Now that it’s almost the middle of January, I’m finally coming out of hibernation to reconnect with the world. I’ve been enjoying a time of reflection on the year just passed, and thinking about what I want for the year to come, this year, 2016.
Meeting Goals
2015 was possibly my best yet at meeting goals I set out to do. What made the difference? A huge part of it was using my planner and regularly reviewing my goals.
This past year I set a ton of goals, over 100, and I met more than half of them. They were big goals and small goals and in-between goals.
The Workbook
Every year for the past three years, I’ve used the same workbook to help plan my year and stay focused on my goals. It is Leonie Dawson’s Yearly Shining Biz + Life Yearly Workbook.
I highly recommend it. (And it’s never too late to start. I tend to work out my goals over time anyway. My first year using the planner I started in April.)
Do you have a workbook or planner you use to help you clarify your goals and move towards them? You can use my referral link (https://jlk86341.isrefer.com/go/2016wbeb/HeatherAsh/) to check out my beloved Leonie Planner, which is now actually a pair of workbooks and a diary.
I’m loving the new separate life and business versions, and especially the 2016 Diary! By the way, ultra fine colorful Sharpies are perfect for writing in them!
The Happiness Mama Podcast
One of the biggest goals I met was starting my podcast, The Happiness Mama Podcast. I am beyond thrilled (!!!) that I followed through on my dream of doing this, and I’m looking forward to continuing it this year.
I’m about to wrap up Season 1: Creativity, and getting ready to start Season 2, which will focus on Self-Care. I have some great guests lined up, and I hope you love listening to it as much as I love creating it. I also hope it inspires you to commit to greater self-care, since it’s easy for us as mamas to let it slip by, even with the best of intentions.
Although extremely rewarding and a huge accomplishment that felt like it was a long time coming, starting my podcast was more challenging and more difficult than I expected. But actually following through and making it happen makes it that much more sweet. And it’s so fun!
I shared some about my experience on a special episode of She Podcasts, which you can listen to here: 079 Advice From Experienced Podcasters, A Super Big Gulp Sized Episode.
Other Goals
I also feel like I came a long way with my blog and my writing. I’m very happy I continued writing for my blog, and I also feel like I got faster at writing, less fearful, and less concerned with perfection. That feels really good. Practice and trying really do make a big difference.
Speaking of perfection, one of my goals was to let go of perfection, and I feel like I did a pretty good job of it. (Maybe too good in some areas, ha ha!)
Another major goal achieved was committing to more self-care. Doing that helped me be happier and more effective in all aspects of my life.
One expression of prioritizing self-care and my happiness was when I went to Denver for a training as part of my membership in the Shining Academy. It served as a much-needed mama retreat for this mentally and physically exhausted mama who had never had a break like that in 8 years! It wasn’t easy to leave my children, for me or for them, but it was worth it.
Near the beginning of last year I ran my first 5k, which was a huge a accomplishment for me as a beginning runner.
Unfortunately I also had injured my foot, which prevented me from running for the next six weeks. It was really disappointing, and I’m sad to say I haven’t yet started running again. I also didn’t keep up with a regular yoga practice as I had intended.
I found it hard to get into a new workout routine, and I ended up gaining quite a bit of weight, which was very discouraging. I don’t feel fully like myself carrying so much extra weight. In the fourth quarter of 2015 I started a regular practice of working out with weights as well as HIIT workouts, and that has been such a blessing. I’ve gotten stronger and fitter and lost some weight. I plan to continue these workouts in the new year and add some yoga and more walking.
I met many of my creative goals, such as making “Worry Not Dolls” with my daughter and painting and coloring together with my children. A couple of goals I didn’t meet are to make other dolls, like Waldorf dolls, and sew some cloth napkins.
Mixed media painting was new to me. I am still working on the Rainbow Journal course. I enjoyed starting it and am looking forward to working on it again. It’s so much fun to play with and to learn how to paint whimsical girls! I never thought I could draw or paint faces that look this good. And the best thing is doing it with my daughter.
So Much Goodness
I made new friends and deepened old friendships.
I did Mama Bliss Coaching School and started my coaching business.
