Peru and the Empowerments

 

March 15, 2026 Regenerate Your World  Build the future you want to live in. I know these times aren't the easiest for all of us, but I am an optimist - I see the glass as refillable instead of half-full or half-empty. To brighten up your days, I publish the Regenerate Your World newsletter, coming to your inbox on a bi-weekly basis. Let's Get Empowered!

Peru, Empowerment, and Regeneration A view of Machu Picchu, built around 500 years ago, this network of terraces, palaces, plazas, temples, and homes becomes even more astonishing when you realize the Inca built it without iron, steel, or wheels. Dear Empowered Reader, Over the past two newsletters, we have walked through the first two empowerments of Empower Possible together. I have shared the Empowerments through the lens of my travels throughout Peru, with our National Geographic Journeys tour group.  The first newsletter focused on the first Empowerment of Empower Possible, Engage Your True Self. I sent the invitation to honor our inner world with curiosity and compassion, while the second newsletter focused on the second Empowerment of Empower Possible, Catalyze Your Social Networks. The newsletter highlighted the power of community and mutual care.  The natural next step and the focus of this newsletter is the third Empowerment, Systems Awareness, where we explore the systems we live and work within.  In Peru, systems became especially clear during our time at Machu Picchu, which we reached after an early train ride from Ollantaytambo and an 8-mile hike along the Inca trail, through sacred ruins, and up the mountain to the “Lost City of the Incas.” My husband and I are enjoying the view of Machu Picchu. Standing among the terraces, stone dwellings, and temples of Machu Picchu, one of the most striking impressions was how seamlessly the site is integrated into the surrounding landscape.  The terraces follow the curve of the mountain, the water channels work with gravity, and structures are placed in relation to both the terrain and the sky. The Incas designed with an understanding that they were part of a living system, not separate from nature, but in relationship with it.  This kind of systems awareness is something many in these modern times struggle to understand: building processes that honor natural rhythms instead of pushing against them. As our Peruvian tour group moved through the site with a local guide, learning how architecture, agriculture, and astronomy all fit together, I found myself thinking about the systems closer to home. In our families, workplaces, and communities, do our policies and routines support well-being, inclusion, and sustainability?  Or do they unintentionally create burnout, disconnection, and short-term thinking?  Touring Machu Picchu, it’s impossible not to feel awe. As I looked through the windows of the ancient homes, I was struck by how precisely they aligned. I can hardly hang a picture straight, let alone imagine building an entire city of perfectly balanced homes in the mountains  Systems awareness asks us to notice patterns, not just individual moments, and to ask brave questions about what we reward, what we ignore, and what we are willing to change. With that in mind, here are a few questions for you to consider:  Where in your life or work do you sense that “the way we do things” no longer supports the people involved?  How might you map the relationships among people, policies, and habits to better understand the patterns at play?  What is one small shift you could advocate for that would make your environment more aligned with your values?  A tool I’ve used is a systems-mapping exercise. The idea is to visually map out all the moving parts of your organization (or relationships), roles, routines, communication channels, and even the unspoken norms that drive everyday behavior, and then draw arrows showing how they influence one another. This creates a living snapshot of how work actually happens, rather than how it’s supposed to happen on paper. For example, during a digital transformation project I led, our team used this approach to understand why adoption of a new collaboration platform was lagging. When we mapped the system, we noticed that communication around the project flowed primarily top‑down through formal meetings, while the actual influencers, the mid‑level managers and subject matter experts, shared updates informally through chat channels. This imbalance created a hidden gap: the people doing the day‑to‑day change work weren’t getting consistent messages or feedback loops.  Once we visualized this, it became clear we needed to embed those informal influencers into the official project communication plan and create routines for cross‑level feedback. Adoption rates improved once the “invisible” dynamics were accounted for in our system design. Just as we were taking in the sights of Machu Picchu, a llama wandered up the terraces!  It was as if the llama was there to remind us that life still moves through this ancient place. An affirmation to anchor this work:  “I am part of systems that can evolve toward balance and wholeness.”  While drafting this newsletter. Mary Oliver’s Wild Geese, came to mind.  The poem calls us back into our belonging with “the family of things.”. When we combine inner work, nurturing relationships, and thoughtful attention to the systems around us, we create conditions where change is not just possible, it is sustainable.  As you move into your next season (the first day of Spring is on March 20), may you feel empowered at all three levels: within yourself, in your networks, and in the systems you experience each day. Take Care, Dear Reader, Julie Founder, Empower Possible Was this newsletter forwarded to you? Click here to get your own subscription. Wild Geese by Mary Oliver You do not have to be good. You do not have to walk on your knees for a hundred miles through the desert repenting. You only have to let the soft animal of your body love what it loves. Tell me about despair, yours, and I will tell you mine. Meanwhile, the world goes on..... Read the rest at https://www.poetry.com/poem/123017/wild-geese

