Hello Hello!

I hope you’re all well.  Welcome to those of you who have signed up since my last note - I’m so happy you’re here.  We are creeping toward 500 which I couldn’t have imagined when I sent my first ‘newsletter’ to less than 50 of you. Thank you for sticking with me!

Thank you also to those of you who messaged me to check in after the September email failed to materialise. There is no exciting or dramatic reason for its absence, it has just taken me much longer than usual to get back into the swing of things after my summer break this year. 

 And it seems I am not alone in this.  Many of you have been experiencing a slow and sticky start to the end of the year in place of the usual ‘new pencil case season’ energy of a new term, a new season and a new start.

Instead of fighting against it and pushing myself into performance mode, I’ve been increasingly drawn to roll with this quiet, inward energy.  I’ve adjusted my expectations of myself, cut myself some slack and focused on thinking and doing less so I have more time for just being, and feeling my way without a rigid plan - and do you know what?  I feel so much the better for it. 

It reminds me of Maisie Hill’s writing about cycles, and how we can adjust our work to tune in to our body’s natural rhythms. I was pretty sniffy about this when I first read her book Period Power, but when I think about it now in context of seasonal cycles and rhythms, it feels pretty much bang on.

How about you?  

🎃Did your September get off to a slow and sticky start, or were you raring to go on September 1st?

🎃How are you feeling about the last few months of 2022?

🎃What do you need to help you get through them with energy to spare?

As always, I would LOVE to hear from you.

Here are my 5 shiny nuggets of gold for your so-called careers for this month.

Enjoy, and take care,

PJ

1) Something from me!

Power Hours are BACK!

I am releasing 5 one-off coaching sessions, for new clients only, across November and December at the special price of £200 for 90 minutes.

If your so-called career could do with a bit of TLC, or perhaps you just need a space to be seen, heard, appreciated and supported - get them while they are hot. 

To secure your slot, send me a message here.

4) Tip to Try

When I realised September was halfway through and I was really still not feeling it, my temptation was to push myself to knuckle down and just get on with it rather than trusting myself and using my resistance as data to help identify what I needed.  The problem must be me, not the amount I am trying to do, or the timeframe I’ve given myself, or the fact that the world is on fire while I’m trying to do it.

If you are feeling resistance - and trust me, we will all feel resistance from time to time in our so-called careers - before you default to self-flagellation and force yourself to feel unnecessary discomfort, make a bit of space to get curious with these questions:

Curious Questions:-

✨ Is the thing too much for me *right now*? 

How could I create some ease until I feel better resourced?

✨ Is there something about *the way* I am doing the thing that is making it feel too much? 

How might I adjust my approach to make it feel more manageable?

✨ Is my scaffolding strong enough to support me while I do the thing? 

What changes might be necessary if not?

✨ Have I given the thing subconscious meaning which is making it feel too much? 

Could separating FACT from FEELING make a difference?

5) Inspiration of the Month

My inspiration this month is a bit closer to home than in previous editions.  This month I am inspired by the amazing photographic talents of one of my oldest friends, Nicola Arber . 

Over the years I have seen Nic’s interest in photography grow, and her practice develop and I couldn't be happier to see her stepping into a new phase in her so-called career as a family and portrait photographer. 

She took the first ‘professional’ photos of me when I launched the business which would become My So-Called Career in 2018, and when I wanted some new photos that captured the me I am now, post-covid, post-cancer and far more confident in my understanding of who I am, what I do and why I do it, she was the only person I considered.

Here are some of the glorious photos she took of me last month as we caught up in person for the first time in three years. You can see more of her work here and here and if you are in the market for photos of yourself, or your family, I would highly recommend dropping her a line.

Photo by Gabriella Clare Marino on Unsplash