Dear reader, today I’m going to share with you some of the biggest highlights from 2022 and invite you to do the same exercise for yourself.  If you don’t know this about me already, I am a HUGE advocate for self-reflection. It is one of the key tools I use in Food Freedom Coaching. 

Why? Because we are so good at focusing on the negative. The things we didn’t do. “Should” have done. “Could” have done better.

Which, quite frankly, isn’t very motivating, and doesn’t really help us move forward.

It’s important not to rush. I’ve just been quietly sitting back and watching everyone else’s highlight reels from the last year and from the holidays, and taking time to think about what my own highlights have been. Whilst appreciating the challenges I’ve worked through, and how they’ve helped me grow.

2022 Highlights (And what they mean to me)

1 – Working with my dream clients. I’ve been working so hard to achieve this ever since covid hit. I made the decision to specialise in helping women who are specifically struggling with disordered eating and eating disorders such as yoyo-dieting, binge-restrict cycles and bulimia. This work is intense, and requires much more than just nutrition coaching. But it has been the most rewarding work I have done in my career to date. I won’t be turning back.

2 – Living and working in Oman for almost 2 months – One of the hidden blessings of Covid was that it forced me to find a way to help women over Zoom. It was surreal to be able to still help my clients, whilst also spending time with my dad, getting to know a new culture, and making new friends.

3 – Being 29 and single for 3 months – As a woman who wants marriage, kids, all the things.. it wasn’t easy. (Aren’t we all meant to be married with kids and own houses by 30? “Am I really going to start again NOW?” but I truly felt like I came into my best version of myself after making that decision. Our best version of ourselves, I believe, is the version where we are living in alignment with our core values. I was in a relationship filled with love and passion, but compatibility of values was lacking. I basically learned the hard way that love is not enough for a healthy, happy stable relationship and life.

Although we are fully responsible for our actions, who we spend time with and what we consume on social media can drive us away from living by our values. It does this in a subtle way, so we may not notice that it is happening. Restrictive dieting, for example, might take you away from being present with your family, or stop you from socializing with friends. In the same way that if you spend a lot of time with someone who isn’t as adventurous, it could take you away from your value of adventure…

As an exercise, I invite you to regularly check in on your values, and then look at the way you are living your life.

If you value adventure – Are you doing novel things to satisfy this?

If you value health – are you taking the time to plan and prepare nourishing meals for yourself?

And take time to reflect on the highlight of this past year…

What were they, and why did it mean so much to you?

What was a hidden blessing from covid that became evident this year?

What values do you feel you need to align with more this year? (e.g. My values are things like – relationships, adventure, health, helping others..)

Final note:

Self-reflection is often something we struggle with because we don’t always know the best questions to ask. I hope this gives you a place to start, and helps you focus on those deeper wins, rather than just the highlight reels we are seeing on Instagram.

Much Love,

Your friend and coach x

Kim xx