The kind of things that instead help you recreate the year, or years, that have passed. And I'm talking about things like habits, beliefs, commitments, relationships and even emotions.

But right now, as you think about your New Year goals, it is the perfect time to pause and make a conscious choice to leave some things behind. To make space for different habits, beliefs, commitments, relationships and emotions that will serve you in creating something different in your life.

Welcome to The Self-Creation School podcast, for women who are ready to ditch mediocrity, step up and get more of what they want, and finally say YES! to a life that sets their soul on fire. I'm your host Leanne Letica, Self-Creation Coach, founder of The Self-Creation School AND Queen of YES!. If you're ready to play life by your own personal rule book, and give yourself permission to say YES! to yourself and your wildest dreams, this podcast is the place for you.

Well, hello, my friend, thanks so much for tuning in to today's episode of the podcast. Who can believe we are just one week out from Christmas. I don't know about you, but it still feels like yesterday to me that I was getting ready for last Christmas. I hope things are not too crazy in your world right now and that you can take some time to appreciate the things that matter most at this time of year.

But if you're not yet clear on that, that's also perfectly okay. This is still going to be a really valuable conversation for you today, perhaps even more valuable in many ways. And stay tuned because I have been working behind the scenes on some very exciting projects that I will be announcing in the New Year that will help you get crystal clear on what you want.

So, the first thing I will say is that the underlying process for what I'm sharing here today is pretty simple. I use a journal, and I schedule aside time for quiet reflection, for deeper thinking and having a really honest conversation with myself about the year that has passed and what really isn't working for me.

For me, personally, I tend to set my New Year goals in November because it's my birthday month and I like to use that month to think about my next lap around the sun. But listen, sometimes at this time of year, I'm still firming things up and getting clear on what's next. And especially if that's the case, I tend to find going through this process to identify what I don't want more of actually helps point me in the direction for what it is I do want.

Sometimes you need to see what you don't want, what isn't working for you, to know what you do. And so, this is why I said a moment ago that this is still a really valuable process, perhaps even more so, if you don't yet know what you want.

So, journal, time for an open, honest conversation, and your goals, if you have them. And what I like to do is think about these five areas. My beliefs, those stories that have been a theme in my year. My habits. My commitments, or where it is I'm committing my time and energy to. My relationships and the people I'm hanging out with, both in real life and online. And finally, my emotions. Specifically, my negative emotions that have maybe been a little too present in my year.

So let's start with beliefs, with those stories that have maybe been playing out front and center stage a little too much this year.

For me, the belief I know without a doubt I am leaving behind is my story that I can't travel and build The Self-Creation School at the same time. If you've been listening in, that is a story I had very much because of the all-or-nothing way I was approaching each one of these things.

This year I have been on a quest to challenge that story because travel and helping women like you and me live wildly fulfilling lives we love waking up to every day are both things that I am very passionate about. And by holding on to the belief that I can't do both has really impacted my ability to do either, if I'm honest, to the extent that I know is possible.

So, I really wanted to find a way for both of my one loves to co-exist. And if you've been listening in over the past few months, I recently lived in the question of how travel and work might go hand in hand during my two-month slow travel experiment in Thailand.

Now, I'm not sure if I completely nailed it during that trip, but I did find one way that travel and work can be possible. And I learned so much from that experience, which is really going to help me design my life and business moving forward in a way that work and play can go more effortlessly together.

So, what's one belief you've held onto this year that feels like it's been holding you back? Think about how this has impacted your decisions, your emotions, your opportunities, and your life experience.

So, here's what my over habit is. Looks like overworking, overdoing, over perfecting, over complicating, over thinking, over comparing, overeating, over scrolling, over ambition. Listen, I am not someone who's going to pretend that I have all of this figured out and my life is perfect. I still have some things that need some work.

And here's what I know most of those things stem from. Perfectionism. I am a perfectionist by default. It goes right back to my childhood and my belief that I wasn't good enough and therefore I need to work really, really hard to make everything more than perfect so that then maybe, just maybe, I'd finally be good enough. I have done a lot of work to change my story of not-enoughness over the years and I do still work constantly to not fall into that trap.

