Clean Your F*cking House B*tch
Our minds are like houses. When they're new, they're empty. As we live our lives we acquire treasures that eventually turn into shit that creates clutter. Some of this stuff is useful, while some of it is simply junk which just creates obstacles for us. What if we could eliminate the nonsense we don't need, and create more room for useful things? Join us on this podcast where we discuss removing what we don't need, implementing beneficial changes to our minds, bodies and souls, to create a life of abundance and fulfillment.
Clean Your F*cking House B*tch
Ep. 96 - Creating Momentum: Transform Your Life with Positivity and Actionable Strategies
This episode emphasizes the importance of maintaining momentum in the pursuit of personal and professional goals. Through discussions on routine, mindset, and celebrating small accomplishments, we explore actionable strategies for sustaining positive change and navigating life's challenges.
• The significance of establishing routines for maintaining momentum
• Strategies for breaking down overwhelming goals into manageable tasks
• The power of reframing perspectives and focusing on positivity
• The importance of choice in response to life's challenges
• Celebrating small achievements with a "ta-da list"
• The necessity of being present and recognizing synchronicities
• Actionable tips for redirecting energy toward goals
Hello and welcome to Clean your Fucking House, bitch, with Nancy, kevin and Lou. In our program we get real about the challenges of life and living. Your mind is the most powerful tool you have to ensure you are on your desired path for success and satisfaction. Yet from the day you are born, you gradually and subconsciously fill it with tons of useless shit that gets in your way. Why is that? How can you clean that mess up? We'll show you how. Get ready to clean your fucking house. Hello everyone, welcome back to another episode of Clean your Fucking House. Nancy's giving me the double middle finger.
Speaker 2:No, I'm giving it to Kevin.
Speaker 1:Oh, she's giving it to. Kevin, clean your fucking house bitch, okay, well, wow, you know what folks? It is just really. Here we are. Yes, it is wonderful to be back into the swing of things and, as our loyal listeners may know, we took a bit of a break of last year. I don't know.
Speaker 1:Around May I'm going to say yeah, it gonna say may or so and you know, I think we shared a little bit of this in one of our prior episodes, really one of our most recent comeback episodes, I'll say we've had a few since re-recording in terms of, uh, life. We've had some, some life situations, some challenges, some changes, etc. Etc. And as we are now back into the swing of things, a natural topic of discussion is how to maintain a rhythm or a pattern or a routine, or anything that you have in life that you want to achieve, whether it be a goal, a work-related objective, professional goal, what have you? We often talk about simply starting.
Speaker 1:I'm not sure, though and Nancy and Kevin correct me if I'm wrong if we really ever, though, had an episode or in-depth conversations on how to keep that ball rolling, and I thought this subject is a bit apropos again, given that we have restarted the rolling of our own ball and we want to keep it going. We're all of us excited about being back, and, you know, I will say that's probably one of the items on the bullet list of things that keep that ball rolling is the is the energy, the satisfaction, the positivity that results when you work on the goal. Yeah, tackle the objective. That's where we're at today.
Speaker 3:I think so. Commenting on that, lou which great job, by the way, we threw Lou under the bus just hit record and said go, they did.
Speaker 3:But he's quick on his feet. We know that. I guess for me, like what's been working well with connecting for this podcast that wasn't before is just focusing on like reframing. What I'm focusing on, you know, instead of looking at or thinking about like you know, I'm tired, had a long day, whatever it is like just opening up the laptop to me could definitely seem like a challenge sometimes Instead of focusing on that, just like reframing my energy to the benefit of doing it right, and like the energy that we all get from talking about things that we're so passionate about and that we do incorporate into our lives also. And even to take it a step further as you were talking, lou, things were coming to mind.
Speaker 3:I was active listening, but the thoughts come in and that really has been a big change for me is focusing on the positives of things, and the more that I do it, the more I feel the connection to it and the easier it is and the greater the reward even feels Like you would think, oh, you put something off for so long and then you do it, and like the gratification of having done it. I I feel like the continuing habit of doing it. It just continues to be more and more rewarding. And so in my life I'm like I've been sharing more with you guys than I share with our listeners, but like good shit's been happening to me, like this year so far, and it's like I've been putting in work but like just abnormally good luck or good happenings all around me, and so now I'm like approaching life, waiting for the next thing that's going to happen for me. That's awesome, you know.
