Yesterday’s RGWA subscriber meetup is still stuck in my head (in a good way.)
As we gathered virtually from across the world – with Chrissy joining us late at night from Paris! – each participant shared unique circumstances but similar underlying tensions.
A new baker finding her voice after a toxic workplace. A recently-hired professional watching her work-life boundaries slip away. An unemployed job-seeker wondering which life domain to prioritize first. An accomplished entrepreneur feeling pulled between passion projects and income-generating work.
What united these diverse situations was the challenge of integration – how to honor all aspects of ourselves without sacrificing essential parts in service of others.
I thought our conversation was so rich, even those who missed the meetup deserved to learn from it. (If that was you, hopefully you can attend next month’s!)
So today’s newsletter is structured a bit differently than my typical ones – which you can access here using the email log-in that you used to sign up – with a recap of each challenge plus suggested key takeaways and next steps.
(To respect everyone’s privacy, I used an initial rather than their name.)
I have a feeling you’ll see bits of yourself in everyone, and hopefully something will spark a new way of seeing, feeling, and doing that brings you closer to the work-life you desire.
As always, at the bottom is a suggested 7-day plan that brings together all the guidance in a sustainable way.
“C”: Authenticity After Adversity
“C’”s journey from a stifling kitchen internship to a welcoming bakery environment illustrated the transformative power of environments that allow us to “show up as ourselves.” Her previous workplace forced her to develop elaborate coping mechanisms, including an extensive mental checklist before asking simple questions.
Her breakthrough came in recognizing these patterns and allowing her naturally inquisitive, engaged self to reemerge. Most impressively, she’s developed the ability to “catch herself” before spiraling into negative self-talk during challenging moments.
Key Takeaways & Next Steps:
Continue the daily journaling practice that’s helping maintain perspective
Prepare integration strategies for maintaining center during upcoming schedule changes
Recognize that both “good” and “challenging” periods are simply different seasons of life
Leverage the confidence gained in the professional domain to strengthen other life areas
“L”: Preserving Self During Professional Growth
Three weeks into a new position, “L” recognized the early warning signs of a familiar pattern – professional success at the expense of physical, mental, and spiritual wellbeing. Already creating extensive to-do lists and checking messages outside work hours, she worried about losing the balance she’d worked hard to establish.
Key Takeaways & Next Steps:
Create a 90-day plan to establish realistic expectations with leadership
Practice asking “What am I afraid of?” when tempted to work beyond boundaries
Implement small physical touchpoints throughout the workday
Visualize embodying “calm in chaos” (her professional ideal) each morning
Maintain minimal versions of morning practices as non-negotiables
“M”: Finding Momentum Through Unexpected Pathways
Having successfully negotiated out of an unhelpful coaching relationship, “M” stood at a crossroads wondering which direction to take first. Our discussion explored how focusing on physical wellbeing might create positive momentum that carries into professional development.
Key Takeaways & Next Steps:
Identify physical practices that bring genuine joy rather than obligation
Use consistent physical activity to build self-trust during career transition
Notice transferable skills and mindsets emerging from physical discipline
View unemployment as a temporary season with unique opportunities
Explore how physical wellbeing might connect to professional identity
“E”: Integrating Passion and Profession
With significant entrepreneurial success in content strategy and community building, “E” found herself increasingly drawn to activism and policy work – areas consuming her mental energy but not generating income. Rather than seeing these as competing paths, we explored how her established credibility creates unique opportunities to integrate these domains.
Key Takeaways & Next Steps:
Schedule a personal “business boot camp” to map integration possibilities
Identify multiple potential revenue streams within activism spaces
Leverage existing content expertise to amplify impact work
Explore business models allowing both paid and unpaid contributions
Recognize that polarizing positions attract devoted audiences and partners
The Common Thread: Another Way In
When direct approaches to challenges feel overwhelming, sometimes the most effective path forward comes through a different domain entirely. Physical practices build confidence for professional challenges. Successfully navigating one relationship improves skills for others. Maintaining perspective in one area creates resilience across all.
The most transformative practices shared were:
Daily awareness of energy flows (where it’s depleted, gained, and given)
Visualizing desired presence rather than focusing only on tasks
Maintaining small touchpoints with temporarily neglected domains
Seeking integration rather than perfect balance
Moving Forward: Integration Over Balance
As we closed our session, one thing became clear: building a better work-life isn’t about achieving perfect equilibrium. It’s about creating momentum through conscious choices that honor all aspects of who we are, even when certain domains naturally require more attention during particular seasons.
