Relentless Optimism! The Secrets of Goal Setting Mastery

In every lecture, you will find each of the exercises that are included in this workbook. If you prefer to download it at one time, please do so!

It can be a little intimidating to think about “your purpose” simply because this notion is based on the belief that if you do anything other than that one THING, you will have missed your opportunity to do your life’s work. Let’s step back and broaden the definition of “your purpose”. Instead of believing that it is one thing and one thing only, my suggestion is approach this course with openness and curiosity so you can discover the “purpose” through a series of exercises.

Instead of thinking about your life’s work - your career - or the GIANT THING that you could potentially be spending the majority of your time on, why not consider a “Purpose Project” instead? This can be a short-term goal, a commitment to doing something you always wanted to do, and perhaps a way to give back! In other words, IT’S DOABLE! So, if at any point you begin to feel overwhelmed with the discovery of your purpose, then consider making a "purpose project" instead!

Let’s get really clear about what you are wanting to CREATE in your life right now. It’s like a wish list for your fulfillment in all aspects of your being. No need to hold back, my friend. Listen to the whisper in your mind, wishing for more. It could be better health, a more fulfilling career, richer relations, or greater abundance. You name it! Go ahead and connect with those “burning desires”, not from a place of longing, but from a place of POSSIBILITY. Those whispers in your mind contain the wisdom of what you are ready to make happen. In this lecture, you'll outline the key areas in which you are ready to GROW.

In the last lecture, I spoke about the tangible things you are ready to work for in your life and the goals you wish to accomplish as you identify your life’s purpose. Now I invite you to look at your goals from a different perspective.How do you want to feel? It’s easy to assume that once you’ve achieved all those goals, only THEN you will feel happy, fulfilled, satisfied, and compete. But wait! You deserve to feel all those positive feelings RIGHT NOW. In fact, when you do, your positive thoughts and feelings will fuel you when you have those moments of doubt and uncertainty. They will fuel your ability to stay motivated. They will help you discover what your life’s purpose actually is!

From the time we are born, we have been receiving messages from our parents, our teachers, and our communities. These “messages” or beliefs shaped our very ideas about the world and our role in it. While we may think on the surface they are relatively harmless, at closer glance, these messages have subconsciously been affecting our behaviors at every step of our lives.

In this day and age we are bombarded with images that subtly inform us how we are “supposed” to look and behave. Every time I head out the door to meet with a client, introduce my product to a new store, or film a video for a course, I put on makeup. Now, I realize this is a choice and one not everyone will choose to wear makeup, but for me, I discovered that this message of “women wear makeup” is EVERYWHERE in mass media. While that may seem like an obvious example, let’s take a moment and consider more subtle messages. These gender stereotypes are often portrayed in media from the time kids are really young, thereby forming their opinions right from the start.

I would imagine that the chatter inside your mind isn’t always positive, right? We all happen to be our worst critic and yet all those negative thoughts are bringing us down and affecting our energy. It’s my pleasure to introduce you to Daphna Slonim, MD. In her remarkable work, she has discovered that subconscious sabotage is stopping most of us from achieving happiness, success and ultimate fulfillment in life.

Not to be morbid, but we all are going to leave the planet at some point. Why not write your own obituary? I know this may sound crazy, but the idea here is to write the story of your legacy. How do you want people to remember you? What will they say when you’re gone? How will they describe your life’s work and the person you were when you graced the world?

In this lecture, I would love for you to identify the activities that you do (or have previously done) that bring you JOY. You can think about all aspects of your life, not just your career. What activities that you enjoy doing that already give you your desired feelings right now? Remember, when you identify, connect with, and engage in your happiest activities, you are living your best life - giving you the calm and clarity you need to DISCOVER the connection between your goals, your desired feelings and the activities you will do to have a life filled with purpose. That’s the happiness formula!

Let’s talk about the habits we all have that we know don’t serve us well, shall we? From binge watching, to late night online shopping sprees, what’s the sneaky stuff you do that may be bringing you down? (If you happen to be someone who lives your life in balanced moderation… Good for you! (You may now skip this lecture.) For everyone else, go ahead and really think about your day yesterday or last week… What habits do you have that might be dragging you down?

We live in an incredibly stressful world... I’m sure you can agree. In fact, we have become so used to feeling stressed, it feels like a normal state of being. But stress can be terrible for your health, your mental well-being and your ability to feel connected to your purpose. I encourage you to explore some of the resources mentioned in this lecture so you can discover some useful (and fun!) activities to relax and recharge.

The first part of the Wishbeads experience is to quiet your mind and allow yourself to visualize a moment in time (at some point in the future) where your wish has already come true. You can do this activity on your own, or you can listen to a guided visualization that is provided in the next lecture. The intention with this exercise is to allow your subconscious mind to deliver some insights as to what will make you truly happy and fulfilled. Enjoy the visualization. Your inner being will guide you!

