Find Your Brave: 7 Life-Changing Lessons to Transform Your Year Ahead! ?

As Santa ?? gears up for his big night, I find myself amidst the familiar whirl of holiday preparations and last-minute gift wrapping. It's a yearly ritual: I vow to be more organized, yet the eleventh-hour scramble is inevitable. But here’s a twist in my tale: I’m learning to embrace this last-minute nature as part of my unique journey. It's become a new, unexpected source of holiday joy.

In our quest to become 'better,' it's crucial to remember that we are all evolving. This festive season, let's shift our focus from what we haven't achieved, to instead celebrating our progress and resilience.

Flying to Calgary yesterday to join my family for Christmas, I reflected on the year gone by. Instead of dwelling on what I wanted to change, I chose to first take a moment to acknowledge my experiences, achievements, and the obstacles I navigated.

Let me share with you, my fellow brave leaders, the lessons that have enriched my journey: ??

1. Life's Short, But Don't Rush: Striking a balance between seizing the moment and enjoying the ride is vital. I've learned that patience is not just a virtue; it's a strategy for a fulfilling life. Success is about the long game.
2. Control What You Can: We often fixate on the negatives, but true empowerment lies in focusing on aspects within our control. It’s about making the most of our capabilities and circumstances.
3. Value Your Relationships: The joy and resilience I found this year were largely thanks to the incredible people around me. I really do believe the quality of your life is determined by the quality of your relationships; nurturing them is essential.
4. Shine A Light On Shame: Sharing my personal struggles, especially my diagnosis this fall, was challenging yet freeing. Openness is a powerful antidote to shame.
5. Find Resilience In Adversity. Every challenge is an opportunity for growth, often in unexpected ways. It's going to be okay; you're going to be okay. Remember, there are always better days ahead.
6. Choose YOU: It's rewarding to make others happy, but not at the cost of your well-being. These past months have taught me the importance of self-prioritization. Stand up for yourself – you're worth it.
7. Embrace Your Authentic Self: This year, I’ve embraced my true self more than ever. It's been a journey of liberation and discovery... and I'm still on it! But I honestly think the bravest thing you can do, is to be brave enough to be you.

As we prepare to wrap up this year, I invite – even urge you – to reflect:

• What were your major learnings?
• How did you grow and adapt?
• What were your proudest achievements?

I'm eager to hear your stories and insights. Share your reflections in the comments below, and let's celebrate all that was – and that that wasn't – together.

Stay tuned for next week's edition, where I'll share my personal rituals to close the year with purpose, and step into the new one with an even braver vision.

Wishing you a season filled with merry and love and fun and joy... all the things.

I hope you have a fabulous holiday! ??

Stay brave, Carol