Dear Friend:

The phrase “gifts often come in strange wrapping” seems to be relevant for many of us right now.

I remember after my mom died suddenly from the flu in 2000—30 days before my wedding day-- I could feel the earth shift beneath my feet and I knew who I was would never be the same (read more about this in Remembering What Really Matters from The Mother’s Guide to Self-Renewal).

The current economic shift is impacting all of us in different ways. And, many of us are asking some big questions right now.

Whether our discomfort is related to our careers, our businesses, our relationships, how we view ourselves, how we work and create balance in our daily lives, or for some this period may bring up deeper questions around happiness and spiritual fulfillment (read more on being happy no matter what).

These “lightning rod moments”—losses, financial shifts, deaths, unexpected career changes—present us with precious opportunities to slow down, hit the pause button and reflect on whether we need to course correct in any area of our lives.

A GIFT TO YOURSELF: Find a quiet spot away from work and your family and give yourself the gift of 30 minutes to take some time and reflect on the following:
• If I were to give myself a “career check-up” how do things look? On a scale of 1-10, how satisfied am I with work most of the time? What is working, what’s not working? (Exploring a career change? Read more.)
• How connected do I feel in my key relationships? Do I have enough time in my week to really nurture these important connections? Are my relationships with friends feeding me or draining me? Is it time to re-examine my friendships and who I choose to spend time around?
• How would I describe my relationship with myself? Do I relish time alone and enjoy my own company? Do I feel connected to my dreams, needs and desires? Do I avoid being alone? Is it easy for me to describe the core of who I am—what is most important to me? What am I passionate about?
• What does the flow of my day look and feel like? Is it comfortable or overly scheduled? Do I have enough spaciousness to take time to connect with others or am I barreling through a to-do list? If I were to compare the pace of my day to a mode of transportation, would the rhythm be like a horse and buggy? Volkswagen Beetle? A Lamborghini? In what areas do I feel the greatest sense of disequilibrium? What’s working and what’s not?

Even though your budget may be tight right now, this is a great time to schedule a break for a Personal Life Planning Retreat.

Whether you take a solo retreat for eight hours at a friend’s lake house or cabin, an afternoon at a state park, or ideally, a weekend away (check out my April Spring Self-Renewal Retreat) you need and deserve time for deep reflection.

Think of your retreat as one of the most important investments you’ll ever make—in yourself.

And, above all, be easy on yourself. Pausing to reflect and examine whether you need to course-correct is not about being judgmental or critical of where you’ve been or the choices you’ve made. It’s about giving yourself the opportunity to tap into the tremendous well of wisdom that resides within you every moment of every day. You just have to create the space—and quiet—to hear what this is.

Warmly, Renee

Upcoming Events and Training: