Ep. 358: Falling Back in Love with Ordinary Life, A Sabbatical Reflection a Year Later

This week I go solo to reflect on my 10-week sabbatical and how it reshaped 2025 and even 2026. I share four core lessons, creating rhythms that make rest possible, trusting your team and processes, discerning rather than just deciding, and refusing to journey alone. I open  up about falling back in love with ordinary life on the family farm and the clarity that followed. If you are feeling the tug to pause, this conversation will give you language, courage, and a practical path.

In this episode

• Why planning from the balcony in October created space for true rest
• How trusting people, systems, and the Holy Spirit changes your calendar
• Discernment versus decision making for coaches who like to move fast
• Why transformation happens in community, not isolation
• A personal story from the farm that reframed home and calling

Referenced episodes
Ep 291, Preparing for Sabbatical, dreams and fears
Ep 299, Facing my fears of sabbatical, interview with Erica

Resources and links

• One-Day REALIFE Process Certification Accelerator, choose December 11 or January 29, 2026, therealifeprocess.com/accelerator
• Connect with Teresa, teresa@therealifeprocess.com
• The book, Do What Matters, Live from Rest, Not Rush

Takeaways

• Rested success is built through repeatable rhythms
• Plan the year early, announce in the fall, create holiday margin
• Slower discernment brings deeper alignment
• Do not journey alone, coaches and spiritual directors matter

Call to Action

Feeling a nudge toward a pause or a sabbatical, reach out and let us help you map a simple starting rhythm. And if you want to step into 2026 with clear tools for yourself and your clients, grab a seat at the One-Day Accelerator.

FREE RESOURCES:

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OTHER RESOURCES:

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My Book Link

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LifeMapping Tools

Would you life to discover  Life Mapping tools to help you recognize and respond to God in your Story. Check out these tools here https://www.onelifemaps.com/

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About Teresa McCloy:

Teresa McCloy is the founder and creator of the REALIFE Process®, a framework designed to empower individuals and groups with the tools, training, and community needed for personal and professional growth. Through the REALIFE Process®, Teresa is on a mission to help others grow in self-awareness, establish sustainable rhythms, and enhance their influence and impact by integrating faith and work into their everyday lives. She lives with her husband of 42 years on their 5th generation family farm in central Illinois and enjoys great coffee, growing beautiful flower gardens and traveling as much as possible. 

About Erica Vinson:

Erica Vinson helps clients walk through defining moments with confidence and courage enabling them to move forward in freedom and embrace fearless living. As an ACC Credentialed and Certified Professional Life & Leadership Coach, she uses wisdom from all 3 Centers of Intelligence to help clients gain deeper self-awareness and grow in relationships with others both personally and professionally. Erica is a certified REALIFE Process® Master Coach, an ©iEnneagram Motions of the Soul Practitioner, and has a certificate in Spiritual Transformation through the Transforming Center. She lives in the Metro East St. Louis area and enjoys spending quality time with friends and family, golfing, tennis, boating/water skiing, traveling, is a bit of a technology nerd and loves learning!