The Latest News, Views, and Gurus
Vol. 3, No. 1
Happy New Year from Missouri and Hauoli Makahiki Hou from Hawaii!
Whether you commit to achieving your new year’s resolutions, maintaining progress on your current goals, or are clueless about what you want to accomplish in 2006, we’re glad to join you on this journey.
As many of you know, we’ve trudged through the peaks and valleys, twists and turns of achieving our own goals. It can be frustrating and satisfying! While we have no magic wand to make your dreams come true, we offer you our book, other resources, and encouragement to help you to start and stay on your path of goal success.
Before more of January passes by, Ann checks in with advice for making the best of your 2006.
* * THE BLUR OF LIFE * *
It flies by, this thing we call 'time,' doesn't it? Was it really less than a month ago that you were worrying about finding the perfect presents and trying to figure out where to seat the relatives at the table so everyone would get along? In a recent conversation with friends, one asked, "Do you remember what you got for Christmas?" We quickly responded, 'yes.' Then she asked, "How about two years ago? Do you remember what you got then?" Hmmm. Not quite so easy to pin down. It got me thinking about this year and what I want to remember when it is all said and done.
"Good grief, we've barely gotten started!" you may be thinking. Yet when we 'start with the end in mind,' we might have a better chance of mapping out and achieving the goals we've set for ourselves. We use the resources available to us - our Goal Sisters, our treasure collages, our journals, and most of all, our actions.
I am also motivated by the 'bigness' of it all, which stretches me to think bigger about how I show up at work and at home. How can I make a bigger difference in my community, in the world? What actions will I take this year so I will remember for many years to come what 2006 held for me? We probably have different definitions of the word 'big' and that's OK. What will stretch you to be more in 2006?
And while you’re taking a look at your goals for 2006, don't forget to give a nod of thanks to good 'ole 2005. Honor last year's opportunities and lessons, challenges and joys. After all, they are a part of what got you to this brand new year. I support you in creating a great one!
* * LIGHTS, CAMERA - ACTION FIGURE! * *
This year we'd like to help you add more playfulness to your life while staying in action with your goals. What better way to do that then to design and create your own action figure.
1. Imagine yourself as an action figure. Are you a goddess, warrior, lounge singer, high powered businesswoman, monk, reality tv star? What accessories do you have - a motorcycle, easel, power tools, sword, feather boa? Is your sidekick a cat, agent, personal trainer, #1 fan, hair and make-up assistant? Take out your journal and write, "My action figure is" and fill in a page or more with the details of your action figure.
2. Bring your action figure to life. How? Buy a doll and accessorize her, cut out pictures from magazines or photographs and create a collage, dress and print a paper doll on the internet (e.g.,
www.santorographics.com,
www.paperdollheaven.com/), or create characters using software like Sims. Whichever way you choose, be bold, outrageous, and silly as you create YOU as an action figure!
3. Meet with your Goal Sister and share your action figure creation. Discuss ways you'd like help in bringing more playfulness into your life and staying in action with your goals.
4. Before your next Goal Sister meeting, find an image or accessory for your Sister's action figure. Bring it to your next meeting.
* * MICHELLE'S STORY * *
Am I the only one limping around with stiff, sore thighs?! No, I didn’t run the Honolulu Marathon last month (but our GS Michelle J did!). My new year’s resolution is to get back to being physically fit. So far, I’ve walked 2.4 miles on 9 of the last 11 days. I’ve done weekend yard work. I've gone back to eating oatmeal for breakfast, saying "NO" to soda, and increased my water intake. Yaba daba do for me!
Now, if I can only do this for another 30 days then I’d REALLY be celebrating. You see, I have a knack at starting new routines. Maintaining them is where I flounder! It’s easy to put work ahead of self care, ‘I can’t walk today – I need to finish the report and email it to the East Coast before COB.’ It’s also easy to yield to “can you drive me to (fill in the blank)?” requests from my children. Then there’s my penchant for slothfulness. Ugh, no wonder it’s hard to maintain new routines!
Fortunately, I am aware of these old saboteurs and incorporate actions that worked in the past with new actions to conquer them today. For example, I schedule in exercise. I journal about my food and water intake, minutes of exercise. I am flexible about when I exercise and choose exercises I enjoy doing. I buy myself flowers and workout clothes to reward my progress.
It also helps to have Goal Sisters keep me on track. So, if I get busy with work and skip exercising for a few days, Lani will ask me how I will handle the next time I’m tempted to use work as an excuse. If I feel stalled in my progress, Lisa will help me brainstorm solutions. And when I’ve successfully stayed on the fitness wagon, the ‘woo hoo’ emails I get from Amy will keep me motivated.
How do you maintain your fitness goals? Share your tips with us at
newsletter@goalsisters.com and we’ll post them on the GS site.
* * ATTENTION-GRABBING SITES * *
Instead of featuring a self-help guru this quarter, we’re sharing Web sites and content that recently grabbed our attention:
Our friend Shane wrote about the benefits of letting go as we start the new year:
www.shamanshadow.com/thoughts.html.
Michelle found a fun and focused goal-tracking site at
www.43Things.com/. Peruse goals by type or popularity, choose your goals, and track your progress with a large online community.
Ann discovered the free reminder service from
www.memotome.com. List your ongoing and one time commitments, and schedule reminders to assist you in planning your week and month!
Form a 'Sister I' circle with other women working on their creativity goals at:
www.motheri.com/welcome/welcome.html.
* * GOAL SISTERS HAPPENINGS * *
We're planting seeds about the GS process and look forward to our efforts blooming in the spring.
Until then, surf over to the
FREE Peek page on the GS Web site to view new selections from the book. And cruise to the
GS Group page for group updates and 2006 treasure collages. New features will be added as the quarter progresses, so check back often.
That’s it for now. As always, we love to hear from you regarding your progress, your stumbling blocks, and your successes.
Onward and upward,
Ann and
Michelle
P.S. Please forward this newsletter to all the inspiring, fun, energetic women you know! Thanks!!
Copyright © 2006 by Michelle Beaulieu Pillen, Ph.D., and Ann Leach. All rights reserved. No part of this Web site may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise.
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