embark—or restart—their self-improvement journey.
And to our wonderful listeners:
Real transformation doesn’t start with a goal—it starts with a decision.
So take a breath. Pick up the pen. Say the four phrases. And choose yourself.
You’re worth it.
About Neeti Keswani
I’m Neeti Keswani, business storytelling coach, certified Ho’oponopono practitioner, and host of the globally loved Luxury Unplugged Podcast. I help soul-led entrepreneurs tell unforgettable stories that sell—not by pushing, but by radiating truth. I’m also the bestselling author of Live Your Dreams.
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