Last December, my sister Madeleine and I traveled to Costa Rica. On the night of the 25th, I was inspired to write my goals for the 2015 year. It’s impossible not to be inspired in Costa Rica. Everyone is happy, everywhere is beautiful, and the land is vibrant and free. Tired from our adventurous day at Manuel Antonio, Madeleine went to bed early and I ventured down to the community patio at our resort. With sounds of jungle creatures and celebratory groups as my soundtrack, the words flowed. I did not have to think about it, it just came to me.
Using the goal-setting strategy I learned at lululemon, I wrote my 10 year vision and 3 personal, health, and career goals for 1,5, and 10 years from that date. On the plane ride home, I was so eager to enact my plan and manifest shift, I wrote, by hand, a new “about me” for LinkedIn and outlined my next steps.
While I am on track to achieve a lot of what I set out to accomplish (practicing yoga at home 5 times a week (check), cooking one new meal a week (no check)), I got a bit derailed through the course of the year. Upon reflection, I’ve realized, I was derailed by other wonderful opportunities that did not align with the goals I outlined for myself.
Painfully, I am starting to learn to turn down opportunities. Whether it be working for a top ranked company or a short-term project; my time is precious and limited and it’s essential I make short-term sacrifices for long-term gains. I am slowly learning the importance of seeking out and creating the opportunities I want for myself; instead of passively accepting the ones that come to me.
With that said, I do not regret the detours I took this past year, as they helped me solidify what I truly want. In all honestly, I sold myself short and limited my potential based on a narrow view of my resources. As I approach my birthday next month, I am reconfiguring new goals that truly support the highest version of myself. I learn more from my mistakes then I do from my accomplishments and I am grateful for the missteps I’ve made because they’ve provided me clarity and reminded me how important it is to focus on my goals, no matter what comes my way.
I took a break from writing this blog to practice yoga at The Little Yoga Studio with Megan this morning. In class, she said, “we are happiest when we are focused on one thing”. It was pure serendipity because that is the intention for my classes this week. It’s fine to have multiple goals and to actively pursue a handful of projects and activities, but it’s essential we return to our main goals and intentions daily. Quoting the beautiful words of Friedrich Nietzsche, “he who has a why to live for can bear almost any how.”
I deserve to be fulfilled and accomplished and so do you! Find your intention, set your goals, and don’t let anything (including YOU!) get in the way.
