There’s always some sort of goal that we reach towards, and these new seasons provide us with the OPPORTUNITY to take charge of our lives and create and cultivate healthy habits that guide us toward our success.
Sometimes we feel the urge to develop new and healthy habits or set some goals by the end of the year, but we might be overwhelmed, scared, unmotivated, or all three, and it’s important to acknowledge that it can be difficult to know where to begin.
Probably the single greatest obstacle in life is fear. It can lead to overwhelm and panic — Most women are trying to get over their terror or angst of failure or are suffering from imposter syndrome, and that is all due to fear.
The most critical aspect of starting a new habit is to keep the motivation running. Did you know that it can take as little as 18 days to form a new habit?
Actions can be very transformative. They can address fear, draw inspiration, serve to be in service, and mainly, words can help people transform lives. In a little over two weeks, you can be committed to a healthy habit that could change your life for the better.
In fact, some studies show that habits can take up to 254 days or more to make a habit stick. What is a habit you want to embark on for the remainder of the year?
How will you take charge of your well-being this year? If you’re feeling stuck on where to begin, it’s always helpful to think small and branch out from there. Perhaps you want to switch your morning coffee to green tea, or maybe you replace an hour of your screen-time with an hour of reading. Think of the little steps you can take to create a healthier version of yourself and a happier version of yourself.
Meet Michelle Valenzuela Wolf – ranked in the top 1% of transformational coaches by Yahoo Finance, marketer, wellness warrior, entrepreneur, podcast host, mother of three girls, and founder of EmpowHer Purpose (@empowher_la) — an integrated business and wellness community network of women which provides tools to elevate women to reach their highest potential.
Michelle’s combined background in business, spirituality, and stress management makes her stand out in the business and wellness worlds.
One thing that has really helped Michelle when creating new habits is hiring a coach or a committed partner that she can lean on to keep her accountable.
A coach can meet you where you are at and gently remind you to keep staying aligned with your values and reach for your goals. Perhaps you want to involve the whole family and create new habits that everyone can hold onto, for example, Meatless Mondays.
Here are some of Michelle’s tips on getting started:
1. Be realistic –
It’s so easy to get carried away and create unrealistic goals for yourself. Level with where you’re at in life and set your intentions within reasonable reach. According to Jack Canfield, “real success typically follows a series of small events and achievements that happen over time…” Try not to think too big, our habits might not achieve world peace, but maybe we can start by practicing kindness as one of our habits.
2. Structure and Systems –
We all want lasting change and transformation. This is why what you choose to do every day is so important. A system of continuous small daily improvements is what creates progress for success. An amazing resource is James Clear’s book Atomic Habits, where he discusses the 4 Stages – 1) Noticing 2) Wanting 3) Doing 4) Liking
3. Focus on the Opportunity –
In life, there will always be obstacles that keep us from achieving our goals. It’s not the roadblock that matters; it’s how we adapt and pivot to get around them. When life gets in the way of your healthy habits, take a step back to reevaluate and try again. When you are in need of inspiration, check out the EmpowHer Purpose’s Opportunity Knocks podcast, where Michelle sits down with entrepreneurs to discuss how to take, make, and evaluate opportunities.
4. Mindful mindset –
This might sound redundant, but Michelle wants to remind you of the power that our mindset has over our goals and intentions. Our brains are so awesome because when we fill ourselves with positive energy, we’re able to use that as fuel in our daily lives. How cool is that? Read up on how to use your mindset effectively in the books Emotional Intelligence and Mindset.
Whatever your habit is, think about how it can help you align with your values and project you into your goals. Surround yourself with a community of necessary people and tools to gain success in these new habits and goals.
These experiences have shaped Michelle to understand the importance of self-care, self-love, and alignment with one’s body and mind.
Create new habits that will help you achieve your goals. Imagine 6-12 months from now congratulating yourself on your accomplishments because the habits you created are built to last!
Don’t hesitate to start today, actually at this moment! Grab your pen and write one small habit down that you want to start NOW!
According to Michelle, “No matter the objective, I will be there to reach and realize your dreams.”
