Tag: motivation

crop man writing notes while working in office
Posted in Mindset

Why Failure is Necessary to Succeed

Posted on by tracydee

Part 2 of the entrepreneurship series

Let’s talk about why failure is necessary to succeed.

Entrepreneurship has become the “it” career path for many, with success stories of Silicon Valley giants and overnight unicorns fueling the dream of creating something big out of nothing. Yet, most people don’t realize that behind every successful entrepreneur, there are likely countless failures and setbacks they had to overcome to get there. Failure is unavoidable in any entrepreneurial journey, whether it’s a failed product, a missed opportunity, or a bad decision. However, learning to embrace and learn from failure is often a critical component of success. 

photo of coworkers throwing pieces of paper to show why failure is a necessary part of success
Photo by Alena Darmel on Pexels.com

In this post, we’ll explore why failure is not only okay but also necessary for entrepreneurial success. We’ll delve into how it helps build resilience, gain valuable experience, cultivate a growth mindset, and overcome the fear of failure. So, get ready to learn why failure is the secret ingredient to entrepreneurial success.

Building Resilience

One of the key benefits of experiencing failure is gaining valuable experience. Every failure provides a unique opportunity to learn from mistakes and identify areas for improvement. By analyzing what went wrong and why, entrepreneurs can refine their strategies, processes, and products to increase their chances of success in the future. Moreover, these experiences can help entrepreneurs develop a deeper understanding of their industry, customers, and market trends, which can be invaluable in making informed decisions and staying ahead of the competition.

For example, Mark Cuban, the billionaire entrepreneur and Shark Tank investor, has famously said,

“I’ve learned that it doesn’t matter how many times you failed. You only have to be right once. I tried to sell powdered milk. I was an idiot lots of times, and I learned from them all.”

– Mark Cuban

Similarly, Sara Blakely, the founder of Spanx, has been open about her failures and how they helped her achieve success. In fact, she credits her early failures with giving her the skills and resilience she needed to launch her now billion-dollar business.

Ultimately, gaining valuable experience from failure is about turning setbacks into opportunities for growth and learning. Rather than being discouraged by failure, entrepreneurs should embrace it and use it as a catalyst for continuous improvement. By doing so, they can build the resilience and expertise they need to thrive in the ever-changing landscape of entrepreneurship.

Gaining Valuable Experience

As Mark Cuban and Sara Blakely have demonstrated, failure can be a valuable teacher for entrepreneurs. By recognizing their mistakes, analyzing what went wrong, and learning from those experiences, entrepreneurs can gain invaluable knowledge and skills that can be applied to future endeavors. This process of continuous improvement is fundamental to building a successful business.

black smartphone displaying error
Photo by Polina Zimmerman on Pexels.com

Ultimately, failure allows entrepreneurs to become better at what they do. Through trial and error, entrepreneurs can hone their skills, refine their strategies, and develop the resilience necessary to overcome obstacles and succeed. Entrepreneurs can cultivate the mindset necessary to thrive in today’s competitive marketplace by accepting failure as part of their entrepreneurial journey.

Cultivating a Growth Mindset

Having the right mindset is vital to achieving success as an entrepreneur. The best way to overcome failure is to cultivate a growth mindset, which sees failure as an opportunity for learning and growth. This mindset encourages entrepreneurs to take risks, try new things, and embrace the unknown confidently and optimistically.

To cultivate a growth mindset, entrepreneurs need to adopt several essential practices:

  1. They must be open to feedback and willing to learn from their mistakes.
  2. They need to have a strong sense of purpose that motivates them to persist in the face of adversity.
  3. They must be willing to take calculated risks and step outside their comfort zones.

By embracing failure as an opportunity for growth and cultivating a growth mindset, entrepreneurs can overcome setbacks and achieve tremendous success in their entrepreneurial endeavors.

Overcoming Fear of Failure

While failure may be a necessary part of entrepreneurship, it can also be incredibly scary. Entrepreneurs often fear failure, which keeps them from taking risks and pursuing their dreams. To overcome this fear, it’s important to remember that failure does not reflect your worth as a person or your ability as an entrepreneur. Instead, it’s an opportunity to learn and grow.