Set aside some quiet time for yourself and enjoy this guided visualization. To get the most out of this experience, give yourself time to enjoy the recording as well as an additional 10-15 to write down what you experienced. (20-25 minutes in total)

I recommend using a journal, so you can refer back to it whenever you wish. You’ll want to! If you prefer to read the guided exercise, and visualize on your own, you are welcome to! See the attached resource. ENJOY.

Now that you’ve completed the guided visualization, I encourage you to record your experience. This exercise is known as automatic or free writing, where you give yourself the opportunity to write without stopping or censoring yourself in any way. No need to worry about grammar and spelling! Just write and write…

When you discover your purpose, you are really discovering the GIFTS you have to give to the world. Selfless giving is one of the most rewarding activities you can do, both for yourself and the people whose lives you touch. Now that you have identified the activities you enjoy and make you feel good, WHO is benefitting when you do them? What impact does it have on their lives? Use the handout provided to discover who you could potentially help. It’s through giving that we experience the sweetness of life.

It’s time to take action! Hooray! Forward movement inevitably creates results, so let’s get really clear about ONE THING you are ready to get started doing RIGHT NOW. In all of the exercises so far, you have explored various areas in your life where you seek a deeper connection, so you can achieve your goals.

Music has a powerful way of taking us out of our day to day lives, and transporting our minds and souls. Why not use music as a tool to elevate your mood, shake off your stress and make you feel instantly better? In this lesson, I share a personal story of Aretha Franklin’s magical voice on the day she died… Her rendition of Somewhere Over the Rainbow will surely stir your soul. Now is your time to create your power playlist of songs! What’s on your list? Discovering the gift of a well curated playlist of tunes to help you stay in the groove of life!

We have become a society that is driven by distraction. As a result, we’ve lost the art of being really present with the world around us. Life is not inside your cell phone. It’s in the trees lining your street. It’s in the open sky above your head. It’s in the gaze of a stranger as you pass by. In order to get back to the sweetness of life, I encourage you to PRACTICE being present. Two tools that work brilliantly together are meditation and mindful breathing.

In each section, I offer you some answers to some commonly asked questions. Now, if you have ANY questions along the way, I invite you to share them inside this community! Here's how...

FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out) has become the norm and all those curated lives that we see on social media are screwing with our minds to say the least. While it may be fun to admire someone’s sunny vacation pictures or their adorable kids on the first day of school, it’s hard to keep in mind that people are only posting the moments they want you to see. Your life is as wonderfully complicated as theirs, but if you’re feeling “less than” when you look at social media, I suggest turning it off for a bit.

When you wake up in the morning with a deep sense of contentment, looking forward to the tasks of the day, then I would say you are in the right vicinity of your purpose. Discovering your purpose is a never ending journey, which means that you can trust that “your purpose” will evolve over time. If you are doing what you enjoy, helping others along the way and feeling more positive than negative most of the time, then you have arrived.

Oh, that’s a slippery slope, my friend. If you are considering suggesting that someone else (perhaps someone you love) find their purpose as well, I would encourage you to focus on your own journey instead. The best way to influence someone else is by example. This journey is yours and yours alone and by showing up - brighter and bolder than you were before, perhaps they will get curious enough to ask you what happened. Until then, embrace your journey, do the work and trust the process.

Your doubts can be your best teacher. In those moments when you feel stuck, hesitant or unsure at all, go ahead and PAUSE to consider what’s really going on. Is this voice of doubt a reasonable concern? Is it a childhood concept that you no longer need? Is it based on experiences you’ve had in the past? By pausing and really probing into the nature of your doubt, you are giving yourself the opportunity to learn from your past so you can make well informed choices for your future. Embracing uncertainty is a skill unto itself. When you can embrace your doubts like a voice of inner wisdom instead of harsh judgement, you can thrive.

Yes! I would encourage you to look at your life in stages. What excited you at 25 years old, might not interest you 20 years later. And that’s okay! If you can embrace the notion that you are able to change (and that change is normal), then you give yourself the freedom and flexibility to grow and explore other activities that light you up. It’s never too late to get a new degree, launch a new business, begin volunteering, start participating in local politics, taking up a new hobby! You get to choose your own adventure! Go for it.

If after taking this course, you are contemplating leaving your job, let me offer a little suggestion. You may not need to quit, rather you can look more deeply at your current position and see if you can shift your perspective (even your duties) slightly to put them more on alignment with the activities that you perform well and enjoy. There is no job in the world that doesn’t come with challenges and growth opportunities! Even when you own your own business, you will likely be spending at least 50% of your time on tasks that you don’t necessarily enjoy. That’s perfectly normal. Remember, “your purpose” is a broad target, which includes your life and goals inside your career in addition to other areas of your life, such as your relationships, your hobbies, your health and your spirit.

