Why New Year’s Resolutions Don’t Work (And the Goal-Setting Approach That Actually Works)

New Year’s resolutions sound good… until real life hits.

If you’ve ever started the year feeling motivated, only to feel discouraged, behind, or like you’re failing a few weeks later, this episode is for you.

In this conversation, Melissa breaks down why traditional New Year’s resolutions so often fall apart, especially for high-achieving women who already feel overwhelmed. She explains why most goal setting fails, not because of a lack of desire or discipline, but because there’s no clear plan that supports real life.

Instead of planning an entire year at once, Melissa shares a more sustainable, faith-led approach to goal setting using shorter seasons, reflection, and clarity. She walks you through how she looks back on the year with God, chooses a word for the year, and turns that word into focused, actionable steps without burnout.

You’ll also learn a simple but powerful tool Melissa uses called a goal brain dump, a way to get everything out of your head, organize it by season, and move forward with intention instead of pressure.

If you’re tired of starting over every January and want a healthier, God-led way to plan your year, this episode will help you slow down, refocus, and take your next step with confidence.

Key Takeaways

• Why New Year’s resolutions often fail, even for motivated and disciplined women

• The difference between outcome-based goals and real-life goal setting

• How the 12-week approach helps you stay focused without feeling overwhelmed

• Why looking back at the previous year is essential before planning what’s next

• How choosing a word for the year can guide your decisions and priorities

• A simple goal brain dump method to organize goals by season instead of all at once

• How to turn clarity into action without burning yourself out

Next Step

If this episode gave you clarity and helped you see goal setting differently, a great next step is the 12-Week Reset Coaching Package. It’s a focused, one-on-one coaching package where we look at what’s draining you, what needs to change, and what to focus on next so you’re not trying to do everything at once.

Email me at https://melissabattcoaching.myflodesk.com/screenreset

Single Unstuck Session: https://melissabattcoaching.myflodesk.com/unstucksession

Breakthrough Coaching: https://melissabatt.com/breakthrough-coaching

Operation Reset: https://melissabatt.com/operation-reset Get MOVE Playlists: https://melissabattcoaching.myflodesk.com/move

Sign up for Weekly Emails: https://melissabattcoaching.myflodesk.com/onthelist

Episode Transcript

(00:01):
Hey, hey friend, with the new year right around the corner, I wanna ask you a simple question.
Do you do New Year's resolutions? Some people love them.
Some people avoid them altogether, and some people make them every single year only to feel discouraged a few weeks later.
So today I wanna talk honestly about New Year's resolutions, why they so often don't work, and what I do instead to set the direction for my year in a way that actually.

