Recently I was at a pre-K parent orientation, sitting next to a mom of five who had both knees taped up. When she spoke about her fitness routine, I gently asked what was going on with her knees.

She told me that she had been on a family bike ride, pedaling hard for miles without realizing that her back wheel’s brakes were locked up. Her husband discovered it when they stopped for water.

She’d been pushing hard, with only one wheel free to turn. She was so used to a high degree of difficulty that even though her knees hurt, she didn’t question whether anything was wrong.

That locked-up wheel reminded me of myself, and the many eldest daughters I’ve worked with as a purpose coach.

A coaching client recently said, “I wish I could take a more leisurely approach to my life.” But after decades of pushing hard, how do we let it be easier now?

Many of my coaching clients have intense “helping” jobs (think doctors, nurses, and therapists). Often they also have significant caregiving responsibilities; they’re raising kids, perhaps, or supporting family members with disabilities.

Does that sound like you? If so, you’re probably so good at helping that you keep getting more responsibilities. And as the responsibilities pile on, the pressure mounts.

How do you “take a more leisurely approach to life” when you already have so much on your plate?

This class is the how. It’s designed to give you a practical path to a simpler life. It isn’t about doing more. It’s about coming back to yourself, and seeing what opens up when you do that.

You’ve carried enough. Now it’s time to let it be easier. Because you’re not here just to hold it all together. You’re here to live on purpose.

If you’re a high-achiever who’s ready to stop surviving and start living, this class is for you. Together, we’ll create space for what matters most to you — without the guilt and burnout.

Dear reader, you don’t need to earn rest. You just need to remember who you are.

When I came home from a long-awaited trip to Scotland this summer, my therapist did me a big favor. She told me she’d made a note to check in with me about whether I was taking on too much after the trip.

You see, she’d noticed a pattern: As soon as I recharged my batteries, I piled on more projects and responsibilities.

Do you ever do that, dear reader? Ever resolve to take care of yourself, shoring up your reserves through rest or play … only to immediately take on tons more work to “atone” for it?

Me too! False guilt and self-denial trick us into getting back on the hamster wheel. Often there’s a feeling that we don’t deserve the newfound good energy.

The good news is, we can stop that pattern before it starts up again. Releasing the pressure starts now. If you’re ready to make a real shift and you just need great support and strategy, join me on Wednesday, August 13th starting at 12pm CDT.

Class runs for one hour, and it is interactive; come prepared to engage, complete coaching exercises, and ask questions. To ask a question in advance, email me at caroline[AT]carolinegarnetmcgraw[DOT]com.

If you can’t attend live, rest assured that registration gets you replay access as well.

This group session is a powerful starting point — and if you’re ready to go further, I’ll share how we can work together going forward.