You Can’t Stop the Waves–But You Can Remember What’s Beneath Them

There’s a quote I return to often–especially when life feels full, fast, or just plain hard:

“You can’t stop the waves. But you can learn to surf.” –Jon Kabat-Zinn

Lately, I’ve been adding a quiet postscript of my own: “And you can also remember the stillness beneath.”

Because here’s what I know–both in my life and in my work with leaders navigating pressure, change, and uncertainty:

Life will bring waves. Emotions will rise. Change will crash.

But there’s always a current of calm.

And we forget that at our own expense.

Sometimes, it’s not about finding the perfect still moment–but simply remembering it’s there.

Even in motion. Even in complexity. Even when it feels just out of reach.
Sometimes, it’s as simple as a single breath.

Stillness, I’ve learned, isn’t passive.

It’s not stagnation.

It’s presence. Discernment. Deep-rooted clarity.
It's the ability to pause in a world that rewards urgency.
And it's the capacity to remember yourself–and the values you want to lead with–before reacting to the noise.

It’s the part of us that doesn’t flinch at the swell–because it remembers:

This, too, is movement. And this, too, will pass.

In coaching sessions, leadership trainings, and meditations at Calm & Connect, I’ve seen this truth land again and again:

Sometimes, life and leadership are about surfing–knowing when to move, when to pivot, when to ride the momentum.

Other times, it’s about dropping beneath the surface–refusing to be pulled by urgency and anchoring into something quieter, wiser, more enduring.

The magic is–they’re not opposites.

The ability to surf well often comes from knowing the stillness.

And the ability to be still comes from having surfed enough to trust:

I can ride this, too.

Questions to Reflect On:

• When was the last time you let yourself truly be still? What did it reveal?

• What part of you wants to rush right now—and what might happen if you didn’t?

• Can you recognize when you’re paddling too hard—and give yourself permission to float?

In a world that prizes speed, complexity, and constant forward motion, this is leadership:

The courage to pause.

The ability to discern.

The wisdom to act–not from urgency, but from truth.

I created Calm & Connect for this kind of remembering.

And I weave it into every keynote, every retreat, every training room I step into.

Because no matter how ambitious the goal–none of us can lead clearly from a stormed-out nervous system.

So if you’re navigating waves of your own, here’s your reminder:

The storm isn’t all there is.

Stillness is always available.

And the more we return to it, the more clearly we lead.

🌿 Calm & Connect. Sunday, June 15th.

And if you're a leader ready to bring this work into your organization– keynotes, workshops, or weekly mindfulness sessions–this is the work I’ve done for over a decade.

Helping high performers slow down enough to come alive again.

Helping organizations become more human.

🔗 Join Calm & Connect

🔗 Explore 1:1 Coaching or Corporate Support

Why Silence Might Be the Most Powerful Tool You’re Not Using

In a world that never stops talking, silence can feel threatening.

But over the years I’ve learned—it’s where the real magic happens.

For years, I ran from it.

During moments of stillness, I reached for something—anything—to distract me.

Silence felt like failure.

Like stagnation.

Like something I couldn’t afford.

And if I’m being honest—it scared me.

I didn’t know what might rise up in the quiet.

What truths I might hear.

What I’d have to face if I really stopped.

So I ran. 

I spun. I did everything I could…

Until I crashed. 

It took years, but I finally realized:

Silence isn’t the absence of something.

It’s the presence of everything.

It’s where the whispers of our inner wisdom speak.

Where intuition nudges us gently toward what matters.

Where true insight—and peace—begin to take shape.

We’ve Forgotten How to Be With Ourselves

We’re overstimulated.

Overwhelmed.

Conditioned to fill every space.

So when things go quiet, it’s no wonder we panic.

But here’s what I’ve learned—

In my own life, and in my work with leaders:

Silence isn’t the enemy. It’s a teacher.

It gives us back our power.

It enables us space to navigate towards what's aligned—not numb.

And it opens the door to something we desperately crave: 

inner steadiness.

Why Silence Is a Leadership and Life Tool:

1. It Creates Space for Thoughtful Response 🌀
   When we pause, we make room for intention—rather than reaction.

2. It Filters the Noise 🔍
   Silence helps us hear what’s actually important. It clarifies. It distills.

3. It Allows for Deep Integration 🪞
   Sometimes, when I finish a keynote and the room is silent—I used to worry I lost them. Now I know – its when the message lands.
   When the reflection begins.

4. It Invites Innovation 💡
   In my sessions with execs, we pause. We breathe.
   And without fail—new questions emerge.
   Ones that shift everything.

5. It Deepens Self-Trust and Self-Love ❤️
   To sit with silence is to say: I’m safe with myself.
   And that changes everything.

In a world that glorifies doing—and profits off our constant noise—

silence becomes a radical act.

But it’s also a deeply restorative one.

Silence reconnects us to ourselves.

It allows us to witness the unconscious patterns and quiet narratives that shape our days—and quietly limit our lives.

It makes space for what’s been buried.

For truths we didn’t know we needed to hear.

And with practice, it becomes a source of clarity, compassion, and freedom.

Even this past weekend, I peeled back new layers.

Old patterns I didn’t realize were still running the show.

And in that noticing, something softened.

Something let go.

That’s the power of stillness.

Not because it’s easy—but because it’s honest.

If you want to practice this in community, come sit with me in Calm & Connect.

Together, we pause. We breathe. And we remember:

Stillness isn’t the absence of movement. It’s the birthplace of wisdom.

And if you're a leader ready to bring this work into your organization—through keynotes, workshops, or weekly mindfulness sessions—this is the work I’ve done for over a decade.

Helping high performers slow down enough to come alive again.

Helping organizations become more human.

🔗 Join Calm & Connect

🔗 Explore 1:1 Coaching or Corporate Support

---

P.S. A moment that reminded me why I do this work.

Three weeks ago, I had the honor of keynoting the Maine HR Conference—where we unpacked what mindfulness really is… and what it makes possible.
 

We explored how mindfulness isn’t about perfection.
It’s about pattern recognition.

About meeting discomfort with intention,
and leading from clarity—not chaos.
 

One leader came up to me after and said:
“For the first time, I actually get it.
I can take back the wheel.”
 

That moment meant everything.

Because when someone doesn’t just feel inspired—but empowered to shift how they lead, respond, and live—

That’s when I know I’ve done my job.

Rachel Tenenbaum speaks at the Maine HR Conference.

This wasn’t just a keynote.

It was a room full of extraordinary humans—doing hard things with full hearts,
asking better questions, and daring to do the inner work that leadership truly requires.

Moment, 1 Time, Never Again

Ichigo Ichie: One Moment, One Time, Never Again

I recently returned from two weeks in Japan—first in Nozawa Onsen, a small farming and ski village where the way of life is simple, deeply connected, and slow—before exploring the rich culture in Kyoto and Tokyo.

I had originally gone for the cherry blossoms. The adventure. The beauty of Japan in spring.

But serendipitously, a friend forwarded me a yoga and meditation retreat to weave into the journey—and then to top it off, the gift of having my mother join me made it all the more precious.

I began the trip with the intention of slowing down, cultivating stillness, savoring, but what I came back with was much deeper.

There’s a Japanese phrase that echoed through every part of my trip: Ichigo Ichie.

"One moment, one time. Never again."

 This is far more than a poetic sentiment. It’s a way of seeing the world—of honoring each moment as singular, sacred, and unrepeatable.

This moment, right now, will never happen again.

The Moment That Will Never Come Again

In Nozawa, we wandered cobblestone streets and soaked in the healing warmth of the hot springs, surrounded by snow-dusted rooftops and a silence that felt ancient.

One day, we visited the rare snow monkeys—who live and bathe in the onsens (natural healing hot springs). We stood watching them, wild and free, the snow embracing all of us around us.

 I looked over at my mother—this woman I’ve shared so much life with—and felt it.

 This moment.

This version of us.

The ease. The laughter. The unspoken knowing.

 It would never happen again.

And for a long time, I think I would’ve resisted that truth.

Not because it wasn’t beautiful—but because naming it felt like inviting in the ache of its passing.

As if acknowledging its impermanence might somehow shorten it.

 But I know now:

That fear doesn’t protect us.

It robs us.

It keeps us just far enough away from the moment that we don’t fully let it in.

 We think we’re avoiding pain, but what we’re really doing is missing life.

 So now, I let myself feel it all.

The wonder. The fleeting, breathtaking sacredness of now.

 Because that’s how we live it—fully, completely, and wholeheartedly.

