The 2023 Question
I’ll be honest, 2022 was not a vintage year for me. It started with so much excitement. I felt focused on what I wanted to create and communicate. I rebranded with a new logo, new colours and I revamped my website. I got my first professional business photos taken. I was buzzing with ideas.
I don’t know if it was post-Covid or pre-menopause, but around the summer I completely lost the impetus that has kept me going for the last six years. I stopped being in tune with my purpose. I stopped listening to my body. I made possibly the most stupid decision I’ve ever made. I craved the attention of those people who made me feel shit about myself and then wondered why I felt shit about myself (like, duh!).
I spent far too much time feeling sad, crying, and not reaching out to the people who could and would make me feel better. I spent too little time with people who light me up, who listen to me, who genuinely care. I spent too much time doing what other people wanted or needed without prioritising my own self care.
And I am vowing that 2023 will not be more of the same.
So my 2023 will be defined by two key words.
Nourishing & Flourishing.
I am walking away from anything that does not nourish me. Physically, mentally, emotionally. I no longer want to consume things that do not feed my body or my soul. I want everything that comes in to make me feel awesome.
That’s not necessarily as wholesome as it sounds. A drunken night out with friends will sometimes be exactly what I need. I really enjoy gin and cocktails and pizza. Some days I will re-download the time waster game that I love onto my phone or allow myself down a YouTube or Reels hole.
But most days, I want to feel clean. I want to eat healthily. I want to move my body. I want to work and create things that help people. I want to put myself amongst people who I can learn from or work with. I want to spend time with the inspirational and the aspirational.
And I want to stop running away from true internalising. Not the internalising that sees me blaming myself for everyone else’s attitudes. But the internalising that helps me discover more of my true essence. The internalising where I stop asking questions but discover more of the answers.
And from being NOURISHED I will FLOURISH.
Because the only way I can help other people to flourish – to live their own satisfied life that they never feel a need to escape from – is by doing it myself.
I will do more of what I teach because I KNOW what I teach is good stuff. I KNOW it’s good for me and it’s good for you and if everyone did it the world would be a better place. That doesn’t mean it’s easy to do. Sometimes it’s a bit of effort. But life IS effort. When the effort stops, so does life.
And I am not ready for life to stop. Hell, I sometimes wonder if it’s really started.
So why don’t you join me? Instead of thinking about New Year’s Resolutions in terms of what you might be giving up or taking on, ask yourself one simple question:
Does it nourish me?
Because if the answer is no, it will probably punish you.
And if the answer is yes, it will flourish you.
Let’s say yes to a flourishing 2023.
