Way back in the day, when my husband and I got married, we had a clear sense of what we wanted our wedding to be like - partly based on other people’s weddings, partly based on how we were as a couple, and a lot based on our budget!
We knew we wanted to do it ‘our way’ - to celebrate the start of a new chapter by bringing people that were important to us together, in a simple, relaxed, ‘us’ way.
We knew we wanted our guests to have a fun day and evening with good food and wine, and lots of laughter. To know each other and have felt a part of something personal.
Many years ago, a defining experience was not getting a job I thought I really wanted.
I had applied to a graduate scheme that felt like the perfect next step, and made it all the way to the last stage before not getting an offer.
It felt like a shocking failure. An example of not measuring up.
For many years I made it all about me and what I’d done wrong. If only I could have been different, been more of what they were looking for.
I never stopped to wonder if it simply wasn’t the right fit for me.
Does it feel like you have too many things to do?
An overwhelming to do list?
With not enough time in the day to get it done?
When we step into a larger space - in our work or life - it can feel as though there’s a lot more to do, all at once.
It can be hard to work out what we need to hold onto, and what we can let go of.
Especially if we’ve been praised and rewarded for being someone who gets a lot of stuff done.
I love a good declutter - of clothes, books, anything really.
The feeling of sorting out and creating order is super satisfying.
So, imagine my joy at being able to do the same thing with people’s to do lists in a coaching session!
Specifically, the type of list of things that aren’t getting done.
The things that feel too big to tick off easily, so they lurk at the bottom, and often get carried over from week to week.
The things that you know you ‘should’ get to, but can’t seem to get into action on.
And the longer they lurk, the harder it feels to get started.
In a yoga class recently, I realised that I couldn’t switch my quads on - “lift at the kneecaps” was something my brain simply couldn’t connect with my body to create.
In some ways it wasn’t a surprise. I’ve been intentionally focusing on other parts for the last few months - my core, my balance, my strength in different places.
All brilliant and needed at the time, and now I need to pay a little more attention to the parts I have forgotten about.
This can be true in our life as well as with our body. At certain points we can be focused on a particular part of it - our work, our health, our past, our future.
