Summary
A recent retreat introduced a unique concept aimed at challenging perceptions of self-expression through fashion. Participants engaged in a themed dinner called "too much," where they were encouraged to wear outfits they deemed overly bold or extravagant. The exercise revealed that many women had a skewed understanding of what "too much" really meant, often viewing their own choices as excessive while others saw them as beautiful and appropriate.
One participant shared her experience of fully embracing the theme, wearing an eye-catching ensemble that included multiple bangles and bright, sparkly pants. In contrast, many attendees arrived in outfits they considered too much, only to find that others perceived them as perfectly acceptable. This led to a broader discussion about the societal rules women impose on themselves regarding self-presentation and the occasions deemed worthy of wearing their favorite clothes.
The retreat encouraged participants to reconsider their personal boundaries and the reasons behind saving certain outfits for special occasions. This small shift in mindset prompted many women to start wearing items they previously reserved for rare events, fostering a sense of empowerment and self-acceptance. The experience ultimately raised questions about how often individuals limit their self-expression in various aspects of life, not just in fashion.
Show Notes
You know that moment when you look at something you love, then put it back because it feels “too much”? Too bright, too bold, too sparkly, too feminine, too visible. Jo Stone brings home a funny, razor-sharp story from a recent retreat that shows how unreliable that inner line can be, and how often it has never been tested in real life. On an abundance-themed retreat, we try a “too much dinner” dress-up night. The twist: most women arrive thinking they have pushed the boundary, only fo...
More from Balance & Beyond
FREE LIVE WORKSHOP: THE YEAR-END ADVANTAGE What if you could make the busiest weeks of 2026 work for you, not against you? Join me for a free live workshop kicking off 5 November, where I'll show you how to stop overdoing, overthinking and taking on too much, so you can finish the year with more energy, patience and sanity, and a head start on a very different 2027. Save your free spot here October hits and suddenly everyone acts like Christmas is a surprise deadline. Work gets louder, ho...
One tiny mistake messed with my head more than I expected: I went to bed without my Oura Ring, woke up, reached for my phone… and there was no sleep score. What came next was the truly strange part. For a split second I wondered, “How did I sleep then?” as if my own experience didn’t count unless it was measured. That moment opened a bigger conversation about wearable tech, sleep tracking, readiness scores and the way we hand authority to numbers. I love data, and I’ll happily geek out on me...
DOORS TO BALANCE & BEYOND ARE NOW OPEN! If you’re ready to change the patterns that keep pulling you back into overthinking, over-functioning and carrying too much, book a call with our team to see if Balance & Beyond is the right fit for you. You can be the most capable person in the room and still feel completely alone. That’s the quiet paradox many high-achieving women live with: we look fine on the outside, we keep things moving, we anticipate problems before they land, and we r...
A single throwaway line at the pub, “Off you go, you’re the poll queen”, opens up a surprisingly big truth about change, identity, and resentment. We’ve all got that role we fall into the organiser, the fixer, the reliable one and it can look like confidence from the outside while feeling like pressure on the inside. Jo shares a moment where the behaviour stays exactly the same (yes, the WhatsApp poll still goes up), but the inner experience changes completely. Instead of moving on autopilot...
Free Live Workshop FOR THE WOMAN WHO LOGS OFF, BUT CAN’T SWITCH OFF How to Switch Off From Work So You Can (Finally) Enjoy the Life You’ve Built Save your spot here Leadership in 2026 can feel like a full-body contact sport: restructures, redundancies, tighter budgets, and that constant hum of uncertainty. And if you’re the capable one, the reliable one, the “leave it with me” one, you’ve probably noticed something uncomfortable. The habits that made you successful are starting to cost more...