Speaker 3:Instead of the mindset that I've had like in my past of maybe something gets good and I'm like waiting for the next shoe to drop and when's it going to get all fucked up again, like that's completely out of my consciousness, I'm just waiting for the next good thing and I'm just going to continue doing the things that make me feel good and I feel like serve me well. And if I stay on that journey, like in, like synchronicities are happening right, which always kind of guided me, knowing like I'm on the right path, cause that's what I I don't know, I don't have a better, uh reasoning of what synchronicities are, but to me it's like kind of life telling you like you're, you're doing the right things, you know it feels like a chair dance moment because what you what you're talking about is being present and how present is giving back to you and that you can enjoy the moment no matter what other shit's happening in your life.
Speaker 2:Right, and choosing the moment at the time gives back some sort of joy reward satisfaction, absolutely.
Speaker 3:I love that you use the word choice. I feel like that word's been coming up a lot in our more recent episodes. Like it is a choice in our more recent episodes. Like it is a choice. And if you could choose a response versus just reacting based on like habits, how you would habitually risk like react to certain things, it makes a big difference too. Like you, you remain in your center right. Like you stay here and the world is always going to be insane, life's always going to throw curveballs at you and you can almost just appreciate it. Like it's exciting, you know, like shit's hitting the fan and you're just chilling and you're like maybe there's some things I can figure out here and maybe some of it's out of my control, but it's like it's all good, it's okay, you know totally and I love that you said that.
Speaker 2:Like I was working with a person this morning and you know totally, and I love that you said that. Like I was working with a person this morning and you know, checking in, asked you know how are you today? And she said Okay, in a, in an uplifted way, but okay, and so really wanting to understand what makes this day okay. And she said exactly what you said I'm choosing to be. And and it's really like. Then she shared the tribulations that she's been through already in that morning but not gonna let them get in her freaking way, right? So she's like I'm choosing to be okay and it allowed her to be okay even with the bs that had transpired. So there's power in that choice.
Speaker 1:And it's interesting you mentioned this person had some trials and tribulations going on.
Speaker 1:Today I mean that literally gets back to what I shared at the beginning of the episode is that each of us kind of either coincidentally or ironically at the same time around around May of last year, had some trials and tribulations going on that prevented us from gathering together at a specified time and a specified day each week.
Speaker 1:And then, little by little, that ball was rolling, meaning it was easier to then skip another week and then skip another week, and those trials and tribulations seem to pile up and I often hear that from folks that I work with. That you know, once that ball gets rolling in the direction we don't want it to go, it feels to them, it feels like it rolls quicker when it's going in that direction than when you're trying to turn it around into the positive direction. Now I can understand why that's the case, that feeling, but that doesn't mean that has to be, and it certainly isn't the case with everyone either. I have other friends and people I know that they use certain life strategies to actually get that ball rolling and get it rolling quickly, keep it rolling and get it rolling faster, and sometimes some ways in the good direction and I think it's about those.
Speaker 2:Wow, I want to hear what those are. Well strategies.
Speaker 1:And I'll share, kind of just as a starting point, the mindset. I mean we talk about mindset, have talked about that many times and it certainly starts out, you know, when we talk about setting goals and when you begin is having that mindset. I think, kevin, you even said this in your previous dialogue you choose Okay, whenever that is, whether it's today, tomorrow, the next day you know there has to be that moment when you go. I've had it. I'm not going the direction I want to go. I got to turn things around and start moving in the direction that I want it to go. Not only do that turnaround, but get that process going and keep it going, keep the ball moving.
Speaker 1:And that starts with that choice, starts with the plan, starts with a lot of things we talk about where, okay, if you have a massive goal, you might want to chunk it down in the smaller, more achievable goals. Quickest way to immediately stop that ball from rolling is to have something that's so overwhelming in nature that it just feels exhausting or taxing to even try to achieve it. So break things down smaller, achievable steps. I mean there's kind of a whole list of that. But bottom line to answer the question is I really think it just starts with mindset, and that is the word I hear the most from people who are successful and achieving things and getting things done. And it takes time. It isn't an overnight operation, you know, and some of these are my folks who are doing like wealth building strategies. You know, they realize it's not going to be a one day or one week or one month. It's it could be, don't they start small and yeah, and they build up and before you know it, ball's rolling pretty quickly.
Speaker 3:It's fascinating kind of reminds me of an analogy that I'm going to completely botch, but it was. It's something along the lines of like life is like a car that doesn't have a break and like you can speed it up or it'll slow down, but always at idle and always moving and you can choose which direction it goes, but you can't like it's, you're not going to ever stop it. So, going back to like what you were saying lou with building momentum, I think if we're not building momentum in the direction that we do want to go, that we are building momentum adversely, right. Yeah, building momentum into old, familiar habits and all that. And it really is choice, right, and intention, like deciding, because really it's, you can't really execute if you don't make a choice or have a direction with which to execute that's true and the momentum will follow, but you do.
