What’s Your Playbook? Maria Menounos on following your passion and choosing wonder over worry

Maria Menounos is in-a-word, incredible. The entertainment reporter-turned-health advocate has been dealt some pretty challenging hands over her career and yet, by being intentional and choosing wonder over worry, she’s come out on the other side happier and enormously successful.

In 2017, Maria was diagnosed with a benign brain tumor and less than six years later, she was diagnosed with a form of pancreatic cancer. After battling two types of cancer — one that was diagnosed while pregnant — she admits her interests changed. She traded red carpets for talking about health every day on her podcast, Heal Squad. 

Here’s a look inside this powerhouse’s playbook:

Listen for your calling and follow your passion

Careers are long, and the expectation that your interests and passions won’t evolve over time is antiquated. If you feel your heart or gut pushing you in a new direction, pay attention. 

After experiencing multiple health scares and welcoming a baby in less than seven years, Maria knew she didn’t want to stand on the red carpet talking about fashion anymore. “My heart was shifting,” she tells me. “I didn't want to do celebrity interviews anymore. I really wanted to focus on health, and have different kinds of conversations.” She added a health episode to her already-packed schedule of celebrity interviews, knowing deep down this was the beginning of her big pivot. 

As we talked more about transitions, Maria shared this fantastic piece of advice: “Sit down and reassess, because what your dream was at 15, 18, 20, may not be the same at 40. You might be trapped in an old dream.” It’s easy to get sucked into the day-to-day busyness and all of a sudden, ten years has flown by. Take the time to pause and check-in with yourself every few years to reassess where you want to take your career next.

Once you decide it’s time for a change, begin prepping and planning early. “Start saving,” Maria says, because you might have to take a pay cut or “straddle both worlds until you’re ready to make the jump.” Professionals preparing to make a transition should also spend time building skills (like taking on a flex assignment at work to gain new experience), figuring out your most transferable skills (and how to market them best), and talking with your mentors.

The power of letting go of what doesn’t serve you

The funniest part of my chat with Maria was when I shared that for a long time, I’d do everything in my power to keep my inbox as close to 0 unread emails as possible. “Do you want to know how many I have?” she asked while laughing and looking at her phone. “I have 11,942 unreal emails. I have 53 unread texts right now. I just can't. I only do what I can. That's it.” Yes! This! Brilliant! 

Her reasoning is perfect: “It was not serving me.” Now she answers emails and texts on her schedule, on her timetable and it hasn’t impacted her success at all. I love the idea of evaluating steadfast routines and schedules to make sure they are still in your best interest. In my role, I do have to be mindful of my responsiveness, but there are other areas of my work where I’ve consciously let go. For example, I no longer strive for perfection on everything. There are some things I have to really nail, but other parts of my work if it’s ok if it's good but not great. This means means I can work on the things that really matter and make them great.

It’s important for professionals to cut through the noise and focus where you can have the most impact and see the most success. Organizing your goals and priorities is a smart first step. Truly decide what matters — and what doesn’t.

“I just want my focus on my family, my health, and whatever projects are at hand,” Maria shares, “And I can only do so much. I just realized I'm not superwoman. I don't want to be. And this is how I'm structuring my life.” 

Choose wonder over worry

“I was terrified with the pancreas cancer diagnosis,” Maria reveals. “I had a baby on the way and it was really really scary.” The experience helped her lean into one of her life mantras: “Choose wonder over worry.” Her ability to say yes to new opportunities — instead of getting mired in fear — has resulted in countless unexpected successes.

That includes her contract with the World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE). “My friends were like, you’re crazy,” she says while laughing. “But I’m always going to follow my heart. I will be fearless.”

It’s such an important piece of advice: Be fearless! Saying yes to one opportunity creates a multiplying effect. It empowers us, reduces our fear of the unknown and leads us on a path of exploration and wonder. 

If you’re having a hard time saying yes, try shifting your mindset. Reframe your thinking about new opportunities. View them as chances for growth and learning. Embrace a growth mindset and look at challenges as opportunities to develop new skills.

Maria is practicing what she preaches on Heal Squad, a podcast that helps people get better in all areas of life, including physical health, emotional wellness, spirituality, finances, relationships & more. And since we talked, she and her husband, Keven Undergaro, launched a production company, We Heart Holidays, focused on creating holiday films. Her zest for life — and saying yes! — continues to lead to wonderful success.

“I like living every second I can, because I know how precious it is when you're on that cliff, and you might not get to.”