Master Confidence and Take Charge of Your Goals with Practical Steps: Written by Kevin Ogle

For working adults juggling careers, relationships, and personal goals, confidence building can feel hardest right when it matters most. The core tension is familiar: motivation shows up, then confidence barriers take over, self-doubt impacts spirals, inconsistent effort, and fuzzy priorities that turn plans into stalled projects. These goal achievement challenges often look like laziness on the surface, but they’re usually personal development struggles happening underneath the daily grind. Naming what’s actually blocking momentum makes progress feel realistic again.

Quick Summary: Build Confidence and Hit Goals

●       Start daily confidence habits that create small wins you can build on.

●       Set clear goals and break them into doable steps you can start today.

●       Use mindset shift techniques to challenge self-doubt and choose more supportive thoughts.

●       Make positive lifestyle changes that reinforce your confidence and momentum.

●       Take immediate confidence boosters that move you from planning to action.

Small Habits That Build Confidence Every Week

Confidence grows when you keep small promises to yourself, especially on days when motivation is low. These habits turn big goals into repeatable actions, so you build momentum, learn from feedback, and trust your follow-through over time.

Two-Minute Morning Win

●       What it is: Pick one tiny task and finish it before checking messages.

●       How often: Daily

●       Why it helps: Starting with a win trains your brain to expect follow-through.

Habit Stack Starter

●       What it is: Use habit triggers to attach a goal action to coffee.

●       How often: Daily

●       Why it helps: It reduces decision fatigue and makes consistency easier.

Evidence-Based Self-Talk

●       What it is: Write one “I can” statement backed by a real example.

●       How often: Daily

●       Why it helps: Proof-based affirmations feel believable and strengthen self-trust.

Ten-Minute Progress Log

●       What it is: Track one metric and one lesson in a notes app.

●       How often: Weekly

●       Why it helps: Visible progress keeps goals concrete and reduces discouragement.

Sunday Reset Reflection

●       What it is: Review wins, choose one focus, and schedule your next step.

●       How often: Weekly

●       Why it helps: Planning ahead protects your priorities when life gets busy.

Turn a Business Dream Into Reality: Launch in Clear, Simple Steps

Once your weekly habits are steady, putting that consistency into a real-world goal, like starting a business, can build confidence fast. Launching a venture takes focused action: validate your idea, choose a business structure, and then handle the key paperwork and compliance that make it official. Choosing a limited liability company (LLC) can help protect your personal assets and keep your business finances more clearly separated. If the admin side feels intimidating, using an online formation service like ZenBusiness can help you set up your LLC without the expense of hiring a lawyer. From there, you can apply the same step-by-step approach to other areas of life, fitness, food, calm, and career, starting today.

Build Resilience with a Simple Daily Upgrade Plan

This is the same build-as-you-go method, applied to your body, mind, and work. By stacking a few small, repeatable actions, you create quick wins that make bigger goals feel doable.

1. Choose a beginner fitness routine you can repeat
   Start with a simple plan you can do three days this week, like a 20-minute walk, a short bodyweight circuit, or beginner strength videos. Keep the bar low on purpose so you can show up consistently and collect proof that you follow through. If motivation is shaky, use the less than 2 minutes rule to start by just putting on shoes or rolling out a mat.
2. Set up nutritious meal planning for fewer decisions
   Pick two go-to breakfasts, two lunches, and three dinners you like, then write one grocery list that covers them. Prep one helpful thing today, such as washing produce, cooking a protein, or portioning snacks, so weekday choices become almost automatic. This reduces decision fatigue and keeps your energy steadier for goal work.
3. Practice one relaxation technique daily
   Choose one method you will do at the same time each day, like 5 minutes of slow breathing, a short stretch, or a quick guided meditation. Treat it as training your recovery system, not a luxury, because calmer days make it easier to persist when plans change. Track it with a simple checkmark so you can see your streak build.
4. Outline a realistic career transition plan
   Write a one-page plan with three columns: your target role, the skills you need, and the next smallest action. Then schedule one career move this week, such as updating your resume headline, reaching out to one contact, or completing one lesson. This turns vague worry into a path you can walk.
5. Review weekly, then tighten one knob
   At the end of the week, note what felt easy, what felt hard, and what you will keep exactly the same. Adjust only one variable, like adding one more walk, swapping one dinner, or moving your relaxation time earlier. Small tweaks protect consistency, and consistency is what builds confidence.

