Leadership Development Newsletter Week Seven

Happy Sunday evening!

What a beautiful Sunday we had. The sun was shining, and the birds were chirping. I could not have asked for a more beautiful day!

Last week, we talked about taking a pause and doing some reflective thinking.

We are going to focus this week on how far you have come.

Are you like me with those endless to do lists? Are you feeling defeated, unsuccessful, or even frustrated because you can never complete those lists?

What if you are setting your expectations too high for what you can accomplish in the time that you set aside for your To Do list?

What if life got in the way in an unexpected manner and you are not providing the grace and the space to deal with the emotions that came with that unexpected manner?

What if you just took a pause and celebrated what you have done?

In today’s life of the hustle and bustle, we often only focus on what we haven’t completed. We focus on where we have not been. We focus on not meeting our expectations and beliefs of where we thought we would be at this stage of our life.

Instead, I want you to focus on what you have overcome and celebrate how far you have come! Many of the things that you have overcome cannot be measured on your To Do List.

Let’s celebrate the fact that you were scared to death to drive through Chicago by yourself. Let’s celebrate that you took the risk and jumped in the car, stepped into the fear, and drove through Chicago anyways. Let’s celebrate that you did this because you wanted to attend that retreat that you knew would change your life.

Let’s celebrate that you decided to vote on you. Let’s celebrate that you said No to that event that didn’t make your heart sing. Let’s celebrate that you choose to not attend that work event because you knew that it would be toxic and would take you down a spiral that would question your belief in yourself.

Let’s celebrate that you took the time to reflect back on your life. Let’s celebrate that you recognized that you overcame that fear of heights. Let’s celebrate that you choose to walk that suspended bridge high about the ground. Let’s celebrate that you choose to take the step off that platform and zipline across the lake even when fear had you almost throwing up. Let’s celebrate that smile on your face when you made it to the other side.

Life is meant to be celebrated; however, we choose to focus on where we have not been instead of where we have come from. Life has taught us to not look in the rearview mirror because the front shield has a wider view and is focusing on our future and where we want to go.

However, looking back to see how far you have come can be so rewarding even if it is not where you thought that you would be at this point.

I challenge you this week to take a look at that rearview mirror and look how far you have come. I challenge you to write down at least 5 things that you have overcome. I really challenge you to come up with 50 things that you have overcome.

Lastly, I would challenge you to celebrate one with me. I would really love to celebrate with you!

Let’s go into this week celebrating rather than dwelling on what we haven’t done or the endless list that is on our To Do List for this week. I would love for you to pause and recognize how you feel going into Monday when you choose celebration over to do’s.

Have a blessed week.

Your Guide,

Michele Coy