Embracing Willingness – The Whisper that Opens the Door to Possibility
Happy New Year, Friends,
I don’t know about you, but I’ve never been big on New Year’s resolutions. I’m all for self-reflection and staying open to growth—I just don’t believe we need a specific day on the calendar to begin.
There’s never a perfect time for change. And most of the time, we don’t ever feel fully ready.
What I’ve come to believe matters most… is willingness.
In my own life, and in the journeys I’ve witnessed through my work, willingness is the doorway – to possibility, to change, to the life we dream about.
It’s the willingness to be vulnerable.
To explore what’s within.
To let go of what we’ve known in order to make room for what could be.
The thing is, that willingness doesn’t usually arrive like a roar that knocks down the door. It shows up more like a whisper. A quiet moment of pause. A hesitant hand reaching for the doorknob.
It’s not full of certainty.
It’s not full of confidence.
But it’s edged with softness, openness, and a hint of curiosity.
Maybe it sounds like:
“Could I be open to the idea that letting go of these beliefs and habits might make space for something better?”
“What might shift if I let alignment lead instead of fear?”
“Can I try something different—even if I don’t feel totally ready yet?”
It can feel challenging to notice willingness, since it often arrives right alongside reluctance:
“This feels too hard.”
“I don’t know if it’ll be worth it.”
“What if I mess up?”
And that makes sense. It’s a risk to let go of what we know, even when we’re aware it’s no longer what we want. The familiar—even when it hurts—can feel safer than the unknown. But there’s also a risk in staying exactly where we are. It’s just one we’re not used to naming.
We want to feel certain. We want proof it will work out before we leap. But change doesn’t work like that. Growth rarely comes with a guarantee.
And that’s why willingness is so powerful.
Because it opens the door even when we’re scared.
Because it says, “I may not feel ready, but I’m willing to begin.”
And the readiness tends to catch up.
Sometimes we feel stuck because we don’t know what to do – but often, it’s because we’re afraid of what we might feel.
So, whatever you want this year to feel like, here are some reflections to gently nurture that willingness:
Am I willing to feel what’s been avoided? Grief, hope, uncertainty, even joy. Emotions don’t disappear just because we ignore them.
Am I willing to begin again? Even when it’s uncomfortable. Especially when it is.
Am I willing to try? Not because I’m certain, but because I’m curious. Because I care.
Am I willing to get it “wrong?” Growth doesn’t require perfection. It just asks for participation.
Am I willing to soften how I see myself? I’m allowed to be both growing and worthy.
Am I willing to loosen my grip on what used to make sense? Letting go doesn’t mean it was wrong—it means I’m evolving. What served me then might not serve me now, and that’s okay.
Am I willing to believe that something good is still possible? Even when life feels heavy. Even when hope feels far away. Possibility doesn’t ask me to pretend things are easy—it asks me to leave space for more than what my fear expects.
Here’s to the quiet bravery of being willing.
To the softness it invites.
And to all the growth that becomes possible because of it.
With heartfelt gratitude,
Christina
