Why I Stopped Women’s Groups and Retreats (And Why That Was Wisdom)

There’s a quiet assumption in ministry and women’s work that if something is good, it should always keep going.

If it’s helping people, you shouldn’t stop.
If it’s growing, you shouldn’t question it.
If women are coming, you shouldn’t slow down.

I believed that for a long time.

And it nearly cost me everything.

When good things become unsafe

Women’s groups and retreats are not automatically healthy just because they’re spiritual.

Without structure, clarity, and discernment, they can quickly become places where:

emotional intensity replaces wisdom
vulnerability outpaces safety
leaders absorb what they’re not equipped to carry

I didn’t understand that at first.

I was sincere.
I cared deeply.
I wanted to create space for women to heal.

But care without containment always breaks down.

Why I stepped back

There came a point where continuing groups and retreats would have been irresponsible.

Not because women didn’t need support —
but because I was still healing, still learning, still rebuilding my own discernment after charismatic and Word of Faith harm.

Leading women before you’re safe yourself doesn’t make you strong.
It makes you dangerous — even with good intentions.

So I stopped.

I stopped women’s groups.
I stopped retreats.
I disappointed people.
I questioned myself constantly.

And it was the wisest decision I could have made.

The cost of being accessible to everyone

One of the hardest lessons I’ve learned is that accessibility is not the same as faithfulness.

When everything is open:

boundaries erode
expectations multiply
responsibility becomes unclear

Some women want healing.
Some want intensity.
Some want leadership.
Some want to stay in chaos — and will look for leaders who allow it.

I had to learn that I cannot serve all of those needs at once.

And I shouldn’t try.

Why stopping wasn’t failure

Stopping wasn’t quitting.

It was choosing integrity over momentum.

It was choosing clarity over pressure.
Safety over visibility.
Depth over demand.

I didn’t shut things down because I lost vision.
I shut them down because I gained discernment.

That distinction matters.

What changed when I slowed down

Stepping back gave me space to:

rebuild trust in myself
learn business and structure
separate faith from urgency
understand what women actually need — not just what they ask for

It also showed me something uncomfortable:

Not everyone who wants access to you is meant to have it.

And not every opportunity is aligned just because it’s spiritual.

What Life Anchor is now

Life Anchor is no longer built around constant programming.

It’s built around:

safety
structure
clarity
real care

That’s why some things look quieter now.

My husband is building out the salt room.
I’m preparing retreats carefully, not frequently.
I still meet with my clients — but with clearer boundaries and expectations.

This work is slower.
But it’s safer.