Back again and need to start with yet another round of thank yous to all those who have read, commented and sent me messages on the last post! I think a few to do lists have been started!!!

So when setting out goals it is a given that we will meet some stumbling blocks. Some will be mountains, some will be hills, some will be crossroads whereas others will merely be a rock, gravel or sand in the shoes at best.

As a prime example, my goal 6, the one about having a most romantic relationship with my husband has taken one step back on the basis of my new found interest in blogging. No, not because I am hovering over the computer watching each visit to my blog post, nor for the hours I spend writing and composing my posts (as if!!). It isn’t even for the opposite reason, that he didn’t read it and immediately buy me flowers, skittles or an office in New York.

First blog post live! Excited and delighted and the phone beeps… Here is me thinking it’s a publishing company getting in contact to get my pending book on the shelves today. How could they not as I am one in a million….. as I was told, and this time not by my mother. No it’s my husband and he is expressing his “concerns” about making the content public and what such content might entail going forward. It is worth bearing in mind that at this point he had already proof read the content so it wasn’t that as much as it was the live bit….. Shy of social media and not wanting to get a raised profile through my new blog, discussions were held about legal standpoints and freedom of speech in our house…… not exactly romantic….. Oh work to be done here. J

This is an example of, hmmmm, gravel?? I will in future blogs share more with you about my real life MOUNTAINS and sand in around my toes….. I believe that we need to remember these when we set our goals and plans and most definitely allow for them to get in the way, at least for a while.

New Year, New Start, New Me…… not in 2017

One of the last things I did in 2016 was meet with my business coach to set out some strategic goals for 2017. This worked well during the meeting which we had over the Christmas break and I did feel ready to go. But over the coming days it all changed….

I cannot recall a particular trigger, an event, a person, an anything that changed me; changed me drastically.

My ME had disappeared….. not sure where to. But I started to dread the thought of going to work, started to dread the thought of meeting up with friends, no particular interest in conversation in general whether for work or for pleasure.

What I remember clearly at this point is making a call to my business coach, sitting in my hallway at home, taking notes of what he was saying. I still have that A4 page and note. “Take time out”. Take 2-3 weeks where commitments are limited and you can be what you need to be. Mind yourself in this time frame from a physical and mental perspective.

Guess what, not normally a good person to listen, I took his advice. I stepped back, stayed at home and started to make good use of my own company and the great outdoors. I would head for walks when I felt like it, I would read books that I wanted to read (not a to do list book), start taking note of what the last number of years being a self-employed mother of 3 had really done to me and how it had affected me.

It took me way more than 3 weeks to find my way again, not sure if I have even found it at this point as I believe it is a continuous search for something but I have taken some very important lessons from it.

• Oxygen is essential and when we take the time to inhale it, and I mean literally not metaphorically, we end up getting re-energised and motivated to be more productive, effective and passionate.
• Getting to know ME (for you it’s you) is essential
• Taking two steps back will, if managed well, bring you ten steps forward.

So although it was not an easy decision to step back and a lot at stake from doing so I think it is essential to take those steps back in a manner that fits with your own personal circumstances and remember that it is not shutting yourself away from the world, nor being selfish for wanting to mind yourself, it’s a necessity.

I can recall having read, not believing it a possibility at the time, heard and listened to similar tips from others who say it’s SIMPLE, if you just do it.