#32: Successful But Unfulfilled? Finding Authenticity and Clarity with Kathrine Parnell

Success can be loud, public, and impressive, and still leave you feeling strangely far from yourself. We sit down with Kathrine Parnell, founder of Stone and Sky Retreats and author of Authenticity, Keeping It Real, to name what so many people carry in silence: the gap between achievement and alignment, and the quiet longing for something more true.

Kathrine shares how running a multi-million dollar, multi-state mental health company shaped her view of responsibility, identity, and pressure, and how Scotland became an unexpected turning point. We talk about the West Highland Way, why a new environment can interrupt autopilot, and how “quiet” isn’t a luxury, it’s the place where clarity finally has room to land. Along the way we challenge common myths about mindfulness: a busy mind doesn’t mean you’re failing, and discomfort in stillness can be valuable information rather than something to avoid.

We also get practical with values-based living, including how to identify three to five core values and use them as a simple filter for decisions at work, in marriage, and in family life. If your default coping skill is grabbing your phone the moment you feel anxious, we offer a more honest path: tiny pauses, better replacements, and a five-second practice that helps you begin again when everything feels like too much.

If you’ve been feeling successful on paper but uncertain internally, press play, then share this with someone who needs more space. Subscribe, leave a review, and tell us what kind of quiet you’re willing to try this week.

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Transcript

SPEAKER_01 0:00

As

Stillness As The Way Forward

SPEAKER_01 0:01

you said, you know, I bring up that word again, that quiet. When we slow down is when we begin to hear things.

Gillian 0:09

If your days feel full, but your heart longs for more meaning, you're not alone. Between the screens, the schedules, and the never-ending noise, it's easy to lose your sense of peace. But what if the way forward isn't found in doing more, but in learning to slow down, to simplify, to be still. Welcome to Be Still and Live, a podcast for individuals, couples, and families longing for calm, connection, and a more meaningful way to live. I'm Gillian, speaker, coach, and founder of Sileo Health and Wellness, and I'm here to help you create space for stillness and step into a life that feels whole and good again. Today we're talking about success because it doesn't always feel the way we imagined it would. Many people spend years working toward the life they thought they wanted, only to arrive and find themselves disconnected from it. On the outside, everything appears stable, accomplished, even impressive. On paper, it all looks great. But internally, something feels off. Today's guest understands this experience deeply. Catherine Parnell is the founder of Stone and Sky Retreats, author of Authenticity, Keeping It Real, and a business owner who has a multi-million dollar mental health company across three states. She knows firsthand what it looks like to achieve external success while feeling internally disconnected, and what it takes to courageously pause long enough to hear yourself again. Her work is not about adding more strategies, more goals, or more pressure. It's about creating the space to slow down so clarity has somewhere to land. In this conversation, we explore the tension between achievement and alignment, the courage required to live authentically, and why creating space in our lives may be one of the most important decisions we make. If you've ever felt successful on paper but uncertain internally, this episode will speak directly to that knowing that something deeper is asking for your attention. And as always, if this conversation resonates with you, please follow along on Instagram at Soleil Coaching, subscribe to the podcast, and share this episode with someone who may need it as well. I hope you enjoy today's episode.

A High Achiever Hears Quiet

Gillian 2:31

Catherine, it's so good to have you here. Welcome to the Be Still and Live Podcast. Thank you so much. It's a pleasure to join you today. I'm excited to dig into your story. I'd love to start with um, again, your story. Memo many people see success as building something big, like growing a company or achieving certain milestones. And it seems that you've done all of that. But behind the scenes, there was something quieter that seemed to be unfolding. Can you take us back to that time and share what was really happening when this new vision was was uh taking life? Sure, sure.

