As this was written in the first week of January, blank pages abound. On new calendars, in shiny new planners, within fresh journals. 

For some of us, blank pages come with their own kind of excitement and relief, but for a lot of us, feelings of anxiety (for the unknown future), pressure (to create something meaningful this year), and guilt (over all those unused planners and journals of the past) strike. 

When every word feels overly important and the space so vast, before long we find we’ve done nothing at all. The blank page remains. 

We’ve spent our time worrying, “What if I get it wrong?” or fretting, “Where do I even start?”
But what if, instead of fearing the blank page, we honored its beauty?

How To Overcome Fear Of The Blank Page

In our careers, we’re conditioned to fill space quickly. Silence, pauses, and “not knowing” are often mislabeled as “weakness.” 

But, as an HR professional and a career coach, I’ve found the most grounded professionals are the ones who know how to pause. They sit with a question and listen to what wants to come alive. 

A blank page is unlike a pause in a meeting. 

It’s one of the few places in our lives where nothing is required. It doesn’t ask us to perform or prove. It doesn’t judge our pause. 

It just waits—a world of possibility with no rules. 

A no-pressure moment. An exhale. 
No one is asking anything of you right now, and anything is possible.

Ritual For Beginning: The Blank Page

Recently, after the In Season planners arrived and my dining room looked like a shipping station, I noticed I felt both a little stuck AND overwhelmed by all the thoughts swirling in my mind. 

To break through these feelings, I turned to a blank page (the Notes to Self page in the purple planner) and pressed play on a short six-minute meditation from Insight Timer that asked, “What’s the best possible outcome?” Then I started filling that blank page, and let me tell you, alllllll the ideas started flowing in!

This is a version of the Blank Page Ritual that you can do, too:

1. Set aside one quiet morning this month to open your In Season planner. 
2. Light a candle and pour something warm. 
3. Write down 3 feelings you want more of this season—not goals, but feelings. Things like creative, grounded, impactful, connected, spacious, confident, energized, etc., etc.
4. Then commit to 1 or 2 of those feelings you want your work to cultivate this year.

These feelings will shape your decisions better than any New Year’s resolution ever could.

Liked this ritual? You can find more like it in the Flourish Careers In Season planners.

The new three-month, lightly guided planner-meets-journal from Flourish Careers will help you make the most of whatever season you’re in. 

With undated pages that fit your rhythm of life, you can begin (and restart) any time. Think of it as your personal retreat—a guide to clear the noise and step into your next chapter with intention.

In Season 3-Month Planner

Your Fresh Start Begins Here

A three-month, lightly guided planner-meets-journal, with seasonal, monthly, weekly, and daily rituals throughout

FIND MORE INFORMATION HERE

Want More Career Wisdom? Keep Reading

+ How To Use Rituals To Prioritize Yourself And Your Career
+ Rooted in Rituals
+ Everyday Magic: Following The Path Of Divine Breadcrumbs

Connect with Me

For more insider stories, quick tips, and #CareerTalk, I invite you to connect with me on Instagram @flourish.careers.