The Cost of Constant Doing

And yet—there’s another way we miss.

Not out of malice.

But out of momentum.

We move at lightning speed—getting things done, making things happen, keeping up. We chase after the next win, the next email, the next item on the to-do list.

And while there is nothing wrong with striving, or achieving, or being ambitious...

When our identity becomes wrapped in output—

When our worth gets tied to how fast or how much we can do—

We quietly trade presence for productivity.

And in doing so, we lose the thread of ourselves.

We Forget How to Feel

In all that speed, we forget how to feel.

We override the signals.

We suppress the stirrings.

We shut down the parts of ourselves that need to rest, to grieve, to soften.

 We fear that slowing down will derail us—

That turning toward the emotion might flood us,

Or worse… stall our momentum.

 But what if it’s the very thing that brings us back?

 Because when we skip the processing, we clog the inner channels that allow life to flow.

 Beauty. Wonder. Insight. Joy.

 We fill our calendars—but hollow out our lives.

Reflection: What Are You Holding Onto?

Lately I’ve been asking myself:

✨ What am I doing because it once served me, but no longer does?

✨ What am I clinging to—out of fear, not truth?

✨ What parts of me are longing to be felt, held, honored… before they slip away unnoticed?

The Sacred Moment of “Is This It?”

I’ve worked with hundreds of leaders and entrepreneurs who are at the top of their game, yet quietly asking the same question:

“Is this it?”

That moment—of asking, of wondering—is sacred.

Because it’s the beginning of remembering. The moment we realize the life we’ve built may not reflect the life we want to live.

It’s not a dead end—it’s a doorway.

A doorway into self-inquiry.

Into deeper listening.

Into the tenderness of being human.

The Beginning of Returning

It’s the moment we get to bring fierce curiosity and compassion to ourselves.

To notice our pulls. Our cravings.

To honor the things that delight us, teach us, stir us.

But if we are moving too fast, we miss them.

We miss the signs. The whispers. The magic that beckons.

So today, I’m slowing down. Again.

And I’m inviting you to do the same.

Turn Inward

These aren’t just prompts. They’re invitations to return to yourself.

💡 What part of your life are you rushing past?

💡 What’s one moment today you could treat as sacred?

💡 If this exact moment would never come again—how would you meet it?

Let that be your anchor.

Let that be your reset.

Let that be the doorway back to presence.

A Space to Practice Presence—Together

This is why I created Calm & Connect.

A space to pause.

To reconnect.

To gently unhook from what no longer serves, and return to what’s real.

🌿 Calm & Connect. Sunday, May 18th.

And if you're a leader ready to bring this work into your organization—through keynotes, workshops, or weekly mindfulness sessions—this is the work I’ve done for over a decade.

 Helping high performers slow down enough to come alive again.

Helping organizations become more human.

 🔗 Join Calm & Connect

🔗 Explore 1:1 Coaching or Corporate Support

Returning to Love: A Practice for Complex Times

Sometimes a single sentence doesn’t just change how you see the world—it changes how you meet it.

 For me, one of those sentences came from Reverend Gregory Boyle:

 “Compassion is not about judgment for how someone carries their burden. It’s about standing in awe that they are carrying it at all.”

 (If you’ve never read Tattoos on the Heart—his stunning book about compassion in action—I can’t recommend it enough. It's a book that doesn’t just open your mind; it bursts your heart wide open.)

 Boyle, a Jesuit priest who has spent decades working with gang members in East LA, is often seen as a living embodiment of radical compassion. His work is gritty, raw, real—and filled with extraordinary love.

 And yet, he too is human.

 In a recent conversation about compassion, someone suggested that Reverend Boyle must have an immense amount of self-love to do the work he does.

 That would make sense. But I believe the truth is simpler.

 He has a practice.

A commitment.

A path that returns him—over and over again—to love

Just like the mind of a monk wanders in meditation (because yes, it does), Boyle’s compassion isn’t constant because he’s perfect. It’s constant because he returns to it. Again and again.

And that’s the invitation for all of us.

When We Judge Ourselves, It’s Hard Not to Judge Others

In that same conversation, we reflected on how the more self-affliction we carry—the louder our inner critic—the harder it can be to extend compassion outward.

Because how can we meet others with tenderness when we’re living under a constant barrage of self-blame, judgment, and perfectionism?

 That inner voice—the quietest and yet loudest voice all at once—can be the hardest one to drown out.

 But here’s the thing: we don’t have to drown it. We simply have to notice it.

And return.

Again and again, to something deeper.

Seeing Ourselves in Others

Pema Chödrön writes, “The truest measure of compassion is not our service to those on the margins, but our willingness to see ourselves in them.”

Not from each other.
Not from their struggles.
Not from their humanity.

Because the truth is—every one of us carries fear.
Fear of not being seen. Fear of not being valued.
Fear that we might be forgotten, misunderstood, or left behind.

And when that fear goes unacknowledged, it can harden.
It can turn into distance. Into judgment.
Into forgetting that behind every opinion, every action, every face—there is a story we do not fully know.

But underneath the noise—
Underneath the differences, the assumptions, the rush to defend or divide—
There are still beating hearts.
There are still people carrying burdens we cannot see.

What if our work—no matter our faith, background, or beliefs—is to return to the part of us that remembers that?

The part that sees with softness.
The part that chooses love.
The part that knows:

None of us are untouched.
And none of us are truly alone.

Practice to Return to Love

This week, try this:

✨ When you feel triggered by someone’s behavior, pause.

✨ Take one breath. Feel your feet on the ground. And silently ask yourself: “What burden might they be carrying that I can’t see?”

✨ And then, if you can, extend the same question inward: “What burden am I carrying that needs compassion right now?”

Compassion is not a trait we have or don’t. It’s a practice we return to.

And the more we return to it for ourselves, the easier it becomes to extend it to others.

A Space to Practice Presence—Together

In a world full of judgment, reactivity, and separation—we need places to return to love.

 This is why I created Calm & Connect.

 It’s not just about stress relief.

It’s about creating a space to remember who we are—and how we want to meet each other.

 To listen, breathe, and return.

🌿 Join us this Sunday, May 4th.

And if you're a leader ready to bring this work into your organization—through keynotes, workshops, or weekly mindfulness sessions—this is the work I’ve done for over a decade.

Helping high performers slow down enough to come alive again.

Helping organizations become more human.

🔗 Join Calm & Connect

🔗 Explore 1:1 Coaching or Corporate Support

What needs to die—so you can fully live? 🌱

Recently, while co-facilitating an Entrepreneurs’ Organization Retreat in Mexico, my co-facilitator Jesús shared a practice that struck me deep in my core:

 "Every night, I choose to die… it’s not easy, but I let my ego, my known 'self' die, and I wake up each day, ready to be reborn."

 At first, I just listened.

Then, the weight of it settled in.

 What would it mean to let the parts of ourselves that no longer serve us die each night?

What would it look like to wake up lighter, freer, untethered to old fears and patterns…or even identities we work so hard to justify and defend?

I kept coming back to this:

So much of what keeps us from fully living isn’t what’s happening around us—it’s what we’re unwilling to release.

And when I did, something shifted:

✨ The fear loosened its grip—but it didn’t leave.
✨ Instead, it sharpened my awareness. Made every moment richer, brighter, more alive.
✨ It made me stop waiting for life to happen—and start choosing it, now.
✨ It made me ask: What am I still holding onto that’s keeping me from fully living?

And I don’t think I’m alone in this.

Most of us are gripping onto something—whether we realize it or not.

A belief. A fear. An identity we’ve outgrown.

Maybe for you, it’s…

💭 "I am someone who always struggles."
💭 "Who I am is not enough."
💭 "I can’t let this go—what if I lose everything?"

But what if you let that version of yourself die?

Not all at once. Not forcefully.
But gently, like an exhale. Like an old weight slipping off your shoulders.

What if, every night, you laid down your fears—so that every morning, you could wake up as something more?

There’s something fascinating about oyster farming in New Zealand.

Long lines are dropped into the ocean, and oysters—tiny, free, unanchored—attach themselves.

They grow there. They harden there.
And eventually, they are farmed and harvested.

But what they don’t realize is—they could let go.

They could release themselves into the open ocean, into movement, into life.
But they don’t.

And neither do we.

We grip onto what we know, even when it keeps us small, stuck, afraid.
We hold onto who we were, even when it keeps us from becoming who we could be.
We forget that we have the power to unhook—to step into something bigger, freer, more expansive.