One strategy for overcoming the fear of failure is to focus on the process rather than the outcome. Instead of fixating on the possibility of failure and what it might mean for your business, focus on the steps you need to take to achieve your goals. Break your goals down into smaller, more manageable tasks and focus on completing each one to the best of your ability. Focusing on the process can take the pressure off the outcome and reduce your fear of failure.

Another strategy is to reframe your mindset around failure. Instead of seeing failure as something to be avoided at all costs, see it as an opportunity to learn and grow. Every failure is a chance to gather feedback, identify areas for improvement, and adjust your approach. By reframing failure in this way, you can reduce the fear associated with it and embrace it as a necessary part of the learning process.

In conclusion, failure is not the enemy of success in the entrepreneurial journey. It is a necessary component. As we’ve discussed, by embracing failure, we can develop resilience, acquire valuable experience, and cultivate a growth mindset. Failure can be the fuel that ignites our success. So, take risks, learn from mistakes, and keep moving forward.

Remember, as Winston Churchill famously said,

“Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.”

-Winston Churchill
closeup photo of graphing paper
Posted in Goal, Manifestation, Mindset

9 Helpful Manifestation techniques for beginners

Posted on by tracydee

Are you looking for manifestation techniques for beginners? Look no further because I’ve compiled some tips for starting manifestation. I’ve been using manifestation for almost two years and continue learning more about it each and every day.

But, I’m not here to gate keep and I want to share these manifestation techniques for beginners with you so you can get started on this journey as well.

I am ready to transform my life, and I know you are too!

I’m sure you’ve heard of manifestation techniques by now, but if you’re new to the game and wondering how they work—or if you’ve tried them before and want to improve your results—this guide is for you. Manifestation techniques are effective ways to visualize your goals and improve your life. They can even help with physical health issues. The point is that these techniques have been around for ages, so they’ve stood the test of time (and are still effective) because they work!

Disclaimer: I’m not an expert (YET!) so that is why I am sharing manifestation techniques for beginners.

photo of assorted letter board quote hanged on wall that are part of manifestation techniques for beginners
Photo by Mikechie Esparagoza on Pexels.com

Make a vision board

A vision board is a collage of photos, images, and words representing what you want to achieve. It can be something as simple as putting together a few images from magazines on poster board or more elaborate—a large collage with handmade elements and quotes. Whatever method you choose, the key is to make sure your vision board has the things that matter most to you in life. You might include photos of places you’d like to travel to or loved ones who inspire your goals. You might also want to include affirmations (positive messages) or inspirational quotes that remind you why achieving your goal matters so much.

How do vision boards work? It’s all about how our brains process information—”encoding.” Our brains tend to encode images more powerfully than words because they’re visual cues and auditory ones (hearing someone speak).

Set affirmations

To use affirmations, you need to identify what you want. Then, write down or speak aloud a positive statement about this goal. Affirmations can be spoken or written; however, they should be specific and present tense (as if you already have what you want).

In addition to saying an affirmation out loud or writing it down on paper, repeating them regularly will help them sink in more deeply and hold your subconscious mind accountable for manifesting that desire. If the affirmation isn’t realistic and achievable, wait to set it as your intention!

Write down your goals and achievements

  • Write down your goals. The first step to achieving any goal is clearly defining what that goal looks like in the present tense. For example, instead of writing “I want a new car,” write “I am driving my new car.” Doing this will help you visualize what your life will be like when you’ve achieved that goal.
  • Write down your achievements. Keep a journal or create an achievement board where you can post pictures of things that have happened since you started manifesting (for example, buying tickets to a concert). Instead of saying, “I manifested this amazing thing,” say, “I manifested two tickets for my favorite band’s upcoming show at [insert venue name]. That way, there is no question about exactly what happened!
woman sitting on car under gray sky using manifestation techniques for beginners
Photo by Andrea Piacquadio on Pexels.com

Visualize your future

Visualizing your future is an essential part of manifesting. And it’s one of the best manifestation techniques for beginners.

To visualize your future, start with a general idea of what you want to achieve. Is it financial freedom? A loving relationship? The perfect home? Once you have a goal in mind, imagine yourself achieving this goal through what’s called “manifestation visualization.” Manifestation visualization involves imagining yourself having already achieved what you want most. You can do this by closing your eyes and seeing yourself living out this new reality as if it were a movie playing inside of your mind.

