Are You Measuring Yourself Against Your Ideal?

Try this instead.

Humans can be so driven and focused on our goals or an idea of something we want to create that we skip over the journey on the way there.

I am all for goal setting. In fact, I help women clarify and design big goals, sometimes life-altering goals.

I love it!

I have all kinds of systems that I employ to support myself in building, creating, and tracking my goals and projects. I could be better at using all of my systems consistently, and as a rule, I am pretty good with leveraging them and receiving value and support.

That being said, I am guilty of being super focused on driving whatever I have chosen to do or be a part of that I can miss the day-to-day or not give it its true due.

Can you relate?

I think it is so important to notice our habits and patterns especially if they are not supporting us.

I approach my life like a spiritual scientist and observe.

Or, in the case of this post (and what inspired it), I take note when I am called forward by something I heard or read. It can sometimes be the second, third, or even fourth time I have heard or received the insight. I take those multiples as signs a message is attempting to reach me.

In this case, it is encouraging me to ensure I see, note, and acknowledge my actual progress on whatever it is I am working on.

Currently, I am building my own business. I have a lot of professional experience but I haven’t built a business for myself before and in many ways, I am flying solo. I am a worker and I love to learn so I can put my head down and get into it. That’s all fine and good.

But….we need to see what we have done. We need to see what we have learned and the progress we have made.

We need to acknowledge the wins as fuel and inspiration.

We can even use that same time to clarify new questions or to shift our plan or any number of things. The point is DO NOT skip taking stock of progress.

Life is zooming by so if we don’t implement (and commit to) ways to check ourselves we will be swept up in the momentum of it all. Unless you live on a mountain peak, I don’t see how most of us can avoid this tendency of the human race.

Just go, go, go.

What is critical to sustaining enthusiasm and also stimulating creativity and regenerative thinking is celebrating progress.

If you work in or lead a team, this is critical. Often those collaborating on a project can be subject matter experts and not necessarily managing the total project. If you don’t have scheduled times to review the project AND include praising progress, people will likely feel deflated or worse unconsciously become lackluster.

I think a big reason so many people are either unhappy in their work, burned out, or don’t feel they have a work-life balance is because we don’t bring enough joy and celebration into it. This can be done in so many big and small ways.

We humans need this kind of stimulation and inspiration.

Consider doing a little inventory of your life right now and this can include both personal and professional. Choose an area or a goal that is important to you right now or that you have been focusing on in 2024.

Here are some reflection questions to support this:

• What is or has been my big focus for 2024?

• What significant milestones have occurred?

• In what ways have I made progress on this goal?

• What have I learned about the goal or process? What have I learned about myself?

• What can I celebrate regarding this goal and body of work?

PRO Tip: I have two calendar entries every week to support me in simply tracking my progress.

On Mondays, at 930am I have a calendar entry titled, “SET UP WEEK,” and these are the questions in the notes portion that I answer:

• What big item do you want to make measurable progress on?

• What smaller actions, or to-dos, do you want to complete this week?

• What physical health area do you want to celebrate at the end of the week?

• What quality do you want to lean into?

• What is your intention for this week?

• Who do you want to reach out to or connect with?

On Fridays, I have it scheduled at 430p and these are the questions I answer:

• What BIG item did you make measurable progress on?

• What smaller to-dos, actions did you complete?

• What physical health win are you celebrating?

• What else are you celebrating?

• What was a big learning or how did you grow this week?

• Where did you take a risk?

• What are you excited about?

• Where do you need help?

• Who did you have a meaningful connection with?

At the start of the week, this takes me about 10 minutes to complete. On Friday, my wrap-up takes a bit longer (15-20 minutes), but it helps me look back over the week and remember all that occurred.

When I work this these systems, I am always grateful and inspired.

Did you know if you hit the little heart ❤️ at the top or bottom of this newsletter each week, it makes it easier for people to find their way to Honoring Your Life? Thank you! ❤️