I could write a list of a thousand lessons learned, but this is the top one:
#1. The Timing Is Perfect.
I had planned to devote the first quarter of 2016 to finishing and editing Living Life on Purpose. I had planned for it to be available on Amazon shortly after. It is now the middle of August 2016, nearing the final quarter of the year, and the book is just now in the final production stage. It will be available in a few short weeks. (Be the first to know.)
Why has it taken so much longer than expected?
Because I wanted this book to be the best possible version of itself that it could be. Thankfully, I also had Alison, my brilliant editor, who believed in the project as much as I did and agreed that it wasn’t done until it was done.
This book is a huge part of my heart and the cornerstone of my teaching. It is the book I wish I had years ago. It is the message that I want to shout from the roof tops and spread throughout the world so that hopefully the girl that is out in the world somewhere feeling inspired but lost, passionate but silenced, hopeful but helpless, better than before but still not thriving, and alone but ready for connection can read my story and the teachings I have to share and feel connected and empowered.
I refuse to short change the potential readers and I refuse to short change myself. Every time I hit a stone while digging into my story Allison refused to let me stop. She knew that the stone was likely a boulder, but she also knew that the lessons laying buried underneath were vital for the book and the reader.
So, I allowed this book to take as long as it needed to to become exactly what it is supposed to be. It wasn’t fair to try to assign a timeline to it.
This approach of letting go of the timeline and allowing the project to flow in its own time was not something that I was used to doing.
I come from a dance and theatre background where the timeline is very important and as cliche as it is to say, the show must go on. I danced on sprained ankles or tweaked knees countless times because there simply wasn’t time to wait for proper healing.
My tendency to push ahead and “make things happen” has seemingly served me well in many ways, but if I am really honest with myself the times that I have succeed the most and felt the most free in my life are the times in which I let life flow.
I’ve decided to take this lesson and let it color the way I conduct myself and my business going forward. No more pushing. Much more flowing.
I am really excited to ride this wave, it feels like a great adventure already.
Now, I am really curious.
How does pushing show up in your life and where are you wanting more flow and ease?
What action can you take today to step more in to the flow?
Leave a comment below and let me know! I’d love to get a beautiful conversation happening on the blog. Perhaps it could start with you.
If you enjoyed this essay, and have a friend who could benefit from reading it, I would be so grateful if you shared it. (To do so share via the icons on the left side of the blog.)
As always, much love.
Katie
Comments
In my first 30 years, I was a “frequent flow-er.” I’d always look for the flow and go with it. I was relaxed about everything and just let things happen (even college and early career). Then real life hit – big job, marriage, mortgage, kids, etc.
For my middle 30 years I began planning and pushing my plans through – come hell or high water. Somehow, I believed if I didn’t push, we wouldn’t get anywhere (notice the “we”). I thought my spouse, kids, co-workers all needed me to come through for THEM. (I think that is called being narcissistic and creating co-dependent relationships – yikes!)
Now I’m entering the last 30 years of my life. A wonderful woman told me to “allow.” I am learning that means to be at peace with what is going on – in my life, with others, with the world – and know that God has got it all. The Universe is good. Instead of judging or reacting to the chaos and fear around me, I just allow it to be and look for what is good, beautiful, loving, kind. It sounds like a head-in-the-sand way to live, but it has proved to be a more powerful way to live than pushing the river. Peace and love do move mountains.
I love this so much Mary. Thank you for sharing these words and your beautiful self with the world. Much love!