The past few weeks have been big as I well and truly settle into the year - though settle doesn’t quite feel like the right word. No doubt, like many of you, I’ve set ambitious intentions for 2025, and I’ve become acutely aware of when I’m oscillating between survival mode - where stress and cognitive overload creep in, and I achieve fewer high-value tasks vs. when I am in optimally thriving mode, where clarity and flow return, allowing me to shine my brightest.
I know survival mode well. It once led me to burnout, and since recovering, I’ve learned to recognise and accept the early warning signs. There is no choice, it’s out of my control - my body and mind simply refuse to go back to that place. When I feel myself slipping into control mode, I pause and remind myself not to attach too tightly to that version of me. A few things recently didn’t go as planned, and I caught myself spiralling - trying to control an outcome that was never in my hands. Case in point: my work flight was canceled late at night, leaving me stuck in another state overnight.
In the past, I would’ve held onto the stress, pushed harder, and resisted the reality of the situation - letting my monkey mind run wild. But stress only creates more resistance and builds up over time. The shift happens when I let go and embrace being formless. And that’s exactly what I did. Instead of staying stuck in frustration, I opened myself up to new possibilities and I found a flight home (to a different airport) much sooner than expected.
Embracing formlessness means allowing yourself to evolve, to reshape in response to what’s in front of you. It means tapping into intuition, thinking strategically rather than reacting emotionally. In this space, clarity returns, solutions emerge, and navigating the non-linear nature of life, leadership, and business becomes easier. Most importantly, it prevents burnout.
It also reminds me of those unexpected little moments of joy. I’ve had Angie McMahon’s latest album on repeat for months, but just recently, I stumbled upon a song I’d never noticed before. The song hadn’t changed. It was always there - I had changed.
Every time I embrace formlessness - like water - I walk away with a mindset of endless opportunities, fresh perspectives, and a more powerful, limitless version of myself.
A Possibility for You: The next time you find yourself in survival mode, what’s one thing you could let go of to start embracing formlessness?
How do you navigate shifting between survival and optimally thriving - whether in life, leadership, or business? I’d love to hear your thoughts.
Sending you all formless love vibes,
Bee 💜🐝
P.s. Look out for my new Bee Formless™ podcast: Flow Driven CEO - find out more and watch on my youtube channel.
