The Work Before the Work

Joanne Singh on capacity, care, and listening early.

Some people learn how to slow down by hitting a wall. Others learn by paying attention sooner.

This week’s Field Note is about designing for capacity — building a life your nervous system can actually live inside.

Joanne Singh has spent years refining systems that support ease: planning for calm, preparing ahead, removing friction before it becomes stress. Over time, her attention shifted inward, toward the signals her body was sending.

In this Field Note, we talk about nervous system flooding, trauma work as spiritual practice, and what it means to reinforce the foundation instead of rearranging the surface.

Joanne shares the real, practical “how”:

• Designing weeks around how she wants to feel

• Learning stability through travel

• Listening when the body responds first

• Making small adjustments that increase capacity

Listen to the full Field Note below 🎧

As you listen, notice where your own life is ready for reinforcement.

Thank you for listening.

If this story stuck with you, try asking yourself:

Where in my life would things feel different if I strengthened the support before pushing ahead?

That’s what Joanne models so well — paying attention early, designing for capacity, and trusting what gets revealed when you stop trying to muscle your way through.

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And if this one landed, pass it along to someone who’s quietly rebuilding their foundation.

Much love,
Lindsey

P.S. Field Notes is growing into something bigger — The Field Year.
This year and into 2026, I’m taking this work on the road to document the unseen stories behind how we work, create, and carry each other.

If you want to contribute to this cultural memory bank, you can do that here on GoFundMe.