Are you ready to resign?
October 27 2023 4 min read
As an actor I have been trained to play many roles.
To create and step into the qualities of the characters I played, make decisions about who those characters were, what they stood for, what they struggled with.
It’s like a giant playground where I get to embody so many different people with completely different lives and circumstances. It’s inspiring, hard work. And I love it. But I can also leave it.
You see, the great thing about being an actor playing a role, is that there is a clear beginning and end.
From the moment you audition through to getting booked for the role, to playing the role and then wrapping it up at the end of the show.
Then you go on with your life until the next gig. You wipe your hands, put the costumes to bed and you walk away with your memories and your gratitude.
Lately I’ve been thinking about the many roles we play in our lives.
Mother, daughter, brother, friend, CEO, coach, influencer, executive, dog sitter, lover, partner, wife, husband, writer, designer, feminist, advocate, leader, follower, student, teachers…on and on. They are endless when you really sit and think about it.
Have you taken an inventory on all the roles you play in your life?
Some of these roles, we’re born into: youngest child, sister, only child, brother etc.
Some we choose for ourselves, much like I chose to become a professional actor, and a personal development coach for women, and a creative journal leader.
Then there are the roles we hoped we would play, maybe still do.
The woman who dreamed of being a novelist; the woman who wanted to be a mom; she who longed to be a painter, or a cellist, or a movie star; and what about the woman who quietly hoped she may one day find herself in the role of homeowner of her dream home on the water?
We wrote about this one in my current Fall Sessions Journal Group this week. About the roles we had hoped or wished we would play in our lives, but never did.
It’s easy to see how one could write from a place of regret, but in this case I encouraged them to write about those lost-roles from a place of honour. Writing in honour of the hopes and wishes we carried in our lives. It’s just a slight shift in perspective but it opened their minds to approaching this journal prompt in ways perhaps writing from regret might not have.
But what about the roles we find ourselves playing that we never actually asked for?
The roles that were given to us, covertly, overtly, who knows? The ones that keep us small and scared, or exhausted and resentful.
Regardless of how they got there, what alien may have implanted some microchip that assigned you the role of Family Fixer or whether it was passed on down to you from your parents and their parents and their parents, we all have them. Let me introduce you to a few…
Take On Too Much Tanya
Stay Small Sally
People Pleaser Patricia
Do Gooder Diane
Negative Nelly
Boundaryless Barb
PeaceKeeper Pam
You get the idea? And yes, the tongue in cheek is intentional because let’s face it, taking a look at the roles we have been playing that are actually hurting us, can be painful.
But nothing changes if we don’t first gain the awareness so you might as well have a little fun.
And now’s the part where I ask you, just I have been asking myself,
Is it time to resign myself from these roles?
If you’re lucky, maybe there’s only one role to resign from.
your answer is yes, then here’s a journal prompt for you:
What role(s) are you ready to resign from?
Write the resignation letter and don’t be shy about naming all your reasons for resigning.
I gave this journal prompt to my group and oh was it fun! The smiles on their faces and the creative responses that were shared made me realize this question has a lot of juicy power to it.
One woman wrote that, “I just resigned from being the Chief of the Fire Department in the City of Me and I am no longer taking on the responsibility of putting out other people’s fires.”
When she wrote further on this she saw all kinds of images of her discarding the heavy fire equipment off her body; the boots, the oxygen tanks, the coat, the firehose and saw herself running toward the beach, light, free, joyful.
Never underestimate the energy of a good writing prompt, your imagination and your willingness to play in what is possible.
Now, it does take some time and inner work to fully let yourself resign from that role or roles, because oooohhhh our patterns of behaviour are strong, and if you want help with that, we can chat as this is a core part of the work I do with my coaching clients.
But for now, and maybe it’s all you need, ask yourself what role(s) you are ready to resign from. Grab your journal, or go for a walk and let this percolate.
Because what I want you to really get is that you actually can resign.
I’d love to hear the title you come up with if you decide to have a bit of fun while you look at those roles you are ready to resign from,
Signing off,
Just-the-truth-Jenn
~ The Fall Journal Sessions for Women ~
Our last Fall Journal Session begins November 13th
“These prompts are so engaging and creative. I am loving our mornings together!” ~ Client
“I am realizing through these journal sessions that I just get to BE. I just get to be me. No striving, no doing, no pleasing. Just me with me and it feels so good.” ~ Client
“I love love love these journal workshops! I feel so inspired and it’s having an amazing positive impact on my days and my energy!” ~ Client
Ready for some inspiration? Come join us
Last Session - November 2023
Want to learn how to live as your authentic self? How to have more confidence and self-trust? Let’s talk!