That’s a wrap…

2023, it’s almost time to say goodbye, sayonara, adieu, check you later.

This is my last post for the year. I’ll be taking a break, having some downtime with family and friends, and trying to keep cool (Australian summer heatwaves, here we come).

It’s likely I’ll pop back into your inbox sometime in January because my book cover designer will be sending through some designs, several options, and I’d love you to help me choose one.

Cue, me jumping up and down in wild excitement!!!

But for now, let’s consider 2023, the year that was.

Well, it’s certainly been a year, and then some. I’m not going to comment on world events here. But I will comment on personal ones.

What has 2023 meant to me?

It’s meant…

Learning how to truly believe in myself

I don’t mean trying to believe in myself. Or maybe believing in myself until things get tough or don’t pan out how I imagined or would have liked. I mean getting very still and quieting all the parts that hold noisy but justifiable positions, so I can hear what feels deeply true to me. Then believing it and proceeding from there. This ain’t easy but I’ve been learning how to do it.

Walking away from dreams that aren’t right for me

Particularly those dreams that seem right, should be right, or that parts of me want to be right. These are the types of dreams that have tripped me up the most. But now, I can tell when a dream isn’t right for me. It’s when I’m gripping on too tightly, striving too hard, needing a particular outcome too much. For what? Validation? So I’m okay? So I’ll feel good about myself. My true dreams feel like beautiful whispers from my future that I can believe in.

I’m really meant to be myself

I’ve been on a personal development journey for over 20 years, and for a long time, it felt like the journey was about becoming a better person. Read: zen like. But it’s not. It’s been about coming back to me. Who I am in my essence. My full individuality. And all my idiosyncrasies. Who I am when I’m loving and curious and open-hearted, which means being compassionate with myself even when I stuff up. That’s who I’m meant to be. It’s not about being better. It’s about being me.

There’s an ease to being myself

I’ve struggled a lot in my life and career. Not because I was without privilege. But because I was so hard on myself. Nothing was ever good enough. And I worked harder than I needed to. Now, I’ve learnt that ease is my greatest ally. Not so I stay in my comfort zone and never strive beyond it. But because when I believe in myself, connect to my dream and be myself, ease is the byproduct. Unequivocally.

The inner work is the work

Whenever I feel like I should be writing a post or planning my next book or reconciling my bank accounts, and instead, I’m walking in the park or lying with my cats on the balcony and contemplating or doing a check-in with my parts, I remember that inner work is the work. Everything that’s got me to where I am today has been inner first, outer second. The writing, planning and reconciling bank accounts will come, that’s the outer work, but not before the inner work.

It’s been a monumental year. Not because big, significant things changed in my external world. Not a lot did. But because of the hundreds of little shifts that occurred within me, which have all added up to more inner peace than I’ve ever known.

I’m not professing that I’m perfect or my life is perfect. I’m still a work in progress and always will be. But I now trust that everything that comes up in my life and within myself is an opportunity to reflect, process, learn, integrate and grow. That’s what 2023 has taught me and that’s what I’ll take into 2024, into my next chapter.

If you’re interested in reflecting on your year and even choosing a word or setting some intentions for 2024, you might like to check out:

Susannah Conway - Unravel

Andrea Schroeder - Goodbye 2023-Hello 2024

Caroline Donahue - Your Writing Year 2024

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Until next year, thank you for being here. Love to you and all your loved ones.