Common Questions About Confidence and Goals

Q: What are some simple daily habits I can start right now to boost my confidence and feel more motivated?
A: Pick one tiny promise you can keep daily, like a 10-minute walk, a two-sentence journal entry, or making your bed. Track it with a simple checkmark so you see proof of follow-through. Motivation often shows up after action, so start even when you do not feel ready.

Q: How can I overcome feelings of being overwhelmed or stuck when trying to improve my life?
A: Shrink the problem into a solvable piece by identifying the issue in one sentence. Then list two possible causes, choose one small experiment, and set a 15-minute timer to begin. Afterward, note what changed so you can adjust instead of quitting.

Q: How can making small changes to my diet and exercise routine impact my overall confidence and well-being?
A: Small upgrades stabilize energy, which can reduce irritability and help you stick with goals. Start with one reliable meal, add a protein or fruit, and drink water before coffee. Pair it with light movement you actually enjoy so it feels supportive, not punishing.

Turn Small Confidence Wins Into Real Progress Toward Goals

Confidence can wobble when goals feel big, progress feels slow, or a setback starts rewriting the story. The steadier path is the approach practiced here: growth mindset reinforcement, clear intentions, and small confidence implementation that keeps momentum alive. Applied consistently, these moves create positive behavioral change that shows up as calmer decisions, higher follow-through, and long-term well-being benefits. Confidence grows when the next small action becomes your default. Choose one 10-minute action today and repeat it tomorrow, using self-empowerment strategies to protect the streak. This is how change becomes stability, resilience, and durable growth over time.

 

🌺 Where Culture, Clarity & Creativity Meet: Welcome to the Fly Girl Shop by Andrea

 

Sis, let’s talk about legacy, intention, and the fly life.

You know that feeling when something just clicks — when your culture, your clarity, and your creativity come together in divine alignment? That’s the heartbeat of the Fly Girl Shop by Andrea, and I’m so proud to finally share this sacred space with you.

This shop isn’t just a collection of pretty things — it’s a love letter to you, the bold, radiant, and evolving Black woman who dares to live life on her own terms. Whether you’re walking in your healing era, your soft life season, or your creative comeback — you’ll find something here that speaks directly to your soul.

🖼️ Art That Reflects Your Journey

Every acrylic photo block in the shop captures a moment of beauty, power, and peace. From the sunset over Key West to the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, each image tells a story — our story. These aren’t just photos; they’re affirmations in visual form, reminding us to pause, breathe, and remember who we are.

📓 Tools for Soul-Centered Goal Setting

You know I’m all about keeping our vision sharp and our goals rooted in purpose. That’s why I created digital workbooks and goal-setting templates specifically for women like us — dreamers with depth. These tools aren’t about hustle culture. They’re about aligned ambition. Reflection. Healing. Clarity.

💎 Jewelry That Speaks to the Spirit

Sometimes you don’t need to say a word — your presence, your light, your energy speaks for you. That’s what these pieces are made for. The Fly Girl Bangles, statement earrings, and curated adornments are more than accessories — they’re declarations of self-love, confidence, and power.

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You’re Not Just Shopping. You’re Curating a Life.

When you support this shop, you’re not just buying a product. You’re investing in a vision — one built on creativity, culture, intention, and freedom. You’re affirming the dreams of a Black woman artist who believes deeply in storytelling through design. You’re helping me — Andrea — continue to create, to teach, to give, and to show up fully as a vessel of light and love.

This space is for all of us who are reclaiming softness, honoring our voices, and designing lives we don’t need to escape from.

Whether you're gifting yourself or someone you love, I pray each item brings joy, connection, and inspiration into your space.