(00:27):
Feels sustainable, grounded, and God led.
If you are anything like the women I work with, you probably have a lot of good intentions.
You want to be healthier, you wanna be more present.
You wanna grow in your faith.
You wanna be intentional with your time.
You wanna actually follow through this year.
Most of us won't be able to say at the end of 2026 that we accomplished it, and it's not because we don't lack the desire. 12 00:00:55,826.552689352 --> 00:01:00,296.552689352 It's because we didn't create a plan that supports real life. 13 00:01:00,776.552689352 --> 00:01:04,496.552689352 Listen, new Year's resolutions, they sound so good. 14 00:01:04,826.552689352 --> 00:01:13,106.552689352 And as someone who is obsessed with goal setting loves to achieve goals and teach women how to. 15 00:01:13,106.552689352 --> 00:01:17,516.552689352 I have a lot to say on New Year's resolutions in general. 16 00:01:17,726.552689352 --> 00:01:26,876.552689352 It's gonna be a really hard episode to narrow in on one little piece of that because there's lots of reasons why New Year's resolutions fall apart. 17 00:01:26,876.552689352 --> 00:01:34,76.552689352 But the biggest one I would say is they're focused on the outcome. 18 00:01:35,381.552689352 --> 00:01:45,401.55268935 You wanna be healthier, you wanna read your Bible more, you want to be more organized, right? And those aren't bad goals, but they skip the most important part. 19 00:01:46,181.55268935 --> 00:01:51,641.55268935 How is that actually going to happen? There's no plan. 20 00:01:51,671.55268935 --> 00:01:53,141.55268935 There's no action steps. 21 00:01:53,471.55268935 --> 00:01:55,811.55268935 There's no margin for real life. 22 00:01:56,741.55268935 --> 00:02:02,471.55268935 And a lot of the times, even the new, the New Year's resolution in of itself, it's not a smart goal. 23 00:02:02,471.55268935 --> 00:02:05,381.55268935 It's not specific, it's not measurable. 24 00:02:05,531.55268935 --> 00:02:22,331.55268935 Like at the end of the year, especially for people who are top performers, you could achieve the goal technically and not even recognize it because you're always gonna be striving for more. 25 00:02:23,141.55268935 --> 00:02:26,591.55268935 Further along and get to the next step. 26 00:02:26,591.55268935 --> 00:02:34,601.55268935 So when life gets busy and motivations fade, we fall back into that familiar narrative. 27 00:02:34,811.55268935 --> 00:02:36,491.55268935 Uh, yeah, I suck. 28 00:02:36,491.55268935 --> 00:02:38,681.55268935 I failed once again. 29 00:02:38,711.55268935 --> 00:02:39,881.55268935 This did not work. 30 00:02:39,971.55268935 --> 00:02:46,361.55268935 And so today I wanna teach you instead of planning for an entire year all at once. 31 00:02:46,931.55268935 --> 00:02:48,461.55268935 I wanna show you what I do. 32 00:02:48,701.55268935 --> 00:02:59,661.55268935 I focus on shorter seasons, and it's why I love the 12 week year approach and why I teach my own version of this the 12 Weeks to Success. 33 00:03:00,201.55268935 --> 00:03:04,701.55268935 12 weeks is long enough to make progress, but short enough to stay focused. 34 00:03:05,31.55268935 --> 00:03:22,961.55268935 It shifts the question from what do I want to accomplish this year to what is God asking me to focus on right now? Another thing that I absolutely love about the 12 weeks,, is you know what's going on in your life for the next 12 weeks. 35 00:03:23,441.55268935 --> 00:03:29,321.55268935 You know what season you're in, you probably already have some of the things on your calendar. 36 00:03:29,501.55268935 --> 00:03:32,471.55268935 If your kids are in sports, you have that schedule. 37 00:03:32,651.55268935 --> 00:03:39,401.55268935 You know what distractions will be coming and things that will need to be prepared for in advance. 38 00:03:39,491.55268935 --> 00:03:41,291.55268935 And so 12 weeks. 