2023 was for Creating
Every January I choose a word for my vision board, then set intentions based on that word for the kind of year I want to have. For 2023, I choose Create. I wanted to create a life I was happy living, create connections, create strong relationships, create opportunities and create memories. Create is a verb, which meant I had to take action to achieve my goals. I have a love-hate relationship with goals because they create expectations and can overlook incremental progress. After a few years of healing, resting and connecting to my authentic self this was a shift in energy to start moving forward again in creating clear goals.
Productivity does not determine your value as a person, while I know this to be true, I struggle with it. I've been called a work-a-holic, or that I don't have a work/life balance and felt pressured to set more goals outside of work. When I chose Create as my word this year I immediately started creating business goals, and expanding the practice… I froze and questioned myself. Then my therapist did what all great therapists do and saw me so clearly, she said “For you, productivity is creating, whether you are producing art, content or work, you are creating something.” This statement released the pressure of external expectations and allowed me to lean into creating the work-life balance that fits me.
When we are in our day to day lives it can feel like not much is changing and while we can slowly see progress, it can be clouded by all the ups, downs and side quests. One of my favorite things as a therapist is to reflect back to a client where they were 6-12 months ago in comparison to where they are now. Is easier to see how much has changed from a distance than from week to week. Which is one reason I love the end of the year, I get to look back on the year, and years before and see where I’ve journeyed. What was created? What expectations do I want to carry over to next and what will I leave behind?
This year at Equilibrium Counseling Services:
Our team grew as we welcomed two new therapists (Mason and Kylie) and an Executive Function Coach (Sachi)
We started offering Full Moon Sound Baths
Received our second Grant from the City of Rancho Cucamonga to fund our Summer Mindfulness Paint Nights
Attended our First Pride Event
Started Offering ADHD and Autism Assessments
Launched my first course on Becoming a Neurodivergent Affirming Therapist
Solidified our systems and processes to continue expanding
Ralph Waldo Emerson once said “Life is a journey, not a destination” So often goals are binary –you achieve it or you don’t. But that leaves out all the steps you take along the way. There were many things that we started this year that have not fully formed and many lessons learned. Sometimes a goal is months or years in the making. I choose to celebrate each step while continuing to move toward a bigger goal, even when the accomplishment is small, like writing the outline of the blog you’ve been procrastinating on, why not acknowledge it?
What will your word be for 2024?
Join us January 5th, 2024 for our 4th Annual Vision Board Party!