SPEAKER_01 3:13

You know, I think that the I love that you describe the quietness of it because it really is something that I think in so many people there's this um, you know, desire or there's a longing, but it's not something that we um necessarily talk about a lot because maybe we're a little bit afraid of failure of it, or um, because usually it's kind of dream, you know, woven into a dream, right? Of like, oh, that'd be really neat to do that one day. Uh, and that is where um this new adventure that I am on came about. I um own and operate a multi-state mental health practice. Um, we're across three different states, it's a multi-million dollar company. So a lot of moving parts um to that company. It is a very uh impactful company, and but it's also a very intense part of my life to run that company. And so uh a few years ago, I had the opportunity to travel to Scotland. And uh while there, I just I felt um an intense connection to the land and really uh you know had an opportunity to slow down. You're kind of forced to, uh, turned off the email, turned off the access points that everybody had to me for a little bit, and um found that quietness. And that quietness was, I don't even know that I know that I didn't realize how much I was longing for that, for those that moment in my life to just um silence all of the noise and all of the demands in my life and really um be introspective. And so as a result of that trip, uh I came back home and learned about this uh amazing hike in the Highlands of Scotland called the West Highland Way. And it's a 96-mile hike, and I convinced um my adult children to trek it with me. And so we did that. We trained for a while, and then we did that this last summer, and they experienced the same magic of going and just feeling this really intense peace that was there. And so I came home and examined that and thought, where is this coming from? Because, you know, you can certainly get away on vacation and kind of feel these things. Um, and what I really discovered is that in our day-to-day, we so often are um attached to the daily activities, the demands, the responsibilities that we have of what we call adulting. And um we begin to lose sight or we begin to kind of no longer tune in to the inner core of who we are. And uh it's kind of like, you know, driving into your neighborhood for the first time, you notice all the different things because you're being kind of critical of do I like this neighborhood? Do I want to live here? And after a few years of living there, you just drive in and out and you just don't notice the things anymore. And I think that's very similar to how life is. And so um my dream within me was okay, I really want to spend more time in Scotland, and that'd be really neat to be able to take other people over there. And so I explored that and thought, why not? Let's do it. And so started up uh Stone in Sky retreats to offer um moments, offer experiences where people can go and explore their authenticity and quiet uh so that they can begin to hear once again what is on the inside of them and not have it um polluted or crowded with all of the daily demands that we all have.

Why Scotland Feels Like Home

Gillian 7:09

Oh, that sounds amazing. And I know so many people can use that um in their daily life and just to have this opportunity to step away and remember who they are at their core. Now, am I recalling that you have roots in Scotland? Do you have family roots in Scotland? Okay, so you have that deeper connection to the land, to the country, and that makes it extra special and intentional for you.

SPEAKER_01 7:36

Right. What's really interesting about Scotland, Jillian, is that it is the fifth oldest um culture or land in the world. And so so many of us have roots that at some point intersect um with Scottish ancestry. And I have talked to countless people who have said, I felt the same thing. It felt really extraordinary to be there. So, yeah, so I've got some family roots there. Uh, I have one very distant relative that is living in Scotland. Nobody else, everybody else decided, I guess, at some point or another that they were leaving.

Gillian 8:16

Um, but yes, that is in my roots. Wonderful. It's so good to hear. I do have one brother-in-law who is from Nova Scotia in Canada. I am Canadian, and Nova Scotia actually means New Scotland. So there's a lot of um Scottish people in that area and just incredible culture. I mean, he grew up going to these um social events and these dances where there was just music and it really does have that rich culture. And then you have Outlander, which is a very famous show right now. And uh, I don't know if that's an accurate um understanding of what it was like to be in Scotland and to um have that history there, but it's it's definitely something that's popular right now that people can relate to.

SPEAKER_01 9:00

Well, I think Outlander has done an extraordinary job of drawing people in. And uh of course it has fantasy and of course it has that Hollywood kind of touch to it. Uh, but I do think that they did a great job of uh telling the history and really getting people invested in uh the history of the land.

Gillian 9:20

Yeah, and and capturing the beautiful culture. Right.

