It’s Ok to Feel Good (actually, it’s your job)
Last week I met a friend in the forest near my home for a mid-morning walk. I hadn’t slept the night before, I had a long list of work deadlines and my heart was heavy with parenting struggles. I pulled up to the campground parking lot feeling the heaviness of the world. Getting out of my car, I could hear the rushing river below, feel the warm sun on my face, smell the earth and almost instantly—I felt my brain and body shift. Duh, I forgot! It’s Ok to feel good.
When we do things that make us feel good—walk in nature with friends, dance, sing, meditate/pray, prioritize connection—our bodies relax and feel safe. When we feel safe, our nervous systems feel regulated. And when we’re regulated, we’re wise and can actually show up centered, grounded and ready to help ourselves…and others. Staying stuck in worry, anxiety or a spin cycle of fear helps no one. Feeling good helps everyone. I believe it’s actually our job right now!
The Davidson River in the Pisgah National Forest–my backyard and my living room. When we do things that make us feel good, we feel safe. When we feel safe, we feel regulated. When we’re regulated, we’re wise.
It’s a hard time to be a human. Breathe with me in this five-minute meditation I created. Let me know how I can support you this week, I’d love to hear from you. And, if you’re free Friday, April 25th from 9-5 and live in North Carolina or the southeast US, join me and soulful women of all ages for “Tending Your Creative Fire: A North Carolina One-Day Retreat.” Or, fly in (direct flights into Asheville) and make a weekend of it; early bird rate ends today!
Warmly,
UPCOMING SELF-RENEWAL EVENTS TO SUPPORT YOU:
- *EARLY BIRD RATE ENDS TODAY!* April 25, 2025 ~ Tending Your Creative Fire: A North Carolina Women’s Retreat ~ 9 a.m.- 5 p.m. Lake Logan Retreat Center, Canton, NC. Join women from across NC and the Southeast US as we enjoy a day of deep replenishment and renewal and reflect on “What is uniquely mine to do? Special discount for Hurricane Helene victims. An ideal retreat to bring family/friends to and enjoy a weekend in the mountains. Learn more/register here.
- Download your self-guided retreat today ~ Ready to prioritize your self-care, relax your body and enjoy empowering mentoring from Renee 24/7 from the comfort of your home, car or office? Our highly popular self-paced online retreats are only $59. Download & enjoy today. Learn more.
- *Support other women!* Secrets to Facilitating Life-Changing Women’s Groups/Retreats in Uncertain Times ~ an online, self-paced mentoring course. Would you like to empower women in your area in 2025 through facilitating women’s groups/retreats? Based on Renee’s 30+ years experience training 450+ facilitators and teaching at world-renowned retreat centers like Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health, this supportive, empowering on-demand video course offers everything you need to start facilitating women’s circles and retreats. Only $195. Learn more.
- Schedule me to speak in 2025-26. Did you know my primary work is speaking professionally at national/regional conferences, employee events and to companies/organizations worldwide? I love weaving neuroscience, life balance strategies, mindfulness & resiliency practices to create unforgettable workshops & presentations that help people feel more creative, focused, resourced and alive. Learn more about my speaking here.
Subscribe here to Live Inside Out, a weekly blog written by mindfulness coach/author/speaker and self-care evangelist Renée Peterson Trudeau. Passionate about helping men and women find balance through the art/science of self-care, Renee has been facilitating high-impact, interactive workshops for Fortune 500 companies, national nonprofits/conferences and organizations/teams worldwide for 25 years. Her work has appeared in The New York Times, Fast Company, Good Housekeeping, US News & World Report, AARP, Spirituality & Health and more. She and her team have certified more than 450 facilitators in 10 countries around the globe to lead self-renewal groups/retreats based on her pioneering self-care curriculum. She’s the author of two books on life balance including the award-winning The Mother’s Guide to Self-Renewal: How to Reclaim, Rejuvenate and Re-Balance Your Life. Renee and her husband live in Western North Carolina and they have one son in New York City. Her latest venture is Wild Souls Nature Adventures. More on Renee here.
