Slow down to speed up

Has the festive season left you feeling like you are stuck in a whirlwind? That no matter whether you are on holidays or not you can’t seem to gather your thoughts? 

Right now you have an opportunity to set time aside to align your focus for the year ahead or to continue doing what you’re doing and end up in exactly the same spot in 12 months' time. 

No one wants to feel stuck and stopping can feel like the first step towards stagnation. However, I believe that it’s incredibly important to take some time to slow down. To slow down and find clarity, to slow down and re-evaluate your direction, to slow down and take a chance to zoom out and view the bigger picture. 

Why is this so important? 

Because once you have regained clarity you can put the pedal to the metal and blast back into your life with the energy and enthusiasm that creates long-lasting momentum. 

As you read this week’s newsletter, I invite you to grab a pen and paper, to take a moment to pause, and allow yourself these 10 minutes to slow down. 

Are you ready? 

Consider the past 12 months as a journey - What were the milestones, the challenges, the unexpected turns? Taking the time to acknowledge achievements, learn from setbacks, and recognize personal and professional growth can be transformative.

Celebration is a vital aspect of this reflection. What milestones did you achieve last year? It could be landing a significant client, completing a challenging project, or mastering a new skill. Celebrating these successes, regardless of their size, helps build confidence and motivation for the future.

Equally important is examining the challenges. What didn't go as planned? Rather than viewing setbacks as failures, see them as opportunities for learning and growth. What lessons can you extract from these experiences, and how can they inform your strategies moving forward?

Now, let's look ahead.

As the new year dawns, it's crucial to set intentions rather than resolutions. What are your overarching intentions for the coming year? What do you want to achieve personally and professionally? Setting intentions provides a broader and more flexible framework for growth.

As you embark on this reflective journey, here are five questions to guide your contemplation:

1. What were the three most significant achievements or milestones of the past year, and why are they important to you?

1. In moments of challenge or setback, what strengths or skills did you discover in yourself that you might not have recognized before?
2. What habits or practices contributed most to your productivity and well-being, and how can you enhance or carry them forward?
3. What are the top three intentions or goals you have for the upcoming year personally and professionally, and how do they align with your broader vision for your life and work?
4. As you return to work after the holiday season, how can you ensure that your first day back is intentional, stress-free, and sets a positive tone for the rest of the year?

As 2024 starts picking up again, resist the urge to rush back into the fray immediately. Instead, consider this moment as an opportunity to recalibrate. By slowing down, reflecting on your journey, and setting thoughtful intentions, you'll be better equipped to speed up with purpose and direction in the year ahead.

And if you are looking for some more inspiration a new podcast episode of Unleashing Brilliance has dropped titled - There’s always a price to the next level of success.  We’re on Spotify, Apple, and Youtube. And if you like what you hear it would mean the world to me if you could subscribe, leave a review and share.

Janine x

P.S: Do you have all the support you need to elevate your business this year? Do you feel supported by a personal board of directors who can help you make those tough decisions and hold you accountable to your goals? If not, then now is the perfect time to invest in yourself and your business and join my Elevate Mastermind group, or as I lovingly refer to it “the brains trust”. Doors are now open. Click HERE to book a call and find out how Elevate can support you in 2024.