Visualizations like this can help raise your vibration (vibration refers to how much energy flows through a person) so that when opportunities arise for achieving these goals, you’ll be able to grasp them before anyone else!

Read inspirational quotes

  • Read inspirational quotes.
  • Listen to motivational speeches or podcasts.
  • Learn about other people’s success stories, especially in areas that interest you.

Stay positive

Stay positive. The way you think about yourself and your life can change the results you get. If you’re feeling down, write in a journal or talk to someone who makes you feel good—yourself or another person is great, but try not to compare yourself with others.

You are valuable and worthy, just as you are right now! Be grateful for what you have right now, no matter how small it might seem. Don’t worry so much about what other people think—it’s hard enough to be happy with yourself without putting pressure on yourself because of other people’s opinions!

Don’t be afraid to fail; failure is an integral part of success (and often leads straight into it).

Speak positively to yourself with “I am” statements

You’ll need to be in a positive mindset to make your desires come true. There are several methods of doing this, but “positive self-talk” is the most effective way. Do this by speaking positively about yourself and your situation. You should use “I am” statements instead of “I am not” statements (e.g., “I am happy right now” vs “I am not sad right now”).

Examples of positive “I am” statements include:

  • I am confident!
  • I love myself!
  • I know exactly what I want in life!

These are easy to implement manifestation techniques for beginners!

Start the day right

  • Wake up!
  • Get a good night’s sleep!
  • Make your bed!
  • Have a healthy breakfast!
  • Do some light exercise! (You don’t have to go crazy here, stretch your muscles and get the blood flowing.)
  • Meditate for at least five minutes before you start your day.

Surround yourself with good people

To achieve your goals, you need to surround yourself with people who believe in you. Surrounding yourself with good people will help you stay on track and achieve your goals.

A negative friend or family member can quickly derail your plans by discouraging you from taking action and telling you that it’s not worth it anyway.

The same goes for social media; if someone is constantly posting negative memes or complaining about their life situation, this can also be detrimental to your mindset.

Manifestation techniques for beginners are effective ways to visualize your goals and improve your life

These tools can help you succeed in life, whether personally or professionally. There are many types of manifestation techniques, but some of the most popular ones include using affirmations, visualization, “I am” statements and inspirational quotes. The power of positive thinking is another excellent manifestation technique that many people have used before you! 

With all of these techniques, you can improve your life and achieve the things you’ve always wanted. I believe in you!

dawn couple love people
Posted in Goal

How can setting goals help you in the long term? 5 things to consider now

Posted on by tracydee

You may have wondered, how can setting goals help you in the long term? I use goal-setting methods for my own life in every setting. It allows me to have my goals in front of me throughout the year, so I can see what steps I need to take next, and provides an outline to follow if I change my goals.  

Goal setting also allows me to reexamine what I am doing and make changes if something isn’t working.  The year is long enough to get a lot of things done, so let’s look at some ways you can use goal setting throughout the year and beyond!

Clarifying what you want brings clarity to your life

How can setting goals help you in the long term when it comes to gaining clarity?

This is the first step in setting goals. It is a process of defining, refining and prioritizing what you want. This clarification process can be done alone or with a friend or coach. It is important that you are honest and objective with yourself during this process, as it will help you achieve the results that you desire.

The second step is setting specific, measurable, achievable and timely goals. These goals should be tied to your vision statement and be SMART: Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic (and) Time-bound.

The third step is creating an action plan that includes steps to achieve each goal with dates/time frames for completion. For example: “By March 1st I will have successfully completed my first fitness test at boot camp (specific).”

How can setting goals help you in the long term?
Photo by Polina Zimmerman on Pexels.com

Goals help you to find purpose and meaning in your work and life

How can setting goals help you in the long term when it comes to finding purpose and meaning?

When people talk about goals, they often think of them in terms of productivity and achievement. But there’s another way to think about them: as a way to find direction and purpose in life. This is especially true for people who feel that their work is meaningless or unfulfilling.

Goals can help you find purpose and meaning in your work and life because they make it easier for you to understand what success means to you. Once you know what success looks like, then it becomes easier to make decisions about how you spend your time and effort.

