Setting the Stage for a Year of Mindful Ambitions

In this episode, I take a seat in the Tea Tasting Room to navigate the reflective waters of intention-setting and meaningful resolution-making. Let's say farewell to the year with a heart full of lessons and an eye toward the future as I unveil my strategy of simplicity and authenticity in goal crafting. You'll be privy to a personal tactic that focuses on aligning with our fundamental values, sidestepping the all-too-common societal pressures. Our conversation will revolve around the power of intentions versus the fleeting nature of resolutions, and we'll delve into how to transform your dreams into SMART goals—specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound steps that pave a deliberate path to a gratifying new year.

As we stand on the cusp of 2024, let's prepare to welcome it with goals that are as realistic as they are adaptable. Together, we'll embrace the necessity of being nimble amidst life's inevitable twists and turns. I'll share insights on cultivating a resilient mindset through self-care rituals that bolster us on those less-than-perfect days. You won't just hear about the importance of accountability to ourselves and the support from those we trust but also how to refine our ambitions into manageable, short-term SMART objectives. This is about upgrading your aspirations, shunning the ordinary, and stepping into a year filled with purpose and clarity.

Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:00

Welcome to Tea with Tanya. I'm your host, tanya Ambrose, an average millennial navigating life as a maternal health professional, non-profit founder and wet student. Join me in the Tea Tasting Room where we spill the tea and find in balance and promoting positive living while doing it all. Hey friend, welcome back to another episode of Tea with Tanya. Welcome back to the last episode of 2023. We will definitely be back in January where we're going to be kicking off a new season and you guys are going to be in for a treat with this new season. I am happy to have you here in the Tea Tasting Room and on this episode, we're going to be talking about resetting and making resolutions as we prepare to end this year and welcome a new one. So usually, the end of the year is a time where I like to reflect on all whatever accomplished, what I did not accomplish, what I set out to do or what I did not meet, as well as it relates to goals. So it's naturally okay and it's naturally right that we, that you even do a self-reflection at the end of the year, because you want to ensure that you're starting a beginning, a new year, on a fresh, promising start. So, as we approach this time, 2023, has been a lot in so many different ways the way in which society has changed the world that we are currently living in. At the end of the day, I just pray for world peace, but nevertheless it has been a lot. We've been going through a lot honestly if we've been honest since 2020 but this year has been a lot in so many ways A lot good, a lot bad. I make sure of everything but we are going to dive into the art of resetting and ensuring that you're making meaningful resolutions as you approach a new year, because the goal is I don't want you to enter a new year without reflecting and realizing what you did right, what you didn't do to right and how you can better improve yourself. And when we talk about resolution, we're not just setting these resolutions just for you to not get them done. We're going to be smart with that. In the past, we talk about creating smart goals, and that's going to be the same thing as well.

Speaker 1: 2:22

So one of the things that you want to do before you decide or jump into making any sort of resolutions for a new year, you want to take some time to reflect on the year that we are leaving, the year that's passing, think about your accomplishments, the challenges and whatever you may have learned along the way, because reflection is really and truly one of the first steps into setting resolutions with intentions, setting resolutions that are purposeful for your life. So, rather than framing your goals as resolutions, we're going to think about setting intentions. So, instead of reframing or framing your goals as resolution, let's think of them as intentions. We have to be intentional, and you would have heard an episode that we ate, that we released, called Living with Intention. Everything that you do has to have a positive and meaningful intentions, because intentions are true statements that reflects your deepest desires, even your core values. They focus on the journey rather than just the outcome. So, really and truly, as you're listening to this, ask yourself what do you truly want to achieve in the coming year and why it matters to you. So you want to start with that intention what do you want to achieve in the coming year and why it matters to you?

