^{My emails are sporadic, so in case you forgot…}

Stop trying to change who you are. Instead, learn to work with who you are.

I’m learning it’s one of the most important life lessons to put into practice. It’s the reason why I posted this on my Facebook and LinkedIn page a few weeks ago:

“As you prepare for the week ahead remember this:

You don't need to be a morning person. You don't need to become a meditation guru. And you don't need to start journaling every thought. All you need to do is recognize your natural pattern and amplify it.

Just follow your north star and you'll find the version of success you need is in reach.”


This is funny because just last week I also shared this on Twitter:

I wrote that tweet when I knew I’d be up all night trying to knock out a story by the deadline. I wish I could say this was the only all-nighter I’ve pulled. But it’s become a routine that starts with a burst of inspiration and anxiety followed by a high when I get great feedback.

Despite the positive feedback, I shamed myself for the process rather than being proud of the desirable result.

Bottom line: I’m a sprinter. I pour all my effort into short bursts when inspiration strikes instead of spreading my effort through long periods.

I recently acknowledged my sprinter status after hearing someone else mention it in a group I’m in called, Sustain.

But acknowledging it didn’t stop me from shaming myself for being a sprinter in a world that promotes being a marathoner.

Marathon vs Sprint: What’s the REAL Difference?

How often have you heard someone say, “It’s a marathon; not a sprint” and then committed to changing everything about yourself to align with the statement?

I have and it usually led to me burning out and getting bored before I even got close to achieving my goal.

Marathoners are praised for taking their time to study and moving slowly enough to observe everything while avoiding burnout.

Society sometimes leads us to believe the sprinter is the villain and the marathoner is the undercover hero.

The truth: The hero is whoever leans into their flow. You win when you own your pace.

The core of a true sprinter isn’t poor preparation and ignoring details; it’s trusting your instincts. You move quickly when inspiration strikes and trust yourself enough to make adjustments when necessary without panic.

Meanwhile, the center of a marathon is gathering information, applying, and testing out everything. (There’s a reason why this newsletter is sporadic)

Accepting your flow

What we often miss is that our body and mental health dictate what we need to do and how fast we need to do it.

When you acknowledge it your nervous system will likely reward you with peace.

You don’t need to move quickly towards the light and you don’t need to take your time.

All you need to do is become as in tune with your body and intuition as possible and follow its lead.

My problem didn’t lie in being a last-minute sprinter. The issue is that I ignored what I needed during my sprint to make the most of it.

I’d shame myself for being a sprinter struggling to be a marathoner and I wouldn’t acknowledge the exhaustion that followed. So I’d start something new mentally fatigued yet trying everything in my power to be a marathoner.

It doesn’t matter if a particular stage of your life is a sprint or a marathon. You can’t go into another race without taking a break in between.

Once I stopped shaming myself for being a sprinter at the eleventh hour, I allowed myself to lean into it. That meant I anticipated the nerves that came along with the sudden inspiration. I nurtured myself intellectually and I took recovery seriously by detaching from deep work for two days once my sprint to meet the deadline was over.

If everyone is telling you to go right and your body is leaning left, it's ok to let your body lead. What others miss could be exactly what you need to feel safe in your mind and body. Your decisions don’t need to be understood by everyone to make sense for you or yield success.

Lean into your pace despite the critics, commit to recovery, and you’ll likely find yourself closer to peace, success, and acceptance.

Read This…

If you are feeling conflicted during back to school season because you can’t afford to go back to school this blog post is for you.

These affirmations are perfect for allowing yourself to find your flow

Speaking of flow…
The last thing I want to do is clog your inbox. What’s your desired flow for this newsletter? Lots of you read my last email, but few answered the poll. Thanks to everyone who already has.

So let’s try this again…

Happy Life Tip

Schedule surprise treats

Kids do unexpected, beautiful things. This one might make you cry.

Use this to get an idea of how much it costs to travel to certain places

What if you don’t have the resources for “self-care”

I’m still going strong with this planner.

If you can’t stand marketing on social media and looking for some business guidance this program is legit

Like what I’m doing? Buy me a pizza

Want to work with me? Book a consult

Need a pep talk? Let’s chat.

I sincerely hope these links and tips bring you to a better place mentally. If nothing else, please take this with you and repeat it daily as needed.

"At any moment I can change my pace or direction."

Know someone who would appreciate the contents of this message? Please forward it to them. The more people this can help, the better!