Last year was my best year ever.
In fact, I bought a book called “Your Best Year Ever: A 5 Step Plan for Achieving Your Most Important Goals” by Michael Hyatt. It’s full of action plans, check boxes and templates. And you know what? It drove me mad! Because I was tired of the rat race, of striving to achieve, of ticking off my to-do list. More, more, more. I was completely over it.
Instead, I hired a life coach and resolved to learn inner peace–something that has eluded me. I’ve spent my whole life trying to maximize my time, which drove my impatience, and vying for success, so much so that I didn’t know how to sit still without going into a rage.
Here’s my favorite quote from “Gifts from the Sea” by Anne Morrow Lindbergh that’s pinned to my office bulletin board.
“But I want first of all–in fact, as an end to these other desires–to be at peace with myself. I want a singleness of eye, a purity of intention, a central core to my life that will enable me to carry out these obligations and activities as well as I can. I want, in fact–to borrow from the language of the saints–to live “in grace” as much of the time as possible. I am not using this term in a strictly theological sense. By grace I mean an inner harmony, essentially spiritual, which can be translated into outward harmony.”
My life coach is through BetterUp and what sets this program apart from others is the regularity of weekly sessions. In the past, I’ve done sessions haphazardly because it was so damn expensive to go consistently. BetterUp is accessible and affordable. I feel so lucky to have found it. I’m a big fan of the venture capitalist Chamath Palihapitiya and he had invested in BetterUp through his firm Social Capital.
What I like about my coach is that she’s also a licensed clinical psychologist, which translates into a hybrid of coaching and therapy. I also like how she doesn’t just dole out advice, but empowers me to come up with my own answers. She also keeps me focused.
During one session, I came to her with a specific goal. I wanted to be a board member and I wanted her to help me figure out how I could reach that goal. I started listing out some of the steps that I had already brainstormed. But then she asked, “How does this fit with finding inner peace?” She was right; it didn’t.
You know what happened during that session? I decided to learn about meditation. I considered meditation after reading Maria Shriver’s book “I’ve Been Thinking…Reflections, Prayers, and Meditations for a Meaningful Life.” Her book is one of the few I’ve kept, in my quest to minimize my possessions, and I turn to it often to read one of her prayers. After some research, trying out a few classes, and downloading the wonderful app Calm, I’ve instituted meditation as part of my daily routine. And it has completely centered me!
Coaching (specifically regular coaching) and meditation (daily) are some of the best investments I have ever made in myself.
In addition to the above, I worked on my health. I got a physical. I saw a nutritionist who got me off of sleeping pills for good. I get monthly acupuncture or massage.
I was thrilled to be accepted into Money20/20’s RiseUp program and love my job, heading to Charlotte, Seattle, NYC, Long Beach, and Park City–just the right amount of travel. I significantly reduced my belongings to one closet and one bookshelf, and focused instead on spending time with my family and friends, vacationing in Disneyland, Arizona, wine country, Monterey/Carmel, and Huntington Beach.
Books are also my happy place and I can’t believe my book club is currently on book #66. That’s dedication.
What’s on the docket for 2019?
- My baby will turn 5 and enter kindergarten in September!
- My 15 year business school reunion in Chicago in May! So excited!!!
- I’m hoping to travel to India!
- I’m going to try to learn how to cook. Gasp!
What about you? Did you have any goals you accomplished last year? What’s on the horizon for this year?
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