Embrace Small Wins: Rethinking New Year Resolutions

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Welcome back, my valued listeners, to another episode of Living in Your Power.
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I'm your host, Marlene Greenleaf, and I am thrilled to kick off Season 3 with
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all of you. So, Happy New Year!
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As I sit here looking out at the snow falling gently, I'm reminded on how the new year feels.
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Clean, fresh, full of potential.
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Just like a pristine blanket of snow. But let's be real, snow can also be slippery,
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and if we're not careful, it's easy to lose our footing.
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And isn't that exactly what happens with New Year's resolutions?
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Today we're diving into where we are with those resolutions. Are we crushing them?
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Have we fallen off the wagon already? Or are we questioning whether we should
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have made them in the first place?
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We'll explore how to stay on task, when to pivot, and whether we should ditch
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resolutions altogether in favor of small, actionable goals.
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So let's get into it.
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So here we are, a few days into January, and let me ask you something.
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Music.
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Working on them? Maybe you've been consistent, and if so, I want to applaud
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you. That's no small feat.
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But if you've already fallen off track, I want you to know that you're not alone.
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Studies show that most resolutions are abandoned by mid-January.
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Why is that? Well, for starters, resolutions all often come with this pressure
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to completely reinvent ourselves overnight.
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I mean, we go big and say, look, I'll lose 50 pounds or I'll save $10,000.
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And while ambition is great, those big goals can feel overwhelming without a solid plan.
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Let me share a quick story.
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A few years ago, I resolved to wake up at 5 a.m. every day to work out.
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And for two weeks, I crushed it. But then life happened.
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I got busy, I got tired, and before I knew it, I was hitting that snooze button over and over again.
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But instead of beating myself up, I decided to focus on smaller changes.
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I started by waking up just 15 minutes earlier than usual and doing a quick stretch.
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And that small shift made a big difference.
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Because now, this is not a resolution. This is part of my daily regime.
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I wake up and I go for a jog for a minimum of three miles.
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And I do this consistently. But with weather like this, because it's snowing
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today, obviously, I'm not doing it, so I'm doing it, but I do it indoors.
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So this brings me to my next point. Are resolutions really the best way to create lasting change?
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Maybe not.
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Instead of resolutions, why don't you reconsider setting small, actionable goals?
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For example, if your resolution was to eat healthier, break it down into manageable steps.
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Start with one healthy meal a day, or add more veggies to your plate,
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or swap soda for water once a day.
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And these small, consistent actions lead to sustainable change.
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Here's another idea.
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Choose a theme for your year. This could be a word or phrase that guides your decisions.
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Last year, my theme was peace. And every time I faced a choice,
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I asked myself, will this bring me peace?
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This year, my theme is empowerment and resilience.
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And think about what theme resonates with you and let it guide you.
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Now let's talk about staying the course if you're
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on track with your goals that's amazing but
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for those of us who stumble let's regroup and
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refocus here are a few tips to
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help you stay on task let's start with
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habit stacking i want you to attach your
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new habit to an existing one for example
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if you're trying to journal daily do it
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right after brushing your teeth set a
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goal where we have it stacking that's that's what it does so you have to attach
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it to a new to an existing habit so that you can stay consistent next is find
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an accountability partner share your goals with someone who will encourage you
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and will check in regularly.
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Accountability partners will help you and they will encourage you and they can check in regularly.
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And you can do the same for that person also.
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And finally, I want you to celebrate your small wins. Every step forward is progress.
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Every step forward is progress, no matter how small it is.
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So treat yourself for reaching milestones, no matter how small they are.
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You deserve it. So celebrate your small wins.
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And most importantly, give yourself grace. Because life happens.
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Progress is more important than perfection.
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So before we wrap up today, let's come back to the snow.
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It is so beautiful outside. I wish you could see it.
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If you're in the Maryland DMV area, we were just pelted with some snow today. But it's so beautiful.
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And even with that, we know it piles up and we have to decide what to do with it.
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Will we build a snowman, shovel a path, or let it melt?
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And similarly, the goals we set this year are only as impactful as the actions we take.
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So here's my challenge for you.
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I want you to think about one small actionable step you can take today towards your goal.
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Share it with me on social media using the hashtag LivingInYourPower2025.
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And I'd love to cheer you on.
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Again the hashtag is living in your power 2025 share that one small actionable
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step you're taking today towards your goal and i would be happy to cheer you on,
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now before i let you go i want to share some exciting updates.
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First, I'm launching a brand new leadership newsletter on LinkedIn.
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It's all about practical tips and insights to help you lead with confidence and purpose.
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So make sure to follow me there so you don't miss out.
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Secondly, I'm starting a weekly prayer and motivation series on my social media
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platforms. And it's just a little something to inspire your week ahead.
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So look out for those every Tuesday morning or Monday.
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Every Monday or Tuesday morning. It all depends.
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And finally, I'm thrilled to announce the upcoming launch of my Living in Your
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Power Collective membership.
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This is going to be a space where we dive deeper into empowerment,
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mindset shifts, and community support. So stay tuned.
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There's more details are coming. And I'm so excited for all that's ahead.
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And I can't wait to share this journey with you.
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I want to thank you for joining me today for the first episode of Season 3 of Living in Your Power.
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And I want you to remember, whether you're staying the course or shifting your
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plan, the key is to keep moving forward.
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I want you to live boldly in your power today.
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And if it gets tough, I want you to remember to just breathe.
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You still got the strength to rise. so until next time dear listeners stay safe
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stay empowered and I'll see you back here soon continue to live in your power.