I’m amazed at the brilliance of the idea that “well-being is about capacity.” I’ve never thought about it this way before, but it’s so useful and actionable and clarifying! When I have the ability to do small things, I know I’m rested and nourished and fundamentally well.
When every little chore — even going to the library to pick up a book — feels like an aggravation, I see now that is feedback I’m not doing all that great.
What an amazing new tool to give me insight about my fundamental, deep state of overall mental health! What is my level of capacity right now? This question is like an Oura ring for overall wellness.
Thank you for this! What a keeper!!!! I’m going to use this information for the rest of my days!!!!
"When every little chore.....feels like an aggravation".... oh my goodness yes! This has been my whole life and I'm only now, at 51 years old, starting to realise what this actually means!
I’m so comforted by the idea that the Universe has our back. It’s in the same vein as “God is fair” but bolstered by the belief that “fair” Is also in your favor. Thanks for that!
I wholeheartedly agree with (conscious) Capacity being the key to it all. "Building capacity" was the core focus of my PTSD therapy + somatic experiencing treatment, which I was immersed in during all of 2023.
In Buddhist practice, allowing "space" (aka, increased capacity) to emerge in our thoughts and dealings with others, is what affords perspective and encourages peace.
If anything is "over-capacity" -- a bridge, an internet connection, a human -- it collapses; it breaks. And then Repair is needed.
"Wellbeing for me isn’t really about the green smoothies or hitting the gym — it’s about slowing down, connecting, opening my chest, letting things in, being in integrity and also paying attention to my body and not just my mind. "
This is the lesson I've been learning lately too, slowing down, letting my body lead the way, and being more present to the world around me.
Great article with so much good advice and valuable insights. Thanks Emma!
This was very well written and paced so beautifully ! You have a wonderful knack for interviews Chris! You’ve got a new subby here as a result. Love content like this.
Emma, I wish I’d have known your work a long time ago. It’s the kind of grounding reassurance I’ve needed as an entrepreneurial artist who loves to do a bit of everything. When the world (at first glance) doesn’t seem to accommodate this or feels very heavy. I’ll be taking a deeper dive into your work. Thank you for modelling success in this way.
Game-changer! Thank you, thank you!! I've been calling it "energy" - measuring whether I have the energy to do the things I need to do but yes, it's capacity, and that sense of whether I have space and time to live rather than run through a series of tasks and roles each day!
That feels far more measurable and tangible.
I've been collecting the pieces of this wellness puzzle for many years and it's very exciting when a new piece slots into place. Thank you Emma and Chris!
It was Emma's podcast with Seth Godin on the practice that led me to re-start my practice of sending a newsletter (which was also a weekly podcast for the first - intense - 26 weeks).
Ironically that led me to feel the same way about wellbeing = capacity. :-D
I'm most stressed/uncomfortable when I don't have any time for me to pause properly.
Julia Cameron says something similar about how resentful and unhappy we become when not given the space to freely create and also to absorb other's creations (paraphrasing here!).
Emma, when you shared what well-being means to you: "when my soul feels happy. You know that feeling, when your chest/heart area just feels calm," my insides smiled. My word of the year is SouL and that description feels so beautiful. Thank you for sharing!
Loved this read from you both especially the audio. Totally brilliant exploration of capacity and it’s impact on how we are able to engage with life. ✨
This part resonated, "When I first started having my panic attacks a few years ago, it was because my inner self / soul was like “hey! this isn’t working! we need to change direction now! It’s time."
I am a strong believer that anxiety and panic attacks are oftentimes trying to tell us something. There's a misalignment between our truth and our life trajectory, something is off course. Whether it's a relationship that's not right, a sexual identity not acknowledged, an ill-fit job, a buried passion/dream, or something else, we're not consciously acknowledging it. It's fluttering around in our subconscious mind, unseen, but causing anxiety. It can be really hard to uncover the reason, and we (at least I) typically try to self-medicate first rather than truly trying to find the cause. But all my anxiety really wants, to go away, is for me to be brutally honest with myself on where this misalignment lives. Once you see it, you can't unsee it, and then it's about sometimes difficult steps to get back to alignment. But on the other side, there's peace again.
I’m amazed at the brilliance of the idea that “well-being is about capacity.” I’ve never thought about it this way before, but it’s so useful and actionable and clarifying! When I have the ability to do small things, I know I’m rested and nourished and fundamentally well.
When every little chore — even going to the library to pick up a book — feels like an aggravation, I see now that is feedback I’m not doing all that great.
What an amazing new tool to give me insight about my fundamental, deep state of overall mental health! What is my level of capacity right now? This question is like an Oura ring for overall wellness.
Thank you for this! What a keeper!!!! I’m going to use this information for the rest of my days!!!!