The path forward involves not rigid balance but thoughtful integration – finding how seemingly competing priorities might actually complement each other. By maintaining perspective and implementing small, consistent practices, we can navigate challenges while staying connected to our whole selves.
Remember that integration isn’t about perfection but presence. This plan provides structure while remaining flexible enough to adapt to your unique circumstances. The goal isn’t to do everything at once, but to create meaningful connections across all domains of your life, even during seasons when certain areas naturally require more attention.
We got this
x Claire
PS Join us for our next meetup on May 4th to continue this exploration and share how your own integration practices have evolved.
7-Day Action Plan
After our rich April meetup discussion, here’s a practical Monday-to-Sunday framework to implement the key insights about maintaining wholeness when life pulls us in multiple directions. This plan incorporates daily practices to help you identify your personal integration challenges and develop sustainable solutions.
Monday: Perception Mapping
Morning (15 min):
Rate your satisfaction (1-10) in each life domain: mental/spiritual, physical, financial, and relationships
Identify which areas are receiving most of your time and energy currently
Note any major gaps between importance and attention
Evening (10 min):
Journal about one domain where you feel disconnected or depleted
Ask yourself: “What am I afraid would happen if I invested more in this area?”
Write down one small way you could reconnect with this domain tomorrow
Tuesday: Energy Audit
Morning (5 min):
Set an intention to notice energy flows throughout your day
Create three simple categories in your notes app: “Energy Gained,” “Energy Depleted,” “Energy Given”
Throughout day:
Take 20-second pauses after activities to quickly note where they fall in your energy categories
Evening (10 min):
Review your energy notes and identify patterns
Circle one energy-depleting activity that you have significant control over
Design one small adjustment to reduce its drain for tomorrow
Wednesday: Fear Inventory
Morning (15 min):
Write down three choices you regularly make that don’t serve your overall wellbeing
For each choice, complete the sentence: “I’m afraid that if I don’t do this…”
For each fear, ask: “Is this fear based on actual evidence or assumptions?”
Throughout day:
Practice pausing before these habitual choices and acknowledging the underlying fear
Experiment with making one slightly different choice
Evening (5 min):
Note how it felt to make a different choice
Acknowledge yourself for practicing awareness, regardless of outcome
Thursday: Visualization Day
Morning (10 min):
Identify one challenging situation you’ll face today
Close your eyes and visualize yourself moving through it with presence and alignment
Choose 2-3 words that describe how you want to feel and appear in this situation
Throughout day:
Return to your chosen words before interactions or decisions
Notice when you’re embodying these qualities and when you’re disconnected
Evening (10 min):
Reflect on moments when you felt most aligned with your visualization
Note what supported this alignment (environment, preparation, mindset)
Friday: Micro-Connection Practice
Morning (5 min):
Identify your most neglected life domain currently
Design one 2-minute practice that connects you to this domain
Schedule three specific times to implement this micro-practice today
Throughout day:
Implement your micro-connection practice at scheduled times
Notice immediate effects on your sense of wholeness
Evening (10 min):
Evaluate your micro-practice for sustainability and impact
Refine it for continued use next week
Set up calendar reminders for this practice for the next 7 days
Saturday: Integration Exploration
Morning (20 min):
Review two areas of your life that feel most in conflict
For each area, list the values, skills, and qualities it engages
Circle areas of overlap or complementary elements
Afternoon (30 min):
Design one project or activity that combines elements from both domains
Make it small enough to accomplish in 1-2 hours
Set a specific time to implement it in the coming week
Evening (10 min):
Reflect on other potential integration points across life domains
Note any resistance or excitement about these possibilities
Sunday: Season Recognition & Planning
Morning (20 min):
Acknowledge your current life season and its natural priorities
Write a permission slip to yourself for this season’s focus
Identify which domains need maintenance rather than growth right now
Afternoon (30 min):
Create your personalized integration plan for next week:
1-2 daily micro-practices for neglected domains
1 boundary to maintain for your primary focus area
1 integration project to work on
3 moments to check in with your energy flows
Evening (10 min):
Set up any necessary reminders or environmental supports
Write a brief commitment to yourself about maintaining perspective in the week ahead
Select one insight from the meetup to revisit mid-week
x Claire
I help women embrace their worth and activate their potential. Book a 1:1 call with me here.​
