What Guatemala Taught Me About Letting Go and Finding Calm

Coming back from this Guatemalan retreat has been hard. My nervous system wasn’t ready to dive back into the chaos of everyday life. And while the experience is still fresh, I wanted to share some personal reflections that might resonate with you.

To be completely honest, this retreat was not what I had expected at all. Where I imagined quiet reflection, there was loud laughter. Where I thought I’d connect outwardly with others, I found myself turning inward. What I anticipated being a physical workout became a deep spiritual practice.

But in a lot of ways, that’s exactly what I needed: to let go of expectations and just be present.

The Power of Being Present

Before this retreat, I’d fallen into hustle mode, constantly trying to prove something to myself and everyone around me. I was working seven days a week but never seemed to get ahead. It felt like running on an endless conveyor belt—the faster I ran, the further behind I felt.

I was so focused on the future that I couldn’t enjoy the moment.

My ADHD felt out of control, and for the first time, I seriously considered medicating myself just to stay focused on my goals (because that would solve everything, right?).

(Listen more about my unmedicated ADHD journey here.) 

Then, on day two of the retreat, during the quiet reflection of Savasana, our instructor calmly said, “I am alive. I am here. I am now.”

Those simple words hit me deeply. For the rest of the week, they became my mantra. I surrendered my plans, dreams, and ambitions to the universe and let myself simply be.

Something amazing happened—my thoughts slowed, the tension in my shoulders disappeared, and my frustrations melted away. Even when faced with stressful travel moments, I carried a deep calmness inside that refused to give way.

Refocusing on Impact

To be real with you, ever since Austin stepped away from the business, I’ve carried this deep, unspoken feeling of failure. It wasn’t something I’d even admitted to myself until recently.

That wound never healed, and I started ignoring it—but unhealed wounds always find a way to manifest. For me, it became an intense focus on making money. I lost sight of why I started this journey in the first place.(Here’s that full story if you missed the tea)

During one of my journal entries at the retreat, I realized I’d become so hyper-focused on future goals and financial success that I’d lost my passion and confidence.

I started questioning myself constantly and even looked for other jobs or new opportunities. But none of them felt right.

That’s when I remembered my original purpose: to inspire, uplift, create, learn, and love.

The money will come. The help I need will come. My only job is to focus on impact and to trust the process.

Understanding and Regulating the Nervous System

All the fear-mongering in the news, drama at my side gig, and my own unhealed wounds had left my nervous system constantly on alert. I was stuck in a chronic state of low-level fight-or-flight.

Here’s what was happening behind the scenes: The brain is wired to keep us safe, and when it senses any kind of threat—whether it’s real or perceived—the amygdala activates the sympathetic nervous system. This triggers the release of stress hormones like adrenaline and cortisol, preparing the body to fight, flee, or freeze.

This response is essential for survival but is meant to be temporary. Once the threat passes, the parasympathetic nervous system should step in and calm things back down. However, when we’re bombarded with ongoing stressors—like breaking news, work drama, or unresolved emotional wounds—the nervous system never completes the cycle, keeping us stuck in survival mode.

That’s where the real problems start. Chronic stress impacts digestion, sleep, memory, decision-making, and more. It leaves us feeling exhausted, irritable, and disconnected.

Despite knowing the tools to regulate my nervous system, I’d been feeding it more stress, keeping myself stuck.

Easing Back Into Life

Now that I’m back, I’m committed to easing back into life and being kinder to my nervous system. This means setting boundaries, saying no when necessary, and intentionally creating moments of calm.

What about you? Does your nervous system need a break too? How are you coping with the chaos of daily life?

I’d love to hear your thoughts and suggestions. And if you think I can help, let me know.

Feel free to start the conversation by emailing me at hello@austinandmonica.com