|
Hi Friends,  Aaahhhh the Fall... It feels great when the weather is cool and crisp. To me, Fall is almost like the new year. Maybe because I am still on a school year calendar in my mind (although my kids are well past their school days). At this time, I often find myself thinking about what lies ahead for me during the year, and how I can create the things I really want for myself as the year progresses. I started thinking about what is working and what isn't in various aspects my own life, and the best way to move toward my goals. To me, life feels like Crazy Town sometimes. Even with grown children who are living on their own, it feels like there's so much to do, and a lot to keep track of. There are personal goals, business goals, family commitments, relationships with friends, significant others, our children, even pets! (Don't laugh. A friend of mine was upset recently because she wasn't spending enough quality time with her dog.) And all of it seems very important, which can make things feel overwhelming. I asked myself, what is the best way to move ahead with consistency, without continually feeling panic that I am doing too little, putting too much energy toward the wrong things, or simply am not sticking to my goals? How can I move ahead with the things that are important to me and are sometimes quite challenging, and stay out of a constant state of overwhelm?  Accountability To The Rescue! One thing that's been helping me get the most important things done with consistency and ease is building some form of accountability around my most important goals. Having someone outside of myself know and expect me to move ahead, however small the steps are that I take, is the difference between being determined to get things done, and actually getting things done. I hadn't had accountability partners or my own coach in quite a while until recently, and I am feeling a world of difference now that I do! Whether investing in a coach, or joining a small group or community of like-minded people, the act of investing time (and often money) to support accomplishing a goal that's important to me is proof to my busy and overwhelmed brain that I mean business! Here's what I think accountability has done for me:
To illustrate, I'd like to share a recent experience of my own with accountability. Small Group Accountability Among Fellow Coaches A while back I took an online course on conducting Wellness Workshops. It was a great four week course, very thorough with a lot of work to do between each class. As part of the course, the instructor formed accountability groups among the students to create a support structure for them. The groups were to meet regularly during the span of the course to discuss their work, bounce ideas off of each other, share insights and. information and to create accountability for each student. Brilliant! When the course began, I really did not think I'd be able to complete everything I had to do in a timely manner. (Negative thinking I know, but that's a subject for another email.) I also didn't think I would be ready to begin conducting live workshops as quickly as I actually did. I was surprised how much easier it made the process. Small, consistent steps got me where I wanted to go before I knew it. So shout out to Julie and Jenene! As accountability partners, we helped each other by:
The instructor suggested we make a four week commitment to our group, but our group remains in tact and active to this day. We meet every six weeks, talk about our business "wins" during the past month, make a list of our future action steps, and check in on them at the following meeting. We have kept each other accountable, and have all made steady progress. Full disclosure, this partnership is actually the reason I am writing this email today. I committed to getting this email started before our next meeting. So here I am, on a Sunday afternoon, writing about accountability. Truth be told, I might not have taken the option to begin today, on a Sunday, had I not promised my group that I would get this done before our next meeting. So it motivated me to TAKE ACTION, and I am happy that I did. Thanks Ladies. Taking Action Is the Key to Feeling Good and Reaching Your Goals Action is key...thinking, planning, strategizing, and analyzing all have their place, but DOING gets the job done. Obvious?! You might be surprised how often we fool ourselves into believing we are working on something when we are actually just thinking about working on it!! And FYI, at our meeting two months ago, I was not able to complete all my action steps. No punishment, guilt or bad attitude from my accountability partners. (Bless their hearts.) BUT it's a funny thing, because this month I did not want to allow that to happen again! So you can bet I made sure I completed all the tasks that I promised for this month. No drama, just goal-oriented action! Having the accountability in place motivated me, and the job got done.  Cymbals please...Gold Star...Blue Ribbon... Happy Coach!!! In the interest of brevity (too late?) I will not share my many other examples of how I am using accountability to help me reach important goals I have set for myself. Having accountability and support has made me less anxious about everything I have on my to do list. I am more relaxed because I know I will take at least one step in the right direction, for myself and for my partner(s). My win is their win in a way, because if I can do it, so can they (and of course, vice versa). And getting things done in one area of life has had a positive, ripple effect on other areas where I want to move ahead. I have now also committed to a group for 21 Days of healthy eating in November. (Yes, coaches benefit from group programs too.) And I am meeting with a group of Health Coaches in NYC this week to form a new alliance, and perhaps, set up some business oriented goals with them. How Accountability Relates To You The truth for most of us is that life often feels too busy. But if we let that fact derail us in our progress toward getting what we really want, we'll end up achieving far less than we truly deserve. Without support, we might in fact, end up putting everything off until tomorrow ("I'll start when I am less busy," "...when everything gets back to normal," "...when the holidays are over," etc.). Taking action is the key to creating the health and the life you truly desire. Guidance and acountability help you move ahead with the assurance that you are staying true to your goals with consistency and more ease. You have the ability to make whatever adjustments may be required along the way (because life shows up as it does, and we then have to adjust), but with support, guidance and someone to keep you moving, you will eventually get where you want to go. You are worth the effort and energy you put into creating the life you most desire, and the actions that support reaching your goals, getting your dreams, and being the best version of yourself. Whether it is with a coach, a trainer, a friend, a group or a class, investing in some support and accountability will keep you on the track to getting anything you want from your life. I Started Today...This Email, Done!!! Next project...putting the finishing touches on my "Stress Busters" Workshop, where I will share many helpful tips on beating stress before it beats you. For more information on that, or anything else I discussed on this topic, send me an email,  If you'd like to find out more about how you and I can team up to create some structure, support and accountability for you so you can move toward your dream health and life, click here to schedule your free Discovery Call (a half-hour, no obligation phone session). And as always, If you want to learn about food and non-food ways to create healthy habits, and how you can feel great in your body (without losing your mind), send me an email, or call me at (201) 803-3257. Let's Talk!
 
0 Comments
Your comment will be posted after it is approved.
Leave a Reply. |