39 00:03:41,951.55268935 --> 00:03:50,51.55268935 This is something I teach, it's not part of my notes, but I'm gonna tell you now, again, is like, it's easy to create the goals. 40 00:03:50,51.55268935 --> 00:04:04,841.55268935 And even for some of you, you know, maybe you are creating the action plan, but you are creating the action plan with the, with the thought of perfect conditions. 41 00:04:06,101.55268935 --> 00:04:14,751.55268935 I always say if you lived in a bubble, you could create your goal and complete your action plan and everything on your list. 42 00:04:14,751.55268935 --> 00:04:35,941.55268935 But the truth is we don't live in a bubble, and that's a gift because God has given us people and other things that we are called to tend to, and so we have to steward that well, so much about what we do, when I'm coaching, is we look at like what worked, what didn't work, what we'll do differently, and we tweak. 43 00:04:35,941.55268935 --> 00:04:40,951.55268935 The tasks based on our current reality. 44 00:04:41,281.55268935 --> 00:04:51,171.55268935 Because when we create the plan, I always try to help those that I'm working with understand the season that we're in, but sometimes disruptions happen. 45 00:04:51,221.55268935 --> 00:05:06,711.55268935 Yeah, and, you weren't planning on, a family member coming and staying with you for four weeks of the, the 12 weeks that we're working on, and so we have to constantly kind of shift that. 46 00:05:07,171.55268935 --> 00:05:17,671.55268935 Or at least give ourselves grace and do the best we can with the conditions that we have instead of measuring our success based on perfect conditions. 47 00:05:17,671.55268935 --> 00:05:27,96.55268935 And so I'm off my notes, but I just wanna make sure that we understand why the 12 weeks works. 48 00:05:27,306.55268935 --> 00:05:36,546.55268935 First of all, we can do anything for a short amount of time and 90 days is perfect amount of time to accomplish goals. 49 00:05:36,546.55268935 --> 00:05:43,376.55268935 Anytime I had a job when I was, out in the workforce and not working for myself, I would say I can do anything for 90 days. 50 00:05:44,546.55268935 --> 00:05:46,196.55268935 And if my. 51 00:05:46,961.55268935 --> 00:05:50,681.55268935 Employer is going to give me 90 days. 52 00:05:50,831.55268935 --> 00:05:52,241.55268935 I'm gonna give them 90 days. 53 00:05:52,241.55268935 --> 00:05:55,871.55268935 I'm not gonna quit before the 90 days is up. 54 00:05:55,871.55268935 --> 00:05:59,201.55268935 And I think that is really good life advice. 55 00:06:00,156.55268935 --> 00:06:16,296.55268935 Stick to something for 90 days, commit for 90 days with this specific focus, does it mean you're going to accomplish every single thing? No, but it does mean that we're gonna focus on this for 90 days. 56 00:06:16,296.55268935 --> 00:06:20,316.55268935 And again, that's where the coaching comes in, the accountability and all the things. 57 00:06:20,316.55268935 --> 00:06:29,916.55268935 This is something I walk women through in coaching all the time, slowing things down enough to actually see what matters and what needs to change before piling on more goals. 58 00:06:30,156.55268935 --> 00:06:32,856.55268935 Most women don't need more ambition. 59 00:06:33,36.55268935 --> 00:06:36,636.55268935 They need clarity, alignment, accountability. 60 00:06:36,636.55268935 --> 00:06:40,776.55268935 Before I plan anything new, I always take time to look back. 61 00:06:41,256.55268935 --> 00:06:57,201.55268935 I ask myself, what did God teach me this year? Where did I grow? What are the lessons? Where did I struggle? What patterns do I need to be honest about? This isn't about beating yourself up. 62 00:06:57,201.55268935 --> 00:06:58,641.55268935 It's about paying attention. 