Sunday Thinking

"I hope you’re living the life you want. And if not, I hope you have the courage to turn around and start again."

December 31, 2023

The weekly Sunday Thinking newsletter is quick-hit content that aims to provide a booster shot to your thought process as you end and start your week.

“I hope you have the courage to do things differently, to be the kind of person who takes the risk, to be the kind of person who leads with their heart and shows up in their life with a ruthless dedication to learning and growing and enjoying the hell out of their moments here. I hope you have the courage to never let comfort or apprehension convince you that you are better off staying still. I hope you have the courage to trust the part of yourself that knows there's more out there for you, the part of yourself that is easy to quiet when you're trying to live by the rules and the expectations of a world that has bred so much dissatisfaction and sadness. I hope you have the courage to trust the part of yourself that seeks freedom from those trends, from those boundaries, and I hope you have the courage to go after whatever it is that genuinely makes you want to get up in the morning. I hope you have the courage to change. I hope you have the courage to trust in the person you're becoming.”

― Bianca Sparacino, A Gentle Reminder

I. From Titles to Transformation

Leadership is not about the clout and stroking of the ego that comes from holding a position or a title. It's about the daily action and example. It's about WE over ME.

Leadership is about:

L ― Love
E ― Effort
A ― Attitude
D ― Discipline
E ― Empathy
R ― Respect
S ― Service
H ― Humility
I ― Integrity
P ― Poise

Leadership is about influence. This is why it doesn't matter about your position or hierarchy; it matters if you can influence people and meaningfully transform lives.

II. If I’ve Learned Anything…

If I’ve learned anything from life, it’s that sometimes, the darkest times can bring us to the brightest places.

I’ve learned that the most toxic people can teach us the most important lessons; that our most painful struggles can grant us the most necessary growth; and that the most heartbreaking losses of friendship and love can make room for the most wonderful people.
I’ve learned that what seems like a curse in the moment can actually be a blessing and that what seems like the end of the road is actually just the discovery that we are meant to travel down a different path.
I’ve learned that no matter how difficult things seem, there is always hope. And I’ve learned that no matter how powerless we feel or how horrible things seem, we can’t give up.

We have to keep going. Even when it’s scary, even when all of our strength seems gone, we have to keep picking ourselves back up and moving forward, because whatever we’re battling in the moment, it will pass, and we will make it through. We’ve made it this far. We can make it through whatever comes next.

Source: Danielle Koepke, Daring To Take Up Space

III. A New Year’s Invitation

Many of us were taught that staying small is the safest thing to do to keep the peace. But I hope in 2024, we start to release that idea that being loved, seen, and heard requires us to be a fraction of ourselves in a world that demands so much from us.

May 2024 give us the courage to trust ourselves enough to show up more authentically, even if that means we must walk alone for a little while.
May 2024 allow us to consciously choose to let go of what's holding us up, down, or back and replace all that doesn't align with acceptance and courage to shine.
May 2024 grant us a more easeful spirit.
May 2024 encourage us to be more open and willing.

Source: Alex Elle, Gratitude Journal

IV. Question

When was the last time you looked in the mirror, said "I love you" to your reflection and genuinely expressed how incredibly proud you are of yourself for getting this far on your journey?

V. This Week, I Will

Keep my word to myself and others.
Remember, "no" is a complete sentence.
Release what no longer serves me to receive all that is meant for me.
Trust I deserve life's beauty and am capable of handling any challenges that come my way.
Understand that some people won't understand the ways I'm changing and that's okay.

The Last Words…

“If you only knew everything the universe is doing to support you—how your hard work is paying off in ways you can't yet perceive. One day, you'll step back, and you'll finally see it all so clearly: how the tangled knots of your unique path unraveled in divine timing-never too early, never too late. How it all unfolded perfectly to lead you somewhere even greater than you had imagined. You'll see the magic that created your life. The beauty in the messiness. The richness of your everyday world, in all of its colors. You'll see how every long night, every early morning, every yes, every no-it was all for a reason. It all meant something. And you'll recognize how some paths had to end so others could begin. How some things had to fall apart so something new could come together. And how you had to climb your tallest mountain before you could soar. And maybe you can't see it now, but I promise, there's a reason your heart has guided you here. You're right on time. It's coming. You're exactly where you need to be.”

― Zanna Keithley, This is How You Find Your Way