Welcome.

So first, deep breath in through your nose -

fill up allllll the way,

notice your heart space expand and lift, hold here for a moment

and deep breath out, sigh it out,

let your shoulders lighten, and fall away from your ears.

If you felt something shift, do that  a few more times.

See, don’t you already feel a little better?

Instead of scrolling, you’re here and reading through this. Your 10-minute breath of fresh air this morning.

Short and sweet.

I'm close to the end of my pregnancy, and realized how protective of my energy I've become, in ways I never really was before.

One thing I've realized is when you're growing a human, you become acutely aware that everything you take in—conversations, environments, even the energy of spaces—affects not just you.

And as a result you start to filter what's around you - considering whether something nourishes or drains you.

And yes, we all know that the reality of life sometimes means there are commitments or responsibilities that remain a part of our lives whether like it or not (and though I do want to point out, we often have more choice than we think in how much we engage with those things). And even with these commitments,  there is still so much room to do more of what nourishes us. We of course need to know what gives us that boost in the first place and take note of it. But that's the easy part - it's about feeling it in your body and noticing the shift in energy -- it's physiological. Our body tells us. Then it's about finding more of those moments, doing the thing more often. Try to keep it as simple as that.

We always positively remember the moments that gave us energy, we look back fondly at the things that filled up our cups, that made us feel GOOD and present and lighter in our bodies and our minds.

It isn't about being selfish—it's about recognizing that we have finite capacity, and we get to choose how we spend it. We have more of a say than we think.

Being more intentional about that in the past months has been a gamechanger for me, and it doesn't take being pregnant to be reminded that our energy is precious and finite.

It's easy to think that being open and available to everything is generous and what we should strive for. It's harder to say no than to say yes, even if we know deep down that doing that thing, seeing that person, having that conversation doesn't serve us.

I realize that protecting my peace isn't just self-care—it's how I show up better for myself, and for the people and things that actually matter.

Your Sunday practice: Start by noticing what you're allowing into your space this Sunday. A day that you get to be for you --- choosing how to spend it, where to spend it, with whom to spend it. Getting into a journaling practice about this can really help too.

And then consider what you're allowing into your space this week. One conversation that leaves you feeling heavy. One environment that makes you tense. One habit that depletes rather than restores.

P.S. In case you need this reminder: it’s going to be a great day, and a great week.

We often get in the way of ourselves. Notice when that happens, and how you can lean into the habits you know serve you, lift you up, and help you see  with more perspective.  

A slightly more upbeat, groovy one for a good energy Sunday. Listen and enjoy.