"When every little chore.....feels like an aggravation".... oh my goodness yes! This has been my whole life and I'm only now, at 51 years old, starting to realise what this actually means!
I'm so so glad this resonated with you Melissa! ❤️
This is just what I needed to read this morning. Capacity. It is the perfect measure of where I am versus where I want to be.
We are all cabable to contain the vast. We are limitless
Glad you enjoyed, Mary ❤️
I’m so comforted by the idea that the Universe has our back. It’s in the same vein as “God is fair” but bolstered by the belief that “fair” Is also in your favor. Thanks for that!
🫶🏼
I wholeheartedly agree with (conscious) Capacity being the key to it all. "Building capacity" was the core focus of my PTSD therapy + somatic experiencing treatment, which I was immersed in during all of 2023.
In Buddhist practice, allowing "space" (aka, increased capacity) to emerge in our thoughts and dealings with others, is what affords perspective and encourages peace.
If anything is "over-capacity" -- a bridge, an internet connection, a human -- it collapses; it breaks. And then Repair is needed.
Thank you for this lovely interview.
Thank you Gail. This is so so true. ❤️
Yes! I love this: I know that I’m in a good place mentally when I have capacity. Capacity for others, for myself, for a friend in need, for my work.
❤️
"Wellbeing for me isn’t really about the green smoothies or hitting the gym — it’s about slowing down, connecting, opening my chest, letting things in, being in integrity and also paying attention to my body and not just my mind. "
This is the lesson I've been learning lately too, slowing down, letting my body lead the way, and being more present to the world around me.
Great article with so much good advice and valuable insights. Thanks Emma!
❤️ thanks Esther xo
LOVE this collab!
Me too! Thanks Bailey!
Love her emphasis on capacity... have been a fan of Emma's writing for a while. More interviews like this please ;)
Hi Jonny! ❤️
oh hey there 🙌
This was very well written and paced so beautifully ! You have a wonderful knack for interviews Chris! You’ve got a new subby here as a result. Love content like this.
Emma, I wish I’d have known your work a long time ago. It’s the kind of grounding reassurance I’ve needed as an entrepreneurial artist who loves to do a bit of everything. When the world (at first glance) doesn’t seem to accommodate this or feels very heavy. I’ll be taking a deeper dive into your work. Thank you for modelling success in this way.
Game-changer! Thank you, thank you!! I've been calling it "energy" - measuring whether I have the energy to do the things I need to do but yes, it's capacity, and that sense of whether I have space and time to live rather than run through a series of tasks and roles each day!
That feels far more measurable and tangible.
I've been collecting the pieces of this wellness puzzle for many years and it's very exciting when a new piece slots into place. Thank you Emma and Chris!
Thanks Natalie!
It was Emma's podcast with Seth Godin on the practice that led me to re-start my practice of sending a newsletter (which was also a weekly podcast for the first - intense - 26 weeks).
Ironically that led me to feel the same way about wellbeing = capacity. :-D
I'm most stressed/uncomfortable when I don't have any time for me to pause properly.
Julia Cameron says something similar about how resentful and unhappy we become when not given the space to freely create and also to absorb other's creations (paraphrasing here!).
Love this!
Dream duo! So excited to see Emma Gannon on here, Chris. You two have both brought so much joy and clarity to my life. Thanks for all you do 🤍
So lovely to hear this!
Emma, when you shared what well-being means to you: "when my soul feels happy. You know that feeling, when your chest/heart area just feels calm," my insides smiled. My word of the year is SouL and that description feels so beautiful. Thank you for sharing!
❤️
Loved this read from you both especially the audio. Totally brilliant exploration of capacity and it’s impact on how we are able to engage with life. ✨
❤️
Thanks for the interview!
This part resonated, "When I first started having my panic attacks a few years ago, it was because my inner self / soul was like “hey! this isn’t working! we need to change direction now! It’s time."
I am a strong believer that anxiety and panic attacks are oftentimes trying to tell us something. There's a misalignment between our truth and our life trajectory, something is off course. Whether it's a relationship that's not right, a sexual identity not acknowledged, an ill-fit job, a buried passion/dream, or something else, we're not consciously acknowledging it. It's fluttering around in our subconscious mind, unseen, but causing anxiety. It can be really hard to uncover the reason, and we (at least I) typically try to self-medicate first rather than truly trying to find the cause. But all my anxiety really wants, to go away, is for me to be brutally honest with myself on where this misalignment lives. Once you see it, you can't unsee it, and then it's about sometimes difficult steps to get back to alignment. But on the other side, there's peace again.
Yes. I believe this too. And it's hard to accept sometimes and make the necessary changes, but so important.
I love this, thank you Mikaela ❤️
Great interview, good advice and love the format with a short 2 minute audio by Emma in the middle. What’s not to like xxx
Hi Jo! xo