thank you so much for sharing all of this marisa. love the final idea of just paying attention to when you're on or off. that's so much what it comes down to for me...and listening to it, stopping and shifting when i need...too often hard to do.

best always,
-juliette

Ever since our parallel bunks at Squam I've felt we've lead somewhat parallel lives! Well, maybe with our businesses anyway. :)

This concept of giving ourselves permission has come at the perfect time. I've really been feeling the crunch this summer and I did it to myself. Sometimes I think I should be smarter about these things by now, 5-6 years into my business. This year, financially, I was feeling like I needed to do absolutely everything I could and have come to realize just what you said, that working harder doesn't necessarily mean a bigger financial pay off.

I decided to join the "August Break" on my blog and was relieved to be able to latch on to a group of bloggers doing the same (again with the permission). Even though I am feeling burned out, I felt worried and self conscious when someone pointed it out to me in the comments. I felt like I shouldn't lead on that I am tired and fried...like that would be bad for business and that people would think less of me. WTH? I know in my heart that's not true. I think I just didn't want to admit it. :)

I keep coming back to something I read in the blogosphere in regards to seeing everyone else "doing it all". (sorry, I can't credit this...brain dead!) But it's "Don't Compare and Despair. Admire and Inspire". I love those words. So powerful. I shared them with my son who makes Lego stop motion animations. He was feeling blue after seeing an amazing Lego video that he felt blew his out of the water. Oh boy, did I recognize that look on his face, that slump in his shoulders. I was so glad to have the words to empower him.

We all bring something amazing to the table and we need to treat ourselves right so that we can wake up the next day and do it again. And be happy that we are lucky enough to have the talent and the opportunity!

Love you! Thanks for this!
Betz

i love your podcasts!!

thanks for taking the time to get it all out there for us ~ admitting to all the worrysome stuff you've mentioned and knowing it's a common thing does help.

i'm always spending half my consciousness wondering about another/better way to be doing things ~ usually with no real idea, but with an assumption that others just know or that it's just part of running things independently! will try to stop wasting that energy and either do it or stop for a bit. thanks again :)

Hi Marisa
I love this podcast and can totally relate. As you know from the Coconuts I've been re-evaluating my business and the places I'm at. I'm still doing this, a work in progress but it's had a huge positive impact on my well being and happiness.
Yay for you putting this out there.
Niki x

Wow! Marisa, This podcast completely spoke to me. All of it, it is exactly what I needed today-in this exact moment. You put into words perfectly what goes on in a creative mind. My creative mind has been arguing with my business mind lately...so listening to your podcast let my creative mind tell my business mind a thing or two! You are in the flow...listening to that little voice inside yourself-bravo!

Can't wait to listen to this. I just wrote a post on design*sponge about the same idea of stepping back and taking rest: <a href="http://www.designsponge.com/2011/08/biz-ladies-3.html">http://www.designsponge.com/2011/08/biz-ladies-3.html</a> - it seems a lot of us are working too hard these days.

Thanks Betz for tweeting about this podcast- fantastic! I have been feeling very burned out this year and struggling to find the fun again. So much of what you said resonated with how I've been feeling. Time to reassess. Thank you for saying it so perfectly. I just might have to listen again to let it sink in. And then go listen to all your other podcasts- Hooray for discovering a new podcaster!

I listened to this days ago and have been thinking about it ever since. So much to consider. I completely relate to the idea of struggling with what feels like a rat race to collect "followers" or "likes" or comments. I feel like it's really a distraction from what can be so amazing about blogs and twitter - the idea of building a real community of like-minded and supportive people. I feel it when I get too caught up with that stuff and it feels terrible and sucks all the creative spirit from me. Thanks for always being so honest and courageous with your thoughts on this stuff.

And just so you know, even when you are quiet you still have big fans and people who will never fad away and "unfollow" just because you're not pushing it everyday. I totally get it! And good for your. You're setting a fine example for the rest of us.

Don't Compare and Despair. Admire and Inspire - this is great -
love you too B!

thank you estelle :) and thanks for always coming by to visit and sharing your insight

What a great article Michelle! such perfect timing. thanks for sharing it. It does seem like a lot of us are thinking about this topic, and I'm so happy the discussion is opening to encourage one another to step away and take a break from it all when we need to. I calmly focused on one project today, got a lot accomplished and seriously had such a nice day all around. #wecandoit!

Really enjoyed this episode Marisa and I appreciate your sharing how you honestly feel . I definitely am on the same page with this and trying to find a pace of more peace and easy. What you said about things moving so fast in cyberspace and a pressure to keep up really resonated with me. Like you mentioned, there is a cost and the question of deciding if you want that cost or not is an important one.

Hi Mimi! so glad you enjoyed it :)

oh wow, you rock girl! Thank you so much for your good thoughts and so much inspiration!

Thank you Marisa for this outstanding podcast - the wisdom you share with us in such a calm and happy way is very thought provoking and I so appreciate it! Taking time to pace ourselves is so incredibly important, now more than ever with the speed of life and all of its possibilities. I look forward to your next podcast and blog posts, whenever they may appear ~ we are always willing to wait for the really good things that we have found in our lives that inspire us!

Hi Marisa,

I finally had a chance to sit and listen to this podcast -- been saving it up, and this morning I switched up my Saturday morning routine so I could sit on my couch with a mug of coffee and just listen to it.

There's so much good inspiration here, so many helpful thoughts. One thing that especially spoke to me was this idea of taking ourselves out of the game --just deciding not to play by those social media measurement rules anymore and instead focus on who we are and what we have to contribute and just to do that work. That comes alongside what I've been sensing a lot these days, too, and just propels me forward to say, "Yes! I'm not here to win or compete or measure. I'm here to do my good work for the people who need and value it."