That looks like listening to romance novels on Audible, watching lots of World Cup matches with my family and literally sitting in bed till 10:30 am doing absolutely nothing.
Just a few years ago, I would have been incredibly uncomfortable admitting that.
I would have felt guilty. I would have wondered if I was wasting time. I would have started another project just to feel productive again.
Then I came across a photo of a cheetah resting in a tree, and it reminded me why the cheetah is one of the archetypes we use in the Vocal Empowerment work I'm certified to facilitate.
People think of cheetahs for their speed, but one of the reasons we use the Cheetah archetype in Step into Your Moxie Trainings because of how much they also rest.
Their stillness isn't laziness.
It's what allows for presence, precision, and intentional action.
This image was such a wonderful reminder for me.
After wrapping up one of the fullest seasons personally and professionally, submitting final grades for 30 graduate students, completing another year facilitating at Stanford's Women in Management program, speaking to leaders across healthcare, education, and nonprofit organizations, facilitating 3 murals and being on a plane 5 times in 2 months, I intentionally left July spacious.
I thought I'd catch up on projects.
Instead...
I've been letting the last nine months digest into my cells.
As someone who spent much of her life tying her worth to achievement, that's been a surprisingly radical practice.
And it's one of the distinctions I'll be exploring later this month with the American Medical Women's Association: the difference between self-esteem and self-worth.
Self-esteem often grows from what we accomplish. Self-worth reminds us that we are valuable before we accomplish anything.
(For those who enjoy astrology, I'm a Capricorn Moon, which helped me understand why I'd long tied emotional fulfillment to achievement and productivity.)
One metaphor I love to share is this:
Accomplishments are a lot like food. Simply consuming them doesn't nourish us. We have to digest them to receive the nutrients.
If we never pause long enough to celebrate, reflect, grieve, integrate, and receive what we've experienced, our accomplishments become like empty calories.
We keep consuming more.
But we never truly feel nourished.
The pause isn't the opposite of growth.
Sometimes it's what allows growth to take root.
So I'll leave you with this question:
As we reach the halfway point of the year, what would change if you paused to fully receive all you've created and experienced, instead of measuring yourself by everything that's still undone?
What's Coming Up
Later this month I'll be speaking for the American Medical Women's Association on Elevate Your Worthiness: Creating a More Sustainable and Fulfilling Life in Medicine.
Giving a Talk: The Feminine Advantage in Leadership for Global Social Impact Leaders
Whether through a keynote, workshop, retreat, or collaborative mural experience, I love partnering with organizations that believe investing in people is one of the most meaningful investments they can make.
Recently, an education leader reached out because she wanted to invest in her team. There wasn't a professional development budget, but she was personally making it happen because, as she put it:
"I'm nothing without my team."
That reminded me that Leadership Beyond the Ladder™ (my model) isn't about titles or budgets. It's about creating environments where people feel seen, valued, and inspired to bring their best.
I'm now booking speaking engagements and workshops beginning in August for schools, healthcare organizations, nonprofits, and mission-driven teams.
Interested in bringing this work to your organization? Just reply to this email or fill out this form.
If this newsletter resonated with you, my Seasonal Planning Workbook was created to help you digest and reflect personally with my guided support.
Before rushing into the second half of the year, give yourself the gift of honoring your growth and accomplishments and co-creating the rest of the year with intention.
Through guided reflections and planning exercises and a recorded video of me guiding you through every section , you'll gain greater clarity about where you are and where you want to go next.
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