I wrote out my August goals on pen and paper and never looked back. I was in Nashville, TN, when it turned August 1, so I just kept beeboppin’ around doing life without realizing I never blogged them!

I’ve finished several goals so far (like Read Life Giving Home through August, attend GLS, and make serious progress on a lot of my reading), but it was actually incredibly helpful to sit down and write it all out on August 15th.

Next steps for me: Sit down with my CALENDAR and write them in. Because that’s the secret to actually doing your goals, canigetanamen?

August Goals

Read Life Giving Home through August
Re-Read Traction with Sammy Jo
Read 1/2 Coaching Habit
Read Crucial Conversations (Phew that’s a lot of reading for this mama!)
Order Lyndon’s Baby Book Prints
Clear all photos off my phone
Foundations in Team Building : Write re-launch plan
Schedule Workout Days into my calendar
Attend Global Leadership Summit
Go on our annual Camping Trip (WITH THREE KIDS. Hold me.)

What are some of your August Goals?

June!!! Summer. Peach stands. Halfway point. Weddings. Anniversary. Pool time. Watermelon. Sprinklers. Thunderstorms. Books. Naps. Podcasting. Running. Working. Resting. Playing.

We’re 6 days in, and I’m already so hot 😂.

I love the month of June. I love reaching this halfway point in the year, looking back and looking ahead and seeing where I am. So far, so good. This year has been full of a lot of change and good things. I’m happy to say we are giving it our all, and I’m enjoying every moment.

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June Goals

Read The Sacred Enneagram
Catch up on the Life Giving Home
Read 3 Chapters of Crucial Conversations with my Team
Beaufort’s Baby Book: Order Prints
Lyndon’s Baby Book: Tape Prints I have and fill out blanks
Schedule Q3 Planning Meeting w/Team
Fearrington Getaway with Will
1st Counseling Appointment

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If you made it to that last one, you’re probably like, “Hold up. Counseling?”

Yes, counseling!

When I typed this blopgost up the first time, I deleted that line. Yes, there are sometimes goals I write down in my Powersheets that I don’t include on my blog because it’s just for me. While this “goal” definitely is personal, I wanted to share that I am going to start counseling in hopes that it might make someone else reading this brave too.

Will and I have been to pre-marriage counseling and counseling since we’ve been married, and it has been SO helpful and wonderful. But I’ve never been by myself. Just for me. Just for the stuff going on in my own heart and head. And as I’ve navigated this big change in my business this year, I’ve wrestled with a LOT of emotions. Emotions about this massive change of letting go of Nancy Ray Photography, my identity being wrapped up in work, my identity as a mom, and what I’m doing moving forward.

All in all, I need some help navigating all of those emotions, the grief of losing the business I’ve identified with for so long, and how to navigate what’s to come. I’m taking the time, money, and emotional energy to invest in my emotional health. Something that I feel is a little stupid, something that I feel is selfish, something that I feel is very important and definitely the best thing for me and my family. (Isn’t weird how I can feel all of that at once?)

I’m the kind of person that if I don’t write it down as a goal, I won’t do it. So I am. I may or may not let you know how it goes, but if nothing else, I want to encourage you - if you need to set up a counseling appointment, do it. I am trusting this will be the best decision. I know it will.

I’m just going to be real : if I didn’t have this monthly goal blogpost waiting for me, I don’t think I would have made any actual goals for the month of April. Life with three kids has dominated me lately 😂. BUT, I’m thankful for the accountability here, because it forced me to stop and think ahead a little. I realized: Milly’s birthday is NEXT month! Also, we haven’t hosted a baby dedication worship service and prayer time at our house yet for Beaufort, which we did for both of the girls and it was so sweet. And I’m pretty far behind on Lyndon’s baby book, which I want to make sure I don’t neglect. I was also reminded to continue my goal of taking off social media one week once a month, which has been so great.

So as you can see, this is a place for me to process the things I want to get done. The things that matter to me, and I’m grateful for the reminder to stop, to look ahead, and be strategic with my calendar.

You’ll see my first goal is to LAUNCH THE PODCAST! What! I can’t believe it’s almost here. I’d love to hear your guesses on what the name of it will be in the comments!! I’m excited and nervous and hoping it’ll be a fun way to get some great content to you.

So leave a comment with your guess! And if you are one of my friends who I have already told : SHH. Don’t comment ;).

April Goals

Launch the Podcast (!!!)
Read The Year of Happy with the Nancy Ray Book Club
No Instagram for 1 Week
Record Episodes 4 and 5
Finish Year 1 of Lyndon’s Baby Book
Plan Milly’s Birthday Party
Plan Beaufort’s Baby Dedication
Back up and Consolidate ALL old NRP Harddrives