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A fresh slate for the season ahead

A Fresh Slate for the Season Ahead

Picture yourself sitting at a bistro table outside your favorite neighborhood café, watching the light shift as the seasons turn. There’s a quiet hum in the air, a sense of something resetting. This week brings us two powerful moments — the equinox and the new moon — both offering us an invitation to pause, reflect, and step into the next season with intention.

The equinox, when day and night come into balance, reminds us of the value of equilibrium. The new moon, dark and unadorned, is the ultimate blank page — a fresh slate waiting for your next chapter to be written. Together, they whisper: you get to reset, too.

Cosmic Frame: Equinox and New Moon Energy

The equinox occurs only twice a year, marking the rare balance of light and dark. It’s a natural resetting point, reminding us that even the earth reaches a point of equilibrium. For those of us living in the busyness of modern professional life, this balance can feel elusive — but the equinox reminds us it’s possible.

The new moon, by contrast, is the beginning of the lunar cycle. It’s a moment of quiet potential, when the sky is dark and everything is yet to come. In many traditions, the new moon is a powerful time for seeding intentions. Think of it as life’s way of giving you a clean sheet of paper and a sharpened pencil.

When these two cycles overlap — as they do now — it’s as though the universe is offering you an extra-strong invitation: pause, reset, and cast a new line.

Soulful Reflection: Mid-Career Reset

As mid-career professionals, many find themselves at a crossroads. What mattered five years ago may not hold the same weight today. Perhaps the goals you once chased no longer feel nourishing, or the definition of “success” you inherited early in your career feels misaligned with whom you’ve become or you desire to be.

The equinox and new moon together ask us to consider: What version of success feels right for me in this season?

For some, this may look like seeking greater harmony among work, home, and community. For others, it might be redefining ambition — not as an endless hustle, but as nurturing a purposeful, meaningful impact. And for many, it may mean giving yourself permission to slow down, breathe, and realign with what truly matters.

Engaging with the Season Ahead

Here are ways to engage with this reset moment and bring it into your professional and personal life:

  • Redefine Success for This Season

Instead of chasing the version of success you defined years ago, pause and ask what feels nourishing today. Success evolves as we do. Sometimes it’s the big promotion; sometimes it’s having energy left at the end of the day for what you love. Success doesn’t have to mean “more.” Sometimes it means “enough.”

  • Rebalance Your Energy

The equinox teaches us balance, not perfection. You don’t need a 50/50 split between work and everything else. What you need is a rhythm that feels steady and sustainable. Some weeks may tilt heavily toward work, others toward rest. The key is noticing the shifts and adjusting, rather than running on autopilot.

Because insight without action fades quickly, I encourage you to put this reset into practice right away:

  • Journal Prompt (5 minutes): Over coffee or tea, jot down: What version of success feels most nourishing for me this fall? Don’t overthink it — just let the words flow.
  • Mini Reset Ritual: At the end of your next workday, close your laptop, light a candle, and say to yourself: “Today is complete. Tomorrow, I begin anew.”
  • One Small Release: Choose one task, object, or expectation to let go of this week. Small releases create space for bigger shifts.

For Your Consideration:

The equinox and the new moon don’t demand sweeping reinventions. Instead, they invite small shifts — the kind that ripple forward over time. A single step taken today sets the tone for your entire season ahead.

So, as you sip your coffee, feel the balance of day and night, and look up at the blank canvas of the moonless sky, remember: you are allowed to reset. You are invited to redefine. And you are encouraged to begin again — in a way that nourishes not only your career, but your overall well-being.

Okay, your turn:

What seed or seeds of intention will you plant under this new moon, and how will you honor the possibility of equilibrium in your daily life?

I invite you to share your observations, feelings, and experiences by leaving a Reply in the Comments section, below. Soul-to-soul!

© 2025 Lori A. Noonan. All Rights Reserved.

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Being present at work

Being present at work

The Power of Presence: How Being Fully Present Can Boost Your Professional Impact

Let’s face it—between back-to-back meetings, Slack pings, text messages, inbox overload, and that ever-growing mental to-do list (don’t forget to order more dog food!)—it’s easy to lose touch with right now. But here’s the truth: your greatest superpower in any room, any pitch, or any pivotal decision? It’s presence.

Not performance.
Not perfection.
Not hustle.

Presence.

Being fully present in your conversations, leadership, and decision-making allows you to stand out—not by being louder, faster, or flashier—but by being fully here.

And in a professional world that often runs on speed and distraction, presence is a rare and magnetic quality.

Whether you’re running a board meeting, coaching a team, navigating a client conflict, or simply trying to make it through a Monday with grace—presence turns ordinary moments into points of genuine influence.

