Many of the strongest among us got that way by growing up too soon. This week, Sara shares more of her own story and introduces the all too common practices of “bracing”.

I have not traditionally been a fan of Valentine’s Day.

But, as I’ve gotten older, my perspective has changed. I still think Valentine’s Day is kind of absurd, but not because it celebrates love. Because it focuses on celebrating the wrong kind.

We spend so much time thinking about romantic love—hoping for it, finding it, keeping it, optimizing it—that we completely miss the relationship that determines the quality of every other relationship in our lives.

The one with ourselves.

There’s a moment many of us reach after we’ve “made it.” The hardest parts of our life are behind us. The resume is impressive. The goals are achieved. The family is well. And yet— something still feels…off.

Everything around us says we should be thriving. But we’re not.

We fought so hard to get to a place of healing but it feels like we’re just surviving our beautiful, miraculous, and accomplished lives. Not that long ago, that was me.

I used to believe that hard work could fix anything. I’m from the Midwest. A hard work ethic is basically hard wired into us from birth.

But, when hard work becomes your whole personality – you stop living your life.

In this installment, we’re talking about hot to stop hustling and start living.

In this personal installment, Sara shares about the unwelcome threshold of grief she’s navigating yet again. This is for anyone who’s experienced loss and wondered how to break the cycle in the midst of unrelenting pain.

You’ve done everything right.

You survived what might have ended others. Done the therapy. Read the books. Broke the cycles. Built the career. Burned the sage.

So why does it still feel like you’re just surviving your life?

You’re not broken. You’re not doing it wrong. And you’re definitely not alone.

But, here’s the hard truth: Success built on survival skills still feels like survival.

Our Founder, Sara Sweat, shares a personal story about how even trauma informed coach who help high achievers build sustainable, enjoyable lives can make their own life a rerun of the trauma they’ve already survived.

You’re a top performer. You keep all the plates spinning and do more in a day than most people do in a week. You’ve read the books, done the therapy, broken the cycles, burned the sage. But, you’re exhausted. Like, the bone tired, soul weary, kind of exhausted. Beyond burned out.

But, everything you try to get back on track – all the tools you’ve used before – seem to be hurting more than their helping. This is your sign that it’s time for a new chapter.

For many high performing trauma survivors, community can be tricky. We may have strained relationships with family members, difficulty choosing healthy friendships, or just lack the trust needed to enjoy this kind of connection.

But, like it or not, humans are biologically wired to live and thrive in community.

Sara Sweat, MA – Founder, Monarch When was the last time you were stopped in your tracks by something beautiful? Not “Instagram-worthy” pretty or “that’s nice” pretty. I mean beauty that catches you off guard. A sunset that made you whisper “wow” in quiet reverence. A song that transported you to another time or place […]