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Inside myself is a place where I live all alone - it is where I renew my springs that never dry up
Pearl Buck
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Annabel's Blog
Fresh Starts: GoalsIt’s hard to believe it’s already the third week of January. Three weeks into the new year. And three weeks into our theme of fresh starts and new beginnings at ClearSpace. When we embark on fresh starts or new beginnings, the most challenging time often comes when we’re a few weeks into this new normal. For the first little while we’re excited about looking at things anew, everything is still fresh, and we are carried along on this energy. But then when we start to come up against difficulties, we are tested on whether we’re really able to integrate this fresh start into our life. As you probably know, my fresh start this month is my running practice. The first couple of weeks I was motivated and energized by the idea of coming back to my running with fresh eyes. I was acutely aware of my desire to reconnect with my love for running, to let go of past expectations of myself, and it was exciting to lace up my shoes and get out the door. As the month has progressed, however, my work has become much busier, and one of my kids has been really sick (which means that we’re not getting much sleep in our household). With all that needs to get done, it would be really easy for me to let my running slip off my priority list. For this reason, I think it’s important to have a goal that is associated with your fresh start. To recap (in case you’ve missed the last few blogs), I’ve been sharing the five concepts that I believe are fundamental to fresh starts. They are: 1. Clarity 2. Intentions 3. Tracking 4. Goals 5. Finding Flow Goals As the fourth in my five fundamental concepts to start something new, I think goals are essential to sticking with a new behaviour or way of thinking. When obstacles arise, when this new beginning loses its lustre and starts to feel a bit more challenging, a goal can keep you focused ahead. A goal gives you something to move towards. I set a goal of running a half-marathon in May. I know from previous training that if I don’t put in the mileage early, I won’t be prepared. This goal is important to me so, despite my exhaustion, my busy schedule, and my to-do list, I am inspired to get out the door and run. It’s not surprising that all of the concepts we’ve covered so far are interconnected. Having clarity on why you want your fresh start will likely have informed your goal. Your intention should support and keep you connected to your goal. And by tracking your thoughts, feelings and actions surrounding your fresh start, you are able to see the progress towards your goal. This week, my goal has certainly kept me motivated and inspired to stick with my fresh start. And I’m happy to say I am genuinely enjoying running again, despite feeling much slower than before. I think I’m finally managing to let go of the runner I used to be, and am able to embrace the runner I am now. How’s your fresh start going? |
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Wednesday, 20 January 2010 00:00 |
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Intentions and Tracking We’ve been talking about fresh starts this month here at ClearSpace. In my last post I revealed five concepts that I find are fundamental to starting something anew or when we’re looking at an old story with fresh eyes. I listed these concepts as: 1. Clarity 2. Intentions 3. Tracking 4. Goals 5. Finding Flow I also covered the concept of clarity when embarking on something new. As with most new beginnings, by bringing awareness to our situation, we bring the potential for growth. If you read my new year’s post, you’ll know that my fresh start this month involves my running practice. By letting go of the runner that I used to be and embracing the runner I am now, I am clear that I need to let go of expectations of speed and distance when lacing up my shoes. What has been important for me beyond being clear about why I need a fresh start with my running brings me to concepts #2 and #3: Intentions and Tracking. Intentions With most areas of my life, especially when it comes to a repeated action or behaviour, I find it important to have an intention. The definition of intention is “a determination to act in a certain way.” My intention for my fresh start this year is to enjoy myself out on the trails and to reconnect with my love of running. Every time I head out the door, I repeat this intention to myself. By creating intentions surrounding a fresh start or new beginning, we keep ourselves connected to the “why” of what we are doing. Intentions are an important reminder of how we wish to approach this area of our life. Tracking Whether you keep a journal, record thoughts on your smart phone, or write entries in point form in a small notebook or dayplanner, it is valuable to be able to reflect on the thoughts and feelings surrounding your fresh start. By tracking our actions and response to these developments, we gain insight into how our fresh start is progressing. I find personally that keeping a record of my runs, of how I felt before, during and after each run keeps me connected to the concepts #1 and #2 – being clear about why I’m doing this, and staying true to my intentions. As we move through January, think about creating an intention for your fresh start, and keeping some sort of record so you can keep track of your progress. |
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Wednesday, 13 January 2010 00:00 |
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The Concept of Clarity The theme for this month at ClearSpace is fresh starts. Whether we are beginning a new venture, incorporating a new habit, or revisiting old activities or behaviours, looking at things through a new lens is a healthy way to breathe vitality into our lives. A fresh start gives us an opportunity to approach an area (or areas) of our life with new energy, and without the burden of old thought patterns, expectations or judgments. There are a few concepts that I have found are fundamental to fresh starts, which I will be exploring as we travel through the month of January. They are: 1. Clarity 2. Intentions 3. Tracking 4. Goals 5. Finding Flow The first concept is Clarity. When we set out on any path, it is important to be clear about our life circumstances, and why we are setting out on this particular journey. By having clarity on our current state of being – mentally, physically, and spiritually – we are able to look to the future with purpose. Just as every set of directions has a starting point, we must figure out the position from which we are launching this fresh start. Whatever fresh start (or starts) you may be embarking upon this year, here are a three questions to ask yourself to gain clarity: 1. Why do I want a fresh start in this area of my life? 2. How do/can my life circumstances support this fresh start? 3. Do I need to let go of anything (thought patterns/habits/expectations) in order to engage fully in this fresh start? As with most new beginnings, by bringing awareness to our situation, we also bring the potential for growth. |
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Wednesday, 06 January 2010 00:00 |
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