What Authenticity Really Means

Gillian 9:24

So, Catherine, you have a book called Authenticity, Keeping It Real. Yes. The word authenticity gets used a lot, is thrown around constantly now, but many people still feel unsure how to actually live it. What do you believe authenticity truly is?

SPEAKER_01 9:43

Well, I think that the activation of it and how to, because I think it can mean different things for different people, but it is really about how it's being activated in your life. And so all of us, um, we are, you know, brought into this world and the values that we begin to adopt for ourselves are those that have been imposed on us, right? They've been exposed, we've been exposed to them through our parents or caregivers, through our environment that we live in, the cultural nuances. Uh, and so we begin to just adopt those as our own. And I think that, you know, works to give us a framework through our childhood. And then we move into adolescence and that young adult period, and we begin many times to question, you know, and to say, is this, you know, is this what I believe anymore? And um that question is really an important phase of our lives. Uh, but I think sometimes we stop questioning, we kind of land into adulthood and we start establishing career paths and we start establishing our um lives, maybe starting families, and we we we don't continue to evolve with that um in the activation. And so we continue oftentimes to apply these core principles or core values of our lives that no longer are relevant, they're no longer serving us. So it's kind of like thinking about I really loved dinosaurs, you know, when I was a young child, and thinking, well, like I'm committed to dinosaurs. So for the rest of my life, I have to enjoy dinosaurs. Um, but maybe there's a point where we go, you know, dinosaurs aren't all that great. You know, I just I don't like the, I don't like the story of it. I don't like the narrative, you know, and that's a kind of a silly example. But authenticity is about constantly going back to the drawing table and saying, okay, well, what is it about the world that is resonating with me? Where am I at in my life? And uh I think it's very, very values driven. And it is a constant move. It is not something that you ever just land in and say, I am now authentic. And this is the true form of me. Yeah. Because uh in the next six months, in the next year, something more will be added to your world that will uh once again adapt you and um and move you into another place.

Gillian 12:19

Right, right. And this is a newer perspective because we're learning so much about the brain and neuroplasticity and and how our brains continue to grow and develop throughout our life. Back in the day was, you know, you were 20, you got a job, you got the pension, you stayed loyal to that company forever. And that was who you are. That was your identity. But that's rapidly changing because our world is rapidly changing, and we do have to become more flexible and resilient and open to what might come next based on, you know, what we're curious about, right? Where life is pulling us. And I think that can be a really, really good thing if we get comfortable with the uncertainty and really step into that space of the unknown and just get excited about the adventure as to where these different things will take us and what will be revealed because we're stepping into those new spaces. It's a really exciting place to be.

SPEAKER_01 13:16

It really is. And that's why uh the retreats are so important uh to be able, I mean, the retreats focus on authenticity. And so the idea is stepping away from the familiar. There is an element, I mean, we're certainly going to have the comforts all around us, you know, comfortable beds and comfortable lodging and and do some really um lovely things that kind of light up the soul. Uh, but at the same time, there will be an element of um lack of familiarity in it. And that is really begin what begins to open that door to discover what is working, what isn't working, and how to move into a more authentic way of living.

How Slowing Down Reveals Truth

Gillian 13:57

I love that. And one of the things I appreciate about your work is that you don't tell people to simply do more, and that's what we know at our culture. Just do more, consume more, and you'll be happier. Well, that's harder. That's not the case. Instead, you invite people to slow down. So, why is slowing down such an important part of rediscovering authenticity? Or discovering it maybe for the first time for some people. Absolutely.

