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Pondering Big Challenges and Life Lessons

December 21, 2021 By Julie Smith

I’m a ponderer. While everyone has already moved on to something else, I’m still thinking about what we were discussing one or two subjects ago. Though it frustrates me sometimes, it is a gift I’ve come to appreciate about myself. My thoughts run deep below the surface. It’s the water I swim in. As we close out 2021, I thought I’d share a few of my musings on challenges and life lessons. Maybe you’ll pause while I catch up.

The last couple years have been challenging. A global pandemic. Social unrest. Environmental disasters. Financial hardship. Disconnectedness and fear. Isolation and uncertainty.

And yet, we’ve all learned we can do hard things. You may have learned things about yourself you may not have known before.

What I’ve learned or been reminded of during this time…

  • All people struggle with limiting beliefs, fears, insecurities, and hurts that sometimes cause us to react in unhelpful ways.
  • Everyone is just trying to do the best they can with what they’ve got in the moment.
  • It’s not about showing the world you’re on the right side of the fence. It’s about truly seeing others, the common humanity you share, and connecting with humility, grace and compassion.
  • There’s great value in examining and understanding how your thoughts and emotions impact your actions so you can respond with intention instead of reacting to people and circumstances.
  • Powerful conversation isn’t about telling and being right. It’s about asking and listening to understand.
  • Being an effective leader isn’t about being the one who holds the power. It’s about empowering others and learning to lead yourself, your life and others with balance, grace, and conviction.
  • You don’t need to work longer, harder and smarter to prove your worth and value. You’re already enough. It’s important to acknowledge your burnout and disconnection and reconnect with your whole self and with purpose.
  • While you may love to fill your plate full and find purpose in WHAT you’re doing, it’s more important to find purpose in WHY you’re doing it.
  • Maybe you can stop pushing your limits and start expanding capacity and resilience.
  • There is gratitude and joy in the everyday and the ordinary; the beautiful and the challenging. You just need to look for it.

Where do we go from here?

What do we grab onto from these challenges and life lessons? From the Christian faith tradition, we might consider the Fruits of the Spirit. These are love, joy, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

I invite you to consider that in the marketplace, in society as a whole, we might strive to live and lead with these three concepts in mind:

Balance: this has to do with SELF and your presence
Self-awareness, calm, clarity, peace of mind, joy, gratitude

Grace: this has to do with OTHERS (and self too)
Other awareness, shared humanity, kindness, generosity, humbleness, compassion

Conviction: this has to do with taking ACTION
Belief, trust, assurance, confidence, a purpose or why

These are beautiful, honorable ways of being and doing, but if you struggle in any of these areas you’re not alone! We can give grace not only to others but to ourselves as well. As I’ve gone through seasons of life to experience triumph and failure, joy and regret, and contemplated life’s big questions… each new day, each New Year is another opportunity for each one of us to try again; to learn and grow.

Learn it. Apply it.

  • What has been your biggest learning during our recent challenges?
  • What difference might curiosity and compassionate listening make?
  • How can you build capacity and resilience?
  • Which concept – Balance, Grace or Conviction – catches your attention as a growing edge?
  • What do you want to do with that?

Filed Under: Connect, Faith, Featured Posts, Live, Think, Well-Being, Work Tagged With: challenges, finishing well, how we connect, how we think, how we work, Leadership, life lessons, well-being, wellness

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About Julie Smith

Julie Smith helps others navigate work and life transitions with clarity and confidence. She is also co-founder of a ministry called Kingdom Soul Sisters, where women discover more of God's presence, peace and joy in their daily life. Julie is an ICF-certified coach, writer, and educator with a passion for well-being, emotional intelligence, and the great outdoors. She enjoys coaching individuals or groups in parks, on hiking trails, and Zoom. Julie is also a facilitator and mentor coach at the Grand View Center for Mentor Coaching and Leadership Development. Explore your options and connect with Julie today.

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WHAT CLIENTS SAY

"I am becoming a stronger leader by trusting myself, empowering others to lead, and giving myself grace under pressure. I find myself being more mindful during difficult or stressful times, and more empathetic. I would absolutely recommend Julie’s services. Her approach is interactive and relevant, and her questions are on point. In and out of the work environment, the skills I’ve learned are useful and the confidence I’m gaining is priceless.” ~Executive Director
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Why Julie Smith

Julie SmithJulie Smith is a certified Life Coach, Leadership Coach and Health Coach. She empowers others to create calm and clarity through work and life transitions. Together, they build confidence, create postive change, and greater well-being so they can lead themselves and the organizations and families they serve. Her clients include purpose-driven professionals, leaders and organizations. Read more.

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