Speaker 1: 3:41

Sometimes we have to go back to basics, and I remember telling my sister recently. I said you know, I'm in my going back to the basics era of life because we all go through different eras, different phases, but as I'm elevating, as I'm leveling up, as I'm being more intentional with how I live my life, as I become more confident with who I am as a person. One of my thing is to really and truly remember my why and going back to basics, because too many times we're trying to keep up with society or keep up with somebody else and then we lose sight of what our core values are as an individual. So, for me, I'm going back to basics and I'm challenging you also to go back to basics. Going back to basics does not mean you are basic. There are two different things. You're going back to basics because when you were doing things in a way that not only challenged but they were reflective of your core values, a lot of good can happen for you and to you, and I'm wanting to take that from it because, since I've been in that era, I haven't been doing things, like you know, going back to basics for a long period of time, but I've already seen the changes that I make and I know for 2024, I want to make sure that I'm going back to the basics with certain things because it's so easy to get caught up with in the social media world like for this podcast, getting caught up with the numbers or getting caught up in the appearance and these different things, and there was a point in time where I did not give a damn about these things. My goal was if I'm serving one person, so if I'm serving you here in the tea tasting room, I would have done my job. Of course, you know I want to be able to reach, let's say, a much wider audience globally, but after I asked myself am I prepared for that? Am I prepared for my voice to be heard in a way where I have 15 million people listening to me versus a thousand? You know what I mean. So definitely, I'm just going back to basics and going back to my core values, and I challenge you also to do that.

Speaker 1: 5:31

The next thing that you want to do is to set smart goals. That's something that has been a consistent topic on this podcast. You know, once you've had your intentions, whatever your intentions are, once you've made them and you've set them, you want to break these intentions down into smart goals, because that's going to be key, because when it comes to smart goals, you want to make sure that your goals or your intentions, you want to make sure that they are specific. It's very important to be specific. You want to make sure that they are measurable. You want to make sure that it's achievable, relevant and then time bound. Think about the timing in which you want to accomplish or achieve these goals and when you, if you utilize this framework, it will help you with creating clear and actionable steps so that you can reach your intentions.

Speaker 1: 6:17

The next thing I want to talk about is accountability. Again, I feel like this is like a recap of all my episodes from the previous season of on this current season. It's just that accountability is key. It's very key. It's a key component when it comes to reaching your goals. You cannot accomplish your goals unless you have some sort of accountability. You have to have self accountability and you also want to have, maybe, accountability partner. That could be a trusted friend or family member, even a mentor. Just having someone to check in with you can help you, keep you on track and motivated.

Speaker 1: 6:52

For me, I'm self motivated. I can keep myself accountable, but there are days when I'm having the old days where I just want to lay in the bed and watch tv all day, but then I have someone who's going to say Tan, you remember, you told me XYZ, get it done, and I'd be like, oh, I don't want to get it done, or I just I try to find a way to excuse myself from doing what I said I was going to do, but they're able to hold me accountable, not even in an aggressive way, but just again bringing me back to the why, bringing me back to the basics. So you definitely want to make sure that, as you're setting these intentions, these goals, this resolution, not only are you setting them with the smart goals framework, but you want to be able to hold yourself accountable, but also have someone who you trust to hold you accountable as well. Because I'm telling you, we're bossing up in 2024. We're not going to be out here doing anything mediocre, we are leveling up. We are bossing up in 2024.

Speaker 1: 7:43

You also want to think about being able to be adaptable. Sometimes in previous years that I've seen not only for myself, from even from others we set all these grand resolutions at the beginning of the year. The minute January 1st hits, that ball drops. You are setting these resolutions and then sometimes they fail, sometimes you end up falling off because, again, you lack that self-adaptability, you lack that accountability. It's just, it's not realistic and life is gonna life. Life is unpredictable and you know any circumstances can change and that's something that I've realized in my life personally recently that life is gonna hit you and you're gonna have to work with the punches. You're gonna have to find a way to adapt and adjust to the different circumstances that you're dealing with in your life. So you just want to make sure that you're prepared to adjust your goals and your intentions as needed because, again, even if nothing is necessarily Traumatic or dramatic is happening in your life, there are going to be days that you're just in the mood. And if you're a woman who menstruates, sometimes, again, I often joke and say we only have one good week as Menstrators to be normal, and even then, even that week you don't even, you don't even have it, because one you got to think about Menstrating and you gotta think about ovulation. There's so many things in that menstrual cycle that sometimes you're not even able to perform, yeah, as your best self as well. So let's leave room for you to adjust your goals and intent and intentions as it's needed.

