By: Taffy Hawkins
We know that it is easier to build something if you have the right tools. Not doing so can lead to more time spent, frustration and perhaps even failure. I know that you are ready for your own transformation in 2017, so I am here to give you the tools to make you successful! The first part of this is to learn lessons from those who have gone before you. There is no reason to reinvent the wheel here. In less than two weeks, I turn 36 years old. While it may not seem like much to more seasoned readers, I have learned my fair share of lessons in these 35 years. Here they are:
Let go of what no longer serves you whether this is a relationship that is no longer healthy or clothes that are just cluttering up the closet. Clutter, mental or physical, has to go. Lighten your load and make room for what is to come. Forgive old hurts and take responsibility for your role in the things of your life. This is a hard one but so worth it. Forgive those who have hurt you. Accept the apologies that you may never receive. Accept responsibility for your role in your life, good and bad. Own up to it even if it hurts! Failure to do so makes you the victim in your life always. Life is not always happening to you. When you realize that you have some control, you can change the trajectory! By the way, forgiveness does not mean allowing someone to continue to hurt you or just acting like it never happened. It means: “I love myself enough to put this baggage down!”
Trust your gut. Intuition is a powerful tool. It exists for a reason. Trust it. Everyone and every circumstance is either a blessing or a lesson, which we may never fully understand. Learn the lesson the first time or risk reliving it over and over again until you do. There are patterns in life. If you do not like the pattern, change a variable.
Love! Let people love you. Love yourself as you love others. You are worthy of the love that you desire. Cherish yourself, pamper yourself, respect yourself.
Do not put the key to your happiness in someone else’s pocket. Likewise, you cannot saddle yourself with the responsibility of being the key to someone else’s happiness. It is not fair to you or them. Change for yourself and no one else. Transformation is a wonderful, magical, beautiful thing if it is done for the right reasons. You deserve the life that you want! You have to only be willing to do the work. These tips will help you to release painful experiences, burdens or toxic people or habits. Now the fun can begin! You have now made room in your heart and life for an amazing transformation! Here’s how to get started:
- Set S.M.A.R.T. goals. SMART stands for Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Timely. Goals must be very specific. You want to lose weight or make more money? Be specific about exactly what you want. If you were ordering food, you would not say, “I want some food.” You would probably say exactly what item you prefer from the menu. Same principle.
- Goals must be measurable. Certain number of books read, money made, miles run, etc. Give it a number. It must be something attainable. Is this something that can be done or acquired? Make it realistic. Some things that were thought to be impossible have been done. It should be a challenge but optimistically realistic.
- Put it on a deadline. Short-term goals are often less than six months while long-term goals are more than six months. Big dates like birthdays, December 31 and summer or spring break are very common deadlines. Mark it on your calendar.
- Make a plan! Get with a coach to determine the steps to take. Work from the goal backward to write out steps. Write out your plan in advance.
- Put it in action NOW! Do not wait until Monday, next month, next year, when the kids move out, when you lose weight, etc. Do it now!
Take three action steps every day toward the goal. No exceptions. Every. Single. Day. Be consistent. The difference between success and failure is often small steps made consistently every day. There you have it! Load lightened, mind clear, goals, set, plan made and actions taken. Starting your transformation process is that easy! I cannot wait to hear your success story.
This is your daring adventure! Are you ready?
Taffy Hawkins is an author and certified life coach specializing in helping women during transitional seasons in life. She is the founder of Your Daring Adventure, a coaching, speaking and retreat company encouraging women across the globe to embrace a spirit of adventure. Her book, Living Out Your Bucket List Right Now for The Adventure of a Lifetime is designed to help people of all ages begin their own bucket list adventure and is available on Amazon at: http://www.amazon.com/Living-bucket-right-adventure-lifetime. Her website is www.yourdaringadventure.com
or email her at yourdaringadventure@yahoo.com