Motivation
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Motivation
Tools for a Well-Designed Year
January 6, 2016
A meaningful life begins with the choices we make each day. Part of that equation involves the tools and resources we have at our disposal. These tools can help us design a simple, yet productive life. This then allows us to focus on the things that matter. Having those tools can make the difference in how we'll eventually view our year. Ultimately, our habits and attitude towards life determines how we shape our life, more closely, how we'll shape this year. However, there are some tangible tools that can help us design 2016 into our best year yet.
A Plan
- We all understand that the foundation of any successful venture is a solid plan. Having in good plan in place makes it more likely that we will follow through and hold ourselves accountable. A solid plan should ideally be written out, placed somewhere visible, and formed from realistic, yet reaching goals. The plan should be simple, stating exactly what you hope to achieve, no more, no less. The plan has to be specific. It should include specific actions and dates. It needs to be realistic. By that I mean making plans for what YOU truly want and what you are capable of attaining. For example, having a goal to save 10% of your paycheck is better than trying to saving 50%. Yes, it's possible to save 50% of your check, but it's simply not realistic, especially over the long haul. Lastly, a plan should be complete. In that, all the the aforementioned sections are done and that you feel good about your plan. Have confidence in your plan and most importantly follow through.
A Planner
- What's a good plan without a planner? This is surely one of my favorite topics, I do love discussing planners. Everyone's approach to this will be slightly different, but there are some similarities. Whether you decide to use an electronic or paper system, maybe both, doesn't really matter. The most important aspect of any planner is that it works for you and simplifies your life. This year I'm using a Sugar Paper for Target planner as my main planner and an A5 organizer for varying segments of my life. I'll also be using other planners for specific purpose, such as wellness/meal planning, blog editorial, gratitude, and financial planning. These planners are very specific in their purpose and most importantly they simplify my life. That's the key.
A Journal
- I've journal almost all my life, but I've only been cataloging my journals for the past eight years. There are so many reasons to have a journal, but for me the most important is simply to get my thoughts out into a tangible format. Journaling is one of the best tools for reflection and being intentional. It's never too late to start. Keeping an active journal throughout the year will help to clarify your goals and give you a better perspective on your life. Having a place to write down your thoughts can be an excellent way to work through difficult problems and find the best solutions.
A Financial Plan
- A financial plan can be as simple or as complex as you make it. The key is in the follow-through. The basic principle of any financial plan is to spend less than you make. Your plan should include a vision statement, something along the lines of why you care to manage your money. The more personal this is the better. It's also important to be mindful of your overarching financial goals, whether that's to travel, purchase a home, or build a business. More, know your starting point. Your current income level should be where your plan starts. From there take stock of your assets, credit scores, and debts. After this you'll want to develop a weekly and/or monthly tracking plan. Again, the key to success is consistency and determination to make it work.
Reading Material
- Lastly, surround yourself with good reading material. You don't necessarily have to go and purchase anything, there's the library and most magazine articles can be found on their website. You can never know enough or expand your horizon too far, so set a daily or weekly time slot dedicated to the simple pleasure of reading.
I'm sure there are more tools that can add to this list, but no matter what is used the fundamentals are the same: consistency and follow-through. I hope this post inspires you to design your best year yet.
Bisous,
Marie
Motivation
How to Overcome the Struggle
August 3, 2015
Starting a new project is always an exciting, and a bit anxious, adventure for me. I LOVE planning. So when I start a new project I plan everything down to the detail. The 'what, when, where, how, who' ; I develop a strategic plan, I get an accountability partner, I schedule in checkpoints, reflection days, I mean you name it, I probably plan for it. That's what I do and what I excel at, planning. But as any planner knows, planning does not get stuff done. Planning is a blueprint, as the saying goes, "If you fail to plan, you plan to fail". But without action a plan is just a document, a dream, a wish list. Only with subsequent action does a plan become a stepping stool towards success. But putting action behind our plans is a daily challenge.