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🛍️ Shop the Collection

💫 Visit the Fly Girl Shop on Etsy
🖤 Thank you for supporting this Black woman-owned business.

Everything is 10% off! Make sure you use FLYGIRL for the promo code at checkout. 

Stay fly & full of purpose,
Andrea 💫
Creator | Chief Fly Girl |Visionary

Dear Sis, Your Voice Matters

Dear Sis,

Your voice carries power. It’s the power to advocate for change, to challenge the status quo, and to inspire others to take action. But here’s the truth: showing up matters just as much as speaking out. It’s not only about standing up for yourself but also about lifting others up along the way.

We live in a time where division is amplified, arguments become the norm, and energy is often misplaced. It’s easy to organize and execute a debate or point fingers, but what about turning that energy into supporting one another? What about using that passion to plan and build instead of tear down? Sis, that diabolical work of separation has no place here.

This is the season to advocate, organize, plan, and execute—not for chaos, but for progress. Imagine the power of unity when we direct our focus toward solutions instead of contributing to the division. Think about the impact we can make when we channel our voices into movements that create lasting change for ourselves and our communities.

Let’s call it what it is: diabolical work when we let division stand in the way of collaboration. But Sis, we are better than that. We are built to be connectors, advocates, and changemakers. When we show up, we show out—not just for ourselves but for others who need to see that strength, that fire, that relentless hope for something better.

So, what will you do today to show up? How will you use your voice to inspire, heal, and uplift? Start small if you need to, but start. Together, we can turn things around.

Call to Action:

Dear Sis, let’s not just talk about change—let’s organize, plan, and execute it. The world needs us, and we need each other.

 

Brown Girl Affirmation Audio Playlist

Brown Girl Affirmation helps you to maintain and sustain a clear, positive, and upbeat attitude. Affirmations help you to stay on a direct path to greatness. Affirmations keep you accountable for who you are and where you are going. Affirmations don't lie. Take time to affirm your greatness by listening to the Brown Girl Affirmation. Remember, you shape your realize being saying I Am and I will and adding an adjective right after "I Am and I Will". 

Self-Care for Brown Girls: http://payhip.com/b/E6nA For more Brown Girl Affirmations, please check out: Brown Girl From Boston Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BrownGirlFro... Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/BrownGirlFr...

What Is Your Personal Brand? Are You Being The Best Version of Yourself?

#FLYFriday: What Is Your Personal Brand? Are You Being The Best Version of Yourself?

Enroll in The FLY Girl Effect Group Coaching: https://browngirlfromboston.leadpages.co/findingyourflyness/

Need 1 on 1 Personal Branding and Image Coaching? Startup Business Strategy? Self-Esteem, Confidence Building or Next Step Goal Setting consult? Sign up for your 30-minute complimentary coaching session: bit.ly/coachingwithbrowngirl

Brown Girl Coaching

#WorkinProgressWednesday: Did you achieve your goals for August? (Video)

#MoneyMakingMonday: Vision+Writing+Doing=Manifestation

Dear Brown Girl Now Is The Time to Live Life and Invest in Your Life (Video)

We are in the last week of 2015 and people are starting with the "New Year, New Me" cliche. Now is the time to start living life, investing in your life, and manifest the things you want in life. Stop procrastination and participating in bad habits and unhealthy patterns and start getting clear on who you are, what you want, and what do you truly want from you life. Stop following trends and start putting action behind your words.



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Grab Your Manifesting Your 2016 Goal Setting Book

Use Your Time Wisely

It takes 10,000 hours/3 years to become an expert at something. Are you using your 10,000 hours to be an expert of your own life?

Build Your Empire Through Goal Setting (Video)

Now that you have spent half a day or the whole day working on someone's else goals and empire, it's your time to work on YOUR goals and empire!

Say No To New Year's Resolution and Say Yes to Manifesting Your Vision (Mind Right, Vision Tight)

Did you know that we have 6 weeks and 5 days/47 days left in 2014? I keep asking myself day in and day out where have the time gone? Each year, we are bombarded by the disillusion of people setting “New Year’s Resolutions”! New Year’s Resolutions drive me up the wall because statistically speaking 20% of resolutions are broken within the first week of January! Yes, 20%! So, what happens to the faithful 80% you might ask? At least 80% are broken within one year but this number might be higher.

