How many times have you seen an article about a product or service that you were just talking about? Wonder why that happens? Maybe it’s random (or maybe our phones listen to us), but I like to think it’s because we more actively engage with products and services that speak to our passions and make us feel connected to the world.
Identifying your passions
So what are your passions? What interests you? Once you can identify those things, you can start to create meaningful goals and actions for your life.
I’ve always been passionate about fitness and wellness, mindfulness, and expressing gratitude. And when I learned of Live Well Be Well, and how integrated it is with the culture at Siegfried — which I joined just a few months ago — I felt like I belonged here.
As a company, we focus on helping people transform themselves into better leaders, and we host events as part of our MY Journey® program to support that focus. And at our most recent one, I walked away with so much valuable information, it’s actually a little dizzying! But one of the biggest concepts that stuck with me is accountability and how important it is to create a transformative mindset.
How do you keep yourself accountable?
A transformative mindset enables us to find the energy we need to achieve our goals and turn our dreams into reality. And you need accountability to create that mindset. Being accountable means accepting the responsibility of staying focused, doing what YOU want and need to do, and respecting yourself.
After reading an article on mindfulness, listening to a motivational speaker, downloading a meditation app, or setting your 2019 goals, how do you plan to keep yourself accountable for taking the next steps? That is, how do you make sure you don’t just give up?
Think of the answer to that question for just a few seconds. What comes to mind?
A support system (and a great podcast)
The one thing that helped me stay accountable most was a support system! No matter whether my goals are related to my physical, emotional, or spiritual well-being, I generally don’t succeed when I’m alone.
Some of the most influential people in my support system are the members and coaches at my CrossFit gym in Boston, including the head coach, Justin. He started his own podcast called Morph Your Mind, and that’s really been helping me stay accountable and inspired. Each episode is only 15 minutes long and delivers actionable tools and tips to help you improve your mindset and stay motivated.
I wanted to share just a little dose of the care, motivation, and education I receive from Morph Your Mind. Below are the first seven episodes of Justin’s podcast and a little insight from each one. (Disclaimer: This podcast can help ANYONE! Not just CrossFitters!)
- Podcast Introduction: The reasons you should tune in. Hint: To receive “concise, digestible episodes with actionable items and tools that you can implement in your life to take control of your mind and improve your mental performance.” (I think each episode gets better and better, enjoy!)
- Goal Setting Techniques to implement effective, short-term goals. What can you do on a daily basis to help you reach your goals?
- Finding Your Why: What is the motivating factor behind what you’ve chosen to pursue in life? “How you spend your time says a lot about what you actually care about, deep down underneath the surface.”
- Rekindling Motivation: When you’re lacking motivation, do little things every day that make you uncomfortable. Doing this can create discipline and forward progress.
- Overcoming Discomfort: What potential could we have reached if we surpassed that moment of discomfort? “Only when we’re uncomfortable, do we actually grow.”
- Awareness: Learn how to understand your default response to situations so you can start changing that response to be consistently more positive.
- Managing Stress: Identify sources of stress and separate those that you can and cannot control. Which ones are contributing to your overall stress level the most?
Accountability is about commitment, courage, and individual leadership capabilities. So, step up and remember that you are the only one responsible for you. Stay accountable to the goals you’ve set for yourself and watch the transformation take place.
I’ll leave you with a note from Justin:
“Mindfulness begins with willingness. You must be willing to take the first step and become aware of your own strengths and weaknesses. Accountability must start with accountability to yourself: to be honest, to analyze, to dig. It must also start with love and acceptance. We all have strengths and weaknesses, but success lies in the effort to improve.”
