The Strategic Importance Of Retreat

This week I am away on retreat in Wales. The gift of technology enabled me to write edition 3 of Midlife Magic before I departed and schedule its release for you today to maintain our rhythm while I am offline, retreating.

I am a big fan of retreats. Indeed, I offer clients various forms of online retreat in my business. Yet I know the word ‘retreat’ can have negative connotations for busy leaders with many responsibilities. Oxford Languages online homes in on defining retreat as a verb with this start point: “(of an army) withdraw from enemy forces as a result of their superior power or after a defeat.” Next comes “an act of moving back or withdrawing.” Finally, “a signal for a military force to withdraw.”

Wisdom

Beneath the military associations of the word retreat is an important message for us amid the often-complex dynamics of our midlife lives. And the message is about wisdom, a quality that the life experience we have gathered offers us in abundance.

Simply put, there are times to withdraw for good reasons.

Wise women know it. We embrace times of retreat to reconnect, recharge, recalibrate.

Strategically, there may be no greater next move for our leadership, life or business than practising retreat.

We may not be in the direct physical danger of military situations, but our mind, body, heart and soul can be metaphorically fighting for aliveness, crying out for breath, rest, quiet, a slow-down, new insight, perspective, decision.

To leave the busyness (and yes, sometimes the battleground) of our lives, leadership, work and culture, even for a short while, and let ourselves retreat, can restore, refresh, renew us like nothing else can and ready us for new challenge and opportunity.

?? We emerge from retreat stronger. ??

New Vision

Retreats can also be about allowing buried desires to surface and new visions to form. Those of you who have read my book "THE STABILITY EFFECT" will remember Nina, a senior leader who had successfully headed up a second business restructure and was considering what next. Nina took herself off on retreat and gave space to repeated inner promptings about doing more for nature, in particular rivers and seas.

Just one day away from her familiar routine allowed Nina to centre, listen and explore what was calling her now. Joyfully, she was able to get in touch with an exciting new vision for her future that included BOTH her corporate work AND an active role in the protection of our Earth's waters. With focussed intention she began the planning process for her next steps, applying all she knew about restructuring to her own life, work and time.

For Nina, and for so many of us, the nourishing space of retreat gives permission for the tender shoots of our dreams to find their way out of an incubating darkness and into the light. New visions can form.

?? We become clearer because of our retreat. ??

And You?

If you were to go on retreat right now, what would your hopes for the retreat be? What would you want to put down in your life or leadership, hold onto, explore, pick up, decide, envision? How would you love to be as you emerge from the retreat?

Email me at [email protected] and let me know. The very stating of it to another moves you forward in a small but important way.

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?? Hello, I'm Amanda Muckalt and I specialise in helping midlife women in leadership to thrive in change. If you want coaching support in your leadership you can DM me or e-mail me at [email protected] as a first step.

If your organisation wants help to create environments where midlife leaders can thrive, contact me as above and we can arrange an initial call.

?? Find a free copy of THE STABILITY EFFECT, my Amazon #1 best-selling book, HERE.