New Year, New You? How to beat the New Year's slump
There is such a build-up to New Year’s! You’ve got your list of goals and things you want to see happen in the next year. You’re excited by the idea of a clean slate and you are MOTIVATED. You think, This time, things will be different!
Unfortunately, when the ball drops at midnight on December 31st, it’s just another moment in time. Nothing changes. How do we deal with this reality? Tear up our resolutions and goals? No way.
There is such a build-up to New Year’s! You’ve got your list of goals and things you want to see happen in the coming year. You’re excited by the idea of a clean slate and you are MOTIVATED. You think, This time, things will be different!
Unfortunately, when the ball drops at midnight on December 31st, it’s just another moment in time. Nothing changes. We don’t become different (better) people. New Year ≠ New You. We know this by now, but it can still be a letdown.
So...how do we deal with this reality? Should we tear up our resolutions and goals?
No way.
Your goals are worth it. The unique gifts you have to share are worth it. YOU’RE worth it.
If you’re experiencing a Post-New Year’s Slump, take a listen to the video above. I hope it will motivate you back into goal-getting gear.
Because you’ve got (amazing) work to do!
Living Your Purpose: An interview on what it's all about
Purpose: What it means, how to find it, and how to use it for a life you love.
It’s not a light and frothy topic. But it’s an important and impactful one. And by the end of this video interview, you’ll have information you can use right away.
It's not a hot topic you bring up over dinner with friends. And I wouldn't recommend it as a conversation starter with someone you just met.
What am I talking about?
Living your Purpose
What it means, how to find it, and how to use it for a life you love
See what I mean? Not a light and fluffy topic!
When personal development coach, Conny Lee, asked to interview me about this for her show, I had to say yes...because I had a lot to say on the matter. Few people talk about Purpose—I mean, really talk about it—and SO many struggle with it.
Why was I eager to demystify Purpose? Because I've been there. For most of my life, I struggled to find my purpose, wondering if I was ever going to discover what I wanted out of life and what I was meant to do.
I understand the confusion, the frustration, and the heartache of not knowing your purpose or how to go about finding it. Your confidence suffers, you end up doubting your abilities, and you question if those dreams you have are even possible.
Conny and I cover a lot of territory in our 23-minute interview. By the end of it, you'll have some tangible tidbits you can start putting into action toward living a more purposeful, fulfilled life. {Scroll down for the video.}
Here’s a preview of interview highlights and at what point in the video they come up:
My journey
(37 seconds in)
Why I went on a journey of self-exploration
What I did to “figure myself out” and the transformation that resulted
The reason behind my book Meant for More
what "Purpose" and "Calling" Are all about
(at 5:39)
How to take the scariness away from those terms
How purpose is like a coloring book
The benefits of knowing your purpose
“I have no idea what I’m here to do!” How to go about finding your purpose
(at 7:26)
The pre-work and why it matters
How NOT to end up chasing the wrong thing
My purpose statement that, at first, made me think I was crazy!
Tips for creating your own Powerful Purpose Statement
the wisdom I wish I could share with my 10-year-old self
(at 16:27)
Advice for those struggling to figure out what they want
(at 17:36)
The "reset button" That turns down the noise of our thoughts and the world around us
(at 18:49)
the #1 secret to achieving your dreams that you must hear!
(at 20:12)
Details of my free gift to you
(At 23:04)
The Stress Less Guide: 4 Steps to Take Back Control of Your Life. Get the free gift here.
What's one thing from the interview that was useful to you? Let me know in the comments below!
Don’t make a life change without doing this first!
Why do you want what you want? If you don't uncover the core need behind the goals you create for yourself, you may end up chasing after the wrong thing.
Many of us are looking to change our status quo...to make some sort of improvement to our life. The end goal may be to get a better job, improve our health, repair a relationship, clean up our debt, cut out stress...
Regardless of our particular situation, the one thing we’ve got to do before going after any goal—where we’re looking to make a successful and lasting change—is to get clear on our where, what, and why.
I call these the 3 Ws.
The 3 Ws: Your where, what, and why
Before gearing up for a major life change or planning an aspirational goal, ask yourself:
1. Where am I now?
What’s my current situation? What’s not working well? Where do I want to see a change?
2. What do I want?
What’s the dream outcome for this situation? What does achieving my goal look like and how does it make me feel?
3. Why do I want it?
Why do I want this change to happen? What’s the purpose, what do I get out of it? What’s the underlying value, need, or desire I’ll fulfill when I achieve my goal?
This is the most important step, so don’t skip it! Here's Why:
If you don’t get to the real reason behind your want, you might end up spending time, effort, and resources chasing the wrong thing!
For example, many of us want to make a lot of money, but being rich isn’t the actual end goal. Money is a symbol for an underlying core need—it may be security, freedom, self-worth, or something else.
Get to the reason behind your goal by repeatedly asking, “Why do I want this?” until you’ve arrived at the final answer.
Want to see breaking a goal down to its “why” in action? In the video below, I introduce W #3—Why do you want it?— and show you how to get to the root desire that's within your goal.
If you’re clear on your 3 Ws before taking action on your goal, you’ll be more focused, intentional, and confident as you move forward. And most importantly, you’ll be setting yourself up for achieving what you truly want.
For a deeper dive into uncovering your wants and core needs, there’s a step-by-step process of how to do that in my book, Meant for More: Create Your Dream Life, Plan Your Path, and Start Living It Now. The book also answers the questions: How am I going to get what I want? What are the steps I need to take? You’ll not only have a clear vision of your dream outcome, you’ll have an action plan for how to get there!
Did asking "Why do I want it?" bring up any insights or surprises for you? Did uncovering your core need shift your perspective on your current goal? Share in the comments section!
What does having a purpose mean and why does it matter?
What does purpose really mean and why does it matter? Is it relevant to real life or just the high-minded daydreams of magical thinkers and positive psychology enthusiasts?
In this short video,
Photo by Jamie Templeton on Unsplash
If you've ever googled "how to live a fulfilling life" or "finding happiness," you've probably run into this word over and over again: Purpose.
Some people swap “purpose” for “calling,” while others have strong opinions about keeping those two terms separate.
What personal development junkies do agree on is that you’re supposed to have a purpose, know your purpose, and live it every day. Basically...
No purpose = no fulfillment.
No pressure, right? 🙄
But what does having a purpose really mean, anyway, and why does it matter?
Does it apply to real life or just the high-minded daydreams of magical thinkers and positive psychology enthusiasts?
In this short video, I give my take on the definition of purpose and how having it can help us in life.
Interview with Kristin Rath and Conny Lee, host of The Balanced Parent Show. June 2018.
What does "purpose" mean to you? Share your thoughts in the comments below!