Have you ever stood over an open suitcase, trying to decide what absolutely needs to go because you are not paying for another piece of luggage?

You run through the trip in your head.

What’s the weather supposed to be? Will you need a jacket? How much walking will you be doing? Can one pair of shoes work for everything?

You’ve figured out what you need for the daytime outings. But what about the evenings?

What are you going to do when you get back to the hotel room at night?

Well, there’s that article you could work on. A few emails you could catch up on. Maybe you could make some progress on that project once you’re settled in for the evening.

And just like that, your computer starts looking like an essential item.

That’s where I found myself before the first trip of my five-week sabbatical.

But this time, with more fear and trepidation than leaving a laptop behind probably warrants, I decided it was staying home.

I wanted to be present with my husband, even if part of my brain was convinced I would spend the rest of my sabbatical catching up.

And as we traveled, something unexpected happened. Without work filling every available space, there was room to think about the future of my coaching business. What could it look like? What possibilities had I been too busy to consider?

Making Room for What Could Be

Maybe you recognize that busyness, too. Between getting through the workday, taking care of the people who depend on you, and keeping up with everything else, when is there room to think about what you want next?

You can spend so much time managing the life you have that you rarely get to consider what you’d like your future to look like.

You may know exactly what needs your attention today. But if someone asked what you want your work to make possible over the next few years, would you know where to begin?

In What Do You Want From Your Career When Survival Is No Longer the Only Goal?, we explore that question without asking you to abandon the stability you’ve worked hard to build.

The article offers a place to begin noticing what you want more room for. Paid members can go further with a worked example and The Beyond-Survival Career Reflection Guide, a companion worksheet for exploring possibilities and choosing one manageable next step.

Help Choose the Podcast Art

With all the traveling during my sabbatical, there was less time to work on The Resilient Career than I’d imagined. Since returning home, I’ve been working hard to get everything in place for the new podcast.

The Resilient Career launches October 27! You’ll be able to watch on YouTube, listen here on Substack, or tune in wherever you get your podcasts.

Before launch day, there’s one decision you can help with: the podcast art! Take a look at the two options below and cast your vote.

Option 1: Green shirt, purple background

Option 1 podcast cover: Cyndi Bennett smiling in a green shirt against a purple background. Text: The Resilient Career; Overcoming CPTSD; with Cyndi Bennett; How High Functioning Over-Achievers Advance at Work.

Option 2: Blue shirt, navy background

Option 2 podcast cover: Cyndi Bennett smiling in a blue shirt against a navy background. Text: Overcoming CPTSD; The Resilient Career with Cyndi Bennett; CPTSD, Trauma, & Resilience at Work.

Thanks for helping bring this podcast to life. Your vote gives me a little more direction as launch day gets closer!

And beyond the artwork, what would you like us to talk about on The Resilient Career? What questions about work or your career have been on your mind?

Reply to this email or leave a comment. Your questions can help shape future episodes.

Until next time,

Take good care.

Resilient Career Academy

Returning to Work After a Sabbatical: What…