Happy Monday Reader!

Last week I attended the monthly edition of one of my favorite local events: Cookies & Creatives.

In the words of founder Torey, she created a space to be like kindergarten: we color and chat because it's fun and calming, and the person you sit next to briefly becomes your new bestie.

Typically we are a small intimate group--usually 4-6 people--including the presenter(s) of the month. I find it really restorative and nicknamed it "entrepreneur therapy".

Last week's speakers were co-founders of an organization business named Authentic Living Co. They handed out a few affirmations themed around cleaning & decluttering your space, and one of them immediately jumped out at me for us this week!

"I welcome new energy into my life as I clear out the old."

Obviously this mindset can help you declutter and let go of objects around your house you no longer need or want.

But today I wanted to expand upon this as it relates to our limited time, energy & mental space!

(And yes, I'm sure it also felt particularly relevant to me due to the relationship upheaval I explained last time.)

One of the topics I always discuss with 1-1 coaching clients is: what people or obligations in your life are draining or just kept out of a sense of duty?

Maybe you have a friend who does nothing but complain every time you talk, and you always leave the convo feeling grumpy & cynical.

Or maybe you signed up for a volunteer gig or group a while back that was fun for a while...but now you resent every time it shows up on your calendar.

That is what happened to me with Sweet Adelines a few years ago.

I love to sing, and in college I discovered I love a cappella & barbershop harmony. One of the only non-professional, a cappella adult singing groups is Sweet Adelines, so I started going to their weekly rehearsals & soon joined as a full member.

At first it was great--meeting new people! Learning a ton of new songs! Singing regularly & getting my vocal skills back into shape!

But like many volunteer organizations, there was always a need for people to do more, more, MORE.

And I hadn't honed my boundaries or skill at saying no quite yet, and so I agreed to take on some extra work for the group.

Which turned into more requests for my time & talent, which I felt guilty saying no to...and I'm sure you see where this is going!

I totally burned myself out.

I started feeling annoyed whenever I had to go to rehearsal. I dreaded extra meetings and activities. I resented all the extra costs that came with a competition chorus.

I spent a lot of time and energy bitching about the group. Being frustrated with all its demands. Skipping more rehearsals than ever before, trying to reclaim my time and energy.

And eventually I realized: I was doing nobody any favors by begrudgingly sticking around. I needed a break. A reset.

So I finally worked up the courage to leave active membership.

It was hard and scary telling people I was quitting. But there was no denying the relief I felt about getting 3 or more hours a week back.

So take stock this week of the people and obligations in your life. Identify one or two relationships that need to change in order for you to live your best, most authentic, joyous life.

And help yourself feel confident clearing space in your life & on your calendar by repeating 21x/day this week:

"I welcome new energy into my life as I clear out the old."

❤️

As always, affirmations work best when you truly believe them. They need to resonate with you and feel achievable. So feel free to modify any I suggest, or develop entirely new ones!

Say them as long as you want. I'm sharing a new affirmation each week, but that doesn't mean you have to switch it up each week unless it feels right. You can add new ones as often as you want and have as many as you want. You can say a different affirmation every day, or at different times of the day. You choose!

I'd love to hear the impact it has! (But if you decide affirmations are not for you, click here to be removed from this weekly email.)

I hope this affirmation sets you up for a kick ass week and I'll see you next Monday for a new one to try!

Ready to make time for great things in 2024? I have 1-1 coaching spots available to teach you how to put your limited time, energy, & attention to the work that moves the needle in just 1 hour a week. Hit reply or pick a time on my calendar here to learn more.

I always have time for you. ❤️

-- Jen