In the Media Where can you find EMPOWER Possible? Besides posting on my own social media, I also collaborate with other entrepreneurs.  Thank you to The CEO Mindset for hosting me on your podcast.  By pressing play on this episode, you'll discover: How to change your life with systems, goals, and design a personal blueprint.    Are you ready to change your life? I am not sure if I know anyone who isn’t in some form or fashion.   In this episode of the podcast, we talk about the relationship between systems, goals, and my personal blueprint.Click here to listen. Interested in catching up on our previous podcast episodes? I invite you to explore our library of past recordings, where we delve into a diverse range of topics related to happiness and well-being. https://empowerpossible.com/podcasts/&nbsp Upcoming Events Mountain 10 Workshops What is Mountain 10?                                                                                                                                                         During this three-hour workshop, we will focus on accessing your inner wisdom to bring about the changes you deeply desire in your life. We will use the Mountain 10 process, a proven, new technology for deep reflection on human change. It is based on the conviction that every person has the most important answers about direction, purpose, and calling within them. This directed reflection process leads you through four terrains of exploration, stopping at points on the journey to consider key questions about awareness, letting go, vision, and realization. The terrains of your journey will take you into deeper observation of your feelings, thoughts, and images. You will explore what you need to let go of as you truly seek what you really want. We will open a space for a new vision and consider the practical steps to actualize that vision. We will deepen our insights in small circles of trust. Journaling and guided reflection will be used throughout the journey. Click HERE to sign up to be on the waitlist for the next workshop. I will reach out once a workshop is scheduled that meets your availability. Please reach out if you have any questions, info@empowerpossible.com

Connect with me on social media! Copyright © EMPOWER Possible  Northfield, United States EMPOWER Possible is dedicated to empowering individuals, organizations, and communities to organize and act together to regenerate our world through Self, Social, and Systems transformation.  info@empowerpossible.com \ Website \ Mission You are receiving this email because you expressed an interest in my work—thank you! You can change your email preferences or unsubscribe at any time.  Disclaimer: This newsletter contains content that has been modified and inspired by ChatGPT, an AI language model developed by OpenAI. While we use ChatGPT to enhance our content, it should not be considered professional advice. For specific concerns or decisions, please consult with a qualified professional or trusted source. The newsletter authors are not responsible for any actions taken based on the information provided by or inspired by ChatGPT.

