I will admit it. I am completely ready to put a pin into this year but, not for the reasons you may think. I am very excited about the future. I am also completely terrified about the future. Thankfully I am more excited than terrified, for today at least.

This past week I did an exercise with my dear friend for my coaching and speaking business. We put together a business plan for 2022. It really fired me up to “get going.” Part of this exercise asked us to write down what went well for 2021. I quickly wanted to say NOTHING went well but, before I could I was reminded that quite a lot of very good things did indeed happen.

Here are my top two!

I brought my business into the digital age. Which took so much courage that I didn’t know I had. It took willingness to make mistakes and get it wrong. It took humility to be “new” at something again and ask for help.

I also joined several social media platforms. My favorite by far is Clubhouse. An audio-only platform where like-minded people share ideas and support each other. This also took courage, willingness, and humility. I connected with people all over the world. They struggle with addiction and trauma just like me. In a time when we were all isolated, I reached out (accidentally) and I found another group where I completely fit in.

The willingness to challenge myself and get out of my comfort zone taught me so much! It showed me that I am a part of something much bigger and I have a special place in this world. No one can replace me and bring what I bring to the world. I am worthy of being seen and heard. This is true for all of us. Everyone deserves to be safe, seen and heard. You most of all deserve this. The world is better because of who we really are, not the over perfected version of ourselves. I hope that as you close out 2021 you will take the time to reflect on what went right before you start setting goals for 2022.

Sit with the emotion of whatever it is that you are actually feeling. Make sure that you really feel it. This is how we change our brain and heal our heart.

—Kristina Dennis, life coach