It’s my birthday week! And birthdays always invite a time of pause. A moment to look back at the last year, and set intentions for the next one.
I did an audit of my calendar this past year (which I highly recommend), and found a few revelations. I reached many goals, like completing my coaching certification and saving a certain amount. I travelled to new places, like Chapel Hill and Charlottesville. I made new memories in places I hadn’t been in awhile, like Savannah and Italy. I started this wonderful Substack to return to my love of writing. And I even found a love of cheeseburgers, which is a shocking revelation for those who know me — with a decade plus of plant-based eating under my belt. Who says girls can’t have fun?
More than all the things I’ve done, I’m embracing who I am being. A woman who seeks to live from patience, presence, and kindness. A woman who is accepting, confident, and radiant. A woman who is, even when she doesn’t know what is.
As I reflected on this audit, I noticed three big themes that I want to continue to lean into this next year: 1) Surrender 2) Keep Going and 3) Listen to intuition.
1. Surrender
I don’t mean give up. Rather, surrender to the present moment.
I’ve spent so much time wishing for the present to be different. Whether that is holding onto the past, or projecting worry into the future. The struggle is, it prolongs suffering and depletes joy from what’s here now, like water trickling down the bathtub drain until it’s gone.
When I feel tension, or thoughts pulling me toward wishing things were different, I stop and pause. I remind myself that life is unfolding for me, in ways that I might not even be able to expect.
This is hard, especially when things aren’t going how you’d hoped or planned. For me, this is a both, and — I can acknowledge what is with compassion, and trust in what is to come, without getting too attached to it.
Plus, the unknown is part of the adventure! Looking back on this past year and its many beautiful moments, time spent with loved ones, and new experiences, I’m reminded that the struggles now will soon pass.
Which brings me to…
2. Keep going
This one has been really important for me, especially these last few months. And honestly, it is a mantra that I tell myself when I don’t know what else to do, or who else to be.
A lot of life is spent in the not knowing. So best we get comfortable with it.
There are times when life feels really heavy, especially when grief shows up at the door, like an unwanted neighbor.
When there is nothing else, there is this: keep going. Persevere.
It may be by process of elimination, because there is no other choice but to keep going. I seek to actively make that choice again and again, because everything in life changes, and the present will change, too.
3. Listen to intuition
Over the past few months, I’ve been especially deliberate about sitting in silence. I even pray now, which I haven’t done in a long, long, time. Reason being, I want to create more moments where I can listen to my own intuition.
I trust fully that I have the answers inside of me, just as I believe everyone does. Unlocking those answers is only as good as my ability to create space to receive and listen.
Then, I get to decide how to act with the information provided to me.
As I embark on this new year and trip around the sun, I want to share a few intentions that I will be bringing with me into this next year:
I want to feel the fullness of joy in the moments that are joyful, without abandon.
I want to look for, cultivate, and believe in magic.
I want to embody and express gratitude for what is here now.
I want to fight for what I love, AND release strain toward what is not flowing to me. I want to trust in every “no,” and believe there is more coming for me.
I want to spend more time with people I love (including myself!) enjoying new adventures together.
I want to honor security, stability, and contentment. There is joy in consistency.
I want to let go of comparison, which is a fruitless distraction.
I want to remember and believe in how inspirational I am to myself and others.
I want to be in service of others and generous with my time, energy, and money.
I want to step into my full power and release playing small.
Which of these intentions do you do well? Which of these intentions would you like to do better? I would love to hear what they bring up for you. And, if you want support setting your own intentions, and aligning your actions to honor them, I would love to connect.
It’s all happening.
In loving support,
Grace