SPEAKER_01 14:24

Um as you said, you know, I bring up that word again, that quiet. When we slow down is when we begin to hear things. And so you think about when you lay your head on the pillow at night, that is when new thoughts come in, right? That's when maybe the reminders of what you didn't accomplish during the day, or maybe the worries um begin to flood in during that time. And so uh interesting things happen in the quiet. And when we create bustle around us, when we are just moving, that movement creates noise. It literally creates noise. It would register on uh on devices that detect noise. And so by just being still, even for a few moments of each day, there's so much power in that. You know, there's a ton of literature that is about mindfulness, and there's been a big surge in the past few years about people being mindful because they recognize the value of it, of what it does to just slow down, get quiet, and allow those um thoughts. Those thoughts don't have to govern you, but they can introduce you to new ideas um or to a discovery of what is needing to grow in your life, but also maybe what is needing to diminish in your life. So it gives you a lot of good information.

Gillian 15:50

Yeah, absolutely. But so many people are uncomfortable with silence and stillness because that's when the real questions start to surface. And that's when you have to face certain things in your life. What have you noticed about what happens when someone finally gives themselves space to listen inward? I mean, there's there's that natural discomfort because it is the unknown, or it's something that you've kind of been pushing down for a long time, but you're realizing you may actually have to face that thing. What do you notice just in the mental health, um in the mental health area that you work in when people are able to be silent and kind of face what's been um keeping them stuck?

SPEAKER_01 16:33

Well, what's interesting about it is there's so many expectations. We we go through life just applying expectations to just about everything we do. And we have these internal beliefs of how it's what the outcome is supposed to be. And so that, you know, the discomfort that you mentioned is probably the biggest uh barrier or limitation that people have to being quiet and slowing down, is they start to feel that discomfort. They start to be flooded with thoughts because the brain says, ah, I don't know how to do this quiet thing, so I'm gonna flood you. And then they immediately say, Oh, I'm a failure at this. I'm not good at it, is what I hear a lot. That just doesn't work for me. Um, and that that just isn't true. It works for every single person for what you need it to do for you. There isn't an expectation that you are supposed to just clear your mind and not have any thoughts come in when you're quiet. Um, there doesn't need to be an expectation that amazing insight will come to you every time you do it. It is something to just be practiced. And even if it is just 20 seconds, just 20 seconds of just stepping back and just being quiet for a moment and then just noticing what it is that came up for you, even if what you noticed was discomfort. That is information that leads to discovery. So that is um, I think the biggest thing that comes up in the mental health space when people, when we talk about slowing down and being quiet, is people immediately putting up a barrier and saying, that doesn't work for me, or that was uncomfortable. So there's this myth that initial quietness is going to bring pleasure or it's going to bring um, at the very least, you know, this immense amount of peace. And so the wonderful thing about our retreats is that we're not going to sit in a space in a yoga pose and just be quiet for two hours. We are going to have activity. We are going to have environment kind of be the noise around us instead of us having to create that noise in our just everyday, you know, task list of things that we have to do. And so it shifts it a little bit so that yes, there's still something for your brain to attend to, but what it's attending to is uh like on a different level. It's just a different, um, a different sound that it is listening to. And when you have a different sound, your brain responds differently. Your brain will actually then uh give some attention to that and not flood the space with all of the clutter that we have in our everyday lives.

A Guided Pause With Fog To Freedom

Gillian 19:22

Before we continue, I want to offer you a quiet pause. If you've been feeling overwhelmed, mentally cluttered, or like your mind never truly rests, I'd like to invite you into a quiet reset. Fog to Freedom is a simple grounding exercise designed to help you slow down, release the mental load, and reset. There's no fixing and no pressure, just a quiet pause. So clarity can return and your nervous system can settle. Many people describe feeling lighter, calmer, and more clear after just a few minutes. And it's something you can return to anytime the noise starts to build. If your soul is asking for space, you're warmly invited to begin with Fog to Freedom. You'll find it linked in the show notes or at salecoaching.com. Come exactly as you are and offer yourself the gift of space and clarity. Thank you for taking that pause. Now let's return to the conversation. Yeah,