The thing about our old stories and beliefs is that they do tend to pop back up again from time to time, especially when you are trying new things or pushing your boundaries for what's possible. Sometimes they come up at times when you are emotionally stressed for whatever reason or physically run down.

And so, this is why it is just so important to become self-aware, to spend the time to understand your stories and how they impact your life, learn how to rewrite them, and how to recognize when they have popped back in to say hello.

Over time, the effort required to do this does become less, and it does become much quicker to recognize and shift those stories and keep moving forward. But I am never going to be one of those coaches who tells you that this is a once and done thing. Listen, if you are human like me, and I suspect that you are, you are going to have stories and emotions that need cleaning up regularly.

So, overworking, overdoing, over perfecting, over complicating, over thinking, these are definitely for me all to do with perfectionism.

Now, I also know that things like overeating and over scrolling come from escapism. Escaping things like boredom, putting myself out there because perfectionism is playing a visit, doing things maybe I don't really want to do, like ironing. I'm not a fan, to be honest. Sometimes escapism can be to avoid dealing with what's going on in our lives and processing the heavy emotions.

And finally, I'm very aware that some of my 'over' habits, like my over ambition, stems from a true and more fulfilling drive, desire, or passion if you like, for things that I want to do. Like what I do right here within The Self-Creation School as a coach.

I am a very ambitious person and that in and of itself isn't something I want to necessarily leave behind. But I think one of the things that has happened for me over the years as I've experienced just what can be possible when you open your heart and mind to it being possible, is that I tend to want to do so much more because I know so much more is possible. And every so often that doesn't actually serve me.

Just because you can do something doesn't always mean you should. If you know my story, having more, doing more, and achieving more, it doesn't always bring more of what truly matters, which is your happiness, well-being, your peace and joy, and all of those kinds of things.

I wanted to just bring this up before I moved on to the next thing I'm letting go of, because it is important to understand what lies behind your thoughts, emotions, and actions. Sometimes it isn't that you need to let go of them. You simply need to embrace them in a more effective and intentional way that serves you rather than drains you or holds you back.

So, ask yourself, what is one habit that has been draining you, holding you back, or helping you keep recreating a reality you'd rather leave behind? Maybe for you too, it's things like overworking, overthinking, or even over giving. But it doesn't have to be an 'over' habit like mine.

Now before we move on, notice that I am only choosing one belief and one habit. You don't need to wipe the slate completely clean and start again. Honestly, I don't recommend that you do because you will likely find that very difficult and get nowhere.

Moving on, and the third thing I'm letting go of is committing my mornings to my office.

This is very much tied with my 'over' habit, by the way, and when I lived in Australia, it really wasn't how I ran my day. But since we moved country, it has taken me some time to get back into a routine that works for me. And I've been I've fallen into spending my mornings working as opposed to how I used to spend them, which was focusing on my health and well-being, my personal development and growth, my mindset and things like that.

Now, I still do mindset work every single day. But I'm going to be honest, health and well-being was on my goal list this year. And instead of committing to working out, I committed my time to working in front of my computer. The end result for me has been a real imbalance in overworking and under-nourishing my physical well-being. I probably don't need to tell you that is absolutely not something that serves me.

It might be really obvious to you, like a commitment to a regular social gathering that leaves you feeling drained. Or it might be less obvious, like mine, where you've committed a disproportionate amount of time to something which has left little or no time to something that does truly matter.

The fourth thing I'm letting go of is in the area of relationships, and it is all the people who digitally distract me.

What I'm talking about here is the online groups I've joined that perhaps I don't really check in on or participate in, but they clutter my social feed and often, my inbox. I'm talking about those email newsletters and subscriptions I've been interested in at one point, but I don't really read and again they clutter my inbox.

I'm also talking about the people in my social feeds I followed that make me feel pulled in a thousand different directions. One says do this, another says do that. This week, this is the magic pill. Next week, it's something else. You know what I mean, right?

