As the year comes to a close, I’ve been reflecting on what truly matters in my life and what’s been holding me back. Someone who inspires me once said, "If you want a new car, you need to make room in your garage." That wisdom hit me deeply. It reminded me that we must intentionally clear out what no longer serves us to make space for the big things we know are coming.

This season, I’ve committed to making room in my life for the things I want—not just material things but dreams, growth, and the kind of energy that fosters fulfillment. Clearing space isn’t just about physical clutter; it’s about letting go of negative energy, unproductive habits, and even relationships that no longer align with the person I am becoming.

This doesn’t mean I’m aiming for constant happiness or perfection. It means leaning into my faith and trusting that everything happening in my life is guiding me toward where I’m meant to be. I won’t sugarcoat it—this process is as petrifying as it is exciting. Growth often feels uncomfortable, but I’ve learned that those moments when I push through my fear are when the real magic happens.

If you’re ready to make room in your life for your dreams, here are a few tips to get started, along with how I’ve personally implemented them myself:

1. Take Inventory of Your Life
​Grab a journal or sit quietly and reflect: What in your life is no longer serving you? This could be physical clutter, negative thoughts, toxic relationships, or routines that drain your energy. Write them down and visualize what your life could feel like without them.

What I Do:
Every December, I review my gratitude journal to reflect on what brought me joy and what drained me. This practice helps me identify what to carry into the new year and what to leave behind. For example, this year, I realized that certain commitments I kept making were just taking up way too much of my energy without aligning with my long-term goals, so I decided to let them go.

2. Let Go Gracefully
Releasing the old isn’t always easy, but it’s necessary. Start small by clearing one area at a time—maybe your closet, your schedule, or even your mindset. Remind yourself that letting go doesn’t erase the past but makes room for your future.

What I Do:
As I reflected on what I truly wanted my 2025 to look like, I realized that some of the trips I had booked for this year no longer aligned with my goals. While canceling them wasn’t an easy decision, it felt necessary to make room for events and opportunities that are more productive and in line with my vision for the future. By prioritizing what matters most and letting go of the unnecessary, I’ve been able to create space for growth and focus on what will truly move the needle in both my personal and professional life. It’s a reminder that sometimes saying "no" is the most powerful way to say "yes" to what’s ahead.


3. Replace Negative Energy with Positive Intentions
Clearing space isn’t just about removal; it’s about replenishment. Surround yourself with things and people that inspire and uplift you. Fill your time with activities that align with your goals and values. Replace worry with hope, and doubt with faith.

What I Do:
After clearing my physical and mental space, I use affirmations and vision boards to set positive intentions. For example, I recently updated my vision board with images and quotes that reflect the personal and professional growth I’m working toward. This visual reminder helps me stay focused on the positive energy I want to cultivate.

4. Embrace the Discomfort
Growth is often uncomfortable, but it’s also rewarding. When fear creeps in, remind yourself that feeling petrified is part of the process. It means you’re stepping into something bigger than yourself. Celebrate your bravery, even in the smallest steps.

What I Do:
When I face something that makes me feel uncomfortable or nervous, I remind myself that those feelings are often a sign that it’s exactly what I need to do. Instead of avoiding the discomfort, I acknowledge it and lean into it, knowing that growth only happens outside of my comfort zone. I focus on the bigger picture and how each uncomfortable step gets me closer to my goals. Whether it’s speaking in front of a crowd, attending events where I feel out of place, or taking on new challenges, I push forward by reframing my nervousness as excitement and reminding myself that the most rewarding experiences often start with a little fear.


5. Lean Into Faith
Trust the journey, even when it feels uncertain. Faith isn’t about having all the answers; it’s about believing in the process. Whenever doubt arises, remind yourself that everything is unfolding as it should, leading you toward your purpose.

What I Do:
When I feel overwhelmed by the unknown, I return to my gratitude journal and write down three things I’m thankful for. This practice helps me refocus on what I have instead of what I lack. I also turn to prayer or meditation to ground myself and lean into my faith. These moments remind me that I don’t need to have all the answers right now—I just need to trust the process. Trusting the process is one of the most important pieces many of us forget when we are starting our journey, but please know, no one has all the answers. You have to lean into your faith.

Why Making Room Matters
When we hold onto what no longer serves us, we limit the capacity for new opportunities to flow into our lives. By making room, we signal to the universe—and to ourselves—that we are ready to receive. Whether it’s a new job, a relationship, or personal growth, clearing space creates the foundation for transformation.
As we step into a new year, I’m choosing to trust that clearing out the old will make space for the incredible things waiting for me. I’m petrified, yes—but I’m also excited. And that’s the sweet spot where growth happens.
I hope this inspires you to do the same. Here’s to making room for the life we’ve always dreamed of.

​How will you make room in your life for what you want? Let’s start this journey together. Share your thoughts in the comments or reach out—I’d love to hear how you’re stepping into your own season of growth.

Imposter syndrome is one of those struggles many people experience but don’t always talk about. That nagging voice that whispers, "You’re not good enough," or "You don’t belong here," can keep even the most successful travel advisors from reaching their full potential.

The truth is, imposter syndrome affects almost everyone at some point—whether they admit it or not. It can be a quiet battle happening behind the scenes, even for the agents you look up to the most. But the good news is, once you recognize how imposter syndrome shows up in your business, you can start to take steps to overcome it.
​
Here are five common ways imposter syndrome might be holding you back and how to move past it to thrive as a travel professional.

1. Undervaluing Your Expertise

Do you find yourself holding back, thinking your advice isn’t valuable enough? You’re not alone. Many travel advisors struggle with this, especially when they’re just starting out. But here’s the thing—your clients come to you because they don’t know the ins and outs of travel planning.

