The Key to Growth Isn't Adding Moreβ¦π
Growth doesnβt start with adding more. It starts with releasing.
Have you ever felt like the very thing that once saved you is now holding you back? Thatβs 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 actβmake plans, set goals, do something, anything. But I knew this time was different. The shift I was craving couldnβt come from doing more.
Because hereβs what I keep learning: Growth doesn't start with adding more. It starts with releasing.
As I reflected, I saw how much I was carryingβbeliefs and stories that once felt like anchors, giving me stability in the storm. But now, theyβve become the raft Iβve outgrown. They served me when I needed them, but as I face the next chapter, I realize theyβre holding me back from scaling the mountain ahead.
And let me tell youβletting go isnβt easy. That raft is familiar, comforting, even part of my identity. But the weight of it keeps me tethered to where Iβve been, instead of helping me climb toward whatβs next.
β¨ Whatβs Tethering You?
We all carry thingsβthoughts, habits, relationships, or roles that no longer fit. Sometimes, itβs fear of the unknown. Other times, itβs the comfort of whatβs familiar, even if itβs no longer helping us grow.
But hereβs the truth: to grow, we must create space.
This isnβt about discarding everything. Itβs about discerning whatβs worth carrying forwardβand whatβs time to release.
πΏ What beliefs, habits, or roles no longer serve you?
π± What would it feel like to let them go and create space for the life youβre craving?
For me, letting go has been about trusting that whatβs ahead is worth the discomfort of releasing what no longer serves. Itβs terrifying, yes. But itβs also freeing. Itβs about replacing fear with curiosity, and control with trust.
This year, Iβm stepping into what feels like uncharted territory. And Iβd love to walk this path with you.
Letting Go Is Where It Begins
If youβre ready to reflect and release, join me this weekend:
π Calm & Connect: This Saturday, weβll explore these very ideasβhow to create space and step forward with clarity. Join us at 10 AM CT. Sign up here.
πΏ Unbound Retreat: On Sunday, January 26th, Iβm co-hosting a transformative afternoon in Nashville to help you release whatβs weighing you down and create space for renewal. Acupuncture, coaching, and mindfulness will guide us in this intimate, healing experience. [Reserve your spot here.]
Letβs release what no longer serves us, realign with what matters most, and rise together.
P.S. Iβd love to hearβwhat are you releasing? What are you making space for? Reply to this email or join us Saturday to share.
If this resonates deeply, Iβd 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:
πΏ Releasing what no longer serves.
π± Planting seeds for whatβs next.
β¨ Gaining clarity and setting aligned intentions for the year ahead.
Through mindfulness, coaching, and acupuncture, weβll create space for transformationβtogether.
π Just a few spots left! Reserve your seat here β₯οΈ
This Weekβs Calm & Connect
Additionally, for everyone, this Saturday, January 25th, at 10 am CT, weβll gather again for Calm & Connect. These sessions are an opportunity to pause, reflect, and find clarity in a supportive space.
Together, weβll explore the questions that help us move forward with intentionβleaving behind what no longer serves and creating space for renewal.
Equanimity and Peace: Anchors for a Life Fully Lived
Equanimity and peace. Two words that feel both comforting and at times elusive, especially in a world that pulls us in every direction.
This past weekend, I answered a call I could no longer ignore: my soul's quiet plea for stillness. I committed to a solo retreatβa 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 playlistβthe 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.
βWhat 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,β he asks, βso that we can enter into the moments of life with equanimity and peace?β
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 divisionβseparation from others, and from ourselves. Truth invites us to soften those edges and truly see. This is Wisdom.
These aren't destinationsβthey'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 βthe most wonderful time of the year.β But if we're honest, they can also be a time of heightened emotionβa 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 equanimityβthe 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
Labor Day Reflections
In the chaos of life, the most transformative journey often lies within. Pausing, unplugging, and reflecting grants us a powerful chance to embrace clarity, enrich relationships, and infuse life with vibrant meaning.
π Unhook to Reconnect: The Labor Day Reflection π
Sometimes, the most challenging journeys are the ones we take within ourselves.
A Personal Note from Me: I often find myself caught in the rapid currents of daily tasks, strategic planning, and the ceaseless flow of ideas. It's like being in an attic, occasionally peeking out, watching life whirl by. However, every time I've allowed myself to step back, to unplug and breathe, the change has been remarkable. Not only does my work surge forward with renewed clarity, but the moments, laughter, and bonds I experience in life become more vivid and meaningful.
Why Unhook? By taking a moment to detach, we grant ourselves the opportunity to observe our thoughts, reset our perspectives, and carve out space for strategic foresight. It prepares us mentally and emotionally to embrace the forthcoming months with intentional vigor.
The Challenge: I invite you to join me in this practice. Choose a day, set aside your to-do list, mute those notifications, and find a quiet corner. Reflect on your year so far and envision how you want the last quarter to unfold. By doing so, you're not just preparing to lead more effectively but to live with greater presence and ease.
Let's not just take a day off; let's commit taking time to tune in to ourselves.
Ready to dive deeper. Whether for 1:1 coaching or organizational work, reach out, letβs connect.