More Lessons in Happiness (Learned on the Road)

I’ve been back from my East Coast book tour for about 10 days now–5 of which I was sick in bed for! While there was some down time (like chilling on the patio in the back of the apartment I stayed in in the East Village), I flew back to Denver feeling run down, burned out, and disconnected from myself.

Some rare down time in NYC's East Village

Remembering my mom's advice to me whenever I feel overwhelmed: "Sara, look at your feet."

Don’t get me wrong: I thoroughly enjoyed my time back East. I showed up fully and enthusiastically to lead my first retreat at Kripalu and to present my book for the first time to live audiences. It was fun, fulfilling, and affirming in every way. I ate great food, put my bare feet on moist green grass, saw my entire family, explored some of my favorite spots in NYC with my beau, and was on TV for the first time (watch the clip below)!

But there was also a lot of running around, sleeping (not very well) in different several places, and meeting lots of people– a lot for an introvert like me to digest!

So, while in bed last week, I had the chance to not only rejuvenate, but also to reorient. I thanked my cold for coming; I listened to its reminder to rest, slow down, be solitary, and to simplify. Yet another opportunity to walk my talk and embody the lessons of my book more fully….it’s never ending what this book has to teach me! Here are some other huge lessons I’ve learned from it in the past year.

I asked myself: “How do I need to pace myself for this next month as I go into part 2 of my book tour,” “What will best and most efficiently bring me back into health and feeling happy and at home with myself?”, and “What have I been saying ‘yes’ to that I now need to say ‘no’ to?”

Now that my energy is coming back, along with the passionate flame in my heart to go out into the world and to share myself as brightly as I can, I am making a firm commitment to myself to stay grounded  and connected to the messages in my body, even when my life gets busier and moves more quickly. I commit to saying yes when my body says yes. To saying no when she says no. To taking excellent care of myself. This no doubt will take discipline, courage, fierceness! And I commit to sharing what I learn with all of you as I go.

In the meantime, I have several new projects incubating that I look forward to revealing to you (soon). I leave for phase two of my Book Tour exactly one week from today. My beau and I start out in San Francisco and will drive up the west coast, ending in Vancouver at the end of June. I hope you see you along the way and to share with you my new discoveries (inner and outer) as I go.

And if you’re finding yourself in a similar place, here are some ways to land and regroup:

1. Stop. Take out your sword and clear a day. Make your calendar for that day nothing but white space. Cancel things. Don’t make any appointments. Omit the need to show up for anything or anyone (other than yourself!).

2. Consult Pleasure. Ask yourself: What would feel really good to me right now? What would make me feel happy and alive? Commit to doing those things that day. Eat really healthy and delicious foods. Spend time outside. Go to a yoga class. Walk through the woods. Take a nap. Watch a chick flick in bed. Take a hot bath. Or do whatever works for you!

3. Discern.  What are you saying “yes” to that feels like a “no” in your body? Where can you find the courage and power within yourself to say “no” even when it’s hard?

4. Commit. Tell the people in your life what you’re working on. Ask for their support. Ask them to help hold you accountable to your new agreements to take care of yourself first, to make your pleasure a priority, and to set clear boundaries that help to uphold that.

And, of course, there are lots more practical ideas about how to do that in my book. And, after a long hiatus while I was writing my book, I’m once again taking on a limited amount of one-on-one mentoring clients. If you’re interested, you can learn more here.