So many of us reach midlife with a deep longing for less noise, more peace. We crave margin. Spaciousness. Time to breathe, pray, and reconnect with what matters. And yet… even in our best efforts to slow down, we sometimes stay stuck in the very patterns we’re trying to release.

Here are 5 common mistakes I see women making in the journey toward a slower, more intentional life:

I wanted to offer a gentle reminder this week: the way we live is shaped by what we practice daily. If we practice rushing, striving, and worrying, those things become the rhythm of our lives. But if we practice noticing, we begin to shift from fear to love, from scarcity to abundance, from busyness to deep presence.

The truth is, life’s most beautiful moments are often the smallest. The way sunlight filters through the trees. The sound of a loved one’s voice. The feeling of a deep, cleansing breath. These moments whisper to us daily, but we miss them - not because they aren’t there, but because we aren’t here.

I just returned from a five-day Soul Care retreat, as part of my Spiritual Direction certification program - five whole days away from the constant pull of emails, notifications, and the ever-present hum of daily life.

No tech distractions. No rushing. Just space to be - with God, with others, and with my own heart. 🥰

And let me tell you - I have never felt more present.

This month in our Unhurried community, we are discussing the Power of Presence & Mindful Awareness for emotional well-being and deep spiritual connection.

Ironically today, I found myself doing something ridiculous. I was standing in my kitchen, phone in one hand, stirring my coffee with the other, half-listening to a podcast on my earbuds, while also mentally drafting a response to a text. All at once.

Have you ever caught yourself replaying a conversation in your mind, wondering if you said the right thing? Have you ever felt the weight of trying to be understood, bending yourself into a version that’s more palatable or acceptable—all to keep the peace?

It’s exhausting, isn’t it?

We hear it all the time: “Love others well.” And that’s beautiful. But I want to talk a little more about loving yourself...

Not in the cliché, “treat yourself” way (although I'm all for that 😉). I’m talking about the deep kind of love. The messy, soul-soothing, grace-drenched kind. The kind that says, “Hey, you’re enough—even when you’re tired, even when you don’t have it all together.”

Jesus said, “Love your neighbor as yourself.” (Mark 12:31)

But here’s the kicker: if you don’t know how to love yourself, how can you fully love anyone else?

In our recent Unhurried community Mentoring Circle, we had a powerful conversation about what each of us are hoping to release in the new year—a feeling, an emotion, a habit that no longer serves us. As we shared, a theme began to emerge: everything we were looking to release was rooted in fear.

Fear of not being enough. Fear of disappointing others. Fear of slowing down and somehow falling behind. Fear of what happens when we surrender control. Fear of disconnecting from our children.

But as we’re reminded in 1 John 4:18, “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear.” Fear is not our natural state—love is. Fear constricts; love expands. Fear depletes; love restores. Fear whispers of scarcity; love reminds us of abundance.

As we wrap up this month’s focus on Vision & Visualization, I want to leave you with one thought: Your vision is not just a plan—it’s like the GPS guiding you on the road trip of life. Without it, you might still end up somewhere, but wouldn’t it be so much better if you were heading in the direction you really want to go?

Living intentionally is about following that GPS. It means tuning into your vision and letting it steer your decisions, your rhythms, and even your heart. It’s about saying “yes” to the right things and “no” to the distractions that lead you off course.

Have you ever stopped to think about your life as a story that God is writing? 📖

What if you could see each chapter unfolding with purpose and intention?

Visualization, when rooted in faith, isn't about forcing things or trying to "manifest" outcomes. It’s about aligning your heart with God's plans and imagining the life He’s calling you to live. It’s about stepping into the story He’s already written for you, with all the beauty and possibility He intends.

As we step into this new year, I want to share something that’s been on my heart: the profound power of having a vision for your life.

Not just the kind you see with your eyes, but the kind you carry deep within—rooted in faith, hope, and purpose. The kind that lures you out of bed in the morning and puts a big fat smile on your face, just thinking about it. :)

As the world shouts about resolutions and reinvention, I want to offer a gentler invitation:

This year isn’t about becoming someone new. It’s about coming home to who you’ve always been—the truest, most authentic version of yourself.

New Year, True You.

I don't know about you, but in this journey of simplifying, slowing down and living with more intention, I'm often asking myself "what do I really want?"

I'm reminded of a beautiful quote by Lao Tzu, packed with wisdom:

“Be content with what you have; rejoice in the way things are. When you realize there is nothing lacking, the whole world belongs to you.”

When was the last time you truly savored a moment? Not just enjoyed it, but slowed down enough to fully take it in—the taste of your morning coffee, the sound of a loved one’s laughter, or the golden glow of a sunset?

In his new book, The Wealth Money Can’t Buy, Robin Sharma shares a powerful insight: “Positive psychologists have found that the happiest, healthiest people have a common trait: they make a point of ‘savoring.’”

Savoring is the practice of intentionally pausing to absorb and appreciate life’s good moments. It’s not about waiting for grand gestures or once-in-a-lifetime experiences. Instead, it’s about turning the ordinary into something extraordinary by giving it your full attention.

And here’s the beautiful part: this practice aligns perfectly with unhurried, intentional way of living.

Have you ever been holding onto something so tightly—plans, control, or expectations—that you didn’t realize it was holding you back? I’ve been there too. For years, I thought strength meant keeping it all together, doing more, and pushing through. But I’ve learned that the true miracle lies not in grasping, but in letting go.

Surrender often gets a bad reputation in our culture. It can feel like giving up or losing control. But in God’s kingdom, surrender is a divine invitation. It’s not about weakness; it’s about trust. It’s about releasing our need to strive and opening our hearts to God’s better, bigger, and more beautiful plan.

Have you ever felt like your body is a tightly wound spring, ready to snap at the slightest tug? Life in the fast lane—deadlines, multitasking, endless commitments—can leave our nervous systems in a constant state of overdrive. And here’s the thing: we’re not designed to live like this.

Our nervous system is like the foundation of a home. When it’s strong and balanced, we feel grounded, calm, and capable. But when it’s overwhelmed, even the smallest stress can feel like an earthquake.

The good news? Adopting a slow, intentional lifestyle is one of the most powerful ways to support your nervous system.

As the holiday season approaches, there’s a certain energy in the air—a mix of joy, nostalgia, and, let’s be honest, overwhelm. The calendars fill up, the to-do lists grow, and suddenly, Christmas feels more like a sprint than a season of peace. 🕊️ Am I right?

But what if this year could be different? What if, instead of doing more, we chose to do less?

This is the invitation of simplifying. It’s not about deprivation or perfection; it’s about clearing away what distracts us from what matters most. When we simplify, we make space for God, for connection, and for the quiet joy of the season.

Gratitude is one of those things we often talk about but rarely slow down enough to truly experience. Life gets busy, and before we know it, our days blur into weeks, filled with to-do lists, responsibilities, and the endless pursuit of more.

But here’s the beautiful truth: A grateful heart has the power to pause time.✨

Have you ever watched a squirrel in the fall? It darts, leaps, hoards, and hustles with such frantic energy you can almost feel your own heart race just watching it. 

For years, I was that squirrel—chasing deadlines, juggling responsibilities, and always preparing for some invisible winter.

But here’s the thing: God didn’t design us to live like squirrels. He designed us to live like the oak tree—rooted, steady, and unhurried.