As social justice academics, we rarely feel we deserve time for our own re-alignment and reconnection with our own true selves. This post is about how much you truly deserve time to re-imagine.
You deserve time to re-imagine
Over the last two months of 2021, I felt compelled to make time to re-imagine, re-flect, re-align, re-member, re-think, re-juvenate, re-calibrate. This resulted in a full re-design of my website and all the things associated with the services I provide to social justice academics.
Getting clear on values
Although this started out as more of a chore, the process brought unexpected gifts. For example, I had to sit down and get even more clear on my core values. This helped reaffirm why I do this extra work outside of my full-time job. Core words like
change, grow, authentic, relatable, courageous, and bold
stay at the center of what I want to put out into the world. Given how serious and heavy oppression and injustices can be for you/us as change agents, I want to remind us to embrace fun and whimsy. For some reason, I have always been drawn to retro color schemes and vintage designs, often with a modern twist. That shows up a bit in my reboot.
Getting clear on offerings
Another unexpected gift of this redesign effort was that I now feel refueled and re-energized about the programs and services I am offering. And I have narrowed things down a bit. In 2022, my focus will be on 3 main support areas:
1) the online course: White Anti-Racism and Action
2) my group coaching program for mid/advanced career social justice academics
3) my workshops and keynote talks
Being able to narrow my focus has brought the gift of liberation. This feels quite freeing because I can reduce the overwhelm (chatter, clutter, the “too much”) by getting clear on when to say yes and when I must pass on requests that do not fit my current path.
When is the last time you gave yourself permission to reimagine and reconnect with you?
Back in the day, we had to renew our library books to keep them more than the standard two weeks. With the new due date, I could get lost in the stories and build imaginary worlds in my head.
When is the last time you gave yourself the gift of time to think about what you REALLY want?
Not what is expected or the next obvious thing on the typical life path. What YOU really want to experience and be and do in your own life?
Can you imagine? Are these questions scary?
I know you. And I am here to tell you… you deserved to be honored.
You deserve the time to ask these questions and be honest about what bubbles to the surface. And even more important, you are strong enough to handle whatever pops up. You are even strong enough to curate your life to have much more of what you really want in the short time we have on this little ball called Earth.
Start small.
How about you take 15 minutes to free-write. No judgment. Whatever pops into your head when you open yourself to answer:
What do I really want to do and be in my life?
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