Getting Clear & Making Space
Dr. Asia Lyons
Black Educator Wellness Facilitator | Producer & Host - The Exit Interview: A Podcast for Black Educators | Keynote Speaker
"When I dare to be powerful, to use my strength in the service of my vision, it becomes less and less important whether I am afraid." -Audre Lorde
Last month I turned 37. Now, before I continue I want to let you know this is not an article about how sad I was or how time has flown by. This article is about making space. Back to what I was saying, last month I turned 37. Around the first of that month I made the decision to make space. What does that mean? I started throwing out...everything. I don't mean that I became a minimalist. Rather, I went through all of my closets, cabinets and other spaces tossing out everything that was causing more clutter than good. I opened the gigantic heap of mail that filled my fruit bowl. I even cleared out the wasteland of shampoo bottles that some folks call the cabinet under the bathroom sink. Not wanting to end my rampage at home, I began to throw out papers and other items from my desk at work. I encouraged my co-workers to do the same. We were all making space!
With making space comes the clearing of mental clutter, focusing on short and long-term goals. I went through my bank account...gulp! I looked at the money that was pouring out of our account and patched up the leaks. I took time to think about why I spent so much money and what I should be doing with my finances instead. I purchased the Calm app to help me center my thoughts (Worked great for my kid too!). All the clearing and moving left one thing left to examine...my career.
When thinking about your career do you understand your worth?
Although I have many years of experience in education, I am still not clear on what it is that I want to do next. What path should I follow? Higher ed? Curriculum developer? Balloon artist? All of the above? This part of my space making is leaving me stuck. When thinking about my career do I understand my worth? When thinking about your career do you understand your worth? The good news is that although I am unsure, I have cleared from my mental and physical space all the things that have prevented me thus far from focusing on this goal. The greatest news, I am no longer afraid to take the path(s) set before me.