How do you feel about changing your mind?
About unravelling a decision.
About saying no to something that felt like a wholehearted yes when you started? Or vice versa?
It can be hard to reverse a decision that once felt good.
And yet it’s really important to pay attention to where you are now, rather than where you were when you started.
Because circumstances can change. And so can you.
If only we’d had a conversation beforehand…
Almost 18 years ago Stu and I went on holiday to the Lake District.
It was one of our last times away before having our first child. I was 6 months pregnant.
We thought it would be lots of fun to cycle from where we were to Keswick. Not far away at all said Stu…
If you know him, you know that he is a brilliant, strong, capable cyclist who absolutely loves being on his bike. Me? Not so much.
Does it feel like you need to have a detailed plan when you’re at the start of a new adventure?
Perhaps a switch of career, or a new job, or a sabbatical, maybe even a gap year.
So you don’t have to sit with the uncertainty.
And so other people don’t worry about you?
When we think about what we want to create in our lives, and how we can get there, it can be super tempting to try and create a straight line between here and there.
If we can’t see all the steps it can feel like we’re not going to make it.
And so our brain really wants to decide on on a plan, and stick to it.
To create it all before we start.
It’s a really common way to help us feel safe and in control. And yet…it’s impossible to do.
We’ve just returned from a 2-week trip to visit family in the States.
It’s always a special time.
We live in different countries and it’s lovely to see each other, catch up with where we are, see how everyone has grown and changed, and generally be a part of each others lives for a while.
There are everyday moments of connection - the simple pleasures of going to the supermarket together. Running errands, making meals, watching Netflix, walking their dog, putting coffee on.
And there are the sparkly, memory making, moments where we had fun and played together.
