It’s easy to get caught in the rhythm of doing. Meetings, decisions, responsibilities — one thing after another.
But every now and then, something forces you to step out of that rhythm.
For me, that moment came recently — a five-day silent retreat that gave me the chance to stop, slow down, and reset.
The retreat took place at the Garrison Institute on the Hudson River in Garrison, N.Y. Each day included six meditation sessions and two teachings — one in the morning and one in the afternoon. I’ve done a number of silent retreats over the years, but this one felt different. There was a real depth to the experience, with everyone fully leaning into the silence.
As the retreat came to a close on Sunday, I found myself reflecting on the power of slowing down to truly reset and recharge. The focus wasn’t on doing, but on being fully present in the silence. And in that space, something shifted. I felt reenergized and ready to step back into my work — coaching clients and facilitating programs — with a renewed sense of clarity and focus.
My mantra has always been “slow down to go faster,” and this experience reaffirmed that in a powerful way. The more I settled into the silence — even on quiet walks around the retreat center — the easier it became to fully surrender to the present moment.
I spend a lot of time talking to my clients about doing the deep work — taking time each day to capture their wins or lessons, and then reflecting on them weekly. When you reflect in writing, it accelerates your learning. Writing crystallizes thought, and crystallized thought drives action. The more I reflected in my journal, the more clarity I gained from the silence during the meditation sessions. The focus of that reflection was simple: be more and do less.
These retreats continue to renew me, and that energy carries into every part of my life — with my spouse, my children, my grandchildren, my clients, my friends, and the community I live in.
I’ve always found this quote from Leonardo da Vinci to be especially powerful:
“Every now and then, go away, have a little relaxation. For when you come back to your work, your judgment will be surer. Go some distance away because then the work appears smaller and more of it can be taken in at a glance, and a lack of harmony and proportion is more readily seen.”
When was the last time you stepped back from the daily grind to reflect on what really matters most — in life, love, and leadership — and set a clear direction for your future and your business? Learn more at Achievable.com.
Does Your Management Team have an MBA (Management by Accident) Mindset?
Many organizations promote their top performers into management, but too often, those new leaders continue to focus on their own tasks instead of building and guiding a team.
The outcome? ‘Management by Accident’ where team performance stalls and growth lags when what’s really needed is intentional, strategic leadership.
Take a moment to download and answer these 10 questions and see if your team is leading with an MBA (‘Management by Accident’) mindset.
