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About a year and a half ago I had an idea that I would create a journal. I had been using a few different systems to track and document my thoughts, feelings, to-do lists and goals, but not one that was super great or covered everything I was looking for.
At the time, I was a nonprofit director of a well-regarded organization and my team and I were doing some pretty cool things. I was excited by our work and the organizational shift I was leading. And in other ways, I was overwhelmed, exhausted and uninspired.
Uninspired. This word was frequenting my journal almost daily.
My journaling practices were supporting me with keeping things together, but I felt like I couldn’t quite get ahead of the work. I was in constant search mode for a tool that would help me take things to the next level with productivity and organization.
In my personal life, I was and continue working toward being debt-free. I was struggling with a lot of physical pain that was preventing me from running, which became a debilitating cycle of pushing myself to run and injuring myself.
I felt like I was struggling a lot and couldn't get a grip on all of the things. Things were seriously out of whack. I was having panic attacks, crying myself to sleep many nights and had no idea that what I was experiencing was deeply rooted in grief which was triggering depression.
It took me about 9 months to come to the conclusion that I was going to leave the nonprofit to feed my soul with more purposeful and inspiring work. It wasn’t a linear process though.
In January, I took sabbatical and expected to go back to work replenished. Instead, I ended up getting clear about how I was going to take my health back and only replenished enough to literally go back to work. I quickly realized it wasn’t going to work for me anymore.
I left my job in July and have been freelance hustling since, working toward the development of a consulting firm that supports women with a process-driven, holistic approach to strategic planning. More on this soon.
Meanwhile, in May, I’d begun to think again about designing a journal that would meet my growing goals and needs. In August, I started designing it and in October a group of beta users were working with it.
Welcome Clarity Pages.
In it’s current form, Clarity Pages is a printable journal that spans 13 weeks, or a 1/4 year. Included is a Goal Getting system, arguably my favorite of the pages. Though, I’m in love with Hello Week and Goodbye Week too.
This tool has literally helped me work though big and small goals, all the little decisions and actions necessary.
I’m happy to report that I no longer experience pain or anxiety like I did this time last year. I’m truly inspired and excited to get to work every day, and feel crystal clear that I’m on the right path. A path I’ve chosen, which is a real first for me.
My hope is that the Clarity Pages provide people with a feeling of support and guidance. I hope you they go get the goals they’ve been daydreaming about for longer than they care to admit.