Goals

Live Your Best Life As Your Best Self in 2018

Arielle Miller / Abundance, Acceptance, Accountability, Adventure, Adversity, balance, Build connections, Celebrate, Celebration, Challenges, Community, Fitness, Goal Setting, Goals, Gratitude, Hard Work, Lifestyle, Married Life, mindfulness, Motivation Monday, Updates, Yoga / 2018, Dedication, Goal Crushing, Goal Digger, Goal Setting, Goals, Happy New Year, Married Life, Motivation, New Year, New Years Resolutions, Setting Intentions / 0 comments

January 1, 2018

It’s the New Year so you’ve committed to a “New You”. You have bought yourself new kicks, snagged a new gym membership, and you are ready to re-invent yourself in 2018. Whoohoo! Well, here’s my problem with this whole “New You” business. This concept suggests that the person you were in 2017 wasn’t good enough and I don’t like that. What was wrong with who you were in 2017? So maybe you didn’t achieve what you set out to do, you didn’t meet the partner of your dreams, get that promotion, whatever—but that doesn’t mean the entire year was a wash and what’s more, it certainly doesn’t require an entire personal overhaul [unless of course, you are are horrific human and in that case-well, tear it all down and begin anew].

Ladies and gentleman, we are entirely too hard on ourselves. We HAVE to love ourselves more so that we can thrive (yes, yes, yes I am working very hard on accepting certain aspects of myself, sigh). For us all, last year like any other was filled with joy, struggle, and laughter. For all the bad that may have happened, there was also SO MUCH good! In looking back at your 2017, as you prepare to tackle 2018, I want to ask what I feel to be more pertinent questions:

What speaks to your heart?
What are you doing to bring the things that speak to your heart alive?
How have you nourished your soul?
How are you filling your cup while you are serving others?

What terrifies you?

I mean what is something you have always wanted to do, but let your own fear and self-imposed inadequacies stand in the way of you reaching out, branching out, and growing?

Get involved in something.

Be part of something bigger than yourself.

Commit to something.

Train for something.

Find your faith or connect to a higher power. Whatever your faith maybe or whatever it is for you where you derive your spirituality from should be something that brings you strength.

The thing is here, there are no right answers to how you need to cultivate your soul, fill your heart with life and light, and wake up invigorated and energized by life. I invite you to move away from thinking you need to change the you that the world knows. The current you is just fine. Simply, look to this New Year as a season of hope, after all–obstacles in our lives are merely opportunities in disguise.

I wish you all the happiest New Year as you look boldly and confidently ahead. I will be here to celebrate your journey, laugh, sweat, and cry with you. So stop what you are doing right now. Reflect and dare to dream big. You hold the pen to craft this tale and it is up to you to fill the pages of your story.

Arielle’s Goals and Vision Board

And to help hold us all accountable, I am sharing my personal vision board with you all. About a month ago on November 19th, 2017, Greg and I each created our own vision boards to kick our lives into gear before 2018–’cause why the hell not?

We mapped out 3 things to focus on individually: Short, Mid-Range, and Long Range goals with tangible time frames, as well as couple goals we hoped to accomplish together (seen on my board above).

At present, Greg and I have our goals hanging on our closet doors so we see them daily. Personally, I like to take a quiet moment when starting AND ending my day to check back and reflect on my goals while rereading them.

We had a great time doing this little exercise together: markers, colored paper, wine, and them some good TV when we were decorating…Or when I was decorating, haha. Doing things like setting intentions, goal setting, and vision boarding helps not only bring you closer to your hopes and dreams, but also those you care about!

Greg’s Goals and Vision Board

Happiest of 2018, my Fitness Family, Friends, Loved Ones, Students, and those whom I have never met. I hope this year is truly transformative!

