Happy Birthday to Me! Reflections on my past year and hopes for the future

In this special birthday episode, Janessa Storlie offers an honest and vulnerable reflection as she turns 33 on September 3rd. As a self-proclaimed Virgo who loves to have everything planned out, she shares that her past year was filled with a lot of change, transition, and disappointment. She dives into what she calls the "messy middle"—a challenging transition period where you are shedding a previous version of yourself to move on to a new one. Janessa hopes to bring more peace and forward momentum into this new year of life.

Despite the difficulties, Janessa has a lot to celebrate from the past year. She graduated with her Master's in Organizational Leadership, a big milestone for someone who grew up in a rural community. She also relaunched the podcast. She's grateful for the change and growth in her marriage and for becoming more in tune with her emotions.

The episode's core is a raw discussion about the pain and isolation of the messy middle. Janessa shares her struggles with high expectations and the desire to blame external circumstances when things don't go as planned. She's learning difficult but crucial lessons about acceptance, forgiveness, and trust, particularly the need to release control to a higher power.

For anyone else going through a messy middle, Janessa offers a powerful message of encouragement. She reminds listeners that they are not alone and that they still have the ability to learn, grow, and take small steps forward. She emphasizes the importance of using this introspective time to set healthy boundaries and prioritize self-care to protect your peace.

Key Takeaways from this episode:

• Birthdays are a time for reflection and celebration. Take the time to look at what you’ve experienced and what you want to see moving forward.

• The "messy middle" is a natural part of growth. It is the difficult, in-between time where you shed a previous version of yourself to move into a new one.

• Releasing control is essential. Letting go of the need for an exact plan and trusting that you are being guided can provide a sense of freedom.

• Pain can be a catalyst. You have the power to move forward in your desires, even while experiencing pain and emotional exhaustion.

• Practice self-care and set boundaries. The messy middle is a time to become introspective and protect your peace by giving yourself the space you need to grow.

Connect with Janessa!

If this episode resonated with you and you're also navigating your own messy middle, Janessa would love to hear from you. You don't have to do this alone.

• DM on Instagram: [@JanessaStorlie]

• Connect on LinkedIn: [Janessa J Storlie]