Living with inner elegance
Living With Inner Elegance is a powerful state where dignity and grace are not just qualities we possess; they become the essence of our actions. This alignment of mind, body, and spirit empowers us to craft genuine and effective solutions to the most demanding problems in our fast-paced society.
ELEGANT ASPIRATIONS
june / 25
Entitled
UNDERSTANDING YOUR PRIVILEGE
Feelings of entitlement blind us to our shared humanity by creating a false sense of self, which results in unnecessary misery and conflict.
latest articles
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In 2011, I produced a play at Woodbourne Correctional Facility with Rehabilitation Through the Arts (RTA). There, I met John Divine “G” Whitfield, who was wrongfully imprisoned for twenty-five years. Despite his situation, he earned degrees and published books, showing great resilience.
June 2025
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Keeping Your Sanity - Part 3
Whenever people's power and divisive force collide, as they do today, power succeeds when truth empowers the people's will.
May 2025
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Keeping Your Sanity - Part 2
These are chaotic times. Chaos is always a catalyst for change, but it also comes with opportunity and possibility. What that change will look like is entirely in our hands. The more resilient we are personally and collectively, the greater our opportunity to create a just and peaceful world for all.
March 2025
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Keeping Your Sanity
In the face of global chaos, we must embrace our interconnectedness and take meaningful action while remaining strong.
February 2025
Podcasts
WISDOM WITH
INNER ELEGANCE
The Wisdom with Inner Elegance Roundtable Series
June 25 Edition
Hosted by Caroline Phipps, Founder of Living With Inner Elegance, and Deborah Kelly, Director at The Wisdom House Retreat and Conference Center.
Our Roundtable Series is designed to deliver a monthly dose of spiritual inspiration and connection, sharing wisdom, knowledge, and ideas to help you navigate our rapidly changing world.
lIve talks PODCAST
LIVE TALKS
Guest:
john “divine g” whitfield
oscar nominated for the film sing sing
In this podcast, Caroline revolves around the life story and inspiring journey of John Divine G. Whitfield, who was wrongfully incarcerated for 25 years. It highlights his involvement in the Rehabilitation Through the Arts (RTA) program at Sing Sing prison, which uses theater and arts as a transformative tool to help inmates reconnect with their emotions, gain life skills, and reduce recidivism. Divine’s story emphasizes resilience, empowerment, and turning adversity into positive action. Despite his wrongful conviction, he channeled his energy into creative pursuits, becoming a published author, playwright, and cultural advocate within prison. Live Talks With Caroline Phipps Podcast also covers his successful parole, challenges faced upon release, and ongoing fight for exoneration, supported by public advocacy. It underscores themes of justice, personal growth, the power of choice, and the role of the arts in rehabilitation, culminating in the Oscar-nominated film *Sing Sing* inspired by his experience. The narrative is enriched with testimonials, interviews, and reflections on the systemic issues of wrongful incarceration and the importance of hope and dignity.
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Please donate to the Living With Inner Elegance initiative by Caroline Phipps so we can continue creating inspirational content for our relationships with each other and the Earth.
LAST MONTH ARTICLE
May 2025
Resilience
How to Measure Your Strength
Caroline discusses resilience through the story of John Divine “G” Whitfield, who was wrongfully imprisoned for twenty-five years. Despite his circumstances, Divine earned academic degrees and published books, exemplifying remarkable strength and purpose. His involvement in the performing arts at Woodbourne Correctional Facility with Rehabilitation Through the Arts (RTA) contributed to the program’s success, evidenced by a recidivism rate below three percent. After his release in 2012, Divine pursued exoneration, toured with a rap artist, and received an Oscar nomination. His story highlights how resilience, a strong sense of self, and helping others can lead to personal transformation and positive societal impact.