Every year, I am reminded of all the progress, setbacks and challenges I have overcame within my professional and personal life. I get many questions from individuals who are sick and tired of making resolutions annually and don’t stick to them. Many individuals are looking for a transition within their mindset and in their lives without committing to resolutions.

Today, I sat down to reflect on five of the most important reasons why people don’t commit to resolutions and why you should commit to manifesting your vision for your professional and personal life. I hope they help you manifest your vision for your personal and professional life.

You didn’t make a plan for it. Many people forget that a resolution is really just a GOAL. It has to be treated as such. Just because it is a resolution it doesn’t have additional superpowers just because it was made on December 31 and started on January 1st. A goal requires structure and action. Make a plan. Prepare for challenges, obstacles and roadblocks and develop an action plan on how you will deal with them. Don’t just hope for the best!

You don’t have a strong support system. It take a village for anyone to become successful. Your friends and family are important tribal members of your village. They can cheer you on or kill your dreams or vision if you give them permission to do so. With any vision or goal it’s important to surround yourself with people who believe in what you’re doing and want to see you succeed. Remember, no one person is an island and we need help from our village. Let your family and friends know what you are doing and how they can help you achieve your goals and vision. If they are not receptive of your goals or vision, release them with love. You don’t need the toxicity nor negativity surrounding you.

You are doing too much. During the holiday season we are overwhelmed, overstressed and over zealous. We make to make these huge drastic changes and want the overnight progress. In life, progress and change take time and persistence. Life is a journey not a marathon. Take one moment, minute, hour, day, week, month and year at a time. Set reasonable expectations and be patient with yourself. Don’t beat yourself. Focus on one goal and one vision at a time. Once you start gaining motivation and momentum, you will be able to see your vision come into fruition.

You weren’t accountable to anyone. Why are your trying to succeed alone? Stop allowing your untrained ego to let you fail. Silence your ego and reach out for help. The untrained ego/voice also bring about lonely thoughts of doubts, insecurities and the “I told you so.” Having an accountability partner help you to stay focused and on the right track even when you are ready to quit. Instead of going after your goals and vision alone, find someone who promise to hold you accountable. This can be a group of people with similar goals and vision, a life coach or someone who is loving and assertive. This group or person is going to follow up on you to make sure you stay true to your goals and vision. An accountable partner will silence the inner saboteur in your head.

You are afraid of success. Many people are afraid of failure but how many are truly afraid of success! That is a tough pill to swallow. Fear is another part of the goal setting and vision process. Many times, we limit ourselves because we are afraid of pushing past our comfort zone and reap the benefits of success. Instead of using fear to keep you stuck, use fear as motivation to conquer fear and achieve success. Remember, on the other side of fear is success! I have faith in you.

If you need help getting your mind right and vision tight don't worry! I have put together a useful resource with all the practical tools you need to get started here: mind right, vision tight. We have many women who have invested in the Mind Right Monday goal setting training, with many inspiring goals and achievements so far!

In this training, you will discover:

• How to give yourself permission to be great. How to discover your voice and inner power and releasing your greatness.
• How to release and surrender toxic people and things with love. Many times, we are not able to set goals and manifest our vision because we are holding on to people, things and unresolved issues that are toxic and no longer serve our purpose in life.
• How to utilize your time to be great and clear your vision for 2015. Knowing the difference between busy and productivity. We will learn the true meaning of time management, structure and balancing our time.
• Create a vision statement for your life. Many of us know where we are going because we don't have a vision for our life because we are on autopilot and merely existing versus living our passion and purpose.
• Create an online vision board. This is the fun part, we will create a vision board either online or a physical vision board through recommended tools. You will learn the true meaning of a vision board and how to manifest our vision for it to come into fruition.

