As the year comes to an end, I know many of us feel the busy and tizzy of the holidays. But all the more it is important to step back and slow down, even if it’s just for 10 minutes; as we all know, life doesn’t stop and passes by way too quickly unless we learn to slow down and stop. I hope you take a few moments for yourself to reflect on the past year, your growth, your victories, and even the moments that may have been challenging.
Here are a few questions to get you started:
1. What were 3 unexpected blessings that happened this year for you? Can you take a moment to really feel that gratitude? Do you notice any sensations in your body as you call this to mind?
2. What is 1 thing you are really proud of yourself for? Why? (Note: if you struggle to feel proud of yourself that’s ok. Lean into that. Why is it hard for you to feel proud of yourself? Do you feel undeserving? How come? etc).
3. What’s 1 thing you learned about yourself this year, as it pertains to your own joy and happiness? How can you lean into that in the upcoming year?
4. What’s 1 way you discovered untapped resilience and courage in yourself this year? How did it feel in the moment and how does it feel now looking back?
5. What’s one thing you can do each day from now to the New Year to slow down and be fully present?
I wanted to write a little reflection on the intentions I set for myself back in January. The words I chose were savor and thrive. My intention was for those words to be a guiding force for me in making decisions—professionally and personally—through life’s different and unexpected seasons.
If I’m being quite honest, I wasn’t as intentional with those two words as I’d hoped for. When I began reflecting on how I’d embodied savor and thrive, I was a bit disappointed in myself. I recall over and over struggling to slow down enough to savor and soak in the delicious delights of the magic around me. Sometimes I struggled to see the magic at all. My soul’s unwavering whisper to slow down and lean into the present moment felt like a distant plead I often just wanted to ignore. Rushing felt easier. It feels safer. But then I’d have moments where the smell of coffee and pillowy cloud of foamed milk filled me with such child-like joy. Ahh, the simple things. The moments that feel spacious and allow me to breathe a little deeper. I think that’s just it, though: Life is the both / and. It’s not all or nothing.
I had expectations of what it would feel like to thrive. And as I often find myself doing, I realized my expectations were more idealistic than realistic. There’s no perfect season. Life doesn’t work that way—and it’s not supposed to. I’ve thrived in some areas but not in others and because of that, I didn’t necessarily see the ways in which I was thriving. My question now is: are my eyes open to seeing when I am thriving? Are my eyes open to seeing the magic in unexpected places, seasons, and people?
This year demanded me to step into uncertainty in many areas of my life. I’m sure many of you can relate. I dealt with all of the vulnerable emotions that come with change: changing jobs and taking bigs leaps of faith; navigating a breakup and leaning deeper into friendships; untangling life’s messiness and deepening my understanding of myself. Once again, the both / and.
I believe in synchronicity and that the things we are ready for come to us at the right time, whether that’s people, a spiritual lesson, a lightbulb moment, or a breakthrough in personal growth. There’s a quote I recently came by that really struck a chord:
“Thriving and struggling are not mutually exclusive.”
This got me thinking. Doesn’t struggle help us tap into our courage and resilience in ways we wouldn’t otherwise have? Doesn’t struggle help us to be more understanding and extend grace to others? Doesn’t struggle invite us into deeper reflection and spiritual enlightenment?
Doesn’t struggle remind us that there is beauty in imperfection?
I think so.
And I don’t know about you, but I wouldn’t trade in these lessons for a bland life.
The things we seek in life are practices. I used to think it was more like a checklist: ok, I’ve mastered savoring, next. But anything with true meaning and richness is far greater than something that can be checked off on a list. I continue to be a work in progress and I’m learning more and more not only to accept that truth, but to feel liberated by it.
I will continue to lean into savor and thrive, accepting that those things sometimes look different than I expect. But isn’t that a kind of magic in and of itself?
I hope this little reflection resonates with you and reminds you to be a little extra gentle with yourself; a little more accepting of your less-than-perfect moments; because after all, it was never about being perfect to begin with. Practice over perfection. Intention over judgement.
That’s all for now. I want to extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone that has come to my blog. I hope it feels like a safe space for you to feel and to encounter yourself more deeply. I hope it continues to be a little sanctuary for you as it is for me. I send all my warmest wishes to you for the holidays and I’ll see you in the next year!
Serenity & love,
Colleen