Imagine that you had the ability to order up whatever you wished at any time, and MAGICALLY it would appear! Well, I like to think that the “the Universe” works a little bit like a waiter taking your order at a restaurant. The more you know what you CRAVE, the more precise the order will deliver exactly what will satisfy your hunger. How cool is that? Introducing the Law of Attraction.

You set yourself in motion by defining where you want to go, then allowing the experience to unfold. So, let’s get very clear about your destination. When you see the details of your future goal - as if you’ve already achieved it - you are activating the Law of Attraction as well as defining the road map to start taking action toward exactly what you wish to achieve.

What tools and techniques, habits and behaviors will help you as you pursue your goal? In this lesson, I discuss my favorites! I invite you to develop your own. Write them down in the worksheet provided.

Negative energy drains you and zaps your personal power. Daphna Slonim, MD delivers a wonderful TEDx talk in which she discussed subconscious sabotage and the power of energy muscle testing to identify how our body knows what is good for us.

I don’t think there is a person on the planet that doesn’t experience self criticism. Instead of thinking that this “voice” is you being highly critical of yourself, imagine that the “voice” was a separate persona entirely. If you were to imagine what this voice looked like, how would they appear? In this video, I'll show you how to handle your inner critic once and for all.

We all have areas of our life that make us feel a little “less than”. For me, social media always brings out odd feelings of insecurity. What should I post? What’s my style? How consistent should I be? Who really cares anyway? Is this worth my time and effort? Honestly, it goes on and on. Here is my true confession!

Let's get wonderfully specific with your goal. Here’s another opportunity to step back and consider what your want your future to look like by gaining a longer perspective of your goal over time. It's time to imagine your future self. Where do you see yourself as it relates to your goal?

Creativity is a powerful force that many us do not make time for in our busy lives. I’m here to remind you how important it is to PLAY. When we are engaged in creativity, we are stimulating the right side of our brain. This part of you has all kinds of wisdom to share so you can deepen your awareness of your goal.

Let's step back and look at the impact your goal will have on you and others. Why is this goal worth pursuing and what impact will it have as a result of your actions? When you can identify WHY you want it and who will win as a result of you achieving this goal, you can stay motivated as you take the action steps to get there.

Life will interrupt your best intentions and if you do not put your goals (and all the actions associated with that goal) into your calendar, it will not happen. I know that sounds a tad dramatic, but the truth is, procrastination, distraction, and overwhelm can get in the way and I don’t want to see that happen to you!

Oh, it’s my pleasure to introduce you to Alexandra Franzen. She’s an author, writing coach and overall amazing human being. She also happens to be the QUEEN of TINY GOALS!!!

Now that you know your big goal, write out all the tiny goals you can do that will help you achieve your goals. Any perceived obstacles you have, write out the potential solutions (hire a trainer!, make time to research!, secure additional funding!) Small simple steps create powerful results!

Give your goal love and connection - consistently - and you will train yourself to keep working toward your goal. When you feed your goal with love, it will love you right back!

Even for tiny goals, creating space for celebration gives you the energy to keep going. After you floss (fist pump!), clean your desk (go get some flowers!), prepare the coffee pot the evening before (take a bow!) It may seem silly, but you are training your mind to believe that you’re WINNING in life, not perpetually “failing”.

If you miss a goal, then step back and really examine (compassionately) what happened. Then, start again! Those who win are simply the ones who never give up!

Ah! These can be a trap on the excuse train. While it may be easier to have those things, where there is a will, there's a way. Write down the challenge and then map out three different solutions.

Sometimes it's best to be mindful of who you share your goals and dreams with, especially in the beginning. Have a comment prepared and learn how to share "just enough". If you do share, no need to take their reaction personally. This journey is for you, and dreams and goals don’t require anyone’s approval.

While believing in yourself is nice, you can prove you can do this thing by simply taking action. Get out of your head and just GO FOR IT.

We all push things off sometimes, but you don’t need to label yourself a procrastinator anymore! When you slap that label on yourself, you are setting yourself up for failure before you even begin. That’s no good! The truth is that you can redefine yourself starting NOW.

I just love the process of learning something new, building an idea from scratch, and putting it out into the world to see what happens. While I have experienced plenty of setbacks, I do think that my single best attribute is my RELENTLESS OPTIMISM. In this video, you'll see why it's the critical attitude for success.

When we can learn how to handle life's little setbacks, suddenly our perceived challenges can roll off our shoulders so we don’t drain our precious energy. In this lecture, I share my three critical techniques for learning how to navigate those inevitable times when you want to pull your hair out, scream at the top of your lungs, grind your teeth or slam a door shut.

