Have you ever noticed how there are times when you’re naturally more abundant with ideas? Would you like to be able to pinpoint those times with greater accuracy so you can make the most of them?
Last week we discussed how to let go of what doesn’t serve you e.g. overthinking and overcomplicating your business and life.
Having the intention to release what’s no longer helping you create the life you desire is a step forward in the right direction. Maybe you even did a ritual like the one I shared with you in last week’s blog.
You’re a smart lady and you know that intentions (and rituals) are not enough in own their right. Things won’t magically appear out of thin air without you taking any supportive action.
The next step is about brainstorming, planning, planting the seeds and initiating new projects.
Did you know that:
The follicular phase of your menstrual cycle is the most potent time for doing exactly that?!
Today, as it happens, is the beginning of my follicular phase. Talking of divine timing, huh?! 😉
So I’m going to share a few insider tips from my female-centric coaching approach so that you can also tap into the wisdom of your natural cycle when you’re next in your follicular phase.
But before we dive into the nitty-gritty, let’s get on the same page about how to identify when you’re in your follicular phase and understand why it’s so timely for new ideas and projects.
When Is The Follicular Phase?
The follicular phase starts after your menstrual bleed ends. It usually lasts for about 7-10 days, but it can be shorter depending on the length of your cycle.
In this phase, the levels of two hormones (FHS and Estrogen) begin to rise and prepare the uterine lining so that it can potentially host an egg and mark the start of a new human life.
Similarly, we can tap into the energy of initiation by brainstorming ideas, planning and starting new business and personal projects.
As estrogen surges, you naturally tend to feel more energised and upbeat about the future. Ta-da!
But…
Beware of The Double-Edged Sword
The surge in excitement about all the possibilities and all the things you want to achieve can end up as a double-edged sword.
There is a high chance that you’ll come up with a lot more ideas than you can execute. As a result, later on, you may end up overwhelmed, feeling deflated and beat yourself up for not achieving everything you came up with on your overly ambitious to-do list.
Now the question is: How do you strike the right balance between ideas and getting things done?
In one word – FOCUS.
Create Focus With Goal-Setting
When I work with my coaching clients, I take them through a goal-setting process.
We start with the big picture topic.
Shall we do this together now?
Take a pen and paper to note down your answers.
First, think of a specific topic that is important for you to progress towards right now.
“Imagine you have achieved *insert topic* and everything was perfect in this area. It’s just as you wanted it. What would be happening?
- What would you be seeing?
- What would you be hearing?
- What would you be doing?
- What would you be feeling?”
PRO TIP: You can listen to an uplifting, lyric-free tune and close your eyes while picturing the above.
Then, come back and write down your answers.
Connect With Your Why
This is a really important part, so don’t skip it. It’s key to help you persevere and follow-through when the going gets tough.
Let’s quickly dip into your motivation for wanting to focus on your chosen topic.
- What makes this goal a priority for you right now?
- What positive impact will it have in your life once you’ve accomplished it?
- How will achieving this goal benefit people you care about?
In a full-length coaching session, I’d ask you a few more questions but the above selection should be enough to get you going on your own.
Answering these questions why serves two purposes, first to make sure you’re focusing on the right goal for you and the second is to deeply connect with your reasons for following through.
Avoid Falling Into These Goal-Setting Traps
Some of the most common mistakes people make when setting goals are:
- They quickly come up with some arbitrary goal that they abandon sooner or later because they’re not truly connected with why they want to follow through.
- It’s too huge and they choke on the overwhelming pile of things to do and potential paths to go down.
- It’s not stimulating enough for them and they get bored with it easily.
What have been some of your reasons for not following through with goals you’ve set up in the past? (Share in the comments below or email me.)
Often, my clients come up with a goal that is too meaty to tackle in one session. And sometimes, they come up with too simple actions that aren’t meaty enough to be an outcome they want to strive towards.
So, I work with them to fine-tune the goal (outcome or intention) so that it feels just right for them and they’re strongly connected and motivated to want to take action.
If you’re currently sitting on a Mammoth-sized goal, break it down into individual components.
Note down:
- What are the different things you’d need to focus on?
Awesome!
You’re on the right path.
Now, if like me or my clients when going through this process, you’ve come up with a dozen things you could be focusing on, the next stage is to identify where to start.
Here’s a question to help you pinpoint that:
- In which of these areas, is it most important for you to make progress first?
If we were doing this together right now, I’d ask you a few more pertinent questions based on your answers and reactions to help you nail the goal/outcome/intention you want to work for the rest of our session.
This thought-provoking coaching method enables you to gain unwavering clarity and certainty about what you want to achieve, why, when and how you’d measure your success so that you stay on track even when it gets tough or something happens that may derail you.
After we’ve nailed your goal, we’d move on to discussing what’s going on for you in that area, what is holding you back and what resources you have to help you move towards your desired outcome.
Then, we’ll brainstorm all sorts of options and I will encourage you to come up with possibilities that you may have never even thought about.
Only then, we’ll look at the steps you’re going to commit to taking based on where you’re in your cycle!
Before we wrap up, we’ll also tie up any loose ends. (Because life happens and it’s good to have a back-up plan and be prepared.)
Before you go…
Does this sound like you?
Are you’re getting entangled in having too many things you could be doing in your business and being pulled from pillar to post with your personal obligations, taking care of your loved ones, your home and trying to hold the fort together?
If your head’s spinning trying to figure it all out on your own and you’d love some help, message me and let’s explore if we’re a good fit to work together.
Want to see what’s possible for you first?
Check out below the amazing results Bianca Botten shared shortly after completing my group programme.
Hot Tip:
Jump-Start Your Thriving Life is currently the most affordable high-touch way to work with me one-on-one enabling you to get similar and possibly better results than Bianca’s in just a month!
To learn more hop over here.
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