Quick question for you...

What’s the inner narrative running your life right now?

Last week, we hosted our first Root+Rise Monthly Circle where we explored one of the most powerful forces shaping our daily experience: our Inner Narrative—a.k.a. the mindset, beliefs, and stories we live by (usually without realizing it).

Here’s one thing we uncovered:

You can’t always change your circumstances—but you CAN shift how you relate to them.

Psychologists call this Cognitive Reappraisal—and it’s one of the top tools for happiness and resilience, according to Dr. Laurie Santos (Yale professor + host of the Happiness Lab Podcast). And Fun fact? Last month I got to see Dr. Laurie Santos live and she said that “Synchronous social engagement,” or hanging out with people live, (yep, even on Zoom!) was second on her list of what boosts happiness—one of the reasons we are hosting our monthly calls.

When was the last time you sat down, took a deep breath, and didn’t immediately think about your to-do list, what you’re making for dinner, or whether you’ve responded to that one email?

If it’s been a minute... I got you.

Root + Rise: A Virtual Monthly Circle kicks off in just 3 days (this Thursday, May 29 at 5pm PST), and you are so invited.

This isn’t another Zoom thing.
It’s a soul-thing.
A pause-thing.
A “damn, I didn’t know how much I needed that” kind of thing.

That’s what Root + Rise, The virtual Monthly Circle is for.A soulful, simple, once-a-month pause — perfectly timed with the new moon — to help you:

• Reconnect to your intentions

• Gently move your body (with guidance from my hilarious + magical friend Annie Kleinenga)

• Hang with heart-led women who are ready for the same

• Leave feeling clearer, softer, and like you’ve actually exhaled

It’s the stuff you already want to do — made easier, lighter, and way more fun!

And science backs this up! I saw Yale’s Dr. Laurie Santos (creator of The Science of Well-Being) last week, and she dropped this hot tip: Real-time, synchronous connection — even over Zoom — significantly boosts our happiness. It’s not more screen time that fills us up — it’s meaningful time.

And that’s exactly what we’re creating.

This idea has been brewing for over a year...
A soft whisper at first — that turned into a full-body “you’ve gotta do this.”

After hosting several workshops in April + Annie and my biannual retreat (which was packed with belly laughs, real tears, and soul-deep connection), I knew:
It’s time.

So many of you said it:
“I want more of this.”
More space to breathe. More connection. More soul. More permission.
Not just once or twice a year or a random afternoon — but as a rhythm.

✨ So here we are!!
Root + Rise, A Monthly Circle — a simple, soulful gathering to help you reconnect with yourself, your intentions, and a community of incredible women.
Once a month around the new moon. No pressure. All heart.

Mother’s Day can be complicated.

It can be sweet and joyful and full of handmade cards…
And it can also be emotional, overwhelming, and a reminder of just how much you carry.

I asked a bunch of mamas about their favorite traditions, and the responses were beautiful. Scroll down for inspiration—and hit reply if you want to share yours. But first, I want to say this:

I have deep respect for mothers.
For the hardest job in the world.
For holding space through tantrums and teenage side-eye.

My heart is FULL.

After hosting two amazing workshops and our bi-annual retreat over the past 10 days, I’ve been floating in a cloud of gratitude, joy, and awe (and yes, some tiredness too). Being in community with all of you reminds me why I do what I do.

Here’s the truth I keep coming back to:
 The greatest investment we will ever make is in ourselves.
 The most important priority we’ll ever set is giving ourselves the time and space to heal, grow, and rise.

BECAUSE…

So many of us are feeling the weight of a full life.

What now?

Two things to consider:
1. Trim your to-do list—Not everything deserves a spot right now.
2. Radically accept your reality—even the messy parts.

Cutting back isn’t just about doing less—it’s about creating space to actually appreciate what’s already there.

Lately, this has been on my mind, maybe because I’m reading Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman. Highly recommend—but fair warning: it might just rearrange your entire mindset.

You ever have one of those weeks (or months?) where you feel like a human tornado, spinning out of control while simultaneously playing an impossible game of Whack-a-Mole in the control room of your life?

👋 Hi, that’s been me lately. And fun fact? That "Inside-Out" kind of imagery actually came up in my last IFS therapy session… and wow, was it eye-opening.

January feels like it’s been 1,000 days long (not to mention we have kid Valentines to prepare and summer camps to sign up for 🤦‍♀️), and by now, research shows 88% of us have already slipped on even our most heartfelt intentions and goals.

