I truly believe your words were meant to find me today Carmen, thank you! ✨ My dream is to go freelance this year with my writing and for the last couple of days my mood has been low and I’ve had lingering thoughts on when will it finally be my turn? I’m trying to be patient but also know the things are happening beneath the surface that I need to trust in 🤍
All lovely so glad these words found you today! Without knowing your setup of current job and what going freelance could look like (on the side or as a replacement), I’d say keep trusting and putting baby steps in front of each other. Without overwhelming yourself, can you gently explore 1. What makes you excited about freelance 2. who your dream clients would be 3. How to reach them 4. what tiny thing you can do today to get out of the freeze it sounds like you’re in 💕 journaling and dreaming is so helpful in this season to slowly get ideas. I’d say there’s no need to make fast decisions, take extra good care of yourself as you explore what 2025 can bring xx
Thank you so much! These are such great tips! 🤍 The issue I’m facing at the moment is I don’t have a huge amount of savings to be able to leave altogether and focus solely on building my own freelance career.. but freelancing will have conflicting interests with my current role, so I don’t think doing them alongside each other would be possible.
I love the idea of taking it slow and working on what I can in the meantime until I’m ready to take the leap xx
Oh gosh I loved every word. Thank you @jenna for I love when from one thread leads to another and we are all connecting one by one. Yes to all of it !!!! Thank you Carmen for this generous share of love. Watering seeds of dreams on the shelves.
As I read the first sentence of your newsletter, I realised that I did end up burning myself out in January. It was tough to step out of a restful season into total chaos. But I made it through (with a weak eyesight though :/
I too have dared to limit my dreams because of the fear that I would fail. But experience tells me that it’s good to fail than not try at all. We can achieve way more than we think we are capable of. We just have to learn to NOT listen to people (sometimes our inner voice) who make us question if it’s possible.
It’s so much easier to burn ourselves out than to take good care of us, right? Especially when we have a corporate job that takes so much energy and time. Celebrating you for realising how January went and trying in the new month to take steps in the right direction to slow down where possible.
And you’re so right, we can achieve so much, we just don’t know because we haven’t been there yet. That’s scary but so worth the ride as learnings always await no matter how things go
Such an inspiring post; thank you for sharing 🙏✨ I think that so many of us have been conditioned not to dream big in this way, because somehow, it’s showing off, seeking more than we deserve etc. It’s definitely a journey, and we only have one life in which to walk that pathway 🌿
You’re so right David, it’s really the culture around us that shapes us and the way we show up for our dreams. I do think the American dream for example makes people speak more openly about their goals and are maybe more confident, it’s part of the culture to achieve what you want. (Of course also comes with other downsides that country, culture). Vs in the UK people never really talk about achievements and always downplay themselves and stay small. It was such a shock to me when I lived there. I do think in Germany in some aspects it’s different from both other countries once more
Love everything about the mantra “what if it works?!” It’s the only way I’ve achieved anything haha just got to be stubborn in believing that it may actually work!! And many times it unexpectedly does ✨🙏🏼
This piece has me pondering: If our dreams were sentient beings, how would we treat them? Would we nurture them with care and attention, or would we neglect and dismiss them? Perhaps our dreams yearn for the same love and acceptance that we do. This is a profound perspective that has never occurred to me before, and I will be reflecting on it for some time.
Alexander I always am so grateful for your thoughtful comments and reflections. Makes me wonder too, what would we do, how would we treat them. Have you had any new ideas in the meantime?
Ahhh I love this so much, as this totally stopped me in my tracks: "But what if the only thing holding us back is the size of everyone’s belief?"
Honestly my big dream is to retire my husband from his teaching career ( he's burnt out as so many other educators are). I'd also love to take a work sabbatical in 2026 with my family traveling around the world.
Sarah I absolutely love your big dream and the fact it’s about someone else makes it even more special! Working in Education is tough, I’ve been there, done it, left burnt out and without savings as salaries aren’t great. Keeping my fingers crossed for your sweet family, also for your travels! X
Yup, I too burned out from education. I do miss teaching the kiddos. We’re chipping away slowly at this dream, so it will happen, even if the specifics of what I’d like will be different!
Hahaha I love your humour so when you comment I’m sometimes not sure if this is sarcasm or humour or a serious compliment 😂🫣 a mix is always good especially when I was also laughing about my own Canva skills. My husband always complaints that I don’t get jokes and can’t tell good jokes lol
hahahaha nooo I am serioussssss!! I am very lazy by nature and would never go out of my way to type something untrue/hurtful/that has no reason to be said out oud. You ARE very cool and the topic of this post was spot on (and let's be honest, Canva is great but it takes a bit to get a hang of!)