If you are ready to get your mind right and vision tight through goal setting, manifesting your vision with like minded individuals, have an one on one personalize coaching session with me and have fun! It's time to stop wishing and actually start doing. This is your year!

Register here: Mind Right, Vision Tight: Breakthrough to your Vision!

Love your sister-friend,

Andrea

Also, for a limited time, we have a special coupon code for the first five people who register first! The coupon code is Boston. Act now for this special discount!

Creating Your Vision Board: Get Your Mind Right, Get Your Vision Tight!

If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer." Matthew 21:22

On August 2, 2014, two of my dear sister-friends hosted a powerful and visual event entitled, " Dream Awake, Create Your Vision" in Providence, RI. This event transformed my life and vision. Not only did I provided heartfelt laser coaching sessions, but I also met positive, beautiful women in which we encouraged and empowered one another to live their best life.  Lastly, I was able to work on a vision board. At first, I was working on my vision board in between the laser coaching sessions in which I honestly put in only 40% of the work into my vision board which left me dissatisfied because I want to visualize and achieve much more. I put my feelings of lack of completion to the side because I was able to inspire, awake and discover the greatness within the women who I was coaching during the event. After the event, I decided to go home and complete my vision board. When I completed my vision board, I didn't realize how that beautiful creation would transform and elevate my life, my purpose and bring my vision to life. 

People host vision board parties for fun, but not fully understanding the powerfulness of creating their vision. When you create a vision board not only is it bringing your vision to life, but it is also manifested the law of attraction. Don't ask or visualize something and refuse to affirm the nature of it. You asked for it, whether it was verbally, in your thoughts and within your heart. When you ask and visualize something, you need to be ready to receive whatever you ask for it wholeheartedly because it's something that you desired and longed for. When you create your vision board, you just can't wish for it and remain stagnant, you have to actually be fearless and be active in obtaining it. You have to transition your mindset and be ready to attract it in your life. In other words, you have to be ready at all times to receive it. Your thoughts, your life, and you must be in alignment with the goodness you are going to receive. Remember, you attract what you are and you want to attract endless positive possibilities. 

What is a Vision Board?

A vision board is a powerful visualization tool that activates the law of attraction. Law of attraction is a universal law which it states that we create our own reality. We are like magnets, we attract the people in our lives (good or bad), we attract experiences, money, homes and whatever your mind, energy, and heart attract. Basically, we attract what we are. If we are positive people who enjoy life, peace and prosperity we will attract those people within our lives while the chaotic, negative and doubtful people will exit out of our life. I am currently going through a life transformation of attracting a healthy, prosperous, drama free, loving, caring, strong, and intelligent sister-friends within my life. 

A vision board is a collage of cut out pictures, word, and quotes which are colorful which activate and stimulate excitement and awakening within our brains to become happy. This collage is something you want to be, do, or obtain in life. You take your colorful cutouts and you post them on a poster board. Remember, when you are cutting out your pictures, words, and quotes, you want it to be specific since you are truly asking for your heart desires. For example, a week before I attended the event, I decided to send in a proposal to speak at Heal a Woman, Heal a Nation 12th annual conference in 2015. I was struggling with the proposal because I overanalyze my greatness and got in the way of making the proposal more complicated than it should have been. Therefore, I eventually submitted the proposal, put the conference logo on my vision board and a few weeks later I was notified that I was selected to speak at the conference. I asked I received, I believed, I visualized, and I attracted that speaking engagement within my life. I was frightened at first because I wasn't expecting the response to appear so soon. Was I ready for the response? Most definitely!

