Setting Goals

Day in and day out, it can seem like we're constantly striving to achieve one thing or another, whether it's professional benchmarks or personal accomplishments. The relentless drive to meet these goals can wear us down. Especially if we feel as though we're falling behind. The best thing we can do for ourselves during these moments is to give yourself the break you deserve, and embrace a non-striving approach to the week ahead. Now this doesn't mean you're slacking off or brushing aside your goals. It simply means evoking a sense of being rather than doing. Instead of getting worn down because the finish line seems too far off, adopting a non-striving mindset allows us to savor every step along the way. We're shifting from a space of being hyper focused on the goals to really being present with the journey. Something I like to recommend doing on our days off is to set an intention for the rest of the week, and approach that intention with a sense of excitement and hope, instead of fear, anxiety or intimidation. It's perfectly fine to experience those negative emotions. In fact, I encourage you to recognize and be fully aware of those feelings. Then maybe shifting your focus onto your intention, and then gently releasing the negative emotions. With your sights clearly set on that intention, you'll experience the benefits of the journey however you decide to pursue it. By being present and connected, you're fostering a deeper sense of mindful awareness, which in turn can lead to more focus and clarity. I also invite you to gently incorporate positive affirmations on this non-striving approach. These affirmations may sound like, "My potential is limitless," or, "I am fully capable of doing great things," or even, "I'm so grateful for the beauty all around me." Allowing yourself to channel the positive energy of whatever affirmation comes to you, acknowledge its truth and carrying that feeling wherever you go. And remember, it's still the weekend. There is nothing you have to do right now, except spend this time however you see fit. By purposely stepping away from the a daily grind and coming back to the present, your body and mind will naturally begin to unwind. So just taking this moment to briefly drop in, getting nice and comfortable, feeling the body pressed down on the surface beneath you, feeling the different points of contact. And if it's comfortable for you, taking a gentle deep breath in through the nose and out through the mouth. And if you want, gently closing your eyes on the exhalation. As you breathe in, appreciating that feeling of having paused today, allowing thoughts to come and go without resistance. If you do feel resistance, that's okay. Just staying with that feeling of breath for a moment, the rising and falling sensation of the body, and bringing the attention back to that feeling of contact with the surface beneath you, and applying a steady gentle focus to whatever intention...