So, I really want to fine-tune who it is I allow into my digital space and the people I allow to take up my time or focus. I want to ensure that moving forward, I am exposing myself to people who keep me grounded, inspired, informed and educated, but not distracted with a million different things I can try and do that distract my focus from what matters, and at the end of the day, disrupts my momentum.

You've probably heard the saying, you are the sum of the five people you spend the most time with. In this digital age we live in, often we are spending a whole lot of time with people online that don't really contribute meaningfully to our lives. So, it's not just physical relationships you might want to consider here, but also those you have in your digital space too.

Years ago, overwhelm and anxiety were my best friends. We hung out all day, every day together and I had no idea at the time what kind of influence they were really having on my world.

Overwhelm is the kind of emotion that can really keep you stuck in things like indecision, inaction, in exhaustion and confusion. And I know for me there's a good chance it snuck right back in alongside my perfectionism, because it has been a big year of pushing personal boundaries for me this year.

Like I said earlier, our old habits, beliefs, thoughts and emotions, they all love to pop back in and say hello when we are doing new things.

So, think about the emotions you've felt this year. Is there a predominant negative emotion like overwhelm or anxiety that you've been experiencing that is maybe keeping you from taking action towards your goals?

Perhaps you've been feeling a lot of guilt, resentment, or regret? Or it could be confusion, unhappiness, vulnerability. There really are so many different kinds of negative emotions.

I talk a lot about emotions and how to change your emotions by looking at the stories creating them. And I have talked a lot about this in particular over the last few podcast episodes.

So, if you haven't heard my take on this, I definitely encourage you to go back and take a listen to my recent episodes. And there are also earlier episodes where I talk about choosing your stories and emotions. So take a browse through the collection and see what stands out to you.

The reality is you can choose better emotions by choosing better stories. Sometimes we do get stuck thinking and feeling certain ways but use this pause and this time of year to decide to get unstuck. To decide to leave behind the negative emotions and open the door to much more positive and empowering ones.

Again, I am choosing just one emotion to let go of here because I think that one emotion is actually kind of the ringleader for a lot of other emotions. I suspect you'll have a ringleader too.

For me, these choices feel like a weight off my shoulders. They feel light and liberating. And they feel like I am almost clearing the slate clean by leaving them behind.

I hope this conversation today has inspired you to spend some time during the next couple of weeks to reflect on your own life and the year that has passed. To think about your beliefs, habits, commitments, relationships, and emotions. And to ask yourself, what's weighing me down? What feels heavy, or out of alignment? And then imagine leaving those things behind as you step into the New Year.

Now, one last thing. Remember that this isn't about letting go of everything that doesn't serve you all at once and changing your life overnight. It isn't about wiping the slate completely clean, it really isn't.

It's about identifying the one thing in each area that, if released, would create the biggest impact for you. Will there be other beliefs, habits, and so on that you might need to work on and release as time goes by? Yes, of course, because we are complex human beings. But this is about choosing a few changes right now that will lead you to big shifts.

And remember, if you need help getting clear on what's next or how to create a life you love, stay tuned because exciting things are coming in the New Year to help you say YES! to your biggest, boldest dreams.

You'll hear about this first if you are a subscriber to CREATED, which is my weekly email. So, if you are not yet receiving that email, the link to join is in the show notes for you. It's jam packed with value each and every week, and women tell me it's the one email they look forward to reading.

That brings today's episode to a close. Thank you so much for joining me and from my corner of the world to yours, I hope your holidays are filled with peace, love and joy.

I'll be back as usual next Wednesday with a very special episode to help you set the tone for your New Year. I'm all about finishing out this year with reflection and intention, my friend. So, that episode will be ready and waiting for you when your festivities are all said and done.

Until then, be the woman who says YES!

Hey, want to know what's stopping you from saying YES! to you and a life you love?

Head over to https://selfcreationschool.com/yesblock and take my FREE 60 second quiz to find out what's standing in your way today and I'll send you my Self-Creation Shift process for shifting it.

That's https://selfcreationschool.com/yesblock. I’ll see you there.

