How to Go Softly into the End of 2023
Welcome to November with Bri Books! For this entire month, I’m focused on delivering a podcast a day--unedited. It’s been months since my last podcast recording. 2023 has been an absolute blur. As I kick off my goal of recording and releasing an episode everyday this month, I want to start off with softness. We’re talking about how to go softly into the end of the year. If you’re new to the show, leave a review of Bri Books on Apple Podcasts, and listen to Bri Books on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and SoundCloud! Please tell me where you’re traveling to by using #bribooks on Instagram and subscribe to the Bri Books newsletter at bribookspod.com/newsletter.
1:15 - It’s peak autumn. We’re staring down the barrel of the last 6-8 weeks of the year. When we reflect, it can be easy to remember the failures before the successes. This episode is about going softly into the end of the year.
1:50 - Time is soup. If you’re finding yourself approaching the holiday season with a sense of emptiness or loneliness, that’s normal. I want to remind you-every day is a new year. You can begin again. Wake up again. Try again.
2:45 - A few ways I like to reset my mind and go softly into the new year
3:00 - #1: Reflection from a place of gentleness and softness, not what you haven’t done. When I look at 2023, I think a lot of ‘didn’t,’ instead of what I ‘did’ do. Look very kindly on what you did accomplish this year.
4:00 - #2: Look at where you were two years ago. There’s a trending audio that says, you’re living your answered prayers. Odds are, something you have achieved now is something you used to dream about, and then you look up and you’re living it! You definitely have things to be proud of.
6:00 - #3: Write down a note to self about what you want to feel and see for the rest of the year. Write yourself a short note or a letter. Maybe it’s something short, maybe it’s a longer letter. Write to your younger self. Imagine an 8-year-old you, enjoying your accomplishments. When the end of year starts to creep around and the language we use can become very reactive, it can feel negative.
7:00 - Change your language around beginnings and endings. I was listening to The Mindset Mentor with Rob Dial, and he called into focus that very often, with our words we aren’t affirming our responsibilities. Instead of framing things as “I have to do ___,” reposition your responsibilities as “I GET to ____.” By changing our language, we’re able to reposition ourselves to affirm gratitude. Also, it helps us realize what’s dragging us down. That simple communication change and affirmation towards what’s a privilege to do vs a responsibility, it’s one of the best ways I know that helps me to do a soft reset. It’s not just a to-do list, it’s a list of things I get to do!
10:23 - #4: Identify the output you want, and go towards it. Myleik Teele recently dropped a podcast episode wherein she made the point that trying on the life you want is FREE. I feel Myliek spoke directly to me with that episode! Just because you don’t have the down payment for an $18 million estate in Connecticut doesn’t mean you can’t still go to the open house on that $18 million estate in Connecticut! Make a day of it! Try on the life you want! If the output you want is to become more comfortable in new spaces, then try those spaces on! You’re designing your life. If you were to buy a custom-made coat or suit, you’d try on multiples, right? This is a very similar practice to identifying your output and going towards it. A simple way of doing this is going to a bookstore, popping by the New Releases and magazine rack, and pulling a few titles. See what you gravitate towards. When you have an output and you know what you’re going towards, it makes the input and the creation a little easier. It’s the end of the year, so go gently towards this. But now is a powerful time because you can use the shorter days and the earlier mornings to feel out how you want your 2024 to be. This isn’t about making a list and having quarterly goals. It’s about trying it on, seeing if it feels good to you, and going softly as we round the corner in 2023
I hope you're loving Bri Books! If you’re new to the show, leave a reviewof Bri Books onApple Podcasts,and listen to Bri Books onApple Podcastsand Spotify! Please tell me where you’re traveling to by using#bribookson Instagram and subscribe to the Bri Booksnewsletter at bribookspod.com/newsletter.
