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Thriving Through the Holidays

Thriving Through the Holidays ?? Welcome to Your Pocket Coach—the bi-weekly boost for leaders and ambitious minds! Every issue brings

Thriving Through the Holidays

🌱🧠 Welcome to Your Pocket Coach—the bi-weekly boost for leaders and ambitious minds! Every issue brings you one powerful idea to help tackle a common challenge, two practical exercises, and three resources enabling you to lead your life and career with confidence and energy.

Psssst…..The holidays are coming and if you are looking for a gift that goes deeper than what you can find in the store….you might want to consider gifting a one-on-one coaching session.

The gift that keeps growing (and returning on the investment). Reply to this email for more information.

Thriving Through the Holidays: Boundaries, Balance, and Joy

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Here’s what we focus on today:

Flourishing throughout the holiday season

Dear curious mind,

Before I dive into today’s topic, I want to express my gratitude for your support and feedback. I wouldn’t have been able to continue this newsletter without your messages, questions and encouragement.

Thank you for reading this newsletter every two weeks, sharing it and sending in questions.

And for being part of this journey.

While today is Thanksgiving in the United States—a day rooted in both traditions and a complex history—I also want to acknowledge that this time of year holds different meanings around the world.

Whether you’re observing the harvest festivals in Africa, like Umkhosi Wokweshwama in Zulu culture, celebrating a national holiday, or simply taking a moment to reflect, the universal themes of connection, gratitude, and rest unite us.

I’d love to hear how you celebrate or reflect during this time of year—what does it look like for you?

The past few days have been somewhat chaotic—between trying to juggle a never-ending to-do list, dealing with a broken electrical plug that almost caused a fire, and battling the flood of ideas in my head that I fear will vanish the moment I step away from my computer.

Holidays often bring this same mix of joy, chaos, and a healthy dose of self-imposed pressure.

This year, I’ve promised myself to change the script—to carve out moments of joy and presence, even when life feels overwhelming.

And I want to share how you can do the same, so you can thrive amidst the holiday buzz.

It starts with understanding that relaxing, having fun and being present makes you more productive and more impactful in the long run.

That also means letting go of holiday perfection.

Take a moment to pause. Reflect on a past holiday where you felt truly at peace. What made it special? Write it down or share it with someone next to you.

Then, consider: What boundaries or small actions could help recreate that atmosphere today?

What expectations are you trying to live up and are these expectations real or a story you have created for yourself.

This holiday season, I’m focusing on what truly matters: connection and joy.

Some of my fondest memories are of conversations in the kitchen, preparing for gatherings with loved ones. The laughter when someone ended up covered in chocolate glaze, or the chaos of a flour bag bursting and turning the kitchen into a snowy landscape. These moments weren’t about perfection—they were about togetherness and the stories we shared in between the mess.

Last week I was planning the first gathering of this season and felt that familiar pressure creeping in. Instead of giving in, I paused and asked myself: What really matters here? I let go of the need for everything to be just right. I ordered some of the food instead of cooking (and yes Costco also helped out) everything from scratch and invited guests to pitch in with the setup.

The result? A lighter, more relaxed experience where I could be fully present for the laughter and connection.

It’s these small mindset shifts that make all the difference. I hope that this helps you as well to find yours, so you can enjoy this season without sacrificing your peace.

Practical Holiday Group Exercises

1. Gratitude Chain

Each person shares something they’re thankful for, but with a twist: they must tie their gratitude to something someone else at the table has done or inspired.

Example: “I’m thankful for Mom teaching me to bake. Her apple pie always reminds me of home.”

This builds bonds and deepens gratitude within the people around you.

2. Holiday Highs and Lows

Ask each person to share:

Their favorite holiday memory (a high).
A funny or “disastrous” holiday moment (a low that became a laugh).
This creates a mix of heartfelt and humorous stories, lightening the mood while allowing everyone to share something personal.

“The only person you are destined to become is the person you decide to be today,” –

Ralph Waldo Emerson

3. Additional Resources:

Podcast Suggestion

why listen?

Take the imposter phenomenon (generally known as Syndrome) test.

Talk Suggestion

How To Approach Self-Development

Joe Hudson, the founder of Art of Accomplishment, teaches the three main things to consider when approaching the self-development journey: Gratitude, Experimentation, and Authenticity.

Podcast Recommendation

Flourishing unfiltered podcast

Tackling loneliness, self-doubt, and overwhelm in business – The podcast for high achievers who seek a professional life that feels as good as it looks and are tired of feeling like they’re the only ones struggling on their journey towards success.

An honest and inspiring podcast conversation about entrepreneurship and being the leader you need to be to fulfill your dreams.

No matter where you’re reading this, I hope this message helps you navigate the season with joy, boundaries, and purpose.

Thanks for your support and ‘see you’ in two weeks!

I currently have 2 open slots for 1:1 coaching. If you’d like to learn more, please reply to this email.

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