Make space for what really matters


Hi Reader,

Have you noticed that when you finally stop running on fumes… your creativity comes back?

The ideas flow. The words feel easier. The work even feels lighter.

That’s not luck.

That’s overflow.

Let's talk about it.


Affirmation

Say it with me:

Overflow begins when I honor my limits instead of ignoring them.


Story Time

A few months ago, I worked with my client, Janelle, to help her organize her personal and business systems so she could feel more effective and efficient.

She’s a mom, a professional, and a creative — which means her schedule was packed. Between work, motherhood, managing her business, and kids' sports practices, there wasn't much space left for her.

So as a part of working together, I grabbed a poster board and mapped out her entire week — every task, every commitment, every space in between.

Then we had our in-person meetup.

And it wasn’t a fancy strategy session. It was a truth-telling moment.

Because once Janelle saw her capacity on paper, it clicked. She realized she was asking herself to create from an already overfilled life.

She didn’t love it at first.

👀 No one does when they see their limits laid out.

But that visual changed everything.

She became calmer, more intentional — and, in her words, found “the gift of presence.”

That's the thing about overflow.

It doesn’t come from squeezing more in.

It comes from giving yourself permission to stop pretending you can.


Reflection

Somewhere along the way, we were taught that consistency is the goal.

Show up. Post often. Stay visible.

But here’s what I’ve learned:

Consistency without capacity creates exhaustion.

But when you honor your capacity, something beautiful happens — you make room for overflow.

And overflow creates impact.

You see, overflow isn’t about abundance without effort.
It’s the ease that follows awareness.
It’s what happens when you make space for rest, reflection, and real priorities — the things that usually disappear when life gets full.

So instead of asking, How can I do more?

Try asking,What can I release so I can do what matters? Even if it's just what matters to me?

Because the truth is, sustainable success doesn’t come from force.

It comes when you stop pouring from empty.

Something to Try:

Take a “poster board pause” this week.

And honestly, Thanksgiving is a perfect time.

  1. Write down everything you’re juggling right now — work, home, creative projects, obligations.
  2. Circle what must stay, cross out what drains you, and highlight where there’s open space.
  3. Look at what’s left. That’s your current capacity.

And that’s where overflow can begin — right there, in the honest space between what’s full and what’s possible.


See you in two Tuesdays,

Tamara Sykes

Baydian Girl

Caribbean-Born Brand Builder and Mom of Two. I help multi-hyphenate Black and Brown women create unforgettable brands and sustainable lives.

Read more from Baydian Girl

Hi Reader, Have you ever hit a season where your usual rhythm just.. stopped working? SAME. Plus, we’re in that stretch of the year where life starts speeding up — holidays, family plans, etc. So if you’ve been feeling a little off-beat lately, you’re not alone. This edition is about what it really looks like to find your rhythm again when life gets full. Affirmation Say it with me: My rhythm changes as life changes. And that’s not failure; that’s flexibility. Story Time Every night last...

Hi Reader, Ever hear a small voice in your head that whispers, “You’re slipping” when you feel like you're not being consistent? Today’s edition is for you. Affirmation Say it with me: Missing a moment doesn't erase my momentum. Story Time If I’m honest, skipping last week’s newsletter made me nervous. But another part of me — the one that’s learning sustainability in real time — said, “No, you’re recalibrating.” It wasn’t planned.It was one of those heavy stretches when work deadlines, home...

Hi Reader, If you've ever felt stuck in the loop of "figuring it out," this one's for you. Affirmation Say it with me: I’m not figuring it out. I'm refining it. Because messy repetition is still progress. Story Time The Gift of Repetition Recently, there's this moment that I keep coming back to. Not a breakthrough. Not a big "aha." Just...a quiet pattern I noticed. I’ve been refining the same message for months.Not rewriting it completely. Just testing it.Tweaking. Repeating. Showing up. And...