The Power of Good-Bye: Letting Go Doesn’t Mean You’ve Given Up

Arielle Miller / Abundance, Acceptance, Accountability, balance, Challenges, Fitness, Goal Setting, Goals, Lifestyle, Yoga / Acceptance, Changes, Goal Setting, Goals, Happiness, Letting Go, Yoga / 2 comments

September 25, 2017

Have you ever wanted something for so long that when you finally got it, you couldn’t recall why you wanted it in the first place? I guess sometimes that’s the irony of goal setting. You want something so darn badly for so long, work ceaselessly towards it; and occasionally there’s a massive let down or disappointment. Perhaps this has happened to you. I know with respects to myself, this sort of colossal disappointment is normally reserved for when I go off my diet. I mean seriously. I eat so clean that when a meal or dessert that I’ve committed to fails to deliver, I am filled with anger and pissed I wasted my calories. Ok, ok, maybe the food thing was a touch over the top but it’s the truth nonetheless. However, on a serious note this whole thing is really about letting go when you’ve planted an expectation and reaped a disappointment.

Big picture, I am talking about giving yourself the permission and opportunity to create space and then walk away from something that no longer serves you.

Recently, I left a job I loved. Yes, that’s right. I left a job I loved. I wasn’t pushed out, promoted, and something better didn’t come along. To put it simply: as much as I loved the job, the negatives outweighed the positives.

The very hip and trendy millennial attitude is to not do things you don’t want to do. First off, thankfully I am too old to be considered a millennial, but there is some truth to not doing shit you don’t like, and don’t want to do. No, I am not talking about not paying bills or cleaning your house ‘cause you don’t wanna do it. I am talking about when you are able to release things that are weighing you down in life—let them the ef go!

Initially when I grappled with possibly giving up something I loved here were some things that made it so difficult for me:

I wanted the job for YEARS
When I tried to get the job in the past, I was rejected and told I wasn’t good enough. This made me only want it more, work harder, and keep at it
I loved the people I impacted directly and whom interacted with me on social media. These people made me feel like I mattered in their lives
I enjoyed being part of something positive for others. Whether it was building up their confidence, or just giving them a smile when I felt they needed it most, I relished the chances to be the bright part in other people’s days

Yet, in spite of all the great things about the job, it was gut wrenching to realize that I wasn’t happy. And to top it all off, the money was great. But friends, if you haven’t learned the ol’ adage yet; wise up: Money doesn’t buy happiness.

I took an honest look at my life. Where it was going and where it wasn’t going. I also evaluated things that made me happy, and things that I was doing that no longer brought me the same joy. Here’s what I came away with:

I lead a life that prevents me from actually living life.

Daily, my grind consists of leaving my fulltime job as a public school teacher to run to a gym or studio and teach fitness classes. At one point, my group fitness schedule swelled to 10 classes a week, and that was without my own workouts! I was tired, cranky, run down, and above all—not cultivating the relationship with myself I yearned for. I had no time to take yoga classes, to write this blog or work on my book, meal prep, spend time with my husband, be social, or really give 100% in my workouts [assuming I even had the time to sneak them in]!

I took a giant step back and looked closely at my life. I made a list of things I loved doing; my goals, wants, wishes, and areas that I felt needed cultivating and casting off to keep my thinking focused. When I gazed down at my paper and started discussing some of the things with close family and friends aloud, it became more and more apparent to me. I had to leave, it was time to cast off the burden weighing me down so that I could soar in my own endeavors.

I cried when I made my decision to leave this job that I loved.

I cried for the people I met.

But mostly I cried in anguish over something I wanted so badly and for so long. Finally, when I owned my decision and I mean truly owned it, a weightlessness washed over me. Instantly, I felt liberated from my self-imposed chains. Now, I looked at my life and my schedule with hope and possibility as opposed to the daunting challenge of where to find ‘Me Time’.

So, why was I holding onto something that was bringing me such negativity and holding me back?!

Oh, there are many factors friends. The biggest one though is the most shameful one of them all and it’s ego. That’s right—my ego. The prestige and honor of being associated with such a job/brand made me feel validated, like I had finally arrived in the fitness world. Again, the more I thought about this, the more I berated myself for this ludicrous thinking. How did I allow my self-worth to ever be tied up in something that had absolutely nothing to do with my performance in any capacity?! Moreover, why did I believe that I needed the approval from someone else to determine my perception of self? It really got me thinking:

Why in the hell do we do that to ourselves?

