I’m sure you know the value of physical exercise; there’s a billion dollar industry that we hear about daily. There is now a body of research supporting the value of mental exercise as well as the development of emotional intelligence. All three of these parts of self: Head-Heart-Body need to be exercised in a variety of ways.  Over the course of our 40-Day Journey I’ll share some of the tools to help you grow your awareness in order to evaluate what (if any) change needs to happen in order for you to thrive in 2020.

Today I’d like to share five optional tools for you to continue growing your mental awareness. 

In yesterday’s post I mentioned Tara Mohr, the author of Playing Big. In it she invites women  to examine their inner dialogue by walking through several exercises. Each exercise layers upon the previous one helping you identify what may be keeping you from being fully who you’re intended to be.

Read the last part of that sentence again.

Identify what may be keeping you from being fully who you are intended to be.

What will your life be like when there isn’t anything keeping you from being fully you?

Perhaps this isn’t an issue for you. Please stop and give thanks. In my own life and the life of every single woman I have coached there has been at least one thing that holds us back from being fully who God calls us to be. 

I’m not going to suggest labels for what may be hindering you but since today I’m offering suggestions of some tools for you to investigate I’m sure you can figure out at least one area in your thought life that might be getting in the way.

• Is it your inner dialogue? Tara’s book Playing Big is a great resource.
• Is it difficulty in making decisions? Check out this episode of the podcast by Emily P. Freeman called The Next Right Thing
• Is it harsh self-talk? Check out Shut the Should Up with Candace Payne and Jenny Randall.
• Do you need a new rhythm of life? Listen to this episode of That Sounds Fun with Annie F. Downs

The list is short today because I will share more tools as the journey continues. Remember not every tool is necessary for you at this point. Check them out, pick one to carry with you on your journey. I’ll have a supplemental book list and podcast list near the end of our journey so that you can have them all in one place.

Action step: choose one podcast and make time to listen to the episode. Give yourself time to jot down thoughts as they occur to you while you listen.

I’d love to hear what’s coming up to the surface as we go along. Know that I’m praying for you from two steps ahead on the path.