November always invites reflection. It is the season of giving thanks but for me, it is also about getting honest.
This time of year, I find myself looking at what needs to be released just as much as what deserves my gratitude. And to be clear both matters. Because if we are holding on to what no longer fits and that means whether it is people, patterns, pride, or pressure we are crowding out the space God needs to do His work.
Let me say this plainly: not everything (or everyone) can go with you into the next season. And that is okay.
We spend so much of the year grinding and chasing goals, managing expectations, showing up for everyone else that we rarely stop to ask: What is God actually calling me to do right now? And more importantly, what is He asking me to surrender?
I will be the first to admit, that question is not always easy to confront or answer. But over and over again, God has reminded me that release is part of the blessing. That pruning comes before blooming. That making room in every way, mentally, emotionally, spiritually is not just productive, it is holy.
So, this November, I am choosing to let go of the things that wore me out this year. The pressure to be everything to everyone. The projects I said “yes” to out of guilt, not grace. The weight of proving myself in rooms God already qualified me to walk into.
And in their place? I’m giving thanks.
I am grateful for the clients who trusted me. The friends who spoke life into me. The family moments that reminded me what really matters. The quiet nudges from the Holy Spirit that said, “Keep going. I am with you.”
But most of all, I give thanks to God because every step I have taken this year, every door that opened (and even the ones that didn’t), every breath in my lungs is, ultimately, because of His goodness. Not mine. His.
We do not always talk about how messy growth can be. But I want to say this plainly to whoever is reading: You can be grateful and still be growing. You can be blessed and still be burdened. You can walk in faith and still have to fight for your peace.
That does not make you weak. It makes you real.
So, here is what I am carrying into the final stretch of the year:
A heart full of gratitude.
A mind focused on purpose.
A spirit willing to release what no longer aligns.
If you are like me, and November’s asking you to slow down, to look around, and to look within please listen. God may be preparing you for something new. But first, He might need you to let go of something old.
As always, I am walking in truth, rooted in grace, and giving God all the glory.
Let us all finish this year with clarity, courage, and hearts that are both thankful and ready. Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!
Sonya Ruff Jarvis is the Managing Member of Jarvis Consultants, LLC, bringing 30+ years of expertise in strategic development, marketing, event management, executive coaching, and board advisement for Fortune 500 companies and nonprofits. She is recognized for creating innovative business solutions, including a customer engagement program adopted globally to enhance attendance, exhibitor satisfaction, and loyalty at tradeshows. A four-time author, her works include Mindful Minutes: A Marketer's Journey Through Business. She holds an MBA from New York Institute of Technology and a BA from Hiram College, with international studies in Rome. Sonya resides in North Carolina with her husband and daughter.
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