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We're already in the second week of February, so this seems like a good time to ask...
How has your 2025 been?
What did you plan on saying “Yes, And!” to this year? Have you? Or did you hit a bunch of “Ding” moments like I have?
This year started strong for me, but then an evil bug of illness invaded my home.
It all started on a Sunday night while I was watching the Eagles beat the Rams with my son (go Birds!) He loves football but he looked tired, so I asked him if he wanted to lie down in his room.
Honestly, I was just being polite as I thought there was no way this kid was going to stop watching an Eagles playoff game, but he did.
Uh-oh, this might be serious…
He then proceeded to miss the entire next week of school.
Over the next ten days, everyone in my house fell ill at one point or another. The only saving grace was that my wife and I managed to have our really bad days at different times, so one of us could always take care of the kids.
Now I am getting back into the swing of things but boy do I feel behind.
This makes me feel guilty about my 2025 goals and planned “Yes, Ands!”
Almost to a point of wanting to give up.
Crazy right? But that’s how emotions go.
For the record, here are my four big goals for this year:
- Increase my monthly business revenue by about 4x from what it was last year (which was admittedly a down year).
- Create at least one significant, additional revenue stream.
- Finish editing my novel, the first draft of which I finished last year. I want to get it to a point where it's ready to submit to agents or to be self-published.
- Get my health and fitness under control. Specifically, lose 30 pounds and get my Hemoglobin A1C numbers down from borderline level they are at now.
I have made zero progress on these the last two weeks, which makes me feel like I have fallen way behind.
Like I have made no progress at all this year.
Like it’s not worth it.
Like it’s never going to happen.
Can you relate?
Logically I know this makes no sense. But “yes, buts” aren’t logical. They take any “Ding” moment as an opportunity to pop up and make you doubt yourself and turn your back on what you want and deserve.
So I am refocusing and recommitting.
First, I am going to be kind to myself and keep reminding myself that my family and I were all sick at various points, so it’s only natural to have made little progress.
Second, I am going to reframe every “yes, but” as a chance to say, “yes, and.”
Third, I am going to focus on what little steps I can take to get back on track. Not a giant, “let me work out for 2 hours today,” or “let me take the whole day to work on editing.” Nope. Just, what’s one small step I can take to right this ship?
Fourth, I am going to celebrate the little wins I did have over that sick period. There weren’t a lot but I did manage to get a few things done. And that was enough, given the circumstances.
So how about you?
What are (were) your big 2025 “Yes, Ands?”
Are you still saying “yes, and” to them or did you get derailed by a “Ding” moment?
(Note: The “Ding” moment doesn’t have to be an external thing like illness. It could just as easily be that feeling of overwhelm that opened the door for the “yes, but” in your mind.)
It’s okay if you're off track, but the important thing to remember is that it's not too late to get back on track with a “Yes, And.”
Share with me your “Yes, Ands” for the year, how they are going, and let me know if there is anything I can help you with!