I recently returned from a 5-day yoga and meditation retreat with my good friend Dr Suzy Green.
And somewhere during a Downward Facing Dog 🧘🐕… a reminder hit me again.
Whenever I invest in myself – through rest, reflection, movement, good food, quiet, coaching, therapy or space to breathe – something shifts.
My nervous system settles.
And messages start to arrive.
Sometimes the messages are personal:
“This chapter is coming to an end.”
“It’s not time to make a move yet.”
Sometimes they’re creative:
“Write the next book.”
“Here’s the title.”
I’m sharing this because if you’re reading this, you’re likely someone working hard to make a meaningful impact on the lives of others.
And maybe, your own life gets pushed to the bottom 👇🏿of the list.
But as Thich Nhat Hanh reminds us:
“The practice of a healer, therapist, teacher or any helping professional should be directed toward his or herself first…”
Because if we’re constantly depleted, it becomes much harder to lead, support and give well. And it’s easy to become disconnected to your self.
So, here’s a gentle reminder:
Who you are matters.
And investing in who you are (especially in the era of overwhelm) may be one of the most important ways to expand your meaningful impact on others.
— Dr. William DeJean