Speaker 1: 9:13

You want to be flexible when it comes to being flexible. Once you're flexible, that's an asset when it comes to your growth in life, being able to be flexible. I have this bad habit about myself. I often would say I don't do well with change and that's a lie about myself. Because one thing about me I'm gonna adjust and I'm gonna adapt, but I'm gonna catch an attitude first and I'm being transparent with you. I'm gonna catch an attitude, then I have to take too deep breaths and then of course, I'm gonna adjust and adapt. But of course I've come a long way, I have grown, I will say, but I'm not perfect, but you definitely want to be able to be flexible when it comes to your Goals.

Speaker 1: 9:49

And then you know self care. We talk about self care all the time in this hustling and bustling and get your money, do this to that and chances chasing our goals in this here life, our self care, sometimes get puts on the back burner and then what we think we are doing as self care Sometime is not even enough, as as it is. So when you're taking care of your physical and mental and your Overall physical and emotional well-being is key. It's essential for Self-care. So you want to make sure going into 2024, you're going to be making sure that self care is an important part of your daily routine. So definitely want to do that with. We spoke about pouring into your emotional bank account, into your Self-care bank account. You want to ensure that that is an integral part of your daily routine, to ensure that you have the energy and the resilience to pursue your Intention, because that's going to be key.

Speaker 1: 10:45

So I want us, as we are looking to enter 2024, don't wait until 2024 for you to start setting your goals and Intentions. It's very important for me. I will say and I'll share this in another episode, though but I your intentions. You don't have to set your intentions or your goal for an entire year. Be realistic, which we spoke about smart goals. Be realistic with your goals and your intentions. Too many times we want to sit on where we're reflecting, we want to set our goals and our resolutions for an entire year and then sometimes we end up failing because, again, it's unrealistic, it's not specific, it's not measurable, it's not even achievable. So think about how you can set your goals and intentions Maybe monthly, maybe quarterly, maybe you know the first half of the year. You write them down, but also, these goals are not to how near or far they may be. You want to ensure that you are Using these smart girls framework when it comes to that. That's one thing I want to mention.

Speaker 1: 11:45

So, as we get ready to go into 2024, you want to ensure that you're setting your goals, your resolutions, but you want to do a self-reflection. The first thing you want to start with is doing a self-reflection Of the things that you accomplished and the challenges that you faced and the lessons that you've learned thus far for this year. You want to set your intentions. We have to be intentional and we have to be focused, so you want to set that. You want to make sure, once you set your goals and intentions, that you're using the smart goals framework. They should be specific, they should be measurable, they should be achievable, relevant and Time-bound as well. You want to ensure that you're holding yourself accountable in whatever way, shape or form. Be accountable, be able to adapt, be flexible, incorporate self care, because we like to say we are bossing up.

Speaker 1: 12:34

In 2024, self care is going to be key, whatever that means. Look like for you. Make that happen right, because, as we approach the close of another year, I want to encourage you to embrace the opportunity for growth and change. Resetting and making resolutions can be a transformative process, but it's very important to approach it with authenticity. Or Then t-city and over my sister's listening, she's gonna laugh at me for jacking up that word but you want to make sure that you approach in this process with mindfulness and authenticity as well. Stay true to who you are, but also make sure that you are intentional in everything that you do.

Speaker 1: 13:24

So, as I leave you here in 2023, the next time you'll hear my voice would be in 2024. And I hope and pray and wish that we all are in the tea tasting room in 2024. Now, like I said, we're gonna be bossing up in 2024. So I hope you found this episode to be an inspiration to you to get the ball rolling as you get in and as we grow and we learn and evolve in 2024. So I hope you find inspiration in setting those meaningful intentions, pursuing your goals in the coming year, cause we're going after everything that we put our mind to.

Speaker 1: 14:01

It's been a pleasure, it's been a privilege, it's been an honor to have recorded or uploaded an episode every Tuesday for 2023. And I wanna thank you for joining me in this tea tasting room every Tuesday since then, supporting me, leaving your feedback, just wanting to see me grow as well, and we are going to grow, we are going to become the boss of our health and wellness. We're gonna be bossing up in 2024 because we are gonna be setting intentional resolutions, or intentional goals, as we're going to be calling it for 2024. I will see you in the tea tasting room in 2024. Thank you for joining me for another episode of Tea with Tanya. If you liked this episode, be sure to share it with a friend. Don't forget to follow on Instagram at teawithtanyapodcast. Be sure to subscribe to the weekly Tea Talk newsletter and, of course, rate on Apple or Spotify and subscribe wherever you listen. See you next time. I love you for listening.