Replacing Distraction With Intention

Gillian 20:21

yeah. It's um, I try to teach my clients to replace these, I don't like calling them bad habits, but habits that no longer serve them. When you're still and you choose to be still and you recognize, okay, this habit is no longer serving me. It may never serve me. It may have never served me. Now I'm going to replace it intentionally with this new habit that is going to serve me. So I talk a lot about phone use when we feel anxious and stressed and then we have some time and space in our day, we typically grab our phone because we're more comfortable with that distraction rather than sitting in the stillness and really reflecting on what we're feeling. Right. Because that can be hard. But when you do have the courage, and I do call it courage because you have to make that choice. It has to be very intentional to be able to sit in that space and to allow the feelings that, you know, are flowing through your body to be seen. But when you do that, you can be intentional about what you do about it. You can listen to your body and really understand the root of what you're feeling, you know, maybe why it's there in the first place. And you can understand what you can do about it. And that's what happens when you give yourself that space to really think through, okay, what is the next step I want to take to actually reach the goal that I'm desiring? Because if you're desiring connection, if you're desiring to have rest and to recover, then picking up your phone and scrolling is not going to get you to that goal. It's not going to help you achieve it. It's actually sitting in that stillness and recognizing what's going on and then attending to those feelings in a healthy way, like going for a walk or grabbing a healthy snack, or maybe. Be calling a friend. Those are the things that are actually going to get you closer to what you're actually seeking. But there's there's often confusion around what you're seeking when you don't slow down enough to listen. Right.

What Changes After A Retreat

Gillian 22:13

Yeah. So I'm curious to know what you witness with the participants that start your retreat. What is their headspace when they enter into the retreat compared to when they're going home after the retreat?

SPEAKER_01 22:30

Well, it's interesting because the the desire, the draw is typically not the slowdown. The desire is Scotland. You know, people uh have an idea of, you know, there's a fantasy about international travel, there's a fantasy about the lore of Scotland, um, the culture, the land, the history. And of course, you know, the they they see the images, the majestic mountains with the moody mist, you know, flowing through. And it and it is incredibly beautiful. Uh, and so that becomes the draw for people. And but there is this um uh less known desire that they have within them. You know, there's something about when they read the information about the retreat, when they hear me talking to them about it, there's something that is resonating that is beyond the fantasy of all of the things I just mentioned. And that is the more um hidden area of themselves. And so that's what gets discovered through the retreat. And then the hope always is that they leave. I always tell them, I say, you know, the downside to this retreat is that you are going to want to go back. And so once you have something in your life that you recognize, you know, it's like going to a restaurant and you have this amazing meal and you just, oh my goodness, that was incredible. For the rest of your life, many times you will constantly have that desire, right? You'll say, I really want to go back to that place and have that meal again. And so that is the point, but not to create that desire within them. So they are thinking, I have to go back to Scotland and have that place. But how do I create, replicate that same experience um in my own home, in my own workplace, in the environment that I am living in? So that that's the point of it. And I think that most people um, I think they find that. I think they come out of an experience like this and learn what uh what could be, what was missing that they didn't even know. I hear that a lot. I didn't even know that was missing in my life uh until it's it's there. And then they want to experience it repeatedly. That's beautiful.

Gillian 24:59

And I love your that you're teaching them how to access this in their daily life. This is what sileo is, this is the intention of sileo. And soleo is a Latin word for be still. But I try to teach people that you know that it's available to everybody. It doesn't matter where you live, it doesn't matter who you are, it doesn't matter how much money you have, you have access to this stillness in every moment of your life. You just have to choose it. And that stillness almost always brings peace. And if it doesn't bring peace, it means that there's something there that you need to attend to. And that's going to help you get to where you want to go. Sometimes you have to break through through those uncomfortable feelings to move forward and to get through, you know, things that are they're causing you heartache and such. So it's it's just it's so accessible, but for someone to be able to go and have that fully immersed experience and to be able to take back these little nuggets into their daily life is just so powerful. So I'm curious to know if you have any stories or moments from your retreats that really capture the kind of transformation that can happen when people unplug from the noise. Do you have any specific stories that come to mind?

