The Smartest Way to Success

 

“We don’t see things the way they are, we see things the way we are.” Anais Nin

For those of you who have  been following me, you already know that I am determined to improve myself daily with the goal of going to bed a little smarter and stronger every day. I have a firm belief that it is my duty to give the best version of me to the world each day. Better Together

I am on a quest to learn and acquire new habits, rituals, patterns and thoughts to become the best version of me, because I can’t just “think” my way there. It takes action and deliberate practice.  I hope to form a community here on this blog of like-minded motivated people so we can help each other grow mentally, physically and emotionally every day.  We can learn a lot from each other and in turn become our best versions together. So with that stated, I really appreciate your advice and contributions. What has worked for you? What books are you reading? What exercises are you doing? What classes are you taking?

“Each friend represents a world in us, a world not born until they arrive, and it is only by this meeting that a new world is born.” Anais Nin

Lightening Up, Sparking Joy, Creating Love

So, today, I am sharing a smart, practical approach to organizing and achieving your personal goals for success.

Before that, a quick assessment.

What I have accomplished so far (a year of daily deliberate practice).

• I lost 25 lbs on The Four Hour Body, a slow carb diet

I highly recommend: The 4 Hour Body: An Uncommon Guide to Rapid Fat Loss, Incredible Sex and Becoming Superhuman

• I wake up with gratitude and journal everything I am thankful for
• I started a daily workout routine and began Spinning and dancing weekly
• I began a daily practice of mindful meditation to clear my head
• A commitment to reading and learning something new daily
• 30 minutes of writing and reading aloud  my purpose and plan for my life
• and devoted Sunday mornings to a one hour spiritual ritual with my husband

This next year I hope to spark joy in my life by letting go of everything that I no longer need while continue to lighten up and create love out of everything I do – cooking, working, writing, sharing, everything. Inspired by Marie Kondo’s book  The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing

Taming the Wild Within

Just like everyone else, I struggle with certain things and one of my biggest challenges is getting overwhelmed. I have too many goals, too many dreams and I vibrate on the side of hyper mania. This drives my family and my friends nuts, but they love me just the same. So calming myself down daily is a big thing for me. See “mindful meditation” practice above. I meditate for me and everyone that has to deal with me. I believe that mediation + movement (exercise) = my daily dose of medication.

 

“Dreams pass into the reality of action, from the action stems the dream again; and this interdependence produces the highest form of living.” Anais Nin

So my practical advice today is to follow along with me as I show you how I am going to organize my goals in a way that will not overwhelm me, allow me to be successful and continue to become the best version of me. There is one rule: I can only do one goal at a time and make it a habit for the year.

Step 1. Categorizing Life

Here are my categories:

1. Relationships & Family
2. Professional & Career
3. Financial Health
4. Physical & Health
5. Emotional & Spiritual
6. Time Management & Routines
7. Household & Living Environment
8. Personal & Intellectual Development

Step 2. Rating My Development So Far

The rating scale: 0% = completely unhappy to 100% this is the best version of me

Here are my categories:

1. Relationships & Family – 45% 
2. Professional & Career – 60%
3. Financial Health – 15%
4. Physical & Health – 50%
5. Emotional & Spiritual –80%
6. Time Management & Routines – 75%
7. Household & Living Environment –35 %
8. Personal & Intellectual Development – 75%

Step 3 – Identifying What Needs Improvement

Relationships & Family – 45%  

“You cannot save people, you can only love them.” Anais Nin

• More forgiveness, patience and quality time scheduled with everyone I love. Friends and family.
• Make new friends from around the world through this blog.

Professional & Career – 60%

“One’s life shrinks or expands according to your courage.” Anais Nin

• Continue to inspire each day by sharing what I am learning each morning.
• Writing my book “Lightening Up, Sparking Joy, Creating Love” Giving Your Best to the World
• Helping new clients grow with my marketing and public relations skills
• Continue to improve my Social Media, Photoshop and WordPress skills

Financial Health – 15%

• Learn how to invest in successful companies for the long term while allowing compound interest work for me.
• Pay down left over credit card debt, reduce my living expenses and understand if the insurance I have is the best for my family
• Save 10% of what I earn monthly, no matter what.

Physical & Health – 50%

• Lose 5 more lbs, Tone my body with an increase in pushups, situps, planks and weights.
• Carry less tension in my body and practice a full body scan meditation to release that tension
• Visit my doctor for a full check up and blood work
• Become a more mindful eater with a mindful kitchen to prepare healthy meals

Emotional & Spiritual –80%

• Continue to remove negative thoughts of anger and doubt
• Practice radical acceptance with compassion and loving kindness
• Develop a schedule of meditation practices to do throughout the day

Time Management & Routines – 75%

• Develop a mindful relaxation ritual at night that does not include more than one glass of chardonnay
• Continue to write my 90 seconds of daily victories each evening
• No phones, laptops or tablets in the bed
• Relaxation stretches and meditation before bed

Household & Living Environment –35 %

“Anything that I cannot transform into marvelous, I let go.”  Anais Nin

• Purge everything that doesn’t spark joy for me in my entire house and care for everything I decide to keep. – clean it, paint it, fold it, organize it, make it shine.
• Refrain from buying anything new unless absolutely necessary for the entire year.

Personal & Intellectual Development – 75%

• Find my work and home “uniform” – clothes that suit the occasion that I feel great in and that I don’t have to think about too much.
• Read and learn how to continue to become a better writer. I just found this amazing list of 150 free writing tools here
• Complete books I am reading including The Tools and my winter reading list.