The fundamentals of alignment
We all know that change is essential and continuous. That what has worked in the past will not necessarily work every time.
And you are likely already familiar with my conviction that taking personal responsibility (where you can) is key to personal empowerment.
That’s why reflective practice is so deeply exciting and nourishing to me. We need to live an examined life and in my experience growth, healing, flow and freedom all come from taking ownership of this examination.
So, here is a useful checklist of timeless and foundational considerations for how you are showing up.
These areas all impact on each other (and everything else!) so when it comes to personal development they are worth revisiting on a regular basis:
Presence: Are you actively engaging with yourself, your world, and what is happening in the moment? Are you here? How fully?
Acceptance: Can you embrace things just as they are, and find calm and peace in acceptance, before seeking or pushing for transformation?
Systems: Do the systems you operate within align with your values and needs? In what ways do they work for you? In what ways do they need to change?
Control: Are you clear on what is within your control, what you can influence, and what you cannot?
Choice: Are you owning your choices? Your creations? Has the place you originally made choices from changed? Are there new choices to be made?
Norms: What internalised norms and assumptions are you carrying? How might they be showing up?
Genius: How can you embrace your unique strengths and talents and encourage and celebrate the same in others?
Action: Are your actions consciously designed and consistently aligned with your values, capacity, and desires?
Compassion: Are you showing care and kindness towards yourself, others, and your environment?
The Practical Bit: 30-Minutes
Grab some paper, find a quiet space, and take 30 minutes to explore these prompts:
Step 1: Reflect on 2024
1. What worked?
What supported your growth, health, career, energy, and relationships?
What are you glad you experienced?
What can you celebrate?
2. What didn’t work?
What held you back or caused misalignment?
What drained your energy or stalled your progress?
What are you ready to release as you move into 2025?
Step 2: Set a (Soft) Focus
1. What do you desire?
What moves you toward expansion, hope, or inspiration?
What has your body or heart been longing for?
2. Where can you lighten up?
How can you approach the year with playfulness and curiosity?
What areas might benefit from holding things more lightly?
3. Is it kind?
How can you weave more kindness and compassion into 2025?
What kind of community, connection, space and time will truly nourish you?
Now Choose one word, theme, or intention from your answers to steps 1 and 2, that capture what you want to prioritise in 2025. Keep it simple, meaningful and memorable.
Step 4: Align and integrate
Where dreaming is powerful, taking action is transformative.
To turn your reflections into reality:
1. Make It Sustainable: Ensure your choice of focus is realistic, compassionate, and gentle on your system. It needs to be well within your capacity to achieve bit by tiny bit, day by lovely day.
2. Create Support Systems: Nobody is an island! Use your calendar, accountability partners, supportive groups, reminders etc to stay on track. Use systems that work for you.
3. Commit: Set up a way to measure or feel the impact of your efforts. Remember these are commitments to yourself and your quality of life. Designed by you and for you. They must not feel heavy! If these actions energise you, feel fun and empowering, then you’re on the right track.
Remember, it’s okay to miss a step every now and then. The key is to not let that stop you. Keep moving forward in the direction of love and kindness toward yourself and this wonderful, complex gift of a life you have been given.
P.S. Here are three more ways you can experience my work...
1 - You can sign up here for my monthly newsletter "Practical Magic".
2 - If you use Instagram, you might like to follow me for useful quotes and inspiration.
3 - If we have a mutual connection and you would like to experience my work, ask them to introduce us via email.
I love to connect - please do leave a comment or share with someone you think this might benefit.
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