At the end of 2022, I spent some time reflecting on insights from self-growth work, the Abundium team and wonderful community that emerged for me throughout the year.
In our spirit of give forward I thought to put fingers to the keyboard and share my reflections. I’d love to hear what you have learnt in 2022 and if you have set key intentions for 2023.
I set the intention of ‘rise’ as my NY evolution for 2022, a process inspired by Rich, our CEO who chooses a word or a phrase that becomes an intention for the year ahead. This then acts as a guide for how we choose to respond to the world around us to be a better, more evolved, version of ourselves. For me this has meant choosing courage over comfort when presented with opportunities for growth including facilitating more community experiences and skilling up in the area of decarbonization.
What could be your NY Evolution for 2023?
I have enjoyed running in 2022 and set some race goals where I realised the joy in having a performance goal as well as an experience goal. Taking this approach to really enjoy the experience of running around Sydney’s beautiful landmarks enabled me to take in the views and energy. A highlight was running in the Blackmore half marathon where I had fun running over the iconic Harbour bridge with Abundium community member Dan Agnew and managed to hit my performance goal too.
Here's to 2023 where Tricky and I have entered the full Sydney marathon and will be sure to have fun along the way!
“Gratitude can transform any situation. It alters your vibration, moving you from negative energy to positive. It’s the quickest, easiest most powerful way to effect change in your life — this I know for sure.” Oprah Winfrey.
With 2022 bringing some tougher times for our family, I found gratitude an even more important practice. I was recommended the ‘Happy Feed’ gratitude journal app (thanks Sam Hansen from our community!) where you can add photos each day when reflecting on moments of gratitude. It’s great to then look back at these when you are having a low moment. I’m very grateful to Tricky, aka my work husband for all his support this year.
”When you are grateful, fear disappears and abundance appears.” ~ Tony Robbins.
I loved our Abundium community recap written by Bre, our Head of Comms earlier this year reflecting on the value of injecting more fun into our lives. She paid forward a TED talk where Science Journalist Catherine Price shares that, far from being frivolous, fun is actually a critical part of a fulfilling, healthy life. Catherine shares that true fun is made up of three components: playfulness, connection, and flow.
I’m grateful to the Abundium team and community for an abundance of true fun in 2022.
Elbrie, our Cief of Staff, joined the Abundium team in 2022 and shared a practice to remind us to take the time in an abundant schedule to stop and take a moment to look up or out at the beautiful world around us. This was echoed in our Masterclass with Professor Megan Reitz where she challenged us to create a sense of spaciousness in our pathologically busy lives.
This was a mantra I was working with whilst on a ‘workcation’ in Jindabyne after I noticed by ‘maximiser’ tendency had me rushing around. As a friend shared, “rushing steals all joy”. This quote from the late Thich Nhat Hanh really resonated for me and made me more mindful of my contact with the earth (on a good day!). “When we walk like (we are rushing), we print anxiety and sorrow on the earth. We have to walk in a way that we only print peace and serenity on the earth... Be aware of the contact between your feet and the earth. Walk as if you are kissing the earth with your feet.”
What is a mantra / affirmation that could help you with something?
When you are connected to what you love and who you love you are more successful. This was a sentiment shared at a ‘Purpose Driven Leadership, Daring Greatly’ Abundium Special Dialogue with our previous NSW Premier Mike Baird, now CEO at Hammond Care in the Age Care sector. I have found this true in my life and career.
“The most important things in life are the connections you make with others” Tom Ford
“Stop the world. Seize the moment.” Come from Away.
We were treated to a wonderful experience to see Come From Away recently. It’s a remarkable true story of thousands of stranded passengers in the small town in Newfoundland after 9/11, 2001 when the world stopped and Canada welcomed all. An emotive journey as anxiety ran high and cultures clashed yet humanity prevailed with amazing acts of kindness growing enduring friendships.
A great reminder to #choosekindness which is a legacy of Amy Chang who has transitioned from Abundium to explore her next life chapter.
I was also most grateful to my colleague, Andrew, recently who showed selfless kindness when my husband had to have emergency eye surgery.
“The sole meaning of life is to serve humanity.” – Leo Tolstoy.
“Let’s push the ambition in the ANZ region and go beyond our global HQ targets, we cannot sit at the desk and do this alone.” This was a sentiment shared in one of our Abundium Leapfrog connect calls for trailblazing ANZ multinational leaders wishing to drive bold and ambitious action to fast track the transition to net zero. The Abundium team have been feeling really inspired by bold and ambitious action from our multinational leadership community this year including Polestar’s Electric Roadster 6 LA Concept edition.
Over the last few months, I have been leaning into my spirituality including reading and listening to Michael Singer, Gabrielle Bernstein, Oprah’s Super Soul and recently the Tao Te Ching. A recurring theme is the power of surrendering to the universe. I have found this liberating.
For me abundance is letting go of fear and choosing love which helps us create the space to receive from the Universe.
I’m looking forward to more surrendering and journalling in 2023 using the 365 miracles daily journal from a course in miracles.