So, I’ll ask you:

👉 Where are you holding on so tightly that it’s keeping you from fully living?

Scarcity: The Fear That’s Hard to Release

For me, scarcity is something I have had to unhook from again and again.

I grew up hearing: 

"We may have this today—but we may not be able to tomorrow."

It was meant to teach me gratitude.
Instead, it wired me for anxiety, control, and the fear of not having enough.

And I don’t think I’m alone in this.

Scarcity doesn’t just show up around money.

For some, it’s about Love. Stability. Security. Worth.

It’s the quiet belief that whispers:
"I must hold on. I must play it safe. I must grip tighter—because what if I lose everything?"

And yet, here’s what I know:

The more we hold on in fear, the more we lose in presence.

It’s like an app running in the background, draining energy we don’t even realize we’re spending. And unless we consciously shut it down, compassionately close it out—it keeps pulling us away from life.

What Needs to Die—So You Can Fully Live?

I’ll be honest: This is a daily practice.

I don’t do it perfectly. I get stuck, I forget, I grip too tightly.
But there’s a whisper in me that always nudges me back to presence.

And so today, I’m pausing.

To ask myself:

✨ What am I gripping too tightly?
✨ What am I afraid to release?
✨ What belief, pattern, or identity am I willing to let die—so I can fully live?

And I invite you to do the same.

A Space to Explore This Together

I believe in making space for these conversations.

For pausing.
For sitting with the unknown instead of avoiding it.
For letting ourselves ask the hard questions, so we don’t sleepwalk through life.

And that’s why I created Calm & Connect.

A space for stillness. For noticing.
For letting go of what doesn’t serve us—and choosing what does.

If this resonates, come sit with me.

🌿 Join us in Calm & Connect.

💡 Looking for deeper work?
Let’s explore 1:1 coaching or an upcoming retreat.

🔗 Click Here to Learn More & Join the Conversation

The Call to Live. Fully. Deeply. Now.

There’s something stirring in me.

A whisper. A pull. A call I can’t quite name yet—but I can feel it.

And maybe, just maybe, you feel it too.

Lately, I’ve found myself asking: What does it truly mean to live?
Not just exist. Not just get through. But live.

To feel awake, to feel present, to feel—fully, deeply, now.

Because I don’t want to sleepwalk through this life. 

I don’t want to wake up one day and realize I missed it.

And so, I’ve been sitting with these questions:

💭 Am I alive when I get caught up in the mayhem of my mind?
💭 Am I alive when I replay old worries, waiting for the perfect time to act?
💭 Am I alive when I hold onto certainty, avoiding the stretch that real growth requires?

Or…

💡Am I alive when I lean into discomfort—because discomfort is often the first step toward something bigger?

💡Am I alive when I choose presence over autopilot? When I pause, breathe, and truly take in the moment?

💡Am I alive when I say yes to something my heart longs for, even if I don’t yet know where it will lead?

I don’t have the final answers. But I do know this:

I want to live.

And I want that for you, too.

What If Today Was Your Last?

I recently came across a story that stopped me in my tracks.

"I woke up as my 90-year-old self in my 32-year-old body… and it was amazing. I took the walk I always postponed. When my mother called, I cried, because it had been years since I’d heard her voice. A voice I took for granted before it was too late."

I sat with that for a long time.

Because it made me wonder…

📌 Who in my life do I take for granted?
📌 What am I waiting to do, say, or feel?
📌 What would I regret if tomorrow never came?

And if that wasn’t enough—this thought landed even deeper:

If today were my last, would I have been fully here for it?

Not just in the big ways—but in the quiet, ordinary moments.

☕ The first sip of morning coffee.
🌅 The way the sky shifts colors before the world wakes up.
👂 The sound of laughter from someone I love.

So often, we wait for the “big things” to wake us up. The promotion. The love story. The life-changing trip. But maybe—the things that make life worth living are already right in front of us.

The only question is: Are we here for them?

A Space to Sit With It All

Lately, I’ve been feeling a pull to shed another layer. To sit in the discomfort of peeling back what isn’t real—so I can step more fully into what is.

And if I’m honest? That’s not always easy.

Most of us resist stillness.
We avoid the unknown.
We fill space so we don’t have to feel.

But what if the discomfort isn’t something to fear—but something to lean into?
What if, instead of turning away from the uncertainty, we turned toward it?
What if we gave ourselves space to listen? To really listen?

🌿 That’s why I created Calm & Connect.

A space to sit in the unknown together. To listen, not just to our thoughts, but to something deeper. To create space for clarity to emerge—not by force, but by presence.

It’s for those who are willing to get uncomfortable in the pursuit of something greater. 

For those who want to live—not later, but now.

If this resonates, come sit with me, with us, this Sunday, March 16th.

If you’ve been feeling the pull to something more, but don’t know what’s next—let’s explore it together.

An Invitation to Listen

✨ What helps you come alive?
✨ What is your soul asking for?
✨ Are you willing to listen?
✨ Are you courageous enough to heed its request?

If this message speaks to you, I see you.

🌿 Want to sit with these questions in community?
Join us in Calm & Connect.

💡Looking for deeper work?
Let’s explore 1:1 coaching or an upcoming retreat.

🔗 Click Here to connect or simply reply to this email

Your Mind's Worst Trick—And How to Stop It 🙌

When was the last time your mind took you somewhere you didn’t want to go?

It was one of those rare, sun-filled NYC days. The kind of day we all live for… The kind that either demands an unnecessary urgent work errand just to get outside—or turns an ordinary weekend into something magical. But instead of soaking in the moment, I was somewhere else completely, lost…drowning in the mayhem of my own mind.  

I was spiraling through everything at once:

🔹 The never-ending to-do list.

🔹 My grandmother’s cancer.

🔹 My dad’s terminal diagnosis.

🔹 The tens of millions worth of jewels stuck in Qatar’s customs under my charge.

Suddenly, before I knew it, I was back in Qatar—arguing with customs agents, my voice rising, my heart pounding. Then, somehow, I was being hauled off to jail, panic flooding my system as I feared I’d never see my father again.

✨ But here’s the thing…

I wasn’t in Qatar.
I wasn’t in jail….

I was still standing on a sunny NYC street, completely hijacked by my own mind.

My brain had taken a full-blown trip—dragging my body and a suitcase full of stress chemicals along with it. Because here’s the truth:

At that moment, my body was experiencing it all as if it were real. My cortisol and adrenaline were flooding my system. My breath was shallow. And while my brain was trying to prepare me for the worst, I wasn’t just thinking about it—I was living it.

And for what?

Not only was I suffering through a disaster that hadn’t happened (and never would), but I was also:
🤯 Debilitating any ability to think clearly or rationally.
😰 Completely destroying the moment in front of me.

And this wasn’t just an isolated incident. This was how I lived.

Every hammer my boss could drop? I lived it. Not once, not twice—more like 20,000 times. Meanwhile, in reality? They happened, but far from the frequency, I experienced it. 

Sounds Familiar?

I’m pretty sure I’m not alone in this 😉 (Or maybe I am? 😅)

🌿 When was the last time your mind took you somewhere you didn’t want to go?
🌱 What stressors do you amplify in your mind that haven’t even happened yet?
✨ How might your day, your week, or your life change if you could redirect your mind toward clarity and peace?

Here’s what I know now: We don’t just suffer when something actually goes wrong. We suffer every time we relive it in our heads—before, during, and long after it’s passed.  Our minds are wired to scan for danger—they do this brilliantly.

But here’s the best part: we can work with our minds.

It takes practice. It’s our job to take the reins, to remind them what’s real, and to train them to come back to the present.

Bottom line?

You can train your mind. You can break the cycle. You can stop reliving disasters that never happen—and start taking back control.

How?

1. Join Calm & Connect. (the best part? It's Free!) 🌿 

A space to pause, breathe, and retrain your mind to return to the present—so you can lead, live, and create from clarity instead of chaos.

📅 Next Session: Sunday, February 23rd at 10 AM CT

2. Dig deeper. I work 1:1 with heart-centered individuals, founders, leaders and high-achievers who are ready to shift their relationship with stress. Those who are ready to not just to feel better, but to think better, live better, and if appropriate, lead better. If you’re ready to step into a new way of leading and living, let’s talk.

Join a session or reach out to explore 1:1 coaching. Because peace isn’t just a concept—it’s a skill you can build.

