Goal Setting

Did you know that only 8% of people who set New Year's intentions actually follow through with them?! AND the percentage of people who remain committed after only 30 days already drops to 25%! That means that by February, most people give up and fall back into old patterns and behaviors!

But we can change that!

This does not have you to your reality.

We are all capable of making changes and sticking with them.

We just need the right environment and support.

So, what can you do exactly?

1. You can create intentional and manageable goals rather than vague intentions, and I can give you tips, tools, and resources to actually take the necessary steps! Change does not have to be grandiose to be powerful and life-changing. It starts with small daily acts and habits.
   

2. Having an accountability partner or group increases your odds of completing a goal by over 50%! According to the American Society of Training and Development Accountability Study, by simply being held accountable to someone, your odds of completing a goal jumps to 65%, and if you actually meet with or check-in with that person or group on a regular basis, your likelihood of follow-through increases to 95%!!

So, how do you start?

1. First, think S.M.A.R.T.

Think through what you want to achieve this year and make a plan that is Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and within a specific timeframe.

For example, I want to lose 3 pounds within 30 days, and I will achieve this by refraining from fast food for the next 30 days. I will know that I am successful when on (enter date), I have lost 3 pounds and have followed through with my eating goal.

"I want to ___(insert goal)___ by/within ___(insert date or timeline)__ and I will achieve this through __(insert what you will actually do)__. I will know I am successful because __(insert what result would show progress, how you want to feel, or what you want to have completed)__."

2. Second, find a person or person(s) who can help hold you accountable and cheer you on.

This can be a family member, a friend, or even joining a new group of like-minded people! Pick someone who lifts you up and encourages you! Don't pick someone that makes you feel insecure or fearful. This should be life-giving and affirming!

Set weekly or monthly meetings with them to check-in! And maybe offer to help hold them accountable too! We are stronger together.

You will feel less alone and more encouraged in your dreams! And, if you use the S.M.A.R.T goal method, you will easily be able to track your progress, successes, and struggles!

And it is OKAY to struggle!

Be gracious with yourself.

This is NOT about perfection; this is about showing up to yourself and leaning into your goals, dreams, and aspirations.

Changing habits and behaviors is not easy, but YOU. CAN. DO. IT.

Here is to a year in which you set and REACH your goals.

Remember, think S.M.A.R.T and reach out to people for support!

Make 2021 your year.

You got this.

No one size fits all. transformation is personal.

Everywhere I turn, I read about mindset shifts and changing habits to create a better life. Yet, so often, the story stops there -- Somebody magically shifted something in their life and found great success! Bada bing bada boom! “Just think this or do that,” they say.

It sounds so simple …

Influencers seem to just magically have success and followers, leading lives that the masses eat up, secretly wishing they knew how to get there themselves.

We glamorize other people’s lives and believe we have failed because our reality doesn’t measure up to a video or image. We begin to doubt our own quirks and strengths, thinking that we will find what we are looking for if we change this one thing only to be dissatisfied further. How silly! We have everything we need right here.

Right. Now.

Just sit with that for a second and breathe it in. It is a hard lesson to learn, but it can change everything. [Disclaimer: I have to remind myself of this every day.]

You have everything you need right here, right now.

I know that it is difficult. When I find myself stuck in a mindset or habit that isn’t working, I have found the process of changing my thoughts and behaviors overwhelming and challenging, and I know I am not alone. This frustration is compounded by the fact that social media makes everything look easy, and I expect to see and feel a radical shift immediately. Oh, the world of instant gratification.

I know that it takes time, but so often, we only see the end result. We are not privy to the frustration around the work, the fear of failing, the tears of doubt, or the sacrifices made.

I have to continually remind myself that it takes effort and courage to try new things and continue to show up. I have to remind myself that my own life is meaningful and successful just as it is, regardless of what the world has to say. I have to remind myself to be patient and have gratitude for what I do have. It will never be an instant fix. It will never be as perfect as Instagram wants it to look. We are human, and with humanity comes a messy reality, but with being human also comes the beauty of potential and creation.

In the world of mindsets and habit changes, people rarely talk about how you go about making the shifts and creating new rituals. It is one thing to realize that we need to make a mindset shift and an entirely different thing to make that shift happen and to find and maintain a new status quo that fits our own unique needs and schedules. I know how difficult it can be to get out of a rut if you have been digging that same rut for years. I have quite a few ruts of my own.

