Bloom. The state of blossoming or having the flowers open. 
Many of us dreamers, free spirits and creative, sensitive souls never realize our true potential because we don’t see our abilities clearly. We are blossoming, growing, yet we don’t take the time to appreciate it and see it, let alone embrace who we are.
My word for 2020 is Bloom. Last year was a blur. The death of my mom was one of the hardest things I have experienced. Yet, it has also helped me continue to bloom into my true self.
Life is full of experiences as I will call them. These experiences can bring so much pain, hurt and also joy. I have learned that life will keep bringing it on. And one day with all life brings, you will realize your natural strengths. I found strength I never knew I had, and I also found weaknesses, I never dreamed I would allow.
Listening to your inner voice and discovering your natural strengths reveals a vision in your life that can inspire you into action. For some, the vision could be your career, a partner, financial freedom, following a dream you have always been in fear to do so, or whatever lights up your soul.
Whether you consider yourself a late bloomer or not, taking a creative approach to life will highlight your individuality and shift the way you think about the timing of your life’s journey.
I am looking at 3 main benefits that I feel are allowing me to bloom at what I now have to call mid-life. Shit….I am 46, and mid-life isn’t really a word I thought I would ever associate with myself, but here I am. As I face 2020, I will remind myself daily that my word this year is “Bloom”, here is my insight:
1| More Experience
I enjoy the process of studying, researching, taking notes, keeping journals, writing blogs and making connections. But life has taught me that knowing information does not make you a wise person. Only experience can do that.
Our human inclination is to search for meaning. We need to know the why of life’s ups and downs. I find that hindsight is a gain to perspective. We won’t always find solutions, but we can turn that into an experience and what we once thought was a weakness into a strength.
2| More Resilience
I am a goal-oriented person. I put hope into achieving a goal and once I achieve that goal it would bring me happiness. There are times, that reaching that goal didn’t measure up to the outcome expected. Or not reaching the goal would leave me heartbroken because my plan didn’t work out. When I learned to set small-step goals, I felt more grateful that life had its own plan and that plan was more aligned with where I was at that moment.
Our mistakes and failures are our greatest teachers. The more we experience what we don’t want, the more clarity we find around what we do want and why. I found that adjusting or reframing my goals or what life has to through at me is a look of perspective. Your creativity is enhanced by the lessons you’ve learned and as a result, you have more courage to keep expanding, to keep going and this my friend allows you to become resilient to each step in life.
3| More Time
This one may seem counter-intuitive, but hear me out. When you get older, you aren’t distracted by what everyone else is doing the way you were when you were younger. You aren’t trying to live your life so much for others as you did when you were younger, and sister, if you are, you need to STOP. This is about your time and energy being spent on what YOU truly care about.
I used to put a lot of energy and time into seeking approval from my partner, my boss, my kids, and I lacked enthusiasm. I was the people pleaser and yet, you can never please everyone. After my mom died, I realized, I have raised two great kids, but it is time to take care of my soul, and do what it takes to be truest to myself.
” But the true measure of our lives is not conveyed through minutes or months or years or through gold stars or accomplishments. It’s the quality of how we spend our time moment to moment that creates the texture of our past, present and future.”–unknown
At 46, my childhood is a faraway place. I never guessed that I’d be figuring out my place at this age. It has been a journey to get here. It has taken me years to listen to my inner voice, to discover my natural strengths and develop into a person that can inspire myself and others. I am blooming and will continue to bloom, just as you will continue to bloom.
Embracing the person you are today, the age you are right now, the choices and experiences you are living right now, then you are blooming.
I believe this journey called life, will take care of itself. As long as you are open to the blooming of the experiences of all sorts, you too will bloom.
#2020Bloom
Becky Shaffer—life Coach—Educator—Human
bshafferliveinconfidence.com 