The kind of things that instead help you recreate the year, or years, that have passed. And I'm talking about things like habits, beliefs, commitments, relationships and even emotions.

But right now, as you think about your New Year goals, it is the perfect time to pause and make a conscious choice to leave some things behind. To make space for different habits, beliefs, commitments, relationships and emotions that will serve you in creating something different in your life.

Welcome to The Self-Creation School podcast, for women who are ready to ditch mediocrity, step up and get more of what they want, and finally say YES! to a life that sets their soul on fire. I'm your host Leanne Letica, Self-Creation Coach, founder of The Self-Creation School AND Queen of YES!. If you're ready to play life by your own personal rule book, and give yourself permission to say YES! to yourself and your wildest dreams, this podcast is the place for you.

Well, hello, my friend, thanks so much for tuning in to today's episode of the podcast. Who can believe we are just one week out from Christmas. I don't know about you, but it still feels like yesterday to me that I was getting ready for last Christmas. I hope things are not too crazy in your world right now and that you can take some time to appreciate the things that matter most at this time of year.

But if you're not yet clear on that, that's also perfectly okay. This is still going to be a really valuable conversation for you today, perhaps even more valuable in many ways. And stay tuned because I have been working behind the scenes on some very exciting projects that I will be announcing in the New Year that will help you get crystal clear on what you want.

So, the first thing I will say is that the underlying process for what I'm sharing here today is pretty simple. I use a journal, and I schedule aside time for quiet reflection, for deeper thinking and having a really honest conversation with myself about the year that has passed and what really isn't working for me.

For me, personally, I tend to set my New Year goals in November because it's my birthday month and I like to use that month to think about my next lap around the sun. But listen, sometimes at this time of year, I'm still firming things up and getting clear on what's next. And especially if that's the case, I tend to find going through this process to identify what I don't want more of actually helps point me in the direction for what it is I do want.

Sometimes you need to see what you don't want, what isn't working for you, to know what you do. And so, this is why I said a moment ago that this is still a really valuable process, perhaps even more so, if you don't yet know what you want.

So, journal, time for an open, honest conversation, and your goals, if you have them. And what I like to do is think about these five areas. My beliefs, those stories that have been a theme in my year. My habits. My commitments, or where it is I'm committing my time and energy to. My relationships and the people I'm hanging out with, both in real life and online. And finally, my emotions. Specifically, my negative emotions that have maybe been a little too present in my year.

So let's start with beliefs, with those stories that have maybe been playing out front and center stage a little too much this year.

For me, the belief I know without a doubt I am leaving behind is my story that I can't travel and build The Self-Creation School at the same time. If you've been listening in, that is a story I had very much because of the all-or-nothing way I was approaching each one of these things.

This year I have been on a quest to challenge that story because travel and helping women like you and me live wildly fulfilling lives we love waking up to every day are both things that I am very passionate about. And by holding on to the belief that I can't do both has really impacted my ability to do either, if I'm honest, to the extent that I know is possible.

So, I really wanted to find a way for both of my one loves to co-exist. And if you've been listening in over the past few months, I recently lived in the question of how travel and work might go hand in hand during my two-month slow travel experiment in Thailand.

Now, I'm not sure if I completely nailed it during that trip, but I did find one way that travel and work can be possible. And I learned so much from that experience, which is really going to help me design my life and business moving forward in a way that work and play can go more effortlessly together.

So, what's one belief you've held onto this year that feels like it's been holding you back? Think about how this has impacted your decisions, your emotions, your opportunities, and your life experience.

So, here's what my over habit is. Looks like overworking, overdoing, over perfecting, over complicating, over thinking, over comparing, overeating, over scrolling, over ambition. Listen, I am not someone who's going to pretend that I have all of this figured out and my life is perfect. I still have some things that need some work.

And here's what I know most of those things stem from. Perfectionism. I am a perfectionist by default. It goes right back to my childhood and my belief that I wasn't good enough and therefore I need to work really, really hard to make everything more than perfect so that then maybe, just maybe, I'd finally be good enough. I have done a lot of work to change my story of not-enoughness over the years and I do still work constantly to not fall into that trap.