When you are in alignment with your purpose and you have found a goal that supports your dream, you will likely need some emotional support along the way. By consciously choosing to feel your desired feelings NOW, you give yourself the needed energy to pursue your goals day in and day out. You can draw from that energy every time you feel frustrated, overwhelmed or stuck. Finding joy is the first step.

It may be a little intimidating to begin working toward your dreams and goals. There are likely all kinds of things you don’t yet know about! So many new skills to learn! So many obstacles that you will likely face along the way! It’s ok… Slow down, step back and get yourself organized about the items you are longing to learn. Clarity is the key to outlining the next steps for action.

Information is literally at your fingertips. Lean into the unknown with curiosity and make time for fact finding. Knowledge is power. Now that you have identified your goals and have listed the things you wish to learn in pursuit of that goal, here’s a system for you to gain more insights on a regular basis.

The podcast "How I Built This" is one of my absolutely favorite podcasts. Each episode features a founder of some of the biggest brands and businesses in the world. Get inspired by the stories of how other people built their empires.

Sarah Von Bargen of yesandyes.org has a winning formula for finding success and happiness and it starts with a commitment to yourself to do a handful of things "every damn day”. These are little things! Simple things! Tasks you can tackle in 15 minutes or less… The funny thing is, when you do them every damn day, you feel like a productivity rock star. That feeling of “taking care of business” by taking care of yourself does WONDERS to cultivate your ability to setting goals and making them happen. It’s where intention meets action.

Sometimes it’s harder to stay on track if you are only accountable to yourself. I mean, who is going to know if you didn’t take any tiny actions that day? No one! Which means that if you slack off one day, that habit can grow and suddenly a whole month goes by and you haven’t done a thing! Instead of going at it alone, why not find a like-minded friend who can encourage you along the way? Better still, if they are working on their own set of goals, you can support each other and develop your own system of accountability.

I think it’s fairly obvious that when your body doesn’t feel well, your mind doesn’t feel well either, wouldn’t you agree? It’s hard to start the day bright-eyed and full of zest if you’ve spent the previous night drinking excessively. It’s hard to calm your mind and relax your body if you’ve had 5 espressos before lunch. You see, your habits affect your energy, which then triggers the types of thoughts you have. I invite you to take a (compassionate) look at your own habits that help you as well as the habits that zap your energy.

Energy is contagious. Do you feel the positive energy that I am sending you in each of these videos? I hope so! We are like sponges that are picking up the energy of the people around us… So, I invite you to bring your attention to the individuals in your life that bring you up and those that bring you down.

Energy psychology techniques are a simple way to keep your body aligned and balanced. One of my favorite energy medicine practitioners is Donna Eden. To get your day starting off feeling balanced and energized, I encourage you to follow as long with Donna Eden’s morning routine. In 5-7 minutes you’ll feel refreshed and focus. In addition, these exercises are helpful in boosting your immune system as well. Try it for a few weeks and see if you feel the difference.

There are times in your life when you simply need a friend. In this section I’m going to be your pal. The person you can share what’s going on in your life (good and bad!) and I’m going to listen. Go ahead, watch the next video and I’ll just listen (seriously!). Then, check out the pep talk that you really want to hear. I’m going to be your friend on demand. Go for it.

Yep, I’m listening… just listening to you right now. You talk. I’ll listen.

It hurts when you get rejected. I get it. But I’m proud of you for going for it. You’re still here… take a deep breath, close your eyes and remember how awesome you really are. This too shall pass.

You’re right. It’s a lot right now. I hear you. Let’s step back and restart for a second. How about a giant break from all of this - go dance, walk, run, move - and come back and see if you can break this big giant thing down into tiny steps. A fresh perspective and a new strategy will help you get through this.

I’m here with you, believing in you even though you feel so alone right now. I encourage you to connect - even to the other students in the course - so you can feel our commitment to joining you on this path. We’re actually in this together.

I know life can be frustrating, but guess what? Struggle = growth! Just think about how good you will feel when you overcome this feeling, get back to work and make your goal happen. Anything you want is worth fighting for! Your big breakthrough could be just around the corner! You’ve got this!

Happy Monday, my friend! It’s time to make a fresh start to the week with your best intentions in place and your tiny goals all lined up! Make this the best week yet!

Fatigue can come from a number of different things.. lack of sleep, a poor diet, or lack of exercise to name a few. If you are feeling tired, very tired, then I recommend speaking with a doctor or therapist to see if there might be a bigger issue going on. If you’ve examined your habits and behaviors and don’t see a connection to your fatigue, then please seek the help of a medical professional.