This doesn’t mean that everyone should set goals — sometimes it’s better not to have any particular destination in mind when doing something. But if it works for you, then setting goals can be an important tool for finding fulfillment in your work

You’ll challenge yourself to grow as you pursue goals

How can setting goals help you in the long term and help you grow?

Setting goals is one of the most powerful tools we have to shape our lives and make them more meaningful. They can help us reach our full potential, achieve greater success, and feel more fulfilled in our lives.

When you set goals, you’re telling yourself that “this is what I want.” And by doing so, you’re giving yourself permission to move towards it. You’re giving yourself permission to take action on what matters most to you in life.

But if you don’t know where you’re going, how will anyone else?

Setting goals leads to more success

Have you ever wondered why some people seem to accomplish more than others? It’s not because they’re smarter, have more money or are better at hiding their flaws.

The answer lies in their approach to life. They have a habit of setting goals and achieving them.

Setting goals is one of the most important habits you can develop if you want to succeed in any area of life, whether it’s career, health or finances.

Having a specific goal helps you focus on what matters most, instead of getting overwhelmed by all the things that you could be doing.

black and white dartboard. how can setting goals help you in the long term
Photo by Engin Akyurt on Pexels.com

Goals can keep you motivated

How can setting goals help you in the long term when it comes to motivation?

Setting goals is a great way to stay motivated. Progressing towards a goal provides a sense of accomplishment, and it shows you what areas of your life need improvement. If you set a goal that is too big and hard to reach, it can actually be counterproductive because it will just cause you to feel overwhelmed. It’s important to set realistic goals that you can achieve with time and effort. You should also set short-term goals so that you have something to work towards in the short run as well as long-term ones for the future.

So, how can setting goals help you in the long term?

If you want to achieve something in life, setting goals and working towards them is the first step. If you really want something bad enough, go after it. Don’t give up easily. Be hard-working and diligent, but most of all, do the research and don’t be afraid to ask for help. And maintain this mindset because your goals will change over time.

Setting reasonable goals and working towards them can help you stay motivated and see your long-term vision in a clearer, more structured light. Setting goals forces you to be organized, systematic, and analytical in a way that isn’t always natural—but it’s also worth the effort.

sitting blur reflection face
Posted in Goal, Manifestation

5 Things to Focus on in the New Year: Self Love

Posted on by tracydee

Self love – This is part 2 in a 5 part series. Well, part 1 focused on time management and part 2 is focusing on self-love. As I looked back through my blog posts for the year, I realized I talked about self-care and building confidence, but I’m not sure I touched on self love and acceptance. Perhaps it’s because it’s still an area of improvement in my life. Something that doesn’t quite feel like I fully made it there yet.

But isn’t the journey more important than the destination?

So what if I never get to 100% self love and acceptance? That would be amazing and maybe I will, but figuring it out is just as important. Because if I’m always focusing on how I’m going to feel when I fully love and accept every piece of myself, then I can’t focus on fully loving who I am in this particular moment.

I always want to improve and become a better version of myself. We should strive to improve and grow as individuals to better for ourselves and the people around us. Ironically, putting myself out here into the digital world is helping me reach a more accepting and loving view of myself. My confidence is growing and I am realizing more and more each day that there is only one me in this world.

Self Love Goals for the New Year

  1. Start each day by looking in the mirror and saying one thing I love about myself
  2. Continue to say and write affirmations on a daily basis
  3. Reduce automatic negative thought patterns
  4. If someone gives me a compliment, accept it and do NOT downplay it
  5. Continuing aligning physical health and mental health

This is not a linear process, but it is a process that needs to happen. I encourage you to embark on your own self love and acceptance journey!

success text
Posted in Goal, Manifestation

Setting Realistic Goals Is The Key To Getting Important Things Done

Posted on by tracydee

Setting realistic goals: When most people think about goals, they think about vision boards and long-term objectives. It’s not a bad idea to have those things, but you also want to be realistic and set goals which are measurable. And often times, this means breaking it down into smaller goals and shorter timelines.

Focus on how you can connect with goals that are meaningful to you

The best way to set goals is to focus on the process of reaching them, not just the end result.

Most people set goals like this: “I want to lose weight.” But that’s a goal that may only ever be partially achieved. You’ll lose some weight, but it may not be all you want it to be. And once you’re at your desired weight, what will you do then?