The Empowerment of Growth and Gratitude

January 3, 2026 Regenerate Your World  Build the future you want to live in. I know these times aren't the easiest for all of us, but I am an optimist - I see the glass as refillable instead of half-full or half-empty. To brighten up your days, I publish the Regenerate Your World newsletter coming to your inbox on a bi-weekly basis. Let's Get Empowered! Hello, Dear Reader!  Before we dive into the main content of the newsletter, I would like to share a video interview with you about transitions.  Big life transitions require more than logistics; they need clarity. Jen Schlaak and I talk about: • Why transitions feel so hard • How values influence decisions more than we realize • A real-life example of a retiring couple choosing their next chapter • Why clarity doesn’t mean the process is easy — but it makes it worth it Thinking about what’s next? Send me a message! Take me to the video! The Empowerment of Growth and Gratitude The photo is from a birthday celebration last year. I hosted a coffee tasting party! It felt like the perfect reflection of this season of life: connection, curiosity, and celebration in good company. Now onto our main content.... Last year, I turned 40. Turning 40 feels less like starting over and more like coming home, to my values, my pace, and my purpose. The past has been full of early leaps, lessons learned the hard way, and friendships that have truly lasted, and it all prepared me for a season where ease and confidence finally feel intertwined. As a Well-being specialist and change leader, I often think about how growth isn’t just professional, it’s deeply personal. The same principles that help teams thrive also help individuals regenerate: awareness, alignment, and authentic connection. This chapter is shaped by what I call my personal versions of the Three Empowerments (self, social, systems): moving my body because it feels good, tending to my mental health with support, working on mission-based projects that align with my values and curiosity, and nourishing relationships that inspire me to keep growing. Together, they remind me that transformation doesn’t have to be dramatic; it can be steady, integrative, and full of grace. How the Dimensions of Well-Being Show Up Now Physical Well-Being | Moving for Joy Movement has shifted from being about progress to being about presence. Long gone are my competitive tennis days.  Now, walks, hikes, and yoga are ways to re-center and feel alive. The lesson? Move to feel, not to prove. Mental Well-Being | Embracing Support Mental Health therapy has helped me grow and gain clarity. It’s taught me that support isn’t a sign of struggle, but a sign of commitment to learning and living well. Social Well-Being | Cherishing Connection Gathering with old friends, especially as we all celebrated milestone birthdays, reminded me that relationships are one of life’s richest investments. They ground us in who we were and affirm who we’re becoming. Financial Well-Being | Investing in What Matters Financial well-being looks different now. It’s less about earning more and more about aligning what I have with what I value. Small, consistent choices have created stability and freedom. Emotional Well-Being | Honoring Boundaries  Boundaries have become one of my most empowering tools. Saying “no” thoughtfully creates room for deeper “yeses.” It’s a practice of alignment and courage. Spiritual Well-Being | Trusting the Mystery Spirituality for me lives in rhythm, in nature, ritual, and reflection. My Winter Solstice ritual, lighting candles and naming intentions, always brings a sense of calm clarity. It's a reminder that I don’t need all the answers to feel grounded in purpose. Reflection for You What have your earlier experiences prepared you for now? Which dimension of well-being could use your attention this season? Where do you feel most at ease and alive in yourself? When we pause long enough to ask these kinds of questions, we lead and live from a place of grounded empowerment. Affirmation “I honor the wisdom of my lived experience. Each day, I step forward grounded in my strengths, open to new possibilities, and centered in my empowered self.” Take Care, Dear Reader, and thank you for your readership. Julie Founder,  Empower Possible Another birthday picture from 2022. I loved my mini-mug cake! Was this newsletter forwarded to you? Click here to get your own subscription. Scan the QR Code to sign up to be notified when the next Mountain 10 workshop is offered.  What is Mountain 10?                                                                                                                                                         During this three-hour workshop, we will focus on accessing your inner wisdom to bring about the changes you deeply desire in your life. We will use the Mountain 10 process, a proven, new technology for deep reflection on human change. It is based on the conviction that every person has the most important answers about direction, purpose, and calling within them. This directed reflection process leads you through four terrains of exploration, stopping at points on the journey to consider key questions about awareness, letting go, vision and realization. The terrains of your journey will take you into deeper observation of your feelings, thoughts, and images. You will explore what you need to let go of as you truly seek what you really want. We will open a space for a new vision and consider the practical steps to actualize that vision. We will deepen our insights in small circles of trust. Journaling and guided reflection will be used throughout the journey. Becoming Whole There comes a season when growth feels less like climbing and more like rooting, spreading quiet strength where you stand. The pace slows. You learn to listen for what your body, your spirit, your story already know. This is not a beginning, but a blooming, one nurtured by the lessons that once felt heavy and friendships that still hold steady. Ease finds its way in, not from doing less, but from being more present to what matters. The path ahead no longer rushes; it invites. And here, in the calm between milestones, you remember, growth was never the goal. Wholeness was. Connect with me on social media! Copyright © EMPOWER Possible  Northfield, United States EMPOWER Possible is dedicated to empowering individuals, organizations, and communities to organize and act together to regenerate our world through Self, Social, and Systems transformation.  info@empowerpossible.com \ Website \ Mission You are receiving this email because you expressed an interest in my work—thank you! You can change your email preferences or unsubscribe at any time.  Disclaimer: This newsletter contains content that has been modified and inspired by ChatGPT, an AI language model developed by OpenAI. While we use ChatGPT to enhance our content, it should not be considered professional advice. For specific concerns or decisions, please consult with a qualified professional or trusted source. The newsletter authors are not responsible for any actions taken based on the information provided by or inspired by ChatGPT. Edit preferences or Unsubscribe

The Power of Systems

 

December 8, 2025 Regenerate Your World  Build the future you want to live in. I know these times aren't the easiest for all of us, but I am an optimist - I see the glass as refillable instead of half-full or half-empty. To brighten up your days, I publish the Regenerate Your World newsletter coming to your inbox on a bi-weekly basis. Let's Get Empowered!