Speaker 2:There's always, I guess you say there's not a choice in which direction there is. But it's about something one of you and I forget, which I sorry, said earlier like stop at some points in time. We have to if we feel ourselves on a trajectory of something that isn't serving us. It's like you do. It's okay to stop and reassess for a moment. Maybe you're idle for a moment, I'm. That whole car thing made me nervous, actually. That was like what? No, it needs brakes, but being able to to shift right or interrupt the thing that you don't like.
Speaker 3:Oh man.
Speaker 1:No, that's makes perfect sense, though building that momentum and consistency I think I'm not sure if you use the word consistency, maybe did Kevin. My apologies if you did, my apologies if you did, but throwing that in there as well is, on top of building that momentum is having a consistency to either a daily you know daily routine or or weekly routine, and I I know that can often lead to a bit of what would be the word not boredom, but um, sorry, uh, doing something over and over again sometimes feels like it's. You're stuck, I don't want to say a rut.
Speaker 1:I'm trying to think of the right phrase here, the right words like mundane, yeah, mundane, or something like oh my god, my routine's the same thing every day. It just isn't say as exciting. Of course it's. It's very exciting when it's geared towards something that you're trying to achieve. I mean I think that excitement naturally exciting when it's geared towards something that you're trying to achieve. I mean I think that excitement naturally builds when it's about something you're trying to achieve. So if you are working on something in a way and you actually feel like it's repetitive in a way that doesn't feel good, that probably means that you're not executing it in a way that does bring that excitement or satisfaction. Again, there could be some overwhelm.
Speaker 3:It be, it could be the wrong goals or the wrong goals focusing on the wrong things?
Speaker 3:right, because we use fitness a lot as an example. Right, we're a pretty obese country, unhealthy, and so if you have this big goal like which is great, you know, have this big goal. But if you're going to the gym and you're focusing on the big goal or the big result, that's probably not going to deliver the same type of sense of accomplishment as just focusing on the fact that you are making progress. And I, to go back to your opening lou talking about, like, keeping the momentum, I do think so much of it is focusing on the right things, like what did I succeed at? What should I be proud of myself for having done today? Or like what goals did I accomplish? Type of thing. Right, because through that you get a sense of accomplishment.
Speaker 3:And I believe firmly that there is no greater builder of motivation you know, air quotes for those that can't see me motivation than accomplishment. You know, when you accomplish something and you allow yourself a chance to celebrate it, you're going to feel more motivated. I feel like. And then, going back to the whole, like example of a morning routine that, for lack of a better term mundane, boring, whatever you want to say like, you can find excitement in that, when there's intention behind it. If you create this, this routine, with intention because it serves you, and you focus on the way that it does serve you, and you start to develop and and become a different person, more of the person that you're truly, deep down, aligned with wanting to become. Like that's beautiful, like how awesome is it that you can create this, this path to travel your journey of life on, that serves you well, makes you feel better and become the type of person that you want to be.
Speaker 2:Heck yeah, and you said it, I was thinking it. That I want to reiterate it for our listeners is the whole idea of accomplishment and that recognizing what they are like. Accomplishments is a long word, it feels like a big word, but every little accomplishment we have each day leads to progress, and so being able to acknowledge daily accomplishments, no matter how small, will help that momentum build.
Speaker 1:We call that the ta-da list.
Speaker 3:Yeah, ta-da, oh yeah, I remember that episode that we did.
Speaker 1:Rather than a to-do list, focus on your ta-da list.
Speaker 3:But it really does. It makes you like special. In my opinion, like you're you're, you're going against the grain. So many of us are trapped in our comfort zones, just seeking addition, more and more comfort. So if you're getting out of your comfort zone and you're doing things that, like you, have to kind of push yourself to do and you're holding yourself accountable, it has nothing to do with anyone else needing to tell you what to do, but you're going along with what you know to be best and it sucks right In the beginning.
Speaker 3:Sometimes, Holy cow, like you're 1%, I feel like of people on the planet that that are alive. Like you're, you're pursuing something and it could be you know it's different for every person. It could be something that someone else thinks would be simple or is common sense or second nature or whatever, but if it's for you, something that you do have to be intentional on and actually put work towards awesome, like beautiful awesome for you, you're doing it.
Speaker 1:You know you're doing the things that we talk about in all these episodes and what I really found interesting, and what you shared a couple of minutes ago, was the fact that you may be focusing on the wrong goal. Sometimes the goal itself may not be different. It's actually either the mindset or how you approach the goal or perceive the goal itself. May not be different. It's actually either the mindset or how you approach the goal or perceive the goal, and I'll give you an example of that which what I was presented with it made perfect sense is the same one you had, which is weight loss. Not that long ago, I didn't know of anyone who didn't think of their weight loss goal in that way, meaning I will lose 10 pounds, I will lose 20 pounds, I will lose 30 pounds, whatever. It was always a number associated with the amount of weight loss. You weigh yourself every day. Blah, blah, blah. I don't know if that's been more or less a pounded into our consciousness from years of commercials and different programs and things like that.
