If your inbox is like mine - it’s blasted with either Black Friday promotions or words of gratitude.

While I don’t have a Black Friday sale to bring you right now (sigh of relief!), I DO have a non-traditional take on gratitude during this Thanksgiving week.

This year, I’m feeling pulled toward gratitude for the things that didn’t work out. The unexpected twists, u-turns and plot twists in life.

If you’ve been feeling A LOT this week…SAME!

The Too Muchness of the world is very heavy right now.

Post election, hate in the world, wars, devastating natural disasters…. Not to mention the holidays are quickly approaching and maybe you're navigating complexity of time with family.

There’s something really transformative about being in community, right?

About leaning on one another, not only for connection but also for support. Where you’re feeling “Ahhh yes, these are my people!”

It reminds me of a time when I was redecorating my entire bedroom and wanted it to feel way more cozy, luxurious, and inviting.

We’re designed for connection, Jennifer.

Do you fully know AND believe that?

I’m talking the deeply feeling, deeply thinking, be-your-fullest-self kind of connection.

And yet, we tend to spend so much of our lives on the surface.

Sticking to small talk and rushing through conversations when we’re actually craving something SO much deeper.

If you feel this way too, you might not even know what to call what you’re craving. How about we call it what it is - community.

Can you finish this sentence for me?

“When I have  _________, then I’ll be able to relax.”

What I’m getting at is, what are you actually chasing? I used to feel like I was always chasing something - rushing and running everywhere.

To the subway, to appointments, to client meetings, to brunch with friends, even to yoga.

I was always trying to squeeze out the last minute of things - which of course, I later learned was a conditioned stress response.

And during my time in the advertising world, I felt this to my core. Feeling like I was on a treadmill racing through every single day! 

When I first heard this phrase, let me tell you, it really triggered me! 

“Pressure is your own creation.”

Was it suggesting that I was personally responsible for every ounce of pressure that I had ever felt? That I had sent MYSELF dozens of urgent emails before 9AM? That my 100+ hour a week schedule was my own fault?

I went to sleep that night getting curious about why this phrase rubbed me the wrong way.

If “me time” lately looks like multitasking at the grocery store while catching up on calls or trying to get ahead on emails the moment your eyes open, I see you. And if your idea of self care is almost sitting down with a good book but then getting lost in your phone instead. Or perhaps your idea of self care has turned into just barely squeezing in a shower.

Well, I’m here to tell you that real space for YOU is not about doing things for everyone else. It's about truly taking time for yourself!

Last week, I shared something on my IG that really resonated with a lot of people, it said:Time isn’t the main reason holding you back from self-care. What’s really holding you back is your nervous system never fully learned how to receive!

The response was a whole lot of love, I assume because this message touches on a key truth. We often believe that time is the most precious, scarce commodity we’ll never get back. While that might be true, it’s not the main reason many women struggle to create space for themselves.

If you’ve been feeling the swirl of life lifeing around you, and feeling like this season, or rather this chapter of your life feels like A LOT no matter where you turn…keep reading. 

If you’re a high achiever, who’s also deeply intuitive and feel that space for you, is few and far between these days…keep reading.

I’ve been having this conversation too many times with clients this week to not share with you too. The question I've been hearing lately is: "how do I tap into more abundance?"

I'll answer that with some potent action steps below, but before I go there, I'll tell you why this convo is relevant right now.

Summer energy is rooted in the feelings of abundance, expansion and opportunity. Naturally, if you want more of this energy in your life, this is the season to tap into this mindset.

This is certainly the time of year where life can feel like it’s bursting at the seams. If you’ve been thinking lately, “I actually didn’t know life could get THIS busy,” you’re not alone!

Whether you have kids or not, the “school's out” vibes are here and for those of us who continue working and your day to day schedule doesn’t open up, it can make this sudden flood of summertime energy feel even more overwhelming.

Of course, when life feels fuller than full, taking space for yourself and filling your own cup can feel nearly impossible.

Have you ever told yourself you should be further down the path by now?

I certainly have!

I remember sitting on the beach many years ago, having a lovely day on vacation and a group text thread started to blow up. Congratulations began pouring in and I saw that my friend had just gotten engaged! And all of a sudden a strange thing happened. My stomach dropped and I felt a rush of emotions. Instead of feeling happy for them, I actually felt devastated for myself.

There comes a time in every high achiever’s career path when they say, "I’m done working so hard and I just want to coast."

Maybe you’ve been there or maybe you’re there now…

Wondering how to win the lottery

Or asking around who’s got a trust fund to share

Or maybe you’re fantasizing about selling it all, buying a one way and moving far far away.

Recently one of my clients shared that a few months ago she spontaneously signed up for a conversation with her CEO who opened up several slots to talk to employees at all levels of the organization. She thought it sounded fun and was excited to get some facetime with the CEO!

Suddenly, the night before this conversation was scheduled, she messaged me as a blast of fear and overwhelm came rushing in.

Haven’t we ALL been there?

This past week I've been absolutely feeling this Spring energy all around. It reminded me that I simply LOVE May for so many reasons. I know it's been a while, so I wanted to return by sharing this piece of art with you!

Please share with me, what do you love about May?

Happy Winter Solstice! ❄️🕯️

Today is the day when we step into the energy that is Winter in the Northern Hemisphere.

I have to admit something to you, I used to absolutely hate Winter with a passion! The constant cold and chill up my spine.The tightness I always felt in my body.The slippery driveways and sidewalks and shoveling.Not going outside without wearing what felt like my whole wardrobe.What's been your relationship with Winter? 

This past week has been the week of GRATITUDE circling around the holiday of Thanksgiving. I imagine your email inbox has been like mine and swinging between all the deals deals deals and expressions of gratitude.

When we think about gratitude, it's often easy to say what we're thankful for in our world around us. This quickly can become an honoring of things that people have done for us, things we appreciate about others or a list of things that we have either built or received.

I don't know about you, but I often had a hard time consistently dedicating time for myself and eventually got tired of filling up my cup alone!

A year ago, I got curious to see if there were other women who also wanted a held and dedicated space, and I quickly found the answer to be a great big...YES!

So I created a space called The Drop In and have led it for a full year within Level, a community of women tackling the racial wealth gap by investing in black women. It's been an honor to share this weekly space for this beautiful group.

Have you wanted to create a consistent space to carve out for yourself?

For years and years I wrote over and over on my to do list to meditate and journal daily, but you know what so often happened….life!

I often felt like life was getting busier and there was absolutely no time to do any of those things for ME!

I always had some form of an excuse as to why I couldn’t make the time…

Imagine for a moment…

Waking up on Monday morning and instead of feeling like you’re jumping to answer emails, getting yourself (and everyone else) ready for the day, feeling frazzled and already behind, you take a big deep breath. Because you know, there is a small block of time waiting for you on your calendar that you’ve already carved out. A block of dedicated time to fill up your cup, before you swoop into the week.