When work is BALANCE.
In-person event, reflections, and practices to embody this state.
I believe that when “work” becomes a way in which we embody our purpose, intention, and actualize our energy, the benefits BOUND OUT for personal and collective well-being. I have tried on this idea in my own life about how the “work” really is the inner work within that shapes our state of being, and this state of being then integrates as our external sense of connection, action, and impact. With this idea, anything and everything becomes infused with our purpose, our will to be, and has the potential and potency to actualize our life’s desires in everyday life.
There is less of an idea of this “work-life” balance or perfect picture and instead a reality that exists where you are the balance you desire and can be in, which ripples into everything you do by mere presence.
I am reflecting on and integrating these ideas as I prepare for a work-life balance retreat I am co-leading with the amazing Liv Raucci! Here is some of what our event will cover as a way to build this sense in one’s life, instead of getting stuck in the hamster wheel of working for the weekends and then the swing that swirls in with the “Sunday Scaries.”
(sign up)
We have intentionally designed the retreat in a way that not only covers content and ideas, but also experientially invites someone to “try on” for themselves what this state can feel like, what is possible from here, and how to set an intention that centers clarity in your day-to-day actions that connect you to a higher state of balance, purpose, and alignment.
We co-created the intention for all of our participants to embody balance, attunement, and alignment in their work lives that connect to one’s values, identities, and purpose. This is made possible through tangible practices that support the nervous system to be in its optimal state for present-moment performance.
I have many different practices you can explore on my Substack or YouTube to bring this into your daily rhythm.
The second component is having the information where our minds can understand the nervous system as a compassionate and curious way in toward seeing how stress can be shaped into energy for action and impact, in lieu of stress that spirals or swirls into overwhelm or fatigue..low energy that sits like a block to any forward progress. Instead, with this knowledge we can know what’s happening inside (WITHOUT JUDGMENT, NOOO JUDGMENT) and guide ourselves back into a state from which we can operate.
This connects with an understanding that can often be overlooked in hustle/grind culture, where work is about hyper-optimization and output instead of looking at the input (if aligned and intentional) that can mirror the manifestation of a desired result. This is where the idea of the work—truly seeing the inner work with equal value and importance as the outer work..creates the balance we are looking for and chasing in this idea of “work-life” balance.
Science tells us important things to consider and keep in mind. Roughly every hour we need vagal stimulation to keep an optimal level of communication (working on the myelination of the vagus nerve) so all the systems in our body are communicating effectively and synchronously. From here, we can take aligned outer action from an inner aligned state, unblocked by stress and stagnation. This means bringing in micro vagal-toning practices (movement, breath, connection, mindfulness, Reiki) to keep this channel of communication in flow.
Another important idea to consider here is the element of choice, curiosity, and connection within oneself to sense into what your state may need. In this sense, the inner work takes on a layer of responsibility to know and care for the state of self in order to bring it back to a state of balance.
By this I mean: do I sense I need something more energizing or more grounding? Do I need some movement or stillness? Sound or silence? Checking in with yourself, as you would a colleague, email, etc., becomes the work as you align and integrate work-life flow.
I am not saying this is easy. Rather, the core ingredient is presence. And when we practice presence we know..science and spirituality tell us..that all life asks of us is to be present. From this place we put forth all the possible energy, intention, ideas, action, and life force that can actually exist.
Our workshop will provide the tools, practices, and techniques that support this daily rhythm and balance..from orienting, intention-setting, and centering to begin the day, to mid-day energizing and grounding practices, to closing and containment practices that integrate the day’s growth. These are mixed with embodied practices that realign the physical body after stagnation or sitting on technology or phones due to the nature of work, helping us come back to a sense of connection at the end of the day.
Again, so you are not working for the day’s end. Rather, you can integrate and truly receive all the effort put out in the day to arrive in ease, peace, and contentment as you close your day.
In our workshop we connect the knowledge and practices with the clarity and fuel of values, because this is the greater pull, purpose, and perspective that can be the guiding principles from which our daily lives and rhythms flow. An opportunity to know your values, live your values, and embody your values is the way to sustain a state of genuine balance that is undivided from yourself at work.
I know for me personally, connecting to my core values of love, presence, and faith shapes my energy, alignment for showing up for sessions, writing, and creating content that is connected to a source of heart (instead of only mind). I feel very grateful to be in service and alignment in my work opportunities whether in be with therapeutic work at the Performance Sanctuary, healing events in the community, or learning each day from what leaders, mentors, and nature itself about being as purpose, and being from the Heart.