Before the next push, pause.

When’s the last time you gave yourself space to catch up with… you?

To pause.
To breathe.
To feel.
To actually land in the life you’re living.

Not to scroll. Not to fill.
But to sit, reflect, and notice.

A few Sunday’s ago in Japan, my husband and I went to a tea ceremony. It was slow, intentional, and sacred.

I learned something that’s been a timely reminder for leadership—and the way we steady ourselves before big transitions.

The origin of the tea ceremony dates back to samurai warriors preparing for battle.

Before they would step into conflict, they’d put down their swords and enter the tea house.

They’d drink tea, clear their minds and steady themselves.

First the tea, then the battle.

That stayed with me.

Because so many of us are preparing for something right now.

A new quarter.
A launch.
A transition.
A reinvention.

And yet—have we grounded ourselves before charging forward?

A Ritual to Catch Up With Yourself

We need moments to take stock.

To ask:

What’s driving me right now?

What patterns am I repeating?

Am I living in alignment—or just going through the motions?

It's not easy to sit with yourself, especially if you’ve been trained to keep moving.
But when we slow down long enough to listen, we start to hear what we’re actually longing for:

Belonging.
Connection.
Love.
Truth.

So—here’s a simple ritual. Do what you can, with the time you have:

3 minutes?

Put your phone in another room. Light a candle. Breathe. Ask:

How am I feeling?

How do I want to feel?

Are my choices aligning with the life I want to create?

20 minutes?

Stack it. Make your coffee, tea, or elixir. Journal your responses. Let it flow.

An hour?

Add movement. A walk. A yoga class. Fresh air. Let the questions move through your body.

The goal isn’t to perfect your routine—it’s to come home to yourself.

Before you move, realign.
Before you chase, check in.

The Ongoing Work

You don’t just build your leadership once.
You don’t set your mission and never revisit it.
You don’t align once and call it done.

We have to keep reflecting.
Keep evolving.
Keep returning to what’s true.

I just spent the last week deep-diving with my team—planning, aligning, building out Q2 goals. It was expansive.

And then, I spent two full days pouring back into myself.

Reviewing. Refining.
Not just what we’re doing—but who I want to be as I lead through it.

Because aren’t we all preparing for some version of battle?

Get still. Then go.
First the tea. Then the battle.

Until next week,

❤️Mandy

P.S. Does this resonate? Hit reply and let me know, I read every email and love hearing from you.

🌊 WHAT’S FILLING MY WELL LATELY

Book: The Yamas & Niyamas — an incredible framework for intentional living and inner alignment.

Sleep hack: Mouth tape. This has been a game changer for deep sleep and energy.

Upcoming gathering:
If you’re in Calgary, mark your calendars for the IRIS Foundation event—an evening of cinematic flair and impact in support of The Safe Haven Foundation.

🖤 Join me April 25th at IRIS 2025—featuring an open bar, stunning canapés, live music, and a room full of heart-led humans.

New here? Welcome 👋 Here’s my favourite place to get started - The Seven Traits of The Well Resourced Leader.