Together, we can create space for peace, clarity, and impact. ✨

P.S. What’s one way you bring yourself back to the present when your mind runs away? Drop a comment—I’d love to hear. 💬

The Work We All Avoid… But That Changes Everything

I was ready to smash mud against the wall. Maybe even break some plates. Or rip off the door handles—something, anything.

It wasn’t just frustration. It was something deeper. An agitation that felt like it had hijacked my body, dripping with fear and fury.

Have you been there? When everything and everyone irritates you, but deep down, you know—it’s not really them?

I knew that if I wasn’t careful, I’d leave a wake of destruction behind me. Even if I didn’t lash out, even if I kept my words measured, the energy alone would reverberate through my interactions, my decisions, my day.

And here’s the thing:
That anger wasn’t me.

It was a state I was in. A moment I was experiencing.

 ✨ Meditation and mindfulness have given me the ability to know: I am not my emotions. I am not my frustration. I am not my stress.

But that doesn’t mean ignoring it.

Our first instinct when these emotions arise? Push them down. Disown them. Hide them under productivity, numbing, distraction. But when we do that? They don’t disappear. They fester. They grow. And they carve paths of destruction—inside us and around us.

So, instead of resisting, I did what I teach. I turned toward it.

A Simple But Powerful Reset

Try it.

Just a few moments of gentle touch can:
🌿 Activate the parasympathetic nervous system (rest + digest mode).
🌱 Stimulate oxytocin (the “connection” hormone).
✨ Calm the vagus nerve, signaling safety to the brain.
💨 Allow for deeper breathing, reducing the chemical flood of stress.

And most importantly? It created space.

Space between me and the intensity of the moment.

Space to shift from, “This is happening to me” → to “Why is this here? What is this telling me?”

 And the answer always varies.

Sometimes, it’s insight into what someone else is experiencing—offering me greater clarity and empathy.

Sometimes, it’s a signal that I’ve been neglecting a change I know is needed.

But always, there is insight—if I’m willing to listen. 

The Hard Work of Peace

At our recent retreat, when I asked what people most wanted in their lives, the answer was overwhelmingly the same:

Peace. Internal peace.

Not more time. Not more money. Not even more success.

But here’s the truth: Peace isn’t something we find—it’s something we cultivate.

And while it’s simple, it’s not easy.

It requires:

🔥 Courage to face what’s within, even when it’s uncomfortable.
🌿 Commitment to practice, reflect, and grow—day after day.
🌱 Hard work to release old stories and build new ways of being. 

And while this work is challenging, staying stuck is harder.

The choice? Choose your hard.

Let’s Cultivate Peace—Together

Join Calm & Connect – a space where we practice grounding ourselves, creating clarity, and finding calm.
📅 Next Session: Sunday, February 09, 2025 at 10 AM CST
👉 Sign Up Here

 Or, if you’re an organization looking to support your teams in managing stress and creating clarity, let’s talk about The Reset Room—a transformative, multi-sensory experience designed to train the mind and reset the nervous system.

✨ Because when we master our minds, we reclaim our lives.

👉 Schedule The Alignment and Clarity Call here.

P.S. How do you bring yourself back when your mind runs away? Reply and let me know—I’d love to hear. 💬

The Key to Growth Isn't Adding More…🔑

Have you ever felt like the very thing that once saved you is now holding you back? That’s where I found myself recently.

I sat down to reflect on two areas of my life where I deeply want transformation. My nature is to act—make plans, set goals, do something, anything. But I knew this time was different. The shift I was craving couldn’t come from doing more.

Because here’s what I keep learning: Growth doesn't start with adding more. It starts with releasing. 

As I reflected, I saw how much I was carrying—beliefs and stories that once felt like anchors, giving me stability in the storm. But now, they’ve become the raft I’ve outgrown. They served me when I needed them, but as I face the next chapter, I realize they’re holding me back from scaling the mountain ahead.

And let me tell you—letting go isn’t easy. That raft is familiar, comforting, even part of my identity. But the weight of it keeps me tethered to where I’ve been, instead of helping me climb toward what’s next.

✨ What’s Tethering You?

We all carry things—thoughts, habits, relationships, or roles that no longer fit. Sometimes, it’s fear of the unknown. Other times, it’s the comfort of what’s familiar, even if it’s no longer helping us grow.

But here’s the truth: to grow, we must create space.

This isn’t about discarding everything. It’s about discerning what’s worth carrying forward—and what’s time to release.

🌿 What beliefs, habits, or roles no longer serve you?
🌱 What would it feel like to let them go and create space for the life you’re craving?

For me, letting go has been about trusting that what’s ahead is worth the discomfort of releasing what no longer serves. It’s terrifying, yes. But it’s also freeing. It’s about replacing fear with curiosity, and control with trust.

This year, I’m stepping into what feels like uncharted territory. And I’d love to walk this path with you.

Letting Go Is Where It Begins
If you’re ready to reflect and release, join me this weekend:

🌟 Calm & Connect: This Saturday, we’ll explore these very ideas—how to create space and step forward with clarity. Join us at 10 AM CT. Sign up here.

🌿 Unbound Retreat: On Sunday, January 26th, I’m co-hosting a transformative afternoon in Nashville to help you release what’s weighing you down and create space for renewal. Acupuncture, coaching, and mindfulness will guide us in this intimate, healing experience. [Reserve your spot here.]

Let’s release what no longer serves us, realign with what matters most, and rise together.

P.S. I’d love to hear—what are you releasing? What are you making space for? Reply to this email or join us Saturday to share.

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If this resonates deeply, I’d love to invite you to Unbound, an intimate retreat for reset and renewal on Sunday, January 26th, from 1-5 PM CST in Nashville.

This half-day retreat is about:
🌿 Releasing what no longer serves.
🌱 Planting seeds for what’s next.
✨ Gaining clarity and setting aligned intentions for the year ahead.

Through mindfulness, coaching, and acupuncture, we’ll create space for transformation—together.

👉 Just a few spots left! Reserve your seat here ♥️

This Week’s Calm & Connect

Additionally, for everyone, this Saturday, January 25th, at 10 am CT, we’ll gather again for Calm & Connect. These sessions are an opportunity to pause, reflect, and find clarity in a supportive space.

Together, we’ll explore the questions that help us move forward with intention—leaving behind what no longer serves and creating space for renewal.

👉 Sign up here to join us.

🎉 40 Years, New Beginnings, and Rising from the Ashes 🎉

Today is a special day—it's my 40th birthday! 🤩

Birthdays, for me, are an opportunity to pause, reflect, and celebrate—not just the milestones but the moments that shape us, the challenges that stretch us, and the community that holds us through it all.

If you had told me at the start of 2024 what this year would hold, I don't know that I would have believed you. It began with uncertainty and the need to release a future I deeply wanted. 

There were moments that felt like standing in a pile of ashes, unsure of what would rise. But here's the thing about ashes: they make way for new growth, and when the time is right, something beautiful begins to emerge.

🔥 2024 taught me that letting go, though painful, creates space for the most incredible evolutions.

Here's what I'm celebrating as I step into 2025:

• Roots in Nashville: Finding a place that feels like home and embracing a city and community that has welcomed me with open arms.

• Growth in Coaching: Deepening my work with my clients and execs at CHIEF as I moved towards - and applied for my Master Certified Coach (MCC) credential (held by less than 5% of coaches!), a journey that has refined my practice and expanded my heart.

• Launching The Reset Room: A dream realized—a multi-sensory experience integrating neuroscience, mindfulness, and healing music to transform stress and inspire renewal.

These aren't just achievements. They're reflections of a year that asked me to trust the process, sit in discomfort, and make space for something new.

What are you celebrating as we step into 2025?
🌟 What challenges did you face head-on?
🌟 What growth are you most proud of?
🌟 What are you ready to release as you make space for what's next?

So often, we focus on what we want to change, but let's also take a moment to honor what we've already accomplished—the ways we've shown up, stretched ourselves, and grown.

Exciting Opportunities to Reset and Renew

1️) Calm & Connect: Returning in 2025 (New Zoom + Calendar Link!) I'm thrilled to announce that Calm & Connect is BACK, starting Sunday, January 12th, at 10 am CT, and will run every other week!

🗓 Special Note: The second session will take place on Saturday, January 25th, before returning to our usual rhythm.

These gatherings are a chance to ground yourself, find clarity, and connect with a community of like-minded individuals. Join whenever you can—your presence is always welcome.

👉 Mark your calendar and sign up here to be sure you get the links and can add it to your calendar! 😍

I'm overjoyed to announce UNBOUND, an intimate retreat for reset and renewal. Together, we'll embrace the healing power of mindfulness and connection, leaving you inspired and ready to step into the year ahead. I hope you can join and feel free to share with others in the Nashville area!

