Growth in the Deep End: A Month of Stretching & Surrendering

In my last newsletter, I shared how 2024 was my year of rude awakenings—and it delivered right until the very last day. Just before the year ended, a core member of my team at HomeTree Coworking let me know they were leaving. It was unexpected and hit hard.

I entered 2025 with a strong determination to refocus on what truly needed my attention—to face the challenges in my business head-on. And let me tell you, this January has been a month. I’ve worked harder than I have in the last four years, and surprisingly, things have started moving in ways I didn’t expect. Some incredible collaborations have come together, and while I’m being stretched beyond my comfort zone, I’m also deeply grateful.

But I won’t sugarcoat it—this process has been painful. As a leader, I’ve had to be vulnerable, acknowledge where I fell short, make tough decisions within my team, and really ask myself: Why am I doing this? What is the deeper purpose behind it all?

Facing failure, uncertainty, and even admitting, "I don’t know how to move forward—please help me," has been humbling. But in that surrender, something incredible unfolded. I prayed a lot this month, asked for guidance, and, most of all, took full responsibility for everything happening in my life.

I truly believe that our external reality is always mirroring back what we are internally projecting into the world. As Shakti Gawain beautifully describes, the world is like a giant mirror—reflecting our inner beliefs, emotions, and patterns through our experiences and the people we encounter. When we pay attention, these reflections offer us valuable insights into our own consciousness, showing us where we are aligned and where we still have room to grow.

And January proved that lesson to me.

In the first week of the year, I was offered a corporate workshop for a leadership team—with just four days’ notice. My to-do list was endless, but something told me to take the leap. This was a very different audience from what I was used to—people who had never meditated, who didn’t speak my language of inner work, and who were all older than me. I had a moment of self-doubt: "How am I going to lead a workshop for them?" But I stayed centered, trusted the process, and let the guidance flow. And you know what? It unfolded beautifully.

The insecure, unworthy parts of me wanted to overanalyze it, to seek validation. But I simply didn’t have the energy to entertain those thoughts—I had too much to do. And as I became more conscious of my mindset, I started seeing my challenges as opportunities.

I made a big decision—to step back into my business (after spending a year focused on Inner Reset). And as I reflected on why this moment was happening, I remembered something:

Back in 2014, I had asked myself, "If I could do anything, what would I want to do with my life? How could I use all that I’ve been given to serve my soul’s purpose?"

The answer that came to me then was this: I want to help leaders make conscious choices.

Because as leaders, we don’t just impact the people who work with us—we touch their families, their communities, and the larger systems we are part of. I wanted to help leaders build self-awareness, so they could create businesses that genuinely cared for their people, customers, and the products they put into the world.

And now, here I was—right in the middle of a leadership challenge of my own. This was my opportunity to live what I had always dreamed of teaching. The moment I shifted my perspective, everything started unfolding.

Just two weeks later, I was invited to speak at the WorkWellness & Mental Well-Being Fair on Building Mental Fitness (Picture Above!). As I prepared, I revisited my Positive Intelligence notes—and realized that I needed those very tools to navigate my own challenges. Between leading private group workshops on weekends, managing a full-time workload on weekdays, and parenting, I had to be very conscious of where I was putting my energy. With so much to do and only so much energy to give, I became intentional about not leaking it where it wasn’t needed. Instead, I focused on strengthening and centering myself—and magically, things started to feel easier. Somehow, each day unfolded in an easeful flow, and I was able to do everything I needed to, without the usual strain.

And that’s when it really hit me.

?? The power to ignite change has always been within us.

When I shifted my perspective—when I saw my struggles as opportunities for growth—I opened myself to the good that was already unfolding. I found the strength to move through disappointments, and most of all, I felt grateful.

And today, I feel good. Really good.

So tell me—how was your January 2025? What lessons, surprises, or growth moments did you experience? I’d love to hear from you. ??