“Between your present self and emerging self, there is a gap, a sacred space of uncertainty. Do not rush to fill it. Pause, listen, and let it inform you. And it will…”
(Anonymous)
Are you ready for “something more” in your professional life, however you might define “more”? Perhaps it means being able to show up differently—as a better version of yourself, with greater clarity, courage, and intention, living a life you genuinely look forward to waking up to each day. Now imagine gathering with a small group of kindred spirits in a setting completely conducive to your ongoing personal and professional evolution—immersed in an experience that will both equip you and give you the time, space, support, and encouragement to “go deeper” and discover what that “something more” might be for you.
If this stirs something in you, this retreat may be exactly what you’ve been searching for.
Set against the breathtaking backdrop of Asheville, North Carolina, the Blue Ridge Mountains, and the Great Smoky Mountains, our immersive time together is designed to rejuvenate your mind, body, and spirit while creating space to reflect on where you’ve been, where you are now, and where you feel called to go next. Asheville provides a remarkable setting for this work; a place where mountains, creativity, history, and natural beauty come together. From the lush grounds of the Biltmore Estateand peaceful gardens of the North Carolina Arboretum to waterfalls, expansive mountain vistas, and hikes along portions of the Appalachian Trail, the landscape itself becomes part of the retreat experience. We’ll venture into the Great Smoky Mountains and experience the extraordinary views from Kuwohi, one of the highest points east of the Mississippi.
Through a powerful blend of guided self-exploration, interactive learning, meaningful conversation, and transformative outdoor experiences, you’ll have the opportunity to identify thoughts, emotions, patterns, and behaviors that may be holding you back and explore new practices for moving toward a more authentic, resilient, and wholehearted way of being and living.
Our work together draws from the Approach of the Center for Courage & Renewal, Brené Brown’s Daring Way™, the surprisingly profound wisdom found in Ted Lasso, and contemporary thought leaders in wellbeing, leadership, resilience, and meaningful living.
Throughout the week, our sessions will include:
You’ll explore how you show up as a leader, healer, helper, partner, parent, friend, and human being—and consider how to be more fully present in those roles without losing yourself in the process. There will also be time each day for solo reflection, journaling, movement, adventure, laughter, and meaningful conversations with fellow travelers on the path. Some moments will challenge you. Others may simply invite you to become quiet enough to hear what has been there all along.
And while we don’t promise breakthroughs on cue, we do something perhaps more important: We create the conditions in which they can emerge.
Come to Asheville ready to explore the mountains, reconnect with yourself and others, and make room for whatever might be waiting in that sacred space between who you have been and who you are becoming.
WHAT’S INCLUDED
WHAT’S NOT INCLUDED
CANCELLATION DETAILS
PLEASE NOTE
This itinerary may change slightly due to accommodation availability, rain, festivals and spontaneous side trips. This is not an endurance race, nor a competition. Please be respectful of all the different paces and walks of life that come together on this group trip.
CONTINUING EDUCATION CREDITS
To claim CME/CEU credits, participants are required to purchase a $50 annual Learner+ membership. This one-time registration provides unlimited access for one year to claim credits through reflective activities, both from this retreat and other eligible experiences. Learner+ is an accredited activity portal designed for busy healthcare professionals, including physicians, nurses, nurse practitioners, physician associates, pharmacists, social workers, athletic trainers, case managers, dietitians, chaplains, and more. It allows you to capture reflections at the point of learning or care and convert them into continuing education credits. Reflections based on session content may be eligible for up to 30+ AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ per session. Learn more about CME/CEU eligibility for your specialty here.
SWIM OUT EXPERIENCE
This retreat is a 🌊🌊 Swim Out experience.
