Episode 65 - Mindfulness, Grace & Gratitude — 12S4E: The 12 Steps for Everyone

In Episode 65, Jackie and Denise dive into Step 11, which focuses on welcoming mindfulness, grace, and gratitude into our thoughts and behaviors. Denise recounts her recent experience hosting the 25th annual retreat for sober women, where attendees worked through Steps 4, 6, and 7 to confront and process their fears in small groups. From walking the labyrinth and offering up her "awareness" rock, to throwing a silent disco featuring a choir version of Eminem's "Lose Yourself," Denise highlights the immense power of shared connection and intentional gathering.

Jackie shares takeaways from her week-long summer intensive class on Management and Leadership of Organizations. She discusses the importance of unwritten workplace norms (like the culture surrounding lunch breaks), the value of building unstructured downtime into group events, and what it really means to create a safe and meaningful environment. The episode concludes with a heartwarming discussion about a fast-paced class exercise involving writing affirmations to peers, followed by a closing grounding breathwork practice.

Key Times:

00:01:33 Step 11: Welcoming mindfulness, grace, and gratitude

00:02:18 Denise's experience hosting the 25th annual sober women's retreat

00:04:47 Focusing the retreat workshop on fear and working through Steps 4, 6, and 7

00:08:20 The silent disco and grandpa's choir version of Eminem's "Lose Yourself"

00:10:31 Walking the labyrinth at the retreat and leaving the "awareness" rock

00:14:24 Jackie's unexpected insights from a Management and Leadership summer intensive

00:17:11 The impact of subtle workplace norms, including lunch culture

00:22:20 The value of non-productive time and pacing oneself during a busy week of events

00:29:57 The 30-second affirmation paper rotation exercise

00:34:11 A closing grounding exercise focused on deep breathing and gratitude

Topics Covered:

Step 11: Integrating mindfulness, grace, and gratitude into daily behaviors
Organizing a sober women's retreat and confronting fear through Steps 4, 6, and 7
The power of vulnerability, shared communion, and giving people space to process
Lessons on management, leadership styles, and creating safe workplace environments
The importance of unstructured downtime and taking breaks to recharge
Expressing gratitude and the emotional impact of writing affirmations for peers