In Our "Maybe Era"

And how Hell Yes/Hell No energy got us here.

“If it’s not a hell yes, then it’s a hell no.”

You’ve likely heard this refrain from many-a-productivity or self-help guru. I know we ourselves offer it to our clients as a practice of ruthless self prioritization.

@Swellpress via Pinterest

Today, we explore our Maybe Era, and how Hell Yes/Hell No energy is the key to unlocking it.

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Story Time.

Four years ago, we sat down with Christine Igarta on the Fuck It All Podcast in an episode on the power of purpose over paycheck. Not to say the latter isn’t important - ‘cause your girls most def need to get paid - but that without purpose, a paycheck is often a fleeting marker of success. She recounted her pivot out of Corporate-America-ladder-climbing, into practicing social work inside the New York City school systems.

Give Christine’s original podcast a listen here.

Yesterday, we caught up, four years later. I like the fact that we’re usually the call for someone amidst any sort of transition, evolution, curiosity, or - God love ‘em - Fuck It All moment (IYKYK). Today, it was discussing a passion project she'd been noodling around, and was feeling compelled to explore.

She said, "I listen back to our episode often. And the whole, ‘If it's not a hell yes, then it's a no’ thing used to ring true, but right now I am feeling more Maybe energy.”

I knew exactly what she meant; and we both coined it her Maybe Era.

What exactly is a Maybe Era, and how can I find mine?

Maybe Era Noun (/ˈmābē/ /ˈerə,ˈirə/)

A period of time where one is led by curiosity and an openness to what could be. One is free of the pressures of what something has to be, and relishes in the delight of it’s newness, creativity, and potential. 

Often born from a consistent practice of Hell Yes/Hell No energy. A beautiful thing to gift oneself.

There are times in life that our capacity of time, energy, focus, mental health requires us to be in a Hell Yes/Hell No space.

And, to be clear, most of the time we are still huge advocates for it! We love the rise of things like JOMO (joy of missing out) where we find delight in saying no. Don’t want to go to something you’re invited to, because you’d rather take care of yourself? F*ck yes, do that! That’s the most brilliant practice of Hell Yes/Hell No energy.

BECAUSE!!!!!!

BECAUSE!!!!!!

BECAUSE!!!!!!

It’s in those reserves that capital-P Purpose often speaks to us; and through our ruthless prioritization of Hell Yes/Hell No energy, we can hear it, listen to it, understand it, and converse with it.

Back to Christine, and our conversation yesterday. She'd been practicing Hell Yes/Hell No with her time, energy, relationships, community, work; and as capacity built, so did her dialogue with intuition and curiosity.

And THAT is one of the most generous and loving gifts we can offer ourselves.

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I’m overwhelmed, but in a good way.

Halfway through our conversation, I could read overwhelm all over her face; and asked, “Are you getting overwhelmed?” Without missing a beat, she said, “Yeah, but in a good way!”

I felt this pang of - dare I say - envy because I know that place well. Where you're so overwhelmed that you just want to continue lapping up the new knowledge. That you’re so lit aflame, that even if it’s something you’re only creating for yourself, you’re called to just keep going. I love being on the sidelines of these realizations; as I think it’s the work of our lives.

I don't know where her project will go. And, really, it doesn’t matter the destination. Because it’s in our respective Maybe Eras that our next incarnation of who we will become is born.

Life in Cycles.

Going back to last week's conversation on Cycles - our bodies, minds, souls, and creativity also live in these naturally occurring seasons. There's times where we're in a purge of what’s not working; and others where our slate is clear, ready to receive the Maybes emerging. This is true monthly with lunar cycles, and quarterly with the change of seasons; but it also exists in our own lives across months, years, decades, and life-stages.

And so I ask you today: Where are you? Are you in ruthless prioritization? And if you are, are you also finding yourself creating capacity for your Maybe Era.

Or maybe, you’re already IN your Maybe Era.

If you are, please sound off because we want to hear more about it. We’re obsessed with what happens when we allow ourselves the space to be there; and what has to be true in order to get in touch with it.

Parting Reflection 🐚

What we’ve learned over these past five years is that what often feels - hmm, haphazard isn’t the right word; perhaps exploratory, messy, misguided is often an exercise in the most intense level of self-disciple because you must shut out all the other things that take your energy, creativity, and passion.

And, that’s tough, because it often disappoints people and ruffles feathers when you start to say no. It’s hard, but trust us, so damn worth it.

Hence, the power of that whole “Slow Start to 2025” thing we talked about last week. The harder things are, the better it is to go slow, steady, and consistent so that the change is sustaining.

Hell Yes/Hell No energy and Maybe Eras are complimentary. One must exist for the other to thrive. We think of it like a shelled animal. The tough outer shell protects the most meaningful, vulnerable parts of what keeps the organism alive.

Let your Hell Yes/Hell No energy be your shell, and your Maybe Era be the inner, most tender parts of yourself. There are times that we must retreat inside; and others where we outgrow our shells all together. The bigger we grow, the more we must protect what’s most sacred. Not to keep it out, but to keep ourselves alive.

Fun Side Note: In reading this back, I am LOL’ing at the number of metaphors we managed to fit into a single piece of writing. Perhaps a fun drinking game - take a sip with every new one introduced. ☕ 🍹

And so, from our coffee cup to yours, we say Cheers to another week of a slow start to 2025.

Big love, K+K

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