Instead, it’s better to focus on how you can connect with your goal. For example, here are two different ways of thinking about losing weight:

“I want to feel more energetic and healthy.” This is a goal that can be achieved by eating well and exercising regularly — no matter what size or shape you are. It’s something that will sustain itself over time because it’s not dependent on a certain number on the scale or an outfit fitting better in the closet (which are both external factors).

In order to go about setting realistic goals that matter and are achievable, it’s important to focus on what you can realistically achieve in the next three to six months. Here are some examples:

  • Ask for a raise at work
  • Improve your health by exercising more and eating better
  • Travel somewhere new with your friends and family

End with a plan for how you’ll get from where you are now to where you want to be

The process of goal-setting looks easy, but it’s not always easy to know how to develop a plan for setting realistic goals and achieving them. Here are some tips for developing your plan:

  • Break down each step into smaller tasks. For example, if one of your goals is to run a marathon by the end of 2022, what steps do you need to take? You might break this down into weekly training sessions and then monthly long runs so that there are milestones along the way.
  • Figure out how much time you need for each task on the path toward achieving your goal. If it takes two hours per week (and let’s say we’re talking about studying) then twelve weeks before test day equals twenty-four hours total—that’s enough time!

    It may seem like a lot at first glance but once you’ve broken down everything else into smaller chunks and scheduled them out throughout the year (or even just over three months), suddenly committing twenty-four hours isn’t so daunting anymore! In fact it may actually be easier than breaking open a new book now would feel like because those twenty four hours are already accounted for in advance thanks to our earlier planning efforts.
setting realistic goals
Photo by RUN 4 FFWPU on Pexels.com

Remember your goals and find ways to achieve them

Now that you know how to set goals, let’s take a look at some of the many ways that goal setting can help you achieve your dreams.

  • It helps us to remember our goals and find ways to achieve them.
  • It helps us visualize our goals.
  • It helps us set priorities for achieving each goal.
  • It measures our progress toward achieving each goal using tangible measurements like numbers or percentages instead of just feelings alone!

Look at your situation honestly, not naively or selectively

Every year I set goals for myself. I am pretty good at it too, but what I learned is that if you don’t set the right goals, or if you set a goal that’s not in line with your values and the things that mean most to you in life, then there is no real motivation to do anything about them.

I tend to make lists of things I would like to achieve during the year and then break them down into smaller steps so they are more manageable. And then when I look at these steps, they should all be aligned with my values and what matters most to me.

For example, if one of my main values is family time and spending quality time together as a family unit, then any goal that supports this would be considered a higher priority than something else (like booking flights for holidays).

The same goes for other areas of life such as health or finances – if there’s something on your list that doesn’t support your health or financial goals then it’s probably not worth doing anyway!

setting realistic goals
Photo by picjumbo.com on Pexels.com

Setting realistic goals allows you to consider the realities of your life while still dreaming big

For example, going back to running a marathon, it’s realistic to also set goals around training and diet. You may decide to run five miles every day for three months, or eat healthier foods at every meal.

You can also be realistic about the amount of time it will take for your goal to be realized. If you plan on running a marathon in three months, it’s more realistic to set intermediate goals along the way—for example, running two miles per day for one week—and then celebrate even small successes along the way!

Setting realistic goals allows you to see how far away your dream feels when compared with where you are now and how much work needs to be done before it becomes reality.

Setting realistic goals for yourself

At the end of the day, regardless of whether your goal is big or small, it’s important to remain realistic in your expectations and to ensure that you are meeting that goal. Reaching your ultimate goal can be a tough challenge, which is why you should always set smaller goals along the way. Smaller goals may not always seem as impressive as some larger goals, but they help you with achieving the big-picture vision.

marketing exit writing technology
Posted in Goal

The Hidden Power Of Your Mindset (And How It Affects Everything Else In Your Life)

Posted on by tracydee

Your mindset shapes your life

It’s time to discover the hidden power of your mindset. Your mindset shapes your life. That’s the message of countless self-help books and motivational speakers. It’s a simple idea, but one that can be incredibly difficult to put into practice. The reason? The power of our thoughts is so strong that we often don’t realize how much our mindset affects our lives—and, even more subtly, how greatly it can shape our future.

