So we are three months into the new year and I just have to ask…how are those new year resolutions coming? You know, those promises you made to yourself a few months ago? Remember them? Are you still on track with the goals you set in the beginning of the year? Well if you’re like me, I’m pretty sure you’ve had your share of ups and downs in these first three months of this year. I mean January alone felt like an entire year. There have probably been some days where things got pretty tough and you may have considered giving up on that dream or goal. Days where things seemed impossible and even days where you felt like you just weren’t cut out to succeed. But in todays episode I want to reenergize you and help you fight the feelings of doubt and discouragement and so I want to inspire you to don’t quit.
So let’s think back to December 31st of 2018. New Year’s Eve. It was such an exciting time. You were hype about everything you had planned to accomplish this year. You felt like superwoman and this year, was going to be your year to make it to the top. You started January strong. You stayed on schedule, worked out every morning, read that bible every evening, made it to work on time, turned projects in early…you were rock star status…and then…all of that new year new me energy began to wear off. Those early morning felt a little too early, those work outs got harder and harder to do. Work…well let’s not even talk about work-you can go back and listen to the I hate my job episode for that. Life kinda went back to normal and reality wasn’t as pretty and sparkly as it was just a few months ago.
I wanted to check in on your guys this month because this is when things get real. We are past the honeymoon stage of this year and now the rose colored glasses are off. This is when the real work begins! Now is the time to see who is really about that life and who is dedicated to get things done and to make it happen. This is the time of year that people who are truly dedicated love. I think about my friends who go to the gym a lot. They hate the new year because the gym is full of people setting these new year goals, but by the time March and April roll around, things have cleared out and those who are still in the gym are the ones who are truly dedicated.
So lets take a moment to do a little self assessment. Where are you? Where are you mentally? Physically? Emotionally? Are you happy with your progress so far? Could things use a little work? Have you learned some things about your goals? Have you realized a few things about yourself? I know I sure have these last 3 months. For me, I’m past the honeymoon phase in my business, this podcast, in my spiritual and physical walk, so this year has been one where I get to see what I’m really made of. And there were times I felt like I didn’t have it. I felt like this ain’t for me, lol or I’m not cut out for this. But guys, I’m still here! I’m still pushing, I’m still seeing clients. I’m still putting out episodes. I’m still stepping outside of my comfort zone. I haven’t been perfect, but what I hope you see when you assess yourself is that yeah, you may not have been perfect, but you’re still here. You haven’t quit. Maybe you took a pause, maybe you fell off the wagon, maybe you doubted yourself, but you’re still in the game. It’s time now to get off the bench and keep pushing.
So do you guys remember a few episodes back in episode 16 Finish Strong I told you guys about how I almost died trying to run track. No for real, I almost died. Just to jog your memory I had the goal to be a track star decided during a track meet to run the 800m race. I started out strong, and a little too fast and basically by the time I got to the finish line I was the last one on the track and I hobbled across barely breathing. This race is kind of a reflection of what many of our year has looked like. We started strong out of the block in January, but as the months went by we began to reconsider our commitments and wonder if we can make it. Lord knows after the first lap of that race I was reconsidering my life decisions and wondering why I decided to do this. Is that you? These past few months have you said to yourself “why did I make that commitment” or “why did I set that goal?” So by the time you get to March, you are barely making it over the finish line. But no matter how raggedy my run may have been, I need you to know this…I didn’t quit the race. No one had to drag me across the finish line. I didn’t walk off the track when I got too tired. Last place or not, I finished the race. I did not quit. Guys even if you’re tired, unmotivated, regretting your choices, don’t give up on yourself. Don’t give up on your goals. Don’t quit on your dreams. What I want you to do is what I did after I finished the race and was able to catch my breath and that is to assess and reflect.
