A Road Trip, Reflection, and Navigating Life’s Toughest Transitions

Transitions can be like that. You feel one way, but the world sees something else.

Happy Friday, Friends!

I hope you’re all settling into this lovely time between summer and fall—it’s always been one of my favorite seasons. It also makes me miss my dark hair, lol. Anyway, I hope your week has been treating you kindly. There’s something about this seasonal shift that encourages reflection, change, and a deeper connection with ourselves. It feels like the world slows down just enough for us to pause, breathe, and reset.

This week, I came across a picture of me and Torry from exactly four years ago. It was taken on one of our road trips, something we loved doing this time of year. We were driving to Montana for a friend's wedding, and when I look at that picture, I can’t help but think, damn, I was really struggling back then. I was deep in the throes of perimenopause, not fully understanding what was happening to my body, and honestly thinking I was losing it. I remember going to Nordstrom Rack and shopping for a dress and feeling like I was about to go postal in the fitting room. Torry, being the gentleman he always is, stayed calm and patient while I tore through piles of dresses, all while I was in the fitting room barely holding back tears.

Transitions be like that right? You feel one way, but the world sees something else. In that photo, you’d see a happy couple on a road trip, but internally, I was grappling with confusion, exhaustion, and an overwhelming sense of uncertainty. It was one of those periods where I was caught between who I had been—someone full of energy and able to manage everything—and who I was becoming, which at the time, felt like someone I didn’t even recognize.

As I reflect on that time now, I realize that just like the shift from summer to fall, personal transitions ask us to slow down. They ask us to embrace the discomfort, even when it feels like our whole world is turning upside down. Looking back, I’m grateful for those moments because they taught me how to lean into change, even when it was uncomfortable.

I shared recently, I’ve been on my own health journey—one that required me to face some uncomfortable truths about my habits, my body, and how I was treating myself. For the last few years, I was clinging to what used to work, hoping that somehow I could maintain the same routines and get the same results. But life had other plans, and it wasn’t until I embraced change (and let go of old habits) that I truly began to thrive.

It wasn’t just a physical transformation. Yes, I lost weight, changed my diet, and shifted my workouts, but the real transformation happened in my mind. I had to accept that growth comes with discomfort. I had to pause—something that doesn’t come naturally to me—and ask myself, “What do I really need right now?”

So many of you here have messaged me about the process and as I shared last week, it’s one that was pretty basic, but very challenging.

If you haven’t already, sign up for my FREE VIRTUAL Live class starting next Friday October 4th, 2024 where I will go into depth. Join us here.

So back to Mindfulness…

Mindfulness was my guiding light during this process. Every time I wanted to rush back to old patterns, it was mindfulness that brought me back to the present moment.

We spend so much time thinking about what’s not happening, especially when we don’t see any changes… am I right?

I spent a good majority of 4 years every day, feeling terrible about myself on most days. Even through this health journey, even with being a teacher, and even after writing a book on Self-Love, I struggled. But…

That ability to pause, breathe, and listen to my body has been the most valuable tool on this journey. And I can say now, having achieved what I couldn’t in the last four years+ that the mind, is a powerful place my friends.

I’ll be sharing more in our class next week, but for now, I want to share this with you.

I’m so excited to invite you to my upcoming retreat at Commune in Topanga this November, Embodying Self-Love: A Weekend of Radical Self-Compassion. This retreat is all about taking that pause, connecting deeply with yourself, and cultivating self-compassion through mindfulness, yoga, and meditation.

We’ll be exploring the tools and practices that can help you move through life’s transitions with grace and ease—whether you’re dealing with health changes, emotional shifts, or just feeling stuck in the busyness of life.

And for those of you who are craving a deeper escape, I’ll also be leading some workshops at Palmaïa, the House of Aïa in December with some dear friends. Imagine starting your day with yoga overlooking the ocean, spending your afternoons in meditation, and winding down in the evening with mindful connection. It’s going to be such a beautiful experience, and I can’t wait to share it with you.

And to continue here at the Mindful Love Hub, I want to leave you with some ways to help you during this time of year if you often find yourself struggling…