📍Nashville, TN
🗓 January 26, 2025; 1-5 PM CST
🌟 Learn more and reserve your spot here.

🤝 Together, Let's Rise 🌅

To anyone feeling like they're in the ashes right now: I see you. Hold on. Trust that something beautiful is rising within you.

Thank you for being part of this journey—through the highs, the lows, and the moments in between. Your support and presence mean more to me than words can express.

Here's to stepping into 2025 with clarity, courage, and a heart full of possibility. Let's celebrate the growth we've cultivated and the potential waiting to bloom.

🌀Stress isn’t the enemy—it’s the invitation.🌀

Stress gets a bad rap. And honestly, I get it. It's exhausting. Overwhelming. The kind of thing we often want to step away from, push under the rug, or numb altogether.

But here's something I've come to realize: not all stress is created equal.

Yes, there's the stress that drains us—the kind we all want less of. But there's also stress that has the power to stretch us, to expand our capacity, and to help us grow into the person we're meant to become.

Recently, I came across a National Geographic article that reinforced an idea we've explored before: a life completely devoid of stress isn't actually good for us. Studies show that people with no stress are more likely to experience cognitive decline.

Why?

Because our brains thrive on novelty and challenge. The hippocampus—our brain's hub for memory and learning—loves newness. Every time we lean into something new or uncomfortable, we're feeding it, strengthening it, keeping it sharp as we age.

The question, then, isn't “How do I avoid stress?” but rather, “How do I engage with it in a way that stretches me without breaking me?”

Two Keys to Navigating Stress

Not recklessly, but with curiosity and intention.

Because sometimes, stress is an invitation to grow.

Maybe it's showing up differently with family or in-laws, evolving past those long-standing dynamics that seem stuck at age 15 (or, let's be honest, age 5🤭). Maybe it's challenging yourself to handle a work deadline with clarity rather than chaos or breaking free from that inner dialogue that drains your energy.

This doesn't mean every stressor is worth leaning into. (I'm definitely not asking you to keep your hand on a hot stove!) But discomfort that stretches us—that nudges us toward growth—is worth exploring.

This process, called interoception, takes into account how well you've slept, what you've eaten, and the emotional or physical load you're carrying.

When your “financial” reserves are low, even small stressors can feel like mountains. That's why it's so important—especially in busy seasons—to replenish your internal “bank account.”

For me, that looks like:

• A daily morning meditation to start the day grounded.

• Committing to physical movement, even when it's tempting to skip it.

• Prioritizing 8 hours of sleep to let my body restore itself.

For you, it might mean:

• Limiting inflammatory habits like extra alcohol or sugar.

• Blocking off time in your calendar for rest or meaningful connection.

• Building intentional pauses into your day to recalibrate before stress builds.

What will help you save and replenish your reserves this season?

This Week's Calm & Connect: Cultivating Peace Amid the Swirl

This Sunday at 11am ET, I'll be diving into these ideas in our Calm & Connect session. Together, we'll explore how to navigate stress with intention and cultivate equanimity in the midst of it all.

👉🏼 Click here to sign up

Whether you're feeling stretched thin or simply want to center yourself for the weeks ahead, I'd love to have you join us.

A Rare Opportunity to Shed the Stress Before 2025 🎉🎊🎈

I've had such a blast facilitating many incredible MCC sessions already, and the transformations have been inspiring. While so many of the sessions have been exactly what I needed, technology hasn't exactly been my friend - and let's be honest, I have had a blast doing these!

That's why I'm keeping a few more spots open. I want to submit the absolute best two sessions for my certification while seeing who else I can support!

If this has been calling to you—or if you're ready to offload stress and shed what's no longer worth carrying into 2025—this is your chance to step into clarity and possibility.

These sessions are discounted to $275 (normally $675), will be recorded (audio only!) for evaluation purposes, and securely discarded afterward. You can sign up for 1 or TWO!

👉 Click here to book your session

Let's create the space for you to show up lighter, clearer, and more aligned in the new year.

Let's Step Into Growth Together

This season, let's not just survive stress—let's engage with it in ways that stretch us, evolve us, and prepare us for what's next.

Remember: how we end this year shapes how we begin the next. Let's make it intentional.

P.S. If you're ready to dive deeper into these practices, I'm still offering two discounted MCC coaching sessions for new clients through December. Let's uncover what's possible for you. 👉 Click here to book.

Equanimity and Peace: Anchors for a Life Fully Lived

This past weekend, I answered a call I could no longer ignore: my soul's quiet plea for stillness. I committed to a solo retreat—a few days to unplug fully so I could truly plug in. To reflect. To listen. To create meditations for The Reset Room.

While driving through the quiet, I hit play on a familiar playlist—the kind of music that seems to meet you exactly where you are. A song called Equanimity and Peace by Ram Das came on, and I found myself pressing repeat, over and over.

“What are we to do? What shall we do today? What shall we do with our lives?"
 He half jests, then asks "How do we live our lives with sufficient perspective, moment to moment,” he asks, “so that we can enter into the moments of life with equanimity and peace?”

Equanimity and peace. Two words that feel both comforting and at times elusive, especially in a world that pulls us in every direction. Yet, as I listened, I knew in my core: these aren't distant ideals. They are the anchors of a life truly lived.

The Four Pillars of an Actualized Life

Ram Das describes four essential pillars for a joy-filled, fully lived life:

When we're locked into our own perspectives, we perpetuate division—separation from others, and from ourselves. Truth invites us to soften those edges and truly see. This is Wisdom.

These aren't destinations—they're practices. Ways of being that call us back to ourselves, again and again.

The Season of Heightened Emotion

The holidays are often described as “the most wonderful time of the year.” But if we're honest, they can also be a time of heightened emotion—a swirl of connection and tension, joy and grief.

This past weekend, as I reflected, I realized how often we get swept up in the noise of this season. Maybe it's a family member's words that trigger something deep within us, the overwhelm of endless to-dos, or the invisible weight of unspoken expectations.

What if, instead of letting those moments pull us into frustration or self-doubt, we paused?

What if we gave ourselves the gift of equanimity—the ability to step back, breathe, and see clearly? What if we chose peace, not as avoidance but as a way of fully showing up, open to possibility?

A Gift (or three) to Support You

In the spirit of these practices, I want to share a gift: my free meditation on Insight Timer, Prioritize P.E.A.C.E.

This practice is designed to help you reset your nervous system, gain clarity, and connect with a sense of inner calm. Whether it's a challenging conversation with family or the swirl of holiday stress, this meditation can help you find your footing and respond from a place of intention.

Click here to access the meditation.

If you're craving community with which to pause and reconnect, join me this Sunday for our Calm & Connect session at 10am ET. Together, we'll ground ourselves, create space for equanimity, and enter this season with clarity.

A Rare Opportunity to Go Deeper

As I step into the final stages of my journey to becoming a Master Certified Coach (MCC), I'm offering a special opportunity: two deeply discounted coaching sessions for new clients at $275 per session (normally $675).

These sessions will be recorded (audio only!) for evaluation purposes as part of my MCC certification. They're a chance to explore what's possible, gain clarity, and create meaningful change in your life.

Here's what one client recently shared:

"That was a whole other realm. I've had years of therapy, but that not only met our goals, it broke down barriers I couldn't even imagine."

This offer is available through December, and space is limited. If this resonates, I'd love to connect.

Click here to book your session.

Wishing You Wisdom, Compassion, Equanimity, and Peace

This holiday season, may we find the courage to pause, the perspective to see clearly, the love to meet ourselves and others with compassion, and the steadiness to choose peace.

Let's step into each moment with an open heart, allowing truth to guide us toward a life fully lived.

Yours in love - and gratitude,

Rachel

Anxiety and Compassion: Learning to Work with Your Mind 🙌

Today, I want to share something about anxiety, and how, oddly enough, it's often our own compassion showing up in disguise. Anxiety has been a part of my journey, too—one that's driven me into this work of learning to befriend my own mind.

Anxiety has a way of taking root in the unknown. The moment our brain senses uncertainty, it kicks into “protection mode,” imagining all the worst-case scenarios to help us prepare. But instead of helping us, it usually just paralyzes us.

It's almost as if our brain clutches onto anxiety like a well-worn security blanket, thinking, “If I hold onto this, I'll stay safe.” The problem? That “blanket” doesn't actually keep us safe. It keeps us stuck.