The more I thought things through, the more I realized that in order to thrive in this life in the manner in which I wanted; I was going to have to relinguish this life line to which I was clutching. This tether bound me, held me back and stifled my spirit. I must share with you all, releasing something that no longer brought me the same joy and happiness as it once did was empowering. However, I will say this about the job. It was a great lesson in truly living my yoga. Now, I know what you are thinking—that yoga is just making shapes and blah, blah, blah; but that my friends is where you are wrong.

It’s all yoga, baby.

Yoga is something that you live. It’s a lifestyle and a way of living so you uphold yourself to the highest level of self at all times. For me, this whole process WAS yoga. Maybe not in the way you get your yoga on, but was my yoga. Realizing and accepting that I couldn’t control the business, the staff, the managers, and more was the first step. The second step was recognizing the areas of control within my life, the places where I could alter the outcomes. So whether or not I wanted to represent that specific institution was indeed a choice I could make. In the end, I picked me. I picked myself because the time for me to start putting myself first was beckoning. And there ya have it, folks.

Yoga is everywhere.

Let that shit go that isn’t bringing light and bliss into your life.

Give yourself the opportunity to experience happiness on your own terms because you certainly do deserve it.

Good Things Come to Those Who WORK

Arielle Miller / Audition, Body Building, Celebrate, Celebration, Challenges, Commitment, Community, Fitness, Fitness for Men, Goal Setting, Hard Work, Motivation Monday / Audition, Fitness, Fitness in LA, Fitness Studio, Glendale, Goal Setting, Goals, Hard work, Los Angeles, Never give up, New Studio, Orangetheory, Orangetheory Glendale, OTF, SoCal / 4 comments

February 26, 2017

A year and a half ago, my husband Greg and I auditioned for a shot to be coaches at the new Orangetheory (OTF) West Hollywood location. As members of the Brentwood location, we loved the workout. It was fast, fun, and the perfect blend of cardio paired with strength work. For those of you whom are unfamiliar with OTF, it’s a 5 zone heart rate interval training system that includes wearing heart rate monitors, treadmills, rowers, and weights.

Prior to the audition, we were given some ‘homework’ which included memorizing some information. In total, there must have been 40-50 people at this audition, but we both gave it a solid go when our shot came. We left OTF Brentwood that day feeling confident and hopeful we’d be offered spots to go through training. But as fate would have it, neither Greg nor I were invited to the next phase of the audition process. I must admit, initially, it was a huge let down. No matter how many times I’ve been rejected from something the sting of not being good enough or not getting something never lessens.

Nonetheless, we were still happy to be active members in the OTF community and continued working out at the new West Hollywood location. Eventually, as my fitness goals changed and I moved into heavy weight lifting in the body building and power lifting sector, Greg and I cancelled our memberships.

All while both Greg and I couldn’t shake it—we still wanted to be team members. We just couldn’t give up on something we wanted so badly.

On a lark, Greg reached out to a contact at OTF and through the channels put us in contact with the brand new Glendale team. We both interviewed and were offered the opportunity to train, or shall I say audition, for a spot on the team.

Together as husband and wife we navigated a process that threw us wildly out of our comfort zones and into a whole new world. We’d debrief on the day’s learning and hashed out things that confused us, our fears, and our insecurities. It’s funny, because when you are in the thick of something; it’s so easy to let it run away with you. So, for me it wasn’t until a dear friend reminded me that above all ‘to have fun’ that it all finally clicked. That’s what coaching, training, and working with every single person I encounter is—it’s FUN.

Finally, our mock class in front of actual members came and went. We anxiously awaited, clutching our phones for the final call—did we get it??!?!

Greg’s call came first—he got it!

Then, I received a text, “Please call when you have a chance.”

And like Greg, I too was on the team!

I was so happy there was a moment where I couldn’t react. Time seemed to slow and my hearing muted. Was this really happening?! Did I really just earn a spot at OTF Glendale as a coach?! I held back tears of joy as Greg and I bounded out the door of the ice cream shop (hey, cut me some slack, it was my cheat meal).

