.png)
Connect & Grow Magazine: Issue 18: February - March 2025
The middle part of any change can be hard. The initial excitement of starting is over. Your goal may still feel far off and not close enough to give you that last burst of energy and motivation to finish what you started. The middle phase can feel boring, never ending, messy, and like you’re not getting anywhere.
Here are 3 tips to make it through to the finish line.
1 Reconnect to your why
Ask yourself questions like:
· Why do you want to make this change?
· Why is this change or goal important to you?
· How does this goal or change relate to your values and broader aims in life?
See how your goal or desired change connects to something bigger and more meaningful. Hopefully, this gives you a little more steam to keep going. If you can’t see how what you want links to your values and what’s important to you, then it’s time to revise it or let it go.
Make this connection more visible by having pictures that symbolise your desired change or describing your why in writing, such as:
When I [act towards my goal], I [live this value/help myself become more….].
For example, When I walk daily for 20 minutes, I become healthier, happier, and more active with my kids.
Display these words or pictures somewhere that you’ll regularly see them.
2. Celebrate small wins along the way.
Acknowledge what you’ve already accomplished and how far you’ve come.
One way to do this is to write a ‘to-done’ list. This is a list of everything you’ve done towards your goal and any extra things you’ve had to contend with along the way. Once you’ve finished your list, give yourself the satisfaction of going down your 'to-done' list and highlighting or crossing them off one by one. Give yourself a pat on the back J.
(Download Issue 16 for Finding Things to be Proud of and Celebrate).
3. Reflect and support your efforts
Use this messy middle as a learning opportunity. Think about:
· What are your strengths?
· What motivates and inspires you?
· When have you been successful in the past? What worked?
· Where have there been pitfalls in the past? How did you overcome them? Or what could you do to avoid or deal with them better in the future?
Knowing this type of information helps you better understand yourself, makes it easier to harness these qualities and strategies, and sets you up for success.
Also, get support. You don’t need to make this change on your own. Work through doubts, negative self-talk, or unhelpful habits with a trained professional. Ask for help or get more training and skill development. Join a group or community. Find role models and examples.
And lastly, keep going. Reconnect with your why. Celebrate your wins and progress. Reflect and find ways to support and set yourself up for success. Show yourself that you can do this. Because you can.
Written by Natalia Walker
Natalia is available for consultations.
Email: natalia@innercreative.com.au
Subscribe to Connect & Grow Magazine to access all of our articles and the audio and digital versions
(C) Break Free Consultancy 2024
Disclaimer: All information is accurate at the time of publication and subject to change.