How do you strengthen your mind?

Most months, I choose a topic of growth on which I specifically wish to focus. Back in July, my topic was mental strength.

Much like we can’t do one set of situps and call ourselves fit for life, we can’t simply practice one mindset strategy and assume our minds are strong for life, either.

This week, practice strengthening your mind.

You can do this any number of ways. Consider what serves you best, and go from there.

Personally, I like to have a variety of tools in my mental strength toolkit. My list back in July included things like journaling, fueling myself with fortifying content, simplifying in some area, seeking support from a friend or professional, taking a small action, and asking (and, of course, answering and then implementing) ‘Who am I when I’m at my best?’

I continue to refer to that list, FYI!

Feel free to share your favorite mental strength strategy below. Here’s to a strong and resilient month!

How do you purposefully wrap up one month and prepare for the next?

Since today is the last day of August, I thought I’d share a bit of what I document before closing out the month:

* Wins

* Challenges

* Goal Progress

* Lessons Learned (you’ll often find these shared here on my blog!)

* Standout Books/Podcasts

* Gratitudes

I have other items I track from a CEO/business standpoint as well, but the above items consistently show up in my personal monthly review.

This week, reflect on your month.

Celebrate what you’ve accomplished, and use your data to decide what to prioritize next month.

Not only is this a fantastic practice in regular acknowledgment, it will also serve you well when it comes time for your year-end wrap-up – which will be here before we know it!

What’s inspiring you lately?

As part of my monthly review, I typically record a few things that have inspired me that month.

And interestingly, my responses typically differ each month.

What inspires us for a time may not continue to do so forever. One moment you might be inspired by a big-dreaming, bold-speaking industry leader who launches a global service. The next you might be equally inspired by your neighbor who leads a small scout troop and teaches Sunday school and is quietly, deeply changing lives one at a time.

This week, notice what’s inspiring you.

Pay attention to the people, books, podcast guests, colleagues, and so on that light you up and expand your sense of possibility.

Make note of them, as well as what particularly inspires you about them.

You can then return to this list to add new sources of inspiration, delve deeper, look for themes, or ask yourself what this might mean for you and your own vision.

And remember, others are adding YOU to their lists and are thankful for the inspiration you provide! Keep up the good work!

When did you last block time in your schedule for your own personal development?

Now, a very separate question: When did you last honor that time – actually dedicating it to something that nurtured your growth?

Mindful, fully-present time focused solely on our own growth can feel self-indulgent, low-priority, or downright impossible.

Yet such time can improve our mindset, quality of life, relationships, and overall wellbeing in countless ways!

This week, block time for your personal growth.

This could involve an afternoon at a quiet coffee shop to map out your goals, a Saturday morning on a nature walk listening to an inspiring audiobook, or a day at an event designed specifically for your personal growth, like our upcoming Purpose + Delight event on October 12.

Then, when that time comes around, honor it for the purpose you’ve designated.

Your future self will be grateful!

In October, we are hosting a one-day event: Create Your Year of Purpose + Delight! If you’re wondering why purpose and why delight, here is a brief explanation. (Side note: If you just want the ten-second version, scroll down to the end of this post!)

Why Purpose?

Have you ever had an experience where you felt tense, uncomfortable, frustrated, or upset and didn’t really know why? Maybe you noticed your clenched fists and/or gritted teeth and knew something was off, but you weren’t quite sure what.

Chances are, one of your core values – a key component of purpose – was being violated in some way.

On the flip side, when you experience moments where you feel fully engaged, in flow, in the zone, or like you’re truly where you’re meant to be, your values are likely being honored and you feel purposeful as a result.

Purpose is a part of who we are and all we do. As I define it, purpose involves who we are at our core (and at our best), and the ‘why’ behind our actions, choices, and behaviors. Each decision we make, each action we take, are connected to and informed by our purpose.

We all have purpose whether we feel clear on what it is or not. But when we are clear on our values and purpose, we can make decisions and take actions in alignment – thus ever increasing our opportunities for fulfillment, intentionality, and flow.

