February’s Sip of Serenity: Where to Find Wisdom and Possibility

"The goal is to turn words into works"

~Ryan Holiday

Greetings!

Where to Find Wisdom and Possibility~

I’m always in search of good wisdom. Sometimes the source is quite unexpected.

As a twenty-something living in California and pursuing an acting career, I remember a corner dry cleaner that posted surprisingly profound messages on its sign. During a difficult season, those words often became a bright spot in my day. I imagine I wasn’t the only one—countless others likely welcomed a bit of inspiration or hope as they drove past.

Most of us have had that experience. A road sign that seems designed just for us at exactly the right moment: Slow Down, Dangerous Curves Ahead—whether we’re speeding down the highway or charging headlong into an important decision without enough reflection.

One of my favorite current sources of wisdom is Ryan Holiday’s Daily Stoic. This past fall, he offered a simple but resonant invitation: Read for transformation, not information.

I’ve returned to that idea often—turning it over in my mind, applying it to my own life, and exploring it with clients as well. It raises interesting questions about awareness, choice, and discernment.

When we consume information purely for information’s sake, it can feel a bit like overeating at an all-you-can-eat buffet. At some point, the system becomes overwhelmed. Nothing is fully digested. We’re full, perhaps excessively so, but not nourished.

Noticing this in myself led to a small but meaningful shift. Instead of reaching for my phone first thing in the morning and scanning headlines (and then checking it again…and again), I’ve begun to resist that impulse. Not perfectly—but consciously. I pay attention to the habit and its effect on me.

Most mornings now, as I sip my coffee, I read a few pages of a book—often fiction.

That choice surprised me at first. It had been a very long time since I’d read fiction or science fiction. Like many people, I’ve spent years devouring non-fiction, focused on learning, understanding, and figuring things out. Non-fiction offers information already “in the wild”—ideas grounded in lived history and established practice.

Fiction lands differently.

It invites imagination. It opens unfamiliar worlds. It requires and allows us to roam in a strange new land.

And that’s what struck me: we are living in a strange time, in what often feels like a strange land. The roadmaps we relied on are being shredded or declared obsolete. Everything feels perpetually in motion—less solid, less certain. A bit like quantum theory brought into daily life.

This feels like a moment that calls for imagination—not to rehearse the horrors already on display, but to invent, to create, to envision what does not yet exist.

Rather than wrapping ourselves in a dark cloak of fear, the pioneering mind pulls back the curtains, throws open the window, and allows ideas, like fresh air, to enter. It offers us a chance to breathe, to sense the whisper of hope in our heart. To return a spark to the mind’s eye and light us up with possibility.

What actions or practices light you up with a sense of hope and possibility? If you're willing to share your thoughts, I'd love to hear from you. (here's my email)

With love and light,

Suzanne

If you are interested in reading more of my "other"

writing in my new Substack click here.

February’s Sip of Serenity by Oasis in the Overwhelm

First—create your inner Oasis by taking three deep breaths, in through the nose and out through the mouth. Now…

Whether it’s reading fiction or something else, identify something that lights you up inside. Something that helps you feel renewed.

What feels ready for transformation in your life right now—a habit, a quality you’d like to develop, or a relationship that needs tending?

Imagine what it would feel like to have already done it. Absorb that image and the feeling it brings.

Begin where you are. Take a step. You can.

Since 2009, Suzanne has inspired transformation as a coach, author, and speaker. With over 25 years of research and training, her custom-tailored approach combines science-based strategies, somatic practices, and creative collaboration. She catalyzes peace and personal growth for a wide range of clients—from artists and stay-at-home moms to business leaders, empowering them to reimagine their "stories" and achieve freedom, joy, and success as they define it.

Born to a Dominican mother and a father raised in New England, Suzanne grew up as the youngest of six children, which gave her a deep appreciation for diverse perspectives. She excels at connecting with others, bridging generational, cultural, and linguistic divides, fostering inner harmony and inspiring greater understanding in relationships.

Oasis in the Overwhelm™ is a registered trademark.

If you have any questions or comments, or for reprint permission of this newsletter,

you may reach Suzanne by clicking here.