This weekend, Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche helped me see anxiety in a new light. What's happening when we feel anxiety is actually compassion. Our mind wants to help, to comfort, but because it lacks clear direction, it reaches for the quick-fix—something to numb the discomfort. For some of us, it's reaching for a purchase, hiding in the pantry, a fight, or a glass of wine. But this well-meaning urge to “fix” can actually amplify the problem.

Listening to the Body's Early Warnings

One thing I've noticed—and maybe you have too—is that our body often knows anxiety is brewing before our brain even catches on. Maybe it's a quickening heart, a tightening in the chest, or that scatterbrained feeling.

Instead of checking out in that moment, what if we checked in?

For me, that shift came when I realized that anxiety shows up as my brain's way of protecting me—a relentless need to “know” an outcome in uncertain situations. Here's something fascinating: our brains are prediction machines, constantly scanning for answers to help us feel secure. They want to be “right” because accuracy kept our ancestors alive. But when we face ambiguity, our brains can spiral into worst-case scenarios, feeding anxiety instead of offering clarity.

Over the years, I've discovered tools that help me work with my mind rather than fight it. Some of these tools are exercises I teach to organizations and clients—great for building resilience—and others are quick resets for when you're on the go. One practice that's been especially invaluable lately? Pausing and connecting with curiosity and compassion.

Challenging the Anxious Brain

In the middle of a busy grocery store recently, I found myself “back in the attic” of my mind—everything felt dim and narrow, like I was on autopilot, barely noticing what I was putting in my cart.

With my scattered mind, I stopped, placed a hand over my heart, and gently rubbed it. This small, grounding gesture—taught to me by a mentor—sends a signal to the nervous system, telling it to settle down. Physical touch activates the vagus nerve, helping to calm the body, while reminding both heart and mind that it's safe to relax. Paired with a few slow, deep breaths, this act disrupts the anxiety loop just enough to create space for a shift in perspective.

After grounding myself, I posed a simple question to my brain: “What if it's better than I could ever imagine? What would that look like?” This question disrupts the anxious cycle by offering my mind something positive to consider. It's like saying to my brain, “I hear you, but let's also consider this.” This shift from “What if everything goes wrong?” to “What if things turn out beautifully?” opens up a mental space where anxiety can transform into curiosity and even hope.

The Power of Compassionate Curiosity

The beauty of this practice isn't that it erases anxiety—it transforms our relationship with it. By building a more compassionate, less reactive connection with our minds, we create space for other possibilities.

I often teach and speak on The BeAbove Leadership model called the 7 Levels of Effectiveness, which guides us from fear and frustration into courage, and ultimately, innovation. We can't expect ourselves to leap from fear to innovation in one go. But this practice offers a bridge: it allows us to step into courage, opening the door to countless possibilities and new ways to navigate what we once thought were impossible situations. Through this shift, even the most daunting moments can be reimagined, revealing unexpected paths forward.

Through this shift, even the most daunting moments can be reimagined, revealing unexpected paths forward.

Your Invitation to Pause, Connect, and Find Calm

As I step into the final stages of my journey to become a Master Certified Coach (MCC)—after thousands of hours coaching and training others—I'm thrilled to offer two discounted coaching sessions to new clients who are open to recording the sessions (audio only!) as part of my evaluation process and exam.

If you're looking to dig deeper, gain clarity, or simply reconnect with a sense of calm, I'd be honored to support you. This is for a very limited time and only available to a few individuals.

Have Questions? Simply reply to this email or contact her at 404-840-2238. 

Alternatively - ready to dig in?!? Grab your spot here! 

AND if you're searching for a supportive space to navigate this season with curiosity and clarity, join me for our free Calm & Connect sessions. This week, our session time has shifted to 10am ET (from 11am ET), and I'd LOVE for you to join us. Together, we'll practice grounding ourselves, connecting with compassion, and finding clarity amid the chaos.

Wishing you ease, curiosity, and peace, wherever you are.

P.S. You have permission to take a pause, just like you would offer to someone else in need. Let's give that gift to ourselves, too.

How Redefining Failure Unlocks Unimaginable Growth and Success

Happy Halloween!

🎃 Ghosts, haunted houses, and horror movies might be spooky, but you know what’s really terrifying? The fear that keeps us stuck and stops us from reaching new heights.

Fear of failure. Studies reveal that up to 70% of people hold back from pursuing their dreams due to this very fear.

 In our last Calm & Connect conversation, we explored a powerful truth: we’ve been getting failure all wrong.

In English and particularly in Western culture, failure has become a destination—an endpoint that feels mutually exclusive with success. It’s as though you either reach “success” or fall into “failure,” with no space in between. And this binary mindset is holding us back.

When failure is seen as an identity—“I failed, so I am a failure”—it prevents us from trying new things, embracing a growth mindset, innovating, and thriving as human beings. We forget, as Archbishop Desmond Tutu reminds us, that “we’re not meant to be perfect from the word ‘go’.”

But not all cultures share this perspective. In Mandarin, failure is inherently understood as part of growth, and in Portuguese, the word “fracasso” refers to failure as a temporary condition, not a permanent state. It encourages resilience and persistence, recognizing that failure isn’t final—it’s just another chapter in the journey.

A Personal Story: Pushing My Growing Edge

Recently, I attended the BrainTrust Live Women’s Conference in Nashville, where the theme was failure.

Wildly successful entrepreneurs—those who have built multi-million-dollar companies—shared their stories, not just of their achievements, but of their failures and what those failures taught them both personally and professionally.

I found myself in that room feeling both inspired and uncomfortable. Why? Because I was pushing at my own growing edge. As many of you know, I’m currently building The Reset Room alongside my dear friend and colleague, Mirette Seireg. It’s a vision that we—and many others—believe has the potential to add tremendous value to organizations and institutions.

But here’s what I’ve come to realize: when I sit in that fear, I do nothing. The project doesn’t grow; neither do I. But when I remember that failure isn’t a stop sign—it’s not a period at the end of a sentence—but rather an opportunity to learn, iterate, and improve, my mindset shifts.

Failure becomes a catalyst for growth, a stepping stone on the path to progress. 🌱✨

So, I Ask You:

Where are you afraid to fail?

Where have you seen failure as “the end,” and what would happen if you shifted your perspective to see it as a learning curve on the path to success?

Whether it’s a new relationship, a job, a venture, or something deeply personal—how might redefining failure open the floodgates to success?

Navigating Fear and Stress this Week

To help you navigate the stress and uncertainty in the coming days, I’m offering three opportunities to join me for live meditations:

1️⃣ Calm & Connect: Sunday, 10am CT—Shift your mindset as we dive deeper into topics like fear, failure, and resilience. Sign up here.

2️⃣ Insight Timer Live: Election Day, Tuesday, 10am CT & 3pm C. 
"Finding Calm Amidst the Storm." Join these free meditations to reconnect with clarity and inner peace during tense times.

Let’s be honest, this is a far better way to spend your time than being glued to the rollercoaster of news reporting all day. Give yourself this gift of space to breathe, center, and find resilience amidst the chaos.

Click the links below 👇 to sign up and prioritize your mental wellbeing this week. Let’s take a collective breath and lead with intention.

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Important November Calm & Connect Updates 💛

Just a heads up! Our next Calm & Connect falls on the same day as Daylight Savings Time, but our session time remains the same: 

Sunday, November 3rd, 8am PT / 11am ET. 

Please note: On November 17th, due to Rachel's schedule, Calm and Connect will be held one hour earlier at 7am PT / 10am ET.

Looking forward to connecting with you!

UPCOMING EVENTS

FREE LIVE EVENTS

Insight Timer November 5th, 10am CT

Insight Timer, November 5th, 3pm CT 

"The Day Came..." Embrace Discomfort and Unlock True Growth

We've all been there—pushing forward, trying to reach the next level of success, only to find ourselves in the middle of extraordinary discomfort. So much so, that momentarily we begin to question ourselves: "Am I really cut out for this? Who do I think I am? Maybe I should just be satisfied with the status quo, or what I've already achieved."

It's that feeling that can stop us in our tracks. And if we listen to it, a small (or large) part of us starts to shrink.

But here's something important to remember: discomfort is not a roadblock. It's an invitation to grow. 

Growth isn't a one-time leap; it's an ongoing process. In those moments of discomfort, we often find ourselves at a crossroads: Will we numb ourselves with distractions—blame, anger, shopping, eating, or overworking? Or will we choose to lean in, even when it feels like too much? 