At our Purpose + Delight event you will have the opportunity to clarify your values and further discern your purpose. I will also share my Purpose Statement with you, along with how it has served me over the last 20 or so years!

Why Delight?

For many people, in many ways, things lately have felt heavy, hard, muddled. Collectively and individually, I think it’s safe to say we’ve been through a lot in the past few years.

Sometimes fulfilling our obligations, doing what life requires of us, and general adulting can lead to a sense of heaviness, if not overwhelm. Personally, I have struggled with ‘excessive seriousness’ more often than I’d like, too! And I can’t tell you the number of clients who have mentioned needing more simple fun + joy in their work and lives.

If you could use more light, joy, fun, or – as dictionary . com includes in its definition of delight – rapture* in your life, don’t just wait around hoping it’ll find its way to you. In addition, don’t assume that what delighted you a decade or a year or a week ago still applies today.

The objective is to blend the two – purpose + delight – in how we design our days and live our lives. And this is exactly what we’ll focus on at Create Your Year of Purpose + Delight in October!

The Ten-Second Reason

When it comes down to it, the issues I hear the most in my coaching work lately continually circle back to these two things: purpose + delight. So while a consultant might say we need to focus our event on something more ‘professional’ or ‘business-oriented,’ I am following your lead and my heart – PURPOSE + DELIGHT it is!

(And I fully believe this will benefit you personally, professionally, and business-wise!)

Seats are filling quickly for the event – get all the details here and join us in October!

*That same online dictionary further defines ‘rapture’ as ‘ecstatic joy.’ Doesn’t that sound perfect right about now? 🙂

What’s occupying more space – physical, mental, or otherwise – than you’d like?

Years ago, when I used to teach decluttering classes, I’d share a perspective that I still fully believe (and experience) today:

Decluttering is less about ‘getting rid of stuff’ and more about deciding – and focusing on – what matters most.

I often find that when I’m feeling stuck in some way, a bit of decluttering – whether a drawer, my calendar, my mind (ie, in the form of journaling), etc. – nearly always helps. Freeing up space in one aspect of my life opens up space in others!

This week, consider clearing away something to create space for something else.

Or to create space, period.

Here’s to your meaningful achievement!

Imagine you’re celebrating your 90th birthday. Friends, family, colleagues, and others have gathered to toast you and the impact you’ve made in their lives.

What do you hope they will say?

Perhaps even more importantly, what do you most want to say about *yourself*?

I often walk my coaching clients through a visioning exercise that involves the above scenario. Jumping ahead several years can provide a level of perspective we don’t always access, as can pondering what we’d like others to say about our contribution.

When imagining their first 90 years of life, a few things people would often love to say:

* “I’ve enjoyed meaningful relationships.”

* “My bucket list is well underway.”

* “I’ve engaged my talents and passions.”

* “I’ve worked hard, had fun, and savored moments.”

* “I’ve made a positive difference.”

Others approach this from what they *don’t* want to say about their first 90 years, such as “I lived on autopilot” or “I spent most of it in a miserable job” or “I worried much of it away.”

Consider taking a quiet moment for yourself – perhaps at a coffee shop or while out on a walk – and giving this scenario some thought.

Be gentle with yourself, and remember – whether you are 20 or 60 or 100 years old, you can still grow, create, change, learn, and make a difference!

And be sure to come back tomorrow for a bonus question you can incorporate into this exercise!

If you could choose your mindset for the day, which would you choose?

Some possibilities that rise to the surface for me, depending on the day, include:

Energetic

Intentional

Peaceful

Generous

Productive

Confident

Resilient

As I’m sure we’re all aware, we can’t always choose what happens.

But maybe we can choose how we’ll approach it or how we’ll strive to carry ourselves.

This week, practice choosing your mindset.

Decide at the start of the week, or at the beginning of each day, who + how you wish to be in the world. A simple word or phrase can work well.

Then, as you proceed with your day, check in now and then with your chosen mindset. Celebrate the ways you’ve experienced it, and ask yourself how you might bring it more fully to your next action.

Like Annie Dillard wrote, ‘How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives.’ Let’s choose, with intention, how we’ll spend our days!

Here’s to your meaningful achievement!