I triple dog dare you π€
Hi gang,
Welcome to Issue #12 (bonus issue). I have a free gift for you, that was too timely to wait until post-holidays.
The last 2.5 days, I did what felt impossible.
I stopped.
I checked out, intentionally setting aside:
π« email
π« social, and
π« any other "itches," like thinking about the business.
π’ When I thought about work, I gently redirected my focus with guided and self-led meditation.
π’ I also got some good, glorious rest.
π’ I prepped and ate healthy food.
π’ I exercised, and I made art!
I even read fiction (π±), just saying no to my π°π£π΄π¦π΄π΄πͺπ·π¦π―π¦π΄π΄ πΈπͺπ΅π© π€π°π―π΅πͺπ―πΆπ°πΆπ΄ ππ¦π’π³π―πͺπ―π¨. Guess what happened?
β’ A stress-induced rash is 50% gone.
β’ My dreams got rich and colorful
β’ I laughed hard with a friend
β’ I noticed the gorgeousness of clear skies and snowflakes
β’ ππͺπ΅π©π°πΆπ΅ π΅π©πͺπ―π¬πͺπ―π¨, clarity emerged about what I can change in my life to lower my stress.
In our Inner Circle program, one of our pillars is guardrails, with gentleness - we take action towards ourselves (and towards others) coming from Love. Why? And what does this have to do with rest (you may wonder)?
Action coming from Love is sustainable; the alternative is a fast track to burnout. Take rest because you enjoy the rest and you enjoy the you who has rested, and you will keep it up; take rest because you "should" rest, and you will fall back into unhealthy patterns and self-abandonment.
Resting takes courage. It's so hard to switch gears.
I struggle with it, but I'm getting better.
If you want some inspiration and ideas to get started, check out our free guide to a 3 day retreat to getting your energy back, here. We offer suggestions culled from Buddhist meditation retreats, the biblical tradition of the Sabbath, and the latest in neuroscience.
Our friend, lawyer coach Jenn Deal also shared some inspiring quotes to help all of us all get started, and there's journaling reflections, too. All optional. π
I can't wait to hear about what some intentional unplugging does for you. π
Happy Holidays, everyone.
xo,
R
P.S. A few of our favorite books on rest:
Amelia Nagoski and Emily Nagoski. Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle.
Arianna Huffington. The Sleep Revolution: Transforming Your Life, One Night At a Time.
Kate Northrup. Do Less: A Revolutionary Approach to Time and Energy Management for Ambitious Women.
Karen Brody. Daring to Rest.
Tricia Hersey. Rest is Resistance.
P.P.S. Women in BigLaw: Do you want to grow where everybody knows your name? If so, join us on Thursday, January 9 at 2pm ET for Experience an Inner Circle.
