Don't Get Burned by the Horse: Avoid Burnout by Knowing You Are Enough

February 2026 Email Update

The lesson that keeps coming up this week is “I am enough”. I had a long chat with a close friend where we talked about how the need to make ourselves worthy shows up in so many places, including our singing voicesI had a long chat with a close friend where we talked about how the need to make ourselves worthy shows up in so many places, including our singing voices.

Then I saw a video from James VanDerBeek talking about his realization that what defines him is not being an actor or being husband or even being a parent because when he was undergoing chemotherapy and all that was stripped away the only thing left was understanding that simply existing makes you worthy of love.

So many of the things I’ve experienced as a parent and as a singer - the times that feel the hardest are the times when I feel like I have to prove my value or my worth to someone else. When I no longer feel that pressure to prove my value or worth what can soften? What can I let go of?

I am enough.

And I don’t say this with ego, I say this thinking that most of the people reading this email are likely (like me) struggling with a sense of needing to prove themselves or needing to prove their value or their worth in a society that doesn’t value their work as parents or artists. The best way we can avoid burnout in 2026 is by knowing that you are enough. You don't have to earn your rest!

When I was recovering, post-surgeries, lying in bed, not being able to be a mother, a wife, a caretaker, a performer or an artist, I struggled with the guilt and shame of needing care without feeling like I deserved it. Like there was this growing debt to my husband, to my family and to my friends for their help. But I know if the tables were turned there would be no question I would want to help. I wouldn’t be doing it because I expected something in return, I’d be doing it because I care about this person and I want to make a miserable experience even slightly better for them.

2026 Fire Horse Energy coming in hot!

As I look ahead into this year of the Fire Horse and all the things to come, it’s probably gonna feel like a year that’s very full and intense - hopefully in a good way. But it’s important we give ourselves time to receive, time to fill our cups, time to rest, time to be cared for so that we can bring our gifts to the world in the ways that it needs it most.

I’m sure you know what happens when you pour from an empty cup. I’m sure you are capable of squeezing every last drop out of that cup, but being able to receive, being able to rest, being able to recover are skills that many of us don’t have. Giving is a beautiful and wonderful way to share love in this world, but being taken care of is also a beautiful and wonderful way to experience love in this world - and we need both!

So in preparation for a year that will likely blaze by and challenge us to grow in new ways, I want to remind you that no growth, no change, no leveling-up is sustainable without rest and tenderness for yourself. You don’t need to earn your right to rest, just as you don’t need to earn your right to love. It already exists… because you are enough.

Coming Soon

I’m currently in the process of a mini re-brand. I’ve started with my website and working on some new offerings and some name changes to be released soon. If you’re following me on the socials you’ll see more soon and if you’re not, I’ll be sure to send full updates once they’re all in place.

In particular I’m launching a new breathing course called Breathe Your Blueprint that teaches you how you can use breath to ease pain, improve posture and build strength using my new framework The French Press Breath ™. This will be a low-cost course, with lifetime access so you can visit and revisit whenever you want and you can pre-register to get email updates about when it goes live.

I’m working on a new/extended in-person workshop to make Embodied Mother a 6 week integration and planning to revamp some singing resources, in particular a deep dive into hormones to help singers navigating pregnancy, menopause, or who just want more info about hormones and singing. If anything here speaks to you or something else you’d like me to think about, by all means let me know!

I know 2026 hasn’t been quite the change I was looking for, and maybe you feel that too, but change is coming and change will continue to be. So let’s ride the wave as best we can.

Big hugs!

Madison