Well we’ve ticked over to 2018 and of course there is endless discussion around whether you are a New Year’s resolutions, intention setting and ‘word for the year’ kind of person.
What’s your jam?
For me, I’ve not really set New Year’s resolutions before. I’m a pretty goal oriented ‘doer’ at the worst of times, so I’ve never ‘needed’ a New Year to make significant change. And intention setting kinda still feels a little like New Year’s resolutions because in my mind, they’re goals with values (or the other way around).
Nope. I’m a ‘word for the year’ kinda gal.
The reality is that we’re all gifted with the chance to write the next chapter of our life and I like to write that chapter with a ‘word’ in mind.
Before I start ‘writing’, I take the time to read the previous chapters and reflect on the blessings and the hardships I’ve experienced. That way, I take both the bigger context of my life and my more immediate learnings to see where I’m truly at.
Anyone who has EVER worked with me will have heard me say that you can’t work out where you’re going until you know where you’re at.
This year is no different. 2017 has been a tough year in some respects. The naturally grateful ‘count your blessings’ gal that I am, wants to be clear … no one that I love dearly has died or got truly sick or experienced some really bad shiite.
I am blessed. I’ve got a lovely fella, great kids who give me way more laughter than grief and beautiful family and friends. And I’m really excited that we’re FINALLY transforming our front and backyards from derelict to ‘pretty’ in the next few weeks.
But 2017 has been haaaard work. Yep. I’m heading in to 2018 an exhausted chicken. My psychologist (yes, I have one) told me she thinks I’m burnt out. Not the flippant version of being burnt out.
Nope. She used the serious psychologist tone of voice. I know that one. I use it. And she used the word …. Wait for it …. ‘concerned’. I’ve used that too.
This is what she said, ‘I’m really concerned. But I’m sure. You’re burnt out. Like the clinical version, Kirstin. Not the ‘just a bit tired’ version’.
Shit.
My mind raced with countless responses. Rejections of the whole idea really.
Before I burst into (more) tears.
Yep. I’m burnt out.
Why?
Many reasons. All business related. But here’s one. And this is the one that hurts my heart. Plunges me in to self-doubt. And dims the joy that the actual ‘doing’ of it, gives me.
The hustle. The bloody hustle has pushed me and my adrenals over the edge.
You see, I have gifts that I want to give others. I have gifts that I do give others. And when I do, it is the most effortless, heart-filling, spirit-fuelled experience I (or you) can imagine.
That is NOT the cause of my burn out.
Nope. It’s the hustle. It’s the GETTING my message out to the ‘right’ people, having them RECOGNISE it and then giving themselves PERMISSION to say, ‘YES PLEASE, I’LL TAKE IT!’
The people who need MY gift are the ones who usually don’t recognise it and on the off-chance they do, they certainly don’t give themselves permission to take it.
And yet, if they did, life would be the same but different.
They would be the same, but different.
In a really subtle, yet powerful way.
I could bang on about what the gift is, who it’s for and what would be different if they grabbed it with both hands. But this isn’t a sales pitch.
It’s just a real account of MY journey.
Because as much as I’m in service to others, I’m real and I find life tough too at times.
I want you to know that.
And so back to my bloody burn out.
No New Year’s resolutions.
No intention setting.
But yes, a ‘one word for the year’ approach.
EASE.
I want 2018 to be filled with EASE.
May the women who need my gifts, find me with ease.
Stay tuned.
