Reclaiming My Path: A Glimpse into My Journey of Self-Revival
After moving twice, shouldering the role of sole provider and part-time caregiver for my husband recovering from a traumatic brain injury, taking in family members, raising a son (now in first grade), facing burnout, and managing a 400% increase in my full-time job duties, I've recently made a pivotal decision.
I am fully recommitting to myself and pursuing my dreams.
For too long, I had been engaged in a pattern of setting intentions, building up the necessary habits/routines, and then BOOM, something would completely knock me off track. It could be something unexpected or dramatic in my household or a significant organizational shift at work. Anytime I got to a place where I could exhale or take a breath and begin to plan, create, and build again, inevitably, there would be another big upset that demanded my energy and attention.
While I had very valid reasons for not consistently engaging in the things I wanted to create and build in my life and business, I didn't truly recover from the disruptions and upsets. Plus, the things taking up most of my time are different from the spaces where I get to operate in my strengths. I've been yearning to create, express, build, coach, and teach in ways I haven't been able to in a long time.
“Listen, are you breathing just a little and calling it a life?”
I first heard this quote from Mary Oliver's "Have You Ever Tried to Enter the Long Black Branches" during yoga teacher training. This line is like a clear bell; it immediately calls on you to snap into focus and pay attention. It's an elder lovingly giving the side eye and asking, "Whatcha doin' out here with them shallow breaths? How's that working out for you? Are we doing this life thing or what?"
I finally reached the point where I had to fully accept that I was not thriving in ways that supported me living to the fullest. Core areas of my life were out of alignment. It was time for me to decide whether I was really going to do the "life thing" or stay in this cycle like a hamster on a wheel.
And so, I've taken all the learnings from this challenging yet beautiful time and resolved to release control, surrender to the process and divine timing, and do the things I know to do by putting one foot in front of the other, over and over.
Doing this at this time in my life is quite a challenge. I've conquered a few rugged mountains over the years, but nothing has felt as monumental as this. Today, I'm 75+ days in on consistently prioritizing myself and my vision for my family, life, and creative pursuits. I started reclaiming my time, incorporating self-care daily, deepening the bonds with my family, and taking aligned action toward my goals consistently.
Embracing this transformative journey has rekindled my passion and empowered me to take a significant step forward and revive my business. As I've elevated my journey towards thriving and returned to my authentic hustle, I've been working on a workshop with my business bestie, Rebecca Van Damm, to help you do the same.
Join us in Rhythm + Ritual, a 6-week series dedicated to designing a supportive and sustainable workflow for your business, body, and spirit. In a community of like-minded creatives and small business owners, you'll learn to shift from scattered and stressed to easeful and effective.
Rebecca and I are thrilled to bring this workshop series to life. Our businesses were born from the desire to live life on our terms, allowing us to be authentic, creative, and human in the process.
Through our client work and personal experiences, we've navigated what it's like to feel caught in reactivity, where our businesses seem to run us instead of the other way around. We also understand the consequences of prioritizing outcomes over joy, health, relationships, and peace of mind.
These insights and learnings have fueled the creation of Rhythm + Ritual. With years of combined experience and a genuine understanding of the highs and lows of entrepreneurship, Rebecca and I are committed to offering practical strategies and fresh, mindset-shifting perspectives. We're not just hosts but partners in your path to more ease and an integrated, fulfilling business and life.
When each of us thrives, we are more thoughtful and compassionate toward ourselves and each other, which positively impacts our communities and the planet.
I hope you join us on this transformative journey in the new year. A thriving business and a life well-lived await!