I just finished writing my latest article for Definition Magazine, an online fitness magazine for vegan women, to which I am a regular contributor. You can check out Definition here to download all past issues, and have a gander at the stellar women I am delighted to work with here.
The article was about performing something called a Year End Review to help in goal setting for the new year. The next issue will come out on February 4th, 2015, so you’ll have to wait a bit to read it, but basically it walks readers through the steps of evaluating everything that happened in the last year, in order to better understand your next steps and areas of growth for the year to come. I performed my own Year End Review of 2014, and I want to share something with you.
It was almost a year ago January when I wrote a post fessing up to my intense anxiety and fears, and proclaimed 2014 the year I would “Fork My Fears”. You can read that post here. It was a doozy!
After I wrote that post, I received so much support and encouragement that I was able to summon the courage to get waaaaay out of my comfort zone and do all sorts of incredible things. I also hired a new health coach for myself in February 2014, to support my fitness and health goals further. We are just finishing up our amazing 10 months together.
I can safely say that 2014 was a record year of growth and progress in both my business and my personal life. Fears were definitely forked! I taught several classes and workshops – every single one of which sold out almost immediately!! I worked with amazing, grateful, successful clients on three different continents and a multitude of time zones. I established a group continuity program for clients who graduated their programs with me and wanted to keep in touch for accountability, motivation, and support.
In the personal arena, I completely conquered my fears of the weight room, got deep into bodybuilding, and have been changing my physique and my confidence as a result. I made progress on the “Driving in Israel” fear and drove the car around a bit more. I swallowed my pride and spoke (bad) Hebrew more than ever before. I did all those mortifying medical tests you have to do but dread doing. I got through a terrifying war with casualties, and air raid sirens, and daily rocket attacks, which also happened to coincide with my eldest son’s first call up notice for his military service and through it all, I kept my shit together. (OK, more or less together). I got really vulnerable and honest with my husband and we initiated some spectacular changes in our relationship. All and all, I am deeply and reverently proud of the work I did in 2014.
But not everything was a rose garden of course. I ignored my instinct on something and it blew up in my face in a very public and humiliating way. It was a hard climb back from wanting to hide under the covers after that. I wobbled on, but by the autumn, I seem to have run out of courage again. I got sucked back into the comfort zone and forgot my business goals. I let confusion reign. I got a bread machine and as I joke with a friend, immersed myself in Procrasti-baking (hence the lack of blogging. I apologize, but… bread…)
So dear readers, here we stand again, at the corner of Play It Safe or Get Out There and Do It. Who among you will walk boldly with me into a new year, not strangled by fears and insecurities? I for one, am not prepared to live a life unchallenged, untested, unmastered, unexplored. We have such a short time here and much to do. We can do this. We will do this. Together.
I want you to get out a piece of paper RIGHT NOW. I’m serious, go get paper and come back, I’ll wait. Now, write on that paper ALL of the things you want to accomplish. All of them. Next, look at the list and decide which things you want to tackle in 2015 and which will be for next year, the next 2 years, 5 years, etc. This is important because quite often we write this giant list which in all reality we cannot possibly accomplish all in one year. Then instead of accomplishing one or two great things, we do none of them. So prioritize and don’t worry, you can change the list in the future if goals change. The next step I want you to take, is for the goals for 2015, write out each and every step you’d need to take to make that happen. The smaller the steps the better. If something seems too hard, break it down even smaller. Lastly, go get your calendar and write when you will take your first few steps – in INK!
I’d love to hear what you’ve got planned, so comment, or email (healthcoachemily@gmail.com) and tell me what fears you plan to conquer and what dreams you’re ready to birth.
For my part, I pledge to have some new programs mapped out and ready to roll by the start of 2015. Watch this space. And thank you, as always, for reading and sharing this life with me. Happiest of Holidays to you all!
love, em
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