63 00:06:58,641.55268935 --> 00:07:05,601.55268935 Some of the biggest growth in my life has come from simply noticing this worked and this didn't. 64 00:07:06,381.55268935 --> 00:07:15,591.55268935 So as I go through, I thought I would share a little bit, and you guys like there's whole episodes and there will be, you're signed up for my, uh, weekly email. 65 00:07:15,591.55268935 --> 00:07:20,721.55268935 This email will be going out with some prompts for you to do this process yourself. 66 00:07:20,971.55268935 --> 00:07:29,346.55268935 So I, I, I go through five experiences for that contributed to positive feelings in this last year. 67 00:07:29,766.55268935 --> 00:07:46,786.55268935 And then I do three negative experiences and then I ask myself, what are the biggest lessons? And I have to tell you that one of the biggest lessons from 2025. 68 00:07:47,291.55268935 --> 00:07:48,821.55268935 I haven't journaled about this yet. 69 00:07:48,881.55268935 --> 00:07:52,991.55268935 It, it's coming and so this is just off the top of my head that I know is here. 70 00:07:53,91.55268935 --> 00:08:01,941.55268935 There's two the two that come to mind right now is the impact of immediate obedience. 71 00:08:03,161.55268935 --> 00:08:08,831.55268935 This year, there was a lot of obedience, but I think there was also a lot of delayed obedience. 72 00:08:08,831.55268935 --> 00:08:13,571.55268935 A lot of this doesn't make sense, why would I do this and questioning it, because I didn't understand. 73 00:08:13,571.55268935 --> 00:08:21,671.55268935 There was also a whole lot of fear of what people would think that I was navigating, but because I was obedient. 74 00:08:22,286.55268935 --> 00:08:23,696.55268935 Doors opened. 75 00:08:24,176.55268935 --> 00:08:31,346.55268935 If I would've been obedient sooner, I can only imagine the doors would've also opened sooner. 76 00:08:31,706.55268935 --> 00:08:36,716.55268935 And then another one of the big lessons is the power of letting go. 77 00:08:36,956.55268935 --> 00:08:41,186.55268935 This has been an ongoing lesson from multiple years. 78 00:08:42,266.55268935 --> 00:08:47,336.55268935 Last year, my word was follow and it was about submitting and letting go of control. 79 00:08:47,336.55268935 --> 00:09:02,396.55268935 And this year has been more on letting go of control, not manipulating and manufacturing situations to problem solve or fix things or to troubleshoot. 80 00:09:02,396.55268935 --> 00:09:05,356.55268935 Because a lot of times it looks like that, but deep down it's. 81 00:09:05,746.55268935 --> 00:09:13,246.55268935 It's control and it's a coping mechanism that comes from being emotionally dysregulated and operating outta trauma. 82 00:09:13,246.55268935 --> 00:09:18,136.55268935 It's a bonus, but not what this episode is about, but I want you to know that that's really where it comes from. 83 00:09:18,746.55268935 --> 00:09:28,466.55268935 Giving up that control and praying about it and allowing God to do the work, I cannot even tell you. 84 00:09:30,581.55268935 --> 00:09:42,591.55268935 The seeds that were planted in 2024 with giving up control and like my kid, my older two boys weren't even speaking. 85 00:09:42,711.55268935 --> 00:09:43,281.55268935 Okay. 86 00:09:43,531.55268935 --> 00:09:48,691.55268935 We had two weddings, a a wedding in 2024, a wedding in 2025. 87 00:09:49,201.55268935 --> 00:09:52,951.55268935 Neither of my two older boys went to the other's wedding. 88 00:09:53,101.55268935 --> 00:09:53,461.55268935 Okay. 89 00:09:53,491.55268935 --> 00:09:53,971.55268935 We're talking. 90 00:09:55,756.55268935 --> 00:10:02,206.55268935 Very hard season for a mother who wants her kids to all get along. 91 00:10:02,206.55268935 --> 00:10:02,566.55268935 Right. 