Kau mua, ka muri: “Walking backward into the future”
I love moving forward. I tend to whiz on to the next thing when one thing is over. I have to force myself to stop, take stock, and reflect with hindsight on the past to gain insights and move forward well.
So here are some personal reflections from me over the last year.
I encourage you to do the same – take stock, look back with hindsight, and draw insights from what’s been to help inform how you best travel forward into next year.
“Hindsight. It’s like foresight without a future” – Kevin Kline
My word for 2022: Peace-Permeated
I started 2022 with a word to help me frame my whole year. Having just ONE word to focus my thoughts, clarify my actions, challenge my assumptions and help me reframe situations towards this intention was gold. (In case you’re interested, my 2021 word was ‘Cultivate’ – that intentional word also profoundly impacted how I set myself up to run my own practice in its first year). Some valuable tools are available to help you find your One Word.
My one word for 2022 (well, it’s two words smooshed together!) was PEACE-PERMEATED. I set out in 2022 with a belief and intention that whatever happened, whatever circumstances we found ourselves in, I would focus on peace – trying to be permeated with it (like a sponge is to water!).
Apparently (according to those closest to me in my life), I seem calmer, more sure, and more stable this year than ever. (Really? Have you any idea of what’s going on in my head?!). I’d perhaps like to think it may have a bit to do with this word I’ve focussed on to help guide me.
This Scripture (from God’s Word!) has helped ground me with the word ‘peace-permeated’.
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7)
For each month during 2022, I chose a ‘sub-theme’ word.
To help drive my intentions towards becoming ‘peace-permeated,’ I decided on a new ‘sub-theme’ word before the start of each month to help tune my senses and focus for the following month (depending, on foresight, on what was likely in store for that month!)
Being a ridiculous over-planner (aka control freak), I tend to like planning my rhythms for the year – see this screenshot below of what’s up on my wall!
Switch off (January)
January was all about switching off. My mind tends to be ‘switched on’ constantly, so it takes me some time and space to learn how to let it settle a bit. I took some deliberate steps to ensure January was spent with less technology, less work, and more ‘being present’ quality time with our kids and family doing memorable adventures together. It was a magical month – lots of sand, sun, camping, and precious memory bank capturing as a family.
Learning how to switch off is quite an art – I guess it comes easier for some, but we find it hard for others.
Space-conscious (February):
This word helped ensure I was intentional and conscious with what I was committing to, not just saying ‘yes’ to everything. I wanted to ensure I was taking on work I had a realistic capacity to follow through with. From delivering coaching and workshops for the kinds of clients I knew I could have a positive impact with, and having the energy to deliver while being in my best form.
It meant saying ‘no’ to some stuff, but I gradually grew ok with that – both from a ‘people-pleasing’ perspective and an income-generating perspective. (I’ve always been someone who has tended to jump to ‘yes’ before properly thinking things through!).
I was deliberately intentional with how I paced my weeks – Tues/Wed/Thurs for delivery days and book-ending the week with WFH days on Mondays/Fridays, designed to help me create the space I needed so that my clients would get the best of me.
Pace-intentional (March)
Yah, this sounds a bit like ‘space-conscious,’ doesn’t it?! But I needed a word to create deeper habits for my intended ‘peace-permeated’ state! It’s all very well rolling off a summer holiday, creating great habits at the beginning of the year but then not sticking to them as your normal bad habits creep in. So my March theme, ‘pace-intentional,’ was about being intentional with how I ran – sometimes fast and sprint-like (with an intentional ‘break’ factored in’), and other times at a more steady-burn pace.
For each month during 2022, I chose a ‘sub-theme’ word.
To help drive my intentions towards becoming ‘peace-permeated,’ I decided on a new ‘sub-theme’ word before the start of each month to help tune my senses and focus for the following month (depending, on foresight, on what was likely in store for that month!)
Being a ridiculous over-planner (aka control freak), I tend to like planning my rhythms for the year – see this screenshot below of what’s up on my wall!
Switch off (January)
January was all about switching off. My mind tends to be ‘switched on’ constantly, so it takes me some time and space to learn how to let it settle a bit. I took some deliberate steps to ensure January was spent with less technology, less work, and more ‘being present’ quality time with our kids and family doing memorable adventures together. It was a magical month – lots of sand, sun, camping, and precious memory bank capturing as a family.