This retreat is designed for those who’ve already begun doing personal work and want to go further. You’ll explore deeper layers of identity, relationships, and the stories you’ve been carrying. Expect rich discussions, emotional insight, and tools for navigating life with greater authenticity and intention. Come ready to stretch—and be supported while you do
| 💧 Retreat Depth | Who It’s For | What to Expect |
|---|---|---|
| 💦 Dip Your Toes | Brand new to personal growth or retreat spaces | Gentle, welcoming, and low-pressure. A perfect introduction to self-reflection, connection, and emotional wellbeing—without overwhelm. |
| 🌊 Wade In | You’ve started exploring inner work or want to revisit the basics | Reflective practices, mindset shifts, and tools for resilience. Ideal for folks ready to grow, but not quite ready to cannonball. |
| 🌊🌊 Swim Out | You’ve done some personal work and are ready to go further | More depth, more vulnerability, and more challenge. You’ll explore identity, relationships, and what’s getting in your way. |
| 🌊🌊🌊 Go Deep | You’re experienced in inner work and craving transformation | Brave spaces, soulful inquiry, and a strong container for people navigating transitions, reinvention, or purpose. Designed for the seasoned soul. |
Mark Greenawald, MD, is Professor and Chair of Family Medicine and Community Medicine at the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine (VTC) and Vice Chair for Academic Affairs, Well-being, and Professional Development at Carilion Clinic. He also serves as Medical Director for the Carilion Clinic Institute for Leadership Effectiveness (ILE). A former President of the Virginia Academy of Family Physicians, he was named Virginia Family Physician of the Year in 2016. Mark is committed to clinician leadership and well-being. He has chaired the AAFP Physician Health and Well-Being Conference since 2018 and is faculty for the AAFP Leading Physician Well-being program. He has directed the AAFP Chief Resident Leadership Development Program for 25 years. He co-chairs the Virginia Academy of Family Physicians Well-being Committee and the Virginia Task Force on Primary Care Clinician Retention and Well-being. A trained coach since 2002, he has taught at the Healthcare Coaching Institute since 2014. In 2019, Mark launched PeerRxMed (www.PeerRxMed.org), a nationally recognized program supporting healthcare professionals in their journey toward thriving. Mark and his wife, Joanne, an Adult and Child Psychiatrist, live in Roanoke, VA, where they raised three adult children. In his free time, he enjoys stand-up paddleboarding, writing poetry, blogging,…
6:00am – 7:00am: Breakfast at the hotel
7:00am – 12:00pm: Transformational sessions focused on reflection, renewal, and creating what comes next. Through guided reflection, meaningful conversation, and experiential exercises, we’ll explore purpose, identity, resilience, authenticity, and how to show up more fully as a leader, healer, helper, and human being—without losing yourself in the process.
12:00pm – 5:00pm: Explore the extraordinary beauty of Asheville, the Blue Ridge Mountains, and the Great Smoky Mountains through hiking, waterfalls, gardens, mountain vistas, and time in nature. Afternoons may take us to places such as the Biltmore Estate, North Carolina Arboretum, Appalachian Trail, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and Kuwohi, along with some of the region’s beautiful waterfalls and scenic mountain trails.
5:00pm – 6:30pm: Personal reflection time to rest, journal, recharge, or simply enjoy a little space of your own.
6:30pm – 8:00pm: Group dinner and time to connect, share stories, and enjoy Asheville’s vibrant food scene.
*Subject to change depending on weather, trail conditions, group needs, and spontaneous moments of magic along the way.
If you’re longing for something more than just “fine”…
If you’re craving stillness, insight, adventure, and connection in equal measure…
If you’re ready to pause, listen deeply, and begin again with greater clarity…
This is your invitation.
Welcome to Asheville, North Carolina, where the creative energy of the city meets the timeless beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains. It’s a fitting place to begin a week devoted to reflection, renewal, and discovering what might be waiting for you in the next chapter of your life. Arrive at your leisure and take time to settle in. Explore Asheville’s vibrant arts and culture scene, wander downtown, enjoy one of the city’s renowned restaurants, take a walk along a nearby trail, or simply relax at the hotel. This day is yours to slow down, arrive fully, and ease into the rhythm of the week ahead. Our retreat officially begins at 7:00 AM tomorrow morning. Overnight at Element Asheville Downtown.
Our first morning together begins by laying the foundation for the journey ahead, creating the brave and trustworthy space necessary for meaningful reflection and authentic connection. The morning continues with transformative educational sessions focused on gratitude, relationships, and mindset, the foundation for a more fulfilling life. This afternoon, we explore the iconic Biltmore Estate, the magnificent home created by George Vanderbilt and surrounded by gardens and grounds designed by famed landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted. We’ll have time to experience the estate, wander its gardens and grounds, sample wine, and explore its scenic walking trails. The combination of architecture, history, nature, and beauty provides an inspiring backdrop for our first day of reflection and discovery. Overnight at Element Asheville Downtown. Breakfast included.