The thing about our old stories and beliefs is that they do tend to pop back up again from time to time, especially when you are trying new things or pushing your boundaries for what's possible. Sometimes they come up at times when you are emotionally stressed for whatever reason or physically run down.

And so, this is why it is just so important to become self-aware, to spend the time to understand your stories and how they impact your life, learn how to rewrite them, and how to recognize when they have popped back in to say hello.

Over time, the effort required to do this does become less, and it does become much quicker to recognize and shift those stories and keep moving forward. But I am never going to be one of those coaches who tells you that this is a once and done thing. Listen, if you are human like me, and I suspect that you are, you are going to have stories and emotions that need cleaning up regularly.

So, overworking, overdoing, over perfecting, over complicating, over thinking, these are definitely for me all to do with perfectionism.

Now, I also know that things like overeating and over scrolling come from escapism. Escaping things like boredom, putting myself out there because perfectionism is playing a visit, doing things maybe I don't really want to do, like ironing. I'm not a fan, to be honest. Sometimes escapism can be to avoid dealing with what's going on in our lives and processing the heavy emotions.

And finally, I'm very aware that some of my 'over' habits, like my over ambition, stems from a true and more fulfilling drive, desire, or passion if you like, for things that I want to do. Like what I do right here within The Self-Creation School as a coach.

I am a very ambitious person and that in and of itself isn't something I want to necessarily leave behind. But I think one of the things that has happened for me over the years as I've experienced just what can be possible when you open your heart and mind to it being possible, is that I tend to want to do so much more because I know so much more is possible. And every so often that doesn't actually serve me.

Just because you can do something doesn't always mean you should. If you know my story, having more, doing more, and achieving more, it doesn't always bring more of what truly matters, which is your happiness, well-being, your peace and joy, and all of those kinds of things.

I wanted to just bring this up before I moved on to the next thing I'm letting go of, because it is important to understand what lies behind your thoughts, emotions, and actions. Sometimes it isn't that you need to let go of them. You simply need to embrace them in a more effective and intentional way that serves you rather than drains you or holds you back.

So, ask yourself, what is one habit that has been draining you, holding you back, or helping you keep recreating a reality you'd rather leave behind? Maybe for you too, it's things like overworking, overthinking, or even over giving. But it doesn't have to be an 'over' habit like mine.

Now before we move on, notice that I am only choosing one belief and one habit. You don't need to wipe the slate completely clean and start again. Honestly, I don't recommend that you do because you will likely find that very difficult and get nowhere.

Moving on, and the third thing I'm letting go of is committing my mornings to my office.

This is very much tied with my 'over' habit, by the way, and when I lived in Australia, it really wasn't how I ran my day. But since we moved country, it has taken me some time to get back into a routine that works for me. And I've been I've fallen into spending my mornings working as opposed to how I used to spend them, which was focusing on my health and well-being, my personal development and growth, my mindset and things like that.

Now, I still do mindset work every single day. But I'm going to be honest, health and well-being was on my goal list this year. And instead of committing to working out, I committed my time to working in front of my computer. The end result for me has been a real imbalance in overworking and under-nourishing my physical well-being. I probably don't need to tell you that is absolutely not something that serves me.

It might be really obvious to you, like a commitment to a regular social gathering that leaves you feeling drained. Or it might be less obvious, like mine, where you've committed a disproportionate amount of time to something which has left little or no time to something that does truly matter.

The fourth thing I'm letting go of is in the area of relationships, and it is all the people who digitally distract me.

What I'm talking about here is the online groups I've joined that perhaps I don't really check in on or participate in, but they clutter my social feed and often, my inbox. I'm talking about those email newsletters and subscriptions I've been interested in at one point, but I don't really read and again they clutter my inbox.

I'm also talking about the people in my social feeds I followed that make me feel pulled in a thousand different directions. One says do this, another says do that. This week, this is the magic pill. Next week, it's something else. You know what I mean, right?

