Give yourself permission…

As we head into the final quarter of this unpredictable year, I came across these words from Neil Gaiman. It was a New Year’s message but I find it fitting to slip it in here and let it serve as an invitation to reflect on how we’re showing up for ourselves as we move forward towards the last months of the year.

A reminder to give yourself (and myself) permission to go easy on ourselves.

And for this year, my wish for each of us is small and very simple.

And it’s this.

I hope that in this year to come, you make mistakes.

Because if you are making mistakes, then you are making new things, trying new things, learning, living, pushing yourself, changing yourself, changing your world. You’re doing things you’ve never done before, and more importantly, you’re Doing Something.

So that’s my wish for you, and all of us, and my wish for myself. Make New Mistakes. Make glorious, amazing mistakes. Make mistakes nobody’s ever made before. Don’t freeze, don’t stop, don’t worry that it isn’t good enough, or it isn’t perfect, whatever it is: art, or love, or work or family or life.

Whatever it is you’re scared of doing, Do it.

Make your mistakes, next year and forever.

I hope this brings you a sense of relief.

It’s tempting to look back to the beginning of the year and think we’ve accomplished little that we set out to do.

Or we struggle with unrealistic expectations that we have not reached our targets or goals and somehow forget that the pandemic was thrown in the mix.

But that does not mean that we have not succeeded.

I recall my first blog to you at the beginning of this year. Here’s a snippet:

This new beginning is an invitation to take back control of what matters most to you, it calls for intention and self-compassion.

My wish for you this year and decade is to realize that your potential is limitless. Start by working from the inside out

I went on to share:

2020 is mapping out to be a year of travel and adventure for my family. My husband is planning his bucket list hike across the Pacific Crest Trail from Mexico to Canada in May (remember Cheryl Strayed and Wild?), it should take him 4 ½- 5 months.

My youngest son will finish his Matura this year and then travel around Australia for 3 ½ months.

When you read this I’ll have arrived in Budapest for a 5-day intensive workshop as I embark on a 6-month professional training program with two more workshops scheduled in southern Portugal.

Well, I made it to Budapest in January…

And the rest? As your own hopes and plans may have been dashed this year, how are you responding?

• What unexpected opportunities presented themselves?
• What were you able to do that you thought you couldn’t?
• What did COVID-19 ask of you?

Dig a little deeper and what comes up for you?

In my case, I faced my resistance and shyness towards the camera and filmed a free 3-part video series for you on yoga and self-care.

I learnt new tech skills, set up a mini film studio in our dining room and streamlined yoga classes.

I taught online yoga for an international corporate event.

I travelled for a week this summer setting out to find inspiration. I found it in Tuscany.

I have been invited to teach retreats Thailand and Tuscany next year. And, discovered a hidden gem in Blausee for our newest Yoga and Self-Care Retreat.

The Integral Facilitation program was cancelled. With the help of the faculty and our cohort of visionary leaders, facilitators and coaches around the world, against all odds we brought it back online.

The list goes on.

If you look back, maybe you have not yet achieved your New Year’s goals but instead achieved the unexpected. It could be something personal. Something professional. Something physical or spiritual.  Something that maybe wasn’t perfect, but made a difference. Something that may not mean much to the world, but means the world to you.

Share your unexpected achievements with me and I’ll celebrate with you.

Give yourself permission to make mistakes. You are trying. You are changing. You are living. You are moving forward.

You are not getting stuck. You are in the thick of it and you will find a way.

Give yourself permission to be imperfect.

Karen x