Choosing Depth Over Scale
- Michelle Rae Sobi
- 3 minutes ago
- 2 min read
Snug in this Winter for some meaningful inner work.
For a long time, success has been measured by numbers. More students. Bigger rooms. Wider reach.
And while there is nothing wrong with growth, I’ve been listening closely to what feels right in this season of my life and work.
This week, I renewed my lease at my small studio in Downtown Wheaton. It’s a quiet decision on the surface—but internally, it felt like a deep exhale. A confirmation.
I’m choosing small groups. I’m choosing intimacy over intensity. I’m choosing connection over scale.
When I first opened studios years ago, larger spaces made sense. They allowed for reach, visibility, and volume. But over time, I noticed something subtle and important: the most meaningful transformations didn’t happen in packed rooms. They happened in smaller circles—where people felt seen, known, and safe enough to grow.
A small studio invites a different kind of listening. A different pace. A different relationship between teacher and student.
It allows conversations to deepen. Questions to linger. Learning to unfold organically instead of on a schedule driven by capacity.
Lately, I’ve been reflecting on the idea that impact doesn’t always scale the way numbers do. Sometimes impact concentrates. Sometimes it becomes quieter—and more powerful.
This shift mirrors other changes in my life, too. I’m less interested in doing more and more interested in doing what matters well. I want to know the people in the room. I want to remember their stories. I want to build environments where growth is supported, not rushed.
Choosing a smaller studio doesn’t mean thinking smaller. It means thinking truer.
It means honoring the kind of work I want to do in the world—work rooted in presence, integrity, and relationship. Work that allows both students and teachers to arrive fully, without needing to perform or compete.
There’s a season for expansion. And there’s a season for refinement.
Right now, I’m listening to the wisdom of refinement.
If you’re in a moment of choosing between more and meaningful, I hope this reminds you that it’s okay to trust what feels sustainable. It’s okay to choose depth. It’s okay to let your work reflect who you’re becoming.
Sometimes the bravest move isn’t growing bigger. It’s growing closer.
Students enrolled in our program may send a Slack DM to Michelle or those interested in enrolling are invited to send a CHAT to begin a conversation.
