A big sigh to release 2021

By Kerryn Vaughan

22nd December 2021

I don’t know about you, but so many people I’ve worked with this year have told me that for the entire year (and 2020) they have felt like they’ve been holding their breath. Me too! On so many occasions I’ve literally noticed that I can’t even feel my lungs expanding. 

Thankfully we have a sighing reflex that kicks in to keep us alive. Did you know we sigh every 5 minutes? Neither did I until I read this great article from Science Alert. 

As the article states, we have been raised to consider sighing rude so we feel a little awkward when we do it. But maybe we should do it even more. Perhaps not in front of people when they’re talking to us, but to intentionally make the space for sighing.

In all honesty, 2021 hasn’t been easy and often it has felt like a totally trashed party that still went ahead even though nobody turned up. But living in constant annoyance with it doesn’t do us any good either. In fact it’s doing us more harm than we can imagine, physically, mentally and emotionally.

I’m not a medical expert and nor do I wish to be, but I reckon the best end of year gift we can give ourselves is a few good days of massive sighs to release the year that was. Accept it for what it was, accept that next year will be what it will be, and give yourself a break.

So as we transition into 2022, plan to rewrite your story despite how the environment around you unfolds. Take back your power, let this year go with some bloody big sighs, and leap into next year with love in your heart and gusto in your stride.

I look forward to joining you there!

Kerryn Vaughan is the author of ‘Magnificent Kids!’ and ‘Get Off The Bench!’, founder of One Planet Classrooms, co-founder of Girls With Hammers, and host of Get Off The Bench Podcast.

Kerryn is also a DISC ADVANCED® accredited consultant.