Learning how to switch off is quite an art – I guess it comes easier for some, but we find it hard for others.
Space-conscious (February):
This word helped ensure I was intentional and conscious with what I was committing to, not just saying ‘yes’ to everything. I wanted to ensure I was taking on work I had a realistic capacity to follow through with. From delivering coaching and workshops for the kinds of clients I knew I could have a positive impact with, and having the energy to deliver while being in my best form.
It meant saying ‘no’ to some stuff, but I gradually grew ok with that – both from a ‘people-pleasing’ perspective and an income-generating perspective. (I’ve always been someone who has tended to jump to ‘yes’ before properly thinking things through!).
I was deliberately intentional with how I paced my weeks – Tues/Wed/Thurs for delivery days and book-ending the week with WFH days on Mondays/Fridays, designed to help me create the space I needed so that my clients would get the best of me.
Pace-intentional (March)
Yah, this sounds a bit like ‘space-conscious,’ doesn’t it?! But I needed a word to create deeper habits for my intended ‘peace-permeated’ state! It’s all very well rolling off a summer holiday, creating great habits at the beginning of the year but then not sticking to them as your normal bad habits creep in. So my March theme, ‘pace-intentional,’ was about being intentional with how I ran – sometimes fast and sprint-like (with an intentional ‘break’ factored in’), and other times at a more steady-burn pace.
Focussed (April)
I had a lot of different client activities in April. I kept focused on “what’s my ONE thing today?” which helped me frame a ‘frenetic’ mindset into a calmer one. I met a lot of new people and clients in April, and this word helped me create an intention to be present at the moment with each new person I came across.
Hopeful (May):
I believe being full of hope is exactly what living peace-permeated is all about. There’s heaps of uncertainty in the world around us, hurt, wars, conflict, suffering, etc. How might I play a small, minuscule part in how I live my life to help instill hope for others in the circles of people and situations I find myself in, maybe in 1:1 coaching sessions or team gatherings I was part of?
I noticed the ongoing pressure, especially for those in the public service, to deliver and then provide some more consistently – no light at the end of the tunnel in sight. Issues and policy problems are becoming more complex and interwoven; work deliverables kept getting added on (not prioritised out), and this pressure didn’t appear to be easing off any time soon. I noticed I was coming across many people who were already feeling quite ‘worn-out’ (“and it’s only May, I feel like we should be in December already!”). People were stretched, capacity was low, and sickness was high. Hope was needed and still is.
Recovery (June)
This is because I got Covid towards the end of May, and all my friends and contacts were nagging me to rest, rest, rest. I’d heard all about long Covid, and as I’m not very good at relaxing, I took this seriously and made my theme for June about ‘recovery.’ I needed it.
Gatherings (July)
There were many gatherings in July – team workshops and family gatherings. It was a month to focus on being a part of these gatherings, with all their different purposes and people involved.
Preparation (August)
I had a big month coming up in September (taking three weeks off in total), so August was all about preparing for this well (so I could enjoy those three weeks off!). August was also the month we decided as a family to move overseas for next year!
Connections (September)
A month of precious family connections and enjoying the sacred moments in the power of these connections.
October (Re-set)
Because when you’ve been away for two weeks on a solo trip across the world, leaving the family at home, there’s a lot of ‘re-setting’ that needs to happen to calibrate back into the rhythm of ‘normal’ life (not that there is such a thing as ‘normal’!)
Compassion (November)
They often say self-awareness is the key to self-mastery. Well, I think self-compassion is the pathway to outward kindness. The more compassionate I can be to myself, the kinder I can be to others. That’s a perfect thing to aim for, I think.
Balance (December)
Given that we’re only at the start of December, I’ve picked the word ‘balance’. We have a lot going on as a family, and we’re organising an international move, leaving in January next year. There are lots of logistics and admin to arrange amidst a heap of excitement and dreaming.
Feeling ‘balanced’ will help me be present and well-fuelled by the end of this year.
To celebrate Christmas with family, I feel like I’ve completed any outstanding commitments to clients, knowing that next year will be completely different, a new adventure, a new rhythm of life. Eeek! It’s nervo-citing all at the same time!
Thankful – I’m so grateful for all the incredible clients I’ve got to work with this year. Thank you for having me as your coach, facilitator, or consultancy ‘gap-filler’ on the side!