3 Month Challenge: I DARE YOU!

I am inspired!

Incredible stories of perseverance never cease to amaze and encourage others, even more so when these stories are witnessed in our daily life. I have a great friend who has lost over 100 pounds. I am so proud of her. Her determination, her hard work and her faith show that we can truly do anything we set our mind to. I will write a blog telling her story in the near future.

By now, you all know that I am a goal setter. Goals are dreams with a deadline. I would like you to join me in my three month challenge. I will set some goals and you will set some goals. We will check on the progress of our goals each month. So here we go! These are some of my goals for the next three months.

Goal 1 - Physical

 Develop and implement a weekly weight lifting, resistance training and strength building routine. The result should be more toned arms and increased strength and flexibility at the end of three months.

As we age, women lose muscle mass particularly if we are not active. Women are encouraged to do light weight lifting or its equivalent to build muscle.

Goal 2 - Spiritual

Engage in daily devotions. I am positive that for many of us we have the intention of doing daily devotions but somehow life gets in the way. I am so thankful for this wonderful life that I have and I need to ensure that I give God the recognition and thanks for that.

Goal 3 - Financial – Make and save X dollars over the next three months (really guys? I can’t share everything with you J)

Finances - the dreaded ‘F’ word. These days when most people talk about finances, it is to mourn and groan and complain. Yes, we do make less and yes, food prices are ridiculous. However, we do still have some control over what we spend, where we spend and on whom we spend. Take a long hard look at ‘how’ you spend and I am sure you will find there is some potential for you to save and build up that savings account.

Goal 4 - Intellectual

1)    Recruit students and complete at least two classes for my Personal and Professional Development courses.

2)    Develop and market a new course

Goal 5 - Relational

Reach out and build stronger relationships during this period to Optimist members and friends who I may not have had much contact with so far for 2012.

So there you have it guys. I have put myself and some of my goals for the next three months out here on my blog for the world to see. Please note that even though I have set a three month time limit, this does not mean that I will stop pursuing these goals after three months. That is just my initial deadline.

The three months starts on March 15^th 2012 and ends on June 15^th 2012.

You can choose to share your own goals with me too by posting a comment below.  Even if you don’t, do join me in my three month challenge. I DARE YOU to Say YES to this challenge today!

Wish me luck! Best of luck to you too!!! You will be great.

How to achieve Parallel Progress in your life

I have not always been a fan of exercise. Too much work, too busy, not interested. In my late teens though, I joined the gym with a friend and yes I still disliked exercise.

I later found my niche in walking and then running. I am currently ‘training’ for the Optimist Race against Aids, a 5k walk and run in November. Please join us!

Most books on how to achieve success will tell you that if you find a balance in your relationships (work and home), take care of your physical, mental and emotional health amongst other things….you will experience success in other aspects of your life. This seems fairly reasonable. This is the essence of parallel progress. As my ability to run more laps on the park increases, I feel increasingly motivated. This enthusiasm is reflected in my attitude and my behavior towards other projects in my life.

 Many of us have unstable, querulous lives and attitudes for no discernible reason. A negative disposition and behavior usually has no benefits and will impact the level of success you will be able to achieve and maintain. Instead of progression, regression may be observed.

So today mend a broken relationship, join a gym or a book club...you know what you enjoy doing……you may be amazed at the parallel progress you see in other aspects of your life.