Word of the Week: Adaptable

Life Lesson:

If there’s one thing this pandemic has taught me, it’s to stop making plans. There’s a part of me that was really stressed by this at first, but if I’m being honest with myself, there’s another part of me that was relieved. There’s a strange sense of relief, isn’t there, when you stop trying so damn hard to be in control?

I’ve tried to control where Andrew and I would end up after our chapter in NYC for a long time. Would we move back to the Bay Area? Denver? Abroad? I’ve lost a lot of sleep trying to plan our future in my head, weighing the pros and cons and coming to the conclusion that there were too many choices—yet not enough—and shutting down before making any decisions at all.

When the pandemic changed everything, all the peripheral things that used to weigh on me melted away, and one thing rose to the surface: nature. Every fiber of my being screamed, “I MUST BE IN NATURE!”

So we listened, and now we are about to embark on one of our greatest adventures yet: #vanlife. First stop is back home to Michigan to drop off our belongings, then Montana at the base of Glacier National Park, then Utah to get our red rocks fix, and then…stay tuned!

Life becomes quite simple when you start honoring the wisdom of your body. As tempting as it is to try to logicize decisions in your head, I’ve realized it’s generally a waste of time, because you’ll spin in circles without getting much of anywhere instead of listening to what your body has been trying to tell you the entire time.

Plus, you can plan all you want, but life will unfold regardless, so you might as well adapt and save yourself the headache of trying to outsmart the process.

Ask Yourself: What decisions can I make to help me feel more free?

Weekly Mantra: I release the need to be in control.

When in Doubt, Jam It Out!

Chicken Fried by Zac Brown Band (Follow the Spotify playlist “Jam it Out with Elizabeth” to stay up-to-date with the weekly tunes 🎵)

Things I Think You’ll Love:

Nell and Tish are the real deal. Their Instagram account is chock-full of incredible healing exercises, affirmations and feel-good vibes—an incredible resource for anyone looking for a quick mind, body and spirit pick-me-up.

Bonus: Check out my latest on Talkspace “Why Do Some of us Perform Better Under Pressure?” to learn:

The impact of fight-flight-freeze responses at work
The importance of nervous system regulation and how to do it
The benefits of practicing mindfulness
Why compassion helps overcome fear of failure

Cheering you on your journey to letting go!

XO,

Elizabeth