Dear Reader,

It's Mindfulness Month, so I'm kicking off this newsletter with a little something on this powerful practice.

What is mindfulness? Jon Kabat-Zinn, founder of the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program, defines it as "awareness that arises through paying attention, on purpose, in the present moment, and non-judgmentally."

In simpler terms, mindfulness is the practice of noticing what's happening right now — without labeling it as good or bad. When we pay attention to our thoughts and feelings, we build the muscle of awareness. That awareness helps us recognize what's going on inside us, including our habitual patterns and reactive tendencies.

Here's an example from my own life. Growing up, I was conditioned to be a "good girl," and never be a bother. Whenever I felt a strong urge to ask for help, at work or in my personal life, I'd push the thought away and try to figure things out alone. The more I became aware of my discomfort when needing help and sat with it without judgment, I was able to move through the feeling. Today, I'm a coach who asks a lot of questions and leans on others to grow my practice. Quite the shift.

When we get better at noticing our thoughts and feelings, and interrupt our conditioned responses, we come into ourselves more fully. We begin to operate from our essence: centered, creative, and courageous.

ON MY BLOG

Lately, I've been thinking about how easy it is to stay quiet and keep the peace, rather than do the harder work of changing things. I've done it more times than I'd like to admit. I've stayed in jobs too long, even when the environment was toxic. I've held onto friendships and relationships well past their expiration dates. But staying quiet has a big price; we slowly start to abandon ourselves.

In my latest blog post, I reflect on what it means to be courageous — to show up, be seen, and live from our core. In honor of Women's History Month, I'm also paying tribute to the women who inspire me to keep choosing courage despite the obstacles: Harriet Tubman, Marie Curie, Frances Perkins, and Patsy Mink.

If you're standing at the edge of something that requires courage, this one's for you.

INSPIRED THINKING

Remember the Slow Food Movement? Born in 1986 as a protest against fast food culture, it invited people to step away from speed and convenience — and return to what's local, intentional, and shared. Food wasn't just fuel; it was a communal experience.

Inspired by that idea, earlier this year, I took to social media with my own call to action: the "Slow Life Movement." I even designed a logo. It didn't go viral — but the response surprised me. People were hungry for the radical idea of simply slowing down.

And no wonder. We live in a culture that rewards speed, where "busy" has become a badge of honor. Many of us are paying for it with our presence, our health, and our sense of meaning.

So here's my invitation: resist the constant pull of productivity and more. Embrace the Slow Life. Feel the sun on your face. Smile at a stranger. Tell your team you appreciate them. Call someone you haven't spoken to in a while. Give a loved one a long, purposeful hug.

What's one place in your life where slowing down might help you lead, live, or relate more fully?

CREATIVE MUSINGS

I recently visited Hopscotch in Portland — an immersive art experience filled with light shows and stunning art exhibits. One work caught my attention: Secret Garden, by the studio Wide Awake.

The installation features large, lush treetops suspended in the air. Visitors can walk beneath one of these canopies and listen to a secret — anonymously recorded by a stranger. The range was striking. One woman described the person who unknowingly saved her from suicide. Another spoke about the pain of a failed relationship. In the Rated-G section, one man mused about his belly button lint. There's also a recording booth where you can leave your own secret behind.

The artist statement captures the spirit of it beautifully: "The Secret Garden is a space where secrets shared spread like pollination and bloom hope, joy and shared sorrow." It also touches on the psychology of secrecy — how keeping secrets can fuel anxiety and depression, while sharing them can lift the isolation that comes from carrying something alone.

What might it feel like to finally say the thing you've never said out loud — a regret, a fear, a quiet humiliation? You don't have to share it with anyone. Write it down. Record a voice memo. Decide later whether to keep it or let it go.

Sometimes the most courageous thing we can do is shine a light on our own shame. What secret, if shared, might bloom into something hopeful?

REFLECTION

When you face a difficult decision, how do you talk to yourself? Do you become the scolding parent, cataloging everything that could go wrong? Do you pressure yourself toward what you should do, or spiral into how your choice might affect everyone else? Do you perseverate until you've worked yourself into a knot?

When that happens, try this instead. Get quiet. Let go of the pros and cons, the what-ifs, the competing voices. Just breathe — slowly, deeply, several times. Place your hands on your heart and bring to mind someone you love deeply. Feel that love. Now turn it inward, toward yourself.

From that place of self-compassion, ask: What would love do?

Sit with it. Let the question breathe.

What would love do?

CLOSING NOTE

Thank you for reading. If you'd like to explore mindfulness further, I have a PDF covering its benefits and how to start a practice. Just email me at lisa@lisaslee.com and I'll send it your way. As always, feel free to send me feedback on the newsletter, and don’t forget to connect with me on LinkedIn.

With appreciation,

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