Here we are after teaching our mock class

The moral of the story here is you absolutely cannot ever give up on something you want—ever. You cannot allow a setback, rejection, or bumps in the road to deter you from your goals. To further put it into perspective, I have been rejected from the following fitness brands:

Cycle House
Flywheel
Soulcycle
Equinox*
Orangetheory*

*Re-auditioned at a later time and offered the job!

Yea, those are some pretty high profile brands, huh? In some cases, I bombed completely and was cut after the first go of it. And in others, I made it relatively far in the audition process to eventually be cut. But it really doesn’t matter, does it? What matters is one’s desire and unwavering intensity to chase something they want at all costs.

For example, take Equinox. When I auditioned my first time I did not get offered an opportunity to teach cycling for them. However, I didn’t let that stand in my way. Rejection is good for the soul. It builds character and reminds you why you do what you love because you have to fight for it. Shortly thereafter though, I did earn a slot to teach for Equinox. Simply, I re-auditioned with a clean slate, showed them my stuff, and nailed the job. And now–look at me?! I have grown so much in my time with the company that I now teach multiple formats beyond the cycling room! Who knows where and what I’d be teaching if I never took that second chance on myself.

That’s how you’ve gotta live your life. You cannot allow a few things that do not go your way to define you or hold you back. Make the conscious choice to pick yourself up and know that rejection is always part of the pathway to success. Never, and I mean never give up on something you want because you are worth it.

So ladies and gentleman, it is with pride and my honor to share with you my latest fitness gig at Orangetheory Glendale. You can catch me there Monday and Wednesday nights at 6pm and 7:30pm.

Now team, let’s get BURNING!

On This Day

Arielle Miller / 2016, Abundance, Acceptance, Accountability, Adventure, Adversity, At Home Workouts, Body Building, Build connections, Celebrate, Celebration, Challenges, Commitment, Community, Fitness, Goal Setting, Hard Work, Lifestyle, mindfulness, Remembering, Strength Training, Teaching, Yoga / Body Building, Facebook, Girls who Lift, Girls with Muscle, Goal Setting. Goal Crusher, Goals, Gym life, Looking Back, New friends, New Year, On This Day, Power Lifting, Reflecting, Yoga / 0 comments

December 26, 2016

Facebook reminded me where I was one year ago today. No surprise I was in the gym but this was before, well before I dreamed of body building or power lifting. As a matter of fact, I was completely unfocused in my personal fitness journey at the point I posted this photo and looking at it now makes me both sad, yet also incredibly proud.

Part of the caption reads:

Recently, I’ve found myself gravitating back towards weight lifting. Man, there is NOTHING like the pump you get from lifting. No amount of cardio or cycling can duplicate the feeling one gets when pushing, pulling, and pressing weights. I’m eager to redefine my love with lifting heavy things. Who knows? Maybe in the New Year I’ll find myself back at #Crossfit?

One year ago today 2015

Almost prophetic, it was like I was laying the ground work for the coming months when I would indeed fully gravitate back to weight lifting taking me down the path of body building, competing (September 5,2016), then power lifting, and soon my first meet (January 22, 2017). Looking at this photo I see hints of the woman I’d later grow into but unbeknownst to me; it’d take almost 3-4 months after I posted this photo to fully commit to myself and my own unfiltered excellence.

At the point this photo was taken I was exactly 1-year post-op from my 4^th knee surgery. In so many respects I allowed myself to be defined by what I thought I could and couldn’t do. I’m not quite sure how and why that happened really. I guess at the point when this photo was taken, I can attribute my lack of success fitness-wise to making excuses for myself. I hid behind the fact that I was a school teacher, serving children all day; then teaching fitness in the evenings—after serving others, motivating, and empowering others, I couldn’t possibly have anything left in me to then pump myself up to lift in the gym.

That’s where the sadness comes from—that’s where I look at this photo and see a woman who could be so great, if only she saw herself the same way others saw her. It breaks my heart to know it took years to arrive at the point in which I am today.

