DailyOM: What does it mean "to clear what is holding you back"? What exactly are we clearing?
Stephanie: Like any good idea that gets your attention and won't let you go, the phrase "a year to clear" popped into my head one day and stuck. That name gave me this course — a yearlong experiential journey of clearing. It is designed to lighten any load you carry by cultivating what I call the "five Ss:" slowing down, simplifying, sensing, surrendering, and self-care. That load we carry — what we are "clearing" — is anything that gets in the way of experiencing your true nature and best life.
The issues people wish to clear through this course can range widely. For many it is physical clutter that motivates them: a desire to gain control over a lifelong buildup of stuff; a need to downsize due to an impending move or empty nest; or a yearning to simplify and live in a home that is nurturing. For others the motivation is more emotional: a desire to clear the residue and heal from a painful divorce; find closure after a death in the family; or press the refresh button following a major life change. For most, however, stress and feeling overwhelmed motivates them to take this course: a hunger to quiet the noise and experience greater ease, balance, and meaning in their lives.
What I find most interesting is how many people sign up for this course to address a specific issue and subsequently come away with more life-changing benefits than they could imagine. A loss of excess weight, lower blood pressure, less attachment to things and outcomes, less worry, a new job or promotion, a new love interest, better sleep, a home that feels like a sanctuary, the courage to speak up and set clear boundaries with others, increased energy and motivation — these are just some of the shifts people have reported from their experience. You never know what will happen when you give yourself the gift of a year to clear.
DailyOM: You mentioned the "five Ss:" slowing down, simplifying, sensing, surrendering, and self-care. Tell us more about how these steps help people clear what holds them back.
Stephanie: It took me 20 years to break the code and discover why so many clearing methods, though well-intentioned, do not last. The result is a method I've developed that uses at its core, five practice steps. Integrating all five Ss into a daily routine helps you soften resisting patterns, nurture real ease, and grow new habits that lead to lasting change.
The beauty and magic of this course is that these five Ss are folded into the lessons without you even being aware of them. You learn how to cultivate a practice in slowing down and simplifying, for example, without actually noticing that you're slowing down and simplifying. You let go without being told to let go. You ease into mindfulness and self-care naturally and organically without feeling like it's one more thing you need to master in your life.
Together, over time, the five Ss gently work on you to release patterns, resistances, and attachments to anything that holds you back, including some concerns you didn't even know you had. And the best part is — the day will come when you experience a spaciousness you've never experienced before: a calmer nervous system and quieter mind filled with more ease, space, light, and joy. This happens thanks to these five Ss and your willingness to participate!
DailyOM: This has been a very popular course with more than 200,000 people signed up. Why do you think it is so popular?
Stephanie: There are three big reasons why this course is so popular. The first is that this course meets you where you are — dealing with physical clutter that holds you back, emotional stress that causes you pain, or thoughts and belief patterns that keep you stuck in a rut. For many participants, it has been a virtual oasis — a place to finally get some rest and feel deeply supported and nourished every day.
The second reason is that most of the lessons are short, easy to digest, and build on one another. While my slow-drip program may seem counterintuitive and even frustrating for those who want a quick fix to get rid of their problems, there's a reason why this course is designed the way it is. It's called the human brain! You see, for us to break old habits and rewire new ones in ways that are sustainable and lasting, we need to adopt a gentler approach that bypasses the fight-or-flight triggers in the brain. We cannot release stress and clutter, and the patterns that created them when we are in a constant state of alert and feeling overwhelmed.
The third reason why I think this course is so successful is the deep, genuine community support. Whether people choose to participate in the comment thread or not, there is something magical that happens when we share our stories of triumph and challenge. It is a big relief for people to learn that they are not alone and that so many others feel the way they do. It is a beautiful thing to see — no matter if people are on Lesson 276 or Lesson 3 — how everyone roots for each other to progress and grow. It's like the saying goes, a rising tide lifts all boats. Witnessing each other in safe and positive ways takes our clearing to a whole, new quantum level. It raises the game for everybody.
DailyOM: This is a 365-day course, which may sound overwhelming to some. Talk to us about how it is delivered and what people can expect in a yearlong course.
Stephanie: No question, 365 days can feel like an eternity when we're already so stuck and overwhelmed. Unfortunately, with a lifetime buildup of stress and stuff, there is no secret potion to make it all go away. We cannot rush letting go, which is why I give you bite-size daily lessons that slowly build, one upon another on 52 weekly themes. On one day you might receive a tip or a tool, a one-minute practice, an occasional audio meditation, a video, an inspirational quotation, or a contemplation.
At the end of every week, you get a chance to reflect and integrate the previous seven days by completing insightful prompts in your journal. With so much working below the radar in this yearlong program, it can feel like nothing is happening. In fact, everything is happening; you just can't see it yet. To get the most value from this experience, I invite people to suspend judgment, stick with it, and allow the lessons to quiet the monkey mind and work their magic slowly and gently. If a lesson doesn't make sense, skip it, keep moving, and come back to it later. Finally, and most important, have fun with this! The experience is ultimately meant to be uplifting and enlivening.
DailyOM: What do you hope people learn from taking your course?
Stephanie: My hope is that people come away feeling hopeful and empowered in the following four ways. First, they become aware of the thoughts and emotions that keep them stuck. Second, they adopt new strategies to create change within themselves that are simple and sustainable.
Third, they discover the joys of taking many small steps that cumulatively lead to big transformations. And lastly, they experience the peace and spaciousness that is hidden underneath their stress and stuff. I'm so pleased to say that many participants and students report that they have learned all this and more.
DailyOM: What surprises people the most when they take this course?
Stephanie: What surprises people is how simple, nourishing, and transformative it is to go on this journey. They're also surprised by how quickly the year flies by and that they want to keep on clearing! Some are now on their second, third, and even fourth rounds with this material.
If you think about it, how many people do you know who have purposefully spent 365 days doing something nourishing — something just for themselves — with a commitment to mark the changes that arise in their lives? We just don't know how powerful we can be when we consciously tend to our home and life over an extended time, one day at a time. The only way to know is to actually step onto the path and experience it.
DailyOM: Thank you, Stephanie, for taking the time to develop such a thoughtful and empowering course on the topic of clearing. Your "slow-drip" delivery approach makes the course accessible and doable without feeling overwhelmed. If you're sensing that you have the need to clear, make the commitment and join this course. Until next time, be well.
