Negative growth.
Welcome to your Wednesday Museletter.
First, here’s what’s cookin' in my creative kitchen…
Mini Survey
I want to know what your working on this year. Would you kindly do me a favor and take this super short survey?
Vocal Attunement: a seasonal 3-session package to strengthen your singing voice
In The Four Fold Way, author Angeles Arrien connects the season of summer to the voice as a tool of empowerment. Although I don’t offer ongoing voice coaching anymore, each summer I love to invite my folks (that’s you!) into the medicine of your voice. For the next two weeks only (until June 21st), you can grab my Vocal Attunement package to get 3 x private voice coaching sessions, curated specifically to expand your skill and confidence. As a bonus, you’ll also get my 3 x signature voice courses (an added $877 value). Read all the details + register here... but only through June 21st!
Alright, onto today’s inspiration.
When you hear the word growth, what imagery comes to mind?
Vines creeping up the trunk of a sturdy tree?
A flower opening toward the bright sky?
Or maybe a graph like this?
Here’s what I’m guessing you don’t imagine…
The vines dropping back down the trunk, maybe even re-planting themselves in the earth.
The petals of the flower falling away, and wilting on the ground.
The lines of the graph descending.
The reason we don’t think of these descending directional movements as growth is a byproduct of the overculture.
We could assign a lot of words to this phenomenon...
Modernity.
Patriarchy.
Capitalism.
Agriculture.
The technological revolution.
All of these descriptions are accurate indicators. But what matters to me personally is calling myself back to the remembrance that growth is not linear.
From 2017 to 2023, I experienced year-over-year financial growth in my business. It was immensely satisfying, and I worked my ass off to achieve it.
And then I burned out.
After Ben and I bought our house in late 2023 and started to settle into our new home, it was as if my nervous system said, “can we rest now?” and then collapsed onto my new dark blue velvet couch.
A year and a half has passed, and according to the graph of my business growth, I am an utter failure. And although I know *in theory* that growth is not linear, the truth is I’ve struggled like hell to allow myself this time of necessary rest.
But while my ego is writhing uncomfortably, I’ve taken comfort in a deeper wisdom.
My business has been in a long winter.
You might call it negative growth. Or you might simply call it a natural cycle of creative energy.
All things move through the four seasons, archetypally speaking.
All things move through the Hindu trimurti, from creation to preservation to destruction.
Around and around we go.
The myth that growth is linear is a fallacy. An illusion of epic patriarchal proportions.
Some days I still get stuck in it. And other days I’m able to relax into trusting the cycles of our lives.
Those moments of deep trust are delicious; deep soul nourishment that feeds the spark of something yet to come, a new vine pushing through the soil, rising toward the sun.
Hit reply and let me know which season you’re in right now, and why it feels that way.
(Hint: It may not align with the actual season happening outside right now.)
My prayer for us today is to remember that we ARE nature, and that nothing—literally nothing—in nature experiences constant growth and expansion… except cancer cells.
We get to decide how to orient to growth and success.
Let’s choose wisely.
In your corner,
Ps. If you’ve been in a proverbial winter like me, a great way to bide your time is to "busy yourself making beauty" as my friend Laurence Cole sings. I’ve been doing this by learning guitar, playing with watercolor, strength training at my local Y, hanging out with my two kitties, and helping Ben tend our land.
Pps. While talking to my friend Kelsey recently, I was making a morning drink and she remarked, “you make the most amazing drinks! You should teach a class on beverages.” Hah! I chortled, Maybe I will… that actually sounds fun. And so, this is your first official invitation to join me for a soulful yet silly workshop that’s totally free to attend! It’s called Liquid Enlightenment and it’s happening on June 26th at 9am PT. Grab your spot here.
Ppps. I’ve also been enjoying my Springtime Healing playlist again. Light-hearted, melodic grooves to awaken the new buds of creativity in your life. Enjoy!
Pppps. Lastly, my patience and trust are paying off. This past week, I received what might be the most inspiring idea of my life. Something is cooking in the Britta GreenViolet alchemical kitchen, Britta. Stay tuned! I’ll announce all the details at the Liquid Enlightenment workshop ;)