Have you ever felt like your whole being was craving stillness, but life just kept charging ahead? That’s exactly where I’m at right now. I am so excited because it’s the night before I get to go on vacation and not just any trip. I’ve secured a whole week off where I’m going inward to retreat. No plans, no agendas, no schedules. I may sleep in. I don’t know what I’m going to do, and honestly, that’s the whole point.
This retreat is all about giving myself space to go with the flow. I’m bringing along a few intentional self-care rituals that nourish me mentally, physically, emotionally, spiritually, and creatively, but beyond that, I’m releasing expectations. I just feel very called to embrace my own experience and be fully present with myself. After a long stretch of pushing through deadlines and showing up for others, it feels really good to show up for me.
So in today’s Wise Walk, we’re slowing down together. We’re going to check our reality and ask ourselves these questions.
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- Are you willing to commit to retreating, even if you don’t leave your home?
- What helps you recharge, restore balance, and reconnect with yourself?
- How can you reignite the parts of you that feel dimmed or suppressed?
- What will you commit to now to prevent burnout later?
- What absolutely must get done right now, and what can wait?
- Where can you give yourself breathing room to approach tasks with more energy?
- How can you structure your days to match what you realistically have energy for?
- What can you postpone guilt-free, knowing it’s still on your list but not urgent?
- How can you set yourself up for success by prioritizing balance over busyness?
- Where can you celebrate yourself for choosing harmony and self-care alongside productivity?
I can’t wait to hear how you’re creating space to retreat and realign in your own way. Until next time, keep prioritizing fun as you read the signs, direct your path, and get your stride on.
In this episode:
[03:04] My sister and I booked a trip to Nantucket to go on a retreat. I love the coastal sea immersion and the charm of the town.
[04:47] We’ve had a lot going on and questioned whether this was the right time.
[05:08] A good thing about booking in advance is that there is a financial loss if you cancel. I also really need this trip on an energetic and emotional level.
[06:18] We should be able to take a week off and retreat without feeling stress.
[08:05] When it comes to deadlines, I’ll do whatever I need to do to hit it. Having the retreat scheduled, helps me focus on what I need to accomplish even if I have to do a little extra before leaving.
[09:40] I also had to make strategic decisions to put some things on the back burner.
[12:16] Another great thing about scheduling a retreat in your life is you get to design it however you see fit.
[13:08] I also want to wear an eye mask and earplugs and sleep in and tune out.
[14:11] I look forward to sharing whatever awakenings and impressions come out of this retreat. I’d also like to hear what you have planned.
Memorable Quotes:
- “I just feel very called to embrace my own experience and be very, very present with myself.” – Mary Tess
- “We all benefit from retreating from the norm. It helps us open our eyes, gain a different perspective, and connect with our bodies without expectations.” – Mary Tess
- “You are the only one that knows what is best for you.” – Mary Tess
Links and Resources:
Mary Tess Rooney
Email
Facebook | LinkedIn | Twitter | Instagram
Heart Value
Sometimes things don’t go as expected. Yet, there are unexpected surprises that give us more than we imagine. This episode talks about celebrating the surprises of life.
I’m feeling extremely energized and happy this week. Why? It’s my birthday week! Yes, I completed another trip around the sun. I find myself in this new year where I get to carve out another chapter of my story. It makes me reflect on how far I came and how far I can go.
I’m here to spend quality solo time with you for EP101’s Wise Walk as we discover our True Stride. I am literally the definition of a surprise. In this episode, I share my birth story with you and how I completely surprised my parents. It’s a story my mom tells me every year during my birthday. It already holds a special meaning for me, and I felt it’s a lesson on embracing change (outside of being hilarious).
On our Wise Walk, I talk about dreams, intentions, and the chance to craft a new narrative. Come with me as we reflect on these Wise Walk questions:
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- Where in your life are you allowing for surprises to come in?
- Are you taking the time to celebrate them?
- When you think of your past, where has your life taken a detour and that detour worked out better than expected?
- As you think about your future, where can you release the expectation around how it comes to life?
There is this cosmic unknown that is influencing our paths in life. We can embrace changes as they come our way, making the most out of each moment. Embracing the moment puts us back in our power.
You have to be willing to open up to the possibilities. Don’t get too attached to the “how.” Let the universe support you. Allow the future to fluidly unfold with these Wise Walk questions:
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- Where in your life are you allowing growth and expansion to occur?
- Where are you releasing expectations and openly inviting love and new experiences into your life?
- Where have you honed in on some expectations that are potentially limiting?
- Can you release the limiting expectations?
Join this inspiring community to uncover a new sense of freedom, and be sure to follow and review the True Stride podcast as we continue to exchange our light and Heart Value with each other.
