“Mama, are we sending Christmas Cards this year or will they be Valentine’s?” This was the question from Amelia several mornings ago. It’s funny because the only reason we would send Valentine’s Cards is because I was unable to get our Christmas Cards in the mail on time. Can you relate?
And that conversation led me to think about the expectations I put on myself. There’s no life “monitor” waiting to give me a “grade” at the end of my life. Right? Yet I frequently act, that is, think as though I must go through life working for an A+.
And then, when I don’t get the Christmas Cards sent, (Seriously people, this is a challenge for me! Those receiving cards from us this year will be blessed by the arrival of 2014 and 2015’s cards together!), or I don’t hit my target work numbers, or I don’t lose as much weight as I had hoped…well, I just feel like a failure.
This year was a good one for my goals. I found an excellent eating program that I loved and I shed the
40lbs that had been hanging on for about 8 years. I finally finished and published my book. I managed to step back and take a few months with my kids traveling coast to coast this summer. By any yard stick, I think that’s a pretty good year.
But then I realize that I’ve gained some of that weight back. And I didn’t speak as many times as I had hoped. And the book was only self-published – does that even count? Oh, and the kids fought with each other for most of that enormous road trip.
You get where I’m going? Do you do this too? It’s so frustrating! Because I think when we do this horrible downplaying, minimizing what we’ve done and who we are as somehow “not quite enough,” we rob ourselves of the joy of the “enough.”
So ENOUGH!
This year as I review my goals from last year and step into planning and dreaming for 2016, I will recognize that anything I think worthy of writing down as a goal is enough. The process of completing the goal is enough. And when I accomplish that longed for dream, I’ll do a happy dance and celebrate!
If you want to join me, I want you to encourage you to check out my friend Michael Hyatt’s new and improved goal setting program 5 Days to Your Best Year Ever. I have used this program for the past 2 years and will do it again this year.
I have used the tools he has provided. I’ve engaged with the ongoing coaching program offered and benefitted from private VIP FB groups and online coaching sessions with Michael. I believe all of these things have combined to help me achieve some really big goals! 🙂 And I love that! And I want that for you too.
I believe in this program so much, I am an affiliate. That means, if you decide it’s right for you and you purchase the program, I get a thank you payment from Michael. But seriously, even if I weren’t, I would still be encouraging you to check it out.
I think it’s worth your time to at least look at. There are 3 free videos that will totally help you now, even if you decide the program is not a fit. The free content will help you get get thinking about how you want to set your intention for 2016 and then recognize the cost of each day of your year…so enlightening!
(The kids and I have a cameo in them too — so fun! You must watch carefully to see us — and I’m 40lbs heavier in the pictures since they were shot in July of 2014, so I can hardly bear it…sooooo Embarrassing!)
Ok, I could go on and on! But I won’t. Instead, I’m going to go get busy on my Christmas Cards, say a thankful prayer with every envelope I address, and know that it’s All. Totally. Enough.
Love you!
Christy
ps – In case you missed it — click here — to check out the 5 Days to Your Best Year Ever program. What will it hurt to look it over? And what will it hurt if you don’t? xoxoxo C
This has been one of my biggest challenges…recognizing when enough is enough, being ok with “good enough” rather than “perfect / A+”. As I’ve become more comfortable with “good enough”, I’ve felt more contentment and less stress.
I read something recently about creating a “reverse bucket list”. Instead of listing all of the things that you want to do/experience in your life, you create a list of things that you HAVE done/experienced. I really like this idea and think I’m going to try it this year. I bet it will help me see that my life so far has been more than “good enough”!