This Season is For Believing

We are currently living in the most magical time of the year. The time when cheer and glee is all around, including endless sweets and a lot of ho-ho-ho’s. Joy and happiness is graciously spreading in the air. To be honest, December is my favorite time of the year because it contains my birthday, Christmas, and New Year’s Eve. So I get pretty amped up during this time of year and I love every minute of it. But I have a secret. December is the time that I get to relax, reminisce, and rejuvenate from the previous months. Don’t get me wrong, this does not mean that I work myself to the bone during these previous months because I believe in rest and recharging. This is how I keep my emotions balanced, along with other coping skills. But for me,  it does mean that December is for believing in the most enchanted possibilities. You see, I never wait until January to make meaningful plans. Oh, I enjoy making new year’s resolutions like the next person but mainly in theory and tradition. Setting myself up for success in the new year takes preparation, planning, and guts! I prepare and plan for what I know to do with the resources that I can access on my own. But there is a secret ingredient that can’t be seen, smelled, or touched and it is called believing. Believing in myself, believing in my skills, and believing that I have something valuable to give to the world. Sometimes on the preparation and planning journey we may get hit with some unexpected twists and turns. This may lead to discouragement and disappointment and you will need something to help you get past this hump. This “something” is you. If you do not believe in yourself, your product, or your team no one else will. Now, I don't believe in having your head in the clouds. Meaning, it's ok to acknowledge the setbacks and disappointments. In fact, I recommend it. But I also recommend finding that reset button and not sinking deeper and deeper into the abyss. Believing can be the secret ingredient to what aids you in the problem solving process, increases creativity and imagination, or promotes out of-the-box thinking. Sometimes believing can be hard at first because you can’t see it, and neither can other people. Not seeing tangible objects or quick results can lead to fear and self-criticism if you are not carefully paying attention to your thoughts. Or even worse, other people will start to criticize and that can feel heavy. So what is believing?  In essence, believing is something you can feel, something you can think, and something that is in your heart that will motivate you to keep going. And I want to motivate you to keep going! Keep working on your goals and keep believing in yourself. So this season, hit that reset button, take time to rest, and enjoy the holidays. Allow this time of year to stimulate your hope, inspiration, and determination. It all starts with believing in yourself. Be open to change and learning new things. Get ready to step out of your comfort zone, take action, and believe in the enchanted. Afterall, this is the most magical time of the year.

*Article was originally published in “Becoming an Unstoppable Women, December 2023