Shannon Forsell, who is the Artistic Director of The Cabaret, initially proposed to travel to the jungles of Belize, participate in a weekend retreat at the Art of Living Retreat Center in the North Carolina mountains to learn a scientifically proven breath work technique—Sudarshan Kriya (SKY). She also wanted to explore the fact that her priorities are shifting, and how performing fits into this stage of my life. However, during the time she was to travel to Belize, she instead traveled to The National Institutes of Health in Washington D.C. with her husband who underwent a life-threatening cancer surgery. Being with her husband was a major priority, so she decided to use her fellowship to spend quality time with him. They travelled to Nayarit, Mexico after his near-death experience. Together, they traversed jungles, deciduous forest, coastal islands and mangroves led by two local birding guides. Also, rather than partaking in the SKY retreat, for longer term benefit she decided to enroll in a weekly, local yoga classes, and joined 10% Happier–a one year program that provides daily meditation courses and practice tools.
“During this time, it become clear to me that I no longer have the time or the drive to devote to being a performer – which also Keeps me from being able to perform at the quality level I demand. I came to a clear conclusion that it was time to instead now focus on sharing my knowledge with aspiring artists. As such, I worked with Britnee King, an aspiring local artist – mentoring her in the creation and presentation of her first solo cabaret show “Please Clap,” presented at The Cabaret. This was an equally fulfilling experience. While this renewal project was different than proposed or expected – it provided much needed renewal, clarity, deep gratitude, peace and delight. A quote by poet Mary Oliver sums up my experience: ‘Let me keep my mind on what matters, which is my work, which is mostly standing still and learning to be astonished.’”
Forsell says the mere act of putting focus on renewal changed how she approached her work daily, impacting not just her, but trickled down to the staff and then the organization. Team building and professional coaching was replaced with team renewal activities–such as gratitude journaling, meditation, breathwork for stress, and more. She also took the team on a birdwatching/kayaking day trip with a guide on Lake Monroe. The team loved it, and has asked that this be an annual activity. Each team member now chooses an activity that they find renewing and shares it with the group to experience. Forsell says her workload still makes it a challenge to keep up with practicing daily–but she continues to work on it. She is better at recognizing when she’s becoming depleted and now has more tools for setting boundaries, centering herself and staying steady.
“Having the gift of the opportunity to focus on renewal reminded me that it comes not just from big renewal moments, but from daily micro self-care and mindfulness practices. Steven Covey, who wrote Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, calls this “sharpening the saw.” Which means having a balanced program for self-renewal in four areas: physical, social/emotional, mental, and spiritual. Practices that become habits, such as mindfulness, meditation, setting boundaries, and gratitude, increases our capacity to produce and handle the challenges around us. Without this renewal, the body becomes weak, the mind mechanical, the emotions raw, the spirit insensitive, and the person selfish.”