This is where transformation happens. When we embrace discomfort instead of avoiding it, we create space for real growth. We realize that what we've been avoiding is the very thing that will help us blossom.

The Power of Embracing Discomfort

Time and again, I see this with my clients. They reach incredible milestones—scaling their businesses, growing their teams, and expanding their lives. But at some point, they all hit a breaking point, where they are asked to stretch further, to grow beyond what they thought was possible.

It's in these moments—when we lean in, reflect, pause, and face the discomfort—that true growth happens. Anaïs Nin captures this beautifully: "And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom."

It's not about having all the answers—it's about trusting yourself to take that first step into the unknown and letting the rest unfold.

I've Been There Too: The Reset Room Journey

This process of growth doesn't just apply to personal development—it's at the core of every successful venture. And trust me, I've been there too with The Reset Room.

As some of you know, I've been on an incredible journey with my partners, bringing this extraordinary vision to life. Our goal is to support organizations and high-stress environments like conferences and corporate offices with a space designed to address stress, wellbeing, and leadership in a transformative way.

But, like any true innovation, there have been plenty of "oh crap!" moments—moments of extraordinary discomfort, where we hold the dichotomy of both clarity and uncertainty. The truth is, in this pilot phase, we don't have all the answers yet. But that's exactly where the real opportunity lies.

I've had my own moments of insecurity and doubt with this project, wondering, “Am I really ready for this?” And yet, every time I take a deep breath, step back, and truly listen, the answer is a resounding YES. And as I navigate through the discomfort, I'm reminded of the profound impact The Reset Room has already had: The feedback has been incredible, and the ripple effects are already starting to show—people are walking away more grounded, more focused, and more equipped to handle the challenges that lie ahead.

It's through sitting with both the discomfort and the unknown that we create something far bigger than ourselves. When we embrace the not-knowing, we get to play, to imagine infinite possibilities, and to co-create with others who are just as invested in the vision.

What Are You Ready to Embrace?

So, I ask you: What discomfort are you avoiding? What challenges are inviting you to lean in, trust yourself, and take that first step toward the growth that's waiting on the other side?

Remember: It's not just about weathering the storm—it's about blossoming because of it.

If you're feeling ready to embrace that next level of growth—for yourself, your team, or your organization—I'd love to support you on this journey. And if The Reset Room feels like the space your organization needs to create lasting transformation, let's talk about how we can bring it to life together.

Here's to the courage to grow, the strength to lean in, and the beauty of what's on the other side.

P.S. If this resonates, I’d love to hear your thoughts. Drop me a note or comment, and let’s continue the conversation. 

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The Newest Secret to Staying Energized and Focused: The Reset Room

I am thrilled to share some exciting news that's been brewing behind the scenes—a project close to my heart that I believe will change how we experience conferences and high-stress environments.

🌟Introducing The Reset Room!🌟

Imagine being at a bustling conference, surrounded by the excitement of new ideas, people, and non-stop sessions. It's invigorating, but let's be honest—it can also be overwhelming. That's why we've created The Reset Room—a space where you can truly pause, breathe, and recharge.

Together with Mirette Seireg of MPATH Music, a trailblazer as the head of the world's first of its kind, woman-owned music library supporting underrepresented composers, and the incredibly talented multi award-winning composer Lisbeth Scott, we've developed a space that's more than just a break. It's an immersive, multi-sensory experience designed to help you reset, recharge, and reignite your inner spark.

What makes The Reset Room so unique? It's not just about taking a break; it's about transforming how you feel, think, and engage with the world around you. The meditation is designed to help you calm the amygdala—the part of your brain that triggers stress responses—while opening pathways to the creative and centered parts of your mind. This process fosters a state of calm, clarity, and inner strength, allowing you to reset and reconnect with your true self.

🌿Why The Reset Room Matters🌿

Whether at a conference or just managing the daily grind, finding moments to pause and center ourselves is crucial. We often push through the day without taking a break, leading to burnout, decreased productivity, and a lack of connection with ourselves and others. The Reset Room offers a solution—a space where you can step away, engage in an immersive meditation, and return feeling more focused, calm, and energized.

Think of it as a mini-retreat within your busy schedule, a moment to reconnect with yourself and find balance amidst the chaos. The music, composed with clear intention and rooted in hard science, flows seamlessly with the meditation. Hypnotic yet melodically and harmonically engaging, it enhances the meditative journey, supporting you in navigating the day with renewed focus and purpose

🚀Bringing The Reset Room to Life🚀

We're excited to launch The Reset Room at WBEC-West in just TWO weeks. But this is only the beginning! Our vision is to bring The Reset Room to conferences and workplaces everywhere. Imagine the impact of having a space like this available whenever you need to reset and recharge—whether at your next big event or even within your own organization.

If this resonates with you, let's talk about how The Reset Room can come to your next conference or be integrated into your office environment.  Know someone who might benefit from this? Introductions are always welcome!

🤝Supporting You Along the Way🧘🏻‍♀️

I know that not everyone will have the chance to experience The Reset Room at WBEC-West, but this initiative is about more than just one event. It's about fostering a culture of mindfulness and well-being, no matter where you are.

Join us for our next Calm & Connect session this Sunday, where we'll dive deeper into the importance of taking time to reset and recharge. These sessions provide a supportive space to explore, learn, and connect with like-minded individuals.

What's Next? Stay Tuned!

There's more on the horizon, and I can't wait to share it with you. The Reset Room is just the start of a broader movement to integrate mindfulness into our professional lives, helping us all lead with greater clarity, balance, and intention. Stay tuned for more updates and opportunities to get involved!

Let's reset, recharge, and reignite—together.

Breaking the Cycle: How to Transform Success into True Fulfillment

Ever feel like you're running a race you didn't sign up for…

…Only to realize you're chasing your own shadow? 👥 

Me too. We spend so much time and energy trying to outrun our fears, our frustrations, those nagging voices in our heads…ultimately, simply, ourselves.

And the kicker? All that running, and we find out, we've only been on a treadmill, 🏃🏾‍♀️ never truly arriving at a new destination. There may be different people next to us, but deep down, it still feels the same.

In our last chat (and newsletter), we touched on the power of sitting with discomfort—particularly the discomfort of being with our emotions rather than trying to outrun them. Today, I want to take it a step further and explore how avoiding that discomfort actually limits us—keeping us from being the bold, innovative, and, quite frankly, amazing humans we're not only capable of being but meant to be—and already are, beneath the muck of our mental mess.

And all it really does is keep us disconnected from our true selves. It's like having a memory-draining app running in the background, constantly leaking our energy and keeping us in a battle with ourselves. 🔋

I've seen it time and time again—initially in my own life, and then ultimately in the lives of the incredible people and leaders I've had the privilege to work with. My work isn't just about helping people "tinker with their brains"—it's about guiding them to truly see themselves, to stop running, and to start embracing the amazing, unique, bright, beautiful beings they are.

Because when we stop battling ourselves and start living in alignment, everything changes.

Transforming Success into Fulfillment…

Have you ever hit that point where you've “made it” or reached that precious goal but still feel like something's missing? I've been there. Misery or apathy often tag along on that journey, sometimes in a seesaw with the ego's grip on success.

But here's the thing—when we learn to sit with ourselves, to really be present with all those messy, uncomfortable feelings, and acknowledge how we sometimes bury our heads in the sand or overlook what's really there, we unlock something incredible: choice. 

The choice to act from a place of alignment rather than fear, to connect deeply with who we really are, and to start living—really living.

 And that's when everything changes. 

 We stop just going through the motions and start connecting more authentically, building deeper relationships, and unleashing creativity and inspired leadership we didn't even know we had. It's uncomfortable at first, sure. But trust me, it's worth it.

Calm & Connect: A Space to Get Real (and Maybe Laugh a Little)

This Sunday, I'm inviting you to join our Calm & Connect session at 11am EST/8am PST. We'll dive into these ideas, probably share a few laughs, and explore practical steps you can take to start or deepen this journey. Whether you're just beginning or looking to take it up a notch, this session will have something for you—and maybe even a surprise or two.

Something Exciting (and a Little Mysterious) on the Horizon…

 I'm bursting at the seams with something new and exciting that's coming soon. It's an initiative I've been working on with some incredible co-collaborators, and it's all coming together at a major conference in September. I can't wait to share more with you—stay tuned!

 In the meantime, if you're ready to stop running and start living in alignment, let's connect. Whether it's for yourself or your organization, I'm here to help you lead with clarity, heart, and maybe even a bit of irreverence. For some immediate zen, check out my Insight Timer page—more meditations are on the way because, yes, my Calm & Connect Community has spoken!

