Hey there [Reader,
I want to talk today about something I think we all understand, even if we don’t always say it out loud:
slipping back into old habits when you thought you had finally moved past them.
I know this pattern well.
And I know the disappointment that comes with it.
Over the last while, I’ve had stretches of feeling strong, focused, and clear. My habits were improving, my energy was good, and I felt like things were starting to land. I could see the progress. I could feel it in my body. And because I’ve spent a lifetime working on myself—and helping others do the same—I honestly believed I was stepping into something new and steady.
But then, like many of you have told me happens in your lives too, something shifted.
And I slipped.
My Story: What Happened When I Came Home
My husband and I went to Hawaii recently. We had been once before when he retired 13 years ago, and going back was something he really wanted. It was a simple trip—no agenda, no rushing, hardly any time online. I let myself rest in a way I hadn’t in a long time. Early nights, slow mornings, no pressure. I could feel myself unclench.
I came home thinking, This is it. I’m back. I’m rested. I’m ready.
And within days, there I was again:
- staying up hours later than my husband
- waking up tired
- pushing through the day
- making long to-do lists and finishing only a fraction
- beating myself up for it
- and then trying to rally, only to slip again
It reminded me so much of the months leading up to retirement—feeling scattered, distracted, tired, and not quite myself. Even after such a grounding and beautiful break, I fell back into a pattern I know too well.
It was humbling.
And honestly, it was discouraging.
But it was also a wake-up call.
What I Never Want to Pretend
I don’t ever want to write to you from a place of “I used to struggle but now everything in my life is perfect.”
That’s not true for me.
And I don’t think it’s true for anyone.
Life is always changing.
We are always learning.
We are always meeting new challenges, new grief, new pressures, new chapters.
I am a work in progress.
And I say that with complete honesty and humility.
What Slipping Taught Me
It showed me something I already believed, but clearly needed to relearn:
Awareness comes first.
Ownership comes second.
Gentle, steady change comes third.
Not shame.
Not criticism.
Not pretending it’s fine.
Just getting honest.
I had to look at what was actually happening.
I had to stop distracting myself.
I had to admit that the old story—“I function well at night”—wasn’t true anymore. My body was telling me otherwise. And I wasn’t listening.
And like many of you, I know better.
I know the somatic piece matters.
I know the body holds our stress, our grief, our old fatigue, our fears, our little-t traumas.
You can’t think your way out of something that your body is carrying.
But knowing isn’t the same as doing.
I slipped because I wasn’t doing.
This Is Where You Come In
I want to ask you, gently but directly:
Where are you slipping right now?
And are you willing to tell yourself the truth about it?
Not in a harsh way.
Not in a shaming way.
Just in an honest, human, “I see what I’m doing, and I want to do better” way.
Here are a few questions to sit with:
- Where in your life do you feel yourself sliding back into old habits or patterns?
- What does your body tell you about this? Tired? Heavy? Tight? Overwhelmed?
- What is the story you tell yourself to justify the habit?
- Is that story true? Or is it old?
- What small shift would help you feel steadier tomorrow?
Again: simple. honest. doable.
A Few Strategies to Help You Recover After You Slip
These are the things I’m returning to myself:
1. An honest check-in (no excuses, no judgment).
Ask: What is actually happening? What am I avoiding? What is the truth?
2. Re-establish one small, non-negotiable habit.
Not ten.
One.
A morning practice, an evening practice, a bedtime, a daily walk—anything that signals to your body, you’re safe, you’re supported, you’re cared for.
3. Bring your body into the process.
Somatic practices don’t need to be complicated.
A hand on your heart.
Deepening your breath.
Stretching your back.
Five minutes of quiet.
Your body holds everything.
Help it release what it can.
4. Tell the truth sooner.
Awareness is the turning point.
The sooner you notice you’re slipping, the faster you can gently correct.
5. Don’t turn a slip into a story about your worth.
You’re human.
Slips aren’t proof that you can’t change—they’re proof that you’re trying.
A Call to Action: Own What’s Yours
If you take nothing else from this newsletter, please take this:
Your life is happening right now.
And only you can decide what needs to shift.
Not next month.
Not when the season settles.
Not when you have more time.
Right now.
If something in your life doesn’t feel good in your body, listen to that.
If a habit is draining you, admit that.
If you’re slipping, name it.
Awareness is a gift.
Ownership is a decision.
Together, they change everything.
And as we move toward the holiday season—a time that brings joy, pressure, memories, grief, expectations, and sometimes fear—I want us to build a toolkit of steadiness.
I’ll talk more about that next Monday.
For now, I’m wishing you gentleness, honesty, and the courage to take one small step that supports the life you want.
With warmth,
Marianne
Stay Tuned:
🌟 What’s Coming + What’s Available
Now Available:
✨ Radical Clarity Session
Feeling uncertain about your next steps? The Radical Clarity Session is a focused 90-minute ( up to 2 hr)intensive designed to help you identify your top priority, gain insight, and create a clear blueprint for success.
➡️ Contact me directly to book your session or learn more.
marianne@mariannepreston.com
Upcoming Events:
🗓️ December 10 | 1:00–3:00 PM
Staying Connected, Staying Strong: Thriving Through the Winter Months
Join me at Empowered Services in Hope for a special in-person workshop for seniors (55+) on social inclusion, community, and connection through the winter season.
Everyone is welcome to attend! Free Event
💭 Your Feedback Wanted:
Still looking for your input! After the success of Creating an Exceptional Life, I’m planning a deeper-dive, 3-hour paid workshop to continue that journey. Before setting a date, I’d love your input:
- Would you prefer a daytime or evening session?
- This workshop will be scheduled for early 2026.
This will be an in-person event, and your feedback will help shape it.
December 18 | 1100-1200pm ( Proposed time ) Fraser Valley Regional Library- Hope
Managing Grief Through the Holidays —
Come sit with others who understand the weight that grief can carry, especially during the holidays. This free community workshop at the Hope Library is a gentle space to talk, listen, and feel supported. You’re welcome to bring a food bank donation if you’re able.
We’ll share stories, ideas, and the very real challenges that come with this time of year. Most of all, you’ll have a place to connect and learn a few ways to care for yourself if loss is part of your world right now.
Staying Connected
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