Before we go into the next quarter I want you to take time to assess and reflect on what needs to be changed or adjusted in order for you to succeed next quarter. After that race I realized that running wasn’t for me. That I needed to focus on academics and music when were my thing. I finished the season and retired. So ask yourself, what do you need to change moving forward. What did you learn about yourself these past 3 months that you can apply moving forwards. Guys when things get tough or don’t go according to plan, don’t quit, just pivot and adjust. Instead of saying, I’m done working out, maybe change you regmine, change the number of days or the length of time you work out. Instead of quitting your business or that venture you just started, see if you need to scale back on some of your ideas. I have to do that all the time, lol, in order to get the things done that truly matter. Listen, there are times in life when you need to quit and let go such as when you’re in a toxic relationship or when you’re doing something that is unhealthy, but then there are other times where you FEEL like quitting, but you just need to adjust and push through.
So since we just brought up the word feel lets talk about feelings. Sometimes when it comes to achieving goals or doing things that are tough, your feelings can be your downfall. Do you know how many times we don’t do things because we don’t FEEL like it? Ask yourself how many times you didn’t get up on time because you didn’t feel like getting up. Or how many times you procrastinated because you didn’t feel like doing the work. Or how often you choose to binge on social media and tv because you don’t feel like being productive. That right there just described my whole week, lol. Guys, we gotta put these feelings aside and ask ourselves not what do I feel like doing but what do I need to be doing. That’s what matters. So set a goal this next quarter to not be in your feelings but to do what must be done in order to succeed. If you’re trying to be more organized or a better mom but it has been a struggle. Don’t quit, get out of your feelings and plan out what needs to be done and do it. If you want to switch careers but don’t feel like going to school or doing that extra training. I don’t mean no harm, but so what, suck it up do what you gotta do. Guys I hope you realize that you not quitting and pushing though is bigger than you. I hope you know that there are folks depending on you to achieve your goals. I don’t know for sure, but I believe that there are people who are depending on me to upload an episode every Monday morning. My clients are depending on me to have the knowledge and skill set to help them with their issues and goals. My family is depending on me to remain healthy and stay here on this earth for as long as I can. You not quitting is not about you. Remember why you started. Remember who’s depending on you. Remember who needs that product you are thinking about making or that business you plan to start. Remember that there are people at your church who are depending on that service that you committed to provide. Remember that your kids are depending on you to be a role model and an example of what they should do. Remember that there are little girls and boys all over the world who need people like you to look up to. Guys it is vital, it is essential that you don’t quit. What you have, who you are, who you are suppose to be is too precious for to never achieve it.
People love to say the phrase “quitting is not an option”, but let me tell you that it is an option and people choose it all the time. There have been times in my life that where I chose to quit. Quitting is an option, and people do it everyday. But I’m asking you to choose the path less traveled. To plan out your road map to success and work with it. I challenge you to ask for help it you need to. To get an accountability partner to help you stay on track and to help motivate you along the way. Guys nobody said it would be easy…yall know how the song goes. But you can do it. Right now is the perfect time to evaluate, adjust, pivot, and keep going. Don’t get down on yourself about what you didn’t accomplish these last 3 months. We can’t change the past, it’s done, but you can make sure that the next 3 months and the rest of this year are better than the previous.
So here’s your homework. I want you to go and get those goals that you set for yourself this year. And I want you to go one by one and write down what has work and what hasn’t worked when it comes to achieving these goals. After you take some time to assess this I want you to write down the adjustments that need to be made over the next few months in order to achieve those goals. Set realistic timelines and then go get your calendar or your planner and plan it out. As the saying goes, a dream with out a plan is a wish and we not wishing upon a star up in here. We are making plans, setting dates, we are achieving goals, and most importantly we are not quitting.
So guys I hope that you feel inspired to keep going regardless of how you feel. To know that your goals are achievable with proper planning and work, and to not choose quitting as your option because if you quit before your work is done you’ll never truly know how just far you could have gone.
So until next time stay encouraged and inspire someone else along the way.