In this episode:
[00:23] – Welcome to the show!
[01:33] – Mary Tess shares why her birth was a surprise for her parents.
[03:38] – Celebrate the surprises in life.
[05:54] – You never know where life will take you.
[08:34] – Mary Tess shares a love story that surprises her. What shocked her?
[11:20] – Be open to receive good in your life.
[13:17] – Allow the future to fluidly unfold.
[15:36] – Thank you for listening!
Memorable Quotes:
- “I am taking my life chapter by chapter. And each year I’m gifted is another year I get to write the story of my dreams.” – Mary Tess
Links and Resources:
Mary Tess Rooney
Email
Facebook | LinkedIn | Twitter | Instagram
Heart Value
The daily ability to self-reflect and apply what you learn or discover to your everyday life is sexy. No doubt about it. You take time to self-reflect every week with the True Stride podcast, so YOU are sexy. This episode celebrates your sexy self-reflection.
I had a chat with a friend who met a new dude and, from what I heard, it’s going well so far. When I asked what had her so jazzed about the guy she’s seeing, my friend said she likes that he’s really good at self-reflection. She thinks it’s sexy. He’s honoring who he is and presenting himself in a way that others can get to know who he is. Honestly, it’s understandable that self-reflection and self-awareness are attractive traits.
I’m here to spend quality solo time with you for EP94’s Wise Walk as we discover our True Stride. Let’s evaluate how sexy we are for taking time to self-reflect and look at what that does for us as individuals and what that does for people around us. What we say “yes” and “no” to creates space for opportunities to align with the activities, people, and experiences we want.
On our Wise Walk, I explore how self-reflection allows you to key-in on who you are and who you want to be. I also talk about how it helps you share that connection to yourself with others. Come with me as we reflect on these Wise Walk questions:
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- Do you currently take time to celebrate and honor the sexy self-reflection in you?
- How often in your life are you self-reflecting?
- Are you training your self-reflection muscle so it becomes a natural reflex?
- If you are using it regularly, how has self-reflection changed your life and your connections with others?
- Where in your life are you noticing those opportunities that you’re saying “heck yes,” or those opportunities where you’re hesitant?
- In those hesitant moments, can you give yourself the opportunity to say “no”, to make room for more “heck yes“ moments?
- With each day, can you take time to self-reflect on how experiences make you feel?
- When you feel off, can you say “no” to bring yourself back into alignment, and say “yes” to opportunities that attract more of what you want?
You are unique. We’re all unique, and we all need different things at different times. Self-reflection helps you stand in your truth so that you’re following the path that is best for you.
The time you take to be with yourself will nourish your True Stride. Celebrate and appreciate who you are and who you are becoming with these Wise Walk questions:
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- Where are you self-reflecting and listening to your body?
- Where do you notice that you need some time to recover or heal?
- How often in your life are you taking time to honor your body’s messages to yourself?
- Are you self-reflecting on the messages your body sends, and are you taking action on those messages?
- How are you adopting the cues you get from self-reflection about showing up for yourself?
- When you are asked a question, will you give yourself the space in that moment to see where your answers lead you?
- Will you see an opportunity to create an intimate connection with the person asking you the question?
- Can we vulnerably share the origins of our behaviors and beliefs so that someone else can know us on a deeper level?
Join this inspiring community to uncover a new sense of freedom, and be sure to follow and review the True Stride podcast as we continue to exchange our light and Heart Value with each other.
In this episode:
[00:23] – Welcome to the show!
[02:33] – Mary Tess talks about being connected to who you are and what you want in life.
[05:16] – Mary Tess looks at the flip side of our reaction to what gives us energy and what doesn’t.
[07:55] – Sleep is so healing and nourishing.
[10:17] – Our body gives us clues of what we need.
[11:44] – Mary Tess reflects on this particular habit she does when she goes out to eat with friends. PART 1
[14:08] – Mary Tess reflects on this particular habit she does when she goes out to eat with friends. PART 2
[17:19] – Self-reflect to give gratitude.
[19:40] – Celebrate and appreciate who you are and who you are becoming.
[21:20] – What do you need more of?
[23:00] – Thank you for listening!
Memorable Quotes:
- “If I know what I want and what I don’t want, and if I can communicate that clearly to myself and those around me, I’m going to keep attracting those people and activities that do light me up.” – Mary Tess
- “We have the opportunity to stand in our truth, to become more of who we are and who we’re meant to be, and to let other people see us shine that light on ourselves and the direction we want to go.” – Mary Tess
Links and Resources:
Mary Tess Rooney
Email
Facebook | LinkedIn | Twitter | Instagram
Heart Value
