What You Want Matters: How to Intentionally Design a Life You Love with Dina Cataldo
Feb 24, 2025
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Dina Cataldo, a legal industry expert and master certified coach, shares her inspiring journey after overcoming a breast cancer diagnosis at 29. She discusses the pressure of societal expectations versus personal desires and emphasizes the importance of self-care and effective time management. Listeners learn how to design a fulfilling life through practical strategies like time auditing and embracing self-compassion. Dina encourages prioritizing well-being while navigating high-pressure careers, making intentional adjustments for a balanced lifestyle.
Dina Cataldo emphasizes the importance of self-care, asserting that it is essential for personal well-being and enhancing relationships.
She advocates for intentionally designing one's calendar to prioritize personal goals and maintain a healthier work-life balance.
Deep dives
Personal Transformation Through Adversity
A breast cancer diagnosis at the age of 29 prompted a significant transformation in Dina Cataldo's life. Instead of viewing her illness purely as a setback, she recognized it as an opportunity for self-reflection and reevaluation of her priorities. Dina found a newfound understanding of stress and discovered that her high-pressure legal career was unsustainable. This realization led her to develop practical strategies for living a more balanced life, which she now shares with other lawyers.
The Importance of Self-Care
Dina emphasizes the necessity of prioritizing self-care and why neglecting it can be irresponsible. She discusses how taking care of oneself is crucial for long-term well-being, as it allows individuals to be fully present and available for their loved ones. Through her experience, she stresses the importance of setting an example for others, indicating that maintaining personal wellness can significantly enhance relationships. The practice of self-care is depicted not only as beneficial for the individual but also vital for those they interact with.
Creating a Personalized Schedule
Dina outlines her unique approach to weekly scheduling by intentionally designing her work week. She prioritizes personal time and well-being by removing back-to-back meetings and allowing buffer times between commitments. By establishing a flexible structure that honors her personal goals, she illustrates the importance of customizing one’s calendar to reflect individual needs. This technique supports a healthier work-life balance, which is essential for sustainable productivity.
Questioning Habits and Enhancing Awareness
Enhancing self-awareness is a central theme in Dina's methodology, encouraging individuals to examine their daily routines critically. She advises keeping a time log to identify how time is spent, leading to meaningful insights about habits that may have gone unchallenged. By asking reflective questions about frustrations and ease, individuals can uncover hidden patterns and make informed adjustments. This mindful approach enables a shift from reactive living to intentional living, fostering a deeper understanding of personal priorities.
If you’ve ever felt like you were under 24/7 pressure… like you couldn’t imagine slowing down… like you’re living your life according to everyone else’s expectations, instead of what you truly want… you need to hear this inspiring conversation with Dina Cataldo. Dina Cataldo is a speaker, podcast host, and coach for lawyers whose life was turned upside down by a breast cancer diagnosis at age 29. She’s sharing how she realized she was living under constant stress, what changes she made to dig herself out of it, and how YOU can start to design an intentional life you love.