We Can't Do This Alone

July 27, 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! We Can't Do This Alone The retreat that came out of building something with others, not alone. Dear Empowered Reader, I've built my whole framework around three levels of change: Self, Social, Systems. I write about it. I teach it. I put it on slides. And then this spring, I once again was living it. For the past several months, I've been sitting around tables, real ones, virtual ones, sometimes just emails back and forth with three women I now call my co-conspirators. Rachel Gilbertson of Art of Presence. Taylor Tix and Cris Bickman Otte of Taylor & Co. Together we've been building the Wisdom of Winter retreat, happening February 25–28, 2027, at True North Resort in Nisswa, Minnesota. Here's what nobody tells you about building something meaningful with other people: it is not tidy. We've dived into tough conversations about budgets. We've each brought our own definition of "enough" to the table and had to find where those definitions overlap. We've shown up to calls tired, unsure, second-guessing our own ideas out loud in front of each other. That's the Social work. That's the part of the E.M.P.O.W.E.R. model I haven’t talked about in a while because it's the part that asks the most of me personally. I could have designed a retreat by myself. I've done that before. It's efficient. It's controllable. It's also lonely, and it caps out at whatever one person's imagination can hold. Instead, Rachel, Taylor, Cris and I found each other through a series of inspired actions (shout out to Rachel for teaching me the phrase!). And what we're creating together is bigger and truer than anything I would have built alone. Rachel Gilbertson, Art of Presence — Rachel has spent nearly two decades helping people trust their own intuition instead of outsourcing their answers to everyone else. She's a National Board Certified Health & Wellness Coach and a mindfulness facilitator, and she'll be co-facilitating the Mountain 10 process with me during the retreat, helping guests access their own inner wisdom rather than handing them someone else's script. Taylor Tix and Cris Bickman Otte, Taylor & Co — Taylor is a registered nurse and Reiki Master who turned profound personal loss into a wellness practice built on coming home to yourself. Her mother and business partner, Cris, brings 30-plus years in patient care and movement instruction, and will be guiding yoga and Centergy sessions throughout the weekend.  Together we hold the Systems piece, the logistics, the lodging, the meals, the structure. None of us are doing our own solo version of this retreat. We're doing one retreat, together, and it's better for it. That's the whole point of Social change, isn't it? It was never meant to be a nice-to-have. It's the thing that keeps Self-work from turning into isolation, and keeps Systems-work from turning into a machine nobody actually wants to be part of. Curious about the retreat? Here is more information Wisdom of Winter Retreat When: February 25–28, 2027  Where: True North Resort, Nisswa, Minnesota What: A restorative winter retreat for women, built in partnership with Rachel Gilbertson of Art of Presence and Taylor Tix & Cris Bickman Otte of Taylor & Co. Three nights of lakeside lodging, sauna and hot tub access, nourishing meals, daily guided practices, and the Mountain 10 process to help you access your own inner wisdom before you step into your next season. No packed itinerary. No rigid resolutions. Just space to slow down, reconnect, and be held by people who've done their own work to hold you. Learn more and reserve your spot → AFFIRMATION "I do not have to build alone. Asking for support is not a failure of capability; it is an act of wisdom. I trust the people I've invited into this work, and I trust myself enough to be seen by them, budgets, doubts, and all." True North Resort. Where we are hosting the retreat. PRACTICES FOR THIS SEASON Name your table. Who are the people you're building something with right now, even informally? Have you actually named them as collaborators, or are you still quietly carrying the load solo? Say the uncomfortable number out loud. Pick one conversation you've been avoiding because it involves money, capacity, or a boundary. This week, say the actual number or the actual limit, instead of the softened version. Thank a co-conspirator. Send one message this week to someone who's building alongside you. Not a task update — an actual thank-you for being in it with you. REFLECTION QUESTIONS For your journal, your walk, your quiet morning Where in your life are you doing Systems or Self work but skipping the Social layer entirely? Who would you invite to the table if you let go of needing to have it all figured out first? What would it feel like to let someone see the messy, unfinished, budget-arguing version of your work not just the polished version? More in two weeks. Take care, dear reader, Julie Was this newsletter forwarded to you? Click here to get your own subscription. All My Relations by Dr. Gary Boelhower Let us step quietly over boundaries we have created to divide us the imaginary borders on our maps lot lines plat lines zoning codes. Let us choose to forget the long litany of exclusion nations states colors genders tribes species........ Read the rest at https://www.orchpress.com/index.php/en/new-publications2-2/133-step-close-in-by-gary-boelhower Upcoming Events Luminary Conference Presentation When: September 2026 What: I am thrilled to be taking the stage at the upcoming Luminary Conference! I will be sharing actionable frameworks on sustainable leadership, thriving through large-scale organizational transitions, and shifting workplace cultures from a state of survival and overwhelm into a space of abundance and clarity. To learn more, click here. Wisdom of Winter Retreat When: February 25 to 28 2027 Where: True North Resort, Nisswa, MN What: In partnership with Art of Presence and Taylor and Co., Empower Possible is hosting a winter retreat. Surrounded by peaceful lake views, snow-covered forests, and the quiet beauty of winter, this retreat is designed to help you slow down, reconnect, and restore. Come as you are. Leave feeling rested, grounded, and renewed. Learn more: https://taylorandcoapothecary.com/2027-nisswa-retreat/  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. For a Mountain 10 experience join the Wisdom of Winter Retreat. Can't make it to the Wisdom of Winter retreat? Join the waitlist. Click HERE 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. Edit preferences or Unsubscribe

The Roadless Neutral Zone

 

July 13, 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!