And there’s a reason we’re struggling… It’s not about willpower. It’s about alignment.

Anyone else feeling like their holiday to-do list is straight out of a Mission Impossible movie? 🎬💥 Instead of enjoying the season, you’re knee-deep in stress, and now you’re stressed about being stressed — because that’s totally festive, right?

🎄 F*CK THAT! 🎄

Does anyone else ever feel so overwhelmed that the first thing on their To-Do list is to...

✨ Write an all-inclusive, (maybe) color-coded, perfectly organized To-Do list? ✨

Asking for a friend who:

• Started folding laundry but then remembered it might be a great time to...

• Get dinner prepped early, but then spotted her computer and...

• Logged on “just for a sec” to send those three high priority emails but instead...

• Got sucked into the black hole of 100 open tabs:

It’s Election Day, which means… high emotions, big opinions, and maybe an extra-large coffee for the ride.  

Whether you’re excited, anxious, or just counting down to the post-election memes, here’s a little reminder: let’s keep it steady. Remember the big picture and MLK's beautiful long arc bending toward justice.

Whether we’re learning about some limiting patterns or stepping into our creative expression, learning and growing feels good. It feels energizing, motivating, and enlightening. And whether we're doing this in a group, with a coach, or working on our personal development solo, one of the keys to continual growth is staying focused on the practice. It’s not about doing it perfectly or having the “right” routine every day. It’s about building essential practices that help you feel centered no matter what the day throws at you.

Your energy is monumental to how you show up in the world. When you feel full of life, you’re basically unstoppable. But when you’re dragging your feet, barely getting through the day? Well, it’s (understandably!) hard to bring your A-game.

But good news—you also don’t have to start with a complete life overhaul. Some of the smallest shifts can give you that fresh burst of energy you’re craving. And you know what? Those little changes can feel really, really good and perhaps lead you to some bigger ones that feel less daunting to tackle.

So how do we get there? It’s all about plugging some sneaky little energy leaks you’ve not noticed or perhaps have been ignoring.

Let’s jump into it:

The clock is ticking. We’ve got three months left in the year, and this is your moment to make it count. 💥. 

Before we dive headfirst into all the holiday madness (yes, I see you, pumpkin spice everything 🎃☕), I want to invite you to take a beat.

You’re busy, juggling all the things (aren’t we all?). But I’m asking you to pause—just for 10 minutes—and zoom out. Let’s take a birds-eye view of your life. Ask yourself:

Lately, when people ask how I am, my brain starts doing somersaults with everything going on. But instead of blurting out, "It’s been crazy busy!", I’m choosing a different, and more honest, response: "It’s really full."

There’s a subtle but important difference between being busy and being full. Busy? It feels overwhelming, noisy, chaotic, like life is spinning out of control and I am barely keeping up. But full? That feels like I'm choosing how I spend my time, even if it's packed. 

This morning, I dragged myself to my favorite gym class. You know, the one that usually leaves me feeling like a champion. But today…? Not so much. I was tired, and as soon as we started the endurance workout — 6 minutes per station (yeah, SIX) — I knew I was in trouble.

Who signed me up for this?! 😅 

By minute one of the fourth station, I was ready to tap out. Five whole minutes left?! YIKES 😬 Cue the mental pep talk. I remembered a little tip someone at the gym shared with me a few weeks ago: break it down.

Change your energy, change the world.

It sounds crazy.  It sounds grandiose.  But isn’t that ALL we really have control over? Our energy and where we choose to direct it. And, eventually, doesn’t everyone’s energy contribute to changing the world.

Do you ever feel like you're carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders? Like there’s no one else who understands what you're going through?  

Or like you should be grateful with what you have but find yourself constantly thinking about what you’re striving for (and don't have)?

Or you hear such sad news, that it makes you feel stuck and heavy and almost lost in what to do?   

I get it—sometimes, the weight of the world, or the pressure to do everything ourselves can feel really overwhelming. 

But here’s the thing: you don’t have to do it all alone and in fact, you’re not meant to. 💡

We all know that feeling—"Shoot! I forgot I was gonna do X... and I really meant to!"  It’s so normal to forget that new habit or intention we set for ourselves. Even the one you might have tried to start last week (hint hint). 

Maybe you were going to start that morning walk, or you tried it once and just didn’t keep the momentum. Life happens, right?  I know my kids' robust social calendar is really trying to squash all my time away (amirite?!?!).

But the moment you remember you forgot, you’ve paused the forgetting. And even though that sentence might be confusing, the meaning is  Super Powerful.