photo: Christopher Baker via Martha Stewart
Happy New Year! I am always bursting with excitement at the start of a New Year. While I don’t make resolutions, I do a fair amount of reflecting. I like to assess what has not worked the last year and make adjustments. Sometimes that involves big decisions and sometimes it takes on the form of small attitude adjustments.
I find even the smallest changes in my behavior can have long lasting impact.
Here is an example, years ago when I moved into our house, I was beside myself with excitement. It was a stretch for us financially at the time but we stretched and we were in! In the haze of finding the perfect home, I never really looked at the small (built in1929) kitchen. I didn’t realize that the few cabinets that it contained where original to the house and so narrow that I couldn’t even store a dinner plate in them. Sob. So I did what every good woman would do, I started to complain. A LOT. About a month in, Tom looked at me and asked, “Why can’t you just be content?”
His words stopped me in my tracks. What did being content mean to me? As a rule, I am a pretty positive person and I had let my own words convince me that this kitchen was terrible. What once was my dream house had become my house with a glaring defect.
I needed an attitude adjustment and fast. I needed to choose to focus on the fact that it was a miracle that we even qualified for the home loan. I needed to choose to embrace the genuine charm that this house held, small kitchen and all.
As you approach a New Year, take the time to examine was is and isn’t not working in your life and ask yourself why. Why are you not content? Do you need a big overhaul or a few minor adjustments?
I talk a lot about goals and aspirations here at Smart Creative Women. I believe strongly in moving in a forward motion in your life but I also believe in completely enjoying your life right as it is.
I don’t want to go through the motions this year or take anything for granted. I don’t want to lose the awe of living.
I don’t want where I am to feel common. I want to wake up and enjoy even the most mundane tasks because I am so blessed.
It is a small choice, a choice to be content while still working at bettering myself and my work. There is a a certain amount of rest that comes with the choice to be content, it fuels your joy.
After all, Smart Creative Women was only a figment of my imagination at this point last year and now there are over 80 episodes! I am so privileged that people have come on and shared their stories and that people are taking time out of their busy lives to listen!
This year I created a Smart Creative Dreaming Crash Course and started doing personal one on one coaching! I have been thrilled at the response to both of these. I am just so grateful you are supporting my work.
I would encourage you this year to take what is inside of you and develop it, fan the flame inside yourself, with a joyful content heart. Thank you for making Smart Creative Women part of your journey.