In a recent TED Talk, Stanford University psychologist Carol Dweck said that she believes “the single most important factor in whether or not you will fulfill your potential is not what you have or who you are, but rather, your mindset.” Dweck’s research showed that people with a “growth mindset“—understanding that their abilities can grow through hard work—tend to achieve more than those with a “fixed mindset”—the belief that intelligence and abilities are innate and can’t be changed.

Though this seems like an intuitive idea, the implications are huge. Our beliefs about ourselves shape how we approach challenges—whether we think it’s possible to succeed at something or not—and ultimately determine the course of our lives. If we believe we have the power to change and grow, that belief gives us the courage to try new things, learn from our mistakes, and improve ourselves.

Your mindset can change over time

A lot of people think that your personality is set and fixed, that you’re born a certain way and you can’t change. But the truth is, our personalities and mindsets are always changing.

The best way to think about it is from a growth mindset perspective. If you have a growth mindset, you believe that your personality can grow and change over time. And if you have a fixed mindset, you believe that it’s set in stone.

Now, which mindset do you think leads to more success? It’s obvious. The growth mindset gives us more power over our lives because we can adapt to any situation. And I want to share with you exactly how this works in practice.

All of our habits and behaviors are just the result of practice. If we practice something enough times, it becomes part of who we are. For example, if we practice being happy enough times, then we’ll become happier people overall. Or if we practice taking action enough times, then we’ll become an action-oriented person who takes action all the time.

the hidden power of your mindset
Photo by RODNAE Productions on Pexels.com

Your mindset will impact how you act on your goals

What you think about yourself will come true. It’s a relatively simple concept, but it’s more powerful than most people realize. How you behave will be unconsciously influenced by how you perceive yourself. This is the hidden power of your mindset.

Learning to truly believe in yourself is key to setting and achieving goals because it opens the door to seeing opportunities where others think there are none. If you don’t believe that you can achieve something, then you’ll never make it a reality. But if you realize that your potential is limitless, then the only thing left is making the choice to act on your goals. How can you accomplish anything if you don’t believe that it’s possible?

The great thing about building your self-confidence is that it will affect everything else in your life as well. You’ll be able to see opportunities for positive change where others don’t. You’ll also be able to see what areas of your life could use some improvement and take concrete steps toward change.

You may not always feel confident, but when you do, make sure to hold onto that feeling. When those negative thoughts creep in, force yourself to focus on the good things about yourself and the reasons why those things have made a positive impact on others and in your life so far.

You must be intentional about developing and maintaining a healthy mindset

Being intentional about developing and maintaining a healthy mindset is the first step in changing your perspective. It’s helpful to know where you are now so you can make improvements by shifting your thinking and creating new habits. Here are some ways to do this:

Examine your belief system: Take note of your thoughts, words, and actions. Do they align with what you believe? Are there any negative beliefs that need to be reframed? It’s common for us to have limiting beliefs of ourselves and others, which can hurt our productivity as well as our relationships with people we care about.

Analyze negative thoughts: The next time you find yourself thinking negatively, stop and analyze what’s going on. Is there something specific causing this? If so, try not to let it get to you too much because it will pass soon enough! This is the hidden power of your mindset.

Takeaway: A powerful, positive, and healthy mindset is one of the most important factors in achieving success in any area of life.

pexels-photo-3401897.jpeg
Posted in Manifestation

The Power of 22: Affirmations For a Positive Year

Posted on by tracydee

There really is something with the power of 22. I am writing this on February 22, 2022 (02-22-2022). This is an especially powerful date because it is a mirror number. What you send out into the universe is sent back to you. I truly believe this is an opportunity to manifest, reflect, and create the life that you want.

How powerful is the number 22?

22 has always had a special meaning for me because it is my birthday. Whenever I see the number 22, I get a feeling that all is well. And I feel fortunate because this is one of the most powerful numbers.

This number is associated with achieving your greatest aspirations. So don’t shy away when you see it. Embrace it and use it.

