New Habits and Healthier Behaviors

Happy New Year!

I know we are nearing the end of January and it's possible the time to use this hope-filled greeting has come and gone. However, we are still in the first month of the year and I do hope that the arrival of the new year has been filled with joy for you and your people. 

As December came to a close, I noticed - across various social media platforms - that people were resisting the time-honored tradition of resolutions. Resolutions - our annual practice of aspiring to new habits and healthier behaviors - felt like too much pressure to change. And really, who can blame us for feeling overwhelmed? Over the last few years, the ground has consistently shifted under our feet and made it increasingly difficult to find stability in our “next” normal. 

Picking a single word gives us a chance to own our change - instead of our change owning us (and perhaps eventually causing shame when we don’t accomplish that aspirational resolution). We can name and decide how our one word shows up in small or big ways, day after day - or if it's a noun, verb or adjective at any given moment. 

Reflecting on my own learnings from 2022, I found myself focused on the idea of “rising.” I’m still trying to work out the totality of its value and meaning,but for me, it’s rising to the next challenge and shedding the weight of  what is not meant for me. It is continually expanding, breathing and being lighter akin to a leavening bread loaf. It is the promise of bright rays of sunshine peeking over the horizon after a period of chilling, lonely darkness. Did you pick a word? We found this post particularly useful in finding a selection of meaningful words. We’d love to hear from you and share community learnings in our future newsletters. 

It was this very discussion with colleagues that led to the naming of a new project I’m undertaking with Gladiator Consulting partner Sheleia Phillips, founder of SMP Nonprofit Consulting. 

In our conversations, Sheleia and I plan to explore our own journeys and learnings - with each other, as women of color entrepreneurs in the nonprofit sector and through our personal and professional relationships. 

Look out for the next installment of Unfiltered on Tuesday, February 21st!

Friends,

Rach