Are you interested in getting your mind right and vision tight? Here are four ways you can achieve your vision:

1. Visualize Yourself Being and Doing: Did you know that 65% of people are visual learners? By being a visual learner, you are able to obtain the information by visualizing the material which is an amazing and creative skill to have. Why not visualize yourself doing and achieving something amazing? When you create your vision board, post your board everywhere and visualize yourself doing, being and achieving everything on your vision board. Post the board somewhere visible, in which you frequently that specific area daily such as your closet or your fridge, take a picture of your vision board and use it as your phone's screensaver, tablet/iPad's screensaver, or laptop screensaver and post your vision board as your Facebook/Twitter cover photo. 
2. It's Your Creation: Your vision board is meant for you. Your vision board is your masterpiece and no one else's . It's your vision, your creation and your life. Remember everyone is not going to understand and agree with your vision and that's perfectly fine because your vision was given to you by the Creator/Most High and that's who receives all the credit. For instance, If you want to become married to a specific person, put that on your vision board and get in alignment with your vision.
3. Overcome your limited self-imposed thoughts and self-sabotaging self-talk. When you create your vision board, you want to take the top of your dreams. You don't want to limit your dreams, nor your vision. When you create your vision board, you want to put things that you may think are unrealistic but realistically you can achieve such things. Stop telling yourself that you can't invest in Apple stocks, you can't become a CEO of a Fortune 500 or you can't make the Forbes list.  Stop limiting yourself, your dreams and your vision. In order to achieve that vision, you have to stop with the negative self-talk, limiting yourself and greatness to something punitive when you were created to be fearless, bold, and amazing. Start your vision board on a positive, upbeat and bold note. If you find yourself cutting out things that may appear unrealistic and that self-doubt creeps into your heart, continue to cut it out and post it because now is the time for you to start moving from your comfort zone to a "challenging and anything is possible" zone. As long as you have the attitude of anything is possible if I ask, believe and receive, you will achieve your vision.
4. Stop Overanalyzing and Creating Drama. Did you know when you over-analyze something you are creating unnecessary drama and unnecessary reality for yourself? I tell myself, my clients and other people get out of your head and get into your heart. Think less and feel more. Many times in life, we think so much that our heads figuratively exploded, which keeps us stuck, frustrated and bitter. We need to feel more and get more intuitive with ourselves. Whenever we create a vision board, we often over-analyze the things we put on our vision board. We start to question ourselves and our abilities to actually achieve and visualize our greatness. For example, when I created my vision board, I put one of my favorite vacation destinations, St. Thomas, USVI because I am going to take my coaching services there along with having retreats there. You see the keyword "I am" I did not say "I might". I didn't over-analyze what I said because I dug deep into my feelings and affirmed my vision. You have to affirm what you want without overanalyzing it. Once you over-analyze your vision, you already limited yourself and affirmed fear. Affirm what you want.

There are various ways that you can create your vision board. You can create your vision board by gathering old magazines, printing out pictures, quotes, and word from the internet and posting them on your poster board. Whatever pictures, quotes, words, and things ignite your excitement and passion, choose that one and post away. Secondly, Oprah.com has an amazing free online dream/vision board tool. Check it out here dream/vision board. Here are some handy questions that will help you to create your best vision board:

What would you do differently when you realize your goal?

Where would you travel?
Where would you live?
What would you wear?
What things would you own?
What kind of vehicle would you drive?
What would you do for work?... Or would you work?
Who would you help?

Coaching question: Have you created a vision/dream board before? If so, what are three things have you achieved from your vision/dream board? How often did you look at your dream/vision board? Make sure you comment on the post.

P.S. These two vision boards that I've posted on the blog are examples of my own vision boards that I created. I have one for my vision and I have one that represents positive Black women and the love and light we share!

Thank you for reading Brown Girl From Boston

XOXO,

Drea

Ready to Goal Set?

Goal setting sounds simple but many people often don't set goals nor write them down due to FEAR and confusion. Many people are unclear on how to take the first step to set their first goal. If you are overwhelmed with goal setting and don't know where to start, pick one goal and start with that goal. Don't overanalyze just start writing. 

Being a life coach, I coach my amazing and gifted women with setting realistic and unrealistic goals. We also need to set unrealistic goals because we need to achieve the impossible because we need to challenge ourselves and elevate our life's purpose. If you coach with me, you will set realistic and unrealistic goals.

I decided to create two goal setting worksheets to help those who are fearful or confused about where to start. 

