💭 a mental before + after pic: inspiration thru introspection [OHT 080]
I LOVE external tracking, and yet true, sustainable inspiration is an inside job.
Internally tracking what we think and how we feel BEFORE, DURING, and AFTER we take action can be incredibly useful as we build new habits.
More in the ep, of course, but here's an at-a-glance summary:
BEFORE: Like taking a pic of the garage before you declutter it. If you don't document this current state of the union - how you feel about this area of life, what's driving you to want to change it, the resistance you have to the action, etc. you're likely to forget this feeling. One day, a different version of you who has integrated these habits and made these changes will forget what it REALLY felt like and sounded like in your brain. Take note (in detail, with no filter) so you can appreciate how far you've come!
DURING: Note the thoughts that come up as you start doing the thing. How many minutes in before you start to think, "oh this isn't that bad; I can do this," or even "I actually like this!"? Watch for patterns so you can let that Mom Brain leadership step in and remind yourself "HUNNY. This is normal. You tend to (internally) kick and scream for the first 30 seconds, and then you're fine and having fun with it. You've got this."
AFTER: What thoughts and feelings come up once you've followed through on the action and taken great care of yourself (your home, your kids, your finances), etc? Highlight and amplify those keepers. Eventually they'll grow stronger and stronger like a tractor beam of dopamine that starts to pull you in to action without you having to think so hard about it.
Over time, the more we develop this internal vocab for how X action makes us feel Y (desired feeling), the easier it will be to continue.
Mom in momentum.
Let me know what you notice!
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Hi! 👋 I'm Nikki.
...Elledge Brown.
Creator of the On Her Terms® universe.
Pro word nerd and mom of three.
I'm a creative advisor, coach, and strategist for entrepreneurial women who love their work, their families, and their alone time.
I'm also a military spouse and former park ranger and college professor with a penchant for almost excessive verbal processing. (You've prob picked up on that by now.)
After over a decade in business and momming, moving from my fave Hawaiian island to my fave Texas town, reckoning with and recovering from my own brand of #onherterms burnout, I've been deep in introspection + experimentation over here:
Got it. Not a dress rehearsal. What do I really want my life to look like? What do I want it to feel like? In each area of life, what are my terms for this season? When I get really honest and ditch the should dos and the have tos…what's left? What’s true? NOW WHAT?
This podcast is a space to track that journey, to share my field notes, to anchor in the stories and lessons my clients and I are learning along the way.
Join me here to refresh your OWN definitions of what matters most to you. Motherhood, ambition, fulfillment, creativity, relationships, inspiration, REST, success, community, and about a squillion other words and concepts that deserve thoughtful consideration.
Can't wait to hear your take.
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