Start Smaller Than You Think

Hi there,

Progress doesn’t always look like a big, sweeping change. Sometimes, it looks like choosing something small and committing to it.

Lately, that idea has been showing up in different corners of my world. I’d love to hear what small shift you might make in your day-to-day as we move into May.

Resting

An invitation to slow down long enough to hear what your mind, body, and heart are telling you.

“You want me to do what, for how many days a week?”

That’s what a Founder & CEO, wife, mom, and part-time doctoral student asked me over Zoom. The mere suggestion that she carve out time each day to eat lunch felt outrageous.

For her, lunch meant nourishing her body while simultaneously pouring into others. Eating during a check-in. During a staff meeting. Never alone, where her meal could actually be enjoyed.

So I met her where she was, with a gentle nudge. “What about three days a week?”

She paused, then nodded. “I can do that.”

Remembering

An invitation to reconnect with your brilliance - the wisdom, creativity, and magic within and around you.

I’ve gone running twice since the last newsletter. That’s twice in the last two weeks—and twice in all of 2026.

As a former Junior Olympian, multi–half marathoner, and one-time NYC marathoner, running used to feel like breathing. It was a core part of my identity and carried me through some incredibly tough seasons.

Now, as I listen to my body post-injury, running serves a different purpose.

Last summer, I moved through the Prospect Park loop with ease and speed. This spring, I’m easing through my neighborhood at a slower, more intentional pace.

I’m appreciating this reminder of what my body can do, even as I redefine what it means to be “a runner.”

Recasting/Realizing

An invitation to imagine the life you desire and pursue it with joy as your compass.

You’ve probably heard it before: read the room.

What about NOT reading the room.

There’s value in awareness, of course. In considering context and impact. Especially in this current climate, it matters to be mindful of how our words and actions land.

But often, “reading the room” becomes self-censorship. A quiet shrinking of what we have to offer. For Black women in particular, there can be a tendency to overread the room.

Should I speak now?

Will my point land?

What if they disagree?

Overreading leads to playing small. I’ve been there, and I still have to actively push against it.

So try this: don’t read the room. Notice what opens up when you give yourself permission to take up space.

I hope you find a way to gently create space in your days. I’d love to hear how you’re inching forward and what’s opening up as you do. Even the smallest shift can create powerful momentum.

Joyfully,

Elandria

If you’re ready to create space that actually supports your clarity, claim your spot here.