Keeping Your Sanity Part 3
on WKZE 98.1 FM with DJ Rick Schneider
Aired on May 22, 2025, 9 am
What does it really mean to be resilient when life throws curveballs your way? On a recent episode of the Up and Running Morning Show with Rick on 98.1 KZE, Caroline Phipps—founder of Living with Inner Elegance — dives into the story of Divine G. Whitfield. Divine’s story is nothing short of extraordinary: wrongfully incarcerated for 25 years, he embraced the arts to not only survive but thrive, turning his pain into purpose and inspiring others to do the same. Through heartfelt conversation, the show uncovers practical wisdom for building resilience and spotlights what’s possible when you choose to rise above your circumstances. If you’re searching for real-life inspiration and actionable strategies to handle life’s toughest moments, this episode delivers.
On air
FOLLOW ME ON THESE CHANNELS
VIDEOS
Sep. 31, 2015
rules
Necessary or Unnecessary?
This video is part of a motivational series that explores our complex relationship with rules—those set by society and those we create for ourselves. It acknowledges that while rules provide structure and safety, they can also stifle individuality and potential. Through personal anecdotes and examples of famous rule-breakers, the author argues that meaningful progress often comes from challenging the status quo.
Caroline encourages self-reflection: identify your own rules, discern which ones limit your dreams, and experiment with breaking those that hold you back. Small acts of rebellion—like taking an afternoon off—can offer a taste of freedom and spark fresh creativity. The closing message is a call to be bold and try something new, suggesting that growth and opportunity lie just beyond self-imposed limitations.
articles archive
BEND OR BREAK
WHEN LABELS LIMIT US
Your reflection highlights a core challenge in both physical and psychological health: flexibility. Research consistently shows that psychological flexibility—the ability to adapt our thoughts and behaviors to changing circumstances—is strongly linked to resilience, well-being, and lower rates of anxiety and depression. This kind of flexibility helps us handle stress, adjust to unexpected situations, and bounce back from setbacks, rather than becoming "rigid" in the face of change. Developing psychological flexibility means you're better equipped to pursue what truly matters, even when life is unpredictable ..
recently visited inspirational events
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![Orange Theory Fitness logo with an orange splat design and text.]()
REFLECTIONS ON DEMOCRACY & PHILANTHROPY SERIES
June 19th 2024
The Du Bois Freedom Center in Great Barrington, Massachusetts, held its first conversation in their Reflections on Democracy series on June 19th at 6:00 p.m. In recognition of Juneteenth, the former Harvard Visiting Scholar, President Barack Obama, Staffer Michael Blake, and United States Congresswoman Nikema Williams. -
![Logo of The Clark Art Institute with "THE CLARK" in rainbow colors and "ART INSTITUTE" in gray.]()
GUILLAUME LETHIÈRE (1760–1832)
June 13th 2024
The Clark Art Institute presents its first exhibition on the pioneering work of Guillaume Lethière. He was a key figure in French painting during the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, navigating the French Revolution's turmoil to achieve acclaim. A favorite artist of Napoleon's brother, Lethière held prestigious positions and advocated for women artists. Don't miss this extraordinary exhibition celebrating Lethière's life and work! -
!["Norman Rockwell Museum" text on teal background]()
WHAT, ME WORRY? THE ART AND HUMOR OF MAD MAGAZINE
June 7th 2024
The unforgettable art and satire of MAD, from its beginnings in 1952 as a popular humor comic book to its emergence as a beloved magazine that spoke truth to power and attracted generations of devoted readers through the decades. -
![Logo for Gedney Farm in New Marlborough, featuring a stylized barn illustration above the text.]()
GEDNEY FARM SOMMELIER SERIES: VINAS MORA
June 27th 2024
The Gedney Farm Sommelier will their friend Kreso Petrekovic and his stellar wines from Croatia. Kreso sources from old vines in Plješivica and lower Styria (Slovenia) from farmers who are longtime friends of the family. Some of the grapes like Riesling and Pinot Gris are familiar while others such as Sipalj, Stajerka, Kraljevina, Smarnica and Plavec are more localized to these central European terroirs. Gedney Farm’s Chef Michele Ragussis will design a menu to perfectly complement these wines.
MONTHLY APPEARANCES
Make a donation.
Please donate to Caroline Phipps' Living With Inner Elegance initiative so that we can continue creating inspiring content for our lives and relationships with each other and the Earth.
Thank you