Why Presence Matters in a Professional Setting

Presence gives you permission to be the most: The most attentive. The most insightful. The most anchored in the moment.

In a sea of distraction, presence is the ultimate differentiator.

Clients. Colleagues. Stakeholders. Direct reports. All humans want to feel like they matter. When you show up fully, you send the message: I see you. I value this moment. I’m not rushing past it.

That matters.

Practicing Presence in Real-Time

So, how do you actually cultivate presence amidst the chaos of your career?

Here are two simple yet powerful ways to honor presence:

“One Window at a Time” Rule

Close the ten open browser tabs. (Yes, even that one with the proverbial rabbit hole you’ve been going down since 9 am.) Give your attention to one thing—one person—one task at a time. Your nervous system will thank you. So will your results.

Weekly Presence Check-In

At the end of each week, ask:

  • When did I feel truly present this week?
  • When did I feel most scattered—and why?
  • What would support me in being more fully present next week?

Presence doesn’t require a silent retreat or a dimly lit meditation room (though we love those, too). It’s available right now, in your real life, as it is.

For Your Consideration:

You already have what it takes to lead with presence. You don’t need to be more. You just need to be here—more often.

This week, pick one moment—just one—to drop into with full awareness. It could be a team meeting, a networking coffee, a call with a client, or even a solo brainstorming session with your journal. Turn down the noise. Turn up your awareness.

Then ask yourself:
What changes when I show up fully?

Chances are, everything.

Your impact doesn’t have to come from doing more.
It can come from being more—present.

Okay, your turn:

  • When was the last time you gave someone your full attention, uninterrupted—even for one minute?
  • Do you feel the need to multitask to prove your value? —Or, are you willing to slow down and trust the power of a focused mind?
  • Are you giving your work your best energy—or merely any leftover scraps after tending to everyone else’s needs first?

I invite you to share your observations, feelings, and experiences by leaving a Reply in the Comments section, below. Soul-to-soul!

© 2025 Lori A. Noonan. All Rights Reserved.

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Top Mini-Habits for Staying Energized During Long Workdays

Maintaining your wellbeing on the daily

If you’re working through the beautiful complexity of a mid-career life — balancing leadership, impact, and your own wellbeing — you already know: Energy management is everything.

It’s not about pushing harder. It’s about staying connected to yourself in small but powerful ways throughout the day.

Here are mini-habits you can weave into even the busiest schedule to keep your energy steady, your mind clear, and your spirit strong:

1. Stop, breathe, and slow your roll (90-Second Reset)

Between meetings or tasks, take 90 seconds to take three slow, peaceful breaths.
Notice: How am I feeling? What do I need right now?

Why it matters:
You shift out of auto-pilot and back into conscious choice — where your real power lives.

2. Nourish Strategically

Think of your meals and snacks as energy investments, not merely fuel. It’s more than vaguely thinking “oh, I better eat healthy.”

Instead of skipping lunch or grabbing another coffee, build simple, nutrient-rich meals (hello, protein + fiber!) that actually stabilize your blood sugar and mood.

Mini habit:
Keep a stash of energizing snacks you love — think almonds, berries, hard-boiled eggs, or a clean protein bar — easily within reach.

3. Move in Microbursts

Instead of waiting for your post-work workout (which you may or may not have energy for!), sprinkle in active movement throughout your day.

Try this:

  • 1 minute of stretching between meetings
  • 10 squats while waiting for your tea to steep
  • A quick 3-minute walk outside to recharge your creativity

Movement signals to your body: “I’m alive, I’m safe, I’m thriving.”

4. Reclaim Your Transitions

Instead of rushing from one thing to the next, use transitions as sacred spaces. After a big meeting or a focused work sprint, take a mindful moment before jumping into the next thing.

Simple practices:

  • Step outside for a few minutes of fresh air, and:
    • look at something off in the distance
    • or, as the newest saying goes: “touch grass.”
  • Listen to one soul-nourishing song
  • Jot down one success or moment you’re proud of from the last task

These tiny rituals create energetic closure — and help ease any persistent “cognitive clutter.”

5. Close the Day with a Victory Lap

At the end of the day, spend just 2 minutes writing down three things you accomplished — big or small.
Not everything will get done. But progress deserves to be celebrated, always.

Bonus:
This practice also primes your mind for rest and recovery overnight, so you wake up more refreshed.

For your consideration:

Work days turn into work weeks and before you know it, entire months have flown by, with barely a moment taken to reflect and to act with intention.

