For over 15 years, I've been in a deep relationship with meditation. What began as a tool to manage stress and anxiety during undergrad has evolved into a practice that's helped guide me through the ebbs and flows of life. Through it, I've found comfort — and also learned something that's shaped how I navigate every transition since.
Six years ago, that practice led me to pursue MBSR teacher training at Brown University. I still lead meditation groups today, both in professional settings and for people navigating their own seasons of change.
When I mention my practice to others, I often encounter initial skepticism: "You pay to sit in silence?" To which I usually say, "Heck yeah I do."
Just this past weekend, I found myself at a day-long retreat centered on "Impermanence and the Myth of Control." It was a welcome pause amid the chaos of the last six months — moving back into full-time work, nurturing my coaching practice on the side, and recovering from ankle surgery. Life has felt like a treadmill.
As a mindfulness practitioner, I've come to embrace a fundamental truth: change is the only constant. I've spent years going back and forth between full-time roles and building Learn Mindfully, and every single time, I've watched myself try to control the timeline — trying to force clarity before it was ready, gripping a plan long after it stopped fitting.
When change shows up, most of us instinctively tighten our grip — trying to exert control in the face of discomfort or uncertainty. What I've learned, slowly and imperfectly, is that there's a different way through: setting an intention, and then staying flexible about how you get there.
It means holding a north star vision while still embracing the unpredictable nature of the actual path. It's about moving through the waves with some grace, noticing what arises in yourself as you go, and choosing surrender over control — not because control isn't tempting, but because it was never really available to begin with.
The practice: Where in your own transition are you gripping tightest right now? Notice it without trying to fix it yet. That noticing is usually the first real step toward loosening your hold.