Thriving in uncertainty
January is here, in a year that so many are hoping will be different to the last (two if we’re being honest).
Usually, I set myself a word for the year, but this year it doesn’t quite feel right.
I’m coming off the back of a fabulous week of camping with great friends and all our kiddies.
We had an amazing time, and it feels good to be starting the year refreshed, sun kissed and energised.
But I still don’t want to set myself a ‘word’.
Instead, I want to thrive in uncertainty in 2022.
What do I mean by that?
I mean that the last two years have been unpredictable, messy in places (expansive in others), but without a doubt, uncertain.
I just don’t want to wait for anything to be certain before I make decisions to go for what I want.
So instead of waiting for conditions to be perfect (always my go-to as a recovering perfectionist), I set my intention to thrive in uncertainty.
How can we thrive in uncertainty, when so much is… well… uncertain?
Try these… to get you focused on how you can thrive (even if that means simply surviving a tough year ahead).
1. Embrace a gratitude practice.
I know, I know. A lot of people talk about gratitude.
But it’s not just a ‘buzz’ word. It’s a living, breathing practice – with an emphasis on the practice part.
Have you tried it for longer than one or two days?
I challenge you to try it. Doing it in uncertain times is even more powerful than when life seems to be 100% rosy.
Be grateful for what is rather than what it isn’t. You can always find faults, so look for something wonderful instead.
If you drive a crappy car and would prefer a Porsche, don’t lament on how horrible it is to get into your crappy car every day. Perhaps try and focus on what it HAS given you instead. Is it the memories of holiday's you've taken, or road trips? Is it that it can carry a lot of stuff and help you move houses? Or, that you've recently put on new tyres, and that means it's like being in a new car.
Having a gratitude practice in any area of our life transforms the way we think, and slowly but surely, we change the lens with which we look at life. Our brain is a powerful filter – and we can control how we look at the world.
2. Make time for visualising what does allow you to thrive
I'm not saying that because life is uncertain that you shouldn't imagine an abundant life and what that means for you. Heck no.
It is always important to have vision. To have goals (any kind) and how you want to feel.
Creating a dedicated visualisation practice can help balance your dreams with being abundantly grateful for what you have right now too. Having a visualisation practice (I use a dream/vision board and I spent up to ten minutes moving from image to image, imagining my life as I’m living with that element as part of it). I make that time to look at what my dream life is going to look like.
What that means for the rest of my day is not that I am looking at my life constantly wishing it were different. That I could travel like I used to, that the world was a different place. Or noticing what I’m yet to have.
I have precious time to look at my future life so that it stays with me always, but I balance that with the reality of living in the world we have right now.
3. Notice the little things
When you visualise what your life looks and feels like, what do you see?
Your house? Your kids school? Where you holiday (when we can travel more again)?
What about the little things?
What do you smell when you walk into your garden?
What colours do you surround yourself with in your home?
Who are the special people that you want to prioritise connection with this year?
What little things can you notice and appreciate and even love about the life that you live right now?
Our life thrives in the little things too.
4. Make small changes
If you don’t feel like you’re thriving right now and you know you want things to feel differently, you can make small changes.
Incremental upgrades.
Don’t doubt how small changes can make you feel more abundant or more grateful for your life right now.
New plants for the garden?
New underwear?
New sheets for the bed?
A new notebook?
A new book, or short course about something you’ve always wanted to learn about.
What can you upgrade? What small changes can you make?
5. Make a decision – that enough really can be enough
This was a huge game changer for me. I decided that enough really was enough for me right now.
That what I had was enough for me to be happy.
To live an abundant life.
Once I decided and I accepted that the drastic changes may not come about overnight, I was more at peace with my life right now.
Don’t get me wrong.
My visualisation game is strong.
I practice every morning and I know where my life IS heading.
I will get there.
I have plans for rebuilding our home this year, launching my brand-new public speaking course, and learning more about investing in shares.
But even before those things happen, I can thrive and be happy, grateful, and present with the life that I have right now too.
So I ask you, when is your enough, enough? What is it about your life that you can appreciate, and how can that make you feel renewed about the way you live your life every day?
This is how I’m going to start my intention of thriving in uncertainty.
2022:
The year where I dive further into my gratitude practice for what I have and who I am.
The year where I allow myself to step into visualising my future life.
The year where I notice the little things that give me joy and energy.
The year where I make small, but powerful shifts and changes.
… and the year where I can do all these things AND appreciate that what I have is enough too.
I know that a lot of you want to thrive when it comes to public speaking, too. That you feel uncertain when you get up in front of one, two, ten or one hundred people.
I’m here to help you thrive when it comes to public speaking. I’ll be delivering offerings to help you transform your relationship with speaking up – forever.
I believe in you. You deserve to be seen and heard and have your ideas and magic out in the world. It’s time to speak up.