Hello, my Seekers of Sanity,
Why is it so hard to ask for more?
Even when we’ve earned it. Even when it’s overdue. Even when we know it’s fair.
So many of us—especially those raised to be “good” and “grateful”—feel a twinge (or a wave) of shame when it’s time to advocate for ourselves.
“What if they think I’m greedy?”
“What if I ruin the relationship?”
“Shouldn’t I just be grateful?”
This week’s podcast explores the emotional and ethical tension of asking for a raise.
Not just how to do it—but how to do it without shrinking.
This Week’s Tiny Sparks of Sanity ✨
Small ways to stay grounded, mindful, and present this week:
🧠 Authentic Leadership Tip: Advocate Without Apologizing
Why it matters: Negotiation isn’t manipulation—it’s alignment. When you under-ask, you under-stand. Literally and energetically.
How to practice:
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Before any conversation about money, ask yourself: “What’s the real fear here?” Name it out loud.
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Then practice this phrase: “I value the work I do and I’d like to discuss aligning my compensation.”
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Don’t lead with qualifiers or disclaimers. Just… state your value.
✨ Clarity isn’t greedy. It’s generous—to both sides.
🧘 Yoga Pose of the Week: Goddess Pose (Utkata Konasana)
Why it matters:
This strong, open stance embodies grounded power and inner spaciousness—just like asking for what you’re worth.
Why it’s good for you:
Goddess Pose builds strength in the legs and core, opens the hips and chest, and cultivates energetic confidence. It invites you to hold space—for yourself, your voice, and your value.
How to practice:
Step feet wide, toes turned out to about 45 degrees.
Bend knees so they track over ankles, sinking into a squat.
Raise arms, elbows bent at 90 degrees, palms open.
Lift through the chest. Root through the feet.
Breathe into your strength.
✨ Goddess Pose says: I can be powerful, open, and unshaken.
🌿 Mindfulness Practice: Notice the Shrink
Why it matters:
We often contract—physically and energetically—before we speak up.
How to practice:
Before a hard ask or truth-telling moment, pause.
Scan your body: Are your shoulders slumped? Voice quieter? Eyes down?
Inhale and lift. Exhale and steady.
Speak from the strength of your core.
✨ Mindfulness isn’t just awareness—it’s realignment.
🍎 Wellness Tidbit: Track the “Too Much” Voice
Why it matters:
The fear of being “too much” often masks our deepest wisdom and self-protection.
How to practice:
Journal or voice-note: When do I fear being too much?
Notice the pattern—where, with whom, and why.
Rewrite it: What’s the empowered version of that energy?
✨ “Too much” is often code for powerful, clear, and embodied.
🌸 This Week’s Delight:
A sunflower in a sidewalk crack—tall, open, unapologetic. Not supposed to be there. There anyway.
Delightfully,
Lena