Our morning sessions center on creating space in our busy lives—clarifying values, setting boundaries, and allowing new stories of meaning and purpose to emerge. Our afternoon unfolds in the tranquil setting of the North Carolina Arboretum, a beautiful public garden nestled within the Southern Appalachian Mountains. Its curated gardens, forested trails, and renowned bonsai collection provide the perfect environment to slow our pace and pay attention. As we walk, breathe, and reflect, we’ll consider what nature can teach us about stillness, surrender, resilience, and transformation. Overnight at Element Asheville Downtown. Breakfast included.
Today’s morning sessions guide us through the themes of perfectionism, grief, and forgiveness, helping us release what no longer serves us. Our morning sessions continue our exploration of courage, vulnerability, authenticity, and the stories that shape our lives, asking us to consider what we may need to release in order to move forward more freely. Afterward, we leave Asheville and journey deeper into the mountains toward Cherokee, North Carolina, and Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Our afternoon begins with a hike to spectacular Mingo Falls, where water cascades dramatically down the mountainside. We’ll spend time learning more about this remarkable region before finishing our afternoon with an approximately five-mile riverside walk into Cherokee. Today marks a transition in the retreat itself—from the gardens and creative energy of Asheville into the quieter, wilder landscapes of the Smokies. Natural beauty, movement, and the cultural richness of Cherokee provide a powerful setting for grounding our inner work in the wisdom of the land. Overnight at Holiday Inn Express & Suites Sylva. Breakfast included.
Our morning sessions turn toward meaning, purpose, and the life we are intentionally creating. We’ll explore what matters most, what deserves our energy, and how we begin aligning our choices with the person we want to become. In the afternoon, we travel into the heart of Great Smoky Mountains National Park and ascend Kuwohi, formerly known as Clingmans Dome and the highest point in the Smokies. A half-mile climb leads to the observation tower and extraordinary panoramic views across layers of the Southern Appalachian Mountains. The Appalachian Trail crosses Kuwohi, giving us an opportunity to spend time walking along one of the most storied footpaths in America. It is a fitting metaphor for the work of this retreat: we rarely see the entire path from where we stand—we simply discern the next step and begin walking. We’ll return to Sylva with time to rest, reflect, and integrate the experiences of the day. Overnight at Holiday Inn Express & Suites Sylva. Breakfast included.
Our final full morning of educational sessions focuses on navigating transitions and crafting a vision for a life filled with greater meaning, purpose, connection, and joy. We’ll begin bringing together the lessons of the week and considering not simply what we have learned, but how we want to live differently when we return home. This afternoon, we’ll explore one of the region’s most intriguing destinations—the historic Road to Nowhere. Originally envisioned as a roadway that would reconnect displaced communities with old family homesteads and cemeteries, construction eventually ended abruptly in the mountains. Today, the unfinished road and tunnel offer a compelling physical metaphor for unresolved stories, unexpected endings, and paths that don’t take us where we once thought they would. Afterward, we’ll spend time in charming Bryson City, where you can explore local shops and galleries, find a favorite café, or simply enjoy some unstructured time surrounded by the beauty of the mountains. Our final afternoon gives us space to consider an important question: When the road you expected to travel ends, what might become possible next? Overnight at Holiday Inn Express & Suites Sylva. Breakfast included.
Our final morning is devoted to bringing the journey together through reflection, intention-setting, and connection. We’ll look back at where we began, honor what emerged during our time together, and consider how to carry the insights and intentions of the week into the lives waiting for us at home. As with all meaningful journeys, the goal isn’t to leave with every question answered. Rather, we hope you leave with greater clarity about what matters, deeper trust in your own inner wisdom, and the courage to continue walking toward the life that is calling you forward. Our retreat concludes this morning, leaving you free to begin your journey home or extend your stay and continue exploring Asheville, the Great Smoky Mountains, and Western North Carolina. Breakfast included.
Please confirm you want to block this member.
You will no longer be able to:
Please note: This action will also remove this member from your connections and send a report to the site admin. Please allow a few minutes for this process to complete.
