I didn’t write a post like this last year. I just wanted 2012 to be over. I’m still going through some things, but I feel my outlook on life has improved so much in the last year. I’m really looking forward to what life will bring for our family.
Here are some of the lessons I’ve learned this year….
Shut up & work- I had (sometimes I’m still guilty of this) this really bad habit of talking about everything that I want to do. I craved validation from people in my life and had to tell them all of my goals and dreams. Earlier this year, I watched Derek Sivers TEDTalk about keeping your goals to yourself (Eric Thomas’s video also inspired me) and now I focus more on work than talking. There’s something about talking about what we’re going to do that tricks the brain into thinking it’s already been done. I’m sure this isn’t true for all people, but it is for me. I've accepted that I just need to shut up and work. It’s actually very liberating!
Break Everything Down Into Baby Steps…that means EVERYTHING. There’s no way I could’ve finished the guide if I didn’t do this. I now plan everything in 90-day increments and break it down into small steps. I feel so much better with this system and don’t feel overwhelmed by HUGE goals. Baby steps are okay and the only way I can get anything done.
Be a woman of my word-I’m such a flake. It sucks but it’s something that I will definitely continue to work on. I don’t like that the people I love lose faith in me because I commit to something and don’t follow through. I will honor my commitments.
Enjoy the journey. I used to obsess about where I should be in life. I thought (and talked about) how I should have more money, more friends, more education…More. More. More. It’s exhausting and so counterproductive. I now focus on the journey. I journal, reflect and spend more time in the moment. It has taken a lot of time and patience to get to this point, but I’m feeling better about the journey every day.
I have NOTHING to lose-I’m such a scaredy cat. I worry too much about what people think of me. I hate that feeling and know that it's because I'm afraid my opinions and story will cause backlash. My friend, Shonda put this on Instagram the other day…
I'm learning to work on this too.
