Tag: purpose

Balance, Business, Lifestyle, Productivity

When Systems Create Space for Peace | Kat Mari Coaching

by Kat MariLeave a Comment on When Systems Create Space for Peace | Kat Mari Coaching
When Systems Create Space for Peace | Kat Mari Coaching

From Clutter to Clarity

Sometimes, peace isn’t found in stillness – it’s built, one system at a time.

When I first sat down to organize my world: six businesses, shifting home life, spiritual commitments, and creative dreams – I wasn’t looking for perfection. I just wanted peace.

What I discovered is that when systems are designed with intention, they don’t box you in… they set you free.

The Breaking Point: Doing Too Much to Feel in Control

For months, I was juggling tasks like survival mode was my default. Every list felt like a lifeline, yet nothing truly moved.

I was working from my home office space (my bedroom which doubled as my gym), managing a food business out of a tiny kitchen, and trying to remember who I was beyond the chaos.

I was a planner – a list-maker. My to-do lists were long, color-coded, and satisfying to check off… but they rarely led to fulfillment. I was productive, yes, but not purposeful.

Now, every task is a step forward, not just to get things done, but to move toward a longer, more intentional, God-led goal that leaves room for order and serenity.

Because busy isn’t the same as fruitful. And I realized, I didn’t need more hustle, I needed more harmony.

The Reset: Building Systems That Breathe

I started with one intention: “Create rhythm, not restriction.”

With that, I built my Anchor & Flow System in Monday.com – a digital ecosystem that aligned my spiritual, creative, and business life.
Each day now has its own focus:
🌴 Monday: Bamboo & Stone (growth + brand)
⛪ Tuesday: Church & Admin Systems
🧭 Wednesday: Coaching & Consulting
💻 Thursday: Digital & Ghostwriting
💰 Friday: Finance & Flex Focus

Every column, formula, and automation wasn’t just a tech tool… it became a promise:

I will no longer let the urgent, silence the important.

The Magic of Automation (and a Few Llamas 🦙)

Five working automations later, my board now thinks with me. It resets tasks, color-codes progress, and nudges me when creative focus time hits.

The best part?! Monday.com has random celebratory llamas – literal dancing llamas – that cheer me on when I complete a task. Who knew peace could feel like confetti? 🎉🎉🎉

But the real win wasn’t digital; it was emotional. For the first time in months, I could see my week and breathe inside it.

The Space It Created

With systems in place, I started waking up differently:
☀️ Devotionals, workouts, walks with August – my pup, mushroom lattes with extra foam (& a dash of cinnamon)!
🧘🏽‍♀️ A calm brain instead of a racing one.
💻 Deep focus between 9:30-2:00, without guilt for what wasn’t finished.

The result? I found serenity in structure. The same planner that once overwhelmed me now serves as a reflection of gratitude, filled with color, flow, and faith.

The Lesson: Peace Is the Product of Order

You don’t have to earn your peace by finishing the list. You find peace when you create space for it to live.

Systems don’t make you rigid – they give you rhythm.
Boundaries don’t limit you – they protect your brilliance.
And order, when rooted in intention, becomes a form of worship. ✨

Reflection

If you’re reading this while feeling scattered or behind, here’s what I’ve learned:

You don’t need a new plan.
You need a peaceful framework that honors the person you’re becoming.

The system is just the soil. Peace is what grows from it. 🌿

Ready to Find Your Flow?

If this message resonated with you and you’re craving clarity, creativity, and calm in your own world, I’d love to connect.

Drop a comment below or reach out through linktr.ee/katmuli – let’s build your system for serenity together. 🕊️

Business, Productivity

Grace Over Grind: Setting Goals That Align, Not Exhaust

by Kat MariLeave a Comment on Grace Over Grind: Setting Goals That Align, Not Exhaust

If you’ve ever found yourself running on caffeine and pure willpower, you’re not alone. The world praises hustle. Wake up earlier, sleep later, do more, achieve faster. Somewhere along the way, we started confusing movement with momentum.

Don’t get me wrong. I love a good to-do list and a solid action plan. But if I’ve learned anything about goal setting, it’s that not all progress is God-led. Sometimes, we get so focused on creating our own timeline that we forget to check if we’re even on His path.

We live in a culture that glorifies grind, but God invites us into grace. And grace doesn’t mean laziness… it means alignment.

When you build from alignment, there’s peace even in the push. There’s purpose in the waiting. There’s trust when doors close, even the ones you were sure were meant to stay open.

I’ll be honest… I’m a little hard-headed. I like to plan, to prepare, to make things happen. So sometimes, when God redirects me, He doesn’t just close the door gently… He slams it shut and locks it. Not to punish me, but to protect me. Because He knows if there’s even a crack open, I’ll try to wedge my way back through it.

And every single time He’s done that, He’s led me somewhere better. Every. Single. Time.

