It’s summer and we are officially halfway through 2019. I recently returned home to Los Angeles after many incredible weeks of travel. I taught mindfulness in the Maine State Prison, co-led a joyful retreat in Portugal, spent a week in Mallorca with my husband (our first and possibly only vacation this year), and finally landed in Oslo, Norway where I led a weekend of workshops. Returning home was wonderful, and, I found myself utterly demotivated. The European afternoon cafe vibe had taken ahold of me. The idea of sitting down to complete the projects I was most excited about at the start of 2019 felt daunting. I experienced a profound sense of resistance to returning to my goals and so I realized, it was time for a check-in.
Some people conduct a mild overview at the end of each year or at the beginning of the new year, but even fewer take time in the middle of the year to re-assess. Goals and intentions are benefited by being re-visited again and again so I wanted to share my process with you and I hope it helps re-inspire you, as it did me, as we head into the final six months of the year.
Take a few, deep breaths and set time to turn inward. Have a pen and journal ready. Ask yourself these questions:
This year I began doing this check-in process at the end of each month, but in June, with a hectic travel schedule, I fell behind and I noticed a huge difference in how the month unfolded. Not only did I achieve less toward my goals I also felt less motivated, energized, and excited. Each month I review the previous month’s goals, I write down my successes, and I acknowledge the strides I made that I didn’t necessarily expect or plan for. I celebrate ALL of my wins, no matter how small. I acknowledge where I was overzealous and going into the next month, I take my upcoming schedule into account and I set new goals. I keep my goals grounded and realistic meaning, I set about five new goals each month, not 100. They challenge me but are also in the realm of possibility. I don’t always achieve them all. And, above all, I make sure that my monthly goals are in alignment with my longterm intentions and my core values. I encourage you to repeat this process monthly and continue to refine what it means to you to live a life of passion and purpose.
And, depending on your goals, my hope is that we can share an upcoming retreat or teacher training so that I can personally help support you as you journey forth.