Are you spinning?

When 2021 started, my first reaction was, “ah, we finally made it out of 2020. This year is going to be better.”

On the heels was another thought. “Oh no. It’s going to be more of the same for a lot longer.” I felt a sinking feeling in my stomach that lasted for upwards of the first week.

The new year is a time that you might naturally be self-reflective. Add a never-ending quarantine and recent violence at the capital, and this might have ignited a downward spiraling existential crisis. What am I doing with my life?

If this sometimes describes you, you are in good company. I have found myself here more than once already in 2021, along with several of my clients, friends, and family.

There is a way out. It’s time for a difficult conversation with yourself. But how?

Through journaling.

Journaling is like talking to yourself. It helps you find clarity in your thoughts, and evidence shows that just two minutes of journaling over two days improves mood.

So what do you journal on?

The first question you might try is, “why work?” If your immediate gut reaction is, “well, because I have to,” then turn up your curiosity. You could save up for a plane ticket, move halfway across the world, and live in a monastery for as long as you want without working another day in your life. But you don’t. So why do you work? What role does work play in your life?

The second question is, “what does money have to do with it?” Money is different for everyone. Some people need money to pay off debt. This is a real need. Others feel like they need it to maintain their current lifestyle or to pay for their kids to go to a prestigious college. This is more of a want. It’s okay to want a certain lifestyle. The invitation here is to be explicit about what you want and why. What role does money play for you?

These are difficult questions. The goal of journaling is to not have answers when you start. The goal is to just start writing and see what comes up. You might be surprised that some clarity emerges.

I would love to explore these questions more with you. If you would benefit from that, grab time with me at andrewwien.com/grab30