Coming Home to Ourselves: Inside the Circle with Annie

How circle helps us let go of perfection, embrace vulnerability, and reconnect with our truth.

There’s something powerful about finding a place where you don’t have to perform, perfect, or prove yourself. In a world that constantly pushes us to hustle and achieve, it feels almost radical to just be—and to know that’s enough.

That’s what Circle with Annie is all about. It’s more than a gathering. It’s a practice of returning to ourselves, in the presence of others who are doing the same.

What Makes This Circle Different?

At the heart of our circle are shared agreements—not rules, but gentle invitations. They shape how we show up for ourselves and each other. They help us build a space that feels safe, honest, and real.

But these agreements can feel unfamiliar. Even uncomfortable.

They ask us to show up differently. To speak our needs instead of staying quiet. To listen instead of fixing. To be seen in our messiness instead of performing perfection.

And that can bring up a lot.

You might feel the urge to give advice when someone shares something raw. You might catch yourself judging how someone talks, or how they express themselves. You might get antsy, wanting someone to “get to the point.” You might find yourself mentally sorting through what’s “right” to say, worried about doing it wrong.

Circle will challenge all of that.

It asks us to slow down. To be with what is. To stay open, even when we want to retreat into familiar habits of control, performance, or judgment.

And if you’re someone who’s used to getting things “right,” who finds comfort in structure or polish, this space might feel especially uncomfortable at first. You may notice frustration when the circle feels messy. When the facilitator doesn’t lead in the way you expected. When someone shares in a way that’s disorganized or raw or deeply emotional.

But here’s the truth: that messiness is the medicine.

That vulnerability—the lack of polish, the honest fumbling, the quiet pauses—is where real connection lives. That’s where we start to loosen the grip of perfection and let ourselves just be. It’s not always pretty. But it’s real. And that’s what makes it powerful.

In circle, everyone gets a turn. No one sits on the sidelines. Sometimes you won’t know what to say, or you’ll feel nervous responding to a prompt. You might even get agitated. That’s all part of it. Circle nudges us into deeper honesty—not with pressure, but with presence.

So give yourself time. Be patient. Let the circle do its work.

Because slowly, it opens you. It softens the walls. It brings you back to yourself.

What We Practice Together

Here’s what that looks like:

Shared Leadership

Everyone is a leader. The space belongs to all of us. We each take responsibility for showing up and contributing.

Letting Go of Expectations

We let go of the need to control or plan. We allow the experience to unfold as it wants to.

Creating a Safe Space

Real safety means freedom—to speak your truth, to feel deeply, to simply be. We co-create that kind of space together.

Freedom of Expression

There’s no right way to show up here. Tears, laughter, silence—it’s all welcome.

Listening with Love

We listen to hear, not to fix or solve. We honor each voice without needing to respond.

No Fixing or Coaching

We trust in each woman’s wisdom. We hold space without giving advice, knowing that being seen is often the healing itself.

No Uninvited Consoling

We resist the urge to soothe right away. Sometimes, the kindest thing is simply to witness someone where they are.

We Beam

Instead of applause or feedback, we beam. A quiet, powerful way of saying, “I see you.”

Speaking from “I”

We share our own experiences, not generalizations or advice. This keeps things authentic and grounded.

Naming Our Needs

We stop pretending we’re okay when we’re not. We speak up. We ask for what we need.

Playing on Our Edge

Growth happens when we lean into the uncomfortable. We make space for real, messy, brave expression.

This Isn’t Just a Circle—It’s a New Way of Being

Circle with Annie isn’t about top-down healing or having all the answers. It’s about showing up, being real, and remembering that we don’t have to do this alone.

Yes, it might be messy. Yes, it might bring things up you didn’t expect. But that’s the gift. That’s where the healing lives.

If you’re feeling the pull to reconnect with yourself…
If you’re tired of shrinking or pretending…
If you’re ready to meet yourself in a new way, with others doing the same…

Come sit with us.

This is your invitation to come home—to your voice, your truth, and your wholeness.

Circle with Annie: Where the space is the medicine, and the magic is in what we create together.