I Believe I Can And I Will

I experience a lot of change in 2015. My word one little word was grace and I worked on managing every change that came my way and every change that I sought out that year. Stretching and growing was my game in 2015 and it's also when I adopted this mantra for my life:

I believe

I can

and I will. 

The growth mindset is my thing. After deciding the only real way to encourage others to have a growth mindset was to show them how, I've strived to live and model the growth mindset throughout my life. 

Just the other day, someone said to me, "You have so much energy. How do you have time to get it all done? Do you sleep?" 

I've heard this before. Yet I'm still not sure how to respond. To start, I believe I can and I will...but I only put my energy into things I believe are worth my time. I've learned to pass or say no when it's not something I'm enthusiastic about and I've learned to engage with things I'm definitely excited and enthusiastic about. Sometimes I'm overwhelmed but for the most part I manage my time and bring my love to whatever I'm doing. 

Yes, I do sleep. (Between 6-8 hours a night actually.)

No, I don't do it all. (I'm behind on laundry, need to empty the dishwasher, and there are toys I need to inspire the kids to pick up. Not to mention my husband does lots and lots of stuff. (I'm a lucky girl.))

But most importantly, I do the things I love. I make time for the things I love. I look for opportunities to do the things I love. Because spending time doing things I love is energizing. 

Let's Write! Change helped me find out what I really want to be spending my time on. I took a position in my previous district that wasn't quite what I thought it was going to be and it meant less time reading and writing and sharing my love literacy with students. During that year, I did an activity that I discovered in book. I invite you to try it now. Set your timer for 5 minutes (and give yourself more time if you need it when the times up), and free write your answer to this sentence: My life is ideal when... Write anything and everything that comes to mind, just let your mind wander and smile as you think of everything you really love about life. You want more of what you love in your life, right? When the time is up, look at everything you have written and identify themes. I was able to boil mine down to three specific things. My life is ideal when: 1) I'm spending time with family and friends, 2) I'm reading and writing and connecting with others who read and write, and 3) I'm being healthy (eating well, practicing yoga, staying active, etc.). Then I used those as an anchor to think about where I wanted to go with my life. It's easier to say no to things if they don't fit into your ideal life. 

Bonus: Let's Write! Do you have a mantra? A why? A phrase that continues to spur you forward? This year my one little word is zealous and my catchphrase, "I believe I can and I will", is more powerful and helpful to me than ever. You might know exactly a phrase that you live by or you might need to search for one. Pay attention over the next few days and see if you can notice anything you find yourself saying a lot or ideas that come to mind that encourage you. Write it down, label it your mantra, sit with it for a week and see if you like it. Then, post it somewhere you can see often and live it.