I love a good success story. Tell me about someone who overcame difficult challenges, and then went on to achieve fame and glory. I gobble it up. I also love a good before & after and am known to fast forward through home makeover shows just to see the final result. I don't particularly care for the witty banter between the hosts or the drama that inevitably arises once they begin the renovation. I just want to see the blank slate they begin with and then the final product.
In real life, I think a lot of us would like to fast forward on the in-between stuff and go straight to the After. It reminds me of how some people talk about manifesting* and create vision boards filled with images of their dream life. There's photos of the gorgeous country house, the book on the bestseller list, fancy vacations, doting children, etc. It's fun to imagine what life could look like in this future once your vision board is actualized. But what about all the things that need to happen before these goals come to fruition? In real life, there's no way to fast forward past the middle.
The middle is often when things get messy. It's the point where the excitement and motivation after starting something new begin to wear off and you're left to face the actual work. Progress may be slowing down and it can feel like you're losing focus.
It's not a coincidence that I'm writing about the messy middle this week. We're in the middle of January and this tends to be the time when people start losing steam on the commitments they made for the new year. They're entering the “messy middle.”
If this is you, here are some tips to help you keep going even when it may feel hard.
Accept that this part may feel uncomfortable. Sit with the discomfort and breathe through it. Connecting with your breath can ease your stress, reconnect you to your body, and increase your energy.
Visualize your end goal as an anchor ⚓️. When you sense that you're floating away from it, come back to the anchor.
Write down your end goal on large post-its. Hang them in a place you see frequently. Visual reminders can help you keep focus and reignite your motivation.
Keep doing what you're doing. When a project begins to feel hard, we may feel the urge to reassess to see what's working and what's not. But sometimes, we're too quick to change things when they begin to feel uncomfortable. if it's only the beginning of the messy middle, resist the urge to change anything at this point. Instead, keep your head down and continue to do the work. See what happens when you give yourself the space to keep going.
Celebrate small wins, Every little bit of progress is worth celebrating. Whether it's finishing a section or hitting a milestone, take a moment to appreciate the progress you've made.
Share your progress with a friend, partner, or other loved one. Keeping others updated on how you're doing not only keeps you accountable, but it can be motivating to remember that others are invested in your journey.
Stay positive and believe you have everything it takes to achieve your goal because you do. As the quote goes, "The dreams that you have are there for a reason: to be realized as a part of fulfilling your life purpose.” So keep going!
Have a sweet and loving weekend!
xo,
Lisa Michelle
*For the record, I believe in manifesting and love vision boards! But I also believe it's imperative to make a concrete action plan to achieve said goals. Otherwise, it's just wishful thinking. If you'd like extra support in making said action plan, book a free consultation with me.
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On My radar This Week
Each week, I share links to things that have inspired or intrigued me lately. Specifically, I'm interested in mindfulness, spirituality, wellness, nutrition, and parenting, so you can expect to see articles that fall under these topics.
Glennon, Abby, and Amanda go deep with Sonya Renee Taylor - author of The Body is Not an Apology – exploring the personal and global promise of Radical Self Love. Among many nuggets of wisdom, they discuss how a full life is possible only if we stop believing our body is our enemy, and start seeing our body as a teammate.
For anyone looking to support their fertility to postpartum journey, Chiyo is the meal-service to try. They bring together the best elements of Eastern food therapy and Western nutritional standards and the food is both nourishing and delicious. Join them on Sunday to celebrate the year of the rabbit, taste some delicious food, experience their pantry starter in person, take home gifts, meet the founders, and win exciting giveaways.
Calling all Recreationalists! Let’s jog it out. Lace up your sneakers and meet us at OV SoHo for a recreational run/walk/jog around the neighborhood led by Isabel Seidel.
Go on a semi-private transcendental sound bath to mark the cycles of the moon. Valerie Oula, the Well's Director of Vibrational Energy Healing, will treat you and a small group to 60 meditative minutes of gong vibrations that promote relaxation and rejuvenation. This end-of-the-week ritual will conclude with an aromatherapy treatment and an offering of our custom blend of Ayurvedic tea.
On Dekalb BK is a new wellness inspired coffee shop. Join them for this month's Coffee Chat, focused in on radical self acceptance and declaring your year. Take a moment to become more focused and align yourself with your vision. We will be utilizing breath work, intuitive writing, and the power of community sharing.
I am not affiliated with these events and I may or may not not be attending them myself, but they piqued my interest so I wanted to share.
xo, Lisa Michelle
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