So, I really want to fine-tune who it is I allow into my digital space and the people I allow to take up my time or focus. I want to ensure that moving forward, I am exposing myself to people who keep me grounded, inspired, informed and educated, but not distracted with a million different things I can try and do that distract my focus from what matters, and at the end of the day, disrupts my momentum.

You've probably heard the saying, you are the sum of the five people you spend the most time with. In this digital age we live in, often we are spending a whole lot of time with people online that don't really contribute meaningfully to our lives. So, it's not just physical relationships you might want to consider here, but also those you have in your digital space too.

Years ago, overwhelm and anxiety were my best friends. We hung out all day, every day together and I had no idea at the time what kind of influence they were really having on my world.

Overwhelm is the kind of emotion that can really keep you stuck in things like indecision, inaction, in exhaustion and confusion. And I know for me there's a good chance it snuck right back in alongside my perfectionism, because it has been a big year of pushing personal boundaries for me this year.

Like I said earlier, our old habits, beliefs, thoughts and emotions, they all love to pop back in and say hello when we are doing new things.

So, think about the emotions you've felt this year. Is there a predominant negative emotion like overwhelm or anxiety that you've been experiencing that is maybe keeping you from taking action towards your goals?

Perhaps you've been feeling a lot of guilt, resentment, or regret? Or it could be confusion, unhappiness, vulnerability. There really are so many different kinds of negative emotions.

I talk a lot about emotions and how to change your emotions by looking at the stories creating them. And I have talked a lot about this in particular over the last few podcast episodes.

So, if you haven't heard my take on this, I definitely encourage you to go back and take a listen to my recent episodes. And there are also earlier episodes where I talk about choosing your stories and emotions. So take a browse through the collection and see what stands out to you.

The reality is you can choose better emotions by choosing better stories. Sometimes we do get stuck thinking and feeling certain ways but use this pause and this time of year to decide to get unstuck. To decide to leave behind the negative emotions and open the door to much more positive and empowering ones.

Again, I am choosing just one emotion to let go of here because I think that one emotion is actually kind of the ringleader for a lot of other emotions. I suspect you'll have a ringleader too.

For me, these choices feel like a weight off my shoulders. They feel light and liberating. And they feel like I am almost clearing the slate clean by leaving them behind.

I hope this conversation today has inspired you to spend some time during the next couple of weeks to reflect on your own life and the year that has passed. To think about your beliefs, habits, commitments, relationships, and emotions. And to ask yourself, what's weighing me down? What feels heavy, or out of alignment? And then imagine leaving those things behind as you step into the New Year.

Now, one last thing. Remember that this isn't about letting go of everything that doesn't serve you all at once and changing your life overnight. It isn't about wiping the slate completely clean, it really isn't.

It's about identifying the one thing in each area that, if released, would create the biggest impact for you. Will there be other beliefs, habits, and so on that you might need to work on and release as time goes by? Yes, of course, because we are complex human beings. But this is about choosing a few changes right now that will lead you to big shifts.

And remember, if you need help getting clear on what's next or how to create a life you love, stay tuned because exciting things are coming in the New Year to help you say YES! to your biggest, boldest dreams.

You'll hear about this first if you are a subscriber to CREATED, which is my weekly email. So, if you are not yet receiving that email, the link to join is in the show notes for you. It's jam packed with value each and every week, and women tell me it's the one email they look forward to reading.

That brings today's episode to a close. Thank you so much for joining me and from my corner of the world to yours, I hope your holidays are filled with peace, love and joy.

I'll be back as usual next Wednesday with a very special episode to help you set the tone for your New Year. I'm all about finishing out this year with reflection and intention, my friend. So, that episode will be ready and waiting for you when your festivities are all said and done.

Until then, be the woman who says YES!

Hey, want to know what's stopping you from saying YES! to you and a life you love?

Head over to https://selfcreationschool.com/yesblock and take my FREE 60 second quiz to find out what's standing in your way today and I'll send you my Self-Creation Shift process for shifting it.

That's https://selfcreationschool.com/yesblock. I’ll see you there.