92 00:10:02,566.55268935 --> 00:10:13,276.55268935 And there were a lot of times when I wanted to fix it and force them to come to an agreement and force them to get along and figure it out. 93 00:10:13,836.55268935 --> 00:10:16,896.55268935 I constantly just heard God say, let it go. 94 00:10:16,926.55268935 --> 00:10:17,946.55268935 Just let it go. 95 00:10:18,66.55268935 --> 00:10:40,786.55268935 And I'm teary just thinking about it because this year has been a whole lot of letting go and trusting the Lord to work it out and surrendering my will for his will and letting it be as it is, not meddling, not trying to fix, not trying to problem solve, being okay with. 96 00:10:40,786.55268935 --> 00:10:46,66.55268935 Them not attending each other's wedding, which all on its own was super hard for me. 97 00:10:46,666.55268935 --> 00:10:53,506.55268935 But do you know what God has done? Those boys are now texting each other without me. 98 00:10:53,816.55268935 --> 00:11:01,226.55268935 Okay, first of all, they had blocked each other's number, okay? They wouldn't even be in a group text, the family group text. 99 00:11:01,226.55268935 --> 00:11:04,436.55268935 They wouldn't even be in the family group text with each other. 100 00:11:05,681.55268935 --> 00:11:09,701.55268935 To now they're talking without me. 101 00:11:09,701.55268935 --> 00:11:16,1.55268935 The work that God has done when I was willing to just get out of the way. 102 00:11:17,291.55268935 --> 00:11:26,391.55268935 Huge lesson for this year, and I think another big thing to point out is some things God started in 2024. 103 00:11:26,391.55268935 --> 00:11:29,211.55268935 Sometimes it takes 10 years for the promise to be fulfilled. 104 00:11:29,601.55268935 --> 00:11:34,731.55268935 Sometimes it takes six months, sometimes it takes two days, or one day, or 24 hours, or it's instant. 105 00:11:35,61.55268935 --> 00:11:44,781.55268935 But at the same time, it's just about letting go and letting God and leaving it for someone who who knows all. 106 00:11:44,781.55268935 --> 00:11:51,411.55268935 And can do more in an instant that I can do in a lifetime. 107 00:11:51,981.55268935 --> 00:11:57,871.55268935 And so again, that is, uh, another one of my huge lessons from this year. 108 00:11:59,551.55268935 --> 00:12:04,761.55268935 Another thing I do every single year, and I just mentioned it. 109 00:12:04,861.55268935 --> 00:12:06,151.55268935 Word of the Year last year. 110 00:12:06,181.55268935 --> 00:12:07,471.55268935 The word was follow. 111 00:12:07,891.55268935 --> 00:12:11,431.55268935 This year the word was repent. 112 00:12:11,521.55268935 --> 00:12:22,921.55268935 And a friend, I have to tell you that when the word God gave me at the end of the year, last year, or beginning of this year, I can't remember, repent, I was like, uh. 113 00:12:25,271.55268935 --> 00:12:30,161.55268935 I think you can go back and listen to podcast episodes, last year where I talk about this fresh. 114 00:12:30,441.55268935 --> 00:12:35,661.55268935 But Repent was necessary to abide. 115 00:12:35,751.55268935 --> 00:12:35,811.55268935 Yeah. 116 00:12:36,501.55268935 --> 00:12:41,751.55268935 And so repent was the word that God gave me for this last year. 117 00:12:42,51.55268935 --> 00:12:44,811.55268935 So I choose a word for the year. 118 00:12:44,901.55268935 --> 00:12:45,921.55268935 I don't rush it. 119 00:12:45,951.55268935 --> 00:12:46,881.55268935 I pray about it. 120 00:12:46,881.55268935 --> 00:12:47,571.55268935 I journal. 121 00:12:47,571.55268935 --> 00:12:50,271.55268935 I ask God to show me the direction he's leading me. 122 00:12:50,671.55268935 --> 00:12:53,491.55268935 And when he gives me the word, it becomes an anchor. 123 00:12:53,491.55268935 --> 00:13:12,121.55268935 And to be honest, listen, every year I'm like, can I have the word growth? Can I have a word, joy? Can I have a fun, exciting word? Most of the time it's not that, and this year the God's already given me the word for 2026, and man, I thought repent was hard. 124 00:13:12,481.55268935 --> 00:13:18,771.55268935 Ooh, the word God has given me for 2026 is lament. 