Eleanor Roosevelt and Your Goals and Dreams – 3 Quick Questions

May 14th, 2013, Comments

5.12.13 dreams Eleanor Roosevelt and Your Goals and Dreams 3 Quick Questions

The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.

I love this quote by Eleanor Roosevelt and I had fun creating the image above (we just installed a nifty new feature that should allow you to click on it and pin it to Pinterest if you are so inclined!).

Here’s the thing about this quote though. It may sound obvious, but if we aren’t really clear on where we are headed, we aren’t very likely to end up there—and if we do, the route we take is a lot more likely to be indirect and longer than it needs to be. In the busy worlds that most of us are living in, it’s easy to get distracted or distanced from our dreams, or feel like we haven’t had time to really sit down and get a clear, crisp picture of what we really want, in a very long time.

Something else that I see a lot when clients come to work with me, is that their goals—and the paths leading to them—aren’t feeling like beautiful dreams anymore. Often, I hear that achieving these goals seems like one more hard thing that has to be done, one more stress, or one more “should.” Even worse, I hear a lot of women talk about their goals and dreams without much hope that they will ever achieve them.

I don’t think that’s what Eleanor Roosevelt had in mind.

Can I challenge you to spend a little time refocusing? I’d like to invite you to spend a few moments dreaming. Get some clarity on what you’re craving and how to get there (and how NOT to get off track), by answering these three questions:

 

  1. What are you trying to accomplish this year?
  2. What do you think you would need to double your happiness this year?
  3. What strategies have you already tried that worked or didn’t work?

 

Answering these simple questions is an easy way to start putting what you want (and the path toward it) in the front of your mind. In fact, research has found that people who write down their goals are ten times more likely to achieve them.  I’d love to learn more about your beautiful dreams and the future you are craving. Will you play along? Leave a comment with your answers below or email them to me at info <at> toomuchonherplate.com (just be sure to put “Goals” in the subject line).

I’ll help keep your momentum going by using your comments and answers to craft upcoming articles and resources.

Oh–and if you are interested in personal coaching with me, I currently have few spots available for personal coaching and mentoring. My 6-month, 1:1 program is an opportunity to work with me to create your best life and achieve your goals, whether you are struggling with overeating or overwhelm, or you simply know that your life could be better. We start with a special assessment process to discover how you best thrive and succeed. We target what’s getting in your way. Together we define the strategies and action steps you need to take and design a program that’s a custom fit. We’ll meet privately, via phone or Skype and you’ll have access to programs and downloads that are not available to others. Click here to request an application for Private Coaching.

Take good care,

Melissa1 Eleanor Roosevelt and Your Goals and Dreams 3 Quick Questions

3 Decadent Tips for Mother’s Day

May 8th, 2013, Comments

Love yourself first 2 3 Decadent Tips for Mother’s Day

Real productivity is not all about working hard, having more willpower, and hanging tough. I’ve been caught in that trap before, where I feel like I’m burning out or losing my passion because I’m so busy chasing my to-do list and trying to succeed or get all the “right things” done. When I’ve been in that place, there were never enough hours in the day, and there never ever seemed to be enough time to pay attention to the things I needed to be my best. Can you relate?

The funny thing is, when I’m in that space (and I’ve heard the same from the many clients I’ve worked with over the years), what seems logical is to just push harder—work harder—and get through it. The reality is, that’s usually the opposite of what works.

Sometimes—especially when you are a hard working or high performing busy woman, the way to get more done and lower your stress actually includes three simple strategies that you might be completely overlooking. Even better—engaging in these strategies actually feels better and doesn’t leave you feeling tired or deprived.

3 Decadent Ways to Improve Your Life and Get More Done

1.  Indulge. A deprived woman is almost always a tired, worn out woman—or one who is heading for burnout. Success isn’t built on willpower and determination alone, and if your spirit and your soul aren’t being fed, you aren’t going to be showing up for your family, your partner, or your work as your best version of yourself. The busier you are, the more important this strategy is. Take the time to get very clear on what feeds you. I’m not just talking about food here (although food may be part of it). What lights you up and delights you? What puts a sparkle in your eye and causes you to feel happy about waking up in the morning? What helps you be you at your best? The mistake many busy women make is cutting these very things out when the schedule gets crowded and stressful busy times are the most important times for you to bring you’re A-game. If you aren’t doing it already, start being purposeful about indulging and nourishing yourself on a daily basis.

2.  Savor. Sometimes we get so busy that it can feel like we’re missing our life. Have you ever been so tied up, moving from project to project, that at the end of the day it takes effort to remember what you did, what you ate, or how you were actually feeling at different moments? We might tell ourselves that we will be more productive if we are constantly multitasking. The truth is, this is a habit that wears out our brain, increases our stress, causes overeating and weight gain, and decreased productivity. Savoring is a powerhouse strategy for improving your focus, decreasing your stress, and eating less and losing weight. Try it. To savor means to fully absorb an experience with all your senses. Practice doing one thing at a time and giving it your full attention and respect. Let it soak in. Let it feed you. You can savor a conversation, five minutes in the sun, doing the dinner dishes, or a bag of chips. Try combining indulging and savoring and you’ll really get more bang for your buck.

3.  Put yourself first. The way you take care of yourself impacts everything else in your life. Yet it’s so tempting to make the mistake of doing everything else first and put what we need at the end of the to-do list. If self-care is the last thing you get to in your day, you’ll likely find you are too tired to do it consistently or too depleted to really enjoy or appreciate it. Both you and your life will pay the price. Try flipping things. Pay yourself first. Fill up your energy reserves, feed your soul, pump yourself up, and then step into all the responsibilities of your life.

Are you using these strategies? Are there other “decadent” or pampering strategies that help you be your best? Leave a comment and share what works for you.

Take good care,

Melissa 3 Decadent Tips for Mother’s Day

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