Paying Attention to Progress

Today’s episode looks so different than I thought it would when we first sat down to start recording! Even as I began editing, I kept trying to go back to the original vision I’d had of the episode– but that original plan no longer fit.

As much as I wanted to make this episode into a nice neat package with a clear problem and ending solution, I realized this episode is more of a progress report and a true snapshot of this moment on a bigger journey. The episode is about what we are learning, and what we are wading through (muck and all). So thank you for listening to our conversation and being a part of this journey with us.

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Word of the year- so far

In Episode 54, we set a theme for the year by choosing one word to describe our focus. Have you ever tried this?

Abundant Gratitude?

Bethany chose abundance as her word. This is a big year for Bethany because she is getting married in June!

Along with all the planning and preparations for the big day, there is a budget to consider. There will be certain things that just aren’t in the budget for the wedding.  It can be easy to fall into the trap of wishing you had a bigger budget and completely missing what the big day is all about.

Constantly returning to the bigger picture of what is the most important things for this day and focusing on those instead helps to stay on budget.There is abundance all around we just have to remember to look for it!

When you reflect on what you you’re grateful for, the feeling of abundance and contentment is a natural result. That is why we are keeping our own gratitude journal! Although it looks a little different than most!

I text Bethany and ask her what she is grateful for each morning usually along with what I’m grateful for. Do you keep a gratitude journal? I just started the practice for the 1st time this year.

We got a little emotional on this episode and there really isn’t any way for me to share exactly how Bethany felt. Listening works best.

If you haven’t already listened to the episode, I would encourage you to do so! It is more powerful than anything I could type.

And while we are on this topic, did you know that just because your mind says something doesn’t mean it is true?!! You get to talk back to it. You get to tell your mind what to think and you might have to do it over and over again. AND your mind is not stop unless you talk back to it!

It took me a while to learn this and I’m still practicing it daily! Sorry for the running analogy but here it comes..

If you are running a race, whether it is a 5k or a marathon, you cannot allow your brain to “talk down” to you or your effort. If you do allow your brain to be critical, you will definitely slow down or even stop altogether!  You have to practice what you are going to say instead ahead of time.

The funny thing is, no matter what shape you are in or well you are doing, your brain is guaranteed to have negative thoughts! You are running in a race and your body is tired!! What else is it going to tell you to do, but to STOP!

You have to prepare in advance for this inevitable negative self-talk that comes anytime you are doing something hard. You have to practice over and over again what you are going to respond with so it will begin, on repeat, as soon as your mind shows an inkling of negativity.

Everyone is running their own race and there will always be someone faster AND slower than you. Even if you are the last person in the race (which I have been), you have to tell yourself how great you are doing just to be out there! Let’s be our own loudest cheerleader!

Thank you Jenna Kutcher for being so open and willing to share her encouragement with us!

https://www.instagram.com/p/BlWoedsBiDm/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet

Saying Yes to Adventure

My attempts at adventure did not quite go as I had envisioned. Picture happy kids, excited to try new things and get out of the house.

However, my kids were taken by surprise by our new adventure and it didn’t take long to see my idea of adventure is not necessarily their idea of adventure and vice versa. Going ice skating after a full day at the soccer field, no thank you! 

Although my year of saying yes got off to a rocky start, the simple act of focusing on adventure trained my eyes to actually see the adventure in little things like going for a run or playing Just Dance as a family.

What I realized was surprising to me, I DO say yes to adventure! Granted, the adventure does have to take place before 6pm, but if it does, I’m there.

I said yes to long trips to the park, nature walks, New Year’s Eve parades and even trying out Crossfit.

I realized how many adventures I do have that I didn’t count as adventures. Paying attention to all the little adventures around saw my simple days in new light. It really comes back to mindset once again. What am I focusing on?

Oh Look, Progress!

On A to B Podcast in 2018, we tackled everything from paper, to closets, to-do lists, photos, mental roadblocks…#all the things. But if I had to pick an episode that most resonated with me was it would Ep 48 5 Ways to be Productive in the School Pick Up Line.

I didn’t know it at the time but it was a catalyst to a bigger perspective shift.

A common lesson that seems to keep coming up is how important mindset is! The seemly simple act of changing your perspective from I HAVE to pick up my kids to I GET to pick up my kids after school! I have to.

For Bethany, I questioned what episode had stuck with her the most. There are lots of options! Could it be Ep 35 Clearing your Paper Pile in 5 Steps, or Ep 44 Simplifying Meal Planning, or even Ep 45 Making Room, when I forced her on the spot to get rid of some of her books?

Bethany shared Episode 49 Questioning our Productivity, has changed how she approaches tasks. She has been focusing on getting important but not urgent tasks done before they become important and urgent! 

This visual from James Clear explains more clearly how tasks are sorted.

*This post may contain affiliate links which mean if you click on a link and make a purchase I get a small percentage. I always give my honest opinions and experiences with products and do not include any products I think might add to further clutter.

We mentioned:

• The Hoarder in You by Robin Zasio
• The Year of Yes by Shonda Rhimes
• Google Keep

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