Mimi Bouchard wanted to meditate. She genuinely tried. But sitting still, quieting her thoughts, and forcing calm never seemed to work. Instead of feeling centered, she felt restless. And she began to suspect she wasn't alone.
What Bouchard craved wasn't silence. It was energy. Inspiration. Momentum. She didn't want to clear her mind, she wanted to feel alive. That frustration ultimately became the foundation for Activations, a personal development app that is now quietly reshaping how women approach mindset work.
Rather than asking users to stop their lives in order to grow, Activations is designed to move with them. The app offers short, guided audio tracks meant to be played while getting ready in the morning, walking, cooking, commuting, or resetting between tasks. Each track blends cinematic music with specific prompts and motivating messages designed to shift mindset in real time.
From Personal Struggle to a New Wellness Category
Bouchard didn't set out to build a company. She was trying to fix a familiar cycle in her own life: starting self-improvement routines with enthusiasm, only to abandon them weeks later. Meditation, journaling, books, she tried them all, but consistency never stuck.
There was also a period she rarely speaks about publicly. Bouchard did not come from money and was entirely self-made. At one point, she was living paycheck to paycheck, stuck in patterns she knew no longer served her, unhappy in her body, and frustrated with repeating the same relationship dynamics. She wanted more confidence, more ease, more abundance but couldn't stay in the mindset long enough to change her circumstances.
Her breakthrough came when she stopped forcing stillness and started recording guided audios that described the life she wanted to build, how she wanted to think, feel, and show up. She listened to them while living her life. Over time, her habits and decisions began to shift. Others noticed the transformation and started asking what she was doing differently.
That 'secret' eventually became Activations.
Why Activations Works Differently
Unlike meditation apps or podcasts, Activations is built around the idea of emotional rehearsal. Users aren't asked to disengage from their environment. Instead, they play audios during real-life moments, allowing the brain to associate everyday activities with confidence, clarity, and belief.
The approach draws on neuroscience principles such as neuroplasticity and classical conditioning. By pairing motivating messages with music and repetition, the brain begins to adopt new emotional patterns more naturally, making aligned action feel easier rather than forced.
Today, Activations offers more than 800 guided audios across 17 categories, including manifestation, goal-setting, confidence, relationships, movement, sleep, and travel. Tracks range from one minute to more than half an hour, allowing users to customize content based on their schedule and energy.
Popular tracks include "Reset While Getting Ready for a Busy Day," "Self-Love Affirmations While You Cook," and "Feel Magnetic + Attract Abundance on Your Walk."
A Female-Led, VC-Free Success Story
Built without venture capital or Silicon Valley playbooks, Activations has grown almost entirely through word of mouth. The company operates with a predominantly female team and has attracted a loyal following that includes high-profile names such as Miranda Kerr and Lauryn Bosstick.
At just 29, Bouchard has built a multi-million-dollar business by redefining what modern mindfulness looks like. Her vision isn't about perfection or silence, it's about spark, momentum, and designing personal growth that fits real life.