The Game Changer for Leadership and Life: Navigating Anxiety and Cultivating Self-Love

"To expand our sphere of comfort, we must first sit in discomfort."

These words were steeped in my bones during a recent and soul-stirring silent retreat in Boone, NC with Gurudev, renowned for his global humanitarian efforts. For some, the idea of silence sounds miserable; for others, pure bliss. For me, while it would have been true pain years ago, it was a huge gift that I gave to myself.

During the retreat, while we couldn't speak, we could submit questions on paper to Gurudev, hoping for answers. The number of questions asking, “How do I love myself?” or “How do I rid myself of my anxiety?” was pervasive.

Here's the thing: these questions are not just personal issues. How we feel about ourselves influences every action and interaction. I've seen this impact firsthand—whether through my own experiences or through the stories shared by those I have the privilege to work with. Anxiety and self-doubt can be incredibly limiting, affecting our clarity, decision-making, and overall well-being.

Transforming Anxiety, Building Self-Love & Changing our World  

We live in a polarized world where fear and inadequacy often drive our actions and interactions. It's important to understand that when we, even unconsciously, live with these feelings, they directly impact our brain chemistry, reducing our ability to listen, engage, and collaborate. To change this, we need to start with ourselves. 

By doing our personal work, and addressing the issues of anxiety and self love, we begin to repair the fabric that's been torn apart—within our relationships, at work, and at scale. We can lay down our defenses, listen more openly, and work together to build bridges and innovative solutions never before imagined.

A friend responded to a recent post I shared about all the questions asked to Gurudev with the following:

"Thank you, I really needed that today.  Your post really resonates with the work I've been trying to do lately. And I do think that it hits on the hardest question: how do we truly love ourselves?"

He further acknowledged that some of the things we tend to do to allegedly build ourselves up are actually to our detriment. Here's what I shared with him:

It's a practice that requires courage. It involves sitting and looking at what pulls us away—what internal dialogue and limiting beliefs are impeding access. How do we listen with both compassion and detachment? Because it's our attachment to those words that gives them their power. With that listening of compassion, detachment, and ultimately discernment, we can start to change the dialogue and the narrative.

Addressing anxiety and self-love involves building a new relationship with the voices inside our heads—the ones that fuel our aggression or amplify our anxiety. Mindfulness and compassion are not just abstract concepts; they are skills that can be developed.

It's also critical to note that self-love is not a destination but a continuous practice. It demands that we confront our internal dialogues, challenge limiting beliefs, and rewrite the narratives that no longer serve us.

So, what are you doing as an organization or leader to support yourself—and your people?

In my bi-weekly Calm and Connect sessions (open to everyone and happening THIS SUNDAY), we explore practical ways to develop these skills. There is a way to begin, and it starts with small, intentional steps.

If you're seeking support in this journey, whether for yourself or your organization, reach out. Let's connect and explore how I can help you lead with clarity and heart. 

P.S. Join us for the next Calm & Connect session, this Sunday, July 28th to strengthen the muscle of mindfulness and dive into essential reflection alongside others. 

Embracing Change and Living in the Moment: My Journey to Nashville

LOVE, LOSS, AND NEW BEGINNINGS

Good morning!

It's been a while, and I've missed connecting with you. We have a lot to catch up on. Since we last connected, I embarked on quite a journey: returning from my six-month semi-sabbatical in Victoria, BC—a place I hold dear—spending a brief moment in Colorado with family, friends, and colleagues, and finally making a permanent move to Nashville, TN.

On May 6th, 2024, my entire storage unit, locked away since 2021, arrived from Texas. On May 7th, my heart ached as I said goodbye to one of the most precious beings in my life: my 16-year-old Maltese, Cooper.🐾

It felt as though he was saying, “Mom, I got you home. Now it's my time to rest.” 

Over the years, doctors warned me to prepare for this moment. But Cooper had an incredible spirit and seemed to live on nine lives. Each moment we shared, particularly towards the end, reminded me of a profound truth: we never know how long we have with the ones we love.

This realization can either paralyze us with fear and anxiety or be a precious gift—an opportunity to embrace each moment with love, gratitude, and presence.

In our Western culture, we often avoid discussing aging, death, and dying. We fear it and swipe left when it comes up. However, in cultures like Mexico, where age and death are embraced, every moment is lived with greater vitality and appreciation. By accepting the inevitable, it no longer lingers in the shadows but fiercely reminds us that every moment is unique and precious.

Living in Gratitude + Embracing New Beginnings🙏🏼

Reflecting on these experiences, I realize the preciousness of time and the importance of living in the present. We often get caught up in the hustle, forgetting to savor the beauty of each moment. But life, in all its imperfections, offers countless opportunities for gratitude and growth.

 And as I settle into Nashville, I'm excited about the new friendships and opportunities this city will bring. If you know anyone in Nashville who might be interested in connecting—whether for friendship or professional collaborations—I'd love an introduction - so please do not hesitate to reply to this email!!

Exciting Work Ahead🎉

On the professional front, there's a lot happening. At the end of the month, I'll be running two Unleash Mindful Leadership sessions for a global investment bank, an executive presence + public speaking event for a tech company, and several events focusing on how to effectively navigate stress—essential with the upcoming elections—and how to shift from frustration and fear to courage and innovation.

If your organization could benefit from our support and expertise, I'd love to explore how we can collaborate. Now is the perfect time to start the conversation, as we'll soon be stepping into the busy fall and election season. Let's work together to create resilient, mindful, and empowered teams.

An Invitation to Reflect and Connect

Today, I invite you to reflect on your relationship with time and change. Where might you be holding back in fear? How can you embrace the present moment with more gratitude and love?

Thank you for being part of this journey with me. Let's continue to embrace change, nurture our endeavors, and trust in the unfolding beauty of life

P.S. If you're navigating your own sea of change, remember: it's not just about weathering the storm. It's about developing the skills and learning to sail in new directions. If you're ready to embrace and cultivate change, reach out—I'd love to hear from you!

P.P.S. Don't forget to join us for Calm & Connect this Sunday, June 16th at 8 AM PST / 11 AM EST. It's a wonderful way to strengthen the muscle of mindfulness and dive into essential reflection alongside others.

Unlock Your Brain's 🧠 True Potential: Embrace Change Like Never Before

Earlier this month we started to explore the concept - and waves - of change; we also began to address how to move with the rhythm rather than fight the tide.

Pertinent to this is understanding the brain's proclivity - or simply reflexive response - when it comes to change. While I shared a few tidbits, I'd like to dig deeper as it is my experience that when we understand “why” things happen (and understand it's simply habitual - but a habit we can break), it empowers us to leverage the levers at our disposal.

Because change - is the one inevitable - the one thing that no matter how hard we try to avoid - it's life's one guarantee.

The Brain: A Prediction Machine + Inner Cartographer

🔑 Recognizing this simple, millennia old affect is the first key to etching a new path.

The Paradox of Planning

While planning is invaluable, becoming too enmeshed in our blueprints can detach us from the richness of the present moment. We risk living more in the hypotheticals of our plans rather than in the vibrant, sometimes messy reality of life's unfolding.

Being present, while uncomfortable, can actually free us from the angst, and enable us to see - and grab hold of - the otherwise unforeseen opportunities that present themselves.

The true art lies in balancing our gaze -forward into the future (rather than simply re-creating the past)  while rooting firmly in the now.

Mindfulness: The Keys to Expansive Living

An Invitation to Practice 🙏🏼

This month, I invite you into a simple and profound  mindful practice: whenever you start planning too far ahead, gently guide your focus back to the now. Observe your environment, the air you breathe, and the thoughts passing through your mind. Bonus? Commit to daily inspiration… Whether it's simply googling “inspiring quotes” or reaching for a visual that lifts your heart, I promise it's impact will create fertile ground for etching new pathways and possibilities in your mind.

As we continue navigating life's changes, let's commit to living expansively, beyond the limits of our past experiences. Embrace the beauty and unpredictability of life's unfolding journey.

P.S. Embracing change isn't just about adjusting to new external circumstances; it's also an inward journey of growth and discovery. I'm here with you, every step of the way.

P.P.S - Join us for this weekend's Calm & Connect on Sunday, April 28th at 8 AM PST / 11 AM EST. It's a perfect opportunity to practice mindfulness, embrace invaluable reflection, and connect with others who are on similar paths.