A few weeks ago I made a hard, hard decision… the decision to pause The Living Journal®️ as a daily post subscription, stop taking payments from my subscribers, and revert to just putting out a free weekly post while I did some thinking about the best way forward.
Hard - not because of the loss of revenue, but because it meant letting go of a concept I love - easy access to improved mental wellbeing and mindset shifts; and it meant putting a stop to a service that I know has made a significant difference in the lives of quite a number of my subscribers; and letting people down.
There was also, I have to admit, a little part of me that really didn't want to let go and be seen as someone who chases rainbows and bright ideas but doesn't follow them through; that part of me that was trained to always finish what you start and do the things you say you're going to do.
I actually really like that part and I'm glad she spoke up - I think we should honour our promises and show up for our commitments. I also believe that one of the key ingredients in the ‘soup’ of success is to keep on showing up for what you believe in, keep going relentlessly even when things feel challenging or slow, and stay consistent - which I definitely wasn't doing by putting this thing on pause again.
But I also know that you've got to be objective and realistic - and you've got to listen to your heart when, deep down, it's telling you it's time for a rethink.
You've got to know when it's time to let go.
And it's very easy for that knowing to become clouded by all those emotional arguments - not wanting to disappoint; not wanting to be perceived a certain way - not wanting to sit in the ‘shame’ of failure and non-completion.
That can be a powerful cocktail; I've known it to keep many a brilliant and conscientious person overloaded and overwhelmed, doing things they lost the love for long ago just to avoid that shame they fear so much.
But shame and failure are just options… they're not spaces we’re obliged to occupy… and they certainly don't do anyone any favours, if they keep us stuck in places that no longer feel aligned or rewarding.
So I had a little word with that part of me, let her know that it was ok to let things go, and that this didn't mean failure…
… it meant learning and progress.
And it didn't mean letting people down - because it would allow me to focus on serving them better in the long-run.
Because by letting go, I would have clear headspace to really work out what was right for my subscribers within the bigger picture of my new brand and business - and fill in some of the gaps in The Living Journal®️ journey that I KNOW need to be filled to make it really, really powerful.
It would also give me chance to reflect on what would really work for me in terms of capacity, time and energy to do it justice - and to be objective and decisive, rather than having “the way things are currently done” clouding my vision.
Because the best bit of all about letting go, is that when we do - it sends a powerful message to our subconscious.
We're ready for better.
We're open to new ways of seeing things.
We're available for more.
And because our mind is no longer occupied with trying to juggle and fix something that's slightly sticky…
… all of a sudden, there's more space available for thinking forward. Finding solutions. Processing pathways that take us to the way we'd LIKE things to be.
And it's taken a little while…
… but this week, those answers dropped in for me.
I can SEE how this is going to be.
And I'm SO excited to share it with you. Soon.
But for today, I hope that's given you some food for thought.
🖋️✨ Where are you hanging on to things at the moment, because you feel you should?
🖋️✨ What's your mind telling you about why you can't let go?
🖋️✨ And what might you make space for, if you did?
Let me know your thoughts
A x
Where are you hanging on to things at the moment, because you feel you should?
Trying to start new services/products in my main area of interest!
🖋️✨ What's your mind telling you about why you can't let go? Because I'd be 'selling out' on my own promises to myself.
🖋️✨ And what might you make space for, if you did?
Really, for building relationships more slowly (to make the success of the new services is more likely), and to focus on moving house ... Which will need a lot of energy!