I did Podcasting School For Women and started my podcast.
I created and launched my first coaching program.
I made a positive difference in many women’s lives.
Most of all, I loved mothering my two daughters and feel like I met most of my personal goals related to parenting and mindfully enjoying our time together while they are still so little.
Challenges
They say starting a business is the best personal development program you’ll ever do, and I have to agree. I felt extremely vulnerable and fearful at times, but I thankfully I have a strong support system to help me through the hard parts. And it’s been such a learning experience.
Putting myself “out there” isn’t always easy for this introvert, and I’m still learning how to show up and be vulnerable while respecting my own boundaries and my family’s. One of my goals for 2016 is to explore this concept more and think of how I can be more vulnerable so I can help more women.
Parenting is both the most rewarding and the most challenging job I have. I love it so much, but it certainly isn’t always easy.
Happy and Proud
What am I most proud of and happy about?
I’m happy about staying home with my youngest and spending a ton of quality time with her. And I’m so happy I was able to pick up my older daughter from school and spend special time with her.
I’m also proud that I was committed to myself and my dreams.
I’m proud that I showed up to be the best, most mindful, most loving mother I could be.
I’m proud that I met my goal of helping other women be happier, in various ways, as individuals and groups.
It was a huge year of growth for me. And I’m excited to see how 2016 unfolds.
I am still in the process of planning and goal-setting for this year, and I’m trying a new method of planning and taking action that I’m super excited about. Already I can see it working.
Since this is already getting long, I’ll save that and my new goals and intentions for 2016 for a new post.
Grateful
I read and learned so much in 2015. I read a ton of good books and did some amazing training. I can honestly say that some of the books and courses I did this past year were life-changing.
I’m grateful that I read the books, took the courses, and did the work to take action and make change happen. In short, I showed up.
I’m so thankful for all of the amazing women I connected with this year.
And I’m so grateful for you, my dear readers (and listeners).
And I’m so so so grateful for my family and friends who give me love, support, and encouragement every day.
What About You?
Have you spent time reflecting on your year… the goals you met, the goals you didn’t, and how you feel about it?
What are you grateful for?
I did things this year that seemed really, really difficult at first, and that feels so very good. I wish that for you, too, mama.
You deserve to make your dreams come true. What are you dreaming up this year?
Let me know in the comments below. I would love to hear from you!
Love,
Heather
Alexis says
Hi Heather! Congratulations on accomplishing so much last year! This post was really inspirational. It made ME happy to see how much you accomplished and all the good you’re doing in your life and in the world because of it! I also love Leonie’s planner and workbooks. The weekly planner was just what I needed! I’m still completing the workbooks, but I’m excited to see my dreams and goals unfold this year. Good luck for all you plan to do in 2016!! :)
Heather says
Thank you so much, Alexis! I’m glad you were inspired. I love having a weekly planner, too. Good luck to you, too!
Kate Leppard says
Hi Heather, I’d love to know more about the ‘no worry dolls’ as I’m an art therapist and I think some of my clients would love them!
I dreaming of taking my business to the next level and sharing my gifts with the world. Starting with an amazing E-Course for women, Awakening our Wisdom, which is a five week course for women who carry unresolved fears, inadequacies and lack of meaning: how to creatively access insight and powerful inner guidance through art making…
It’s exciting! I’d love to share one of my self-care therapy activities with you. If you’re interested get in touch! Thanks for celebrating everything you’ve achieved and may 2016 bring you more abundance <3
Heather says
Hi, Kate! No worry dolls look a lot like regular worry dolls, but they’re bigger and made with toothpicks, a bead, and embroidery floss (and hot glue). I’ll see if I can find the book we used. There was a bit of a learning curve, but we had a lot of fun making them, and I think the second go round will be easier (or would have if we’d done it again more quickly after the first time!).
Your e-course sounds amazing! Art and creativity are so powerful for processing emotions/dealing with “stuff.” :) I’ll be in touch!
Heather says
Here is the link to the book that has the Worry Not Dolls… It’s called Just Us Girls: 48 Creative Art Projects for Mothers and Daughters to Do Together
Kate Leppard says
Thanks Heather! <3