Day 400. 194.5 pounds lost.
I work on these goal books every year and have for the past five years. It took several years of working on these things before I realized how critical they were but also how to apply them correctly. You don’t merely write down goals and throw them out into the universe. That doesn’t work. Growing up, my dad always told me, “Spit in one hand and wish in the other….. see which one fills up faster”. It’s applicable here. You can throw 1000 goals out there, but with no plan, you’re going to sit exactly where you are. All goals require a path and tools. It’s up to you to figure out what works best for you.
I started this year ready to pass that 200-lb loss finish line like I was on fire but that didn’t happen. I got off track for a bit, and it took me a couple of weeks to get my head back on. Sometimes the best way to put an objective eye on things is to step away from it. I quit doing some of the things that became my “secret sauce.”
I always had my books done by January 31st, and it was causing anxiety because I couldn’t figure out why I was having trouble filling it out. My words normally just flow when I sit down to do this book, no matter how crazy the goals seem but it wasn’t happening. Bottom line, it’s because some of the goals I started writing in that book in December changed. The first thing that changed was my “WHY.” My “WHY” last January had a name. This wasn’t the case anymore. The entire reason I started completely changed and it knocked me off the rock I was on. In my mind, I was thinking, “Shit, now what? What the hell do I do!” Bottom line, its okay to modify your WHY. Your reasons will change over time. I wasn’t prepared for it, but it happened, and I needed to figure out a new WHY. As you check things off that list of goals, things change. Adjust accordingly. By the time I finished my goal book for 2018, there were dozens of cross-out lines and mind changes. By 2:00 pm on Sunday, I had a crystal clear vision of 2018.
Every goal you proclaim is not just a phrase. Think of it as a mountain to climb. You need to figure out how you’re going to climb it. What will you need? What are you going to pack? It was time for me to build it out. I use a program called Goals On Track. Once the goal book is done, I transport everything into this software program dashboard so I can see my entire year. I have 100 one- time goals (things I want to during the year), and then I have three “mountain goals.” The mountain goals require tasks and most times subtasks, so it’s easier to break down. It’s like carving a trail to the top. My mountain goals involve health (weight loss), spiritual, and career. I have it on a dashboard so I can look at it EVERY SINGLE DAY. These images are not MY dashboard, but you can see what that looks like here.
Next, I have things called “Shining Habits” and “Ritual Days.” These are part of the tools that help me get there, and they keep me focused on daily tasks and weekly time for myself.
My shining habits (things that happen every single day) are these:
Drink 80 oz water daily.
I use the Hidrate Spark. It has glow lights that flash to remind me to drink more water and to celebrate when I’ve met my daily goal. A sensor inside the bottle automatically records how many ounces I drink, and the bottle syncs my Android app via Bluetooth. Best part yet…… it syncs with my Fitbit.
Write a thank you card to someone every day
365 for the year. This practice just puts you in a mind of gratitude.
Daily Devotional
I normally read whatever the devotional is for the day and then use the time for prayer and for kicking things up so HE can help me with my day.
Gratitude Journal
I write ten things I’m grateful for. I think about each one, feel it and then send it out.
Clean house for 15 minutes
I can’t work if I’m not organized, and if I feel like something is messy, work isn’t going to get done. It could be just tidying or doing dishes.
Meditate 5-10 min
Clearing the brain is tough. I use an app called “Simple Habit.” My minimum is 5 minutes; the maximum is ten. It’s whatever I’m feeling that day.
Set 3 MIT’s
Your MIT’s or….. my “Most Important Tasks.” These are always on the priority list for the day, and they are what I do first. It helps me feel like I’m productive right out of the shoot and just puts me in the right frame of mind.
Ritual Days are ones that I do weekly. This year looks different than last, but this is 2018:
- Sabbath Sundays
- Reading Mondays
- Go to Bed Early Tuesdays
- Car Wash Wednesdays
- Spiritual Thursdays
- Crossfit Fridays
Your tools are going to be different than mine, but if you don’t have them, those goals will be stale by March. If you set New Years Goals or others and you’re already having trouble with them, re-evaluate. There may be too many, no path, no passion, or you just aren’t motivated (meaning you haven’t found your WHY).
If I have learned anything over the past year it’s these things: If something isn’t going right, re-evaluate. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, you’re trying to tackle too many things at one time. If something doesn’t feel right, then detach from it. If something on your path feels toxic – slice it. It’s your time, not anyone else’s. Find the things THAT WORK FOR YOU.
Goals are hard man. This recipe is the damn truth.
Ten percent luck
Twenty percent skill
Fifteen percent concentrated power of will
Five percent pleasure
Fifty percent pain
Lovingly,
Bean
