Stay On Track
Photo Credit: Nic @helloimnik
“An affirmation opens the door. It’s a beginning point on the path to change.” ~ Louise Hay
Last week’s blog was an exercise on creating concrete goals for the year. I hope that working with the categories I suggested, and perhaps including some of your own, helped you to develop a clear picture of where you’re headed. Today I’m sharing the monthly practice I follow to keep me on track. It’s a way of checking in and making revisions in response to life’s surprises.
I begin each month by identifying a focus, goals, gratitude, and affirmations. I include special events, activities, and projects that are coming up. I have a separate document listing my writing goals, and I like to organize it using themes. At the end of every month, I set aside time to reflect and then write my highlights and insights. What felt significant? What did I learn?
Focus
My focus for January this year is to build a strong foundation for success. That includes strengthening family relationships, setting up the new home we moved into mid-December, pumping up my writing commitment, and making healthy routines a priority.
Goals
I write specific monthly goals with corresponding bullets beside them, hoping that most will be ticked as complete by the end. I choose a few for each of the five goal categories. As part of my wellness goal, I set an intention to spend an hour at the RehFit track three mornings a week, but already I’ve blown that one, having caught a nasty cold-flu virus that knocked me off my feet for two weeks. It’s important to be adaptive and relinquish your goals when necessary.
My writing goals for January included completing my Beta edits for my finished manuscript, researching and querying a traditional publisher, writing a chapter for my manuscript-in-progress, and posting a weekly blog. So far I’m on track with all of them except writing a chapter for my manuscript-in-progress. A silver lining of being sick was more time to write.
Gratitude
I’m grateful for an amazing and supportive partner to share the ups and downs of life with. Mister and I make a great team; aligned in our values and dreams. We rarely disagree or need to make compromises, but when we do, we engage in respectful discussion. I’m thrilled to be living in Canada again, and thankful for opportunities to strengthen family, build work relationships, and access healthcare. I love our neighbourhood, abundant with old trees and a prolific squirrel population whose playful antics, even in winter, bring a smile to my face.
Affirmations
I’ve been working with affirmations for over twenty years. They are integral in creating a positive mindset and framework for your thoughts to manifest into reality. My current emotional work includes phrases like, “I lovingly let go of the past” and “I release all expectations.” For more ideas on affirmations, check out Louise Hay’s book, You Can Heal Your Life. It’s a great resource I often go to for inspiration.
Highlights
On January 31st, I’ll be looking back at my agenda and journal and writing down everything that stood out as significant. I love this practice because I always feel uplifted, no matter what mood I’m in when I get started. By the time I’m done, I usually have a full page of achievements and celebrations. There are often a few surprises that I never could have anticipated, that turned out to be the most rewarding of all. Things like inspiration for a scene that advances my story, blogs that resonated with my readers, and finding out I’m going to be a grandma this summer.
Insights
This last section is typically the most difficult one to write. It’s where I witness my growing wisdom and the areas where I’m still struggling. Last month I realized that life will always have imperfections and struggles. Just as healing isn’t a place you arrive at, life is a journey full of turns and bends. Life is a series of cycles. The challenge is to stay in peace, no matter where you are in the process. To endure the lows and enjoy the highs with grace and integrity.
I hope reading this blog is a beginning point on your path to change, dear reader. May you find opportunities for stillness and reflection amidst the busyness of life. May you feel encouraged to follow your heart and fulfill your dreams. May 2025 be your most pinnacle year yet. Stay tuned next week for the final post in January’s Self-Reflection and Setting Goals series, Stay Open.
COMING UP…
Books & Projects:
· All four of my books are available online at Amazon, Chapters-Indigo, and Barnes & Noble. You can also find them at select Chapters-Indigo and El Hombre de la Mancha bookstores.
· I am pursuing representation from a traditional publisher for my fifth literary fiction, a psychological drama that explores the complexities of mental illness and trauma. Stay in touch by signing up for my blog or following me on social media to find out when it will be published.
Reviews & Interviews:
· You can read, listen, or watch a large selection of reviews and interviews on my website.
Events:
· There are no events currently scheduled in my calendar.
YouTube Channel:
· Watch The Rogue Scorpion trailer.
· Watch The Holding trailer.
· Watch The Healing trailer.