It would be nearly a year where I’d make new friends and reside in a completely new community that I would find the self-confidence to revel in my power and strength. Weight lifting allowed me to restore myself confidence, even when I failed, was tired, or didn’t feel like lifting. Weight lifting has given me purpose and a true sense of self-worth. And honestly, I hate to say this [especially as a yogi and yoga instructor] but yoga never ever made me feel this way. As a matter of fact, the yoga community is the exact opposite of the weight lifting world. Ironically, the yoga world is consumed by ego, aesthetics, and contortionism. Most times, it’s even exclusive and the warm and welcoming community it presents or shall I say, sells to the world, is just that—a sales pitch. And not to knock it, since I too live in, teach, and practice in the yoga world; the weight lifting community is one of authentic friends who could care less about what you’re wearing, what you can do with your body, and what your body looks like. It’s damn refreshing to hang out with women who walk up to you, ask your name, then hug you, smile, and help you lift. Better yet, it’s friggen awesome to go out with a group of girls who don’t talk about how fat they are, what they should and shouldn’t eat, and genuinely like their bodies. Hell, these women LOVE their bodies—HALLELUJAH!

So I look at this woman one year ago and I while I feel a tinge of sadness for her, I also smile knowing that the year she had ahead was one of the best years of her life. The hours spent in the gym with my husband coaching me, meeting new people, building myself up, and sculpting my body, have been some of the best experiences in my life. I am so proud of the work that girl put in and the me of today has committed to putting in massive work as 2017 rounds the corner. The journey will only get harder as my power lifting meet looms on the horizon; and now with the help of a new body building coach, the work I am about to take on will be grueling. But I am ready now, so so so ready.

A year ago I tried to avoid committing to myself because I was scared and filled with self-doubt. Today, I bound into the gym rain or shine, on holidays, sometimes twice a day, and when it calls for it—7 days a week. There truly isn’t anything that I cannot do, and same applies to you too.

Same outfit, different hair, new attitude. The me of 2016.

A lot can and will change in a year if you allow yourself the space to grow. Give yourself permission to thrive and dare to make impactful changes in your life because you are so worth it. I know looking back has allowed me to look ahead to the future with hope—even more hope than I could ever imagine because I know my potential is boundless.

Is Your Lack Of Motivation Holding You Back? Learn How To Motivate Yourself And Live The Life You’ve Always Wanted

Arielle Miller / Accountability, Adventure, Arnold Says, Challenges, Commitment, Fitness, Goal Setting, Hard Work, Lifestyle / Ambition, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Brian Tracy, Danielle LaPorte, Dwayne Johnson, Goal Setting, Goals, Hope, Inspiration, Learning, Motivation Monday, Podcast, Reading, The Rock, Timothy Ferriss / 0 comments

May 17, 2016

With respects to motivation and drive it just seems that some people are hardwired differently. Some seem to work with a laser-like focus towards what they want without wavering; and for many others, they fail to even get started and will live lives of ‘extended mediocrity’ (Brain Tracy, The Psychology of Achievement). So what is it that sets those peak performers and high achievers apart from everyone else? What do they posses that gives them that slight edge to soar above the rest? I would have to say that my biggest take aways are perseverance, desire, and above all; success is only possible through failure—trying, trying, and trying again—over and over and over again at all costs.

For me I like to pull my inspiration from texts I find to be incredibly influential and people who have made it with raw grit and determination. So, what I would like to do to kick start this Motivation Monday into high gear is share with you a few things that have been fueling my soul in recent pursuits with the hopes of them guiding you to find and live your passions too.

Get Your Learn On With These Books:

The Desire Map by Danielle LaPorte

Not your traditional ‘lifetsyle’ book as it includes a workbook for self-reflection guide to live a more fulfilled life based on how you want to feel. LaPorte’s approach is simple: detach from tangible outcomes like things you want to do and have and pursue matters of the heart answering the basic question of “How do I want to feel?”

This book literally changed not just my life but my husband’s life as well. It gave us the opportunity to truly gaze inward and let go of things not aligned to how we wanted to feel; thus thwarting our efforts to truly lead lives where we were happy and thriving. For my husband Greg, it meant that after our honeymoon in Bali he gave his notice at a job that didn’t offer him the soulful kind of work he was looking for. And for me, it meant that I relinquished my attachment to teaching a class that simply didn’t serve me. I had been teaching the class for a year and it wasn’t building. It commandeered my Saturday being that it was at 10:30am, and lastly, it simply didn’t light my heart on fire. Virtually instantaneously, just as I committed to letting the class go—saying it out loud and even emailing my boss about it, new and exciting opportunities literally found me. Sometimes, all it takes is letting something go so that something new can grow.

