SPARK: Inside the Busy Body Philosophy

Abundance Mindset: Spark

You’re currently reading The “Spark” edition of Abundance Mindset. In this segment of the newsletter, I share a reflection, framework, or story pulled from my own life. It’s designed to help you think differently, take action, and stay inspired along your journey.

FRAMEWORK SPOTLIGHT

The Moment I Realized Movement = Meaning

I knew I was a busy body the moment I quit my job, and instead of taking a break, I booked a trip to Poland to spend 40 hours as a cultural conversationalist with Polish middle and high schoolers who needed to practice their English. I wasn’t getting paid to do this, had never been to Poland, and I definitely had no plan after I wrapped up that stint.

I’ve always been like this, but this was the first time that I did something as drastic as quitting a job before leaping into something like this. That trip taught me something I still live by: to get what you want, you’ve got to stay in motion. Being a busy body isn’t about chaos, it’s about momentum. It’s about always keeping a ball in the air, aiming for the next shot, and trusting that clarity will meet you mid-movement.

Looking back, I think that trip foreshadowed the work I do now, teaching college and career readiness classes to high school and college students. So… I guess I’ve always known myself more than I admit out loud.

Which leads me to a philosophy that I think we all unknowingly live by, but never really stop long enough to connect the pieces of our actions.

A few people have asked, “So what does your week actually look like?”
In short: It looks like me living fully in my busy body philosophy.

I do too much to capture it all on video, but here’s a peek inside a week in my life:

• Teaching reading literacy to 4th graders

• Leading 3 college & career readiness classes

• Lesson planning + brainstorming with fellow educators

• Deep-dive convos on supporting Black women in this unstable work climate

• A surprise LinkedIn Live on designing your career on your own terms

• Networking events (Health & Wellness + Workforce Dev)

• Recording 3 new Thrive Now podcast episodes (still catching up on edits 😅)

• Social impact entrepreneurship class + design thinking discussions

• Attending a fireside chat with a prominent financial investor + the town’s Mayor

• Co-hosting a workshop on AI + future of work trends

• Volunteering, brunching, church, gym, and yes, a little Drop Dead Diva binge.

Phew. It’s a lot, but it’s aligned. I believe that this weekly motion is getting me closer and closer to the true me.

So what’s the secret to being a busy body without burning out?

Glad you asked!

Write This Down: The Busy Body Formula

If you want to design a life that feels aligned without burning out, try this simple reflection formula:

1. Define your season.
What’s your current focus? (e.g., growth, grounding, visibility, rest)

I’m somewhere in between visibility and rest, and it’s an interesting place to be. I’m constantly asking myself, how do I show up for the things I believe in and for the people that I want to help, while also not doing too much (my too muchness wins most of the time, as you can see.)

2. Audit your week.
List everything you’ve said yes to: work, hobbies, commitments, even downtime.

As you can see the snapshot that I provided of one of my week’s was a little long. But I was only truly committed to a handful of those things. I could have said no and slashed any of them at any time.

3. Map each activity to your season.
Does it move you closer to your focus, or distract from it?

For my snapshot above, I ended up saying no to a networking event (The Wellness one) and didn’t get to watch as many episodes of Drop Dead Diva. So… it’s okay to cross some stuff off if they don’t align with your desired direction.

4. Adjust your motion.
Add what fuels you and always release what drains you. Each week is a brand-new opportunity to experiment and curate your life on purpose. Let’s get to it!

🤔 QTNA #1: What “busy body” activities are you doing this week that push your goals forward and make your life feel more like your own?

🤔 QTNA #2: What’s one area of your life or work that feels “in motion” right now, and what do you hope that motion creates next?

Hit reply and send me the answer to any of the above questions!

RESOURCES

YOUR THRIVE ESSENTIALS

Until next time,
DEJA WHITE | BREAKROOM BUDDHA