When you wish upon a star....

At the beginning of every year I like to sit down and write out my goals.  It is a little ritual that my dad got us into since my sisters and I were teenagers. Dad was a huge fan of setting goals and telling yourself positive messages! I remember some mornings us girls would wake up to find pieces of paper stuck up all over the lounge room walls with messages of self belief. Mind you, the house was going through huge renovations, so you could do what you liked to the walls and it didn't really matter (a slightly different scenario now!) I remember you would walk out in the morning and roll your eyes to dads new craze! But it's funny how these practices become ingrained within you! Therefore, New Years Day you will find me scribbling down my hopes and dreams for that year. 

This year I purchased myself a gorgeous notebook from +kikki.K  to organise my goals and make plans for the year- what a treat it was to sit down and dream.....

And now, like my dad, I truly believe in the power of setting goals and writing them down! There is nothing more exciting than reading over your list from the previous year to find that you have achieved the things that you never thought you could! Here is a  quote I love that I found in my goal journal:

The greatest danger for most of us is not that our aim is too high and we miss it,

but that it is too low and we reach it.

- Michelangelo- 

There have been many times when I have sat down to write my goals and felt the need to sensor my dreams- I'll never achieve that... It would be nice, but in reality.... That is a little far fetched.... In another life.....What if I don't achieve it..... What if I fail.... 

These are all the little thoughts that find a way to poison my hopes and aspirations! I am finding though the best thing about getting older is proving these toxic thoughts wrong! But it takes a leap of faith to dream big and more importantly BELIEVE, to give yourself a chance to prove to yourself that no dream is ever out of your reach!

So my biggest goal this year is to simplify my life and take time to enjoy and do the little things that bring me happiness. After so many years of burning the candle at both ends, it will be such a nice change to allow myself to lighten the load! The keyword in that is allow.... it's funny how you get into such a habit of living and being a certain way! With children, businesses, study, housework, my plate has been full for such a long time, that I almost don't know how to be anything but busy! For me it is hard to slow down.... I hate watching movies because I get bored sitting there for too long and need to pause it to go and put on a load of washing or vacuum the floors! 

But am I really living my best life by being busy? Because seriously.... most of the time I feel like my head is spinning! When I'm doing one thing I am making a mental list of the thousand other things I also need to do! My day is like a constant Tetris game trying to get all the blocks to fit in, but those blocks are coming down fast and there are just so many of them! 

So time to get cracking! Time to make some changes and as I go along I will share the journey.... 

First step: Make a BIG change and make a small change

Big Change: Reduce my grocery shopping trips. 

               - How to achieve this: Buy in bulk (where possible) and get groceries home delivered. 

Small change: Do things that make me happy and make me feel good EACH DAY!

              - How to achieve this: Put on some music during the day- dance, sing and enjoy. Wear something special- don't save them for special occasions, make every day a special day! Today I am wearing my favourite earrings! Light some candles- even if it is during the day! I love candles, the aroma and the mood it sets! 

Set your own goals and write them down. Make a big change and a small change this week. I would love to hear what other inspirational quotes you live by and whether or not you find writing down your goals useful! 

Have a great day!

Tara