The 2024 vision board and statements event was so successful!
I had such a great time. I co-hosted this event with Cayla Merrill who energy-coached the session to help folks center themselves – it was fantastic.
I thought of this idea when I saw everyone declaring their word of the year and I just felt like one word couldn’t give me the support or the structure I need to get through all 12 months of the year.
I found myself using statements or mantras that encapsulated what I wanted to work on and I created these statements using Stephen. Covey’s 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. Begin with the end in mind.
This really helps me identify the purpose behind a goal or desire. Why is it important? What’s the intention in the feeling behind it?
For example, in my 20s, my goal would be to work out more so I can get skinny. But being skinny does not mean I’d be healthy.
Now in my mid-30s and with six-year-old twin girls. My goal is to have continued mobility and use of my body and limbs as I age. This way, if my daughters decide to have children, my goal would be to be active and healthy enough that I can actively participate in my grandchildren’s lives and be of support to my girls.
That’s my health goal, so when I think of it like that I’m not burning out at the gym or jumping from fad diet to diet. I’m incorporating mobility exercises, nutrition, strength training, stretching, etc. And it changes the way I approach my workouts on a day-to-day basis.
When you are creating your boards, really think about the intention and the goal of what it is you’re putting down. Why is this important to you? What does it mean for your life and your loved ones if you were to accomplish this goal? What would it mean if you didn’t?
The other issue I had with a word of the year is let’s say someone said their word of the year was trust but they had really bad boundaries. How can you trust yourself if you haven’t implemented your boundaries? It doesn’t work, not well, and then you get down on yourself for not maintaining a goal.
When I’m thinking about my goals I like to consider the different sections of the wheel of life. Professional development, personal development spirituality, family relationships, charity, and community, financial security. I consider how I am doing in each area and where or how I would like to see progress. Then I create a statement for that area of my life.
Previous Years:
In 2023 I identified my biggest challenge: sustainable momentum.
I would get excited and go H.A.M. on an idea and then I would burn out and fall apart. This would result in me being mean to myself.
I came across Cycle Syncing on TikTok and after some basic research and small shifts, I was able to find my footing. Last year my statement was sustainable momentum and that’s what I found the more I invested in myself. I participated in different coaching programs and I was able to harness the strengths of my cycle from week to week.
So when you are thinking of your goals for the year, also think of what are the potential roadblocks? What can get in your way? What are some behavioral pitfalls that you may fall into that you need to address? I don’t think there’s anything wrong with calling yourself out on your s***And we’re all trying to be better, that’s why you have goals, right? So be honest with yourself as to what is holding you back. If you’re not sure, journal about your day! What is your mindset that may be preventing you from moving forward? Or who in your life is preventing you from moving forward? What kind of boundaries do you need for all the things?
So I feel like I did a great job for 2023. I’m so proud of the progress, and the advancements I’ve made in my personal life my career, my relationships, just all the things.
For 2024 I have 3 statements:
How you do one thing is how you do everything. (Dom tells his son in one of the Fast & Furious movies that probably should have been made lol) We were watching the franchise over the holidays and it just really set out to me and this. This statement is for how I mother. I would like to be present when it comes to my children. I don’t want to wake up, and they’re grown and gone, and I’m like oh my God, where did the time go? I want to say “oh my god, where did they go? That was so much fun!”
The second statement is I wear suits now. This is from the TV show The Bear, (tw for anyone with really bad anxiety) It’s a fast paced show and has moments of palpable tension. But I loved the character development of Cousin and just how he was always getting in his way, and he believed he was meant for greater things. He just didn’t know how to show up in that way. After going through training he states, I wear suits now and it’s so incredible and it’s so powerful and I feel like this goes beyond fake it till you make it. It’s really just like showing up in your power. Stepping into who you are so I don’t physically wear suits now. But I definitely wear suits now.
The last statement is Nothing Matters. I got this statement from Everything Everywhere All At Once. The movie is just phenomenal and the tension in the mother-daughter relationship hits the nail on the head. Having depression and anxiety, coming to terms with society, and the capitalistic world we live in, generational trauma, and like the unrealized dreams of our Mother. So many important themes! And just all the moments where the mother is realizing nothing matters.
We’re just specks of dust on a rock floating amongst other rocks in this vast universe. I want to apply this to my parenting. I can get anxious about how we’re raising the girls and if we’re doing the right thing, and if we’re exposing them to the right thing, and all the things. And I’m hoping that this will just help keep me grounded. And it will allow me to show up more playfully with my children.
So I would love to know what your statements are for the year. Cayla and I may host another session for folks to check in on their vision boards mid-way through the year so be sure to sign up for the newsletter so you don’t miss it!
I want to make it very clear that checking is not to make sure that you are on track for your goals. The check-in is to take a minute to sit and take stock of these goals and see if they are still aligned with what it is you want. Did you try to pursue something and have realizations or learned things that could potentially change direction? And if so, that’s great, let’s pivot together. There’s no reason to force things that aren’t meant for us or no longer call to us.
2023 Pivot
My 2023 vision board had a lot of self-care items (ex: getting my nails done, facials, massages) and in an ideal world, I would have gotten all 3 every month.
I went to maybe 4 nail salons in the first half of the year and I didn’t enjoy myself – it wasn’t relaxing, I didn’t like the way my nails were done I wasn’t about to get into it with the person because I just like it didn’t feel it was worth it I don’t like waiting for nail polish to dry. I don’t like the smell and the fumes. It just wasn’t for me. I thought that’s what I needed for self-care but it wasn’t
I don’t look back and say “I suck for only getting my nails done 4 times” On the contrary, I feel like I did such a great job taking care of myself last year. Some months were better than others but most importantly, I knew my why.
