August Review

Happy Saturday!

As crazy as this year has been, we are in August. How are you doing? How are you feeling?

I have had some ups and downs but I am grateful because the average of my ups and downs keep me somewhere in the middle. This year, I was very intentional about making a vision board and even hosted a mini vision board get together. I usually glance at it daily, to kind of remind me what to focus on. Earlier this week, I really looked at it and realized the majority of what I had on my board was taking shape. Obviously, my travel plans are on a standstill. 

I love to plan. I really do! I am that friend who plans out the entire trip. I started using a planner about five years ago and I started with a BUJO (bullet journal) and essentially it was filled with lists and my to-dos. Then I switched to a planner, but could never find one that was quite right for me. With the birth of my son, I switched to a life planner because I felt it gave me enough space while being functional. The downside was the size of the planner, but it has not actually been a problem in my day-to-day. I also have a list of goals for the year in my planner. 

Earlier this week, I took some time to review my vision board and my goals. I was amazed at how much I could check off. I was then motivated to make some new goals. I think it’s important to take some time and daydream about your ideal life. What do you want? What are you doing? Most importantly, how do you want to feel? Once you’ve finished dreaming (and writing it down), start breaking goals down into bite-size pieces. For example, on my vision board I had my macramé. I want the business to be successful. However, wanting it to be successful and actually taking the steps to make it successful are two different things. A breakdown could be as follows: 1. Make macramé plant hangers 2. Advertise/ make known that they were available 3. Be consistent and so forth. 

I believe writing down your goals and then breaking it down into steps makes it easier to visualize and ultimately achieve. I am a visual person, so when I see it on paper I remember it easier. It also helps me make decisions that will contribute to my goals. Do I want to spend money on a nice dinner or reinvest it into the business? That is not to say, don’t treat yourself to dinner but there will be times when a bit of sacrifice is required. Despite how things have been, I have seen a lot of people say that they have been able to check things off their lists.

We are all in different mental spaces right now and if you are going through a tough time, it may be difficult to focus on goals and vision boards. Take the time necessary and seek assistance if needed. You could also start the process and let it motivate you. At one point in college, I literally had “get out of bed” on my to-do list. There is always something to look forward to and it is important to keep that in mind. Even when everything is planned out, you may still find yourself in a funk.  For me, it happens when I feel like things are not progressing as fast as I would like. I usually force myself to review all that was accomplished. 

I want to go back to the garden because it has been a while since I compared gardening to life. With the right care, a tree will grow from a seed. We may start small but with the right care, our dreams can grow into a resilient flamboyant. It takes time for things to grow. Sometimes I plant a seed and it takes so long that I forget what I planted. (I forget what I plant rather quickly but some seeds do take a longer time to shoot). Ultimately, it does not matter how long it took. You have a plant and eventually it will yield fruits or flowers. Stop worrying about how long your journey is taking. It is all part of the process. I spend a lot of time weeding. Your mind is a garden and negative thoughts are weeds. When they pop up, pluck them out. They do not help you.

Take some time this week to review your goals if you already had some written down or sit down and get to writing. Really let yourself dream. No one can hear your thoughts and you deserve to want the best for yourself. You hold your future in your hands. And remember, you got this!

P.S There is a freebie below!