4 Ways to Be A Better Goal-Setter Worksheet: Ready, Set Goals and Plan Action Steps  

Short and Long Term Goal Setting Worksheet: Personal and Professional Goal Setting 

I want you to challenge yourself and FACE FEAR when you set and achieve your goals. FACEFEAR= Financial, Attitude, Career, Education, Family, Exercise, Arts, and Recreation. 

Instruction on worksheets:

1. Print worksheets
2. Write goals at the top of the worksheet where it states the goal. This step is the most important part of goal setting. When you write down the goal, you are being held accountable for putting action behind it.
3. The action plan section is key. You want to be thorough. You want to add the start date and completion date of when you will complete the goal. Write down the day, month and year in which you will start and complete the goal by. For each goal you write down you are now committed and accountable to achieve that goal.
4. At the bottom of the worksheet, you have checkpoints in increments of 2 months. These checkpoints keep you on the task of achieving your goal. Whether if your goal is long or short, please check in with your goal every two months or as often as you like. 

I look forward to hearing from those who are downloading the worksheets and setting goals. 

What short and long term personal and professional goals are you looking to achieve?

Make sure you comment on Brown Girl From Boston blog! Look forward to hearing about your goals and holding you accountable for achieving your goals. 

Are You A Goal Getter?

                                             "Set goals so simple they're laughable."

For as long as I can remember, I have been a goal-getter. Before every school year since the age of 4, I set achievable and measurable goals. I set goals from winning student of the month to applying to my dream University. (S/O to my Alma mater, Tuskegee University) Back to the topic, I am known as my family's goal-getter and setter, and I am held accountable for achieving my goals. My mom is one of my accountability partners, and she supports and reminds me of the plans I have completed and the ones that I will continue to perform.

I set small, laughable goals, such as cleaning my walk-in closet monthly. This goal may seem trivial to some and unachievable to some, but I am reminded that I must achieve this goal for the greater good of gaining clarity, de-cluttering my closet, and donating items for those in need. When I set goals, I also make an action plan/steps to achieve the goal.

Goals require action! You become a goal-setter when you don't try to achieve your goals. You babysit your goals by writing them down, you pacify them by suppressing them, and unfortunately, you bring death to your dreams by being half-hearted, passive, and indecisive about whether you are good enough to achieve them. I am here to let you know you are good enough to achieve your goals.   Don't bring death to your goals; breathe life into your dreams and go forth and achieve them!

Four Ways To Be A Goal Getter:

Remember, you can set goals before the New Year. Plans are meant to be fixed and replaced at any given moment. Set simple goals, achieve them, and replace them with more goals. Below, I'll provide three ways to be a goal-getter.

Visualize Your Goals: We all are creative and innovative human beings. However, we somehow got away with daydreaming about our dreams. Spend at least ten minutes daily visualizing yourself living your ideal life. Once you imagine yourself actively living your perfect life, write what you envision yourself doing and feeling.

Write Down Your Goals: Start with 3 to five goals and write them down in a goal book. A goal book is excellent to have because that book is dedicated to your purposes only. Look at your goal book daily and measure where you are achieving your goals. Are you a week, a month, or a year from reaching a particular purpose. What actions have you taken or are you taking to achieve that goal?

Have An Accountability Partner: You don't have to achieve your goals alone. Do you have a trustworthy, mature, assertive, and responsible person who will hold you accountable to achieve your goals? This person must be willing to collaborate and directly communicate with you. This person should be your coach and cheerleader wrapped into one and know when to give you a tough love or a pep talk when you feel stuck to become unstuck.

Replace A Goal With A Goal: You just achieve a goal and cross it off your list. Yay for you! Your next step is to replace that goal with another achievable and measurable one. In life, we never arrive at our final destination. We are always a work in progress, and that's a fantastic thing about life.

Remember, they aren't big enough if your goals don't scare you. You want to turn your dreams into reality by being a goal-getter. Don't sit on your goals because you will be stuck while life quickly passes you. Don't be a "woulda, coulda, shoulda" person. You got this!

My question to you is, what goal do you want to turn into reality? What action steps have you taken to achieve your goals?

