We are One Month into the New Year…Are You Already Giving Up?

Did you start the new year excited about what was possible for you? Did you start the new year with a plan for what you wanted to achieve? Maybe it was a health goal, a financial goal, a relationship goal, or a career goal. Maybe it was that you wanted to start a new hobby, learn a new language, sign up for a class, or get your house organized. Whatever it was, weren’t you excited when thinking about it? Are you still as excited? Have you made progress towards it?

If the answer is “no” to either you are no longer as excited, or that you have not made progress towards it, you are 100% normal and this is for you. Keep reading so that you understand why this happened and learn how to get some forward momentum. I absolutely love to dream and to think about all the things I want to do and learn. I can make lists for days. I can schedule my projects and plans out with color codes and be really organized about how and when I am going to work on my goal(s). Can you relate? That is the fun part and the energizing part. That is the part where I say things like, “This time it will be different”, or “I am absolutely going to make it happen”. Have you ever done this? It’s fun, right?

Of course, it is fun…it does not require any real work. Dreaming is amazing but it does not require you to get uncomfortable or to experience setbacks. This is why many of us stall out quickly or before we even get going. If you have experienced this it is because your primitive (emotional) brain kicks in and says something like, “What are you doing? This is going to take work. This is going to be challenging. Let’s wait and try this later when we feel more confident about it or when we feel more motivated about it”. The problem is that it is saying this in your unconscious mind, so you are not even aware of it. All you know is that you are putting off starting something, or you are not fully following through with something that you thought you were really excited and motivated about doing.

The good news is that now that you know that this is happening, you can manage it. It does not mean that working towards your goal won’t require work. Depending on how big your goal is, it will likely require you to tolerate doing the work, experiencing discomfort, maybe having to make some sacrifices, maybe tolerating criticism from others, and other challenges. That is what makes it a goal. It is something you have to work for. When you reframe how you see it, it becomes easier to start and keep going.

Know that the bigger the goal, the more discomfort you will feel. The bigger the goal, the less motivated you will feel somedays. The bigger the goal, the more criticism you may experience. The bigger the goal, the more you will doubt yourself as you work towards it. This is all normal and instead of backing away from the discomfort, criticism, and/or self-doubt, lean into it.

When you feel like you want to stop, or you feel like you can’t even get started, do the following:

• Tell that primitive part of your brain, “Okay, I see you and I know you want me to back away, but you being here means I am moving forward so this is a good sign”. Tell yourself that you don’t expect to be excited and motivated about it every day, but that you will do it regardless.

• Remind yourself why you want to achieve this goal. Write it down and be very specific. Do this daily if you are really struggling.

• Identify the reasons that you are capable of achieving this goal if you keep working towards it. Be specific. What qualities or evidence do you have that you can achieve this goal?

• Stay in action. Even if you take one small step, do something that will keep you in motion towards your goal.

• Be excited about the process. When you are working towards something you are growing and stretching every day. Acknowledge that the process is just as important (if not more important) than achieving the goal.

Today is the day for you to reset, regroup, and to keep going. You’ve got this!

 Live your best boss lady life.

~ Karen

www.KarenVincentSolutions.com

P.S. Do you want more tips and strategies ongoing? If so, you can follow me @bestbossladylife on Instagram HERE.