What Yellowstone Taught Us
Last week, we took a group of 12 women out to the mountains of Yellowstone.
Twelve women who didn’t all know each other before spending an entire three-day weekend under the same roof.
Twelve women who are interested in growth, adventure, and experiencing all that life has to offer, all while also leading very full lives back home.
Moms. Daughters. Wives. Sisters.
For some, it was their first time ever seeing the western mountains. Others had been before, but no matter how many times you see them, they have a way of leaving an impression.
I remember looking around as we hiked the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone and watching their faces as they took in the vastness of the canyon and the beauty of God’s creation.
And I think one thing all of us left with was this:
We are so small in such a big world.
Not small in a minimizing way.
Small in a perspective-shifting way.
The kind of small that reminds you the problems consuming your thoughts, the things you’re wrestling with, and the pressures that feel so heavy day to day may not actually be as big as they feel in the moment.
Sometimes, a change in environment gives us the space to think differently.
To zoom out.
To remember what matters.
And for a moment, you get to exhale and realize:
It will all be okay.
What I think
A lot of us live very similar lives day to day.
Wake up. Work out. Go to work. Take care of family or home. Go to bed. Repeat.
Routine can be a great thing. But when routine turns into monotony, it can keep us stuck in the same thought patterns — worrying about the same things, replaying the same problems, and hyperfocusing on details that may not deserve as much energy as we’re giving them.
That’s where a change in environment can be a game changer.
Sometimes,a change in environment creates a change in perspective.
Research suggests that stepping outside our normal setting, especially when movement is involved, can support creative thinking and help us see possibilities we may not have noticed before.
And that’s exactly what stepping into a place like Yellowstone, or simply doing something that disrupts your normal day-to-day in a good way, can do.
This doesn’t mean you need to go to Yellowstone or join an XYL trip.
Although… maybe it does. 😉
It might mean taking a new workout class. Visiting family. Going for a hike somewhere you’ve never been. Working from a different coffee shop. Taking the day trip. Doing something that breaks the normal pattern.
Because sometimes when you change what’s around you, you also change what’s happening within you.
You might just gain more than a new surrounding while you’re at it.
The one degree shift
What is one way you're going to shift your environment this upcoming month?
Want to learn more?
It is HERE.
We are officially launched with our biggest event of the year:Women Xpanding Limits.
On October 24, women of all ages and fitness levels will come together to challenge themselves, step outside their comfort zones, and discover what they’re capable of.
Women Xpanding Limits will include theWomen’s 1-Miler & 5K, Push-Pull Lifting Meet, HYROX Physical Fitness Test, Hybrid divisions, and Ultimate Athlete competition.Beyond the competitions, the day will feature vendors, recovery experiences, food trucks, live music, a bonfire, and a community of women choosing courage over comfort together.
And this event is about more than competition.
Through XYL’sFor the One mission, Women Xpanding Limits will support Susan G. Komen and the breast cancer community. Ten percent of event registration proceeds will benefit Komen, while participants and supporters will also have opportunities to sponsor survivor athletes, write encouragement letters, and honor women impacted by breast cancer through our Survivor Spotlight.
Want to hear the heart behind the event, why we created it, and what you can expect?
REGISTER FOR WOMEN XPANDING LIMITS HERE
Always believe⚡️
Kelsey Lensman