You don’t have to live that way. You don’t have to be on auto-pilot. Remember, you are a human, not a machine. Stay connected to your desires. Stay connected to you.

Okay, your turn:

Do you approach your daily work activities with intention? Are you aware of your energy levels throughout the day? Do you take control of your schedule, or do you let others run roughshod over your commitments and time?

I invite you to share your observations, feelings, and experiences by leaving a Reply in the Comments section, below. Soul-to-soul!

© 2025 Lori A. Noonan. All Rights Reserved.

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Navigating the Competing Impulses of Success and Self-Protection

Throughout our lives, desire acts as a powerful force, as we infuse our goals with meaning and purpose. Our innate protection mechanisms often stand as barriers, though, hindering our progress and holding us back. How can we integrate effectively these contrasting forces and still move forward successfully? Let us delve into this interplay.

Desire for Success: A Motivational Engine

Desire serves as the fuel that ignites our ambitions, pushing us beyond our comfort zones towards greater growth. Whether it is professional advancement, personal development, or nurturing relationships, our desires are deeply rooted within us. Desire motivates action, fosters resilience, and shapes our visions for a brighter future.

We need more than desire alone to receive success. Strategic planning, perseverance, and taking inspired action steps help us to overcome obstacles along the way.

Protection Mechanisms: Navigating Self-Preservation

In a push-pull relationship with our aspirations, our psyche comes equipped with protective mechanisms aimed at safeguarding our well-being. These mechanisms, ingrained through evolution, manifest as fear of failure, self-doubt, or reluctance to step beyond what is comfortable. While essential for survival, they can also inhibit growth and progress.

Acknowledging these protective instincts is crucial. Awareness allows us to recognize when these safeguards get triggered and yet all the while appreciating their underlying motives.

Achieving Integration: Finding the Balance

To integrate desire and protection effectively, several steps can be taken:

  1. Awareness: Recognize when protective mechanisms are at play and understand their root causes. This awareness empowers us to confront and transcend these barriers.
  2. Be Thankful for the Fear: Rather than allowing fear to paralyze us, view it as a natural response to the unknown. Use fear as a motivator for growth and resilience.
  3. Practice Self-Compassion: Success often involves setbacks. Cultivate self-compassion to navigate challenges with grace and learn from experiences.
  4. Allow Vulnerability: Stepping into vulnerability opens doors to new opportunities. Take risks, acknowledge mistakes, and seek support when needed.

For your consideration:

Visualize it all working out plus visualize yourself taking the incremental steps to get you there. As with a GPS, allow it to be a navigational tool – guiding you turn by turn, toward your intended destination. It is both the journey and the destination that matters. And, remember to leave room for fluidity, for adjustments, if and as conditions change – you always reserve the right to make course corrections.

Living by design, with intention, focused and at ease, can be immensely satisfying.

In the intricate weave of life, balancing our desire for success with our inherent protective instincts is an essential skill. And, it is one that you can cultivate at will. By integrating these contrasting forces, we unlock our full potential and move forward with self-assurance.

Success is not just about reaching goals; it is about embracing the journey with courage and determination. I invite us all to navigate this delicate path with resilience and purpose, moving closer to our aspirations while remaining grateful for the guardrails that aim to keep us from harm.

Okay, your turn:

When have you found yourself fulfilling your aspirations consciously, and doing so despite the fears that inevitably arise when you are taking on a new challenge?

I invite you to share your observations, feelings, and experiences by leaving a Reply in the Comments section, below. Soul-to-soul!

© 2024 Lori A. Noonan. All Rights Reserved.

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Flow state

Flow state

Organic ebb and flow

each in sway

Intuition guides our way.

As flowing currents whisper secrets,

within rhythms unseen,

Energy pulses through everything

In the union of intuition and flow, we are free to go

Into the inner sanctums

Where intuition sharpens our solutions

Connected to action, where plans abide.

Flow state fuels the steam,

Unleashing potential, fulfilling our dream.

Energy surges in every task we do,

A fuel for progress, tried and true.

In moments of focus, we harness the force,

Achieving our goals, on our chosen course.

Evolution’s path leads us to innovate,

Nudging us forward, to navigate.

For in the fusion of intuition and flow,

We unlock the keys to success and grow

Stagnant waters breed decay,

A lack of movement in disarray,

Life thrives where currents run,

In the dance of waves beneath the sun.

Okay, your turn:

When do you feel most in synch, most in flow? How do you know when you’ve hit your stride?

I invite you to share your observations, feelings, and experiences by leaving a Reply in the Comments section, below. Soul-to-soul!

© 2024 Lori A. Noonan. All Rights Reserved.
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