SPEAKER_01 26:08

Uh, you know, I think the the retreats are new. And so there aren't a lot of stories um that are um that I have to share with them, other than the experience at this point that people are having uh planning for them. And uh those that uh went, you know, we did this um different type of retreat with the the hike that my family and I did last year. And the stories that came out of it are really about I did not know what I was missing. I did not know that I needed that. I thought I was going for holiday. I thought I was going to go see castles and uh and old ruins. Yeah. I did not know that I was going to find this quiet space inside of me. And you're absolutely right with this concept of it is there, it's inside every single one of us, but we have layered it with obligations and expectations and demands that we think we think that makes us successful. Yes. Or we think that is the measure of having arrived or having, you know, um being profitable in our lives. Um, but that isn't, and and that's an aspect of it. It can be, but it is not the whole picture.

SPEAKER_00 27:36

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 27:36

And so that is the um, I think that's the most significant thing that is coming out is when people are saying, I just didn't know that I needed this.

Being Enough Without Proving

Gillian 27:48

Absolutely. And and I don't know about your views, but um I believe that we are created by a God who wants a relationship with us. And we we were able to immerse ourselves in that relationship in the stillness. Yes. And there's a quote by Augustine, he says, My heart is restless, Lord, until it rests in you. And I feel like there's so much to that. I mean, we are seeking, we're constantly striving to feel that sense of peace. But it's always right there. And uh, and and I think what you're talking about is something that resonates with everybody because whether you go to Scotland or not, you're feeling that the weight of the noise and the constant expectation, the constant responsibility we feel to keep doing to prove ourselves and to live up to this identity, this you know, title that we've put on ourselves. But when we arrive there, when we've done all the things right and we get to that point in our life where we're like, okay, I was told that it was supposed to feel much different than what it actually feels like. Right. Then we're faced with ourselves. Then we have to face the music and be like, okay, well, what can I do different? How can I shift things around? How can I shift my perspective? Oh, you know, a lot of people lose hope when they get to that point in their life and they realize that it's not everything that it was supposed to be that it was that that was promised to them. But um, I think what we're both saying is that hope is always there and it's way simpler than we've been led to believe. It really is. Yeah, complicated it. Yes, yes, absolutely. It's it's as it's as easy as just pausing and taking a couple of breaths and remembering that you are enough in the being, not the doing.

Values As A Decision Filter

Gillian 29:38

So, what are some practices or rhythms that help you personally stay connected to your own authenticity? Because it sounds like you run a very busy company and business, right?

SPEAKER_01 29:53

I do. There are um it it for me, it goes back to values, it goes back to um a ongoing assessment of those values. And when you recognize what your values are, it is much easier to have clarity in your life. And I think clarity is an interesting word because it brings about, um, it doesn't mean that you don't have um discomfort. Um, but I think that we're often very afraid of discomfort. And we think that if we have discomfort, then we're doing something wrong. Um, but discomfort brings about some really good things in our lives. It kind of moves us into new places. And so I really live my life with total curiosity about the most difficult moments and the most joyous moments. And my motto is that things happen uh for me and not to me. And I believe that emphatically. And I've had some people say, well, aren't you just putting the silver lining on the cloud? And, you know, you're just trying to reframe things. Um, but it isn't nothing is artificial about it. It is very, very true uh about recognizing the things in my life which are difficult that create incredibly brilliant moments, um, leading me to leading me onto a new path, which is what is happening with Stone and Sky retreats, leading me onto um discovery of a deeper sense of who I am. So it really is led by those things, Jillian. It's really led by when I get into um a difficult spot where I'm like, oh my goodness, how do I make this decision? My values completely lead me. Um we have made that really, really clear in uh my mental health company as well. That is how we run uh that company. Everything is driven by values. In fact, the other day, um my operations manager came to me with a situation and she said, Hey, what do we do about this? I'm not really sure. And we just said, okay, let's put it up against these values that we live by. And it was immediately clear what the decision needed to be immediately. Oh, I love that. It is such a really profound way of living. And I I I don't think enough of us, enough of us do it to live by those values. So that's how I do it, and it keeps me sane, it keeps me level. I yes, I have very high stress in my life, um, but it is always within reach of my capacity. So it works pretty well.

