Halfway There: 7 Intentional Shifts We’re Making for the Rest of the Year

Here we are midway through the year.

And if I’m being completely honest? This first half didn’t go the way I imagined.

This year has been quiet in ways I didn’t expect. Slower in some seasons. Stretching in others. I’ve had friends close up shop, fellow creatives quietly walk away from the industry, and business owners I admire take on side gigs just to stay afloat. And while social media might paint a picture of constant wins and booked calendars, behind the scenes, many of us have been wrestling with disappointment, redirection, or both.

So if you’re in a place where you’re trying to figure it out too I see you.

I’ve been there. I am there, in some areas.

But instead of rushing to fix it or forcing momentum, I’m choosing to pivot intentionally. I’m letting this season prune me. Stretch me. Refocus me.

Here are 7 shifts I’m making in the second half of the year personally and professionally. Maybe they’ll give you permission to exhale and do the same.

1. From “Booked & Busy” to “Aligned & Available”

I used to think being fully booked was the goal. But now, I’m more interested in being fully aligned. I’ve said no to some opportunities this year, not because they weren’t good, but because they weren’t right for this season. That hasn’t always been easy, especially when inquiries are slower. But peace is my priority.

To my fellow planners or business owners who feel pressure to say yes just to fill the calendar: you don’t need more clients, you need the right ones.

2. From Hustle to Wholeness

Running a business while mothering three boys, being a wife, and showing up for clients isn’t a walk in the park. I used to juggle it all with a “just make it work” mindset. But burnout doesn’t build legacy. So this season, I’m slowing down where I need to. I’m asking for help. I’m choosing wholeness, even if it looks like stepping back from the noise to hear from God more clearly.

If you’ve had to take on a part-time job, pause your business, or restructure your life, don’t let shame creep in. You’re not failing. You’re adapting. And that’s what strength looks like

3. From Multi-Tasking to Moment-By-Moment

My planner brain likes to do everything. But lately, I’ve been practicing presence. Sometimes that looks like being fully immersed in a wedding day. Sometimes it’s sitting on the floor building Legos with my son and not checking emails for a while. I don’t always get it right. But I’m trying.

You don’t have to be “on” all the time. Some of the best moments happen when you’re fully in one.

4. From Highlight Reel to Honest Reflection

We see a lot of curated wins online. But many of us are walking through quiet valleys. I’ve had seasons where inquiries slowed, projects fell through, and I questioned if I was still called to this. But here’s the truth: growth doesn’t always shout. Sometimes it happens in silence. In stillness. In surrender.

If this is your pruning season, trust it. What feels like a delay may be divine preparation.

5. From External Pressure to Internal Peace

This year, I’ve seen industry friends step away for mental health. Others have started second streams of income, not because they want to, but because they need to. And I respect it deeply.

If you’re navigating multiple roles or revenue streams, keep going. Be faithful where you are. Don’t let anyone make you feel like your Plan B disqualifies your Plan A. You’re providing. You’re protecting your purpose. And you’re still called.

6. From Self-Sufficiency to Surrender

This one’s personal. I’m a fixer. A planner. A “what’s the backup plan for the backup plan?” kind of woman. But this year has forced me to let go in new ways. To pray more even while still planning. To wait instead of rush. And to trust that even in quiet seasons, God is still working.

For anyone walking by faith right now, keep walking. You’re not late. You’re not behind. You’re just in the middle of a bigger unfolding.

7. From Planning to Planting

I’m choosing to spend the second half of this year planting, in my faith, my business, my family, my community. Not every seed will sprout immediately. But I know that what I sow now will serve me later.

To my fellow creatives, brides, mamas, and entrepreneurs: this is still a fruitful year. Even if it hasn’t bloomed yet. Plant anyway.

Let’s Move Forward, Together

Maybe this year hasn’t looked like you hoped. Maybe you’re just surviving and not soaring. Maybe you’re rebuilding from scratch. Or maybe, like me, you’re shifting with quiet resolve.

Whatever your season, I want this blog to remind you that you’re not alone.

I don’t have all the answers. But I’m showing up. On purpose. With grace. With honesty. With faith.

Here’s to a second half that’s rooted in alignment, not performance.

We’re halfway there, but the best is still possible.

With Love,

 Jewel

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