So, I thought it was high time to chat a little bit about life. Not in the grand, overwhelming, what-should-I-be-doing-with-my-life way, but just checking in and asking myself, how am I feeling about life right now? What can I do to feel the way I want to feel about life? What small steps can I take?

It is a bit coincidental that we are nearing the end of the year, but I wanted to take some time to reflect. I just came back from a 10-day immersion retreat with my mentor in Bali, and a lot of things were shaken up inside of me while I was there.

First, I think there are some beliefs I need to let go of. At the top of that list is the belief that I somehow am not enough. We have all gone through experiences from childhood onward that have shaped us to be who we are, that have molded our belief systems. Some way or another I have grown to be a young lady who, hard as she may try to cover it up, has held a stifled, locked-up belief that she is not enough. That she always needs to do better, do more, be somebody. But what if it is enough to just be who we are? Who I am? What if who we are, without frills or embellishments, is completely enough?

I believe each human being is enough. I believe we each have a light within us that is just waiting to shine brightly, to lead us to impact others in a positive way. The funny thing is, I can more easily jump to that conclusion for others than for myself. So, it’s time I let that belief go. I AM enough, just as I am, and so are you.

Second, as I discovered in a conversation I had with a friend a few days ago, it’s time I become aware of and let go of judgment. Of the judgment I place on myself, of the judgment I place on others, of this huge, ugly monster, JUDGMENT! If releasing our attachment to things makes us free, I believe so does releasing our judgment on things. Without judgment, we have no expectations. We don’t get disappointed, we don’t beat ourselves or others up, and we just let things BE. What a wonderful state, to just be. Easier said than done, but it is powerful to just focus on being. On being where you are at the moment, on being your size, on being a friend, a sister, a brother, a mother, an employee, a lover, a boss. Just enjoy being where you are, however you are. I will take steps to just BE in the coming year – whether that’s through meditation, yoga, dance, or simply infusing consciousness into my breath wherever I am.

The photo above is the sunrise we all woke up to witness in Bali on our last day of the retreat. What a beautiful thing sunrises are, no? The signal of a new day, a new beginning. I invite you to take a moment and ponder, what is your sunrise as you take your next step forward, each new day? What are you willing to let go of? What no longer serves you? I wish you all a happy holiday season with those you love, and hope you are able to let go of one thing (however small) to feel lighter as we enter the new year.

xo,

J