But here’s something I’ve realized along the way – before we can align our goals with God, we often have to declutter our lives. Not just our schedules, but our souls.

Decluttering means stepping back and asking:

  • What am I chasing that God never told me to pursue?
  • Whose opinions have I elevated above His?
  • What definitions of success have I accepted that don’t even belong to me?

Sometimes, decluttering means setting down your own agenda: the plan you’ve been gripping so tightly. Sometimes it means releasing pride: the part of you that wants to prove you can do it on your own. And sometimes, it even means creating distance from voices around you that speak more doubt than direction.

Deconstructing the noise makes room for discernment.
When you quiet the world, you start to hear the whisper of God’s will again.

So how do we set goals that align instead of exhaust?
Here’s what I’m learning (and unlearning) about that process:

  1. Pray before you plan. Ask God to reveal what He wants you to focus on, not just what you want to achieve.
  2. Check your motives. Is this goal about validation or obedience? There’s a big difference between being called and being driven.
  3. Declutter your influences. Be mindful of who speaks into your dreams. Not everyone’s advice is meant for your assignment.
  4. Leave room for flexibility. God’s plans will always be bigger, wiser, and more fulfilling than ours, but they often unfold differently than we imagine.
  5. Rest without guilt. True productivity doesn’t come from pushing harder; it comes from moving at the pace of grace.

When you set goals in alignment with Him, you stop striving to earn peace – you begin operating from it. You realize that success isn’t measured by how fast you move, but by how faithfully you follow.

So if you’re tired of the grind, maybe it’s time to pause – not to quit, but to realign. To ask God what He wants to build with you, not just what you want to build for Him, or worse – yourself.

Because sometimes, His plan isn’t to make you work harder – it’s to teach you how to work intentionally.

If this message stirred something in you. If you’re standing at a crossroads, ready to slow the grind and rediscover your rhythm, know that you’re not alone.

Whether you’re searching for clarity, rebuilding your confidence, or simply looking for your next step, I’d love to walk alongside you. Together, we’ll uncover what God’s placed on your heart and map out the path forward… with grace, faith, and purpose.

You can connect with me here to start the conversation. Let’s see where faith leads next. 💛

Wellness

Change

by KatSneadLeave a Comment on Change

change

Well, hello there! It’s been some time since I’ve been on here, but it feels good to be back. Wow, so much to catch up on.

Today, I wanted to write about CHANGE. Things in our lives can change in an instant. Now how will we receive this change? Will we fight the change or will we ride it out?

Now, I’d like to ask you to be honest and completely present in this moment. I’d like for you to think about a change in your life. I’m talking about it all: the good, the bad, and the unknown.

  • the irony is .. the only constant in our physical lives … is CHANGE. It’s inevitable.

changing color fog

People always tell me to “live out the season” – “this is just for a season” – “this is just a part of your journey, but press on and you will reach the promised land” … Oh goodness. Sometimes, I thought that it would just be easier for me to crawl into bed and stay still until that season passed. But, we can’t do that. We have to make a move. We can either flow with the change .. or resist and watch others and our surroundings change around us.

I’m sure by now, many of you know that I am a Christian. I love God and trust my faith. So change, although uncomfortable at times, is something that I (now) can somewhat handle. Embracing change is not about living haphazardly throughout your life and simply floating towards every direction the wind takes you. But embracing change means that you are present in God’s presence. Walking with Him, stepping into His will for your life. Jesus says come follow me, not come sit with me. I mean yes, you can sit with God .. but only for a season. You gotta live out the life that God intended for you to have.  Recently, I stumbled across an excerpt from John Maxwell’s studies.  John Maxwell (an American author, speaker, and pastor) defines successful people as:

“those that have made their major decisions early in life,

then has spent the rest of their lives managing those decisions”.

Decide early on … or decide right at this moment, to become fresh and/or recommitted to stepping into God’s will for you and manage or live out that faith and trust in God.

People say “change is for your own good”.  Well, I remember VIVIDLY all of the major times that I said: “THIS IS NOT FOR MY OWN GOOD”! “THIS IS NOT WHAT IIIIIII WANT”” “HOW COULD THIS BE IN GOD’S PLAN FOR ME”.

When God changed my career. I didn’t want that .. THEN I listened … He said hey you’re putting yourself in the limelight. I want you to exude not yourself, but MY true light.

When God changed my financial situation. I didn’t want that .. THEN I listened .. He said hey you’re serving yourself. I want you to serve others.

When God changed my health. I didn’t want that … THEN I listened .. He said you are too focused on yourself. I want you to be focused on those around you.

Ugh … trust me .. It would have probably been easier for me to be obedient and just do as I had prayed about, but no… I was pouting and reluctant for the first bit of most of those changes. Now, I’m not sharing these things with the happy ending of: Guess what guys, I’ve made it to my promised land. No. My life, as planned as it is .. is constantly changing. But my heart has finally arrived at the place of truly knowing that God’s plans for me have never changed.

