I had a call that brought up something I want to share with everyone. On the call, let’s call him Ethan, came to me for accountability, strategy, and someone to call out his blind spots.
It was the end of the year and he was adamant that this year would be his “new year, new me” moment.
And I totally get it; I’ve been there.
But in addition to accountability, strategy, and calling out blind spots, I offered him something better than “new year, new me.” And today I’m going to share it with you too.
I want to talk about editing your life.
Not fixing yourself. Not optimizing your schedule. Not becoming a shinier you.
Editing.
Like a ruthless, loving editor who looks at a messy draft and says:
The problem isn’t the writer.
The problem is the clutter.
What needs to go?
Most self-help junkies are experts at “upgrading themselves.” And this time of year, the self-help industrial complex slides into your inbox with new things you add to your life to make it better.
But I take a slightly different approach before we get to that.
Before you upgrade your life, you need to first remove what’s in the way:
- People who drain your energy
- Organizations you’re no longer aligned with
- Subscriptions that you don’t even use
- Habits that keep you stuck
This is grounded in psychology: when you’re always fixing yourself, you’re implying you’re the problem.
Editing asks a better question:
“What needs to be removed, reduced, or renegotiated so that the current version of me can actually thrive?”
This is a very different energy than trying to manufacture a “better” you who will still have to manage the same unedited life.
How to edit
I’m going to give you a selection of my go-to prompts that I use with my clients to help get you started.
1. Edit your obligations
Look at your weekly schedule the way an editor looks at a paragraph:
- What’s necessary?
- What’s padding?
- What’s there because you’re scared to say no to it?
If you weren’t scared of disappointing anyone, what would you remove from your calendar? Start there.
2. Edit your inputs
Your mindset is shaped by what you consume. If you spend three hours a day scrolling Instagram, you’re giving away your valuable time, energy, and attention into other people’s lives and their “likes.”
Not to mention the sponsored ads…
Ask yourself: What am I consuming that quietly convinces me that I’m not enough? Are there better things I can be doing with my time?
Unfollow. Mute. Delete.
You don’t need a better mindset to tolerate garbage. You just need less garbage.
3. Edit your roles
A lot of you are overbooked in the “supporting actor” role:
- The helpful friend
- The responsible partner
- The guy who answers a 2 AM “you up?” text
It’s fine to be a supporting role in someone else’s life, but don’t forget: you’re the main character in your own life. Prioritizing your needs isn’t selfish, it’s self-respect in action.
Make sure you’re meeting your needs- not just everyone else’s.
There’s more where these came from
If you’re feeling the editing vibes, I’ve opened a couple limited discovery call spots for this month. First come, first served. Book yours here.
Upgrading vs. editing
Don’t get me wrong, I love an upgrade story.
Leaving my 13-year career in wealth management to become a solopreneur life coach was one of the biggest reinventions I’ve ever made. (You can read more about my story, here.)
So yes, reinvention is one of my fave things to coach.
You can’t build a new life with the same old patterns that trapped you in this one.
Before you add, subtract. Before you create, edit.
If you want to take it a step further, the Wellismo 360 Self-Review is designed for you. Check it out here.