125 00:13:20,661.55268935 --> 00:13:22,701.55268935 To grieve, to pour out. 126 00:13:23,301.55268935 --> 00:13:36,771.55268935 And again, this is also connected to my need and desire to control situations, fix everything, problem solve, troubleshoot all the things and how this works. 127 00:13:36,771.55268935 --> 00:13:38,31.55268935 The word becomes an anchor. 128 00:13:38,31.55268935 --> 00:13:46,161.55268935 It shapes my decisions, my boundaries, what I say yes to, what I say no to, what I focus on when things feel noisy. 129 00:13:46,431.55268935 --> 00:13:47,691.55268935 It's not a trend for me. 130 00:13:48,276.55268935 --> 00:13:52,806.55268935 It's truly a spiritual compass, and here's where most people stop. 131 00:13:52,836.55268935 --> 00:13:57,666.55268935 They, they choose a word, they feel inspired, and then nothing changes. 132 00:13:59,1.55268935 --> 00:14:03,411.55268935 The missing piece is turning that word into focus and action. 133 00:14:03,741.55268935 --> 00:14:08,451.55268935 For example, if your word is peace, what habits protect peace. 134 00:14:08,451.55268935 --> 00:14:23,31.55268935 If your word is intentional, what needs to come off of your calendar? What needs to be added to your calendar? If your word is obedience, what step is God already nudging you toward clarity leads to action. 135 00:14:23,571.55268935 --> 00:14:25,701.55268935 Action leads to momentum. 136 00:14:25,701.55268935 --> 00:14:26,181.55268935 Another. 137 00:14:27,186.55268935 --> 00:14:33,426.55268935 Practical tool that helps me turn my word and focus into something actionable without overwhelm. 138 00:14:33,936.55268935 --> 00:14:35,586.55268935 I call it a goal. 139 00:14:35,616.55268935 --> 00:14:36,396.55268935 Brain dump. 140 00:14:36,546.55268935 --> 00:14:37,656.55268935 Listen, brain dumps. 141 00:14:37,656.55268935 --> 00:14:41,286.55268935 You know how, how happy brain dumping makes me. 142 00:14:41,286.55268935 --> 00:14:43,146.55268935 I challenge everyone to brain dump. 143 00:14:43,416.55268935 --> 00:14:50,946.55268935 Instead of turning everything into resolutions, I sit down and I brain dump goals into a few simple categories for me. 144 00:14:50,946.55268935 --> 00:14:54,336.55268935 These categories include ministry, coaching work, physical health. 145 00:14:55,386.55268935 --> 00:15:02,886.55268935 Fun, relationships, finances, and one that really matters to me who I am intentionally praying for. 146 00:15:04,626.55268935 --> 00:15:06,966.55268935 This is nothing fancy, no pressure. 147 00:15:06,966.55268935 --> 00:15:09,696.55268935 It's just getting it out of my head and onto paper. 148 00:15:09,756.55268935 --> 00:15:10,956.55268935 We don't self edit. 149 00:15:11,136.55268935 --> 00:15:19,496.55268935 I look at, the calendar and try to loosely map them out by quarter, first quarter, second quarter, third quarter, or fourth quarter. 150 00:15:19,766.55268935 --> 00:15:20,756.55268935 This isn't rigid. 151 00:15:20,756.55268935 --> 00:15:23,996.55268935 It's not perfect, just asking what's the focus for this season. 152 00:15:24,266.55268935 --> 00:15:27,731.55268935 This helps me stay aligned with my word for the year without burning myself. 153 00:15:28,331.55268935 --> 00:15:39,651.55268935 Without trying to do everything at once, and it gives direction without pressure, When I look back at what I did, last year, some of the things for ministry, I wanted to be. 154 00:15:41,226.55268935 --> 00:15:43,386.55268935 Very consistent with this podcast. 155 00:15:43,386.55268935 --> 00:15:47,576.55268935 I wanted to have the weekly emails done. 156 00:15:47,696.55268935 --> 00:15:49,976.55268935 It's my main goal every single week. 157 00:15:50,126.55268935 --> 00:15:59,266.55268935 Record podcast episodes, know where I'm going, and, do the weekly emails and stay consistent there, especially when I hate sending emails. 158 00:15:59,546.55268935 --> 00:16:02,66.55268935 I wanted to make sure that. 159 00:16:02,486.55268935 --> 00:16:04,16.55268935 I am meeting people. 