Welcome to Living Well — our bi-weekly spotlight on different women that we admire and find fascinating. Our goal is to share an intimate peek into these women’s lives by asking them the questions that allow them to open up about their imperfect truth, whatever that may be. 

I’m answering my own questions today! I’m a psychotherapist and women's group leader helping women to live intentionally and authentically. I work with lots of creative entrepreneurs and new mommas and love few things more than sitting in a circle of women, chocolate chip cookies, and her twin boys.  

Thank you for reading and being a part of this community we’re building of women who want to live well.  

WHAT'S YOUR ENNEAGRAM NUMBER?

I’m an enneagram #1, through and through. Understanding my one-ness has really helped me to remember that doing something imperfectly is better than procrastinating forever.

If you've done the Values Deck exercise, what are your top five values? Tell us how one of them manifests in your life. What is a decision you’ve made using it to guide you?

Gratitude. Growth. Intimacy. Creativity. Authenticity. 

Gratitude and authenticity are always in my top 5. I feel most alive when connected to my gratitude. Authenticity feels like it feeds all the other important values like connection, creativity, and honesty. Intimacy to me is being known in all your little idiosyncrasies and that feels like the best kind of love to me. 

What does a life well-lived look like?

A life well lived for me looks like doing my best in all the regular things in life; raising conscious children, creating a home that feels cozy and safe, a fulfilled marriage, having true and meaningful relationships, and caring for both my mind and body. If I can do those things, I think I will feel satisfied about how I spent my life. 

My version of success is…

For people to know the “real” me, contributing something useful and good to the world, and being fully present to the range of experiences life presents, both the enjoyable and the difficult.

What is one way that you are different today than you were ten years ago?

I’m a lot more flexible today than I was 10 years ago. I can tolerate a lot more “grey area” than before. I very much used to think that there was a right and wrong way and endlessly tried to be on the right side of things. That was hard on me and hard on my relationships. I try to stay on the human side of things now, and to allow for more of the messiness, beauty, and truth that comes with that. I like it much better. 

Whose life perspective and way of moving through the world teaches you something about who + how you want to be?

I adore what Brené Brown, Glennon Doyle, and Esther Perel put out into the world. They all have a unique way of seeing the world that questions the status quo while holding a deep generosity for the human condition. And Brené And Glennon are excellent at leading while also sharing their own struggle. 

IS THERE A QUOTE OR MANTRA YOU ALWAYS COME BACK TO?

“Trust the timing of your life.” Trusting in divine timing frees me up profoundly and allows me acceptance and comfortable surrender when I’m struggling to force my will. 

Can you share a book, podcast, or article that changed you in some way?

Clean by Alejandro Junger changed the way I think about my health and body. Untamed by Glennon Doyle articulated so many things I felt which will forever change how I am in the world. Irving Yalom’s books changed the way I think about humanness and how I am as a therapist. Of Yalom’s books, I’d start off with Love’s Executioner.

What are you grateful for today?

Today I am grateful for Fall, for excitement about new beginnings, and that I get to spend the rest of my day with women who want to live intentionally. 

Jaimi Brooks is a licensed marriage and family therapist, women's group leader, founder of The Well Lived Woman, and creator of the Values Deck.