New Year, New Approach
With the excitement of the new year already in the rearview window...have you already abandoned or forgotten your new year intentions?
Instead of falling into the shame-guilt cycle that we humans love to subject ourselves to, let’s take a fresh approach to goal setting so we can make progress moving forward!
Vision
First, let’s get clear and specific on what you want. Our subconscious mind often needs to literally visualize the life you want to live. This is why we have expressions like: Where do you SEE yourself in 5 years, VISION-casting, and our mind’s EYE. It’s so important that even our lexicon demands it!
Having a crystal clear vision for what you intend to accomplish is of utmost importance. Would you ever board a plane if the pilot didn’t know precisely where the destination was? Our life is much the same, and deserves equal forethought (if not moreso!)
Create a vision board for yourself with a collection of photos and expressions that you wish to embody in the coming months. Hang it somewhere that you can see it daily. If it is out of sight, it is out of mind….and we want to keep our intentions front and center!
Measuring & Accountability
Next, how are you measuring your progress and keeping yourself accountable? Let’s face it, we are all human. Thankfully there are plenty of options in this day & age that can help to keep you on track!
For tracking my own behavior, I have been loving the Habit app. I can “check off” each day that I complete a desired habit that I establish, and I can even set it up to remind me at specific times of day! For example, my “workout” reminder pops up in the morning before I’ve had a chance to make too many excuses for myself!
Additionally, who have you told about your intentions? If you have ever had a workout buddy in the past or you’ve collaborated on a group project, you already know the power of showing up for someone other than yourself.
Tell someone you trust about your intentions and ask them to keep you accountable. The real power and creativity starts to flow if you can make this a two-way street and keep your buddy accountable for a goal they have of their own! A weekly or bi-monthly check-in timetable is usually appropriate to stay on-track, but establish this in advance so that neither of your goals fall by the wayside. When you fail to plan, you plan to fail. (Idea-- you and your accountability buddy could create vision boards together, either in-person or virtually!)
Mindset
Finally, it is essential that you keep your mind sharp and that you exercise your mind in the same way that you would exercise your body. It is inevitable that you will have ups and downs in life and business. Keeping a steadfast mindset is the secret key that will carry you through the twists and turns of the human experience. It will literally give you the willpower to continue on your path!
I, personally, love to expand my mindset daily through reading personal growth books. I choose authors like John C. Maxwell, Gabrielle Bernstein and Jon Acuff. Listening to them on the Audible app makes it easy for me to “read” while I run errands, work out, or cook dinner! It’s a life hack that I could personally never live without.
Putting it all into practice
Remember, it takes, on average, 66 days to create a new habit. That’s about two solid months of reminders until it is ingrained in your routine. But if you have your vision board somewhere you can see it daily, you keep track of your habits, and you keep growing your mind....your new healthy habits will become second nature in no time!