Happy 2019!
One of my favorite things to do at the beginning of the year is to reflect on the past year before diving into the new. I write down everything that happened the past year—everything I learned, the ups and downs… all of it.
As I’ve been reflecting on 2018, I’ve summed it up into 4 lessons learned, and wanted to share those with you today. 🙂
1. Letting go of Hidden Anchors Holding You Back (the power of letting go)
I entered 2018 with a bang when I kissed my dietitian license goodbye. You may remember this tale: After nearly 6 years of battling the board of Nutrition & Dietetics to keep my credentials (they didn’t agree with my holistic approach to weight loss— the full rundown on that situation is here), in January I decided to stop fighting and surrender the letters the stood behind my name for 10 years. It was scary, yet it felt right. And I can say it’s hands-down one of the best decisions I’ve ever made—both personally and professionally.
The truth is that sometimes we don’t realize how much something is weighing on us until we let it go. We find this to be the case with clients and their weight. Even when they know it’s a burden, they often don’t realize the full extent of it and how much the weight has been holding them back until they lose it.
For me, this was the case with my dietitian license, and I’m proud of my decision to relinquish it. It wasn’t serving you or me. Ever since then, I’ve experienced a newfound sense of peace and lightness that makes me feel more faithful, connected and authentic. Plus, it’s only impacted my business and life in positive ways.
And so, looking into 2019, I’m searching for what other hidden anchors have been weighing me down. And I encourage you to do the same!
2. The power of a single conversation
It never ceases to amaze me how it only takes one conversation with one person to change the trajectory of our lives.
You may realize the power of this: Maybe a single conversation led you to a first date with your now-spouse, or landed you an interview with your now-boss. For me, a single conversation led to some of my favorite experiences of the year: a 2-week getaway in Maui, a month in Bali, and hosting my first in-person coaching event.
In a world that continues to get more “techy,” I’m valuing in-person connections and conversations more and more. Never underestimate the power of a conversation. And, in 2019, I encourage you to stay open to who you meet. You never know where a life-changing conversation might come from.
3. No Time Like the Present! (The power of taking action)
“Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result.”
One of the dietitians who attended my live event in December said this to me on the phone before signing up. She knew it was time to make a change because what she had been doing wasn’t working. At least, not enough to propel her forward. She knew the event was the shake-up she needed.
And I bet it’s the case for almost anything in life. Insert your industry, dilemma, situation or goal here. If you don’t change anything, nothing changes. Doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result is insane!
Which brings us to the power of taking action… making a change… and going for it.
For me, this led me to making one of my dreams come true: hosting my first in-person event. Making it happen required putting my strategic-planning-perfectionist-self to the side so I wouldn’t overthink it! I just took action to make it happen! With our weight loss clients who are most successful, we notice that they’ve done a similar thing; they surrender their own (flawed) weight loss strategies that never led to long-term results, stay open to our process and take action by signing up for something new that they’ve never tried before!
So what new shake-up action can you take this year to bring about powerful change?
4. The power of intention
Another big event in 2018 for me was selling and donating my stuff, packing up the rest and driving from Minnesota to California where I started a new chapter.
A few weeks after moving to California I was on the phone telling my friend Kelly that it wasn’t quite what I’d hoped, and that I wasn’t fulfilled.
She asked, “Why’d you move to California?”
I said, “3 reasons: the people, the ocean and to host events.” She was quiet.
I then reflected aloud and said “Man, I’ve been busy and traveling and haven’t connected with many people, I haven’t been to the ocean in 3 days and I have no plans yet to host an event.”
What I needed to do suddenly became crystal clear. So in that moment aloud to my friend, I set the intention to connect with at least one person in person every day and I committed to joining a gym—another way to get plugged in. I vowed to go to the ocean daily—be it a morning ocean stroll with my coffee or to catch the sunset at the end of the day—even just for a few minutes. Finally, I set an intention to host an event before the year came to an end, which gave me 2 months to do it.
So I did. All of those things. And California suddenly felt like home. Having someone reflect back to me helped me see what I hadn’t seen, and setting the intention for what I would do —especially stating it aloud— committed me to it.
In 2018 I was reminded of the power of letting go, the power of a single conversation, the power of taking action and the power of intention. So much power in these four simple truths.
Today I’d like to take a moment to ask you:
1. What do you want or need to let go of to feel light and free and happier this year?
2. What conversations could you be open to having?
3. Right now, what intentions will you set?
4. And, what action will you take?
Thanks for being on this journey with me!
Also, I would love to invite you to our FREE online Facebook Community, A New Way To Weight Loss! This group is all about helping helping people like you stop the vicious dieting cycle, end the obsession over food and lose weight effortlessly—while enjoying what you eat, and feeling like your happy, confident self again. This as a community where we can connect and support each other and have a conversation with you about your weight loss goals. Click here to join A New Way To Weight Loss!
