Courtney Brown is a brilliant CEO of the clothing company Cents of Style. She is a mom of 3 kiddos and is married to John Brown. She is also one of the most generous, kind, light filled people I've ever known. Courtney chooses an intention the beginning of every year and this year she chose the word Ease. She sees it as an experiment, to learn more about the process of finding the ease and joy and miracles in the midst of our challenges. She said when she chose this word she immediately became uncomfortable which to her meant it was right. She was raised in a family and religious culture where the family motto was "Work hard, play hard." It has to be hard to have meaning, having ease means you're doing it wrong. We can find a lot of identity in the hard, in our struggles. We lean into it and it can become more difficult. Those challenges are what we experience, they aren't who we are. We can acknowledge the struggle, but give it a "container" to remain in so it doesn't become our whole identity. Courtney wanted to explore what life might look like if she looked for the ease, if she didn't push so hard. It's become a practice for her to see the miracles, find the joy and ease in life. We must look for the evidence of the good and be intentional about it. Courtney coaches and mentors people in having a vision led life and living life according to our values. She works with business owners and anyone else who wants to find more purpose and joy. Courtney's instagram