What’s in your 2024 rearview mirror and 2025 windshield?
This episode takes a look backwards in 2024 (the rearview mirror) and what’s ahead (through the windshield) for 2025.
Margaret and David aren’t fans of making resolutions. But they are all about being intentional about who you want to BE in the coming year.
Tune in to hear them discuss their personal journeys of acceptance and leadership in 2024.
Margaret’s 2024 “rearview”: Accepting a Challenging Relationships
Margaret reflects on accepting her complicated relationship with her late father, who passed away last October. Despite their sometimes difficult history, she is proud that she embraced acceptance towards the end. She was able to let go of judgment and expectations — and that transformed their relationship dynamic. This allowed them to find peace together before his passing.
David acknowledges Margaret’s intentionality in this process.
They consider the topic of acceptance through a leadership lens. All of us have difficult relationships. But when we keep expecting someone else to change or do something different, we are the ones who are constantly upset and disappointment.
Sometimes our work is not to expect a different outcome. Because if we are able to accept people as they are, rather than trying to change them, we can often discover surprising gifts.
David Celebrates a Triumphant Quest
David shared his experience of receiving his black belt in jujitsu last month. His journey took 9-years and around 9,000 sparring rounds.
He highlighted the importance of perseverance and grit.
“You never really know what you’re getting into until you get into it,” David reflects. He shares that the journey was filled with a lot of blood (literal blood), sweat and tears. It was frequently not fun.
Our hosts wonder: what are the leadership lessons he learned from sticking with something that isn’t always enjoyable? They explore the value of knowing when to persevere versus when to change course — and what might lead to break-downs or break-throughs.
David encourages listeners to reflect on their past year and identify and acknowledge themselves for something they are most proud of.
Looking Ahead to 2025: Exploring Words for the New Year
Margaret and David discussed their respective words for the upcoming year (2025). They choose words to help them aspire to how they want to BE in the coming year.
Margaret recounts doing a process with one of her teachers, Rachael Jayne Groover, and received the word “spaciousness.” David opted for the word “patience.”
They explored the meanings and implications of these words. Margaret saw “spaciousness” as a call to cultivate qualities that open up space, such as curiosity and self-management.
David, on the other hand, saw “patience” as a way to navigate the uncertainty of the upcoming year. David is aware that there is a gap now that he met his black belt goal, and that gap will require his patience. He draws inspiration from his father’s peaceful and patient nature.
They concluded the conversation by encouraging others to reflect on their own words for the year and share them in the comments of their upcoming LinkedIn post.