The Deep Dive is ready, and I’m so glad to share it with you.
You get clarity about the big picture for you and your business when you turn away from the to-do list and turn toward your heart.
Putting the Deep Dive together has been quite a journey for me.
Today I’m thinking a lot about what happens when you actually stop, turn away from the to-do list, and allow the magic that happens when you sink into stillness. Check out the video; in it I lead you in a small 90 seconds of quiet be-ing with yourself just to share the flavor of the shift that can happen when you allow it, when you open to it.
Of course, what you’ll get on the Deep Dive is more than just the quiet, but I wanted to start there with you. Now that I’ve overcome my video shyness (by some miracle), I’ll be sharing more of what I’m learning as I dive deeper and deeper.
Here’s some of what I’ve learned as I’ve taken my own Deep Dive into developing this retreat for you
On the surface, the word “retreat” might connote something negative, like you’re operating from fear. Stay with me here, there’s more to see. If the Deep Dive retreat is about retreating from anything, it’s about retreating from the attachment to your busyness; retreating from the belief that you don’t need as much love, support, and sacred reflective time as you offer your clients in your heart-centered work. And it’s retreating toward your own stillness, retreating toward your own highest good, and retreating toward the completely audacious and completely necessary idea that in order for you to sustainably give of your heart, your soul, and your passion, you need to give to yourself. Early and often — oftener than you’ll probably ever feel capable of doing without support.- Heart-centered women in business are really really good at DIY-ing, but sometimes DIY just doesn’t cut it. You’re probably an amazing multi-tasker, you probably rock the details, and you give your clients 110% of all you’ve got. Do you get stuck — like I have too many times — thinking that since you’ve learned so much, and know so much, you oughta be able to do the deep work necessary to keep your business fed, watered, and fertilized so that it can support you as well as you support it; so that it can grow and shift and change when the time is right? Yeah sister, some shit we just can’t do alone.
- Videos are not so scary! I swear I don’t know how I got here, but I’m so glad I did. If you’re
smartlucky enough to have a Mac, the combination of QuickTime and iMovie and YouTube is pretty easy to use. I’ve done about four now and while there are a lot of steps, they’re easy to follow, and the answers can be found online by asking simple questions. (I think it helped that I have had an really good hair day today.) I applied my “do it fast in order to outrun your inner critic” approach that I use when I make art. A little preparation, post-its strategically applied near the camera, and boom. If I can do this, I promise you you can too!
I love this article, Sue. I find stillness to be the essential ingredient for everything that I want to create. It all begins in the willingness to step out of busyness. Counter-intutive on first glance, but actually spot-on. Thanks!
Laurie, thanks. Just getting to the willingness to slow down and quiet down — that makes the first big shift and then creates the opening for more and more of the juicy good stuff.
Blessings,
Sue
I so needed this reminder today to “walk away from the to-do list.” Thx chica!!
You are so welcome Kimba. I love that feeling of walking away from the day-to-day details and minutiae, and walking towards openness and receptivity.
Love and light,
Sue
this, “If the Deep Dive retreat is about retreating from anything, it’s about retreating from the attachment to your busyness.”
Yes – retreating from the attachment to my busyness. And my retreat is in full force!
Peggy, and you inspire me so much with those things with which you are busying yourself these days — like your fitness achievements. Go you!
xoxox
Sue
I love the image of outrunning “that voice.” And you’ve got me thinking about video. How the heck did *that* happen??? 😉
Andrea, I have no clue, but I’m so glad it did. I made a decision to not worry so much about flaws, and to just be myself. Plus my hair looks great in that video — this is no small thing for me! 🙄
Love!
Sue
Well done for getting over the video threshold Sue 🙂 I know I need to get better at taking time for stillness, without doing anything (like art). I will take some time once the house is quiet. Thanks for the reminder. I’d love to see more of your smile in the next video 🙂
Oh, more smiling, okay. Great suggestion. I’ll see what I can do.
🙂
Yes to putting to-do lists aside…and retreating into the magic of stillness!
So happy you are helping others find and create this sort of space and connection, Sue.
Dana, thanks for your loving words, they mean a lot.
Blessings,
Sue
Your philosophy is so valuable for writers. As soon as I start stressing out and not allowing any quiet time for myself, I start spinning my wheels and I can feel all my creativity just seeping away. So important! “Deep dive” is a great phrase to keep in mind – it reminds me of scuba diving when all things are quiet and you can connect with yourself and nature. One of the things I want to do is copy your example of jumping into the video world for my blog.Great job!
Thanks Julie. While I haven’t scuba’d, I have spent many hours shallow diving as a snorkeler. I love how the sounds change — you hear your heart, you hear your breath, you hear the fish chomping on the coral, and if you’re with others you hear the otherwordly sounds they make. Heaven.
Keep me posted as you let go of the resistance and vlog!
xoxox
Sue
Wonderful article and video Sue! I’m glad you addressed our perceptions of retreats because living where I do the image that pops into my mind when I think of retreat is the “Paia crowd” which are the hippie holdovers who have parked themselves in that area. But I know better so it was good you jerked me out of that right quick. Your program sounds wonderful and knowing you I have no doubt it will be a huge success!
Marquita, you crack me up! I know just what you mean. I’ve spent enough time in and around the hippie holdover version of deep work to know that it’s of no use to me — and the people I serve — unless the work is real, and grounded, and deals in equal measure with the grit as well as the grace.
Love and light,
Sue
I love the way you keep calling us into stillness and care of the soul Sue. And I’m encouraged by your video progress. I haven’t worked out how to do this yet, but I have a Mac and am going to give it a try.
Juliet, if you have a Mac you’re off to a good start. I found a lot of info online. Google is your friend. And toss questions my way, I’ll help as I can.
xoxox
Sue
Thank you Sue, I appreciate the offer. Did you set up special lighting? Can you message me?
Juliet, I didn’t set up anything, I always like to try the simplest way first and it worked just fine. You can email me with other questions as you need: sue@dev2.magnoliaswest.com
Sue congrats for embracing video. I love taking time for me to be in stillness and do it at least once a day. I now use silence when I need to make a decision and then journal.
I like the journaling on what i haven’t completed- the next 60 days might be very busy for me
love Suzie xxoo
Suzie, I’ve been taking that moment of silence and listening at the turnaround point (a ruin of an old dock) on my daily walk. It’s a wonderful thing. Imagine a full night and a day of that goodness!
Blessings,
Sue
Hi, Thanks for sharing these great reminders, it is so timely. Great read.