The 4 Hour Work Week by Timothy Ferriss

Dreamed of living in Thailand for a few months? Who hasn’t! But you can’t go, right? You have to make money, hence working and you cannot possibly leave your job—you can’t just up and go. Or can you?

Like many Americans you probably dislike your job. You work simply because you need to make money to retire, then live your life—right? WRONG! Ferriss proposes living a life punctuated by ‘mini-retirements’ where you cycle in and out of a variety of jobs that maximize your efficiency and allow you to travel and pursue personal interests. Definitely geared towards millennials or as Ferriss likes to call them the New Rich or NR, this book is an entertaining read and a how-to-guide on working remotely, working more efficiently, and chasing your passions. I particularly love that Ferriss provides websites and programs that he and others have vetted with great success in manifesting the premise of working much less by proxy of working significantly smarter.

Get Your Listening On:

The Psychology of Achievement, Podcast by Brian Tracy

Did you know that people who set goals are more successful in life and business? Yet in spite of this data, did you know that only 3% of people actually set goals?! This 1-hour podcast is filled with incredible anecdotes about the power of goal setting with some powerful facts about the dangers of just ‘wandering aimlessly through life without purpose’. I relished every second of it while listening in my car to and from work for a few days. As a matter of fact, I have listened to it twice since that initial first time and each time I take away something new. Perhaps the most important lesson was Thomas Edison’s work in developing the electric light bulb. He failed over 10,000 times while developing the light bulb, 10,000 times!!!! He was mocked by the scientific community and even called crazy. Edison never gave up and he utilized each and every failure as a tool to aide in his success. If you’ve ever wanted to do something and have allowed fear to hold you back—give this podcast a gander and start living more wholly!

Get Your Video On:

The 6 Rules of Success by Arnold Schwarzenegger

This short video is my go-to almost daily. While Schwarzenegger has led a colorful personal life, his professional pursuits as a body builder, politician, and actor make this man worthy of great respect. I didn’t realize just how impactful Schwarzenegger was in the fitness realm until relatively recently and the more I learn about him, the more I read about him, the deeper I delve into weight lifting—the more I am awed by this man’s genius.

For me this video is a constant reminder that there isn’t ANYTHING outside of my reach. It gives me that little extra push when I am feeling deflated and I remind myself that I can capture my wildest dreams no matter what others say and think.

Get Your Social Media On:

Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson

I was never a fan of the WWE nor have ever seen this man wrestle. I’ve seen his movies and while I have always thoroughly enjoyed them for what they were; it wasn’t until I stumbled upon The Rock on social media that I realized his depth and complexity. The Rock is a stand up human being. He visits sick children and from what it seems, spends a great deal of his time giving back to the community, and actually running his own social media which is refreshing. His social media is a snap shot into the great things that he does like getting up early for a workout, or a flashback of how hard he hustled before he made it. Like Schwarzenegger, The Rock didn’t wait for any handouts. He worked his ass off to be where he is today. He embodies what it means to give back to others while continuing to live a life he’s worked hard for and deserves.

Below is a post from his Instagram this weekend. And what I would also like to note is that it was reading his post that in turn inspired this post from me.

So now it’s your turn. What do you aspire to achieve and how can you inspire others?

