One month has passed since the New Year started and many people have already gotten off track from the goals they set for the year.  It's hard to change old habits and let go of our comfort zone especially if you've lost the motivation to make changes.

Here are three tips for staying motivated to reach your goals:

1.  Adjust as you go- Sometimes you have to change your approach to reaching your goal. If what you've been doing is no longer working tweak the process.  Change your exercise times, use a new social media tool, break the goal down into smaller goals, change the completion date, etc. Think outside the box and find ways to stay excited about reaching the goal. 

2. Find an accountability partner- Find someone to hold you accountable. Someone who will hold your feet to fire and make sure you do what you say you're going to do. You can do the same for them. When someone is counting on you to make something happen you try harder because you don't want to let them down and you end up not letting yourself down either.

3. Reward yourself- When you complete a task or hit a milestone, reward yourself. Plan a larger reward or celebration for the completion of the goal but celebrate with small goodies along the way. A cupcake, a pedicure, a new tablet case, etc. ​ Don't wait until the goal is met. Celebrate along the way to give you incentive to keep going. 

This was a challenging year for me. I started the year wanting to remove myself from a collaborative project that I was involved in because I didn't feel my voice really mattered and I was frustrated by the direction and pace of the project. 
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I wanted the freedom to run amuck, think outside the box, make mistakes, learn and grow. But mainly I wanted to write. Actual stories not something regurgitated from the Internet. I wanted to CREATE! And do something that excited me and made me feel alive!

So, after a totally unexpected turn of events (later realized this was a sign from God) I thought it over and with much fear and trepidation, I let go of the safe cocoon I'd been in for the past two and a half years.  It was a little sad for me because closing that chapter not only meant losing some friendships that I had once treasured, but it also meant I'd be totally on my own...sink or swim. No squad. No team.

But once I truly let go and stopped allowing myself to be distracted, it was the most exhilarating experience ever! For the first time in a very long time I didn't second guess myself. I learned just how capable I really am and I'm not talking about just from a creative standpoint but from a building and networking standpoint as well.  I'm am so incredibly proud of myself and everything I've achieved this year- real measurable goals that actually brought in some income! And the bonus is that I'm building a legacy! 

2015 was a year of unexpected change and unbelievable growth and it all started with the courage to close a chapter of my life that had come to an end. 

If you are hanging on to a situation whether it's a job or relationship that isn't making you feel valued or happy or it's keeping you from living your best life, I challenge you to let go- close that chapter and turn a new page in 2016. Especially if you know in your gut that nothing is going to get better as long as you remain in that situation. Believe in yourself, trust yourself.....you're a lot stronger than you know! 

We often spend way more time than we should in relationships that no longer serve a purpose in our lives. Relationships that are actually doing more harm to our spirit than good. We offer up excuses as to why we're hanging on but the bottom line is we need to know when to let go of toxic relationships and understand that it's okay to cut those ties.

Toxic relationships can be romantic relationships, friendships or even family relationships.  It's true you can't stop being someone's blood relative but you do have complete control over how much interaction you have with that person especially if they are doing you more harm than good.

​How do you know if you're in a toxic relationship? Here are three tell tale signs:
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1. Negativity- What type of things do you and the people you're in a relationship talk about? Do you spend your time talking negatively about other people? Does every topic end up bashing something or someone without ever anything positive to discuss? That type of vibe gets under your skin and infects your mind and spirit.

2. Competition- Do you feel you're in competition? You get a new car, they go get a new car or try to tell you why your car isn't as great as the one they bought? Do they brag on their kids and you feel compelled to do the same and one up them with the most mundane of details so that you "win". One word for your both: PETTY.

​3. Lack of support- Whenever you mention wanting to do something does your spouse, friend or cousin try and tell you 5,000 reasons why it won't work but they never have any solutions to HELP you make it happen? Or if you have an event or sell a product- do they attend or purchase? If the answer is no, one reason might be jealousy.

If you are the receiver or the receivee (I think I made that word up) of any of this behavior you are in a toxic relationship and you need to either cut the other person loose or work on turning the relationship around. Otherwise you will find yourself stuck in a rut and miserable for as long as you entertain such foolishness.

This is another Periscope accompanied post. . .In this post I discuss three consistent mistakes I finally stopped making.

Whenever you try to do anything worthwhile, mistakes are inevitable because most of the time you're entering uncharted territory and have no idea what you're doing. That's why you always hear people say "learn from your mistakes". Growth and success are by-products of mistakes and lessons learned.

My top three:
1. Inconsistency - Blogging off & on, not following up on connections made, doing "just enough".
2. Immobility- Being lazy, staying in my comfort zone, trying to force situations and procrastinating. 
3. In my feelings/sparing others feelings - Not closing doors, being distracted worrying about what others are doing.  

I have definitely learned from all of these mistakes but I feel with age comes wisdom and I am focused on not repeating these mistakes. I correct and adjust my own behavior as my journey continues to unfold. I'm recognizing my power, acknowledging my talent, being intentional and making solid connections. 

I also wake up every day & thank God for the blessings & when I'm tempted even just a little to backslide I imagine that today could be my last day on earth & I go get stuff done! Our days are numbered, so I would encourage you to do more of what makes you happy. Don't sweat the small stuff and love those who love you!

See the me discuss here:

I mentioned our road trip in my last post but I didn't mention that my husband and I took turns driving and during my turn at the wheel I focused not only on the road but had plenty of time to ponder the question: What's Next?