“Of all the ways you could be spending your precious time and attention, it is very unlikely that you are currently spending it in the optimal way. The only path I know for figuring out a better way to spend your life is to sit and think. You simply have to carve out some time to think carefully about what you’re doing, why you’re doing it, and what you’re really trying to achieve. Nobody stumbles into a well lived life. It has to be cultivated. Reflection and review are critical.” -James Clear
As 2023 comes to a close, it’s the perfect opportunity to both reflect and look forward as we once again hold space for a dichotomy of emotion and action–at once pausing and forging ahead, at once ready to release, yet clinging to what was, at once grateful, yet impatient, at once still in body, yet racing ahead in mind, thoughts, intentions.
Personally 2023 was a year of growth and learning, of reemerging and of finding my voice.
Becoming a Certified Health and Wellness Coach has been nothing short of a transformational experience. As I step into 2024, I can proudly say that I feel like the most authentic version of myself; and I know this is not an accident. This was the result of hard work, of privilege, of unfailing support from family and friends, of a deep commitment to myself and faith in the process.
The privilege of work as a Health and Wellness Coach means that I’m constantly learning from my clients. The month of December was no exception as I wrapped up coaching packages with several! Here’s how I saw this play out with one client in particular:
After working together faithfully for the past two months, I witnessed her articulate “The Why Beneath The Why,” her “Basement Level Why” with clarity and conviction, with energy, inspiration and celebration.
As a coach, this was everything!!
This particular client came to me seeking exactly this–seeking clarity, seeking relief from brain fog and from feeling stuck. More specifically, she wanted to clear space to reconnect with her former “more disciplined self” after allowing for a much needed season of grief.
As we worked together, the progress wasn’t linear, but it was consistent. The direction wasn’t always clear, but there was a path forming. And, in the end…we arrived at a trail head leading her to take THE NEXT RIGHT STEP.
“Hope is like the sun, which as we journey toward it, casts the shadow of our burdens behind it.” -Samuel Smiles
ļ»æSo, as you pause to Reflect on 2023 and consider Looking Forward to 2024, I encourage you to consider what motivates you, what drives you in the direction of action? I invite you to consider not just your WHY, but “The Why Beneath The Why!”
And, if you’re feeling stuck, hazy, cloudy, unclear, if you don’t know where to begin, but are ready to get started, I urge you to consider Health Coaching as an investment in yourself, in your Future You!
ThisĀ Future YouĀ is the December 31, 2024 version of you who can look back and be proud of your progress, steadfast in your commitment and ready to step boldly into 2025 grateful for having taken that leap one year ago!Ā
Something to Read
Equal parts inspiration, strategy, insight and action steps, this article is jam-packed with thought provoking wisdom to fuel your vision of 2024.
How to Have Your Greatest Year EverĀ from Author J. D. Meier.
Something to Try
We can practice what we preach by sharing mindfulness and meditation with our children from an early age. Here’s a script that you can use today/tonight to help your little one(s), connect with gratitude for the year that has passed and visualize all they desire in 2024.
Ā From Greenchildmagazine.comĀ Visualizing the New Year MeditationĀ for Kids
Something to Create
I love rituals and NYE rituals are no exception!
For our family, this means spending intentional time around our backyard bonfire* reflecting on the year that has passed. We each take slips of paper and write down all we’re ready to release from 2023. We take turns speaking these things aloud and then toss them into the fire and watch as they ignite and dissolve in the fiery blaze.
To say this is cathartic is an understatement!
We discuss our gratitude for the experiences and lessons learned from all we are releasing…and then, we aim to truly let go. We take an opportunity to feel the warmth on our faces and bodies while we soak up the peaceful release.
When we’re ready, we turn our attention to all we’d like to invite in during the upcoming year. We again, speak these intentions aloud. Time seems to sit still for this ritual and we honor it with reverence. I can’t wait to sit by the fire with my boys today!
If you’re interested in creating a NYE Ritual for your family, here are some ideas fromĀ Ahaparenting.com:Ā New Year’s Rituals for Families.Ā It doesn’t have to be complicated or labor intensive. In fact, one of the simplest recommendations is to simply make sure to take a family photo!
Something to Consider
As we bid farewell to 2023, pause to consider YOUR NEXT RIGHT STEP. Be it Centipede or Sasquatch in Size is of no concern. It is the direction, intention and spirit behind that step that truly matters. If you need help taking it,Ā I am here.
As we welcome 2024…
May you be brave enough to be still, bold enough to speak up and blessed enough to feel loved.