There is a lot of talk about getting out of our comfort zones.

Usually, we mean pushing ourselves. Taking risks. Trying something new. Doing the thing that scares us a little because something might be waiting on the other side.

But I’ve been thinking that a comfort zone doesn’t look the same for everyone.

For some people, staying comfortable comes naturally, and the challenge is to push themselves beyond it, to dare a little more, to put themselves out there.

For others, it’s almost the opposite.

I think I belong to the second group.

I’m nearly always doing something, building something, thinking about the next thing, helping, creating, organizing, moving.

And the truth is, that’s who I am. I like it.

I don’t dream of a life where I suddenly stop doing all the things that excite me. I love creating, initiating projects, bringing people together and seeing an idea become something real.

At the same time, I spend a lot of energy creating a little cocoon for my family and myself — a home where we can feel comfortable, safe and happy when we finally stop.

But there is a reality I have had to acknowledge lately.

Doing what amounts to three full-time jobs while also being a mother, a wife, a daughter, a friend — and simply a person who wants to have a life — is too much for anyone on an ongoing basis.

People around me tell me, You do too much.

I hear them. And I agree.

Not because I want to stop doing what I love, but because being able to do a lot doesn’t mean we should do everything ourselves.

These past three weeks have been a pretty good illustration of that: administration, finances, taxes, writing grants, helping my family, helping the community, deadlines… with almost no rest and, perhaps most telling for me, almost no creative time.

That’s not right either.

And then on Thursday, I found myself in tears over things that, objectively, were not that important. Sometimes that’s the signal. When something small suddenly feels enormous, perhaps it isn’t really about that one thing at all.

It made something I already knew even clearer: when you are carrying too many things at once, you don’t always leave yourself the space and clarity to give each of them the attention they deserve. And when you are already too hard on yourself — as my close circle regularly reminds me I am — the smallest thing can suddenly feel much bigger than it is.

That’s another reason why learning to prioritize, hire, delegate and build the right team matters to me. It isn’t about becoming less driven or less involved. It is about creating enough space to recognize what truly deserves my attention, do it well, and keep moving forward sustainably.

Because creating is not an extra thing I squeeze in when everything else is finished. It is part of who I am.

None of us is good at every task. Trying to hold everything eventually comes at a cost, and there will always be another email, another deadline, another idea, another person who needs something.

I know I don’t need to become someone who “does less.” I need to prioritize better, let go of some things, hire the right people, and delegate.

That means stepping outside my comfort zone: delegation comes naturally once I have the right team, but finding them, funding their work, and recruiting volunteers takes time and effort.

Right now, Unchained Mothering needs that support most. But that need is also something to celebrate—it means we’re growing, doing more, and moving closer to long-held goals. Building the right team is essential to sustaining that growth.

And I think that is part of leadership too.

I’m also so grateful to Katya, who has agreed to take responsibility for one of our donor-related projects. Her help will finally allow us to develop something I’ve wanted to put in place for a long time, but realistically haven’t had the time or energy to give the attention it deserves. Seeing that become possible is exactly why building the right team matters.

Building a team isn’t an admission that you cannot do it all. It is understanding that doing it all yourself doesn’t work sustainably. The right people bring their own talents, ideas and strengths, and together we can often take something much further than one person ever could alone.

We all have our own balance to find.

And sometimes getting out of our comfort zone means doing precisely the opposite of what comes naturally to us.

This weekend, for me, that meant stopping.

We left for two nights in a beautiful hotel. We unexpectedly got upgraded to the biggest suite and received the most wonderful service.

And it felt so good.

To let go. To enjoy being taken care of instead of taking care of everything. To simply appreciate a happy moment without immediately turning my mind toward what needs to happen next.

Friends often tell me: Take a break. Get a massage. Do something for yourself.

They’re right.

I rarely do, aside from Shabbat and « holidays ».

This morning I spoke with a friend in Holland who, for different reasons, also rarely has the luxury of really taking a break. We decided we should schedule a massage on the same day, from opposite sides of the ocean, just to encourage each other to actually do it!

I am making a few changes, though.

It took me a while, but I have managed to start regularly showing up at the Woman’s Club for Sensei Carol White’s Qigong class, and it is so good for me. And this week, for the first time since December, I went back to yoga, together with Kristen.

I need to help myself get back in shape too. I’m not going to go too deeply into that discussion today, but… that’s something. Showing up is a start.

And maybe that is another part of the balance: understanding that taking care of myself isn’t taking time away from everything else I care about. It is what allows me to keep showing up for all of it.

There is another kind of letting go that has made me particularly proud lately.

I have advised the Juniorette Club of Coconut Grove since before it officially began, helping to build it from its very first steps. Today, watching these young people blossom, take responsibility, engage with their community and increasingly make things happen themselves is incredibly rewarding. ( see previous week post for more )

Sometimes leadership is also knowing when to give others the space to RISE II.

And speaking of RISE II, on October 11, 2026, we will come together for a special self-defense event. I’ll write more about it next week and share the flyer and registration link.

And another date to put in your calendar: November 15, 2026!

Come walk or run the Give Miami 5K with the Unchained Mothering team. Register here and join Team Unchained Mothering — when registering, look for the grey team box, select Unchained Mothering, and join us.

I’m so grateful this year to have the wonderful Kristen Grimberg as our team captain. Of course, I’ll be there with my family — minus our eldest daughter, who will be too far away at college to join us this time.

So perhaps getting out of our comfort zone isn’t always about doing more.

For some, it is daring to begin, to take the risk, to get moving.

For others, it might be learning to stop sometimes. To prioritize. Ask for help. Hire the right people. Delegate. Trust. Receive. Rest. Take care of ourselves. Give other people the opportunity to rise.

Neither is better.

We each have to recognize our own nature and find the balance that allows us to live it without burning ourselves out.

Because I still want to move. I still want to create, build, help and make things happen.

I just want to make sure I can keep doing it for a very long time.

And perhaps, every once in a while, simply enjoying the beautiful suite — and finally booking that massage — is part of the plan too.

With love and light,

Jessica

My recommendation for a weekend in Naples Florida

The Hilton Naples and its restaurant : The Hilton Naples and its restaurant, Shula’s, are a great reason to go — such a wonderful team, and Chef Mike Mahon made it even more special.

And if in the mood for bagels don’t miss Brooklyn Dough 💕