1 Thessalonians 5:18

18 give thanks in all circumstances ….

Hebrews 13:20-21

20 Now may the God of peace, …. 21 equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him ….

Jeremiah 29:11

11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

His beautiful plans never change for us. We just have to learn not to resist so that we can easily change our direction to walk with Him.

I’d like to give you one last thought: Example of going to bed.

So … you have one goal … Your goal: to sleep. You get into bed, fluff your pillow, tuck in or untuck your sheets and covers until it’s just right; then you toss and turn into the perfect position, then in that perfect moment, you know that you’re going to finally rest in this perfect place. Today I’m inviting you to embrace the change, enjoy the shifts, and the turns, and the tucking and untucking that God is doing in your life… because his goal is to get you to find true and perfect rest in Him.

I hope you’ve been well, productive, and loving life.

Chronic Illness, Wellness

Where Has The Time Gone

by KatSneadLeave a Comment on Where Has The Time Gone

I can’t believe that its almost been a year since I last posted on the site. Don’t let my absence fool you, though! It has been a ridiculously busy 2016 thus far .. and it has been quite a journey to just try and get “through it”.

In the madness of it all, it just happens to get done. Thank God. Endurance, I suppose, is key. Although, I feel like I’ve lost so much time just being sick, unable to move, becoming unmotivated to even think. I was so upset that I was going through it. Things felt like they were just filling up space on my calendar, but didn’t really serve a purpose.

These days, Praise God, my Psoriatic Disease has kept itself at bay and I’m the most mobile I’ve been in several years. Yet the FREEDOM of being able to “just live” it out has been bittersweet. I’m happy that I have been “cured”, but I also feel as if I’m playing catch-up to all of my dreams and desires that I had to set aside since I had been diagnosed. I feel as if I have to accomplish so much in such a little amount of time, just in case Psoriasis wants to return to my body. I always feel the pressure of time ticking away as if I’m close to not being able to move again. I have to admit though .. I thrive under pressure. I want so much to complain and make excuses about the “time lost” due to chronic illness, but I find myself so grateful these days for the experience.

Who would have thought:

  •  .. that the times I was laid up in bed, unable to move .. that I would have the time to stop and plan things out properly  according to what I am supposed to accomplish;
  • .. that the times that I was in pain .. that I would know it so well so that I can understand and help others through their own pain at some point in the near future;
  • .. that the times I had allowed my mind to wander into sadness and talk myself out of my dreams .. that it would be that very same feeling that I would use as a foundation to build my heart-empire off of;

It’s so crazy that the time that I hated the most would become the moments which I now cherish .. because of what it has made me. Now .. I’m onto the next phase of this crazy journey – picking up where I left off, so to say.

I love to compartmentalize things .. so it’s fitting that all of the people, feelings, and “things” in my life have its appropriate place to “live”. Well, as you know .. my life/work has a lot to do with: Coffee.  So this is a perfect example of it:

cups

Imagine that the 1st row of cups represents my Church, my Family, and my Friends. Then the 2nd row represents my Businesses, my Work, and my Volunteer Organizations; and so on and so on. Well, of course, each cup or each facet of my life has many components (represented of course, by the many beans – hahahaha … sorry amused myself for a moment).

Well, the time that I had to myself .. I often thought about what my particular share is of this life. Like, what did I have to contribute to all of these components in my life? What did I have to offer? What role do I play in the bigger picture?

Then .. as I allowed myself to endure the pain (or the lesson), to feel the rest instead of the restraint, and to be ok with the blessing (not be ashamed of the condition) .. I realized that I didn’t have to (simply put) figure out which bean I was in multiple cups, but …

heart-latte-art

simply … to just fill each cup with everything I’ve got.

To my chronic illness brothers and sisters, keep going. I respect you, your journey, and your fight.

~ Be Well …

Lifestyle

The reason for the season ….

by KatSneadLeave a Comment on The reason for the season ….

In the quiet of the busy season …

So the last couple of months have been nothing short of a whirlwind of life! I went from one event to another. Coordinating, fascilitating, performing, and wrapping up every loose end. Not to mention the holiday parties and shindigs that “you HAVE to attend”!!

It’s easy to allow the reason why I do any of this to slip from my mind and get caught up in the details or the must-do’s. It wasn’t until I got to the 3rd verse of my spoken word performance that the emotion of “why” we were doing or celebrating this season hit my heart …

"and round the finger of Mary His soft hand curled .. the same hands that stretched out and made the whole world ..."
“and round the finger of Mary His soft hand curled .. the same hands that stretched out and made the whole world …”

I almost lost myself in the feeling of what I was actually saying and started to tear up. The words took life and for a moment I was staring at my creator and savior in His glorious face. It was as if the christmas music died down in the background and the bustling season seemed to stand still in His presence. It was so overwhelmingly beautiful.

