Reflections: When to Stop Moving and Just Be

I desperately needed to disconnect, regardless of what my ambitious mind was telling me, my soul deeply craved something vastly different. And, without a clear understanding of where this craving was coming from, I complied to the calling of my soul.

As I look out the window at the passing clouds and patches of land out my little airplane window, I’m reminiscent of the past week in Cancun. Throughout the past week I had moments of guilt flood my mind, feelings of disappointment with myself for not taking this beautiful opportunity to flow with creativity and create content for my business and write and read and research. I had all this free time – I should be spending it on my business, on school, on filling my mind with knowledge! I should be taking advantage of this time away from home! I’m wasting my time just sitting here!

I felt disconnected from my home life. The crazy, every-minute-filled life in Virginia was left behind for cocktails on the beach and lazy mornings sprawled out in the king bed surrounded by comfy pillows and lush blankets. And I felt guilty. A vacation I’d been dreaming about for months and all I could do was crave the fast-paced, busy life of home. And that made me feel even more guilty.

In the wake of this rollercoaster,

I want to acknowledge this ever-present feeling that ambitious women struggle with, and I want to take a moment to just breathe. To take a deep breath and forgive myself for the judgments, the guilt, the pangs of disapproval, the feelings of being less than perfect. Navigating the bossbabe, student, girlfriend, multifaceted-being life is difficult and it deserves respect. And that respect needs to come from me, not from others. As I think back on my week, I realize how badly I craved time to just be present in the moment. To look at the waves for hours and disconnect from the devices and the constant thoughts flowing through my mind. My body needed a break from the constant multitasking and the pressure of a to-do list. I was craving the peace that comes from the sun and the calm that comes from the waves. I desperately needed to disconnect, regardless of what my ambitious mind was telling me, my soul deeply craved something vastly different. And, without a clear understanding of where this craving was coming from, I complied to the calling of my soul.

Navigating the bossbabe, student, girlfriend, multifaceted-being life is difficult and it deserves respect. And that respect needs to come from me, not from others.

Reflection on this week taught me a valuable lesson that I will cherish for many years to come. Life is not all about todo lists, knowledge, and success. Sometimes life is about sitting in a beach chair, listening to the waves crashing on the shore, drinking a frozen margarita, and being completely and totally present without any thought of the future. Sometimes the present moment is the only moment that matters and, for a moment, the possibilities of the future can be shelved on the beautiful bookcase of our lives. They can wait until the soul is recharged and ready to proceed anew.

Taking a week to soak in the present and live in every moment,

wholly and fully, may be the best thing I’ve ever done for the ambitious bossbabe that lives within. Now she feels more alive, more focused, and more ready than before. In the wake of this awakening learning experience, I encourage you to take inventory of your own life and to think about your daily guidance system. At times we can get so caught up in the todos and the necessary, that we forget to ask our soul what she needs and allow her to light our path to soulful living. I’ll be the first to admit that I really had no idea what this meant until she forced me to allow her to rest. Her moments of breath have breathed an entirely new life into me and I feel completely ready for this new phase in my life. May your soul breathe, light your path, and guide your way through to a soul-filled existence that takes your breath away each and every day.