Retreating: The Radical Act of Self-Preservation
For so many of us—especially women over 40 who have spent a lifetime nurturing, fixing, and carrying the emotional loads of others—the idea of stepping away can feel radical. It can feel selfish. But I’ll say this plainly: Retreating is not running away. It is not abandoning your responsibilities. Retreating is an act of self-preservation.
In my coaching program, I talk often about the power of retreating—not just as a weekend getaway or a spa day (though those have their place), but as a deep, intentional practice of stepping away from external noise to reconnect with our inner truth.
I find myself in this exact season right now. As I consider a move abroad, seeking the quiet I need to hear my own voice more clearly, I wrestle with feelings of guilt. Shouldn’t I stay close? Shouldn’t I be more available? Is it selfish to go where my soul feels called?
But here’s what I know: When we are constantly tending to the needs, expectations, and demands of others without tending to ourselves, we lose our way. Our intuition becomes muffled. Our desires become secondary. And worst of all, we begin to forget what our own voice even sounds like.
This is why retreating matters. Not just for a moment of relief, but as a necessary rhythm of life. When we step back, we gain clarity. When we allow ourselves space, we receive insight. When we stop drowning in the noise of everyone else’s expectations, we remember who we are and what we truly want.
Retreating is not about escaping—it is about returning. Returning to yourself. Returning to your wisdom. Returning to a place of deep alignment, where your choices are made from clarity, not chaos.
So if you, like me, are feeling that call to step away, even if just for a little while, please hear this from my heart to yours: It is not selfish. It is sacred. Your dreams, your peace, and your well-being matter. You are allowed to pause. You are allowed to retreat. And when you do, you will return stronger, clearer, and more emboldened than ever before.
Tell me—where in your life is your heart asking you to step away so you can truly hear yourself again?
You don’t have to do this work alone. Just take a moment for yourself and book a heart-to-heart discovery call to see what support in your journey might look like: https://monetfcschedulinglink.as.me/DiscoveryCall.
#selfcare #selfpreservation #retreatreleaserebuildrise #emboldenedandthriving #myonebeautifullife #healinghearts