I decided to write down 22 affirmations for the day. I encourage you to do the same.

power of 22
Photo by Skylar Kang on Pexels.com

22 Affirmations for a Positive 2022

1. My life is full of abundance and prosperity.

2. I welcome new opportunities to bring me joy.

3. I am whole and complete just as I am.

4. My body, mind, and spirit are healthy and in alignment.

5. I am filled with gratitude for the amazing things in my life.

6. Today I commit to living the life of my dreams

7. My body is capable of immense strength.

8. I am surrounded by loving and kind people who support my journey.

9. My thankfulness for all that I have overflows every time I wake up.

10. Money flows easily into my life in unexpected ways.

11. I deserve abundance in every aspect of my life.

12. My dreams and goals are easily within my reach.

13. My goal is to be better than the day before.

14. My capacity to learn new things is endless.

15. I accept peace into my life.

16. I will be kind to myself even when times are tough.

17. I give myself permission to be happy and excited by life.

18. I deserve to be the healthiest and happiest version of myself.

19. My immediate response is peace and joy when I wake up each morning.

20. I will call on inner strength in times of challenge.

21. The past shows that I can overcome anything and I will handle the future as well.

22. My support system is strong and loving.

art arts and crafts board game conceptual
Posted in Goal, Manifestation

Dear 2022, We need to have a word

Posted on by laurynshealthyliving
Guest Post by Lauryn Woodman
Guest Post by Lauryn Woodman

Instructional Designer, Educator, Accessibility Advocate

Visit Lauryn’s Website

Well, that happened. I think we can all agree that 2021 was kind of a whirlwind. In any event, whatever it was for you, it’s over now. With the end of a year comes closure, reflection, excitement, and hopefully some semblance of focus and vision.

Woman thinking
Photo by kevin turcios on Unsplash

What do you want to do in this year ahead? Who do you want to be? In a perfect world? Well, what would that perfect world be? What would it look like?

What went right or wrong in 2021? And how can you make sure that 2022 brings you positivity, peace, and happiness?

I don’t love the idea of New Year’s resolutions. I never set them, and even in the past when I had I always failed almost instantly. What I’ve started doing over the past few years is setting a word of intention. Something to focus on. Something to ground me. Something to bring me back to my purpose, to keep me going through the year.

After the torment that was 2020, that saw so much loss and so much pain, I chose to focus on the word peace for the first six months of 2021. I sought peace in every aspect of my life, in all my interactions. I thought hard about my situation, my relationships, and evaluated if they were bringing me the peace that I wanted and needed. Weirdly (or perhaps intuitively), as I started to embrace peace, and started to turn away from the things that didn’t bring me that peace, I found it and I found myself at ease. Peaceful.

And so having made it to the mountaintop by midway through 2021, I decided to choose another word, and that word was free. I had found peace but I still felt caged and restricted. A lot of that was having a job that was no longer serving me or my purpose and feeling really uninspired. I wanted to break free. There were also a lot of relationships that I felt trapped in. I was “keeping the peace” but I wasn’t free to be myself.

Finding myself and remembering who I was, and learning to manage those relationships played a key role in helping me feel free. By the end of 2021, I had a new job that valued and inspired me. I have some new and different and stronger relationships with people who support me and my freedom and my peace. And the year ahead looks really bright. There’s a lot of opportunities. And when I look back to a year ago, my life on the surface might seem similar but it feels so different because I have peace and I have freedom.

person sitting on top of a mountain
Photo by Fagner Trinca on Unsplash

As we approach 2022, I challenge you to take a look at your life. Think hard about what it is you want. Who you want to be, how you want to live, how you want to feel. Then choose a word to focus on as you move forward into 2022. I find that focusing on a feeling is much more profound than focusing on something tangible. You might think that you want more money, but why? What’s the goal? Do you want to be able to provide? Do you want to feel fulfilled? Do you want the freedom that comes with more money? We should be chasing those feelings rather than their tangible outcomes. If you seek fulfillment in the feeling, no matter what the tangible outcome is, you’ll feel fulfilled.

So what will your word be?

Posted in Goal

Imposing Time Limits on Goals

Posted on by tracydee

I was recently talking with someone about my goal of visiting 40 countries by the time I’m 40. When I tell people this, usually their eyes get big and they say something like good luck. Now, full disclosure I just turned 35, so I only have 5 years to go. And so far, I have only been to 5 countries.

