Happy Monday Reader!

Another way we can keep up our motivation for our goals is by being kind to ourselves. We can forgive ourselves when we mess up or skip a day and try again.

As Spoon tells us, "Every morning I've got a new chance."

If you start thinking you've already failed at your new year resolution or goals, the good news is: you have not! Today (and tomorrow, and the day after that too) is another opportunity to get back into it.

Remember we learned last week that it takes an average of 66 days to form a habit. So to help us stay the course this week, even if we're tempted to give up, we tell ourselves:

"I forgive myself for past mistakes; today is a fresh start."

Of course, we can use this affirmation for older mistakes as well.

In my coaching practice, I have an entire session dedicated to forgiveness. When we carry guilt or anger or self-recrimination around for months or years, it takes up a lot of mental space & energy! When we give ourselves permission to put that burden down, we reclaim freedom we didn't even realize we had lost.

And if that burden has been heavy enough, releasing it may feel like a literal weight off your shoulders.

I experienced this first hand when I decided to leave my last job. I'd been unhappy & trying to push through for years. Once I committed to the decision to leave I felt totally different. I thought I would be scared or nervous, but instead I just felt free. Lighter & more optimistic than I had been in years.

I knew it would be a major shift, but I hadn't even considered that it could be the best "bad" decision I ever made. (I write "bad" because I was making so much money a lot of friends & family acted like I was crazy any time I mentioned my struggle. For me, the money isn't worth being unhappy for 40 hours a week!)

Let's stop holding ourselves back with guilt or shame for not being perfect by repeating to ourselves 21x every day this week:

"I forgive myself for past mistakes; today is a fresh start."

Bonus: Free Weekly Training Video

Mindset is the top factor for how you experience time--whether it's on your side or against you is all in how you look at it.

Learn practical strategies to develop a positive time management mindset in this Instagram Live video!

As always, affirmations work best when you truly believe them. They need to resonate with you and feel achievable. So feel free to modify any I suggest, or develop entirely new ones!

Say them as long as you want. I'm sharing a new affirmation each week, but that doesn't mean you have to switch it up each week unless it feels right. You can add new ones as often as you want and have as many as you want. You can say a different affirmation every day, or at different times of the day. You choose!

I'd love to hear the impact it has! (But if you decide affirmations are not for you, click here to be removed from this weekly email.)

I hope this affirmation sets you up for a kick ass week and I'll see you next Monday for a new one to try!

Ready to make time for great things in 2024? I have 1-1 coaching spots available to teach you how to put your limited time, energy, & attention to the work that moves the needle in just 1 hour a week. Hit reply or pick a time on my calendar here to learn more.

I always have time for you. ❤️

-- Jen