This year my word is OPTIMISM sprinkled through and through with EXPLORATION and ENGAGEMENT – looking forward to Soaring in 2024.
I spent the “In Between” holiday time this year in contemplation, looking back, dreaming forward, and in those now moments when I am silent enough to “listen” to the voice of my own inner wisdom, taking notes.
There is always the flip side for that optimistic time, when I am tired, sad, frustrated, alone – when the other voice takes control and whispers all those coulda’s, shoulda’s, and woulda’s in my ear. This year I decided to befriend the shoulda’s, make use of the coulda’s, and just plain let go of the woulda’s.
When you spend a lot of time reflecting on an entire year, if you are not careful, these downer “good enemies” will sneak into the recesses of your ears and whisper louder than the perpetual ringing that has come to be a part of my hearing mind.
This year, I got caught up in that game –
- I should’ve been more persistent…
- I could’ve gotten more done if I had …
- I would’ve seen that coming if only I …
I looked back at 2023, pushing aside those pesky voices, I choose to change perspective (pivoting my point of view), I begin to give myself credit for what I did do as opposed to what I coulda, shoulda, or woulda done if I had…
What I came to realize is that I have finished two and a half years of weekly Friday Food for Thoughts – all original in content and graphics (sometimes with a little or a lot of help from Canva added to my own photos or theirs).
I can vividly remember when I wondered if I could do it for a month, then three, then a year? Gratitude in heaps to Donna Kozik who encouraged me to start, pushed me to keep going, and cheers me on as the weeks get published. Passing that two-year mark in December was wonderful. Then Shoulda showed up and I wondered if I should continue. Coulda chimed in with Woulda and posed another question along with their buddy Doubt…and what I was doing it for or whom?
Turns out I am writing it all for me, from me, to me, and I am just blessed to have a circle of readers who sometimes find a morsel in the stories that fed them for a moment.
On many occasions it would be in the wee hours of Thursday mornings when I could finally finish, fighting off the urge to just go back into 2021 or 22 and reprint something (who would know, right?) “Me,” chimed in the voice of Inner Wisdom, “that’s who!”
I read somewhere that, “great content comes from inspiration,” and I thought duhhhhh… but then I listened to the rest of the sentence as John finished with…” which I think comes when your heart and soul bump up against each other…”
Wow, I thought, how perfect does that say it?
And in those wee hours, it has just taken that long, that week, for me to find the stillness necessary for my heart and soul to catch up and bump into each other.
Writing every week, even if it is just that one piece, keeps my inspiration and creativity well oiled and ready for more.
As I look back, I published my third book, Wisdom and Wit. This is a fun little life book of information, inspiration, affirmations, and journaling options. Hopefully it will feed you some food for thought as you make your way through 2024.
And then those good enemies sneak back in and pound on my ear drums with what about, why… “you shoulda just put your nose to the grindstone and you coulda finished The Art of if you woulda just stuck to it.”
So very true, but then I remind myself that it took four years for Get Off the Shelf to make its way into the world.
What do you do when Shoulda, Woulda, Coulda’s come knocking at your door?
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6 Ways Your Life Can Change When You Adopt an Optimistic Attitude
Vicki Dobbs is a bold and adventurous warrior walking a path of heart to manifest spirituality in everyday lives. She opens existential gateways for individuals to face their challenges and embrace these tests as the great teachers that they are.
Her goal is to see everyone walk in beauty and balance every day of their lives empowered by the voice of their own authentic truth.
Through Wisdom Evolution and Sacred Wisdom Workshops, Vicki creates opportunities for others to make deep personal changes through experiential classes, ceremony, sacred art and story. She endeavors to inspire others to create their lives intentionally. Vicki is an Inspirator of everyday awareness, an Instigator of spontaneous stories and a Connoisseur of Creativity. Gratitude and grace sprinkled with humility and humor are the medicine she brings to the world.
As an Elder, Teacher and Entrepreneur, Spiritual Coach, Ordained Minister and Crafter of Sacred Art and Tools, Vicki perceives life’s journey as an ever-upward spiraling ascension of the human spirit leading her to wisdom, wholeness and authenticity.
Her experience includes being trained in the Harner Method of Shamanic Counseling and the Pachakuti Mesa Tradition of Cross Cultural Shamanism. She is a Graduate Teacher and Mentor with the Lynn Andrews Center For Sacred Arts and Training and has been the Administrator and Writers Guide for Writing Spirit, the School.
Vicki is also an Artist of the Spirit Certified Spiritual and Energetic Life Coach, a Graduate Mentor in the AoS program and a founding member of HeatherAsh Amara’s Warrior Goddess Leadership Team and Facilitator of the Warrior Heart Practice.
Connect with Vicki here on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vickildobbsauthor
