It’s already half-way through January of 2019 and I’m struggling to keep my new self in balance. I set so many resolutions, I created a 20×30 graph and hung it up next to my standing desk, to remind myself of all the goals and actions I’m taking every week. Two weeks in, I’m struggling to maintain the health goals. The reason I am struggling is that I still haven’t stepped into the new person I envisioned on New Year’s Eve. But I’m not giving up.

This year, I skipped the New Year’s Eve parties and instead had my own party at home, creating a plan for the new year. I first created a “To-Do” list of things I wanted to get done; including booking my upcoming trip to Mexico and completing a goal workbook by answering questions about identify what I want to work on this year and how I will make the changes, based on a stepping-stone system, where I do little goals that lead me to the big goal. I went to bed on NYE at 10 PM, thankful for recognizing what I needed, sleep, so that I could get up early to do a morning hike.

Goals Included:

• Become DEBT FREE! (super close!) – Build up savings (It’s Growing!)
• Reach target weight for my height – A lifelong goal that’s been a long journey
• Become a rafting guide / Be more adventurous
• Travel Internationally – Heading to Mexico in February!
• Develop & Grow friendships and family connections
• Learn Video Editing – Got a new GoPro! – Here’s my first video! 

Two weeks into the year, I feel challenged that I’ve struggled so much to get motivated. I’m not alone. I was recently in a Mastermind group with my friends at Location Indie and we talked about all these challenges during that call, and it was mentioned that we should give ourselves gentleness. This gift was a great way to help me recognize that I can do amazing things, but that I need to pace myself because life is a marathon, not a race. There’s no deadline that can’t be pushed back if I recognize I need space and time.

In December I was named “Member of the Month” and was featured on the Location Indie Podcast, check out the recording here.  I talked about how my transition didn’t happen overnight but progressed over the past three years. I started removing the clutter from my life and learning from The Minimalists and detailed my journey.

I discuss how I’ve worked to become debt free in the next few months, after 3 years of budgeting, saving, and spending less. I discussed how I have started being consistent with waking up early, journaling, meditating and doing yoga EVERY DAY for the past year. I create vision boards to give myself clarity for my future.

I’m currently doing Yoga with Adrienne‘s 30-Day Challenge, Dedicate. I talked about finding my tribe, with the Location Indie group. And that I’m still working to become that person I want to be. The truth is, I can be that person today, I just need to choose to be her.

I recognize that the last month of struggle was because I was fighting my old self because the new person is unfamiliar and scary. It’s the BHAG (Big Hairy Audacious Goals) that are new to me, and putting them on a board, or in a goal book is one thing, but doing them is a LEVELING UP!

“If you are depressed you are living in the past.
If you are anxious you are living in the future.
If you are at peace you are living in the present.”― Lao Tzu

On the New Year’s Day Hike my friend Adrienne and I got a bit lost and it was getting later, and later, and we weren’t finding the trail. We talked about the worst possible outcome, but we knew that we’d find our way eventually and we did.

In the mastermind call, we talked about that same concept, the worst that can happen, if a goal is pushed back, for whatever reason. I thought about how I had planned a year ago that I’d be debt free by the end of 2018. But to make that happen, I would’ve had to say no to getting a coach, or investing in the Paradise Pack, or even Location Indie, and wouldn’t have traveled, or met the people I met, and had the experiences I had, that brought me to this moment, to who I am today.

All of this to say, I’m right where I need to be, for this moment. And I’ll get where I need to go this year, one step at a time. One goal at a time. As long as I’m moving forward.

Books I’m reading-

The Book of Awakening: Having the Life You Want by Being Present to the Life You Have

Wish It, Dream It, Do It