We have already made it a quarter way through the year! Wow! You might be feeling excited and motivated because you have been crushing your goals (I sure hope so) or you are feeling some "Post New Year Resolution guilt".
Either way, I want to let you know that it's okay if you aren't where you hoped you would be at this point in the year. Life happens and our priorities shift depending on what life throughs at us. It causes us to lose momentum, lose our initial motivation for the initial goal we set on January 1st and beat ourselves up for not following through. I'm here to let you know that it's okay.
The New Year isn't your only opportunity for a fresh start; Every quarter (month, week, or day!) is a chance to realign yourself and pursue your long-term goals.
Here are a few tools to help you recenter and refocus your energy.
First, we need to understand why most New Years' Resolutions don't last.
They are usually created without a strong enough "why". For example, let's say you decided that this year you are focusing on your health and you want to get into shape. Now, let's assume your "why" is to "look good". That might be important to you but a stronger reason is to improve your health so that you can have a body that allows you to continue to travel, play, and be around actively in your loved ones' lives.
2. They are never revisited or revised throughout the years. We have to be gracious with ourselves as the year progresses. Just as the seasons change, so do we. What feels reasonable and easy one day, might feel completely different the next. This means that as we continue to pursue our goals, we need to leave space for adjustments so that we can continue to intentionally design the life we want to live.Next, let's talk about a few ways that can help you through the process
Celebrate how far you have come!
Make a list of at least 3 things you have accomplished so far. Although you may not be where you want to be, you still have accomplishments to be proud of. Even if it's simply showing up for yourself today by reading this blog post to recalibrate and keep pushing forward.
Consider what is working
Look back at that initial New Years Resolution list that you made at the beginning of the year (or write a completely new one 🤷🏽♀️). Consider the activities, habits, and relationships that have been working and which ones haven't. For example, maybe that daily journaling you took up has been working out well for you, but that daily fast food run isn't getting you any closer to your goals. Ultimately it's up to you though. If fast food is your jam, then go for it.
The quarterly review is a personal one and you should keep it as such. You are building the life of YOUR dreams, so make sure to be clear on what is working for you.
Assess your goals and work backward
Look at your initial goals/the ones you revised and consider the steps it takes to make them a reality. It's awesome to be ambitious about what we want to achieve but if we don't know the steps that are necessary to achieve them, we will always feel like we will never reach them. So if one of your goals is to become a better dancer, set a timeline that includes check-ins and benchmarks that check your progress and ensures you continue to challenge yourself along the way.
Your goals shouldn't just be something that is on your to-do list. Goals should be stepping stones that lead you to the life of your dreams, the life you want to live, and a life worth living.
This quarterly review process is not meant to make you feel bad about what you have not achieved, it is meant to continue to push you to live an intentional life. If things have not gone the way you planned up to this point, take the time now to change that. Show up for yourself.
If you find yourself needing help on your journey, please do not hesitate to reach out. I am currently offering free 30-minute coaching to help you live the life of your dreams.
Leave a comment below if you are interested.
Sending you all love and light!
Warmly,
Gabrielle Elisabeth