I was just going to say the same thing as Jenna. After quite the hiatus I returned to Substack yesterday with a new article. I've changed course for my publication - and seeing your words pop up in my inbox now feels almost eery. Beautifully written and so inspirational - thank you ⭐
I truly believe your words were meant to find me today Carmen, thank you! ✨ My dream is to go freelance this year with my writing and for the last couple of days my mood has been low and I’ve had lingering thoughts on when will it finally be my turn? I’m trying to be patient but also know the things are happening beneath the surface that I need to trust in 🤍
All lovely so glad these words found you today! Without knowing your setup of current job and what going freelance could look like (on the side or as a replacement), I’d say keep trusting and putting baby steps in front of each other. Without overwhelming yourself, can you gently explore 1. What makes you excited about freelance 2. who your dream clients would be 3. How to reach them 4. what tiny thing you can do today to get out of the freeze it sounds like you’re in 💕 journaling and dreaming is so helpful in this season to slowly get ideas. I’d say there’s no need to make fast decisions, take extra good care of yourself as you explore what 2025 can bring xx
Thank you so much! These are such great tips! 🤍 The issue I’m facing at the moment is I don’t have a huge amount of savings to be able to leave altogether and focus solely on building my own freelance career.. but freelancing will have conflicting interests with my current role, so I don’t think doing them alongside each other would be possible.
I love the idea of taking it slow and working on what I can in the meantime until I’m ready to take the leap xx
As someone who has gone freelance, what you're feeling is totally normal! Sending you best wishes.
Aw Sarah, thank you so much!
Oh gosh I loved every word. Thank you @jenna for I love when from one thread leads to another and we are all connecting one by one. Yes to all of it !!!! Thank you Carmen for this generous share of love. Watering seeds of dreams on the shelves.
Thanks so much for being here, Suzu! I loved @jennas idea of watering dreams on the shelf too!
As I read the first sentence of your newsletter, I realised that I did end up burning myself out in January. It was tough to step out of a restful season into total chaos. But I made it through (with a weak eyesight though :/
I too have dared to limit my dreams because of the fear that I would fail. But experience tells me that it’s good to fail than not try at all. We can achieve way more than we think we are capable of. We just have to learn to NOT listen to people (sometimes our inner voice) who make us question if it’s possible.
Loved the post!✨
It’s so much easier to burn ourselves out than to take good care of us, right? Especially when we have a corporate job that takes so much energy and time. Celebrating you for realising how January went and trying in the new month to take steps in the right direction to slow down where possible.
And you’re so right, we can achieve so much, we just don’t know because we haven’t been there yet. That’s scary but so worth the ride as learnings always await no matter how things go
Such an inspiring post; thank you for sharing 🙏✨ I think that so many of us have been conditioned not to dream big in this way, because somehow, it’s showing off, seeking more than we deserve etc. It’s definitely a journey, and we only have one life in which to walk that pathway 🌿
You’re so right David, it’s really the culture around us that shapes us and the way we show up for our dreams. I do think the American dream for example makes people speak more openly about their goals and are maybe more confident, it’s part of the culture to achieve what you want. (Of course also comes with other downsides that country, culture). Vs in the UK people never really talk about achievements and always downplay themselves and stay small. It was such a shock to me when I lived there. I do think in Germany in some aspects it’s different from both other countries once more
Love everything about the mantra “what if it works?!” It’s the only way I’ve achieved anything haha just got to be stubborn in believing that it may actually work!! And many times it unexpectedly does ✨🙏🏼
❤️✨💃
This piece has me pondering: If our dreams were sentient beings, how would we treat them? Would we nurture them with care and attention, or would we neglect and dismiss them? Perhaps our dreams yearn for the same love and acceptance that we do. This is a profound perspective that has never occurred to me before, and I will be reflecting on it for some time.
Alexander I always am so grateful for your thoughtful comments and reflections. Makes me wonder too, what would we do, how would we treat them. Have you had any new ideas in the meantime?
Ahhh I love this so much, as this totally stopped me in my tracks: "But what if the only thing holding us back is the size of everyone’s belief?"
Honestly my big dream is to retire my husband from his teaching career ( he's burnt out as so many other educators are). I'd also love to take a work sabbatical in 2026 with my family traveling around the world.
Sarah I absolutely love your big dream and the fact it’s about someone else makes it even more special! Working in Education is tough, I’ve been there, done it, left burnt out and without savings as salaries aren’t great. Keeping my fingers crossed for your sweet family, also for your travels! X
Yup, I too burned out from education. I do miss teaching the kiddos. We’re chipping away slowly at this dream, so it will happen, even if the specifics of what I’d like will be different!
great canva skills and great pep talk!! !! :) you're always so cool
Hahaha I love your humour so when you comment I’m sometimes not sure if this is sarcasm or humour or a serious compliment 😂🫣 a mix is always good especially when I was also laughing about my own Canva skills. My husband always complaints that I don’t get jokes and can’t tell good jokes lol
hahahaha nooo I am serioussssss!! I am very lazy by nature and would never go out of my way to type something untrue/hurtful/that has no reason to be said out oud. You ARE very cool and the topic of this post was spot on (and let's be honest, Canva is great but it takes a bit to get a hang of!)
😂😂❤️❤️ never thought you’d be hurtful. Thanks lovely, so great to be connected here
I was just going to say the same thing as Jenna. After quite the hiatus I returned to Substack yesterday with a new article. I've changed course for my publication - and seeing your words pop up in my inbox now feels almost eery. Beautifully written and so inspirational - thank you ⭐
Yayyy celebrating you Jen! Welcome back!
Thanks so much Carmen!
Proof of the power of the mind ❤️