The Me'est of Me

Katherine Warren

After a bit of a rough July mentally (and physically for my poor hubs and his vertigo, and me and my back), I’ve been doing a lot of work on honoring my true self and what I really need to get through months like that.

Even with all my reading, teaching, and work on this journey towards a balanced life, that stupid, snarly voice wants to tell me,


1) This work is selfish,


2) I don’t have it “as hard” as others so for some reason,


3) that makes me undeserving of the work. Gah, that tricky brain…


Now through all of this work, I know logically that honoring what I need makes me the BEST me for others. It allows me to give more to everyone in my fullest, most present, most peace-driven self. I know logically the true me is kind and gentle and wants to share the world with those she cares about. And I know the work I do allows me the space, time and creativity to give at my best.


But I also know that when you’re in the space of a hurt brain, logic does you no favors. Remember, you can’t fix what’s broken with the thing that’s broken, no matter how much your brain would like to convince you otherwise.


So this is where we need to double down on those simple awareness practices, we need to fight a little harder to find our peace, and then we need to honor every little genuine whisper that tells us what we really need to heal. No matter if your brain barks, “selfish,” “not enough” or that you “should not” have to honor your boundaries. Smile at that brain, laugh at that thought, and get back to tuning in to your true self, and what she needs.


Here’s a picture of the me’est of me, sitting on my most favorite stoop in the deep humidity of summer (which I adore…I know, not for everyone). I spend every morning I can working out here, soaking in the summer, hair messy and curly from the heat, an easy, comfy t-shirt, a laptop on my lap, coffee by my side and a dog at my feet. No makeup, a workout and a shower to come later. THIS is the me’est of me, and the one I’m choosing to honor as much as I can.


Want to join me? Dig into who you are at your core. Use your mindfulness (or just a few breaths throughout the day) to help find it. Don’t focus on the work you or the mom you or the sibling you, focus on the you that is in your soul — and then ask her what she needs. You might come to find by giving her what she asks for, a whole new level of focus, inspiration and true presence for the people who respectfully benefit from what you have to offer, will open up.


A woman in a red shirt is smiling with her hand on her head.

_

Do me a favor? If you’re enjoying this journey towards a balanced life please subscribe, share it, and follow my Instagram for smaller bites.

A woman is running with two dogs in a park.
By Katherine Warren April 6, 2025
Your brain will straight up lie to you. There’s no way to sugar coat that, friends, there just isn’t. But your brain also creates beautiful ideas and inventions, and well, everything you see that surrounds us. It’s the power of the AND. Your brain is the king of the “and.” The first step in finding balance is recognizing this. The second step is discerning the beautiful part of your brain from the beast. The third is not reacting to, judging or negotiating with the beastly part. It’s tough, tough work. It’s lifelong work. And even if your friends start calling you things like the “definition of balance” (a term so kindly bestowed on me by some friends recently). You’re still gonna have to work your a** off on this part for the rest of your life as you sway back and forth, in and out of balance. Does it get easier? Yes and no. The beauty of understanding the feeling of balance is that you don’t have to rely on your brain so much. You know how it feels to be in a place of solid, grounded peace, no matter what your brain is shouting you “should” or “could” be doing. The harder part is that the more you find balance, the more likely it is that you are upleveling your life. Your focus and pure presence have likely brought about more of whatever you define as a successful life--mentally, physically, or materially. That uplevel can mean those brain lies cut a little deeper, make you question every decision you make to protect your peace. If you’ve learned to sit with that pain in your belly, it might fight a little harder to make you pay attention to it. It might put up a bigger fight to try to force you to listen to those untruths. This is when you have to remind yourself, your brain will straight up lie to you. Under no circumstances should you negotiate with these thoughts. That’s where spiraling lives, that’s where lack of balance lies. Sometimes holding hard to your balanced routines will do the trick.
A before and after photo of a woman taking a selfie
By Katherine Warren April 5, 2025
What you might see when you look at this picture is a physical transformation. My size, my shininess, the polish of my look. What I see, is the change in my eyes. 
A person is typing on a laptop computer on a wooden table.
By Katherine Warren February 9, 2025
It never fails, when I try to explain the beautiful, balanced culture we are building at KidGlov (focused on finding joy in our work), someone inevitably says, “Oh, you mean good work/life balance?”
A woman is standing in front of a wall with pictures on it.
By Katherine Warren February 8, 2025
There’s an art to vulnerability, especially at work. Being real is what connects us as humans, but that doesn’t mean you need to share every nitty, gritty detail for someone to relate.
A woman in a red shirt is holding a volunteer badge.
By Katherine Warren February 7, 2025
What does wellness mean to you?
A woman wearing a name tag that says katherine
By Katherine Warren February 7, 2025
I’ve been thinking a lot lately about what it means to inspire someone.
A bowl of soup with tomatoes and broccoli on a table.
By Katherine Warren February 7, 2025
I posted on social media this week about Soup Sundays at the Warren house. It is a near sacred practice here, and very much a part of living a balanced life.
A cup of coffee sits next to a notebook and pen
By Katherine Warren February 7, 2025
I am living proof that people can, in fact, change.
A woman is sitting on a yoga mat with her eyes closed
By Katherine Warren February 6, 2025
Here's how my journey towards achieving balance started.
A stack of bread is sitting on top of each other on a table.
By Katherine Warren February 6, 2025
One of the most impactful physical wellness lessons I have learned came from a Real Housewife.
Show More