Gillian 32:44

I'm so happy you shared that. Um, for personal reasons, values is the first step. It's the intro of the program that I walk my clients through. And uh it's something that was very intuitive to me because I felt like I was very scattered in my life until I started to understand the power of knowing your values. Right. Because really we are pulled in so many directions. Many people never understand what their values are. They can go through their whole life living to other people's values and never aligning with their own values because they've never understood what they were. Right. But when you do that work and you peel back the layers and you get down to three to five core values, it really does simplify life on so many levels. I mean, we're raising four kids. And once we understood what, you know, my husband's and my personal values are, and then the values of us combined, and as a family, we can now make decisions and say things like, instead of saying, oh, we can't afford that, we say we don't value that. Right. You know, and when it comes to choosing activities for our kids, we're not going to do that activity because it doesn't align with our values to have, you know, um however many meals around the table for dinner, or to keep Sunday as a day for our family. So it really does simplify these decisions and allow you to align yourself with a life that you can feel convicted about, which is so hard right now because there's just so many options and so much pressure to do all the things. So I love that you touched on that. And it's uh it's just an a very important piece to understand.

SPEAKER_01 34:22

So you're you're absolutely right. The the values is it does it absolutely simplifies things. I I think that's why it works so well for me and why you know we stick to things that work. So uh it's it's why most of us, you know, don't follow through on a diet plan because it doesn't work. Uh, but when you do begin to get to know your values, and I I write about that quite a bit in my book, about how to discover that, uh, because people struggle with that, like I said earlier about things being applied or attached to us, um, that we just felt like, oh, well, we have to do that, especially when there's aspects of it that we appreciate, those aspects that we say, oh, you know, that tradition was so comforting as a child. And so I have to keep that up. Yeah. And that isn't necessarily true. Maybe there's another element of tradition that is important to you, but it doesn't have to be that specific one. Right. So, right.

Gillian 35:21

Yeah, and I'm just seeing how important it is within marriages as well, respecting the values that both are bringing into the picture, but then realizing that you can't take it all on. And what what are we creating that is new? What is what is the new legacy that's still respecting both of the combined legacies, but creating something new that you can really feel proud of? Yeah. There's something to be said about that. I agree.

Start With Five Seconds Of Stillness

Gillian 35:46

So somebody listening today feels like they've been living a life that looks good on the outside, but doesn't quite feel aligned on the inside. I feel like this is more common than we know. Yeah. What would you want them to hear?

SPEAKER_01 36:02

That are coming up a lot for them. I would encourage them to not be afraid of the quiet, not being afraid of slowing things down. And whether you come with me on a retreat to Scotland, or whether you find a uh quiet moment outside, whatever it is that you do becomes an investment in you. Um, because there's only one of you. You only get we only get one life, we only get one run through this thing. And so it's really important to step into that quiet now. Don't wait.

Gillian 36:39

Oh, absolutely. And you are uniquely you because you have a very important purpose in the world around you.

SPEAKER_00 36:47

Yes.

Gillian 36:48

So when you get that nudge, get excited about it because you're being pulled into something deeper. You're being you're being pulled um into aligning with your true purpose. And that's something to be excited about. And it may feel a little uncomfortable at first, but it's the most fulfilling adventure you'll ever go on. It really is. Yes. So before we close, what's one simple practice you would invite listeners to try this week to reconnect with themselves? Because some people are just feeling completely on the fritz and they don't know what to do, and everything feels overwhelming. Even contacting somebody to support them in mental health feels overwhelming.

