Refocused

The early morning sunlight filled our room. It slipped its way between the tangled blinds and danced along the walls. I followed the light with my eyes as I placed my feet on the soft carpet. I stretched, thanking the good Lord for a new day and another opportunity to go at it again. I slept well and was prepared to tackle the first day of 2021. I kissed my wife’s forehead as she peacefully slept. In an effort not to disturb her rest, I crept out of the room, and queitly shut the door behind me.

It was a nippy morning outside. I got dressed and set out to get my first jog of the new year in. Being outdoors always helps me process my thoughts. Thankfully, we can all let go of our collective breath as 2020 is finally a thing of the past. We’ve turned the page, and stepped right into the second chapter of the decade. To those who struggled to get their footing in 2020, there’s hope. I believe things are going to change for the better in your life.

Over the course of my life, I’ve learned just how important being intentional is. I believe thriving is a choice and it starts with intentionality. When I got back home I pulled out my notepad and spent the first day of the year taking inventory of my life. I started by writing down all of the lessons I’ve learned in the prior year. It was both refreshing and enlightening to see all of the lessons I’ve learned; it gave me so much confidence, as I began to set my sights on what lied ahead. My strategic planning for 2021 continued with the creation of my personal and business mission statement. From there I chose my word of the year, which is vitality. Do you have a word for the year? I encourage you to come up with a personal theme and word that will give this year clarity and direction. It really helps to create more focused goals.

Organizing my life strategically has really provided tremendous benefits. I like to break down my year into quarters. Breaking down my goals into quarterly targets prevents me from becoming overwhelmed by some of the things I have set myself to accomplish this year. Seeing the year on paper broken down this way gives me get a good view of all of my targets and I’m then able to create a plan of attack. Setting the tone early is paramount as the days become weeks. Time really does fly. Perhaps you may find my method helpful. There’s no right or wrong way to go about it. This is what works for me.

I wasn’t always an organized person in my life. And I’ll be the first to tell you, there are still days I fumble around looking for my keys, but hey, I’ve made progress. Discipline, organization, and proper focused planning has helped me see a lot of me dreams come to fruition. This is a big year for me and my family as we are set to move across the country, so it’s imperative that I remain focused.

Lastly, choose to be kind to yourself this year as you continue to make strides in your life. While we’d all love to perfectly reach our goals in a straight line, it’s more than likely there will be some deviations along the way. Adjustments are apart of the process. Feel free to readjust your goals throughout your journey. Every day is a new beginning, so please give yourself grace. Remember to dream big always. All things worth having in life, require the best of you. Be encouraged and always ready for what lies ahead. You got this. While this year may come with it’s unique challenges, I want you to know you’re built to last. There is nothing you can’t do. Let’s make this a year to remember.