Staying Focused on the Good Amid the Turmoil
It’s so hard right now to fight distraction with the constant onslaught of news coming at us on a daily basis. 2020 has completely toppled our “normal” way of living and it’s easy to feel discouraged and empty-handed when all of what’s familiar had evaporated. Here are few things I’ve been connecting to lately that have helped me to stay in my core self and reconnect to my life purpose. content and is the question that keeps me awake at night.
Check out the list below for a little purpose-driven inspiration:
1. THE WOKE AND WIRED PODCAST
I know I’m biased, but I’m loving re-listening to this episode of the Woke & Wired podcast I did with Ksenia this past summer. This was one of the best conversations I’ve had with a fellow female entrepreneur talking about what it means to work from a place of purpose. One of my favorite parts of this conversation was that I got to honor the struggle I know single women face as they try to decide how to build a new business while also holding down a steady income. Without the support of a spouse’s salary, it can be hard to make the leap into your own business. Give the episode a listen and then let me know what you think.
2. CAPE DAY FOR ATLANTA
One of the things I’m most proud of in my business is our commitment to supporting sickle cell research by donating to the AFLAC Cancer & Blood Disorders Center at the Children’s Hospital of Atlanta. This week, we get to celebrate Cape Day, as Atlanta hospitals honor the littlest superheroes among us who fight illnesses everyday. If you’ve been wondering how you can give back this year, I encourage you to make a donation to CHOA. You can learn more about Cape Day and make a donation online now.
3. WOMEN IN THE WORKPLACE REPORT FROM LEAN IN AND MCKINSEY & COMPANY
I’m a sucker for statistics on women in leadership. So I am loving this latest report from Lean In and McKinsey & Company as they explored “Women in the Workplace: 2020”. As we’re all navigating the new normal of how to work in the middle of a global health crisis and domestic political unrest, it’s clear that women are doing what we always do: making a way out of no way.
Some of my favorite highlights from the report are:
Burnout and poor mental health are tremendous risk factors for women right now in their ability to remain in the workplace. While some companies are making an effort to support women through counseling and enrichment programs, much more can be done. I’ve seen this in my own work where more companies are working with me to come in to coach their female employees as a personal and professional development benefit. Ladies, contact your HR department today to see if this is an option for you.
Mothers are three times more likely to be responsible for the household labor, even when the families live in dual-career homes. As a marriage therapist I’m seeing the impact on clients as marriages are being pushed to the limit in the ability to navigate perpetual household problems. Now is a great time to enhance those communication skills and ask for what you need.
Black women are disproportionately being affected by the events of 2020 with the unique impact COVID-19 is having on black communities as well as the grief and trauma from racial violence.
Read the full report here and then come back to let me know what you think.
We could all use a good laugh this year. Everything feels so heavy and most days we wake up feeling like why bother. I’ve been really grateful for this new read from Samantha Irby.
One of the members of our Women of Consequence community recommended it, and I cannot put it down. Read just the first page and you’ll see what I mean.
Opening lines:
“I live for a glamorous lifestyle blog featuring some gorgeous ingenue with piles of secret wealth that she never divulges to the unsuspecting slobs on the other side of the screen. How does she afford three-hundred-dollar eye cream if her job is listed as “freelance editor,” and why is it tossed so casually on her nightstand like she wouldn’t cry if she lost it? I want to admire her floating through a bright and clean apartment in photos so beautiful and overexposed that it hurts your ugly regular-person eyes to look at them as she describes the minutiae of her daily routines, but all the cat dander clouding my eyes makes it difficult. ”
I mean it’s pure gold…
5. FULL FOCUS PLANNER
Did I ever tell you about the time I got to help create a planner with Franklin Covey? I was working for Julie Morgenstern, the author of Time Management from the Inside Out and she was launching a new line of leather goods and paper planning products with the brand. Side note: Julie is legit and incredible at what she does. If you’re looking for time management or productivity tips, she has a wealth of knowledge to share.
But I digress.
During our time together it was so fun to figure out how to translate solid time management techniques into physical products to guide you as you plan your day. I still think Julie is the gold standard but lately I’ve been loving the Full Focus Planner from Michael Hyatt. It has just the right amount of structure while also being undated and free-flowing so you can use it the way you need. I also like how it integrates with my life purpose intensive and work with LifePlan clients. It’s a great place to execute all the plans we create.
Want regular inspiration to keep you focused on your life purpose? Join the Women of Consequence community to discover your big life purpose statement and create a plan to live into your purpose.
