To thrive and lead a fulfilling life, I believe we need to nurture the most important relationship in our life – the one we have with our Self! Thus, my intention here is to share with you matters I hope you’ll find useful to guide you on your journey to create a loving relationship with yourself and others, and to build a life you desire.

The new year already started, a blank canvas… let’s fill 2024 with wonderful experiences 💫

Let me begin by telling you how my year started…

In 2023 with a few friends we planned the perfect trip for the beginning of the new year. We were supposed to welcome it on a plane travelling to Vietnam. When preparing for the trip I thought: “Finally, I will break some patterns by celebrating on an unusual place and begin the year with a vacation, something I’ve never done before!” – forming an intention to make 2024 a year of firsts.

“If you want something you’ve never had, you must be willing to do something you’ve never done.” ― Thomas Jefferson

However, the universe unfolded a different script for us. It was a foggy early morning when we entered the plane full of enthusiasm for the journey awaiting us. After 3 hours being trapped without taking off, the harsh realization dawned upon us that the meticulously planned sequence of flights, culminating in our dreamy destination Phú Quốc — an island in Vietnam, was in jeopardy. Stress and uncertainty were piling up as the saga persisted for another 3 hours at the airport. A temporary relief came in the form of a transfer to a hotel for a brief rest, but shortly we were ushered back to the airport. After an agonizing delay that spanned over 15 hours, we finally took to the skies. Unfortunately, the first leg of our journey was not connected to the rest – so, the delay meant that we lost the rest of all our flights.

Exhausted and tested beyond our limits, we ended up spending a night in Istanbul searching for new flight tickets, and welcomed 2024 in a taxi en route to our hotel.

This special moment that carries a profound symbolic significance rooted in cultural and psychological traditions; the moment to which we count the seconds… when the old year turns into a new one marked by the stroke of midnight… the moment that is always filled with hope and optimism, that is charged with joy; this moment we give so much attention and power… well, for the first time in my life this very moment was filled with uncertainty and confusion. But, despite all the unfortunate circumstances, I felt an unexpected calmness inside.

As I was listening to the should haves and would haves of my friends, I couldn’t stop thinking – This is life. It is full of uncertainty! And, our task is to learn how to dance to its rhythm, which we can’t always anticipate or control! The ebb and flow of each moment, the unpredictable twists and the unforeseen turns are the very essence of our shared human journey.

No amount of complaining can change the present moment and what it brings. It is in this very now that we are offered the choice – to resist the unpredictable or to embrace it as an integral part of our story. It is up to us to decide how the circumstances we are given are going to affect us. What we are going to give power over us and what not!

• Is it worthy stressing over a missed flight? (or a missed opportunity)
• Is it worth it losing your mind over a thousand euros lost on a new flight ticket? (or anything else)
• Is it worthy frustrating yourself over what other people think of you?
• Is it worth it ruining your vacation (day/week/month) over a misfortunate circumstance?
• Is it worth it…. (fill in the blanks)?

I remember a sentence from “This is Us“, a TV series I watched a while ago:

“There’s no lemon so sour that you can’t make something resembling lemonade”

Each unpredictable turn is an opportunity to learn, to grow and to discover the depths of our resilience. It’s a call to step into the role of the storyteller, shaping our narrative not through resistance, but through the artful adaptation to life’s ever-changing plot.

Embracing uncertainty requires a shift in perspective – a recognition that within the unknown, the seeds of possibility are planted.

Instead of being daunted by the uncertainty, let us approach it with a sense of curiosity. Let’s see it as a playground for exploration and self-discovery. Every unexpected twist is a chance to tap into the vast reservoir of our potential, a reminder that within us resides the capacity to for anything that comes our way with grace and courage.

As we confront the uncertainties that life presents, let us also celebrate the beauty of its unpredictability. In the dance between order and chaos we find the magic of serendipity, the joy of spontaneous laughter and the thrill of unexpected encounters.

So, let us release the need for absolute certainty, understanding that the beauty of life lies in its impermanence, its surprises and its constant evolution. In doing so, we may find that within the uncertainty lies the alchemy of our own transformation – a journey marked not by the absence of challenges, but by our ability to rise and adapt to them.

As a coach, I invite you to see the new year not as a list of resolutions, but as a canvas for your self-discovery. It’s a canvas where the brushstrokes of courage, authenticity, curiosity, challenges, triumphs, defeats and growth create a masterpiece that is uniquely yours. This is your time to take a leap and dance with the rhythm of your aspirations.

Now, announcements,

• I am offering another Module 1 of the 2024 NLP Practitioner, live in Vienna on 23-25 February. And, a Macedonian group is being formed, too! I am wondering if you’ll enrol and dive into the magic of NLP to create a new life for yourself. Because you’ve got all the resources you need within you, are you ready to discover them? Get in touch!

• My coaching calendar for 2024 is now open! Maybe you haven’t, maybe you have already thought how coaching help you elevate your life. This is your time to take that leap.

Finally,

We made it to Vietnam after 3 days of travelling. No, we didn’t travel on a donkey, even though it felt like we did 🙂 We laughed and fought with my friends. We tasted delicious food. I did a solo leg of the journey and travelled 700 km across Vietnam with a train. I met beautiful people. The weather was not always perfect, but as my skin soaked the rain, my eyes and ears soaked the beauty and sounds around me. It was amazing and I am grateful it happened with all the twists and turns.

Yes, the year began with many firsts and broken patterns – hope there are many more to come 💫

To close,

My message for the month of January is:

Embrace each moment and make the most of it.

With love,

Viktoria ❤️