From the Inside Out Coaching

I'm excited to present at the launch of a new group, SHE Safe Home Network! The meeting is on Friday, February 6 at 11:30, La Cocina in Cary. Come join us if you're local!

Happy New Year! I hope it's off to a healthy and productive start for you. Have you given any intentional thought to what you want to accomplish this year? What do you want to be different from last year (or maybe the past decade!)? Not too surprisingly, recent studies show that 80% of our New Year's resolutions get abandoned by mid-February! We start out on January 1 motivated and excited about landing that job promotion, losing the extra holiday weight, reconnecting with old friends or starting a new business venture. Over the next seven weeks we start to lose enthusiasm, momentum and eventually give up on our ambitions altogether.

Why do we break our resolutions and quit our goals so quickly? If they are a priority to us, why don't we see them through? And more importantly, how do we set intentional, meaningful goals that we can and will accomplish this year?

Here are my TOP 5 reasons why we give up on our goals:

#5 They are not specific enough

“Lose weight”
“Exercise more”
“Get a new job”

These goals are unsustainable because they are not specific or measurable. Goals must be specific and measurable to be achievable. So instead of "lose weight" try "lose 10 pounds by March 1" or "Improve BMI (Body Mass Index) to 24 by March 31."

#4 We don’t frame them in a positive light

“Don't eat carbs!”
“Get off of TikTok!”
"Stop the binge watching!"

Reprimanding yourself to “not do this” or “stop that” can lead to a cycle of negativity in the brain. It has you focused and fixated on the negative thing you are trying not to do. That can be really discouraging! So instead, reframe the goal to reflect something positive like “Drink a superfood smoothie for lunch” or "Read a few pages of that book every day."

#3 We don't see immediate results

I have to thank my inspirational Pastor, Nate Marriner, for this one! Often we want and expect change to happen overnight. We start working out for a week and don't see any results so we give up. But transformation requires time, effort and dedication. It takes an average of 66 days to create a new habit! Give yourself grace and time to start seeing results.

#2 Misalignment with our core values

Take some time to think through and get clear on your core values. What matters most to you in life? Some examples include faith, family, achievement, or balance. Once you are aware of your core values, make sure your goals align with them. If there is misalignment, you could get easily discouraged or unmotivated when it comes to pursuing your goals.

#1 Lack of accountability!

Do you have a coach, trusted friend, mentor or even a small community of people holding you accountable to your goals? You'll be more effective at pursuing and achieving your goals when you have someone you’re giving an account to and someone encouraging you to reach them!

I'll add one more point to consider. Sometimes we can have too many goals on our list and end up frustrated and overwhelmed. If you have too many goals, you might want to consider scaling back and just focusing on 3-4 big priority goals. Did you have a goal last year that you didn't accomplish? In all honesty, it probably wasn't that important to you. Often times we can think a goal is significant but, if we dig deeper, it really doesn't serve us. Give yourself permission to let go of the goals that don't add value to your life or align with your core values.

So keep pressing onward and don't give up this year! If you have any questions or comments around goal setting or getting unstuck, please reply to this email. As always, I offer a FREE discovery session to anyone seeking to get clear on their goals and see lasting change in the New Year!

Wishing you all the best for a healthy and blessed 2024!

www.linkedin.com

Grateful for the opportunity to speak about the power of coaching and shifting your mindset to achieve business and life goals! Thankful for such a dynamic and supportive group of women!

"Let go of fear and anxiety."
"Get more organized."
"Quit this job and start my own business."
"Work smarter, not harder."
"Set and keep healthy boundaries in my relationships."

These are some of the BIG goals my clients committed to in 2021. Through coaching they were able to identify and get clear on how they wanted their lives to look different. They intentionally defined and pursued goals that aligned with their desires and core values. Over the past year they found new direction and vision which led to greater productivity and fulfillment.

What is important to you for the New Year? Think about how your values and priorities have possibly changed amidst the upheaval of the past two years. Have you taken some time to reflect and write down what you really want In 2022? Without intentionally making time to define your goals and priorities, it's difficult to gain any real progress or change in life.

I encourage you to pause and take a minute to think about ONE thing that's really important to you this year...

Now that you have something in mind, the real challenge is dedication and persistence. It might be relatively easy to come up with one or more goals for the New Year, but why do so many of us fail to make any real progress when it comes to achieving them? If our goals are so important to us, why do we give up so quickly? According to a recent Business Insider article, (and I completely agree!), there are three main reasons New Year's "resolutions" fail. And I'll add a fourth to the list. As you are defining your goals for the New Year, ask yourself the following questions:

Am I being specific enough?
Goals like "exercise more" or "lose weight" are too vague and not specific enough to measure or keep you motivated. Instead try "run a 5K by March 31." When you make your goals more specific, they become measurable and more achievable. You can then create a daily or weekly plan of action to reach the goal within a certain amount of time.

Am I framing my goals in a positive light?
When we create goals that have a negative connotation like "stop eating carbs," it can backfire. That kind of wording makes you think of the very thing you are trying to avoid. So instead of focusing on the negative (carbs), use positive language like "drink a superfood smoothie for lunch." Then your mind will be focused on the positive goal you're trying to achieve.

Are these goals about me?
Sometimes we can create goals that someone else wants for us. Maybe your friend or spouse wants to run a half marathon and wants you to join them. But is that what you want? Don't be influenced by what your friend/spouse wants, trends or what society says you should do. Your goals should be about you and what you want.

Finally make sure you have someone to hold you accountable to your goals. Find someone who can and is willing to check in with you each day or week to make sure you're on track. When there is a trusted person to give an account to, you are more likely to make progress and stay on track. Without an accountability partner, it's too easy to procrastinate and eventually give up altogether.

I challenge you to take some time to think about and write down your goals for this New Year. Make them specific, positive, and about you! Then find someone; a close friend, co-worker or coach to hold you to those goals.

Wishing you a happy, healthy and productive 2022!

Galatians 6:9 "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up."

How do you know when to rebrand your business? I had procrastinated for far too long and realized the time was now! My business has officially shifted from career to business coaching!

Many thanks to Amber Foster Smith Photography for expertly capturing my new photos and company vision!

www.theinsideoutcoach.com

Thankful for the opportunity to speak at the Professional Moms of Holly Springs luncheon today! What a fun and encouraging group of ladies!

Thank you to Vend Raleigh for my feature in the Support Small Business Holiday Gift Guide!

Vend Raleigh's Support Small Business Holiday Gift Guide Feature: From the Inside Out Coaching
⁠
This year has been full of stress and uncertainty. But 2021 is a BRAND NEW YEAR filled with hope and opportunity! Start the New Year off right by setting and achieving your goals and priorities through coaching. As a Certified Professional Coach, I'm offering one month (four 60 minute sessions) of coaching for the price of ONE ($85 total)! Coaching sessions can be on any topic: goal setting for your business and/or personal life, developing a better work/life balance, defining your core values, minimizing distractions, etc. It's YOUR CHOICE! Make sure to start off the New Year with direction and purpose through life/business coaching!
⁠
Find out more about From the Inside Out Coaching and even more local woman-owned small businesses, entrepreneurs, and nonprofits you can support this holiday season through the Vend Raleigh Directory at directory.VendRaleigh.com.⁠
⁠
To be featured in our Holiday Gift Guide learn more at VendRaleigh.com/HolidayGiftGuide