5 Ways To Give Your Military Spouse Goals A Little More Mojo
by Dr. Krista Wells, The Military Spouse Coach®
Military spouses often put their own goals on hold while they support their spouses and families. When it finally becomes their turn, they often need to rediscover their mojo to get things going again and believe they can achieve their goals. That's where these tips come in.
If you already have your goals written down but aren't sure where to start, consider using all five senses to spark your motivation.
#1: Start Each Day Visualizing Success
As you sip your morning coffee, enjoy five minutes of solitude and imagine your ideal future. By seeing the person you want to become, you subconsciously attract success toward you and become more motivated to take action steps. Some of my clients even like to name their future selves—artist Julia Cameron uses the term “cinema self” to refer to her ideal self of the future, and I love to follow this model.
One client took a picture of her vision board and had it made into a coffee mug so she could remind herself of what she wants right when she wakes up and sips her coffee. Get creative and think of a way to picture your ideal lifestyle and meditate on this image everyday until it becomes a reality.
#2: Listen to That Small Voice
Listen for hunches as you sip your coffee, imagine what your future looks like, and consider taking action steps aligned with your goals. You may be jotting down your list of things to do for the day, but listening to your inner voice will allow you to bring in a little spontaneity. While you're taking some time for yourself in the morning you may get an urge to invite an old friend to lunch and pick her brain regarding your upcoming interview or new business idea. By listening to this small voice, taking action will be so much easier. As you follow through with each hunch and see some positive outcomes, you'll start to trust that your mojo is back—and this momentum will become contagious.
Our auditory senses can help us stay positive and open to success in so many ways. We can encourage ourselves through taking in useful, motivational material while also thanking the nagging voice in our head at times. But sometimes we just need to tell that voice to buzz off when it becomes a negative force. Experiment with when you're most in tune with these hunches to figure out when you can best hear that little voice that motivates you to take action. Is it while you're lying in bed in the morning, taking a shower, driving, or something else entirely? Stay tuned in to your inner voice to help get things moving.
#3: Wake Up and Smell the Coffee
The expression, “Stop and smell the roses” is about perfecting the present as we pursue new goals, and I love this concept. What scents help ground you and allow you to stay focused on accomplishing success?
When I set my coffee maker on automatic and wake up to that delicious coffee smell, I feel like I can take on the day! By bringing fragrances we adore into our lives, we create sacred spaces for our goals to flourish. I've started talking more and more about the power of scent with my clients—smells play such a huge role in our relationships, our health, and our wisdom.
I have clients think about their favorite flowers, candles, or perfumes. If they “had it all,” I ask them, what would their signature scents be? Maybe their offices would have fresh flowers every week or would be infused with relaxing lavender aromatherapy. What smells inspire you to move forward on your goals? Decide to purposefully add scents into your life that inspire you into action.
#4: Remember That Your Words Are Your Wand (and Be Ready to Taste Your Words!)
Just like it's important to pay attention to the external messages you allow into your life, it's also essential to pay attention to internal messages—our own words. I use the “taste” metaphor to remind us of the words we use—after all, we're sometimes made to “eat” our words, and we can often feel the aftertaste of something we regret saying even weeks later. As you put your other five senses into action, develop a motivating mantra to bring your vision into your vocabulary. It could be as simple as, “I am ready for success!”
The words we meditate on, and the vocabulary we use when we speak, can become a reality in our life. I often tell clients to pay attention to their self-talk and use words that make them feel more motivated. This week try out some positive affirmations as you begin your day by looking in the mirror and saying, “I am worthy of success!” (or insert your own affirmation here). You'll be surprised at what a difference these few words can make. The more you practice repeating these affirmations, the more natural it will feel.
#5: Try Shaking Things Up by Getting Physical
When I have writer's block, I take a long walk to get the juices flowing; it totally works. Getting physical and drawing on your sense of touch can really make a difference as you work to establish new routines. One client gave the example of standing up when making sales calls. She sees better results when she's physically engaged in a task. By engaging our bodies, we effectively get the ball rolling, and soon enough we're quickly on our way to achieving our dreams.
One of the best remedies for anxiety is physical action. Our sense of touch reminds me how important exercise and action is for mental health. Yoga, stretching, and other physical exercises can activate our success muscles and infuse our goals with some much-needed mojo. We get in the rhythm of moving and then begin to see that goal moving forward.
This week, work on noticing when you feel stuck and bring in some movement to shake that feeling. Try blaring some motivational music and just start moving around until your anxiety eases.
Go Get Your Mojo Back!
My hope is that these exercises based on the five senses will help give you a little nudge of motivation and bring some of your awesome, kick-butt military spouse mojo back. Put them into practice and start working your way towards achieving any goal you desire. Here's to your success!
Dr. Krista Wells is a certified professional coach dedicated to empowering military spouses. In her private practice, she focuses on improving her clients' health, increasing their wealth, and strengthening their relationships. In addition to her private clients, Krista offers keynote speeches, workshops for organizations and military bases, and writes for various military publications. She recently launched The Military Spouse Show podcast in an effort to expand her reach and connect with the broader military spouse community. Go to: www.militaryspousecoach.com for more information.
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