Deepen Your Roots to Navigate the Winds of Change
Over the past two weeks, I led a day retreat of A Fuller Cup™ and co-led a virtual weekend of Seasons of Need™. In both spaces, something meaningful happened: people slowed down enough to reconnect with their true nature.
They had the opportunity to be seen, heard, and reflect on how to get their needs more fully met — while also exploring how we build more sustainable communities of care.
These are outcomes that matter deeply in today’s demanding and uncertain world.
When Roots Are Deep
During the A Fuller Cup™ retreat at The Trinity Retreat Center, I noticed a quote written on a chalkboard:
“When the roots are deep, there is no reason to fear the wind.”
It felt perfectly aligned with the model we were working with — a tree with five roots:
Physical
Mental
Emotional
Spiritual
Social
These domains represent the essential aspects of our personhood. When we actively tend to them, we can experience steadiness and well-being even in times of change.
When our roots are nourished, we show up as leaders more at PEACE:
On Purpose
Embodied
Authentic
Creating Community
That Empowers
What Happens When People Slow Down
By the end of the retreat, participants seemed lighter, clearer, and more connected — both to themselves and to each other.
We spent time in a stone chapel, walked in the woods, and visited rescue animals near the Housatonic River. Something about that environment — and the shared reflection — helped people reconnect with what truly matters.
Interestingly, the same depth of connection also emerged during the virtual Seasons of Need™ retreat I co-led with Sarah DeWitt. Even across distance, when the container is right and the content resonates, people open in powerful ways.
Why I Do This Work
Ultimately, this is why I do what I do:
to help people reconnect — with themselves, with nature, and with each other.
Like many leaders and caregivers, I know what it’s like to overdrive myself in the name of doing good work and meeting high standards. Over the years, I’ve had some difficult lessons about pacing and sustainability — lessons that now shape the way I guide others.
An Invitation
If this resonates, you’re warmly invited to join our next retreat:
Seasons of Need™: Regenerating Ourselves and Our Planet
June 5–7, 2026
at Omega Institute in Rhinebeck
This retreat is designed for caring (over)achievers who want to restore energy, reconnect to natural rhythms, and lead in ways that are more sustainable for themselves and the communities they serve.
You can learn more on my website, register through Omega’s website, or book a call with me if you’d like to talk first.
Suze Shaner-Brodax is an executive coach and leadership & organization effectiveness consultant. She is also an Interfaith/Interspiritual Minister and teaches yoga and meditation – tools to keep one sane in uncertain times. She helps professionals step up to their fullest leadership, life and growth potential. At times this means getting out of their own way in getting important stuff accomplished. www.sagelead.com.