Speaking Events

As we get farther and farther away from childhood, the demands and stresses of life increase. We tend to forget that we have the power to say yes to the delights of our heart and soul. We tend to forget what makes us feel alive and what brings us peace. But in order to live a present, joyful, and fulfilling life, we must remember. In this inspiring talk, Rachel provides participants with five key insights to help them make small habit shifts towards joy without overhauling their lives or making drastic changes. Participants will be equipped to overcome self-defeating habits using practices rooted in self-awareness, healing, and compassion. This presentation will speak to anyone longing to break free from self-limiting beliefs and daily distraction to grasp the joy found only in the here and now.

The term ‘work-life balance’ suggests an illusion that we can divide the many parts of our lives into neat boxes, each receiving an even distribution of the time, energy, and focus they require. However, life is not containable; it’s fluid, complex, and unpredictable. This was true even before the global pandemic. Now, we recognize the elusive boundaries between work and life have crumbled to non-existence. We are on our way to becoming a population of burned out, busted up humans who feel like the bottom has completely fallen out. So, what do we do? Rachel Macy Stafford advocates we flatten the box into a piece of cardboard and use it to make a map—a map to help us navigate this uncharted territory together, one with pathways wide enough to include all parts of ourselves. From surviving to thriving… from competition to community… from unhealthy expectations and relentless pressure to healthy boundaries and inner peace.

Today’s young people are facing issues no previous generation has faced, and the new realities of parenting are more challenging than ever. But, for parents and other adults who are determined to live and model a life anchored by truth, presence, and connection, there is hope. 
 
Rachel has a gift for showing parents how to become truth-tellers, encouragers, and guides to support young people navigating the stresses of techno-ference, academic pressure, lack of purpose, isolation, and absent or ineffective coping skills.
 
Rachel weaves the tools of her trade as a special education teacher into strategies anyone can use in the daily rhythms of life to help young people. Whether parent, educator, neighbor, or friend, Rachel’s material on building strong connections with teens equips adults with practical skills and leaves them feeling encouraged and hopeful.

When you have children, parents, partners, friends, and colleagues that constantly depend on you, it’s easy to abandon your own needs and become stuck in a loop of depletion, resentment, and despair. But living in this state leads to burnout, which is not sustainable. Over time, the stress load builds up, wreaking havoc on your health, wellbeing, and relationships. Although the idea of shifting the balance from constantly pouring from yourself to routinely investing in yourself may feel impossible, uncomfortable, or even self-indulgent, Rachel Macy Stafford believes the quality of your life depends on learning how to make this shift. Inspired by her hugely popular bestselling book, Only Love Today, this talk invites participants to expand their capacity for self-compassion and build a foundation for true self care using the power of awareness and boundary setting. Attendees will leave with a practical plan designed to prioritize the relationship they have with themselves and finally begin giving themselves the same care they give others.