Everyday you wake knowing what it is that you would like to accomplish for the day. Whether you work a 9-5 or you're an entrepreneur, maybe a bit of both, you have an idea of what needs to get done for the day. You probably also know the logistics of getting them done, the benefits of doing it, and the cost of not doing it.
Even with all the necessary information we still struggle to accomplish our goals. But there's a way around that:
Accept It
Yep, the way to be successful is to accept and embrace the struggle. It may not be what you want to hear/read, but it's the truth. You and I both know it. Accepting the struggle allows us to make peace with it, to acknowledge that our process is a journey. The struggle never goes away, the intensity may change, we may call by a different form, but each time we embark on a new venture, it will be there. But that's not a bad thing, not at all. Because we can overcome it and use that energy to propel even further.
Look at the Problem Objectively
Take on someone else's perspective to evaluate your situation. How would a child approach this problem? An 85 year old? Your mentor? What would they do different, how are they viewing the situation? Use those insights to change your tactic or to help put things in perspective.
Discipline
If there was ever a key to success discipline would be it. Conscious, focused, and deliberate action. That's discipline. It making a conscious decision to stay focus while you deliberately act on your goals. There's no easy way to do this. It's all about getting in the right frame of mind. Realize what you want to do and do it. Start by focusing on one task for an hour, a day, a week, whatever you need. Stick to that ONE thing. Just ONE. That's very important. Get it done. Move to the next. Get that done. And move to the next. But make sure you're doing what NEEDS to get be done and not what's necessarily easier to get done.
It's hard, not impossible. If you're committed to consciously curating the life want then you will have the impetus to overcome any struggle that comes with living a life you love.
Motivation
The Beauty of Change
July 20, 2015
I like to think of myself as someone who embraces change and leaps at the opportunity to do something novel and groundbreaking. However, no matter how many times I've had to make some big changes, quite a few in the past five years, I rarely ever leap with joy or enthusiasm. But like many others, I am hesitant, anxious, and tense when it comes time for a change. I've written about some of these recent changes, here, here, and here. Looking back on some of those posts has allowed me to somewhat objectively examine how the changes came to be. Because of this I now have a deeper appreciation for the beauty of change.
What I've come to understand is that change is an inevitable part of life. We undergo some form of it everyday. But it is the big, or seemingly big, changes that invoke a visceral reaction. But change is really just trust. Trust in the process that happening. To trust the process is an act of faith. The assurance of things hoped for, and the conviction of things unseen. That is faith.
I'm reminded of the last Weekly Notes where I shared this enlightening quote "A bird sitting on the tree is never afraid of the branch breaking. Because her trust is not in the branch, but in her own wings." Like the bird, our faith must not be on the external, but the internal. The process of change begins from the inside out. The hesitancy, anxiety, and unease are the marks of our inner self recognizing that shift is happening. Making it through this phase is the most critical because it sets the foundation for what is to become. But this phase can also be the most challenging. We are more likely to give-up, give-in, or give-out.
But if we just have a lil' bitty bit of faith, I mean the size of a mustard seed, we can hang on long enough to make it through and see our transformation. Our faith allows to go through ANYTHING and come out better than before. God sees our faith and He says "Gurl, your faith has made you well. Go in peace." Yasss!
So the next time we start feeling those unpleasant sensations let's remind ourselves that our faith will make us well. Our big dreams, desires, goals, vision, whatever you choose to call them are just on the other side of change. It is our faith that will get us across. Let's trust our wings and soar higher than before, because you and I have BIG things coming our way.
Stay Blessed,
Marie
Motivation
With Love,
Efficient Faith
June 15, 2015
I'm definitely a productivity junkie. You know the kind, you might be one as well. I'm constantly thinking about how I can be more efficient with my goals, finances, habits, you name it. I'm addicted to productivity apps, articles on Lifehack, Forbes, really anything with the word productivity in the title. And even though very few articles offer anything new, I read nonetheless. Why? Because you just never know. Maybe there's some secret that I've yet to discover that's gonna make my life super efficient and I'll get everything done AND have time to leisurely read the basket of books in the corner. Right? We're all looking for the secret to efficiency. I feel like everywhere I turn there's an article, a book, a podcast on the topic. And I'll always read & download, but deeeeeep down I already know what works for me. When I put it to practice I get things done! First...
