Hope you and your family enjoyed the holidays and Christmas, and are winding down year with a full heart, good health and fresh optimism for 2022.
Only 5 more days of this year!?#@$%??? Say what?!
Now’s the time to ask, “How was your 2021?” I bet it was full of accomplishments (big and little), CHANGE, disappointment, wins, struggle, surprises, connection, loss, joy, fulfillment, challenge, frustration, heartache, inspiration, ease, flow, growth, excitement, hard work, gratitude and more.
I’m with YOU.
I experienced all that in 2021 too. If you’re feeling all the feels, then consider yourself exquisitely normal. We’ve all been through a lot.
Fortunately, life IS dynamic. And, as the moments and seasons change, we also get to choose again and again to reset, to recenter, to refocus and to re-emerge in our power. We do this minute by minute, hour by hour, day by day, month by month, and year by year. It’s up to each of us to find, keep and deepen that still, calm beingness within us. It’s always there. We just need to give it our attention.
AND be, oh, so present to the next unfolding moment, task or challenge.
About this time each year, I love sharing a powerful “End of Year Completion Ritual.”. If you’re in a rush, you can scroll below. But, if you’ve got an extra minute, I want to share a bit more about my journey these past 4+ months as our family became residents of North Carolina, after 23 years in California! It has been a rich and transformational transition.
Mary’s North Carolina Move Update
It took a little contorting, but we’re now nestled into our new homestead in the ever-changing mountains of Waynesville, North Carolina. We traded flip-flops for Oboz hiking shoes, year-round sunshine for four distinct seasons, tank tops for plaid, and busy traffic lights for narrow country roads. Loving it more than I could’ve imagined.
At first, I resisted the long, winding, 3-4 minute drive up and down our mountain. It forced me to slow down, stay present and appreciate each and every curve. It has become a superb metaphor for living life — relishing the subtle changes in beauty day by day, embracing the ups and downs, and twists and turns (both literally and figuratively). Most importantly, it’s a reminder that it’s always possible to find alignment with “what is.” Always.
There is so much to be present with… the colors, clouds, landscape, animals (horses, cows, goats!) and sunsets. My kids give me a hard time (on our morning drive to school) when I oooohhh and awwwwww at how the clouds are resting just so, gasp at the new shade of orange or red lighting up a tree or notice the evergreens looking extra majestic against the sky. “Oh, Mom, it’s just a tree.” Oh no, it’s a stunning work of Creation.
There is beauty all around. Here. There. Everywhere. The newness has deepened my presence. And you don’t have to make an interstate move to engage in any moment. It’s free. It’s readily available. What is capturing your attention these days?
Not going to say I’ve been Zenning out 24/7 (ha!), although you can tell Mother Nature has provided inspiration to stop, exhale and soak in another version of beautiful.
It has been overwhelming to make dozens of significant decisions about furniture, appliances and even a new Subaru. Finding new service providers, discovering where to find what without getting lost, and re-establishing self-care ritual has demanded A LOT of patience, flexibility and compassion for myself. Plus, shuttling kids to and from school, sports and horse-back riding lessons.
As you can tell from the pictures, we’re thriving here and enjoying a somewhat slower pace. Nature has a way of doing that. I’ve love every minute of it! (Well almost every minute — LOL!)
Keeping Overwhelm Under Control
While I’ve been tested in countless ways, I’ve leaned on tips and tricks and the support of trusted friends and wonderful new neighbors. Generous self-care includes daily yoga, veggie smoothies & the inspiration of other authors and speakers are musts to keep inner peace flowing.
I recently heard author Susie Moore talk about overwhelm. First, that overwhelm is often a matter of abundance. Long task lists? House projects galore? Business and parenting demands?
Everything can be turned around into something to be grateful for. Yes, everything.
- How lucky am I to have so many ways to channel my energy each day?
- How lucky am I to have a house to furnish and enjoy?
- How lucky am I have to children to love, care for and love me back?
- How lucky am I to have a business that I’m passionate about and an audience to connect with and uplift?
I’m so lucky. And so are you!!!
It’s simple. Try it on whenever overwhelm creeps into your emotional well-being.
Susie also has 3 phenomenal questions to ask in moments of overwhelm.
1) How serious is this really?
2) What’s essential here?
3) How can this be easy?
Great questions, right?!
“How serious is this really?” How many of us put pressure on ourselves and make something more “serious” than it is? This first question brings us back to reality… and it’s almost never as serious as the mind makes it out to be.
