Like many people who work in online spaces, a few years ago I noticed a dramatic difference in my reach and engagement. From Instagram to my blog to our podcast, the numbers started declining. This was most apparent on Instagram, but I saw it in my other spaces as well. It wasn’t a great feeling, but I also understood that everything comes in cycles and waves, and that it was time for an ebb.

I also understood that there were multiple factors that led to this particular downturn:

1. When I started my blog in 2009, blogging was still fairly new so the vista was wide open. By 2023, people were on information overload.
2. Similarly, when I created my first course in 2010, there were very few online courses, which made mine more visible and trustworthy. Now the online course world is saturated.
3. The algorithm changes on Instagram every so often. I was favored during the covid years, and when the algorithm changed my posts became less visible.
4. Ai had entered the scene, making it easier for people to find information through Ai sources instead of through someone’s blog or courses. As I understand it, someone could even create their own course on anxiety, for example, simply by asking Ai to create that course. Someone might even say, “Create a course on relationship anxiety based on Sheryl Paul’s blog posts,” and presto, the course would manifest.

I had a choice in terms of how I responded to those changes: I could either hustle to chase the algorithm and join the new platforms (TikTok; Substack) or I could reduce my time online and contemplate a new direction for my work.

I chose the latter.

I chose to listen to the outward signs and the wisdom of my soul and respond from the grounded and truthful place inside of me that was ready for a smaller life. (I shared more in-depth about this choice in our recent Gathering Gold episode on The Fear of a Small Life.)

In other words, it was time to pivot.

As the world became more disconnected and less human, I felt called to become more human.

 

Becoming More Human

For me, becoming more human meant getting off my screen and into real life in real time, which was a major reason why I was called to lead our first Another Way retreat last June. Ai can do many things, but it can’t sit on the floor in a room at a retreat center in Colorado with thirteen other incredible humans exploring our dreams, sharing our creativity, walking the inner and outer labyrinth, laughing and crying and laughing again, and watching new friendships form. If it hadn’t been for Ai changing the landscape of online courses and therapeutic spaces, I’m not sure I would have moved forward with leading the retreat. And, as it turned out, it was one of the most fulfilling work experiences I’ve ever had.

One of my favorite parts of my work is connecting sensitive, beautiful, kind, compassionate, deep-thinking, and deep-feeling people with each other. In a world that has judged sensitivity harshly, that has sent the message to deeply feeling people that there’s something wrong with them, it is such joy to connect these people with each other and watch the healing balm of friendship blossom before my eyes. This happened at the retreat, it’s happening in our Gathering Well motherhood group, and it’s happened in my 9-month courses. Regularly I’ll receive an email from a past member of the 9-month course letting me know that their small group is still meeting. Few things bring me more joy than receiving those emails.

On the heels of the retreat, it became clear that I longed for more group work but in a smaller way. For years, due to the large numbers on Instagram and other places, my courses soared as well. And while there was some exhilaration in reaching a wide audience, I also started to feel a disconnect. With hundreds of people on my courses, was it really possible to connect deeply with each person? I did my best to connect on the forums and the calls, but I was always left with a bit of an impersonal feeling which wasn’t in alignment with one of my core values, which is real and deep connection.

In short, what I realized after the retreat was that if I was going to be leading a course, especially my longer courses, I wanted to know each and every person on that course.

So, in a strange way, I have Ai to thank for returning me to a smaller, more intimate way of working.

 

Break Free From Anxiety: A 9-month course on the art of living 

Which brings me to announcing that the 8th round of my most comprehensive course, Break Free From Anxiety, is now open for registration.

If you struggle with relationship anxiety, health anxiety, death anxiety, money anxiety, career anxiety, friendship anxiety or any other intrusive thoughts and are ready to be guided daily into the mindsets and tools that will help you heal from the root, this course is for you.

If you struggle with self-doubt, perfectionism, and a need to control, this course is for you.

If you feel inspired by my posts and long for more direct guidance and in-depth daily emails, this course is for you.

If you’re drawn to the idea of connecting with like-minded people in real time, this course is for you.

If you’re paralyzed by resistance and struggle with taking true responsibility for your well-being, this course is for you.

If you’ve wrestled with depression, this course is for you.

Based on what I shared above and the direction of my work, I’m limiting the number of participants in this course to facilitate real connection, especially through our regular Zoom calls. I’ve also decided to increase both the number and length of the Zoom calls to allow time to delve into the material together. As such, I’ll be encouraging as many people as possible to show up for as many live calls as possible (as opposed to listening to the recordings afterwards). We all long for community, and true community requires showing up in real time and making the commitment to prioritize the spaces where we have an opportunity to explore deeply with safe others.

The live calls will be held every other Tuesday starting on September 29th from 3:30 – 4:45pm ET.  

Of course I understand that not everyone will be able to make every live call, and the recording will be available afterwards, but I’m asking for a strong commitment to attend whenever possible so that we can form a true cohort and community over the nine months together.

 

P.S. A Few Thoughts on Ai

Full disclosure: I’ve never used Ai. I do understand that it can be very helpful around certain topics and can save time, but so far I haven’t felt an impulse to delve into that world.

Let me also be clear: I understand the allure and have no judgement about people who use it for certain tasks. I certainly have my concerns when it’s used for therapy or creativity, but to be fair I really don’t know enough about it even in those spheres to weigh in with any real knowledge.

What I do know is this: Ai is incapable of sharing genuine human connection. As far as we know, Ai doesn’t have a heart or a soul. It doesn’t smile when you’re talking or lean forward when you’re crying. It has never felt what you’re feeling so it can’t offer one of the most healing medicines for suffering, which is knowing that someone else has walked in your shoes. Ai can’t hold your hand or place a hand on your back. It can’t cry alongside you and fire mirror neurons that let us know: I’m seen. I’m heard. I’m not alone. Ai will never replace human connection no matter how advanced it becomes. This I trust in the belly of my being, in the ground of my soul.

Also, I know I’m not alone in my pull to return to smaller, in-person of connecting.

As the world becomes spread it, many people feel a longing to return to local ways of living.

As the world becomes bigger, some of us long for smaller.

As the world becomes more tech, screen, digital, and Ai based, there’s a return to the analog and the human.

Let’s be human together. I look forward to seeing you on the course. You can learn more and sign up here.