Lots of Sleep
Never underestimate the power of proper sleep. I'm always telling my best friend that if I could just get enough sleep I would literally conquer the world, [Insert Evil Laugh]. Honestly though, when I make sleep the priority not only am I caring for my physical well-being, but I'm putting my goals, dreams, and hopes first. It's a win-win situation. I get up earlier, more rested, with prime time to do what it is I need to get done. But this is by far the hardest thing for me to do. But it's completely worth it.
Proper Planning
This is the poster habit for productivity, as it should be. Having a plan of action eliminates so much anxiety and wasted time. Every Sunday I sit for about 30 minutes and completely map out my week. I make sure to add play time as well as buffer time for when I just completely zone out or a project has to go beyond its allotted time. To make this process easier I have a list of things I have to do on a weekly and daily basis, so when Sunday comes I just pull out the list and add the items to appropriate time slots in my planner. This way I don't have to worry about what I need to get done.
Follow MY Rules
I have to respect my word. If it's in my planner I need to respect it and get it done. If you say you're gonna do something do it. Simple. You have to respect your boundaries in order to live a life you love.
Faith
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. I must believe that I can do this. That I will make it. God is for me and I am blessed.
A New Day
When I do my best and do what matters I can live without getting through my to do list. Tomorrow will come and I'll be back at it. I don't have to be perfect I just need to keep going.
These aren't novel concepts, but they always work for me. What do find works well for you?
With Love,
Marie
Mind Body
Motivation
Productivity
Curate a Productive Week
April 20, 2015
Like you, I adore my weekends. More sleep, more food, more fun. Indulging over the weekend is even better after a productive work week. When we take care of our to-dos over the weekday we are better able to enjoy our weekend. Curating a productive weekday is about creating simple rituals that eliminate stress and foster productivity. It first begins by remembering that you can achieve what you've set out to do. How? That's the topic of today's post.
Mind Body
Modern Woman
Motivation
Simple Living
Simple Luxuries
The Stylish Grace
This Is Living
15 Simple Luxuries for the Modern Woman
April 13, 2015
There is a deep therapeutic quality about treating oneself. It alleviates the mind and nourishes the soul. Cultivating a life of self-love is the best gift we can give to ourselves. This goes beyond what money can buy and makes me think of Tom Ford's words "Time and silence are the most luxurious things today". We must be judicious about what we bring into our life, meticulously aware of our needs and desires in order to curate a life of real luxury and meaning. The modern woman lives an examined life that is filled with simple moments that ripple into a lifestyle of deliberate living. Today I'm sharing 15 simple luxuries that create a more fulfilling life.
Devotions
Inspiration
Motivation
Simple Living
Blessed and Highly Favored Women
March 9, 2015
Gabriel appeared to her and said, "Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you!" Speaking to Mary in her time of dire distress the angel Gabriel spoke the words that turned Mary's shame, stress, confusion, and utter disbelief into a revelation that would come and give us all life, abundantly and fully. The same words that Gabriel spoke into Mary's life is also spoken into ours. We are favored women. The Lord is with us.
Blog
DVF
Grace
Inspiration
Monday Motivation
Motivation
There's a single relationship in our life that is the foundation and root of all things that makes us who we are, shapes other relationship, and allows us to become the person we're meant to be. That's the relationship we have with ourself. It's not something that often crosses our minds when asked to think about relationships, but the relationship we have with ourself is fundamental in shaping every aspect of our life.
Becoming My Own Best Friend
March 2, 2015
There's a single relationship in our life that is the foundation and root of all things that makes us who we are, shapes other relationship, and allows us to become the person we're meant to be. That's the relationship we have with ourself. It's not something that often crosses our minds when asked to think about relationships, but the relationship we have with ourself is fundamental in shaping every aspect of our life.
