Acknowledging Your Journey

Happy New Year! The last time I wrote, I shared my frustration about not prioritizing my creative pursuits in 2024. That’s changing in 2025.

2024 was full of lessons, but the most important one was this: I need to live in my authentic truth.

Lessons in 2024:

Here’s part of my truth:

• I get overwhelmed easily, which affects my consistency.

• Overwhelm leads to procrastination.

• Procrastination makes me feel unworthy.

  
  

I had to do a lot of work in 2024 to gain a better understanding and perspective of where some of these emotions I shared were coming from so I could enter 2025 feeling confident.

Another part of my truth was that this time last year, I lacked confidence. I didn't know what I was doing for the most part of last year, and I let life guide me where it was supposed to take me. I had an amazing time, but it wasn't until the tail end of the year that I could get answers to questions I had been asking myself all year. And I realized that was partly because of the story I thought I was supposed to be following.

This reminded me that the most powerful lesson you can learn is that you are the author of your own story. While you can't control everything that happens to you, you have complete control over how you react. And that distinction is everything.

As I've reflected on my own growth journey, I've often caught myself comparing my place in life to others or clinging to an idealized version of myself that felt impossible to reach. And when I finally got close to that vision? I'd feel lost.

So, I started asking a new question: What do I think of myself? The stories we tell ourselves—and the ones others tell us about who we're supposed to be—profoundly impact our lives. The real question is: Who controls your story—you or others?

Understanding Your Story:

When it comes to control, I see it in three parts:

• Elements of no control: This includes external factors like the economy, illness, or time.

• Things that we're somewhat in control of: Actions you can take, like managing your spending, maintaining your health, or seeking opportunities.

• Parts we have complete control over: Such as your reactions to life's events, the thoughts and messages you tell yourself, and the habits you cultivate and the relationships you nurture.

  
  

Once you realize the parts you have control over versus the parts that do not control your story, it becomes easier to identify patterns in your behavior to life's events. Because as we all know, life will keep life-ing (no matter what).

In order for you to gain control over your narrative, there are three ways you need to be radically honest with yourself on:

• Reflecting on Your Journey

• Understanding How Your Experiences Have Shaped You

• Identifying the Beliefs or Stories You've Internalized

From here, it's up to you to

• Reflect: Take stock of your story so far.

• Reframe: Identify where you can reclaim control, even in small ways.

• Act: Implement habits that support the person you want to become.

Rewriting Your Narrative

To help you gain clarity, I created a two-part worksheet designed to:

1. Reflect on your journey.

2. Reframe your perspective.

3. Act with purpose.

Find it here or in the Resources tab of my blog.

Closing Thoughts

I'll leave you with this: Your thoughts about yourself shape your reality. Acknowledging your journey and taking ownership of your narrative allows you to shift from being a passive observer to the empowered author of your life.

So, as you reflect on your story, remember that the power lies in how you choose to tell it.

You've got this.