your daily dose of motivation to chase your goals

Hello lovely humans.

How ya doing today? I hope it's been a wonderful, motivating, sunshine-filled day in your life. As for me, it's been a good one. Outside time with the little guy, a long walk, listening to a motivating podcast while drinking a coffee, having time to paint. It's a good one! Can I tell you something that is probably a first-world problem to the highest degree but it's so distracting while I'm typing this? I got my nails done, and I got medium-length acrylics. I have never done medium length acrylics, but I took a leap and went for it, and the extreme inability to type that I am experiencing right now is making me squirm. SQUIRM! I'm going to try my hardest to shake it off, guys. Prayers please. Let's hope I can make it through this post.

photo via Pinterest

I am feeling super inspired today by the book I'm reading. Have you ever found a book that just speaks to you? If you follow me on Instagram, you may have seen my recommendation for the book Girl, Stop Apologizing by Rachel Hollis. It's her newest book and a sort of sequel to Girl, Wash Your Face. She is bold, honest, and challenges all women to strip away all their insecurities, the shame, the layers of self-doubt and crap that stop us from chasing our dreams and to charge forward with clear goals defined in their minds. Honestly, I have been feeling like a sitting duck in my own life. We are in a transition period - we moved to California, we are settling in, but we don't have our own place yet and our working lives are still shifting. I haven't been waking up feeling like taking charge, I wake up already feeling tired. Handing Ben's new toddler habits does take a lot out of me, but sometimes I just feel like I haven't been as gung-ho to push myself to create and make something new. I see other women and mothers pushing the boundaries with blogs, businesses, podcasts, books, and creations, and I think, "Gee, wish I could do that." Finally, I am motivating myself and asking myself - "Why not me?" I love to write, connect, create, and achieve - so why am I not pushing myself to do those things? Let's be honest - in life, no one is going to make your goals happen for you - you're the ONLY one that can do that.

So, yeah. Feeling motivated. What's a big dream that you have for your life? I want to write a little list of some of my resources that I utilize when needing that extra kick in the pants.

Podcasts

• RISE Podcast by Rachel Hollis. (Great for aspiring businesswomen, moms, or anyone in need of some serious motivation. You will end the podcast feeling like you could be the next Oprah.)
• The Goal Digger Podcast by Jenna Kutcher. (Super motivating and all about hustling to create the life you want.)
• For the Love! with Jen Hatmaker Podcast. (Jen Hatmaker is a forward-thinking Christian writer  and speaker.)
• Coffee + Crumbs Podcast. (Amazing for mamas in need of community and a little guidance - you will feel like you are sitting around a kitchen table, talking with mom friends over coffee.)

Books

photo via Barnes & Noble

• Girl, Stop Apologizing by Rachel Hollis. (Amazing. Loving every page.)
• You Are A Badass by Jen Sincero.
• Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert.
• How Not to Die by Dr. Michael Greger.

Activities

• Take a long walk outside (if you're a mom, this is a good one if you have stroller-sized littles!) and listen to a podcast or playlist that makes you want to fly around and do a happy dance. 
• Create a vision board filled with quotes and images that remind you of how you see your very best self. (Pinterest is great if you don't have a ton of extra time!)
• Clean out your closets and house and sell or donate a ton of crap that you're tired of looking at every day.
• Keep a detailed calendar, and try to have a "Get the Boring Crap Done Day" once each week. Bills, appointment planning, cleaning, running the errands that just need to get done. Checking stuff off your to-do list might just be fun with a Starbucks in hand and good music on the car radio.
• Step out of your comfort zone. This could be anything from approaching another mom at the playground and trying to make a friend to writing the first page of that book you've wanted to write for years.
• Write in a journal - just a paragraph or two - every morning or every night. Feel like overachieving? Do morning AND night! Write about ideas you have, a mantra for the day, a to-do list, positive traits about yourself. Keep it positive and encouraging.
• Start on a goal - make that first bold step. A goal of my own for the next few weeks is meeting with counselors at our local college and starting up classes again to continue chipping away at my degree. I am so excited, and I know I'm going to feel so proud of myself when I'm sitting in class on that first day.

You got this. 

Love,

Megan :)