The other consideration is what counts as an adequate amount of time somewhere for me to say that I visited that country. I am counting Portugal, which I was only in for 20 hours, but I did leave the airport, stay in a hotel, visit the downtown area, and eat some delicious food.

Although I currently live in Norway, I am from the United States where I spent all of my life. I visited both Mexico and Canada for a few days each. But other than that, I haven’t had the chance to see much of the world.

But here’s the thing that I believe to be true about goals and myself. If I don’t put a time limit on it, I am less likely to take action. I might put something off for years and years, wasting all of this time I could have used. I did this in my 20’s when I decided to run a half marathon.

I made this decision early in my 20’s and said that I would do it by the time I turned 30. Each year went by and I didn’t take action until I was 29. I did do it, but I could have done it so much sooner!

So maybe the real lesson is that I need to make the time constraint even closer to my current reality. Because the procrastinator brain in me will use all of the available time. I wish I had the diligence and self-discipline to just make things happen because I wanted them to. But, that’s also related to the power of manifestation and another area of my life I am definitely working on.

But Really – Time Limits Can Be a Good Thing

One of my favorite authors and writers of productivity, habits, and goal-setting, James Clear, has an excellent post on the realities of setting goals. He says that the true challenge is the competing goals we have for ourselves. If we have too many at one time, it can be difficult to narrow in on one at a time. Therefore, it can be helpful to focus on the most important goal of the time.

Atomic Habits by James Clear

Time limits help us focus and prioritize our goals. Another helpful tip is to place a limit on the number of goals and tasks that you are working toward at any one time.

So, if I really sit down and try to think about the things that are important to my immediate future, I have 3 goals that come before traveling the world:

  1. Complete another half marathon in April 2022 (time limit imposed and training plan created).
  2. Continue to be the best teacher possible while traveling to schools in Norway. Meaning, work on improving lessons, resources, and engagement with activites.
  3. Have a remote job lined up by August 2022. My current job will end at the end of June.

I did book a 14-day travel trip through Europe for July. Knowing that is coming and already booked alleviates some of the pressure of trying to make it to as many places as possible over the next 6 months.

All 3 of my most important goals are time constricted to the next 6 months. So maybe I should let go of the 40 countries by 40 and continue to take it 6 months at a time. It is a much more manageable deadline that allows for specific action in the here and now.

Oh, and one more goal for this month is to write 8 more blog posts to make it to 100 posts in 2021 on my brand new blog!

What do you think about imposing time limits on your goals?

woman holding guitar controller
Posted in Manifestation

You Are Enough: Don’t Ever Forget The Importance of Your Worth

Posted on by tracydee

You are enough! Keep saying it and believe it.

Building up self-confidence for many people is a lifelong endeavor. I used to equate academics and being smart to my self-worth. For some, that comes in the form of beauty that is only skin deep. The reality is to truly be happy you have to love yourself from the inside out, flaws and all.

And trust me, it is not an easy task, at least for me. But it’s one that I’m willing to take on to become the version of myself that doesn’t care what other people think or is completely content with where I’m at, even if I do want to make improvements or changes. And accept that I’m a work in progress, but I can never be truly content if I’m constantly criticizing myself.

One way that I continuously remind myself that I am enough is through daily affirmations. Yesterday, 8/8, was a powerful manifestation day for wealth and abundance. I focused on those affirmations because I am also on a debt-free journey. I even hosted a Tik Tok live for 30 minutes reading affirmations together. I found the experience to be really empowering and I actually can’t wait to do it again. The power of believing in yourself does come from within, but there is something to be said about building an encouraging community.

Reminder: You are enough!

After I graduated this past spring, I rewarded myself with my first tattoo. I have been wanting to get this for quite some time, but I finally had the courage to do it. I did pass out when I got my nose pierced years ago, and I was afraid the same might happen with a tattoo. It almost did, but the tattoo was small, so I managed to hold on.

I designed it myself and I specifically wanted the word “enough” to be in my personal handwriting. It serves as a constant reminder even when I’m feeling low or lacking self-confidence.

you are enough

So, if you’re reading this post, take this as a reminder that you are enough. You are capable and strong enough to face challenges, master your motivation, and reach your goals.

As an optimistic realist, I’m constantly looking for ways to improve. I undervalue my worth, and it’s time to start reaching the full potential I have.