Your expertise, whether it’s crafting a complex multi-destination itinerary or recommending the perfect boutique hotel, is your superpower. Don’t downplay it. Share it with confidence. You’re the expert they trust to make their dream vacation come to life.

2. Avoiding Big Opportunities

Have you ever hesitated to pitch a luxury vacation package or attend an industry event because you felt “out of your league”? Imposter syndrome thrives when we play small.

The truth is, growth happens when we push ourselves outside of our comfort zones. Whether it’s upselling that bucket-list river cruise or stepping onto a stage at a travel conference, taking on challenges that scare you a little is how you build confidence. Remember, you deserve to be in those rooms, at those tables, and in those conversations.

3. Overworking to Prove Yourself

Imposter syndrome often shows up as a need to do it all to prove your worth. Maybe you feel like you need to be available to clients 24/7 or say yes to every single request to show how dedicated you are.

But overworking doesn’t make you more valuable—it leads to burnout. Instead, focus on working smarter. Set boundaries, streamline your processes, and trust that your expertise is enough. Quality always beats quantity.

4. Comparing Yourself to Others

Social media can make it easy to compare yourself to other agents. You might see their glossy posts and think, "I could never be as successful as them." But remember, what you’re seeing is a highlight reel, not the full story.

Focus on your journey. Celebrate the unique way you serve your clients and lean into what makes you special. Your authenticity will resonate with the right clients far more than trying to measure up to someone else’s curated image.

5. Doubting Your Worth When Setting Prices

If you’ve ever hesitated to ask for higher registration fees as an agency owner or higher service fees as an agent, you’re not alone. Imposter syndrome often creeps in when it comes to pricing.

Your time, expertise, and ability to create seamless travel experiences are incredibly valuable. Don’t sell yourself short. By standing firm in your fees, you not only demonstrate your worth to clients but also contribute to elevating standards across the industry.

Final Thoughts

Imposter syndrome may be common, but it doesn’t have to hold you back. The next time you catch yourself doubting your abilities or feeling like you don’t belong, remind yourself of this: You are an expert, a guide, and a trusted partner in your clients’ journeys.
​
Own your worth, step out of your comfort zone, and let your passion shine through. The world of travel needs confident, authentic advisors like you.

​If this blog resonates with you, I’d love to hear your thoughts! Feel free to reach out or share your experiences with imposter syndrome. You’re not alone in this journey, and together, we can break through the doubt and reach new heights.

We’ve all been there—faced with tasks that feel beneath us, situations that make us bristle with pride, or moments when our ego whispers, You shouldn’t have to do this. Recently, I found myself stuck in that very mindset. The weight of feeling “too good” or “too accomplished” for certain responsibilities clouded my actions. But then, something profound happened: I started replacing my pride with gratitude, and everything changed.

Recognizing the Problem: When Pride Holds You Back
It started with small things. I’d catch myself thinking, I shouldn’t have to do this—I’ve worked too hard to be in this position. Those thoughts were heavy, making even the simplest tasks feel like burdens. My pride had become a roadblock, keeping me from fully appreciating the life I had built and the opportunities in front of me.

Pride can be tricky. On the surface, it feels justified. After all, it stems from your achievements and the work you’ve put in. But pride can also blind you to the bigger picture, making you forget the journey that brought you to where you are today.

The Shift: Gratitude as a Mindset
For instance, when I didn’t feel like tackling some of the less glamorous aspects of my work—things that often feel tedious or time-consuming—I reframed my thoughts:

• I’m grateful to have a business that thrives because of these details.
• I’m grateful to be trusted with responsibilities that allow me to create the life I want.
• I’m grateful for the ability to manage tasks that keep my goals in motion.

What I noticed was a shift—not just in how I approached my work but in my overall mindset. Gratitude lightened the load. It turned chores into privileges and stripped away the negativity that pride had layered over my perspective.

Practical Ways to Replace Pride with Gratitude
Here are some practices that helped me make the shift:

1. Pause and Reflect
   When pride creeps in, take a moment to reflect on the bigger picture. Ask yourself: What am I really feeling? Why does this task bother me? This self-awareness can help you identify when pride is in control.
2. List Your Gratitudes
   Each time you face something you “don’t want to do,” write down a few reasons why you’re grateful for the opportunity. For example, if you’re annoyed about cleaning your workspace, think: I’m grateful I have a space of my own to maintain.
3. Embrace Humility
   Pride tells us we’re “too good” for something, but humility reminds us that no task is beneath us. When we embrace humility, we unlock gratitude for even the smallest moments of growth or service.
4. Celebrate the Bigger Picture
   Often, the tasks we avoid are stepping stones to a larger goal. By focusing on the bigger picture—how these moments contribute to your dreams—you can find gratitude for the journey itself.

Lessons Learned: Gratitude Brings Freedom
What I discovered is that pride often limits us, while gratitude frees us. Pride narrows our view, making us feel stuck or resentful. Gratitude, on the other hand, widens our perspective, helping us see tasks as opportunities rather than obligations.

For me, this shift wasn’t just about doing the things I once avoided. It was about recognizing how blessed I am to be in a position where those tasks are even part of my life. I stopped feeling like life was asking too much of me and started feeling like I had so much more to give.

Closing Thoughts
Replacing pride with gratitude isn’t always easy, but it’s transformative. The next time you find yourself stuck, feeling like something is “beneath you,” try reframing your perspective. You might just discover, as I did, that gratitude has the power to change not only how you view your responsibilities but also how you view your entire life.
​
Remember, the tasks we do with gratitude are never small—they’re the building blocks of a fulfilling, purpose-driven life.