Asking “What’s essential here?” narrows our focus, another guiding force in minimizing overwhelm. And if you’re someone who “likes to do it all,” ask this question often.
“How can this be easy?” is the perfect question to help strip away the extra complexity for those of us who “like to try to do it all.” I love embracing easy. Try it!
I’ll add one more question that I continually lean on when trying to decide which project or priority gets my attention next.
“What will give me the most relief?”
When that small, still voice makes it clear, I make THAT my priority, and trust I’ll circle back to the rest in the perfect time.
If you’re ready for more ease in your life, check out Susie Moore’s book, “Let It Be Easy.” I thoroughly enjoyed listening to it on Audible (my go to to devour books during my morning rituals). It was excellent!
That’s a snapshot of where I’ve been these past few months. Expect to hear more from me more in 2022. I have fresh insights about the role and gift of “resistance” in our lives. I’ve got podcast interviews to share. I’m working on a special inner peace quiz.
And we’ll see what inspiration guides me to deliver throughout the year as I trust my own flow, honor my current time restraints and allow the “what’s next?” to bubble forth organically. Sometimes we want to “do it all” now, rush, and KNOW exactly where we’re headed and it’s almost always easier to surrender to the moment.
This year is a vivid reminder that things unfold exactly as they should, in the perfect timing, even if it looks a little messy in the middle. I’m going to keep embracing my peaceful edge in the midst of it all. I hope you do the same.
Okay, let’s segue to the questions to give you fresh perspective on 2021, and help you put a bow on it, so you can start 2022 with a clean slate.
Getting Perspective of 2021
End of Year Completion Ritual
For the last 23 years, I’ve embraced this “end of year completion” ritual as a way to reflect and complete the year, and prepare for a fresh start. If you’ve been a client or subscriber for awhile, you’ve seen these potent questions before. It’s still one of the simplest and most powerful annual exercises.
Set aside some uninterrupted time to journal your answers to the 5 questions below. I personally like to curl up next to a warm fire, light candles and get comfy, allowing plenty of time to reflect on the year.
If you’re like me, with younger kids, your window of opportunity may be during your son’s basketball practice or daughter’s tumbling class. My preference is more expansive window, but I’d rather see you DO the exercise than not. Just find the time. You’ll thank me for it!!! I promise.
Please give yourself this gift this year. It’s a powerful way to acknowledge your year, get perspective and transition to 2022.
End of Year Completion Questions
1. What are your disappointments, failures, and breakdowns?
Let’s acknowledge what these items are…. this is an opportunity to let them go, carry them forward, or make a new promise.
2. Make a second list titled: Successes, Wins, and Accomplishments.
This is a chance to celebrate and own who you have become this year, and your achievements. Where did you step into your power and greatness? Please don’t skimp on these. The little stuff counts. NO modesty allowed. Let’s validate all your accomplishments. Look through your organizer to remind you. Make an exhaustive list.
And most importantly allow yourself to FEEL fantastic about each and every win… big or small.
3. What have you learned about yourself and your life? What insights have you gained?
True insights have the transformational capability of shifting us into a new, more alive place! As we are blessed with insights it is important to nurture and deepen these new understandings.
Sometimes when I ask this question, my mind immediately wants to answer… “Uh, nothing. No growth here this year.” Ha!!! Challenge yourself to dig deeper. No doubt there ARE insights and learnings just waiting to be acknowledged.
4. What are you grateful for?
This list might include some of the above and anything else you truly appreciate about yourself or any other area of your life. There is a basic principle. Whatever you appreciate and give thanks for will increase in your life.
For this question… I like to be REALLY thorough, counting the big and little things I’m truly grateful for. That means don’t limit yourself to ONE page. Let your heart fill to the tippy top with gratitude and FEEL just how blessed your life is.
5. How will you celebrate and honor your years’ accomplishments?
What would be a fun, special thing to do for yourself? This simple gesture gives importance to you for all you poured into 2021.
Ready for more?
After you complete the questions above, AND sail through the holidays, the next step is preparing for an amazing “NEW” Year. To support you, I’m linking to one of one of my most popular articles on New Year Creation: Engaging Your Senses in Your Vision.
From my family to yours, wishing you warm and wonderful holidays, as we wrap up 2021 and get ready for the best year yet!
Here’s to your success and inner peace in the coming new year.
PS: If you want daily inspiration and inquiries to help you find, keep and deepen inner peace, please join me in the Inner Peace on Purpose Facebook Group. It’s free! You’ll find a supportive community almost 900 members strong. I’d love to connect with you there. See you there!
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