This is supposed to be my favorite time of the year because of my reason for the season, but the cold weather makes my psoriatic arthritis sometimes unbearable. Plus, the fear of chronic illness came to light when I lost my voice for two weeks .. although it came back a couple of nights before the performance. It was as if, someone needed to hear what I had to say … maybe me. In my pain, especially during the rehearsals and performances though, I felt weightless. My pain sometimes subsides when my thought is that I have to go through it for a bigger purpose. I think that sometimes God allows us to go through the rough times in our lives so that we can remember what makes the beautiful times beautiful.

I’m merely sharing in hopes that I remind others about what lights up my life ….

light
“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me won’t walk in darkness but will have the light of life” ~ John 8:12 ~

 

I can only pray to be an extension of His light to others especially during the holiday season.

Lifestyle, Wellness

The Greatest Love

by KatSneadLeave a Comment on The Greatest Love

March 22, 2014

Today was spent with my family. The older I get, the more I become so attached to my family and the idea of having my own (sooner than later). It makes me reflect on my purpose and who I am supposed to be providing for. Can I even provide for anyone else aside from myself? I often wonder if this is possible. I give of myself because I feel fulfilled when I do, not because I have to do it. It hurts me though when I can’t give enough. I always pray that God makes me strong enough to give all of me to Him and His purpose. Does one ever reach a point where their life and their faith is truly all His? I often second guess myself. I want to believe that I can do all things and do all things for His purpose, but there is always a little bit of doubt in my ability to give of myself wholly.

I set out on this great adventure with a purpose to “go out and find myself”. Get away from the comfort of knowing that my family will always be around to catch me when I fall or redirect me when I steer off the path of “right this way”. This trip has opened so many doors for me. It opened my eyes to see what fulfills me and it’s giving myself to others. What have I really learned that makes me feel that I can go out into the world and think that I have learned a few things well enough to teach someone else? I suppose that was the real reason why I set out on a journey of understanding. To hone in on what God has blessed me with and love a world that’s broken. I will give with the life that I have been given. I understand that nothing is mine to hoard. That I was given the little that I have to turn it into someone else’s everything.

I think that people have to come to a point in their life when they literally have to stop and revaluate why they get out bed every morning. I often throw around the phrase “find what truly makes your heart happy”. My transition with my work (I think) was the universe asking me to do just that: find what truly makes my heart happy. I was forced to stop and revaluate my own life. I had to come to terms with the fact that I was alone and that although I was surrounded by an amazing family and supportive people … that ultimately, I was alone; responsible for no one else, but myself; obligated to nothing. Go somewhere Kat. Anywhere. Understand yourself and give of yourself. Be comfortable enough with being alone so that you can be whole and fulfilled by only His love. When this occurs, you can then give of yourself with full satisfaction regardless of what you receive back. Disappointment shows up when an expectation is not met. So stop putting expectations on anyone or anything and do something just to do it. This will ensure a happy heart … a fulfilled self …

Remember, you are never alone in Christ.
.. thinking out loud … or maybe, justifying my place in this moment ..

Lifestyle, Wellness

Namaste

by KatSneadLeave a Comment on Namaste

March 19, 2014

I slept so well. I forced myself to stay awake for as long as I could yesterday to make sure that my inner clock is acclimated to this time zone. I’m doing well with the schedule. It was nice for everyone to make time for me to just be during this 1st week of being here. I’ve eaten well, stayed home and am well rested. I woke up this morning and set up my yoga studio on the top patio of the house. Pranayama breathing and warrior three while watching the sun come up was my wake up call. A memory that I will forever hold dear. Spending time with my niece during my yoga practice was just an added bonus. She stayed home from school to be with me. I love it. There is something that is a little unsettling with having nothing penciled into my schedule, but very liberating at the same time. I may not have been working since January, but my time has been more consumed than ever. A little quiet time for me is much needed. My health seems to be at its peak at this very moment. I feel a sense of stillness. My purpose here was to “find myself”. I may have not attained that quiet yet, but I’m definitely open to whatever comes. You know when one goes through a traumatic experience: a move, a change in work schedule, a change with ones lifestyle .. they say, change the environment. I’m a firm believer of doing just that. Along with a backdrop change, you also have to change your attitude. Look your nemesis~ weight/heartache/change in the face and say: Say thank you, say you’re sorry and say goodbye. You are not responsible for whatever you leave behind after that. You can only be responsible for you now. What is truly valuable for your heart to thrive. This is what you are now supposed to find. The rest of my journey within begins here. I’m off to search for what will lighten my heart & soul so that I can be a better person to the world.

~ NAMASTE ~