therock Wow. This 1996 XL cheese pizza of absurdity just surfaced on my Instagram feed. Brings back crazy memories – hustler’s mentality. I was cuttin’ my teeth down in Memphis for $40 bucks per match every night in flea markets, state fairs and pretty much anywhere we could set up a ring. Every night during intermission, myself and the other wrestlers would go out and set up a table in the crowd and sell our pictures and little trinkets to the fans to make a buck. My merchandise would sell between 75 cents and $3 bucks. Hell, if you were one of the few fans who had an extra $5 bucks on ya, then you could even take a Polaroid with me! You’d go home happy (hopefully;) and I’d have $5 more bucks to go towards my gas money and Waffle House. This vintage cheese pizza was one of the pics I would sell to the fans…while standing in the middle of a flea market during intermission before my match. Those days were hard core for me, but as hard as they were, all I knew was the hustle and I’d do whatever it took to climb that ladder and succeed. If it meant standing out in the middle of the crowd selling my trinkets, I’d do it. If it meant wrestling in shitty barns or the parking lots of used car dealerships, I’d do it. If it meant driving up and down the highways over 1900 miles per week to make $40 bucks per match, I’d do it. And if I had to do it all over again, I’d do it twice. I know a lot of you are enjoying the success of your hustle these days and many of you are still hustlin’ hard core to make success happen. Keep hustlin’ and don’t stop. That’s the best part about this whole thing.. is when you finally make it.. and you will.. that’s when the hustle gets even stronger. It never stops. Lastly, the week I signed this pic to an employee at Eckerd’s drug store in Florida, I got the call from the WWE that they were officially signing me to their roster as “Rocky Maivia”. As you can tell by my WTF signature, I had no idea how to even sign my new name. Thankfully, it just became plain ol’ “Rock”. #GrindDNA #WhateverItTakes #TrinketsForSale #GasMoneyAndWaffleHouse

Go, Go, GOAL Get It!

Arielle Miller / Accountability, Challenges, Goal Setting, Hard Work / Goal Crushing, Goal Setting, Goals, Motivation Monday / 2 comments

April 11, 2016

Goal setting is one of the most powerful achievements skills of all. When we set goals, we create power. As Brian Tracy states, “When we set goals we develop direction, we develop focused and channeled energy, and we accomplish more in a short time than we could accomplish in years.” A major reason why people don’t set goals because people are terrified of failure and simply, people just don’t know how.

Regardless of how failing feels, it is essential on the path to achievement. Failure implies risk taking. And sometimes with taking risks, they don’t work out—so? When working towards something and you fail, it’s a learning experience to catapult you forward in the next attempt in the pursuit of your goal. Think of a baby learning how to walk. How many times does an infant fall? Not get it right? Stumble? Failure is a wonderful teacher. We must remain open to what failure is trying to show us while growing us.

Goal setting is about reviving your passions and redirecting its energies with purpose. Use your strong sense of purpose while working towards your goal. It is what will keep you fueled while chasing your dreams. Let’s examine goals and goal setting more closely, goals fall into 3 categories:

Family and personal goals
Business and career goals
Self-improvement goals

Select a goal category in your life you are interested in cultivating

I would recommend to focus on an area that’s lack-luster or just not working for you. Use this opportunity to liberate yourself from a vicious cycle of misery or to elevate yourself. Such as addressing a job you dislike, to write in your journal 3 times a week, or save $10,000 to take that trip to Thailand. No goal is too big and no goal is too small. Use your sense of desire to keep your goal afloat and commit to your goal with conviction. Believe in yourself and your ability to achieve whatever it is with every fiber of your being.

WRITE YOUR GOAL DOWN

Until a goal resides on paper, it’s just an idea and usually a fleeting one at that. Even write down the tangible outcomes of your goal and make sure to include the fruits of your labor. How will achieving this goal positively impact your life? What is the outcome of this goal? Visualize the positive influence in your life, then write it down—give this goal a pulse and bring it to life!

Give yourself a deadline to reach your goal

Goals without finite deadlines are often lost to the abyss of procrastination or this thing called life. Put an expiration date on when your efforts will come to a head. Now, this doesn’t mean you set an unrealistic timeline either. If you are looking to lose 20 pounds of fat, hoping to do so in 4 weeks is not realistic.

Set yourself up for success

What is your plan? How are you going to actively work to tackle this goal? What are the steps you need to take to manifest this want in your life? Identify potential obstacles and prepare for them by writing them down on paper. Often times, you will find that you’ve envisioned scenarios and obstacles that don’t exist, or are in reality much smaller than initially imagined. Finally, identify people, groups, and organizations whose assistance can support you in achieving your goal. Find people and others to lift you up and provide you with support.