SPEAKER_01 37:30

Be patient with yourself and know that you know, I talked about earlier 20 seconds. I'm gonna even minimize that, five seconds. Take five seconds to just be still. Even if you are just um noticing how your hands are feeling on your knees as they rest on there, or noticing how you feel in the chair, just take notice of it. And the more that you notice what's going on inside of you, the louder the volume of that quiet spot, of that draw that you're having will begin to emerge. So you may not know right now, you may have confusion, you may not have clarity, but I promise you, I promise you, it is absolutely 100% effective that those of us, all of us, when we just take five seconds and start there, then it begins to um open us up to something new, something really, really beautiful. Um, that's just waiting, just waiting there for you to claim it.

Gillian 38:36

It's an invitation. And I love how accessible that is.

How To Join Stone And Sky

unknown 38:40

Yeah.

Gillian 38:40

So, Catherine, can you please share how people can connect with you if they're interested in your retreats or in the mental health that you provide?

SPEAKER_01 38:50

Absolutely. So we have a um beautiful website for the retreats that I think um is does does the job of calling out to you and saying, we are wanting you to join us. And that is uh www.stoneandsky retreats.com. Um, they can also reach out. Our email is hello at stoneandsky retreats.com. And uh I personally um connect to every single email that goes through there. And so I'm happy to answer any questions. I'm happy to connect with people. I love people, I love getting to meet people and invite people into this space. Um, so yeah, I would love to um hear from people if they are interested. Or I I have people all the time that just make a comment and say, uh, I went to Scotland, I felt the same way. I I love hearing that.

Gillian 39:42

That's wonderful. Well, I will put all of those details in the show notes so the listeners can connect with you. And I so appreciate you being here and sharing your story and sharing all of these nuggets of wisdom and hope. Thank you, Gillian. It's really been a pleasure to meet with you today. You as well. Take care, Catherine. Catherine's

Final Reflections And Listener Next Steps

Gillian 40:03

story is an important reminder that authenticity often requires a pause. At whatever point in life you are at, this willingness to listen is so transformative. And sometimes the courage to acknowledge that the pace of life has pulled us further away from ourselves than we realize is exactly what's necessary. Stillness creates the conditions for this type of honesty with ourselves, most importantly, so that we can move forward. This honesty creates the conditions for real change, even though it's often difficult to face what's right in front of us. When we allow ourselves the space to slow down, we begin to hear what is true, what matters most to us, and what direction is actually ours to walk. If this conversation resonated with you, please consider sharing it with someone who may be feeling that tension between success and alignment. And please follow along at Soleo Coaching on Instagram. Subscribe to the Be Still and Live podcast, because this allows it to get in front of more people. And if you could kindly leave a review, that is also so helpful in getting this message in front of the people who need it the most. The world will continue to move quickly, even quicker as time goes on. But your life does not have to move unconsciously within it. So take that to heart and please remember to be still and live. I look forward to having this conversation, continuing this conversation on the next episode. We'll see you there. Thank you for listening to Be Still and Live. As always, my hope is that this conversation offered you a little more space. Space to breathe, to listen, and to come home to what matters most. If this episode resonated with you, I invite you to subscribe to the show and consider sharing it with someone who could use a little more space or clarity right now. That simple act helps this work reach the people who need it most. If you're ready for a gentle next step, you can begin with Fog to Freedom in the show notes or at Saleocoaching.com. Until next time, be still and live.

SPEAKER_00 42:23

This

Production Credits And Resources

SPEAKER_00 42:24

podcast is produced, mixed, and edited by Cardinal Studio. For more information about how to start your own podcast, please visit www.cardinalstudio.co or email Mike at mike at cardinalstudio.co. You can also find the details in the show notes.