160 00:16:04,16.55268935 --> 00:16:14,186.55268935 This was the big thing that I felt like God asked me to do, say yes to every invite I can and be a guest on other podcasts. 161 00:16:14,186.55268935 --> 00:16:34,386.55268935 Those were two very specific things that I wanted to do my physical health I am proud to say that I have chosen not to eat sugar this year, way more than nine out of 12 months. 162 00:16:34,386.55268935 --> 00:16:35,706.55268935 I feel really good about that. 163 00:16:36,531.55268935 --> 00:16:37,701.55268935 Go to bed early. 164 00:16:37,701.55268935 --> 00:16:43,311.5526894 That was the new habit that I wanted to create and that I'm still actively working on. 165 00:16:43,591.5526894 --> 00:16:45,61.5526894 Under the category of fun. 166 00:16:45,61.5526894 --> 00:16:51,421.5526894 This is something that's so important and for the high achievers, fun is not something that we focus on. 167 00:16:51,421.5526894 --> 00:16:57,991.5526894 And so I wanna highlight this one because this is something very easy that we can put into our planner. 168 00:16:58,931.5526894 --> 00:17:01,1.5526894 I had on here, some of the things I wanted to do. 169 00:17:01,1.5526894 --> 00:17:02,81.5526894 I wanted to go sledding. 170 00:17:02,81.5526894 --> 00:17:03,581.5526894 I wanted to try new things. 171 00:17:03,851.5526894 --> 00:17:12,641.5526894 I wanted to read at least three memoirs because I love reading memoirs, and I wanted to read at least two sit down books. 172 00:17:13,91.5526894 --> 00:17:15,711.5526894 The two sit down books is four fun. 173 00:17:15,771.5526894 --> 00:17:17,61.5526894 It's not a self-help book. 174 00:17:17,241.5526894 --> 00:17:18,531.5526894 It's not a Bible study. 175 00:17:18,651.5526894 --> 00:17:19,446.5526894 It's sit down. 176 00:17:20,321.5526894 --> 00:17:25,1.5526894 Clean PG Romance novel or something like that. 177 00:17:25,331.5526894 --> 00:17:38,261.5526894 And again, proud to say I've done that constantly trying to do new things, the adventure of that, um, and the personal growth and growing my faith and all of that. 178 00:17:38,261.5526894 --> 00:17:39,101.5526894 Just love that. 179 00:17:39,311.5526894 --> 00:17:45,701.5526894 And then relationships, I made a list of every single person that's important to me. 180 00:17:46,701.5526894 --> 00:17:54,291.5526894 I put stars by specific people that are more related to who I'm specifically praying for. 181 00:17:54,341.5526894 --> 00:18:03,796.5526894 I prayed for salvation and for these specific people to have a holy encounter, with God that can't be explained away. 182 00:18:05,101.5526894 --> 00:18:16,711.5526894 When you have the very specific, the nitty gritty things, it's much easier to put on my planner, like if I'm going to invest in these relationships. 183 00:18:18,91.5526894 --> 00:18:19,561.5526894 They need to be on my calendar. 184 00:18:19,771.5526894 --> 00:18:30,851.5526894 Am I calling them? Am I talking to them? Am I inviting them to lunch? Am I praying for them? Do you see what I mean? Each quarter, I would then say, okay, these are my first quarter priorities. 185 00:18:30,851.5526894 --> 00:18:33,371.5526894 This are my, this is my second quarter priorities. 186 00:18:33,581.5526894 --> 00:18:36,521.5526894 We can't do all of it at one time. 187 00:18:36,521.5526894 --> 00:18:37,751.5526894 Recognize that. 188 00:18:38,576.5526894 --> 00:18:44,106.5526894 And then, finances, I can't tell you how many times we've been out of debt and then I get myself back into it. 189 00:18:44,196.5526894 --> 00:18:49,506.5526894 And so this year I have been very strategic to not. 190 00:18:50,676.5526894 --> 00:18:53,166.5526894 Get myself back in debt. 191 00:18:53,316.5526894 --> 00:19:05,946.5526894 I've worked really hard on this, so much so that I changed my passwords to say