Life has always had its twists and turns. There are few straight lines. Even simplicity has rules, but our instructions are changing – we are in flux again. As we determine what’s next, the previous “practice social distancing” mandate has lessened. A Harvard Business Review article, Make Time for “Me Time”, emphasized that there is indeed an enormous amount of attention around taking care of your personal (physical, mental, emotional, AND spiritual) needs.
Over the past few days, I’ve been honored to facilitate our first “It’s Possible!” Retreat in St. Lucia. Mary (not her real name) struggled with never really feeling a sense of achievement and a feeling that she approached her life with “her heart partially in”. Similarly, ‘Jane’ shared that she’d been “stuck for years” and that she wasn’t sure “how to make a change.” Unable to make the shifts while still in the rat race and recognizing how the race stifles creativity and dreams; they were able to face and map out a full range of issues and solutions, tailored to their specific needs. Arriving to the retreat with a pre-determined quest helped participants climb high, while stepping outside their norm.
The key to stepping away, guilt free 😉 is recognizing that pulling back to move forward, especially during times of challenges and change, is often the only way to make progress up life’s mountains. In a beautifully crafted marketing video, She (St. Lucia) invites you to let her inspire you. She speaks of the sands of time giving way to change, and of yesterday and today becoming a new tomorrow, and how her unique view can change your whole perspective. This video was in tune with our purposes for gathering there.
Setting ourselves free by stepping away is just the kind of strategy that can help us in our own lives. To the extent individually possible, there IS something to say for stepping away to our sanctuaries – however you manage to do it.
We all know it’s not easy to face ourselves in the mirror, and we often struggle with who we need to be and how we need to navigate challenging terrain. It invariably takes far more time than we anticipate. Staying the course, or even navigating a course correction is quite the undertaking. There is no shortcut or quick fix – though a playbook, map, or system helps. You don’t do much (a work project, vacation, or a retreat for that matter!) without a process, plan, or pathway to help you reach your intended results, right?
Given that life IS a journey, being prepared to overcome obstacles and take advantage of opportunities is what it ultimately takes to get you where you want and need to be. Plan in the time and space that YOU need for that preparation.
“Heroes take journeys, confront dragons, and discover the treasure of their true selves.” Carol Pearson.
Grab the helm and steer!