Thank you for reading Brown Girl From Boston! Comment, share your goals, or simply say hello! Love you all!

Drea,
XOXO

Dysfunction Junction: Why Do We Thrive on Malfunction?

            "We live in a bipolar, microwavable society in which people thrive off of dysfunction." -Drea Camille

Today I was on and off my main social media network because 1.  I didn't feel like hearing the same "Monday Blues" and 2.  I just didn't feel like allowing my energy to be drained. As we all know, Monday roll around every week, so please stop being surprised when Monday roll around again. Stop hating on Monday and embrace Miss Monday, she didn't do anything to anyone but start off the week. 3. A dysfunctional and inappropriate tape leaked of a few celebrities getting into a scuffle over who knows what because a. None of us was there, b. That's between the parties involved and c. It is not my business nor place to judge because it is not my position nor do I want it to be. I am trying to maintain my sanity, personal, and professional life never mind trying to figure out why someone that I don't know and may not ever know did something that I have no control over. 

We can assess, speculate and gather every thought and opinion about various situations but we must stop thriving on malfunction and dysfunctional situations and circumstances.  Whenever I read, view or hear anything that is dysfunctional, my energy become drained because nothing good comes from these situations or circumstances. I look at these situations as emotional vampires because it sucks your energy and leave you thinking why did I allow that to happen. We have to be mindful and present whenever we indulge in dysfunction and malfunction behaviors and circumstances. We have all been in these situations and below I wrote ways on how we unfortunately thrive on dysfunction and ways we can grow and thrive in life without being involve in dysfunction and malfunction environments and behaviors. 

Three Ways We Thrive on Dysfunction:

1. Your Life Mirror Dysfunction. If your house is a mess, your life is a mess. The word house can mean your actually house, your life, your essence, your mind but you get the point. If these things are a mess and full of dysfunction behaviors and actions, it can cloud your judgement and life.  Take a quick assessment of your life, look at the people you surround yourself with, do they always have some kind of drama and chaos going in. 
2. Dysfunction is Entertaining and Contagious . You DVR your favorite reality shows and you update your statues and tweets. You also think it is cool to take shots at people via subliminal messages.  You think it is copacetic to put your personal and professional relationships on blast via social media because everyone else is doing it. Some people love when you post your dysfunction because you will be the topic of discussion and the laughing stock of social media. No one will take you nor your relationships due to being dysfunctional.  
3. Personal and Professional Life is Dysfunctional. You live in chaos and you work in chaos. You bring your dysfunction to your work place such as bringing your negative energy from home to the workplace and vice versus. If you always complain to others or social media about dysfunction and never take accountability and responsibility for your role, you will continue to live in dysfunction. 

Three Ways We Can Grow and Thrive Without Being Dysfunctional:

1. Break The Cycle:  Be firm and stand for right. You don't have to be a follower. You can easily break the cycle of dysfunctional behavior and circumstances. Shift your mindset, surround yourself with like-minded people and things. Just because you come from dysfunction, doesn't mean you have to continue to live and indulge in dysfunction. Start small such as if your house is literally a mess, start cleaning a room at a time. You can start cleaning out your closet and donate clothes you haven't worn in months or even years.
2. Realistic Goal-Setting:  Go get a blank piece of paper and start writing down your short and long term goals you want to achieve.  What are some things you want and need to accomplish? Have your wrote those things down and actually developed an action plan on developing them? If the answer is no, what are your waiting for. Unplug from dysfunctional activities, people and things and achieve your goals and dreams. 
3. Get Out of Your Way:  In order for you to be successful and accomplish your goals and dreams, you must first get out of your feelings and get out of your way to be successful. When we get out of our way and feelings, we can grow and thrive in appropriate way. Getting out of your way means you must go against the grain, be a leader and get out of your comfortable. If you are comfortable, you are not growing. 

Thank you for reading! I want to hear from you on why do we thrive on dysfunction and malfunction. Share your thoughts and opinions. Look forward to hearing from you and please share Brown Girl From Boston blog.

Stay Beautiful and Brainy!

Drea

XOXO