If we were going to plan a road trip or a vacation together, we would probably start with one of two guiding questions:

1. Where do we want to go?

2. What do we want to do?

I'm not saying those are easy answers- but they are crucial questions to ask if we are going to get on the same page about our experience together.

Once we've nailed those questions down, then we can begin planning our route.  

If we encounter roadblocks, then we can re-calculate.

Without our shared vision...both of those next steps would be pretty challenging and probably lead us to either give up or have some serious conflict along the way.

Any shared vision has to begin with shared ownership and buy-in individually.  Which means that each person needs to clarify for themselves:

1. What matters most to me?

2. What am I willing to let go of?

3.  How do I want to show up in partnership and communication?

This year, 2020,...

I actually wrote this piece about a year ago...but I thought is was just as relevant this week.

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The past several weeks we have been prepping the soil in our garden to plant seeds.

This means digging up the weeds that have taken root already, and clearing out the clutter of the debris that accumulated last summer, fall and over the winter.

It means creating intentional space for the things we WANT to grow. 

If we don't create this intentional space and fill it with things we want... then it will be overrun by things we don't want.

I can't help but think this is the perfect metaphor for time and priorities in general.

If we don’t create intentional space and time for the things we want to grow in our lives... then our days will be filled “managing the weeds” rather than harvesting the bounty.

Do you ever find yourself reacting to demands of the day as it unfolds, rather than creating the intentional space for what feels most important?

Try this:

Instead of...

I keep hearing different phrases, metaphors, and analogies about our current situation- that we are, in fact, sharing with our global community.

"We are all in the same boat"

"Nope, not the same boat, but the same storm"

I'm not sure if its a boat or a storm...but what feels true is that there are many people in positions of leadership around the world and in our neighborhoods who are trying to find the pathway to lead through chaos.

Some are creating more chaos as their strategies emerge and some are creating more of a shared vision of stability.

For some businesses and organizations, their strategy to stabilize may include having to lay people off....which creates a different kind of chaos in our communities.

For some people, stabilizing now means going deeper into debt or asking for help in order to keep people employed or their family fed.

For others, it means tapping into savings and reserves.

There is not a right or wrong way to handle these situations....and there...

At the beginning of 2020, I had big plans to pivot my business to focusing on in-person events/ retreats for women entrepreneurs and leaders.  This included plans for international retreats 2-3 times a year as well as hosting retreats at our Farm Retreat in Salida, CO.

Obviously, a re-direct needed to happen...
and I'm grateful.

I'm grateful because 10 years ago, I landed on this farm with a vision of growing food, hosting celebrations, creating community, and facilitating leadership retreats & workshops.   

At some level, all of those things have happened...maybe not the way I initially envisioned, but they have happened.

Now, with a full six weeks of a consistent daily routine- feeding chickens, planting and watering starts, caring for horses and observing seasonal changes, I believe I've come full circle to a stronger vision...

A vision that includes a focus both personally and professionally on:

• making time to be quiet, creative, open
• connecting...

"Those who contemplate the beauty of the Earth find reserves of strength that will endure as long as life lasts.  There is symbolic as well as actual beauty in the migration of birds, the ebb and flow of tides, the folded bud ready for spring.  there is something infinitely healing in the repeated refrains of nature- the assurance that dawn comes after the night and spring after the winter."- Rachel Carson from Silent Spring

The weather is warm this week, and so is my attitude toward humans dealing with change.  

That might change for me tomorrow, but for today...I feel a lot of empathy for what our local and global communities are dealing with. 

So much change in the air...

I take solace in knowing that change is constant and whatever lessons are  unfolding in this one, we will find them.

This weekend I encourage you to look around at the change that happens, without judgment, without drama....just the natural changes that occur- that we handle every day.

...

"I want to wake up every day and do whatever comes in my mind, and not feel pressure or obligations to do anything else in my life." -Michael Jordan

I was texting with a colleague  and she asked me how it was going homeschooling my son, while trying to run a business. 

My response was that it is going "well".

"Really?"

She didn't believe me and said...."Is that true?"

My response:  Absolutely, because I'm not putting too much pressure on him or myself or anything for that matter.

I realized that this is actually my mantra right now....to release the pressure.

on my son,
on my business,
on my expectations of others,
on my marriage,
on my ability to keep a clean house,
on myself.

My metrics for how things are going may fall well below other people's thoughts, standards or expectations.

But I know this is a crucial strategy because I'm finding there is so much tenderness to be present for in the moment, right now.

Too much pressure to perform, to endure, to be...

This month in our Pathfinder Posse business cohort, we are talking about Nature and Nurture as a strategy for developing and sustaining a purpose-driven business. 

Regardless of what we are focusing on each month, we always begin our time together talking about the mental "models" that create the feelings in our day to day, the actions that follow those feelings, and ultimately our results.

As we begin to dive into how connecting with the natural world around us and nurturing the nature within can foster personal and organizational resilience, we begin with a small exercise that demonstrates  that the status of our living and/ or work space  is a reflection of what is going on in our thoughts.

Cleaning up our thoughts can help to create a more beautiful and organized living and work space AND cleaning up your living space or work space can create more mental clarity.

This week, I challenged our group to think of a space in their home or office that...

This has been a week.

I have felt so much swirling energy around, its been hard to tell what is "mine" and what belongs to the "others" or the world around me.

At every level I have felt chaos surrounding- at home, with clients, with community, and certainly in our country, our world and especially our environment.

I'm reminded to keep mining and reflecting "hope".

As I reflect and search around about hope...one phrase sticks with me:

"to cherish a desire with anticipation"

Two things jump out when I read this:

1. how important it is to have clarity of the desired state
2. permission to believe its possible

What is it that you are hoping for?

Are you clear on what that would really look like?

Can you give yourself permission to believe its possible and enjoy that feeling?

Cheers to being hopeful.
-JenV

Hope is a waking dream.
-Aristotle