The season is changing in the beautiful Pacific Northwest, and our teams at MSNW are preparing for Spring cleanups at our client businesses and properties. Spring is the rebirth of creation and it is a delight to see bulbs poking their heads out of the ground, colorful buds appearing on the trees, and waking to the music of happy birds.
One of the gifts of Spring is that it seems to provide a new energy to clean up rooms and yards that we have left to clutter over the winter. Could it also provide the energy that is needed for cleanup in our own lives?
You have been working on making 2021 a year of purpose, and recently I asked how you are doing on your New Year’s resolutions. A resolution is much more than an idea or a hope to change, instead it is a decision made with resolve and an action plan. Your resolution can be a catalyst to a new and better life.
If you made a resolution for positive change in your life this year, how are you doing? Sometimes when you are not making progress it is due to the barriers holding you back from successful results. Barriers of doubt, negative self-talk, or lack of focus can hinder your ability to move forward.
When stuck in unproductive patterns such as these I have found it helpful to take time for reflection where I honestly assess myself and what I have to ‘clean up’ in my feelings, behaviors, and actions. Success requires a constant monitoring of your progress and making shifts as necessary along the way.
Ask yourself the following questions:
- What are the top 3 goals you have set for yourself this year? If this answer doesn’t come easily to you, write down your goals and put them in a place where you see them daily. You will have better success with your goals when you keep them top of mind.
- Are you making progress on your goals? If so, celebrate this and determine your next action step. If not, evaluate why you aren’t making progress and make a shift.
- Are your goals realistic? If you aren’t making the progress that you would like, ask yourself if the goals you set are realistic. High achievers are known for setting high bars – it’s one of the reasons for your success. However, sometimes this leads to setting unachievable targets or timeframes for yourself or your teams.
- Are there any barriers in your way that are holding you back? Evaluate where you can remove the clutter of distraction or behaviors that aren’t serving you. Just taking time to check in with yourself can help you to get back on track.
Let’s take the time for a little Spring cleanup, and then watch our own blossoms emerge.
“He who knows others is wise. He who knows himself is enlightened.” Lao Tzu