Have you found yourself past the halfway mark of this year and no closer to any of your goals? Did you not even set yourself any goals or make any specific plans for this year? Have you made some progress but need some motivation to reconnect with your purpose or passions?
Did you declare a word for the year? What have you been doing to focus on it or push yourself this year?
Not everyone wants to set goals, resolutions or words of focus, but if you want to live a life you design for yourself rather than one that just ticks over year after year I suggest you at least become intentional about how you are living.
If you feel something is missing – go and find it and fill yourself up.
If you have always wanted to try something – don’t wait until you are 50 or 60 years old.
If you have a dream – explore it.
If you want to change – start with day one.
You are more in control of your life than you might currently believe. If you don’t claim that control you are giving it away to someone else. Will you decide how you spend your time, what the mood of your life is, set the tone and pace, dedicate your energy to the things you want and love, or will you wake up each day and put out fires, react to other people’s needs and dreams and demands right up to the exhausted minute you put your head to the pillow and breathe out?
Don’t declare you have no time, no money, no motivation, no support…
Claim your life for yourself whether it is small bite by small bite or massive feast, every morsel that you create and enjoy will matter.
Whether your goals and hopes and dreams are big or simply small steps forward make them a priority so that next year you know you made the changes you wanted to see. They will not magically happen on their own, others will not suddenly appear to give you time or space to achieve them, there is no perfect day to start or finish. We are each responsible for our paths in this world. We can ask for help, we can change our course, we can even put a dream away on a shelf, but no one else can take the steps for us.
So I ask – how will you spend the rest of this year?
Find your simple,
Deb
Linking up with Jess for IBOT – come check it out.
{ 27 comments… read them below or add one }
Twitter: kimbalikes
July 17, 2012 at 7:30 am
“Claim your life for yourself whether it is small bite by small bite or massive feast, every morsel that you create and enjoy will matter.”
This is the line that spoke to me the most!
Kim-Marie recently posted..How to apply mascara
Twitter: findyoursimple
July 17, 2012 at 3:45 pm
Thanks hon – hope you claim your time for yourself and what you want to be doing this year xx
Debra Dane recently posted..Simplify your life {Week 28: Cleaning}
Very inspirational post Deb. I love getting motivated by reading a post like this. You may have already written something on this but do you have any hints to keep up motivated to achieveing our goals and dreams?
Penny recently posted..A Warming Read (Short Tale Tuesday)
Twitter: findyoursimple
July 17, 2012 at 3:34 pm
Thanks Penny – if you click on the word “goals” in the post it takes you to a recap post with many of my goal related posts including tips and tools. I am writing about motivation and habits for simplify your life next week so may see what i have to add on the subject specifically related to goals (email me if you have any direct question or point that could push me to write specifically about otherwise i will have a think…)
Debra Dane recently posted..Grateful for “beauty in the world”
Twitter: DTlilsquirts
July 17, 2012 at 10:12 am
trying to get an idea in my head into a reality.. thats what I will be doing.. along with toilet training my daughter, helping my son’s leg muscles improve and keeping the house tidier than it has been!
Yvette Bowyer recently posted..Not for all the bribes in the world
Twitter: findyoursimple
July 17, 2012 at 3:35 pm
Good luck Yvette – it can be hard work translating our great ideas into the real world, but so worth it!! xx
Debra Dane recently posted..Return to work series – handling sick children and work
I love this post! So inspiring and thought provoking. I plan on spending the rest of this year bettering myself, our lives and having a bit of fun. Coz lets face it, I am a single woman, in my twenties. Just because I’m a mummy doesn’t mean I shouldn’t have fun right?
Chrissie xx
Chrissie at Me and My Munchkin recently posted..When Anxiety Strikes
Twitter: findyoursimple
July 17, 2012 at 3:41 pm
yes you should have fun – and i know good things are coming for you Chrissie
Debra Dane recently posted..Moving from paper to digital
This is such a lovely and inspiring post
Thank you for sharing it and thank you for your lovely comment on my Sugarbird blog 
Twitter: findyoursimple
July 17, 2012 at 3:45 pm
Thanks Karen – I think your work is beautiful and liked discovering it recently via IBOT
Debra Dane recently posted..Slowing down
That’s a great post. I had every intention of being intentional this year… I’m a bit off track, so thanks for the timely reminder!
Mum of Adult Kids recently posted..How many adults does it take to assemble a bedside table?
Thanks Deb for this post. I will be spending the rest of the year implementing what I am still learning via 30DSCBP and getting into my writing.