Afternoon Routine
Inspiration
Motivation
Porter Magazine
Routines
TSLL
Curating a Productive Evening
February 18, 2015
There's a special feeling that overtakes my body when I step into my house from work. I immediately take a deep breath and release the day's work. I'm blessed with a great job that I love, but there's no place like home. It feels so good to be home. But once I've stepped inside so many things I need to do cross my mind. So to gain control of this critical transition time I've instilled a simple routine that helps me wind down and smooth into doing some productive work.
Darling Notes
History
Inspiration
Miss Crandall
Motivation
A Life of Value and Perseverance
February 12, 2015
Have you heard of Miss Crandall? Miss Prudence Crandall? Maybe you have or if you're like me this is your first encounter with her. Miss Crandall is what I'd call an authentic woman who lived by her faith and belief. So much so she risked her own life to stand firm in her values. In 1831 Miss Crandall took on a teaching position that led to her very own school for young women. The following year a young Black woman contacted Miss Crandall about enrolling in her school and Miss Crandall accepted her as she did her other students. The townsfolk weren't pleased. They pressured Miss Crandall not enroll Black children. She refused. She enrolled other young Black women who wanted to come to her school. The town's pressure grew into outrage, as parents from the town did not want their daughters to be taught alongside Black daughters. All the young ladies from the first year was removed from the school by their parents. Miss Crandall then advertise her school as a place for "young ladies and little misses of color".
Books
Faith
grace notes
Motivation
Stepping in Faith
February 11, 2015
Somehow this year started off with my reading list being filled with all forms of motivational works. I had everything from The Alchemist (yes, I finally read that one), The Best Yes, to The Last Lecture (currently reading). I've read, since January , seven inspirational/motivational books. This was not by intentional design, as I get the bulk of my reading from library books that I'm usually on a wait-list for. However, it's been a great treat (as reading usually is) and an even bigger blessing to realize that God has been speaking to me through these books and through other areas of my life as well. His message is just this: That things that I want is already here, I just need to step out in faith and go get it. I liken it to wanting a glass of water from the refrigerator, the water is there already, you just gotta get up and get it.
Confidence
Dreams
Motivation
Thoreau
Advance Confidently
February 9, 2015
If you advance confidently in the directions of your dreams and endeavor to live the life which you have imagined, you will meet with success unexpected in common hours.
--- Henry David Thoreau
Upon my high school graduation I received a mirror inscribed with Thoreau's words (in a gorgeous font btw) from my high school counselor. It was my first encounter with this quote and almost 10 years later this mirror is still with me and those words have become an embodiment of my life. Living the life you've imagined is not a destination, it's not a goal either, it's a lifestyle choice. Each day we choose how we want to live, we choose how we want to feel, we choose who we want to be. There are many things out of our control, this is true, but upon examination it's clear to see that the life which we have imagined is not.
Curator
Living
Mind Body
Motivation
Silent mornings, the soft sounds of nature, a cup of tea, and losing myself in the adventure of a great book. These are just a few of the things that make my life calming and welcoming. But in this busy world, my planner seems to overflow with activity and it can become astonishingly difficult to gain a moment of peace to collect my thoughts and purpose.
Calm Living
January 7, 2015
2015 Planning
Day Designer
Kimberly Wilson
Motivation
Planning
Quite Women Co
She Reads Truth
Keeping Up With Your Goals
January 5, 2015
Welcome to the New Year! Last Year (last week) we set our goals and today I'm writing about one of the most difficult barriers that keeps us from accomplishing our goals: motivation throughout the process. It's not that you've lost interest in said goals or have forgotten about them, but life's demands sometimes, most times, shuffles our priorities. So what must a girl do to stay on top of her dreams to get them done? Today I'm sharing 4 resources that I'll be using to keep my 2015 goals priority throughout the year.
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