2019 Word of the Year + Goals

Gretchen Rubin often says, “the days are long but the years are short” and while this often does feel pretty accurate, I have to admit that this year with it’s WILD ups and downs, hasn’t felt that short and I’m pretty happy to see it come to an end. I’ve had some of the highest highs this year with completing my 200 hour yoga teacher training program, traveling to Los Angeles and Iceland, and feeling wildly in-love, but I’ve also had some of the lowest lows with being part of a company downsizing and losing my job, struggling to find a new job and feeling a little lost career-wise, and then losing love. 

To say 2018 was a roller coaster of emotions for me would be quite the understatement but I’m not dismissing it because there were many lessons, moments of self-discovery, and memories that I wouldn’t trade. I’m also staying pretty optimistic that 2019 is going to be full of beautiful, loving, life-changing, and dream-fulfilling moments. I saw a quote on Instagram the other day along the lines of “some years ask questions while others provide answers,” and I really believe 2018 was a year of questions and 2019 will provide me many doors with answers. 

Anyway, I love setting intentions, mantras and goals for my new year and I’ve been busy journaling away for the last several weeks to put myself in a place of setting the ones that feel the most fitting and I’m pleased to say that I think I have just the ones…but before we get there, let’s take a quick recap on 2018, shall we?

1. Knowledge
   -Get my yoga teacher certification (on track for March!) – Check!
   -Write my book (it’s outlined) – I STARTED it but it’s not done
   -Read 52 books – Check!
2. Travel
   –Explore new places (inside and outside of the country) – Check!
   –See friends and family near and far – Check
3.  Connection
   –Love more, harder, greater than ever (stop letting the fear of being hurt hold me back in all kinds of relationships) – Check…Despite the relationship ultimately not working out, I loved with more of my heart than I ever have and that’s all I could have asked of myself
   –Grow my presence and influence while inspiring others through my blog, social media presence, and in-person – Check. More room to grow in 2019 though!
4. Financial Freedom
   –Pay down debt and increase savings – Check (but not letting this go!)
   -Find a realistic budget and stick to it without feeling limited – I’m not fully there but I do believe I’m getting closer
5. Health/Wellness
   –Run 365 miles or more this year – Check!
   –Continue to expand my yoga practice – Check! And I hope to continue doing so!
   –Eat intuitively for my body – Check. It’s not always easy, but it sure feels good.

Moving along to 2019, I have chosen to set a word of the year, a mantra, and a set of goals. I like how they all can work together and ultimately elevate the whole thing. After my breakup, I made a physical vision board which hangs on a cork board in my apartment but I also made a digital vision board this past week that matches up with my goals for 2019. (I made a desktop and phone-friendly version.)

Word of the year: Rise

Mantra: Let it be easy (aka, stop thinking everything has to be so hard – it doesn’t)

Goals:

1.Knowledge & Career
-Read 52 books
-Work on additional yoga/meditation certifications or specialties
-Expand knowledge on holistic health, nutrition, and essential oils
-Dig into a career that brings me purpose, passion and abundance

2.Travel
-Go somewhere you’ve never been
-Visit a far away friend you haven’t seen in awhile

3.Connection
-Finish writing your book and get it into the world
-Find unconditional love
-Get a pet

4.Financial Freedom
-Give back every month (financially and/or time)

-Save at least $1500 for travel / $1600 retirement (from monthly income)

5. Health / Fitness
-Run the Chicago Marathon
-Launch my yoga YouTube channel
-Take time for self care – massage, pedicure, what do I need this month? (do something EACH month)

While I love setting yearly goals, that doesn’t get me anywhere unless I also set monthly goes to work towards making these things happen so here’s what I plan to accomplish in January…

1. Read 4 books
2. Have a spa day
3. Grow Instagram by 5%
4. Stick to new budget
5. Eat well and stay active (time to cut back on the holiday treats…)
6. Add after meditations at least Monday-Friday

Do you have a word, mantra, intention or any goals for 2019? Or what about January? Let me know in the comments below and let’s hold each other accountable!