The Power of Systems A poster from an Art of Hosting training I attended. Art of Hosting has helped me facilitate conversations that address complex systems. Dear Empowered Reader, After taking a quick break for the Holiday gift guide, we have been reviewing the Three Empowerments: Empowerment from within and Social Empowerment. We have reviewed two of the three empowerments, the core elements of Empower Possible. We started with self-empowerment, getting to know ourselves, building resilience, and embracing the courage to lead authentically. That foundation sets the tone for everything else.  Then, we expanded outward into social empowerment, the power of connection. We explored how real growth happens when we come together, share openly, and build trusting relationships that lift us all higher. And today, here we are at the third empowerment: systems, the larger environment where our individual and collective efforts take root and grow. When I think about systems empowerment, I often reflect on how the structures, policies, and workflows surrounding us can either support our growth or hold us back. In my work with organizations, I’ve seen brilliant, passionate teams struggle, not because of a lack of will or talent, but because the systems in place weren’t designed to sustain their energy or help them thrive over time.  For example, one nonprofit I supported was full of dedicated people who cared deeply about their mission to serve students in crisis. Yet inside the organization, the day-to-day realities told a different story. Staff were stretched thin, workflows were tangled across departments, and communication often bounced between too many approval layers. Policies, though well-intended, felt rigid and disconnected from the pace of real service delivery.  Over time, these gaps created repeated bottlenecks and a quiet fatigue that showed up as turnover, missed opportunities, and burnout. We began by listening, holding reflective sessions to map where energy was draining and where people felt most empowered in their work. Through this discovery phase, we surfaced key pain points: duplicate reporting processes, unclear decision-making authority, and outdated approval structures that slowed innovation. Together, we co-designed new systems aligned with both the organization’s purpose and people’s lived experiences. We established transparent communication pathways, simple, visual dashboards for ongoing project updates instead of endless email threads. We restructured meetings around decision categories rather than status reports, freeing time for collaboration and creativity. Policies were rewritten to allow flexibility and trust: piloting ideas before formal policy approval and embedding well-being check-ins into team routines. These weren’t quick fixes; they were foundational shifts that rebuilt the organization’s capacity for resilience and growth. Within months, staff engagement scores improved, program output became more consistent, and teams began proactively proposing innovations that once felt out of reach. Empowering systems means creating conditions where the organization's infrastructure, processes, communication, and culture actively support both its purpose and people. It’s about ensuring the “how” truly sustains the “why,” turning everyday work into a living expression of mission. Reflection Questions to Consider: What systems or structures in your work or life either support or hold back your growth? How might small changes in communication or workflows improve your team’s resilience and success? In what ways can you advocate for or contribute to systemic change that aligns with your values? Positive Affirmation: "I am part of something greater; together, we create positive, lasting change."Thank you for joining me through the three empowerments.  Remember, real transformation begins within, grows in community, and thrives when our systems are aligned for good. I’m grateful to share this journey with you, and I’m excited for all the possibilities ahead. Take care, Dear reader, Julie Founder,  Empower Possible Another exercise that is helpful in addressing system change, co Was this newsletter forwarded to you? Click here to get your own subscription. Kind Words A psychologically safe space is essential in addressing systems change. Scan the QR Code to sign up to be notified when the next Mountain 10 workshop is offered.  What is Mountain 10?                                                                                                                                                         During this three-hour workshop, we will focus on accessing your inner wisdom to bring about the changes you deeply desire in your life. We will use the Mountain 10 process, a proven, new technology for deep reflection on human change. It is based on the conviction that every person has the most important answers about direction, purpose, and calling within them. This directed reflection process leads you through four terrains of exploration, stopping at points on the journey to consider key questions about awareness, letting go, vision and realization. The terrains of your journey will take you into deeper observation of your feelings, thoughts, and images. You will explore what you need to let go of as you truly seek what you really want. We will open a space for a new vision and consider the practical steps to actualize that vision. We will deepen our insights in small circles of trust. Journaling and guided reflection will be used throughout the journey. Poem "Blueprints drawn in hope and care,Paths adjusted, dreams we share—Each small fix, a future grown,Systems strong, and seeds are sown."

Upcoming Events Mountain 10 Workshops What is Mountain 10?                                                                                                                                                         During this three-hour workshop, we will focus on accessing your inner wisdom to bring about the changes you deeply desire in your life. We will use the Mountain 10 process, a proven, new technology for deep reflection on human change. It is based on the conviction that every person has the most important answers about direction, purpose, and calling within them. This directed reflection process leads you through four terrains of exploration, stopping at points on the journey to consider key questions about awareness, letting go, vision, and realization. The terrains of your journey will take you into deeper observation of your feelings, thoughts, and images. You will explore what you need to let go of as you truly seek what you really want. We will open a space for a new vision and consider the practical steps to actualize that vision. We will deepen our insights in small circles of trust. Journaling and guided reflection will be used throughout the journey. Click HERE to sign up to be on the waitlist for the next workshop. I will reach out once a workshop is scheduled that meets your availability. Please reach out if you have any questions, info@empowerpossible.com

Connect with me on social media! Copyright © EMPOWER Possible  Northfield, United States EMPOWER Possible is dedicated to empowering individuals, organizations, and communities to organize and act together to regenerate our world through Self, Social, and Systems transformation.  info@empowerpossible.com \ Website \ Mission You are receiving this email because you expressed an interest in my work—thank you! You can change your email preferences or unsubscribe at any time.  Disclaimer: This newsletter contains content that has been modified and inspired by ChatGPT, an AI language model developed by OpenAI. While we use ChatGPT to enhance our content, it should not be considered professional advice. For specific concerns or decisions, please consult with a qualified professional or trusted source. The newsletter authors are not responsible for any actions taken based on the information provided by or inspired by ChatGPT.