Honoring Your Pace: A New Lens on Authentic Living, Emotional Growth, and the Healing Journey

In a world obsessed with progress and productivity, it can feel revolutionary to pause. To exhale. To admit: “This is as much as I’m ready for right now.” And not only to admit it, but to believe that it’s enough.

In our first dialogue episode of It Doesn’t Have to Be This Way, I sat down with Laura Rees, my dear friend and Accountabilibuddy, to unpack a truth we both return to again and again: healing and growth do not have to be forced.

We talked about how the self-development world often mirrors the productivity mindset it claims to subvert. How the goalposts keep moving. How you can do all the right things and still feel hollow because you’re chasing a future version of yourself instead of inhabiting the one you already are.

What would it feel like to embrace contentment as a practice? To recognize peace not as passivity but as purpose? To allow yourself to be where you are, without apology?

“Peace is where my soul can rest—even while I’m active. It’s the alignment of purpose with presence.”

In our conversation, we explored:

• The grief and liberation that come with leaving performance behind
• How parenting, yoga, and nervous system work have reshaped our views of progress
• Why the journey is the product, not a prelude to it
• And how the most powerful thing you can do is honor your capacity, exactly as it is

If you’ve ever felt pressure to be further along, this episode is your permission slip to soften, settle, and trust your becoming. It’s a reminder that growth isn’t a straight line…and you’re not behind.

This episode is a balm for the overachiever in recovery—a gentle invitation to step off the productivity treadmill and reconnect with your pace, your purpose, and your peace.

Listen to the full episode: This Is As Much As You’re Ready For—And That’s Enough