Speaker 1:But when we switch to results right Like we results driven right when we think about, well, what is really the goal of the weight loss? I will be healthy, I will. I will run a marathon, I will be able to walk upstairs without sucking wind. You know it's really what is the intention, the reason behind the weight loss. I know of some people actually that way, more than they say they desire, I mean literally, by medical standards it might be considered overweight and maybe even obese, but they're happy as hell, they don't care about losing weight. But the folks who do usually have a reason that isn't related to the weight loss itself. It is I'd like to run around with my children or I'd like to do. You know, there's something else there and when it's reframed like that, I think it creates naturally creates that momentum and excitement and certainly feeling of accomplishment when you are able to then climb four or five sets of stairs without sucking.
Speaker 3:That's an awesome point. And going back, nancy, you mentioned when I was talking afterwards, you were like you're talking about being present, right, and I was. And when I was saying like focusing on the right things, I'm not even I wasn't even really thinking too much about goals, but like just the impact and influence even in other areas of life, kind of like the example that you gave Lou. But maybe you are like starting to meditate and do like cold water exposure or whatever it is right, and then you're driving and like maybe you have road rage sometimes but someone does something stupid and then you're like what an asshole. And then they drive away but you're not even heated, right, like the way that influences and impacts other areas of your life.
Speaker 3:When you begin to be intentional and start working on yourself, it's just awesome. So you do have to have a layer, like a level of presence, to be able to identify those little nuances, because they might be tiny but big things to celebrate. In my opinion. You know, like every little piece every time that you would react a certain way to something, but you have a choice you consciously don't or subconsciously don't like that's even greater of of a sign of progress. In my opinion, you know, go to the gym and like, just do something, appreciate the smells, listen to music I don't know about that?
Speaker 2:yeah, maybe not in the gym right, not in the locker room I'm gonna jump back to comfort zone because literally, uh, you know, I was wasting some time earlier scrolling and I saw this post, but so I went back and found, found it and it's an image with a comfort zone and then around the comfort zone is the fear zone, and then surrounding both of those zones is the learning zone, and then surrounding that is the growth zone.
Speaker 2:And bear with me, listeners like you don't get to see this, so it feels a little harder to capture. But the comfort zone is a safe space, right where we have control, cool. The fear zone is where we have excuses or other people's opinions or maybe some lack of confidence to do that thing we want to do, but I don't know, or is someone going to laugh at me if I do it. And then that learning zone is where we pick up a new skill or we face a challenge. Then the growth zone, where we actually can feel the purpose of what we're doing and be able to set new goals attached to it. So I actually really liked that.
Speaker 3:If I shared it.
Speaker 1:I love it or I don't know, but I'm sharing it again liked that, if I shared it or I don't know, but I'm sharing it again. Yes, share it. Please share away. Wow. Well, folks, we started off this episode with talking about if your life is heading in a direction that's undesirable and that ball is rolling along and you really want to turn things around and start working on goals or otherwise just moving in a desired direction, and that can be challenging. I'm going to share with you in closing a bit of a list of ways to help, some tips to help you to get that going, and one first and foremost, take stock of where you are now. Before you can really change things around, you just got to look at where you're at, where you want to go there's a bit of a goal setting exercise there, but it's really just where you're at now and make a plan for where you want to go. Whatever your goal is, your objective, break it down into some smaller achievable steps. Whatever your goal is, your objective, break it down into some smaller achievable steps.
Speaker 1:We talked about building that momentum and certainly having consistency, because without consistency it's so easy to break that routine that you have started that really routine that helps you go where you want to go, stay focused. Eliminate distractions. Sometimes that's not easy. We've talked about in episodes ways to eliminate distractions. I certainly encourage you to check out some of those episodes and cultivate a good support system. Oftentimes it's helpful to talk to friends, family, colleagues about what you're doing, and sometimes just getting that support whether through dialogue, communication or otherwise really helps you to stay going as well.
Speaker 3:Or listen to podcasts. Just stay motivated. Yeah, listen to the podcast, it'll inspire you.
Speaker 1:And finally, I'll just share embrace that growth mindset. Life is about continuous learning, continuous growth, about always being better and wanting to improve. Certainly because I think, for the most part, that's what we want as humans. That's what we want. We just always want to do better. So part of that is embracing a growth mindset. We also talk about that in some other episodes. So we thank you all for listening to this episode and we look forward to you joining us on our next one. Bye for now.