1. Equating your self-worth and value to how many women attend your circles is a one-way ticket to feeling shitty.

There will be times when you have small circles—especially in the beginning, but also sometimes when you’re well-established too! Hosting live events can be a rollercoaster. Don’t make it mean something about YOU.

2. You don’t have to be perfect or polished, or “fully healed” — to be a great facilitator.

But, you do need to have boundaries, know your scope within the circle, and have your own support systems to lean on (e.g., therapy or mentorship when you need to debrief something).

3. It’s okay to form connections with women in your circle.

It’s kind of the whole point, right?

But if your sole focus is on making friendships because you’re desperately lonely when you’re the facilitator (hey, I’ve been there!), I recommend seeking out spaces where you can be held and take off your hosting hat too.

If you have a big friendship-wound and are trying to form a circle business with ups and downs, low numbers, or cancellations—this will impact you more than it might others.

4. The marker of a successful circle is not how much everyone cries or shares their unprocessed trauma.

We aren’t trying to create a container of catharsis or force confessions.

Yes, women may share messy, complicated, dark, and twisty truths, but we shouldn’t expect this from their first circle—nor try to evoke this reaction on purpose.

5. Don’t forget to have fun.

Sure, the circle is sacred, and we want to honour the intention of the gathering—but please remember to laugh.

Humour, jokes, and laughter are just as important medicine as serious silence and space holding.

Want to Learn How to Lead Circles Like This?

I teach all of this (and so much more) inside my facilitator training, Together. Learn how to create sacred, human, joyful spaces for women in your community. Check out the training here.