The Roadless Neutral Zone The last stretch of pavement before Chelan, the highway that got us close, but not all the way. Leaving the highway behind. Stepping onto the water. Everything that matters requires us to trust the space between. Dear Empowered Reader, I just got back from a trip to Washington State. Somewhere between the flights, the rental car, and timing our transit connections just right, it hit me: this whole trip was a lesson in management, management in expectations, and management of change. The heart of the trip was the North Cascades Loop, miles of winding mountain road, alpine passes, and small towns tucked between peaks. But the part that stuck with me most wasn't anything you could drive to. It was Stehekin. Stehekin sits deep in the North Cascades, and here's the thing about it: you cannot drive there. No highway connects it to anything, loop or otherwise. You leave your car in Chelan, walk down to the dock, and get on a ferry. For an hour and a half, you float uplake with nothing to do but slow down. There's a name for this in change work: the Neutral Zone. William Bridges coined it. It's that messy middle where the old way of doing things has ended, but the new way hasn't shown up yet. No pavement. No GPS.  You're just out there. Most of us panic at the dock. We want to rush across the water, skip the discomfort, and build ourselves a makeshift highway just to feel steady again. We treat the in-between as something to escape as fast as possible. But according to Bridges, the neutral zone isn't empty space; it's actually where the real work happens. It's uncomfortable, but it's doing something. Here's what it gives us, if we let it: It sets the pace. You can't sprint through a real transformation. Bridges' research is clear on this: when we force an outcome before people have processed the change internally, we get friction and resistance instead of buy-in. It opens room for new ideas. Without a pre-paved road, teams have to find new ways to work together. That's exactly why the neutral zone tends to be so creative: the old rules aren't boxing you in anymore. It lets you actually think. It's the pause where you get to ask what you actually want to build next, instead of just carrying old momentum forward on autopilot. Here's why we resist this so much: when there's no pre-set structure, our brains have to evaluate and choose constantly, and that's exhausting. Social psychologist Roy Baumeister's research on ego depletion backs this up: our capacity for self-control and intentional choice is a limited resource. So when we try to power through a roadless season by micromanaging every decision, we burn out fast and default right back to old habits. If you're leading a team through a shift right now, or you're in a roadless season of your own life, know this: the lack of a highway doesn't mean you're lost. It means you've made it to the neutral zone. Get on the ferry. Trust the ride. Stepping onto the ferry. No more roads from here: just water, time, and a cup of coffee! AFFIRMATION "I am allowed to step off the highway of constant momentum. Ambiguity is not a sign of failure; it is the space where renewal takes root. I trust the roadless path, I honor the transition, and I give myself permission to sit in the neutral zone until the new beginning clarifies itself." The wilderness of Stehekin. PRACTICES FOR THIS SEASON Name your highway. Look at your current situation, personal or professional. What's the old road you're still gripping, even though the terrain has changed? Let something sit. Pick one decision that feels stuck in ambiguity. Instead of forcing an answer just to relieve the tension, table it for a week on purpose. Let it be unresolved for a little longer than feels comfortable. Practice floating. Next time you feel the urge to rush a transition this week, stop and take three slow breaths. Remind yourself: the ferry is moving at the right speed. You don't have to drive the boat. Learning to float instead of rush. Some lessons only show up when you slow down enough to notice them. REFLECTION QUESTIONS For your journal, your walk, your quiet morning Do you see the roadless phases of your life as a threat, or as an opportunity? What would shift if you treated this space as necessary instead of a problem to fix? What old habits are you still quietly trying to carry onto the ferry with you? What would it take to actually leave them at the dock? Who's making this transition alongside you? Are you letting people in, or trying to navigate it alone? More in two weeks. Take care, dear reader,  Julie Was this newsletter forwarded to you? Click here to get your own subscription. Ode to the Cascade Author Unknown In the realm where whispers flow,  Nature's canvas,  bold and aglow,  Words like streams in endless chase,  Dance and weave in vibrant grace.  Each line a ripple, soft and clear,  Crafting landscapes, far and near,  Mountains rise and valleys sigh,  Ink becomes the earth, the sky.  A cascade born from heart's pure stream,  We paint our worlds, we dare to dream,  Through syllables, the wild takes flight,  A symphony of day and night.  Let each stanza bloom like flowers wide,  In fragrant breezes, let them glide,  For in these verses, life unfolds,  Nature's beauty, in ink, retold.

In the Media Where can you find EMPOWER Possible? In addition to posting on my own social media, I 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 Luminary Conference Presentation When: September 2026 What: I am thrilled to be taking the stage at the upcoming Luminary Conference! I will be sharing actionable frameworks on sustainable leadership, thriving through large-scale organizational transitions, and shifting workplace cultures from a state of survival and overwhelm into a space of abundance and clarity. https://almaleaders.org/rochester-conference-registration?fbclid=IwY2xjawSeUQJleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFTNXZNTFI2ckgyR1ZuZWV4c3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHhP3tFpQlxVKRAMvwECnXmvkwEH8vvokmbnxFS-cVX_u5AgZWavbKOfPujUZ_aem_YWdncwA8i8y47DlRNlwbE18Ymi4i&brid=YWdncwEvYYKorF5TIQS0XiXsyrPq  Empower Possible Winter Retreat When: February 25 to 28 2027 Where: True North Resort, Nisswa, MN What: In partnership with Art of Presence and Taylor and Co., Empower Possible is hosting a winter retreat. Surrounded by peaceful lake views, snow-covered forests, and the quiet beauty of winter, this retreat is designed to help you slow down, reconnect, and restore. Come as you are. Leave feeling rested, grounded, and renewed. Learn more: https://taylorandcoapothecary.com/2027-nisswa-retreat/  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. 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.