How do you implement new mindsets into every day so that they become habits?

How do you find what works best for you while still making progress forward?

I have two rough answers.

First, keep trying; keep showing up for yourself and to yourself.

Showing up and trying will look different for everybody and will change over time. Even if it means just getting up and out of bed today, keep going. We are all going through different seasons of life. Honor yourself and show yourself grace through the process.

Second, build a community of people who support and encourage you in your dreams.

Finding where you feel supported, loved, and seen is a journey. Don’t settle for people and places that make you question your own value or worth. Be gracious to them (you don’t know where they are on their journey) and set boundaries where they are needed. You don’t have to get rid of them, but you don’t have to give them your time and energy either. Surround yourself with those people who lift you up and amplify your spirit. I know this sometimes is easier said than done, and I want you to hear me when I say that I still have a lot of work to do in my own life to create this community of people. If you feel like you have no one right now, that is okay. I am here. And I am not kidding. Message me. We are better together.

Changing mindsets and habits is not a process that happens overnight. It takes effort and courage. If you feel stuck right now, know you are not alone. I struggle daily to get my head screwed on straight and intentionally create my life, but I will keep trying.

If you want a partner and friend to walk alongside you on this journey, I am offering personal coaching sessions! I am not offended if that is not something you are interested in -- You can still reach out. I will happily work with you just once or many times as we together create lives that we are proud to call our own.

Here is to the journey.

If you want to learn more about my coaching opens check me out on Fiverr! https://www.fiverr.com/share/9GKVK0

thanksgiving reflection and reveal

Happy Thanksgiving!

I hope that everyone reading this is safe and sane this weird holiday season.

Here are five things that I am beyond grateful for this year:

1. My family for loving and supporting me as I explore and navigate finding my own lifestyle

2. My animals for their endless entertainment, snuggles, purs, and warm greetings

3. My boyfriend for encouraging me to show up more fully as myself and making each day more fun, reminding me not to take things too seriously

4. My space in which I can create, rest and restore myself

5. My job for providing me security in a time that is so insecure and unstable

What fills you with gratitude these days? What fills up your cup (or bowl)?

Comment, and let me know what you've been most thankful for in 2020!

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I also wanted to post today because I have some exciting news!

I am launching a new program starting in January called Restoring You where I will walk alongside a cohort of people over six weeks to dig in and look at our values, time management, organization, social media usage, and overall quality of life! I will be doing the work right alongside you and offering tips and tricks along the way! If you choose, I will also come over and help organize a space of your choosing in your home or apartment!

This program aims to help you restore your life to what you want it to be.

I know how easy it is to get swept up and overwhelmed by everyday life demands and pressures. We live in a society that puts a lot of pressure on each of us to reach certain goals and milestones at specific times and to fit into certain norms and values that may not work for everyone. Further, with social media, we are expected to look good all of the time, competing against unrealistic metrics; we get caught up in the number of likes or praises we get in a single day. It is exhausting!

Over the six week program, we will work through all the aspects of our lives and unravel what is working and what isn't. We will look at our values and personalities and discuss where we feel most authentic and areas where we may need to change or grow. By the end of the six weeks, we will each have specific and measurable goals, a better sense of our own needs and patterns, new tools for managing time, space, and energy, and a group of people supporting us on our journey!

Walking through the program together, I hope to show you that you are not alone in your struggle and that we all have to work to create the life we want. We are each beautiful and unique beings, and our lives should reflect that. No more being bogged down by other people's expectations or standards. We have the right and the privilege to create our realities. Restoring You will help get you there!

The program will come with a guided workbook and a weekly zoom session to dive into the topics together! I have not yet set firm dates for the meetings because I want to gauge interest first and find what works best, but I know that it will start the first week in January and be from 7-8 PM on the night of our group's choosing.

By completing the program, you will have a more profound sense of calm, control, and peace in your life! You will feel supported and validated in who you are. You will have tools and resources to continue on your journey, maintaining what we learned, and find a life that you are proud to call your own.

I will have three rounds of signups, and the first one starts today!

The first 6 people to sign up with me by December 5th will get the program for $150! This includes all the sessions, the workbook, and an hour of one on one time with me to help organize a space of your choosing! I won't take payment until the class begins!

And don't worry; there is still time to sign up later too. Be on the lookout for those future dates! I will take signups until the New Year. New Year's resolutions, anyone? Let's make 2021 something special!