Thomas Edison said “Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to just try one more time.”
I had sooo many plans for my business this time last year.
I wanted to: launch a podcast, scale my business, launch a group program, publish a book (that has already been written) but becoming a parent for the first time meant the things I wanted to do most took a backseat.
If I’m being totally honest, the past year felt more about surviving and ‘getting through’ then anything else.
I hate to even say this sentence out-loud but here it is: I did not accomplish what I set out to do in 2019.
Now, parenthood is an incredible blessing. Please don’t misunderstand me. It has been a roller since welcoming our son into this world, and I truly don’t think there is a more perfect human then this little man.
But still. I’m a coach. I love goals. I believe in setting intentions and then going for them: no matter what.
But there are times when God has other plans for your time.
When the desires of your heart are met in a different way.
When the ‘plans’ you have are on pause for a bit while you discover a whole new side of yourself.
And that’s okay. More then okay, it’s part of this incredible faith journey of entrepreneurship, of doing life ‘on my terms’.
What did I learn?
Accept the season you are in. The last year was a was all about transitioning. Once I finally surrendered to it, not to what I thought it should look like, I was able to flow in the season of new mama hood, late night feedings, PJ days, and yes, sleep deprivation.I can’t say I whole heartedly embraced all of these points, but I stopped resenting it and accepted it as what it was meant to be right now and believing the experienced mama’s around me when they say ‘this is only temporary, and it gets easier’.
Mamahood has to be learned (like everything else new in your life).. As a confident successful women who is good at ‘getting things done’ and being in control, I had so many moments where I felt totally out of my depth. Once I started thinking of this gig as a totally new career (like when I started working in TV or started my business), I adjusted my expectations of myself. I am brand-new at this, and my baby is different to everyone else’s. it’s okay to freak out and not be sure of yourself. You learn it by doing it. Like everything else in life.
Invest in your support circle: I have had many close friends check in with me during these last few months, and family members come and sit in on the really hard shifts. Without them, life would have been a lot harder. I felt I had little to give, but the truth is I had been investing in these relationships for years – so for my circle to show up for me was such a blessing, but also reaping what I had been sowing. Invest in your friendships and your circle of close people – you really become who you spend time with.
Delay is not denial: There have been times over the past year when I felt like my dream and goals were ‘over’ – I was a mother, I had to shut down that part of me and only focus on caring for this little person. But, God puts desires in our hearts for a reason. And just because something isn’t happening now, doesn’t mean it’s not meant to. Trust God’s timing and have faith you are exactly where you need to be right now.
Frankly, I had to kind of grieve and forgive myself over the things I didn’t get done last year. And give myself some of that compassion I talk to my clients about (humble pie anyone? Tastes so good!).
And now I am hitting the reset button.
This year, I’m intent on stepping into EVERYTHING that is meant for me: in parenthood, in my business, in my relationships, in my health.
I’m open to the possibilities that God has for me this year. Yes it’s life on my terms, but I am His creation.
I want you to know that no matter where you are starting from – maybe last year was amazing for you and you are super pumped for this year (go you!) or you feel exhausted, like ‘blah’, and feel some pain and regret over the past year over what you haven’t done.
I feel you, I hear you, I see you.
And I invite you to change your story in 2020 and to step fully into what is meant for you.
Imagine New Years Eve 2020. What would be absolutely devastating to you if you didn’t complete / achieve?
On the flip side, what do you want to be celebrating? I mean REALLY celebrating: like throw a massive party and invite everyone and shout it from the rooftops and insta it: what would make you So proud of yourself to accomplish?
Go for that. Life is short.
Things change so quickly and I truly believe there is something incredible, personal and awesome that each person was created to accomplish.
So please, please please…. Don’t let another year go by without you fully showing up for you and sharing everything that God has placed inside of you. That weirdness, unusual thing, hard to ‘put in a box’ quality that people seem to be drawn to you for - is there for a reason.
Start becoming who you were meant to be. Today.
It’s your year, it’s your time and I am here to support you, encourage you, challenge you and just share my own journey along the way. I’m not perfect. I’m just a girl from Georgia who has decided (again) to totally go for it (this time with baby in tow).
And I invite you to do the same.
Here’s to your awesome year,
Rachel Xx
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