There are times in your life where you will be able to grow, challenge yourself and consciously improve your life and times to consolidate and just survive as best you can. It’s interesting though so many people get wrapped up in thinking that they should be growing and they should be spending time to make their lives better, but in reality, sometimes in life we really need to think about what’s important and sometimes we just need to knuckle down and get by as best we can.

The last 2 1/2 years has really been a consolidation phase for me. Laura is now 2 and a half and Dylan a little over one. Unfortunately I haven’t been blessed with the easiest babies in the world, but then show me a mother who has right! LOL. When Laura was really little I was whining to a friend about not being able to grow my business. I remember so clearly what she said “Jodie, your business will be there when the kids are a little older. You can’t expect to do everything so let go of growing it and just maintain it the best you can.” It was such sound advice and I still often think back to it when I start getting ahead of myself. (Which is quiet often!)

I often have days now when I feel like I’m coming out of that consolidation phase, when I feel like I can take the world by the horns and make it my oyster…. or something like that! I’m really looking forward to a new period of growth. I also have days however when I just have to take a deep breath and get through it as best I can.

It’s interesting though, that conversation with my friend over two years ago had such a massive impact on me and my business. What my friend actually did was give me permission to get by, permission to let go of striving and permission to just be me for a while and to let go of becoming a better person with a better business and a better life. It was really permission to focus on right now, and perhaps… that’s the best gift a friend can give.