Road Trips & Cocoons

How often do you intentionally “unplug”?

My husband and I took some time last week to get away and unplug from life’s natural chaos. We call this “cocooning,” when we try to shut out all other distractions and focus on each other. We tried not to answer work emails, we didn’t spend time aimlessness scrolling through our phones, we did our best to not respond to texts or comments or anything.

Instead, we traveled the states, spent time with each other, and focused on our marriage.

We went on an epic road trip that took 8 days to travel to 8 states. It was magical and fun and exhausting and amazing! Surprising as it may sound, it was an incredibly restful and soul-nourishing trip for us. Sitting in a car for eight days can really bring two people together!

How do you unplug? When do you get away? In what ways do you invest in your relationships? I’d love to know!

Coaching with Me

If you’ve ever been curious about what coaching with me is like, here are a few coaching facts for you:

➕ Coaching is a safe, cozy, and confidential space for you and I to get together one-one-one, discover your purpose, #findyourjoy, and create a vision for your life.
➕ After figuring out what it is you want to work toward, we create an action plan for you to make that happen. (Coaching is all about setting, editing, and achieving your goals!)
➕ With me as your coach, you get a life designer, a cheerleader, a prayer partner, and a teammate all in one.
➕ I LOVE the women I work with and I LOVE all of the different aspects of life we get to tackle — self-esteem, relationships, careers, identities, finances, spirituality, and more!

So, with all that being said... Is there anything in your life that feels confusing, unfulfilling, hard to navigate? Are you confused about your purpose or calling? Are you in a season of aimlessness and frustration that you need help to break out of?

I’m here to tell you... #youmightneedalifecoach! And I’m here to help!

Don't Escape

I recently heard someone say that true self-care is creating a life you don’t constantly need to escape from. I’ve been thinking a lot about that this week! Some of the questions I’ve been asking myself are:

- What steps can I take to create a life I enjoy living?
- What joy can I infuse into the daily, mundane tasks I’m responsible for?
- What boundaries can I set for myself so that I don’t find myself bound to obligations that drain my energy?

For me, a simple choice I make to help me enjoy life more — is intentionally choosing joy.

Each sip of coffee is joy. Each sweet moment in scripture is joy. Each quiet moment before getting out of bed in the morning is joy. Each car ride is joy, each hand-hold with my husband is joy, each smile from a stranger is joy. It may sound silly, but choosing to intentionally focus on my perceptions, my attitudes, my neuro-linguistic processing of every moment — doing all of that helps reduce the need to “escape.”

If you find yourself desiring to escape your daily life, it may be worth delving into the why. Why are you unhappy? Why does “that thing,” whatever it is, drain your energy or steal your joy? Why are you feeling unfulfilled? Can shifting your mindset help? Or could you benefit from a more intensive approach with guidance from a professional?

I’m just saying, #youmightneedalifecoach! Can I help you #findyourjoy?

Resting Well

After a very, very busy week and then an even busier weekend, I am taking a much needed break today!

I spent the week loving on clients and serving in two different high school. Then I volunteered to work a three-day weekend discipleship event with teenagers from my church. I loved doing all of this!! Doing these things brought me so much joy!! But, contrary to popular belief, I am a true introvert whose energy comes from alone time and is drained by being around others. (I just love people so much and am willing to exhaust myself for the sake of the people I love!)

Now, I’m needing some recovery time. And there is no shame in that!

Sometimes, the things that bring you joy can still wear on you. That’s why it’s so important to practice balance! Choose to do what honors the Lord. Choose to serve others. Choose joy!

But also, remember that resting well is an important command. Resting well honors the Lord and allows you to better serve others more effectively. And I don’t know about you, but resting well brings me joy!

Focus on balance today. Balance your time and energy. Prioritize properly. And as always, #findyourjoy and then choose it.

So Much Still to be Done

Today, I am reflecting on the convicting words from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who in his Letter From a Birmingham Jail said:

“Actually, time itself is neutral; it can be used either destructively or constructively. More and more I feel that the people of ill will have used time much more effectively than have the people of good will. We will have to repent in this generation not merely for the hateful words and actions of the bad people but for the appalling silence of the good people. Human progress never rolls in on wheels of inevitability; it comes through the tireless efforts of men willing to be co workers with God, and without this hard work, time itself becomes an ally of the forces of social stagnation.”

There’s so much hard work still to be done.

May I be one who works tirelessly for justice, co-laboring with Christ. May I always be known as an ally to the Black community, a minister of reconciliation, and a co-worker with God. May we ALL be aware of the time we have and remember the weighty responsibility to use it well and wisely.

God, give us the strength to speak up against injustice AND silence.