My 3 biggest lessons for the year.

''Action is the foundational key to all success''
~ Pablo Picasso

A friend and business compatriot, who I admire greatly, recently asked me to share my 3 biggest lessons for the past year with her online membership.

My first thoughts went to the 3 things that've helped me evolve and grow as a better person and parent and how that could help her members?

For example:

1. Moving / exercising more.
2. Getting to bed earlier and getting up earlier
3. Using energy medicine and calming my nervous system!

However, after pondering her question it dawned on me that these 3 things wouldn't have happened unless I'd taken action.

And THAT is the hard part - taking action, pushing ourselves forward, learning and growing.

It's not always easy...

Early morning swims, Denmark Western Australia.

My 3 biggest lessons from 2017:

1. Take action (be courageous).

Taking action meant having to step outside my comfort zone - which takes courage. It's so much easier to do nothing, but that's not where change and growth happens.

I listened to a great podcast on the Good Life Project with Jonathan Fields and Caroline Adams Miller, Author of 'The Road to Grit'. She quoted research that showed, people who go out of their comfort zones most days are happier! Now that's an incentive.

So what helps us to actually take action? It’s a strong connection with our WHY our deep desires.

WHY exercise more? WHY eat better? or WHY lose weight?

Often we are forced to take action - there's no alternative. Or as Fi Redding from the Happiness Hunter says, 'it's either desperation or desire' that motivates us.

Let's make it desire rather than desperation in 2018.

2. Be aware + be kind on me.

Leaving my comfort zone is tough. It's easier when I'm aware of my thoughts and can be kind on myself.

If you've stopped to take a moment to listen to the stories you tell yourself, you'll know what I mean. I think I can confidently say I am my harshest critic. But it's hard to close the door or no longer listen / hear that person when they're in my head!

A few things that've helped me be kinder to me this year and I hope help you:

♥︎ I read 'The Untethered Soul' by Michael Singer. A brilliant read with great tools to help quieten the negative mind chatter.

♥︎ Early mornings. To give myself time to meditate, journal and be aware of the thoughts that can keep me safe and comfortable, but un-evolved. Mornings are a magical time of day and my day undoubtedly goes better getting up early. It helps us be more in control of our day, right upfront.

♥︎ Exercise most days, preferably outside. Running, walking, yoga and pilates. This has probably made the biggest difference of all. We are molecules in motion, movement helps our mind, our mood, our hormones, our sleep, our day and so much more. It's true that sitting just might be the new smoking and our biology needs to connect with nature and the great outdoors.

♥︎ The Happiness Hunter has helped me greatly in learning how to be aware of my thoughts and be kinder to me.

3. Gather a support crew.

Lastly and importantly, getting support from others, having them beside me, guiding me out of my comfort zone. My support crew.

Mankind is defined as a collective. We are tribal, social beings. We aren't designed to do this 'gig of life' flying solo plus it's more fun together.

Gather your support crew to make change happen and your desires will come to life.

An Example.

I joined a running club this year, Aspire to Run. How I joined shows how this can all come together.

My neighbour mentioned the group to me and suggested I go along with her to a session. But of course all the stories came up, 'you're too unfit', 'you won't be able to do it', 'you've got stuff on', 'it's too late to get up early' etc etc. This went on for months! One night she sent me a text and said something like, 'running tomorrow can pick you up on the way past', again I was about to say 'no' when I mentioned it to my hubby who said, 'Do it, you'll love it'.  So I did and haven't looked back. If only I'd done it sooner! But I learnt the lessons. I took action, which took courage, I had to be aware of my self sabotaging thoughts and be kind on myself, 'it's okay to be unfit, you'll get stronger', I changed the commentary in my mind and most importantly - I had support.

I wouldn't still be doing it without the camaraderie and support of the fantastic bunch that is Aspire to Run. And I am super grateful to my amazing hubby and gorgeous neighbour.

These 3 things are a formula I now know work for me. It's also how I launched and ran my new online program this year, Our Happy Children. (running again in March next year)! I used these 3 steps and THE most important ingredient of all was getting the support I needed which came by working closely with business coach / mentor, Cristina Londono at Wallnut Studio, assistant, Kylie McKinnon-Smith and Anne Clark, First Step Virtual Assistant. Again, it wouldn't have been the great success it was without these incredible women beside me.

So to help make next year one of your best yet, whether it's health, family, work or finances, I hope these 3 tips can help you make the changes you know you need to make.

What small or big action are you going to begin with?