What Are You Making Room For?
Have you ever opened a closet to put something away and realized there was no room for it?
You know what happens next. You push a few things aside, balance the new thing on top, and promise yourself you’ll clean it out later.
We can do the same thing with our calendars, our businesses, and our lives. We say we want stronger relationships, a healthier team, or time to pursue a new opportunity. Then we try to squeeze those things into space already occupied by commitments we haven’t stopped to examine.
If you want something to grow, you have to give it room.
Think about an apple for a moment. You can count the seeds inside it. What you can’t count is how many orchards might grow from those seeds. That possibility is exciting, and it asks something of us. A seed needs a place to grow, attention along the way, and time before we see the fruit.
I believe we sow what we have hope in. We invest our time, energy, and attention in what we believe has a future. The question is whether our daily choices match what we say we’re hoping for. If I hope for a team that takes ownership, am I giving people room to make decisions? If I hope for deeper relationships, am I making time to be present? If I hope to grow as a leader, am I protecting time to learn?
Hope is a wonderful beginning. Intentionality helps us act on it.
Don’t let other people plan your life.
That may sound a little strong, especially if you’re someone who loves helping people. I do, too. Still, every time we say yes, we give some of our time to that person or purpose. When we keep saying yes without considering what matters most, our calendars can gradually fill with everyone else’s priorities.
Take a look at what you’ve agreed to carry. Which commitments still fit your values and mission? Which ones did you say yes to in a different season of life or business? What have you outgrown?
Outgrowing something doesn’t mean it was a mistake. A role, routine, or way of working may have served you and others well for years. You can be grateful for that season and recognize that it’s time for a change.
Clearing clutter can mean having a conversation.
Sometimes the clutter is a meeting or a task that no longer has a purpose. Sometimes it’s an expectation that was never clearly discussed. And sometimes a working relationship needs an honest look because the way you’re working together no longer supports the mission.
People deserve care and respect in those conversations. They also deserve clarity. If a responsibility has changed, say so. If someone needs support to grow into a role, offer it. If it’s time to work together differently, have the conversation you’ve been putting off. Avoiding it can take up more space than we realize.
As you look toward the end of the year, ask yourself: What must I make room for? Maybe it’s time with your family. Maybe it’s developing the leaders around you, serving clients in a new way, or finally pursuing an idea you keep setting aside. Name what matters, then choose one thing you can change this month to give it space.
There may be more possibility in what you’re carrying than you can see right now. Imagine what could grow if you gave the right seeds room to take root.
I’d love to walk alongside you on the journey. Please reach out. I look forward to chatting with you soon!
Kris
Comments