something about, Debt being bondage or, sin or something like that. 192 00:19:05,946.5526894 --> 00:19:12,196.5526894 Like something that was so harsh that when I thought one day I was going to figure out if I could use the card or not. 193 00:19:12,196.5526894 --> 00:19:20,326.5526894 When I figured out the password, I was like, yeah, thank you Lord for reminding me that I'm not using my credit cards this year. 194 00:19:20,606.5526894 --> 00:19:42,531.5526894 And you can see the, the Atlanta Live saying yes to that opportunity for the TV show, saying yes to, um, going to a women's networking group, saying yes to joining the chamber, saying yes to going to work out when I didn't really want to have to get up early. 195 00:19:43,211.5526894 --> 00:19:45,131.5526894 All of those, the the Yes. 196 00:19:45,131.5526894 --> 00:19:46,1.5526894 That was so something. 197 00:19:46,1.5526894 --> 00:19:52,481.5526894 I remember so clearly that God said, say yes to every invite. 198 00:19:52,781.5526894 --> 00:19:56,171.5526894 You can, if you can make it work, you make it work. 199 00:19:56,171.5526894 --> 00:19:58,511.5526894 Now listen, this is the season I'm in. 200 00:19:59,321.5526894 --> 00:20:02,531.5526894 This doesn't mean this is the word that God is gonna give you. 201 00:20:03,101.5526894 --> 00:20:12,191.5526894 There was a lot of years where my season was not that my season was boundaries and saying, no. 202 00:20:13,581.5526894 --> 00:20:24,921.5526894 I needed to undo the things to even allow for the time to now be able to say yes and you guys so many times, we want it, we want it now, and we wanna do it as fast as possible. 203 00:20:25,221.5526894 --> 00:20:27,201.5526894 And that's not sustainable. 204 00:20:27,201.5526894 --> 00:20:27,321.5526894 I. 205 00:20:27,547.5526894 --> 00:20:36,847.5526894 Next week, listen, very important, we're gonna be talking about something that ties directly into this, why so many healthy habits don't stick, especially for overachievers. 206 00:20:37,87.5526894 --> 00:20:43,27.5526894 And the mistake most women are making that sets them up to feel exhausted and like they're constantly failing. 207 00:20:43,27.5526894 --> 00:20:50,747.5526894 Because before we add anything new, we often need to undo something first, here is your baby step for this week. 208 00:20:50,957.5526894 --> 00:20:51,677.5526894 I don't. 209 00:20:52,67.5526894 --> 00:21:01,507.5526894 Want to encourage you to create a New Year's resolution yet instead, I want you to choose one focus area for the next 12 weeks, not the whole year. 210 00:21:01,777.5526894 --> 00:21:02,377.5526894 That's it. 211 00:21:02,377.5526894 --> 00:21:04,477.5526894 Small faithful steps. 212 00:21:04,537.5526894 --> 00:21:06,457.5526894 Create sustainable change. 213 00:21:06,457.5526894 --> 00:21:12,697.5526894 And friend, if today's episode gives you clarity or helped you see something differently, don't stop here. 214 00:21:12,967.5526894 --> 00:21:15,817.5526894 A great next step is the 12 week reset. 215 00:21:15,967.5526894 --> 00:21:21,997.5526894 It's focused one-on-one coaching where we look at what's draining you, what needs to change, and what to focus on. 216 00:21:21,997.5526894 --> 00:21:22,417.5526894 Next. 217 00:21:22,417.5526894 --> 00:21:24,997.5526894 So you're not trying to do everything at once. 218 00:21:25,147.5526894 --> 00:21:33,67.5526894 You'll find all the details linked in the show notes, and if it's easier, you can also email me at [e-mail], 219 00:21:33,307.5526894 --> 00:21:37,807.5526894 put coaching in the subject line and I'll help you figure out the next best step and friend. 220 00:21:37,807.5526894 --> 00:21:40,987.5526894 Remember, you do not have to stay stuck in the same cycle. 221 00:21:41,227.5526894 --> 00:21:42,637.5526894 This year can look different. 222 00:21:42,637.5526894 --> 00:21:45,277.5526894 One faithful baby, step at a time.