We often think we’ve outgrown the boxes we were placed in, only to realize we’ve built new ones, sometimes tighter, sometimes harder to see. These boxes can look like outdated roles, limiting beliefs, or patterns we keep repeating. They can keep us from exploring parts of ourselves that are already there, waiting to be accessed, nurtured, and celebrated. This reflection isn’t just about stepping outside the box. It’s about looking inside the box too, seeing what we’ve forgotten, what we’ve buried, and what deserves to be reclaimed. It’s about realizing the box itself is a narrative, and like any story, it can be rewritten.

This is why we created A Place to Be Seen, a living art installation in our office anchored by a guiding poem. It invites everyone who steps inside to pause, reflect, and choose a small mirror to place on the wall. It’s not about labels or boxes. It’s about remembering yourself, every messy, bright, shadowed, still-changing part. The mirrors remind us that how we see ourselves, how others see us, and how we choose to show up all matter. Some days we glow alone. Some days we glow alongside others. It’s all part of being fully human.

I haven’t missed many days with Explore IT, but I haven’t been consistent either. Some days I had to set it aside. Other days I tried, really tried, but the hoop kept falling. Literally and metaphorically. The image didn’t land, or the moment passed too quickly. It wasn’t always the right setting, or the right light, or the right feeling.

But here’s what I held on to: this project has never been about perfection. It’s about presence. About returning. About building psychological flexibility. Not just for clients, but for myself.

There’s a distinct energy when something begins. Explore IT 3 has launched with that energy in full bloom...literally. With new and returning participants diving in, the collective creative pulse is vibrant and strong. Each day has already offered quiet moments of awe, insight, and connection. This season, it’s not just about what we’re seeing outside,it’s about what we’re uncovering within ourselves.

Explore It 3 is a 30-day creative mindfulness project that invites participants to explore their environment, emotions, and imagination through art, movement, photography, writing, or simple observation. Whether you're a seasoned creative or trying something new, this practice encourages deep presence and reflection.