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

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. 

Labor Day Reflections

🍃 Unhook to Reconnect: The Labor Day Reflection 🍃

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, let’s connect.