Becky from BeckyandJames.com recently posted..Finding Myself in the Process
Twitter: aparentinglife
July 17, 2012 at 4:02 pm
Oh I love this Deb. So very true, it is important to remember that we control as much of our lives as we choose to
Rhianna recently posted..The Sunset
Twitter: muminsearch
July 17, 2012 at 8:08 pm
I’ve made some progress and now I am trying to steam ahead before the baby is born! And time is flying away… oops, I forgot I wasn’t supposed to complain about no time… Thanks for the reminder!
Tat recently posted..Gyuveche (easy recipe)
Twitter: findyoursimple
July 18, 2012 at 1:57 pm
well you do have an added pressure – still enjoy your time to do things you want and get some rest ; )
Debra Dane recently posted..Return to work series – handling sick children and work
Such a great post, very inspiring. I’m mostly on track with where I want to be, I do however, want to spend more time enjoying life rather than stressing about it
Tubbah recently posted..Time for a change. Or is it?
Twitter: findyoursimple
July 18, 2012 at 1:56 pm
I hope you shift your focus to enjoy it then – we all deserve to take some time every day to focus on something we want or enjoy or simply being rather than stressing and doing xx
Debra Dane recently posted..Grateful for “beauty in the world”
Deb I needed this today. I’ve been reacting too much lately, and not intentional at all. I really need to change this.
Thankyou. Xx
Twitter: findyoursimple
July 18, 2012 at 1:50 pm
Big hugs Jess – i am the same and it was as much a reminder for me as anyone else
Debra Dane recently posted..Slowing down
Thank you for a very inspiring post. So far, the two goals I have for this year are not even near of being accomplished… But I’m keeping faith even though some days are harder than the others.
Rita recently posted..The Dream
Twitter: findyoursimple
July 19, 2012 at 12:27 pm
It’s ok to not be near finishing – you started and that is the main thing. there is still heaps of time … good luck!
Debra Dane recently posted..Grateful for “beauty in the world”
Amazing post Deb. I love your writing, your ability to get to the point so beautifully and hit where it really matters resonates with me. One of my goals was to keep up with the 52wk Simplify Your Life Challenge, unfortunately I have not done so. Which is crazy, because with a busy life and young family, working on this is TRUE time for me. While I have achieved some goals, I am short-changing myself for not striving harder. Thank you for the reminder xx
Twitter: findyoursimple
July 19, 2012 at 12:28 pm
Not so worried about the SYL part but definitely don’t short change yourself – you deserve whatever you dream of xx
Debra Dane recently posted..Slowing down
I love your words, Deb. And, seriously, you would have to be one of the clearest -thinking, most-thorough people I have ever come across. Your ability to clarify the murky big picture is outstanding.
Thank you for sharing your wonderfulness with us all.
x
Maxabella recently posted..Interview with a Vampire
Twitter: findyoursimple
July 19, 2012 at 12:29 pm
Thank you for your words Bron – you always leave a comment on a day when I need to read your supportive and kind words xx hope all is well this week for you
Debra Dane recently posted..Grateful for “beauty in the world”
Hey Deb, I am so NOT a goal-setter but your post resonates with me deeply. This year has been partly taken up with recovering from separation, but I felt in about May I had come through the worst of it (after 18 months).
My two kids and I were looking forward to our first cruise that began on July 1st to celebrate my Aunt’s 70th birthday. My “goal” this year has really been to get on that boat and have a good time! Nine days of me being sick in the school holidays with a virus and then an ear infection right before the cruise did not stop me. We had an awesome time and some wonderful memories were made that we will all treasure.
Two days after embarking back in Brisbane I was struck down with influenza A and had to rely on ex-hubby to deal with the kids’ first week back at school. I have never had the flu before and I never want to again – not pretty when you are on your own in isolation! Got to a GP and took Tamiflu within 48 hours which meant I was well enough to attend the school fete the next weekend.
All of this has happened along with a whole lot of other stuff beyond my control and now I really am wondering what next? I will have to think of some things I want to achieve in the next 6 months (other than surviving Christmas and the school hollidays) so I don’t end up wasting the rest of the year putting out fires!
Thanks for your great post. xx
Twitter: findyoursimple
July 25, 2012 at 9:48 pm
Hope you are healthy the rest of the year and that some awesome things are in store for you. Illness has been especially bad this winter in brisbane – have heard that we have a stronger strain of flu (?) and everyone i know has had the stomach virus going around (including both my kids and my sister who’s staying with us) Take care and here’s to an awesome rest of 2012
Debra Dane recently posted..How to build kids confidence and independence