FINDING BALANCE SO I CAN PROSPER

Today I was looking at some old journal pages and found my thoughts interesting. First, because these were my thoughts a few months before everything changed in 2020. Second, because I am feeling all the same things and need to fix all the same things. Clearly, I either got back into old habits or never truly fixed them in the first place. Either or both are probably true. The lockdown changed how we moved forward so I am sure I just stopped working on my goals and created new ones. Because there is nothing like creating new goals to help you move forward. Right?! And I think because I'm always trying to continue to move forward each day, week, month, year... I didn't really revisit my 2020 goals in 2021or 2022 or the start of 2023.

But it is now the end of July 2023. This month I turned 51 and I feel a little stagnant. I feel like I need a restart. A New Years in July, maybe! And after reading my thoughts from December 31, 2019 and January 1, 2020, I think I want to restart from those thoughts.

December 31, 2019:

As 2019 is coming to a close, I am thinking about why I didn’t accomplish what I wanted to this year. This past year is a bit of a blur. I have heard myself say many times that I am trying to catch up, or I’ll know more when this one thing is done. I had a hard time letting go of chores or certain non-important items to do other things I wanted to accomplish. My time management came and went which is why I was playing a lot of catch up. I know I can make a goal. But I also know I can adjust it or get rid of it at any time if I want. I love that I am flexible, but I need to work on holding myself accountable for personal goals. BUT how do I do that when I made the goals and the rules myself? A girl can change her mind... Anyway, so at this point I am trying to figure out the core of what needs to be fixed and what doesn’t. I need to find what is going to bring me and my family health and happiness. These thoughts have led me to define my word for 2020.

2020 Word:

BALANCE (—|… .| .|.. .| |. |.|. .—)

noun

a condition in which different elements are equal or in the correct proportions.

Stability found at the center of acceptance.

“Balance is the key to everything. What we do, think, say, eat, feel, they all require awareness and through this awareness we can grow.” -Koi Fresco

In 2020 I strive to COMMIT to better BALANCE in my life.

• I need to learn to say no to those things that take away from a balanced life.

• I need to say yes to those things that will bring my life fullness and happiness.

• I need to step away from social media.

• I need to come up with a schedule that works.

• I need to spend less time researching and more time doing it.

• I need to spend less time comparing and bringing back my own imagination.

• I need to find balance as I strive to be physically healthy.

• I need to find balance as I strive to be emotionally healthy.

• I need to meditate daily to help refocus.

• I need to reflect daily on what I learned and what I accomplished.

• I need to remember that I am not going to change everything in a day but that I have to work on it day by day to get the results I want.

• I need to know that the balance in my life may not be what balance looks like in my family's life. I should not have to apologize for these differences, but I should be respectful of the needs of others. I hope they will do the same for me.

“Balance is not better time management, but better boundary management. Balance means making choices and enjoying those choices.”

January 1, 2020:

But back to the thoughts from yesterday. Here are some things I need to define:

• What can I control?

• What can’t I control?

• What can I ask others to do?

• And what should I expect out of them?

Here are some things I need to remember:

• I need to remember that the story I tell myself is based on the limited facts I have.

• I need to remember to relax with others about the things that only affect me.

• I need to remember to be patient.

• I need to remember to think about what is important to do each day.

• I need to list out what I want to do so I can have guidance and see what I have accomplished.

My word for 2023 is Prosper. I feel like I chose this word wanting it to work towards all aspects of my life. But I only focused on how I could prosper with discARTed by KT. And some cool things have happened this year. But I have learned that if I don't have balance and work on me, not just with my art, I will not prosper. Which is probably why I feel stagnant. So now what?

Next steps towards balance and prosperity (Wish me luck):

Start using my planner again.

1. Start my morning routine again.

2. Take care of some To Do's that I have been holding off.

3. If I "need" to clean my studio or something else in the house, then clean. It helps me reset. But set some boundaries and don't let it take over.

4. Make sure I work in the studio. I may need to set a schedule.

5. Set boundaries with social media and other distractions.

I share all of this hoping by typing it I am more likely to work towards it. Also, I am sure I am not the only one that needs a little reset with goals and, well, life. Maybe you need a little balance and some of my thoughts will help. But I also think at some point I will need to look back at this post and I will need a reminder, again, that I need to work on balance to prosper in my life.

Happy New Year in July!!

Love,

Katie

PS I am working on a Florida themed collage piece for a show in September. I am so excited! I will share more details as it gets closer.